bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Further support for the pain stages of change model: Suggestions for improved measurement
Authors: Maurischat Carsten , Härter Martin , Kerns Robert D. , Bengel Jürgen 
Published: March 2005

AbstractRecent efforts to operationalize persons' readiness to adopt a self‐management approach to chronic pain have met with promising, but somewhat limited, results. The current study describes the development and psychometric evaluation of a German version of Pain Stages of Change Questionnaire (PSOCQ). A new item pool was developed to attempt to improve in particular the discriminant validity of the scales and in order to obtain a shortened measure. The items were administered to 494 chronic pain patients who were split into two independent samples. Item‐ and factor‐analysis performed on data from one half of the sample resulted in four scales: precontemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. The scales of the new measure, called the “Freiburg Questionnaire‐Stages of Chronic Pain Management (FQ‐STAPM)”, showed good indices of reliability, homogeneity, and discriminant validity. Both the concurrent and divergent validity indices and the relationships between scale scores and pain related variables proved to be consistent with the transtheoretical model. Confirmatory factor analysis using LISREL performed on the second half of the sample supported the goodness‐of‐fit of the structure model. Implications of these findings for future research exploring the relevance of the pain stages of change model are discussed.
Balancing exploitation and conservation of the eastern Scotian Shelf ecosystem: application of a 4D ecosystem exploitation index
Authors: Bundy Alida , Fanning Paul , Zwanenburg Kees C.T. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractFew indicators exist that measure the effects of fishing at the whole-ecosystem level. A 4D ecosystem exploitation index is proposed that integrates four measures of ecosystem status: (i) the trophic balance of exploitation, (ii) the intensity of exploitation, (iii) species richness, and (iv) disturbance of the trophic structure. The central concept is that fisheries should extract yield in proportion to the productivity at each trophic level, at sustainable exploitation rates, with minimal disturbance to the trophic structure, and with no loss in species richness. The ecosystem exploitation index is tested on simulated ecosystem data and applied to data from the eastern Scotian Shelf, Canada. The model simulations provided consistent results that should facilitate cross-system comparisons of exploitation and ecosystem status. When applied to actual observations, the results were less coherent, likely attributable to lag effects and environmental impacts. All fisheries likely alter the trophic structure of ecosystems, and the rate and trophic pattern of exploitation determines the level of change. Exploiting all trophic levels equally would always result in less change to trophic structure than top-heavy exploitation. Further testing is required to determine lag effects and sensitivity to various assumptions.
Emergency craniotomy in patients with intracranial metastatic gestational trophoblastic tumor
Authors: Yang J.J. , Xiang Y. , Yang X.Y. , Wan X.R. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractObjectiveTo study the diagnosis, management and prognosis of intracranial metastases of gestational trophoblastic tumor (GTT) patients who had emergency craniotomy.MethodsSixty three intracranial metastases of GTT patients were hospitalized in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1985 to 2004. Thirteen of them had craniotomy that were retrospectively analyzed and all of them had a feature of raised intracranial pressure followed by intracranial hemorrhagic mass.ResultsOf the thirteen patients who had undergone surgery combined with multiagent chemotherapy, seven got complete remission (CR), five got partial remission (PR), and one died of progress of the disease (PD). There were three patients who died (23.1%) during or after therapy.ConclusionsEmergency craniotomy has a small but important role to play in selected patients with brain metastases who display rapidly deteriorating signs. An undetermined intracranial hemorrhage in young female patients of a reproductive age group should raise the suspicion of cerebral metastatic GTT.
Protein Release in Recombinant Escherichia coli Using Bacteriocin Release Protein
Authors: Yu Peng , San Ka‐Yiu 
Published: March 2005

AbstractThe effect of induction level of the bacteriocin release protein (BRP) on cell growth characteristics, protein expression, and protein release in a recombinant strain of Escherichia coli RR1 was investigated. Mitomycin C., the inducing agent, when added to the growth medium in moderate amounts (up to 200 ng/mL) was observed to enhance the release of periplasmic proteins from the cell to the fermentation broth substantially. The percentages of release of the proteins α‐amylase and β‐lactamase were increased by factors of about 7 and 3, respectively, upon induction of the BRP. The percentage of α‐amylase released into the broth increased from only about 5% to almost 50% with the aid of BRP. The cell growth curve and low extracellular activity of the cytoplasmic protein β‐galactosidase were indicative that cell lysis did not occur in an appreciable amount at a low induction level, with a mitomycin C concentration of less than 300 ng/mL.
Effect of Substrate Concentration on Multicomponent Adsorption
Authors: Converse Alvin O. , Girard Daniel J. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractRecent studies of the adsorption of cellulase enzymes onto pretreated wood indicate that the adsorption isotherm is dependent upon the concentration of substrate in the solution. The computer studies reported in this note show that such behavior is to be expected of Langmuir type adsorption when two types of adsorbants compete for the same adsorption sites.
Flow‐Cytometric Determination of the Respiratory Activity in Growing Saccharomyces cerevisiae Populations
Authors: Porro Danilo , Smeraldi Carla , Martegani Enzo , Ranzi Bianca Maria , Alberghina Lilia 
Published: March 2005

AbstractFlow cytometry allows one to measure relevant physical or chemical properties on a single cell, yielding the distribution of these properties in the cell population. Typically, flow cytometry has been used to determine DNA or protein distributions, but it could be extended to the determination of other relevant parameters, such as intracellular pH, membrane potential, intracellular Ca2+ concentration, mitochondrial activity, etc. In the present work, we used flow cytometry to determine the respiratory activity in intact Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells after staining with the cationic lipophilic dye rhodamine 123 (Rhl23). We found a good correlation between the Rh123 fluorescence distribution in yeast populations and the degree of respiratory activity, which can be varied by changing the carbon source used for yeast growth. In addition, we developed a vital staining procedure which allows one to measure fast changes in the respiratory activity. We used this technique to follow the kinetics of glucose repression and to measure the apparent Km for the substrate. Our results demonstrate that flow cytometry is a fast and very sensitive method to evaluate the respiratory activity in yeast cells and is also suitable for the determination of rapid changes in yeast metabolism. Biotech‐nological implications of this study are also discussed.
Penicillin‐G Enhanced Production of Thuringiensin by Bacillus thuringiensis sp. darmstadiensis
Authors: Tzeng Yew ‐Min , Young Yu‐Hsiang 
Published: March 2005

AbstractThe effect of penicillin‐G on the production of the potential microbial insecticide thuringiensin by Bacillus thuringiensis sp. darmstadiensis was studied. Shake flask and 3‐L jar fermentor studies showed that the addition of 360 units/mL penicillin‐G at 9 h, when the fermentable sugar in the medium was about to be mostly consumed, improved thuringiensin production by more than 1‐fold relative to the control. The dosage of 360 units/mL penicillin‐G had only a modest effect on the growth of the microorganism. However, cell growth was inhibited at higher dosages of the antibiotic. Since penicillin‐G could interfere with cell wall synthesis, which facilitated the release of thuringiensin, a high thuringiensin productivity of 2600 mg/L was attained in this study, which is about 2–10‐fold higher than those values reported in the literature.
Enhancement of Secondary Metabolite Production by Immobilized Gossypium arboreum Cells
Authors: Choi Hojoon J. , Tao Bernard Y. , Okos Martin R. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractA novel reactor with simultaneous use of plant cell immobilization, permeabilization, and elicitation was designed to enhance the productivity of secondary metabolites and to overcome limitations of plant cell culture, such as slow metabolic rate, low product yield, and sensitivity to shear stresses. Production of gossypol, an antifungal agent, from Gossypium arboreum was selected as a model system. The effects of immobilization, permeabilization, and elicitation on gossypol production were investigated in free suspension culture, immobilized plant cell reactor with recycled batch operation, and bioreactor with continuous operation. G. arboreum cells were effectively immobilized on a cotton matrix by entrapment with a spirally wound configuration. Permeabilization of immobilized cells provided a tool for a continuous process increasing the release of gossypol by 30%, while the elicitation technique played a major role to enhance productivity by more than 8‐fold. In comparisons of productivity, continuous operation and combined treatment gave productivity over 20‐fold higher than batch culture. Simultaneous use of immobilization, permeabilization, and elicitation was possible in continuous operation with an immobilized plant cell reactor.
Co‐overexpression of prlF Increases Cell Viability and Enzyme Yields in Recombinant Escherichia coli Expressing Bacillus stearothermophilus α‐Amylase
Authors: Minas Wolfgang , Bailey James E. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractThe effects on cloned amylase production of co‐overexpression of prlF, a gene that appears to interact with the sec protein export machinery in Escherichia coli, was investigated by comparing three expression systems: (i) a high copy number plasmid with the Bacillus stearothermophilus α‐amylase gene (amyS) cloned with its promoter downstream of the lac promoter; (ii) a pBR322‐based vector with amyS under control of the indigenous Bacillus promoter; and (iii) a temperature‐inducible vector with runaway replicon and λpL promoter‐controlled gene expression. In addition, protease mutants (lon−) of E. coli C600 were used to evaluate the influence of the Lon protease on net enzyme formation and activity degradation during batch fermentations. Our results show that α‐amylase synthesis occurred during exponential growth and ceased in the stationary phase. While strong promoters on high copy number plasmids severely impaired cell viability, resulting in culture lysis at mid‐log phase, co‐overexpression of prlF greatly improved cell viability, as well as the yield and specific production of α‐amylase for the expression constructs considered. lon deficiency slightly increased amylase stability during the late stationary phase. However, the specific productivity of ion− strains was only about 40–60% that of the isogenic E. coli C600 equivalent.
Retention Behavior of Amino Acids Using Immobilized Ag(I) Chromatography
Authors: Kim Dong‐Hoon , Garcia Antonio A. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractA mathematical description of retention times for several amino acids on a polyacrylamide resin containing immobilized Ag(I) is presented in this paper. Immobilization of Ag(I) ions onto a chromatography support allows for the expansion of immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) to include soft acid/soft base interactions. For the retention of methionine, histidine, and tryptophan, a mathematical model is presented that rationalizes the retention behavior of these amino acids on a Ag(I) column as a function of silver ion loading and pH. The pH effect is important in that methionine is retained longer than histidine at pH values below 5, while at pH 7 histidine is retained longer than methionine. The effects of nonspecific interactions with the modified polymer, electrostatic interactions, and soft acid/soft base interactions are also taken into account by the model. This approach may also be useful for modeling the retention times of amino acids on other types of IMAC columns.
An Energetically Structured Model of Mammalian Cell Metabolism. 1. Model Development and Application to Steady‐State Hybridoma Cell Growth in Continuous Culture
Authors: Dimasi Don , Swartz Randall W. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractIncomplete understanding of mammalian cell culture kinetics hinders the ability of the biochemical engineer or biologist to design and control mammalian cell culture systems and to develop operating strategies. To address this problem, a mechanistic, structured mathematical model has been developed to simulate mammalian cell culture kinetics under a variety of bioreactor operating conditions. An important feature of in vitro mammalian cell metabolism in conventional cell culture media is the partial substitutability of the substrates glucose and glutamine for provision of energy in the cell. The utilization of glucose and glutamine by cells can therefore vary substantially, and these changes can profoundly affect the culture behavior. The model developed here specifically addresses the dynamics of substrate consumption and energy metabolism in mammalian cell culture. This energetically structured (ES) model is also distinguished by the consideration of changes in the specific cell mass with specific growth rate and the consideration of essential amino acids as potentially growth rate limiting. The model is applied here to simulate literature data on the growth and metabolism of a murine hybridoma in continuous culture.
Saccharomyces boulardii in the prevention of antibiotic‐associated diarrhoea in children: a randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Kotowska M. , Albrecht P. , Szajewska H. 
Published: March 2005

SummaryBackground : Co‐treatment with Saccharomyces boulardii appears to lower the risk of antibiotic‐associated diarrhoea in adults receiving broad‐spectrum antibiotics.Aim : To determine whether S. boulardii prevents antibiotic‐associated diarrhoea in children.Methods : A total of 269 children (aged 6 months to 14 years) with otitis media and/or respiratory tract infections were enrolled in a double‐blind, randomized placebo‐controlled trial in which they received standard antibiotic treatment plus 250 mg of S. boulardii (experimental group, n = 132) or a placebo (control group, n = 137) orally twice daily for the duration of antibiotic treatment. Analyses were based on allocated treatment and included data from 246 children.Results : Patients receiving S. boulardii had a lower prevalence of diarrhoea (≥3 loose or watery stools/day for ≥48 h occurring during or up to 2 weeks after the antibiotic therapy) than those receiving placebo [nine of 119 (8%) vs. 29 of 127 (23%), relative risk: 0.3, 95% confidence interval: 0.2–0.7]. S. boulardii also reduced the risk of antibiotic‐associated diarrhoea (diarrhoea caused by Clostridium difficile or otherwise unexplained diarrhoea) compared with placebo [four of 119 (3.4%) vs. 22 of 127 (17.3%), relative risk: 0.2; 95% confidence interval: 0.07–0.5]. No adverse events were observed.Conclusion : This is the first randomized‐controlled trial evidence that S. boulardii effectively reduces the risk of antibiotic‐associated diarrhoea in children.
Systematic review: the liver in coeliac disease
Authors: Duggan J. M. , Duggan A. E. 
Published: March 2005

SummaryBackground : For over a decade isolated reports have noted liver histology and biochemistry changes in patients with coeliac disease. The prevalence and response to treatment is clinically important.Aim : To outline the frequency and significance of liver abnormalities in coeliac disease.Methods : A Medline search using Ovid–Coeliac/Coeliac (exp) and liver disease (exp) was completed of English references published during 1966–June 2003. Bibliographic references and other appropriate sources were also searched.Results : Six studies reported liver biochemistry in 591 patients; 248 patients had abnormal results. Elevated transaminases were the most frequently reported abnormality. A gluten‐free diet produced resolution of elevated transaminases in 115 of 130 patients. There was a greater than expected association with primary biliary cirrhosis and advanced liver disease.Conclusions : Mildly abnormal liver biochemistry is frequent in untreated coeliac disease and may provide a key to the diagnosis. Routine investigations for undiagnosed liver disease should include tissue transglutaminase testing. Left untreated, coeliac‐induced hepatitis may rarely progress to end‐stage liver disease. Primary biliary cirrhosis is clearly linked to coeliac disease. The full story of these linkages is yet to be written.
Hospital health care resource utilization and costs of colorectal cancer during the first 3‐year period following diagnosis in Switzerland
Authors: Delcò F. , Egger R. , Bauerfeind P. , Beglinger C. 
Published: March 2005

SummaryBackground: In industrialized countries, colorectal cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Decisions on colorectal cancer screening are based on cost‐effectiveness analyses that rely on colorectal cancer cost studies. Additionally, the study of the resource utilization pattern may lead to cost‐saving strategies in the care of colorectal cancer.Aim: To estimate hospital resource utilization, the use of various therapy modalities and costs of colorectal cancer cases undergoing surgery during the first 3 years following the diagnosis at a Swiss university hospital.Methods: Consecutive colorectal cancer patients from 1997 to 1998 were identified using the surgery database of the University Hospital of Basel and followed for a period of 3 years. In‐hospital resource utilization and costs were retrieved from the computerized administrative records. Treatment outside of the hospital during the study period constituted an exclusion criterion.Results: Eighty‐three (94%) of 89 patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer were included in the study, 58 with colon cancer and 25 with rectal cancer. The average ages were 70.3 and 63.6 years, respectively. Overall, 59% of the patients were treated with surgery alone, 27% also had chemotherapy and 15% received additional chemoradiotherapy. These percentages and resource utilization varied broadly between the two colorectal cancer groups. On average, patients were admitted to the hospital 2.7 times and the hospital length of stay amounted to 35 days. They were visited by doctors 69 times, and examined with colonoscopy, ultrasonography and computerized tomography 2.7, 3.2 and 2.4 times, respectively. Mean costs incurred for rectal cancer ($40 230) were about 22% higher than for colon cancer patients ($33 079). Hospitalization and surgical therapy generated the greatest costs. Expenses were highest for the first year and with more severe disease stages at diagnosis.Conclusions: Colorectal cancer is an expensive disease. Economic analyses on screening should take into account the large resource utilization and cost variability by performing sensitivity analysis on broad cost ranges. Furthermore, they should consider stage shifting at diagnosis and include stage‐specific costs.
Dynamic decision analysis to determine optimal treatment duration in chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Veldt B. J. , Hansen B. E. , Eijkemans M. J. C. , de Knegt R. J. , Stijnen T. , Habbema J. D. F. , Schalm S. W. 
Published: March 2005

SummaryBackground : Current guidelines for stopping treatment of chronic hepatitis C are based on hepatitis C ribonucleic acid measurements at 12 and 24 weeks.Aim : To explore an alternative approach for making individualized recommendations about treatment duration, based on simple alanine aminotransferase tests and on cost‐per‐cure.Methods : We analysed individual patient data from 13 randomized, controlled trials with interferon alone or combined with ribavirin. Using multiple logistic regression, we built a model that estimated the probability of sustained virological response for treatment durations of 24 and 48 weeks. Decisions to prolong treatment were based on an increase in probability of sustained virological response. If the increase was 10%, the cost‐per‐cure became decisive with a limit of 50 000 €.Results : Noncirrhotics with genotype 2 or 3 did not benefit when treatment was continued beyond 24 weeks. Sustained virological response rates in cirrhotic patients increased by 14–47% if treatment was continued up to 48 weeks. In noncirrhotic genotype 1 or 4 patients who had elevated alanine aminotransferase levels at week 4, the probability of sustained virological response increased by <10% if treatment was continued up to 48 weeks; the cost‐per‐cure for these patients would exceed 50 000 €.Conclusion : The dynamics of alanine aminotransferase levels and cost‐per‐cure provides a useful alternative to determine the duration of therapy in chronic hepatitis C.
A comparative study of the early effects of tenatoprazole 40 mg and esomeprazole 40 mg on intragastric pH in healthy volunteers
Authors: Galmiche J. P. , Sacher‐Huvelin S. , Bruley des Varannes S. , Vavasseur F. , Taccoen A. , Fiorentini P. , Homerin M. 
Published: March 2005

SummaryBackground : Tenatoprazole is a novel proton pump inhibitor with a seven‐hour plasma half‐life.Aim : To compare the effects of tenatoprazole 40 mg and esomeprazole 40 mg on intragastric acidity during the first 48 h in healthy volunteers.Methods : This randomized two‐period crossover study included 24 Helicobacter Pylori‐negative subjects; tenatoprazole 40 mg or esomeprazole 40 mg daily were given before breakfast for two consecutive days, with a 2‐week wash‐out between the administration periods. Intragastric pH was monitored for 48 h.Results : Over 48 h, tenatoprazole 40 mg exerted a more potent acid inhibition than esomeprazole 40 mg (median pH: 4.3 vs. 3.9, P < 0.08; per cent of time above pH 4: 57% vs. 49%, P < 0.03; proportion of subjects with at least half of the time above pH 4: 71% vs. 46%). These differences resulted from better night‐time acid control with tenatoprazole 40 mg than esomeprazole 40 mg (first night median pH: 4.2 vs. 2.9, P < 0.0001; second night: 4.5 vs. 3.2, P < 0.0001). The duration of nocturnal acid breakthroughs was significantly reduced during both nights. In contrast, no significant difference was detected during the daytime periods between both regimens.Conclusion : Over the first 48 h, tenatoprazole 40 mg achieves a better overall and night‐time control of gastric pH than esomeprazole 40 mg. The translation of better early control of acidity into clinical benefits deserves further studies.