bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treadmill training for hindlimb transplanted rats
Authors: Endo Teruaki , Ajiki Takashi , Minagawa Mariko , Hoshino Yuuichi , Kobayashi Eiji
Published: May 2007

Functional improvement is an important concern for a composite allograft with motor function. As the procedure of rat composite limb transplantation is a well‐established model, we focused on the effects of rehabilitation using this model. We performed the rat hindlimb transplantation in syngenic combination using a modified method confirming the processes of vessel anastomosis step‐by‐step that maintains good vascular patency. We studied the impact of treadmill training on hindlimb transplantated rats using Rodent Robot 3000 (Robomedica). Functional recovery was evaluated electro‐physiologically after training. All transplants were conducted successfully. The “drop foot” condition improved in rats that were subjected to a training program. However, there were no significant differences in muscle atrophy improvement or denervation potential as determined by electromyography. This study is the first to detail the effects of rehabilitation on rat limb transplantation. This model is useful for the study of functional improvement for limb transplantation. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery 2007.
Comparison of two rat models of cerebral ischemia under hyperglycemic conditions
Authors: Liu Longshan , Wang Ziying , Wang Xiang , Song Lijun , Chen Huifang , Bémeur Chantal , Ste‐Marie Line , Montgomery Jane
Published: May 2007

Hyperglycemia worsens outcome of stroke either in the clinical setting or in animal models. In the present study, two focal cerebral ischemia models, permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO, 3–4 h) and reversible MCAO (1 h ischemia + 3 h reperfusion), under hyperglycemic conditions were compared. Using 2,3,5‐triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining to define viable tissue, this resulted in the infarction area being confined primarily to the cerebral cortex in the permanent MCAO group, while it extended to the subcortical area in the reversible MCAO group, and the lesion areas were respectively 27.7 ± 5.3% and 46.8 ± 12.0% of the ipsilateral hemisphere (P = 0.012). Hyperglycemia accelerated the cerebral damage compared to normoglycemia and ascorbic acid pre‐treatment maintained tissue viability during the acute phase of hyperglycemic MCAO. In conclusion, hyperglycemia combined with either of the two MCAO models resulted in rapid infarction associated with increased oxidative stress. The hyperglycemic models are suitable for pharmaceutical therapeutic studies of antioxidant efficacy. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery 2007.
A microsurgical approach to hepatic and extrahepatic antigen presentation and its effects on the migration pattern of activated CD8+ T cells
Authors: Klein Ingo , Gassel Heinz‐Jochen , Thiede Arnulf , Nicholas Crispe Ian , Steger Ulrich
Published: May 2007

CD8+T lymphocytes activated in peripheral lymphoid organs are believed to preferentially localize to the hepatic sinusoids, but the role of antigen in the process has been difficult to define. To create experimental mice in which the liver was unique in lacking the ability to present antigen, we adopted a novel microsurgical approach, in which the site of antigen presentation was restricted by orthotopic mouse liver transplantation of MHC Class I‐disparate livers. We used two related mouse strains, of which the wild‐type strain could present an injectable model antigen, while a mutant strain could not. By transplanting mutant‐strain livers into wild type recipients, we were able to evaluate the absence of intrahepatic parenchymal antigen presentation on CD8+ T cell activation, differentiation, and migration. This illustrates that orthotopic liver transplantation is a powerful technique for addressing issues of antigen presentation. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery 2007.
Pancreas transplantation using type I and type II spontaneously diabetic rats—Our experimental experience
Authors: Ito Toshinori , Shimada Kazunori , Gang Miao , Uchikoshi Fumihiro , Tori Masayuki , Komoda Hiroshi , Fumimoto Yuichi , Ohmori Ken , Kawamoto Koichi , Tanemura Masahiro , Nozawa Masumi
Published: May 2007

Pancreas transplantation (PTx) is the only therapy that can cure type 1 diabetes mellitus. With the recent advance of surgical procedures and immunosuppression, the outcome of PTx has become better than it used to be before, but some problems still remain. It is rather difficult to induce tolerance and to reverse rejection once it occurred because pancreas graft itself has a strong immunogenicity. Another important issue is regarding the recurrence of autoimmune disease in the pancreatic graft, therefore, some animal models are necessary to delineate and regulate those immune responses specific for PTx. Recently, PTx is also clinically applicable for type 2 diabetic patients with end‐stage renal disease. It has been shown that insulin resistance was improved by PTx in type 2 diabetic recipients. In the current study, we have introduced some useful type 1 and type 2 diabetic models mainly based on our experimental experiences. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery 2007.
ICAM‐1 expressed on hepatic stellate cells plays an important role in immune regulation
Authors: Yin Zhenyu , Jiang Guoping , Fung John J. , Lu Lina , Qian Shiguang
Published: May 2007

The authors have demonstrated a strong T‐cell inhibitory activity of hepatic stellate cells (HSC), which may participate in the establishment of hepatic tolerance. The underlying mechanism is not completely understood. This study showed that intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM‐1) was constitutively expressed on HSC, and up‐regulated upon activation. ICAM‐1 knockout mice was used to analyze the role of ICAM‐1 expressed on HSC, and showed that deficiency in ICAM‐1 expression partially reverses HSC immune inhibitory activity both in vitro and in vivo, but did not significantly affect their capacity to induce T‐cell apoptosis. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery 2007.
Assessment of acceleration modelling for fluid‐filled porous media subjected to dynamic loading
Authors: Lenhof B. , Kettil P. , Runesson K. , Wiberg N.‐E.
Published: May 2007

The purpose of this paper is to examine the importance of different possible simplifying approximations when performing numerical simulations of fluid‐filled porous media subjected to dynamic loading. In particular, the relative importance of the various acceleration terms for both the solid and the fluid, especially the convective contribution, is assessed. The porous medium is modelled as a binary mixture of a solid phase, in the sense of a porous skeleton, and a fluid phase that represents both liquid and air in the pores. The solid particles are assumed to be intrinsically incompressible, whereas the fluid is assigned a finite intrinsic compressibility. Finite element (FE) simulations are carried out while assuming material properties and loading conditions representative for a road structure. The results show that, for the range of the material data used in the simulations, omitting the relative acceleration gives differences in the solution of the seepage velocity field, whereas omitting only the convective term does not lead to significant differences. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bearing capacity of two interfering footings
Authors: Kumar Jyant , Kouzer K. M.
Published: May 2007

By using an upper bound limit analysis in conjunction with finite elements and linear programming, the ultimate bearing capacity of two interfering rough strip footings, resting on a cohesionless medium, was computed. Along all the interfaces of the chosen triangular elements, velocity discontinuities were employed. The plastic strains were incorporated using an associated flow rule. For different clear spacing (S) between the two footings, the efficiency factor (ξγ) was determined, where ξγ is defined as the ratio of the failure load for a strip footing of given width in the presence of the other footing to that of a single isolated strip footing having the same width. The value of ξγ at S/B = 0 becomes equal to 2.0, and the maximum ξγ occurs at S/B =  Scr/B. For S/B⩽Scr/B, the ultimate failure load for a footing becomes almost half that of an isolated footing having width (2B + S), and the soil mass below and in between the two footings deforms mainly in the downward direction. In contrast, for S/B>Scr/B, ground heave was noticed along both the sides of the footing. As compared to the available theories, the analysis provides generally lower values of ξγ for S/B>Scr/B. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cities versus atoms
Authors: Zimmerman Joseph F.
Published: May 2007

Need seen for greater understanding of and preparation for protection against radiation.
Synthesis in optimization of bionics bascule bridges
Authors: Tesar Alexander
Published: May 2007

The optimization of modern bionics bascule bridges mapping the configurations from the nature and adopted in advanced structural engineering is dealt with in the present paper. Theoretical and numerical approaches suggested are based on the evolution algorithms also appearing in the nature. Generalized synthesis in optimization of ultimate behaviour of bionics bascule bridges is analysed. Actual structural application based on such principles is submitted. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A bridge between projection methods and SIMPLE type methods for incompressible Navier–Stokes equations
Authors: Ni Ming‐Jiu , Abdou Mohamed A.
Published: May 2007

A bridge is built between projection methods and SIMPLE type methods (Semi‐Implicit Method for Pressure‐Linked Equation). A general second‐order accurate projection method is developed for the simulation of incompressible unsteady flows by employing a non‐linear update of pressure term as Θn∇pn+1+(I−Θn)∇pn, where Θn is a coefficient matrix, which may depend on the grid size, time step and even velocity. It includes three‐ and four‐step projection methods. The standard SIMPLE method is written in a concise formula for steady and unsteady flows. It is proven that SIMPLE type methods have second‐order temporal accuracy for unsteady flows. The classical second‐order projection method and SIMPLE type methods are united within the framework of the general second‐order projection formula. Two iteration algorithms of SIMPLE type methods for unsteady flows are described and discussed. In addition, detailed formulae are provided for general projection methods by using the Runge–Kutta technique to update the convective term and Crank–Nicholson scheme for the diffusion term. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Uzawa and Newton algorithms to solve frictional contact problems within the bi‐potential framework
Authors: Joli P. , Feng Z.‐Q.
Published: May 2007

This paper is concerned with the numerical modeling of three‐dimensional unilateral contact problems in elastostatics with Coulomb friction laws. We propose a Newton‐like algorithm to solve the local contact non‐linear equations within the bi‐potential framework. The piecewise continuous contact tangent matrices are explicitly derived. A comparative study is made between the Newton algorithm and the previously developed Uzawa algorithm. A test example is included to demonstrate the developed algorithms and to highlight their performance. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An elderly type 1 diabetic patient with life event‐related brittle diabetes
Authors: Thomas C , Majid S , Wilding J , Wallymahmed M , Gill G
Published: May 2007

The case is presented of a 74‐year‐old lady with type 1 diabetes of 42 years' duration, who had recurrent diabetes‐related hospitalisations. These were due to both hypo‐ and hyperglycaemic emergencies and, over the last 20 years, 41 such admissions (2.0 per year) had occurred— 56% hypoglycaemic, 27% diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and 17% with non‐ketotic hyperglycaemia. There was a close relationship between social and family crises and admissions. This patient demonstrates the unusual syndrome of ‘elderly brittle diabetes’. The mixed metabolic picture is typical of this syndrome, but the psychosocial impact on hospital admission is more commonly seen in younger female brittle patients with recurrent DKA. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons.
Carbohydrate counting in type 1 diabetes: time to REACCT
Authors: Ulahannan TJ , Ross W , Davies FC
Published: May 2007

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence Technology Appraisal Guidance No. 60 recommended that structured patient education be made available to all people with diabetes at the time of initial diagnosis and then as required on an ongoing basis, based on a formal, regular assessment of need. The Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating (DAFNE) programme was recommended as an option for individuals with type 1 diabetes, being one means of enabling people to self‐manage this condition.

As a centre wishing to implement insulin pump therapy, we therefore required a cost effective method of delivering advanced carbohydrate counting, without the resources of a DAFNE centre. Consequently, we devised the REACCT ‘Re‐Education And Carbohydrate Counting Training’ programme according to the Social Learning Theory of Bandura. The latter states that people learn from observing other people, and is used to develop confidence to be able to carry out the skills. Our intervention consists of two, two‐hour morning sessions, six weeks apart, delivered by a diabetes specialist nurse and a diabetes specialist dietitian. Each group contains five to 10 patients. The topics covered include back to basics insulin education and lifestyle issues. The emphasis is on adjusting basal insulin dose to achieve optimal fasting blood glucose levels.

Our audit found that in 80 patients who completed the programme there was: improved self‐perceived quality of life (56%), reduced total insulin dose (44%), and improved glycaemic control with less glycaemic excursions (63%). While overall there was no reduction in mean body weight, after the introduction of carbohydrate counting more patients lost weight than gained weight. There was also a reduction in the average total daily dose of insulin and HbA1c.

We have shown that REACCT can be implemented in a typical district general hospital diabetes department with a minimal resource cost. We are aware of the limitations of our data and intend to continue observing our patients. However, when challenged to justify the time devoted to non‐conventional patient contact, we feel these results are highly encouraging and we hope may be useful for other diabetes teams to consider as well. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons.
Improvements in quality of care of patients with diabetes in primary care in Tunisia
Authors: Alberti Hugh , Boudriga Nessiba , Nabli Mounira
Published: May 2007

Worldwide, the quality of diabetes care is suboptimal, yet few studies have been undertaken in primary care in developing nations. We sought to evaluate whether the quality of diabetes care in primary care health centres in Tunisia has improved since the initiation of a National Program of Hypertension and Diabetes Management.

We conducted a retrospective medical review of process and outcome measures and treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes attending primary care health centres in Tunisia. Data were collected from patients attending 48 randomly selected health centres from the whole country from 2000–2002, and a subset of patients attending 14 randomly selected centres from the south of the country from 2000–2004.

The national cohort included 2030 patients, and the southern subset 593. Six of nine process measurements improved significantly in the national cohort, five of nine in the southern subset (p<0.05). There were significant improvements in body mass index and a trend towards improvement in fasting glucose level over the three‐year period nationally, and significant improvements in body mass index, fasting glucose and diastolic blood pressure over the five‐year period in the southern cohort. Highly significant increases in the proportion of patients being prescribed ACE inhibitors (1.9% vs 7.8%, p<0.001) and lipid‐lowering agents (8.5% vs 14.7%, p<0.001) were also noted in the national cohort.

We have demonstrated a possible trend in improvement in the quality of care of patients with diabetes managed in the primary care setting in Tunisia over a five‐year period from 2000–2004. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons.
A modified prescription‐event monitoring study to assess the introduction of Flixotide EvohalerTM into general practice in England: an example of pharmacovigilance planning and risk monitoring
Authors: Perrio Michael J. , Wilton Lynda V. , Shakir Saad A.W.
Published: May 2007

Introduction

A modified prescription‐event monitoring (PEM) study was conducted to examine the safety of the introduction of the metered dose inhaler (MDI) Flixotide EvohalerTM (fluticasone with the propellant HFA 134a).

Methods

Patients were identified from the first NHS prescriptions dispensed in England for Flixotide EvohalerTM. Postal questionnaires were sent to the prescribing doctor, requesting information including: demographic characteristics, severity of indication, concomitant medication, event data 3 months prior to and 3 months after the first prescription, and any reasons for stopping Flixotide. Pregnancies, deaths and selected events were followed up. Incidence density ratios (IDRs) were calculated to compare event rates 3 months before and 3 months after the introduction of Flixotide EvohalerTM.

Results

The cohort comprised 13 413 patients that were prescribed Flixotide EvohalerTM. The response rate was 64.0%. When the pre‐ and post‐exposure periods were compared fewer patients had events in the post‐exposure period, and there was no significant difference in the length of courses of oral steroid use. Eighteen patients experienced an event within 1 hour of using Flixotide EvohalerTM; these were minor with the exception of one case of angioneurotic facial oedema. Six of these events were assessed as possibly related to Flixotide EvohalerTM. During the study period there were an additional 13 patients with events assessed as possibly related to Flixotide EvohalerTM, including two reports of allergic reactions.

Discussion

The results suggest that the transition to Flixotide EvohalerTM was generally well tolerated. The modified methodology has contributed to the risk management of the introduction of this product. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Denaturing and refolding of protein molecules on surfaces
Authors: Holtz Bryan , Wang Yini , Zhu Xiao‐Yang , Guo Athena
Published: May 2007

Keeping protein molecules in the active state on a solid surface is essential to protein microarrays and other protein‐based biosensors. Here, we show that the 2‐D chemical environment controls the refolding of the denatured green fluorescent proteins tethered to solid surfaces. Refolding occurs readily on the repulsive PEG functionalized surface but is inhibited on the attractive –NH2 functionalized surface. This result shows the critical importance of the 2‐D chemical environment in the maintenance and revival of protein activity on surfaces and opens the door to designing 2‐D molecular chaperones for protein folding.
Meeting Report of the 2nd International Workshop on 2‐D DIGE Applications in Proteomics
Authors: Stühler Kai , Stephan Christian , Bustamante Nadine Palacios , Scheibe Burghardt , Meyer Helmut E.
Published: May 2007

The second international workshop on “2‐D DIGE Applications in Proteomics” took place at the Medizinisches Proteom‐Center, Ruhr‐Universität Bochum, from February 27th to March 2nd, 2007. The four day “hands‐on” course was addressed to all interested scientists from the field of Proteomics, inter alia to members of HUPO and DGPF, with a greater focus on image analysis and statistical analysis of 2‐D DIGE experiments.
Expression of the forkhead transcription factor FOXP1 is associated both with hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) and the Androgen receptor in prostate cancer but is not directly regulated by Androgens or hypoxia
Authors: Banham Alison H. , Boddy Jane , Launchbury Rosalind , Han Cheng , Turley Helen , Malone Peter R. , Harris Adrian L. , Fox Stephen B.
Published: May 2007

BACKGROUND

FOXP1 is a member of the winged helix or forkhead transcription factors. Recent studies have indicated possible roles for FOXP1 as a candidate tumor suppressor gene and a potential estrogen receptor (ER) co‐regulator in the development of breast cancer. This study investigated whether FOXP1 has a similar relationship to the androgen receptor (AR) in prostate cancer and how these factors relate to the presence of hypoxia.

METHODS

FOXP1, the AR and various hypoxia‐regulated proteins (HIF‐1α, HIF‐2α, and VEGF) were measured with immunohistochemistry using a tissue microarray constructed from 167 archival radical prostatectomies. Statistical analyses compared the co‐expression of these factors both with each other and conventional parameters including patient age, pre‐operative prostate specific antigen (PSA), post‐operative Gleason score, capsular invasion, surgical margin status, tumor volume, and PSA recurrence. The influence of hypoxia, dihydrotestosterone, and the AR blocker Casodex was investigated in prostate cell lines VCaP and LNCaP in vitro.

RESULTS

Expression of nuclear FOXP1 was significantly positively correlated with AR (P = 0.0001), hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF‐1α) (P = 0.01), HIF‐2α (P = 0.0001), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (P = 0.007) expression. A positive significant relationship was also identified with the post‐operative Gleason score (P = 0.03) but not with the other variables, including PSA recurrence (P > 0.05). There was no significant change in expression in FOXP1 protein levels under conditions of hypoxia (0.1%), dihydrotestosterone stimulation (10 or 100 nM), or androgen blockade with Casodex (1, 10, or 50 µM).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that there may be a hormonal and hypoxia independent regulatory mechanism coordinating the expression of HIFs, the AR, and FOXP1 in prostate tumors. Prostate 67: 1091–1098, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An improved characterization of bounded realness for singular delay systems and its applications
Authors: Xu Shengyuan , Lam James , Zou Yun
Published: May 2007

This paper is concerned with establishing a delay‐dependent bounded real lemma (BRL) for singular systems with a time delay. Without resorting to any bounding techniques for some cross terms and model transformation, a new version of BRL for such systems is proposed, which guarantees a singular system to be regular, impulse free and stable while satisfying a prescribed H∞ performance level for any delays smaller than a given upper bound. Based on this, an H∞ state feedback controller is designed via a linear matrix inequality approach. The BRL, stability as well as H∞ results developed in this paper are less conservative than existing ones in the literature, which is demonstrated by providing some numerical examples. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Amygdala serotonin transporters in alcoholics measured by whole hemisphere autoradiography
Authors: Storvik Markus , Tiihonen Jari , Haukijärvi Tuija , Tupala Erkki
Published: May 2007

Background: A dysfunction in brain serotonin turnover is a well‐established factor associated with the impulsive and sociopathic behavior in alcoholics. The conjuncted alterations in functioning of serotonin transporter (SERT) may play a role in the regulation of emotional balance, judgement, and the adverse behavioral effects of ethanol misuse. These traits may be related to serotonergic regulation in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Methods: The binding of [3H]citalopram to SERT was evaluated in the amygdala of Cloninger type 1 and 2 alcoholics (n = 17), and nonalcoholic control subjects (n = 10) by postmortem whole‐hemisphere autoradiography. Results: The SERT binding was substantially lower in the dorsal amygdala in alcoholic subjects when compared with the controls (−28%, effect size 1.26, P = 0.016). In secondary analysis, this reduction was observed in both alcoholic subgroups (−26% in type 1 alcoholics, and −33% in type 2 alcoholics). In ventral amygdala, no alteration was observed. There were significant correlations between the SERT binding in dorsal amygdala and in previous results from frontal cortical areas in alcoholics, depending on the type of alcoholic. Conclusions: These results suggest that SERT binding in the amygdala, as well as the differential regulation of the SERT in amygdala and frontal cortex in alcoholics may help to explain the dysfunctional regulation of emotions in alcoholics. Synapse 61:629–636, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The txl1+ gene from Schizosaccharomyces pombe encodes a new thioredoxin‐like 1 protein that participates in the antioxidant defence against tert‐butyl hydroperoxide
Authors: Jiménez Alberto , Mateos Laura , Pedrajas José R. , Miranda‐Vizuete Antonio , Revuelta José L.
Published: May 2007

Yeasts are equipped with several putative single‐domain thioredoxins located in different subcellular compartments. However, additional proteins containing thioredoxin domains are also encoded by the yeast genomes as described for mammals and other eukaryotic organisms. We report here the characterization of the fission yeast orthologue thioredoxin‐like 1 (txl1+), which has been previously identified in mammals. Similarly to the human protein, the fission yeast Txl1 is a two‐domain protein comprising an N‐terminal thioredoxin‐like domain and a C‐terminal domain of unknown function. Many other yeasts and fungi species contain homologues of txl1+; however, there is no evidence of txl1+ orthologues in either Saccharomyces cerevisiae or plants. Txl1 is found in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm of Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells and exhibits a strong reducing activity coupled to thioredoxin reductase. In humans, TXL1 expression is induced by glucose deprivation and overexpression of TXL1 confers resistance against this stress. In contrast, a Sz. pombe Δtxl1 mutant was not affected in the response against glucose starvation but the Δtxl1 mutant strain showed a clear hypersensitivity to alkyl hydroperoxide. The mRNA levels of txl1+ in a h20 strain did not change in response to any oxidative insult (hydrogen peroxide or alkyl hydroperoxide) and the overexpression of an integrated copy of the wild‐type txl1+ gene did not confer a significant increased resistance against alkyl hydroperoxide. Overall, these results indicate that the Txl1 role in the cellular detoxification of alkyl hydroperoxide is exerted through a constitutive transcription of txl1+. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of Preoperative Physiological Risk Profile on Postoperative Morbidity and Mortality After Emergency Operation of Complicated Peptic Ulcer Disease
Authors: Egberts Jan‐Hendrik , Summa Birte , Schulz Ulrike , Schafmayer Clemens , Hinz Sebastian , Tepel Juergen
Published: May 2007

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate the preoperative physiological risk profile for postoperative morbidity and mortality after emergency treatment of complicated peptic ulcer disease (PUD).

Methods

Operative notes and hospital files of 261 patients—111 female, 150 male; median age 67 years (range 17–100 years)—undergoing an emergency operation from 1993 to 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. The physiologic subscore of the POSSUM score (POSSUM‐phys) was analyzed with regard to predicting postoperative complications. Follow‐up was obtained from questionnaires sent to family practitioners or by patient interviews.

Results

The overall complication rate was 44%, and mortality was 24%. Among risk factors studied (e.g., sex, patient’s age, duration of symptoms, type of surgery), a high POSSUM‐phys score was the strongest predictor for postoperative sepsis, anastomotic/suture dehiscence, postoperative bleeding, and mortality. Cut points for patients at risk could be calculated. Surgical procedures (organ‐preserving versus resection) had no influence when matched for POSSUM‐phys score. Nevertheless, organ resections were associated with higher scores. Recurrent PUD was a rare event (7.6%).

Conclusion

The preoperative physiologic POSSUM score is a promising instrument for identifying patients at increased risk to develop major postoperative complications after emergency surgery for complicated PUD. Prospective studies are needed to prove its applicability for adjusting treatment to individual patients.
Mitochondrial Optic Neuropathies: How Two Genomes may Kill the Same Cell Type?
Authors: Carelli Valerio , La Morgia Chiara , Iommarini Luisa , Carroccia Rosanna , Mattiazzi Marina , Sangiorgi Simonetta , Farne' Sabrina , Maresca Alessandra , Foscarini Beatrice , Lanzi Lucia , Amadori Marcello , Bellan Marzio , Valentino Maria Lucia
Published: May 2007

Ocular involvement is a prevalent feature in mitochondrial diseases. Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) and dominant optic atrophy (DOA) are both non-syndromic optic neuropathies with a mitochondrial etiology. LHON is associated with point mutations in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which affect subunit genes of complex I. The majority of DOA patients harbor mutations in the nuclear-encoded protein OPA1, which is targeted to mitochondria and participates to cristae organization and mitochondrial network dynamics. In both disorders the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are specific cellular targets of the degenerative process. We here review the clinical features and the genetic bases, and delineate the possible common pathomechanism for both these disorders.
Picking a Frame for Communicating About Genetics: Stigmas or Challenges
Authors: Smith Rachel A.
Published: May 2007

Currently, one may describe awareness of genomics as limited, but growing in the US. Although awareness is limited, the US public expresses great concern that genomics could result in stigmatization and discrimination (Reproductive genetic testing: What America thinks.Washington, DC: Genetics and Public Policy Center, 2004). This situation provides a rare opportunity to think carefully about how to design communication to a general public in ways that galvanize positive sentiments around genomics instead of stimulate stigmas. This manuscript provides a synthesis of communication theories relevant to framing genomics in stigma and challenge formats, the details necessary to understand what such messages look like, and an illustration of the two frames. Many people in different roles are engaging in these conversations in many different contexts. Through the growing exposure and interest in genomics, the opportunity to proactively script messages to form beliefs and attitudes about genomics, instead of managing pre‐existing ones, may disappear quickly.
Essentiality is an emergent property of metabolic network wiring
Authors: Palumbo Maria Concetta , Colosimo Alfredo , Giuliani Alessandro , Farina Lorenzo
Published: May 2007

We demonstrate that the ‘missing alternative’ paradigm is sufficient to explain the generation of essentiality for double mutations in which each single deleted element is non‐essential.
The detection of feline coronaviruses in blood samples from cats by mRNA RT-PCR
Authors: Can-Şahna Kezban , Ataseven Veysel Soydal , Pınar Dilek , Oğuzoğlu Tuba Çiğdem
Published: May 2007

In this study, 26 blood samples were collected from 25 healthy cats and one cat with clinical signs suggestive of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), namely, fever, weight loss, enlarged abdomen, and ascites. Blood samples were tested for feline coronavirus (FCoV) messenger RNA (mRNA) by an reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay which has previously been described to have a high specificity in the diagnosis of clinical FIP [Simons AF, Vennema H, Rofina JE, Pol JM, Horzinek MC, Rottier PJM, Egberink HF (2005) A mRNA PCR for the diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis. Journal of Virological Methods124, 111–116]. Overall we found 14 (54%) of the cats were positive for FCoV including the cat with clinical disease, but the high rate of positivity among healthy cats suggested a poor specificity for the clinical diagnosis of FIP among these cats. It was observed that the positivity rate was highest in cats aged between 6 months–1 year old. Our findings suggest that FCoVs may be present in the blood samples from healthy cats as well as cats with clinical FIP.
The effects of obesity-associated insulin resistance on mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ target genes, in dogs
Authors: Gayet Constance , Leray Veronique , Saito Masayuki , Siliart Brigitte , Nguyen Patrick
Published: May 2007

Visceral adipose tissue and skeletal muscle have central roles in determining whole-body insulin sensitivity. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) is a potential mediator of insulin sensitivity. It can directly modulate the expression of genes that are involved in glucose and lipid metabolism, including GLUT4, lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and adipocytokines (leptin and adiponectin). In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of obesity-associated insulin resistance on mRNA expression of PPARγ and its target genes. Dogs were studied when they were lean and at the end of an overfeeding period when they had reached a steady obese state. The use of a sensitive, real-time PCR assay allowed a relative quantification of mRNA expression for PPARγ, LPL, GLUT4, leptin and adiponectin, in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. In visceral adipose tissue and/or skeletal muscle, mRNA expression of PPARγ, LPL and GLUT4 were at least 2-fold less in obese and insulin-resistant dogs compared with the same animals when they were lean and insulin-sensitive. The mRNA expression and plasma concentration of leptin was increased, whereas the plasma level and mRNA expression of adiponectin was decreased, by obesity. In adipose tissue, PPARγ expression was correlated with leptin and adiponectin. These findings, in an original model of obesity induced by a prolonged period of overfeeding, showed that insulin resistance is associated with a decrease in PPARγ mRNA expression that could dysregulate expression of several genes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism.
Identification of stage-specifically expressed genes ofTrichinella spiralisby suppression subtractive hybridization
Authors: LIU M. Y. , WANG X. L. , FU B. Q. , LI C. Y. , WU X. P. , Le RHUN D. , CHEN Q. J. , BOIREAU P.
Published: May 2007

Newborn larvae (NBL) and adult (Ad) stage-specifically expressed genes or members of gene families ofTrichinella spiraliswere identified by suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH)†. Six cDNA clones were identified as NBL stage-specific, including 1 member of theT. spiralisgene family encoding glutamic acid-rich proteins, 2 clones encoding novel serine proteases, 2 closely related clones encoding proteins that are members of a deoxyribonuclease II (DNase II)-like family and 1 clone with no similarity to known genes. Four stage-specific clones encoding homologues of retinoid X receptor, caveolin, C2H2 type zinc finger protein and a putative protein with no homology to known sequences were obtained from 3-day-old adult worms. One gene specifically up-regulated in the 5-day-old adult worms encoding a putative cuticle collagen was also identified.
Against the unification of the behavioral sciences
Authors: Clarke Steve
Published: May 2007

The contemporary behavioral sciences are disunified and could not easily become unified, as they operate with incompatible explanatory models. According to Gintis, tolerance of this situation is “scandalous” (sect. 12). I defend the ordinary behavioral scientist's lack of commitment to a unifying explanatory model and identify several reasons why the behavioral sciences should remain disunified for the foreseeable future.
Love is not enough: Other-regarding preferences cannot explain payoff dominance in game theory
Authors: Colman Andrew M.
Published: May 2007

Even if game theory is broadened to encompass other-regarding preferences, it cannot adequately model all aspects of interactive decision making. Payoff dominance is an example of a phenomenon that can be adequately modeled only by departing radically from standard assumptions of decision theory and game theory – either the unit of agency or the nature of rationality.
The place of ethics in a unified behavioral science
Authors: Danielson Peter
Published: May 2007

Behavioral science, unified in the way Gintis proposes, should affect ethics, which also finds itself in “disarray,” in three ways. First, it raises the standards. Second, it removes the easy targets of economic and sociobiological selfishness. Third, it provides methods, in particular the close coupling of theory and experiments, to construct a better ethics.
Implications for law of a unified behavioral science
Authors: Jones Owen D.
Published: May 2007

The argument for unifying behavioral sciences can be enhanced by highlighting concrete, vivid, and useful benefits that coherent behavioral models could provide. Shifting sets of behavioral assumptions underlie every legal system's efforts to modify behaviors by changing incentives in the legal environment. Consequently, where those assumptions are flawed, improved behavioral models could improve law's effectiveness and efficiency in regulating behavior.
Probabilistic equilibria for evolutionarily stable strategies
Authors: McCain Roger A.
Published: May 2007

This commentary suggests that an equilibrium framework may be retained, in an evolutionary model such as Gintis's and with more satisfactory results, if rationality is relaxed in a slightly different way than he proposes: that is, if decisions are assumed to be related to rewards probabilistically, rather than with certainty. This relaxed concept of rationality gives rise to probabilistic equilibria.
Selection of human prosocial behavior through partner choice by powerful individuals and institutions
Authors: Noë Ronald
Published: May 2007

Cultural group selection seems the only compelling explanation for the evolution of the uniquely human form of cooperation by large teams of unrelated individuals. Inspired by descriptions of sanctioning in mutualistic interactions between members of different species, I propose partner choice by powerful individuals or institutions as an alternative explanation for the evolution of behavior typical for “team players.”
Emotions, not just decision-making processes, are critical to an evolutionary model of human behavior
Authors: Weisfeld Glenn E. , LaFreniere Peter
Published: May 2007

An evolutionary model of human behavior should privilege emotions: essential, phylogenetically ancient behaviors that learning and decision making only subserve. Infants and non-mammals lack advanced cognitive powers but still survive. Decision making is only a means to emotional ends, which organize and prioritize behavior. The emotion of pride/shame, or dominance striving, bridges the social and biological sciences via internalization of cultural norms.
Consciousness without a cortex, but what kind of consciousness is this?
Authors: Coenen Anton M. L.
Published: May 2007

Merker suggests that the thalamocortical system is not an essential system for consciousness, but, instead, that the midbrain reticular system is responsible for consciousness. Indeed, the latter is a crucial system for consciousness, when consciousness is regarded as the waking state. However, when consciousness is regarded as phenomenal consciousness, for which experience and perception are essential elements, the thalamocortical system seems to be indispensable.
Do multiple cortical–subcortical interactions support different aspects of consciousness?
Authors: Collerton Daniel , Perry Elaine
Published: May 2007

Merker's core idea, that the experience of being conscious reflects the interactions of actions, targets, and motivations in the upper brainstem, with cortex providing the content of the conscious experience, merits serious consideration. However, we have two areas of concern: first, that his definition of consciousness is so broad that it is difficult to find any organisms with a brain that could be non-conscious; second, that the focus on one cortical–subcortical system neglects other systems (e.g., basal forebrain and brainstem cholinergic systems and their cortical and thalamic target areas) which may be of at least equal significance.
Consciousness without corticocentrism: Beating an evolutionary path
Authors: Edelman David B.
Published: May 2007

Merker's approach allows the formulation of an evolutionary view of consciousness that abandons a dependence on structural homology – in this case, the presence of a cerebral cortex – in favor of functional concordance. In contrast to Merker, though, I maintain that the emergence of complex, dynamic interactions, such as those which occur between thalamus and cortex, was central to the appearance of consciousness.
Recurrent multistate outbreak of Salmonella Newport associated with tomatoes from contaminated fields, 2005
Authors: GREENE S. K. , DALY E. R. , TALBOT E. A. , DEMMA L. J. , HOLZBAUER S. , PATEL N. J. , HILL T. A. , WALDERHAUG M. O. , HOEKSTRA R. M. , LYNCH M. F. , PAINTER J. A.
Published: May 2007

Salmonella Newport causes more than an estimated 100 000 infections annually in the United States. In 2002, tomatoes grown and packed on the eastern shore of Virginia contaminated with a pan-susceptible S. Newport strain caused illness in 510 patients in 26 states. In July–November 2005, the same strain caused illness in at least 72 patients in 16 states. We conducted a case-control study during the 2005 outbreak, enrolling 29 cases and 140 matched neighbourhood controls. Infection was associated with eating tomatoes (matched odds ratio 9·7, 95% confidence interval 3·3–34·9). Tomatoes were traced back to the eastern shore of Virginia, where the outbreak strain was isolated from pond water used to irrigate tomato fields. Two multistate outbreaks caused by one rare strain, and identification of that strain in irrigation ponds 2 years apart, suggest persistent contamination of tomato fields. Further efforts are needed to prevent produce contamination on farms and throughout the food supply chain.
High prevalence of antibodies to Legionella spp. in Danish blood donors. A study in areas with high and average incidence of Legionnaires' disease
Authors: RUDBECK M. , MØLBAK K. , ULDUM S.
Published: May 2007

The incidence of Legionnaires' disease has an uneven geographical distribution in Denmark, ranging from 3 to 70 notified cases per million inhabitants per year in different towns. We investigated the prevalence of antibodies to Legionella in the one town with a consistently high incidence (Randers, Aarhus County) and compared it with that of an area of average incidence (Vejle, Vejle County). Blood samples were collected from healthy blood donors in Randers (n=308) and in Vejle (n=400), and analysed for antibodies to Legionella by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test with L. pneumophila, L. micdadei, and L. bozemanii as antigens. Overall 22·9% of the donors had antibody titres of ⩾1:128; indicating that antibodies to Legionella are common in healthy individuals, and reflecting that the bacteria may be widely distributed in the environment. Surprisingly, the study did not reveal a higher prevalence in the hyperendemic area. Thus, the high incidence of notified cases in this particular town may not be attributed to an overall increased exposure of the general population.
A note on the flow of a homogeneous intrusion into a two-layer fluid
Authors: HOCKING G. C. , FORBES L. K.
Published: May 2007

The intrusion of a constant density fluid at the interface of a two-layer fluid is considered. Numerical solutions are computed for a model of a steady intrusion resulting from flow down a bank and across a broad lake or reservoir. The incoming fluid is homogeneous and spreads across the lake at its level of neutral buoyancy. Solutions are obtained for a range of different inflow angles, flow rate and density differences. Except in extreme cases, the nature of the solution is predicted quite well by linear theory, with the wavelength at any Froude number given by a dispersion relation and wave steepness determined largely by entry angle. However, some extreme solutions with rounded meandering flows and non-unique solutions in the parameter space are also obtained.
On the status of perturbation theory
Authors: PAUL THIERRY
Published: May 2007

Perturbation theory has always been an important component of the natural sciences. From celestial mechanics to the quantum theory of fields, it has always played a central role, which this little note sets out to analyse briefly. We will show, in particular, how its epistemological position has changed from being just a ‘tool’ to being the basis of definition for objects in quantum field theory.
On the Lyapunov exponents of the asteroidal motion subject to resonances and encounters
Authors: Shevchenko Ivan I.
Published: May 2007

In theoretical as well as practical issues of the asteroidal hazard problem, it is important to be able to assess the degree of predictability of the orbital motion of asteroids. Some asteroids move in a virtually predictable way, others do not. The characteristic time of predictability of any motion is nothing but the Lyapunov time (the reciprocal of the maximum Lyapunov exponent) of the motion. In this report, a method of analytical estimation of the maximum Lyapunov exponents of the orbital motion of asteroids is described in application for two settings of the problem. Namely, the following two types of the motion are considered: (1) the motion close to the ordinary or three-body mean motion resonances with planets, and (2) the motion in highly eccentric orbits subject to moderately close encounters with planets. Whatever different these settings may look, the analytical treatment is universal: it is performed within a single framework of the general separatrix map theory. (Recall that the separatrix maps describe the motion near the separatrices of a nonlinear resonance.) The analytical estimates of the Lyapunov times are compared to known numerical ones, i.e., to known estimates obtained by means of numerical integration of the orbits.
Resonant trans-Neptunian objects as a source of Jupiter-family comets
Authors: Kiseleva E. L. , Emel'yanenko V. V.
Published: May 2007

The dynamical interrelation between resonant trans-Neptunian objects and short-period comets is studied. Initial orbits of resonant objects are based on computations in the model of the outward transport of objects during Neptune's migration in the early history of the outer Solar system. The dynamical evolution of this population is investigated for 4.5 Gyr, using a symplectic integrator. Our calculations show that resonant trans-Neptunian objects give a substantial contribution to the planetary region. We have estimated that the relative fraction of objects captured per year from the 2/3 resonance to Jupiter-family orbits with perihelion distances q<2.5 AU is 0.4×10−10 near the present epoch.