bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with chronic neutrophilic leukemia
Authors: Yoshida Chikashi , Kojima Hiroshi , Iijima Tatsuo , Katsura Yukitaka , Shimizu Seiichi , Suzukawa Kazumi , Mukai Harumi Y. , Hasegawa Yuichi , Abei Masato , Nagasawa Toshiro 
Published: December 2004

Abstract:A 54‐yr‐old female having chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL) associated with severe liver injury is presented. Physical examination on admission showed severe jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, massive ascites, and pretibial edema. Complete blood count showed a hemoglobin level of 9.1 g/dL, platelet count of 25.8 × 104/μL, and white blood cell count of 36.6 × 103/μL with 89.7% neutrophils. Blood chemistry showed hyperbilirubinemia (21.9 mg/dL) with normal transaminase levels. There was no abnormality in serum cholesterol, triglyceride, or glucose levels. Neutrophil alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly elevated. Bone marrow aspiration showed myeloid hyperplasia with normal karyotype. Rearrangement of thebcr/ablwas not detected by either polymerase chain reaction or fluorescencein situhybridization. Human androgen receptor gene assay (HUMARA) of the bone marrow cells showed clonal proliferation of neutrophils. The patient was diagnosed as having CNL. To evaluate the pathogenesis of the liver injury, a needle biopsy was performed, which showed steatohepatitis with infiltration of neutrophils. As the patient had no history of alcohol abuse, a diagnosis of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) was made. Assuming that the infiltration of abnormal neutrophils into the liver contributed to the development of NASH, she was treated with cytoreductive chemotherapy (cytosine arabinoside: 100 mg/d, 1–3 doses/wk). With decreases in white blood cell counts, serum bilirubin levels decreased gradually to 1.5 mg/mL. A postchemotherapy liver biopsy specimen showed marked improvement of the fatty degenerative change. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the development of NASH in a myeloproliferative disorder. We believe that the infiltration of leukemic cells contributed to the development of NASH in this patient.
Serum syndecan‐1, basic fibroblast growth factor and osteoprotegerin in myeloma patients at diagnosis and during the course of the disease
Authors: Kyrtsonis Maria‐Christina , Vassilakopoulos Theodoros P. , Siakantaris Marina P. , Kokoris Styliani I. , Gribabis Despina A. , Dimopoulou Maria N. , Angelopoulou Maria K. , Pangalis Gerassimos A. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract:Neovascularisation and bone resorption are related to myeloma disease activity.Objectives:  To investigate the possible prognostic importance of serum syndecan‐1, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels, the relationship between them, with parameters of disease activity and the effect of treatment on their levels.Patients and Methods:  Twenty‐seven patients were studied from diagnosis and an additional five from remission, for a median follow‐up of 40 months. Twenty‐three patients received chemotherapy plus bisphosphonates and nine only bisphosphonates. Sera from 11 healthy individuals (HI) were used as controls. Cytokines were determined by commercially available enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) kits.Results:  In HI, median syndecan‐1 was 40 ng/mL (28–75), bFGF 8 pg/mL (7–30), OPG 35 pg/mL (4–100). Pretreatment median serum syndecan‐1 was 177.5 ng/mL (34–3500), bFGF 11.5 pg/mL (8–65) and OPG 100 pg/mL (4–1000). Pretreatment syndecan‐1, bFGF and OPG serum levels were increased in patients compared with HI (P = 0.001, 0.03 and 0.01, respectively). Syndecan‐1 and bFGF levels were correlated with stage (P = 0.004 and 0.03, respectively). Both syndecan‐1 and OPG levels were correlated with β2M (P = 0.04 and 0.01, respectively). Patients with elevated syndecan‐1 and bFGF serum levels had shorter survival than patients with normal levels (P = 0.01 and 0.05, respectively). After chemotherapy syndecan‐1 and OPG levels were found to be decreased in responders and syndecan‐1 level was reduced in patients receiving bisphosphonates alone.Conclusions:  Pretreatment syndecan‐1, bFGF and OPG levels were found to be increased at diagnosis. Syndecan‐1 and OPG fluctuated according to MM activity. Elevated serum syndecan‐1 and bFGF levels predicted short survival.
Expression of p120, Ki‐67 and PCNA as proliferation biomarkers in imprint smears of prostate carcinoma and their prognostic value
Authors: Bantis A. , Giannopoulos A. , Gonidi M. , Liossi A. , Aggelonidou E. , Petrakakou E. , Athanassiades P. , Athanassiadou P. 
Published: December 2004

The cell proliferation markers p120, Ki‐67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) recognize nuclear antigens. The expression of these proteins by immunostaining methods was reported to be of value in determining the prognosis of patients with malignant diseases.In this study, we evaluated the prognostic significance of the expression of nuclear antigens p120, PCNA and Ki‐67 in prostate cancer and compared the results with other prognostic factors.Imprint smear samples obtained from 70 patients immediately after radical prostatectomy for prostatic carcinoma were immunostained with monoclonal antibodies against p120, Ki‐67 and PCNA. The immunostaining results were correlated with Gleason score, tumour differentiation, stage and prostatic specific antigen (PSA) levels.Our findings demonstrate that p120, Ki‐67 and PCNA expression in prostatic carcinoma smears, correlated significantly with the degree of Gleason score (P < 0.001). When combining p120, Ki‐67 and PCNA positivity with tumour differentiation there was a significant association among these parameters (P < 0.001). Overexpression of p120, Ki‐67 and PCNA, was also associated with increased PSA serum levels (>4 ng/ml) (P < 0.001). The distribution of p120, Ki‐67 and PCNA expression in prostate carcinomas was not statistically significant for Ki‐67 (P = 0.69) and p120 (P = 0.22) but was significant for PCNA (P < 0.001) as far as the histological stage (T2a, T2b, T2c, T3a). P120, Ki‐67 and PCNA expression had significant prognostic value for disease‐free survival.Our results conclude that nuclear antigens p120, Ki‐67 and PCNA appear to be additional markers in the field of prognosis of prostatic carcinoma.
Developmental changes in the inhibition of cultured rat uterine cell proliferation by opioid peptides
Authors: Környei J. L. , Vértes Z. , Kovács K. A. , Göcze P. M. , Vértes M. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract.  Opioid peptides are negative regulators of cell proliferation in several organs including the uterus. In the present study, the ontogeny of the direct inhibitory action of opioid peptides on the proliferation of cultured rat uterine cells was investigated. Uteri of 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 60‐day‐old rats were removed in a sterile way. Tissue blocks were dispersed by limited digestions with trypsin and collagenase. Cells were cultured in enriched Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM). Treatments were present during the entire culture period. Cell densities of the monolayers were determined by counting the cells following trypsinization and trypan blue exclusion. Rat uterine mixed cell cultures grew to confluence within 10 days. The average population doubling time gradually increased with the age of animals. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) increased cell densities of cultures from all age groups. The oestradiol (E2)‐responsiveness appeared at 21 days of age. The effect of [D‐Met2‐Pro5]‐enkephalinamide (ENK) was biphasic. ENK and [Met5]‐enkephalin (OGF) decreased cell densities of both unstimulated and EGF‐stimulated cultures from 7‐day‐old rats to the same extent. ENK failed to act in 14‐day‐old animals. From 21 days of age on, the E2‐ or EGF‐stimulated proliferation was inhibited only by ENK and DAMGO, while 30 nm DPDPE, Dynorhin‐A, OGF, [Leu5]‐enkephalin, beta‐endorphin, and morphiceptin were ineffective. The half‐inhibitory concentration of ENK was 0.3 nm. The effects of ENK were prevented by concomitant treatment with naloxone. Our novel data demonstrate two different phases of the inhibitory action of opioid peptides on rat uterine cell proliferation during ontogeny with an insensitive interval in between.
Success in territorial defence by male tarantula hawk wasps Hemipepsis ustulata: the role of residency
Authors: ALCOCK JOHN , BAILEY WINSTON 
Published: December 2004

1. Some male tarantula hawk wasps Hemipepsis ustulata defend landmark shrubs growing on mountain tops, while others only visit a succession of territory sites, generally fleeing from territorial males. To determine whether residency asymmetries contribute to the short duration of most interactions between territorial males and visiting intruders, established residents were held captive for varying periods while other males replaced them at their territories.2. Replacement males immediately assumed resident status and began to defend the shrubs and trees with success against non‐resident intruders, many of which were larger. Interactions between replacements and non‐resident intruders rarely escalated into pursuits leading to ascending flights.3. In contrast, when the original resident was released, its subsequent encounter with the replacement male almost always resulted in one or more ascending flights, even when the replacement had been on territory for less than 10 min. The longer the period of territory occupation by replacements, the longer on average the interaction and the more ascending flights, showing that the duration of time on a territory affects male motivation to defend the site. Despite strong resistance from long‐term replacements, however, returning residents almost always regained their territories.4. The strong residency effect in H. ustulata may be an adaptive proximate control mechanism for male behaviour that arises because established residents typically have high resource holding power, which makes them difficult to displace.
Nettle‐feeding nymphalid butterflies: temperature, development and distribution
Authors: BRYANT SIMON , THOMAS CHRIS , BALE JEFFREY 
Published: December 2004

1. Four nymphalid butterflies, Aglais urticae L., Inachis io L., Polygonia c‐album L. and Vanessa atalanta L., share the same primary host plant, Urtica dioica L., but have different margins to their U.K. and European ranges. Their developmental responses to a series of constant temperatures were measured.2. Degree‐day requirements were found broadly to explain the relative distributions and differences in voltinism of A. urticae, P. c‐album and I. io. The migrant V. atalanta did not fit into the predicted pattern, and this species may be more limited by its ability to overwinter.3. Although the most northerly distributed species, A. urticae, had the lowest degree‐day requirement, it had the highest developmental threshold and performed best (for mortality, pupal weight and relative growth rate) at high experimental temperatures. It is suggested that this may be due to the gregarious nature of its larvae and their possible ability to thermoregulate.4. At southern margins, different distributional limits may be explained partly by larval gregariousness (a more northern trait) and maximum temperatures at which development is possible.5. Limits to the distributions of these mobile species are at least partially explicable by the interaction of climatic patterns and thermal biology. A rapid response to climate change is predicted, and has already been observed in two of the species.
Spatial and temporal patterns of caterpillar performance and the suitability of two host plant species
Authors: Van Nouhuys Saskya , Singer Michael C. , Nieminen Marko 
Published: December 2004

Abstract.1. The butterflyMelitaea cinxiauses two host plant species in the Åland Islands of south‐west Finland. Survey data show that host plant use is spatially variable and that the two species are not used (fed on byM.cinxialarvae) in proportion to their abundances. The pattern of host plant use byM.cinxiahas been attributed in part to plant distribution and spatial variation of butterfly oviposition preference.2. The additional roles that may be played by spatial variation in host plant quality and larval physiology (performance ability) were investigated. Seven years of field survey data and a series of laboratory experiments were used to demonstrate that neither of these variables contributed measurably to the observed pattern of host plant use.3. Specifically, while there was great variation among individuals in both the performance ability of caterpillars and host plant suitability, the two plant species appeared equally suitable, there was no within‐species geographic variation in plant suitability, and there was no evidence for adaptation of caterpillars to the locally used host plants.
Exocrine pancreatic dysfunction in sepsis
Authors: Tribl B. , Sibbald W. J. , Vogelsang H. , Spitzauer S. , Gangl A. , Madl C. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground Sepsis in critical illness is associated with the progressive failure of multiple organs. This study aims to establish a correlation between the severity of sepsis and exocrine pancreatic dysfunction.Materials and methods In a prospective cohort study pancreatic exocrine function was tested by means of a secretin‐cholecystokinin test in 21 critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients with sepsis according to criteria of the American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine Consensus Conference Committee (ACCP/SCCM): 11 patients with shock and 10 patients without shock. Data were compared with seven healthy controls.Results The volume of duodenal fluid was not statistically different in the three groups. Sepsis patients without shock had significantly reduced content of amylase and chymotrypsin in duodenal juice compared with healthy controls (P < 0·01). Secretion of amylase, chymotrypsin, trypsin (P < 0·01 each) and bicarbonate in duodenal fluid (P < 0·05) was impaired in the septic shock patients when compared with the healthy controls. The content of trypsin was different between sepsis patients and septic shock patients (P < 0·05). Spearman correlation analysis was significant between the amylase secretion and the APACHE III and SOFA scores (P < 0·01). The SOFA score was also related to secretion of trypsin (P < 0·05). In patients on pressor therapy, use of norepinephrine was associated with a significant decrease in bicarbonate secretion (P < 0·05).Conclusions Sepsis is associated with secretory pancreatic dysfunction that is worse in septic shock than in sepsis without shock. Impaired exocrine function was significantly correlated to the APACHE III and SOFA scores.
Effects of insulin lispro and chronic vitamin C therapy on postprandial lipaemia, oxidative stress and endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Evans M. , Anderson R. A. , Smith J. C. , Khan N. , Graham J. M. , Thomas A. W. , Morris K. , Deely D. , Frenneaux M. P. , Davies J. S. , Rees A. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground Insulin therapy may influence cardiovascular disease (CVD) and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Exaggerated postprandial lipaemia (PPL) is a feature of diabetic dyslipidaemia affecting CVD via enhanced oxidative stress (OS) and endothelial dysfunction. We assessed endothelial function and OS during PPL following insulin and vitamin C. Twenty (17 M) T2D patients were studied (mean Hba1c 8·4%) at baseline, following 6 weeks of insulin lispro (0·2 Iu kg−1) and vitamin C 1‐g daily. Eight‐h lipid and glucose profiles were measured following a fatty meal. Endothelial function (flow‐mediated vasodilatation: FMD) and OS were measured at fasting, 4 h and 8 h.Materials and methods Glucose, body mass index, and total and LDL cholesterol remained unchanged. FMD improved. Placebo group: fasting, 1·1 ± 1·2 to 4·2 ± 1·1% (P < 0·001); 4‐h, 0·3 ± 1·2 to 3·1 ± 0·9% (P < 0·01); 8‐h, 0·7 ± 1·1 to 3·76 ± 1·1% (P < 0·001). Vitamin C group: fasting, 0·9 ± 1·1 to 6·1 ± 1·3% (P < 0·001); 4‐h, 0·7 ± 1·5 to 4·9 ± 2·1% (P < 0·001); 8‐h, 0·8 ± 0·9 to 5·8 ± 0·6% (P < 0·01). Post‐prandial lipaemia was attenuated: TG area‐under‐curve (mmol L−1 8 h−1), 52·6 ± 11 to 39·1 ± 12·5 (placebo group), P < 0·02; and 56·9 ± 8 to 40·1 ± 10·3 (vitamin C group), P < 0·02. Oxidative stress was reduced, with greater changes in the vitamin C group.>Conclusion Insulin may thus exert vascular benefits in T2D, by modifying fasting and postprandial lipid metabolism resulting in reduced OS and improved EF. Vitamin C therapy may augment the vascular benefits of insulin in T2D through additional effects on OS and EF.
Elevated exhalation of hydrogen peroxide in patients with systemic sclerosis
Authors: Łuczyñska M. , Szkudlarek U. , Dziankowska‐Bartkowiak B. , Waszczykowska E. , Kasielski M. , Sysa‐Jȩdrzejowska A. , Nowak D. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground Systemic sclerosis is accompanied by an influx of activated phagocytes into distal airways. These cells release H2O2, which may evaporate from the airways surface and be detected in expired breath condensate. We tested whether patients with systemic sclerosis exhale more H2O2 than healthy subjects and whether breath condensate H2O2 levels correlate with some clinical parameters.Material and methods H2O2 was measured fluorimetrically in the expired breath condensate of 27 patients (22 women, five men, mean age 49 ± 13·1 years) with systemic sclerosis and 27 age‐ and sex‐ matched healthy controls.Results Exhaled H2O2 levels were 3·5‐fold higher (0·88 ± 0·62 µM vs. 0·25 ± 0·17 µM, P < 0·001) in the patients with systemic sclerosis than in the controls. Treatment with cyclophosphamide and/or prednisone (29 ± 50 months, range 3–168 months) did not significantly decrease H2O2 exhalation (0·78 ± 0·50 µM, n= 10 vs. 0·94 ± 0·67 µM, n= 17, P > 0·05). No significant difference was found between patients with limited and diffuse scleroderma (1·03 ± 0·69 µM, n= 17 vs. 0·63 ± 0·41 µM, n= 10, P > 0·05). H2O2 levels correlated with disease duration (r = 0·38, P < 0·05) and time from the first Raynaud's episode (r = 0·44, P < 0·05).Conclusions Patients with systemic sclerosis exhale more H2O2 than healthy controls, suggesting involvement of reactive oxygen species in disease processes. Lack of significant intergroups differences in H2O2 levels may have resulted from the small number of patients analyzed.
Discordance of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in the arterial wall and its circulating products in baboons: interactions with redox metabolism
Authors: Wang J. , Felux D. , VandeBerg J. , Wang X. L. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground Although peripheral arteries and circulating factors have been frequently used to assess systemic or central arterial, such as coronary artery, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) functions, there is no direct evidence to support that they are related.Design We explored relationships in eNOS levels among coronary, aortic, carotid and brachial arteries, and interactions with redox metabolisms in 40 necropsied baboons (Papio hamadryas).Results We found no correlations in eNOS or NOx levels among all four arteries (R: 0·02–0·19, P > 0·05). While eNOS levels were high in both coronary (133·78 ± 10·9 pg mg−1 protein) and aortic arteries (168·53 ± 16·32 pg mg−1 protein), they were low in brachial (82·88 ± 5·5 pg mg−1 protein) and carotid (89·83 ± 7·15 pg mg−1 protein) arteries. Arterial eNOS were not correlated with plasma NOx either. However, coronary and aortic eNOS were positively correlated with the corresponding arterial total antioxidant status (TAS) (r = 0·638, P= 0·001, and r = 0·615, P= 0·0001). Coronary eNOS was also negatively associated with coronary advanced glycation end products (AGE) (r = −0·454, P= 0·003). Furthermore, there were significant associations in TAS levels between plasma and arterial wall extracts (R: 0·344–0·369, P < 0·05) and among arteries of different anatomic sites (R: 0·637–0·877, P < 0·001). While arterial TAS was negatively correlated with corresponding arterial AGE, TAS in the arterial wall and plasma were positively associated with plasma AGE.Conclusions Our study shows that eNOS is differentially expressed in different anatomic sites and is not associated with plasma NOx, suggesting that brachial eNOS may not be used to assess coronary eNOS. The positive or negative associations between eNOS and TAS or AGE, especially in the coronary artery, indicate an important role of eNOS in arterial wall redox balance.
Disruption of nasopharyngeal epithelium by pneumococci is density‐linked
Authors: Lagrou K. , Peetermans W. E. , Verhaegen J. , Jorissen M. , Van Eldere J. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground The aim of this project was to study the influence of pneumococci on nasopharyngeal epithelial integrity as a function of time and pneumococcal density.Materials and methods Cell layers of an in vitro model of human nasopharyngeal epithelium were inoculated with different pneumococcal strains. The transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), a measure of the integrity of the cell layers, and the pneumococcal concentration in the apical fluid on the epithelial cells were measured at different times after inoculation.Results Pneumococci caused a decrease in the TEER when a density of 1 × 107 CFU mL−1 was reached. The growth rate of pneumococci in our in vitro model differed between the strains tested and, for the same strain, between in vitro culture on the epithelial cells and broth culture. Differences in timing of the onset of decrease in the TEER between strains were the result of differences in growth rate on the epithelial cells. Antibiotic‐induced lysis of pneumococci caused an immediate decrease in the TEER of the cell layers.Conclusion Pneumococci cause a decrease in the TEER at a density of 1 × 107 CFU mL−1. Our hypothesis is that this decrease in the TEER is the result of quorum‐induced lysis of the pneumococci.
The economic value of recreational fisheries in Nordic countries
Authors: Toivonen A.‐L. , Roth E. , Navrud S. , Gudbergsson G. , Appelblad H. , Bengtsson B. , Tuunainen P. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract Recreational fishing, whether free or at cost, has an economic value. This value was measured in five Nordic countries based on a contingent valuation mail survey. Regression models were used to identify demographic characteristics, types of fishing patterns and differences in the countries’ management regimes that can explain both actual fishing expenditure and willingness to pay for the non‐market benefits by persons participating in fishing or enjoying the benefits derived by it. Net benefit, i.e. willingness to pay over and above actual expenditure was highest amongst those fishing. In Denmark, the small number of generalist fishermen get the highest benefit. In Finland results are mixed but sports fishermen benefit on average even more than generalists. Urban sports fishing raises the highest benefit in Iceland while in Norway the benefit is more equally spread, with occasional anglers and women reaping the least. In Sweden the mean benefit is the lowest in the Nordic countries but evenly distributed among categories of fishermen. In the Nordic countries combined, nationality explains willingness to pay as being Norwegian or Finnish increases benefit and being Icelandic reduces it. The non‐use value of recreational fisheries was elicited through posing questions on willingness to pay for the preservation of the existence of current fish stocks and current quality of recreational fishing to persons participating in fishing or enjoying the benefits derived from it. For those not fishing or people in general, the power of the models to explain willingness to pay for the existence of recreational fisheries was very weak. The benefit, i.e. willingness to pay, is higher if somebody in the household fishes. Educated, young, urban, well‐off citizens also put value on the non‐use of the resource.