bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Unusual presentation of tinea cruris due to Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes
Authors: KHOSRAVI Ali Reza , MANSOURI Parvin , NARAGHI Zahra , SHOKRI Hojjatollah , ZIGLARI Tahereh 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTTinea cruris is a subacute or chronic dermatophytosis. This report describes a 30‐year‐old man presenting with a history of bullous erythematous along with itching of his crural regions. On the basis of clinical findings, the lesions were diagnosed as contact dermatitis and pustular psoriasis, so he was treated by local and systemic corticosteroids but pustular lesions were progressed on the affected sites. By using mycological and histological examinations, dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes was confirmed. The patient was successfully treated with itraconazole and local antifungal treatments.
Drug withdrawal, cocaine and sedative use disorders increase the need for mechanical ventilation in medical patients
Authors: De Wit Marjolein , Gennings Chris , Zilberberg Marya , Burnham Ellen L. , Moss Marc , Balster Robert L. 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTAims  Alcohol use disorders increase the need for mechanical ventilation (MV) in critically ill medical, surgical and trauma patients. Studies examining other drug use disorders (DUD) in trauma patients have not demonstrated heightened rates of intensive care unit (ICU) complications. Patients with asthma and concurrent cocaine or heroin use disorders have an increased need for MV. The objective of this study is to determine if the presence of DUD and drug withdrawal syndromes are associated with increased need for MV in medical patients.Design  Analysis of a national database.Setting  The Nationwide Inpatient Sample, the largest all‐payer in‐patient database was utilized for the years 2002–2004.Participants  Adult patients with one of the six common diagnoses associated with medical ICU admission were included.Intervention  None.Measurements  Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed to determine if DUD and drug withdrawal were associated independently with the use of MV.Findings  A total 1 218 875 patients fulfilled one of the six diagnoses; 22 827 (1.9%) had DUD, and 102 841 (8.4%) underwent MV. Independent of the medical diagnosis, DUD was associated with an increased risk for requiring MV by univariate analysis (relative risk = 1.50, P < 0.0001). By multivariate analyses, sedative and cocaine use disorders remained associated with increased need for MV. Independent of medical diagnosis and substance, drug withdrawal was associated with increased odds of MV by both univariate and multivariate analysis (odds ratio = 2.94, P < 0.0001).Conclusions  DUD are associated with increased need for MV in medical patients. This study demonstrates the importance of screening all medical patients for DUD.
Psychological mediators of bupropion sustained‐release treatment for smoking cessation
Authors: McCarthy Danielle E. , Piasecki Thomas M. , Lawrence Daniel L. , Jorenby Douglas E. , Shiffman Saul , Baker Timothy B. 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTAim  The study aimed to test simultaneously our understanding of the effects of bupropion sustained‐release (SR) treatment on putative mediators and our understanding of determinants of post‐quit abstinence, including withdrawal distress, cigarette craving, positive affect and subjective reactions to cigarettes smoked during a lapse. The specificity of bupropion SR effects was also tested in exploratory analyses.Design  Data from a randomized, placebo‐controlled clinical trial of bupropion SR were submitted to mediation analyses.Setting  Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, Madison, WI, USA.Participants  A total of 403 adult, daily smokers without contraindications to bupropion SR use.Intervention  Participants were assigned randomly to receive a 9‐week course of bupropion SR or placebo pill and to receive eight brief individual counseling sessions or no counseling.Measurements  Ecological momentary assessment ratings of smoking behavior and putative mediators were collected pre‐ and post‐quit.Findings  Results of structural equation and hierarchical linear models did not support the hypothesis that bupropion SR treatment improves short‐term abstinence by reducing withdrawal distress or affecting the subjective effects of a lapse cigarette, but provided partial support for mediation by cigarette craving reduction and enhanced positive affect. Bupropion SR effects on point‐prevalence abstinence at 1 month post‐quit were also mediated partially by enhanced motivation to quit and self‐efficacy.Conclusions  Results provided some support for models of bupropion SR treatment and relapse and suggested that motivational processes may partially account for bupropion SR efficacy.
Properties of the Cigarette Dependence Scale and the Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence in a representative sample of smokers in Norway
Authors: Stavem Knut , Røgeberg Ole Jørgen , Olsen Jan Abel , Boe Jacob 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTAims  To compare the properties of four measures of dependence to nicotine/tobacco, the 12‐item Cigarette Dependence Scale (CDS‐12), the six‐item Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and two shorter versions of the same measures.Methods  In a cross‐sectional telephone survey of smokers in a representative general population sample in Norway, we compared the measures. We assessed (i) internal consistency reliability with Cronbach's α; (ii) compared item scores; and (iii) tested the validity of the questionnaires. Test–retest reliability was assessed in a smaller convenience sample.Results  Among 1265 respondents (64%), 290 (23%) were daily smokers and included in further analysis. Their mean age was 42 years [standard deviation (SD) 15] and 46% were female. They smoked on average 13 cigarettes per day (SD 6). Internal consistency reliability was 0.61 for the FTND (n = 267) and 0.81 for the CDS‐12 (n = 266). Score distributions suggested a floor effect for the FTND. Test–retest reliability was 0.90 for the FTND and 0.97 for the CDS‐12 (n = 31). The correlation between the scale scores and a question about the maximum willingness to pay for a cigarette after not smoking all day was 0.36 (P < 0.001) for the FTND (n = 262) and 0.45 (P < 0.001) for the CDS‐12 (n = 263). There was little difference in the associations of the two scales or their abbreviated versions with external variables.Conclusions  Telephone administration was acceptable for both questionnaires, and we have established population reference values for the four scales. The questionnaires were associated with each other and showed similar properties. The findings support the construct validity of the scales.
Association of a single nucleotide polymorphism in neuronal acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha 5 (CHRNA5) with smoking status and with ‘pleasurable buzz’ during early experimentation with smoking
Authors: Sherva Richard , Wilhelmsen Kirk , Pomerleau Cynthia S. , Chasse Scott A. , Rice John P. , Snedecor Sandy M. , Bierut Laura J. , Neuman Rosalind J. , Pomerleau Ovide F. 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTAims To extend the previously identified association between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in neuronal acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha‐5 (CHRNA5) and nicotine dependence to current smoking and initial smoking‐experience phenotypes.Design, setting, participants Case–control association study with a community‐based sample, comprising 363 Caucasians and 72 African Americans (203 cases, 232 controls).Measurements Cases had smoked ≥ five cigarettes/day for ≥ 5 years and had smoked at their current rate for the past 6 months. Controls had smoked between one and 100 cigarettes in their life‐time, but never regularly. Participants also rated, retrospectively, pleasurable and displeasurable sensations experienced when they first smoked. We tested for associations between smoking phenotypes and the top 25 SNPs tested for association with nicotine dependence in a previous study.Findings A non‐synonymous coding SNP in CHRNA5, rs16969968, was associated with case status [odds ratio (OR) = 1.5,P = 0.01] and, in Caucasians, with experiencing a pleasurable rush or buzz during the first cigarette (OR = 1.6,P = 0.01); these sensations were associated highly with current smoking (OR = 8.2,P = 0.0001).Conclusions We replicated the observation that the minor allele of rs16969968 affects smoking behavior, and extended these findings to sensitivity to smoking effects upon experimentation. While the ability to test genetic associations was limited by sample size, the polymorphism in the CHRNA5 subunit was shown to be associated significantly with enhanced pleasurable responses to initial cigarettes in regular smokers in an a priori test. The findings suggest that phenotypes related to subjective experiences upon smoking experimentation may mediate the development of nicotine dependence.
Trajectories of smoking among freshmen college students with prior smoking history and risk for future smoking: data from the University Project Tobacco Etiology Research Network (UpTERN) study
Authors: Colder Craig R. , Flay Brian R. , Segawa Eisuke , Hedeker Donald ,   TERN members
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTAims  Little is known about smoking during the transition to college. The current study examined trajectories of smoking among college freshmen, how trajectories predicted later smoking and the social context of smoking.Design  Weekly assessments of daily smoking were collected via the web during the first year of college for a large cohort with a previous history of smoking.Participants and setting  A total of 193 college freshmen from a large public university with a previous history of smoking who smoked frequently enough to be included in trajectory analysis.Measurements  Measures included weekly reports of daily smoking, family smoking, perceived peer attitudes and smoking, social norms and social smoking environment.Findings  Seven trajectories were identified: one of low‐level sporadic smoking, one of low‐level smoking with a small increase during the year, two classes with a substantial decrease during the year, two classes with relatively small decreases and one class with a substantial increase in smoking. Trajectories of smoking in the freshman year predicted levels of sophomore year smoking, and some social context variables tended to change as smoking increased or decreased for a given trajectory class.Conclusions  The transition into college is marked by changes in smoking, with smoking escalating for some students and continuing into the sophomore year. Shifts in social context that support smoking were associated with trajectories of smoking. Despite the focus of developmental models on smoking in early adolescence, the transition into college warrants further investigation as a dynamic period for smoking.
Treating pregnant women dependent on opioids is not the same as treating pregnancy and opioid dependence: a knowledge synthesis for better treatment for women and neonates
Authors: Winklbaur Bernadette , Kopf Nina , Ebner Nina , Jung Erika , Thau Kenneth , Fischer Gabriele 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTAims Through a novel synthesis of the literature and our own clinical experience, we have derived a set of evidence‐based recommendations for consideration as guidance in the management of opioid‐dependent pregnant women and infants.Methods PubMed literature searches were carried out to identify recent key publications in the areas of pregnancy and opioid dependence, neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) prevention and treatment, multiple substance abuse and psychiatric comorbidity.Results Pregnant women dependent on opioids require careful treatment to minimize harm to the fetus and neonate and improve maternal health. Applying multi‐disciplinary treatment as early as possible, allowing medication maintenance and regular monitoring, benefits mother and child both in the short and the long term. However, there is a need for randomized clinical trials with sufficient sample sizes.Recommendations Opioid maintenance therapy is the recommended treatment approach during pregnancy. Treatment decisions must encompass the full clinical picture, with respect to frequent complications arising from psychiatric comorbidities and the concomitant consumption of other drugs. In addition to standardized approaches to pregnancy, equivalent attention must be given to the treatment of NAS, which occurs frequently after opioid medication.Conclusion Methodological flaws and inconsistencies confound interpretation of today's literature. Based on this synthesis of available evidence and our clinical experience, we propose recommendations for further discussion.
Development of the treatment outcomes profile
Authors: Marsden John , Farrell Michael , Bradbury Colin , Dale‐Perera Annette , Eastwood Brian , Roxburgh Malcolm , Taylor Steve 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTAim  To develop the Treatment Outcomes Profile (TOP), a new instrument for monitoring substance misuse treatment.Design  Prospective cohort, psychometric evaluation with 7‐day retest and 1‐month follow‐up to assess inter‐rater reliability, concurrent, discriminant and construct validity, and change sensitivity.Participants  A sample of 1021 service users, aged 16–62 years. Recruitment from 63 treatment agencies in England, collectively providing opioid substitution treatment, psychosocial interventions, in‐patient detoxification and residential rehabilitation.Measurements  Thirty‐eight frequency, rating scale and period prevalence measures, with 28‐day recall, across substance use, health, crime and social functioning domains, administered as personal interview by 163 treatment keyworkers.Findings  Twenty outcome measures met inter‐rater reliability criteria: days used alcohol, opioids, crack cocaine, cocaine powder, amphetamines, cannabis and one other named substance; days injected and period prevalence of direct or indirect needle/syringe sharing; subjective rating of physical and psychological health; days committed shop theft and drug selling, period prevalence of vehicle, property, fraud/forgery and assault/violence offences; rating of quality of life; days worked and attended for education/training; and period prevalence of acute housing problems and risk of eviction. Intraclass correlation coefficients for scale measures and Cohen's kappa for dichotomous measures reached or exceeded 0.75 and 0.61, respectively. There were satisfactory validity assessments and change sensitivity of scale items judged by effect size and smallest detectable difference. The TOP clinical tool contains an additional 10 items for individual treatment planning and review.Conclusions  The TOP is a reliable and valid 20‐item instrument for treatment outcomes monitoring.
Von Willebrand factor propeptide makes it easy to identify the shorter Von Willebrand factor survival in patients with type 1 and type Vicenza von Willebrand disease
Authors: Sztukowska M. , Gallinaro L. , Cattini M. G. , Pontara E. , Sartorello F. , Daidone V. , Padrini R. , Pagnan A. , Casonato A. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryReduced von Willebrand factor (VWF) half‐life has been suggested as a new pathogenic mechanism in von Willebrand disease (VWD). The usefulness of VWF propeptide (VWFpp) in exploring VWF half‐life was assessed in 22 type 1 and 14 type Vicenza VWD patients, and in 30 normal subjects, by comparing the findings on post‐Desmopressin (DDAVP) VWF t1/2 elimination (t1/2el). The VWFpp/VWF antigen ratio (VWFpp ratio) was dramatically increased in type Vicenza VWD (13·02 ± 0·49) when compared to normal subjects (1·45 ± 0·06), whereas it appeared to be normal in all type 1 VWD patients (1·56 ± 0·7), except for the four carrying the C1130F mutation (4·69 ± 0·67). A very short VWF t1/2el was found in type Vicenza VWD (1·3 ± 0·2 h), while all type 1 VWD patients had a t1/2el similar to that of the controls (11·6 ± 1·4 and 15·4 ± 2·5 h respectively), except for the four patients carrying the C1130F mutation, who had a significantly shorter VWF survival (4·1 ± 0·2 h). A significant inverse correlation emerged between VWFpp ratio and VWF t1/2el in both VWD patients and normal subjects. The VWFpp ratio thus seemed very useful for distinguishing between type 1 VWD cases with a normal and a reduced VWF survival, as well as for identifying type Vicenza VWD.
Molecular‐genetic insights in paediatric T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Authors: Van Vlierberghe Pieter , Pieters Rob , Beverloo H. Berna , Meijerink Jules P. P. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryPaediatric T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T‐ALL) is an aggressive malignancy of thymocytes that accounts for about 15% of ALL cases and for which treatment outcome remains inferior compared to B‐lineage acute leukaemias. In T‐ALL, leukemic transformation of maturating thymocytes is caused by a multistep pathogenesis involving numerous genetic abnormalities that drive normal T‐cells into uncontrolled cell growth and clonal expansion. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge on onco‐ and tumor suppressor genes in T‐ALL and suggests a classification of these genetic defects into type A and type B abnormalities. Type A abnormalities may delineate distinct molecular‐cytogenetic T‐ALL subgroups, whereas type B abnormalities are found in all major T‐ALL subgroups and synergize with these type A mutations during T‐cell pathogenesis.
Serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) and microalbuminuria in relation to fasting and 2‐h postload plasma glucose in a Chinese population
Authors: Li Xiao‐Ying , Xu Min , Wang Ji‐Guang , Wang Xin‐Jun , Huang Yun , Cheng Qi , Huang Hong‐Er , Li Rui , Xiang Jie , Tan Jiao‐Rong , Dai Meng , Ning Guang 
Published: August 2008

SummaryObjective  Serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) and microalbuminuria are predictors of cardiovascular disease. The association of these factors of cardiovascular risk with fasting and 2‐h postload plasma glucose in a group of Chinese subjects was investigated.Design  This was a cross‐sectional cohort study.Subjects and methods  In 1776 subjects randomly selected from the permanent residents of a community in the city of Shanghai, China, a simplified 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test (fasting and 2‐h postload blood sampling only) was performed, and serum CRP concentrations and urinary albumin : creatinine ratio were measured.Results  Serum CRP concentration significantly increased from 1·62 mg/l in normoglycaemic subjects to 2·63 mg/l in subjects with impaired glucose regulation, and to 3·09 mg/l in newly diagnosed diabetic patients (P < 0·0001). The corresponding prevalence of microalbuminuria also increased from 4·3% to 6·6% and to 11·4% (P < 0·0001). Both before and after adjustment for confounders, fasting and 2‐h postload plasma glucose levels were significantly associated with serum CRP concentration and the risk of microalbuminuria (P < 0·003). However, the association for CRP tended to be more prominent with 2‐h postload plasma glucose than with fasting plasma glucose. Indeed, with adjustments applied, for 1 SD change in fasting and 2‐h postload plasma glucose concentration, serum CRP concentration increased by 14% and 18% (between the two regression coefficients, P = 0·01), respectively. With similar adjustments, for 1 SD change in fasting and 2‐h postload plasma glucose concentration, the odds of microalbuminuria increased by 28% and 32% (P = 0·28 for the difference between 28% and 32%), respectively.Conclusions  Our finding suggests that in Chinese plasma glucose, especially 2‐h postload, is associated with biological markers of cardiovascular disease, such as serum CRP concentration and microalbuminuria.
Healthier lifestyle predicts higher circulating testosterone in older men: the Health In Men Study
Authors: Yeap Bu B. , Almeida Osvaldo P. , Hyde Zoë , Norman Paul E. , Chubb S. A. Paul , Jamrozik Konrad , Hankey Graeme J. , Flicker Leon 
Published: August 2008

SummaryObjective  Circulating testosterone declines during male ageing, and low testosterone may predispose to ill health. We sought to determine whether greater participation in healthy behaviours predicted reduced risk of subsequent lower circulating testosterone in older men.Design  Cross‐sectional analysis of a population‐based follow‐up study.Participants  A total of 3453 men aged 65–83 years.Measurements  Lifestyle score, a tally of eight prudent health‐related behaviours, was determined during 1996–99. Early morning sera collected in 2001–04 were assayed for total testosterone, SHBG and LH. Free testosterone was calculated using mass action equations.Results  Mean (± SD) time between collection of lifestyle data and blood sampling was 5·7 ± 0·9 years. Lifestyle score correlated with subsequent total testosterone (r = 0·06, P < 0·001) and SHBG (r = 0·07, P < 0·001), but not free testosterone (r = 0·03, P = 0·08) or LH (r = –0·03, P = 0·12). In multivariate analyses, higher lifestyle scores (4 and above) predicted reduced risk of total testosterone and SHBG in the lowest quartile of values. For the highest category (≥ 7), odds ratio (95% CI) for total testosterone and SHBG in the lowest quartile were 0·37 (0·18–0·77) and 0·26 (0·13–0·54), respectively. Lower lifestyle scores including and excluding body mass index predicted higher risk of total testosterone and SHBG in the lowest quartiles.Conclusions  In men > 65 years old, higher lifestyle score reflecting greater engagement in healthy behaviours predicts higher subsequent total testosterone and SHBG levels. This relationship appears cumulative and may reflect interaction between lifestyle and insulin sensitivity. Successfully promoting healthy behaviours in older men could ameliorate the age‐related decline in circulating testosterone.
Signal transduction meets systems biology: deciphering specificity determinants for protein–protein interactions
Authors: Bourret Robert B. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryTwo recent papers (Gao et al. 2008 and Skerker et al. 2008) describe investigations into the specificity of protein–protein interactions that occur during signal transduction by two‐component regulatory systems. This MicroCommentary summarizes and provides context for the reported findings. The results offer insights into molecular determinants that provide specificity to maintain signal separation and thus prevent deleterious cross‐talk between pathways, as well as the potential extent and nature of interactions that may combine signals to achieve beneficial cross‐regulation among pathways. The methods employed are suitable for application to other systems.