bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bilateral Occipital Infarcts in a Hemodialysis Patient
Authors: Al-Falki Yahya H.
Published: April 2003

Cortical blindness as a complication of hemodialysis is not widely known, though visual disturbances related to uremia have been known for a long time. We recently observed cortical blindness caused by bilateral occipital infarcts in a patient after hemodialysis.
Renal Handling of Calcium
Authors: Seldin Donald W.
Published: April 2003

Ca absorption is mediated by both active and passive processes. Absorption in both proximal tubule and thick ascending limb is mainly coupled indirectly to Na absorption and is a passive process through the paracellular pathway. In the distal convoluted tubule, Ca absorption is regulated independently of Na absorption; this is the principal site of action of parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, and 1,25-(OH)2D3. Models for transport in proximal tubule, thick ascending limb, and distal convoluted tubule afford attractive explanations for the influence on Ca transport of effective arterial blood volume, parathyroid hormone, acid-base balance, genetic disturbances such as Bartter’s and Gitelman’s syndromes, and diuretic action.
Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency and Nephropathy
Authors: Montanelli A. , Mainardi E. , Pini L. , Corda L. , Grassi V.
Published: April 2003

Glomerulonephritis occurring in association with α1-antitrypsin deficiency has been sporadically reported in the literature but it is assumed to be a rare and poorly investigated disease. The complete pathologic pattern of glomerular lesions has not yet been established. The aim of our work was to investigate the correlation between the extent of antiprotease deficiency and the expression of nephropathy evaluated in two groups of patients (47 heterozygotic subjects with the PiMZ phenotype and 12 homozygotic subjects with the PiZZ phenotype) by a noninvasive approach with urinalyses and proteinuria measurement. No statistical differences between proteinuria in the two groups were observed suggesting that nephropathy is not a direct and single expression of the protein deficiency.
The Impact of Muscular Dystrophy on Limb Bone Growth and Scaling in Mice
Authors: Lammers A.R. , German R.Z. , Lightfoot P.S.
Published: April 2003

Muscular loading affects bone growth and the factors determining size and shape. However, it is not known what epigenetic impact muscular dystrophy (dystrophia muscularis) has on limb bone growth or ontogenetic scaling. To assess the effects of two types of muscular dystrophy (genotypes dy/dy and dy2J/dy2J) on limb bone growth, we measured lengths and widths of the right humerus, femur and tibia, and lengths of the ulna and radius from dorsal/ventral radiographs of mice taken over a period of 270 days. Radiographs were taken approximately 3 times a week, and the sampling frequency was gradually reduced to once a month. We plotted measurements from each individual against time and fit a Gompertz equation to the growth of each bone. Parameters of the equation were compared using ANOVA across genotypes and between sexes. Slopes of length versus width were calculated for the limb bones of each individual using linear regression. Slope differences among genotypes and between sexes were tested using ANOVA. Control and dy2J values were significantly longer than those of dy mice in all bones, but there was considerable variation across genotypes for the various width measurements. Sexual dimorphism was found in several measurements, where males were always larger than females. There were few significant differences in limb scaling (lengths vs. widths) among genotypes and almost no scaling differences between sexes despite the size differences. Differences among widths suggest that muscular dystrophy affects different parts of limb bones in different ways. This may be the effect of the type and number of muscular attachments, as well as the usage of the limb. The sexually dimorphic measurements suggest that there are size differences in the skeleton between sexes, regardless of the genotype. Our ontogenetic allometry results indicate that size is affected by the muscular dystrophic condition and by sexual dimorphism, while shape remains largely unchanged.
Glycoproteins Now and Then: A Personal Account
Authors: Sharon N.
Published: April 2003

The present article opens with a brief summary of the current knowledge of glycoproteins and their medical applications, as compared to the almost complete ignorance of these substances during the first half of the century. The author then relates how he became interested in carbohydrates in the 1950s, and subsequently in glycoproteins. He focuses on the identification of soybean agglutinin as the first known plant protein of this class, to which a widely occurring N-linked oligomannoside is attached, and continues with an account of his work on the coral tree lectin that contains plant-specific N-glycans. Moving at the same time deep into lectin research, he describes the discovery of the crucial role of bacterial surface lectins in the initiation of infectious diseases, thus providing the rationale for the current attempts to use carbohydrates for antiadhesion therapy of such diseases. The article ends with a survey of the author’s contribution to spreading wide the knowledge of glycoproteins and of their great importance in biology and medicine.
The Royal College of Surgeons Rat: An Animal Model for Inherited Retinal Degeneration with a Still Unknown Genetic Defect
Authors: Strauss O. , Stumpff F. , Mergler S. , Wienrich M. , Wiederholt M.
Published: April 2003

The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat is the first known animal with inherited retinal degeneration. Despite the fact that the genetic defect is not known, the RCS rat is widely used for research in hereditary retinal dystrophies. This review tries to summarize observations which have been made in the RCS rat and to make an attempt to formulate candidate genes which may the cause for the retinal degeneration in this rat strain. The genetic defect in RCS rats causes the inability of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) to phagocytose shed photoreceptor outer segments. In normal rats or humans, this circadian process is regulated by both the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and the calcium/ inositol phosphate systems. The calcium/inositol phosphate system seems to be linked to the phagocytosis receptors which recognize photoreceptor outer membranes to initialize phagocytosis. The cAMP system appeared as modulator of the regulation of phagocytosis. An increase in the intracellular cAMP concentration is an ‘off’ signal for phagocytosis. In RPE cells from RCS rats many observations have been made which indicate a changed second messenger metabolism concerning both the cAMP and the calcium/inositol phosphate systems. The genetic defect seems to concern a protein which is involved in the initialization of a second messenger pathway. We conclude that the genes coding for the phagocytosis receptor or for proteins which are linked to receptors (for example G proteins) are good candidates for defective genes in RCS rats.
Outer Radius-Wall Thickness Ratio, a Postmortem Quantitative Histology in Human Coronary Arteries
Authors: Podesser B.K. , Neumann F. , Neumann M. , Schreiner W. , Wollenek G. , Mallinger R.
Published: April 2003

Although the anatomy, histology and pathology of human coronary arteries have been studied extensively, little is known about the functional relationship between vessel radius and wall thickness. It is the purpose of this study to present detailed measurements and to describe this relationship covering the range from the feeding coronary artery to the arterioles. Human hearts of 10 adults less than 36 ± 3 years old were investigated immediately postmortem. Ten cubic tissue blocks, measuring about 10 mm in length on each side, were dissected from the left ventricular wall. After fixation by immersion, 15-µm sections were prepared and outer and inner perimeters of 52 arterial segments were digitalized. Vessel radius and wall thickness were calculated and plotted to show their relationship over the whole range of vessel calibers. Outer vessel radii ranged from 100 to 3,000 µm and wall thickness from 80 to 800 µm. Plotting the outer vessel radius against the wall thickness, the data points were found to cluster around a straight line. A significant correlation between the two parameters was found (R2 = 0.79). This mathematical correlation and the good agreement of the presented results with data from other species indicate a common physiologic concept.
The Incidence and Dimensions of the Retroarticular Canal of the Atlas Vertebra
Authors: Mitchell J.
Published: April 2003

The retroarticular canal has been implicated in compression of the vertebral artery, where it passes over the posterior arch of the atlas vertebra, during extreme rotational movements of the head and neck. The incidence of this retroarticular canal is not known in the South African population. The aim of the present study was to record the incidence and the dimensions of the retroarticular canal in South African white and black adults, aged 20–80 years. In a total of 1,354 atlas vertebrae, 9.8% of sides (264 left and/or right sides) were classified as having complete retroarticular canals, of which 11.7% (31 sides) were right-only, 24.6% (65 sides) left-only and 31.8% (84 left plus right sides) bilateral canals. This incidence did not increase with age and was lower in whites than blacks, with white males having the lowest and white and black females alike having the highest incidence of the canal. Measurements of the retroarticular canal showed that there was no difference between left and right sides. However, the superoinferior diameter was significantly less than the anteroposterior diameter, in all but the right canals in the white female subgroup. This difference in the dimensions of the retroarticular canal will decrease the cross-sectional area of the space available for the vertebral artery passing through it and may compromise blood flow in the vessel.
Histomorphology of an Ileal Orthotopic Neobladder: 24 Year’s Follow-Up
Authors: Gatti R. , Ferretti S. , Bucci G. , Simonazzi M. , Orlandini G.
Published: April 2003

No morphological data are so far available about long-term (over 15 years) adaptation and outcome of ileal neobladders. In this single case report we have studied a 72-year-old man who underwent reconstruction of an ileal neobladder 24 years ago. The ileal epithelium shows changes toward a colonic aspect with villous atrophy and increased goblet cell number although, as in normal ileum, sialomucins are the most abundant secretory products. Neuroendocrine cells are reduced to a few elements of a single morphological class. Even in the presence of a low apoptotic rate reduced cell proliferation causes mucosal thinning. These adaptive mechanisms grant an excellent clinical and functional result even beyond 20 years after surgery. It is suggested that ileal neobladder can constitute an important model for the study of epithelial differentiation control.
Innervation Pattern of Different Cartilaginous Tissues in the Rat
Authors: Schwab W. , Funk R.H.W.
Published: April 2003

Background: The innervation of skeletal tissues by sensory nerves is poorly understood – especially of nerve fibres which reach into the bony and cartilaginous tissue. Methods: Samples of rat cartilaginous tissues from different locations (knee joint, vertebral column, temporomandibular joint) were fixed by perfusion and decalcified. The distribution of protein gene product (PGP) 9.5-, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)- and tachykinin (TK)-immunoreactive axons was analysed using fluorescence immunohistochemistry. Results: Nerve fibres were detected in the outer regions of the hyaline cartilage of the knee joint, in the hyaline cartilage of the vertebral body, in the fibrocartilage of the intervertebral disc and menisci, and in the articular disc of the temporomandibular joint. Predominantly, they were found to be CGRP-immunoreactive. Conclusion: The neuropeptidergic innervation of the hyaline cartilage in different locations and the presence of nerve fibres in the fibrocartilage might indicate that in addition to the classical neuronal afferent and efferent pathway these fibres may also mediate trophic actions like tissue adaptation and repair.
Expression of Functional Markers in Acute Nonlymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Han Kyungja , Kahng Jimin , Kim Myungshin , Lim Jihyang , Kim Yonggoo , Cho Bin , Kim Hack Ki , Min Woo Sung , Kim Chun Choo , Lee Kyo Young , Kim Byung Kee , Kang Chang Suk
Published: April 2003

Multidrug resistance parameters, tissue infiltration parameters, receptors for colony-stimulating factors (CSFr) and cell cycle parameters were analyzed using flow cytometry in 145, 109 initial and 36 relapsed or refractory, acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) patients to find out clinically more reliable functional parameters. Lung resistance-associated protein (LRP) was most frequently expressed in ANLL (44.1%) followed by P-glycoprotein (PGP) (35.9%) and multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) (8.3%). LRP and PGP were expressed more frequently in relapsed or refractory ANLL than initial ANLL cases. Complete remission rate after standard chemotherapy falls in PGP-positive cases (p = 0.001). CD44-positive ANLL cases relapsed more frequently. The organ tropism is different depending on the infiltration parameters, vascular cell adhesion molecule to splenomegaly, matrix metalloprotease-2 to hepatomegaly and to extramedullary infiltration other than spleen, liver or lymph node. The percentage of the granulocyte-macrophage-CSFr expression was high in M4 and M5, and granulocyte-CSFr-positive ANLL showed less extramedullary infiltration (p = 0.007) and more PGP expression. Ki-67 was expressed significantly less in refractory ANLL than initial ANLL and DNA topisomerase IIα was expressed significantly more in the surviving patients group. In conclusion, analysis of these new functional parameters could help to predict and overcome the clinical behavior of each ANLL at the time of diagnosis.
Perivascular Plasmacytosis: A Light-Microscopic and Immunohistochemical Study of 93 Bone Marrow Biopsies
Authors: Kass Lawrence , Kapadia Iqbal H.
Published: April 2003

In bone marrow biopsies from 13 hematologically normal persons and from 80 patients with a variety of disorders, we found perivascular plasmacytosis. In all instances except the one case of multiple myeloma, plasma cells were polyclonal and normal in morphology. This was especially pronounced in patients with HIV infection, and in individuals following chemotherapy. In the same patients, sinusoids were also prominent, and appeared dilated. In biopsy sections, small endothelial-lined vessels appeared to arise from attenuation of the sinusoidal lumen. After a short segment of only endothelial-lined vessels, perivascular plasmacytosis appeared. When smooth muscle cells began to line the endothelium, plasma cells virtually disappeared. The biological significance of this finding is unknown. Possibly, the close proximity of plasma cells to endothelial cells early in the development of blood vessels could facilitate entry of immunoglobulins into the blood.
Myelodysplasia-Like Syndrome and End-Stage Liver Disease
Authors: Keung Yi-Kong , Morgan David , Hodges David , Blann Melissa , Cobos Everardo
Published: April 2003

We report 2 cases of myelodysplastic syndrome associated with cirrhosis caused by primary biliary cirrhosis and α1-antitrypsin deficiency. The etiology of myelodysplasia and its implication in liver transplantation is discussed.
Plasmapheresis for Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura following Bone Marrow Transplantation
Authors: Kolker O. , Sviri S. , Linton D.M. , Or R. , Nagler A. , Shapira M.Y.
Published: April 2003

Recognition of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)/hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) following bone marrow transplantation (BMT) has increased in recent years. The use of plasma exchange has greatly improved the outlook of de novo TTP. Fewer data are available on its use in post-BMT TTP but small uncontrolled series showed poor results with low response rates. We present here a case of a young patient who developed manifestations of TTP 10 months after BMT with complete recovery following treatment with plasma exchange for 1 month. This case suggests that plasma exchange could be life saving and should be tried in every patient with post-BMT TTP.
Mesenchymal Differentiation and Organ Distribution of Established Human Stromal Cell Lines in NOD/SCID Mice
Authors: Thalmeier Karin , Meissner Petra , Moosmann Sabine , Sagebiel Sabine , Wiest Irmgard , Huss Ralf
Published: April 2003

Two human stromal cell lines were established previously from bone marrow-derived primary long-term cultures by immortalization using the SV40 large T antigen and cellular cloning. After irradiation, the fibroblast-like cell lines L87/4 and L88/5 support hematopoietic differentiation of allogeneic cord blood cells in vitro. The stromal cells do not express CD34 and CD50, but some adhesion molecules and integrins, such as CD44, CD54 and CD58. Their expression profiles on RNA and protein levels are suggestive of their osteogenic potency. The quality and quantity of osteocalcin and osteopontin protein expression depended on the culture conditions. Expression of the osteogenic markers increased over time in culture, especially in cells growing in clusters. The stromal cells also expressed collagens I and V, but did not show any expression of collagens II and III. The potentially osteoblastic stromal cells were transplanted into NOD/ SCID recipient mice by intravenous injection and were found in various mesenchymal organs up to 10 weeks after transplantation. Osteocalcin-positive human stromal cells could be detected in the bone marrow, thymus, liver, brain and gut of the recipient animals. In summary, there is evidence that human bone-marrow-derived stromal cells have to be considered mesenchymal progenitors, persistently expressing osteogenic markers in vitro and in vivo.
Efficacy of Intravenous Immunoglobulin in the Treatment of Thrombotic Thrombocytopaenic Purpura
Authors: Dervenoulas J. , Tsirigotis P. , Bollas G. , Koumarianou A.A. , Pappa V. , Mantzios G. , Xiros N. , Economopoulos T. , Papageorgiou E. , Pappa M. , Raptis S.A.
Published: April 2003

Thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura (TTP) is characterised by platelet aggregation in the capillaries, thrombocytopaenia and microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia that result in organ ischaemia, mainly of the CNS and kidneys. Since the institution of plasma exchange therapy no further treatments have been proved to improve the survival and the relapse rate of TTP patients. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the efficacy of normal human immunoglobulin treatment in 44 patients suffering from TTP. Patients were divided into two groups that either did not receive (group A: 15 patients) or received (group B: 29 patients) 400 mg/kg of human normal immunoglobulin intravenously (ivIgG) for 5 days. All patients received treatment with corticosteroids, anti-platelet agents and plasma exchange. The results clearly showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in either remission rate or time to relapse following remission. In conclusion, this study did not prove any beneficial effect of ivIgG in the treatment of TTP patients.
Pathogenetic Mechanisms of Thrombosis in Malignancy
Authors: Donati Maria Benedetta , Falanga Anna
Published: April 2003

The interactions between components of the hemostatic system and cancer cells are multifaceted. Strong clinical evidence is accumulating on the prothrombotic tendency of cancer patients, which is enhanced by anticancer therapy, such as surgery and chemotherapy. The mechanisms of thrombus promotion in malignancy include some general responses of the host to the tumor (acute phase, inflammation, angiogenesis) and specific interactions of tumor cells with the clotting/fibrinolysis systems and with blood (leukocytes, platelets) or vascular cells. It is at present difficult to rank the relative weight of these multiple interactions on the basis of the well-recognized clinical evidence of enhanced thrombotic episodes in tumor patients. In any case, the mechanisms explored so far offer a sound experimental basis for prevention/treatment of thrombosis in tumor patients and leave open the possibility that some antithrombotic strategies may also affect the processes of tumor growth and dissemination.
Cocaine-Contaminated Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation
Authors: Keung Yi-Kong , Morgan David , Cobos Everardo
Published: April 2003

Should a person with history of drug addiction be categorically denied as a bone marrow donor? The answer to the question is controversial. We report a case of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for refractory acute myeloid leukemia preceded by essential thrombocythemia. The donor used cocaine and marijuana the night before the bone marrow harvest.
Angiogenesis and Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia
Authors: Sabbà Carlo , Cirulli Anna , Rizzi Rita , Pasculli Giovanna , Gallitelli Mauro , Specchia Giorgina , Liso Vincenzo
Published: April 2003

To date much of the recent work on pathological angiogenesis has focused on inflammatory diseases, diabetes and cancer in particular. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia or Rendu-Osler-Weber disease provides an example of the genetic disorder of angiogenesis in which a multisystemic angiodysplasia is responsible for severe hemorrhage. The disease pathogenesis is partially explained by a defect in the TGF-β signaling system, although in more recent works a possible role of other vascular growth factors has been proposed. This paper provides a model of an aberrant angiogenesis in which multiple vascular growth factors could be involved in a diffuse angiodysplasia.
Autocrine Production and Synergistic Growth-Promoting Activity of Interleukin-6 and Oncostatin M in a New Human Myeloma Cell Line TU-1
Authors: Koskela K. , Pelliniemi T.-T. , Pelliniemi L.J. , Remes K. , Södeström K.-O. , Punnonen K. , Kumar R. , Ollikainen H. , Pulkki K.
Published: April 2003

Human myeloma cell lines are difficult to establish, and they usually originate from patients with extramedullary disease. We describe a new human myeloma cell line, TU-1, which was established from the bone marrow of a patient without extramedullary myeloma. The myeloma cells were initially maintained in a conditioned medium derived from another well-known myeloma cell line U-266. This conditioned medium contained interleukin-6 (IL-6) and oncostatin M (OSM), and possibly other unknown growth factors as well. In 3 months the TU-1 cell line proliferated autonomously and secreted IL-6 and OSM with a synergistic growth response. As we have previously shown the cell line acquired a p53 mutation in vitro, which may be an important factor causing autonomous proliferation. In patients with multiple myeloma OSM is frequently found in the serum and OSM has been associated with serum IL-6 and progressive disease. Our study demonstrates the close relationship of OSM and IL-6 also in vitro.
Apoptosis-Regulating Proteins and Prognosis in Diffuse Large B Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas
Authors: Pagnano K.B.B. , Silva M.D. , Vassallo J. , Aranha F.J.P. , Saad S.T.O.
Published: April 2003

We evaluated the expression of apoptosis-regulating proteins (p53, Bcl-2, Bax, Bak and Mcl-1) in paraffin-embedded tissues of 33 patients with diffuse large B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma , and assessed the relationship of these proteins to clinical outcome and response to chemotherapy. Our results showed that p53 expression was an independent immunohistochemical parameter related to a poor prognosis in these lymphomas. Bcl-2, Bax, Bak and Mcl-1 proteins, though highly expressed in almost all cases were not associated with prognosis or response to treatment.
Hepatic Failure due to CD3+ Plasma Cell Infiltration of the Liver in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Yağcı Münci , Sucak Gülsan Türköz , Akyol Gülen , Haznedar Rauf
Published: April 2003

We present a case of multiple myeloma who died of liver failure 7.5 months after initial diagnosis. Postmortem liver biopsy revealed diffuse CD3-expressing plasma cell infiltration and eosinophilic amorphous material deposition which was considered as light chain deposits. T cell receptor-γ rearrangement was not detected in liver biopsy sections using the polymerase chain reaction despite CD3 positivity. To our knowledge, this is the first report of CD3-expressing plasma cell infiltration in tissue sections. The discordance between the phenotype and the genotype suggests a partial activation of genes encoding the T cell antigens by the transforming event. We also concluded that CD3 positivity was associated with short survival, which is consistent with previous data.
Chronic Fatigue in Long-Term Peritoneal Dialysis Patients
Authors: Chang Wei-Kuang , Hung Kuan-Yu , Huang Jenq-Wen , Wu Kwan-Dun , Tsai Tun-Jun
Published: April 2003

Objective: Fatigue is a common symptom in long-term dialysis patients. This study investigated possible clinical factors which may cause the development of fatigue in patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD). We also investigated the relationship between total solute clearance (TSC) and fatigue symptoms in PD patients. Design: A cross-sectional study design was used to compare the clinical characteristics among groups of PD patients classified by different degrees of fatigue. The relationship among dialysis adequacy (including Kt/Vurea and weekly creatinine clearance; Ccr), clinical characteristics and fatigue symptoms were also assessed. Setting: The PD unit of a major university teaching hospital in Taipei, Taiwan. Patients: Consecutive patients who had received PD for a minimum duration of 4 months were recruited for participation in the study. Patients were excluded if they had a history of ischemic heart disease, severe heart failure (NYHA function III or IV), malignant neoplasm, active infection, major psychiatric problems, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or disturbed consciousness. Finally, a total of 64 patients, 31 of whom were receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and 33 who were receiving continuous cycling-assisted peritoneal dialysis, were enrolled in the study. Methods: Fatigue was evaluated using a specially designed questionnaire that includes fourteen items. Patients were divided into three groups according to their fatigue scores (FS): mild (FS, 0–3), moderate (FS, 4–8), and severe (FS, 9–14) fatigue. The demographic data, dialysis variables, and clinical parameters of patients were compared among these groups. The relationship between fatigue and TSC was also examined. Results: The FS were correlated with serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) level and total cholesterol concentration (p < 0.05). A linear correlation was also noted between serum iPTH level and total cholesterol level. When the patients were divided into an adequate- and an inadequate-dialysis group according to values of TSC, Kt/Vurea as well as weekly creatinine clearance, a significant correlation was found between weekly Ccr and FS. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that dialysis adequacy plays a key role in the development chronic fatigue. In addition, weekly Ccr was better correlated with fatigue than Kt/Vurea.
Role of Soluble Receptors for Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha in the Development of Hypoalbuminemia in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Odamaki Mari , Kato Akihiko , Takita Takako , Furuhashi Mitsuyoshi , Maruyama Yukitaka , Yonemura Katsuhiko , Hishida Akira
Published: April 2003

Background: Hypoalbuminemia is a significant predictor of mortality in patients on hemodialysis (HD). The cause of hypoalbuminemia in HD patients, however, remains to be clarified. Recent studies have demonstrated that high blood concentrations of soluble receptors for tumor necrosis factor (sTNFRs) are associated with malnutrition in a variety of diseases and that the blood sTNFRs concentrations are elevated in HD patients. Methods: The serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha, sTNFR (p55 and p80), and interleukin (IL) 6 were measured in 21 HD patients with low (equal to or less than 3.6 g/dl) and in 19 HD patients with normal (equal to or more than 4.0 g/dl) concentrations of serum albumin who were free from acute infection, malignancy, collagen diseases, liver diseases, or surgery. The correlation between these parameters and the degree of hypoalbuminemia was examined. Results: The serum concentrations of sTNFR p80 and IL-6 were significantly higher in patients with hypoalbuminemia as compared with those with normoalbuminemia (sTNFR p80: 47.4 ± 4.7 vs. 35.3 ± 2.1 ng/ml, p < 0.05; IL-6: 10.8 ± 2.0 vs. 6.3 ± 0.5 pg/ml, p < 0.05). In contrast, there was no difference in the serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha and sTNFR p55 between the two groups. Multivariate regression analysis showed that sTNFR p80 but not IL-6 significantly influenced the serum albumin concentrations. There were no significant differences in body mass index, serum total cholesterol, and normalized protein catabolic rate between the two groups. Conclusions: Our results suggest the development of hypoalbuminemia in some HD patients who do not have any obvious cause of hypoalbuminemia and that high concentrations of sTNFR p80 might contribute to the development of hypoalbuminemia in patients on long-term HD.
Influence of Soybean Trypsin Inhibitor on Small Bowel Enzyme Activities during Rotavirus Infection in Malnourished Infant Mice
Authors: Katyal Ranjan , Rana Satyavati , Vaiphei Kim , Ojha Sudarshan , Singh Kartar , Singh Virendra
Published: April 2003

Rotavirus (RV) is considered to be one of the major causes of acute episodic diarrhoea throughout the world. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of soybean trypsin inhibitor (TI) on brush-border enzymes during rotavirus infection in protein energy malnourished (PEM) infant mice. Animals were divided into 4 groups, namely controls, PEM, PEM+RV and PEM+RV+TI (n = 36 each). Group 1 and 2 animals were orally inoculated with 50 µl of normal saline each. Group 3 animals were orally inoculated with 50 µl of 100 ID50 dose of RV stock each. Group 4 animals were similarly inoculated with 0.6 mg TI/g body weight along with 50 µl of RV stock each. Animals were examined daily for diarrhoea and their body weight was recorded on alternate days postinoculation (dpi). Animals were killed by cervical dislocation after being given light chloroform anesthesia on 0, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 dpi. Small intestines were excised and homogenized in normal saline. Proteins, gammaglutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase and disaccharidases were estimated in jejunum and ileum. Body weight was significantly reduced in PEM animals and with RV infection. Histologically, focal areas of vacuolar degeneration of lining epithelium were seen in RV-infected animals. Disaccharidases and other enzyme activities were decreased significantly in the PEM group compared to healthy controls and further depressed with RV infection in malnourished animals as compared to non-infected PEM. The enzyme activities were restored in animals receiving TI along with RV compared to the group receiving RV without TI. With the administration of soybean TI, the activities of disaccharidases, alkaline phosphatase, gammaglutamyl transpeptidase and intestinal architecture were restored showing a protective effect in PEM during RV infection.
Protein Quality Evaluation in Rats of Typical Diets for 4- to 6-Year-Old Children from Different Socioeconomic Areas Living in Oaxaca, Mexico
Authors: Wyatt C. Jane , Tejas M.A. Triana , Méndez R.O. , Valencia M.E.
Published: April 2003

Legumes and cereals are principal sources of energy and protein in developing countries. In Oaxaca, Mexico, corn is the primary agricultural crop, therefore corn tortillas and beans are the main energy and protein sources. The objective of this study was to evaluate the protein quality in rats of typical diets for 4- to 6-year-old children from different socioeconomic areas in Oaxaca, Mexico. Composite diets representing the typical diets were formulated and fed to male weanling rats for 10 days. A control diet using casein as the reference diet and one free of nitrogen were included in the study. The apparent protein digestibility was determined in rats using the chromic oxide marker technique and the data was statistically analyzed for differences between control and experimental diets. Rats fed the diet of low income children gained about 2 g/day compared to about 3.8 g/day for the rats fed the control (casein) diet and had the lowest weight gain/g of protein intake. The NPR was 3.52 compared to 4.31 for the control diet. This diet is 67% vegetable protein and 33% animal protein. The diet for the medium income group contained a higher percentage of animal protein, 76% and thus higher digestibility, 78%. The results of this study indicate that the protein quality of children’s diets in Oaxaca, Mexico, need to be improved.
Macronutrient, Vitamin, and Mineral Intakes in the EPIC-Germany Cohorts
Authors: Schulze Matthias B. , Linseisen Jakob , Kroke Anja , Boeing Heiner
Published: April 2003

This article presents intakes of nutrients in the EPIC-Heidelberg and the EPIC-Potsdam (European Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) studies. Estimates are based on standardized 24-hour dietary recalls. Recalls from 1,013 men and 1,078 women in Heidelberg and from 1,032 men and 898 women in Potsdam were included in the analysis. The estimated nutrient intake was based on the German Food Code and Nutrient Data Base version II.3. Analyses were carried out stratified by sex and weighted for the day of the week and age. Men in Potsdam reported significantly higher intakes of energy (mean Potsdam = 10,718 kJ, mean Heidelberg = 10,387 kJ) and higher intakes of vitamins and minerals as compared with men in Heidelberg. However, Heidelberg men consumed more alcohol, α-tocopherol, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. Potsdam women reported lower energy (mean Potsdam = 7,537 kJ, mean Heidelberg = 7,855 kJ), alcohol, and cholesterol intakes as compared with Heidelberg women. Vitamin and mineral intakes were lower too, except for retinol and ascorbic acid. The intakes of energy and most nutrients observed in the Potsdam and Heidelberg study populations were within the range reported from other German studies. The observed differences between both study populations indicate different dietary patterns, increasing the exposure variation in the EPIC study.
Estimation of Dietary Fat Intake of Belgian Pregnant Women
Authors: de Vriese S.R. , de Henauw S. , de Backer G. , Dhont M. , Christophe A.B.
Published: April 2003

Aim: To evaluate the validity and usefulness of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) which was designed to evaluate individual fat consumption for a Dutch population relative to 7-day estimated records (7d ER). The FFQ has been validated previously and was adapted to the Belgian situation. Methods: Longitudinal study in 26 healthy pregnant women; FFQ and 7d ER were obtained during the 1st and 3rd trimesters. Results: FFQ was validated with 7d ER. Fat and fatty acid intake estimated by the FFQ did not differ significantly (p < 0.01) from data obtained by the 7d ER except for 18:2n–6. Pearson correlation coefficient between the 2 methods ranged from 0.62 to 0.68. On average, 47% of the women were classified in the same quartile with the 2 methods and less than 2% in the opposite quartile. Total fat intake, calculated from FFQ, was on average 87.9 (SD 18.1) g/day. The mean intake of linoleic acid was 13.3 (SD 5.4) g/day and of α-linolenic acid was 1.4 (SD 0.5) g/day. The dietary intake of the saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids was respectively 34.7 (SD 10.0) g/day, 29.6 (SD 8.1) g/day and 15.7 (SD 5.9) g/day. Conclusion: The FFQ gives similar results for fat intake as the 7d ER and is thus considered an appropriate method for classifying individuals to the right part of the distribution of dietary fat intake.
Chronic Ethanol Feeding Affects Intestinal Mucus Lipid Composition and Glycosylation in Rats
Authors: Kaur Jyotdeep
Published: April 2003

Effect of chronic ethanol feeding on mucus lipid composition and glycosylation was investigated in rat intestine. Ethanol feeding to rats daily for 40 days enhanced cholesterol, phospholipids, triglyceride and cerebroside contents of intestinal mucus. Ethanol feeding exhibited a differential effect on various sugar contents of the mucus. Total hexose content was increased (42%) whereas hexosamines, sialic acid and fucose contents were reduced (p < 0.001). Results on incorporation of labeled sugars into mucus revealed an enhanced (p < 0.01) galactosylation and reduced (p < 0.01) glucosamination of glycoproteins. Separation of glycoproteins on SDS-PAGE showed that proteins of molecular weight >200, 118, 65 and 55 kD were affected. These were highly galactosylated and less glucosaminated in ethanol-fed animals compared to controls. Thus, ethanol feeding markedly alters the lipid composition and glycosylation process of intestinal mucus in rats. These alterations may be of pathological significance in view of the role of mucus in protection and adhesion of microorganisms.
In der Krise – ich weiss auch nicht,ob es weitergeht
Authors: Adametz Elisabeth
Published: April 2003

Es werden unterschiedliche Krisen in einer langjährigen, schwierigen, analytischen Psychotherapie dargestellt, unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Übertragung/Gegenübertragung und des analytischen Rahmens (Setting). Zu Beginn war die analytische Beziehung vorwiegend von heftigen Impulsen aus dem Unbewussten gesteuert, die sich teilweise körperlich konkretistisch ausdrückten. Später kam es zu einer Vertiefung des analytischen Geschehens mit psychotischem Erleben, das aber zu bearbeiten war und schliesslich in stabileres Erleben und Denken führte. Entsprechend den Entwicklungsphasen, die nicht immer linear verliefen, kam es zu Krisen, die ich im Nachhinein als spezifisch beschreiben würde. Ich stelle drei theoretische Konzepte kurz dar, die mir helfen, Krisen zuzulassen, zu ertragen, zu verstehen und für die analytische Arbeit nutzbar zu machen, und setze sie in Beziehung zueinander. Es sind dies: Entwicklung durch Deintegration und Reintegration (M. Fordham), die Transzendente Funktion (C.G. Jung) und die Entwicklung der Alpha-Funktion (W.R. Bion).
Diskussionsbemerkung zum Beitrag von Jarmer
Authors: Jung Eberhard
Published: April 2003

Leider besteht für diesen Artikel keine Zusammenfassung. Als Einstieg stellen wir den Textanfang zur Verfügung. Ute Jarmer hat mit ihrem Beitrag [Anal Psychol 2002;33:64–68] eine wichtige und hoffentlich weiterhin anregende Diskussion angestossen. Wie ihr Titel zeigt, plädiert sie bei entsprechender Indikation für die kombinierte medikamentöse und psychotherapeutische Behandlung. Die Diskussion, die sie hier anregt, ist aber von viel grundsätzlicherer und auch weittragenderer Bedeutung, was sie selbst bei der Kürze ihres Artikels leider nur streifen kann. Die medikamentöse (Mit-)behandlung wird im übrigen im Hinblick auf Übertragung und Gegenübertragung mit der Frage diskutiert, ob die indizierte medikamentöse Behandlung von einem anderen als dem die Psychotherapie durchführenden Behandler verordnet und überwacht werden soll. Diese Diskussion berührt jedoch schon die grundsätzliche, von der Autorin aufgeworfene Frage, nämlich die der Kooperation zwischen ärztlichen und psychologischen Psychotherapeuten und psychiatrischen Fachkollegen, aber auch die notwendige Diskussion innerhalb der Gruppe der Psychotherapeutinnen und Psychotherapeuten selbst. Die Lebendigkeit dieser Diskussion und auch die Zukunft der Psychotherapie und auch der Psychoanalyse hängen insoweit auch wesentlich davon ab, dass es auch in Zukunft eine ärztliche Psychotherapie und von Ärztinnen und Ärzten ausgeübte Psychoanalyse gibt, dass auch Ärztinnen und Ärzte in Zukunft noch die Möglichkeit haben und dabei die Unterstützung finden, neben der notwendigen und geforderten Facharztweiterbildung auch eine Weiterbildung zum Psychoanalytiker und Psychotherapeuten absolvieren zu können. Der auch in der Gegenwart immer wieder geforderten Abgrenzung der somatischen Medizin von der Psychotherapie, die nur durch Verleugnung wichtiger Sachverhalte möglich ist und auf ökonomischen und ideologischen Betrachtungen basiert, muss wohl auch in Zukunft mit Überzeugungsarbeit entgegengetreten werden.
The Disintegrin Kistrin Inhibits Neurite Extension from Spiral Ganglion Explants Cultured on Laminin
Authors: Aletsee Christoph , Mullen Lina , Kim David , Pak Kwang , Brors Dominik , Dazert Stefan , Ryan Allen F.
Published: April 2003

The influence of laminin-1 (LN) and tenascin-C (TN), extracellular matrix molecules expressed spatially and temporally along the neural growth route from spiral ganglion (SG) neurons to the cochlear sensory cells, was evaluated in cultured SG explants from postnatal day 4 rats. Increasing concentrations of LN resulted in a strong, dose-dependent increase in the length of neurites and in a higher number of neural processes, while varying TN concentrations had relatively minor effects on both parameters. The results suggest differential receptor activation by LN and TN. When explants grown on LN were treated with Kistrin, an inhibitor of the αvβ3 integrin, the LN-induced increase in neurite length was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. However, the number of extending neurites was not affected, indicating that different receptors mediate this response, perhaps by increasing neuronal survival.
Temporal Relationship between the Auditory Brainstem Response and Focal Responses of Auditory Nerve Root and Cochlear Nucleus during Development in the Tammar Wallaby (Macropus eugenii)
Authors: Liu Guang B. , Hill Kenneth G. , Mark Richard F.
Published: April 2003

Thirty-two pouch-young tammar wallabies were used to discover the generators of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) during development by the use of simultaneous ABR and focal brainstem recordings. A click response from the auditory nerve root (ANR) in the wallaby was recorded from postnatal day (PND) 101, when no central auditory station was functional, and coincided with the ABR, a simple positive wave. The response of the cochlear nucleus (CN) was detected from PND 110, when the ABR had developed 1 positive and 1 negative peak. The dominant component of the focal ANR response, the N1 wave, coincided with the first half of the ABR P wave, and that of the focal CN response, the N1 wave, coincided with the later two thirds. In older animals, the ANR response coincided with the ABR’s N1 wave, while the CN response coincided with the ABR’s P2, N2 and P3 waves, with its contribution to the ABR P2 dominant. The protracted development of the marsupial auditory system which facilitated these correlations makes the tammar wallaby a particularly suitable model.
Representation of Sound Onsets in the Auditory System
Authors: Heil Peter
Published: April 2003

Sound onsets constitute particularly salient and behaviorally relevant transients and elicit vigorous responses from most auditory neurons. Here I show that response latency, precision of response timing, and response magnitude depend on dynamic properties of the stimulus envelope at onset. The joint consideration of these response parameters, and of the stimulus and neuronal properties on which they depend, suggests a point-by-point sampling, or tracking, mechanism for the onset envelope. This mechanism is characterized by an automatically adjusted sampling rate and precision of spike timing, so that it should be rather robust against changes in the dynamics of the envelope, brought about for example by changes in a signal’s sound pressure level. There will be a one-to-one relationship between stimulus onset and the evoked spatiotemporal response pattern. That pattern involves both the tonotopic and the isofrequency axes of cortical maps. Such a mechanism could provide a temporal resolution of the time course of the onset envelope which is likely orders of magnitude higher than that inferred from the phase-locking capabilities of neurons in cortical fields to periodic signals and could contribute to the instantaneous coding of transients.
Spatial Processing in the Primate Auditory Cortex
Authors: Recanzone Gregg H.
Published: April 2003

Spatial localization of auditory stimuli is dependent on the cerebral cortex, yet it remains unclear how cortical activity gives rise to spatial percepts. It has recently been proposed that spatial information is processed serially within the primate auditory cortex, initially in the primary auditory cortex (AI) through the auditory areas caudal to AI, particularly the caudomedial (CM) and caudolateral fields, and onward to the parietal lobe. The activity of single neurons in AI and CM supports this hypothesis, where a greater percentage of CM neurons are sensitive to the spatial location of acoustic stimuli than AI neurons, and the spatial sensitivity of CM neurons extends across a broader range of the stimulus spectrum compared to AI neurons. Further, populations of CM neurons are better able to predict sound localization ability than are populations of AI neurons. We have recently explored the effects of stimulus intensity on both sound localization performance and the spatial sensitivity of auditory cortical neurons. The preliminary results of these experiments again indicate that spatial information is serially processed between AI and the caudal fields. The effects of visual stimulation on auditory localization have also been investigated. Under the appropriate circumstances, visual stimuli can ‘capture’ the spatial location of auditory stimuli in both humans and monkeys. This perceptual illusion suggests that there is a plastic shift in auditory spatial perception. Where the representation of this shift resides is unknown, although two likely candidates are the multimodal regions of the parietal lobe and the superior temporal sulcus.
Xenotransplantation: Perspectives and Limits
Authors: Hammer Claus
Published: April 2003

Xenotransplantation faces the dilemma of an unlimited supply of cells, tissues and organs on the one hand and severe obstacles and limits on the other. One reason for the limitations is that the source animal of choice, the pig, and the human recipient separated 90 million years ago during evolution, a time in which biological characteristics such as anatomy, physiology and immunology have had much time to drift far apart. The acceptance of such an evolutionary widely divergent organ, especially the heart of a pig, could evoke refusal of xenotransplantation in conservative and religious patients. New legal aspects of allocation of xenografts have therefore to be reflected upon and appropriate guidelines developed. Inquiries show, however, that the acceptance of all types of porcine organs would be high if the quality of life after receiving such a xenograft is comparable to that after receiving the same allograft. This individual benefit of a xenograft could lead to a disregard of the collective risk in terms of xenozoonoses, often presented as a catastrophic scenarium. Therefore, transplantation societies and ethics committees have published comments and even guidelines for handling future clinical xenotransplantation. All three monotheistic religions and Hinduism support the idea of saving and improving human life with the help of an animal organ.
Standards for Reproducible Access Flow Measurements
Authors: Leypoldt John K.
Published: April 2003

Practical techniques for determining the access flow rate during hemodialysis are reviewed and compared; all are based on indicator dilution principles. The precision of duplicate determinations of the access flow rate in close succession during a given treatment session for all techniques is good; the coefficients of variation vary from 5 to 12%. Access flow measurements during an entire treatment session or from one treatment to another may be considerably more variable since changes in systemic hemodynamics can alter the access flow rate. The influence of variability in access flow measurements on tests for access surveillance is illustrated by data simulations using the Monte Carlo method. Improved approaches for normalizing access flow measurements to changing hemodynamic conditions are desirable to permit more accurate predictions of access stenosis and thrombosis.