bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a modified commercial assay in detecting antibody to hepatitis C virus in oral fluids and dried blood spots
Authors: Judd Ali , Parry John , Hickman Matthew , McDonald Tamara , Jordan Laura , Lewis Kim , Contreras Marcela , Dusheiko Geoff , Foster Graham , Gill Noël , Kemp Katie , Main Janice , Murray‐Lyon Iain , Nelson Mark 
Published: July 2003

AbstractOral fluid testing is an effective alternative to serum antibody testing for surveillance of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B infections, and is being extended to hepatitis C infections. The objective of this study was to determine and compare the sensitivity and specificity of a modified commercial assay for the detection of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti‐HCV) in oral fluids collected by two different oral fluid collection devices (the Epitope OraSure™ and Sarstedt Salivette™) and in dried fingerprick blood spots. In this study, 253 anti‐HCV seropositive patients and 394 blood donors (all anti‐HCV negative) were recruited between August 2000 and January 2001. Each participant provided oral fluid specimens by OraSure and Salivette, and at least one dried blood spot. Serum specimens were collected from the patients whenever possible. For those injecting drug users who did not provide a serum specimen, HCV status was established on the basis of previous testing. All the nonserum samples were tested for the presence of anti‐HCV, using a modified Ortho HCV 3.0 SAVe enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) protocol. The recommended preliminary cutoffs for the modified ELISA were suboptimal. Further, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values could be improved by varying the cutoff and taking into account the likely prevalence of HCV in the population under investigation. For instance, given a population with a 50% prevalence of anti‐HCV, the optimal sensitivities of the modified assay on OraSure, Salivette, and dried blood spots were 92%, 83%, and virtually 100%, respectively, in contrast to 83%, 59%, and 99% using the preliminary cutoffs. The respective optimal specificities were 99%, 93%, and 100%. In conclusion, oral fluids collected by the OraSure device provide an extremely useful method to conduct public health surveillance of not only HIV, but also hepatitis C, among injecting drug users. In addition, dried blood spot specimens may be useful for surveillance and could be employed as a first line diagnostic specimen. J. Med. Virol. 71:49–55, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The expression of cognitive vulnerabilities for depression in daily life: a French-American study
Authors: Swendsen J.D. , Compagnone P. 
Published: July 2003

SummaryThis prospective study provided a direct comparison of French and American samples concerning a cognitive diathesis for depression. Using the Experience Sampling Method and identical measures across sites, subjects were signaled five times daily by electronic devices to provide in vivo reports of negative events, attributions, and depressed moods. After controlling for effects associating clinical and demographic variables, and despite differences attributable to national origin, attributional style emerged as a highly significant predictor of the numerous specific attributions made to negative events within the course of daily life. However, consistent with the cognitive mediation hypothesis, attributional style did not directly explain depression levels. The results are discussed in terms of the predictive power of cognitive and personality assessments in understanding the day-to-day experience of depression.
Non‐structural carbon compounds in temperate forest trees
Authors: HOCH G. , RICHTER A. , KÖRNER Ch. 
Published: July 2003

ABSTRACTThe current carbon supply status of temperate forest trees was assessed by analysing the seasonal variation of non‐structural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations in leaves, branch wood and stem sapwood of 10 tree species (six deciduous broad‐leafed, one deciduous conifer and three evergreen conifer trees) in a temperate forest that is approximately 100 years old. In addition, all woody tissue was analysed for lipids (acylglycerols). The major NSC fractions were starch, sucrose, glucose and fructose, with other carbohydrates (e.g. raffinose and stachyose) and sugar alcohols (cyclitols and sorbitol) playing only a minor quantitative role. The radial distribution of NSC within entire stem cores, assessed here for the first time in a direct interspecific comparison, revealed large differences in the size of the active sapwood fraction among the species, reflecting the specific wood anatomy (ring‐porous versus diffuse‐porous xylem). The mean minimum NSC concentrations in branch wood during the growing season was 55% of maximum, and even high NSC concentrations were maintained during times of extensive fruit production in masting Fagus sylvestris. The NSC in stem sapwood varied very little throughout the season (cross species mean never below 67% of maximum), and the small reductions observed were not significant for any of the investigated species. Although some species contained substantial quantities of lipids in woody tissues (‘fat trees’; Tilia, Pinus, Picea, Larix), the lipid pools did not vary significantly across the growing season in any species. On average, the carbon stores of deciduous trees would permit to replace the whole leave canopy four times. These data imply that there is not a lot of leeway for a further stimulation of growth by ongoing atmospheric CO2 enrichment. The classical view that deciduous trees rely more on C‐reserves than evergreen trees, seems unwarranted or has lost its justification due to the greater than 30% increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations over the last 150 years.
Accelerated usual interstitial pneumonitis, anti‐DNA antibodies and hypocomplementemia
Authors: Schattner A. , Aviel‐Ronen S. , Mark E. J. 
Published: July 2003

Abstract.  Schattner A, Aviel‐Ronen S, Mark EJ (Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot and Hebrew University‐Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem; Sheba Medical Center, Tel‐Hashomer, Israel; and Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA). Accelerated usual interstitial pneumonitis, anti‐DNA antibodies and hypocomplementemia (Case Report). J Intern Med 2003; 254: 193–196.A healthy 60‐year‐old patient presented with progressive dyspnoea. Clinical, radiographic and pathological features of interstitial lung disease were found and an open lung biopsy established the diagnosis of usual interstitial pneumonitis (UIP) (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis). Despite treatment, the patient died 4 months later in respiratory failure. Although the patient had no extra‐thoracic involvement at autopsy, his illness was associated with a very high titre of anti‐double‐stranded DNA antibodies, hypocomplementemia, hypergammaglobulinaemia and lymphoid hyperplasia. These features and a literature review, suggest immune‐mediated lung damage in a subset of patients with UIP.
Genotype, obesity and cardiovascular disease – has technical and social advancement outstripped evolution?
Authors: Zimmet P. , Thomas C. R. 
Published: July 2003

Abstract. Zimmet P, Thomas CR (International Diabetes Institute, Caulfield, Australia; and BioScience Communications, London). Genotype, obesity and cardiovascular disease – has technical and social advancement outstripped evolution? (Review). J Intern Med 2003; 254: 114–125.Teleologically, our ancestors were highly adapted hunter‐gatherers. In recent history, the environment in which Homo sapiens exists has altered drastically and humans are exposed to environments for which the hunter‐gatherer genotype is ill‐suited. The adoption of a sedentary Western lifestyle, and the case of obtaining food of a high calorific content imposed upon a thrifty genotype, have resulted in the current global epidemic of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome. The ramification of this epidemic is that cardiovascular disease is becoming a global healthcare problem, which will have its greatest impact on the developing nations. A global strategy is required to reduce the impact of the Western lifestyle on the health of developing nations and prevent obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Such an approach needs to be culturally sensitive, integrated, and multidisciplinary and involve a range of interventions that work at the individual and community levels. If lifestyle measures fail, then pharmacological intervention may be necessary. For this, novel agents such as dual PPARα/γ agonists may be the therapy of the future.
Fibrinogen, mortality and incident cardiovascular complications in end‐stage renal failure
Authors: Zoccali C , Mallamaci F , Tripepi G , Cutrupi S , Parlongo S , Malatino L. S , Bonanno G , Rapisarda F , Fatuzzo P , Seminara G , Stancanelli B , Nicocia G , Buemi M 
Published: July 2003

Abstract. Zoccali C, Mallamaci F, Tripepi G, Cutrupi S, Parlongo S, Malatino LS, Bonanno G, Rapisarda F, Fatuzzo P, Seminara G, Stancanelli B, Nicocia G, Buemi M (Institute of Biomedicine, Clinical Epidemiology and Pathophysiology of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, Reggio Cal; University of Catania; and University of Messina, Italy). Fibrinogen, mortality and incident cardiovascular complications in end‐stage renal failure. J Intern Med 2003; 254: 132–139.Objective. Fibrinogen is an established predictor of cardiovascular events in the general population but the relationship between fibrinogen, mortality and incident cardiovascular complications has been very little investigated in patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD).Design and subjects. We investigated the relationship between fibrinogen and all cause mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in a prospective cohort study in 192 patients on chronic haemodialysis treatment (follow‐up: 34 ± 16 months).Results. Fibrinogen was significantly higher in patients who died during the follow‐up than in those who survived. Similarly, fibrinogen was higher in patients who had fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular events than in event free patients. On multivariate Cox regression analysis fibrinogen was an independent predictor of survival [hazard ratio (1 g L−1 increase in plasma fibrinogen): 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05–1.35, P = 0.006] and a highly significant (P = 0.0008), independent predictor of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events [hazard ratio (1 g L−1 increase in plasma fibrinogen): 1.25, 95% CI: 1.10–1.43] in a model including traditional risk factors and serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) and plasma homocysteine.Conclusions. Fibrinogen is as an independent risk factor for overall and cardiovascular mortality in patients with ESRD. Intervention studies are required to see whether reducing plasma fibrinogen may help to curb the exceedingly high cardiovascular risk of the uremic population.
Effects of losartan on diabetic maculopathy in type 2 diabetic patients: a randomized, double‐masked study
Authors: Knudsen S. T. , Bek T. , Poulsen P. Løgstrup , Hove M. Nørgaard , Rehling M. , Mogensen C. E. 
Published: July 2003

Abstract. Knudsen ST, Bek T, Løgstrup Poulsen P, Nørgaard Hove M, Rehling M, Mogensen CE (Aarhus Kommunehospital, Aarhus, Denmark). Effects of losartan on diabetic maculopathy in type 2 diabetic patients: a randomized, double‐masked study. J Intern Med 2003; 254: 147–158.Objective. Diabetic maculopathy (DMa) is a leading cause of visual loss in the western world. Preliminary studies have suggested that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors might be effective in preventing the progression of diabetic retinopathy, but no studies have quantitatively assessed the effect of this treatment on macular oedema in patients with DMa. We evaluated the effect of treatment with the angiotensin II receptor antagonist losartan on macular oedema and hard exudates in patients with an advanced stage of DMa.Design.  Randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐masked and parallel‐group trial.Setting. Academic medical centre.Subjects. Twenty‐four type 2 diabetic patients with DMa.Intervention. Subjects were randomly assigned to a 4‐month treatment with either losartan (50 mg o.d.) or placebo.Main outcome measures. (i) Degree of macular oedema as estimated by optical coherence tomography scanning of the retina; (ii) fundus photography and flourescein angiography; (iii) 24‐h ambulatory blood pressure (BP); (iv) urinary albumin excretion (UAE); and (v) transcapillary escape rate of albumin (TERalb).Results. Central retinal thickness increased from 244 ± 16 to 256 ± 31 μm in the losartan group, whilst there was no change in the placebo group (245 ± 36 μm vs. 242 ± 30 μm), P = 0.017. Day BP were lowered in the losartan group (from 144/83 ± 17/10 to 138/78 ± 20/11 mmHg) compared with the placebo group (140/81 ± 14/5 to 139/82 ± 13/9 mmHg), P = 0.27 for systolic and P = 0.009 for diastolic BP. Importantly, there were no changes in night BP in any of the groups. We found no changes in the number of hard exudates, semiquantitative retinopathy grade, visual acuity, UAE, or TERalb in any of the groups.Conclusions. Type 2 diabetic patients with maculopathy do not seem to benefit from short‐term treatment with losartan (50 mg once daily) as far as retinal thickness is concerned, as this dose may increase retinal thickness in the central macular area. Long‐term studies are required to assess the clinical implications of these findings.
Carbon and oxygen isotope composition of organic compounds in the phloem sap provides a short‐term measure for stomatal conductance of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)
Authors: KEITEL C. , ADAMS M. A. , HOLST T. , MATZARAKIS A. , MAYER H. , RENNENBERG H. , GEßLER A. 
Published: July 2003

ABSTRACTAt eight different dates during the 2000 growing season, δ13C and δ18O were determined in the phloem of adult beech trees growing in natural beech stands in south‐west Germany differing in stand density and local climate. In addition, stand transpiration, precipitation, photosynthetic active radiation, relative air humidity, water pressure deficit of the air, air and soil temperature, soil water potential, and sugar concentration of the phloem sap were determined directly and evaporation and canopy stomatal conductance were modelled. All parameters were related to δ13C. The study aimed to identify the time integral within which the δ13C of organic compounds transported in the phloem is an indicative measure of these environmental influences. δ13C of soluble carbon transported in the phloem was well correlated with mean stomatal conductance in a two‐day integral prior to phloem sampling but did not depend on either light intensity or soil water availability. A strong positive relationship between δ13C and δ18O pointed to observed variation in δ13C of phloem sap being a result of variation in stomatal conductance. Bulk leaf δ13C was a poor indicator of changes in environmental conditions during the growing season. From these results we conclude that the analysis of δ13C in soluble carbon transported in the phloem is a reliable indicator of short‐term changes in Ci/Ca. In contrast, the δ13C of structural carbon in beech foliage represents an integration of a range of factors that mask short‐term influences responsible for Ci/Ca.
cPrG‐HCl a potential H+/Cl− symporter prevents acidification of storage vacuoles in aleurone cells and inhibits GA‐dependent hydrolysis of storage protein and phytate
Authors: Hwang Yong‐sic , Bethke Paul C. , Gubler Frank , Jones Russell L. 
Published: July 2003

SummaryThe putative H+/Cl− symporter cycloprodigiosin‐HCl (cPrG‐HCl) was used to investigate the role of vacuole acidification in cereal aleurone cell function. The protein storage vacuole (PSV) becomes acidified rapidly when aleurone cells are treated with gibberellic acid (GA) but not abscisic acid (ABA). We show that cPrG prevents PSV acidification in aleurone layers and prevents synthesis of secretory proteins such as α‐amylase. Our data support the hypothesis that decreased hydrolase synthesis is a consequence of decreased hydrolysis of storage proteins in PSV. Support for this hypothesis comes from experiments showing that breakdown of barley 7S globulins and phytate is inhibited by cPrG in GA‐treated aleurone layers. Decreased mobilization of PSV reserves is accompanied by reductions in the free amino acid pool size and in the amount of ions released from the aleurone layer. Vacuolation of the aleurone cell is a diagnostic feature of the response to GA, and vacuolation is also inhibited by cPrG. Evidence that cPrG acts as a potential H+/Cl− symporter in aleurone is presented. We show that cPrG does not inhibit the synthesis and secretion of α‐amylase when Cl− ions are omitted from the incubation medium. Although cPrG blocks many GA‐induced responses of aleurone layers, it does not affect early steps in GA signaling. The SLN1 protein, a negative regulator of GA signaling, is turned over in GA‐treated cells in the presence and absence of cPrG. Similarly, synthesis of the transcriptional activator GAMYB is unaffected by the presence of cPrG in GA‐treated cells.
Endosonographic diagnosis of intraductal papillary‐mucinous pancreatic tumors by intraductal ultrasonography
Authors: Igarashi Yoshinori , Tada Tomoko , Shimura Junichi , Ukita Takeo , Inoue Hirokazu , Maetani Iruru , Sakai Yoshihiro 
Published: July 2003

Background:  Intraductal papillary‐mucinous pancreatic tumors (IPMT) are intraductal lesions formed by mucin‐producing epithelium, which proliferates in a papillary pattern, and presents a spectrum from hyperplasia to adenocarcinoma. The value of intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) for excluding malignancy has not been assessed in a case series previously.Methods:  Intraductal ultrasonography was performed in 17 patients with IPMT (12 with adenocarcinoma and five with adenoma) between November 1993 and June 2002. Intraductal ultrasonography was used to determine the maximum height and maximum cross‐sectional area of protruding lesions. Results were compared after dividing the tumors into three groups: a benign lesion group, a non‐invasive cancer group, and an invasive cancer group. The resection line was located over 10 mm from the edge of the protruding lesion visualized by intraductal ultrasonography.Results:  All adenocarcinomas had a height ≥ 5 mm and all benign lesions had a height ≤ 3 mm, with this difference being significant (P = 0.0034). The height of non‐invasive and invasive cancer was similar. The maximum cross‐sectional area of the protrusion was smaller for benign lesions (≤ 15 mm2) than for non‐invasive cancer (≥ 34 mm2, P = 0.0034). The cross‐sectional area of the protrusion was greater in patients with invasive cancer than in those with non‐invasive cancer (P = 0.0367). All surgical margins have remained clear and no patient has suffered from a recurrence during 1 to 8 years of follow‐up computed tomography and ultrasonography.Conclusions:  Intraductal ultrasonography can distinguish benign from malignant IPMT based on the height and maximum cross‐sectional area of the protruding tumor.
Antibody Responses Determined for Japanese Dengue Fever Patients by Neutralization and Hemagglutination Inhibition Assays Demonstrate Cross-Reactivity between Dengue and Japanese Encephalitis Viruses
Authors: Yamada Ken-Ichiro , Takasaki Tomohiko , Nawa Masaru , Yabe Sadao , Kurane Ichiro 
Published: July 2003

ABSTRACT
Titers of antibodies to infecting dengue virus serotypes determined by serum neutralization assay were higher than those of antibody to Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus in Japanese dengue patients after disease day 8. Titers of antibody to dengue virus antigens determined by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay were higher in only 1 of 23 serum specimens after disease day 11. Thus, the neutralization test is more reliable than the HI test for serological diagnosis of dengue in countries where JE vaccination is widely used or JE is endemic.
Determination of Antibiotic Residues in Manure, Soil, and Surface Waters
Authors: Christian Thorsten , Schneider Rudolf J. , Färber Harald A. , Skutlarek Dirk , Meyer Michael T. , Goldbach Heiner E. 
Published: July 2003

AbstractIn the last years more and more often detections of antimicrobially active compounds (“antibiotics”) in surface waters have been reported. As a possible input pathway in most cases municipal sewage has been discussed. But as an input from the realm of agriculture is conceivable as well, in this study it should be investigated if an input can occur via the pathway application of liquid manure on fields with the subsequent mechanisms surface run‐off/interflow, leaching, and drift. For this purpose a series of surface waters, soils, and liquid manures from North Rhine‐Westphalia (Northwestern Germany) were sampled and analyzed for up to 29 compounds by HPLC‐MS/MS.In each of the surface waters antibiotics could be detected. The highest concentrations were found in samples from spring (300 ng/L of erythromycin). Some of the substances detected (e.g., tylosin), as well as characteristics in the landscape suggest an input from agriculture in some particular cases. In the investigation of different liquid manure samples by a fast immunoassay method sulfadimidine could be detected in the range of 1…2 mg/kg. Soil that had been fertilized with this liquid manure showed a content of sulfadimidine extractable by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) of 15 μg/kg dry weight even 7 months after the application. This indicates the high stability of some antibiotics in manure and soil.
Performance Enhancement by Unsteady‐State Reactor Operation: Theoretical Analysis for Two‐Sites Kinetic Model
Authors: Reshetnikov S.I. , Ivanov E.A. , Kiwi‐Minsker L. , Renken A. 
Published: July 2003

AbstractTheoretical analysis of the reactor performance under unsteady‐state conditions was carried out. The reactions are described by two kinetic models, which involve the participation in catalytic reaction of two types of active sites. The kinetic model I assumes the blocking of one of the active sites by a reactant, and the kinetic model II suggests a transformation of active sites of one type into another under the influence of the reaction temperature. The unsteady‐state conditions on the catalyst surface are supposed to be created (i) by forced oscillations of temperature and concentration in the reactor inlet (periodic operation of reactor) and (ii) by catalyst circulation between two reactors in a dual‐reactor system (spatial regulation). The influence of various parameters like concentration of reactant, cycle split, length of period of forced oscillations, temperatures and the ratio of catalyst volumes in the dual‐reactor was investigated with respect to the yield of the desired product. It is shown that for both cases of unsteady‐state conditions (periodic reactor operation as well as in a dual‐reactor system), a mean reaction rate predicted by the kinetic model I was up to two times higher than the steady‐state value. The kinetic model II shows a 20 % increase of the selectivity towards the desired product.