bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prognostic significance of the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF‐C in gastric carcinoma
Authors: Ichikura Takashi , Tomimatsu Soichi , Ohkura Eiji , Mochizuki Hidetaka
Published: August 2002

Background and Objectives:

Angiogenic factors play a major role in tumor growth and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to clarify the prognostic significance of the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF‐C in gastric carcinoma.

Methods:

Formalin‐fixed and paraffin embedded sections of tumor tissue were obtained from 76 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining for VEGF and VEGF‐C was performed.

Results:

VEGF and VEGF‐C were positively expressed in 39 and 45% of the patients, respectively. No correlation existed between VEGF and VEGF‐C expressions. VEGF expression was significantly correlated with venous invasion. VEGF‐C expression was significantly correlated with lymphatic and venous invasion. Patients with positive staining for VEGF showed a significantly lower survival rate than VEGF negative patients. After subdivision, according to the combination of VEGF and VEGF‐C expression, VEGF‐C expression had a significant unfavorable impact on prognosis among patients with negative staining for VEGF. The expression of VEGF and/or VEGF‐C was independent prognostic determinant by the multivariate survival analysis.

Conclusion:

The positive expression for VEGF and/or VEGF‐C was an important prognostic determinant after curative gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma. VEGF‐C may stimulate the tumor progression in the absence of VEGF. J. Surg. Oncol. 2001;78:132–137. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Preoperative positivity of serum tumor markers is a strong predictor of hematogenous recurrence of gastric cancer
Authors: Marrelli Daniele , Pinto Enrico , De Stefano Alfonso , de Manzoni Giovanni , Farnetani Maurizio , Garosi Lorenzo , Roviello Franco
Published: August 2002

Background and Objectives

Preoperative positivity of serum tumor markers has been reported to be a prognostic factor in several neoplasms. The aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the correlation between CEA, CA 19‐9, and CA 72‐4 preoperative serum levels and the site of recurrence after curative surgery for gastric cancer.

Methods

One hundred sixty‐seven patients resected for primary gastric cancer between January 1988 and June 1996 were considered. All patients were followed‐up according to the same protocol, with a mean follow‐up time of 45 ± 39 months (range: 2–130). The correlation between marker positivity and the incidence of recurrence was studied by means of univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

A tumor recurrence was found in 92 patients (55.1%). For each of the three markers, preoperative positivity was related to a higher incidence of hematogenous recurrences with respect to negative cases; univariate analysis also revealed a higher incidence of locoregional recurrences in CA 72‐4‐positive cases. At multivariate analysis, preoperative positivity for one or more tumor markers proved to be an independent predictor of hematogenous recurrences (P < 0.005, relative risk [RR] 4.82), in addition to lymph node involvement (P < 0.05, RR 3.82); no correlation between marker positivity and the onset of locoregional or peritoneal recurrences was found.

Conclusions

Preoperative positivity for CEA, CA 19‐9 or CA 72‐4 is an independent risk factor for hematogenous recurrences of gastric carcinoma; this aspect should be considered in the option of using adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery for gastric cancer. J. Surg. Oncol. 2001;78:253–258. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of neutral α ‐amino acids by sodium N‐chloro‐p‐toluenesulfonamide in acid medium
Authors: Rangappa K. S. , Manjunathaswamy K. , Raghavendra M. P. , Made Gowda N. M.
Published: August 2002

Kinetics of oxidation of α ‐amino acids, glycine, valine, alanine, and phenylalanine, by sodium N‐chloro‐p‐toluenesulfonamide or chloramine‐T (CAT) has been investigated in HClO4 medium at 30°C. The rate shows first‐order dependence on both CAT and amino acid concentrations and an inverse first‐order on [H+]. The variation of ionic strength and the addition of p‐toluenesulfonamide and Cl− ion had no effect on the reaction rate. Decrease of dielectric constant of the medium by increasing the MeOH content decreased the rate. Rate studies in D2O medium showed the inverse solvent‐isotope effect of kD2O/kH2O=0.50. Proton‐inventory studies were carried out using H2O–D2O mixtures. The activation parameters have been computed. The proposed mechanism and the derived rate law are consistent with the observed kinetic data. An isokinetic relationship is observed with β=323 K, indicating enthalpy as a controlling factor. The rate of oxidation increases in the following order: Gly < Val < Phe < Ala. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 49–55, 2002
Hydrophobicity dependence of oxidation of tetrapeptides of elastin sequences with Mn(III): Synthesis, characterization, kinetics, and mechanistic study
Authors: Kempe Gowda B. K. , Prasad H. S. , Rangappa K. S. , Channe Gowda D.
Published: August 2002

The analogues of elastin sequences, glycyl‐glycyl‐alanyl‐proline (GGAP), glycyl‐glycyl‐phenylalanyl‐proline (GGFP), and glycyl‐glycyl‐isoleucyl‐proline (GGIP) were synthesized by classical solution phase method and characterized. The kinetics of oxidation of these tetrapeptides (TETP) by Mn(III) has been studied in the presence of sulphate ions in acidic solution at 25°C. The reaction was followed spectrophotometrically at λmax = 500 nm. A first‐order dependence of rate on both [Mn(III)] and [TETP] was observed. The rate is independent of the concentration of the reduction product, Mn(II), and hydrogen ions. The effects of varying the dielectric constant of the medium and addition of anions such as sulphate, chloride, or perchlorate were studied. Activation parameters have been evaluated using Arrhenius and Erying plots. The oxidation products were isolated and characterized. A mechanism involving the reaction of TETP with Mn(III) in the rate‐limiting step is suggested. An apparent correlation was noted between the rate of oxidation and the hydrophobicity of these sequences, where increased hydrophobicity results in increased rate of oxidation. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 39–48, 2002
Erratum: “Kinetics of the cyclopentadiene decay and the recombination of cyclopentadienyl radicals with H‐atoms: Enthalpy of formation of the cyclopentadienyl radical”, Int J Chem Kinet 2001, 33, 821
Authors: Roy K. , Braun‐Unkhoff M. , Frank P. , Just Th.
Published: August 2002

This erratum is being published to correct a compositor error in a previous issue. None of the requested author changes were made in the published version. Those changes are detailed below and are made in the following reprint of the article containing the original pagination. Corrected versions of the article can be ordered from Dr. Marina Braun‐Unkhoff, at the following address: Institut für Verbrennungstechnik, DLR‐Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 38‐40, D‐70569 Stuttgart, Germany. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 209–222, 2002; DOI 10.1002/kin.10044

Page 821:

The affiliation should read: DLR Institut für Verbrennungstechnik, Pfaffenwaldring 38‐40, D‐70569 Stuttgart, Germany

In line 10 of the abstract the reference should read: (Phys Chem, in press)

Page 822:

In the first column, first full paragraph, line 18, the reference [8b] should be inserted following et al.

Page 825:

In the first column, first full paragraph, line 25, the comma after modeling should be removed.

Page 827:

The title of Table V should be: Enthalpies of Formation

Page 829:

In the second column, line 3, EMBED should be removed

In the same column, line 8, the word ‘and’ should be moved to a position before 〈ΔE〉all(0)

In lines 19 & 21 EMBED should be removed

Page 831:

In the second column, line 9, EMBED should be removed
Kinetics of the reaction of NO2 with a macrocyclic nickel complex
Authors: Bakac Andreja
Published: August 2002

The kinetics of the reaction between NO2 and ([14]aneN4)Ni2+ were determined by laser flash photolysis. The NO2 was generated in two independent reactions, one of which is based on the photochemistry of (NH3)5CoNO22+, and the other on the photochemistry of HNO2/NO2−. The results from both sets of experiments yielded a consistent value for the rate constant, k1 = 1.2 × 108 M−1 s−1 in aqueous solutions at pH 1–4. There was no evidence for the reverse reaction. NO2 reacts with Feaq2+ more slowly, kFe ∼ 2 × 105 M−1 s−1. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 278–281, 2002
Reactions of platinum(II) dipicolinate complex with amino acids—chelation and isomerization
Authors: Dey Sukalpa , Banerjee Pradyot
Published: August 2002

The kinetic course of the reactions of [Pt(dipictr)Cl]− (where H2dipic = pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid; bonded in tridentate mode) with glycine, β‐alanine, and L‐histidine was followed at 25°C in aqueous medium at pH 3.00–10.73 at I = 0.5 mol dm−3 (LiClO4) spectrophotometrically and through 1H NMR spectral analysis. The selectivity of platinum(II) toward the amino acids with regard to chelation and isomerization is controlled by donor atoms and steric properties. The aquation equilibrium of the designated platinum(II) complex also affects the binding rate in the case of glycine and β‐alanine. The reaction products have been isolated and characterized through 1H NMR spectra. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 262–270, 2002
Multivariate analysis of laryngeal fluorescence spectra recorded in vivo
Authors: Eker Charlotta , Rydell Roland , Svanberg Katarina , Andersson‐Engels Stefan
Published: August 2002

Background and Objective

The potential of using various multivariate analysis methods for classification of fluorescence spectra acquired in vivo from laryngeal tissues in Patients was investigated.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

Autofluorescence spectra were measured on 29 normal tissue sites and 25 laryngeal lesions using 337‐nm excitation. Four different multivariate analysis schemes were applied. Laryngeal fluorescence spectra from patients who had been administered δ‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA) were obtained using 405‐nm excitation and were classified using partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA).

Results

For autofluorescence spectra, logistic regression based on principal component analysis (PCA) or PLS, or PLS‐DA all resulted in sensitivities and specificities around 90% for lesion vs. normal. Using ALA and 405‐nm excitation gave a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 69%.

Conclusion

Multivariate analysis of fluorescence spectra could allow classification of laryngeal lesions in vivo with high sensitivity and specificity. PLS performs at least as well as PCA, and PLS‐DA performs as well as logistic regression techniques on these data. Lasers Surg. Med. 28:259–266, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Analytical method to examine the effects of carbon dioxide lasers on skin: A study using wrinkles induced in hairless mice
Authors: Fujimura Tsutomu , Takema Yoshinori , Moriwaki Shigeru , Tsukahara Kazue , Imokawa Genji , Yamada Akira , Imayama Syuhei
Published: August 2002

Background and Objective

Investigation of the wrinkle smoothing process elicited by CO2 laser treatment is important for understanding the mechanism involved in their repair.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

Hairless mice with wrinkles induced in their dorsal skin by long‐term exposure to ultraviolet radiation in the wavelength range of 290–320 nm were treated with a CO2 laser. By using this model, we investigated the external appearance, histologic changes, and the mechanical properties of the skin during the wrinkle repair.

Results

Laser treatment with an appropriate intensity caused wrinkles to smooth completely. In the healing process, reepithelialization and collagen tissue regeneration in the upper dermis was observed. However, marked changes in the skin were noted, such as increases in the collagen layer and in the skin thickness, and changes in the mechanical properties of the skin, despite the favorable external appearance.

Conclusions

An abnormal state characterized by excessive collagen regeneration and other changes in the dermis occur concomitantly with wrinkle smoothing. Lasers Surg. Med. 28:348–354, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Role of matrix metalloproteinase‐9 in progression of mouse skin carcinogenesis
Authors: Papathoma Alexandra S. , Zoumpourlis Vassilis , Balmain Allan , Pintzas Alexander
Published: August 2002

Invasion of malignant tumor cells is required for the formation of metastatic colonies. Uncontrolled expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐2 and MMP‐9 is a critical part of the invasive potential of tumor cells and is affected by the balance between the enzymes and the inhibitors secreted by the cell. Here we analyzed the expression and activity of the two gelatinases (MMP‐2 and MMP‐9) as well as the expression levels of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP2)‐, in different stages of carcinogenesis using mouse skin cell lines derived from tumors induced by chemical mutagens. Our results suggested that the expression of MMP‐9 was implicated in the progression to spindle cell carcinomas in mouse keratinocytes. MMP‐2 levels remained steady in all cell lines, whereas levels of TIMP‐2 were increased in normal and spindle cells. The AP‐1 DNA binding and transcriptional activity on the MMP‐9 promoter were increased in the malignant cell lines, indicating the requirement of this binding site for its activation. The results of this study clearly suggested the important role of MMP‐9, but not of MMP‐2, in the metastatic properties of mouse keratinocytes. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inositol hexaphosphate inhibits ultraviolet B–induced signal transduction
Authors: Chen Nanyue , Ma Wei‐Ya , Dong Zigang
Published: August 2002

Inositol hexaphosphate (InsP6) has an effective anticancer action in many experimental models in vivo and in vitro. Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is believed to be responsible for many of the carcinogenic effects related to sun exposure, and alteration in UVB‐induced signal transduction is associated with UVB‐induced carcinogenesis. Here we report the effects of InsP6 on UVB‐induced signal transduction. InsP6 strongly blocked UVB‐induced activator protein‐1 (AP‐1) and NF‐κB transcriptional activities in a dose‐dependent manner. InsP6 also suppressed UVB‐induced AP‐1 and nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB) DNA binding activities and inhibited UVB‐induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinases (Erks) and c‐Jun NH2‐terminal kinases (JNKs). Phosphorylation of p38 kinases was not affected. InsP6 also blocked UVB‐induced phosphorylation of IκB‐α, which is known to result in the inhibition of NF‐κB transcriptional activity. InsP6 does not block UVB‐induced phosphotidylinositol‐3′ (PI‐3) kinase activity, suggesting that the inhibition of UVB‐induced AP‐1 and NF‐κB activities by InsP6 is not mediated through PI‐3 kinase. Because AP‐1 and NF‐κB are important nuclear transcription factors that are related to tumor promotion, our work suggests that InsP6 prevents UVB‐induced carcinogenesis by inhibiting AP‐1 and NF‐κB transcription activities. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Encephalomyelitis with rigidity complicating human immunodeficiency virus infection
Authors: Lannuzel Annie , Hermann Cécile , Yousry Chérine , Lees Andrew , Caparros‐Lefebvre Dominique
Published: August 2002

A 34‐year‐old man with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) presented with axial rigidity, painful spasms, and delayed hemiparesis and dementia. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed no antiglutamic acid dehydrogenase antibodies but viral genome from Epstein‐Barr virus was detected by polymerase chain reaction. Clinical features and possible viral aetiology of progressive encephalomyelitis with rigidity are briefly discussed.© 2001 Movement Disorder Society
Acute effects of bilateral subthalamic nucleus stimulation on clinical and kinematic parameters in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Carella F. , Genitrini S. , Bressanelli M. , Soliveri P. , Servello D. , Broggi G. , Piacentini S. , Geminiani G. , Girotti F.
Published: August 2002

After implantation with subthalamic stimulators, nine patients with advanced Parkinson's disease were studied on the task of tracing out, as accurately as possible, the four corners of a square with the dominant hand. The task was performed in four treatment conditions: on stimulation‐off medication, off stimulation‐off medication, off stimulation‐on medication, and on stimulation‐on medication. Movement times and peak velocities improved significantly only in the on stimulation‐on medication condition compared to off stimulation‐off medication. The improvement in clinical parameters with stimulation only (relative to off stimulation off medication) was of borderline significance, while consistent and significant clinical improvement was only obtained with addition of medication (on medication‐on stimulation). This study provides quantitative evidence of the effect of subthalamic stimulation on kinematic measures in Parkinson's disease (PD) and suggests that combined treatment (medication and stimulation) is superior to either treatment alone. © 2001 Movement Disorder Society.
Intracortical inhibition is reduced in a patient with a lesion in the posterolateral thalamus
Authors: Münchau Alexander , Orth Michael , Rothwell John C. , Di Lazzaro Vincenzo , Oliviero Antonio , Profice Paolo , Tonali Pietro , Pramstaller Peter P. , Bhatia Kailash P.
Published: August 2002

We describe a patient who developed a complex movement disorder following an ischemic lesion in the right posterolateral thalamus. Transcranial magnetic stimulation showed a shortening of the cortical silent period and deficient cortico‐cortical inhibition using paired magnetic pulses on the affected side, indicating reduced effectiveness of intracortical inhibitory mechanisms. © 2001 Movement Disorder Society.
Video microsurgery: Early experience with an alternative operating magnification system
Authors: Southern S.J. , Ramakrishnan V. , Villofane O. , Watt D.A.L. , Sharpe D.T.
Published: August 2002

Since Nylen first used an operating microscope in 1921, its basic design has remained fundamentally unchanged. Microsurgical procedures are still performed while viewing the subject through binocular eyepieces. This article examines the potential to perform microsurgery using video technology, operating with a television monitor. The development of the videomicroscope is discussed together with its early trials. The results show the potential to perform simple microsurgical procedures while viewing the procedure in a two‐dimensional format. The advantages and disadvantages of such a system are discussed, together with future implications. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. MICROSURGERY 21:63–69 2001
Multiresolution grid algorithm in the SBR and its application to the RCS calculation
Authors: Suk Sungha , Seo Tae‐Il , Park Hae‐Sung , Kim Hyo‐Tae
Published: August 2002

We present a fast algorithm to calculate the radar cross section (RCS) of electrically large targets using a shooting‐and‐bouncing rays (SBR) method. By applying multiresolution grid ray tubes, we accelerate the ray tracing in the SBR. The numerical results illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of our proposed algorithm. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 29: 394–397, 2001.
STRAFI imaging of paramagnetic solids: 31P paramagnetic displacements
Authors: Randall Edward W. , Samoilenko Andrei A. , Fu Riqiang
Published: August 2002

One‐dimensional stray field (STRAFI) profiles of 31P in phantoms containing, variously, calcium hydroxyapatite, calcium orthophosphate and cobaltous phosphate octahydrate were obtained in a STRAFI field of 11.7 T on a 19.6 T magnet at 206 MHz. The intrinsic spatial resolution with the apatite and orthophosphate samples was about 100 mum. The profile of the image from the paramagnetic cobaltous sample was displaced to high field by 1.2 MHz. The spatial resolution for the cobalt component was degraded because of the large linewidth of ∼0.6 MHz. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rescue of infertile transgenic rat lines by intracytoplasmic injection of cryopreserved round spermatids
Authors: Hirabayashi Masumi , Kato Megumi , Aoto Toshihiro , Ueda Masatsugu , Hochi Shinichi
Published: August 2002

Transgenic male rats carrying human α‐lactalbumin with thymidine kinase gene (line name; LAC3) were found to be infertile due to expression of the transgene in the testes. Furthermore, it was not possible to maintain the line even by the use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Therefore, round spermatids prepared from the LAC3 rats were microinjected into strontium‐activated oocytes using a Piezo‐driven micromanipulator. Of 263 oocytes microinjected with LAC3 spermatids, 244 (92.8%) survived the injection and 96 (39.3%) developed to the 2‐cell stage. Three viable offspring were born after transfer (1.4%, 3/219), and two offspring carried the LAC3 transgene. In the control experiment using spermatids of Wistar rats, similar proportions of post‐injection survival (91.3%, 241/264), cleavage (40.2%, 97/241), and development into offspring (0.5%, 1/206) were obtained. Thus, this paper reports not only the first rat offspring derived from round spermatid injection but also the practical application of the microinsemination technique to the rescue of transgenes of infertile transgenic male rats. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 62: 295–299, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
RF inhomogeneity compensation in structural brain imaging
Authors: Deichmann R. , Good C.D. , Turner R.
Published: August 2002

Three‐dimensional T1‐weighted magnetization‐prepared rapid gradient‐echo (MP‐RAGE) sequences with centric phase encoding (PE) in the inner loop provide structural brain images with a high spatial resolution and high tissue contrast. A disadvantage of this sequence type is the susceptibility to inhomogeneities of the radiofrequency (RF) coil, which may result in poor image contrast in some peripheral regions. A special excitation pulse is presented which compensates for these effects in both the head/foot and anterior/posterior directions. This pulse has a duration of only 1.3 ms and is thus compatible with the short repetition times (TRs) required for MP‐RAGE imaging. It is shown experimentally that images acquired with the compensation pulse may be segmented without using intensity correction algorithms during data postprocessing. Magn Reson Med 47:398–402, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Diffusion tensor imaging of the developing mouse brain
Authors: Mori Susumu , Itoh Ryuta , Zhang Jiangyang , Kaufmann Walter E. , van Zijl Peter C.M. , Solaiyappan Meiyappan , Yarowsky Paul
Published: August 2002

It is shown that diffusion tensor MR imaging (DTI) can discretely delineate the microstructure of white matter and gray matter in embryonic and early postnatal mouse brains based on the existence and orientation of ordered structures. This order was found not only in white matter but also in the cortical plate and the periventricular zone, which are precursors of the cerebral cortex. This DTI‐based information could be used to accomplish the automated spatial definition of the cortical plate and various axonal tracts. The DTI studies also revealed a characteristic evolution of diffusion anisotropy in the cortex of the developing brain. This ability to detect changes in the organization of the brain during development will greatly enhance morphological studies of transgenic and knockout models of cortical dysfunction. Magn Reson Med 46:18–23, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quantitative evaluation of nonrepetitive phase‐encoding orders for first‐pass, 3D contrast‐enhanced MR angiography
Authors: Wilman Alan H. , Yep Timothy C.H. , Al‐Kwifi Osama
Published: August 2002

In this work, a detailed quantitative comparison was made of many alternative phase‐encoding strategies for first‐pass 3D MR angiography where each phase encode is only sampled once during the transient passage of contrast agent. A series of standard sequential and centric phase‐encoding orders including elliptical centric were tested, as well as a new order called elliptical sequential. The characteristics of the different phase‐encoding orders were tested using a computer simulation followed by experimental verification using a variable flip angle scheme. The characteristics to be considered included: arterial intensity, arterial‐to‐venous contrast, degree of artifact, and the blurring of the point‐spread function. By making use of a wide range of start times and a rapidly varying contrast curve, the quantitative results clearly indicate the widely varying merits of each phase‐encoding order. In general, when an optimal start time is used techniques that sample the low k‐space views most compactly will produce the best results; however, the same methods are more problematic when the bolus arrival time deviates substantially from that expected. Magn Reson Med 46:541–547, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Subcutaneous microdialysis in mitochondrial cytopathy
Authors: Damian Maxwell Simon , Sauter Wolfgang , Reichmann Heinz
Published: August 2002

We present the results of subcutaneous microdialysis, a new minimally invasive biochemical monitoring technique, in mitochondrial cytopathy. We studied 6 ambulatory patients with mitochondrial cytopathy and 6 controls without mitochondrial disease using a subcutaneous probe for continuous microdialysis, and obtained measurements of lactate, pyruvate, and glucose from samples gathered at 30–60 min intervals during the day and at 3‐h intervals at night. The lactate:pyruvate ratio (LPR) was calculated and related to disease severity and metabolic stress. Microdialysis was well tolerated. Controls had stable lactate and pyruvate values in the normal range and a low LPR (average values between 0.0114 and 0.0145). Patients had widely fluctuating lactate and pyruvate values, a higher average LPR between 0.0187 and 0.0724, and marked diurnal variation, especially in the severely affected patients. Increases in the LPR coincided with metabolic stress in individual cases. We conclude that subcutaneous microdialysis is well tolerated and enables continuous metabolic monitoring of patients with mitochondrial cytopathy. It has particular potential for use in the identification of metabolic risk factors and may help to assess the impact of therapeutic regimens. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 24: 648–653, 2001
Clinical utility of dorsal sural nerve conduction studies
Authors: Killian James M. , Foreman P. Jay
Published: August 2002

A technique of testing sensory nerve conduction of the dorsal sural nerve in the foot was used in 38 normal subjects and 70 patients with peripheral neuropathies. The normal dorsal sural sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) had a mean amplitude of 8.9 μV (range 5–15 μV), mean latency to negative peak of 4.0 ms (range 3.2–4.7 ms), and mean conduction velocity of 34.8 m/s (range 30–44 m/s). Optimal placement of the recording electrodes to obtain a maximal nerve action potential was proximal to digits 4 and 5. Cooling to below 25°C prolonged the latency but did not decrease the SNAP amplitude. Among the patients with peripheral neuropathy, dorsal sural SNAP was absent in 68 (97%), whereas only 54 (77%) showed abnormalities of sural sensory conduction. The diagnostic sensitivity of sensory nerve conduction studies in peripheral neuropathies may be significantly improved by the use of this technique for evaluating the action potential of the dorsal sural nerve. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 24: 817–820, 2001
Features of the blink reflex in individuals at risk for Huntington's disease
Authors: de Tommaso Marina , Sciruicchio Vittorio , Spinelli Antonella , Specchio Nicola , Difruscolo Olimpia , Puca Francomichele , Specchio Luigi Maria
Published: August 2002

The aim of the study was to correlate the features of the blink reflex (BR) with the genetic abnormalities and the clinical findings in patients with Huntington's disease (HD) and asymptomatic gene carriers. Twenty patients with HD and 20 relatives were studied. Mutation analysis was performed for the CAG expansion within the HD gene using HD 333–HD 447 as oligonucleotide primers. The BR was elicited transcutaneously by electrical stimulation of the right supraorbital nerve. The recovery curve of the R2 and R3 responses after a conditioning stimulus was evaluated. R2 latency and duration and R3 duration were significantly increased in HD patients and in presymptomatic carriers in comparison with controls; reduced R2 recovery was also clear in both HD and gene‐carrier relatives. In HD patients, the R2 latency increase correlated significantly with the severity of facial chorea. The R2 abnormalities are probably caused by impaired suprasegmental control by the basal ganglia over brainstem interneurons, which may precede the onset of involuntary movements, probably conditioning the severity of facial chorea during development of the disease.
© 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 24: 1520–1525, 2001
Dipolar source modeling of the P300 event‐related potential after somatosensory stimulation
Authors: Valeriani Massimiliano , Fraioli Lucia , Ranghi Francesca , Giaquinto Salvatore
Published: August 2002

The cerebral generators of the P300 potential evoked by somatosensory stimuli were investigated. Event‐related potentials elicited by an oddball paradigm were recorded in 15 healthy subjects by 19 scalp electrodes. Nontarget and target electric stimuli were delivered on the anterior surface of the left elbow and of the wrist, respectively. Target traces showed an N140 potential followed by a widely distributed P300 response. Dipolar source modeling of target traces resulted in a six‐dipole model. In the earlier latency range (up to 200 ms), one dipole in the contralateral perirolandic region and two dipoles in the parasylvian cortex of both hemispheres were activated. Two dipolar sources located bilaterally in the medial temporal region (MTR) showed their maximal activity at the P300 latency. Finally, a dipole in the contralateral frontal lobe was activated both at the latency of the N140 response and after 200 ms. It was found that two symmetrical MTR sources and a frontal dipole contributed to P300 generation. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 24: 1677–1686, 2001
Numerical modelling of fluid flow in microscopic images of granular materials
Authors: Masad E. , Muhunthan B. , Crowe C.
Published: August 2002

A program for the simulation of two‐dimensional (2‐D) fluid flow at the microstructural level of a saturated anisotropic granular medium is presented. The program provides a numerical solution to the complete set of Navier–Stokes equations without a priori assumptions on the viscous or convection components. This is especially suited for the simulation of the flow of fluids with different density and viscosity values and for a wide range of granular material porosity.

The analytical solution for fluid flow in a simple microstructure of porous medium is used to verify the computer program. Subsequently, the flow field is computed within microscopic images of granular material that differ in porosity, particle size and particle shape. The computed flow fields are shown to follow certain paths depending on air void size and connectivity. The permeability tensor coefficients are derived from the flow fields, and their values are shown to compare well with laboratory experimental data on glass beads, Ottawa sand and silica sands. The directional distribution of permeability is expressed in a functional form and its anisotropy is quantified. Permeability anisotropy is found to be more pronounced in the silica sand medium that consists of elongated particles. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A polynomial algorithm for a constrained traveling salesman problem
Authors: Rubinstein J.H. , Thomas D.A. , Wormald N.C.
Published: August 2002

We give a polynomial‐time algorithm for finding a solution to the Traveling Salesman Problem when the points given are constrained to lie on a fixed set of smooth curves of finite length. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Regulated vnd expression is required for both neural and glial specification in Drosophila
Authors: Mellerick Dervla M. , Modica Victoria
Published: August 2002

The Drosophila embryonic CNS arises from the neuroectoderm, which is divided along the dorsal‐ventral axis into two halves by specialized mesectodermal cells at the ventral midline. The neuroectoderm is in turn divided into three longitudinal stripes—ventral, intermediate, and lateral. The ventral nervous system defective, or vnd, homeobox gene is expressed from cellularization throughout early neural development in ventral neuroectodermal cells, neuroblasts, and ganglion mother cells, and later in an unrelated pattern in neurons. Here, in the context of the dorsal‐ventral location of precursor cells, we reassess the vnd loss‐ and gain‐of‐function CNS phenotypes using cell specific markers. We find that over expression of vnd causes significantly more profound effects on CNS cell specification than vnd loss. The CNS defects seen in vnd mutants are partly caused by loss of progeny of ventral neuroblasts—the commissures are fused and the longitudinal connectives are aberrantly positioned close to the ventral midline. The commissural vnd phenotype is associated with defects in cells that arise from the mesectoderm, where the VUM neurons have pathfinding defects, the MP1 neurons are mis‐specified, and the midline glia are reduced in number. vnd over expression results in the mis‐specification of progeny arising from all regions of the neuroectoderm, including the ventral neuroblasts that normally express the gene. The CNS of embryos that over express vnd is highly disrupted, with weak longitudinal connectives that are placed too far from the ventral midline and severely reduced commissural formation. The commissural defects seen in vnd gain‐of‐function mutants correlate with midline glial defects, whereas the mislocalization of interneurons coincides with longitudinal glial mis‐specification. Thus, Drosophila neural and glial specification requires that vnd expression by tightly regulated. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 50: 118–136, 2002; DOI 10.1002/neu.10022
Neural cell differentiation from retinal pigment epithelial cells of the newt: An organ culture model for the urodele retinal regeneration
Authors: Ikegami Yoko , Mitsuda Sanae , Araki Masasuke
Published: August 2002

Transdifferentiation from retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) to neural retina (NR) was studied under a new culture system as an experimental model for newt retinal regeneration. Adult newt RPEs were organ cultured with surrounding connective tissues, such as the choroid and sclera, on a filter membrane. Around day 7 in vitro, lightly pigmented “neuron‐like cells” with neuritic processes were found migrating out from the explant onto the filter membrane. Their number gradually increased day by day. BrdU‐labeling study showed that RPE cells initiated to proliferate under the culture condition on day 4 in vitro, temporally correlating to the time course of retinal regeneration in vivo. Histological observations of cultured explants showed that proliferating RPE cells did not form the stratified structure typically observed in the NR but they rather migrated out from the explants. Neuronal differentiation was examined by immunohistochemical detection of various neuron‐specific proteins; HPC‐1 (syntaxin), GABA, serotonin, rhodopsin, and acetylated tubulin. Immunoreactive cells for these proteins always possessed fine and long neurite‐like processes. Numerous lightly pigmented cells with neuron‐like morphology showed HPC‐1 immunoreactivity. Fibroblast growth factor‐2 (FGF‐2), known as a potent factor for the transdifferentiation of ocular tissues in various vertebrates, substantially increased the numbers of both neuron‐like cells and HPC‐1‐like immunoreactive cells in a dose‐dependent manner. These results indicate that our culture method ensures neural differentiation of newt RPE cells in vitro and provides, for the first time, a suitable in vitro experimental model system for studying tissue‐intrinsic factors responsible for newt retinal regeneration. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 50: 209–220, 2002; DOI 10.1002/neu.10031
A new automatic hexahedral mesher based on cutting
Authors: Dhondt Guido
Published: August 2002

A new method is presented leading to a 20‐node brick element mesh for an arbitrary structure based on a triangulation of the structure's surface. Starting from a hexahedral master mesh encompassing the structure, the elements which are intersected by the triangulation are determined, cut and remeshed. The resulting hexahedral mesh can be tied to the underlying elements by multiple point constraints or can be continued throughout the complete structure leading to a pure 20‐node brick mesh. Several examples show the effectiveness of the method. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Shape optimization of axisymmetric preform tools in forging using a direct differentiation method
Authors: Vieilledent D. , Fourment L.
Published: August 2002

A method for computing shape sensitivity in the frame of non‐linear and non‐steady‐state forging is presented. Derivatives of tool geometry, velocity and state variables with respect to the shape parameters are calculated by a direct differentiation of discrete equations. Because of the important part played by the accuracy of finite element calculations, an efficient transfer method is used between meshes during remeshings and the contact algorithms are carefully differentiated. The resulting inverse design procedure is successfully applied to two industrial examples of forging of automobile parts, with fold‐over and piping defects occurring during the intermediate designs. It makes it possible to suggest reasonable preform shapes, with or without any available knowledge of the forging process. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A finite difference scheme for solving a three‐dimensional heat transport equation in a thin film with microscale thickness
Authors: Dai Weizhong , Nassar Raja
Published: August 2002

Heat transport at the microscale is of vital importance in microtechnology applications. The heat transport equation is different from the traditional heat diffusion equation since a second‐order derivative of temperature with respect to time and a third‐order mixed derivative of temperature with respect to space and time are introduced. In this study, we develop a finite difference scheme with two levels in time for the three‐dimensional heat transport equation. It is shown by the discrete energy method that the scheme is unconditionally stable. The three‐dimensional implicit scheme is then solved by using a preconditioned Richardson iteration, so that only a tridiagonal linear system is solved each iteration. Numerical results show that the solution is accurate. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Uniform convergence of Galerkin‐multigrid methods for nonconforming finite elements for second‐order problems with less than full elliptic regularity
Authors: Chen Zhangxin
Published: August 2002

In this article we prove uniform convergence estimates for the recently developed Galerkin‐multigrid methods for nonconforming finite elements for second‐order problems with less than full elliptic regularity. These multigrid methods are defined in terms of the “Galerkin approach,” where quadratic forms over coarse grids are constructed using the quadratic form on the finest grid and iterated coarse‐to‐fine intergrid transfer operators. Previously, uniform estimates were obtained for problems with full elliptic regularity, whereas these estimates are derived with less than full elliptic regularity here. Applications to the nonconforming P1, rotated Q1, and Wilson finite elements are analyzed. The result applies to the mixed method based on finite elements that are equivalent to these nonconforming elements. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 18: 203–217, 2002; DOI 10.1002/num.10004
Self‐report quality of life as a predictor of hospitalization for patients with LV dysfunction: A life course approach¶
Authors: Stull Donald E. , Clough Lynn A. , Van Dussen Daniel
Published: August 2002

For this secondary data analysis of a large clinical drug study, researchers investigated the independent prognostic utility of self‐report quality‐of‐life measures versus clinical measures for assessing patient risk for heart‐failure‐related hospitalization. The experience of heart failure varies over the life course; hence, four age groups were investigated. Quality‐of‐life measures, specifically health‐related quality‐of‐life and psychosocial quality‐of‐life measures, were found to be independent and significant predictors of heart‐failure‐related hospitalizations, as compared to traditional clinical indicators. In addition, the psychosocial quality‐of‐life measure varied by age group in its importance as a predictor of hospitalization, suggesting differential relevance over the life course. Specifically, psychosocial quality of life was most strongly predictive of hospitalization for those ages 21–44, was less predictive for those ages 45–54, and was nonsignificant for those 55–64 years of age and those 65 and over. Including self‐report quality‐of‐life measures provides a more complete picture of the factors associated with risk of hospitalization at different points in the life course for individuals with heart failure. These findings suggest that researchers and practitioners could use self‐report quality‐of‐life measures as additional prognostic indicators of a patient's condition and risk for heart‐failure‐related hospitalization, especially for younger patients. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Res Nurs Health 24:460–469, 2001
From refuge to refugee: the African case
Authors: Geisler Charles , De Sousa Ragendra
Published: August 2002

Human security and environmental security, often reinforcing, can be at odds. One instance arises when greenlining, the creation or expansion of relatively exclusionary protected areas, leads to the mass displacement of local communities and the creation of a new variant of ‘environmental refugees’. The present research employs several methods to estimate the magnitude of environmental refugees in Africa and suggests that they number in the millions. Country‐specific case studies are offered to lend historical context to these estimates. Environmentally oriented land reform is proposed as a partial mitigation for the social side effects of greenlining, and is briefly described in African and other settings. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Amorphous blends of poly(zwitterions) and zwitterionomers of the ammonioalkoxydicyanoethenolate type with some alkali metal salts
Authors: Galin Monique , Mathis André , Galin Jean‐Claude
Published: August 2002

Poly(zwitterions) and zwitterionomers of the ammonioethoxydicyanoethenolate type (functional dipolar unit R
3N+–(CH
2)
2–O–CO–C−–(CN)
2, µ = 25.9 D) show the very specific property of solvation of some alkali metal salts to yield amorphous blends. For homopolymers in the (meth)acrylic series, solvation is observed up to a ratio r = [salt]/[zwitterion] of 1 for LiClO
4 and NaSCN and of 0.5 for NaCF
3SO
3: it results in a significant plasticization (increasing order LiClO
4 < NaSCN < NaCF
3SO
3) and in the development in some cases of a poorly defined (lamellar?) local order, as evidenced by the presence of a single broad peak in the small‐angle x‐ray scattering (SAXS) patterns (Bragg distances of about 15–20 Å). For the amorphous blend of a biphasic poly(tetramethyleneoxide) segmented zwitterionomer and NaCF
3SO
3 (r = 0.5), selective solvation of the salt in the hard zwitterionic domains induces a transition from a lamellar structure (zwitterionic sublayer of about 9 Å thickness) to an hexagonal packing of ionic‐zwitterionic cylinders (radius of about 15 Å). Ionic conductivity, measured in a narrow range of temperature just above the glass transition temperature, is characterized for most systems by an activation energy of about 1–1.8 eV; the drastic decrease of the conductivity by a factor of 10
3, when going from the homopolymer to the zwitterionomer blends, is typical of the inhibition of the ionic percolation process by the lack of connectivity of the ionic‐zwitterionic domains. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of reaction condition on the oxidation of cumene catalyzed by polymer‐bound cobalt complexes
Authors: Lei Ziqiang , Han Xiangen , Wang Yunpu , Wang Rongmin , Feng Hanyu
Published: August 2002

Cumene (A) was oxidized by molecular oxygen in the presence of polymer‐bound cobalt complexes PSBPY‐Co (1), PSBPY‐Co‐bipy (2), PSBPY‐Co‐oxine (3) and PSBPY‐Co‐phen (4) (where PSBPY is polystyrene‐bound‐2,2′‐bipyridine, bipy is 2,2′‐bipyridine and phen is 1,10‐phenanthroline), affording dimethylphenylmethanol (B) and α‐methyl‐α‐phenylacetaldehyde (C) in the absence of solvent at 110 °C. The reaction rate ranged from 9.11 × 104 to 5.66 × 105 mL mol−1min−1 and the selectivity of B and C was 100%. Copyright ­© 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Expression of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) ligand superfamily co‐stimulatory molecules CD30L, CD27L, OX40L, and 4‐1BBL in murine hearts with acute myocarditis caused by Coxsackievirus B3
Authors: Seko Yoshinori , Takahashi Naoyuki , Oshima Hideo , Shimozato Osamu , Akiba Hisaya , Takeda Kazuyoshi , Kobata Tetsuji , Yagita Hideo , Okumura Ko , Azuma Miyuki , Nagai Ryozo
Published: August 2002

Antigen‐specific T‐cells infiltrate the heart and play an important role in the myocardial damage involved in acute myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy. To investigate the roles of the co‐stimulatory molecules CD30/CD30L, CD27/CD27L, OX40/OX40L, and 4‐1BB/4‐1BBL, which belong to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor/ligand superfamily, in the development of acute viral myocarditis, the expression of these molecules was first analysed in the hearts of mice with acute myocarditis induced by Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) in vivo. Secondly, the induction of these molecules was evaluated on cultured cardiac myocytes treated with interferon (IFN)‐γ and the interleukin (IL)‐6 production by cultured cardiac myocytes was analysed by stimulation with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against these molecules in vitro. Thirdly, the effects of in vivo administration of anti‐CD30L, anti‐CD27L, anti‐OX40L, or anti‐4‐1BBL MAb on the development of acute viral myocarditis were examined. CVB3‐induced myocarditis resulted in the induction of CD30L and 4‐1BBL on the surface of cardiac myocytes, confirmed by treatment with IFN‐γ in vitro. CD27L and OX40L were constitutively expressed on cardiac myocytes in vivo and in vitro. Anti‐CD30L and anti‐4‐1BBL MAbs stimulated IL‐6 production by cardiac myocytes in vitro. Furthermore, in vivo anti‐4‐1BBL MAb treatment significantly decreased the myocardial inflammation, whereas the other MAbs did not. These findings suggest that TNF ligand superfamily co‐stimulatory molecules, especially 4‐1BBL, play an important role in the development of acute viral myocarditis and raise the possibility that immunotherapy with anti‐4‐1BBL MAb may be of benefit in acute viral myocarditis. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.