bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparing Knowledge of β‐Thalassemia in Samples of Italians, Italian‐Americans, and Non‐Italian‐Americans
Authors: Armeli Christina , Robbins Steven J. , Eunpu Deborah 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to determine the level of β‐thalassemia awareness among Italians living on the eastern side of Sicily (Bronte, Catania, and Tortorici, Messina), Italian‐Americans, and Americans of other ethnic backgrounds (Other‐Americans). A questionnaire was developed which asked respondents knowledge questions about both β‐thalassemia and Down Syndrome. Five hundred questionnaires were distributed, and 456 were ultimately returned and analyzed (150 Italians, 156 Italian‐Americans, 150 Other‐Americans). Italians answered an average of 55% of the β‐thalassemia correctly compared to scores of 17 and 24% for the Italian‐Americans and Other‐Americans, respectively. The groups did not differ in their knowledge of Down Syndrome (all answered between 58 and 60% of the questions correctly on average). Over 80% of the Italian respondents had heard of β‐thalassemia compared to only 19% of the Italian‐Americans. β‐Thalassemia education programs in Italy appear to have dramatically increased awareness of the disorder. Similar programs need to be developed for at‐risk populations in the United States.
Schizophrenia: An Update and Review
Authors: Austin Jehannine 
Published: September 2005

AbstractSchizophrenia is a common complex disorder characterized by psychosis, cognitive dysfunction and negative symptoms, whose etiology involves interactions between both genetic and environmental vulnerability factors. Recently, ongoing research attempting to elucidate the nature of these vulnerability factors has been generating exciting findings. The advances in understanding of environmental risk factors for mental illnesses and in genetic research into mental illnesses will be reviewed. Limitations of the findings and implications of these advances for genetic counseling practice will also be discussed.
Factors Influencing Uptake of Genetic Testing For Colorectal Cancer Risk in an Australian Jewish Population
Authors: Warner B. J. , Curnow L. J. , Polglase A. L. , Debinski H. S. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThere is a significant excess of colorectal cancer in the Australian Ashkenazi Jewish community. This excess can partially be attributed to inherited factors that are over represented in this population, such as the APC variant I1307K, which is associated with a modest increase in colorectal cancer risk. There is currently only sporadic clinical genetic testing offered for this variant, as neither the exact increase in cancer risk and therefore the appropriate screening strategies for I1307K carriers, nor the acceptability of such testing in Jewish communities have been determined. This study reports a high acceptability of such genetic testing within a community sample of 300 Australian Jewish individuals—94% of participants would have a test for predisposition to colorectal cancer and a majority would make this decision based on the desire for information for their families and to decrease their own cancer risk. Some concerns were noted about genetic testing for cancer predisposition, including insurance discrimination, test accuracy and confidentiality.
How species diversity responds to different kinds of human‐caused habitat destruction
Authors: Lin Zhenshan , Liu Huiyu 
Published: September 2005

AbstractHuman‐caused habitat destruction, the major cause of species diversity losses, can be classified into two basic types, instantaneous destruction and continuous destruction. Thus, a universal model should be established to simulate and forecast the effects of different kinds of habitat destruction on species diversity during different historical periods. In this paper, we explore a multi‐time‐scale n‐species model to study and compare species responses to instantaneous and continuous destruction. We find that (1) under instantaneous destruction, there are two different mechanisms of species extinction: one is a time‐delayed deterministic extinction of superior competitors in order from the best to the poorest; the other is the extinction in a short time of inferior competitors. The survivors will experience three phases: decline, adjustment, and equilibrium. (2) When the total amounts of habitat destruction for both instantaneous and continuous cases are equal, the oscillation amplitudes of species abundances under instantaneous destruction are much greater than under continuous destruction, especially for inferior competitors, which make inferior competitors under instantaneous destruction more prone to stochastic extinction. Therefore instantaneous destruction is more detrimental to the survival of inferior competitors. (3) Under continuous destruction with habitat eventually being destroyed completely, there also are two types of species extinction mechanisms: the first is extinction in order from the best competitors to the poorest before complete destruction; the second is collective extinction due to complete destruction.
Mechanical stretch‐induced hypertrophy of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes is mediated by β1‐integrin‐microtubule signaling pathways
Authors: Yutao Xi , Geru Wu , Xiaojun Bai , Tao Geng , Aiqun Ma 
Published: September 2005

AbstractBackground:Mechanical stress plays a crucial role in tissue morphogenesis and remodeling. These processes depend in part on force transmission mediated through integrins and the cytoskeleton.Methods:Ventricular myocytes isolated from neonatal Sprague–Dawley rats (NRVMs) were exposed to persistent centrifugal force stretch for 12 or 24 h. The NRVMs were exposed to colchicine (4 μmol/ml) and anti‐integrin β1 specific antibody (10 μg/ml). Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Incorporation of 3H‐leucine, and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and angiotensin II (Ang II) levels were assessed. Pixel intensity and distribution of the microtubule were estimated from laser scanning confocal images.Results:Changes in LDH release and the MTT assay showed that 180 rpm. centrifugal force had minimal effect on the viability and number of NRVMs. Mechanical stretch significantly increased 3H‐leucine incorporation into cardiomyocytes. Anti‐integrin β1 blocking antibody effectively inhibited the increase in 3H‐leucine incorporation and release of ANP (p<0.05). Following anti‐integrin‐β1‐blocking antibody, the pixel intensity of the microtubule image was decreased after both12 and 24 h stretch, this was similar to the effect of colchicine. Both treatments also inhibited the secretion of Ang II induced by stretch (p<0.05).Conclusions:Anti‐integrin‐β1‐blocking antibody and colchicine had similar effects, partly inhibiting the stretch‐induced increase in microtubule polymerization and the secretion of Ang II in hypertrophic cardiac myocytes.
Early changes in serum markers of cardiac extra‐cellular matrix turnover in patients with uncomplicated hypertension and type II diabetes
Authors: Alla François , Kearney‐Schwartz Anna , Radauceanu Anca , Dores Sylvie Das , Dousset Brigitte , Zannad Faiez 
Published: September 2005

AbstractAims:Extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover is a major determinant of diastolic dysfunction and pumping capacity, thus potentially contributing to the progression of congestive heart failure (CHF). Patients with both arterial hypertension and diabetes have a high risk of heart failure. Whether these patients have changes in cardiac ECM has not been studied previously. Our objective was to compare blood markers of collagen turnover among patients with CHF, patients with hypertension and type II diabetes (HD), and healthy individuals.Methods and results:Measurements were performed in 239 CHF patients; 64 HD patients and 92 healthy subjects. We showed by adjusted ANOVA that PIIINP levels were significantly higher in CHF and HD patients than in controls, and higher in CHF patients than in HD patients. MMP1 levels were significantly lower in CHF and HD patients than in controls. Collagen type I markers (PICP and PINP) were not influenced by CHF but were lower in HD patients as compared to controls (p<0.05 for all comparisons).Conclusion:In heart failure, markers of cardiac collagen synthesis are increased and markers of degradation are decreased, potentially contributing to cardiac fibrosis and thus to poor outcome. Changes in collagen turnover may also occur early in the disease process in high‐risk patients before heart failure is clinically detectable.
Angiotensin II AT1 receptor density on blood platelets predicts early left ventricular remodelling in non‐reperfused acute myocardial infarction in humans
Authors: Maczewski Michal , Borys Marcin , Kacprzak Pawel , Gdowski Tomasz , Wojciechowski Dariusz 
Published: September 2005

AbstractBackground:Renin—angiotensin‐system activity, a principal factor determining ventricular remodelling after myocardial infarction (MI), is dependant on local angiotensin II concentration and angiotensin AT1 receptor (AT1R) density. The latter is regulated by systemic factors acting independently from angiotensin II concentration.Objective:To test the hypothesis that AT1R density at the onset of MI determines post‐MI ventricular remodelling.Methods:In 48 patients with first acute MI who did not undergo reperfusion therapy, angiotensin AT1R density on blood platelets (reflecting cardiovascular AT1R density) was assessed 13±5 h after the onset of MI, using radioligand binding assay. Left ventricular end‐systolic (LVESVI) and end‐diastolic volume indices (LVEDVI) and ejection fraction (EF) were assessed by two‐dimensional echocardiography as measures of ventricular remodelling.Results:Predischarge LVESVI and LVEDVI positively and EF negatively correlated with AT1R density. Patients with AT1R density below median had significantly lower LVESVI (33.2±2.4 mL/m2), LVEDVI (70.0±2.8 mL/m2) and higher EF (52.8±2.3%) than patients with AT1R density above median (LVESVI=44.9±2.6, LVEDVI=81.3±3.9 mL/m2 and EF=44.9±2.6%, all p<0.01). In multivariate analysis, only AT1R density and infarct size were independent predictors of early post‐MI ventricular dilation.Conclusions:High density of AT1R at the onset of MI is a predictor of early left ventricular remodelling.
Resource competition in contour hedgerow intercropping systems involving different shrub species with mature and young tea on sloping highlands in Sri Lanka
Authors: DE COSTA W. A. J. M. , SURENTHRAN P. 
Published: September 2005

Tea (Camellia sinensis) in Sri Lanka is grown predominantly on sloping highlands. Incorporating trees as hedgerows along contours is aimed at reducing erosion and improving soil fertility through addition of prunings as mulch. However, there could be significant competition for essential growth resources between the hedgerows and tea. The primary objective of this study was to determine the influence of six hedgerow species (Calliandra calothyrsus, Senna [Cassia] spectabilis, Eupatorium inulifolium, Flemingia congesta, Gliricidia sepium and Tithonia diversifolia) on mature (6-year-old) and young (6-month-old) tea. This study had three on-farm, long-term (from Nov 1998 to Dec 2002) field experiments. Experiment 1 had 12 treatment combinations with the six shrub species and two mulching treatments (i.e. hedgerow prunings added to the tea plot as a mulch, and unmulched) on mature tea plus a sole tea crop as control. The same was repeated on young tea in Experiment 2 to determine whether resource competition on young tea was greater than that on mature tea. Experiment 3 examined the effects of removing tree root competition on tea by cutting a 1-m deep trench between hedgerows and tea.In all experiments, total tea yields of hedgerow intercrops, cumulated over the 50-month experimental period, were significantly lower (by 3–50%) than sole tea crops, thus indicating significant resource competition except in the case of mulched hedgerow systems involving Eupatorium and mature tea (18% yield increase). Removal of below-ground competition significantly increased tea yields by 11–19%. Addition of hedgerow prunings as a mulch significantly increased yields of both mature and young tea by 13–21%. Tea yields of hedgerow systems with Calliandra, Flemingia and Eupatorium showed greater yield reductions in young tea than in mature tea, but the opposite was shown with other hedgerow species. There was a significant negative linear relationship between tea yield and pruned biomass of hedgerows. Tea yields of all experiments showed significant negative correlations with several hedgerow characters, which are indicators of their competitive ability. These included hedgerow root density, canopy lateral spread, height and cross-section. In a majority of hedgerow systems, the available phosphorus content of topsoil (0–20 cm depth) was up to 51% lower compared to sole crops. It is concluded that incorporation of contour hedgerows in to an existing tea crop could result in significant resource competition with tea and thereby cause tea yield to decrease. However, there is scope for selection of hedgerow species that minimize competition through spatial and temporal complementarity with tea in resource capture.
Central Visual Persistences: I. Visual and Kinesthetic Interactions
Authors: Ingle David 
Published: September 2005

Phenomena associated with ‘central visual persistences’ (CPs) are new to both medical and psychological literature. Five subjects have reported similar CPs: positive afterimages following brief fixation of high-contrast objects or drawings and eye closure. CPs duplicate shapes and colors of single objects, lasting for about 15 s. Unlike retinal afterimages, CPs do not move with the eyes but are stable in extrapersonal space during head or body rotations. CPs may reflect sustained neural activity in neurons of association cortex, which mediate object perception. A remarkable finding is that CPs can be moved in any direction by the (unseen) hand holding the original seen object. Moreover, a CP once formed will ‘jump’ into an extended hand and ‘stick’ in that hand as it moves about. The apparent size of a CP of a single object is determined by the size of the gap between finger and thumb, even when no object is touched. These CPs can be either magnified or minified via the grip of the extended hand. The felt orientation of the hand-held object will also determine the orientation of the CP seen in that hand. Thus, kinesthetic signals from hand and arm movements can determine perceived location, size, and orientation of CPs. A neural model based on physiological studies of premotor, temporal, parietal, and prefrontal cortices is proposed to account for these novel phenomena.
On a sharp lower bound on the blow-up rate for the 𝐿² critical nonlinear Schrödinger equation
Authors: Merle Frank , Raphael Pierre 
Published: September 2005

We consider the

L
2

L^2

critical nonlinear Schrödinger equation

i

u
t

=
−
Δ
u
−

|

u

|

4
N

u

iu_t=-\Delta u-|u|^{\frac {4}{N}}u

with initial condition in the energy space

u
(
0
,
x
)
=

u
0

∈

H
1

u(0,x)=u_0\in H^1

and study the dynamics of finite time blow-up solutions. In an earlier sequence of papers, the authors established for a certain class of initial data on the basis of dispersive properties in

L

l
o
c

2

L^2_{loc}

a sharp and stable upper bound on the blow-up rate:

|

∇
u
(
t
)

|

L
2

≤
C

(

log
⁡

|

log
⁡
(
T
−
t
)

|

T
−
t

)

1
2

|\nabla u(t)|_{L^2}\leq C\left (\frac {\log |\log (T-t)|}{T-t}\right )^{\frac {1}{2}}

. In an earlier paper, the authors then addressed the question of a lower bound on the blow-up rate and proved for this class of initial data the nonexistence of self-similar solutions, that is,

lim

t
→
T

T
−
t

|

∇
u
(
t
)

|

L
2

=
+
∞
.

\lim _{t\to T}\sqrt {T-t}|\nabla u(t)|_{L^2}=+\infty .

In this paper, we prove the sharp lower bound
\[

|

∇
u
(
t
)

|

L
2

≥
C

(

log
⁡

|

log
⁡
(
T
−
t
)

|

T
−
t

)

1
2

|\nabla u(t)|_{L^2}\geq C \left (\frac {\log |\log (T-t)|}{T-t}\right )^{\frac {1}{2}}

\]
by exhibiting the dispersive structure in the scaling invariant space

L
2

L^2

for this log-log regime. In addition, we will extend to the pure energy space

H
1

H^1

a dynamical characterization of the solitons among the zero energy solutions.
Long arithmetic progressions in sumsets: Thresholds and bounds
Authors: Szemerédi E. , Vu V. 
Published: September 2005

For a set

A
A

of integers, the sumset

l
A
=
A
+
⋯
+
A

lA =A+\dots +A

consists of those numbers which can be represented as a sum of

l
l

elements of

A
A

:
\[

l
A
=
{

a
1

+
⋯
+

a
l

|

a
i

∈

A
i

}
.

lA =\{a_1+\dots + a_l| a_i \in A_i \}.

\]
Closely related and equally interesting notion is that of

l

∗

A

l^{\ast }A

, which is the collection of numbers which can be represented as a sum of

l
l

different elements of

A
A

:
\[

l

∗

A
=
{

a
1

+
⋯
+

a
l

|

a
i

∈

A
i

,

a
i

≠

a
j

}
.

l^{\ast }A =\{a_1+\dots + a_l| a_i \in A_i, a_i \neq a_j \}.

\]
The goal of this paper is to investigate the structure of

l
A

lA

and

l

∗

A

l^{\ast }A

, where

A
A

is a subset of

{
1
,
2
,
…
,
n
}

\{1,2, \dots , n\}

. As application, we solve two conjectures by Erdös and Folkman, posed in 1960s.
Maintenance therapy with a probiotic in antibiotic‐dependent pouchitis: experience in clinical practice
Authors: SHEN B. , BRZEZINSKI A. , FAZIO V. W. , REMZI F. H. , ACHKAR J.‐P. , BENNETT A. E. , SHERMAN K. , LASHNER B. A. 
Published: September 2005

SummaryBackground : Management of antibiotic‐dependent pouchitis is often challenging. Oral bacteriotherapy with probiotics (such as VSL #3) as maintenance treatment has been shown to be effective in relapsing pouchitis in European trials. However, this agent has not been studied in the US, and its applicability in routine clinical practice has not been evaluated.Aim : To determine compliance and efficacy of probiotic treatment in patients with antibiotic‐dependent pouchitis.Methods : Thirty‐one patients with antibiotic‐dependent pouchitis were studied. VSL #3 is a patented probiotic preparation of live freeze‐dried bacteria. All patients received 2 weeks of ciprofloxacin 500 mg b.d. followed by VSL #3 6 g/day for 8 months. Baseline Pouchitis Disease Activity Index scores were calculated. Patients’ symptoms were reassessed at week 3 when VSL #3 therapy was initiated and at the end of the 8‐month trial. Some patients underwent repeat pouch endoscopy at the end of the trial.Results : All 31 patients responded to the 2‐week ciprofloxacin trial with resolution of symptoms and they were subsequently treated with VSL #3. The mean duration of follow‐up was 14.5 ± 5.3 months (range: 8–26 months). At the 8‐month follow‐up, six patients were still on VSL #3 therapy, and the remaining 25 patients had discontinued the therapy due to either recurrence of symptoms while on treatment or development of adverse effects. All six patients who completed the 8‐month course with a mean treatment period of 14.3 ± 7.2 months (range: 8–26 months) had repeat clinical and endoscopic evaluation as out‐patients. At the end of 8 months, these six patients had a mean Pouchitis Disease Activity Index symptom score of 0.33 ± 0.52 and a mean Pouchitis Disease Activity Index endoscopy score of 1.83 ± 1.72, which was not statistically different from the baseline Pouchitis Disease Activity Index endoscopy score of 2.83 ± 1.17 (P = 0.27).Conclusion : This study was conducted to evaluate bacteriotherapy in routine care. The use of probiotics has been adopted as part of our routine clinical practice with only anecdotal evidence of efficacy. Our review of patient outcome from the treatment placebo showed that only a minority of patients with antibiotic‐dependent pouchitis remained on the probiotic therapy and in symptomatic remission after 8 months.
DNA sequences and proteic antigens of H. pylori in cholecystic bile and tissue of patients with gallstones
Authors: NERI V. , MARGIOTTA M. , DE FRANCESCO V. , AMBROSI A. , VALLE N. DELLA , FERSINI A. , TARTAGLIA N. , MINENNA M. F. , RICCIARDELLI C. , GIORGIO F. , PANELLA C. , IERARDI E. 
Published: September 2005

SummaryBackground : Although Helicobacter pylori DNA sequences have been detected in cholecystic bile and tissue of patients with gallstones, controversial results are reported from different geographic areas.Aim : To detect H. pylori in cholecystic bile and tissue of patients with gallstones from a previously uninvestigated geographic area, southern Italy. Detection included both the bacterial DNA and the specific antigen (H. pylori stool antigen) identified in the stools of infected patients for diagnostic purposes.Patients and methods : The study enclosed 33 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallstones. DNA sequences of H. pylori were detected by polymerase chain reaction in both cholecystic bile and tissue homogenate. Moreover, we assayed H.pylori stool antigen on gall‐bladder cytosolic and biliary proteins after their extraction. Bacterial presence in the stomach was assessed by urea breath test in all patients and Δδ13CPDB value assumed as marker of intragastric load. Fisher's exact probability and Student's t‐tests were used for statistical analysis.Results : DNA sequences of H. pylori in bile were found in 51.5% and significantly correlated with its presence in cholecystic tissue homogenate (P < 0.005), H. pylori stool antigen in gall‐bladder (P = 0.0013) and bile (P = 0.04) proteins, gastric infection (P < 0.01) and intragastric bacterial load (P < 0.001). No correlation was found, however, with sex and age of the patients.Conclusions : Our prevalence value of bacterial DNA in bile and gall‐bladder of patients with gallstones agreed with that of the only other Italian study. The simultaneous presence of both bacterial DNA and proteic antigen suggests that the same prototype of bacterium could be located at both intestinal and cholecystic level and, therefore, the intestine represents the source of biliary contagion.
Systematic review: tuberculous peritonitis – presenting features, diagnostic strategies and treatment
Authors: SANAI F. M. , BZEIZI K. I. 
Published: September 2005

SummaryThe peritoneum is one of the most common extrapulmonary sites of tuberculous infection. Peritoneal tuberculosis remains a significant problem in parts of the world where tuberculosis is prevalent. Increasing population migration, usage of more potent immunosuppressant therapy and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic has contributed to a resurgence of this disease in regions where it had previously been largely controlled. Tuberculous peritonitis frequently complicates patients with underlying end‐stage renal or liver disease that further adds to the diagnostic difficulty.The diagnosis of this disease, however, remains a challenge because of its insidious nature, the variability of its presentation and the limitations of available diagnostic tests. A high index of suspicion is needed whenever confronted with unexplained ascites, particularly in high‐risk patients.Based on a systematic review of the literature, we recommend: tuberculous peritonitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all patients presenting with unexplained lymphocytic ascites and those with a serum‐ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) of <11 g/L; culture growth of Mycobacterium of the ascitic fluid or peritoneal biopsy as the gold standard test; further studies to determine the role of polymerase chain reaction, ascitic adenosine deaminase and the BACTEC radiometric system for acceleration of mycobacterial identification as means of improving the diagnostic yield; increasing utilization of ultrasound and computerized tomographic scan for the diagnosis and as a guidance to obtain peritoneal biopsies; low threshold for diagnostic laparoscopy; treatment for 6 months with the first‐line antituberculous drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide) in uncomplicated cases.