bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nucleolar organizer region staining patterns in paraffin‐embedded tissue cells from human skin cancers
Authors: Romão‐Corrêa Rosana F. , Maria Durvanei A. , Soma Mithitaka , Sotto Mírian N. , Sanches José Antônio , Neto Cyro Festa , Ruiz Itamar R. G. 
Published: April 2005

Background:  Increased number of nucleoli (nucleolar organizer regions, NORs) with abnormal shapes and sizes, including small dots, has been used as prognostic tools to evaluate tumor proliferation levels and troublesome borderline lesions. In this study, NOR patterns of skin cancers were performed in the search of a valuable prognostic method to complement other histological procedures.Methods:  Paraffin‐embedded tumor tissue was obtained from basal and squamous cell carcinomas, cutaneous malignant melanoma, premalignant lesions, and Skmel‐28 human melanoma cells. Slices were dewaxed and AgNOR stained. The patterns were scored and submitted for statistical analyses.Results:  All types of cancer cells showed variable numbers of abnormally shaped nucleoli and dot‐like structures. Only tumor cells presented four or more nucleoli, with or without dots, while 85% of the normal cells had one single NOR without dots. Most data were statistically significant when compared to normal cells. As a whole, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma tumor cells had less NOR alterations than basal cell carcinoma (BCC) tumor types.Conclusions:  Changes in the number and shape of nucleoli present in malignant cells could be attributed to increased levels on rDNA transcription on cancer cells, besides abnormal remodeling of chromatin, which could disrupt proper nucleoli association. Increased genetic alterations on malignant basal cells could contribute to impair invasive and migration abilities of BCC tumors.
Myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma of the neck
Authors: McFarlane Rob , Meyers Arlen D. , Golitz Loren 
Published: April 2005

Background:  Myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma (MIFS), also named inflammatory myxohyaline tumor of distal extremities with virocyte or Reed‐Sternberg cells, is a rare tumor typically presenting as a painless mass in the extremities.Patients:  We present an unusual case of MIFS presenting as a subcutaneous neck mass. This is the first reported case of MIFS presenting in the neck.Results:  Therefore, this lesion must be considered in the differential diagnosis for painless subcutaneous masses presenting not only in the distal extremities, but also in the neck.Conclusion:  MIFS has only recently been recognized. The differential diagnosis for MIFS is broad, and it can often be mistaken for several different inflammatory and neoplastic processes, which may require different treatment.
Book Reviews
Authors: Smith Preston G. 
Published: April 2005

Books reviewed in this issue: ▪Achieving Project Management Success Using Virtual Teams▪Virtual and Collaborative Teams: Process, Technologies, and Practice▪International Product Liability Law, a Worldwide Desk Reference▪Mass Affluence: Seven New Rules of Marketing to Today's Consumer▪Creating the Project Office: A Manager's Guide to Leading Organizational Change▪The Complete Project Management Office Handbook
Fish stock assessment in lakes based on mass removal
Authors: Helminen H. , Ennola K. , Hirvonen A. , Sarvala J. 
Published: April 2005

The efficiency of mass removal of fishes can potentially be assessed using catch statistics collected during intensive fishing periods. The calculations are based on the general assumption that a decline in population size will produce a decline in catch per unit effort (cpue). When the removal is efficient it is possible to estimate the population size both at the beginning of the fishing period and after the removal.Two examples are based on the winter seine net fishing of vendace (Coregonus albula) in Lake Pyhäjärvi, SW Finland in (1) 1983–1984 and (2) 1989–1990. The effects of the error in catch composition samples and random changes in probabilities of capture during the removal period on the final estimates of initial stock sizes are also examined.The precision of the population estimates shown here was greatly influenced by the violation of the underlying assumption that the probability of capture is equal for all members of the target age group. In any case, particular attention should be paid to optimizing the sampling programme so that it will reveal the best information on the exploited stock with the resources in hand.
Effects of solar radiation on the population dynamics of juvenile flatfish in the shallows of the Wadden Sea
Authors: Berghahn R. , Bullock A. M. , Karakiri M. 
Published: April 2005

During the first days after their arrival in the Wadden Sea, newly settled plaice Pteuronectes platessa L., flounder, Platichthys flesus L., and sole, Solea solea L., stay at low tide in the residual waters on the tidal flats. Here they can be exposed to high levels of solar radiation and extreme temperature conditions. As a result of the extreme temperatures, all settlers eventually leave the shallows and start to exhibit tidally‐phased feeding migrations from the tidal channels on to the submerged fiats, In contrast to warm summers, for example 1982, no formation of a hyaline zone could be detected in the otoliths of surviving O‐group plaice in 1990, 4 weeks after such a mass emigration, which could be directly observed on particular days in both hot and cold summers. Analysis of UV‐B radiation data indicated that in 1990 cloud cover and wind conditions during the settling period protected the post‐larvae from high temperature and radiation stress which is necessary to induce hyaline zones in the otoliths. Nevertheless, histological examination of the dorsal skin revealed cellular changes characteristic of sunburn damage in part of‐the O‐group plaice population in 1990.Mortality of O‐group plaice during and after such a mass emigration, which was directly observed in the drainage gulleys in 1982, was estimated at approximately 14–27%. This rate is assumed to be close to the maximum mortality which can be expected from abiotic factors for O‐group plaice in the Wadden Sea.
Cortisol and immune characteristics in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) selected for high or low tolerance to stress
Authors: Fevolden S. E. , Røed K. H. 
Published: April 2005

The influence of exposure to stressors on cortisol and the non‐specific immune traits lysozyme and serum haemolytic activity were examined in second generation rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) selected for either high or low serum cortisol level following a confinement stress. Lysozyme and serum haemolytic activity were also assessed, together with levels of specific antibodies against Aeromonas salmonicida A‐layer, Vibrio salmonicida O‐antigen and Vibrio anguillarum O‐antigen, following injection of vaccines against these pathogens.Significant differences in mean cortisol levels between the two selection lines were observed, but in only one of two stress experiments was the ‘high‐stress’ line found to have the higher cortisol level; in the other experiment the ‘high‐stress’ line had significantly lower cortisol levels than the ‘low‐stress’ line. Lysozyme levels were in four of four assessments higher in the high‐stress line than in the low‐stress line, whereas components of serum haemolytic activity tended to be lower in the high‐stress line than in the low‐stress line. Levels of specific antibodies against all three bacterial pathogens were elevated following the injection of the vaccines. Only antibody production against A. salmonicida A‐layer was significantly different between the two lines, the higher production of antibody being in the high‐stress line.
Comparison of fish impingement by a thermal power station with fish populations in the Ems Estuary
Authors: Hadderingh R. H. , Jager Z. 
Published: April 2005

On an annual basis >10 million individuals of c. 35 fish species are impinged at the EC20 unit of the Eems power station located on the Ems Estuary. The most abundant are: herring Clupea harengus, gobies (Gobiidae), Nilsson's pipefish Sygnathus rostellatus, three‐spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus and sprat Sprattus sprattus. The impingement shows a seasonal pattern which reflects the presence of the fishes in the estuary. The results are compared with other impingement studies at power stations on the Belgian and Dutch estuaries.In 1995, the cooling water entrance was displaced from the shoreline to 300 m off the coast at the edge of the tidal channel. The effect of this relocation on the level of fish impingement, determined by comparing the ratio of fish density in the cooling water and in the estuary before (1992–1993) and after (1996–1997) the relocation of the intake canal is discussed.
Review article: current management of renal dysfunction in the cirrhotic patient
Authors: Pham P.‐T. T. , Pham P.‐C. T. , Rastogi A. , Wilkinson A. H. 
Published: April 2005

SummaryThe United Network for Organ Sharing database revealed that over the last 4–5 years, an average of 1800 patients were removed from the cadaveric waiting list annually because of patients’ death and an additional 400–500 were removed from the list because of the severity of their illnesses.1 The pre‐transplant evaluation process, therefore, requires careful and continued assessment of the patient's pulmonary, cardiac and renal function among others.This article describes a systematic approach to the evaluation and management of renal dysfunction complicating the course of advanced liver disease, the pathogenic mechanisms and current recommendations for the treatment of hepatorenal syndrome, and the indications for combined liver–kidney transplantation.
Is the management of hepatitis C patients appropriate? A population‐based study
Authors: Hatem C. , Minello A. , Bresson‐Hadni S. , Jooste V. , Evrard P. , Obert B. , Lepage C. , Bonithon‐Kopp C. , Faivre J. , Monnet E. , Miguet J.‐P. , Hillon P. ,   The Rebohc and Revhoc Committees
Published: April 2005

SummaryBackground : In order for hepatitis C patients to receive antiviral treatment, they must reach medical care.Aim : To assess the proportion of patients reaching medical care after hepatitis C diagnosis in a general population (1 006 171 inhabitants) in France.Methods : Between 1994 and 1999, 1508 cases were diagnosed, of which 1251 were eligible for the study.Results : Two‐hundred and two patients did not have any medical care; among them, 55.4% had normal alanine transferase, 58.4% had risk factors related to lifestyle and 22.8% were alcoholics. Amongst the 1049 other patients, 41.6% had a liver biopsy, 25.0% were treated. Treatment was more often carried out in males than in females (OR: 1.59; P = 0.001), and in patients under 65 than in older patients (OR: 2.22; P < 0.008). Among non‐treatment reasons, alcoholism (P = 0.001), drug‐addiction (P = 0.04) and escaping monitoring (P = 0.04) were more frequent in males than in females, whereas normal alanine transferase was more frequent in females than in males (P = 0.004). Amongst 278 patients with a Metavir score >A1F1, 71 (25.5%) did not undergo treatment.Conclusion : In a general population, one patient in six did not receive on‐going health care; a quarter of patients with a Metavir score >A1F1 did not receive any treatment. These results showed insufficient clinical management, which could compromise the effectiveness of treatment in general population.
Review article: current management of primary sclerosing cholangitis
Authors: Cullen S. N. , Chapman R. W. 
Published: April 2005

SummaryThe management of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is hindered by incomplete understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease and the lack of good prognostic models. Few large randomized controlled trials of drug therapy have been published. Best practice in the management of PSC is currently based therefore on careful interpretation of the available evidence, close observation of individual patients and clinical experience of the disease. Drug therapy is useful for alleviating symptoms. Ursodeoxycholic acid may slow progression of the disease and reduce the frequency of complications. Consensus is emerging on the issues of screening for the malignant complications of PSC and the indications for liver transplantation are becoming broader and encompassing the earliest stages of cholangiocarcinoma. In view of the rarity of the disease in the general population, large international collaborations to study PSC are necessary to provide clearer answers in areas of uncertainty, and these are now beginning to emerge.
Long‐term follow‐up of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy in Vietnam: reinfection and clinical outcome
Authors: Wheeldon T‐U. , Hoang T. T. H. , Phung D. C. , Björkman A. , Granström M. , Sörberg M. 
Published: April 2005

SummaryAim : To assess the long‐term Helicobacter pylori reinfection rates, as well as the clinical outcome in peptic ulcer disease patients in Vietnam.Method : At a 1‐year evaluation of H. pylori eradication treatment in 226 peptic ulcer patients, long‐term H. pylori status was assessed with serology and/or culture, peptic ulcer status by gastroscopy, and DNA‐fingerprinting performed with random amplified polymorphic DNA and restriction fragment polymorphism.Result : Follow‐up was performed a mean 11 months after the post‐treatment evaluation on day 30 after beginning of treatment. The overall reinfection rate was 23.5%, with 58.8% of the strains being identical to the pre‐treatment isolates and 41.2% being different. Peptic ulcer was found in 22.9% of the reinfected patients and in 6.3% of the non‐reinfected. At the long‐term follow‐up of successful eradication cases, 89.8% of the patients were free of peptic ulcer disease. The corresponding result was 58.7% in patients in whom H. pylori eradication failed.Conclusion : Following successful H. pylori eradication, reinfection with H. pylori in patients in Vietnam was found to be higher than in industrialized countries but the long‐term recurrence of peptic ulcer disease was still low. Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment is therefore of value also in developing countries as the rate of peptic ulcer disease was low at the 1‐year follow‐up.
Review article: smoking cessation as primary therapy to modify the course of Crohn's disease
Authors: Johnson G. J. , Cosnes J. , Mansfield J. C. 
Published: April 2005

SummaryThis article aims to offer an updated review of the effects of smoking on inflammatory bowel disease, and provide a review of the methods of achieving smoking cessation. A systematic review of Embase and Medline databases was conducted. Smoking causes opposing effects on ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The odds ratio of developing ulcerative colitis for smokers compared with lifetime non‐smokers is 0.41. Conversely, smokers with Crohn's disease have a more aggressive disease requiring more therapeutic intervention. Smoking cessation is associated with a 65% reduction in the risk of a relapse as compared with continued smokers, a similar magnitude to that obtained with immunosuppressive therapy. Although difficult to achieve smoking cessation can best be encouraged by accessing appropriate counselling services, nicotine replacement therapy and bupropion. Using a combination of these treatments there is an improved chance of success of up to 20% compared with an unassisted quit attempt. Smoking cessation unequivocally improves the course of Crohn's disease and should be a primary therapeutic aim in smokers with Crohn's disease.
A controlled trial of ondansetron in the pruritus of cholestasis
Authors: O'Donohue J. W. , Pereira S. P. , Ashdown A. C. , Haigh C. G. , Wilkinson J. R. , Williams R. 
Published: April 2005

AbstractBackground : In patients with pruritus of cholestasis, response to conventional drug treatment may be unsatisfactory. Activation of 5‐hydroxytryptamine receptors on dermal sensory nerve‐endings plays a role in the perception of pruritus. The 5‐hydroxytryptamine3 receptor antagonist, ondansetron, has been used in the treatment of pruritus of cholestasis, but there are few controlled data.Aim : To determine whether ondansetron is effective in treating the pruritus of cholestasis.Methods : A total of 19 patients with resistant pruritus were randomized, double blind, to receive either ondansetron 8 mg or placebo as a single intravenous bolus, followed by oral ondansetron 8 mg or placebo twice daily for 5 days. Patients’ perception of pruritus was recorded hourly using a visual analogue scale, and scratching activity measured by means of a piezo‐electric crystal attached to the fingernail.Results : Mean pruritus score using visual analogue scale and scratching activity were reduced on the first treatment day compared with baseline in both the ondansetron and placebo groups (P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences in mean pruritus perception or scratching activity between the two groups.Conclusion : Ondansetron was of no benefit in this group of pruritic patients during short‐term treatment.
Controlled trial of interventions to increase testing and treatment for Helicobacter pylori and reduce medication use in patients with chronic acid‐related symptoms
Authors: Majumdar S. R. , Ross‐Degnan D. , Farraye F. A. , Lee M. , Kemp J. A. , Lecates R. F. , Henning J. M. , Tunis S. R. , Schrammel P. , Soumerai S. B. 
Published: April 2005

AbstractBackground : Many symptomatic patients take proton pump inhibitors or histamine‐2 blockers for years and those without gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease might benefit from Helicobacter pylori eradication.Aim : To increase testing and treatment of H. pylori and reduce chronic use of proton pump inhibitors and histamine‐2 blockers.Methods : We conducted a three‐armed controlled trial in 14 managed care practices. We included adults who used proton pump inhibitors or histamine‐2 blockers for >1 year and excluded those with gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease or previous endoscopy. We compared usual care (n = 312 patients from 6 practices) to low‐intensity (n = 147 from 3 practices) and high‐intensity (n = 122 from 5 practices) interventions. Low‐intensity intervention consisted of guidelines, patient‐lists, and a ‘toolkit’; high‐intensity intervention added academic group detailing by a gastroenterologist with reinforcement by pharmacists.Results : Compared with usual care, the high‐intensity intervention increased H. pylori test‐ordering (29% versus 9% at 12 months, P = 0.02). About half (23 of 58) of patients tested positive and 22 received eradication treatments. The high‐intensity intervention decreased proton pump inhibitor use by 9% per year (P = 0.028), but did not alter histamine‐2 blocker use. The low intensity intervention was ineffective.Conclusions : Providing guidelines, patient‐lists, and toolkits was no better than usual care. Adding group detailing and pharmacist reinforcements led to improvements in H. pylori management and decreases in proton pump inhibitor use.
Intragastric acidity during treatment with esomeprazole 40 mg twice daily or pantoprazole 40 mg twice daily – a randomized, two‐way crossover study
Authors: Miehlke S. , Madisch A. , Kirsch C. , Lindner F. , Kuhlisch E. , Laass M. , Knoth H. , Morgner A. , Labenz J. 
Published: April 2005

AbstractBackground : Patients with severe or complicated reflux disease may require higher than standard doses of a proton pump inhibitor for sufficient acid suppression.Aim : To test the hypothesis that esomeprazole 40 mg twice daily is superior to pantoprazole 40 mg twice daily in lowering intragastric acidity.Methods : In a randomized, single‐blinded, two‐way crossover study, healthy subjects received esomeprazole 40 mg twice daily or pantoprazole 40 mg twice daily orally for five consecutive days. Continuous ambulatory 24‐h intragastric pH was recorded on day 5 of each treatment.Results : Thirty subjects were analysed. Esomeprazole provided significantly higher intragastric pH‐values over the 24‐h period [median intragastric pH 6.4 for esomeprazole and 5.1 for pantoprazole (P < 0.00005)]. Intragastric pH > 4 was maintained for 21.1 h with esomeprazole and 16.8 h with pantoprazole (P < 0.0001). An intragastric pH > 4 for more than 16 h was achieved in 96.7 and 56.7% of subjects, respectively (P = 0.0002). During night‐time the proportion of time with intragastric pH > 4 was 85.4% with esomeprazole and 63.6% with pantoprazole (P = 0.0001). Nocturnal acid break through occurred less frequently on esomeprazole.Conclusions : Esomeprazole 40 mg twice daily provides better and more consistent intragastric acid control than pantoprazole 40 mg twice daily.
Anxiety, depression and psychotropic medication use in patients with persistent upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms
Authors: van Kerkhoven L. A. S. , van Rossum L. G. M. , van Oijen M. G. H. , Witteman E. M. , Jansen J. B. M. J. , Laheij R. J. F. , Tan A. C. I. T. L. 
Published: April 2005

AbstractBackground:  Limited information is available about anxiety, depression and psychotropic medication use in patients referred for gastrointestinal endoscopy.Aim:  To determine anxiety and depression and its association with endoscopic findings in a representative sample of patients with persistent gastrointestinal symptoms prior to endoscopy.Methods:  Patients referred to the hospital for endoscopy between February 2002 and February 2004 were asked to score anxiety and depression on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale 2 weeks prior to endoscopy. Information about endoscopic diagnoses was obtained from medical files.Results:  A total of 1298 subjects was studied (600 upper gastrointestinal endoscopies and 698 lower gastrointestinal endoscopies). Patients referred for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy used most psychotropic agents (24%; odds ratio = 3.1; 95% confidence interval = 2.3–4.2), especially patients with an organic abnormality when compared with patients without an organic abnormality (42% versus 8%; odds ratio = 8.6; 95% confidence interval = 5.4–14.0). Patients with colonic polyps were more anxious (odds ratio = 1.7; 95% confidence interval = 1.0–2.9) and depressed (odds ratio = 1.8; 95% confidence interval = 1.1–3.1) than other patients referred for lower gastrointestinal endoscopy.Conclusions:  There is no difference in anxiety nor depression between patients with and without organic abnormalities at endoscopy. Patients with colonic polyps are more anxious and depressed than other patients referred for lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. Psychotropic medication use is highest among patients with an organic abnormality in the proximal gastrointestinal tract.