bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hypogammaglobulinaemia secondary to cow‐milk allergy in children under 2 years of age
Authors: Bezrodnik Liliana , Raccio Andrea C. Gómez , Canil Laura M. , Rey Maria Amanda , Carabajal Patricia C. , Fossati Carlos A. , Docena Guillermo H. 
Published: May 2007

SummarySymptomatic hypogammaglobulinaemia in children younger than 2 years of age was studied to rule out a primary immunodeficiency. Thirty‐four patients were referred to the Immunology Service to study the hypogammaglobulinaemia‐associated clinical picture. Food allergy was documented in 10 patients by personal and familial history, presence of specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and elevated total serum IgE levels. Coeliac disease and human immunodeficiency virus infection were also ruled out. Protein loss through stools was assessed by clearance of α1‐antitrypsin (AAT). Serum immunoglobulin levels were determined by nephelometry and functional antibodies were studied by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The cellular immune response was assessed by in vitro lymphocyte proliferation in response to mitogens and cell subsets were analysed by flow cytometry. In five patients of the 10 patients we suspected a protein loss through the mucosa. Four of these five patients showed an increased AAT and the other showed an extensive cutaneous lesion. Immunological studies revealed normal antibody function, in vitro lymphoproliferative responses and cell numbers in four of the 5 patients. One patient showed abnormally low numbers of CD4+ T cells as well as a defective proliferative response to mitogens. After diagnosis of cow milk allergy, milk was replaced with infant milk formula containing hydrolysed proteins. Recovery of immunoglobulin values and clinical resolution were achieved. Hypogammaglobulinaemia during early childhood in some children may be secondary to cow milk allergy, and immunoglobulins and cells may leak through the inflamed mucosa. Resolution of symptoms as well as normalization of immunoglobulin values may be easily achieved by avoidance of the offending allergen.
CT evaluation of congenital choanal atresia: Our experience and review of the literature
Authors: Petkovska L , Petkovska I , Ramadan S , Aslam MO 
Published: May 2007

SummaryCongenital choanal atresia (CCA) is the developmental failure of the nasal cavity to communicate with the nasopharynx. The aim of this study was to investigate and analyse the CT findings in such cases. Seven patients with CCA were included in our study over a 3‐year period (2001–2004). All had a CT scan of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx to establish the diagnosis and to define the extent and type of atresia. The choanal atresia was found to be more commonly bilateral and more of the mixed (membranous–osseous) type. Bilateral CCA in the neonate is a medical emergency that should be treated as early as possible. Computed tomography is a valuable and easily accessible diagnostic tool.
Normal measurement of orbital structures: Implications for the assessment of Graves’ ophthalmopathy
Authors: Sheikh M , Abalkhail S , Doi SAR , Al‐Shoumer KAS 
Published: May 2007

SummaryCompute tomography anatomy of the orbits is well described, but only a few reports are available on normal measurements of the extraocular muscles (EOM) and globe position (GP). We obtained CT images from patients who were referred to our department for CT of the paranasal sinuses using a standard protocol for evaluation of normal orbital measurements. Our study suggests that optimum results are attained with the use of a coronal scan at a window level and width setting that results in an optimum image at the maximum muscle width for assessment of EOM and an axial scan at the mid‐GP for GP and interzygomatic line. Based on our normal values, a right‐to‐left ratio of more than 1.4 for EOM diameter or 1.2 for GP is indicative of asymmetry. An absolute diameter of EOM > 8 mm and GP < 2 mm are abnormal.
MR shoulder arthrography in patients younger than 40 years of age: Frequency of rotator cuff tear versus labroligamentous pathology
Authors: Rowan KR , Andrews G , Spielmann A , Leith J 
Published: May 2007

SummaryThe purpose of this study was to compare the frequency of rotator cuff pathology versus labroligamentous pathology in patients younger than 40 years and to determine whether routine MR arthrography is justified in all patients in this age group, regardless of the clinical symptoms. The MR arthrography was carried out on 332 patients 40 years of age and younger. Two hundred and forty‐three patients had clinical history of instability and possible labroligamentous pathology. Eighty‐nine patients had no history or physical signs of instability and were referred for reasons other than instability, such as assessment for rotator cuff tear. In the 243 patients younger than 40 years with clinical history of potential labral pathology, 39% (95/243) showed a labral tear and 2.1% (5/243) had a full‐thickness rotator cuff tendon tear. In the 89 patients with no history suggesting labral pathology, 19% (17/89) showed an unsuspected labral tear and 4.5% (4/89) had a full‐thickness rotator cuff tear. These findings suggest that, regardless of the clinical indication for referral, patients aged 40 and less referred for shoulder MRI should be imaged using MR arthrography because of the significant risk that symptoms are related to unsuspected labral pathology.
Differences in toxicity across gender in patients treated with chemoradiation for rectal cancer
Authors: Kaminski A , Joseph D , Elsaleh H 
Published: May 2007

SummaryThe primary objective was to prospectively investigate the efficacy and toxicity of bolus 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) chemotherapy compared with the infusional 5‐FU in combination with preoperative radiation in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Furthermore, in light of previous reports, toxicity profiles between men and women were also compared. Eighty‐four consecutive patients with rectal adenocarcinoma were prospectively treated. There were no differences in tumour response, local recurrence or survival between bolus versus infusional groups or gender groups. In locally advanced rectal cancer, preoperative infusional chemotherapy combined with radiation was found to be less toxic than bolus chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Both regimens produced more toxic effects in women compared with men.
Factors affecting the serum gastrin 17 level: an evidence‐based analysis of 3906 serum samples among Chinese
Authors: ZHANG Zhong , SUN Li ping , GONG Yue Hua , WANG Xu Guang , ZHANG Meng , YUAN Yuan 
Published: May 2007

OBJECTIVE:  To investigate the influence of gender, age, site of lesion, disease type and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection on the human serum gastrin‐17 level and to study the diagnostic value of serum gastrin‐17 in gastric precancerous lesions and gastric cancer.METHODS:  Serum gastrin‐17 and serum H. pylori IgG antibody were detected by the ELISA method. The different gastric disease groups were confirmed by endoscopy and histopathology.RESULTS:  Among the 3906 serum samples according to the gender, age, site of lesion and the data of different gastric disease groups, the serum gastrin‐17 level was markedly higher in people ≥60 years old than that in younger age groups. The serum gastrin‐17 level increased progressively in the following order: healthy control group, nonatrophic gastritis group, gastric ulcer group, and the serum gastrin‐17 level was higher in the atrophic gastritis with dysplasia group than that without it, the lowest level being in the gastric cancer group. Among the 2946 serum samples matched with the site of the lesion, the serum gastrin‐17 level was higher in those with antral diseases than in those with gastric corpus diseases. Among the 3805 serum samples matched with the H. pylori infection data, the serum gastrin‐17 level was higher in the H. pylori‐positive group than in the H. pylori‐negative group.CONCLUSIONS:  In people over 60 years of age, the serum gastrin‐17 level tends to increase. In subjects with precancerous gastric lesions, it may increase significantly with the progression of gastric disease, and ultimately decrease in gastric cancer. Serum gastrin‐17 is a good biomarker to differentiate benign from malignant gastric diseases. The site of the gastric lesions is an important factor affecting the serum gastrin‐17 level, whereas H. pylori infection is usually associated with its increment.
Targeting specificity and pharmacokinetics of asialoorosomucoid, a specific ligand for asialglycoprotein receptor on hepatocyte
Authors: YANG Dong Ye , OUYANG Chun Hui , LU Fang Gen , LIU Xiao Wei , HUANG Lai Qiang 
Published: May 2007

OBJECTIVE:  To testify that the asialoorosomucoid (ASOR) prepared by us has liver‐targeting specificity and to investigate its pharmacokinetic characteristics.METHODS:  The distribution of 125I‐ASOR in vivo was determined by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and immunohistochemical technique after 125I‐ASOR was injected into Sprague‐Dawley (S–D) rats through their caudal veins. In vitro, different doses of pEGFP‐N1 plasmid were transfected into both HepG2 cells and HT1080 cells with the use of ASOR‐poly‐L‐lysine. At 24 and 48 h after transfection, the expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) was determined under fluorescent microscope. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated according to two‐compartment open system model with first‐order kinetics.RESULTS:  SPECT images showed that 125I‐ASOR was located only in liver/stomach and root of caudal vein / bladder at 10 min after injection. The 125I‐ASOR radioactivities of organs taken out from S–D rats were different at different times, and about 63% of 125I‐ASOR was located in the liver at 10 min after injection. At 30 min after injection a peak of radioactivity was seen in stomach. The times of these two radioactivity peaks were different. Immunohistochemical study of liver frozen sections showed that ASOR was combined mainly with hepatocyte membrane, especially in areas with rich blood flow. In vitro study showed that ASOR targeted specifically cells with asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGr). GFP expression was detected in HepG2 cells but not in HT1080 cells. Furthermore, the more quantity of pEGFP‐N1 transfected and the longer expression time, the higher GFP expression level was in HepG2 cells. The 125I‐ASOR pharmacokinetics equation for liver was Ct = 662216e−3.362t + 8896e−2343t. 125I‐ASOR was excreted from liver slowly after an initial rapid decrease. The pharmacokinetic equation for stomach was Ct = –114815e−1.7t + 1148153e−15t and the half‐life of 125I‐ASOR in stomach was 4.62 h.CONCLUSIONS:  ASOR prepared by us could be an efficient gene transfer vector, ASOR was distributed mainly in the liver and stomach and had high targeting specificity to hepatocytes or hepatic originating cells.
A THEORETICAL APPRECIATION OF THE ETHIC OF SOLIDARITY IN POLAND TWENTY‐FIVE YEARS AFTER
Authors: Beyer Gerald J. 
Published: May 2007

ABSTRACTThe remarkable movement known as Solidarity recently celebrated its twenty‐fifth anniversary in Poland. This essay provides a theoretical appreciation of the values and principles that guided and undergirded the movement, which greatly contributed to the fall of communism in Central and Eastern Europe. This systematic overview of the ethic of the Solidarity movement fills a lacuna in the field of ethics because ethicists who are interested in the concept of solidarity have largely overlooked the Polish experience of the 1980s. This essay attempts to describe the key ingredients of the Polish ethic of solidarity by analyzing both Polish treatises on the subject and accounts of events on the ground. It elaborates conceptual categories and describes characteristic features of the movement in order to provide a phenomenological account of the nature of solidarity embodied in Poland during this era. These categories and characteristics include unity among differences, the foundation of hope at the movement's roots, self‐sacrifice and heroism, promoting the equality and dignity of all, the centrality of participation, the affirmation of “bread and freedom,” an option for the poor, and the insistence on life in truth. Although this essay does not attempt to demonstrate the relevance of this “thick” ethic of solidarity to capitalist, democratic societies today, by way of conclusion it raises questions pertaining to the contemporary significance of the Polish ethic of solidarity.
FROM PRUDENCE TO MORALITY: A Case for the Morality of Some Forms of Nondualistic Mysticism
Authors: Zelinski Daniel 
Published: May 2007

ABSTRACTSeveral contemporary philosophers have charged that there is a conceptual tension between nondualistic types of mystical awareness—an awareness of some particular conception of the divine as an all‐pervasive unity within which there are no distinct substances—and the social character of morality. However, some nondualistic mystics have conceptualized enlightenment not only as being compatible with moral virtue—specifically, compassion and care—but as providing a foundation for it. I here offer a conceptual model for this grounding, at least according to Dōgen Zenji and Meister Eckhart. Briefly, the model suggests that some forms of nondualistic mystical awareness are accompanied by the mystics' prudential concerns extending to include the well‐being of “others” under their scope. Finally, utilizing this model, I suggest possible responses to two common arguments for the claim that nondualistic mysticism is essentially amoral.
WHAT ABOUT ISAAC?: Rereading Fear and Trembling and Rethinking Kierkegaardian Ethics
Authors: Simmons J. Aaron 
Published: May 2007

ABSTRACTIn this essay I offer a reading of Fear and Trembling that responds to critiques of Kierkegaardian ethics as being, as Brand Blanshard claims, “morally nihilistic,” as Emmanuel Levinas contends, ethically violent, and, as Alasdair MacIntyre charges, simply irrational. I argue that by focusing on Isaac's singularity as the very condition for Abraham's “ordeal,” the book presents a story about responsible subjectivity. Rather than standing in competition with the relation to God, the relation to other people is, thus, inscribed into this very relation. Fear and Trembling, I contend, advocates a bidirectional responsibility that is constitutive of subjectivity itself and, as such, actually resonates with certain aspects of Levinasian ethics. I conclude by suggesting that Abraham's ordeal is not due to the conflict between a nonreligious duty and the duty to God, but instead reflects a tension that is internal to the life of faith itself.
Muskoxen in the high Arctic‐temporal and spatial differences in body size
Authors: Lyberth B. , Landa A. , Nagy J. , Loison A. , Olesen C. R. , Gunn A. , Forchhammer M. C. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe life history of ungulates is affected by factors such as climate, population density and resource availability. With focus on the muskoxen Ovibos moschatus living in Kangerlussuaq in western Greenland, Jameson Land in north‐eastern Greenland and on Banks and Victoria Islands in northern Canada, we tested spatial variation in life‐history traits measured by mandibular growth. In accordance with expectations, we found that muskoxen in the southernmost and low Arctic area (Kangerlussuaq) grew faster, matured earlier, reproduced earlier, reached larger adult size and additionally had a higher reproduction than muskoxen living in the more northern areas. In the Kangerlussuaq population, mandible lengths in adult males changed temporally with density, with significant smaller adult males present in high population densities in western Greenland. It was especially the male mandible lengths that responded to environmental factors. In females, spatial differences were less pronounced than in males and is probably explained by females facing a trade‐off between investment in own growth and reproduction, whereas a large body size is more important for the males, which are exposed to sexual selection. This explanation was, furthermore, supported by the fact that the calf percentage was higher in western Greenland than in any of the other studied areas in spite of the density‐dependent effects detected within the male gender.
Parent–offspring associations in wintering brent geese: parental investment or mutual assistance?
Authors: Tinkler E. , Montgomery W. I. , Elwood R. W. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe continued parent–offspring associations in the Eastern Canadian High Arctic light‐bellied brent goose Branta bernicla hrota was examined to determine whether this is an example of continued parental investment or mutual assistance. Adults with juveniles spend more than twice as much time being vigilant and aggressive than do those without offspring. The loss of a partner, however, does not result in the remaining parent increasing parental care but does result in increased ‘self‐care’ by the juveniles. Neither parents nor single‐parent juveniles appear to pay an energetic cost relative to non‐parental adults and two‐parent juveniles, respectively. Differences in the feeding distribution of parents and non‐parents and equivalent or better physical condition suggests that families are able to maintain access to a superior food supply over the winter. Passive ‘assistance’ by juveniles may assist in maintaining this position in favoured areas, and this is achieved with little overt aggression. The present study thus provides no data that show a net cost to parents by remaining with their juveniles over the winter period. Thus, mutual assistance might be a better explanation of the prolonged association rather than a period of parental investment with an overall cost.
Semantic transparency and masked morphological priming: An ERP investigation
Authors: Morris Joanna , Frank Tiffany , Grainger Jonathan , Holcomb Phillip J. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe role of semantics in the segmentation of morphologically complex words was examined using event‐related potentials (ERPs) recorded to target words primed by semantically transparent (hunter–hunt,) opaque (corner–corn), and orthographically related (scandal–scan) masked primes. Behavioral data showed that only transparent items gave rise to priming. The ERP data showed both N250 and the N400 effects with transparent items generating greater priming than orthographic or opaque. Furthermore, priming effects across conditions revealed the existence of a significant linear trend, with transparent items showing the greatest effects and orthographic items the smallest, suggesting that these priming effects vary as a function of morphological structure and semantic transparency. The results are discussed in terms of a model of morphological processing.
Intracellular ascorbic acid inhibits transport of glucose by neurons, but not by astrocytes
Authors: Castro Maite A. , Pozo Miguel , Cortés Christian , García María de los Angeles , Concha Ilona I. , Nualart Francisco 
Published: May 2007

AbstractIt has been demonstrated that glutamatergic activity induces ascorbic acid (AA) depletion in astrocytes. Additionally, different data indicate that AA may inhibit glucose accumulation in primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons. Thus, our hypothesis postulates that AA released from the astrocytes during glutamatergic synaptic activity may inhibit glucose uptake by neurons. We observed that cultured neurons express the sodium‐vitamin C cotransporter 2 and the facilitative glucose transporters (GLUT) 1 and 3, however, in hippocampal brain slices GLUT3 was the main transporter detected. Functional activity of GLUTs was confirmed by means of kinetic analysis using 2‐deoxy‐d‐glucose. Therefore, we showed that AA, once accumulated inside the cell, inhibits glucose transport in both cortical and hippocampal neurons in culture. Additionally, we showed that astrocytes are not affected by AA. Using hippocampal slices, we observed that upon blockade of monocarboxylate utilization by α‐cyano‐4‐hydroxycinnamate and after glucose deprivation, glucose could rescue neuronal response to electrical stimulation only if AA uptake is prevented. Finally, using a transwell system of separated neuronal and astrocytic cultures, we observed that glutamate can reduce glucose transport in neurons only in presence of AA‐loaded astrocytes, suggesting the essential role of astrocyte‐released AA in this effect.
Characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers, isolated from ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.)
Authors: LEE SOK‐YOUNG , FAI WAN KAH , ZAKARIA MYRIANA , IBRAHIM HALIJAH , OTHMAN ROFINA YASMIN , GWAG JAE‐GYUN , RAO V. RAMANATHA , PARK YONG‐JIN 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe present study reports isolation and characterization of eight polymorphic microsatellite markers for Zingiber officinale Rosc. (Ginger). A total of 34 alleles were detected across the 20 accessions, with an average of 4.3 alleles per locus. Values for observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0 to 1.0 and from 0.23 to 0.67, respectively. The heterozygote deficits were observed at three loci. At the significance threshold (P < 0.05) of the eight loci, seven were found to have deviated from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, whereas significant linkage disequilibria were observed between 10 pairs of loci. Our data indicate the existence of moderate level of genetic diversity among the ginger accessions genotyped with eight markers.
Incidence and characterization of esophagitis following esophageal foreign body removal in dogs: 60 cases (1999–2003)
Authors: Rousseau Alexandre , Prittie Jennifer , Broussard John D. , Fox Philip R. , Hoskinson James 
Published: May 2007

AbstractObjective: To characterize the presence of esophagitis in dogs after esophagoscopy for diagnosis and treatment of esophageal foreign body and to relate the degree of esophageal injury to clinical signs and outcome.Design: Retrospective study.Animals, intervention, and measurements: Medical records of 60 dogs with esophageal foreign bodies diagnosed between January 1999 and December 2003 were reviewed. Information obtained from the medical records included age, breed, and sex; type and duration of clinical signs; physical examination, radiographic, and esophagoscopy findings; type and location of foreign body; surgical intervention; morbidity, and outcome. Animals were divided into 2 cohorts based upon the degree of esophageal injury detected during esophagoscopy: mild esophagitis or moderate‐to‐severe esophagitis. Data were then compared between the groups.Results: Dogs with moderate‐to‐severe esophagitis had a longer duration of clinical signs, were more likely to present for lethargy and regurgitation/vomiting, and had a longer time to recovery. This cohort had significantly greater morbidity including esophageal stricture, perforation, necrosis, and diverticulum formation, as well as aspiration pneumonia, pneumothorax, severe tracheal compression, and death. Dogs with mild esophagitis were more likely to present to the hospital for gagging.Conclusions: This study demonstrated a wide range of injury associated with esophageal foreign bodies. The degree of esophagitis appears to relate to the duration and severity of some of the clinical signs.