bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Increased frequency of detection ofChlamydophila pneumoniaein asthma
Authors: Biscione G.L. , Corne J. , Chauhan A.J. , Johnston S.L. 
Published: October 2004

Previous studies have suggested that chronicChlamydophila pneumoniaeinfection may play a role in the pathogenesis of asthma. However, most studies have been based on serology and have been unable to differentiate acute from chronic infection.The present authors assessed the presence of acute and chronicC. pneumoniaeinfection in 74 spouse pairs, each consisting of one atopic asthmatic and one nonatopic nonasthmatic. Nasal secretions were sampled every 2 weeks from October to December and actively replicatingC. pneumoniaeinfection was detected by specific RT-PCR.C. pneumoniaewas detected in 31 out of 709 samples analysed, 23 (6.4%) were positive in 362 samples from asthmatic participants and in eight out of 347 (2.3%) samples from their normal spouses (with a significant difference in infection rates, 95% confidence interval: 4.2%, 1.2–7.2%). A total of 16 (22%) asthmatic and seven (9%) normal participants were positive at least once during the study.These data confirm thatChlamydophila pneumoniaeinfection is detected more frequently among asthmatic participants than normal control participants. Further studies are required to confirm whether infections are also present in the lower airway and whetherChlamydophila pneumoniaeinfection plays a role in disease pathogenesis.
Trends in service use and treatment for mental disorders in adults throughout Great Britain
Authors: Brugha Traolach S. , Bebbington Paul E. , Singleton Nicola , Melzer David , Jenkins Rachel , Lewis Glyn , Farrell Michael , Bhugra Dinesh , Lee Alison , Meltzer Howard 
Published: October 2004

BackgroundTrends in health treatments and outcomes in the general population may be used to monitor achievement of health targets.AimsTo investigate changes in mental health services and treatment in Britain over a 7-year period.MethodNational surveys of psychiatric morbidity were completed in 1993 and 2000 in households throughout Great Britain. Standardised interviews were used to establish psychiatric case status and service and treatment utilisation in adults aged 16–64 years.ResultsUse of psychotropic medication doubled in those designated as psychiatric cases. In the non-case-status population antidepressant use rose from 0.16% in 1993 (95% Cl 0.07–0.25) to 2.02% in 2000 (95% Cl 1.69–2.35). However, the overall prevalence of neurotic and psychotic disorder hardly changed from 1993 to 2000. Use of specialised ‘talking treatments' did not increase significantly, except in the non-case group.ConclusionsTreatment with psychotropic medication alone is unlikely to improve the overall mental health of the nation. A policy based almost exclusively on treatment of identified cases should be augmented by preventive approaches.
Randomized Multicenter Phase II Trial of a Biweekly Regimen of Fluorouracil and Leucovorin (LV5FU2), LV5FU2 Plus Cisplatin, or LV5FU2 Plus Irinotecan in Patients With Previously Untreated Metastatic Gastric Cancer: A Fédération Francophone de Cancérologie Digestive Group Study—FFCD 9803
Authors: Bouché Olivier , Raoul Jean Luc , Bonnetain Franck , Giovannini Marc , Etienne Pierre Luc , Lledo Gérard , Arsène Dominique , Paitel Jean Francois , Guérin-Meyer Véronique , Mitry Emmanuel , Buecher Bruno , Kaminsky Marie Christine , Seitz Jean François , Rougier Philippe , Bedenne Laurent , Milan Chantal 
Published: October 2004

Purpose To determine the efficacy and safety of a biweekly regimen of leucovorin (LV) plus fluorouracil (FU) alone or in combination with cisplatin or irinotecan in patients with previously untreated metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma and to select the best arm for a phase III study. Patients and Methods One hundred thirty-six patients (two were ineligible) were enrolled onto the randomized multicenter phase II trial. Patients received LV 200 mg/m2 (2-hour infusion) followed by FU 400 mg/m2 (bolus) and FU 600 mg/m2 (22-hour continuous infusion) on days 1 and 2 every 14 days (LV5FU2; arm A), LV5FU2 plus cisplatin 50 mg/m2 (1-hour infusion) on day 1 or 2 (arm B), or LV5FU2 plus irinotecan 180 mg/m2 (2-hour infusion) on day 1 (arm C). Results The overall response rates, which were confirmed by an independent expert panel, were 13% (95% CI, 3.4% to 23.3%), 27% (95% CI, 14.1% to 40.4%), and 40% (95% CI, 25.7% to 54.3%) for arms A, B, and C, respectively. Median progression-free survival and overall survival times were 3.2 months (95% CI, 1.8 to 4.6 months) and 6.8 months (95% CI, 2.6 to 11.1 months) with LV5FU2, respectively; 4.9 months (95% CI, 3.5 to 6.3 months) and 9.5 months (95% CI, 6.9 to 12.2 months) with LV5FU2-cisplatin, respectively; and 6.9 months (95% CI, 5.5 to 8.3 months) and 11.3 months (95% CI, 9.3 to 13.3 months) with LV5FU2-irinotecan, respectively. Conclusion Of the three regimens tested, the combination of LV5FU2-irinotecan is the most promising and will be assessed in a phase III trial.
Impact of Ulceration in Stages I to III Cutaneous Melanoma As Staged by the American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging System: An Analysis of the German Central Malignant Melanoma Registry
Authors: Eigentler Thomas K. , Buettner Petra G. , Leiter Ulrike , Garbe Claus 
Published: October 2004

Purpose In 2001, the new American Joint Committee on Cancer classification of cutaneous melanoma (CM) introduced ulceration of the primary melanoma as a new key parameter being represented in respective subcategories of the tumor (T) classification. The present study was performed to validate the prognostic significance of ulceration in relation to T thickness and clinical stages of CM (stages I to III). Patients and Methods Patients (N = 15,158) with incident invasive primary nonmetastatic CM and follow-up data recorded between 1976 and 2000 by the German Central Malignant Melanoma Registry were investigated using survival analysis to evaluate prognostic factors such as T thickness, level of invasion, body site, histologic subtype, ulceration, regression, age, and sex. Results Comparisons of survival probabilities according to the Kaplan-Meier method between ulcerated and nonulcerated CM were not statistically significant for subgroups with T thickness ≤ 1 mm and more than 4.00 mm (P = .2601 and P = .0699, respectively) but were significant for T thickness of 1.01 to 2.00 mm and 2.01 to 4.00 mm (P < .0001 for both). This result was confirmed in the multivariate analysis. For stage III CM, the impact of ulceration on overall survival was statistically significant in the bivariate Cox model (P = .0111) but not in the multivariate Cox model (P = .0522). Conclusion Whereas ulceration seems to have a negative impact on the prognosis of patients with stages T2 and T3, a potential influence for patients with stages T1 and T4 could not be established. If factors of the primary CM were to be taken into consideration to judge prognosis of stage III CM, T thickness but not ulceration should be the focus.
Phase I and Pharmacokinetic Study of Thalidomide With Carboplatin in Children With Cancer
Authors: Chintagumpala Murali , Blaney Susan M. , Bomgaars Lisa R. , Aleksic Aleksander , Kuttesch John F. , Klenke Renee A. , Berg Stacey L. 
Published: October 2004

Purpose Tumor growth and metastasis is believed to depend on the tumor's ability to induce neovascularization. Recent studies have indicated that thalidomide inhibits angiogenesis. We performed a phase I and pharmacokinetic study of thalidomide with carboplatin in children with refractory solid tumors. Patients and Methods Carboplatin was administered as a single intravenous dose once every 21 days at a target area under the concentration-time curve of 6 mg/mL·min. Thalidomide was administered daily by mouth. The initial dose level was 100 mg/m2/d with intrapatient dose escalation to a maximum dose of 300 mg/m2/d. The next cohort of patients started at a dose of 300 mg/m2/d, with intrapatient dose escalation to a maximum dose of 500 mg/m2/d. Standard response and adverse event criteria were used. Serial blood samples for thalidomide pharmacokinetics studies were obtained after the first dose. Results Twenty-two patients received 56 cycles of therapy. The maximum tolerated thalidomide dose was 400 mg/m2/d. The dose-limiting toxicity was somnolence. There were no objective responses. Thalidomide's apparent clearance was 55 ± 16 mL/min/m2 and the terminal half-life was 5.9 ± 2.8 hours. There was no evidence of dose-dependent pharmacokinetics in the narrow range studied. Conclusion Thalidomide at a dose of 400 mg/m2/d can be safely administered to children with solid tumors in combination with carboplatin. Somnolence is the major toxicity. In addition, we have characterized the pharmacokinetic behavior of thalidomide in children. This study can serve as the basis for future investigation of thalidomide as an anticancer agent in children.
Accuracy of Whole-Body Dual-Modality Fluorine-18–2-Fluoro-2-Deoxy-d-Glucose Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography (FDG-PET/CT) for Tumor Staging in Solid Tumors: Comparison With CT and PET
Authors: Antoch Gerald , Saoudi Nina , Kuehl Hilmar , Dahmen Gerlinde , Mueller Stefan P. , Beyer Thomas , Bockisch Andreas , Debatin Jörg F. , Freudenberg Lutz S. 
Published: October 2004

PurposeTo assess the accuracy of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) when staging different malignant diseases.Patients and MethodsThis was a retrospective, blinded, investigator-initiated study of 260 patients with various oncological diseases who underwent fluorine-18–2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose PET/CT for tumor staging. CT images alone, PET images alone, PET + CT data viewed side by side, and fused PET/CT images were evaluated separately according to the tumor-node-metastasis system. One hundred forty patients with tumors not staged according to the tumor-node-metastasis system or a lack of reference standard were excluded from data analysis; 260 patients were included. Diagnostic accuracies were determined for each of the four image sets. Histopathology and a clinical follow-up of 311 (± 125) days served as standards of reference.ResultsPET/CT proved significantly more accurate in assessing tumor-node-metastasis system stage compared with CT alone, PET alone, and side-by-side PET + CT (P < .0001). Of 260 patients, 218 (84%; 95% CI, 79% to 88%) were correctly staged with PET/CT, 197 (76%; 95% CI, 70% to 81%) with side-by-side PET + CT, 163 (63%; 95% CI, 57% to 69%) with CT alone, and 166 (64%; 95% CI, 58% to 70%) with PET alone. Combined PET/CT had an impact on the treatment plan in 16, 39, and 43 patients when compared with PET + CT, CT alone, and PET alone, respectively.ConclusionTumor staging with PET/CT is significantly more accurate than CT alone, PET alone, and side-by-side PET + CT. This diagnostic advantage translates into treatment plan changes in a substantial number of patients.
Role of Lung Transplantation in the Treatment of Bronchogenic Carcinomas for Patients With End-Stage Pulmonary Disease
Authors: de Perrot Marc , Chernenko Susan , Waddell Thomas K. , Shargall Yaron , Pierre Andrew F. , Hutcheon Michael , Keshavjee Shaf 
Published: October 2004

Purpose To determine the role of lung transplantation in the treatment of patients presenting with bronchogenic carcinoma and end-stage lung disease. Methods An international survey was conducted to determine the outcome of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma in the explanted lung at the time of transplantation. A group of 69 patients was collected from 33 centers. Results Twenty-six patients underwent 29 lung transplantations for advanced multifocal bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) as the primary indication for transplantation, and 13 developed a recurrence, with an overall 5-year actuarial survival of 39%. Incidental bronchogenic carcinomas classified as stage I (n = 22), II (n = 12), and III (n = 2), or as incidental multifocal BAC (n = 7), were found in the explanted lung of the remaining 43 patients. The 5-year actuarial survival was 51% in patients with stage I carcinomas, and was significantly better than for patients with stage II and III carcinomas (survival of 14%) or with incidental multifocal BAC (survival of 23%). Time from transplantation to recurrence and from recurrence to death was significantly longer in patients with multifocal BAC than in patients with other types of bronchogenic carcinoma. In addition, the site of recurrence was limited to the transplanted lung in 88% of the patients with multifocal BAC, whereas it was always widespread in patients with other types of bronchogenic carcinoma. Conclusion This study demonstrates that long-term survival can be achieved after lung transplantation in patients with stage I bronchogenic carcinoma or with advanced multifocal BAC.
Infants' Evolving Representations of Object Motion During Occlusion: A Longitudinal Study of 6‐ to 12‐Month‐Old Infants
Authors: Gredebäck Gustaf , von Hofsten Claes 
Published: October 2004

AbstractInfants' ability to track temporarily occluded objects that moved on circular trajectories was investigated in 20 infants using a longitudinal design. They were first seen at 6 months and then every 2nd month until the end of their 1st year. Infants were presented with occlusion events covering 20% of the target's trajectory (effective occlusion interval ranged from 500–4,000 msec). Gaze was measured using an ASL 504 infrared eye‐tracking system. Results effectively demonstrate that infants from 6 months of age can represent the spatiotemporal dynamics of occluded objects. Infants at all ages tested were able to predict, under certain conditions, when and where the object would reappear after occlusion. They moved gaze accurately to the position where the object was going to reappear and scaled their timing to the current occlusion duration. The average rate of predictive gaze crossings increased with occlusion duration. These results are discussed as a 2‐factor process. Successful predictions are dependent on strong representations, themselves dependent on the richness of information available during encoding and graded representations.
Anticipatory Eye Movements Reveal Infants' Auditory and Visual Categories
Authors: McMurray Bob , Aslin Richard N. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractWe introduce a new paradigm for the assessment of auditory and visual categories in 6‐month‐old infants using a 2‐alternative anticipatory eye‐movement response. Infants were trained by 2 different methods to anticipate the location of a visual reinforcer at 1 of 2 spatial locations (right or left) based on the identity of 2 cuing stimuli. After a training phase, infants were presented with a series of generalization trials in which novel (untrained) stimuli served as the cue to the anticipatory eye movement. Four experiments illustrated that infants can learn the 2‐choice discriminative response during training. Infants also showed anticipatory eye movements to novel stimuli, indicating sensitivity to variations along a variety of stimulus dimensions (e.g., color, shape, orientation, spatial frequency, pitch, and duration). In addition, the paradigm can be used to assess categorization in individual infants, thereby revealing the stimulus dimensions to which infants naturally attend.
Carane derivative stereoisomers of different local anaesthetic and antiplatelet activity similarly potentiate forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP response and bind to β-adrenoceptors in the rat brain cortex
Authors: Librowski Tadeusz , Vetulani Jerzy , Nalepa Irena 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
A carane derivative, KP-23 [RS](–)-4-(2-hydroxy-3)N-isopropylamino)-propoxyimino)-cis-carane, was earlier described as a potential local anaesthetic and antiplatelet agent, and the following studies revealed that its R and S stereoisomers, KP-23R and KP-23S, have different potencies in the infiltration anaesthesia and platelet aggregation tests. The effects of these stereoisomers on the cyclic AMP (cAMP) generating system and the displacement of [3H]CGP 12177 (a β-adrenoceptor ligand) from its binding sites in the rat cerebral cortical tissue were investigated. The stereoisomers did not affect the basal cAMP level, but, at concentrations between 10−4 and 10−3m, they elevated the forskolin-induced accumulation of cAMP with similar potency. The compounds displaced [3H]CGP 12177, however the stereoisomer R was less potent than the racemic KP-23 and the S form (Ki = 64.1 ± 5.9 nm, 161.1 ± 10 nm and 62.1 ± 5.6 nm for KP-23, KP-23R and KP-23S, respectively). The fact that the stereoisomers differed in both tests only slightly, if at all, suggests that their pharmacological effects are not related to the action on the β-adrenoceptor/adenylate cyclase system.
The Effect of Motor Imagery on Spinal Segmental Excitability
Authors: Li Sheng , Kamper Derek G. , Stevens Jennifer A. , Rymer William Z. 
Published: October 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of motor imagery on spinal segmental excitability by recording the reflex responses to externally applied stretch of the extrinsic finger flexors and extensors during the performance of an imaginary task. Nine young healthy subjects performed a series of imagined flexion-extension movements of the fingers. Muscle stretch was imposed concurrently by applying rotations of the metacarpophalangeal joints at 100, 300, or 500°/sec. Three of the nine tested subjects also generated 0.2 Newton meter voluntary flexion torque in preloading tasks before stretch.At 300°/sec stretch, electromyogram (EMG) and torque reflex responses, which were observed in the finger flexors in four of nine subjects during motor imagery, were activated at a short latency (38.6 ± 10.6 msec). This latency was similar to that recorded during a stretch of preactivated flexor muscles (34.4 ± 3.6 msec), in which motoneurons are already suprathreshold and in which monosynaptic effects of muscle afferents are likely to be discernable. In a similar manner, for stretches imposed at 500°/sec, responses to stretch of the flexors were observed in all five tested subjects in imaginary flexion tasks at very short latencies (26.4 ± 3.7 msec), again similar to those induced by tendon taps (22.8 ± 1.2 msec). No EMG response was observed at rest during stretches.These observations support the view that effects must have been mediated by imagery-related subthreshold activation of spinal motoneurons and/or interneurons, rather than by long-latency transcortical reflex responses. We conclude that motor imagery has a potent effect on the excitability of spinal reflex pathways.
Cyclin D Does Not Provide Essential Cdk4-Independent Functions in Drosophila
Authors: Emmerich Jan , Meyer Claas A , de la Cruz Aida Flor A , Edgar Bruce A , Lehner Christian F 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
The three mammalian D-type cyclins are thought to promote progression through the G1 phase of the cell cycle as regulatory subunits of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6. In addition, they have been proposed to control the activity of various transcription factors without a partner kinase. Here we describe phenotypic consequences of null mutations in Cyclin D, the single D-type cyclin gene in Drosophila. As previously observed with null mutations in the single Drosophila Cdk4 gene, these mutations do not primarily affect progression through the G1 phase. Moreover, the apparently indistinguishable phenotypes of double (CycD and Cdk4) and single mutants (CycD or Cdk4) argue against major independent functions of Cyclin D and Cdk4. The reduced cellular and organismal growth rates observed in both mutants indicate that Cyclin D-Cdk4 acts as a growth driver.
Single-Locus Latitudinal Clines and Their Relationship to Temperate Adaptation in Metabolic Genes and Derived Alleles in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Sezgin Efe , Duvernell David D , Matzkin Luciano M , Duan Yihao , Zhu Chen-Tseh , Verrelli Brian C , Eanes Walter F 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
We report a study in Drosophila melanogaster of latitudinal clines for 23 SNPs embedded in 13 genes (Pgi, Gapdh1, UGPase, Pglym78, Pglym87, Eno, Men, Gdh, Sod, Pgk, Mdh1, TreS, Treh) representing various metabolic enzymes. Our samples are from 10 populations spanning latitude from southern Florida to northern Vermont. Three new clines with latitude were detected. These are the amino acid polymorphisms in the NAD-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (Gdh) and trehalase (Treh) genes, and a silent site polymorphism in the UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene (UGPase). The result, when combined with the overall incidence and pattern of reports for six other genes (Adh, Gpdh, Pgm, G6pd, 6Pgd, Hex-C), presents a picture of latitudinal clines in metabolic genes prevalent around the branch point of competing pathways. For six of the seven amino acid polymorphisms showing significant latitudinal clines in North America, the derived allele is the one increasing with latitude, suggesting temperate adaptation. This is consistent with a model of an Afrotropical ancestral species adapting to temperate climates through selection favoring new mutations.
Thiamine Pyrophosphate Biosynthesis and Transport in the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegansSequence data from this article have been deposited with the EMBL/GenBank Data Libraries under accession no. AY513235.
Authors: de Jong Liesbeth , Meng Yan , Dent Joseph , Hekimi Siegfried 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
Thiamine (vitamin B1) is required in the diet of animals, and thiamine deficiency leads to diseases such as beri-beri and the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Dietary thiamine (vitamin B1) consists mainly of thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), which is transformed into thiamine by gastrointestinal phosphatases before absorption. It is believed that TPP itself cannot be transported across plasma membranes in significant amounts. We have identified a partial loss-of-function mutation in the Caenorhabditis elegans gene (tpk-1) that encodes thiamine pyrophosphokinase, which forms TPP from thiamine at the expense of ATP inside cells. The mutation slows physiological rhythms and the phenotype it produces can be rescued by TPP but not thiamine supplementation. tpk-1 functions cell nonautonomously, as the expression of wild-type tpk-1 in one tissue can rescue the function of other tissues that express only mutant tpk-1. These observations indicate that, in contrast to expectation from previous evidence, TPP can be transported across cell membranes. We also find that thiamine supplementation partially rescues the phenotype of partial loss-of-function mutants of the Na/K ATPase, providing genetic evidence that thiamine absorption, and/or redistribution from the absorbing cells, requires the full activity of this enzyme.
ospC Diversity in Borrelia burgdorferi
Authors: Brisson Dustin , Dykhuizen Daniel E 
Published: October 2004

Abstract
The outer surface protein C (ospC) locus of the Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, is at least an order of magnitude more variable than other genes in the species. This variation is classified into 22 ospC major groups, 15 of which are found in the northeastern United States. The frequency distributions of ospC within populations suggest that this locus is under balancing selection. In multiple-niche polymorphism, a type of balancing selection, diversity within a population can be maintained when the environment is heterogeneous and no one genotype has the highest fitness in all environments. Genetically different individuals within vertebrate species and different vertebrate species constitute diverse environments for B. burgdorferi. We examined four important host species of B. burgdorferi and found that the strains that infected each species had different sets of ospC major groups. We found no variation among conspecific hosts in the ospC major groups of their infecting strains. These results suggest multiple niches create balancing selection at the ospC locus.