bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Ribonucleotide Reductase R1 Homolog of Murine Cytomegalovirus Is Not a Functional Enzyme Subunit but Is Required for Pathogenesis
Authors: Lembo David , Donalisio Manuela , Hofer Anders , Cornaglia Maura , Brune Wolfram , Koszinowski Ulrich , Thelander Lars , Landolfo Santo
Published: March 2004

Ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) is the key enzyme in the biosynthesis of deoxyribonucleotides. Alpha- and gammaherpesviruses express a functional enzyme, since they code for both the R1 and the R2 subunits. By contrast, betaherpesviruses contain an open reading frame (ORF) with homology to R1, but an ORF for R2 is absent, suggesting that they do not express a functional RNR. The M45 protein of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) exhibits the sequence features of a class Ia RNR R1 subunit but lacks certain amino acid residues believed to be critical for enzymatic function. It starts to be expressed independently upon the onset of viral DNA synthesis at 12 h after infection and accumulates at later times in the cytoplasm of the infected cells. Moreover, it is associated with the virion particle. To investigate direct involvement of the virally encoded R1 subunit in ribonucleotide reduction, recombinant M45 was tested in enzyme activity assays together with cellular R1 and R2. The results indicate that M45 neither is a functional equivalent of an R1 subunit nor affects the activity or the allosteric control of the mouse enzyme. To replicate in quiescent cells, MCMV induces the expression and activity of the cellular RNR. Mutant viruses in which the M45 gene has been inactivated are avirulent in immunodeficient SCID mice and fail to replicate in their target organs. These results suggest that M45 has evolved a new function that is indispensable for virus replication and pathogenesis in vivo.
African Swine Fever Virus Structural Protein p54 Is Essential for the Recruitment of Envelope Precursors to Assembly Sites
Authors: Rodríguez Javier M. , García-Escudero Ramón , Salas María L. , Andrés Germán
Published: March 2004

The assembly of African swine fever virus (ASFV) at the cytoplasmic virus factories commences with the formation of precursor membranous structures, which are thought to be collapsed cisternal domains recruited from the surrounding endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This report analyzes the role in virus morphogenesis of the structural protein p54, a 25-kDa polypeptide encoded by the
E183L
gene that contains a putative transmembrane domain and localizes at the ER-derived envelope precursors. We show that protein p54 behaves in vitro and in infected cells as a type I membrane-anchored protein that forms disulfide-linked homodimers through its unique luminal cysteine. Moreover, p54 is targeted to the ER membranes when it is transiently expressed in transfected cells. Using a lethal conditional recombinant, vE183Li, we also demonstrate that the repression of p54 synthesis arrests virus morphogenesis at a very early stage, even prior to the formation of the precursor membranes. Under restrictive conditions, the virus factories appeared as discrete electron-lucent areas essentially free of viral structures. In contrast, outside the assembly sites, large amounts of aberrant zipper-like structures formed by the unprocessed core polyproteins pp220 and pp62 were produced in close association to ER cisternae. Altogether, these results indicate that the transmembrane structural protein p54 is critical for the recruitment and transformation of the ER membranes into the precursors of the viral envelope.
Rapid Diagnosis of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever by Reverse Transcription-PCR in an Outbreak Setting and Assessment of Patient Viral Load as a Predictor of Outcome
Authors: Towner Jonathan S. , Rollin Pierre E. , Bausch Daniel G. , Sanchez Anthony , Crary Sharon M. , Vincent Martin , Lee William F. , Spiropoulou Christina F. , Ksiazek Thomas G. , Lukwiya Mathew , Kaducu Felix , Downing Robert , Nichol Stuart T.
Published: March 2004

The largest outbreak on record of Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) occurred in Uganda from August 2000 to January 2001. The outbreak was centered in the Gulu district of northern Uganda, with secondary transmission to other districts. After the initial diagnosis of Sudan ebolavirus by the National Institute for Virology in Johannesburg, South Africa, a temporary diagnostic laboratory was established within the Gulu district at St. Mary's Lacor Hospital. The laboratory used antigen capture and reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) to diagnose Sudan ebolavirus infection in suspect patients. The RT-PCR and antigen-capture diagnostic assays proved very effective for detecting ebolavirus in patient serum, plasma, and whole blood. In samples collected very early in the course of infection, the RT-PCR assay could detect ebolavirus 24 to 48 h prior to detection by antigen capture. More than 1,000 blood samples were collected, with multiple samples obtained from many patients throughout the course of infection. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR was used to determine the viral load in multiple samples from patients with fatal and nonfatal cases, and these data were correlated with the disease outcome. RNA copy levels in patients who died averaged 2 log
10
higher than those in patients who survived. Using clinical material from multiple EHF patients, we sequenced the variable region of the glycoprotein. This Sudan ebolavirus strain was not derived from either the earlier Boniface (1976) or Maleo (1979) strain, but it shares a common ancestor with both. Furthermore, both sequence and epidemiologic data are consistent with the outbreak having originated from a single introduction into the human population.
Suppression of the Induction of Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Interferons by the NS1 and NS2 Proteins of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Human Epithelial Cells and Macrophages
Authors: Spann Kirsten M. , Tran Kim-C. , Chi Bo , Rabin Ronald L. , Collins Peter L.
Published: March 2004

Wild-type human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is a poor inducer of alpha/beta interferons (IFN-α/β). However, recombinant HRSV lacking the NS1 and NS2 genes (ΔNS1/2) induced high levels of IFN-α and -β in human pulmonary epithelial cells (A549) as well as in macrophages derived from primary human peripheral blood monocytes. Results with NS1 and NS2 single- and double-gene-deletion viruses indicated that the two proteins function independently as well as coordinately to achieve the full inhibitory effect, with NS1 having a greater independent role. The relative contributions of the individual NS proteins were the converse of that recently described for bovine RSV (J. F. Valarcher, J. Furze, S. Wyld, R. Cook, K. K. Conzelmann, and G. Taylor, J. Virol. 77:8426-8439, 2003). This pattern of inhibition by HRSV NS1 and NS2 also extended to the newly described antiviral cytokines IFN-λ1, -2 and -3.
Genomically Intact Endogenous Feline Leukemia Viruses of Recent Origin
Authors: Roca Alfred L. , Pecon-Slattery Jill , O'Brien Stephen J.
Published: March 2004

We isolated and sequenced two complete endogenous feline leukemia viruses (enFeLVs), designated enFeLV-AGTT and enFeLV-GGAG. In enFeLV-AGTT, the open reading frames are reminiscent of a functioning FeLV genome, and the 5′ and 3′ long terminal repeat sequences are identical. Neither endogenous provirus is genetically fixed in cats but polymorphic, with 8.9 and 15.2% prevalence for enFeLV-AGTT and enFeLV-GGAG, respectively, among a survey of domestic cats. Neither provirus was found in the genomes of related species of theFelisgenus, previously shown to harbor enFeLVs. The absence of mutational divergence, polymorphic incidence in cats, and absence in related species suggest that these enFeLVs may have entered the germ line more recently than previously believed, perhaps coincident with domestication, and reopens the question of whether some enFeLVs might be replication competent.
The Dutch CISOE-A framework for cytology reporting increases efficacy of screening upon standardisation since 1996
Authors: Bulk S , van Kemenade F J , Rozendaal L , Meijer C J L M
Published: March 2004

Aim:To describe the effect of introducing the CISOE-A framework for reporting cervical cytology results, including changes in repeat and referral advice in the Netherlands, on the efficacy of the screening programme. Changes in the distribution of cytological results, the detection rate of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) lesions, and the detection rate of squamous cervical carcinoma are reported.

Methods:The results of all gynaecology cytological and histological examinations, as registered in the nationwide database for histopathology and cytopathology (PALGA) from 1990 to 2000, were retrieved from seven laboratories in the greater Amsterdam area.

Results:After the introduction of the CISOE-A classification, cytological results with equivocal diagnoses decreased significantly from 11.3% to 2.6%, without an increase in the percentages of moderate dyskaryosis or worse. During the study period, the detection rate of histologically diagnosed high grade CIN lesions increased significantly from 4.1 to 6.4/1000 smears, whereas there was no change in the detection rates of low grade lesions or invasive cervical cancer.

Conclusions:The introduction of the new CISOE-A classification system resulted in a substantial decrease of equivocal results and repeat recommendations, without a decrease in the detection rate of high grade lesions, making the screening programme more efficacious.
Distribution of constitutive (COX-1) and inducible (COX-2) cyclooxygenase in postviral human liver cirrhosis: a possible role for COX-2 in the pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis
Authors: Mohammed N A , El-Aleem S A , El-Hafiz H A , McMahon R F T
Published: March 2004

Aims:Prostaglandins produced by the action of cyclooxygenases (COX) are important mediators of systemic vasodilatation and inflammation in liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of COX-1 and COX–2 in postviral cirrhosis.

Methods:The immunohistochemical expression of the constitutive (COX-1) and the inducible (COX-2) isoenzymes was investigated in 15 patients with cirrhosis after hepatitis B and C infection; three normal control livers were also analysed.

Results:COX-2 was absent from normal liver but was highly expressed in cirrhosis, mainly in the inflammatory, sinusoidal, vascular endothelial, and biliary epithelial cells. Low amounts of COX-1 were expressed in both normal and cirrhotic livers, exclusively in sinusoidal and vascular endothelial cells, with no differences seen between normal and cirrhotic livers.

Conclusions:COX-2 is overexpressed in liver cirrhosis, and possibly contributes to prostaglandin overproduction, which may be a major component of the inflammation and hyperdynamic circulation associated with cirrhosis. Because COX-2 is thought to contribute to tumour development, high COX-2 production could be a contributor to hepatocellular carcinoma development in cirrhosis. The finding of COX-2 and not COX-1 upregulation in cirrhosis could provide a possible new role for selective COX-2 inhibitors in reducing inflammation and minimising the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis.
Analytical and diagnostic accuracy of “second generation” assays for thyrotrophin receptor antibodies with radioactive and chemiluminescent tracers
Authors: Villalta D , Orunesu E , Tozzoli R , Montagna P , Pesce G , Bizzaro N , Bagnasco M
Published: March 2004

Aims:To investigate the analytical and diagnostic accuracy of thyrotrophin (TSH) receptor antibody assays using recombinant human TSH receptors.

Methods:Sera from 68 patients with Graves’ disease, 23 patients with autoimmune thyroiditis, and 119 healthy controls were evaluated in four different laboratories using both radioactive and chemiluminescent tracers. Functional sensitivity, interlaboratory precision, optimal cutoff values for Graves’ disease, and the correlation between the two methods were evaluated.

Results:Functional sensitivity was 0.98 IU/litre for both assays. Interlaboratory precision, expressed as per cent coefficient of variation over a wide range of antibody concentrations, varied from 5.7% to 15.1% for the radioligand, and from 6.6% to 19.9% for the chemiluminescence assay. The two methods (radioactive and chemiluminescent) were closely correlated. All the sera from untreated or relapsing patients with Graves’ disease gave TSH receptor antibody values above 2.1 IU/litre, whereas in none of the healthy controls did values exceed 2.5 IU/litre. Receiver operating curve analysis allowed an optimal cutoff point to be defined at 1.99 IU/litre, according to a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 99.1%.

Conclusions:These data show the high analytical and diagnostic accuracy of the human TSH receptor assays, both with radioactive and chemiluminescent tracers, when both functional sensitivity and interlaboratory reproducibility are considered. These two methods could be proposed as first line diagnostic markers for Graves’ disease.
Osteosarcomatous differentiation in lung metastases from a malignant phyllodes tumour of the breast
Authors: Tsubochi H , Sato N , Kaimori M , Imai T
Published: March 2004

Osteosarcomatous differentiation of a phyllodes tumour in the breast is extremely rare. A 54 year old woman presented with a painless lump in her left breast and a mastectomy was performed. Microscopically, the tumour was diagnosed as a malignant phyllodes tumour, where no osteosarcomatous component was found. One year later, two lung tumours were revealed upon chestxray and were surgically treated. The tumours revealed osteosarcomatous features, and were thought to be metastases from the phyllodes tumour. The present case is very unusual in that osteosarcomatous features are present only in the metastatic lesion of the phyllodes tumour.
Expression of connective tissue growth factor (CCN2) in desmoplastic small round cell tumour
Authors: Rachfal A W , Luquette M H , Brigstock D R
Published: March 2004

Background:Desmoplastic small round cell tumour (DSRCT) is a rare and often fatal abdominal tumour that is distinguished by well defined islands of cells, surrounded by prominent desmoplastic stroma. As in certain other tumours, the function of the Wilms’s tumour protein (WT1) in repressing gene transcription is lost in DSRCT.

Aims:To assess the expression and localisation of connective tissue growth factor (CCN2) in DSRCT because this protein is transcriptionally repressed by WT1 and is associated with the production of abundant extracellular matrix.

Methods:CCN2 was assessed by in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry.

Results:CCN2 mRNA and protein were colocalised to the tumour cells themselves, in addition to stromal fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells.

Conclusions:These data show that CCN2 is produced in high amounts by several cell types in DSRCT, and highlight a potential role for this factor in the autocrine and paracrine regulation of tumour cell growth, matrigenesis, and angiogenesis.
Does activity in research correlate with visibility?: Figure 1
Authors: Reynolds T M , Wierzbicki A S
Published: March 2004

Background:A previous survey has highlighted the fact that most individuals in chemical pathology identifiable from specialist society membership failed to publish material in Medline cited journals during a five year period. It could be considered that published research that is not cited in other work is not useful unless it has achieved visibility, as demonstrated by citation in another research publication.

Aims:To determine whether the frequency of research publication is associated with research visibility.

Methods:A random selection from the previous survey was investigated to determine whether the frequency of research publication is associated with research visibility.

Results:There was a logarithmic relation between the frequency of publication and visibility, with an increasing probability of citation as publication frequency increases.

Conclusions:If academic activity is to survive then individuals must stay active in research; this requires a continuing commitment to a tradition of support for individuals at all stages of their careers engaging in research.
STATISTICAL PROPERTIES OF KLAUDER–PERELOMOV COHERENT STATES FOR THE MORSE POTENTIAL
Authors: DAOUD M. , POPOV D.
Published: March 2004

We present in this letter a realistic construction of the coherent states for the Morse potential using the Klauder–Perelomov approach. We discuss the statistical properties of these states, by deducing the Q- and P-distribution functions. The thermal expectations for the quantum canonical ideal gas of the Morse oscillators are also calculated.
STUDY OF STRUCTURE CHANGES ON THESiSURFACES USING REFLECTION HIGH-ENERGY ELECTRON DIFFRACTION
Authors: SHIGETA Y. , FUKAYA Y.
Published: March 2004

In order to investigate surface structure change due to phase transition, surface melting, surface segregation and thin film growth, we have developed a new system for reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) with two pairs of magnetic coils to measure rocking curves in short time. This system is the most suitable tool to determine the structure change with temperature in a wide range, and we studied the dynamical structure change during film growth of Si on Si (111) and the phase transitions of Si (111) and Si (100) surfaces at high temperature.
PHASE TRANSITIONS INDUCED BY CORRELATED HOPPING IN THE FALICOV–KIMBALL MODEL
Authors: ČENČARIKOVÁ HANA , FARKAŠOVSKÝ PAVOL
Published: March 2004

The extrapolation of finite-cluster calculations is used to examine ground-state properties of the one-dimensional Falicov–Kimball model with correlated hopping. It is shown that the correlated hopping strongly influences both the valence transitions and the conducting properties of the model and so it should not be neglected in the correct description of materials with correlated electrons. This is illustrated for two selected values of the Coulomb interaction that represent typical behavior of the model for small and intermediate (strong) interactions. In both cases the insulator–metal transitions (accompanied by continuous or discontinuous valence transitions) induced by correlated hopping are observed.
OPTICAL CHARACTERISATION OF THERMALLY EVAPORATED NICKEL PHTHALOCYANINE THIN FILMS
Authors: EL-NAHASS M. M. , ABD-EL-RAHMAN K. F. , FARAG A. A. M. , DARWISH A. A. A.
Published: March 2004

Optical properties of thermally evaporated nickel phthalocyanine thin films have been characterised using spectrophotometric measurements of transmittance and reflectance in spectral range 200–2100 nm. The refractive index n and the absorption index k were calculated. Some of the optical absorption parameters, namely optical absorption coefficient (α), molar extinction coefficient (ε molar ), oscillator strength (f), electric dipole strength (q2) and absorption half bandwidth (Δλ) of the principal optical transitions have been also evaluated. The analysis of the spectral behaviour of the absorption coefficient (α), in the absorption region revealed indirect transitions. The fundamental and the onset energy gaps were estimated as 2.77±0.02 eV and 1.58±0.01 eV, respectively. According to the analysis of dispersion curves, the dielectric constants and dispersion parameters were obtained. The absorption measurements recorded in the UV–VIS region show two well defined absorption bands of phthalocyanine molecule, namely the Soret band (B) and the Q band. The Q band shows its characteristic splitting (Davydov splitting), and ΔQ was obtained as 0.21 eV. Discussion of the obtained results and their comparison with the previous published data are also given.
EQUILIBRIUM OF TWO POPULATIONS SUBJECT TO CHEMOTAXIS
Authors: FASANO A. , MANCINI A. , PRIMICERIO M.
Published: March 2004

We consider a system of four partial differential equations modelling the dynamics of two populations interacting via chemical agents. Classes of nontrivial equilibrium solutions are studied and a rescaled total biomass is shown to play the role of a bifurcation parameter.
MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS OF NONLINEAR BONDED JOINT MODELS
Authors: KRASUCKI FRANCOISE , MÜNCH ARNAUD , OUSSET YVES
Published: March 2004

Within the framework of nonlinear elasticity, we consider the problem of two adherents joined along their common surface by a thin soft adhesive. Two stored energy functions are considered: the stored energy function of Saint Venant–Kirchhoff and the stored energy function of Ciarlet–Geymonat. Using the asymptotic expansion method, the limit energy associated to each of these stored energy functions is obtained. The aim of this paper is to give a rigorous mathematical analysis of the formally derived limit problem. We show that the limit problem associated to the Saint Venant–Kirchhoff case admits at least one solution and the limit problem associated to the Ciarlet–Geymonat case admits exactly one solution. An analytical comparison in the one-dimensional case and a three-dimensional numerical application are also presented.
BIFURCATIONS OF VORONOI DIAGRAMS AND ITS APPLICATION TO BRAID THEORY
Authors: SAJI KENTARO
Published: March 2004

We study bifurcations of Voronoi diagrams on the plane. The generic bifurcations of Voronoi diagrams for moving points are classified into four types.

A braid has an associated family of Voronoi diagrams. If we admit only three types among four in the associated generic family of Voronoi diagrams, the braid type reduces to a braid with k half twists for some integer k.
p16 Promoter Hypermethylation in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma with or without Hepatitis Virus Infection
Authors: Narimatsu Takashi , Tamori Akihiro , Koh Noritoshi , Kubo Shoji , Hirohashi Kazuhiro , Yano Yoshihisa , Arakawa Tetsuo , Otani Shuzo , Nishiguchi Shuhei
Published: March 2004

Background: Epigenetic alteration through methylation is one of the most important steps in carcinogenesis. However, the relation between hepatitis virus infection and epigenetic alterations is poorly understood. Methods: Sixteen patients without hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 35 patients with HBV or HCV who underwent liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were studied. Mutation of p53 was detected by direct sequencing. Methylation status of p16 was evaluated in tumor and noncancerous liver tissues by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. Results: In HCC without HBV and HCV, p53 mutations were detected in 5 (31%) of 16 HCCs. Methylation of p16 promoter was detected in 2 (25%) of 8 moderately differentiated HCCs, 6 (75%) of 8 poorly differentiated HCCs, and none of 16 noncancerous tissue specimens. In HCC with HBV or HCV, p53 mutations were detected in 8 (23%) of 35 HCCs. Methylation of p16 promoter was detected in 2 (100%) of 2 well-differentiated HCCs, 13 (76%) of 17 moderately differentiated HCCs, 12 (75%) of 16 poorly differentiated HCCs, and 9 (26%) of 35 noncancerous liver tissue specimens. Conclusions: Our results suggest that hepatitis viruses might induce methylation of p16 promoter in liver with chronic inflammation, before appearance of HCC.
Quantitative Analysis of Escherichia coli Metabolic Phenotypes within the Context of Phenotypic Phase Planes
Authors: Ibarra R.U. , Fu P. , Palsson B.O. , DiTonno J.R. , Edwards J.S.
Published: March 2004

In silico models of Escherichia coli metabolism have been developed to predict metabolic behavior and propose experimentally testable hypotheses. However, a thorough assessment of the metabolic phenotype requires well-designed experimentation and reproducible experimental techniques. A method for the quantitative analysis of E. coli metabolism in vivo within the framework of in silico phenotypic phase plane analysis is presented. Using this approach, we have quantitatively studied E. coli metabolism in various environmental conditions and nutritional media. Our experimental methodology, in combination with steady-state metabolic models, can be used to study biological properties and evaluate the metabolic capabilities of microbes.
The Role of Patch Testing in Perineal Disorders Affecting Women
Authors: Batchelor R.J. , Young H.S. , Beck M.H.
Published: March 2004

Background: Many different materials are used in the perineal area, making it liable to contact sensitisation. Objective: We report the results of a retrospective study of patients with perineal dermatoses involving the vulva investigated for possible contact allergy. Methods: 240 female patients with dermatoses in the perineal area, specifically including the vulva, were patch tested to our standard series and a special patch test series devised for perineal problems. Results: 79 out of 240 patients (32.9%) demonstrated relevant positive results. These related to medicaments (49 patients), perfumes (22 patients), cosmetics (5 patients), dyes (4 patients) and rubber (4 patients). Conclusions: Perineal dermatoses involving the vulva may require patch testing to identify suspected and unanticipated contact allergy. An extended comprehensive series of patch test allergens will be necessary in these cases.
Textile-Dye and Colored-Textile Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Authors: Hatch Kathryn L. , Motschi Herbert , Maibach Howard I.
Published: March 2004

This paper provides results of a study that focused on establishing that patients had ‘colored clothing allergic contact dermatitis (ACD)’ by finding those dyes each patient was patch-test-positive to in that patient’s suspected colored textile. It advocates the use of the term ‘textile-dye ACD’ to name cases of ACD in which the patient’s skin eruption is due to direct contact with dye molecules and the use of the term ‘colored-textile ACD’ to name cases in which the patient’s skin eruption was due to transfer of dye from a textile to the skin.
Diffuse Calcinosis and Intradermal Tophi in a Uremic Patient: Effect of Low-Calcium Hemodialysis and Mechanism of Hypercalcemia
Authors: Hsu Sun-Chieh , Lee Yu-Yun , Wang Ming-Cheng , Liu Hsin-Liang , Cheng Meng-Fu , Huang Jeng-Jong
Published: March 2004

Soft tissue calcification is a frequent complication in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with a high serum calcium-phosphate product, but systemic involvement of both the visceral organs and skin is rarely seen. We report on a newly diagnosed ESRD patient with gouty nephropathy who had initial presentations of extensive intradermal tophi, diffuse calcinosis, and hypercalcemia. He received maintenance hemodialysis (HD) with low-calcium dialysate (1.25 mEq/l) for 11 months. Although the above complications diminished, serum calcium remained elevated. Thereafter, unexpected cervical lymphadenitis from a Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) infection with high extra-renal production of calcitriol was found. Serum calcium levels normalized only after anti-TB treatment for 2 months. We thought that this patient might have had occult TB infection before the start of HD, which resulted in calcitriol production and hypercalcemia. In addition, concomitant hyperphosphatemia in chronic renal failure contributed to severe diffuse calcinosis. After the initiation of HD therapy, both the elevated serum calcitriol levels and accelerated resolution and mobilization of diffuse calcinosis from low-calcium HD contributed to persistent hypercalcemia.
Asymptomatic Transient MRI Signal Changes after Unilateral Deep Brain Stimulation Electrode Implantation for Movement Disorder
Authors: Ryu Stephen I. , Ryu Stephen I. , Romanelli Pantaleo , Romanelli Pantaleo , Heit Gary , Heit Gary
Published: March 2004

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an accepted treatment of movement disorders, but little research on tissue changes induced by these devices has been made. We report findings of MRI signal changes in patients with unilateral DBS implantation and no clinically detectable symptoms. A retrospective review of preoperative stereotactic MRI scans for staged placement of second-side DBS was performed in 38 patients to assess the frequency of signal changes along the previously implanted DBS track. No abnormal signal changes were noted in 23 patients (61%). Increased subcortical signals on T2-weighted fast spin echo MRI sequences along the DBS track were noted in 15 patients (39%) and varied from circumferential hyperintensity along the electrode track to significant involvement of the subcortical white matter. The changes were only detected in scans performed within 3 months of DBS implantation (15 of 27 patients). Despite these changes, the patients were totally asymptomatic. The etiology of the changes is unknown but may reflect a transient tissue response to the implantation of the electrode.
Endotoxin Effects on Markers of Autonomic Nervous System Function in the Piglet: Implications for SIDS
Authors: Voss L.J. , Bolton D.P.G. , Galland B.C. , Taylor B.J.
Published: March 2004

The hypothesis was tested in 30 newborn piglets that the effects of a low dose of endotoxin (1 µg i.v. bolus; Salmonella abortus equi) would impair autonomic nervous system function. Two tests of autonomic function were performed following external warming (pre-endotoxin) and during endotoxin-generated thermogenesis: (1) analysis of heart rate variability in the time and frequency domains and (2) baroreflex sensitivity measured following intravenous injection of the vasoactive drugs nitroprusside and phenylephrine. Beat-to-beat heart rate variability (SDΔRR) fell by 2.2 ms from 7.0 ms before fever (p < 0.05). Low-frequency spectral power fell by 2.4 ms2 from 4.1 ms2 before fever (p < 0.05). The sensitivity of the baroreflex to changes in blood pressure induced by the vasoactive drugs decreased during fever by 0.72 ms/mm Hg for the nitroprusside test (p < 0.0005) and by 0.31 ms/mm Hg for the phenylephrine test (p < 0.005). These results indicate that in the piglet the balance of autonomic tone is altered and autonomic responsiveness reduced during the thermogenic phase of a fever. These findings are consistent with known risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome.
Feeding Jejunostomy: Is There Enough Evidence to Justify Its Routine Use?
Authors: Date R.S. , Clements W.D.B. , Gilliland R.
Published: March 2004

Background and Aim: Intraoperative placement of feeding jejunostomy is a well-established method of providing access to enteral feeding. However, some studies describe serious complications related to this procedure. A retrospective study was undertaken to look at the technical complications related to the procedure. Patients and Methods: Patients undergoing feeding jejunostomy in the thoracic and upper gastrointestinal surgical units at the Royal Victoria Hospital between January 1998 and December 1998 were included in the study. The charts of all the patients were studied retrospectively. Results: Forty-two patients underwent a feeding jejunostomy in the time period studied. Thirty-one patients had a jejunostomy as an adjunct to major oesophageal or gastric surgery. In 5 patients, feeding jejunostomy was performed in conjunction with other palliative procedures and in 6 patients, it was performed as a sole procedure. Nine (21.4%) patients had procedure-related complications. Of these, 7 (16.7%) were minor including dislodgment of the tube (n = 4), blocked tube (n = 2), and intraoperative catheter damage (n = 1). Two (4.7%) patients had major complications requiring emergency laparotomy. One of these patients died as a result of a procedure- related complication. Conclusion: Feeding jejunostomy is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Its routine use may not be justified in the absence of evidence to support its use.
A Model System to Study the Environment-Dependent Expression of the Bet v 1a Gene Encoding the Major Birch Pollen Allergen
Authors: Tashpulatov Alisher S. , Clement Patrick , Akimcheva Svetlana A. , Belogradova Kristina A. , Barinova Ioulia , Rakhmawaty Fadilla D. , Heberle-Bors Erwin , Touraev Alisher
Published: March 2004

Background: The major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 (or Bet v 1a) is one of the main causes of seasonal type I allergies. Various environmental factors such as light, temperature and air pollution may influence the activity of the Bet v 1a gene. The creation of a model system to evaluate the role of environmental factors affecting the Bet v 1a gene expression would be highly desirable. We suggest the use of transgenic tobacco plants carrying a Bet v 1a promoter-reporter gene fusion as such a system. Methods: The promoter of the Bet v 1a gene was isolated with the use of the Universal Genome Walker kit (BD Biosciences Clontech, USA). Web Software was used to search for putative cis-regulatory elements within the promoter. Transgenic tobacco plants harboring the promoter-β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene fusion were obtained via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Promoter activity was examined with histochemical and quantitative assays. Results: Structural analysis predicted elements responsible for pollen-specific, light-, stress- and hormone-mediated induction within the Bet v 1a promoter. The evaluation of GUS activity in transgenic tobacco plants showed that the Bet v 1a promoter is pollen-specific. Moreover, the Bet v 1a promoter is considered to be the strongest isolated pollen-specific promoter reported to date. It was shown that temperature and abscisic acid positively regulate the activity of the Bet v 1a promoter during pollen development, providing evidence for environment-dependent regulation of the Bet v 1a gene. Conclusions: A model system to study the effect of environmental factors on the expression of the Bet v 1a gene encoding the major birch allergen in pollen was generated. Additionally, we suggest that this system could be used to search for factors that inhibit the activity of the gene in pollen in order to reduce the potential allergenicity of birch trees.
Presence of IgE Antibodies to Bacterial Superantigens and Increased IL-13-Producing T Cells in Myelitic Patients with Atopic Diathesis
Authors: Ochi Hirofumi , Osoegawa Manabu , Murai Hiroyuki , Minohara Motozumi , Taniwaki Takayuki , Kira Jun-ichi
Published: March 2004

Background: Superantigens are considered to exacerbate autoimmune inflammation through the expansion of autoreactive T cells; however, the immune response to bacterial superantigens has not been extensively studied in any type of myelitis. We recently reported the occurrence of a distinct type of myelitis in patients with atopic diathesis, which in a recent nationwide survey was reported to be widespread in Japan. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of IgE antibodies to bacterial superantigens and the proportion of IL-13- or IL-5-producing CD4+ or CD8+ T cells in patients with myelitis and atopic diathesis. Methods: Twenty-four myelitic patients with and 12 myelitic patients without hyperIgEemia, 28 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 34 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. IgE antibodies to staphylococcal enterotoxins A (SEA) and B (SEB) in sera were measured using a liquid-phase enzyme immunoassay, and the intracellular production of IL-5 and IL-13 in peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was measured by flow cytometry. Results: The myelitic patients with hyperIgEemia showed significantly higher positive rates of serum SEA/SEB-specific IgE antibodies (41.7 and 62.5%, respectively) than the healthy controls (5.9 and 8.8%), patients with MS (0 and 21.4%) and those with normoIgEemic myelitis (0 and 0%). Moreover, IL-13-producing CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells increased significantly in the myelitic patients with hyperIgEemia compared to the controls, while IL-5-producing CD4+ or CD8+ T cells did not. Conclusions: The IgE response to staphylococcal superantigens is heightened in myelitic patients with atopic diathesis, which might contribute to increases in IL-13-producing T cells and thus the development of myelitis.
Framing and the Price Elasticity of Private and Public Goods
Authors: Green Donald P. , Blair Irene V.
Published: March 2004

The purpose of this research is to show that goods framed to emphasize their association to political concerns produce a distribution of willingness to pay (WTP) different from that produced when the same goods are framed to emphasize their instrumental qualities. Specifically, we hypothesize and find that symbolic presentations of both market and nonmarket goods produce a WTP distribution that is characterized by higher variance and weaker price elasticity than that produced by instrumental presentations of these goods. In addition, we find support for the proposition that changes in the price elasticity of a good are produced by respondents’ differential reliance on instrumental and symbolic considerations. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for marketing and mass politics.
Intuitive Hedonics: Consumer Beliefs About the Dynamics of Liking
Authors: Snell Jackie , Gibbs Brian J. , Varey Carol
Published: March 2004

Consumer beliefs about influences on liking are explored. Questionnaires were administered to explore the extent to which respondents’ implicit beliefs resemble any of six concepts established in experimental psychology. Results indicate respondents apply beliefs consistent with classical conditioning and Weber's law and expect adaptation to occur in a wide variety of situations. They do not show a general belief in cognitive dissonance effects. They probably do not believe in affective opponent processes (rebound) or the ability of exposure alone (“mere exposure”) to increase liking, although the beliefs they do apply predict the same outcome in some contexts. Implications for consumer behavior are discussed.
The Effects of Accessibility of Standards and Decision Framing on Product Evaluations
Authors: Schul Yaacov , Ganzach Yoav
Published: March 2004

In this study, we explore the cognitive process by which people evaluate consumer products. We examine how people's information about good and bad product classes influences the evaluation of product exemplars. Subjects in three experiments learned what constitutes a good alloy (the good standard) and a bad alloy (the bad standard). Then they were exposed to a series of exemplars whose features partially overlapped with the good and the bad standards. In the first two experiments, features associated with the good standard had a greater impact on judgment than features associated with the bad standard. This positive/ negative asymmetry was stronger when the decision was framed positively (e.g., how good is this alloy) than when it was framed negatively (e.g., how bad is this product). Also, the asymmetry was stronger when the standards had to be accessed from memory than when they were visually available at the time subjects evaluated the exemplars. In the third experiment, the addition of features that signaled the absence of good characteristics had more influence on product evaluations than the addition of features that signaled the absence of bad characteristics. Implications of these findings for current models of evaluative judgment are discussed.
The Effects of Integrating Advertising and Negative Word‐of‐Mouth Communications on Message Processing and Response
Authors: Smith Robert E. , Vogt Christine A.
Published: March 2004

Although many models of ad processing and response have been developed, most experimental tests of these models have exposed subjects only to advertising stimuli. In the marketplace, however, consumers often receive negative brand information in addition to advertising. In this study, we explored whether traditional models accurately predict ad processing and response when consumers integrate advertising with negative word‐of‐mouth (WOM) communications about the brand. A test was conducted using four experimental groups: ad only, negative WOM only, advertising then negative WOM, and negative WOM then advertising. Results show that (a) advertising mitigates the detrimental cognitive effects of negative WOM communication (when the ad is processed first) and the detrimental affective and conative effects (when the ad is processed last), (b) integrating ad content with negative WOM communication causes significant changes in the message processing of both, (c) negative WOM communication significantly reduces the perceived credibility of advertising as well as brand attitudes and purchase intentions, and (d) the effect of attitude toward the ad on brand attitude becomes nonsignificant when subjects process both types of information. Implications for marketing research and practice are discussed.
Differential Effects of Subjective Knowledge, Objective Knowledge, and Usage Experience on Decision Making: An Exploratory Investigation
Authors: Raju P.S. , Lonial Subhash C. , Glynn Mangold W.
Published: March 2004

Product knowledge has been recognized as an important factor in the research on consumer decision making. It has also been acknowledged that there are different types of knowledge. In this article, we examine the impact of three types of knowledge—subjective knowledge, objective knowledge, and usage experience—on selected aspects of consumer decision making. Effects are examined within the context of an electronic shopping scenario in which subjects selected a VCR brand based on brand and attribute information that could be accessed through a personal computer. Results indicate that, consistent with real‐world experience, the three types of knowledge are correlated with each other. However, their effects on attribute importances, information search, and perceived decision outcomes vary by level and type of knowledge. We discuss these effects and their implications for future research.
Noncognitive Effects on Attitude Formation and Change: Fact or Artifact?
Authors: Fishbein Martin , Middlestadt Susan
Published: March 2004

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, there was widespread acceptance of belief‐based models of attitude formation and change. Beginning in the 1980s, a number of theories, models, and approaches began to argue for nonbelief‐based determinants and to reject the notion of a purely cognitive, expectancy‐value or multiattribute basis for attitude. In this article, we empirically demonstrate that many findings that appear to support this latter view may be nothing more than methodological artifacts resulting from the use of inappropriate (i.e., theoretically incorrect, noncorrespondent, or invalid) attitudinal predictors and/or criteria.
When Attention‐Getting Advertising Tactics Elicit Consumer Inferences of Manipulative Intent: The Importance of Balancing Benefits and Investments
Authors: Campbell Margaret C.
Published: March 2004

This research examines two attention‐getting tactics commonly used in television advertising and explores how the use of these tactics might sometimes lead consumers to infer that the advertiser is attempting to manipulate the audience. The article explores how inferences of manipulative intent might arise if a consumer's perceptions of personal investments, personal benefits, advertiser's investments, and advertiser's benefits associated with the ad are not in balance. The data show that inferences of manipulative intent are related to measures of personal benefits, personal investments, and advertiser's investments as predicted and that these variables mediate the relationship between the attention‐getting tactics and inferences of manipulative intent. Inferences of manipulative intent are found to lower advertising persuasion as measured by ad attitudes, brand attitudes, and purchase intentions.
How Enduring Is Enduring Involvement? A Seasonal Examination of Three Recreational Activities
Authors: Havitz Mark E. , Howard Dennis R.
Published: March 2004

This research examined the enduring nature of involvement with three recreational activities (golf, downhill skiing, windsurfing) and associated products using a panel survey approach. Over 280 participants completed in‐season questionnaires that assessed involvement using Laurent and Kapferer's (1985) Consumer Involvement Profile scale. Respondents were contacted with follow‐up instruments in the off‐season and preseason. The data suggested that activity involvement scores on the attraction (importance, pleasure) and risk probability dimensions were stable between seasons but sign (symbolic value) and risk consequence scores fluctuated. Product involvement scores for all four dimensions were stable both across seasons and based on length of participation. Positive relations were found between activity involvement and length of participation. Six distinct activity involvement‐based clusters were found. Discriminant analyses suggested that cluster memberships were generally stable across seasons.
Goal Change, Information Acquisition, and Transfer
Authors: Huffman Cynthia
Published: March 2004

This research examines factors that facilitate the transfer of knowledge gained from multiple product experiences motivated by one goal (i.e., desired benefit) to additional product experiences motivated by a second, different goal. In the first study, I investigate how information acquisition and choice differs with the second goal, as compared to experiences with the first. Results show that after the goal switch, subjects’ information acquisition is more efficient with respect to the second goal as compared with the first. Subjects’ information acquisition becomes increasingly brand based, and although the amount of information acquired during choice increases temporarily when the second goal is introduced, it is still less overall as compared with the first goal. In the second study, I demonstrate that successful performance to meet the second goal is related to subjects’ knowledge of the category and not simply procedural knowledge, and that two important characteristics of the knowledge base (for facilitating transfer) are whether it is organized by brand and whether the subject understands the relationship between the first and the second goal.
Impact of Dominance and Relatedness on Brand Extensions
Authors: Herr Paul M. , Farquhar Peter H. , Fazio Russell H.
Published: March 2004

This research investigated how a consumer's cognitive structure for a brand in a given product category affects the possible transfer of associations to other product categories. One key factor in evaluating such possible brand extensions is dominance, which can be defined as the strength of the directional association between the parent category and the branded product. Likewise, another important factor is the relatedness of the brand's parent category and the target category of the proposed extension. The 1st experiment measured dominance and relatedness via response latencies to recognize brand extensions. The 2nd experiment demonstrated that consumers’ affect for strongly category‐dominant brands (a) transfers better to an extension when the proposed extension is closely rather than distantly related to the parent category and (b) transfers better than a weakly category‐dominant brand's affect. Together, the research demonstrated that consumers’ response times to disconfirm the existence of product‐brand pairs is related to their transfer of affect from the brand to the proposed product category. This disconfirmation method could be used as an unobtrusive measure for determining brand boundaries. The attractiveness of potential brand extensions may thus be determined without consumers making any judgments about a proposed extension other than answering whether or not it exists.