bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Co‐infection of respiratory bacterium with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus induces an exacerbated pneumonia in mice
Authors: Ami Yasushi , Nagata Noriyo , Shirato Kazuya , Watanabe Rie , Iwata Naoko , Nakagaki Keiko , Fukushi Shuetsu , Saijo Masayuki , Morikawa Shigeru , Taguchi Fumihiro
Published: April 2008

SARS‐CoV grows in a variety of tissues that express its receptor, although the mechanism for high replication in the lungs and severe respiratory illness is not well understood. We recently showed that elastase enhances SARS‐CoV infection in cultured cells, which suggests that SARS development may be due to elastase‐mediated, enhanced SARS‐CoV infection in the lungs. To explore this possibility, we examined whether co‐infection of mice with SARS‐CoV and Pp, a low‐pathogenic bacterium which elicits elastase production in the lungs, induces exacerbation of pneumonia. Mice co‐infected with SARS‐CoV and Pp developed severe respiratory disease with extensive weight loss, resulting in a 33∼90% mortality rate. Mice with exacerbated pneumonia showed enhanced virus infection in the lungs and histopathological lesions similar to those found in human SARS cases. Intranasal administration of LPS, another elastase inducer, showed an effect similar to that of Pp infection. Thus, this study shows that exacerbated pneumonia in mice results from co‐infection with SARS‐CoV and a respiratory bacterium that induces elastase production in the lungs, suggesting a possible role for elastase in the exacerbation of pneumonia.
Attenuated Listeria infection activates natural killer cell cytotoxicity to regress melanoma growth in vivo
Authors: Shen Hua , Kanoh Makoto , Maruyama Saho , Matsumoto Akira , Zhang Wei , Asano Yoshihiro
Published: April 2008

Listeria monocytogenes infection induces various types of immune responses. The Lm‐induced immunity not only protects the hosts against Lm infection but also has a therapeutic effect on other diseases such as tumors and infectious diseases. In the present study, we sought to identify the cells and molecules that are primarily responsible for the Lm‐induced antitumor immune response. We investigated the mechanism of the antitumor immune response induced by Lm infection using melanoma cells and various types of gene‐manipulated mice and B16F10 melanoma cells. Melanoma cells were implanted into mice intrasplenically or intraperitoneally. Lm infection of mice remarkably suppressed the growth of transplanted melanoma. The suppression of melanoma growth was due to the augmented NK cytotoxicity. The Lm‐induced NK activation against melanoma was type I interferon‐ and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)1‐dependent but independent of IL‐12 and IFN‐γ. In contrast to avirulent Listeria innocua and hly− Lm failed to induce NK activation, a mutant Lm strain with minimal hemolytic activity and with normal accessibility to cytoplasm‐induced NK activation. We demonstrated that the attenuated Lm entrance into the cytoplasm induces the production of type I IFN followed by the activation of NK cells, which is essential for the Lm‐induced antitumor response.
Late Cretaceous to Miocene sea‐level estimates from the New Jersey and Delaware coastal plain coreholes: an error analysis
Authors: Kominz M. A. , Browning J. V. , Miller K. G. , Sugarman P. J. , Mizintseva S. , Scotese C. R.
Published: April 2008

Sea level has been estimated for the last 108 million years through backstripping of corehole data from the New Jersey and Delaware Coastal Plains. Inherent errors due to this method of calculating sea level are discussed, including uncertainties in ages, depth of deposition and the model used for tectonic subsidence. Problems arising from the two‐dimensional aspects of subsidence and response to sediment loads are also addressed. The rates and magnitudes of sea‐level change are consistent with at least ephemeral ice sheets throughout the studied interval. Million‐year sea‐level cycles are, for the most part, consistent within the study area suggesting that they may be eustatic in origin. This conclusion is corroborated by correlation between sequence boundaries and unconformities in New Zealand. The resulting long‐term curve suggests that sea level ranged from about 75–110 m in the Late Cretaceous, reached a maximum of about 150 m in the Early Eocene and fell to zero in the Miocene. The Late Cretaceous long‐term (107years) magnitude is about 100–150 m less than sea level predicted from ocean volume. This discrepancy can be reconciled by assuming that dynamic topography in New Jersey was driven by North America overriding the subducted Farallon plate. However, geodynamic models of this effect do not resolve the problem in that they require Eocene sea level to be significantly higher in the New Jersey region than the global average.
Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma showing an interfollicular pattern of proliferation: a study of the Osaka Lymphoma Study Group
Authors: Yamauchi A , Ikeda J , Nakamichi I , Kohara M , Fukuhara S , Hino M , Kanakura Y , Ogawa H , Sugiyama H , Kanamaru A , Aozasa K
Published: April 2008

Aims:  Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) usually proliferates effacing lymph follicles. In occasional cases, tumour cells show an interfollicular pattern of proliferation preserving lymph follicles. The aim was to analyse clinicopathological findings in DLBCL showing an interfollicular pattern of proliferation to determine whether this type of lymphoma is a distinct entity of DLBCL.

Methods and results:  Clinicopathological findings in 12 cases of DLBCL showing an interfollicular pattern of proliferation [interfollicular group (IF)] were examined and compared with those in 30 cases of DLBCL with ordinary morphology [control group (CG)]. IF showed a significantly lower lactate dehydrogenase level and International Prognostic Index scores than CG (P = 0.023 and P < 0.01, respectively). The frequency of localized disease, clinical stage 1 and 2, in IF was higher than that in CG (P = 0.016). A morphologically polymorphous pattern of proliferation was found in seven of 12 cases (58.3%) in IF, which was higher than that in CG, five (16.7%) of 30 cases (P < 0.01). Clonality analysis with the polymerase chain reaction method revealed that all 11 IF cases examined showed a monoclonal pattern. Immunohistochemically, the majority (11 of 12) of IF cases showed a non‐germinal centre B‐cell phenotype and the frequency was higher than that in CG (P = 0.021).

Conclusion:  Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma with an interfollicular pattern of proliferation shows distinct clinical and pathological findings from ordinary DLBCL.
A computational framework for representing authors' courseware models
Authors: Mclntyre A.
Published: April 2008

Abstract This paper looks at some of the problems of existing courseware authoring systems, and advocates the use of knowledge‐based techniques to resolve these problems and to form the basis of future authoring environments. The prototype knowledge‐based representation language, GTE, is presented as an example of a knowledge‐based language which might form the basis of such environments. The final part of the paper discusses some of the developments in GTE which must take place if it is to be used within a full and flexible authoring environment. The paper will focus particularly on the question of instructional strategies, but many of the observations can be taken as relevant to all the knowledge involved in a teaching interaction.
Why computer science students find formal reasoning frightening
Authors: Fung P. , O'Shea T. , Goldson D. , Reeves S. , Bornat R.
Published: April 2008

Abstract  This paper focuses on difficulties which first‐year undergraduate computer science students experience in learning formal reasoning techniques. The main findings from an empirical investigation are reported. These indicated that, in the student population studied, many of those difficulties stemmed from a combination of the mathematical content of the courses and the students' unfamiliarity with formal notations and language. The paper concludes by discussing a selection of computer‐based tools which have been selected to address these difficulties.
Morphological effects of ceramide on DMPC/DHPC bicelles
Authors: BARBOSA‐BARROS L. , DE LA MAZA A. , WALTHER P. , ESTELRICH J. , LÓPEZ O.
Published: April 2008

Freeze fracture electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering were applied to characterize the morphological changes of DMPC/DHPC bicellar systems induced by the addition of ceramides. The results demonstrate a tendency of the DMPC/DHPC aggregates to evolve forming elongated or tubular structures with the increase of the temperature. At 20°C, low concentrations of ceramide promote the appearance of elongated structures with twisted zones. Higher concentrations of this lipid lead to the formation of liposomes along the elongated structures. The increase of the temperature to 40°C induces the growth of the structures containing low concentrations of ceramide forming branched aggregates. In samples with high amounts of ceramide, the increase of temperature causes phase separation and the formation of a mixed system composed by liposomes and multilamellar tubules. The morphological effects induced by ceramides in this new membrane model give new insights for the role played by this lipid in biological membranes.
Fabrication of a versatile substrate for finding samples on the nanometer scale
Authors: NOWAK D. B. , VATTIPALLI M. K. , ABRAMSON J. J. , SÁNCHEZ E. J.
Published: April 2008

With increasing interest in nanometer scale studies, a common research issue is the need to use different analytical systems with a universal substrate to relocate objects on the nanometer scale. Our paper addresses this need. Using the delicate milling capability of a focused ion beam (FIB) system, a region of interest (ROI) on a sample is labelled via a milled reference grid. FIB technology allows for milling and deposition of material at the sub 20‐nm level, in a similar user environment as a standard scanning electron microscope (SEM). Presently commercially available transmission electron microscope (TEM) grids have spacings on the order 100 μm on average; this technique can extend this dimension down to the submicrometre level. With a grid on the order of a few micrometres optical, FIBs, TEMs, scanning electron microscopes (SEMs), and atomic force microscopes (AFM) are able to image the ROI, without special chemical processes or conductive coatings required. To demonstrate, Au nanoparticles of ∼ 25 nm in size were placed on a commercial Formvar®‐ and carbon‐coated TEM grid and later milled with a grid pattern. Demonstration of this technique is also extended to bulk glass substrates for the purpose of sample location. This process is explained and demonstrated using all of the aforementioned analytical techniques.
High‐pass energy‐filtered photoemission electron microscopy imaging of dopants in silicon
Authors: HOVORKA M. , FRANK L. , VALDAITSEV D. , NEPIJKO S.A. , ELMERS H.S. , SCHÖNHENSE G.
Published: April 2008

Differently doped areas in silicon can show strong electron‐optical contrast in dependence on the dopant concentration and surface conditions. Photoemission electron microscopy is a powerful surface‐sensitive technique suitable for fast imaging of doping‐induced contrast in semiconductors. We report on the observation of Si (100) samples with n‐ and p‐type doped patterns (with the dopant concentration varied from 1016 to 1019 cm−3) on a p‐ and n‐type substrate (doped to 1015 cm−3), respectively. A high‐pass energy filter of the entire image enabled us to obtain spectroscopic information, i.e. quantified photo threshold and related photoyield differences depending on the doping level. Measurements have confirmed the possibility of resolving areas at a high contrast even with the lowest dopant concentration when employing the energy filter. The influence of electron absorption phenomena on contrast formation is discussed.
Two‐dimensional dopant profiling with low‐energy SEM
Authors: MIKA F. , FRANK L.
Published: April 2008

The scanning electron microscope has proven itself efficient for determining dopant concentrations in semiconductors. Contrast between differently doped areas is observable in the secondary electron emission. Multiple studies have revealed quantitative relations between the image contrast and dopant concentration. However, intimate examination shows a low reproducibility of the contrast level for a particular local difference between the doping rates. Data about dynamic behaviour of the dopant contrast and its dependence on the status of the sample surface are presented.
Automatic sampling for unbiased and efficient stereological estimation using the proportionator in biological studies
Authors: GARDI J.E. , NYENGAARD J.R. , GUNDERSEN H.J.G.
Published: April 2008

Quantification of tissue properties is improved using the general proportionator sampling and estimation procedure: automatic image analysis and non‐uniform sampling with probability proportional to size (PPS). The complete region of interest is partitioned into fields of view, and every field of view is given a weight (the size) proportional to the total amount of requested image analysis features in it. The fields of view sampled with known probabilities proportional to individual weight are the only ones seen by the observer who provides the correct count. Even though the image analysis and feature detection is clearly biased, the estimator is strictly unbiased. The proportionator is compared to the commonly applied sampling technique (systematic uniform random sampling in 2D space or so‐called meander sampling) using three biological examples: estimating total number of granule cells in rat cerebellum, total number of orexin positive neurons in transgenic mice brain, and estimating the absolute area and the areal fraction of β islet cells in dog pancreas. The proportionator was at least eight times more efficient (precision and time combined) than traditional computer controlled sampling.
The unitary scale bar: human and machine readable
Authors: ADLER J.
Published: April 2008

A format is described for a scale bar that encodes the length represented within the structure of the bar itself, thereby removing the need for any supporting text. Although the ‘unitary’ scale bar has a conventional appearance it is also machine readable and therefore retains information about the scale even when the file format is changed. The format is based on the metre and is suitable for all terrestrial applications.
Decision‐making needs of patients with depression: a descriptive study
Authors: STACEY D. , MENARD P. , GABOURY I. , JACOBSEN M. , SHARIF F. , RITCHIE L. , BUNN H.
Published: April 2008

The study's purpose was to explore the decision‐making needs of patients considering treatment options for their depression. Semi‐structured interviews were guided by the Ottawa Decision Support Framework. Of 94 participants, 67 were uncertain about their decision. Common decisions identified were whether or not to take medications, attend support groups, undergo electroconvulsive therapy, and location of care. Those feeling certain were more likely to have made a decision (RR 1.37; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.78). However, 40 patients who had ‘made a decision’ in the recent past were uncertain about their decision. Compared with those who were certain, the uncertain group felt less informed (2.65 vs. 1.64; P < 0.001), less supported (2.63 vs. 1.88; P < 0.001) and less clear about how they valued the benefits and risks of options (2.57 vs. 1.69; P < 0.001). Other influential factors included concerns about confidentiality, distress from depression, embarrassment, panic attacks and lack of energy. Few patients wanted to defer decision making to their physician (n = 8) or family (n = 1). To support decision making, participants identified the need for: discussions with their psychiatrist, nurse or family doctor; access to printed information; and information provided by health professionals and health societies.
Does the position of restraint of disturbed psychiatric patients have any association with staff and patient injuries?
Authors: LANCASTER G. A. , WHITTINGTON R. , LANE S. , RILEY D. , MEEHAN C.
Published: April 2008

The aim of this study was to examine the risk of injury among patients and staff following involvement in a restraint episode in relation to restraint position (standing, supine or prone) and other aspects of the pre‐incident behaviour including perceived causation. Mixed effects logistic regression was used to estimate the relative odds of injury to staff or patient in a series of 680 restraint episodes involving 260 patients in an adult mental health service in England between 1999 and 2001. There was no statistically significant association between patient injury and restraint position in this sample, but a prone restraint position was weakly associated with staff injury. Staff injury was most likely when an actual assault had occurred prior to the incident. Patient injury was more likely when the patient had self‐harmed, had been abusing substances and had used a weapon prior to the incident, and less likely when the patient was showing signs of frustration with their environment. The use of prone restraint may be weakly associated with an increased risk of injury to staff. However, other aspects of the incident are stronger predictors and should be considered when planning training for front line staff.
Ethnic differences in infant‐rearing practices and their possible relationship to the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
Authors: Farooqi Sadaf , Perry I. J. , Beevers D.G.
Published: April 2008

Summary. The aetiology of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is still uncertain, although associations with overheating and the prone sleeping position have been reported. In the UK, the incidence of SIDS is considerably lower in infants of Asian origin, but as yet no explanation for this has been suggested. We have studied a group of 202 white and 172 Asian multiparous mothers attending an antenatal clinic to compare the sleeping position and home environment of infants in each ethnic group. We found that significantly more white infants (31%) than Asians (11%) were placed in the prone position at night and that 94% of Asian infants slept in their parents' bedroom, compared with 61% of whites. These observations demonstrate marked differences in the infant rearing practices favoured by Asians and whites and lend support to the concept that the prone position and separate bedrooms may be contributors to the development of sudden infant death.
The decline of BCG immunity after neonatal vaccination: what about revaccination at one year?
Authors: Aydinlioglu Halil , Caglayan Suat , Kansoy Savas , Yaprak Isin , Seckin Ebru , Bakiler A. Rahmi , Aksoy Serap
Published: April 2008

Summary. Two hundred and nineteen healthy newborns were vaccinated with the BCG vaccine, and their immunity was checked thereafter at 3,6 and 12 months of age. We determined that 87% of tuberculin reactivity at 3 months declined to 61% at 12 months. Revaccination of nonreactive infants provided a 100% rate of reactivity. In the light of this information we propose a revision in the BCG vaccination programme in developing countries. We also found a close relationship between the tuberculin reactivity and scar formation after BCG vaccination, suggesting that a simple check of the left deltoid region for a BCG scar may give enough information about the child's immunity to tuberculosis.
Perinatal predictors of ocular morbidity in school children who were very low birthweight
Authors: McGinnity F.G. , Halliday H.L.
Published: April 2008

Summary. Two hundred children from one neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), who were very low birthweight (VLBW), were examined at approximately 9 years of age and compared with a control group of normal birthweight children. Visual morbidity was significantly higher among children who were very low birthweight. Binocular visual acuity of 6/9 or worse was noted in 21 (10.5%), strabismus in 38 (19%) and regressed retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in 13 (6.7%) of these children. A history of seizures in the perinatal period was highly correlated with poor visual acuity. Independently significant factors associated with strabismus included clinically diagnosed intraventricular haemorrhage, a maternal history of neonatal death, transfer from another hospital, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and necrotising enterocolitis. Perinatal variables that correlated with regressed ROP included birthweight, time from birth to admission to the NICU, necrotising enterocolitis and a history of maternal smoking during the pregnancy. When screening for ocular abnormalities among children who were born preterm, particular attention should be given to children with these risk factors.
Obstetric medication versus residential area as perinatal risk factors for subsequent adult drug addiction in offspring
Authors: Nyberg Karin , Allebeck Peter , Eklund Gunnar , Jacobson Bertil
Published: April 2008

Summary. In an attempt to explain pronounced uneven distributions of births of subsequent amphetamine and opiate addicts at seven hospitals in Stockholm, two possible mechanisms for adult drug addiction were weighed against each other: (1) risk factors associated with the obstetric care at the hospitals of birth of the addicts and (2) risk factors associated with the phenomenon of ‘contagious' transmission of drug addiction in certain residential areas during adolescence. The subjects comprised 200 amphetamine addicts and 200 opiate addicts born between 1945 and 1966. By loglinear analysis the relative risk for future addiction was determined for eight residential areas as well as for the seven hospitals and four periods of birth. For the opiate addicts only one weak association was found for the residential area, which could not explain fully a clustering of births at any particular hospital. For the amphetamine addicts, hospital of birth was found to be an important risk factor even after controlling for residential area. Hence, the variable residential area has not been able to explain the uneven distribution of births of drug abusers among the studied hospitals.
The prognostic value of a risk score for necrotising enterocolitis
Authors: McKeown Robert E. , Marsh T. David , Garrison Carol Z. , Addy Cheryl L. , Amarnath Uma , Thompson Shirley J. , Austin Tom L.
Published: April 2008

Summary. Necrotising enterocolitis is the most common severe acquired gastrointestinal disorder in the neonate yet there remains disagreement on predictive and prognostic factors. A previously published risk score purports to predict infants at greater risk of the disease. Fifty‐nine cases and 59 matched controls were evaluated using data from the first 24 h after birth to determine the predictive and prognostic value of the score for necrotising enterocolitis. In simple models the risk score was significantly, but inversely, associated with necrotising enterocolitis, primarily due to greater respiratory problems among controls. This finding contrary to the premise is clarified by a significant interaction of the risk score with feeding variables. Odds ratios for the risk score varied at different levels of daily feeding increments. However, the risk score was not statistically significant in any models which controlled for feeding increment and the interaction. The risk score was significantly associated with mortality among necrotising enterocolitis cases. Though the score was not statistically significant when the outcome was disease stage or surgery, trends were in the expected direction. The data suggest that the risk score itself may not be an independent predictor of necrotising enterocolitis, but may indicate infants more vulnerable to other potential risk factors and, in addition, may be related to prognosis for those who do develop necrotising enterocolitis.
Distribution and determinants of low birthweight in Central Sudan
Authors: Taha Taha El Tahir , Gray Ronald H. , Abdelwahab Mabyoua Mustafa , Abdelhafeez Adelrahman
Published: April 2008

Summary. Two studies were conducted during 1989‐90 in Central Sudan to determine the incidence of low birthweight and to ascertain the major risk factors which influence birthweight. In a hospital‐based investigation, surveillance of all births was accompanied by a nested case‐control study, and in a community based investigation, all midwife‐assisted births were studied. There were 4868 and 1523 livebirths among the hospital and community populations, respectively. The incidence of low birthweight was 18.1% in the community and 8.2% in the hospitals. The ratio of term to pre‐term low birthweight was 2.9 in the community but only 1.3 in the hospitals. Several risk factors showed consistent and significant associations with low birthweight in the hospital and community studies. Two important and modifiable predictors of term and preterm low birthweight were low maternal weight and malaria infection during pregnancy. Other risk factors included low socio‐economic status and, among the hospital population, lack of antenatal care, short birth intervals, poor obstetric history and complications of pregnancy.
Demographic survey of the level and determinants of perinatal mortality in Karachi, Pakistan
Authors: Fikree Fariyal F. , Gray Ronald H.
Published: April 2008

Summary. .A demographic survey was used to estimate the level and determinants of perinatal mortality in eight lower socio‐economic squatter settlements of Karachi, Pakistan. The perinatal mortality rate was 54.1 per 1000 births, with a stillbirth to early neonatal mortality ratio of 1:1. About 65% of neonatal deaths occurred in the early neonatal period, and early neonatal mortality contributed 32% of all infant deaths. Risk factor assessment was conducted on 375 perinatal deaths and 6070 current survivors. Poorer socio‐economic status variables such as maternal and paternal illiteracy, maternal work outside the home and fewer household assets were significantly associated with perinatal mortality as were biological factors of higher parental age, short birth intervals and poor obstetric history. Multivariable logistic analysis indicated that some socioeconomic factors retained their significance after adjusting for the more proximate biological factors. Population attributable risk estimates suggest that public health measures for screening of high‐risk women and use of family planning to space births will not improve perinatal mortality substantially without improvement of socio‐economic conditions, particularly maternal education. The results of this study indicate that an evaluation of perinatal mortality can be conducted using pregnancy histories derived from demographic surveys.
Effects of overexpression of endogenous phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (PALrs1) on accumulation of salidroside in Rhodiola sachalinensis
Authors: Ma L.‐Q. , Gao D.‐Y. , Wang Y.‐N. , Wang H.‐H. , Zhang J.‐X. , Pang X.‐B. , Hu T.‐S. , Lü S.‐Y. , Li G.‐F. , Ye H.‐C. , Li Y.‐F. , Wang H.
Published: April 2008

Salidroside, a novel effective adaptogenic drug extracted from the medicinal plant Rhodiola sachalinensis A. Bor, can be derived from phenylalanine or tyrosine. Due to the scarcity of R. sachalinensis and its low yield of salidroside, there is great interest in enhancing production of salidroside by the plant. In this study, a cDNA clone encoding phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (PAL) was isolated from R. sachalinensis using rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The resulting cDNA was designated PALrs1. It is 2407‐bp long and encodes 710 deduced amino acid residues. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA indicated that the PAL gene family is composed of three to five genes in the R. sachalinensis genome. Northern blot analysis revealed that transcripts of PALrs1 were present in calli, leaves and stems, but expression in roots was very low. The PALrs1 under the 35S promoter with double‐enhancer sequences from CaMV‐Ω and TMV‐Ω fragments was transferred into R. sachalinensis via Agrobacterium tumefaciens. PCR and PCR–Southern blot confirmed that the PALrs1 gene had been integrated into the genome of transgenic plants. Northern blot analysis revealed that the PALrs1 gene had been expressed at the transcriptional level. High‐performance liquid chromatography indicated that overexpression of the PALrs1 gene resulted in a 3.3‐fold increase in p‐coumaric acid content, as expected. In contrast, levels of tyrosol and salidroside were 4.7‐fold and 7.7‐fold, respectively, lower in PALrs1 transgenic plants than in controls. Furthermore, overexpression of the PALrs1 gene resulted in a 2.6‐fold decrease in tyrosine content. These data suggest that overexpression of the PALrs1 gene and accumulation of p‐coumaric acid did not facilitate tyrosol biosynthesis; tyrosol, as a phenylethanoid derivative, is not derived from phenylalanine; and reduced availability of tyrosine most likely resulted in a large reduction in tyrosol biosynthesis and accumulation of salidroside.
Differential effects of methyl jasmonate on growth and division of etiolated zucchini cotyledons
Authors: Stoynova‐Bakalova E. , Petrov P. I. , Gigova L. , Baskin T. I.
Published: April 2008

The jasmonates are well studied in the context of plant defence but increasingly are also recognised as playing roles in development. In many systems, jasmonates antagonise the effects of cytokinins. The aim of the present work was to elucidate interactions between methyl jasmonate and cytokinin (benzyladenine) in regulating growth of zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L., cv. Cocozelle, var. Tripolis) cotyledons, taking advantage of the ability to simultaneously quantify cell enlargement and division from paradermal sections of the first palisade layer. Growth regulators were applied to cotyledons, excised from dry seeds and grown in darkness. Cytokinin stimulated expansion and division whereas, surprisingly, jasmonate stimulated expansion but inhibited division. Jasmonate antagonised the stimulating effect of cytokinin on division but worked cooperatively with cytokinin in increasing expansion. However, expansion with jasmonate was more isotropic than with cytokinin. Jasmonate also stimulated the loss of cellular inclusions and soluble protein. Soluble proteins revealed a partial antagonism between jasmonate and cytokinin. These results illustrate the complex interplay between jasmonates and cytokinin in the regulatory network of cotyledon development following germination.
Genetic variation among wild and cultivated populations of the Chinese medicinal plantCoptis chinensis(Ranunculaceae)
Authors: Shi W. , Yang C.‐F. , Chen J.‐M. , Guo Y.‐H.
Published: April 2008

To examine if the cultivation process has reduced the genetic variation of modern cultivars of the traditional Chinese medicinal plant,Coptis chinensis, the levels and distribution of genetic variation was investigated using ISSR markers. A total of 214C. chinensisindividuals from seven wild and three cultivated populations were included in the study. Seven ISSR primers were used and a total of 91 DNA fragments were scored. The levels of genetic diversity in cultivated populations were similar as those in wild populations (mean PPL = 65.2%versusPPL = 52.4%, mean H = 0.159versusH = 0.153 and mean I = 0.255versusI = 0.237), suggesting that cultivation did not seriously influence genetic variation of present‐day cultivated populations. Neighbour‐joining cluster analysis showed that wild populations and cultivated populations were not separated into two groups. The coefficient of genetic differentiation between a cultivar and its wild progenitor was 0.066 (Gst), which was in good accordance with the result byamovaanalysis (10.9% of total genetic variation resided on the two groups), indicating that cultivated populations were not genetically differentiated from wild progenitors. For the seven wild populations, a significant genetic differentiation among populations was found usingamovaanalysis (45.9% of total genetic variation resided among populations). A number of causes, including genetic drift and inbreeding in the small and isolated wild populations, the relative limited gene flow between wild populations (Nm = 0.590), and high gene flow between cultivars and their wild progenitors (Nm = 7.116), might have led to the observed genetic profiles ofC.chinensis.
BK virus‐associated nephropathy in a kidney transplant recipient successfully treated with cidofovir, the first case in Japan
Authors: Akioka Kiyokazu , Okamoto Masahiko , Ushigome Hidetaka , Nobori Shuji , Kaihara Satoshi , Yoshimura Norio
Published: April 2008

Abstract:  A 51‐year‐old female received a kidney transplant, donated by her husband. The patient was induced with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and prednisolone. After methyl predonisolone pulse therapy without biopsy, allograft biopsy on POD 160 showed severe tubulo‐interstitial nephritis with intranuclear inclusions. Urine cytology also showed decoy cells. Blood PCR detected an increase of BK virus DNA. She was diagnosed as having BK virus‐associated nephropathy . Reduction of tacrolimus and switching of mycophenolate mofetil to mizoribine were done. Serum Creatinin (sCr) still rose to 3.0 mg/dl with persistent viremia and viruria. From on POD 268, 0.25 mg/kg of cidofovir was administered intravenously every two weeks over about four months. Biopsy on POD 387 revealed the disappearance of tubulitis with intranuclear inclusions, and decoy cells also disappeared from urine cytology. BK virus DNA in the blood decreased under the threshold level. sCr was stable and remained about 2.2 mg/dl for three months after the final treatment of cidofovir.
DIAGNOSTIC USE OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN AND T‐CELL RECEPTOR GENE REARRANGEMENTS IN LYMPHOPROLIFERATIVE DISEASE
Authors: STORY C. J. , TURNER D. R. , MORLEY A. A. , SESHADRI R.
Published: April 2008

Gene rearrangements of immunoglobulin and T cell antigen receptor gene loci were studied in 67 patients referred to a general hematology clinic. The results of gene analysis supported the clinical diagnosis in most cases where involved tissue was studied. However, in a number of cases, gene rearrangement studies gave unexpected results of possible diagnostic significance. Thus two patients who presented diagnostic difficulties were finally diagnosed as having non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma; gene analysis suggested that the initial diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease may have been correct. In two patients who had chronic lymphocytosis and were suspected of having chronic lymphocytic leukemia, no evidence of monoclonal disease of B or T cells could be found and the basis for the lymphocytosis was presumed to be non‐malignant. Gene analysis was able to detect monoclonal B cell disease in the otherwise normal blood of two of six patients with lymphoma, one of two patients with macroglobulinemia, and none of six patients with myeloma.

The study of gene rearrangements may be a practical aid to diagnosis in some situations of uncertainty.
VALIDATION OF CORONARY HEART DISEASE HOSPITAL DISCHARGE DATA
Authors: BEAGLEHOLE R. , STEWART A. W. , WALKER P.
Published: April 2008

Data from a 1983 Auckland coronary heart disease register applying current World Health Organization criteria have been used to validate routine hospital discharge data. The register contained 905 patients under 65 years admitted to hospital and 858 of these patients were matched with hospital discharge records. Of the registered definite myocardial infarction cases 86% received the International Classification of Diseases code 410 (acute myocardial infarction); 9% of these cases received a code 411‐414 (other forms of coronary heart disease or angina) and 5% received other codes. Only 405 of the 604 cases (67%) coded 410 in the hospital discharge data were true definite myocardial infarctions according to the World Health Organization criteria. The routine hospital International Classification of Diseases data do not provide diagnostic groups sufficiently close to World Health Organization categories for them to be used alone to monitor trends in coronary heart disease morbidity rates.
PAPILLARY NECROSIS ASSOCIATED WITH RIFAMPICIN THERAPY
Authors: LAI F. MAC‐MOUNE , LAI K. N. , CHONG Y. W.
Published: April 2008

We report a patient who developed progressive renal failure following 13 months of rifampicin therapy for renal tuberculosis. The renal function continued to deteriorate despite the discontinuation of rifampicin. Renal pathology did not demonstrate any evidence of tuberculosis of the kidney but revealed the unique pathological finding of glomeruloscterosis, granulomatous interstitial nephritis, and extensive papillary necrosis.
TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS MIMICKING ADULT POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE
Authors: DURHAM D. S.
Published: April 2008

Tuberous sclerosis is a recognised cause of renal disease, usually angiomyolipomas but also cysts; it usually presents in childhood. A father and son are reported with familial tuberous sclerosis presenting in adulthood and mimicking polycystic kidney disease.
ANGIOSARCOMA OF THE HEART
Authors: OGLE O. D. , BELL D. R.
Published: April 2008

The case of a woman with angiosarcoma of the right atrium is reported. The tumour was inoperable, and the patient was treated with chemotherapy. There was no response to treatment.
Paclitaxel and cisplatin as intravesical agents against non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer
Authors: Hadaschik Boris A. , Ter Borg Melanie G. , Jackson John , Sowery Richard D. , So Alan I. , Burt Helen M. , Gleave Martin E.
Published: April 2008

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effects of cisplatin and paclitaxel against human bladder cancer cellsin vitro, and to obtain both pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data after intravesical administration in mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Six bladder cancer cell lines (J82, KU7, RT4, SW780, T24, UMUC3) were treated with various combined doses of both drugs and cell proliferation was evaluated 3 days later.In vivo, solutions of cisplatin and micellar paclitaxel were instilled transurethrally in female mice and pharmacokinetic data were acquired using high‐performance liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry and atomic absorption methods. To obtain efficacy data, mice with orthotopic KU7‐luc tumours were administered cisplatin and/or micellar paclitaxel intravesically, and the tumour burden quantified using bioluminescence imaging.

RESULTS

In vitro, both cisplatin and paclitaxel potently decreased the proliferation of all cell lines tested, and in combination had an additive but not a synergistic effect. After intravesical instillation, mouse serum concentrations of cisplatin and paclitaxel were in the low microgram/millilitre range and bladder tissue concentrations achieved were 82 and 241 µg/g, respectively. Similar drug levels were reached using combined therapy.In vivo, all chemotherapeutic agents significantly inhibited bladder tumour growth, with the best results for combined therapy and micellar paclitaxel alone. However, there was toxicity in the combined treatment arm.

CONCLUSIONS

Both cisplatin and paclitaxel were absorbed at effective amounts into bladder tissues. As intravesical agents, paclitaxel had slightly stronger anticancer potency than cisplatin. Due to increased adverse events, caution should be exercised when combining both cisplatin and paclitaxel intravesically.
Disabling complications with slings for managing female stress urinary incontinence
Authors: Ordorica Raul , Rodriguez Alejandro R. , Coste‐Delvecchio Fernando , Hoffman Mitchell , Lockhart Jorge
Published: April 2008

OBJECTIVE

To report an increase in the referral of patients with disabling complications after the failure of conservative therapy, their presentation, final surgical management and clinical outcome, following the use of non‐autologous slings (NAS), currently the primary surgical procedure for managing stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women.

PATIENT AND METHODS

Thirty‐eight patients (mean age 64 years) required surgical management for disabling complications after placing a NAS for SUI. Sling types were synthetic (25), xenografts (six) and allografts (four). Twenty (53%) patients presented with bladder outlet obstruction, 13 (34%) with sling erosion, three (8%) with worsened SUI, and two (5%) with unobstructive severe urgency and frequency.

RESULTS

The sling was dissected and incised with no complication in 19 of 20 patients. One had a posterior urethral defect during sling dissection. Twelve patients (60%) acquired normal voiding and were continent. Among the 13 patients who had the sling dismantled and urethrolysis, two had recurrent or persistent SUI, two de‐novo urgency/frequency and one developed osteitis pubis. Three patients with disabling SUI received a pubovaginal sling placed proximal to the bladder neck, and had an overall improvement in their urinary control with no retention. Two unobstructed patients with urgency and frequency did not improve with anticholinergic medication and pelvic floor therapy, and are now candidates for botulinum toxin injection or neurostimulation.

CONCLUSIONS

The complication rate with periurethral NAS for managing SUI in females is substantial. Patients with refractory urgency/frequency after the sling need a complete evaluation with cystoscopy and video‐urodynamics. Obstruction and erosion are the commonest problems and require surgical correction.
Matrix metalloproteinases and diabetic foot ulcers: the ratio of MMP‐1 to TIMP‐1 is a predictor of wound healing
Authors: Muller M. , Trocme C. , Lardy B. , Morel F. , Halimi S. , Benhamou P. Y.
Published: April 2008

Aims  Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a major role in wound healing: they can degrade all components of the extracellular matrix. In diabetic foot ulcers there is an excess of MMPs and a decrease of the tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs). This imbalance is probably one cause of impaired healing. However, little is known about changes in MMPs during wound healing.

Methods  Sixteen patients with neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers participated. Wound fluid was collected regularly during the 12‐week follow‐up period, for measurement of MMP‐1, MMP‐2, MMP‐8, MMP‐9 and TIMP‐1. Results were analysed by the degree of wound healing: good healers (defined by a reduction of at least 82% in initial wound surface at 4 weeks) and poor healers (reduction of less than 82% in wound surface at 4 weeks).

Results   In good healers, levels of MMP‐8 and ‐9 secreted by inflammatory cells decreased earlier. The initial levels of MMP‐1 were similar in good and poor healers (P = 0.1) but rose significantly at week 2 in good healers (P = 0.039). There was a significant correlation between a high ratio of MMP‐1/TIMP‐1 and good healing (r = 0.65, P = 0.008). Receiver Operator Curve (ROC) analysis showed that an MMP‐1/TIMP‐1 ratio of 0.39 best predicted wound healing (sensitivity = 71%, specificity = 87.5%).

Conclusions   A high level of MMP‐1 seems essential to wound healing, while an excess of MMP‐8 and ‐9 is deleterious, and could be a target for new topical treatments. The MMP‐1/TIMP‐1 ratio is a predictor of wound healing in diabetic foot ulcers.
Judgment of other people's facial expressions of emotions is influenced by their concurrent affective hand movements
Authors: HIETANEN JARI K. , LEPPÄNEN JUKKA M.
Published: April 2008

We investigated whether emotional information from facial expression and hand movement quality was integrated when identifying the expression of a compound stimulus showing a static facial expression combined with emotionally expressive dynamic manual actions. The emotions (happiness, neutrality, and anger) expressed by the face and hands were either congruent or incongruent. In Experiment 1, the participants judged whether the stimulus person was happy, neutral, or angry. Judgments were mainly based on the facial expressions, but were affected by manual expressions to some extent. In Experiment 2, the participants were instructed to base their judgment on the facial expression only. An effect of hand movement expressive quality was observed for happy facial expressions. The results conform with the proposal that perception of facial expressions of emotions can be affected by the expressive qualities of hand movements.
Do Economic Integration Agreements Actually Work? Issues in Understanding the Causes and Consequences of the Growth of Regionalism
Authors: Baier Scott L. , Bergstrand Jeffrey H. , Egger Peter , McLaughlin Patrick A.
Published: April 2008

This paper argues that the ‘competitive liberalisation’ of national governments of the past several decades has created a ‘market’ for regional economic integration agreements (EIAs). Evidence shows that countries that have selected into EIAs – such as free trade agreements – have ‘chosen well’ in the sense that the same economic characteristics that explain and predict bilateral EIAs also explain and predict bilateral trade flows. We show that previous ex post empirical evaluations of the effects of EIAs on trade have tended to underestimate the effects due to ignoring the (endogenous) self‐selection bias of country pairs into EIAs. Accounting for this bias, we find that European economic integration had a much larger impact on trade over the period 1960–2000 than previously found, and other more recent EIAs have had economically and statistically significant effects on members’ trade. The results shed further light on understanding the causes and consequences of the growth of regionalism.
Redistributive Effects of Transfer Programmes in the United Kingdom
Authors: BHATTARAI KESHAB , WHALLEY JOHN
Published: April 2008

We discuss the redistribution effects of transfer using a conditional‐choice general equilibrium model. We calibrate it to UK data for the early 2000s. Results indicate that a money‐metric measure of the welfare value of transfer received by the bottom decile of UK households equals 17% of the cash transfer.
Public Spending on Education and the Incentives for Student Achievement
Authors: BLANKENAU WILLIAM , CAMERA GABRIELE
Published: April 2008

We build a model where homogeneous workers can accumulate human capital by investing in education. Schools combine public resources and individual effort to generate productive skills. If skills are imperfectly compensated, then in equilibrium students may under‐invest in effort. We examine the effect on human capital accumulation of three basic education finance policies. Increased tuition subsidies may not be beneficial because they increase enrolment but they may lower the incentives for student achievement, hence the skill level. Policies directed at enhancing the productivity of education or making degrees more informative are more successful at improving educational outcomes.
Psychometric Properties of Impulsivity Measures: Temporal Stability, Validity and Factor Structure
Authors: Kindlon Daniel , Mezzacappa Enrico , Earls Felton
Published: April 2008

Abstract Temporal stability, discriminant validity, and factor structure of an array of performance measures of impulsivity was assessed within samples of normal (N= 48) and behaviorally disordered children (N= 88) ages 6–16 (126 M, 10 F; mean age = 10.57 years; SD= 2.13). Using a relatively conservative standard for adequate temporal stability, 31% of the variables derived from these measures met criterion. Of these, 83% were able to discriminate groups after partialling out the effects of intellectual aptitude and age. Factor analysis yielded a two‐factor solution interpreted as representing cognitive (inhibitory control) and motivational (insensitivity to punishment/nonreward) components of impulsivity.