bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Brivudin compared with famciclovir in the treatment of herpes zoster: effects in acute disease and chronic pain in immunocompetent patients. A randomized, double‐blind, multinational study
Authors: Wassilew SW 
Published: January 2005

ABSTRACTObjective  This was a double‐blind, randomized multicentre trial comparing efficacy and safety of brivudin (125 mg, once a day) and famciclovir (250 mg, three times a day), both given orally for 7 days, in the treatment of herpes zoster.Methods  A total of 2027 immunocompetent zoster patients ≥ 50 years with zoster‐related pain at presentation were included. Outcome measures embraced prevalence of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), defined as at least moderate pain 3 months after treatment initiation, duration of PHN, prevalence and duration of zoster‐associated pain (ZAP), duration of vesicle formation and rash healing.Results  The prevalence of PHN at month 3 was 11.3% with brivudin and 9.6% with famciclovir [per‐protocol (PP) population]. Equivalence of the two drugs could be demonstrated (P = 0.01, PP and intention‐to‐treat analysis). The median duration of PHN was 46.5 days with brivudin and 58 days with famciclovir (P = 0.54, PP analysis). Prevalence and duration of ZAP did not differ significantly between treatment groups. The prevalence of PHN was higher in patients ≥ 65 years (brivudin: 16.4%, famciclovir: 16.4%), and in patients with severe rash (brivudin: 13.4%, famciclovir: 15.7%), without significant differences between treatment groups. In patients ≥ 65 years, median duration of PHN was shorter with brivudin than with famciclovir (39.5 vs. 57.5 days), although the difference was not statistically significant. The two drugs had equivalent efficacy in being able to accelerate the stop of vesicle formation, and lesion healing. Adverse events were similar in nature and prevalence among groups.Conclusions  The study demonstrated equivalent efficacy of brivudin and famciclovir in the treatment of herpes zoster regarding the prevention of chronic pain and the resolution of signs and symptoms of acute herpes zoster. Compared with famciclovir, brivudin provides equivalent efficacy and safety at a more convenient once‐daily dose schedule.
Quality of life in vitiligo patients after treatment with long‐term narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy
Authors: Tjioe M , Otero ME , Van De Kerkhof PCM , Gerritsen MJP 
Published: January 2005

ABSTRACTLong‐term treatments for chronic diseases such as vitiligo need to be evaluated for their clinical efficacy. Assessment of the quality of life (QOL), however, may provide the most relevant information on the actual benefit for these patients. In this study we evaluated QOL after long‐term narrowband ultraviolet (UV) B for the treatment of vitiligo. All patients, with long‐term stable vitiligo vulgaris, who were treated at our clinic during the last 4 years received specifically for this study a designed QOL questionnaire, which included questions about general well‐being, camouflage and psychosocial aspects; 71.4% of the patients responded. Most patients indicated an improvement on a psychological level, but an increase in camouflaging. The present study shows that, after long‐term narrowband UVB phototherapy, skin appearance does not play a major role in the life of vitiligo patients, while well being only improved in a minority of patients.
Evaluation of extensive initial staging procedure in intermediate/high‐risk melanoma patients
Authors: Vereecken P , Laporte M , Petein M , Steels E , Heenen M 
Published: January 2005

ABSTRACTIntroduction  Early diagnosis and treatment of metastases have been shown to improve overall survival of melanoma patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of extensive initial staging, including positron emission tomography (PET) scan on the management of melanoma patients.Patients and methods  Forty‐three patients with intermediate/poor prognosis primary melanoma benefited from complementary excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLB) after clinical and paraclinical staging (computed tomography, nuclear magnetic resonance and whole body fluorodeoxyglucose PET scan).Results  No systemic metastases were demonstrated, while the SLB procedure emphasized the presence of regional lymph node metastases in 10 patients as suggested by the PET scan in four patients (sensitivity of the PET scan 40%). These 10 patients with early diagnosed lymph node involvement benefited from early surgery and were included in adjuvant treatment protocols. A secondary primary cancer was fortuitously diagnosed and treated early in two patients.Conclusions  The development of new adjuvant therapies and therapeutic procedures (specific and non‐specific immunotherapy, gamma‐knife radiosurgery, etc.) now raises the relevance of extensive staging in intermediate/poor prognosis melanoma patients. We confirm in our series that PET scan is not useful to detect micrometastasis and cannot replace SLB in initial regional staging. However, we show in our study that 12 of 43 patients were treated early or were included early in treatment protocols thanks to the extensive staging procedure. Nevertheless, it seems important to evaluate through larger prospective trials the real impact of these early diagnoses and new treatments on overall survival before defining new diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines.
Immunoglobulin, complement and epidermal transglutaminase deposition in the cutaneous vessels in dermatitis herpetiformis
Authors: Preisz K , Sárdy M , Horváth A , Kárpáti S 
Published: January 2005

ABSTRACTBackground  Recently, epidermal transglutaminase (TG) has been identified within the papillary IgA granules in dermatitis herpetiformis (DH). Although IgA type autoantibodies to tissue and epidermal TGs are characteristic serological markers for DH, these antibodies do not bind to normal papillary skin structures.Aims  To test the possibility of IgA immune complex precipitation within the vessel walls as a first step in the pathogenesis of skin symptoms, we analysed immunoglobulin, complement, and epidermal TG deposition along the vascular system of DH skin.Methods  Punch biopsy specimen were taken from 116 DH patients’ skin, and evaluated for the presence of vascular immune precipitates by direct immunofluorescence. Skin samples from 16 DH patients were also studied for tissue and epidermal TGs.Results  In 74 (64%) of the 116 DH skin studied, significant vascular staining accompanied the DH‐specific granular IgA fluorescence (IgA and C3 in 39 patients; IgA alone in 18; IgA, C3 and IgM together in five; IgM alone in 12). In most cases (92%), the precipitates were detected in the small vessels of the papillary dermis; however, a subpapillary vascular fluorescence was also observed in a few patients (8%). Skin IgA colocalized with epidermal TG in the vessel walls and within the scattered papillary peri‐ and intervascular DH bodies. Tissue TG did not colocalize either with the immunoglobulins or with the complement precipitates of the dermis. Furthermore, we could not detect keratinocyte TG in the DH bodies nor in the vessel walls.Conclusions  These findings support possible immune complex precipitation in the vessel walls of DH skin and further confirm the significance of epidermal but not tissue TG in the pathomechanism of skin symptoms.
A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial of itraconazole in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis
Authors: Nassiri‐Kashani M , Firooz A , Khamesipour A , Mojtahed F , Nilforoushzadeh M , Hejazi H , Bouzari N , Dowlati Y 
Published: January 2005

ABSTRACTBackground  Several modalities have been used for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) with various results. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown inhibitory effects of azole drugs on Leishmania parasites.Objectives  To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of oral itraconazole in the treatment of CL caused by L. major.Methods  A total of 200 patients with parasitologically confirmed CL with a duration of less than 45 days from a well known L. major endemic area were included in a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial. The patients received either itraconazole 200 mg daily (100 patients) or placebo (100 patients) for 8 weeks. The primary outcome measures were clinical cure (complete re‐epithelization of all lesions) and parasitological cure at the end of the treatment.Results  Eighty‐three patients in the itraconazole and 75 patients in the placebo group completed the treatment course. After 8 weeks of treatment, clinical cure was observed in 59% and 53% and parasitological cure was observed in 83% and 76% of patients in the itraconazole and placebo groups, respectively, which were not significantly different. There was no difference in the rate of adverse events.Conclusions  An 8‐week course of oral itraconazole was not more effective than placebo in the treatment of CL.
Influence of the rate of contrast change on the quality of contrast sensitivity assessment: a comparison of three psychophysical methods
Authors: Nio Y. K. , Jansonius N. M. , Lamers P. , Mager A. , Zeinstra J. , Kooijman A. C. 
Published: January 2005

AbstractCriterion‐free forced‐choice procedures for measuring contrast sensitivity with a cathode ray tube (CRT) have low within‐subject, intersubject, and test–retest variabilities, but a long test time compared with psychophysical methods that rely on the subject's criterion to determine threshold. Test time and variability of criterion‐dependent methods depend on the rate at which the contrast changes on the CRT display. This study compared two criterion‐dependent psychophysical methods for measuring contrast sensitivity (the method of increasing contrast and the von Békésy tracking method) with a criterion‐free two‐alternative forced‐choice procedure. A range of rates of contrast change was studied: 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0 log unit s−1. Contrast sensitivity, within‐subject variability, intersubject variability, test–retest variability, and test time of the three methods were compared. The 2‐AFC procedure performed best with regard to within‐subject, intersubject, and test–retest variabilities. A time‐efficient alternative was the von Békésy tracking method at rates between 0.1 and 0.5 log unit s−1.
Reduction of artefact in scatter plots of spherocylindrical data
Authors: Harris W. F. 
Published: January 2005

AbstractRound‐off of spherocylindrical powers, to multiples of 0.25 D (for example) in the case of sphere and cylinder, and 1 or 5° in the case of axis, represents a type of distortion of the data. The result can be artefacts in graphical representations, which can mislead the researcher. Lines and clusters can appear, some caused by moiré effects, which have no deeper significance. Furthermore artefacts can obscure meaningful information in the data including bimodality and other forms of departure from normality. A process called unrounding is described which largely eliminates these artefacts; each rounded power is replaced by a power chosen randomly from the powers that make up what is called the error cell of the rounded power.
Spatio‐temporal selectivity of loss of colour and luminance contrast sensitivity with multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis
Authors: Flanagan Patrick , Markulev Connie 
Published: January 2005

AbstractColour and luminance‐contrast thresholds were measured in the presence of dynamic Random Luminance‐contrast Masking (RLM) in individuals who had had past diagnoses of optic neuritis (ON) some of whom have progressed to a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). To explore the spatio‐temporal selectivity of chromatic and luminance losses in MS/ON, thresholds were measured using three different sizes and modulation rates of the RLM displays: small checks modulating slowly, medium‐sized checks with moderate modulation and large checks modulating rapidly. The colour of the chromatic stimuli used were specified in a cone‐excitation space to measure relative impairments in red–green and blue–yellow chromatic channels. These observers showed chromatic thresholds along the L/(L + M) axis that were higher than those along the S‐cone axis for all display sizes/modulation rates and both red‐green and blue‐yellow colour thresholds were higher than luminance‐contrast thresholds. The principal change in thresholds with spatio‐temporal changes in the display was a reduction in thresholds for L/(L + M) and S‐cones with increasing check size and modulation rate. However, luminance contrast thresholds did not change with display size/rate. These results are consistent with MS/ON selectively affecting processing in colour pathways rather than in the magnocellular pathway, and that within the colour pathways neurones with opposed L‐ and M‐cone inputs are more damaged than colour‐opponent neurons with input from S‐cones.
Prospects for Mexican Civil Society
Authors: Merchant David , Rich Paul 
Published: January 2005

AbstractThe now much debated role of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the ongoing democratization of Mexico involves global issues such as trust, social capital, and volunteerism. How applicable the work of Robert Putnam on civil society is to Latin America, and how central associationalism will be to Mexico's future are a focus of this study of the policies that may promote democratic consolidation and ameliorate Mexico's “civic deficit” in a time when the place of the state in Mexican society is being reexamined.
Mexican Intellectuals and Policy Alternation (2000–2004)
Authors: Bilbao Luis Ochoa 
Published: January 2005

AbstractThe political and intellectual landscape of Mexico has been changed by two dramatic events: a new democratic experience, with the triumph of Vicente Fox in the presidential elections of the year 2000; and the relevant role that intellectuals are playing in public opinion. Soon, the democratic experience turned from illusion to deception, basically because Mexican political culture still is authoritarian, and this is something Mexican intellectuals could not accept. Their critics point out that democracy in Mexico is as new as it is weak, and Fox's government has been attacked in the media as no other president in recent history.
Tourism and Policy in Preserving Minority Languages and Culture: The Cuetzalan Experience
Authors: Greathouse‐Amador Louisa M. 
Published: January 2005

AbstractThis article outlines the sociolinguistic environment in Cuetzalan, Puebla, Mexico, and how the evolution of tourism influenced, in what appears to be a positive way, the preservation and maintenance of Nahuat, the language spoken by the Nahua Indians of this area. There are many remarkable consequences to this story, however, this article will concentrate on the principal movers, indigenous women, and how their proactive solution to economic hardship led to language preservation. With the focus on language usage, much of the community culture and traditions are recovered and revivified. This study focuses on the situation of a particular group of Nahua women who joined together and formed an economic cooperative to improve their very limited existence. Through diligent work with an implicit policy of self‐determination, they succeeded in organizing themselves into different work areas as well as investing time to educate themselves. A majority of the women began promoting tourism and in return tourism appears to have been a very important factor that motivated them to revive and maintain their language, culture, and traditions.
Opus Dei and Mexico: Civil but Sinister?
Authors: De Los Reyes Guillermo , Rich Paul 
Published: January 2005

AbstractAre voluntary organizations an essential ingredient of democratization, and if so, does that include the vast number of voluntary organizations, such as the Opus Dei, which appear to be authoritarian in their internal affairs? Do groups whose goals and internal structure have little relationship to the nurturing of democracy nevertheless contribute to a democratic culture? Discussing such questions is one of the main burdens of this article, which on that respect is a contribution to the now‐growing volume of literature about political transition from authoritarianism to democracy. The problems presented by such groups as Opus Dei are an illustrative case in weighing the contributions of Latin American volunteerism to democratization. The Catholic Church has had a more than passing interest in which nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) would be successful in Mexico and which would not. It has encouraged some NGOs—Opus Dei being, we think, a strong case in point.
Preclinical ex vivo expansion of G‐CSF‐mobilized peripheral blood stem cells: effects of serum‐free media, cytokine combinations and chemotherapy
Authors: Li Karen , Li Chi Kong , Chuen Carmen Ka Yee , Tsang Kam Sze , Fok Tai Fai , James Anthony Edward , Lee Shuk Man , Shing Matthew Ming Kong , Chik Kai Wai , Yuen Patrick Man Pan 
Published: January 2005

Abstract:  Objectives: Ex vivo expansion of granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF)‐mobilized peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) is a promising approach for overcoming the developmental delay of bone marrow (BM) reconstitution after transplantation. This project investigated the effects of culture duration, serum‐free media, cytokine combinations, and chemotherapy on the outcomes of expansion. Methods: Enriched CD34+ cells were cultured for 8 or 10 d in serum‐free media (QBSF‐60 or X‐Vivo 10) and four combinations of cytokines consisting of recombinant human pegylated‐megakaryocyte growth and development factor, stem cell factor, flt‐3 ligand, G‐CSF, interleukin (IL)‐6, platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF), and IL‐1β. Results: Eight days of culture in QBSF‐60 significantly supported efficient expansions of CD34+ cells, CD34+ CD38− cells, colony‐forming units (CFU) of myeloid, erythroid, megakaryocytic, and mixed lineages to 3.76‐, 14.4‐, 28.3‐, 24.0‐, 38.1‐, and 15.7‐fold, respectively. Whilst PDGF or IL‐6 enhanced the expansion of early, myeloid, and erythroid progenitors, IL‐1β specifically promoted the megakaryocytic lineage. Engraftment of human CD45+ cells were detectable in all non‐obese diabetic/severe‐combined immunodeficient mice transplanted with expanded PBSC from donor samples, being 5.80 ± 3.34% of mouse BM cells. The expansion and engraftment capacity of CD34+ cells from subjects postchemotherapy were significantly compromised across the panel of progenitor cells. Conclusion: Our results provided an optimized protocol for PBSC expansion, applicable to ameliorating neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in post‐BM transplant patients by the prompt provision of progenitor cells. For postchemotherapy patients, expansion products might provide committed progenitors for improving short‐term engraftment, but not self‐renewable stem cells.
Coccidioides posadasii
Contains a Single 1,3-β-Glucan Synthase Gene That Appears To Be Essential for Growth
Authors: Kellner Ellen M. , Orsborn Kris I. , Siegel Erin M. , Mandel M. Alejandra , Orbach Marc J. , Galgiani John N. 
Published: January 2005

ABSTRACT

1,3-β-Glucan synthase is responsible for the synthesis of β-glucan, an essential cell wall structural component in most fungi. We sought to determine whether
Coccidioides posadasii
possesses genes homologous to known fungal FKS genes that encode the catalytic subunit of 1,3-β-glucan synthase. A single gene, designated
FKS1
, was identified, and examination of its predicted protein product showed a high degree of conservation with Fks proteins from other filamentous fungi.
FKS1
is expressed at similar levels in mycelia and early spherulating cultures, and expression decreases as the spherules mature. We used
Agrobacterium
-mediated transformation to create strains that harbor Δ
FKS1
::
hygB
, a null allele of
FKS1
, and hypothesize that Fks1p function is essential, due to our inability to purify this allele away from a complementing wild-type
FKS1
allele in a heterokaryotic strain. The heterokaryon appears normal with respect to growth rate and arthroconidium production; however, microscopic examination of strains with Δ
FKS1
::
hygB
alleles revealed abnormal swelling of hyphal elements.
Role for RNA-Binding Proteins Implicated in Pathogenic Development of
Ustilago maydis
Authors: Becht Philip , Vollmeister Evelyn , Feldbrügge Michael 
Published: January 2005

ABSTRACT

Ustilago maydis
causes smut disease on corn. Successful infection depends on a number of morphological transitions, such as pheromone-dependent formation of conjugation tubes and the switch to filamentous dikaryotic growth, as well as different types of mycelial structures during growth within the host plant. In order to address the involvement of RNA-binding proteins during this developmental program, we identified 27 open reading frames from the genome sequence encoding potential RNA-binding proteins. They exhibit similarities to RNA-binding proteins with Pumilio homology domains (PUM), the K homology domain (KHD), the double-stranded RNA binding motif (DSRM), and the RNA recognition motif (RRM). For 18 of these genes, we generated replacement mutants in compatible haploid strains. Through analysis of growth behavior, morphology, cyclic AMP response, mating, and pathogenicity, we identified three candidates with aberrant phenotypes. Loss of Khd1, a K homology protein containing three KHDs, resulted in a cold-sensitive growth phenotype. Deletion of
khd4
encoding a protein with five KHDs led to abnormal cell morphology, reduced mating, and virulence.
rrm4
Δ strains were affected in filamentous growth and pathogenicity. Rrm4 is an RRM protein with a so far unique domain organization consisting of three N-terminal RRMs as well as a domain found in the C terminus of poly(A)-binding proteins. These results indicate a role for RNA-binding proteins in regulation of morphology as well as in pathogenic development in
U. maydis
.
Novel Interaction between Apc5p and Rsp5p in an Intracellular Signaling Pathway in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Arnason Terra G. , Pisclevich Marnie G. , Dash Megan D. , Davies Gerald F. , Harkness Troy A. A. 
Published: January 2005

ABSTRACT

The ubiquitin-targeting pathway is evolutionarily conserved and critical for many cellular functions. Recently, we discovered a role for two ubiquitin-protein ligases (E3s), Rsp5p and the Apc5p subunit of the anaphase-promoting complex (APC), in mitotic chromatin assembly in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
. In the present study, we investigated whether Rsp5p and Apc5p interact in an intracellular pathway regulating chromatin remodeling. Our genetic studies strongly suggest that Rsp5p and Apc5p do interact and that Rsp5p acts upstream of Apc5p. Since E3 enzymes typically require the action of a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2), we screened E2 mutants for chromatin assembly defects, which resulted in the identification of Cdc34p and Ubc7p. Cdc34p is the E2 component of the SCF (Skp1p/Cdc53p/F-box protein). Therefore, we analyzed additional SCF mutants for chromatin assembly defects. Defective chromatin assembly extracts generated from strains harboring a mutation in the Cdc53p SCF subunit or a nondegradable SCF target, Sic1
Δphos
, confirmed that the SCF was involved in mitotic chromatin assembly. Furthermore, we demonstrated that Ubc7p physically and genetically interacts with Rsp5p, suggesting that Ubc7p acts as an E2 for Rsp5p. However,
rsp5

CA

and
Δubc7
mutations had opposite genetic effects on
apc5

CA

and
cdc34
-
2
phenotypes. Therefore, the antagonistic interplay between
Δubc7
and
rsp5

CA

, with respect to
cdc34
-
2
and
apc5

CA

, indicates that the outcome of Rsp5p's interaction with Cdc34p and Apc5p may depend on the E2 interacting with Rsp5p.