bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Systematic review of clinical trials of acupuncture‐related therapies for primary dysmenorrhea
Authors: YANG HUAN , LIU CUN‐ZHI , YANG HUAN , LIU CUN‐ZHI , CHEN XU , MA LIANG‐XIAO , XIE JIE‐PING , GUO NAN‐NAN , MA ZENG‐BIN , ZHENG YUAN‐YUAN , ZHU JIANG , LIU JIAN‐PING 
Published: October 2008

AbstractBackground. Acupuncture‐related therapies might be an effective intervention for primary dysmenorrhea. Objective. To evaluate the effects of acupuncture‐related therapies for treating primary dysmenorrhea. Search Strategy. A specified literature search was performed of the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CNKI, and CBM databases. Selection criteria. All clinical controlled trials pertaining to acupuncture‐related therapies for primary dysmenorrhea were included, and the quality of the trials was assessed. Data collection and analysis. Two independent reviewers were responsible for data extraction and assessment. The original data of each trial were analyzed with software (Revman 4.2), but a meta‐analysis could not be carried out because of the heterogeneity of the trials. Main Results. Thirty randomized controlled trails (RCTs) and two controlled clinical trials (CCTs) were identified. Most of the trials were of low methodologic quality (six trials were Grade B and 26 trials were Grade C). Data analysis indicated that there were conflicting results regarding whether acupuncture‐related therapies were more effective than control treatments. However, there was a small, methodologic sound trial of acupuncture which suggested that acupuncture was more effective than control groups (placebo acupuncture: WMD=−0.57 and 95% CI=−0.76–0.38; standard control: WMD=−.19 and 95% CI=−0.37–0.01; visitation control: WMD=−1.04 and 95% CI=−1.28–0.80). Conclusions. Because of low methodologic quality and small sample size, there is no convincing evidence for acupuncture in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. There is an urgent need for randomized, blinded, placebo‐controlled trials to assess the effects of acupuncture.
Prenatal buprenorphine exposure: Effects on biochemical markers of hypoxia and early neonatal outcome
Authors: KAHILA HANNA , STEFANOVIC VEDRAN , LOUKOVAARA MIKKO , ALFTHAN HENRIK , HÄMÄLÄINEN ESA , HALMESMÄKI ERJA 
Published: October 2008

AbstractObjective. To evaluate the possible association between prenatal buprenorphine exposure and compromised early neonatal outcome in view of markers of perinatal hypoxia. Design, setting and sample. The study group consisted of 27 full‐term neonates exposed to buprenorphine prenatally and prospectively followed up at a special tertiary outpatient clinic for pregnant drug abusers. Serving as controls were 27 full‐term neonates exposed prenatally to illicit substances other than opioids and 38 full‐term neonates from uncomplicated pregnancies of healthy parturients. Methods and main outcome measures. Apgar scores, cord pH and base excess were recorded. Cord serum samples were collected at birth for analysis of biochemical markers of fetal hypoxic stress: erythropoietin (EPO; chronic hypoxia), cardiac troponin T (cardiac involvement) and S100 (neural damage). Results. All infants were born in good condition according to Apgar scores and pH of cord blood. No statistically significant differences were found between the three groups in cord serum concentrations of EPO (33.0 median, range: 9.0–476.0 U/L in the buprenorphine‐exposed group vs 27.0, range: 8.0–114.0U/L in substance‐abusing controls vs 28.1, range: 11.6–260.0U/L in healthy controls) or S100 (0.47, range: 0.25–0.91µg/L vs 0.40, range: 0.12–1.22µg/L vs 0.47, range: 0.20–2.15µg/L). No significant differences existed in cardiac TnT levels (0.017, range: 0.010–0.072U/L vs 0.010, range: 0.010–0.075U/L vs 0.024, range: 0.010–0.075U/L). Conclusions. While no significant differences in asphyxia markers were observed between the three groups, a tendency towards higher levels of EPO emerged in the buprenorphine‐exposed group.
Survival of ovarian cancer patients in Denmark: Excess mortality risk analysis of five‐year relative survival in the period 1978–2002
Authors: HANNIBAL CHARLOTTE GERD , CORTES RIKKE , ENGHOLM GERDA , KJAER SUSANNE KRÜGER 
Published: October 2008

AbstractObjective. To explore the variation in ovarian cancer survival in Denmark in the period 1978–2002 in relation to time since diagnosis, age at diagnosis, period of diagnosis, stage and histology. Design. Register‐based cohort study. Setting. Denmark in the period 1978–2002. Population. Using the nationwide Danish Cancer Registry, we included a total of 13,035 women diagnosed with invasive ovarian cancer in Denmark in the period 1978–2002. Methods. Excess mortality risk analyses of five‐year relative survival of ovarian cancer patients diagnosed in the period 1978–2002 with follow‐up through 2006 were made based on data from the NORDCAN database. Main outcome measures. Five‐year relative survival, excess mortality rate (ER) and relative excess mortality risk (RER) after an ovarian cancer diagnosis. Results. The relative survival of Danish ovarian cancer patients slightly increased in the period 1978–2002. The ERs were highest in the first year following diagnosis, in particular in the first three months, and among older patients, even for localized and regional tumors. The pattern remained the same when stratified by histological subgroup. Older age at diagnosis, earlier period of diagnosis, more advanced stage at diagnosis and being diagnosed with undifferentiated carcinoma predicted poorer survival among Danish ovarian cancer patients diagnosed in the period 1978–2002. Conclusions. The survival of Danish ovarian cancer patients has slightly increased from 1978 through 2002. Despite this, the mortality rate of ovarian cancer in Denmark is still higher than in the other Nordic countries. Explanations for these differences are still to be identified.
Uterus transplantation: How far away from human trials?
Authors: BRÄNNSTRÖM MATS , WRANNING CAIZA A. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractUterus transplantation is being developed as a possible future method to treat uterus factor infertility. This commentary gives an overview of the animal research that has been conducted in preparation for human uterus transplantation. In addition, requirements for further specific research activities within the field are identified. It is our prediction that uterus transplantation will be introduced as an experimental procedure in the human within a few years.
Theoretical Models for Regulation of Blood Flow
Authors: SECOMB TIMOTHY W. 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTBlood‐flow rate in the normal microcirculation is regulated to meet the metabolic demands of the tissues, which vary widely with position and with time, but is relatively unaffected by changes of arterial pressure over a considerable range. The regulation of blood flow is achieved by the combined effects of multiple interacting mechanisms, including sensitivity to pressure, flow rate, metabolite levels, and neural signals. The main effectors of flow regulation, the arterioles and small arteries, are located at a distance from the regions of tissue that they supply. Flow regulation requires the sensing of metabolic and hemodynamic conditions and the transfer of information about tissue metabolic status to upstream vessels. Theoretical approaches can contribute to the understanding of flow regulation by providing quantitative descriptions of the mechanisms involved, by showing how these mechanisms interact in networks of interconnected microvessels supplying metabolically active tissues, and by establishing relationships between regulatory processes occurring at the microvascular level and variations of metabolic activity and perfusion in whole tissues. Here, a review is presented of previous and current theoretical approaches for investigating the regulation of blood flow in the microcirculation.
The prostacyclin analogue iloprost increases circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with critical limb ischemia
Authors: Di Stefano Rossella , Barsotti Maria , Melillo Elio , Iorio Mariacarla , Santoni Tatiana , Armani Chiara , Dell’Omodarme Matteo , Ristori Chiara , Balbarini Alberto , De Caterina Raffaele 
Published: October 2008

SummaryPatients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) have low levels of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC). Iloprost has been demonstrated to stimulate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and promote angiogenesis. We investigated the effects of iloprost on EPC levels in vivo in CLI patients. Twenty-three patients with stage III and IV CLI were treated with iloprost for four weeks, improving clinical and instrumental parameters. Mononuclear cells isolated from peripheral blood were cultured to obtain “early” EPC, evaluated counting adherent cells with double positivity for acetylated low-density lipoprotein uptake and Ulex Europaeus lectin at flow cytometry. These cells also co-expressed the monocyte markers CD14 and CD45.Iloprost increased EPC number in the whole patient population: pre-treatment median: 13,812/ml; range: 1,263–83,648/ml; post-treatment median: 23,739/ml; range: 3,385–99,251/ml; p=0.035, irrespective of age, sex, disease stage or atherosclerosis risk factors. In conclusion, iloprost increases EPC number in peripheral blood in vivo. Such an effect may have therapeutic relevance.
Glutathione regulates integrin αIIbβ3-mediated cell adhesion under flow conditions
Authors: Ball Chalmette , Vijayan K. Vinod , Nguyen Trung , Anthony Kim , Bray Paul F. , Essex David W. , Dong Jing-fei 
Published: October 2008

SummaryThe platelet integrin αIIbβ3 mediates the final step of platelet aggregation that requires pre-activation through an inside-out signal initiated by agonists. Experiments conducted under static conditions using platelet-rich plasma show that platelet activation and adhesion activity of αIIbβ3 are regulated by glutathione (GSH-GSSG) redox potential.However,it remains unclear as to whether GSH-GSSG exerts its regulatory role in platelets by direct targeting of αIIbβ3 or intracellular signals that activate the integrin. A role of fluid shear stress is also not known. We examined the effects of GSH-GSSG on the adhesion of CHO cells expressing two HPA variants of human αIIbβ3 to the immobilized fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor (VWF) under flow conditions. GSH-GSSG dose-dependently reduced the number of adherent cells to fibrinogen and VWF under 2.5 dyn/cm2 of shear stress, a physical force calculated to be 110 dyne on platelets. GSH treatment also abolished the hyperadhesion activity of cells expressing the Pro33 variant of αIIbβ3.The inhibition was also observed with washed platelets. The data differ from the early observation that GSH enhanced platelet aggregation induced by sub-threshold concentrations of platelet agonists. The results suggest that GSH may have distinct effects on agonist-induced αIIbβ3 activation and on the αIIbβ3-fibrinogen or αIIbβ3-VWF bonds when exposed to fluid shear stress. They further suggest that the HPA phenotype may be redox-regulated.
Modelling and expression studies of two novel mutations causing factor V deficiency
Authors: Pavlova Anna , Heinz Stefan , Blaise Mathias , Chandra Tamir , Poetsch Bernd , Seifried Erhard , Oldenburg Johannes , Delev Daniel 
Published: October 2008

SummaryHuman coagulation factor V (FV), a non-enzymatic cofactor of the prothrombinase complex, is required for the rapid generation of thrombin. FV deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive bleeding disorder. We describe two novel mutations,Tyr91Asn and Asp2098Tyr,found in two probands with a residual FV activity of 51% and 4%, respectively. Modelling and structural analysis of these mutations were performed following short-duration molecular dynamics (MD) simulation.Asp2098Tyr lead to abolishment of the highly conserved salt bridge Asp2098-Arg2171 presumably required for structural integrity of the C2 domain. MD studies suggest that additional conformational changes resulting from this mutation involve local rearrangements at Tyr2063 and Tyr2064 and so affect the phospholipid-membrane binding. MD modelling of the Try91Asn mutant revealed a conformational change nearby the Cu2+ binding site that could affect overall stabilization of the heavy and light chains. These findings suggest that both mutations influence the structural integrity of FV protein. Transient expression data of wild-type and mutant FV variants in 293T human embryonic kidney cells showed FV-specific activity reduced to 26% for Asp2098Tyr and 56% for Tyr91Asn compared to that of wild-type. Thus, both the data from the short duration molecular dynamic simulation and from expression analysis indicate alterations of the FV protein variants that explain the clinical phenotype.
Venous thromboembolism in the elderly
Authors: Gore Joel M. , Lessard Darleen , Emery Cathy , Pacifico Luigi , Reed George , Gurwitz Jerry H. , Goldberg Robert J. , Spencer Frederick A. 
Published: October 2008

SummaryWhile the magnitude of venous thromboembolism (VTE) increases dramatically with advancing age,relatively little is known about the contemporary management of VTE in the elderly and the impact of age on associated short- and long-term outcomes. The objectives of this population-based study were to compare the clinical characteristics,treatment practices,and outcomes of subjects ≥65 years with VTE to those of younger patients.The medical records of residents of the Worcester (MA, USA) metropolitan area with ICD-9 codes consistent with VTE during 1999, 2001, and 2003 were independently validated and reviewed by trained data abstractors. Information about patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics, hospital management practices, and hospital and long-term outcomes was collected. There were a total of 1,897 validated events of VTE – 1,048 (55%) occurred in patients ≥65 years of age. Patients ≥65 years were less likely to have “unprovoked” VTE than younger patients.They were less likely to receive parenteral anticoagulation or warfarin as acute treatment. Rates of recurrent VTE did not differ significantly between patients 65 years of age or older compared to younger patients but the adjusted rates of major bleeding were increased approximately two-fold in older patients. In conclusion, advancing age is not a predictor of recurrent VTE but is associated with a significant increase in major bleeding episodes. Physicians treating elderly patients with VTE should continue to base their decisions on clinical characteristics previously shown to impact the risk of recurrent VTE. These decisions must be tempered by our observation that major bleeding occurs frequently in these patients.
Common polymorphisms of cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandin E2 receptor and increased risk for acute coronary syndrome in coronary artery disease
Authors: Szczeklik Wojciech , Sanak Marek , Rostoff Pawel , Piwowarska Wieslawa , Jakiela Bogdan , Szczeklik Andrew 
Published: October 2008

SummaryThe arachidonic acid metabolites participate in development of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the plaque’s instability.We assessed two common genetic polymorphisms: of cyclooxyge-nase-2 (COX-2) (COX 2.8473, rs5275) and prostaglandin EP2 receptor gene (uS5, rs708494) in patients with CAD. Out of 1,368 patients screened by coronary arteriography, two groups fulfilled the entry criteria and were studied: stable coronary disease (sCAD, n=125) and acute coronary syndromes (ACS, n=63).They did not differ in the main characteristics.All patients were on aspirin at least seven days prior to the study.In 70 control subjects, the same genotypes were ascertained, expression of cyclooxygenases in peripheral blood monocytes was assessed by flow cytometry, and in-vitro biosynthesis of PGE2 was measured by mass spectrometry. COX-2 CC homozygotes (variant allele), were more common, while EP2 GG homozygotes (wild-type) were less common in ACS (p=0.03 and p=0.017) than in the sCAD group.A combined genotype characterized by the presence of the wild-type COX2.8743T allele and the wild type homozygous EP2uS5 genotype (TT or CT | GG) decreased risk ratio of ACS in CAD patients (relative risk 0.41;95% confidence interval 0.21–0.81).COX-2 polymorphism in control subjects did not affect the enzyme expression or PGE2 production by peripheral blood monocytes, but production of PGE2 increased by 40.1% in the subjects homozygous for EP2 receptor allele uS5A following lipopolysaccharide stimulation. In conclusion, the combined COX-2 (COX 2.8473) and the EP2 receptor (uS5) genotypes seem to influence CAD stability, but in peripheral blood monocytes only EP2 receptor modulates PGE2 production.
Elevated white blood cell count and outcome in cancer patients with venous thromboembolism
Authors: Trujillo-Santos Javier , Micco Pierpaolo , Iannuzzo Mariateresa , Lecumberri Ramón , Guijarro Ricardo , Madridano Olga , Monreal Manuel ,   for the RIETE Investigators
Published: October 2008

SummaryA significant association between elevated white blood cell (WBC) count and mortality in patients with cancer has been reported,but the predictive value of elevatedWBC on mortality in cancer patients with acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) has not been explored. RIETE is an ongoing registry of consecutive patients with acute VTE. We compared the three-month outcome of cancer patients with acuteVTE according to theirWBC count at baseline. As of May 2007, 3805 patients with active cancer and acuteVTE had been enrolled in RIETE. Of them, 215 (5.7%) had low- (<4,000 cells/µl), 2,403 (63%) normal- (4,000–11,000 cells/µl), 1,187 (31%) elevated (>11,000 cells/µl) WBC count. During the study period 190 patients (5.0%) had recurrent VTE, 156 (4.1%) major bleeding, 889 (23%) died (399 of disseminated cancer, 113 of PE, 46 of bleeding. Patients with elevated WBC count at baseline had an increased incidence of recurrent VTE (odds ratio [OR]: 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.2–2.2),major bleeding (OR:1.5;95% CI:1.1–2.1) or death (OR:2.7;95% CI:2.3–3.2).Most of the reported causes of death were significantly more frequent in patients with elevated BC count.Multivariate analysis confirmed that elevated WBC count was independently associated with an increased incidence of all three complications. In conclusion, cancer patients with acute VTE and elevated WBC count had an increased incidence of VTE recurrences,major bleeding or death. This worse outcome was consistent among all subgroups and persisted after multivariate adjustment.
Presynaptic Prostaglandin E2EP1-Receptor Facilitation of Cerebral Nitrergic Neurogenic Vasodilation
Authors: Jadhav Vikram , Jabre Anthony , Chen Mei-Fang , Lee Tony Jer-Fu 
Published: October 2008

Background and Purpose—Prostaglandin E2(PGE2) modulates autonomic transmission in the peripheral circulation. We investigated the role of endogenous PGE2and its presynaptic EP1receptor subtype in modulating the autonomic neurotransmission in cerebral vasculature.Methods—The standard in vitro tissue-bath technique was used for measuring changes in isolated porcine basilar arterial tone. Calcium imaging and nitric oxide estimation along with immunohistochemical analysis for cyclo-oxygenase-1, cyclo-oxygenase-2, EP1receptor, PGE synthase, and neuronal nitric oxide synthase were done in cultured sphenopalatine ganglia and basilar artery.Results—Selective EP1receptor antagonists (SC-19220 and SC-51322) inhibited relaxation of endothelium-denuded basilar arterial rings elicited by transmural nerve stimulation (2 and 8 Hz) without affecting that induced by nicotine or sodium nitroprusside (a nitric oxide donor). The SC-19220 inhibition of transmural nerve stimulation-elicited relaxation was blocked by cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors (salicylic acid and naproxen) but was not affected by guanethidine (a sympathetic neuronal blocker) or atropine. Perivascular cyclo-oxygenase-1- and cyclo-oxygenase-2-immunoreactive fibers were observed in basilar arteries. PGE synthase and EP1receptor immunoreactivities were coincident with neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivities in perivascular nerves of the basilar arteries and the sphenopalatine ganglia. ω-conotoxin (an N-type calcium channel blocker) significantly blocked transmural nerve stimulation-induced relaxation, which was further attenuated by SC-19220. In cultured sphenopalatine ganglia neurons, exogenous PGE2significantly increased calcium influx and diaminofluorescein fluorescence indicative of nitric oxide synthesis. Both responses were blocked by SC-19220.Conclusions—These results suggest that neuronal PGE2facilitates nitric oxide release from the cerebral perivascular parasympathetic nitrergic nerve terminals by increasing neuronal calcium influx through activation of presynaptic EP1receptors. PGE2may play an important role in regulating the nitrergic neurovascular transmission in the cerebral circulation.
3D MPRAGE improves classification of cortical lesions in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Nelson F , Poonawalla A , Hou P , Wolinsky JS , Narayana PA 
Published: October 2008

Background Gray matter lesions are known to be common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and are suspected to play an important role in disease progression and clinical disability. A combination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, double-inversion recovery (DIR), and phase-sensitive inversion recovery (PSIR), has been used for detection and classification of cortical lesions. This study shows that high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition with gradient echo (MPRAGE) improves the classification of cortical lesions by allowing more accurate anatomic localization of lesion morphology. Methods 11 patients with MS with previously identified cortical lesions were scanned using DIR, PSIR, and 3D MPRAGE. Lesions were identified on DIR and PSIR and classified as purely intracortical or mixed. MPRAGE images were then examined, and lesions were re-classified based on the new information. Results The high signal-to-noise ratio, fine anatomic detail, and clear gray-white matter tissue contrast seen in the MPRAGE images provided superior delineation of lesion borders and surrounding gray-white matter junction, improving classification accuracy. 119 lesions were identified as either intracortical or mixed on DIR/PSIR. In 89 cases, MPRAGE confirmed the classification by DIR/PSIR. In 30 cases, MPRAGE overturned the original classification. Conclusion Improved classification of cortical lesions was realized by inclusion of high-spatial resolution 3D MPRAGE. This sequence provides unique detail on lesion morphology that is necessary for accurate classification.