bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rheology of Biopolymer Solutions and Gels
Authors: Picout David R. , Ross-Murphy Simon B.
Published: March 2005

Rheological techniques and methods have been employed for many decades in the characterization of polymers. Originally developed and used on synthetic polymers, rheology has then found much interest in the field of natural (bio) polymers. This review concentrates on introducing the fundamentals of rheology and on discussing the rheological aspects and properties of the two major classes of biopolymers: polysaccharides and proteins. An overview of both their solution properties (dilute to semi-dilute) and gel properties is described.
Volume Transmission and Pain Perception
Authors: Castañeda-Hernàndez Gilberto C. , Bach-y-Rita Paul
Published: March 2005

Volume transmission (VT) is the diffusion through the brain extracellular fluid of neurotransmitters released at points that may be remote from the target cells with the resulting activation of extrasynaptic receptors. VT appears to play multiple roles in the brain in normal and abnormal activity, brain plasticity and drug actions. The relevance of VT to pain perception has been explored in this review.
Long-Term Effects of Maternal Medication on Global Quality of Life Measured with SEQOL. Results from the Copenhagen Perinatal Birth Cohort 1959�61
Authors: Ventegodt Soren , Merrick Joav
Published: March 2005

The Copenhagen Perinatal Birth Cohort 1959�61 is a prospective longitudinal perinatal study that included all deliveries (over 20 weeks gestation, birthweight over 250 g) that took place at the University Hospital (Rigshospitalet) in Copenhagen, Denmark during the period of September 21, 1959 to December 21, 1961 and used in this follow-up study to investigate the connection between maternal medication during pregnancy and the quality of life of the child 31 to 33 years later. The latest follow-up study from the cohort was performed in 1993 and 7,222 of the surviving children were identified (now aged between 31 and 33 years) and contacted with a nonanonymous questionnaire on several aspects of quality of life issues.There were 4,626 usable responses (f = 2,489, m = 2,131) corresponding to a response rate of 64.1%. Of the 12 groups of medication taking during pregnancy we found, before controlling (using multiple linear regression), that analgesics, chemotherapy, and psychopharmacologica showed links with the quality of life in the child 31 to 33 years later. Barbiturate use (95% was phenemal) showed significant connection to quality of life. After controlling for social and pregnancy factors there was no correlation between quality of life and medication taken by the mother during pregnancy. From this study it is concluded the fetal exposure to the drugs examined showed no measurable long-term effects on quality of life.
Long-Term Effects of Activity Status in the Elderly on Cardiorespiratory Capacity, Blood Pressure, Blood Lipids, and Body Composition: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study
Authors: Carmeli Eli , Orbach Pini , Lowenthal David T. , Merrick Joav , Coleman Raymond
Published: March 2005

It is generally recognized that physical activity levels in the elderly do not remain constant over time, and typically there is a marked reduction in physical activities in the elderly. The long-term benefits of regular physical training programs in the elderly are still not fully understood. This is a study of 55 elderly healthy subjects (over 65 years old) and re-evaluated for the effects of different physical activity patterns (sedentary, moderately active, and highly active) on several physiological parameters (pre- and post-training) after a 5-year period (5.30 ± 1.14 years). Measurements included: body composition, blood lipid profiles, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, maximal oxygen uptake, and pulmonary function. Results indicated a larger decrease in maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) in the group of elderly sedentary individuals (1.5 ± 0.5 l/min) compared to the moderately active (1.7 ± 0.6 l/min) and the highly active groups (1.9 ± 0.4 l/min). An active lifestyle was not sufficient to increase the physiological function of an individual.This study could not clearly demonstrate favorable differences for the physically active groups over the sedentary group with regard to several important physiological factors over the 5-year follow-up and it appears that the recommendation for, and the initiation of, adopting active lifestyles may not be sufficient on their own to significantly increase an individual's physiological functioning.
Rabs, Rips, FIPs, and Endocytic Membrane Traffic
Authors: Prekeris Rytis
Published: March 2005

Rab GTPases, proteins belonging to the Ras-like small GTP-binding protein superfamily, have emerged as master regulators of cellular membrane transport. Rab11 GTPase, a member of the Rab protein family, plays a role in regulating various cellular functions, including plasma membrane recycling, phagocytosis, and cytokinesis. Rab11 acts by forming mutually exclusive complexes with Rab11-family binding proteins, known as FIPs. Rab11-FIP complexes serve a role of �targeting complexes� by recruiting various membrane traffic factors to cellular membranes. Recent studies have identified several Rab11-FIP complex-binding proteins that regulate distinct membrane traffic pathways.
Quality of Life Related to Visual Function in Three Young Adults with Mucopolysaccharidoses
Authors: Bergwerk Katherine L. , Rabinowitz Yaron S. , Falk Rena L.
Published: March 2005

The systemic mucopolysaccharidoses are complex syndromes, which may include corneal clouding as a mechanism leading to decreased vision and hence decreased quality of life. This study presents three young adult patients with mucopolysaccharidoses in order to compare their visual status through retrospective chart review, including patient and guardian interview, history, and examination, including a modified form of the VF-14 questionnaire (visual function with 14 questions).When the visual acuity and VF-14 results of the three patients were compared, the results of the VF-14 correlated with the patients� visual acuity status. The two patients who retained clear corneas or underwent penetrating keratoplasty had a wider range of social and physical activities, and an overall better quality of life than did the patient with decreased vision due to opacified corneas.We conclude that close monitoring of the ocular health of patients with storage syndromes that may compromise visual acuity must be stressed, and intervention to insure good vision is of the utmost importance to maintaining a good quality of life for these patients, especially as new therapies assist these patients to achieve increased longevity with better health.
The Square Curve Paradigm for Research in Alternative, Complementary, and Holistic Medicine: A Cost-Effective, Easy, and Scientifically Valid Design for Evidence-Based Medicine and Quality Improvement
Authors: Ventegodt Soren , Andersen Niels JØrgen , Merrick Joav
Published: March 2005

In this paper we present a new research paradigm for alternative, complementary, and holistic medicine — a low-cost, effective, and scientifically valid design for evidence-based medicine. Our aim is to find the simplest, cheapest, and most practical way to collect data of sufficient quality and validity to determine: (1) which kinds of treatment give a clinically relevant improvement to quality of life, health, and/or functionality; (2) which groups of patients can be aided by alternative, complementary, or holistic medicine; and (3) which therapists have the competence to achieve the clinically relevant improvements. Our solution to the problem is that a positive change in quality of life must be immediate to be taken as caused by an intervention. We define “immediate” as within 1 month of the intervention. If we can demonstrate a positive result with a group of chronic patients (20 or more patients who have had their disease or state of suffering for 1 year or more), who can be significantly helped within 1 month, and the situation is still improved 1 year after, we find it scientifically evidenced that this cure or intervention has helped the patients. We call this characteristic curve a “square curve”. If a global, generic, quality-of-life questionnaire like QOL5 or, even better, a QOL-Health-Ability questionnaire (a quality-of-life questionnaire combined with a self-evaluated health and ability to function questionnaire) is administered to the patients before and after the intervention, it is possible to document the effect of an intervention to a cost of only a few thousand Euros/USD. A general acceptance of this new research design will solve the problem that there is not enough money in alternative, complementary, and holistic medicine to pay the normal cost of a biomedical Cochrane study. As financial problems must not hinder the vital research in nonbiomedical medicine, we ask the scientific community to accept this new research standard.
Clinical Profiles, Occurrence, and Management of Adolescent Patients with HAIR-AN Syndrome
Authors: Omar Hatim A. , Logsdon Stephanie , Richards Jessica
Published: March 2005

The syndrome of hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance, and acanthosis nigricans (HAIR-AN) is a subphenotype of the polycystic ovary syndrome. It is one of the most common causes of menstrual problems, hyperandrogenic symptoms, and insulin resistance among young women. Review of clinical data in an outpatient adolescent clinic showed that of the 1,002 young women (ages 10—21 years) attending the clinic over a 2-year period, 50 (5%) were diagnosed with HAIR-AN syndrome. Mean age of the patients was 15.5, initial mean weight at diagnosis was 94.5 kg, and the mean BMI was 33.33 kg/m2. Patients were treated with a weight-stabilization and -reduction program, oral contraceptive pills, and in most cases metformin. Of the patients, 80% were compliant with the follow-up and treatment regimen, 60% maintained or reduced their weight, 95% had regular menstrual cycles, and in most patients, the acne and/or hirsutism were the same or better than at the start of treatment. We conclude that HAIR-AN syndrome is a common disease in young women and multifaceted, aggressive treatment appears to be effective in reducing the severity of symptoms and preventing further consequences.
Clinical Holistic Medicine: Treatment of Physical Health Problems Without a Known Cause, Exemplified by Hypertension and Tinnitus
Authors: Ventegodt Søren , Morad Mohammed , Kandel Isack , Merrick Joav
Published: March 2005

In the medical clinic, we often face health problems that have no known cause, even after a thorough examination. Biomedicine is often unable to find a cure in these situations, leaving the problem unsolved or leaving the patient on a palliative pharmaceutical cure, which is often for a lifetime. In this case, consciousness-based, holistic medicine could be an alternative. Using the theories and tools of holistic medicine wisely, the physician can often provide treatment for the patient. The toolbox of holistic medicine makes it possible to work on everybody because there is always something related to the patients quality of life that can be improved: his love, his purpose of life, and the way he uses his talents, his mind, his feelings, his body, and his sexuality. For treatment in holistic medicine, it really does not matter as much that you cannot give the patient a precise medical diagnosis, because you can always work on the patient with the intention of healing his or her whole life and existence. It is quite a paradox that many of these diseases can be understood on the level of the individual patient at the same moment that the patient is cured; many of these diseases seem to be clearly related to the repression of the individual character, as stressed already by Hippocrates. So if you simply start working with the patient to help him confront old existential pain and coach him in his personal development of his life by intensifying its meaning and purpose, the symptoms very often simply disappear. The toolbox of holistic medicine also seems relevant to even difficult, neurotic, psychosomatic, and hypochondriac patients. Believing in the treatment and not giving up on your patient, and moving forward in the treatment with the patient himself is the ultimate goal, even when you yourself do not understand the mechanism fully. This will force you to develop your own competence and is, in essence, what makes an outstanding holistic physician.
Diastematomyelia: A Case with Familial Aggregation of Neural Tube Defects
Authors: Kanbur Nuray Öksüz , Güner Pınar , Derman Orhan , Akalan Nejat , Cila Ayşenur , Kutluk Tezer
Published: March 2005

Intrauterine neural tube defects, meningomyelocele, and diastematomyelia are developmental errors at different stages of the closure of the neural tube. The familial aggregation of these neural tube defects is not previously reported in the literature and should make one think about a common embryogenesis and a possible common mechanism of etiopathogenesis leading to anomalies at different stages of this embryogenesis. This paper presents a 12-year-old Turkish boy with diastematomyelia who was suspected with a demonstrative dermatologic finding without any neurologic sign and diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). He has a positive family history of a stillbirth with neural tube defect, an exitus with meningomyelocele, and an epileptic child in his female siblings.
Central Pain and Complex Motoric Symptoms after Gosarelin Therapy of Prostate Cancer
Authors: Ernst G. , Gericke A. , Berg P.
Published: March 2005

A 76-year-old man with prostate cancer T3N0M0 and increasing PSA was treated with goserelin three times in a half year. As soon as the first treatment, he described subjective muscle weakness. After the third treatment, he developed complex motoric symptoms and atypical central pain with a likely association to goserelin. His left arm had signs of spastic movement; pain deteriorated after relaxation. The right hand showed muscle cramps under passive movements of the left arm that were not typical for rigor. He felt aching and partial burning pain in his whole body. There were few allodynic areas, mainly in the left arm. Several treatment approaches failed and the patient died some weeks after the first contact with our pain clinic due to pneumonia.
Mycotoxins and Antifungal Drug Interactions: Implications in the Treatment of Illnesses Due to Indoor Chronic Toxigenic Mold Exposures
Authors: Anyanwu Ebere C. , Campbell Andrew W. , Ehiri John E.
Published: March 2005

Chronic exposure to toxigenic molds in water-damaged buildings is an indoor environmental health problem to which escalating health and property insurance costs are raising a statewide concern in recent times. This paper reviews the structural and functional properties of mycotoxins produced by toxigenic molds and their interactive health implications with antifungal drugs. Fundamental bases of pathophysiological, neurodevelopmental, and cellular mechanisms of mycotoxic effects are evaluated. It is most likely that the interactions of mycotoxins with antifungal drugs may, at least in part, contribute to the observable persistent illnesses, antifungal drug resistance, and allergic reactions in patients exposed to chronic toxigenic molds. Safe dose level of mycotoxin in humans is not clear. Hence, the safety regulations in place at the moment remain inconclusive, precautionary, and arbitrary. Since some of the antifungal drugs are derived from molds, and since they have structural and functional groups similar to those of mycotoxins, the knowledge of their interactions are important in enhancing preventive measures.
Clinical Holistic Medicine: When Biomedicine is Inadequate
Authors: Ventegodt Søren , Morad Mohammed , Hyam Eytan , Merrick Joav
Published: March 2005

The modern physician is using pharmaceuticals as his prime tool. Unfortunately, this tool is much less efficient than you might expect from the biochemical theory. The belief in drugs as the solution to the health problems of mankind, overlooking important existing knowledge on quality of life, personal development, and holistic healing seems to be one good reason why approximately every second citizen of our modern society is chronically ill. The biomedical paradigm and the drugs are certainly useful, because in many situations we could not do without the drugs (like antibiotics), but curing infections or diseases in young age is not without consequences, as the way we perceive health and medicine is influenced by such experiences. When we get a more severe disease in midlife, we also believe drugs will make us healthy again. But at this age, the drugs do not work efficiently anymore, because we have turned older and lost much of the biological coherence that made us heal easily when we were younger. Now we need to assume responsibility, take learning, and improve our quality of life. We need a more holistic medicine that can help us back to life by allowing us to access our hidden resources. The modern physician cannot rely solely on drugs, but must also have holistic tools in his medical toolbox. This is the only way we can improve the general health of our populations. Whenever NNT (Number Needed to Treat) is 2 or higher, the likelihood of the drug to cure the patient is less than 50%, which is not satisfying to any physician. In this case, he must ethically try something more in order to cure his patients, which is the crossroads where both traditional manual medicine and the tools of a scientific holistic medicine are helpful.
Chemical Speciation of Thorium in Marine Biogenic Particulate Matter
Authors: Hirose Katsumi
Published: March 2005

Concentrations of particulate thorium in seawater were determined together with the strong organic ligand (SOL) and uranium in particulate matter (PM). The concentrations of particulate Th in surface waters of the western North Pacific and the Sea of Japan ranged from 0.05 to 1.5 pM (1 x 10−12M), and showed relatively large temporal and spatial variations. In order to chemically characterize the particulate Th in seawater, the relationship between particulate Th and SOL concentrations in surface PM was examined. The result reveals that particulate Th in surface PM was well correlated with the SOL concentration in PM. The concentrations of particulate Th in surface water were linearly related to those of particulate U. Mass balance analysis suggests that the dominant chemical form of Th(IV), as well as of U, in surface PM is a surface complex with the SOL in PM. Our findings suggest that the SOL in PM is a nonmetal-specific chelator originating from the cell surface of microorganisms.
Natural-Series Radionuclides in Traditional Aboriginal Foods in Tropical Northern Australia: A Review
Authors: Martin Paul , Ryan Bruce
Published: March 2005

This paper gives a review of available information on natural-series radionuclides in traditional Aboriginal foods of northern Australia. Research on this topic has been carried out primarily for radiological impact assessment purposes in relation to uranium mining activities in the region. Many of the studies have concentrated on providing purely concentration data or concentration ratios, although more detailed uptake studies have been undertaken for freshwater mussels, turtles, and water lilies. The most-studied radionuclides are238U and226Ra. However, dose estimates based on current data highlight the importance of210Po, particularly for the natural (nonmining-related) dose. Data on uptake by terrestrial flora and fauna are scarce in comparison with aquatic organisms, and this knowledge gap will need to be addressed in relation to planning for uranium minesite rehabilitation.
Spontaneous Penile (Cavernosal) Abscess: Case Report with Discussion of Aetiology, Diagnosis, and Management with Review of Literature
Authors: Sagar Jayesh , Sagar Bethani , Shah D. K.
Published: March 2005

The rare presentation of spontaneous, corpus cavernosal abscess with evident pus discharge is reported. The 19-year-old English man was successfully treated with surgical drainage and antibiotics with long-term sequelae in form of mild, left-sided penile deviation, but normal erectile function. Though he did not require any further surgical intervention for correction of chordee at that time, there remains a possibility of it getting worse over time, which may ultimately need surgery for correction. The possible aetiology, diagnosis, and treatment of this rare condition are briefly discussed.
Theodor Fontane and the Petticoat Regiment
Authors: Sagarra Eda
Published: March 2005

Despite the relatively recent date of Fontane's critical reception, at least by comparison with other major nineteenth‐century German authors, research on the man and his work has already entered a ‘revisionist’ phase. This focuses in particular on Fontane's relationship with, and depiction of, Jews and of women. The women in Fontane's life, his female relatives and family friends had a profound and enduring influence on his work. A major new source of knowledge comes from the publication of the correspondence between his wife Emilie and himself, along with recent work on their daughter Mete. While occasionally resentful of their criticism of his work, the author invariably respected the intellectual and aesthetic capacity of both his wife and his daughter. In this he was certainly untypical in his age. Empowerment of women thus never constituted a challenge to his person. In key works he actually associated the feminine in a positive sense with subversive elements in society, and, moreover, linked his critique of gender stereotypy with his own sceptical responses to the prevailing national male mythology.
Modern German Classics: Second Hand
Authors: McGowan Moray
Published: March 2005

Through the medium of a daydream, a somewhat unlikely admirer of two modern German authors and of two of their most famous works is imagined expounding these works’ capacity to support the purported admirer's political and social beliefs. This little essay investigates the reading of these texts this daydream generates, and suggests that it is at least worth trying to refute.
BUILDING A DATA‐MINING GRID FOR MULTIPLE HUMAN BRAIN DATA ANALYSIS
Authors: Zhong Ning , Hu Jia , Motomura Shinichi , Wu Jing‐Long , Liu Chunnian
Published: March 2005

E‐science is about global collaboration in key areas of science such as cognitive science and brain science, and the next generation of infrastructure such as the Wisdom Web and Knowledge Grids. As a case study, we investigate human multiperception mechanism by cooperatively using various psychological experiments, physiological measurements, and data mining techniques for developing artificial systems which match human ability in specific aspects. In particular, we observe fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) and EEG (electroencephalogram) brain activations from the viewpoint of peculiarity oriented mining and propose a way of peculiarity oriented mining for knowledge discovery in multiple human brain data. Based on such experience and needs, we concentrate on the architectural aspect of a brain‐informatics portal from the perspective of the Wisdom Web and Knowledge Grids. We describe how to build a data‐mining grid on the Wisdom Web for multiaspect human brain data analysis. The proposed methodology attempts to change the perspective of cognitive scientists from a single type of experimental data analysis toward a holistic view at a long‐term, global field of vision.
Determinants of Pseudomonas putida WCS358 involved in inducing systemic resistance in plants
Authors: MEZIANE HAMID , VAN DER SLUIS IENTSE , VAN LOON LEENDERT C. , HÖFTE MONICA , BAKKER PETER A. H. M.
Published: March 2005

Pseudomonas putida WCS358 is a plant growth‐promoting rhizobacterium originally isolated from the rhizosphere of potato. It can suppress soil‐borne plant diseases by siderophore‐mediated competition for iron, but it has also been reported to result in induced systemic resistance (ISR) in Arabidopsis thaliana. Bacterial determinants of this strain involved in inducing systemic resistance in Arabidopsis were investigated using a Tn5 transposon mutant defective in biosynthesis of the fluorescent siderophore pseudobactin, a non‐motile Tn5 mutant lacking flagella, and a spontaneous phage‐resistant mutant lacking the O‐antigenic side chain of the lipopolysaccharides (LPS). When using Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato as the challenging pathogen, purified pseudobactin, flagella and LPS all triggered ISR. However, the mutants were all as effective as the parental strain, suggesting redundancy in ISR‐triggering traits in WCS358. The Botrytis cinerea–tomato, B. cinerea–bean and Colletotrichum lindemuthianum–bean model systems were used to test further the potential of P. putida WCS358 to induce ISR. Strain WCS358 significantly reduced disease development in all three systems, indicating that also on tomato and bean WCS358 can trigger ISR. In both tomato and bean, the LPS mutant had lost the ability to induce resistance, whereas the flagella mutant was still effective. In bean, the pseudobactin mutant was still effective, whereas this mutant has lost its effectivity in tomato. In both bean and tomato, flagella isolated from the parental strain were not effective, whereas LPS or pseudobactin did induce systemic resistance.
Plastic changes in seed dispersal along ecological succession: theoretical predictions from an evolutionary model
Authors: RONCE OPHÉLIE , BRACHET STÉPHANIE , OLIVIERI ISABELLE , GOUYON PIERRE‐HENRI , CLOBERT JEAN
Published: March 2005

We use a deterministic model to explore theoretically the ecological and evolutionary relevance of plastic changes in seed dispersal along ecological succession. Our model describes the effect of changing disturbance regime, age structure, density and interspecific competition as the habitat matures, enabling us to seek the evolutionarily stable reaction norm for seed dispersal rate as a function of time elapsed since population foundation.

Our model predicts that, in the context of ecological succession, selection should generally favour plastic strategies allowing plants to increase their dispersal rate with population age, contrary to previous predictions of models that have assumed genetically fixed dispersal strategies.

More complex patterns can evolve showing periods with high production of dispersing seeds separated by periods of intense local recruitment. These patterns are due to the interaction of individual senescence with change in ecological conditions within sites.

Evolution of plastic dispersal strategies affects the patterns of density variation with time since foundation and accelerates successional replacement. An interesting parallel can be drawn between the evolution of age‐specific dispersal rates in successional systems and the evolution of senescence in age‐structured populations.

Seed dispersal plasticity could be a potential mechanism for habitat selection in plants and have implications for range expansion in invasive species because recently founded populations at the advancing front may show different patterns to those in the established range.
Changing prevalence of asthma in Taiwanese adolescents: two surveys 6 years apart
Authors: Lee Yung‐Ling , Lin Ying‐Chu , Hwang Bing‐Fang , Guo Yueliang Leon
Published: March 2005

This study compared the prevalence of asthma among Taiwanese adolescents with individual‐level risk factors and municipal‐level air pollution and meteorology data to determine whether changes in these factors could explain the observed change in prevalence. We conducted two national surveys of respiratory illness and symptoms in Taiwanese middle‐school students in 1995–96 and 2001. The effects of personal and environmental factors were assessed and temporal changes of outdoor monitoring data were also compared with asthma prevalence difference. A total of 44,104 children from the 1995–96 survey and 11,048 children from the 2001 survey attended schools located within 1 km of 22 monitoring stations. Lifetime prevalences of physician‐diagnosed and questionnaire‐determined asthma increased during this period. After adjustment for potential risk factors, the prevalence differences were statistically unchanged. Although parental education level contributed most, changes in investigated personal and environmental factors might not explain the observed changes in asthma prevalence. Municipalities with higher temperature increase were significantly associated with prevalence difference in questionnaire‐determined asthma. We concluded that correlates of the investigated individual‐level factors, which have changed over time, still underlie changes in asthma prevalence. Increasing temperature might be the main reason for the rising trends of asthma in Taiwanese adolescents.
Agreement between parental and self‐completed questionnaires about asthma in teenagers
Authors: Hedman Linnéa , Lindgren Berit , Perzanowski Matthew , Rönmark Eva
Published: March 2005

In studies of asthma in children, a common method is for the parents to complete questionnaires about their child's asthma symptoms. With longitudinal studies of asthma, children reach an age when they can complete the questionnaire themselves. The aim of this paper was to compare the prevalence of asthma symptoms as well as the agreement between responses to an asthma questionnaire completed by teenagers and their parents. As a part of the Obstructive Lung Disease in Northern Sweden Study (OLIN) pediatric study, where 3345, 13–14‐yr‐old children completed an asthma questionnaire, 294 (84%) randomly selected parents also completed the questionnaire, which included the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of wheeze in the last 12 months, ever asthma, or physician diagnosed asthma as reported by the parents compared with the teenagers. However, the teenagers reported a significantly higher prevalence of wheeze during or after exercise. The absolute agreement was generally very high while the level of agreement (kappa‐value) was slightly lower. The highest results in both absolute agreement and kappa‐value, were reached by the questions on diagnosis of asthma (98.9% and 0.93), use of asthma medicines (95.5% and 0.78), and whether the child ever had had asthma (97.2% and 0.86), respectively. In conclusion, the agreement between the parents’ and the teenagers’ responses to the asthma questionnaire was good. The change in methodology from parental to self‐completion of the questionnaire did not affect the results in the study.
Number of Follicular Waves and Their Effect on Pregnancy Rate in the Cow
Authors: Çelik HA , Aydın İ , Şendaǧ S , Dinç DA
Published: March 2005

Contents

In the study, the relationship of follicular growth waves, oestradiol and pregnancy rates were investigated during oestrus cycle in cows. A total of 22, Brown Swiss cows (3–5 years old) were used for the study. The ovaries of animals were examined from sixth day of cycle to next oestrus by ultrasound. The follicles that were present in the ovarium were recorded. Follicular growth was observed every day by means of ultrasound examination. The blood samples were taken for analysis of oestradiol simultaneously with ultrasound examinations. The oestrus animals were inseminated. Each animal that inseminated was examined by ultrasound on day 28 after insemination for pregnancy diagnosis. Two follicular growth waves were observed in nine of 22 (40.9%), three waves in 13 of 22 (59.1%) animals. The oestradiol was found in the same concentration but in different release patterns between two and three waves animals. Pregnancy rate in cows with three and two follicular waves did not differ. In conclusion, emergence of three waves of follicular growth was higher in Brown Swiss cows, the analysis of oestradiol could be used for determination of the wave numbers and the animals with different waves may have had the same pregnancy rates.
The Proportion of Beef Bulls in Sweden with Mature Spermiograms at 11–13 months of Age
Authors: Persson Y , Söderquist L
Published: March 2005

Contents

Semen samples collected postmortem from 142 yearling beef bulls (11–13 months old) of three different breeds (Charolais, Hereford and Simmental) were examined to evaluate the proportion of bulls with mature spermiograms. Before slaughter, testes and epididymides were clinically examined and scrotal circumferences were measured. Aliquots of the cauda epididymal contents taken postmortem were used for sperm morphology examination. Sperm head morphology was studied in dry smears stained with carbol‐fuchsine. For each preparation, 500 spermatozoa were counted in each smear under light microscope (×1000). The presence of proximal cytoplasmic droplets, abnormal acrosomes, detached heads and abnormalities of the midpiece and tail were recorded in wet preparations of formol‐saline‐fixed spermatozoa. For each preparation, 200 spermatozoa were counted in each preparation under a phase‐contrast microscope (×1000). The abnormalities were classified according to a classification system developed byBane (1961). Morphological abnormalities were recorded as a percentage of the total number of counted spermatozoa. Criteria for a spermiogram to be considered mature included <15% abnormal heads and <15% proximal droplets. According to this definition approximately 48% (68 of 142) of the examined bulls were considered mature. The bulls in this study represent approximately one‐fifth of the total amount of performance‐tested beef bulls in Sweden during 5 years. Our results indicate that only less than half of the Swedish yearling beef bulls at the testing station appear to have a mature spermiogram at the time they are offered for breeding purposes.
Some Characteristics of Primary and Secondary Oestrous Signs in High‐producing Dairy Cows
Authors: Yoshida C , Nakao T
Published: March 2005

Contents

Shortened and weakened oestrous signs in dairy cows may cause a failure of oestrus detection and artificial insemination timing error leading to poor reproductive performance. The aims of this study were to investigate the duration of standing oestrus in high‐producing dairy cows under a free stall system, to determine the duration of expression of secondary oestrous signs before and after standing oestrus (Expt 1) and to compare the duration and intensity of oestrus between cows and heifers (Expt 2). Cattle were checked for primary and secondary oestrous signs at an interval of 4 h. Heat detection aids were also used. In Expt 1, of 56 cows which were detected in oestrus, 36 cows (64.3%) showed standing oestrus and other 20 cows (36.6%) showed secondary oestrous signs only. Duration of the standing oestrus was 6.6 ± 6.3 h on average (±SD), ranging between 2 and 32 h. The cows in standing oestrus showed secondary oestrous signs during a period from 9.6 ± 8.1 h before onset of standing to 18.4 ± 18.8 h after the end of standing oestrus. In the cows that did not show standing oestrus, expression of secondary oestrous signs were observed for 25.7 ± 20.5 h, which was 7.5 h shorter than the average duration of oestrus in cows showing standing oestrus. In Expt 2, nine (82%) of the 11 lactating cows in oestrus showed standing, while all the 10 heifers exhibited standing oestrus. Average duration of standing oestrus was 6.4 ± 4.3 h in cows and 6.2 ± 3.9 h in heifers, respectively. It may be concluded that the duration of standing oestrus is substantially shortened in lactating dairy cows, and more than one‐third of cows did not show standing oestrus. In cows showing standing oestrus, duration of expression of secondary oestrous signs before and after standing is not shortened. Duration of standing oestrus in heifers was as short as that in cows.
Expression of Retinoid X Receptor Transcripts and their Significance for Developmental Competence in In Vitro‐produced Pre‐implantation‐stage Bovine Embryos
Authors: Mamo S , Ponsuksili S , Wimmers K , Gilles M , Schellander K
Published: March 2005

Contents

Retinoid X receptors are frequently implicated in their role in embryonic development. However, there is no report regarding their expression in embryos with different qualities. In this study, expression pattern and levels of retinoid X receptor transcripts in different qualities and stages of in vitro‐produced pre‐implantation bovine embryos were examined using real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. Four independent cDNA pools per sample were prepared from mRNAs isolated from different developmental‐stage embryos, after classifying them to be of good and bad quality. Primers were also designed to amplify products with PCR. Based on analysis, except retinoid X receptor gamma (RXRG) transcripts, the remaining two types (alpha and beta forms) were expressed in all samples with significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) levels until the eight‐cell stage compared with the stages thereafter. However, the transcript levels for bad‐quality embryos were consistently lower in all cases in comparison with good‐quality embryos. RXRG was identified in 39% of the samples, but all in the pre‐embryonic genome activation development stage. Therefore, strong expression patterns of these transcripts in earlier stages indicates their possible role during the maternal phase of embryo development, and the variations of copy number in embryos with different qualities substantiates their possible candidacy as potential quality markers. Moreover, identifying the transcript variations in different qualities and expression of RXRG at these stages is a novel input to the pre‐implantation‐stage knowledge.
Changes in mental disorder distribution among suicide attempters in mid‐west area of Kanagawa
Authors: ICHIMURA ATSUSHI , MATSUMOTO HIDEO , KIMURA TOMOAKI , OKUYAMA TORU , WATANABE TOSHIYUKI , NAKAGAWA YOSIHIDE , YAMAMOTO ISOTOSHI , INOKUCHI SADAKI , HOSAKA TAKASHI
Published: March 2005

Abstract  To clarify changes in mental disorder distribution in suicide attempters, a comparison was made between the period when an economic recession started (1992, 1993) and the period when the recession became serious (2000). The subjects were 212 suicide attempters admitted to the Emergency Medical Center of Tokai University Hospital during a 2‐year period between 1992 and 1993 (group A) and 255 suicide attempters admitted during a 1‐year period between January and December 2000 (group B). Mental disorders were classified according to the International Classification of Diseases (10th revision; ICD‐10). Distribution was compared between groups A and B and significant differences were observed in mental disorder distribution (P < 0.001). The percentages of subjects with depression, those with neurotic disorders, and those with other disorders were higher in group B than in group A. Conversely, the percentage of subjects with schizophrenia was lower in group B than in group A. Mental disorder distribution in suicide attempters significantly changed. However, it was not certain that this change was related to the economic recession and increased unemployment in Japan.
Consecutive monitoring of sleep disturbance for four nights at the top of Mt Fuji (3776 m)
Authors: MIZUNO KOH , ASANO KATSUMI , INOUE YUICHI , SHIRAKAWA SHUICHIRO
Published: March 2005

Abstract  The purpose of the present study was to conduct consecutive monitoring of sleep from the second to the fifth night at altitude. Three healthy male subjects climbed the top of Mt Fuji (3776 m) and stayed there for 6 days. Polysomnographic recordings were performed during this period and control recordings were made at sea level 1 month after the mountaineering. Disturbed sleep characterized by an increased number of arousals and/or long wake time was observed to persist through the fifth night in all subjects. These results suggest that sleep disturbance might persist during initial days at altitude despite cumulating sleep pressure due to poor night's sleep.
Changes in signaling pathways regulating neuroplasticity induced by neurokinin 1 receptor knockout
Authors: Musazzi Laura , Perez Jorge , Hunt Stephen P. , Racagni Giorgio , Popoli Maurizio
Published: March 2005

Neurokinin 1 (NK‐1) receptor knockout mice showed behavioral responses similar to animals chronically treated with antidepressants. The aim of this study was to analyse, in NK‐1 receptor knockout, the molecular modifications of signaling pathways involved in the pathophysiology of depression and antidepressant mechanism. We found, in total cell cytosol from the prefrontal/frontal cortex, hippocampus and striatum, a marked up‐regulation of Ca2+‐independent enzymatic activity and Thr286 autophosphorylation of Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase (CaMK) II. Similar changes in CaMKII regulation were previously observed in rats chronically treated with antidepressants. In striatum, up‐regulation of the activity and phosphorylation of CaMKII was also found in the homogenate and synaptosomes. No major changes were observed in the Ca2+‐dependent kinase activity, with the exception of homogenate from the prefrontal/frontal cortex. We also analysed the expression and phosphorylation of presynaptic proteins, which modulate synaptic vesicle trafficking and exocytosis, and found a marked decrease in synapsin I total expression and basal phosphorylation of Ser603 (the phosphorylation site for CaMKII) in the prefrontal/frontal cortex. Accordingly, the Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent posthoc endogenous phosphorylation of synapsin I in the same area was increased. The knockout of NK‐1 receptor had no consequences on the expression or phosphorylation levels of the transcription factor cAMP‐responsive element‐binding protein and its regulating kinase CaMKIV. However, phosphorylation of ERK1/2‐mitogen‐activated protein kinases was reduced in the hippocampus and striatum, again resembling an effect previously observed in antidepressant‐treated rats. These results show similarities between NK‐1 knockouts and animals chronically treated with antidepressants and support the putative antidepressant activity of NK‐1 receptor antagonists.
Neuronal and glial expression of the adhesion molecule TAG‐1 is regulated after peripheral nerve lesion or central neurodegeneration of adult nervous system
Authors: Soares Sylvia , Traka Maria , Von Boxberg Ysander , Bouquet Céline , Karagogeos Domna , Nothias Fatiha
Published: March 2005

Expression of the cell adhesion molecule TAG‐1 is down‐regulated in adult brain, with the exception of certain areas exhibiting structural plasticity. Here, we present evidence that TAG‐1 expression persists also in adult rat spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (DRG), and can be up‐regulated after injury. On Western blots of adult tissue, TAG‐1 is detected as a 135‐kDa band, with an additional specific 90‐kDa band, not present in developing tissue. TAG‐1 expression is found both in DRG neurons and in Schwann cells, particularly those associated with the peripherally projecting DRG processes. Quantitative in situ hybridization revealed that TAG‐1 expression is significantly higher in small neurons that give rise to unmyelinated fibers, than in large DRG neurons. The regulation of TAG‐1 was then examined in two different lesion paradigms. After a sciatic nerve lesion, TAG‐1 expression is not up‐regulated in DRG neurons, but decreases with time. At the lesion site, reactive Schwann cells up‐regulate TAG‐1, as demonstrated by both immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. In a second paradigm, we injected kainic acid into the spinal cord that kills neurons but spares glia and axons. TAG‐1 is up‐regulated in the spinal neuron‐depleted area as well as in the corresponding dorsal and ventral roots, associated with both target‐deprived afferent fibers and with the non‐neuronal cells that invade the lesion site. These results demonstrate a local up‐regulation of TAG‐1 in the adult that is induced in response to injury, suggesting its involvement in axonal re‐modelling, neuron–glia interactions, and glial cell migration.
Levodopa‐induced modulation of subthalamic beta oscillations during self‐paced movements in patients with Parkinson's disease
Authors: Doyle L. M. F. , Kühn A. A. , Hariz M. , Kupsch A. , Schneider G‐H. , Brown P.
Published: March 2005

Excessive synchronization of neural activity in the beta frequency band (∼20 Hz) within basal ganglia circuits might contribute to the paucity and slowness of movement in Parkinson's disease (PD). Treatment with dopaminergic drugs reduces the background level of beta frequency band synchronization in the subthalamic nucleus (STN), but has not been shown to increase the proportion of beta activity that is suppressed before voluntary movement in PD. We assessed changes in the event‐related desynchronization (ERD) in the beta frequency band of local field potential signals from the region of the STN in 14 patients with PD as they performed self‐paced movements of a joystick before and after levodopa administration. The dopamine precursor, levodopa, increased the duration and magnitude of the premovement beta ERD, but did not alter postmovement synchronization in the beta band. Both the latency and magnitude of the beta ERD inversely correlated with the degree of motor impairment. These findings suggest that the beta ERD recorded in the STN area reflects motor‐preparative processes that are at least partly dependent on dopaminergic activity within the basal ganglia.
Sacral magnetic stimulation in non‐inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome
Authors: Leippold Thomas , Strebel Raeto T. , Huwyler Mirjam , John Hubert A. , Hauri D. , Schmid Daniel M.
Published: March 2005

OBJECTIVES

To prospectively evaluate sacral magnetic high‐frequency stimulation as a treatment option for patients with non‐inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS, category IIIB).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fourteen men with CPPS IIIB were treated with high‐frequency sacral magnetic stimulation, with 10 treatment sessions once a week for 30 min at a frequency of 50 Hz. The National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH‐CPSI) and quality‐of‐life index were determined before and after treatment.

RESULTS

All patients tolerated the stimulation well and 12 of 14 reported agreeable sensations during stimulation. There were no complications; only one patient did not complete the treatment course. The mean (range) total NIH‐CPSI score did not change with treatment, at 27 (18–38) before and 27 (4–40) after treatment. Moreover, there was no sustained effect on the mean scores for pain, micturition complaints or quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

High‐frequency sacral magnetic stimulation in patients with CPPS IIIB only reduces pain during stimulation, with no sustained relief of symptoms. Therefore, intermittent sacral magnetic stimulation cannot be recommended as a treatment option for CPPS IIIB.