bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationships among Speech Perception, Self-Rated Tinnitus Loudness and Disability in Tinnitus Patients with Normal Pure-Tone Thresholds of Hearing
Authors: Huang Chii-Yuan , Lee Heng-Huei , Chung Kao-Chi , Chen Hsiao-Chuan , Shen Yung-Ji , Wu Jiunn-Liang
Published: November 2006

Exactly how speech perception and tinnitus perception are related remains unclear. This study investigated how tinnitus alone affects speech perception and the relationship between speech perception, tinnitus loudness, and tinnitus disability. The Mandarin Speech Perception in Noise Test (MSPIN), Tinnitus Loudness Scaling (TLS), and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) were utilized to assess 20 tinnitus patients with normal hearing. The tinnitus group had a significantly lower MSPIN score than the control group (p < 0.01). TLS and THI scores were strongly correlated (r2: 0.534∼0.627, p < 0.05). Correlations between MSPIN and TLS or THI scores were not significant. Tinnitus loudness correlated well with tinnitus-related disability. Neither tinnitus loudness nor disability was strongly correlated with speech perception. In noisy environments, tinnitus sufferers had significantly poorer ability to recognize speech than control subjects.
The Value of Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology in Salivary Gland Lesions, 1994–2004
Authors: Elagoz S. , Gulluoglu M. , Yılmazbayhan D. , Ozer H. , Arslan I.
Published: November 2006

Objective: Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the salivary gland is a commonly accepted, sensitive and specific technique in the diagnosis of both neoplastic and nonneoplastic lesions of the salivary gland. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of FNAC of salivary gland lesions and to decide whether the radiologist could perform it or not. Methods: We aspirated 162 salivary gland lesions of 56 patients undergoing biopsy and excision. A cytopathologist and a surgical pathologist made histopathological and cytological examinations in a blinded fashion. Results: In the present study, among the FNAC performed in 162 patients with salivary gland masses, 15 (9%) were inadequate, and the remaining 147 were diagnostic. Of the 162 cases, 56 (35%) were also checked histologically. With FNAC there were 89 (55%) nonneoplastic and 58 (36%) neoplastic lesions. With FNAC 45 of the neoplastic lesions were benign and 13 malignant tumors. When cytohistopathological correlation was performed, the overall accuracy in diagnosing benign and malignant lesions was 91 and 78%, respectively, except for 2 malignant lymphoma cases. The sensitivity and specificity for benign and malignant lesions were 72 and 100%, respectively. The diagnostic sensitivity for all neoplastic and nonneoplastic lesions was 84% and the specificity 92%. There was 1 false-positive result, in which a nonneoplastic lesion was misdiagnosed as a Warthin’s tumor. Fifteen (26%) cases were false-negative, 12 of which were undefined. Conclusion: FNAC is a useful and reliable tool in the diagnosis of salivary gland masses when performed by a radiologist or a clinician. There are no contraindications, and complications are minimal.
Recovery after Vestibular Lesions: From Animal Models to Patients
Authors: Vidal P.P. , Straka H. , Vibert N. , Moore L.E. , de Waele C.
Published: November 2006

Gaze and postural stabilization is the result of a complex multisensory integration, which can be defined as the process of matching multiple internal representations of an external event (head and/or trunk rotation), obtained from different sensory modalities, into a unique intrinsic frame of reference in which appropriate motor commands can be coded. Despite the importance of the labyrinths, their lesions are not rare. They result in static and dynamic deficits. What is remarkable is that some of these deficits recover in mammalian species, including humans: the vestibular compensation process refers to the complete or partial normalization of the static and dynamic postural and ocular motor deficits. In the following, only two aspects of vestibular compensation will be discussed: (1) the relationship between the recovery of the vestibulo-ocular reflexes and the postlesional plasticity of the intrinsic membrane properties of the medial vestibular nucleus, and (2) the relationship between the postural recovery and the vestibular control of the skeletal geometry at large. Subsequently, the results of investigations in animal models will be related to some clinical findings. While such an exercise is highly speculative, it points to new directions for clinical research and vestibular rehabilitation.
The Inferior Colliculus: A Center for Convergence of Ascending and Descending Auditory Information
Authors: Malmierca Manuel S.
Published: November 2006

A major goal in auditory research is to understand completely how we hear, the physiology of the human auditory system and to identify the causes and treatments for hearing impairment. By understanding all the elements of the ‘auditory scaffold’ we will begin to achieve these important goals. The inferior colliculus (IC) occupies a strategic position in the central auditory system and may be considered a central hub or an interface between the lower auditory pathway, the auditory cortex and motor systems. The IC is the site for termination of the ascending fibers of the lateral lemniscus and also receives a heavy innervation from the auditory cortex. Furthermore, the IC receives crossed projections from its counterpart and possesses a dense network of local connections. Thus, the IC is the main site of auditory integration at the midbrain level. Anatomical and physiological experiments demonstrate that the IC is involved in a great diversity of functional roles in the auditory system, and that most of the interesting auditory features might already be extracted from incoming sounds by this midbrain nucleus.
Genetic Predisposition to Asthma and Atopy
Authors: Contopoulos-Ioannidis Despina G. , Kouri Ioanna N. , Ioannidis John P.A.
Published: November 2006

A large number of studies have tried to identify heritable components in the susceptibility to asthma and atopy phenotypes. This review examines the evidence of multigenetic inheritance for these conditions. We identified in the literature at least 372 gene-disease association studies for asthma and 124 for atopy published in the last 6 years. Gene-environment analyses were performed in 41 and 14 articles, respectively, in the same time period. Many postulated associations have been probed with limited sample sizes and will require more extensive replication and large-scale evidence. Meta-analyses have been performed for polymorphisms in 5 genes and provide modest evidence for genetic association of asthma with ADAM33 and TNFA gene polymorphisms. Meta-analyses of linkage studies show that it is unlikely to detect strong linkage peaks for asthma susceptibility. However, linkage was claimed between loci on chromosomes 2, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11 and 15 and total serum IgE levels. Careful definitions and standardization of phenotypes across teams of investigators are important to endorse. New large-scale testing platforms may offer new opportunities for discovering susceptibility gene variants, but they need to be coupled with careful study design, international collaboration, and possibly also dissection of gene-environment interactions.
Role of the Toll-like Receptor 4/NF-κB Pathway in Saturated Fatty Acid–Induced Inflammatory Changes in the Interaction Between Adipocytes and Macrophages
Authors: Suganami Takayoshi , Tanimoto-Koyama Kanami , Nishida Junko , Itoh Michiko , Yuan Xunmei , Mizuarai Shinji , Kotani Hidehito , Yamaoka Shoji , Miyake Kensuke , Aoe Seiichiro , Kamei Yasutomi , Ogawa Yoshihiro
Published: November 2006

Objective—

Previous studies demonstrated that obese adipose tissue is characterized by increased infiltration of macrophages, suggesting that they might represent an important source of inflammation. Using an in vitro coculture system composed of 3T3-L1 adipocytes and RAW264 macrophages, we previously demonstrated that saturated fatty acids (FAs) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α derived from adipocytes and macrophages, respectively, play a major role in the coculture-induced inflammatory changes.

Methods and Results—

Coculture of adipocytes and macrophages resulted in the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), a primary regulator of inflammatory responses, in both cell types. Pharmacological inhibition of NF-κB markedly suppressed the coculture-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines and adipocyte lipolysis. Peritoneal macrophages obtained from Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mutant mice exhibited marked attenuation of TNFα production in response to saturated FAs. Notably, coculture of hypertrophied adipocytes and TLR4-mutant macrophages resulted in marked inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine production and adipocyte lipolysis. We also observed that endogenous FAs, which are released from adipocytes via the β
3
-adrenergic stimulation, resulted in the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

Conclusion—

These findings suggest that saturated FAs, which are released in large quantities from hypertrophied adipocytes via the macrophage-induced adipocyte lipolysis, serve as a naturally occurring ligand for TLR4, thereby inducing the inflammatory changes in both adipocytes and macrophages through NF-κB activation.
Differential Expression of Ion Channel Transcripts in Atrial Muscle and Sinoatrial Node in Rabbit
Authors: Tellez James O. , Dobrzynski Halina , Greener Ian D. , Graham Gillian M. , Laing Emma , Honjo Haruo , Hubbard Simon J. , Boyett Mark R. , Billeter Rudi
Published: November 2006

The aim of the study was to identify ion channel transcripts expressed in the sinoatrial node (SAN), the pacemaker of the heart. Functionally, the SAN can be divided into central and peripheral regions (center is adapted for pacemaking only, whereas periphery is adapted to protect center and drive atrial muscle as well as pacemaking) and the aim was to study expression in both regions. In rabbit tissue, the abundance of 30 transcripts (including transcripts for connexin, Na
+
, Ca
2+
, hyperpolarization-activated cation and K
+
channels, and related Ca
2+
handling proteins) was measured using quantitative PCR and the distribution of selected transcripts was visualized using in situ hybridization. Quantification of individual transcripts (quantitative PCR) showed that there are significant differences in the abundance of 63% of the transcripts studied between the SAN and atrial muscle, and cluster analysis showed that the transcript profile of the SAN is significantly different from that of atrial muscle. There are apparent isoform switches on moving from atrial muscle to the SAN center: RYR2 to RYR3, Na
v
1.5 to Na
v
1.1, Ca
v
1.2 to Ca
v
1.3 and K
v
1.4 to K
v
4.2. The transcript profile of the SAN periphery is intermediate between that of the SAN center and atrial muscle. For example, Na
v
1.5 messenger RNA is expressed in the SAN periphery (as it is in atrial muscle), but not in the SAN center, and this is probably related to the need of the SAN periphery to drive the surrounding atrial muscle.
Is Sex a Prognostic Factor in Stroke Rehabilitation?
Authors: Paolucci Stefano , Bragoni Maura , Coiro Paola , De Angelis Domenico , Fusco Francesca Romana , Morelli Daniela , Venturiero Vincenzo , Pratesi Luca
Published: November 2006

Background and Purpose—

We sought to assess the specific influence of sex on rehabilitation results.

Methods—

A case-control study in 440 consecutive patients with sequelae of first ischemic stroke were enrolled in 2 subgroups (males and females) and matched for severity of stroke (evaluated by means of the Canadian Neurological Scale), age (within 1 year), and onset-admission interval (within 3 days). Functional data, evaluated by means of the Barthel Index and the Rivermead Mobility Index, were compared between subgroups. Logistic regressions were used to clarify the role of sex in affecting global autonomy and mobility.

Results—

After rehabilitation treatment, a sex-related difference was observed essentially in the higher levels of response. Indeed, more men than women reached independence in both stair climbing and activities of daily living (ADL), with a higher response and effectiveness on mobility. In multivariate analyses, male patients had a 3 times higher probability than female patients of good autonomy in both stair climbing and ADL (odds ratio [OR]=3.22; 95% CI, 1.67 to 6.18 and OR=2.92; 95% CI, 1.63 to 5.42, respectively). Conversely, female patients had a higher risk of walking with a cane (OR=1.69; 95%, CI 1.04 to 2.76) or of partial autonomy with respect to ADL (OR=1.90; 95% CI, 1.25 to 2.91). No significant difference was found for the other functional parameters.

Conclusions—

Female sex is a mildly unfavorable prognostic factor in rehabilitation results after stroke.
α-Adducin Polymorphism, Atherosclerosis, and Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Risk
Authors: van Rijn Marie Josee E. , Bos Michiel J. , Yazdanpanah Mojgan , Isaacs Aaron , Arias-Vásquez Alejandro , Koudstaal Peter J. , Hofman Albert , Witteman Jacqueline C. , van Duijn Cornelia M. , Breteler Monique M. B.
Published: November 2006

Background and Purpose—

Carriers of the 460Trp allele of the α-adducin gene (
ADD1
) show higher rates of sodium reabsorption compared with homozygous carriers of the Gly460 allele and were found to have an increased risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. We studied the association between the Gly460Trp polymorphism and atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease.

Methods—

Intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery, as well as incident stroke and myocardial infarction, were studied within 6471 subjects of the Rotterdam Study. Within 1018 subjects of the Rotterdam Scan Study, prevalent silent brain infarcts and cerebral white matter lesions were studied. Subjects were grouped into 460Trp carriers (variant carriers) and homozygous carriers of the Gly460 allele (reference).

Results—

Intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery was 0.80 mm in variant carriers compared with 0.79 mm in the reference group (
P
=0.04). Variant carriers had an increased risk of any stroke (hazard ratio [HR], 1.22; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.45), ischemic stroke (HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.63), hemorrhagic stroke (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.59 to 1.92), and of myocardial infarction (HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.69). For any ischemic stroke, there was a significant interaction between the Gly460Trp polymorphism and hypertension. Variant carriers more often had a silent brain infarct (odds ratio, 1.36; 95% CI, 0.98 to 1.88) and had more subcortical white matter lesions than the reference group (1.45 vs1.24 mL;
P
=0.22).

Conclusions—

The Gly460Trp polymorphism is associated with atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease, especially in hypertensive subjects.
Immunomodulation Strategies for Preventing Vascular Disease of the Brain and Heart
Authors: Hallenbeck John , del Zoppo Gregory , Jacobs Tom , Hakim Antoine , Goldman Stephen , Utz Ursula , Hasan Ahmed
Published: November 2006

This workshop examined the opportunities for translational research directed at immune and inflammatory mechanisms. This summary presents the background data in 3 general areas: (1) inflammation and hemostasis in cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease, (2) immune interactions in the central nervous system and heart, and (3) translation of immune modulation in the brain and heart, all of which supported a consensus derivation of the opportunities for future research in these areas. The summary concludes with 11 recommendations.
Desert, City, and Countryside in the Early Christian Imagination
Authors: Rapp Claudia
Published: November 2006

This paper isolates the literary motif of the desert as the idealized locus of monastic retreat and shows the transformation of this concept from pagan to Christian literature. Particular emphasis is placed on the development of the notion of the desert as a state of mind of detachment from and indifference to the world. This allows for the practice of monastic virtues even in a worldly environment, and thus bridges the perceived gap between monks and bishops.
Nikolaus of Flüe († 1487): Physiognomies of a Late Medieval Ascetic
Authors: Signori Gabriela
Published: November 2006

During the fifteenth century the number of saints increased dramatically. But most of them had already been dead for centuries and were known only through the pages of their vitae. Living saints became rare, chiefly because of the unwaveringly skeptical approach towards them. Critics were always asking, How does one recognise a saint? What do "real" saints look like? What is the relationship between what is outside and what is inside, between the physical appearance and the inner self of a man? As this paper will demonstrate, it was was not so much these questions as the answers that were new.
The Impact of Land Cover Change on Surface Energy and Water Balance in Mato Grosso, Brazil
Authors: Pongratz Julia , Bounoua Lahouari , DeFries Ruth S. , Morton Douglas C. , Anderson Liana O. , Mauser Wolfram , Klink Carlos A.
Published: November 2006

The sensitivity of surface energy and water fluxes to recent land cover changes is simulated for a small region in northern Mato Grosso, Brazil. The Simple Biosphere Model (SiB2) is used, driven by biophysical parameters derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) at 250-m resolution, to compare the effects of different land conversion types. The mechanisms through which changes in vegetation alter surface fluxes of energy, momentum, water, and carbon are analyzed for both wet and dry seasons. It is found that morphological changes contribute to warming and drying of the atmosphere while physiological changes, particularly those associated with a plant’s photosynthetic pathway, counterbalance or exacerbate the warming depending on the type of conversion and the season. Furthermore, this study’s results indicate that initial clearing of evergreen and transition forest to bare ground increases canopy temperature by up to 1.7°C. For subsequent land use such as pasture or cropland, the largest effect is seen for the conversion of evergreen forest to C3 cropland during the wet season, with a 21% decrease of the latent heat flux and 0.4°C increase in canopy temperature. The secondary conversion of pasture to cropland resulted in slight warming and drying during the wet season driven mostly by the change in carbon pathway from C4 to C3. For all conversions types, the daily temperature range is amplified, suggesting that plants replacing forest clearing require more temperature tolerance than the trees they replace. The results illustrate that the effect of deforestation on climate depends not only on the overall extent of clearing but also on the subsequent land use type.
The Radiative Effect of a Fir Canopy on a Snowpack
Authors: Tribbeck M. J. , Gurney R. J. , Morris E. M.
Published: November 2006

Models of snow processes in areas of possible large-scale change need to be site independent and physically based. Here, the accumulation and ablation of the seasonal snow cover beneath a fir canopy has been simulated with a new physically based snow–soil vegetation–atmosphere transfer scheme (Snow-SVAT) called SNOWCAN. The model was formulated by coupling a canopy optical and thermal radiation model to a physically based multilayer snow model. Simple representations of other forest effects were included. These include the reduction of wind speed and hence turbulent transfer beneath the canopy, sublimation of intercepted snow, and deposition of debris on the surface.

This paper tests this new modeling approach fully at a fir site within Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed, Idaho. Model parameters were determined at an open site and subsequently applied to the fir site. SNOWCAN was evaluated using measurements of snow depth, subcanopy solar and thermal radiation, and snowpack profiles of temperature, density, and grain size. Simulations showed good agreement with observations (e.g., fir site snow depth was estimated over the season with r 2 = 0.96), generally to within measurement error. However, the simulated temperature profiles were less accurate after a melt–freeze event, when the temperature discrepancy resulted from underestimation of the rate of liquid water flow and/or the rate of refreeze. This indicates both that the general modeling approach is applicable and that a still more complete representation of liquid water in the snowpack will be important.
Distinct Hydrological Signatures in Observed Historical Temperature Fields
Authors: Koster Randal D. , Suarez Max J. , Schubert Siegfried D.
Published: November 2006

In an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM), the physical bounds on soil moisture content and the nonlinear relationship between soil moisture and evaporation lead to distinct geographical patterns in key surface energy and water balance variables. In particular, simple hydrological considerations suggest—and extensive AGCM simulations confirm—that the variance and skew of seasonally averaged [June–August (JJA)] air temperature on the planet should be maximized in specific, and different, regions: a variance maximum should appear on the dry side of the soil moisture variance maximum, and a positive skew maximum should appear on the wet side of the temperature variance maximum. These ideas are tested with multidecade observational temperature data from the Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN). In the United States, where sufficient data exist, the predicted patterns in the seasonal temperature moments show up where expected. These results suggest that hydrological considerations do indeed control the patterns of seasonal temperature variance and skew in nature.
Effects of Implementing MODIS Land Cover and Albedo in MM5 at Two Contrasting U.S. Regions
Authors: Yucel Ismail
Published: November 2006

This study implements a new land-cover classification and surface albedo from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) in the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research (PSU–NCAR) Mesoscale Model (MM5) and investigates its effects on regional near-surface atmospheric state variables as well as the planetary boundary layer evolution for two dissimilar U.S. regions. Surface parameter datasets are determined by translating the 17-category MODIS classes into the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Simple Biosphere (SiB) categories available for use in MM5. Changes in land-cover specification or associated parameters affected surface wind, temperature, and humidity fields, which, in turn, resulted in perceivable alterations in the evolving structure of the planetary boundary layer. Inclusion of the MODIS albedo into the simulations enhanced these impacts further. Area-averaged comparisons with ground measurements showed remarkable improvements in near-surface temperature and humidity at both study areas when MM5 is initialized with MODIS land-cover and albedo data. Influence of both MODIS surface datasets is more significant at a semiarid location in the southwest of the United States than it is in a humid location in the mid-Atlantic region. Intense summertime surface heating at the semiarid location creates favorable conditions for strong land surface forcing. For example, when the simulations include MODIS land cover and MODIS albedo, respective error reduction rates were 6% and 11% in temperature and 2% and 2.5% in humidity in the southwest of the United States. Error reduction rates in near-surface atmospheric fields are considered important in the design of mesoscale weather simulations.
Adsorption of Water Vapor by Bare Soil in an Olive Grove in Southern Spain
Authors: Verhoef A. , Diaz-Espejo A. , Knight J. R. , Villagarcía L. , Fernández J. E.
Published: November 2006

Data for water vapor adsorption and evaporation are presented for a bare soil (sandy loam, clay content 15%) in a southern Spanish olive grove. Water losses and gains were measured using eight high-precision minilysimeters, placed around an olive tree, which had been irrigated until the soil reached field capacity (∼0.22 m3 m−3). They were subsequently left to dry for 10 days. A pair of lysimeters was situated at each of the main points of the compass (N, E, S, W), at a distance of 1 m (the inner set of lysimeters; ILS) and 2 m (the outer set of lysimeters; OLS), respectively, from the tree trunk.

Distinct periods of moisture loss (evaporation) and moisture gain (vapor adsorption) could be distinguished for each day. Vapor adsorption often started just after noon and generally lasted until the (early) evening. Values of up to 0.7 mm of adsorbed water per day were measured. Adsorption was generally largest for the OLS (up to 100% more on a daily basis), and increased during the dry down. This was mainly the result of lower OLS surface soil moisture contents (period-average absolute difference ∼0.005 m3 m−3), as illustrated using various analyses employing a set of micrometeorological equations describing the exchange of water vapor between bare soil and the atmosphere. These analyses also showed that the amount of water vapor adsorbed by soils is very sensitive to changes in atmospheric forcing and surface variables. The use of empirical equations to estimate vapor adsorption is therefore not recommended.
Predicting Lewy Body Pathology in a Community-Based Sample With Clinical Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Tsuang Debby , Simpson Kate , Larson Eric B. , Peskind Elaine , Kukull Walter , Bowen James B. , McCormick Wayne , Teri Linda , Montine Thomas , Thompson Mary Lou , Leverenz James B.
Published: November 2006

Accurate antemortem prediction of Lewy body pathology in patients with dementia is problematic. This study generates a model that better predicts Lewy body pathology in community-based patients with clinical Alzheimer’s disease. Lewy body pathology was detected in 80 of 152 participants (52.6%) with an initial diagnosis of probable Alzheimer’s disease. In a stepwise logistic regression model, female gender, lower education, being married, bradykinesia, hallucinations, and absence of irritability predicted the greatest likelihood of Lewy body pathology. The predictive model correctly diagnosed Lewy body pathology with an estimated sensitivity of 75%, specificity of 68%, and accuracy of 72%; the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.75. In a community-based autopsy sample, this predictive model confirmed parkinsonism and hallucinations as important predictors of Lewy body pathology in patients with clinical Alzheimer’s disease. The model also identified other demographic and clinical characteristics that might enhance the prediction of Lewy body pathology.
The Relationship Among Support, Ethnic Identity, Career Decision Self-Efficacy, and Outcome Expectations in African American High School Students
Authors: Gushue George V. , Whitson Melissa L.
Published: November 2006

This study examines the influence of two potential sources of strength (i.e., ethnic identity and parent/teacher support) on the cognitive variables of career decision self-efficacy and outcome expectations in a sample of 104 African American ninth-grade students. The results indicate that parental support is positively related to career decision self-efficacy and teacher support is positively related to career decision self-efficacy and career outcome expectations. No relationship is found between ethnic identity and either self-efficacy or outcome expectations. The findings confirm the importance of considering contextual supports in career counseling and education. Limitations, implications for counseling, and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Dermatomyositis and polymyositis associated with the antiphospholipid syndrome—a novel overlap syndrome
Authors: Sherer Yaniv , Livneh Avi , Levy Yair , Shoenfeld Yehuda , Langevitz Pnina
Published: November 2006

Objective: As APS (antiphospholipid syndrome) can be either primary or secondary to a wide range of other conditions (such as autoimmune diseases, malignancies, infectious diseases, and drug-induced conditions) the aim of this study was to describe a novel overlap syndrome of APS. Methods: All patients diagnosed with either PM (polymytosis) or DM (dermatomytosis) who were treated in the Rheumatology Unit, Sheba Medical Center, were followed-up in the past 8 years for the appearance of a clinical manifestation of the APS, and conversely, patients with APS treated by us were clinically assessed for the presence of signs and symptoms of PM and DM. Both conditions were diagnosed according to accepted diagnostic criteria.

Results: Three patients were found to have both APS and PM/DM. A patient with PM had transverse myelopathy, a patient with DM had pulmonary embolism, and a patient with PM had recurrent abortions, stroke, livedo reticularis and mitral regurgitation. Both patients with PM had also SLE (systemic lupus erythematosis).

Conclusions: APS can be associated with a wide range of diseases. Future data would reveal which therapy is the best for the association of PM/DM with APS, and determine the pathogenesis and prognosis in patients with this association.
Class specific rheumatoid factors and antiphospholipid syndrome in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Spadaro A , Riccieri V , Terracina S , Rinaldi T , Taccari E , Zoppinia A
Published: November 2006

The relationship of rheumatoid factors (RF) with antiphospholipid syndrome (aPLS) and anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) has rarely been investigated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We found IgM-RF, IgG-RF, IgA-RF, IgM-aCL, IgG-aCL, IgA-aCL, respectively, in 35.4%, 35.4%, 33.8%, 23.1%, 23.1%, 20.0% of 65 SLE patients. Class specific RFs were negatively associated (P < 0.05) with IgG-aCL. The frequency of definite or probable aPLS according to Alarcon-Segovia classification criteria was significantly (P < 0.05) different (8.7% vs 30.9%) in patients with or without IgG-RF. Among the other clinical features of SLE, we found that patients with IgG-RF, compared to patients lacking this autoantibody, showed a lower frequency (P < 0.05) of serositis (21.7% vs 52.4%) and hematologic (52.2% vs 80.9%) disorders. The levels of IgG-RF and IgM-RF negatively correlated with the number of ARA criteria (P < 0.05) but not with the indices of diseases activity or damage. Our study shows that in SLE the presence of RFs are not markers of severity of the disease, but the negative association between IgG-RF and IgG-aCL suggests a distinct role of these autoantibodies in the pathology of SLE, whereas the presence of IgG isotype may identify a subset of SLE patients having a lower risk to develop some clinical manifestations such as aPLS.
A reversible bilateral renal artery stenosis in association with Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Authors: Remondino G I , Mysler E , Pissano M N , Furattini M C , Basta M C , Presas J L , Allievi A
Published: November 2006

We describe a 26-year-old white female with a history of Raynaud phenomenon, erythema nodosum, polyarthralgias, migraine, vertigo, seizures, transient ischemic attacks, one fetal loss, and false positive VDRL, who developed milk hypertension without overt lupus nephritis. She had positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (dsDNA) antibodies. The lupus anticoagulant test (LAC) and cardiolipins antibodies (aCL) were positive. She was diagnosed as having a Systemic Lupus Erythematosus-like illness (SLE-like) with ‘secondary’ antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Renal spiral computed tomography (CT) with intravenous (IV) contrast showed bilateral renal artery stenosis. Anticoagulation with acenocumarol was started. She became normotensive without antihypertensive drugs five months later. A follow-up renal spiral CT showed complete recanalization of both renal arteries, making thrombosis the more likely culprit pathology in the stenosis. After two years follow up the patient is normotensive. She remains on acenocumarol.
The spectrum of ocular involvement in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus without ocular symptoms
Authors: Soo M PK , Chow S K , Tan C T , Nadior N , Yeap S S , Hoh H B
Published: November 2006

The aim of the study was to determine the spectrum of clinical ocular involvement in patients with inactive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who have no ocular symptoms. Patients with a diagnosis of SLE based on the 1982 revised American College of Rheumatology criteria and with no ocular complaints were recruited from the SLE clinic. Clinical data regarding their systemic disease and disease activity were recorded and a full ophthalmic examination carried out.

52 patients of mixed ethnicity comprising of 75% Chinese, 19% Malays and 6% Indian patients were recruited. Of these, 51 (98%) were female with a mean age of 34 11 (range 16–74 y). 16 (31%) patients had dry eyes while corticosteroid induced glaucoma and cataract was detected in 1 (2%) and 7 (14%) patients, respectively. No patients were found to have sight-threatening ocular conditions such as cotton wool spots, vasculitis, optic neuropathy or uveitis.

Patients with clinically inactive disease were found not to have sight-threatening ocular diseases that are known to be associated with SLE. Although they have no ocular complaints, nearly one-third of these patients have dry eyes. Ocular examination may be unnecessary when the disease is clinically inactive and in the absence of ocular symptoms.
Crossing of antinuclear antibodies and anti-leishmania antibodies
Authors: Granel B , Serratrice J , Swiader L , Gambarelli F , Daniel L , Fossat C , Hesse-Bonérandi S , Pache X , Disdier P , Weiller P J
Published: November 2006

Visceral leishmaniasis or Kala-azar is an endemic parasitic infection in Mediterranean countries. We report an interesting case occurring in a 38-year-old woman suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus and secondary antiphospholipid syndrome. In our patient visceral leishmaniasis occurred during high dose-steroids treatment mimicking a flare of lupus. As the lupus resolved under immunosuppressive treatment, a reactivation of visceral leishmaniasis was observed and was confirmed by the successive serological tests which showed crossing of leishmania and antinuclear antibody titers. Our case shows that, faced with fever occurring in lupus patients in an endemic area, visceral leishmaniasis should be searched for before intensifying immunosuppressive treatments.
Increased levels of antiphospholipid antibodies in a woman with left atrial myxoma and systemic embolisms
Authors: Salobir B , Šabovič M , Koželj M
Published: November 2006

We describe a case of a 45-y-old woman with a left atrial myxoma, mild to moderate constitutional symptoms and systemic embolisms. Increased levels of antiphospholipid antibodies were detected at admission to the hospital and were graduallynormalized after the surgical removal of the tumor. It is known that myxomas have the peculiar ability to induce a systemic inflammatory state with constitutional symptoms, probably mediated by the production of inflammatory mediators in the tumor. This case suggests that myxomas might have also been implicated in the production of antiphospholipid antibodies. Antiphospholipid antibodies could be just a by-product of the systemic inflammatory response. However, theycould also have a role in the thrombosis on the myxoma surface and systemic embolisms.
Melioidosis in systemic lupus erythematosus: the importance of early diagnosis and treatment in patients from endemic areas
Authors: Badsha H , Edwards C J , Chng H H
Published: November 2006

Serious infection is a common problem in immunosuppressed patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Melioidosis is caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei and may present as an acute fulminant pneumonia or septicaemia that is often fatal. The organism is endemic in much of South-east Asia but is being increasingly reported from other parts of the world, including India, Northern Australia and North and South America. In addition to occurring in people who come into contact with contaminated soil or water in endemic areas, the infection is more common in immunosuppressed patients and must be recognised early and treated with appropriate antibiotics. Importantly, it can activate many years after the initial exposure, causing diagnostic confusion. We present the cases of three patients with SLE who were admitted with fever and in whom Burkholderia pseudomallei was isolated from blood cultures. Following treatment with intravenous ceftazidime all patients made a good recovery. These cases demonstrate the importance of considering this infectious organism in patients from endemic areas with unexplained fever. They also illustrate how successful outcomes can be achieved in a frequently fatal disease if an early diagnosis is made and appropriate antibiotics are started promptly.
Cigarette smoking and autoimmune disease: what can we learn from epidemiology?
Authors: Costenbader K H , Karlson E W
Published: November 2006

Cigarette smoking has been causally linked to the development of multiple autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, Graves' hyperthyroidism, and primary biliary cirrhosis, among others. We review the known biologic effects of cigarette smoke, in particular its actions on the immune system, and the epidemiologic evidence associating smoking with increased risk of each of these autoimmune diseases. Interactions between cigarette smoking and genetic and immunologic factors, such as the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)shared epitope, rheumatoid factor, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, and anti-double stranded DNA antibodies, may point to mechanisms in disease pathogenesis.
Socioeconomic status in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Sule S , Petri M
Published: November 2006

Our understanding of the biological pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is rapidly expanding. Although biologic research is vital, studies that address the importance of socioeconomic factors that contribute to the causation of the outcome of SLE are necessary to understand the full scope of the disease.

Studies of social factors in SLE usually include ethnicity, gender and socioeconomic status (SES) as categorical variables. One hypothesis is that these variables exert their effect through a biologic or genetic factor. However, there is growing evidence to suggest a more direct psychological or sociological impact of these variables on disease. Although in research studies it may be difficult to tease out the biological and sociological impacts of these variables, the eventual understanding of these diverse roles will help in the design of eventual therapeutic interventions.
Lessons for lupus from tumour necrosis factor blockade
Authors: DeBandt M
Published: November 2006

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic non-organ specific autoimmune disease associated with multiple autoantibodies targeting autoantigens from the nucleus. Given the complex pathophysiology of SLE and the role of TNF alpha in that disease, modulation of TNF alpha (in SLE or non-SLE patients) using TNF blockers could either be detrimental or beneficial in some patients. In this review we will focus on lupus autoantibodies and clinical manifestations after TNF blockade in SLE patients and conversely on drug-induced-SLE in non-SLE patients. Some hypotheses regarding the mechanism of induction of autoantibodies in RA patients treated with TNF blockers are proposed.
A genomic approach to scoliosis pathogenesis
Authors: Blank R D , Raggio C L , Giampietro P F , Camacho N P
Published: November 2006

Genetic predisposition contributes to scoliosis in humans. Two syndromes of primary scoliosis occur — congenital scoliosis, which presents at birth, often associated with other abnormalities, and idiopathic scoliosis which becomes apparent between infancy and adolescence. Little is known regarding the genetic transmission of scoliosis risk.

Data gleaned from mouse mutations provide a valuable supplement to human family studies. More than 50 mouse mutations include scoliosis, kyphosis, or tail kinks as a phenotype; the locations of the human homologues for 28 of these can be predicted on the basis of synteny conservation. Some mouse mutations are either more penetrant or more fully expressed in one sex. The mouse data provide a basis both for optimism and for caution in understanding human scoliosis. Mouse models provide insight into mechanisms underlying spinal curvature and help direct searches for genes important in human disease. Four types of defects account for most mouse scoliosis: defects of cell–cell communication, intracellular signal transduction, matrix protein synthesis, and matrix protein metabolism. Mouse data suggest that at least two types of heterogeneity complicate genetic analysis: locus heterogeneity, in which lesions of distinct genes lead to a similar phenotype, and allelic heterogeneity, in which the phenotypes arising from alleles of a single gene differ. By focusing initial studies on multiplex families with apparent simple Mendelian inheritance the effect of heterogeneity is minimized.
Gender differences: the perspective from biology
Authors: Lockshin R A
Published: November 2006

The remarkable thing about sexual differentiation is its diversity. That males are the heterogametic sex, larger than females, more aggressive than females, and the ‘non-default’ mode of sexual differentiation are concepts not valid throughout most of the animal kingdom. Sex chromosomes are characteristic only of land animals. In birds, the heterogametic sex is female and the sex chromosomes are not related to those of mammals. External factors such as temperature determine sex in lower vertebrates, and there is no similarity among sex-determining genes of different species. The somatic origin of the sex-determining genes and sex chromosomes forces us to ask: what are the other functions of these genes? Because of the obviousness of the sex chromosomes and hormones we may have focused too little on the somatic effects of sex.
Gender and vascular reactivity
Authors: Miller V M
Published: November 2006

Estrogen receptors are found on vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells; their expression is influenced by exposure to the hormone. Estrogen receptors influence non-genomic events, which are rapid in onset and genomic events, which are longer acting responses. Estrogens affect vascular tone indirectly by modulating release of endothelium-derived vasoactive factors and directly by modulating intracellular calcium in vascular smooth muscle cells. Estrogens indirectly affect thrombotic events and inflammation by altering platelet aggregation and leukocyte adherence and migration, respectively. Estrogens also influence production of mitogens which, when released at sites of vascular injury, affect vascular remodeling. Although estrogens initiate vascular responses, genomic sex may influence and/or limit expression of estrogen receptors and therefore actions of sex steroid hormones throughout the vasculature.
Induction of antiphospholipid antibodies by immunization with synthetic viral and bacterial peptides
Authors: Gharavi E E , Chaimovich H , Cucurull E , Celli C M , Tang H , Wilson W A , Gharavi A E
Published: November 2006

We previously induced pathogenic antibodies against anionic phospholipids (PL) in experimental animals by immunization with lipid-free purified human β2glycoprotein I (β2GPI). We hypothesized that antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are induced by in vivo binding of foreign b2GPI to self-PL, thus forming an immunogenic complex against which aPL antibodies are produced. If this hypothesis is true, other PL-binding proteins that are products of ubiquitous viral/bacterial agents may also induce aPL. To test this hypothesis, groups of NIH/Swiss mice were immunized with synthetic peptides of viral and bacterial origin that share structural similarity with the putative PL-binding region of β2GPI. Compared with the control groups, animals immunized with the peptides produced significantly higher levels of aPL and anti-β2GPI antibodies. These findings demonstrate that some PL-binding viral and bacterial proteins function like β2GPI in inducing aPL and anti-β2GPI production, and are consistent with a role for such viral and bacterial proteins in inducing aPL antibody production in humans.
A Preliminary Investigation of ADHD Symptoms in Persons With Celiac Disease
Authors: Niederhofer Helmut , Pittschieler Klaus
Published: November 2006

Objective: Several studies report a possible association of celiac disease (CD) with psychiatric and psychological disturbances, such as ADHD.

Method: The authors assess 132 participants from 3 to 57 years of age ( M = 19.3 years) affected by CD for the possibility of an associated ADHD-like symptomatology, using the Conner Scale Hypescheme, a behavioral scale similar to the Conners Rating Scales, before their gluten-free diet was started and 6 months later.

Results: The overall score improves significantly as well as most of the ADHD-like symptomatology specific features (Bonferroni-corrected, paired-sample t tests).

Conclusion: The data indicate that ADHD-like symptomatology is markedly overrepresented among untreated CD patients and that a gluten-free diet may improve symptoms significantly within a short period of time. The results of this study also suggest that CD should be included in the list of diseases associated with ADHD-like symptomatology.
Influence of Si, Ca and Ag addition on corrosion behaviour of new wrought Mg–Zn alloys
Authors: Ben-Hamu G. , Eliezer D. , Shin K. S.
Published: November 2006

The development of new wrought magnesium alloys for automotive industry has increased in recent years owing to their high potential as structural materials for low density and high strength/weight ratio demands. However, the poor mechanical properties and low corrosion resistance of the magnesium alloys have led to searching a new kind of magnesium alloys for better strength, ductility and high corrosion resistance. The main objective of the present research is to investigate the mechanical properties and the corrosion behaviour of new magnesium alloys, Mg–Zn–Ag (ZQ) and Mg–Zn–Si–Ca (ZS) alloys. The ZQ6X and ZS6X–YCa alloys were prepared by using hot extrusion method. Hardness AC and DC polarisation tests were carried out on the extruded rods, which contain different amounts of silver or silicon and calcium. The potential difference in air between different phases and the matrix was examined using scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy. The microstructure was examined using optical and electron microscopy (TEM and SEM), X-ray analysis and EDS. The results showed that the silver addition improved the mechanical properties but decreased the corrosion resistance. The addition of silicon and calcium also affected both mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour. These results can be explained by the effects of alloying elements on microstructure of Mg–Zn alloys such as grain size and precipitates caused by the change in precipitation and recrystallisation behaviour.