bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti-mannose binding lectin antibodies in sera of Japanese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: TAKAHASHI R , TSUTSUMI A , OHTANI K , GOTO D , MATSUMOTO I , ITO S , WAKAMIYA N , SUMIDA T
Published: May 2004

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a key element in innate immunity with functions and structure similar to that of complement C1q. It has been reported that MBL deficiency is associated with occurrence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We hypothesized that anti-MBL antibodies, if present, would affect the occurrence or disease course of SLE, by reduction of serum MBL levels, interference of MBL functions, or binding to MBL deposited on various tissues. To address this hypothesis, we measured the concentration of anti-MBL antibodies in sera of 111 Japanese SLE patients and 113 healthy volunteers by enzyme immunoassay. The titres of anti-MBL antibodies in SLE patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls. When the mean + 2 standard deviations of controls was set as the cut off point, individuals with titres of anti-MBL antibodies above this level were significantly more frequent in SLE patients (9 patients) than in controls (2 persons). One SLE patient had an extremely high titre of this antibody. No associations of titres of anti-MBL antibodies and (i) genotypes of MBL gene, (ii) concentrations of serum MBL, or (iii) disease characteristics of SLE, were apparent. Thus, we have confirmed that anti-MBL antibodies are indeed present in sera of some patients with SLE, but the significance of these autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of SLE remains unclear.
Structural and functional complexity of the humoral response against theTrypanosoma cruziribosomal P2βprotein in patients with chronic Chagas’ heart disease
Authors: MAHLER E , HOEBEKE J , LEVIN M J
Published: May 2004

High levels of antibodies against the C-terminus of the Trypanosoma cruzi TcP2β ribosomal protein, defined by the peptide EEEDDDMGFGLFD, named R13, have been measured in sera from patients with chronic Chagas’ Heart Disease (cChHD). These antibodies also recognize an epitope on the second extracellular loop of the β1-adrenergic receptor, inducing a functional response on cardiomyocytes. The aim of this study was to gain novel insights into the structural basis of this cross-reactivity as well as to evaluate the origin of anti-M2- cholinergic receptor antibodies, which are also commonly found in cChHD patients. To address these questions we immunopurified anti-R13 antibodies and studied the structural requirements of epitope recognition. Results showed that the immunopurified antibodies recognized a conformation of R13 in which the third Glu residue was essential for binding, explaining their low affinity for the mammalian homologue (peptide H13: EESDDDMGFGLFD). Alanine mutation scanning showed individual variations in epitope recognition in each of the studied patients. The importance of a negatively charged residue at position 3 for the recognition of anti-R13 antibodies was further confirmed by competition experiments using a Ser3-phosphorylated H13 analogue, which had 10 times more affinity for the anti-R13 antibody than the native H13 peptide. Moreover, anti-R13 antibodies stimulated either the β1-adrenergic or the M2-cholinergic receptor, in strict agreement with the functional properties of the IgG fractions from which they derived, demonstrating that the same parasite antigen may generate antibody specificities with different functional properties. This may be a clue to explain the high variability of electrophysiological disturbances found in cChHD.
Apoptosis as a mechanism for cell surface expression of the autoantigen pyruvate dehydrogenase complex
Authors: MACDONALD P , PALMER J , KIRBY J A , JONES D E J
Published: May 2004

A number of antigens implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases including Sjogren's syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are expressed aberrantly by apoptotic cells. It is also known that apoptogenic proteins are released from the mitochondrial intermembrane space at an early stage during the induction and development of apoptosis. Combination of this evidence led us to test the hypothesis that apoptotic mechanisms provide an explanation for the abnormal expression of the inner mitochondrial enzyme, pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC), observed on the surface of some cells in patients with the autoimmune liver disease primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Using one murine and two human cell lines it was found that the induction of apoptosis led to early detection of PDC within the cytoplasm. However, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 4 (COX 4), which is also present on the inner surface of the inner mitochondrial membrane, remained within the mitochondria. Immunoreactive PDC was also detected on the outer surface of the intact plasma membrane of cells sampled after the induction of apoptosis. Serial release of PDC to the cytoplasm and then onto the external surface of the plasma membrane provides direct evidence that the antigen on the cell surface is of mitochondrial origin. Immunoreactivity specific for PDC is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of PBC, but this autoantigen is normally concealed from the immune system by three membrane systems. Release of PDC onto the cell surface during apoptosis provides a possible route for recognition of this antigen by the immune system which could contribute to both afferent and efferent phases of the disease process.
Autoimmunity and glomerulonephritis in mice with targeted deletion of the serum amyloid P component gene: SAP deficiency or strain combination?
Authors: Gillmore Julian D. , Hutchinson Winston L. , Herbert Jeff. , Bybee Alison , Mitchell Daniel A. , Hasserjian Robert P. , Yamamura Ken‐Ichi , Suzuki Misao , Sabin Caroline A. , Pepys Mark B.
Published: May 2004

Human serum amyloid P component (SAP) binds avidly to DNA, chromatin and apoptotic cells in vitro and in vivo. 129\Sv × C57BL\6 mice with targeted deletion of the SAP gene spontaneously develop antinuclear autoantibodies and immune complex glomerulonephritis. SAP‐deficient animals, created by backcrossing the 129\Sv SAP gene deletion into pure line C57BL\6 mice and studied here for the first time, also spontaneously developed broad spectrum antinuclear autoimmunity and proliferative immune complex glomerulonephritis but without proteinuria, renal failure, or increased morbidity or mortality. Mice hemizygous for the SAP gene deletion had an intermediate autoimmune phenotype. Injected apoptotic cells and isolated chromatin were more immunogenic in SAP–\– mice than in wild‐type mice. In contrast, SAP‐deficient pure line 129\Sv mice did not produce significant autoantibodies either spontaneously or when immunized with extrinsic chromatin or apoptotic cells, indicating that loss of tolerance is markedly strain dependent. However, SAP deficiency in C57BL\6 mice only marginally affected plasma clearance of exogenous chromatin and had no effect on distribution of exogenous nucleosomes between the liver and kidneys, which were the only tissue sites of catabolism. Furthermore, transgenic expression of human SAP in the C57BL\6 SAP knockout mice did not abrogate the autoimmune phenotype. This may reflect the different binding affinities of mouse and human SAP for nuclear autoantigens and\or the heterologous nature of transgenic human SAP in the mouse. Alternatively, the autoimmunity may be independent of SAP deficiency and caused by expression of 129\Sv chromosome 1 genes in the C57BL\6 background.
Induction of immune responses against human papillomaviruses by hypervariable epitope constructs
Authors: Reddy K. Jyotsna , Banapour Babak , Anderson David E. , Lee Sang H. , Marquez Juan P. , Carlos Maria P. , Torres Jose V.
Published: May 2004

An ideal prophylactic vaccine against human papillomaviruses (HPV) would be one that can induce broadly reactive antibody titres to at least the major oncogenic strains of HPV. It has been previously shown that HPV structural proteins are highly immunogenic but fail to elicit cross‐reactive immune responses against heterologous strains of HPV. Recent studies have demonstrated that the immunity induced by virus‐like particles is mostly type specific. In the present study, we determined the breadth of reactivity of antibodies induced in mice immunized with hypervariable epitope constructs (HECs), which represent sequence variants of immunodominant B‐cell epitopes of the major capsid protein L1 of HPV. In order to test the breadth of reactivity, sera from immunized mice were tested against peptides representing analogous sequences of HPV types 16, 18, 31 and 45. Mice immunized with HECs based on two epitopes mounted antibody responses that cross‐reacted with two different analogues, 16 and 18. Significantly, antibodies from mice immunized with HECs also inhibited haemagglutination mediated by HPV‐16 L1 VLPs, suggesting that immunization resulted in the development of antibodies that could bind to viral capsid proteins in their native conformation. Our observations suggest that HECs may overcome the restriction of type specific immunity against HPV.
Differential effect of immune cells on non‐pathogenic Gram‐negative bacteria‐induced nuclear factor‐κB activation and pro‐inflammatory gene expression in intestinal epithelial cells
Authors: Haller D. , Holt L. , Parlesak A. , Zanga J. , Bäuerlein A. , Sartor R. B. , Jobin C.
Published: May 2004

We have previously shown that non‐pathogenic Gram negative bacteria induce RelA phosphorylation, nuclear factor (NF)‐κB transcriptional activity and pro‐inflammatory gene expression in intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of immune‐epithelial cell cross‐talk on Gram‐negative enteric bacteria‐induced NF‐κB signalling and pro‐inflammatory gene expression in IEC using HT‐29/MTX as well as CaCO‐2 transwell cultures Interestingly, while differentiated HT‐29/MTX cells are unresponsive to non‐pathogenic Gram negative bacterial stimulation, interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) mRNA accumulation is strongly induced in Escherichia coli‐ but not Bacteroides vulgatus‐stimulated IEC cocultured with peripheral blood (PBMC) and lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMC). The presence of PBMC triggered both E. coli‐ and B. vulgatus‐induced mRNA expression of the Toll‐like receptor‐4 accessory protein MD‐2 as well as endogenous IκBα phosphorylation, demonstrating similar capabilities of these bacteria to induce proximal NF‐κB signalling. However, B. vulgatus failed to trigger IκBα degradation and NF‐κB transcriptional activity in the presence of PBMC. Interestingly, B. vulgatus‐ and E. coli‐derived lipopolysaccharide‐induced similar IL‐8 mRNA expression in epithelial cells after basolateral stimulation of HT‐29/PBMC cocultures. Although luminal enteric bacteria have adjuvant and antigenic properties in chronic intestinal inflammation, PBMC from patients with active ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease differentially trigger epithelial cell activation in response to E. coli and E. coli‐derived LPS. In conclusion, this study provides evidence for a differential regulation of non‐pathogenic Gram‐negative bacteria‐induced NF‐κB signalling and IL‐8 gene expression in IEC cocultured with immune cells and suggests the presence of mechanisms that assure hyporesponsiveness of the intestinal epithelium to certain commensally enteric bacteria.
Modulation of immune responses to bovine herpesvirus‐1 in cattle by immunization with a DNA vaccine encoding glycoprotein D as a fusion protein with bovine CD154
Authors: Manoj Sharmila , Griebel Philip J. , Babiuk Lorne A. , Van Drunen Littel‐Van Den Hurk Sylvia
Published: May 2004

The objective of this study was to determine whether a DNA vaccine encoding bovine CD154 linked to a truncated version of bovine herpesvirus‐1 (BHV‐1) glycoprotein D (tgD‐CD154) induces enhanced tgD‐specific immune responses in cattle. In vitro characterization demonstrated that tgD and tgD‐CD154 both bind to cultured bovine B cells, whereas only tgD‐CD154 induces interleukin‐4‐dependent proliferation, suggesting that tgD‐CD154 specifically binds the CD40 receptor and induces receptor signalling. Calves were immunized with plasmid encoding either tgD or tgD‐CD154 by intradermal injection with a needle‐free device. After two immunizations, tgD‐specific immune responses were observed in both vaccinated groups and after challenge with BHV‐1 these responses further increased. Animals immunized with plasmid encoding tgD‐CD154 had significantly higher tgD‐specific serum titres of immunoglobulins G and A but significantly lower numbers of tgD‐specific interferon‐γ‐secreting cells than animals immunized with plasmid encoding tgD after BHV‐1 challenge. This suggests that the expression of an antigen as a chimeric protein with CD154 can qualitatively alter immune responses in cattle. Since we previously showed that plasmid encoding tgD‐CD154 induces significantly enhanced secondary tgD‐specific antibody responses in sheep, there appear to be interspecies differences in the immune responses induced by tgD‐CD154, which suggests that both proteins in the chimeric molecule may influence protein targeting and the induction of an immune response.
Ezrin/radixin/moesin proteins and Rho GTPase signalling in leucocytes
Authors: Ivetic Aleksandar , Ridley Anne J.
Published: May 2004

The ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) family of actin‐binding proteins act both as linkers between the actin cytoskeleton and plasma membrane proteins and as signal transducers in responses involving cytoskeletal remodelling. The Rho family of GTPases also regulate cytoskeletal organisation, and several molecular pathways linking ERM proteins and Rho GTPases have been described. This review discusses recent findings on ERM protein function in leucocytes and how these may be integrated with Rho GTPase signalling.
The expanding clinical spectrum of Anderson–Fabry disease: a challenge to diagnosis in the novel era of enzyme replacement therapy
Authors: Hauser A. C. , Lorenz M. , Sunder‐Plassmann G.
Published: May 2004

Anderson–Fabry disease is an X‐linked recessive lysosomal storage disease resulting from deficient α‐galactosidase A activity. The conception of the disease has changed within the last decade. Studies of the last years have shown that the disease is not limited to the classical full‐blown manifestation in affected males, which is well known since more than a century, but may also occur in carrier females. The phenomenology may differ in severity and kind of organ manifestation. Cardiac and renal variants with solely disease manifestation of these organs have also been described in an increasing number. It is likely that a spectrum exists regarding α‐galactosidase A activity in both genders on the one hand, and an additional one regarding the severity and the number of organs affected on the other. The purpose of this review is to sharpen physicians’ perception of this disease. Early and accurate diagnosis is mandatory considering that this disorder is now, after introduction of the novel enzyme replacement therapy, a treatable disease.
Coronary heart disease in a patient with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis
Authors: Valdivielso P. , Calandra S. , Durán J. C. , Garuti R. , Herrera E. , González P.
Published: May 2004

Coronary heart disease is a prevalent condition and a leading cause of death in developed countries. Most cases are due to the cluster of classical risk factors, such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and dyslipidaemia. However, a few patients develop severe and premature arteriosclerosis in spite of absence of common risk factors. Here, we present the clinical, analytical and molecular features of a 36‐years‐old man who died from advanced ischaemic heart disease as a result of cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX), a rare condition characterized by elevation in plasma and most tissues of cholestanol and where neurological impairment is the hallmark of this disease. We discuss the relevance of heart disease and the mechanism leading to accelerate arteriosclerosis is CTX.
Allergen avoidance does not alter airborne cat allergen levels in classrooms
Authors: Karlsson A.‐S. , Renström A. , Hedrén M. , Larsson K.
Published: May 2004

Background:  Some schools in Sweden offer allergen avoidance classrooms for allergic children with severe asthma. However, the measures commonly used to achieve a reduction in allergen levels have not been properly evaluated. The aim of the present prospective study was to study whether the levels of airborne cat allergen are altered after introducing feasible intervention measures in classrooms, without interfering with peoples’ freedom of choice regarding pet ownership.

Methods:  Twenty‐five classes, including five established allergy prevention classrooms participated in the study during a school year. After one term, six classes underwent a number of intervention measures recommended by the Swedish National Institute of Public Health. Curtains, upholstery and plants were removed, bookshelves were replaced with cupboards and regular cleaning was increased. Airborne dust was collected weekly (32 weeks) using duplicate Petri dishes (n = 1574) and on six occasions using two personal air samplers in each class (n = 264).

Results:  Airborne cat allergen levels were showing a similar variability throughout the whole study in all classes. Despite extensive measures in order to reduce allergen exposure, cat allergen levels were unaltered in the six classes after intervention. Allergen levels were not significantly lower in the established allergy prevention classes, compared with the other classes. Cat allergen levels differed, however, significantly between classes with few and many cat owners (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:  We conclude that the recommended allergen avoidance measures used in this study did not reduce airborne cat allergen. It seems plausible that measures that fail to reduce allergen levels also fail to influence health status in allergic children but this remains to be shown.
Cytokinin N‐glucosylation inhibitors suppress deactivation of exogenous cytokinins in radish, but their effect on active endogenous cytokinins is counteracted by other regulatory mechanisms
Authors: Blagoeva Elitsa , Dobrev Petre I. , Malbeck Jir̆í , Motyka Václav , Strnad Miroslav , Hanus̆ Jan , Van̆ková Radomíra
Published: May 2004

The prolongation of the effect of exogenous cytokinins by inhibition of their inactivation was studied in Raphanus sativus L. cv. Rampouch. As in radish the main way of cytokinin inactivation is their N‐glucosylation, inhibitors of this pathway, papaverine, theophylline and olomoucine, as well as two olomoucine analogues, bohemine and roscovitine, were tested. The latter ones, which function as potent inhibitors of cyclin‐dependent kinases, have also been found to effectively inhibit cytokinin N‐glucosylation. Incubation (24 h) of de‐rooted radish seedlings with inhibitors resulted in c. 50% decrease of the conversion of model cytokinins, [3H]dihydrozeatin and [3H]N6‐benzyladenine, to the corresponding 7N‐glucosides. Simultaneously the level of the non‐metabolized cytokinin bases was elevated. The activity of cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (EC 1.5.99.12) was suppressed in a dose dependent manner. The concentration of physiologically active endogenous cytokinins was not increased significantly by inhibitor application. The inhibition of N‐glucosylation was in the case of olomoucine, bohemine and roscovitine accompanied by the accumulation of physiologically nonactive cis‐zeatin derivatives. The impact of inhibitors on the endogenous cytokinin pool seems to be balanced by the mechanisms involved in the maintenance of cytokinin homeostasis.
Biochemical and molecular responses to water stress in resurrection plants
Authors: Bernacchia Giovanni , Furini Antonella
Published: May 2004

A small group of angiosperms, known as resurrection plants, can tolerate extreme dehydration. They survive in arid environments because they are able to dehydrate, remain quiescent during long periods of drought, and then resurrect upon rehydration. Dehydration induces the expression of a large number of transcripts in resurrection plants. Gene products with a putative protective function such as LEA proteins have been identified; they are expressed at high levels in the cytoplasm or in chloroplasts upon dehydration and/or ABA treatment of vegetative tissue. An increase in sugar concentration is usually observed at the onset of desiccation in vegetative tissue of resurrection plants. These sugars may be effective in osmotic adjustment or they may stabilize membrane structures and proteins. Regulatory genes such as a protein translation initiation factor, homeodomain‐leucine zipper genes and a gene probably working as a regulatory RNA have been isolated and characterized. The knowledge of the biochemical and molecular responses that occur during the onset of drought may help to improve water stress tolerance in plants of agronomic importance.
Applied environmental stresses to enhance the levels of polyphenolics in leaves of hawthorn plants
Authors: Kirakosyan Ara , Kaufman Peter , Warber Sara , Zick Suzanna , Aaronson Keith , Bolling Steven , Chul Chang Soo
Published: May 2004

In this investigation, two species of Crataegus (hawthorn) were chosen because their polyphenolic constituents have recently received greater attention for the treatment of patients with severe heart disease. One‐year‐old plants of hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata and C. monogyna) were subjected to water‐deficit (continuous water deprivation), cold (4°C), flooding (immersion of roots of plants in water) or herbivory (leaf removal) stress treatments (each of 10 days duration) in order to assess their effects on levels of polyphenolics, namely (‐)‐epicatechin, catechin, chlorogenic acid, vitexin, vitexin‐2′′‐O‐rhamnoside, acetylvitexin‐2′′‐O‐rhamnoside, hyperoside, quercetin, and rutin in the leaves. The working hypothesis followed is that one or more of these stress treatment will elicit increases in the levels of these polyphenolics. Cold stress causes increases in levels of vitexin‐2′′‐O‐rhamnoside, acetylvitexin‐2′′‐O‐rhamnoside, hyperoside, and quercetin in both Crataegus species. Water‐deficit stress increased the productivity of chlorogenic acid, catechin, and (‐)‐epicatechin in both hawthorn species. Flooding and herbivory caused no net increases, and in some cases, decreases in levels of polyphenolics. These studies indicate that either water‐deficit stress or cold stress treatments, or a combination of the two, can be used to enhance the levels of desired polyphenolics in the leaves of these two hawthorn species in a photobioreactor system. These results may have significance for hawthorn in adapting to water‐deficit or cold stress and are important considerations for the use of hawthorn in the treatment of heart disease in humans.
Quality and Distribution of Assimilates within the Whole Plant of Lupines (L. albus and L. mutabilis) Influenced by Water Stress
Authors: Carvalho I. S. , Ricardo C. P. , Chaves M.
Published: May 2004

Lupine crops (Lupinus albus and L. mutabilis) often experience water deficits during grain filling, thereby altering partitioning of assimilates. Water deficit, imposed at the beginning of seed production (15 days after anthesis, daa), brought about differences in assimilate partitioning and chemical composition within the whole plant. In both species, water stress (ws) was responsible for a significant decrease in plant water status and gas exchange. In spite of little effect on total biomass, leaf area was reduced for approximately half of the control treatment. The main effects of ws on chemical composition of different organs were a decrease in total oil and an increase in total soluble sugar content in leaves; an increase in both oil and soluble sugars in stems; and a decrease in total oil and total soluble sugar content in seeds. The data suggest that under ws conditions, imposed at flowering, lupine assimilates are stored in stems and pods and later retranslocated to the developing seeds.
Is there evidence of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health in undergraduate nursing students’ patient assessments?
Authors: Pryor Julie , Forbes Ralph , Hall‐Pullin Laynie
Published: May 2004

This paper reports on a secondary analysis of undergraduate nursing students’ patient assessments while on clinical placement in a rehabilitation setting in search of evidence of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). It describes the evolution of the original World Health Organization's International Classification of Impairment, Disability and Handicap into the ICF. Data was analysed using the ICF categories of function, activity, participation, environmental factors and personal factors. Some evidence of ICF was revealed. Nurses are encouraged to further explore the relevance of ICF for nursing.
Reasons for attending and not attending a support group for recipients of implantable cardioverter defibrillators and their carers
Authors: Williams Anne M , Young Jeanne , Nikoletti Sue , McRae Shelley
Published: May 2004

There is evidence to suggest that people who have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator and their caregivers experience psychological distress. This qualitative descriptive study explored the experiences, concerns and needs of recipients of implantable cardioverter defibrillators and their caregivers who attended or did not attend a support group organized by a public hospital located in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Eleven recipients of implantable cardioverter defibrillators and their caregivers participated in this study. Among those who attended the support group, four major themes were identified: providing information, connecting with others, helping others and attendance. Explanations for non‐attendance included difficulties attending because of the location, not wanting to be reminded about the implantable cardioverter defibrillator, and a perception, among younger recipients, that the support group was comprised of mainly older recipients with whom they had little in common.
Phosphorylation of ERK and CREB in cultured hippocampal neurons after haloperidol and risperidone administration
Authors: YANG BYUNG‐HWAN , SON HYEON , KIM SEOK HYEON , NAM JUNG‐HYUN , CHOI JOON‐HO , LEE JUN‐SEOK
Published: May 2004

Abstract  The purpose of the present paper was to determine whether the brief exposure of neurons to antipsychotic drugs is associated with the activation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (ERK) and cyclic adenosine 3′,5′‐monophosphate (cAMP) response element (CRE) binding protein (CREB). The activation of ERK‐1/2 and CREB can be monitored by immunoblotting with antibodies that specifically recognize p‐ERK‐1/2 (phosphorylated on Thr‐202 and Tyr‐204) and p‐CREB (phosphorylated on Ser‐133). In hippocampal neuron cultures at 25 days in vitro (DIV), the levels of ERK and CREB phosphorylation significantly increased after treatment with haloperidol (50 nmol/L) and risperidone (50 nmol/L), except when risperidone was administered at the p‐CREB level. However, risperidone also increased the p‐CREB level at an insignificant rate in the same direction. At 10 DIV, none of the antipsychotic drugs significantly increased the level of ERK and CREB phosphorylation. The difference between levels of ERK and CREB phosphorylation in response to haloperidol and risperidone at 25 DIV was also observed. Risperidone significantly increased the level of ERK‐1/2 phosphorylation, but not the level of CREB phosphorylation. Haloperidol, in contrast, had a different effect. These data indicate that neuronal maturation affects the phosphorylation of ERK and CREB in response to antipsychotic drugs. Furthermore, these results demonstrate that different antipsychotic drugs could lead to different profiles of ERK and CREB phosphorylation in neurons.
Differences of satisfaction with medication between patients with schizophrenia treated with typical antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics
Authors: WATANABE AKIRA , SHIBATA ISAO , KATO TADAFUMI
Published: May 2004

Abstract  Many studies have demonstrated that atypical antipsychotics are superior to typical antipsychotics in that they have fewer side‐effects and produce better improvement of cognitive deficits and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia. However, most of these studies dealt with objective indices assessed by researchers rather than subjective indices that are indeed important to patients themselves. In 126 patients with schizophrenia, annoyance of side‐effects and psychotic symptoms, satisfaction with medication, wish to change medication, and knowledge of atypical antipsychotics were assessed using questionnaires. Patients treated with typical antipsychotics complained less of annoyance of poor attention and concentration than those treated with atypical antipsychotics, which can be explained by increased awareness of these symptoms by the patients due to the improvement of cognitive function. There were no significant differences between the two groups in other variables. The present results that satisfaction and annoyance were similar between patients treated with typical antipsychotics and those with atypical antipsychotics, may partly explain why patients hesitated and rejected changing or shifting from typical to atypical antipsychotics. But because 98 of 126 patients did not know about atypical antipsychotics, it is important to educate the patients on the merits of atypical antipsychotics.
Special reference to employee knowledge about depression and suicide: baseline results of a workplace‐based mental health support program
Authors: NAKAYAMA TAKEO , AMAGASA TAKASHI
Published: May 2004

Abstract  With the sustained economic recession, suicide has been increasing in Japan (more than 300 000 victims annually since 1998), particularly among middle‐aged employees. Development of preventive measures is needed; however, employees have limited knowledge of the basic information about depression and suicide. One office in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, has been provided with a mental health support program. An initial questionnaire survey was conducted in December 1999. It contained demographic data and information about working styles and daily habits, including alcohol and tobacco use, quality of sleep, social support, the general well‐being schedule, and knowledge/attitude toward depression and suicide. Of 225 eligible people, 216 men and women participated. Most of them had stressful schedules and demanding jobs. Their subjective well‐being was generally poorer relative to the reference. The mean score of knowledge was 10.5 (SD = 2.02) for 14 items. The accuracy rates ranged from 97.6% incorrect (false) for such items as ‘Most suicide victims consult psychiatrists before their deaths’ to 42.1% correct (true) for ‘A suicidal individual tends to be accident‐prone for traffic accidents and injuries.’ One‐fourth of them had unfavorable attitudes toward depressive colleagues. Neither age nor gender was related to knowledge level and attitude. Variations were observed in the knowledge that employees had toward depression and suicide. A program that provides employees with appropriate information related to mental health is needed.
Lipid and lipoprotein levels in depressive disorders with melancholic feature or atypical feature and dysthymia
Authors: HUANG TIAO‐LAI , CHEN JUNG‐FU
Published: May 2004

Abstract  The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationship between serum lipid and lipoprotein levels and clinical subtypes in patients with depressive disorders. A total of 207 patients who were admitted for general health screening were assessed by using the semistructured clinical interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edn; DSM‐IV) criteria for the possibility of having depressive disorders. Blood and physical examinations were done to rule out systemic diseases. A total of 142 patients without systemic diseases was recruited for further analysis, including dysthymia (n = 35), major depressive disorder with melancholic feature (n = 22), major depressive disorder with atypical feature (n = 46) and normal controls (n = 39). Analysis of covariance after age adjustment reveals significant differences in patients with melancholic feature and patients with atypical feature in serum concentrations of triglyceride (TG) and very‐low‐density‐lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL) in men, and high‐density‐lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) in women. This suggests that the TG, VLDL and HDL levels might be used as biological markers to differentiate between major depressive patients with melancholic feature or atypical feature.
Electrogastrography abnormality in eating disorders
Authors: OGAWA ASAO , MIZUTA ICHIRO , FUKUNAGA TOMOKO , TAKEUCHI NAOKO , HONAGA EIKO , SUGITA YOSHIRO , MIKAMI AKIRA , INOUE YOICHI , TAKEDA MASATOSHI
Published: May 2004

Abstract  Eating disorders are common psychiatric disorders in young women. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the gastric electrical acitivity of patients with eating disorders and its relation to their symptoms. The electrogastrography (EGG) was performed before and after a water load test for outpatients with eating disorders (n = 36; 14 anorexia nervosa, 14 bulimia nervosa, eight eating disorder not otherwise specified) and healthy women (n = 19). A structured interview (Eating Disorder Examination) was used to assess clinical symptoms. The percentage of normal gastric myoelectrical power was significantly smaller in the eating disorder patients (44.5% vs 74.2%; P < 0.05), while the percentage of bradygastric power was significantly greater, both before and after the water load test compared with the control subjects (30.4% vs 10.4%; P < 0.05). In addition, moderate correlation was found between the duration of illness and the percentage of bradygastria (P < 0.05). In conclusion, it is suggested that longstanding abnormal eating in patients with eating disorders may induce disturbances to gastric motor function, resulting in their abnormal, eating‐related behavior, and form a symptomatic vicious circle. The EGG may be a promising method for determining the pathophysiology of eating disorders and for developing effective therapeutic approaches.
Electroencephalogram‐triggered functional magnetic resonance imaging in focal epilepsy
Authors: KIKUCHI SENICHIRO , KUBOTA FUMIO , NISHIJIMA KOICHI , HIRAI NOBUHIDE , WASHIYA SUMIO , FUKUDA JUNYA , TAKAHASHI AKIO , SHIBATA NOBUYOSHI , KATO SATOSHI
Published: May 2004

Abstract The high spatial resolution and cost performance of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is useful for estimating focus localization in epilepsy, but this is difficult in the case of ictal fMRI because this is susceptible to motion artifacts. Electroencephalogram (EEG)‐triggered fMRI, which is interictal, can be performed without marked movement and is thought to be useful, but requires further investigation in order to establish a methodology. The authors studied EEG‐triggered fMRI in partial epileptic patients. Six patients were examined using a Nihon Kohden digital EEG recorder and Signa Horizon High Speed LX 1.5 T MRI scanner. Six electrodes were attached in the vicinity of the focus detected by scalp EEG. The fMRI scans were recorded after the discharges (activation) and scans without spikes (baseline). Equal numbers of activation and baseline scans were collected and analyzed using SPM99. In three of the six patients, an activated area was observed near the focus, but no activated areas were found in the other three subjects who tended to have a low number of spikes and low spike amplitude. Although various approaches focusing on improvement of the activation/non‐activation ratio are required, EEG‐triggered fMRI is a promising technique for detecting focal epileptic brain activity.
Clinical correlates of antipsychotic polytherapy in patients with schizophrenia in Singapore
Authors: SIM KANG , SU ALEX , CHAN YIONG HUAK , SHINFUKU NAOTAKA , KUA EE HEOK , TAN CHAY HOON
Published: May 2004

Abstract  The purpose of the present study wa to determine the prevalence of antipsychotic polytherapy (use of more than one antipsychotic drug at one time) and its clinical correlates among 300 hospitalized psychotic Asian patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. It was hypothesized that such treatment would be associated with more severe illness than in comparable monotherapy patients, and with higher chlorpromazine‐equivalent (CPZ) total daily doses. Clinical and demographic details were obtained from the medical records and direct clinical examinations. Polytherapy was encountered in 215 of the 300 patients (71.7%), with an average number of 1.8 antipsychotics (range 1–4) prescribed at a mean CPZ daily dose of 612 ± 528 mg (median: 464 mg, range: 25–2500 mg). The 215 patients prescribed more than one antipsychotic agents were younger, ill longer, more likely to be taking at least one high‐potency agent, in receipt of higher average daily CPZ doses, and more likely to be prescribed anticholinergic agents but with similar admission illness severity rating (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale) scores compared to the 85 patients given only one antipsychotic drug at one time. The high rate of antipsychotic polytherapy that appeared to be unrelated to current illness severity suggests that this practice may not consistently be based on rational therapeutic principles.
Identification of a male schizophrenic patient carrying a de novo balanced translocation, t(4; 13)(p16.1; q21.31)
Authors: ITOKAWA MASANARI , KASUGA TAKEHIKO , YOSHIKAWA TAKEO , MATSUSHITA MASAAKI
Published: May 2004

Abstract  Herein is reported the case of a male patient with schizophrenia who displayed a de novo balanced translocation between the short arm of chromosome 4 and the long arm of chromosome 13, t(4; 13)(p16.1; q21.31). The 4p16.1 region is where the causative gene (WFS1) for Wolfram syndrome has been mapped. In Wolfram syndrome, approximately 60% of patients suffer from major mental illness. The other breakpoint, chromosome 13q21.31, is another region where previous linkage studies have repeatedly detected linkage to schizophrenia. The documentation of the present case could therefore provide a valuable resource for identifying disease susceptibility genes by localizing the breakpoints.
Species richness of benthic macrofauna in Danish estuaries and coastal areas
Authors: Josefson A. B. , Hansen J. L. S.
Published: May 2004

Aim  Cross‐system comparisons of species richness of benthic macrofauna and environmental factors were made of estuaries and adjacent sea areas in order to reveal possible regulating factors of estuarine biodiversity.

Location  Denmark.

Methods  Annual species abundance and biomass data from four years, from unvegetated soft sea/estuary floors were used from 26 grids, of which 15 were situated in estuaries. Bottom water data for oxygen concentration, salinity, and temperature were obtained from stations in or close to, the grids. Data on nutrient loading, water residence time and morphology were obtained for whole estuaries. Species richness from the grids, standardized to the same sample size, were related to environmental variables using linear regression.

Results  Species richness was unrelated to oxygen deficiency and productivity, but positively related to salinity. However, an equally high degree of explanation (R2 ∼ 0.70) was obtained using a model where richness was positively related to saltwater flux, which was computed from estuary volume and residence time and corrected for freshwater flux. The relationship was present for the dominating groups with pelagic dispersal, Annelida and Mollusca, but not for Crustacea, where recruitment is mainly by benthic pathways. Saltwater flux was strongly positively correlated with salinity, illustrating the high importance of flux from adjacent sea areas for water renewal in Danish estuaries. Similarity of species composition was greater for sites within than between saltwater current pathways, and the increases of richness with saltwater flux and salinity in the estuaries was largely due to marine species occurring in the open sea areas.

Conclusion  Danish estuaries are largely open systems where a part of estuarine species richness is sustained by dispersal from a species pool in adjacent seas. Results are consistent with the barrier prediction of island biogeography theory, but not the island size prediction.
Fairness and Electoral Reform
Authors: Blau Adrian
Published: May 2004

First-past-the-post is often seen as unfair. But this reflects a narrow understanding of fairness. Several ideas of fairness exist, some of which help to defend first-past-the-post. Two key parts of the British electoral reform debate are discussed: the translation of votes to seats, and the translation of votes to power. Several arguments about fairness by both critics and defenders of first-past-the-post are questioned. Tensions within and between certain ideas of fairness are addressed. Stronger justification of different notions of fairness, and more rigorous empirical assessment of normative claims, are advocated. Conceptual clarity requires that protagonists identify explicitly which ideas of fairness they favour, or preferably, that they simply avoid the misleading and overly rhetorical language of fairness.
The New Public Diplomacy: Britain and Canada Compared
Authors: Vickers Rhiannon
Published: May 2004

This article examines the ways in which diplomacy is adapting in the information age, to the increased pressures and opportunities that changes in information and communication technologies and capabilities provide. The interaction of technological, economic, political and social changes, such as globalisation, the development and rapid expansion of information and communication technologies, the increasing ability of citizens and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to access and use these technologies, and the rise of transnational and co-operative security issues, are affecting the ways in which governments conduct their diplomacy. These changes are giving rise to what might be termed a ‘new public diplomacy’. This can be characterised by a blurring of traditional distinctions between international and domestic information activities, between public and traditional diplomacy and between cultural diplomacy, marketing and news management. The article focuses on a comparison of Britain and Canada. It argues that, in Britain, the new public diplomacy features a repackaging of diplomacy to project a particular image to an overseas audience, which is largely treated as a passive recipient of diplomacy. However, in Canada the new public diplomacy is characterised by a more inclusive approach to diplomacy, enabling citizen groups and NGOs to play a greater role in international affairs.
Prosperity and Fairness? Can New Labour Bring Fairness to the 21st Century by Following the Dictates of Endogenous Growth?
Authors: Dolowitz David P.
Published: May 2004

By the late 1980s changes in the British and global political, social and economic situation necessitated a major rethink of the Labour party's policy approach. This rethink began with the 1987 Policy Reviews and continues to develop under the leadership of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. In contrast to many critics of New Labour's economic and social reforms this article argues that the party is not acting on simple pragmatic grounds, nor are they simply a ‘kinder’ neo-liberal party. Rather, it is argued that there is a clear coherence to New Labour's governing approach and that this is itself guided by the leadership's understanding of endogenous growth theory. The long-term goal is that by adopting an endogenous growth strategy the government will be able to reinstitute an activist policy regime capable of promoting the party's traditional values of equality, justice and fairness within a socioeconomic policy designed to ensure long-term growth and prosperity.
Businesswomen and war metaphors: ‘Possessive, jealous and pugnacious’?
Authors: Koller Veronika
Published: May 2004

This paper investigates the metaphors employed for the description of women managers, hypothesising that using the war metaphor in this context reflects the hegemonic masculinity determining business discourse. To test the hypothesis, cognitive metaphor theory in combination with Critical Discourse Analysis is applied to two corpora of business magazine features on executives. Metaphorical expressions used to describe businesswomen are extracted from one corpus, and these expressions are then contrasted with those for businessmen. Moreover, the initial corpus is scanned for alternative metaphors for businesswomen. Findings indicate that metaphorical expressions such as corporate killer are used for first‐ and third‐person reference across genders. Hence, the metaphorical concept businesswomen are warriors and the male prototype it sustains seem pervasive. Moreover, alternatives like businesswomen are cheerleaders/nurturers are not necessarily counter‐discursive as they reproduce the binary gender paradigm characterising hegemonic masculinity.
Delimiting perceptual cues used for the ethnic labeling of African American and European American voices
Authors: Thomas Erik R. , Reaser Jeffrey
Published: May 2004

A review of speech identification studies examining the abilities of listeners to distinguish African American and European American voices shows that Americans can recognize many African American voices with a high degree of accuracy even in the absence of stereotypical morphosyntactic and lexical features. Experiments to determine what cues listeners use to distinguish ethnicity have not yielded such consistent results, perhaps suggesting that listeners may access a wide variety of cues if necessary. An experiment involving African Americans with features of a European American vernacular demonstrated that African Americans with atypical features are difficult for listeners to identify. Analysis suggested that vowel quality and intonation could have misled respondents but did not rule out timing and voice quality as factors in identification.
‘Unnatural Acts’: Discourses of homosexuality within the House of Lords debates on gay male law reform
Authors: Baker Paul
Published: May 2004

Between 1998 and 2000, the House of Lords in the United Kingdom debated and rejected a Bill to equalise the age of sexual consent for gay men with the age of consent for heterosexual sex at sixteen years. A corpus‐based keywords analysis of these debates uncovered the main lexical differences between oppositional stances, and helped to shed light on the ways that discourses of homosexuality were constructed by the Lords. In the debates the word homosexual was associated with acts, whereas gay was linked to identities. Those who argued in favour of law reform focused on a discourse of equality and tolerance, while those who were against law reform constructed homosexuality by accessing discourses linking it to danger, ill health, crime and unnatural behaviour. The discussion focuses on the ways that discourses can be constructed via chains of argumentation.
Computation and Characterization of Autocorrelations and Partial Autocorrelations in Periodic ARMA Models
Authors: Shao Qin , Lund Robert
Published: May 2004

This paper studies correlation and partial autocorrelation properties of periodic autoregressive moving‐average (PARMA) time series models. An efficient algorithm to compute PARMA autocovariances is first derived. An innovations based algorithm to compute partial autocorrelations for a general periodic series is then developed. Finally, periodic moving averages and autoregressions are characterized as periodically stationary series whose autocovariances and partial autocorrelations, respectively, are zero at all lags that exceed some periodically varying threshold.