bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cluster immunotherapy with a glutaraldehyde‐modified mixture of grasses results in an improvement in specific nasal provocation tests in less than 2.5 months of treatment
Authors: Subiza J. , Feliú A. , Subiza J. L. , Uhlig J. , Fernández‐Caldas E. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryBackground
Cluster immunotherapy is becoming increasingly used. It allows for a rapid build up phase and the administration of higher doses of allergen in a shorter period of time.Objectives
To evaluate the effect of short‐term pre‐seasonal immunotherapy using a glutaraldeyde‐modified allergen vaccine in reducing specific nasal hyperreactivity in nasal challenge tests.Materials and Methods
Thirty‐three patients were selected. All patients had a positive history of allergic rhinitis and skin tests to grass pollen, although most of them (72.7%) were sensitized to other allergens as well. The study was conducted outside of the pollen season and the patients did not receive any pharmacological treatment during this period of time. Two randomized groups of patients were established; Group A: 22 patients (13 females and nine males) and Group B, 11 control patients (seven females and four males). Patients in Group A received immunotherapy with a vaccine containing 50% of the wild grasses Trisetum paniceum and Dactylis glomerata. All patients underwent titrated nasal provocation tests (NPT) before and after completion of the study (2.3 and 2.8 months for Groups A and B, respectively). The administration schedule consisted of 0.1 and 0.2 mL at day 1, followed by 0.3 and 0.5 mL at day 7, 0.5 mL after 2 weeks followed by 0.5 mL monthly. A single vial was used containing an allergen concentration of 10 000 TU/mL (105 μg of total protein and 24.6 μg of Group 1 plus 5 allergens/mL). A mean of 6.5 injections were administered to Group A patients between NPTs.Results
There were no significant differences between both groups at the beginning of the study (P=0.48). At the end, only Group A patients needed significant greater threshold concentrations for a positive NPT than at the beginning (P=0.002).Conclusions
A short‐term cluster pre‐seasonal inmunotherapy with a modified vaccine containing a mixture of grass pollen is effective as determined by an objective measure after only a mean 2.3 months of treatment.
The novel Cladosporium fulvum lysin motif effector Ecp6 is a virulence factor with orthologues in other fungal species
Authors: Bolton Melvin D. , Van Esse H. Peter , Vossen Jack H. , De Jonge Ronnie , Stergiopoulos Ioannis , Stulemeijer Iris J. E. , Van Den Berg Grardy C. M. , Borrás‐Hidalgo Orlando , Dekker Henk L. , De Koster Chris G. , De Wit Pierre J. G. M. , Joosten Matthieu H. A. J. , Thomma Bart P. H. J. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryDuring tomato leaf colonization, the biotrophic fungus Cladosporium fulvum secretes several effector proteins into the apoplast. Eight effectors have previously been characterized and show no significant homology to each other or to other fungal genes. To discover novel C. fulvum effectors that might play a role in virulence, we utilized two‐dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D‐PAGE) to visualize proteins secreted during C. fulvum–tomato interactions. Three novel C. fulvum proteins were identified: CfPhiA, Ecp6 and Ecp7. CfPhiA shows homology to proteins found on fungal sporogenous cells called phialides. Ecp6 contains lysin motifs (LysM domains) that are recognized as carbohydrate‐binding modules. Ecp7 encodes a small, cysteine‐rich protein with no homology to known proteins. Heterologous expression of Ecp6 significantly increased the virulence of the vascular pathogen Fusarium oxysporum on tomato. Furthermore, by RNA interference (RNAi)‐mediated gene silencing we demonstrate that Ecp6 is instrumental for C. fulvum virulence on tomato. Hardly any allelic variation was observed in the Ecp6 coding region of a worldwide collection of C. fulvum strains. Although none of the C. fulvum effectors identified so far have obvious orthologues in other organisms, conserved Ecp6 orthologues were identified in various fungal species. Homology‐based modelling suggests that the LysM domains of C. fulvum Ecp6 may be involved in chitin binding.
The impact of past pregnancy experience on subsequent perinatal outcomes
Authors: Hutcheon Jennifer A. , Platt Robert W. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryIn perinatal epidemiology, the basic unit of analysis has traditionally been the individual pregnancy. In this study, we sought to explore the idea of a ‘reproductive life’‐based approach to modelling the effects of reproductive exposures and outcomes, where the basic unit of analysis is a woman's entire reproductive experience. Our objective was to explore whether a first pregnancy risk factor, excess gestational weight gain, has a direct effect on the birthweight outcomes of a subsequent pregnancy, independent of the weight gain and other risk factors of the second pregnancy. A study population was created by linking the obstetric records of 1220 women who delivered their first and second offspring at a McGill University teaching hospital in Montreal, Canada. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were used to model the effects of gestational weight gain above recommendation on the birthweight Z‐score and risk of large‐for‐gestational age (LGA) subsequent offspring.After adjusting for the risk factors of the second pregnancy, an independent effect from the first pregnancy was seen on the birthweight Z‐score, (effect size OR 0.17 [95% CI 0.05, 0.28] but not risk of LGA of the second pregnancy 1.30 [95% CI 0.89, 1.89]). We concluded that a pregnancy‐centred approach to research that conceptualises pregnancies as self‐contained and interchangeable events may not always be appropriate, and propose that analytical methods for some perinatal research questions may need to consider a given pregnancy in the context of a woman's past reproductive experiences.
Pathophysiology of asthma
Authors: Howarth P. H. , Redington A. E. , Montefort S. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryThe increased knowledge of mucosal cellular events and their regulation within the airways in asthma has been made possible both by the feasibility of direct airway sampling in this disorder by endobronchial biopsy and lavage, and on account of the major advances that have been made in the understanding of the immunological mechanisms involved in inflammation. The appreciation that cell damage and remodelling can arise as a consequence of this inflammation has provided a mechanism whereby the structural abnormalities in asthma may arise. Eosinophil products, such as MBP and ECP, have been shown to be cytotoxic and their release within the epithelium could contribute to damage to this cell population. In addition, collagenases from activated eosinophils, will damage the basement membrane and mast cell derived proteases may loosen intercellular adhesion, both factors which could contribute to epithelial fragility. This epithelial disruption is likely to contribute to bronchial hyperresponsiveness as several reports exist relating epithelial damage to the level of bronchial responsiveness in asthma (53–55) and the epithelium, in addition to generating cytokines, can synthesize bronchodilator substances such as PGE2 and NO, has the capacity to metabolize the bronchoconstrictor SP, through generation of neutral endopeptidases, and contains afferent sensory neurones whose stimulation may be increased in the presence of a disrupted epithelial layer. The deposition of collagen (types III and IV) associated with an increase in tissue myofibroblasts, may reflect an attempt at a repair process (56, 57). This will lead to an increase in airway bulk as will smooth muscle hyperplasia and hypertrophy, both factors which through geometric considerations are likely to contribute to bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Growth factors associated with mast cell, eosinophil and macrophage activation can all be theoretically linked with fibroblast proliferation and activation and smooth muscle mutagenesis. The reduction in mucosal inflammation with corticosteroid therapy in association with improvements in spirometry and bronchial responsiveness (58) provides further support for the inflammatory pathogenesis of the asthma disease.
Kinetics of 14carbon dioxide excretion from 14C‐urea by oral commensal flora
Authors: Pathak Chander M , Avti Pramod K , Bunger Deepak , Khanduja Krishan L 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Previous studies have shown that while performing the 14C‐urea breath test (14C‐UBT) for the detection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), there is possibility of false‐positive results due to the other urease producing bacteria present in oropharynx, if breath samples are obtained within 30 min after administration of non‐capsulated 14C‐urea. Therefore, we have exclusively evaluated the kinetics of 14carbon dioxide (14CO2) excretion by oral commensal flora to theoretically propose optimum breath collection timings for 14C‐UBT.Methods:  Multiple breath samples up to 15 min were collected in 0.25 mmol benzethonium hydroxide from 25 healthy volunteers after they withheld 37 kBq (1 μCi) of 14C‐urea in their mouths for 15 s and then expectorated the tracer. The test was repeated on the same subjects without and with mouth cleansing protocols. Breath 14CO2 content was measured by the Liquid Scintillation Counter (1409; Wallac, Turku, Finland) and results were expressed as 14CO2 excretion per mmol breath CO2 (% administered dose).Results:  Peak breath radioactivity at 1 min in the former protocol was 3.53 times higher than the latter which declined subsequently with a half time of 1 min and 2.5 min, and reached baseline levels by 15 and 10 min, respectively. The peak radioactivity (100%) at 1 min declined by 94% and 97.8% in the former and later protocols, respectively, at 15 min. Although magnitude of the peak varied in different subjects, the shape of curve remained almost similar in all cases.Conclusions:  Without mouth cleansing, oral micro flora excreted more 14CO2 up to 15 min after administration of non‐capsulated 14C‐urea. Therefore, it is proposed that two breath samples may be obtained either at 15 and 20 min without or at 10 and 15 min with mouth cleansing protocols for reliable analysis of 14C‐UBT data for H. pylori detection.
Artemisia asiatica extracts protect against ethanol‐induced injury in gastric mucosa of rats
Authors: Park Sang Woon , Oh Tae Young , Kim Yong Seok , Sim Hyejin , Park Sang Jong , Jang Eun Jung , Park Joo Sang , Baik Hyun Wook , Hahm Ki Baik 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Based on our previous studies that Artemisia asiatica extracts exert either antioxidative or cytoprotective actions against non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs or Helicobacter pylori‐induced gastric mucosal injury, or imposes qualified ulcer healing in an acetic acid‐induced gastric ulcer model, we investigated the protective effects of Artemisia asiatica extracts against ethanol‐induced gastric mucosal injury.Methods:  Sprague–Dawley rats received 4 g/kg body weight (BW) of absolute ethanol intragastrically, which produced visible hemorrhagic gastric lesions 60 min later.Results:  In this animal setting, the pretreatment of Artemisia extracts (30 or 100 mg/kg BW), 1 h before ethanol administration, significantly attenuated the source of gastric injury, which was assessed with gross and microscopic analysis (P < 0.01). Protection from alcohol‐induced damage with Artemisia pretreatment was associated with significantly decreased lipid peroxidation, protecting gastric mucosa from glutathione depletion, as well as the inhibition of the cytochrome 2E1 ethanol‐metabolizing enzyme. It attenuated the expressions of ethanol‐induced pro‐inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)‐1β and interferon‐γ, a weak activation of IL‐10, the inhibition of the alcohol‐induced overexpression of intercellular adhesion molecule‐1, and the considerable induction of heat shock protein‐72 expression in gastric mucosal homogenates.Conclusion:  The data suggest that the ethanol extracts of Artemisia asiatica exerted significant protection from alcohol‐induced gastric mucosal injury through bioregulation, which is essential for cytoprotection and anti‐inflammation.
Coexistence of malakoplakia and multifocal diffuse large B cell lymphoma of colorectum
Authors: Al Hawashim N. , Al Akwaa A. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractWe report a case of concurrent multifocal diffuse large B cell lymphoma and malakoplakia of colorectum in a 36‐year‐old man presenting with recurrent bloody diarrhoea. Malakoplakia has been described in association with a variety of malignant and nonmalignant conditions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the third report of coexistence or association of malignant non‐Hodgkin lymphoma and malakoplakia in the literature, and the first report ever in the colorectum.
Defunctioning stomas in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer prior to preoperative chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Parnaby C. N. , Jenkins J. T. , Weston V. , Wright D. M. , Sunderland G. T. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective  A literature search did not produce any evidence‐based objective criteria to determine which patients with locally advanced rectal cancer would benefit from a defunctioning stoma prior to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Our criteria for formation of a defunctioning stoma are: faecal incontinence and inability to cannulate the tumour at colonoscopy. The aim of this study was to examine whether these current criteria are appropriate.Method  Forty‐nine consecutive locally advanced rectal cancer patients treated from February 2003 to November 2006 were identified from our colorectal database. All received long‐course chemoradiotherapy (Bossett regimen) and definitive surgery was performed 6–8 weeks later.Results  Of the 49 patients, 31 presented with diarrhoea and two with faecal incontinence; nine patients were defunctioned by trephine stoma prior to treatment [cannulation impossible at colonoscopy (n = 8); faecal incontinence (n = 1)]. One patient with faecal incontinence refused early defunctioning stoma. Median hospital stay was 12 days (interquartile range: 7–30), and complications included pneumonia (n = 1) and peristomal cellulitis (n = 2). Of the 40 patients who went directly to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, two subsequently required a defunctioning stoma for severe diarrhoeal symptoms during therapy. Eight patients had worsening diarrhoeal symptoms but tolerated treatment. Three patients, who had stoma formation, did not proceed to definitive surgery following neoadjuvant therapy: poor operative fitness (n = 2) and disease progression (n = 1).Conclusion  Stenosis causing inability to cannulate the tumour at colonoscopy and faecal incontinence were the only objective indications for an early defunctioning stoma. Worsening diarrhoea during therapy (unless severe) did not appear to be a good indication for a defunctioning stoma.
Het monsternemen als probleem in het bedrijf1
Authors: de Jong A. J. 
Published: April 2008

Summary  (Sampling as a problem in industry).The elementary theory of sampling is discussed, especially that of small samples in massproduction. On the basis of some simple and very illustrative examples the various problems are considered and solved. It is shown that the manufacturer has to knout the quality of his products, their uniformity and how to maintain c.q. improve this uniformity. Statistical methods enable to control the production and give security as desired by the manufacturer and the customer as well.
Statistischo aspecten van kleding‐maatnormalisatie
Authors: van der Burg A. R. 
Published: April 2008

Summary  (Statistical Aspects of Apparel Sizing).A description of the statistical principles underlying the design of a sizing system for apparel. The body measurements can be divided in primary and secundary measurements. The primary are independent variables, the secondary are highly correlated with the primary measurements. The choice of the primary measurements depends on the size of the tolerances, permitted in the other measurements and on the residual standard deviations after adaption of the regression equations. People are classified according to their primary measurements. The interval between two successive classes is two times the tolerance. The ideal class system is that in which as many people as possible fall within a limited number of classes.
Lijnvereffening met behulp van orthogonale polynomia
Authors: van der Loan E. , Ignatius Ir J. G. W. 
Published: April 2008

Summary  (Evaluation of a regression by means of orthogonal polynomials).In our mathematical‐statistical literature the use of orthogonal polynomials in evaluating a regression is scarcely known. The authors give a brief description of this method, which reduces the labour of calculation involved in economical‐ or biological‐statistical investigations. Orthogonal polynomials are so constructed, that the terms are independent from? each other, so that each coefficient of regression can be computed independently from the others. The method is illustrated by an example of price‐statistics (apples), published by M. D. Woodin in Bulletin 761, 1941 of the Cornell Univ. Agr. Exp. Station. It must be emphasized that evaluation is relevant only for values lying within the range of observation, so that extrapolation is most speculative; moreover the evaluation is only possible if the independent variables are equally spaced. In other cases interpolation is necessary.
De grondslagen der regressieanalyse, met een toepassing op een doseringsletaliteitproef
Authors: Nass C. A. G. 
Published: April 2008

Summary  (The principles of the Analysis of Regression with an application to dosage mortality data).The principles of the analysis of regression are explained to research workers. For advanced statisticians a mathematical treatment is given in the appendix (in English), which follows closely the practical procedure and differs markedly from those given by Kendall or Wilks. The suite of a previous article on dosage mortality data (Statistica 1: 257) is given by way of example.
Net probleem der waarnemingsfouten bij een massaal onderzoek *
Authors: Sittig L. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryErrors of observation in a large‐scale statistical research. In an investigation carried out on behalf of one of the large department stores in the Netherlands, 15 different body measurement were taken on a sample consisting of 5000 women, with a view to establishing, on a sound statistical basis, a sizing system for ready‐made clothes. The present paper describes the error analysis carried out as a part of this investigation.The errors are classified into (1) clerical errors, (2) systematic errors, and (3) random errors. Clerical errors—that is ‘slips of the pen’ in recording, re‐writing or card punching—were succesfully traced by plotting scatter diagrams of highly correlated dimensions; compare fig. 4 where the cross indicates an outlying observation probably resulting from such an error. Out of 75000 observations 264 clerical errors have been detected; of which 233 could be corrected, while 31 were discarded, with their concomitant records, since the source of error could not be determined with sufficient accuracy.Systematic errors were traced by inter comparison of regressions in samples of 50 records of each of the 18 female students who performed the measurements. A significant difference found for one particular dimension and for one observer appeared to be due to a faulty method of observation, for which a correction could afterwards be applied.Lastly by a series of replications the random errors were determined for each of the 15 measurements taken. The standard deviations, β1‘sβ2’s, and correlations coefficients computed from the data, have all been corrected so as to eliminate the systematic errors resulting from these random errors in the observations. The formulae needed for this purpose were separately derived. In some cases these corrections turned out to be by no means trivial; their omission would have led to serious errors in the final conclusions.
Een methode van contrôle tijdens de fabricage*
Authors: Willemze F. G. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryA method of quality control during production.This paper describes the use of control charts in general, and of the control charts for percentage defectives in particular. A discussion of the principles of the control charts and of methods to fix the sample size, the sample frequency, and the warning and stop lines is followed by practical hints concerning the use of the charts and their introduction in the factory. The necessity of computing the average percentage defective from the total number of defectives recorded in a series of successive samples is emphasized. It is also pointed out that an analysis of the frequency of the numbers of defectives found in the samples can sometimes furnish useful information regarding the trustworthyness of the inspector.
Een schattingsproef
Authors: Varangot V. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryAn experiment on estimation.On ten pieces of card board a line was drawn 100 mm in length and divided by a vertical dash (the pointer) in two parts, in each case at a different point. 40 persons were asked to estimate the length of the left hand portion after they had been told that the total length was 100 mm. The problem discussed is how to decide which person is the ‘best’ estimator.Three criteria are proposed: (I) the sum of the absolute values of the deviations; (II) a similar weighted sum, each deviation being multiplied with the inverse of its standard deviation, in order to account for the obvious differences in accuracy for different positions of the pointer; and (III) by adding for each of the ten readings of one person the proportions of the observers whose readings were worse. Applied to a set of four observers all three criteria indicate No. 20 as the ‘best’ and No. 5 as the ‘worst’. If however we judge the observers by their mutual correlation coefficients, according to a method of Spearman, No. 20 turns out to be the worst.Hence in applying Spearman's criterion caution seems required. It is pointed out that there does not as yet exist a universally recognized and accepted method for determining the relative quality of a set of observers.
De bovengrens van het gemiddeld doorgelaten uitvalpercentage bij enkelvoudige keuringsschema's met c = 0
Authors: Sittig J. 
Published: April 2008

Summary(The average outgoing quality limit for single sampling plans with c = o). The average outgoing quality limit occurs at P
i= 1/(1 + n) Its exact value is given by (6) and two approximations by (7) and (8), of which the more simplified formula (8) gives better results (see Table 1).
Die probleem van die aanpassing van polinome aan ‘n reeks ewewydige gegewens
Authors: Schumann T. E. W. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryThe adjustment of polynomials to a series of equidistant data.If a quantity Ux has been observed for a set of equidistant values of x, and if we wish to adjust a polynomial to these data by the method of least squares, the coefficients kp can be computed in the form where the Ep(x) are functions of x and p, the values of which may be taken from a table.Tables for this purpose for 1 ≦ N ≦ 6 and for series of observations up to 50 were computed and edited by the Weather Bureau in Pretoria. In this paper formulae for the computation of the functions Ep(x) are deduced from the analogous development in orthogonal plynomials. In a final section the method is illustrated by a particular example, namely the representation of average air pressure as a function of geographical latitude.