bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cytokine expression in allergic inflammation: systematic review of in vivo challenge studies
Authors: Ferreira Manuel A. R. 
Published: April 2004

Background: Allergic inflammatory responses are driven by cells of the immune system that rely on cytokines to regulate the activity of other immune and structural cells.Objective: To review published studies to (1) identify cytokines consistently increased after allergen challenge in atopic patients and (2) investigate temporal variation in cytokine expression.Methods: A PUBMED systematic search was used to extract data from studies involving analysis of cytokine expression in fluids or biopsies following in vivo allergen challenge in atopic patients.Results: Data were extracted from 82 studies. There were no consistent reports of cytokine protein increase in fluids of patients at 0‐1 h after challenge. At 4‐12 h, the chemokines eotaxin, macrophage inflammatory protein‐1α, RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted) and interleukin (IL)‐8 have all been consistently reported to be up‐regulated. At 18‐24 h after challenge, the lymphokines IL‐4, IL‐5 and IL‐13, as well as the pro‐inflammatory cytokines granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor, tumour necrosis factor‐α and IL‐6 are consistently increased when compared with the respective control value. There were no reports of up‐regulation in interferon‐γ protein and mRNA and in IL‐2 mRNA.Conclusion: The expression of granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor is consistently increased in tissues at 4‐12 h after challenge. The influence of this cytokine on antigen capture and presentation by dendritic cells should be further investigated. Additionally, allergen challenge studies are needed that investigate the expression of macrophage‐derived chemokine and thymus‐regulated and activation‐regulated chemokine in tissues of atopic patients. Blocking the effects of these lymphocyte‐specific chemokines might provide new therapeutic approaches for the control of allergic inflammation.
Identification and Characterization of a Serum Protein Homologous to α‐type Phospholipase A2 Inhibitor (PLIα) from a Nonvenomous Snake, Elaphe quadrivirgata
Authors: Okumura Kohji , Inoue Seiji , Ikeda Kiyoshi , Hayashi Kyozo 
Published: April 2004

AbstractFrom a liver cDNA library prepared from a nonvenomous striated snake, Elaphe quadrivirgata, we isolated a cDNA encoding a novel protein, PLIα‐like protein (PLIα‐LP), having approximately 70% sequence identities with the α‐type phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitors (PLIαs) previously purified from the venomous snakes Agkistrodon blomhoffii siniticus and Trimeresurus flavoviridis. Since the PLIα‐LP with a highly conserved C‐type lectin‐like domain (CTLD) would be predicted to function as a PLA2 inhibitor, we purified this protein from E. quadrivirgata serum by sequential chromatography on Hi‐trap Blue, Mono Q, and Superdex 200 columns. The purified 51‐kDa protein with PLIα‐like immunoreactivity was found to be a trimer of 18‐kDa PLIα‐LP, which was comparable to the trimeric structure of PLIα. But, unexpectedly, this protein did not show any inhibitory activity against various snake venom PLA2s. Furthermore, it did not inhibit the endogenous PLA2 activities in various tissue homogenates prepared from this snake. Lack of the inhibitory activity in PLIα‐LP may provide important information concerning the structure‐function relationships of PLIα. IUBMB Life, 55: 539‐545, 2003
Properties of Human Mitochondrial Ribosomes
Authors: O'Brien Thomas W. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractMammalian mitochondrial ribosomes (55S) differ unexpectedly from bacterial (70S) and cytoplasmic ribosomes (80S), as well as other kinds of mitochondrial ribosomes. Typical of mammalian mitochondrial ribosomes, the bovine mitochondrial ribosome has been developed as a model system for the study of human mitochondrial ribosomes, to address several questions related to the structure, function, biosynthesis and evolution of these interesting ribosomes. Bovine mitochondrial ribosomal proteins (MRPs) from each subunit have been identified and characterized with respect to individuality and electrophoretic properties, amino acid sequence, topographic disposition, RNA binding properties, evolutionary relationships and reaction with affinity probes of ribosomal functional domains. Several distinctive properties of these ribosomes are being elucidated, including their antibiotic susceptibility and composition. Human mitochondrial ribosomes lack several of the major RNA stem structures of bacterial ribosomes but they contain a correspondingly higher protein content (as many as 80 proteins), suggesting a model where proteins have replaced RNA structural elements during the evolution of these ribosomes. Despite their lower RNA content they are physically larger than bacterial ribosomes, because of the 'extra' proteins they contain. The extra proteins in mitochondrial ribosomes are 'new' in the sense that they are not homologous to proteins in bacterial or cytoplasmic ribosomes. Some of the new proteins appear to be bifunctional. All of the mammalian MRPs are encoded in nuclear genes (a separate set from those encoding cytoplasmic ribosomal proteins) which are evolving more rapidly than those encoding cytoplasmic ribosomal proteins. The MRPs are imported into mitochondria where they assemble coordinately with mitochondrially transcribed rRNAs into ribosomes that are responsible for translating the 13 mRNAs for essential proteins of the oxidative phosphorylation system. IUBMB Life, 55: 505‐513, 2003
Putting the Brake on Inflammatory Responses: the Role of Glucocorticoids
Authors: Hermoso Marcela A. , Cidlowski John A. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractGlucocorticoids are among the most widely used agents for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The primary mechanism of glucocorticoid action is via the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which blocks the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules. Repression of many pro‐inflammatory genes occurs by inhibition of transcription factors including nuclear factor κB (NFκB) and activator protein‐1 (AP‐1). In this article, we discuss the physiological and molecular interaction that occurs between GR and proinflammatory cytokines signaling pathways. IUBMB Life, 55: 497‐504, 2003
Nice to Know You? Testing Contact, Cultural, and Group Threat Theories of Anti‐Black and Anti‐Hispanic Stereotypes*
Authors: Dixon Jeffrey C. , Rosenbaum Michael S. 
Published: April 2004

Objective. Many racial/ethnic policies in the United States—from desegregation to affirmative action policies—presume that contact improves racial/ethnic relations. Most research, however, tests related theories in isolation from one another and focuses on black‐white contact. This article tests contact, cultural, and group threat theories to learn how contact in different interactive settings affects whites' stereotypes of blacks and Hispanics, now the largest minority group in the country.Method. We use multi‐level modeling on 2000 General Social Survey data linked to Census 2000 metropolitan statistical area/county‐level data.Results. Net of the mixed effects of regional culture and racial/ethnic composition, contact in certain interactive settings ameliorates anti‐black and anti‐Hispanic stereotypes.Conclusions. Cultural and group threat theories better explain anti‐black stereotypes than anti‐Hispanic stereotypes, but as contact theory suggests, stereotypes can be overcome with relatively superficial contact under the right conditions. Results provide qualified justification for the preservation of desegregation and affirmative action policies.
Status Seeking and Social Welfare: Is There Virtue in Vanity?*
Authors: Jaeger William K. 
Published: April 2004

Objectives. This article examines how social status rewards can affect social welfare outcomes in the presence of positive and negative externalities.Method. A rational choice approach is used to characterize how individuals respond to incentives to seek high status (and avoid stigma) given existing preferences, technology, and the sources of status defined within a given reference group.Results. In the presence of market failures, the analysis identifies several kinds of status‐related interventions that encourage acts with positive externalities or discourage those with negative externalities, with results that contribute to social well‐being generally.Conclusions. The analysis characterizes ways that formal and informal social mechanisms can make these incentives more effective, and finds abundant evidence that interventions of this kind are widely observed in society today.
Party and Personal Preference in Post‐Soviet Legislatures*
Authors: Thames Frank C. 
Published: April 2004

Objective. Initial studies of post‐Soviet legislative behavior have concluded that parties can affect legislative behavior; however, the methods used by these studies failed to distinguish between the effects of party and personal preferences. Evidence of party effects would be surprising given not only the perceived weaknesses of post‐Soviet political parties, but also the debate on the existence of party effects in the U.S. Congress literature.Methods. The data are electronically recorded roll‐call data from both the Ukrainian Rada and Russian Duma. I employ an OLS residualization technique to construct deputy preference measures. Then, I use multivariate analysis (tobit) to measure the impact of deputy preference and partisanship on support for government legislation.Results. In both the Rada and Duma, party and personal preferences impacted deputy voting behavior.Conclusion. Parties are an important determinant of legislative behavior, even in weak party systems of post‐Soviet Ukraine and Russia.
The use of chromoendoscopy in the surveillance and detection of lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract
Authors: CHOI C.Y. , CHIU P.W.Y. , KWONG K.H. , LAM S.H. 
Published: April 2004

Aim: Chromoendoscopy is recently employed in the surveillance and detection of early cancers and dysplasia of the upper gastrointestinal tract. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of chromoendoscopy in the surveillance and detection of pathology in the upper gastrointestinal tract.Method: We performed selective chromoendoscopy in patients with either high risk of early cancers or those with suspicious pathology of the upper gastrointestinal tract detected on primary endoscopy. The diagnosis of these lesions was confirmed with histology. We compared the findings before and after chromoendoscopy.Results: From June 2202 to October 2003, we performed chromoendoscopy on 104 patients (72 males, 32 females). The mean age was 66 (range: 27–87). Seventy‐four chromoendoscopies were performed for the purpose of ‘suveillance’ which included: (i) screening for synchronous esophageal tumour; (ii) Barrett's esophagitis; (iii) reflux esophagitis; (iv) esophageal dysplasia or neoplasia; and (v) gastric intestinal metaplasia or epithelial dysplasia. Thirty were performed for ‘detection’ of new lesions which included: (i) suspicious esophageal or gastric lesions; (ii) gastric ulcer with suspicious endoscopic appearance; and (iii) gastric malignancy. In the surveillance group, new pathological findings were detection by chromoendoscopy in 12.2% patients (9/74). In the detection group, clinically important new findings were detected in 67% patients (20/30). The overall rate of new findings by chromoendoscopy is 27.9% (χ2P=0.0001).Conclusions: Chromoendoscopy significantly delineates more pathology in upper gastrointestinal tract when compares to conventional upper endoscopy.
Loop ileostomy as temporary faecal diversion following total mesorectal excision
Authors: JEONG H.K.M. , LAM S.C.W. , LAM C.Y.W. , LAM S.H. 
Published: April 2004

Aim: Anastomotic leakage following low anterior resection with total mesorectal excision carries a significant morbidity and mortality. Both loop ileostomy and loop transverse colostomy are common options of temporary faecal diversion to reduce the severity of anastomotic leakage. We use loop ileostomy routinely because of its ease of construction and closure, and low complication rate. Here, we reviewed our result of loop ileostomy.Methods: We reviewed the medical records of all patients who had temporary loop ileostomy constructed following low anterior resection with total mesorectal excision for CA rectum, from 1.1999 to 12.2003. Stoma related morbidity pre and post–closure of loop ileostomy were recorded.Results: Eighty‐eight patients had loop ileostomy constructed and later closed from 1.1999 to 12.2003. Seventeen of them required small bowel resection during closure of the loop ileostomy. Three patients (3.4%) had skin excoriation and one patient (1.1%) had prolonged ileus after the construction of ileostomy (3.4%). After closure of ileostomy, two patients (2.2%) had wound infection and two patients (2.2%) had anastomotic leakage. Six patients (6.8%) developed intestinal obstruction later. Post‐closure intestinal obstruction and anastomotic leakage were found to be associated with small bowel resection during the closure of ileostomy (P=0.042).Conclusion: Loop ileostomy and its closure are associated with low complication rates. We therefore continue to advocate the use of loop ileostomy as a temporary diversion procedure after total mesorectal excision.
The results of pelvic muscle biofeedback exercise in children with faecal incontinence after surgery for severe anorectal malformation
Authors: CHAO N.S.Y. , LEUNG M.W.Y. , LEUNG A.K.P. , CHO J.S.Y. , KWOK E.C.H. , CHUNG K.W. , LIU K.K.W. 
Published: April 2004

Purpose: Children with severe anorectal malformation, after anorectoplasty, frequently have faecal soiling, which is disruptive functionally and psychosocially. Post‐operative bowel management program involves multimodality treatment including drug manipulation, laxative enema and pelvic muscle training. The results of pelvic muscle biofeedback exercise are reviewed.Methods: Patients with anorectal malformation after anorectoplasty were followed‐up at continence clinic with symptom scoring (Rintala score). Co‐operative patients with problematic soiling were selected for biofeedback treatment program. Pelvic musculature anatomy and physiology were assessed by anorectal manometry, magnetic‐ resonance imaging and transrectal ultrasonography. They received active pelvic musculature stimulation and biofeedback training of pelvic muscle (Myoexorciser 1000 Biofeedback System – VERIMED, Florida, USA). Duration of treatment ranged from 3 to 6 months. Outcome was measured by incontinence score, manometry and electromyogram of pelvic muscle.Results: Eight boys, aged 5–11 years, completed the biofeedback program. Soiling frequency dropped significantly post treatment (P=0.0431). Electromyogram of pelvic muscle improved (P < 0.05). Overall symptom‐score confirmed functional improvement.Conclusions: Biofeedback training program benefits children with intractable soiling after surgery for severe anorectal malformation. Follow up studies are required to confirm whether the benefit is sustained in the long term.
Pancreatic cystic tumour: A local regional hospital experience
Authors: LI W.H. , CHAN C.K. , CHEUNG M.T. , HWANG J.S.T. 
Published: April 2004

Aim of study: To review the management of patients with pancreatic cystic tumour.Method: Retrospective review of patients with pancreatic cystic tumours who has either cytological or histological diagnosis made from 1994 to 2003Results: There were total 16 patients who had the diagnosis of pancreatic cystic tumour. The male/female ratio was 1 : 4.5 (5/11). Median of age was 51 (2–76).There were 6 (37%) serous cystadenoma, 4 (25%) mucinous cystic tumour, 3 (19%) intraductal papillary mucinous tumour and 3 (19%) solid and cystic papillary tumour. All tumours were located in the head or tail of pancreas. Median size of the tumour was 6 cm (1–15 cm). Majority of patients presented incidentally or with abdominal pain. All patients had CT scan done (except one who had only USG), and imaging was either inconclusive or incorrect in 80% of the patients. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) was performed only in seven (40%) patients. FNA result was inconclusive in six (85%) patients. A total 13 resections were performed which included seven distal pancreatectomy, four pancreaticoduodenectomy and two total pancreatectomy. There were two (15%) patient complicated with postoperative intra‐abdominal abscess and postoperative bleeding and one (7%) patient die with postoperative multiorgan failure. The median FU period was 24 months, and there were no tumour recurrence noted.Conclusion: In this review, nature of the lesions was difficult to establish in majority of the cases preoperatively. Surgical resection seems to be a safe and viable option for the management of pancreatic cystic tumour.
Experience of breast sentinel ln biopsy in QEH
Authors: LO I. , HO P.K. , POON M. , TONG K.L. , HWANG S.T. 
Published: April 2004

Background: Routine axillary dissection in breast cancer carries morbidity. Sentinel lymph node biopsy has been shown to predict axillary status. The experience of SLN biopsy in QEH is reviewed.Materials and methods: We included all patients with unifocal, palpable T1 or T2 tumour without palpable axillary LN from January 2001 to January 2004. Those who had previous excisional biopsy were also included. We excluded patients who had previous neoadjuvant chemotherapy or previous axillary surgery. Same‐day subdermal injection of C1Tc99m sulphur colloid and peritumoral patent blue injection technique was employed. SLN detected were removed, followed by formal axillary clearance.Outcome: The endpoint is to evaluate pathological result of SLN and remaining axillary content.Results: Forty‐three patients had SLN biopsy. Mean age was 51.2. Mean tumour size was 2.2 cm. Dye identification rate was 86%. Isotope identification rate was 97.7%. Mean no. of SLN harvested was 1.3. Sensitivity of SLN biopsy is 95.2%. Specificity is 100%. False negative rate is 4.76%. Negative predictive value is 95.7%. Accuracy is 97.7%. 57% of axilla‐involved patients had SLN as the only LN involved. Five out of 21 SLN metastasis were micrometastasis. 60% of micrometastasis were diagnosed by immunohistochemistry.Conclusion: Results of breast SLN biopsy in QEH is comparable to other centres and is feasible.
Treatment of genuine stress incontinence with tension free vaginal tape: five years experience in tuen mun hospital
Authors: MAH I.S.F. , YUNG Y.P. , AU W.H. , CHAN W.H. , CHIU L.P. , MAN C.W. 
Published: April 2004

Aim: Tension free vaginal tape (TVT) is a minimal invasive treatment for genuine stress incontinence by providing a mid‐urethral support. The aim of this study is to review our experience in using the TVT in the treatment of stress incontinence in our hospital since 1999.Patients and methods: Twenty‐three patients with genuine stress incontinence were treated with the TVT between March 1999 and January 2004. The mean age was 50. The preoperative investigations included history, physical examination, and aerodynamic study. Patients with derisory instability or significant cystoscoele were excluded. They were followed up after the operation and the outcome of procedure including improvement in symptoms and number of pads used were assessed.Results: Operative time ranged from 25 to 50 min with a mean of 29. Blood loss was minimal and the hospital stay ranged from 1 to 4 days (mean 1.9 days). They were followed up for a period ranging from 2 to 60 months with a median of 62 months. 95.6% of the patients are completely dry and do not require the use of pad anymore. 91.3% of the patients are very satisfied with the result of the operation.Conclusion: TVT is a safe and effective procedure for stress incontinence. The short‐term good results have been documented in various studies. This study shows that the mid‐term results are very promising as well as the dryness is well sustained in our patients with a median follow up of 32 months.
Laparoscopic exploration of common bile duct in difficult choledocholithiasis
Authors: TANG C.N. , TSUI D.K.K. , TAI C.K. , HA J.P.Y. , LI M.K.W. 
Published: April 2004

This is a retrospective review of the role of laparoscopic exploration of common bile duct (LECBD) in the management of difficult choledocholithiasis performed in our centre during the period 1995–2003. 97 LECBDs were performed during this period. Twenty‐five of them were performed for difficult choledocholithiasis. Difficult choledocholithiasis was defined as those which ERCP failed to retrieve because of various reasons including access and cannulation difficulty (7), difficult nature of the common bile duct (CBD) stones (16) and presence of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) related complications (2). Altogether 2 transcystic duct explorations and 23 choledochotomies were performed. Mean operative time was 149.4 ± 49.3 min and there were three conversions (12%). Stone clearance rate was 100% and no recurrence was detected upon a mean follow‐up of 16.8 months. Only five complications were encountered which included three bile leak and two wound infections. When the results were compared to the remaining 72 LECBD for non‐difficult stone during the same period, the complication rate, conversion rate and residual stone rate were similar despite longer operation time (149.4 ± 49.4 min vs 121.6 ± 50.5 min, P=0.025)Conclusion: LECBD is the solution to difficult CBD stones where ERCP is impossible or stone retrieval is incomplete.
The clinical efficacy of intensive chemoradiation for inoperable squamous esophageal cancer: case‐controlled study
Authors: WONG S.K.H. , CHAN A.C.W. , LEUNG S.F. , GRIFFITH J.F. , NG E.K.W. , CHUNG S.C.S. 
Published: April 2004

Aims: We evaluated the role of intensive chemoradiation regimen for patients with inoperable T4 or cervical nodal metastatic squamous esophageal cancer.Methods: From 1996 to 2003, patients with histologically proven, inoperable, squamous cell esophageal carcinoma who received intensive chemoradiation therapy of two 3‐weekly cycles of continuous infusion of 5‐fluorouracil, day 1 and 22 cisplatin and concurrent radiotherapy 50–60 Gy were recruited for analysis. Efficacy of treatment was analysed by endoscopy, biopsy, computerized axial tomography before and 8 weeks after completion of treatment. Median survival and the need palliative esophageal stenting were compared with the matched control group during the same period that decline chemoradiation therapy. Both groups were comparable in demographic characteristics, pretreatment dysphagia score, comorbidity, tumour differentiation, location, staging and size.Results: Thirty‐six consecutive patients (33 male, mean age 63.2, S.D.9.5) with either T4 (81%) and/or cervical nodal metastatic (50%) tumour had received chemoradiotherapy. Treatment was completed in 32 patients (89%). Grade II neutropenia occurred in 8 patients (22%) and the incidence of febrile neutropenia was 11%. There was no therapy‐related mortality. Tumor volume as measured by CT scan was significantly reduced after treatment with a major clinical response (>*Τ*50% reduction in tumour volume) observed in 18 patients (50%). Four patients (11%) received salvage esophagectomy for local recurrence 1–3 years after initial complete response. As compared to the matched controlled patients, chemoradiation therapy had significantly improved the 5‐year survival (0 vs 19%, P=0.01), median survival (4.0 months vs 9.5 months, P < 0.005) and the need of palliative stenting (100 vs 22%, P=0.005).Conclusions: Although prognosis of patients with inoperable and cervical nodal metastatic esophageal cancer is extremely poor, this study confirms the efficacy and good tolerance of radiochemotherapy in these patients which can both improve their overall survival and reduce the need of esophageal stenting.