bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interferon-α-induced hyperthyroidism: a three-stage evolution from silent thyroiditis towards Graves’ disease
Authors: Bohbot Nathalie Lévy , Young Jacques , Orgiazzi Jacques , Buffet Catherine , François Maud , Bernard-Chabert Brigitte , Lukas-Croisier Céline , Delemer Brigitte
Published: February 2006

Autoimmune thyroid disease is a common side-effect of interferon-α (IFN-α) treatment of viral hepatitis C. We have described three patients with hepatitis C for whom IFN-α and ribavirin were prescribed and who developed two successive phases of silent thyroiditis followed by hyperthryroidism relapse due to Graves’ disease. These three men had no known history of familial or personal thyroid disease. Destructive thyrotoxicosis appeared 4–6 months after starting IFN-α, followed by Graves’ hyperthyroidism within 8 to11 months. The thyrotropin (TSH) level was normal before IFN-α was started. The diagnosis of destructive thyroiditis was confirmed by anti-TSH receptor antibody (TSHRAb) negativity and the absence of radionuclide (123I or 99Tc) uptake on thyroid scintiscans. Eight to eleven months after starting treatment, TSHRAb positivity and intense scintigraphic uptake confirmed the appearance of Graves’ disease. IFN-α was continued in only one patient. Hence, hyperthyroidism induced by IFN-α could correspond to the first phase of silent thyroiditis, to Graves’ disease or to the succession of both. Rigorous diagnostic procedures with repeated scintiscans and TSHRAb titering are necessary to avoid a false diagnosis and inappropriate therapy.
Novel neuroanatomical pathways for thyroid hormone action in the human anterior pituitary
Authors: Alkemade Anneke , Friesema Edith C , Kuiper George G , Wiersinga Wilmar M , Swaab Dick F , Visser Theo J , Fliers Eric
Published: February 2006

Objective: An increasing number of proteins appear to be involved in thyroid hormone feedback action at the level of the anterior pituitary, but the cell types expressing these proteins are largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to identify cell types in the human anterior pituitary that express type II and type III deiodinase (D2 and D3), the recently described thyroid hormone transporter (MCT8) and thyroid hormone receptor (TR) isoforms by means of double-labeling immunocytochemistry.

Results: We found TR isoforms to be expressed most prominently in gonadotropes and – although to a lesser extent – in thyrotropes, corticotropes, lactotropes and somatotropes. D3 staining showed a distribution pattern that was remarkably similar. By contrast, D2 immunoreactivity was observed exclusively in folliculostellate (FS) cells showing coexpression with human leukocyte antigen (HLA), a marker of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-class II. MCT8 immunostaining was present in FS cells without HLA coexpression.

Conclusions: From these results, we propose a novel neuroanatomical model for thyroid hormone feedback on the human pituitary, with a central role for FS cells in thyroid hormone activation, which thus play an important role in the suppression of TSH secretion by circulating thyroxine (T4).
Efficacy of 12-month treatment with the GH receptor antagonist pegvisomant in patients with acromegaly resistant to long-term, high-dose somatostatin analog treatment: effect on IGF-I levels, tumor mass, hypertension and glucose tolerance
Authors: Colao Annamaria , Pivonello Rosario , Auriemma Renata S , De Martino Maria Cristina , Bidlingmaier Martin , Briganti Francesco , Tortora Fabio , Burman Pia , Kourides Ione A , Strasburger Christian J , Lombardi Gaetano
Published: February 2006

Objective: We aimed to investigate the efficacy of pegvisomant in patients with acromegaly resistant to long-term (≧ 24-month), high-dose treatment with octreotide-LAR (40 mg/month) or lanreotide (120 mg/month).

Design: This was an open, prospective study.

Subjects and Methods: We studied 16 patients with acromegaly (nine women; aged 28–61 years). The main outcome measures were IGF-I levels, blood pressure, glucose tolerance and safety (liver function and tumor size). Pegvisomant was given at doses of 10–40 mg s.c. daily. Dose titration was performed every month by IGF-I assay.

Results: Three patients spontaneously stopped pegvisomant treatment after 6–9 months because of poor compliance; from the measurement of serum pegvisomant, another patient was found not to inject herself properly. After 6 months, IGF-I levels decreased by 63 ± 19% (767.8 ± 152.9 vs 299.8 ± 162.9 μg/l, P < 0.0001, t-test); serum IGF-I levels normalized in 57%. After 12 months, IGF-I levels normalized in nine (75%) patients and were reduced by over 50% in another three (25%). The mean tumor volume remained stable during the study (1198 ± 1234 vs 1196 ± 1351 mm3, P = 0.37): it did not change ( ± 25% vs basal) in nine patients, increased by 39.4% and 40.8% in two and decreased by 30.8–46.5% in four. The total/high-density lipoprotein (HDL):cholesterol ratio (from 4.4 ± 1.0 to 3.7 ± 0.6, P= 0.0012), glucose levels (from 5.6 ± 1.2 to 4.4 ± 1.4 mmol/l, P = 0.026), insulin levels (from 12.4 ± 6.7 to 8.1 ± 3.0 mUl/l, P = 0.0023) and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index (from 3.4 ± 2.1 to 1.9 ± 1.0, P = 0.0017) decreased.

Conclusions: Treatment for 12 months with pegvisomant normalized IGF-I levels, and improved cardiovascular risk parameters and insulin sensitivity in patients with acromegaly resistant to long-term, high-dose treatment with somatostatin analogs. The tolerance of treatment was good.
Quality of life in treated adult craniopharyngioma patients
Authors: Dekkers O M , Biermasz N R , Smit J W A , Groot L E , Roelfsema F , Romijn J A , Pereira A M
Published: February 2006

Objective: Quality of life (QoL) has become increasingly important in the evaluation of treatment of pituitary and hormonal diseases. A reduced QoL has been reported in childhood-onset craniopharyngioma; however, reports of QoL in adult craniopharyngioma patients are scarce. In the present study, we assessed QoL in adult patients successfully treated for craniopharyngioma in our centre.

Design: This was a case-control study.

Methods: In this study, we assessed QoL in 29 adult patients in remission during long-term follow-up after treatment for craniopharyngioma. Four validated health-related questionnaires (HADS, MFI-20, NHP and SF-36) were used, covering multiple aspects of physical, psychological and social functioning. Patient outcomes were compared to controls (n = 142) and to age-adjusted reference values derived from literature.

Results: General fatigue, physical fatigue, energy, physical condition and physical mobility were significantly impaired, compared with controls. The main independent predictors for decreased QoL were visual field defects (depression, total HADS score, activity, motivation and energy), female gender (depression, motivation and pain), repeat surgery (role limitations due to emotional problems) and radiotherapy (mental fatigue) (the last two predictors to a lesser extent).

Conclusion: Adult patients treated for craniopharyngioma show persistent impairment in QoL, especially in the physical subscales.
Investigation of installation damage of some geogrids using laboratory tests
Authors: Ching-Chuan Huang , Shuay-Luen Chiou
Published: February 2006

A series of laboratory tests simulating installation damage was carried out on four types of woven geogrid. Relationships between index properties of the geogrids and the loss in ultimate tensile strength, strain at failure and tensile stiffness of the geogrids are presented. For the geogrids investigated, the ratio of volume of coating material to the mass of yarn (V-M ratio) plays a major role in evaluating the loss of ultimate tensile strength; that is, the amount of ultimate strength loss decreases with an increase in V-M ratio. The V-M ratio also plays a part in the stress—strain characteristics of the damaged geogrids: for a regularly coated geogrid (PET yarn + PVC coating with a relatively low V-M ratio), similar amounts of ultimate strength and strain losses were found; for a similar geogrid with a relatively high V-M ratio, the amount of ultimate strain loss was only about 50% of the ultimate strength loss. The experimental results also indicate that the losses of tensile stiffness at 2% and 5% strains seem to be governed by the types of yarn and coating material, regardless of their V-M ratio.
Infrastructure and FDI Inflows into Mexico: A Panel Data Approach
Authors: Mollick Andre Varella , Ramos-Duran Rene , Silva-Ochoa Esteban
Published: February 2006

In December 1993, restrictions to foreign ownership across major Mexican economic sectors were abolished. This paper studies output, industrialization intensity, "international infrastructure", and government expenditures on infrastructure as determinants of FDI inflows into Mexican states over 1994-2001. We conduct a "general to specific" estimation strategy across Mexican states. Telephone lines appear to be very important to FDI as their coefficients are around 2.0 in Random Effects Models. Industrialization is also important, with coefficients varying from 0.62 to 0.67. Allowing for endogeneity between FDI and real output, dynamic GMM panels confirm the robust effects of telephone lines on FDI. International infrastructure thus appears more conducive to FDI than domestic infrastructure, such as interstate and secondary roads. With international infrastructure being a major catalyst of FDI inflows into Mexico, we provide support to ongoing conventional wisdom promoting such type of investment.
Dollar Debt in Developing Countries: Too Much of a Good Thing?
Authors: Besancenot Damien , Vranceanu Radu
Published: February 2006

In the early 2000s, many developing countries in Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia presented substantial corporate dollar debts. This paper suggests an explanation for this worrisome phenomenon, which builds on the traditional signaling approach. The model brings into the picture specific institutional characteristics of the credit market in these countries. If lenders have no direct possibility to infer a firm's financial status, sound firms might want to borrow dollars and bear a high clearance cost -- connected to the grant procedure -- just in order to signal their type. The success of this policy depends on the behavior of bad firms. When dollar borrowing clearance costs are relatively small with respect to the clearance cost of borrowing in the local currency, the whole corporate sector would opt for liability dollarization. In this most inefficient case, the signaling effect vanishes, while all firms bear high clearance costs. We also put forward the necessary conditions for a separating equilibrium to occur.
A Distributional Analysis of the Gender Earnings Gap in Urban China
Authors: Millimet Daniel L , Wang Le
Published: February 2006

We compare several income distributions in urban China in the late 1980s and mid-1990s using tests for stochastic dominance in order to decompose gender differentials. Examination of the entire distribution gives insight into the uniformity of such differentials across the distribution. Moreover, tests based on stochastic dominance allow for robust welfare comparisons. Our analysis reveals: (i) large and increasing differentials in predicted earnings across gender in the lower tail of the distribution, but few differences in the upper tail, (ii) discrimination explains one-third to one-half of the total predicted earnings differential in the lower tail of the distribution, and little of the disparity in the upper tail, (iii) gender equity has eroded during China's economic transition, particularly for the youngest cohort, and (iv) significant nonuniformities in earnings differentials suggest the need to broaden analyses of gender differentials to incorporate earnings dispersion.
Gluttony and Sloth: Symptoms of Trouble or Signs of Bliss? A Theory of Choice in the Presence of Behavioral Adjustment Costs
Authors: Bednarek Heather , Jeitschko Thomas D. , Pecchenino Rowena A
Published: February 2006

We present a model in which agents value food, leisure and health, and take into account how their food consumption and leisure affect their health. Drawing insights from behavioral psychology and medical practice, agents face adjustment costs in choosing consumption and leisure. We find that recent increases in obesity rates are not cause for concern from either the standpoint of individually assessed well-being, nor necessarily of the medical practitioner. However, the fact that agents who hope to adjust their lifestyles face adjustment costs indicates that there is potential for policy in increasing individual welfare: first, by taking measures that may decrease the incidence of supra-optimal consumption and leisure and, second, by taking measures that may facilitate behavioral change. However, it must be recognized, especially in the latter case, public policy may be limited by diverse circumstances faced by individuals that will not be amenable to general "one-size-fits-all" types of policies.
Less Choice is Better, Sometimes
Authors: Norwood Franklin B
Published: February 2006

Psychological experiments have revealed that more choice does not always make one better off. For example, consumers are sometimes more likely to purchase a product from a small variety than a large variety. Some have suggested that this excessive-choice effect may have implications for how well markets serve society. This paper constructs an economic model where the excessive-choice effect results from search costs. The model shows that it is possible for markets to produce too much variety, but there are also incentives inducing markets to provide an optimal variety. Advertising, retailer market power, and slotting fees are not just signs of imperfect competition, but mechanisms of ensuring consumers are presented with an ideal choice set.
Modeling and Experimental Study of a Stirred Tank Reactor
Authors: Dhainaut Marc , Tetlie Pål , Bech Knut
Published: February 2006

This study proposes a comparison between CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and experimental results for a cylindrical stirred tank reactor. The stirred tank reactor considered here is 0.7 m high, 0.4 m in diameter, baffled and has four impeller blades on a single shaft, placed at the symmetry axis. The tank is filled with water and serves as a model for molten aluminium purifying reactors.The experimental part of the study compares the use of PIV and LDV techniques to determine the flow field inside the tank. We use PIV to get a complete picture of the flow field in two vertical sections of the tank (one radial and one eccentric). LDV is then used to check and compare the velocities obtained by PIV along horizontal lines belonging to the two vertical sections considered under the PIV-measurements. Good overall agreement between the two methods is obtained.The experimental results are compared to simulation of the tank using an alternative model that we have implemented in the commercial CFD software Fluent. The modeling approach we propose here avoids the classical sliding mesh technique and its tedious use (especially for pre- and post-processing). Our model does not physically represent the impeller blades. It rather introduces them as a time-dependent source term in the momentum equation. This term is only accounted for at the cells that would have been swept by a blade if the blades were present. The modeling of the tank and the set-up of the case are faster and easier. The computation of the flow field using this modeling approach is compared to the sliding mesh approach and to the experimental results discussed above. Results show good agreement between experimental data and both modeling approaches (sliding mesh technique and no impeller model). The model we propose does not bring more accuracy but more convenience in the modeling work.
Direct Numerical Simulation of Mass Transfer from Spherical Bubbles: the Effect of Interface Contamination at Low Reynolds Numbers
Authors: Dani Adil , Cockx Arnaud , Guiraud Pascal
Published: February 2006

The gas-liquid mass transfer from bubbles is estimated by Direct Numerical Simulation for fully contaminated bubbles behaving as solid spheres, partially contaminated spherical bubbles and clean spherical bubbles. Partial contamination of bubble interface is accounted by the Stagnant Cap Model to show the effect of the surfactant on hydrodynamic and mass transfer at low Reynolds number. Hydrodynamics results are validated by comparison with other works of the literature. The numerical mass transfer is then analysed in term of local and averaged Sherwood numbers. The comparison of DNS results with classical relations gives the good scaling of Sherwood with Pe1/3 and Pe1/2 respectively for solid sphere and clean bubble in creeping flow. For partially contaminated bubble and after validation of simulated drag coefficient, the effect of the contamination on mass transfer is shown for several Peclet numbers. A correlation for Sherwood number in function of contamination angle is then proposed in creeping flow.
Measuring National Brands' Equity over Store Brands
Authors: Sethuraman Raj
Published: February 2006

In this paper, we provide an approach to measuring the overall brand equity of national brands based on customers reservation price differential and perceived quality differential between national brand and store brand. Our approach draws upon a utility framework and develops an econometric model for measuring national brands equity over store brand and decomposing it into Quality Equity and Non-Quality Equity.. We then employ the approach and estimate brand equity using data on 20 product categories from 132 consumers and explore some demographic and category antecedents. Our research offers several useful insights. First, it suggests that brand equity is a dominant component of consumers willingness to pay a premium for national brands than for store brands. In fact, nearly 80% of the premium that consumers would pay for national brands over store brands can be attributed to brand equity. Second, a significant portion (over 80%) of national brand equity comes from non-quality equity or brand image. Finally, our study identifies several category and consumer characteristics such as advertising, purchase price, income, and age that are significant antecedents of brand equity. The managerial implications of these findings for both national brand manufacturers and retailers are discussed.
Long-term Profit Impact Of Integrated Marketing Communications Program
Authors: Raman Kalyan , Naik Prasad A.
Published: February 2006

The concept of Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) emphasizes the role of synergy, which arises when the combined effect of multiple activities exceeds the sum of their individual effects. In this paper, we investigate the effects of synergy on the profitability of IMC programs in uncertain markets. We develop a dynamic multimedia model that incorporates both synergy and uncertainty, and use it to determine the optimal IMC program. Our results generalize previous findings to uncertain markets, illuminate the profit implications of IMC programs, and explain the catalytic effects of synergy in IMC contexts. Specifically, we find that the expected long-term profit of the advertised brand increases as synergy increases. Furthermore, managers should allocate a non-zero budget to a catalytic activity even if it is completely ineffective. Finally, these findings continue to hold in an uncertain duopoly market.
Vertical Control of Cournot Wholesalers in Spatial Competition: Exclusive Territories? Or Maximum Retail Price Stipulations?
Authors: Nariu Tatsuhiko , Flath David
Published: February 2006

In this paper, we use a spatial competition model developed by Pal (1998) to analyze producer imposed retail price ceilings and producer assigned exclusive geographic sales territories. Two wholesale distributors are presumed to each have a single collection point respectively from which they supply retail outlets at many locations. Each wholesaler chooses the quantity to ship to each outlet and the retail prices attain market clearing levels. Given that the costs of shipping depend on distance, this system results in waste in that the products are not shipped exclusively from the nearest collection point. As pointed out by Matsumura (2003) this wasteful cross-hauling can be prevented if the manufacturer assigns exclusive geographic territories to the distributors. But the costs of administering an exclusive territory system may well outweigh any savings in shipping costs. In this instance a manufacturer stipulated price ceiling may be the preferred alternative. By controlling not only the manufacturer price but also the retail price at each location, the manufacturer can deter wasteful cross-hauling and expand the overall channel profit, while also conferring enlarged consumer surplus.
Modeling Selectivity in Households' Purchase Quantity Outcomes: A Count Data Approach
Authors: Zhang Qin , Seetharaman P.B. , Narasimhan Chakravarthi
Published: February 2006

We present an econometric technique for modeling endogenous selectivity in households quantity outcomes as observed in scanner panel data. Simultaneous models of incidence, brand choice and quantity, that treat quantity outcomes as count data, ignore such self-selectivity considerations in quantity outcomes. Previously proposed approaches to modeling selectivity in continuous quantity outcomes do not apply to count data. Therefore, we adopt a recently proposed econometric technique to deal with selectivity in count data, and then appropriately extend it to handle correlations of quantity outcomes not only with incidence outcomes but also with brand choice outcomes. Our proposed methodology will be useful to researchers who want to estimate simultaneous models of whether, what and how much to buy decisions of households, treating quantity data as counts.
Store Brand Strength
Authors: Tyagi Rajeev K.
Published: February 2006

Store brands play many beneficial roles for retailers. While some roles such as creating a quality image for the retailer require relatively strong store brands, other roles such as segmentation of customers by income require lesser strong store brands. This paper shows another role of store brand that requires a relatively less strong store brand. Specifically, in a setting in which national brand manufacturers selling to a retailer attempt to engage in non-cooperative tacit pricing collusion among one another, we show that having a very strong store brand can hurt the retailer by increasing the likelihood of national brand manufacturers sustaining tacit collusion.
Selecting and Applying Taxonomies for Learning Outcomes: A Nursing Example
Authors: Duan Yan
Published: February 2006

In this manuscript procedures for selecting and applying taxonomies using nursing-related examples are described. Bloom's taxonomy and Gagne's instructional theory are compared. The author concludes that both taxonomies have much in common and are appropriate for use in nursing education.
Levels and Predictors of Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Pain among Israeli Baccalaureate Nursing Students and Nurses Pursuing Specialty Certification
Authors: Greenberger Chaya , Reches Hiba , Riba Shoshana
Published: February 2006

This paper presents the research conducted in 2003 by the Nursing Division of the Israeli Ministry of Health regarding the level of and predictors of pain knowledge and attitudes of Israeli nursing students and certifying nurses, in the context of the Division's educational policy. Cross-sectional descriptive in design, the research included first and fourth year baccalaureate students and nurses beginning and completing certification programs (N= 1149).Knowledge and attitudes, educational level, experience and success in pain care were examined via a questionnaire based on the McCaffery and Ferrell and Riddell and Fitche tools. Student's t-test, Pearson correlations and ANOVA were used for data analysis.Educational level was the strongest predictor of knowledge and attitudes among nursing students and certifying nurses, contributing most of the 42.8% explained variance. Small significant contributions were made by other variables. This indicates that formal education is a good vehicle for enhancing knowledge and attitudes.
Averting America's Bankruptcy with a New New Deal
Authors: Kotlikoff Laurence J
Published: February 2006

Laurence Kotlikoff argues that it is high time the U.S. gets its fiscal house in order, and he tells us exactly how with three big ideas.
Advance Market Commitments: A Policy to Stimulate Investment in Vaccines for Neglected Diseases
Authors: Barder Owen , Kremer Michael , Williams Heidi
Published: February 2006

Why are millions dying of neglected diseases without vaccines, and is there a way to cheaply change that? Owen Barder, Michael Kremer and Heidi Williams advocate a proposal--Advance Market Commitments--that the G8 finance ministers plan to pilot in 2006.
Correlation of the cytotoxic activity of four different alkaloids, from Chelidonium majus (greater celandine), with their DNA intercalating properties and ability to induce breaks in the DNA of NK/Ly murine lymphoma cells
Authors: Kaminskyy Vitaliy , Lootsik Maxim , Stoika Rostyslav
Published: February 2006

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the DNA intercalating characteristics and the DNA damaging capacity of four alkaloids extracted from Chelidonium majus L, as well as their toxicity towards murine NK/Ly lymphoma cells. Chelerythrine, sanguinarine and coptisine were found to be intercalated into the DNA isolated from NK/Ly cells, meanwhile, chelidonine exhibited no affinity to DNA. Sanguinarine exhibited the greatest toxicity toward NK/Ly cells, and the toxicity of the other three decreased in descending order: chelerythrine, coptisine and chelidonine. Chelerythrine and sanguinarine caused DNA damage, illustrated by the formation of comets of the third class. Coptisine was less toxic than chelerythrine and sanguinarine, and affected the formation the same class of comets in higher concentration. The quantity of comets induced by chelidonine were negligible, a finding consistent with its inability to intercalate into DNA structure. The ability of four main alkaloids of Chelidonium majus L., to intercalate into DNA isolated from murine NK/Ly lymphoma cells, correlated with their ability to induce breaks in cellular DNA and with their toxic effect towards those cells.
Mouse model for analysis of non-MHC genes that influence allogeneic response: recombinant congenic strains of OcB/Dem series that carry identical H2 locus
Authors: Havelková Helena , Holáň Vladimír , Kárník Igor , Lipoldová Marie
Published: February 2006

Alloreactivity is the strongest known primary immune response. Its clinical manifestations are graft rejection, graft-versus-host disease and graft-versus-leukemia effect. The strongest stimulation by allogeneic cells is due to incompatibility at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. However, the non-MHC genes also participate in allogeneic response. Here we present a mouse model for study of the role of non-MHC genes in regulation of alloreactivity and show that they besides encoding antigens also regulate the responsiveness. Recombinant congenic strains (RCS) of O20/A (O20)-c-B10.O20/Dem (OcB/Dem) series have been derived from the parental strains O20 and B10.O20, which carry identical MHC haplotypes (H2pz) and therefore their differences in alloantigen response depend only on non-MHC genes. We have tested a MLR response by spleen cells of the strains O20, B10.O20, and 16 OcB/Dem strains through stimulation by cells from strains C57BL/10 (H2b), BALB/c (H2d), CBA (H2k), and DBA/1 (H2q) alloantigens. Proliferative response of O20, B10.O20 and OcB/Dem strains to these four alloantigens exhibited a similar but not completely identical pattern of reactivity. The responses to different alloantigens were highly correlated: C57BL/10-BALB/c r = 0.87, C57BL/10-CBA r = 0.84, C57BL/10-DBA/1 r = 0.83. Cluster analysis of the responses by O20, B10.O20, and OcB mice identified groups of strains with distinct patterns of response. This data shows that two main types of genes influence MLR: 1. structural genes for major and minor alloantigens and 2. genes regulating T-cell receptor signal transduction or mediating costimulatory signals by antigen-presenting cells.
Creating a mutant luciferase resistant to HPV chemical inhibition by random mutagenesis and colony‐level screening
Authors: Kim‐Choi Eileen , Danilo Christiane , Kelly Jeffrey , Carroll Ronnie , Shonnard David , Rybina Irina
Published: February 2006

Firefly luciferase covers a wide range of applications. One common usage of the bioluminescence assay is the measurement of intracellular concentration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for cell viability. However, inhibition of the enzyme reaction by chemicals in the assay has so far limited the application of luciferase for high production volume (HPV) chemical testing. The objective of this research was to obtain a mutant luciferase with increased stability to inhibition by HPV chemicals, yet retaining specific activity comparable to, or better than, wild‐type luciferase. The enzymatic properties of the wild‐type luciferase were improved by random mutagenesis and colony‐level screening. In this paper, the detailed process of creating mutant luciferases for testing the toxicity of HPV chemicals is described. As a result, two mutant luciferases were created, with different degrees of improved tolerance to inhibition by chloroform and other HPV chemicals. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A thermoluminescence study of the effects of nitrite on photosystem II in spinach thylakoids
Authors: Sahay Archna , Jajoo Anjana , Bharti Sudhakar
Published: February 2006

The site of action of nitrite on PS II was investigated by measuring the TL profile of nitrite‐treated spinach thylakoid membranes. Three bands were observed in control, which were identified as the Q band (7°C), the B band (24°C) and the C band (57°C). In the presence of 20 mmol/L nitrite, the intensity of the Q band decreased, the B band upshifted to 46°C but the C band disappeared. The suppression of the Q band and the upshift of the B band suggested that nitrite caused inhibition at the water oxidizing complex. The effects of nitrite also remained the same in the presence of chloride. In case of ion‐sufficient thylakoid membranes, nitrite decreased the Q band peak intensity and caused an upshift in the B band peak temperature. Nitrite showed similar effects in the presence of DCMU. This suggested that the site of action of nitrite is not at the acceptor side but at the donor side of PS II. The inhibition shown by nitrite has been found to be specific for nitrite anion. No other anions such as formate, fluoride or nitrate, were effective. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The influence of light and darkness on cutaneous fluorescence in mice
Authors: Juzenas Petras , Juzeniene Asta , Iani Vladimir , Moan Johan
Published: February 2006

The present work was carried out to investigate the role of light and darkness on the endogenous biosynthesis of porphyrins in mammalian skin (hairless BALB/c mouse) in vivo. In the skin of mice that were constantly kept in darkness (DD), increased endogenous porphyrin fluorescence was observed, which mainly originated from protoporphyrin IX (PpIX). No significant increase in the porphyrin levels was observed in mice that were kept under a normal day–night cycle (LD 12:12 h). The presence of cutaneous PpIX together with ambient light may comprise a photosensitizing mechanism by which PpIX may be a photomessenger between ambient light and internal rhythms. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Correlation between noninvasive and endovascular Doppler in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis: A pilot study
Authors: Slovut David P. , Lookstein Robert , Bacharach J. Michael , Olin Jeffrey W.
Published: February 2006

Considerable interest exists in using endovascular techniques for assessing the renal circulation. The vasomotor response of the renal circulation in patients with hypertension and severe atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis was evaluated. Sixteen patients (5 men and 11 women) with a mean age of 73.2 ± 7.1 years (range, 59–82 years) underwent noninvasive renal duplex ultrasonography and endovascular flow wire evaluation. The flow wire was positioned in the main renal artery distal to the stenosis and used to examine the reactivity of the renal circulation in response to intra‐arterial papaverine before and after percutaneous revascularization. Resistive index was computed as (MPV − EDV)/MPV, where MPV is the maximum peak velocity and EDV is the end‐diastolic velocity. Renal flow reserve was defined as the ratio of peak hyperemic response to baseline flow. Intervention was technically successful in 18/18 arteries. Heart rate (69 ± 11 vs. 65 ± 10 beats/min; P = NS) and systolic blood pressure (168 ± 19 vs. 163 ± 24 mm Hg; P = NS) remained constant following injection of intrarenal papaverine, while diastolic blood pressure decreased (77 ± 13 vs. 65 ± 11 mm Hg; P < 0.006). Papaverine injection resulted in significant increases in average peak velocity (APV; 148% of baseline; P = 0.0003), MPV (146% of baseline; P = 0.001), and EDV (161% of baseline; P = 0.0026), but had no effect on the endovascular resistive index (0.81 ± 0.12 vs. 0.84 ± 0.08; P = NS). Renal artery stenting produced no effect on APV or EDV, but a small increase in MPV (123% of baseline; P < 0.05). In contrast, renal stenting resulted in a significant increase in the endovascular resistive index (0.77 ± 012 vs. 0.84 ± 0.08; P = 0.003), pulsatility index (1.84 ± 0.61 vs. 2.23 ± 0.70; P < 0.014), and renal flow reserve (1.49 ± 0.44 vs. 1.86 ± 0.73; P < 0.0071). A correlation was found between the noninvasive and endovascular measures diastolic/systolic ratio (r = 0.73; P < 0.0009) and resistive index (r = 0.63; P < 0.0053). Patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis have preserved vasomotor response to papaverine, as well as marked increases in renal flow and resistive index following successful renal artery stenting. Endovascular flow wire measurements are safe, easy to perform, and correlate well with noninvasive Doppler measurements. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Covered stents in patients with congenital heart defects
Authors: Butera Gianfranco , Piazza Luciane , Chessa Massimo , Abella Raul , Bussadori Claudio , Negura Diana , Carminati Mario
Published: February 2006

Objectives: To evaluate the role of covered Cheatham‐Platinum stents in patients with congenital heart disease. Background: There are limited data in the literature about the use of covered stent in patients with congenital heart disease. Methods: Between January 2004 and September 2005, covered Cheatham‐Platinum stents were implanted into 18 patients with congenital heart defects (9 males, median age 19 years, range 8–45 years). Sixteen had aortic coarctation or recoarctation (8 with associated aneurysm, 1 with patent ductus arteriosus, 3 with an irregular wall, 4 with subatretic native aortic coarctation) (group 1). Two subjects with univentricular heart circulation were treated because of complex right‐to‐left shunting (Group 2). Results: Group 1: The stents used ranged from 34 to 45 mm in length. The mean fluoroscopy and procedure times were 12 ± 8 and 70 ± 15 minutes, respectively. After implantation, the gradient across the stenosis decreased significantly (prestent median value 37 mmHg) (range 20–50 mmHg) versus poststent: median value 0 mmHg (range 0–10 mmHg) (P < 0.0001). Vessel diameter increased from a median value of 6 mm (range 0–11) to a median value of 14 mm (range 10–23) (P < 0.0001). Stents were placed in the correct position in all subjects. No complications occurred and on angiographic control the stenoses had been relieved and the aneurysms completely excluded. Group 2: Implantation of the covered stents successfully abolished right‐to‐left shunting in both patients. Both had significant increases in oxygen saturation and no complications occurred. Follow‐up: During a median follow‐up of 7 months (1–19 months), the results were stable without any complications. Conclusion: Covered Cheatham‐Platinum stents are very useful tools for treating various congenital cardiovascular malformations. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The value of hypnosis in the treatment of chronic PTSD with dissociative fugues in a war veteran
Authors: Degun‐Mather Marcia
Published: February 2006

This report describes the successful treatment of a British war veteran who had chronic post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of 40 years' duration. He had also developed dissociative fugues during this time. He was finally admitted to a psychiatric hospital with severe depression and PTSD. After discharge he was treated by three‐phase oriented treatment as follows: Stage 1 – stabilization with psycho‐education and a cognitive–behavioural approach with hypnosis; Stage 2 – re‐processing of traumatic material by use of a safe‐remembering hypnotic method with cognitive reevaluation of traumatic events to resolve the negative feelings. Hypnotic dreams also facilitated re‐processing. During therapy, the veteran recovered the memory of one event which was crucial to his therapeutic progress. Stage 3 included further memory integration and rehabilitation. This was aided by dream elaboration, both with and without hypnosis. At the end of therapy, the veteran was virtually symptom‐free and was able to regain emotional and social contact with his family and friends. Copyright © 2001 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis
Intrusive thoughts and hypnotizability
Authors: Bryant Richard A , Idey Arianna
Published: February 2006

This study indexed the relationship between intrusive thoughts and hypnotizability. After screening on the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A and the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C, high‐, medium‐ and low‐hypnotizable participants (n=55) were given an intrusive thoughts questionnaire that indexed frequency, pleasantness, involvement and vividness of intrusive thoughts. High‐hypnotizable participants reported more intrusive thoughts than low‐hypnotizable participants. Although vividness of intrusions and involvement in the intrusions were correlated, these were not associated with hypnotizability. These findings are discussed in terms of the role of hypnotizability, absorption and fantasy‐proneness in the experience of intrusive thoughts. Copyright © 2001 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis
Factors influencing the illusion of warmth
Authors: Gheorghiu VA , Koch E , Fialkovski H , Pieper W , Molz G
Published: February 2006

Investigations concerning the influence of suggestion on warmth sensations are one of the favoured topics of suggestibility research. The great uncertainty concerning the perception of objective or faked warmth stimuli turned to be favourable premisses for such experiments. Methods such as the heat illusion test (Scripture, 1893; Seashore, 1895) have been used in various investigations for many years. The main purpose of such research was to investigate relationships between this kind of test and other suggestibility measures, applied dependently or independently from a hypnotic context. However, it has been found repeatedly that the readiness to respond to faked sources of warmth is heavily dependent on situational factors. The question to be examined is whether situational factors should become a matter of research themselves in order to enlarge our knowledge concerning suggestive processes. The present study investigated some of these factors, namely: type of simulated sources of warmth; affected area of skin; and set factors preceding the actual experimental trials. By far the strongest effects were found for the set factors. When the faked stimulation was embedded in procedures enhancing plausibility, the susceptibility to react was significantly greater. It was postulated that the heat illusion procedures may be useful in assessing various conditions influencing suggestibility. The results are discussed in terms of more general psychological perspectives. Copyright © 2001 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis
Hypnotic susceptibility is positively related to a subset of schizotypy items
Authors: Jamieson Graham A , Gruzelier John H
Published: February 2006

A multidimensional measure of schizotypal personality, the Personality Syndrome Questionnaire (PSQ) was completed by 83 undergraduate medical students. It was predicted that perceptual and cognitive reality distortions would be positively associated with hypnotic susceptibility. Fifteen of 84 items showed the predicted association. When combined into a preliminary scale, a correlation of 0.43 was found for the total scale score and susceptibility. Cronbach's alpha for this scale was acceptable at 0.77. These preliminary results are potentially vulnerable to type I error. Replication on a larger sample and factorial analysis of the proposed scales structure are required and underway. Copyright © 2001 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis
Indexing the relationship between self‐hypnosis and hetero‐hypnosis
Authors: Bibby Helen , McConkey Kevin M , Lim Debbie
Published: February 2006

Self‐hypnosis and hetero‐hypnosis were compared through the use of a continuous, concurrent measure of hypnotic experience. Twenty‐three high‐hypnotizable subjects were asked to turn a dial to indicate the strength of their experience across the suggestion, test and cancellation phases of an ideomotor item (arm levitation) and a cognitive item (age regression) during self‐hypnosis and hetero‐hypnosis. Differences between self‐hypnosis and hetero‐hypnosis depended on the item being experienced, as well as on the phase of the item. The findings are discussed in terms of using convergent methodologies to investigate self‐hypnotic phenomena. Copyright © 2001 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis
The ‘story‐in‐a‐story’ technique
Authors: Mendlovic Schlomo , Doron Adiel
Published: February 2006

A new resistance‐management technique based upon creating a primary story in which another, secondary story is embedded is presented. Through careful manipulation of reality and fantasy, the confusing nature of the embedded story supports the acceptance of the seemingly reality‐based primary story. The ‘story‐in‐a‐story’ technique was found to be effective in overcoming resistance and is thus of clinical relevance to therapists. Copyright © 2001 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis
The effects of absorption and reduced critical thought on suggestibility in an hypnotic context
Authors: Brown Richard J , Antonova Elena , Langley Arun , Oakley David A
Published: February 2006

The suggestibility‐enhancing effects of hypnosis are widely accepted, although poorly understood. In the present study, an attempt was made to address the effect of absorption and reduced critical thought on suggestibility change occurring in the hypnotic context. Study participants were presented with a waking suggestibility assessment followed by an induction consisting of instructions for progressive relaxation and a manipulation designed to establish an hypnotic context and an expectation for increased suggestibility. They were then presented with either further relaxation instructions, instructions to become absorbed or instructions to reduce critical thought, followed by a second suggestibility assessment. Groups were compared on objective and subjective suggestibility score change, controlling for suggestibility on the first test. Results indicate that the addition of instructions for absorption or reduced critical thought to relaxation procedures created a significantly larger suggestibility increase than instructions for relaxation alone. Moreover, instructions for relaxation alone were insufficient to produce an increase in suggestibility, despite the presence of an hypnotic context and positive expectations. These findings cast doubt on the notion that only non‐state factors are responsible for suggestibility increases observed in the hypnotic context, and raise the possibility that absorption and reduced critical thought are important components of hypnosis. Copyright © 2001 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis
Hypnotic time perception: busy beaver or tardy timekeeper?
Authors: Naish Peter LN
Published: February 2006

Experimental participants were asked to make prospective and retrospective time judgements, for both brief and longer periods of time. It was found that when these tasks were performed in hypnosis, prospective estimates became longer than the actual time period, whereas retrospective judgements became shorter than actual. The effects were the same, whether the periods involved were brief or long. It is proposed that this pattern of results is not satisfactorily explained by the ‘Busy Beaver’ hypothesis (St Jean, McInnes, Campbell‐Mayne and Swainson, 1994). These results are better accounted for by assuming that time judgements are derived from an internal clock, which runs slow during hypnosis. An absence of any effect of hypnosis upon critical flicker fusion (CFF) frequency is taken to rule out a simple physiological explanation for the slow clock. Instead, a tentative account is offered that links the timing effects with recent research in the areas of brain mapping, hallucinations and reality monitoring. Copyright © 2001 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis
Fear of injections: the value of hypnosis in facilitating clinical treatment
Authors: Medd David Y
Published: February 2006

Three examples of the use of hypnosis in counselling show the variable effects of experiences in the creation of fear, anxiety and disabling phobia. Therapy may be directed to an apparently single cause of a few weeks' duration, or to a many‐layered complex of over 40 years' existence. The processes of resolution may be jointly agreed by client and counsellor or else no clear path to improvement may be identified. The present paper describes three patients with different problems who had high levels of fear or anxiety about receiving injections in botulinum toxin clinics. Individual differences in causes, history and personality made an integrated approach the logical choice. Successful outcomes showed that hypnosis, adaptedly adjoined with mainly behavioural and cognitive methods of counselling, can be of very great assistance in enabling patients to receive injections essential to treatment, and can usefully be made part of multidisciplinary team provision. Copyright © 2001 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis
Source locations of EEG frequency bands during hypnotic arm levitation: a pilot study
Authors: Lehmann Dietrich , Faber Pascal , Isotani Toshiaki , Wohlgemuth Pascal
Published: February 2006

Intracerebral model source locations of three major electroencephalogram (EEG) frequency bands between 1.5 Hz and 30 Hz were compared in a pilot study with four subjects while their left arm was kept raised after prompted, willful initiation versus after hypnotic suggestion of arm levitation. Source locations of inhibitory activity (delta–theta EEG frequency band) were more posterior (p<0.04), and sources of routine functioning activity (alpha EEG frequency band, mainly alpha1) were more anterior (p<0.10) in the brain during the hypnotic than control condition. Comparison of the source location changes during hypnosis with reported findings after eye‐opening (attention) and during sleep onset suggests that hypnosis cannot exclusively be positioned on a scale from lowered vigilance to attention, but has an electrophysiological profile of its own. Copyright © 2001 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis