bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Successful treatment of a leg ulcer occurring in a rheumatoid arthritis patient under leflunomide therapy
Authors: Knab J , Goos M , Dissemond J 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTObjective  We report the case of a leg ulcer in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient under treatment with leflunomide, discuss the influence of the drug on the aetiopathogenesis of the ulcer and describe its successful treatment.Case summary  A 68‐year‐old woman with a 12‐year history of RA developed a leg ulcer after 4 months of leflunomide treatment. Other ulcerogenic factors were ruled out. There were some clinical hints for rheumatoid vasculitis. The ulcer was resistant to ambulant conservative phase adapted wound bed preparation and a split skin transplantation failed. After omission of leflunomide and washout procedure with cholestyramine a second split skin transplantation resulted in complete healing.Discussion  Leflunomide inhibits the division of activated T cells and thus inhibits among others the production of proinflammatory cytokines and the adhesion of cells to the endothelium. These mechanisms may partly explain the possible influence of leflunomide on the perpetuation of the ulcer. Until now, occurrence of vasculitis and leg ulcers has been described in one case each for the novel immunomodulator leflunomide. No successful treatment of a leg ulcer under leflunomide has been described yet. Omission of leflunomide and a washout treatment in our case led to a complete healing. This may indicate a critical role of leflunomide in the maintenance of this slow healing ulcer.Conclusions  An association between leflunomide intake, occurrence of leg ulcers in RA patients and delayed wound healing should be considered.
Tacrolimus ointment for the treatment of severe facial plaque psoriasis
Authors: Kroft EBM , Erceg A , Maimets K , Vissers W , Van Der Valk PGM , Van De Kerkhof PCM 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTRecently, tacrolimus ointment has proved to be effective and well tolerated in patients with facial psoriasis. A few months ago we had the opportunity to treat a patient with tacrolimus ointment who had severe and recalcitrant plaque psoriasis of the face. This present case illustrates the impressive improvement of facial plaque psoriasis following 5 months of treatment with tacrolimus 0.1% ointment twice a day. Significant improvement of facial plaque psoriasis was seen after 1 month and complete clearance after 5 months of therapy. Based on the available literature and illustrated by the present case we may conclude that tacrolimus ointment 0.1% can be recommended as a first‐line treatment for facial psoriasis.
Ultraviolet A dosimetry in photopatch test centres in Europe
Authors: Moseley H 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTObjective  The aim of the study was to investigate the state of ultraviolet (UV) A dosimetry in photopatch testing centres in Europe.Background  It has been acknowledged that a widespread disparity exists in the way photopatch testing is carried out in different countries throughout Europe. This prompted the formation of a European taskforce that developed a consensus methodology. One issue that was not addressed directly was that of UVA dosimetry, which clearly impacts on the consistency of the clinical results.Study design  Ten UV meters from photopatch test centres throughout Europe were set up at a reproducible position from a photopatch test light source containing UVA fluorescent lamps and the irradiances were noted from each meter. One meter served as a reference meter with calibration carried out in an optical laboratory traceable to the National Physical Laboratory.Results  The mean of all the measurements was 5.74 mW/cm2 with a SD of 0.36 mW/cm2. Expanded uncertainty at 95% confidence level was 12%.Conclusions  It is desirable that meter calibration should have an accuracy of the order of ±10%. The variation in recorded values among the 10 meters investigated was within acceptable limits. The meter must be calibrated using a similar light source to that used in the phototest equipment, in this case a UVA fluorescence lamp.
MODULE FIVE: IMPLEMENTATION OF ETHICS REVIEW
Authors: DHAI AMES 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTThe objective of this module is to inform you on issues of concern for Research Ethics Committee members and investigators during the review process. The many guidelines on research ethics, including those from the South African Department of Health and the World Health Organisation, will be referred to extensively to educate you on the requirements of Research Ethics Committees. The evolution of the review process in South Africa will be detailed.
Migraine Prevention in Children and Adolescents: Results of an Open Study With a Special Butterbur Root Extract
Authors: Pothmann Raymund , Danesch Ulrich 
Published: March 2005

Objective.—To explore the role of a special butterbur root extract for migraine prevention in children and adolescents with severe migraines.Background.—Two randomized and placebo‐controlled trials with a total of 289 migraine patients have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of a special butterbur root extract in the reduction of migraine attacks in adults. We studied whether butterbur had the potential as an efficient and well‐tolerated migraine preventive in children and adolescents.Design/Methods.—108 children and adolescents between the ages of 6 and 17 were included in a multicenter prospective open‐label study. Participants suffered from migraines diagnosed according to IHS classifications for at least 1 year. Patients were treated with 50 to 150 mg of the butterbur root extract depending on age for a period of 4 months. Treatment progression was recorded in migraine journals especially designed for children and adolescents.Results.—77% of all patients reported a reduction in the frequency of migraine attacks of at least 50%. Attack frequency was reduced by 63%. 91% of patients felt substantially or at least slightly improved after 4 months of treatment. About 90% of each, doctors and patients, reported well‐being or even improved well‐being. Undesired effects (7.4%) included mostly eructation. No serious adverse events occurred and no adverse event caused a premature termination.Conclusions.—The results and low rate of adverse events in this open prospective migraine prevention study in children and adolescents are similar to the results of two multicenter placebo‐controlled butterbur studies in adults. Butterbur root extract shows a potential as an effective and well‐tolerated migraine prophylaxis also for children and teenagers.
Surgical Management of Contact Point Headaches
Authors: Behin Fereidoon , Behin Babak , Behin Daniel , Baredes Soly 
Published: March 2005

Introduction.—Contact point headaches are caused by contact between the nasal septum and the lateral nasal wall by a mechanism of referred pain involving the trigeminal nerve. Our goal was to investigate headaches caused by the contact between the septum and the superior turbinate or medial wall of the ethmoid sinuses and not the middle turbinate.Materials and Methods.—A retrospective chart review was performed on patients who underwent septoplasty and sinus surgery for headache. The total number of patients who opted for surgery was 23. Only 12 patients met the criteria of having a contact point between the septum and medial wall of the ethmoid sinus, or septum and superior turbinate, which were demonstrated via CT scan of the sinuses. These patients underwent surgical intervention in order to relieve the contact points.Results.—According to the same pain questionnaire given pre‐ and postoperatively, 83% no longer complained of headaches, while 8% had significant relief. Forty‐one percent of our patients were previously diagnosed with migraines; 80% of these patients were successfully treated by surgery.Discussions.—Contact point headaches and migraine without aura (MWOA) have similar symptoms (eg, photophobia, phonophobia, nausea and vomiting, pulsating nature). We believe contact point headaches should be considered in the patient with a diagnosis of MWOA headaches.
The impact of male‐to‐male sexual experience on risk profiles of blood donors
Authors: Sanchez Ana M. , Schreiber George B. , Nass Catharie C. , Glynn Simone , Kessler Debra , Hirschler Nora , Fridey Joy , Bethel James , Murphy Edward , Busch Michael P. 
Published: March 2005

BACKGROUND: Men who have had sex with men (MSM) since 1977 are permanently deferred from donating blood. Excluding only men who engaged in male‐to‐male sex within either the prior 12 months or 5 years has been proposed. Little is known about infectious disease risks of MSM who donate blood.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Weighted analyses of data from an anonymous mail survey of blood donors were conducted to examine the characteristics of men reporting male‐to‐male sex during specified time periods.RESULTS: Of the 25,168 male respondents, 569 (2.4%) reported male‐to‐male sex, 280 (1.2%) since 1977. Compared to donors who did not report male‐to‐male sex, the prevalence of reactive screening test results was higher among donors who reported the practice within the past 5 years (≤12 months odds ratio [OR] 5.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.6‐10.4; >12 months to 5 years, OR 7.1, 95% CI 1.2‐41.7); however, no significant difference was found for donors who last practiced male‐to‐male sex more than 5 years ago (>5 years‐after 1977, OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.7‐2.6; 1977 or earlier, OR 1.6, 95% CI 0.7‐3.7). The prevalence of unreported deferrable risks (UDRs) other than male‐to‐male sex was significantly higher for all donors who reported male‐to‐male sex with ORs ranging from 3.1 to 18.9 (p ≤ 0.01).CONCLUSIONS: No evidence was found to support changing current policy to permit donations from men who practiced male‐to‐male sex within the past 5 years. For donors with a more remote history of male‐to‐male sex, the findings were equivocal. A better understanding of the association between male‐to‐male sex and other UDRs appears needed.
The specific power of parentage exclusion in a child's blood relatives
Authors: Wenk Robert E. , Gjertson David W. , Chiafari Francis A. , Houtz Terry 
Published: March 2005

BACKGROUND: The impersonation of parent and child by two other blood relatives is an important problem in parentage analysis involving potential immigrants.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A statistic (AR) is proposed, based on the specific power of exclusion of paternity, which describes the ability of a child's test results to demonstrate evidence of nonparentage under the hypothesis that an ostensible parent is actually an older sibling. A case illustrates the value of AR: a woman and her two alleged children were typed at 3 variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) loci after 18 short tandem repeat (STR) loci initially showed strong evidence of the woman's maternity of one child and her exclusion from parentage of the second. AR and 1 − AR were calculated from the STR types of the first child.RESULTS: The woman was excluded from maternity of both children with the additional VNTR tests. Given the 18 STR test findings of the first child, the probability was 12 percent that there would be no inconsistencies with parentage in a sibling pretending to be a parent.CONCLUSION: The value 1 − AR, siblings not excluded from parentage, explains how a seemingly large number of examined loci can fail to reveal even one genetic inconsistency if two siblings have posed as parent and child. Approximately 25 STR loci appear necessary to achieve 95 percent confidence of detecting at least one genetic inconsistency indicative of nonparentage.
The quality of plasma collected by automated apheresis and of recovered plasma from leukodepleted whole blood
Authors: Runkel Stefan , Haubelt Hannelore , Hitzler Walter , Hellstern Peter 
Published: March 2005

BACKGROUND: There exists a current lack of information about the composition of the different types of plasma. No direct comparisons between apheresis plasma (AP) and recovered plasma (RP) derived from in‐line–filtered whole blood (WB) have been published to date.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Sixty AP units, 100 RP units from in‐line–filtered WB held for 3 hours at 20°C between donation and freezing, and an additional 100 RP units held for 15 hours at 20°C before freezing were analyzed for coagulation factors and inhibitors, total protein, immunoglobulin G (IgG), and hemostasis and proteolysis activation markers. The influence of twice freezing and thawing on clotting factors V, VIII, and XI was also examined.RESULTS: AP contains substantially greater activities of factor (F) V, FVIII, F IX, and FXI than RP frozen within 3 hours after WB donation. Prolonged holding of RP at 20°C for more than 15 hours caused an additional reduction in FVIII, FXI, and protein S activities. Significantly greater levels of prothrombin fragments 1 and 2, platelet factor 4, and neutrophil elastase were found in RP compared with AP. IgG was lower in AP compared with RP. Twice freezing and thawing caused a marked drop in FV, FVIII, and FXI activity.CONCLUSION: Higher FVIII and F IX potencies in AP compared with RP can be expected to result in greater yields when used for purification of these clotting factors. AP is presumably more efficient than RP for treating coagulopathies. RP, however, may contain higher IgG levels than AP.
Relevance of the HPA‐15 (Gov) polymorphism on CD109 in alloimmune thrombocytopenic syndromes
Authors: Ertel Katharina , Al‐Tawil Milad , Santoso Sentot , Kroll Hartmut 
Published: March 2005

BACKGROUND: Alloantibodies against the human platelet (PLT) alloantigen (HPA)‐15 system residing on CD109 can cause fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT), posttransfusion purpura, and PLT transfusion refractoriness. The detection of antibodies against HPA‐15, however, is hampered by the variable low expression and instability of the CD109 molecule during preparation and storage.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This study analyzed the occurrence of HPA‐15 alloantibodies in 1403 patients: 930 FNAIT and 473 polytransfused (PT) patients by modified monoclonal antibody specific immobilization of PLT antigens (MAIPA) assay with well‐defined phenotyped PLTs. A DNA typing technique was developed to confirm the phenotypes of PLT donors. B‐cell lines were established as sources of reference DNA.RESULTS: Genotyping of 407 unrelated blood donors revealed the gene frequencies 0.512 and 0.488 for HPA‐15a and ‐15b, respectively. Based on the selection of PLTs expressing high amounts of CD109 on the surface (mean fluorescence intensity ratio 4‐5 on expression peak on Days 2‐4 after apheresis) antibody screening by the MAIPA assay was performed. In total, 16 (1.1%) HPA‐15 alloantibodies were found comprising four anti‐HPA‐15a and 12 anti‐HPA‐15b. Anti‐HPA‐15b without other PLT‐reactive antibodies were detectable in three serum samples of PT patients. The incidence of HPA‐15 alloimmunization in PT patients was significantly higher than in mothers with FNAIT (3.0% vs. 0.22%). In relation to all detected HPA‐specific antibodies, HPA‐15 is responsible for 6.2 percent of alloimmunizations.CONCLUSION: These observations indicate that alloimmunization against HPA‐15 should be considered as a cause for immune thrombocytopenia, particularly in patients receiving multiple PLT transfusions.
Surface decoration of red blood cells with maleimidophenyl‐polyethylene glycol facilitated by thiolation with iminothiolane: an approach to mask A, B, and D antigens to generate universal red blood cells
Authors: Nacharaju Parimala , Boctor Fouad N. , Manjula Belur N. , Acharya Seetharama A. 
Published: March 2005

BACKGROUND: The surface decoration of red blood cells (RBCs) by polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains has been an approach developed to camouflage the blood group antigens from their antibodies. A PEGylation protocol, however, that can mask the antigens appropriately to inhibit the agglutination of RBCs with the respective antibodies is not available so far.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A new approach for PEGylation of RBC membrane proteins has been designed with thiolation‐mediated maleimide chemistry. The accessibility of the surface lysine residues of membrane proteins to bulky PEG reagents was increased by linking an extension arm carrying a thiol group.RESULTS: RBCs have been PEGylated by thiolation‐mediated chemistry with maleimidophenyl‐PEG (Mal‐Phe‐PEG) reagents of different chain lengths. Mal‐Phe‐PEG‐5000 chains alone masked the most important antigens of the Rh system (C, c, E, e, and D) from their antibodies. The masking of the A and B antigens needed a combination of Mal‐Phe‐PEG‐5000 and Mal‐Phe‐PEG‐20000 chains to inhibit the agglutination of RBCs completely with anti‐A or anti‐B.CONCLUSIONS: Thiolation‐mediated PEGylation of RBCs with Mal‐Phe‐PEG‐5000 and Mal‐Phe‐PEG‐20000 converts Group A Rh(D)+ and B Rh(D)+ RBCs into RBCs with serologic behavior comparable to Group O Rh(D)– RBCs that are considered as universal RBCs for transfusion.
The effects of non‐host plant essential oil volatiles on the behaviour of the pollen beetle Meligethes aeneus
Authors: Mauchline Alice L. , Osborne Juliet L. , Martin Andrew P. , Poppy Guy M. , Powell Wilf 
Published: March 2005

AbstractThe use of semiochemicals for manipulation of the pollen beetle Meligethes aeneus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) is being investigated for potential incorporation into a push‐pull control strategy for this pest, which damages oilseed rape, Brassica napus L. (Brassicaceae), throughout Europe. The response of M. aeneus to non‐host plant volatiles was investigated in laboratory assays to establish whether they have any effect on host plant location behaviour. Two approaches were used. First a novel, moving‐air bioassay using air funnels was developed to compare the response of M. aeneus to several non‐host plant essential oils. The beetles avoided the host plant flowers in the presence of non‐host volatiles, suggesting that M. aeneus uses olfactory cues in host location and/or acceptance. The results were expressed as ‘repellency values’ in order to compare the effects of the different oils tested. Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia Miller) (Lamiaceae) essential oil gave the highest repellency value. In addition, a four‐arm olfactometer was used to investigate olfactory responses, as this technique eliminated the influence of host plant visual and contact cues. The attraction to host plant volatiles was reduced by the addition of non‐host plant volatiles, but in addition to masking the host plant volatiles, the non‐host volatiles were avoided when these were presented alone. This is encouraging for the potential use of non‐host plants within a push‐pull strategy to reduce the pest colonisation of crops. Further testing in more realistic semi‐field and field trials is underway.
Effects of Bt maize expressing Cry1Ab and Bt spray on Spodoptera littoralis
Authors: Dutton Anna , Romeis Jörg , Bigler Franz 
Published: March 2005

AbstractVarious studies have been conducted to assess the damage caused by secondary lepidopteran pests to transgenic Bt maize expressing Cry1Ab. However, to date little is known on the effects of transgenic maize on Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a polyphagous herbivore which is considered a pest in Mediterranean maize growing areas. Here we present results on the effects of Bt maize (Bt‐11) and Bt spray (Dipel) on the various life stage parameters of this herbivore. We further assess the expression of Cry1Ab in different leaves and leaf parts in maize at a given plant growth stage, and determine whether the feeding damage of 3rd instar S. littoralis is influenced by Bt toxin expression. Contrary to previous literature reporting that S. littoralis is not sensitive to Bt Cry1Ab toxin, our results show that insects fed on either transgenic or Bt sprayed plants were negatively affected. Young S. littoralis larvae (1st and 2nd instars) were found to be the most sensitive to the Bt toxin. This was represented by a higher mortality and a slower developmental time of larvae maintained on transgenic or sprayed plants when compared to insects maintained on control plants. Moreover, Bt maize had a stronger and prolonged detrimental effect on insects when compared to Bt spray in maize. This was revealed by the fact that insects maintained on transgenic plants from 3rd instar to pupation took longer to reach adult emergence compared to insects that were maintained on sprayed plants. This was likely due to the continuous exposure of insects to the toxin when kept on transgenic maize. ELISA results showed a variation in the amount of Bt toxin among different leaf sections in transgenic maize at a given plant growth stage. These differences in Bt toxin were primarily found in the youngest leaf of growing plants. Although the lowest amounts of Bt toxin were detected in the growing leaf section of young leaves, this difference did not appear to influence the feeding behavior of 3rd instar S. littoralis.
Effects of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) isolates, host plants, and temperature on survival, size, and development time of Frankliniella fusca
Authors: Stumpf Christof F. , Kennedy George G. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractThe effects of different isolates of the tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV), host plants, and temperatures on Frankliniella fusca (Hinds) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), the most important vector of TSWV in North Carolina, were measured in the laboratory. Thrips were reared at either 18.3, 23.9, or 29.4 °C until adult eclosion on excised leaves of Datura stramonium L. or Emilia sonchifolia (L.). Plants were either infected with the TSWV isolates CFL or RG2, or left uninfected (control). The results revealed a positive relationship between larval survival and temperature, regardless of host plant or TSWV isolate. Both survival to adult and percentage transmission of TSWV by F. fusca were significantly affected by the interaction between host plant and TSWV isolate. The consequence of this interaction was that the cohort‐based percentage transmission from infected E. sonchifolia plants for CFL was 1.3‐fold greater than that of RG2, whereas the percentage transmission from infected D. stramonium plants for RG2 was twice that of CFL. Both host plant and TSWV isolates showed significant effects on thrips development time to adult and head capsule width of adult thrips, as well as on the incidence of thrips infection with TSWV. The infection status of these thrips was determined by ELISA for the NSs viral protein. Infected thrips reared on infected host foliage took longer to develop to adult and were smaller than non‐infected thrips which had also been reared on infected host foliage, demonstrating a direct effect of the TSWV on thrips. However, non‐infected thrips reared on non‐infected leaves took longer to develop than non‐infected thrips reared on infected leaves, suggesting an effect of the plant tissue on thrips. In addition, adult thrips reared on TSWV‐infected D. stramonium at 29.4 °C developed smaller head capsules than thrips developing on infected foliage at lower temperatures and on non‐infected leaves of D. stramonium or E. sonchifolia. Both TSWV isolates and host plants differentially affected females more than males. In conclusion, both the infection of thrips by TSWV and TSWV‐mediated changes in host plant quality were found to have significant biological effects on F. fusca.