bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prior chemoradiotherapy is associated with a higher life‐threatening complication rate after palliative insertion of metal stents in patients with oesophageal cancer
Authors: LECLEIRE S. , DI FIORE F. , BEN‐SOUSSAN E. , ANTONIETTI M. , HELLOT M.‐F. , PAILLOT B. , LEREBOURS E. , DUCROTTÉ P. , MICHEL P. 
Published: June 2006

SummaryBackgroundSelf‐expanding metal stents are used routinely to palliate dysphagia due to oesophageal cancer.Study aimTo compare the frequency of life‐threatening complications after self‐expanding metal stent insertion, depending on whether patients received prior chemoradiotherapy or no treatment.Patients and methodsDuring 7 years, 116 consecutive patients were treated at a single centre in a palliative intent by insertion of self‐expanding metal stent for dysphagia due to an oesophageal cancer. Patients were retrospectively separated into two groups: patients with chemoradiotherapy before self‐expanding metal stent insertion (group 1, n = 56) and patients with no treatment before or after self‐expanding metal stent insertion (group 2, n = 60). Life‐threatening complications were compared and predictive risk factors of postprocedure complications were identified.ResultsMedian dysphagia was significantly improved during the first month (grade 3 to grade 1 in the two groups). Early and late major complications occurred more frequently in group 1 (23.2% vs. 3.3%; P < 0.002 and 21.6% vs. 5.1%; P < 0.02 respectively). Prior chemoradiotherapy was the only independent predictive factor of postprocedure major complications, with an odds ratio of 5.59 (CI 95% 1.7–18.1).ConclusionsLife‐threatening complications after palliative self‐expanding metal stent placement seem to occur more frequently in patients with prior chemoradiotherapy. Prevention of these severe complications should be considered before stenting.
Review article: the modern diagnosis and management of haemochromatosis
Authors: ADAMS P. C. 
Published: June 2006

SummaryHaemochromatosis is the most common genetic disease in populations of European ancestry. Despite estimates based on genetic testing in Caucasian populations of 1 in 227, many physicians consider haemochromatosis to be a rare disease.The diagnosis can be elusive because of the non‐specific nature of the symptoms. Of all the symptoms, liver disease has the most consistent relationship to haemochromatosis and the prognosis of haemochromatosis is most closely linked to the degree of iron overload.With the discovery of the HFE gene in 1996, comes new insights into the pathogenesis of the disease and new diagnostic strategies. However, a growing number of new iron‐related genes have been discovered and linked to other iron overload syndromes.
Cysteinyl leukotrienes: multi‐functional mediators in allergic rhinitis
Authors: Peters‐Golden M. , Gleason M. M. , Togias A. 
Published: June 2006

SummaryCysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) are a family of inflammatory lipid mediators synthesized from arachidonic acid by a variety of cells, including mast cells, eosinophils, basophils, and macrophages. This article reviews the data for the role of CysLTs as multi‐functional mediators in allergic rhinitis (AR). We review the evidence that: (1) CysLTs are released from inflammatory cells that participate in AR, (2) receptors for CysLTs are located in nasal tissue, (3) CysLTs are increased in patients with AR and are released following allergen exposure, (4) administration of CysLTs reproduces the symptoms of AR, (5) CysLTs play roles in the maturation, as well as tissue recruitment, of inflammatory cells, and (6) a complex inter‐regulation between CysLTs and a variety of other inflammatory mediators exists.
Alginic acid has anti‐anaphylactic effects and inhibits inflammatory cytokine expression via suppression of nuclear factor‐κB activation
Authors: Jeong H.‐J. , Lee S.‐A. , Moon P.‐D. , Na H.‐J. , Park R.‐K. , Um J.‐Y. , Kim H.‐M. , Hong S.‐H. 
Published: June 2006

SummaryBackground
Alginic acid is comprised of complex polymerized polysaccharides, and can be chemically extracted from seaweed. Alginic acid has an inhibitory effect on histamine release, but its molecular mechanisms are not well understood.Objective
To investigate the effect of alginic acid on the mast cell‐mediated anaphylactic and inflammatory reaction using in vivo and in vitro models and elucidate its molecular mechanisms.Materials and method
The effect of alginic acid on an allergy model was analysed by anaphylaxis, a histidine decarboxylase (HDC) assay, and a histamine assay. Cytokine production was analysed by means of ELISA. Cytokine expression was analysed by means of RT‐PCR, and Western blotting. Transcription factor activity was analysed by a luciferase assay and a transcription factor‐enzyme linked immunoassay.Results
Alginic acid dose dependently inhibited compound 48/80‐induced systemic anaphylaxis with doses of 0.25–1 g/kg 1 h (P<0.01, n=6) and significantly inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis by 54.8%. Alginic acid (0.01–1 μg/mL) inhibited histamine release from serum and peritoneal mast cells (P<0.01). All these effects were stronger than those of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG), the reference drug tested. Alginic acid also inhibited HDC expression and activity on the phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)+A23187‐stimulated human mast cell line, HMC‐1 cells. Moreover, alginic acid significantly inhibited the production of PMA+A23187‐induced inflammatory cytokines, IL‐1β and TNF‐α, but not that of IL‐6 or IL‐8. In activated HMC‐1 cells, the expression level of nuclear factor (NF)‐κB/Rel A protein increased in the nucleus, whereas the level of NF‐κB/Rel A in the nucleus was decreased by alginic acid treatment. In addition, alginic acid (0.01 μg/mL) decreased the PMA+A23187‐induced luciferase activity and DNA‐binding activity.Conclusion
The present results indicate that alginic acid has potent anti‐anaphylactic and anti‐inflammatory properties.
Fumaric acid esters are effective in chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and suppress macrophage infiltration
Authors: Schilling S , Goelz S , Linker R , Luehder F , Gold R 
Published: June 2006

Summary
Fumaric acid esters (FAE) have proven their therapeutic efficacy in psoriasis, a Th1 mediated skin disease. More recently, preliminary data have suggested an activity in multiple sclerosis (MS) as well. To investigate further possible mechanisms of action of these compounds in inflammatory diseases, we studied the FAE methyl hydrogen fumarate (MHF) and dimethyl fumarate (DMF) in chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced by immunization of C57BL/6 mice with MOG peptide aa 35–55. Preventive treatment with these FAE was delivered twice a day by oral gavage. Both esters had a significant therapeutic effect on the disease course and histology showed a strongly reduced macrophage inflammation in the spinal cord. Multiparameter cytokine analysis from blood detected an increase of IL-10 in the treated animals. We conclude that the underlying biological activity of FAE in EAE is complex and, to elucidate the molecular mechanisms, further investigation is needed.
Antibodies targeting the calcium binding skeletal muscle protein calsequestrin are specific markers of ophthalmopathy and sensitive indicators of ocular myopathy in patients with Graves’ disease
Authors: Gopinath B , Musselman R , Beard N , El-Kaissi S , Tani J , Adams C-L , Wall J R 
Published: June 2006

Summary
We have identified several eye muscle antigens and studied the significance of the corresponding serum autoantibodies in patients with Graves’ disease. Of these antigens, only calsequestrin is expressed more in eye muscle than other skeletal muscles, which could explain at least partly the specific involvement of eye muscle in patients with Graves’ disease. Earlier, we found a modest relationship between anti-calsequestrin antibodies and ophthalmopathy, but in that study we used calsequestrin prepared from rabbit heart muscle and measured antibodies by immunoblotting. We have reinvestigated the prevalences of anti-calsequestrin antibodies in larger groups of well-characterized patients with thyroid autoimmunity with and without ophthalmopathy and control patients and healthy subjects, using standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay incorporating highly purified rabbit skeletal muscle calsequestrin, which has a 97% homology with human calsequestrin, as antigen. Anti-calsequestrin antibodies were detected in 78% of patients with active congestive ophthalmopathy, in 92% of those with active inflammation and eye muscle involvement, but in only 22% of patients with chronic, ‘burnt out’ disease. Tests were also positive in 5% of patients with Graves’ hyperthyroidism without evident ophthalmopathy (two patients) and one patient with ‘watery eyes’ but no other clear signs of congestive ophthalmopathy and IgA nephropathy and no known thyroid disease, but in no patient with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, toxic nodular goitre, non-toxic multi-nodular goitre or diabetes, or age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. In serial studies of all 11 patients with Graves’ hyperthyroidism who had active ophthalmopathy at the time of the first clinic visit, or developed eye signs during the first 6 months, and positive anti-calsequestrin antibodies in at least one sample, anti-calsequestrin antibodies correlated with the onset of ocular myopathy in six patients. Antibodies targeting calsequestrin appear to be specific markers for ophthalmopathy and sensitive indicators of the ocular myopathy subtype of ophthalmopathy in patients with thyroid autoimmunity. However, these results must be considered preliminary until a large prospective study of patients with newly diagnosed Graves’ hyperthyroidism, in which serum levels of calsequestrin antibodies are correlated with clinical changes and orbital eye muscle and connective tissue/fat volumes, has been carried out.
Fertility outcomes in women with hypopituitarism
Authors: Hall R. , Manski‐Nankervis J. , Goni N. , Davies M. C. , Conway G. S. 
Published: June 2006

SummaryBackground  Women with hypopituitarism are known to have a poor outcome once pregnancy has been achieved by ovulation induction. There are no data, however, recording the efficacy of ovulation induction and pregnancy rates in this group of subfertile women.Methods  The outcome of fertility treatments in all 19 women with hypopituitarism attending the fertility clinics of University College London Hospitals over the past 20 years was audited.Results  Ovulation was achieved in almost all women (95%) but occurred in only 60% of treatment cycles. Pregnancy was achieved in 47% of women or 11% of cycles resulting in a live birth rate of 6·7% per cycle. Seven of the 18 pregnancies (39%) miscarried. Only 42% of women treated achieved a live birth.Conclusion  Ovulation induction in women with hypopituitarism yields relatively low pregnancy rates in comparison to other causes of anovulation and a high miscarriage rate. Pituitary hormone deficiency beyond gonadotrophins has a major adverse effect on achieving pregnancy.
Polymorphisms in the interleukin‐6 receptor gene are associated with body mass index and with characteristics of the metabolic syndrome
Authors: Esteve Eduardo , Villuendas Gemma , Mallolas Judith , Vendrell Joan , López‐Bermejo Abel , Rodríguez Matilde , Recasens Mónica , Ricart Wifredo , San Millán José L. , Escobar‐Morreale Héctor , Richart Cristóbal , Fernández‐Real José Manuel 
Published: June 2006

SummaryObjective  Low‐grade inflammation has been related to obesity, insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome. The Asp358Ala variant and the CA‐repeat polymorphism in the interleukin‐6 receptor (IL‐6R) gene have been reported to be associated with obesity in Pima Indians and Spanish women, respectively. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between these polymorphisms and obesity in a Mediterranean‐Caucasian population, and to determine whether this polymorphism was related to the metabolic syndrome as defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program – Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP/ATP‐III) criteria.Design  Cross‐sectional.Patients  Three hundred and ninety subjects from the general population.Methods  The Asp358Ala and CA‐repeat polymorphisms were analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism or capillary electrophoresis, respectively.Results  Both polymorphisms were in strong linkage disequilibrium, Asp358 alleles being associated with 149 CA‐repeat alleles (χ2 = 76·275, P < 0·0001). Therefore, only the association of the Asp358Ala variant with obesity and the metabolic syndrome was assessed in the whole series of subjects. Subjects homozygous for Asp358 alleles had statistically higher body mass index (BMI) compared with Ala358 carriers (27·7 ± 5·41 vs. 26·6 ± 4·96 kg/m2; P < 0·05). Moreover, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in carriers of the Asp358 allele compared with Ala358 homozygotes (12·7%vs. 0·0%; P = 0·01). This relationship remained significant after adjusting for age, insulin resistance, sex and BMI.Conclusions  The Asp358Ala and CA‐repeat polymorphisms in the IL‐6R gene are associated with obesity and characteristics of the metabolic syndrome in our population of Mediterranean subjects.
Peripheral odontogenic fibroma (WHO type) of the newborn: a case report
Authors: MARTELLI‐JÚNIOR H. , MESQUITA R. A. , DE PAULA A. M. B. , PÊGO S. P. B. , SOUZA L. N. 
Published: June 2006

Summary.  Aim.  The present paper reports a case of peripheral odontogenic fibroma (POF) (WHO type) in a newborn. The differential diagnosis and treatment were discussed.Background.  POF is well described in the literature, but this is the first report in a newborn.Patient.  A 4‐month‐old female newborn was referred to our department because of an exophytic, sessile, firm, and well‐delimited lesion on the right upper alveolar ridge. The covering mucosa was apparently normal. The lesion measuring 10 × 3 mm was present since birth. The clinical diagnosis of congenital granular cell tumour (congenital epulis) or dental lamina cyst of the newborn was made. A conservative excisional biopsy was performed under local anaesthesia, and the specimen was submitted to histopathological examination.Results.  The microscopic examination revealed a pattern of POF (WHO type). Normal primary incisors teeth eruption, and no signs of recurrence were noted on 16 months follow‐up.Conclusion.  Despite the rarity of POF in a newborn, this lesion should be included as a possible diagnosis to focal gingival growth.
Habitat shape, metapopulation processes and the dynamics of multispecies predator–prey interactions
Authors: BULL JAMES C. , PICKUP NICOLA J. , HASSELL MICHAEL P. , BONSALL MICHAEL B. 
Published: June 2006

SummaryThe effects of habitat shape, connectivity and the metapopulation processes of persistence and extinction are explored in a multispecies resource–consumer interaction.The spatial dynamics of the indirect interaction between two prey species (Callosobruchus chinensis,Callosobruchus maculatus) and a predator (Anisopteromalus calandrae) are investigated and we show how the persistence time of this interaction is altered in different habitat configurations by the presence of an apparent competitor.Habitat structure has differential effects on the dynamics of the resource–consumer interaction. Across all habitat types, the pairwise interaction betweenC. chinensisandA. calandraeis highly prone to extinction, while the interaction betweenC. maculatusandA. calandraeshows sustained long‐term fluctuations. Contrary to expectations from theory, habitat shape has no significant effect on persistence time of the full, three‐species resource–consumer assemblage.A stochastic metapopulation model for a range of habitat configurations, incorporating different forms of regulatory processes, highlights that it is the spatially explicit population dynamics rather than the shape of the metapopulation that is the principal determinant of interaction persistence time.
A functional response model of a predator population foraging in a patchy habitat
Authors: NACHMAN GÖSTA 
Published: June 2006

Summary

Functional response models (e.g. Holling's disc equation) that do not take the spatial distributions of prey and predators into account are likely to produce biased estimates of predation rates.
To investigate the consequences of ignoring prey distribution and predator aggregation, a general analytical model of a predator population occupying a patchy environment with a single species of prey is developed.
The model includes the density and the spatial distribution of the prey population, the aggregative response of the predators and their mutual interference.
The model provides explicit solutions to a number of scenarios that can be independently combined: the prey has an even, random or clumped distribution, and the predators show a convex, sigmoid, linear or no aggregative response.
The model is parameterized with data from an acarine predator–prey system consisting of Phytoseiulus persimis and Tetranychus urticae inhabiting greenhouse cucumbers.
The model fits empirical data quite well and much better than if prey and predators were assumed to be evenly distributed among patches, or if the predators were distributed independently of the prey.
The analyses show that if the predators do not show an aggregative response it will always be an advantage to the prey to adopt a patchy distribution. On the other hand, if the predators are capable of responding to the distribution of prey, then it will be an advantage to the prey to be evenly distributed when its density is low and switch to a more patchy distribution when its density increases. The effect of mutual interference is negligible unless predator density is very high.
The model shows that prey patchiness and predator aggregation in combination can change the functional response at the population level from type II to type III, indicating that these factors may contribute to stabilization of predator–prey dynamics.
Areas of endemism and distribution patterns for Neotropical Piper species (Piperaceae)
Authors: Quijano‐Abril Mario Alberto , Callejas‐Posada Ricardo , Miranda‐Esquivel Daniel Rafael 
Published: June 2006

AbstractAim  The study aimed to establish areas of endemism and distribution patterns for Neotropical species of the genus Piper in the Neotropical and Andean regions by means of parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) and track‐compatibility analysis.Location  The study area includes the Neotropical region and the Northern Andean region (Páramo‐Punan subregion).Methods  We used distribution information from herbarium specimens and recent monographic revisions for 1152 species of Piper from the Neotropics. First, a PAE was attempted in order to delimit the areas of endemism. Second, we performed a track‐compatibility analysis to establish distribution patterns for Neotropical species of Piper. Terminology for grouping Piper is based on recent phylogenetic analyses.Results  The PAE yielded 104 small endemic areas for the genus Piper, 80 of which are in the Caribbean, Amazonian and Paranensis subregions of the Neotropical region, and 24 in the Páramo‐Punan subregion of the Andean region. Track‐compatibility analysis revealed 26 generalized tracks, one in the Páramo‐Punan subregion (Andean region), 19 in the Neotropical region, and six connecting the Andean and Neotropical regions. Both the generalized tracks and endemic areas indicate that distribution of Piper species is restricted to forest areas in the Andes, Amazonia, Chocó, Central America, the Guayana Shield and the Brazilian Atlantic coast.Main conclusions  Piper should not be considered an Andean‐centred group as it represents two large species components with distributions centred in the Amazonian and Andean regions. Furthermore, areas of greater species richness and/or endemism are restricted to lowland habitats belonging to the Neotropical region. The distribution patterns of Neotropical species of Piper could be explained by recent events in the Neotropical region, as is the case for the track connecting Chocó and Central America, where most of the species rich groups of the genus are found. Two kinds of event could explain the biogeography of a large part of the Piper taxa with Andean–Amazonian distribution: pre‐Andean and post‐Andean events.
Biogeography and molecular phylogeny of the genus Schizothorax (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) in China inferred from cytochrome b sequences
Authors: He Dekui , Chen Yifeng 
Published: June 2006

AbstractAim  To test a vicariant speciation hypothesis derived from geological evidence of large‐scale changes in drainage patterns in the late Miocene that affected the drainages in the south‐eastern Tibetan Plateau.Location  The Tibetan Plateau and adjacent areas.Methods  The cytochrome b DNA sequences of 30 species of the genus Schizothorax from nine different river systems were analysed. These DNA sequences were analysed using parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods. The approximately unbiased and Shimodaira–Hasegawa tests were applied to evaluate the statistical significance of the shortest trees relative to alternative hypotheses. Dates of divergences between lineages were estimated using the nonparametric rate smoothing method, and confidence intervals of dates were obtained by parametric bootstrapping.Results  The phylogenetic relationships recovered from molecular data were inconsistent with traditional taxonomy, but apparently reflected geographical associations with rivers. Within the genus Schizothorax, we observed a divergence between the lineages from the Irrawaddy–Lhuit and Tsangpo–Parlung rivers, and tentatively dated this vicariant event back to the late Miocene (7.3–6.8 Ma). We also observed approximately simultaneous geographical splits within drainages of the south‐eastern Tibetan Plateau, the Irrawaddy, the Yangtze and the Mekong–Salween rivers in the late Miocene (7.1–6.2 Ma).Main conclusions  Our molecular evidence tentatively highlights the importance of palaeoriver connections and the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau in understanding the evolution of the genus Schizothorax. Molecular estimates of divergence times allowed us to date these vicariant scenarios back to the late Miocene, which agrees with geological suggestions for the separation of these drainages caused by tectonic uplift in south‐eastern Tibet. Our results indicated the substantial role of vicariant‐based speciation in shaping the current distribution pattern of the genus Schizothorax.