bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Short‐term recurrent abdominal pain related to Helicobacter pylori infection in children
Authors: YANG YAO‐JONG , SHEU BOR‐SHYANG , LEE SHUI‐CHENG , WU JIUNN‐JONG 
Published: February 2005

AbstractBackground and Aim: The causal relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and recurrent abdominal pain in children is still under debate. This study assessed the relationship between H. pylori infection and recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) in preschool and school children.Methods: A total of 1271 preschool and school children completed a questionnaire to define the RAP or short‐term RAP (SRAP) with pain duration from 2 weeks to 3 months. The serum samples of 118 children with RAP, 60 with SRAP and 212 control children without abdominal pain were all tested for anti‐H. pylori IgG. Children with abdominal pain and anti‐H. pylori seropositivity were followed for 1 year to assess the relationship of H. pylori infection and recurrent abdominal pain.Results: The prevalence rates of RAP and SRAP in children were 9.8% (124/1271) and 5.5% (70/1271), respectively. Children with SRAP had a higher anti‐H. pylori seropositive rate than those with RAP (25%vs 5%, P < 0.001) and control (25%vs 9%, P = 0.001). Among children with SRAP, the epigastric pain was related to H. pylori infection (P = 0.002). One year later, 71% (15/21) of the follow‐up children (15 with SRAP, six with RAP) became symptom free regardless of the persistence of H. pylori.Conclusion: H. pylori infection is more commonly found in children with short‐term RAP, and presentation of epigastric pain in these cases can be considered as a warning alarm to screen for H. pylori infection.
Gastric tone variations during gastric infusion of fiber‐supplemented formulas
Authors: SAVOYE GUILLAUME , BOUIN MICKAEL , HERVÉ SOPHIE , DENIS PHILIPPE , DUCROTTÉ PHILIPPE 
Published: February 2005

AbstractBackground and Aim: Despite gastric feeding being a common method of artificial nutritional support, little is known about the effects of enteral nutrition on fundic motor function. The objective of this study was to assess variations of fundic tone and their relation to antroduodenal motility before, during and after nasogastric feeding supplemented or not with fibers.Method: Double‐blinded studies were performed in random order with the three different diets (2100 kJ) in eight volunteers: fiber free (FF), insoluble fiber (IF) or mixed fiber (MF). Fundic tone was recorded by barostat concomitantly with antroduodenal manometry.Results: Before the infusion, seven spontaneous fundic relaxations occurred during the 24 studies. Concomitantly or less than 2 min before these relaxations, phase III of the migrating motor complex (MMC) with a duodenal onset was recorded. Only the 17 studies without spontaneous fundic relaxation (4 FF, 6 MF, 7 IF) were suitable for the assessment of fundic response to infusion. Disappearance of the volume waves at the beginning and during the whole infusion was observed in 11/17 studies (FF 50%, MF 66% and IF 71%, NS), but a proximal gastric relaxation following the beginning of the infusion occurred in only three individuals, one with the FF and two with IF. When it occurred, fundic relaxation was observed within 2 min and was not different from those observed spontaneously.Conclusion: Gastric infusion of a polymeric diet, supplemented or not with fiber, did not promote fundic relaxation in most of the cases but often induced a disappearance of gastric volume waves.
Doxazosin for benign prostatic hyperplasia: An open‐label, baseline‐controlled study in Korean general practice
Authors: CHUNG BYUNG HA , HONG SUNG JOON , LEE MOO SANG 
Published: February 2005

AbstractBackground: Few studies have reported the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in Asian patients. We assessed the safety and efficacy of doxazosin, a selective α1‐adrenoceptor antagonist, in the treatment of Korean patients with symptomatic BPH.Methods: Two hundred and ninety‐five men, aged 48 years or older with clinical BPH, were enrolled in a 12‐week, open‐label, baseline‐controlled, dose‐titration, multicenter study. A 2‐week, single‐blind, placebo run‐in was followed by 10 weeks of doxazosin treatment, initially administered at 1 mg/day, with upward titrations (2, 4, or 8 mg/day) at 2‐week intervals. The international prostate symptom score (IPSS) was used to assess efficacy after 4, 6, and 10 weeks of active treatment.Results: The intent‐to‐treat (ITT) population comprised 249 patients (mean age 63.6 years). Doxazosin significantly reduced the mean total IPSS by 48%; similarly, the obstructive and irritative subscores were reduced from baseline by 51% and 39%, respectively (P < 0.001 for all scores: Wilcoxon rank sum test). In a subset analysis of 170 normotensive and 78 hypertensive patients, significant reductions in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures relative to baseline were observed only in the hypertensive subset (P < 0.01). Similar results in mean IPSS were observed in older (≥65 years, n = 100) and younger (45–64 years, n = 140) patients, as well as between normotensive and hypertensive patients. Thirty‐nine patients reported adverse events: The most frequent were dizziness, dyspepsia, asthenia, somnolence, and dry mouth.Conclusions: The efficacy and safety of doxazosin treatment for BPH were confirmed in this Asian population. Significant improvements in total IPSS, as well as obstructive and irritative subscores, were observed.
Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms in the 17β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase genes might predict the risk of side‐effects of estramustine phosphate sodium in prostate cancer patients
Authors: SUZUKI MOTOFUMI , MUTO SATORU , HARA KAZUO , OZEKI TAKESHI , YAMADA YASUHIKO , KADOWAKI TAKASHI , TOMITA KYOICHI , KAMEYAMA SHUJI , KITAMURA TADAICHI 
Published: February 2005

AbstractBackground: Estramustine phosphate sodium (EMP) frequently causes side‐effects such as gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, and edema in extremities. We analyzed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the 17β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD17B) genes, which are involved in the metabolism of EMP, to predict the risk of EMP side‐effects in prostate cancer patients.Methods: We performed genotyping of SNP in the HSD17B genes of 44 Japanese patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer. The association of SNP and individual EMP side‐effects was evaluated.Results: Peripheral edema occurred more frequently in patients with C/C genotype of IMS‐JST123219 than in those with C/G genotype (OR: 5.47, 95% CI: 1.27–23.64). Haplotype analysis showed that appetite loss was associated with the G allele of IMS‐JST123219 and the T allele of IMS‐JST123218 (OR: 9.13, 95% CI: 1.15–72.76).Conclusions: These preliminary data demonstrated that analyses of SNP in the HSD17B genes might predict the occurrence of side‐effects from EMP.
Vascular endothelial growth factor‐C (VEGF‐C) expression predicts lymph node metastasis of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder
Authors: SUZUKI KAZUMI , MORITA TATSUO , TOKUE AKIHIKO 
Published: February 2005

AbstractPurpose: It has been found that expression of vascular endothelial growth factor‐C (VEGF‐C) in several carcinomas is significantly associated with angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis and regional lymph node metastasis. However, VEGF‐C expression in bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) has not yet been reported. To elucidate the role of VEGF‐C in bladder TCC, we examined VEGF‐C expression in bladder TCC and pelvic lymph node metastasis specimens obtained from patients who underwent radical cystectomy.Methods: Eighty‐seven patients who underwent radical cystectomy for clinically organ‐confined TCC of the bladder were enrolled in the present study. No neoadjuvant treatments, except transurethral resection of the tumor, were given to these patients. The VEGF‐C expressions of 87 bladder tumors and 20 pelvic lymph node metastasis specimens were examined immunohistochemically and the association between VEGF‐C expression and clinicopathological factors, including angiogenesis as evaluated by microvessel density (MVD), was also examined.Results: Vascular endothelial growth factor‐C expression was found in the cytoplasm of tumor cells, but not in the normal transitional epithelium. Vascular endothelial growth factor‐C expression was significantly associated with the pathological T stage (P = 0.0289), pelvic lymph node metastasis (P < 0.0001), lymphatic involvement (P = 0.0008), venous involvement (P = 0.0002) and high MVD (P = 0.0043). The multivariate analysis demonstrated that VEGF‐C expression and high MVD in bladder TCC were independent risk factors influencing the pelvic lymph node metastasis. Moreover, the patients with VEGF‐C‐positive tumors had significantly poorer prognoses than those with the VEGF‐C‐negative tumors (P = 0.0087) in the univariate analysis. The multivariate analysis based on Cox proportional hazard model showed that the independent prognostic factors were patient age (P = 0.0132) and pelvic lymph node metastasis (P = 0.0333).Conclusion: The present study suggests that VEGF‐C expression is an important predictive factor of pelvic lymph node metastasis in bladder cancer patients.
Coupling of 5‐HT1A autoreceptors to inhibition of mitogen‐activated protein kinase activation via Gβγ subunit signaling
Authors: Kushwaha Neena , Albert Paul R. 
Published: February 2005

AbstractThe 5‐HT1A receptor is expressed presynaptically as the primary somatodendritic autoreceptor on serotonergic raphe neurons, and postsynaptically in several brain regions. Signaling of the 5‐HT1A autoreceptor was studied in RN46A cells, a model of serotonergic raphe neurons that express endogenous 5‐HT1A receptors. In undifferentiated RN46A cells stably transfected with the wild‐type 5‐HT1A receptor, 5‐HT1A receptor activation inhibited forskolin‐induced cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) formation (by 50%), increased [Ca2+]i, and induced a novel inhibition (up to 60%) of phospho‐p42/p44‐mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK). Upon differentiation of non‐transfected or 5‐HT1A‐transfected RN46A cells, agonist‐mediated inhibition of MAPK was enhanced. These actions were blocked by pretreatment with pertussis toxin indicating mediation via Gi/Go proteins and the calcium response was blocked by preactivation of protein kinase C (PKC). In cells overexpressing the Gβγ scavenger carboxyl‐terminal domain of G protein receptor kinase 2 (GRK‐CT), 5‐HT1A receptor activation inhibited cAMP formation, but coupling to calcium mobilization and inhibition of MAPK was abolished. The activity of 5‐HT1A receptors containing mutations of PKC sites in the second (i2: T149A) or third intracellular loop (i3: T229A/S253G/T343A) was tested. At comparable levels of receptor expression, the signaling of the 5‐HT1A i3 mutant was similar to the 5‐HT1A wild‐type receptor, while the i2 and quadruple (i2/i3) mutants failed to couple to Gβγ‐mediated increase in [Ca2+]i or inhibition of MAPK, but did couple to Gαi‐mediated inhibition of cAMP. Thus, the i2‐domain of the 5‐HT1A autoreceptor is crucial for coupling to Gβγ subunits and their subsequent responses (e.g. calcium mobilization and inhibition of MAPK activity).
LOCAL LINEAR FORECASTS USING CUBIC SMOOTHING SPLINES
Authors: Hyndman Rob J. , King Maxwell L. , Pitrun Ivet , Billah Baki 
Published: February 2005

SummaryThis paper shows how cubic smoothing splines fitted to univariate time series data can be used to obtain local linear forecasts. The approach is based on a stochastic state‐space model which allows the use of likelihoods for estimating the smoothing parameter, and which enables easy construction of prediction intervals. The paper shows that the model is a special case of an ARIMA(0, 2, 2) model; it provides a simple upper bound for the smoothing parameter to ensure an invertible model; and it demonstrates that the spline model is not a special case of Holt's local linear trend method. The paper compares the spline forecasts with Holt's forecasts and those obtained from the full ARIMA(0, 2, 2) model, showing that the restricted parameter space does not impair forecast performance. The advantage of this approach over a full ARIMA(0, 2, 2) model is that it gives a smooth trend estimate as well as a linear forecast function.
The salmon vertebral body develops through mineralization of two preformed tissues that are encompassed by two layers of bone
Authors: Nordvik Kari , Kryvi Harald , Totland Geir K. , Grotmol Sindre 
Published: February 2005

AbstractThe teleost backbone consists of amphicoelous vertebrae and intervertebral ligaments, both of which include notochord‐derived structures. On the basis of a sequential developmental study of the vertebral column of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) from the egg stage up to early fry stage (300–2500 day‐degrees) we show that the vertebral body consists of four layers or compartments, two of which are formed through mineralization of preformed collagenous tissue (the notochordal sheath and the intervertebral ligament) and two of which are formed through ossification. The three inner layers have ordered lamellar collagen matrixes, which alternate perpendicularly from layer to layer, whereas the outer layer consists of cancellous bone with a woven matrix. The bone layers also differ in osteocyte content. In this study we describe the structural details of the layers, and their modes of formation. The results are compared with previous descriptions, and possible phylogenetic implications are discussed.
Sexually dimorphic proportions of the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) skeleton
Authors: Galatius Anders 
Published: February 2005

AbstractSexual differences in growth, allometric growth patterns and skeletal proportions were investigated by linear measurements of skeletal parts on 225 harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from the inner Danish and adjacent waters. Females show larger asymptotic sizes and extended period of growth compared with males. Measurements of the skull and flipper bones show negative allometry, whereas those of the bones of the body generally show positive allometry. There are no statistically significant intersexual differences in allometry except for the pelvic bones, where the males show stronger positive allometry. Throughout the range of individual sizes, females have significantly larger skulls and shorter vertebral columns than males for similarly sized individuals. In fully grown specimens, the condylobasal length of females makes up a smaller proportion of total length, and the vertebrae make up a larger proportion as compared with males. As these characters show negative and positive allometry, respectively, it is suggested that males finish their development at an earlier stage than females, retaining more paedomorphic proportions of the skeleton. Paedomorphosis in fully grown males relative to females is also found in the vertebral epiphyses that mature later in males than females, although the males finish growth at a younger age.
Suprapubic catheterisation: A retrospective comparison of two insertion systems
Authors: LINGARD Corinne , FOOTE Andrew J. 
Published: February 2005

AbstractThis study compares two suprapubic catheter insertion systems available for postoperative bladder drainage. We performed retrospective analysis of patients who underwent laparoscopic colposuspension and postoperative suprapubic catheterisation with either the Bonanno (Becton, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) or the Lawrence Add‐a‐Cath (Femcare, Nottingham, UK) mini‐Foley catheters (Bard, Covington, GA, USA). There were no statistically significant postoperative outcome differences between the two catheter groups. We prefer the Add‐a‐Cath mini‐Foley suprapubic catheter for its ease of insertion and fixation.
Homocysteine and Cognitive Function in a Population‐Based Study of Older Adults
Authors: Schafer Jyme H. , Glass Thomas A. , Bolla Karen I. , Mintz Margaret , Jedlicka Anne E. , Schwartz Brian S. 
Published: February 2005

Objectives: To assess the relations between homocysteine levels and neurobehavioral test scores representing a broad range of cognitive domains in a population‐based study of older adults.Design: Cross‐sectional analysis of first‐visit data of subjects in the Baltimore Memory Study, a longitudinal study.Setting: Specific neighborhoods in Baltimore.Participants: Participants were 1,140 randomly selected residents aged 50 to 70 with a mean age±standard deviation of 59.3±5.9; 65.9% were female, and 54.2% were white and 41.1% African‐American.Measurements: Twenty neurobehavioral test scores in eight cognitive domains.Results: Linear regression models revealed that homocysteine was consistently and strongly associated with worse neurobehavioral test performance, in crude analysis and after control for a large set of important covariates. Associations were observed in all eight cognitive domains assessed but were strongest and most consistent in the domains of simple motor and psychomotor speed, eye‐hand coordination/manual dexterity, and verbal memory and learning. On average, an increase in homocysteine levels from the 25th to the 75th percentile, all in the generally accepted normal range, was equivalent in its association with neurobehavioral test scores to an increase of 4.2 years of age. Logistic regression models revealed that, on average, for the neurobehavioral tests associated with homocysteine, subjects in the highest quartile of homocysteine levels were more than two times as likely to be in the lowest quartile of neurobehavioral test scores as those in the lowest quartile.Conclusion: Higher homocysteine levels were associated with worse function across a broad range of cognitive domains, and the magnitude of the associations was large. The data suggest that homocysteine may be a potentially important modifiable cause of cognitive dysfunction.
National Estimates of Medication Use in Nursing Homes: Findings from the 1997 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey and the 1996 Medical Expenditure Survey
Authors: Doshi Jalpa A. , Shaffer Thomas , Briesacher Becky A. 
Published: February 2005

Objectives: To provide the first nationwide estimates of medication use in nursing homes (NHs) and to introduce a new data set for examining drug use in long‐term care facilities.Design: Cross‐sectional comparison.Setting: NH medication files from two nationally representative data sets, the 1997 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) and the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey—Nursing Home Component (MEPS‐NHC).Participants: NH residents in the MCBS (n=929, weighted n=2.0 million) and MEPS‐NHC (n=5,899, weighted n=3.1 million).Measurements: Estimates include characteristics of facilities and residents, average number of drugs used per person per month, and the prevalence and duration of use by select therapeutic drug classes.Results: NH residents received, on average, seven to eight medications each month (7.6 MCBS, 7.2 MEPS‐NHC). About one‐third of residents had monthly drug regimens of nine or more medications (31.8% MCBS, 32.4% MEPS‐NHC). The most commonly used medications in NHs, in descending order, were analgesics and antipyretics, gastrointestinal agents, electrolytic and caloric preparations, central nervous system agents, anti‐infective agents, and cardiovascular agents.Conclusion: These estimates serve as examples of the first national benchmarks of prescribing patterns in NHs. This study highlights the usefulness of the MCBS as an important new resource for examining medication use in NHs.
Relationship Between Subjective Social Status and Measures of Health in Older Taiwanese Persons
Authors: Hu Peifeng , Adler Nancy E. , Goldman Noreen , Weinstein Maxine , Seeman Teresa E. 
Published: February 2005

Objectives: To compare the association between subjective ladder ranking and health measures with the association between objective indices and health measures in older Taiwanese men and women.Design: Cross‐sectional study.Setting: A population‐representative sample of elderly and nearly elderly men and women in Taiwan.Participants: The study included 991 participants from the Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study in Taiwan.Measurements: The information collected included demographic characteristics; subjective ladder score of SES; objective measures of SES, including education, income, and occupation; health behaviors; health‐related variables such as self‐rated health, basic activity of daily living difficulties, instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) difficulties, and physical activity difficulties; and depression score.Results: Low ladder score was associated with poorer self‐rated health and more reported IADL and physical activity difficulties, even after adjustment for objective measures of SES and other covariates. The multiply adjusted odds ratio for a one‐quartile difference in ladder score and worse self‐rated health was 1.19 (95% confidence interval=1.06–1.33). The associations between subjective ladder ranking and health status were generally stronger in those who had 6 years or less of education than in those who received more education.Conclusion: A simple subjective assessment of one's ranking on the social hierarchy was associated with self‐rated health and physical functional status in an older ethnic Chinese population. The associations were independent of the effects of traditional objective measures of SES, such as education, income, and occupation.
Detection of Delirium in the Intensive Care Unit: Comparison of Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit with Confusion Assessment Method Ratings
Authors: McNicoll Lynn , Pisani Margaret A. , Ely E. Wesley , Gifford David , Inouye Sharon K. 
Published: February 2005

Objectives: To compare the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) and CAM for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM‐ICU) methods for detecting delirium in alert, nonintubated older ICU patients.Design: Comparison study.Setting: Fourteen‐bed medical ICU of an 800‐bed university teaching hospital.Participants: Twenty‐two patients aged 65 and older admitted to the ICU.Measurements: Two blinded, trained clinician‐researchers who had undergone interrater reliability testing interviewed patients separately, usually within 10 minutes of each other (up to 120 minutes). Each researcher examined patients for the four key CAM criteria: acuteness, inattention, disorganized thinking, and altered level of consciousness. One researcher used the CAM method with the Mini‐Mental State Examination and Digit Span; the other researcher used the CAM‐ICU method with nonverbal cognitive and attention tasks.Results: Rates of delirium were 68% according to CAM and 50% according CAM‐ICU. Comparing the two methods, agreement was 82%, with a kappa of 0.64. Using the CAM as the reference standard, the CAM‐ICU had a sensitivity of 73% (95% confidence interval (CI)=60–86) and specificity of 100% (95% CI=56–100). There were four false‐negative ratings using the CAM‐ICU. Reasons for disparate results were that the CAM used more‐detailed cognitive testing that detected more deficits (3 patients) and the time elapsed (90 minutes) between ratings in one patient with markedly fluctuating symptoms.Conclusion: CAM and CAM‐ICU agreement was moderately high. Although the CAM‐ICU is recommended for ICU patients because of its brevity and ease of use, the standard CAM method may detect more subtle cases of delirium in nonintubated, verbal ICU patients.
Drug Contamination of Banknotes
Authors: Laycock Patrick 
Published: February 2005

Abstract
When the police or Customs and Excise seize currency they are nowadays likely to have the confiscated banknotes tested for the presence of cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and cannabis. It is an interesting statistic that there is a 99% chance that “the money in your pocket” will be contaminated with detectable amounts of cocaine. Contamination by the other drugs is apparently not so prevalent, but it is clear that banknotes in general circulation are not completely free from such contamination, albeit at a lower level. Just how low, Patrick Laycock explains, has become a source of dispute.