bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High rate of renal relapse in 71 patients with Wegener's granulomatosis under maintenance of remission with low‐dose methotrexate
Authors: Reinhold‐Keller Eva , Fink Claudia O. E. , Herlyn Karen , Gross Wolfgang L. , de Groot Kirsten 
Published: October 2002

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the long‐term efficacy of low‐dose intravenous methotrexate (MTX) with and without concomitant glucocorticoids (GC) for remission maintenance in patients with generalized Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) in an open‐label, prospective, standardized trial.MethodsAfter induction of remission by cyclophosphamide and GC, 71 patients (41 males, 30 female) with initially generalized WG received low‐dose methotrexate at 0.3 mg/kg body weight once weekly. At study‐start 55 of 71 (77.5%) patients were on low‐dose GC (mean 5.9 mg/day) which was tapered during the study. All patients underwent interdisciplinary staging at 3‐month (and later at 6‐month) intervals to assess disease activity and extent as well as side effects. End points were the first relapse or the end of study (January 2001).ResultsWithin a mean followup period of 25.2 months, 26 patients (36.6%) experienced a relapse after a mean of 19.4 months. Seventeen (65.4%) of these 26 patients had terminated GC therapy at the time of relapse. There was no difference in relapse rates among patients with and without concomitant GC at study start. Relapses occurred mainly in the initially involved organ systems, preferentially in the ear, nose and throat tract in 18 of 26 patients and the kidney in 16 of 26 patients. One renal relapse presented as rapid, progressive glomerulonephritis with lethal outcome. Further, 14 relapses were accompanied by a significant rise in creatinine values. In 15/26 patients the relapse was paralleled or preceded by a significant rise of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody titer. Two patients ceased MTX prematurely because of persistent leukopenia.ConclusionWeekly MTX is a well tolerated therapy for long‐term maintenance of remission. However, one‐third of the patients relapsed during ongoing MTX treatment, irrespective of whether they were still receiving GC. Because more than half of the relapses affected the kidney, close monitoring is indispensable.
Effect of urate‐lowering therapy on the velocity of size reduction of tophi in chronic gout
Authors: Perez‐Ruiz Fernando , Calabozo Marcelo , Pijoan Jose I. , Herrero‐Beites Ana M. , Ruibal Ana 
Published: October 2002

AbstractObjectiveThe optimal serum urate levels necessary for elimination of tissue deposits of monosodium urate in patients with chronic gout is controversial. This observational, prospective study evaluates the relationship between serum urate levels during therapy and the velocity of reduction of tophi in patients with chronic tophaceous gout.MethodSixty‐three patients with crystal‐confirmed tophaceous gout were treated with allopurinol, benzbromarone, or combined therapy to achieve serum uric acid levels less than the threshold for saturation of urate in tissues. The tophi targeted for evaluation during followup were the largest in diameter found during physical examination.ResultsPatients taking benzbromarone alone or combined allopurinol and benzbromarone therapy achieved faster velocity of reduction of tophi than patients taking allopurinol alone. The velocity of tophi reduction was linearly related to the mean serum urate level during therapy. The lower the serum urate levels, the faster the velocity of tophi reduction.ConclusionSerum urate levels should be lowered enough to promote dissolution of urate deposits in patients with tophaceous gout. Allopurinol and benzbromarone are equally effective when optimal serum urate levels are achieved during therapy. Combined therapy may be useful in patients who do not show enough reduction in serum urate levels with single‐drug therapy.
Randomized double‐blind comparison of chimeric monoclonal antibody to tumor necrosis factor α (infliximab) versus placebo in active spondylarthropathy
Authors: Van den Bosch Filip , Kruithof Elli , Baeten Dominique , Herssens Annemie , de Keyser Filip , Mielants Herman , Veys Eric M. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractObjectiveTo confirm in a placebo‐controlled trial the safety and efficacy profile of infliximab in short‐term treatment of patients with active spondylarthropathy (SpA).MethodsForty patients with active SpA were randomly assigned to receive an intravenous loading dose (weeks 0, 2, and 6) of 5 mg/kg infliximab or placebo. Evaluations for efficacy and safety were performed at weeks 1, 2, 6, 8, and 12. The primary end points of this study were the improvements in patient and physician global assessments of disease activity on a 100‐mm visual analog scale.ResultsBoth primary end points improved significantly in the infliximab group compared with the baseline value, with no improvement in the placebo group. As early as week 2 and sustained up to week 12, there was a highly statistically significant difference between the values for these 2 end points in the infliximab versus the placebo group. In most of the other assessments of disease activity (laboratory measures, assessments of specific peripheral and/or axial disease), significant improvements were observed in the infliximab group compared with the baseline value and compared with placebo. Minor adverse events not causing discontinuation were equally observed in both treatment groups. There was one severe drug‐related adverse event, in which a patient developed disseminated tuberculosis.ConclusionTumor necrosis factor α blockade with infliximab in patients with active SpA was well tolerated and resulted in significant clinical and laboratory improvements in this short‐term, placebo‐controlled study. However, the occurrence of tuberculosis in one patient necessitates strict inclusion criteria and long‐term followup.
Duality revisited: Construction of fractional frequency distributions based on two dual Lotka laws
Authors: Egghe L. , Rao I.K. Ravichandra 
Published: October 2002

AbstractFractional frequency distributions of, for example, authors with a certain (fractional) number of papers are very irregular and, therefore, not easy to model or to explain. This article gives a first attempt to this by assuming two simple Lotka laws (with exponent 2): one for the number of authors with n papers (total count here) and one for the number of papers with n authors, n ∈ ℕ. Based on an earlier made convolution model of Egghe, interpreted and reworked now for discrete scores, we are able to produce theoretical fractional frequency distributions with only one parameter, which are in very close agreement with the practical ones as found in a large dataset produced earlier by Rao. The article also shows that (irregular) fractional frequency distributions are a consequence of Lotka's law, and are not examples of breakdowns of this famous historical law.
Bioequivalence evaluation of two brands of gliclazide 80 mg tablets (Glyzide® & Diamicron®) — in healthy human volunteers
Authors: Najib Naji , Idkaidek Nasir , Beshtawi M. , Bader Mohammed , Admour Isra' , Alam S. Mahmood , Zaman Q. , Dham Ruwayda 
Published: October 2002

AbstractA randomized, two‐way, crossover, bioequivalence study in 24 fasting, healthy, male volunteers was conducted to compare two brands of gliclazide 80 mg tablets, Glyzide®(Julphar, UAE) as test and Diamicron® (Servier Industries, France) as reference product. The study was performed at the International Pharmaceutical Research Centre (IPRC), in joint venture with Speciality Hospital, Amman, Jordan. The drug was administered with 240 ml of 20% glucose solution after a 10 h overnight fasting. After dosing, serial blood samples were collected for a period of 48 h. Plasma harvested from blood was analyzed for gliclazide by validated HPLC method. Various pharmacokinetic parameters including AUC0–t, AUC0–∝, Cmax, Tmax, T1/2, and elimination rate constant were determined from plasma concentrations of both formulations. Statistical modules (ANOVA and 90% confidence intervals) were applied to AUC0–t, AUC0–∝, and Cmax for bioequivalence evaluation of the two brands which revealed no significant difference between them, and 90% CI fell within US FDA accepted bioequivalence range of 80–125%. Based on these statistical inferences, Glyzide® was judged bioequivalent to Diamicron®. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of a novel antifibrotic drug pirfenidone, in mice following intravenous administration
Authors: Giri Shri N. , Wang Qingjian , Xie Yan , Lango Jozsef , Morin Dexter , Margolin Solomon B. , Buckpitt Alan R. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractThe present study describes the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of pirfenidone (PD), a compound which has been shown to have significant antifibrotic effects in rodent models of pulmonary and cardiac fibrosis. Despite the fact that this compound is currently in phase II clinical trials, little data are available on the metabolism and disposition of this agent in rodents or humans. Radioactive PD [benzene ring 14C(U)] was administered i.v. to mice at 40 mg PD/kg body weight, and animals were killed at varying times for determination of parent compound and metabolites in various tissues. The disappearance of parent compound from the plasma followed apparent 2‐compartment elimination kinetics with a terminal elimination half‐life of 8.6 min. Cl (0.10 ml/min/g) and Vd(ss) (0.67 ml/g) indicated that PD was rapidly distributed in body water. This is consistent with the finding that peak tissue radioactivity occurred within 5 min following the i.v. administration of [14C]‐PD and that well‐perfused tissues, kidney>liver>lung have much higher levels of parent compound and metabolites than did fat. Two peaks isolated from plasma samples by HPLC yielded mass spectra that were consistent with initial oxidation to the alcohol followed by further metabolism to the carboxylic acid. The radioactivity recovered in the 24 h urine samples averaged 97% of the administered dose and none of that was associated with the parent compound. The short plasma half‐life of parent compound in mice supports the need for additional studies in humans where the compound has been shown to have clinical benefits. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A re‐examination of probability matching and rational choice
Authors: Shanks David R. , Tunney Richard J. , McCarthy John D. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractIn a typical probability learning task participants are presented with a repeated choice between two response alternatives, one of which has a higher payoff probability than the other. Rational choice theory requires that participants should eventually allocate all their responses to the high‐payoff alternative, but previous research has found that people fail to maximize their payoffs. Instead, it is commonly observed that people match their response probabilities to the payoff probabilities. We report three experiments on this choice anomaly using a simple probability learning task in which participants were provided with (i) large financial incentives, (ii) meaningful and regular feedback, and (iii) extensive training. In each experiment large proportions of participants adopted the optimal response strategy and all three of the factors mentioned above contributed to this. The results are supportive of rational choice theory. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy for the detection and study of single molecules in biology
Authors: Medina Miguel Ángel , Schwille Petra 
Published: October 2002

AbstractThe recent development of single molecule detection techniques has opened new horizons for the study of individual macromolecules under physiological conditions. Conformational subpopulations, internal dynamics and activity of single biomolecules, parameters that have so far been hidden in large ensemble averages, are now being unveiled. Herein, we review a particular attractive solution‐based single molecule technique, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). This time‐averaging fluctuation analysis which is usually performed in Confocal setups combines maximum sensitivity with high statistical confidence. FCS has proven to be a very versatile and powerful tool for detection and temporal investigation of biomolecules at ultralow concentrations on surfaces, in solution, and in living cells. The introduction of dual‐color cross‐correlation and two‐photon excitation in FCS experiments is currently increasing the number of promising applications of FCS to biological research. BioEssays 24:758–764, 2002. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Non‐neural adult stem cells: tools for brain repair?
Authors: Stewart Rebecca , Przyborski Stefan 
Published: October 2002

AbstractStem cells isolated from adult mammalian tissues may provide new approaches for the autologous treatment of disease and tissue repair. Although the potential of adult stem cells has received much attention, it has also recently been brought into question. This article reviews the recent work describing the ability of non‐hematopoietic stem cells derived from adult bone marrow to form neural derivatives and their potential for brain repair. Earlier transplantation experiments imply that grafted adult stem cells can differentiate into neural derivatives. Recent reports suggest, however, that such findings may be misleading and grafted cells acquiring different identities may merely be explained by their fusion with host cells and not the result of radical changes to their program of cellular differentiation. Nonetheless, in vitro studies have shown that neural development by bone‐marrow‐derived stem cells also appears possible. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that specify the neural lineage will lead to the development of tools for the targeted production of neural cell types in vitro that may ultimately provide a source of material to treat specific neurological deficits. BioEssays 24:708–713, 2002. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Structural studies of starches with different water contents
Authors: Bogracheva T. Y. , Wang Y. L. , Wang T. L. , Hedley C. L. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractThe proportion of double helices in starches from a series of pea [rb, rug4‐b, rug3‐a, and lam‐c mutants, and the wild type (WT) parental line], potato and maize (normal and low amylose), and wheat (normal) lines, ranged from about 30–50% on a dry weight basis. In relatively dry starch powders, only about half of the double helices were in crystalline order, this proportion being higher for A‐type than for B‐type starches.Using starch from WT pea as an example, it was found that increasing water content results in an increase in total crystallinity. When the water content was raised to a level similar to that in excess water, the proportion of crystallinity was close to the proportion of double helices (DH). Measuring crystallinity in starches with a high water content is difficult using traditional methods such as x‐ray diffraction. A method was developed, therefore, for determining starch structural characteristics in excess water by measuring the enthalpy of gelatinization transition in quasi‐equilibrium differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments. It is suggested that DH% = ΔHsp/ΔHDH × 100%, where ΔHsp and ΔHDH represent the specific enthalpies of gelatinisation transition, ΔHsp being measured as J/g dry starch weight and ΔHDH as J/g DH, in starch. Studies on potato and maize starches in excess water and in 0.6M KCl showed, respectively, that ΔHDH was 36.3 and 35.6 J/g for B‐type polymorphs and 33.0 and 35.0 J/g for A‐type polymorphs. For C‐type starches, such as those from pea, intermediate values of ΔHDH, related to the proportions A‐/B‐polymorphs, should be used. The type of crystallinity in starch can be determined by the shift in peak temperature for thermograms in excess water and in excess 0.6M KCl. For B‐polymorphs this shift was found to be ∼2–3°C and for A‐polymorphs ∼7–12°C. The ratio between ordered areas with both A‐ and B‐polymorphs can be determined from the enthalpies of disruption of each area. These enthalpies can be obtained by deconvolution of bimodal thermograms produced by C‐type starches in excess 0.6M KCl. This methodical approach can be applied to all starches that give a sharp gelatinisation thermogram in excess water. Using a range of methods, including DSC, it was found that starch granules from the mutant peas are constructed in a similar way to those from the WT, with B‐polymorphs in the centre and A‐polymorphs at the periphery of all granules. The proportion of A/B‐polymorphs, however, differed between the mutants. It was found that in addition to increasing the total crystallinity, increasing the water content within the granules also resulted in an increase in the proportion of B‐polymorphs. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 64: 268–281, 2002
Phase separation rates of aqueous two‐phase systems: Correlation with system properties
Authors: Asenjo J. A. , Mistry S. L. , Andrews B. A. , Merchuk J. C. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractThe kinetics of phase separation in aqueous two‐phase systems have been investigated as a function of the physical properties of the system. Two distinct situations for the settling velocities were found, one in which the light, organic‐rich (PEG) phase is continuous and the other in which the heavier, salt‐rich (phosphate) phase is continuous. The settling rate of a particular system is a crucial parameter for equipment design, and it was studied as a function of measured viscosity and density of each of the phases as well as the interfacial tension between the phases. Interfacial tension increases with increasing tie line length. A correlation that describes the rate of phase separation was investigated. This correlation, which is a function of the system parameters mentioned above, described the behavior of the system successfully. Different values of the parameters in the correlation were fitted for bottom‐phase‐continuous and top‐phase‐continuous systems. These parameters showed that density and viscosity play a role in the rate of separation in both top continuous‐ and bottom continuous‐phase regions but are more dominant in the continuous top‐phase region. The composition of the two‐phase system was characterized by the tie line length. The rate of separation increased with increasing tie line length in both cases but at a faster rate when the bottom (less viscous) phase was the continuous phase. These results show that working in a continuous bottom‐phase region is advantageous to ensure fast separation. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 79: 217–223, 2002.
Low‐temperature electron microscopy for the study of polysaccharide ultrastructures in hydrogels. II. Effect of temperature on the structure of Ca2+‐alginate beads
Authors: Serp D. , Mueller M. , von Stockar U. , Marison I. W. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractCalcium alginate beads were thermally treated at temperatures ranging from 25°C to 130°C for periods of up to 30 minutes. Important modifications to the structure of the alginate beads were shown to be a function of the temperature and period of incubation at each temperature. Modifications to the alginate beads included reduction in size, mechanical resistance, and molecular weight cut‐off with increasing temperature and incubation period. Thus, heating 700 μm calcium alginate beads for 20 min at 130°C resulted in a 23% reduction in diameter, 70% increase in mechanical resistance, and 67% reduction in molecular weight cut‐off.Incubation of calcium alginate beads containing 2 × 106 kDa blue dextran for 20 min at 130°C resulted in no detectable loss of either dye or alginate. This indicates the shrinkage of the beads was due to re‐arrangement of the alginate chains within the beads, coupled with loss of water. This hypothesis was verified by direct visual observation of calcium alginate beads before and after thermal treatment using cryo‐scanning electron microscopy (cryo‐SEM). Unlike other microscopy methods cryo‐SEM offers the advantage of extremely rapid freezing which preserves the original structure of the alginate network. As a result cryo‐SEM is a powerful tool for studies of hydrogel and capsule structure and formation.Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the water entrapped in 2% alginate beads was present in a single state, irrespective of the thermal treatment. This result is attributed to the low alginate concentration used to form the beads. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 79: 253–259, 2002.
Modeling aerobic carbon source degradation processes using titrimetric data and combined respirometric–titrimetric data: Experimental data and model structure
Authors: Gernaey Krist , Petersen Britta , Nopens Ingmar , Comeau Yves , Vanrolleghem Peter A. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractExperimental data are presented that resulted from aerobic batch degradation experiments in activated sludge with simple carbon sources (acetate and dextrose) as substrates. Data collection was done using combined respirometric–titrimetric measurements. The respirometer consists of an open aerated vessel and a closed non‐aerated respiration chamber for monitoring the oxygen uptake rate related to substrate degradation. The respirometer is combined with a titrimetric unit that keeps the pH of the activated sludge sample at a constant value by addition of acid and/or base. The experimental data clearly showed that the activated sludge bacteria react with consumption or production of protons during aerobic degradation of the two carbon sources under study. Thus, the cumulative amount of added acid and/or base could serve as a complementary information source on the degradation processes. For acetate, protons were consumed during aerobic degradation, whereas for dextrose protons were produced. For both carbon sources, a linear relationship was found between the amount of carbon source added and the amount of protons consumed (in case of acetate: 0.38 meq/mmol) or produced (in case of dextrose: 1.33 meq/mmol) during substrate degradation. A model taking into account substrate uptake, CO2 production, and NH3 uptake for biomass growth is proposed to describe the aerobic degradation of a CxHyOz‐type carbon source. Theoretical evaluation of this model for reference parameters showed that the proton effect due to aerobic substrate degradation is a function of the pH of the liquid phase. The proposed model could describe the experimental observations with both carbon sources. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 79: 741–753, 2002.
Cell‐Surface display of heterologous proteins: From high‐throughput screening to environmental applications
Authors: Chen Wilfred , Georgiou George 
Published: October 2002

AbstractA variety of expression systems for the display of either short peptides or fully folded proteins on E.coli and, to a lesser extent, on Gram‐positive bacteria have been developed. The expression of proteins on the surface of microbial cells has proved extremely important for numerous applications ranging from combinatorial library screening and protein engineering, to whole cell biocatalysts and adsorbants for bioremediation purposes. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 79: 496–503, 2002.
Influences on registered nurses' decision‐making in cases of suspected child abuse
Authors: Nayda Robyn 
Published: October 2002

AbstractThis paper reports on the factors influencing decision‐making for a group of 10 South Australian community nurses in cases of suspected child abuse. Each nurse participated in a structured interview. The data were organized into themes, using the computer program NUD*IST. Factors having an impact on the nurses' decisions to report included: the type of suspected abuse, making moral judgements and decision‐making, the consequences of reporting, and the impact versus the outcomes of reporting. Most significantly, the community nurses based many of their decisions on their estimation of the kind of intervention likely to be undertaken by children's protection services. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.