bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Circulating adhesion molecules in sera of asthmatic children
Authors: Tang Ren‐Bin , Chen Shu‐Jen , Soong Wen‐Jue , Chung Ruey‐Lung
Published: August 2002

Infiltration of cells into the lung in asthma is regulated by several expressions of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) on cells present in the airways, and may play a role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. We sought to evaluate the role of serum concentrations of the soluble forms of intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (sICAM‐1), vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (sVCAM‐1), and E‐selectin (sE‐selectin) in the control of disease activity in acute asthma. Circulating levels of sICAM‐1, sVCAM‐1, and sE‐selectin in sera from 15 normal control subjects and from 20 allergic asthmatic children with acute exacerbations who had returned to stable condition were determined by using commercially available enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay kits.

The mean concentration of serum sICAM‐1 levels was significantly higher during an acute exacerbation of asthmatic children than in those with stable asthma (19.41 ± 10.65 ng/mL vs. 13.46 ± 5.44 ng/mL; P < 0.001) or in control subjects (9.83 ± 2.02 ng/mL; P < 0.001). For sVCAM‐1 and sE‐selectin, the mean serum concentration of sVCAM‐1 was slightly higher in children during an acute exacerbation asthma than when stable. However, the differences did not reach statistical significance. The mean serum concentrations of sVCAM‐1 and sE‐selectin in acute asthma or stable asthma were significiantly higher than in control subjects.

This study provides further evidence that serum concentrations of sICAM‐1, sVCAM‐1, and sE‐selectin are increased in acute asthma. These findings further confirm that leukocyte endothelial adhesion plays a role in inflammmatory airway disease. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2002; 33:249–254. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cystic fibrosis and infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis: Is there an association?
Authors: Kakish Khalid S.
Published: August 2002

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common lethal genetic disease among Caucasian populations. The generally accepted incidence of CF in the United States is 1 in 3,200 in the Caucasian population. Intestinal obstructions and atresias have been described among patients with CF. An association of CF with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) has not been previously documented.

A review in our clinic of 72 patients with CF revealed IHPS in two. The incidence of 2.7% is greater than the 0.3% incidence expected in the general population. This ninefold increase in IHPS in patients with CF suggests an association between the two and warrants further investigation. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2002; 33:404–405. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Persistent adenoviral infection and chronic obstructive bronchitis in children: Is there a link?
Authors: Pichler M. , Herrmann G. , Schmidt H. , Ahrens P. , Zielen S.
Published: August 2002

Chronic obstructive bronchitis with inadequate response to inhaled steroid and bronchodilator therapy is a rather rare disorder in children. Persistence of an adenoviral infection has been described as a possible cause of unremitting airway obstruction. We studied a group of 11 children with the clinical feature of chronic bronchial obstruction. A high‐resolution computed tomography (HR‐CT) scan was performed and typically showed hyperinflation and ground‐glass‐like opacities. All children underwent either bronchoscopic transbronchial or open lung biopsy. Biopsy specimens were stained with monoclonal antibodies detecting adenoviral antigen and analyzed by light‐microscopy. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was cultured for adenovirus, and antigen detection tests were performed. While some children had a history of proven adenoviral infection at the onset of their disease, in none of the cases could a persistence of adenovirus be shown. We conclude that adenoviral infection might act as a starter of chronic obstructive bronchitis in children, but that pathogenetic mechanisms other than persistent infection must be responsible for the chronicity of the disease. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2001; 32:367–371. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Association of tobacco smoke exposure and respiratory syncitial virus infection with airways reactivity in early childhood
Authors: Adler Alan , Ngo Long , Tager Ira B.
Published: August 2002

Exposure to infectious agents and environmental tobacco smoke are thought to induce bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). This study was undertaken to determine the effects of passive exposure to tobacco smoke and respiratory syncitial virus (RSV) lower respiratory infection (LRI) during infancy on the occurrence of BHR in the first 2 years of life. Eighty‐six cases of documented RSV (mean age, 188 days) and 78 controls (mean age, 162 days) were enrolled from the clinic and in‐patient service of a single hospital. None had a history of prior LRI. Subjects were studied at 6‐month intervals up to 19 months of age with a standardized respiratory illness and parental smoking questionnaire, partial expiratory flow‐volume curves by the “hug” (rapid thoracic compression) technique, and methacholine challenge.

Exposure to maternal and paternal cigarette smoking, maternal history of asthma, and mold exposure were associated with decreased levels of length‐corrected maximal flow at functional residual capacity (V′maxFRC). RSV‐LRI was not related to V′maxFRC. After adjustment of V′maxFRC for these factors, V′maxFRC was a significantly and positively correlated with a methacholine concentration provoking a 40% fall in V′maxFRC (PC40) and negatively correlated with dose‐response slope. After adjustment for V′maxFRC, there were no independent effects of tobacco smoke exposure or RSV‐LRI on methacholine responses.

These data do not support a role for RSV as a risk factor for airways reactivity in childhood and indicate that exposure to tobacco smoke affects airways reactivity through its effects on airways. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2001; 32:418–427. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Racial differences in cellular composition of benign prostatic hyperplasia
Authors: Aoki Yoshitaka , Arai Yoichi , Maeda Hiroshi , Okubo Kazutoshi , Shinohara Katsuto
Published: August 2002

Background

The present study was designed to compare the cellular composition of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in Caucasian‐American (CA), African‐American (AA), and Japanese (JP) men.

Methods

Biopsy specimens of the prostate were obtained from 15 men of each racial group with a prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) of 4.1–10.0 ng/mL. The stained cores were quantitatively analyzed for the percentage of the area with different cellular composition (stroma (S), epithelium (E), epithelial lumen (L), and glandular component (E + L = G)), using computer‐assisted color imaging.

Results

The mean percent area density of S, E, and L in the prostate of CA men was 84.2, 12.1, and 3.8%, respectively; for AA, 84.4, 12.4, and 3.2%; for JP, 77.4, 15.2, and 7.5%. The S/E ratio is significantly lower in JP than in CA men. The S/G ratio is significantly lower in JP than in CA and AA men. Overall, JP contained more glandular lumen and less stromal component than that of CA and AA. CA and AA showed no significant difference in cellular composition.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrated the differences in cellular composition of BPH among the three races. This cellular composition divergence may account for previously observed racial differences in PSA, PSA density, and the incidence of clinical BPH. Prostate 49:243–250, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Thiophilic interaction chromatography facilitates detection of various molecular complexes of prostate‐specific antigen in biological fluids
Authors: Kawinski Elzbieta , Levine Ellis , Chadha Kailash
Published: August 2002

BACKGROUND

It is known that total PSA values are often greater than the sum total of free‐PSA (f‐PSA) and PSA–ACT complex. It is primarily because other PSA complexes are present in the patient serum and currently cannot be quantified. Our studies were aimed in developing methodology that will permit recovery of all molecular forms of PSA from various biological fluids.

METHODS

Thiophilic interaction (3S,T‐gel) chromatography procedure was used to isolate various PSA molecular forms present in biological fluids. f‐PSA and PSA complexes were shown to have strong affinity for T‐gel. PSA forms eluted from the column were analyzed by SDS–PAGE/Western blot and were identified by immunostaining with antibody‐specific to PSA and to various protease inhibitors. The identity of PSA complexes was also confirmed by Enzyme‐linked Immunosorbent‐assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

One step affinity chromatography procedure (3S,T‐gel) was used to isolate different molecular forms of PSA in seminal plasma, patient sera, and in prostate cancer cell culture medium. Seminal plasma was shown to contain f‐PSA, PSA–ACT, PSA–A2M, and PSA–PCI. Sera from prostate cancer patients at different stages of the disease contained f‐PSA, PSA–ACT, and PSA–A2M. Besides these PSA forms, some patients at late stage of the disease (T3 and T4) also contained two additional PSA‐complexes that have not been identified as of yet. Conditioned medium from LNCaP cells was shown to contain f‐PSA, PSA–ACT, and PSA–A2M complexes.

CONCLUSIONS

Thiophilic gel has strong affinity for all known molecular forms of PSA present in any biological material. Visualization of PSA molecular forms in Western‐blot analysis was feasible only after patient serum was processed through T‐gel. Our procedure can be used to screen hybridoma and antibodies specific to the individual PSA complex. The PSA molecular forms isolated from patient serum after T‐gel procedure may provide useful internal calibrators, and thus may significantly enhance the reliability of PSA measurements. Prostate 50: 145–153, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quantitative microbubble enhanced transrectal ultrasound as a tool for monitoring hormonal treatment of prostate carcinoma
Authors: Eckersley Robert J. , Sedelaar J.P. Michiel , Blomley Martin J.K. , Wijkstra Hessel , deSouza Nandita M. , Cosgrove David O. , de la Rosette Jean J.M.C.H.
Published: August 2002

BACKGROUND

We quantified changes in prostate carcinoma vascularity treated with anti‐androgens using color Doppler and power transrectal ultrasound in combination with microbubble contrast agent Levovist®.

METHODS

Thirty‐six men with prostate carcinoma were studied at baseline and at intervals during treatment. At each attendance, Levovist® (10 ml, 300 mg/ml) was given as an iv bolus. Using quantitative analysis, we calculated the pre‐enhancement scores, arrival time, time to peak, peak value, and area under the time‐enhancement curve (AUC). These were compared to pre‐treatment values and serial PSA measurements.

RESULTS

The pre‐enhancement, peak value, and AUC each showed a marked response with reductions within one week. The average AUC declined to 68% ± 9% (mean ± standard error) by week 1, 56% ± 9% by week 3, and 20% ± 4% by week 6. A strong correlation with changes in the mean PSA (r = 0.95, P < 0.001) was also measured. In four patients, Doppler indices did not fall with PSA: two patients with the most marked discrepancy relapsed at 6 months.

CONCLUSION

The vascular enhancement declined with therapy, similar to PSA. Microbubble enhanced ultrasound can show early response to treatment. Prostate 51: 256–267, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Relative promoter strengths in four human prostate cancer cell lines evaluated by particle bombardment‐mediated gene transfer*
Authors: Zhang Shaobo , Gu Jian , Yang Ning‐Sun , Kao Chinghai , Gardner Thomas A. , Eble John N. , Cheng Liang
Published: August 2002

Background

The particle bombardment (gene gun) method for gene transfer provides a new and efficient means for transfection of various cell types in culture. In this study we evaluate its application to human prostate tumor cells.

Methods

Transient expression of the firefly luciferase gene driven by five viral and five cellular promoters was assessed after in vitro gene transfer using the gene gun method. The relative strengths of these promoters were quantitatively determined in four different human prostate tumor cell lines: DU145, PC‐3, LNCaP, and CWR22Rv1 cells. In situ histochemical staining of cells, transfected with bacterial β‐galactosidase cDNA as a reporter gene, was also performed to evaluate the transfection efficiency. Time course of gene expression was determined using the luciferase reporter gene.

Results

The peak levels of transient expression of firefly luciferase are observed within 24 hr after gene transfer. Sustained but reduced luciferase levels were also detected as long as 5 days post transfection. Up to 35% of bombarded cells in vitro were found to express transgenic β‐galactosidase activity. Among tested viral promoters, cytomegalovirus early enhancer/promoter activity was observed to confer consistently the highest activity in each test cell line, whereas phosphoglycerate kinase gene promoter possessed the highest activity among the cellular promoters tested.

Conclusions

The particle bombardment gene‐transfer technology can be effectively employed as an efficient method for in vitro gene‐transfer into prostate tumor cells. The characterization of relative promoter strength and preference may be useful for future studies of cancer gene therapy approaches. Prostate 51: 286–292, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Regulation of prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) gene expression and release in LNCaP prostate cancer by antagonists of growth hormone‐releasing hormone and vasoactive intestinal peptide
Authors: Rekasi Zoltan , Schally Andrew V. , Plonowski Artur , Czompoly Tamas , Csernus Balazs , Varga Jozsef L.
Published: August 2002

Background

Prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) is the best tumor marker for diagnosis and prognosis of prostatic carcinoma. The secretion of PSA from LNCaP human prostate cancer cells is influenced by acute stimuli such as vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), growth hormone‐releasing hormone (GHRH), and chronic stimuli like androgens.

Methods

To study the regulation of basal and VIP/GHRH or androgen‐stimulated secretion from LNCaP cells, we used a superfusion system, which allowed us to simultaneously measure PSA gene expression, PSA secretion, and cAMP release from the same cancer cells. LNCaP cancer cells were also implanted orthotopically into nude mice.

Results

VIP (30 pM–3 nM), GHRH (3 nM–300 nM), and dihydrotestosterone (100 nM) induced a significant increase in PSA gene expression, PSA secretion, and cAMP release. The dose and time‐dependent effects of peptides were manifested only in the presence of androgens. At the end of continuous stimulation of cells with 1 nM VIP for 2 hr, large amounts of stored immunoreactive PSA still remained in the cells. Adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin (FSK), significantly increased PSA secretion and gene expression, and potassium, which causes nonspecific depolarization of membranes, augmented gene expression, and secretion of PSA, but did not influence cAMP release. This suggests that PSA secretion is regulated by cAMP‐dependent as well as cAMP‐independent pathways. In superfusion system, stimulatory effects of VIP and GHRH on PSA secretion were inhibited by VIP antagonist JV‐1‐53, and less by GHRH antagonist JV‐1‐38. In cell cultures, JV‐1‐38 had a stronger inhibitory effect on proliferation, indicating an involvement of the recently discovered tumoral GHRH receptors in this process. In nude mice, with orthotopically implanted LNCaP cancer cells, GHRH antagonist JV‐1‐38 alone or androgen ablation by castration had no effect on tumor growth and PSA levels. However, castration combined with treatment with GHRH antagonist, significantly decreased tumor growth and PSA secretion.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the secretion of PSA is regulated rather than constitutive, contrary to previous reports. In addition, the effect of GHRH and VIP antagonists on PSA secretion from prostate cancer cells is not correlated with their antiproliferative action. Prostate 48:188–199, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Structural genomics analysis: Characteristics of atypical, common, and horizontally transferred folds
Authors: Hegyi Hedi , Lin Jimmy , Greenbaum Dov , Gerstein Mark
Published: August 2002

We conducted a structural genomics analysis of the folds and structural superfamilies in the first 20 completely sequenced genomes by focusing on the patterns of fold usage and trying to identify structural characteristics of typical and atypical folds. We assigned folds to sequences using PSI‐blast, run with a systematic protocol to reduce the amount of computational overhead. On average, folds could be assigned to about a fourth of the ORFs in the genomes and about a fifth of the amino acids in the proteomes. More than 80% of all the folds in the SCOP structural classification were identified in one of the 20 organisms, with worm and E. coli having the largest number of distinct folds. Folds are particularly effective at comprehensively measuring levels of gene duplication, because they group together even very remote homologues. Using folds, we find the average level of duplication varies depending on the complexity of the organism, ranging from 2.4 in M. genitalium to 32 for the worm, values significantly higher than those observed based purely on sequence similarity. We rank the common folds in the 20 organisms, finding that the top three are the P‐loop NTP hydrolase, the ferrodoxin fold, and the TIM‐barrel, and discuss in detail the many factors that affect and bias these rankings. We also identify atypical folds that are “unique” to one of the organisms in our study and compare the characteristics of these folds with the most common ones. We find that common folds tend be more multifunctional and associated with more regular, “symmetrical” structures than the unique ones. In addition, many of the unique folds are associated with proteins involved in cell defense (e.g., toxins). We analyze specific patterns of fold occurrence in the genomes by associating some of them with instances of horizontal transfer and others with gene loss. In particular, we find three possible examples of transfer between archaea and bacteria and six between eukarya and bacteria. We make available our detailed results at http://genecensus.org/20. Proteins 2002;47:126–141. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
C‐terminal domain of gyrase A is predicted to have a β‐propeller structure
Authors: Qi Yuan , Pei Jimin , Grishin Nick V.
Published: August 2002

Two different type II topoisomerases are known in bacteria. DNA gyrase (Gyr) introduces negative supercoils into DNA. Topoisomerase IV (Par) relaxes DNA supercoils. GyrA and ParC subunits of bacterial type II topoisomerases are involved in breakage and reunion of DNA. The spatial structure of the C‐terminal fragment in GyrA/ParC is not available. We infer homology between the C‐terminal domain of GyrA/ParC and a regulator of chromosome condensation (RCC1), a eukaryotic protein that functions as a guanine‐nucleotide‐exchange factor for the nuclear G protein Ran. This homology, complemented by detection of 6 sequence repeats with 4 predicted β‐strands each in GyrA/ParC sequences, allows us to predict that the GyrA/ParC C‐terminal domain folds into a 6‐bladed β‐propeller. The prediction rationalizes available experimental data and sheds light on the spatial properties of the largest topoisomerase domain that lacks structural information. Proteins 2002;47:258–264. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Docking unbound proteins using shape complementarity, desolvation, and electrostatics
Authors: Chen Rong , Weng Zhiping
Published: August 2002

A comprehensive docking study was performed on 27 distinct protein‐protein complexes. For 13 test systems, docking was performed with the unbound X‐ray structures of both the receptor and the ligand. For the remaining systems, the unbound X‐ray structure of only molecule was available; therefore the bound structure for the other molecule was used. Our method optimizes desolvation, shape complementarity, and electrostatics using a Fast Fourier Transform algorithm. A global search in the rotational and translational space without any knowledge of the binding sites was performed for all proteins except nine antibodies recognizing antigens. For these antibodies, we docked their well‐characterized binding site—the complementarity‐determining region defined without information of the antigen—to the entire surface of the antigen. For 24 systems, we were able to find near‐native ligand orientations (interface Cα root mean square deviation less than 2.5 Å from the crystal complex) among the top 2,000 choices. For three systems, our algorithm could identify the correct complex structure unambiguously. For 13 other complexes, we either ranked a near‐native structure in the top 20 or obtained 20 or more near‐native structures in the top 2,000 or both. The key feature of our algorithm is the use of target functions that are highly tolerant to conformational changes upon binding. If combined with a post‐processing method, our algorithm may provide a general solution to the unbound docking problem. Our program, called ZDOCK, is freely available to academic users (http://zlab.bu.edu/∼rong/dock/). Proteins 2002;47:281–294. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Protein folding: Looping from hydrophobic nuclei
Authors: Berezovsky Igor N. , Kirzhner Valery M. , Kirzhner Alla , Trifonov Edward N.
Published: August 2002

Protein structure can be viewed as a compact linear array of nearly standard size closed loops of 25–30 amino acid residues (Berezovsky et al., FEBS Letters 2000; 466: 283–286) irrespective of details of secondary structure. The end‐to‐end contacts in the loops are likely to be hydrophobic, which is a testable hypothesis. This notion could be verified by direct comparison of the loop maps with Kyte and Doolittle hydropathicity plots. This analysis reveals that most of the ends of the loops are hydrophobic, indeed. The same conclusion is reached on the basis of positional autocorrelation analysis of protein sequences of 23 fully sequenced bacterial genomes. Hydrophobic residues valine, alanine, glycine, leucine, and isoleucine appear preferentially at the 25–30 residues distance one from another. These observations open a new perspective in the understanding of protein structure and folding: a consecutive looping of the polypeptide chain with the loops ending primarily at hydrophobic nuclei. Proteins 2001;45:346–350. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Verification of load factors for concrete components by reliability and optimization analysis: Background documents for implementing Eurocodes
Authors: Holický Milan , Marková Jana
Published: August 2002

The European standards for the design of construction works, the Structural Eurocodes, are presently at a stage of transformation from their ENV status to operational EN documents. Available drafts and other working materials clearly indicate that the decision concerning alternative procedures and reliability elements will remain in the competency of national responsible authorities. One of the most important issues is the determination of the partial safety factors for permanent and variable loads. Simple examples of reinforced concrete components, considered in the present study, indicate that a structure designed on the basis of the recommended values for these safety factors in the latest drafts of the proposed EN standards will be of adequate reliability. Moreover, in some cases reduction of the safety factors may lead to unsatisfactory reliability. Thus it appears that a possible downward modification of recommended safety factors and other reliability elements should be supported by comprehensive studies, and preferably limited to those cases which are linked to national (regional) conditions, e.g. to climatic actions and their combinations. This recommendation is supported by probabilistic optimization, taking the total expected cost as an objective function and the partial safety factors for permanent and imposed loads as decisive parameters. The total cost further depends on the malfunction cost to the marginal costs for permanent and imposed loads. It appears that the optimum values of the partial safety factors may be expected to be very close to the values recommended in the draft of EN 1990.
The serviceability design of low‐rise masonry structures
Authors: Page A W
Published: August 2002

Modern structural design requires consideration of both strength and serviceability. With advances in technology, reasonable estimates of strength can be obtained. However, for masonry structures which are brittle and lack tensile strength, the serviceability performance is more difficult to predict and yet is extremely important. For many low‐rise masonry structures (particularly housing) the most common problems which arise after construction relate to serviceability, especially cracking. This cracking may not be structurally significant, but often is aesthetically unacceptable and must be repaired, sometimes at considerable cost. Cracking can result from a variety of sources including external effects (shrinking and swelling of reactive clays with moisture variations, differential foundation movements, etc.), interactions of the masonry with other structural elements, or from dimensional changes in the masonry itself.

Structural systems and masonry types vary, with the masonry sometimes being load‐bearing or otherwise serving as a veneer. In all cases masonry behaves as a brittle material with relatively low tensile strength and is therefore prone to cracking. Cracking can be avoided or minimized by ensuring that induced tensile stresses are kept as low as possible. The structure must also be correctly designed, detailed and constructed and have adequate tensile (bond) strength. This paper reviews all the above aspects, particularly in relation to recent research in structural serviceability carried out at the University of Newcastle, Australia.
Andrographis paniculata (Ness) induces relaxation of uterus by blocking voltage operated calcium channels and inhibits Ca+2 influx
Authors: Burgos Rafael A. , Aguila Marcela J. , Santiesteban Elson. T. , Sánchez Nury S. , Hancke Juan L.
Published: August 2002

The possible relaxation of uterine smooth muscle by Andrographis paniculata dried extract via a blockade of voltage operated calcium channels was investigated in rats. Uterine horns pretreated with oestradiol were incubated in Ca+2‐free Jalon's solution and stimulated with KCl (20–60 mM) in order to produce depolarization of the membrane. The isometric contractile response to 1 mM or cumulative concentrations of CaCl2 were blockaded by 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mg/mL of A. paniculata. The maximum contractile response induced by acetylcholine was moderately antagonized by A. paniculata. The possible blockade of Ca+2 entry by A. paniculata was evaluated with 45Ca+2 uptake in uterine rings incubated with free‐Ca+2‐Ringer's solution high in K+ (KCl 40 mM). The influx was completely blockaded with 0.4 mg/mL of A. paniculata. These results strongly suggest that A. paniculata blockades voltage operated calcium channels inhibiting the entry of Ca+2 from the external medium. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inhibitory effect on immunoglobulin E production in vivo and in vitro by Siegesbeckia glabrescens
Authors: Kim Hyung‐Min , Lee Joon‐Ho , Won Jin‐Hee , Park Eun‐Jeung , Chae Han‐Jung , Kim Hyung‐Ryong , Kim Cheorl‐Ho , Baek Seung‐Hwa
Published: August 2002

Elevated levels of immunoglobulin (Ig)E are associated with immediate‐type allergic reactions. The effect of an aqueous extract of Siegesbeckia glabrescens (Compositae) whole plants (SGWP) on in vivo and in vitro IgE production was studied in mice. SGWP dose‐dependently inhibited the active systemic anaphylaxis and serum IgE production induced by immunization with ovalbumin and Bordetella pertussis toxin absorbed to aluminium hydroxide gel. SGWP dose‐dependently inhibited IL‐4‐dependent IgE production by lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated murine whole spleen cells. In the case of U266 human IgE‐bearing B cells, SGWP also showed an inhibitory effect on IgE production. These results suggest that SGWP has an anti‐allergic activity by inhibiting IgE production from B cells. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estimation of triterpenoids from Heliotropium marifolium Koen. ex Retz. in vivo and in vitro. I. Antimicrobial screening
Authors: Singh B. , Dubey M. M.
Published: August 2002

The hexane extract of Heliotropium marifolium yielded a mixture of triterpenoids: β‐sitosterol, stigmasterol, β‐amyrin, friedelan‐3β‐ol (epifriedelenol), cycloartenone, β‐amyrin acetate, friedelin and epifriedenyl acetate. Isolated triterpenoid and reference antibiotics (gentamycin/mycostatin) were tested against selected pathogenic bacteria and fungi, e.g. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium chrysogenum. The inhibition zone (IZ) and the activity index (AI) of isolated compounds were recorded and it was found that epifriedenyl acetate (IZ = 17; AI = 1.06) was the most active. The present study deals with the quantification and assessment of their growth inhibitory potency. It has been reported that cycloartenone was the major triterpenoid in both in vivo (0.54%) and in vitro (0.11%) cell cultures. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inhibition of tumour necrosis factor‐α secretion from rat astrocytes by Sesim‐Tang
Authors: Kim H. M. , Shin H. Y. , Lee S. P. , Ryu S. T. , Shin T. Y. , Chae H. J. , Kim H. R. , Lyu Y. S. , Lim K. S.
Published: August 2002

Substance P (SP) can stimulate secretion of tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) from astrocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In this study, we have examined whether an aqueous extract of Sesim‐Tang inhibits the secretion of TNF‐α from primary cultures of rat astrocytes. Sesim‐Tang (10–1000μg/mL) significantly inhibited the TNF‐α secretion by astrocytes stimulated with LPS and SP. Interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) has been shown to elevate TNF‐α secretion from LPS‐stimulated astrocytes while having no effect on astrocytes in the absence of LPS. We therefore examined whether IL‐1 mediated inhibition of TNF‐α secretion from primary astrocytes by Sesim‐Tang. Treatment with Sesim‐Tang (10–1000 μg/mL) of astrocytes stimulated with both LPS and SP decreased IL‐1 secretion significantly. Moreover, the secretion of TNF‐α by LPS and SP in astrocytes was progressively inhibited with increasing amounts of IL‐1 neutralizing antibody. Our results suggest that Sesim‐Tang may inhibit TNF‐α secretion by inhibiting IL‐1 secretion and that Sesim‐Tang has an antiinflammatory activity in the central nervous system. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chemical composition and biological activity of the volatiles of Anthemis melampodina and Pluchea dioscoridis
Authors: Grace Mary H.
Published: August 2002

The volatile fractions obtained by hydrodistillation of the fresh leaves of Anthemis melampodina and Pluchea dioscoridis were analysed by GC‐MS technique. Of 38 components identified in the volatile oil of A. melampodina, santolinatriene was the major component (27.33%). The oil was characterized by a high percentage of monoterpene hydrocarbons (49.94%) while sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated sesquiterpenes represented only 7.41% and 11.43% of the oil. 36 components were identified in the volatile oil of P. dioscoridis. Farnesol was the major component (16.50%) accompanied by a high percentage of sesquiterpene alcohols. Oxygenated sesquiterpenes (26.43%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (39.43%) represented the main constituents in the oil. P. dioscoridis showed a marked mosquito larvicidal activity against Culex pipiens (LC50 71.86 ppm), while A. melampodina was moderately active (LC50 139.42 ppm). Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Radiosensitizing effects of Neem (Azadirachta indica) oil
Authors: Kumar Ashok , Rao A. R. , Kimura H.
Published: August 2002

Radiosensitization by neem oil was studied using Balbc/3T3 cells and SCID cells. Neem oil enhanced the radiosensitivity of the cells when applied both during and after x‐irradiation under aerobic conditions. Neem oil completely inhibited the repair of sublethal damage and potentially lethal damage repair in Balbc/3T3 cells. The cytofluorimeter data show that neem oil treatment before and after x‐irradiation reduced the G2 + M phase, thus inhibiting the expression of the radiation induced arrest of cells in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. However, SCIK cells (derived from the SCID mouse), deficient in DSB repair, treated with neem oil did not show any enhancement in the radiosensitivity. There was no effect of neem oil on SLD repair or its inhibition in SCIK cells. These results suggest that neem oil enhanced the radiosensitivity of cells by interacting with residual damage after x‐irradiation, thereby converting the sublethal damage or potentially lethal damage into lethal damage, inhibiting the double‐strand break repair or reducing the G2 phase of the cell cycle. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Retracted:Nootropic‐like effect of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L.) in mice
Authors: Dhuley Jayant N.
Published: August 2002

The above article has been retracted by agreement between the author, the Editor‐in‐Chief of Phytotherapy research (PTR) and John Wiley & Sons,Ltd. The retraction has been agreed due to inclusion of data in this paper from that published in the Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 1992 36(1) 29‐34 (PMID: 1597339) by SK Kulkarni and A. Verma 'Evidence for notropic effect of BR‐16A (Mentat), a herbal psychotropic preperation, in mice' . The origin of the material in question was not correctly attributed to the authors Kulkarni and Verma
In vivo Antiviral Activity of Stephania cepharantha against Herpes Simplex Virus Type‐1
Authors: Nawawi As'ari , Nakamura Norio , Meselhy Meselhy R. , Hattori Masao , Kurokawa Masahiko , Shiraki Kimiyasu , Kashiwaba Noriaki , Ono Minoru
Published: August 2002

The antiviral activity of a MeOH extract of Stephania cepharantha (root tubers), its CHCl3‐soluble fraction (alkaloid fraction) and the major alkaloid FK‐3000 (1) were investigated in BALB/c mice cutaneously infected with HSV‐1 strain 7401H. At doses of 125 and 250 mg/kg body weight, p.o., the MeOH extract significantly delayed skin lesion on score 2 (vesicles in the local region), limited the development of further lesions on score 6 (mild zosteriform lesion) and prolonged the mean survival time of HSV‐1 infected mice. After p.o. administration of the CHCl3‐soluble fraction at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg or FK‐3000 (1) at 10 and 25 mg/kg, similar results were obtained. Although the alkaloid improved the survival of infected mice, it had a narrow therapeutic index. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Abietic acid inhibits lipoxygenase activity
Authors: Ulusu N. Nuray , Ercil Dilek , Sakar M. Koray , Tezcan E. Ferhan
Published: August 2002

In this study, it was shown that abietic acid, an abietane diterpenoid, inhibited soybean 5‐lipoxygenase (linoleate: oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.13.11.12) and an IC50 of 29.5 ± 1.29 µM was determined. Since the lipoxygenase pathway leads to the biosynthesis of leukotrienes this result supports the view that abietic acid may be used in the treatment of allergic reactions. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
21 CFR Part 11: electronic records. An interactive voice response system. Case study for success
Authors: Weldon Phyllis M.
Published: August 2002

A large full‐service clinical research organization in the US needed to replace their legacy interactive voice response system which did not provide 21 CFR Part 11 compliant audit trails. They chose to custom‐build the new software using C++ component architecture, eXtensible Markup Language (XML), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), and Microsoft web telephony engine. The case study described in this article illustrates that when systems developers read, study, understand, and embrace 21 CFR Part 11 before designing and validating their product, the regulations are easily met. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TDR handbook ‐ quality standards in basic biomedical research
Authors: Kioy D.
Published: August 2002

You will no doubt read the interview with Dr Deborah Kioy of the UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), published in this issue on pages 113–117. In that interview, Dr Kioy talked about the TDR publication on Quality Standards in Basic Biomedical Research. This draft document represents an initial step toward providing scientists working in biomedical research, especially those in the developing world, with some uniform guidelines on how to ensure the acceptability of their data in the scientific community at large.

The document was produced as a draft by a Scientific Working Group set up at the initiative of TDR to discuss the issues related to ensuring that researchers produce “quality data”. TDR realises that in order to produce a final document on this important topic, it is essential to obtain input from both a wide cross‐section of scientists and from specialists working in the field of quality management. Hence, TDR is inviting comments on the existing document so that the final publication will incorporate truly global input and will reflect a more comprehensive, interdisciplinary consensus. To attain this goal, TDR is attempting to assure that the document is widely circulated.

At The Quality Assurance Journal we are pleased to contribute to the TDR initiative by publishing in extenso the draft document and by calling upon all our readers to carefully consider the text and send comments for consideration to the address below:

TDR would like the final publication to be ready for publication in the year 2003. Consequently, comments and viewpoints for consideration should reach TDR in Geneva by 31 January 2003. Published in 2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Computer‐aided tolerance synthesis with statistical method and optimization techniques
Authors: Jeang Angus
Published: August 2002

Most tolerance design optimization problems have focused on developing exact methods to reduce manufacturing cost or to increase product quality. The inherent assumption with this approach is that assembly functions are known before a tolerance design problem is analyzed. With the current development of CAD (Computer‐Aided Design) software, design engineers can address the tolerance design problem without knowing assembly functions in advance. In this study, VSA‐3D/Pro software, which contains a set of simulation tools, is employed to generate experimental assembly data. These computer experimental data will be converted into other forms such as total cost and Process Capability Index. Total cost consists of tolerance cost and quality loss. Then, empirical equations representing two variables can be obtained through a statistical regression method. After that, mathematical optimization and sensitivity analysis are performed within the constrained ‘desired design and process’ space. Consequently, tolerance design via computer experiments enables engineers to optimize design tolerance and manufacturing variation to achieve the highest quality at the most cost effective price during the design and planning stage. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estimated incapability index: reliability and decision making with sample information
Authors: Pearn W. L. , Lin G. H.
Published: August 2002

The process incapability index $C_{pp}$, which provides an uncontaminated separation between information concerning the process precision and process accuracy, has been proposed to measure process performance for industry applications. In this paper, we investigate the reliability of the natural estimator computationally, based on the $\alpha$‐level confidence relative error for various sample sizes. We also develop a decision‐making procedure for judging if the process satisfies the preset quality requirement. The investigation is useful to the practitioners in determining the sample sizes required in their applications for the decisions reliable to the desired level. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Weighted moments estimation of the scale parameter of the exponential distribution based on a multiply type II censored sample
Authors: Wu Jong‐Wuu , Yang Chi‐Chin
Published: August 2002

In this paper, we propose the weighted moments estimators (WMEs) of the scale parameter of the exponential distribution based on a multiply type II censored sample. When compared to the approximate maximum likelihood estimator (AMLE) by Balakrishnan (1990) and the best linear unbiased estimator (BLUE) by Balasubramanian and Balakrishnan (1992) (or Upadhyay et al. (1996)) in terms of the simulated mean squared errors (MSEs) of AMLE and BLUE and exact MSEs of WMEs, we find that some of the WMEs are better than the AMLE and BLUE for given sample sizes and different censoring schemes. Further, we also obtain the best estimator among the WMEs, AMLE and BLUE. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A modified short‐run type II continuous sampling plan
Authors: Tsai Tzong‐Ru
Published: August 2002

In this article, a modified continuous sampling of type II is provided for finite production runs. The suggested sampling plan revises the continuous sampling plan‐2 of Yang (1983). The proposed plan places no predetermined limit on the number of items to be inspected until the second defect is detected when in partial inspection mode. A similar derivation to that of Yang is used to find an approximation to the average outgoing quality of the modified continuous sampling plan‐2 in finite production runs. Some tables are provided to aid in the selection of the clearance number and sampling fraction when the production run length and an average outgoing quality limit are given. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An analytical molecular orbital approach for modeling of low‐dimensional conductors in molecular crystals
Authors: Tada Tomofumi , Aoki Yuriko
Published: August 2002

In low‐dimensional molecular crystals that exhibit Peierls instability, the intercolumnar interaction plays an important role in the determination of the conducting property. To predict the crystal structure that exhibits an electronic conduction, we proposed a simple formula based on the molecular orbital theory. In this approach, analytical molecular orbitals of polyene were extended to be applicable for molecular crystals of charge–transfer complexes, and the Peierls distortion was represented by using the first‐ and second‐order perturbation theory. It was concluded that the energetic behaviors and structures calculated by the analytical method developed in the present work are identical to those obtained by the tight‐binding ab initio molecular orbital calculation. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001
Occupation numbers for atomic shells in direct space bounded by the maxima of the one‐electron potential
Authors: Kohout M.
Published: August 2002

Atomic shells defined as wells of the one‐electron potential \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$\nabla^{2}\sqrt{\rho}/2\sqrt{\rho}$\end{document} bounded by successive maxima of this electron density function give reasonable electron numbers for the occupation of shells with empty d orbitals. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 83: 324–331, 2001
Theoretical study of the excited singlet and triplet states of alloxan
Authors: Kakkar Rita , Sarma Bhupendra K.
Published: August 2002

The possibility of excited‐state protomeric shifts in the biologically important molecule, alloxan, is investigated. We have focused on the S1 and T1 excited states of alloxan and its hydroxy tautomers. Modifications brought in by excitation on the relative stabilities, activation barriers, and optimized geometries, computed at the MNDO, AM1, and PM3 levels of approximation, have been discussed for both excited electronic states. The absorption and fluorescence spectra for the three tautomers are also discussed. Results show significant changes in the geometries on excitation, although the changes are similar for the singlet and triplet excited states. Though the relative stability orders do not change, the 2‐hydroxy tautomer is stabilized, while the 4‐hydroxy tautomer gets destabilized on excitation. The excited states are (n,π*) states, involving the promotion of a nonbonding oxygen lone pair from the COCOCO moiety, which explains why the oxygens of this group become less basic and the 4‐hydroxy tautomer gets destabilized on excitation. However, the activation barriers do not reduce significantly on excitation, and this precludes the possibility of ground‐ or excited‐state proton transfer in the gas phase. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001
Alcohol in breath and blood: a selected ion flow tube mass spectrometric study
Authors: Wilson Paul F. , Freeman Colin G. , McEwan Murray J. , Milligan Daniel B. , Allardyce Randall A. , Shaw Geoffrey M.
Published: August 2002

In this paper we compare the amounts of ethanol in breath and in blood after ingestion of whisky using analysis by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT‐MS). Blood ethanol concentrations were also obtained using standard hospital forensic procedures for blood alcohol analyses. We demonstrate the quantitative nature of SIFT‐MS analysis by correlating the observed alcohol content of the headspace above 5‐mL amounts of venous blood and aqueous solution to which known trace amounts of alcohol have been added. This procedure provides a Henry's Law coefficient for ethanol in aqueous solution at 298 ± 3 K of 209 ± 7 mol/kg*bar. We also demonstrate that measurement of the ethanol concentration in the alveolar portion of a single breath using the SIFT‐MS technique gives an accurate measure of blood alcohol and could obviate the need for blood samples in forensic processing. The storage performance of breath samples in Mylar bags with a volume greater than 1 L has been shown to maintain the mixture integrity for ethanol but not for some other species. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of carrageenans by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. I. kappa‐Carrageenans
Authors: Ackloo Suzanne , Terlouw Johan K. , Ruttink Paul J. A. , Burgers Peter C.
Published: August 2002

Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectra of small kappa‐carrageenans are reported and discussed. MALDI spectra can be obtained in both positive and negative ion mode. In the absence of extraneous metal ions, positive ions are formed by the attachment of one Na+ ion to the carrageenan, whereas for negative ions one Na+ ion is detached from the sulfate group. Multiply charged species are not observed in MALDI. Intense ESI spectra can be obtained in negative ion mode and now multiply charged species are seen. Alkali exchange experiments show that in these small carrageenan anions one, but only one, alkali metal ion is bound in a bidentate coordination with two ionic sulfate groups. G2‐type ab initio calculations on model ions HO− [M+] −OH (M = Li, Na, K, Cs), as well as arguments based on a simple Coulombic interaction model, show that the bidentate stabilization energy drops rapidly as the size of the alkali cation increases. Exchange of Na+ with Li+ leads to expulsion of the Na+ ion generating, in ESI, intense multiply charged anions. An attempt is made to rationalize this behavior in terms of hydration effects. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.