bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Understanding of and attitudes to organ donation and transplantation: a survey among Italian university students
Authors: Canova Daniele , De Bona Manuela , Ruminati Rino , Ermani Mario , Naccarato Remo , Burra Patrizia 
Published: March 2006

Abstract: Background: Students have a positive attitude to organ donation and transplantation, usually associated with their personal willingness to donate their organs after death. The aim of this study was to evaluate the opinions of university students on transplantation and organ donation, at a single Italian university.Methods: University undergraduates attending the first year on five different courses in 2001 were surveyed at Padua University by using an anonymous 13‐item questionnaire.Results: 97.2% of the students completed the questionnaire (77.4% females, mean age 20.4 yr); they were attending Medicine (33.8%), Agriculture (5.9%), Veterinary Medicine (11.4%), Psychology (18.5%) and Educational Sciences (30.4%). The majority was aware of the problem of the paucity of organ donations and deaths on the waiting list in Italy. Most students would accept transplantation in the case of a human donor (97%), an artificial organ (95%) or an animal donor (76%); and 87% of them were prepared to donate their own organs after death. No differences were seen when students attending science courses were compared with those attending art courses. Italian university students have a very positive attitude and willingness to donate their own organs after death, with no differences emerging as regards type of university education.
Oral candidiasis prevention in transplantation patients: a comparative study
Authors: Elad Sharon , Wexler Alon , Garfunkel Adi A. , Shapira Michael Y. , Bitan Menachem , Or Reuven 
Published: March 2006

Abstract:  Aim:  Oral candidiasis occurs commonly in haematopoietic –stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients carrying a risk of systemic candidemia and mortality. The aim of this pilot study was to design an effective protocol that prevents oral candidiasis and improves tolerability.Methods:  A prospective, randomized, longitudinal study with two treatment groups, (A) chlorhexidine (CHX) and (B) CHX combined with medium‐dose amphotericin B (AMB), was performed. The investigators were blinded to the treatment arm.Results:  No clinical signs of oral candidiasis were observed in any of the 20 patients. All patients experienced neutropenia and were treated with antibiotics. The duration of antibiotic treatment was longer in group A than that in group B. The difference in systemic anti‐fungal treatment was insignificant. Compliance was achieved in both groups, although tolerability was better in group A than that in group B.Conclusion:  Effective oral anti‐fungal prevention based on topical AMB was suggested. CHX mouthwash was also suggested to be effective as a single topical agent for the prevention of oral candidiasis in HSCT patients. The combination of topical CHX and medium‐dose AMB‐prophylactic protocol may achieve the same level of candidial prevention with better tolerability than that by AMB alone. More research is warranted.
Weight loss effect of dietary diacylglycerol in obese dogs
Authors: Umeda T. , Bauer J. E. , Otsuji K. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryObesity in dogs and cats have been increasingly recognized in recent years. Because obesity underlies various diseases, pet owners and veterinarians have an important responsibility to help animals lose weight and maintain their health. Diet therapy, however, is typically based on limited calorie intake and animals may suffer stress from hunger and this is also a concern to animal owners. For this reason, many clients drop out of weight control programmes. In the present study, we focused on dietary diacylglycerol (DAG) as a potentially effective ingredient for canine weight control without caloric restriction. We replaced a portion of the fat in dog food with either DAG or triacylglycerol (TAG), referred to as DAG or TAG diets here, and fed overweight beagle dogs (body condition score of 4 or higher) with either the DAG or TAG diet for a 6‐week period. Results indicated that, even though the food composition other than fat type were identical, dogs fed the DAG diet showed a statistically significant reduction in body weight averaging a 2.3% reduction within 6 weeks while the TAG‐fed dogs maintained their obese body weights. In addition, the DAG group also showed a reduction in body fat content, serum triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations. These results suggest the possibility of developing a pet food using DAG to control weight and serum lipid levels without compromising caloric intake.
Effects of probiotic bacteria in dogs with food responsive diarrhoea treated with an elimination diet*
Authors: Sauter S. N. , Benyacoub J. , Allenspach K. , Gaschen F. , Ontsouka E. , Reuteler G. , Cavadini C. , Knorr R. , Blum J. W. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryWe evaluated whether a probiotic supplementation in dogs with food responsive diarrhoea (FRD) has beneficial effects on intestinal cytokine patterns and on microbiota. Twenty‐one client‐owned dogs with FRD were presented for clinically needed duodeno‐ and colonoscopy and were enrolled in a prospective placebo (PL)‐controlled probiotic trial. Intestinal tissue samples and faeces were collected during endoscopy. Intestinal mRNA abundance of interleukin (IL)‐5, ‐10, ‐12p40 and ‐13, tumour necrosis factor‐α, transforming growth factor‐β1 and interferon (IFN)‐γ were analysed and numbers of Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Enterococcus spp. and Enterobacteriaceae and supplemented probiotic bacteria were determined in faeces. The Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity Index, a scoring system comprising general attitude, appetite, faecal consistency, defecation frequency, and vomitus, decreased in all dogs (p < 0.0001). Duodenal IL‐10 mRNA levels decreased (p = 0.1) and colonic IFN‐γ mRNA levels increased (p = 0.08) after probiotic treatment. Numbers of Enterobacteriaceae decreased in FRD dogs receiving probiotic cocktail (FRDPC) and FRD dogs fed PL (FRDPL) during treatment (p < 0.05), numbers of Lactobacillus spp. increased in FRDPC after when compared with FRDPC before (p < 0.1). One strain of PC was detected in five of eight FRDPC dogs after probiotic supplementation. In conclusion, all dogs clinically improved after treatment, but cytokine patterns were not associated with the clinical features irrespective of the dietary supplementation.
Digestion studies in captive Hippopotamidae: a group of large ungulates with an unusually low metabolic rate
Authors: Schwarm A. , Ortmann S. , Hofer H. , Streich W. J. , Flach E. J. , Kühne R. , Hummel J. , Castell J. C. , Clauss M. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryWe performed intake and digestibility studies in four common (Hippopotamus amphibius) and four pygmy (Hexaprotodon liberiensis) hippos from two zoological institutions, using acid detergent lignin as an internal marker for the quantification of faecal output. In the case of one pygmy hippo, where total faecal collection was also possible, there was no distinct difference between the two methods of faecal output quantification. Two animals from each species were tested on a conventional zoo diet of hay and concentrates (diet HC) and on hay only (diet H). The other two animals received fresh grass at two different levels of intake (diets G1 and G2). Dry matter (DM) intake was higher on HC than on H or G diets, and averaged 37 ± 11 for common and 35 ± 14 g/kg0.75 for pygmy hippos. There were no species differences in the average digestibility (aD) coefficients. Non‐dietary faecal nitrogen averaged 65 ± 4% of total faecal nitrogen, aD of crude protein (CP) averaged 67 ± 9% and true protein digestibility 89 ± 3%. Average digestibility of DM and crude fibre averaged 54 ± 11% and 45 ± 17%, respectively. In comparison with ruminants, hippos generally achieve lower aD for DM, organic matter and fibre parameters, but equal or higher aD CP coefficients. This is most likely due to the absence of significant fermentative activity in the hindgut and the corresponding low metabolic faecal nitrogen losses. Digestible energy intake was higher on HC than on H or G diets and averaged 0.30 ± 0.11 MJ/kg0.75 metabolic body mass. This value is extremely low for ungulates, supporting earlier suspicions that hippos have particularly low metabolic rates, and explains the proneness of this species to obesity in captivity when fed energy‐dense pelleted feeds.
Dietary probiotic supplementation and resulting effects on performance, health status, and microbial characteristics of primiparous sows
Authors: Böhmer B. M. , Kramer W. , Roth‐Maier D. A. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryIn an experiment with 33 first‐litter sows from day 90 of pregnancy to day 28 of lactation, the influence of a probiotic supplementation on weight performance, feed intake, litter sizes, litter weights, health status and microbiological profile was tested. Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134 was supplemented in a concentration of 5 × 108 CFU/kg feed to the gestation and lactation diets of gilts. The supplemented sows showed a significant higher improvement of feed intake (4.16 vs. 3.71 kg/day), litter size (9.2 vs. 7.7 piglets) and weight performance. The average live weight of the probiotic sows at day 28 of lactation was 11 kg higher than of the controls. The bacterial counts/g faeces (lactobacilli, Gram‐positive anaerobes, Gram‐negative anaerobes, Escherichia coli and enterococci) and the incidence of adhesive and haemolytic E. coli organisms revealed no significant differences between the sows of the two groups or their piglets. While the litter size cannot necessarily be assumed as a primary effect of the probiotic supplementation, the significantly better feed intake and weight performance might be partly due to the probiotic use and can prevent ‘starvation sterility’ of young sows after their first litter caused by reduced feed intake during lactation with high mobilization of body tissue accompanied with lack of energy.
Recovery of age‐dependent immunological deterioration in old mice by thyroxine treatment
Authors: El‐Shaikh K. A. , Gabry M. S. , Othman G. A. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryOn the basis that multiple interactions exist between thyroid hormones and immune system, and ageing is accompanied by changes in thyroid hormone secretion, it seems possible that thyroid hormones may be involved in the age‐related immune dysfunction. The present study was conducted to evaluate in vivo and in vitro effects of thyroxine (T4) treatment on both cell‐mediated and humoral immune responses of aged mice. In a trial to improve age‐associated immune dysfunction, T4 (0.2, 1.0 and 5.0 μg) was subcutaneously supplemented to BALB/c mice (over 18 months old) for 30 consecutive days. The present results showed that exogenous treatment of aged mice with T4 was associated with a marked increase in serum T4 level, and the total number of peripheral blood leukocytes as well as the total cellularity of thymus, spleen, peripheral lymph nodes (PLNs), mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and bone marrow (BM). T4 treatment also caused a significant increase in the total and differential numbers of peritoneal exudate cells (PECs), while it caused a slight increase in macrophages’ phagocytic activity of PEC. Moreover, T4 treatment elicited a statistically significant increase in both plaque‐forming cell and rosette‐forming cell responses. In vitro results showed that the addition of T4 at concentrations of 0.001, 0.005 and 0.025 μg/well substantially potentiated the ability of splenocytes from aged mice to proliferate in the presence of concanavalin‐A mitogen. Histological examination of thymuses from T4‐treated aged mice revealed that the cortex was preferentially enlarged and repopulated with immature thymocytes. The present study postulates that thyroid hormones may be involved in the observed decrease in the immune responsiveness during ageing, and that T4 treatment to aged mice is able to restore the age‐related decline of the immune efficiency.
Influence of diet type on the inclusion of plant origin active substances on morphological and histochemical characteristics of the stomach and jejunum walls in chicken
Authors: Jamroz D. , Wertelecki T. , Houszka M. , Kamel C. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryThree hundred and thirty‐six 1‐day‐old male Hubbard HI‐Ye broiler hybrids, kept in battery cages, were fed with diets based on maize (groups I and II) or wheat and barley (groups III and IV) and supplemented with or without plant extract (XT* 100 mg/kg) containing 5% carvacrol, 3% cinnamaldehyde and 2% of capsicum oleoresin. The morphological and histochemical examinations were carried out on days 21 and 42 of bird's age. The middle part of glandular part of the stomach and 30 mm long segment from the central part of the small intestine (jejunum) were taken out and then prepared for morphometrical and histochemical assays. Mobilization of mucocytes in superficial epithelium of the glandular stomach and increased secretion of neutral mucopolysaccharides and small amounts of sialomucins with or without local cell disruption with releasing of large amounts of mucus were observed in both ‘grain’ groups of 21‐day‐old birds fed with extract. In some animals, particularly those fed mixtures with plant extract, the folds of the proventriculum mucosa were fused into large, unshaped structures. In groups fed with plant extract the mucus secretion intensity and accumulation inside cells of the gastrointestinal mucosa were slightly higher. Morphological changes on gastrointestinal mucosa observed in young chickens fed XT were reduced in older animals. The results of this study showed that the increased releasing of large amounts of mucus and the creation of a thick layer of mucus on glandular stomach and wall of jejunum in chickens fed diets with plant extract could suggest villi‐related protective properties of the use of the carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde and capsaicin mixture. This can explain the reduced possibility of adhesion to epithelium and number of Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringes and fungi in the intestinal content of bird fed with XT supplemented diet. In morphometrical parameters of depth of jejunum crypt and height of villi, the influence of kind of grain and extract supplementation was observed in 21‐day‐old chickens only. The significant interaction between higher jejunum wall villi layer was observed only in chickens fed on maize diet supplemented with plant extract.
Use of polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of abdominal tuberculosis
Authors: Kulkarni Savita , Vyas Soumil , Supe Avinash , Kadival Gururaj 
Published: March 2006

AbstractBackground:  Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of abdominal tuberculosis is vitally important as it greatly reduces disease and treatment related morbidity and even mortality in extreme cases. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was evaluated for its feasibility as a diagnostic tool in abdominal tuberculosis (TB) in the Indian scenario.Methods:  PCR for the identification of M. tuberculosis amplified a 340 bp nucleotide sequence located within the 38 kDa protein gene of M. tuberculosis. Tissues for processing were obtained from patients suspected to have abdominal TB. These were from various sources such as abdominal lymph nodes, segments of intestine and bowel obtained at various times and in different ways such as laparoscopy, colectomy, bowel and lymph node resection. Fifty such patients had their tissues sent for PCR.Results:  PCR results were compared with histopathology (HP). Of the 50 samples, 31 were positive for abdominal TB by HP whereas 30 were positive by PCR. Twenty‐four of these were positive for both HP and PCR while of the seven samples positive for HP, five were negative and two gave inhibition by PCR. Six samples negative by HP were positive by PCR.Conclusion:  This study demonstrates that PCR can be used as an effective tool to diagnose abdominal TB.
Ulinastatin shows preventive effect on post‐endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis in a multicenter prospective randomized study
Authors: Fujishiro Hirofumi , Adachi Kyoichi , Imaoka Tomonori , Hashimoto Tomoyuki , Kohge Naruaki , Moriyama Nobuyuki , Suetsugu Hiroshi , Kawashima Kousaku , Komazawa Yoshinori , Ishimura Norihisa , Ishihara Shunji , Amano Yuji , Kinoshita Yoshikazu 
Published: March 2006

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a useful diagnostic and therapeutic procedure; however, ERCP occasionally causes post‐ERCP pancreatitis. The administration of gabexate mesilate has been reported to be effective for the prevention for post‐ERCP pancreatitis when given during and after the procedure. The aim of the present study was to investigate the preventive effect of the novel protease inhibitor ulinastatin on post‐ERCP pancreatitis.Methods:  One hundred and thirty‐nine patients who underwent the ERCP procedure were studied. These patients were randomly divided into three groups based on the agent and dose given during and following the ERCP procedure: gabexate mesilate (900 mg), high‐dose ulinastatin (450 000 units) and low‐dose ulinastatin (150 000 units). Serum amylase, interleukin (IL)‐6 and IL‐8 levels and plasma polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase (PMN‐E) activity were measured after ERCP. In addition, post‐ERCP hyperamylasemia and post‐ERCP pancreatitis were recorded.Results:  There were no significant differences in serum amylase, IL‐6 and IL‐8 levels and PMN‐E activity after ERCP procedure between the three groups. Post‐ERCP pancreatitis was observed in two (4.3%), three (6.5%) and four (8.5%) cases in the gabexate mesilate, high‐dose ulinastatin and low‐dose ulinastatin groups, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the addition of endoscopic sphincterotomy during the ERCP procedure was the only significant risk factor for the development of post‐ERCP hyperamylasemia and post‐ERCP pancreatitis (P = 0.03 and P = 0.04, respectively), but there was no significant difference in the occurrence of post‐ERCP hyperamylasemia and post‐ERCP pancreatitis between the three groups receiving different preventative treatments.Conclusion:  The administration of low‐ and high‐dose ulinastatin has similar effects to high‐dose gabexate in the prevention of post‐ERCP pancreatitis.
Radiation therapy alone for stage I (UICC T1N0M0) squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus: Indications for surgery or combined chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Ishikawa Hitoshi , Sakurai Hideyuki , Tamaki Yoshio , Nonaka Tetsuo , Yamakawa Michitaka , Saito Yoshihiro , Kitamoto Yoshizumi , Higuchi Keiko , Hasegawa Masatoshi , Nakano Takashi 
Published: March 2006

AbstractBackground and Aim:  The aim of this study was to clarify the efficacy and limitations of radiation therapy (RT) for superficial esophageal carcinoma, and to explore the indications for more aggressive therapy, such as combined chemo‐radiotherapy.Methods:  Sixty‐eight patients with stage I (UICC T1N0M0) esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated by definitive RT alone were analyzed. Brachytherapy was administered in 36 patients as a boost, and the prescribed doses were 10 Gy (5 Gy × 2 times) at a low dose rate (19 patients) and 9 Gy (3 Gy × 3 times) at a high dose rate (17 patients). Recurrence patterns and survival rates were assessed and the factors predisposing to recurrences after RT were statistically investigated by univariate analysis.Results:  The 5‐year cause‐specific survival rate and the locoregional control rate were 79.9% and 82.1%, respectively. No case of recurrence or disease‐related death was observed in any of the patients with mucosal cancer. Among the cases with the cancer invading the submucosa, there were 12 cases with locoregional recurrence and two cases with distant metastases. In cases of submucosal esophageal cancer, the tumor length was the only statistically significant factor predicting locoregional control. The 5‐year locoregional control rate in cases with a short length of the tumor (≤5 cm) was 83.3%, whereas the corresponding rate in cases with the tumor measuring >5 cm in length was 57.8% (P = 0.036). Patients treated by additional brachytherapy exhibited better cause‐specific survival and locoregional control rates than those receiving external RT alone, however, the addition had no statistically significant influence on the outcome.Conclusions:  RT was a successful treatment for stage I esophageal cancer, and the treatment outcome using RT was nearly comparable to that of surgery. However, it is suggested that chemo‐radiation should be considered in inoperable cases of submucosal cancer when the tumor is more than 5 cm in length.
Applicability of the IAIHG scoring system to the diagnosis of antimitochondrial/anti‐M2 seropositive variant form of autoimmune hepatitis
Authors: Farias Alberto Queiroz , Gonçalves Luciana Lofego , Bittencourt Paulo Lisboa , De Melo Evandro Sobroza , Abrantes‐Lemos Clarice Pires , Porta Gilda , Nakhle Maria Cristina , Carrilho Flair Jose , Cancado Eduardo Luiz Rachid 
Published: March 2006

AbstractBackground and Aims:  According to the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (IAIHG) criteria, circulating antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) do not support the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). The aims of this study were to characterize a subset of patients with AIH who have AMA and antiM2 seropositivity, and to assess the applicability of the revised scoring system of the IAIHG in the diagnosis of this variant form of AIH.Methods:  Eighteen patients with AMA‐AIH were enrolled and compared with 206 classical AIH and 85 primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) controls. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification with sequence‐specific primers, and biopsies were blindly reevaluated.Results:  The patients with AMA‐AIH were, on average, older than patients with classical AIH and had an hepatocellular pattern of elevated liver enzymes, hypergammaglobulinemia and lower levels of cholesterol, when compared with PBC controls. There were no histological signs of PBC or overlapping forms in any AMA‐AIH biopsies. The majority of patients with AMA‐AIH carried HLA antigens associated with classical AIH (DRB1*03, n = 5; DRB1*04, n = 7, and DRB1*13, n = 6). Pretreatment scores classified all AMA‐AIH patients with probable (n = 17) or improbable (n = 1) AIH. After treatment, only 28% of AMA‐AIH patients reached scores for definite diagnosis, compared with 90.1% of AIH‐1 and 96.4 AIH‐2. In the AMA‐AIH group, only patients who relapsed after immunosuppressive drug withdrawal could be classified with definite AIH.Conclusions:  AMA‐AIH shares common features with classical AIH. The diagnosis of AMA‐AIH may be swayed by the IAIHG criteria, rendering questionable the applicability of the revised scoring system to this variant form of AIH.