bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thrombolysis: From the Experimental Findings to the Clinical Practice
Authors: del Zoppo Gregory J.
Published: November 2004

Antithrombotic strategies have provided the most benefit to patients with ischemic stroke. Of these, the acute use of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) has been shown to significantly increase the number of patients who suffer little or no residual disability. Experimental work indicated that early reperfusion of occluded brainsupplying arteries reduces the size of injury and improves outcome in several species. However, there has been little progress to increase the proportion of patients who are benefitted by acute intervention with PAs since the initial report. Clinical trial experience highlights limitations in a number of aspects of design and outcome which suggest refinements for future trials. Experimental work suggests that improved outcome is also possible with acute intervention using other antithrombotic agents. There is considerable opportunity to explore safe strategies which could further benefit stroke outcome.
Cell Biology of Bladder Development and the Role of the Extracellular Matrix
Authors: McCarthy L.S.L. , Smeulders N. , Wilcox D.T.
Published: November 2004

The bladder is unique. It is the most distensible organ in the body. If the normal pattern of development is disturbed, the bladder can become dysfunctional and poorly compliant. Renal outcome is intimately linked to bladder function and hence bladder development. In this review we describe our current knowledge of the molecular processes that govern bladder development, with particular emphasis on the role of the extracellular matrix. Finally, we suggest a hypothetical model for bladder development.
Effect of Vitamin E and Vitamin C Supplementation on Antioxidative State and Renal Glomerular Basement Membrane Thickness in Diabetic Kidney
Authors: Kędziora-Kornatowska K. , Szram S. , Kornatowski T. , Szadujkis-Szadurski L. , Kędziora J. , Bartosz G.
Published: November 2004

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of vitamins C and E on malondialdehyde (MDA) content and activities of key antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) as well as glomerular basement membrane (GBM) thickness in streptozotocin-induced diabetic kidney in rats. Wistar male rats were divided into following groups (12 rats each): the control, diabetic rats, diabetic rats whose drinking water was supplemented with vitamin C in a dose of 1.0 g/l or diet was supplemented with 200 mg of vitamin E/100 g fodder. Body weight, blood glucose and HbA1C levels and 24-hour urinary albumin excretion (UAE) were studied every week (0–12 weeks). After 6 and 12 weeks, MDA content and activities of SOD, CAT and GSH-Px were measured in the kidney homogenate supernatants. Electron micrographs of glomeruli were scanned and morphometric investigations were performed by means of computer image analysis system to compare GBM thickness. The blood glucose and HbA1C concentrations and UAE in diabetic rats were significantly higher than in the control group. An increase in the MDA level and decrease in the SOD, CAT and GSH-Px activities in the kidney of diabetic rats were observed after 6 and 12 weeks of experiment. Administration of vitamins C and E did not affect body weight, blood glucose and HbA1C levels. Both vitamin C and vitamin E decreased lipid peroxidation and augmented the activities of antioxidant enzymes studied in the kidneys of diabetic rats as well as reduced UAE, decreased kidney weight and GBM thickness. The results indicate the potential utility of antioxidant vitamins in the protection against the development of diabetic nephropathy.
Adrenocorticotropin Stress Response but Not Glucocorticoid-Negative Feedback Is Altered by Prenatal Morphine Exposure in Adult Male Rats
Authors: Rimanóczy Ágnes , Šlamberová Romana , Riley Michelle A. , Vathy Ilona
Published: November 2004

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of prenatal morphine exposure on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis-regulated stress responses by measuring restraint stress-induced changes in the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) levels. In experiment 1, plasma levels of ACTH and CORT in prenatally morphine-, saline-exposed and control male rats were determined before and at several times after restraint stress. There were no statistically significant differences in plasma ACTH and CORT levels before restraint stress between the groups. However, prenatal morphine exposure dampened the stress-induced increase and spontaneous recovery of ACTH levels after the restraint stress. There were no differences in plasma CORT levels between the three groups either before or at any time after restraint stress. Experiment 2 was designed to investigate the sensitivity of negative feedback of glucocorticoids using the dexamethasone (DEX) suppression test. DEX was administered at different doses (0.001, 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg) and ACTH and CORT plasma levels were measured before and at several times after restraint stress in prenatally morphine- and saline-exposed males. DEX pretreatment eliminated the differences observed in ACTH responses to stress in morphine- and saline-exposed males. DEX pretreatment dose dependently suppressed the restraint stress-induced increased plasma ACTH concentration. In plasma CORT levels, DEX pretreatment dose dependently suppressed the restraint stress-induced increased plasma CORT concentration regardless of prenatal drug exposure. Thus, the present study demonstrates that prenatal morphine exposure alters the ACTH and CORT responses to stress but not the sensitivity of negative feedback of glucocorticoids.
Hypothalamic Neuropeptide Y/Y1 Receptor Pathway Activated by a Reduction in Circulating Leptin, but Not by an Increase in Circulating Ghrelin, Contributes to Hyperphagia Associated with Triiodothyronine-Induced Thyrotoxicosis
Authors: Ishii Shinya , Kamegai Jun , Tamura Hideki , Shimizu Takako , Sugihara Hitoshi , Oikawa Shinichi
Published: November 2004

Food intake is regulated by hypothalamic neuropeptides which respond to peripheral signals. Plasma ghrelin and leptin levels reflect peripheral energy balance and regulate hypothalamic neuropeptides such as neuropeptide Y (NPY), pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART), melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), and orexins. Thyroid hormone stimulates food intake in humans and rodents. However, the mechanisms responsible for this stimulation have not been fully elucidated. To investigate the hyperphagic response to triiodothyronine (T3)-induced thyrotoxicosis, adult male rats were studied 7 days after daily intraperitoneal injections of T3 or vehicle. T3-treated rats were markedly hyperphagic. During this hyperphagia, plasma leptin levels were markedly decreased. However, the expression of the ghrelin gene in the stomach and the plasma ghrelin concentrations did not differ between the 2 groups. Hypothalamic NPY mRNA levels were significantly increased and associated with a marked decreased in both hypothalamic POMC and CART mRNA levels in the T3-treated rats. Hypothalamic MCH and orexin mRNA levels did not differ between the 2 groups. In addition, hyperphagia was partially reversed by intracerebroventricular administration of the NPY Y1 receptor antagonist BIBO3304. Therefore, the decreased plasma leptin levels could contribute to hyperphagia in T3-induced thyrotoxicosis. However, plasma ghrelin levels did not contribute to this hyperphagia.
Blood Glucose Is Correlated with Cerebrospinal Fluid Neurotransmitter Metabolites
Authors: Umhau John C. , Petrulis Sarah G. , Diaz Rosalyn , Rawlings Robert , George David T.
Published: November 2004

Medications which influence monoaminergic neurotransmission can also have an effect on glucose regulation. In order to better understand the role of central monoaminergic neurotransmission in blood glucose homeostasis, we explored the relation between blood glucose and cerebrospinal fluid metabolite concentrations of monoaminergic neurotransmitters. Under stringently controlled resting conditions, we measured fasting blood glucose and performed lumbar punctures on 41 healthy participants. Peripheral blood glucose concentrations were significantly correlated with the cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of the dopamine metabolite, homovanillic acid and the noradrenaline metabolite, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol. These correlations may represent a homeostatic relation between brain neurotransmitter activity and blood glucose.
Short-Term Lamivudine Therapy in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B
Authors: Chien Rong-Nan , Liaw Yun-Fan
Published: November 2004

Lamivudine is a nucleoside analogue with potent inhibitory effects on hepatitis B virus (HBV) polymerase/reverse transcriptase activity. The rate of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion in a large series of Asian patients treated with lamivudine 100 mg daily for 1 year was only 16% and the incidence of YMDD mutants was 14%. Further analysis of this Asian trial has shown that patients with a pretreatment alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level higher than 5-fold the upper limit of normal (ULN) have a much higher HBeAg seroconversion rate as compared with patients with a pretreatment ALT level <2 × upper limit of normal (64 vs. 5%; p < 0.001). In order to avoid the development of YMDD mutants, we selected 186 patients with acute exacerbation for treatment with lamivudine during 9 months, if possible, and not more than 15 months. They were all seropositive for both hepatitis B surface antigen and HBeAg for more than 6 months and also had serum HBV DNA; 138 (74%) of them were male. HBV genotypes were A in 2 (1%), B in 115 (62%), C in 65 (35%), D in 2 (1%) and F in the remaining 2 (1%). Four patients (2%) had liver cirrhosis. They had mean pretreatment levels of ALT at 608 IU/l (range: 184–2,400 IU/l), total bilirubin at 1.5 mg/dl (0.3–14.8 mg/dl), and HBV DNA at 2,246 pg/ml (0.5–25,903 pg/ml). After a median of 8.2 months (3–15 months) on lamivudine, 96 patients (51%) achieved HBeAg seroconversion, while the other 90 (48%) patients did not. Genotype B was detected comparably frequently in seroconverters and nonconverters (63 vs. 61%). During 1-year follow-up after withdrawal of lamivudine, 56 (58%) of the 96 seroconverters experienced flare-ups with ALT levels elevated higher than 5 × ULN in 50 (89%). Of 90 patients who remained HBeAg-positive, in contrast, 80 (86%) experienced ALT flares (with ALT >5 × ULN in 84%) within 1 year. YMDD mutants did not develop in any of these 186 patients during the course of lamivudine therapy. In conclusion, short-term lamivudine therapy in patients with chronic active hepatitis B can reduce the incidence of YMDD mutants and achieve an acceptable HBeAg seroconversion rate. However, the relapse rate was high (60% during 1-year follow-up). Further study is needed to establish how to improve a sustained HBeAg response.
Short-Term Lamivudine for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B
Authors: Yotsuyanagi Hiroshi , Yasuda Kiyomi , Iino Shiro
Published: November 2004

Short-term lamivudine and its withdrawal were evaluated as regards an immunomodulatory therapy of chronic hepatitis B. Lamivudine was given for 3 or 6 months to 23 patients with chronic hepatitis B who were infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype C, including 15 with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and 8 without it. It decreased serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HBV DNA in HBeAg-positive patients. Flare-ups of ALT and HBV DNA after treatment were observed in most patients, and 4 of the 12 (33%) patients with 6-month lamivudine treatment remained in remission 6 months after withdrawal of the therapy. In HBeAg-negative patients, however, flare-ups of ALT and HBV DNA were mild. Normalization of ALT and a decrease in serum HBV DNA were accomplished in 6 of the 9 (75%) patients. Breakthroughs or serious side effects were not observed in any patients. Short-term lamivudine is safe and may offer a therapeutic option to patients with chronic hepatitis B.
Exploring Inflammation in Hemodialysis Patients: Persistent and Superimposed Inflammation
Authors: Tsirpanlis George , Bagos Pantelis , Ioannou Dimitris , Bleta Aliki , Marinou Ioanna , Lagouranis Antonis , Chatzipanagiotou Stylianos , Nicolaou Chrysoula
Published: November 2004

Background: Inflammation is frequently elevated, and seems to be episodic in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Whether, its episodic character is due to the temporal variability, in periods free of clinical events, of the inflammatory indices or due, to the acute phase response induced by common inflammatory stimuli, has not been investigated yet in a longitudinal study. This study explores inflammation forms, characteristics and causes which are probably related to the high cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity in HD patients. Methods: In 37 HD patients, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were weekly measured for 16 consecutive weeks. Inflammatory clinical events, in the week before every measurement, were recorded. Repeated measures ANOVA were applied for statistical analysis. Results: Fifty-one of 533 patient-weeks were positive for a clinical event. Mean ± SD (range) hs-CRP was 7.01 ± 16.06 (0.2–169) mg/l for all the weeks of the study, 38.25 ± 39.35 (2.1–169) mg/l for the weeks with clinical events and 3.70 ± 3.86 (0.2–26.1) mg/l for the weeks free of events. Variations for SAA and IL-6 were similar. ‘Clinical events’ strongly influenced acute-phase proteins and IL-6 levels. The effect of the factor ‘time’ (as assessed by inflammatory indices variation in weekly repeated measurements) was significant for all the 3 indices measured, independently of the factor ‘clinical events’. Conclusions: In periods free of clinical events, microinflammation characterizes HD patients and fluctuates in time. Inflammation due to common clinical events is added, periodically, to this microinflammation. The high level persistent microinflammation as well as the superimposed – due to clinical events – inflammation could be related to the CVD in these patients.
Endothelial Cell Injury Markers in Chronic Renal Failure on Conservative Treatment and Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis
Authors: Małyszko Jolanta , Małyszko Jacek S. , Myśliwiec Michał
Published: November 2004

Aim: In chronic renal failure in dialyzed patients vascular damage is frequently observed and it is probable that disturbances in fibrinolytic activity and endothelial dysfunction may play a role in vascular complications such as stroke or ischemic heart disease. There have been a few data concerning hemostasis in chronic renal failure. Since hemostatic disturbances in nephrotic syndrome mimick those observed in patients maintained on chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialyses (CAPD), the aim of the study was to assess adhesion molecules (P-selectin, E-selectin, ICAM, VCAM and markers of endothelial cell injury), von Willebrand factor, thrombomodulin, and TFPI (tissue factor pathway inhibitor) in CAPD patients as well as in subjects with chronic renal failure (CRF) treated conservatively. Methods: The studies were performed on 23 CAPD patients, 24 patients with nephrotic syndrome and 24 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers. TFPI total, full length, truncated, von Willebrand factor, trombomodulin, P-selectin, E-selectin, ICAM, VCAM and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor sFlt3 were assayed using commercially available kits. We evaluated also thrombin activity (thrombin-antithrombin complexes (TAT), prothrombin fragments 1 and 2) and the degree of plasmin generation. Results: In CAPD and CRF patients, concentrations of the adhesion molecules P-selectin, E-selectin, ICAM and VCAM were significantly higher when compared to the control group. Concentrations of total, free and truncated TFPI were significantly higher in CAPD and CRF patients when compared to the healthy volunteers. Concentrations of ‘classical’ markers of endothelial cell injury, von Willebrand factor and thrombomodulin, were significantly higher in CAPD and CRF patients when compared to the control group. In CAPD patients, VCAM and thrombomodulin were significantly elevated when compared to the CRF patients. Conclusions: The elevated levels of adhesion molecules in CAPD patients probably reflect inadequate clearance as well as enhanced synthesis/release. They may also indicate endothelial cell injury as well as elevated levels of von Willebrand factor and trombomodulin and increased ICAM and VCAM in CAPD patients. Our studies indicate that in renal failure patients, particularly on CAPD, there is evidence of endothelial cell injury and a high degree of hypercoagulation relative to healthy subjects. It may lead to fibrin deposition in the vascular wall, thrombus formation, and development and progression of atherosclerosis with its complications.
Renal Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2)
Authors: Krämer Bernhard K. , Kammerl Martin C. , Kömhoff Martin
Published: November 2004

Background/Aims: The role of COX-2 for renal function during renal development, for physiology and pathophysiology of renal diseases and the side effects of available COX-2 inhibitors, has gained increasing interest. We aimed therefore to review the respective role of renal COX-2. Methods: Review of relevant recent publications in the field, and in addition of in part unpublished data obtained in our laboratories. Results: COX-2 is ‘constitutively’ localized in the kidney i.e. in macula densa, TALH, interstitial cells, and is of utmost importance for normal renal development. Renal COX-2 is regulated by for example sodium and volume intake, angiotensin II, glucocorticoids often involving specific COX-2 promotor response elements. COX-2 derived prostanoids are required for preservation of renal blood flow and glomerular filtration especially in states of fluid deficit, they promote natriuresis, and furthermore may stimulate renin secretion during low-sodium intake/loop diuretic use. Conversely, COX-2 inhibitors decrease glomerular filtration, and renal perfusion, sometimes even causing acute renal failure. In addition, COX-2 inhibitors cause sodium retention, edema formation, cardiac failure and hypertension. The role of COX-2 derived prostanoids in renal inflammation or failure including diabetic nephropathy and renal transplantation remains at present controversial. Conclusion: COX-2 is one of the major players in renal physiology and pathophysiology. One focus of future work should be placed on COX-2 in primary renal diseases.
Betaine and Folate Status as Cooperative Determinants of Plasma Homocysteine in Humans
Authors: Holm Pål I. , Ueland Per M. , Vollset Stein Emil , Midttun Øivind , Blom Henk J. , Keijzer Miranda B.A.J. , den Heijer Martin
Published: November 2004

Objective—

Two published studies have demonstrated that betaine in the circulation is a determinant of plasma total homocysteine, but none had sufficient power to investigate the possible effect modification by folate status.

Methods and Results—

We measured homocysteine, betaine, folate, vitamin B
6
, and related compounds in serum/plasma from 500 healthy men and women aged 34 to 69 years before (fasting levels) and 6 hours after a standard methionine loading test. Choline, dimethylglycine, and folate were determinants of plasma betaine in a multiple regression model adjusting for age and sex. The increase in homocysteine after loading showed a strong inverse association with plasma betaine and a weaker inverse association with folate and vitamin B
6
. Fasting homocysteine showed a strong inverse relation to folate, a weak relation to plasma betaine, and no relation to vitamin B
6
. Notably, adjusted (for age and sex) dose-response curves for the postmethionine increase in homocysteine or fasting homocysteine versus betaine showed that the inverse associations were most pronounced at low serum folate, an observation that was confirmed by analyses of interaction.

Conclusions—

Collectively, these results show that plasma betaine is a strong determinant of increase in homocysteine after methionine loading, particularly in subjects with low folate status.
Mouse Strain–Specific Differences in Vascular Wall Gene Expression and Their Relationship to Vascular Disease
Authors: Tabibiazar Raymond , Wagner Roger A. , Spin Joshua M. , Ashley Euan A. , Narasimhan Balasubramanian , Rubin Edward M. , Efron Bradley , Tsao Phil S. , Tibshirani Robert , Quertermous Thomas
Published: November 2004

Objective—

Different strains of inbred mice exhibit different susceptibility to the development of atherosclerosis. The C3H/HeJ and C57Bl/6 mice have been used in several studies aimed at understanding the genetic basis of atherosclerosis. Under controlled environmental conditions, variations in susceptibility to atherosclerosis reflect differences in genetic makeup, and these differences must be reflected in gene expression patterns that are temporally related to the development of disease. In this study, we sought to identify the genetic pathways that are differentially activated in the aortas of these mice.

Methods and Results—

We performed genome-wide transcriptional profiling of aortas from C3H/HeJ and C57Bl/6 mice. Differences in gene expression were identified at baseline as well as during normal aging and longitudinal exposure to high-fat diet. The significance of these genes to the development of atherosclerosis was evaluated by observing their temporal pattern of expression in the well-studied apolipoprotein E model of atherosclerosis.

Conclusion—

Gene expression differences between the 2 strains suggest that aortas of C57Bl/6 mice have a higher genetic propensity to develop inflammation in response to appropriate atherogenic stimuli. This study expands the repertoire of factors in known disease-related signaling pathways and identifies novel candidate genes for future study.
Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), MMP-2, and Serum Elastase Activity Are Associated With Systolic Hypertension and Arterial Stiffness
Authors: Yasmin  , Wallace Sharon , McEniery Carmel M. , Dakham Zahid , Pusalkar Pawan , Maki-Petaja Kaisa , Ashby Mike J. , Cockcroft John R. , Wilkinson Ian B.
Published: November 2004

Background—

Arterial stiffness is an independent determinant of cardiovascular risk, and arterial stiffening is the predominant abnormality in systolic hypertension. Elastin is the main elastic component of the arterial wall and can be degraded by a number of enzymes, including matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and MMP-2. We hypothesized that elastase activity would be related to arterial stiffness and tested this using isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) as a model of stiffening and separately in a large cohort of healthy individuals.

Methods and Results—

A total of 116 subjects with ISH and 114 matched controls, as well as 447 individuals free from cardiovascular disease were studied. Aortic and brachial pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index were determined. Blood pressure, lipids, C-reactive protein, MMP-9, MMP-2, serum elastase activity (SEA), and tissue-specific inhibitor 2 of metalloproteinases were measured. Aortic and brachial PWV, MMP-9, MMP-2, and SEA levels were increased in ISH subjects compared with controls (
P
=0.001). MMP-9 levels correlated linearly and significantly with aortic (
r
=0.45;
P
=0.001) and brachial PWV (
r
=0.22;
P
=0.002), even after adjustments for confounding variables. In the younger, healthy subjects, MMP-9 and SEA were also independently associated with aortic PWV.

Conclusions—

Aortic stiffness is related to MMP-9 levels and SEA, not only in ISH, but also in younger, apparently healthy individuals. This suggests that elastases including MMP-9 may be involved in the process of arterial stiffening and development of ISH.
Cells Expressing Early Cardiac Markers Reside in the Bone Marrow and Are Mobilized Into the Peripheral Blood After Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Kucia Magda , Dawn Buddhadeb , Hunt Greg , Guo Yiru , Wysoczynski Marcin , Majka Marcin , Ratajczak Janina , Rezzoug Francine , Ildstad Suzanne T. , Bolli Roberto , Ratajczak Mariusz Z.
Published: November 2004

The concept that bone marrow (BM)–derived cells participate in cardiac regeneration remains highly controversial and the identity of the specific cell type(s) involved remains unknown. In this study, we report that the postnatal BM contains a mobile pool of cells that express early cardiac lineage markers (Nkx2.5/Csx, GATA-4, and MEF2C). These cells are present in significant amounts in BM harvested from young mice but their abundance decreases with age; in addition, the responsiveness of these cells to gradients of motomorphogens SDF-1, HGF, and LIF changes with age. FACS analysis, combined with analysis of early cardiac markers at the mRNA and protein levels, revealed that cells expressing these markers reside in the nonadherent, nonhematopoietic CXCR4
+
/Sca-1
+
/lin
−
/CD45
−
mononuclear cell (MNC) fraction in mice and in the CXCR4
+
/CD34
+
/AC133
+
/CD45
−
BMMNC fraction in humans. These cells are mobilized into the peripheral blood after myocardial infarction and chemoattracted to the infarcted myocardium in an SDF-1-CXCR4–, HGF-c-Met–, and LIF-LIF-R–dependent manner. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that the postnatal BM harbors a nonhematopoietic population of cells that express markers for cardiac differentiation. We propose that these potential cardiac progenitors may account for the myocardial regenerative effects of BM. The present findings provide a novel paradigm that could reconcile current controversies and a rationale for investigating the use of BM-derived cardiac progenitors for myocardial regeneration.
Protease Inhibitors in Spontaneous Cervical Artery Dissections
Authors: Konrad Carsten , Langer C. , Müller G.A. , Berger K. , Dziewas R. , Stögbauer F. , Nabavi D.G. , Junker R. , Ringelstein E.B. , Kuhlenbäumer G.
Published: November 2004

Background and Purpose—

Observations in patients with arterial aneurysms, fibromuscular dysplasia, and spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCAD) indicate that protease inhibitor deficiency might boost the enzymatic destruction of arterial tissue and increase the risk of these arterial wall diseases. Here we present the first large investigation of the protease inhibitor hypothesis in patients with sCAD.

Methods—

Eighty patients with sCAD were compared with 80 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. α
1
-antitrypsin (α
1
-AT) and α
2
-macroglobulin (α
2
-MG) levels, and α
1
-AT genotypes were assessed and compared between groups.

Results—

α
1
-AT and α
2
-MG levels as well as α
1
-AT genotypes did not differ significantly between patients and controls. The frequency of
Z
alleles in the patient group was higher than in the control group and than in other cohorts from Europe; however, the difference remained nonsignificant. All patients with
Z
alleles had internal carotid artery dissections.

Conclusions—

Overall, this data does not support the hypothesis that protease inhibitor levels or α
1
-AT genotypes play an important role in the etiology of sCAD. The present data does not exclude that the
Pi-Z
allele might have an influence on subgroups of sCAD, such as internal carotid artery dissections.
Remotely Sensed Microphysical and Thermodynamic Properties of Nonuniform Water Cloud Fields
Authors: Harshvardhan  , Guo Guang , Green Robert N. , Qu Zheng , Nakajima Takashi Y.
Published: November 2004

Visible and near-infrared reflected radiances have been used to estimate the cloud optical depth and effective radius of cloud-filled global area coverage (GAC) pixels from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) for two cases in the North Atlantic Ocean. One is representative of clouds having low concentrations of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), while the other is an example of maritime clouds forming in continental air, in this case, intruding from Europe around a cutoff low pressure system. It is shown that an estimate of the cloud drop concentration can be obtained from remotely sensed cloud radiative properties and standard meteorological analyses. These concentrations show very clearly the influence of enhanced CCN on cloud microphysics. However, conclusions regarding the indirect radiative effect of aerosol on cloud must wait for the development of a framework for analyzing changes in cloud liquid water path (LWP). It is shown that estimates of LWP are greatly influenced by the scheme that is used to identify cloudy pixels at the AVHRR GAC resolution. Application of a very strict thermal channel spatial coherence criterion for identifying cloud-filled pixels yields mean LWP estimates for cloudy pixels alone that are 40%–75% higher than mean LWP estimates for the much larger sample of possibly cloudy pixels identified by a reflectance threshold criterion.
US Foreign Correspondents
Authors: Wu H. Denis , Hamilton John Maxwell
Published: November 2004

This article reports the findings from a comprehensive survey of US foreign correspondents conducted in 2001. Some trends - such as Eurocentrism, relatively high degrees of education and the like - continue. New trends also appeared in the study. More foreign nationals work for US media than ever before. The Internet is having a profound impact on the way foreign correspondents go about their work. Both of these new findings, which have important implications for foreign news coverage, are discussed. Overall, nothing in this study suggested that the general neglect of traditional foreign newsgathering will be reversed in the near future.
Reevaluating Zulu Religion
Authors: Monteiro-Ferreira Ana Maria
Published: November 2004

Through a brief overview of Zulu history and traditions, this article, committed to reevaluating traditional Zulu social patterns, questions the European interpretations of Zulu people’s system of beliefs and religious and spiritual concepts. From an Afrocentric critical reading of major works by three European authors (Callaway, Hexham, and Berglund), this study is an attempt to trace the spiritual African heritage of the Zulus back to the ancient Kemetic concepts. Rather than insisting on the attribution of Christian and Muslin traditions to the Southern African indigenous peoples, this article aims at showing the inconsistency of such attributions vis-à-vis the human being’s responsibility that underlies the holistic cosmogony of every African
A Component-Based Framework for the Composition of Simulation Software Modeling Electrical Systems
Authors: Delinchant Benoit , Wurtz Frédéric , Magot David , Gerbaud Laurent
Published: November 2004

This article deals with a component-based approach to design electrical systems modeled by several simulation software. The component paradigm can be applied to simulation software, thus taking advantage of composition facilities. To do so, a visual composition tool has been developed and is presented in this article. It produces recursively a global simulation component from several pieces of simulation software. It also deals with uncertainty by taking into account different kinds of components as well as different kinds of coupling methods. A specific coupling method for components dedicated to optimization is detailed. The sizing process of a home system filter is then presented to illustrate the use of the visual composer tool and this specific coupling method.
Automated Static Analysis of Equation-Based Components
Authors: Bunus Peter , Fritzson Peter
Published: November 2004

Mathematical modeling and the simulation of complex physical systems are emerging as key technologies in engineering. The availability of static analyzers and automatic debuggers for detecting structural and numerical inconsistencies in the simulation models is crucial. To address this need, the authors propose a methodology for detecting and repairing overconstrained and underconstrained situations based on graph-theoretical approaches. Components and equations that cause the irregularities are automatically isolated, and meaningful error messages for the user are elaborated. The authors have implemented the AMOEBA (Automatic Modelica Equation-Based Analyzer) environment to support the development and specification of correct equation-based simulation models by applying graph-theoretical approaches and semiautomatic debugging techniques. The implementation architecture and preliminary experiments with a prototype debugger integrated in the symbolic and numeric engine, ModSimPack, of the Modelica language compiler are presented and discussed.
A Framework of Multi-Agent-Based Modeling, Simulation, and Computational Assistance in an Ubiquitous Environment
Authors: Shibuya Kazuhiko
Published: November 2004

The author exemplifies the framework of PSI (Pervasive System for Indoor-GIS) for exploring the spatial model of dynamic human behavior and developing various services in an ubiquitous computational environment. This does not mean merely constructing a software framework; rather, it means attempting to establish an inclusive service framework for ubiquitous computing. The most advantageous aspect of this component-oriented framework is that it contributes toward developing various service applications for ubiquitous computation as the occasion demands. That is, service applications are expected to do modeling, simulation, monitoring, Web services, and other applications. The author also discusses the relative issues on making a coordinating bridge between behavioral sciences and multiagent systems.
A Phenomenological Perspective on Older Widows’Satisfactions With Their Lives
Authors: Porter Eileen J.
Published: November 2004

The study of life satisfaction (LS) has been a preeminent focus in gerontological research, but the validity of the construct has been questioned. The main aim of this descriptive phenomenological study was to describe the structures of experience (phenomena) that older widows associated with perceptions of gratification, pleasure, or contentment. A secondary analysis was done of 44 interviews conducted with 16 older widows. The phenomenon of interest was savoring satisfactions. Six component phenomena, including “doing what I can for them” and “bringing variety to life,” were common across the sample. The women’s specific intentions reflected personal nuances of the phenomenon. The personal-social context of the experience was described, and sources of satisfaction were highlighted as opportunities afforded by the environment. Findings were compared to domains typically measured in LS instruments and predominant research traditions. Ideas were cited for preventive interventions and further research about satisfying experiences and sources of satisfaction.
The Effects of Volunteering on the Physical and Mental Health of Older People
Authors: Lum Terry Y. , Lightfoot Elizabeth
Published: November 2004

The purpose of this study is to build on the growing body of literature examining the correlations between volunteering and health among older persons. Longitudinal data from the 1993 and 2000 panels of the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old Study (AHEAD) were used to measure health and mental health outcomes of people over age 70 who volunteered at least 100 hours in 1993. The findings provide empirical support to earlier claims that volunteering slows the decline in self-reported health and functioning levels, slows the increase in depression levels, and improves mortality rates for those who volunteer. However, volunteering had no effect on the number of physician-diagnosed health conditions or nursing home residence rates. The findings provide support for the concept of role enhancement.
Working Conditions and Early Retirement
Authors: Blekesaune Morten , Solem Per Erik
Published: November 2004

This article investigates the impact of working conditions on individual retirement for 270 occupations. It combines survey data for estimates of job strains, census data for occupations, and income and social insurance/security data, for the transition from work to retirement for 19,114 Norwegian employees between the ages of 60 and 67. Retirement was identified by a drop in work-related income and studied both jointly and separately for disability and nondisability retirement, including four types of disability. Data were analyzed using logistic regression (competing risk) “duration” models. Findings indicate that disability retirement is related to physical job strains. Among men, both pathways of early retirement are related to low autonomy in job tasks. Furthermore, psychological job stress may reduce nondisability retirement. The findings are discussed in relation to (1) the prospect of reducing early retirement by changing working conditions and (2) who will gain from certain changes in pension systems.
‘Boys Business’: an unusual northern Australian music program for boys in the middle years of schooling
Authors: Smith Bob
Published: November 2004

The Northern Territory’s population commingles Anglo, European and Asian cultural communities. At over 25 percent, it also has Australia’s proportionately largest indigenous population. Consequently it presents an amazing proving ground for people-related research projects. One such project is ‘Boys Business’, involving middle years’ boys with learning in school and for life. What is unusual about the project is its use of music as the primary vehicle to inspire boys. The program operates in part from a belief that boys themselves are actually alright but that they seek affirmation in their engagement with an increasingly challenging world. Literacy may provide one such challenge, constraining many boys’ learning. The program addresses this, as it encourages acquisition of oral and emotional literacy through music making and related activities. So effective is ‘Boys Business’ in the ways it addresses these and other issues that it is now moving across state and national borders, introducing boys elsewhere to the joys of music making.
Didaktik of music: a German concept and its comparison to American music pedagogy
Authors: Kertz-Welzel Alexandra
Published: November 2004

Didaktik of music is the science and art of teaching music in terms of determining goals, contents and methods. It is both a scholarly field of research and a teacher’s craft. Didaktik raises issues which neither curriculum research nor pedagogical methodology address in the same way. The main intent of this article is to present important issues concerning the German Didaktik of music, and to make comparisons to the approaches in the United States. By framing Didaktik in view of American music education as a prominent and familiar system, both practical and theoretical issues may be clarified. The concept of a comparative Didaktik of music is also introduced, allowing for more specific questions of pedagogy and curriculum to be raised which do not feature in studies to date.
A Dispatching Rule for Efficient Workflow
Authors: Rhee Seung-Hyun , Bae Hyerim , Kim Yeongho
Published: November 2004

A workflow management system is a software system to support accurate execution, control and management of business processes. It has been known that the system executes complex processes automatically and manages them effectively to improve the productivities. However, though existing systems assure the automatic execution of an individual process, there is room for enhancement from the view of efficient execution of all the processes. In this paper, we propose a method of executing business processes efficiently by introducing the PERT/CPM techniques in the workflow management systems. We first consider the differences between workflow process models and PERT/CPM models, and then develop a method of calculating the critical path and slack time in workflow processes. This leads us to develop a dispatching rule that can guide task performers to prioritize their tasks to increase the efficiency of all the processes. We have carried out a set of simulation experiments and analyzed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Social skills assessment of children with autism in free-play situations
Authors: Anderson Angelika , Moore Dennis W. , Godfrey Rebecca , Fletcher-Flinn Claire M.
Published: November 2004

Poor social functioning and limited play are characteristic of children with autism. Increasingly, education for children with autism is provided within mainstream settings, but given their particular difficulties, the adequate provision of educational services in such settings is challenging. This study presents observational data of the play behaviour and social interaction patterns of 10 children with autism in mainstream kindergartens and primary school playgrounds. The target children differed significantly in terms of their play and social interactions from typically developing children in the same settings. The adequacy of the provision of services for children with autism in mainstream provision is discussed.
A perspective on the research literature related to early intensive behavioral intervention (Lovaas) for young children with autism
Authors: Shea Victoria
Published: November 2004

Various aspects of the research literature on early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) have been poorly understood within the psychological, educational, and advocacy communities. Examination of the studies that are frequently cited by proponents of EIBI suggests that the expectation that 47 percent of youngsters who receive EIBI will reach normal developmental status is questionable.
Mothers supporting children with autistic spectrum disorders
Authors: Bromley Jo , Hare Dougal Julian , Davison Kerry , Emerson Eric
Published: November 2004

Parents of children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) are more likely to experience serious psychological distress than parents of children with other developmental disabilities. To examine the impact of a range of factors on psychological wellbeing, interviews were undertaken with 68 mothers of children with ASDs to explore aspects of social support, mental health status and satisfaction with services. Findings indicated that over half of mothers screened positive for significant psychological distress and that this was associated with low levels of family support and with bringing up a child with higher levels of challenging behaviour. Mothers were more likely to report lower levels of support if they were a lone parent, were living in poor housing, or were the mother of a boy with ASD. The study also investigated areas of useful support and areas of unmet need, the latter including care breaks and advice needs.
The health and social care needs of family carers supporting adults with autistic spectrum disorders
Authors: Hare Dougal Julian , Pratt Catherine , Burton Mark , Bromley Jo , Emerson Eric
Published: November 2004

The families of 26 adults with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) who either lived at home or maintained close contact with their families were interviewed about their social and psychological needs related to caring for the person with ASD. In contrast to previous studies of familial carers of children with ASDs, a strong association between parental emotional distress and unmet need was found. Parents also reported a need for more autism-specific intervention and support for adults with ASDs. The study illustrates the continuing and underreported role of families in supporting adults with ASDs.
Development of an Enthalpy and Carbon Dioxide Based Demand Control Ventilation for Indoor Air Quality and Energy Saving with Neural Network Control
Authors: Chao Christopher Y.H. , Hu J. S.
Published: November 2004

An enthalpy and carbon dioxide level based demand control ventilation (EDCV) algorithm has been developed. This takes into account both the indoor occupancy level and the energy content of the fresh air and return air while controlling the fresh air supply. It has been applied under various operating conditions to ensure that the most effective control strategy was used. A back propagation (BP) neural network was used to tune the proportional, integral and differential (PID) parameters in order to obtain a good control performance. Experiments were conducted in a mediumsized lecture theatre to verify the performance of the developed EDCV algorithm in a real application. The results showed that acceptable indoor air quality could be obtained with less energy consumption. Under the optimum experimental conditions, about 15.4% of the total cooling energy was saved. The control performance was found to be good with the PID parameters tuned via the neural network
A Humidity Dependent Vapour Retarder in Non-ventilated Flat Roofs. In Situ Measurements and Numerical Analysis
Authors: Wakili K. Ghazi , Frank Th.
Published: November 2004

The influence of a humidity dependent vapour retarder on the annual moisture distribution in thermally insulated flat roof constructions has been investigated by means of long term in situ measurements and two numerical simulation methods. It is shown that the simple Glaser method is not suitable to predict the moisture distribution in this type of construction under real climatic conditions and that only a transient hygrothermal analysis is able to reproduce the measured temperature and relative humidity. Based on both measurements and transient numerical simulations, the role of the vapour retarders for this type of constructions has been evaluated.
The natural life cycle of new media evolution
Authors: Lehman-Wilzig Sam , Cohen-Avigdor Nava
Published: November 2004

This article analyzes the evolution of the internet, with special emphasis on its impact on older media in their struggle to survive. The analysis is based on a 6-stage, natural life cycle model of new media evolution, comprising birth (technical invention), penetration, growth, maturity, self-defense, and adaptation, convergence or obsolescence. Our universal model melds several elements of previous theories and analyses from disparate fields such as media history, marketing, technological diffusion and convergence, while adding a few new aspects as well. The model’s three contributions lie in expanding the scope –quantitatively and qualitatively –of new media’s development stages (beyond the three or four stages noted by others); emphasizing the interaction and struggle between old and new media; and analyzing ‘functional-life after appliance-death’of media transformed/co-opted into something old/new. Applying this model to the internet enables us to better understand its future evolution and the survival chances of older mass media.
Spirits as ‘ready to hand’
Authors: Willerslev Rane
Published: November 2004

The Upper Kolyma Yukaghirs, a small group of indigenous hunters in north-eastern Siberia, rarely give names to spirits and have no neatly ordered system of classification. I develop an argument that relates this to the nature of Yukaghir experience, going beyond the academically widespread view of knowledge as a matter of linguistic representations or cognition and focusing instead on the way things occur in the flux of people’s everyday activities. Moreover, drawing on recent findings within cognitive science, which show that concepts can and do exist independently of language, and that dreaming shares basic cognitive structures and processes with waking life, I suggest that it is possible that children, before they learn to talk, could develop prototypical concepts of spirits through dream experiences. In this case, language would not be essential for conceptual thought about spiritual beings.