bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Poikiloderma of Civatte: a clinical and epidemiological study
Authors: Katoulis AC , Stavrianeas NG , Georgala S , Bozi E , Kalogeromitros D , Koumantaki E , Katsambas AD 
Published: June 2005

ABSTRACTBackground  Although a common dermatosis, idiopathic poikiloderma of the face and neck has not been studied in depth for decades.Objectives  To reassess the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of poikiloderma of Civatte (PC).Material and Methods  Fifty consecutive patients with PC. Evaluation included history taking and physical examination. Epidemiological and clinical parameters were recorded and analysed. The literature from 1923 until today, was reviewed thoroughly.Results  The frequency of PC among dermatologic patients was estimated to be 1.4%. There were 34 females (68%) and 16 males in the present study. The mean age at diagnosis was 47.8 years for females and 61.7 years for males. The majority (88%) had skin phototype II or III. Among females, 26 were at their peri‐menopausal stage, including three cases of iatrogenic menopause. Four patients reported that other blood‐related family members also had PC. The v and the sides of the neck and the upper chest were most often affected in a symmetric distribution. The face (preauricular and parotid region) was involved in 19 patients (38%). The erythemato‐telangiectatic clinical type predominated (58%), followed by the mixed (22%) and the pigmented type (20%). Almost half of the patients (46%) were symptomatic (itching, burning and ‘flushing’). The mean duration from onset to diagnosis was 6.2 years according to the patients’ report. The course was usually slowly progressive (82%) and irreversible.Conclusions  PC shows characteristic features, supporting the theory that it represents a distinct entity. It is rather common in Greece. Although menopausal women predominated in our cohort, men were not uncommonly affected and were diagnosed at an older age. Based on the predominating clinical feature, PC can be classified into three clinical forms. Symmetry and sparing of the anatomically shaded areas of the neck are highly characteristic for PC. Face involvement was not as common and as severe as it had been considered in the past. Recognition of clinical type is important for the selection of the most appropriate treatment, which, despite the advent of novel modalities, remains problematic.
The Role of Diet in Migraine
Authors: Medina Jose L. , Diamond Seymour 
Published: June 2005

SYNOPSISTwenty‐four migraineurs were placed on three diets: A, B, and C for 18 weeks. Diet A foods contained tyramine, exclusive of tyramine‐free foodstuff. Diet B patients consumed tyramine‐freefoods and excluded those containing tyramine. The Diet C group ate and drank ad‐lib. The results showed no significant difference in the severity of migraine in any diet; however, some headaches were time‐locked to the ingestion of alcohol, chocolate and fasting. These dietary factors probably do not increase the frequency of headaches but may precipitate them earlier. In general, diet appears to be relatively unimportant in migraine.
Impact of Migraine in the United States: Data from the National Health Interview Survey
Authors: Stang Paul E. , Osterhaus Jane T. 
Published: June 2005

SYNOPSISData from the 1989 National Health Interview Survey concerning migraine occurrence and impairment were analyzed to assess the impact of migraine on the US population. About four of every one hundred persons in the United States were found to have migraine, accounting for nearly 10 million individuals. Migraine was most prevalent in those aged 25 to 44 years and was about 2.5 times more frequent in females than males. Migraine was most common in whites (85%) and those with low household income. In women, migraine prevalence increased with the level of education. About 10% of migrainous children missed at least one day of school over a two‐week period due to migraine; nearly 1% missed four days. Migraineurs were bedridden for about three million days per month and had an estimated 74.2 million days per year of restricted activity due to migraine. The potential cost of lost productivity was estimated at $1.4 billion per year for the estimated 6,196,378 migraineurs who worked outside the home. It is difficult to derive similar estimates for costs of lost productivity in housewives; however, housewives experienced an estimated 38 million days per year of restricted activity. Eighty‐five percent of females and 77% of males reported a physician visit at some point for their migraine. Migraine is a relatively common disease whose social and financial impact has been poorly understood.
A Placebo‐Controlled Crossover Trial Using Trazodone in Pediatric Migraine
Authors: Battistella P.A. , Ruffilli R. , Cernetti R. , Pettenazzo A. , Baldin L. , Bertoli S. , Zacchello F. 
Published: June 2005

SYNOPSISAn 8‐month, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled cross‐over trial was carried out on the use of trazodone in pediatric migraine prophylaxis. It involved 40 patients aged 7 to 18 years old and suffering from migraine without aura, randomly divided into 2 groups.After a 4‐week run‐in period, Group A received oral trazodone (1 mg/kg a day divided into 3 doses) for 12 weeks, while Group B received a placebo. After a further 4‐week washout period, Group A was given the placebo and Group B was treated with trazodone for a further 12 weeks. The trial was completed by 35 patients, the number of drop‐outs being comparable in the two groups.During the first treatment period, both the frequency and the duration of the migraine episodes were significantly reduced in both groups. During the second, a significant further improvement in both parameters was only observed in Group B. No side‐effects were observed at any time. Our results showed that, like other antidepressants, trazodone is a valid prophylactic agent for juvenile migraine.
Comprehensive Inpatient Treatment for Intractable Migraine: A Prospective Long‐Term Outcome Study
Authors: Lake Alvin E. , Saper Joel R. , Madden Scott F. , Kreeger Christopher 
Published: June 2005

SYNOPSISThis paper describes outcome data for 100 patients with severe, intractable, persistent migraine (chronic daily headache), who were admitted to a comprehensive inpatient Head‐Pain Treatment Unit for a mean of 8.5 days. Headache, pain‐related behavior, depression, sleep disturbance, functional performance, work status, and medication use were assessed at admission, post‐discharge (mean=2.3 weeks) and long‐term follow‐up (mean=8.3 months).Significant improvement noted two weeks after discharge was maintained over time. Long‐term results revealed a 64% reduction in the mean number of days in a 2‐week period with severe to incapacitating headache (6.29 to 2.26), with a corresponding increase in pain‐free days (1.03 to 5.40). At follow‐up, the frequency of severe headaches was reduced by at least 50% for 75% of the patients. The mean rating of overall improvement was 74%. Patients on work‐leave due to pain dropped from 24% to 4%, while the number of working patients rose from 31% to 53%. The data showed statistically significant reductions in days lost to pain, depression, sleep disturbance, and use of symptomatic medication. All the above analyses were significant at P=.000. These results demonstrate the efficacy of the inpatient headache program intervention for this group of patients.
Reduced Sensitivity of Lymphocyte Beta‐Adrenergic Receptors in Migraine
Authors: Kuritzky A. , Bennet E. , Hering R. , Ebstein R. 
Published: June 2005

SYNOPSISCyclic AMP(CAMP) accumulation induced by isoproterenol (IP) and forskolin in intact lymphocytes was determined in 12 patients with migraine and 12 healthy controls. Our data showed that IP CAMP accumulation (8.20 + 1.08 Pmol/million cells) was significantly (P = 0.033) lower than accumulation in the controls (14.39 + 2.44 Pmol/million cells). Forskolin‐induced CAMP did not differ in the two groups. These findings support the association of migraine and a reduced lymphocyte beta‐adrenergic receptor sensitivity. An alteration in lymphocyte beta‐adrenergic receptor may reflect similar changes in central beta‐adrenergic function and may be used as a probe to evaluate its activity.
Cerebral Aneurysm Presenting as Cough Headache
Authors: Smith Wade S. , Messing Robert O. 
Published: June 2005

SYNOPSISThe diagnosis of benign cough headache syndrome currently requires non‐invasive brain imaging to exclude structural and mass lesions. We describe a patient with a cerebral aneurysm who presented with recurrent cough headache as her initial symptom. Conventional cerebral angiography was required for the diagnosis. Cerebral aneurysm should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cough headache syndrome.
Growth‐associated Protein 43 Expression in Hippocampal Molecular Layer of Chronic Epileptic Rats Treated with Cycloheximide
Authors: Longo Beatriz , Vezzani Annamaria , Mello Luiz Eugênio 
Published: June 2005

Summary:  Purpose: GAP43 has been thought to be linked with mossy fiber sprouting (MFS) in various experimental models of epilepsy. To investigate how GAP43 expression (GAP43‐ir) correlates with MFS, we assessed the intensity (densitometry) and extension (width) of GAP43‐ir in the inner molecular layer of the dentate gyrus (IML) of rats subject to status epilepticus induced by pilocarpine (Pilo), previously injected or not with cycloheximide (CHX), which has been shown to inhibit MFS. Methods: CHX was injected before the Pilo injection in adult Wistar rats. The Pilo group was injected with the same drugs, except for CHX. Animals were killed between 30 and 60 days later, and brain sections were processed for GAP43 immunohistochemistry. Results: Densitometry showed no significant difference regarding GAP43‐ir in the IML between Pilo, CHX+Pilo, and control groups. However, the results of the width of the GAP43‐ir band in the IML showed that CHX+Pilo and control animals had a significantly larger band (p = 0.03) as compared with that in the Pilo group. Conclusions: Our current finding that animals in the CHX+Pilo group have a GAP43‐ir band in the IML, similar to that of controls, reinforces prior data on the blockade of MFS in these animals. The change in GAP43‐ir present in Pilo‐treated animals was a thinning of the band to a very narrow layer just above the granule cell layer that is likely to be associated with the loss of hilar cell projections that express GAP‐43.
Functional Properties of ES Cell–Derived Neurons Engrafted into the Hippocampus of Adult Normal and Chronically Epileptic Rats
Authors: Rüschenschmidt Christiane , Koch Peter G. , Brüstle Oliver , Beck Heinz 
Published: June 2005

Summary: Purpose:Embryonic stem (ES) cell–based therapy strategies are thought to bear considerable promise in chronic neurologic disorders. Nonetheless, studies addressing the functional properties of ES cell–derived progeny after transplantation into the adult, pathologically modified CNS are scarce.Methods:We therefore transplanted ES cell–derived neural precursors expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein only in neuronal progeny bilaterally into the hippocampi of pilocarpine‐treated chronically epileptic and sham‐control rats. Whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings of identified ES cell–derived neurons (ESNs) in hippocampal slices were performed 13 to 34 days after transplantation.Results:Most ESNs were found in clusters at the transplant site and did not migrate into host tissue. However, they gave rise to a dense network of processes extending over large distances into the host tissue. All ESNs possessed the ability to generate action potentials and expressed voltage‐gated Na+and K+currents, as well as hyperpolarization‐activated currents. Likewise, most ESNs received non–N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)Areceptor‐mediated synaptic input. Both types of synapses displayed intact short‐term plasticity. An unusual feature of the majority of ESNs was the occurrence of spontaneous pacemaking activity at frequencies ∼3 Hertz. No obvious differences were found between the functional properties of ESNs in sham‐control and in pilocarpine‐treated rats.Conclusions:After transplantation into adult control and epileptic rats, ESNs displayed intrinsic and synaptic properties characteristic of neurons. Even though ESNs remained close to the transplant site, the formation of extensive networks of graft‐derived processes may be useful for ES cell–based substance delivery.
In‐house validation of the BACTEC 9240 blood culture system for detection of bacterial contamination in platelet concentrates
Authors: Dunne Wm. Michael , Case Linda K. , Isgriggs Liz , Lublin Douglas M. 
Published: June 2005

BACKGROUND: At present, only two commercially available automated culture systems are cleared by the FDA for the purpose of quality control (QC) testing for bacterial contamination of platelet (PLT) concentrates: the BacT/ALERT blood culture system (bioMérieux) and the Pall eBDS (Pall Corporation), both of which allow testing of leukoreduced apheresis as well as whole blood–derived PLTs. After the decision of the AABB to institute universal QC testing of PLT concentrates for evidence of bacterial contamination, in‐house validation of the performance of our current blood culture system, the BACTEC 9240, was carried out for this purpose.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Serial dilutions of nine species of bacteria commonly associated with PLT contamination were prepared in one single‐donor apheresis PLT unit per organism. Four mL of dilutions containing less than 1 to greater than 103 colony‐forming units (CFUs) per mL was inoculated into blood culture bottles (Standard 10 Aerobic/F, Becton‐Dickinson Diagnostic Systems) and incubated in a BACTEC 9240 continuously monitored blood culture system. Positive bottles were removed from the system and subcultured to insure the identity of bacterial growth.RESULTS: With the exception of Streptococcus mitis, the BACTEC system provided a detection sensitivity of less than 10 CFUs per mL for Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus cereus, Enterobacter cloacae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The limit of detection for the S. mitis test strain was 61 CFUs per mL. Detection of positive bottles ranged from 6.5 to 17.6 hours depending on the species tested and the cell density of the inoculum. Ongoing use of this system for bacterial detection yielded two true‐positive samples from 3879 apheresis PLT products collected at our hospital‐based donor center over 9 months.CONCLUSION: This study validates the use of the BACTEC 9240 continuously monitored blood culture system for the detection of low‐level bacterial contamination in single donor apheresis PLTs in less than 24 hours.
MO‐A‐T‐6B‐01: Proton Beam Radiotherapy — The State of the Art
Authors: Bortfeld T , Paganetti H , Kooy H 
Published: June 2005

The number of proton therapy centers has doubled every 10 years since the beginning of proton therapy in 1954. Today there are 22 proton centers in clinical operation worldwide. In the past 5 years proton and heavy charged particle therapy have received a particular boost in Japan and in Europe, but also in the USA, where there will soon be 5 clinical proton therapy centers. The increased interest in and application of proton therapy motivates this continuing education course. We assume that the audience has a basic understanding of the principles of proton radiotherapy but we will refresh memories by giving a brief review of the principles. The main purpose of the course is to give an update of relatively recent developments in proton beam radiotherapy. The first part of the presentation will deal with the rationale of proton therapy. We will give a brief summary of the physical characteristics of proton‐tissue interactions leading to the typical Bragg peak. We will review recent clinical studies describing the application of protons to new treatment sites, and compare protons with other treatment modalities. The radio‐biological effectiveness (RBE) of proton therapy will be addressed next. In‐vivo and in‐vitro experiments to determine the RBE will be summarized. The proton RBE will also be compared to the RBE of carbon ions. Next, we will discuss technological aspects proton therapy, starting with beam shaping devices in the “nozzle”. We will review passive double scattering approaches such as the ones integrated in the NPTC and Loma Linda facilities. We will also review active pencil beam scanning techniques. The use of rotating gantries will be contrasted with fixed beamlines. We will then talk about cyclotrons vs. synchrotrons for proton acceleration. The clinical workflow will be presented for the Northeast Proton Therapy Center (NPTC) in Boston as an example. In this context, we will specifically address important questions of patient setup and immobilization. Recent studies on economical aspects and cost per treatment will be discussed as well. That protons beams stop in matter is their unique advantage (compared to conventional radiotherapy), but this also poses a challenge for proton treatment planning because the stopping position is somewhat uncertain. If possible, beam angles are selected that avoid stopping protons proximal to critical structures. In other cases “patch fields” are used. How protons are affected by organ motion and how the effects can be reduced will also be discussed. Finally, the potential of intensity‐modulated proton therapy in making treatment plans more conformal and more robust will be presented.Educational objectives1. To be able to put the physical and clinical potential of proton therapy and its cost into perspective, especially in comparison with photon IMRT.2. To name the main technical components of a proton therapy system and the design alternatives.3. To name the characteristics and at least 2 main advantages of intensity‐modulated proton therapy (IMPT)
Different Anti-
Candida
Activities of Two Human Lactoferrin-Derived Peptides, Lfpep and Kaliocin-1
Authors: Viejo-Díaz Mónica , Andrés María T. , Fierro José F. 
Published: June 2005

ABSTRACT

The synthetic peptides Lfpep and kaliocin-1 include the sequences from positions 18 to 40 and 153 to 183 of human lactoferrin, respectively. Lfpep is a cationic peptide with bactericidal and giardicidal effects, whereas kaliocin-1 is a novel bactericidal peptide that corresponds to a highly homologous sequence present in the transferrin family of proteins. Both peptides presented fungicidal activity against
Candida
spp., including fluconazole- and amphotericin B-resistant clinical isolates. Lfpep exhibited higher antifungal activity (8- to 30-fold) and salt resistance than kaliocin-1. The killing activity of Lfpep was mediated by its permeabilizing activity on
Candida albicans
cells, whereas kaliocin-1 was unable to disrupt the cytoplasmic membrane, as indicated by its inability to allow permeation of propidium iodide and the small amount of K
+
released. The amino acid sequence of kaliocin-1 includes the “multidimensional antimicrobial signature” conserved in disulfide-containing antimicrobial peptides and a striking similarity to brevinin-1Sa, an antimicrobial peptide from frog skin secretions, exhibiting a “
Rana
box”-like sequence. These features may be of interest in the design of new antifungals.
Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics of the Antiviral Agent β-d-2′,3′-Dideoxy-3′-Oxa-5-Fluorocytidine in Cells and Rhesus Monkeys
Authors: Hernandez-Santiago Brenda I. , Chen Huachun , Asif Ghazia , Beltran Thierry , Mao Shuli , Hurwitz Selwyn J. , Grier Jason , McClure Harold M. , Chu Chung K. , Liotta Dennis C. , Schinazi Raymond F. 
Published: June 2005

ABSTRACTβ-d-2′,3′-Dideoxy-3′-oxa-5-fluorocytidine (d-FDOC) is an effective inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) and HIV-2, simian immunodeficiency virus, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) in vitro. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intracellular metabolism ofd-FDOC in human hepatoma (HepG2), human T-cell lymphoma (CEM), and primary human peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) cells by using tritiated compound. By 24 h, the levels ofd-FDOC-triphosphate (d-FDOC-TP) were 2.8 ± 0.4, 6.7 ± 2.3, and 2.0 ± 0.1 pmol/106cells in HepG2, CEM, and primary human PBM cells, respectively. Intracellulard-FDOC-TP concentrations remained greater than the 50% inhibitory concentration for HIV-1 reverse transcriptase for up to 24 h after removal of the drug from cell cultures. In addition tod-FDOC-monophosphate (d-FDOC-MP), -diphosphate (d-FDOC-DP), and -TP,d-FDOC-DP-ethanolamine andd-FDOC-DP-choline were detected in all cell extracts as major intracellular metabolites.d-FDOC was not a substrate forEscherichia colithymidine phosphorylase. No toxicity was observed in mice givend-FDOC intraperitoneally for 6 days up to a dose of 100 mg/kg per day. Pharmacokinetic studies in rhesus monkeys indicated thatd-FDOC has at1/2of 2.1 h in plasma and an oral bioavailability of 38%. The nucleoside was excreted unchanged primary in the urine, and no metabolites were detected in plasma or urine. These results suggest that further safety and pharmacological studies are warranted to assess the potential of this nucleoside for the treatment of HIV- and HBV-infected individuals.
Proteus mirabilis
Bloodstream Infections: Risk Factors and Treatment Outcome Related to the Expression of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases
Authors: Endimiani Andrea , Luzzaro Francesco , Brigante Gioconda , Perilli Mariagrazia , Lombardi Gianluigi , Amicosante Gianfranco , Rossolini Gian Maria , Toniolo Antonio 
Published: June 2005

ABSTRACT

Bloodstream infection (BSI) due to
Proteus mirabilis
strains is a relatively uncommon clinical entity, and its significance has received little attention. This study was initiated to evaluate risk factors and treatment outcome of BSI episodes due to
P. mirabilis
producing extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). Twenty-five BSI episodes caused by
P. mirabilis
occurred at our hospital (Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi, Varese, Italy) over a 7.5-year period. Phenotypic and molecular methods were used to assess ESBL production. Clinical records of BSI patients were examined retrospectively. Demographic data, underlying diseases (according to McCabe and Jackson classification and Charlson weighted index), risk factors, and treatment outcome were investigated by comparing cases due to ESBL-positive strains to cases due to ESBL-negative strains. Eleven isolates were found to express ESBLs (TEM-52 or TEM-92). The remaining 14 isolates were ESBL negative and were uniformly susceptible to extended-spectrum cephalosporins and monobactams. Comparison of the two groups showed that previous hospitalization in a nursing home (
P
= 0.04) and use of bladder catheter (
P
= 0.01) were significant risk factors for infections due to ESBL-positive strains. In addition, cases due to ESBL-positive strains showed a significantly higher mortality attributable to BSI (
P
= 0.04). BSI cases due to ESBL-negative isolates uniformly responded to therapy, whereas 5/11 cases due to ESBL-positive isolates failed to respond (
P
< 0.01). Use of carbapenems was associated with complete response independently of ESBL production. Therapeutic failure and mortality may occur in BSI episodes caused by ESBL-positive
P. mirabilis
isolates. Thus, recognition of ESBL-positive strains appears to be critical for the clinical management of patients with systemic
P. mirabilis
infections.