bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
HYPERTENSION IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS: Hypertension and Survival in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Lynn Kelvin L. 
Published: July 2004

ABSTRACTHypertension is clearly an independent risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) events and death in the general population, but the relationship between blood pressure (BP) and survival in dialysis patients is less clear. In dialysis populations at lower risk of CV events, BP is directly related to survival, while in those with high risk, it has been difficult to show such an effect. The effects of cardiac disease complicate the relationship between BP and outcome. Retrospective studies of large cohorts, with high prevalence of CV disease, have shown a U‐shaped relationship between both systolic and diastolic BP and outcome. These findings probably reflect a high prevalence of cardiac failure and thus high mortality associated with low BP (i.e., a so‐called reverse causation). Pulse pressure (high systolic BP and low diastolic BP) predicts outcome in hypertensive dialysis patients. Whether this reflects advanced vessel wall disease or is an independent etiologically significant risk factor is unclear. However, the current uncertainties as to the exact relationship between BP and outcome in dialysis patients do not warrant complacency regarding the prevention and treatment of hypertension.
HYPERTENSION IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS: Cardiac Disease in Chronic Uremia: Can it Explain the Reverse Epidemiology of Hypertension and Survival in Dialysis Patients?
Authors: Foley Robert N. 
Published: July 2004

ABSTRACTDefinitive randomized trials are rare in the dialysis literature. Treatment decisions are often based on extrapolation from trials in other populations and observational studies in dialysis patients. “Reverse epidemiology” is a term increasingly applied to classic cardiovascular risk factors in studies of dialysis patients. The term is used when outcome associations are the opposite of those seen in general population studies. Hypertension is an archetypal example, with several studies showing inverse associations with mortality. As a term, “reverse epidemiology” is intellectually unsatisfactory because validation of the real direction of an association is only possible with experimental designs. In contrast, blood pressure (BP) is associated with typical association patterns for outcomes other than death, including left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac failure, which are dominant entities in dialysis populations. There is a strong suspicion that current analytical approaches may partly explain the paradox. For example, it is possible that unmeasured comorbidities are associated with lower BP levels. In addition, few studies use BP as a time‐integrated parameter, which is problematic given the variability of this parameter. Several recent studies suggest that using pulse pressure as a BP parameter may normalize associations with mortality. BP, extracellular blood volume, residual renal function, and vasoactive medications are interlinked. Time‐integrated analysis that examines all these parameters concurrently makes sense, but has rarely been attempted. A large burden of cardiac disease and insensitive analytical approaches may go a long way toward explaining the reverse epidemiology of hypertension and survival in dialysis patients.
HYPERTENSION IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS: Cardiac Consequences of Hypertension in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Zoccali Carmine , Benedetto Francesco Antonio , Tripepi Giovanni , Mallamaci Francesca 
Published: July 2004

ABSTRACTHypertension in end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) is an important risk factor for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), cardiac failure, coronary artery disease (CAD), and arrhythmia. LVH is generally considered an integrator of the long‐term effects of hypertension and other cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and represents the strongest predictor of adverse CV outcomes in ESRD patients. The risk of heart failure is higher in patients with a history of hypertensive renal disease than in those with other diagnoses. Both coronary heart disease (CHD) and LVH predict congestive heart failure, which is often the ultimate cause of death in patients with cardiac ischemia or LVH. A history of long‐standing hypertension is associated with ischemic heart disease both in cross‐sectional and prospective studies in ESRD. Atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmias are highly prevalent in dialysis patients and are implicated in mortality and sudden death in this population. Despite the lack of evidence from randomized controlled trials, it appears reasonable that interventions aimed at curbing the high CV mortality of ESRD should be targeted to both hypertension and LVH.
HYPERTENSION IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS: Noncardiac Consequences of Hypertension in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Van Der Sande Frank M. , Hermans Marc M. H. , Leunissen Karel M. L. , Kooman Jeroen P. 
Published: July 2004

ABSTRACTThe incidence of cerebrovascular events and peripheral vascular disease is higher in dialysis patients compared to the general population. Although normotensive dialysis patients have an elevated risk of stroke, hypertension remains an important risk factor for symptomatic cerebrovascular accidents. The risk of stroke increases in a linear fashion with blood pressure (BP) level. Furthermore, hypertension is also an important risk factor for silent cerebral infarction in dialysis patients. With regard to peripheral vascular disease, the association with hypertension is less clear. The spectrum of cerebrovascular accidents differs from the general population, as the relative incidence of cerebral hemorrhage to cerebral infarction is much higher. The prognosis of cerebral hemorrhage is poor and depends on the size and location of the hemorrhage. In order to prevent noncardiac complications, strict control of hypertension is of major importance in dialysis patients.
Role of adjuvant radiotherapy in recurrent earlobe keloids
Authors: Dinh Quan , Veness Michael , Richards Shawn 
Published: July 2004

SUMMARY Earlobe keloids are commonly encountered in dermatological practice and often prove to be recurrent, despite a variety of treatment options. Recurrent keloids, particularly in the head and neck, are associated with unsightly cosmetic consequences, particularly in younger patients. There is no consensus regarding the optimal treatment for recurrent keloids. However, re‐excision accompanied by adjuvant treatment is often recommended. Low‐dose fractionated radiotherapy (12 Gy in three fractions) delivered within 24 hours of excision remains an effective adjuvant option, although due consideration needs to be given to the small risk of radiation‐induced malignancy. We aim to discuss the role of adjuvant radiotherapy for recurrent keloids and present the relevant literature.
Molluscum contagiosum in atopic dermatitis treated with 0.1% tacrolimus ointment
Authors: Wilson Leah M , Reid Catherine M 
Published: July 2004

SUMMARY A case of molluscum contagiosum arising on the face and neck of a woman using topical tacrolimus over a period of 6 weeks for the treatment of atopic dermatitis is presented. Of particular note, these lesions remained confined to areas treated with tacrolimus and did not extend to adjacent regions treated with topical corticosteroids.
Heterogeneity, Group Size and Collective Action: The Role of Institutions in Forest Management
Authors: Poteete Amy R. , Ostrom Elinor 
Published: July 2004

AbstractCollective action for sustainable management among resource‐dependent populations has important policy implications. Despite considerable progress in identifying factors that affect the prospects for collective action, no consensus exists about the role played by heterogeneity and size of group. The debate continues in part because of a lack of uniform conceptualization of these factors, the existence of non‐linear relationships, and the mediating role played by institutions. This article draws on research by scholars in the International Forestry Resources and Institutions (IFRI) research network which demonstrates that some forms of heterogeneity do not negatively affect some forms of collective action. More importantly, IFRI research draws out the interrelations among group size, heterogeneity, and institutions. Institutions can affect the level of heterogeneity or compensate for it. Group size appears to have a non‐linear relationship to at least some forms of collective action. Moreover, group size may be as much an indicator of institutional success as a precondition for such success.
What Do African Donor‐sponsored Anti‐corruption Programmes Teach Us about International Development in Africa?
Authors: Michael Bryane 
Published: July 2004

Abstract Donor‐sponsored anti‐corruption programmes represent an increasingly large segment of international development assistance to Africa. While the ostensible objective of these programmes is to reduce African corruption, the generality of them suggests that other factors appear to motivate their design and implementation. This paper attempts to assess the generality of these programmes by looking at the specificity, relevance and fit of proposed anti‐corruption activities. The malleability of these programmes suggests that programme design draws from a mix of broader discursive fields and the genuine attempt to improve project performance and decrease corruption.
Does Liquidity Matter? Properties of a Divisia Monetary Aggregate in the Euro Area*
Authors: Stracca Livio 
Published: July 2004

AbstractThis paper builds a quarterly Divisia monetary aggregate for the euro area using area‐wide data over the sample period from 1980 to 2000, finding two main results. First, it is found that the demand for this monetary aggregate has been well behaved and relatively stable over the last two decades. Secondly, the Divisia‐weighed monetary aggregate is found to have interesting information content from a forward‐looking perspective. This lends support to the view that money and – in a broader sense – liquidity services should be assigned an important role in shaping monetary policy in the euro area, although the policy maker is not interested in monetary aggregates per se.
On Business Cycle Asymmetries in G7 Countries
Authors: Kiani Khurshid M. , Bidarkota Prasad V. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractWe investigate whether business cycle dynamics in seven industrialized countries (the G7) are characterized by asymmetries in conditional mean. We provide evidence on this issue using a variety of time series models. Our approach is fully parametric. Our testing strategy is robust to any conditional heteroskedasticity, outliers, and/or long memory that may be present. Our results indicate fairly strong evidence of nonlinearities in the conditional mean dynamics of the GDP growth rates for Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the US. For France and the UK, the conditional mean dynamics appear to be largely linear. Our study shows that while the existence of conditional heteroskedasticity and long memory does not have much effect on testing for linearity in the conditional mean, accounting for outliers does reduce the evidence against linearity.
Calculating a Standard Error for the Gini Coefficient: Some Further Results*
Authors: Giles David E. A. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractSeveral authors have suggested using the jackknife technique to approximate a standard error for the Gini coefficient. It has also been shown that the Gini measure can be obtained simply from an artificial ordinary least square (OLS) regression based on the data and their ranks. We show that obtaining an exact analytical expression for the standard error is actually a trivial matter. Further, by extending the regression framework to one involving seemingly unrelated regressions (SUR), several interesting hypotheses regarding the sensitivity of the Gini coefficient to changes in the data are readily tested in a formal manner.
Efficacy of mometasone furoate microemulsion in the treatment of erosive‐ulcerative oral lichen planus: pilot study
Authors: Aguirre J. M. , Bagán J. V. , Rodriguez C. , Jimenez Y. , Martínez‐Conde R. , Díaz de Rojas F. , Ponte A. 
Published: July 2004

Background:  Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a frequent immunological chronic disease, having different clinical forms: asymptomatic and symptomatic. Symptomatic OLP has been palliated with topical corticosteroids with different levels of efficacy and safety. The purpose of this pilot phase II clinical trial was to determine the efficacy of mometasone furoate microemulsion upon the symptoms and signs of erosive‐ulcerative OLP.Methods:  Forty‐nine patients with clinical and histologically confirmed erosive‐ulcerative OLP were enrolled in this study (36 women and 13 men). Their average age was 56.4 years (from 28 to 78). The treatment consisted of 0.1% mometasone furoate microemulsion mouthwash three times a day over 30 days. Pain, erythema and ulceration were assessed after 15 and 30 days of treatment. The data was processed and statistically analysed by student's t‐test for paired samples.Results:  Mometasone caused a statistically significant reduction in pain (3.58 vs. 0.65, P = 0.0000). Treatment significantly reduced the surface area of erythema (155.2 vs. 21.9 mm2, P = 0.0001) and ulceration (30.7 vs. 7.3 mm2, P = 0.0000). None of these patients suffered severe adverse effects.Conclusions:  Mometasone furoate microemulsion is a safe and effective therapy in the treatment of symptomatic erosive‐ulcerative OLP.
Salivary secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor increases in HIV infection*
Authors: Lin Alan L. , Johnson Dorthea A. , Stephan Kevin T. , Yeh Chih‐Ko 
Published: July 2004

Background:  Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is an antimicrobial protein found in saliva and having anti‐HIV activity. The concentrations of SLPI in parotid and submandibular/sublingual (SMSL) saliva were determined in an HIV(+) population and compared with uninfected controls. The effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the concentrations in saliva was determined.Methods:  Stimulated parotid and SMSL saliva was collected from 65 HIV(+) patients and 19 healthy controls. Flow rates, total protein and SLPI concentrations were determined as well as the effect of HAART on these measurements.Results:  Mean flow rates were reduced for parotid (64%) and SMSL (44%) saliva of HIV(+) patients. Flow rate reductions were unaffected by HAART. Total protein concentration in HIV(+) parotid saliva was increased 56%; patients on HAART had higher concentrations than control. For both groups, SLPI concentrations of SMSL saliva were twice that of parotid saliva. For HIV(+) patients SLPI concentrations of both saliva types were 70% greater than control; the increase in parotid saliva was greater for those taking HAART. For each saliva type, the secretory rate and specific SLPI protein concentration were not different between the groups. Patients with low CD4+ counts had greater SLPI concentrations in parotid saliva than control. There was a negative correlation between CD4+ counts and the SLPI concentration of parotid saliva.Conclusions:  Salivary flow rate is decreased and the concentration of SLPI is increased in the presence of HIV infection. SLPI concentration in parotid and SMSL saliva is greater with HAART.
Regulation of keratinocyte growth factor and scatter factor in cyclosporin‐induced gingival overgrowth
Authors: Hyland P. L. , McKeown S. T. W. , Mackenzie I. C. , Irwin C. R. 
Published: July 2004

Background:  Epithelial proliferation is a histological characteristic of drug‐induced gingival overgrowth. Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and scatter factor (SF) are fibroblast‐derived growth factors with potent mitogenic and motogenic effects on epithelial cells, and, therefore, could be involved in the pathogenesis of gingival overgrowth. The aims of this study were to investigate: (i) the effects of cyclosporin on KGF and SF expression by gingival fibroblasts; and (ii) the expression levels of KGF and SF mRNA in normal and overgrown gingival tissue.Methods:  The KGF and SF protein production was determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Relative levels of KGF and SF mRNA expression were determined using semi‐quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Expression levels in biopsies of normal and overgrown gum were also determined.Results:  In overgrown fibroblasts, 500 ng/ml cyclosporin significantly inhibited KGF and SF mRNA and protein while 2000 ng/ml cyclosporin induced a stimulatory effect. In normal cells cyclosporin significantly increased both KGF and SF. KGF and SF mRNA was detected in both normal and overgrown tissues with a tendency towards increased expression levels in overgrown tissue.Conclusion:  These results suggest that KGF and SF may have an important role in cyclosporin‐induced gingival overgrowth.
Histopathologic changes in dental and oral soft tissues in 2‐butoxyethanol‐induced hemolysis and thrombosis in rats*
Authors: Redlich M. , Maly A. , Aframian D. , Shabat S. , Ezov N. , Levin‐Harrus T. , Nyska M. , Nyska A. 
Published: July 2004

Background:  2‐Butoxyethanol (2‐BE; ethylene glycol monobutyl ether) is extensively used as a solvent in surface coatings, such as lacquers, enamels, and varnishes in industrial and household cleaning products. Its major toxicity is manifested in the circulation, as it induces hemolytic anemia and thrombosis in various organs. While 2‐BE has been implicated in the induction of anemia in different species, the rat has proven most sensitive, especially the female of this species. The purpose of this study was to document the effects of 2‐BE on dentition, the periodontal ligament, the tongue, the salivary glands, and the oral mucosa in male and female Fischer 344 rats.Methods:  The experiment included 40 rats divided into five groups. Four groups were exposed to 2, 3, or 4 daily doses of 2‐BE, and a fifth group served as control. The rats were killed on days 2, 3, 4, and 29. The teeth and soft oral tissues were prepared for histopathologic observation.Results:  The histopathologic analysis showed that the major effect of 2‐BE was exerted on the odontoblasts of the incisors and on molars, with greater effect on the incisors. Foci of damaged muscle cells in the tongue were also observed. The blood vessels were dilated and congested, and a primary thrombosis was seen in the dental pulp.Conclusions:  The results of this study revealed a resemblance between the dental injuries in this rat model and those seen in sickle cell anemia in humans. This 2‐BE animal model holds potential to assist in the discovery of preventive measures and/or treatment for dental injuries that occur in human diseases with hemolytic anemia.
Cytologic and DNA‐cytometric very early diagnosis of oral cancer
Authors: Maraki D. , Becker J. , Boecking A. 
Published: July 2004

Background:  The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of exfoliative cytology (EC) and DNA‐image cytometry applied to suspicious oral lesions compared with synchronous histology.Methods:  Brush‐ and scalpel biopsies were obtained from 98 patients with suspicious oral lesions. In cases, in which EC revealed malignant or suspicious cells, nuclear DNA‐contents were measured using a TV image analysis system.Results:  Among 98 oral lesions both cytological and histological diagnosis showed no sign of malignancy or dysplasia in 75. In 23 cases cytology yielded tumor cell‐positive (15), suspicious (four) or doubtful (four) results. DNA‐cytometry showed aneuploidy in 19 of these. The comparison between cytological diagnosis combined with DNA‐cytometry and biopsy‐histology resulted in a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 97.4%.Conclusion:  In conclusion, cytology with DNA‐cytometry is a highly sensitive, specific and non‐invasive method for the early diagnosis of oral epithelial neoplasia, showing excellent compliance among patients.
Unintentional and violent injuries among pre-school children of teenage mothers in Sweden: a national cohort study
Authors: Ekéus Cecilia , Christensson Kyllike , Hjern Anders 
Published: July 2004

Study objective:This study investigates the risk and mediating mechanisms of unintentional and violent injuries in pre-school children of teenage mothers.Design:Cohort study based on Swedish national registers. Cox analyses of proportional hazard were used to estimate the relative risk of hospital admission and death attributable to injuries in analyses of data from national registers.Participants:The study population was a national cohort of 800 192 children born in Sweden during 1987–93 who were followed up prospectively from birth to their 7th birthday.Main results:Children of teenage mothers had higher relative risks (RRs) of hospital admissions for violent as well as unintentional injuries; age adjusted RRs of 2.7 (95% CI 1.2 to 6.1) and 1.6 (1.4 to 1.8), respectively, for children of mothers under 18 years of age and 2.5 (1.6 to 3.8) and 1.5 (1.4 to 1.6) of mothers aged 18–19 are compared with those with mothers aged at least 32 at the birth of the child. When the models were adjusted to socioeconomic variables and indicators of parental substance misuse and psychiatric illness the risk decreased slightly but remained well above that of children with older mothers. In addition, children of teenage mothers had an increased risk of death attributable to violent injuries (RR 6.7 (2.6 to 16.0), as well as to unintentional injuries (RR 3.5 (2.0 to 6.1).Conclusions:Maternal age is an important determinant of injuries in pre-school children in Sweden and the children of teenage mothers are at particular risk. Young parents should be given priority in injury prevention programmes.
A small proportion of mesenchymal stem cells strongly expresses functionally active CXCR4 receptor capable of promoting migration to bone marrow
Authors: Wynn Robert F. , Hart Claire A. , Corradi-Perini Carla , O'Neill Liam , Evans Caroline A. , Wraith J. Ed , Fairbairn Leslie J. , Bellantuono Ilaria 
Published: July 2004

Abstract
Homing of bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) to bone and bone marrow after transplantation, important for the correction of conditions such as metabolic storage disorders, can occur but with poor efficiency. Substantial improvements in engraftment will be required in order to derive a clinical benefit from MSC transplantation. Chemokines are the most important factors controlling cellular migration. Stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) has been shown to be critical in promoting the migration of cells to the bone marrow, via its specific receptor CXCR4. The aim of our study was to investigate CXCR4 expression on MSCs and its role in mediating migration to bone marrow. We show that CXCR4, although present at the surface of a small subset of MSCs, is important for mediating specific migration of these cells to bone marrow. (Blood. 2004; 104:2643-2645)