bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Estrogen administration during superovulation increases oocyte quality and expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor and nitric oxide synthase in the ovary
Authors: Ha Choong‐Sik , Joo Bo‐Sun , Kim Seung‐Chul , Joo Jong‐Kil , Kim Hwi‐Gon , Lee Kyu‐Sup 
Published: July 2010

AbstractAims:  This study investigated whether estrogen administration during superovulation enhances oocyte quality using a mice model. We also investigated whether this estrogen treatment regulates the expressions of angiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), in the ovary.Method:  Female mice were co‐injected with various doses of estrogen (1 µM, 10 µM and 100 µM) and pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin during superovulation, followed by human chorionic gonadotrophin injection 48 hours later. Then they were mated with individual males. After 18 hours, zygotes were flushed and cultured to blastocyst. The expression of VEGF and eNOS in the ovary was examined using Western blot and immunohistochemistry. The control group was superovulated without estrogen.Results:  Both numbers of ovulated zygotes and the rate of embryo development to blastocyst were significantly increased in the 1‐µM estrogen dose compared to the control group. VEGF and eNOS expressions were stimulated by estrogen treatment. In particular, VEGF expression was significantly increased at 1‐µM estrogen concentration, whereas, eNOS expression was significantly increased in all estrogen concentrations compared to controls.Conclusions:  The study showed that estrogen co‐injection during superovulation increased the ovarian response, embryo developmental competence and expressions of VEGF and eNOS in the ovary.
Ovarian malignant melanoma without evidence of teratoma
Authors: Lee Seung‐Ho , Lee Kwang‐Beom , Shin Jin‐Woo , Chung Dong‐Hae , Park Chan‐Yong 
Published: July 2010

AbstractA 46‐year‐old woman with ovarian malignant melanoma had advanced intraperitoneal metastasis, retroperitoneal and inguinal lymph node metastases. Extensive debulking surgery was performed and chemotherapy was given. Microscopically, no evidence of other accompanying tumor, such as teratoma was noted. Detailed examination of the patient failed to identify any evidence of another primary melanoma site. It is assumed that spontaneous regression of the primary lesion occurred. Despite the surgery and chemotherapy, the patient died within 2 months of diagnosis. Considering this case, it is assumed that the combination of surgical debulking and chemotherapy are not always beneficial in ovarian malignant melanoma and the prognosis of ovarian malignant melanoma is very poor.
Effects of albumin‐conjugated PYY on food intake: the respective roles of the circumventricular organs and vagus nerve
Authors: Baraboi Elena‐Dana , Michel Chantal , Smith Pauline , Thibaudeau Karen , Ferguson Alastair V. , Richard Denis 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe mechanism and routes through which peptide tyrosine‐tyrosine (PYY) exerts its anorectic effects are still largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the roles of the area postrema (AP), subfornical organ (SFO) and vagus nerve in mediating the anorectic effect of PYY using PYY3‐36 conjugated to human serum albumin (PYY3‐36‐HSA) in rats. PYY3‐36‐HSA is a large molecule that does not penetrate the blood–brain barrier, and thus provides a useful tool to discriminate between the central (brain) and peripheral actions of this peptide. PYY3‐36‐HSA induced significant reductions in food and body weight gain up to 24 h after administration. The anorectic effect of PYY3‐36‐HSA was delayed for 2 h in rats in which both AP and SFO were ablated, while lesion of either of these circumventricular organs in isolation did not influence the feeding responses to PYY3‐36‐HSA. The PYY3‐36‐HSA‐induced anorectic effect was also reduced during the 3‐ to 6‐h period following subdiaphragmatic vagotomy. Lesions of AP, SFO and AP/SFO as well as subdiaphragmatic vagotomy blunted PYY3‐36‐HSA‐induced expression of c‐fos mRNA in specific brain structures including the bed nucleus of stria terminalis, central amygdala, lateral–external parabrachial nucleus and medial nucleus of the solitary tract. In addition, subdiaphragmatic vagotomy inhibited the neuronal activation induced by PYY3‐36‐HSA in AP and SFO. These findings suggest that the anorectic effect and brain neuronal activation induced by PYY3‐36‐HSA are dependent on integrity of AP, SFO and subdiaphragmatic vagus nerve.
Dopamine D4 receptors modulate brain metabolic activity in the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum at rest and in response to methylphenidate
Authors: Michaelides Michael , Pascau Javier , Gispert Juan‐Domingo , Delis Foteini , Grandy David K. , Wang Gene‐Jack , Desco Manuel , Rubinstein Marcelo , Volkow Nora D. , Thanos Panayotis K. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractMethylphenidate (MP) is widely used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Variable number of tandem repeats polymorphisms in the dopamine D4 receptor (D4) gene have been implicated in vulnerability to ADHD and the response to MP. Here we examined the contribution of dopamine D4 receptors (D4Rs) to baseline brain glucose metabolism and to the regional metabolic responses to MP. We compared brain glucose metabolism (measured with micro‐positron emission tomography and [18F]2‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐d‐glucose) at baseline and after MP (10 mg/kg, i.p.) administration in mice with genetic deletion of the D4. Images were analyzed using a novel automated image registration procedure. Baseline D4−/−mice had lower metabolism in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and greater metabolism in the cerebellar vermis (CBV) than D4+/+and D4+/−mice; when given MP, D4−/−mice increased metabolism in the PFC and decreased it in the CBV, whereas in D4+/+and D4+/−mice, MP decreased metabolism in the PFC and increased it in the CBV. These findings provide evidence that D4Rs modulate not only the PFC, which may reflect the activation by dopamine of D4Rs located in this region, but also the CBV, which may reflect an indirect modulation as D4Rs are minimally expressed in this region. As individuals with ADHD show structural and/or functional abnormalities in these brain regions, the association of ADHD with D4Rs may reflect its modulation of these brain regions. The differential response to MP as a function of genotype could explain differences in brain functional responses to MP between patients with ADHD and healthy controls and between patients with ADHD with different D4polymorphisms.
Decrease of Trefoil factor 2 in cats with feline idiopathic cystitis
Authors: Lemberger Stephanie I.K. , Dorsch Roswitha , Hauck Stefanie M. , Amann Barbara , Hirmer Sieglinde , Hartmann Katrin , Deeg Cornelia A. 
Published: July 2010

What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) is a common spontaneous disease in domestic cats which resembles painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis in humans in many aspects. For neither of the two diseases a consistent aetiology has yet been established, so that there is no causal therapy and diagnosis is still one of exclusion. The discovery of a deficiency of an important growth factor, the Trefoil Factor 2, in the urine and bladder tissue of cats with FIC gives new insights into possible aetiologic backgrounds of FIC and might serve as future biomarker faciliating diagnosis.OBJECTIVETo obtain new insights into aetiological backgrounds, and to search for diagnostic biomarkers by assessing the difference in urinary proteins between cats with spontaneous feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) and healthy controls.MATERIALS AND METHODSUrine supernatants of 18 cats with FIC and 18 healthy control cats, and bladder biopsies of two FIC diseased cats and four healthy controls were included in the study. The Bradford method was used to determine protein quantity in urine supernatants. Urine was separated by two‐dimensional (2‐D) gel electrophoresis. Selected protein spots were excised from two‐dimensional gels and analysed with tandem mass spectrometry. Validation of Trefoil factor 2 expression was realized with Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Western blot signal intensities were quantified with image quant software.RESULTSEleven differentially expressed protein spots were identified between the 2‐D gels of cats with FIC and control cats. Ten spots (only visible in the FIC gel) were identified as albumin and one spot (only visible in the control gel) was identified as Trefoil factor 2.Using quantification of Western blot signal intensities and immunohistochemistry a decrease in Trefoil factor 2 (TFF2) in cats with FIC could be revealed for the first time.CONCLUSIONDeficiency in TFF2 possibly leads to impaired repairing abilities and immune response of the urothelium. The result could be a greater susceptibility to injury, inflammation and relapse. Therefore TFF2 deficiency might be an important event in FIC pathogenesis. Detection of a decrease in urinary TFF2 could serve as diagnostic biomarker, facilitating diagnosis. As FIC can serve as an animal model for human painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis, the findings of this study might also be valuable for interstitial cystitis research and should be further investigated.
For debate.Glucose variability and diabetes complication risk: we need to know the answer
Authors: Kilpatrick E. S. , Rigby A. S. , Atkin S. L. 
Published: July 2010

Diabet. Med. 27, 868–871 (2010)AbstractThere is still a debate as to whether or not glucose variability contributes to diabetes complication risk. There is much in vitro laboratory evidence that glycaemic instability gives rise to increased production of reactive oxygen species and has a detrimental effect on endothelial dysfunction. While some in vivo studies have also shown similar findings in patients with or without diabetes, others have been unable to confirm any association. Furthermore, clinical studies which have sought to translate this possible risk into an increased likelihood of developing micro‐ or macrovascular complications have so far not demonstrated an effect. However, few of these trials were specifically designed to establish any influence of glucose fluctuations. This issue is now one of the largest remaining unanswered questions in diabetes. While this article focuses on the data which do not support a role for glucose variability in the development of complications, it also highlights the need for further studies to be performed which will definitively resolve the matter.
Prospects for Closer Economic Cooperation in Northeast Asia
Authors: Aminian Nathalie , Calderon Cuauhtémoc 
Published: July 2010

AbstractIn contrast to developments in other world regions, efforts to institutionalize regional economic cooperation in East Asia have been weak. Though Southeast Asian economies have taken action toward trade liberalization (ASEAN Free Trade Area), the major economies of the region such as China, Japan, and Korea have not been part of any formal trade groupings until recently. However, given the slow pace of progress within AFTA and the importance of the Northeast Asian countries in terms of weight in the Asian economy, a de facto Northeast Asian economic cooperation is a necessary condition for East Asian integration. This paper investigates the substance of recent economic cooperation in Northeast Asia. The trilateral economic cooperation is analyzed through examination of trade and direct investment links for 1990–2004, and estimation of selected determinants of direct investment, in particular the relationship between trade and FDI. Estimation results suggest that the main driving forces for direct investment outflows from the source country have been the falling‐off of exchange rate risk, the level of the nominal bilateral exchange rates, growth rate of the recipient country, and the per capita GDP gap between source and host countries. Bilateral trade has been shown to be statistically insignificant.
Does Openness Affect Regional Inequality? A Case Study for India
Authors: Barua Alokesh , Chakraborty Pavel 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThis paper examines the impact of economic liberalization on interregional inequality in India. It has been observed in many studies that interregional inequality in India has been steadily increasing over time. This paper is a further confirmation of this result. We have tried to locate the cause of rising interregional inequality within the production structure of the economy and observed that it is positively and systematically related to the cross‐regional inequalities in agriculture and manufacturing. This systematic relationship has further been examined from a structuralist viewpoint to unravel the factors determining manufacturing production across regions where we have found that trade openness is the key factor determining the manufacturing share in income across the regions. Our further enquiry into manufacturing and trade patterns has shown that the Herfindahl index of concentration has been increasing over time on both counts. This result, along with the findings of the structuralist model about disproportionate growth of manufacturing across regions, provides an explanation of the cause of rising interregional inequality in India.
Forecasting Long‐Run Coal Price in China: A Shifting Trend Time‐Series Approach
Authors: Dong Baomin , Li Xuefeng , Lin Boqiang 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe paper studies the behavior of mid‐ to long‐run real coal price in the Chinese market. The problem is of great importance because the coal takes a 70% share in China's energy mix, and China is the world's second largest carbon emitter. An accurate forecast in coal price is crucial in predicting China's future energy consumption mix as well as the private sector's energy‐type‐related investment decisions. In estimation and forecasting, the shifting trend time‐series model suggested by Robert Pindyck is used to capture the technological progress that is unobservable to the econometrician. It is found that the shifting trend model with continuous and random changes in price level and trend outperforms plain vanilla ARIMA models. It is argued that the model postulated by Pindyck is robust even in a transition economy where energy prices are subject to relatively rigid regulatory control. Out‐of‐sample forecasts are provided.
Trade Structure, FTAs, and Economic Growth
Authors: Sohn Chan‐Hyun , Lee Hongshik 
Published: July 2010

AbstractWhat is the relationship between trade and economic growth? Does trade positively affect economic growth? Owing to the ambiguity of this relationship, the empirical relationship has remained open (Rodriguez and Rodrik, 2001; Baldwin, 2003). This paper introduces “trade structure” variables, borrowed from the paper of Lederman and Maloney (2003), and applies them to the relationship. A dynamic panel estimation for the data of 66 countries during 1991–2004 is used to verify the validity and robustness of the relationship. Trade structure variables show strong evidence of positive effects on growth. Free‐trade agreements/areas (FTAs) also enhance economic growth. East Asia shows a different relationship between trade and growth than the world and reflects a weaker role of FTAs in its growth.
The Incentive to Declare Taxes and Tax Revenue: The Lottery Receipt Experiment in China
Authors: Wan Junmin 
Published: July 2010

AbstractIndirect tax such as sales tax collection is difficult as the government has difficulty monitoring the actual economic dealings. To bring out private information on transaction only known to a firm and a consumer, China's government has set up a lottery receipt system which has been tried out in many areas. This paper empirically examines the validity of this new system. Estimation is performed based on panel data for different periods during 1998–2003 from a total of 37 districts in Beijing and Tianjin. It is found that the lottery receipt experiment (LRE) has significantly raised the sales tax and the growth of sales tax and total tax revenues.
Neuropsychiatric symptoms and brain structural alterations in Fabry disease
Authors: Schermuly I. , Müller M. J. , Müller K.‐M. , Albrecht J. , Keller I. , Yakushev I. , Beck M. , Fellgiebel A. 
Published: July 2010

Background:  Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), mainly cognitive deficits up to dementia and depressive syndromes have been described repeatedly in Fabry disease (FD). However, examinations regarding the pattern, extent, and frequency of the NPS in FD are still lacking. Moreover, the relationship between NPS and brain structural alterations in FD is unknown. The aim of this study was 1) to characterize NPS in a relatively large cohort of adult subjects with FD, and 2) to explore the association of cognitive performance and depressive syndromes with the FD‐typical brain structural findings.Methods:  Twenty‐five Fabry patients (age 36.5 ± 11.0) with mild to moderate disease involvement and 20 age, gender‐, and education‐matched healthy controls were extensively studied by neuropsychiatric assessment, structural magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography, and diffusion‐tensor imaging.Results:  Patients with FD showed deficits only in the attention domain. Clinically relevant depressive syndromes were noted in 60% of the patients. The subgroup of patients with markedly elevated volumes of white matter lesions (not associated with actual stroke; n = 7) showed slightly more learning and memory deficits, but no higher depression rate compared to less affected patients.Conclusions:  Against the prevailing assumption, Fabry patients, even those with marked brain structural alterations, showed only mild cognitive deficits. The high frequency of depression in FD is likely to be related to the burden of this chronic multiorganic hereditary disease, but not to the FD‐typical brain structural alterations. Longitudinal studies are necessary to clear, if the mild cognitive deficits in FD might precede clinically relevant cognitive decline.
The Return of the Slum: Does Language Matter?
Authors: GILBERT ALAN 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe ‘cities without slums’ initiative has resuscitated an old and dangerous term from the habitat vocabulary. Use of the word ‘slum’ will recreate many of the myths about poor people that years of careful research have discredited. The UN has employed the word in order to publicize the seriousness of urban problems and to improve its ability to attract funding with which to tackle the issue. But in using such an emotive word the UN risks opening a Pandora's box. The campaign implies that cities can actually rid themselves of slums, an idea that is wholly unachievable. The word is also dangerous because it confuses the physical problem of poor quality housing with the characteristics of the people living there. The UN knows that earlier research has rehabilitated most ‘slum dwellers’ but ignores the danger of conjuring up all of the old images. In the process, the campaign also offers an oblique invitation to governments to look for instant solutions to insoluble problems. Demagogic governments have always shown a willingness to demolish slums despite the fact that experience has shown that policy to be ineffective. I fear that the new campaign will encourage more to employ this foolish policy. Words need to be employed carefully.Résumé L'initiative ‘Villes sans taudis’ a ressuscité un terme ancien et dangereux du vocabulaire de l'habitat. Utiliser le mot ‘taudis’ va recréer toute une mythologie sur les pauvres que des années de recherches consciencieuses avaient réfutée. L'ONU a fait ce choix pour souligner la gravité des problèmes urbains et renforcer sa capacitéà attirer des fonds avec lesquels résoudre la question. Cependant, ce mot étant connotéémotionnellement, l'ONU risque d'ouvrir une boîte de Pandore. La campagne implique que les villes peuvent réellement se débarrasser des taudis, ce qui est totalement irréalisable. Le mot est dangereux aussi parce qu'il mélange le problème matériel de la piètre qualité des logements et les caractéristiques des populations qui y vivent. L'ONU sait que des études antérieures ont réhabilité la plupart des ‘habitants de taudis’, mais elle ignore le risque liéà l'évocation des vieilles images. Parallèlement, la compagne invite indirectement les gouvernements à trouver des solutions immédiates à des problèmes insolubles. Les gouvernements démagogues se sont toujours montrés disposés à démolir les taudis même si l'expérience a prouvé l'inefficacité de cette politique. Je crains que cette nouvelle campagne n'en encourage d'autres à appliquer cette stratégie insensée. Il faut employer les mots avec circonspection.
Methane emission from natural gas seeps and mud volcanoes in Transylvania (Romania)
Authors: SPULBER L. , ETIOPE G. , BACIU C. , MALOŞ C. , VLAD Ş.N. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractGas seepage from petroleum basins is the second largest natural source of methane to the atmosphere, after wetlands. The uncertainty in global emission estimates should be reduced by extending the flux database which is fundamental for defining the emission factors and the actual area of seepage adopted for up‐scaling. As a contribution to this goal, we report a new seepage data‐set for the Transylvanian Basin, one of the largest natural gas producing regions of Europe, that is characterized by the widespread occurrence of natural leakages of gas at the surface, including at least 73 mud volcanoes and gas seeps. In this study, methane flux was measured using closed‐chambers, from 12 seepage sites, in correspondence with focused gas vents (mud volcano craters, bubbling pools, and flammable gas leaks), in the soil surrounding the vents, and at 15 sites located far from macro‐seep zones but close to gas fields. Fluxes from individual vents (macro‐seeps) were found to reach orders of kg CH4 m−2 day−1 (up to 12 kg m−2 day−1) and diffuse fluxes from soils (miniseepage) were found to be up to a few g CH4 m−2 day−1. Far from seep zones, positive CH4 fluxes (microseepage) may occur locally, typically on the order of tens to hundreds of mg m−2 day−1. The values, as well as the occurrence of seepage even far from vent zones and in mud volcanoes that are apparently extinct, are coherent with results obtained in other countries. Gas fluxes from macro‐seeps and soils may change seasonally, but the interannual variation of the average emission factor was found to be minimal. The total CH4 output for Transylvania macro‐seeps is estimated conservatively to be around 680 t year−1; the total geo‐CH4 seepage emission from the Transylvania petroleum system could be approximately 40 × 103 t year−1, and at least 100 × 103 t year−1 for all Romanian petroleum systems, that is roughly 10% of the total anthropogenic CH4 emission in the country.