bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metronidazole ototoxicity - report of two cases
Authors: Iqbal S. M. , Murthy J. G. , Banerjee P. K. , Vishwanathan K. A.
Published: November 2007

Two cases of bilateral moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss due to oral administration of metronidazole are reported. There has been only one case report of deafness following metronidazole therapy in the world literature. The hearing loss recovered gradually in a period of four to six weeks following withdrawal of drug and oral steroid therapy. The possible mechanism of ototoxicity is discussed. Awareness by the treating physician of ototoxicity due to any drug is stressed.
Adult tracheocele with large cervical presentation
Authors: Mathur N. N. , Sardana Pawan , Singh V. P. , Bais A. S.
Published: November 2007

A case is described in which a middle-aged male presented with a large tracheocele in the neck arising from the right postero-lateral aspect of trachea at the level of T2 vertebra. It was not associated with any predisposing factors and except for the swelling in the neck the patient was asymptomatic. It was excised completely through the cervical approach and there has been no recurrence in two years follow-up.
An unusual case of Pneumocystis carinii presenting as an aural mass
Authors: Patel Suresh K. , Philpott J. M. , McPartlin D. W.
Published: November 2007

Extrapulmonary involvement of organs with the protozoan Pneumocystis carinii is rare. We describe a case of Pneumocystis carinii presenting as an erosive aural mass in a young male patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. As far as the authors are aware such an example has never been described in a British journal and is the first case worldwide where otic pneumocystosis has extended into the middle cranial fossa. We also present a review of the literature on otological manifestations of Pneumocystis carinii.
Uncommon otological manifestations of nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Low W. K. , Goh Y. H.
Published: November 2007

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is significant for the otologist although the nasopharynx is located outside the anatomical confines of the ear. Middle-ear effusion resulting from NPC is well-known. There are however, other less common ear symptoms of NPC that many physicians are not sufficiently aware of. A personal series of patients with NPC presenting with uncommon symptoms relating to the ear is presented. These include NPC presenting as a) haemotympanum b) a peri-auricular mass c) referred sensation to the ear d) blocked ear e) barotrauma f) an ear polyp g) sudden sensorineural hearing loss. These symptoms may pose diagnostic difficulties, resulting in the diagnosis of NPC being delayed. It was concluded that a high index of suspicion for NPC is warranted in high risk patients presenting with unexplained otological symptoms.
The use of nasal endoscopy to control profuse epistaxis from a fracture of the basi-sphenoid in a seven-year-old child
Authors: Bateman N. , Jones N. S.
Published: November 2007

A seven-year-old child sustained a fracture of her basisphenoid resulting in profuse, life-threatening haemorrhage which could not be controlled with a post-nasal pack. The fracture site was identified using rigid endoscopy and packed with oxidized cellulose, resulting in immediate control of the haemorrhage. The use of the nasal endoscope in the management of posterior epistaxis is discussed.
Necrotizing fasciitis after peritonsillar abscess in an immunocompetent patient
Authors: Skitarelić Neven , Mladina Ranko , Matulić Zlatko , Kovačić Maruan
Published: November 2007

Cervical necrotizing fasciitis (CNF) is a rapidly progressive, severe bacterial infection of the fascial planes of the head and neck. Group A beta haemolytic Streptococcus spp. (GABHS), Staphylococcus spp., or obligatory anaerobic bacteria are the most common causative pathogens. The disease usually results from a dental source or facial trauma. Extensive fascial necrosis and severe systemic toxicity are common manifestations of CNF. Review of the literature reveals only seven such cases, with four successful outcomes.

The authors present the case of a 50-year-old immunocompetent female with CNF arising from a peritonsillar abscess. Intravenous immunoglobulins in conjunction with surgery and antibotics were used successfully.

The authors also suggest the importance of the early diagnosis, aggressive surgical debridement, broadspectrum antibiotics, and possible usefulness of the intravenous immunoglobulins in the treatment of CNF, especially when the disease is associated with toxic shock syndrome.
An unusual cutaneous presentation of Hodgkin's disease
Authors: De Grip A. , Schofield J. B. , Shotton J. C.
Published: November 2007

Hodgkin's disease is a neoplasm of lymphoid tissue defined histopathologically by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells in an appropriate cellular background. Hodgkin's disease extends only rarely into the skin. Sinus and fistula formation has been reported in very occasional cases. We now report a case of a 34-year-old woman presenting with a cutaneous lesion surrounding a discharging blind-ending sinus in the neck, subsequently diagnosed as Hodgkin's disease. To our knowledge this form of presentation of Hodgkin's disease has not been reported in the English literature before, and at the same time we would like to outline the difficulties in diagnosis encountered with these cutaneous lymphoid lesions.
Pre-treatment anaemia alters outcome in early squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx treated by radical radiotherapy
Authors: Grant D. G. , Hussain A. , Hurman D.
Published: November 2007

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of pre-treatment anaemia on tumour recurrence and survival in patients treated with primary radiotherapy for early squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. A retrospective analysis of 117 patients with previously untreated T1N0M0and T2N0M0squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx was carried out. Patients were considered anaemic if their pre-treatment haemoglobin levels were below 13 g/dl in males and 11.5 g/dl in females. The influence of pre-treatment haemoglobin levels on local control and survival were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression models.

Two- and five-year local-regional control estimates for anaemic patients were 58 per cent and 53 per cent respectively while patients with normal haemoglobin levels had two and five-year local-regional control rates of 90 per cent and 81 per cent respectively (p= 0.002). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed pre-treatment haemoglobin significantly influencing recurrence-free survival (p= 0.0094).

Patients with a low haemoglobin level prior to radiation therapy suffered higher levels of local-regional failure.
Spontaneous fracture of an ossified stylohyoid ligament
Authors: Blomgren Karin , Qvarnberg Yrjö , Valtonen Hannu
Published: November 2007

The stylohyoid ligament extends from the styloid process to the hyoid bone. For an unknown reason it occasionally ossifies and forms a solid structure which can break because of trauma or even spontaneously. Symptoms of the fracture may mimic tumours, foreign bodies, infections or neuralgia. In our cases a spontaneous fracture of totally ossified stylohyoid ligaments presented as a painful neck swelling. The diagnosis was achieved by an ortopantomographic radiograph. In both cases the healing was spontaneous and complete.
The changing faces of a parotid mass
Authors: Hehar S. S. , Dugar J. , Sharp J.
Published: November 2007

The development of a neurofibroma in the temporal and parotid regions of the facial nerve is rare. We report a case occurring in a 32-year-old male, where the initial presentation was a parotid mass. Cytologically this was initially thought to be a pleomorphic adenoma. However, the diagnosis was then changed to a schwannoma and finally a neurofibroma after complete excision of the lesion. The case illustrates how fine needle aspiration cytology under ultrasound guidance, and even histological examination of an incision biopsy can sometimes fail to give the correct diagnosis. In this case magnetic resonance imaging was used to help plan definitive surgery.
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour of the spinal accessory nerve
Authors: Ho T. P. , Samuel P. R. , Jeannon J-P. , McElroy J.
Published: November 2007

A 50-year-old man presented with a left-sided neck mass. Clinical examination revealed a large fluctuant 7 cm × 7 cm mass in the left posterior triangle. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an encapsulated soft tissue lesion. He underwent exploration of the neck and a 14 cm by 8 cm mass enfolding the accessory nerve was identified and completely excised. Histological examination of the surgical specimen showed features in keeping with a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour (MPNST). We present the clinical and pathological features, of this condition.
Carcinoma of the ear: a case report of a possible association with chlorinated disinfectants
Authors: Monem S. A. , Moffat D. A. , Frampton M. C.
Published: November 2007

In this report we present a case of squamous cell carcinoma developing in a mastoid cavity after prolonged exposure to the chemical disinfectant Eusol. The efficacy and safety of Eusol and other chloric acid (hypochlorous acid) derivatives in clinical use is debated.
Plexiform schwannoma of the cheek
Authors: Mannarà Giacinto M. , La Rosa Filippo C. , Marino Filippo
Published: November 2007

We present a case of subcutaneous plexiform schwannoma, a rare benign peripheral nerve sheath tumour characterized by a multinodular and plexiform growth pattern. A review of the literature was performed to identify the relationship between plexiform schwannoma and neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2, and schwannomatosis.

It is also important to distinguish plexiform schwannoma from plexiform neurofibroma, a particular type 1 neurofibromatosis lesion, because of the propensity of the latter for malignant degeneration.
Medical, surgical and audiological complications of the first 100 adult cochlear implant patients in Birmingham
Authors: Proops D. W. , Stoddart R. L. , Donaldson I.
Published: November 2007

Of the first 100 patients implanted on the Midland Cochlear Implant Programme the commonest aetiologies of deafness were idiopathic 31 per cent, meningitis 28 per cent and cochlear otosclerosis 16 per cent.

The major complication rate was three per cent. The most severe was one individual who post-operatively developed a cerebral infarct and subsequently died. The minor complication rate was 39 per cent, all of which successfully resolved, and included 11 cases of wound infection, nine cases of vertigo, three transient facial palsies and two post-operative bleeds.

Older patients and men were most likely to have a post-operative medical complication. Women were more likely to have an abnormal electrode insertion. Meningitis and otosclerosis were the most complicated aetiologies in terms of cochlear ossification and electrode insertion. A non-patient cochlea was associated with fewer active electrodes. In six cases which had been reported pre-operatively as showing patent cochleas, some form of obstructional ossification was encountered. Patients functioning with greater than 15 active electrodes performed better on auditory tests than patients with fewer than 15 active electrodes.
Quinsy following tonsillectomy (five case reports)
Authors: Randall C. J. , Jefferis A. F.
Published: November 2007

Five cases of post-tonsillectomy quinsy are presented, usually associated with tonsillar remnants. Foot of these had no pus and one did, but the clinical picture was the same. Hence, if tonsillectomy is performed to prevent further quinsies, it must be careful and complete.
Ossicular reconstruction—a new prosthesis
Authors: Kirtane M. V. , Parsram K. S. , Shah A. K. , Karnik P. P.
Published: November 2007

We have used human teeth for ossicular reconstruction in 20 tympanoplasties, the longest follow-up being over 2 years. The take of the graft and the hearing improvement have been very satisfactory and long-lasting. This preliminary report discusses the merits of the tooth as a prosthetic material for ossicular reconstruction. Our experience to-date indicates that the material satisfies all the criteria of an ideal prosthesis.
Auditory function in early syphilis A follow up study
Authors: Gun-Briti Löwhagen Ulf Rosenhall , Roupe Gösta
Published: November 2007

Abstract Twenty-six patients with secondary or early latent sypilis were examined by auditory brainstem reponse (ABR) audiometry and by pure tone audiometry before and after treatment. Normalization was registered in four of seven patients with pathological ABR before treatment, while in three patients the ABR abnormalities remained after treatment. Thirteen patients exhibited a sensorineural hearing-loss before treatment. In two patients this hearing-loss improved after treatment and a syphilitic etiology seems plausible. The reversible lesions in the auditory system may be related to asymptomatic syphilitic meningitis. Permanent ABR abnormalities might reflect syphilitic vascular involvement in the brainstem.
Transplanted ossicles after two decades
Authors: Lang J. , Kerr A. G. , Smyth G. D. L.
Published: November 2007

The authors now report on the histological appearance of two very long-term ossicles, an autologous incus removed from the middle ear at revision surgery 21 years after repositioning and a homologous incus removed from the middle ear after 20 years. Having been placed in formalin immediately after removal from the ear, both specimens were later decalcified by ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid, embedded in parrafin wax, serially sectioned and stained with haematoxylin and eosin.
A System for accelerated provision of hearing aids to residents of homes for the elderly
Authors: Hart J. J. , Jones M. G. , Robertshaw D. , Flood L. M.
Published: November 2007

A study was undertaken to detect undiagnosed deafness in elderly people, living in Part III Residential Homes in North Tees, South Tees and Hartlepool Health Districts, to provide hearing aids and to estimate the subsequent success in rehabilitation. The residents were referred by the senior staff in the homes and assessed by a doctor and audiology technician in a domiciliary setting. Those found to have a significant hearing impairment were prescribed hearing aids without formal pure tone audiometry. A pilot study compared the method of hearing evaluation employed with such conventional testing.

Six months after fitting, the degree of compliance with aiding was assessed. The results show a significant level of undiagnosed deafness in the community and, with this method of provision, an acceptance rate of 41.2 per cent of those recommended for aiding at six months which is higher than suggested by previous similar studies of this population.
Prions and the ENT surgeon
Authors: Frosh Adam
Published: November 2007

Recent developments in our understanding of prion diseases have raised concerns for the public health. There is now compelling evidence that the transmissible agent for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in affected individuals is accumulated in lymphoreticular tissues such as the appendix and tonsils. This agent demonstrates a remarkable resistance to standard methods of sterilisation used in hospital sterile services departments. The possible implications this has on the safety of surgical instruments in ENT and other surgical practice is discussed. This review also outlines the history of our understanding of prion diseases and describes the development of a diagnostic test for vCJD in the living patient by pharyngeal tonsil biopsy.
Acute mastoiditis in children: is surgical treatment necessary?
Authors: Cohen-Kerem R. , Uri N. , Rennert H. , Peled N. , Greenberg E. , Efrat M.
Published: November 2007

Acute mastoiditis in children remains an otological problem. Although the widespread use of antibiotics has reduced the need for surgical intervention, surgery is frequently used in the treatment of acute mastoiditis and its complications. The charts of 44 patients hospitalized with signs of acute mastoiditis were reviewed. In 43.2 per cent of all patients, acute mastoiditis was the presenting sign of acute middle-ear infection. Post-auricular erythema and protrusion of the auricle were the most frequent signs at presentation. All four signs (post-auricular erythema, oedema, tenderness, and protrusion of the auricle) were present in 40.9 per cent of patients. No bacterial pathogen was isolated in 45.5 per cent of ear cultures. Complicated acute mastoiditis was diagnosed in 13.7 per cent of the patients. Eighty-seven per cent of patients responded well to intravenous antibiotics and myringotomy, and in 11.4 per cent mastoidectomy or abscess drainage were performed. We conclude that nearly all patients with uncomplicated mastoiditis recover following intravenous antibiotics and myringotomy. Mastoidectomy should be perfonned in selected cases, such as cases of complicated acute mastoiditis.
Assessment of distress associated with tinnitus
Authors: van Veen E. D. , Jacobs J. B. , Bensing J. M.
Published: November 2007

This paper focuses upon the quality of the Dutch translation of the STSS (Subjective Tinnitus Severity Scale), a scale which assesses the severity of tinnitus and the related distress. Research has been done on the psychometric qualities of this scale, its relationship with loudness-matching procedures and several psychological variables. Data presented on 104 tinnitus patients demonstrated the reliability of the STSS with a coefficient alpha of 0.71. Factor analysis revealed four factors: emotional distress, intrusiveness, annoyance and cognitive distress. With regard to the validity, significant correlations of a moderate degree were found with several unitary subjective scales measuring the same construct (rs = 0.50, p<0.001 and rs = 0.43, p<0.01). Correlational research demonstrated that the STSS is independent of the loudness of tinnitus as measured by matching procedures (rs = 0.00).

In contrast, significant correlations of a moderate magnitude were found with anxiety (rs = 0.33, p<0.001) and depression (rs = 0.31, p<0.01 and rs = 0.35, p<0.001).
Otomycosis: A common problem in North Iraq
Authors: Yehia M. M. , Al-Habib H. M. , Shehab N. M.
Published: November 2007

Otomycosis is a common disease in North Iraq. Of the 219 cases diagnosed clinically in Mosul Teaching Hospital seen during a 15 month period, 179 were due to fungus infection. The disease was more frequently encountered in young adults whose age was range from 16–30 years. The incidence of the disease was significantly higher in females (65.4 per cent), mainly housewives, than in males. Aspergillus species were the dominant isolated fungi (92.1 per cent).
Simple treatment for snoring also a means of prediction of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty success?
Authors: Ramalingam K. K. , Smith M. C. F.
Published: November 2007

The old Indian literature describes a technique known as Sutra-Neti. That is, passing a catheter or similar material through the nose and out of the mouth as a means of clearing the airway. One of our patients adapted this method, tying the catheter end to end, in order to control his severe snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea. This was effective for several months. He subsequently responded well to a uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.
Lessons from 40 years' surveillance of influenza in England and Wales
Authors: FLEMING D. M. , ELLIOT A. J.
Published: November 2007

The influenza virus continues to pose a significant threat to public health throughout the world. Current avian influenza outbreaks in humans have heightened the need for improved surveillance and planning. Despite recent advances in the development of vaccines and antiviral drugs, seasonal epidemics of influenza continue to contribute significantly to general practitioner workloads, emergency hospital admissions, and deaths. In this paper we review data produced by the Royal College of General Practitioners Weekly Returns Service, a sentinel general practice surveillance network that has been in operation for over 40 years in England and Wales. We show a gradually decreasing trend in the incidence of respiratory illness associated with influenza virus infection (influenza-like illness; ILI) over the 40 years and speculate that there are limits to how far an existing virus can drift and yet produce substantial new epidemics. The burden of disease caused by influenza presented to general practitioners varies considerably by age in each winter. In the pandemic winter of 1969/70 persons of working age were most severely affected; in the serious influenza epidemic of 1989/90 children were particularly affected; in the millennium winter (in which the NHS was severely stretched) ILI was almost confined to adults, especially the elderly. Serious confounders from infections due to respiratory syncytial virus are discussed, especially in relation to assessing influenza vaccine effectiveness. Increasing pressure on hospitals during epidemic periods are shown and are attributed to changing patterns of health-care delivery.
A house of composers
Authors: ZanÉsi Christian , Gayou Évelyne
Published: November 2007

An interview is a strange format for a research review; however, it is sometimes a quick and effective way to present a problematic. In this case, Christian Zanési interviewed by Évelyne Gayou gives a perspective of the future activities of the GRM from an institutional perspective as well as in relation with the new electronic tendencies, thus answering the major question of the social function of a research and production institution today.
Pflegende Dolmetschende? Dolmetschende Pflegende? Literaturanalyse
Authors: Bischoff Alexander , Steinauer Regine
Published: November 2007

Die Kliniken der Schweiz sind immer mehr von Diversität geprägt. Diversität bedeutet hier das Vorhandensein von persönlichen und gesellschaftlichen Unterschieden, unter anderem auf Grund von Herkunft, Geschlecht, Sprache, Fähigkeiten, Alter, Lebensformen und sozialem Status. Diversität fordert Kliniken heraus. Entsprechend gilt es, Sprachbarrieren, Migration und deren Auswirkungen im klinischen Umfeld zu thematisieren. Trotz des Trends zur Professionalisierung von Dolmetschangeboten ist in vielen Kliniken Zurückhaltung im Hinzuziehen von professionellen Dolmetscherinnen zu beobachten. In diesem Beitrag gehen wir auf drei Fragen ein: Was sind die klinischen Folgen von Sprachbarrieren? Wie können Sprachbarrieren überwunden werden? Sollen Pflegefachpersonen dolmetschen? Aus vorliegenden Studien geht klar hervor, dass fremdsprachige Patienten aufgrund ungenügenden Informationsflusses tendenziell eine der Situation unangemessene Behandlung erhalten. Ebenso besteht in der Literatur Konsens darüber, dass Angehörige als Ad-hoc-Dolmetscher sowie ungeschulte, mehrsprachige Mitarbeitende wenig- oder ungeeignet sind, Situationen, in denen Sprachbarrieren anzutreffen sind, zu lösen. Dagegen sind professionelle Dolmetscherinnen diejenige Strategie, die am eindeutigsten zur verbesserten Behandlungsqualität von fremdsprachigen Patienten führt. Da sich im Klinikalltag aber ein konsequentes Hinzuziehen von professionellen Dolmetscherinnen nicht immer umsetzen lässt, stellt das Einrichten einer klinikinternen Liste mit geschulten, mehrsprachigen Mitarbeitenden in definierten Situationen eine akzeptable Alternative dar.
Accounting for Heterogeneity via Random-Effects Models and Moderator Analyses in Meta-Analysis
Authors: Viechtbauer Wolfgang
Published: November 2007

Abstract. To conduct a meta-analysis, one needs to express the results from a set of related studies in terms of an outcome measure, such as a standardized mean difference, correlation coefficient, or odds ratio. The observed outcome from a single study will differ from the true value of the outcome measure because of sampling variability. The observed outcomes from a set of related studies measuring the same outcome will, therefore, not coincide. However, one often finds that the observed outcomes differ more from each other than would be expected based on sampling variability alone. A likely explanation for this phenomenon is that the true values of the outcome measure are heterogeneous. One way to account for the heterogeneity is to assume that the heterogeneity is entirely random. Another approach is to examine whether the heterogeneity in the outcomes can be accounted for, at least in part, by a set of study-level variables describing the methods, procedures, and samples used in the different studies. The purpose of the present paper is to discuss these different approaches with particular emphasis on the interpretation of the results and practical issues.
Correlation of boron isotopic composition with ultrastructure in the deep‐sea coral Lophelia pertusa: Implications for biomineralization and paleo‐pH
Authors: Blamart D. , Rollion‐Bard C. , Meibom A. , Cuif J.‐P. , Juillet‐Leclerc A. , Dauphin Y.
Published: November 2007

Using the CRPG‐CNRS Cameca 1270 ion microprobe facility, we have measured boron isotopic compositions (11B/10B) in different ultrastructural components of the deep‐sea aragonitic scleractinian coral Lophelia pertusa. We observe a systematic difference in B isotopic composition between the Early Mineralization Zone (EMZ) and adjacent fibrous skeleton. In EMZ the measured δ11B values are consistently low. Fibrous aragonite is characterized by systematically higher δ11B values but also displays B isotopic heterogeneity associated with specific growth bands in the calyx wall. The magnitude of the observed B isotopic variations cannot be explained by changes in environmental conditions and is likely caused by biological processes involved in the biomineralization of new skeleton, i.e., “vital” effects. The observed B isotopic variations are opposite to the predictions of geochemical models for vital effects. These models are based on the idea that stable isotopic fractionations (including C and O) in coral skeleton are driven by changes in pH of the fluid from which the skeleton is presumed to precipitate. Our data indicate that pH variations are not responsible for the observed stable isotopic fractionations. Geochemical models therefore do not provide an adequate framework within which to understand coral skeletal formation. Without a better understanding of these processes the use of B isotopic composition to reconstruct paleo‐pH variations in the oceans must be considered problematic, at least as far as Lophelia pertusa is concerned.
Electric fields and zonal winds in the equatorial ionosphere inferred from CHAMP satellite magnetic measurements
Authors: Maus Stefan , Alken Patrick , Lühr Hermann
Published: November 2007

The Equatorial Electrojet (EEJ) produces a strong magnetic signal in measurements of the low‐orbiting CHAMP satellite. Six years of data with more than 30,000 dayside equator crossings provide a unique data basis to study this current system. In addition to scalar measurements used in previous studies, we have also inverted vector magnetic field measurements to gain accurate meridional profiles of the eastward current in the equatorial region. By solving the relevant differential equation, the CHAMP‐derived current profiles can be inverted for the driving zonal electric fields and zonal winds. As a result of this feasibility study, we suggest an inversion of the complete set of individual CHAMP EEJ current profiles, which will provide valuable new information on dayside electric fields and thermospheric winds at low latitudes.
Caenorhabditis elegans WNK–STE20 pathway regulates tube formation by modulating ClC channel activity
Authors: Hisamoto Naoki , Moriguchi Tetsuo , Urushiyama Seiichi , Mitani Shohei , Shibuya Hiroshi , Matsumoto Kunihiro
Published: November 2007

WNK kinases are a small group of unique serine/threonine protein kinases that are conserved among multicellular organisms. Mutations in WNK1–4 cause pseudohypoaldosteronism type II—a form of hypertension. WNKs have been linked to the STE20 kinases and ion carriers, but the underlying molecular mechanisms by which WNKs regulate cellular processes in whole animals are unknown. The Caenorhabditis elegans WNK‐like kinase WNK‐1 interacts with and phosphorylates germinal centre kinase (GCK)‐3—a STE20‐like kinase—which is known to inactivate CLH‐3, a CIC chloride channel. The wnk‐1 or gck‐3 deletion mutation causes an Exc phenotype, a defect in the tubular extension of excretory canals. Expression of the activated form of GCK‐3 or the clh‐3 deletion mutation can partly suppress wnk‐1 or gck‐3 defects, respectively. These results indicate that WNK‐1 controls the tubular formation of excretory canals by activating GCK‐3, resulting in downregulation of CIC channel activity.
Inhibition of the Ras oncoprotein reduces proliferation of hepatocytes in vitro and in vivo in rats
Authors: da Silva Morais Alain , Saliez Alain , Leclercq Isabelle , Horsmans Yves , Stärkel Peter
Published: November 2007

Ras oncoproteins are probably implicated in normal and malignant cell growth in various organs. Inhibition of Ras interferes with cell proliferation of non-hepatic cells in vitro and in vivo. A potential role for Ras in normal and malignant hepatocyte proliferation prompted us to evaluate the impact of Ras inhibition by FTS (S-farnesylthiosalicylic acid) on hepatocyte proliferation in vitro in the human hepatic tumour cell line HepG2 and in vivo after PH (partial hepatectomy) in rats. Rats were administered with FTS intraperitoneally (1, 8 and 16 h after PH) and killed 12, 24 and 48 h after PH. Cell proliferation, phosphorlyation of members of the MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway and levels and activity of cell cycle effectors (cyclin D, cyclin E, Cdk2 and Cdk4) were assessed in FTS-treated rats compared with controls. FTS significantly decreased overall cell count, PCNA (proliferating-cell nuclear antigen) expression and BrdU (bromodeoxyuridine) incorporation into HepG2 cells after 7 days of culture. FTS treatment significantly reduced BrdU incorporation and PCNA expression in hepatocytes after PH. Unlike control rats, cell-membrane expression of Ras was decreased in FTS-treated animals after PH, resulting in decreased Raf membrane recruitment and phosphorylation and in reduced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1/2). The antiproliferative effect of FTS was linked to a decrease in expression and activity of the cyclin E/Cdk2 complex, without affecting cyclin D and Cdk4. Ras inhibition by FTS significantly decreased proliferation of HepG2 cells and normal hepatocytes after a strong and highly synchronized proliferation stimulus elicited by PH. The inhibitory effect was at least partially mediated by inhibition of Ras/Raf/MAPK signalling. It appears worthwhile to evaluate the impact of Ras inhibition on the development of hepatocarcinomas in vivo in adequate animal models.
On the Robustness of Vocal Development: An Examination of Infants With Moderate-to-Severe Hearing Loss and Additional Risk Factors
Authors: Nathani Suneeti , Oller D. Kimbrough , Neal A. Rebecca
Published: November 2007

Purpose

Onset of canonical babbling by 10 months of age is surprisingly robust in infancy, suggesting that there must be deep biological forces that keep the development of this key vocal capability on course. This study further evaluated the robustness of canonical babbling and other aspects of prelinguistic vocal development.

Method

Longitudinal observation was conducted on 4 infants who were at risk for abnormal vocal development because of bilateral moderate-to-severe sensorineural hearing loss and additional risk factors for developmental delay.

Results

Two of the infants were delayed in the onset of canonical babbling and showed greater fluctuation in canonical babbling ratios following its onset than did typically developing infants. On the same measures, the remaining 2 infants were within normal limits, although their age of onset for canonical babbling was later than the mean for typically developing infants. Volubility was not notably different from typically developing infants. Differences from typically developing infants were, however, observed in proportions of various prelinguistic syllable types produced across time.

Conclusion

Results provided further evidence of robustness of canonical babbling and indicated the need for a large parametric study evaluating effects of varying degrees of hearing loss and other risk factors on vocal development.
Effects of Training on the Acoustic–Phonetic Representation of Synthetic Speech
Authors: Francis Alexander L. , Nusbaum Howard C. , Fenn Kimberly
Published: November 2007

Purpose

Investigate training-related changes in acoustic−phonetic representation of consonants produced by a text-to-speech (TTS) computer speech synthesizer.

Method

Forty-eight adult listeners were trained to better recognize words produced by a TTS system. Nine additional untrained participants served as controls. Before and after training, participants were tested on consonant recognition and made pairwise judgments of consonant dissimilarity for subsequent multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis.

Results

Word recognition training significantly improved performance on consonant identification, although listeners never received specific training on phoneme recognition. Data from 31 participants showing clear evidence of learning (improvement ≥ 10 percentage points) were further investigated using MDS and analysis of confusion matrices. Results show that training altered listeners’ treatment of particular acoustic cues, resulting in both increased within-class similarity and between-class distinctiveness. Some changes were consistent with current models of perceptual learning, but others were not.

Conclusion

Training caused listeners to interpret the acoustic properties of synthetic speech more like those of natural speech, in a manner consistent with a flexible-feature model of perceptual learning. Further research is necessary to refine these conclusions and to investigate their applicability to other training-related changes in intelligibility (e.g., associated with learning to better understand dysarthric speech or foreign accents).
Listener Agreement for Auditory-Perceptual Ratings of Dysarthria
Authors: Bunton Kate , Kent Raymond D. , Duffy Joseph R. , Rosenbek John C. , Kent Jane F.
Published: November 2007

Purpose

Darley, Aronson, and Brown (1969a, 1969b) detailed methods and results of auditory-perceptual assessment for speakers with dysarthrias of varying etiology. They reported adequate listener reliability for use of the rating system as a tool for differential diagnosis, but several more recent studies have raised concerns about listener reliability using this approach.

Method

In the present study, the authors examined intrarater and interrater agreement for perceptual ratings of 47 speakers with various dysarthria types by 2 listener groups (inexperienced and experienced). The entire set of perceptual features proposed by Darley et al. was rated based on a 40-s conversational speech sample.

Results

No differences in levels of agreement were found between the listener groups. Agreement was within 1 scale value or better for 67% of the pairwise comparisons. Levels of agreement were lower when the average rating fell in the mid-range of the scale compared with samples that had an average rating near either of the scale endpoints; agreement was above chance level. No significant differences in agreement were found between the perceptual features.

Discussion

The levels of listener agreement that were found indicate that auditory-perceptual ratings show promise during clinical assessment for identifying salient features of dysarthria for speakers with various etiologies.
Construct Validity of the MCDI-I Receptive Vocabulary Scale Can Be Improved: Differential Item Functioning Between Toddlers With Autism Spectrum Disorders and Typically Developing Infants
Authors: Bruckner Cornelia , Yoder Paul , Stone Wendy , Saylor Megan
Published: November 2007

Purpose

To evaluate whether the validity of the Receptive Vocabulary scale of the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory for Infants (MCDI-I; L. Fenson et al., 1991), a parent-report measure of early vocabulary, could be improved for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) by removing items that are biased.

Method

Logistic regression was used to identify biased items. Items are considered biased if characteristics other than those being measured by the instrument change the probability that a person will get an item correct. Participants in the current study included 272 typically developing infants younger than 18 months of age and 209 toddlers with ASD older than 18 months of age. The age difference between the 2 groups is a result of matching on total size of the receptive vocabulary.

Results

Twenty-five items were identified as showing large bias.

Conclusion

Deletion of these items from the test should increase the degree to which the authors are measuring the size of the respondent’s mental lexicon with the total score from the MCDI-I.
Auditory-Visual Integration for Speech by Children With and Without Specific Language Impairment
Authors: Norrix Linda W. , Plante Elena , Vance Rebecca , Boliek Carol A.
Published: November 2007

Purpose

It has long been known that children with specific language impairment (SLI) can demonstrate difficulty with auditory speech perception. However, speech perception can also involve the integration of both auditory and visual articulatory information.

Method

Fifty-six preschool children, half with and half without SLI, were studied in order to examine auditory-visual integration. Children watched and listened to video clips of a woman speaking [bi] and [gi]. They also listened to audio clips of [bi], [di], and [gi], produced by the same woman. The effect of visual input on speech perception was tested by presenting an auditory [bi] combined with a visually articulated [gi], which tends to alter the phoneme percept (the McGurk effect).

Results

Both groups of children performed at ceiling when asked to identify speech tokens in auditory-only and congruent auditory-visual modalities. In the incongruent auditory-visual condition, a stronger McGurk effect was found for the normal language group compared with the children with SLI.

Conclusion

Responses by the children with SLI indicated less impact of visual processing on speech perception than was seen with their normal peers. These results demonstrate that the difficulties with speech perception by SLI children extend beyond the auditory-only modality to include auditory-visual processing as well.
Heart Rate Variability Complexity in the Aging Process
Authors: Tejera E. , Plain A. , Portelinha A. , Caceres J. L. H. , Rebelo I. , Nieto-Villar J. M.
Published: November 2007

In the present work, we propose a discrete model to the characterization of heart rate variability (HRV) complexity in the aging process of healthy subjects. We apply the Shannon entropy on the basis of an alternative way to probability calculation and to define a new index taking into consideration the transition probability that is related to the physiological complexity of the system. Our results suggest that in the aging process the capability response decreases according to the reduction of the physiological complexity. In the oldest group, an alternative mechanism emerges to compensate for this lack of capability; however, this effect does not increase the physiological complexity. Concomitantly, we provide some physiological explanation for our results.
Möbius: an integrated discrete-event modeling environment
Authors: Peccoud Jean , Courtney Tod , Sanders William H.
Published: November 2007

Summary: Möbius has found numerous applications in computational biology to build and solve stochastic models of biological processes. It provides the user with a modeling workflow and several sophisticated features that are not available in the simulation tools commonly used by computational biologists.

Availability: Möbius is free for academic users. It can be downloaded from www.mobius.uiuc.edu.

Contact:  peccoud@vt.edu or tod@crhc.uiuc.edu
Individual variation in endocrine systems: moving beyond the ‘tyranny of the Golden Mean’
Authors: Williams Tony D
Published: November 2007

Twenty years ago, Albert Bennett published a paper in the influential bookNew directions in ecological physiologyarguing that individual variation was an ‘underutilized resource’. In this paper, I review our state of knowledge of the magnitude, mechanisms and functional significance of phenotypic variation, plasticity and flexibility in endocrine systems, and argue for a renewed focus on inter-individual variability. This will providechallengesto conventional wisdom in endocrinology itself, e.g. re-evaluation of relatively simple, but unresolved questions such as structure–function relationships among hormones, binding globulins and receptors, and the functional significance of absolute versus relative hormone titres. However, there are also abundantopportunitiesfor endocrinologists to contribute solid mechanistic understanding to key questions in evolutionary biology, e.g.howendocrine regulation is involved in evolution of complex suites of traits, orhowhormone pleiotropy regulates trade-offs among life-history traits. This will require endocrinologists to embrace the raw material of adaptation (heritable, individual variation and phenotypic plasticity) and to take advantage of conceptual approaches widely used in evolutionary biology (selection studies, reaction norms, concepts of evolutionary design) as well as a more explicit focus on the endocrine basis of life-history traits that are of primary interest to evolutionary biologists (cf. behavioural endocrinology).
Neuroendocrine control of life histories: what do we need to know to understand the evolution of phenotypic plasticity?
Authors: Lessells C(Kate). M
Published: November 2007

Almost all life histories are phenotypically plastic: that is, life-history traits such as timing of breeding, family size or the investment in individual offspring vary with some aspect of the environment, such as temperature or food availability. One approach to understanding this phenotypic plasticity from an evolutionary point of view is to extend the optimality approach to the range of environments experienced by the organism. This approach attempts to understand the value of particular traits in terms of the selection pressures that act on them either directly or owing to trade-offs due to resource allocation and other factors such as predation risk. Because these selection pressures will between environments, the predicted optimal phenotype will too. The relationship expressing the optimal phenotype for different environments is the optimal reaction norm and describes the optimal phenotypic plasticity. However, this view of phenotypic plasticity ignores the fact that the reaction norm must be underlain by some sort of control system: cues about the environment must be collected by sense organs, integrated into a decision about the appropriate life history, and a message sent to the relevant organs to implement that decision. In multicellular animals, this control mechanism is the neuroendocrine system. The central question that this paper addresses is whether the control system affects the reaction norm that evolves. This might happen in two different ways: first, the control system will create constraints on the evolution of reaction norms if it cannot be configured to produce the optimal reaction norm and second, the control system will create additional selection pressures on reaction norms if the neuroendocrine system is costly. If either of these happens, a full understanding of the way in which selection shapes reaction norms must include details of the neuroendocrine control system. This paper presents the conceptual framework needed to explain what is meant by a constraint or cost being created by the neuroendocrine system and discusses the extent to which this occurs and some possible examples. The purpose of doing this is to encourage endocrinologists to take a fresh look at neuroendocrine mechanisms and help identify the properties of the system and situations in which these generate constraints and costs that impinge on the evolution of phenotypic plasticity.
New Evidence Confirms Risks Associated With Prehypertension and Benefits of Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes in Management
Authors: Ferdinand Keith C. , Pacini Ross S.
Published: November 2007

TJ is a 57‐year‐old female high school biology teacher who presents for a routine checkup. She has a strong family history of heart disease and wants to ensure that she does everything possible to keep her risk low. TJ is postmenopausal and stopped hormone replacement therapy 3 years ago. Physical examination is unremarkable other than the fact that the patient is overweight, with a body mass index of 29.2 kg/m2, and her blood pressure (BP) is 132/84 mm Hg. Her fasting plasma glucose level is 103 mg/dL, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol level 38 mg/dL, and triglyceride level 165 mg/dL. Based on her BP and concurrent cardiometabolic syndrome, what do you tell her about the risks associated with her BP, and how do you approach her management?
Thiazolidinediones and Diabetic Nephropathy: Need for a Closer Examination?
Authors: Sarafidis Pantelis A.
Published: November 2007

Diabetic nephropathy is an important public health issue and a major challenge for modern nephrology, as it is the primary cause of end‐stage renal disease. In addition to established risk factors for diabetic nephropathy progression (ie, hyperglycemia and hypertension), current knowledge suggests that other factors can be involved. Population studies show that insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia are also associated with chronic kidney disease, and several background mechanisms could explain this relationship. The hypoglycemic class of thiazolidinediones that act through reduction of insulin resistance were found to protect against renal injury in diabetic animals and to reduce urinary albumin excretion in patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria. This renoprotective action is supported by relevant studies showing that thiazolidinediones act beneficially on most of the players involved in diabetic nephropathy progression. Recent studies have raised uncertainty about the cardiovascular safety of thiazolidinediones. After the latter issue is resolved, however, it would appear very interesting to conduct specific studies in patients with overt diabetic nephropathy to determine the effect of these agents on proteinuria and kidney disease progression.