bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Matching of treatment‐resistant heroin‐dependent patients to medical prescription of heroin or oral methadone treatment: results from two randomized controlled trials
Authors: Blanken Peter , Hendriks Vincent M. , Koeter Maarten W. J. , Van Ree Jan M. , Van Den Brink Wim 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTAims  To investigate which baseline patient characteristics of treatment‐resistant heroin addicts differentially predicted treatment response to medical heroin prescription compared to standard methadone maintenance treatment.Design  Two open‐label randomized controlled trials; pooled data.Setting  Methadone maintenance programmes and heroin treatment centres in six cities in the Netherlands.Participants  Four hundred and thirty heroin addicts.Intervention  Methadone plus injectable heroin or methadone plus inhalable heroin compared to methadone alone prescribed over 12 months: heroin maximum 1000 mg per day, methadone maximum 150 mg per day.Main outcome measure  Dichotomous, multi‐domain response index, including validated indicators of physical health, mental status and social functioning.Findings  Data of the inhalable and injectable heroin trials were pooled. Intention‐to‐treat analysis showed that treatment with medically prescribed heroin plus methadone was significantly more effective (51.8% response) than standard methadone maintenance treatment (28.7%) (95% CI of response difference: 14.1–32.2%). Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that only one of all baseline characteristics was predictive of a differential treatment effect: patients who had previously participated in abstinence‐orientated treatment responded significantly better to heroin‐assisted treatment than to methadone treatment (61% versus 24%), while patients without experience in abstinence‐orientated treatment did equally well in heroin‐assisted or methadone maintenance treatment (39% and 38%, respectively).Conclusions  The effect of heroin‐assisted treatment is not dependent on clinical characteristics, with the exception of previous abstinence‐orientated treatment: medical prescription of heroin is most effective for those patients who have previously participated in abstinence‐orientated treatment.
Non‐medical use of prescription stimulants among US college students: prevalence and correlates from a national survey
Authors: McCabe Sean Esteban , Knight John R. , Teter Christian J. , Wechsler Henry 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTAims  To examine the prevalence rates and correlates of non‐medical use of prescription stimulants (Ritalin, Dexedrine or Adderall) among US college students in terms of student and college characteristics.Design  A self‐administered mail survey.Setting  One hundred and nineteen nationally representative 4‐year colleges in the United States.Participants  A representative sample of 10 904 randomly selected college students in 2001.Measurements  Self‐reports of non‐medical use of prescription stimulants and other substance use behaviors.Findings  The life‐time prevalence of non‐medical prescription stimulant use was 6.9%, past year prevalence was 4.1% and past month prevalence was 2.1%. Past year rates of non‐medical use ranged from zero to 25% at individual colleges. Multivariate regression analyses indicated non‐medical use was higher among college students who were male, white, members of fraternities and sororities and earned lower grade point averages. Rates were higher at colleges located in the north‐eastern region of the US and colleges with more competitive admission standards. Non‐medical prescription stimulant users were more likely to report use of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine and other risky behaviors.Conclusions  The findings of the present study provide evidence that non‐medical use of prescription stimulants is more prevalent among particular subgroups of US college students and types of colleges. The non‐medical use of prescription stimulants represents a high‐risk behavior that should be monitored further and intervention efforts are needed to curb this form of drug use.
Electronic gaming machines: are they the ‘crack‐cocaine’ of gambling?
Authors: Dowling Nicki , Smith David , Thomas Trang 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTBackground  There is a general view that electronic gaming is the most ‘addictive’ form of gambling, in that it contributes more to causing problem gambling than any other gambling activity. As such, electronic gaming machines have been referred to as the ‘crack‐cocaine’ of gambling. While this analogy has popular appeal, it is only recently that the scientific community has begun to investigate its validity. In line with the belief that electronic gambling has a higher ‘addictive’ potential than other forms of gambling, research has also begun to focus on identifying the characteristics of gaming machines that may be associated with problem gambling behaviour.Aims and methods  This paper will review the different types of modern electronic gaming machines, and will use the introduction of gaming machines to Australia to examine the association between electronic gaming and problem gambling, with particular reference to the characteristics of modern electronic gaming machines.Findings and conclusions  Despite overwhelming acceptance that gaming machines are associated with the highest level of problem gambling, the empirical literature provides inconclusive evidence to support the analogy likening electronic gaming to ‘crack‐cocaine’. Rigorous and systematic evaluation is required to establish definitively the absolute ‘addictive’ potential of gaming machines and the degree to which machine characteristics influence the development and maintenance of problem gambling behaviour.
Ultrase MT12 and Ultrase MT20 in the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in cystic fibrosis: safety and efficacy
Authors: Konstan M. W. , Stern R. C. , Trout J. R. , Sherman J. M. , Eigen H. , Wagener J. S. , Duggan C. , Wohl M. E. B. , Colin P. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryBackground : Cystic fibrosis causes exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, leading to malabsorption. Supplemental pancreatic enzyme therapy alleviates the concomitant malnutrition experienced by cystic fibrosis patients. It is recognized that patients experience variations in clinical response to different brands of enzymes. This has prompted the US Food and Drug Administration to require that enzyme supplements be subjected to New Drug Applications.Aim : To investigate the safety and efficacy of supplemental pancreatic enzyme therapy in cystic fibrosis subjects.Methods : We compared two doses of one formulation of enteric‐coated pancreatic enzymes: Ultrase MT12 (12 000 lipase units per capsule) and Ultrase MT20 (20 000 lipase units per capsule), to placebo in two separate safety and efficacy studies.Results : Mean total fat, protein and carbohydrate intake did not differ significantly between the groups. A significant difference in both fat and protein absorption occurred with the enzyme therapy groups. The Ultrase MT12 and Ultrase MT20 groups experienced a mean fat and protein absorption 79.4% and 83.8%, and 87.3% and 88.6%, respectively. No adverse events related to study drug were reported.Conclusions : This study further supports the use of enzymes to treat pancreatic insufficiency in cystic fibrosis. Excellent fat and protein absorption was achieved with minimal adverse events and safe doses.
A prospective assessment of cytomegalovirus infection in active inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: de Saussure P. , Lavergne‐Slove A. , Mazeron M.‐C. , Alain S. , Matuchansky C. , Bouhnik Y. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryBackground:  The prevalence and clinical significance of cytomegalovirus infection is reportedly high in patients with refractory inflammatory bowel disease but is unknown in unselected patients with active disease.Methods:  In patients admitted for active inflammatory bowel disease, we prospectively studied the presence and significance of cytomegalovirus infection using anti‐cytomegalovirus antibodies, cytomegalovirus viraemia and antigenaemia and cytomegalovirus inclusions and cytomegalovirus immunochemistry staining in ileocolonic biopsies.Results:  A total of 64 patients were included (ulcerative colitis, n = 23; Crohn's disease, n = 41), 18 of whom had been on high‐dose oral steroids and 11 on immunosuppressants. Anti‐cytomegalovirus IgG and IgM were positive in 42 (66%) and 3 (5%) patients respectively. Blood or urine cytomegalovirus replication markers were found in 4 (6%) patients, all of whom had ulcerative colitis. Three patients had cytomegalovirus viraemia and received anti‐viral treatment with ganciclovir. Only one of these patients had cytomegalovirus antigenaemia and also associated biopsy‐proven cytomegalovirus colitis, probably as a primary cytomegalovirus infection. This patient is the only one who benefitted from anti‐viral therapy.Conclusions:  Cytomegalovirus infection is infrequent in in‐patients with active inflammatory bowel disease. Systematic search of cytomegalovirus replication markers should not be performed. Isolated viraemia without associated antigenaemia or direct demonstration of cytomegalovirus in ileocolonic biopsies does not warrant anti‐viral therapy.
Intestinal permeability in patients with irritable bowel syndrome after a waterborne outbreak of acute gastroenteritis in Walkerton, Ontario
Authors: Marshall J. K. , Thabane M. , Garg A. X. , Clark W. , Meddings J. , Collins S. M. ,   for the WEL Investigators
Published: December 2004

SummaryBackground : Post‐infectious irritable bowel syndrome is a common clinical phenomenon of uncertain aetiology.Aim : To test the association between intestinal permeability and irritable bowel syndrome symptoms 2 years after a large waterborne outbreak of bacterial gastroenteritis.Methods : Consecutive adults with Rome I irritable bowel syndrome and controls without irritable bowel syndrome attending a community clinic were enrolled. Intestinal permeability was measured as the ratio of fractional urinary excretions of lactulose and mannitol, and compared among cases vs. controls and predictors of abnormal intestinal permeability were assessed.Results : A total of 218 subjects (132 irritable bowel syndrome cases and 86 non‐irritable bowel syndrome controls) completed the study protocol. About 27 (12%) had been diagnosed with the irritable bowel syndrome before the outbreak and 115 (53%) had been ill during the outbreak. Lactulose–mannitol ratios were increased among cases vs. controls (Mann–Whitney mean rank 118.8 vs. 95.3, P = 0.007), and cases were more likely to have a ratio >0.020 (P = 0.007). Among cases, those with increased intestinal permeability were more likely to report increased stool frequency. Both irritable bowel syndrome symptoms and male gender, but not diarrhoeal illness during the outbreak, were significant predictors of abnormal permeability.Conclusions : Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms are associated with a subtle increase in intestinal permeability irrespective of prior gastroenteritis. This may improve understanding of the aetiology of both sporadic and post‐infectious irritable bowel syndrome.
Intravenous CDP870, a PEGylated Fab′ fragment of a humanized antitumour necrosis factor antibody, in patients with moderate‐to‐severe Crohn's disease: an exploratory study
Authors: Winter T. A. , Wright J. , Ghosh S. , Jahnsen J. , Innes A. , Round P. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryBackground : CDP870 is a PEGylated Fab′ fragment of a humanized monoclonal antibody that neutralizes tumour necrosis factor‐α.Aim : To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a single intravenous dose of CDP870 or placebo over a 12‐week period in patients with moderate‐to‐severe Crohn's disease.Methods : Ninety‐two adult patients with Crohn's disease (Crohn's Disease Activity Index: 220–450 points) were randomized to receive CDP870 [1.25 (n = 2), 5 (n =26), 10 (n = 17) or 20 mg/kg (n = 23)] or placebo (n = 24). Crohn's Disease Activity Index scores were determined at weeks 0, 2, 4, 8 and 12. The primary end‐point was the percentage of patients achieving clinical response [i.e. a decrease in Crohn's Disease Activity Index score ≥ 100 points or remission (Crohn's Disease Activity Index score: ≤150 points)] at week 4 in the intent‐to‐treat population.Results : The percentage of patients achieving the primary end‐point was comparable across all treatment groups (56.0%, 60.0%, 58.8% and 47.8% for placebo, CDP870 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg, respectively). The remission rate at week 2 was 47.1% with CDP870 10 mg/kg vs. 16.0% for placebo (P = 0.041). All treatments were well‐tolerated: adverse events, reported by 43 patients treated with CDP870 and 15 patients treated with placebo, were mainly mild‐to‐moderate in intensity. There were no infusion reactions.Conclusions : A single intravenous dose of CDP870 was well‐tolerated by patients with Crohn's disease. While no statistically significant difference in clinical response rates between CDP870 and placebo was observed, clinical benefit in terms of remission was demonstrated.
Granulocyteaphaeresis in steroid‐dependent inflammatory bowel disease: a prospective, open, pilot study
Authors: Domènech E. , Hinojosa J. , Esteve‐Comas M. , Gomollón F. , Herrera J. M. , Bastida G. , Obrador A. , Ruiz R. , Saro C. , Gassull M. A. ,   for the Spanish Group for the Study of Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (GETECCU)
Published: December 2004

SummaryBackground : Uncontrolled studies suggest that granulocyteaphaeresis might be useful in the management of active ulcerative colitis.Aim : To assess the efficacy of granulocyteaphaeresis treatment in active steroid‐dependent inflammatory bowel disease.Methods : We conducted a multicentre, prospective, open, pilot study in patients with steroid‐dependent inflammatory bowel disease. All patients were started on 60 mg/day of prednisone; after 1 week, a five‐session programme of granulocyteaphaeresis (once per week) was started. The steroid dose was tapered weekly if there was clinical improvement. Remission was defined as an inactive clinical activity index together with complete withdrawal of steroids at week 6. The patients were followed up for at least 6 months or until disease relapse.Results : Twenty‐six patients (14 ulcerative colitis, 12 Crohn's disease) were included. More than a half had been previously treated with immunomodulators. Remission was achieved in 62 and 70% of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, respectively. During a median follow‐up of 12.6 months, six of eight ulcerative colitis patients maintained their clinical remission; however, only one Crohn's disease patient remained in remission after the first 6 months of follow‐up.Conclusions : Granulocyteaphaeresis is a safe treatment option in inflammatory bowel disease. A five‐session programme of granulocyteaphaeresis seems to be efficient in the treatment of steroid‐dependent ulcerative colitis, but not in Crohn's disease.
Genotype distribution of Candida albicans isolates by 25S intron analysis with regard to invasiveness
Authors: Karahan Z. C. , Güriz H. , Ağırbaşlı H. , Balaban N. , Göçmen J. S. , Aysev D. , Akar N. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryThe aim of this study was to genotype Candida albicans strains isolated from patients with invasive and non‐invasive deep‐seated infections. For this purpose, 301 C. albicans isolates (81 invasive and 220 non‐invasive) were genotyped by using specific PCR primers designed to span the transposable group I intron of the 25S rDNA gene. Fifty‐three of the 81 invasive isolates were genotype A (65.4%), eight were genotype B (9.9%) and 20 were genotype C (24.7%), while 98 of the 220 non‐invasive isolates were genotype A (44.6%), 46 were genotype B (20.9%) and 76 were genotype C (34.5%). Genotype A was more prevalent among invasive isolates and genotypes B and C were more prevalent among non‐invasive isolates (P = 0.0046). Genotypes D and E which represent C. dubliniensis were not found. These results indicate that there may be a relationship between C. albicans genotypes and invasiveness; genotype A being more invasive than others. The presence or absence of the transposable group I intron in the 25S rDNA gene may be important in determining the invasiveness of C. albicans.
Bullous tinea pedis in two children
Authors: Neri I. , Piraccini B. M. , Guareschi E. , Patrizi A. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryTinea pedis is a dermatophytic infection with a high prevalence in adults and also occasionally observed in children. We report here two cases of bullous tinea pedis, one due to Trichophyton rubrum in a 6‐year‐old child and the second due to T. interdigitale in a 10‐year‐old child. We suggest that, despite the low prevalence of this infection in childhood, a potassium hydroxide test and a culture for fungi should always be performed when a child is examined for an inflammatory eruption of the feet.
Invasive aspergillosis with polyarthritis
Authors: Mekan S. F. , Saeed O. , Khan J. A. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryWe report a case of septic arthritis of multiple joints in an 18‐year‐old male caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. His initial presentation was of low‐grade fever followed by involvement of both knee and ankle joints. Later, there was also involvement of metacarpophalangeal joints. Diagnosis was based on biopsy and culture of the skin and joint lesions. The symptoms resolved readily under administration of itraconazole. We recommend that clinicians should be alerted of potential fungal etiology in cases of fever and chronic arthritis, which is unresponsive to conventional medical therapy.
In vitro evaluation of griseofulvin against clinical isolates of dermatophytes from Isfahan
Authors: Chadeganipour Mostafa , Nilipour Shahi , Havaei Asghar 
Published: December 2004

SummaryFifty dermatophyte isolates, recently obtained from clinical materials, belonging to Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. verrucosum, Microsporum canis and Epidermophyton floccosum were examined for their susceptibility to griseofulvin. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were obtained using the modified microdilution method. All 100% tested isolates had MIC geometric mean at a concentration between 0.43 and 0.95 μg ml−1 The MIC90s and MIC50s were 8 μg ml−1 and <0.25–1 μg ml−1 respectively. From all isolates, 12% including three T. verrucosum, one M. canis and two T. mentagrophytes isolates had MIC values out of the standardized range, therefore, they were considered as relatively griseofulvin‐resistant. At least some of the isolates tested might be difficult to eradicate in clinical terms with griseofulvin treatment in Isfahan.
Protein-Protein Interactions and Transcriptional Antagonism between the Subfamily of NGFI-B/Nur77 Orphan Nuclear Receptors and Glucocorticoid Receptor
Authors: Martens Christine , Bilodeau Steve , Maira Mario , Gauthier Yves , Drouin Jacques 
Published: December 2004

AbstractGlucocorticoids (Gc) act through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) to enhance or repress transcription of glucocorticoid-responsive genes depending on the promoter and cellular context. Repression of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene expression by Gc was proposed to use different mechanisms. We described the POMC promoter Nur response element (NurRE) as a target for Gc repression. NGFI-B (Nur77), an orphan nuclear receptor, and two related factors, Nurr1 and NOR1, bind the NurRE as homo- or heterodimers to enhance POMC gene expression in response to CRH. Gc antagonize CRH-stimulated as well as NGFI-B-dependent transcription. We now show that GR antagonizes NurRE-dependent transcription induced by all members of the Nur77 subfamily and that these nuclear receptors can all interact directly with GR. Transcriptional antagonism as well as direct protein-protein interaction between NGFI-B and GR take place primarily via their respective DNA binding domains, although DNA binding itself and the GR homodimerization interface are not involved. In vivo, GR and Nur factors can be coimmunoprecipitated whereas GR is recruited to the POMC promoter upon glucocorticoid action. Thus, our data suggest a mechanism for transrepression between two nuclear receptors, GR and NGFI-B, that is unique, although quite similar to that proposed for transrepression between GR and activator protein 1 (AP-1) or nuclear factor-κB (NFκB).
Synthesis of Carbon Nanotube Composites in Nanochannels of an Anodic Aluminum Oxide Film
Authors: Kyotani Takashi , Pradhan Bhabendra Kumar , Tomita Akira 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
A template carbonization technique was applied for synthesizing carbon nanotubes and metal filled nanotubes. An anodic aluminum oxide film that has uniform and straight channels with a diameter at nanometer level was used as a one-dimensional template. The pyrolytic carbon deposition on the channel wall was carried out by exposing the anodic oxide film to hydrocarbon gas at high temperature. The carbon was then liberated from the anodic oxide film by dissolving the alumina template. It was found that the resultant carbon is comprised only of uniform hollow-tubes with open ends. The length and the diameter of the carbon nanotubes are controllable by changing the length and the inner diameter of the channels in the anodic oxide film. By applying this template technique, metal filled uniform carbon nanotubes can also be fabricated. Pt, Ag, and Fe-filled carbon nanotubes were synthesized. If one varies metal the loading and metal reduction methods, various shapes of nano metal compounds can be inserted into the hollow of carbon nanotubes. It should be noted that no metal was observed on the outside walls of the tubes. The metal-filled uniform carbon nanotube thus prepared can be regarded as a novel one-dimensional composite, which has a variety of potential applications.
Hexadecylpyridinium Chloride + Trimethyltetradecylammonium Bromide Mixed Micelles in Polyethylene Glycol + Water Mixtures
Authors: Bakshi Mandeep Singh , Doe Hidekazu 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
The conductances of hexadecylpyridinium chloride (HPyCl) + trimethyltetradecylammonium bromide (TTAB) mixtures over the entire mole fraction range of HPyCl (αHPyCl) were measured in aqueous binary mixtures of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 200, 400, 600, and 4000 containing different amounts of each PEG in their respective binary mixtures at 30 °C. Each conductivity curve showed a single break, except in the presence of PEG 4000 where two breaks were observed. From the conductivity (κ) data, the critical micellar concentration (cmc), degree of counter ion association (χ), the equivalent conductivities (Λ) from the slope of κ versus C plots, and the standard Gibb’s free energy of transfer of the surfactant hydrocarbon chain from the medium to the interior of the micelle (ΔGHP°) were computed. It was observed that micelle–PEG interactions in the case of HPyCl and TTAB were quite similar to mixed micelle–PEG interactions especially in the presence of PEG 200, 400, and 600. The results were explained on the basis of medium structure-breaking effects of PEG and adsorption of PEG on the micelle–solution interface. In the presence of PEG 4000, the micelle formation corresponding to the first break was found to be similar to that in the presence of PEG 200, 400, and 600. The second break was designated to the polymer bound micellar aggregates, which became more stable as the amount of PEG 4000 was increased.