bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developmental expression of pluripotency determining factors in caprine embryos: Novel pattern of NANOG protein localization in the nucleolus
Authors: He Shuyang , Pant Disha , Schiffmacher Andrew , Bischoff Steve , Melican David , Gavin William , Keefer Carol
Published: August 2006

Transcription factors, POU5F1/OCT4 and NANOG, whose expression is restricted to the inner cell mass (ICM) in mouse and human blastocysts, are used to characterize undifferentiated embryonic stem cells (ESC) in vitro. However, POU5F1 may not be a useful marker in domestic animals due to its expression in both ICM and trophectoderm (TE), while NANOG mRNA and protein expression have only been described fully in mice. In an effort to identify ESC markers for domestic animals, expression patterns of NANOG, POU5F1, and the cell surface markers (SSEA1, SSEA4, TRA‐1‐60, TRA‐1‐81) were examined in preimplantation goat embryos, a species that has proven to be a superior choice for the production of transgenic proteins in milk (biopharming). Our results indicate that while goat embryos express POU5F1, SSEA1, and SSEA4 proteins, their expression is not strictly restricted to the ICM. In a unique staining pattern, NANOG protein was localized to the nucleoplasm and nucleoli in ICM cells, but was localized strictly to nucleoli in TE. This pattern may reflect down‐regulation of protein by sequestration/degradation utilizing a nucleolar mechanism known to operate in stem cells. Furthermore, NANOG mRNA in TE was also significantly down‐regulated as compared with that in ICM. Taken together, this novel expression pattern of NANOG in goat preimplantation embryos suggests that NANOG could serve as marker of pluripotency in goats and may be useful in derivation and characterization of caprine ESC. This study is the first to characterize both NANOG mRNA and protein expression in any species other than the mouse. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 73: 1512–1522, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gamete interaction: Is it species‐specific?
Authors: Vieira Ana , Miller David J.
Published: August 2006

Reproductive isolation is pivotal to maintain species separation and it can be achieved through a plethora of mechanisms. In addition, the development of barriers to gamete interaction may drive speciation. Such barriers to interspecific gamete interaction can be prezygotic or postzygotic. Considering the great diversity in animal species, it is easy to assume that regulation of the early steps of fertilization is critical to maintain species identity. One prezygotic mechanism that is often mentioned in the literature is that gamete interaction is limited to gametes of the same species. But do gametes of all animals interact in a species‐specific way? Are gamete interactions completely species‐specific or perhaps just species‐restricted? In species in which species‐restrictions have been described, is the interspecies barrier at one major step in the fertilization process or is it a combination of partially restricted steps that together lead to a block in interspecific fertilization? Are the mechanisms used to avoid interspecific crosses different between free‐spawning organisms and those with internal fertilization? This review will address these questions, focusing on prezygotic barriers, and will describe what is known about the molecular biology that may account for species‐limited gamete recognition and fertilization. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 73: 1422–1429, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The mammalian acrosome as a secretory lysosome: New and old evidence
Authors: Moreno Ricardo D , Alvarado Carlos P
Published: August 2006

The morphological and biochemical characteristics of the acrosome depart well from any other vesicles in somatic cells, making it one of a kind amongst secretory vesicles. The components of the acrosome include a mixture of unique enzymes like acrosin and other enzymes that when present in somatic cells are commonly found in lysosomes, peroxisomes, and even in the cytoplasm. Several observations have pointed out that acrosomal biogenesis has unique features not previously described in secretory vesicle biogenesis of somatic cells. In this review we discuss the evidence supporting a molecular link between the machinery involved in lysosome and acrosome biogenesis, link which may help account for the acrosome unique composition. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 73: 1430–1434, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The influence of follicle size, FSH‐enriched maturation medium, and early cleavage on bovine oocyte maternal mRNA levels
Authors: Mourot Marina , Dufort Isabelle , Gravel Catherine , Algriany Omran , Dieleman Steph , Sirard Marc‐André
Published: August 2006

Transcription is arrested in the bovine oocyte within the first few hours of in vitro maturation, thus the stored maternal mRNAs accumulated in the oocyte are essential to sustain development until the Maternal‐Zygotic Transition. In vivo matured oocytes have superior blastocyst formation rates than in vitro matured oocytes, suggesting that the mRNA content of these oocytes is of higher quality. To determine which transcripts may be associated with developmental competence, a Suppressive Subtractive Hybridization was performed between oocytes collected by ovariectomy at 6 hr post‐LH surge and oocytes from slaughterhouse collected after 6 hr of maturation, resulting in a library enriched in these functionally important mRNAs. The clones were spotted onto a cDNA microarray and transcripts potentially associated with developmental competence were hybridized onto these slides. Hybridizations were performed with transcripts up‐regulated in oocytes cultured for 6 hr in the presence or absence of rFSH in vitro, and secondly with transcripts up regulated in early‐cleaving embryos versus those at the one‐cell stage at 36 hr postfertilization. From these hybridizations, 13 candidates were selected. Their functional association with embryonic competence was validated by measuring their relative transcript levels by quantitative real‐time PCR in eight different conditions: oocytes cultured with or without rFSH, early—versus late‐cleaving embryos, and oocytes from different follicle sizes (1–3, 3–5, 5–8, and >8 mm of diameter). The gene candidates CCNB2, PTTG1, H2A, CKS1, PSMB2, SKIIP, CDC5L, RGS16, and PRDX1 showed a significant quantitative association with competence compared to BMP15, GDF9, CCNB1, and STK6. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 73: 1367–1379, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Long‐term cryopreserved amniocytes retain proliferative capacity and differentiate to ectodermal and mesodermal derivatives in vitro
Authors: Woodbury D. , Kramer B.C. , Reynolds K. , Marcus A.J. , Coyne T.M. , Black I.B.
Published: August 2006

Putative stem cells have recently been isolated from several extra‐embryonic tissues, including Wharton's Jelly and umbilical cord blood. Relevant studies have focused on primary cultures established from freshly isolated tissues. In this report, we examine the plasticity of 472 cells, a cryopreserved human amniocyte cell line originally isolated in 1974. Under conditions conducive for proliferation, the amniocytes displayed fibroblast‐like morphologies and expressed Oct4 and Rex1, genes associated with pluripotency. Perhaps indicative of inherent plasticity, 472 cells simultaneously expressed ectodermal β‐III‐tubulin and mesodermal fibronectin. When cultured under conditions that promote neural differentiation, the cells adopted neuronal morphologies and expressed neuronal genes, including Gap‐43, NF‐M, tau, and synaptophysin. Exposure to culture conditions that encourage osteogenic differentiation resulted in increased expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and the deposition of mineralized matrix, established markers of bone cell differentiation. In sum, this population of human amniocytes appears to be multipotent, capable of in vitro differentiation to ectodermal and mesodermal cell types. Retention of this plasticity through decades of cryopreservation suggests that amniocytes might be candidates for future cell‐based therapies. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 73: 1463–1472, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of fertilization antigen (FA‐1) DNA vaccine on fertility of female mice
Authors: Naz Rajesh K.
Published: August 2006

Vaccination of female mice with recombinant fertilization antigen (FA‐1) causes a long‐term reversible contraceptive effect. Also, a DNA vaccine based upon a dodecamer sequence YLP12 present in sperm causes a reduction in fertility. In the present study, the effects of FA‐1 DNA vaccine alone, and FA‐1 and YLP12 DNA vaccines together were examined. FA‐1 495‐bp DNA was cloned into pVAX1 vector to prepare the DNA vaccine. Four groups of female mice were immunized intradermally by using a gene gun with FA‐1 DNA, FA‐1 DNA + YLP12 DNA, FA‐1 DNA + YLP12 DNA mixed with exogenous synthetic CpG oliogodeoxynucleotide (ODN), or vector DNA alone, respectively. Vaccination with all three formulations caused a significant reduction in fertility, with FA‐1 DNA + YLP12 DNA mixed with exogenous synthetic CpG ODN showing the highest reduction. Vaccination with all three formulations raised antibody response in both the sera as well as locally in the vaginal tract, with ODN mixed group demonstrating the highest titers. There was no antibody response in the mice injected with the vector alone. In sera, the highest titers were obtained for the IgG class for all vaccine formulations followed by the IgA class. In vaginal washing, the highest titers were obtained by the IgA class followed by the IgG class. Within the IgG class, the titers for the IgG2a subclass were significantly greater than the IgG1 subclass. The immunocontraceptive effects were long‐lasting over 1 year of the observation period and increased with time. These novel findings indicate that the intradermal immunization with a sperm‐specific FA‐1 DNA vaccine causes a long‐term circulating and local immune response resulting in immunocontraceptive effects in female mice. The anti‐fertility effects were enhanced when FA‐1 DNA vaccine was combined with YLP12 DNA vaccine and injected with ODN. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 73: 1473–1479, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Stable transmission and transcription of newfoundland ocean pout type III fish antifreeze protein (AFP) gene in transgenic mice and hypothermic storage of transgenic ovary and testis
Authors: Bagis Haydar , Aktoprakligil Digdem , Mercan Hande Odaman , Yurdusev Nevzat , Turgut Gazi , Sekmen Sakir , Arat Sezen , Cetin Seyfettin
Published: August 2006

Here we describe the generation of transgenic mice carrying type III fish antifreeze protein (AFP) gene and evaluate whether AFP type III protects transgenic mouse ovaries and testes from hypothermic storage. AFPs exist in many different organisms. In fish, AFPs protect the host from freezing at temperatures below the colligative freezing point by adsorbing to the surface of nucleating ice crystals and inhibiting their growth. The transgenic expression of AFP holds great promise for conferring freeze‐resistant plant and animal species. AFP also exhibits a potential for the cryopreservation of tissues and cells. In this study, we have generated 42 founder mice harboring the Newfoundland ocean pout (OP5A) type III AFP transgene and established one transgenic line (the line #6). This study demonstrated that AFP gene construct has been stably transmitted to the mouse progeny in the F3 generations in the line #6. Furthermore, the presence of AFP transcripts was confirmed by RT‐PCR analysis on cDNAs from liver, kidney, ovarian, and testis tissues of the mouse from F3 generation in this line. These results indicate that ocean pout type III AFP gene could be integrated and transmitted to the next generation and stably transcribed in transgenic mice. In histological analysis of testis and ovarian tissues of nontransgenic control and AFP transgenic mice it has been shown that both tissues of AFP transgenic mice were protected from hypothermic storage (+4°C). The AFP III transgenic mice obtained for the first time in this study would be useful for investigating the biological functions of AFP in mammalian systems and also its potential role in cryopreservation. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 73: 1404–1411, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Detrimental effects of BOLD signal in arterial spin labeling fMRI at high field strength
Authors: Lu Hanzhang , Donahue Manus J. , van Zijl Peter C.M.
Published: August 2006

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI is a useful technique for noninvasive measurement of cerebral blood flow (CBF) in humans. High field strength provides a unique advantage for ASL because of longer blood T1 relaxation times, making this technique a promising quantitative approach for functional brain mapping. However, higher magnetic field also introduces new challenges. Here it is shown that the CBF response determined using ASL functional MRI (fMRI) at 3.0 T contains significant contamination from blood‐oxygenation‐level‐dependent (BOLD) effects. Due to interleaved acquisitions of label and control images, difference in blood oxygenation status between these two scans can cause incomplete cancellation of the static signal upon image subtraction, resulting in a BOLD‐related artifact in the estimated CBF hemodynamics. If not accounted for, such an effect can complicate the interpretation of the ASL results, e.g., causing a delayed onset and offset of the response, or inducing an artifactual poststimulus undershoot. The BOLD contribution also decreases the sensitivity of ASL‐based fMRI. Correction methods are proposed to reduce the artifact, giving increased number of activated voxels (18 ± 5%, P = 0.006) and more accurate estimation of CBF temporal characteristics. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Three‐dimensional MRI with an undersampled spherical shells trajectory
Authors: Shu Yunhong , Riederer Stephen J. , Bernstein Matt A.
Published: August 2006

The shells trajectory is a 3D data acquisition method with improved efficiency compared to Cartesian sampling. It is a true center‐out trajectory that does not repeatedly resample the center of k‐space, and also offers advantages for motion correction. This work demonstrates that k‐space undersampling can be combined with the shells trajectory to further accelerate the acquisition. The undersampling was implemented by removing selected interleaves from shells with larger radii. Because only the outer portion of k‐space was undersampled, the artifacts introduced were of low energy and high spatial frequency. The undersampling rate was determined by a Kaiser window with a variable shape parameter β. Various undersampling schemes with different β values were examined. Phantom and volunteer studies demonstrate that when up to a twofold acceleration is achieved, only minor artifacts are introduced by undersampling the shells trajectory. For a fixed acquisition time, the improved efficiency can be used to increase spatial resolution. Magn Reson Med 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Spatial domain method for the design of RF pulses in multicoil parallel excitation
Authors: Grissom William , Yip Chun‐yu , Zhang Zhenghui , Stenger V. Andrew , Fessler Jeffrey A. , Noll Douglas C.
Published: August 2006

Parallel excitation has been introduced as a means of accelerating multidimensional, spatially‐selective excitation using multiple transmit coils, each driven by a unique RF pulse. Previous approaches to RF pulse design in parallel excitation were either formulated in the frequency domain or restricted to echo‐planar trajectories, or both. This paper presents an approach that is formulated as a quadratic optimization problem in the spatial domain and allows the use of arbitrary k‐space trajectories. Compared to frequency domain approaches, the new design method has some important advantages. It allows for the specification of a region of interest (ROI), which improves excitation accuracy at high speedup factors. It allows for magnetic field inhomogeneity compensation during excitation. Regularization may be used to control integrated and peak pulse power. The effects of Bloch equation nonlinearity on the large‐tip‐angle excitation error of RF pulses designed with the method are investigated, and the utility of Tikhonov regularization in mitigating this error is demonstrated. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rapid 3D‐T1ρ mapping of the knee joint at 3.0T with parallel imaging
Authors: Pakin S. Kubilay , Xu Jian , Schweitzer Mark E. , Regatte Ravinder R.
Published: August 2006

Three‐dimensional spin‐lattice relaxation time in the rotating frame (3D‐T1ρ) with parallel imaging at 3.0T was implemented on a whole‐body clinical scanner. A 3D gradient‐echo sequence with a self‐compensating spin‐lock pulse cluster was combined with generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisitions (GRAPPA) to acquire T1ρ‐weighted images. 3D‐T1ρ maps of an agarose phantom and three healthy subjects were constructed using an eight‐channel phased‐array coil without parallel imaging and with parallel imaging acceleration factors of 2 and 3, in order to assess the reproducibility of the method. The coefficient of variation (CV) of the median T1ρ of the agarose phantom was 0.44%, which shows excellent reproducibility. The reproducibility of in vivo 3D‐T1ρ maps was also investigated in three healthy subjects. The CV of the median T1ρ of the patellar cartilage varied between ∼1.1% and 4.3%. Similarly, the CV varied between ∼2.1–5.8%, ∼1.4–8.7%, and ∼1.5–4.1% for the biceps femoris and lateral and medial gastrocnemius muscles, respectively. The preliminary results demonstrate that 3D‐T1ρ maps can be constructed with good reproducibility using parallel imaging. 3D‐T1ρ with parallel imaging capability is an important clinical tool for reducing both the total acquisition time and RF energy deposition at 3T. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Shear wave group velocity inversion in MR elastography of human skeletal muscle
Authors: Papazoglou Sebastian , Rump Jens , Braun Jürgen , Sack Ingolf
Published: August 2006

In vivo quantification of the anisotropic shear elasticity of soft tissue is an appealing objective of elastography techniques because elastic anisotropy can potentially provide specific information about structural alterations in diseased tissue. Here a method is introduced and applied to MR elastography (MRE) of skeletal muscle. With this method one can elucidate anisotropy by means of two shear moduli (one parallel and one perpendicular to the muscle fiber direction). The technique is based on group velocity inversion applied to bulk shear waves, which is achieved by an automatic analysis of wave‐phase gradients on a spatiotemporal scale. The shear moduli are then accessed by analyzing the directional dependence of the shear wave speed using analytic expressions of group velocities in k‐space, which are numerically mapped to real space. The method is demonstrated by MRE experiments on the biceps muscle of five volunteers, resulting in 5.5 ± 0.9 kPa and 29.3 ± 6.2 kPa (P < 0.05) for the medians of the perpendicular and parallel shear moduli, respectively. The proposed technique combines fast steady‐state free precession (SSFP) MRE experiments and fully automated processing of anisotropic wave data, and is thus an interesting MRI modality for aiding clinical diagnosis. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Abnormalities of CSF flow patterns in the cerebral aqueduct in treatment‐resistant late‐life depression: A potential biomarker of microvascular angiopathy
Authors: Naish Josephine H. , Baldwin Robert C. , Patankar Tufail , Jeffries Suzanne , Burns Alistair S. , Taylor Christopher J. , Waterton John C. , Jackson Alan
Published: August 2006

There is growing evidence that microvascular angiopathy (MVA) plays an important role in the development of dementia and affective disorders in older people. At currently available image resolutions it is not possible to image directly the vascular changes associated with MVA, but the effects on blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow may be detectable. The aim of this study was to investigate a potential biomarker for MVA based on MRI of abnormalities in CSF flow. Since there is considerable indirect evidence that treatment resistance in late‐onset depressive disorder is related to MVA, we assessed the method in a group of 22 normal volunteers and 29 patients with responsive (N = 21) or treatment‐resistant (N = 8) late‐onset depressive disorder. Single‐slice quantified phase‐contrast (PC) images of cerebral blood and CSF flow were collected at 15 points over a cardiac cycle, and the resulting flow curves were parameterized. Significant differences in the CSF flow (width of systolic flow peak and diastolic flow volume, both P < 0.01) through the cerebral aqueduct were observed for the group of treatment‐resistant patients when compared to age matched controls. No significant difference was observed for a group of 21 patients with treatment‐responsive depression. The findings support the hypothesis that MR measurement of CSF flow abnormalities provides a biomarker of MVA, and thus could have application in a wide range of age‐related diseases. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Excitation UNFOLD (XUNFOLD) to improve the temporal resolution of multishot tailored RF pulses
Authors: Stenger V. Andrew , Giurgi Marius S. , Boada Fernando E. , Noll Douglas C.
Published: August 2006

An extension of the “UNaliasing by Fourier encoding the Overlaps using the temporaL Dimension” (UNFOLD) method to the excitation domain (XUNFOLD) is presented to improve the temporal resolution of multishot tailored RF (TRF) pulses. Multishot three‐dimensional TRF pulses were designed to produce a time series of images with periodically aliased excitation profiles. The XUNFOLD method is shown to remove the excitation profile aliasing from the dynamic imaging data by filtering in the temporal frequency dimension. The technique is demonstrated to improve the temporal resolution of simulated functional MRI (fMRI) activation in a time series of brain images. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Global and regional reproducibility of T2 relaxation time measurements in human patellar cartilage
Authors: Glaser C. , Mendlik T. , Dinges J. , Weber J. , Stahl R. , Trumm C. , Reiser M.
Published: August 2006

Seven T2 maps (multiecho (ME) sequence: 3000 ms, eight echoes with 13.2 ms of echo spacing, 20 sections) and T1‐weighted (T1‐w) fast low‐angle shot (FLASH‐water excitation (WE)) data sets from four imaging sessions (right patellae of 10 healthy volunteers) were obtained. A segmentation of cartilage (WE sequence) was overlaid on the ME data and T2 values were calculated for total cartilage, three layers, three facets (global), and 240 ROIs (regional). Reproducibility (precision error) was calculated as the root mean square average (RMSA) of the individual coefficients of variation (COVs, %) and standard deviations (SDs, ms) for intra‐ and intersession reproducibility. The precision error was 3–7% and 6–29% for global and regional T2, respectively. There was no difference between intra‐ and intersession reproducibility, but there was worse reproducibility in the superficial layers compared to the deeper layers. Peripheral ROI reproducibility (mean = 13%) was worse than in the central portions (mean = 11%), but omission of the periphery did not positively affect the globally calculated T2 reproducibility. The precision errors were small compared to reported changes in diseased cartilage, suggesting good discriminatory power of the technique. Our data provide a first estimate of global and regional reproducibility errors of T2 in healthy cartilage, and may serve as a basis for sample size calculations and aid study designs for longitudinal and cross‐sectional trials in osteoarthritis (OA). Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The effect of tamoxifen on bladder functions and histology, and the role of estrogen receptor β in a rat chemical cystitis model
Authors: Acar Deniz , Çayan Selahittin , Aktaş Savaş , Tek Mesut , Akbay Erdem
Published: August 2006

Aims

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of tamoxifen citrate on bladder functions and histology, and also to investigate the role of estrogen receptor β (ER β) in a rat chemical cystitis model.

Methods

The study included 37 female Sprague–Dawley rats. Chemical cystitis was induced by intravesical instillation of hydrochloric acid in 32 rats, and the treatment group (n = 15) received daily 0.4 mg/kg of tamoxifen citrate with orogastric tube, and the control group (n = 17) received no treatment. The sham group consisted of five rats having no acid instillation and no treatment. Cystometric studies were performed in all rats at the beginning and end of the experiment. The rats were euthanized at 2 months. The bladders were removed and examined histologically for mast cells, inflammatory cells, and ER β.

Results

The mean maximal bladder volume increased by 73.6% ± 25.2 in the treatment group and decreased by 7.2% ± 10.8 in the control group, revealing a significant difference (P = 0.007). The mean bladder compliance increased by 81.2% ± 25.2 in the treatment group and decreased by 4.8% ± 12.7 in the control group, revealing a significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.005). ER β positive cells were significantly lower in the bladders with chronic cystitis than in the sham group (P = 0.038).

Conclusions

Tamoxifen citrate may be an alternative choice, as easy, to other treatment options in the treatment of chronic inflammatory condition to improve deteriorated bladder function. In addition, ER β may have a role on chronic bladder inflammation in a rat chemical cystitis model. Neurourol. Urodynam. 26:309–316, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The tension free vaginal tape operation for women with mixed incontinence: Do preoperative variables predict the outcome?
Authors: Kulseng‐Hanssen Sigurd , Husby Henrik , Schiotz Hjalmar A.
Published: August 2006

Aims

The aims of our study were (1) to investigate subjective and objective outcomes after tension free vaginal tape (TVT) operations in mixed incontinent women, (2) to detect if preoperative subjective and objective variables predict the outcome, and (3) to evaluate whether the surgical outcome is different for women who preoperatively find stress incontinence, urge incontinence, or urge and stress incontinence equally the predominant bother.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was performed on 450 mixed incontinent women. A short‐form disease‐specific validated questionnaire, 24‐hr pad test, standardized stress test, residual urine, and maximum urinary flow were used before and after a TVT operation. “Cure” was defined as a condition where the women were very satisfied with the TVT operation and had negative stress‐ and 24 hr pad tests.

Results

Preoperatively 69% had stress incontinence, 7% urge incontinence, and 24% urge and stress incontinence equally as the predominant bother. Cure rates were 80%, 52%, and 60%, respectively, in these groups. Postoperatively 43% of the women had no urge incontinence, while 49% were less, and only 8% were more bothered by urge incontinence. A higher preoperative urge incontinence index was correlated with significantly higher postoperative bother for all indices and leakage during 24‐hr pad test.

Conclusions

Mixed incontinent women with predominant stress incontinence had a better cure rate than those with predominant urge incontinence and those who were equally bothered by urge and stress incontinence. This point needs to be addressed when informing mixed incontinent women before a TVT operation. Neurourol. Urodynam. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of dextromethorphan on in vitro contractile responses of mouse and rat urinary bladders
Authors: Levin Robert M. , Whitbeck Catherine , Sourial Michael W. , Tadrous Mina , Millington William R.
Published: August 2006

Purpose

Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a cough‐suppressing ingredient in a variety of over‐the‐counter cough and cold medications. Dextromethorphan elevates the threshold for coughing primarily through a central mechanism. At doses recommended for treating coughs the drug is safe and effective. At much higher doses, DXM produces dissociative effects similar to those of phencyclidine and ketamine. Opioid analgesics structurally related to DXM also inhibit bladder contractions and produce urinary retention through a non‐opioid mechanism. This study evaluated the direct effects of DXM on in vitro contractile responses of rat and mouse urinary bladders.

Methods

Male rats and mice were anaesthetized and their bladders removed. Bladder strips were suspended in 15 ml oxygenated Tyrode's solution containing glucose. Bladder strip contractions were evoked by field stimulation (FS), carbachol or elevated KCl concentrations and contractile responses recorded. The strips were then exposed to 3 µM (DXM) for 30 min and re‐stimulated. This sequence was repeated at 10, 30, and 100 µM DXM.

Results

(a) The rat bladder generated significantly greater tension than the mouse bladder. (b) Dextromethorphan produced a dose‐dependent inhibition of the response to FS that was approximately equal for rat and mouse bladders. FS at 8 or 32 Hz was significantly more sensitive to DXM inhibition than 2 Hz. (c) The response to carbachol was more sensitive to inhibition by DXM than the responses to FS or KCl.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that DXM inhibits bladder contractions in vitro and that mouse and rat bladders are affected to approximately the same extent. Neurourol. Urodynam. 25:802–807, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Uroselectivity in male dogs of silodosin (KMD‐3213), a novel drug for the obstructive component of benign prostatic hyperplasia
Authors: Tatemichi Satoshi , Tomiyama Yoshitaka , Maruyama Itaru , Kobayashi Shinya , Kobayashi Kumi , Maezawa Ayaka , Kobayashi Mamoru , Yamazaki Yoshinobu , Shibata Nobuo
Published: August 2006

Aims

Our main aim was to compare the prostatic selectivity of silodosin with that of other α1‐adrenoceptor (AR) antagonists.

Methods

We examined uroselectivities in two sets of experiments namely, in vitro and in vivo functional studies using male dogs. In the in vitro study, after evaluating the inhibitory effects of silodosin on noradrenaline (NA)‐induced contractions in the isolated prostate and isolated carotid artery using the Magnus method, we calculated prostatic selectivity. In the in vivo study, we examined the effects of drugs on the hypogastric nerve stimulation (HNS)‐induced increase in intraurethral pressure (IUP) and on blood pressure. The uroselectivity of silodosin was compared with those of tamsulosin and naftopidil.

Results

In vitro, all drugs antagonized NA‐induced contraction in both prostate and carotid artery. The prostatic selectivity of silodosin (79.4) was much higher than those of tamsulosin (1.78), naftopidil (0.55), BMY 7378 (0.115), and prazosin (0.01). In vivo, intravenously (i.v.) administered silodosin dose‐dependently inhibited the HNS‐induced increase in IUP with much less hypotensive effect than either tamsulosin or naftopidil, the uroselectivity (ED15/ID50) of silodosin (237) being significantly higher than those of tamsulosin (1.21) and naftopidil (2.65).

Conclusions

Our results clearly demonstrate that silodosin is a potent and highly selective α1A‐AR antagonist. A selective α1A‐AR antagonist such as silodosin may have good potential as a less‐hypotensive drug for the treatment of urinary dysfunction in benign prostatic hyperplasia patients. Neurourol. Urodynam. 25:792–799, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Equity valuation, production, and financial planning: A stochastic programming approach
Authors: Xu Xiaodong , Birge John R.
Published: August 2006

Most of the operations management literature assumes that a firm can always finance production decisions at an optimal level or borrow at a constant interest rate; however, operational decisions are constrained by limited capital and often critically depend on external financing. This paper proposes an integrated corporate planning model, which extends the forecasting‐based discount dividend pricing method into an optimization‐based valuation framework to make production and financial decisions simultaneously for a firm facing marker uncertainty. We also develop an efficient algorithm to solve the resulting integer stochastic programming model with nonlinear constraints. Compared with traditional valuation and planning models, our method yields higher equity valuations, indicating that valuation without considering contingent decisions is inherently inaccurate. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2006
Sojourn time analysis of a queueing system with two‐phase service and server vacations
Authors: Katayama Tsuyoshi , Kobayashi Kaori
Published: August 2006

We consider a two‐phase service queueing system with batch Poisson arrivals and server vacations denoted by MX/G1‐G2/1. The first phase service is an exhaustive or a gated bulk service, and the second phase is given individually to the members of a batch. By a reduction to an MX/G/1 vacation system and applying the level‐crossing method to a workload process with two types of vacations, we obtain the Laplace–Stieltjes transform of the sojourn time distribution in the MX/G1‐G2/1 with single or multiple vacations. The decomposition expression is derived for the Laplace–Stieltjes transform of the sojourn time distribution, and the first two moments of the sojourn time are provided. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2007
Stochastic programming models for replication of electricity forward contracts for industry
Authors: Kwon Roy H. , Scott Rogers J. , Yau Sheena
Published: August 2006

Forward contracts for electricity are valuable to consumers (suppliers) that wish to obtain (sell) power at prices that are more stable than those typically seen in electricity markets. Only a limited variety of forward contracts are available on the market so the need is for a “custom” contract that meets a specific profile of electricity requirements (usually uncertain) over time. This paper develops stochastic programming models that can be used by the supplier of a custom contract to design a procurement strategy that minimizes its expected costs of supply in meeting contract obligations. The procurement strategy will consist of a mix of forwards available in the market, and, in each period, blending its own generation with spot purchases of power. The model also integrates spot selling of power. We consider that expected spot prices and forward prices may disagree since electricity is not storable, creating apparent arbitrage opportunities. We bound the transaction amounts to limit effects of apparent arbitrage and for consistency with the assumption of constant variable generation costs and market prices. For sample cases we compute the optimal procurement strategy, demonstrate the magnitude of the saving, and illustrate the sensitivity of this saving to the magnitude of the upper bounds on the allowed forward positions (a proxy for risk). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2006
Collective tree exploration
Authors: Fraigniaud Pierre , Ga̧sieniec Leszek , Kowalski Dariusz R. , Pelc Andrzej
Published: August 2006

Ann‐node tree has to be explored bykmobile agents (robots), starting at its root. Every edge of the tree must be traversed by at least one robot, and exploration must be completed as fast as possible. Even when the tree is known in advance, scheduling optimal collective exploration turns out to be NP‐hard. We investigate the problem of how communication among robots influences the time for exploring unknown trees. To this end, we consider two scenarios. In the first scenario, robots can communicate by writing at the currently visited node previously acquired information, and reading information available at this node. In the second scenario robots are oblivious of one another, and each of them knows only the part of the tree previously explored by itself. We show that this difference of communication capability significantly influences time of collective exploration. Under the first scenario, we construct an exploration algorithm whose running time for any tree is onlyO(k/ logk) larger than the optimal exploration time with full knowledge of the tree, while under the second scenario we prove that every algorithm works in timeΩ(k) larger than optimal, for some trees. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 48(3), 166–177 2006
Reduction of Pt usage in fuel cell electrocatalysts using carbon nanotubes and non‐Pt metals
Authors: Yoo E. , Nagashima Y. , Yamazaki T. , Matsumoto T. , Nakamura J.
Published: August 2006

Electrocatalysts supported by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been studied to reduce Pt usage in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). The PEFC using Pt‐deposited CNTs at the anode and cathode shows higher performance than a commercial Pt‐deposited carbon black (CB) with reducing 60% Pt loading per electrode area in PEFC below 500 mA/cm2. These high performances are considered to be due to the efficient formation of the triple‐phase boundaries of gas‐electrode‐electrolyte. Mo2C/CNTs anode catalysts prepared as a non‐Pt electrocatalyst show about half the voltage of a popular PEFC with Pt/CB below 600 mA/cm2 with 1.5 atm‐H2. The Mo2C/CNTs gave five time, larger voltage and current compared to Mo2C/CB at least. CNTs are thus found to be better material than CB in PEFC. It is also found that Ru/defective CNTs catalysts shows high CO tolerance in hydrogen electro‐oxidation. The Ru catalyst particles were found to be very small with 1 nm diameter. It is thus considered that highly dispersed Ru nanopaticles supported on defective CNTs are attributed to the high CO tolerance. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Copolymerization of cyclopentadiene with styrene by methylaluminoxane catalyst
Authors: Hou Junxian , Zhang Dongheng , Lin Ruhai , Zhang Deshun , Wang Shulan , Sun Wen‐Hua
Published: August 2006

Random copolymerization of cyclopentadiene (CPD) and styrene initiated by methylaluminoxane was investigated. The copolymer was analyzed using FT‐IR, 1H‐NMR and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The reactivity ratios of the monomers were rCPD = 19.53, rstyrene = 0.60. A single glass transition temperature is observed for each copolymer, which is in agreement with a random type copolymer structure. And a cationic initiation mechanism was speculated based on the polymerization results. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Novel composite anode materials of Ag and polymeric carbon for lithium ion batteries
Authors: Gao J. , Yang L. C. , Fu L. J. , Xu M. , Liu W. J. , Wu Y. P. , Holze R.
Published: August 2006

A new composite anode material of Ag and polymeric carbon was prepared by heat‐treating the mixture of polyacrylonitrile and AgNO3. They were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and electrochemical measurements. It was found that the addition of Ag was favorable for the improvement of electrochemical performance of the composite in comparison with the virginal polymeric carbon. These improvements were due to an increase of electronic conductivity, alloying of lithium with Ag and smaller particle size of the composites. The optimal amount of Ag addition is 5% based on the molar ratio of the monomer unit. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Purification and characterization of an N‐acetyl‐d‐galactosamine‐specific lectin from seeds of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)
Authors: Qureshi Insaf A. , Dash Prasanta , Srivastava P. S. , Koundal K. R.
Published: August 2006

A novel lectin (CAA‐II) was isolated and purified from the seeds of Cicer arietinum by ammonium sulphate fractionation and affinity chromatography on an N‐acetyl‐d‐galactosamine‐linked agarose column. The lectin is composed of four identical subunits of 30 kDa and the molecular mass of the native lectin was estimated to be 120 kDa by gel filtration chromatography and confirmed by mass spectrometry. The lectin showed agglutination activity against rabbit erythrocytes (trypsin‐treated and untreated) as well as against human erythrocytes. Haemagglutination inhibition assays showed that the lectin is a galactose‐specific protein having a high affinity for N‐acetyl‐d‐galactosamine. The molecular weight, haemagglutination pattern, carbohydrate specificity and N‐terminal amino acid sequence indicated that the lectin is clearly distinct from the previously reported chickpea lectin CAA‐I. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Risk factors for statin‐associated rhabdomyolysis
Authors: Schech Stephanie , Graham David , Staffa Judy , Andrade Susan E. , Grenade Lois La , Burgess Margaret , Blough David , Stergachis Andy , Chan K. Arnold , Platt Richard , Shatin Deborah
Published: August 2006

Purpose

To identify and characterize risk factors for rhabdomyolysis in patients prescribed statin monotherapy or statin plus fibrate therapy.

Methods

A nested case‐control study was conducted within a cohort of 252 460 new users of lipid‐lowering medications across 11 geographically dispersed U.S. health plans. Twenty‐one cases of rhabdomyolysis confirmed by medical record review were compared to 200 individually matched controls without rhabdomyolysis. A conditional logistic regression model was applied to evaluate the effects of age, gender, comorbidities, concurrent medication use, dosage, and duration of statin use on the development of rhabdomyolysis.

Results

Statin users 65 years of age and older have four times the risk of hospitalization for rhabdomyolysis than those under age 65 (odds ratio (OR) = 4.36, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5,14.1). We also observed a joint effect of high statin dosage and renal disease (p = 0.022). When these two variables were added to the model with age, we obtained an OR of 5.73 for dosage (95%CI: 0.63, 52.6) and 6.26 for renal disease (95%CI: 0.46, 63.38). Although not statistically significant, we did observe a greater than twofold increase in risk for rhabdomyolysis among females (OR = 2.53, 95%CI: 0.91, 7.32).

Conclusions

Findings of this study indicate that older age is a risk factor for rhabdomyolysis among statin users. Although the evidence is not as strong, high statin dosage, renal disease, and female gender may be additional risk factors. Patients at higher risk of developing rhabdomyolysis should be closely monitored for signs and symptoms of the disease. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differential associations of beta‐blockers with hemorrhagic events for chronic heart failure patients on warfarin
Authors: Berlowitz Dan R. , Miller Donald R. , Oliveria Susan A. , Cunningham Fran , Gomez‐Caminero Andres , Rothendler James A.
Published: August 2006

Purpose

Beta‐blockers have many different physiologic effects that could potentially influence the risk of hemorrhagic events in chronic heart failure patients (CHF) on warfarin. We examined how different beta‐blockers vary in their associated risk of a hemorrhagic event.

Methods

We used databases from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that contain information on medications prescribed, diagnoses, and hospitalizations. We identified patients with CHF on warfarin and either metoprolol, carvedilol, atenolol, or no beta‐blocker during 1999–2001. We modeled time to first hemorrhagic event using a Cox proportional hazards model, adjusting for age, ethnicity, comorbidities, and other factors. INR levels were examined in a subsample of 3546 patients.

Results

We identified 66 988 CHF patients on warfarin. Hemorrhagic events occurred in 15.3% of the sample and, in 3.8% of the sample, the hemorrhage was considered severe. Compared to patients on carvedilol, the hazards ratio for a new hemorrhagic event was 1.25 (1.17, 1.34) for no beta‐blocker, 1.27 (1.18, 1.38) for atenolol, and 1.38 (1.28, 1.48) for metoprolol. No differences in INR levels were evident among the four groups.

Conclusions

The risk for a hemorrhagic event among CHF patients on warfarin may be affected by beta‐blocker use and varies depending on which beta‐blocker is prescribed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Proteomic analysis of pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma
Authors: Jin Lian‐Jin , Shin Bong Kyung , Jung Woon Yong , Lee Hyun‐Juu , Cho Su Jin , Han Joung‐Ho , Ha Seong‐Yeon , Kim Ae‐Ree , Sik Kim Young , Sun Kim In , Uhm Chang‐Sub , Kim Han Kyeom
Published: August 2006

Sclerosing hemangioma (SH) is a rare benign pulmonary tumor derived from the primitive respiratory epithelium. However, the pathogenesis of SH has not yet been clear. Surfactant protein, thyroid transcription factor‐1, epithelial membrane antigen, cytokeratin, and vimentin have been identified in SH by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. To identify proteins specifically regulated in SH, 2‐D PAGE was performed using SH and paired normal tissues. Ten selected differentially expressed protein spots were identified by PMF, MALDI‐TOF‐MS, and database searching. Apolipoprotein A‐1, antizyme inhibitor, heat shock 27‐kDa protein 1, and antioxidant proteins, such as peroxiredoxin II (Prx II) and GST, were identified among the down‐regulated proteins in SH. Western blot and immunohistochemistry confirmed reduced expressions of Prx II and GST in SH versus normal lung tissue. This study is the first report on the reduced expressions of Prx II and GST in SH.
Reconstructing protein complexes: From proteomics to systems biology
Authors: Armstrong J. Douglas , Pocklington Andrew J. , Cumiskey Mark A. , Grant Seth G. N.
Published: August 2006

Modern high throughput technologies in biological science often create lists of interesting molecules. The challenge is to reconstruct a descriptive model from these lists that reflects the underlying biological processes as accurately as possible. Once we have such a model or network, what can we learn from it? Specifically, given that we are interested in some biological process associated with the model, what new properties can we predict and subsequently test? Here, we describe, at an introductory level, a range of bioinformatics techniques that can be systematically applied to proteomic datasets. When combined, these methods give us a global overview of the network and the properties of the proteins and their interactions. These properties can then be used to predict functional pathways within the network and to examine substructure. To illustrate the application of these methods, we draw upon our own work concerning a complex of 186 proteins found in neuronal synapses in mammals. The techniques discussed are generally applicable and could be used to examine lists of proteins involved with the biological response to electric or magnetic fields.
FPRL‐1 induces modifications of migration‐associated proteins in human neutrophils
Authors: Boldt Karsten , Rist Wolfgang , Weiss Stefanie M. , Weith Andreas , Lenter Martin C.
Published: August 2006

Human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are an important cell population of the innate immune system, which migrates following concentration gradients of chemokines or chemoattractants to locations of infection and inflammation in order to eliminate invading microorganisms and cell debris. For both migration and adhesion of PMNs to various tissues, the dynamic remodeling of the cytoskeleton is key prerequisite. In this context, the formyl peptide receptor‐like 1 (FPRL‐1) is an important chemoattractant receptor expressed on PMNs. In this study, we show that a short stimulation of FPRL‐1 with either a synthetic peptide ligand (W‐peptide) or a natural ligand (sCKβ8‐1) changes the protein pattern of PMNs as assessed by 2‐D‐DIGE. MS analysis of selected deregulated protein species resulted in the identification of proteins that are involved in the remodeling process of the actin‐ and tubulin‐based cytoskeleton, such as L‐plastin, moesin, cofilin, and stathmin. Subsequent validation experiments performed either by Western blotting or phosphoprotein‐specific gel staining (Pro‐Q Diamond) revealed that L‐plastin is phosphorylated, whereas moesin, cofilin, and stathmin are dephosphorylated in PMNs upon FPRL‐1 stimulation. These findings suggest that FPRL‐1 signaling targets proteins that regulate the motility of PMNs and moreover show that 2‐D‐DIGE is a technique capable of detecting and quantifying differently modified (e.g., phosphorylated) protein variants.