bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Establishment and characterization of porcine Sertoli cell line for the study of xenotransplantation
Authors: Lee Hak‐Mo , Oh Byoung Chol , Lim Dong‐Pyo , Lee Dong‐Sup , Cho Jaejin , Lee Gene , Lee Jeong Ryul 
Published: March 2007

Abstract:  Background:  An understanding of the main mechanism that determines the ability of immune privilege related to Sertoli cells (SC) will provide clues for promoting a local tolerogenic environment. In this report, we established neonatal porcine SC line and evaluated their characteristics.Methods:  SC line was established following the transfection of primary SC (NPSC) from the testis of neonatal pig with plasmid pRNS‐1 carrying genes for neomycin resistance and the SV40 large T antigen. Immunohistochemistry and RT‐PCR were performed to evaluate the character of immortalized SC lines.Results:  Our immortalized SC line (iPS) proliferated stably and had a phenotype similar to NPSC, as indicated by the immunoexpression of follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), and mRNA expression of androgen receptor (AR), and Wilms’ tumor antigen (WT1). Interestingly, NPSC and iPS expressed mRNA of complement regulatory proteins (CRP) such as membrane cofactor protein (CD46), decay accelerating factor (DAF or CD55), and protectin (CD59), but CD59 mRNA expression was negligible in iPS.Conclusion:  These results suggest that iPS, immortalized by the introduction of SV40 T, retain their original characteristics, except for the relatively low expression of CD59, and that they may be useful for future in vitro and in vivo studies of immune privilege mechanisms related to SC.
Evaluation of the inhibitory effect of amphotericin B on the apical growth of F. solani using the BioCell‐Tracer® System
Authors: Teixeira Ana Beatriz Alkmim , Moretti Maria Luiza , Machado Helymar Costa , Nishimura Keiko , Taguchi Hideaki , Schreiber Angélica Zaninelli 
Published: March 2007

Summary  The BioCell‐Tracer® (BCT) system is an automatic microscopic method used for measuring the growth rate of a single fungal hyphae, which has not yet been applied to study Fusarium spp. Considering the large resistance of Fusarium species to the available chemotherapy and that hyphae is the morphological fungal form most often seen in vivo, in this work, Amphotericin B MIC and MFC values for a Fusarium solani strain were obtained by the conventional assay method testing conidia and also by the BCT® monitoring system. Both MIC and MFC values of AMB against F. solani determined by broth dilution method resulted in 4.0 μg ml−1. By the BCT® system, their values were 1.0 μg ml−1, with an inhibition rate of 99.5% (Exp‐GR) and 100.0% (Post‐GR), showing that when testing hyphae directly, MIC and MFC were determined at two lower dilutions than the MIC and MFC values obtained with conidia. Using the BCT® system, 4.0, 2.0 and 1.0 μg ml−1 of AMB concentrations inhibited hyphae growth in 50 min whereas 0.5 μg ml−1 of AMB needed 100 min to start hyphae growth inhibition. These findings lead us to conclude that antifungal susceptibility varies between conidia and hyphae. For this strain of Fusarium solani, hyphae were more susceptible to AMB than conidia.
Association of immune mediators at diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes with later clinical remission
Authors: Schloot N. C. , Hanifi‐Moghaddam P. , Aabenhus‐Andersen N. , Alizadeh B. Z. , Saha M. T. , Knip M. , Devendra D. , Wilkin T. , Bonifacio E. , Roep B. O. , Kolb H. ,   T. Mandrup‐Poulsen
Published: March 2007

AbstractAims  We tested the hypothesis that systemic concentrations of cytokines, chemokines or soluble cytokine receptors predict or accompany clinical remission in Type 1 diabetes (T1D).Methods  In a prospective, multicentre study, 48 patients with newly diagnosed T1D and 55 age‐matched healthy control subjects were investigated. Blood was drawn 3–7 days after the diagnosis and then 3–4 months later. Patients were grouped into partial remitters or non‐remitters by the degree of clinical improvement defined by HbA1c (threshold 7.5%) and daily insulin dose (threshold 0.38 IU/kg/day). Systemic concentrations of 17 immune mediators were analysed in serum or plasma. In addition, autoantibodies against insulin (IAA), IA‐2 (IA‐2A) and GAD65 (GADA) were quantified.Results  All 17 immune mediators showed remarkable intra‐individual stability in their systemic concentrations over time. As a consequence, partial remission was not accompanied by changes in mediator levels except for a moderate decrease of interleukin (IL)‐1ra concentrations (P = 0.02) and IL‐10 concentrations (P = 0.01) in non‐remitters. Baseline levels were associated with the later clinical course in that low levels of interferon γ (P = 0.01), IL‐10 (P = 0.03) and IL‐1R1 (P = 0.009) concentrations were observed in partial remitters.Conclusions  We conclude that the systemic immunoregulatory state at diagnosis of T1D is predictive of clinical improvement during the remission phase. There was no general change in systemic immune reactivity in the months after diagnosis and initiation of insulin therapy.
Clinical and cost‐effectiveness of primary prevention of Type 2 diabetes in a ‘real world’ routine healthcare setting: model based on the KORA Survey 2000
Authors: Icks A. , Rathmann W. , Haastert B. , Gandjour A. , Holle R. , John J. , Giani G. ,   on behalf of the KORA Study Group
Published: March 2007

AbstractAims  To analyse the clinical and cost‐effectiveness of the primary prevention of Type 2 diabetes in a ‘real world’ routine healthcare setting using population‐based data (KORA Survey in Augsburg, Germany, total population approximately 600 000).Methods  Decision analytic model, time horizon 3 years.Interventions  Staff education, targeted screening and lifestyle modification or metformin in people aged 60–74 years with a body mass index of ≥ 24 kg/m2 and prediabetic status (fasting glucose 5.3–6.9 mmol/l and 2‐h post load glucose 7.8–11.0 mmol/l) (target population approximately 72 500), according to the Diabetes Prevention Program trial.Main outcome measures  Cases of Type 2 diabetes prevented, cost (Euro), incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios (ICERs).Results  Under model assumptions, 14 908 people in the target population would develop diabetes if there was no intervention, 184 cases would be avoided with lifestyle intervention and 42 cases with metformin intervention. From the perspective of statutory health insurance and society, costs for lifestyle modification were a856 507 (£574 241) and a4 961 340 (£3 326 307), respectively, and for metformin a797 539 (£534 706) and a1 335 204 (£895 181). Up to 5% of the costs were due to staff education and up to 36% to screening. Lifestyle was more cost effective than metformin. ICERs for lifestyle vs. ‘no intervention’ were a4664 (£3127) and a27 015 (£18 112) per case prevented from the statutory health insurance and societal perspective.Conclusions  Total cost and cost per case of diabetes avoided was high. Staff education and screening had a considerable impact. In view of the low participation in a routine healthcare setting, with both strategies only a small number of cases of diabetes would be prevented. Before implementing the programme, efforts should be made to improve patient participation in order to achieve better clinical and cost‐effectiveness of the prevention of Type 2 diabetes in ‘real world’ clinical practice.
Risk and Governance Part II: Policy in a Complex and Plurally Perceived World
Authors: Thompson Michael , Rayner Steve , Ney Steven 
Published: March 2007

OUR CONCLUSION, IN PART I,* WAS THAT THE ABANDONMENT OF THE expert/lay dichotomy as the basis for understanding risk perception, whilst essential, is not going to be easy. We argued that:1) Objectivism (the idea that we can clearly distinguish between what the risks really are and what people variously and erroneously believe them to be) has to give way to constructivism (the idea that risk is inherently subjective: something that we project onto whatever it is that is ‘out there’).2) To impose a single definition of what the problem is, which is what so much of policy analysis and science-for-public-policy does, is to exclude all those who happen not to share that particular way of framing things. Since people are unlikely to support a policy that is aimed at solving what they do not see to be the problem, approaches that insist on singularity (and on single metrics — cost: benefit analysis, for instance, probabilistic risk assessment, qualityadjusted life years and so on) will inevitably be low on consent, surprise-prone, unref lexive, brittle and undemocratic.
ADHD, Neurological Correlates and Health‐related Quality of Life in Severe Pediatric Epilepsy
Authors: Sherman Elisabeth M.S. , Slick Daniel J. , Connolly Mary B. , Eyrl Kim L. 
Published: March 2007

Summary:  Purpose: ADHD is reported as a frequent comorbidity in pediatric epilepsy. We aimed to clarify the prevalence of ADHD, its neurological correlates and the role of ADHD in health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) in children with severe epilepsy. Method: Data from the ADHD Rating Scale‐IV (ADHD‐RS‐IV) from 203 children (mean age = 11.8, SD = 3.8) from a tertiary center serving children with severe epilepsy were reviewed. Results: Inattention was frequently elevated in the sample (40% vs. 18% for hyperactivity‐impulsivity). Age of onset, epilepsy duration, and seizure frequency were not related to severity of inattention or hyperactivity‐impulsivity. Over 60% of children met screening criteria for ADHD‐Inattentive subtype (ADHD‐I) or ADHD‐Combined Inattentive/Hyperactive‐Impulsive subtype (ADHD‐C). Compared to ADHD‐I, ADHD‐C was associated with earlier onset of seizures, generalized epilepsy, lower adaptive level, and in normally developing children, a higher degree of intractability compared to ADHD‐I. ADHD‐I was more prevalent in localization‐related epilepsy, and there was a trend for a higher use of AEDs with cognitive side effects in this group. ADHD was associated with poor HRQOL: children with ADHD‐I and ADHD‐C had a two‐ and four‐fold likelihood of low HRQOL, respectively, compared to non‐ADHD children. Conclusions: Children seen at tertiary care centers for severe epilepsy are at high risk for attention problems and ADHD, and ADHD is a significant predictor of poor HRQOL in epilepsy, particularly in the case of ADHD‐C. ADHD occurring in the context of severe epilepsy appears to be associated with specific neurological characteristics, which has implications for comorbidity models of ADHD and epilepsy.
Characteristic Distribution of Interictal Brain Electrical Activity in Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy
Authors: Clemens Béla , Bessenyei Mónika , Piros Pálma , Tóth Márton , Seress László , Kondákor István 
Published: March 2007

Summary:  Purpose: To demonstrate the anatomic localization of the cortical sources of the interictal EEG activity in human idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). Methods: Multiple cortical and hippocampal sources of the interictal spontaneous EEG activity were investigated by low‐resolution electromagnetic tomography in 15 untreated IGE patients and in 15 healthy controls. EEG activity (current density) in four frequency bands (delta: 1.5–3.5 Hz, theta: 3.5–7.5 Hz, alpha: 7.5–12.5 Hz, beta: 12.5–25.0 Hz) was computed for 2,397 voxels. Voxel‐by‐voxel group comparison was done between the patient and the control group. Voxels with p < 0.01 differences (between the two groups) were correlated with cortical anatomy. Results: Areas of significantly increased or decreased activity were characterized by their anatomical extension and the frequency bands involved. Five areas of bilaterally increased activity were found: rostral part of the prefrontal cortex (delta, theta); posterior part of the insula (delta); hippocampus and mediobasal temporal cortex (all frequency bands); medial parietooccipital cortex (theta, alpha, beta); dorsal and polar parts of the occipital cortex (alpha). Bilaterally decreased delta, theta, alpha activity was found in the majority of the frontal and anterior parietal cortex on the lateral surface, and in parts of the medial surface of the hemispheres. The area of decreased beta activity was less extensive. The right lateral and laterobasal temporal cortex showed decreased delta, theta, alpha, and beta activity, while its left counterpart only showed decreased delta and alpha activity in a limited part of this area. Conclusions: (1) Pathological interictal EEG activity is not evenly distributed across the cortex in IGE. The prefrontal area of increased activity corresponds to the area that is essential in the buildup of the ictal spike‐wave paroxysms (absence seizures). The existence of the posterior “center of gravity” of increased EEG activity in IGE was confirmed. The frontal area of decreased activity might be related to the cognitive deficit described in IGE patients. (2) Increased activity in a lot of ontogenetically older areas (including the hippocampi) and decreased activity in the majority of the isocortex is a peculiar pattern that argues for a developmental hypothesis for IGE.
High Frequency Deep Brain Stimulation in the Hippocampus Modifies Seizure Characteristics in Kindled Rats
Authors: Wyckhuys Tine , De Smedt Tim , Claeys Pieter , Raedt Robrecht , Waterschoot Liesbeth , Vonck Kristl , Broecke Caroline Van den , Mabilde Cyriel , Leybaert Luc , Wadman Wytse , Boon Paul 
Published: March 2007

Summary:  Purpose: This experimental animal study evaluates the effect of high frequency deep brain stimulation (HFS DBS) on seizures in the Alternate Day Rapid Kindling model for temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). The target for HFS is the hippocampus, as this structure is often presumed to be the seizure focus in human TLE. Methods: Rats (n = 12) were fully kindled in the hippocampus according to the Alternate Day Rapid Kindling protocol. Characteristics of the evoked afterdischarges (AD) were determined in the baseline period using AD threshold, AD latency, and AD duration as parameters. Rats were divided into a treated group (n = 7) that received 130 Hz HFS for 1 week, and a control group (n = 5) that did not receive HFS. Rats were retested in the following week. After 1 additional week of rest, the HFS group was continuously stimulated again for 1 week, during which AD evoked by kindling stimuli were characterized again. Results: HFS had a direct effect on evoked AD: during HFS, it increased AD threshold to 203 ± 13% of controls (p < 0.01) and increased AD latency to 191 ± 19% (p < 0.05). It decreased AD duration to 71 ± 9% (p < 0.05) of controls. The effect outlasted the HFS stimulation as in the week following HFS similar differences, but smaller in size, could still be established. Conclusion: Continuous HFS (130 Hz) in the hippocampus of epileptic rats modulates the characteristics of evoked AD in a way that reflects a reduction in excitability of the target region.
Small Human Hepatocytes in Rotary Culture for Treatment of Alcohol Addicts? A Pilot Study
Authors: Pavlic Marion , Libiseller Kathrin , Hermann Martin , Hengster Paul , Margreiter Raimund , Wurm Martin 
Published: March 2007

Background: Current approaches to support alcohol addict and/or benzodiazepine‐treated patients with liver failure include culturing human cells to take over basic metabolic functions for a certain time.Methods: Small human hepatocytes (SH) were grown in a rotary cell culture system, and their potential to metabolize alcohol and the benzodiazepines oxazepam and diazepam was evaluated. Control experiments were performed with SV40‐immortalized HEP cells and cell respective drug‐free media.Results: Our results show that SH in rotary culture are able to metabolize ethanol in reasonable amounts compared with evaporation controls (p<0.01). Moreover, SH are also able to metabolize oxazepam and diazepam which proves their ability to perform conjugation and the presence of functional cytochrome P450 enzymes. Basic metabolic activities such as glucose consumption, albumin and urea production are not significantly influenced by the drugs used, which is a precondition for clinical use of these cells. Significantly increased lactate dehydrogenase release indicates enhanced cell death in cultures of SH incubated with either ethanol (p<0.05) or diazepam (p<0.005), but stable viability at or above 90% suggests that cell proliferation is able to keep up with drug‐induced cell death.Conclusion: Our preliminary study provides evidence that SH are basically suited to support alcohol‐abusing and/or benzodiazepine‐treated patients undergoing liver failure.
Ethanol‐Associated Cues Produce General Pavlovian‐Instrumental Transfer
Authors: Corbit Laura H. , Janak Patricia H. 
Published: March 2007

Background: Conditioned stimuli are thought to play an important role in maintaining ethanol use and inducing relapse. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms through which such stimuli trigger ethanol seeking is of interest in the study and treatment of alcoholism.Methods: This series of experiments examined the impact of ethanol‐associated cues on ethanol‐seeking behavior using a Pavlovian‐instrumental transfer design. Rats received Pavlovian training in which an auditory stimulus predicted ethanol (10%) delivery. In a separate instrumental training phase, animals were trained to press a lever for ethanol. In the test phase, the impact of the stimulus on instrumental performance was assessed in extinction by presenting the stimulus while animals were free to perform the lever‐press response. Experiment 2 assessed the selectivity of the transfer effect; rats received training with 2 auditory stimuli which predicted either ethanol or sucrose (2%) delivery and were trained to perform 2 instrumental responses, one earning ethanol and the other earning sucrose. Finally, Experiment 3 examined the selectivity of PIT using 2 natural rewards (sucrose and polycose).Results: The results from Experiment 1 show that ethanol supports excitatory conditioning and that ethanol‐associated cues facilitate instrumental performance for ethanol. When the selectivity of the transfer effect was examined in Experiment 2, the ethanol‐paired stimulus was found to have a general excitatory effect on reward‐seeking behavior, affecting both ethanol‐directed and sucrose‐directed responding equally. In contrast, the sucrose‐paired stimulus had a selective effect, elevating sucrose‐directed responding only. Experiment 3 confirms that selective transfer is observed when 2 natural rewards are used to reinforce responding.Conclusions: These data provide further evidence that ethanol‐associated cues can drive ethanol‐seeking behaviors. Because ethanol‐associated cues also enhanced seeking behavior for a nonalcohol reward, these results additionally suggest that the modulation of reward‐directed behaviors by cues associated with ethanol versus natural rewards may rely on different behavioral and neural mechanisms.
A Pilot Double‐Blind Treatment Trial of Memantine for Alcohol Dependence
Authors: Evans Suzette M. , Levin Frances R. , Brooks Daniel J. , Garawi Fatima 
Published: March 2007

Background: There is growing evidence that N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists may have potential for the treatment of alcohol disorders. Memantine is a selective noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist that has been shown to decrease alcohol craving in moderate drinkers. This 16‐week double‐blind outpatient pilot clinical trial determined if memantine was more effective than placebo at reducing alcohol use in actively drinking alcohol‐dependent patients.Methods: Forty‐four treatment‐seeking alcohol‐dependent individuals were enrolled, with 34 patients stratified to either the memantine group (n=19; maximum dose of 40 mg/d) or the placebo (PBO; n=15) group. The primary outcome measures were related to alcohol use (average drinks per day, average drinks per drinking day, percentage of heavy drinking days, and percentage of days abstinent) based on the timeline follow‐back (TLFB). Secondary outcome measures included the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale, Clinical Global Impression ratings, and γ‐glutamyltransferase (GGT), a biomarker of recent alcohol use. To enhance retention, patients received voucher incentives for clinic attendance.Results: Of those randomized, approximately 80% (27) completed the entire 16‐week trial. Longitudinal analysis of drinks per day and drinks per drinking day showed a significant reduction in alcohol use, but no difference between the 2 groups. Further, the percentage of heavy drinking days indicated that both groups showed a significant decrease in drinking behavior, but there was significant treatment effect in favor of the PBO group. Similarly, for the percentage of days abstinent, the PBO group achieved a significantly greater percentage of days abstinent at a faster rate than the memantine group. Lastly, the memantine group reported a greater number of side effects compared with the PBO group, such that 26% of patients had their drug dose decreased or discontinued due to memantine‐related side effects.Conclusions: The results of this double‐blind placebo‐controlled pilot trial do not support the use of memantine for the treatment of actively drinking alcohol‐dependent patients. However, voucher incentives did facilitate retention.
Ocular findings in Norwegian patients with ataxia‐telangiectasia: a 5 year prospective cohort study
Authors: Riise Ruth , Ygge Jan , Lindman Carl , Stray‐Pedersen Asbjørg , Bek Toke , Rødningen Olaug Kristin , Heiberg Arvid 
Published: March 2007

Abstract.Purpose:  To describe the outcome of ophthalmologic examination of 10 Norwegian children with ataxia‐telangiectasia (AT) followed through 5 years.Methods:  Ten Norwegian patients with AT aged 2–22 years (three females, seven males) were examined. The diagnosis was confirmed clinically as well as with molecular genetic studies. Conventional ophthalmologic examination was performed and supplemented by photographs of the conjunctiva, video recordings and registration of eye motility in five consecutive years. Additionally conjunctival biopsies were performed at the end of the follow‐up period.Results:  General ataxia was usually detected when the child started to walk. All children over the age of 4 years had abnormal saccade movements, a form of ocular motor apraxia. Conjunctival telangiectasias were mostly visible at 4–5 years, primarily within the palpebral fissure. Immunohistochemical examination of conjunctival biopsies showed an increased number of cross‐sections of blood vessels and neurons surrounded by glial tissue. There was a tendency to slightly earlier onset of conjunctival telangiectasias in the patients homozygous for a founder mutation compared with the other patients.Conclusion:  The diagnosis of AT can be supported at preschool age by the onset of ocular motor apraxia and conjunctival telangiectasias. The findings become more prominent with age. The conjunctival telangiectasias seem to appear slightly earlier in the patients who are homozygous for a Norwegian founder mutation than in the rest of the patients.
An Adaptive Time–Frequency Representation and its Fast Implementation
Authors: Liu Bao , Riemenschneider Sherman , Shen Zuowei 
Published: March 2007

Abstract
This paper presents a fast adaptive time–frequency analysis method for dealing with the signals consisting of stationary components and transients, which are encountered very often in practice. It is developed based on the short-time Fourier transform but the window bandwidth varies along frequency adaptively. The method therefore behaves more like an adaptive continuous wavelet transform. We use B-splines as the window functions, which have near optimal time–frequency localization, and derive a fast algorithm for adaptive time–frequency representation. The method is applied to the analysis of vibration signals collected from rotating machines with incipient localized defects. The results show that it performs obviously better than the short-time Fourier transform, continuous wavelet transform, and several other most studied time–frequency analysis techniques for the given task.