bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy on immune recovery in antiretroviral naive patients
Authors: Al‐Harthi L , Voris J , Patterson BK , Becker S , Eron J , Smith KY , D'amico R , Mildvan D , Snidow J , Pobiner B , Yau L , Landay A 
Published: January 2004

Objectives
To examine the extent of immune reconstitution in treatment‐naive patients with CD4 T‐cell counts <500 cells/μL following 48 weeks of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).Methods
Thirteen antiretroviral naive patients were evaluated longitudinally for 48 weeks on HAART utilizing immune functional and lymphocyte phenotyping assays, including lymphocyte proliferation assay, flow cytometric evaluation of cell surface markers, and delayed type hypersensitivity skin tests. Virologic responses were monitored using commercially available viral load assays and gag/pol mRNA quantification using simultaneous immunophenotyping/UltraSensitive fluorescence in situ hybridization (ViroTect In Cell HIV‐1 Detection Kit; Invirion, Frankfort, MI). Thymic function was evaluated for a subset of four patients using real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for T‐cell receptor excision circle (TREC) quantification and thymic scans using computerized axial tomography (CT) of the thymus.Results
HAART initiation resulted in a significant decline in plasma viremia and percentage of infected peripheral blood cells, and a rise in CD4 T cells from a baseline median of 207 cells/μL to a week‐48 median of 617 cells/μL. The rise was predominately in CD4 memory cells. Naive T cells also increased in number, but at a slower rate. Activated (HLA‐DR CD38) CD4 and CD8 T cells were elevated at baseline (24 and 62%, respectively) and declined by week 48 (17 and 36%, respectively) but did not reach normal levels. The number of Fas CD4 T cells increased from a baseline median of 169 to 381 cells/μL at week 48. Both soluble interleukin (IL)‐2 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) II receptors declined by week 48. HIV p24 lymphocyte proliferation assay responses were transiently detected in three patients. TREC values increased from a median 6400 copies/μg at baseline to a week‐48 median value of 26 697 copies/μg.Conclusion
Immune functional reconstitution was not achieved in these HAART naive patients.
The distribution of mast cells in the human area postrema
Authors: Porzionato Andrea , Macchi Veronica , Parenti Anna , De Caro Raffaele 
Published: January 2004

AbstractThe topography and phenotype of mast cells in the human area postrema, together with correlation between mast‐cell density and microvessel density (MVD), were analysed in 16 brains. Transverse serial sections of formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded brainstems were stained with toluidine blue and alcian blue/safranin stainings, and with anti‐tryptase and anti‐CD31 monoclonal antibodies. The mean (± SD) numbers of mast cells per section were 1.3 ± 0.8 and 1.2 ± 0.7 with toluidine blue and alcian blue/safranin, respectively, whereas anti‐tryptase monoclonal antibody showed a mean of 5.1 ± 2.4 cells. Mast cells were alcian blue‐ and safranin‐positive in 56%, because of the coexistence of low‐sulphated (blue‐staining) and high‐sulphated (red‐staining) granules. No significant linear correlation between mast‐cell density (4.9 mm−2) and MVD (114.5 mm−2) was found (r2 = 0.19, P = 0.09). Mast cells were frequently located close to blood vessels (55%) (33% to venules, 22% to arterioles), indicating that their products play a role in the regulation of blood flow and in vessel permeability in the area postrema. Mast cells were located subependymally in 44% and close to the dorsal aspect of the nucleus of the tractus solitarius in 31%, suggesting a subregional distribution.
Fission of pancreatic islets during postnatal growth of the mouse
Authors: Seymour Philip A. , Bennett William R. , Slack Jonathan M. W. 
Published: January 2004

AbstractA cell composition analysis was made of the pancreatic islets in postnatal H253 mice. This line has a lacZ insertion on the X chromosome so that in female hemizygotes 50% of cells should be positive for β‐galactosidase and 50% negative. Immediately after birth, the islets were of a heterogeneous cell composition. However, by 4 weeks some islets have become homogeneous. This suggests that islets progress towards monoclonality in a similar way to the intestinal crypts and stomach gastric glands. Pancreatic islets may therefore represent ‘structural proliferative units’ in the overall histological organization of the pancreas. Reduction of genetic heterogeneity might arise from cell turnover, fission of islets or both. Analysis of the cell composition of the X‐inactivation mosaic mice also provides the first clear evidence for islet fission in pancreatic development. Irregularly shaped islets resembling dumb‐bells, with a characteristic neck of α‐cells, were observed with decreasing frequency with increasing age. Three‐dimensional reconstruction confirmed their resemblance to conjoined islets. The cell composition analysis showed: (1) the relatedness of the two sides of a dumb‐bell islet is significantly higher than between two non‐dumb‐bell islets and (2) the relatedness of two randomly selected islets decreases as the distance between them increases. This suggests that dumb‐bell islets are in a state of fission rather than fusion, and that islet fission is a mode of islet production in the postnatal pancreas.
Studies on the storage stability of oil‐based paneer pickle
Authors: Shukla F C , Vaid J 
Published: January 2004

The recipe for oil‐based paneer pickle was standardized on the basis of sensory evaluation. During storage, there was a significant decrease in moisture, fat and protein content and a significant increase in acidity, free fatty acids and peroxide value at both room temperature and refrigeration temperature in all the packaging materials. The sensory score of the pickle remained in the ‘liked very much’ range up to the end of the storage period. The pickle remained microbiologically safe and was acceptable up to 2 months of storage at both storage temperatures. The pickle packed in glass jars and stored at refrigeration temperature was found to be the most acceptable.
Antibiotic resistance and incidence of Enterococcus species in Turkish white cheese
Authors: Çitak Sumru , Yucel Nihal , Orhan Sati 
Published: January 2004

Thirty samples of Turkish white cheese were analysed for the presence of Enterococcus spp., and presumptive isolates were identified by morphological, cultural and biochemical tests and confirmed by the API 20 Strep System. Among the 101 isolates of Enterococcus spp., 62 were E. faecalis, 25 were E. faecium, seven were E. durans, five were E. mundtii and two were E. hirae/dispar. The resistance of the isolates to 13 different antibiotics was determined by the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion test. Resistance to streptomycin, erythromycin, oxacillin and vancomycin was frequently found in these enterococci, and resistance to vancomycin was found in 96.8% of E. faecalis isolates and 76%E. faecium. The most effective antimicrobials were ampicillin (69.3% of isolates inhibited) and imipenem (76.3% of isolates inhibited). This examination confirmed the presence of enterococci, especially vancomycin‐resistant strains, in Turkish white cheese, indicating poor sanitary conditions during production and processing and a significant health risk for consumers.
Effect of temperature and salt on the maturation of white‐salted cheese
Authors: Al‐Otaibi Mutlag M , Wilbey R Andrew 
Published: January 2004

White‐salted cheeses were prepared from ultrafiltered (UF) cows’ milk and salted to give final salt‐in‐moisture (SM) levels of 2.5, 3.2 and 4.0%. The cheeses were stored at 5°C and 10°C for up to 15 weeks. The microflora was dominated by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) but some mould growth was evident within 15 weeks at all SM levels and both temperatures. Levels of water‐soluble nitrogen (WSN), attributed to chymosin activity, increased significantly with time, the rate being inversely proportional to the SM level and increasing with storage temperature. Similar effects were noted for trichloroacetic acid‐soluble nitrogen (TCA‐SN) and free amino acid (FAA) levels, both of which would also be affected by bacterial protease activity. The proteolytic activity was reflected by changes in the hardness and fracturability of the cheeses.
The effect of systemic administration of lipopolysaccharide on cerebral haemodynamics and oxygenation in the 0.65 gestation ovine fetus in utero
Authors: Peebles Donald M. , Miller Suzanne , Newman James P. , Scott Rosemary , Hanson Mark A. 
Published: January 2004

Objective
To investigate the effect of intravenous lipopolysaccharide on systemic and cerebral haemodynamics and oxygenation in the preterm ovine fetus.Design
Prospective observational study.Setting
Research centre for perinatal brain injury.Sample
Nine fetal sheep at circa 93 days of gestation (0.65).Methods
Fetal sheep were chronically instrumented with arterial and venous catheters and a flow probe in the carotid artery. Near‐infrared spectroscopy was used to measure changes in cerebral oxygenation and total haemoglobin concentration. Three days after surgery, each fetus was given 100 ng/kg Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide. Observations were continued for 48 hours post‐injection and compared with baseline control values.Main outcome measures
Fetal heart rate, mean arterial pressure, carotid blood flow.Results
Three fetuses died after administration of the lipopolysaccharide. In the survivors fetal heart rate rose from 193 (SEM 7) to a mean maximal level of 226 (SEM 31 bpm) (P= 0.01) after 6.5 (SEM 1.0) hours. The mean arterial pressure decreased from 40.5 (SEM 4.2) to 29.4 (SEM 1.6) mmHg (P < 0.05) after 7.0 (SEM 2.0) hours, and carotid blood flow increased from 29.6 (SEM 1.6) to 45.8 (SEM 5.7) mL/min (P= 0.0002) at 12 (SEM 3) hours. All values returned to control levels by 48 hours. Histological assessment showed evidence of periventricular leucomalacia in three out of six brains studied.Conclusion
These data do not suggest that cerebral ischaemia is the main aetiological factor in endotoxin‐related fetal brain injury. Fetal tachycardia and cerebral vasodilation may indicate endotoxaemia in fetuses exposed to prenatal infection.
Levels of antibodies against cytomegalovirus and Chlamydophila pneumoniae are increased in early onset pre‐eclampsia
Authors: von Dadelszen Peter , Magee Laura A. , Krajden Mel , Alasaly Kadria , Popovska Vesna , Devarakonda Rajashree M. , Money Deborah M. , Patrick David M. , Brunham Robert C. 
Published: January 2004

Objective
The origins of pre‐eclampsia/eclampsia lie in a mismatch between feto‐placental demands and utero‐placental supply, a situation that also arises in normotensive intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Could reactivated chronic infection be both a trigger for these differential maternal responses to the same underlying pathology and a link between pre‐eclampsia and its attendant lifelong risks of atherosclerosis?Design
Nested case–control study.Setting
Tertiary obstetric centre.Population
Cases of pre‐eclampsia, normotensive IUGR and controls.Methods
A nested case–control study of serum from a population‐based bank was performed. Seroprevalence and levels of anti‐cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Chlamydophila pneumoniae immunoglobulin G (IgG) were compared (non‐parametrically) between women with early onset pre‐eclampsia (<34 weeks of gestation, n= 9), late onset pre‐eclampsia (≥34 + 0 weeks of gestation, n= 29), normotensive IUGR (birthweight less than third centile, n= 33) and matched normal pregnancy (n= 113, up to 2 per case).Results
There was a significant difference in both anti‐CMV and Chl. pneumoniae antibodies between groups (Kruskal–Wallis test, P < 0.05). Women with early onset pre‐eclampsia had higher anti‐CMV levels (median: 79, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 47, 164) than women with late onset pre‐eclampsia (26 [95% CI = 22, 82], P < 0.05), normotensive IUGR (40 [95% CI = 31, 72], P < 0.05) and normal pregnancy (49 [95% CI = 45, 70], P < 0.05). Women with normotensive IUGR had significantly lower anti‐Chl. pneumoniae antibodies (0.10 [95% CI = 0.08, 0.38]) than did normal pregnancy controls (0.21 [95% CI = 0.20, 0.28], P < 0.05).Conclusions
The anti‐CMV and anti‐Chl. pneumoniae antibodies were higher in early onset pre‐eclampsia than in late onset pre‐eclampsia, normotensive IUGR and normal pregnancy. This may provide a pathophysiological link between pre‐eclampsia and the known increased risk for subsequent atherosclerosis.
Morphometric assessment of nuclei in Bowen's disease and bowenoid papulosis
Authors: Yu Dong‐Soo , Kim Gina , Song Hae‐Jun , Oh Chil‐Hwan 
Published: January 2004

Background: Occasionally, Bowen's disease and bowenoid papulosis cannot be distinguished in microscopic finding. Their clinical presentations are quite different from one another. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the histological differences in Bowen's disease and bowenoid papulosis, by comparing the size and shape of nuclei, using image analysis system.Methods: We performed morphometric assessment on 13 specimens of Bowen's disease and eight specimens of bowenoid papulosis using an image analysis system, and the following parameters were calculated, such as nuclear contour index (NCI), irregularities of nucleus (IN), form factor (form AR) and circulatory factor (form PE).Results: For NCI, there were significant differences between the Bowen's disease and bowenoid papulosis, and IN also shows significant differences between these two dis‐eases, showing that Bowen's disease has more corrugated or indented nucleus contour than bowenoid papulosis. In the parameter of form PE, there were significant differences between the two diseases, indicating that Bowen's disease has more oval‐shaped nuclei than bowenoid papulosis. There were no significant differences in form factor between Bowen's disease and bowenoid pupulosis.Conclusions: Significant differences were found in the morphometric evaluation between Bowen's disease and bowenoid papulosis. The nuclei were larger, more oval and more irregular margins in Bowen's disease than bowenoid papulosis.
In vivo quantitative analysis of the effect of hydration (immersion and Vaseline treatment) in skin layers using high‐resolution MRI and magnetisation transfer contrast*
Authors: Mirrashed Fakhereh , Sharp Jonathan C. 
Published: January 2004

Background/aims: Many claims are made as to the efficacy of topical preparations in moisturising the skin, yet most of these claims cannot be substantiated by scientific study for the skin layers beneath the stratum corneum, and yield no information on the remainder of the epidermis and dermis. This argues for an in vivo quantitative method for measuring the effect of water loading extended to various layers of the skin.Methods: Detailed high‐resolution in vivo MRI studies of hydration and dehydration of finger pad skin layers were conducted on one normal subject using two moisturisation methods (topical white soft paraffin (Vaseline) and water immersion). The dehydration study was carried out immediately following removal from prolonged skin moisturisation. Inter‐individual variability for skin hydration (group study) was studied in seven healthy volunteers at 0 and 7 h hydration with Vaseline. Location dependence in skin hydration was investigated on the same subject by looking into the hydration of forearm and finger pad skin. System stability and measurement reproducibility was verified through a detailed phantom study.Results: Images of normal and hydrated human skin were obtained in vivo at voxel dimensions of 50 μm×150 μm×1000 μm. The effect of hydration and dehydration as a function of exposure to moisturiser (i.e. water and Vaseline) on the image signal intensity, observed T1, and interaction of free and bound water in specific tissues were identified and correlated with existing physiological knowledge. Swelling of stratum corneum due to hydration was expressed as an in vivo model of tissue hydration.Conclusion: Results of the dehydration study showed that the changes due to the previous hydration of the skin are reversible for all skin layers. For both moisturisation methods (i.e. Vaseline and skin bathing), the effects of hydration and dehydration on the skin were similar. The trends of the MRI parameters for finger pad and arm skin were similar. The group study showed low inter‐subject variability of hydration on stratum corneum and epidermis.
Real‐time spatial compound ultrasound imaging of skin
Authors: Wortsman Ximena C. , Holm Elisabeth A. , Wulf Hans C. , Jemec Gregor B. E. 
Published: January 2004

Purpose:  The aim of our study was to evaluate the potential of real‐time spatial compound imaging (RTSCI) in dermatology.Materials and methods:  An ATL 5000 SonoCT equipped with compact linear 15–7 MHz and linear 12–5 MHz transducers was obtained for skin visualization in a group of dermatological patients with various skin diseases.Results:  Thirty‐four people participated: 21 patients with various skin diseases and 13 persons with normal skin. The mean age was 43.4 years. For many diseases, RTSCI gave useful information about the lesional structure, thickness and relationship with surrounding structures.Conclusion: RTSCI allows objective, accurate, noninvasive and easy measurements of several parameters of skin morphology. It is useful in clinical trials, for evaluation of the effects of therapy, for preoperative evaluation of dermatological lesions, and enables visualization of subclinical and deep lesions, giving physicians the possibility of starting treatment before disease intensity increases. However, even such highly advanced ultrasound cannot completely substitute the clinical dermatological approach and the occasional need for histological diagnosis. This new method may, however, become an important adjunct method for the study of skin lesions.
Assessment of pigmented skin lesions in terms of blood perfusion estimates
Authors: Ilias M. A. , Wårdell K. , Stücker M. , Anderson C. , Salerud E. G. 
Published: January 2004

Background/aims: Cutaneous malignant melanoma is a disease of increasing clinical and economical importance. The prognosis is good with early diagnosis. The chief differential diagnosis is benign melanocytic naevus, a common lesion in Caucasians. Attempts have been made to use bioengineering techniques to aid in the initial diagnosis. The present study proposes a method of extracting possibly discriminative blood perfusion properties in pigmented skin lesions by combining information on the lesions' blood perfusion with optical or visual information of their spatial extent.Methods: A total of 46 blood perfusion measurements were performed on 22 pigmented skin lesions, the ultimate diagnosis of which was three histologically proven malignant melanomas, four histologically proven benign naevi and fifteen naevi assessed by two specialist dermatologists as being benign. Laser Doppler perfusion imaging gave two different types of two‐dimensional data sets (64×64 pixels), one representing the total backscattered light intensity at each measurement point (TLI image) and the second corresponding to perfusion values. The boundaries of each examined lesion were derived from the TLI image employing greyscale thresholding, thus resulting in an estimated region of interest (ROI) approximating the optical extent of the lesion. The ROI was superimposed on the perfusion image and extraction of perfusion features was then performed.Results: The processing of the TLI images was successful in delineating the lesions' boundaries. The first hypothesis that the mean perfusion quotients in MM and benign naevi are equal could not be rejected at the chosen 5% level of significance. The second hypothesis that the mean percent‐age of elevated perfusion values (image pixels) within the ROI shows no difference between MM and benign naevi could be rejected at a 5% level of significance.Conclusions: This study has presented a method of extracting blood perfusion parameters of pigmented skin lesions by combining blood perfusion information with information on the lesion's optical extent. The proposed method of presenting data could prove to be a useful discriminative adjunct in the assessment of pigmented skin lesions.
Correlation between laser Doppler perfusion imaging and visual scoring of patch test sites in subjects with experimentally induced allergic and irritant contact reactions
Authors: Goon Anthony Teik‐Jin , Leow Yung‐Hian , Chan Yiong‐Huak , Goh Chee‐Leok 
Published: January 2004

Purpose: To compare laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) measurements in experimentally induced allergic contact reactions and irritant contact reactions. The degree of correlation between visual scores and LDPI measurements was also studied.Methods: Fifteen patients with known contact allergy to nickel or fragrance were patch tested with nickel sulfate 5% pet., fragrance mix 8% pet., sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) 0.5% pet., SLS 1.0% pet. and two empty control chambers. Visual readings and LDPI measurements were taken at 0, 48 and 96 h.Results: There was a positive correlation between visual scores and LDPI measurement in the nickel sulfate and fragrance mix patch test sites. However, no correlation between visual scores and LDPI measurements was seen in the SLS 0.5% and SLS 1.0% patch test sites. There was no significant difference (P=0.125) in LDPI measurements between contact‐allergic reactions and contact‐irritant reactions.Conclusion: LDPI correlates with visual scoring in contact‐allergic reactions, but not in irritant reactions. LDPI is not useful in distinguishing between allergic and irritant reactions.
Determinants of Derivative Usage in the Life and General Insurance Industry: The Australian Evidence
Authors: De Ceuster Marc , Flanagan Liam , Hodgson Allan , Tahir Mohammad I. 
Published: January 2004

Core business and financial market risks are not easily reduced by standard operating procedures in insurance companies. Derivatives theoretically provide a cost effective vehicle to hedge these risks. This paper provides an empirical analysis of the determinants of derivative usage as well as the extent of derivative usage in the Australian insurance industry in both life and general insurance companies for the period 1997–1999. Empirical results for the Australian life insurance industry in general confirm the findings of UK and US based research. However, the Australian general insurance industry does not appear to follow the conclusions of previous literature. Our results indicate that for life insurers, the determinants of derivative usage were size, leverage and reinsurance. For the general insurance industry the determinants were size and the extent of long tail lines of business written. As regards the determinants of the extent of derivative usage, these were size and asset-liability duration mismatches for life insurers. For the general insurance industry the determinants of the extent of derivative usage were size, the extent of long tail lines of business written, and the reporting year.