bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of application of multiple needle pricks on the pathergy reaction
Authors: Özdemir Mustafa , Bodur Said , Engin Burhan , Baysal İbrahim 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBackground  The pathergy reaction (PR) to a needle prick is a well‐known feature of Behçet's disease (BD). Although PR is accepted as a major criterion in this disease, there is a lack of a standardized method to measure PR. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect on the positive rate of PR of the application of numerous (one to six) needle pricks.Methods  Six needle pricks were performed on 105 patients with BD. The results of the test were noted from the proximal to the distal region for each area of each patient. The positive rates of all combinations (one, two, three, four, five, and six needle pricks) were calculated as percentages by a computer‐based program (SPSS version 13 for Windows), and the mean percentage rates were obtained.Results  There was an increase in the percentage of positive PR rates in each combination relative to the former combination. When one needle prick was performed, the mean percentage positive PR rate was 13%. The positive PR rates were 19%, 24%, 28%, 30%, and 33% for two, three, four, five and six needle pricks, respectively. The greatest increase in the mean percentage of positive PR rates was detected for the application of the two needle prick combination.Conclusion  There is no consensus about the number of needle pricks required to detect PR, and multiple needle pricks have been used in many studies. We suggest that two needle pricks are suitable for the PR skin test as a useful adjunct to the diagnosis of BD.
Smoke from leaves of Populus euphratica Olivier vs. conventional cryotherapy for the treatment of cutaneous warts: a pilot, randomized, single‐blind, prospective study
Authors: Rahimi Ali Reza , Emad Maryam , Rezaian Gholam Reza 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBackground  Populous Euphratica tree which belongs to Salicaceae family is naturally distributed in many parts of the world. Our purpose was to compare the therapeutic effects of smoke of its burnt leaves with conventional cryotherapy in patients with warts.Methods  Sixty consecutive wart patients were randomly treated with leaves of Populous Euphratica tree (Group A) or conventional cryotherapy (Group B) and were followed up for 22 weeks.Results  The respective end results in group A and group B were; Complete cure rates 66.7% vs. 46.4% (P= NS), partial resolution rates 8.3% vs. 14.3% (P= NS). The recurrence rate however, was 4.2% in group A and 32.2% in group B patients (P= 0.024).Conclusion  The smoke of burnt leaves of Populus Euphratica tree can be equally effective for treatment of hand and foot warts as cryotherapy.
Cytokine and chemokine expression in the skin from patients with maculopapular exanthema to drugs
Authors: Fernandez T. D. , Mayorga C. , Torres M. J. , Cornejo‐Garcia J. A. , López S. , Chaves P. , Rondon C. , Blanca M. 
Published: March 2008

Background:  Maculopapular exanthema (MPE) is the most frequent clinical manifestation of nonimmediate allergic reactions to drugs and T helper 1 (Th1) cytokines and CD4+ T cells have been shown to play an important role in its pathogenesis. We assessed the role of cytokines and chemokines and their receptors in the pathogenesis of MPE.Methods:  We evaluated skin biopsies and peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from 27 patients during the acute phase of the reaction and 26 exposed controls. Semiquantitative real‐time PCR was performed to determine the expression of cytokines and chemokines and their receptors and immunohistochemistry was used to determine the same chemokines and their receptor proteins in skin.Results:  There was a high expression of the Th1 cytokines interferon‐γ (P = 0.006) and tumor necrosis factor‐α (P = 0.022) in skin and CD4+ T cells (P = 0.007 and P = 0.005, respectively); and of the Th1 chemokines CXCL9 (P = 0.005) and CXCL10 (P = 0.028) in the skin, while their receptor CXCR3 was increased in skin (P = 0.006) and CD4+ T cells (P = 0.03). Homing chemokine receptors were also increased: CCR6 in skin (P = 0.026) and CD4+ T cells (P = 0.016), and CCR10 only in CD4+ T cells (P = 0.016), as well as their ligands, CCL20 and CCL27, in skin alone. Immunohistochemistry confirmed these results.Conclusions:  These data show significant differences in the expression of chemokines and chemokine receptors, related with a Th1 profile, in both skin biopsies and peripheral CD4+ T cells in patients with drug‐induced MPE.
Luminex donor‐specific crossmatches
Authors: Billen E. V. A. , Voorter C. E. M. , Christiaans M. H. L. , Van Den Berg‐Loonen E. M. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIn Luminex bead‐based screening assays, color‐coded microspheres coated with human leukocyte antigens (HLA) are used to identify both complement‐binding and non‐complement‐binding HLA class I and II antibodies in recipient sera. Many laboratories rely on their specificity detection and use the information obtained for allocation of donor organs. A donor‐specific crossmatch in the Luminex technique (LumXm) is for that reason desirable. A LumXm, in which the actual donor HLA are coated onto specific capture beads, was tested for 88 pre‐ and posttransplant sera of 18 recipients. The results were compared with previously published flow cytometric crossmatch (FCXm) results for the same donor–recipient combinations. All sera were also examined by Luminex single antigen (SA) tests. Class I LumXm detected 24 of 27 T‐cell positive FCXm (89%) and class II 15 of 22 B‐cell positive FCXm (68%). Sensitivity of LumXm for class I and II was 89% and 68% and specificity was 98% and 97%, respectively. Discrepant LumXm results were obtained in 13 sera of nine patients (15%). In general, based on SA testing, FCXm showed false‐positive results for class I and LumXm gave false‐negative and positive results for class II. The LumXm test was proven not to react with recipient sera containing DQ antibodies only, also DP detection was insufficient. The validity of the LumXm has been shown for class I, but its value for class II is uncertain. HLA‐DR is most probably correctly identified, the validity for DQ and DP is doubtful.
Twenty‐three novel alleles increase diversity at the HLA‐C locus
Authors: Lazaro A. M. , Xiao Y. , Cao K. , Masaberg C. , Nichol L. , Ng J. , Hurley C. K. , Posch P. E. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractTwenty‐three novel HLA‐C alleles are described. Nine of the new alleles are single‐nucleotide substitutions from their most homologous allele of which seven result in amino acid changes (Cw*0327, *0508, *0514, *0613, *0735, *0739 and *1517) and two are silent substitutions (Cw*030305 and *070107). The remaining 14 alleles (Cw*0113, *0207, *0212, *0216, *0318, *0411, *0417, *0512, *0722, *0733N, *1216, *1218, *1515 and *1607) differ from their most similar alleles by 2–4 nucleotide substitutions that result in 1–3 amino acid differences.
External quality assessment for the detection of HCV RNA, HIV RNA and HBV DNA in plasma by nucleic acid amplification technology: a novel approach
Authors: Pisani G. , Marino F. , Cristiano K. , Bisso G. M. , Mele C. , Luciani F. , Wirz M. , Gentili G. ,   the External Quality Assessment Participants
Published: March 2008

Background and Objectives  In this EQA study a novel approach was used to assess the performance of blood centres and blood product manufacturers in detecting the possible contamination of plasma with HCV, HIV and HBV by NAT.Materials and Methods  A panel of 12 samples, three negative and three positive for each virus, was distributed to the EQA participants. The positive samples were prepared, using the respective WHO standards, in order to obtain a viral concentration of about three times the 95% DL of the methods most commonly used by laboratories involved in blood screening by NAT. Participants were requested to test each sample of the panel on different days, possibly by different operators using their routine NAT assay.Results  Overall, the participants’ performance was satisfactory. In particular, 49 of the 59 participants (83%) were able to correctly identify all samples. Regarding the remaining 10 laboratories, in three cases a deviation from the laboratory's procedure that could be attributed to an operator's mistake was observed, in two cases a possible cross‐contamination occurred while in the remaining five cases the failure to detect the positive samples couldn't be ascribed to any relevant deviation in the laboratory's procedure.Conclusions  The novel design of this EQA study allowed participants to verify their day by day activity as the study was carried out in the context of their routine testing. Under these conditions, it was demonstrated that, despite the high level of automation reached by NAT assays, human errors can still occur.
Protein requirements for Blue‐fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva) growth*
Authors: Carciofi A. C. , Sanfilippo L. F. , De‐Oliveira L. D. , Do Amaral P. P. , Prada F. 
Published: March 2008

SummaryThe objective of this study was to evaluate the protein requirements for hand‐rearing Blue‐fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva). Forty hatchlings were fed semi‐purified diets containing one of four (as‐fed basis) protein levels: 13%, 18%, 23% and 28%. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design with the initial weight of the nestling as the blocking factor and 10 parrots per protein level. Regression analysis was used to determine relationships between protein level and biometric measurements. The data indicated that 13% crude protein supported nestling growth with 18% being the minimum tested level required for maximum development. The optimal protein concentration for maximum weight gain was 24.4% (p = 0.08; r2 = 0.25), tail length 23.7% (p = 0.09; r2 = 0.19), wing length 23.0% (p = 0.07; r2 = 0.17), tarsus length 21.3% (p = 0.06; r2 = 0.10) and tarsus width 21.4% (p = 0.07; r2 = 0.09). Tarsus measurements were larger in males (p < 0.05), indicating that sex must be considered when studying developing psittacines. These results were obtained using a highly digestible protein and a diet with moderate metabolizable energy levels.
Synergistic effects of α‐pinene and exo‐brevicomin on pine bark beetles and associated insects in Arizona
Authors: Hofstetter R. W. , Chen Z. , Gaylord M. L. , McMillin J. D. , Wagner M. R. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) and western pine beetle (Dendroctonus brevicomis) cause significant mortality to pines in the southern and western United States. The effectiveness of commercial lures at capturing these bark beetles in Arizona has not been tested and may vary from other regions of their distribution. We conducted experiments using baited Lindgren funnel traps to investigate (i) if D. frontalis is more attracted to the standard commercial lure for D. brevicomis (frontalin + exo‐brevicomin + myrcene) than the D. frontalis lure (frontalin + terpene blend), (ii) whether replacement of myrcene with α‐pinene changes trap catches of Dendroctonus and associated insects, and (iii) whether the attraction to these lures varies across the geographical range of ponderosa pine forests throughout Arizona. In 2005, we tested various combinations of frontalin, exo‐brevicomin, myrcene and α‐pinene to D. frontalis, D. brevicomis and associated species. Dendroctonus frontalis, D. brevicomis and the predator Temnochila chlorodia were most attracted to lures with exo‐brevicomin. The replacement of the myrcene component with α‐pinene in the D. brevicomis lure resulted in the capture of twice as many bark beetles and Elacatis beetles. However, T. chlorodia did not differentiate between monoterpenes. In 2006, traps were set up in 11 locations around Arizona to test the relative attraction of lure combinations. In 9 out 11 locations, the D. brevicomis lure with α‐pinene was more attractive than the lure with myrcene or a terpene blend. These results suggest that the D. brevicomis lure with α‐pinene rather than myrcene is more effective lure to capture D. brevicomis and D. frontalis in Arizona. However, geographical variation in attractiveness to lures is evident even within this region of the beetles’ distributions. Differential attraction of Dendroctonus and their predators to these lures suggests potential use in field trapping and control programmes.
Sampling plan for the coffee leaf miner Leucoptera coffeella with sex pheromone traps
Authors: Bacca T. , Lima E. R. , Picanço M. C. , Guedes R. N. C. , Viana J. H. M. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe population density of the coffee leaf miner Leucoptera coffeella (Guérin‐Méneville & Perrottet) (Lep., Lyonetiidae) can be estimated using pheromone traps in coffee fields as male capture reflects this pest damage based on previous correlational study. However, the spatial distribution of pheromone traps and their density are necessary to optimize the sampling procedure with pheromone traps. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to determine the pheromone trap density required per hectare to sample coffee leaf miner populations and to determine the spatial distribution of the males of this pest species. The males were sampled every 8 days in 12 consecutive evaluations. Taylor’s power law and frequency distributions were used to recognize the distribution of the male capture data, which followed a negative binomial distribution. A common K was obtained, allowing the establishment of a single conventional sampling plan for the 12 fields investigated. The adjusted sampling plan requires eight traps in an area of 30 ha for a 25% precision error. Kriging‐generated maps allowed the simulation of male captures for 8, 12 and 20 traps per 30 ha and the results were compared with those obtained with absolute sampling resulting in R2‐values of 0.30, 0.57 and 0.60 respectively. The traps were able to identify the more highly infested areas within the field and are a precise and efficient tool for sampling populations of L. coffeella.
Genotypic difference for the susceptibility of Japanese, Chinese and European pears to Venturia nashicola, the cause of scab on Asian pears
Authors: Abe K. , Saito T. , Terai O. , Sato Y. , Kotobuki K. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract Venturia nashicola, the cause of scab on Asian pears, is distinct from Venturia pirina, a causal fungus of European pear scab. Although scab caused by V. nashicola is one of the most serious diseases in the Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai var. culta Nakai), information available regarding resistant breeding against V. nashicola is limited. In this study, 12 genotypes of Japanese pear, seven genotypes of Chinese pear (Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim.) and four genotypes of European pear (Pyrus communis L. var. sativa DC.) and/or their offspring were evaluated for susceptibility to V. nashicola with leaf and fruit inoculation tests. At 30–40 days after full bloom in their developmental stage, unfolded young leaves and fruit were inoculated with conidial suspensions of V. nashicola for each genotype, and the responses were rated at 30 days postinoculation for the inoculated leaves and at 42 days postinoculation for the inoculated fruits. No visible symptoms were found in European pear ‘Bartlett’ and ‘La France’ and their respective offspring ‘290‐36’ and ‘282‐12’, in the Japanese pear ‘Kinchaku’ and in the Chinese pears ‘Cangxili’ and ‘Hongli’; these genotypes were evaluated as highly resistant to V. nashicola. Necrotic lesions without sporulation were observed in the Chinese pears ‘Qiubaili’, ‘Manyuanxiang’, ‘Yuanbali’ and ‘Xiangyali’, which were regarded as resistant. Sporulating lesions were formed on the other genotypes, such as the major Japanese pear cultivars ‘Kosui’ and ‘Nijisseiki’, which were regarded as susceptible. The response of inoculated leaves coincided well with that of inoculated fruit for each genotype. When the severity of scab symptoms on scab‐susceptible genotypes was further rated with disease severity (DS) values, a genotypic difference was observed for overall DS values in a successive 2‐year measurement among the susceptible genotypes. Based on the DS values of leaf and fruit scabs, the Japanese pears ‘Niitaka’, ‘Shinko’, ‘Nijisseiki’, ‘Gold Nijisseiki’, ‘Osa Nijisseiki’ and ‘Shinsui’ were considered to be less susceptible to V. nashicola than the typical susceptible cultivar ‘Kosui’.
Housing During Early Pregnancy Affects Fertility and Behaviour of Sows
Authors: Munsterhjelm C , Valros A , Heinonen M , Hälli O , Peltoniemi OAT 
Published: March 2008

ContentsFrom 1.1.2013 EU legislation will permit stall‐housing of dry sows for only 4 weeks post‐service. Stalls are associated with compromised animal welfare, but group housing comes with risks from social confrontations. Studies on housing effects on fertility have produced contradictory results as systems are inconsistently defined. Effects of housing on pregnancy rate 28 days post‐service (P28), early disruption of pregnancy (EDP) and behaviour were investigated in 12 replicates of 40 sows. Half of the animals were stalled (treatment S, mean parity 2.4) and half group‐housed adjacent on 5.1 m2 deep litter per sow (treatment G, mean parity 2.3). Pregnancy was detected using real‐time ultrasound. An EDP‐diagnosis required a drop of salivary progesterone concentration from >15.9 to <15.9 mmol/l in a series of samples taken on days 17, 20, 24 and 27 post‐service. Behaviour was scan sampled on day 27 for 120 min with 10‐min intervals. Data was analysed using mixed regression models in MLwiN. Treatment S increased the odds for P28 with 2.3 and the pregnancy rate of a treatment group with 0.1 compared with G. G increased the odds for EDP with 4.6. Treatment did not affect total exploratory or total passive behaviour. S sows explored floor and fixtures (not bedding) more and performed more passive sitting than G sows. Social stress may have caused the impaired reproductive performance in G sows. S sows showed behavioural signs of decreased welfare, but no corresponding reproductive effects. An interdisciplinary approach is needed when evaluating the appropriateness of housing systems.
Childhood drowning in low‐ and middle‐income countries: Urgent need for intervention trials
Authors: Hyder Adnan A , Borse Nagesh N , Blum Lauren , Khan Rasheda , El Arifeen Shams , Baqui Abdullah H 
Published: March 2008

Data available for low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) indicate that the burden of drowning in children is significant and becoming a leading public health problem. At the same time, interventions for drowning are not well documented in LMICs. The overall purpose of this paper is to make the case for research investments in conducting intervention trials to prevent child drowning in LMICs.In high‐income countries (HICs), existing drowning prevention interventions include among others: pool fencing, supervision, lifeguards and water safety training at a young age. However, these measures may not be the most relevant in curtailing the number of drowning deaths in LMICs. There are differences with regard to geographical, social, cultural and behavioural factors associated with drowning between HICs and LMICs, often making it inappropriate to apply existing interventions directly in LMIC settings.This paper focuses on drowning from LMICs and reveals a dearth of data on incidence rates and risk factors; absence of public health interventions; lack of research on intervention effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness; and paucity of national drowning prevention programs. Based on this evidence, this paper calls for immediate attention to drowning prevention by increasing research investments. This paper specifically discusses Bangladesh as a case study and proposes a drowning intervention study focusing on children less than 5 years in LMICs as an example of appropriate research investment.
PREVENTING POSTOPERATIVE HAEMATOMAS IN MICROVASCULAR RECONSTRUCTION OF THE HEAD AND NECK: LESSONS LEARNT FROM 126 CONSECUTIVE CASES
Authors: Kaplan Elan D. , Rozen Warren M. , Shayan Ramin , Bernard Simon , Macgill Kirsty , Corlett Russell , Taylor G. Ian , Ashton Mark W. 
Published: March 2008

Background:  Free tissue transfer has become a safe and reliable means for repairing soft tissue and bony defects of the head and neck. Although operative success has reached 98%, the incidence of significant postoperative complications is also relatively high (32%). One common and significant complication is haematoma formation, occurring at both donor and recipient sites, and yet there are minimal published studies on its incidence, aetiology or outcome. A retrospective analysis of both donor‐ and recipient‐site wound haematoma was carried out to identify causative factors and the effect on patient outcome.Methods:  A 5‐year review of 132 consecutive microvascular free tissue transfers to head and neck defects at The Royal Melbourne Hospital, for the period February 2001 to February 2006, was conducted.Results:  Of 126 included cases, 27 postoperative haematomas resulted. Statistically significant associations were found for each of smoking, non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug use and the use of corticosteroids preoperatively with the incidence of postoperative haematoma formation. Postoperative blood pressure control and the adequacy of primary tumour excision at the flap recipient site were also found to have significant associations with haematoma formation. Drain tube outputs served as accurate indicators for haematoma.Conclusion:  There are significant reversible factors that contribute to the development of postoperative haematomas in head and neck reconstructive surgery. Preoperative modifications should, therefore, be sought. Similarly, close monitoring of patient blood pressure during the initial 24 h postoperative period by theatre and recovery staff is important, as is the adequacy of postoperative analgesia.
MODIFIED STAPLED HAEMORRHOIDECTOMY: A SUGGESTED IMPROVED TECHNIQUE
Authors: Ng Kheng‐Hong , Chew Min‐Hoe , Eu Kong‐Weng 
Published: March 2008

Background:  Longo’s technique of stapled haemorrhoidopexy has revolutionized management of symptomatic haemorrhoids. However, several problems have been identified in the original Longo’s technique. In particular, recurrence of haemorrhoidal tissue has been found to be significantly higher.Methods:  An improved technique with key differences to address these shortcomings is described. The modified stapled haemorrhoidectomy procedure described is carried out without the circular anal dilator and includes the placement of a low purse string of 2–3 cm.Conclusion:  This technique is proposed as an improvement to the current stapled haemorrhoidopexy.
Cavernous sinus thrombosis and meningitis from community‐acquired methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection
Authors: Munckhof W. J. , Krishnan A. , Kruger P. , Looke D. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractSeptic cavernous sinus thrombosis is an uncommon clinical syndrome with a high morbidity and mortality. The commonest bacterial pathogen is Staphylococcus aureus. We describe the study of a patient with cavernous sinus thrombosis and meningitis caused by community‐acquired methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (CA‐MRSA) infection. The isolate was genotyped as the ST93 (Queensland) clone of CA‐MRSA and carried the Panton‐Valentine leucocidin genes. Cure was obtained following prolonged antimicrobial therapy with vancomycin, rifampicin, cotrimoxazole and linezolid. Given the high morbidity and mortality of cavernous sinus thrombosis and the worldwide recent emergence of CA‐MRSA, clinicians treating patients with this infection should consider early empirical coverage for CA‐MRSA with an antimicrobial agent, such as vancomycin or linezolid, particularly in the presence of suspected facial staphylococcal skin infections. If vancomycin is used, we emphasize that high doses may be required to achieve even low levels in the cerebrospinal fluid.