bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visitors' and locals' experiences of Rotorua, New Zealand: an interpretative study using photographs of landscapes and Q method
Authors: Fairweather John R. , Swaffield Simon R.
Published: October 2002

This paper reports on an interpretative study of locals' and visitors' experiences in Rotorua, New Zealand and shows how experiences vary among different groups. Photographs were Q sorted by a non‐random sample of locals and both overseas and New Zealand visitors, and the data were factor analysed to identify four factors or types of experience. These include experiences of Sublime Nature, Iconic Tourism, New Zealand Family and the Picturesque Landscape. These findings show that Q sort with photographs is a useful research approach which advances our understanding of destination image and provides results that have implications for the contemporary theoretical debate on the nature of tourist experience in New Zealand. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Creating rural heritage visitor attractions—the Queensland Heritage Trails project
Authors: Prideaux Bruce
Published: October 2002

To promote rural heritage in Queensland, the Australian Federal and Queensland State Governments embarked on an ambitious funding programmeme titled the Queensland Heritage Trails Network commencing in 1999. The aim of the programmeme was to fund the development of a series of cultural heritage tourism attractions designed to encourage visitors to travel beyond popular coastal destinations and into the rural hinterland. For a state where travelling times by road are measured in days not hours, the development of visitor attractions away from the relatively closely settled coastal areas is essential if additional visitors are to be attracted to rural hinterland areas. However, distance factors add to the cost of travelling to many remote attractions and may deter all but the most determined travellers. This paper examines a number of demand side issues that may effect the long‐term viability of many of the projects, particularly those in remote areas. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermochemical properties of free radicals from G3MP2B3 calculations
Authors: Janoschek R. , Rossi M. J.
Published: October 2002

For a set of 32 selected free radicals, energy minimum structures, harmonic vibrational wave numbers ωe, principal moments of inertia IA, IB, and IC, heat capacities C°p(T), entropies S°(T), thermal energy contents H°(T) − H°(0), and standard enthalpies of formation ΔfH°(T) were calculated at the G3MP2B3 level of theory in the temperature range 200–3000 K. In this article, thermodynamic functions at T = 298.15 K are presented and compared with recent experimental values. The mean absolute deviation between calculated and experimental ΔfH°(298.15) values resulted in 3.91 kJ mol−1, which is close to the average experimental uncertainty of ± 3.55 kJ mol−1. The influence of hindered rotation on thermodynamic functions is studied for isopropyl and tert‐butyl radicals. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 550–560, 2002
Knowledge management in the AEC sector: an exploration of the mergers and acquisitions context
Authors: Carrillo Patricia , Anumba Chimay
Published: October 2002

Knowledge Management (KM) is a relatively new terminology within the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, although certain aspects have always been practised within the industry. This paper conducts an exploratory study of how mergers and acquisitions affect knowledge management initiatives. The paper introduces the CLEVER conceptual framework that was developed at Loughborough University, UK. The conceptual framework is used to formulate the key aspects organizations should consider when implementing knowledge management initiatives. The paper presents case studies of AEC organizations that have recently undergone mergers and acquisitions. The case studies demonstrate what these companies are doing in terms of knowledge management, especially to collate and deploy the bodies of knowledge held in the hitherto separate organizations, to enhance their competitive advantage. The paper concludes by providing guidelines for companies to consider in developing knowledge management initiatives to cope with structural changes at an operational level. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enhancement of anchorage‐independent growth of human pancreatic carcinoma MIA PaCa‐2 cells by signaling from protein kinase C to mitogen‐activated protein kinase
Authors: Ishino Keiko , Fukazawa Hidesuke , Shikano Mayumi , Ohba Motoi , Kuroki Toshio , Uehara Yoshimasa
Published: October 2002

We found that 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA) promoted anchorage‐independent growth but did not affect anchorage‐dependent growth of MIA PaCa‐2 human pancreatic carcinoma cells. TPA markedly activated mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal–regulated kinase in an anchorage‐independent manner. Two protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms, conventional PKC (cPKC) and novel PKC (nPKC), but not apical PKC, translocated from the cytosolic to the particulate fraction upon TPA treatment. To identify the PKC isoforms involved in the regulation of anchorage‐independent growth, four PKC isoforms (α, δ, ε, and ζ) were forced to be expressed in MIA PaCa‐2 cells with an adenovirus vector. Overexpression of nPKCδ or nPKCε activated MAPK and promoted anchorage‐independent growth. Overexpression of cPKCα alone did not influence anchorage‐independent growth but lowered the concentration of TPA that was required to enhance such growth. Expression of constitutively active MAPK kinase‐1 (MEK1) also promoted anchorage‐independent growth. Furthermore, PKC inhibitors or an MEK inhibitor completely suppressed both TPA‐induced activation of MAPK and promotion of anchorage‐independent growth, but a cPKC‐selective inhibitor partially suppressed TPA‐induced promotion of the growth. Based on these results, we suggest that MAPK activation, mediated by certain isoforms of PKC, plays a part in oncogenic growth of MIA PaCa‐2 cells. In summary, our data indicated that specific inhibitors of the cPKC and nPKC signaling pathway might be selective anti‐oncogenic growth agents for some types of human pancreatic cancer. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reversible parkinsonian syndrome in systemic and brain vasculitis
Authors: Fabiani Giorgio , Teive Hélio A.G. , Germiniani Francisco M.B. , Sá Daniel S. , Werneck Lineu César
Published: October 2002

A young female patient with chronic renal failure due to a systemic vasculitis and a parkinsonian syndrome secondary to brain vasculitis, most likely systemic lupus erythematosus, is described. The patient had a dramatic response to a pulse of methylprednisolone, with remision of her parkinsonian symptoms. © 2002 Movement Disorder Society.
Further extension of the H1 haplotype associated with progressive supranuclear palsy
Authors: Pastor Pau , Ezquerra Mario , Tolosa Eduardo , Muñoz Esteban , José Martí María , Valldeoriola Francesc , Molinuevo José Luís , Calopa Matilde , Oliva Rafael
Published: October 2002

The recent finding of disequilibrium among several polymorphisms along the tau gene and the strong association of one of the two haplotypes formed by these polymorphisms (H1) with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) suggests that a single allele in or near the tau gene at 17q21 is responsible for increased risk in most of the PSP cases. We sought to determine whether mutations in the tau gene are responsible for the disease in 45 sporadic PSP patients. Furthermore, we analyzed some markers located in the common region of linkage (D17S800‐D17S791), associated with some cases of familial frontotemporal dementia (FTDP‐17), and the SNPs rs1816 and rs937 close to the tau gene, to determine their possible association with sporadic PSP. We did not find pathogenic mutations in exons 9, 10, 12, or 13 of the tau gene, indicating that tau mutations in both the splice‐site region of the exon 10 and in the microtubule‐binding region of tau gene are not a cause of PSP in this study group. We found significant overrepresentation of the haplotypes H1, extended up to the promoter of the tau gene (H1P), in PSP patients as compared with controls. In addition, a significant overrepresentation of the D17S810 2/2 and 3/2 genotypes, of the SNP rs1816 A/A, and of the SNP rs937 delG/delG genotypes was detected in PSP, further extending the haplotype described previously. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that a change either in the 5′ or in the 3′ flanking regions of the tau gene, or even other genes contained in the H1E haplotype, could increase the genetic susceptibility to PSP. © 2002 Movement Disorder Society
Characterisation of striatal NMDA receptors involved in the generation of parkinsonian symptoms: Intrastriatal microinjection studies in the 6‐OHDA‐lesioned rat
Authors: Nash Joanne E. , Brotchie Jonathan M.
Published: October 2002

Treatments for Parkinson's disease based on replacement of lost dopamine have several problems. Following loss of dopamine, enhanced N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor‐mediated transmission in the striatum is thought to be part of the cascade of events leading to the generation of parkinsonian symptoms. We determined the localisation and pharmacological characteristics of NMDA receptors that play a role in generating parkinsonian symptoms within the striatum. Rats were lesioned unilaterally with 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA), and cannulae implanted bilaterally to allow injection of a range of NMDA receptor antagonists at different striatal sites. When injected rostrally into the dopamine‐depleted striatum, the glycine site partial agonist, (+)‐HA‐966 (44–400 nmol) caused a dose‐dependent contraversive rotational response consistent with an antiparkinsonian action. (+)‐HA‐966 (400 nmol) had no effect when infused into more caudal regions of the dopamine‐depleted striatum, or following injection into any striatal region on the dopamine‐intact side. To determine the pharmacological profile of NMDA receptors involved in inducing parkinsonism in 6‐OHDA‐lesioned rats, a range of NMDA receptor antagonists was infused directly into the rostral striatum. Ifenprodil (100 nmol) and 7‐chlorokynurenate (37 nmol), but not MK‐801 (15 nmol) or D‐APV (25 nmol) elicited a dramatic rotational response when injected into the dopamine‐depleted striatum. This pharmacological profile is not consistent with an effect mediated via blocking NR2B‐containing NMDA receptors. The effect of intrastriatal injection of ifenprodil was increased in animals previously treated with levodopa (L‐dopa) methyl ester. This was seen as an increase in on‐time and in peak rotational response. We propose that stimulation of NR2B‐containing NMDA receptors in the rostral striatum underlies the generation of parkinsonian symptoms. These studies are in line with previous findings suggesting that administration of NR2B‐selective NMDA receptor antagonists may be therapeutically beneficial for parkinsonian patients, when given de novo and following L‐dopa treatment. © 2002 Movement Disorder Society.
Painful arm and moving fingers: Clinical features of four new cases
Authors: Supiot F. , Gazagnes M.D. , Blecic S.A. , Zegers de Beyl D.
Published: October 2002

The syndrome of painful arm and moving fingers associates pain in one arm or hand with involuntary movement of one or several fingers. In the four cases described, an association between a central and a peripheral nervous system lesion is demonstrated or suspected. Treatment of the condition is disappointing. © 2002 Movement Disorder Society
Accuracy of acute levodopa challenge for clinical prediction of sustained long‐term levodopa response as a major criterion for idiopathic Parkinson's disease diagnosis
Authors: Merello Marcelo , Nouzeilles Maria I. , Arce Gabriel Piran , Leiguarda Ramón
Published: October 2002

Clinical idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) diagnosis requires following strict clinical criteria. Final definitive diagnosis can only be made after pathological confirmation and, despite following clinical criteria, several cases are misdiagnosed. We assessed sensitivity and specificity of acute challenge with levodopa (L‐dopa) to predict sustained long‐term L‐dopa responsiveness as a major criterion for clinical diagnosis of PD. A consecutive series of 82 patients first seen at a movement disorders clinic with a parkinsonian syndrome without specific diagnosis was included. A second examiner, blind to the presumptive diagnosis, performed in each patient an acute challenge with 250/50 mg of L‐dopa–carbidopa and rated the test as positive or negative according to whether values reached a minimal 30% of improvement on UPDRS scores. Positive tests were considered supportive of presumptive clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. Blind to test results and according to clinical presumption, the first examiner started patient treatment with the necessary L‐dopa dose or, alternatively, until reaching 1 g for 1 month in those who failed to display a positive test response. At 24 month follow‐up, they were re‐tested with 1 g for 1 month when required. At this point, clinical criteria of the U.K. Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank were applied and definitive clinical diagnosis of PD was made. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive ratio for acute challenge were calculated. Overall sensitivity and specificity of acute L‐dopa challenge to predict clinical diagnosis of PD was 70.9% and 81.4%, respectively; positive predictive ratio was 88.6%. When patients were divided into three groups according to their UPDRS motor section score at initial examination, sensitivity and specificity varied: Group I (≤ 10), 71.4% and 100%; Group II (11–20), 75% and 75%; and Group III (≥21), 36.4% and 87%, respectively. Positive predictive ratio increased to 100% in Group I and to 87.5% in Group III. The positive result of initial acute L‐dopa challenge predicts chronic L‐dopa responsiveness as major criterion of PD in all patients with UPDRS motor scores lower than 10. © 2002 Movement Disorder Society
[18F]‐Dopa positron emission tomography imaging in early‐stage, non‐parkin juvenile parkinsonism
Authors: Pal Pramod K. , Leung Joanne , Hedrich Katya , Samii Ali , Lieberman Abraham , Nausieda Paul A. , Calne Donald B. , Breakefield Xandra O. , Klein Christine , Stoessl A. Jon
Published: October 2002

There are few reports of positron emission tomography (PET) in juvenile parkinsonism (JP). We report on the results of 18F‐6‐fluoro‐L‐dopa (FD) PET in a 14‐year‐old patient with JP of 5 years duration associated with atypical features. This is the youngest subject to be investigated to date. There was a severe asymmetric reduction in striatal FD uptake, with a rostrocaudal gradient in the putamen similar to that seen in adult‐onset idiopathic parkinsonism. Extensive DNA analysis in this patient did not show mutations in the parkin gene. © 2002 Movement Disorder Society
Treatment of pseudobulbar laughter after gamma knife thalamotomy
Authors: Okun Michael S. , Heilman Kenneth M. , Vitek Jerrold L.
Published: October 2002

We describe a case of pathological laughter after gamma knife thalamotomy which resolved after treatment with sertraline. It is important to identify this potentially treatable complication of surgical therapy. © 2002 Movement Disorder Society
Micrographia secondary to lenticular lesions
Authors: Derkinderen Pascal , Dupont Sophie , Vidal Jean‐Sébastien , Chedru François , Vidailhet Marie
Published: October 2002

Four patients with a stroke developed micrographia. In two patients, the condition was pure and in the two other patients it was associated with signs of writer's cramp. We conclude that infarct of the left lenticular nucleus could either mimic pure micrographia similar to that of Parkinson's disease or micrographia associated with dystonia. © 2002 Movement Disorder Society
Bacterial protease inhibitors
Authors: Supuran Claudiu T. , Scozzafava Andrea , Clare Brian W.
Published: October 2002

Serine‐, cysteine‐, and metalloproteases are widely spread in many pathogenic bacteria, where they play critical functions related to colonization and evasion of host immune defenses, acquisition of nutrients for growth and proliferation, facilitation of dissemination, or tissue damage during infection. Since all the antibiotics used clinically at the moment share a common mechanism of action, acting as inhibitors of the bacterial cell wall biosynthesis or affecting protein synthesis on ribosomes, resistance to these pharmacological agents represents a serious medical problem, which might be resolved by using new generation of antibiotics, possessing a different mechanism of action. Bacterial protease inhibitors constitute an interesting such possibility, due to the fact that many specific as well as ubiquitous proteases have recently been characterized in some detail in both gram‐positive as well as gram‐negative pathogens. Few potent, specific inhibitors for such bacterial proteases have been reported at this moment except for some signal peptidase, clostripain, Clostridium histolyticum collagenase, botulinum neurotoxin, and tetanus neurotoxin inhibitors. No inhibitors of the critically important and ubiquitous AAA proteases, degP or sortase have been reported, although such compounds would presumably constitute a new class of highly effective antibiotics. This review presents the state of the art in the design of such enzyme inhibitors with potential therapeutic applications, as well as recent advances in the use of some of these proteases in therapy. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Med Res Rev, 22, No. 4, 329–372, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/med.10007
Anti‐tumor mechanisms of valproate: A novel role for an old drug
Authors: Blaheta Roman A. , Cinatl Jindrich
Published: October 2002

Valproic acid (VPA, 2‐propylpentanoic acid) is an established drug in the long‐term therapy of epilepsy. During the past years, it has become evident that VPA is also associated with anti‐cancer activity. VPA not only suppresses tumor growth and metastasis, but also induces tumor differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Several modes of action might be relevant for the biological activity of VPA: (1) VPA increases the DNA binding of activating protein‐1 (AP‐1) transcription factor, and the expression of genes regulated by the extracellular‐regulated kinase (ERK)‐AP‐1 pathway; (2) VPA downregulates protein kinase C (PKC) activity; (3) VPA inhibits glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK‐3β), a negative regulator of the Wnt signaling pathway; (4) VPA activates the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors PPARγ and †; (5) VPA blocks HDAC (histone deacetylase), causing hyperacetylation. The findings elucidate an important role of VPA for cancer therapy. VPA might also be useful as low toxicity agent given over long time periods for chemoprevention and/or for control of residual minimal disease. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Med Res Rev, 22, No. 5, 492–511, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/med.10017
Blowup of solutions for a class of non‐linear evolution equations with non‐linear damping and source terms
Authors: Zhijian Yang
Published: October 2002

We consider the blowup of solutions of the initial boundary value problem for a class of non‐linear evolution equations with non‐linear damping and source terms. By using the energy compensation method, we prove that when p>max{m, α}, where m, α and p are non‐negative real numbers and m+1, α+1, p+1 are, respectively, the growth orders of the non‐linear strain terms, damping term and source term, under the appropriate conditions, any weak solution of the above‐mentioned problem blows up in finite time. Comparison of the results with the previous ones shows that there exist some clear condition boundaries similar to thresholds among the growth orders of the non‐linear terms, the states of the initial energy and the existence and non‐existence of global weak solutions. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Life span of 2‐D irrotational compressible fluids in the halfplane
Authors: Secchi Paolo
Published: October 2002

We consider the Euler equations of barotropic inviscid compressible fluids in the half plane. It is well known that, as the Mach number goes to zero, the compressible flows approximate the solution of the equations of motion of inviscid, incompressible fluids. In dimension two such limit solution exists on any arbitrary time interval, with no restriction on the size of the initial velocity. It is then natural to expect the same for the compressible solution, if the Mach number is sufficiently small.

We consider smooth irrotational solutions. First, we study the life span, i.e. the largest time interval T(ε) of existence of classical solutions, when the initial data are a small perturbation of size εfrom a constant state. For the proof of this result we use a combination of energy and decay estimates. Then, the estimate of the life span allows to show, by a suitable scaling of variables, the existence of irrotational solutions on any arbitrary time interval, for any small enough Mach number. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Asymptotic behaviour and exponential stability for a transmission problem in thermoelasticity
Authors: Marzocchi Alfredo , Mut̃oz Rivera Jaime E. , Grazia Naso Maria
Published: October 2002

We show that the solution of a semilinear transmission problem between an elastic and a thermoelastic material, decays exponentially to zero. That is, denoting by ℰ(t) the sum of the first, second and third order energy associated with the system, we show that there exist positive constants C and γsatisfying

ℰ(t) ⩽ Cℰ(0)e−γt

Moreover, the existence of absorbing sets is achieved in the non‐homogeneous case. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Detection of a polarization imbalance in reverberation chambers and how to remove it by polarization stirring when measuring antenna efficiencies
Authors: Kildal Per‐Simon , Carlsson Charlie
Published: October 2002

It has previously been shown that the radiation efficiency of small antennas can be measured with good accuracy in reverberation chambers. The results are obtained by averaging several measurements of the transmitted power between the antenna under test and a fixed antenna, both located inside the chamber. Further investigations have shown that the results depend strongly on the orientation of the antenna under test and thereby on its polarization. The present Letter explains why it is like this, and how this imbalance can be removed by polarization stirring, that is, by using three orthogonal fixed antennas instead of one. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 34: 145–149, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10398
The meander line antenna for bluetooth
Authors: Lee Jong‐Pil , Park Seong‐Ook
Published: October 2002

This Letter proposes a novel antenna that has a small size and high gain features. The conventional chip antennas are made of very high dielectric materials that result in small size but inherently low radiation gain. Instead of using the dielectric materials, the proposed antenna has a small size while retaining high gain. The bandwidth and gain of this model, with antenna size 15 × 10 × 6 mm, have 9.0% (at 2.44 GHz, |S11| ≤ −10 dB) and 2.73 dBi, respectively. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 34: 149–151, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10399
Design of an ultra‐broadband V antenna for microwave detection of breast tumors
Authors: Fernández Pantoja M. , González García S. , Hernández‐López M. A. , Rubio Bretones A. , Gómez Martín R.
Published: October 2002

In this Letter an optimization procedure based on genetic algorithms is applied to the design of a resistively loaded ultra‐broadband V antenna for detecting breast tumors. Its performance is compared with that of the Wu–King design. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 34: 164–166, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10404
Slot‐loaded center‐fed microstrip patch antenna
Authors: See T. S. P. , Ning Chen Zhi
Published: October 2002

This Letter describes a dual‐band microstrip patch antenna with a balanced center‐fed feeding configuration and a pair of slots near the radiating edges of the patch. The effects of the slots on the impedance and radiation characteristics of the antenna are experimentally examined. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 34: 227–232, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10424
Scattering from finite periodic structures: A comparison between measured and UAPO results
Authors: Pochini C. , Toso G. , Pelosi G. , Roederer A.
Published: October 2002

In this Letter the scattering from finite periodic structures characterized by planar interfaces is analyzed with the use of a uniform asymptotic physical optics (UAPO) technique. The asymptotic results are compared with the results obtained with other techniques and with measured data, and demonstrate good accuracy for the UAPO. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 34: 340–341, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10456
Cardiac status in bone tumor survivors up to nearly 19 years after treatment with doxorubicin: A longitudinal study
Authors: Postma A. , Elzenga N.J. , Haaksma J. , Schasfoort‐Van Leeuwen M.J.M. , Kamps W.A. , Bink‐Boelkens M.Th.E.
Published: October 2002

Background

Longitudinal assessment of cardiac toxicity in anthracycline‐treated long‐term bone tumor survivors.

Procedures

Cardiac status was assessed in 29 patients 14.1 (range 7–18.7) years after treatment with doxorubicin (DOXO) 360 mg/m2 (median 225–550). The median age of the patients at the time of the study was 32.5 years (range 19.7–52). The evaluation consisted of an electrocardiogram (ECG), 24‐hr ambulatory ECG with analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) and echocardiography. The results were compared to those of a study of the same patients that was performed 5 years earlier 8.9 years (range 2.3–14.1) after treatment. [Postma et al.: Med Pediatr Oncol 26:230–237, 1996]

Results

We found no progression of ECG abnormalities, arrhythmias, or echocardiographic abnormalities. Females were at risk for reduced contractility (P = 0.006). HRV was significantly reduced compared to age‐ and sex‐matched controls and compared to the previous results.

Conclusions

Anthracycline‐related late echocardiographic abnormalities and arrhythmias detected 8.9 years after treatment, showed no further deterioration with ongoing follow‐up. However, there was a significant reduction of HRV. This suggests that HRV might be a sensitive test for detection of anthracycline‐induced cardiac toxicity. Med Pediatr Oncol 2002;39:86–92. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Malignant vascular tumors in children and adolescents: A report from the Italian and German soft tissue sarcoma cooperative group
Authors: Ferrari Andrea , Casanova Michela , Bisogno Gianni , Cecchetto Giovanni , Meazza Cristina , Gandola Lorenza , Garaventa Alberto , Mattke Adrian , Treuner Jorn , Carli Modesto
Published: October 2002

Background

Malignant vascular tumors are extremely rare in childhood and few data on their clinical management are available. We report on a series of 18 children who had malignant vascular tumors, treated from 1980 to 2000 by the Italian and German Soft Tissue Sarcoma Cooperative Group.

Procedure

Twelve patients had angiosarcoma, four had malignant hemangioendothelioma, and two had Kaposi's sarcoma. Surgical resection was completed in six cases; radiotherapy was administered to 6 children, and chemotherapy to 14.

Results

After a median follow‐up of 208 months, the 5‐year survival and event‐free survival rates were 30.9 and 20.8%. Six patients were alive, four in first remission (three had tumor < 5 cm, grossly completely resected), and two in second remission. Response to chemotherapy was evaluable in nine cases and was: six no response, two partial remission, one complete remission.

Conclusions

Angiosarcoma and related malignant vascular tumors are aggressive neoplasms with a poor prognosis; their behavior in children seems no different from their adult counterparts. Complete surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment, but is probably sufficient in only a minority of cases. Postoperative radiotherapy may have a role and could be added to improve local control. The role of chemotherapy is uncertain, but the high rate of metastatic spread prompts investigation into new chemotherapeutic approaches. Med Pediatr Oncol 2002;39:109–114. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Epidemiology of cancer in adolescents
Authors: Stiller Charles
Published: October 2002

In western populations, the annual incidence rate of cancer among adolescents aged 15–19 years is around 150–200 per million, intermediate between the rates for older children and young adults. The most frequent diagnostic groups are acute leukemia, lymphomas, central nervous system tumors, bone and soft tissue sarcomas, germ cell tumors, thyroid carcinoma, and malignant melanoma. While the causes of most cancers in teenagers are still unknown, health education and promotion and public health programs offer some scope for prevention among people of this age group. Reduction in sun exposure should lead to a reduction in incidence of melanoma, and elimination of hepatitis B in regions where it is endemic should result in a decrease in hepatic carcinoma. Five‐year survival of patients diagnosed around 1990 exceeded 70% in the USA and UK. Entry to clinical trials appears to be much less frequent for adolescents with cancer than for children. There is some evidence that higher survival is associated with entry to trials or centralized treatment for certain cancers in this age group. Med Pediatr Oncol 2002;39:149–155. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Two new complex triterpenoid saponins from Gledistsia dolavayi Franch.
Authors: Teng Rong Wei , Ni Wei , Wang De Zu , Ding Jing Kai , Chen Chang Xiang
Published: October 2002

Two new triterpenoid saponins, gledistside A (1) and gledistside B (2), isolated from the fruits of Gledistsia dolavayi Franch., were characterized as the 3,28‐O‐bisdesmoside of echinocystic acid acylated with monoterpene carboxylic acids. On the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidence, their structures were elucidated as 3‐O‐β‐D‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐α‐L‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐28‐O‐β‐D‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐β‐D‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐[β‐D‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐α‐L‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐{6‐O‐[2,6‐dimethyl‐6(S)‐hydroxy‐2‐trans‐2,7‐octadienoyl]}‐β‐D‐glucopyranosylechinocystic acid (1) and 3‐O‐β‐D‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐α‐L‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐28‐O‐β‐D‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐β‐D‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐[β‐D‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐α‐L‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐{6‐O‐[2‐hydroxymethyl‐6‐methyl‐6(S)‐hydroxy‐2‐trans‐2,7‐octadienoyl]}‐β‐D‐glucopyranosylechinocystic acid (2). The complete 1H and 13C assignments of saponins 1 and 2 were achieved on the basis of 2D NMR spectra including HMQC‐TOCSY, TOCSY, 1H–1H COSY, HMBC, ROESY and HMQC spectra. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of human membrane cofactor protein (MCP; CD46) on spermatozoa
Authors: Riley Rebecca C. , Kemper Claudia , Leung Marilyn , Atkinson John P.
Published: October 2002

Membrane cofactor protein (MCP; CD46) is a complement regulator widely expressed as four isoforms that arise via alternative splicing. On human spermatozoa, MCP is expressed on the inner acrosomal membrane and alterations of spermatozoa MCP may be associated with infertility. In rodents, expression of MCP is largely restricted to the testes. MCP on human spermatozoa has a unique Mr pattern that we have investigated. We also characterized MCP expression in mice transgenic (tg) for human MCP. Human MCP expression in the tg mice mimics the human pattern in that it is located on the inner acrosomal membrane and has a faster Mr than MCP expressed elsewhere. Sequencing of RT‐PCR products from the testis indicates that there is not a unique male reproductive tissue specific cytoplasmic tail. Instead, human spermatozoa express MCP bearing cytoplasmic tail two, which is also utilized in most other tissues and contains several signaling motifs. Further, using N‐glycosidases, we demonstrate that the unique lower molecular weight of MCP on spermatozoa is secondary to a modification in the N‐linked sugars. Specifically, as the spermatozoa mature, but before they reach the epididymis, the three N‐linked sugars of MCP are trimmed to less complex structures. While the purpose of this deglycosylation is unknown, we propose that it is a common feature of proteins expressed on the plasma and inner acrosomal membranes of spermatozoa and hypothesize that it is a spermatozoa specific event critical for facilitating sperm–egg interactions. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 62:534–546, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Regulation of apoptosis in the bovine blastocyst by insulin and the insulin‐like growth factor (IGF) superfamily
Authors: Byrne A.T. , Southgate J. , Brison D.R. , Leese H.J.
Published: October 2002

Insulin and the insulin‐like growth factors, IGF‐I and IGF‐II, have been reported to exert a mitogenic effect on the preimplantation mammalian embryo. Furthermore, it has been proposed that loss of imprinting of the insulin‐like growth factor II receptor gene and the consequent over‐production of IGF‐II may be involved in the aetiology of the Enlarged Offspring Syndrome, which occurs as an artefact of in vitro embryo production. We have previously shown that apoptosis occurs in the preimplantation bovine embryo and is influenced by in vitro culture conditions. We have therefore sought to establish the effects of insulin, IGF‐I and IGF‐II on apoptosis and cell proliferation in bovine blastocysts in vitro. Zygotes, obtained by in vitro maturation and fertilization of follicular oocytes, were cultured to blastocysts, with or without exogenous growth factors. Embryos were stained with propidium iodide to label all nuclei and by TUNEL to label apoptotic nuclei and analyzed by epifluorescent and confocal microscopy. IGF‐I and IGF‐II, but not insulin, were found to increase the proportion of embryos which formed blastocysts. Insulin decreased the incidence of apoptosis without affecting blastocyst cell number. IGF‐I acted to decrease apoptosis and increase total cell number and IGF‐II increased cell number alone. These data suggest roles for insulin and the IGFs as mitogens and/or apoptotic survival factors during early bovine development. Perturbation of IGF‐II regulated growth may be involved in fetal oversize. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 62:489–495, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Serial MRI evaluation of cardiac structure and function in mice after reperfused myocardial infarction
Authors: Ross Antwone J. , Yang Zequan , Berr Stuart S. , Gilson Wesley D. , Petersen William C. , Oshinski John N. , French Brent A.
Published: October 2002

This study evaluated the utility of cardiac MRI for assessing the impact of myocardial infarction (MI) on cardiac structure and function in mice following reperfused 1‐ or 2‐hr occlusions of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). When assessed 1 day after MI, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) had declined by more than half, and remained depressed for the duration of the study. Furthermore, MI initiated dramatic increases in both LV end‐systolic volume (LVESV) and end‐diastolic volume (LVEDV), with a greater than threefold increase in LVESV and a twofold increase in LVEDV by 4 weeks post‐MI. Transmural LV wall thickening (WTh) analysis revealed that noninfarcted myocardium in the remote septal region exhibited an early deficit in contractile function after MI that transiently resolved by day 7, only to be followed by a late phase of dysfunction that became fully manifest by day 28 post‐MI. In conclusion, MRI allows the serial assessment of cardiac structure and function after MI in mice, with a resolution adequate to document both regional and temporal changes. The application of these imaging techniques in transgenic and knock‐out mice will greatly expedite research aimed at defining the functional roles of individual genes in the pathophysiology of LV remodeling (LVR) after reperfused MI. Magn Reson Med 47:1158–1168, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cerebral blood volume measurements by rapid contrast infusion and T‐weighted echo planar MRI
Authors: Tudorica Alina , Fang Li Hai , Hospod Frank , Delucia‐Deranja Evan , Huang Wei , Patlak Clifford S. , Newman George C.
Published: October 2002

Cerebral blood volume (CBV) provides information complementary to that of cerebral blood flow in cerebral ischemia, tumors, and other conditions. We have developed an alternative theory and method for measuring CBV based on dynamic imaging by MRI or CT during a short contrast infusion. This method avoids several limitations of traditional approaches that involve waiting for steady state or measuring the area under the curve (AUC) during bolus contrast injection. Anesthetized dogs were studied by T‐weighted echo planar imaging during gadolinium‐DTPA infusions lasting 30–60 sec. CBV was calculated from the ratio of the signal changes in tissue and artery. Method responsiveness was compared to AUC measurements using the vasodilator acepromazine. The ratio of signal change in tissue to that in artery rapidly approached an asymptotic value even while the amount of contrast in artery continued to increase. Using 30‐sec infusions, the mean (± SD) of CBV for control animals was 3.6 ± 0.9 ml blood/100 g tissue in gray matter and 2.3 ± 0.8 ml blood/100 g tissue in white matter (ratio = 1.6). Acepromazine increased CBV to 5.7 ± 1.5 ml blood/100 g tissue in gray matter and 3.1 ± 0.8 ml blood/100 g tissue in white matter (ratio = 2.0). AUC measurements after bolus injection yielded similar values for control animals but failed to demonstrate any change after acepromazine. It is possible to measure CBV using dynamic MRI or CT during 30–60‐sec contrast infusions. This method may be more sensitive to changes in CBV than traditional AUC methods. Magn Reson Med 47:1145–1157, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Polarization of the RF field in a human head at high field: A study with a quadrature surface coil at 7.0 T
Authors: Wang Jinghua , Yang Qing X. , Zhang Xiaoliang , Collins Christopher M. , Smith Michael B. , Zhu Xiao‐Hong , Adriany Gregor , Ugurbil Kamil , Chen Wei
Published: October 2002

The RF field intensity distribution in the human brain becomes inhomogeneous due to wave behavior at high field. This is further complicated by the spatial distribution of RF field polarization that must be considered to predict image intensity distribution. An additional layer of complexity is involved when a quadrature coil is used for transmission and reception. To study such complicated RF field behavior, a computer modeling method was employed to investigate the RF field of a quadrature surface coil at 300 MHz. Theoretical and experimental results for a phantom and the human head at 7.0 T are presented. The results are theoretically important and practically useful for high‐field quadrature coil design and application. Magn Reson Med 48:362–369, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Three‐dimensional spiral MR imaging: Application to renal multiphase contrast‐enhanced angiography
Authors: Amann Michael , Bock Michael , Floemer Frank , Schoenberg Stefan O. , Schad Lothar R.
Published: October 2002

A fast MR pulse sequence with spiral in‐plane readout and conventional 3D partition encoding was developed for multiphase contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE‐MRA) of the renal vasculature. Compared to a standard multiphase 3D CE‐MRA with FLASH readout, an isotropic in‐plane spatial resolution of 1.4 × 1.4 mm2 over 2.0 × 1.4 mm2 could be achieved with a temporal resolution of 6 sec. The theoretical gain of spatial resolution by using the spiral pulse sequence and the performance in the presence of turbulent flow was evaluated in phantom measurements. Multiphase 3D CE‐MRA of the renal arteries was performed in five healthy volunteers using both techniques. A deblurring technique was used to correct the spiral raw data. Thereby, the off‐resonance frequencies were determined by minimizing the imaginary part of the data in image space. The chosen correction algorithm was able to reduce image blurring substantially in all MRA phases. The image quality of the spiral CE‐MRA pulse sequence was comparable to that of the FLASH CE‐MRA with increased spatial resolution and a 25% reduced contrast‐to‐noise ratio. Additionally, artifacts specific to spiral MRI could be observed which had no impact on the assessment of the renal arteries. Magn Reson Med 48:290–296, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Regional distribution of slow‐twitch muscle fibers after reinnervation in adult rat hindlimb muscles
Authors: Wang Liangchun , Copray Sjef , Brouwer Nieske , Meek Marcel F. , Kernell Daniel
Published: October 2002

In adult rats, the sciatic nerve was unilaterally sectioned and reunited above the knee. Following a survival time of 21 weeks, five muscles were removed from both lower hindlimbs after determining their intra‐limb positions. In each muscle, cryostat sections from seven equidistant proximo‐distal levels were stained for myofibrillar ATPase. Intramuscular positions were determined for all slow‐twitch type I fibers. Within each muscle, type I fibers were heterogeneously distributed, and the direction of type I fiber accumulation was, on average, almost identical in reinnervated muscles and contralateral controls. Furthermore, as in controls, a proximo‐distal decline of type I fiber density was found in reinnervated muscles. Compared to contralateral controls, reinnervated muscles consistently showed a very high number of type I fibers at close interfiber distances, indicating respecification of muscle fiber types by the ingrowing nerve fibers. The results suggest that slow‐twitch motor axons preferentially grew back toward the original slow‐twitch muscle regions. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 25: 000–000, 2002
Modality‐related scalp responses after electrical stimulation of cutaneous and muscular upper limb afferents in humans
Authors: Restuccia Domenico , Valeriani Massimiliano , Insola Angelo , Lo Monaco Mauro , Grassi Eugenio , Barba Carmen , Le Pera Domenica , Mauguière François
Published: October 2002

To elucidate whether the selective electrical stimulation of muscle as well as cutaneous afferents evokes modality‐specific responses in somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) recorded on the scalp of humans, we compared scalp SEPs to electrical stimuli applied to the median nerve and to the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) motor point. In three subjects, we also recorded SEPs after stimulation of the distal phalanx of the thumb, which selectively involved cutaneous afferents. Motor point and median nerve SEPs showed the same scalp distribution; moreover, very similar dipole models, showing the same dipolar time courses, explained well the SEPs after both types of stimulation. Since the non‐natural stimulation of muscle afferents evokes responses also in areas specifically devoted to cutaneous input processing, it is conceivable that, in physiological conditions, muscle afferents are differentially gated in somatosensory cortex. The frontocentral N30 response was absent after purely cutaneous stimulation; by contrast, it was relatively more represented in motor point rather than in mixed nerve SEPs. These data suggest that the N30 response is specifically evoked by proprioceptive inputs. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 26: 44–55, 2002
High efficiency transfection of primary skeletal muscle cells with lipid‐based reagents
Authors: Neuhuber Birgit , Huang David I. , Daniels Mathew P. , Torgan Carol E.
Published: October 2002

Lipofection is a convenient method for gene transfer into muscle cells but reportedly is inefficient. We tested the efficacy of commercially available lipid‐based and polyamine transfection reagents. Primary rat skeletal muscle cell cultures were transfected at three stages of development and assayed after fusion. Efficiency reached 30% during the proliferation stage and up to 23% when most myoblasts had fused into myotubes. Optimization of transfection conditions with three different vectors yielded efficiencies exceeding 50%. Thus, lipid‐based transfection into primary skeletal muscle cells can be several times more efficient than previously reported. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 26: 136–140, 2002
Comparison of MRI and electrophysiological studies for detecting brainstem lesions in traumatic brain injury
Authors: Wedekind Christoph , Hesselmann Volker , Klug Norfrid
Published: October 2002

The yield of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electrophysiological studies in detecting brainstem lesions was assessed in 35 patients suffering from traumatic brain injury (Glasgow Coma Scale, 3–10). As an inclusion criterion, all patients had brainstem trauma as revealed by early MRI or electrophysiological studies. Of the 35 cases, 7 (20%) had brainstem lesions detected by MRI only, whereas in 10 patients (29%), electrophysiological examination disclosed impairment of brainstem function with normal MRI. In 18 (51%) subjects, both diagnostic techniques revealed brainstem lesions. The midbrain was the most common location of lesions. Masseter reflex recording had the highest yield (93%) of abnormal findings. No mismatch with respect to site and side of abnormality occurred between MRI and electrophysiological studies. Outcome analysis indicated an unfavorable course for the vast majority (83%) of patients, regardless of the diagnostic means disclosing traumatic brainstem injury. Therefore, both techniques are effective in disclosing traumatic brainstem injury, with diagnostic overlap in about 50% of cases. In contrast to MRI, electrophysiological investigation is easily performed and repeated at low cost in the setting of an intensive care unit, where such patients are typically hospitalized after trauma. In addition to electrophysiological assessment of brainstem function, MRI is recommended in each case having normal electrophysiological findings when brainstem injury is suspected. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 26: 270–273, 2002