bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
WITCHCRAFT AND THE EXCHANGE OF SEX, BLOOD, AND MONEY AMONG AFRICANS IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
Authors: Bähre Erik 
Published: November 2002

AbstractIn post-apartheid South Africa witchcraft is an ever-growing concern, as political liberation has not led to liberation from occult forces. The study of modernity and globalisation has revealed the significance of the study of witchcraft in contemporary Africa. Among Xhosa migrants in Cape Town the discourse on witchcraft also revealed very specific problems that people encountered within close relationships. The lived conflicts, anxieties and desires were revealed in the exchange of sex, blood (as a metaphor for life itself ), and money. This same pattern of exchange appeared in witchcraft, and particularly the role of witch familiars. Witch familiars embodied the anxieties and desires that people experienced on a daily basis concerning sex, blood, and flows of money in intimate relations. The structural problems that were part of the migrants' social configurations were thus revealed in a structural pattern of exchange within witchcraft.
Health utilities in evaluating intervention in the sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome
Authors: Chakravorty I. , Cayton R.M. , Szczepura A. 
Published: November 2002

Formulating a rational health policy necessitates the ability to compare between different healthcare interventions and disease scenarios. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy with a conservative lifestyle strategy in sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (SAHS) was evaluated using health utility and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) as outcome measures.
A total 71 SAHS (apnoea/hypopnoea index =15 h
-1
) patients completed a randomised, parallel group study over 3 months using utilities derived by the standard gamble approach (U
sg
) and European quality of life questionnaire (Euroqol) (U
eq
).
The severely impaired health status at baseline improved by 23% (U
sg
0.32 to 0.55) adding 8 QALYs in the CPAP group, compared to a 4% improvement with 4.7 QALYs added in the lifestyle group (U
sg
0.31 to 0.35). The U
eq
showed a marginal change with CPAP (0.73 to 0.77) but did not demonstrate any improvement with lifestyle intervention.
The health status impairment in sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome patients is markedly improved by continuous positive airway pressure compared to a modest improvement with conservative lifestyle strategies using the standard gamble utility, which may be incorporated in effectiveness and economic analyses. The European quality of life questionnaire did not reflect a similar degree of impact and is probably not useful in this population.
Pseudomonas aeruginosainduces MUC5AC productionviaepidermal growth factor receptor
Authors: Kohri K. , Ueki I.F. , Shim J-J. , Burgel P-R. , Oh Y-M. , Tam D.C. , Dao-Pick T. , Nadel J.A. 
Published: November 2002

Hypersecretory disease associated withPseudomonas aeruginosa(PA) infections is characterised by increased goblet cells and increased mucin production. Recently, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signalling cascade was shown to be a common pathway through which many stimuli induce mucin MUC5AC expression in airways by differentiation to a goblet cell phenotype. This study looked at whether PA products induce EGFR expression and activation and thus result in mucin MUC5AC production.Human airway epithelial (NCI–H292) cells were stimulated with PA culture supernatant (Sup). MUC5AC protein production, MUC5AC and EGFR messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression, and phosphorylated EGFR and phosphorylated p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were all examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, byin situhybridisation and by immunoblotting.PA Sup induced MUC5AC mRNA and subsequent protein expression, EGFR and p44/42 MAPK phosphorylation and EGFR mRNA expression. Induction of MUC5AC mRNA and protein expression and EGFR and p44/42 MAPK phosphorylation were inhibited completely by pretreatment with a selective EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Pretreatment with a selective inhibitor of MAPK kinase prevented MUC5AC production and p44/42 MAPK phosphorylation but not EGFR phosphorylation.The authors conclude that PA products induce mucin MUC5AC production in human airway epithelial cellsviathe expression and activation of epidermal growth factor receptor.
Oxidative burst in lipopolysaccharide-activated human alveolar macrophages is inhibited by interleukin-9
Authors: Pilette C. , Ouadrhiri Y. , Van Snick J. , Renauld J-C. , Staquet P. , Vaerman J-P. , Sibille Y. 
Published: November 2002

Interleukin (IL)-9 is known to regulate many cell types involved in T-helper type 2 responses classically associated with asthma, including B- and T-lymphocytes, mast cells, eosinophils and epithelial cells. In contrast, target cells mediating the effects of IL-9 in the lower respiratory tract remain to be identified. Therefore, the authors evaluated the activity of IL-9 on human alveolar macrophages (AM) from healthy volunteers.AM preincubated with IL-9 before lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation exhibited a decreased oxidative burst, as previously shown with IL-4. The inhibitory effect of IL-9 was abolished by anti-hIL-9Rα monoclonal antibody, and presence of IL-9 receptors on AM was demonstrated by immunofluorescence. Both IL-4 and IL-9 failed to modulate tumour necrosis factor-α, IL-8 and IL-10 release by LPS-stimulated AM. However, several observations suggested that IL-9 and IL-4 act through different mechanisms: 1) interferon-γ antagonised the IL-4- but not the IL-9-mediated inhibition of AM oxidative burst; 2) expression of CD14 was downregulated by IL-4 but not by IL-9 and 3) production of tumour growth factor-β by activated AM was potentiated by IL-9 and not by IL-4, and was required for the IL-9-mediated inhibition of AM oxidative burst.These observations provide additional information concerning the activity of interleukin-9 in the lung, related to inflammatory or fibrosing lung processes.
Evidence of local exercise-induced systemic oxidative stress in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients
Authors: Couillard A. , Koechlin C. , Cristol J.P. , Varray A. , Prefaut C. 
Published: November 2002

Chronic inactivity may not be the sole factor involved in the myopathy of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. One hypothesis is that exercise-induced oxidative stress that leads to muscle alterations may also be involved. This study investigated whether exercise localised to a peripheral muscle group would induce oxidative stress in COPD patients.Eleven COPD patients (FEV11.15±0.4 L (mean±sd)) and 12 healthy age-matched subjects with a similar low quantity of physical activity performed endurance exercise localised to a peripheral muscle group, the quadriceps of the dominant leg. The authors measured plasma levels of thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARs) as an index of oxidative stress, the release in superoxide anion (O2·−) by stimulated phagocytes as an oxidant, and blood vitamin E as one antioxidant.Quadriceps endurance was significantly lower in the COPD patients compared with healthy subjects (136±16 sversus385±69 s (mean±sem), respectively). A significant increase in TBARs 6 h after quadriceps exercise was only found in the COPD patients. In addition, significantly higher O2·−release and lower blood vitamin E levels were found in COPD patients than in controls at rest. This blood vitamin E level was significantly correlated with the resting level of plasma TBARs in the COPD patients.This study mainly showed that quadriceps exercise induced systemic oxidative stress in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients and that vitamin E levels were decreased in these patients at rest. The exact relevance of these findings to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease myopathy needs to be elucidated.
Combined treatment with acetazolamide and medroxyprogesterone in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients
Authors: Wagenaar M. , Je Vos P. , Heijdra Y.F. , Teppema L.J. , Folgering H.T.M. 
Published: November 2002

Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and acetazolamide (ACET) are two ventilatory stimulants which are used in hypoxic and hypercapnic patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).In a double-blind randomised study, the effects of a 2-week treatment with MPA (30 mgb.i.d.) or ACET (250 mgb.i.d.), followed by a 2-week treatment with a combination of both drugs (MPA/ACET), on daytime and nocturnal ventilatory and blood gas parameters in 17 stable hypercapnic COPD patients were investigated.ACET, MPA and MPA/ACET treatment decreased mean daytime carbon dioxide tension in arterial blood by 0.4, 0.7 and 1.2 kPa, respectively. Minute ventilation was improved only with combined therapy, from 9.3 to 11.2 L·min−1.With MPA/ACET therapy, the hypercapnic and hypoxic ventilatory responses significantly increased, from 3.7 to 5.8 L·min−1·kPa−1and from −0.13 to −0.40 L·min−1·%−1, respectively. The mouth exclusion pressure response to hypoxia increased during combination therapy, from −0.01 to −0.03 kPa·%−1. Nocturnal end-tidal carbon dioxide tension decreased with MPA and MPA/ACET treatment, by 0.9 and 1.4 kPa, respectively. MPA/ACET significantly increased mean nocturnal arterial oxygen saturation values, from 85.5 to 90.2%.The authors conclude that short-term combined treatment with medroxyprogesterone acetate and acetazolamide has a more favourable effect on day and night-time blood gas values and chemical drive than single drug treatment.
RSV bronchiolitis and risk of wheeze and allergic sensitisation in the first year of life
Authors: Schauer U. , Hoffjan S. , Bittscheidt J. , Köchling A. , Hemmis S. , Bongartz S. , Stephan V. 
Published: November 2002

Severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection has been hypothesised to be a risk factor for the development of allergy and asthma, but epidemiological studies in older children have been inconclusive. The current study hypothesises that the effect of RSV bronchiolitis might be most prominent during the first year after bronchiolitis.Forty-two infants had experienced RSV bronchiolitis severe enough to cause hospitalisation. For each child with RSV infection, two controls were acquired from a birth cohort and matched for date of birth and sex. All the children were followed prospectively and underwent a follow-up examination at a mean age of 1 yr, which included physical examination, and serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E tests for common food and inhaled allergens.Risk factors for the development of recurrent wheezing and IgE antibodies were analysed for the whole group of 126 children. A positive test for IgE antibodies was noted in 14 of 42 (33%) RSV children and in 2 of 84 (2.3%) children in the control group. RSV bronchiolitis was the most important risk factor for allergic sensitisation. Likewise, 13 children (15.5%) of the RSV group and three (3.6%) children of the control group suffered from recurrent wheezing, and RSV bronchiolitis posed a considerable risk for recurrent wheezing.Severe respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis during the first year of life is an important risk factor for the development of recurrent wheezing and sensitisation to common allergens during the subsequent year.
Matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in sarcoidosis and IPF
Authors: Henry M.T. , McMahon K. , Mackarel A.J. , Prikk K. , Sorsa T. , Maisi P. , Sepper R. , FitzGerald M.X. , O'Connor C.M. 
Published: November 2002

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of interstitial collagenases, members of the family of matrix metalloproteinases, in the development of pulmonary fibrosis.The activity, levels and molecular forms of collagenases (matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-1, -8 and -13), gelatinase B (MMP-9) and its main endogenous inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) were assessed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and sarcoidosis patients with varying degrees of pulmonary parenchymal involvement.Collagenase activity was elevated in IPF and group 3 sarcoidosis patients. A positive correlation between BALF collagenase activity and MMP-8 levels was also observed. Western immunoblotting revealed the presence of two isoforms of MMP-8 in patient samples; an 80 kD form representing latent enzyme from polymorphonuclear neutrophils and a 55 kD form representing the fibroblast-type proform. MMP-9 levels were also elevated in both IPF and group 3 sarcoidosis patients, while TIMP-1 levels remained normal, indicating a shift in the balance between the enzyme and inhibitor, favouring MMP-9.Matrix metalloproteinase-8 is the major contributor to the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid collagenase activity in the airways of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis and may initiate collagen destruction and remodelling leading to the development of pulmonary fibrosis.
Keratinocyte growth factor-induced proliferation of rat airway epithelium is restricted to Clara cellsin vivo
Authors: Fehrenbach H. , Fehrenbach A. , Pan T. , Kasper M. , Mason R.J. 
Published: November 2002

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is a potent mitogen of pulmonary bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells. However, it is unclear which type(s) of airway epithelial cells (AEC) proliferate(s) in response to KGF.AEC proliferation was induced in rats by either endobronchial instillation of 5 mg recombinant human (rHu) KGF per kg body weight or by adenoviral transfer of the human KGF gene (Ad5-HuKGF). Alterations in terminal airway AEC were followed for up to 7 days after rHuKGF, and for up to 28 days after Ad5-HuKGF.Cell proliferation, as assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for incorporated 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) and quantified by stereology, peaked at days 1–2 and was resolved by day 7 after rHuKGF and by day 21 after Ad5-HuKGF. Double immunofluorescence labelling for BrdU or Ki-67 on the one hand, and for Clara cell specific protein 10 (CC10) and calcitonin-gene related peptide on the other hand, demonstrated that Clara cells, not pulmonary neuroendocrine cells, proliferated in response to human KGF. TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labelling) method in conjunction with IHC for MNF116 failed to detect significant numbers of apoptotic AEC. IHC in conjunction with stereology revealed transient phenotypic alterations with a decrease in CC10, an increase in surfactant protein D and an increase in CD44v6 in AEC.The authors conclude that Clara cells responded to human keratinocyte growth factorin vivoby proliferation as well as by changes in protein expression, whereas no significant response was observed in pulmonary neuroendocrine cells. As Clara cells are intimately involved in airway epithelial repair, ion and fluid transport, and modulate lung inflammation, the potential of human keratinocyte growth factor to protect the lung may in part rely on the response of Clara cells.
Risk of over-diagnosis of COPD in asymptomatic elderly never-smokers
Authors: Hardie J.A. , Buist A.S. , Vollmer W.M. , Ellingsen I. , Bakke P.S. , Mørkve O. 
Published: November 2002

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) has defined stage 1 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC)% <70% and a FEV1% predicted of >80%. Stage 2 has been defined as FEV1/FVC <70% and a FEV1% pred of <80%. The authors examined the extent of COPD misdiagnosis using this definition in healthy, never-smoker, asymptomatic adults aged >70 yrs in Bergen, Norway. A respiratory questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 2,871 persons aged>70 yrs. In a random, well-defined subgroup of 208 never-smoker respondents with no current respiratory disease and significant dyspnoea or heart disease/hypertension complicated with dyspnoea, 71 were able to perform an acceptable spirometry. Approximately 35% of these healthy, elderly never-smokers had an FEV1/FVC% of <70% and would be classified as having at least a stage 1 COPD. This percentage increased with age and in those aged >80 yrs ∼50% would be classified as having COPD and approximately one-third would have an FEV1of <80% pred (stage 2 COPD). The estimated 5th percentile of FEV1was consistently <80% pred.The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease criteria will probably lead to a significant degree of over-diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in those aged >70 yrs. The criteria used to define the various stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease need to be age-specific.
The European Community Respiratory Health Survey II
Authors:   The European Community Respiratory Health Survey II Steering Committee
Published: November 2002

The European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) II will determine the incidence of and risk factors for the development of allergic disease, atopy and rapid loss of lung function in middle-aged adults living in Europe.From 1991–1993, >18,000 individuals took part in ECRHS I and provided information on symptoms and exposure to known or suspected risk factors for asthma. Blood samples for assessment of specific immunoglobulin E to environmental allergen were taken and lung function and bronchial responsiveness to methacholine were assessed. From 1999–2001, study participants were re-contacted to determine symptom status and exposure to a variety of factors, including tobacco smoke, animals, occupational agents and air pollutants (including particulate matter). In a subsample of responders, exposure to house dust-mite allergen was assessed by analysis of dust samples taken from participants' mattresses. In addition, blood samples suitable for deoxyribonucleic acid extraction were collected and stored.Currently, European Community Respiratory Health Survey II is being conducted in 29 centres in 14 countries. At the time of writing this paper, 27 centres had begun the study and ∼12,000 participants had completed a short postal questionnaire, ∼9,000 had completed a more detailed health assessment and 3,500 participants had provided dust samples. Historical air-pollution data have been collated and the programme of monitoring particles with a 50% cut-off aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 µm has been completed in 21 centres in 10 countries.
Haemodynamic evaluation of pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Chemla D. , Castelain V. , Hervé P. , Lecarpentier Y. , Brimioulle S. 
Published: November 2002

Pulmonary hypertension is characterised by the chronic elevation of pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) leading to right ventricular enlargement and hypertrophy. Pulmonary hypertension may result from respiratory and cardiac diseases, the most severe forms occurring in thromboembolic and primary pulmonary hypertension.Pulmonary hypertension is most often defined as a mean PAP >25 mmHg at rest or >30 mmHg during exercise, the pressure being measured invasively with a pulmonary artery catheter. Doppler echocardiography allows serial, noninvasive follow-up of PAPs and right heart function. When the adaptive mechanisms of right ventricular dilatation and hypertrophy cannot compensate for the haemodynamic burden, right heart failure occurs and is associated with poor prognosis.The haemodynamic profile is the major determinant of prognosis. In both primary and secondary pulmonary hypertension, special attention must be paid to the assessment of pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI), right heart function and pulmonary vasodilatory reserve.Recent studies have stressed the prognostic values of exercise capacity (6-min walk test), right atrial pressure, stroke index and vasodilator challenge responses, as well as an interest in new imaging techniques and natriuretic peptide determinations. Overall, careful haemodynamic evaluation may optimise new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in pulmonary hypertension.
Surfactant in children with malignancies, immunosuppression, fever and pulmonary infiltrates
Authors: Griese M. , Neumann M. , von Bredow T. , Schmidt R. , Ratjen F. 
Published: November 2002

In children with malignancies and immunosuppression, significant morbidity and mortality result from respiratory complications. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether or not this is associated with altered surfactant components or functions.Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 24 children with malignancies, immunosuppression, pulmonary infiltrates and fever unresponsive to empirical antibiotic treatment were compared to that from 24 healthy children. Levels of surfactant protein (SP) A and D and their binding capacity forPseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as levels of SP-B and SP-C, were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The large and small surfactant aggregate forms were separated and the biophysical activity of large surfactant aggregates was determined using a pulsating bubble surfactometer.Compared to healthy controls, SP-A levels were increased four-fold, the increase being most pronounced in those children with pathogens recovered from their bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. In children with malignancies, levels of SP-C were increased two-fold and of small surfactant aggregates five-fold. No differences were observed in levels of SP-B or SP-D, binding capacity of SP-A or SP-D or the surface activity of large surfactant aggregates.The increased levels of surfactant protein A, particularly in children with recovered microorganisms, and unchanged binding capacity of surfactant protein A are consistent with upregulated local host defence mechanisms. Increased surfactant protein A and C may also be responsible for the conserved biophysical activity of surfactant in children with malignancies, immunosuppression, pulmonary infiltrates and fever.
Lung and thorax development during adolescence: relationship with pubertal status
Authors: Nève V. , Girard F. , Flahault A. , Boulé M. 
Published: November 2002

The aim of the present study was to define reference values for lung volumes and the lung transfer factor for carbon monoxide (TL,CO) for an adolescent population using thoracic volume index (TVI) and an index of pubertal stage in order to account for the variation in growth pattern between adolescents.TVI, pubertal stage by Tanner scale (PST), time since menarche, functional residual capacity measured using the helium­dilution technique, vital capacity, total lung capacity andTL,COmeasured using a steady­state method were determined in 51 males (aged 13–20 yrs; PST T3–T5) and 52 females (aged 13–18 yrs; PST T2–T4; all but three had already undergone menarche).In male adolescents, height, weight, TVI, lung volumes andTL,COincreased with age. This was not the case in female adolescents. In males, the TVI was the independent variable that best correlated with pulmonary volumes. In females, height was the independent variable that best correlated with pulmonary volumes. In both sexes, the variable that best correlated withTL,COwas PST, associated with height in males.This cross­sectional study provides prediction equations for lung volumes and the lung transfer factor for carbon monoxide taking into account thoracic volume index and pubertal stage. It shows that, in adolescent males, lung and thoracic development occurs during and until the end of puberty. Conversely, in adolescent females, lung development is almost finished following menarche.