bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparing the effectiveness of 585‐nm vs. 595‐nm wavelength pulsed dye laser treatment of port wine stains in conjunction with cryogen spray cooling
Authors: Chang Cheng‐Jen , Kelly Kristen M. , van Gemert Martin J.C. , Nelson J. Stuart
Published: November 2002

Background and Objectives

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of cryogen spray cooled laser treatment (CSC‐LT) at wavelengths of 585 nm vs. 595 nm for port wine stain (PWS) birthmarks in a large series of patients.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

A retrospective review was conducted of 64 patients with PWS treated with the ScleroPLUS® [Candela (Wayland, MA)] pulsed dye laser (λ = 585 or 595 nm wavelength; spot size 7 mm, τp = 1,500 microseconds) over a 3‐year period. Subjects' ages ranged between 3 months and 64 years; there were 42 females and 22 males, all of whom were Asian. Number of treatments ranged from 1 to 6. Duration of treatment ranged from 6 months to 2 years 11 months, with a mean of 12 months. Patients (n = 32) received CSC‐LT (585 nm) using radiant exposures of 7–10 J/cm2. A second group of patients (n = 32) received CSC‐LT (595 nm) using radiant exposures of 7–10 J/cm2. The primary efficacy measurement was the quantitative assessment of blanching response scores for CSC‐LT (585 nm) versus CSC‐LT (595 nm). Patients were monitored for adverse effects.

Results

Based on chi‐squared analysis, there were clinical, and statistically significant, differences in blanching response scores favoring PWS receiving CSC‐LT (585 nm) as compared to CSC‐LT (595 nm) (P < .001). Transient hyperpigmentation was noted in 43.7% (n = 14) and 37.5% (n = 12) of patients in the CSC‐LT (585 nm) and CSC‐LT (595 nm) groups, respectively. In both groups, transient hyperpigmentation resolved in all patients within 1 year. Permanent hypopigmentation or scarring was not observed in either group.

Conclusions

CSC‐LT (585 nm) resulted in superior blanching as compared to CSC‐LT (595 nm). Further study is required to optimize wavelength selection on an individual patient basis during PWS therapy in order to improve treatment results. Lasers Surg. Med. 31:352–358, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Laser‐induced fluorescence spectroscopy for in vivo diagnosis of non‐melanoma skin cancers
Authors: Panjehpour Masoud , Julius Clark E. , Phan Mary N. , Vo‐Dinh Tuan , Overholt Suzanne
Published: November 2002

Background and Objectives

Laser‐induced fluorescence spectroscopy is a non‐invasive technique previously used for detection of cancer in a variety of organ systems. The objective of this study was to determine whether in vivo laser‐induced fluorescence spectroscopy alone at the visible excitation wavelength of 410 nm could be used to detect non‐melanoma skin cancers.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

The system consisted of a nitrogen/dye laser tuned at 410 nm, an optical multichannel analyzer, and a fiber optic probe for excitation of tissue and collection of fluorescence emission. Two hundred and seventy nine measurements were performed from normal and abnormal tissues in 49 patients. Patients were classified as having either skin types I, II, or III. Biopsy of the abnormal tissues were then performed. Each measurement was assigned as either normal, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), pre‐cancerous, or benign. Total emission photon count was used as the discriminating index. A threshold value was calculated to separate normal tissue indices from indices of cancer tissues. The classification accuracy of each data point was determined using the threshold value.

Results

Cancers were classified 93, 89, and 78% correctly in patients with skin types I, II, and III, respectively. Normal tissues were classified 93, 88, and 50% correctly in patients with skin types I, II, and III, respectively. Using the same threshold, pre‐cancerous spectra were classified 78 and 100% correctly in skin types I and III, respectively. Benign lesions were classified 100, 46, and 27% correctly in patient with skin types I, II, and III, respectively.

Conclusions

In vivo laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy at 410 nm excitation and using the intensity of emission signal is effective for detection of BCC, SCC, and actinic keratosis, specially in patients with light colored skin. Lasers Surg. Med. 31:367–373, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The quantitative importance of criteria For MCDA
Authors: Podinovski Vladislav V.
Published: November 2002

This paper presents theoretical foundations for the description of preferences in multiple criteria decision making models using quantitative estimates of the relative importance of criteria. We develop simple decision rules that define the preference and indifference relations induced by the information about the quantitative importance of criteria. These relations are naturally consistent with the values of the generalized, or global, criteria. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Medicinal chemistry approaches for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Bachurin S.O.
Published: November 2002

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, which is characterised by progressive deterioration of memory and higher cortical functions that ultimately result in total degradation of intellectual and mental activities. Modern strategies in the search of new therapeutic approaches are based on the morphological and biochemical characteristics of AD, and focused on following directions: agents that compensate the hypofunction of cholinergic system, agents that interfere with the metabolism of beta‐amyloid peptide, agents that protect nerve cells from toxic metabolites formed in neurodegenerative processes, agents that activate other neurotransmitter systems that indirectly compensate for the deficit of cholinergic functions, agents that affect the process of the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, anti‐inflammatory agents that prevent the negative response of nerve cells to the pathological process. The goal of the present review is the validation and an analysis from the point of view of medicinal chemistry of the principles of the directed search of drugs for the treatment and prevention of AD and related neurodegenerative disorders. It is based on systematization of the data on biochemical and structural similarities in the interaction between physiologically active compounds and their biological targets related to the development of such pathologies. The main emphasis is on cholinomimetic, anti‐amyloid and anti‐metabolic agents, using the data that were published during the last 3 to 4 years, as well as the results of clinical trials presented on corresponding websites. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Med Res Rev, 23, No. 1, 48–88, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/med.10026
Mesangial cell proliferation inhibitors for the treatment of proliferative glomerular disease
Authors: Kurogi Yasuhisa
Published: November 2002

Mesangial cells (MC) serve a number of functions in the renal glomerular capillary including structural support of the capillary tuft, modulation of glomerular hemodynamics, and a phagocytic function allowing removal of macromolecules and immune complexes. The proliferation of MC is a prominent feature of glomerular disease including IgA nephropathy, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, lupus nephritis, and diabetic nephropathy. In experimental animal models of nephritis, MC proliferation frequently precedes and is linked to the increase of extracellular matrix in the mesangium and glomerulosclerosis. Reduction of MC proliferation in glomerular disease models by treatment with heparin, low‐protein diet, or antibodies to platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF), have been shown to reduce extracellular matrix expansion and glomerulosclerotic changes. Therefore, MC proliferation inhibitors may offer therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of proliferative glomerular disease. It is also known that the MC proliferation is inhibited by many kinds of pharmacological drugs, for example, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, leukotriene D4 (LTD4) antagonists, PDGF inhibitors, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) inhibitors, 3‐hydroxy‐3 methyl glutaryl‐coenzymeA (HMG‐CoA) inhibitors, cyclin‐dependent kinases (CDK) inhibitors, and others. This review summarizes the recently reported MC proliferation inhibitors with their pharmacological properties on the basis of their chemical structures. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Med Res Rev, 23, No. 1, 15–31, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/med.10028
The early development of the fetal kidney—an in utero sonographic evaluation between 13 and 22 weeks' gestation
Authors: Zalel Yaron , Lotan Danny , Achiron Reuven , Mashiach Shlomo , Gamzu Ronni
Published: November 2002

Objectives

To establish a nomogram for early fetal kidney development during early gestation.

Methods

The study is a prospective, cross‐sectional evaluation of 275 male and female fetuses between 13 and 22 weeks in normal singleton pregnancies. Measurements of fetal kidney length were performed by high resolution transvaginal ultrasonography between 14 and 17 weeks' gestation, and by transabdominal ultrasonography beyond 18 weeks' gestation.

Results

Adequate kidney length measurements were obtained in all 275 normal fetuses as well as in six fetuses with urinary tract anomalies. Kidney length as a function of gestational age was expressed by the regression equation: (square root) kidney length (mm) = −11.66 + 1.52 × gestational age (weeks). The correlation coefficient, r = 0.983 was found to be highly statistically significant (p < 0.0001). The normal mean and the 90% prediction limits were defined. Four cases with single kidney and two cases with posterior urethral valve had kidney length above the 95% upper limit.

Conclusion

The present data offer a normal range of fetal kidney length from early stages of gestation that may allow intrauterine assessment of its development. It may also be helpful in the early prenatal diagnosis of renal abnormalities. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The influence of prenatal screening and termination of pregnancy on perinatal mortality rates
Authors: van der Pal‐de Bruin K. M. , Graafmans W. , Biermans M. C. J. , Richardus J. H. , Zijlstra A. G. , Reefhuis J. , Mackenbach J.P. , Verloove‐Vanhorick S. P.
Published: November 2002

Objectives

This study concerns the possible effect of practice of prenatal screening of congenital anomalies followed by termination of pregnancy on the perinatal mortality between European countries.

Methods

Data of nine region‐specific EUROCAT registries from five European countries were used to compare the pregnancy termination rate and perinatal mortality due to congenital anomalies between the registries. The impact of pregnancy terminations on the perinatal mortality rate was estimated using a calculated lethality for each congenital anomaly in the hypothetical case that no pregnancy terminations had been performed and was expressed in the ‘natural’ perinatal mortality rate.

Results

There are large differences between the EUROCAT registries in the number of pregnancy terminations for congenital anomalies. The difference between the ‘natural’ and regular perinatal mortality rate vary between 3.7 and 14.1 per 10 000 live births and stillbirths. The difference is greater in regions where prenatal screening is more common than in regions where this is not common.

Conclusion

Differences in practice of prenatal screening and termination of pregnancy of congenital anomalies contribute to the variations in the overall perinatal mortality rate between European regions and countries. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pregnancy outcome following prenatal diagnosis of an isodicentric X chromosome: first case report
Authors: Lebbar A. , Viot G. , Szpiro‐Tapia S. , Baverel F. , Rabineau D. , Dupont J. M.
Published: November 2002

An isodicentric X chromosome, idic (X)(q27) was found in a female fetus during cytogenetic studies performed on amniotic cells due to advanced maternal age. No mosaicism was observed. Although segmental inversion duplications have been described for several other chromosomes, isodicentric chromosomes are reported only for gonosomes. Genetic counselling was based on ultrasound findings, cytogenetic replication studies and published cases of X chromosomes duplications ascertained pre‐ and postnatally. The pregnancy resulted in the birth of a healthy female infant. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
McKusik‐Kaufman syndrome: prenatal diagnosis, genetics and follow up
Authors: Gaucherand Pascal , Vavasseur‐Monot Chantal , Ollagnon Elizabeth , Boisson Catherine , Labaune Jean‐Marc , Basset Thierry , Yared George
Published: November 2002

McKusick‐Kaufman syndrome (MKKS) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease with classical hexadactyly and hydrocolpos in females and sometimes cardiac abnormality. We report such a case diagnosed just before birth with a favourable outcome. From this case we describe and discuss all the prenatal sonographic signs which are not always present. On the genetic side, the gene has recently been localized together with the mutation responsible for MKKS. The phenotypic relationship between MKKS which has a good prognosis and Bardet‐Biedl syndrome (BBS) with a worse prognosis requires great caution before diagnosing MKKS and a long follow‐up is necessary to recognize obesity, growth retardation and pigmentary retinitis. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Risk of amniocentesis in women screened positive for Down syndrome with second trimester maternal serum markers
Authors: Muller Françoise , Thibaud Didier , Poloce Françoise , Gelineau Marie‐Christine , Bernard Marguerite , Brochet Christine , Millet Christine , Réal Jean‐Yves , Dommergues Marc
Published: November 2002

In routine obstetrical practice, prior to offering invasive prenatal diagnosis, it is crucial to weigh the risks attendant on amniocentesis against the individual's risk of aneuploidy. We took advantage of a policy of follow‐up of patients undergoing Down syndrome maternal serum screening to compare the rates of fetal loss before 24 weeks and of early premature delivery at 24–28 weeks between women who underwent amniocentesis and women who did not. A total of 54 902 patients entered the study, of whom 4039 (7.35%) were lost to follow‐up and 387 were excluded because of a severe fetal abnormality. Of the 50 476 remaining patients, 3472 had an amniocentesis whereas 47 004 had not and served as controls. In the amniocentesis group, the fetal loss rate before 24 weeks was 1.12% (95% CI=1.08–1.15) and the 24–28 weeks premature delivery rate was 0.40% (95% CI=0.39–0.41) which was significantly higher than in controls (0.42% with 95% CI 0.41–0.43 and 0.24% with 95% CI 0.23–0.25, respectively). The 0.86% difference in adverse outcome rates between the amniocentesis and control groups may be attributable to amniocentesis and compares favourably with the positive predictive value of maternal serum markers (1.70%) observed in the present study. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Down syndrome maternal serum marker screening after 18 weeks' gestation
Authors: Muller Françoise , Dreux Sophie , Oury Jean‐François , Luton Dominique , Uzan Serge , Uzan Michèle , Levardon Michel , Dommergues Marc
Published: November 2002

Women having access to prenatal care late in pregnancy may still wish to benefit from maternal serum screening for Down syndrome. Therefore, we established reference values for α‐feto protein (AFP) and free β‐human chorionic gonadotrophin (β‐hCG), and assessed the diagnostic value of maternal serum marker screening at 18–35 weeks' gestation based upon a series of 4072 sera from unaffected pregnancies and 118 sera from pregnant women with fetuses affected by Down syndrome. Using a 1/250 risk cut‐off, a detection rate of 72.9% (95% CI = 71.5–74.3%) was achieved with a false‐positive rate of 7.51% (95% CI = 6.71–8.3%). This was not significantly different from the percentages observed in our 14–17 weeks routine screening (50 596 patients): 71.9% (95% CI = 71.5–72.3%) and 6.48% (95% CI = 6.28–6.68%), respectively. Detection and screen‐positive rates were, respectively, 51.3% (95% CI = 35.6–67.0%) and 5.95% (95% CI = 5.12–6.68%) in women aunder 35 years of age, and 84.8% (95% CI = 76.9–92.7%) and 24% (95% CI = 20.7–27.3%) in women aged 35 years and over. In conclusion, maternal serum marker screening is feasible at 18 weeks' gestation and later, which may be of interest in selected cases. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapid diagnosis of triploidy of maternal origin using fluorescent PCR and DNA fragment analysis in the third trimester of pregnancy
Authors: Bán Zoltán , Nagy Bálint , Papp Csaba , Tóth‐Pál Ernö , Papp Zoltán
Published: November 2002

Objectives

Triploidy is a common cause of spontaneous abortion in the very early stages of pregnancy. It is very rare for a prenatal diagnostic center to discover triploidy in the third trimester of pregnancy. A pregnant woman in the third trimester was referred to our genetic counselling clinic because of abnormal ultrasound findings. We planned to test for the most common chromosomal abnormalities.

Methods

We performed ultrasound examination, chorionic villus sampling, karyotyping and fluorescent‐polymerase chain reaction (F‐PCR) and fragment analysis.

Results

We diagnosed a 69,XXX karyotype fetus in the 31st week of gestation, based on a short tandem repeat (STR) pattern typical for triploidy, which was confirmed by karyotyping. The comparison of the fetal and parental STR patterns showed maternal origin of the extra haploid chromosome set.

Conclusions

STR analysis of fluorescent‐PCR and DNA fragment analysis is a rapid and reliable alternative to karyotyping for detection of certain aneuploidies. The method is also suitable for the determination of the origin of the extra chromosome set. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Currarino triad: concurrent US and MRI diagnosis in the fetus and the mother
Authors: Eliáš P. , Žižka J. , Balíček P.
Published: November 2002

We report an unusual case of the complete Currarino triad diagnosed in a fetus at 21 weeks' gestation by means of prenatal ultrasonography (US). The highly suspicious findings in the fetus were accompanied by analogous US findings in the mother who suffered from mild symptoms of up to that time unrecognized Currarino triad. Consecutively, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the findings simultaneously in the fetus and in her mother. This is the first report describing the prenatal diagnosis of Currarino triad without the background of positive family history. To our knowledge, the prenatal MRI findings of Currarino triad have not yet been published. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Global robust stabilization of nonlinear systems subject to input constraints
Authors: Suárez Rodolfo , Solís‐Daun Julio , Álvarez‐Ramírez José
Published: November 2002

Our main purpose in this paper is to further address the global stabilization problem for affine systems by means of bounded feedback control functions, taking into account a large class of control value sets:p,r‐weighted balls ℬ︁mr(p), with 1
0 are also considered. Working along the line of Artstein–Sontag's approach, we construct an explicit formula for a one‐parameterized family of continuous feedback controls taking values in ℬ︁rm(p) that globally asymptotically stabilize an affine system, provided an appropriatecontrol Lyapunov functionis known. The designed family of controls issuboptimalwith respect to the robust stability margin for uncertain systems. The problem of achieving disturbance attenuation for persistent disturbances is also considered. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Imagery From Inside Out, and Outside In
Authors: Ogden Jenni A.
Published: November 2002

John Richardson's straightforward text on imagery
is another book in the series Cognitive Psychology: A Modular
Course and as such its purpose is to bring together research
relevant to the topic of imagery in a format that can be easily
understood by undergraduate psychology students. This book will
certainly fulfill this purpose, although it may be even more
useful for the student at undergraduate or graduate level who
wishes to gain an overview or refresher course on imagery research
in enough detail to act as a basis for further and more in-depth
reading. It may also provide ideas for graduate research projects;
imagery seems to lend itself to small projects that can be fairly
easily carried out on normal participants with minimal equipment
or complex computer programming. As we all have some ability
to generate and manipulate mental images, the topic is
intrinsically fascinating; we are all keen to know whether we
can generate this image or rotate that one. Thus, whilst reading
the book, I found myself answering many of the questions given
as examples of various imagery questionnaires (am I a visualizer
or a verbalizer?), and seeing how vividly I could imagine a
daffodil hidden inside the torch held up by the Statue of Liberty.
I imagine this adds to the effectiveness of the book; certainly
it is effective as a means of holding the reader's attention.
A Scientist Relates Art to the Way in Which the Visual Brain
Functions
Authors: Theilgaard Alice
Published: November 2002

Semir Zeki is professor of neurobiology at the University of
London, a pioneer in the study of the visual brain, and his
massive, up-to-date knowledge of the complexity of the visual
system is clearly evident on every page. But what is particularly
impressive to the reviewer is how he combines such detailed,
in-depth knowledge of neuroscience with rich insights into art.
Not many have been able to cross disciplinary boundaries with
such grace and to such thought-provoking effect.
A Memory Goldmine
Authors: Kapur Narinder
Published: November 2002

The Shorter Oxford Dictionary defines a handbook as
“a book containing concise information on a particular
subject: a guidebook.” Handbooks come in all shapes and
sizes. Often they run into volumes, but occasionally—as
in this case—they take the form of a single book. We already
have an Encyclopedia of Memory and Learning (Squire,
1992), a Handbook of Memory Disorders (Baddeley et
al., 1995), a Handbook of Emotion and Memory
(Christianson, 1992), and at least one volume on memory within
the Handbook of Neuropsychology (Cermak, 2001), but
this would appear to be the first dedicated handbook devoted
to the cognitive science of memory. When this handbook landed
on my desk it struck me as being the “mother of all
handbooks,” encompassing 700 pages!
Increased variability accompanies frontal lobe damage in dementia
Authors: MURTHA SUSAN , CISMARU ROXANNA , WAECHTER RANDALL , CHERTKOW HOWARD
Published: November 2002

Performance variability on neuropsychological measures is not
a unitary phenomenon, and different measures (consistency,
dispersion, diversity) evaluate separate elements of variability.
It has been suggested that increased variability may be a specific
attribute of frontal lobe pathology. This hypothesis was tested
in 2 matched groups of demented subjects, 8 with dementia of
the Alzheimer type (DAT), 5 with frontal lobe dementia (FLD),
compared with 10 elderly normal controls (ENC). A Stroop test
and Reaction Time measures were administered weekly for 5 weeks
to all subjects. Both measures contained three subtests varying
in degree of complexity. The results from the Stroop task indicated
that the FLD group showed significantly greater variability
on measures of consistency (fluctuations over time) and diversity
(between participant variability) regardless of the complexity
of the subtest. For the Reaction Time subtests, measures of
consistency and diversity showed significantly greater variability
in FLD, but were affected in a different pattern. Greater
variability in terms of consistency of performance was manifested
only in the more attentionally demanding of the Reaction Time
subtests (Choice Reaction Time, CRT). On the measure of diversity,
variable performance was found to be greater on the Simple Reaction
Time (SRT) subtest than on the more effortful CRT. Dispersion
(within participant variability) was only assessed on the reaction
time subtests. The results indicate no significant evidence
for an increase in dispersion for the FLD patients. The hypothesis
that variability will be increased in frontal lobe dementia
is thus confirmed, and the independence of the three forms of
variability measurement is demonstrated in dementia subjects.
(JINS, 2002, 8, 360–372.)
The Homophone Meaning Generation Test: Psychometric properties
and a method for estimating premorbid performance
Authors: CRAWFORD J.R. , WARRINGTON ELIZABETH K.
Published: November 2002

The Homophone Meaning Generation Test (HMGT; Warrington, 2000)
is a new measure of verbal fluency that has been demonstrated
to be sensitive to the presence of anterior lesions. In the
present study we used the HMGT healthy standardization sample
(N = 170) and demonstrate that scores on the HMGT do
not differ significantly from a normal distribution and that
the test has adequate reliability (α = .82). A table for
obtaining confidence limits on an individual's score is
presented. A regression equation for the estimation of premorbid
HMGT performance was constructed using the National Adult Reading
Test as the predictor variable. In a sample of 36 cases with
anterior lesions estimated premorbid scores were significantly
higher than obtained scores (p < .001). Premorbid
ability acted to suppress group differences on the HMGT; the
partial correlation between neurological status (healthy
vs. anterior lesion) and HMGT performance controlling
for premorbid ability (.53) was significantly higher than the
raw correlation (.44). In addition, hierarchical discriminant
function analysis demonstrated that the inclusion of premorbid
ability improved classification over that achieved by HMGT scores
alone. These results support both the underlying rationale and
the clinical utility of controlling for premorbid performance
when interpreting verbal fluency scores. (JINS, 2002,
8, 547–554.)
ERRATA
Authors: LÉVESQUE M. , LEMAY S. , CHOUINARD S. , BLANCHET P. , BÉDARD M.-A. , RICHER F. , ZAWACKI T. , SWEET L. , PAUL R. , MOSER D. , COHEN R. , MANLY JENNIFER J. , JACOBS DIANE M. , TOURADJI PEGAH , SMALL SCOTT A. , STERN YAAKOV
Published: November 2002

First erratum: The following is a correction for an error that
occurred in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological
Society, Vol. 8, No. 2. An abstract titled
“Parkinson's Disease Affects the Attentional Control of
Unpracticed Movements,” by M. Lévesque, S. Lemay, S.
Chouinard, P. Blanchet, M.-A. Bédard, and F. Richer, was
accidently left out. This abstract was supposed to appear on p. 230
after C. Boulet et al., in the Executive Function subsection of Poster
4, which was a part of the Friday Morning, February 16, group of sessions.

Second erratum: The following is a correction for an error that
occurred in Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society,
8:2. On page 276, the abstract at the bottom of the left column has
a laterality error, and “right” was supposed to appear instead
of “left.”

Third erratum: The following is a correction for an error that occurred
in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society,
Vol. 8, No. 3. The error occurred in the article titled
“Reading level attenuates differences in neuropsychological tests
performance between African American and White Elders,” pp.
341–348, by Manly et al. On page 343, under the subheading
“Reading Level,” the last line in the paragraph should state
the age range as 65–74 and not 70–75 years.

Cambridge University Press and the authors regret the inconvenience
that these inadvertent errors may have caused.
The National Adult Reading Test as a measure of premorbid
intelligence: A comparison with estimates derived from demographic
variables
Authors: BRIGHT PETER , JALDOW ELI , KOPELMAN MICHAEL D.
Published: November 2002

Since its publication in 1982, the National Adult Reading Test
(NART; Revised Version, NART–R) has become a widely accepted
method for estimating premorbid levels of intelligence in
neuropsychological research. However, the assumption that
NART/NART–R performance is relatively independent of brain
damage has been increasingly challenged in recent years. In
a number of conditions, including Alzheimer dementia and
Korsakoff's syndrome, studies have indicated a deterioration
in reading ability, leading to an underestimated premorbid IQ.
In a reaction to these studies, some researchers have advocated
the use of demographic variables as a more suitable foundation
for accurately predicting premorbid intelligence. We addressed
this issue by calculating IQ estimates on the basis of
NART/NART–R, demographic variables, and a combination
of the two approaches and by comparing these with current
WAIS/WAIS–R IQ in patients with Korsakoff's syndrome,
Alzheimer dementia, frontal or temporal lobe lesions, and in
healthy controls. Estimated premorbid IQs did not differ across
groups, whether derived from NART/NART–R or demographic
variables. Those based on NART/NART–R demonstrated higher
correlations with current WAIS/WAIS–R IQ in controls and
patients than those derived from demographic variables. An equation
combining NART scores with demographic variables did not
significantly increase the amount of variance in IQ explained
by NART only, either in patients or controls. The data offer
reassurance regarding the continued use of NART as a valid estimate
of premorbid intelligence in a number of conditions.
(JINS, 2002, 8, 847–854.)
A domain-specific deficit for foodstuffs in patients with
Alzheimer's disease
Authors: LAWS KEITH R. , LEESON VERITY C. , GALE TIM M.
Published: November 2002

Although some studies have reported a category specific naming
deficit in Alzheimer's patients (invariably for living
things), others have failed to replicate this finding (Laws
et al., in press). Inconsistencies may partly stem from the
fact that category effects are hidden in group analyses because
individual Alzheimer's patients show category deficits
in opposing directions, namely, some living and some nonliving
(Gonnerman et al., 1997). Additionally, category effects may
depend upon the specific composition of living things, such
as the ratio of animals to fruits and vegetables, though this
has never been explicitly examined. To examine this, we conducted
a more detailed fractionation of living and nonliving categories
for individual patients.
Citicoline for traumatic brain injury: Report of two cases,
including my own
Authors: SPIERS PAUL A. , HOCHANADEL GAIL
Published: November 2002

Citicoline is an investigational new drug in this
country that was provided on a compassionate use basis
in two cases of traumatic brain injury after horseback
riding accidents. While this report is primarily anecdotal,
the behavioral observations in both cases suggested atypical
patterns of improvement and perhaps greater recovery than
might otherwise have been predicted. The side effect profile
of this drug is negligible and previous experimental research
has yielded positive findings for treatment after stroke
and head trauma, as well as memory loss in aging. Consequently,
Citicoline may potentially be very helpful for patients
suffering traumatic brain injuries and should, in our opinion,
be made available and studied further in this clinical
population. (JINS, 1999, 5, 260–264.)
Analysis of the Intensity Curves Obtained by the Unidirectional
Laser Oblique Illumination Technique at Different Magnifications
Authors: Favret Eduardo Alfredo
Published: November 2002

The study of the gaussian parameter ω—the approximate
width of a peak at half height—of the intensity curves
obtained by means of the Unidirectional Laser Oblique Illumination
technique employed in the optical microscopy of materials permits
introduction of the concept of variation of a surface pattern
at different magnifications. This concept establishes how the
surface pattern or topography varies among different areas when
different magnifications are used. Diffraction gratings and
metallic surfaces which have been subjected to different
metallographic procedures are analyzed, using objectives of
8×, 16×, and 32×.
Synthesis of Electron Energy Loss Spectra for the Quantification
of Detection Limits
Authors: Menon Nanda K. , Krivanek Ondrej L.
Published: November 2002

We describe a method for predicting detection limits of minority
elements in electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), and its
implementation as a software package that gives quantitative
predictions for user-specified materials and experimental
conditions. The method is based on modeling entire energy loss
spectra, including shot noise as well as instrumental noise,
and taking into account all the relevant experimental parameters.
We describe the steps involved in modeling the entire spectrum,
from the zero loss up to inner shell edges, and pay particular
attention to the contributions to the pre-edge background. The
predicted spectra are used to evaluate the signal-to-noise ratios
(SNRs) for inner shell edges from user-specified minority elements.
The software also predicts the minimum detectable mass (MDM)
and minimum mass fraction (MMF). It can be used to ascertain
whether an element present at a particular concentration should
be detectable for given experimental conditions, and also to
quickly and quantitatively explore ways of optimizing the
experimental conditions for a particular EELS analytical task.
We demonstrate the usefulness of the software by confirming
the recent empirical observation of single atom detection using
EELS of phosphorus in thin carbon films, and show the effect
on the SNR of varying the acquisition parameters. The case of
delta-doped semiconductors is also considered as an important
example from materials science where low detection limits and
high spatial resolution are essential, and the feasibility of
such characterization using EELS is assessed.
Tutorial on Off-Axis Electron Holography
Authors: Lehmann Michael , Lichte Hannes
Published: November 2002

Through recent years, off-axis electron holography has helped us to understand and to overcome some experimental restrictions in transmission electron microscopy. With development of powerful electron microscopes, slow-scan CCD cameras, and computers, holography is not an academic technique anymore used by specialized laboratories. Holography has proven its wide range of applications in solving real-world problems in materials science and biology. At medium resolution, that is, on nanometer scale, holography allows access to large area phase contrast produced by magnetic fields and electric potentials. In the high-resolution domain, holography unveils its power by unscrambling amplitude and phase of the electron wave, resulting in an improved lateral resolution up to the information limit. Holography is a thoroughly quantitative method, and, in combination with the perfect zero-loss filtering inherent to this method, the interpretation of the reconstructed data is strongly simplified. After outlining the basics of holography, in this tutorial we focus on development of a step-by-step procedure for recording and reconstruction of holograms. At the end, some recent applications are discussed.
The type 2 vascular endothelial growth factor receptor recruits insulin receptor substrate-1 in its signalling pathway
Authors: SENTHIL Duraisamy , CHOUDHURY Goutam GHOSH , BHANDARI Basant K. , KASINATH Balakuntalam S.
Published: November 2002

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) isoforms exert their biological effects through receptors that possess intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity. Whether VEGF binding to its receptors recruits insulin receptor substrate (IRS) family of docking proteins to the receptor is not known. Following incubation of mouse kidney proximal tubular epithelial cells with VEGF, we observed an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins, including one of 200kDa, suggesting possible regulation of phosphorylation of IRS proteins. VEGF augmented tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 in kidney epithelial cells and rat heart endothelial cells in a time-dependent manner. In the epithelial cells, association of IRS-1 with type 2 VEGF receptor was promoted by VEGF. VEGF also increased association of IRS-1 with the p85 regulatory subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase), and PI 3-kinase activity in IRS-1 immunoprecipitates was increased in VEGF-treated cells. Incubation of epithelial cells with antisense IRS-1 oligonucleotide, but not sense oligonucleotide, reduced expression of the protein and VEGF-induced PI 3-kinase activity in IRS-1 immunoprecipitates. Additionally, VEGF-induced protein synthesis was also impaired by antisense but not sense IRS-1 oligonucleotide. These data provide the first evidence that binding of VEGF to its type 2 receptor promotes association of IRS-1 with the receptor complex. This association may account for some of the increase in VEGF-induced PI 3-kinase activity, and the increase in de novo protein synthesis seen in renal epithelial cells.
Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 response to injury involves a rapid decrease in DNA binding and transactivation via a JAK2 signal transduction pathway
Authors: LI Xuemei , SALISBURY-ROWSWELL John , MURDOCK Alan D. , FORSE R. Armour , BURKE Peter A.
Published: November 2002

The injury response is a complex set of events, which represents the reaction of a biological system to a perceived change in its environment in an attempt to maintain system integrity. Isolation of individual events or components of this response cannot describe the overall process, but may reflect general mechanisms that have evolved over time to solve the complex requirements of the injury response. The process, generally termed the acute phase response, is a series of organ-specific responses that begin shortly after a systemic injury. In the liver, this response involves both dramatic inductions and reductions in specific sets of genes, and an overall widespread global change in proteins produced. This can be thought of as a phenotypic change or ‘reprogramming’ of the liver. These changes in protein production are modulated and regulated at the level of transcription and involve significant manipulations of transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF-4) is a liver enriched transcription factor that regulates a large number of liver-specific genes, which play important roles in the critical pathways modulated by the response to injury. HNF-4 also performs an essential role in overall development and is critical for the normal expression of multiple genes in the developed liver, as well as being upstream of HNF-1 in a transcriptional hierarchy that drives hepatocyte differentiation. The role of HNF-4 in regulating liver-specific transcriptional changes directed by injury remains to be defined. In our cell-culture and whole-animal models, we demonstrate that the binding activity of HNF-4 decreases quickly after injury due to post-translational modification by phosphorylation. The mechanisms by which HNF-4 is modified after injury involve the activation of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) signal transduction pathways, but the direct or indirect interaction of JAK2 with HNF-4 remains to be defined.
Identification of Drosophila melanogaster yellow-f and yellow-f2 proteins as dopachrome-conversion enzymes
Authors: HAN Qian , FANG Jianmin , DING Haizhen , JOHNSON Jody K. , CHRISTENSEN Bruce M. , LI Jianyong
Published: November 2002

This study describes the identification of Drosophila yellow-f and yellow-f2 as dopachrome-conversion enzymes responsible for catalysing the conversion of dopachrome into 5,6-dihydroxyindole in the melanization pathway. Drosophilayellow-y gene and yellow-b, -c, -f and -f2 genes were expressed in an insect cell/baculovirus expression system and their corresponding recombinant proteins were screened for dopachrome-conversion enzyme activity. Among the yellow and yellow-related genes, the yellow-f and yellow-f2 genes were identified as the genes coding for Drosophila dopachrome-conversion enzyme based on the high activity of their recombinant proteins in catalysing the production of 5,6-dihydroxyindole from dopachrome. Both yellow-f and yellow-f2 are capable of mediating a decarboxylative structural rearrangement of dopachrome, as well as an isomerization/tautomerization of dopamine chrome and dopa methyl ester chrome. Northern hybridization revealed the transcription of yellow-f in larvae and pupae, but a high abundance of mRNA was observed in later larval and early pupal stages. In contrast, yellow-f2 transcripts were present at all stages, but high abundance of its mRNA was observed in later-stage pupae and adults. These data indicate that yellow-f and yellow-f2 complement each other during Drosophila development and that the yellow-f is involved in larval and pupal melanization, and yellow-f2 plays a major role in melanization reactions in Drosophila during later pupal and adult development. Results from this study provide the groundwork towards a better understanding of the physiological roles of the Drosophilayellow gene family.
Effect of starvation on glutamine ammoniagenesis and gluconeogenesis in isolated mouse kidney tubules
Authors: CONJARD Agnès , BRUN Virginie , MARTIN Mireille , BAVEREL Gabriel , FERRIER Bernard
Published: November 2002

It has been shown recently that glutamine is taken up by the mouse kidney in vivo. However, knowledge about the fate of this amino acid and the regulation of its metabolism in the mouse kidney remains poor. Given the physiological and pathophysiological importance of renal glutamine metabolism and the increasing use of genetically modified mice in biological research, we have conducted a study to characterize glutamine metabolism in the mouse kidney. Proximal tubules isolated from fed and 48h-starved mice and then incubated with a physiological concentration of glutamine, removed this amino acid and produced ammonium ions at similar rates. In agreement with this observation, activities of the ammoniagenic enzymes, glutaminase and glutamate dehydrogenase, were not different in the renal cortex of fed and starved mice, but the glutamate dehydrogenase mRNA level was elevated 4.5-fold in the renal cortex from starved mice. In contrast, glucose production from glutamine was greatly stimulated whereas the glutamine carbon removed, that was presumably completely oxidized in tubules from fed mice, was virtually suppressed in tubules from starved animals. In accordance with the starvation-induced stimulation of glutamine gluconeogenesis, the activities and mRNA levels of glucose-6-phosphatase, and especially of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, but not of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, were increased in the renal cortex of starved mice. On the basis of our in vitro results, the elevated urinary excretion of ammonium ions observed in starved mice probably reflected an increased transport of these ions into the urine at the expense of those released into the renal veins rather than a stimulation of renal ammoniagenesis.
Impaired 2′,3′-dideoxy-3′-thiacytidine accumulation in T-lymphoblastoid cells as a mechanism of acquired resistance independent of multidrug resistant protein 4 with a possible role for ATP-binding cassette C11
Authors: TURRIZIANI O. , SCHUETZ J.D. , FOCHER F. , SCAGNOLARI C. , SAMPATH J. , ADACHI M. , BAMBACIONI F. , RIVA E. , ANTONELLI G.
Published: November 2002

Cellular factors may contribute to the decreased efficacy of chemotherapy in HIV infection. Indeed, prolonged treatment with nucleoside analogues, such as azidothymidine (AZT), 2′,3′-deoxycytidine or 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine, induces cellular resistance. We have developed a human T lymphoblastoid cell line (CEM3TC) that is selectively resistant to the antiproliferative effect of 2′,3′-dideoxy-3′-thiacytidine (3TC) because the CEM3TC cells were equally sensitive to AZT, as well as the antimitotic agent, vinblastine. The anti-retroviral activity of 3TC against HIV-1 was also severely impaired in the CEM3TC cells. Despite similar deoxycytidine kinase activity and unchanged uptake of nucleosides such as AZT and 2′-deoxycytidine, CEM3TC had profoundly impaired 3TC accumulation. Further studies indicated that CEM3TC retained much less 3TC. However, despite a small overexpression of multidrug resistance protein (MRP) 4, additional studies with cells specifically engineered to overexpress MRP4 demonstrated there was no impact on either 3TC accumulation or efflux. Finally, an increased expression of the MRP5 homologue, ATP-binding cassette C11 (ABCC11) was observed in the CEM3TC cells. We speculate that the decreased 3TC accumulation in the CEM3TC might be due to the upregulation of ABCC11.
Mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase catalyses cysteine S-conjugate β-lyase reactions
Authors: COOPER Arthur J.L. , BRUSCHI Sam A. , IRIARTE Ana , MARTINEZ-CARRION Marino
Published: November 2002

Rat liver mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase (a homodimer) was shown to catalyse a β-lyase reaction with three nephrotoxic halogenated cysteine S-conjugates [S-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl)-l-cysteine, S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-l-cysteine and S-(2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethyl)-l-cysteine], and less effectively so with a non-toxic cysteine S-conjugate [benzothiazolyl-l-cysteine]. Transamination competes with the β-lyase reaction, but is not favourable. The ratio of β elimination to transamination in the presence of S-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl)-l-cysteine and 2-oxoglutarate is >100. Syncatalytic inactivation by the halogenated cysteine S-conjugates is also observed. The enzyme turns over approx. 2700 molecules of halogenated cysteine S-conjugate on average for every monomer inactivated. Kidney mitochondria are known to be especially sensitive to toxic halogenated cysteine S-conjugates. Evidence is presented that 15—20% of the cysteine S-conjugate β-lyase activity towards S-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl)-l-cysteine in crude kidney mitochondrial homogenates is due to mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase. The possible involvement of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase in the toxicity of halogenated cysteine S-conjugates is also discussed.
Promoter-specific inhibition of transcription by daunorubicin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: MARÍN Silvia , MANSILLA Sylvia , GARCÍA-REYERO Natàlia , ROJAS Marta , PORTUGAL José , PIÑA Benjamin
Published: November 2002

Several anti-tumour drugs exert some of their cytotoxic effects by direct binding to DNA, thus inhibiting the transcription of certain genes. We analysed the influence of the anti-tumour antibiotic daunorubicin on the transcription of different genes in vivo using the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Daunorubicin only affected wild-type yeast strains at very high concentrations; however, erg6 mutant strains (but not pdr1, pdr3 or pdr5 strains) were sensitive to daunorubicin at low micromolar concentrations. In Δerg6 strains, daunorubicin inhibited the galactose-induced transcription by Gal4p in a specific manner, since the transcription of identical reporters driven by other activators (either constitutive or inducible) was not inhibited. The drug concentrations at which Gal4p function was inhibited did not affect cell growth or viability. Furthermore, daunorubicin inhibited the growth in galactose and the transcriptional induction of resident Gal4p-driven genes upon galactose addition, two processes absolutely dependent on Gal4p function. We propose that daunorubicin and some transcription factors compete for DNA sequences encompassing CpG steps, and that this is the main determinant of the effects of the drug on transcription in vivo. Our approach may foster the development of anti-tumour drugs with more specific mechanisms of action.