1,721,039 research outputs found
Treatment in Juvenile Scleroderma
No full textPurpose of Review: Treatment of scleroderma in children is challenging since little is known about its pathogenesis. Herein, we review the most recent evidence regarding the treatment of juvenile scleroderma. Recent Findings: According to the recent recommendations for Pediatric Rheumatology in Europe (SHARE), systemic treatment in localized scleroderma is needed when there is a risk for disability, such as in generalized or pansclerotic morphea and progressive linear scleroderma. In juvenile systemic sclerosis, the introduction of the severity score, J4S, has standardized the assessment of the patients in the daily practice and allowed a more tailored therapeutic approach. Since, to date, no clinical trial is available in JSSc, due to its rarity, the treatment is based on adults’ experience. Summary: The recent recommendations for juvenile scleroderma represent an important instrument to standardize the treatment approach, confirm the role of methotrexate, and open new windows for effective experimental treatments, such as mycophenolate mofetil and biological agents, for severe or refractory cases
Bombesin inhibits growth hormone response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in humans.
No full textIntravenous administration of bombesin (5 ng/kg/min X 2.5 h) significantly reduced growth hormone (GH) response to insulin-induced (0.15 U/kg, i.v.) hypoglycemia in 8 male volunteers without affecting its basal plasma levels. These data, together with the presence of bombesin-like immunoreactivity in the human brain, suggest that--as in experimental animals--this neurogastrointestinal peptide may be of physiological significance in the control of GH secretion also in man
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
A simple method for the measurement of human gastric emptying: standardization of operative parameters.
No full textThe radioisotopic techniques used for the measurement of gastric emptying in man require complex and expensive scintiscanners or gamma-cameras. In this investigation, a simple method utilizing a single and inexpensive detector was evaluated; in addition, the suitability of 99Tcm sulphur colloid as a label for solid meals was assessed. The procedure was found to be accurate and its reproducibility high. The calculated absorbed dose to the gut was very low. Both in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that the radiocolloid used is a food non adsorbable marker for determining gastric emptying of solids. In a group of 50 healthy volunteers the emptying half-time (t1/2) ranged between 40 and 110 min, with a mean of 71.7 +/- 10.1 min, the male subjects exhibiting a significant lower t1/2 than females. In 5 volunteers with t1/2 within the normal range, the effect of drugs acting on gastric motility was evaluated. Hyoscine N-butyl bromide (20 mg) significantly delayed gastric emptying of solids, whereas metoclopramide (20 mg) was ineffective in these subjects. On the contrary, this drug was able to accelerate gastric emptying only in some patients with abnormally delayed emptying. On the whole, the method is simple, inexpensive and reproducible. It may be of great clinical value to investigate abnormalities of gastric function and to perform a better pharmacological approach to the medical treatment
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Inhibition of gastric emptying and secretion by pirenzepine and atropine in rats.
No full textThe effects of pirenzepine and atropine on gastric emptying, gastric secretion and heart rate were studied in rats. Both drugs inhibited gastric emptying and secretion dose dependently and increased pulse rate. In the gastric secretory studies both compounds displayed potencies which were not very dissimilar (ID50 were 8.1 mumol X kg-1 and 1.4 mumol X kg-1 for pirenzepine and atropine respectively, potency ratio 6); pirenzepine was however decidedly less potent than atropine in inhibiting gastric emptying (potency ratio 36 on a molar basis) and in increasing heart rate (potency ratio 125). These data, in accordance with results of clinical trials, indicate that pirenzepine-unlike atropine-can inhibit acid secretion without appreciably affecting gastric motility and cardiac function
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
How is immunosuppressive status affecting children and adults in SARS-CoV-2 infection? A systematic review
Full text linkObjectives: SARS-CoV-2 infection has now a global resonance. Data on how COVID-19 is affecting immunocompromised patients are however few. With our study we aimed to systematically review the current knowledge on SARS-CoV-2 cases in children and adults with immunosuppression, to evaluate outcomes in this special population. Methods: A systematic review of literature was carried out to identify relevant articles, searching the EMBASE, Medline, and Google Scholar databases. Studies reporting data on pre-defined outcomes and related to immunosuppressed adults and children with SARS-CoV-2 were included. Results: Sixteen relevant articles were identified with 110 immunosuppressed patients, mostly presenting cancer, along with transplantation and immunodeficiency. Cancer was more often associated with a more severe course, but not necessarily with a bad prognosis. Our data show that both children and adults with immunosuppression seem to have a favorable disease course, as compared to the general population. Conclusion: Immunosuppressed patients with COVID-19 seem to be few in relation to the overall figures, and to present a favorable outcome as compared to other comorbidities. This might be explained by a hypothetical protective role of a weaker immune response, determining a milder disease presentation and thus underdiagnosis. Nevertheless, surveillance on this special population should be encouraged
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