bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dietary intake of differently fed salmon: a preliminary study on contaminants
Authors: Bethune C. , Seierstad S. L. , Seljeflot I. , Johansen O. , Arnesen H. , Meltzer H. M. , Rosenlund G. , Frøyland L. , Lundebye A‐K. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackground  In a previous study, a group of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients exhibited positive cardioprotective effects of fatty acids derived from a diet of farmed Atlantic salmon fed fish oil (Seierstad et al. 2005). This follow‐up study examines these patients for plasma exposure to selected organic and inorganic contaminants found in seafood that may detract from the benefits of eating oily fish.Methods  The study design was from Seierstad et al. (2005), where 58 patients were allocated into three groups consuming 700 g week−1 of differently fed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fillets for 6 weeks: 100% fish oil (FO), 100% rapeseed oil (RO), or 50% of each (FO/RO).Results  Different fillets showed graded levels (FO > FO/RO > RO) of polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), dioxin‐like polychlorinated biphenyls (DLPCBs), indicator PCBs, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and arsenic (As). Mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) levels were similar across the three types of fillets. After 6 weeks of consumption, patient levels of PCDDs, DLPCBs, and PCBs in plasma decreased as the dietary intake of these contaminants increased. Plasma PBDEs only showed increases for the FO patients. Levels of inorganic contaminants in plasma showed only slight changes over the study period.Conclusions  These results show a reduction in the use of marine oils in fish feed reduces organic contaminant levels in farmed salmon while still providing a good dietary source of marine fatty acids.
Low colonic glutathione detoxification capacity in patients at risk for colon cancer
Authors: Grubben M. J. A. L. , van Den Braak C. C. M. , Nagengast F. M. , Peters W. H. M. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackground  Colon carcinogenesis is a multifactorial process influenced by hereditary as well as environmental factors. The glutathione/glutathione S‐transferase detoxification system in the colon is important for protection against carcinogens. We investigated the levels of glutathione/glutathione S‐transferase in normal colon mucosa of patients with colorectal cancer and in patients at high risk for colorectal cancer compared with those in healthy controls.Materials and methods  Glutathione content was analyzed by high‐performance liquid chromatography, and glutathione S‐transferase enzyme activity by spectrophotometric determination with 1‐chloro 2,4‐dinitrobenzene. Normal colon tissue of patients with colon adenoma (n = 64), colorectal cancer (n = 37), familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP; n = 19), hereditary non‐polyposis colorectal cancer families with (HNPCC+Ad; n = 34) or without (HNPCC‐Ad; n = 33) adenoma was investigated.Results  Glutathione levels were significantly lower in the normal colon mucosa of patients with cancer, FAP, HNPCC‐Ad or HNPCC+Ad compared with adenoma patients or healthy controls. Glutathione S‐transferase enzyme activity in the distal colon was significantly lower in patients with cancer or FAP compared with the adenoma patients or healthy controls, whereas values in carcinoma patients were significantly lower compared with both the HNPCC‐Ad and HNPCC+Ad groups.Conclusions  An association of low colonic glutathione/glutathione S‐transferase activity levels and high clinical risk for the development of colorectal cancer was observed. This low glutathione detoxification capacity might contribute to the colon cancer risk.
Behavioural phenotypes in disability research: historical perspectives
Authors: Goodey C. F. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractWestern medicine has a long history of accounting for behaviour by reducing the body to ultimate explanatory entities. In pre‐modern medicine these were invisible “animal spirits” circulating the body. In modern medicine, they are “genes”. Both raise questions. The psychological phenotype is defined by human consensus, varying according to time and place, while the genotype’s DNA exists in a realm of material reality.There are deep philosophical and methodological problems in linking one realm to the other. Nyhan’s original application of the phenotype‐genotype pairing merely calimed that the two realms could be matched because of their common susceptibility to statistical treatment. His behavioural example was “stereotypy”. It has since extended to include such things as “social cognition” in Turner’s syndrome (Skuse), thus revealing increasingly clearly that the two realms are fundamentally and ontologically separate. The problems are not merely epistemological but ethical, since the looseness of psychological categories involves a blurring of the boundaries between behavioural phenotype and social stereotype. The latter may then be underwritten as “real” by being associated, spuriously, with the empirically demonstrable reality of genetic material.
Sickness absence in Swedish parents of children with Down’s syndrome: relation to self‐perceived health, stress and sense of coherence
Authors: Hedov G. , Wikblad K. , Annerén G. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackground  The aims of present study were to study sickness absence among Swedish parents of children with Down’s syndrome (DS) and to compare their rates of absence with those of control parents. Sickness absence data for 165 DS parents were compared with those for 174 control parents; all data were for the period 1997–2000. Sickness absence rates were also related to parental self‐perceived health, stress and sense of coherence.Methods  The self‐administrated measures of parental self‐perceived health, stress and sense of coherence were compared with the number of days of sickness absence.Results  In about two‐thirds of the parents in both the study and the control group, no days of sickness absence were registered. Six of the DS parents had remarkably large numbers of days of sickness absence (more than 100 per year). None of the control parents had such high sickness absence rates. It is speculated that there is a small group (less than 5%) of parents who are more vulnerable to the birth of a child with DS. Apart from these six DS parents, sickness absence was not more frequent among the DS parents than among the control parents. DS parents stayed at home to care for their sick DS child three times more often than control parents did for their non‐disabled child. DS fathers took greater responsibility in the care of their temporarily sick child and stayed at home to care for the child even more often than control mothers did. DS parents with sickness periods experienced small deterioration in self‐perceived health, significantly higher stress and decreased sense of coherence in comparison with parents without sickness periods.Conclusions  There was a great similarity in sick leave rates due to one’s own sickness between DS and control parents, but a small group of DS parents (<5%) may be more vulnerable. DS fathers stayed at home to care for their sick DS child remarkably often.
Prevalence and types of aggressive behaviour among adults with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Crocker A. G. , Mercier C. , Lachapelle Y. , Brunet A. , Morin D. , Roy M.‐E. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackground Aggressive behaviours represent major obstacles to the integration into society of individuals with intellectual disability (ID) and pose significant management issues for carers.Methods The present study assessed the prevalence and severity of five types of aggressive behaviours in 3165 adult men and women with ID receiving services from three rehabilitation agencies in Québec by surveying their carers using the Modified Overt Aggressive Scale.Results The 12‐month prevalence of aggressive behaviour was 51.8%: 24% property damage, 37.6% verbal, 24.4% self‐oriented and 24.4% physical aggression, and 9.8% sexually aggressive behaviour, most of which being mild in severity. Only 4.9% of individuals displayed aggressive behaviour leading to injury of the victim. Few gender differences were observed.Conclusions The capacity to document and assess the types as well as the severity of aggressive behaviour is thus critical, not only to better understand the correlates of various types of behaviours but also to orient intervention programmes whether they be prevention, assessment, monitoring or management of aggressive behaviour.
A DNA Vaccine Encoding a Fatty Acid‐Binding Protein of Clonorchis sinensis Induces Protective Immune Response in Sprague–Dawley Rats
Authors: Lee J.‐S. , Kim I. S. , Sohn W.‐M. , Lee J. , Yong T.‐S. 
Published: February 2006

Abstract Clonorchis sinensis, the Chinese liver fluke, resides chronically in the biliary tract, and fatty acid‐binding protein (FABP) is known to play an important role in the intracellular transport of long‐chain fatty acids obtained from the host. Although FABP has stimulated considerable interest as a vaccine candidate, the nature of C. sinensis FABP (CsFABP) remains unclear. We investigated the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a DNA vaccine encoding CsFABP. The intradermal injection of plasmid DNA carrying the CsFABP gene (pcDNA3.1‐FABP) into Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats induced both humoural and cellular immune responses. Animals injected with pcDNA3.1‐FABP developed FABP‐specific antibody, which is dominance of IgG2a in sera. In addition, the DNA vaccine elicited the production of IFN‐γ, but not the production of IL‐4 in spleen cells stimulated with recombinant FABP. Moreover, pcDNA3.1‐FABP induced a significant level of protection, decreased worm burden (40.9%, P < 0.05) in SD rats against C. sinensis metacerariae challenge. These results suggest that pcDNA3.1‐FABP induces a typical T helper‐1‐dominated immune response and it is a good candidate for use in future clonorchiasis vaccination studies.
C5a, Interleukin‐8 and Tumour Necrosis factor‐α‐Induced Changes in Granulocyte and Monocyte Expression of Complement Receptors in Whole Blood and on Isolated Leukocytes
Authors: Furebring M. , Håkansson L. , Venge P. , Sjölin J. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractTreatments targeting complement receptors have been demonstrated to improve outcome in experimental sepsis. The regulation of the complement receptors in sepsis is not clear. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation of granulocytes ex vivo has been shown to reduce C5a receptor (CD88) expression and to increase CD35 and CD11b/CD18 expressions in whole blood but not on isolated cells, indicating an indirect effect mediated via factors in the blood. With the aim to study whether these effects could be attributed to C5a, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and interleukin (IL)‐8, whole blood or isolated granulocytes and monocytes from healthy individuals were investigated. After incubation with C5a in a dose range of 1 × 10−9−1 × 10−7 mol/l, and TNF‐α and IL‐8 at doses of 1–100 ng/ml, the expressions of the complement receptors CD88, CD35, CD11b/CD18 were analysed by flow cytometry. Incubation with C5a reduced granulocyte CD88 expression by 44 ± 6.9% and 82 ± 4.2%, whereas monocyte CD88 expression decreased by 21 ± 4.0 and 30 ± 17% (whole blood and isolated cells). IL‐8 and TNF‐α incubation of granulocytes induced similar results. Granulocyte CD35 expression was significantly increased by 367, 175 and 336% by C5a, TNF‐α, IL‐8, respectively; CD11b expression was similarly increased. Consistent with findings in septic patients and after LPS incubation, it is concluded that all stimuli reduced granulocyte CD88 expression, whereas CD35 and CD11b were increased.
Immunoglobulin A and CD8+ T‐Cell Mucosal Immune Defenses Protect Against Intranasal Infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae
Authors: Rodríguez A. , Rottenberg M. , Tjärnlund A. , Fernández C. 
Published: February 2006

Abstract Chlamydia pneumoniae initiates infection in humans via the mucosal epithelia of the respiratory tract; therefore, immunity at this mucosal site is believed to be important to control infection with this pathogen. We compared the protective capacity of immunization in mice with two C. pneumoniae antigens, namely the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) and the heat shock protein 60 (HSP‐60), against intranasal (i.n.) infection with the bacteria when given as protein or DNA and when administered by i.n. or intraperitoneal (i.p.) routes. Our data showed that i.n. immunizations with both antigens delivered as DNA were protective against C. pneumoniae infection, probably due to induction of cell‐mediated immune responses. Our study also revealed that i.n. immunizations with MOMP, but not with HSP‐60, given as protein induced protective local immune responses in the respiratory tract against C. pneumoniae infection. Moreover, no protection was induced by either antigen when the i.p. route of immunization was used. We further investigated in immunoglobulin (Ig)A‐deficient mice whether the reduction in the bacterial loads observed when MOMP was administered intranasally was related to the strong local IgA responses induced by this route of immunization. Our data showed that IgA‐deficient mice were more susceptible to infection than wild‐type mice, suggesting that the induction of local IgA responses may play a role in the protection of the respiratory tract against C. pneumoniae infections.
Determinants of Variant Surface Antigen Antibody Response in Severe Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in an Area of Low and Unstable Malaria Transmission
Authors: A‐Elgadir T. M E. , Theander T. G. , ElGhazali G. , Nielsen M. A. , A‐Elbasit I. E. , Adam I. , Troye‐Blomberg M. , Elbashir M. I. , Giha H. A. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe variant surface antigens (VSA) of infected erythrocytes are important pathogenic markers, a set of variants (VSASM), were assumed to be associated with severe malaria (SM), while SM constitutes clinically diverse forms, such as, severe malarial anemia (SMA) and cerebral malaria (CM). This study was conducted in Eastern Sudan, an area of seasonal and unstable malaria transmission. Parasites and plasma were obtained from patients with different clinical grades of malaria, and flow cytometry was used for analysis of VSA antibody (Ab) response. We found that individuals recognized a broader range of isolates had a higher level of VSA Ab against the recognized isolates (correlation coefficient, 0.727, P < 0.001). Unexpectedly, at the time of malaria diagnosis, plasma from patients with CM recognized a significantly larger number of isolates than did the plasma from patients with SMA (P < 0.001). Parasites obtained from patients with SMA or from children were better recognized than isolates obtained from patients with uncomplicated malaria or from adults, P < 0.001, P = 0.021, respectively. Taken together, the above findings suggest that the limitations in the VSA immunoglobulin G repertoire were most probably contributing to the pathogenesis of SMA but not to that of CM.
The effect of maintenance narrow‐band ultraviolet B therapy on the duration of remission for psoriasis: a prospective randomized clinical trial
Authors: Boztepe Gonca , Karaduman Ayşen , Şahin Sedef , Hayran Murat , Kölemen Fikret 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackground  Narrow‐band (311 nm) UVB is an effective treatment modality for moderate to severe psoriasis. The effect of maintenance narrow‐band UVB on the duration of remission is unknown.Aim  To determine whether maintenance narrow‐band UVB affects the duration of remission.Methods  After clinically significant improvement [defined as 75% reduction in the initial Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) = “PASI 75”], patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups, namely maintenance and no maintenance. The first group received 2 months of maintenance therapy; the second group received no further treatment. Both groups were followed up for 1 year.Results  At the end of 12 weeks, 46 of 50 patients (92%) achieved “PASI 75”. Of these 46 patients, 32 had plaque‐type psoriasis and 14 had guttate‐type psoriasis. The numbers of patients assigned to the maintenance and no maintenance groups were 22 and 24, respectively. At the end of the study, 12 of the 22 patients (55%) in the maintenance group and, by contrast, eight of the 24 patients (33%) in the no maintenance group were still in remission. When the patients in both groups were categorized according to the type of psoriasis, eight of 14 (57%) patients with plaque‐type psoriasis in the maintenance group and, by contrast, three of 18 (17%) in the no maintenance group were still in remission. Although numerically significant, life‐table analysis indicated no statistically significant difference for the probability of remaining in remission between maintenance and no maintenance groups.Conclusions  The results provide some evidence that maintenance narrow‐band UVB may achieve longer remission durations for patients with plaque‐type psoriasis.
Oral metal contact allergy: a pilot study on the cause of oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Hougeir Firas G. , Yiannias James A. , Hinni Michael L. , Hentz Joseph G. , El‐Azhary Rokea A. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackground  Intraoral metal contact allergy may result in mucositis that mimics lichen planus and the pathogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma.Methods  Clinical records of all patients examined in the departments of dermatology and otorhinolaryngology at a tertiary‐care academic medical center between June 1994 and June 2000 who had a diagnosis of intraoral squamous cell carcinoma adjacent to a metal dental restoration and who were patch tested with our metal series were reviewed retrospectively. Eleven patients met the inclusion criteria.Results  Ten patients (91%) had positive patch tests to metals. In eight (73%), the oral cancer was adjacent to a dental restoration containing a metal to which the patient was allergic. Prevalence of gold, mercury, silver, and copper allergy among these patients was substantially higher than that reported in the available worldwide patch‐test clinic population.Conclusion  Contact allergy to metal dental restorations may be a risk factor for development of intraoral squamous cell carcinoma.
Teledermatology research review
Authors: Whited John D. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractTeledermatology consultations can be performed using either store‐and‐forward or real‐time technology. The best‐studied aspect of teledermatology is diagnostic reliability, also known as diagnostic agreement. A good level of diagnostic reliability is achieved by dermatologists using both store‐and‐forward and real‐time modalities and is comparable to that found between clinic‐based examiners. Less information is available regarding diagnostic accuracy. Current data suggest that teledermatologists reviewing store‐and‐forward consults achieve accuracy comparable to that of clinic‐based dermatologists. When store‐and‐forward consult systems are used, approximately one in four in‐person clinic appointments are averted. Real‐time consult systems avoid the need to schedule approximately one in two clinic visits. Store‐and‐forward technology results in timelier interventions for patients when compared to a conventional referral process. To date, surveys of both store‐and‐forward and real‐time teledermatology consult modalities suggest that patients, referring clinicians, and dermatologists are all highly satisfied with teledermatology consults. Very little has been published about the economic impact of store‐and‐forward teledermatology, whereas several studies have evaluated real‐time modalities. Teledermatology has ranged from a cost‐saving strategy to an intervention that incurs greater costs than conventional care, depending on the health care setting and economic perspective. Future research focusing on diagnostic accuracy, clinical outcomes using clinical course or disease status as outcome measures, development of reliable and valid teledermatology‐specific survey instruments, and economic analyses that assess cost‐effectiveness will help guide future teledermatology program assessments and policy.
Mycosis fungoides presenting as reticular erythematous mucinosis
Authors: Twersky Joy M. , Mutasim Diya F. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackground  Mycosis fungoides has numerous clinical presentations.Methods  We present two cases in which mycosis fungoides clinically mimicked reticular erythematous mucinosis.Results  Both patients had extracutaneous involvement. One had a fatal outcome.Conclusions  We suggest that full systemic evaluation be performed at the time of presentation of patients with this variant of mycosis fungoides.
Muckle–Wells syndrome: Report of six cases with hyperpigmented sclerodermoid skin lesions
Authors: El‐Darouti Mohammad A. , Marzouk Salonaz A. , Abdel‐Halim Mona R. E. 
Published: February 2006

Muckle–Wells syndrome (MWS) is a rare syndrome, characterized by chronic recurrent urticaria, often combined with fever, chills, rigors, malaise, and arthralgia. Progressive sensorineural deafness, and, in approximately one third of the patients, amyloidosis of the kidneys as well as of other organs may occur. It was first described in 1962 by Muckle and Wells.Herein we describe six cases of MWS showing, in addition to the classic features of MWS, unique skin lesions that to the best of our knowledge have not been described before in association with MWS.
Disseminated subcutaneous nodules caused by Pseudallescheria boydii in an atopic patient
Authors: Enshaieh S. H. , Darougheh A. , Asilian A. , Iraji F. , Shahmoradi Z. , Yoosephi A. , Davami M. , Siadat A. H. , Vaez A. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractWe present a 40‐year‐old woman with atopic dermatitis and multiple purulent subcutaneous nodules of 20 years’ evolution. The biopsy material was cultured and revealed Pseudallescheria boydii. The patient was treated with oral itraconazole for 4 months and incision and drainage of the lesions. Afterwards the patient remained asymptomatic and no new lesions were detected.
Developing a quality of life instrument in patients with psoriasis: the Psoriasis Quality of Life Questionnaire (PQLQ)
Authors: Inanır Işıl , Aydemir Ömer , Gündüz Kamer , Esen Danacı Ayşen , Türel Aylin 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackground and design  Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease which causes psychological, social and physical problems and affects quality of life. The aim of this study was to develop a quality of life instrument for patients with psoriasis which is suitable for Islamic populations.Materials and methods  The psychosocial and daily life problems defined by 75 patients with psoriasis, their relatives and physicians were used to construct a questionnaire, the reliability and validity of which were determined in a group of 156 patients with psoriasis.Results  For reliability, Chronbach's α coefficient was 0.87, and item‐total correlations were between 0.37 and 0.60 for internal consistency. There was high test‐retest reliability (r = 0.98, P < 0.001). For validity, three factors were extracted in the principal components method for construct validity. The maximum factor loadings of each item were between 0.456 and 0.681. For convergent validity, all patients’ self‐ratings and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) were correlated with the questionnaire score (P < 0.001).Conclusion  The questionnaire consisting of 17 items was found to be suitable for both epidemiologic and clinical trials.