bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High hepatotoxicity of pyrazinamide and ethambutol for treatment of latent tuberculosis: Table. 1—
Authors: Younossian A. B. , Rochat T. , Ketterer J-P. , Wacker J. , Janssens J-P. 
Published: August 2005

Pyrazinamide (PZA) combined with either ethambutol (EMB) or a fluoroquinolone for 6–12 months is one of the treatments recommended for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in contacts exposed to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). The aim of the present study was to describe the side effects related to combined PZA and EMB treatment given for LTBI, in contacts previously exposed to MDR-TB.In total, 12 consecutive contacts, all of African origin and aged 38±5 yrs, were treated with daily PZA (23±4 mg·kg−1) and EMB (17±4 mg·kg−1) at Geneva University Hospital outpatient clinic (Switzerland), as a result of contact-tracing procedures for two patients with contagious MDR-TB.Clinical status and liver function tests (aspartate aminotransferase (ALAT) and alanine aminotransferase (ASAT)) were monitored monthly. In seven cases (58%) treatment was discontinued after a median of 119 days, due to hepatic toxicity in six cases (ALAT or ASAT elevation more than four times the upper normal limit), and gastrointestinal symptoms in one case.In conclusion, combined pyrazinamide and ethambutol for latent tuberculosis infection may be associated with a high risk of hepatic toxicity, and warrants close monitoring. There is clearly a need for alternative preventive treatments for contacts exposed to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
Early eradication therapy againstPseudomonas aeruginosain cystic fibrosis patients
Authors: Taccetti G. , Campana S. , Festini F. , Mascherini M. , Döring G. 
Published: August 2005

In cystic fibrosis (CF) patients early antibiotic treatment of lung infection has been shown to lead toPseudomonas aeruginosaeradication. The present study determined: 1) the time period from eradication to newP. aeruginosaacquisition; 2)P. aeruginosare-growth and new acquisition; and 3) the impact of eradication therapy on lung function, antimicrobial resistance, emergence of other pathogens and treatment costs.Ciprofloxacin and colistin were used to eradicateP. aeruginosain 47 CF patients. Bacterial pathogens, lung function decline,P. aeruginosaantimicrobial resistance and anti-pseudomonal serum antibodies were assessed quarterly and compared with an age-matched CF control group. Additionally, costs of antibiotic therapy in both groups were assessed.Early antibiotic therapy leads to aP. aeruginosafree-period of a median (range) of 18 (4–80) months. New acquisition with differentP. aeruginosagenotypes occurs in 73% of episodes. It also delays the decline of lung function compared with chronically infected patients, prevents the occurrence of antibiotic resistantP. aeruginosastrains, does not lead to emergence of other pathogens, and significantly reduces treatment costs. The treatment substantially lowersP. aeruginosaprevalence in CF.In conclusion, early antibiotic therapy exerts beneficial effects on the patient's clinical status and is cost-effective compared with conventional antibiotic therapy for chronically infected cystic fibrosis patients.
Nasal NO: normal values in children age 6 through to 17 years
Authors: Struben V. M. D. , Wieringa M. H. , Mantingh C. J. , Bommeljé C. , Don M. , Feenstra L. , de Jongste J. C. 
Published: August 2005

The present study is an assessment of normal values of nasal nitric oxide (nNO) in healthy children.Healthy children aged between 6–17 yrs were recruited from three schools in Rotterdam (The Netherlands). Breath was held for 10 s, while air was extracted from one nostril at 700 mL·min−1. The mean nNO value at the response plateau after 7–10 s was recorded and the average of three measurements was used.In total, 340 children participated; the male:female ratio was 156:184. Three reliable measurements were available in 85% of the children. The nNO concentrations were distributed normally (mean 449 ppb,SD115). They were not associated with sex, passive smoking or body mass index. In children aged <12 yrs nNO correlated positively with age, history of adenoidectomy and ambient NO. In children aged ≥12 yrs ambient NO was the only significant modifier. Prediction rules for nNO values in children were formulated.In conclusion, the current study presents normal values for nasal nitric oxide in children, which can be used to assess the value of nasal nitric oxide in respiratory illnesses.
Respiratory function and self-reported functional health: EPIC-Norfolk population study
Authors: Myint P. K. , Luben R. N. , Surtees P. G. , Wainwright N. W. J. , Welch A. A. , Bingham S. A. , Wareham N. J. , Day N. E. , Khaw K-T. 
Published: August 2005

Respiratory function is known to be associated with mortality. However, its association with health related quality of life (HRQoL) has not yet been examined.A population-based cross sectional study was conducted in 16,738 subjects aged 40–79 yrs and resident in Norfolk, to examine the association between forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and HRQoL measured by the 36-item short form questionnaire.Individuals who were in the highest quintiles of FEV1were more likely to report good physical functional health (odds ratio (OR) 1.60; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.28–2.01 and OR 1.71; 95% CI 1.40–2.10 for males and females, respectively) controlling for age, height, weight or body mass index, smoking, physical activity, prevalent illness and social class. Being in the highest quintile for FEV1was associated with significantly lower likelihood of poor self-reported mental functional health status in males (OR 0.78; 95% CI 0.61–0.99), but not in females (OR 1.00; 95% CI 0.82–1.22).In conclusion, forced expiratory volume in one second independently predicts self perceived physical well being in a general population across the whole normal distribution of respiratory function.
Exhaled breath condensate: methodological recommendations and unresolved questions
Authors: Horváth I. , Hunt J. , Barnes P. J. 
Published: August 2005

Collection of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a noninvasive method for obtaining samples from the lungs. EBC contains large number of mediators including adenosine, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, isoprostanes, leukotrienes, nitrogen oxides, peptides and cytokines. Concentrations of these mediators are influenced by lung diseases and modulated by therapeutic interventions. Similarly EBC pH also changes in respiratory diseases.The aim of the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society Task Force on EBC was to identify the important methodological issues surrounding EBC collection and assay, to provide recommendations for the measurements and to highlight areas where further research is required.Based on the currently available evidence and the consensus of the expert panel for EBC collection, the following general recommendations were put together for oral sample collection: collect during tidal breathing using a noseclip and a saliva trap; define cooling temperature and collection time (10 min is generally sufficient to obtain 1–2 mL of sample and well tolerated by patients); use inert material for condenser; do not use resistor and do not use filter between the subject and the condenser. These are only general recommendations and certain circumstances may dictate variation from them.Important areas for future research involve: ascertaining mechanisms and site of exhaled breath condensate particle formation; determination of dilution markers; improving reproducibility; employment of EBC in longitudinal studies; and determining the utility of exhaled breath condensate measures for the management of individual patients. These studies are required before recommending this technique for use in clinical practice.
Tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Europe: a systematic review
Authors: Faustini A. , Hall A. J. , Perucci C. A. 
Published: August 2005

In order to facilitate the control of tuberculosis (TB), the World Health Organization (WHO) has defined a standardised short-course chemotherapy and a strategy, directly observed therapy. In 2000, WHO surveillance of TB treatments in Europe recorded a successful outcome rate of 77%. The aim of this report is to estimate treatment outcomes in European countries based on published studies and to identify their determinants.A systematic review was conducted of published reports of TB treatment outcomes in Europe. Meta-analysis, meta-regression and subgrouping were used to pool treatment outcomes and analyse associations with mean age, sex, immigration status and multidrug resistance.Of the 197 articles identified in the search, 26 were eligible for the review; 74.4% of outcomes were successful, 12.3% were unsuccessful and 6.8% of patients died. Heterogeneity was high for all outcomes. National estimates were possible for six countries. Multidrug resistance was inversely associated with successful outcome, which were fewer in populations with >9% multidrug-resistant TB, and in patients aged <44 yrs.Successful tuberculosis treatment outcomes were below the 85% threshold suggested by the World Health Organization. There was an inverse association with levels of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. The unexplained heterogeneity between the studies for unsuccessful outcomes seems to be due to differing interpretations given to World Health Organization definitions.
Skeletal muscle inflammation and nitric oxide in patients with COPD
Authors: Montes de Oca M. , Torres S. H. , De Sanctis J. , Mata A. , Hernández N. , Tálamo C. 
Published: August 2005

In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) the presence of systemic inflammation has been associated with peripheral muscle abnormalities and weight loss.To study whether inflammatory factors are important in these processes, the present study compared the skeletal muscle levels of nitrite, nitrate, nitrotyrosine, neuronal, endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthases (nNOS, eNOS, and iNOS, respectively), and inflammatory markers (tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, CD154 and CD163) in 15 patients (forced expiratory volume in one second 43±11%) and 14 controls. All these markers were also compared between patients with normal and low body weight.Nitrite (12.5±2.6versus17.0±3.4 μmol·mg−1protein), nitrate (20.7±2.4versus24.4±4.5 μmol·mg−1protein) and eNOS (31.9±4.6versus43.6±7.5 ng·mg−1protein) were lower in COPD patients than in controls. Nitrotyrosine (25.6±5.4versus6.6±3.3 ng·mg−1protein), iNOS expression (32±9.5versus7.16±2.7 ng·mg−1protein), TNF-α (257±160versus48.3±4.4 pg·mg−1protein) and CD163 (6.4±2.1versus0.8±0.4 ng·mg−1protein) were higher in COPD patients than in controls. CD154 levels were 15.7±7.0 ng·mg−1protein in COPD patients and undetectable in controls. Similar levels of all these markers were observed in COPD patients with normal and low body weight.In conclusion, these findings suggest the presence of an inflammatory process in the muscle tissue of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, and argue in favour of its participation in the pathogenesis of skeletal muscle abnormalities.
Recurrent sarcoid granulomas in a transplanted lung derive from recipient immune cells: Fig. 1—
Authors: Milman N. , Andersen C. B. , Burton C. M. , Iversen M. 
Published: August 2005

From 1992–2004, single lung transplantation has been performed in seven patients with end-stage pulmonary sarcoidosis at the Danish National Centre for Lung Transplantation. The objective was to assess whether recurrent sarcoid granulomas in the lung graft are derived from recipient or donor immune cells.Three patients had sarcoid recurrence in the lung graft, but none had clinically overt extra-thoracic sarcoidosis. Graft sex-mismatch was present in one patient, a 52-yr-old female having a lung graft from a male donor. In order to discriminate between recipient and donor cells fluorescencein situhybridisation (FISH), using probes for both X- and Y-chromosomes, was applied on transbronchial lung biopsies (TBB) from the lung graft containing sarcoid granulomas.The recipient's explanted lung contained multiple active sarcoid granulomas. TBB from the implanted donor lung 5 months after transplantation showed sarcoid granulomas. FISH showed that the immune cells in the granulomas were X-chromosome positive and Y-chromosome negative and, therefore, were derived from the recipient.In conclusion, the results indicate that recurrent sarcoid granulomas in the transplanted lung are derived from recipient's immune cells, having colonised the lung allograft.
Relationship between respiratory symptoms and medical treatment in exacerbations of COPD
Authors: Calverley P. , Pauwels R. , Löfdahl C-G. , Svensson K. , Higenbottam T. , Carlsson L-G. , Ståhl E. 
Published: August 2005

Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be defined symptomatically or by healthcare contacts, yet the relationship between these events is unknown. Data were collected during a 1-yr study of the budesonide/formoterol combination in COPD patients, where exacerbations, defined by increases in treatment, were compared with daily records of respiratory symptoms, rescue medication use and peak expiratory flow (PEF).The relationship between changes in these variables and the medical event was examined using different modelling approaches. Data from the first exacerbation treated with oral corticosteroids and/or antibiotics and/or hospitalisation (event based) were available in 468 patients.Patients exacerbating were significantly more breathless and more likely to report cough than healthy patients, but did not differ in baseline spirometry. Exacerbations defined by changes in individual symptoms were only weakly related to event-based exacerbations; however, defined with 63% of such events being predicted from symptom changes. Changes in rescue medication use or PEF were poor predictors of event-based exacerbations. The mean peak change in symptoms was closely related to the onset of therapy.In conclusion, event-based exacerbations are a valid way of identifying acute symptom change in a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease population. However, daily symptom monitoring is too variable using the current diary cards to make individual management decisions.
Time to death, airway wall inflammation and remodelling in fatal asthma
Authors: James A. L. , Elliot J. G. , Abramson M. J. , Walters E. H. 
Published: August 2005

Fatal asthma is characterised pathologically by airway wall remodelling, eosinophil and neutrophil infiltration, accumulation of mucus in the airway lumen and smooth muscle shortening. The durations of fatal attacks of asthma show a clear bimodal distribution. Airway smooth muscle contraction and the accumulation of luminal mucus may contribute to death from asthma and relate to time to death.The current authors have examined these two components in uninflated lung tissue in cases of fatal asthma from the second Victorian asthma mortality study. Based on time from onset of symptoms to death, cases fell into two distinct groups: short course <3 (1.5±0.6 mean±sd) h; and long course >8 (12.3±5.9) h.Short course cases had more muscle shortening, higher levels of salbutamol and higher ratios of neutrophils to eosinophils than long course cases, who tended to have more mucus in the lumen.In conclusion, this study confirms the dichotomy of both time to death and the eosinophil/neutrophil ratio in cases of fatal asthma. It suggests that in short course cases acute airway narrowing is due, predominantly, to bronchoconstriction despite higher blood levels of salbutamol. Mucus accumulation may be more important in long course cases.
JACOP: A simple and robust method for the automated classification of protein sequences with modular architecture
Authors: Sperisen Peter , Pagni Marco 
Published: August 2005

AbstractBackgroundWhole-genome sequencing projects are rapidly producing an enormous number of new sequences. Consequently almost every family of proteins now contains hundreds of members. It has thus become necessary to develop tools, which classify protein sequences automatically and also quickly and reliably. The difficulty of this task is intimately linked to the mechanism by which protein sequences diverge, i.e. by simultaneous residue substitutions, insertions and/or deletions and whole domain reorganisations (duplications/swapping/fusion).ResultsHere we present a novel approach, which is based on random sampling of sub-sequences (probes) out of a set of input sequences. The probes are compared to the input sequences, after a normalisation step; the results are used to partition the input sequences into homogeneous groups of proteins. In addition, this method provides information on diagnostic parts of the proteins. The performance of this method is challenged by two data sets. The first one contains the sequences of prokaryotic lyases that could be arranged as a multiple sequence alignment. The second one contains all proteins from Swiss-Prot Release 36 with at least one Src homology 2 (SH2) domain – a classical example for proteins with modular architecture.ConclusionThe outcome of our method is robust, highly reproducible as shown using bootstrap and resampling validation procedures. The results are essentially coherent with the biology. This method depends solely on well-established publicly available software and algorithms.
A method for finding single-nucleotide polymorphisms with allele frequencies in sequences of deep coverage
Authors: Wang Jianmin , Huang Xiaoqiu 
Published: September 2005

Abstract
Background
The allele frequencies of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are needed to select an optimal subset of common SNPs for use in association studies. Sequence-based methods for finding SNPs with allele frequencies may need to handle thousands of sequences from the same genome location (sequences of deep coverage).

Results
We describe a computational method for finding common SNPs with allele frequencies in single-pass sequences of deep coverage. The method enhances a widely used program named PolyBayes in several aspects. We present results from our method and PolyBayes on eighteen data sets of human expressed sequence tags (ESTs) with deep coverage. The results indicate that our method used almost all single-pass sequences in computation of the allele frequencies of SNPs.

Conclusion
The new method is able to handle single-pass sequences of deep coverage efficiently. Our work shows that it is possible to analyze sequences of deep coverage by using pairwise alignments of the sequences with the finished genome sequence, instead of multiple sequence alignments.
Caution required when relying on a colleague's advice; a comparison between professional advice and evidence from the literature
Authors: Schaafsma Frederieke , Verbeek Jos , Hulshof Carel , van Dijk Frank 
Published: August 2005

Abstract

Background
Occupational Physicians rely especially on advice from colleagues when answering their information demands. On the other hand, Evidence-based Medicine (EBM) promotes the use of up-to-date research literature instead of experts. To find out if there was a difference between expert-based practice and EBM we compared professional advice on occupational health topics with best evidence from the literature.

Methods
We asked 14 occupational physicians to consult their usual information sources on 12 pre-conceived occupational health problems. The problems were presented in the form of case vignettes which contained sufficient clinical information to be used by the occupational physicians for the consultation of their experts. We had searched the literature for the best available evidence on the 12 problems, which made it possible to answer the clinical questions with a clear yes or no.

Results
The cases could be used by the occupational physicians as arising from their own practice. All together the occupational physicians consulted 75 different experts. Almost half of the consulted experts were near colleagues, 10% were industrial hygienists, 8% medical specialists and the rest had a varied background. Fifty three percent (95% confidence interval 42% to 65%) of all professional advice was not in line with the research literature. In 18 cases (24%) professional advice explicitly referred to up-to-date research literature as their used source. These cases were substantially less incorrect (17%) than advice that had not mentioned the literature as a source (65%) (difference 48%, 95% Confidence Interval from 27% to 69%).

Conclusion
Advice that occupational physicians routinely get in their daily practice differs substantially from best evidence from the literature. Occupational physicians who ask professional advice should always ask about the evidence of this advice.
Resting energy expenditure is not influenced by classical music
Authors: Carlsson Ebba , Helgegren Hannah , Slinde Frode 
Published: August 2005

Abstract
Obesity shows an increasing prevalence worldwide and a decrease in energy expenditure has been suggested to be one of the risk factors for developing obesity. An increase in resting energy expenditure would have a great impact on total energy expenditure. This study shows that classical music do not influence resting energy expenditure compared to complete silence. Further studies should be performed including other genres of music and other types of stress-inductors than music.
Homocysteine, MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism, folic acid and vitamin B 12 in patients with retinal vein occlusion
Authors: Ferrazzi Paola , Di Micco Pierpaolo , Quaglia Ilaria , Rossi Lisa Simona , Bellatorre Alessandro Giacco , Gaspari Giorgio , Rota Lidia Luciana , Lodigiani Corrado 
Published: September 2005

Abstract

Background
Many available data have suggested that hyperhomocysteinaemia, an established independent risk factor for thrombosis (arterial and venous), may be associated with an increased risk of retinal vein occlusion (RVO).

Aim of the study
To evaluate homocysteine metabolism in consecutive caucasian patients affected by RVO from Northern Italy.

Patients and Methods
69 consecutive patients from Northern Italy (mean age 64.1 ± 14.6 yy) with recent RVO, were tested for plasma levels of homocysteine (tHcy: fasting and after loading with methionine), cyanocobalamine and folic acid levels (CMIA-Abbot) and looking for MTHFR C677T mutation (Light Cycler-Roche) and compared to 50 volunteers, enrolled as a control group.

Results
Fasting levels of tHcy were significantly higher in patients than in controls: mean value 14.7 ± 7.7 vs 10.2 ± 8 nmol/ml. Post load levels were also significantly higher: mean value 42.7 ± 23.7 vs 30.4 ± 13.3 nmol/ml; Total homocysteine increase was also evaluated (i.e. Δ-tHcy) after methionine load and was also significantly higher in patients compared to control subjects: mean Δ-tHcy 27.8 ± 21.5 vs 21.0 ± 16 nmol/ml (normal value < 25 nmol/ml). Furthermore, patients affected by RVO show low folic acid and/or vitamin B12 levels, although differences with control group did not reach statistical significance. Heterozygous and homozygous MTHFR mutation were respectively in study group 46% and 29% vs control group 56% and 4%.

Conclusion
our data confirm that hyperhomocysteinaemia is a risk factor for RVO, and also that TT genotype of MTHFR C677T is more frequently associated with RVO: if the mutation per se is a risk factor for RVO remains an open question to be confirmed because another study from US did not reveal this aspect.
Hyperomocysteinemia is modifiable risk factor for thrombotic diseases. Therefore, a screening for tHcy plasma levels in patients with recent retinal vein occlusion could allow to identify patients who might benefit from supplementation with vitamins and normalization of homocysteine levels, in fasting and after methionine load.