bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Levocetirizine is an effective treatment in patients suffering from chronic idiopathic urticaria: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, parallel, multicenter study
Authors: Kapp Alexander , Pichler Werner J. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground  Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is defined by the almost daily presence of urticaria for at least 6 weeks without an identifiable cause. Symptoms include short‐lived wheals, itching, and erythema. CIU impedes significantly a patient's quality of life (QoL). Levocetirizine is an antihistamine from the latest generation approved for CIU.Aim  To investigate the efficacy of levocetirizine, 5 mg, and placebo for the symptoms and signs of CIU, as well as for the QoL and productivity.Methods  The primary criteria of evaluation were the pruritus severity scores over 1 week of treatment and over 4 weeks. The QoL was assessed via the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).Results  Baseline pruritus severity scores were comparable in the two treatment groups (2.06 ± 0.58). After 1 week, levocetirizine was superior to placebo and demonstrated a considerable efficacy (difference = 0.78, P < 0.001). This efficacy was maintained over the entire study period (4 weeks, P < 0.001). The number and size of wheals were considerably reduced compared with placebo over 1 week and over the total treatment period (P ≤ 0.001). This was paralleled by an improvement in the QoL (DLQI: 7.3 units in the levocetirizine group and 2.4 units in the placebo group) and a higher productivity at work in the levocetirizine group (3.0 workdays lost per patient per month in the placebo group, 0.3 in the levocetirizine group). No unexpected adverse events occurred.Conclusions  Levocetirizine, 5 mg once daily, is an effective treatment for CIU, characterized not only by a rapid and sustained response, but also by an important improvement in QoL.
Dermatosurgical techniques for repigmentation of vitiligo
Authors: Rusfianti Marsia , Wirohadidjodjo Yohanes Widodo 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThere are a number of dermatosurgery techniques available to achieve repigmentation of vitiligo, such as suction blister grafting, split‐thickness skin grafting, punch grafting, follicular grafting, cultured‐melanocytes transplantation, and noncultured‐melanocytes transplantation. Each method has advantages and disadvantages. As there are no specific data available from the prospective studies in this field it is uneasy to recommend which surgical approach to vitiligo offers the best result. According to a systematic review by Njoo et al.,17 suction blister and split‐thickness skin grafting have the highest rates of success (87%), while the average success rates for other methods varied from 13% to 53%. Punch grafting has the highest rate of adverse effects, including cobblestoning appearance (27%) and scar formation (40%) in the donor site. Accordingly, it is also mandatory to appropriately select vitiligo patients in order to achieve a complete and permanent repigmentation.
Frontal fibrosing alopecia versus lichen planopilaris: a clinicopathological study
Authors: Poblet Enrique , Jiménez Francisco , Pascual Alejandro , Piqué Enric 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground  Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is an acquired scarring alopecia currently considered a clinical variant of lichen planopilaris (LPP). Our purpose was to examine the clinicopathological features of FFA. In addition, we investigated the similarities and differences between FFA and LPP.Methods  Biopsies from the scalp lesions of eight patients with FFA and eight patients with LPP were microscopically analyzed. Two cases of FFA and four cases of LPP were studied using direct immunofluorescence.Results  In spite of the completely different clinical characteristics of FFA and LPP patients, the histopathological findings for the two entities were similar. Common microscopic findings for both FFA and LPP included an inflammatory lymphocytic infiltrate involving the isthmus and infundibulum of the hair follicles, the presence of apoptotic cells in the external root sheath, and a concentric fibrosis surrounding the hair follicles that resulted in their destruction with subsequent scarring alopecia. Biopsies taken from FFA patients showed less follicular inflammation and more apoptotic cells than those from LPP patients. In some cases of LPP, the inflammatory infiltrate involved the interfollicular epidermis, a finding never present in our FFA cases. Direct immunofluorescence was negative in the two cases of FFA studied and showed deposits of immunoglobulins and/or complement in two of the four LPP cases examined.Conclusions  The characteristic findings for FFA were more prominent apoptosis and less inflammation than found in LPP, along with spared interfollicular epidermis. FFA cases showed a rather characteristic histopathological pattern, although we could not find any clear‐cut histological differences between FFA and LPP.
Porokeratosis of Mibelli following bone marrow transplantation
Authors: Alexis Andrew F. , Busam Klaus , Myskowski Patricia L. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground  Porokeratosis is a rare disorder of keratinization with both autosomal dominant and acquired forms. Immunosuppression has been associated with the development of porokeratosis in numerous case reports and series. To our knowledge, however, only five cases of porokeratosis have been reported following bone marrow transplantation.Results  We report five cases of porokeratosis of Mibelli following bone marrow transplantation. The diagnosis of porokeratosis was made between 1 and 13 years post‐transplantation. The underlying malignancy in four of the five cases was leukemia, while the fifth patient had non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma. Porokeratosis developed during remission in the four leukemia patients, whereas, in the fifth patient, it occurred during a relapse of lymphoma.Conclusions  Porokeratosis may develop following bone marrow transplantation. Our five cases double the number reported in the medical literature, and the incidence of porokeratosis following bone marrow transplantation may be significantly higher than previously recognized. As cutaneous carcinomas have been reported in association with porokeratosis, careful surveillance for porokeratosis in bone marrow transplant recipients is warranted.
Thermal evolution of the Tertiary Shimanto Belt, Muroto Peninsula, Shikoku, Japan
Authors: Underwood Michael B. , Laughland Matthew M. , Byrne Tim , Hibbard J. P. , DiTullio Lee 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
The Shimanto accretionary complex on the Muroto Peninsula of Shikoku comprises two major units of Tertiary strata: the Murotohanto Sub‐belt (Eocene‐Oligocene) and the Nabae Sub‐belt (Oligocene‐Miocene). Both sub‐belts have been affected by thermal overprints following the peak of accretion‐related deformation. Palaeotemperatures for the entire Tertiary section range from ∼ 140 to 315°C, based upon mean vitrinite reflectance values of 0.9–5.0%Rm. Values of illite crystallinity index are consistent with conditions of advanced diagenesis and anchimetamorphism. Illite/mica b0 lattice dimensions indicate that burial pressures were probably no greater than 2.5kbar. In general, levels of thermal maturity are higher for the Murotohanto Sub‐belt than for the Nabae Sub‐belt. The Eocene‐Oligocene strata also display a spatial decrease in thermal maturity from south to north and this pattern probably was caused by regional‐scale differential uplift following peak heating. Conversely, the palaeothermal structure within the Nabae Sub‐belt is fairly uniform, except for the local effects of mafic intrusions at the tip of Cape Muroto. There is a paleotemperature difference of ∼ 90°C across the boundary between the Murotohanto and Nabae Sub‐belts (Shiina‐Narashi fault), and this contrast is consistent with approximately 1200 m of post‐metamorphic vertical offset.Subduction prior to Middle Miocene probably involved the Kula or fused Kula‐Pacific plate and the background geothermal gradient during the Eocene‐Oligocene phase of accretion was ∼ 30–35°C/km. Rapid heating of the Shimanto Belt evidently occurred immediately after a Middle Miocene reorganization of the subduction boundary. Hot oceanic lithosphere from the Shikoku Basin first entered the subduction zone at ∼ 15 Ma; this event also coincided with the opening of the Sea of Japan and the rapid clockwise rotation of southwest Japan. The background geothermal gradient at that time was ∼ 70°C/km. Whether or not all portions of the inherited (Eocene‐Oligocene) palaeothermal structure were overprinted during the Middle Miocene remains controversial.
The chemical Th‐U‐total Pb isochron ages of Jiaodong and Jiaonan metamorphic rocks in the Shandong Peninsula, eastern China
Authors: Enami Masaki , Suzuki Kazuhiro , Zhai Mingguo , Zheng Xiangshen 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
The chemical Th‐U‐total Pb isochron method (CHIME) was applied to determine the age of monazite and thorite in five gneisses and zircon in an ultra high‐pressure (UHP) phengite schist from the Su‐Lu region, eastern China. The CHIME ages and isotopic ages reported in the literature show that gneisses in the Su‐Lu region are divided into middle Proterozoic (1500–1720 Ma) and Mesozoic (100–250 Ma) groups. The Proterozoic group includes paragneiss and orthogneiss of the amphibolite‐granulite facies, and their protolith age is late Archean‐early Proterozoic. The Mesozoic group is mainly composed of orthogneiss of the greenschist‐epidote amphibolite facies, and the protolith age is Middle Paleozoic‐Early Proterozoic. The Proterozoic and Mesozoic gneisses occupy northern and southern areas of the Su‐Lu region, respectively, which are divided by a major Wulian‐Qingdao‐Yantai fault. Ultra high‐pressure metamorphic rocks occur as blocks in the Mesozoic gneisses, and form a UHP complex.The UHP phengite schist in the Mesozoic orthogneiss contains detrital zircons with late Proterozoic CHIME age (ca 860 Ma). Age of the UHP metamorphism is late Proterozoic or younger, and protolith age of the UHP metamorphic rocks is probably different from that of the surrounding Mesozoic gneisses.
Bone mineral density in malnourished children without rachitic manifestations
Authors: ALP HANDAN , ORBAK ZERRIN , KERMEN TAHIR , USLU HATICE 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground: The purpose of this study was to determine bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine in malnourished children without rachitic manifestations, before and after dietary treatment and vitamin D supplementation, and to compare with healthy children of the same community.Methods: The subjects were 41 children with malnutrition and 21 healthy controls. None of the children had clinical, biochemical and/or radiological rickets features. The patients had moderate 15 and severe 26 malnutrition according to Gomez's criteria. Using the Wellcome Classification, marasmus was diagnosed in 16 children, kwashiorkor in 10 children. The children with malnutrition were given vitamin D supplementation.Results: BMD was lower in children with malnutrition than in controls (P < 0.01). Mineralization significantly effected the severity of malnutrition (P < 0.01). BMD in kwashiorkor was similar to that of marasmus. The mean BMD level of infants receiving 400 IU of vitamin D daily was similar to that of infants receiving 800 IU of vitamin D daily at the beginning of treatment. In two suplementation groups, the BMD gradually increased during the first 3 months of treatment, but this increase in the infants receiving 800 IU of vitamin D daily was significantly higher than that in the infants receiving 400 IU of vitamin D daily.Conclusion: Measurements of BMD in children with malnutrition, especially severe malnutrition, are to be recommended in the initial assessment of the severity of osteopenia and in the follow up to monitor the response to therapy. Children with malnutrition should be given 800 IU of vitamin D daily. The loss of BMD must be accepted as a complication of malnutrition.
Is elevated level of soluble endothelial protein C receptor a new risk factor for retinal vein occlusion?
Authors: Gumus Koray , Kadayifcilar Sibel , Eldem Bora , Saracbası Osman , Ozcebe Osman , Dundar Semra , Kirazli Serafettin 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground:  To evaluate the systemic and thrombophilic risk factors for retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and to determine whether the elevated level of soluble endothelial protein C receptor (sEPCR) is a risk factor for thrombosis.Methods:  In this case–control study, 56 patients with central RVO (CRVO), 26 patients with branch RVO (BRVO) and 78 healthy sex‐ and age‐matched subjects were enrolled. Following ophthalmological examination, venous blood was analysed for glucose, lipid profile, lipoprotein (a), homocysteine, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, factor VIII, protein C activity, protein S activity, activated protein C resistance, antithrombin III activity, lupus anticoagulant, anti‐cardiolipin antibody, anti‐phospholipid antibody, sEPCR, factor V Leiden mutation and prothrombin G20210A mutation.Results:  Apart from hypertension, glaucoma, lipoprotein (a), homocysteine and factor VIII, elevated levels of sEPCR were found to be a risk factor for CRVO (odds ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.007–1.028; P = 0.001). Patients with CRVO had significantly higher levels of sEPCR than those with BRVO and controls (respectively, 160.1 ± 83.8, 116.8 ± 65.2 and 111.3 ± 60.5; P = 0.005). Moreover, 39% of patients with CRVO had levels of sEPCR more than 200 ng/mL, and only 5% of controls and 11% of patients with BRVO had similar high levels.Conclusions:  Besides known classical risk factors, elevated levels of sEPCR seem to be an important candidate risk factor for especially CRVO.
Variations in the human cannabinoid receptor (CNR1) gene modulate striatal responses to happy faces
Authors: Chakrabarti Bhismadev , Kent Lindsey , Suckling John , Bullmore Edward , Baron‐Cohen Simon 
Published: April 2006

AbstractHappy facial expressions are innate social rewards and evoke a response in the striatum, a region known for its role in reward processing in rats, primates and humans. The cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) is the best‐characterized molecule of the endocannabinoid system, involved in processing rewards. We hypothesized that genetic variation in human CNR1 gene would predict differences in the striatal response to happy faces. In a 3T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning study on 19 Caucasian volunteers, we report that four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CNR1 locus modulate differential striatal response to happy but not to disgust faces. This suggests a role for the variations of the CNR1 gene in underlying social reward responsivity. Future studies should aim to replicate this finding with a balanced design in a larger sample, but these preliminary results suggest neural responsivity to emotional and socially rewarding stimuli varies as a function of CNR1 genotype. This has implications for medical conditions involving hypo‐responsivity to emotional and social stimuli, such as autism.
Delayed administration of deferoxamine reduces brain damage and promotes functional recovery after transient focal cerebral ischemia in the rat
Authors: Freret Thomas , Valable Samuel , Chazalviel Laurent , Saulnier Romaric , Mackenzie Eric T. , Petit Edwige , Bernaudin Myriam , Boulouard Michel , Schumann‐Bard Pascale 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThe mechanisms underlying functional recovery after stroke are poorly understood. Brain‐adaptive responses to the hypoxic stress elicited by ischemia could contribute to these mechanisms. Indeed, hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1 (HIF‐1), one of the main transcriptional factors regulated by oxygen level, increases the expression of several beneficial genes such as erythropoietin, glucose transporter‐1 and vascular endothelial growth factor. In order to strengthen the expression of these hypoxia‐inducible factors, we administered deferoxamine, an iron chelator known to stabilize HIF‐1α protein expression, and examined its effects on the functional deficits induced by ischemia. Anesthetized Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to 60 min of intraluminal occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Chronic deferoxamine treatment (300 mg/kg, s.c.), or its vehicle, started 24 h after ischemia and was continued bi‐weekly until the animals were killed. Sensorimotor deficits were periodically assessed over 2 months, and at this end point, the lesion volume was determined by histology. Treatment with deferoxamine significantly decreased the size of brain damage (−28%) after ischemia and improved behavioral recovery. Indeed, neurological score and sensorimotor performances in the adhesive removal test recovered earlier in the deferoxamine‐treated animals. Moreover, the long‐lasting skilled forepaw reaching deficits were attenuated by deferoxamine. Although an antioxidant effect of deferoxamine cannot be excluded, the hypothesis that its beneficial effects could be mediated by an increase in HIF‐1 target genes merits further investigations. Our data suggest that delayed administration of deferoxamine could represent an interesting therapeutical approach to treat focal cerebral ischemia.
IP3 receptor in the hair cells of frog semicircular canal and its possible functional role
Authors: Rossi Maria Lisa , Prigioni Ivo , Gioglio Luciana , Rubbini Gemma , Russo Giancarlo , Martini Marta , Farinelli Federica , Rispoli Giorgio , Fesce Riccardo 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThe presence and functional role of inositol trisphosphate receptors (IP3R) was investigated by electrophysiology and immunohistochemistry in hair cells from the frog semicircular canal. Intracellular recordings were performed from single fibres of the posterior canal in the isolated, intact frog labyrinth, at rest and during rotation, in the presence of IP3 receptor inhibitors and drugs known to produce Ca2+ release from the internal stores or to increase IP3 production. Hair cell immunolabelling for IP3 receptor was performed by standard procedures. The drug 2‐aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2APB), an IP3 receptor inhibitor, produced a marked decrease of mEPSP and spike frequency at low concentration (0.1 mm), without affecting mEPSP size or time course. At high concentration (1 mm), 2APB is reported to block the sarcoplasmic‐endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‐ATPase (SERCA pump) and increase [Ca2+]i; at the labyrinthine cytoneural junction, it greatly enhanced the resting and mechanically evoked sensory discharge frequency. The selective agonist of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (RS)‐3,5‐dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG, 0.6 mm), produced a transient increase in resting mEPSP and spike frequency at the cytoneural junction, with no effects on mEPSP shape or amplitude. Pretreatment with cyclopiazonic acid (CPA, 0.1 mm), a SERCA pump inhibitor, prevented the facilitatory effect of both 2APB and DHPG, suggesting a link between Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and quantal emission. Consistently, diffuse immunoreactivity for IP3 receptors was observed in posterior canal hair cells. Our results indicate the presence and a possibly relevant functional role of IP3‐sensitive stores in controlling [Ca2+]i and modulating the vestibular discharge.
Neuroanatomical specificity in the expression of the immediate early gene c‐fos following expression of appetitive and consummatory male sexual behaviour in Japanese quail
Authors: Taziaux M. , Cornil C. A. , Dejace C. , Arckens L. , Ball G. F. , Balthazart J. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractWe investigated the neural sites related to the occurrence of appetitive (ASB) and consummatory (CSB) aspects of male sexual behaviour in Japanese quail. Castrated males treated with testosterone were exposed for 5 min to one of four experimental conditions: (i) free interaction with a female (CSB group); (ii) expression of rhythmic cloacal sphincter movements in response to the visual presentation of a female (ASB‐F group); (iii) or a male (ASB‐M group), and (iv) handling as a control manipulation. Brains were collected 90 min after the start of behavioural tests and stained by immunocytochemistry for the FOS protein. An increase in FOS expression was observed throughout the rostro‐caudal extent of the medial preoptic nucleus (POM) in CSB males, whereas the view of a female (ASB‐F) induced an increased FOS expression in the rostral POM only. In the CSB group, there was also an increase in FOS expression in the bed nucleus striae terminalis, and both the CSB and ASB‐F groups exhibited increased FOS expression in aspects of the ventro‐lateral thalamus (VLT) related to visual processing. Moreover, both the CSB and ASB‐M groups showed increased FOS expression in the lateral septum. These data provide additional support to the idea that there is a partial anatomical dissociation between structures involved in the control of both aspects of male sexual behaviour and independently provide data consistent with a previous lesion study that indicated that the rostral and caudal POM differentially control the expression of ASB and CSB in quail.
Comparison of various insulin sensivity indices in psoriatic patients and their relationship with type of psoriasis
Authors: Ucak S , Ekmekci Tr , Basat O , Koslu A , Altuntas Y 
Published: April 2006

AbstractAim  We aimed to identify insulin resistance and its possible association with types, duration and severity of psoriasis, and to evaluate various simple insulin‐sensitivity indices and beta‐cell function in psoriasis.Methods  A cross‐sectional study was performed in 110 non‐obese adults (18–50 years old): 70 with psoriasis (53 type I, 17 type II psoriasis) and 40 healthy individuals. Blood glucose, insulin and C‐peptide levels were measured. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT); insulin sensitivity and beta‐cell function indices derived from a single sample and OGTT were determined and compared in three groups.Results  Total, type I and type II psoriatics had IGT rates of 18.6%, 13.2% and 40%, respectively. In the control group IGT was only 2.5%. Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) beta cell index, fasting insulin, Raynaud index, HOMA‐IR and FIRI results were higher in total, type I and type II psoriatics than in controls (P < 0.05, for all). Fasting Belfiore index, QUICKY index, ISI HOMA and FIRI−1 results were lower in total, type I and type II psoriatics than in controls (P < 0.05, for all), and type I psoriatics had higher levels of these indices than type II psoriatics (P < 0.05, for all).Conclusion  Our study showed that psoriatic patients were more insulin resistant than healthy subjects and type II psoriatics were more susceptible than type I psoriatics to develop IGT. We suggest that beta‐cell function and insulin sensitivity indices are useful methods for measuring insulin resistance in psoriatics. We propose that OGTT should be applied especially in type II psoriatics because of increased rate of IGT in this group.
A 308‐nm monochromatic excimer light in the treatment of palmoplantar psoriasis
Authors: Nisticò SP , Saraceno R , Stefanescu S , Chimenti S 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground  Various reports have shown the efficacy of narrow‐band UVB (311–313 nm) and excimer laser (308 nm) in the treatment of psoriasis.Objective  To prove the efficacy of light produced by xenon‐chloride excimer at 308 nm (monochromatic excimer light, MEL) in the treatment of palmoplantar psoriasis (PP).Methods  Fifty‐four patients (29 male and 25 female) affected by PP were treated with MEL every 7–14 days. A mean number of 10 sessions was performed with an increase of the dose depending on patient's skin type and response.Results  All 54 patients completed the treatment. After 4 months of MEL we observed a complete remission in 31 patients, a partial remission in 13 patients, and a moderate improvement in 10 patients.Conclusions  These results suggest that MEL can be considered as a valid therapeutic option for treatment of selected forms of PP.