bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Shock wave induced cytoskeletal and morphological deformations in a human renal carcinoma cell line
Authors: Moosavi‐Nejad S. Fatemeh , Hosseini S. Hamid R. , Satoh Makoto , Takayama Kazuyoshi 
Published: March 2006

Effects of shock waves on the morphology and cytoskeleton of a human renal carcinoma cell line (ACHN) were investigated in vitro. ACHN monolayer cultured on a cover slide glass was treated with 10 shots of focused underwater shock waves, with 16 MPa peak pressure at the focal area of a piezoceramic shock wave generator. After exposure to the shock wave, based on the severity of morphological deformations of the treated cells, the monolayer was divided into three morphological areas; focal, marginal and intact. Morphological deformations were found to be associated with disorganization of the intracellular cytoskeletal filaments. Deformation of the cytoskeletal proteins in the treated cells were separately studied with respect to the location of the cells within the three morphological areas. Among three major cytoskeletal proteins, actin and tubulin, but not vimentin, were affected by the shock waves. The deformed cells reorganized their cytoskeletal network within 3 h with a pattern similar to the control, indicating the transient characteristic of the shock wave induced cytoskeletal damage in the surviving cells. The remaining cell fragments on the slide glass, which contained short actin filaments, indicated the important role of shear stress in damaging the cytoskeletal fibers by shock waves. (Cancer Sci 2006; 97: 296–304)
Comparison of the effects of fasting morning, fasting evening and fed bedtime administration of tenatoprazole on intragastric pH in healthy volunteers: a randomized three‐way crossover study
Authors: THOMSON A. B. R. , COHEN P. , FICHEUX H. , FIORENTINI P. , DOMAGALA F. , HOMERIN M. , TACCOEN A. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractBackground  The effectiveness of proton pump inhibitors is influenced by meals and administration time.Aim  To compare the effects on intragastric acidity of times of dosing of tenatoprazole, a novel imidazopyridine‐based proton pump inhibitor with a prolonged plasma half‐life.Methods  This randomized three‐period crossover study included 12 Helicobacter pylori‐negative healthy subjects, who received tenatoprazole 40 mg either fasting at 7.00 am, fasting at 7.00 pm or fed at 9.30 pm for 7 days, with a 2‐week washout between periods. Twenty‐four hour intragastric pH was monitored on day 7 of each period.Results  On day 7, median 24‐h pH was 4.7, 5.1 and 4.7 after breakfast, dinner and bedtime dosing, respectively (P = 0.11), whereas night‐time pH was 4.2, 5.0 and 4.4 (P = 0.13). The mean 24‐h percentage of time over pH 4 was 62, 72 and 64 after breakfast, dinner and bedtime dosing, respectively (N.S.), and 54, 68 and 56 during night‐time (P = 0.06). Nocturnal acid breakthrough incidence decreased from 100% at baseline to 83%, 55% and 75% after 7.00 am, 7.00 pm and 9.30 pm dosing, respectively (P = 0.18), and its mean duration dropped from 6.2 to 2.8, 1.0 and 2.2 h, respectively (P < 0.05).Conclusion  Seven‐day administration of tenatoprazole provides a prolonged duration of acid suppression, especially during the night‐time, with little effect of food or time of dosing.
Meta‐analysis: colorectal and small bowel cancer risk in patients with Crohn's disease
Authors: CANAVAN C. , ABRAMS K. R. , MAYBERRY J. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryBackground  Crohn's disease is associated with small bowel cancer whilst risk of colorectal cancer is less clear.Aim  To ascertain the combined estimates of relative risk of these cancers in Crohn's disease.Methods  MEDLINE was searched to identify relevant papers. Exploding references identified additional publications. When two papers reviewed the same cohort, the later study was used.Results  Meta‐analysis showed overall colorectal cancer relative risk in Crohn's disease as 2.5 (1.3–4.7), 4.5 (1.3–14.9) for patients with colonic disease and 1.1 (0.8–1.5) in ileal disease. Meta‐regression showed reduction in relative risk over the past 30 years. Subgroup analysis showed Scandinavia had significantly lower colorectal cancer relative risk than the UK and North America. Cumulative risk analysis showed 10 years following diagnosis of Crohn's disease relative risk of colorectal cancer is 2.9% (1.5%–5.3%). Meta‐analysis showed small bowel cancer relative risk in Crohn's disease is 33.2 (15.9–60.9). Small bowel cancer relative risk has not significantly reduced over the last 30 years.Conclusion  Relative risk of colorectal and small bowel cancers are significantly raised in Crohn's disease. Cumulative risk of colorectal cancer of 2.9% at 10 years suggests a potential benefit from routine screening. However, the value of screening requires rigorous appraisal.
Personal view: a potential novel treatment for fatigue complicating chronic liver disease – how should its efficacy be evaluated?
Authors: JONES E. A. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryProfound fatigue is a clinically significant complication of chronic liver disease. A mechanism of fatigue in experimental animals and male athletes appears to be increased serotoninergic neurotransmission in the brain. Recently, attempts have been made to assess the efficacy of a serotonin antagonist, specifically the 5‐HT3 receptor subtype antagonist, ondansetron, in ameliorating fatigue in patients with chronic liver disease.However, the results of a randomized controlled trial of ondansetron for fatigue in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis did not indicate that ondansetron was either effective or ineffective. The reasons for the uncertain outcome of the randomized controlled trial are not clear. One contributing factor may have been the use of subjective indices of fatigue as primary efficacy endpoints. There is a need to develop objective quantitative primary efficacy endpoints for use in trials of therapy for fatigue.Another contributing factor may relate to the conduct of a randomized controlled trial not invariably being the optimal approach to resolve a specific clinical issue, particularly when the application of statistical methods yields equivocal findings. When the results of a randomized controlled trial are indecisive, findings based on clinical judgement, medicine's most important asset, should be carefully evaluated.
Systematic review: the management of pouchitis
Authors: PARDI D. S. , SANDBORN W. J. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryPouchitis is the most common complication following proctocolectomy and ileal pouch‐anal anastomosis in patients with ulcerative colitis. We aim at discussing relevant information on epidemiology, clinical features, risk factors, diagnostic testing, differential diagnosis and treatment of this idiopathic inflammatory condition.A computerized search of PubMed was performed with the search term ‘pouchitis’, limited to English papers on humans. This strategy identified 514 references. Relevant articles were selected from this list. In addition, the reference list for each of the selected articles was reviewed to identify any additional references.Pouchitis occurs in up to 60% of patients after ileal pouch‐anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis, and has characteristic clinical, endoscopic and histological features. The most important test for diagnosis is pouch endoscopy with biopsy. Antibiotics remain the mainstay of treatment, and other options are discussed for those patients who are refractory to antibiotic therapy.
Prolonged n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation ameliorates hepatic steatosis in patients with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease: a pilot study
Authors: CAPANNI M. , CALELLA F. , BIAGINI M. R. , GENISE S. , RAIMONDI L. , BEDOGNI G. , SVEGLIATI‐BARONI G. , SOFI F. , MILANI S. , ABBATE R. , SURRENTI C. , CASINI A. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryBackground  Recent studies suggest a role of n‐3 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐3 PUFA) as peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐α ligands in improving non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rodents. However, data in humans are still lacking.Aim  To evaluate the efficacy of prolonged PUFA supplementation in patients with NAFLD.Methods  Fifty‐six patients with NAFLD were enrolled. Among the overall eligible patients, 42 assumed n‐3 PUFA 1‐g capsule daily for 12 months, whereas 14 refused the treatment and were analysed as controls. All patients underwent haematochemical and ultrasound follow‐up.Results  Polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation significantly decreased serum aspartate transaminase (P = 0.003), alanine transaminase (P = 0.002), γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase (P = 0.03), triglycerides (P = 0.02) and fasting glucose (P = 0.02) in comparison with controls. Circulating arachidonate and n‐6/n‐3 fatty acid ratio was reduced (P = 0.0002, and P = 0.0001 respectively) in treated patients. Moreover, ultrasonography demonstrated improvement of liver echotexture after PUFA (P = 0.0001), and increase of Doppler perfusion index (P = 0.001), whereas no significant changes occurred in controls.Conclusions  Supplementation with n‐3 PUFA improves biochemical, ultrasonographic and haemodynamic features of liver steatosis. Our study supports the efficacy of n‐3 PUFA as a new therapeutic approach in the treatment of NAFLD.
48 weeks pegylated interferon alpha‐2a is superior to 24 weeks of pegylated interferon alpha‐2b in achieving hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B infection
Authors: HUI C.‐K. , LAI L. S. W. , LAM P. , ZHANG H.‐Y. , FUNG T.‐T. , LAI S.‐T. , WONG W.‐M. , LO C.‐M. , FAN S.‐T. , LEUNG N. , LAU G. K. K. ,   THE HONG KONG LIVER FIBROSIS STUDY GROUP
Published: March 2006

SummaryBackground/aim  Although 48‐week therapy with pegylated‐interferons has been shown to be effective for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection, the efficacy of a shorter duration of therapy with pegylated interferons is unknown.Method  We reviewed 53 hepatitis B e antigen positive Chinese patients treated with 48 weeks of pegylated interferon alpha‐2a or 24 weeks of pegylated interferon alpha‐2b. Sustained virological response was defined as hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion and hepatitis B virus DNA <105 copies/mL at week 72.Results  Twenty‐nine patients were treated with 48 weeks of pegylated‐interferon‐alpha‐2a and 24 patients with 24 weeks of pegylated‐interferon‐alpha‐2b. At the end‐of‐therapy, hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion and hepatitis B virus DNA <105 copies/mL were similar between the two groups of patients [9/29 (31.0%) vs. 2/24 (8.3%), respectively, P = 0.09]. At week 72, 10 of the 29 patients (34.5%) treated with 48 weeks of pegylated‐interferon‐alpha‐2a compared with two of the 24 patients (8.3%) treated with 24 weeks of pegylated‐interferon‐alpha‐2b had sustained virological response (P = 0.04). By logistic analysis, 48 weeks of pegylated‐interferon‐alpha‐2a was independently associated with sustained virological response (P = 0.04 adjusted hazards‐ratio 9.37).Conclusion  Further studies are required to determine the optimal duration of therapy with pegylated interferons in chronic hepatitis B.
Review article: thrombocytopenia in chronic liver disease and pharmacologic treatment options
Authors: GIANNINI E. G. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryIn patients with liver disease, thrombocytopenia is a clinical feature that may represent an obstacle to invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, chemotherapy, and anti‐viral treatment. Stimulation of the bone marrow is the most promising therapeutic intervention for thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic liver disease.The description of thrombopoietin and its (de)regulation in patients with chronic liver disease have disclosed new treatment opportunities. Indeed, pharmacologic treatment options for thrombocytopenia can be divided into treatments targeted at the thrombopoietin receptor (synthetic thrombopoietins and thrombopoietin‐mimetic agents), and use of cytokines with general thrombopoietic potential. Unfortunately, use of synthetic thrombopoietin was hampered by the development of neutralizing antibodies, and thrombopoietin mimetic agents have not yet entered clinical studies. Interleukin‐11 proved to be useful in increasing platelet count in patients with chronic liver disease, although its use is limited by side‐effects.Erythropoietin has shown promising results in improving thrombocytopenia in cirrhotic patients. In patients with chronic liver disease, safe and well‐tolerated treatments aimed at improving thrombocytopenia are still lacking. Larger studies are needed to evaluate and better characterize the thrombopoietic potential of erythropoietin. Human studies with thrombopoietin‐mimetic agents are eagerly awaited in order to assess both effectiveness and safety of these drugs.
Research Review: Family centres: a review of the literature
Authors: Warren‐Adamson Chris 
Published: March 2006

ABSTRACTThis paper provides a review of the literature about family centres and other examples of centre‐based practice. The literature reflects a period of some 25 years in which practice has sought to integrate protection, support for families and local development in local centres. The literature shows great descriptive activity in the 1980s, and some Children Act (1989) sponsored studies, particularly of the voluntary sector, in the early 1990s, followed by inactivity before a new and more sophisticated literature emerges in the late 1990s and early 2000. While lacking experimental design, the strengths of the contemporary picture show in the appreciative voice of the user, including those at the very margins; studies of support programmes nurtured by centres; lessons about socially inclusive practice and the melding of formality and informality; theorization about centre‐based practice as a containing space; and attempts to understand complexity and synergy and to develop a theory of change. This domain of practice appears to have much to offer the new UK child care strategy and inter‐professional context if the opportunity is taken.
Changes in spawning stock structure strengthen the link between climate and recruitment in a heavily fished cod (Gadus morhua) stock
Authors: OTTERSEN GEIR , HJERMANN DAG Ø. , STENSETH NILS CHR. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractAtlantic cod (Gadus morhua) is one of the commercially most important fish species in the North Atlantic and plays a central role in several ecosystems. Fishing pressure has been heavy over a prolonged period and the recent decades have shown dramatic decline in abundance of many stocks. The Arcto‐Norwegian (or North‐east Arctic) cod stock in the Barents Sea is now the largest stock of Atlantic cod. Recruitment to this stock has varied extensively during the last 60 yr. There is evidence for fluctuations in climate, particularly sea temperature, being a main cause for this variability, higher temperatures being favourable for survival throughout the critical early life stages. Our studies of time series present compelling evidence for a strengthening of the climate–cod recruitment link during the last decades. We suggest this is an effect of the age and length composition of the spawning stock having changed distinctly. The age of the average spawner has decreased by more than 3 yr from between 10 and 11 in the late 1940s to 7–8 in the 1990s, average length from just above 90 cm to around 80 cm. The number of age classes contributing to the spawning stock has also decreased, while the number of length groups present increased slightly. Significant decrease in age of spawners has frequently been described for other heavily fished stocks worldwide. We therefore find it likely that the proposed mechanism of increased influence of climate on recruitment through changes in the spawning stock age and size composition is of a general nature and might be found in other systems.
Genetic heterogeneity in supratentorial and infratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumours of the central nervous system
Authors: Inda M M , Perot C , Guillaud‐Bataille M , Danglot G , Rey J A , Bello M J , Fan X , Eberhart C , Zazpe I , Portillo E , Tuñón T , Martínez‐Peñuela J M , Bernheim A , Castresana J S 
Published: March 2006

Aims : Medulloblastoma (MB), a kind of infratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET), is the most frequent malignant brain tumour in childhood. In contrast, supratentorial PNET (sPNET) are very infrequent tumours, but they are histologically similar to MB, although they present a worse clinical outcome. We investigated the differences in genetic abnormalities between sPNET and MB.Methods and results : We analysed 20 central PNET (14 MB and six sPNET) by conventional comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) in order to determine whether a different genetic profile for each tumour exists. Isochromosome 17q was detected in four of the 14 MB cases, but not in any sPNET. Gains at 17q and 7 happened more frequently in MB, and those at 1q in sPNET. Losses at chromosome 10 were detected only in MB, while losses at 16p and 19p happened more frequently in sPNET. A new amplification site, on 4q12, was detected in two MB.Conclusions : Central PNET are a heterogeneous group of tumours from the genetic point of view. The present and previous data, together with further results from larger series, might contribute to the establishment of specific treatments for supratentorial and infratentorial PNET.
Impacts of sudden winter habitat loss on the body condition and survival of redshank Tringa totanus
Authors: BURTON NIALL H. K. , REHFISCH MARK M. , CLARK NIGEL A. , DODD STEPHEN G. 
Published: March 2006

Summary

Recent theoretical modelling has provided important insights into how habitat loss may affect local populations through impacts on individual fitness (survival, body condition, fecundity). Despite this, attempts to provide empirical evidence of such impacts on displaced individuals have been limited. Using a before‐after‐control‐impact (BACI) approach, we report how a sudden loss of wintering habitat impacted on the body condition and survival of redshank Tringa totanus.
The intertidal mudflats of Cardiff Bay, UK, were inundated with freshwater in November 1999 following impoundment by a barrage, resulting in the displacement of c. 300 redshank to adjacent habitat on the Severn Estuary. Movements and the survival of these birds were monitored through observations of colour‐marked individuals. Comparative survival rates were calculated for marked populations at the main recipient site, Rhymney, and a control site.
Displaced redshank had difficulty maintaining their mass in the first winter post‐barrage closure: adults previously only recorded at Cardiff Bay were significantly lighter than those previously recorded at Rhymney.
Survival rates of displaced redshank also declined. The estimated annual survival of adult Cardiff Bay redshank fell from 0·846 in the 2 years pre‐barrage closure to 0·778 in the 3 following years because of a significant decline in winter survival (P = 0·0006). In comparison, there was no significant change in the survival of adult Rhymney redshank, and adult survival at the control site was actually greater post‐barrage closure than beforehand. The lack of decline in these rates and the similarity between those of Cardiff Bay adults pre‐barrage closure and Rhymney adults indicate that the increase in winter mortality of Cardiff Bay birds resulted from their displacement.
Synthesis and applications. This study provides the first conclusive empirical evidence that habitat loss can impact individual fitness in a bird population. Adult redshank displaced from Cardiff Bay experienced poor body condition and a 44% increase in mortality rate. Without an increase in the recruitment of first‐winter birds, such a change is likely to reduce substantially local population size. The results reported here should help to inform governments, planners and non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) seeking to understand how developments might impact on animal populations.
Effect of water potential on mycelial growth and perithecial production of Monosporascus cannonballus in vitro
Authors: Ferrin D. M. , Stanghellini M. E. 
Published: March 2006

The effects of osmotic water potential (Ψs) on mycelial growth and perithecial production of Monosporascus cannonballus, the cause of root rot and vine decline of melons, were examined at 25°C on potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with KCl, NaCl or sucrose. Patterns of the growth responses of four isolates to decreasing Ψs were similar for each of the osmotica. Compared with growth on nonamended PDA (−0·3 MPa), growth of all isolates increased as Ψs was reduced to −0·8 MPa. Maximum growth occurred at Ψs values of −0·6 to −0·8 MPa. Growth was not reduced below that on nonamended PDA until Ψs was reduced to −1·8 MPa, and a 50% reduction in growth did not occur until Ψs was reduced to < −2·5 MPa. Reproduction was much more sensitive to reduced Ψs than was mycelial growth, and perithecia were produced only at Ψs ≥ −0·7 or −0·8 MPa on PDA amended with KCl or NaCl, respectively. Three isolates produced perithecia on PDA amended with sucrose only at Ψs ≥ −0·6 MPa, but the fourth isolate produced perithecia at ≥ −1·9 MPa. Colonization of the xylem early in disease development may provide an essential source of water for subsequent reproduction in the root cortex during plant senescence. Postharvest cultivation to expose and desiccate roots may prevent reproduction even when temperatures lethal to hyphae are not attained.
Evidence for folate‐salvage reactions in plants
Authors: Orsomando Giuseppe , Bozzo Gale G. , de la Garza Rocío Díaz , Basset Gilles J. , Quinlivan Eoin P. , Naponelli Valeria , Rébeillé Fabrice , Ravanel Stéphane , Gregory Jesse F. , Hanson Andrew D. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryFolates in vivo undergo oxidative cleavage, giving pterin and p‐aminobenzoylglutamate (pABAGlu) moieties. These breakdown products are excreted in animals, but their fate is unclear in microorganisms and unknown in plants. As indirect evidence from this and previous studies strongly suggests that plants can have high folate‐breakdown rates (approximately 10% per day), salvage of the cleavage products seems likely. Four sets of observations support this possibility. First, cleavage products do not normally accumulate: pools of pABAGlu (including its polyglutamyl forms) are equivalent to, at most, 4–14% of typical total folate pools in Arabidopsis thaliana, Lycopersicon esculentum and Pisum sativum tissues. Pools of the pterin oxidation end‐product pterin‐6‐carboxylate are, likewise, fairly small (3–37%) relative to total folate pools. Second, little pABAGlu built up in A. thaliana plantlets when net folate breakdown was induced by blocking folate synthesis with sulfanilamide. Third, A. thaliana and L. esculentum tissues readily converted supplied breakdown products to folate synthesis precursors: pABAGlu was hydrolysed to p‐aminobenzoate and glutamate, and dihydropterin‐6‐aldehyde was reduced to 6‐hydroxymethyldihydropterin. Fourth, both these reactions were detected in vitro; the reduction used NADPH as cofactor. An alternative salvage route for pABAGlu, direct reincorporation into dihydrofolate via the action of dihydropteroate synthase, appears implausible from the properties of this enzyme. We conclude that plants are excellent organisms in which to explore the biochemistry of folate salvage.