bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of polymerase chain reaction and liver biopsy in the evaluation of patients with asymptomatic transaminitis: Implications in diagnostic approach
Authors: MADAN KAUSHAL , BATRA YOGESH , PANDA SUBRAT KUMAR , DATTAGUPTA SIDDARTH , HAZARI SIDDARTH , JHA JYOTISH KUMAR , ACHARYA SUBRAT KUMAR 
Published: October 2004

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Detection of an asymptomatic rise in the hepatic aminotransferase (ARHA) value has become a distinct and frequent clinical problem. We evaluated a three‐step diagnostic algorithm in such patients for maximum yield.Methods:  Consecutive patients with an ARHA value 1.5‐fold the upper limit of normal for at least 4 weeks and who were apparently healthy were included in the study. Each patient underwent standard biochemical investigations and a stepwise investigative protocol. In the first step, serological markers for hepatitis viruses, serum ferritin, 24‐h urinary copper, alpha‐1‐antitrypsin phenotyping, and autoimmune markers were carried out. In step two, patients who tested negative for all the above markers had polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐DNA and hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐RNA. Patients without a diagnosis despite the above investigations underwent a liver biopsy as part of step three.Results:  Of 105 patients with ARHA, 38 were excluded for various reasons and 67 were included for the final analysis. The mean age was 35.11 ± 11.96 years and 56 patients were men. The mean body mass index was 24.17 ± 3.2 kg/m2. The stepwise diagnostic algorithm achieved a diagnosis in 65/67 (97%) patients. Non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and chronic viral hepatitis were the most common diagnoses, in 24 (36%) patients each. Using the diagnostic algorithm a diagnosis was reached in 34% of patients with only serological and biochemical investigations, whereas PCR for HBV and HCV could further detect the presence of active HBV or HCV viremia in 21% (14/97) and a liver biopsy was necessary to establish the diagnosis in 28/67 (42%) patients.Conclusions:  A stepwise diagnostic algorithm in patients with ARHA resulted in an optimal use of PCR and invasive tests such as liver biopsy. Cryptic HBV and HCV infection was frequent among these patients and PCR was necessary in such cases. NASH and chronic viral hepatitis were the most frequent causes of ARHA.
Gene expression analysis in the stomachs of water immersion‐restraint stress rats using high‐density oligonucleotide array
Authors: MIZUNO SHIGEAKI , KATO KIMITOSHI , ASAI SATOSHI , TAKAHASHI YASUO , NAGATA TOSHIHITO , KOMURO SACHIKO , IWASAKI ARIYOSHI , ISHIKAWA KOICHI , ARAKAWA YASUYUKI 
Published: October 2004

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Research on gastric lesions developing in response to stress is essential to elucidating the pathogenesis of these lesions as well as the interplay with other factors, including Helicobacter pylori infection and non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug use. Genes expressed individually or in sets, such as heat shock proteins, growth factors, proto‐oncogenes and cyclooxygenases, have been investigated in the stomach. However, gene expression in the stomach after stress exposure have not yet been comprehensively examined. We investigated the gastric gene expression profile in response to stress.Methods:  A high‐density oligonucleotide array, representing approximately 850 genes, was used to determine gene expression changes in the stomachs of water immersion‐restraint stress (WIRS) rats.Results:  Fifty‐eight genes including expressed sequence tag (EST) genes were upregulated more than twofold in the 30 min‐WIRS rat stomach as compared with the control. Concomitantly, five genes were downregulated. Numbers of up‐ or downregulated genes decreased rapidly at 1 and 2 h of WIRS. Altered gene expression of heat shock proteins, cell cycle regulators, proto‐oncogenes and metabolic enzymes were recognized. Several of these genes, including p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase, did not reportedly show gastric expression changes in response to stress.Conclusion:  These results suggest that, in addition to the previously identified stress‐induced genes, expression of a number of other genes in the stomach is also involved in stress response.
Antralization of gastric incisura is topographically associated with increased gastric epithelial apoptosis and proliferation, but not with CagA seropositivity
Authors: XIA HARRY HUA‐XIANG , WONG BENJAMIN CHUN‐YU , ZHANG GUI‐SHUI , YANG YI , WYATT JENNY MA , ADAMS STUART , CHEUNG KAREN , LAM SHIU KUM , TALLEY NICHOLAS J 
Published: October 2004

AbstractBackground and Aims:  Helicobacter pylori infection is linked with increased antralization at the gastric incisura. The present study aimed to determine if antralization is associated with altered gastric epithelial apoptosis and proliferation and with seropositivity of the cytotoxin‐associated gene product A (CagA) of H. pylori.Methods:  Gastric biopsies taken from the antrum, incisura, body and fundus of 75 patients (34 male, 41 female; mean age 59.5 years) were used for diagnosis of H. pylori infection and assessments of histological changes. Apoptosis and Ki‐67 expression in epithelial cells were determined for the antral, incisura and body biopsies by immunohistochemistry. Serum samples were tested by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays for anti‐H. pylori and anti‐CagA IgG antibodies.Results:  Apoptotic index (AI) and Ki‐67 proliferation index (PI) were greater in the presence (vs absence) of H. pylori infection at the antrum, incisura and body (all P < 0.001), and topographically associated with chronic gastritis and gastric atrophy/intestinal metaplasia at the antrum and incisura (all P < 0.001). Moreover, AI and PI were greater in the presence (vs absence) of antralization at the incisura (20.2 ± 0.9 vs 11.4 ± 0.1.1 and 48.9 ± 2.5 vs 29.9 ± 2.5, both P < 0.001). CagA seroprevalence was 41% in the 39 infected patients. CagA seropositivity was associated with gastric atrophy/intestinal metaplasia at the antrum (χ2 = 4.67, P = 0.03) and incisura (χ2 = 4.88, P = 0.03), but not associated with gastric epithelial apoptosis and Ki‐67 expression, nor with antralization at the incisura.Conclusions:  Antralization of gastric incisura is topographically associated with increased gastric epithelial apoptosis and proliferation, but not with CagA seropositivity.
Investigations on epiphytic living Pseudomonas species from Malus domestica with an antagonistic effect to Venturia inaequalis on isolated plant cuticle membranes
Authors: Singh Prikhshayat , Piotrowski Markus , Kloppstech Klaus , Gau Achim E. 
Published: October 2004

SummaryIn order to understand better the survival and mutual interaction of epiphytic bacteria and fungi on apple plants, bacteria collected from these plants were cultivated on intact adaxial, stoma free cuticle membranes originally obtained from apple. The bacteria were labelled with luciferase genes from Vibrio harveyi in order to follow up their development and activity on the isolated cuticles. Our finding was that the epiphytic bacteria can have access to nutrients below the cuticle without causing damage to these cuticular membranes. Bacterial proteins may enable this nutrient mobilization and we found, indeed, that more than 46 proteins that must have been delivered by the bacteria in response to interaction with the cuticles as they could be found below the cuticle membrane. Eight major representatives of this group of external proteins have been sequenced with electron spray quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry and subsequently identified by data base homology search as a flagellin, a porin type protein and proteins that are involved in amino acid recruitment and metabolism.
Acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic methane production and methanogenic populations in an acidic West‐Siberian peat bog
Authors: Kotsyurbenko Oleg R. , Chin Kuk‐Jeong , Glagolev Mikhail V. , Stubner Stephan , Simankova Maria V. , Nozhevnikova Ala N. , Conrad Ralf 
Published: October 2004

SummarySites in the West Siberian peat bog ‘Bakchar’ were acidic (pH 4.2–4.8), low in nutrients, and emitted CH4 at rates of 0.2–1.5 mmol m−2 h−1. The vertical profile of δ13CH4 and δ13CO2 dissolved in the porewater indicated increasing isotope fractionation and thus increasing contribution of H2/CO2‐dependent methanogenesis with depth. The anaerobic microbial community at 30–50 cm below the water table produced CH4 with optimum activity at 20–25°C and pH 5.0–5.5 respectively. Inhibition of methanogenesis with 2‐bromo‐ethane sulphonate showed that acetate, phenyl acetate, phenyl propionate and caproate were important intermediates in the degradation pathway of organic matter to CH4. Further degradation of these intermediates indicated that 62–72% of the CH4 was ultimately derived from acetate, the remainder from H2/CO2. Turnover times of [2‐14C]acetate were on the order of 2 days (15, 25°C) and accounted for 60–65% of total CH4 production. Conversion of 14CO2 to 14CH4 accounted for 35–43% of total CH4 production. These results showed that acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis operated closely at a ratio of approximately 2 : 1 irrespective of the incubation temperature (4, 15 and 25°C). The composition of the archaeal community was determined in the peat samples by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T‐RFLP) analysis and sequencing of amplified SSU rRNA gene fragments, and showed that members of Methanomicrobiaceae, Methanosarcinaceae and Rice cluster II (RC‐II) were present. Other, presumably non‐methanogenic archaeal clusters (group III, RC‐IV, RC‐V, RC‐VI) were also detected. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) showed that the number of Bacteria decreased (from 24 × 107 to 4 × 107 cells per gram peat) with depth (from 5 to 55 cm below the water table), whereas the numbers of Archaea slightly increased (from 1 × 107 to 2 × 107 cells per gram peat). Methanosarcina spp. accounted for about half of the archaeal cells. Our results show that both hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogenesis are an integral part of the CH4‐producing pathway in acidic peat and were represented by appropriate methanogenic populations.
Evaluating single‐base‐pair discriminating capability of planar oligonucleotide microchips using a non‐equilibrium dissociation approach
Authors: Li Emily Sze Ying , Ng Johnson Kian Kok , Wu Jer‐Horng , Liu Wen‐Tso 
Published: October 2004

SummaryThe capability of planar rRNA‐based oligonucleotide microarrays for single‐base‐pair discrimination was evaluated using an approach that compares the non‐equilibrium dissociation profiles and dissociation temperatures (Tds) of all probe‐target duplexes simultaneously. Three sets of 16S rRNA gene specific probes at different levels of specificity were used along with their counter probes for individual sets having either one or two mismatches (MM) to their targets at specific external (next to terminus) and various internal positions. Criteria based on the Td approach and a discrimination index (DI) were proven to be competent in discriminating PM from internal MM duplexes, but not always for external MM duplexes. Maximal DI for separating PM duplexes from ones with two and one internal MM usually occurred at temperatures approximately 5–10°C and 10–15°C, respectively, higher than the Tds of the PM duplexes. Washing buffer type and salt concentration, and MM number and position were shown statistically to affect dissociation profiles, Td, and single‐base‐pair discriminating capability. The reusability potential of the planar microchip was further demonstrated.
High glucose mediates pro‐oxidant and antioxidant enzyme activities in coronary endothelial cells
Authors: Weidig P. , McMaster D. , Bayraktutan U. 
Published: October 2004

Aim:  Excess levels of free radicals such as nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide anion (O2–) are associated with the pathogenesis of endothelial cell dysfunction in diabetes mellitus. This study was designed to investigate the underlying causes of oxidative stress in coronary microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) exposed to hyperglycaemia.Methods:  CMECs were cultured under normal (5.5 mmol/l) or high glucose (22 mmol/l) concentrations for 7 days. The activity and expression (protein level) of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS), NAD(p)H oxidase and antioxidant enzymes, namely, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were investigated by specific activity assays and Western analyses, respectively, while the effects of hyperglycaemia on nitrite and O2– generation were investigated by Griess reaction and cytochrome C reduction assay, respectively.Results:  Hyperglycaemia did not alter eNOS or iNOS protein expressions and overall nitrite generation, an index of NO production. However, it significantly reduced the levels of intracellular antioxidant glutathione by 50% (p < 0.05) and increased the protein expressions and activities of p22‐phox, a membrane‐bound component of pro‐oxidant NAD(p)H oxidase and antioxidant enzymes (p < 0.05). Free radical scavengers, namely, Tiron and mercaptopropionylglycine (MPG) (0.1–1 µmol/l) reduced hyperglycaemia‐induced antioxidant enzyme activity and increased glutathione and nitrite generation to the levels observed in CMEC cultured in normoglycaemic medium (p < 0.01). The differences in enzyme activity and expressions were independent of the increased osmolarity generated by high glucose levels as investigated by using equimolar concentrations of mannitol in parallel experiments.Conclusions:  These results suggest that hyperglycaemia‐induced oxidative stress may arise in CMEC as a result of enhanced pro‐oxidant enzyme activity and diminished generation of antioxidant glutathione. By increasing the antioxidant enzyme capacity, CMEC may protect themselves against free radical‐induced cell damage in diabetic conditions.
Variants in the human β1‐,β2‐ and β3‐adrenergic receptor genes are not associated with morbid obesity in children and adolescents
Authors: Tafel J. , Branscheid I. , Skwarna B. , Schlimme M. , Morcos M. , Algenstaedt P. , Hinney A. , Hebebrand J. , Nawroth P. , Hamann A. 
Published: October 2004

Aim:  β‐adrenergic receptors (β‐ARs) are of key importance for the regulation of lipolysis and thermogenesis by catecholamines. Genetic defects in expression or function of β1‐ β2‐ and/or β3‐AR could affect energy homeostasis and predispose an individual towards the development of obesity. We therefore investigated the possible association of polymorphisms in the β‐adrenergic receptor genes with early onset obesity.Methods:  Frequencies of the following variants were assessed in extremely obese children and healthy underweight controls: Gly/Ser in codon 49 and Arg/Gly in codon 389 of the β1‐AR, Arg/Gly in codon 16 and Gln/Glu in codon 27 of the β2‐AR, Trp/Arg in codon 64 of the β3‐AR.Results:  The Ser49 allele in the β1‐AR gene was found at a frequency of 0.131 in obese and 0.136 in lean subjects (p = 0.835), while the Gly389 allele in the β1‐AR had a frequency of 0.319 in obese and 0.328 in lean subjects (p = 0.802). Gly16 in the β2‐AR was found with a frequency of 0.590 in obese and 0.611 in lean subjects (p = 0.591) and the Glu27 allele in the β2‐AR had a frequency of 0.380 in obese and 0.420 in lean subjects (p = 0.298).Conclusion:  We did not detect significant differences for allele and carrier frequencies of individual polymorphisms. Together with previously obtained data on genotype distribution of a β3‐AR variant in the same study group, no significant differences were found between obese and lean subjects for the distribution of individuals with variants in none, one, two or all three β‐ARs. Our data make it unlikely that polymorphisms in β‐ARs are involved in the pathogenesis of early onset obesity.
Antioxidant vitamins C and E ameliorate hyperglycaemia‐induced oxidative stress in coronary endothelial cells
Authors: Ülker S. , McMaster D. , McKeown P. P. , Bayraktutan U. 
Published: October 2004

Objective:  Vitamins C and E have protective features in many disease states associated with enhanced oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate whether vitamin(s) C and/or E modulate hyperglycaemia‐induced oxidative stress by regulating enzymatic activities of prooxidant, i.e. NAD(P)H oxidase and/or antioxidant enzymes, namely endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase, using coronary microvascular endothelial cells (CMEC).Methods:  CMEC were cultured under normal (5.5 mm) or high glucose (22 mm) concentrations for 7 days. The enzyme activities were determined by specific assays. The levels of O2– and nitrite were measured by cytochrome c reduction and Griess assays respectively.Results:  Hyperglycaemia did not alter eNOS activity or overall nitrite generation, an index of NO production. However, it increased NAD(P)H oxidase and antioxidant enzyme activities (p < 0.05). Specific inhibitors of NAD(P)H oxidase, i.e. phenylarsine oxide (0.1–3 µm) and 4‐(2‐aminoethyl)benzenesulfonyl fluoride (5–100 µm) and vitamins C and E (0.1–1 µm) significantly reduced prooxidant and antioxidant enzyme activities in CMEC exposed to hyperglycaemia (p < 0.01). The differences in enzyme activities were independent of increases in osmolarity generated by high glucose levels as investigated by using equimolar concentrations of mannitol in parallel experiments.Conclusions:  Vitamins C and E may protect CMEC against hyperglycaemia‐induced oxidative stress by concomitantly regulating prooxidant and antioxidant enzyme activities.
Nerve growth factor and vanilloid receptor expression, and detrusor instability, after relieving bladder outlet obstruction in rats
Authors: Kim Joon Chul , Kim Doo Bae , Seo Seong II , Park Yong Hyun , Hwang Tae‐Kon 
Published: October 2004

OBJECTIVETo investigate mRNA expression for nerve growth factor (NGF) and vanilloid receptor TRPV1 in the bladder after relieving bladder outlet obstruction (BOO), and to correlate changes with functional changes of the bladder.MATERIALS AND METHODSTemporary BOO was induced by partial urethral ligation in 40 male Wistar rats. After 3 weeks the obstruction was removed and the rats assessed by cystometry 3 weeks later. The bladder body of each rat was then removed, and NGF and TRPV1 mRNA expression measured by the reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction. Fifteen sham‐operated rats served as controls.RESULTSBased on the cystometry, 10 of the 40 experimental rats were judged to have an unstable bladder, and the remaining 30 to have normal bladder function. The mean bladder weight in the normal and unstable groups was higher than in the control group, and there was no significant difference between the normal and unstable groups. The bladder contraction pressure was similar in the three groups but the mean contraction interval was markedly shorter in the unstable than in the control and normal groups (P < 0.05). The mRNA expressions of NGF and TRPV1 were higher in the unstable than in the control and normal groups.CONCLUSIONSNGF and TRPV1 were apparently increased in unstable bladder tissue after relieving BOO; these changes may be related to irritative symptoms after correcting BOO.
Upper tract surveillance in primary bladder cancer follow‐up
Authors: Enver Mohamed K. , Miller Paul D. , Chinegwundoh Frank I. 
Published: October 2004

OBJECTIVETo determine if there is national variation in regimens of upper urinary tract surveillance in patients with primary bladder cancer.METHODSA questionnaire was sent to 470 consultant urologists from a British Association of Urological Surgeons list in the UK; 301 anonymous replies were received. Two replies were incomplete and therefore the results of 299 questionnaires (64%) were analysed.RESULTSOf the 299 surgeons, 19 (6%) use no form of upper urinary tract surveillance; 162 (54%) use surveillance in selected patients, i.e. those with carcinoma in situ (47%), multiple bladder tumours at first presentation (39%) and after cystectomy (70%), and 118 (39%) use upper tract surveillance on all patients with a history of bladder cancer. The median (range) screening interval was 24 (12–60) months and surveillance continued for a median of 10 (2 to indefinite) years, continuing for an indefinite period in 33%.CONCLUSIONSMost urologists use upper tract surveillance in patients with bladder cancer but there is wide variation in the duration and interval for which it continues, and in the type of patient selected for surveillance. Some patients at high risk of upper tract tumour are not being screened. Asymptomatic upper tract tumours may not be diagnosed because the intervals between surveillance are too long, and the duration for which it continues inadequate. There is a need for multidisciplinary national guidelines to reduce variation in practice.
Salvage cystectomy after failure of interstitial radiotherapy and external beam radiotherapy for bladder cancer
Authors: Nieuwenhuijzen Jakko A. , Horenblas Simon , Meinhardt Wim , Van Tinteren Harm , Moonen Luc M.F. 
Published: October 2004

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the long‐term results of salvage cystectomy after interstitial radiotherapy (IRT) and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for transitional cell carcinoma, and to assess the morbidity and functional results of the different urinary diversions used.PATIENTS AND METHODSThe records of 27 patients treated with salvage cystectomy in one institution between 1988 and 2003 were retrospectively analysed.RESULTSSalvage cystectomy was used after failure of IRT in 14 or EBRT in 13 patients, with a 3‐ and 5‐year survival probability of 46% (95% confidence interval 26–65) and 33 (11–54)%. The 5‐year overall survival after cystectomy was 54% after IRT and 14% after EBRT (P = 0.12). Tumour category, response to radiation, American Society of Anesthesiology score, and complete tumour resection had a significant influence on survival. Five of seven patients with incomplete resection died because of local disease, with a median survival of 5 months. There was clinical understaging after radiotherapy in 41% of patients. Nine patients had an orthotopic neobladder, with complete day‐ and night‐time continence in eight and four, respectively. All patients but one had good voiding function. There were early complications in two and late complications in six patients (for Bricker, seven of 14 and none; for Indiana, none of four and two of four). The duration of hospitalization was not influenced by the type of diversion. Erectile function was maintained in four of six patients after a sexuality‐preserving cystectomy and neobladder.CONCLUSIONSSalvage cystectomy can be performed with acceptable morbidity using any type of urinary diversion. Understaging after radiotherapy is common, but preoperative selection needs improving. A very significant factor for an adverse outcome and death from local tumour recurrence was incomplete resection, suggesting that salvage cystectomy should only be attempted if complete resection is probable.