bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality of Life Assessment Among Migraine Patients Treated With Sumatriptan
Authors: Solomon Glen D. , Skobieranda Franck G. , Genzen Jonathan R. 
Published: May 2005

Purpose.‐Quality of life evaluations can enhance traditional measures of therapeutic efficacy. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the impact of sumatriptan on the quality of life of patients with migraine headaches.Patients and Methods.‐Migraine patients who were given a prescription for sumatriptan completed an SF‐36 questionnaire and a nine‐item pain questionnaire. Six to 9 months later, patients were mailed another copy of the SF‐36 and the nine‐item pain questionnaire. We compared the pretreatment and posttreatment scores for the SF‐36 and for each question of the nine‐item pain questionnaire.Results.‐The pretreatment SF‐36 was completed by 255 patients. The pretreatment pain questionnaire was completed by 86 of these patients. Follow‐up questionnaires were returned by 147 patients (58%). Three of the eight SF‐36 scales: role functioning‐physical, bodily pain, and social functioning showed significant (P<0.05) improvement with treatment. On the nine‐item pain‐specific questionnaire, three items ‐ pain interference with normal work, ability to walk or move about, and enjoyment of life showed statistically significant (P<O.05) improvement after sumatriptan treatment.Conclusions.‐Sumatriptan caused a significant improvement in the quality of life of patients with very severe migraine. This improvement was measurable by both the general quality of life instrument and the pain‐specific questionnaire.
The Relationship Between Headaches and Sleep Disturbances
Authors: Paiva Teresa , Batista André , Martins Paula , Martins António 
Published: May 2005

The relationship between headaches and sleep disturbances is complex and difficult to analyze. Both symptoms may have casual relations, or may be associated in the same patient with mutual reinforcements.We studied 25 patients presenting with morning or nocturnal headaches. Standard headache diagnosis and polysomnography were performed. After polysomnography, the diagnoses were reevaluated.The main headache entities were cluster, chronic paroxysmal hemicrania, migraine, tension, combined headache, and chronic substance abuse headache.For each group, headache, sleep data, and changes in diagnosis are discussed. The diagnosis was changed in 13 patients; the final diagnoses were periodic movements of sleep, fibromyalgia syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea. The diagnoses of cluster headache and chronic paroxysmal hemi‐crania were not modified by polysomnography.The migraine and tension headache groups had a relative male preponderance, and the diagnosis was changed in approximately half of the patients. This was also observed in combined headaches. Patients who had chronic substance abuse headaches had mainly insomnia, which in some cases, was relieved by stopping medication.Data were also analyzed in terms of simple models linking headache and sleep disturbances. Such an approach allowed the identification of several modes of mutual interaction.In summary, morning or nocturnal headaches are frequent indicators of a sleep disturbance and their presence might justify polysomnography, and the use of simple clinical models may be useful for understanding the complex relationship between headache and sleep.
Long‐term Efficacy of Subcutaneous Sumatriptan Using a Novel Self‐injector
Authors: Gross M.L.P. , Kay J. , Turner A.M. , Jewsbury J. , Cleal A.L. 
Published: May 2005

An open, multicenter study investigated the long‐term efficacy, tolerability, and acceptability to patients of subcutaneous sumatriptan 6 mg, administered using a novel cartridge system self‐injector, for the acute treatment of migraine. Eighty patients treated all migraine attacks for 6 months at home with a subcutaneous injection of sumatriptan 6 mg. A second injection could be taken after 1 to 24 hours if relief was inadequate, or if the headache recurred, and rescue medication could be taken 1 hour after the second injection. The primary end point was the percentage of attacks in which headache improved from severe or moderate before treatment to mild or absent at 1 hour after the first injection. A total of 1566 attacks were treated by the 80 patients and 69 patients completed 6 months of treatment. Headache relief was reported 1 hour after the first injection in a mean of 78% of attacks (83% in the first 3 months and 76% in the second 3 months). A second injection was required in a mean of 40% of attacks, and headache was mild or absent 1 hour after the second injection in a mean of 77% of attacks. Rescue medication was required after the second injection in a mean of 14% of attacks. At the end of the study, 87% of patients said that they would take the medication again, and at each clinic visit over 80% said that they found the injector easy to use. Adverse events were similar to those reported previously with sumatriptan and were mostly mild to moderate in intensity, short‐lived, and resolved spontaneously.Subcutaneous sumatriptan 6 mg is an effective, well tolerated, and well accepted, long‐term, acute treatment for migraine when self‐injected by patients using the novel self‐injector.
Preemptive Oral Treatment With Sumatriptan During a Cluster Period
Authors: Monstad I. , Krabbe A. , Micieli G. , Prusinski A. , Cole J. , Pilgrim A. , Shevlin P. 
Published: May 2005

This multinational, multicenter, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study in 169 patients investigated the effect of a 7‐day period of preemptive treatment with oral sumatriptan (100 mg tid) on the frequency and severity of cluster headache attacks occurring during an established cluster headache period. Safety and tolerability were also assessed.Cluster headache patients who were not taking prophylactic medication and had experienced seven or more attacks in the preceding observation week, treated a cluster headache attack at home with subcutaneous sumatriptan 6 mg using an autoinjector device. Patients were then randomized to take sumatriptan 100 mg or placebo at 8‐hourly intervals for a 7‐day period. Cluster headaches occurring during this period could be treated 5 minutes after onset with rescue medication (100% oxygen or simple analgesics). Diary cards were used to record details of the cluster headache pattern during the observation and study treatment weeks.Preemptive oral treatment with sumatriptan 100 mg tid for 7 days did not produce a significant reduction in the number or severity of cluster headache attacks occurring during an established cluster headache period. Oral treatment with sumatriptan 100 mg tid over a 7‐day period was not associated with an increased or altered adverse event profile from that previously reported.
Pulsed Radiofrequency for Radicular Pain Due to a Herniated Intervertebral Disc—An Initial Report
Authors: Teixeira Alexandre , Grandinson Magnus , Sluijter Menno E. 
Published: May 2005

Abstract:  Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) has been used for the treatment of radicular pain, due to a herniated intervertebral disc, but so far the data are anecdotal. This is a retrospective study on 13 consecutive patients with this type of pain, at levels L3 to S1. All patients had a diagnosis confirmed by imaging, all had neurological abnormalities, and all were scheduled for surgical intervention. All 12 patients who had a profession had stopped working. Treatment consisted of application of PRF to the dorsal root ganglion of the affected segmental nerve, or in the case of S1 to the segmental nerve at the level of the S1 foramen.One patient underwent disc surgery, and one other patient underwent a spinal fusion 1 year following PRF treatment. He had no leg pain at the time of operation. The remaining patients did not require surgical intervention. The numeric rating scale (NRS) score fell from 7.83 to 2.25 over the first 2 weeks, followed by a gradual further fall to 0.27 at the final follow‐up, 15.8 (11 to 23) months after the procedure. Compared with the initial NRS score the data were significant (P < 0.01) from 4 weeks after the procedure. Neurological abnormalities resolved except in one patient, who had decreased sensibility in a small area in the L3 dermatome at the last follow‐up. All professionally active patients went back to work after 0.49 months (0.1 to 1).It is concluded that PRF may potentially be a viable alternative for epidural steroid injections in the treatment of acute radicular pain, due to a herniated intervertebral disc, and that further studies, including a control group, should be carried out to establish the value of this method.
Catastrophic Population Declines and Extinctions in Neotropical Harlequin Frogs (Bufonidae: Atelopus)1
Authors: La Marca Enrique , Lips Karen R. , Lötters Stefan , Puschendorf Robert , Ibáñez Roberto , Rueda‐Almonacid José Vicente , Schulte Rainer , Marty Christian , Castro Fernando , Manzanilla‐Puppo Jesús , García‐Pérez Juan Elías , Bolaños Federico , Chaves Gerardo , Pounds J. Alan , Toral Eduardo , Young Bruce E. 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACTWe surveyed the population status of the Neotropical toad genus Atelopus, and document recent catastrophic declines that are more severe than previously reported for any amphibian genus. Of 113 species that have been described or are candidates for description, data indicate that in 42 species, population sizes have been reduced by at least half and only ten species have stable populations. The status of the remaining taxa is unknown. At least 30 species have been missing from all known localities for at least 8 yr and are feared extinct. Most of these species were last seen between 1984 and 1996. All species restricted to elevations of above 1000 m have declined and 75 percent have disappeared, while 58 percent of lowland species have declined and 38 percent have disappeared. Habitat loss was not related to declines once we controlled for the effects of elevation. In fact, 22 species that occur in protected areas have disappeared. The fungal disease Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has been documented from nine species that have declined, and may explain declines in higher elevation species that occur in undisturbed habitats. Climate change may also play a role, but other potential factors such as environmental contamination, trade, and introduced species are unlikely to have affected more than a handful of species. Widespread declines and extinctions in Atelopus may reflect population changes in other Neotropical amphibians that are more difficult to survey, and the loss of this trophic group may have cascading effects on other species in tropical ecosystems.
The Seedling Community of Tropical Rain Forest Edges and Its Interaction with Herbivores and Pathogens1
Authors: Benítez‐Malvido Julieta , Lemus‐Albor Aurora 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACTEdge effects alter biotic interactions and forest regeneration. We investigated whether edge creation affected the seedling community and its interactions with herbivores and leaf‐fungal pathogens. In forest edges and interior sites in Chiapas, Mexico, we counted all woody seedlings and species (10–100 cm tall) present in 1‐m2 plots, measured their size (height and leaf number), and examined them for the occurrence of herbivory and pathogen damage. We investigated relationships between levels of damage and size, species richness and density. Species composition and biotic damage varied greatly among sites and habitats (edge vs interior). Late‐successional species dominated the community, but richness was lower in interior sites and species similarity was greater among edges than among interiors. Nearly all species (95%) present at edges and interiors showed herbivory damage, whereas 76 percent of the species in edge plots and 68 percent in interior plots showed pathogen damage. Although leaf area damaged by herbivores was similar between habitats (average 9.2%), pathogen damage was three times greater in edge plots (1.85%) than in interior plots (0.57%). Size was positively related to biotic damage at both habitats. Relationships between herbivory and pathogen damage and between pathogen damage and leaf number were significant only for edges. Biotic damage was not related to density or species richness. Overall, plant community structure was similar between habitats, but biotic damage was enhanced at edges. Thus, disease spread at edges may arise as a threat to tropical rain forest vegetation.
Population Genetic Structure of Neotropical Mangrove Species on the Colombian Pacific Coast: Avicennia germinans (Avicenniaceae)1
Authors: Cerón‐Souza Ivania , Toro‐Perea Nelson , Cárdenas‐Henao Heiber 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACTWe investigated the genetic variation of Avicennia germinans using 172 AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism) bands of 45 plants from four localities on the Colombian Pacific coast: 11 from Virudó (Chocó), 10 from La Plata (Valle), 12 from Tumaco (Nariño), and 12 from Chontal (Nariño). AFLP variation among localities (16.2%) was highly significant (AMOVA; P < 0.0001). All the analyses showed that Tumaco was the most genetically distinct locality of the four under study. The other three localities, La Plata, Virudó, and Chontal, apparently form a large single subpopulation with high‐to‐moderate gene flow among localities. We also found the genetic diversity of A. germinans on the Colombian Pacific coast (HE= 0.251) higher than that estimated by others over the broad geographic range of A. germinans. All these results together show that mangroves on the Colombian Pacific coast deserve a strong investigative effort to improve our ecological, evolutionary, and biogeographic knowledge of this important tropical forest type.
Effects of Season and Vegetation Type on Community Organization of Dung Beetles in a Tropical Dry Forest1
Authors: Andresen Ellen 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACTDung beetles are important components of most terrestrial ecosystems. In tropical rain forests, dung beetle communities can be very rich in number of species and individuals, and they are known to be useful bioindicators of habitat disturbance. In contrast, very little is known about the organization of dung beetle communities in tropical dry forests. The aim of this study was to describe in detail the dung beetle community of a Mexican tropical dry forest and to assess the relative importance of rainfall seasonality and forest structure in affecting the temporal and spatial dynamics of this community. Dung beetles were captured with pitfall traps at the beginning of the rainy season, the middle of the rainy season, and the middle of the dry season, in two distinct forest types: deciduous forest (DF) and semideciduous forest (SDF) at the Estación de Biología Chamela. Both rainfall seasonality and forest structure affected the community organization of dung beetles. During both rainy periods, 14 species were captured, but only three during the dry season. Dung beetles captured during the dry season were only found in the SDF. When comparing the beginning and the middle of the rainy season, differences in abundance and guild structure were also observed between both periods and between forest types, but these differences were much less pronounced.
Vibrio fischeri
Uses Two Quorum-Sensing Systems for the Regulation of Early and Late Colonization Factors
Authors: Lupp Claudia , Ruby Edward G. 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACT

Vibrio fischeri
possesses two quorum-sensing systems,
ain
and
lux
, using acyl homoserine lactones as signaling molecules. We have demonstrated previously that the
ain
system activates luminescence gene expression at lower cell densities than those required for
lux
system activation and that both systems are essential for persistent colonization of the squid host,
Euprymna scolopes
. Here, we asked whether the relative contributions of the two systems are also important at different colonization stages. Inactivation of
ain
, but not
lux
, quorum-sensing genes delayed initiation of the symbiotic relationship. In addition, our data suggest that
lux
quorum sensing is not fully active in the early stages of colonization, implying that this system is not required until later in the symbiosis. The
V. fischeri luxI
mutant does not express detectable light levels in symbiosis yet initiates colonization as well as the wild type, suggesting that
ain
quorum sensing regulates colonization factors other than luminescence. We used a recently developed
V. fischeri
microarray to identify genes that are controlled by
ain
quorum sensing and could be responsible for the initiation defect. We found 30 differentially regulated genes, including the repression of a number of motility genes. Consistent with these data,
ain
quorum-sensing mutants displayed an altered motility behavior in vitro. Taken together, these data suggest that the sequential activation of these two quorum-sensing systems with increasing cell density allows the specific regulation of early colonization factors (e.g., motility) by
ain
quorum sensing, whereas late colonization factors (e.g., luminescence) are preferentially regulated by
lux
quorum sensing.
The Archaeon
Pyrococcus horikoshii
Possesses a Bifunctional Enzyme for Formaldehyde Fixation via the Ribulose Monophosphate Pathway
Authors: Orita Izumi , Yurimoto Hiroya , Hirai Reiko , Kawarabayasi Yutaka , Sakai Yasuyoshi , Kato Nobuo 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACT

Pyrococcus horikoshii
OT3, a hyperthermophilic and anaerobic archaeon, was found to have an open reading frame (
PH1938
) whose deduced amino acid sequence of the N-terminal and C-terminal halves showed significant similarity to two key enzymes of the ribulose monophosphate pathway for formaldehyde fixation in methylotrophic bacteria, 3-hexulose-6-phosphate synthase (HPS) and 6-phospho-3-hexuloisomerase (PHI), respectively. The organism constitutively produced the encoded protein and exhibited activity of the sequential HPS- and PHI-mediated reactions in a particulate fraction. The full-length gene encoding the hybrid enzyme, the sequence corresponding to the HPS region, and the sequence corresponding to the PHI region were expressed in
Escherichia coli
and were found to produce active enzymes, rHps-Phi, rHps, or rPhi, respectively. Purified rHps-Phi and rHps were found to be active at the growth temperatures of the parent strain, but purified rPhi exhibited significant susceptibility to heat, suggesting that thermostability of the PHI moiety of the bifunctional enzyme (rHps-Phi) resulted from fusion with HPS. The bifunctional enzyme catalyzed the sequential reaction much more efficiently than a mixture of rHps and rPhi. These and other biochemical characterizations of the
PH1938
gene product suggest that the ribulose monophosphate pathway plays a significant role in the archaeon under extreme environmental conditions.
Analysis of Transient Polyhydroxybutyrate Production in
Wautersia eutropha
H16 by Quantitative Western Analysis and Transmission Electron Microscopy
Authors: Tian Jiamin , He Aimin , Lawrence Adam G. , Liu Pinghua , Watson Nicki , Sinskey Anthony J. , Stubbe JoAnne 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACT

Polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs) are polyoxoesters generated from (
R
)3-hydroxybutyryl coenzyme A by PHB synthase. During the polymerization reaction, the polymers undergo a phase transition and generate granules.
Wautersia eutropha
can transiently accumulate PHB when it is grown in a nutrient-rich medium (up to 23% of the cell dry weight in dextrose-free tryptic soy broth [TSB]). PHB homeostasis under these growth conditions was examined by quantitative Western analysis to monitor the proteins present, their levels, and changes in their levels over a 48-h growth period. The proteins examined include PhaC (the synthase), PhaP (a phasin), PhaR (a transcription factor), and PhaZ1
a
, PhaZ1
b
, and PhaZ1
c
(putative intracellular depolymerases), as well as PhaZ2 (a hydroxybutyrate oligomer hydrolase). The results show that PhaC and PhaZ1
a
were present simultaneously. No PhaZ1
b
or PhaZ1
c
was detected at any time throughout growth. PhaZ2 was observed and exhibited an expression pattern different from that of PhaZ1
a
. The levels of PhaP changed dramatically and corresponded kinetically to the levels of PHB. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) provided the dimensions of the average cell and the average granule at 4 h and 24 h of growth (J. Tian, A. J. Sinskey, and J. Stubbe, J. Bacteriol.
187:
3814-3824, 2005). This information allowed us to calculate the amount of each protein and number of granules per cell and the granule surface coverage by proteins. The molecular mass of PHB (10
6
Da) was determined by dynamic light scattering at 4 h, the time of maximum PHB accumulation. At this time, the surface area of the granules was maximally covered with PhaP (27 to 54%), and there were one or two PhaP molecules/PHB chain. The ratio of PHB chains to PhaC was ∼60, which required reinitiation of polymer formation on PhaC. The TEM studies of wild-type and Δ
phaR
strains in TSB provided further support for an alternative mechanism of granule formation (Tian et al., J. Bacteriol.
187:
3814-3824, 2005).
Structure-Activity Analysis of Microcin J25: Distinct Parts of the Threaded Lasso Molecule Are Responsible for Interaction with Bacterial RNA Polymerase
Authors: Semenova Ekaterina , Yuzenkova Yulia , Peduzzi Jean , Rebuffat Sylvie , Severinov Konstantin 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACTPeptide microcin J25 (MccJ25) inhibits bacterial RNA polymerase. We show that thermolysin-cleaved MccJ25 and MccJ25 lacking amino acids 13 to 17 also inhibit transcription. Our data and structural analysis of intact and thermolysin-digested MccJ25 suggest that distinct regions of MccJ25 are involved in transcription inhibition and cell entry.
Osmotic Regulation of theEscherichia coli bdm(Biofilm-Dependent Modulation) Gene by the RcsCDB His-Asp Phosphorelay
Authors: Francez-Charlot Anne , Castanié-Cornet Marie-Pierre , Gutierrez Claude , Cam Kaymeuang 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACTThe RcsCDB His-Asp phosphorelay is shown to positively regulate thebdm(biofilm-dependent modulation) andsra(stationary-phase-induced ribosome-associated protein) genes inEscherichia coli. The regulation is direct and requires an RcsB box next to thebdm−35 element. In addition,bdmis shown to be activated by osmotic shock in an Rcs-dependent way.
Two Additional Components of the Accessory Sec System Mediating Export of the
Streptococcus gordonii
Platelet-Binding Protein GspB
Authors: Takamatsu Daisuke , Bensing Barbara A. , Sullam Paul M. 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACT

The
gspB-secY2A2
locus of
Streptococcus gordonii
strain M99 encodes the platelet-binding glycoprotein GspB, along with proteins that mediate its glycosylation and export. We have identified two additional components of the accessory Sec system (Asp4 and Asp5) encoded just downstream of
gtfB
in the
gspB-secY2A2
locus. These proteins are required for GspB export and for normal levels of platelet binding by M99. Asp4 and Asp5 may be functional homologues of SecE and SecG, respectively.
The
eefABC
Multidrug Efflux Pump Operon Is Repressed by H-NS in
Enterobacter aerogenes
Authors: Masi Muriel , Pagès Jean-Marie , Villard Claude , Pradel Elizabeth 
Published: May 2005

ABSTRACT

The
Enterobacter aerogenes eefABC
locus, which encodes a tripartite efflux pump, was cloned by complementation of an
Escherichia coli tolC
mutant.
E. aerogenes
Δ
acrA
expressing EefABC became less susceptible to a wide range of antibiotics. Data from
eef
::
lacZ
fusions showed that
eefABC
was not transcribed in the various laboratory conditions tested. However, increased transcription from P
eef
was observed in an
E. coli hns
mutant. In addition, EefA was detected in
E. aerogenes
expressing a dominant negative
E. coli hns
allele.