bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antibiotic use in the first year of life and asthma in early childhood
Authors: Celedón J.C. , Fuhlbrigge A. , Rifas‐Shiman S. , Weiss S.T. , Finkelstein J.A. 
Published: July 2004

SummaryBackground
An association between antibiotic use in early life and asthma in childhood has been reported in five retrospective studies and one longitudinal study.Objective
To examine the relation between the use of oral antibiotics in the first year of life and asthma in early childhood.Methods
Longitudinal follow‐up of 4408 children enrolled in a health maintenance organization (HMO) from birth to the age of 5 years.Results
After adjusting for sex and illnesses of the lower respiratory tract (LRIs), we found a significant association between antibiotic use in the first year of life and asthma between the ages of 1 and 2 years (odds ratio (OR) for 1–2 vs. no courses of antibiotics=1.9, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.3–2.7; OR for 3–4 vs. no courses of antibiotics=1.6, 95% CI=1.1–2.4; OR for at least 5 vs. no courses of antibiotics=2.1, 95% CI=1.5–3.2). After adjustment for sex and LRIs in the first year of life, there was no significant association between antibiotic use in the first year of life and asthma that was initially diagnosed between the ages of 2 and 5 years and that persisted up to the age of 5 years (OR for 1–2 vs. no courses of antibiotics=1.1, 95% CI=0.8–1.4; OR for 3–4 vs. no courses of antibiotics=1.3, 95% CI=0.9–1.8; OR for at least 5 vs. no courses of antibiotics=1.0, 95% CI=0.7–1.4).Conclusions
Our findings do not support the hypothesis that antibiotic use in early life is associated with the subsequent development of asthma in childhood but rather suggest that frequent antibiotic use in early life is more common among asthmatic children.
Assessment of histamine‐releasing activity of sera from patients with chronic urticaria showing positive autologous skin test on human basophils and mast cells
Authors: Asero R. , Lorini M. , Chong S. U. , Zuberbier T. , Tedeschi A. 
Published: July 2004

SummaryBackground
All previous studies agree that only a proportion of sera from patients with chronic urticaria (CU) positive on the autologous serum skin test (ASST) are able to induce histamine release in vitro. A non‐specific release of bradykinins during clotting of blood samples has been suggested; however, ASST seems rather specific and some data point to the existence of a mast cell‐specific histamine‐releasing factor.Objective
To assess whether, and to what extent, the use of both human basophils and mast cells increases the sensitivity of in vitro histamine release assays (HRAs) in ASST‐positive patients with CU.Methods
The histamine‐releasing activity of sera from 93 patients with CU selected on the basis of strong skin reactivity on ASST was assessed in vitro on basophils from 1 (n=86), 2 (n=31), or 3 (n=20) normal donors, and on mast cells from 1 (n=3), 2 (n=3), or 3 (n=87) normal donors.Results
Sera from 88/93 (95%) patients induced significant histamine release from mast cells or basophils on at least one HRA. 76/93 (82%), 45/90 (50%), 22/80 (28%), and 6/12 (50%) sera were able to induce significant histamine release from cells of 2/5, 3/5, 4/5 and 5/5 donors, respectively.Conclusion
Sera from nearly all ASST‐positive patients with CU are able to induce histamine release in vitro. However, the serum from each single patient seems to show its maximal activity on autologous mast cells in vivo, and functional in vitro tests show much variability and seem less sensitive than ASST in the detection of patients with histamine‐releasing factors in their blood.
Effect of anti‐immunoglobulin E on nasal inflammation in patients with seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis
Authors: Bez C. , Schubert R. , Kopp M. , Ersfeld Y. , Rosewich M. , Kuehr J. , Kamin W. , Berg A. V. , Wahu U. , Zielen S. 
Published: July 2004

SummaryBackground
Binding of allergens to IgE on mast cells and basophils causes release of inflammatory mediators in nasal secretions.Objective
The combined effect of specific immunotherapy (SIT) and omalizumab, a humanized monoclonal anti‐IgE antibody, on release of eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP), tryptase, IL‐6, and IL‐8 in nasal secretion was evaluated.Methods
Two hundred and twenty five children (aged 6–17 years) with a history of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis induced by birch and grass pollen were randomized into four groups: either birch‐ or grass‐pollen SIT in combination with either anti‐IgE or placebo. Complete sets of nasal secretion samples before treatment Visit 1 (V1), during birch‐ (V2) and grass (V3)‐pollen season and after the pollen season (V4) were collected from 53 patients.Results
A significant reduction in tryptase only was seen in the anti‐IgE‐treated group at V2 (P<0.05) and V4 (P<0.05) compared with the placebo group. During the pollen season, patients with placebo showed an increase of ECP compared with baseline (V2: +30.3 μg/L; V3: +134.2 μg/L, P< 0.005; V4: +79.0 μg/L, P< 0.05), and stable levels of tryptase, IL‐6 and IL‐8. Treatment with anti‐IgE resulted in stable ECP values and a significant decrease of tryptase compared with V1 (baseline): V2: −80.0 μg/L (P< 0.05); V3: −56.3 μg/L, which persisted after the pollen season with V4: −71.6 μg/L (P< 0.05). After the pollen season, a decrease of IL‐6 was observed in both groups (V4 placebo group: −37.5 ng/L; V4 anti‐IgE group: −42.9 ng/L, P< 0.01).Conclusion
The combination of SIT and anti‐IgE is associated with prevention of nasal ECP increase and decreased tryptase levels in nasal secretions.
β2 adrenoceptor Arg16Gly polymorphism, airway responsiveness, lung function and asthma in infants and children
Authors: Turner S. W. , Khoo S.‐K. , Laing I. A. , Palmer L. J. , Gibson N. A. , Rye P. , Landau L. I. , Goldblatt J. , Le Souëf P. N. 
Published: July 2004

SummaryBackground
We have previously reported a relationship between increased airway responsiveness (AR) in infancy and reduced childhood lung function.Objective
The current study aimed to determine whether the Arg16Gly polymorphism of the β2 adrenoceptor (β2AR) gene was important to this relationship.Methods
A cohort that initially numbered 253 individuals underwent assessments of AR and lung function aged 1 month, 6 and 11 years; genotyping for polymorphisms of the β2AR was performed.Results
At 1 month of age, the genotype homozygous Arg16 (n=24) was associated with a mean increase in log dose–response slope (AR) of 0.27 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07, 0.49] compared with the genotype homozygous Gly16 (n=58), P=0.01. At 11 years of age, the genotype homozygous Arg16 (n=35) was associated with a mean reduction in the percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 s of 5.3% [95% CI 0.3, 10.2] compared with the genotype homozygous Gly16 (n=65), P=0.03. There was no association between the Arg16Gly polymorphism and atopy or diagnosed asthma. However, nine of 69 individuals with the genotype homozygous Gly16 were admitted to hospital with asthma compared with five out of 111 individuals with the remaining genotypes (P<0.05).Conclusion
The Arg16Gly polymorphism may be important to the association between increased AR in infancy and reduced lung function in childhood and may also be a determinant of asthma severity in children but not asthma per se.
The remodelled tracheal basement membrane zone of infant rhesus monkeys after 6 months of recovery
Authors: Evans M. J. , Fanucchi M. V. , Baker G. L. , Van Winkle L. S. , Pantle L. M. , Nishio S. J. , Schelegle E. S. , Gershwin L. J. , Miller L. A. , Hyde D. M. , Plopper C. G. 
Published: July 2004

SummaryBackground
In previous studies, we showed that repeated exposure to (1) house dust mite allergen (HDMA) (Dermatophagoides farinae) caused thickening of the basement membrane zone (BMZ) and (2) HDMA+ozone (O3) caused depletion of BMZ perlecan and atypical development of BMZ collagen (irregular thin areas<2.0 μm in width).Objective
The purpose of this study was to determine if these remodelling changes were reversible after 6 months of recovery.Methods
Rhesus monkeys were exposed to a regimen of HDMA and or O3 or filtered air (FA) for 6 months. After the exposure protocol was completed FA and O3 groups were allowed to recover in FA for 6 months. The HDMA and HDMA+O3 exposure groups recovered in a modified environment. They were re‐exposed to HDMA aerosol for 2 h at monthly intervals during recovery in order to maintain sensitization for pulmonary function testing. To detect structural changes in the BMZ, collagen I and perlecan immunoreactivity were measured and compared to data from the previous papers.Results
The remodelled HDMA group had a significantly thicker BMZ and after 6 months of recovery the width had not regressed. In the remodelled BMZ of the HDMA+O3 group, perlecan had returned to the BMZ after 6 months of the recovery protocol, and the thin, irregular, collagen BMZ had been resolved.Conclusion
In summary, this study has shown that: (1) The width of the remodelled HDMA BMZ did not regress during a recovery protocol that included a sensitizing dose of HDMA. (2) The atypical collagen BMZ in the HDMA+O3 BMZ was resolved in the absence of O3. (3) Depletion of perlecan from the BMZ by O3 was reversed by recovery in the absence of O3.
Talon cusp associated with other dental anomalies: a case report
Authors: DASH J. K. , SAHOO P. K. , DAS S. N. 
Published: July 2004

Summary.Talon cusp is an uncommon dental anomaly referring to an accessory cusp projecting from the cingulum area, or cemento‐enamel junction of maxillary or mandibular anterior teeth, in both the primary and permanent dentition. This paper reports a rare case of talon cusp affecting the mandibular right central incisor and maxillary right lateral incisor, together with other dental abnormalities, viz. an inverted impacted migrating mandibular right second premolar; complete agenesis of the maxillary and mandibular third molars, the maxillary right second permanent molar, and the mandibular left permanent central incisor; severe crowding; deep bite; hypoplastic teeth; bilateral reverse cross‐bite in the premolar region; and a retrognathic mandible. The presence of this number of dental anomalies in a single patient is rare.
Papillon–Lefèvre syndrome: a report of two cases
Authors: PATEL S. , DAVIDSON L. E. 
Published: July 2004

Summary.Papillon–Lefèvre syndrome is a rare disease characterized by skin lesions caused by palmar‐plantar hyperkeratosis, and severe periodontal destruction involving both the primary and permanent dentitions. It is transmitted as an autosomal recessive condition and consanguinity of parents is evident in about one‐third of cases. This paper describes two preschool children who presented at the Paediatric Dentistry Department, Sheffield, UK, with progressively loosening teeth and discomfort during eating. The medical history revealed scaling on the hands and feet, which had been medically diagnosed as eczema. Papillon–Lefèvre syndrome was diagnosed in both cases.
Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome: a review of the literature and a report of a case
Authors: BAKAEEN G. , RAJAB L. D. , SAWAIR F. A. , HAMDAN M. A. M. , DALLAL N. D. 
Published: July 2004

Summary.The purpose of this paper is to report the development of multiple odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) in a 15‐year‐old female with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) and review the literature pertinent to NBCCS. Although more than 100 abnormalities have been reported in NBCCS, the development of OKCs is one of its principle features. In view of this, the patient was subjected to further medical, dermatological and radiographic investigation. Multiple basal cell naevi and skeletal anomalies associated with NBCCS were found. Because of the autosomal dominant inheritance of this syndrome, the patient's family was then investigated. The patient's father was found to have multiple OKCs. The report highlights the need for vigilance in considering the diagnosis of NBCCS in all cases of OKCs, particularly those affecting young patients.
The modulating effect of culture on the expression of dental anxiety in children: a literature review
Authors: FOLAYAN M. O. , IDEHEN E. E. , OJO O. O. 
Published: July 2004

Summary.The experience of anxiety is a universal human phenomenon. Studies have shown a world‐wide variation in the prevalence of dental anxiety with estimates ranging between 3% and 43%. The aetiology of dental anxiety is multifactorial, with factors acting in synergy to affect its expression. For children, age and gender play fundamental roles in its expression. However, these two factors are modulated by other variables such as culture which may influence the context in which anxiety is experienced, the interpretation of its meaning and responses to it. The modulating effect of culture in synergy with other variables may be one of the reasons why reports on dental anxiety have varied from region to region. This paper attempts to identify the interrelating roles of culture, age and gender, and how these relationships may affect variability in the expression and measurement of dental anxiety in children.
Microleakage assessment of pit and fissure sealant with and without the use of pumice prophylaxis
Authors: ANSARI G. , OLOOMI K. , ESLAMI B. 
Published: July 2004

Summary.Objectives. This study evaluated the effect of pumice prophylaxis on the level of microleakage around and between the sealant and enamel.Materials and methods. A total of 32 freshly extracted sound upper first premolars, assigned as suitable for sealant application, were chosen and divided randomly into two groups: (1) a test group, without prophylaxis; and (2) a control group, with prophylaxis. Sealant was applied to all teeth using the same conventional technique, with prophylaxis being omitted in the test group. The sealed teeth were thermocycled (120 × 30 s, 5 and 55 °C cycles) and then immersed in 2% Basic Fuchsin solution for 72 h. Each tooth was sectioned and examined for dye penetration under a stereomicroscope (× 60 magnification).Results. No dye penetration was seen in 19 (29·6%) of the teeth in the test group and 36 (56·2%) of the teeth in the control group. Dye had penetrated to the base of the fissure in 31 (48·4%) of the teeth in the test group and 23 (35·9%) of the teeth in the control group. Using a chi‐square test for trend, the frequency of microleakage was significantly higher in the test group compared to the controls (P < 0·016).Conclusion. Prophylaxis has a role in improving sealant retention. Removing this step may cause an increase in microleakage.
Special Care Dentistry: attitudes of Specialists in Paediatric Dentistry practising in the UK to the creation of a new specialty
Authors: HUNTER M. L. , HUNTER B. , THOMPSON S. A. , MCLAUGHLIN W. S. 
Published: July 2004

Summary.Objectives. This study was designed to examine the attitudes of Specialists in Paediatric Dentistry (SPDs) practising in the UK towards the creation of a specialty of Special Care Dentistry (SCD).Design. Data were collected by postal questionnaire.Sample and methods. Two hundred and eleven dentists whose names were entered on the General Dental Council's Specialist List in Paediatric Dentistry, and who were resident and practising in the UK, were asked to complete a questionnaire consisting of both open and closed questions.Results. Questionnaires were returned by 167 (79·2%) of the eligible SPDs. One hundred and sixty respondents (95·8%) expressed an opinion in relation to the creation of a specialty of SCD. One hundred and forty‐three respondents (85·6%) stated that they supported such a proposal. However, slightly fewer (n = 149) respondents were prepared to indicate what they considered to be the remit of the proposed specialty. Ninety‐two respondents (55·1%) considered that it should be restricted to the provision of specialist care for adults with ‘special needs’; the remaining 57 respondents felt that it should provide specialist care across the entire age spectrum.Conclusions. Among SPDs, there is overwhelming support for the creation of a specialty of SCD, the majority view being that this should be dedicated to the provision of specialist care for adults with ‘special needs’.
Patterns of parental relatedness and pup survival in the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)
Authors: BEAN K. , AMOS W. , POMEROY P. P. , TWISS S. D. , COULSON T. N. , BOYD I. L. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractLevels of parental relatedness can affect offspring survival and susceptibility to disease. We investigated parental relatedness of live and deadHalichoerus grypuspups between and within island populations and between possible causes of mortality. Nine microsatellites were used to calculate internal relatedness (IR) and standardized meand2.We find that pups with higher than average levels of IR have significantly lower survival and that this varied between island populations and that certain loci contributed to the effect more than others. Although, there were no significant differences between causes of mortality, peritonitis, infection and stillborn had the highest levels of IR. These results provide evidence that parental relatedness is an important determinant of pre‐weaning pup survival in the grey seal and that this may vary with cause of mortality given a larger sample size.
Spatial genetic structure in two congeneric epiphytes with different dispersal strategies analysed by three different methods
Authors: SNÄLL T. , FOGELQVIST J. , RIBEIRO P. J. , LASCOUX M. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractThree different approaches were used to assess the kinship structure of two epiphytic bryophytes, Orthotrichum speciosum and O. obtusifolium, that have different dispersal strategies. The two species were sampled in a 200 ha landscape where species occurrence and host trees had been mapped previously. Local environmental conditions at sampled trees were recorded and kinship between individuals was calculated based on amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP)‐marker data. We did not detect any association between AFLP‐markers and investigated environmental conditions. In both species, significant kinship coefficients were found between individuals up to 300–350 m apart which shows that both species have a restricted dispersal range. The spatial kinship structure was detected with both autocorrelation analysis and generalized additive models (GAMs), but linear regression failed to detect any structure in O. speciosum. Although the dioecious O. obtusifolium is currently the more common species it may, none the less, due to its restricted dispersal range and reproduction mode, become threatened in the future by current silvicultural practices which enhance the distance between host trees and decrease their life span. Finally, GAMs seem most appropriate for analysing spatial genetic structure because the effects of local environmental conditions and spatial structure can be analysed simultaneously, no assumption of a parametric form between kinship coefficient and distance is required, and spatial data resolution is not lost in the arbitrary choice of distance classes characterizing autocorrelation analysis.
Population genetics after fragmentation: the case of the endangered Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti)
Authors: MARTÍNEZ‐CRUZ B. , GODOY J. A. , NEGRO J. J. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractThe highly endangered Spanish imperial eagle,Aquila adalberti, has suffered from both population decline and fragmentation during the last century. Here we describe the current genetic status of the population using an extensive sampling of its current distribution range and both mitochondrial control region sequences and nuclear microsatellite markers. Results were evaluated in comparison to those obtained for the Eastern imperial eagle,Aquila heliaca, its nearest extant relative. Mitochondrial haplotype diversity was lower in the Spanish than in the Eastern species whereas microsatellite allelic richness and expected heterozygosity did not differ. Both allelic richness and expected heterozygosity were lower in the small Parque Nacional de Doñana breeding nucleus compared to the remaining nuclei. A signal for a recent genetic bottleneck was not detected in the current Spanish imperial eagle population. We obtained low but significant pairwiseFSTvalues that were congruent with a model of isolation by distance.FSTand exact tests showed differentiation among the peripheral and small Parque Nacional de Doñana population and the remaining breeding subgroups. The centrally located Montes de Toledo population did not differ from the surrounding Centro, Extremadura and Sierra Morena populations whereas the latter were significantly differentiated. On the other hand, a Bayesian approach identified two groups, Parque Nacional de Doñana and the rest of breeding nuclei. Recent migration rates into and from Parque Nacional de Doñana and the rest of breeding nuclei were detected by assignment methods and estimated as 2.4 and 5.7 individuals per generation, respectively, by a Bayesian approach. We discuss how management strategies should aim at the maintenance of current genetic variability levels and the avoidance of inbreeding depression through the connection of the different nuclei.
Red to Mediterranean Sea bioinvasion: natural drift through the Suez Canal, or anthropogenic transport?
Authors: SHEFER SIGAL , ABELSON AVIGDOR , MOKADY OFER , GEFFEN ELI 
Published: July 2004

AbstractThe biota of the eastern basin of the Mediterranean Sea has experienced dramatic changes in the last decades, in part as a result of the massive invasion of Red Sea species. The mechanism generally hypothesized for the ‘Red‐to‐Med’ invasion is that of natural dispersal through the Suez Canal. To date, however, this hypothesis has not been tested. This study examines the mode of invasion, using as a model the mussel Brachidontes pharaonis, an acclaimed ‘Lessepsian migrant’ that thrives along the eastern Mediterranean coast. Our findings reveal two distinct lineages of haplotypes, and five possible explanations are discussed for this observation. We show that the genetic exchange among the Mediterranean, Gulf of Suez and the northern Red Sea is sufficiently large to counteract the build up of sequential genetic structure. Nevertheless, these basins are rich in unique haplotypes of unknown origin. We propose that it is historic secondary contact, an ongoing anthropogenic transport or both processes, that participate in driving the population dynamics of B. pharaonis in the Mediterranean and northern Red Sea.