bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Treatment of hepatitis C virus infection in patients of northern India
Authors: HAZARI SIDHARTHA , PANDA SUBRAT KUMAR , GUPTA SIDDHARTH DATTA , BATRA YOGESH , SINGH RAJBIR , ACHARYA SUBRAT KUMAR 
Published: August 2004

AbstractBackground and Aim:  The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic response of north Indian patients with chronic hepatitis C (CH‐C) to two different treatment regimens of interferon and ribavirin.Methods:  Consecutive patients with a diagnosis of CH‐C attending the Liver Clinic at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi between April 1999 and April 2002 were included in the study. A competitive reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) method developed in the authors’ laboratory was used for quantification of hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐RNA. Genotyping of HCV was also determined. The clinical, biochemical, virological and histological parameters were used to assess the therapeutic response among a clinical cohort of patients with chronic hepatitis C. They were treated with two different protocols (interferon [IFN]‐α‐2b, 3 million units daily and ribavirin 10.6 mg/kg daily in two divided doses for 6 months or IFN‐α‐2b, 3 million units thrice weekly and ribavirin 10.6 mg/kg daily for 6 months).Results:  Sixty‐five patients with CH‐C were included in the study. Blood transfusion (n = 28, 43%) and community‐acquired (n = 23, 35%) HCV infections were the commonest. The mean HCV load was high (24.14 ± 12.5 × 108 copies/mL). Genotype 2 and 3 were prevalent in 80% (41/51) of the patients. Forty‐five patients received 3 million units of IFN thrice weekly and 20 received the same dose daily. All received the same dose of ribavirin. A sustained virological response (SVR) of 95% (19/20) was achieved among patients receiving daily IFN, whereas 64.4% (29/45) of those who received IFN thrice weekly had SVR. The virological relapse was significantly lower among patients who received daily IFN than in those treated with thrice weekly IFN (n = 1/20, 5% vs 10/39, 25.6%; P = 0.015). The proportion of patients receiving daily IFN among those achieving SVR (19/48, 40%) was significantly higher than the proportion of patients receiving similar therapy among patients without SVR (1/17, 6%; P = 0.02).Conclusions:  Transfusion and community‐acquired HCV infection were the major causes of CH‐C. Genotype 2 and 3 HCV were most prevalent among these patients. Despite high viral load, these patients responded well to a combination of daily IFN‐α‐2b and ribavirin.© 2004 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd
Role of additional angiography and chemoembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who achieved complete necrosis following transarterial chemoembolization
Authors: JANG MYOUNG KUK , LEE HAN CHU , KIM IN SOOK , LIM YOUNG‐SUK , CHUNG YOUNG‐HWA , LEE YUNG SANG , SUNG KYU‐BO , YOON HYUN‐KI , KO GI‐YOUNG , KIM AH YOUNG , SUH DONG JIN 
Published: August 2004

AbstractBackground and Aims:  Although transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been reported to have antitumor effects in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), optimal time schedules and follow‐up methods have not yet been determined. We therefore prospectively analyzed the effects of additional angiography and chemoembolization on HCC recurrence and survival in patients who underwent TACE and achieved complete necrosis (CN).Methods:  A total of 68 patients who achieved CN after TACE, as assessed using dynamic computed tomography (CT), were randomized into two groups. Patients in the CT group (n = 34) were followed using dynamic CT every 3 months without any further intervention, whereas patients in the angiography group (n = 34) received additional angiography 1 month after achievement of CN. We compared overall survival and disease‐free survival between the two groups and analyzed the benefit of additional angiography.Results:  The cumulative recurrence rate did not differ between the angiography and CT groups (55%vs 48% at 12 months and 66%vs 67% at 24 months, P = 0.92). The overall survival rates at 12 and 24 months were 88% and 84% in the angiography group, and 88% and 70% in the CT group, respectively (P = 0.57). Of the 34 patients in the angiography group, 27 (79%) suffered from adverse reactions of additional angiography and subsequent chemoembolization, seven (20.6%) experienced serum bilirubin increases of ≥1 mg/dL over baseline, and two (5.9%) developed renal impairment.Conclusion:  Additional angiography and chemoembolization did not reduce tumor recurrence or improve patient survival in HCC patients who achieved CN, as assessed using dynamic CT, following TACE.© 2004 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd
Hypergastrinemia after Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with bacterial load and related inflammation of the oxyntic corpus mucosa
Authors: CHUANG CHIAO‐HSIUNG , SHEU BOR‐SHYANG , YANG HSIAO‐BAI , KAO AI‐WEN , CHENG HSIU‐CHI , YAO WEI‐JEN 
Published: August 2004

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Helicobacter pylori infection causes hypergastrinemia. This study aimed to determine the association between serum gastrin and the severity of H. pylori‐related gastric histology.Methods:  A total of 458 dyspeptic patients were included in this study after the absence of gastric malignancy was confirmed using endoscopy. The gastric specimens of each patient were collected from the antrum and corpus for the analysis of H. pylori‐related histology changes by updated Sydney's system. Before endoscopy, the fasting blood samples were collected for gastrin analysis.Results:  The H. pylori‐infected patients had higher gastrin levels than those without infection (P = 0.01). Gastrin levels were related to H. pylori density and acute and chronic inflammation scores in the corpus mucosa (P < 0.05), but not in the antral mucosa (P = NS). Gastrin levels were also not related to the presence of gastric atrophy. Multivariate regression showed that the gastrin level was only related to acute corpus inflammation. However, in the patients without infection, the gastrin level was also associated with acute corpus inflammation. Nevertheless, the patients with denser H. pylori infection were more likely to have acute corpus gastritis than those with lighter H. pylori infection, and thus presented with higher gastrin levels (P < 0.05).Conclusions:  The increased level of gastrin of serum after H. pylori infection was associated with acute inflammation in the gastric corpus mucosa, but not in the antral mucosa. Denser H. pylori infection causes more severe corpus gastritis and thus may lead to a higher fasting level of gastrin of serum.
Neutrophil elastase in pressure ulcer fluid degrades fibronectin in the exudates
Authors: Ai Shingo , Kuzuya Masafumi , Iguchi Akihisa 
Published: August 2004

Background:  Pressure ulcers are classified as chronic wounds, which do not heal in a timely fashion. Fibronectin is condensed in granulation tissue, and essential glycoprotein of wound healing. It has been proposed that fibronectin degradation may be involved in delaying wound healing. We have investigated whether pressure ulcer fluid (PUF) contains degraded fibronectin. In addition, we tried to identify the proteinase which contributes to fibronectin degradation in PUF.Methods:  Fibronectin degradation and the presence of neutrophil elastase (NE) in PUF were determined by immunoblot analysis. Fibronectin degradation activity in PUF was determined in the presence of various proteinase inhibitors. NE activity was assessed using NE specific substrate.Results:  Immunoblot analysis revealed that degraded fibronectin was observed in PUF samples but not in acute wound fluid (AWF). The PUF contained a proteinase capable of degrading freshly added fibronectin and its activity in PUF was blocked by a broad‐spectrum serine proteinase inhibitor or sivelestat, a specific neutrophil elastase inhibitor, but not by metalloproteinase and cysteine proteinase inhibitors. Immunoblot analysis of PUF using an antineutrophil elastase antibody revealed that neutrophil elastase was detected as three bands at molecular weights of ∼30 kDa, ∼38 kDa, and ∼54 kDa, indicating that neutrophil elastase in the exudates existed not only as free monomers, but also in polymers or complexes with other molecules.Conclusion:  These results suggest that PUF contains a high level of neutrophil elastase which may be involved in the delay of the healing of pressure ulcer through the fibronectin degradation.
Randomized controlled trial of glove perforation in single‐ and double‐gloving in episiotomy repair after vaginal delivery
Authors: Punyatanasakchai Piyaphan , Chittacharoen Apichart , Ayudhya Nathpong Israngura Na 
Published: August 2004

AbstractObjective:  The aims of the study presented here were to compare the rate of glove perforation between single‐gloving and double‐gloving methods, and the time of operation and level of surgeon in episiotomy repair after vaginal delivery.Method:  A prospective randomized controlled trial was performed from the beginning of May to the end of December, 2002 at Ramathibodi Hospital. A comparison of glove perforation between single‐gloving and double‐gloving methods was performed. Glove perforations were tested by filling each glove with water. Glove perforation rate, position of perforation, time of operation and surgeon level of experience were analyzed.Results:  One hundred and fifty sets of double‐gloving method and 150 sets of single‐gloving method were evaluated. The glove perforation rates were 4.6 and 18% in double‐inner gloves and single‐gloves, respectively, with statistical difference (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between glove perforation rates in double‐outer gloves (22.6%) and single‐gloves (18%). There was matched perforation of the same finger of both outer and inner gloves in 2% of all double‐inner gloves. The frequency of glove perforation was classified by the surgeon's level of experience and time of operation was no difference in each level.Conclusion:  The double‐gloving method significantly reduced the risk of exposure of the surgeon's hand to the patient's blood, when compared with the single‐gloving method in episiotomy repair. There were no differences in the rate of glove perforations compared to the time of operation and level of surgeon.
Neutrophil apoptosis in preeclampsia, do steroids confound the relationship?
Authors: Fuchisawa Akiko , Van Eeden Stephan , Magee Laura A. , Whalen Beth , Leung Peter C. K. , Russell James A. , Walley Keith R. , Von Dadelszen Peter 
Published: August 2004

AbstractAim:  To investigate the influence of maternal corticosteroid administration on neutrophil apoptosis in early onset preeclampsia.Methods:  We investigated five groups: early onset preeclampsia (EOPET, <34 weeks, n = 10); late‐onset preeclampsia (LOPET, ≥34 weeks, n = 7); normotensive intrauterine growth restriction (nIUGR, n = 11); normal pregnancy (NPC, n = 22); and non‐pregnancy (n = 10). We examined, by flow cytometry, spontaneous neutrophil apoptosis after 18 h culture (hypodiploid DNA, Annexin V binding, propidium iodide [PI] permeability).Results:  For the 10 women with EOPET exposed to betamethasone in the previous 48 h, we found that neutrophil apoptosis was not inappropriately inhibited, in contrast to our previous findings in women not thus exposed. Neither LOPET nor nIUGR differed from normal pregnancy.Conclusion:  Betamethasone alters the rate of spontaneous neutrophil apoptosis in EOPET. The anti‐inflammatory influence of betamethasone may explain some of the differences between our previous and present findings with respect to neutrophil apoptosis in EOPET. Corticosteroids ameliorate the course of antenatal and postnatal preeclampsia. These results may reflect the mechanisms that underlie the transient improvements seen with antenatal dexamethasone use.
Unusual form of superficial spreading microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix involving the endometrium of uterus
Authors: Tan Geok Chin , Isa Mohamed Rose , Ng Soon Pheng , Jamil Yassin Muhd Abd 
Published: August 2004

AbstractMicroinvasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a recognized entity and is defined as carcinoma with invasion of less than 5 mm penetration of the stroma and seldom metastasized. Our patient was a 70‐year‐old, multiparous woman who had a microinvasive, cervical, squamous cell carcinoma. The tumor had spread superficially into the entire endometrial cavity up to the fundus, totally replacing the columnar epithelium. This is an extremely rare phenomenon, with fewer than 20 cases reported so far in the literature.
The Relation between Real Wage Rates and Employment: An Intertemporal General- Equilibrium Analysis
Authors: Hellwig Martin 
Published: August 2004

Abstract
The paper studies the relation between real wage rates and employment in an intertemporal model in which expectations of subsequent real wage rates affect equilibrium capital investments and equilibrium interest rates in previous periods. Whether the wage-employment tradeoff is more favourable or less favourable in this model than in the static model with given capital depends on whether there is relatively more substitution in consumption or in production, or, more precisely, whether the elasticity of substitution in production is less than or greater than the inverse of the elasticity of marginal utility in consumption.
HIV and AIDS among fisherfolk: a threat to ‘responsible fisheries'?
Authors: Allison Edward H. , Seeley Janet A. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractFishing communities are often among the highest‐risk groups in countries with high overall rates of HIV/AIDS prevalence. Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS stems from complex, interacting causes that may include the mobility of many fisherfolk, the time fishermen spend away from home, their access to daily cash income in an overall context of poverty and vulnerability, their demographic profile, the ready availability of commercial sex in fishing ports and the subcultures of risk taking and hypermasculinity among some fishermen. The subordinate economic and social position of women in many fishing communities in low‐income countries makes them even more vulnerable. HIV/AIDS in fishing communities was first dealt with as a public health issue, and most projects were conducted by health sector agencies and NGOs, focusing on education and health care provision. More recently, as the social and economic impacts of the epidemic have become evident, wider social service provision and economic support have been added. In the last 3 years, many major fishery development programmes in Africa, South/South‐East Asia and the Asia‐Pacific region have incorporated HIV/AIDS awareness in their planning. The HIV/AIDS pandemic threatens the sustainability of fisheries by eclipsing the futures of many fisherfolk. The burden of illness puts additional stresses on households, preventing them from accumulating assets derived from fishing income. Premature death robs fishing communities of the knowledge gained by experience and reduces incentives for longer‐term and inter‐generational stewardship of resources. Recent projects championing local knowledge and resource‐user participation in management need to take these realities into account. If the fishing communities of developing countries that account for 95% of the world's fisherfolk and supply more than half the world's fish are adversely impacted by HIV/AIDS, then the global supply of fish, particularly to lower‐income consumers, may be jeopardized.
PCR primers for fish G6PD gene intron and characterization of intron length variation in the albacore Thunnus alalunga
Authors: CHOW S. , NAKADATE M. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractPolymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers to amplify the fourth intron of glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) gene were designed. A large length variation of amplified fragment was observed in the Atlantic albacore sample with a moderate level of heterozygosity (HE = 0.488). Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed deletion or insertion of a large nucleotide block (110 base pairs) to be responsible for the length difference. Successful amplification of single or two fragments was confirmed in the northern bluefin tuna and Pacific saury, indicating the wide cross‐species applicability.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellites inDrosophila montanaand their cross‐species amplification inD. virilis
Authors: ORSINI L. , SCHLÖTTERER C. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractWe report the isolation of 20 microsatellite loci fromDrosophila montanaand their cross amplification in the relativeD. virilis. All microsatellite loci were polymorphic in the focal speciesD. montana, with gene diversities ranging from 0.23 to 0.93. InD. virilisonly eight loci (40%) amplified and two loci were polymorphic (10%). These markers represent the first report of microsatellites isolated inD. montana. They could be applied for studying population structure and phylogeography. The largest benefit, however, will be their use in studies of quantitative trait loci, such as the mapping of behavioural quantitative trait loci.
Development of polymorphic microsatellite markers for the Steere's Liocichla (Liocichla steerii)
Authors: YEUNG CAROL , HUANG YI‐JIUN , LI SHOU‐HSIEN 
Published: August 2004

AbstractFor the Steere's Liocichla (Liocichla steerii) we developed seven polymorphic microsatellite markers from a partial genomic library enriched for GATA, tetranucleotide repeats. Among the 27–28 individuals screened, allelic diversity ranged from six to 19 alleles per locus and the observed heterozygosity of each locus ranged from 0.250 to 0.889. All loci conformed to Hardy–Weinberg expectations except for two that appeared to be Z‐Iinked; such Z‐Iinked loci can be used in studies of male dispersal.
Characterization of eight polymorphic microsatellites in the shrew Crocidura suaveolens and its application to the study of insular populations of the French Atlantic coast
Authors: CALMET CLAIR. E. , LAMBOURDIÈRE JOSIE , ABDELKRIM JAWAD , PASCAL MICHEL , SAMADI SARAH 
Published: August 2004

AbstractWe developed eight polymorphic microsatellite loci to study the natural populations of Crocidura suaveolens, the lesser white‐toothed shrew. These loci are used in the study of insular populations of the French Atlantic coast where these shrews exhibit gigantism features that suggest an insular syndrome. These populations were threatened by the invasion of the rat Rattus norvegicus and the eradication of this alien pest in some islands was followed by a demographic expansion of the shrew populations. These first genetic results suggest that the shrew populations in the three studied islands are very differentiated.
Isolation and characterization of 23 polymorphic microsatellite markers for diversity and stock analysis in tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon)
Authors: PAN YU‐WEN , CHOU HSIN‐HUNG , YOU EN‐MIN , YU HON‐TSEN 
Published: August 2004

AbstractThe tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) is an important marine crustacean in terms of biological diversity and aquaculture resource. The shrimp is widespread across the Indo‐Pacific region and shows apparent genetic differentiation among geographical populations. It is common practice to transport female brooders between different countries to seed the shrimp farms, posing potential problems of unwanted population admixture. We developed 23 polymorphic microsatellites for P. monodon (average HE = 0.936) and these microsatellites were applicable for studying population differentiation, identifying valid stocks and tagging nonindigenous farmed shrimps.
Identification and characterization of 10 microsatellite primers for the calanoid freshwater copepods Eudiaptomus gracilis and E. graciloides using enriched genomic libraries
Authors: ZELLER MARTINA , REUSCH THORSTEN B. H. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractThe calanoid copepods Eudiaptomus gracilis and Eudiaptomus graciloides are widespread among European lakes. We constructed enriched genomic libraries for both species in order to isolate and characterise microsatellite markers. The obtained 7 polymorphic microsatellite‐loci for E. gracilis and 3 for E. graciloides are the first for any freshwater copepod. They display an expected heterozygosity ranging from 0.60 to 0.96 and 0.63 to 0.94 and observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.53 to 0.87 and 0.57 to 0.87, respectively. We were not able to cross‐amplify the isolated loci across species, indicating long divergence among both congeneric species despite morphological similarity.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci from Acacia nilotica ssp. indica (Mimosaceae)
Authors: WARDILL T. J. , SCOTT K. D. , GRAHAM G. C. , ZALUCKI M. P. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractFive microsatellite loci are presented for prickly acacia, Acacia nilotica ssp. indica (Benth.) Brenan, an introduced weed of national significance in Australia. These microsatellite loci were obtained through the construction of an enriched library and their use will enable us to determine the genetic origin and extent of genetic diversity of this weed in Australia.
Identification and characterization of microsatellite DNA markers developed in an endangered cyprinid of the Mekong River, the seven‐line barb (Probarbus jullieni Sauvage, 1880)
Authors: SUKUMASAVIN N. , NAKAJIMA M. , TANIGUCHI N. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractMicrosatellite markers for an endangered cyprinid species of the Mekong River, the seven‐line barb (Probarbus jullieni Sauvage, 1880) were developed from the wild caught samples using (GT)15 probe. The number of alleles per locus ranged from seven to 16. The expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.47 to 0.91. Also, these primers were successfully amplified in the two closely related species, P. labeamajor and P. labeaminor. These markers have proven to be very useful for the population genetic structure study in this species and other related cyprinids.
Development of VNTR markers for two Fusarium graminearum clade species
Authors: SUGA H. , GALE L. R. , KISTLER H. C. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractUsing a bioinformatics approach, we developed 10 variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) markers for Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium asiaticum useful for population genetic studies. Repeat sequences in the genome sequence of F. graminearum were identified by a tandem repeat finding program. Length polymorphisms at 54 loci were examined for five strains each from the United States, Italy and China. From these 54 loci, 10 were selected based on polymorphisms detected across species, ease of scoring, and their dispersed location in the genome.
Improved noninvasive genotyping method: application to brown bear (Ursus arctos) faeces
Authors: BELLEMAIN E. , TABERLET P. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractWe redesigned new microsatellite primers and one sex‐specific primer for amplification of faecal DNA from brown bears (Ursus arctos). We also combined a semi‐nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with a newly developed multiplex preamplification method in order to increase the quality of the amplified DNA fragments. In comparison with a conventional PCR approach, the genotyping error rate was substantially reduced and the amplification rate was increased. This new approach could be transposed to other species where conventional PCR methods experience low success due to limited DNA concentration and/or quality.
Isolation of six microsatellite markers from the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Homoptera, Aphididae)
Authors: KUROKAWA TAROH , YAO IZUMI , AKIMOTO SHIN‐ICHI , HASEGAWA EISUKE 
Published: August 2004

AbstractUsing the magnetic particles method, we isolated six polymorphic microsatellite loci from the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris), which feeds on a wide range of legume species. The isolated loci were polymorphic, with three to six alleles in 40 aphids. Expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.12 to 0.65. These loci can be used to quantify clonal diversity and compare genetic population structure between sexual and asexual populations.