bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dialysis Disequilibrium Syndrome and other treatment complications of extreme uremia: A rare occurrence yet not vanished
Authors: LOPEZ‐ALMARAZ Ernesto , CORREA‐ROTTER Ricardo
Published: July 2008

Severe uremia is now a rare occurrence in most developed nations, and yet is still present in many countries of the world. It includes clinical manifestations such as calciphylaxis and uremic frost, which are now rarely seen. Patients with extremely high levels of blood urea nitrogen (above 175 mg/dL) are at a higher risk of experiencing first‐time hemodialysis‐related complications, in particular dialysis disequilibrium syndrome (DDS). DDS is a central nervous disorder characterized by a wide variety of neurological symptoms that range from nausea and vomiting to even death due to cerebral edema. There are 2 main theories to explain its pathophysiology: the reverse urea effect, which considers that the shift of urea between brain intracellular space and plasma is not immediate, causing a higher concentration of urea within the brain and leading to cerebral edema. The second theory considers that after hemodialysis, patients have transient paradoxical metabolic acidosis within the central nervous system, displacing Na+ and K+ from organic anions, making them osmotically active and again leading to cerebral edema. The main goal is to prevent the occurrence of DDS, for which there are several proposed measures including continuous renal replacement therapies. Once established, treatment should be focused on supportive therapy. Another uncommon phenomenon described in patients who initiate hemodialysis is transient pulmonary leukocyte margination, which in conjunction with an inflammatory milieu, may lead to non‐cardiogenic pulmonary edema. We present the case of a young adult with severe uremia who, despite application of recommended measures, developed DDS and non‐cardiogenic pulmonary edema.
The interleukin‐10 promoter genotype predicts diastolic dysfunction in maintenance hemodialysis patients
Authors: KIRKPANTUR Alper , KAHRAMAN Serkan , GENCTOY Gultekin , ALTUN Bulent , ABALI Gulcan , ARICI Mustafa , TURGAN Cetin
Published: July 2008

Interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) predominantly acts as an anti‐inflammatory factor. Polymorphisms in the IL‐10 gene promoter determine quantitative cytokine production. Doppler echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) are superior to conventional echocardiography to evaluate diastolic dysfunction. The IL‐10 gene promoter polymorphism at position (−1082) was studied for its association with conventional and Doppler echocardiographic and TDI parameters in 112 hemodialysis (HD) patients. Blood pressure, serum C‐reactive protein (CRP), and albumin levels were also examined for the association study. The genetic association study showed that among the HD patients, there was no difference in the prevalence of systolic and diastolic dysfunction between genotypes on conventional echocardiography. However, using Doppler echocardiography and TDI, high producers for the IL‐10 −1082 promoter (−1082/GG) have higher E velocities, E/A values, lateral, and septal E′ velocities and a lower isovolumic ventricular relaxation time than low (−1082/AA) and intermediate producers (−1082/GA). Significantly higher levels of serum CRP levels and lower plasma albumin levels were found in low and intermediate producers for the IL‐10 −1082 promoter than high producers. The IL‐10 genotype may balance the effects of inflammatory cytokines on the myocardium and may be a determinant of LV function in HD patients.
Central chondrosarcoma progression is associated with pRb pathway alterations: CDK4 down‐regulation and p16 overexpression inhibit cell growth in vitro
Authors: Schrage Yvonne M. , Lam Suzanne , Jochemsen Aart G. , Cleton‐Jansen Anne‐Marie , Taminiau Antonie H.M. , Hogendoorn Pancras C.W. , Bovée Judith V.M.G.
Published: July 2008

Chondrosarcomas are highly resistant to conventional radiation and chemotherapy, and surgical removal is the only option for curative treatment. Consequently, there is nothing to offer patients with inoperable tumours and metastatic disease. The aim of this study is to investigate genes involved in cell cycle control: CDK4, CDKN2A/p16, cyclin D1, p21, p53, MDM2 and c‐MYC, which may point towards new therapeutic strategies. The pRb pathway was targeted using CDKN2A/p16 overexpressing vectors and shRNA against CDK4 in chondrosarcoma cell lines OUMS27, SW1353, and CH2879. Cell survival and proliferation were assessed. CDK4, MDM2 and c‐MYC expression levels were investigated by qPCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 34 fresh frozen and 90 FFPE samples of enchondroma and chondrosarcoma patients. On a subset of 29 high‐grade chondrosarcomas IHC for cyclin D1, p21 and p53 was performed. The overexpression of CDKN2A/p16 and knockdown of CDK4 by shRNA in OUMS27, SW1353 and CH2879 resulted in a significant decrease in cell viability and proliferation and a decreased ability to form colonies in vitro. Expression of CDK4 and MDM2 was associated with high‐grade chondrosarcoma both at the mRNA and protein level. Combining these results with the expression of cyclin D1 and the previously shown loss of CDKN2A/p16 expression show that the majority (96%; 28/29) of high‐grade chondrosarcomas contain alterations in the pRb pathway. This suggests a role for the use of CDK4 inhibitors as a treatment of metastatic or inoperable high‐grade chondrosarcoma.
Assessment of embryonic myocardial cell differentiation using a dual fluorescent reporter system
Authors: McMullen Nichole M. , Zhang Feixiong , Pasumarthi Kishore B.S.
Published: July 2008

Recent studies have identified the existence of undifferentiated myocardial cells during early embryonic as well as post‐natal stages of heart development. While primitive cells present in the precardiac mesoderm can differentiate into multiple cell types of the cardiovascular system, the developmental potential of undifferentiated cells identified in the ventricular myocardium after chamber formation is not well characterized. A deeper understanding of mechanisms regulating myocardial cell differentiation will provide further insights into the normal and pathological aspects of heart development. Here, we showed that Nkx2.5 positive and sarcomeric myosin negative cells were predominantly localized in the right ventricular myocardium of CD1 mice at E11.5 stage. We confirmed that myocardial regions negative for saromeric myosin were also devoid of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF). These observations are consistent with our previous study, which showed that ANF expression is restricted to moderately differentiated and mature myocardial cells in E11.5 myocardium of C3H/FeJ mice. Further, we found that the receptor c‐Kit, a marker for early embryonic myocardial progenitor cells, is not expressed in the undifferentiated cells of the E11.5 myocardium. To monitor the differentiation potential of Nkx2.5+/ANF− cells in vitro, we developed a novel double fluorescent reporter system. Subsequently, we confirmed that the majority of Nkx2.5+/ANF− cells expressed mature myocyte markers such as sarcomeric myosin, MLC2V and alpha‐cardiac actin after 48 hrs in culture, albeit at lower levels compared to Nkx2.5+/ANF+ or Nkx2.5−/ANF+ cell populations. Our results suggest that fluorescent reporters under the control of lineage‐specific promoters can be used to study myocardial cell differentiation in response to various exogenous or pharmacological agents.
Successful treatment of a patient with lymphocyte‐predominant Hodgkin’s lymphoma with yttrium‐90‐ibritumomab tiuxetan
Authors: Zojer Niklas , Mirzaei Siroos , Ludwig Heinz
Published: July 2008

Lymphocyte‐predominant Hodgkin’s lymphoma (LPHL) is known to be radiosensitive, and radiotherapy often forms part of the treatment of patients with stage III or IV LPHL. In addition, as LPHL is thought to arise from a germinal centre B‐cell, and LPHL cells express the B‐cell marker CD20 there is a rationale for using anti‐CD20 therapies for the treatment of LPHL. We report a 42‐yr‐old man with stage III B LPLH who underwent successful treatment of LPHL with 90Y‐ibritumomab tiuxetan. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the use of an anti‐CD20 radiolabeled antibody for the treatment of LPHL.
Prognostic significance of p53 and matrix metalloproteinase‐9 expression in follicular lymphoma
Authors: Pennanen Heli , Kuittinen Outi , Soini Ylermi , Turpeenniemi‐Hujanen Taina
Published: July 2008

Objectives:  p53 mutations and high protein expression are associated with adverse prognosis in several lymphoma subtypes. Matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) has also been found to correlate with poor survival in all lymphomas studied. The data concerning the clinical role of protein expression of p53 or gelatinases and their inhibitors in follicular lymphoma are rare. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic and clinical implications of the immunoreactive proteins p53, MMP‐2, MMP‐9, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase‐1 (TIMP‐1) and TIMP‐2 in follicular lymphoma.

Methods:  The material consisted of 67 patients with primarily non‐transformed follicular lymphoma. Diagnostic lymph node tissue sections of patients were stained by immunohistochemical method using specific monoclonal antibodies.

Results:  p53 over‐expression was detected in 8 (12%) out of 67 cases. p53 over‐expression correlated with high grade (P = 0.011), bulky tumour (P = 0.031) and forthcoming transformation (P = 0.001). It also correlated with poor overall (P = 0.001) and cause‐specific survival (P = 0.010) in multivariate analysis and had a strong inverse correlation with time to transformation (P < 0.001). MMP‐2, MMP‐9 and TIMP‐2 expression correlated with high grade. MMP‐9 positivity in centroblasts correlated with good chemotherapy response (P = 0.019), but it was not prognostic for survival. MMP‐2, TIMP‐1 or TIMP‐2 did not associate with survival, either.

Conclusions:  In this study, p53 over‐expression predicted both transformation to diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma and poorer overall and cause‐specific survival of patients with follicular lymphoma. Expression of gelatinases or their inhibitors did not have any significant correlations with prognosis, although MMP‐9 predicted a good response to first‐line chemotherapy.
Understanding the mechanistic basis in rheumatoid arthritis for clinical response to anti‐CD20 therapy: the B‐cell roadblock hypothesis
Authors: Silverman Gregg J. , Boyle David L.
Published: July 2008

Summary: With the clinical introduction of the anti‐CD20 antibody rituximab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), B‐cell‐targeted therapy has become an accepted strategy for the treatment of a common chronic inflammatory disease. From recently reported synovial biopsy studies, we can begin to develop a pathophysiologic model of the sequential synovial cellular and molecular changes induced by rituximab infusions. These findings may explain how the rapid and early depletion of CD20‐bearing B cells may later lead to the more far‐reaching histopathologic changes that are associated with clinical responsiveness. Anti‐CD20 antibody treatments may therefore affect the representation of not only mature B lymphocytes and differentiated immunoglobulin‐secreting cells but also infiltrating cells such as synovial macrophages and fibroblast‐like synoviocytes. In light of the known prominence of recirculating memory B cells in RA pathogenesis, we propose that clinical efficacy also in part reflects the development of an effective blockade of the recirculation of potentially pathologic B cells that may prevent reseeding of pathologic synovial ectopic lymphoid tissues.
Manipulating the immune system for anti‐tumor responses and transplant tolerance via mixed hematopoietic chimerism
Authors: Gibbons Carrie , Sykes Megan
Published: July 2008

Summary: Stem cells (SCs) with varying potentiality have the capacity to repair injured tissues. While promising animal data have been obtained, allogeneic SCs and their progeny are subject to immune‐mediated rejection. Here, we review the potential of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to promote immune tolerance to allogeneic and xenogeneic organs and tissues, to reverse autoimmunity, and to be used optimally to cure hematologic malignancies. We also review the mechanisms by which hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) can promote anti‐tumor responses and establish donor‐specific transplantation tolerance. We discuss the barriers to clinical translation of animal studies and describe some recent studies indicating how they can be overcome. The recent achievements of durable mixed chimerism across human leukocyte antigen barriers without graft‐versus‐host disease and of organ allograft tolerance through combined kidney and bone marrow transplantation suggest that the potential of this approach for use in the treatment of many human diseases may ultimately be realized.
Space radiation‐induced inhibition of neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus and memory impairment in mice: ameliorative potential of the melatonin metabolite, AFMK
Authors: Manda Kailash , Ueno Megumi , Anzai Kazunori
Published: July 2008

Abstract:  Evaluation of potential health effects from high energy charged particle radiation exposure during long duration space travel is important for the future of manned missions. Cognitive health of an organism is considered to be maintained by the capacity of hippocampal precursors to proliferate and differentiate. Environmental stressors including irradiation have been shown to inhibit neurogenesis and are associated with the onset of cognitive impairments. The present study reports on the protective effects of N1‐acetyl‐N2‐formyl‐5‐methoxykynuramine (AFMK), a melatonin metabolite, against high energy charged particle radiation‐induced oxidative damage to the brain. We observed that radiation exposure (2.0 Gy of 500 MeV/nucleon 56Fe beams, a ground‐based model of space radiation) impaired the spatial memory of mice at later intervals without affecting the motor activities. AFMK pretreatment significantly ameliorated these neurobehavioral ailments. Radiation‐induced changes in the population of immature and proliferating neurons in the dentate gyrus were localized using anti‐doublecortin (Dcx) and anti‐Ki‐67 expression. AFMK pretreatment significantly inhibited the loss of Dcx and Ki‐67 positive cells. Moreover, AFMK pretreatment ameliorated the radiation‐induced augmentation of protein carbonyls and 4‐hydroxyalkenal + malondialdehyde (MDA + HAE) in the brain and maintained the total antioxidant capacity of plasma and nonprotein sulfhydryl contents in brain.
Toxoplasma gondii Uses Unusual Sorting Mechanisms to Deliver Transmembrane Proteins into the Host‐Cell Vacuole
Authors: Gendrin Claire , Mercier Corinne , Braun Laurence , Musset Karine , Dubremetz Jean‐François , Cesbron‐Delauw Marie‐France
Published: July 2008

A critical step in infection by the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is the formation of a membrane‐bound compartment within which the parasite proliferates. This process relies on a set of secretory organelles that discharge their contents into the host cell upon invasion. Among these organelles, the dense granules are specialized in the export of transmembrane (TM) GRA proteins, which are major components of the mature parasitophorous vacuole (PV) membrane. How eukaryotic pathogens export and sort membrane‐bound proteins destined for the host cell is still poorly understood at the mechanistic level. In this study, we show that soluble trafficking of the PV‐targeted GRA5 TM protein is parasite specific: when expressed in mammalian cells, GRA5 is targeted to the plasma membrane and behaves as an integral membrane protein with a type I toplogy. We also demonstrate the dual role of the GRA5 N‐terminal ectodomain, which is sufficient to prevent membrane integration within the parasite and is essential for both sorting and post‐secretory membrane insertion into the vacuolar membrane. These results contrast with the general rule that states that information contained within the cytoplasmic tail and/or the TM domain of integral membrane proteins dictates their cellular localization. They also highlight the diversity of sorting mechanisms that leads to the specialization of secretory processes uniquely adapted to intracellular parasitism.
Savings and extinction of conditioned eyeblink responses in fragile X syndrome
Authors: Smit A. E. , Van Der Geest J. N. , Vellema M. , Koekkoek S. K. E. , Willemsen R. , Govaerts L. C. P. , Oostra B. A. , De Zeeuw C. I. , VanderWerf F.
Published: July 2008

The fragile X syndrome (FRAXA) is the most widespread heritable form of mental retardation caused by the lack of expression of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). This lack has been related to deficits in cerebellum‐mediated acquisition of conditioned eyelid responses in individuals with FRAXA. In the present behavioral study, long‐term effects of deficiency of FMRP were investigated by examining the acquisition, savings and extinction of delay eyeblink conditioning in male individuals with FRAXA. In the acquisition experiment, subjects with FRAXA displayed a significantly poor performance compared with controls. In the savings experiment performed at least 6 months later, subjects with FRAXA and controls showed similar levels of savings of conditioned responses. Subsequently, extinction was faster in subjects with FRAXA than in controls. These findings confirm that absence of the FMRP affects cerebellar motor learning. The normal performance in the savings experiment and aberrant performance in the acquisition and extinction experiments of individuals with FRAXA suggest that different mechanisms underlie acquisition, savings and extinction of cerebellar motor learning.
LAPAROSCOPICALLY IMPLANTED TISSUE EXPANDER RADIOTHERAPY IN CANINE TRANSITIONAL CELL CARCINOMA
Authors: MURPHY SEAN , GUTIÉRREZ ALONSO , LAWRENCE JESSICA , BJORLING DALE , MACKIE THOMAS , FORREST LISA
Published: July 2008

Organ motion and injury to adjacent structures limit curative treatment of intraabdominal tumors with external beam radiotherapy. We evaluated the use of Laparoscopically Implanted Tissue Expander Radiotherapy (LITE‐RT) to exclude critical structures during irradiation of the urinary bladder in two dogs with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) using helical tomotherapy. Dogs had histologically confirmed bladder TCC with no metastasis. A custom‐shaped tissue expander was placed between the colon and bladder laparoscopically in one dog and during laparotomy in the other. The prescribed radiation dose was 45 Gy to 98% volume of the bladder in 18 fractions of 2.5 Gy. Tumor response and normal tissue effects were monitored with cystoscopy and colonic biopsies before treatment and 3, 6, and 15 months after treatment. Based on treatment plans from inflated vs. deflated tissue expander CT images, there was a mean dose reduction to the colon of 53% and 31% for the two dogs. Interfractional target repositioning was possible by using volumetric megavoltage computed tomography helical tomotherapy. Both dogs had no clinical signs of chronic colitis but did experience mild cystitis during treatment. Tissue expanders became detached, requiring an additional surgery for reattachment, in both dogs. One dog developed a fibrous adhesion resulting in bladder rupture during inflation, which necessitated early device removal. One dog was euthanized for tumor‐associated ureteral obstruction at 8 months while the other is alive at 21 months. We conclude that LITE‐RT shows promise in treatment of canine bladder TCC due to lack of acute colitis and enteritis.
Effects of watering regime and depth of burial on seedling emergence of four dominant psammophytes in the Mu Us sandy land, Inner Mongolia, China, and relevance to revegetation of a desertified region
Authors: Zheng M.Q. , Zheng Y.R. , Zhou G.S. , Wu Y.Z. , An P. , Baskin C.C. , Baskin J.M.
Published: July 2008

Four dominant psammophyte species are air‐seeded in attempts to revegetate the Mu Us sandy land in Inner Mongolia, but seedling emergence is low. This study sought to clarify the behaviour of seedling emergence under different water supply and sand burial regimes to improve the technology of air seeding. Seeds were buried in sand at depths of 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3 and 5 cm and supplied one time with 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 15, 20, 30 or 40 mm of water or with 2.5 mm once every 3 days for 30 days. Our study showed that a 0.5‐cm burial depth and under 10‐ to 20‐mm single‐watering regimes resulted in highest seedling emergence percentage and rate of these four species. All emerged seedlings of Caragana korshinskii, Hedysarum laeve and Artemisia ordosica died under 2.5, 5 and 7.5 mm of watering, respectively, but seedling mortality was <50% when the single‐watering regime was >10 mm. In the field, germination of the four species increased from the top of the dune to the middle of the leeward side and then to the bottom. Based on precipitation pattern in the Mu Us sandy land, our study indicates that 0.5‐cm burial depth and a single‐watering regime of >7.5 mm is the threshold condition for seedling emergence.
DEVELOPMENT OF A ROTARY PULVERIZER FOR CASSAVA CAKE IN GARI PRODUCTION
Authors: SANNI L.A. , OGUNSINA B.S. , OLADIGBO C.
Published: July 2008

The use of a raffia sieve for pulverizing and sifting cassava cake during gari processing is slow, unhygienic and hazardous. A rotary brush and screen mechanism was developed for the pulverization of cassava cake with a view to eliminate the above‐mentioned limitations of the existing methods. Machine performance was measured by comparing the product from the raffia sieve with that from a rotary sifter. The 5‐mm screen aperture gave a gari of about the same bulk density with that of the raffia sieve. Although the throughput of the rotary sifter using a 5‐mm sieve (227.71 kg/h) was lower than that of a 7‐mm sieve (350 kg/h), the uniformity coefficient of 1.72 using the 5‐mm sieve compared favorably with that of the raffia sieve. The pulverizing efficiency was higher (81.2%), with the 5‐mm sieve than with the 7‐mm sieve. The higher pulverizing efficiency of the machine reduces the drudgery associated with the pulverization of pressed cassava cake and improves productivity.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

This research reduces the drudgery and hazard associated with the pulverization and sifting of cassava cake during gari processing in rural West Africa, where the bulk of the world's gari is being processed manually.
DETERMINING THE MOISTURE TRANSFER PARAMETERS DURING THE AIR‐DRYING OF MANGO SLICES USING BIOT–DINCER NUMBERS CORRELATION
Authors: CORZO OTONIEL , BRACHO NELSON , ALVAREZ CARLOS , RIVAS VIVIANA , ROJAS YARILIS
Published: July 2008

Application of the correlation between Biot (Bi) and Dincer numbers for determining the moisture transfer parameters during the air‐drying of mango slices at different maturity stages was investigated. The air‐drying was carried out at temperatures of 50, 60, 70 and 80C, and velocities of 1.80 or 1.91 m/s. The moisture diffusion coefficient, Bi number and moisture transfer coefficient ranged between 1.04 × 10−10 and 8.50 × 10−10 m2/s, between 0.100 and 0.112 and between 1.07 × 10−8 and 7.72 × 10−8 m/s, respectively. The predicted dimensionless moisture content profiles showed adequate agreement with the experimental observations, with the mean relative error between 8.72 and 15.02%.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Drying is one of the most widely used unit operations in the industry. Because drying is an energy‐intensive operation, it has become the prime concern of the researchers to optimize process conditions, which leads to energy savings. Toward this goal, accurate determination of moisture transfer parameters for the drying operation is essential. There is a large amount of studies available in the literature to determine and calculate these parameters for the products subjected to drying. But, limited studies have been carried outto determine these parameters using the drying process parameters in terms of G and S as first introduced by Dincer and Dost.
ESTIMATION OF MOISTURE SORPTION ISOTHERMS IN KERMAN PISTACHIO NUTS
Authors: TAVAKOLIPOUR HAMID , KALBASI‐ASHTARI AHMAD
Published: July 2008

Various postharvesting processes such as handling, drying, storing and transportation of pistachio nuts are affected by their equilibrium moisture content (EMC). The static gravimetric method, along with different saturated salt solutions, was used in a range of water activity of 0.11–0.88, and at 15, 25, 35 and 40C to obtain sorption isotherms of pistachio nuts. Each set of sorption data was fitted to six mathematical equations, including Brunauer, Emmett and Teller; Guggenheim, Anderson and De Boer; Smith; Oswin; Halsey; and Henderson. The Smith model gave the most appropriate results (fitness) over the entire range of the mentioned temperatures. The isosteric sorption heats were determined for adsorption and desorption of pistachio nuts using the relevant thermodynamic relations (i.e., Clausius–Clapeyron equation). Based on experimental sorption data, a noticeable hysteresis effect between adsorption and desorption processes was observed, and their EMC plots were significantly deviated and different from each other.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The rehydration rate of pistachio kernels and powder when they are mixed with various ice creams, desserts and confectionary products depends mainly on their sizes, temperature, and water activity. These factors have considerable effects on texture properties and release of flavor of pistachio's final products. To enhance the organoleptic properties of the above‐mentioned products, it is important to choose proper sizes of pistachio kernels. Since hysteresis and binding energy of pistachio powder are less than those of pistachio kernels, especially at 15°C, its rehydration rate is faster, and therefore it releases more flavor to the product (water activity in the range of 0.2–0.7) than pistachio kernels. However, the crunchy taste in pistachio powder is less than that in pistachio kernels. Overall, more research is needed to choose proper sizes of pistachio kernels for mixing with different products (such as ice cream) to keep their high crispness and maximize their flavor‐releasing process during rehydration, and also to use minimum energy for cooling and freezing.
Total and methylmercury intake associated with fish consumption in Bahrain
Authors: Freije Afnan , Awadh Maysoon
Published: July 2008

This study was performed to determine the total mercury (T‐Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in five fish species: Scomberomorus commerson, Siganus canaliculatus, Epinephelus coioides, Lethrinus nedulosus and Sardinella albella. The highest mean concentrations of T‐Hg and MeHg (0.126±0.009 and 0.123±0.010 mg/kg wet weight, respectively) were found in the carnivorous fish S. commerson, whereas the lowest concentrations were determined in the herbivorous fish S. albella (0.029±0.005 and 0.028±0.005 mg/kg wet weight, respectively). MeHg was the major form of mercury accumulated in fish, comprising more than 94.6% of the T‐Hg in fish samples examined in this study. The overall mean concentrations of T‐Hg and MeHg found in the species studied were generally lower than those reported in earlier studies in the region and did not exceed international limits (0.5 and 0.3 mg/kg wet weight, respectively). The overall mean of T‐Hg intake from fish was estimated to be 0.0003 mg/kg/week, which is less than the threshold level set by the World Health Organization (WHO) (0.0016 mg/kg/week).
The potential use of hydrogen peroxide in water well rehabilitation
Authors: Brassington F. C. , Whitter J. P. , Macdonald R. A. , Dixon J.
Published: July 2008

A water supply borehole in the Sherwood Sandstone aquifer in Warrington, UK was found to be infested with iron bacteria that resulted in large ochreous deposits and damaged the pump. Before the pump was replaced, the borehole was treated using hydrogen peroxide. Comparison of the borehole condition seen in CCTV surveys carried out before and after treatment shows that previously observed bacterial growths had been removed. A specific capacity curve was constructed from step test data and used to assess the borehole yield under operational conditions. This showed that the iron bacteria had increased drawdown by some 20% and that the treatment had restored the previous yield characteristics. The improvement is thought to be due to a mechanical scrubbing effect caused by the vigorous release of oxygen bubbles during the decay of the peroxide.
Rural Emergency Department Staffing and Participation in Emergency Certification and Training Programs
Authors: Casey Michelle M. , Wholey Douglas , Moscovice Ira S.
Published: July 2008

ABSTRACT: 
Context:

The practice of emergency medicine presents many challenges in rural areas. Purpose: We describe how rural hospitals nationally are staffing their Emergency Departments (EDs) and explore the participation of rural ED physicians and other health care professionals in selected certification and training programs that teach skills needed to provide high‐quality emergency care. Methods: A national telephone survey of a random sample of rural hospitals with 100 or fewer beds was conducted in June to August 2006. Respondents included ED nurse managers and Directors of Nursing. A total of 408 hospitals responded (96% response rate). Findings: A majority of rural hospitals use more than one type of staffing to cover the ED. The type of staffing varies by time period and ED volume. On weekdays, about onethird of hospitals use physicians on their own medical staff; one third use contracted coverage; 18% use both; and 14% use physician assistants and/or nurse practitioners with a physician on‐call. Hospitals are more likely to use a combination of medical staff and contracted coverage on evenings and weekends. Advanced Cardiac Life Support training is common, but Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support, and training in working as a team are less common. More registered nurses working in rural EDs have taken the Trauma Nursing Core Course than the Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course. Conclusions: Rural ED staff would benefit from additional continuing education opportunities, particularly in terms of specialized skills to care for pediatric emergency patients and trauma patients and training in working effectively in teams.
Connecting Atmosphere and Wetland: Energy and Water Vapour Exchange
Authors: Lafleur Peter M.
Published: July 2008

Wetlands are ubiquitous over the globe, comprise a vast array of ecosystem types and are of great ecological and social importance. Their functioning is intimately tied to the atmosphere by the energy and mass exchanges that take place across the wetland–atmosphere boundary. This article examines recent research into these exchanges, with an emphasis on the water vapour exchange. Although broad classes of wetland type, such as fen, bog and marsh, can be defined using ecological or hydrologic metrics, distinct difference in energy exchanges between the classes cannot be found. This arises because there are many factors that control the energy exchanges and interplay of these factors is unique to every wetland ecosystem. Wetlands are more similar in their radiation balances than in the partitioning of this energy into conductive and turbulent heat fluxes. This is especially true of evapotranspiration (ET) rates, which vary considerably among and within wetland classes. A global survey of wetland ET studies shows that location has little to do with ET rates and that variation in rates is largely determined by local climate and wetland characteristics. Recent modelling studies suggest that although wetlands occupy a small portion of the global land surface, their water and energy exchanges may be important in regional and global climates. Although the number of studies of wetland–atmosphere interactions has increased in recent years more research is needed. Five key areas of study are identified: (i) the importance of moss covers, (ii) lack of study in tropical systems, (iii) inclusion of wetlands in global climate models, (iv) importance of microforms in wetlands and their scaling to the whole ecosystem, and (v) the paucity of annual ET measurements.
Device Diagnostics for Heart Failure: Identifying Eligible Patients
Authors: Menefee Felicia , Rathman Lisa , Sibert Leigh
Published: July 2008

The prevalence of heart failure has increased by 500% over the past 30 years, creating a significant burden on the health care system. Traditional means of detecting worsening heart failure, such as subjective assessment, symptoms, and physical examination, lack sensitivity and specificity. Many nurses who manage heart failure patients have become interested in the role implantable cardiac devices play in monitoring patients' clinical status. In addition to providing therapies, some devices track and report diagnostic information that allows clinicians to more closely and effectively monitor patients, with the possibility of helping to prevent hospitalizations and improve patient outcomes. Optimal use of device diagnostics requires clinics to establish systems for recognizing patients who are eligible for device monitoring. This paper highlights various methods clinics have used to identify patients with implantable cardiac devices so that their device data can be used in conjunction with clinical evaluations to help guide patient care.
Development and characterization of microsatellite markers in Populus euphratica (Populaceae)
Authors: WU YUXIA , WANG JUAN , LIU JIANQUAN
Published: July 2008

In this study, we developed 12 microsatellite loci for Populus euphratica and checked their variability in 27 individuals. The number of alleles for 12 loci ranged from five to nine, the observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.32 to 0.48 and from 0.53 to 0.67. Frequencies of null alleles of all loci are not significantly greater than zero. None of the loci showed significant deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. No significant linkage disequilibrium was observed between pairs of studied loci. These markers are useful in studies of population genetic structure of P. euphratica.
New microsatellite markers isolated from mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek)
Authors: SOMTA PRAKIT , MUSCH WARUNEE , KONGSAMAI BUPPA , CHANPRAME SONTICHAI , NAKASATHIEN SUTKHET , TOOJINDA THEERAYUT , SORAJJAPINUN WORAWIT , SEEHALAK WORAPA , TRAGOONRUNG SOMVONG , SRINIVES PEERASAK
Published: July 2008

In this study, we reported the isolation and analysis of new polymorphic microsatellites in mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek). Twelve out of 210 primer pairs screened in 30 mungbean accessions gave polymorphism. The polymorphic markers detected two to three alleles per locus with an average of 2.08. Observed heterozygosity varied from 0 to 0.133, while expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.095 to 0.498. Tests for Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) and pairwise linkage disequilibrium of the polymorphic loci revealed that all loci except MB‐SSR14 significantly departed from HWE and four pairwise combinations, viz. MB‐SSR14 vs. MB‐SSR42, MB‐SSR42 vs. MB‐SSR87, MB‐SSR114 vs. MB‐SSR121, and MB‐SSR175 vs. MB‐SSR231 significantly deviated from linkage disequilibrium. The markers are being used to study genetic diversity and genome mapping of mungbean.
Gouty polyarthritis with sacroiliitis: a rare association and insight into newer management and dietary strategies
Authors: JAIN Neeraj , DUGGAL Lalit , GUPTA Deni
Published: July 2008

A 40 years male, chronic alcoholic, hypothyroid and hypertensive, presented with long‐standing polyarticular joint pain and tophi with resultant difficulty in walking and pain in the left gluteal region. He was found to have involvement of both sacroiliac joints, left hip joint, ankles, knees, hands and elbows. The patient improved with steroids and colchicine; allopurinol was continued in preadmission dosage.
Rapidly progressing central nervous system involvement despite of steroid pulse therapy in a case of systemic lupus erythematosus presented as mononeuritis multiplex
Authors: GOTO Akiko , KONDO Makoto , MINAUCHI Koichiro , KOIZUMI Kazuki , MUKAI Masaya
Published: July 2008

A 31‐year‐old‐woman with a 6‐month history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was admitted because of severe mononeuritis multiplex. Although she initially responded well with steroid pulse therapy, she developed unconsciousness again 3 weeks later just after a second course of steroid pulse. Laboratory evaluations revealed a high titre of anti‐DNA antibody, low complement levels, and positive lupus anticoagulant. She was treated with intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse therapy with immediate response. The clinical course of central nervous system involvement was very unusual for the response to steroid pulse therapy.
Evidence of a role for melatonin in fetal sheep physiology: direct actions of melatonin on fetal cerebral artery, brown adipose tissue and adrenal gland
Authors: Torres‐Farfan Claudia , Valenzuela Francisco J. , Mondaca Mauricio , Valenzuela Guillermo J. , Krause Bernardo , Herrera Emilio A. , Riquelme Raquel , Llanos Anibal J. , Seron‐Ferre Maria
Published: July 2008

Although the fetal pineal gland does not secrete melatonin, the fetus is exposed to melatonin of maternal origin. In the non‐human primate fetus, melatonin acts as a trophic hormone for the adrenal gland, stimulating growth while restraining cortisol production. This latter physiological activity led us to hypothesize that melatonin may influence some fetal functions critical for neonatal adaptation to extrauterine life. To test this hypothesis we explored (i) the presence of G‐protein‐coupled melatonin binding sites and (ii) the direct modulatory effects of melatonin on noradrenaline (norepinephrine)‐induced middle cerebral artery (MCA) contraction, brown adipose tissue (BAT) lypolysis and ACTH‐induced adrenal cortisol production in fetal sheep. We found that melatonin directly inhibits the response to noradrenaline in the MCA and BAT, and also inhibits the response to ACTH in the adrenal gland. Melatonin inhibition was reversed by the melatonin antagonist luzindole only in the fetal adrenal. MCA, BAT and adrenal tissue displayed specific high‐affinity melatonin binding sites coupled to G‐protein (Kd values: MCA 64 ± 1 pm, BAT 98.44 ± 2.12 pm and adrenal 4.123 ± 3.22 pm). Melatonin binding was displaced by luzindole only in the adrenal gland, supporting the idea that action in the MCA and BAT is mediated by different melatonin receptors. These direct inhibitory responses to melatonin support a role for melatonin in fetal physiology, which we propose prevents major contraction of cerebral vessels, restrains cortisol release and restricts BAT lypolysis during fetal life.
Vesicular apparatus, including functional calcium channels, are present in developing rodent optic nerve axons and are required for normal node of Ranvier formation
Authors: Alix James J. P. , Dolphin Annette C. , Fern Robert
Published: July 2008

P/Q‐type calcium channels are known to form clusters at the presynaptic membrane where they mediate calcium influx, triggering vesicle fusion. We now report functional P/Q channel clusters in the axolemma of developing central axons that are also associated with sites of vesicle fusion. These channels were activated by axonal action potentials and the resulting calcium influx is well suited to mediate formation of a synaptic style SNARE complex involving SNAP‐25, that we show to be located on the axolemma. Vesicular elements within axons were found to be the sole repository of vesicular glutamate in developing white matter. The axonal vesicular elements expressed the glutamate transporter V‐ATPase, which is responsible for vesicular glutamate loading. The P/Q channel α1A subunit was found to be present within the axolemma at early nodes of Ranvier and deleterious mutations of the α1A subunit, or an associated α2δ‐2 subunit, disrupted the localization of nodal proteins such as voltage‐gated sodium channels, β IV spectrin and CASPR‐1. This was associated with the presence of malformed nodes of Ranvier characterized by an accumulation of axoplasmic vesicles under the nodal membrane. The data are consistent with the presence of a vesicular signalling pathway between axons and glial cells that is essential for proper development of the node of Ranvier.
N
2
O
5
Oxidizes Chloride to Cl
2
in Acidic Atmospheric Aerosol
Authors: Roberts James M. , Osthoff Hans D. , Brown Steven S. , Ravishankara A. R.
Published: July 2008

Molecular chlorine (Cl
2
) is an important yet poorly understood trace constituent of the lower atmosphere. Although a number of mechanisms have been proposed for the conversion of particle-bound chloride (Cl
‐
) to gas-phase Cl
2
, the detailed processes involved remain uncertain. Here, we show that reaction of dinitrogen pentoxide (N
2
O
5
) with aerosol-phase chloride yields Cl
2
at low pH (<2) and should constitute an important halogen activation pathway in the atmosphere.
A Global View of Gene Activity and Alternative Splicing by Deep Sequencing of the Human Transcriptome
Authors: Sultan Marc , Schulz Marcel H. , Richard Hugues , Magen Alon , Klingenhoff Andreas , Scherf Matthias , Seifert Martin , Borodina Tatjana , Soldatov Aleksey , Parkhomchuk Dmitri , Schmidt Dominic , O'Keeffe Sean , Haas Stefan , Vingron Martin , Lehrach Hans , Yaspo Marie-Laure
Published: July 2008

The functional complexity of the human transcriptome is not yet fully elucidated. We report a high-throughput sequence of the human transcriptome from a human embryonic kidney and a B cell line. We used shotgun sequencing of transcripts to generate randomly distributed reads. Of these, 50% mapped to unique genomic locations, of which 80% corresponded to known exons. We found that 66% of the polyadenylated transcriptome mapped to known genes and 34% to nonannotated genomic regions. On the basis of known transcripts, RNA-Seq can detect 25% more genes than can microarrays. A global survey of messenger RNA splicing events identified 94,241 splice junctions (4096 of which were previously unidentified) and showed that exon skipping is the most prevalent form of alternative splicing.
The Crystal Structure of a Sodium Galactose Transporter Reveals Mechanistic Insights into Na
+
/Sugar Symport
Authors: Faham Salem , Watanabe Akira , Besserer Gabriel Mercado , Cascio Duilio , Specht Alexandre , Hirayama Bruce A. , Wright Ernest M. , Abramson Jeff
Published: July 2008

Membrane transporters that use energy stored in sodium gradients to drive nutrients into cells constitute a major class of proteins. We report the crystal structure of a member of the solute sodium symporters (SSS), the
Vibrio parahaemolyticus
sodium/galactose symporter (vSGLT). The ∼3.0 angstrom structure contains 14 transmembrane (TM) helices in an inward-facing conformation with a core structure of inverted repeats of 5 TM helices (TM2 to TM6 and TM7 to TM11). Galactose is bound in the center of the core, occluded from the outside solutions by hydrophobic residues. Surprisingly, the architecture of the core is similar to that of the leucine transporter (LeuT) from a different gene family. Modeling the outward-facing conformation based on the LeuT structure, in conjunction with biophysical data, provides insight into structural rearrangements for active transport.
Calcineurin Localizes to the Hyphal Septum in
Aspergillus fumigatus
: Implications for Septum Formation and Conidiophore Development
Authors: Juvvadi Praveen Rao , Fortwendel Jarrod R. , Pinchai Nadthanan , Perfect B. Zachary , Heitman Joseph , Steinbach William J.
Published: July 2008

A functional calcineurin A fusion to enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), CnaA-EGFP, was expressed in the
Aspergillus fumigatus
Δ
cnaA
mutant. CnaA-EGFP localized in actively growing hyphal tips, at the septa, and at junctions between the vesicle and phialides in an actin-dependent manner. This is the first study to implicate calcineurin in septum formation and conidiophore development of a filamentous fungus.
Borrelia burgdorferi vlsE
Antigenic Variation Is Not Mediated by RecA
Authors: Liveris Dionysios , Mulay Vishwaroop , Sandigursky Sabina , Schwartz Ira
Published: July 2008

RecA is a key protein linking genetic recombination to DNA replication and repair in bacteria. Previous functional characterization of
Borrelia burgdorferi
RecA indicated that the protein is mainly involved in genetic recombination rather than DNA repair. Genetic recombination may play a role in
B. burgdorferi
persistence by generation of antigenic variation. We report here the isolation of a
recA
null mutant in an infectious
B. burgdorferi
strain. Comparison of the in vitro growth characteristics of the mutant with those of the wild-type strain under various conditions showed no significant differences. While the RecA mutant was moderately more sensitive to UV irradiation and mitomycin C than the wild-type strain, the lack of RecA abolished allelic exchange in the mutant. Absence of RecA did not affect the ability of the mutant to infect mice. However, the RecA mutant was attenuated for joint infection in competitive-infection assays with the wild-type strain.
vlsE
sequence variation in mice was observed in both wild-type and RecA mutant spirochetes, indicating that the mechanism of antigenic variation is not homologous genetic recombination.
A MONTE CARLO ASSISTED SIMULATION OF STOCHASTIC MOLECULAR DYNAMICS FOR FOLDING OF THE PROTEIN CRAMBIN IN A VISCOUS ENVIRONMENT
Authors: TANERI SENCER
Published: July 2008

We investigate the folding dynamics of the plant-seed protein Crambin in a liquid environment, that usually happens to be water with some certain viscosity. To take into account the viscosity, necessitates a stochastic approach. This can be summarized by a 2D-Langevin equation, even though the simulation is still carried out in 3D. Solution of the Langevin equation will be the basic task in order to proceed with a Molecular Dynamics simulation, which will accompany a delicate Monte Carlo technique. The potential wells, used to engineer the energy space assuming the interaction of monomers constituting the protein-chain, are simply modeled by a combination of two parabola. This combination will approximate the real physical interactions, that is given by the well known Lennard–Jones potential. Contributions to the total potential from torsion, bending and distance dependent potentials are good to the fourth nearest neighbor. The final image is in a very good geometric agreement with the real shape of the protein chain, which can be obtained from the protein data bank. The quantitative measure of this agreement is the similarity parameter with the native structure, which is found to be 0.91 < 1 for the best sample. The folding time can be determined from Debye-relaxation process. We apply two regimes and calculate the folding time, corresponding to the elastic domain mode, which yields 5.2 ps for the same sample.
ON THE TAPERING FACTOR FOR WIDE-BAND CASCADED AMPLIFIERS
Authors: ELNOZAHI MOHAMED , MASSOUD YEHIA
Published: July 2008

Designing wide-band amplifiers has become one of the important issues in wireless and optical high-performance System-on-Chip applications. In this paper, we present a newly developed analytical tapering factor that determines the optimal size of each stage of the cascaded amplifier. The utilization of our developed tapering factor can lead to a significant improvement in the amplifier bandwidth as compared with the standard cascaded amplifier unity tapering factor.
HISTORY AND PROGRESS OF THE TOW–THOMAS BI-QUADRATIC FILTER PART I: GENERATION AND OP AMP REALIZATIONS
Authors: SOLIMAN AHMED M.
Published: July 2008

The history of Tow–Thomas second-order filter is reviewed. Two alternative generation methods of the Tow–Thomas filter are discussed. The first is a generation method from the second-order passive RLC filter and the second is from the multiple feedbacks inverting low-pass filter using a single op amp. Several forms of the circuit are briefly reviewed. Passive and active compensation methods to improve the circuit performance for high-Q designs are summarized. Spice simulation results are included.