bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exit of pediatric pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cells from the bone marrow to the peripheral blood is not associated with cell maturation or alterations in gene expression
Authors: Hansson Frida , Toporski Jacek , Månsson Robert , Johansson Bertil , Norén-Nyström Ulrika , Jacobsen Sten Eirik W , Wiebe Thomas , Larsson Marcus , Sigvardsson Mikael , Castor Anders 
Published: August 2008

AbstractBackgroundChildhood pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a bone marrow (BM) derived disease, which often disseminates out of the BM cavity, where malignant cells to a variable degree can be found circulating in the peripheral blood (PB). Normal pre-B cells are absolutely dependent on BM stroma for survival and differentiation. It is not known whether transformed pre-B ALL cells retain any of this dependence, which possibly could impact on drug sensitivity or MRD measurements.ResultsPre-B ALL cells, highly purified by a novel method using surface expression of CD19 and immunoglobulin light chains, from BM and PB show a very high degree of similarity in gene expression patterns, with differential expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as a notable exception. In addition, the cell sorting procedure revealed that in 2 out of five investigated patients, a significant fraction of the malignant cells had matured beyond the pre-B cell stage.ConclusionThe transition of ALL cells from the BM into the circulation does not demand, or result in, major changes of gene expression pattern. This might indicate an independence of BM stroma on the part of transformed pre-B cells, which contrasts with that of their normal counterparts.
Albuminuria and its correlates in an Iranian type 2 diabetic population
Authors: Nakhjavani Manouchehr , Esteghamati Alireza , Esfahanian Fatemeh , Aghamohammadzadeh Naser , Hamidi Sepehr , Meysamie Alipasha , Abbasi Mehrshad 
Published: August 2008

Abstract

Objective
To study the prevalence and correlates of increased urinary albumin excretion (UAE) in an Iranian type 2 diabetic population.

Methods
Over a one year period since October 2002, 400 consecutive type 2 diabetic patients referred to an outpatient diabetes clinic, were enrolled in a cross sectional study. Subjects had no history of renal impairment or overt proteinuria. Data concerning demographic characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors were recorded and height, weight and blood pressure were measured. Glucose, cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, triglyceride, apoprotein B, lipoprotein a, creatinine, and HbA1c were measured in fasting blood samples. Overnight twelve-hour UAE were assessed by immunoturbidometry method. Regression analyses were employed to determine the correlates of UAE.

Results
Out of 400 patients, 156 (40%) subjects had increased UAE (UAE ≥ 30 mg/24 hour). The UAE was higher in males compared to females (145.5 vs. 72.1 mg/day; p < 0.05); however, the age and HDL adjusted UAE levels were not significantly different between men and women (120.1 vs. and 87.9 mg/day; p = 0.37). Increased UAE was correlated with decreasing HDL-C and a longer duration of diabetes independent of other variables; increased UAE was correlated with HbA1c as well. Age, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglyceride, apoprotein B, lipoprotein a, and GFR did not correlate with increased UAE.

Conclusion
In this study, increased UAE was considerably frequent among type 2 diabetic patients without any significant history of renal dysfunction. Albuminuria was found to be associated with dyslipidemia (low HDL-C), long duration of diabetes, and uncontrolled glycemia revealed by higher HbA1c.
The identification of allergen proteins in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) pollen causing occupational allergy in greenhouses
Authors: Luoto Susanne , Lambert Wietske , Blomqvist Anna , Emanuelsson Cecilia 
Published: August 2008

Abstract

Background
During production of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) seeds in greenhouses, workers frequently develop allergic symptoms. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize possible allergens in sugar beet pollen.

Methods
Sera from individuals at a local sugar beet seed producing company, having positive SPT and specific IgE to sugar beet pollen extract, were used for immunoblotting. Proteins in sugar beet pollen extracts were separated by 1- and 2-dimensional electrophoresis, and IgE-reactive proteins analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Results
A 14 kDa protein was identified as an allergen, since IgE-binding was inhibited by the well-characterized allergen Che a 2, profilin, from the related species Chenopodium album. The presence of 17 kDa and 14 kDa protein homologues to both the allergens Che a 1 and Che a 2 were detected in an extract from sugar beet pollen, and partial amino acid sequences were determined, using inclusion lists for tandem mass spectrometry based on homologous sequences.

Conclusion
Two occupational allergens were identified in sugar beet pollen showing sequence similarity with Chenopodium allergens. Sequence data were obtained by mass spectrometry (70 and 25%, respectively for Beta v 1 and Beta v 2), and can be used for cloning and recombinant expression of the allergens. As for treatment of Chenopodium pollinosis, immunotherapy with sugar beet pollen extracts may be feasible.
The prediction of interferon treatment effects based on time series microarray gene expression profiles
Authors: Huang Tao , Tu Kang , Shyr Yu , Wei Chao-Chun , Xie Lu , Li Yi-Xue 
Published: August 2008

Abstract

Background
The status of a disease can be reflected by specific transcriptional profiles resulting from the induction or repression activity of a number of genes. Here, we proposed a time-dependent diagnostic model to predict the treatment effects of interferon and ribavirin to HCV infected patients by using time series microarray gene expression profiles of a published study.

Methods
In the published study, 33 African-American (AA) and 36 Caucasian American (CA) patients with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection received pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy for 28 days. HG-U133A GeneChip containing 22283 probes was used to analyze the global gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of all the patients on day 0 (pretreatment), 1, 2, 7, 14, and 28. According to the decrease of HCV RNA levels on day 28, two categories of responses were defined: good and poor. A voting method based on Student's t test, Wilcoxon test, empirical Bayes test and significance analysis of microarray was used to identify differentially expressed genes. A time-dependent diagnostic model based on C4.5 decision tree was constructed to predict the treatment outcome. This model not only utilized the gene expression profiles before the treatment, but also during the treatment. Leave-one-out cross validation was used to evaluate the performance of the model.

Results
The model could correctly predict all Caucasian American patients' treatment effects at very early time point. The prediction accuracy of African-American patients achieved 85.7%. In addition, thirty potential biomarkers which may play important roles in response to interferon and ribavirin were identified.

Conclusion
Our method provides a way of using time series gene expression profiling to predict the treatment effect of pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy on HCV infected patients. Similar experimental and bioinformatical strategies may be used to improve treatment decisions for other chronic diseases.
TKTL1 is overexpressed in a large portion of non-small cell lung cancer specimens
Authors: Schultz Holger , Kähler Daniel , Branscheid Detlev , Vollmer Ekkehard , Zabel Peter , Goldmann Torsten 
Published: August 2008

Abstract
In several tumors the transketolase activity, controlled inter alia by enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway which is an alternative, energy generating reaction-cascade to glycolysis, has been correlated with proliferation. The increase of thiamine-dependant transketolase enzyme reactions is induced especially through upregulated transketolase-like enzyme 1 (TKTL1)-activity; that shows TKTL1 to be a causative enzyme for tumors enhanced, anaerobic glucose degradation. We investigated TKTL1-expression in 88 human, formalin-fixed non-small cell lung cancer tissues and 24 carcinomas of the breast by immunohistochemical stainings applying a 0 to 3 staining-score system (3 = strongest expression). For means of validation we additionally stained 40 NSCLC fixed and paraffin-embedded utilizing the HOPE-technique; showing comparable results to the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens (not shown). Potential correlations with age, sex, TNM-classification parameters and tumor grading as well as tumor transcription factor 1 (TTF1) and surfactant protein A (SPA) expression were investigated. 40.9% of the analyzed lung tumors expressed TKTL1 weakly (Score 1), 38.6% moderately (score 2) and 17.1% strongly (score 3). 3 tumors were diagnosed TKTL1-negative (3.4%; score 0). All Breast cancer specimen stainings were positive and scored 1: 32%; scored 2: 36%; scored 3: 32%. Alveolar macrophages and Alveolar Epithelial Cells Type II were also found to be TKTL1-positive.
None of the listed clinical parameters could be found to show a significant correlation to TKTL1 signal appearance.
Although we describe the expression of TKTL1 in lung cancers, we need to state that up till now there is no scientific indication for any treatment regimens based upon these findings.
Pancreatic tuberculosis with splenic tuberculosis mimicking advanced pancreatic cancer with splenic metastasizes: a case report
Authors: Rong YF , Lou WH , Jin DY 
Published: August 2008

Abstract
A 60-year-old woman presented with vague abdominal pain for one week was referred to pancreatic tail carcinoma accompanied with splenic metastasizes. She came to our hospital for further treatment. Ultrasonography and abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a pancreatic tail tumor with splenic metastasizes. There was no history of tuberculosis. Laparotomy was performed because pancreatic tail carcinoma with splenic metastasizes was highly suspected. Indurated mass in the pancreatic tail and sporadic metastasizes in the spleen had been found during the surgery. The pancreatic tail and the spleen were removed and proved to be tuberculosis on histological examination of a frozen section. The patient was given antituberculosis therapy and is now getting well. Tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic masses. The response to antituberculosis treatment is very favorable.
Role of fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8) in animal models of osteoarthritis
Authors: Uchii Masako , Tamura Tadafumi , Suda Toshio , Kakuni Masakazu , Tanaka Akira , Miki Ichiro 
Published: August 2008

Abstract
Introduction
Fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8) is isolated as an androgen-induced growth factor, and has recently been shown to contribute to limb morphogenesis. The aim of the present study was to clarify the role of FGF8 in animal models of osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods
The expression of FGF8 in the partial meniscectomy model of OA in the rabbit knee was examined by immunohistochemistry. The effect of intraperitoneal administration of anti-FGF8 antibody was tested in a model of OA that employed injection of monoiodoacetic acid or FGF8 into the knee joint of rats. The effect of FGF8 was also tested using cultured chondrocytes. Rabbit articular chondrocytes were treated with FGF8 for 48 hours, and the production of matrix metalloproteinase and the degradation of sulfated glycosaminoglycan in the extracellular matrix (ECM) were measured.

Results
The expression of FGF8 in hyperplastic synovial cells and fibroblasts was induced in the meniscectomized OA model, whereas little or no expression was detected in normal synovium. Injection of FGF8 into rat knee joints induced the degradation of the ECM, which was suppressed by anti-FGF8 antibody. In the monoiodoacetic acid-induced arthritis model, anti-FGF8 antibody reduced ECM release into the synovial cavity. In cultured chondrocytes, FGF8 induced the release of matrix metalloproteinase 3 and prostaglandin E2, and caused degradation of the ECM. The combination of FGF8 and IL-1α accelerated the degradation of the ECM. Anti-FGF8 antibody suppressed the effects of FGF8 on the cells.

Conclusion
FGF8 is produced by injured synovium and enhances the production of protease and prostaglandin E2 from inflamed synoviocytes. Degradation of the ECM is enhanced by FGF8. FGF8 may therefore participate in the degradation of cartilage and exacerbation of osteoarthritis.
Psychiatric In-Patients and Out-Patients
Authors: Mezey A. G. 
Published: August 2008

The reply of Morgan and Compton in this issue of the Journal (pp. 433–6), is based on a misunderstanding of our results and of the problem investigated. This leads them into a refutation of ‘claims' never made and they buttress it with a statistical exercise of great naivety. Our findings were:(a) ‘… in certain important respects in-patients and out-patients are derived from different though overlapping populations.’ The most marked differences (dismissed by Morgan and Compton as 'slight’) were found among the elderly. ‘The admission rate for the over 65s of both sexes was 4 · 90 per 1,000. In contrast, increasing age was associated with a gradual fall of out-patient referral rate to 1 · 60 for the over 65s.’ We did not claim to have demonstrated the cause of these differences, but mentioned possible reasons for them.(b) In a district general hospital-centied psychiatric service we observed a 34 per cent increase of new out-patient referrals while hospital admissions remained static; this occurred over a period of three years, when nationally hospital admissions were still rising. We quoted in illustration some extreme figures from official statistics and the figures for the Sheffield and the Liverpool regions were extreme whether one refers to Tables 3, 11 or 13 (1). This prompted the hypothesis that an increase in new out-patient referrals can prevent admission or prove an alternative to it. No ‘claim’ was made, and we advisedly used the term 'suggestion’ to emphasize that these are ‘no more than tentative and incomplete incursions into this difficult and relatively unexplored field’ (2).
The Management and Nature of Depressive Illnesses in Late Life: A Follow-Through Study
Authors: Post Felix 
Published: August 2008

Since the long-term results of the treatment of elderly depressives admitted to the writer's care between 1949 and 1951 were communicated (1962), further experiences (e.g. Colwell and Post, 1959; Post, 1968) have confirmed that affective illnesses in late life are associated with much subsequent mental invalidism and needs for further treatment. It was hoped that these needs might be met by increased use of out-patient and community care as well as by the introduction of thymoleptic drugs. A follow-up investigation of a further consecutive series of depressives over the age of 60 receiving inpatient treatment from the same psychiatrist in the same hospital during the years 1966–67 was undertaken with the following aims in view:Firstly, it was intended to test the proposition that the less reluctant use of electro-convulsive therapy in old persons, as well as the introduction of antidepressant drugs and of more active after-care measures, had improved the long term outlook in the affective illnesses of late life. It was realized that a comparison of two series of patients separated from one another by some 15 years might be vitiated by differences between the samples other than those due to changed methods of treatment. It would, however, have been unethical to withhold the new forms of management from a control group.
Suicide in Dublin: I. The Under-reporting of Suicide and the Consequences for National Statistics
Authors: McCarthy P. Desmond , Walsh Dermot 
Published: August 2008

SummaryThis study of suicide in Dublin during 1964–1968 from coroners' records was undertaken to estimate the discrepancy between coroners' verdicts, the national suicide statistics compiled from them and the clinical assessment of probability of suicide by psychiatrists examining the same records. The large difference in numbers of suicides deriving from the two approaches has considerable implications for national suicide statistics, and these have been briefly considered. From the findings presented we believe that we are justified in concluding that: (a) there are real differences in national suicide rates, at least between Ireland, England and Wales, and Scotland, and (b) the Irish suicide rate is low, though not as low as official statistics suggest, and (c) the discrepancy between official and ‘true’ suicide rates in Ireland is greater than in England and Wales and in Scotland.
Models of Mania: An Individual Case Study
Authors: Hemsley D. R. , Philips H. C. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryA longitudinal study of a single case of manic-depressive psychosis investigated the relationship between psychiatric ratings, reaction time and two measures of autonomic activity. Measurements were made on 19 occasions over a five-month period. The number of slow responses on the reaction time task increased with increasing depression. Manic periods appeared not to be characterized by a slowing of responses, but rather by an increase in the number of premature responses, i.e. those made to the warning signal. A derived performance index discriminated over the complete range from severe depression to severe mania.Increased depression was associated with lower heart rate resting levels, and increasing mania with increased skin conductance levels. An increased frequency of slow reaction times was significantly associated with lower resting heart rate. Skin conductance measures correlated significantly with the number of premature responses made on the reaction time tasks. Some differences in the relationships emerged when data obtained during the administration of lithium were included in the analysis.The results are discussed in relation to both the bipolar and the continuum models of manic-depressive psychosis. The latter model is not supported by the present investigation, since manic episodes were not characterized by a more severe departure from normality than depressive episodes on either the number of slowed responses or autonomic measures.
Serum Copper in Schizophrenia in Nigerians
Authors: Olatunbosun D. A. , Akindele M. O. , Adadevoh B. K. , Asuni T. 
Published: August 2008

SummarySerum copper concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 102 schizophrenic patients and 95 healthy control subjects. The serum copper concentrations were significantly higher in the schizophrenic patients than in the normal control subjects. The average serum copper in schizophrenic females was higher than in schizophrenic males, but the difference was not statistically significant
Subjective Aspects of Alpha Enhancement
Authors: Travis T. A. , Kondo C. Y. , Knott J. R. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryEarly reports on enhancing occipital alpha through feedback noted that subjects reported the experience as being pleasant and relaxing. This paper reports the subjective experiences of 140 subjects who participated in four studies which examined the alpha enhancement phenomenon. Under both eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions, approximately 50 per cent of the subjects reported that alpha enhancement was ‘pleasant’ and 50 per cent ‘unpleasant/neutral’. With eyes-open training conditions, about half the subjects stated that the experience was ‘relaxing’ and the other half ‘not relaxing’. During eyes-closed training, 63 per cent of the subjects noted that enhancing alpha was ‘relaxing’, while 37 per cent reported that the experience was ‘not relaxing’. However, in the last case the circular relationship between increased alpha and deep relaxation may obtain.
The Potential Difference Across the Rectal Mucosa During Depressive Illness and Lithium Therapy
Authors: Peet Malcolm 
Published: August 2008

SummaryThe potential difference across the rectal mucosa (rectal p.d.) is generated by the active transport of sodium across the mucosa, and it is sensitive to the action of aldosterone. The rectal p.d. values of depressive patients on no treatment, tested whilst depressed or after recovery, were found to be similar to those of control subjects, indicating that sodium transport across the rectal mucosa and the activity of aldosterone were normal in these patients. This contrasts with previous reports of abnormalities of sodium transport and of aldosterone levels in manic-depressive patients. Manic-depressive patients taking lithium carbonate as a prophylactic agent were found to have significantly elevated rectal p.d. values when normothymic. Patients who had become depressed whilst taking lithium, and in whom prophylaxis had therefore failed, were found to have normal rectal p.d. values. Lack of elevation of rectal p.d. in response to lithium administration may be a characteristic of patients who fail to respond to lithium prophylaxis.
The Comparability of Suicide Rates
Authors: Atkinson M. W. , Kessel Neil , Dalgaard J. B. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryProgrammes of suicide prevention require for their planning accurate epidemiological surveys.Doubt has been cast on the accuracy of many existing surveys because of the realization that suicide is under-reported and because of the lack of consistency in the procedure for suicide ascertainment.Two studies are described in this paper which attempt to examine the problem.The first is part of an international study supported by the World Health Organization. In it, Denmark and England are compared, and it is shown that there are striking differences in suicide ascertainment procedure between the two countries. Next, on a blind basis, coroners and their opposite numbers in Denmark examine a sample of each other's case records. It is found that the Danes consistently report more suicides than do the English coroners on the same case material; thus considerable doubt is cast on the supposed difference in suicide rates between the two countries.In the second study, deaths by poisoning are examined for certain coroners' districts in England and Wales. It is shown that there is considerable variation from one district to another in the relative proportions of these deaths which achieve an accident, an open or a suicide verdict. This suggests that in England and Wales coroners may not be consistent in their suicide ascertainment criteria.Hypotheses attempting to account for differences in suicide rate based on such epidemiological surveys should be viewed with great caution.
Mental Health Care in Rural India: A Study of Existing Patterns and Their Implications for Future Policy
Authors: Kapur R. L. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryThree separate studies were carried out to examine the patterns of mental health care in an Indian village. The first examined the conceptual frameworks of the various traditional and modern healers. The second was an attitude study inquiring about the type of healer favoured for psychiatric consultation. The third was a population survey in which every person with one or more symptoms was asked if he or she had consulted anyone for relief of distress.Besides the modern doctors there were three types of traditional healers: Vaids, practising an empirical system of indigenous medicine; Mantarwadis, curing through astrology and charms; and Patris, who acted as mediums for spirits and demons.It was found that a large majority (59 per cent) of those with symptoms had consulted someone. The consultation was determined more by the severity of illness than by socio-demographic factors. Modern doctors were more popular, but most people consulted both traditional and modern healers without regards to the latter's contradictory conceptual framework. Literacy and other sociodemographic factors had no influence on the type of consultation.A conclusion was reached that any scheme for introducing modern psychiatry into rural areas should make use of the locally popular healers, both traditional or modern.