bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tibolone lowers high density lipoprotein cholesterol by increasing hepatic lipase activity but does not impair cholesterol efflux
Authors: Von Eckardstein Arnold , Crook David , Elbers Jolanda , Ragoobir Jennifer , Ezeh Benjamin , Helmond Frans , Miller Norman , Dieplinger Hans , Bennink Herjan Coelingh , Assmann Gerd 
Published: March 2003

Summaryobjective Androgens and other drugs that reduce plasma concentrations of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol are often considered to be pro‐atherogenic. Tibolone lowers HDL‐cholesterol by 20% but the clinical significance of this effect is unknown.methods In a randomized, double‐blind study, 34 women received 2·5 mg tibolone daily and 34 women received placebo. Serum concentrations of lipids, lipoprotein subclasses and apolipoproteins, together with plasma activities of lipid transfer proteins and lipolytic enzymes and the capacity of plasma to induce cholesterol efflux from cultured cells, were measured.results Compared to placebo, tibolone reduced serum concentrations of HDL‐cholesterol (−14%), HDL phosphatidylcholine (−14%), apolipoprotein (apo)A‐I (−12%), HDL subclasses lipoprotein (Lp)A‐I (−20%), HDL‐apoE (−16%), preβ‐LpA‐I (−10%) and α‐LpA‐I (−12%) and increased hepatic lipase activity (+25%) and HDL sphingomyelin : phosphatidylcholine ratio (10·5%), but did not alter serum concentrations of HDL sphingomyelin, apoA‐IV and LpA‐I/A‐II, lipoprotein lipase, the plasma activities of lecithin : cholesterol acyl transferase, cholesteryl ester transfer protein, phospholipid transfer protein or the plasma capacity to release cholesterol from cultured fibroblasts or Fu5AH hepatocytes.conclusions Tibolone lowers HDL‐cholesterol in part by increasing hepatic lipase activity. Conservation of sphingomyelin and apoA‐II in HDL, as well as cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity, preserves the capacity of plasma to release cholesterol, despite the lower concentrations of HDL‐cholesterol. This may have important implications for the use of steroid effects on HDL concentrations as surrogates for atherosclerosis.
Prolonged high‐dose phosphate treatment: a risk factor for tertiary hyperparathyroidism in X‐linked hypophosphatemic rickets
Authors: Mäkitie Outi , Kooh Sang Whay , Sochett Etienne 
Published: March 2003

Summaryobjective X‐linked hypophosphatemic rickets is characterized by renal phosphate wasting, hypophosphatemia and defective bone mineralization. Treatment with oral phosphate (Pi) and calcitriol improves skeletal changes but associates with secondary hyperparathyroidism and nephrocalcinosis. Tertiary hyperparathyroidism is a rare complication of the treatment. The aim of the present study was to identify treatment‐related factors that might be associated with the transition of secondary hyperparathyroidism to tertiary hyperparathyroidism in patients with X‐linked hypophosphatemic rickets.design Thirteen patients with X‐linked hypophosphatemic rickets and secondary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism were included in the study. Their hospital records were reviewed and compared for onset, duration and dosage of treatment, and for age of diagnosis and degree of secondary hyperparathyroidism.results Two patients developed tertiary hyperparathyroidism and 11 patients secondary hyperparathyroidism during the treatment. Patients with tertiary hyperparathyroidism had, on average, earlier onset and longer duration of treatment, higher dose of Pi and longer duration of treatment with very high Pi doses (> 100 mg/kg/day) compared to the 11 patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. However, variation of all parameters was great with considerable overlap. Very high S‐PTH levels ≥ 42 pmol/l were observed in those who later developed tertiary hyperparathyroidism.conclusions Prolonged very high dose oral Pi treatment is a major risk factor for the development of tertiary hyperparathyroidism in X‐linked hypophosphatemic rickets.
Relationship between plasma insulin and left ventricular mass in normotensive participants of the Gubbio Study
Authors: Vaccaro Olga , Cardoni Ondina , Cuomo Vincenzo , Panarelli Walter , Laurenzi Martino , Mancini Mario , Riccardi Gabriele , Zanchetti Alberto 
Published: March 2003

Summarybackground There is substantial but not conclusive evidence that insulin resistance is related to left ventricular mass (LVM) in hypertensive individuals. To what extent this association is mediated by the relationship between plasma insulin and body size and build is still debated, and is poorly explored in nonhypertensive people.objective To explore the relationship between insulin or insulin resistance and LVM in a population‐based sample of nonhypertensive participants of the Gubbio Study.method Echocardiographic LVM was determined in 91 nondiabetic, nonhypertensive individuals aged 45–54 years, participating in a population‐based screening. LVM normalized for height2·7 was used in the analyses; LV hypertrophy was defined as a value of ≥ 50 g/m2·7 in men or ≥ 47 g/m2·7 in women. Fasting plasma insulin and glucose were measured and the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) index was used as a measure of insulin resistance.results LVM was positively and significantly correlated with body mass index (BMI) (P < 0·01), waist circumference (P < 0·01) and HOMA index (P < 0·05), whereas correlations with plasma glucose and triglycerides did not reach statistical significance (P = 0·07 for both); all correlations were offset after adjusting for BMI. Fasting plasma insulin and HOMA index were not significantly different in subjects with or without LV hypertrophy (70·8 ± 27·8 vs. 77·7 ± 29·6 pmol/l and 2·2 ± 1·0 vs. 2·6 ± 1·4, respectively). Bivariate analysis performed stratifying participants above or below the 75th percentile of the sex‐specific distribution for BMI (29·1 and 29·4 kg/m2 for males and females, respectively) and plasma insulin (84 pmol/l for either gender), did not result in appreciable differences in LVM due to insulin levels. Similar results were obtained replacing the HOMA index for insulin in the analysis.conclusion In nonhypertensive individuals left ventricular mass is not associated with plasma insulin independently of body mass index.
A relationship between serum ferritin and the insulin resistance syndrome is present in non‐diabetic women but not in non‐diabetic men
Authors: Sheu Wayne Huey‐Herng , Chen Ying‐Tsung , Lee Wen‐Jane , Wang Chen‐Wen , Lin Lih‐Yuan 
Published: March 2003

Summarybackground Previous studies have suggested that serum ferritin is one of the components of the insulin resistance syndrome in Caucasians. Because serum ferritin levels differ significantly between men and women, variation in the role of ferritin in insulin resistance between the sexes, particularly in Asian populations, is still unknown.objective To examine whether the association between serum ferritin and insulin resistance differs between men and women in randomly selected non‐diabetic Chinese subjects.design A retrospective study.patients Four hundred and seventeen non‐diabetic Chinese subjects (140 men and 277 women) were studied.measurements Fasting plasma glucose, insulin, lipoproteins and serum ferritin concentrations, as well as plasma glucose and insulin responses to a 75‐g oral glucose test (n = 219), were determined.results Fasting serum ferritin concentrations (mean ± SEM) were significantly higher in men than in women (504 ± 33 vs. 242 ± 18 pmol/l, P < 0·001). In women, fasting serum ferritin concentrations correlated significantly with age, body mass index (BMI), amount of body fat, fasting plasma glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglyceride concentrations, glucose response to an oral glucose load, and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) of insulin resistance but not with blood pressure, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels and insulin response to oral glucose. On the contrary, none of the above anthropometric and metabolic variables was related to fasting serum ferritin levels in men. HOMA insulin resistance increased progressively across three different tertiles for measured serum ferritin concentrations in women (P < 0·003). In men, HOMA insulin resistance levels were not different among three differing measured serum ferritin levels (P = 0·424). Adjustment for age, BMI and menopause status did not change the significant relationship between HOMA insulin resistance and serum ferritin in women.conclusions We observed that a relationship between serum ferritin levels and insulin resistance exists in women but not in men. This sexual dimorphism merits further investigation.
Difficulties in the fine needle aspiration (FNA) diagnosis of schwannoma
Authors: Yu G. H. , Sack M. J. , Baloch Z. , Gupta P. K. 
Published: March 2003

Difficulties in the fine needle aspiration (FNA) diagnosis of schwannomaThe results of nine FNAs of eight histologically proven schwannomas are presented. In only one of the aspirates was a diagnosis of schwannoma made; three additional cases were diagnosed as ‘spindle cell neoplasm’. Two of the cases were considered to be non‐diagnostic due to hypocellularity, while two cases containing cellular material raised the differential diagnosis of granulation tissue and granulomatous inflammation due to the presence of epithelioid cells and an inflammatory infiltrate, and are illustrated here. The remaining FNA was felt suggestive of branchial cleft cyst due to the presence of only cystic fluid in a neck mass. We observe that: (i) the acquisition of an adequate, representative specimen via FNA is often difficult in schwannoma, and (ii) diagnostic difficulties may be encountered in cases in which cellular material is obtained.
Fine needle aspiration (FNA) in the management of palpable masses in Ibadan: impact on the cost of care
Authors: Thomas J. O. , Amanguno A. U. , Adeyi O. A. , Adesina A. O. 
Published: March 2003

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) in the management of palpable masses in Ibadan: impact on the cost of careFine needle aspiration cytology is a relatively new technique in the management of palpable lesions in Ibadan. In the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, as in most centres in Nigeria, inadequate facilities, a heavy patient load, financial constraints and an unreliable supply of basic necessities like water, often delay definitive diagnosis and management. In order to alleviate the patient's problems and provide prompt and accurate diagnosis, an FNA Cytology Clinic was set up in the Pathology Department, UCH, Ibadan, managed by the pathology team. This report represents the results of our experience. The cost effectiveness and impact on cost of care are highlighted. FNA costs N250.00 (£2.00), whilst cost of biopsy can vary from N5000.00 to N10 000.00 (£35.00 to £70.00). A total of 752 satisfactory smears was reviewed during the 3‐year period 1995–97 from various sites including breast (n = 295), lymph node (n = 183) and thyroid (n = 143). Diagnostic accuracy varied with different sites, the accuracy rate for breast, lymph node and thyroid malignancy being approximately 100%, 80% and 93%, respectively.
Potentially difficult smears of women with squamous cell carcinoma pose fewer problems when PAPNET is used for primary screening
Authors: Kok M. R. , Schreiner‐Kok P. G. , van der Veen G. , Boon M. E. 
Published: March 2003

Potentially difficult smears of women with squamous cell carcinoma pose fewer problems when PAPNET is used for primary screeningThe diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) on a cervical smear is often far from easy. This study reports the analysis of 40 true‐positive SCC smears detected in primary PAPNET screening and eight false‐negative (FN) conventionally screened smears. All FN cases contained sparse abnormal material (< 10% of the slide). In these potentially difficult cases the diagnosis on the PAPNET images was not hard. Statistical analysis of the quantitative data indicated that the PAPNET images of the FN cases and the true‐positive cases differed in some aspects. PAPNET highlighted the importance of background information (old blood, fibrin and necrosis). In addition, all FN smears contained cancer cells in the PAPNET images, allowing a correct diagnosis.
Efficacy of Ki‐67 antigen staining in Papanicolaou (Pap) smears in post‐menopausal women with atypia—an audit
Authors: Ejersbo D. , Jensen H. A. , Hølund B. 
Published: March 2003

Efficacy of Ki‐67 antigen staining in Papanicolaou (Pap) smears in post‐menopausal women with atypia—an auditIn cervical smears from post‐menopausal women with mucosal atrophy it can be difficult to distinguish atrophic epithelial cell groups from neoplastic cell groups on cytomorphological criteria only. The consequence of post‐menopausal atypia is that the woman is referred for a repeat smear after local oestrogen treatment or for colposcopy. We investigated whether immunocytochemical expression of Ki‐67 (MIB‐1) on the primary Papanicolaou‐stained smear could be of any diagnostic help. Our data showed that negative Ki‐67 expression is a very reliable indicator of a normal atrophic cell pattern, and by using this method on the original smear we were able to reduce the false‐positive cytologic diagnoses by 86%.
Validation of a decision support system for the cytodiagnosis of fine needle aspirates of the breast using a prospectively collected dataset from multiple observers in a working clinical environment
Authors: Cross S. S. , Stephenson T. J. , Mohammed T. , Harrison R. F. 
Published: March 2003

Validation of a decision support system for the cytodiagnosis of fine needle aspirates of the breast using a prospectively collected dataset from multiple observers in a working clinical environmentWe have used a 692 case dataset, collected retrospectively by a single observer, to develop decision support systems for the cytodiagnosis of fine needle aspirates of breast lesions. In this study, we use a 322 case dataset that was prospectively collected by multiple observers in a working clinical environment to test two predictive systems, using logistic regression and the multilayer perceptron (MLP) type of neural network. Ten observed features and the patient age were used as input features. The systems were developed using a training set and test set from the single observer dataset and then applied to the multiple observer dataset. For the independent test cases from the single observer dataset, with a threshold set for no false positives on the training set, logistic regression produced a sensitivity of 82% (95% confidence interval 73–91) and a predictive value of a positive result (PV +) of 98% (95–99), the values for the MLP were 79% (69–89) and 100%, respectively. However the performance on the prospective multiple observer dataset was much worse, with a sensitivity of 72% (65–80), and PV + of 97% (94–99) for logistic regression and 67% (60–75) and 91% (85–97) for the MLP. These results suggest that there is considerable interobserver variability for the defined features and that this system is unsuitable for further development in the clinical environment unless this problem can be overcome.
Altitudinal differentiation in the diapause response of two species of dung flies
Authors: BLANCKENHORN WOLF U. 
Published: March 2003

1. Seasonality is a prime selective factor promoting genetic differentiation of populations. Local adaptation in diapause response was investigated in the two geographically and altitudinally widespread dung flies Scathophaga stercoraria (Diptera: Scathophagidae) and Sepsis cynipsea (Diptera: Sepsidae).2. Replicate sibships from three sites in Switzerland with low and high altitude dung fly populations were raised in a common laboratory environment simulating the natural decreasing photoperiod and temperature regimen before winter. From field phenologies, the critical photoperiod inducing diapause was predicted to be longer for high than for low altitude populations (12 vs. 10 h for Sc. stercoraria, and 12.25 vs. 11 h for Se. cynipsea) if they are locally adapted.3. Contrary to expectation and to Sc. stercoraria, which diapauses in the pupal stage, Se. cynipsea diapauses in the adult stage.4. Low but significant levels of genetic differentiation in pre‐winter adult emergence were evident between low and high altitude populations of both species, but they were far from the differences predicted. Scathophaga stercoraria also showed geographical differentiation independent of altitude.5. Sepsis cynipsea females stopped reproducing at some point before winter, but altitude did not affect the timing of adult diapause. High altitude females and females that did not initiate reproduction before winter survived the simulated winter better.6. Both species largely used temperature rather than photoperiod as a cue inducing winter diapause, an untypical case of phenotypic plasticity. The hypothesis that Sc. stercoraria, whose generation times are much longer than those of Se. cynipsea, responds to a greater extent to temperature rather than photoperiod only was rejected.
Prey species and prey diet affect growth of invertebrate predators
Authors: STROHMEYER HEATHER HORAN , STAMP NANCY E. , JARZOMSKI CHRISTINE M. , BOWERS DEANE M. 
Published: March 2003

1. The effects of prey species and leaf age used by prey on performance of two generalist invertebrate predators were studied. The focal plant was Plantago lanceolata, which contains iridoid glycosides.2. Diet of the herbivorous prey influenced their growth rate.3. The generalist herbivore (Vanessa cardui) and the novel‐plant feeder (Manduca sexta) contained very low levels of iridoid glycosides in their haemolymph, whereas the specialist (Junonia coenia) levels were 50–150‐fold higher.4. Predatory stinkbugs (Podisus maculiventris) fed either the novel‐plant feeder or the specialist exhibited similar developmental rates. However, stinkbugs ate less of the generalist but grew faster. The growth rate of the stinkbugs was higher when the caterpillar species were raised on the new‐leaf powder diet, which contained twice as much protein and iridoid glycosides as the mature‐leaf powder diet.5. Jumping spiders (Phidippus audax) ate more mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) than specialist J.coenia caterpillars, fed either new‐ or mature‐leaf powder diets, and could not gain weight when fed J.coenia.6. These results indicate that prey quality was not determined solely by the iridoid glycoside concentration in the diet.
Direct and indirect effects of climate change on insect herbivores: Auchenorrhyncha (Homoptera)
Authors: MASTERS  , BROWN  , CLARKE  , WHITTAKER  , HOLLIER  
Published: March 2003

1. Novel manipulations of local climate were employed to investigate how warmer winters with either wetter or drier summers would affect the Auchenorrhyncha, a major component of the insect fauna of grasslands. Direct and indirect effects of climate manipulation were found.2. Supplemented summer rainfall resulted in an increase in vegetation cover, leading to an increase in the abundance of the Auchenorrhyncha.3. Summer drought, however, caused a decrease in vegetation cover, but this did not lead to a corresponding decrease in the abundance of the Auchenorrhyncha.4. Egg hatch and the termination of nymphal hibernation occurred earlier in winter warmed plots; however, the rate of nymphal development was unaffected.
Testing assumptions of mark–recapture protocols for estimating population size using Australian mound‐building, subterranean termites
Authors: EVANS THEODORE A. , LENZ MICHAEL , GLEESON PATRICK V. 
Published: March 2003

1. Forager population size of two species of mound‐building, subterranean termite (Coptotermes lacteus, Rhinotermitidae and Nasutitermes exitiosus, Termitidae) was estimated using three mark–recapture protocols. These estimates varied widely within and between colonies (≈ 0.3–200 million for C. lacteus and 0.2–3 million for N. exitiosus). The variation in the estimates is explained in part by violation of the assumptions of the protocols.2. The fat‐stain markers, although persistent in the laboratory, faded rapidly in the field, and were transferable from marked individuals to unmarked individuals by cannibalism.3. Marked individuals did not mix randomly or evenly with unmarked foraging individuals in space or time, as marked individuals were recaptured in widely varying numbers at different feeding sites sampled simultaneously. Importantly, foragers displayed feeding site fidelity and avoided disturbed feeding sites.4. The likelihood of recapture differed between castes and instars; there was a higher recapture rate of large workers and soldiers relative to smaller workers.5. The mark–recapture protocols provided inaccurate and unreliable forager population estimates, up to two orders of magnitude larger than direct counts of entire mound colonies. Thus the weighted mean estimates from more complex triple‐mark–recapture protocols were not necessarily better than Lincoln index estimates from simpler single‐mark–recapture protocols.6. Mark–recapture studies may provide useful information about forager behaviour and foraging territories.
Virginity in haplodiploid populations: a comparison of estimation methods
Authors: WEST  , COMPTON  , VINCENT  , HERRE  , COOK  
Published: March 2003

1. The presence of ovipositing virgin females, who are able to produce only male offspring, may have several important consequences for the evolution of reproductive strategies.2. The prevalence of virginity for five fig wasp species was estimated using three different methods: (1) the proportion of females developing in fruit that contained no conspecific males; (2) dissection of females caught on sticky traps; and (3) dissection of females that had emerged from their galled flowers into the fruit cavity.3. The estimates obtained by method 1 (females developing in single sex broods) were lower than those obtained by the other methods.4. Across species, the estimates obtained by method 1 (females developing in single sex broods) were significantly correlated with those obtained by method 2 (sticky trap caught females).5. Mating with sperm‐depleted males is unlikely to occur in these species.
Oviposition preference of a Eucalyptus herbivore and the importance of leaf age on interspecific host choice
Authors: STEINBAUER  , CLARKE  , MADDEN  
Published: March 2003

1. Paropsine chrysomelids are eucalypt folivores for which it has been hypothesized that the availability of suitable age class foliage (i.e. young foliage) is a more important determinant of host use than the physical and/or chemical characteristics of foliage from different hosts. This prediction was tested by assessing the oviposition preference of Chrysophtharta bimaculata (Olivier) on excised branches of Eucalyptus regnans F. Mueller and E. nitens (Deane & Maiden) Maiden.2. In cage trials, and as observed in the wild, beetles oviposited preferentially on E. regnans when the branches of both eucalypt species displayed the full range of foliar developmental classes, from immature to fully expanded. However, when the branches were pruned so that both species displayed only immature and expanding leaves, no difference in oviposition between the species occurred. Further, when the branches were pruned so that E. regnans displayed only fully expanded leaves and E. nitens displayed only immature and expanding leaves, females oviposited entirely on the latter species.3. These results support and extend the hypothesis that C. bimaculata's ovipositional preference is dictated more by leaf age class than by the tree species from which the leaves derive. In the discussion it is proposed that a eucalypt that initiates and expands leaves rapidly will be less preferred for oviposition than one that develops and expands leaves slowly, because of the smaller area of its canopy with less sclerophyllous foliage.