bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The interaction of vasoactive substances during exercise modulates platelet aggregation in hypertension and coronary artery disease
Authors: Petidis Konstantinos , Douma Stella , Doumas Michael , Basagiannis Ilias , Vogiatzis Konstantinos , Zamboulis Chrysanthos
Published: May 2008

Background

Acute vigorous exercise, associated with increased release of plasma catecholamines, transiently increases the risk of primary cardiac arrest. We tested the effect of acute submaximal exercise on vasoactive substances and their combined result on platelet function.

Methods

Healthy volunteers, hypertensive patients and patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) performed a modified treadmill exercise test. We determined plasma catecholamines, thromboxane A2, prostacyclin, endothelin-1 and platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and collagen at rest and during exercise.

Results

Our results during exercise showed a) platelet activation (increased thromboxane B2, TXB2), b) increased prostacyclin release from endothelium and c) decreased platelet aggregation in all groups, significantly more in healthy volunteers than in patients with CAD (with hypertensives lying in between these two groups).

Conclusion

Despite the pronounced activation of Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) and increased TXB2 levels during acute exercise platelet aggregation decreases, possibly to counterbalance the prothrombotic state. Since this effect seems to be mediated by the normal endothelium (through prostacyclin and nitric oxide), in conditions characterized by endothelial dysfunction (hypertension, CAD) reduced platelet aggregation is attenuated, thus posing such patients in increased risk for thrombotic complications.
Gait characteristics of subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome and controls at self-selected and matched velocities
Authors: Paul Lorna , Rafferty Danny , Wood Leslie , Maclaren William
Published: May 2008

Background

Gait abnormalities have been reported in individuals with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) however no studies exist to date investigating the kinematics of individuals with CFS in over-ground gait. The aim of this study was to compare the over-ground gait pattern (sagittal kinematics and temporal and spatial) of individuals with CFS and control subjects at their self-selected and at matched velocities.

Methods

Twelve individuals with CFS and 12 matched controls participated in the study. Each subject walked along a 7.2 m walkway three times at each of three velocities: self-selected, relatively slow (0.45 ms-1) and a relatively fast (1.34 ms-1). A motion analysis system was used to investigate the sagittal plane joint kinematics and temporal spatial parameters of gait.

Results

At self-selected velocity there were significant differences between the two groups for all the temporal and spatial parameters measured, including gait velocity (P = 0.002). For the kinematic variables the significant differences were related to both ankles during swing and the right ankle during stance. At the relatively slower velocity the kinematic differences were replicated. However, the step distances decreased in the CFS population for the temporal and spatial parameters. When the gait pattern of the individuals with CFS at the relatively fast walking velocity (1.30 ± 0.24 ms-1) was compared to the control subjects at their self-selected velocity (1.32 ± 0.15 ms-1) the gait pattern of the two groups was very similar, with the exception of both ankles during swing.

Conclusion

The self-selected gait velocity and/or pattern of individuals with CFS may be used to monitor the disease process or evaluate therapeutic intervention. These differences may be a reflection of the relatively low self-selected gait velocity of individuals with CFS rather than a manifestation of the condition itself.
Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia developing in a patient with history of peripheral T-cell lymphoma: evidence for multicentric T-cell lymphoproliferative process
Authors: Gonzalez-Cuyar Luis F , Tavora Fabio , Zhao X Frank , Wang Guanghua , Auerbach Aaron , Aguilera Nadine , Burke Allen P
Published: May 2008

Background

Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE) is a vasocentric process characterized by infiltrates of lymphocytes and eosinophils, usually affecting the muscular arteries of the head and neck. Currently it is unclear whether it is a reactive or neoplastic process.

Report

We present a 61-year-old African American male with a twenty year history of superficial skin patches involving the head and neck region. An excisional biopsy of a right submental lymph node revealed an atypical T-cell lymphocytic process, diagnosed as peripheral T-cell lymphoma after immunophenotyping and molecular studies. Three months later the patient underwent a biopsy of a left temporal nodule that was diagnosed as ALHE. Subsequently, at two year follow-up, the patient was diagnosed with Mycosis Fungoides. Polymerase chain reaction for T cell receptor gamma showed the same T-cell receptor gene rearrangement in both the temporal mass and the right submental lymph node.

Conclusion

ALHE with molecular evidence of monoclonality is extremely unusual, as is the association with nodal peripheral T-cell nodal lymphoma. The findings of this case support our hypothesis that ALHE might be an early form of T-cell lymphoma.
Labetalol infusion for refractory hypertension causing severe hypotension and bradycardia: an issue of patient safety
Authors: Fahed Samir , Grum Daniel F , Papadimos Thomas J
Published: May 2008

Incremental doses of intravenous labetalol are safe and effective and, at times, such therapy may need to be augmented by a continuous infusion of labetalol to control severe hypertension. Continuous infusions of labetalol may exceed the recommended maximum daily dose of 300 mg on occasion. We report a case in which hypertension occurring after an abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, initially responsive to intermittent intravenous beta-blockade, became resistant to this therapy leading to the choice of an intravenous labetalol infusion as the therapeutic option. The labetalol infusion resulted in a profound cardiovascular compromise in this postoperative critically ill patient. While infusions of labetalol have successfully been used, prolonged administration in the intensive care unit requires vigilance and the establishment of a therapeutic rationale/policy for interventions, such as the ready availability of glucagon, β-agonists, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, insulin, and vasopressin when severe cardiovascular depression occurs.
Membrane transporters and protein traffic networks differentially affecting metal tolerance: a genomic phenotyping study in yeast
Authors: Ruotolo Roberta , Marchini Gessica , Ottonello Simone
Published: May 2008

Background

The cellular mechanisms that underlie metal toxicity and detoxification are rather variegated and incompletely understood. Genomic phenotyping was used to assess the roles played by all nonessential Saccharomyces cerevisiae proteins in modulating cell viability after exposure to cadmium, nickel, and other metals.

Results

A number of novel genes and pathways that affect multimetal as well as metal-specific tolerance were discovered. Although the vacuole emerged as a major hot spot for metal detoxification, we also identified a number of pathways that play a more general, less direct role in promoting cell survival under stress conditions (for example, mRNA decay, nucleocytoplasmic transport, and iron acquisition) as well as proteins that are more proximally related to metal damage prevention or repair. Most prominent among the latter are various nutrient transporters previously not associated with metal toxicity. A strikingly differential effect was observed for a large set of deletions, the majority of which centered on the ESCRT (endosomal sorting complexes required for transport) and retromer complexes, which - by affecting transporter downregulation and intracellular protein traffic - cause cadmium sensitivity but nickel resistance.

Conclusion

The data show that a previously underestimated variety of pathways are involved in cadmium and nickel tolerance in eukaryotic cells. As revealed by comparison with five additional metals, there is a good correlation between the chemical properties and the cellular toxicity signatures of various metals. However, many conserved pathways centered on membrane transporters and protein traffic affect cell viability with a surprisingly high degree of metal specificity.
Nonlinear traveltime inversion scheme for crosshole seismic tomography in tilted transversely isotropic media
Authors: Zhou Bing , Greenhalgh Stewart , Green Alan
Published: May 2008

Crosshole seismic tomography often is applied to image the velocity structure of an interwell medium. If the rocks are anisotropic, the tomographic technique must be adapted to the complex situation; otherwise, it leads to a false interpretation. We propose a nonlinear kinematic inversion method for crosshole seismic tomography in composite transversely isotropic media with known dipping symmetry axes. This method is based on a new version of the first-order traveltime perturbation equation. It directly uses the derivative of the phase velocity rather than the eigenvectors of the body-wave modes to overcome the singularity problem for application to the two quasi-shear waves. We applied an iterative nonlinear solver incorporating our kinematic ray-tracing scheme and directly compute the Jacobian matrix in an arbitrary reference medium. This reconstructs the five elastic moduli or Thomsen parameters from the first-arrival traveltimes of the three seismic body waves (qP, qSV, qSH) in strongly and weakly anisotropic media. We conducted three synthetic experiments that involve determining anisotropic parameters for a homogeneous rock, reconstructing a fault embedded in a strongly anisotropic background, and imaging a complicated four-layer model containing a small channel and a buried dipping interface. We compared results of our nonlinear inversion method with isotropic tomography and the traditional linear anisotropic inversion scheme, which showed the capability and superiority of the new scheme for crosshole tomographic imaging.
Resolution analysis for stereotomography in media with elliptic and anelliptic anisotropy
Authors: Barbosa Brenda , Costa Jessé , Gomes Ellen , Schleicher Jörg
Published: May 2008

Stereotomography is a tomographic method that uses slowness-vector components to improve traveltime inversion. We extend it to general anisotropic media and implement it for media with elliptic and anelliptic anisotropy. Such media depend on only three elastic parameters, which makes stereotomography less sensitive to ambiguity resulting from limited coverage of surface seismic experiments than it would be in transversely isotropic or orthorhombic media. The corresponding approximations of the slowness surface restrict the validity of the present approach to qP events and mild anisotropy. Our numerical analysis demonstrates that stereotomography can be used to estimate macrovelocity models in the presence of anisotropy. For elliptic anisotropy, the parameter that is most difficult to estimate is the orientation of the symmetry axis. For anelliptic anisotropy, estimation of stereotomography parameters is possible in principle; however, it will be mostly ill conditioned in practice, even for low noise levels. Better results are achieved, if transmission events from multiple-offset vertical seismic profiling experiments are included in the inversion.
Timing of Wingless signalling distinguishes maxillary and antennal identities inDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Lebreton Gaëlle , Faucher Christian , Cribbs David L. , Benassayag Corinne
Published: May 2008

The Drosophila adult head mostly derives from the composite eye-antenna imaginal disc. The antennal disc gives rise to two adult olfactory organs: the antennae and maxillary palps. Here, we have analysed the regional specification of the maxillary palp within the antennal disc. We found that a maxillary field, defined by expression of the Hox gene Deformed, is established at about the same time as the eye and antennal fields during the L2 larval stage. The genetic program leading to maxillary regionalisation and identity is very similar to the antennal one, but is distinguished primarily by delayed prepupal expression of the ventral morphogen Wingless (Wg). We find that precociously expressing Wg in the larval maxillary field suffices to transform it towards antennal identity, whereas overexpressing Wg later in prepupae does not. These results thus indicate that temporal regulation of Wg is decisive to distinguishing maxillary and antennal organs. Wg normally acts upstream of the antennal selector spineless (ss) in maxillary development. However, mis-expression of Ss can prematurely activate wg via a positive-feedback loop leading to a maxillary-to-antenna transformation. We characterised: (1) the action of Wg through ssselector function in distinguishing maxillary from antenna; and (2) its direct contribution to identity choice.
1-Chloromethyl-4-fluoro-1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2,2,2]octane Bis(tetrafluoroborate) as Novel and Versatile Reagent for the Rapid Thiocyanation of Indoles, Azaindole, and Carbazole
Authors: Yadav J S , Reddy B V Subba , Reddy Y Jayasudhan
Published: May 2008

SelectfluorTM is found to catalyze efficiently the electrophilic thiocyanation of indoles and pyrrole with ammonium thiocyanate under mild and neutral conditions to produce the corresponding 3-indolyl and 2-pyrrolyl thiocyanates, respectively, in excellent yields with high selectivity. This method is effective even with azaindole and carbazole while many of reported procedures failed to produce thiocyanates from azaindole.
A DFT Study on Formation of Bisaryl Oxime Ether from Benzaldehyde and Phenoxyamine
Authors: Wang Guilei , Chen Yue , Zhong Aiguo , Du Hongguang , Lei Ming
Published: May 2008

A theoretical study on the formation mechanism of bisaryl oxime ether from benzaldehyde and phenoxyamine at the B3LYP/6-31++G** level indicates that the water-assisted acid-catalyzed mechanism is more favorable than that in neutral conditions. Intermolecular interactions between monomers of E and Z producing stereoisomers are predicted to play an important role in their stabilities.
Identification of a Linkage Disequilibrium Block in Chromosome 1q Associated With BMD in Premenopausal White Women
Authors: Ichikawa Shoji , Koller Daniel L , Curry Leah R , Lai Dongbing , Xuei Xiaoling , Pugh Elizabeth W , Tsai Ya-Yu , Doheny Kimberly F , Edenberg Howard J , Hui Siu L , Foroud Tatiana , Peacock Munro , Econs Michael J
Published: May 2008

Osteoporosis is a complex disease with both genetic and environmental risk factors. A major determinant of osteoporotic fractures is peak BMD obtained during young adulthood. We previously reported linkage of chromosome 1q (LOD = 4.3) with variation in spinal areal BMD in healthy premenopausal white women. In this study, we used a two-stage genotyping approach to identify genes in the linked region that contributed to the variation of femoral neck and lumbar spine areal BMD. In the first stage, 654 SNPs across the linked region were genotyped in a sample of 1309 premenopausal white women. The most significant evidence of association for lumbar spine (p = 1.3 × 10−6) was found with rs1127091 in the GATAD2B gene. In the second stage, 52 SNPs around this candidate gene were genotyped in an expanded sample of 1692 white women. Significant evidence of association with spinal BMD (p < 10−5), and to a lesser extent with femoral neck BMD, was observed with eight SNPs within a single 230-kb linkage disequilibrium (LD) block. The most significant SNP (p = 3.4 × 10−7) accounted for >2.5% of the variation in spinal BMD in these women. The 230-kb LD block contains 11 genes, but because of the extensive LD, the specific gene(s) contributing to the variation in BMD could not be determined. In conclusion, the significant association between spinal BMD and SNPs in the 230-kb LD block in chromosome 1q indicates that genetic factor(s) in this block plays an important role in peak spinal BMD in healthy premenopausal white women.
Hyperlipidemia Impairs Osteoanabolic Effects of PTH
Authors: Huang Michael S , Lu Jinxiu , Ivanov Yevgeniy , Sage Andrew P , Tseng Wendy , Demer Linda L , Tintut Yin
Published: May 2008

Epidemiological and in vitro studies have suggested that hyperlipidemia/oxidized phospholipids adversely affect bone. We recently found that oxidized phospholipids attenuate PTH-induced cAMP and immediate-early gene (IEG) expression in MC3T3-E1 cells, raising concerns that clinical hyperlipidemia may attenuate osteoanabolic effects of PTH in vivo. Thus, we studied whether intermittent PTH treatment has differential osteoanabolic effects in wildtype (C57BL/6) and hyperlipidemic (LDLR−/−) mice. Consistent with our previous in vitro studies, induction of IEGs in calvarial tissue, 45 min after a single dose of recombinant hPTH(1-34), was attenuated in LDLR−/− mice compared with C57BL/6 mice. Daily hPTH(1-34) injections for 5 wk significantly increased total and cortical BMD and BMC, assessed by pQCT, in C57BL/6 mice. However, this induction was completely abrogated in LDLR−/− mice. Similarly, PTH(1-34) failed to increase BMD in another hyperlipidemic mouse model, ApoE−/− mice. Histomorphometric analysis showed that trabecular bone of both mice responded similarly to PTH(1-34). Structural parameters improved significantly in response to PTH(1-34) in both mouse strains, although to a lesser degree in LDLR−/− mice. With PTH(1-34) treatment, osteoblast surface trended toward an increase in C57BL/6 mice and increased significantly in LDLR−/− mice. PTH(1-34) did not alter resorption parameters significantly, except for the eroded surface (ES/BS), which was reduced in the C57BL/6 but not in the LDLR−/− mice. These results show that PTH(1-34) has adverse effects on cortical bones of the hyperlipidemic mice, suggesting that the therapeutic effects of PTH may be compromised in the presence of hyperlipidemia.
Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Carotid MRI Flow Cytometry Study of Monocyte and Platelet Markers: Intraindividual Variability and Reliability
Authors: Catellier Diane J , Aleksic Nena , Folsom Aaron R , Boerwinkle Eric
Published: May 2008

Background: Cellular markers help identify different components of a pathological process and may contribute to the diagnosis, prognostic assessment, and management of patients with suspected syndromes. Flow cytometry can be used to accurately assess markers of platelet and leukocyte activation and cellular aggregation in whole blood. To use cell markers as predictors of disease requires that they be measured reliably and show modest within-individual, day-to-day variation.

Methods: We used whole blood flow cytometry to analyze monocyte and platelet markers in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Carotid MRI study. We estimated laboratory variability using 20 split samples, process variation using replicate blood tubes taken from 112 subjects, and biologic plus process variation using replicate blood samples taken 4–8 weeks apart from 55 people.

Results: For most analytes, the laboratory CV was <10% (mean 3.6%, range 0%–14.5%) and reliability was excellent (75% of analytes had R > 0.90). Reliability coefficients based on repeat-visit data indicated substantial to high repeatability (R > 0.60) for CD14, Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2, CD162, CD61, CD41, CD62P, CD154, and platelet–leukocyte aggregates. In contrast, TLR-4, CD45, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 had slight to moderate repeat visit reliability.

Conclusions: The high repeatability results for selected platelet and monocyte markers indicate that they can be reliably measured in multicenter studies with delayed sample processing, provided that rigorous standardization of sample collection, shipping, and flow cytometry procedures is applied.
Reflections on Interactions in virtual worlds and their implication for learning art and design
Authors: Gaimster Julia
Published: May 2008

As more educators venture into virtual worlds there is a need to consider the impact that these worlds have on the interactions between learners and teachers. The paper explores what is known about the impact of computer mediated communication and relates it to rich interactive 3d virtual
environments. It recommends areas for consideration when using these spaces for art and design related activities The review of the literature reveals that many of the emotions and norms found in social interaction in the real world also transfer to the virtual world. Virtual worlds offer
opportunities for engaging student centred activities but these require careful planning if they are to be successful.
Einführung in die Filmproduktion für Informationseinrichtungen – Von der Idee zum Produkt
Authors: Kaiser Ronald , Ratzek Wolfgang
Published: May 2008

Institutionen aller Art präsentieren sich multimedial im weitesten Sinne des Wortes. Neben dem Internet spielt auch das Image-Video eine wichtige Rolle, um die Institution wirkungsvoll zu präsentieren. Durch die Beachtung relativ einfacher Regeln lassen sich bereits attraktive Ergebnisse erzielen. Im Rahmen verschiedener Projekte realisierten LIS-Studierende an der Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart (HdM) multimediale Präsentationen für verschiedene Institutionen. In diesem Beitrag werden Tipps und Tricks für die Produktion von Image-Videos und weiteren multimedialen Produktionen beschrieben sowie Anwendungsbeispiele vorgestellt. Darüber hinaus sollen neue Wege der Informationsvermittlung und des Bibliotheksmarketings aufgezeigt werden.
Making sense: A reconstruction of people's understandings of the European constitutional referendum in the Netherlands
Authors: Baden Christian , de Vreese Claes H.
Published: May 2008

This article investigates how voters made sense of the Dutch EU constitutional referendum. Based on a series of focus group interviews, it identifies what information people based their understandings on, and traces the relations they draw between concepts in their own accounts of their vote choices. Applying a cognitive connectionist perspective on the construction of meaning, it models people's considerations as paths across semantic networks. It finds that people shared considerable parts of the knowledge underlying their constructions, but used this information quite differently. They strategically selected frames from their information environment, and reframed contrary arguments to fit their constructions. Yes- and No-voters drew in systematically different additional information, while simultaneously engaging idiosyncratic concerns to personalize their accounts. People's understandings are thus informed and constrained, but by no means determined, by public discourse. Highlighting people's activity and creativity, this paper calls for a stronger audience perspective in political communication research.
Measuring the complexity of viewers' television news interpretation: Integration
Authors: Schaap Gabi , Konig Ruben , Renckstorf Karsten , Wester Fred
Published: May 2008

Although interpretation is often considered a vital factor in the effects of news, its conceptualization and operationalization have been problematic. In this study, interpretation is defined in terms of the structural attribute of complexity. In a previous contribution, one aspect of interpretive complexity, differentiation, was operationalized and measured to test the usefulness of the concept in news research. This follow-up study introduces a method for measuring and analyzing a second aspect of interpretive complexity: Integration. Whereas differentiation represents the broadness of interpretations, integration refers to the cohesiveness of interpretations. This contribution describes two dimensions of integration, called micro-integration and macro-integration, and attempts to test their utility by operationalizing and measuring them in a small-scale study (N = 19). Results illustrate that the method yields data that are helpful in systematically exploring and comparing how viewers interpret television news by assessing differences in cohesiveness. The merits of the concept and method and their use for the study of news effects are evaluated.
Relating humor preference to schizotypy and autism scores in a student sample
Authors: Rawlings David
Published: May 2008

While previous research has related humor preferences to a range of normal personality dispositions and pathologies, it has not related humor preference to schizotypy, a construct at the interface between normal personality and psychopathology. Nor has it related humor preference to autism, as this appears within the normal population. The present study employed a multi-factorial measure of schizotypy, the Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences (O-LIFE) and the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ). Student participants completed the self-report measure and rated how funny and unpleasant/aversive they found 48 purportedly humorous stimuli differentiated according to whether they were violent or neutral, and whether they comprised jokes, real-life situations involving others, or real-life situations involving the self. A Principal Components Analysis of the ratings produced five factors. Subsequent correlation and regression analyses related each obliquely rotated factor to at least one individual-differences variable: Sex differences was most clearly related to Lack of Empathy, O-LIFE Unusual Experiences to Sense of Humor—Joke Oriented, O-LIFE Introvertive Anhedonia to Sense of Humor—Reality Oriented, O-LIFE Cognitive Disorganization to Personal Sensitivity, and the AQ to Aversive Reaction to Humor. The data point to the usefulness in humor research of constructs at the interface between abnormal and normal personality.
Das Zustandspassiv. Grammatische Einordnung – Bildungsbeschränkung – Interpretationsspielraum
Authors: Maienborn Claudia
Published: May 2008

The German adjectival passive, or “Zustandspassiv”, belongs to the most controversial topics of German grammar. The controversy centers around the following questions: What is the grammatical status of the Zustandspassiv: Does it belong to the verbal paradigm or is it a combination of copula plus adjectivized verbal participle? What are the restrictions governing its construction and combination? And what is its characteristic meaning range? The paper reviews a set of diagnostics, which will turn out to provide ample evidence for a “copula plus adjective”-account of the Zustandspassiv. It then goes on to discuss one particular problem for such an account, viz. the combination with event-related modifiers and it offers a new solution for the interpretative variability of the Zustandspassiv, aiming at a more balanced division of labor between grammar and pragmatics. Basically, the Zustandspassiv is analyzed as assigning an (arbitrarily complex) ad hoc property to the subject referent. While the grammar imposes only few constraints on the construction, legitimating and interpreting such an ad hoc property in context is basically the task of pragmatics. Adopting the notion of ad hoc properties from cognitive psychology, this article is an attempt to explore the fruitfulness of applying Lawrence Barsalou's theory of mental representations to linguistic analysis.
Effect of sulfate, carbonate, and phosphate on the uranium(VI) sorption behavior onto bentonite
Authors: Bachmaf Samer , Planer-Friedrich Britta , Merkel Broder J.
Published: May 2008

Batch experiments were conducted to study the uranium U(VI) sorption onto bentonite as a function of pH (3 to 8), and initial U(VI) concentrations (5 × 10−6 and 5 × 10−5 M) in the presence and absence of sulfate, carbonate, and phosphate. Uranium sorption onto bentonite depended on the initial U(VI) concentration with a stronger sorption at lower concentrations and was high over a wide range of pH in the absence of complexing ligands. In the presence of 0.005 M sulfate, U(VI) sorption was reduced at low pH values due to the competition between SO4
2− and the uranyl ion for sorption sites on the bentonite surface, or the formation of uranyl-sulfate complexes. In the presence of 0.003 M carbonate, U(VI) sorption decreased sharply at a pH above 7, because of the formation of negatively charged uranyl-carbonate complexes, which are weakly adsorbed onto the bentonite. Uranium sorption onto bentonite was greatly enhanced in the presence of 0.003 M phosphate. Kinetic batch experiments carried out for 5 × 10−5 M U(VI) at pH values of 3, 5, and 8 revealed that the sorption rate was generally rapid over the first 10 min of the experiments, then slowed down appreciably after 1 to 24 h. Sulfate had little effect on the kinetics of U(VI) sorption; both in the absence and presence of sulfate, sorption equilibrium was attained after 4 h. In the presence of carbonate, attainment of sorption equilibrium required more time than in its absence. The presence of 0.003 M phosphate reduced the time required to reach sorption equilibrium across a wide range of pH compared to phosphate-free systems.
Against Free Markets, Against Science? Regulating the Socio‐Economic Effects of Biotechnology*
Authors: Kinchy Abby J. , Kleinman Daniel Lee , Autry Robyn
Published: May 2008

Abstract This study challenges the assumption that abstract “globalization” forces are driving transformations in the relationships between states and markets. Employing three cases of policy debate regarding the regulation of agricultural biotechnology (ag‐biotech), we examine the role of discourse in the formation of neoliberal regulatory schemes. We show that one important mechanism for the successful institutionalization of neoliberalism in the area of ag‐biotech has been the linking of neoliberal discourse with a discourse of scientism. This strategic combination of discourses has been used by advocates of biotechnology to depoliticize ag‐biotech—that is, to remove it further from political debate and state intervention. However, in each case examined here, certain state actors resisted industry demands for minimal regulation, and in each context this resistance produced markedly different outcomes.
Identification of a clinically homogenous subgroup of benign cortisol-secreting adrenocortical tumors characterized by alterations of the protein kinase A (PKA) subunits and high PKA activity.
Authors: Vincent-Dejean C , Cazabat L , Groussin L , Perlemoine K , Fumey G , Tissier F , Bertagna X , Bertherat J
Published: May 2008

Objective

The cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway plays an important role in endocrine tumorigenesis. PKA is a heterotetramer with two regulatory subunits (four genes:PRKAR1A,PRKAR1B,PRKAR2A,PRKAR2B) and two catalytic subunits. InactivatingPRKAR1Amutations have been observed in Carney complex and a subset of adrenocortical tumors (ACT). This study was designed to search for other alterations of PKA in ACT, and to establish their correlation with the clinical characteristics.

Methods

In this study, 35 ACT (10 non-secreting adrenocortical adenomas (ACA-NS), 13 cortisol-secreting adenomas (ACA-S), and 12 malignant s (ACC)) were studied. PKA subunits were studied by western blot and RT-qPCR. The PKA activity was measured.

Results

A subgroup of ACA-S with a 96% R2B protein decrease by comparison with normal adrenal (4.1%±4 vs 100%±19,P<0.001) was identified, ACA-S2 (6/13). By contrast, no differences were observed in ACC and ACA-NS. The level of R1A mRNA was decreased in ACA-S (P<0.001), but not the level of R2B mRNA. No mutation of the R2B gene was detected in ACA-S2. The ACA-S2 group with loss of R2B protein showed a threefold higher basal PKA activity than the ACA with normal R2B protein (3.37±0.31 vs 1.00±0.20,P<0.0001). The ACA-S2 tumors with the loss of the R2B protein presented a homogenous phenotype and were all small benign cortisol-secreting tumors.

Conclusion

This loss of PRKAR2B protein due to a post-transcriptional mechanism in ACA-S is a new mechanism of cAMP pathway dysregulation in adrenocortical tumorigenesis. It defines a new subtype of secreting adenomas with high basal PKA activity presenting a homogenous clinical phenotype.
Erratum: The role of F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in the postoperative evaluation of differentiated thyroid cancer.
Authors: Alzahrani Ali S , Abouzied Mohei-Eldin M , Salam Suzan Abdel , Mohamed Gamal , Rifai Ayman , Sugair Abdulaziz Al , Amin Tarik
Published: May 2008

The journal apologizes for an error in the above paper which appeared in 158 (5) 683–689. The authors' names should appear as above.
Turner Syndrome Is an Independent Risk Factor for Aortic Dilation in the Young
Authors: Lopez Leo , Arheart Kristopher L. , Colan Steven D. , Stein Nancy S. , Lopez-Mitnik Gabriela , Lin Angela E. , Reller Mark D. , Ventura Roque , Silberbach Michael
Published: May 2008

OBJECTIVE. Because aortic dilation increases the risk for dissection in the general adult population, and dissection occurs with greater frequency at a young age with Turner syndrome, we studied the prevalence, magnitude, and determinants of aortic dilation in a large group of girls and young women with Turner syndrome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS. Participants at annual Turner syndrome society meetings completed a questionnaire regarding their medical history. Echocardiographic measurements of their aorta were converted to z scores by using data from a larger group of normal control female subjects. Bivariable and multivariable analyses evaluated the effects of Turner syndrome features, such as a bicuspid aortic valve, coarctation, growth-hormone therapy, blood pressure, and karyotype, on aortic size.

RESULTS. Among 138 individuals with Turner syndrome <18 years old, 49% had the 45,X karyotype, 26% had bicuspid aortic valve, 17% had a history of coarctation, 78% had a history of growth-hormone therapy, and 40% had hypertension. Aortic z scores were calculated by using data from 407 control subjects. Bivariable analyses revealed that a bicuspid aortic valve, growth hormone, and 45,X karyotype predicted a larger proximal aorta at ≥1 level. Multivariable analysis predicted a larger proximal aorta at all of the levels only for bicuspid aortic valve individuals and at the annular level for those who received growth hormone. Importantly, all of the analyses revealed that Turner syndrome predicted a larger proximal aorta independent of these characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS. Among young individuals with Turner syndrome, a bicuspid aortic valve predicts a larger proximal aorta, and growth-hormone use may predict a larger aortic annulus. Compared with a control population, Turner syndrome alone is an independent risk factor for aortic dilation.
Translating autoantonymy in the Qur’an
Authors: Al-Kharabsheh Aladdin
Published: May 2008

This study sets out to examine
autoantonymy in translation
as an under-researched linguistic phenomenon. Given the dearth of serious work on autoantonymy in English-Arabic translation studies, this paper explores the difficulties associated with translating Arabic autoantonymy into English, based on selected examples drawn from the Qur’an. With reference to a host of authoritative Qur’anic exegeses and three Qur’anic translations, it has been possible to provide a solid linguistic-translational groundwork, allowing for semantic verification of the autoantonymous aspects of the selected examples, and for a fine-grained analysis that reveals how much a translated autoantonymous construction differs from its source language counterpart. In this study, it is argued that sorting out the ubiquitous, inverse duplicity of meaning depends on certain contextual, linguistic-scriptural and social-cultural factors. The study also shows that the conceptual complexity of autoantonymy evidently manifests itself in the difficulties that translators have finding a suitable translation. The thrust of the analysis is to stress that the Qur’an-specific autoantonyms do not lend themselves to easy, simple and straightforward rendering. It also provides further evidence for the claim that total lexical equivalence between Arabic and English, especially in Qur’anic discourse, cannot be always achieved, which may, consequently, confuse and shackle translators.
A translation studies oriented integrative approach to Canadian political discourse
Authors: Bánhegyi Mátyás
Published: May 2008

By a possible integration of text linguistics (proposition analysis), sociocognitive theory and Critical Discourse Analysis, the present study intends to reveal instances of ideologically charged translation by means of comparing and contrasting certain textual features of an instance of French language Canadian political discourse and its English translation. The aim of the analysis is twofold: to investigate some fundamental differences between source language and target language text production in terms of political power play and persuasion, as well as to demonstrate, by analysing a specific political text, a possible application of the above-mentioned integrative approach within the field of discourse analysis. The paper will also offer numerous possible perspectives on further research with a view to the Canadian political discourse in question.
Tapasztalataink a rekombináns faktor VIIa-val (NovoSeven®) a magas kockázatú szívműtétek vérzéses szövődményeinek kezelésébenr
Authors: Miskolczi Szabolcs , Vaszily Miklós , Papp Csaba , Péterffy Árpád
Published: May 2008

Absztrakt

A szívsebészetben a vérzéses szövődmények jelentősen növelik a korai halálozást és a kezelési költségeket. Ezeknek a szövődményeknek a kezelésében az aktivált rekombináns faktor VII a szívsebészetben is fokozatosan teret nyer. A szerzők intézetében 2004–2007 között 11 betegnél alkalmazták, akik közül 9 beteg előzetesen magas kockázatú, hosszú, aortalefogással és mesterséges keringési idővel járó kombinált (billentyű- és koszorúér-áthidalás) műtéten esett át, egy esetben koszorúér-betegség miatti újabb áthidalást végeztek, míg egy másik beteg aortadissectio miatt került műtétre. Az alkalmazott átlagos adag 6,5 mg (2,4–9,6 mg) volt. A NovoSeven® beadása előtti vérzés átlagosan 5440 ml, míg a gyógyszer alkalmazása után a vérzés átlaga 987 ml volt. A 11 betegből 9 gyógyultan hagyta el intézetet, míg 2 beteg a kórházi kezelés idején elhunyt, részben a faktor megkésett alkalmazása, részben a súlyos kísérő betegségek miatt (bélischaemia, májcirrhosis). Következtetéseink: A NovoSeven® megfelelő időben és adagban alkalmazva nagymértékben csökkenti a szívműtétek során fellépő, sebészi ellátással reménytelennek tűnő vérzéseket. Alkalmazása életmentő lehet az elhúzódó mesterséges keringéssel és hosszú aortalefogással járó kombinált, magas kockázatú műtéteket követő diffúz vérzéseknél, sőt szakadékony szövetek miatt elégtelenné váló varratok esetén is lényegesen csökkenti a vérzést. Elkésett vagy reménytelen esetekben való alkalmazása nem javasolt, mert az átmeneti vérzéscsökkenés ritkán változtatja meg a végzetes kórlefolyást.
Ventricular tachycardia and sudden cardiac death might complicate the long-term outcome by patients after tetralogy of Fallot repair
Authors: Mihálcz Attila , Földesi Csaba , Szili-Török Tamás
Published: May 2008

A Fallot-tetralógia miatti műtétet követően a hosszú távú túlélést befolyásoló tényezők közé tartozik a kamrai tachycardia és a hirtelen szívhalál. E betegek gondozásában érdemi segítséget jelent az implantálható cardioverter defibrillátor rendszer. A végleges pacemaker és/vagy implantálható cardioverter defibrillátor implantációját követően ritka, ám potenciálisan letális kimenetelű fertőzéses szövődmény az endocarditis. Ez esetben a leghatékonyabb kezelési mód a kombinált terápia, amely a beültetett készülék + elektródák teljes körű eltávolításából és agresszív antibiotikus kezelésből áll.
Célkitűzés:
Ilyen esetekben a tervezett reimplantáció különös óvatosságot igényel a nagyobb recidívaarány miatt, amelynek rizikója fokozottabb pacemakerdependencia esetén. Célunk olyan módszer alkalmazása volt, amelynek segítségével a recidíva kockázata minimálisra csökkenthető.
Módszer:
Esetünkben a korábban Fallot-tetralógia miatt többször műtött, pacemaker-, majd implantálható cardioverter defibrillátor beültetéseken átesett betegnél recidív endocarditis miatt készülék- és elektródaeltávolítást végeztünk, standard antibiotikus terápia alkalmazásával. A reimplantációt minithoracotomián keresztül végeztük. Az így elhelyezett sokkelektróda elégtelen működése miatt egy másik sokkelektródát szubkután vezettünk a hátsó mellkasfali régióba; rendszerünk az indukált kamrafibrillációt sikerrel szüntette meg.
Megbeszélés:
Esetismertetésünk demonstrálja a szubkután defibrillátorrendszer alkalmazhatóságát és előnyeit speciális körülmények fennállásakor. Felhívjuk a figyelmet arra a tényre, hogy ezt a technikát gyakrabban is lehetne alkalmazni olyan esetekben, amelyekben a transzvénás implantáció nem optimális.
The role of computed tomography perfusion in the diagnosis of brain ischaemic stroke
Authors: Halász Szabolcs , Puskás Tamás
Published: May 2008

A többszeletes spirál-CT-berendezések széles körű alkalmazása és a perfúziós szoftverek bevezetése lehetővé tette az agyi véráramlás CT-vizsgálatát.
Cél és módszerek:
A szerzők ismertetik az agyi perfúziós CT-vizsgálatok elvét, technikáját, amelyet az elmúlt másfél évben 96 betegükön végzett vizsgálatuk tapasztalataival egészítenek ki. A folyamatos technikai fejlődés eredményeként a közeljövőben lehetővé válik a teljes agy perfúziós CT-vizsgálata.
Következtetések:
Az agy perfúziós CT-vizsgálata gyors, viszonylag olcsó és a stroke kórismézésében pontos diagnózist eredményez.
The role of Orvosi Hetilap in the development of Hungarian gastroenterology. Part 3: 1948–1989
Authors: Buzás György Miklós
Published: May 2008

Az
Orvosi Hetilap
1905–1944 között az előző időszakhoz képest jelentősen több gasztroenterológiai tárgyú publikációt közölt. Az ismeretek továbbra is elsősorban német közvetítéssel kerültek a magyar szakirodalomba.
Célkitűzés:
Az
Orvosi Hetilap
ban 1948–1989 között megjelent gasztroenterológiai tárgyú publikációk kiértékelése.
Módszer:
A szerző manuális módszerrel áttekintette a folyóirat 1948–1989 közötti évfolyamait. A gasztroenterológiai tárgyú eredeti közleményeket, lapszemléket és könyvismertetéseket azonosította, és azokból adatbázist készített. A publikációkat tematikai csoportokba sorolta, és arányukat meghatározta. Az eredményeket összehasonlította az 1857–1904 és az 1905–1944 közti időszak publikációs tevékenységével. Részletesen áttekintette az endoszkópia fejlődését és a gyulladásos bélbetegségek recepcióját az
Orvosi Hetilap
ban.
Eredmények:
1948–1989 között az
Orvosi Hetilap
ban 2175 gasztroenterológiai tárgyú közlemény jelent meg, amely az összes eredeti közlemény 11,1%-a. A három áttekintett korszakban a gasztroenterológiai tárgyú közlemények száma folyamatosan növekedett. 1948–1989 között a legtöbbet a máj és az epeutak betegségeivel (24,1%), ezen belül a vírusos hepatitisekkel foglalkoztak (18%). Endoszkópiával 124 (4,7%), radiológiával 101 (3,9%) közlemény foglalkozott. Kétszázhatvannyolc szakfolyóiratot szemléztek, a gasztroenterológiai tárgyú folyóirat-referátumok száma 3965 (12,2%) – az előző időszakhoz képest jelentős a növekedés. A referátumok 52,4%-a magfolyóiratokban jelent meg. Az angol nyelvű lapok aránya 52,4%, a lapszemlék 39,4%-a német, 2,9%-a francia forrásból táplálkozik. A könyvismertetések száma 95-ről 211-re emelkedett. Az endoszkópiában kétszeres korszakváltás történt: előbb a száloptikás, majd a videoendoszkóp jelent meg. A gyulladásos bélbetegségek hazai irodalmi recepciója 1935-ben kezdődött, majd fokozatosan elterjedt az epidemiológiai, patogenetikai és terápiás tanulmányokban.
Megbeszélés:
1948–1989 között az eredeti gasztroenterológiai publikációk száma jelentősen meghaladja az előző időszak teljesítményét. Az angol irodalom az 1960-as évek közepétől az információ fő forrása lett.
Avaliação do desempenho analítico do método de determinação de TPH (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon) por detecção no infravermelho
Authors: Nascimento A. R. , Ziolli R.L. , Ararun, Jr J.T. , Pires C.S. , Silva T.B.
Published: May 2008

No presente trabalho os parâmetros de desempenho (validação intralaboratorial) da metodologia de determinação de TPH (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons) foram determinados por detecção na região do infravermelho com o equipamento da Infracal TOG/TPH, visando aplicação em amostras de areia contaminadas com petróleo. Os ensaios foram realizados utilizando Óleo Marine Fuel 380, com densidade igual 0,987 g cm-3 e viscosidade de 5313 cP a 20°C. Este óleo foi fornecido pelo Centro de Pesquisa da Petrobrás (CENPES/PETROBRÁS/RJ), sendo o mesmo óleo derramado no acidente ocorrido em janeiro de 2000, na Baia de Guanabara, RJ, quando 1.300 m3 vazaram do duto que interliga a REDUC (Refinaria Duque de Caxias, RJ) ao terminal da Ilha d’Água/RJ, atingindo praias. Os resultados da validação indicaram que o desempenho da metodologia foi favorável à aplicação que se destina. Entre os parâmetros metrológicos obtidos neste trabalho, o limite de detecção do método foi de 4,06 mg L-1, consideravelmente inferior à faixa de concentração normalmente obtida para amostras em tais situações.
Exploring potentialities of the HR-CS FAAS technique in the determination of Ni and Pb in mineral waters
Authors: Amorim Filho V. R.. , Franzini V. P. , Gomes Neto J. A.
Published: May 2008

National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) established in the decree number 54 maximum allowed levels for Ni and Pb in mineral and natural waters at 20 µg L-1 and 10 µg L-1, respectively. For screening analysis purposes, the high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometry technique (HR-CS FAAS) was evaluated for the fast-sequential determination of nickel and lead in mineral waters.Two atomic lines for Ni (232.003 nm - main and 341.477 nm - secondary) and Pb (217.0005 nm - main and 283.306 nm - secondary) at different wavelength integrated absorbance (number of pixels) were evaluated. Sensitivity enhanced with the increase of the number of pixels and with the summation of the atomic lines absorbances. The main figures of merit associated to the HR-CS FAAS technique were compared with that obtained by line-source flame atomic absorption spectrometry (LS FAAS). Water samples were pre-concentrated about 5-fold by evaporation before analysis. Recoveries of Pb significantly varied with increased wavelength integrated absorbance. Better recoveries (92-93%) were observed for higher number of pixels at the main line or summating the atomic lines (90-92%). This influence was irrelevant for Ni, and recoveries in the 92-104% range were obtained in all situations.
Reação de precipitação de Ag na liga Cu-8%Al-6%Ag
Authors: Silva R.A.G. , Magdalena A.G. , Carvalho T. M.
Published: May 2008

A reação de precipitação de prata na liga Cu-8%Al-6%Ag foi estudada usando medidas de variação da microdureza com a temperatura e o tempo de envelhecimento, difratometria de raios X (DRX), calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Os resultados obtidos indicaram que o mecanismo da reação de precipitação da prata é um processo controlado pela difusão da prata e a velocidade desta reação atinge um máximo em torno de 500°C.