bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Combined therapy of low‐dose tacrolimus and prednisone in nephrotic syndrome with slight mesangial proliferation
Authors: MIAO LINING , SUN JING , YUAN HANG , JIA YE , XU ZHONGGAO 
Published: September 2006

SUMMARY:Aim:  Tacrolimus is a calcineurin inhibitor that has been increasingly used in transplant medicine. However, the efficacy and safety of combined therapy of low‐dose tacrolimus and prednisone in the treatment of nephrotic syndrome (NS) with slight mesangial proliferation has not been reported.Patients and Methods:  Sixty patients with NS with slight mesangial proliferation were randomly divided into a prednisone therapy group (control), a combined low‐dose tacrolimus (2 mg/day) and a prednisone therapy group (tacrolimus group). The efficacy and safety of tacrolimus was analysed. The initial dose of prednisone was 1 mg/kg per day and 30 mg/day in the control group and tacrolimus group, respectively. The duration of treatment was 6 months.Results:  After a 6‐month trial of combined low‐dose tacrolimus and prednisone, complete remission was achieved in 29 patients (96.66%) and partial remission in one patient (3.33%). In the control group, complete remission was achieved in 27 patients (90%) and partial remission in three patients (10%). A significant improvement in proteinuria levels was observed in the tacrolimus group compared with the control group, starting at the second week and remaining throughout the study period. Furthermore, a significant improvement in serum albumin levels was observed in the tacrolimus group compared with the control group, starting at the first month and remaining until the third month. The main side‐effect was obesity (100%) and acne (46.66%) in the control group. However, these adverse events were not observed in the tacrolimus group.Conclusion:  The results demonstrated that combined therapy of low‐dose tacrolimus and prednisone is an effective and safe therapeutic method for NS with slight mesangial proliferation.
Ambulatory anesthesia and the lack of consensus among Canadian pediatric anesthesiologists: a survey
Authors: ABU‐SHAHWAN IBRAHIM 
Published: September 2006

SummaryBackground:  The purpose of this study was to assess the current selection criteria for outpatient surgery in children among Canadian pediatric anesthesiologists.Methods:  A survey specifying 20 different medical situations was sent to 120 members of the Canadian Pediatric Anesthesia Society. Members were asked to indicate if they agreed or refused to provide anesthesia for children with one or more clinical condition or symptoms. Consensus was defined as a >70% majority opinion.Results:  Sixty‐four pediatric anesthesiologists replied (53.3%). For 13 conditions there was no consensus among members. Seven scenarios resulted in a consensus of either providing or not providing anesthesia in an outpatient setting. The majority of members would agree to provide anesthesia for the following scenarios: (i) an asymptomatic child with recurrent otitis media, rectal temperature of 38°C; (ii) the same child with chronic nasal discharge for bilateral myringotomy and tube placement; (iii) an asymptomatic child with sickle‐cell disease (SCD) for cast change; (iv) an asymptomatic child with asthma and fever for bilateral myringotomy and tube placement (BMT); (v) a morbidly obese child with congested nose for BMT; and (vi) a child with well controlled insulin dependent diabetes mellitus for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Most members would refuse to provide outpatient anesthesia in an asymptomatic child with SCD for tonsillectomy.Conclusion:  Further studies are needed to establish evidence‐based medicine to support guidelines that would allow one to select children safely for ambulatory surgery.
Anesthesia for repair of gastroschisis in thoracopagus twins: a case report
Authors: LONNÉE HERMAN A. , CHETTY VANDHANA , RAWAILIU VERENIKI 
Published: September 2006

SummaryThe first pair of live conjoined twins in Fiji were delivered in June 2004. Their union was unexpected and in addition they had gastroschisis requiring urgent surgery. With limited resources available there was uncertainty about the degree of sharing of the major organs. Whilst the media speculated on separation overseas, the local team of doctors were faced with a rare emergency. Surgical repair of the abdominal defect was performed using a combined general and regional anesthesia technique. The thoracopagus twins died 3 days postoperatively in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Perioperative management is discussed.
Bacterial community shifts in organically perturbed sediments
Authors: Bissett Andrew , Burke Chris , Cook Perran L. M. , Bowman John P. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryBacterial abundance, diversity and sediment function were investigated in organically perturbed sediments under Tasmanian salmon (Salmo salar) farms and adjacent reference sites. Bacterial numbers increased as farming and organic loading progressed through the farm stocking cycle and declined during the fallow period, although not to prestocking levels. Bacterial numbers ranged between approximately 2 × 108 and 3 × 109 cells per gram of sediment and were higher at cage sites than reference sites. Microelectrode and respiration data also demonstrated a clear effect of organic loading on sediments. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) showed that bacterial communities shifted both in response to farm loading and its cessation. A seasonal effect on microbial communities was also evident. Although bacterial communities did shift again during the fallowing period, this shift was not necessarily a return to preloading communities. The complexity of community shifts may be affected by the vast functional redundancy of bacterial groups. All bacterial communities, including those at reference sites, were highly dynamic. Respiration studies of amended sediments indicated that fish farm sediments were at least as resilient and diverse as reference site communities. The results of this study indicate that the functional redundancy of highly complex bacterial communities contributes to their robustness. The relationship between diversity and stability in bacterial communities remains unclear and requires further investigation before an understanding of bacterial response to perturbation is possible.
X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) of toxic metal mineral transformations by fungi
Authors: Fomina Marina , Charnock John , Bowen Andrew D. , Gadd Geoffrey M. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryFungi can be highly efficient biogeochemical agents and accumulators of soluble and particulate forms of metals. This work aims to understand some of the physico‐chemical mechanisms involved in toxic metal transformations focusing on the speciation of metals accumulated by fungi and mycorrhizal associations. The amorphous state or poor crystallinity of metal complexes within biomass and relatively low metal concentrations make the determination of metal speciation in biological systems a challenging problem but this can be overcome by using synchrotron‐based element‐specific X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) techniques. In this research, we have exposed fungi and ectomycorrhizas to a variety of copper‐, zinc‐ and lead‐containing minerals. X‐ray absorption spectroscopy studies revealed that oxygen ligands (phosphate, carboxylate) played a major role in toxic metal coordination within the fungal and ectomycorrhizal biomass during the accumulation of mobilized toxic metals. Coordination of toxic metals within biomass depended on the fungal species, initial mineral composition, the nitrogen source, and the physiological state/age of the fungal mycelium.
SEMI‐MECHANISTIC MODELLING IN NONLINEAR REGRESSION: A CASE STUDY
Authors: Domijan Katarina , Jorgensen Murray , Reid Jeff 
Published: September 2006

SummaryThis paper discusses the use of highly parameterized semi‐mechanistic nonlinear models with particular reference to the PARJIB crop response model of Reid (2002)[Yield response to nutrient supply across a wide range of conditions 1. Model derivation. Field Crops Research77, 161–171]. Compared to empirical linear approaches, such models promise improved generality of application but present considerable challenges for estimation. Some success has been achieved with a fitting approach that uses a Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm starting from initial values determined by a genetic algorithm. Attention must be paid, however, to correlations between parameter estimates and an approach is described to identify these based on large simulated datasets. This work illustrates the value for the scientist in exploring the correlation structure in mechanistic or semi‐mechanistic models. Such information might be used to reappraise the structure of the model itself, especially if the experimental evidence is not strong enough to allow estimation of a parameter free of assumptions about the values of others. Thus statistical modelling and analysis can complement mechanistic studies, making more explicit what is known and what is not known about the processes being modelled and guiding further research.
Do Conditional Benefits Reduce Equilibrium Unemployment?
Authors: Van DerPLOEG FREDERICK 
Published: September 2006

AbstractAlthough unconditional unemployment benefits destroy jobs in competitive and noncompetitive labor markets, conditional benefits can spur job growth in noncompetitive labor markets. Unconditional benefits reduce the penalty of shirking and misconduct, while conditional benefits increase this penalty. This is shown for the efficiency‐wage, no‐shirking model of the labor market developed by Shapiro and Stiglitz (1984). Switching from unconditional to conditional benefits lowers unemployment. Tough eligibility requirements are thus important components of the welfare state. However, if conditional benefits are financed by a payroll tax, conditional benefits exert upward wage pressure so that unemployment falls by less and may even increase.
Tax Reform with Useful Public Expenditures
Authors: CASSOU STEVEN P. , LANSING KEVIN J. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractWe examine the effects of tax reform in an endogenous growth with two types of useful public expenditures. The optimal fiscal policy shifts the tax base to private consumption and generally requires a change in the size of government. If a tax reform holds the size of government fixed to satisfy a revenue‐neutrality constraint, then the reform will be suboptimal; theory alone cannot tell us if welfare will be improved. For some model calibrations, we find that a revenue‐neutral consumption tax reform can result in large welfare gains. For other quite plausible calibrations, the exact same reform can result in tiny or even negative welfare gains as the revenue‐neutrality constraint becomes more severely binding. Overall, our results highlight the uncertainty surrounding the potential welfare benefits of fundamental tax reform.
Vitamin E: the radical protector
Authors: Wolf Ronni , Wolf Danny , Ruocco Vincenzo 
Published: September 2006

AbstractSince its discovery and isolation the importance of vitamin E in maintaining normal physiologic processes and its value in treating various disease states have been the subject of much controversy. It was our intention to review and highlight some of the arguments and problems regarding the usefulness of vitamin E and to try to put them into proper perspective. The major area of interest concerning vitamin E lies essentially in its role in preventing damage caused by free radicals. The latter are now known to play an important role in radiation induced carcinogenesis, photoaging and photosensitization. The chemistry of vitamin E, its physiological function as a major antioxidant and its interaction with other antioxidants are described by the sum of animal studies, in vitro research and epidemiological investigations. In preparing the current data, it appeared that despite the controversy and conflicting results the body of literature as a whole judges vitamin E to be useful as an antioxidant. Although, in principle, the use of vitamin E can be quite advantageous, the manner of its administration, especially regarding topical application, remains unclear.
Calcipotriol improves the efficacy of cyclosporine in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris
Authors: Kokelj Franco , Torsello Pierpaolo , Plozzer Carmela 
Published: September 2006

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of the association of calcipotriol ointment (50 μg/g) plus cyclosporine versus cyclosporine alone in the treatment of moderate psoriasis (mean PASI: 13).MethodsTwenty patients were enrolled in this right‐left open study. All the patients admitted were treated with cylosporine at an initial dose of 4.5 mg/kg/day; in case of clinical improvement this dosage was reduced by 0.5 mg/kg/day every 15 days. In each patient we chose two similar, symmetrical lesions and calcipotriol ointment was applied only on the right lesion, twice a day, until the healing of the lesion or for 1 month. Patients were checked at baseline and every 15 days.ResultsEighteen patients completed the study and 17 of the 18 presented more evident improvement on the side treated with combined therapy, while only one patient showed a better result on the side treated with cyclosporine alone. A significant difference of the total score was already present after 15 days of therapy and was confirmed at the following check‐ups.ConclusionsThese results underline the usefulness of the association of calcipotriol and cyclosporine in order to decrease the total dosage of cyclosporine.
Plasma concentrations of IFN‐γ and TNF‐α: in psoriatic patients before and after local treatment with dithranol ointment
Authors: Chodorowska Grazyna 
Published: September 2006

AbstractIFN‐γ and TNF‐α plasma levels were measured before and after local treatment in 27 patients. Twenty healthy subjects served as controls. Plasma concentrations of IFN‐γ and TNF‐α were significantly higher before treatment (178.7 ± 11.9 pg/ml and 31.9 ± 11.6 pg/ml, respectively) compared to the control group (139.6 ± 7.86 pg/ml and 17.1 ± 7.7 pg/ml, respectively). After treatment IFN‐γ levels were significantly decreased (151.3 ± 8.3 pg/ml) toward the control group values and TNF‐α levels were observed even lower than in the controls (11.48 ± 6.8 pg/ml). No correlations were found between age, duration of psoriasis and plasma levels of cytokines. However, IFN‐γ levels were related, although not significantly, to disease severity (evidenced by the PASI score). The data support the important proinflammatory role of IFN‐γ and TNF‐α in the clinical manifestation of psoriasis. © 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.
Sclerosing sweat duct carcinoma mimicking dermatofibroma
Authors: González‐Güemes M. , Yanguas I. , Goday J.J. , Lozano M. , Soloeta R. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractSclerosing sweat duct carcinoma is an infrequent adnexal tumor, locally aggressive and with a high incidence of local recurrences. Its location is preferably cephalic and its clinical presentation often unspecific. We present a new case with an atypical location and the clinical appearance of a benign cutaneous lesion. Diagnosis was established after a histological and immunohistochemical study. A terminological review was done.
Balneophototherapy in small plaque parapsoriasis ‐ four case reports
Authors: Gambichler Thilo , Manke‐Heimann Antje 
Published: September 2006

AbstractFour patients suffering from small plaque parapsoriasis were treated successfully with balneophototherapy. Within 4 weeks salt‐water baths and UV irradiation resulted in clinical clearing of more than 90% of lesions with a duration of total clinical response between 8 and 12 weeks without further maintenance treatment.
Leishmaniasis of glans penis
Authors: Schubach A. , Cuzzi‐Maya T. , Gonçalves‐Costa S.C. , Pirmez C. , Oliveira‐Neto M.P. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractBackgroundLeishmaniasis is an important protozoan disease. In the Americas it is produced by several species of the genus Leishmania, transmitted by sand flies of the genus Lutzomyia. Disease spectrum ranges from cutaneous ulceration to more serious involvement of oronasal mucosa that may progress to destruction of central structures of the face and to the life‐threatening visceral forms. Leishmania Viannia braziliensis is the most widespread species in Brazil and is often associated with mucosal involvement. Cutaneous lesions are commonly localised in uncovered areas of the body. Genital lesions are rare.Materials and methodsA patient with an ulcerated lesion of the glans penis, followed subsequently by mucosal lesions of the nasal cavity and palate, is presented. Diagnostic procedures were: leishmanin skin test (Montenegro's test) and biopsy of the ulcer border processed for histopathological examination and culture in NNN medium.ResultsLeishmanin skin test was positive. Histopathology showed a granulomatous infiltrate containing some parasites. Culture was positive for Leishmania sp., and was later identified by zymodeme analysis and monoclonal antibodies as L.(V.)braziliensis. The patient was treated with pentavalent antimony at the dose of 10 (mg/kg)/day for 30 days and the lesions healed.Comments and conclusionsIn men, especially over 50 years of age, ulceration of the glans penis is highly suggestive of carcinoma. Precise differential diagnosis is imperative. A lesion, such as the one reported, may cause diagnostic difficulties when it presents in countries different from the source, where the condition is very uncommon. This is increasingly frequent in the current era of widespread air travel.
Anaerobic bacteria in men with urethritis
Authors: Mazuecos J. , Aznar J. , Rodriguez‐Pichardo A. , Marmesat F. , Borobio M.V. , Perea E.J. , Camacho F. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractAimInvestigation of the urethral flora in men with urethritis, with particular reference to anaerobic bacteria.MethodsMultiple cultures were performed on three urethral samples from 110 men attending the STD Clinic of the School of Medicine in Seville: 35 with no evidence of urethritis (control group), and 75 with urethritis (17 gonococcal urethritis (GU) and 58 non‐gonococcal urethritis (NGU)). In the 58 men with NGU, Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated in 16 (27.5%), Ureaplasma urealyticum in 18 (31%), Trichomonas vaginalis in two (3.4%) and no pathogens were isolated in the remaining 22 (38%) patients.ResultsAerobic flora, mainly Staphylococcus spp., were isolated less frequently (41%) in patients with GU than in the control group (80%), and those with NGU (72%). Anaerobic flora were isolated in 62% of patients, with similar isolation rates in each group. Gram‐negative anaerobes were more frequently isolated in men with urethritis, especially NGU, compared to controls (P < 0.05). Prevotella spp. and Bacteroides spp. were significantly more frequently isolated in patients with NGU, including Chlamydia‐negative NGU. Fusobacterium spp. were more frequent in the Chlamydia‐ positwe NGU than in the controls (P < 0.05). P. magnus was the most frequent anaerobic species found in the control group, while P. prevotii was most frequently seen in the urethritis group. B. ureolyticus, P. prevotii and P. tetradius were more frequent on the NGU group (P < 0.05). B. ureolyticus was commoner in patients with Chlamydia‐ negalive NGU, while P. tetradius and P. asaccharolytica was commoner in those where C. trachomatis was isolated than in the control group.ConclusionUrethral microflora isolated showed ten bacterial genus and 25 different species of anaerobes. The spectrum of these microflora changed with the presence of urethritis and varied with its aetiology.
A case of coumarin necrosis with penile and pedal involvement
Authors: Harmanyeri Yavuz , Taşkapan Oktay , Doǧlan Bilal , Baloǧlu Hüseyin , Başak Mesut 
Published: September 2006

AbstractA 57‐year‐old male patient with advanced adenocarcinoma of the lung, who was administered oral anticoagulant therapy because of pulmonary embolism, developed coumarin necrosis confined to the penis and feet. To our knowledge, this patient showing acral involvement is the seventh case of coumarin‐induced penile necrosis reported to date.
Idiopathic plantar hidradenitis
Authors: Bártolo Elvira , Anes Isabel , Capitão‐Mor Manuela , Brandão Francisco M. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractWe describe four cases of idiopathic plantar hidradenitis (IPH), a form of neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis (NEH) localized on the feet of otherwise healthy young persons. Our patients were all males, 8–17 years old, in apparently good health, but presenting erythematous painful papules, plaques and nodules on the soles. They were afebrile and there were no constitutional symptoms. The differential diagnoses included erythema nodosum, vasculitis and traumatic plantar urticaria. The histological features of IPH are similar to those of NEH, except for the absence of syringosquamous metaplasia. The patients were treated with topical steroids and oral NSAID, with total resolution of the lesions in 1 or 2 weeks.
Palmar spiny keratoderma associated with type IV hyperlipoproteinemia
Authors: Urbani Carlo Enrico , Moneghini Laura 
Published: September 2006

AbstractWe report the case of a 35‐year‐old man with acquired palmar spiny keratoderma (SK) in association with type IV hyperlipoproteinemia. Cutaneous lesions appeared 11 years before with no history of any previous skin conditions, topical medication or systemic treatment with Vitamin A‐derived drugs, x‐irradiation, arsenic poisoning or prolonged sun exposure. Family aggregation for SK or other disorders of keratinization was ruled out. Blood chemistries demonstrated hypertriglyceridemia (422 mg/dl) and elevation in plasma concentration of the pre‐β fraction (VLDL) of lipoproteins pattern compatible with a type IV hyperlipoproteinemia. Family aggregation for this metabolic defect was then confirmed. The histologic hallmark of the ‘spine’ lesion was a compact column of hyperparakeratotic cells (columnar hyperparakeratosis) continuous with a hypogranular layer, without further evidence of dyskeratotic or vacuolated keratinocytes and inflammatory cells in the corresponding dermis. SK represents a well‐definite entity which fulfills precise clinico‐histologic criteria. However, three main questions are related to SK: differential diagnosis with porokeratosis on histologic examination (columnar hyperparakeratosis or hyperorthokeratosis alone in SK vs. cornoid lamella accompanied by remarkable dermoepidermal changes in porokeratosis); classificative scheme (proper nomenclature to avoid misleading and confounding names); and nosological arrangement (probably two subsets exist: hereditary or benign; and acquired, or idiopathic, which may be paraneoplastic in about 50% of the patients). To the best of our knowledge this is the first case reporting the association between SK and a metabolic impairment although the real connections linking these conditions are still unclear.
Verrucoid cutaneous rhinosporidiosis
Authors: Ghorpade Ashok , Ramanan Cherukot 
Published: September 2006

AbstractVerruca vulgaris like lesions of cutaneous rhinosporidiosis are reported in a middle aged Indian male. He also had nasal rhinosporidiosis. Imprint smears from skin lesions showed sporangia with endospores, confirming the diagnosis.
Cutaneous larva migrans associated with water shoe use
Authors: Swanson Jason R. , Melton Jeffrey L. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractIt has been long suspected that footwear is protective against cutaneous larva migrans. This case report describes a woman who developed cutaneous larva migrans despite wearing ‘protective’ footwear. We forward a hypothesis by which recently popular water shoes may actually be conducive to the development of cutaneous larva migrans rather than having a protective function.