bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Efﬁcacy and Safety of a Single Dose of Clindesse™ Vaginal Cream Versus a Seven‐Dose Regimen of Cleocin ® Vaginal Cream in Patients With Bacterial Vaginosis
Authors: Faro Sebastian , Skokos Campbell K. 
Published: September 2005

Objective. To determine whether a single dose of Clindesse™ vaginal cream is comparable in efficacy and safety to Cleocinmml ®
vaginal cream administered once daily for 7 days in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis.Study design. This multicenter, randomized, single‐blind, parallel‐group study enrolled 540 patients with BV infections. Treatment consisted of either a single intravaginal dose of Clindesse™ or 7 daily doses of Cleocin ® . Efficacy and safety were assessed 21–30 days after the start of treatment. The efficacy endpoints were Investigator Cure, Clinical Cure (a composite of all 4 Amsel′s criteria and Investigator Cure), Nugent Cure (Nugent score <4), and Therapeutic Cure (a composite of Clinical Cure and Nugent Cure). Resolution of individual Amsel′s criteria was also evaluated. Treatment‐emergent adverse events were monitored throughout the study.Results. There were no significant differences in cure rates between the Clindesse™ and Cleocin ® treatment groups in Investigator Cure (P = 0.702), Clinical Cure (P =0.945), Nugent Cure (P = 0.788), or Therapeutic Cure (P = 0.572). Results were also similar for 3 of 4 and 2 of 4 Amsel′s criteria and for each individual Amsel′s criterion (all P-values >0.200). Ninety‐five percent confidence intervals for each endpoint were consistent with equivalence between the 2 products. There was no significant difference between the treatment groups in the incidence of treatment‐emergent adverse events (P = 0.386).Conclusions. A single dose of Clindesse™ vaginal cream is equivalent in safety and efficacy to a 7‐dose regimen of Cleocin ® vaginal cream in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis. This represents a significant advance in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis.
Angiogenesis: The Major Abnormality of the Keratin‐14 IL‐4 Transgenic Mouse Model of Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: AGHA‐MAJZOUB RANIA , BECKER ROBERT P. , SCHRAUFNAGEL DEAN E. , CHAN LAWRENCE S. 
Published: September 2005

ABSTRACTObjective: Angiogenesis plays an important role in psoriasis, but its role in atopic dermatitis is unknown. The authors examined the dermal microvasculature of an IL‐4 transgenic mouse model of atopic dermatitis to determine whether angiogenesis was present.Methods: Transmission and scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy studies were performed.Results: Transmission electron microscopy showed sprouting, transcapillary pillars of intussusception, thickened endothelial cells with large nuclei, and increased interendothelial junctional cleft number and length. Compared to nontransgenic littermates, there was a significant increase in the lengths and numbers of the interendothelial junctional clefts, along with a decrease in the length ratios of tight junction to interendothelial junctional clefts in both the early and late disease stages. In the early and late skin lesions, scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts showed disorganization of the capillary network hierarchy with increased density of capillary sprouts. Confocal microscopy of the animals with early and late skin lesions showed significant reduction in tight junction protein claudin‐5.Conclusions: Angiogenesis is the major pathologic feature in this model of atopic dermatitis. The chronic skin inflammation is intertwined with and may cause the angiogenesis, but the angiogenesis itself is likely to be important in this disease process.
In Vivo Phosphorescence Imaging of pO2 Using Planar Oxygen Sensors
Authors: BABILAS PHILIPP , LIEBSCH GREGOR , SCHACHT VIVIEN , KLIMANT INGO , WOLFBEIS OTTO S. , SZEIMIES ROLF‐MARKUS , ABELS CHRISTOPH 
Published: September 2005

ABSTRACTObjective: Oxygen‐dependent quenching of luminescence of metal porphyrin complexes has been used to image the pO2 distribution over tumor and normal tissue.Methods: An experimental setup is described using a platinum(II)–octaethyl–porphyrin immobilized in a polystyrene matrix as transparent planar sensor.Results: Sensitivity over a broad range is high at low pO2 values (± 0.2 mm Hg at 0 mm Hg; ± 1.5 mm Hg at 160 mm Hg pO2). Due to intrinsically referencing via lifetime encoding there was no modification of the sensor response in vivo in the dorsal skinfold chamber model with amelanotic melanoma (A‐MEL‐3) in awake hamsters when compared to the in vitro calibration. pO2 measurements over normal tissue (25.8 ± 5.1 mm Hg) and tumor tissue (9.2 ± 5.1 mm Hg) were in excellent agreement with previous results obtained in this model using a surface multiwire electrode.Conclusions: Using the presented method the surface pO2 distribution can be mapped with a high temporal resolution of approximately 100 ms and a spatial resolution of at least 25 μ m. Moreover, the transparent sensor allows the simultaneous visualization of the underlying microvasculature.
A New Video Image Analysis System to Study Red Blood Cell Dynamics and Oxygenation in Capillary Networks
Authors: JAPEE SHRUTI A. , PITTMAN ROLAND N. , ELLIS CHRISTOPHER G. 
Published: September 2005

ABSTRACTObjective: The authors present a Measurement and Analysis System for Capillary Oxygen Transport (MASCOT) to study red blood cell (RBC) dynamics and oxygenation in capillary networks. The system enables analysis of capillaries to study geometry and morphology and provides values for capillary parameters such as diameter and segment length. It also serves as an analysis tool for capillary RBC flow characteristics, including RBC velocity, lineal density, and supply rate. Furthermore, the system provides a means of determining the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin contained within RBCs, by analysis of synchronized videotapes containing images at two wavelengths, enabling the quantification of the oxygen content of individual RBCs.Methods: Video recordings of RBC flow at two wavelengths, 420 nm (isosbestic) and 436 nm (oxygen sensitive), are made using a dual camera video microscopy system. The 420‐nm recording is used to generate images based on the variance of light intensity fluctuations that help to identify capillaries in a given field of view that are in sharp focus and exhibit flow of individual RBCs separated by plasma gaps. A region of interest enclosing the desired capillary is defined and a fixed number of successive video frames at the two wavelengths are captured. Next a difference image is created, which delineates the RBC column, whose width is used to estimate the internal diameter of the capillary. The 420‐nm images are also used to identify the location and centroid of each RBC within the capillary. A space–time image is generated to compute the average RBC velocity. Lineal density is calculated as the number of RBCs per unit length of a capillary segment. The mean optical density (OD) of each RBC is calculated at both wavelengths, and the average SO2 for each cell is determined from OD436/OD420.Results and Conclusions: MASCOT is a robust and flexible system that requires simple hardware, including a SGI workstation fitted with an audio‐visual module, a VCR, and an oscilloscope. Since the new system provides information on an individual cell basis from entire capillary segments, the authors believe that results obtained using MASCOT will be more accurate than those obtained from previous systems. Due to its flexibility and ease of extension to other applications, MASCOT has the potential to be applied widely as an analysis tool for capillary oxygen transport measurements.
Genome-Wide Identification and Testing of Superior Reference Genes for Transcript Normalization in Arabidopsis
Authors: Czechowski Tomasz , Stitt Mark , Altmann Thomas , Udvardi Michael K. , Scheible Wolf-Rüdiger 
Published: September 2005

Abstract
Gene transcripts with invariant abundance during development and in the face of environmental stimuli are essential reference points for accurate gene expression analyses, such as RNA gel-blot analysis or quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). An exceptionally large set of data from Affymetrix ATH1 whole-genome GeneChip studies provided the means to identify a new generation of reference genes with very stable expression levels in the model plant species Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Hundreds of Arabidopsis genes were found that outperform traditional reference genes in terms of expression stability throughout development and under a range of environmental conditions. Most of these were expressed at much lower levels than traditional reference genes, making them very suitable for normalization of gene expression over a wide range of transcript levels. Specific and efficient primers were developed for 22 genes and tested on a diverse set of 20 cDNA samples. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR confirmed superior expression stability and lower absolute expression levels for many of these genes, including genes encoding a protein phosphatase 2A subunit, a coatomer subunit, and an ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme. The developed PCR primers or hybridization probes for the novel reference genes will enable better normalization and quantification of transcript levels in Arabidopsis in the future.
Ethyl sulphate: a direct ethanol metabolite reflecting recent alcohol consumption
Authors: Wurst Friedrich Martin , Dresen Sebastian , Allen John P. , Wiesbeck Gerhard , Graf Marc , Weinmann Wolfgang 
Published: September 2005

ABSTRACTBackground  Ethyl sulphate (EtS), a direct ethanol metabolite, appears to offer potential as a biomarker for recent alcohol consumption. Although its window of assessment is similar to that of ethyl glucuronide (EtG), there are differences between the two markers in their pathways for formation and degradation.Aims  (a) To assess the excretion of EtS compared to EtG and ethanol in drinking experiments with healthy volunteers, and (b) to elucidate the possibility of using the two metabolites for monitoring abstinence in substance use disorder patients during rehabilitation treatment.Design, setting, participants  (a) Nine drinking experiments were performed by six healthy volunteers (two females, four males), with a mean age of 34.1 years (20–62), average oral intake of 0.2 g/kg ethanol (0.1–0.61), and having 74 spot urine samples. (b) Thirty‐six substance abuse patients (mean age 41.9 years, 20–59; 22 males, 14 females) in a rehabilitation programme after withdrawal, producing 98 urine samples. Ethyl glucuronide and ethyl sulphate were measured using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) using d5‐EtG and d5‐EtS, respectively, as an internal standard.Findings  (a) Volunteers: EtG and EtS were detectable for up to 36 hours and reached the limits of determination in urine at 20.6 hours and 21.2 hours (median), respectively, after ethanol intake. EtG‐100 (standardized to a creatinine of 100 mg/dl) reached its maximum level at 2.8 hours and EtS‐100 at 2.1 hours (median) after the beginning of the experiment. Of the ethanol ingested, 0.022% was excreted as EtS in one volunteer. Eight samples were positive for EtS only and six for EtG only. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients of 0.84 (P < 0.0001) between EtG and EtS and 0.87 (P < 0.0001) between EtG‐100 and EtS‐100 were found. (b) Patients: of the 98 urine samples evaluated, 27 were positive for EtS and of these only 20 were also positive for EtG. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients of 0.84 (P < 0.0001) between EtG and EtS and 0.82 (P < 0.0001) between EtG‐100 and EtS‐100 were found.Conclusions  The data from patients and volunteers suggest that the direct ethanol metabolite ethyl sulphate has the potential to serve as a biomarker of recent ethanol intake. Because EtG and EtS are formed via different pathways they might be used conjointly, thereby increasing sensitivity.
Listeriolysin O, a cytolysin derived from Listeria monocytogenes, inhibits generation of ovalbumin-specific Th2 immune response by skewing maturation of antigen-specific T cells into Th1 cells
Authors: Yamamoto K , Kawamura I , Tominaga T , Nomura T , Kohda C , Ito J , Mitsuyama M 
Published: September 2005

Summary
Listeriolysin O (LLO), a cholesterol-dependent cytolysin derived from Listeria monocytogenes, is a potent inducer of interleukin (IL)-12, IL-18 and interferon (IFN)-γ. We have shown that LLO facilitates development of T cells mediating protective immunity against L. monocytogenes through the induction of IFN-γ production at an early stage. Based on this finding, it is postulated that LLO inhibits differentiation of Th2 cells and the Th2 immune response. By using a murine model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic rhinitis, we investigated whether LLO has an ability to modulate the Th2-type immune disorder. In mice sensitized intraperitoneally with ovalbumin (OVA)/alum and challenged intranasally with OVA, a large number of eosinophils migrated into the nasal tissue, and high titres of anti-OVA IgE and IgG1 antibodies were detected in sera. However, LLO treatment during sensitization markedly inhibited the eosinophil infiltration and production of these anti-OVA antibodies. A large number of T cells from mice sensitized and challenged with OVA produced high level of IL-4 and IL-5 but not IFN-γ after stimulation with OVA. In contrast, OVA-specific IFN-γ-producing T cells were preferentially induced in mice treated with LLO at the time of sensitization. In the absence of LLO administration, the expression level of GATA-3 and SOCS-3 in CD4+ T cells was enhanced after sensitization with OVA. LLO treatment resulted in a reduction of GATA-3 and SOCS-3 expressions but induced the transcription of T-bet instead. Taken together, these data show clearly that LLO is capable of inhibiting Th2 immune response by skewing differentiation of antigen-specific T cells into Th1 cells.
Elicitor‐induced down‐regulation of cell cycle‐related genes in tobacco cells
Authors: SUZUKI KAORU , NISHIUCHI TAKUMI , NAKAYAMA YUKO , ITO MASAKI , SHINSHI HIDEAKI 
Published: September 2005

ABSTRACTThe fungal elicitors, a xylanase from Trichoderma viride and an extract from the cell wall of Phytophthora infestans, are shown to cause a rapid reduction of the mRNA levels of various cell cycle‐related genes, including MAP kinase genes and cyclin genes, in cultured tobacco cells (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi, line XD6S). Pharmacological analyses suggest that the elicitor‐induced decrease in B1‐type cyclin (Nicta;CycB1;3) and A1‐type cyclin (Nicta;CycA1;1) mRNAs may be due to transcriptional repression, and that in D3‐type cyclin (Nicta;CycD3;2) mRNA due to destabilization of the mRNA molecule itself. The activity of protein kinases is required for both the activation of defence genes and the repression of cyclin genes. The transcriptional activity of the promoter of the B1‐class cyclin gene decreases upon elicitor treatment. The transactivation activity of NtmybA2, a tobacco Myb transcription activator for the M phase‐specific cis‐acting elements in the promoter of the B‐type cyclin gene, is inhibited by elicitor treatment. In addition, the mRNA levels of NtmybA2 and two other related genes, NtmybA1 and NtmybB, decrease in response to the elicitor. Finally, we discuss a negative cross‐talk between signal transduction pathways for growth and defence responses, which might be important for adaptation to environmental stress by potential pathogens.
Seasonal and diel changes of dissolved oxygen in a hypertrophic prairie lake
Authors: Robarts Richard D. , Waiser Marley J. , Arts Michael T. , Evans Marlene S. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractHumboldt Lake, a hypertrophic prairie lake typical of many found on the Great Plains of North America, is usually ice‐covered from early November to about mid‐May. The lake is an important recreational fishery, now mainly stocked with walleye. It has a high potential risk of experiencing fish kills because of the very large cyanobacterial blooms that develop in it, the high rates of algal and bacterial production and the high concentrations of ammonia (NH3‐N) and dissolved organic matter. Following the collapse of cyanobacterial blooms, shallow prairie lakes are known to undergo periods of anoxia that can lead to summer fish kills. In some of the lakes, anoxia forms during the long period of ice cover, causing winter fish kills. Two years of seasonal and diel data (total phosphorus, dissolved oxygen (DO), NH3‐N and chlorophyll‐a concentrations, and bacterial production) were analysed in this study to assess why significant fish kills did not occur during this period or during the ≈ 30 years of records from Saskatchewan Environment. Humboldt Lake did not become anaerobic, either following the collapse of the cyanobacterial bloom or under ice cover, indicating that the oxygen (O2) influx (strong mixing) and production processes were greater than the microbial and chemical O2 demands, both over seasonal and diel time scales. Several published risk threshold criteria to predict the probability of summer and/or winter fish kills were applied in this study. The threshold criteria of maximum summer chlorophyll and maximum winter NH3‐N concentrations indicated that a summer fish kill was unlikely to occur in this hypertrophic prairie lake, provided its water quality remained similar to that during this study. Similarly, the threshold criteria of initial DO storage before ice cover and the rate of O2 depletion under ice cover also indicated a winter fish kill was unlikely. However, recent development in the watershed might have resulted in significant water quality deterioration and the winter fish kill that occurred in 2005.
Increased efficiency of cisplatin‐resistant cell lines to DNA‐mediated gene transfer with cationic liposome
Authors: Sato Takaaki , Serikawa Takehiro , Sekine Masayuki , Aoki Yoichi , Tanaka Kenichi 
Published: September 2005

AbstractAim: Because of its effectiveness against many gynecologic malignancies, chemotherapy including cisplatin is mainly used as the first‐line chemotherapy for epithelium ovarian cancer. However, one of the major problems that is well recognized is that tumor cells can easily acquire resistance to cisplatin. Various trials were carried out in order to establish treatment against cisplatin‐resistant tumor cells.Method: Using both in vivo and in vitro studies, we examined whether or not the newly developed liposome could be used to demonstrate sufficient transfection activity as the anticancer reagent for cisplatin‐resistant tumor cells.Result: With our newly developed liposome, GTE 319 and GTE 321, the lac‐Z gene was more efficiently transfected in cisplatin‐resistant variant cells, mEIIL‐R, KF‐ra and KF‐rb, than in parental cells, mEIIL and KF, using X‐gal staining. In cytotoxic assay, transfection of herpes simplex thymidine kinase (HSV‐tk) gene conjugated with GTE319 or GTE 321, and cultivation with aciclovir for 5 days revealed accelerated tumor‐inhibition activity in all of the cisplatin‐resistant tumor cells compared with that in the naive parental cells. In addition, the high anti‐tumor effect was obtained from intratumoral local injection of the tk gene conjugated with GTE‐321 liposome following aciclovir administration against KF‐rb‐transplanted tumor formed in nude mouse hypodermic.Conclusion: These results suggest that gene therapy using a newly developed liposome‐conjugated suicide gene can be an attractive approach for treatment against cisplatin‐resistant ovarian cancer cells.
Monochorionic triplet pregnancy complicated by severe fetofetal transfusion
Authors: Hayashi Akiko , Kikuchi Akihiko , Joshita Nao , Matsumoto Yasuhiro , Tatematsu Mikiko , Horikoshi Tsuguhiro , Ogiso Yoshifumi , Unno Nobuya 
Published: September 2005

AbstractWe report two cases of fetofetal transfusion in monochorionic triamniotic triplet pregnancies. Case 1: At 23 weeks’ gestation an amnioreduction was carried out. Three days later, the donor triplet died in utero. Immediately after that, a cardiotocogram of the triplet who had been thought to be unaffected by the fetofetal transfusion, showed a non‐reassuring fetal status. Although cesarean section was carried out, none of the triplets survived. Case 2: At 24 weeks’ gestation a woman was transferred to our center because of fetofetal transfusion in monochorionic triplets. Cesarean section was carried out. However, the recipient died on the 75th day after birth, and the others had neurological problems. Previous reports on fetofetal transfusion in triplets are very limited. The prognosis of this condition has been reported to be severe, irrespective of chorionicity, gestational age at delivery, maternal age, and parity. When managing a monochorionic or dichorionic triplet pregnancy, serial and careful ultrasound examination is mandatory to find early symptoms of this serious condition.
Comparison of outcomes and direct cost between minimal stimulation and conventional protocols on ovarian stimulation in in vitro fertilization
Authors: Sophonsritsuk Areepan , Choktanasiri Wicharn , Weerakiet Sawaek , Rojanasakul Aram 
Published: September 2005

AbstractAim: To determine whether minimal stimulation with clomiphene and gonadotropin provides outcomes and direct costs comparable with those of a conventional GnRHa‐gonadotropin stimulation protocol for infertile patients undergoing in vitro fertilization.Methods: A non‐randomized clinical trial was conducted from 1 July 1996 to 31 March 2003 at the Infertility and Assisted Reproductive Unit, Ramathibodi Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University, Thailand. A total of 192 patients were recruited of whom 96 cases underwent ovarian stimulated cycles with minimal stimulation protocol, and 96 controls underwent ovarian stimulated cycles with GnRHa‐gonadotropin protocol, with cases and controls matched for age and infertility cause.Results: The median patient age was 35 years. Endometriosis was the most frequent infertility cause (28.1%). The conventional GnRHa‐gonadotropin protocol could give more oocyte numbers than the minimal stimulation protocol (7.3 ± 4.9 vs 4.5 ± 3.3 oocytes). The fertilization rate and cleavage rate were similar (73.4 ± 31.9 and 84.9 ± 32.6 in minimal stimulation protocol, 69.3 ± 29.6 and 88.4 ± 28.0 in GnRHa‐gonadotropin protocol, respectively). The pregnancy rate per oocyte retrieval cycle in the GnRHa‐gonadotropin protocol was similar to the minimal stimulation protocol. (13.1%vs 13.0%, P = 1.000). However, the cost per pregnancy of minimal stimulation protocol was less than that of GnRHa‐gonadotropin protocol. ($US 6021.95 for minimal stimulation protocol per pregnancy, $US 10 785.65 for GnRHa‐gonadotropin protocol per pregnancy, P < 0.000).Conclusion: Minimal stimulation was less effective than conventional GnRHa‐gonadotropin on the ovarian stimulation. However, the total costs of minimal stimulation were cheaper than the conventional GnRHa‐gonadotropin protocol. The decreased costs of minimal stimulation justifies further evaluation of its role in the treatment of infertility in selected cases.