bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Functional diversity of the soil microflora in primary succession across two glacier forelands in the Central Alps
Authors: Tscherko D. , Rustemeier J. , Richter A. , Wanek W. , Kandeler E. 
Published: November 2003

SummaryWe compared functional diversity in 6‐ to 150‐year‐old sites on two primary successional glacier forelands (Ödenwinkelkees and Rotmoosferner, Austria) and related these changes to properties of their habitat in the soil (pH, soil organic matter, mineral nitrogen, phosphorus). Comparisons were made with land undisturbed for 9500 years immediately outside the glacier foreland. The functional diversity of the soil microflora was assessed based on microbial processes (N mineralization, ammonium oxidation, arginine deaminase) as well as on the activities of soil enzymes (protease, urease, xylanase, phosphatase, arylsulphatase). On both chronosequences, functional diversity (Shannon diversity index and evenness) and enzyme activity increased up to an age of 50 years, while older soils appeared to have reached a temporary steady state. The values of microbial biomass and enzyme activity were generally smaller in the Ödenwinkel soils than in the Rotmoos sequence, indicating that primary input of carbon from plant growth was less. Functional diversity increased with increasing plant development and organic matter accumulation, explaining similarities in enzyme activity patterns in the sequences. The local climates might also have contributed to the magnitude of the changes. Our data suggest that microbial functional diversity reached stability within 50 years' succession.
Traditional markers of excessive alcohol use
Authors: Conigrave Katherine M. , Davies Peter , Haber Paul , Whitfield John B. 
Published: November 2003

ABSTRACTAims  The blood tests used traditionally as markers of excessive drinking are the liver enzymes, gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and the red blood cell volume (mean corpuscular volume; MCV). Here we review the nature of these markers’ association with alcohol use, their practical application in detecting, assessing or monitoring drinking and increases in understanding of these markers in the past 10 years.Design  Articles were identified via Medline search and perusal of bibliographies.Findings  The conventional markers have imperfect sensitivity and specificity, but have an added clinical role in the detection of complications of drinking, and of comorbid conditions that may increase risk of drinking. GGT may in part be a marker of the oxidative stress associated with ethanol metabolism. Markers are more likely to be elevated in those aged more than 30 years and in regular drinkers with a longer drinking history. The markers may be useful in opportunistic case finding, in motivating patients to change drinking and in monitoring treatment response. Increased prevalence of obesity and hepatitis C must be considered in interpretation of liver enzyme results. The liver enzymes are prognostic indicators for several medical conditions and for mortality.Conclusions  These conventional tests are widely available and relatively inexpensive. While having limited sensitivity and specificity in detection of excessive drinking, they also provide valuable data on complications of drinking, comorbid conditions that may be affected by drinking and, in some cases, prognosis.
Current status of carbohydrate deficient transferrin, total serum sialic acid, sialic acid index of apolipoprotein J and serum β‐hexosaminidase as markers for alcohol consumption
Authors: Javors Martin A. , Johnson Bankole A. 
Published: November 2003

ABSTRACTAims  The purpose of this paper is to present a brief review of the literature and to summarize the current status of four biochemical markers for alcohol consumption, carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT), total serum sialic acid (TSA),  sialic  acid  index  of apolipoprotein J (SIJ) and serum β‐hexosaminidase (β‐HEX).Findings  Of these markers, CDT has been the most widely studied, is currently thought to be the most accurate predictor of alcohol consumption, is most readily available and is the only test approved by the FDA for the identification of heavy alcohol use. TSA and SIJ have the potential to be useful markers, but have only recently been discovered, are not readily available and have not yet been studied comprehensively. Finally, the relationship between serum β‐HEX and heavy alcohol consumption has been studied for about 20 years, but the test is not readily available and has not been widely accepted or used as a marker for heavy alcohol consumption.Conclusions  These markers have the potential to be included in a combination of measurements to provide an accurate, more exact assessment of alcohol consumption in a variety of clinical and research settings.
5‐Hydroxytryptophol as a marker for recent alcohol intake
Authors: Beck Olof , Helander Anders 
Published: November 2003

ABSTRACTAims  To review the mechanism behind the alcohol‐induced shift in serotonin metabolism, and the use of urinary 5‐hydroxytryptophol (5‐HTOL) as a biochemical marker of acute alcohol consumption.Background  The serotonin metabolite 5‐HTOL is a normal, minor constituent of urine and is excreted mainly in conjugated form with glucuronic acid. The formation of 5‐HTOL increases dramatically after alcohol intake, due to a metabolic interaction, and the elevated urinary excretion remains for some time (>5–15 hours depending on dose) after ethanol has been eliminated. This biochemical effect can be used for detection of recent alcohol intake.Results  5‐HTOL is determined by the gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) or liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC‐MS) techniques. A new ELISA method for 5‐HTOL glucuronide provides a promising clinical assay. The most robust way to use the marker is by measuring the ratio of 5‐HTOL to 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid, because this compensates for urine dilution and dietary intake of serotonin. 5‐HTOL is a very sensitive and specific indicator of recent alcohol consumption and, as such, a valuable complement to self‐report. In clinical use, 5‐HTOL is effective for monitoring lapses into drinking during out‐patient treatment and for objective evaluation of treatment efforts. Other applications include detection of high‐risk patients in elective surgery, monitoring of disulfiram treatment and a method to rule out artefactual ethanol formation in forensic toxicology. 5‐HTOL can also be used as a sensitive reference method for validation of self‐report data in clinical alcohol research.Conclusions  An elevated urinary 5‐HTOL level can serve as a sensitive and reliable marker for recent alcohol intake with a number of clinical and forensic applications.
Drinking reports from collateral individuals
Authors: Connors Gerard J. , Maisto Stephen A. 
Published: November 2003

ABSTRACTBackground and aims  Subject self‐reports are the primary source of research and clinical data on drinking behavior. In this report, we review and summarize the current literature on the reliability and accuracy of alcohol abusers’ self‐reports of alcohol consumption and related behaviors in relation to similar reports provided by collateral informants.Conclusions  Recent research supports the assertion that subjects provide accurate reports about their drinking and associated consequences. When discrepancies have been observed between reports provided by subjects and collaterals, the subjects’ data in almost all cases have painted a picture of poorer functioning. The greatest degree of agreement between subjects and collaterals is likely when collaterals are in frequent contact with the subject, are spouse/partners and are confident about the reports they are providing.
The validity of self‐reports of alcohol consumption: state of the science and challenges for research
Authors: Del Boca Frances K. , Darkes Jack 
Published: November 2003

ABSTRACTAims  To review three topics pertaining to the validity of alcohol self‐reports: factors that influence response accuracy; the relative merits of different self‐report approaches; and the utility of using alternative measures to confirm verbal reports.Findings  Response behavior is influenced by the interaction of social context factors, respondent characteristics, and task attributes. Although research has advanced our knowledge about self‐report methods, many questions remain unanswered. In particular, there is a need to investigate how task demands interact with different patterns of drinking behavior to affect response accuracy. There is also a continuing need to use multiple data sources to examine the extent of self‐report response bias, and to determine whether it varies as a function of respondent characteristics or assessment timing.Conclusion  Self‐report methods offer a reliable and valid approach to measuring alcohol consumption. The accuracy of such methods, however, can be improved by research directed at understanding the processes involved in response behavior.
Direct measurement of alcohol and its metabolites
Authors: Swift Robert 
Published: November 2003

ABSTRACTBackground  Ethanol can be easily and accurately measured in body fluids or vapours by several chemical and enzymatic methods. However, the persistence of ethanol in the body is short lived and ethanol's metabolism and distribution within the body are extremely complex.Aim  This article discusses the complex pharmacokinetics of ethanol and how pharmacokinetics can affect measured ethanol concentrations when ethanol is sampled across different individuals or from different body fluids or vapors, such as whole blood, plasma, breath, urine, saliva, or transdermal ethanol.Findings  Several physical methods for the quantification of ethanol concentrations are described, including gas chromatography, electrochemical detection, infrared detection and enzymatic methods, along with their advantages and limitations. Also discussed, is the utility of the measurement of several immediate metabolites of ethanol, including acetaldehyde, acetate, and fatty acid ethyl esters.Conclusions  The complex distribution and metabolism of ethanol and its metabolites can obscure the relationship between the ethanol concentration that is measured in body fluids or vapours and the amount of ethanol that is actually taken into the body.
Evaluation of a new quality of life questionnaire for patients with irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Hahn B. A. , Kirchdoerfer L. J. , Fullerton S. , Mayer E. 
Published: November 2003

Background:We describe the development and evaluation of a new disease‐specific instrument, the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality of Life Questionnaire (IBSQOL), which was designed for use in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. The IBSQOL measures 10 domains found to be relevant to patients with irritable bowel syndrome: emotional health, mental health, health belief, sleep, energy, physical functioning, diet, social role, physical role, and sexual relations.Methods:During its development and evaluation, the IBSQOL was administered to over 500 patients with irritable bowel syndrome—two groups of patients from tertiary care centres, three focus groups of 8–12 patients each, and 287 patients in a national irritable bowel syndrome support network. As a control, the IBSQOL was also administered to 37 patients who did not have irritable bowel syndrome but had other gastrointestinal disorders. Statistical analyses to test the reliability and validity of the IBSQOL were performed using Cronbach's α coefficient.Results:Responses from the focus groups indicated that the IBSQOL was easy to complete and did not require too much time to fill out (≈ 25 min). Statistical analyses of the final 30‐item version of the IBSQOL demonstrated that it had both adequate validity and reliability (α ≥ 0.60). A comparison of mean IBSQOL scores of persons with and without irritable bowel syndrome (but with other gastrointestinal conditions) showed no difference between the two groups with irritable bowel syndrome; however, scores for both irritable bowel syndrome groups were considerably lower than for the non‐irritable bowel syndrome group, suggesting better health‐related quality of life in patients who do not have irritable bowel syndrome. This further demonstrated the validity of the IBSQOL in targeting questions and domains specific to patients with irritable bowel syndrome.Conclusions:Evaluation of the IBSQOL included testing the questionnaire in a large number of patients, which resulted in a revised and well‐constructed instrument that demonstrated both adequate validity and reliability. The IBSQOL is currently being used in large‐scale clinical trials to measure changes in quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome following treatment intervention.
Doubling the omeprazole dose (40 mg b.d. vs. 20 mg b.d.) in dual therapy with amoxycillin increases the cure rate of Helicobacter pylori infection in duodenal ulcer patients
Authors: Labenz J. , Beker J.A. , Dekkers C.P.M. , Farley A. , Klör H.‐U. , Jönsson A. 
Published: November 2003

Background:Several studies have shown that dual therapy with omeprazole and amoxycillin may cure Helicobacter pylori infection. However, the optimum dose of omeprazole has still to be established.Methods:An international, randomized, double‐blind multicentre trial was conducted in patients with duodenal ulcers to compare the H. pylori cure rates obtained by dual therapy consisting of either omeprazole 20 mg b.d. plus amoxycillin 750 mg b.d. or omeprazole 40 mg b.d. plus amoxycillin 750 mg b.d. for 2 weeks. Dual therapy was followed by omeprazole 20 mg once daily for 2 weeks. Before entering the trial and 4 weeks after cessation of treatment H. pylori infection was assessed by histology and a 13C‐urea breath test.Results:381 patients were randomized into the study, of whom 345 were evaluable for the all‐patients‐treated analysis of efficacy and 378 were valid for the evaluation of safety. Histology results showed that H. pylori infection was cured in 64 out of 174 patients treated with omeprazole 20 mg b.d. plus amoxycillin and in 102 out of 171 patients treated with omeprazole 40 mg b.d. plus amoxycillin (37% vs. 60%; P <  0.001). Both treatment regimens were well tolerated, with adverse events reported by 29 (15.2%) and 35 patients (18.7%), respectively.Conclusions:This study has shown that dual therapy with amoxycillin 750 mg b.d. and omeprazole 40 mg b.d. is superior to dual therapy with amoxycillin and omeprazole 20 mg b.d. in patients with H. pylori‐positive duodenal ulcers. Thus, a true dose–response relationship exists between omeprazole and treatment success. However, a combination of omeprazole with two of amoxycillin, clarithromycin and a nitroimidazole is a preferable alternative for routine clinical use.
Effect of acute pentoxifylline treatment in an experimental model of colitis
Authors: Peterson T. C. , Davey K. 
Published: November 2003

Background:The effect of acute pentoxifylline treatment in an experimental model of colitis was assessed using the trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)‐induced rat model of colitis.Methods:Animals were treated with intracolonic injection (250 μL) of TNBS (50 mg in 50% ethanol) to induce inflammation and ulcers. Animals received pentoxifilline (100 mg/kg intracolonically) or saline 24 and 48 h following TNBS treatment. Five days following TNBS treatment, colons were dissected and scored according to the morphology damage score. The colons were then rolled longitudinally, fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. The collagen content of colonic sections was determined by a Sirius red–Fast green technique.Results:Animals treated with TNBS alone had significantly higher gross morphology damage scores compared to animals treated with saline. Pentoxifylline significantly reduced the gross morphology damage score in animals receiving TNBS. Colonic collagen levels were significantly elevated in TNBS‐treated animals compared to animals receiving saline. Pentoxifylline treatment did not alter the collagen content of colons from TNBS‐treated animals.Conclusion:TNBS treatment significantly elevates morphology damage score compared to controls. The results also suggest that colonic collagen was significantly elevated in animals treated with TNBS compared to controls. Pentoxifylline treatment was not sufficient to reduce the elevation in colonic collagen, although pentoxifylline treatment was sufficient to reduce the pathological changes due to TNBS, thus bringing the morphology damage score down to control levels.
Mucosal interleukin‐1β production and acid secretion in enlarged fold gastritis
Authors: YASUNAGA Y. , SHINOMURA Y. , KANAYAMA S. , HIGASHIMOTO Y. , YABU M. , MIYAZAKI Y. , MURAYAMA Y. , NISHIBAYASHI H. , KITAMURA S. , MATSUZAWA Y. 
Published: November 2003

Background: We have previously shown that eradication of Helicobacter pylori increases acid secretion in H. pylori‐associated enlarged fold gastritis. Aim: To investigate whether locally produced interleukin‐1β is possibly involved in the inhibition of acid secretion in H. pylori gastritis. Methods: IL‐1β release from the gastric body mucosa was determined by short‐term culture of biopsy specimens in 13 patients with enlarged fold gastritis (all H. pylori‐positive), five H. pylori‐positive and 10 H. pylori‐negative patients without enlarged folds. The acid‐inhibitory effect of locally produced IL‐1β was examined by []>
14C]‐aminopyrine uptake assay using isolated rabbit gastric glands. Results: IL‐1β release was significantly greater in patients with enlarged fold gastritis, significantly correlated with both basal and tetragastrin‐stimulated acid outputs in the H. pylori‐positive patients (r = −0.591 and r = −0.641, respectively; P < 0.01), and significantly decreased with concomitant increases in acid secretions after eradication of H. pylori. [14C]‐aminopyrine uptake was inhibited by IL‐1β in a dose‐dependent manner. Conclusions: Increased production of IL‐1β caused by H. pylori infection is possibly involved in the inhibition of acid secretion in enlarged fold gastritis.
The vascular and glandular organoprotective properties of metronidazole in the rodent stomach
Authors: KO J. K. S. , CHING C. K. , CHOW J. Y. C. , ZHANG S. T. , LAM S. K. , CHO C. H. 
Published: November 2003

Background: The gastroprotective action of metronidazole, an antimicrobial used in the therapy against Helicobacter pylori infection, is unclear. Thus, the aim of the present investigation was to study the organoprotective action and antiulcer mechanisms of this drug in rodents. Methods and results: Metronidazole (10 mg/kg), given either per os or intraperitoneally, 30 min beforehand, reduced ethanol (40%, 10 mL/kg, p.o.)‐induced gastric mucosal damage in male rats. Likewise, oral administration of metronidazole dose‐dependently attenuated the indomethacin (30 mg/kg, p.o.)‐induced gastric lesion formation and the concurrent depletion of mucosal mucus. However, metronidazole did not affect the basal mucosal prostaglandin E2 content. In an ex vivo gastric chamber preparation, 40% ethanol incubation markedly lowered transmucosal potential difference and increased mucosal vascular permeability in rat stomachs. Incubation with all doses of metronidazole did not modulate gastric mucosal blood flow nor transmucosal potential difference, either before or after ethanol treatment. Nevertheless, the increase in vascular permeability by 40% ethanol was significantly alleviated by either p.o. or i.p. metronidazole pre‐treatment. In addition, exposure of the isolated rabbit gastric gland preparation to metronidazole (10−5 and 10−4 m) significantly attenuated the damaging action of 10% ethanol. Conclusion: It is concluded that metronidazole possesses a direct vascular and glandular organoprotective property in the rodent stomach. However, the anti‐ulcer action does not appear to involve prostaglandins nor act through the improvement of gastric mucosal blood flow. Preservation of intramucosal mucus may partly contribute to the prevention of indomethacin‐induced ulceration in rats.
A randomized controlled study comparing elemental diet and steroid treatment in Crohn's disease
Authors: ZOLI G. , CARÈ M. , PARAZZA M. , SPANÒ C. , BIAGI P. L. , BERNARDI M. , GASBARRINI G. 
Published: November 2003

Background: Elemental diet is considered an effective primary treatment for active Crohn's disease, but it is usually given by a feeding tube. Methods: Twenty‐two patients (12 males, median age 30 years, range 18–60) with moderately active Crohn's disease were enrolled in a randomized study in which the efficacy of an elemental diet administered orally was compared to high‐dose corticosteroids in achieving clinical and laboratory remission. Ten patients were treated by oral elemental diet (Peptamen, Clintec, USA) and 10 received corticosteroids. Both treatment regimens lasted 2 weeks. The two groups did not differ with respect to age, sex, body weight, location of disease, treatment or disease activity prior to the study. In all patients studied, simple Crohn's disease activity index, nutritional status (expressed as body mass index), percentage of ideal body weight, fat mass, fat free mass, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, interleukin‐6, intestinal permeability (expressed as permeability index), prealbumin, retinol binding protein and multiskin test were evaluated before and after treatment. Results: After 2 weeks of treatment, there were significant improvements in simple Crohn's disease activity index, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, permeability index, body mass index, prealbumin, retinol binding protein and multiskin test in the elemental diet group. There were significant improvements in simple Crohn's disease activity index and fat free mass in the corticosteroid group. Conclusions: These data suggest that, in the short term, an oral elemental diet is at least as effective as steroids in inducing remission of mild‐moderately active Crohn's disease, but it may be more effective in improving the nutritional status of these patients, probably through a more rapid restoration of normal intestinal permeability.
Effect of a novel 5‐HT3 receptor agonist MKC‐733 on upper gastrointestinal motility in humans
Authors: Coleman N. S. , Marciani L. , Blackshaw E. , Wright J. , Parker M. , Yano T. , Yamazaki S. , Chan P. Q. , Wilde K. , Gowland P. A. , Perkins A. C. , Spiller R. C. 
Published: November 2003

SummaryBackground : Although 5‐HT3 antagonists have been used to treat chemotherapy‐induced emesis and diarrhoea‐predominant irritable bowel syndrome, the effects of 5‐HT3 agonists in humans are unknown.Aim : To determine the effect of MKC‐733, a selective 5‐HT3 receptor agonist, on upper gastrointestinal motility.Methods : Oral MKC‐733 (0.2, 1 and 4 mg) was compared with placebo in three randomized, double‐blind, cross‐over studies in healthy males. Antroduodenal manometry was recorded for 8 h during fasting and 3 h post‐prandially (n = 12). Gastric emptying and small intestinal transit were determined by gamma‐scintigraphy (n = 16). Gastric emptying, accommodation and antral motility were determined by echoplanar magnetic resonance imaging (n = 12).Results : MKC‐733 (4 mg) increased the number of migrating motor complexes recorded in the antrum and duodenum (P < 0.001), but had no effect on post‐prandial motility. MKC‐733 delayed scintigraphically assessed liquid gastric emptying (P = 0.005) and accelerated small intestinal transit (P = 0.038). Echoplanar magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the delayed gastric emptying (P < 0.001) and demonstrated a significant increase in cross‐sectional area of the proximal stomach (P < 0.01).Conclusions : MKC‐733 delays liquid gastric emptying in association with relaxation of the proximal stomach, stimulates fasting antroduodenal migrating motor complex activity and accelerates small intestinal transit.