bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of randomized controlled trials in systematic reviews: accuracy and reliability of screening records
Authors: Edwards Phil , Clarke Mike , DiGuiseppi Carolyn , Pratap Sarah , Roberts Ian , Wentz Reinhard
Published: August 2002

A study was conducted to estimate the accuracy and reliability of reviewers when screening records for relevant trials for a systematic review. A sensitive search of ten electronic bibliographic databases yielded 22 571 records of potentially relevant trials. Records were allocated to four reviewers such that two reviewers examined each record and so that identification of trials by each reviewer could be compared with those identified by each of the other reviewers. Agreement between reviewers was assessed using Cohen's kappa statistic. Ascertainment intersection methods were used to estimate the likely number of trials missed by reviewers. Full copies of reports were obtained and assessed independently by two researchers for eligibility for the review. Eligible reports formed the ‘gold standard’ against which an assessment was made about the accuracy of screening by reviewers. After screening, 301 of 22 571 records were identified by at least one reviewer as potentially relevant. Agreement was ‘almost perfect’ (κ>0.8) within two pairs, ‘substantial’ (κ>0.6) within three pairs and ‘moderate’ (κ>0.4) within one pair. Of the 301 records selected, 273 complete reports were available. When pairs of reviewers agreed on the potential relevance of records, 81 per cent were eligible (range 69 to 91 per cent). If reviewers disagreed, 22 per cent were eligible (range 12 to 45 per cent). Single reviewers missed on average 8 per cent of eligible reports (range 0 to 24 per cent), whereas pairs of reviewers did not miss any (range 0 to 1 per cent). The use of two reviewers to screen records increased the number of randomized trials identified by an average of 9 per cent (range 0 to 32 per cent). Reviewers can reliably identify potentially relevant records when screening thousands of records for eligibility. Two reviewers should screen records for eligibility, whenever possible, in order to maximize ascertainment of relevant trials. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relation between social problem‐solving appraisals, work stress and psychological distress in male firefighters
Authors: Baker Sarah R. , Williams Karen
Published: August 2002

The relationship between social problem‐solving appraisals, work (organizational and incident‐related) stress and psychological distress was assessed in 78 firefighters from three divisions of a UK regional Fire Service using an anonymous self‐report questionnaire. The results of an hierarchical regression analysis indicated that work stress and problem‐solving appraisal accounted for a significant amount of the variance (49 per cent) in psychological distress scores. A small but significant amount of additional variance was accounted for by the interactions between organizational and incident‐related stress and problem‐solving appraisals. More specific analysis indicated that of the six problem‐solving appraisal dimensions, the approach factor was the only significant predictor of psychological distress, after work stress levels were controlled. Individuals in different fire service ranks reported similar levels of organizational stress, self‐appraised problem solving and psychological distress, although watch members had higher incident‐related stress levels than senior officers. There were also differences in the pattern of organizational and incident‐related stressors between fire service ranks. Results are discussed in terms of the influence of problem‐solving appraisals on work stress and psychological distress, and the potential importance of such appraisals in intervention strategies for stress management in the fire service. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Automated computation and consistency checking of physical dimensions and units in scientific programs
Authors: Petty Grant W.
Published: August 2002

Physical dimensions and units form an essential part of the specification of constants and variables occurring in scientific programs, yet no standard compilable programming language implements direct support for automated dimensional consistency checking and unit conversion. This paper describes a conceptual basis and prototype implementation for such support within the framework of the standard Fortran 90 language. This is accomplished via an external module supplying appropriate user data types and operator interfaces. Legacy Fortran 77 scientific software can be easily modified to compile and run as ‘dimension‐aware’ programs utilizing the proposed enhancements. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of sulfur dioxide and particulate pollutants on bronchitis in children—A risk analysis
Authors: Herbarth Olf , Fritz Gisela , Krumbiegel Peter , Diez Ulrike , Franck Ullrich , Richter Matthias
Published: August 2002

The general morbidity is being influenced to a great extent by diseases of the respiratory tract. Since their incidence and prevalence have been increasing, the identification of causal factors, especially of environmental origin, is of importance, not just in view of implementing preventive control strategies. Primary irritative gaseous [like sulfur dioxide (SO2)] as well as particulate pollutants (like TSP) can be regarded as causal constituents. Using the opportunity of changing levels of ambient air pollution in East Germany since 1989, the impact of SO2 and TSP on bronchitis was investigated over the last 10 years as part of several intervention studies in a locally defined homogenous population, children. The data suggest a significant association between SO2 and the prevalence of bronchitis in children but not for TSP. Considering the findings of other studies with respect to air pollution and the epidemiology of adverse health effects (especially respiratory disease), these results would amend the hypothesis put forward in a review of the literature as TSP<ultrafine particles (SO)=SO2. Although these data show a significant association with only SO2, this does not imply that ultrafine particles, such as SO, do not contribute to the association with the observed adverse health effects. Nevertheless, the findings suggest that TSP seems less likely to be a predictor in the association with respiratory diseases, particularly not in the presence of high SO2. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Environ Toxicol 16: 269–276, 2001
Identification and characterization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants defective in fluid‐phase endocytosis
Authors: Wiederkehr Andreas , Meier Karsten D. , Riezman Howard
Published: August 2002

A mutant library generated by the European Functional Analysis Network (EUROFAN) was screened for strains defective in fluid‐phase endocytosis. Accumulation of Lucifer yellow in the vacuole was used as a marker for efficient endocytosis. Fourteen mutants, including ede1Δ, rcy1Δ, sys1Δ and tlg2Δ, previously described to be involved in membrane trafficking, were identified in this screen. α‐Factor uptake, endocytosis of FM4‐64, carboxypeptidase Y secretion, vacuolar morphology, and a vma2 synthetic growth defect were used as criteria to characterize the endocytic defect of the mutant strains obtained. Accordingly, eight mutant strains have endocytic phenotypes in addition to their defect in Lucifer yellow accumulation. These fluid‐phase endocytosis mutants are defective at different steps of the endocytic pathway. Interestingly, only two mutants were defective for internalization, two for vacuolar protein sorting and four mutants had aberrant vacuolar morphologies. Some of the mutants identified in this screen that sort carboxypeptidase Y correctly may affect endocytosis at an early post‐internalization step before the intersection of the endocytic with the vacuolar protein‐sorting pathway. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Isolation and study of KlLSM4 , a Kluyveromyces lactis gene homologous to the essential gene LSM4 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Mazzoni Cristina , Falcone Claudio
Published: August 2002

We have isolated the KlLSM4 gene as a multicopy suppressor of a Kluyveromyces lactis mutant which shows a rag− phenotype (resistance to antimycin A on glucose). This gene is homologous to the ScLSM4 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which codes for an essential 187 amino acid protein containing Sm‐like domains. These motifs are present in the evolutionarily conserved family of the Sm‐like proteins, which are involved in a large number of cellular processes, including pre‐mRNA splicing and mRNA decapping. We demonstrated that the first 72 amino acids of KlLsm4p, which contain the Sm‐like domains, can restore cell viability in both K. lactis and S. cerevisiae cells lacking the wild‐type protein. However, the absence of the carboxy‐terminal region resulted in a remarkable loss of cell viability in the stationary phase. The KlLSM4 sequence has been deposited in the EMBL Data library under Accession No. AJ311719. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Posterolateral aspect and stability of the knee joint. I. Anatomy and function of the popliteus muscle‐tendon unit: an anatomical and biomechanical study
Authors: Ullrich Karin , Krudwig Wilfried K. , Witzel Ulrich
Published: August 2002

This study examined ten human adult cadaveric knees to dissect the popliteus muscle‐tendon unit (PMTU), including its numerous attachments to other posterior and posterolateral structures, and to determine the effect of tensioning the PMTU on the internal and external rotation, total rotational arcs, and neutral tibial rotation in full extension and 30°, 60°, and 90° of knee flexion. The junction between the popliteus tendon and the fibular head commonly described as the popliteofibular ligament became lax in internal and tense in external tibial rotation. The internal and external rotational arcs increased gradually between extension and 90° of flexion. Tensioning the PMTU resulted in a statistically highly significant internal tibial rotation with decreased internal and increased rotational arcs. The anatomical findings and functional data indicate that the PMTU is an important structure maintaining dorsolateral stability, stabilizing the lateral meniscus, and balancing the neutral tibial rotation.
Long‐Term Follow‐up after Endoscopic Treatment of Bile Duct Calculi in Cholecystectomized Patients
Authors: Hammarström Lars‐Erik , Stridbeck Hans , Ihse Ingemar
Published: August 2002

Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is an established method for treatment of retained or recurrent common bile duct (CBD) calculi after cholecystectomy. Present experience shows that few patients have recurrent biliary tract complications, but follow‐up periods are most often short. EST was performed in 147 patients with bile duct calculi and remote cholecystectomy in our department from 1981 to 1992. In 8 of 147 patients (5.4%) complete removal of calculi failed. A total of 135 patients with a median age of 71 years (range 24–96 years) were eligible for a follow‐up of 23 to 153 months (median 86 months). Thirty‐seven patients have died without recurrent symptoms (a recurrent stone was revealed at postmortem examination in one patient), and four patients (two with calculi and two with cholangiocarcinoma) died with recurrent symptoms from the biliary tract. Ninety‐four patients are alive; and with the exception of two who have had cholangitis without or with post‐EST stenosis, respectively, they are all symptom‐free. Jaundice, cholangitis, and biliary pancreatitis prior to EST were the only factors that significantly (p= 0.006, Fisher’s exact test) predicted late biliary complications after EST in patients with recurrent calculi. These findings confirm that endoscopic treatment of CBD calculi in cholecystectomized patients has a low long‐term rate (5 of 135; 3.7%) of recurrent nonmalignant bile duct disease (three patients with CBD calculi and two with cholangitis).
Surgical Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Originating from the Caudate Lobe
Authors: Yang Ming‐Chi , Lee Po‐Huang , Sheu Jin‐Chuan , Lai Ming‐Yang , Hu Rey‐Heng , Wei Chang‐Kuo
Published: August 2002

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) originating from the caudate lobe is rare, and its surgical management is difficult because of its unique anatomic location. We have seen six such cases at our hospital. For patients with fair to excellent liver reserve, we advocated caudate lobectomy combining other types of hepatic resection. For patients with marked liver cirrhosis and poor liver reserve or a small HCC, we advocated simple partial caudate lobectomy (limited hepatic resection). There was no operative mortality or major operative morbidity. We conclude that such approaches are safer, less time‐consuming, and less technique‐demanding, and they produce a fair survival result compared with the approaches of other procedures. With such approaches, it is our experience that patients with HCC from the caudate lobe have a prognosis comparable to that of patients with HCC in other parts of the liver.
Epidemiologic and Clinical Evaluation of Thyroid Cancer in Children from the Gomel Region (Belarus)
Authors: Antonelli Alessandro , Miccoli Paolo , Derzhitski Victor E. , Panasiuk G. , Solovieva Natalia , Baschieri Lidio
Published: August 2002

This study reviews the epidemiology of thyroid cancer during childhood from the environs of Gomel in Belarus and the clinical data of 64 children aged 4 to 16 years from this area who had been diagnosed with differentiated thyroid carcinoma following the nuclear accident of Chernobyl. One case of thyroid cancer in children (aged < 15 years at diagnosis) was observed during the period 1981–1985 (rate = 0.5; expressed as annual averages per million children under age 15 years in the region of Gomel and period identified) before the Chernobyl accident. Twenty‐one cases of thyroid cancer in children were observed during 1986–1990 (rate = 10.5) and 143 (rate 97) during 1991–1994 after the Chernobyl accident. During the first 7 months of 1995, there were 33 more cases of thyroid cancer observed in children. Three children with thyroid cancer were born since 1986 in the Gomel region. A total of 64 children aged 4 to 16 years from this area who had been diagnosed with differentiated thyroid carcinoma had been reviewed by us during the period May to November 1994. The female/male ratio was 1.4:1.0. At the time of the first diagnosis the mean age of the children was 9.4 ± 2.8 years, and at the time of the accident their mean age was 3.8 ± 2.4 years. More than 90% of the patients were less than 6 years of age and 3 were still in utero at the time of the accident. The period of latency between the accident and the first diagnosis was 5.6 ± 1.5 years. Their ages at the time of the first diagnosis and their ages at the time of the accident were significantly correlated (p= 0.001); there was no significant correlation between the age of each child at the time of the accident and the latent period before the onset of carcinoma. The aggressiveness of the tumor, evaluated on the basis of T stage, lymph node status, and lung metastases, did not correlate with age at the time of the first diagnosis or with the age at the time of the accident. The susceptibility of the thyroid to the carcinogenetic effects of radiation, particularly during the first years of life (< 5 years) has clearly been demonstrated. However, there appears to be no correlation between the aggressiveness of the tumor and the age of the patients.
Preoperative Diagnosis and Surgical Management of Neuroendocrine Gastroenteropancreatic Tumors: General Recommendations by a Consensus Workshop*
Authors: Wiedenmann B. , Jensen R.T. , Mignon M. , Modlin C.I. , Skogseid B. , Doherty G. , Öberg K.
Published: August 2002

In 1996 a consensus workshop on the preoperative diagnosis and surgical treatment of neuroendocrine tumor disease took place in Berlin. Although there was a consensus on the diagnosis and surgical treatment by world experts in neuroendocrine surgery in some areas, it became clear that certain management policies vary among centers. In large part, diverging policies reflect a lack of controlled studies. This paper summarizes the various opinions brought forward during this conference and emphasizes consensus approaches for the diagnosis and therapy of neuroendocrine neoplasms.
Endoscopic Ultrasonography of the Esophagus
Authors: Fukuda Morimichi , Hirata Kenichiro , Natori Hiroshi
Published: August 2002

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is a generally accepted technique for the preoperative staging of malignant tumors in the upper and lower gastrointestinal tracts. In particular, EUS has been considered the method of choice in diagnosing esophageal carcinoma due to the relative ease in performing the examination and the accuracy of staging based on high‐resolution ultrasonic imaging from within the lumen of the esophagus. This comprehensive review covers currently available EUS instruments, image characteristics of esophageal carcinoma, and images by the recently introduced miniprobe scanner. The role of the method in diagnosing superficial esophageal carcinoma and the possible treatment by endoscopic mucosal resection of this particular disease entity are discussed.
The atrial natriuretic peptide and cGMP: Novel activators of the heat shock response in rat livers
Authors: Kiemer Alexandra K. , Gerbes Alexander L. , Bilzer Manfred , Vollmar Angelika M.
Published: August 2002

Preischemic treatment with atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) attenuates ischemia-reperfusion injury of the rat liver via cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). The attenuated activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) seems to contribute to this effect. The aim of this study was to determine whether heat shock proteins are involved in these molecular pathways. Livers of male Sprague-Dawley rats were continuously perfused with Krebs-Henseleit (KH) buffer with or without ANP or 8-Br-cGMP. In different experiments livers were perfused with or without ANP for 20 minutes, kept in cold storage solution for 24 hours, and reperfused. Activation of heat shock transcription factor (HSF) (by electrophoretic mobility shift assay), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), and glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) mRNA (by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR]), as well as HSP70 (by Western blot) were investigated in freeze-clamped liver samples. During continuous perfusion ANP as well as 8-Br-cGMP activated HSF, HSP70 protein concentrations paralleled HSF-activation. ANP pretreated livers exhibited elevated HSF after 24 hours of ischemia and elevated HSP70 mRNA levels during reperfusion. ANP prevented the marked decrease of HSP70 protein during reperfusion. Coimmunoprecipitation studies showed increased binding of HSP70 to inhibitory factor κB (IκB) in ANP-treated livers. In conclusion, we showed the cGMP-mediated activation of HSF by ANP, which resulted in elevated HSP70 mRNA and protein concentrations and correlated with enhanced binding of HSP70 to IκB. This could be an important mechanism of ANP-mediated prevention of hepatic preservation damage.
Bacterial infections in cirrhosis: Epidemiological changes with invasive procedures and norfloxacin prophylaxis
Authors: Fernández Javier , Navasa Miquel , Gómez Juliá , Colmenero Jordi , Vila Jordi , Arroyo Vicente , Rodés Juan
Published: August 2002

The extensive use of invasive procedures and of long-term norfloxacin prophylaxis in the management of cirrhotic patients may have influenced the epidemiology of bacterial infections in cirrhosis. We conducted a prospective evaluation of all bacterial infections diagnosed in patients with cirrhosis in a Liver Unit between April 1998 and April 2000. A total of 405 patients presented 572 bacterial infections in 507 admissions. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis was the most frequent infection (138 cases). Gram-positive cocci were responsible for 53% of total bacterial infections in the study, being the main bacteria isolated in nosocomial infections (59%). Patients requiring treatment in an intensive care unit and those submitted to invasive procedures presented a higher rate of infections caused by gram-positive cocci (77% vs. 48%, P < .001 and 58% vs. 40%, P < .02, respectively). Fifty percent of culture-positive spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients on long-term norfloxacin administration (n = 93) and 16% in patients not receiving this therapy (n = 414) were caused by quinolone-resistant gram-negative bacilli, P = .01. The rate of culture-positive spontaneous bacterial peritonitis caused by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-resistant gram-negative bacilli was also very high in patients on long-term norfloxacin administration (44% vs. 18%, P = .09). In conclusion, infections caused by gram-positive cocci have markedly increased in cirrhosis. This phenomenon may be related to the current high degree of instrumentation of cirrhotic patients. Quinolone-resistant spontaneous bacterial peritonitis constitutes an emergent problem in patients on long-term norfloxacin prophylaxis, with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole not being a valid alternative.
Genetic association of vitamin D receptor polymorphisms with primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis
Authors: Vogel Arndt , Strassburg Christian P. , Manns Michael P.
Published: August 2002

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) are immune-mediated chronic inflammatory diseases of the liver of unknown etiology. Genetic factors appear to be involved in the pathogenesis of both diseases. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 has been implicated as an immunomodulator, which acts through its own receptor (VDR). Polymorphisms of the VDR have been linked to a variety of autoimmune diseases. In this study VDR polymorphisms were analyzed in 123 patients with AIH, 74 patients with PBC, and 214 controls. VDR polymorphisms were assessed by BsmI, TaqI, ApaI, and Fok endonuclease digestion after specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. We found a significant association between the BsmI polymorphisms in PBC patients in comparison with controls (χ2 = 9.49, P = .009). Furthermore we detected a significant association of the Fok polymorphims in AIH patients in comparison to controls (χ2 = 9.71, P = .008) indicating a genetic link of VDR polymorphisms to autoimmune liver diseases such as PBC and AIH in German patients. These findings contribute to the knowledge of the complex events determining immunologic tolerance in the liver. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which the vitamin D receptor contributes to the development of autoimmune diseases.
Decreases in portal flow trigger a hepatorenal reflex to inhibit renal sodium and water excretion in rats: Role of adenosine
Authors: Ming Zhi , Smyth Donald D. , Lautt Wayne W.
Published: August 2002

The regulation of renal sodium and water excretion through a hepatorenal reflex activated by the changes in hemodynamics of the portal circulation has been suggested. We hypothesize that the changes in intrahepatic blood flow and flow-related intrahepatic adenosine are involved in the control of renal water and sodium excretion by triggering a hepatorenal reflex. Anesthetized rats were instrumented to monitor the systemic, hepatic, and renal circulation. A vascular shunt connecting the portal vein and central vena cava was established to allow for control of the portal venous blood flow (PVBF). Urine was collected from the bladder. The effects of decreased PVBF on renal water and sodium excretion were compared in normal and hepatic denervated rats. Decreasing intrahepatic PVBF by half for 30 minutes decreased urine flow by 38% (12.1 ± 1.1 vs. 7.5 ± 0.7 μL · min−1) and urine sodium excretion by 44% (1.11 ± 0.30 vs. 0.62 ± 0.17 μmol · min−1). Renal arterial blood flow (RABF) and creatinine clearance were also reduced by the decreases in intrahepatic PVBF. Hepatic denervation, or intrahepatic administration of an adenosine receptor antagonist, 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT), abolished the effects of decreasing PVBF on urine flow and sodium excretion. The data suggest that the decrease in intrahepatic PVBF triggers a hepatorenal reflex through the activation of adenosine receptors within the liver, thereby inhibiting renal water and sodium excretion. The water and sodium retention commonly seen in the hepatorenal syndrome may be related to intrahepatic adenosine accumulation resulting from the associated decrease in intrahepatic portal flow.
NASH and insulin resistance: Insulin hypersecretion and specific association with the insulin resistance syndrome
Authors: Chitturi Shivakumar , Abeygunasekera Shehan , Farrell Geoffrey C. , Holmes-Walker Jane , Hui Jason M. , Fung Caroline , Karim Rooshdiya , Lin Rita , Samarasinghe Dev , Liddle Christopher , Weltman Martin , George Jacob
Published: August 2002

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is often linked with disorders that are clearly associated with insulin resistance (IR): obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypertriglyceridemia. We tested the hypotheses that (1) IR is an essential requirement for the development of NASH and (2) a high association between IR and liver disease is relatively specific for NASH. We measured body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio, and fasting serum lipid, insulin, C-peptide, and glucose levels in 66 patients with NASH (21 with advanced fibrosis and 45 with mild fibrosis). IR was determined by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). We also determined the strength of the association of NASH with insulin resistance syndrome (IRS) as defined by World Health Organization criteria. To assess whether the finding of IR was relatively specific to NASH rather than simply to obesity or liver disease, we compared the results of a subset of 36 patients with less-severe NASH with 36 age- and sex-matched patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) of comparable fibrotic severity. IR was confirmed in 65 patients (98%) with NASH, and 55 (87%) fulfilled minimum criteria for IRS. IR was found in lean as well as in overweight and obese patients. The IR values and the prevalence of IRS (75% vs. 8.3%) were significantly higher in those with NASH than in comparable cases of HCV. Hyperinsulinemia was attributable to increased insulin secretion rather than decreased hepatic extraction. In conclusion, most patients with NASH have IRS, and there is a near-universal association between NASH and IR irrespective of obesity. IR is present in mild as well as advanced cases of NASH but is unusual in chronic HCV of similar fibrotic severity.
Cold-induced apoptosis of rat liver cells in University of Wisconsin solution: The central role of chelatable iron
Authors: Kerkweg Uta , Li Tongju , de Groot Herbert , Rauen Ursula
Published: August 2002

Although University of Wisconsin (UW) solution aims at the prevention of cold-induced cell injury, it failed to protect against cold-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes and liver endothelial cells: when incubated in UW solution at 4°C for 24 hours and subsequently rewarmed at 37°C, 72% ± 8% of rat hepatocytes and 81% ± 5% of liver endothelial cells lost viability. In both cell types, the observed cell damage occurred under an apoptotic morphology; it appeared to be mediated by a rapid increase in the cellular chelatable iron pool by a factor ≥2 (as determined in hepatocytes) and subsequent formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Consequently, this cell injury was decreased by iron chelators to 6 to 25% (hepatocytes) and 4% ± 2% (liver endothelial cells). Deferoxamine nearly completely inhibited the occurrence of apoptotic morphology in both cell types. In liver endothelial cells, cold-induced apoptosis occurring during rewarming after 24 hours of cold incubation in UW solution was far more pronounced than in cell culture medium (loss of viability: 81% ± 5% vs. 28% ± 13%), but viability could even be maintained for 2 weeks of cold incubation by use of deferoxamine. In conclusion, this pathological mechanism might be an explanation for the strong endothelial cell injury known to occur after cold preservation. With regard to the extent of this iron-mediated injury, addition of a suitable iron chelator to UW solution might markedly improve the outcome of liver preservation.
Viral kinetics in genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C patients during therapy with 2 different doses of peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin
Authors: Buti Maria , Sanchez-Avila Francisco , Lurie Yoav , Stalgis Carlos , Valdés Auristela , Martell Maria , Esteban Rafael
Published: August 2002

Pegylated interferon (peginterferon) alfa-2b plus ribavirin achieves a higher sustained response rate in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) than standard combination therapy. This study evaluated HCV kinetics throughout therapy with 2 doses of peginterferon alfa-2b and ribavirin in 55 patients. Twenty-eight patients were randomized to receive a high once-weekly dose of peginterferon alfa-2b (3 μg/kg for 1 week, 1.5 μg/kg for 3 weeks, and 1.0 μg/kg for 44 weeks), and 27 patients were randomized to receive a low dose (0.5 μg/kg) for 48 weeks. Both groups also received 800 mg ribavirin daily. Mean baseline HCV RNA load, measured by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, was similar in both groups (5.32 ± 0.86 log vs. 5.15 ± 1.04 log). The 3-μg/kg dose of peginterferon alfa-2b inhibited HCV RNA more significantly than the 0.5-μg/kg dose during the first 48 hours (2.08 ± 0.93 log vs. 1.09 ± 0.80 log; P < .001) and both increased at 72 hours (0.54 ± 0.73 log vs. 0.03 ± 0.36 log; P = not significant [NS]), but the high dose showed a greater reduction at the end of the week (1.07 ± 0.99 log vs. 0.72 ± 0.73 log). Both doses showed a progressive, slower viral decrease throughout therapy; however, HCV RNA became undetectable faster and in more patients with the high dose (22% vs. 7% at week 4, 56% vs. 44% at week 12, 69% vs. 63% at week 24, and 71% vs. 61.5% at the end of therapy). In conclusion, peginterferon alfa-2b/ribavirin produces an initial rapid decline in HCV RNA levels, followed by a slower, progressive decrease, similar to the biphasic kinetic profile of standard combination therapy. Higher doses of peginterferon alfa-2b also accelerate viral clearance.
Maintaining HNF6 expression prevents AdHNF3β-mediated decrease in hepatic levels of Glut-2 and glycogen
Authors: Tan Yongjun , Adami Guy , Costa Robert H.
Published: August 2002

The hepatocyte nuclear factor 3 (HNF-3) proteins are members of the Forkhead Box (Fox) family of transcription factors that play important roles in regulating expression of genes involved in cellular proliferation, differentiation, and metabolic homeostasis. In previous studies we increased liver expression of HNF-3β by using either transgenic mice (transthyretin HNF-3β) or recombinant adenovirus infection (AdHNF3β), and observed diminished hepatic levels of glycogen, and glucose transporter 2 (Glut-2), as well as the HNF-6, HNF-3, HNF-1α, HNF-4α, and C/EBPα transcription factors. We conducted the present study to determine whether maintaining HNF-6 protein expression during AdHNF3β infection prevents reduction of hepatic levels of glycogen and the earlier-mentioned genes. Here, we show that AdHNF3β- and AdHNF6-infected mouse liver displayed increased hepatic levels of glycogen, Glut-2, HNF-3γ, HNF-1α, and HNF-4α at 2 and 3 days postinfection (PI). Furthermore, restoration of hepatic glycogen levels after AdHNF3β and AdHNF6 coinfection was associated with increased Glut-2 expression. AdHNF6 infection alone caused a 2-fold increase in hepatic Glut-2 levels, suggesting that HNF 6 stimulates in vivo transcription of the Glut-2 gene. DNA binding assays showed that only recombinant HNF-6 protein, but not the HNF-3 proteins, binds to the mouse −185 to −144 bp Glut-2 promoter sequences. Cotransfection assays in human hepatoma (HepG2) cells with either HNF-3 or HNF-6 expression vectors show that only HNF-6 provided significant transcriptional activation of the Glut-2 promoter. In conclusion, these studies show that the hepatic Glut-2 promoter is a direct target for HNF-6 transcriptional activation.
The resistance of P. acnes -primed interferon γ-deficient mice to low-dose lipopolysaccharide-induced acute liver injury
Authors: Shimizu Yoshiaki , Margenthaler Julie A. , Landeros Keith , Otomo Naoki , Doherty Gerard , Flye Wayne M.
Published: August 2002

Endotoxin has been identified as a principal mediator of sepsis, often with resulting multiple organ failure. Although interferon γ (IFN-γ) has a central role in controlling bacterial infection through the activation of macrophages and T lymphocytes, it can also enhance the harmful effects of the inflammatory response. To examine the role of IFN-γ in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced injury, we administered LPS (20 or 800 μg/mouse) alone or as low-dose LPS (20 μg/mouse) 7 days after heat-killed Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) injection into wild-type C57BL/6 (B6) mice or IFN-γ-deficient (GKO) mice (B6 background). Although low-dose (20 μg) LPS alone had no effect on survival, the administration of 800 μg LPS alone resulted in 100% mortality in both B6 and GKO mice without significant hepatic mononuclear cellular infiltration or differences in elevated plasma tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and IL-12 levels. In contrast, mortality after low-dose (20 μg) LPS challenge in P. acnes-primed B6 mice was 100%, but 0% in GKO mice. In vivo plasma cytokine (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-12) levels and in vitro cytokine production by hepatic mononuclear cells were significantly higher in B6 mice compared with GKO mice. Associated hepatic mononuclear cellular infiltration, multifocal liver necrosis, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly were found in B6 mice, but not in GKO mice. Finally, the anti-inflammatory NK1.1+CD4+ cell proportion of hepatic infiltrating mononuclear cell numbers 7 days after P. acnes administration was significantly reduced in B6 compared with GKO mice, whereas the proportion of inflammatory NK1.1+CD4− cells was increased. In conclusion, these data suggest that IFN-γ mediates P. acnes-primed low-dose LPS injury through the hepatic infiltration of mononuclear cells and the subsequent elevation of inflammatory cytokines after LPS challenge, whereas the lethal effects of high-dose LPS alone does not depend on the presence of IFN-γ.
Interaction of Endonuclease Eco RI with Short Specific and Nonspecific Oligonucleotides
Authors: Kolocheva Tat'yana I. , Maksakova Galiya A. , Bugreev Dmitry D. , Nevinsky Georgy A.
Published: August 2002

The interaction of Eco RI with different oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs) was analyzed using the method of the slow step‐by‐step simplification in their complexity. Orthophosphate (K I = 31 mM), 2‐deoxyribose 5‐phosphate (K I = 4.6 mM) and different dNMPs (K I = 2.1‐2.5 mM) were shown to be the minimal ligands of the enzyme. The lengthening of a nonspecific d(pN) n (n = 1‐6) by one nucleotide unit resulted in the increase of their affinity by a factor of 2.0. Weak nonspecific electrostatic contacts of Eco RI with internucleotide phosphate groups of ODNs can account for about 5 orders of magnitude in the ligand affinity, whereas the contribution of specific interactions between Eco RI and d(pN) n is no more than 2 orders of magnitude of a total ODN's affinity.
Self‐esteem and its relationship to bullying behaviour
Authors: O’Moore M. , Kirkham C.
Published: August 2002

From the rapidly growing literature on bullying, it is increasingly recognised that peer relationship problems as manifested in being bullied are associated with low self‐esteem. However, the literature on self‐esteem in relation to children who bully others is controversial. The objective of this paper is to elucidate further our understanding of the relationship between self‐concept and bullying behaviour. Data from a nationwide study of bullying behaviour carried out in Ireland during 1993‐1994 have been reviewed. The relevant results from 8,249 school children aged 8 to 18 years are presented. The paper examines the global and dimensional nature of self‐esteem and how it relates to children and adolescents who either have been victimised or bullied others. A distinction is made between “pure victims,” “pure bullies,” and children and adolescents who were both bullied and who bullied others. In other words, pure victims were those who had not bullied others, and pure bullies had not themselves been bullied. Those who were both bullied and bullied others were subdivided further into victims who bully occasionally, sometimes, and frequently and bullies who are victimised, occasionally, sometimes, and frequently. The results show that children of both primary and post‐primary age who were involved in bullying as victims, bullies, or both had significantly lower global self‐esteem than did children who had neither bullied nor been bullied. However, the pure bullies, in contrast to the pure victims, placed the same value on their physical attractiveness and attributes and on their popularity as did their peers who had not bullied others or been bullied. The bully‐victims of all ages had the lowest self‐esteem of the subgroups in the study. Also, the more frequently children were victimised or bullied others, the lower was their global self‐esteem. The typology and frequency of bullying and the age of the children when they were involved in bullying influenced the status of the specific domains of self‐esteem. There were, e.g., significant differences in anxiety between the pure bullies of post‐primary age and their peers who had not bullied others or been bullied. The post‐primary children who bullied most frequently were the least anxious. The results indicate that high self‐esteem protects children and adolescents from involvement in bullying. Thus, in view of the strong relationship between self‐esteem and bullying that has been found in the present paper, it is recommended that top priority be given by parents and teachers to preventing and reducing feelings of poor self‐worth among children and adolescents. Aggr. Behav. 27:269–283, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reduced right hemisphere activation in severely abused violent offenders during a working memory task: An fMRI study
Authors: Raine Adrian , Park Sohee , Lencz Todd , Bihrle Susan , LaCasse Lori , Widom Cathy Spatz , Al‐Dayeh Louai , Singh Manbir
Published: August 2002

This study uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to address two important gaps in our knowledge of brain functioning and violence: (1) What are the brain correlates of adults in the community who have suffered severe physical abuse early in life and who go on to perpetrate serious violence in adulthood? (2) What characterizes those who experience severe physical abuse but who refrain from serious violence? Four groups of participants recruited from the community (controls, severe physical child abuse only, serious violence only, and severely abused, seriously violent offenders) underwent fMRI while performing a visual/verbal working memory task. Violent offenders who had suffered severe child abuse show reduced right hemisphere functioning, particularly in the right temporal cortex. Abused individuals who refrain from serious violence showed relatively lower left, but higher right, activation of the superior temporal gyrus. Abused individuals, irrespective of violence status, showed reduced cortical activation during the working memory task, especially in the left hemisphere. Brain deficits were independent of IQ, history of head injury, task performance, cognitive strategy, and mental activity during the control task. Findings constitute the first fMRI study of brain dysfunction in violent offenders, and indicate that initial right hemisphere dysfunction, when combined with the effects of severe early physical abuse, predisposes to serious violence but that relatively good right hemisphere functioning protects against violence in physically abused children. Aggr. Behav. 27:111–129, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The GABAergic effect of low doses of lorazepam on social behavior
Authors: Pérez Conchillo María , Martínez‐Sanchis Sonia , Salvador Alicia , Simón Vicente M.
Published: August 2002

The aim of this work was to test the antiaggressive effects of lorazepam and to determine whether these effects were mediated by benzodiazepine receptors. In a first experiment, male mice were injected with lorazepam in a range of low doses (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.6 mg/kg) or saline solution. In a second experiment, 1 mg/kg of Ro 15‐1788, a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, and a saline solution were injected before the behavioral test. Results showed that 0.6 mg/kg of lorazepam was the only dose that decreased the total duration of threat (P < .01) and social investigation (P < .05) and that 1 mg/kg of Ro 15‐1788 had no effects. In the third experiment, animals received two injections: 0.6 mg/kg of lorazepam plus 1 mg/kg of Ro 15‐1788, 0.6 mg/kg of lorazepam plus saline solution, or saline solution plus saline solution. Those treated with lorazepam and saline solution spent less time digging (P < .001), threatening (P < .001), and attacking (P < .05) and more time avoiding the opponent (P < .01) or being immobile (P < .001) than the controls. Ro 15‐1788 was successful in completely antagonizing the behavior modulated by lorazepam. Aggr. Behav. 28:248–256, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Is traumatic memory special ? A comparison of traumatic memory characteristics with memory for other emotional life experiences
Authors: Porter Stephen , Birt Angela R.
Published: August 2002

According to the traumatic memory argument, traumatic experiences are processed and remembered in a fundamentally different way from other life events. To investigate the validity of this theory, 306 participants were asked to give detailed accounts of two life experiences: their most traumatic experience and their most positive emotional experience (counterbalanced). Participants also described the qualities of each memory and completed psychological scales measuring severity of trauma, personality, and dissociation. Results indicated that traumatic memories differed from non‐traumatic memories phenomenologically (e.g. vantage point) and qualitatively (e.g. number of details). However, the memories also showed important similarities (e.g. high degree of vividness). Only a small proportion (4.9%) of participants reported ‘recovering’ their traumatic memories after extended memory loss (most of whom reported consciously putting the experience out of awareness), and 2.6% reported forgetting their positive experiences for an extended period. Overall, traumatic memories were found to be ‘special’, but not in accordance with prominent fragmentation theories of trauma and memory. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adaptive control of Burgers' equation with unknown viscosity
Authors: Liu Wei‐Jiu , Krstić Miroslav
Published: August 2002

In this paper, we propose a fortified boundary control law and an adaptation law for Burgers' equation with unknown viscosity, where no a priori knowledge of a lower bound on viscosity is needed. This control law is decentralized, i.e., implementable without the need for central computer and wiring. Using the Lyapunov method, we prove that the closed‐loop system, including the parameter estimator as a dynamic component, is globally H1 stable and well posed. Furthermore, we show that the state of the system is regulated to zero by developing an alternative to Barbalat's Lemma which cannot be used in the present situation. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A numerical simulation of the filling stage in injection molding based on a surface model
Authors: Zhou Huamin , Li Dequn
Published: August 2002

Computer simulation packages have had success in predicting filling behavior in extremely complicated geometries. However, most of the current numerical implementation is based on a hybrid finite‐element/finite‐difference solution with the middle‐plane model. This kind of model leads to some inconvenience in applications. Instead of using the middle‐plane as the datum plane, the surfaces of the cavity are used as datum planes in this article. Additional boundary conditions in the gapwise direction are employed to keep the flows in the surfaces at the same section coordinative. Comparisons with experimental results obtained with an instrumented test mold and C‐Mold results show good agreement in terms of pressure traces and melt‐front advancement. It is demonstrated that the present formulation is well suited to handle cavities generated directly by current CAD systems. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 20: 125–131, 2001
Hepatitis C virus infection and lymphoproliferative diseases: Prospective study on 1,576 patients in France
Authors: Hausfater P. , Cacoub P. , Sterkers Y. , Thibault V. , Amoura Z. , Nguyen L. , Ghillani P. , Leblond V. , Piette J.C.
Published: August 2002

Context

Discordant data have been reported about the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in patients with lymphoproliferative diseases and the putative role of HCV in lymphomagenesis.

Objective

To assess the prevalence of HCV infection in patients admitted to a hematology department in Paris, France.

Design

Prospective, controlled study.

Setting

University medical center.

Patients

813 patients admitted to the Hematology department (164 B‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma, 34 Hodgkin's diseases, 107 chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 54 multiple myeloma, 12 Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, 17 acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 6 hairy cell leukemia, 189 myeloproliferative diseases, 6 solid organ tumors, and 224 nonmalignant diseases) and 694 patients admitted to the Internal Medicine department (control group).

Measurements

All patients were tested for antibodies to HCV by a third‐generation enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

HCV antibodies were detected in 20 of 813 (2.46%) patients in Hematology including 11 of 394 (2.79%) patients with lymphoproliferative diseases, 3 of 164 (1.83%) B‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma, 2 of 107 (1.87%) chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 1 of 54 (1.85%) multiple myeloma, 1 of 189 (0.5%) myeloproliferative diseases, and 8 of 224 (3.57%) nonmalignant hematologic diseases. HCV antibodies were detected in 3 of 694 (0.43%) patients in the control group. HCV contamination preceded B‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma only in 2 of 3 HCV‐positive patients.

Conclusion

The prevalence of HCV infection was low (1.83%) in patients with B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma. HCV seems not to play a major role in the pathogenesis of B‐cell lymphoma in France. Cofactors should be stressed to explain geographical discrepancies. Am. J. Hematol. 67:168–171, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.