bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase in bone marrow CD34+ cells from patients with β‐thalassemia major
Authors: Li Xihong , Qu Yi , Mao Meng , Yu Fan , Li Qiang , Hua Yimin , Mu Dezhi 
Published: May 2008

BACKGROUND: Normal stem cells usually express a low level of telomerase activity that serves to stabilize the chromosomes during cell division and helps prevent cell senescence. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is a rate‐limiting enzyme that dictates the activity of human telomerase and thus decides the life span of cells. The expression of hTERT and its roles in β‐thalassemia major are unclear, however.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: hTERT mRNA expression in bone marrow (BM) CD34+ cells from 25 children with β‐thalassemia major and 15 control subjects was investigated using real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) analysis. The serum erythropoietin (sEPO) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels in peripheral blood were also determined. The relationship between hTERT and sEPO as well as Hb was then examined.RESULTS: It was found that hTERT mRNA expression was significantly up regulated in BM CD34+ cells from patients with β‐thalassemia major. Furthermore, a significantly positive correlation was found between hTERT mRNA and sEPO (r = 0.771, p < 0.001). A significantly inverse correlation, however, was found between hTERT mRNA and Hb concentration (r = −0.929, p < 0.001).CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that severe anemia with low Hb concentration might up regulate hTERT expression of BM CD34+ cells and sEPO levels in patients with β‐thalassemia major.
Dynamic Prevention in Short‐Term Insurance Contracts
Authors: Martin Boyer M. , Gobert Karine 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThis article looks at the dynamic properties of insurance contracts when insurers have a better technology at preventing catastrophic losses than the insured. When the prevention technology is irreversible and its benefits last for all future periods although its cost is borne in the period in which it is made, a hold‐up problem occurs because the insured can change insurer after his initial insurer has invested in prevention. Investment in prevention is then delayed compared to the first best outcome. When the audit cost must be incurred by the insured when he wants to change insurer, the incumbent insurer has an informational advantage so that he can keep his client over the entire investment horizon, even though long‐term contracts are not possible. This does not avoid the delay in investment, however.
A Study of the Interaction of Insurance and Financial Markets: Efficiency and Full Insurance Coverage
Authors: Penalva Zuasti Jose S. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe first contribution of this article is to provide a framework, a model together with a corresponding equilibrium notion, suitable for the study of the interaction between insurance and dynamic financial markets. Our central result is that in equilibrium risk‐averse agents purchase full insurance coverage, despite unfair insurance prices. We identify three conditions that explain this result: (1) insurance contracts are priced competitively, (2) financial prices include a risk premium only for undiversifiable risk, and (3) financial markets are effectively complete. An implication is that in this model disasters can be insured by fully assessable stock insurance companies.
When Is a Coinsurance‐Type Insurance Policy Inferior or Even Giffen?
Authors: Hau Arthur 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThis article derives the necessary and sufficient conditions for a coinsurance‐type insurance policy covering a particular risk to be inferior and to be Giffen. Mossin's decreasing absolute risk aversion assumption for insurance to be inferior is avoided. The result generalizes Hoy and Robson and Briys, Dionne, and Eeckhoudt's results to the case with a continuum of states and relaxes their assumption of constant relative risk aversion. It is shown that knowledge about the distribution of risk can be used to relax assumptions on an utility function for a coinsurance‐type insurance policy to be inferior and to be Giffen.
Activated protein C mediates a healing phenotype in cultured tenocytes
Authors: Xue Meilang , Smith Margaret M. , Little Christopher B. , Sambrook Philip , March Lyn , Jackson Christopher J. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractTendon injuries cause considerable morbidity in the general adult population. The tenocytes within the tendon have the full capacity to heal the tendon intrinsically. Activated protein C (APC) plays an important role in coagulation and inflammation and more recently has been shown to promote cutaneous wound healing. In this study we examined whether APC can induce a wound healing phenotype in tenocytes. Sheep tenocytes were treated with APC, endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) blocking antibody (RCR252) and/or EPCR small interfering (si)RNA. Cell proliferation and migration were measured by crystal violet assay and a scratch wounding assay, respectively. The expression of EPCR, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐2, type I collagen and MAP kinase activity were detected by real time PCR, zymography, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. APC stimulated proliferation, MMP‐2 activity and type I collagen deposition in a dose‐dependent manner and promoted migration of cultured tenocytes. APC dose‐dependently stimulated phosphorylated (P)‐ERK2 and inhibited P‐p38. Interestingly, tenocytes expressed EPCR protein, which was up‐regulated by APC. When tenocytes were pre‐treated with RCR252 or EPCR siRNA the effect of APC on proliferation, MMP‐2 and type 1 collagen synthesis and MAP kinases was blocked. APC promotes the growth, MMP‐2 activity, type I collagen deposition and migration of tenocytes. Furthermore, EPCR is expressed by tenocytes and mediates the actions of APC, at least partly by signalling through selective MAP kinases. These data implicate APC as a potential healing agent for injured tendons.
Interdisciplinary surveillance of intraventricular haemorrhage associated conditions in infants <1000 g
Authors: Obladen Michael , Metze Boris , Henrich Wolfgang , Aktas Ayse , Czernik Christoph , Schulz‐Baldes Annette 
Published: May 2008

AbstractAim: Intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) causes some of the most adverse outcomes in infants with birthweight <1000 g. Incomplete antenatal steroids, acidosis, inflammation, postnatal transfer, delayed surfactant administration, hypothermia, hypotension, hypocapnia, persistent ductus arteriosus and pneumothorax are all associated with IVH. We hypothesized that prospective surveillance of these IVH‐associated conditions decreases their frequency and thus the frequency of IVH.Methods: Cranial ultrasound was performed on days 1, 3, 7, 30 after birth and at discharge, and was assessed according to Papile. The incidence of IVH and IVH‐associated conditions was monitored prospectively in all infants <1000 g born in our perinatal centre in 2005/2006, and obstetricians and neonatologists held monthly interdisciplinary review conferences to discuss the preventability of IVH‐associated conditions (IVH surveillance). These data were compared to existing prospective data gathered during routine monitoring in 2004.Results: IVH (all grades) occurred in 29/86 extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants during routine monitoring and in 12/89 ELBW infants during IVH surveillance (p = 0.007). IVH grades 3–4 dropped from 20% to 3.4% (p = 0.0006). There were significant differences in completeness of antenatal steroids (54% vs. 67%, p = 0.04) and timeliness in initial surfactant substitution (45% vs. 71%, p = 0.01). Most other IVH‐associated conditions were reduced during IVH surveillance without reaching significance.Conclusions: IVH is not always an inevitable disaster. Obstetricians and neonatologists can reduce its incidence by joint prospective surveillance of IVH‐associated conditions.
Television viewing associates with delayed language development
Authors: Chonchaiya Weerasak , Pruksananonda Chandhita 
Published: May 2008

AbstractAim: To identify impact of television viewing on language development.Methods: The case‐control study included 56 new patients with language delay and 110 normal children, aged 15–48 months. Language delay was diagnosed by reviewing language milestones and Denver‐II. Television viewing variables and child/parental characteristics between both groups were interviewed. The data were analyzed by ANOVA and chi‐square test. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated from multivariate logistic regression model.Results: Forty‐six boys and 10 girls; mean [±SD] age, 2.11 ± 0.47 years of the case group and 59 boys and 51 girls; mean [±SD] age, 2.23 ± 0.80 years of the control group were enrolled. Children who had language delay usually started watching television earlier at age 7.22 ± 5.52 months vs. 11.92 ± 5.86 months, p‐value < 0.001 and also spent more time watching television than normal children (3.05 ± 1.90 h/day vs. 1.85 ± 1.18 h/day; p‐value < 0.001). Children who started watching television at <12 months of age and watched television >2 h/day were approximately six times more likely to have language delays.Conclusions: There is a relationship between early onset and high frequency of TV viewing and language delay.
Urogenital Anomalies in Autosomal Aberrations
Authors: MORIYAMA Masatoshi , TERASHIMA Kazumitsu , FUKUSHIMA Yoshimitsu , KUROKI Yoshikazu 
Published: May 2008

AbstractWe surveyed urogenital anomalies in 119 patients with autosomal aberrations except Down syndrome. Fifty‐three patients had urogenital anomalies. Horse‐shoe kidney occurred in a high frequency in 18 trisomy patients.Urogenital survey should be recommended to all patients with autosomal anomalies.
Utility of the Randomization Test and Importance of Nonstatis‐tical Inference in Experimental Teratology
Authors: TACHIBANA Toshiaki 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe implausibility of random sampling assumption in experimental teratology is pointed out. It is emphasized that nonstatistical inference remains a standard scientific approach, in spite of widespread use of many statistical tests. The randomization test can be introduced to experimental teratologjsts as an alternative to conventional statistical procedures for nonrandom sampling data. A program list for the randomization test written in BASIC for microcompter is given.
Clinical Analysis of the Cleft Patterns of Lip and Palate
Authors: NATSUME Nagato , SUZUKI Toshio , KAWAI Tsuyoshi 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe patterns in the cleft lip and palate were classified in great detail, and the point of center of the clefts in this disease was speculated. The purpose of the present study was to establish the basic data for classifications of epidemiological surveys in the future. The subjects were 377 patients with cleft lips and palates who visited the Second Department of Oro‐Maxillo‐Facial Surgery, Aichi‐Gakuin University Hospital.The models of cleft lip and palate divided into 17 segments prepared for an analysis of cleft patterns. And as consequence, the following results were obtained.
High Sensitivity of Fertilized Eggs to Radiation and Chemicals in Mice: Comparison with that of Germ Cells and Embryos at Organogenesis*
Authors: NOMURA Taisei 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT  Sensitivity of fertilized mouse eggs to X‐rays and chemicals was compared with that of parental germ cells and embryos at organogenesis. When X‐rays were given to pregnant ICR mice at about 6 hr after fertilization (pronucleus stage), there is a dramatic increase of dead embryos with X‐ray dose. A half of fertilized eggs were killed by 50 R of X‐rays, while there is no increase of dead embryos and fetuses up to 150 R when pregnant mice were treated on Day 9.5. Striking is high sensitivity of fertilized eggs to synthetic surfactants, alcohol sulfate (AS) and linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS). When 0.1 ml of AS was painted on the back of pregnant mice from Day 0 to Day 2, significant numbers of deformed (dead or dying) embryos were observed. The incidence of deformed embryos increased with doses of AS. Similar results were observed with LAS, and commercially obtained kitchen detergents and shampoo.When fertilized eggs were exposed to X‐rays and chemicals at pronucleus stage (Day 0), however, tumors and anomalies were induced at very low rate if at all, while embryos at organogenesis and growing fetuses showed high susceptibility to X‐ray and chemically induced anomalies and chemically induced tumors, respectively.Parental exposure to X‐rays induced significant yields of dominant lethals, anomalies and tumors in the offspring. However, the incidences of lethals and anomalies were much lower than those induced by treatment of embryos at organogenesis with equivalent doses of X‐rays.
Delay in Embryonic Development, Uterine Epithelial Changes and Implantation due to Maternal Treatment during Preimplantation Period*
Authors: YAMAMURA Hideki , INAMOTO Masahiro , FUKUI Kayoko 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT  The hormonal requirements for ovum implantation vary among species; at least in the mouse and rat, progesterone and estrogen, of which production and secretion are controlled along the hypothalamo‐pituitary‐ovarian axis, are indispensable for the initiation of an implantation. In fact, implantation of the blastocyst in these species is delayed or prevented by not only ovariectomy, but also by: hypophysectomy, lesion of the median eminence or a treatment of the maternal organism with an agent that interferes with this endocrine control system.The preimplantation developmental events such as cleavage, blastocyst formation and shedding of the zona pellucida and gestational changes of the uterine luminal epithelium are delayed under a few conditions causing a delayed implantation. Experimental data suggesting that uterine changes leading to the formation of a ‘receptive’ endometrium are hormone‐dependent are accumulating. Thus, the observed delay in changes in the uterine epithelium may be attributed to the alteration of the endocrine control. In contrast, it is difficult to determine how the delay in embryonic development occurs. Among the conceivable explanations are: the direct effect on embryos (ova) of implantation‐delaying factors, a mechanism synchronizing embryonic development with the uterine change or disturbance of possible hormonal control over the embryonic development.
Past and Present of International Collaboration on Birth Defects Monitoring Systems
Authors: ASHIZAWA Masami 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT  Since the thalidomide episode, a number of monitoring systems for birth defects have been developed in Europe and America. The International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Monitoring Systems founded in 1974 plays a key role as the sole world‐wide international information exchanging and collaborating centre.EUROCAT (EEC Concerted Action: Registration of Congenital Abnormalities and Multiple Births) established in 1979 is taking its action engulfing now 17 cities in member countries.The author states an introductory review on the work of the two international organizations with special reference to Japanese situation around the birth defects monitoring systems.
Total Reconstruction of the Auricle in Unilateral Microtia*
Authors: OGINO Yoichi 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT  In the 10 years from 1973 to 1982, 537 microtia patients visited to our Department. the operation is usually started around the age of ten years.We have used to reconstruct the auricle consists of two stages.To transplant the cartilage framework, the subcutaneous pocket is made from the incision line for the switching of the auricular remnants.The thickness of the skin layer in this pocket was selected to correspond to a depth immediately below the subdermal plexus.The skin of the auricular area is fitted closely to the transplanted cartilage framework by several mattress sutures tied over gauze.After transplanting the framework, it is of paramount importance for achieving a well‐shaped prominence for the helix and anthelix to ensure that no excessive stress is brought to bear from the outside of the article. For this purpose, we used a thick Reston Sponge (3M Co., Ltd.) with a hole provided in the middle and stuck in onto the auricle.About six months after the first stage operation, the transplanted framework is raised from the side of the head with its overlying skin, in one stage. The skin flaps A and B are prepared at the upper and lower parts of the root of the auricle. These two flaps are transferred along the auriculocephalic sulcus toward the posteromedical auricular surface and sutured with 4‐0 nylon mattress sutures.The raw area left event after this, a full thickness skin graft taken from the abdominal region is transplanted.
Surgical Procedure for the Cleft Hand: Especially in Relation to Restoration of Instinsic Muscle Function of the Shifted Index Finger*
Authors: MIURA Takayuki , NAKAMURA Rhyogo , SUZUKI Masataka , KANIE Junichi 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT  We have thirty‐eight patients of cleft hand, and they were divided into three groups from the surgical point. Four patients (seven hands) has only one digit on the radial side of the cleft. In these patients there was little indication for the surgical improvement. The thumb and index finger are completely webbed in six patients (seven hands), and reconstruction to permint thumb function is essential above all in these. In most patients of cleft hand (thirty‐one out of thirty‐eight) thumb function is preserved, but abduction of the thumb was more or less limited. Surgical procedure for these patients are discussed.There are three important point in surgical reconstruction of the celft hand; First is a skin incision to restore thumb abduction; Second is a realignment of the second metacarpal (index ray); and Third is a restoration of intrinsic function. Regarding the first and second point we reported previously (Miura and Komada, 1979). Now, we would like to emphasis that intrinsic function act as a key to get satisfactory result in surgical procedure for the cleft hand. We could use the extrinsic extensor or flexor muscles of the missing middle finger as a proper force for restoration of intrinsic function. We were pleased to use the extrinsic extensor that is found in same incision for the translocation of the index ray. The extrinsic flexor in extrinsic extensor was used. The extrinsic extensor of the middle finger was abscent in one patient.
Prevalence of Inguinal Hernia and its Spontaneous Cure in Japanese Children
Authors: KAJIMOTO Teruho 
Published: May 2008

Abstract By way of a questionnaire concerning 155,620 elementary and junior high school pupils (aged 6‐14), we investigated for the first time in Japan the prevalence rate of inguinal hernia in children and its spontaneous cure.Of the 76,425 male and 79,195 female children surveyed, inguinal hernia was found in 6,523 (8.53%) boys and 2,975 (3.75%) girls. In total, the prevalence rate was 6.10% with a male/female ratio of 7:3.Of the 6,523 boys who had or had had inguinal hernia, 3,425 had undergone surgery. Of the remaining 3,098 unoperated male patients, 1,160 was cured with a hernia band and 1,140 showed spontaneous cure. The rate of cure without surgery in all the male patients was 35.26%.In girls, 1,198 of the 2,975 subjects having inguinal hernia at the time of the survey or in the past had undergone surgery. Of the remaining 1,777 unoperated patients, 369 recovered with a hernia band and 677 showed spontaneous cure. Thus, 35.16% of all the female patients were cured of the condition without surgery.
Bis(dicholroacetyl)diamine‐induced Craniofacial Anomalies in Jcl: ICR and A/J Mice
Authors: IGAWA Hiroharu H. , NAKAMURA Harukazu , YASUDA Mineo 
Published: May 2008

Abstract Craniofacial anomalies induced by bis(dichloroacetyl)diamine (bisdiamine) were studied in two strains of mice, Jcl:ICR and A/J. Bisdiamine was given by oral intubation at a dose of 3,200 mg/kg/day at days 7.5 and 8.5, 8.5 and 9.5, 9.5 and 10.5 or 10.5 and 11.5 of pregnancy (VP = day 0). A/J was more susceptible to embryolethal effects of bisdiamine and had a longer sensitive period to teratogenic effects of bisdiamine. The most susceptible period for craniofacial anomalies induced by bisdiamine in A/J was one day later than that in Jcl:ICR. In both strains, median facial anomalies, cleft palate, protuberance(s) on the forehead and open eyelids were commonly induced craniofacial anomalies. Median facial anomalies were more frequent and also more severe in Jcl:ICR, while lateral cleft lip was observed only in A/J.Strain differences for embryolethality and types and frequencies of craniofacial anomalies are discussed on the basis of genetic homozygosity, craniofacial development and embryonic face shape immediately before the fusion of the nasal prominences. Neural crest cells are thought to be the target of bisdiamine.
Mammalian Embryo Culture from the Pre‐Implantation Stage, and Analysis of Developmental Failures due to Chromosomal Abnormalities in Vitro*
Authors: NARUSE Ichiro , SONTA Shin‐ichi , Shoji Ryujiro 
Published: May 2008

Abstract In vitro culture methods make it possible to manipulate mammalian embryos experimentally, and continuous observation of the developmental processes furnishes significant information for mammalian embryology. The advancement in the culture methods of the mouse embryos from the pre‐implantation through the limb bud stage is reported here, along with a description of one of the applied experiments of embryo culture from the pre‐implantation stage in the Chinese hamster.A few mouse embryos at the limb bud stage cultured for 10 or 11 days from the blastocyst stage were obtained, but the frequencies were very low. There is a barrier to assure further development in the stationary culture of mouse blastocysts till the formation of early egg cylinder. It was suggested that trophectoderm inhibited the development of inner cell masses by enveloping them, but embryos could not develop without trophectoderm afterwards. After the egg cylinder or primitive streak stage, the medium and gas around the embryos needed to be exchanged with rotation or shaking.Chinese hamster blastocysts could be cultured as late as the early egg cylinder stage with methods similar those employed with mouse blastocysts. Sonta (1982) has established several lines of Chinese hamster bearing various reciprocal translocations. Thus, one can obtain embryos with abnormal karyotypes from these parents. By cultivation of these embryos from the pre‐implantation stage, the present authors investigated the relationship between the developmental failures and the chromosomal abnormalities.
Advances in Amniotic Fluid Analysis*
Authors: OGITA Sachio 
Published: May 2008

Abstract The present study deals with the physiological significance of changes of the constituents with fetal development and establishes newer methods of diagnosing fetal disease and maturity. ABH(O) blood group substances as a genetic marker were studied and the substances in the amniotic fluid consistently matched the blood type and secretor status of newborn. No blood group substances were detected in non‐secretors. Moreover, A‐ and B‐ gene‐specific enzyme activities in the amniotic fluid were demonstrated to coincide with the newborn type regardless of the maternal type. Rh(D) antigen in the amniotic fluid also proved to be fetal in origin.Such markers as acid protease, amylase, disaccaridases and ultra violet absorbing constituents were demonstrated to be useful in diagnosising fetal maturity and/or anomalies.