bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An integrated comprehensive occupational surveillance system for health care workers
Authors: Dement John M. , Pompeii Lisa A. , Østbye Truls , Epling Carol , Lipscomb Hester J. , James Tamara , Jacobs Michael J. , Jackson George , Thomann Wayne
Published: May 2004

Background

Workers in the health care industry may be exposed to a variety of work‐related stressors including infectious, chemical, and physical agents; ergonomic hazards; psychological hazards; and workplace violence. Many of these hazards lack surveillance systems to evaluate exposures and health outcomes. The development and implementation of a comprehensive surveillance system within the Duke University Health System (DUHS) that tracks occupational exposures and stressors as well as injuries and illnesses among a defined population of health care workers (HCWs) is presented.

Methods

Human resources job and work location data were used to define the DUHS population at risk. Outcomes and exposure data from existing occupational health and safety programs, health promotion programs, and employee health insurance claims, were linked with human resources data and de‐identified to create the Duke Health and Safety Surveillance System (DHSSS).

Results

The surveillance system is described and four examples are presented demonstrating how the system has successfully been used to study consequences of work‐related stress, hearing conservation program evaluation, risk factors for back pain and inflammation, and exposures to blood and body fluids (BBF).

Conclusions

Utilization of existing data, often collected for other purposes, can be successfully integrated and used for occupational health surveillance monitoring of HCWs. Use of the DHSSS for etiologic studies, benchmarking, and intervention program evaluation are discussed. Am. J. Ind. Med. 45:528–538, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Vibration exposure and disease in a shipyard: A 13‐year revisit
Authors: Cherniack Martin , Morse Timothy F. , Brammer Anthony J. , Lundstrom Ronnie , Meyer Jon D. , Nilsson Tohr , Peterson Donald , Toppila Esko , Warren Nick , Fu Rongwei , Bruneau Heather , Croteau Marc
Published: May 2004

Background

In a 1988 study of shipyard workers, a progressive association was observed between cumulative exposure to vibration and the vascular and neurological symptoms of the hand‐arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). In 2001, after a decade of exposure reduction and ageing of the workforce, a second study at the same site was initiated.

Methods

In 2001, 214 subjects were selected; they represented four current weekly vibration exposure time intervals—0 hr, >0 < 5 hr, ≥5 < 20 hr, ≥20 hr. The 1988 and 2000 cross‐sectional populations were compared on the basis of exposure duration and current symptoms.

Results

In 2001, the study population was 9.6 years older than the 1988 group. Current weekly exposure hours were similar in the low and medium exposure groups 2001 and 1988, but exposure was reduced by an average of 9.7 hr per week in the highest exposure group (≥20 hr) in 2001. Symptom severity was regressed polychotomously on estimated exposure (log cumulative hours); the OR was weaker in 2001 than in 1988 for sensorineural symptoms—1.44 [CI 1.04–1.98] versus 2.35 [CI 1.48–3.73]. This was also true for vascular symptoms—1.70 [CI 1.06–2.71] versus 3.99 [CI 2.27–7.01]. Vascular symptoms were more prevalent in the highest lifetime vibration exposure group in 1988 (68.7 vs. 43.2% in 2001); sensorineural symptoms were more prevalent in the least vibration exposed group in 2001 (52.6 vs. 20.7% in 1988).

Conclusions

The prevalence of vascular symptoms associated with cumulative vibratory exposure was significantly greater in 1988, but neurological symptoms were more common at lower exposure levels in 2001. The presumption that reducing exposure duration alone is sufficient, in the absence of change in vibration magnitude, is not supported by the results of this study. Am. J. Ind. Med. 45:500–512, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Severe lower limb defects in exstrophy of the cloaca
Authors: Jain Mahim , Weaver David D.
Published: May 2004

We present here a patient with exstrophy of the cloaca associated with severe lower limb defects. The limb malformations include, on the right, a split foot with distal separation of the tibia and fibula, and on the left, attachment of the lower half of the left leg with a two‐toed foot at nearly a right angle to the mid left thigh. A review of the literature indicates that 17–26% of patients with cloacal exstrophy also have lower limb defects. We hypothesize that cloacal exstrophy and associated lower limb defects have a related pathogenesis and that both are related to deficiencies of caudal mesoderm or mesodermal differentiation signals. More cases of exstrophy of the cloaca with limb defects need to be reported to better characterize the limb anomalies and to more precisely determine their frequency. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Newly recognized autosomal recessive acrofacial dysostosis syndrome resembling Nager syndrome
Authors: Kennedy Shelley J. , Teebi Ahmad S.
Published: May 2004

We report on two patients with a unique constellation of anomalies resembling the Nager acrofacial dysostosis syndrome. Clinical manifestations which differentiate their condition from Nager syndrome include: microcephaly, cleft lip and palate, a peculiar beaked nose, blepharophimosis, microtia, symmetrical involvement of the thumbs, and great toes and developmental delay. We postulate that the inheritance is autosomal recessive on the basis of similarly affected male and female sibs. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Variations in the NMDA receptor subunit 2B gene (GRIN2B) and schizophrenia: A case‐control study
Authors: Di Maria Emilio , Gulli Rossella , Begni Silvia , De Luca Alessandro , Bignotti Stefano , Pasini Augusto , Bellone Emilia , Pizzuti Antonio , Dallapiccola Bruno , Novelli Giuseppe , Ajmar Franco , Gennarelli Massimo , Mandich Paola
Published: May 2004

A well established model for the pathophysiology of schizophrenia postulates a role for the NMDA‐mediated glutamate transmission. The human gene coding for the 2B subunit of the NMDA receptor (GRIN2B) is considered a candidate based on its selective expression in brain. To evaluate the hypothesis that GRIN2B acts as a major gene in determining susceptibility to schizophrenia, a case‐control association study was performed. Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in 188 Italian patients and 156 control subjects. The association study showed a marginally significant excess of homozygosity for the polymorphism located in the 3′UTR region (P = 0.04). No other difference in genotype and allele frequencies was found in schizophrenics as compared to the control series. The case‐control study was also carried out on estimated haplotypes, confirming a trend for association (P = 0.04). These results suggest that GRIN2B variations might be linked with susceptibility to schizophrenia. Replication studies on larger samples are warranted to further test this hypothesis. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
No association between DUP25 and anxiety disorders
Authors: Henrichsen Charlotte Neergaard , Delorme Richard , Boucherie Maria , Marelli Dominique , Baud Patrick , Bellivier Franck , Courtet Philippe , Chabane Nadia , Henry Chantal , Leboyer Marion , Malafosse Alain , Antonarakis Stylianos E. , Dahoun Sophie
Published: May 2004

Gratacos et al. [2001: Cell 106:367‐379] described an interstitial duplication dup(15)q24q26 (DUP25) in patients with anxiety disorders; this duplication was found in approximately 90% of patients and in 7% of controls. In order to determine if DUP25 is present in additional individuals susceptible to panic attacks, we tested 44 patients with anxiety disorders, using probes 251c23 and 216c14 mapping in the 15q24 and 15q26 region. We have not detected any DUP25. Our results suggest that DUP25 is not common in people with anxiety disorders in the population tested here. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Linkage disequlibrium in the DTNBP1 (dysbindin) gene region and on chromosome 1p36 among psychotic patients from a genetic isolate in Israel: Findings from identity by descent haplotype sharing analysis
Authors: Kohn Yoav , Danilovich Eduardo , Filon Dvorah , Oppenheim Ariella , Karni Osnat , Kanyas Kyra , Turetsky Neil , Korner Mira , Lerer Bernard
Published: May 2004

Several genes have been reported recently to be associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Because of the complexity of the inheritance of these disorders, there is an urgent need to replicate these findings and to search for additional candidate genes. The study of genetic isolates is a powerful technique that may overcome some of the obstacles caused by genetic heterogeneity and ambiguity of phenotype definition. Identity by descent (IBD) haplotype sharing analysis in these populations may be used to detect mutations within shared haplotypes in smaller samples of affected individuals. In this study, we used IBD haplotype sharing analysis to replicate positive linkage and association findings in psychotic disorders, and to identify other regions of interest. Fifty‐two patients with major psychiatric disorders from a genetically isolated village in Israel were studied. By studying eight Y chromosome markers, we were able to confirm the oral tradition of members of this isolate regarding a common paternal origin. Three hundred fifty nine microsatellite markers on 9 candidate chromosomes were genotyped, and haplotypes were reconstructed using information from family members. Two highly significant (P < 0.0001) peaks of haplotype sharing were found. One was for psychotic patients with any diagnosis at the location of dysbindin, a gene previously associated with schizophrenia. The other peak was for patients with schizophrenia on chromosome 1p36. Thus, this study both replicates an earlier finding and points to a novel region of interest, which might be unique to this population. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The dopamine transporter: Importance in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Nutt John G. , Carter Julie H. , Sexton Gary J.
Published: May 2004

The dopamine transporter (DAT) may be the single most important determinant of extracellular dopamine concentrations. The importance of DAT in Parkinson's disease (PD) in which DAT may be reduced by 50 to 70% is unclear. We have examined the effects of methylphenidate (MPD), an inhibitor of DAT, administered alone or with levodopa, on parkinsonism measured with tapping and walking speeds, dyskinesia, subjective effects, and vital signs. MPD in oral doses of up to 0.4mg/kg was well tolerated. Administered alone, MPD produced no objective improvement of parkinsonism. MPD, 0.4mg/kg orally, coadministered with 2‐hour levodopa infusions at 0.5 or 1.0mg/kg/hr increased the percentage of patients responding to the 0.5mg/kg/hr dose and prolonged the response to levodopa infusions as measured by tapping and walking speeds. Dyskinesia was prolonged in proportion to the increase in antiparkinson actions but severity was not increased. MPD decreased the hypotensive response to levodopa. In conclusion, MPD appeared to have no effect given alone but potentiated the effects of levodopa, particularly doses at threshold for clinical effects. These observations indicate that the residual DAT is functional in PD and is a potential target for symptomatic therapy of PD.
Adult‐onset ataxia telangiectasia due to ATM 5762ins137 mutation homozygosity
Authors: Sutton Ian J. , Last James I. K. , Ritchie Susan J. , Harrington Hugh J. , Byrd Philip J. , Taylor A. Malcolm R.
Published: May 2004

Ataxia telangiectasia (A‐T) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder that arises because of mutations in the ATM gene. The 5762ins137 A→G point mutation activates a cryptic splice donor site resulting in a 137bp intronic insert being aberrantly spliced into the ATM transcript. However, normal ATM transcript also is produced from this affected allele, albeit at significantly reduced levels. An exceptionally mild A‐T phenotype occurs as a result of homozygosity for the 5762ins137 mutation because of relative preservation of ATM protein expression/kinase activity. Ann Neurol 2004;55:891–895
Protein structure preference, tRNA copy number, and mRNA stem/loop content
Authors: Luo Liaofu , Jia Mengwen , Li Xiaoqin
Published: May 2004

From statistical analyses of protein sequences for humans and Escherichia coli we found that the messenger RNA segment of m‐codons (for m=2 to 6) with average high tRNA copy number (TCN) (larger than ∼10.5 for humans or ∼1.95 for E. coli) preferably code for the α helix and that with low TCN (smaller than ∼7.5 for humans or ∼1.7 for E. coli) preferably code for coil. Between them there is an intermediate region without correlation to structure preference. For the β strand the preference/ avoidance tendency is not obvious. All strong preference‐modes of TCN for protein secondary structures have been deduced. The mutual interaction between two factors—protein secondary structural type and codon TCN—is tested by F distribution. A phenomenological model on the relation between structure preference and translational efficiency or accuracy is proposed. It is pointed out that the structure preference of codons is related to the distribution of mRNA stem/loop content in three TCN regions. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers, 2004
Frösche im brasilianischen Araukarienwald: Frösche im brasilianischen Araukarienwald
Authors: Kwet Axel
Published: May 2004

Der Nordosten des brasilianischen Bundesstaates Rio Grande do Sul besitzt eine für eine subtropische Region außergewöhnlich große Artenvielfalt an Froschlurchen (Anura). Auf einer Fläche von etwa 300 Quadratkilometern wurden bis heute 76 Arten in 24 Gattungen nachgewiesen, von denen etwa ein Viertel endemisch ist. Ursache dieser Artenvielfalt sind die hohen, ausgeglichenen Jahresniederschläge und die vielfältigen Lebensräume, die zahlreiche gut strukturierte und für Amphibien nutzbare Habitate bereit halten. Während auf dem vulkanischen Hochplateau Araukarienwälder und offenes Grasland (Campos) die Landschaft prägen, finden sich in den Berghängen die südlichsten Ausläufer des Atlantischen Küstenregenwaldes (Mata Atlântica) und im Tiefland dominieren wechselgrüne, subtropische Wälder sowie eine Caatinga‐ähnliche Strandvegetation.
Shugoshin: Schutzgeist der Meiose
Authors: Kronberg Inge
Published: May 2004

Eine erfolgreiche Keimzellbildung hängt entscheidend davon ab, dass der Zusammenhalt an den Centromeren der Schwesterchromatiden nicht schon in der Meiose I, sondern erst in der Meiose II gelöst wird. Anscheinend schützt ein nach dem japanischen Wort für Schutzgeist „Shugoshin”︁ benanntes Protein die Centromerenregion während der Meiose I vor Separasen.
Überleben als Tönnchen
Authors: Schill Ralph O.
Published: May 2004

Es ist eine fantastische Idee: einfach Eintrocknen zum Überdauern. Bärtierchen und eine Reihe anderer kleiner Organismen sind dazu in der Lage — doch wie genau es funktioniert, ist bislang unbekannt. Aufschluss könnte die Entdeckung von drei verschiedenen Stress‐Proteinen geben, die als molekulare Chaperone die Proteine der Bärtierchen vor einer Denaturierung bei Wasserentzug schützen.
Evolution and cellular function of monothiol glutaredoxins: involvement in iron–sulphur cluster assembly
Authors: Vilella Felipe , Alves Rui , Rodríguez‐Manzaneque María Teresa , Bellí Gemma , Swaminathan Swarna , Sunnerhagen Per , Herrero Enrique
Published: May 2004

A number of bacterial species, mostly proteobacteria, possess monothiol glutaredoxins homologous to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondrial protein Grx5, which is involved in iron–sulphur cluster synthesis. Phylogenetic profiling is used to predict that bacterial monothiol glutaredoxins also participate in the iron–sulphur cluster (ISC) assembly machinery, because their phylogenetic profiles are similar to the profiles of the bacterial homologues of yeast ISC proteins. High evolutionary co‐occurrence is observed between the Grx5 homologues and the homologues of the Yah1 ferredoxin, the scaffold proteins Isa1 and Isa2, the frataxin protein Yfh1 and the Nfu1 protein. This suggests that a specific functional interaction exists between these ISC machinery proteins. Physical interaction analyses using low‐definition protein docking predict the formation of strong and specific complexes between Grx5 and several components of the yeast ISC machinery. Two‐hybrid analysis has confirmed the in vivo interaction between Grx5 and Isa1. Sequence comparison techniques and cladistics indicate that the other two monothiol glutaredoxins of S. cerevisiae, Grx3 and Grx4, have evolved from the fusion of a thioredoxin gene with a monothiol glutaredoxin gene early in the eukaryotic lineage, leading to differential functional specialization. While bacteria do not contain these chimaeric glutaredoxins, in many eukaryotic species Grx5 and Grx3/4‐type monothiol glutaredoxins coexist in the cell. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Experimentelle Methoden zur Charakterisierung von Faserkollektiven
Authors: Bauckhage K. , Bottlinger M. , Ebert F. , Fissan H. , Ripperger S. , Schmidt F. , Sommer K. , Weichert R. , Wriedt T.
Published: May 2004

No abstracts.
High Throughput‐Experimentation in der Materialforschung und Prozessoptimierung
Authors: Voelkening S. , Ohrenberg A. , Duff D. G.
Published: May 2004

No abstracts.
Kristallisation für die Aufarbeitung von Proteinen
Authors: Schmidt S. , Havekost D. , Kaiser K. , Kauling J. , Henzler H.‐J.
Published: May 2004

No abstracts.
Projektierung und Optimierung von Fest/Flüssig‐Filtrationssystemen
Authors: Gasper H.
Published: May 2004

No abstracts.
Late granule cell genesis in quail cerebellum
Authors: Stamatakis Antonis , Barbas Helen , Dermon Catherine R.
Published: May 2004

Proliferation of avian cerebellar neurons, including granule cells, is thought to be completed during embryonic life, and aspects of cell addition in cerebellar lobules in posthatching life are unknown. The present study tested the hypothesis that cell genesis in late embryonic and posthatching stages of quail cerebellum occurs in parallel with the performance of motor programs. After exposure to bromodeoxyuridine, short (20 hours) and long survival time points were selected to investigate survival and migration of labeled cells. Quantitative analysis of the lobular distribution of labeled cells was performed with the stereological disector method. External granular layer (EGL) proliferation did not cease after hatching, indicating that there is an extended posthatching period, lasting until P20, when cells can be added into the internal granular layer, modifying the cerebellar circuitry and function. Indeed, long survival experiments suggested that EGL‐labeled cells migrated into the internal granular layer and survived for a prolonged time, although many of the progenitor cells remained in the EGL for days. Double‐labeling experiments revealed that most of the late‐generated granule cells were NeuN positive, but only few expressed nitric oxide synthase. In addition to granule cells, the white matter and a glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)‐positive cell population in the molecular layer around Purkinje somata showed bromodeoxyuridine labeling. Although all lobules showed significant posthatching proliferation, an anteroposterior gradient was evident. The index of granule cell production and survival supports a spatiotemporal pattern, in correlation with the functional division of cerebellum into anterior and posterior domains. J. Comp. Neurol. 474:173–189, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cytoarchitectonic characterization of the parahippocampal region of the guinea pig
Authors: Uva Laura , Grüschke Sebastiaan , Biella Gerardo , de Curtis Marco , Witter Menno P.
Published: May 2004

The cytoarchitectonic features of the parahippocampal region (PHR) in the guinea pig are described, based on coronal, horizontal, and sagittal 50‐μm sections stained for Nissl substance, zinc, parvalbumin, or calbindin. We differentiate between perirhinal (PRC), postrhinal (POR), and entorhinal (ERC) cortices. PRC is divided into areas 35 and 36 occupying the fundus and the dorsal bank of the rhinal fissure, respectively. POR is located caudal to the PRC. POR and area 36 show a dense, clustered cellular layer II and a thinner layer III in comparison to the adjacent neocortex, and they differ from each other with respect to the orientation of the somata of layer VI neurons. Area 35 is characterized by a thin layer II that is not very different from layer III. Layer IV is (dys)granular in area 36 and POR, and is absent in area 35 and ERC. ERC, located ventromedial to the PRC and POR, is subdivided in six fields, of which field 5 is adjacent to area 35. In both area 35 and field 5, no clear differentiation between layers II and III is present. Field 5 shows a darker cellular stain and exhibits a cell‐free zone or lamina dissecans between layers III and V. Medial to field 5, an area characterized by large cell clusters in layer II is designated field 4. The latter field is replaced by field 3 rostromedially, which also typically shows clustering of layer II neurons. These cell clusters in field 3, however, are much more constant in size in spacing compared to those in field 4. The caudomedial portion of ERC is subdivided into fields 1, 1′, and 2. The latter, characterized by a homogeneous distribution of neurons in all layers with large darkly stained neurons in layer V is positioned rostral to field 1 and caudomedial to fields 4 and 5. In field 1, layers V and VI are thinner, and layer II neurons are smaller then in field 1′ and field 2. We conclude that the architectonic features of the guinea pig PHR are comparable to those described in other mammals, particularly the rat. J. Comp. Neurol. 474:289–303, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Intergeniculate leaflet and ventral lateral geniculate nucleus afferent connections: An anatomical substrate for functional input from the vestibulo‐visuomotor system
Authors: Horowitz Seth S. , Blanchard Jane H. , Morin Lawrence P.
Published: May 2004

The intergeniculate leaflet (IGL) has widespread projections to the basal forebrain and visual midbrain, including the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Here we describe IGL‐afferent connections with cells in the ventral midbrain and hindbrain. Cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) injected into the IGL retrogradely labels neurons in a set of brain nuclei most of which are known to influence visuomotor function. These include the retinorecipient medial, lateral and dorsal terminal nuclei, the nucleus of Darkschewitsch, the oculomotor central gray, the cuneiform, and the lateral dorsal, pedunculopontine, and subpeduncular pontine tegmental nuclei. Intraocular CTB labeled a retinal terminal field in the medial terminal nucleus that extends dorsally into the pararubral nucleus, a location also containing cells projecting to the IGL. Distinct clusters of IGL‐afferent neurons are also located in the medial vestibular nucleus. Vestibular projections to the IGL were confirmed by using anterograde tracer injection into the medial vestibular nucleus. Other IGL‐afferent neurons are evident in Barrington's nucleus, the dorsal raphe, locus coeruleus, and retrorubral nucleus. Injection of a retrograde, trans‐synaptic, viral tracer into the SCN demonstrated transport to cells as far caudal as the vestibular system and, when combined with IGL injection of CTB, confirmed that some in the medial vestibular nucleus polysynaptically project to the SCN and monosynaptically to the IGL, as do cells in other brain regions. The results suggest that the IGL may be part of the circuitry governing visuomotor activity and further indicate that circadian rhythmicity might be influenced by head motion or visual stimuli that affect the vestibular system. J. Comp. Neurol. 474:227–245, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Progression of hair cell ejection and molecular markers of apoptosis in the avian cochlea following gentamicin treatment
Authors: Mangiardi Dominic A. , McLaughlin‐Williamson Katherine , May Kara E. , Messana Elizabeth P. , Mountain David C. , Cotanche Douglas A.
Published: May 2004

Aminoglycoside treatment induces caspase‐dependent apoptotic death in inner ear sensory hair cells. The timing of apoptotic signaling in sensory hair cells following systemic aminoglycoside treatment has not been characterized in vivo. We administered a single subcutaneous injection of the aminoglycoside gentamicin (300 mg/kg) to 12–16‐day‐old chicks and used immunocytochemical techniques to document the following responses in affected hair cells: T‐cell restricted intracellular antigen‐related protein (TIAR) translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, cytochrome c release from the mitochondria, caspase‐3 activation, nuclear condensation, and an orderly progression of hair cell ejection from the proximal end of the basilar papilla. Hair cells in the proximal tip exhibited TIAR translocation from the nucleus and aggregation into punctate granules in the cytoplasm 12 hours after injection and the response progressed distally. Cytochrome c release from the mitochondria into the cytoplasm and caspase‐3 activation were observed in affected hair cells immediately prior to and during ejection. Hair cell ejection occurred between 30 and 54 hours after injection, beginning in the proximal tip and progressing distally. Nuclear condensation accompanied ejection while the loss of: 1) membrane integrity; 2) phalloidin labeling of F‐actin; and 3) TO‐PRO‐1 labeling of nuclear contents occurred within 48 hours following ejection. Our results present a timeline of aminoglycoside‐induced inner ear sensory hair cell apoptotic death that includes an 18‐hour window between the initial apoptotic response and the later stages of programmed death signaling that accompany ejection and a gradual breakdown of hair cells following ejection. J. Comp. Neurol. 475:1–18, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The role of pigment cells in the brain of ascidian larva
Authors: Sakurai Daisuke , Goda Muneki , Kohmura Yoshiki , Horie Takeo , Iwamoto Hideo , Ohtsuki Hisashi , Tsuda Motoyuki
Published: May 2004

The functions of melanin in the pigment cells, the ocellus and the otolith, of ascidian larvae were studied by their swimming behavior and cell morphology with and without 1‐phenyl‐2‐thiourea (PTU), an inhibitor of vertebrate tyrosinase. Melanin formation in both the otolith and the ocellus of PTU‐treated larvae at 12 hours of development was completely inhibited. These larvae were unable to swim because of abnormal tail development, but expression of rhodopsin in the outer segments of the photoreceptor was normal. In the PTU‐treated larvae at 15 hours of development, melanin formation in the ocellus was inhibited, but that in the otolith seemed to be normal. The photic behavior of these larvae was normal, as was rhodopsin expression in the outer segments. However, the treated larvae lost upward swimming behavior. Synchrotron radiation X‐ray fluorescence images showed that metallic elements of K, Ca, and Zn in the statocyte of larva were greatly decreased by PTU treatment, which may result in lowering the specific gravity of the pigment mass. SEM observations showed that the statocyte of Ciona intestinalis was supported by three parts, a foot‐piece of the statocyte itself and two fibrous spring‐like structures produced from protuberances. All three structures were synaptotagmin‐positive. Movement of the statocyte would be detected by these three structures and thus would be responsible for the gravitational orientation. J. Comp. Neurol. 475:70–82, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fiber connections of the lateral valvular nucleus in a percomorph teleost, tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
Authors: Yang Chun‐Ying , Yoshimoto Masami , Xue Hao‐Gang , Yamamoto Naoyuki , Imura Kosuke , Sawai Nobuhiko , Ishikawa Yuji , Ito Hironobu
Published: May 2004

Fiber connections of the lateral valvular nucleus were investigated in a percomorph teleost, the tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), by tract‐tracing methods. Following tracer injections into the lateral valvular nucleus, neurons were labeled in the ipsilateral dorsal part of dorsal telencephalic area, corpus glomerulosum pars anterior, dorsomedial thalamic nucleus, central nucleus of the inferior lobe, mammillary body, semicircular torus, valvular and cerebellar corpus, in the bilateral rostral regions of the central part of dorsal telencephalic area, dorsal region of the medial part of dorsal telencephalic area, habenula, anterior tuberal nucleus, posterior tuberal nucleus, and spinal cord, and in the contralateral lateral funicular nucleus. Labeled fibers and terminals were found in the ipsilateral cerebellar corpus and bilateral valvula of the cerebellum. Tracers were injected into portions of the telencephalon, pretectum, inferior lobe, and cerebellum to confirm reciprocally connections with the lateral valvular nucleus and to determine afferent terminal morphology in the lateral valvular nucleus. Telencephalic fibers terminated mainly in a dorsolateral portion of the lateral valvular nucleus. Terminals from the corpus glomerulosum pars anterior, central nucleus of the inferior lobe, and mammillary body showed more diffuse distributions and were not confined to particular portions of the lateral valvular nucleus. Labeled terminals in the lateral valvular nucleus were cup‐shaped or of beaded morphology. These results indicate that the lateral valvular nucleus receives projections from various sources including the telencephalon, pretectum, and inferior lobe to relay information to the valvular and cerebellar corpus. In addition, the corpus glomerulosum pars anterior in tilapia is considered to be homologous to the magnocellular part of superficial pretectal nucleus in cyprinids. J. Comp. Neurol. 474:209–226, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. J. Comp. Neurol. 474:209–226, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Development of neuromuscular junctions in the mouse esophagus: Morphology suggests a role for enteric coinnervation during maturation of vagal myoneural contacts
Authors: Breuer Christian , Neuhuber Winfried L. , Wörl Jürgen
Published: May 2004

The time course of establishment of motor endplates and the subsequent developmental changes in their enteric and vagal innervation were examined in esophageal striated muscle of perinatal and adult C57/Bl6 mice by using immunocytochemistry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors were visualized with α‐bungarotoxin; vagal motor nerve terminals with antisera against vesicular acetylcholine transporter; and enteric nerve fibers with antisera against neuronal nitric oxide synthase, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and galanin. Because the various stages of esophageal striated myogenesis advance caudocranially, i.e., more mature stages are found cranial to immature stages, longitudinal cryosections through the esophagus were investigated. Synaptogenesis was divided into several distinct stages. 1) Mononucleated cells express acetylcholine receptors over their entire surface. 2) They start to cluster receptors without nerve fiber contacts. 3) The first nerve contact on a growing receptor cluster is made by a vagal nerve terminal, followed by an enteric terminal. 4) Vagal terminals grow until they match the size of endplate areas, and one to three enteric terminals intertwine with them on every receptor cluster. 5) After vagal terminals have covered the whole endplate area, enteric terminals are withdrawn from the majority of motor endplates. In a minority of endplates, enteric coinnervation persists through adulthood. The enteric innervation of all developing motor endplates, shortly after vagal terminals have contacted them, and the removal of enteric nerve fibers from the majority of mature motor endplates suggest a major role of enteric nerve fibers during maturation of esophageal neuromuscular junctions. J. Comp. Neurol. 475:47–69, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
FDTD analysis of wavelength‐selective optical switch using collinear acoustooptic interaction for WDM routing
Authors: Goto Nobuo , Miyazaki Yasumitsu
Published: May 2004

A waveguide‐type collinear acoustooptic device can work as a wavelength‐selective switch for wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) light. Therefore, its applications to WDM routing switching are expected. In this paper, in order to evaluate the wavelength‐selective switching characteristics of the device consisting of a directional coupled waveguide and a Y‐branch, simulation is carried out by the FDTD method. The results of the simulation are compared with those of the coupled mode theory, and agreement between them is confirmed. A method of propagating an optical pulse is studied in the segment‐divided region in order to analyze the acoustooptical coupling characteristics in a long scale interaction region. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 87(6): 18–27, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjb.20064
Broadband lossy conductor wall processing using lumped constant circuit on FDTD method
Authors: Takata Masaaki , Iida Yukio
Published: May 2004

A practical conductor boundary processing technique in the FDTD method based on the surface impedance boundary condition is proposed. The surface impedance of the conductor is approximated by the input impedance of a lumped element circuit. It is shown that this approximation is highly accurate in a broad bandwidth. The effectiveness of this method is numerically confirmed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 87(6): 1–9, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjb.20068
A low bit rate speech codec using mixed excitation linear prediction for private mobile radio
Authors: Sasaki Seishi , Fumoto Teruo
Published: May 2004

The authors describe a low bit rate speech codec developed for the next generation of narrow‐band (3 kHz/voice channel) private mobile radio. The speech encoding speed under the proposed speech codec is 1.6 kbit/s, and the speed after communications path encoding is 3.2 kbit/s. The authors propose a method using the speech spectrum envelope information to determine the mixing ratio for pulses and noise in each frequency band used to generate the mixed excitation signal in the Mixed Excitation Linear Prediction (MELP) vocodor model used as a speech encoding method. For the communications path encoding method, the authors assume a burst error of 7% for the worst communications environments in private mobile radio. In order to improve resistance to transmission path errors, the authors create soft decision demodulation data while varying the quantization step width until the errors are no longer detected or a designated number of repetitions is reached for the frame determined as having errors based on the results of error detection during communications path decoding. They then propose a method to repeat soft decision Viterbi decoding. The authors perform subjective evaluation experiments, and confirm the effectiveness of the proposed speech codec in a private mobile communications environment. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 87(6): 69–81, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjb.20096
Ruthenium(II) and Ruthenium(III) Complexes Containing the [pyS4]2− Ligand [pyS42− = 2,6‐Bis(2‐mercaptophenylthio)dimethylpyridine(2−)]
Authors: Sellmann Dieter , Hein Kinga , Heinemann Frank W.
Published: May 2004

In the search for complexes, having sulfur‐dominated coordination spheres, that potentially bind, activate, or stabilize nitrogenase‐relevant small molecules, we have synthesized several ruthenium−sulfur complexes of the type [Ru(L)(pyS4)] starting from the labile acetonitrile complex [Ru(NCMe)(pyS4)] (2). Complex 2 was obtained from the reduction of [Ru(NO)(pyS4)]Br (1) by N2H4·H2O in the presence of MeCN. The acetonitrile ligand in 2 could be exchanged for the soft σ−π ligand CO to give [Ru(CO)(pyS4)] (3). Attempts to coordinate N2 to the pyS42− fragment of 2 gave [{Ru(pyS4)}2] (4). Complex 2 reacts also with hard σ‐ligands, such as N2H4, NH3, pyridine, and pyrazine, to afford mononuclear [Ru(N2H4)(pyS4)] (5), [Ru(NH3)(pyS4)] (6), [Ru(py)(pyS4)] (7), and [Ru(pyr)(pyS4)] (8), respectively. Reaction of 2 with NEt4N3 resulted in the formation of NEt4[Ru(N3)(pyS4)] (9). The oxidation of 2 with I2 afforded [Ru(I)(pyS4)] (10). The protonated and alkylated species [Ru(NCMe)(pyS4‐H)]BF4 (11), [Ru(NCMe)(pyS4‐Et)]BF4 (12), and [{Ru(pyS4‐Et)}2] (BF4)2 (13) were obtained from 2 by its treatment with HBF4 or Et3OBF4. The N2H4 ligand in 5 could not be oxidized to N2H2: the oxidation of the RuII center to RuIII takes place instead. Attempts to oxidize 5 using either [FeCp2]PF6 or I2 gave [{RuII/III(pyS4)}2](PF6) (14) and [RuIII(NH3)(pyS4)]X (X = PF6, I) (15, 16). The oxidation of 3 and 6 by NOBF4 gave RuIII species of [RuIII(CO)(pyS4)]BF4 (17) and [RuIII(NH3)(pyS4)]BF4 (18). The oxidation of 5 and 6 with H2O2 afforded [{RuII(pyS4−O3)}2] (19), [{RuII(pyS4−O4)}2] (20) and [RuII(NH3)(pyS4−O4)] (21). All complexes were characterized by spectroscopic methods and by elemental analysis. The molecular structures of 4, 6, 10, 14, 15, 19, and 20 were determined by X‐ray crystallographic analyses. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)
Heterocyclic synthesis with ethyl α‐(3‐carbamoyl‐4,5,6,7‐tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophen‐2‐ylhydrazono)acetates: An expeditious synthetic approach to polyfunctionally substituted pyran, pyridine, and pyridazine derivatives
Authors: Mohareb Rafat M. , Sherif Sherif M. , Gaber Hatem M. , Ghabrial Sami S. , Aziz Susan I.
Published: May 2004

Ethyl α‐(3‐carbamoyl‐4,5,6,7‐tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophen‐2‐ylhydrazono)acetates 1 were prepared and established as previously described by our research group. Their reactivity toward a variety of active methylene reagents was studied to give pyran, pyridine, and pyridazine derivatives. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 15:300–306, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.20019
The carotid sheath: An anatomicophathologic study
Authors: Khafif‐Hefetz Avi , Leider‐Trejo Leonor , Medina Jesus E. , Gil Ziv , Fliss Dan M.
Published: May 2004

Background.

Recurrences in the neck after neck dissections occur even in previously operated fields. Although the pathogenesis is unclear, it is well established that recurrences commonly occur at the jugular chain of nodes close to the carotid artery. We investigated the carotid sheath as possibly responsible for such regional recurrences.

Methods.

Patients undergoing therapeutic or elective neck dissections were prospectively enrolled. Following surgery, the carotid sheath was resected throughout its entire length, fixated in formalin, and histologically examined.

Results.

Pathologic assessment of carotid sheaths harvested from 34 patients who underwent 40 uncomplicated neck dissections revealed fibro‐fatty tissue and scarce neutrophilic infiltration in all 40 specimens. Four lymphoid aggregates composed almost exclusively of B cells were found at the carotid bifurcation level in three patients. No cancer cells were detected.

Conclusion.

The absence of cancer cells in patients with metastatic nodes argues against the need to resect the carotid sheath as part of a routine neck dissection. The occurrence of lymphoid aggregates within it, however, may indicate its participation in the pathogenesis of nodal recurrence following neck dissection. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 26: 594–597, 2004
Progressive fibrosis during corticosteroid therapy of autoimmune hepatitis†
Authors: Czaja Albert J. , Carpenter Herschel A.
Published: May 2004

Hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis are possible consequences of corticosteroid-treated autoimmune hepatitis. Our aims were to determine the frequency of progressive fibrosis and the factors associated with this progression. Two hundred seventy-seven liver tissue specimens that had been obtained from 73 patients were interpreted in batch under code by a single pathologist. Fibrosis scores and histological activity indices were determined using the Ishak scoring system, and worsening fibrosis scores were correlated with clinical features, laboratory findings, and treatment responses. Fibrosis scores increased (2.3 ± 0.4 points to 4.2 ± 0.4 points; P < .0001) in 18 patients (25%) during 79 ± 13 months. Only five patients (7%) developed cirrhosis, and 55 patients (75%) had stable (16 patients) or decreased (39 patients) fibrosis scores. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DR3/DR4 occurred more frequently in patients with progressive fibrosis than others (23% vs. 2%; P = .03). Patients with progressive fibrosis had higher histological activity indices at last follow-up than patients with stable or reduced fibrosis (3.2 ± 0.7 vs. 1.7 ± 0.2; P = .01), and these indices worsened more commonly during therapy (17% vs. 2%, P = .04). Relapse, treatment failure, and incomplete response did not affect progression of fibrosis. In conclusion, fibrosis progresses in only a minority of patients during corticosteroid therapy. Progression is associated with HLA DR3/DR4 and worsening histological activity. Exacerbations or persistence of disease activity does not increase disease progression after treatment has been instituted. (Hepatology 2004;39:1631-1638.)
Hepatitis C virus kinetics and host responses associated with disease and outcome of infection in chimpanzees
Authors: Major Marian E. , Dahari Harel , Mihalik Kathleen , Puig Montserrat , Rice Charles M. , Neumann Avidan U. , Feinstone Stephen M.
Published: May 2004

To study determinants of clinical outcome following HCV infection, viral kinetics, immune events, and intrahepatic cytokine markers were compared in 10 naive chimpanzees. Four of the animals cleared HCV; 6 developed persistent infections. All animals developed similar acute infections with increasing viremia from 1 to 2 weeks, followed by alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevations and seroconversion. This viremia pattern consisted of a biphasic increase, a rapid slope (mean doubling time [t2] = 0.5 days) followed by a slower slope after the second week (t2 = 7.5 days). This slowing of virus replication correlated in all animals with increased intrahepatic 2′5′ oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (2OAS-1) messenger RNA (mRNA) levels and was independent of disease outcome. An effective control of virus replication was observed following increases in intrahepatic interferon γ (IFN-γ) mRNA and ALT levels. Although this control was associated in all animals with a 2-log decrease in virus titer, the timing occurred approximately 2 weeks later in the chronic group (P < .05). Additionally, while cleared infections were characterized by a continual decrease in virus titer, the titers in the persistent infections reached a steady state level of 104 to 105 RNA copies/mL. This inability of the immune response to sustain viral clearance in the persistent infections was associated with a reduced intrahepatic CD3e and monocyte-induced protein 1α (MIP-1α) mRNA induction. In conclusion, these data indicate that, regardless of outcome, chimpanzees generate responses that control HCV replication during the early and late acute phase. However, the pathogenesis of HCV may be determined by a more rapid onset of the induced response and the cell population that migrates to the liver. (Hepatology 2004;39:1709-1720.)
Tracking cccDNA in chronic HBV infection
Authors: Spangenberg Hans Christian , Thimme Robert , Blum Hubert E. , Jaeschke Hartmut , Mullen Kevin , Moradpour Darius
Published: May 2004

Hepatitis B virus (hepadnavirus) infections are maintained by the presence of a small and regulated number of episomal viral genomes [covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA)] in the nuclei of infected cells. Although a number of studies have measured the mean copy number of cccDNA molecules in hepadnaviral-infected cells, the distribution of individual copy numbers have not been reported. Using a PCR-based assay, we examined the number of cccDNA molecules of the duck hepatitis B virus in single nuclei isolated from the liver of a chronically infected duck over the course of 131 days of infection. Nuclei were isolated from frozen serial biopsies and individually deposited into PCR microplates by flow sorting. Each nucleus was assayed by nested PCR for cccDNA and for cellular IFN-α genes as an internal control. We found that 90% of the nuclei assayed contained between 1 and 17 cccDNA molecules, with the remaining 10% containing more (90% confidence), and that differences in the mean number of copies and distribution of copy numbers occurred within the same animal at different times postinfection. Overall, the data suggest (i) that the number of cccDNA molecules per cell may fluctuate over time, and (ii) that, according to these fluctuations, a substantial fraction of cells may contain only one or a few copies. We infer from the results that infected hepatocytes express virus at different levels and that during cell division it is possible to segregate cells containing no cccDNA. (Copyright 2003, National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A.)
Distribution and origin of vesicular glutamate transporter 2‐immunoreactive fibers in the rat hippocampus
Authors: Halasy Katalin , Hajszan Tibor , Kovács Éva G. , Lam Thien‐Tri , Leranth Csaba
Published: May 2004

This study examined the distribution of vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2)‐immunoreactive neuronal structures in the ipsilateral and contralateral hippocampi of unilateral fimbria/fornix transected, unilateral entorhinal cortex ablated, and intact female and male rats. In the hippocampi of intact animals, the highest density of VGLUT2‐positive boutons was observed in the supragranular layer of the dentate gyrus, followed by the CA2 pyramidal and oriens layers, and the stratum lacunosum‐moleculare of the CA1 field. This staining pattern was identical both in males and in females. Electron microscopic examination revealed that the immunolabeling was confined to axon terminals forming exclusively asymmetric synaptic contacts. The quantitative analysis of the synaptic targets of VGLUT2‐positive terminals showed that in the dentate gyrus, 59% of the synaptic targets were dendritic spines, followed by dendritic shafts (22%) and granule cell somata (19%). In the pyramidal layer of the CA2 field, VGLUT2‐immunoreactive boutons contacted mostly dendritic shafts (85%), only some of which (15%) synapsed with spines. The synaptic targets of VGLUT2‐positive varicosities were dendritic spines (71%) and shafts (29%) in the stratum lacunosum‐moleculare of the CA1 field. The fimbria/fornix transection caused a significant reduction in the density of VGLUT2‐positive boutons only in the CA2 field, while entorhinal cortex ablation elicited no change in fiber density in any of the areas analyzed. Furthermore, our latest experiments on colchicine‐treated animals revealed a large population of VGLUT2‐positive neurons in the hippocampus that may be a possible intrinsic source of hippocampal VGLUT2 boutons. Our results suggest that the most likely sources of VGLUT2‐positive boutons in the dentate supragranular layer, the CA2 area, as well as in the stratum lacunosum‐moleculare of the CA1 field, might be the mossy cells, the supramammillary area, and the nucleus reuniens thalami, respectively. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.