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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
HCV-associated autoimmune haemolityc anaemia due to warm-reacting antibodies: evidence of B-cell monoconality
No full textEtiologic treatment of hepatitis C virus-associated mixed cryoglobulinemia.
No full textThe treatment of mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) includes several drugs--steroids, cyclosporins, colchicine, plasmapheresis--but given the documented association between MC and hepatitis C virus (HCV), the treatment of choice seems to be antiviral therapy. Several authors have reported the efficacy of interferon (IFN) alpha in the inhibition of HCV replication and reduction of cryoglobulin levels. The therapy with IFN as monotherapy in MC shows a complete response rate in only 10 -12% of cases. Complete response to therapy using a combination of IFN plus ribavirin varies in different studies from 18% to 64% of cases. There are only two studies on the treatment of MC with peginterferon plus ribavirin. Both studies, given the high number of complete responders, reinforce the idea that peginterferon plus ribavirin is, at present, the best available treatment for cryoglobulinemic syndrome. The results obtained with peginterferon combined therapy are superior to standard interferon plus ribavirin in treatment-naive patients. In fact, a sustained virological response was observed in 44% of patients; the same results were obtained for clinical (purpura and arthralgia disappearance) and biochemical (aminotransaminases normalization) responses. New drug combinations, like peginterferons plus anti-CD20 antibodies, should be considered for treatment of MC in the futur
Recovery from hepatitis C virus-positive cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis after interferon therapy
No full text
Thalidomide therapy in compensated and decompensated myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia
No full textCirrhotic thrombocytopenia is a multifactorial condition: evidence of reduced platelet production and incresed platelet destruction
No full textBackground: Thrombocytopenia is a common manifestation of liver cirrhosis (LC), but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. The purpose of our work was to evaluate the platelet kinetics in LC of different etiology by examining platelet production and destruction.
Patients: 91 consecutive LC patients (36 HCV, 49 alcoholics, 15 HBV) were enrolled in the study. As controls, 25 cases with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), 10 with aplastic anemia (AA), and 40 healthy blood donors were studied.
Methods: Plasma thrombopoietin (TPO) was measured by ELISA. Absolute reticulated platelet (RP) count was determined by Thiazole Orange method. Plasma glycocalicin (GC) was measured by monoclonal antibodies. Platelet associated and serum circulating antiplatelet antibodies were detected by flow cytometry. The B-cell monoclonality in the PBMC were performed by isotype-specific immunoglobulin fingerprinting.
Results: The serum TPO was significantly (p<0.0005) lower in the patients with LC (29.9 ± 18.1 pg/ml) than in normals (82.3 ± 47.6 pg/ml). The GC index was 1.96 ± 1.40 in HCV+ LC (p<0.0005 vs. normals 0.9 ± 0.2), 1.79 ± 1.51 in alcoholic LC (p<0.006) and 1.71 ± 1.69 in HBV + LC (p<0.006). In the patients affected by ITP, the GC index was 12.9 ± 4.4 (p<0.000002). The absolute levels of RP were 4.233 ± 2.367 109/L in alcoholic LC (p<0.0000000012 vs normals) 4.996 ± 3.143 x 109/L in HBV+ LC (p<0.006) and 6.629 ± 7.409 x 109/L in HCV+LC (p<0.005). The prevalence of platelet-associated and circulating anti-platelet antibodies was higher in HCV+ LC than in healthy subjects (p<0.0064), than in alcoholic LC (p<0.018) and than in HBV+ LC (p<0.0001). The B-cell monoclonality was found in 8 (27%) of the HCV-positive patients, whereas no monoclonality was found in HBV (p<0.004) or alcoholic patients (p<0.003).
Conclusions: Patients with LC present a decreased plasma TPO, an accelerated platelet turnover and a low platelet production. These findings indicate that cirrhotic thrombocytopenia is a multifactorial condition, involving both increased platelet clearance and impaired thrombopoiesis. The HCV-LC is characterized by an increased prevalence of autoimmune phenomena, including anti-platelet antibodies and, as consequence, a platelet turnover more accelerated than in HBV or alcoholic LC
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