bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of heat treatment and enzymatic digestion on the B cell epitopes of cow's milk proteins
Authors: Morisawa Y. , Kitamura A. , Ujihara T. , Zushi N. , Kuzume K. , Shimanouchi Y. , Tamura S. , Wakiguchi H. , Saito H. , Matsumoto K. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryBackground
Processing milk leads to changes in clinical allergenicity. However, the mechanism by which heat treatment affects the allergenicity of milk proteins is not fully understood.Objective
We investigated the effect of heat treatment and enzymatic digestion on the allergenicity of B cell epitopes of milk proteins using a histamine release assay.Methods
Human basophils were passively sensitized using sera from 10 patients with allergies to cow's milk. All the patients experienced symptoms immediately after ingesting milk. The human basophils were obtained from umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells after culturing the mononuclear cells for 3–4 weeks in the presence of IL‐3. After sensitization with 10% patient sera for 48 h, the cells were stimulated with untreated, heat‐treated, or heat‐treated and pepsin‐and‐trypsin‐digested β‐lactoglobulin or α‐casein for 1 h. The histamine concentrations in the supernatants were then measured by radioimmunoassay.Results
Heat treatment alone did not alter the molecular weight of β‐lactoglobulin or α‐casein. Heat treatment of β‐lactoglobulin significantly increased its susceptibility to enzymatic digestion in a time‐ and temperature‐dependent manner and reduced its ability to induce histamine release from sensitized basophils. Similar findings were not observed for α‐casein. The combination of heat treatment and enzymatic digestion reduced the abilities of both β‐lactoglobulin and α‐casein to induce histamine release from passively sensitized basophils.Conclusions
Heat treatment reduced the allergenicity of β‐lactoglobulin by inducing conformational changes and by increasing its susceptibility to enzymatic digestion, both of which disrupted B cell epitopes, whereas heat treatment alone did not alter the allergenicity of α‐casein.
Evaluation of desloratadine on conjunctival allergen challenge‐induced ocular symptoms
Authors: Torkildsen G. L. , Gomes P. , Welch D. , Gopalan G. , Srinivasan S. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryBackground
Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) is frequently associated with allergic rhinitis (AR) and affects up to 91% of patients with AR. Desloratadine, an orally administered, non‐sedating second‐generation antihistamine, has proven efficacy and safety in the control of nasal and non‐nasal – including ocular – symptoms of AR. This randomized‐controlled trial is the first to evaluate the effects of continuous oral desloratadine treatment on ocular symptoms after conjunctival allergen challenge.Objective
To evaluate the impact of administering oral desloratadine 5 mg daily for 7 days on ocular symptoms in conjunctival allergen‐challenged subjects.Methods
In this crossover study, adults with a history of seasonal AC and a minimal threshold response to allergen challenge were randomized to receive desloratadine 5 mg daily (n=20) or placebo (n=21) for 7 days after which they underwent a second ocular allergen challenge. After a 2‐week washout period, subjects crossed over to the other treatment. The primary efficacy parameter was the intra‐subject difference from baseline at end‐point in the post‐challenge mean composite ocular redness score (the sum of redness scores in ciliary, conjunctival, or episcleral vessel beds). Secondary efficacy parameters included the intra‐subject and inter‐subject differences in individual symptom scores for ciliary, conjunctival, or episcleral redness; pruritus; chemosis; eyelid swelling; and tearing.Results
The mean composite ocular redness score was reduced at 10, 15, and 20 min post‐challenge with desloratadine treatment compared with placebo, though these differences were not statistically significant (P=NS). Desloratadine was significantly more effective than placebo in preventing post‐challenge ocular pruritus (P<0.001). Significant improvements post‐challenge were also seen in ciliary and episcleral redness, chemosis, eyelid swelling, and tearing (P<0.05 vs. placebo for all comparisons). Desloratadine was well tolerated.Conclusion
Treatment with desloratadine 5 mg daily for 7 days reduced allergic ocular symptoms following allergen challenge.
Agronomic performance and nutritive value of common and alternative grass and legume species in the Peruvian highlands
Authors: Bartl K. , Gamarra J. , Gómez C. A. , Wettstein H.‐R. , Kreuzer M. , Hess H. D. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe agronomic performance and nutritive value of twelve annual and perennial grasses and legumes were analysed in order to define alternatives to local forages for dry‐season feeding of ruminants in the Peruvian Andes. There were twelve species and two fertilizer treatments (no fertilizer and a N;P;K fertilizer mainly applied at sowing) in an experiment with a randomized complete block design with three replicates at each of two sites. Plant height, soil cover by forage and weed species, frost damage, dry matter (DM) yield and nutritive value of herbage were evaluated in 2005 and 2006. Among the annual species, Hordeum vulgare L. cv. UNA 80 and ×Triticosecale Wittm. had the highest DM yields when fertilized (8226 and 6934 kg ha−1 respectively). Without fertilizer the alternative cultivars had similar DM yields to that of the local forages. Cultivars of Avena sativa L. had lower concentrations of neutral‐detergent fibre (NDF) (557 g kg−1 DM) and higher concentrations of predicted net energy for lactation (5·86 MJ kg−1 DM) than the other annual grass species (625 g kg−1 DM and 5·01 MJ kg−1 DM respectively), while the legumes were superior in concentrations of crude protein (277 g kg−1 DM) and NDF (362 g kg−1 DM). Considering the low agronomic performance of the perennial forages, a mixture of fertilized annual grasses and legumes appears the most appropriate approach to meeting the demand for forage of high nutritive value in the Peruvian highlands.
The scavenger receptor MARCO is involved in Leishmania major infection by CBA/J macrophages
Authors: GOMES I. N. , PALMA L. C. , CAMPOS G. O. , LIMA J. G. B. , DE ALMEIDA T. F. , DE MENEZES J. P. B. , FERREIRA C. A. G. , SANTOS R. R. DOS , BUCK G. A. , MANQUE P. A. M. , OZAKI L. S. , PROBST C. M. , DE FREITAS L. A. R. , KRIEGER M. A. , VERAS P. S. T. 
Published: March 2009

Summary CBA/J mice are resistant to Leishmania major infection but are permissive to L. amazonensis infection. In addition, CBA/J macrophages control L. major but not L. amazonensis infection in vitro. Phagocytosis by macrophages is known to determine the outcome of Leishmania infection. Pattern recognition receptors (PRR) adorning antigen presenting cell surfaces are known to coordinate the link between innate and adaptive immunity. The macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO) is a PRR that is preferably expressed by macrophages and is capable of binding Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. No research on the role of MARCO in Leishmania–macrophage interactions has been reported. Here, we demonstrate, for the first time, that MARCO expression by CBA/J macrophages is increased in response to both in vitro and in vivo L. major infections, but not to L. amazonensis infection. In addition, a specific anti‐MARCO monoclonal antibody reduced L. major infection of macrophages by 30%–40% in vitro. The draining lymph nodes of anti‐MARCO‐treated mice displayed a reduced presence of immunolabelled parasite and parasite antigens, as well as a reduced inflammatory response. These results support the hypothesis that MARCO has a role in macrophage infection by L. major in vitro as well as in vivo.
Neospora caninum and bone marrow‐derived dendritic cells: parasite survival, proliferation, and induction of cytokine expression
Authors: STROHBUSCH M. , MÜLLER N. , HEMPHILL A. , MARGOS M. , GRANDGIRARD D. , LEIB S. , GREIF G. , GOTTSTEIN B. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryDendritic cells (DCs) represent the first line defence of the innate immune system following infection with pathogens. We exploratively addressed invasion and survival ability of Neospora caninum, a parasite causing abortion in cattle, in mouse bone marrow DCs (BMDCs), and respective cytokine expression patterns. Immature BMDCs were exposed to viable (untreated) and nonviable parasites that had been inactivated by different means. Invasion and/or internalization, as well as intracellular survival and proliferation of tachyzoites were determined by NcGRA2‐RT‐PCR and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cytokine expression was evaluated by reverse transcription (RT)‐PCR and cytokine ELISA. Transmission electron microscopy of DCs stimulated with untreated viable parasites revealed that N. caninum was able to invade and proliferate within BMDCs. This was confirmed by NcGRA2‐RT‐PCR. On the other hand, no viable parasite organisms were revealed by TEM when exposing BMDCs to inactivated parasites (nonviability demonstrated by NcGRA2‐RT‐PCR). Cytokine expression analysis (as assessed by both RT‐PCR and ELISA) demonstrated that both viable and nonviable parasites stimulated mBMDCs to express IL‐12p40, IL‐10 and TNF‐α, whereas IL‐4 RNA expression was not detected. Thus, exposure of mBMDCs to both viable and nonviable parasites results in the expression of cytokines that are relevant for a mixed Th1/Th2 immune response.
Randomized trial to compare the dosage of darbepoetin alfa by administration route in haemodialysis patients
Authors: KIM CHAN‐DUCK , PARK SUN‐HEE , KIM DAE‐JOONG , PARK JONG‐WON , DO JUN‐YOUNG , SHIN SUK‐KYUN , KIM BEOM‐SEOK , SEO JUNG‐JU , KIM YONG‐LIM 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYAim:  The doses of darbepoetin alfa required to maintain target haemoglobin levels after s.c. or i.v. administration when recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) treatment was replaced by darbepoetin alfa treatment in haemodialysis (HD) patients were compared.Methods:  In this prospective, randomized, open‐label study, 65 HD patients who were receiving stable SC doses of rHuEpo were switched to an equivalent dose of darbepoetin alfa at a reduced frequency by s.c. or i.v. administration. Patients were randomly assigned to the s.c. group (n = 32) or the i.v. group (n = 33). Darbepoetin alfa doses were titrated to maintain target haemoglobin levels of 8.0–11.0 g/dL for up to 24 weeks. A period of 20 weeks was used for dose titration and haemoglobin stabilization. This was followed by a 4 week evaluation period.Results:  The mean haemoglobin concentration during the evaluation period was similar in the s.c. and i.v. groups. The mean dose and mean weight‐standardized dose of darbepoetin alfa during the evaluation period tended to be lower in the s.c. group than the i.v. group, although these differences were not statistically significant. The mean weekly darbepoetin alfa dose requirements during the evaluation period significantly decreased in both groups compared to the dose requirements at randomization.Conclusion:  There is a possibility that s.c. administration of darbepoetin alfa is more efficacious than i.v. administration, but a definite benefit cannot be demonstrated with the current sample size. A bigger sample size is needed to confirm the result.
Potential for erythropoietin synthesis in kidney of uraemic rat alters depending on severity of renal failure
Authors: SANADA SATORU , TOYAMA HIROAKI , EJIMA YUTAKA , MATSUBARA MITSUNOBU 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARY:Aim:  Renal anaemia is a common early complication of chronic renal failure (CRF) that is characterized by relative erythropoietin (EPO) deficiency. Although a lowered renal function is considered to induce limited EPO production, potential EPO production capacity in CRF remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the mechanisms underlying this relative deficiency.Methods:  Male Sprague–Dawley rats were underwent 5/6 nephrectomy with different severities of CRF. These rats were assigned to two groups – mild CRF or advanced CRF – and subjected to haemodilution by exchange of blood with Ringer's solution or haemoconcentration by blood transfusion. Serum EPO and EPO transcript levels in remnant kidney were examined. Expression levels of hypoxia‐related genes, including heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) and glucose transporter‐1 (Glut‐1), were also examined.Results:  Haemodilution increased both serum EPO and EPO transcript levels in mild CRF, as observed in sham‐operated controls, whereas the extents of such increases were significantly smaller in advanced CRF. HO‐1 and Glut‐1 transcript levels also increased by haemodilution in mild CRF, but not in advanced CRF. Haemoconcentration markedly decreased serum EPO and EPO transcript levels in mild CRF as in controls. Rats with advanced CRF did not survive after blood transfusion.Conclusion:  Potential EPO regulation capacity in mild CRF is as conserved as that in normal control, whereas that in advanced CRF is impaired, suggesting that underlying mechanisms of low EPO production alters according to the stage of CRF.
Review article: Early detection of chronic kidney disease in Australia: Which way to go?
Authors: MATHEW TIMOTHY , CORSO OLIVIA 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYEarly detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD) followed by appropriate clinical management appears the only means by which the increasing burden on the health‐care system and affected individuals will be reduced. The asymptomatic nature of CKD means that early detection can only occur through testing of individuals. The World Health Organization principles of screening for chronic disease can now be largely fulfilled for CKD. The risk groups to be targeted, the expected yield and the tests to be performed are reviewed. For a screening programme to be sustainable it must carry a greater benefit than risk of harm for the participant and be shown to be cost‐effective from the community point of view. Whole population screening for CKD is impractical and is not cost‐effective. Screening of those at increased risk of CKD could occur either through special events run in the community, workplace or in selected locations such as pharmacies or through opportunistic screening of high‐risk people in general practice. Community screening programmes targeted at known diabetics, hypertensives and those over 55 years have been described to detect 93% of all CKD in the community. The yield of CKD stages 3–5 from community screening has been found to vary from 10% to 20%. The limitations of screening programmes including the cost and recruitment bias are discussed. The most sustainable and likely the most cost‐efficient model appears to be opportunistic general practice screening. The changing structure of general practice in Australia lends itself well to the requirements for early detection of CKD.
Diagnostic accuracy of blood qualitative nucleic acid testing for polyomavirus‐associated nephropathy in kidney recipients
Authors: CROSS NICHOLAS B , WEBSTER ANGELA C , O'CONNELL PHILIP J , JEOFFREYS NEISHA , DWYER DOMINIC E , CRAIG JONATHAN C 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYAim:  Polyomavirus‐associated nephropathy (PVAN) is an important cause of graft loss following kidney transplantation and may only be diagnosed with kidney transplant biopsy. Early detection may improve outcomes by enabling early intervention. Serum polyomavirus polymerase chain reaction (PVPCR) has been used to identify patients at risk of PVAN, but prior studies have not assessed all patients with negative PVPCR with transplant biopsy, potentially overestimating test performance.Methods:  We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of qualitative PVPCR for detection of PVAN in a population undergoing protocol biopsies. We included all patients receiving kidney or kidney‐pancreas transplants and followed at Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia, between May 2002 and March 2007, excluding those with graft loss prior to 1 month post transplant or without PVPCR testing in the first 12 months. We compared PVPCR to contemporaneous transplant biopsies assessed with light microscopy and immunohistochemistry.Results:  Of the 257 included patients, 246 (96%) underwent biopsy within 30 days of PVPCR. Eight of 36 patients with positive PVPCR had PVAN and one of 210 patients with negative PVPCR had PVAN. The point prevalence of PVAN was therefore 3.7%, with PVPCR sensitivity 89% (95% CI 57% to 99%) and specificity 88% (95% CI 83% to 92%). The negative predictive value is 99.5% (95% CI 97.3% to 100.0%).Conclusion:  Qualitative PVPCR on serum is a reliable triage test for excluding the presence of PVAN. Screening for PVAN need not include biopsy in patients with negative PVPCR.
Serum phosphate is an important determinant of corrected serum calcium in end‐stage kidney disease
Authors: FERRARI PAOLO , SINGER RICHARD , AGARWAL AANCHAL , HURN ANNE , TOWNSEND MARY A , CHUBB PAUL 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYBackground:  Approximately 12% of bound blood calcium is linked to various anions including phosphate. In patients with end‐stage kidney disease (ESKD), serum phosphate is highly variable. We propose that establishing a formula to calculate albumin‐ and phosphate‐corrected total calcium would be more appropriate to estimate free calcium in ESKD patients.Methods:  In 82 haemodialysis patients, serum ionized calcium (Caion) and pH were measured by blood gas analyser with ion‐selective electrodes at the point‐of‐care, while bicarbonate, phosphate, albumin, magnesium and total calcium (Catot) were measured at the central laboratory. Linear regression analysis of measured variables was used to best fit adjusted calcium versus Caion.Results:  The most parsimonious multiple linear regression model (r2 = 0.81) of variables associated with Caion included Catot (coeff 0.820, P < 0.0001), albumin (coeff −0.016, P < 0.0001) and phosphate (coeff −0.063, P < 0.002). Modelling of available variables yielded the following equation to adjust calcium for albumin and phosphate: CaalbPh = Catot + (0.015 × (40 − [albumin]) + 0.07 × (1.5 − [phosphate])). At an ambient albumin of 40 g/L, CaalbPh would be 0.07 mmol/L lower than Catot for every mmol/L of phosphate. In vitro data using three different albumin levels and increasing phosphate concentrations demonstrated this relationship, with the slope of the phosphate effect being stronger at lower albumin concentrations.Conclusion:  Because guidelines recommendations indicate that corrected serum calcium should be maintained within the normal range in ESKD patients, inclusion of phosphate to correct Catot in these patients may have clinical implications on the choice of phosphate binders and the prescription of vitamin D or calcimimetic agents.
Left ventricular function by ‘conventional’ and ‘tissue Doppler’ echocardiography in paediatric dialysis patients
Authors: CIVILIBAL MAHMUT , CALISKAN SALIM , OFLAZ HUSEYIN , SEVER LALE , CANDAN CENGİZ , CANPOLAT NUR , KASAPCOPUR OZGUR , ARISOY NIL 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARY:Aim:  Cardiovascular abnormalities are common in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Left ventricular (LV) structure and functions have been extensively studied by conventional pulse‐wave Doppler echocardiography (cPWD), however, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) is a relatively new echocardiography method. The aims of this study were to evaluate LV diastolic function in paediatric dialysis patients using cPWD and TDI methods, and to compare the findings obtained with two modalities.Methods:  This study included 38 children and adolescents on dialysis (14 haemodialysis and 24 peritoneal dialysis, duration of dialysis 58.0 ± 32.8 months) and 16 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy subjects.Results:  The mean left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was significantly higher in the patient group (P < 0.001) and the most common cardiac geometry was concentric LV hypertrophy (55%). There was no significant difference in LV systolic function between patient and control groups. However, dialysis patients had worse LV diastolic function both according to cPWD (lower E/A ratio) and TDI (lower Em/Am ratio) than the healthy subjects (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively). Also, the index of LV filling pressure (E/Em ratio) obtained by the combination of cPWD and TDI was significantly higher in the patients (P < 0.001). Cumulative dose of calcium‐based phosphate binder (CBPB), diastolic blood pressure and LVMI were the independent predictors of E/Em ratio.Conclusion:  Our study shows that LV diastolic dysfunction is common in paediatric dialysis patients and TDI findings correlate well with cPWD findings. Similarly, higher dose intake of CBPB, hypertension and LV hypertrophy have a negative effect on LV filling pressure suggesting diastolic function.
Cardio‐selective and non‐selective beta‐blockers in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: effects on bronchodilator response and exercise
Authors: Chang C. L. , Mills G. D. , McLachlan J. D. , Karalus N. C. , Hancox R. J. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBackground: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often have co‐existing cardiovascular disease and may require beta‐blocker treatment. There are limited data on the effects of beta‐blockers on the response to inhaled β2‐agonists and exercise capacity in patients with COPD.Objective: To determine the effects of different doses of cardio‐selective and non‐selective beta‐blockers on the acute bronchodilator response to beta‐agonists in COPD, and to assess their effects on exercise capacity.Methods: A double‐blind, randomized, three‐way cross‐over (metoprolol 95 mg, propranolol 80 mg, placebo) study with a final open‐label high‐dose arm (metoprolol 190 mg). After 1 week of each treatment, the bronchodilator response to salbutamol was measured after first inducing bronchoconstriction using methacholine. Exercise capacity was assessed using the incremental shuttle walk test.Results: Eleven patients with moderate COPD were recruited. Treatments were well‐tolerated although two did not participate in the high‐dose metoprolol phase. The area under the salbutamol–response curve was lower after propranolol compared with placebo (P = 0.0006). The area under the curve also tended to be lower after high‐dose metoprolol (P = 0.076). The per cent recovery of the methacholine‐induced fall was also lower after high‐dose metoprolol (P = 0.0018). Low‐dose metoprolol did not alter the bronchodilator response. Oxygen saturation at peak exercise was lower with all beta‐blocker treatments (P = 0.046).Conclusion: Non‐selective beta‐blockers and high doses of cardio‐selective beta‐blockers may inhibit the bronchodilator response to β2‐agonists in patients with COPD. Beta‐blockers were also associated with lower oxygen saturation during exercise. The clinical significance of these adverse effects is uncertain in view of the benefits of beta‐blocker treatment for cardiovascular disease.
Biodiversity maintenance mechanisms differ between native and novel exotic‐dominated communities
Authors: Wilsey Brian J. , Teaschner Terri B. , Daneshgar Pedram P. , Isbell Forest I. , Polley H. Wayne 
Published: March 2009

AbstractIn many systems, native communities are being replaced by novel exotic‐dominated ones. We experimentally compared species diversity decline between nine‐species grassland communities under field conditions to test whether diversity maintenance mechanisms differed between communities containing all exotic or all native species using a pool of 40 species. Aboveground biomass was greater in exotic than native plots, and this difference was larger in mixtures than in monocultures. Species diversity declined more in exotic than native communities and declines were explained by different mechanisms. In exotic communities, overyielding species had high biomass in monoculture and diversity declined linearly as this selection effect increased. In native communities, however, overyielding species had low biomass in monoculture and there was no relationship between the selection effect and diversity decline. This suggests that, for this system, yielding behaviour is fundamentally different between presumably co‐evolved natives and coevolutionarily naive exotic species, and that native‐exotic status is important to consider.