bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tensile Strengths of Various Suture Techniques
Authors: SHAIEB M. D. , SINGER D. I.
Published: September 2005

The tensile strengths of various suture techniques were studied in vitro using rabbit Achilles’ and flexor digitorum longus tendons. Two new suture methods, a Double and Triple (modified) Kessler, were compared with the Savage, Indiana and modified Kessler techniques. All were core sutures without epitendinous sutures. All suture techniques were found to be significantly different for 2 mm of gap formation. The study found the Savage technique strongest, followed by the Triple Kessler, the Double Kessler, and finally the Indiana. The Double Kessler was almost twice as strong as the modified Kessler. This study also compared two four-stranded techniques (the Indiana and Double Kessler) and found the Double Kessler stronger. The Double Kessler is a simple yet strong suture and may be useful for flexor tendon repairs.
Classification of the Mirror Hand-Multiple Hand Spectrum
Authors: AL-QATTAN M. M. , AL-THUNAYAN A. , DE CORDIER M. , NANDAGOPAL N. , PITKANEN J.
Published: September 2005

A rare variant of mirror hand is described. The hand had eight fingers and the forearm contained an ulna and a hypoplastic radius. A classification of the mirror hand-multiple hand spectrum is offered and its embryology discussed.
Boston & New York: Harbison, Wuorinen, Ueno and Sanford
Authors: Lister Rodney
Published: September 2005

The last two of the works commissioned by the Boston Symphony to celebrate the first season of James Levine as its Music Director were unveiled by Levine and the orchestra in Symphony Hall in Boston and Carnegie Hall in New York in April. John Harbison, whose The Great Gatsby was written for Levine and the Metropolitan Opera, had been working on an opera based on Lolita by Nabokov. He eventually decided that the problems presented by the staging of the work were insurmountable, and has, at least for the moment, abandoned the project, which he now considers misguided. He made the same decision in regard to the Fitzgerald novel about ten years before actually completing that project, so in the future this opera may also eventually see the light of day. Meanwhile, just as Harbison's aborted first attempt at Gatsby produced his ‘fox-trot for orchestra’, Remembering Gatsby, the work at Lolita has resulted in his most recent work for the BSO, a seven-minute overture based on material intended for the opera, entitled Darkbloom. Harbison's program note for the work does not name either Lolita or Nabokov, but speaks only of ‘a famous and infamous American novel’ in which Vivian Darkbloom (an anagram of Vladimir Nabokov) ‘is a just a secondary character’. Harbison chose Darkbloom as a title for the work ‘because it effectively conjures up the mood of this overture’, and ‘serves as an emblem or anagram for the complex tragic-comic spirit of the story and its author’. Darkbloom itself is attractive and skilfully wrought. A balletic section which portrays two young women playing tennis is the most memorable music in the work.
Pascal Dusapin round-up
Authors: Conway Paul
Published: September 2005

PASCAL DUSAPIN: Perelà, uomo di fumo. Orchestre National de Montpellier c. Alain Altinoglu. Naïve MO 782168 (2-CD set).

DUSAPIN: 7 Études pour piano; À quia (piano concerto). Ian Pace (pno), Orchestre de Paris c. Christoph Eschenbach. Naïve MO 782164.

DUSAPIN: Granum Sinapis; Umbrae Mortis; Dona eis. Choeur de Chamber Accentus, Ensemble Ars Nova c. Laurence Equilbey. Naïve MO 782116.

DUSAPIN: String Quartets Nos. 1 and 4. Danel String Quartet. Accord 476 1919.

DUSAPIN: String Quartets Nos. 2 ‘Time Zones’ and 3. DUTILLEUX: Ainsi la Nuit. Arditti String Quartet. Naïve MO 782125.
London, St John's Smith Square: Vasari Singers Anniversary commissions
Authors: Barlow Jill
Published: September 2005

The Vasari Singers, now well established as a much-acclaimed London-based chamber choir, celebrated their 25th Anniversary this year with a concert at St John's Smith Square on 15 May featuring short specially commissioned works by ten notable British composers. As conductor Jeremy Backhouse described to me, a private preview of the works, all on sacred themes, took place at Tonbridge School Chapel in February, in the presence of the composers, thus setting up a ‘dialogue’ on interpretation. Although strictly speaking of amateur status, the choir has achieved much critical success, winning the Sainsbury's Choir of the Year Competition, appearing on BBC Radio 3 and at major venues, and has shown a distinct interest in commissioning new choral works in recent years.
Hypoplasia of the left heart
Authors: Anderson Robert H. , Smith Audrey , Cook Andrew C.
Published: September 2005

The lesion that, nowadays, is most usually described as “hypoplastic left heart syndrome”, was initially described in terms of “hypoplasia of the aortic outflow tract complex”.1 Sporadic cases with aortic atresia, an intact ventricular septum, and gross hypoplasia of the left ventricle, had been described long before, but it was Noonan and Nadas, in a landmark study, who coined the term “hypoplastic left heart syndrome”.2 The paediatric cardiac community has now accepted this term uniformly, although as we will see, problems remain with regard to precisely which malformations should be included within the “syndrome”. The term itself, nonetheless, is not beyond criticism. This is because, for those working in the genetic community, a “syndrome”, by definition, is a constellation of anomalies afflicting multiple systems of organs. The so-called “hypoplastic left heart syndrome”, however, almost always involves only the heart and the great arteries. Thus, according to the geneticists, it should not strictly be described as a “syndrome”, although the Nomenclature committee of the International Coding Project have marshalled arguments in favour of the term. In this review, nonetheless, we will skirt these problems with the use of “syndrome”, and simply describe the morphology as seen in patients unified because they have hypoplasia of the left heart.
Assessment of the tricuspid valve in hypoplastic left heart syndrome
Authors: Martinez Richard
Published: September 2005

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome has provided the pediatric cardiology community one of its largest challenges. Until the mid-1980s, the mortality for this lesion was close to 100%. Through the pioneering work of Bill Norwood,1 Len Bailey,2 and the continued work of many pediatric cardiologists and surgeons, the current five-year survival for staged Norwood palliation and cardiac transplantation is now approximately 75%.3,4
Monte Carlo simulations of rigid biopolymer growth processes
Authors: Son Jenny , Orkoulas G. , Kolomeisky Anatoly B.
Published: September 2005

Rigid biopolymers, such as actin filaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments, are vital components of the cytoskeleton and the cellular environment. Understanding biopolymer growth dynamics is essential for the description of the mechanisms and principles of cellular functions. These biopolymers are composed of N parallel protofilaments which are aligned with arbitrary but fixed relative displacements, thus giving rise to complex end structures. We have investigated rigid biopolymer growth processes by Monte Carlo simulations by taking into account the effects of such “end” properties and lateral interactions. Our simulations reproduce analytical results for the case of N=2, which is biologically relevant for actin filaments. For the case of N=13, which applies to microtubules, the simulations produced results qualitatively similar to the N=2 case. The simulation results indicate that polymerization events are evenly distributed among the N protofilaments, which imply that both end-structure effects and lateral interactions are significant. The effect of different splittings in activation energy has been investigated for the case of N=2. The effects of activation energy coefficients on the specific polymerization and depolymerization processes were found to be unsubstantial. By expanding the model, we have also obtained a force-velocity relationship of microtubules as observed in experiments. In addition, a range of lateral free-energy parameters was found that yields growth velocities in accordance with experimental observations and previous simulation estimates for the case of N=13.
Influence of supercoiling on the disruption of dsDNA
Authors: Chitanvis Shirish M. , Welch Paul M.
Published: September 2005

We propose that supercoiling energizes double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) so as to facilitate thermal fluctuations to an unzipped state. We support this with a model of two elastic rods coupled via forces that represent base-pair interactions. Supercoiling is shown to lead to a distention of base pairs over a short span of dsDNA. This enhances the thermal probability for their disruption. The localized region of distention is analogous to a soliton. Our theory permits the development of an analogy between the unzipping transition and a second-order phase transition, for which the possibility of a new set of critical exponents is identified.
Excitatory monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 signaling is up-regulated in sensory neurons after chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglion
Authors: White Fletcher A. , Sun Jihu , Waters Stephen M. , Ma Chao , Ren Dongjun , Ripsch Matthew , Steflik Jeremy , Cortright Daniel N. , LaMotte Robert H. , Miller Richard J.
Published: September 2005

Neuronal hyperexcitability in both injured and adjacent uninjured neurons is associated with states of chronic injury and pain and is likely subject to neuroinflammatory processes. Chronic inflammatory responses are largely orchestrated by chemokines. One chemokine, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), in the presence of its cognate receptor, the β chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2), produces neural activity in dissociated neuronal cultures of neonatal dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Using a neuropathic pain model, chronic compression of the DRG (CCD), we compared anatomically separate populations of noncompressed lumbar DRG (L3/L6) with compressed lumbar DRG (L4/L5) for changes in the gene expression of CCR2.In situhybridization revealed that CCR2 mRNA was up-regulated in neurons and nonneuronal cells present in both compressed L4/L5 and ipsilateral noncompressed L3/L6 DRGs at postoperative day 5 (POD5). The total percentages of compressed and noncompressed neurons exhibiting CCR2 mRNA transcripts in L3, L5, and L6 DRG were 33 ± 3.5%, 49 ± 6.2%, and 41 ± 5.6%, respectively, and included cell bodies of small, medium, and large size. In addition, the preferred CCR2 ligand, MCP-1, was up-regulated by POD5 in both compressed L4/L5 and noncompressed L3/L6 DRG neurons. Application of MCP-1 to the cell bodies of the intact formerly compressed DRGin vitroproduced potent excitatory effects not observed in control ganglia. MCP-1/CCR2 signaling is directly involved with a chronic compression injury and may contribute to associated neuronal hyperexcitability and neuropathic pain.
Autophagy in chronically ischemic myocardium
Authors: Yan Lin , Vatner Dorothy E. , Kim Song-Jung , Ge Hui , Masurekar Malthi , Massover William H. , Yang Guiping , Matsui Yutaka , Sadoshima Junichi , Vatner Stephen F.
Published: September 2005

We tested the hypothesis that chronically ischemic (IS) myocardium induces autophagy, a cellular degradation process responsible for the turnover of unnecessary or dysfunctional organelles and cytoplasmic proteins, which could protect against the consequences of further ischemia. Chronically instrumented pigs were studied with repetitive myocardial ischemia produced by one, three, or six episodes of 90 min of coronary stenosis (30% reduction in baseline coronary flow followed by reperfusion every 12 h) with the non-IS region as control. In this model, wall thickening in the IS region was chronically depressed by ≈37%. Using a nonbiased proteomic approach combining 2D gel electrophoresis with in-gel proteolysis, peptide mapping by MS, and sequence database searches for protein identification, we demonstrated increased expression of cathepsin D, a protein known to mediate autophagy. Additional autophagic proteins, cathepsin B, heat shock cognate protein Hsc73 (a key protein marker for chaperone-mediated autophagy), beclin 1 (a mammalian autophagy gene), and the processed form of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (a marker for autophagosomes), were also increased. These changes, not evident after one episode, began to appear after two or three episodes and were most marked after six episodes of ischemia, when EM demonstrated autophagic vacuoles in chronically IS myocytes. Conversely, apoptosis, which was most marked after three episodes, decreased strikingly after six episodes, when autophagy had increased. Immunohistochemistry staining for cathepsin B was more intense in areas where apoptosis was absent. Thus, autophagy, triggered by ischemia, could be a homeostatic mechanism, by which apoptosis is inhibited and the deleterious effects of chronic ischemia are limited.
ChemDB: a public database of small molecules and related chemoinformatics resources
Authors: Chen Jonathan , Swamidass S. Joshua , Dou Yimeng , Bruand Jocelyne , Baldi Pierre
Published: September 2005

Motivation: The development of chemoinformatics has been hampered by the lack of large, publicly available, comprehensive repositories of molecules, in particular of small molecules. Small molecules play a fundamental role in organic chemistry and biology. They can be used as combinatorial building blocks for chemical synthesis, as molecular probes in chemical genomics and systems biology, and for the screening and discovery of new drugs and other useful compounds.

Results: We describe ChemDB, a public database of small molecules available on the Web. ChemDB is built using the digital catalogs of over a hundred vendors and other public sources and is annotated with information derived from these sources as well as from computational methods, such as predicted solubility and three-dimensional structure. It supports multiple molecular formats and is periodically updated, automatically whenever possible. The current version of the database contains approximately 4.1 million commercially available compounds and 8.2 million counting isomers. The database includes a user-friendly graphical interface, chemical reactions capabilities, as well as unique search capabilities.

Availability: Database and datasets are available on

Contact:  pfbaldi@ics.uci.edu

Supplementary information: Supplementary materials are available on
Functional benefits of predator species diversity depend on prey identity
Authors: Wilby A. , Villareal S. C. , Lan L. P. , Heong K. L. , Thomas M. B.
Published: September 2005

Abstract. 1. Determining the functional significance of species diversity in natural enemy assemblages is a key step towards prediction of the likely impact of biodiversity loss on natural pest control processes. While the biological control literature contains examples in which increased natural enemy diversity hinders pest control, other studies have highlighted mechanisms where pest suppression is promoted by increased enemy diversity.

2. This study aimed to test whether increased predator species diversity results in higher rates of predation on two key, but contrasting, insect pest species commonly found in the rice ecosystems of south‐east Asia.

3. Glasshouse experiments were undertaken in which four life stages of a planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) and a moth (Marasmia patnalis) were caged with single or three‐species combinations of generalist predators.

4. Generally, predation rates of the three‐species assemblages exceeded expectation when attackingM. patnalis, but not when attackingN. lugens.In addition, a positive effect of increased predator species richness on overall predation rate was found withM. patnalisbut not withN. lugens.

5. The results are consistent with theoretical predictions that morphological and behavioural differentiation among prey life stages promotes functional complementarity among predator species. This indicates that emergent species diversity effects in natural enemy assemblages are context dependent; they depend not only on the characteristics of the predators species, but on the identity of the species on which they prey.
Early vulvar lichen sclerosus: a histopathological challenge
Authors: Regauer S , Liegl B , Reich O
Published: September 2005

Vulvar lichen sclerosus (LS), a lymphocyte‐mediated chronic skin disease, begins with uncharacteristic symptoms and progresses undiagnosed to atrophy and destructive scarring. Some patients with longstanding advanced LS have an increased risk of vulvar carcinoma. Early LS is treatable, although not curable, if diagnosed early. Therefore, patients with persistent vulvar symptoms should be biopsied to establish the diagnosis. In contrast to advanced LS, the histological features in early LS are quite subtle and often more prominent in adnexal structures than in interfollicular skin. Adnexal structures show acanthosis, luminal hyperkeratosis and hypergranulosis with/without dystrophic hair and basement membrane thickening. The epidermis/mucosa shows mild irregular, occasionally psoriasiform acanthosis and focal basement membrane thickening. Early dermal changes are homogenized collagen and wide ectatic capillaries in dermal papillae immediately beneath the basement membrane. The lymphocytic infiltrate can be sparse or dense, lichenoid or interstitial with epidermal lymphocyte exocytosis and lymphocytic/lymphohistiocytic vasculitis. Dermal melanophages indicate preceding keratinocyte/melanocyte destruction. Biopsy specimens of early LS rarely display all features. Therefore, serial sections and periodic acid–Schiff reactions are necessary for their identification. Recognition and treatment of these early stages of LS may result in longstanding remission. Progression to atrophic stages with their associated morbidity and even to squamous cell carcinoma may be prevented.
Expression of CD44s, CD44v3 and CD44v6 in benign and malignant breast lesions: correlation and colocalization with hyaluronan
Authors: Auvinen P , Tammi R , Tammi M , Johansson R , Kosma V‐M
Published: September 2005

Aims:  To examine the expression of CD44s, CD44v3 and CD44v6 in breast lesions, and to correlate it with the expression of hyaluronan (HA).

Methods and results:  CD44 expression was studied in 75 breast tissue samples, consisting of benign, premalignant and malignant breast lesions, using immunohistochemistry. CD44s, but not CD44v3 or CD44v6, was found in the stromal cells, and it was similar in benign and malignant tumours. In benign lesions CD44v6 was detected in 20–30% of the ductal epithelial cells, while CD44v3 and CD44s were not expressed. CD44s, CD44v3 and CD44v6 were all up‐regulated in the in situ carcinomas and invasive carcinomas. The level of CD44 expression in carcinoma cells did not correlate with the type or differentiation of the tumours. CD44 and HA expression levels were not closely linked in the benign or malignant breast lesions, because HA was overexpressed later in breast cancer progression than CD44. However, in breast carcinomas CD44 and HA positivity was often found in the same areas of the sections, and the dual staining confirmed actual colocalization of CD44s and HA in the same cells.

Conclusions:  CD44s, CD44v3 and CD44v6 are up‐regulated earlier than HA in breast carcinoma progression, and in later stages they often colocalize with cell surface HA.
Usefulness of HBME‐1, cytokeratin 19 and galectin‐3 immunostaining in the diagnosis of thyroid malignancy
Authors: De Matos P S , Ferreira A P , De Oliveira Facuri F , Assumpção L V M , Metze K , Ward L S
Published: September 2005

Aims : To investigate the usefulness of immunohistochemical expression and immunolocalization of a panel of thyroid malignancy markers including HBME‐1, cytokeratin (CK) 19 and galectin‐3.

Methods and results : We evaluated 170 thyroid lesions including 148 neoplastic lesions [84 papillary carcinomas (PC), 38 follicular carcinomas (FC), 18 follicular adenomas, one hyalinizing trabecular tumour, five medullary carcinomas, two anaplastic carcinomas] and 22 non‐neoplastic lesions (12 adenomatous nodules and 10 Hashimoto's thyroiditis). HBME‐1, galectin‐3 and CK19 were expressed in 94%, 72.6%, 72.6% of PCs and in 63%, 21%, 21% of FCs. The three markers were mostly negative in all normal tissues. Although the most helpful marker in terms of sensitivity and specificity for the follicular variant of PC and for FC diagnosis was HBME‐1, when we consider the differentiation between cases of follicular variant of papillary carcinoma (FVPC) and FC or adenoma, in terms of percentage of positive cells, galectin‐3 and CK19 were more relevant.

Conclusions : HBME‐1 is the most sensitive marker for thyroid malignancy but the three markers may be useful in specific cases. This panel of markers is useful to differentiate the follicular patterned lesions, with special reference to the FVPC.
20‐Hydroxyecdysone indirectly regulates Hemolin gene expression in Hyalophora cecropia
Authors: Roxström‐Lindquist K. , Assefaw‐Redda Y. , Rosinska K. , Faye I.
Published: September 2005

Development and innate immune defence are two vital processes that have been demonstrated to use the same or similar molecules and signalling pathways in insects. Hemolin is a moth haemolymph protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. It is strongly induced upon bacterial infection. However, recent studies indicate a developmental regulation of hemolin. We show that the steroid hormone 20‐hydroxyecdysone (20E) can activate the expression of Hyalophora cecropia Hemolin (HcHemolin) in the fat body of diapausing pupae. Using the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide we demonstrate that Hemolin up‐regulation by 20E requires ongoing protein synthesis. Moreover, 20E enhances transcription of the Hemolin gene in response to bacteria. Comparing the upstream regions of Manduca sexta Hemolin (MsHemolin) and HcHemolin, we identified four putative regulatory sites. Two are putative hormone response elements (HREs), one with an imperfect inverted repeat (HRE‐IR) and one with a monomeric site (HRE‐M). An additional monomeric hormone receptor site (MRE) is present only in HcHemolin. The third conserved motif is similar to the interferon (IFN) regulatory factor binding element (IRF‐E) and IFN‐stimulated response element (ISRE). The fourth conserved element is a κB motif situated between the Cap‐site and the TATA‐box. Finally, by electrophoresis mobility shift assay we demonstrate that the HRE‐IR forms specific complexes with nuclear extract proteins of normal pupae that increase after 20E stimulation.
The impact of behaviour problems on caregiver stress in young people with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Lecavalier L. , Leone S. , Wiltz J.
Published: September 2005

Background  The purpose of this study was to examine the correlates of caregiver stress in a large sample of young people with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Two main objectives were to: (1) disentangle the effects of behaviour problems and level of functioning on caregiver stress; and (2) measure the stability of behaviour problems and caregiver stress.

Methods  Parents or teachers of 293 young people with ASDs completed measures of stress, behaviour problems and social competence. Parents also completed an adaptive behaviour scale. Eighty‐one young people were rated twice at a 1‐year interval.

Results  Parents and teachers did not perfectly agree on the nature and severity of behaviour problems. However, both sets of ratings indicated that behaviour problems were strongly associated with stress. Conduct problems in particular were significant predictors of stress. Adaptive skills were not significantly associated with caregiver stress. Parental reports of behaviour problems and stress were quite stable over the 1‐year interval, much more so than teacher reports. Parent ratings suggested that behaviour problems and stress exacerbated each other over time. This transactional model did not fit the teacher data.

Conclusion  Results of this study suggested that it is a specific group of externalized behaviours that are the most strongly associated with both parent and teacher stress. Results were discussed from methodological and conceptual perspectives.
Milk‐induced pulmonary disease in infants (Heiner syndrome)
Authors: Moissidis Ioannis , Chaidaroon Darunee , Vichyanond Pakit , Bahna Sami L.
Published: September 2005

Heiner syndrome (HS) is a food hypersensitivity pulmonary disease that affects primarily infants, and is mostly caused by cow's milk (CM). Only a few reports have been published, which may be due to its misdiagnosis. We review here a series of eight cases. When first diagnosed they were 4–29 months of age. They were fed CM from birth and their chronic respiratory symptoms began at age 1–9 months. The symptoms were in the form of cough in seven, wheezing in three, hemoptysis in two, nasal congestion in three, dyspnea in one, recurrent otitis media (OM) in three, recurrent fever in four, anorexia, vomiting, colic or diarrhea in five, hematochezia in one, and failure to thrive (FTT) in two. All had radiologic evidence of pulmonary infiltrates. High titers of precipitating antibodies to CM proteins were demonstrated in six of six and milk‐specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) was positive in one of two. Pulmonary hemosiderosis (PH) was confirmed in one patient who showed iron‐laden macrophages (ILM) in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), gastric washing, and open lung biopsy. Additional findings, in a descending frequency, were eosinophilia, anemia, and elevated level of total IgM, IgE or IgA. Milk elimination resulted in remarkable improvement in symptoms within days and clearing of the pulmonary infiltrate within weeks. Parents consented to milk challenge in only three cases, all of whom developed recurrence of symptoms. After 2 yr of milk avoidance in one patient, milk challenge was tolerated for 2 months, and then the patient developed symptoms, serum milk precipitins, pulmonary infiltrate, and ILM. The HS should be suspected in young children with chronic pulmonary disease of obscure cause. The diagnosis is supported with a positive milk precipitin test and improvement on a trial of milk elimination. Severe cases may be complicated with PH, which should be suspected in the presence of anemia or hemoptysis and be confirmed with the demonstration of ILM.
Three‐year follow‐up of clinical and inflammation parameters in children monosensitized to mites undergoing sub‐lingual immunotherapy
Authors: Marcucci F. , Sensi L. , Di Cara G. , Salvatori S. , Bernini M. , Pecora S. , Burastero S. E.
Published: September 2005

Parallel follow‐up of clinical and inflammatory markers during sub‐lingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is highly beneficial. Twenty‐four children (age 4–16) monosensitized to house dust mite were randomized to receive either active or placebo SLIT for 1 yr in a double‐blind placebo controlled design (Marcucci et al., Allergy 2003: 58: 657–62). Thereafter, for 2 yr they all received active treatment. Symptom scores for rhinitis, asthma, and drug usage were daily recorded. Eosinophil cationic proten (ECP) and tryptase in sputum and nasal secretions, serum and nasal mite‐specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) were recorded before treatment and at 10–12 months intervals. Nasal ECP and nasal tryptase after specific nasal provocation tests were significantly reduced as compared to baseline values (p = 0.0043 and 0.0195, respectively) in the third year of active treatment. None of the other inflammatory parameters was increased. In placebo treated patients all these parameters tended to decrease only after switching to active treatment. Clinical scores did not improve in treated vs. placebo patients in the double‐blind placebo‐controlled phase of the study. In both cohorts a clinical benefit was observed as intra‐group score reduction as compared to baseline. A significant difference was reached in patients treated for 2 yr for rhinitis and asthma (p = 0.0009 and 0.0019, respectively) but not for drug usage and in patients treated for 3 yr for rhinitis, asthma, and drug usage (p = 0.0105, 0.0048, and 0.02, respectively). SLIT in children monosensitized to mites reverted the spontaneous increase in nasal IgE and in local parameters of allergic inflammation. These outcomes were followed by a consolidated clinical improvement in the second and third year of treatment.
Treatment of infants with atopic eczema with pimecrolimus cream 1% improves parents’ quality of life: A multicenter, randomized trial
Authors: Staab Doris , Kaufmann Roland , Bräutigam Matthias , Wahn Ulrich ,   the CASM981CDE04‐Study Group
Published: September 2005

Atopic eczema begins primarily in infancy or early childhood, and sleep loss due to night‐time pruritus can have a considerable impact on patients’ and parents’ quality of life (QoL). In this study, infants (n = 196) with mild to severe atopic eczema were randomized 2:1, double‐blind, to receive either pimecrolimus cream 1% (Elidel®, Novartis Pharma, Nürnberg, Germany) or the corresponding vehicle bid for 4 wk, followed by a 12 wk, open‐label phase and a 4 wk, treatment‐free, follow‐up period. The parents’ QoL was measured at baseline and at the end of the double‐blind phase, using the questionnaire ‘QoL in Parents of Children with Atopic Dermatitis’ (PQoL–AD), thus data presented here refer to the initial 4‐wk treatment phase only. After 4 wk of double‐blind treatment, an increase in the mean percentage change from baseline in eczema area and severity index of 71.5% was observed with pimecrolimus, compared with 19.4% with vehicle. The increase in efficacy was paralleled by the following mean percentage changes from baseline in the five domains of the questionnaire in pimecrolimus and vehicle, respectively: psychosomatic well‐being: 14.6% vs. 6.2%; effects on social life: 6.7% vs. 2.3%; confidence in medical treatment: 10.0% vs. 3.7%; emotional coping: 16.1% vs. 6.5%; acceptance of disease: 19.6% vs. 7.0%. Analysis (ancova) of the dependent variable difference from baseline and the covariate baseline value revealed values of p < 0.05 for all five domains, despite the very short duration of the study. It is concluded that improvements in atopic eczema in infants achieved by treatment with pimecrolimus have a significant beneficial effect on the QoL of parents.
Results of one‐year follow‐up of steroid‐free immunosuppression in pediatric renal transplant patients
Authors: Silverstein Douglas M. , Aviles Diego H. , LeBlanc Pamela M. , Jung Flavia F. , Matti Vehaskari V.
Published: September 2005

Abstract: Renal transplantation in children has traditionally required immunosuppression with multiple medications including glucocorticoids. Data collected over almost 30 yr suggest that although glucocorticoids are efficacious as part of a regimen to minimize the incidence of acute rejection episodes, their use is associated with increased risk for post‐transplant hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and reduced growth rates. We desired to reduce these complications and thus used an immunosuppressive protocol including daclizumab, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil and study the efficacy of this protocol in a population with a high percentage of African‐American recipients. No patient received glucocorticoids at any time post‐transplant. Our results show that at 1 yr post‐transplant, glomerular filtration rate, serum glucose, calcium and phosphorous metabolism, serum magnesium, and serum lipids were similar in patients receiving steroid‐free and those receiving steroid‐based immunosuppression. The incidence of acute rejection was similar in the two groups. Hematocrit and white blood count levels were lower 1 month after transplant in the steroid‐free patients but these levels increased within several months. Systolic blood pressure was similar in the two groups, although this was achieved, in part, in the patients who received steroids by the administration of medications to lower blood pressure. Finally, tacrolimus levels were similar in the two groups, but patients receiving steroids required higher doses of tacrolimus at several time points studied during the first post‐transplant year. Taken together, our data suggests that at one‐year follow‐up, steroid‐free immunosuppression is safe, and efficacious in pediatric renal transplant recipients.
Hepatitis B in children: Complexities in management
Authors: Kerkar Nanda
Published: September 2005

Abstract:  Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection by definition is persistence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the serum for ≥6 months. The risk of developing chronic HBV infection ranges from 90% in neonates to <5% in immunocompetent adults. HBV acquired by perinatal infection has a prolonged immune‐tolerant phase, characterized by the presence of hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg), high HBV‐DNA and normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Efficient and multi‐specific helper and cytotoxic T‐cell response is essential for controlling HBV infection. Chronic HBV infection is characterized by a state of HBV‐specific T‐cell hyporesponsiveness. The goal of therapy in chronic HBV infection is to eliminate or significantly suppress HBV replication and prevent the progression of liver disease to cirrhosis with the potential development of liver failure or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In adults, drugs currently licensed for treatment of HBV infection: are interferon‐alpha (IFN‐α), lamivudine (LMV) and adefovir dipivoxil (ADV), the first two are also licensed to use in children. IFN‐α has the advantage of having a more durable response, fixed duration of treatment and lack of resistant mutants. The disadvantages of IFN‐α include need for thrice‐weekly injections, higher cost and more side‐effects compared with the nucleoside analogues. Nucleoside analogues can be given orally and used in decompensated cirrhosis and transplant recipients. ADV and newer drugs like tenefovir can successfully treat mutants produced after prolonged LMV therapy. Current protocols exclude children with immunotolerant HBV. Periodic screening with liver ultrasound scan and alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) in all children with chronic HBV infection is recommended. The severe shortage of cadaveric donor organs has led to the use of marginal (including anti‐HBc‐positive) cadaveric donor livers in selected transplant candidates with high medical urgency; 5–10% of all liver transplants are because of HBV. Using hepatitis B immunoglobulin and nucleoside analogues has made the outcome following liver transplantation for hepatitis B, comparable with, if not slightly better, than that in patients with other diagnoses. Future treatments should be based on the restoration of HBV‐specific T‐cell responses to levels similar to that seen in subjects controlling HBV.
Analysis of tear uptake by the Schirmer tear test strip in the canine eye
Authors: Williams David L.
Published: September 2005

Objective  To analyze the uptake of tears in a Schirmer tear test (STT) in vitro and in vitro.

Materials and methods  Uptake of fluid by Schirmer tear test strips was studied in vitro by examining fluid uptake over time from an unlimited fluid supply as well as with specific fluid volumes applied to the test strip. Uptake of fluid by Schirmer tear test strips was evaluated in a population of 100 ophthalmologically normal dogs together with a group of 40 dogs with tear film abnormalities such as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) or epiphora. Each animal was given a full ophthalmic examination followed by a standard Schirmer tear test extended over between 3 and 5 min with the STT reading recorded every 5 s and plotted over time. To determine the effect of ocular irritation by the test strip, uptake of tears by test strips was determined before and after topical anesthesia in 20 dogs.

Results  In vitro examination of fluid uptake by the STT strips showed an initial rapid uptake followed by a gradual reduction in rate of uptake. Temporal evaluation of STT in vivo showed a similar rapid initial uptake of tear fluid, followed in the majority of cases by a sudden change to a steady state uptake of fluid. The initial gradient was 29.3 ± 16.9 mm/min followed by a steady state uptake of 5.2 ± 2.3 mm/min in normal dogs and 1.9 ± 1.3 mm/min in dogs with KCS. This corresponds to a steady state tear turnover of 7.8 ± 3.4 µL/min in normal dogs and 2.8 ± 1.9 µL/min in animals with KCS. Dogs with nasolacrimal blockage and resultant epiphora showed a high initial gradient but final gradients were not statistically different from those of normal dogs.

Discussion and conclusions  Temporal evaluation of tear uptake by the STT shows substantial differences in rate of tear uptake at different time‐points during the period of the test. Results of this study suggest that the initial rapid rise in STT value represents uptake from the tear lake followed by a slower tear uptake of tears from steady state tear production. Temporal examination of the Schirmer tear test allows a more precise evaluation of tear production than the standard STT measuring tear uptake in 1 min, together with estimation of the contribution to the test strip tear uptake of tears from the residual tear lake volume and those from continual tear production.
Multifocal chorioretinal lesions in Borzoi dogs
Authors: Storey Eric S. , Grahn Bruce H. , Alcorn Jane
Published: September 2005

Objectives To identify the prevalence of Borzoi chorioretinopathy in western Canada, characterize lesions with fluorescein angiography, determine if lesions were progressive, clarify the association of progressive retinal atrophy and investigate the etiology.

Materials and methods Serial ophthalmic examination, fundus photography, electroretinography, and fluorescein angiography were used to evaluate Borzoi dogs with lesions of Borzoi chorioretinopathy. Pedigree analysis and test breeding of two affected dogs were completed to determine the heritability of Borzoi chorioretinopathy.

Results One hundred three Borzoi dogs were examined between 1998 and 2003. Focal, peripheral, tapetal, hyper‐reflective and pigmented areas consistent with focal retinal degeneration and RPE pigmentation were identified in 12 dogs between 7 months and 7 years of age. Seven males and five female dogs were affected. Ophthalmoscopy and fundus photography over 5 years revealed individual lesions that did not progress or coalesce in 12 affected dogs. Electroretinography of affected and normal Borzoi dogs confirmed that retinal function was similar in normal and affected dogs up to 7 years of age. Fluorescein angiography was performed in three affected dogs and confirmed intact blood–ocular barriers, focal retinal pigment epithelium hypertrophy, and focal absence of choroiocapillaris corresponding to chronic, focal lesions. Pedigree analysis precluded simple dominant, X‐linked dominant, or X‐linked recessive inheritance. One male dog from the test‐bred litter developed bilateral lesions at 14 months of age. Simple recessive, polygenetic, and acquired etiologies of these lesions cannot be ruled out at this time.

Conclusions Borzoi chorioretinopathy is an acquired condition that initially manifests as focal retinal edema and loss of choriocapillaris and tapetum. With time the retina degenerates becoming hyper‐reflective and with RPE hyper‐pigmentation and clumping within the borders of the tapetal lesions. Choriocapillaris remains hypofluorescent on fluorescein angiography. Progressive retinal atrophy was excluded as an etiology of multifocal chorioretinopathy in Borzois dogs. This condition is not inherited by simple autosomal dominant or sex‐linked modes of inheritance.
Ageing affects nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase and oxidative stress enzymes expression differently in mesenteric resistance arteries
Authors: Briones A. M. , Montoya N. , Giraldo J. , Vila E.
Published: September 2005

1 Our aim was to study the role of nitric oxide (NO) and arachidonic acid pathways in the α1‐adrenoceptor‐mediated vasoconstriction in mesenteric resistance arteries from 3–4 and 22 to 23‐month‐old Sprague‐Dawley rats.

2 The expression of NO synthase (NOS), cyclooxygenase (COX) isoforms, soluble guanylate cyclase, superoxide dismutase and the NAD(P)H oxidase subunits p22phox and p47phox were determined.

3 The NG‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester, a non‐selective NOS inhibitor, shifted to the left but indomethacin and NS 398, non‐selective and selective COX‐2 inhibitors, shifted to the right the concentration‐response curve for the vasoconstriction by phenylephrine in both age groups.

4 Ageing up‐regulated endothelial NOS and p22phox expression but did not modify COX, soluble guanylate cyclase, superoxide dismutase and p47phox expression.

5 These data suggest that the observed enhancement of eNOS protein expression could constitute a compensatory mechanism to counter‐regulate a chronic loss of NO possibly through increased superoxide anion production from NAD(P)H oxidase induced by age.
A Decision Analysis Approach to Policy Issues: The NAFTA Case
Authors: Ley‐Borrás Roberto
Published: September 2005

This article presents decision analysis concepts and tools that can help scholars and decision makers to get a better understanding of policy issues. It describes the structure of knowledge maps for representing uncertain elements in policy issues, and decision frames for uncovering the information elements behind conflicting positions and helps participants find a common ground for agreement. The article also presents the application of these techniques to issues arising from the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
How Do Career Strategies, Gender, and Work Environment Affect Faculty Productivity Levels in University‐Based Science Centers?1
Authors: Corley Elizabeth A.
Published: September 2005

Recent studies have shown that in many science and engineering fields, almost 40% of faculty are affiliated with university‐based research centers (Corley & Gaughan, 2005). As major science funding organizations continue to increase annual levels of funding for interdisciplinary science centers, it is likely that this number will increase significantly over the next decade. Moreover, some scholars have argued that the rise of university‐based science centers has already led to the development of a new institutional form for the execution of university‐based research (Bozeman & Boardman, 2004). Yet, interestingly few researchers have studied the impacts of this new institutional form on the productivity of individual researchers.

The purpose of this article is to begin to address how individual career strategies and perceptions of scientific work environments within university‐based science centers relate to the productivity of academic scientists who participate in these centers. In particular, this article investigates the relationships between productivity, individual career strategies, and perceptions of scientific work environment across gender. The results of the study demonstrate that university‐based science centers might serve as an equalizing mechanism for male and female productivity levels. Yet, women scientists affiliated with these centers are significantly more likely to feel discriminated against—and they are less likely to embrace the most promising career strategy for the current structure of these centers.
Resistance from Within: Why Mexico's Attempt to Advance an Active Foreign Policy Failed
Authors: Alemán David Mena
Published: September 2005

After becoming the first opposition candidate to win since 1910, President Vicente Fox kindled expectations at both national and international levels. He claimed he would enhance significantly the scope of the Mexico's foreign policy and engage the country in international politics in a way more befitting of its newly acquired democratic status. Nevertheless, little consideration was given to the fact that for many decades foreign policy in Mexico had been deployed to create an area screened‐off from domestic politics where conflicting factions were brought together and a policy consensus worked out. That consensus was sufficiently ample for the authoritarian elite, given its foreign policy goals and principles. It would, however, fail to suffice for any political leader willing to step outside the box of tradition. Fox did just that. In consequence, widespread reactions of disapproval from key political actors and the media led the president to settle for a more modest international agenda in 2002. This article explores the key processes that triggered so much internal resistance to Fox's foreign policy designs. I argue that these processes underpin what continues to be the essentially autarchic nature and scope of the Mexican foreign policy tradition. Such an autarchic approach is glorified in Mexican political rhetoric, yet has led to many lost opportunities for Mexico. Most importantly, I stress that the Mexican foreign policy tradition discourages and forecloses the kind of engagement in the international arena that seeks to share in rather than to free‐ride the collective efforts of the international community to procure security and peace. So despite its new democratic status, Mexico remains more of a spectator than an actor on the international stage.
Policymaking and the Control of the Nongovernmental Sector: Porfirio Díaz and the Grand Diet
Authors: Reyes Guillermo De Los , Rich Paul
Published: September 2005

Regimes and politicians seeking dominance of groups perceived as important to policy formation is not a new phenomena, and this is illustrated by the frustrated efforts of the Mexican president and dictator Porfirio Díaz to gain control of the Masonic lodges of his country. The Grand Diet devised by him as a pan Mexican Masonic alliance eventually collapsed, representing one of his few political failures and confirming the view that Mexican secret societies have seldom been amenable to central control.
John Rawls and Policy Formation
Authors: Gutiérrez Daniel
Published: September 2005

Liberalism has bay far been the most appealing ideology in modern political thought, and considered by many as one of human kind's greatest inventions, product of our development as a race. However, new theories have threatened the philosophical foundations upon which liberalism itself stands. One of the most strongly criticized theories is that of the Original Position, developed by the political philosopher John Rawls, and which is itself a fundamental cornerstone in Rawls's Theory of Justice. In this article, I will focus on discussing the problems and questions that arise for policy formation when analyzing the Orginal Position.
A Study of Screen Printed Yttria‐Stabilized Zirconia Layers for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Authors: Von Dollen Paul , Barnett Scott
Published: September 2005

Screen printing of thin yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolytes onto NiO–YSZ anode supports was studied. Experimental parameters studied included screen printing ink composition and rheology, screen printer settings, NiO–YSZ anode support thickness pre‐fire temperature, sintering temperature, and ramp rate. Viscoelastic rheology of the inks versus solids loading was measured and correlated with print results. Increasing ink solids loading from 20 to 40 vol% increased the thickness and roughness of fired layers, but did not affect film density. Bi‐layer curvature after co‐firing depended strongly on ink solids loading, support thickness, and support pre‐fire temperature. A simple non‐destructive permeability test apparatus was used to determine whether electrolytes were sufficiently dense to allow good cell performance. Cell test results at 800°C showed open circuit voltage values from 1.05 to 1.089 V, compared to a predicted Nernst voltage of 1.10 V, for optimized processing conditions. Power densities as high as 1.45 W/cm2 were attained, and impedance spectroscopy analysis showed a resistivity value of≈46 Ω·cm for the screen printed YSZ films.