bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NMR Analysis of Oxidative Alkaline Extraction Stage Lignins
Authors: Runge Troy M. , Ragauskas Arthur J.
Published: October 2004

Chlorine dioxide delignified pulp was subjected to various oxidative alkaline extraction stages (EAr, E, EO, EP, and EPO) from which the residual and effluent lignins were isolated and characterized by 1H and 13C NMR. Results of the NMR analyses indicate an increase in unconjugated carboxyl content of the lignins with the alkali treatment; a decrease in phenolic and formyl groups with oxidant reinforcement, especially oxygen; and an enrichment in aromatic methoxyl groups with increasing amount of oxidant reinforcement. The alkaline extracted pulps were further treated to a second chlorine dioxide stage from which the residual lignins were extracted and analyzed by 1H NMR. Significant structural differences were noted between the various oxidative E stage and D1 stage lignins.
Variable Amplitude Loading on a Resonance Test Facility
Authors: Pöting S , Traupe M , Hug J , Zenner H
Published: October 2004

The uncertainty in fatigue lifetime calculations brings up the necessity of experimental verification. Several efforts have been undertaken in the past to improve and introduce new test methods. An alternative method for variable amplitude loading using resonance test facilities is introduced and discussed. A comparison of test results on a resonance test facility with a new control system and a servo hydraulic test facility shows no significant difference in the test results. The compatibility of the test results to those results of accepted fatigue life tests is proven for three test series of different specimens. The introduced resonance test control offers a new way for fatigue life tests, reducing the cost and time, as well as increasing the safety of products because it permits testing to much longer lives in a relatively short time.
Prediction of IQ and Achievement at Age 8 Years From Neurodevelopmental Status at Age 1 Year in Children With D-Transposition of the Great Arteries
Authors: McGrath Ellen , Wypij David , Rappaport Leonard A. , Newburger Jane W. , Bellinger David C.
Published: October 2004

Objective. Studies of developmental outcomes in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) frequently use assessments conducted in infancy as primary endpoints. Whether test scores of CHD patients in infancy are predictive of status at school age has not been evaluated, however.

Methods. In the Boston Circulatory Arrest Study, 135 children with D-transposition of the great arteries repaired by arterial switch operation were administered the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and the Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence at 1 year of age and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Third Edition and the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test at 8 years.

Results. Although most 1-year test scores were significantly associated with 8-year test scores, the amounts of shared variance were modest (<10%). All 1-year test scores had poor sensitivity (16%–32%) and poor positive predictive value (35%–42%) but good specificity (80%–93%) and negative predictive value (78%–79%). More than half of the children with low scores at 8 years (≤85) had had scores >84 at 1 year.

Conclusion. This pattern suggests that although test scores at 1 year are modestly associated with test scores at 8 years, many children who are at risk for poor late outcomes will not be identified on the basis of 1-year test scores. Long-term follow-up of children with CHD is necessary to draw inferences about the developmental sequelae of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors.
Two-Year Clinical and Immune Outcomes in Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Infected Children Who Reconstitute CD4 T Cells Without Control of Viral Replication After Combination Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Ghaffari Guity , Passalacqua Dominick J. , Caicedo Jennifer L. , Goodenow Maureen M. , Sleasman John W.
Published: October 2004

Objective.To evaluate 96-week clinical and immune outcomes to protease inhibitor–containing antiretroviral therapy.

Methods.A prospective study was conducted of 40 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children who displayed viral suppression (VS) with successful immune reconstitution (IS), failure to suppress virus (VF) or develop immune reconstitution (IF), or discordant immune and viral responses (VF/IS) at 24 weeks posttherapy. All children enrolled had viral RNA >4.0 log10 copies per mL and were Centers for Disease Control ad Prevention immune stage 2 or 3. Clinical, viral, and immune outcomes were assessed during the subsequent 72 weeks.

Results.VS/IS and VF/IS groups displayed similar sustained increases in CD4 T cells, although viral levels rebounded by 48 and 96 weeks posttherapy to pretherapy levels in the discordant group. The VF/IS outcome group had significant increases in height and weight z scores compared with entry and were similar to the VS/IS group. After treatment, antigen-specific responses after tetanus immunization were similar in the VF/IS and VS/IS groups. Prevalence of HIV-associated illnesses decreased in both VS/IS and VF/IS but not in VF/IF response groups.

Conclusions.The findings indicate that viral replication under the selective pressure of protease inhibitors fails to exhibit the same deleterious impact on T-cell immunity as pretherapy viruses. CD4 T-cell counts may be a better predictor of disease progression and improvement in growth than viral burden in HIV-infected children who receive a protease inhibitor as part of a highly active antiretroviral therapy regimen.
Paying attention to language
Authors: RICHGELS DONALD J.
Published: October 2004

The author asserts that the practice of literacy education should be informed by linguistic theory. When teachers pay attention to language the way linguists do, they gain an understanding of the relation between children's spoken language competence and their written language acquisition.
Reconceptualizing adolescent identity
Authors: SERAFINI FRANK , BEAN THOMAS W. , READENCE JOHN E.
Published: October 2004

The authors review Act Your Age! A Cultural Construction of Adolescence by Nancy Lesko, Conversational Borderlands: Language and Identity in an Alternative Urban High School by Betsy Rymes, and School Kids/Street Kids: Identity Development in Latino Students by Nilda Flores‐Gonzalez.
Pneumococcemia as the presenting feature of multiple myeloma
Authors: Costa Daniel B. , Shin Byol , Cooper Dennis L.
Published: October 2004

Multiple myeloma is associated with a susceptibility to bacterial infections, specifically for encapsulated organisms such as Streptococcus pneumoniae. However, severe bacterial infection as the initial presentation of this disease has been rarely reported. The most common presenting features are anemia, lytic lesions, hypercalcemia, and renal failure. We report two cases of pneumococcal bacteremia as the initial manifestation of an underlying multiple myeloma. The first case is of a 68‐year‐old woman with pneumococcal pneumonia and bacteremia, presenting with a white blood cell count of 900/μL and mild anemia. Further work‐up disclosed monoclonal IgG kappa and 50% plasma cells in bone marrow. Her course was complicated by acute renal failure requiring hemodialysis. The second patient is a 57‐year‐old man presenting with acute pneumococcal meningitis and bacteremia. Due to prior bacterial epiglottitis, further work‐up disclosed IgG lambda monoclonal spike and 40% plasma cells in bone marrow. Both cases responded to antibiotic therapy without complications. These two cases add to the few patients described in the literature with pneumococcemia as the first sign of multiple myeloma. Features that were common in most of these cases, and that should lead to a suspicion of myeloma in an otherwise asymptomatic patient, are S. pneumoniae bacteremia, leukopenia, mild anemia, history of prior bacterial infections, and indirect evidence of a paraproteinemia, such as increased total protein levels with low albumin. Am. J. Hematol. 77:277–281, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Proportion of drug‐related serious rare blood dyscrasias: Estimates from the Berlin Case‐Control Surveillance Study
Authors: Andersohn Frank , Bronder Elisabeth , Klimpel Andreas , Garbe Edeltraut
Published: October 2004

Drugs are an important cause of serious rare blood dyscrasias. To estimate the proportion of drug‐related cases, we used data from the ongoing Berlin Case‐Control Surveillance Study. The analysis included a total of 171 cases. The number of cases in which a drug etiology was assessed as at least “possible” was n = 29 (97%) for acute agranulocytosis, n = 4 (0.21%) for aplastic anemia, n = 8 (26%) for immune hemolytic anemia, n = 20 (25%) for immune thrombocytopenia, and n = 2 (20%) for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura/hemolytic uremic syndrome. Our analysis suggests that a substantial fraction of blood dyscrasias may be attributable to drug therapy. Am. J. Hematol. 77:316–318, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Androgens and liver tumors: Fanconi's anemia and non‐Fanconi's conditions
Authors: Velazquez Isela , Alter Blanche P.
Published: October 2004

The association between anabolic androgenic steroids and liver tumors was first noted in patients with Fanconi's anemia (FA). The hypotheses which led to this review were as follows: (1) androgen‐treated individuals who do not have FA are also at risk of liver tumors; (2) parenteral as well as oral androgens may be responsible for liver tumors; (3) FA patients develop liver tumors after smaller and briefer androgen exposure than non‐FA individuals; (4) the risk of hepatic neoplasms may depend on the specific androgen. Medline and Web of Science were searched for all cases of liver tumors associated with androgens. Information from individual cases was entered into a spreadsheet and descriptive statistical analyses were performed. Thirty‐six FA cases and 97 non‐FA cases with both nonhematologic disorders and acquired aplastic anemia (non‐FA AA) were identified. The most common androgens were oxymetholone, methyltestosterone, and danazol. Hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) were more often associated with oxymetholone and methyltestosterone, while adenomas were associated with danazol. Tumors were reported in six patients who received only parenteral and not oral androgens. FA patients were younger than non‐FA patients when androgen use was initiated, and the FA patients developed tumors at younger ages. Non‐AA patients were treated with androgens for longer periods of time, compared with FA and non‐FA AA patients. All patients on anabolic androgenic steroids are at risk of liver tumors, regardless of underlying diagnosis. The magnitude of the risk cannot be determined from currently available data, because the number of patients receiving androgens is unknown. Am. J. Hematol. 77:257–267, 2004. Published 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.†
Characterization of hemoglobin bassett (α94Asp→Ala), a variant with very low oxygen affinity
Authors: Abdulmalik Osheiza , Safo Martin K. , Lerner Norma B. , Ochotorena Josiree , Daikhin Evgueni , Lakka Vinaysagar , Santacroce Rosa , Abraham Donald J. , Asakura Toshio
Published: October 2004

Hemoglobin (Hb) Bassett, an abnormal Hb variant with a markedly reduced oxygen affinity, was discovered in a Caucasian (Anglo‐Saxon) male child who experienced episodes of cyanosis. Cation‐exchange and reversed‐phase (RP) high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that the patient has an abnormal Hb, with a mutation in the α‐globin. Tryptic peptide digest of the abnormal α‐globin with subsequent HPLC analysis revealed abnormal elution of the α‐T11 peptide. Further studies with Edman sequencing and electrospray mass spectrometry of tryptic peptide α‐T11, as well as structural analysis by X‐ray crystallography revealed an Asp→Ala substitution at the α94 (G1) position, a match for Hb Bassett. Detailed functional studies showed that this Hb variant had a markedly reduced oxygen affinity (P50 at pH 7.0 = 22 mmHg; Hb A P50 = 10.5 mmHg), reduced Bohr effect (−0.26 compared to − 0.54 in Hb A), and low subunit cooperativity (n = 1.4, compared to 2.6 in Hb A). X‐ray crystallography results explain the probable effects of the structural modification on the oxygen‐binding properties of this Hb variant. Am. J. Hematol. 77:268–276, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Aberrant methylation of multiple tumor suppressor genes in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Ekmekci Cumhur G. , Gutiérrez Marina I. , Siraj Abdul K. , Ozbek Ugur , Bhatia Kishor
Published: October 2004

Hypermethylator phenotype, a propensity of tumors to incur nonrandom concurrent methylation, has been described in several tumors, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). More recent studies identified methylation of other tumor suppressor genes, DAP‐kinase and SOCS1, singly in AML. We therefore assessed the methylation status of these genes concurrently with other known targets of methylation. We used methylation‐specific PCR or COBRA to determine the extent of methylation of 10 genes in 28 AML samples from Turkey. In addition to DAP‐kinase and SOCS1, we included ER, p15, and E‐cadherin (reported to be frequently methylated) as well as p16, GSTP1, and HIC1 (reported as rarely methylated). We also included RARβ and p73 for which only minimal data in AML is available. All samples were methylated at least in one locus and all except one demonstrated methylation of DAP‐kinase, SOCS1, p15, and/or ER. DAP‐kinase is the most frequently methylated gene in both pediatric (70%) and adult AML (55%). RARβ is methylated in 18% and p73 in 10% of AMLs. Methylation of E‐cadherin and RARβ occurs preferentially in AMLs with high methylation index (MI), while epigenetic lesions in SOCS1, DAP‐kinase, and p15 appear to be independent. MI may be age‐dependent, with a peak in young adults. FAB M3 demonstrated a higher extent of methylation than M2/M4. This study provides an impetus for larger studies to define if the extent and pattern of methylation in subgroups of AML are clinically relevant. Am. J. Hematol. 77:233–240, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Autoimmune cytopenias associated with autoantibodies to nuclear envelope polypeptides
Authors: Coppo Paul , Clauvel Jean‐Pierre , Bengoufa Djaouida , Fuentes Vincent , Gouilleux‐Gruart Valérie , Courvalin Jean‐Claude , Lassoued Kaiss
Published: October 2004

A subset of anti‐nuclear autoantibodies (ANA) are directed against nuclear envelope (NE) polypeptides and display by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) a ring‐like fluorescent pattern. We report herein 19 patients with autoimmune cytopenias associated with antibodies (Abs) to NE polypeptides. Anti‐NE specificity was determined by immunoblot, using NE preparations and purified lamina fractions. Eleven sera reacted with lamin B1, and two reacted with both lamin B1 and an unidentified 150‐kDa protein (p150). One serum reacted with only p150. Four sera reacted with lamins A and C, and one reacted with and an unidentified 52‐kDa NE polypeptide (p52). Autoimmune cytopenias included hemolytic anemia (7 cases), thrombocytopenia (13 cases), and neutropenia (6 cases). Five patients had 2 (3 cases) or 3 (2 cases) different cytopenias. Antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) were detected in 14 patients, 2 of whom experienced thromboembolic events. A liver disorder was present in 7 patients. Systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus‐like syndrome were diagnosed in 11 and 2 patients, respectively. Cytopenias responded to steroids alone (13 patients), or together with intravenous immunoglobulins (2 patients), or cyclophosphamide (2 patients). Two patients did not require treatment. Our results suggest that anti‐NE Abs need to be sought for in patients with peripheral cytopenias, particularly when they are associated with APLA and/or liver disorders. Their detection strongly suggests an autoimmune process. Such cytopenias are often manifestations of a lupus or lupus‐like disease and are responsive to steroids. Am. J. Hematol. 77:241–249, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
HIV and plasmablastic lymphoma manifesting in sinus, testicles, and bones: A further expansion of the disease spectrum
Authors: Schichman Steven A. , McClure Rebecca , Schaefer Robert F. , Mehta Paulette
Published: October 2004

Patients with HIV infection are at increased risk for B‐cell neoplasms and plasma cell dyscrasias. Both B cell and plasma cell tumors tend to be intermediate or high grade and are frequently associated with Epstein‐Barr virus. Patients with HIV infection are also at higher risk of acquiring plasmablastic lymphoma. Until this time, only sinus, oral gastrointestinal, and lung manifestation have been noted. In this report we describe a 41‐year‐old male with HIV infection who developed multiple pleomorphic, extramedullary plasmablastic lymphomas associated with Epstein‐Barr virus. We review the clinical and immunological features of his malignancy and thereby expand the spectrum of disease to include additional sites (bones, testicles) not previously reported. Am. J. Hematol. 77:291–295, 2004. Published 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.†
Acute promyelocytic leukemia and HIV‐1 infection: Case report and review of the literature
Authors: Kudva Ganesh C. , Maliekel Kochurani , Richart John M. , Batanian Jacqueline R. , Grosso Leonard E. , Sokol‐Anderson Marcia , Petruska Paul J.
Published: October 2004

We report a 27‐year‐old man with HIV‐1 infection who developed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with a novel complex three‐way chromosomal translocation t(15;16;17). Induction of remission and consolidation with all‐trans‐retinoic acid (ATRA)‐ and anthracycline‐based chemotherapy was followed by maintenance therapy consisting of ATRA, 6‐mercaptopurine (6‐MP), and methotrexate (MTX). Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was continued with brief interruptions. He remains in complete remission 40 months after diagnosis. Am. J. Hematol. 77:287–290, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Lymphoma‐associated paraneoplastic angioedema with normal C1‐inhibitor activity: Does danazol work?
Authors: Gaur S. , Cooley J. , Aish L. , Weinstein R.
Published: October 2004

A patient with splenic marginal zone lymphoma presented with severe, symptomatic acquired angioedema. Unlike previously reported cases, his serum levels of complement and C1 inhibitor (C1‐INH) were not decreased. Nonetheless, he responded clinically to treatment with an attenuated androgen and, after therapeutic splenectomy, has been maintained asymptomatic without androgen therapy for 5 years. Thus stimulation of C1‐INH synthesis may overcome paraneoplastic angioedema in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders despite the absence of typical evidence for a quantitative or qualitative defect in C1‐INH. Androgens should not be withheld despite a normal level of C1‐INH and complement in symptomatic patients. Am. J. Hematol. 77:296–298, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Behavioral and physiological indices related to BMI in a cohort of primary schoolchildren in Greece
Authors: Manios Yannis , Yiannakouris Nikos , Papoutsakis Constantina , Moschonis George , Magkos Faidon , Skenderi Katerina , Zampelas Antonis
Published: October 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between normal weight and overweight primary schoolchildren in terms of certain cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and furthermore to identify behavioral correlates significantly affecting their body mass index (BMI). The sample consisted of 198 children with a mean age of 11.5 ± 0.4 years (106 females and 92 males). Data was obtained on children anthropometry, plasma lipids, plasma glucose, dietary intake, cardiorespiratory fitness, and physical activity. Significant gender differences were observed for most of these parameters, with boys being more active and fit but also spending more time on sedentary activities and exhibiting higher intake of energy and fat compared to girls. Using the International Obesity Task Force's (IOTF) BMI cut‐off points, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was estimated to be 35.6% and 6.7% among boys and 25.7% and 6.7% among girls, respectively. Overweight and obese children had higher levels of plasma triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol to HDL‐cholesterol (TC/HDL‐C) ratio and lower levels of HDL‐C and physical fitness compared to their normal‐weight peers. Among the behavioral variables tested, only participation in organized sports, cardiorespiratory fitness, and TV watching were significantly correlated with BMI, while energy and fat intake were found to have no significant effect. The current study suggests that even in childhood, overweight and obesity are indicative of an unfavorable lipidemic profile. Among the behavioral parameters known to affect BMI, those found to exert a significant effect were organized physical activities, cardiorespiratory fitness, and TV watching, but not energy or fat intake. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 16:639–647, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Variation in longitudinal diaphyseal long bone growth in children three to ten years of age
Authors: Smith Shelley L. , Buschang Peter H.
Published: October 2004

Data from the Child Research Council (Denver, CO) were analyzed to model longitudinal growth changes in the humerus, radius, femur, and tibia in 31 boys and 36 girls between 3 and 10 years of age. Multilevel modeling of growth changes allowed efficient estimates of bone size and bone growth variation to be obtained as well as comparisons of growth patterns within and between limbs. The long bones displayed decelerating growth through time, with greater velocities for the larger lower limb (vs. smaller upper limb) bones and the larger proximal (vs. smaller distal) elements within limbs. Coordination for bone size and growth velocity is good both within and between limbs, suggesting a common growth control mechanism that should make growth prediction possible. Adjusted for size, the tibia appears to be the most variable of these four long bones, which may be due to a combination of environmental effects and flexible growth potential. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 16:648–657, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Validation of different bioimpedance analyzers for predicting cell mass against whole‐body counting of potassium (40K) as a reference method
Authors: Dittmar Manuela , Reber Helmut
Published: October 2004

This study compared two different tetrapolar bioimpedance (BIA) devices for estimating body cell mass (BCM), validated them against whole‐body counting of 40K (TBK method), and developed improved prediction equations for estimating BCM from BIA. In 50 healthy volunteers (age 23–65 years, BMI 18.6–27.7 kg/m2), BCM was estimated with the BIA devices Nutriguard‐M (Data Input, Germany) and Soft‐Tissue‐Analyzer‐STA (Akern, Italy) and by the TBK method. Methods were compared by the Bland‐Altman procedure. New prediction equations for BCM were developed by multiple stepwise regression analysis based on a single BIA parallel model. The Akern device gives similar mean estimates of BCM compared to the Data Input device in males (33.5 vs. 33.3 kg, P = 0.789), but higher values in females (24.6 vs. 22.8 kg; P < 0.001). Both BIA devices overestimate mean BCM relative to the TBK method; in males by 5.0 kg (Data Input, P < 0.001) and 5.1 kg (Akern, P < 0.001); in females by 2.3 kg (Data Input, P < 0.001) and 4.1 kg (Akern, P < 0.001). Limits of agreement between BIA and TBK methods are for males ±4.99 kg (Data Input) and ±7.16 kg (Akern); for females, ±4.69 kg (Data Input) and ±4.12 kg (Akern). New equations were developed for estimating BCM for both BIA analyzers (Data Input, R2 = 0.91, SEE = 1.46 kg; Akern, R2 = 0.90, SEE = 1.48 kg). Since estimates of BCM by the present BIA devices do not differ in males, they might be interchangeable. This does not hold true for females. Because both BIA devices overestimate BCM, the newly developed device‐specific equations which reduce bias and limits of agreement should be applied. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 16:697–703, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Stability of variables associated with the metabolic syndrome from adolescence to adulthood: The Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study
Authors: Eisenmann Joey C. , Welk Gregory J. , Wickel Eric E. , Blair Steven N.
Published: October 2004

The purpose of the study was to examine the stability of variables associated with the metabolic syndrome from adolescence to adulthood. The sample included 48 subjects from the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study who had one clinical visit during adolescence (mean age = 15.8 years) and a follow‐up visit during adulthood (mean age = 26.6 years). The following variables were considered: treadmill time to exhaustion (TM), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), percent body fat (%BF), total cholesterol (TC), high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), TC:HDL‐C, triglycerides (TG), glucose (GLU), and systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and mean (MAP) blood pressure. A composite risk factor score using variables consistent with the WHO and ATP III definition of the metabolic syndrome (WC, HDL‐C, TG, MAP, and GLU) was calculated. Tracking coefficients were computed as partial correlations, controlling for length of follow‐up (mean = 11 years). Tracking coefficients (r values) were moderate for all variables (TM, 0.53; BMI, 0.64; WC; 0.79;%BF, 0.44; TC, 0.62; HDL‐C, 0.60; TG, 0.54; TC:HDL‐C, 0.78; SBP, 0.45; and MAP, 0.41), except GLU (0.26) and DBP (0.21). The composite risk factor score also tracked moderately well (0.56) from adolescence into adulthood. The results support previous findings that variables associated with the metabolic syndrome track moderately well from adolescence to adulthood. The findings support the prevention and treatment of obesity, atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, and the metabolic syndrome during childhood and adolescence. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 16:690–696, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prevalence of overweight and obesity in 7–9‐year‐old Portuguese children: Trends in body mass index from 1970–2002
Authors: Padez C. , Fernandes T. , Mourão I. , Moreira P. , Rosado V.
Published: October 2004

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Portuguese children age 7–9 years and to analyze trends in body mass index (BMI) from 1970–2002. Data were collected from October 2002 to June 2003 in a random sample of Portuguese children. Height and weight were measured and BMI (Kg/m2) was calculated. The International Obesity TaskForce (IOTF) cutoffs to define overweight and obesity were used. In the total sample we found 20.3% of overweight children and 11.3% of obese children. These results indicate a prevalence of overweight/obesity of 31.5%. Girls presented higher percentages of overweight than boys except at age 7.5. Girls also showed a higher percentages of obesity than boys except at age 9. From 1970 to 1992 and 1992 to 2002, height, weight, and BMI increased at different velocities: weight increased faster than height, and, consequently, BMI increased more in the last period than in the first one, leading to an increase in obesity values. Compared to published data by IOTF on other European countries, who applied the same methods to define overweight and obesity, Portuguese children showed the second‐highest mean values in overweight/obesity. Italy showed the highest values (36%). The present study shows a very high prevalence of overweight/obesity (31.5%) in Portuguese children compared to other European countries. Portugal followed the trend of other Mediterranean countries like Spain (30%), Greece (31%), and Italy (36%). These high values require a national intervention program to control childhood obesity. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 16:670–678, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Testosterone, aging, and body composition in men from Harare, Zimbabwe
Authors: Lukas William D. , Campbell Benjamin C. , Ellison Peter T.
Published: October 2004

To examine age‐related changes in body composition and testosterone (T) among men in an urban sub‐Saharan African population, measures of body composition and salivary T were obtained from 109 males ages 20–78 in Harare, Zimbabwe. Measures included height, weight, suprailiac and triceps skinfold, and percent body fat by bioelectric impedance (BIA). Saliva samples were assayed for T using radioimmunoassay. Average BMI of the overall sample (23.16 (SD = 18.12) kg/m2 was close to Western populations, while salivary T levels (AM = 196 ± 96 pmol/l; pm = 172 ± 98 pmol/l) were much lower. Both morning (beta = –0.535; P < 0.001) and afternoon salivary T declined with age (beta = −0.385; P < 0.001). Multiple regression models indicate that pm salivary T (beta = 0.24; P = 0.025), was a predictor of fat‐free mass, but neither am nor pm salivary T was related to fat mass or other measures of body composition. In addition, height was significantly related to pm salivary T levels in men under the age of 60. Multivariate regression indicates that pm salivary T is a predictor of fat‐free mass when controlled for height and adiposity. These findings suggest that T is related to both lean mass and overall body size among men from a non‐Western nonsubsistence population. As such they are consistent with the hypothesis that bioavailable T plays a role in energetic allocation among human males. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 16:704–712, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In vivo biofluid dynamic imaging in the developing zebrafish
Authors: Hove Jay R.
Published: October 2004

Flow‐structure interactions are ubiquitous in nature, and are important factors in the proper development of form and function in living organisms. In order to uncover the mechanisms by which flow‐structure interactions affect vertebrate development, we first need to establish the techniques necessary to quantitatively describe the fluid flow environment within the embryo. To do this, we must bring dynamic, in vivo imaging methods to bear on living systems. Traditional avian and mammalian model systems can be problematic in this regard. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is widely accepted as an excellent model organism for the study of vertebrate biology, as it shows substantial anatomical and genetic conservation with higher vertebrates, including humans. Their small size, optical transparency, and external development make zebrafish the ideal model system for dynamic imaging. This article reviews the current state of research in imaging biofluid flow within and around developing zebrafish embryos, with an emphasis on dynamic imaging modalities. Birth Defects Research (Part C) 72:277–289, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Developmental imaging: Insights into the avian embryo
Authors: Kulesa Paul M.
Published: October 2004

The study of embryonic events using different animal model systems is crucial for gaining insights into human development and birth defects. Biological imaging plays a major role in this effort by providing a spatiotemporal framework to link complex cell movements with molecular data. However, depending on the age of the embryo and the location of a morphogenetic event, visualization often requires the design of novel culture and imaging techniques. One of the primary model systems for biological imaging is the avian embryo, due to its accessibility to manipulation, relatively two‐dimensional morphogenesis early on, and viability when grown in culture. Significant work in avian embryo culture and cell labeling, together with advances in imaging technology, now make it possible to monitor many developmental events within the period from egg laying to hatching. Here, we present the latest in avian developmental imaging, focusing on cell labeling, embryo culture, and imaging technologies. Birth Defects Research (Part C) 72:260–266, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rapid high resolution three dimensional reconstruction of embryos with episcopic fluorescence image capture
Authors: Rosenthal Julie , Mangal Vipul , Walker Diana , Bennett Michael , Mohun Tim J. , Lo Cecilia W.
Published: October 2004

One of the overarching goals in developmental biology is the elucidation of mechanisms that elaborate form and function. To this end, an accurate morphological description of embryonic development is essential. However, visualizing dynamic changes in the three‐dimensional (3D) structure of the developing embryo has been a “holy grail” in the field of developmental biology. The fundamental difficulties that have hindered all efforts in 3D reconstruction using two‐dimensional (2D) image stacks revolve around the seemingly intractable problems of section registration and distortion. A remarkably simple solution has come about with the development of a new technique referred to as episcopic fluorescence image capture (EFIC). With EFIC imaging, tissue autofluorescence is used to image the block face prior to cutting each section. The 2D resolution obtained is close to that achieved by histology, and such 2D image stacks can be readily reconstructed in 3D. The 3D models generated provide fine structural details with resolution unmatched by 3D reconstructions obtained with any other imaging modalities. Given the perfect registration of EFIC image stacks, another important capability provided by EFIC is digital resectioning in any plane. This provides complete flexibility in the selection of optimal virtual sectioning planes for viewing different features in a specimen, and is invaluable for analyzing dynamic changes in tissue structure in the developing embryo. The capabilities provided by EFIC for rapid high resolution 3D reconstruction together with digital resectioning make this an unparalleled tool for characterizing morphogenetic events in the developing embryo. Although our review is focused on using EFIC for studying embryonic development, it is important to note that there is no intrinsic limitation on the size of the specimen that can be analyzed by EFIC imaging. Overall, EFIC should serve as an important imaging technique that will complement other 3D imaging modalities such as MRI and optical tomography. Given the feasibility of generating EFIC image stacks using cryoembedded or polyethylene glycol (PEG)‐embedded specimens, there is the possibility that EFIC may be combined with 3D RNA or protein expression profiling. Together, such studies may help further elucidate the relationship between form and function. Birth Defects Research (Part C) 72:213–223, 2004. Published 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
“Hour‐glass” shape of the uterus in the diagnosis and treatment of cervical pregnancy
Authors: Papaloucas Christos David
Published: October 2004

This study attempts to point out the importance of the anatomo‐clinical finding of an “hour‐glass” shape to the uterus in the diagnosis and treatment of cervical pregnancy. From 1973 to 2001, four cases of cervical pregnancy were treated in the 2nd Obstetrical and Gynecological Clinic of the Aristotelion University of Salonica. The incidence was 1:13,111 pregnancies (4 cervical in 52,446 pregnancies). Three of the patients underwent bilateral ligation of the anterior trunk of the internal iliac artery using absorbable ligatures. The fourth patient (a 42‐year‐old), elected to have a hysterectomy. All patients were well and discharged from hospital on the seventh postoperative day. Two of the three patients treated by ligation of the anterior trunk of the internal iliac arteries subsequently had normal pregnancies and deliveries. We lost contact with the third patient. The finding of an “hour‐glass” uterine shape was very helpful in the diagnosis of cervical pregnancy. The Aristotelion University of Salonica has found that treatment by ligation of the anterior trunk of the internal iliac arteries is effective, causes no complications, never ends in hysterectomy, and maintains the normal menstrual cycles and reproductive ability of the woman. Clin. Anat. 17:658–661, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Maxillary and sphenoid sinus aplasia in Turkish individuals: A retrospective review using computed tomography
Authors: Aydinlioğlu Atif , Erdem Saadet
Published: October 2004

The absence of a maxillary or sphenoid sinus in an adult is an extremely rare condition. We investigated maxillary and sphenoid sinus aplasia in adult Turkish individuals using computed tomography (CT). We examined CT scans in the axial and coronal planes of the paranasal sinuses in 1,526 patients. The CT scans of a 21‐year‐old male were notable for bilateral maxillary sinus aplasia. Another patient, a 20‐year‐old female, had CT scans that showed the unilateral absence of a maxillary sinus. Two additional cases showed the unilateral absence of one sphenoid sinus. Bilateral absence of the sphenoid sinuses was not observed in our study. The clinical implications of maxillary and sphenoid sinus aplasia will be further discussed. Clin. Anat. 17:618–622, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Course of the short gastric veins and their suitability for pancreatic islet transplantation
Authors: Ashton E. , Ellis K. , McDonald S.W.
Published: October 2004

Experience is being gained with pancreatectomy for patients with chronic pancreatitis suffering intractable pain. Transplantation of pancreatic islets isolated from the patient's own pancreas reduces the amount of injected insulin required, and research aims to develop treatments to make such patients independent of administered insulin. Claims have been made that the uppermost short gastric vein runs directly to the upper pole of the spleen in about 90% of subjects and that infusion of pancreatic islets by this route would allow them to settle in the spleen. This study investigates these claims. The findings suggest that the short gastric veins are inappropriate as a route of islet administration. Most short gastric veins, including the most superior, drain to tributaries of the splenic vein. Short gastric veins passing to the spleen itself without extra‐splenic connections to the splenic vein and its tributaries are relatively rare. Only four examples in 12 specimens were found, and only two of these were the most superior short gastric vein. The short gastric veins run in the fat of the gastrosplenic ligament and are most readily visible as they leave the stomach. In our 12 dissecting room specimens, the short gastric veins ranged in number from 3–17, and in diameter from 0.5–4.5 mm (mean = 1.7 mm; SD = 0.7 mm). The four short gastric veins that drained directly to the spleen ranged in diameter from 0.5–1 mm, significantly narrower than those draining to the splenic vein or its tributaries and small for cannulation. Clin. Anat. 17:651‐657, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A tool for predicting breast carcinoma mortality in women who do not receive adjuvant therapy
Authors: Kattan Michael W. , Giri Dilip , Panageas Katherine S. , Hummer Amanda , Cranor Milicent , Van Zee Kimberly J. , Hudis Clifford A. , Norton Larry , Borgen Patrick I. , Tan Lee K.
Published: October 2004

BACKGROUND

Among the several proposed risk classification schemes for predicting survival in women with breast carcinoma, one of the most commonly used is the Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI). The goal of the current study was to use a continuous prognostic model (similar to those that have already been demonstrated to possess greater predictive accuracy than risk group–based models in other malignancies) to predict breast carcinoma mortality more accurately compared with the NPI.

METHODS

A total of 519 women who had been treated with mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection at Memorial Sloan‐Kettering Cancer Center (New York, NY) between 1976 and 1979 met the following requirements for study inclusion: confirmation of the presence of invasive mammary carcinoma, no receipt of neoadjuvant or adjuvant systemic therapy, no previous history of malignancy, and negative lymph node status as assessed on routine histopathologic examination. Paraffin blocks were available for 368 of the 519 eligible patients. All available axillary lymph node tissue blocks were subjected to enhanced pathologic analysis. The competing‐risk method was used to predict disease‐specific death, and the accuracy of the novel prognostic model that emerged from this process was evaluated using the concordance index. Jackknife and 10‐fold cross‐validation predictions yielded by this new model were compared with predictions yielded by the NPI.

RESULTS

Of the 348 women for whom complete data were available, 73 died of disease; the 15‐year probability of breast carcinoma–related death was 20%. On the basis of these 348 cases, the authors developed a prognostic model that took patient age, disease multifocality, tumor size, tumor grade, lymphovascular invasion, and enhanced lymph node staining into account, and using competing‐risks regression analysis, they found that this new model predicted disease‐specific death more accurately compared with the NPI.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors have developed a model for predicting breast carcinoma–specific death with improved accuracy. This tool should be useful in counseling patients with regard to their specific need for adjuvant therapy. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Carcinoid metastasis to the brain
Authors: Hlatky Roman , Suki Dima , Sawaya Raymond
Published: October 2004

BACKGROUND

Carcinoid tumors rarely metastasize to the brain. The objectives of the current study were to assess the frequency of brain metastasis from carcinoid tumors, determine correlates of survival, and describe treatment modalities and their outcomes.

METHODS

Between January 1977 and December 2003, 1633 patients with a carcinoid tumor were registered at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Of those, 24 patients (1.5%) had a diagnosis of brain metastasis. The authors collected demographic and clinical data and performed a statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The median age at the time patients were diagnosed with brain metastasis was 60 years. The metastases were treated with whole‐brain radiotherapy (WBRT) alone in 7 patients (29%), and 12 patients (50%) underwent surgical resection, 7 of whom (29%) also received WBRT. The median survival time for the entire cohort after diagnosis of the primary tumor was 2.3 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5–4.1 years), and the median survival time after the diagnosis of brain metastasis was 10.0 months (95% CI, 4.0–16.0 months). The longest median survival observed after the diagnosis of brain metastasis (3.2 years) occurred in patients who underwent resection and received WBRT. In the multivariate analysis, the adjusted rate ratio for comparison of all treatments versus combination of neurosurgical intervention and WBRT was 5.7 (95% CI, 1.3–26.1;P= 0.024). A positive effect of surgery followed by WBRT on the duration of survival was detected in patients with a single metastasis (P= 0.084) as well as in those with multiple metastases (P= 0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

Prolonged survival was observed in patients < 65 years old as well as in those who underwent surgery and received WBRT in comparison with other treatments. Whenever feasible, neurosurgical resection followed by WBRT seems to be the indicated treatment in patients with brain metastases from carcinoid tumors. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Inverse association between prostatic polyunsaturated fatty acid and risk of locally advanced prostate carcinoma
Authors: Freeman Vincent L. , Meydani Mohsen , Hur Kwan , Flanigan Robert C.
Published: October 2004

BACKGROUND

An effect of fatty acids has been implicated in men with advanced‐stage prostate carcinoma and in men who have died of the disease. To evaluate the influence of fatty acids in men with prostate carcinoma at earlier stages, the authors examined the relation between prostatic concentrations of fatty acids and locally advanced prostate carcinoma in men with clinically organ‐confined disease.

METHODS

Fatty acids were measured by capillary gas chromatography in fresh, nonmalignant prostate tissue specimens collected during surgery from 196 men undergoing radical prostatectomy for localized prostate carcinoma. Two‐sided, two‐sample Student t tests compared mean concentrations in men with extraprostatic disease (pT3–4N0–1M0) with control men with organ‐confined disease. Logistic regression accounted for clinical stage, prostate‐specific antigen level, Gleason sum, and other factors.

RESULTS

Percent total prostatic polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) was found to be inversely associated with risk of locally advanced prostate carcinoma (n = 52) (odds ratio [OR] = 0.93, 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.87–0.99; P = 0.035). Risk of seminal vesicle involvement accounted for this association (OR = 0.86, 95% CI, 0.78–0.95; P = 0.003). Percent ω‐3 fatty acid (eicosapentanoic + docosahexanoic acids) and percent arachidonic acid also were found to be inversely related to the risk of seminal vesicle involvement (OR = 0.52, 95% CI, 0.30–0.90; P = 0.02; and OR = 0.84, 95% CI,; 0.75–0.95; P = 0.005, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Prostatic PUFA levels appear to influence the risk of locally advanced prostate carcinoma in men with clinically organ‐confined disease. This association may be mediated through the immune system. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Range sustainment for the future
Authors: Haliscak Jonathan P.
Published: October 2004

Technological advances have resulted in weapons systems with the ability to precisely hit targets at great range. To reduce potential safety hazards of such weapons, larger and larger areas are required to test these munitions, and for personnel to train with them. This has resulted in competition for the space the military requires to test and train with these weapons, and the space needed by growing municipalities and commercial activity. Further, an increasingly restrictive environmental regulatory framework—such as the Endangered Species Act—has constrained military training realism. A solution to the challenge of sustaining bases and ranges is integrated community/military planning. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Tissue plasminogen activator and glial function
Authors: Gravanis Iordanis , Tsirka Stella E.
Published: October 2004

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the only FDA‐approved treatment of thrombotic stroke and is a major parenchymal serine protease in the brain. However, it has been implicated in a plethora of brain pathologies, raising concern about its use as a safe therapeutic. tPA is thought to regulate physiological processes that entail tissue remodeling and plasticity, purportedly due to its ability to initiate the degradation of extracellular matrix proteins and possibly other substrates. Understanding the physiological role(s) of tPA promises to both elucidate important aspects of brain function and improve the available therapies for neurological disease. In this context, the effects of tPA on glial cells, mainly microglial cells, but also astrocytes and Schwann cells, appear to be of particular importance, given the increasing awareness of the significance of glia in brain physiology and pathology © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.