bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical, biologic, and pathologic features in 157 patients with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma treated within the Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte (GELA) trials
Authors: Mourad Nathalie , Mounier Nicolas , Brière Josette , Raffoux Emmanuel , Delmer Alain , Feller Alfred , Meijer Chris J. L. M. , Emile Jean-François , Bouabdallah Réda , Bosly André , Diebold Jacques , Haioun Corinne , Coiffier Bertrand , Gisselbrecht Christian , Gaulard Philippe
Published: February 2008

To evaluate the prognostic significance of clinicobiologic and pathological features in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), 157 AITL patients were retrieved from the GELA LNH87-LNH93 randomized clinical trials. One hundred forty-seven patients received a cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP)–like regimen with intensified courses in half of them. Histologically, 41 cases were classified as “rich in large cells” and 116 as “classic” (including 19 rich in epithelioid cells, 14 rich in clear cells, and 4 with hyperplastic germinal centers). Sixty-two cases were scored for CD10 and CXCL13 expression according to the abundance of positive lymphoid cells. Median age was 62 years, with 81% advanced stage, 72% B symptoms, 65% anemia, 50% hypergammaglobulinemia, and 66% elevated LDH. Overall 7-year survival was 30%. In multivariate analysis, only male sex (P = .004), mediastinal lymphadenopathy (P = .041), and anemia (P = .042) adversely affected overall survival. Increase in large cells and high level of CD10 and CXCL13 did not affect survival. Intensive regimen did not improve survival. In conclusion, AITL is a morphologically heterogeneous T-cell lymphoma commonly expressing CXCL13 and CD10 and carrying few prognostic factors. It portends a poor prognosis even when treated intensively. However, AITL is not always lethal with 30% of patients alive at 7 years.
Cost-utility of an 8-month aquatic training for women with fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Gusi Narcís , Tomas-Carus Pablo
Published: February 2008

Introduction

Physical therapy in warm water has been effective and highly recommended for persons with fibromyalgia, but its efficiency remains largely unknown. Should patients or health care managers invest in this therapy? The aim of the current study was to assess the cost-utility of adding an aquatic exercise programme to the usual care of women with fibromyalgia.

Methods

Costs to the health care system and to society were considered in this study that included 33 participants, randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 17) or a control group (n = 16). The intervention in the experimental group consisted of a 1-h, supervised, water-based exercise sessions, three times per week for 8 months. The main outcome measures were the health care costs and the number of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) using the time trade-off elicitation technique from the EuroQol EQ-5D instrument. Sensitivity analyses were performed for variations in staff salary, number of women attending sessions and time spent going to the pool. The cost effectiveness acceptability curves were created using a non-parametric bootstrap technique.

Results

The mean incremental treatment costs exceeded those for usual care per patient by € 517 for health care costs and € 1,032 for societal costs. The mean incremental QALY associated with the intervention was 0.131 (95% CI: 0.011 to 0.290). Each QALY gained in association with the exercise programme cost an additional € 3,947/QALY (95% CI: 1,782 to 47,000) for a health care perspective and € 7,878/QALY (3,559 to 93,818) from a societal perspective. The curves showed a 95% probability that the addition of the water-based programme is a cost-effective strategy if the ceiling of inversion is € 14,200/QALY from a health care perspective and € 28,300/QALY from a societal perspective.

Conclusion

The addition of an aquatic exercise programme to the usual care regime for fibromyalgia in women is cost effective in terms of both health care costs and societal costs. However, the characteristics of facilities (distance from the patients' homes and number of patients that can be accommodated per session) are major determinants to consider before investing in such a programme.

Trial registration

Current controlled trials ISRCTN53367487.
Whole genome functional analysis identifies novel components required for mitotic spindle integrity in human cells
Authors: Rines Daniel R , Gomez-Ferreria Maria Ana , Zhou Yingyao , DeJesus Paul , Grob Seanna , Batalov Serge , Labow Marc , Huesken Dieter , Mickanin Craig , Hall Jonathan , Reinhardt Mischa , Natt Francois , Lange Joerg , Sharp David J , Chanda Sumit K , Caldwell Jeremy S
Published: February 2008

Background

The mitotic spindle is a complex mechanical apparatus required for accurate segregation of sister chromosomes during mitosis. We designed a genetic screen using automated microscopy to discover factors essential for mitotic progression. Using a RNA interference library of 49,164 double-stranded RNAs targeting 23,835 human genes, we performed a loss of function screen to look for small interfering RNAs that arrest cells in metaphase.

Results

Here we report the identification of genes that, when suppressed, result in structural defects in the mitotic spindle leading to bent, twisted, monopolar, or multipolar spindles, and cause cell cycle arrest. We further describe a novel analysis methodology for large-scale RNA interference datasets that relies on supervised clustering of these genes based on Gene Ontology, protein families, tissue expression, and protein-protein interactions.

Conclusion

This approach was utilized to classify functionally the identified genes in discrete mitotic processes. We confirmed the identity for a subset of these genes and examined more closely their mechanical role in spindle architecture.
Androgen Receptor Is Causally Involved in the Homeostasis of the Human Prostate Endothelial Cell
Authors: Godoy Alejandro , Watts Anica , Sotomayor Paula , Montecinos Viviana P. , Huss Wendy J. , Onate Sergio A. , Smith Gary J.
Published: February 2008

Androgen deprivation causes a reduction of blood flow in the prostate gland that precedes temporally apoptosis of the epithelium. The acute response of prostate endothelial cells to androgen deprivation suggested they represent a primary target for androgen. However, rat prostate endothelial cells were reported not to express androgen receptor (AR), and the role of the androgen axis in human prostate endothelial cell (HPEC) homeostasis was poorly characterized. In this study AR expression was detected in HPEC in vivo in clinical specimens of benign prostate and prostate cancer, and AR function as a transcription factor was demonstrated in HPEC in primary xenografts of human benign prostate tissue transplanted into severe combined immunodeficient mice by iv administration of adenoviral mouse mammary tumor virus-driven luciferase expression vector. AR expression and functionality were maintained in vitro in primary cultures of HPEC that coexpressed CD31, CD34, von Willebrand factor, intercellular adhesion molecule, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 but did not express prostate-specific antigen. AR expression in primary cultures of HPEC isolated from surgical specimens of benign prostate was validated using RT-PCR, cDNA sequencing, immunocytochemistry, and Western blot analyses. Scatchard analyses demonstrated a single ligand-binding site for R1881 in primary cultures of HPEC, with dissociation constant of 0.25 nm, and AR-mediated transcriptional activity was demonstrated using adenoviral mouse mammary tumor virus-driven luciferase reporters. Dihydrotestosterone increased proliferation in primary cultures of HPEC in a dose-dependent manner without modulating endothelial tube formation in Matrigel (BD Biosciences, Bedford, MA). Therefore, HPECs express functional AR, and androgen plays a direct role in modulating HPEC biology.
Estrogen Receptor β Selective Ligand 5α-Androstane-3β, 17β-Diol Stimulates Spermatogonial Deoxyribonucleic Acid Synthesis in Rat Seminiferous Epithelium in Vitro
Authors: Wahlgren Aida , Svechnikov Konstantin , Strand Mona-Lisa , Jahnukainen Kirsi , Parvinen Martti , Gustafsson Jan-Åke , Söder Olle
Published: February 2008

Gonadotropins and testosterone are important regulators of spermatogenesis, even though gonadotropin receptors and the androgen receptor are not expressed by germ cells. However, a functional role for estrogens in connection with male reproduction has been postulated on the basis of the phenotypes of mice lacking estrogen receptor (ER) and cytochrome P-450 aromatase. This has further support by findings of ER expression in the testis, including that of ERβ in spermatogonia. 5α-Androstane-3β, 17β-diol (3βAdiol), a metabolite of testosterone produced via the intermediate potent androgen 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), has been reported to selectively bind ERβ rather than ΕRα, but not androgen receptor. Here, we have characterized the influence of 17β-estradiol (E), the major physiological estrogen, 3βAdiol, and DHT on DNA synthesis in vitro by segments of the seminiferous epithelium at different stages of the seminiferous epithelial cycle in the rat. E and 3βAdiol exerted similar stimulatory effects on premitotic DNA synthesis in stage I segments, whereas other stages tested (V, VIIa, and XIII–IX) remained unresponsive. In contrast, DHT had no effect on this process. 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine labeling of stage I segments revealed a 30-fold higher labeling index in the presence than in the absence of E, and the labeled cells were identified as spermatogonia. Moreover, high levels of 3βAdiol were found in the testis of intact rats as well as in primary cultures of rat Leydig cells in response to human chorionic gonadotropin. We suggest that 3βAdiol may serve as a growth factor for germ cells stimulating premitotic DNA synthesis in connection with spermatogenesis via an ERβ-dependent pathway.
Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α Persistently Activates Nuclear Factor-κB Signaling through the Type 2 TNF Receptor in Chromaffin Cells: Implications for Long-Term Regulation of Neuropeptide Gene Expression in Inflammation
Authors: Ait-Ali Djida , Turquier Valérie , Tanguy Yannick , Thouënnon Erwan , Ghzili Hafida , Mounien Lourdes , Derambure Céline , Jégou Sylvie , Salier Jean-Philippe , Vaudry Hubert , Eiden Lee E. , Anouar Youssef
Published: February 2008

Chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla elaborate and secrete catecholamines and neuropeptides for hormonal and paracrine signaling in stress and during inflammation. We have recently documented the action of the cytokine TNF-α on neuropeptide secretion and biosynthesis in isolated bovine chromaffin cells. Here, we demonstrate that the type 2 TNF-α receptor (TNF-R2) mediates TNF-α signaling in chromaffin cells via activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB. Microarray and suppression subtractive hybridization have been used to identify TNF-α target genes in addition to those encoding the neuropeptides galanin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and secretogranin II in chromaffin cells. TNF-α, acting through the TNF-R2, causes an early up-regulation of NF-κB, long-lasting induction of the NF-κB target gene inhibitor κB (IκB), and persistent stimulation of other NF-κB-associated genes including mitogen-inducible gene-6 (MIG-6), which acts as an IκB signaling antagonist, and butyrate-induced transcript 1. Consistent with long-term activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, delayed induction of neuropeptide gene transcription by TNF-α in chromaffin cells is blocked by an antagonist of NF-κB signaling. TNF-α-dependent signaling in neuroendocrine cells thus leads to a unique, persistent mode of NF-κB activation that features long-lasting transcription of both IκB and MIG-6, which may play a role in the long-lasting effects of TNF-α in regulating neuropeptide output from the adrenal, a potentially important feedback station for modulating long-term cytokine effects in inflammation.
Progesterone and Estrogen Regulate Oxidative Metabolism in Brain Mitochondria
Authors: Irwin Ronald W. , Yao Jia , Hamilton Ryan T. , Cadenas Enrique , Brinton Roberta Diaz , Nilsen Jon
Published: February 2008

The ovarian hormones progesterone and estrogen have well-established neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects supporting both reproductive function and cognitive health. More recently, it has been recognized that these steroids also regulate metabolic functions sustaining the energetic demands of this neuronal activation. Underlying this metabolic control is an interpretation of signals from diverse environmental sources integrated by receptor-mediated responses converging upon mitochondrial function. In this study, to determine the effects of progesterone (P4) and 17β-estradiol (E2) on metabolic control via mitochondrial function, ovariectomized rats were treated with P4, E2, or E2 plus P4, and whole-brain mitochondria were isolated for functional assessment. Brain mitochondria from hormone-treated rats displayed enhanced functional efficiency and increased metabolic rates. The hormone-treated mitochondria exhibited increased respiratory function coupled to increased expression and activity of the electron transport chain complex IV (cytochrome c oxidase). This increased respiratory activity was coupled with a decreased rate of reactive oxygen leak and reduced lipid peroxidation representing a systematic enhancement of brain mitochondrial efficiency. As such, ovarian hormone replacement induces mitochondrial alterations in the central nervous system supporting efficient and balanced bioenergetics reducing oxidative stress and attenuating endogenous oxidative damage.
A Natural Polymorphism in Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-α Hinge Region Attenuates Transcription due to Defective Release of Nuclear Receptor Corepressor from Chromatin
Authors: Liu Mei Hui , Li Jun , Shen Ping , Husna B. , Tai E. Shyong , Yong E. L.
Published: February 2008

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) is a central regulator of lipid metabolism. Fibrate drugs act on PPARα to modulate dyslipidemias. A natural variant (V227A) affecting the PPARα hinge region was associated with perturbations in blood lipid levels in Asian populations. In this study, we investigated the functional significance of the V227A substitution. The variant significantly attenuated PPARα-mediated transactivation of the cytochrome P450 4A6 and mitochondrial 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase (HMGCS2) genes in the presence of fibrate ligands. Screening of a panel of PPARα coregulators revealed that V227A enhanced recruitment of the nuclear corepressor NCoR. Transactivation activity of V227A could be restored by silencing NCoR or by inhibition of its histone deacetylase activity. Deletion studies indicated that PPARα interacted with NCoR receptor-interacting domain 1 (ID1) but not ID2 or ID3. These interactions were dependent on the intact consensus nonapeptide nuclear receptor interaction motif in NCoR ID1 and were enhanced by the adjacent 24 N-terminal residues. Novel corepressor interaction determinants involving PPARα helices 1 and 2 were identified. In hepatic cells, the V227A substitution stabilized PPARα/NCoR interactions and caused defective release of NCoR in the presence of agonists on the HMGCS2 promoter. These results provide the first indication that defective function of a natural PPARα variant was due, at least partially, to increased corepressor binding. Our data suggest that the PPARα/NCoR interaction is physiologically relevant and can produce a discernable phenotype when the magnitude of the interaction is altered by a naturally occurring variation.
Mammary development in the embryo and adult: a journey of morphogenesis and commitment
Authors: Watson Christine J. , Khaled Walid T.
Published: February 2008

Mammary gland development occurs through distinctive stages throughout embryonic and pubertal development and reproductive life. At each stage,different signals are required to induce changes in both the epithelium and the surrounding mesenchyme/stroma. Recent studies have provided new insights into the origin, specification and fate of mammary stem and progenitor cells and into how the differentiated lineages that comprise the functional mammary gland are determined. The development of new tools and culture techniques has also enabled the factors that influence branching morphogenesis in the embryonic and pubertal gland to be identified. A surprising recent discovery has been that mammary epithelial cells commit to differentiated lineages using the same signalling pathways that regulate lineage determination in T helper cells.
Precision of the Dpp gradient
Authors: Bollenbach Tobias , Pantazis Periklis , Kicheva Anna , Bökel Christian , González-Gaitán Marcos , Jülicher Frank
Published: February 2008

Morphogen concentration gradients provide positional information by activating target genes in a concentration-dependent manner. Recent reports show that the gradient of the syncytial morphogen Bicoid seems to provide precise positional information to determine target gene domains. For secreted morphogenetic ligands, the precision of the gradients, the signal transduction and the reliability of target gene expression domains have not been studied. Here we investigate these issues for the TGF-β-type morphogen Dpp. We first studied theoretically how cell-to-cell variability in the source, the target tissue, or both, contribute to the variations of the gradient. Fluctuations in the source and target generate a local maximum of precision at a finite distance to the source. We then determined experimentally in the wing epithelium: (1) the precision of the Dpp concentration gradient; (2) the precision of the Dpp signaling activity profile; and (3) the precision of activation of the Dpp target gene spalt. As captured by our theoretical description, the Dpp gradient provides positional information with a maximal precision a few cells away from the source. This maximal precision corresponds to a positional uncertainly of about a single cell diameter. The precision of the Dpp gradient accounts for the precision of the spaltexpression range, implying that Dpp can act as a morphogen to coarsely determine the expression pattern of target genes.
Field Measurements in the Development of Methods for the Assessment of Low Frequency Noise
Authors: Waddington D , Moorhouse A T , Adams M
Published: February 2008

A procedure for the assessment of Low Frequency Noise (LFN) by Environmental Health officers has recently been developed in the UK. The development of the assessment method included laboratory test, interview-based questionnaires and field measurements. The results of the field measurements are presented in the form of frequency analyses and time histories. The examples are likely to be of particular interest to Environmental Health officers involved in the assessment of low frequency noise complaints.
Low Frequency Noise in a Paper Mill Control Room
Authors: Ryberg Johanna Bengtsson , Agge Agneta , Waye Kerstin Persson
Published: February 2008

This field study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of annoyance and disturbance and the subjective perception of the sound environment due to noise, in an old and a new control room at a large paper mill. Working in a control room requires sustained attention and concentration and, in the case of error messages, rapid and correct decisions. In this study, the personnel's responses were collected by questionnaire, and detailed sound measurements were taken in both control rooms. The A-weighted sound pressure level in the new control room was 54.9 dB, a reduction from the 63.5 dB measured in the old room, and the C-weighted sound pressure level was 66.8 dB, a reduction from the 75.2 dB measured in the old room. The new control room was rated as being a less noisy environment; however, the personnel did complain about noise from other computers/equipment, radios, and the new laboratory.
Infrasound Generated by a High-Speed Train Running through a Short Tunnel
Authors: Iida Masanobu , Kikuchi Katsuhiro , Takami Hajime
Published: February 2008

This paper deals with the pressure waves generated by a train running through a short tunnel and radiated from its portals to surrounding areas as infrasound. First described are the results of a field measurement conducted at a short, 93 m-long, Shinkansen tunnel to present the generation mechanism of the infrasound. Next an acoustic analysis is made of the infrasound radiated to the outside by applying a method for predicting the compression wave in the tunnel generated by train entry. The calculated and measured results of the waveform of the infrasound are consistent despite considerable simplification in geometric modeling in the analysis. Comparison of the spectra shows that the acoustic analysis is capable of calculating the components below about 10 Hz of the infrasound, including the harmonics of the fundamental frequency of 1.7 Hz determined from the tunnel length.
NSM without the Strong Lexicalization Hypothesis
Authors: Bohnemeyer Jürgen
Published: February 2008

I would like to begin by briefly reviewing the assumptions and hypotheses the NSM approach is based on. The goal of this exercise is to understand how these are interrelated, what hinges on every one of them, and what consequences arise from discarding an assumption or disproving a hypothesis. This process defines a number of projects which all agree up to some point and then depart. Prima facie, all of these constitute legitimate avenues of inquiry. My aim is to evaluate the decisions made within the NSM program vis-à-vis these alternatives, and to do so from a particular perspective – that of a field worker dedicated to the study of semantics in Non-Indo-European languages and of a semantic typologist interested in variation and universals of semantic representations across languages. It should be clear from the outset that NSM has made contributions to the crosslinguistic perspective in semantics unsurpassed by those of any other framework (in particular, Goddard & Wierzbicka (eds.) 1994, 2002; Goddard (ed.) 1997) – so my interest should not come as a surprise.
Natural Semantic Metalanguage: Latest perspectives
Authors: Goddard Cliff
Published: February 2008

Overall Durst has given a valuable and accurate synopsis of the NSM approach to linguistic meaning. I will attempt here to augment and clarify certain points.
South Korea in 2007: Scandals and Summits
Authors: Lie John , Kim Andrew Eungi
Published: February 2008

South Korea in 2007 was rocked by a series of scandals and sensational news that eclipsed historical and contemporary struggles to shape economic growth and political democracy. The most important issue—the division of the Korean nation—continued to grab headlines. Although no resolution to the issue of national division seemed imminent, South Korea registered economic and political gains in 2007.
Taiwan in 2007: The Waiting Game
Authors: Chu Yun-han
Published: February 2008

After years of escalating tension in the Taiwan Strait, protracted partisan gridlock, and a stagnating economy, the island anxiously awaited a fresh start after the March 2008 presidential election. The election will offer the potential for a dramatic shift in the tone and trajectory of cross-strait relations, and with it the opportunity for decreased risk that the U.S. could be drawn into an armed conflict with China.
Myanmar in 2007: A Turning Point in the “Roadmap”?
Authors: Thawnghmung Ardeth Maung , Myoe Maung Aung
Published: February 2008

Myanmar's military regime drew global condemnation in September 2007 when it brutally suppressed anti-government demonstrations. Although this junction appeared to be a turning point since it facilitated greater international intervention, recent events indicate a return to “normalcy” as the regime ruled out dialogue with the main opposition party and proceeded with its own roadmap to political transition.
Pakistan in 2007: More Violent, More Unstable
Authors: Khan Adeel
Published: February 2008

In 2007, Pakistan experienced one of the most violent and eventful years in its history. The year included the dismissal and reinstatement of the Supreme Court chief justice, the Red Mosque siege and consequent killings, farcical presidential elections, intensified violence in tribal areas that spread to other regions of the country, the imposition of emergency rule and suspension of the Constitution, and the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
Afghanistan in 2007: A Bleeding Wound
Authors: Ghufran Nasreen
Published: February 2008

The year 2007 has not brought much hope for Afghans whose country remains in the grip of increasing violence and Taliban insurgency, both hampering reconstruction. The increasing levels of opium production have provided a boost to the growing illicit economy and also to the insurgency. Governmental institutions remain frail and are largely ineffective outside the capital.
India in 2007: A Year of Opportunities and Disappointments
Authors: Ganguly Sumit
Published: February 2008

The past year saw a dramatic surge of economic growth in India. Despite this rapid spurt of growth, significant political problems continue to hobble the country partially because the coalition government in New Delhi seems unable to make hard policy decisions. Consequently, it remains unclear if India can surmount many of the obstacles that still stand in the way of sustained economic growth and even increased international political stature.
Thailand in 2007: The Struggle to Control Democracy
Authors: Ockey James
Published: February 2008

The year 2007 marked a return to parliamentary rule in Thailand, with a new Constitution approved in August and elections in December. With democracy, some fear the return of popular former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, overthrown in the coup of 2006. Attempts by the coup group to contain Thaksin's influence continued throughout the year.
Indonesia in 2007: Unmet Expectations, Despite Improvement
Authors: Kingsbury Damien
Published: February 2008

In 2007, expectations since the election of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2004 have exceeded the capacity of the state to deliver. Economic indicators remained steady or improved slightly, but there was a growing sense of disappointment with Yudhoyono's presidency as well as signs of challenge to his tenure beyond the current term.
Malaysia in 2007: High Corruption and Low Opposition
Authors: Case William
Published: February 2008

2007 appeared to be a year of political and economic continuity in Malaysia. The government won three by-elections. The economy grew at 5.6%. Tensions over ethnic relations and Islamization simmered, though with probably no greater intensity than in past years. And foreign relations were smoothly conducted. But in an extraordinary scandal, a prominent political advisor went on trial for abetting the murder of his former mistress.
The United States and Asia in 2007: A Region in Transition
Authors: Scalapino Robert A.
Published: February 2008

Economic conditions in Asia are generally favorable, with growth rates remaining strong in all except a few nations. Political conditions vary, with certain states facing significant degrees of instability, especially the democracies. Three forces, internationalism, nationalism, and communalism continue to rise in Asia, with each nation faced with the challenge of handling these semiconflictual forces. On balance, however, events in 2007 support cautious optimism.
Laos in 2007: Regional Integration and International Fallout
Authors: Gunn Geoffrey C.
Published: February 2008

Laos in 2007 unveiled new infrastructure linking the landlocked country with its neighbors. Just as Laos seeks to exploit its ample natural riches, so the country reinvents its sense of regional integration. Willy-nilly, such late-arriving globalization also brings the still largely isolated communist state under increasing international attention on a range of governance and human rights issues.
Cambodia in 2007: Development and Dispossession
Authors: Hughes Caroline
Published: February 2008

This year saw continued economic growth but increasing discontent over inequality and dispossession. Mindful of upcoming elections, Prime Minister Hun Sen declared a “war on land-grabbing,” with little practical effect. Infighting within the political opposition consolidated the government's electoral prospects, while the protests of the poor were forcibly suppressed.
The Philippines in 2007: Ballots, Budgets, and Bribes
Authors: Hicken Allen
Published: February 2008

The year 2007 was typically turbulent for the Philippines. Violence-plagued mid-term elections produced a stinging defeat for President Arroyo's Senate team, while corruption scandals spurred another impeachment attempt. The economy was relatively robust, but concerns remain about the country's fiscal health and the long-term effects of a strong peso.
China in 2007: The Politics of Leadership Transition
Authors: Fewsmith Joseph
Published: February 2008

In 2007 China was dominated by politics, specifically the preparations and negotiations heading into the Seventeenth Party Congress, which was held in late October. General Secretary Hu Jintao was successful in having his “scientific development concept” written into the Chinese Communist Party Constitution but was not allowed to name his own successor.
The Peaceful Atom as Political Weapon: Euratom and American Foreign Policy in the Late 1950s
Authors: Krige John
Published: February 2008

The U.S. emerged from World War II as the world's leading scientific and technological nation, consolidating its advantage for the next two or three decades. This paper describes how the State Department used the nation's dominance in the nuclear field, inherited from the Manhattan Project, to divert the resources of Western European states, notably France and Germany, into a civilian nuclear power program undertaken by a new supranational organization, Euratom. The determination on the continent to re-launch the European integration process in 1955, the Suez crisis in 1956, and the launch of the Sputniks in 1957 were opportunities ably exploited by officers in the State Department to use America's scientific, technological, and industrial depth in nuclear power as a political weapon. To this end they withheld the supply of enriched uranium for as long as possible from nations that wanted the fuel through bilateral agreements with the Atomic Energy Commission. In parallel they offered nuclear materials and know how, along with economic and political incentives, to encourage nations to commit to Euratom. This policy was strongly opposed by senior officials in the AEC and in the fledgling International Atomic Energy Agency, as well in Britain and in some continental countries, but to no avail. Though the State Department's efforts eventually bore little fruit, the paper clearly shows how U.S. leadership in science and technology was mobilized to promote America's foreign policy agenda in Western Europe in the early Cold War.
Histopathological Changes of the Testis in Rats Caused by Subcutaneous Injection of 2‐Bromopropane
Authors: Omura Minoru , Romero Yesid , Zhao Mangen , Inoue Naohide
Published: February 2008

Histopathological Changes of the Testis in Rats Caused by Subcutaneous Injection of 2‐Bromopropane: Minoru Omura, et al. Department of Hygiene, Kyushu University—Mature male rats were injected subcutaneously with 1,355 mg/kg of 2‐bromopropane five days a week for two weeks. In addition to the routine examinations concerning the effect on male reproductive system, we carried out an evaluation of change in the numbers of various types of germ cells in the seminiferous tubule at stages I, V, VII, X and XII to clarify germ cells which were affected by 2‐bromopropane. 2‐Bromopropane caused mild atrophy of the seminal vesicle, but did not show any adverse effects on spermatid/sperm count, sperm motility or sperm morphology. In the histopathological examination of the testis, the numbers of spermatogonia, preleptotene spermatocyte, leptotene spermatocyte, zygotene spermatocyte and pachytene spermatocyte at stages I and V decreased in the rats treated with 2‐bromopropane. However, the numbers of pachytene spermatocyte at stages VII, X and XII and round spermatids in these rats were comparable with those in control rats. In two weeks, spermatocytes develop to pachytene spermatocyte at stage VII or more developed germ cells in rats. Therefore, it seemed likely that 2‐bromopropane had no adverse effects on spermatocytes but affected spermatogonia, assuming that 2‐bromopropane affected germ cells immediately after the injection. In conclusion, we estimated that spermatogonia were the target cells of 2‐bromopropane in the testis in rats.
The Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Acrylonitrile Poisoning: A Clinical Study of 144 Cases
Authors: Chen Yuqing , Chen Changfa , Jin Shenxiong , Zhou Lin
Published: February 2008

The Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Acrylonitrile Poisoning: A Clinical Study of 144 Cases: Yuqing Chen, et al. Division of Occupational Medicine, Jinshan Hospital of Shanghai Medical University—An analysis of clinical manifestations and emergency treatment of 144 cases of acute acrylonitrile (ACN) poisoning is reported in this article. It is suggested that the acute poisoning induced by inhalation of ACN at high concentrations for a short duration primarily impairs the central nervous system (CNS), and inhalation of ACN at medium concentrations but for a longer period leads to damage to the liver tissues besides the CNS. In severely poisoned victims, the cardiac muscles may be damaged and in the blood levels glutathione (GSH) is decreased. The rational administration of antidotes including the methemoglobin‐producing agent (MHbPA), and the sulfur‐providing agent (SPA) is the key to the success of emergency treatment and thus the early recovery of the victims.
Suppression of Pentylenetetrazol‐Induced Seizures and c‐fosExpression in Mouse Brain byL‐Carnitine
Authors: Iryo Yoshihisa , Matsuoka Masato , Igisu Hideki
Published: February 2008

Suppression of Pentylenetetrazol‐Induced Seizures and c‐fosExpression in Mouse Brain byL‐Carnitine: Yoshihisa Iryo,et al. Department of Environmental Toxicology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health—Seizure development in ddY mice was recorded on a videotape for 20 min after injection of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) (50 mg/kg) and analyzed in detail. In addition, expression of the c‐fosgene in the brain was semi‐quantified by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction analysis. When saline, L‐carnitine (10 mmol/kg), ord‐carnitine (10 mmol/kg) was administered 30 min prior to PTZ, the seizures were suppressed in mice givenl‐carnitine; the seizure scores were significantly lower in mice treated withL‐carnitine at several time points, and the overall seizure scores were 31.43 ± 2.49, 10.57 ± 2.86 and 24.71 ± 3.05 (expressed as the mean + S.E.M., n=7), in saline,L‐carnitine and D‐carnitine groups, respectively. The latency to the first clonic‐tonic seizure was also prolonged in mice treated withL‐carnitine. The level of c‐fosmRNA in the brain was lower in the animals treated withL‐carnitine than in those treated with saline or D‐carnitine. Thus,l‐carnitine shows not only anticonvulsive effects in one of the most widely used animal models of chemically induced seizures but also the potential to suppress the seizure‐associated expression of an immediate early gene in the brain.
Changes in the Testicular Damage Caused by Indium Arsenide and Indium Phosphide in Hamsters during Two Years after Intratracheal Instillations
Authors: Omura Minoru , Yamazaki Koji , Tanaka Akiyo , Hirata Miyuki , Makita Yuji , Inoue Naohide
Published: February 2008

Changes in the Testicular Damage Caused by Indium Arsenide and Indium Phosphide in Hamsters during Two Years after Intratracheal Instillations: Minoru Omura, et al. Department of Hygiene, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University—Change in the testicular damage caused by indium arsenide (InAs) and indium phosphide (InP) was examined during two yr after repetitive intratracheal instillations in hamsters. In this study, 4.0 mg/kg body weight/day of InAs or 3.0 mg/kg body weight/day of InP was instilled intratracheally twice weekly for eight wk. A single instillation dose of indium was 2.4 mg/kg body weight in both groups. Testicular damage was evaluated 0, 8, 16, 40, 64 and 88 wk after the last instillation. Both InAs and InP were proved to be definite testicular toxicants. Both materials decreased reproductive organ weight and caudal sperm count, and caused severe histopathologic changes in the testes. InAs‐induced testicular damage was always more serious than InP‐induced testicular damage. The serum indium concentration in the InAs group was always higher than that in the InP group, and indium was probably a toxic element in both materials. In the histopathologic examination, vacuolization of seminiferous epithelium was frequently observed as an early histopathologic change and spermatogonia remained in general even in the seminiferous tubules with severe histopathologic changes in both groups. It is therefore estimated that Sertoli cells, not stem cell spermatogonia, were the target cells of these indium‐containing compound semiconductor materials. The threat of InAs and InP to male reproduction was proved in this study. We concluded that male reproductive disorders should not be overlooked when severe exposure to indium‐containing compound semiconductor materials is apparent in human subjects.
Health Effects of Acute Exposures to Methyl Bromide during Soil Fumigation Inside Greenhouses
Authors: Koda Shigeki , Kumagai Shinji , Ohara Hiroshi
Published: February 2008

Health Effects of Acute Exposures to Methyl Bromide during Soil Fumigation Inside Greenhouses: Shigeki Koda, et al. Department of Public Health, Kochi Medical School—In order to estimate exposure to methyl bromide (CH3Br) during soil fumigation inside greenhouses and examine health effects in agricultural workers, an interview survey, environmental monitoring and occupational exposure to CH3Br were conducted. An interview survey of working conditions and subjective symptoms related to exposure to CH3Br during soil fumigation was conducted on 241 agricultural workers between 1996 and 1998, and 225 agricultural workers were analyzed. The environmental monitoring during soil fumigation and occupational exposure to CH3Br were conducted in cooperation with eight agricultural workers. Finally, the authors examined the exposure levels to CH3Br after improving soil fumigation techniques. Many agricultural workers used a large amount of CH3Br in soil fumigation within a short time period without personal protective equipment. The odds ratio for nausea was significantly increased by fumigation with mulch. The odds ratios for irritation of the eyes, feeling sick, cough and anxieties about health were significantly increased by wearing gas masks. The odds ratios for forget fulness and ringing in the ears were significantly increased at ages over 50 yr. The concentrations of CH3Br in greenhouses were changed from 5,000 ppm to 1,100 ppm during soil fumigation, and occupational exposure was 57.2 ppm while opening the sheets of greenhouses and below ACGIH‐TLV (1 ppm) in CH3Br ejection, piping and planting. The agricultural workers could avoid exposure to high concentrations of CH3Br by improving in soil fumigation techniques. Soil fumigation inside greenhouses has occupational safety and health issues related to the large amounts of CH3Br used within short fumigation periods, the lack of precautions for handling chemicals, improper use of protective equipment and lack of training in safety practices resulting in agricultural workers being at risk of acute exposure to CH3Br.
An Integrated Approach to Initiate Preventive Strategies for Workers Exposed to Teflon Pyrolytic Gases in a Plastic Industry
Authors: Tsai Perng‐Jy , Guo Yue‐Liang , Chen Jin‐Luh , Shieh Hong‐Yong
Published: February 2008

An Integrated Approach to Initiate Preventive Strategies for Workers Exposed to Teflon Pyrolytic Gases in a Plastic Industry: Perng‐Jy Tsai, et al. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Medical College, National Cheng Kung University—This study illustrates an integrated approach for industries to find possible hazardous factors, to identify the causes of an accident, and eventually to start preventive measures after a fatal accident occurred in a Teflon heating process. A team consisting of experts from several disciplinary areas was formed for the purpose. Through literature review and the examination of clinical reports, possible hazardous factors were proposed, and then examined and confirmed through a field study. The technique of fault tree analysis (FTA) was adopted to investigate the causes of the accident logistically. Investigation of the causes of the accident was not limited to those which were directly relevant to it, but all potential causes were included. A preventive strategy was proposed with prioritized measures which were determined based on their importance from the practical standpoint. This study demonstrates the benefits of integrating expertise from a number of disciplines for accident investigation, especially for those accidents in which the scenario cannot be reconstructed.
Characteristics of Exposure Profiles for Workers Exposed to Airborne Dusts and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Carbon Black Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Tsai Perng‐Jy , Shieh Hong‐Yong , Lee Wen‐Jhy , Lai Soon‐Onn
Published: February 2008

Characteristics of Exposure Profiles for Workers Exposed to Airborne Dusts and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Carbon Black Manufacturing Industry: Perng‐Jy Tsai, et al. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Medical College, National Cheng Kung University—This study was aimed at characterizing the exposure profiles for carbon black manufacturing workers. Personal sampling was conducted on 8 wet pelletizing workers and 22 packaging workers. A sampling train consisted of an IOM personal inhalable aerosol sampler (to collect airborne dusts and their inherent particle‐bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)), and an XAD‐2 sorbent tube (to collect gaseous PAHs) was used. For PAHs analyses, 21 PAH species were analyzed by using the gas chromatograph/mass technique. In addition, size segregating sampling was conducted at both workplaces, by using both the Micro‐orifice Uniform Deposited Impactors (MOUDI) and the Noll Rotary Impactor (NRI) simultaneously to characterize the particle size distributions exposure to both exposure groups. Results show that the packaging workers had a higher dust exposure level (arithmetic mean=1.17 mg/m3) than the pelletizing workers (arithmetic mean=0.82 mg/m3). Although both levels were lower than the time‐weighted‐average threshold limit value (TLV‐TWA) of 3.5 mg/m3 of ACGIH, about 7.48% of the packaging workers were estimated to be above the limit value. A significant amount of gaseous PAHs was also found in personal exposure, especially BaP and PER in the gaseous phase were similar to those found in the particle‐bound phase. Exposure to particle‐bound PAHs was considered due to the releasing of carbon black dusts during the pelletizing and packaging processes, but for gaseous PAHs, it might be due to the emission of gaseous PAHs from the feedstock oil unloading process rather than the stack flue gas. The above findings suggest that both gaseous and particle‐bound PAHs are equally important in assessing exposure of carbon black industry workers. Size distributions, including both airborne dusts and particle‐bound PAHs, collected from both areas were found in the form of bimodality. No statistical difference could be found between the airborne dust size distribution and the corresponding particle‐bound PAH size distribution in the two areas, which suggests that workers in both areas might be exposed to similar types of airborne dust that contain similar PAH compositions.
The English ballad singer and hidden history
Authors: Porter Gerald
Published: February 2008

Drawing on Pierre Macherey’s location of ‘real history’ in the silences and gaps of the historical record, this paper studies the changing role of the paid singer in England. Although singers and musicians in England have been rewarded for their performances at all periods, more attention has been given in recent years to traditional singing as a recreational, even domestic activity than as a means of livelihood. Because of their constantly changing social status, the position of the paid singer has been ambiguous and frequently oppositional. A recent book sees their status as one of continuous decline. However, the process was not a continuous and inevitable one: the singer adapted to changes in society and found new sources of support.
Leukotriene Synthesis Is Required for Hedgehog-Dependent Neurite Projection in Neuralized Embryoid Bodies but Not for Motor Neuron Differentiation
Authors: Bijlsma Maarten F. , Peppelenbosch Maikel P. , Spek C. Arnold , Roelink Henk
Published: February 2008

The hedgehog (Hh) pathway is required for many developmental processes, as well as for adult homeostasis. Although all known effects of Hh signaling affecting patterning and differentiation are mediated by members of the Gli family of zinc finger transcription factors, we demonstrate that the Hh-dependent formation of neurites from motor neurons, like migration of fibroblasts, requires leukotriene synthesis and is different from the Gli-mediated Hh response. Smoothened activity is required for the use of the leukotriene metabolism, and inversely, the leukotriene metabolism is required for mediating the Hh effects on neurite projection. These data establish a function for the previously described arachidonic acid-dependent Hh pathway in a developmentally relevant model system.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Immunogenicity of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in HLA-Class I-Restricted T-Cell Responses Against Viral or Tumor-Associated Antigens
Authors: Morandi Fabio , Raffaghello Lizzia , Bianchi Giovanna , Meloni Francesca , Salis Annalisa , Millo Enrico , Ferrone Soldano , Barnaba Vincenzo , Pistoia Vito
Published: February 2008

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are immunosuppressive and poorly immunogenic but may act as antigen-presenting cells (APC) for CD4+ T-cell responses; here we have investigated their ability to serve as APC for in vitro CD8+ T-cell responses. MSC pulsed with peptides from viral antigens evoked interferon (IFN)-γ and Granzyme B secretion in specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and were lysed, although with low efficiency. MSC transfected with tumor mRNA or infected with a viral vector carrying the Hepatitis C virus NS3Ag gene induced cytokine release but were not killed by specific CTL, even following pretreatment with IFN-γ. To investigate the mechanisms involved in MSC resistance to CTL-mediated lysis, we analyzed expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I-related antigen-processing machinery (APM) components and of immunosuppressive HLA-G molecules in MSC. The LMP7, LMP10, and ERp57 components were not expressed and the MB-1 and zeta molecules were downregulated in MSC either unmanipulated or pretreated with IFN-γ. Surface HLA-G was constitutively expressed on MSC but was not involved in their protection from CTL-mediated lysis. MSC supernatants containing soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) inhibited CTL-mediated lysis, whereas those lacking sHLA-G did not. The role of sHLA-G in such inhibition was unambiguously demonstrated by partial restoration of lysis following sHLA-G depletion from MSC supernatants. In conclusion, human MSC can process and present HLA class I-restricted viral or tumor antigens to specific CTL with a limited efficiency, likely because of some defects in APM components. However, they are protected from CTL-mediated lysis through a mechanism that is partly sHLA-G-dependent.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.