bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of oxidative post‐translational modification of serum albumin in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension and pulmonary hypertension of sickle cell anemia
Authors: Odhiambo Adam , Perlman David H. , Huang Hua , Costello Catherine E. , Farber Harrison W. , Steinberg Martin H. , McComb Mark E. , Klings Elizabeth S.
Published: June 2007

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) in sickle cell anemia (SCA) is characterized by decreased nitric oxide bioavailability that might, in part, be related to oxidative stress. Oxidative post‐translational modifications of plasma proteins may serve as hallmarks of disease severity and could result in altered protein function and structure. We hypothesized that serum albumin in patients with PH of SCA undergoes oxidative post‐translational modification and that this modification may reflect important mediators of disease pathogenesis that are common to both idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) and PH of SCA. To explore this hypothesis, we studied albumin purified from the plasma of patients in four subject groups: SCA and PH, SCA steady‐state without PH, IPAH, and normal volunteers. Purified albumin was analyzed by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOFMS) and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Using MALDI‐TOFMS, we identified that an ion corresponding to a malondialdehyde (MDA)‐modified albumin peptide was differentially present in patients with IPAH and PH of SCA. These results were confirmed by dot‐blotting and Western analysis. We localized the site of MDA modification to albumin residue K159 using LC/MS/MS. Thus, we have identified an MDA modification of serum albumin that appears to be a common link between PH of SCA and IPAH. This finding supports the notion that oxidative stress modulates the pathogenesis of PH of SCA and suggests that this and other post‐translational modifications may be important biomarkers of disease. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of a chlorosulfolipid from Ochromonas danica by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization quadrupole ion trap time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Darsow Kai H. , Lange Harald A. , Resch Martin , Walter Christian , Buchholz Rainer
Published: June 2007

Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time‐of‐flight (ToF) mass spectrometry (MS) is an established tool for analyzing high mass molecules, such as proteins, whereas it attracts far less interest in the field of lipid analysis. In the study reported here a new chlorosulfolipid (CSL), 3,8,12,15‐tetrachloroeicosane‐1,17,18‐triyl tris(hydrogen sulfate), was identified from the alga Ochromonas danica and de novo characterized by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization quadrupole ion trap time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐QIT‐ToF) MS in negative ion mode. This method provides an effective alternative for the analysis of compounds directly derived from organic cell extracts. For MALDI analyses several frequently used solid MALDI matrices as well as some ionic liquid matrices (ILMs) were tested to enhance the analyte response to UV‐laser and its ionization. The molecular weight of the observed compound could be determined as Li‐, Na‐ and K‐adducts [M+Me2H]−. The characteristic isotopic patterns of the measured ions and the well‐allocated molecular fragments by MS1, MS2 and MS3 indicate the fourfold chlorination and threefold sulfation of the investigated compound. The MS fragmentation alongside of the chlorine‐bearing C‐atoms is accompanied by the generation of a double bond at the opposite fragment in MS1. This obtained fragmentation pattern provides an insight into the allocation of the chlorine‐bearing C‐atoms along the carbon chain. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Double acylation for identification of amino‐terminal peptides of proteins isolated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
Authors: Sanchez Aniel , Ramos Yassel , Solano Yanni , Gonzalez Luis Javier , Besada Vladimir , Betancourt Lazaro , Gil Jeovanis , Alvarez Felix , Rodriguez Meilyn , Perez Lincidio , Pujol Merardo , Padron Gabriel
Published: June 2007

We report here a method for the identification of free or blocked N‐terminal peptide of in‐gel digested isolated proteins. The primary amino groups of the gel‐entrapped protein are blocked with normal acetic or succinic anhydride, and the protein is digested with a high‐specificity protease. The generated peptides are treated with an equimolar mixture of normal and deuterated acetic anhydride. Upon mass spectrometric analysis internal peptides display a complex isotopic ion distribution while the N‐terminal peptide shows a normal isotopic ion distribution. The procedure was applied to the identification of the N‐terminus of individual and protein mixtures isolated by sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE). Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimization of an isotope dilution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method for the detection of endogenous estrogen metabolites in urine samples
Authors: Knust Ulrike , Strowitzki Thomas , Spiegelhalder Bertold , Bartsch Helmut , Owen Robert Wyn
Published: June 2007

A gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method for the simultaneous quantitation of ten estrogen metabolites in human urine was optimized. The method consists of initial enzymatic hydrolysis of the estrogen conjugates using β‐glucuronidase followed by solid‐phase extraction (SPE) on Sep‐pak C18 columns and further sample purification by ion‐exchange chromatography on QAE‐Sephadex cartridges in the acetate form. QAE‐Sephadex cartridges in the borate form were used to separate estrogens into two fractions: one fraction containing estrogens lacking vicinal cis‐hydroxyls (Fr 1) and another containing estrogens possessing vicinal cis‐hydroxyls (catecholestrogens; Fr 2). Finally, following O‐trimethylsilyl ether derivatization, the estrogens were analyzed by GC/MS in the selected ion monitoring mode. Estrogens were quantitated using deuterated internal standards, which were added to the samples at the initiation of the work‐up procedures. After addition to estrogen‐low male human samples the standards showed good chromatographic linear response and reproducibility. A reduction in the number of steps and improvements in the robustness of the work‐up procedures were achieved. The modified method described is less complex, amenable to use with commercially available SPE columns and fulfils all the reliability criteria, resulting in highly specific and accurate results. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Robustness analysis of an adjoint optimal iterative learning controller with experimental verification
Authors: Ratcliffe James D. , Hätönen Jari J. , Lewin Paul L. , Rogers Eric , Owens David H.
Published: June 2007

A new modification to the steepest‐descent algorithm for discrete‐time iterative learning control is developed for plant models with multiplicative uncertainty. A theoretical analysis of the algorithm shows that if a tuning parameter is selected to be sufficiently large, the algorithm will result in monotonic convergence provided the plant uncertainty satisfies a positivity condition. This is a major improvement when compared to the standard version of this algorithm, which lacks a mechanism for finding a balance between convergence speed and robustness. The proposed algorithm has been investigated experimentally on an industrial gantry robot and found to display a high degree of robustness to both plant modelling error and initial state error. The algorithm also exhibits both long‐term performance and excellent tracking performance, as demonstrated by experimental tests of up to 4000 iterations. To further examine robustness, the plant has been approximated by simple models including one consisting of an integrator and a gain. A simple tuning rule for this reduced model is proposed, which generates a stable system with a good rate of convergence. The robustness properties of the steepest descent algorithm have then been experimentally verified. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interval estimation of binomial proportion in clinical trials with a two‐stage design
Authors: Tsai Wei‐Yann , Chi Yunchan , Chen Chia‐Min
Published: June 2007

Generally, a two‐stage design is employed in Phase II clinical trials to avoid giving patients an ineffective drug. If the number of patients with significant improvement, which is a binomial response, is greater than a pre‐specified value at the first stage, then another binomial response at the second stage is also observed. This paper considers interval estimation of the response probability when the second stage is allowed to continue. Two asymptotic interval estimators, Wald and score, as well as two exact interval estimators, Clopper–Pearson and Sterne, are constructed according to the two binomial responses from this two‐stage design, where the binomial response at the first stage follows a truncated binomial distribution. The mean actual coverage probability and expected interval width are employed to evaluate the performance of these interval estimators. According to the comparison results, the score interval is recommended for both Simon's optimal and minimax designs. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons,
Ltd.
Coverage‐adjusted entropy estimation
Authors: Vu Vincent Q. , Yu Bin , Kass Robert E.
Published: June 2007

Data on ‘neural coding’ have frequently been analyzed using information‐theoretic measures. These formulations involve the fundamental and generally difficult statistical problem of estimating entropy. We review briefly several methods that have been advanced to estimate entropy and highlight a method, the coverage‐adjusted entropy estimator (CAE), due to Chao and Shen that appeared recently in the environmental statistics literature. This method begins with the elementary Horvitz–Thompson estimator, developed for sampling from a finite population, and adjusts for the potential new species that have not yet been observed in the sample—these become the new patterns or ‘words’ in a spike train that have not yet been observed. The adjustment is due to I. J. Good, and is called the Good–Turing coverage estimate. We provide a new empirical regularization derivation of the coverage‐adjusted probability estimator, which shrinks the maximum likelihood estimate. We prove that the CAE is consistent and first‐order optimal, with rate OP(1/log n), in the class of distributions with finite entropy variance and that, within the class of distributions with finite qth moment of the log‐likelihood, the Good–Turing coverage estimate and the total probability of unobserved words converge at rate OP(1/(log n)q). We then provide a simulation study of the estimator with standard distributions and examples from neuronal data, where observations are dependent. The results show that, with a minor modification, the CAE performs much better than the MLE and is better than the best upper bound estimator, due to Paninski, when the number of possible words m is unknown or infinite. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Bayesian cost–benefit approach to the determination of sample size in clinical trials
Authors: Kikuchi Takashi , Pezeshk Hamid , Gittins John
Published: June 2007

Current practice for sample size computations in clinical trials is largely based on frequentist or classical methods. These methods have the drawback of requiring a point estimate of the variance of the treatment effect and are based on arbitrary settings of type I and II errors. They also do not directly address the question of achieving the best balance between the cost of the trial and the possible benefits from using the new treatment, and fail to consider the important fact that the number of users depends on the evidence for improvement compared with the current treatment. Our approach, Behavioural Bayes (or BeBay for short), assumes that the number of patients switching to the new medical treatment depends on the strength of the evidence that is provided by clinical trials, and takes a value between zero and the number of potential patients. The better a new treatment, the more the number of patients who want to switch to it and the more the benefit is obtained. We define the optimal sample size to be the sample size that maximizes the expected net benefit resulting from a clinical trial. Gittins and Pezeshk (Drug Inf. Control 2000; 34:355–363; The Statistician 2000; 49(2):177–187) used a simple form of benefit function and assumed paired comparisons between two medical treatments and that the variance of the treatment effect is known. We generalize this setting, by introducing a logistic benefit function, and by extending the more usual unpaired case, without assuming the variance to be known. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Firm performance, rent appropriation, and the strategic resource divestment capability
Authors: Moliterno Thomas P. , Wiersema Margarethe F.
Published: June 2007

Dynamic capabilities manifest the organizational capacity to purposefully create or modify the firm's resource base. In this paper, we consider resource divestment an important firm‐level resource management capability that manifests a two‐step organizational change routine. Firms must first be motivated to engage in resource divestment, and then decide which resources should be ‘sold off.’ In exploring this firm‐level capability, we employ factor market theory to consider the ‘seller side’ of the market, and provide a useful framework for conceptualizing how firms generate competitive advantage through resource divestment. We test our model of the resource divestment capability with a dataset of professional baseball franchises during the period 1969–83. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of intravenous glucose on dopaminergic function in the human brain in vivo
Authors: Haltia Lauri T. , Rinne Juha O. , Merisaari Harri , Maguire Ralph P. , Savontaus Eriika , Helin Semi , Någren Kjell , Kaasinen Valtteri
Published: June 2007

Dopamine is known to regulate food intake by modulating food reward via the mesolimbic circuitry of the brain. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of high energy input (i.v. glucose) on striatal and thalamic dopamine release in overweight and lean individuals. We hypothesized that glucose would induce dopamine release and positive ratings (e.g., satiety) in Behavioral Analog Scales, particularly in food‐deprived lean subjects. [11C]raclopride PET was performed for 12 lean (mean BMI = 22 kg/m2) and 12 overweight (mean BMI = 33 kg/m2) healthy subjects. Each subject was imaged twice in a blinded counter‐balanced setting, after 300 mg/kg i.v. glucose and after i.v. placebo. Dopamine D2 receptor binding potentials (BPs) were estimated. The voxel‐based analysis of the baseline scans indicated lower striatal BPs in the overweight group and a negative correlation between BMIs and BPs. Intravenous glucose did not have a significant effect on BPs in overweight or lean subjects (male and female groups combined). However, BP changes were opposite in the two gender groups. In male subjects, significant BP reductions after glucose were seen in the right and left caudate nucleus, left putamen, and right thalamus. In female subjects, increases in BP secondary to glucose were seen in the right caudate nucleus and right and left putamen. The sexually dimorphic effect of glucose was seen in both overweight and lean subjects. Although gender differences were not among the a priori hypotheses of the present study and, therefore, they must be considered to be preliminary findings, we postulate that this observation is a reflection of an interaction between glucose, sex steroids (estrogen), leptin, and dopamine. Synapse 61:748–756, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ritanserin reverses repeated methamphetamine‐induced behavioral and neurochemical sensitization in mice
Authors: Ago Yukio , Nakamura Shigeo , Kajita Naoko , Uda Misato , Hashimoto Hitoshi , Baba Akemichi , Matsuda Toshio
Published: June 2007

Chronic administration of methamphetamine (METH) elicits progressive enhancement of locomotor activity known as behavioral sensitization. We have recently shown that chronic METH enhanced METH challenge‐induced increase in 5‐HT levels in the prefrontal cortex and that 5‐HT1A receptor activation attenuated this neurochemical sensitization as well as behavioral sensitization. This study examined whether the nonselective 5‐HT2 receptor antagonist, ritanserin affects METH‐induced behavioral and neurochemical sensitization in mice. Ritanserin at doses of 1 and 3 mg/kg inhibited the development and expression of METH‐induced behavioral sensitization in a dose‐dependent manner. Furthermore, chronic administration of ritanserin for a week attenuated the maintenance of behavioral sensitization, indicating the improvement of established behavioral sensitization. Microdialysis analysis showed that chronic ritanserin inhibited the neurochemical sensitization that chronic METH enhanced METH challenge‐induced increase in extracellular 5‐HT levels in the prefrontal cortex. Furthermore, acute ritanserin inhibited METH challenge‐induced increase in extracellular 5‐HT but not DA levels in the prefrontal cortex. These results suggest that 5‐HT2 receptors are involved in METH‐induced hyperactivity and behavioral sensitization in mice. Synapse 61:757–763, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of distribution of adenosine A2A receptors in normal human brain measured with [11C]TMSX PET
Authors: Mishina Masahiro , Ishiwata Kiichi , Kimura Yuichi , Naganawa Mika , Oda Keiichi , Kobayashi Shiro , Katayama Yasuo , Ishii Kenji
Published: June 2007

Adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) is thought to interact with dopamine D2 receptor. Selective A2AR antagonists have attracted attention as the treatment of Parkinson's disease. In this study, we investigated the distribution of the A2ARs in the living human brain using positron emission tomography (PET) and [7‐methyl‐11C]‐(E)‐8‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxystyryl)‐1,3,7‐trimethylxanthine ([11C]TMSX). We recruited five normal male subjects. A dynamic series of PET scans was performed for 60 min, and the arterial blood was sampled during the scan to measure radioactivity of the parent compound and labeled metabolites. Circular regions of interest of 10‐mm diameter were placed in the PET images over the cerebellum, brainstem, thalamus, head of caudate nucleus, anterior and posterior putamen, frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and posterior cingulate gyrus for each subject. A two‐tissue, three‐compartment model was used to estimate K1, k2, k3, and k4 between metabolite‐corrected plasma and tissue time activity of [11C]TMSX. The binding potential (BP) was the largest in the anterior (1.25) and posterior putamen (1.20), was next largest in the head of caudate nucleus (1.05) and thalamus (1.03), and was small in the cerebral cortex, especially frontal lobe (0.46). [11C]TMSX PET showed the largest BP in the striatum in which A2ARs were enriched as in postmortem and nonhuman studies reported, but that the binding of [11C]TMSX was relatively larger in the thalamus to compare with other mammals. To date, [11C]TMSX is the only promising PET ligand, which is available to clinical use for mapping the A2ARs in the living human brain. Synapse 61:778–784, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dietary restriction modulates α‐synuclein expression in the aging rat cortex and hippocampus
Authors: Mladenovic Aleksandra , Perovic Milka , Tanic Nikola , Petanceska Suzana , Ruzdijic Sabera , Kanazir Selma
Published: June 2007

Dietary restriction (DR) is one of the promising environmental interventions known to attenuate aging and decrease risk of age‐related neurodegenerative disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of DR on expression of α‐synuclein, a presynaptic protein involved in pathogenesis of Parkinson's and some other neurodegenerative diseases, in the cortex and hippocampus of adult, middle‐aged, late middle‐aged, and aged rats. Using Real Time RT‐PCR, the authors report that aging regulates the expression of α‐synuclein in a tissue‐specific manner and that long‐term DR reverts the late age‐related changes of α‐synuclein expression. Synapse 61:790–794, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
On‐line measurements of oscillating mitochondrial membrane potential in glucose‐fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Andersen Ann Zahle , Poulsen Allan K. , Brasen Jens Christian , Olsen Lars Folke
Published: June 2007

We employed the fluorescent cyanine dye DiOC2(3) to measure membrane potential in semi‐anaerobic yeast cells under conditions where glycolysis was oscillating. Oscillations in glycolysis were studied by means of the naturally abundant nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). We found that the mitochondrial membrane potential was oscillating, and that these oscillations displayed the same frequency and duration as the NADH oscillations. It was confirmed that DiOC2(3) localizes itself in the mitochondrial membrane and thus reports qualitative changes solely in mitochondrial membrane potential. Our studies showed that glycolytic oscillations perturb the mitochondrial membrane potential and that the mitochondria do not have any controlling effect on the dynamics of glycolysis under these conditions. Depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane by addition of FCCP quenched mitochondrial membrane potential oscillations and delocalized DiOC2(3), while glycolysis continued to oscillate unaffected. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
History and dietary husbandry of pangolins in captivity
Authors: Yang Ci Wen , Chen Suming , Chang Chi‐Yen , Lin Mei Fong , Block Erik , Lorentsen Ronald , Chin Jason S.C. , Dierenfeld Ellen S.
Published: June 2007

The objective of this study was to establish a history of feeding and dietary husbandry of pangolin in captivity. Over the past 150 years, several zoos have attempted to maintain pangolins (Manis spp). Most of these zoos have not succeeded in maintaining these animals for long periods, associated largely with dietary problems. This study reviews the historic records of captive pangolins. The dietary husbandry of pangolins in Taipei Zoo is discussed in detail. Zoo Biol 0:1–8, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Impaired Emptying of the Retained Distal Stomach Causes Delayed Gastric Emptying after Pylorus‐preserving Pancreaticoduodenectomy
Authors: Shan Yan‐Shen , Hsieh Yu‐Hsiang , Yao Wei‐Jen , Tsai Mei‐Ling , Lin Pin‐Wen
Published: June 2007

Objective

Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) is the major morbidity after pylorus‐preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD). Gastroscintigraphy was used to characterize food distribution in the proximal and distal stomach during emptying.

Patients and Methods

Between October 2000 and June 2003, 20 healthy volunteers and 23 PPPD patients underwent single‐phase gastric emptying scintigraphy 14 days after surgery. Scintigraphic studies of the stomach were divided into proximal and distal regions, and the ratio of proximal to distal radiation counts (P/DR) was plotted. Momentary monitor‐displayed images were compared to evaluate meal distribution during emptying.

Results

There were 21 eligible patients, 12 without symptoms of DGE (sDGE–) and 9 with symptoms of DGE (sDGE+). In healthy volunteers the mean P/DR value was maintained at a level of ≥ 2.5, and momentary images showed dilated proximal and constricted distal stomach throughout meal emptying. In both the solid and liquid phase tests, the average P/DR value for sDGE– patients was slightly lower than that for healthy volunteers, and momentary images showed early emptying of the solid meal. The mean P/DR value for sDGE+ patients was abnormally low and remained constant throughout the assessment. Momentary images showed significant dilatation of the distal stomach, with constant full size. The odds ratio for the change in P/DR per minute decreased after surgery, especially in sDGE+ patients, indicating a loss of contractility of the distal stomach. At the 6‐month follow‐up, the P/DR values exhibited a normal decreasing trend but were lower for sDGE+ patients than for healthy volunteers.

Conclusions

The P/DR curve provides new insight into normal and pathological gastric function. After surgery, temporary loss of contractility of the distal stomach causes symptoms of DGE.
Pyrrolidine Dithiocarbamate Prevents Deleterious Effects of Remote Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury on Healing of Colonic Anastomoses in Rats
Authors: Teke Zafer , Aytekin Faruk Onder , Kabay Burhan , Yenisey Cigdem , Aydin Cagatay , Tekin Koray , Sacar Mustafa , Ozden Akin
Published: June 2007

Background

Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) is a low‐molecular‐weight thiol antioxidant and potent inhibitor of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) activation. It has been shown to attenuate local harmful effects of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in many organs. In recent animal studies, a delaying effect of remote organ I/R injury on the healing of colonic anastomoses has been demonstrated. In this study we investigated whether PDTC prevents harmful systemic effects of superior mesenteric I/R on left colonic anastomosis in rats.

Methods

Anastomosis of the left colon was performed in 40 rats randomly allocated into the following four groups: (1) Sham‐operated group (group I, n = 10)—simultaneously with colonic anastomosis, the superior mesenteric artery and collateral branches divided from the celiac axis and the inferior mesenteric artery were isolated but not occluded. (2) Sham+PDTC group (group II, n = 10)—identical to sham‐operated rats except for the administration of PDTC (100 mg/kg IV bolus) 30 minutes prior to commencing the experimental period. (3) I/R group (group III, n = 10)—60 minutes of intestinal I/R by superior mesenteric artery occlusion. (4) PDTC‐treated group (group IV, n = 10)—PDTC 100 mg/kg before and after the I/R. On postoperative day 6, all animals were sacrificed, and anastomotic bursting pressures were measured in vivo. Tissue samples were obtained for investigation of anastomotic hydroxyproline (HP) contents, perianastomotic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, myeloperoxidase activity (MPO), and glutathione (GSH) level.

Results

There was a statistically significant decrease in anastomotic bursting pressure values, tissue HP content and GSH level, along with an increase in MDA level and MPO activity in group III, when compared to groups I, II, and IV (p < 0.05). However, PDTC treatment led to a statistically significant increase in anastomotic bursting pressure values, tissue HP content and GSH level, along with a decrease in MDA level and MPO activity in group IV (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

This study showed that PDTC treatment significantly prevented the delaying effect of remote organ I/R injury on anastomotic healing in the colon. Further clinical studies are needed to clarify whether PDTC may be a useful therapeutic agent for increasing the safety of the anastomosis during particular operations where remote organ I/R injury occurs.
A Life‐saving but Inadequately Discussed Procedure: Tube Duodenostomy. Known and Unknown Aspects
Authors: Isik Burak , Yilmaz Sezai , Kirimlioglu Vedat , Sogutlu Gokhan , Yilmaz Mehmet , Katz Daniel
Published: June 2007

Objective

The most successful method of managing the difficult duodenum, including the stump leakage, has been the tube duodenostomy technique, but it has not gained wide acceptance and is rarely used. The purpose of this study is to describe the details of the procedure for indication, technical approach, and postoperative care.

Methods

During the period from 1998 to 2006, a tube duodenostomy was performed in 31 patients for possible insecure duodenal stump closure during gastric resection, postoperative duodenal stump leakage, duodenal leak after primary closure of duodenum for perforation or injury, or anostomotic leak after choledochoduodenostomy. All of the tube duodenostomies were performed through the open end of the duodenum. We also inserted a T‐tube into the common bile duct in 19 of 31 patients (61.2 %) with tube duodenostomy.

Results

A tube duodenostomy was performed in the primary operation in 15 of 31 patients. None of those 15 patients required a second operation, and there were no leaks and no deaths. Among the larger group (31 patients), there was one (3.2 %) duodenal stump leak after tube duodenostomy, and it ceased spontaneously; one patient had a subhepatic collection after removal of the duodenostomy tube, and three patients had associated incisional infections. Two patients died; one after a myocardial infarction and the other from irreversible sepsis. The mean length of hospital stay was 26.9 days.

Conclusions

We conclude that tube duodenostomy is a simple, effective, and safe method to prevent rupture of an insecure duodenal stump or to treat the leakage from the duodenal stump or primary repair on the duodenum.
Endoscopic Thyroidectomy for Thyroid Malignancies: Comparison with Conventional Open Thyroidectomy
Authors: Chung Yoo Seung , Choe Jun‐Ho , Kang Kyung‐Ho , Kim Seok Won , Chung Ki‐Wook , Park Kyoung Sik , Han Wonshik , Noh Dong‐Young , Oh Seung Keun , Youn Yeo‐Kyu
Published: June 2007

Background

Endoscopic techniques have recently been applied to thyroid surgery. We developed the bilateral axillo‐breast (BAB) approach for total thyroidectomy. The aims of this study were to evaluate the completeness of this approach for total thyroidectomy and to compare complications between endoscopic thyroidectomy and conventional open thyroidectomy.

Methods

We analyzed 198 patients who underwent open thyroidectomy and 103 patients who underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma between January 2003 and June 2006 at Seoul National University Hospital. The postoperative thyroglobulin (TG) level was used to assess the completeness of the two methods. Complications such as hypocalcemia or vocal cord palsy were also evaluated.

Results

The mean hospitalization period was 3.18 days following open thyroidectomy and 3.04 days after endoscopic thyroidectomy. The 3‐month postoperative TG levels were <1.0 ng/ml in 90.4% of patients after open total thyroidectomy and in 88.9% following endoscopic total thyroidectomy. Transient hypocalcemia occurred in 17.7% and 25.2% of patients, respectively. Permanent hypocalcemia occurred in 4.5% and 1.0% of patients, respectively. Permanent vocal cord palsy frequencies were 0.5% and 0%, respectively. There were no significant differences in postoperative TG levels, hypocalcemia, or permanent vocal cord palsy. Transient vocal cord palsy occurred in 2.5% of patients after open thyroidectomy and in 25.2% after endoscopic thyroidectomy (p < 0.0001), but it disappeared within 3 months. Cosmetic results were excellent after endoscopic thyroidectomy.

Conclusions

The bilateral axillo‐breast (BAB) approach for endoscopic thyroidectomy shows insignificant postoperative complications, except transient vocal cord palsy, as well as good cosmetic results. It is also a feasible method for total thyroidectomy. Therefore, the BAB approach for endoscopic total thyroidectomy can be the surgical treatment of choice for selected cases of thyroid cancer.
Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: Time‐trends during a 20‐year Period
Authors: Berge Camilla , Haug Erik S. , Romundstad Pål R. , Lange Conrad , Myhre Hans O.
Published: June 2007

Background

The goal of the present study was to investigate the number of operations for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) including time‐trends in treatment during a 20‐year period. Operating time and anesthesia time were also studied.

Method

During the period 1983–2002, a total of 1,041 patients with AAA were treated with open surgery (905) or EVAR (136). Number of operations, type of graft, anesthesia time, and operating time were the variables investigated. Data were collected retrospectively from the patients’ medical records.

Results

There was an increase in the number of operations both for ruptured and non‐ruptured AAA in men during the study period. Among women, an increase was observed only for ruptured aneurysm. Operating time and anesthesia time increased significantly during the 20‐year period. The number of patients treated by EVAR increased significantly, beginning in 1995.

Conclusions

In conclusion, there has been an increase in the number of AAA operations, and the proportion of patients treated with EVAR is increasing. Furthermore, we found an increase in both anesthesia time and operating time. These trends may be important for allocation of resources needed for the treatment of patients with AAA.
Prognosis of Patients with Benign Thyroid Diseases Accompanied by Incidental Papillary Carcinoma Undetectable on Preoperative Imaging Tests
Authors: Ito Yasuhiro , Higashiyama Takuya , Takamura Yuuki , Miya Akihiro , Kobayashi Kaoru , Matsuzuka Fumio , Kuma Kanji , Miyauchi Akira
Published: June 2007

Background

Despite the recent wide availability of ultrasonography and fine‐needle aspiration biopsy, endocrine surgeons often encounter incidental papillary carcinoma (IPC), that is a papillary carcinoma that had gone undetected by preoperative imaging studies but was identified by pathological examination of surgical specimens resected for benign thyroid diseases.

Methods

The present study was developed to investigate the prognoses of 317 patients who underwent surgery for benign diseases involving IPC in comparison with the prognoses of 1,674 patients with clinically apparent papillary carcinoma detected preoperatively and diagnosed.

Results

None of the patients underwent further surgery such as completion total thyroidectomy and node dissection immediately after the diagnosis of IPC. To date, 7 patients (2.2%) have had recurrences; 6 of those were locoregional recurrences and one was a bone metastasis. None of the patients have died of thyroid carcinoma. The disease‐free survival of IPC patients was significantly better than that of clinically apparent papillary carcinoma patients and was similar to that of the subset of patients with papillary microcarcinoma without clinically apparent metastasis.

Conclusions

Because IPC is associated with good prognosis, further surgery, such as completion total thyroidectomy or lymph node dissection immediately after the diagnosis of IPC is not necessary.
Qualitative Study of Suicidality and Help‐Seeking Behaviors in African American Adolescents
Authors: Molock Sherry Davis , Barksdale Crystal , Matlin Samantha , Puri Rupa , Cammack Nicole , Spann Marisa
Published: June 2007

This qualitative study explores adolescents' perceptions of help‐seeking behaviors in the context of a hypothetical suicide crisis. Cauce and colleague's (2002, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70, 44–55) model was used to examine help‐seeking behaviors in 3 domains: problem recognition, decision to seek help, and selection of helpers. Forty‐two church‐going African American adolescents participated in 1 of 6 focus groups that discussed ways to help a hypothetically suicidal student in a vignette. Findings suggest that although the majority of youth had been exposed to a suicidal peer (76%), they were unsure of the seriousness of suicide as a problem in the African American community. The findings suggest that youth were less comfortable with formal interventions in school, religious institutions or traditional mental health settings. However, youth were open to community‐based programs that could be located in school, church or community settings if helpers were: young adults, empathic listeners, non‐judgmental, maintained confidentiality, and viewed as “natural helpers”. Implications for developing church‐based suicide interventions are discussed.
Family conditions and dietary control in phenylketonuria
Authors: Olsson G. M. , Montgomery S. M. , Alm J.
Published: June 2007

Objective

This investigation is an attempt to describe coping with phenylketonuria (PKU) in order to understand some aspects underlying good compliance.

Methods

The coping concept was applied to PKU in two questionnaires. Self‐ and parental ratings were combined with assessments of phenylalanine levels and the severity of the disease. All Swedish patients with PKU born in 1980–91, a total of 53 children and youths with their parents, were invited to participate in the study and 41 (77%) of them did so.

Results

The patients turned out to have good compliance with the diet. The main result was that patients with separated or divorced parents were more likely to have higher phenylalanine levels and this association was not diminished by adjustment for the potential confounding factors.

Conclusion

Patients’ need for support must be judged individually according to different family conditions.
Enzyme replacement therapy in 12 patients with MPS I–H/S with homozygous p.Leu490Pro mutation
Authors: Arora R. S. , Mercer J. , Thornley M. , Tylee K. , Wraith J. E.
Published: June 2007

We describe a cohort of 14 Hurler–Scheie patients homozygous for the p.Leu490Pro missense mutation in the α‐l‐iduronidase gene. Now based in the UK, they are all of Pakistani/Kashmiri descent; 64% were female; 11/14 (79%) had a sibling or cousin with MPS I and the parents are consanguineous in all cases. The median age at diagnosis was 1.8 years (range from antenatal diagnosis to 16.5 years). Twelve were on ERT with recombinant human α‐l‐iduronidase (IDUA; Laronidase, Genzyme) for a median duration of 22.5 months (range 2–71 months) and median age at commencement of ERT was 8.6 years (range 0.4–23.1 years). There was clear improvement in the size of liver and spleen as well as reduction in urine glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). The mean (range) urine GAG levels in mg/mmol creatinine were 63.4 (28.9–105.6), 28.3 (10.9–41.4), 22.8 (12.1–43.1), 15.7 (9.2–24.8) and 16.3 (10.1–21.0) at commencement, 3 months post ERT, 6 months post ERT, 12 months post ERT and 24 months post ERT, respectively. Effects on growth were not clear as there does not seem to be an obvious trend of increase or decrease in height after commencement of ERT and this seems to be the case regardless of the age at which ERT was started.
Upper airway obstructive disease in mucopolysaccharidoses: Polysomnography, computed tomography and nasal endoscopy findings
Authors: Santamaria F. , Andreucci M. V. , Parenti G. , Polverino M. , Viggiano D. , Montella S. , Cesaro A. , Ciccarelli R. , Capaldo B. , Andria G.
Published: June 2007

In mucopolysaccharidoses, upper airway obstruction has multiple causative factors and progressive respiratory disease may severely affect morbidity and mortality. In a cross‐sectional study over 2 years we evaluated upper airway obstructive disease through overnight polysomnography, upper airway computed tomography and nasal endoscopy in 5 children and 6 adults with mucopolysaccharidoses of various types. Measurements of apnoea and apnoea‐hypopnoea index, arousal index, and sleep efficiency were obtained through polysomnography. Retropalatal and retroglossal spaces were calculated through computed tomography, and the degree of adenoid hypertrophy was assessed through endoscopy. Apnoea index and apnoea‐hypopnoea index were significantly higher in children than in adults with mucopolysaccharidoses (p=.03 and p=03, respectively). Compared to healthy controls, retropalatal and retroglossal spaces were significantly smaller in children (p=03 and p=.004, respectively) or adults with mucopolysaccharidoses (p=.004 and p=.004, respectively). All subjects had adenoid hypertrophy causing first‐degree (36%) or second‐degree (64%) obstruction at endoscopy. Overnight polysomnography, upper airway computed tomography and nasal endoscopy are useful tools for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in mucopolysaccharidoses, and identifying the site and severity of airway obstruction.
Quebec neonatal mass urinary screening programme: From micromolecules to macromolecules
Authors: Auray‐Blais C. , Cyr D. , Drouin R.
Published: June 2007

The Quebec Mass Urinary Screening Programme, initiated in 1971, has resulted in the screening of more than 2 500 000 newborns in the province of Quebec for 25 inherited Mendelian disorders divided into two groups. The first group concerns urea cycle disorders (citrullinaemia, hyperargininaemia, argininosuccinic aciduria), ketotic hyperglycinaemia, and organic acidurias (methylmalonic aciduria, glutaric aciduria type I, etc.); the second group relates to disorders of amino acid metabolism (cystathioninuria, prolidase deficiency, etc.) and transport (Fanconi syndrome, cystinurias, Hartnup syndrome, etc.). The main goal of the Programme is to detect and prevent these genetic diseases, some detectable only in urine, before the onset of clinical symptoms. A multiplex thin‐layer chromatography methodology was developed, in which metabolites in urine are resolved and visualized by the sequential application of four different reagents to detect aminoacidopathies and organic acidurias. The technique is simple, reproducible, inexpensive and rapid, allowing the analysis of 500 samples daily by a single technician. The voluntary compliance of the parents is excellent, averaging 90% per year. Over the years, we have established a dynamic process, developing techniques or new reagents to detect as many treatable disorders as possible, now evaluating macromolecules associated with lysosomal storage disorders, mainly globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) for Fabry disease. We present here the methodology, infrastructure in place, results and recent statistics of the well‐established Quebec Mass Urinary Screening Programme. We also report a study by tandem mass spectrometric analysis of urinary Gb3 in Fabry disease for the follow‐up and monitoring of Fabry patients, as well as for its possible application to mass and high‐risk screening programmes.
The foraging behaviors of larvae of the ladybird beetle,Coccinella septempunctataL., (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) towards ant‐tended and non‐ant‐tended aphids
Authors: Suzuki Nobuhiko , Ide Toru
Published: June 2007

The foraging behaviors of larvae of the ladybird,Coccinella septempunctataL., towards both the ant‐tended aphid,Aphis craccivoraKoch, and the non‐ant‐tended aphid,Acyrthosiphon pisumHarris, were investigated in the field and in laboratory experiments. Although there were no differences in the development and growth of the ladybird larvae that preyed on eitherAc. pisumorAp. craccivora, the foraging efficiency of the ladybird larvae that preyed onAp. craccivorawas higher than that of the ladybird larvae that preyed onAc. pisumin the absence of ants. This result was explained by the fact that the number ofAc. pisumthat escaped by dropping off the plant was conspicuously larger than the number ofAp. craccivorathat escaped in this fashion and derived from the non‐ant‐attendance associated withAc. pisum. In the laboratory experiments, fewer ladybird larvae climbed onto a plant withAp. craccivorain the presence of ants than onto a plant withAc. pisumin the absence of ants. The ladybird larvae did not switch from foraging forAp. craccivorato foraging forAc. pisum, even after suffering attacks by ants on a plant withAp. craccivora, and it would appear that ladybird larvae are unable to remember where they have previously been attacked by ants. These results could explain why the ladybird larvae in the field more frequently visitedVicia angustifoliaplants withAp. craccivorathan those withAc. pisumand made more visits when ants were absent than when they were present.
A Measure for the Reliability of a Rating Scale Based on Longitudinal Clinical Trial Data
Authors: Laenen Annouschka , Alonso Ariel , Molenberghs Geert
Published: June 2007

A new measure for reliability of a rating scale is introduced, based on the classical definition of reliability, as the ratio of the true score variance and the total variance. Clinical trial data can be employed to estimate the reliability of the scale in use, whenever repeated measurements are taken. The reliability is estimated from the covariance parameters obtained from a linear mixed model. The method provides a single number to express the reliability of the scale, but allows for the study of the reliability’s time evolution. The method is illustrated using a case study in schizophrenia.
First Presentation of Lung Adenocarcinoma as a Subungual Metastasis
Authors: Seth Rohit , Athanassopoulos Athanasios , Mir Sinan
Published: June 2007

Subungual metastasis as a presenting feature of lung adenocarcinoma is rare and may be confused with a benign inflammatory disorder of the nail unit with subsequent diagnostic and management delay. We discuss the case of a 46-year-old man with a subungual metastasis as a presenting feature of lung adenocarcinoma.
Reduced energy functionals for a three-dimensional fast rotating Bose Einstein condensates
Authors: Aftalion Amandine , Blanc Xavier
Published: June 2007

We prove that in the fast rotating regime, the three-dimensional Gross–Pitaevskii energy describing the state of a Bose Einstein condensate can be reduced to a two-dimensional problem and that the vortex lines are almost straight. Additionally, we prove that the minimum of this two-dimensional problem can be sought in a reduced space corresponding to the first eigenspace of an elliptic operator. This space is called the Lowest Landau level and is of infinite dimension
Blow-up solutions of the self-dual Chern–Simons–Higgs vortex equation
Authors: Choe Kwangseok , Kim Namkwon
Published: June 2007

We apply the variational method and the blow-up analysis to the self-dual Chern–Simons–Higgs vortex equation on a flat torus to obtain two solutions for certain values of the Chern–Simons constant. As the corresponding Chern–Simons constant tends to zero, one of corresponding solutions converges to zero and the other blows up at only one point in the sense of Brezis–Merle provided that the total number of vortex is greater than 2. Further, the below-up solution is of spike type and becomes a critical point ofJ_{\mathrm{\varepsilon }}^{ + }when the total number of vortex is greater than 3. As a consequence, we show the existence of the third solution for some periodic configuration of vortices and some Chern–Simons constant.

Nous nous appliquons la méthode variationnelle et l'analyse d'explosion à l'équation auto-duale de vortex de Chern–Simons–Higgs sur un tore plat pour obtenir deux solutions pour certaines valeurs de la constante de Chern–Simons. Lorsque la constante correspondante de Chern–Simons tend vers zéro, une des solutions correspondantes converge vers zéro et l'autre solution explose en seulement un point dans le sens de Brezis–Merle à condition que le nombre de vortex total soit plus grand que 2. De plus, l'explosion est de type “pic” et, quand le nombre de vortex total est plus grand que 3, la solution est un point critique deJ_{\mathrm{\varepsilon }}^{ + }. Nous en déduisons l'existence d'une troisième solution pour une certaine configuration périodique des vortex et une certaine constante de Chern–Simons.
Genetic interaction and phenotypic analysis of the Arabidopsis MAP kinase pathway mutations mekk1 and mpk4 suggests signaling pathway complexity
Authors: Su Shih-Heng , Suarez-Rodriguez Maria Cristina , Krysan Patrick
Published: June 2007

It has been shown that the Arabidopsis MEK kinase MEKK1 acts upstream of the MAP kinase MPK4 to negatively regulate salicylic acid‐dependent defense‐response pathways. Here, we report that the mekk1;mpk4 double‐mutant combination causes seedling lethality. In addition, we demonstrate that mekk1 and mpk4 single‐mutant plants have significantly different phenotypes. mekk1 plants are defective for lateral root formation, while mpk4 plants are not. In addition, treatment with elevated levels of sodium chloride improves the growth of mekk1 plants, while it inhibits the growth of mpk4 plants. Our results suggest that MEKK1 and MPK4 functions are not limited to a single, linear signaling pathway. Instead there appears to be more complexity to the signaling pathways in which these two proteins function.