bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association of LMNA 1908C/T polymorphism with cerebral vascular disease and diabetic nephropathy in Japanese men with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Liang Hua , Murase Yuko , Katuta Yuko , Asano Akimichi , Kobayashi Junji , Mabuchi Hiroshi 
Published: August 2005

SummaryObjective  The LMNA 1908C/T polymorphism has been reported to be associated with dyslipidaemia, metabolic syndrome, adipose tissue metabolism and obesity phenotypes, suggesting that this polymorphism presents an increased risk of atherosclerosis and vascular diseases. However, there have been no previous reports on the relationship between the LMNA 1908C/T polymorphism and vascular diseases. The aim of this study therefore was to investigate the association between the LMNA 1908C/T polymorphism and the prevalence of vascular disease in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.Design  A cross‐sectional, hospital‐based study of diabetic complications with an LMNA gene background.Patients  One hundred and sixty‐six Japanese men with type 2 diabetes.Measurements  LMNA 1908C/T polymorphism (by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism, PCR‐RFLP); diabetic retinopathy (by standard fundus photography); diabetic nephropathy (by urinary albumin excretion rate); diabetic neuropathy (by signs, symptoms and/or nerve conduction velocity); coronary heart disease (by symptoms of typical chest pain and/or history of myocardial infarction, and ischaemic electrocardiographic alteration and/or coronary artery bypass graft surgery); cerebral vascular disease (by ultrasonography, computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging).Results  Carriers of the LMNA 1908T allele manifested a significantly higher prevalence of diabetic nephropathy and cerebral vascular disease than carriers of the C allele. Multiple regression analysis showed that the LMNA 1908T allele tended to be associated with cerebral vascular disease, but was independent of age, hypertension, total cholesterol or triglyceride [odds ratio (OR) 7·03, P = 0·0611]. Similarly, the LMNA 1908T allele showed a significant association with diabetic nephropathy, not independent of total cholesterol or triglyceride.Conclusions  The LMNA 1908C/T polymorphism plays an important role in the development of cerebral vascular disease and diabetic nephropathy in Japanese men with type 2 diabetes.
Surgical or medical decompression as a first‐line treatment of optic neuropathy in Graves’ ophthalmopathy? A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wakelkamp I. M. M. J. , Baldeschi L. , Saeed P. , Mourits M. P. , Prummel M. F. , Wiersinga W. M. 
Published: August 2005

SummaryObjective  Only a small percentage of Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) patients develop optic neuropathy with impending loss of visual acuity. Therapy with methylprednisolone pulses is the treatment of first choice in severe and active GO patients. When the effect is insufficient, patients are usually treated with surgical decompression. We investigated whether surgery could become the first‐line treatment, thus preventing treatment with steroids.Design and subjects  We performed a randomized trial in 15 patients with very active GO and optic neuropathy. Six patients were treated with surgical decompression, and nine with methylprednisolone i.v. pulses for 2 weeks, followed by oral prednisone for 4 months. The primary outcome was determined by changes in visual acuity. If the eye disease deteriorated despite treatment or did not improve sufficiently, patients were switched to the other treatment arm.Results  The severity and activity of GO in both groups were similar at baseline. The Clinical Activity Score (CAS) was 6·3 ± 0·8 in the surgical group vs. 6·0 ± 0·5 in the steroids group and the Total Eye Score was 24 ± 6 vs. 25 ± 6. In the surgery group, 5/6 patients (82%) did not respond because of insufficient improvement in vision (n = 3) or persistent chemosis (n = 2), and all needed further immunosuppression. In the steroids group, 4/9 patients (45%) did not improve in visual acuity (P = 0·132 vs. surgery group), and these needed decompressive surgery. All patients in whom therapy failed were switched to the other treatment arm and visual acuity improved in almost all patients. Visual acuity improved from 0·36 (0·02–0·40) to 0·90 (0·63–1·0) in the surgery group and from 0·50 (0·32–0·63) to 0·75 (0·32–1·0) in the steroids group at 52 weeks. At long‐term follow‐up in the surgery group 3/6 patients required squint surgery and 5/9 patients in the steroids group. Eyelid surgery was performed in 5/6 patients in the surgery group and in 4/9 patients in the steroids group.Conclusion  Immediate surgery does not result in a better outcome and therefore methylprednisolone pulse therapy appears to be the first‐choice therapy.
Distribution and determinants of adiponectin, resistin and ghrelin in a randomly selected healthy population
Authors: Vilarrasa Nuria , Vendrell Joan , Maravall Javier , Broch Montse , Estepa Araceli , Megia Anna , Soler Joan , Simón Inma , Richart C. , Gómez Jose Manuel 
Published: August 2005

SummaryObjective  Adiponectin, resistin, ghrelin and the IGF‐I system seem to play an important role in the regulation of body composition throughout life, but the mechanisms are not well understood. The aim of our study was to analyse the distribution among sexes and all decades of the adult life of adiponectin, resistin and ghrelin and their relationship with anthropometric, body composition parameters and the IGF‐I system.Subjects  One hundred and thirty‐four men and 127 healthy women were included in the study.Measurements  Plasma concentration of adiponectin, resistin, ghrelin, total IGF‐I, free IGF‐I and IGFBP‐3 were determined in all subjects. Body composition was evaluated by bioelectrical impedance.Results  Resistin and ghrelin were not affected by age. Plasma adiponectin correlated negatively with age, body mass index (BMI), waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR), waist circumference (WC), fat mass (FM) and body fat (BF) in men. Adiponectin correlated negatively with WHR and positively with free IGF‐I in women. Resistin correlated positively with BMI and WC only in men, and ghrelin correlated positively with WC, BMI and FM and negatively with free IGF‐I in men. In multiple regression analysis adiponectin remained associated with WHR (β = −0·19, P = 0·01) in women. Resistin was positively associated with BMI (β = 0·30, P = 0·003) in women and ghrelin was negatively related to free IGF‐I (β = −0·158, P = 0·019) in men.Conclusions  Plasma adiponectin declines with age and is negatively associated with FM in men. Our data suggest the existence of a positive correlation of adiponectin and the IGF‐I axis in women and of an inverse relationship between ghrelin and the IGF‐I system in men.
Salivary cortisol determined by enzyme immunoassay is preferable to serum total cortisol for assessment of dynamic hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity
Authors: Gozansky W. S. , Lynn J. S. , Laudenslager M. L. , Kohrt W. M. 
Published: August 2005

SummaryObjective  The aim of this study was to determine whether salivary cortisol measured by a simple enzyme immunoassay (EIA) could be used as a surrogate for serum total cortisol in response to rapid changes and across a wide range of concentrations.Design  Comparisons of matched salivary and serum samples in response to dynamic hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis testing.Subjects  Healthy women (n = 10; three taking oral oestrogens) and men (n = 2), aged 23–65 years, were recruited from the community.Measurements  Paired saliva and serum samples were obtained during three protocols: 10 min of exercise at 90% of maximal heart rate (n = 8), intravenous administration of corticotrophin‐releasing hormone (CRH; n = 4), and dexamethasone suppression (n = 7). Cortisol was measured in saliva using a commercial high‐sensitivity EIA and total cortisol was measured in serum with a commercial radioimmunoassay (RIA).Results  The time course of the salivary cortisol response to both the exercise and CRH tests paralleled that of total serum cortisol. Salivary cortisol demonstrated a significantly greater relative increase in response to the exercise and CRH stimuli (697 ± 826%vs. 209 ± 150%, P = 0·04 saliva vs. serum). A disproportionately larger increase in free cortisol, compared with total, would be expected when the binding capacity of cortisol‐binding globulin (CBG) is exceeded. In response to dexamethasone suppression, relative decreases in cortisol were not significantly different between the two media (−47 ± 56%vs.−84 ± 8%, P = 0·13 saliva vs. serum). Although a significant linear correlation was found for all paired salivary and serum total cortisol samples (n = 183 pairs, r = 0·60, P < 0·001), an exponential model provided a better fit (r = 0·81, P < 0·001). The linear correlations were strengthened when data from subjects on oral oestrogens (n = 52 pairs, r = 0·75, P < 0·001) were separated from those not taking oestrogens (n = 131 pairs, r = 0·67, P < 0·001).Conclusions  Salivary cortisol measured with a simple EIA can be used in place of serum total cortisol in physiological research protocols. Evidence that salivary measures represent the biologically active, free fraction of cortisol includes: (1) the greater relative increase in salivary cortisol in response to tests that raise the absolute cortisol concentration above the saturation point of CBG; (2) the strong exponential relationship between cortisol assessed in the two media; and (3) the improved linear correlations when subjects known to have increased CBG were analysed separately. Thus, an advantage of measuring salivary cortisol rather than total serum cortisol is that it eliminates the need to account for within‐subject changes or between‐subject differences in CBG.
Effect of gender and gonadal status on the long‐term response to somatostatin analogue treatment in acromegaly
Authors: Colao Annamaria , Pivonello Rosario , Cappabianca Paolo , Briganti Francesco , Tortora Fabio , Auriemma Renata S. , De Martino Maria Cristina , Marzullo Paolo , Lombardi Gaetano 
Published: August 2005

SummaryBackground  GH and IGF‐I secretion is related to gender and age.Objective  To evaluate the impact of gender and gonadal status on the long‐term sensitivity to the somatostatin analogues depot octreotide long‐acting release (OCT‐LAR) and lanreotide (LAN).Patients  Seventy‐three patients with active acromegaly (37 women, median age 34 years; 36 men, median age 38 years) who had not previously been treated with somatostatin analogues were studied: 24 women and 23 men were newly diagnosed; 22 men (61·1%) and 17 women (45·9%) had hypogonadism (P = 0·28). Exclusion criteria were age > 45 years, follow‐up less than 12 months, mixed GH/PRL‐secreting adenomas.Study design  Observational, analytical, retrospective.Outcome measures  (1) Disease control measured as serum GH < 2·5 µg/l and IGF‐I normal for age and gender; (2) reduction in tumour volume graded as absent (< 25%), mild (25–50%) and notable (> 50%).Results  Basal GH, but not IGF‐I, levels were higher in women than in men both in the entire series and in ‘de novo’ patients (97·8 ± 42·2 vs. 71·1 ± 32·6 µg/l, P = 0·021). After 12 and 24 months of treatment, respectively, disease control was achieved similarly in men (57·1 and 86·7%) and women (48·6 and 86·7%). Hypogonadal men had longer disease duration than eugonadal men (P = 0·022), without any difference in the other parameters. No difference was found between eugonadal and hypogonadal women. Eugonadal men had a smaller tumour volume at baseline than eugonadal women (1396 ± 794 vs. 2896 ± 2871 mm3, P = 0·025). In men undergoing testosterone replacement and withdrawal, there was no change in GH and IGF‐I levels after 12 and 24 months of treatment with either LAR or LAN. In the seven women receiving oestro‐progestinic replacement, after 24 months of LAR or LAN treatment GH levels were higher during replacement than at withdrawal and IGF‐I levels were lower during replacement than withdrawal. Tumour volume decreased significantly in both women and men without any difference between them: the percentage tumour shrinkage in men and women was similar either after 12 (34·4 ± 24·4 vs. 40·7 ± 22·5%, P = 0·38) or 24 months of treatment (58·5 ± 17·4 vs. 56·1 ± 23·6%, P = 0·75). Similarly, there was no difference in tumour volume between hypogonadal and eugonadal women and men.Conclusions  The results of this study demonstrate that long‐term responsiveness to OCT‐LAR is similar in women and men. Care should be taken in women with acromegaly and hypogonadism treated with somatostatin analogues and oral oestro‐progestinic as in this case GH levels are higher while IGF‐I levels are lower than after the somatostatin analogues alone.
Central venous catheter‐related infection due to Candida membranaefaciens, a new opportunistic azole‐resistant yeast in a cancer patient: a case report and a review of literature
Authors: Fanci Rosa , Pecile Patrizia 
Published: August 2005

SummaryAn unusual central venous catheter (CVC)‐related infection caused by Candida membranaefaciens in a patient with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma is described. Clinical signs and microbiological results observed in this case may support the hypothesis of an emerging CVC‐related fungaemia, because of new azole‐resistant yeast, successfully treated with liposomal amphotericin B. To date C. membranaefaciens (the teleomorph of Pichia membranaefaciens) has traditionally been considered non‐pathogenic and this report seems to be the first case of systemic fungal infection. We believe that another fungus can be added to the list of opportunistic strains.
In vitro susceptibility of Cryptococcus neoformans clinical isolates from Egypt to seven antifungal drugs
Authors: Abdel‐Salam Hassan A. 
Published: August 2005

SummaryThe in vitro susceptibility of 29 clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans to fluconazole, miconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, flucytosine, nystatin and amphotericin B was tested by broth and colorimetric microdilution methods. Most of the isolates showed uniform patterns of susceptibility to the used antifungal agents. Only three isolates exhibited resistance [fourfold or greater rise in the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs)] to the tested antifungal drugs. The MIC50 and MIC90 were 0.5–8 mg l−1 for 5‐flucytosine, 0.2–8.25 mg l−1 for nystatin, 0.5–16 mg l−1 for fluconazole and 0.2–12.5 mg l−1 for miconazole. However, MIC50 and MIC90 were in narrow range for the clinical yeast isolates in both methods used and showed 0.5–1 mg l−1 for amphotericin B and 0.016–0.25 mg l−1 for both ketoconazole and itraconazole. The combination of fluconazole plus flucytosine showed greater synergistic and fungicidal activity compared with that of fluconazole plus amphotericin B or the use of individual drugs.
The nail under fungal siege in patients with type II diabetes mellitus
Authors: Piérard Gérald E. , Piérard‐Franchimont Claudine 
Published: August 2005

SummaryFew studies have examined the prevalence of onychomycosis among diabetic patients. Given the morbidity linked to onychomycosis, and the ever‐growing size of the diabetic population, a better recognition of this nail infection is welcome. To revisit the relative prevalence of dermatophyte, yeast and non‐dermatophytic mould onychomycoses in diabetic adults in a prospective study using combined histomycology and cultures. Toenail clippings were collected for 3 years in 190 type II diabetic patients (136 men and 54 women) and from an age‐ and gender‐matched group of non‐diabetic subjects. All sampled nails showed clinical alterations reminiscent of onychomycosis. Histomycology and cultures were performed on each sample to distinguish onychomycosis from non‐infectious onychodystrophy. Compared to non‐diabetic subjects with nail alterations, diabetics showed a higher proportion of onychomycosis relative to non‐fungal onychodystrophy. Diabetic men suffered more frequently from onychomycosis and onychodystrophy than diabetic women. When considering the nature of the fungal pathogens, dermatophytes predominated largely over yeast and non‐dermatophytic moulds, both in diabetic and non‐diabetic patients. Diabetic patients, particularly men, are at increased risk of developing onychomycosis. The morbidity linked to this disorder, and its impact on the foot status in diabetic subjects merit to be better appreciated by clinicians.
Immunolocalization of secretory proteins of Aspergillus fumigatus using monospecific polyclonal antibodies in a murine model
Authors: Raghuwanshi S. K. , Kumar M. , Kavishwar A. , Chaturvedi A. K. , Murthy P. S. R. , Shukla P. K. 
Published: August 2005

SummaryThe incidence of life‐threatening mycoses caused by opportunistic fungi has increased dramatically in recent years with members of the genera Candida and Aspergillus being the most commonly encountered species. Prompt initiation of antifungal therapy for good prognosis of such cases is highly dependent on accurate diagnosis. The potential of metabolic antigens in the diagnosis of aspergillosis was investigated in the present study. Two proteins of 18 and 70 kDa were identified with success rate of 35% and 60% respectively based on their reactivity with patient sera of clinically diagnosed cases of aspergillosis. The antibodies raised against 70 and 18 kDa proteins in rabbits were found to be useful in detection of A. fumigatus in the kidneys of a mouse model of aspergillosis.
Antifungal activities of extracts from Thai medicinal plants against opportunistic fungal pathogens associated with AIDS patients
Authors: Phongpaichit Souwalak , Subhadhirasakul Sanan , Wattanapiromsakul Chatchai 
Published: August 2005

SummaryIn this study, 36 extracts derived from 10 plant species were selected to screen for their antifungal activity against clinical isolates of Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and Microsporum gypseum. Selection was based on their use by traditional Thai healers or their reported antimicrobial activities in an attempt to find bioactive medicines for use in the treatment of opportunistic fungal infections in AIDS patients. The disc diffusion and hyphal extension–inhibition assays were primarily used to test for inhibition of growth. Minimum inhibitory concentration was determined by dilution methods. The chloroform extracts of Alpinia galanga and Boesenbergia pandurata had pronounced antifungal activity against C. neoformans and M. gypseum, but exhibited weak activity against C. albicans. Alpinia galanga and B. pandurata are excellent candidates for the development of a remedy for opportunistic fungal infections in AIDS patients.
Prevalence of Candida dubliniensis among germ tube‐positive Candida isolates in a maternity hospital in Kuwait
Authors: Al‐Sweih Noura , Ahmad Suhail , Khan Zia U. , Khan Seema , Chandy Rachel 
Published: August 2005

SummaryIn this study, 1644 germ tube‐positive Candida isolates from a maternity hospital was prospectively examined for the prevalence of Candida dubliniensis. Candida species were isolated from different clinical specimens, but majority (>90%) of them came from high vaginal swabs and urine specimens. The phenotypic and molecular identification methods for C. dubliniensis included production of rough colonies and chlamydospores on simplified sunflower seed agar, determination of assimilation profile by Vitek 2 yeast identification system, specific amplification of rDNA of internally transcribed spacer (ITS)‐2 region by semi‐nested PCR and direct DNA sequencing of the ITS‐1 and ITS‐2 regions. Three germ tube‐positive Candida isolates were identified as C. dubliniensis with an overall prevalence of 0.2%. Of these, two came from urine specimens and one from a vaginal swab. None of the C. dubliniensis isolates showed resistance against fluconazole, voriconazole and amphotericin B. The study reinforces the usefulness of sunflower seed agar in presumptive identification of C. dubliniensis and confirms the prevailing view that this species forms only a minor constituent of Candida species occurring in vagina or other anatomic sites of non‐HIV/AIDS‐infected individuals.
Acid proteinase, phospholipase and adherence properties of Candida parapsilosis strains isolated from clinical specimens of hospitalised patients
Authors: Dagdeviren M. , Cerikcioglu N. , Karavus M. 
Published: August 2005

SummaryIn this study, we investigated the presence of virulence factors in a total of 33 Candida parapsilosis strains, including adherence, acid proteinase and phospholipase production capabilities. Of the 33 strains, 19 were isolated from blood cultures of hospitalised fungaemic patients (study group 2). We also investigated the importance of other factors present in the development of fungaemia. The mean adherence values of 19 blood isolates and 14 non‐blood isolates were found to be 52.63 and 57.96, respectively; these values did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). Nine non‐blood strains (64.29%) of study group 2 and five blood strains (26.31%) of study group 1 were found to be positive for acid proteinase production; this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Phospholipase production was found in five strains (26.31%) of the 19 blood isolates. None of the 14 non‐blood strains exhibited phospholipase activity; this difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). In this study, correlations between adherence‐phospholipase, and adherence‐acid proteinase properties of strains were detected as well. In the present study, it has been observed that phospholipase production can be an important virulence factor in bloodstream infections caused by C. parapsilosis.
Analysis of adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum: detection of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA by polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Pérez L. O. , Abba M. C. , Laguens R. M. , Golijow C. D. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractObjective  The aim of the present work was to evaluate the presence of human papillomavirus genotypes in malignant and normal mucosa of the colon and rectum in order to determine if a relationship exists between HPV infection and colon neoplasms.Materials and methods  Thirty normal colon tissues and 54 sporadic adenocarcinomas were screened for HPV positivity using nested‐PCR. Detection of viral types 6, 11, 16, 18, 33, 34 and 51 was performed by the LIS‐SSCP (Low Ionic Strength‐Single Strand Conformational Polymorphism) procedure.Results  Significant differences in high risk HPV infection were found between normal samples and adenocarcinomas (P < 0.001). Among the cases, an inverse association between HPV infection and Dukes staging was also found (P = 0.020). Finally, there was no significant association between HPV and some classical clinicopathological features, although a gradient of infection form rectum to cecum was evident.Conclusion  The present study demonstrates that HPV may infect the glandular mucosa of the colon and suggests a possible association between HPV and colorectal cancer.
Thirty‐day mortality after surgery for colorectal cancer in Denmark
Authors: Nickelsen T. N. , Jørgensen T. , Kronborg O. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractObjective  This study aimed to estimate the 30‐day mortality after colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery in Denmark. Mortality was compared to other studies, and between departments, unadjusted and adjusted for case‐mix.Materials and methods  All patients in Denmark with a first‐time colorectal adenocarcinoma operated between 1 May 2001 and 31 December 2002 were eligible, 5187 patients were included. Mortality was adjusted for age, sex, urgency, tumour location, Dukes' stage and ASA‐score.Results  The 30‐day mortality in Denmark after CRC‐surgery was 9.9%. Adjusted for case‐mix, four departments had significantly higher mortality than average. The variation between the 44 departments was significant both for radically operated (P = 0.02) patients and for all operated patients (P = 0.01).Conclusion  The 30‐day mortality in Denmark seems to be higher than in studies from other countries, but the lack of comparable nationwide studies makes it difficult to evaluate. To uncover the reasons for the departments to diverge significantly from average, further studies are needed.