bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increased QT variability in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy
Authors: Piccirillo G. , Magrì D. , Mitra M. , Rufa A. , Zicari E. , Stromillo M. L. , De Stefano N. , Dotti M. T.
Published: September 2008

Background and purpose:  Although sudden death (SD) accounts for numerous cases of premature mortality in patients with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), the risk factors responsible for this dramatic event remain unclear. We sought possible differences in the QT variability index (QTVI) – a well‐known index of temporal dispersion in myocardial repolarization strongly associated with the risk of SD – between a group of patients with CADASIL and healthy controls.

Methods:  A total of 13 patients with CADASIL and 13 healthy volunteers underwent a 5‐min electrocardiogram recording to calculate the QTVI. All the patients also underwent a clinical assessment, including functional status by Rankin score, and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scan for quantitative analysis of T2‐weighted (T2‐W) and T1‐weighted (T1‐W) lesion volume (LV).

Results:  Short‐term QT‐interval analysis showed significantly higher QTVI (P = 0.029) in patients than in controls. In patients, notwithstanding the limitations of the small sample size, QTVI also well correlated with T1‐W LV (r = 0.747, P = 0.003) and T2‐W LV (r = 0.731, P = 0.005).

Conclusion:  Because patients with CADASIL have increased temporal cardiac repolarization variability as assessed by QTVI, this mechanism could underlie these patients’ risk of SD. Whether this easily assessed, non‐invasive marker could be used to stratify the risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmias in patients with CADASIL and, possibly, to guide their therapeutic management warrants confirmation from larger prospective studies.
Delta EEG activity as a marker of dysfunctional linguistic processing in developmental dyslexia
Authors: Penolazzi Barbara , Spironelli Chiara , Angrilli Alessandro
Published: September 2008

The present study used delta EEG band to test the hypothesis of a cerebral maturational delay and a functional altered cerebral asymmetry for phonological processing in dyslexic children. A group of 14 children with dyslexia and 28 matched controls participated in a linguistic paradigm in which the same words were processed in three tasks: phonological, semantic, and orthographic. Delta amplitude was computed as an index of cortical inhibition in four different phases of word processing. In anterior sites, controls showed left activation (reduced delta) during the phonological task and bilateral activation in the other two tasks. Conversely, children with dyslexia showed greater overall delta amplitude, indexing a cerebral maturation delay and an altered language laterality pattern. In the phonological task they had larger left anterior delta (inhibition of left frontal linguistic locations) and smaller left posterior delta amplitude (activation of left posterior sites silent in controls). Results support the phonological deficit hypothesis of developmental dyslexia and the validity of EEG delta band as functional and clinical measure of language laterality.
The rating of perceived exertion during competitive running scales with time
Authors: Faulkner James , Parfitt Gaynor , Eston Roger
Published: September 2008

This study assessed the relationship of the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) with heart rate and pacing strategy during competitive running races of differing distance and course elevation. Nine men and women competed in a 7‐mile road race (7‐MR) and the Great West Run half marathon (GWR; 13.1 miles). Heart rate, split mile time, and RPE were recorded throughout the races. The RPE was regressed against time and %time to complete the 7‐MR and GWR. Although the rate of increase in RPE was greater in the 7‐MR, there were no differences when expressed against %time (inferring that the brain uses a scalar timing mechanism). As the course elevation, distance, pacing strategy, and heart rate response varied between conditions, this study has provided evidence that the perceptual response may have distinct temporal characteristics during distance running. The results provide further evidence that RPE scales with the proportion of exercise time that remains.
Phosphorylation of GRK7 by PKA in cone photoreceptor cells is regulated by light
Authors: Osawa Shoji , Jo Rebecca , Weiss Ellen R.
Published: September 2008

The retina‐specific G protein‐coupled receptor kinases, GRK1 and GRK7, have been implicated in the shutoff of the photoresponse and adaptation to changing light conditions via rod and cone opsin phosphorylation. Recently, we have defined sites of phosphorylation by cAMP‐dependent protein kinase (PKA) in the amino termini of both GRK1 and GRK7 in vitro. To determine the conditions under which GRK7 is phosphorylated in vivo, we have generated an antibody that recognizes GRK7 phosphorylated on Ser36, the PKA phosphorylation site. Using this phospho‐specific antibody, we have shown that GRK7 is phosphorylated in vivo and is located in the cone inner and outer segments of mammalian, amphibian and fish retinas. Using Xenopus laevis as a model, GRK7 is phosphorylated under dark‐adapted conditions, but becomes dephosphorylated when the animals are exposed to light. The conservation of phosphorylation at Ser36 in GRK7 in these different species (which span a 400 million‐year evolutionary period), and its light‐dependent regulation, indicates that phosphorylation plays an important role in the function of GRK7. Our work demonstrates for the first time that cAMP can regulate proteins involved in the photoresponse in cones and introduces a novel mode of regulation for the retinal GRKs by PKA.
Modulation of pro‐survival and death‐associated pathways under retinal ischemia/reperfusion: effects of NMDA receptor blockade
Authors: Russo R. , Cavaliere F. , Berliocchi L. , Nucci C. , Gliozzi M. , Mazzei C. , Tassorelli C. , Corasaniti M. T. , Rotiroti D. , Bagetta G. , Morrone L. A.
Published: September 2008

Loss of retinal ganglion cells occurs in a variety of pathological conditions, including central retinal artery occlusion, diabetes and glaucoma. Using an experimental model of retinal ischemia induced by transiently raise the intraocular pressure (IOP), In this study, we report the original observation that ischemic retinal ganglion cells death is associated with the transient deactivation of the pro‐survival kinase Akt and activation of GSK‐3β followed, during reperfusion, by a longer lasting, PI3K‐dependent, activation of Akt and phosphorylation of GSK‐3β. Under these experimental conditions, retinal ischemia induced the expression of Bad, a pro‐apoptotic protein, member of the Bcl‐2 family. The detrimental effects yielded by the ischemic stimulus were minimized by intravitreal administration of the NMDA receptor antagonist, MK801, that reduced the expression of Bad and significantly increased Akt phosphorylation. In conclusion, our present results contribute to unravel the mechanisms underlying retinal damage by high IOP‐induced transient ischemia in rat. In addition, these data implicate the pro‐survival PI3K/Akt pathway and the observed reduced expression of Bad in the neuroprotection afforded by MK801.
Abnormal respiratory‐related evoked potentials in untreated awake patients with severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome
Authors: Donzel‐Raynaud Christine , Redolfi Stefania , Arnulf Isabelle , Similowski Thomas , Straus Christian
Published: September 2008

Aim:  Obstructive sleep apnoeas generate an intense afferent traffic leading to arousal and apnoea termination. Yet a decrease in the sensitivity of the afferents has been described in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea, and could be a determinant of disease severity. How mechanical changes within the respiratory system are processed in the brain can be studied through the analysis of airway occlusion‐related respiratory‐related evoked potentials. Respiratory‐related evoked potentials have been found altered during sleep in mild and moderate obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, with contradictory results during wake. We hypothesized that respiratory‐related evoked potentials’ alterations during wake, if indeed a feature of the obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, should be present in untreated severe patients.

Methods:  Ten untreated patients with severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and eight matched controls were studied. Respiratory‐related evoked potentials were recorded in Cz‐C3 and Cz‐C4, and described in terms of the amplitudes and latencies of their components P1, N1, P2 and N2.

Results:  Components amplitudes were similar in both groups. There was no significant difference in P1 latencies. This was also the case for N1 in Cz‐C3. In contrast, N1 latencies in Cz‐C4 were significantly longer in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome [median 98 ms (interquartile range 16·00) versus 79·5 ms (5·98), P = 0·015]. P2 and N2 were also significantly delayed, on both sides.

Conclusions:  The cortical processing of airway occlusion‐related afferents seems abnormal in untreated patients with severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. This could be either a severity marker and/or an aggravating factor.
Carbamazepine‐induced drug‐induced hypersensitivity syndrome in a 14‐year‐old Japanese boy
Authors: Suzuki Yuka , Fukuda Mitsumasa , Tohyama Mikiko , Ishikawa Manami , Yasukawa Masaki , Ishii Eiichi
Published: September 2008

Drug‐induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS) is a life‐threatening idiosyncratic drug reaction, and an early accurate diagnosis is essential for its treatment. We describe a 14‐year‐old boy with localization‐related epilepsy, who developed severe adverse cutaneous and systemic reactions after 3 weeks of carbamazepine administration. During the course of the clinical symptoms, reactivation of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV‐6) was proven by detection of the HHV‐6 genome in serum and elevation of HHV‐6 immunoglobulin G (IgG). He fulfilled the newly established criteria for DIHS. Among eight identified medications that can precipitate DIHS, four are antiepileptic drugs. Establishing a treatment strategy for DIHS is warranted to improve its outcome. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness of DIHS among epileptologists.
18F‐FCWAY and 18F‐FDG PET in MRI‐negative temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Liew Clarissa J. , Lim Young‐Min , Bonwetsch Robert , Shamim Sadat , Sato Susumu , Reeves‐Tyer Patricia , Herscovitch Peter , Dustin Irene , Bagic Anto , Giovacchini Giampiero , Theodore William H.
Published: September 2008

Background:  Positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) shows widespread hypometabolism even in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients with mesial temporal foci. 18F‐trans‐4‐fluoro‐N‐2‐[4‐(2‐methoxyphenyl) piperazin‐1‐yl]ethyl‐N‐(2‐pyridyl)cyclohexane carboxamide (18F‐FCWAY) PET may show more specific 5‐HT1A‐receptor binding reduction in seizure initiation than in propagation regions. 18FCWAY PET might be valuable for detecting epileptic foci, and distinguishing mesial from lateral temporal foci in MRI‐negative patients with TLE.

Methods:  We performed 18F‐FCWAY‐PET and 18F‐FDG‐PET in 12 MRI‐negative TLE patients who had had either surgery or subdural electrode recording, and 15 healthy volunteers. After partial volume correction for brain atrophy, free fraction‐corrected volume of distribution (V/f1) measurement and asymmetry indices (AIs) were computed. We compared 18F‐FCWAY‐PET and 18F‐FDG‐PET results with scalp video electroencephalography (EEG), invasive EEG, and surgical outcome.

Results:  Mean 18F‐FCWAY V/f1, compared with normal controls, was decreased significantly in fusiform gyrus, hippocampus, and parahippocampus ipsilateral to epileptic foci, and AIs were significantly greater in hippocampus, parahippocampus, fusiform gyrus, amygdala, and inferior temporal regions. Eleven patients had clearly lateralized epileptogenic zones. Nine had congruent, and two nonlateralized, 18F‐FCWAY PET. One patient with bitemporal seizure onset had nonlateralized 18F‐FCWAY‐PET. 18F‐FDG‐PET showed congruent hypometabolism in 7 of 11 EEG‐lateralized patients, bilateral hypometabolic regions in one, contralateral hypometabolism in one, as well as lateralized hypometabolism in the patient with bitemporal subdural seizure onset. Patients with mesial temporal foci tended to have lower superior and midtemporal 18F‐FCWAY V/f1 binding AI than those with lateral or diffuse foci.

Conclusion:  18F‐FCWAY‐PET can detect reduced binding in patients with normal MRI, and may be more accurate than 18F‐FDG‐PET.
Changes in midline thalamic recruiting responses in the prefrontal cortex of the rat during the development of chronic limbic seizures
Authors: Sloan David M. , Bertram III Edward H.
Published: September 2008

Purpose:  Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is a common form of epilepsy that affects the limbic system and is associated with decreases in memory and cognitive performance. The medial prefrontal cortex (PC) in rats, which has a role in memory, is associated with and linked anatomically to the limbic system, but it is unknown if and how MTLE affects the PC.

Methods:  We evoked responses in vivo in the PC by electrical stimulation of the mediodorsal (MD) and reuniens (RE) nuclei of the thalamus at several time points following status epilepticus, before and after onset of spontaneous seizures. Kindled animals were used as additional controls for the effect of seizures that were independent of epilepsy.

Results:  Epileptic animals had decreased response amplitudes and significantly reduced recruiting compared to controls, whereas kindled animals showed an increase in both measures. These changes were not associated with neuronal loss in the PC, although there was significant loss in both the MD and RE in the epileptic animals.

Conclusions:  There is a significant reduction in the thalamically induced evoked responses in the PCs of epileptic animals. This finding suggests that physiologic dysfunction in MTLE extends beyond primary limbic circuits into areas without overt neuronal injury.
CELL WALL CARBOHYDRATE EPITOPES IN THE GREEN ALGA OEDOGONIUM BHARUCHAE F. MINOR (OEDOGONIALES, CHLOROPHYTA)1
Authors: Estevez José M. , Leonardi Patricia I. , Alberghina Josefina S.
Published: September 2008

Cell wall changes in vegetative and suffultory cells (SCs) and in oogonial structures from Oedogonium bharuchae N. D. Kamat f. minor Vélez were characterized using monoclonal antibodies against several carbohydrate epitopes. Vegetative cells and SCs develop only a primary cell wall (PCW), whereas mature oogonial cells secrete a second wall, the oogonium cell wall (OCW). Based on histochemical and immunolabeling results, (1→4)‐β‐glucans in the form of crystalline cellulose together with a variable degree of Me‐esterified homogalacturonans (HGs) and hydroxyproline‐rich glycoprotein (HRGP) epitopes were detected in the PCW. The OCW showed arabinosides of the extensin type and low levels of arabinogalactan‐protein (AGP) glycans but lacked cellulose, at least in its crystalline form. Surprisingly, strong colabeling in the cytoplasm of mature oogonia cells with three different antibodies (LM‐5, LM‐6, and CCRC‐M2) was found, suggesting the presence of rhamnogalacturonan I (RG‐I)–like structures. Our results are discussed relating the possible functions of these cell wall epitopes with polysaccharides and O‐glycoproteins during oogonium differentiation. This study represents the first attempt to characterize these two types of cell walls in O. bharuchae, comparing their similarities and differences with those from other green algae and land plants. This work represents a contribution to the understanding of how cell walls have evolved from simple few‐celled to complex multicelled organisms.
UNDERSTANDING NITROGEN LIMITATION IN AUREOCOCCUS ANOPHAGEFFERENS (PELAGOPHYCEAE) THROUGH cDNA AND qRT‐PCR ANALYSIS1
Authors: Berg Gry Mine , Shrager Jeff , Glöckner Gernot , Arrigo Kevin R. , Grossman Arthur R.
Published: September 2008

Brown tides of the marine pelagophyte Aureococcus anophagefferens Hargraves et Sieburth have been investigated extensively for the past two decades. Its growth is fueled by a variety of nitrogen (N) compounds, with dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) being particularly important during blooms. Characterization of a cDNA library suggests that A. anophagefferens can assimilate eight different forms of N. Expression of genes related to the sensing, uptake, and assimilation of inorganic and organic N, as well as the catabolic process of autophagy, was assayed in cells grown on different N sources and in N‐limited cells. Growth on nitrate elicited an increase in the relative expression of nitrate and ammonium transporters, a nutrient stress‐induced transporter, and a sensory kinase. Growth on urea increased the relative expression of a urea and a formate/nitrite transporter, while growth on ammonium resulted in an increase in the relative expression of an ammonium transporter, a novel ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporter and a putative high‐affinity phosphate transporter. N limitation resulted in a 30‐ to 110‐fold increase in the relative expression of nitrate, ammonium, urea, amino acid/polyamine, and formate/nitrite transporters. A. anophagefferens demonstrated the highest relative accumulation of a transcript encoding a novel purine transporter, which was highly expressed across all N sources. This finding suggests that purines are an important source of N for the growth of this organism and could possibly contribute to the initiation and maintenance of blooms in the natural environment.
LOCALIZATION OF OXYTETRACYCLINE IN CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDTII (CHLOROPHYCEAE)1
Authors: Garcia Roberta J. , Kane Andrew S. , Petullo David , Reimschuessel Renate
Published: September 2008

Oxytetracycline (OTC) is an important antimicrobial used in aquaculture. However, residues of OTC have been isolated from nontarget aquatic organisms, sediments, and water located near aquaculture facilities. Identifying OTC in plant material is particularly difficult due to interference from pigments and polyphenol substances but is important especially for algae since they are a primary food source for fish in early life stages. In this study, we describe the effect of OTC (0.1, 1, 10, 25, 50, 100 μg · mL−1) on cell growth, and the localization of OTC (0, 1, 25, 100 μg · mL−1) in vacuoles of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii P. A. Dang. (wildtype, ATCC 18798). We also present a method for semiquantifying OTC in living cells using fluorescent microscopy and Adobe Photoshop. We exposed algal cells to OTC and sampled after 2 or 7 d exposure. On day 7, OTC significantly inhibited algal growth at 1, 10, 25, 50, and 100 μg · mL−1. When viewed with fluorescent microscopy, cells exposed to the 25 and 100 μg · mL−1 contained yellow fluorescent areas, ≤1 μm in diameter that were easily discernable against the red fluorescence of the intracellular chl. The fluorescent areas corresponded to small spherical vacuoles (i.e., polyphosphate bodies that contain calcium and magnesium complexed with polyphosphate) seen in the cells by LM. Since OTC has a high affinity for divalent cations, we suggest that OTC is localized in these vacuoles.
TWO‐DIMENSIONAL GEL ELECTROPHORESIS ANALYSIS OF BROWN ALGAL PROTEIN EXTRACTS1
Authors: Contreras Loretto , Ritter Andrés , Dennett Geraldine , Boehmwald Freddy , Guitton Nathalie , Pineau Charles , Moenne Alejandra , Potin Philippe , Correa Juan A.
Published: September 2008

High‐quality protein extracts are required for proteomic studies, a field that is poorly developed for marine macroalgae. A reliable phenol extraction protocol using Scytosiphon gracilis Kogame and Ectocarpus siliculosus (Dillwyn) Lyngb. (Phaeophyceae) as algal models resulted in high‐quality protein extracts. The performance of the new protocol was tested against four methods available for vascular plants and a seaweed. The protocol, which includes an initial step to remove salts from the algal tissues, allowed the use of highly resolving two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis (2‐DE) protein analyses, providing the opportunity to unravel potentially novel physiological processes unique to this group of marine organisms.
REPRODUCTIVE ISOLATION BY SEX PHEROMONES IN THE CLOSTERIUM PERACEROSUM–STRIGOSUM–LITTORALE COMPLEX (ZYGNEMATALES, CHAROPHYCEAE)1
Authors: Tsuchikane Yuki , Ito Motomi , Sekimoto Hiroyuki
Published: September 2008

The Closterium peracerosum–strigosum–littorale (C. psl.) complex consists of unicellular algae and is known to be composed of several reproductively isolated mating groups of heterothallic strains. Group I‐E is completely isolated from mating groups II‐A and II‐B, groups II‐A and II‐B are partially isolated from each other, and only mating‐type plus (mt+) cells of group II‐A and mating‐type minus (mt−) cells of group II‐B form zygotes. Based on the alignment of 1506 group I introns, significant phylogenetic relationships were observed among mating groups II‐A and II‐B, while mating group I‐E was distant from groups II‐A and II‐B. Sexual cell division in both mating‐type cells of group II‐A was stimulated in conditioned media in which cells of group II‐B had been cultured. When mt− cells of group II‐B were stimulated in conditioned medium derived from group II‐A, mt+ cells of group II‐B did not respond to the conditioned medium. Conditioned media derived from group I‐E did not exhibit sexual cell division (SCD)–inducing activity against any strain except those within its own group. From the alignment of deduced amino acid sequences from orthologous protoplast‐release‐inducing protein (PR‐IP) Inducer genes, we detected a significant similarity among groups II‐A and II‐B, and mating group I‐E had low similarity to other mating groups. The existing degree of reproductive isolation can be partially explained by differences in molecular structures and physiological activities of sex pheromones of these heterothallic mating groups.
Consider a Spherical Man
Authors: Muñoz Ivan , Milà i Canals Llorenç , Clift Roland
Published: September 2008

Emissions derived from human digestion of food and subsequent excretion are very relevant from a life cycle perspective, and yet they are often omitted from food life cycle assessment (LCA) studies. This article offers a simple model to allocate and include these emissions in LCAs of specific foodstuffs. The model requires basic food composition values and calculates the mass and energy balance for carbon, water, nutrients (mainly nitrogen [N] and phosphorus [P]), and other inorganic substances through different excretion paths: breathing, feces, and urine. In addition to direct excretion, the model also allocates some auxiliary materials and energy related to toilet use, such as flushing and washing and drying hands. Wastewater composition is also an output of the model, enabling water treatment to be modeled in LCA studies. The sensitivity of the model to food composition is illustrated with different food products, and the relative importance of excretion in a product's life cycle is shown with an example of broccoli. The results show that this model is sensitive to food composition and thus useful for assessing the environmental consequences of shifts in diet. From a life cycle perspective, the results show that postconsumption nutrient emissions may dominate the impacts on eutrophication potential, and they illustrate how the carbon cycle is closed with the human emissions after food preparation and consumption.
Introducing Templates for Sustainable Product Development
Authors: Ny Henrik , Hallstedt Sophie , Robèrt Karl‐Henrik , Broman Göran
Published: September 2008

We have previously developed a method for sustainable product development (MSPD) based on backcasting from basic sustainability principles. The MSPD informs investigations of product‐related social and ecological sustainability aspects throughout a concurrent engineering product development process. We here introduce “templates” for sustainable product development (TSPDs) as a complement. The idea is to help product development teams to arrive faster and more easily at an overview of the major sustainability challenges and opportunities of a product category in the early development phases. The idea is also to inform creative communication between top management, stakeholders, and product developers. We present this approach through an evaluation case study, in which the TSPDs were used for a sustainability assessment of televisions (TVs) at the Matsushita Electric Group. We study whether the TSPD approach has the ability to (1) help shift focus from gradual improvements of a selection of aspects in relation to past environmental performance of a product category to a focus on the remaining gap to a sustainable situation, (2) facilitate consensus among organizational levels about major sustainability challenges and potential solutions for a product category, and (3) facilitate continued dialogue with external sustainability experts, identifying improvements that are relevant for strategic sustainable development. Our findings indicate that the TSPD approach captures overall sustainability aspects of the life cycle of product categories and that it has the above abilities.
Mobilization of hemopoietic stem cells with high‐dose methotrexate plus granulocyte–colony‐stimulating factor in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma
Authors: Kiefer Thomas , Krüger William H. , Montemurro Michael , Schüler Frank , Hirt Carsten , Pasold Rita , Niederwieser Dietger , Schwenke Matthias , Dölken Gottfried
Published: September 2008

BACKGROUND: High‐dose therapy with autologous stem cell support after standard dose induction is a promising approach for therapy of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). High‐dose methotrexate (HD‐MTX) is a standard drug for induction of PCNSL; however, data about the capacity of HD‐MTX plus granulocyte–colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) to mobilize hemopoietic progenitors are lacking.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This investigation describes the data from stem cell mobilization and apheresis procedures after one or two cycles of HD‐MTX for induction of PCNSL within the East German Study Group for Haematology and Oncology 053 trial. Eligible patients proceeded to high‐dose busulfan/thiotepa after induction therapy and mobilization.

RESULTS: Data were available from nine patients with a median age of 58 years. The maximal CD34+ cell count per µL of blood after the first course of HD‐MTX was 13.89 (median). Determination was repeated in six patients after the second course with a significantly higher median CD34+ cell count of 33.69 per µL. Five patients required two apheresis procedures and in four patients a single procedure was sufficient. The total yield of CD34+ cells per kg of body weight harvested by one or two leukapheresis procedures was 6.60 × 106 (median; range, 2.68 × 106‐15.80 × 106). The yield of CD34+ cells exceeded the commonly accepted lower threshold of 3 × 106 cells per kg of body weight in eight of nine cases. Even in the ninth, hemopoietic recovery after stem cell reinfusion was rapid and safe.

CONCLUSION: HD‐MTX plus G‐CSF is a powerful combination for stem cell mobilization in patients with PCNSL and permits safe conduction of time‐condensed and dose‐intense protocols with high‐dose therapy followed by stem cell reinfusion after HD‐MTX induction.
CaMKII and Its Role in Cardiac Arrhythmia
Authors: ERICKSON JEFFREY R. , ANDERSON MARK E.
Published: September 2008

Calcium/calmodulin‐dependent kinase II (CaMKII) is a multifunctional serine/threonine kinase widely distributed in a number of tissue types. Activation of CaMKII has been linked to important downstream physiological processes, including apoptosis, hypertrophy, and arrhythmia in the heart. Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of CaMKII has been shown to improve health outcomes in a number of animal models. In this review, we summarize the structural and functional properties of CaMKII and detail its role in cardiac arrhythmia, structural heart disease, and sudden death.
Acute Results of Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Using a Single Mesh Catheter
Authors: STEINWENDER CLEMENS , HÖNIG SIMON , LEISCH FRANZ , HOFMANN ROBERT
Published: September 2008

Introduction:
Catheter‐based pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is an established therapy to treat patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. We evaluated the efficacy of a simplified interventional procedure for PVI by using a single mesh catheter for mapping as well as ablation and with guidance of fluoroscopic imaging only.

Methods and Results:
Forty‐eight patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation were screened by cardiac computed tomography for their anatomical suitability to undergo PVI with the high‐density mesh ablator catheter as the only left atrial device. The procedure was performed in 26 patients (12 males, mean age 61 years) who met the criteria of four clearly separated pulmonary veins (PVs) with an ostial diameter of 15–25 mm. No three‐dimensional mapping systems or additional ablation devices were used.

In all 26 patients, all four PVs could be accessed and mapped with the high‐density mesh ablator catheter. Electrical isolation was achieved in 99 of 102 (97%) of the pulmonary veins that revealed PV potentials. Mean total procedure time and fluoroscopy time were 187 ± 36 minutes and 34.6 ± 10.0 minutes, respectively.

Conclusion:
The single‐catheter approach using the high‐density mesh ablator catheter for mapping as well as ablation reveals a high acute success rate of PVI while, at the same time, reducing the complexity of the procedure, and the procedure time. Long‐term data on clinical success are needed to justify this simplified approach.
Noncontact Mapping of the Heart: How and When to Use
Authors: TAI CHING‐TAI , CHEN SHIH‐ANN
Published: September 2008

Noncontact Mapping of the Heart. The noncontact mapping system is a new tool for electrophysiologic study and radiofrequency ablation. The mode of operation includes single beat, three‐dimensional, high‐density mapping. Careful analysis of unipolar electrograms and isopotential maps are essential to understand the mechanism of the arrhythmia. Radiofrequency catheter ablation guided by this system is effective in curing patients of their tachycardias.
Full‐Color Direct Visualization of the Atrial Septum to Guide Transseptal Puncture
Authors: THIAGALINGAM ARAVINDA , D'AVILA ANDRE , FOLEY LORI , FOX MELODIE , ROTHE CHRIS , MILLER DAVID , MALCHANO ZACH , RUSKIN JEREMY N. , REDDY VIVEK Y.
Published: September 2008

Introduction:
Transseptal puncture is required for many interventional procedures but has a serious complication rate of ∼1%—primarily related to misidentification of the fossa ovalis resulting in inadvertent puncture of other cardiac structures. We investigated the utility of a full color visualization catheter to correctly position and guide transseptal puncture of the fossa ovalis.

Methods and Results:
Transseptal puncture and left atrial cannulation were performed after visualization of the atrial septum and fossa ovalis with the visualization catheter (IRIS, Voyage Medical Inc.) on six swine. For each animal, the transseptal puncture was performed twice and the catheter was examined for clot after each puncture. The 12 transseptal punctures required 6.8 ± 3.6 minutes procedural time and 300 ± 94 mL of fluid administered per procedure (i.e., two punctures). IRIS visualization of the atrial septum correlated well with postmortem examination of the atrial septum. In the three animals in which a patent foramen ovale was present (as confirmed by pathological examination), it was also correctly identified by in vivo visualization using the IRIS catheter.

Conclusion:
The IRIS catheter allows direct in vivo visualization of the interatrial septum to guide transseptal puncture of previous punctures.
Safety Profiles and Lesion Size of Different Radiofrequency Ablation Technologies: A Comparison of Large Tip, Open and Closed Irrigation Catheters
Authors: EVERETT IV THOMAS H. , LEE KEN W. , WILSON EMILY E. , GUERRA JOSE M. , VAROSY PAUL D. , OLGIN JEFFREY E.
Published: September 2008

Safety Versus Lesion Size of Ablation Catheters. Introduction: Different technologies have been developed for radiofrequency ablation (RFA), which include increasing electrode (tip) size and cooling the tip through irrigation either internally (closed‐loop) with D5W or externally (open‐loop) with saline. Although these catheters are widely used clinically, the propensity for adverse events and the lesion profiles of each of these catheter technologies have not been directly compared under a wide range of controlled conditions.

Methods and Results: Freshly excised canine thigh muscle was placed in a chamber filled with circulating, heparinized blood heated to 37°C. Five different catheters were tested: 4 mm tip, 10 mm tip single thermistor, 10 mm tip multitemperature sensor, 4 mm closed‐loop irrigated cooled‐tip, and 4 mm open‐loop irrigated cooled tip at several different contact and power settings. The catheter and tissue interface was continuously monitored with intracardiac echocardiography (echo) (Acuson). During the RFA, any bubbling generated from the tip and/or popping seen on echo was noted, and after each RFA, the catheter and lesion were examined for the presence of thrombus. For all of the catheters, complications correlated to the electrode tip temperature and power setting. All of the catheters experienced complications at any lesion size except for the open‐irrigated catheter, which only had complications at the largest lesions. Overall, the cooled tip catheters experienced an at least sixfold greater odds of popping, bubbling, and impedance rises than the 4 mm, but the majority occurred at power levels greater than 20 W. The open‐irrigated catheters created eccentric lesions that extended away from the tissue‐catheter interface, in the direction of blood flow. In addition, it produced saline filled blisters at the lesion site in 16.7% of the burns. The 10 mm catheter had an at least twofold greater odds of thrombus, charring, and bubbling, but larger lesions than the 10 mm multitemperature sensor catheter.

Conclusions:
Catheter type, contact conditions, and power settings all play a role in lesion size and in the frequency of complications that occur during an RFA. Cooling the electrode tip, either internally or externally, does not prevent complications from occurring, especially at the higher power control settings. Adding more temperature sensors to the 10 mm seems to reduce the amount of complications that can occur. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 20, pp. 325‐335, March 2009)
Subsolidus Phase Equilibria in the Pyrochlore‐Rich Part of the Bi2O3–TiO2–Y2O3 System
Authors: Kunej Špela , Suvorov Danilo
Published: September 2008

In this study, we used solid‐state syntheses to determine the phase relations in the pyrochlore‐rich part of the Bi2O3–TiO2–Y2O3 system. The samples were analyzed using X‐ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy‐ and wavelength‐dispersive spectroscopy. A single‐phase pyrochlore ceramic was obtained with the addition of 0.8 mol% of Y2O3. We determined the solubility range of the pyrochlore solid solution Bi(1.6−0.8x)YxTi2O(6.4+0.3x), where 0.03<x<2.00 and Y3+‐substituted Bi4Ti3O12 solid solution Bi4−xYxTi3O12, where 0<x<0.8. The determined phase relations in the pyrochlore‐rich part are presented in a phase diagram of the Bi2O3–TiO2–Y2O3 system at 1100°C.
Low‐Temperature Sintering and Microwave Dielectric Properties of Ba3(VO4)2–BaWO4 Ceramic Composites
Authors: Zhuang Hao , Yue Zhenxing , Meng Siqin , Zhao Fei , Li Longtu
Published: September 2008

New low‐temperature co‐fired microwave dielectric composites with compositions of (1–x)Ba3(VO4)2–xBaWO4 (x=0–1) were prepared by firing mixtures of Ba3(VO4)2 and BaWO4. Thermal mechanical analysis indicated the ceramic composites had relatively low densification temperatures and could be sintered in the temperature range 925°∼950°C. X‐ray diffraction patterns showed that Ba3(VO4)2 and BaWO4 coexisted and no secondary phase was detected in the sintered bodies, implying good chemical compatibility between the two phases. Near‐zero temperature coefficients of the resonant frequency (τf) could be achieved by changing the relative content of the two phases, due to their positive and negative τf values, respectively. With increasing BaWO4 (x from 0.50 to 0.65), the τf value of the composites decreased from +10.9 to −1.9 ppm/°C, and the quality factor (Q×f value) increased from 66 700 to 79 100 GHz. The best microwave dielectric properties were obtained for x=0.65 samples sintered at 925°C with a dielectric constant of 11.1, a Q×f value of 79 100 GHz, and a τf value of −1.9 ppm/°C. Chemical compatibility experiments showed the ceramics are compatible with silver during cofiring process.
Effect of Copper‐Rich Secondary Phase at the Grain Boundaries on the Varistor Properties of CaCu3Ti4O12Ceramics
Authors: Mei Li‐Then , Hsiang Hsing‐I , Fang Tsang‐Tse
Published: September 2008

In this study, the relationship between the grain‐boundary composition and varistor properties were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersion spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectric spectroscopy (XPS). It was found that the CaCu3Ti4O12(CCTO) sample did not exhibit varistor behavior when the compositions of grain boundary and grain were nearly the same before discontinuous grain growth. The CCTO sample exhibited varistor behavior after the occurrence of discontinuous grain growth. After discontinuous grain growth, copper (Cu)‐rich secondary phase appeared at the grain boundaries. The XPS results reveal that Cu+is the major content of the second phases. The formation of negatively charged species,,or,existing at the grain boundaries due to the oxidation of the secondary phase during cooling after sintering can act as acceptors, forming double Schottky barriers with then‐type semiconductor grains.
Ferroelectric and Ferromagnetic Properties of 0.7BiFe1−xCrxO3–0.3BaTiO3 Solid Solutions
Authors: Liu Xiao‐Hui , Xu Zhuo , Wei Xiao‐Yong , Yao Xi
Published: September 2008

0.7Bi (Fe1−xCrx) O3–0.3BaTiO3 (x=0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2) solid solutions were prepared by the traditional ceramic process. X‐ray diffraction revealed that all samples with x=0–0.15 showed pure rhombohedral perovskite structure. Frequency dependences of dielectric constants and dielectric loss were investigated. Proper amount of Cr could decrease the dielectric loss. Measurements of magnetic and ferroelectric hysteresis loops at room temperature indicated that the solid solutions showed ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism simultaneously. Magnetization of the solid solutions was with increasing content of Cr.
Low‐Temperature Hydrothermal Synthesis of Pure BiFeO3 Nanopowders Using Triethanolamine and Their Applications as Visible‐Light Photocatalysts
Authors: Cho Chin Moo , Noh Jun Hong , Cho In‐Sun , An Jae‐Sul , Hong Kug Sun , Kim Jin Young
Published: September 2008

BiFeO3 (BFO) nanopowders were synthesized at low temperatures via a hydrothermal process with the aid of triethanolamine (TEA) and their structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties were investigated. As a result of a strong reaction between TEA and Fe ions, pure BFO nanopowders without any secondary phases could be synthesized at temperatures as low as 130°C. BFO nanopowders exhibited a strong absorption in the visible‐light regime, which resulted in the efficient photocatalytic activity for decomposition of organic compounds.
Effect of Dy Substitution at the Sr Site on the Critical Current Density and Flux‐Pinning Properties of (Bi, Pb)‐2212 Superconductor
Authors: Vinu Surendran , Sarun Pallian Murikoli , Shabna Razia , Biju Alikunju , Guruswamy Perumal , Syamaprasad Upendran
Published: September 2008

The effect of substitution of the rare earth Dy on the critical current density and flux‐pinning properties of (Bi, Pb)‐2212 system prepared by a solid‐state synthesis in bulk polycrystalline form was studied. Phase analysis, microstructural investigation, and superconducting characterization were performed to evaluate the relative performance of the samples. The XRD and EDS analyses show that Dy atoms are successfully substituted in place of Sr in the system. The critical temperature (TC), critical current density (JC), and field dependence of JC of the Dy‐substituted samples are found to be highly enhanced for optimum doping levels. The flux‐pinning force (FP) calculated from the field‐dependent JC values shows that the irreversibility lines (IL) of the Dy‐substituted (Bi, Pb)‐2212 shift toward higher fields to different extents depending on the value of Dy stoichiometry (x). The samples with x=0.2 show a maximum FP of 135.1 × 104 N/m3 and the peak position of FP shifts to higher fields (0.80 T) as against 2.0 × 104 N/m3 and 0.12 T for the pure sample. Also, the values of the self‐field JC and pinning potential (U0) are maximum for this sample (x=0.2). The enhancements of JC(B) characteristics, and the values of U0 and FP are explained on the basis of the hole optimization and formation of point defects due to the substitution of Dy into the (Bi, Pb)‐2212 system.
High Tunability of Highly (100)‐Oriented Lead Zirconate Titanium Thin Films
Authors: Wu Jiagang , Xiao Dingquan , Wang Yuanyu , Zhu Jianguo , Zhu Jiliang , Xie Ruishi
Published: September 2008

Highly (100)‐oriented Pb(Zr0.20Ti0.80)O3 (PZT) thin films for electrically tunable applications were prepared on Pt(111)/Ti/SiO2/Si(100) substrates by RF magnetron sputtering with a PbOx buffer layer. The dielectric properties of PZT films were investigated. These results indicated that the applied electric field and measured frequency strongly affected the films' tunability. The PZT films exhibited good dielectric tunability (69.3%) as measured at 1 kHz and 18 V. The related physics mechanism for enhanced tunability was also discussed. The enhanced tunability is attributed to the (100) orientation of PZT films and is a result of the biaxial tensile stress making the polar axis oriented in plane.
Etats de la protection des travailleurs aux Etats‐Unis: le travail non réglementé dans la ville de New York
Authors: BERNHARDT Annette , McGRATH Siobhán , DeFILIPPIS James
Published: September 2008

Partant de données qu'ils ont collectées entre 2003 et 2006, les auteurs ob‐servent la prévalence des violations de la législation du travail dans la ville de New York. Ce «travail non réglementé» est généralisé dans toute une série d'activités oú les salaires sont bas. Cela s'explique par des facteurs économiques ainsi que par les politiques publiques. Pour les auteurs les solutions seraient de renforcer le contrôle de l'application de la loi et de réglementer les nouvelles formes de relations d'emploi résultant des changements dans l'organisation du travail et de la production.
Evaluer la qualité de I'emploi: les indicateurs de la Stratégie européenne pour I'emploi et au‐delà
Authors: DAVOINE Lucie , ERHEL Christine , GUERGOAT‐LARIVIERE Mathilde
Published: September 2008

Dans le cadre de la Stratégie européenne pour l'emploi, l'Union européenne a défini une série d'indicateurs de la qualité de l'emploi: les indicateurs de Laeken. Les auteurs commentent et expérimentent ces indicateurs. D'un point de vue théorique, elles montrent que le concept de qualité de l'emploi comprend plu‐sieurs dimensions dont certaines dépendent des institutions nationales, notamment les relations professionnelles et la protection sociale. Elles procèdent ensuite à une analyse comparative de cette qualité dans les 27 Etats membres, qui confirme l'exis‐tence de plusieurs modèles et signale que les indicateurs de Laeken doivent être complétés par d'autres statistiques.
Délocalisations, rotation de la main‐d'œuvre, salaires et gestion des ressources humaines: le cas des maquiladoras au Mexique
Authors: LOESS Kurt , MILLER Van V. , YOSKOWITZ David
Published: September 2008

Les théories du salaire d'efficience et de la formation du capital humain peuvent expliquer la forte rotation de la main‐d'œuvre dans les activités délocalisées. Cette hypothèse est vérifiée à partir d'un échantillon aléatoire stratifié de maquilas du nord du Mexique, site de délocalisation leplus ancien du monde. Les tests statis‐tiques indiquent une forte association inverse entre la rotation du personnel de production et le niveau de rémunération, ainsi que la formation du capital humain, cette dernière variable dépendant de la «génération de la maquiladora». Les auteurs exa‐minent ensuite les méthodes de gestion des ressources humaines selon les générations de maquiladoras.
Promotion of incisional wound repair by human mesenchymal stem cell transplantation
Authors: Stoff Alexander , Rivera Angel A. , Sanjib Banerjee N. , Moore Steven T. , Michael Numnum T. , Espinosa‐de‐los‐Monteros Antonio , Richter Dirk F. , Siegal Gene P. , Chow Louise T. , Feldman Dale , Vasconez Luis O. , Michael Mathis J. , Stoff‐Khalili Mariam A. , Curiel David T.
Published: September 2008

Abstract:  The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of transplanted human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on wound healing. In this model, full‐thickness cutaneous wounds were created by incision in the skin of adult New Zealand white rabbits and treated by transplanted hMSCs into the wounds. Wound healing was evaluated by histological analysis and tensiometry over time. A total of 15 New Zealand white rabbits with 10 wounds per animal were examined in this study. Animals were treated with hMSCs and euthanised at 3, 7, 14, 21 and 80 days after manipulation. The hMSCs were labelled with a fluorescent dye (CM‐DiI), suspended in phosphate‐buffered saline and used to treat full‐thickness incisional wounds in rabbit skin. Tensiometry and histology were used to characterise the wound‐healing rate of the incisional wounds. These results showed that transplanted hMSCs significantly inhibited scar formation and increased the tensile strength of the wounds. Importantly, MSCs from genetically unrelated donors did not appear to induce an immunologic response. In conclusion, human mesenchymal stem cell therapy is a viable approach to significantly affect the course of normal cutaneous wound healing and significantly increase the tensile strength.
Dichloromethane fraction ofCimicifuga heracleifoliadecreases the level of melanin synthesis by activating the ERK or AKT signaling pathway in B16F10 cells
Authors: Jang Ji Yeon , Lee Jun Hyuk , Kang Byoung Won , Chung Kyung Tae , Choi Yung Hyun , Choi Byung Tae
Published: September 2008

Abstract: Cimicifuga rhizoma has long been used in traditional Korean medicine. In particular, aCimicifuga heracleifoliaextract (CHE) was reported to inhibit the formation of glutamate and the glutamate dehydrogenase activity in cultured rat islet. Glutamate activates melanogenesis by activating tyrosinase. Accordingly, it was hypothesized that a CHE might inhibit the melanogenesis‐related signal pathways including the inhibition of microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor (MITF)‐tyrosinase signaling and/or the activation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK)‐Akt signaling. The results showed that CHE inhibits the cellular melanin contents, tyrosinase activity and expression of melanogenesis‐related proteins including MITF, tyrosinase and tyrosinase‐related protein (TRP)s in α‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone‐stimulated B16 cells. Moreover, CHE phosphorylates MEK, ERK1/2 and Akt, which are melanogenesis inhibitory proteins. The data suggest that CHE inhibits melanogenesis signaling by both inhibiting the tyrosinase directly and activating the MEK‐ERK or Akt signal pathways‐mediated suppression of MITF and its downstream signal pathway, including tyrosinase and TRPs. Therefore,C. heracleifoliawould be a useful therapeutic agent for treating hyperpigmentation and an effective component in whitening and/or lightening cosmetics.