bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of two lansoprazole–antibiotic combinations (amoxycillin or classical triple therapy) for treatment of H. pylori infection in duodenal ulcer patients
Authors: PARENTE F. , MACONI G. , BARGIGGIA S. , COLOMBO E. , BIANCHI PORRO G. 
Published: December 2004

Aim: To compare the eradicating capacity of two different antibiotic–lansoprazole combinations (amoxycillin vs. standard triple therapy) with that of lansoprazole alone in Helicobacter pylori‐positive duodenal ulcer patients. Methods: Ninety‐six out‐patients with H. pylori‐positive duodenal ulcer were randomly assigned to receive one of the following three antiulcer regimens: (1) lansoprazole 30 mg b.d. for 4 weeks plus amoxycillin 1 g t.d.s. during the last 2 weeks; or (2) lansoprazole 30 mg once daily for 4 weeks plus classical triple therapy (tripotassium dicitratobismuthate 240 mg b.d., amoxycillin 1 g t.d.s. and tinidazole 500 mg b.d.) for the last 2 weeks; or (3) lansoprazole 30 mg once daily for 4 weeks. Endoscopy was repeated at the end of treatment and 1 month later. A rapid urease test and histology were used to determine H. pylori status. Results: Duodenal ulcer healing rates at 4 weeks were 96% after both lansoprazole with amoxycillin, and lansoprazole with triple therapy, and 97% after lansoprazole alone. Eradication of H. pylori was significantly better with lansoprazole with triple therapy than with either lansoprazole with amoxycillin or lansoprazole alone (90% vs. 55% vs. 3%, respectively). Conclusion: Classical triple therapy combined with lansoprazole is significantly more effective than the lansoprazole with amoxycillin combination for the eradication of H. pylori in duodenal ulcer patients pre‐treated with lansoprazole.
Effectiveness and safety of ciclosporin as therapy for autoimmune diseases of the liver in children and adolescents
Authors: Sciveres M. , Caprai S. , Palla G. , Ughi C. , Maggiore G. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryBackground : Conventional treatment for autoimmune hepatitis results in a significant percentage of failures and several, poorly tolerated, side‐effects. Therapy for autoimmune cholangitis and giant cell hepatitis associated with autoimmune haemolysis is poorly documented. Ciclosporin is a promising treatment for all of these diseases.Methods : We reviewed the records of 12 patients treated in our unit between 1987 and 2001. Eight had autoimmune hepatitis, two had autoimmune cholangitis and two had giant cell hepatitis. Indications for ciclosporin were treatment failure (four patients) and contraindications to/refusal of steroids (eight patients). Ciclosporin was administered in five untreated cases and in seven patients during relapse. The mean duration of ciclosporin administration was 35.6 months (8–89 months). The median follow‐up was 6.5 years (1.5–15 years).Results : All patients achieved complete remission in a median period of 4.5 weeks (2–12 weeks). No treatment withdrawal due to side‐effects occurred. Three patients required a combination of ciclosporin with conventional treatment due to severe liver function impairment. Tolerance to ciclosporin was excellent. A 20% transient elevation of serum creatinine occurred in one case, gingival hypertrophy in two and moderate hypertrichosis in two.Conclusions : Ciclosporin may be considered as a safe treatment for all autoimmune liver diseases and as an effective alternative for front‐line therapy.
Practices of anaesthesiologists with regard to withholding and withdrawal of life support from the critically ill in Turkey
Authors: IyilikÇi L. , Erbayraktar S. , Gökmen N. , Ellidokuz H. , Kara H. C. , Günerli A. 
Published: December 2004

Background:  To determine practices of Turkish anaesthesiologists with regard to withholding and withdrawal of life support from the critically ill.Methods:  An anonymous questionnaire consisting of 18 questions was mailed to 439 members of the Turkish Society of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation.Results:  Three hundred and 69 questionnaires were returned (84% response). Over 90% of the respondents indicated that they were Muslim. We found that 66% of respondents had initiated written or oral do‐not‐resuscitate orders, most frequently after discussion with colleagues (82%).Conclusions:  While a number of similarities were found between Turkish anaesthesiologists and those from other countries, some specific differences could be identified, particularly related to consensus decision‐making and sharing information with other providers and the value of Ethics Committees in the decision‐making process.
Morphometry of the Thoracic Spine in German Shepherd Dog: A Computed Tomographic Study
Authors: Dabanoglu I. , Kara M. E. , Turan E. , Ocal M. K. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryComputed tomographic images of the thoracic spine of 13 German shepherd dogs were examined in order to determine the thoracic spine morphometry. Examinations were carried out in the transverse plane both intervertebral and mid‐vertebral levels of the each thoracic vertebrae. The dorsoventral and interpedicular diameters of the spinal canal, the dorsoventral and transverse diameters of the vertebral body, the dorsoventral and transverse diameters of the spinal cord and also the cross‐section area of the spinal canal were measured. The maximum values were found to be at the level of C7‐T1. The shapes of the spinal canal and cord were circular in middle part, the shape became transverse oval in the cranial and caudal parts of the thoracic spine. The most significant correlation between the diameters was found to be in male dogs, except between dorsoventral diameters of the spinal canal and that of the vertebral body and between dorsoventral diameters of the spinal canal and transverse diameters of the vertebral body.
Distribution, habitats and host plants of the cherry bark tortrix, Enarmonia formosana (Scopoli) in the Czech Republic (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae)
Authors: Tanigoshi L. K. , Starý P. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractDistribution of the cherry bark tortrix, Enarmonia formosana (Scopoli) (=CBT) was determined by detecting the presence of their frass tubes on the trunk of rosaceous shrubs and trees throughout the Czech Republic. Tree disjunctive areas of CBT were indicated in the country. The overall distribution of CBT approximates the annual isothermes 8–9 °C and 10–11 °C, but a number of zonal exceptions were also determined. The occurrence of CBT on sweet cherry, Prunus avium (L.) was the key target association, but P. armeniaca L., P. cerasus L., P. divaricata Ledeb., P. domestica L., P. persica L., and P. serrulata Lindley were also identified on the distributional map.
Inundative release of coccinellid beetles into eucalypt plantations for biological control of chrysomelid leaf beetles
Authors: Baker Susan C. , Elek Jane A. , Bashford Richard , Paterson Steve C. , Madden John , Battaglia Michael 
Published: December 2004

Abstract 1 Inundative augmentative releases of adult coccinellid beetles were assessed for their potential to effectively supplement biological control of outbreak populations of the Eucalyptus leaf beetle Chrysophtharta bimaculata in Eucalyptus nitens plantations.2 Mixed groups of two species of overwintering coccinellids, Cleobora mellyi and Harmonia conformis, were collected from the field then fed three diets in the laboratory prior to release. Both species were released in the summer into two E. nitens plantations with economically damaging Chrysophtharta populations.3 Differences between dispersal of coccinellids fed the three diets were slight; beetles brought straight out of overwintering before release were initially slower moving onto trees.4 Numbers of coccinellids on trees in monitoring plots decreased exponentially with time, and populations had returned to prerelease levels 7 days after release. The number of coccinellids recaptured decreased with increasing distance from the release point with very few coccinellids per tree at 70 m distance. Dispersal of C. mellyi away from the release plot was slower than that of H. conformis.5 Numbers of coccinellids on trees were significantly related to predation levels of C. bimaculata with a large decrease in the C. bimaculata population to below the economic damage threshold in plots where the numbers of coccinellids were high.6 The results of this study suggest that inundative release of laboratory reared coccinellids is possible for biological control of C. bimaculata, although it may only be economically viable in small, environmentally sensitive areas.
Volatile semiochemical impact on trapping and distribution in maize of northern and western corn rootworm beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
Authors: Hammack Leslie 
Published: December 2004

Abstract 1 Field studies evaluated plant attractants and analogues as tools to move corn rootworm beetles (Diabrotica spp.) into areas to be treated with toxic baits for population suppression via mass removal/annihilation of reproductive adults.2 When dispensed from sticky traps in maize, 2‐phenyl‐1‐ethylamine and 2‐phenyl‐1‐ethanol captured more northern corn rootworm, Diabrotica barberi, than did 4‐methoxyphenethanol. Only 2‐phenyl‐1‐ethanol attracted the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, but not until maize matured beyond milk stage.3 Attraction of D. barberi to the amine, alone or blended with 2‐phenyl‐1‐ethanol, occurred before and after maize flowered but not during intervening silk or blister stages. Attraction recurred during early milk stage at or before 50% emergence of adult female D. barberi or D. v. virgifera, respectively, and before populations declined for the season.4 Synergistic interaction of 2‐phenyl‐1‐ethylamine with 2‐phenyl‐1‐ethanol in attracting D. barberi females did not occur until maize matured to late milk stage.5 The amine‐alcohol blend (0.44 point sources m−2) doubled the density of D. barberi but not D. v. virgifera when applied to small plots within mostly milk‐stage or younger maize. Traps without bait within attractant‐treated plots captured more female, but not male, D. barberi than did traps in untreated control plots, hinting that females accounted for most of the observed increase in beetle density.6 The results suggest that attractants can be used despite phenological limitations to concentrate preovipositional females within field areas and thus to complement a variety of corn rootworm control strategies.
Intra‐plant host selection, oviposition preference and larval survival of Chrysophtharta agricola (Chapuis) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Paropsini) between foliage types of a heterophyllous host
Authors: Nahrung Helen F. , Allen Geoff R. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract 1 Paropsine chrysomelid beetles defoliate commercial eucalypt plantations in Australia. Adults and larvae feed on the same host, with the larval food source determined by the oviposition choice of females. Most eucalypt species are heterophyllous, with their foliage undergoing distinct morphological and chemical changes between adult and juvenile growth.2 The intra‐plant foliage feeding and oviposition preference adults and the larval development of Chrysophtharta agricola were examined using adult and juvenile foliage of a heterophyllous plantation species, Eucalyptus nitens. The foliage types differ in chemistry, toughness, waxiness and timing of production.3 In the field, feeding damage caused by adult beetles was 15% more frequent on adult foliage than on juvenile foliage; however, egg batches were three times more common on juvenile than on adult foliage.4 Oviposition preference for juvenile foliage over adult foliage was confirmed in choice trials in the laboratory, with adult fecundity and longevity not significantly different between foliage types.5 Larval survival, development time and subsequent pupal weight were also unaffected by foliage type, suggesting that neither foliage type is nutritionally superior for adults or for larvae. However, adult foliage was significantly thicker than juvenile foliage and this may prove a physical constraint to larval establishment. Biotic and abiotic factors (including interactions with natural enemies, competition, microclimate and mate location) that may affect patterns of host plant utilization are discussed.
Mutations associated with Sjögren–Larsson Syndrome
Authors: TSUKAMOTO N. , CHANG C. , YOSHIDA A. 
Published: December 2004

Sjögren–Larsson syndrome (SLS), a rare autosomal disorder characterized by ichthyosis, spastic neurological disorders and oligophrenia, is associated with deficiency of fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase encoded by a gene on chromosome 17q11.2. Mutations of the gene (GDB symbol ALDH10) were recently identified in three SLS patients. Another aldehyde dehydrogenase isozyme, ALDH3, also has a high activity for fatty aldehyde oxidation, and is encoded by a gene in chromosome 17q11.2. Abnormality of the ALDH3 gene could also cause a similar syndrome.The examination of the ALDH3 locus of three additional SLS patients showed that two are heterozygous with C→G at nt 985 (Pro→Ala at protein position 329). However, the mutation was found to be common (frequency of the atypical allele is about 0·25) in normal subjects, and not related to SLS.Isoelectric focusing analysis indicated that ALDH3 is hardly expressed in normal as well as patients' fibroblast cells, while ALDH10 expressed in the normal cells is diminished in the three patients' cells. The level of ALDH10 mRNA is also low in the patients' cells.The examination of the ALDH10 locus revealed the existence of a 3 base deletion coupled with a 21 base insertion at intron 6/exon 7 junction in one patient. This abnormality is the same as that found in the patient previously reported by other investigators. One patient is associated with a 2 base deletion at nt 1297 and consequent premature chain termination at protein position 434. Another patient is a compound heterozygote for the same 2 base deletion at nt 1297 and a 5 base insertion at nt 1311 and premature chain termination at protein position 457. Unique characteristics of the SLS mutations are pointed out.
Sodium nitroprusside‐induced rat fundus relaxation is ryanodine‐sensitive and involves L‐type Ca2+ channel and small conductance Ca2+‐sensitive K+ channel components
Authors: Geeson J. , Larsson K. , Hourani S. M. O. , Toms N. J. 
Published: December 2004

Summary 1 The aim of this study was to examine whether sodium nitroprusside (SNP)‐induced relaxation of rat fundus longitudinal smooth muscle involves ryanodine‐sensitive Ca2+ release. 2 SNP (300 nm–30 μm) elicited concentration‐dependent relaxation of precontracted (1 μm carbachol) rat fundus, an effect almost abolished by the selective guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, 1H‐[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3‐a]quinoxaline‐1‐one (ODQ, 10 μm). 3 SNP‐mediated relaxations were almost abolished by 10 μm ryanodine. 4 SNP‐mediated relaxations were also reduced by either 1 μm apamin (a selective small conductance Ca2+‐sensitive K+ channel, SKCa, inhibitor) or the selective L‐type Ca2+ channel inhibitor, nicardipine (3 μm). 5 SNP‐induced relaxations were insensitive to 1 mm tetraethylammonium chloride (an inhibitor of large‐conductance Ca2+‐sensitive K+ channels) and 1 μm glibenclamide (an ATP‐sensitive K+ channel inhibitor). 6 These data suggest that SNP‐mediated fundus relaxation occurs via a cGMP‐mediated and ryanodine‐sensitive mechanism which requires, at least in part, SKCa and L‐type Ca2+ channel activity.
The role of α1D‐adrenoceptors in prostatic contraction examined using protection studies
Authors: Chess‐Williams R. , Mason S. , Sellers D. J. , Wyllie M. , Chapple C. R. 
Published: December 2004

Summary 1 The aim of the study was to investigate the role of the α1D‐adrenoceptor in α1‐adrenoceptor‐induced contraction of human prostate by means of protection experiments. 2 Responses of human prostate strips to noradrenaline were recorded, along with responses of rat aorta and vas deferens, tissues possessing predominantly α1D‐ and α1A‐adrenoceptors respectively, for comparison. α1‐adrenoceptors were then inactivated by incubation with the irreversible antagonist phenoxybenzamine. In some tissues α1A‐ or α1D‐adrenoceptors were ‘protected’ from inactivation by incubation in the presence of the selective α1A‐ or 1D‐adrenoceptor antagonists 5‐methylurapidil and BMY 7378 before recording further responses to noradrenaline. 3 Phenoxybenzamine reduced the maximum noradrenaline‐induced response and the potency of noradrenaline in all tissues. In rat vas deferens and human prostate, 5‐methylurapidil protected α1A‐adrenoceptors in a concentration–dependent manner. In rat aorta, 10 nm BMY 7378 almost fully protected α1D‐adrenoceptors. However, concentrations of BMY 7378 up to 30‐fold higher failed to protect receptors in the human prostate. 4 These results suggest that in human prostate functional α1D‐adrenoceptors do not contribute to noradrenaline‐induced contractile responses.
Comparison of the effect of cyclic AMP on the content and release of dopamine and 1‐methyl‐4‐phenylpyridinium (MPP+) in PC12 cells
Authors: Ribeiro L. , Azevedo I. , Martel F. 
Published: December 2004

Summary 1 The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of acute and chronic exposure of rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells to elevated cAMP, using forskolin, dibutyryl‐cAMP (db‐cAMP) or isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX), on endogenous dopamine content and release and on [3H]‐1‐methyl‐4‐phenylpyridinium ([3H]‐MPP+) uptake and release, under basal conditions and under KCl‐stimulation. 2 Cultured PC12 cells synthetized and accumulated large amounts of dopamine, but not noradrenaline or adrenaline. The release of dopamine by the cells was markedly increased in response to 50 mm KCl. 3 Acute and chronic treatment of the cells with forskolin (30 μm), but not IBMX (100 μm), slightly increased the spontaneous release of dopamine and significantly decreased the release induced by 50 mm KCl. 4 Chronic treatment of the cells with forskolin (30 μm), but not IBMX (100 μm), markedly decreased the cellular content of dopamine. 5 Cultured PC12 cells removed and accumulated [3H]‐MPP+, which, similarly to dopamine, was released by KCl. 6 Acute treatment of the cells with forskolin (30 μm) or db‐cAMP (2.5 mm), but not IBMX (100 μm), slightly increased the spontaneous release, but did not affect KCl‐induced release of [3H]‐MPP+. On the other hand, chronic treatment of the cells with forskolin produced, on [3H]‐MPP+, similar effects to those obtained for dopamine. 7 Acute and chronic treatment of the cells with reserpine (50 nm) produced similar results to those obtained with forskolin on either dopamine or [3H]‐MPP+ handling. 8 In conclusion, cAMP, similarly to reserpine, increases the spontaneous release and decreases the KCl‐induced release of [3H]‐MPP+ and dopamine. This suggests that cAMP impairs the vesicular monoamine transporter.
The chronological life span of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Fabrizio Paola , Longo Valter D. 
Published: December 2004

SummarySimple model systems have played an important role in the discovery of fundamental mechanisms of aging. Studies in yeast, worms and fruit flies have resulted in the identification of proteins and signalling pathways that regulate stress resistance and longevity. New findings indicate that these pathways may have evolved to prevent damage and postpone aging during periods of starvation and may be conserved from yeast to mammals. We will review the yeast S. cerevisiae model system with emphasis on the chronological life span as a model system to study aging and the regulation of stress resistance in eukaryotes.
Base excision repair activities required for yeast to attain a full chronological life span
Authors: Maclean Morag J. , Aamodt Randi , Harris Nicholas , Alseth Ingrun , Seeberg Erling , Bjørås Magnar , Piper Peter W. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryThe chronological life span of yeast, the survival of stationary (G0) cells over time, provides a model for investigating certain of the factors that may influence the aging of non‐dividing cells and tissues in higher organisms. This study measured the effects of defined defects in the base excision repair (BER) system for DNA repair on this life span. Stationary yeast survives longer when it is pregrown on respiratory, as compared to fermentative (glucose), media. It is also less susceptible to viability loss as the result of defects in DNA glycosylase/AP lyases (Ogg1p, Ntg1p, Ntg2p), apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonucleases (Apn1p, Apn2p) and monofunctional DNA glycosylase (Mag1p). Whereas single BER glycosylase/AP lyase defects exerted little influence over such optimized G0 survival, this survival was severely shortened with the loss of two or more such enzymes. Equally, the apn1Δ and apn2Δ single gene deletes survived as well as the wild type, whereas a apn1Δapn2Δ double mutant totally lacking in any AP endonuclease activity survived poorly. Both this shortened G0 survival and the enhanced mutagenicity of apn1Δapn2Δ cells were however rescued by the overexpression of either Apn1p or Apn2p. The results highlight the vital importance of BER in the prevention of mutation accumulation and the attainment of the full yeast chronological life span. They also reveal an appreciable overlap in the G0 maintenance functions of the different BER DNA glycosylases and AP endonucleases.
Increased p27, an essential component of cell cycle control, in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Ogawa Osamu , Lee Hyoung‐gon , Zhu Xiongwei , Raina Arun , Harris Peggy L. R. , Castellani Rudolph J. , Perry George , Smith Mark A. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryA number of recent findings have demonstrated re‐expression of cell cycle‐related proteins in vulnerable neurones in Alzheimer's disease. We hypothesize that this attempt by neurones to re‐enter mitosis is a response to external growth stimuli that leads to an abortive re‐entry into the cell cycle and, ultimately, neuronal degeneration. In this study, to further delineate the role of mitotic processes in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, we investigated p27, a cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor that plays a negatively regulatory role in cell cycle progression that, once phosphorylated at Thr187, is degraded via an ubiquitin‐proteasome pathway. Here we report that both p27 and phosphorylated p27 (Thr187) show increases in the cytoplasm of vulnerable neuronal populations in Alzheimer's disease vs. age‐matched control subjects. Importantly, phosphorylated p27 (Thr187) shows considerable overlap with tau‐positive neurofibrillary pathology, including neurofibrillary tangles, dystrophic neurites and neuropil threads. The findings presented here suggest that dysregulation of the cell cycle plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease that may provide a novel mechanistic basis for therapeutic intervention.
Lifespan extension in C. elegans by a molecular chaperone dependent upon insulin‐like signals
Authors: Walker Glenda A. , Lithgow Gordon J. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryInsulin‐like signalling is a key determinate of lifespan in diverse species including mammals but the mechanism by which this pathway influences the rate of aging is unknown. In the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, mutations in the insulin‐like signalling pathway extend adult lifespan and are associated with up‐regulation of stress response genes including those for heat shock proteins (HSPs). We tested the hypothesis that the C. elegans insulin‐like signalling pathway determines longevity through modulating HSP levels. We introduced extra copies of the gene encoding HSP‐16 and this conferred stress resistance and longevity both in a wildtype and a long‐lived mutant strain. The DAF‐16 transcription factor is essential for maximal hsp‐16 expression and for lifespan extension conferred by hsp‐16. This demonstrates that lifespan is determined in part by insulin‐like regulation of molecular chaperones.