bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of dyskinesias in a 5‐year trial of ropinirole and L‐dopa
Authors: Rascol Olivier , Brooks David J. , Korczyn Amos D. , De Deyn Peter P. , Clarke Carl E. , Lang Anthony E. , Abdalla Mona
Published: September 2006

A 5‐year trial of ropinirole and levodopa in early Parkinson's disease showed that ropinirole is associated with reduced incidence of dyskinesias. This post hoc analysis investigated whether the dyskinesia‐sparing benefit of ropinirole is lost when levodopa is added to the regimen and evaluated other risk factors for developing dyskinesias. Patients receiving levodopa had a significantly higher risk of dyskinesias than those taking ropinirole monotherapy (hazard ratio [HR], 6.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.23–14.29; P < 0.001). When patients randomized to ropinirole were treated with supplementary levodopa, the development of dyskinesias was not significantly different from that in those receiving levodopa from the start (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.48–1.33; P = 0.39). However, the onset of dyskinesias was delayed by around 3 years compared with levodopa monotherapy. Adjusted analyses taking into account baseline and on‐treatment factors that influenced use of supplementary levodopa or the development of dyskinesias produced similar results. In conclusion, the risk of developing dyskinesias during maintained initial ropinirole monotherapy is very low. Only once levodopa is added does the risk substantially change. Early use of ropinirole postpones the onset of dyskinesias, but these benefits decline when levodopa therapy is started, with no evidence of a subsequent rapid “catch‐up” or a persisting preventive effect. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society
Clinical phenotype of subjects with Parkinson's disease and orthostatic hypotension: Autonomic symptom and demographic comparison
Authors: Allcock Liesl M. , Kenny Rose Anne , Burn David J.
Published: September 2006

The objective of this study was to characterize the phenotypic associations of orthostatic hypotension (OH) in Parkinson's disease (PD). One hundred fifty‐nine subjects with PD underwent assessment including autonomic symptom severity scoring, disease‐specific rating scales, and measurement of postural blood pressure response. Symptoms of autonomic impairment weakly correlated with disease duration and severity. A posture and gait instability (PIGD) motor phenotype was associated with greater severity of autonomic symptoms. Eighty subjects (50.3%) had OH. These subjects were older, more likely to be male, and taking larger doses of dopaminergic medications than those without OH. There was no difference in disease severity or duration between those with and those without OH. Symptomatic dizziness did not distinguish between groups, although subjects with OH had more symptoms of generalized autonomic impairment than those without. Progressive autonomic involvement may be linked to disease progression in PD, particularly in patients with a PIGD phenotype, but dichotomization into groups with and without OH is a relatively insensitive method for demonstrating this. Longitudinal studies of changes in autonomic reflex abnormalities, autonomic symptom profiles, and motor severity might clarify these associations. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society
Positive radial solutions of p‐Laplacian equation with sign changing nonlinear sources
Authors: Jin Chunhua , Yin Jingxue , Wang Zejia
Published: September 2006

This paper is concerned with the p‐Laplacian equation with singular sources which is allowed to change sign in a ball. The singularity may occur at the zero points of solutions and on the boundary. Using the upper and lower solutions method, we establish the existence of positive radial solutions for the problem considered. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Just how much data need to be collected for reliable bootstrap DT‐MRI?
Authors: O'Gorman Ruth L. , Jones Derek K.
Published: September 2006

Diffusion tensor MRI (DT‐MRI) can provide estimates of fiber orientation derived from the orientational dependence of the diffusivity of water molecules, enabling the reconstruction of white matter fiber pathways using tractography methods. However, noise arising from various sources can introduce uncertainty into the estimates of the elements of the diffusion tensor, resulting in errors in fiber orientation estimates such that tractography reconstructions of fiber pathways potentially can be imprecise and inaccurate. Recently, attempts have been made to characterize the uncertainty in DT‐MRI‐derived parameters using the bootstrap method; however, several questions remain open regarding the number of repeat measurements and bootstraps required to accurately and precisely reconstruct the probability distributions of the DT‐MRI parameters. This study investigates the accuracy and precision of the bootstrap method for characterizing distributions of DT‐MRI parameters. A number of experimental bootstrap designs and sampling schemes containing different numbers of isotropically distributed gradient vectors are considered, using an idealized system where the true variability in each parameter is known. This study demonstrates that for most DT‐MRI experiments, robust results will be obtained if the minimum number of bootstraps is approximately 500, and that at least five repeat samples of each diffusion‐weighted intensity should be used for bootstrapping. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quantification of the expression level of integrin receptor αvβ3 in cell lines and MR imaging with antibody‐coated iron oxide particles
Authors: Benedetto Sabrina , Pulito Roberta , Crich Simonetta Geninatti , Tarone Guido , Aime Silvio , Silengo Lorenzo , Hamm Jörg
Published: September 2006

Targeted imaging requires site‐specific accumulation of a contrast agent (CA), and the properties of that agent must be selected according to the abundance of the target to obtain a signal above the detection limit of the instrument. However, numerical estimates of receptors per cell are rarely found in the literature. Integrin receptors would be particularly promising targets because of their accessibility from the blood stream and expression on activated neovascular endothelial cells. We systematically estimated the number of integrin receptors of cell lines and primary cells by flow cytometry analysis. Since integrin receptors are heterodimeric molecules, and αv forms complexes with various β subunits, the numbers of αv and β3 subunits are therefore dissimilar. The observed values are 3 · 103–1.4 · 104/cell for αv, and 5.3 · 102–1.1 · 104/cell for β3. Despite the low number of exposed receptors, we show that up to single‐cell MR visualization can be achieved with the use of iron oxide beads complexed with antibodies as CAs. Magn Reson Med, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Micro‐mechanical damage and rough crack closure in cementitious composite materials
Authors: Jefferson A. D. , Bennett T.
Published: September 2006

A micro‐mechanics based damage model is presented which uses the solution of an elastic body with penny‐shaped cracks. The major new aspect of the work is the inclusion of a rough crack closure component in the model. The model uses a damage‐surface, described in terms of transformed strain components. Inelastic strain components in each direction are computed by considering the total directional strains on an equivalent band of elastic material and then removing the elastic component. Details of the model implementation in a Mathcad sheet are given. The results from a series of single point simulations are given for uniaxial and biaxial tension and compression stress/strain paths. Each path is computed with the full model and with a damage only version of the model which does not simulate crack closure effects. It is shown that the incorporation of the rough contact component allows the model to reproduce dilatant post‐peak behaviour in compression and to simulate, with reasonable accuracy, the shape of the biaxial strength envelope for cementitious composite materials. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A review of reliable numerical models for three‐dimensional linear parabolic problems
Authors: Faragó I. , Horváth R.
Published: September 2006

The preservation of characteristic qualitative properties of different phenomena is a more and more important requirement in the construction of reliable numerical models. For phenomena that can be mathematically described by linear partial differential equations of parabolic type (such as the heat conduction, the diffusion, the pricing of options, etc.), the most important qualitative properties are: the maximum–minimum principle, the non‐negativity preservation and the maximum norm contractivity. In this paper, we analyse the discrete analogues of the above properties for finite difference and finite element models, and we give a systematic overview of conditions that guarantee the required properties a priori. We have chosen the heat conduction process to illustrate the main concepts, but engineers and scientists involved in scientific computing can easily reformulate the results for other problems too. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Complex variable moving least‐squares method: a meshless approximation technique
Authors: Liew K. M. , Feng Cong , Cheng Yumin , Kitipornchai S.
Published: September 2006

Based on the moving least‐squares (MLS) approximation, we propose a new approximation method—the complex variable moving least‐squares (CVMLS) approximation. With the CVMLS approximation, the trial function of a two‐dimensional problem is formed with a one‐dimensional basis function. The number of unknown coefficients in the trial function of the CVMLS approximation is less than in the trial function of the MLS approximation, and we can thus select fewer nodes in the meshless method that is formed from the CVMLS approximation than are required in the meshless method of the MLS approximation with no loss of precision. The meshless method that is derived from the CVMLS approximation also has a greater computational efficiency. From the CVMLS approximation, we propose a new meshless method for two‐dimensional elasticity problems—the complex variable meshless method (CVMM)—and the formulae of the CVMM for two‐dimensional elasticity problems are obtained. Compared with the conventional meshless method, the CVMM has a greater precision and computational efficiency. For the purposes of demonstration, some selected numerical examples are solved using the CVMM. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Origin of magnetosome membrane: Proteomic analysis of magnetosome membrane and comparison with cytoplasmic membrane
Authors: Tanaka Masayoshi , Okamura Yoshiko , Arakaki Atsushi , Tanaka Tsuyoshi , Takeyama Haruko , Matsunaga Tadashi
Published: September 2006

Prokaryotes are known to have evolved one or more unique organelles. Although several hypotheses have been proposed concerning the biogenesis of these intracellular components, the majority of these proposals remains unclear. Magnetotactic bacteria synthesize intracellular magnetosomes that are enclosed by lipid bilayer membranes. From the identification and characterization of several surface and transmembrane magnetosome proteins, we have postulated that magnetosomes are derived from the cytoplasmic membrane (CM). To confirm this hypothesis, a comparative proteomic analysis of the magnetosome membrane (MM) and CM of the magnetotactic bacterium, Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB‐1, was undertaken. Based on the whole genome sequence of M. magneticum AMB‐1, 78 identified MM proteins were also found to be prevalent in the CM, several of which are related to magnetosome biosynthesis, such as Mms13, which is tightly bound on the magnetite surface. Fatty acid analysis was also conducted, and showed a striking similarity between the CM and MM profiles. These results suggest that the MM is derived from the CM.
Cleaning of raw peptide MS/MS spectra: Improved protein identification following deconvolution of multiply charged peaks, isotope clusters, and removal of background noise
Authors: Mujezinovic Nedim , Raidl Günther , Hutchins James R. A. , Peters Jan‐Michael , Mechtler Karl , Eisenhaber Frank
Published: September 2006

The dominant ions in MS/MS spectra of peptides, which have been fragmented by low‐energy CID, are often b‐, y‐ions and their derivatives resulting from the cleavage of the peptide bonds. However, MS/MS spectra typically contain many more peaks. These can result not only from isotope variants and multiply charged replicates of the peptide fragmentation products but also from unknown fragmentation pathways, sample‐specific or systematic chemical contaminations or from noise generated by the electronic detection system. The presence of this background complicates spectrum interpretation. Besides dramatically prolonged computation time, it can lead to incorrect protein identification, especially in the case of de novo sequencing algorithms. Here, we present an algorithm for detection and transformation of multiply charged peaks into singly charged monoisotopic peaks, removal of heavy isotope replicates, and random noise. A quantitative criterion for the recognition of some noninterpretable spectra has been derived as a byproduct. The approach is based on numerical spectral analysis and signal detection methods. The algorithm has been implemented in a stand‐alone computer program called MS Cleaner that can be obtained from the authors upon request.
A proteomic approach for the characterization of C677T mutation of the human gene methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase
Authors: Greco Marilena , Chiriacò Fernanda , Del Boccio Piero , Tagliaferro Luigi , Acierno Raffaele , Menegazzi Paola , Pinca Eleonora , Pignatelli Francesco , Storelli Carlo , Federici Giorgio , Urbani Andrea , Maffia Michele
Published: September 2006

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) catalyzes the conversion of methylenetetrahydrofolate (CH2H4folate) to methyltetrahydrofolate (CH3H4folate). The C677T mutation is a common polymorphism of the human enzyme that leads to the replacement of Ala222Val, thermolability of MTHFR, and mild elevation of plasma homocysteine levels. A mild hyperhomocysteinemia is known to be risk factor for cardiovascular and thrombotic diseases, ischemic stroke, neural tube defects, late on‐set dementia, and pregnancy complications. Human plasma of subjects carrying the C677T mutation in the MTHFR gene has been investigated for their protein pattern in order to identify novel molecular hallmarks. 2‐D analysis of the plasma protein allowed the identification of a specific pattern associated with the TT mutant genotype. Noteworthy, we found one spot shifted to a more basic pI in mutant individuals, and MS identification corresponded to vitamin D‐binding protein (DBP or group component (Gc) globulin). MS/MS peptide sequencing allowed to discriminate different allelic variants in the investigated clinical groups. These data confirmed by molecular genetic analysis highlight the novel association between the C677T MTHFR genotype with the Gc2 polymorphism of the DBP. Moreover, we found a quantitative reduction of Apolipoprotein A‐I in mutant individuals, which was associated, in previous studies by others to an increased cardiovascular risk.
Synthesis and properties of poly(phenylacetylenes) having two polar groups or one cyclic polar group on the phenyl ring
Authors: Kono Toshiki , Sakaguchi Toshikazo , Hu Yanming , Shiotsuki Masashi , Sanda Fumio , Masuda Toshio
Published: September 2006

Phenylacetylene (PA) derivatives having two polar groups (ester, 2a–d; amide, 4) or one cyclic polar group (imide, 5a–c) were polymerized using (nbd)Rh+[(η6‐C6H5)B−(C6H5)3] catalyst to afford high molecular weight polymers (∼1 × 106 – 4 × 106). The hydrolysis of ester‐containing poly(PA), poly(2a), provided poly(3,4‐dicarboxyPA) [poly (3)], which could not be obtained directly by the polymerization of the corresponding monomer. The solubility properties of the present polymers were different from those of poly(PA) having no polar group; that is, poly(2a)–poly(2d) dissolved in ethyl acetate and poly(4) dissolved in N,N‐dimethylformamide, while poly(PA) was insoluble in such solvents. Ester‐group‐containing polymers [poly(2a)–poly(2d)] afforded free‐standing membranes by casting from THF solutions. The membrane of poly(2a) showed high carbon dioxide permselectivity against nitrogen (PCO2/PN2 = 62). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5943–5953, 2006
Thermochemically induced binding of methyl orange to polycations containing primary amine groups
Authors: Dragan Ecaterina Stela , Mihai Marcela , Airinei Anton
Published: September 2006

The thermochemical transformation of electrostatically formed complexes of methyl orange (MO) with polycations containing primary amine groups such as ammonium salts afforded new polymers with a high concentration of covalently bound 4‐N,N‐dimethylaminoazobenzene groups in the side chain. Poly(allylamine hydrochloride) and poly(β‐aminoethylene acrylamide hydrochloride) were employed as support polycations for MO. The transformation of sulfonate–ammonium ion pairs into sulfonamide bonds, via heating at an elevated temperature, was supported by the polymer properties before and after the thermal treatment. The polymer structure changes were monitored with elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared, 1H NMR, and ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The spacer length between the backbone and azobenzene structures used as side chains strongly influenced the polymer properties before and after the heat‐induced reaction. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5898–5908, 2006
Computer‐aided navigation for arthroscopic hip surgery using encoder linkages for position tracking
Authors: Monahan Emily , Shimada Kenji
Published: September 2006

Background

While arthroscopic surgery has many advantages over traditional surgery, this minimally invasive technique is not often applied to the hip joint. Two main reasons for this are the complexity of navigating within the joint and the difficulty of correctly placing portal incisions without damaging critical neurovascular structures. This paper proposes a computer‐aided navigation system to address the challenges of arthroscopic hip surgery.

Methods

Unlike conventional arthroscopic methods, our system uses a hyper‐redundant encoder linkage to track surgical instruments, thus eliminating the occlusion and distortion problems associated with standard optical and electromagnetic tracking systems. The encoder linkage position information is used to generate a computer display of patient anatomy.

Results

The tracking error from the encoder linkage was evaluated to be within an acceptable range for this tracking prototype, and the new computer‐aided approach to arthroscopic hip surgery was applied to a prototype system for concept verification.

Conclusion

This navigation system for arthroscopic hip surgery can be used as a tool to address the challenges of joint navigation and portal placement in arthroscopic hip surgery by visually supplementing the limiting view from the arthroscope. The introduction of a tracking linkage shows significant potential as an alternative to other tracking systems. Positive feedback about the completed demo system was obtained from surgeons who perform arthroscopic proceduces. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Robotic application in epilepsy surgery
Authors: Eljamel M. S.
Published: September 2006

Background

Epilepsy surgery is cost‐effective and dependent on patient selection, localization and meticulous technique. We report the use of a new robotic system in this surgery for the first time.

Methods

The brain is imaged for both image guidance and robotic application. The robot uses CT‐visible reflective fiducials. Registration is performed by image‐guided surgery (IGS) system and the robot. The robot is used to insert depth electrodes for intra‐operative epileptic focus localization and to localize the temporal horn.

Results

This technique was used in three patients; the catheter tip was found in the temporal horn in all cases and saved considerable operating time compared to previous experience.

Conclusion

It is therefore feasible to use the robot to localize the temporal horn and place depth electrodes during epilepsy surgery with greater precision and consistency and potential time savings. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
State/signal linear time‐invariant systems theory: passive discrete time systems
Authors: Z. Arov Damir , J. Staffans Olof
Published: September 2006

This is a continuation of previous work where we developed a discrete time‐invariant linear state/signal systems theory in a general setting. In this article, the state space is required to be a Hilbert space, as earlier, but the signal space is taken to be a Kreĭn space. The notion of the adjoint of a given state/signal system is introduced and exploited throughout the paper, and in particular, in the definition and the study of passive and conservative state/signal systems, which is the main subject of this paper. It is shown that each fundamental decomposition of the Kreĭn signal space is admissible for a passive state/signal system, meaning that there is a corresponding input/state/output representation of the system, a so‐called scattering representation. The connection between different scattering representations and their scattering matrices (i.e. transfer functions) is explained. We show that every passive state/signal system has a minimal conservative orthogonal dilation and minimal passive orthogonal compressions. Passive signal behaviours are defined, and their passive, conservative, andH‐passive realizations are studied. It is shown that the set of all positive self‐adjoint operatorsH(which need not be bounded or have a bounded inverse) for which a state/signal system Σ isH‐passive coincides with the set of generalized positive solutionsHof the Kalman–Yakubovich–Popov inequality for an arbitrary scattering representation of Σ, and consequently, this set does not depend on the particular representation. Under an extra minimality assumption this set contains a minimal solution which defines the available storage, and a maximal solution which defines the required supply. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Weak formulation of boundary conditions for scalar conservation laws: an application to highway traffic modelling
Authors: S. Strub Issam , M. Bayen Alexandre
Published: September 2006

This article proves the existence and uniqueness of a weak solution to a scalar conservation law on a bounded domain. A weak formulation of the boundary conditions is needed for the problem to be well posed. The existence of the solution results from the convergence of the Godunov scheme. This weak formulation is written explicitly in the context of a strictly concave flux function (relevant for highway traffic). The numerical scheme is then applied to a highway scenario with data from highway Interstate‐80 obtained from the Berkeley Highway Laboratory. Finally, the existence of a minimiser of travel time is obtained, with the corresponding optimal boundary control. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Choice of time scale and its effect on significance of predictors in longitudinal studies
Authors: Pencina Michael J. , Larson Martin G. , D'Agostino Ralph B.
Published: September 2006

Time‐to‐event regression is a frequent tool in biomedical research. In clinical trials this time is usually measured from the beginning of the study. The same approach is often adopted in the analysis of longitudinal observational studies. However, in recent years there has appeared literature making a case for the use of the date of birth as a starting point, and thus utilize age as the time‐to‐event. In this paper, we explore different types of age‐scale models and compare them with time‐on‐study models in terms of the estimated regression coefficients they produce. We consider six proportional hazards regression models that differ in the choice of time scale and in the method of adjusting for the years before the study. By considering the estimating equations of these models as well as numerical simulations we conclude that correct adjustment for the age at entry is crucial in reducing bias of the estimated coefficients. The unadjusted age‐scale model is inferior to any of the five other models considered, regardless of their choice of time scale. Additionally, if adjustment for age at entry is made, our analyses show very little to suggest that there exists any practically meaningful difference in the estimated regression coefficients depending on the choice of time scale. These findings are supported by four practical examples from the Framingham Heart Study. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cross‐over trials inStatistics in Medicine: the first ‘25’ years
Authors: Senn Stephen
Published: September 2006

Papers on cross‐over trials that have appeared in the first 25 years ofStatistics in Medicineare reviewed. Papers on bioequivalence are also considered. After a brief statistical summary, individual papers are discussed under seven headings: 1. The two‐stage analysis of AB/BA trials, 2. Baselines, 3. Binary and categorical data, 4. Survival data, 5. Modelling carry‐over, 6. Bioequivalence and 7. Components of variation. Finally, a brief assessment of the importance in this field ofStatistics in Medicineis given. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multi‐period model for disruptive events in interdependent systems
Authors: Kujawski Edouard
Published: September 2006

This paper develops the Multi‐Period Model for Disruptive Events in Interdependent Systems (MPMDEIS). The analysis is divided into two principal periods: (1) an event period that lasts for the duration of the active perturbation and results in the degradation of the interdependent systems, and (2) a recovery period during which the systems evolves to a new equilibrium. The event period perturbation is modeled as a shock that cascades among the interdependent systems and reduces their production capacity. The state of the systems at the end of the event period is specified by its operational unavailability vector, which is given by the initial perturbation strength vector multiplied by an exponential matrix with the interdependency matrix P as the exponent. The coefficients of P represent the relative contribution of the loss of capacity of one system to the loss of another system as the perturbation propagates from one to the other. The quantification of the shock and interdependencies is critical for the realistic assessment of the inflicted damage and formulating effective defensive strategies against terrorist attacks, natural hazards, and technological failures or accidents. The recovery period depends on the implemented response actions and it can be modeled using a systems dynamics approach. The standard economic input‐output tables are unlikely to be appropriate for the events of interest. However, there are probabilistic risk analysis techniques such as eliciting expert opinions and analytic methods which can be used to reliably assess these data. The MPMDEIS is compared with the Inoperability Input‐Output Model (IIM) and Dynamic Input‐Output Inoperability Model (DIIM) and it is demonstrated to avoid IIM and DIIM assumptions that can lead to significant errors for disruptive events in interdependent systems. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 9: 281– 295, 2006
Prognostic Factors in Periampullary and Pancreatic Tumor Resection in Elderly Patients
Authors: Casadei R. , Zanini N. , Morselli‐Labate A. M. , Calculli L. , Pezzilli R. , Potì O. , Grottola T. , Ricci C. , Minni F.
Published: September 2006

Background

More than half of all patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma are over 70 years of age. Life expectancy for the elderly population is increasing and currently major pancreatic resection provides the only meaningful chance of cure for periampullary and pancreatic tumors. Controversy over what constitutes the correct treatment of these tumors in elderly patients continues to this day. The aim of our study was to determine whether age alone or age plus some prognostic factors constitute contraindications to major pancreatic resections.

Methods

Between 2000 and 2005, data from 88 consecutive patients who had major pancreatic resection for periampullary or pancreatic tumors were entered into a prospective database. Fifty‐three patients under 70 years of age (young patients), and 35 patients 70 years of age or older (elderly patients) were compared with respect to several characteristics and the postoperative course.

Results

Postoperative mortality and morbidity, length of hospital stay, and long‐term survival were similar in the two groups. In the elderly group, the mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the morbidity rate was significantly higher in patients with ASA 3 than in patients with ASA 1–2, in whom a pancreaticoduodenectomy or total pancreatectomy had been performed.

Conclusions

Age alone is not a contraindication for major pancreatic resection. In elderly patients a careful evaluation of the co‐morbidities and of the type of surgical procedure is mandatory in order to allow the proper selection of those patients best suited for surgery in specialized centers.
Relations between suicidal ideation and dimensions of depressive symptoms in high‐school students
Authors: Chabrol Henri , Rodgers Rachel , Rousseau Amélie
Published: September 2006

The aim of the study was to evaluate the link between the different dimensions of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in adolescents. A sample of 1057 adolescents completed the CES‐D (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale) and three additional items measuring suicidal ideation. The four dimensions of depressive symptoms on the CES‐D (Depressed Affect, Loss of Positive Affect, Somatic and Retarded Activity, Interpersonal) were entered into regression analyses predicting the presence of any suicidal ideation and of the wish to kill oneself among participants with moderate/severe depressive symptoms (). For both boys and girls Depressed Affect was the main significant predictor of the presence of any suicidal ideation and of the wish to kill oneself. There were two additional significant predictors for boys: Loss of Positive Affect positively predicted the presence of any suicidal ideation; Somatic and Retarded Activity negatively predicted the presence of the wish to kill oneself.
Fen1 does not control somatic hypermutability of the (CTG)n· (CAG)n repeat in a knock‐in mouse model for DM1
Authors: van den Broek Walther J.A.A. , Nelen Marcel R. , van der Heijden Godfried W. , Wansink Derick G. , Wieringa Bé
Published: September 2006

The mechanism of trinucleotide repeat expansion, an important cause of neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases, is poorly understood. We report here on the study of the role of flap endonuclease 1 (Fen1), a structure‐specific nuclease with both 5′ flap endonuclease and 5′‐3′ exonuclease activity, in the somatic hypermutability of the (CTG)
n

· (CAG)
n
repeat of the DMPK gene in a mouse model for myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). By intercrossing mice with Fen1 deficiency with transgenics with a DM1 (CTG)
n

· (CAG)
n
repeat (where 104 ⩽
n
⩽ 110), we demonstrate that Fen1 is not essential for faithful maintenance of this repeat in early embryonic cleavage divisions until the blastocyst stage. Additionally, we found that the frequency of somatic DM1 (CTG)
n

· (CAG)
n
repeat instability was essentially unaltered in mice with Fen1 haploinsufficiency up to 1.5 years of age. Based on these findings, we propose that Fen1, despite its role in DNA repair and replication, is not primarily involved in maintaining stability at the DM1 locus.
Geranylgeranyl‐pyrophosphate (GGPP) synthase is down‐regulated during differentiation of osteoblastic cell line MC3T3‐E1
Authors: Yoshida Tomohiko , Asanuma Mie , Grossmann Laura , Fuse Masami , Shibata Takahisa , Yonekawa Taeko , Tanaka Tomoaki , Ueno Koichi , Yasuda Tatsuji , Saito Yasushi , Tatsuno Ichiro
Published: September 2006

Isoprenylation of geranylgeranyl‐pyrophosphate (GGPP) is critical for activation of small GTPases. We examined the roles of GGPP synthase (GGPPS) during the differentiation induced by the cell‐to‐cell contact in osteoblastic cell line MC3T3‐E1 cells. We found that (1) both mRNA and protein expression of GGPPS was reduced with decrement of its activity during the differentiation, (2) GGOH, which is converted to GGPP in the cells, inhibited differentiation. These results suggest that the decrement of GGPP is critical for the cell‐to‐cell contact‐induced differentiation, in which the down‐regulation of GGPPS might be involved.
Analysis of short RNAs in the malaria parasite and its red blood cell host
Authors: Rathjen Tina , Nicol Clare , McConkey Glenn , Dalmay Tamas
Published: September 2006

RNA interference (RNAi) is an RNA degradation process that involves short, double‐stranded RNAs (dsRNA) as sequence specificity factors. The natural function of the RNAi machinery is to generate endogenous short double‐stranded RNAs to regulate gene expression. It has been shown that treatment of Plasmodium falciparum, the etiologic agent of malaria, with dsRNA induces degradation of the corresponding microRNA (miRNA), yet typical RNAi‐associated genes have not been identifiable in the parasite genome. To clarify this discrepancy we set out to clone short RNAs from P. falciparum‐infected red blood cells and from purified parasites. We did not find any short RNA that was not a rRNA or tRNA fragment. Indeed, only known human miRNAs were isolated in parasite preparations indicating that very few if any short RNAs exist in P. falciparum. This suggests a different mechanism than classical RNAi in observations of dsRNA‐mediated degradation. Of the human miRNAs identified, the human miRNA mir‐451 accumulates at a very high level in both infected and healthy red blood cells. Interestingly, mir‐451 was not detectable in a series of immortalised cell lines representing progenitor stages of all major blood lineages, suggesting that mir‐451 may play a role in the differentiation of erythroid cells.
Transactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor by insulin‐like growth factor 1 requires basal hydrogen peroxide
Authors: Zhou Qiong , Meng Dan , Yan Bing , Jiang Bing-Hua , Fang Jing
Published: September 2006

Insulin‐like growth factor (IGF‐1) plays an important role in prostate cancer development. Recent studies suggest that IGF‐1 has mitogenic action through epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). However, the mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrated in prostate cancer DU145 cells that IGF‐1 induced EGFR transactivation, leading to ERK activation. Matrix metalloproteinase‐mediated shedding of heparin‐binding EGF is involved in this process. Antioxidants and catalase inhibited IGF‐1‐stimulated EGFR phosphorylation, indicating that H2O2 is required for EGFR activation. However, exogenous H2O2 did not activate EGFR or IGF‐1R in DU145 cells. IGF‐1 did not induced production of H2O2 in DU145 cells. Our results suggest that transactivation of EGFR by IGF‐1 requires basal intracellular H2O2 in DU145 cells.
Transsphenoidal Adenomectomy
Authors: McEwen Donna R.
Published: September 2006

The pituitary gland is a complex organ controlling many of the body's hormonal and metabolic functions. The gland's complexity and location in the brain have a serious impact on the diagnosis and treatment of pituitary pathology. Several surgical approaches are available to treat pituitary tumors; however, the transsphenoidal approach allows the surgeon to remove the tumor with minimal damage to surrounding intracranial structures. Perioperative nurses should be knowledgeable about pituitary pathology (ie, mass effect, hormonal involvement), patient treatment options, surgical approaches, and possible postoperative complications to provide quality nursing care. AORN J 61 (Feb 1995) 321–337.
Understanding Basic Pharmacology: Practical Approaches for Effective Application
Authors: Fortunato Nancymarie
Published: September 2006

Understanding Basic Pharmacology: Practical Approaches for Effective Application By Barbara L. MacDermott, Judith H. Deglin 1994, 546 pp $24.95 paperback
Folliculinum: Efficacy in premenstrual syndrome
Authors: Martinez Bruno
Published: September 2006

The severity of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and the effect of Folliculinum 9 cH in 32 patients was analyzed using a questionnaire. Symptoms of PMS were troublesome in 84% of patients prescribed Folliculinum, 88% of patients showed a satisfactory response to treatment.
Homœopathy—A pilot study of the attitudes and awareness of pharmacy staff in the Stoke-on-Trent area
Authors: Davies Maurice , Kayne Steven
Published: September 2006

The survey was designed to study the attitudes of a sample of pharmacists, technicians and unqualified staff towards homœopathy, and their understanding of the principles involved.

The most significant findings were that the majority of those who expressed a view (i.e. excluding the don't knows) were favourable to homœopathy, but there was little understanding of the subject. Most pharmacists thought that homœopathic medicines worked ‘by faith’. An urgent need for an education programme was demonstrated.
Homœopathy as a practical alternative to traditional obstetric methods
Authors: Ventoskovskiy B.M. , Popov A.V.
Published: September 2006

A clinical trial was carried out to determine the efficacy of predelivery homœopathic and ‘traditional’ prophylaxis of uterine inertia and post partum haemorrhage. Under our observation, there were 206 pregnant women characterized by high risk of uterine contractile function disturbances. The 1st group of pregnant women (n=102) received only homœopathy. The 2nd group (n=104) received conventional medical preparations including oestrogenic hormones. We studied a use of homœopathic drug complex possessing ‘relatively narrow range of influence’.

Clinical examination, foetal cardiomonitoring and ultrasound scanning were carried out in each case. The normal methods were used to treat uterine inertia, foetal distress and post partum haemorrhage.

In our opinion homœopathy can be an effective method for prophylaxis of disturbances of uterine contractile function in delivery and at the postnatal stage for pregnant women at high risk of complications.
Effect of Viscum album preparations on gastric chief cells and DNA methylation by N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine
Authors: Defize J. , Zwiers T. , Pals G. , Kipp J.B.A. , Eriksson A.W.
Published: September 2006

The protective effect of extracts of mistletoe Viscum album (Iscador) with reference to carcinogenesis was tested on in vitro cultured porcine gastric chief cells. Putative protection against in vitro methylation of lambda DNA by N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) was studied with restriction endonucleases. Preparations of Iscador from mistletoe grown on oak as host tree had a high cytotoxic effect on gastric chief cells, with an LC50 after 24 hrs that ranged between 0.01 and 0.03 mg/ml. At 0.01 mg/ml, Iscador was also found to protect lambda DNA from methylation or destruction by MNNG. During the course of this study a high variability was found both in cytotoxicity and protection rate against methylation which we attribute to batch to batch differences. Thus the LC50 for Iscador MH 86 L12 was 0.005 mg/ml, while for MH87 D24 it was 0.05 mg/ml after 24 hrs. The Iscador batch W frf 50 mg/ml, which was made from a fresh plant extract at the Hiscia Institute, showed less variability. Results are therefore given for this batch of Iscador only.
Homœopathy in sports medicine
Authors: Kayne Steven
Published: September 2006

Having considered the advantages to the athlete of using homœopathy in sports medicine, some of the many opportunities to treat acute conditions are discussed. Examples of appropriate generic and OTC medicines are given.

It is concluded that homœopathy can be used successfully to complement, or in some cases to replace, existing techniques of treating sports-related conditions.
Effects of homœopathic preparations of organic acids and minerals on the oxidative metabolism of human neutrophils
Authors: Chirumbolo Salvatore , Signorini Andrea , Bianchi Ivo , Lippi Guiseppe , Bellavite Paolo
Published: September 2006

A number of different potencies of commercially available homœopathic preparations in saline solution were tested for their ability to regulate the oxidative metabolism (superoxide production) and adhesion function of human neutrophils in vitro. 15% to 30% inhibition of oxidative metabolism was caused by Sulphur 6x, Manganum phosphoricum 6x and 8x, and Magnesium phosphoricum 6x and 8x. Phosphorus slightly reduced superoxide production, with varying results in a series of experiments. Using Magnesium phosphoricum and Phosphorus, small inhibitory effects (8–11%) were noted event at high potencies. Among the organic acids, a group (Acidum malicum 4x and Acidum fumaricum 4x) enhanced superoxide production, while others either inhibited the response (Acidum citricum and Acidum succinicum, 3x and 4x) or had no effect (Acidum α-ketoglutaricum and Acidum cis-aconitum). Attempts to reproduce these effects using solutions prepared in the laboratory confirmed the inhibitory effects of Manganum phosphoricum 6x and of organic acids in the 3x, while other data indicated that critical factors in the methodology of preparation may affect the results.
Calcarea carbonica
Authors: Shore Jonathan
Published: September 2006

The things you need to know by heart, the good confirmations, are: chilly people, worse for cold, worse for cold damp, worse for exertion, worse for ascending, worse at the full moon. Frequent colds, sleeps on left side, strong desire for sweets, eggs, salt, cheese, icecream. Fear of heights, insanity, cancer, mice, infections. Despair of recovery. Vertigo especially turning quickly or from heights. Low back pain. Lumbago. Nails break easily. Feet icy cold and then warm up later. Leg cramps especially at night during sleep.

These are symptoms which you must know, not just individually but as a pattern. We are pattern recognizers and if you know these symptoms as a coherent whole when you take your case you have all this information. You spend 1 fi hours with a patient and collect this volume of information and then do not know where to begin. But look at your case and see first one symptom, then another—overweight, chilly, worse damp weather, desires sweets and salt—and you can forget anything else and give Calcarea, for this is a Calcarea case. You have these things together as a pattern. It is actually a fairly simple medicine and you will mostly miss it because it is a very big one. The patients will give you many symptoms and you will get lost in them, missing the simple pattern that makes Calcarea. Most of the Calcareas I miss, which are then pointed out to me by my colleagues, are of that nature.
Critical evaluation of papers reviewing controlled clinical trials in homoeopathy
Authors: Melchart D. , Brandmaier R. , Eitel F. , Linde K.
Published: September 2006

An analysis was made of papers reviewing controlled clinical trials designed to assess efficacy of homoeopathic treatment strategies, the aim being to demonstrate selective and critical assessment of such papers. The papers were systematically collected and evaluated for content and quality using predefined criteria, finally comparing the results. 9 of 41 papers considered in detail after screening the literature met the criteria for inclusion in the analysis. Each considered between 22 and 107 trials. 7 papers met 2 or less of the predefined quality criteria, one met 6 and one 8 criteria. Only 1 of the papers allowed full representation and reproducible evaluation of treatment strategies for the controlled clinical studies considered in that paper. The analysis has shown that review papers must clearly specify issues, objectives, methods of literature screening and quality assessment.
Evaluation of homœopathic therapy in 129 asymptomatic HIV carriers
Authors: Singh V.P. , Singh V. , Dey S.K. , Rastogi D.P.
Published: September 2006

To assess the role of homœopathic medicines in the treatment of the asymptomatic phase of HIV infection, a pilot research study was undertaken by the Central Council for Research in Homœopathy (India) starting in May 1989. 129 symptomatic HIV carriers (120 male and 9 female) were treated with homœopathic medicines on the basis of the individuals' constitutional (both mental/emotional and physical) characteristics. The medicines were prescribed in potencies varying from 30 CH to 10M and in varying dosage, depending on the age and constitution of the individual patients. 12 of the patients studied have reverted back to negative serology for HIV antibodies after treatment varying from 3 to 16 months (mean duration of treatment between entry and reversal of seroconversion for HIV antibodies 7.25 months). All patients who continue to remain symptom free are receiving follow-up treatment. Efforts are being made to evaluate their haematological and immunological status in detail.
Cost-effectiveness of homœopathic treatment in a dental practice
Authors: Feldhaus H.-W.
Published: September 2006

Dentists who accept social security patients in Germany today are bound by a large number of rules and regulations which impose severe limits on their free choice of treatment, cost-effectiveness being a prime consideration.

The treatment of acute conditions predominates in a modern compulsory insurance practice. The author analysed his own case records and the statistics provided by the KZV (association of dental practitioners for patients with compulsory insurance) for the period from 1983 to 1990 to establish the effect of introducing consistent use of homœopathic treatment from the end of 1984 on the frequency with which certain standard treatments were required. The results were compared with the average figures of other dentists and a computation made of potential economic advantages at a national level.
Homœopathy and disability
Authors: Vickers Andrew
Published: September 2006

The classification of disability is outlined. The limitations of the medical model when applied to disability and the practical problems of disabled people are discussed. The literature on homœopathic treatment of disability is reviewed. The basic causes of disability are often irreversible, but homœopathy may have an important role to play in the relief of secondary symptoms. Homœopathic treatment of people with disabilities, especially children, requires further study.
Tetanus neonatorum
Authors: Pai P.N.
Published: September 2006

A detailed study of 164 cases of tetanus neonatorum is presented.

Cases were divided into 4 groups and were given different types of treatment. The results of the different therapies are analysed and compared.

Stramonium, hitherto not thought of as a possible remedy for tetanus, was found to be effective in this disease along with Nux vomica. The brief indications for these remedies are given.

Overall mortality in the present series is also compared with the mortality rates in different countries.
Copper sulphate and plant growth
Authors: Netien G. , Boiron J. , Marin A.
Published: September 2006

The experiments seem to have shown that a 15 cH copper sulphate dilution does favourably affect the germination and growth of seeds from plants previously treated with that substance.

On the other hand, copper sulphate-treated seeds grown on this 15 cH dilution excrete copper much more rapidly than treated seeds grown on potentized double distilled water. This means that the dilution produces a real detoxication of the seed which in its development then clearly resembles a normal, unpoisoned seed.