bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Topiramate Improves Health‐Related Quality of Life When Used to Prevent Migraine
Authors: Diamond Merle , Dahlöf Carl , Papadopoulos George , Neto Walter , S‐C Wu
Published: August 2005

Objective.—To assess changes in health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) measures among patients receiving topiramate (TPM) 100 mg/d in two divided doses for migraine prevention in three randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, 26‐week trials with similar protocols and study populations.

Background.—Migraine substantially impairs HRQoL and work productivity before, during, and after attacks. Approximately 50% of patients with migraine could be recommended for preventive therapies, yet only 3% to 5% of patients receive them. TPM is an effective and generally well‐tolerated migraine prophylactic (preventive) therapy for adults, as demonstrated in several randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trials. The most common adverse events in double‐blind, placebo‐controlled studies of TPM in migraine prevention are paresthesia, fatigue, anorexia, nausea, taste alteration, and diarrhea.

Design and Methods.—The Migraine‐Specific Questionnaire (MSQ, version 2.1) was used to assess the effect of TPM 100 mg/d on the functionality and HRQoL of randomized intent‐to‐treat (ITT) and study‐completer populations pooled from three randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trials. MSQ scores (0 to 100, higher score indicates better functioning) were assessed for the following three domains: role restriction (examines the degree to which performance of daily activities is limited by migraine), role prevention (examines the degree to which performance of daily activities is interrupted by migraine), and emotional function (examines feelings of frustration and helplessness due to migraine). Between‐group differences from baseline in mean MSQ domain scores for TPM 100 mg/d and placebo were compared using a mixed‐effects model with piecewise linear regression. Effect sizes were calculated to estimate the magnitude of change in HRQoL that can be associated with TPM therapy.

Results.—TPM 100 mg/d significantly improved all three MSQ domains compared with placebo for both the ITT (TPM, n = 372; placebo, n = 362) and study‐completer (TPM, n = 220; placebo, n = 216) populations (P < .001 for all three domains, both populations). Effect sizes for TPM 100 mg/d varied from 0.40 to 0.78, indicating that the changes in MSQ scores for TPM 100 mg/d were moderate and may be clinically significant.

Conclusion.—TPM 100 mg/d has been shown to be effective in the prevention of migraine headache in adults. As the MSQ results from the three randomized, placebo‐controlled trials indicate, HRQoL is significantly improved for up to 6 months following initiation of treatment.
Enhanced Trigemino‐Cervical‐Spinal Reflex Recovery Cycle in Pain‐Free Migraineurs
Authors: Serrao Mariano , Perrotta Armando , Bartolo Michelangelo , Fiermonte Giancarlo , Pauri Flavia , Rossi Paolo , Parisi Leoluca , Pierelli Francesco
Published: August 2005

Objective.—To evaluate trigemino‐cervical‐spinal reflexes (TCSRs) in a group of migraine patients during the pain‐free period.

Background.—TCRSs are part of a complex nocifensive response involving the cervical and the upper limb muscles, and are modulated by supraspinal inhibitory pathways; it may, thus, be possible to use TCRSs to explore the trigeminal system in migraineurs.

Methods.—A total of 43 migraine patients without aura (MWoA, 32 patients) or with typical aura (MWA, 11 patients) and 30 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy subjects took part in the study. TCRSs were obtained by stimulating the supraorbital nerve and recorded from the semispinalis capitis muscle and the biceps brachii. The latency (L, msec), area (A, mVms) and recovery cycle of the reflexes were recorded. The effects of heterotopic painful stimulation on the neurophysiological parameters were studied by a validated cold pressor test (CPT).

Results.—No significant changes were found between either migraine patients and controls or MWoA and MWA patients in the mean values in the L and A of TCRSs (t‐test, P > .05). The recovery curve of the trigemino‐cervical reflexes (TCRs) was significantly faster in migraine patients than in controls, while no differences were found in the trigemino‐spinal reflexes (TSRs) (t‐test, P < .01). Activation of the diffuse inhibitory controls through the CPT induced a significant reduction in the TCRs and TSRs area in both migraine patients and controls (paired t‐test, P < .01), though the extent of this reduction did not differ significantly between migraineurs and controls (t‐test, P > .05).

Comments.—Our data suggest that the pain‐free period in migraine patients is characterized by a hyperexcitability of the trigeminal pathways and of their anatomical and functional connections with the upper cervical cord neurons, and that this abnormal hyperexcitability does not appear to be due to a lack of a supraspinal inhibitory modulation.
A Pilot Study of Botulinum Toxin A for Headache in Cervical Dystonia
Authors: Ondo William G. , Gollomp Stephen , Galvez‐Jimenez Nestor
Published: August 2005

Objective.—To evaluate the prevalence of associated headache (HA) pain with craniocervical dystonia and the therapeutic effect of BoNT‐A injections on the HA component when injected for cervical dystonia.

Background.—HA associated with craniocervical dystonia is a recent formally codified entity, but has not been systematically studied.

Methods.—We identified 44 subjects from three movement disorder clinics who presented with craniocervical dystonia and concurrent HA pain. The subjects were injected with botulinum toxin type A (BoNT‐A) and prospectively evaluated with the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS), headache diaries, Headache Impact Test (HIT‐6), and Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS), along with HA pain anatomy and adverse events, at baseline, and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post‐injection.

Results.—As expected, all aspects of the TWSTRS robustly improved. Headache diaries and the HIT‐6 also improved at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post‐injection. Sections of the MIDAS improved, and adverse events were minimal.

Conclusion.—BoNT‐A safely improves headache associated with craniocervical dystonia when administered for the primary condition of craniocervical dystonia.
Tinnitus in Migraine: An Allodynic Symptom Secondary to Abnormal Cortical Functioning?
Authors: Volcy Michel , Sheftell Fred D. , Tepper Stewart J. , Rapoport Alan M. , Bigal Marcelo E.
Published: August 2005

Tinnitus is not a common auditory symptom in migraine. Recent research suggests that central sensitization (CS) develops in most migraneurs during the course of a migraine attack. Herein we describe 3 patients with primary headache disorders and tinnitus as their chief complaint, in whom the tinnitus intensity consistently increased during headache attacks. In headache patients, tinnitus may be related to spontaneous and aberrant neural activity at any level along the auditory axis, with abnormal reorganization processes in the auditory cortex following hearing receptor damage. We hypothesize that the tinnitus intensity increase could be an allodynic symptom related to CS, or alternatively could be associated with cortical hyperexcitability.
Occurrence of Non‐Q wave Myocardial Infarction Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in the Stent Era: Systematic Monitoring of the Three Markers of Myocardial Necrosis
Authors: VARANI ELISABETTA , BALDUCELLI MARCO , VECCHI GIUSEPPE , GATTI CINZIA , LUCCHI GIULIA RICCI , MARESTA ALEARDO
Published: August 2005

Objectives: To compare the elevation of the three markers total creatine kinase (CK), CK‐MB mass, and troponin I (TnI) and their relationship with clinical and procedural characteristics following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: We prospectively evaluated 385 patients consecutively undergoing successful PCI. The three markers were systematically measured before and at 6, 12, and 24 hours after PCI. Any increase above the upper normal limit (UNL) of any marker has been considered abnormal when basal values were normal, while a further increase was needed when basal values were altered. Patients with ongoing acute myocardial infarction were excluded from the analysis.

Results: TnI was above UNL in 183 patients (51%); in 138 (38.5%) it was the only marker altered. CK‐MB mass was elevated in 12.8% patients, more than 3× UNL in 5.5% and more than 5× UNL in 2.8%. In over one half of these patients, CK‐MB values peaked at 12 hours following PCI. Total CK was above UNL in 23 patients only (6.4%) and more than twice UNL in 5 (1.4%). Only 1 patient out of the 5 with CK‐MB mass more than 10× UNL had total CK higher than twice UNL. In our population, post‐PCI elevation of myocardial necrosis markers correlate with the occurrence of minor procedural complications (observed overall in 7.8% cases; TnI and/or CK‐MB > 1×UNL 96% vs 47.5%, P < 0.001) and the presence of higher complexity clinical and/or procedural features, such as multivessel disease, multivessel or multilesion PCI, multiple stenting and use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors.

Conclusions: The elevation of at least one biochemical marker of myocardial necrosis is frequent following successful PCI with routine stent implantation. CK‐MB mass is the most practical marker, having optimal kinetic and peaking with the first 12–18 hours post‐PCI. Definitive data on the prognostic role and the applicability for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction of minor elevation of CK‐MB mass or isolated increase of TnI are lacking.
Left Internal Mammary Angiography Complicated by Subclavian Tortuousity: A Technical Note
Authors: SKOWASCH DIRK , LÜDERITZ BERNDT , BAURIEDEL GERHARD
Published: August 2005

Current elective bypass procedures frequently involve placement of a left internal mammary artery (LIMA). Accordingly, there is an increased need to prove either preoperative adequacy or postoperative patency of this graft. We report a patient with a tortuous left subclavian artery inaccessible for any standard catheterization technique for LIMA opacification. The problem was overcome by a CHOICE PT guidewire whose trackability permitted the passage through the subclavian kinking and, subsequently, to coaxially advance a multipurpose catheter to the entrance of the LIMA. The described setting may be helpful for diagnostic LIMA imaging in selected cases.
Rotational Coronary Atherectomy in Acute ST‐Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors: HO PAUL C.
Published: August 2005

The usual large thrombus load encountered in acute ST‐elevation myocardial infarctions increases the likelihood for slow‐flow or no‐reflow during percutaneous coronary intervention. The use of rotational atherectomy in this clinical scenario is usually prohibitive due to the potential for further induction of platelet activation and aggregation by the rotating burr. In this case presentation, primary percutaneous coronary intervention for an acute ST‐elevation myocardial infarction was performed. Due to the complex vessel geometry, pretreatment with atherectomy was mandatory with the only available atherectomy device in the laboratory: Rotablator®. This case represents the first report on the successful use of rotational coronary atherectomy in the setting of acute ST‐elevation myocardial infarction.
Advice Given to Parents on Welcoming a Second Child: A Critical Review*
Authors: Kramer Laurie , Ramsburg Dawn
Published: August 2005

A review of popular press books and articles for parents published between 1975 and 2000 was conducted to delineate the areas in which the advice given to parents about the transition to a second child is consistent with or diverges from the results of relevant research. Although popular advice reflects available research in certain areas (e.g., encouraging sibling caregiving), research to substantiate other directives (e.g., sibling preparation classes) is lacking. Key research findings about how to promote harmonious sibling relationships often are not represented in popular writings. These results highlight the need for researchers and popular press writers to acknowledge their complementary roles in disseminating information.
Spankers and Nonspankers: Where They Get Information on Spanking*
Authors: Walsh Wendy
Published: August 2005

Because spanking is common, puts children at risk for harmful side effects, and is ineffective as a positive behavior management tool, it is important to identify the kind of advice families receive about the appropriateness of spanking. Using the health belief model, I examined spankers and nonspankers on the spanking messages they received from eight sources of discipline information and how important they perceived these messages to be. Data from telephone interviews with 998 mothers with children aged 2 to 14 years showed that 33% of mothers rated advice from workshops, pediatricians, newspapers and magazines, and books as “very important.” Less than 15% rated parents and relatives and friends as such. Spankers perceived sources as recommending spanking, whereas nonspankers perceived sources as opposing spanking. Mothers were more likely to spank when they perceived more intense messages to spank, less intense messages opposing spanking, had younger children, and were of lower socioeconomic status.
Rare Complication of Multiple Revision Surgeries of Penile Prosthesis
Authors: Park Jong Kwan , Jang Sang Woong , Lee Sung Won , Cui Yong
Published: August 2005

Introduction

Migration of the penile prosthesis reservoir into the bladder is rare.

Methods

A 67–year–old male was found with painful gross hematuria after two revision surgeries of the penile prosthesis.

Results

The inflatable penile prosthesis reservoir migrated into the bladder. A new reservoir was repositioned on the contralateral side to the erosion site with salvage surgery.

Conclusions

Erosion of penile prosthesis reservoir into the bladder due to shortened tubing by multiple revision surgeries is rare. In selected cases, reposition of a new reservoir on the contralateral side to the erosion site can be used as salvage surgery.
Sexual Intercourse Attempt Patterns with Two Dosing Regimens of Tadalafil in Men with Erectile Dysfunction: Results from the SURE Study in 14 European Countries
Authors: Moncada Ignacio , Damber Jan-Erik , Mirone Vincenzo , Wespes Eric , Casariego Joaquin , Chan Melanie , Varanese Lucio
Published: August 2005

Objective

To describe the pattern of sexual attempts by men with erectile dysfunction (ED) taking tadalafil 20 mg on demand or on an alternative dosing regimen, 3 times/week, and to assess changes in sexual behavior when the patients were exposed to the alternative regimen.

Design and Methods

Scheduled use versus on–demand regimen evaluation (SURE) is a multicenter, crossover, open–label study conducted in 14 European countries. Men with ED (N = 4,262) were randomized to tadalafil 20 mg on–demand treatment (maximum one dose per day and before sexual activity) or 3 times/week for 5–6 weeks. After a 1–week washout period, patients were crossed over to the alternative regimen for 5–6 weeks.

Results

Nearly half (47%) of the attempts on the on–demand regimen and 71% of the attempts on the 3 times/week treatment were performed by patients more than 4 hours post dosing. Sexual activity occurred throughout the week on both regimens, with the highest percentage of attempts made during the weekend (50% on on–demand and 48% on 3 times/week) and evening and morning hours. The efficacy of tadalafil was more than 70% mean–per–patient success rate (Sexual Encounter Profile question 3) regardless of the time interval post dosing.

Conclusions

Patients on tadalafil changed their sexual behavior significantly when on an alternative dosing regimen (3 times/week) and had sexual attempts distributed over a wide period of time post dosing. A substantial number of sexual attempts were performed beyond the first 4 hours post dosing on both regimens (47% for on–demand and 71% for 3 times/week) and preferably in the evening and morning hours. Tadalafil was efficacious regardless of the time interval post dosing-i.e., up to 36 hours. The two treatment regimens, on–demand and 3 times/week, provide an additional option and unique flexibility in dosing for men with ED and their partners.
An Evaluation of a Telephone Follow–Up Clinic in Urology
Authors: Wylie Kevan , Allen Patricia , Hallam-Jones Ruth
Published: August 2005

Objective

To evaluate the introduction of telephone follow–up reviews for prescriptions of oral erectogenic agents.

Patients and Methods

124 men of 166 invited patients who had participated in telephone consultations during the first 12 months of operation.

Results

91.9% of respondents found the telephone clinic more convenient than traditional attendance particularly because the former requires no travel and waiting time to be seen by a consultant.

Conclusion

Men with erectile dysfunction can be followed up by telephone in the majority of cases where an oral erectogenic agent has been prescribed.
Cholesterol Feeding Reduces Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Signaling in Rabbit Corporal Tissues
Authors: Xie Donghua , Kontos Christopher D. , Donatucci Craig F. , Annex Brian H.
Published: August 2005

Purpose

Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for erectile dysfunction (ED), but the mechanisms are not completely understood. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is reduced in rabbit corporal tissue with cholesterol feeding. VEGF signaling leads to the phosphorylation of Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (p–Akt and p–eNOS).

Material and Methods

New Zealand White rabbits (n = 50) were fed a 1% cholesterol (n = 8, 8, 8, 4) or normal (n = 6, 6, 6, 4) diet for 2, 4.5, 7.5, and 12 weeks. Akt, p–Akt, and p–Akt/Akt were measured by enzyme–linked immunosorbent assay. Levels of eNOS, p–eNOS, and neuronal and inducible nitric oxide synthase (nNOS and iNOS) mRNA and protein were assessed by polymerase chain reaction and Western analysis.

Results

Cholesterol feeding was associated with a significant decrease in p–Akt/Akt 2.16–fold (P < 0.05), 3.28–fold (P < 0.02), and 3.42–fold (P < 0.02) at 4.5, 7.5, and 12 weeks., respectively. The reduction in p–Akt/Akt with the cholesterol diet at 2 weeks was not significantly different, but the correlation between the duration of cholesterol feeding and the reduction in p–Akt/Akt was high (r 2 = 0.858). eNOS protein or mRNA did not change with cholesterol feeding, but p–eNOS was significantly decreased at 4.5 weeks and all subsequent time points. nNOS mRNA and protein levels were decreased at 4.5 weeks and all subsequent time points, while iNOS was not different between groups.

Conclusions

Hypercholesterolemia results in decreased VEGF signaling and decreased levels of the active form of eNOS in corporal tissue. Levels of nNOS were reduced by a different mechanism. VEGF signaling may provide a target to modulate ED.
The Antimasturbation Crusade in Antebellum American Medicine
Authors: Hodges Frederick M.
Published: August 2005

The antimasturbation fervor that swept through the English–speaking world during the 19th century raged with particular intensity and unequaled duration in the United States. American medical leaders were convinced that masturbation was the underlying cause of nearly all social problems and diseases. Even after the discovery and general acceptance of the germ theory of disease in the late 19th century, the U.S. medical establishment continued to maintain well into the middle of the 20th century that masturbation was both a pathological act and a cause of mental and physical disease. This article explores the dominant themes in the medical doctrines about masturbation that prevailed in the first half of the 19th century, by examining the case reports of five prominent American physicians: Benjamin Rush, Samuel Bayard Woodward, Alfred Hitchcock, Alonzo Garwood, and Edward H. Dixon.
Trefftz Finite Element Method and Its Applications
Authors: Qin Qing-Hua
Published: August 2005

This paper presents an overview of the Trefftz finite element and its application in various engineering problems. Basic concepts of the Trefftz method are discussed, such as T-complete functions, special purpose elements, modified variational functionals, rank conditions, intraelement fields, and frame fields. The hybrid-Trefftz finite element formulation and numerical solutions of potential flow problems, plane elasticity, linear thin and thick plate bending, transient heat conduction, and geometrically nonlinear plate bending are described. Formulations for all cases are derived by means of a modified variational functional and T-complete solutions. In the case of geometrically nonlinear plate bending, exact solutions of the Lamé-Navier equations are used for the in-plane intraelement displacement field, and an incremental form of the basic equations is adopted. Generation of elemental stiffness equations from the modified variational principle is also discussed. Some typical numerical results are presented to show the application of the finite element approach. Finally, a brief summary of the approach is provided and future trends in this field are identified. There are 151 references cited in this revised article.
Deformation and Failure in Thin Films/Substrate Systems: Methods of Theoretical Analysis
Authors: Mishnaevsky Leon L. , Gross Dietmar
Published: August 2005

This paper reviews the theoretical models and methods of analysis of deformation, damage and fracture in thin film/substrate systems. The mechanisms and models of the plastic deformation of thin films, as well as the effects of the dislocation formation and movement on the strength and deformation of thin films are reviewed. The concepts and methods of the theoretical and numerical analysis of the crack propagation in thin films are discussed. The mechanisms and models of cracking, decohesion and delamination, the effects of the substrate properties, as well as of cracking in a thin film between two substrates are analyzed. Continuum mechanical, probabilistic, and lattice models of damage evolution in brittle thin films, the fragmentation of thin films on a substrate, and the formation of the crack patterns are reviewed as well. Numerical models of nanoindentation are discussed. This review article contains 106 references.
FRICTION PAIR MODELING BY A 2-DOF SYSTEM: NUMERICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS
Authors: AWREJCEWICZ JAN , OLEJNIK PAWEŁ
Published: August 2005

A self-excited friction pair is modeled by a mechanical system of two degrees-of-freedom with a normal force varying during the block displacement. Two different friction coefficients are used, and a normal force pressing the sliding body to a belt depending on an angle bar motion of the analyzed system is applied. In addition, the numerical analysis is supported by the investigation of a real laboratory object modeling the feedback reinforcement of friction forces acting on the block. Both numerical and experimental results are compared showing good agreement.
Role of the hepatic sympathetic nerves in the regulation of net hepatic glucose uptake and the mediation of the portal glucose signal
Authors: DiCostanzo Catherine A. , Dardevet Dominique P. , Neal Doss W. , Lautz Margaret , Allen Eric , Snead Wanda , Cherrington Alan D.
Published: August 2005

Portal glucose delivery enhances net hepatic glucose uptake (NHGU) relative to peripheral glucose delivery. We hypothesize that the sympathetic nervous system normally restrains NHGU, and portal glucose delivery relieves the inhibition. Two groups of 42-h-fasted conscious dogs were studied using arteriovenous difference techniques. Denervated dogs (DEN; n = 10) underwent selective sympathetic denervation by cutting the nerves at the celiac nerve bundle near the common hepatic artery; control dogs (CON; n = 10) underwent a sham procedure. After a 140-min basal period, somatostatin was given along with basal intraportal infusions of insulin and glucagon. Glucose was infused peripherally to double the hepatic glucose load (HGL) for 90 min ( P1). In P2, glucose was infused intraportally (3–4 mg·kg−1·min−1), and the peripheral glucose infusion was reduced to maintain the HGL for 90 min. This was followed by 90 min ( P3) in which portal glucose infusion was terminated and peripheral glucose infusion was increased to maintain the HGL. P1 and P3 were averaged as the peripheral glucose infusion period (PE). The average HGLs (mg·kg−1·min−1) in CON and DEN were 55 ± 3 and 54 ± 4 in the peripheral periods and 55 ± 3 and 55 ± 4 in P2, respectively. The arterial insulin and glucagon levels remained basal in both groups. NHGU (mg·kg−1·min−1) in CON averaged 1.7 ± 0.3 during PE and increased to 2.9 ± 0.3 during P2. NHGU (mg·kg−1·min−1) was greater in DEN than CON ( P < 0.05) during PE (2.9 ± 0.4) and failed to increase significantly (3.2 ± 0.2) during P2 (not significant vs. CON). Selective sympathetic denervation increased NHGU during hyperglycemia but significantly blunted the response to portal glucose delivery.
On the Role of sIL‐2R Measurements in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Cancers
Authors: Witkowska Anna Maria
Published: August 2005

A soluble IL‐2 receptor (sIL‐2R) is a circulating form of a membrane receptor localized on lymphoid and some cancer cells. The biological function of sIL‐2R has not been completely understood. Substantially, it seems to reflect T‐lymphocyte activation in
diseases of different pathology. Moreover, the soluble receptor has been considered, at least in part, responsible for unsuccessful immunotherapy with IL‐2 in cancers. Several lines of evidence indicate sIL‐2R measurements to be useful in determining disease progress and prognosis. This review summarizes current knowledge on the sIL‐2R behavior in RA and solid cancers of varied etiology.
Release of IL‐1β via IL‐1β‐Converting Enzyme in a Skin Dendritic Cell Line Exposed to 2,4‐Dinitrofluorobenzene
Authors: Matos Teresa J. , Jaleco Sara P. , Gonçalo Margarida , Duarte Carlos B. , Lopes M. Celeste
Published: August 2005

We used a mouse fetal skin dendritic cell line (FSDC) to study the
effect of the strong allergen 2,4‐dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) on interleukin (IL)‐1β release and IL‐1β receptor immunoreactivity. Stimulation with DNFB (30 minutes) increased
IL‐1β release without changing the mRNA levels of the protein. Furthermore, DNFB increased transiently the interleukin‐1β‐converting enzyme (ICE) activity, as measured with its fluorogenic substrate Z‐Tyr‐Val‐Ala‐Asp‐AFC. The ICE inhibitor Z‐YVAD‐FMK prevented the release of IL‐1β evoked by DNFB. Incubation of the cells with DNFB (30 minutes) strongly
increased IL‐1β receptor immunoreactivity. The rapid effect of DNFB on the release of mature IL‐1β, without inducing an increase of IL‐1β mRNA in FSDC, suggests a posttranslational modification of pro‐IL‐1β by ICE activity.
Correlation of Endostatin and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP2) Serum Levels With Cardiovascular Involvement in Systemic Sclerosis Patients
Authors: Dziankowska-Bartkowiak Bożena , Waszczykowska Elżbieta , Zalewska Anna , Sysa-Jędrzejowska Anna
Published: August 2005

Fibrosis of oesophagus, lungs, heart, and kidney in the course of systemic sclerosis (SSc) may lead to dysfunction of the above organs or even patients death. Recent studies point out the role of angiogenesis and fibrosis disturbances in the
pathogenesis of SSc. Heart fibrosis is one of the most important prognostic factors in SSc patients. So, the aim of our study was to examine cardiovascular dysfunction in SSc patients and its correlation with serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endostatin, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP2). The study group comprised 34 patients (19 with limited scleroderma (lSSc) and 15 with diffuse scleroderma (dSSc)). The control group consisted of 20 healthy persons, age and sex matched. Internal organ involvement was assessed on the basis of specialist procedures. Serum VEGF, endostatin, and TIMP2 levels were evaluated by ELISA. We found cardiovascular changes in 15 patients with SSc (8 with lSSc and 7 with dSSc). The observed symptoms were of different characters and also coexisted with each other. Higher endostatin serum levels in all systemic sclerosis patients in comparison to the control group were demonstrated (P<.05). Also higher serum levels of endostatin and TIMP2 were observed in patients with cardiovascular changes in comparison to the patients without such changes (P<.05). The obtained results support the notion that angiogenesis and fibrosis disturbances may play an important role in SSc. Evaluation of endostatin and TIMP2 serum levels seems to be one of the noninvasive, helpful examinations of heart involvement in the course of systemic sclerosis.
Suppression of Matrix Metalloproteinase Production in Nasal Fibroblasts by Tranilast, an Antiallergic Agent, In Vitro
Authors: Shimizu Toshiyuki , Kanai Kenichi , Asano Kazuhito , Hisamitsu Tadashi , Suzaki Harumi
Published: August 2005

Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory disease characterized by nasal wall remodeling with intense infiltration of eosinophils and mast cells/basophils. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP‐2 and MMP‐9, are the major proteolytic enzymes that induce airway remodeling. These enzymes are also important in the migration of
inflammatory cells through basement membrane components. We evaluated whether tranilast (TR) could inhibit MMP production from nasal fibroblasts in response to tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) stimulation in vitro. Nasal fibroblasts (NF) were established from nasal polyp tissues taken from patients with allergic rhinitis. NF (2×105 cells/mL) were stimulated with TNF‐α in the presence of various concentrations of TR. After 24 hours, the culture supernatants were obtained and assayed for MMP‐2, MMP‐9, TIMP‐1, and TIMP‐2
levels by ELISA. The influence of TR on mRNA expression of MMPs and TIMPs in cells cultured for 12 hours was also evaluated by RT‐PCR. TR at more than 5 × 10−5 M inhibited the production of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 from NF in response to TNF‐α stimulation, whereas TIMP‐1 and TIMP‐2 production was scarcely affected. TR also inhibited MMP mRNA expression in NF after TNF‐α stimulation. The present data suggest that the attenuating effect of TR on MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 production from NF induced by inflammatory stimulation may underlie the therapeutic mode of action of the agent in patients with allergic diseases, including allergic rhinitis.
Vascular Sensitivity to Phenylephrine in Rats Submitted to Anaerobic Training and Nandrolone Treatment
Authors: Cunha Tatiana Sousa , José Maria , Moura Costa Sampaio , Bernardes Celene Fernandes , Tanno Ana Paula , Marcondes Fernanda Klein
Published: August 2005

The effect of anaerobic physical training and nandrolone treatment on the sensitivity to phenylephrine in thoracic aorta and lipoprotein plasma levels of rats was studied. Sedentary and trained male Wistar rats were treated with vehicle or nandrolone (5 mg/kg IM; twice per week) for 6 weeks. Training was performed by jumping into water (4 sets, 10 repetitions, 30-second rest, 50% to 70% body weight load, 5 days/week, 6 weeks). Two days after the last training session, the animals were killed and blood samples for lipoprotein dosage were obtained. Thoracic aorta was isolated and concentration-effect curves of phenylephrine were performed in intact endothelium and endothelium-denuded aortic rings in the absence or presence of N
G
-
l
-arginine-methyl ester. No changes were observed in endothelium-denuded aortic rings. However, in endothelium-intact thoracic aorta, anaerobic physical training induced subsensitivity to phenylephrine (pD
2
=7.11±0.07) compared with sedentary group (7.55±1.74), and this effect was canceled by the inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis. No difference was observed between trained (7.22±0.07) and sedentary (7.28±0.09) groups treated with nandrolone. Anaerobic training induced an increase in high-density lipoprotein levels in vehicle-treated rats, but there were no changes in nandrolone-treated groups. Training associated with nandrolone induced an increase in low-density lipoprotein levels but no change in the other groups. If altering endothelium-dependent vasodilatation is considered to be a beneficial adaptation to anaerobic physical training, it is concluded that nandrolone treatment worsens animals’ endothelial function, and this effect may be related to lipoprotein blood levels.
Non-Narcotic Analgesic Dose and Risk of Incident Hypertension in US Women
Authors: Forman John P. , Stampfer Meir J. , Curhan Gary C.
Published: August 2005

Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin are the most commonly used drugs in the United States. Although the frequency of their use has been associated with hypertension, prospective data examining the dose of these drugs and risk of hypertension are lacking. Furthermore, whether certain indications for analgesic use, particularly headache, mediate the association is unclear. We conducted 2 prospective cohort studies among older women 51 to 77 years of age (n=1903) from the Nurses’ Health Study I and younger women 34 to 53 years of age (n=3220) from the Nurses’ Health Study II who completed detailed supplemental questionnaires pertaining to their analgesic use and who did not have hypertension at baseline. We analyzed incident hypertension according to categories of average daily dose of acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and aspirin. Information on indications for analgesic use as well as relevant confounders was also gathered prospectively. Compared with women who did not use acetaminophen, the multivariable adjusted relative risk for those who took >500 mg per day was 1.93 (1.30 to 2.88) among older women and 1.99 (1.39 to 2.85) among younger women. For nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, similar comparisons yielded multivariable relative risks of 1.78 (1.21 to 2.61) among older women and 1.60 (1.10 to 2.32) among younger women. These associations remained significant among women who did not report headache. Aspirin dose was not significantly associated with hypertension. Higher daily doses of acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs independently increase the risk of hypertension in women. Because acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used, they may contribute to the high prevalence of hypertension in the United States.
Detection of Coronary Stenoses at Rest With Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography
Authors: Wei Kevin , Tong Khim Leng , Belcik Todd , Rafter Patrick , Ragosta Michael , Wang Xin-Qun , Kaul Sanjiv
Published: August 2005

Background—

We hypothesized that autoregulatory changes in arteriolar blood volume (aBV) that develop distal to a stenosis can be measured with myocardial contrast echocardiography, allowing coronary stenosis detection at rest without recourse to stress.

Methods and Results—

Patients with varying degrees of coronary artery stenosis on quantitative angiography underwent high-mechanical-index myocardial contrast echocardiography at 15 Hz to allow measurement of phasic changes in aBV in large intramyocardial vessels using either Definity (group 1; n=22) or Imagent (group 2; n=22). Progressive increases in the background-subtracted systolic/diastolic aBV signal ratio were noted between each level (none, mild [<50%], moderate [50% to 75%], and severe [>75%]) of stenosis severity for both group 1 (0.09±0.13, 0.13±0.08, 0.58±0.22, and 0.77±0.40;
P
<0.001) and group 2 (0.10±0.05, 0.27±0.18, 0.39±0.28, and 0.74±0.37;
P
<0.0001) patients. A systolic/diastolic aBV signal ratio of >0.34 provided a sensitivity and specificity of 80% and 71%, respectively, for the detection of >75% coronary stenosis in group 1 patients, whereas a ratio of >0.43 provided a sensitivity and specificity of 89% and 74%, respectively, for the detection of >75% stenosis in group 2 patients.

Conclusions—

Both the presence and severity of a physiologically significant coronary stenosis can be detected at rest by measuring the increase in aBV on myocardial contrast echocardiography that occurs distally to the stenosis without recourse to any form of stress.
The Death of the Avantgarde
Authors: Savran David
Published: August 2005

Despite the disappearance of the historical avantgarde before WWII, both scholars and the popular press are reluctant to relinquish the belief in a radical, American, theatrical avantgarde. No other artists epitomize this avantgarde more than the Wooster Group, which, in its 30 years of work, has gradually become recognized as the emblematic avantgarde company. But was the avantgarde that developed in the 1970s ever really an avantgarde at all?
Milena' Wedding
Authors: Kennedy Adrienne
Published: August 2005

The polar forces that define Adrienne Kennedy's writing-the need to reveal and the need to conceal-have led her to create a body of work that, taken as a whole, becomes a puzzle-like challenge to audiences and readers who feel compelled to “know” the playwright, a coup-de-grace performance in itself. With the article is the first publication of Kennedy's short story, “Milena's Wedding.”
Zeno's Cosmology and the Presumption of Innocence. Interpretations and Vindications
Authors: Mouraviev Serge
Published: August 2005

The present study partly supports, partly corrects, and partly complements recent discussions of Arius Didymus fr. 23 and fr. 25 Diels, Aetius I, 20, 1 and Sextus Empiricus AM X, 3-4 = PH III, 124. It proposes a comprehensive interpretation of the first text (A.I), defends the attribution of its content to Zeno of Citium (A.II), interprets the Stoic definitions of space, place and void to be found in the other sources (B.I) and again vindicates the attribution of the core definitions to Zeno (B.II). The central methodological principle is the presumption of innocence for sources.The main conclusions of (A) are: 1. Arius Didymus' fr. 23 deals only with the coherence and the structure of the cosmos, not with its immobility; 2. The coherence of the cosmos, as that of any object, is determined by its hexis which pushes its parts towards its centre; 3. The structure of the cosmos, its stratification into the four concentric spheres of the elements, is determined by the combined effect of (a) the thrust downwards they all undergo from the cosmos' hexis; (b) their own natural weight or lightness and (c) the relative quantitative values of these weights or lightnesses; 4. The reasons adduced against Zeno's authorship are not based on the evidence but on the now prevalent disparaging sceptical approach towards Stobaeus' way of excerpting from Arius.The main conclusions of (B) are: 1. There is no deep contradiction between the various de finitions of space ascribed by our sources to Zeno, Chrysippus and the Stoics in general: what Chrysippus denied was the form of the de finition attributed to Zeno by Aetius, not the concept de fined, even though this form seems to have prevailed later in the school; 2. There is no good reason therefore to question its ascription to Zeno as some modern researchers have done; 3. Here again the error is due to a predominantly sceptical approach towards the reliability of our sources.
Dollarization of the South Pacific Island Countries: Results of a Preliminary Study
Authors:   Jayaraman
Published: August 2005

This paper examines the case for adopting the Australian dollar as a common currency among the island countries in the South Pacific. The proposal of a single currency was informally floated by Australia at the Pacific Forum Leaders Meeting in Auckland, in August 2003. The Pacific Forum consists of 14 developing island countries and the developed countries in the region, namely, Australia and New Zealand. In early 2003, a committee of the Australian Senate recommended adoption of a single currency as a possible remedy to meet the deteriorating economic situations in the Pacific island countries, arising out of poor fiscal discipline and failure to effectively use external aid inflows. Successful adoption of a single currency with either a new currency or an existing currency of a dominant partner in trade and development requires the fulfillment of various prerequirements, which are well known as optimum currency area conditions. The paper assesses the feasibility of the proposal in the light of these conditions and concludes that the time for adoption has not yet arrived.
An Ambiguous Discourse of Rights: the 2004 Family Law Reform in Morocco
Authors: Bargach Jamila
Published: August 2005

The daring reforms of the 2004 family law in Morocco were heralded as a watershed in the contemporary status of gender relations. Making the institution of the tutor optional, raising the age of marriage to be equal between men and women and granting rights of custody to the mother in cases of divorce or re-marriage were seen as valorizing to women. However, and despite this progressive thrust, there remain some murky areas pertaining to the question of birth outside wedlock. This article weaves its argument around the structural impossibility of establishing legal rights to unmarried mothers given that such a phenomenon symbolizes deep existential anxieties about changes occurring within hitherto controlled and taboo domains of sexuality and the right to sexuality. The crisis facing traditional forms of solidarity and the indeterminacy of the Mudawana's clauses invoke an embattled social space where women's "illegal" sexuality continues to be the vexing nexus.
Negotiating Independence in Mauritius
Authors: Mozaffar Shaheen
Published: August 2005

The democratic institutions, especially the electoral institutions for converting votes into seats that were chosen during independence negotiations, have been the key to democratic stability in Mauritius. These institutions emerged out of strategic bargaining structured around a combination of contextual and contingent variables. Conflicting political interests reflecting a combination of class, sectarian and communal interests influenced the institutional preferences of Mauritian elites involved in independence negotiations, leading them to converge on institutional designs that they expected would protect and promote those interests in the new democratic polity. Once in place, the new institutions represented equilibrium outcomes, creating incentives for all actors, engendering a learning curve in peaceful accommodation of inter-group conflicts, and establishing the political basis for social stability, democratic consolidation, and economic development.
Independence Negotiations in Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia
Authors: Kalinga Owen
Published: August 2005

This article examines the processes of negotiations for autonomy from British rule in Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It shows that developments in the Zambezia region, in particular African resistance to the Central African Federation, influenced the nature and pace of the negotiations. African nationalists conducted horizontal negotiations among themselves in addition to intense negotiations with colonial authorities divided between the Federation and London. In the end, the negotiations succeeded in transferring power to the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) led by Kamuzu Banda and the United National Independence Party (UNIP) under Kenneth Kaunda.
Negotiating Angola's Independence Transition: The Alvor Accords
Authors: Khadiagala Gilbert
Published: August 2005

The decolonization process that led to Angola's independence in November 1975 is instructive in the annals of colonial bargains for African independence. The coincidence of domestic turmoil in Portugal following the collapse of the dictatorship in April 1974 and the fragmentation of the Angolan nationalist movements created a context that precluded an orderly transition. Weak and indecisive leadership in Lisbon contributed to the crafting and implementation of the equally weak Alvor Accords. Lessons from Angola's decolonization, however, continue to inform international efforts to build effective mechanisms for implementing peace agreements.
Laboratory Experiments on Negotiation and Social Conflict
Authors: De Dreu Carsten , Carnevale Peter
Published: August 2005

This article describes how laboratory experiments are used by social psychologists and those in related fields to study conflict, negotiation, and mediation. In a laboratory experiment, the researcher experimentally controls one or more variables in controlled, artificial settings that induce processes likely to occur naturally. Laboratory experiments are the primary method used to establish cause-and-effect relationships among variables and to reduce alternative explanations; thus they are primarily concerned with validity of explanation. In this article, we describe several basic design features including conceptual replication, precise manipulation, and the use of a moderator variable, which all help assess the processes underlying a research finding. These design features foster conceptual internal validity, which describes the impact of one variable on another and the quality of such an explanation. Conceptual internal validity provides a basis for generalization of findings and thus new research. It also fosters strong inference, which helps build cumulative knowledge. Laboratory experiments are not well suited to answer all questions and problems – for example, they may not produce deep understanding of a particular historical event and must be supplemented by other methods, such as surveys and case studies.
Discourse Analysis: Mucking Around with Negotiation Data
Authors: Putnam Linda
Published: August 2005

This article focuses on qualitative research methods in negotiations, particular textual and discourse analyses. It defines discourse analysis and reviews the ways that researchers have used conversational, pragmatics, and rhetorical analyses to study negotiations. It discusses types of texts available for discourse analysis and the role of research questions in guiding the selection of texts and discourse units in bargaining. Discourse analysis helps researchers unpack the developmental and contextual features of negotiation; link micro patterns of talk to political, legal, and organizational processes; and uncover new concepts that extend the knowledge of negotiation. The final section of the article provides helpful hints for conducting discourse analysis and for interpreting the bargaining context.
Urban Teenagers
Authors: Entwisle Doris R. , Alexander Karl L. , Olson Linda Steffel
Published: August 2005

This article explores how employment affects the likelihood of dropout among high school students in Baltimore, a high-poverty city with a high dropout rate. Among 15-year-olds, those with teen jobs (e.g., lawn mowing, babysitting, etc.) were less than one third as likely to drop out as those who took adult-type jobs (manufacturing or business). This pattern reversed at age 16, however, because, at that age, holding an adult-type job as compared to a teen job reduced dropout risk. Patterns of work, for those older than ages 15 and 16, also affected dropout risk. Students who had been retained, but who made an orderly transition into work, were less likely to drop out than retained students who made a disorderly transition.
The people’s detective: true crime in Dutch folklore and popular television
Authors: Reijnders Stijn
Published: August 2005

Peter R. de Vries is a Dutch true crime television programme in the tradition of America’s Most Wanted. Critics say it is a threat to the moral order and the paradigm of an over-commercialized, degenerate television culture. This article argues differently: programmes such as Peter R. de Vries follow an existing tradition and morality in the history of popular culture. The 19th century saw various forms of entertainment that revolved around true crime. A comparison between these forms and the Peter R. de Vries episodes revealed striking similarities. Nevertheless, Peter R. de Vries is not a straightforward translation of folklore to television codes. The programme also incorporates features of more recent genres. Peter R. de Vries takes up a position in the vacuum between the official system of justice and the popular sense of justice, fulfilling a traditional need using new media.