bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of the Chinese herbal medicine, Bakumondo‐to, on airway hyperresponsiveness induced by ozone exposure in guinea‐pigs
Authors: Aizawa Hisamichi , Shigyo Matsumi , Nakano Hiroyuki , Matsumoto Koichiro , Inoue Hiromasa , Hara Nobayuki 
Published: March 2003

Objective:Bakumondo‐to (Maimendong tang) is a Chinese herbal medicine that has been used as an anti‐tussive agent. However, the effects of Bakumondo‐to on airway hyperresponsiveness are unknown. We examine whether Bakumondo‐to can inhibit airway hyperresponsiveness induced by ozone. Methodology: Measurements of airway responsiveness and plasma extravasation and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were performed before and after ozone exposure (3 p.p.m., 2 h). Guinea‐pigs were anaesthetized with pentobarbital sodium and mechanically ventilated. Airway responsiveness was determined by an inhalation of doubling concentration of histamine, and the concentration of histamine required to produce a 200% increase in RL (PC200) was calculated by log‐linear interpolation. Plasma extravasation was evaluated by measuring the extravasation of Evans blue dye in the airway. Results: Ozone produced significant airway hyperresponsiveness and plasma extravasation, with an influx of neutrophils in BAL fluid. Bakumondo‐to (400 mg/kg p.o.) significantly inhibited airway hyperresponsiveness, but had no effect on neutrophil influx or plasma extravasation. Conclusions: We demonstrated that Bakumondo‐to can attenuate airway hyperresponsiveness induced by ozone without affecting airway inflammation, which suggests that Bakumondo‐to may act on the subsequent mechanisms after the induction of inflammation, such as mediator release.
The relationships between patients' related variables in asthma: Implications for asthma management
Authors: Abdulwadud Omar A. , Abramson Michael J. , Forbes Andrew B. , Walters E. Haydn 
Published: March 2003

Objective: Understanding patients' personal characteristics is essential for better asthma management. This study assessed the relationships between patients' related variables in asthma and identified key associations relevant to asthma management.Methodology: Subjects were recruited from the Alfred Hospital Asthma and Allergy Clinic (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) and general practices. Their clinical and demographic characteristics, asthma knowledge, impact of asthma on their quality of life, their self‐management skills and attitudes to asthma were assessed.Results: One hundred and sixty‐nine subjects participated in the study. Fifty‐seven per cent had one or more previous hospital admissions, 94% had either moderate or severe asthma, and 51% reported nocturnal symptoms in the last 6 weeks. Patients who spoke only English, had been admitted to an intensive care unit, had a peak flow meter, and an asthma action plan had significantly better asthma knowledge than those who did not. The impact of asthma was greatest in patients who had a peak flow meter, used oral steroids, had exercise limitation, and developed asthma between the ages of 31–45 years. Female patients had better self‐management skills than males. Patients with asthma‐related distress were more likely to use oral steroids or theophylline and to have a history of previous hospital admissions. Patient self‐confidence was negatively correlated with age.Conclusions: There are significant relationships between many of patients' variables related to asthma, including their personal clinical, demographic and psychological characteristics. The findings have implications for optimizing asthma management.
Longitudinal follow‐up study of 11 patients with pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis: Diverse clinical courses of LAM allow some patients to be treated without anti‐hormone therapy
Authors: SEYAMA KUNIAKI , KIRA SHIRO , TAKAHASHI HIDEKI , OHNISHI MASAHIRO , KODAMA YUZO , DAMBARA TAKASHI , KOBAYASHI JUNE , KITAMURA SATOSHI , FUKUCHI YOSHINOSUKE 
Published: March 2003

Objective: The purpose of this study is to clarify the existing issues on the clinical diversity, natural history, and mode of disease progression of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM).Methodology: Eleven patients with LAM were reviewed retrospectively with special reference to serial changes in pulmonary function and radiological findings during the course of their disease, treatment, and outcome. All patients were female with a mean age of 33.8 years at presentation and the observation period ranged from 2.1 to 20.8 years (mean 7.4 years).Results: Four of six patients, treated with anti‐hormone therapy, presented with exertional
dyspnoea, marked airflow limitation (forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital
capacity, 23–38%), and severely impaired diffusing capacity (%DLCO, 21.4–36% of the predicted). The remaining two patients showed only a decreased diffusing capacity (70.6% and 59.4% of the predicted) which rapidly deteriorated with subsequent development of airflow limitation. Repeated chest computed tomographic (CT) examinations revealed increasing numbers of cysts with simultaneous loss of normal lung parenchyma in these two patients. In contrast, the five patients who received no anti‐hormone therapy had no respiratory symptoms aside from pneumothorax at onset. Remarkable differences were noted, with pulmonary function being well maintained and slow progression of cystic changes on CT being observed in the latter group.Conclusions: Diverse clinical courses observed in patients with pulmonary LAM can be well delineated and assessed by periodic examinations including pulmonary function tests and chest CT imaging. Anti‐hormone therapy is not always necessary for a certain group of LAM patients and they appear to have a stable course and favourable outcomes without anti‐hormone treatment.
Infection of replication‐deficient adenoviral vector enhances interleukin‐8 production in small airway epithelial cells more than in large airway epithelial cells
Authors: KODAMA YUZO , SETOGUCHI YASUHIRO , FUKUCHI YOSHINOSUKE 
Published: March 2003

Objective: In clinical trials or experiments of gene therapy, airway administration of an adenoviral‐based vector (E1A‐deleted) elicits a dose‐dependent inflammatory response with limitation in the duration of transgene expression. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility that the adenoviral‐based vector directly enhances IL‐8 production independent of adenoviral E1A in normal human airway epithelial cells and to examine the different responses between primary human bronchial epithelial cells (HBE) and primary human small airway epithelial cells (HSAE) in production of IL‐8 following exposure to an adenovirus vector.Methodology: Interleukin (IL)‐8 levels were evaluated in the culture medium from HBE and HSAE treated with increasing doses of E1A‐deleted adenoviral vector contained the Escherichia
coli LacZ reporter gene (AdCMVLacZ). To clarify the mechanism of enhancing IL‐8 production in airway epithelial cells by infection with adenovirus vector, αvβ5 agonistic antibody as an analogue of adenoviral capsid and adenoviral capsid vector denatured by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light were used in the present study.Results: Inoculation of HBE with AdCMVLacZ at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of between 1 and 200 resulted in a dose‐dependent expression of LacZ, and maximal expression was observed at a MOI of 100. In contrast, inoculation of HSAE with AdCMVLacZ resulted in maximum expression of LacZ at a MOI of 10. Interleukin‐8 levels in culture media from the same experiments revealed significantly greater production of IL‐8 in HSAE inoculated with AdCMVLacZ at a MOI of 50, compared to HBE under the same conditions. The capsid‐denatured adenoviral vector did not enhance IL‐8 production, and αvβ5 agonistic antibody induced IL‐8 enhancement.Conclusion: These results suggest that the adenoviral vector directly induces the expression of airway epithelial inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of inflammation and that small airway cells have a greater affinity for adenovirus than other airway epithelial cells.
Effect of ploidy level on fruit morphology, seed germination and juvenile growth in scurvy grass (Cochlearia officinalis L. s.l., Brassicaceae)
Authors: Pegtel Dick M. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe biennial to short‐lived wintergreen perennial Cochlearia officinalis L. s.l. (basic chromosome number x = 6) encompasses a group of closely related taxa that is difficult to delimitate morphologically. Despite a lack of distinct sets of discontinuous morphological characters, at least six numerically different cytotypes have commonly been recognized, and they have different ecologic distributions. Evolution of the wide ploidy level was likely brought about by hybridization and polyploidization. Because plants are short‐lived, seed germination was established and was likely to favor subsequent establishment. Therefore, shoot growth of juveniles was also compared. Five ecologically allopatric populations of C. officinalis s.l., each supposedly representing a different cytotype, were sampled for flowering shoots and seeds to establish shoot morphological traits, germination capabilities and chromosome number. The sampled populations differed in chromosome number: 2n = 2x = 12 (diploid); 2n = 4x = 24 (tetraploid); 2n = 33; 2n = 6x = 36 (hexaploid); and 2n = 8x = 48 (octaploid), representing the taxa C. pyrenaica DC, C. officinalis L. s.s., C. danica L. ×C. officinalis L. s.s., C. x hollandica Henrard and C. anglica L., respectively. All cytotypes produced abundant seeds and seed weight was proportional to the ploidy level. Seed weight of the diploid C. pyrenaica did not follow this correlation. Germination capacity immediately after seed collection was high over a wide temperature range. Germination was non‐photoblastic. High germination capability accentuated the short‐lived life‐cycles of the five cytotypes. Seed germination of the coastal cytotypes (C. x hollandica and C. anglica) were less negatively affected by NaCl compared to the non‐coastal cytotypes (C. pyrenaica and C. officinalis s.s.) and the very rare coastal hybrid C. danica×C. officinalis s.s. The cytotypes differed markedly in growth characteristics but there was no simple relationship between them. Increases in ploidy level were not paralleled by increased shoot growth. The hexaploid hybrid C. x hollandica indicated hybrid vigor in both shoot growth (yield) and petiole length of the strongly ascending leaves. Leaves of C. anglica were arranged in a prostratous rosette and the difference in shoot architecture between both C. x hollandica and C. anglica may be one of the reasons why this species is being replaced by the hexaploid hybrid, if sympatric, in coastal regions of The Netherlands. The 2n = 33‐hybrid C. danica×C. officinalis s.s. showed no such heterosis effects in shoot growth characteristics.
Reproductive biology ofPedicularis(Scrophulariaceae) in the Sichuan Himalaya
Authors: Macior Lazarus Walter , Ya Tang , Zhang Jianchen 
Published: March 2003

AbstractIn 1997–1998, the reproductive biology ofPedicularis bidentata,Pedicularis cranolopha,Pedicularis davidii,Pedicularis longifloravar.hongyuanensis,Pedicularis longiflorassp.tubiformis,Pedicularis plicata,Pedicularis polyodonta,Pedicularis rhinanthoidesssp.labellata,Pedicularis roylei,Pedicularis semitorta,Pedicularis spicataandPedicularis verticillatawas studied in the subalpine–alpine zone of the Chinese Himalaya in western Sichuan Province. Except forApispollinators onP. polyodontaandP. spicata, only workers and queens ofBombus filchnerae,Bombus patagiatus,Bombus potanini,Bombus sicheliiandBombus waltonipollinatedPedicularis. Nectariferous, erostrate flowers were pollinated nototribically and sternotribically, during foraging for nectar and pollen, respectively, whereas nectarless, rostrate (including very long‐tubed) flowers were pollinated sternotribically during foraging for pollen only. Insect exclusion from flowers revealed thatP. longiflorassp.tubiformis,P. royleiandP. verticillataare insect‐pollinator dependent. Analysis of the corbicular pollen loads of pollinators revealed a moderate degree of pollen‐foraging fidelity. Pollinator frequency onPedicularisdid not exceed three insects per hour, butBombuspollinators were more common on other plant genera. No evidence of lepidopteran pollination on long‐tubedPedicularisspecies was found, nor was there any evidence of species–species specificity betweenBombuspollinators andPedicularisflowers.
Mexican species of the genus Stevia (Eupatorieae, Asteraceae): Chromosome numbers and geographical distribution
Authors: Watanabe Kuniaki , Yahara Tetsukazu , Soejima Akiko , Ito Motomi 
Published: March 2003

AbstractChromosome numbers from 244 accessions representing 73 species, five varieties and two putative species hybrids in Mexican Stevia are reported with comments on agamospermy, cytogeography and chromosomal evolution. The chromosome numbers of 47 species and two varieties were counted for the first time. Counts of 12 species and two varieties were new cytotypes, or differed from all previously reported numbers for the same species. B chromosomes were found in 16 species and two varieties. All species of shrubs or shrublets were sexual diploids (2n = 24). Perennial herbs were diploids or polyploids based on x = 11 or 12 and the widespread prevalence of agamospermous polyploids was revealed. Chromosome numbers of annual herbs varied from 2n = 24 to 2n = 8. The cytogeographical survey revealed five distributional patterns of agamic complexes based on the relative abundance of polyploids compared to their diploid ancestors. The wider distributional range (extending to northern and inland areas) of some agamospermous polyploids have been achieved by recent colonization accompanying climatic warming after the last glaciation. This has occurred even in lower latitudes such as Mexico, due to more successful founder population reproduction and the acceleration of seed dispersal, as well as the creation of new and open habitats by human activities.
Physiologic significance of nitric oxide and endothelin‐1 in circulatory adaptation
Authors: Endo Akihiko , Ayusawa Mamoru , Minato Michiyoshi , Takada Masaaki , Takahashi Shigeru , Harada Kensuke 
Published: March 2003

Abstract Background: The purpose of the present paper was to evaluate the physiologic significance of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET)‐1 in circulatory adaptation in the neonate.
Methods
: The serum levels of NO metabolites (NOx; the sum of nitrites and nitrates) and the plasma level of ET‐1 were determined in 14 healthy full‐term infants at 0–6 h, 24 h and 5 days after birth. We measured the heart rate, the mean systemic blood pressure and the mean pulmonary arterial pressure, estimated by pulsed Doppler echocardiography, at each time point.
Results
: The serum concentration of NOx was lowest at birth and increased with age. The plasma concentration of ET‐1 was highest at birth and decreased with age. The ratio of NOx to ET‐1 was inversely related to the estimated mean pulmonary arterial pressure in the early neonatal period. The ratio of NOx to ET‐1 was not correlated with the systemic blood pressure.
Conclusion
: Increased NO synthesis and decreased production of ET‐1 during the early neonatal period may contribute to the decrease in pulmonary arterial pressure.
Hypothetical pathophysiology of acute encephalopathy and encephalitis related to influenza virus infection and hypothermia therapy
Authors: Yokota, Shumpei , Imagawa, Tomoyuki , Miyamae, Takako , Ito, Shu‐Ichi , Nakajima, Shoko , Nezu Atsuo , Mori Masaaki 
Published: March 2003

Abstract

Background
: To establish a treatment strategy for acute encephalopathy and encephalitis associated with influenza virus infection, the pathophysiology of the disease was investigated through manifestations and laboratory findings of patients.
Patients and Methods
: A child with central nervous system (CNS) complications during the course of influenza virus infection was analyzed in view of immunologic abnormalities. In addition, four children with acute encephalopathy and encephalitis were enrolled in the hypothermia treatment for the purpose of stabilizing the cytokine storm in the CNS.
Results
: The CNS symptoms preceded the systemic progression to the failure of multiple organs (MOF) and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC). The mild hypothermia suppressed the brain edema on computed tomography (CT) scanning and protected the brain from the subsequent irreversible neural cell damage.
Conclusion
: The replicated viruses at the nasopharyngeal epithelium may disrupt the olfactory mucosa and gain access to the brain via the olfactory nerve system. The direct virus–glial cell interaction or viral stimulation of the glial cells induces the production and accumulation of the pro‐inflammatory cytokines, especially tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, in the CNS. The cytokine storm results in neural cell damage as well as the apoptosis of astrocytes, due to the TNF‐α–induced mitochondrial respiratory failure. The disruption of the blood–brain barrier progresses to the systemic cytokine storm, resulting in DIC and MOF. Mild hypothermia appears promising in stabilizing the immune activation and the brain edema to protect the brain from ongoing functional, apoptotic neural and glial damage and the systemic expansion of the cytokine storm.
Parental concern towards the use of inhaled therapy in children with chronic asthma
Authors: Chan PWK , DeBruyne JA 
Published: March 2003

Abstract Background: Parental attitudes towards the use of inhaled therapy in children with chronic asthma influence treatment adherence and outcome. In the present study, we evaluated the perceptions and concerns of parents of children with chronic asthma towards inhaled therapy.
Methods
: A self‐administered standard questionnaire was distributed to parents of children attending the Paediatric Asthma Clinic. All these children required inhaled steroids for treatment.
Results
: One‐hundred and twelve of 170 parents (66%) surveyed were concerned with inhaled therapy. The most common concern with its use was medication side effects (91%), followed by ‘inhaler dependency’ (86%), cost of the inhaler (34%) and difficulty in using the inhaler (15%). Parental perception that the oral route was superior to the inhaled route, preference for the oral route for asthma prophylaxis and a higher steroid dose required for prophylaxis were more likely to be associated with concerns towards inhaled therapy. More importantly, these children were also more likely to miss >25% of their prescribed doses of inhaled steroids (46 vs 22% in the group concerned about inhaled therapy compared with the group that was not concerned, respectively; P=0.007) and had a higher mean number of nebulization treatments in the last year (3.2~2.9 vs 1.8~1.3 in the group concerned about inhaled therapy compared with the group that was not concerned, respectively; P=0.01).
Conclusions
: A significant proportion of parents whose children were on inhaled prophylaxis had concerns towards the use of inhaled therapy. Parental concern towards inhaled therapy appeared to increase the problem of non‐adherence to treatment. Education for these parents will need to be addressed to improve asthma management in our patient population.
Coronary risks after high‐dose γ‐globulin in children with Kawasaki disease
Authors: Morikawa Yoshiyuki , Ohashi Yasuo , Harada Kensuke , Asai Toshio , Okawa Sumio , Nagashima Masami , Katoh Toshiyuki , Baba Kunizo , Furusho Kenshi , Okuni Masahiko , Osano Mitsuru 
Published: March 2003

Abstract Objectives: The goals of the present study were to develop a predictive coronary risk scoring system after intravenous γ‐globulin (IVGG) therapy of any dose for the different preparations currently used in the treatment of children with Kawasaki disease and to determine the predictive value of the system. The previously reported scoring systems were based on treatment with high‐dose IVGG therapy at limited doses and were determined using investigative methods.
Methods
: Four hundred and fifty‐one patients were randomized into one of three groups and received either i.v. polyethylene glycol‐treated human immunoglobulin at a dose of either 200 (n=147) or 400 mg/kg per day (n=152) or freeze‐dried sulfonated human immunoglobulin at 200 mg/kg per day (n=152) for 5 consecutive days. We documented 31 cases of coronary abnormalities (CA). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed using 49 clinical variables and the resulting predictive model was validated.
Results
: The duration of fever (odds (1 day)/odds (≥ 5 days)=0.158; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.0385–0.648), hemoglobin (odds (Q1=10.3)/odds (Q3=11.6) = 3.97; 95% CI 1.92–8.20), IgG (odds (Q1=1900)/odds (Q3=2658)=2.72, 95% CI 1.18–6.25) and IgA (odds (Q1=72)/odds (Q3=160) =0.415; 95% CI 0.253–0.680) levels after completion of γ‐globulin infusion were independent predictors. The model is quasi‐cross validated and has acceptable sensitivity and selectivity. The estimated risk and observed occurence of CA coincide.
Conclusions
: Determinants of the risk of CA after IVGG therapy are a longer duration of fever, a lower IgG level, a higher IgA level and a lower hemoglobin level after IVGG infusion. This model is applicable for IVGG doses from 1 to 2 g/kg and for at least two different γ‐globulin preparations.
Fiberoptic colonoscopic polypectomy in childhood: Report and review of cases
Authors: Uchiyama Masanori , Iwafuchi Makoto , Yagi Minoru , Iinuma Yasushi , Kanada Satoshi , Ohtaki Masahiro , Okamoto Haruhiko , Hatakeyama Katsuyoshi 
Published: March 2003

Abstract

Background
: Fiberoptic colonoscopy has been a routine therapeutic modality for colorectal polyps in pediatric patients. Methods of bowel preparation, anesthesia, area of investigation and treatment depending on histopathology are still controversial. In order to clarify the rationale of pediatric colonoscopy the present study was performed.
Methods and Results
: We analyzed the results of colonoscopic examination in 21 patients with colorectal polyps. Mean patient age was 3.7 years, with a range of 1–7 years. Rectal polyps were seen in 10 cases: seven had a solitary polyp (juvenile in six and adenoma in one) and three had multiple polyps (juvenile, lymphoid and Peutz–Jeghers coexisting with hyperplastic polyps). Sigmoid colon polyps were seen in 10 cases: all were solitary juvenile polyps, but one had adenomatous change. Another had multiple Peutz– Jeghers polyps located in the entire colon. Flexible colonoscopic polypectomy was performed in 16 patients and transanal polypectomy was performed in four patients. Autoamputation was seen in two cases of juvenile polyp (resection was ultimately performed in a case having repeated autoamputation). After removing the polyps, all patients have had no recurrence for a period ranging from 6 months to 15 years, except for one case with Peutz–Jeghers syndrome.
Conclusions
: Most polyps are located in the rectum or the sigmoid colon. Although the majority are solitary or juvenile polyps, because histopathologic variety is seen in pediatric colon polyps, histopathologic examination of each polyp is important to detect any dysplastic or adenomatous element with malignant potential and to make a suitable follow‐up schedule. Symptomatic polyps should be removed by fiberoptic colonoscopy or transanal resection with total colon endoscopic examination under general anesthesia. Polypectomy using the electrocautery snare and clip is effective and safe and bowel preparation using polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution is sufficient for the procedure.