bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Recreational injuries among older Americans, 2001
Authors: Gerson L W , Stevens J A 
Published: June 2004

Objective:To describe the epidemiology of non-fatal recreational injuries among older adults treated in United States emergency departments including national estimates of the number of injuries, types of recreational activities, and diagnoses.Methods:Injury data were provided by the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP), a nationally representative subsample of 66 out of 100 NEISS hospitals. Potential cases were identified using the NEISS-AIP definition of a sport and recreation injury. The authors then reviewed the two line narrative to identify injuries related to participation in a sport or recreational activity among men and women more than 64 years old.Results:In 2001, an estimated 62 164 (95% confidence interval 35 570 to 88 758) persons ≥65 years old were treated in emergency departments for injuries sustained while participating in sport or recreational activities. The overall injury rate was 177.3/100 000 population with higher rates for men (242.5/100 000) than for women (151.3/100 000). Exercising caused 30% of injuries among women and bicycling caused 17% of injuries among men. Twenty seven percent of all treated injuries were fractures and women (34%) were more likely than men (21%) to suffer fractures.Conclusions:Recreational activities were a frequent cause of injuries among older adults. Fractures were common. Many of these injuries are potentially preventable. As more persons engage in recreational activities, applying known injury prevention strategies will help to reduce the incidence of these injuries.
Reducing social inequalities in smoking: can evidence inform policy? A pilot study: Table 1
Authors: Ogilvie D , Petticrew M 
Published: June 2004

Objective:To assess the potential contribution of evidence from existing systematic reviews of effectiveness to answering the question: what works in reducing social inequalities in smoking?Data source:The Cochrane Library (2002/4).Study selection:Systematic reviews of the effectiveness of community based tobacco control interventions, and all the primary studies included in one of these reviews.Data extraction:Reviews and primary studies were assessed for intent to assess the social distribution of intervention effects, information about the social inclusiveness or targeting of interventions, baseline sociodemographic data collected on participants, and estimates of effect size stratified by sociodemographic variables.Data synthesis:Only one review aimed to examine outcomes stratified by sex, age or socioeconomic status, and these aims were only achieved with respect to sex. Sociodemographic data about participants were frequently collected in primary studies, but not used to compare intervention effects between social groups.Conclusions:There may be scope for using existing research more effectively to contribute to evidence based policy to reduce social inequalities in smoking—by explicitly seeking stratified outcome data in new systematic reviews, by re-analysing original datasets, and/or by meta-analysis of individual participant data.
Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and determinants of support for complete smoking bans in psychiatric settings
Authors: Willemsen M C , Görts C A , Van Soelen P , Jonkers R , Hilberink S R 
Published: June 2004

Objective:To measure environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure in psychiatric settings and to assess determinants of support for complete smoking bans.Design:Cross sectional studySetting:Dutch psychiatric hospitals, outpatient care institutions, and sheltered home facilities.Subjects:A random sample of 540 treatment staff, 306 attendants/nurses, and 93 patients.Main outcome measures:Self reported ETS exposure, current smoking policy, compliance with smoking policy, beliefs about smoking bans.Results:87% of respondents were exposed to tobacco smoke in psychiatric institutions; 29% said that on an average day they were exposed to “a lot of smoke”. Although ETS originates mainly from smoking patients, both non-compliance from patients and employees with existing bans resulted in non-smokers being exposed to ETS. Due to non-compliance, ETS exposure was quite high when there is a general smoking ban (designated areas option). Only with a complete ban was compliance good and employees sufficiently protected from ETS exposure. Psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians, attendants, and nurses were most concerned about resistance from patients, partly because of the fear of infringing on patients’ freedom to smoke.Conclusions:Complete smoking bans are the only way to fully protect those working in psychiatry from ETS exposure, mainly because general smoking bans are not sufficiently complied with. Communication strategies to improve compliance with complete bans are crucial to protect those working in psychiatry from ETS. Compliance could be improved by addressing the belief that the ban will effectively result in less ETS exposure and the issue of patients’ freedom to smoke versus employees’ right to work in a smoke-free environment.
Tobacco harm reduction: what do the experts think?: Table 1
Authors: Martin E G , Warner K E , Lantz P M 
Published: June 2004

Objective:To assess experts’ opinions about the future of, and potential to improve individual and public health through “tobacco harm reduction” (THR), the use of novel nicotine containing products purporting to reduce the health risks from cigarette smoking.Design:Semi-structured telephone interviews on nine topic areas, with qualitative content analysis of coded transcripts.Participants:29 professionals with expertise related to tobacco and interest in THR, including prominent tobacco control advocates (7), pharmaceutical (3) and tobacco industry scientists/officials (5), non-industry scientists (12), and Congressional staff (2).Results:Respondents agreed that harm reduction is at minimum theoretically plausible, that characteristics of “good” and “bad” THR products can be identified, that government regulation is essential but not likely in the foreseeable future, and that additional scientific data are very much needed. However, there was no consensus on specifics, such as preferred regulatory strategies or examples of ideal THR products. Disagreement was seen not only across but also within respondent categories. Mistrust of key stakeholders—for example, tobacco control advocates distrust of tobacco industry scientists and vice versa—was pervasive, and cited frequently as a barrier to regulation and collaboration.Conclusions:Continued dialogue and debate are essential as we enter a new and uncertain era of products purporting to reduce tobacco produced harm. Experts have concluded that effective government regulation is crucial to minimising the risks associated with THR and maximising potential benefits.
Nicotine delivery capabilities of smokeless tobacco products and implications for control of tobacco dependence in South Africa: Table 1
Authors: Ayo-Yusuf O A , Swart T J P , Pickworth W B 
Published: June 2004

Objectives:Smokeless tobacco (SLT) use is popular among black South African women and children. The study sought to determine the nicotine delivery capability of popular industrialised and traditional SLT brands in South Africa, and to provide information for policy action by regulatory authorities.Design:Laboratory chemical analysis of four industrialised and one traditional SLT products commercially available, using previously published analytical methods. Potential for dependence was inferred from nicotine delivery capabilities determined by the percentage free base nicotine.Measurements:Moisture, pH, total nicotine, and percentage free base nicotine.Results:Total nicotine content was between 6–16 mg/g. The pH varied between 7–10 and this correlated with percentage free base nicotine, which ranged between 10–99%. The nicotine delivery capability of the traditional product was lower than that of the industrialised products except for the recently introduced portion bag snus, which had comparable total nicotine but the lowest pH and percentage free base nicotine. The most popular SLT brands showed the highest percentage free base nicotine ever reported for any industrialised SLT or cigarette brands. Small cans contained higher nicotine than the large cans of the same brand tested. Findings from the study support a potential for limited “product graduation” by users.Conclusions:South African SLT users are mostly exposed to potentially very highly addictive levels of nicotine that may favour tobacco dependence and its consequent health risks. The increasing use of SLT by women of childbearing age support the need for intensified policy action to control its use.
HOMOGENIZATION OF TWO HEAT CONDUCTORS WITH AN INTERFACIAL CONTACT RESISTANCE
Authors: DONATO PATRIZIA , MONSURRÒ SARA 
Published: May 2004

In this paper we describe the asymptotic behavior of a problem depending on a small parameter ε>0 and modelling the stationary heat diffusion in a two-component conductor. The flow of heat is proportional to the jump of the temperature field, due to a contact resistance on the interface.More precisely, we give an homogenization result for the stationary heat equation with oscillating coefficients in a domain [Formula: see text] of ℝn, where [Formula: see text] is connected and [Formula: see text] is union of ε-periodic disconnected inclusions of size ε. These two sub-domains of Ω are separated by a contact surface Γε, on which we prescribe the continuity of the conormal derivatives and a jump of the solution proportional to the conormal derivative, by means of a function of order εγ.We describe the limit problem for γ>-1. The two cases -1<γ≤1 (Theorem 2.1) and γ>1 (Theorem 2.2) need to be treated separately, because of different a priori estimates.
Effect of COX-1/COX-2 Inhibition versus Selective COX-2 Inhibition on Coronary Vasodilator Responses to Arachidonic Acid and Acetylcholine
Authors: Gross Garrett J. , Moore Jeannine 
Published: May 2004

The effect of a nonselective COX-1/COX-2 inhibitor, naproxen, was compared with a COX-2-selective inhibitor (SC-58236) on coronary vasodilatory responses in the anesthetized dog. Coronary vasodilation was induced by direct intracoronary injection of acetylcholine (ACH) and arachidonic acid (AA) in control animals and in those treated with either naproxen (1, 3, or 10 mg/kg p.o. 24 h prior to the experiment) or SC-58236 (1, 5, or 15 mg/kg p.o. 24 h prior to the experiment). Naproxen, at 10 mg/kg, significantly attenuated the AA-induced vasodilation (prostacyclin dependent) with no effect on ACH-induced vasodilation (nitric oxide dependent). SC-58236 failed to attenuate either AA- or ACH-induced vasodilation. Ex vivo assays were utilized to establish inhibition of COX-2 (lipopolysaccharide-stimulated prostaglandin E<sub>2</sub> formation) and COX-1 (serum thromboxane B<sub>2</sub>) in blood taken from dogs administered 1, 3, or 10 mg/kg naproxen or 15 mg/kg SC-58236. Naproxen (3 and10 mg/kg) and SC-58236 (15 mg/kg) markedly reduced the lipopolysaccharide-induced prostaglandin E<sub>2</sub> formation, whereas SC- 58236 (15 mg/kg) had no effect on serum thromboxane B<sub>2</sub>. Naproxen significantly reduced thromboxane B<sub>2</sub> at all three doses studied. Furthermore, naproxen (10 mg/kg p.o.) significantly inhibited the AA-induced platelet aggregation (thromboxane B<sub>2</sub> dependent), whereas SC-58236 had no effect. Collectively, these results demonstrate that SC-58236 is selective for COX-2, while naproxen is a nonselective inhibitor. These data also suggest that vasodilatory responses to AA in the dog are primarily COX-1 dependent. Selective COX-2 inhibition does not affect either prostacyclin or nitric oxide mediated vasodilation in the canine coronary circulation.
Transdermal Eperisone Elicits more Potent and Longer-Lasting Muscle Relaxation than Oral Eperisone
Authors: Yang Sang-In , Park Ha-Young , Lee Sang-Ho , Lee Seung-Jin , Han Ok-Yeun , Lim Sung-Cil , Jang Choon-Gon , Lee Wan-Suk , Shin Young-Hee , Kim Jung-Ju , Lee Seok-Yong 
Published: May 2004

Eperisone hydrochloride is widely used for the treatment of plasticity to relieve muscle stiffness and back pain. However, oral eperisone has a very low bioavailability and short muscle relaxant activity, because of the profound intestinal first-pass metabolism. To improve the efficacy and compliance of eperisone, we designed a new dosage form, a transdermal patch, and evaluated the efficacy of the eperisone patch with the muscle relaxant activity of rats. The muscle relaxant activity was assessed by the measurement of forelimb grip strength and hanging test in rats. The transdermal patch of eperisone showed significantly enhanced muscle relaxant activity at 0.5 1.5 and 3 cm<sup>2</sup>/200 g rat (1.39, 4.17 and 8.33 mg of eperisone hydrochloride/kg, respectively) in a dose-dependent manner and the effects lasted over 24 h. Even though oral eperisone hydrochloride showed significant muscle relaxant activity at 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg in a dose-dependent manner, the activity lasted only 1 or 2 h after administration. These results suggest that eperisone as transdermal patch form showed efficient absorption with more potent and longer-lasting muscle relaxant activity than oral solution. The transdermal patch form of eperisone will increase the efficacy and compliance in the clinical use of eperisone.
Induction of homologous recombination in the <i>hprt</i> gene of V79 Chinese hamster cells in response to low- and high-LET irradiation
Authors: Olsson G. , Czene S. , Jenssen D. , Harms-Ringdahl M. 
Published: May 2004

Dense ionization tracks from high linear energy transfer (LET) radiations form multiple damaged sites (MDS), which involve several types of DNA lesions in close vicinity. The primary DNA damage triggers sensor proteins that activate repair processes, cell cycle control or eventually apoptosis in subsequent cellular responses. The question how homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) interact in the repair of radiation-induced DNA damage of MDS type has been addressed in different model systems but several questions remain to be answered. We have therefore challenged cells with treatments of ionizing radiation of different qualities to investigate whether primary DNA damages of different complexity are reflected in the processes of repair by HR as well as cell survival. We used the V79 derived SPD8 cell line to determine the induction of HR in the <i>hprt</i> exon 7 and clonogenic assay for survival in response to radiation. SPD8 cells were irradiated with γ-rays (<sup>137</sup>Cs 0.5 keV/µm), boron ions (40 and 80 keV/µm) and nitrogen ions (140 keV/µm), with doses up to 5 Gy. Analysis of clonogenic survival showed that B-ions (80 keV/µm) and N-ions were more toxic than γ-rays, 4.1 and 5.0 times respectively, while B-ions at 40 keV/µm were 2.0 times as toxic as γ-rays. Homologous recombination in the cells exposed to B-ions (80 keV/µm) increased 2.9 times, a significant response as compared to cells exposed to γ-rays, while for B-ions (40 keV/µm) and N-ions a nonsignificant increase in HR of 1.2 and 1.4, respectively, was observed. We hypothesize that the high-LET generated formation of MDS is responsible for the enhanced cytotoxicity as well as for the mobilization of the HR machinery.
Chromosome banding in Amphibia
Authors: Schmid M. , Steinlein C. , Haaf T. 
Published: May 2004

The present study reports for the first time on the numerical and structural chromosome anomalies that spontaneously arise in aging cultured fibroblast cells of Amphibia. The analyses were conducted on kidney fibroblasts of three anuran species with extremely divergent genome sizes <i>(Bufo rubropunctatus</i>, <i>Scaphiopus holbrooki</i>, <i>Gastrotheca riobambae)</i>, in the sixth up to the 14th culture passage. The chromosomal rearrangements were identified by means of the 5-bromodeoxyuridine/deoxythymidine (BrdU/dT) replication banding technique. The aberrations can be either confined to a single chromosome, or else involve all chromosomes of the karyotype. The most frequent structural aberrations in the cell cultures of <i>S. holbrooki</i> and <i>G. riobambae</i> are tandem fusions between two or more chromosomes. These tandem fusions originating in vitro in long-termed cell cultures reflect the chromosome mutations which also took place during amphibian phylogenesis.
Immunotherapy Attenuates Eosinophil Transendothelial Migration Induced by the Supernatants of Antigen-Stimulated Mononuclear Cells from Atopic Asthmatics
Authors: Nagata Makoto , Saito Keiko , Kikuchi Izumi , Tabe Kazuaki , Hagiwara Koichi , Kanazawa Minoru , Sakamoto Yoshio 
Published: May 2004

<i>Background:</i> Eosinophil transendothelilal migration across vascular endothelial cells is an initial step of eosinophil accumulation in allergic inflammation. There is increasing evidence that specific immunotherapy (SIT) modulates the production of inflammatory molecules from mononuclear cells. <i>Objective:</i> The present study was undertaken to examine whether SIT modifies eosinophil transendothelial migration induced by the supernatants of antigen-stimulated mononuclear cells from atopic asthmatics. <i>Methods:</i><i>Dermatophagoides farinae</i><i>(Df)</i>-sensitive mild persistent asthmatics were divided into a SIT-treated group and a control group. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated before and after SIT using the rush protocol, and cultured for 96 h at 37°C in the presence or absence of <i>Df </i>antigen. Eosinophils were isolated from the blood of healthy subjects, and put on transwell filters coated with pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell monolayers stimulated with IL-4 plus TNF-α. The supernatants of PBMC were applied to the lower compartment and the transmigration of eosinophils was examined. <i>Results:</i><i>Df </i>stimulation of PBMC resulted in an augmentation of eosinophil transendothelial migration. This enhancement was abrogated following SIT. In the control group, the antigen-induced effect on eosinophil transmigration did not show an interval change. <i>Conclusion:</i> SIT attenuates eosinophil transendothelial migration induced by antigen-stimulated mononuclear cells.
Cytophaga-Flavobacterium Gliding Motility
Authors: McBride Mark J. 
Published: May 2004

<i>Flavobacterium johnsoniae</i>, like many other members of the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides group, displays rapid gliding motility. Cells of <i>F. johnsoniae</i> glide over surfaces at rates of up to 10 µm/s. Latex spheres added to <i>F. johnsoniae</i> bind to and are rapidly propelled along cells, suggesting that adhesive molecules move laterally along the cell surface during gliding. Genetic analyses have identified a number of <i>gld </i>genes that are required for gliding. Three Gld proteins are thought to be components of an ATP-binding-cassette transporter. Five other Gld proteins are lipoproteins that localize to the cytoplasmic membrane or outer membrane. Disruption of <i>gld</i> genes results not only in loss of motility, but also in resistance to bacteriophages that infect wild-type cells, and loss of the ability to digest the insoluble polysaccharide chitin. Two models that attempt to incorporate the available data to explain the mechanism of <i>F. johnsoniae</i> gliding are presented.
Pulse Pressure in Acute Stroke Is an Independent Predictor of Long-Term Mortality
Authors: Vemmos Konstantinos N. , Tsivgoulis Georgios , Spengos Konstantinos , Manios Efstathios , Daffertshofer Michael , Kotsis Vassilios , Lekakis John P. , Zakopoulos Nikolaos 
Published: May 2004

The management of blood pressure (BP) during the acute phase of stroke remains a matter of debate. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a possible association between long-term mortality and BP values in acute stroke by means of BP monitoring. We studied a consecutive series of 198 first-ever acute stroke patients. BP monitoring was initiated in all subjects within 24 h of ictus. One year after stroke onset, 34 (17.7%) patients had died. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed only age, level of consciousness on admission, lacunar stroke and 24-hour pulse pressure (24-hour PP) as significant outcome predictors. The hazards ratio for 1-year mortality associated with every 10 mm Hg increase in 24 h PP was 1.39 (95% CI: 1.04–1.86, p = 0.028). The present results demonstrate that increasing 24-hour PP levels in patients with acute stroke are independently associated with higher long-term mortality. This may have implications in acute stroke BP management and warrants further investigation.
Phase II Study of Capecitabine in Patients With Fluorouracil-Resistant Metastatic Colorectal Carcinoma
Authors: Hoff Paulo M. , Pazdur Richard , Lassere Yvonne , Carter Susan , Samid Dvorit , Polito Diane , Abbruzzese James L. 
Published: May 2004

Purpose Capecitabine is an oral fluoropyrimidine converted to fluourouracil (FU) preferentially in tumor tissue. It has proven clinical activity against colorectal cancer when used as first-line therapy. The objectives of this study were to assess the safety and efficacy of capecitabine in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma who progressed despite previous FU therapy. Patients and Methods According to the group sequential analysis design of this study, accrual would stop if no responses were observed in the first 20 patients treated. If one or more objective responses were confirmed, the trial would be expanded. Patients received capecitabine 1,250 mg/m2 twice a day for 14 days, every 3 weeks. Tumor lesions were assessed every 6 weeks, and patients were followed for survival every 3 months after completing treatment. Results Twenty-three patients were enrolled onto the study; 22 fulfilled all the eligibility criteria. No objective responses were observed among the 22 eligible patients; 11 patients (50%) had stable disease for a median duration of 141 days (range, 88–289 days). The Kaplan-Meier estimate of median time to disease progression was 64 days (95% CI, 41 to 134 days). The median survival time estimate was 389 days (95% CI, 267 to 637 days). The most frequent treatment-related adverse events were hand-foot syndrome, diarrhea, and nausea or vomiting. There were no grade 4 toxicities and no treatment-related deaths. Conclusion Single-agent capecitabine in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma refractory to FU showed no objective responses and clinical benefit that was, at best, modest. The use of capecitabine in combination with other treatments in this patient population is under investigation.