bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Economic modelling of antenatal screening and ultrasound scanning programmes for identification of fetal abnormalities
Authors: Ritchie K. , Bradbury I. , Slattery J. , Wright D. , Iqbal K. , Penney G. 
Published: June 2005

Objective  Within the framework of a health technology assessment and using an economic model, to determine the most clinically and cost effective policy of scanning and screening for fetal abnormalities in early pregnancy.Design  A discrete event simulation model of 50,000 singleton pregnancies.Setting  Maternity services in Scotland.Population  Women during the first 24 weeks of their pregnancy.Methods  The mathematical model was populated with data on uptake of screening, prevalence, detection and false positive rates for eight fetal abnormalities and with costs for ultrasound scanning and serum screening. Inclusion of abnormalities was based on the relative prevalence and clinical importance of conditions and the availability of data. Six strategies for the identification of abnormalities prenatally including combinations of first and second trimester ultrasound scanning and first and second trimester screening for chromosomal abnormalities were compared.Main outcome measures  The number of abnormalities detected and missed, the number of iatrogenic losses resulting from invasive tests, the total cost of strategies and the cost per abnormality detected were compared between strategies.Results  First trimester screening for chromosomal abnormalities costs more than second trimester screening but results in fewer iatrogenic losses. Strategies which include a second trimester ultrasound scan result in more abnormalities being detected and have lower costs per anomaly detected.Conclusions  The preferred strategy includes both first and second trimester ultrasound scans and a first trimester screening test for chromosomal abnormalities. It has been recommended that this policy is offered to all women in Scotland.
DT56a (Femarelle) stimulates bone formation in female rats
Authors: Somjen Dalia , Katzburg Sara , Livne Erella , Yoles Israel 
Published: June 2005

Objective  DT56a is a natural compound for the treatment of menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of long term treatment (two months) with DT56a on the skeletal tissues of intact and ovariectomised (OVX) adult rats.Design  Thirty rats were divided into two groups, in one of which the rats were ovariectomised. The rats in each group were then treated for two months with DT56a, oestrogen or vehicle.Setting  University and hospital laboratories.Population  Thirty rats.Methods  Histomorphometric measurements of trabecular bone volume (expressed as a percentage of total bone volume), trabecular and cortical thickness and growth plate width were recorded by a computerised system. In addition, creatine kinase (CK)‐specific activity, as marker of oestrogen receptor activation, was measured in skeletal tissues and in the uterus.Main outcome measures  The changes in the histomorphometric measurements.Results  OVX rats developed noticeable signs of osteoporosis, namely, significant decrease in trabecular bone volume and in trabecular and cortical thickness. DT56a, like oestrogen, restored the bone structure measurements of all tested parameters in the OVX rats to the values obtained in the intact rats. In skeletal tissues, CK activity was elevated in both treatment groups. However, in the uterus DT56a did not activate oestrogen receptors while oestrogen did elevate CK activity.Conclusions  DT56a was as effective as oestrogen in reversing the bone changes caused by OVX in rats.
Optimization of pheromone dosage for gypsy moth mating disruption
Authors: Tcheslavskaia Ksenia S. , Thorpe Kevin W. , Brewster Carlyle C. , Sharov Alexei A. , Leonard Donna S. , Reardon Richard C. , Mastro Vic C. , Sellers Patricia , Roberts E. Anderson 
Published: June 2005

AbstractThe effect of aerial applications of the pheromone disparlure at varying dosages on mating disruption in low‐density gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), populations was determined in field plots in Virginia, USA during 2000 and 2002. Six dosages [0.15, 0.75, 3, 15, 37.5, and 75 g active ingredient (AI)/ha] of disparlure were tested during the 2‐year study. A strongly positive dose–response relationship was observed between pheromone dosages and mating disruption, as measured by the reduction in male moth capture in pheromone‐baited traps and mating successes of females. Dosages of pheromone 15 g AI/ha (15, 37.5, and 75 g AI/ha) reduced the mating success of females by >99% and significantly reduced male moth catches in pheromone‐baited traps compared to untreated plots. Pheromone dosages <15 g AI/ha also reduced trap catch, but to a lesser extent than dosages 15 g AI/ha. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the lower dosage treatments (0.15, 0.75, and 3 g AI/ha) declined over time, so that by the end of the study, male moth catches in traps were significantly lower in plots treated with pheromone dosages 15 g AI/ha. The dosage of 75 g AI/ha was initially replaced by a dosage of 37.5 g AI/ha in the USDA Forest Service Slow‐the‐Spread (STS) of the Gypsy Moth management program, but the program is currently making the transition to a dosage of 15 g AI/ha. These changes in applied dosages have resulted in a reduction in the cost of gypsy moth mating disruption treatments.
Oviposition deterrents from the egg masses of the adzuki bean borer, Ostrinia scapulalis and Asian corn borer, O. furnacalis
Authors: Li Guoqing , Ishikawa Yukio 
Published: June 2005

AbstractBioassays using gravid females of the adzuki bean borer, Ostrinia scapulalis (Walker), and the Asian corn borer, O. furnacalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), showed that the presence of an egg mass of a conspecific deters oviposition. Volatile chemicals emanating from the egg mass were responsible for the deterrence, and these deterrents could be extracted from the egg mass with hexane. When fractionated using a Sep‐Pak® Plus NH2 cartridge, the deterrents were eluted with a 98 : 2 mixture of diethyl ether and acetic acid (polar lipid fraction). The polar lipid fraction contained free fatty acids with 14–20 carbons, and palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, and oleic acid were predominant. A blend of all identified fatty acids, a blend of six major fatty acids (palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids), a blend of the two Z‐9‐alkenoic acids (palmitoleic and oleic acids), palmitoleic acid alone, and oleic acid alone showed deterrence against O. scapulalis which was comparable to that provoked by the full egg extract. The dose‐dependency of the deterrent effects of palmitoleic acid and oleic acid was verified in O. scapulalis. The binary blend of palmitoleic acid and oleic acid was also confirmed to deter oviposition in O. furnacalis.
Erhaltungsbehandlung und Frühintervention – Das neue Paradigma beim Management des atopischen Ekzems
Authors: Korting Hans Christian 
Published: June 2005

ZusammenfassungDas atopische Ekzem gehört zu den häufigsten Hauterkrankungen. Die Betroffenen können heute akute Schübe gut beherrschen. Stark beeinträchtigt werden sie immer noch durch die Neigung zum Rezidiv. Erhaltungsbehandlung oder Frühintervention werden hier zum neuen Paradigma beim Management der Krankheit. Nach Beherrschung eines akuten Schubes kommt es binnen 4 bis 6 Wochen zum Rezidiv. Dies läßt sich durch 2mal wöchentliche Anwendung von 0,05%iger Fluticasonpropionat‐Creme verhindern; zufolge Studien über 16 Wochen gilt dies zumindest für diesen Zeitraum. Alternativ kann bei den ersten Anzeichen eines neuen Schubes 1%ige Pimecrolimus‐Creme 2mal täglich eingesetzt werden. Eine entsprechende Eignung verwandter Arzneistoffe kann vermutet werden, ist freilich derzeit experimentell nicht abgestützt. So läßt sich häufiger als mittels alleiniger Hautpflege ebenfalls oft die Ausprägung des Vollbildes der Krankheit verhüten.
Manifestation einer Nickelallergie als Kontaktdermatitis auf Permanent‐Make‐up
Authors: Jäger Claudia , Jappe Uta 
Published: June 2005

ZusammenfassungDie Nachfrage nach Permanent‐Make‐up und insbesondere permanentem Lipliner steigt seit Jahren auch in Deutschland an. Medizinische Komplikationen sind bisher kaum bekannt und in der Fachliteratur wenig dokumentiert. Für die Applikation von Permanent‐Make‐up besteht keine Dokumentationspflicht wie in der Medizin. Bei dem im folgenden vorgestellten Fall traten nach Injektion eines permanenten Lipliners 3 Tage später multiple dichtstehende Vesikel im gesamten tätowierten Areal auf. Diese heilten unter einer Steroidtherapie mit Verlust des artifiziellen Pigmentes sowie Teilen des eigenen Lippenrots ab. Im Rahmen einer allergologischen Testung wurden eine ausgeprägte Sensibilisierung auf Nickel‐II‐Sulfat und eine schwächere Sensibilisierung auf das verwendete Permanent‐Make‐up erfaßt. Unter dem Verdacht auf eine Verunreinigung der verwendeten Tätowierfarbe mit Nickel wurde diesbezüglich eine Analyse mit einem Massenspektrometer durchgeführt und ergab eine Verunreinigung mit Nickel von 1,8 ppm. Gegen den aufgereinigten Farbstoff selbst bestand keine Allergie. Somit wurde bei der Patientin nach Applikation des permanenten Lipliners ein allergisches Kontaktekzem auf eine vorbestehende Nickel‐Allergie manifest.
Eosinophilic cellulitis (Wells' syndrome) associated with colon carcinoma
Authors: Hirsch Katrin , Ludwig Ralf J. , Wolter Manfred , Zollner Thomas M. , Hardt Katja , Kaufmann Roland , Boehncke Wolf‐Henning 
Published: June 2005

SummaryEosinophilic cellulitis (Wells' syndrome) is an inflammatory dermatosis characterized by marked eosinophilic infiltrates. Drugs and various infections are recognized causes of eosinophilic cellulitis. Eosinophilic cellulitis has been reported in non‐hematological malignancies in two patients with squamous cell carcinoma and one with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. We report the association of eosinophilic cellulitis with adenocarcinoma of the colon. Curative hemicolectomy led to a complete remission, suggesting that underlying malignancies can trigger eosinophilic cellulitis.
Brief checklist for non‐cognitive symptoms of dementia
Authors: Snellgrove Carol A , Hecker Jane R 
Published: June 2005

Objective:  To describe the development and psychometric utility of the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) checklist, a brief caregiver‐rated measure of the frequency of non‐cognitive symptoms of dementia of any type. Methods:  Participants were 290 primary caregivers of patients referred to the Memory Clinic. Caregivers rated patients’ BPSD, cognitive symptoms and functional status. Patients underwent standardised cognitive evaluations. Results:  High internal consistency reliability and good criterion and construct validity of the 14‐item BPSD checklist were established. Discussion:  The BPSD checklist is a comprehensive, yet brief, psychometrically sound measure that may prove useful in both research and clinical settings.
Association Between Erectile Dysfunction and Coronary Artery Disease: A Case Report Study
Authors: Montorsi Piero , Ravagnani Paolo M. , Galli Stefano , Briganti Alberto , Salonia Andrea , Dehò Federico , Schulman Claude , Montorsi Francesco 
Published: June 2005

ABSTRACT
Evidence is accumulating in favor of classifying erectile dysfunction (ED) as a vascular disorder. There are three main clinical scenarios in which ED and coronary artery disease (CAD) may coexist: the patient with ED who later develops CAD, the patient with overt CAD who is casually found to have ED, and the patient with acute coronary syndrome who has normal sexual function. This study presents three cases and discusses a “putative” pathophysiological mechanism underlying all these clinical presentations. Further studies, coupling functional and structural changes of coronary circulation with those of penile (i.e., dynamic penile test) circulation in each of these situations are mandatory to support this hypothesis.
Pandemic Serovars (O3:K6 and O4:K68) of
Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Associated with Diarrhea in Mozambique: Spread of the Pandemic into the African Continent
Authors: Ansaruzzaman M. , Lucas Marcelino , Deen Jacqueline L. , Bhuiyan N. A. , Wang Xuan-Yi , Safa Ashrafus , Sultana Marzia , Chowdhury A. , Nair G. Balakrish , Sack David A. , von Seidlein Lorenz , Puri Mahesh K. , Ali Mohammad , Chaignat Claire-Lise , Clemens John D. , Barreto Avertino 
Published: June 2005

ABSTRACT

Forty-two episodes of
Vibrio parahaemolyticus
infections were detected in Beira, Mozambique, from January to May 2004. The majority of the isolates (81%) belonged to the pandemic serovars (O3:K6 and O4:K68) of
V. parahaemolyticus
. The pandemic serovars were positive by group-specific PCR (GS-PCR) and a PCR specific for open reading frame ORF8 (ORF8-PCR), which are molecular markers of the pandemic clone, and were positive for
tdh
but negative for
trh
. The remaining 19% of the strains also possessed the
tdh
gene but were GS-PCR and ORF8-PCR negative and did not belong to the pandemic serovars. Patients with
V. parahaemolyticus
infection were older (mean age, 27 years) than patients infected by other diarrheal agents (mean age, 21 years). Ten percent of diarrhea patients from whom no
V. parahaemolyticus
was cultured were severely dehydrated, but none of the
V. parahaemolyticus
cases were severely dehydrated. This is the first report of the isolation of pandemic strains of
V. parahaemolyticus
in sub-Saharan Africa and clearly indicates that the pandemic of
V. parahaemolyticus
has spread into the African continent.
Nationwide Antibiogram Analysis Using NCCLS M39-A Guidelines
Authors: Zapantis Antonia , Lacy Melinda K. , Horvat Rebecca T. , Grauer Dennis , Barnes Brian J. , O'Neal Brian , Couldry Rick 
Published: June 2005

ABSTRACT

Lack of standardization in antibiogram (ABGM) preparation (the overall profile of antimicrobial susceptibility results of a microbial species to a battery of antimicrobial agents) has not been addressed until recently. The objective of this study was to analyze current antibiograms using the recently published NCCLS M39-A guidelines for preparation of antibiograms to identify areas for improvement in the reporting of antibiogram susceptibility data. Antibiograms from across the United States were obtained by various methods, including direct mailings, Internet searches, and professional contacts. Each ABGM collected was analyzed using prospectively defined elements from the M39-A guidelines. Additionally, seven quality indicators were also evaluated to look for the reporting of any atypical or inappropriate susceptibility data. The 209 antibiograms collected from 149 institutions showed at least 85% compliance to 5 of the 10 M39-A elements analyzed. Clinically relevant elements not met included annual analysis, duplicate isolate notation, and the exclusion of organisms with fewer than 10 isolates. As for the quality indicators evaluated, unexpected results included the 7% of antibiograms that reported <100% vancomycin susceptibility for
Staphylococcus aureus
, 24% that had inconsistent beta-lactam susceptibility for
Staphylococcus aureus
, 20% that reported <100% imipenem susceptibility for
Escherichia coli
, and 37% that reported >0% ampicillin susceptibility for
Klebsiella pneumoniae
. These findings suggest that antibiograms should be reviewed thoroughly by infectious disease specialists (physicians and pharmacists), clinical microbiologists, and infection control personnel for identification of abnormal findings prior to distribution.
Transfer and Evaluation of an Automated, Low-Cost Real-Time Reverse Transcription-PCR Test for Diagnosis and Monitoring of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection in a West African Resource-Limited Setting
Authors: Rouet Francois , Ekouevi Didier K. , Chaix Marie-Laure , Burgard Marianne , Inwoley Andre , Tony Thomas D'Aquin , Danel Christine , Anglaret Xavier , Leroy Valeriane , Msellati Philippe , Dabis Francois , Rouzioux Christine 
Published: June 2005

ABSTRACTThere is an urgent need for low-cost human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) viral load (VL) monitoring technologies in resource-limited settings. An automated TaqMan real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assay was transferred to the laboratory of the Centre de Diagnostic et de Recherches sur le SIDA, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, and assessed for HIV-1 RNA VL testing in 806 plasma samples collected within four ANRS research programs. The detection threshold and reproducibility of the assay were first determined. The quantitative results obtained with this assay were compared with two commercial HIV-1 RNA kits (the Versant version 3.0 and Monitor version 1.5 assays) in specimens harboring mainly the circulating recombinant form 02 strain (CRF02). The clinical evaluation of this test was done in different situations including the early diagnosis of pediatric infection and the monitoring of antiretroviral-treated patients. The quantification limit of our method was 300 copies/ml. The HIV-1 RNA values obtained by real-time PCR assay were highly correlated with those obtained by the Versant kit (r= 0.901;P< 0.001) and the Monitor test (r= 0.856;P< 0.001) and homogeneously distributed according to HIV-1 genotypes. For the early diagnosis of pediatric HIV-1 infection, the sensitivity and specificity of the real-time PCR assay were both 100% (95% confidence intervals of 93.7 to 100.0 and 98.3 to 100.0, respectively), compared to the Versant results. Following initiation of antiretroviral treatment, the kinetics of HIV-1 RNA levels were very comparable, with a similar proportion of adults and children below the detection limit during follow-up with our technique and the Versant assay. The TaqMan real-time PCR ($12 per test) is now routinely used to monitor HIV-1 infection in our laboratory. This technology should be further evaluated in limited-resource countries where strains other than CRF02 are prevalent.
Molecular Epidemiology of a Hepatitis C Virus Outbreak in a Hemodialysis Unit
Authors: Bracho Maria Alma , Gosalbes María José , Blasco David , Moya Andrés , González-Candelas Fernando 
Published: June 2005

ABSTRACT
We analyzed a hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission case in the hemodialysis unit of a private clinic by sequencing two genome regions of virus isolates from a number of patients attending this unit and some external controls. The analysis of 337 nucleotides (nt) in the NS5B region did not provide enough resolution to ascertain which patients were actually involved in the outbreak and the potential source. Nevertheless, this region allowed the exclusion of several patients as putative sources of the transmission case based on their genotypes and phylogenetic relationships. On the other hand, the analysis of several 472-nt-long clone sequences per sample in a more rapidly evolving region of the HCV genome, coding for the envelope proteins and encompassing hypervariable region 1, allowed us to establish the existence of at least two independent transmission events involving two different source patients and three recipients. The direction of the transmissions was further corroborated by different measures of genetic variability within and among samples.
Internal Transcribed Spacer rRNA Gene-Based Phylogenetic Reconstruction Using Algorithms with Local and Global Sequence Alignment for Black Yeasts and Their Relatives
Authors: Caligiorne R. B. , Licinio P. , Dupont J. , de Hoog G. S. 
Published: June 2005

ABSTRACT

Sequences of rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of a standard set of black yeast-like fungal pathogens were compared using two methods: local and global alignments. The latter is based on DNA-walk divergence analysis. This method has become recently available as an algorithm (DNAWD program) which converts sequences into three-dimensional walks. The walks are compared with, or fit to, each other generating global alignments. The DNA-walk geometry defines a proper metric used to create a distance matrix appropriated for phylogenetic reconstruction. In this work, the analyses were carried out for species currently classified in
Capronia
,
Cladophialophora
,
Exophiala
,
Fonsecaea
,
Phialophora
, and
Ramichloridium
. Main groups were verified by small-subunit rRNA gene data. DNAWD applied to ITS2 alone enabled species recognition as well as phylogenetic reconstruction reflecting clades discriminated in small-subunit rRNA gene phylogeny, which was not possible with any other algorithm using local alignment for the same data set. It is concluded that DNAWD provides rapid insight into broader relationships between groups using genes that otherwise would be hardly usable for this purpose.
Use of a BJAB-Derived Cell Line for Isolation of Human Herpesvirus 8
Authors: Gasperini Paola , Barbierato Massimo , Martinelli Canio , Rigotti Paolo , Marchini Francesco , Masserizzi Giulia , Leoncini Francesco , Chieco-Bianchi Luigi , Schulz Thomas F. , Calabrò Maria Luisa 
Published: June 2005

ABSTRACT

Establishment of latently infected cell lines from primary effusion lymphomas (PEL) presently is the most efficient system for the propagation of clinical strains of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) in culture. Here we describe a new approach to culture productively replicating HHV-8 from patient samples. A BJAB-derived B-cell line, BBF, was found to retain HHV-8 longer, to support the latent and lytic replication programs, and to produce transmissible virus. Supernatants from
n
-butyrate-treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 24 HHV-8-seropositive renal transplant recipients were used to infect BBF cells, and replicating virus was detected in cultures from 11 patients. Moreover, BBF cells infected with saliva strains showed a highly productive profile regardless of the initial viral load, which confirms that infectious HHV-8 can be present in saliva and also suggests that saliva strains may exhibit a high tropism for B lymphocytes. In conclusion, we established an in vitro system that efficiently detects HHV-8 in samples with low viral loads and that produces infectious progeny. BBF cells can be used to propagate HHV-8 from different biological samples as well as to clarify important issues related to virus-cell interactions in a context distinct from endothelial and PEL-derived cell lines.
Cryptococcus neoformans
Galactoxylomannan Contains an Epitope(s) That Is Cross-Reactive with
Aspergillus
Galactomannan
Authors: Dalle Frédéric , Charles Pierre Emmanuel , Blanc Karine , Caillot Denis , Chavanet Pascal , Dromer Françoise , Bonnin Alain 
Published: June 2005

ABSTRACT

We report a case of cryptococcosis in which a serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for
Aspergillus
galactomannan was positive, with no evidence of aspergillosis. Soluble antigens from 19
Cryptococcus neoformans
strains and purified carbohydrates of
C. neoformans
capsule were thus assayed in the
Aspergillus
galactomannan ELISA. Antigens from all
C. neoformans
strains, and purified galactoxylomannan, gave a positive reaction, suggesting that
C. neoformans
galactoxylomannan contains an epitope(s) that is cross-reactive with
Aspergillus
galactomannan.
Shortcut Method for Extraction of
Staphylococcus aureus
DNA from Blood Cultures and Conventional Cultures for Use in Real-Time PCR Assays
Authors: Adams D. Nicholas 
Published: June 2005

ABSTRACT

PCR allows rapid determination of both the presence of
Staphylococcus aureus
and of methicillin resistance. I present here a simple method for direct extraction from blood cultures or colonies for use in real-time PCR, eliminating tedious, time-consuming methods of DNA extraction which may otherwise deter microbiology labs from offering PCR.