bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ALMOST, BUT NOT QUITE: THE FAILURE OF NEW YORK'S GET STATUTE
Authors: Glicksman Jeremy 
Published: March 2006

The quandary of Jewish women unable to remarry because of their husbands’ refusal to grant them religious divorces is a real problem affecting real people. Husbands are wielding this lopsided power to “extort” money from their wives, obtain favorable child custody settlements, property settlements, and child support payments. The burgeoning divorce rate is certain to exacerbate this problem. Already, this situation has garnered international attention. In the wake of New York's legislative attempt to remedy this problem, countries, including the United Kingdom and Australia, have promulgated legislative solutions to this dilemma. New York is the only state in the United States to pass such a statute. Unfortunately, New York's statute is flawed because it is of limited applicability and still allows for situations in which the Jewish wife is civilly divorced but religiously married. This Note proposes amending New York's statute to make it applicable to any and all divorce proceedings and to any barrier to remarriage. This Note will further recommend that the proposed amended statute should be adopted worldwide.
Metallothionein isoform II expression in hyperplastic, dysplastic and neoplastic prostatic lesions
Authors: El Sharkawy S L , Abbas N F , Badawi M A , El Shaer M A 
Published: March 2006

Background:Metallothionein is a low-molecular-weight cysteine-rich protein that has the ability to bind and sequestrate heavy metal ions. It is associated with metalloregulatory functions such as cell proliferation, growth and differentiation.Aims:To investigate the expression of metallothionein in hyperplastic, dysplastic and neoplastic prostatic lesions and to correlate its expression with histological grade of prostatic carcinoma.Method:The study was carried out on formalin-fixed and paraffin-wax-embedded tissue blocks from 8 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, 6 patients with prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) and 30 patients with prostatic carcinoma, using the streptavidin–biotin technique. The histological grade was defined and the carcinomas were divided into low-grade (Gleason Score 2–4), 12 moderate grade (Gleason Score 5–6) and 10 high-grade (Gleason Score 7–10) carcinomas.Results:Patchy metallothionein staining of epithelial cells was observed in normal and benign prostatic tissues. All cases of PIN and 20 of 30 patients with prostatic carcinoma showed positive staining for metallothionein. Metallothionein expression considerably increased from low-grade to high-grade tumours. The proportion of cells staining positively for metallothionein was directly correlated with histological grade of prostatic carcinoma. The epithelial cells lack uniformity in staining intensity, but the percentage of strongly positive cells increased with the histological grade of prostatic carcinoma.Conclusions:The high incidence of metallothionein expression in PIN in our study suggests that it is associated with early prostate tumorigenesis. Also, metallothionein expression was directly correlated with the histological grade of prostatic carcinoma, suggesting that metallothionein may be a useful marker for predicting the prognosis of prostate cancer.
THEORETICAL DESCRIPTION OF DOUBLE BETA DECAY TRACKS IN A GERMANIUM DETECTOR AND OF THEIR DEPENDENCE ON PARTICLE AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS — A REVIEW
Authors: KLAPDOR-KLEINGROTHAUS H. V. , KRIVOSHEINA I. V. , TITKOVA I. V. 
Published: March 2006

In this review for the first time a theoretical description of the tracks of events of nuclear double beta decay in a large Ge detector is presented. It is obvious that in principle the shapes and sizes of these tracks — and the corresponding time structure of pulses — depend on particle physics and nuclear physics parameters such as neutrino mass, right-handed current parameters, and nuclear matrix elements. The knowledge of this dependence is of importance, since the key to probe the existence of 0νββ decay beyond observation of a signal at the Q value of the process, Qββ, is the discrimination of ββ events from background γ events (or other events), in almost any double beta decay experiment (see Refs. 2 and 3). In this review Monte-Carlo simulations of tracks of neutrino-accompanied (2νββ) and neutrinoless double beta decay (0νββ) events, and of various kinds of background processes such as multiple and other γ interactions are reported for a large Ge detector. The time history of the evolution of the individual events is followed and the sizes of the events (volumes in the detector inside which the energy of the event is released) are investigated. Effects of the angular correlations of the two electrons in ββ decay, which again depend on the above nuclear and (for 0νββ decay) particle physics parameters, are taken into account and have been calculated for this purpose for the first time on basis of the experimental half-life of 76 Ge and of realistic nuclear matrix elements. It is shown for ββ decay of 76 Ge , that 0νββ events are to a large extent separable from Compton scattering of γ events of the same energy, while double escape peaks of γ-lines show very similar behavior as 0νββ events, and in that sense can be useful for corresponding "calibration" of pulse shapes of the detector. The possibility to distinguish 0νββ events from γ events is found to be essentially independent of the particle physics parameters of the 0νββ process. A brief outlook is given on the potential of future experiments with respect to determination of the particle physics parameters 〈mν〉, 〈λ〉, 〈η〉. It is suggested, that the strategy in future 0νββ research should be, to combine confirmation of the HEIDELBERG-MOSCOW result with determination of the mechanism of the dominating decay, instead of repeating earlier experiments or ideas. The future experiment thus should not use 76 Ge or 136 Xe , but instead 124 Xe .
The Di-Leucine Motif Contributes to Class A Scavenger Receptor-Mediated Internalization of Acetylated Lipoproteins
Authors: Chen Yaoyu , Wang Xiaohua , Ben Jingjing , Yue Shen , Bai Hui , Guan Xiaoxiang , Bai Xiaoming , Jiang Li , Ji Yong , Fan Leming , Chen Qi 
Published: March 2006

Objective—The di-leucine motif exists in the intracellular domains of certain cell surface receptors, participating in the receptor-mediated endocytosis. The present study was aimed at determining the role of the di-leucine motif in class A scavenger receptor (SR-A)-mediated ligand endocytosis.Methods and Results—cDNA coding for a mutant (SR-A mutant N3132LM) with deletion of the di-leucine structure was transfected into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Compared with wild-type SR-A–expressing cells, the cells expressing the SR-A mutant N3132LM showed a significant decrease in uptake but almost no change in binding of the SR-A ligand acetylated low-density lipoprotein (AcLDL). Western blot analysis revealed coimmunoprecipitation of SR-A mutant and clathrin from the lysates of the mutant but not wild-type CHO cells, suggesting that AcLDL-bound SR-A mutant N3132LM is associated with the clathrin-coated pit of cellular membrane. Removal of the first 27 amino acid residues from the SR-A N-terminus further reduced AcLDL uptake by the cells with the di-leucine motif mutation.Conclusions—The di-leucine motif of SR-A intracellular domain contributes to the SR-A–mediated cellular internalization of AcLDL. Di-leucine pair exists in the cytoplasmic domain of class A scavenger receptor. The cells expressing di-leucine mutants showed decreased uptake and unchanged binding of AcLDL. The di-leucine pair was not associated to coated pits. It suggests that di-leucine motif acts as a signal sequence to mediate SR-A into cell.
Metabolic Mechanism by Which Mild Regional Hypothermia Preserves Ischemic Tissue
Authors: Simkhovich Boris Z. , Hale Sharon L. , Kloner Robert A. 
Published: March 2006

Background: Our laboratory demonstrated that mild regional hypothermia reduced myocardial infarct size by an average of 65% in the rabbit model of regional ischemia. The exact mechanism for this benefit has not been explored. We hypothesized that a moderate reduction in regional myocardial temperature could preserve cardiac energy metabolism and thus protect the myocardium from sustained ischemic insult. Methods and Results: Anesthetized open-chest rabbits were randomized to normothermic sham-operated (NS, n = 6), hypothermic sham-operated (HS, n = 6), normothermic ischemic (NI, n = 10), and hypothermic ischemic (HI, n = 10) groups. Both sham-operated groups received no occlusions, and both ischemic groups were subjected to 20 minutes of coronary occlusion. To achieve regional cooling of the hearts in the hypothermic groups, a bag of ice water was placed directly on the risk area 15 minutes prior to coronary artery occlusion/no intervention and maintained for the duration of the subsequent 20 minutes of ischemia/no intervention (in the HI and HS groups respectively). Hypothermia preserved adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and glycogen stores in the ischemic area by 42.9% and 84.2%, respectively (1.20 ± 0.11 µmoles ATP/g wet tissue vs 0.84 ± 0.06 µmoles ATP/g wet tissue and 8.16 ± 0.95 µmoles of glucosyl unit/g wet tissue vs 4.43 ± 0.44 µmoles of glucosyl unit/g wet tissue in the HI and the NI groups, respectively). In addition, hypothermia resulted in a trend toward creatine phosphate preservation in the nonischemic area. Conclusions: This is the first demonstration that local therapy with mild reductions in myocardial temperature preserves energy metabolism both in the ischemic and the nonischemic areas as well. The preservation in ATP is the likely mechanism by which regional hypothermia is preserving ischemic myocardium.
Effects of Antihypertensive and Hypolipidemic Drugs on Plasma and High-Density Lipoprotein-Associated Platelet Activating Factor-Acetylhydrolase Activity
Authors: Tambaki Afroditi P. , Rizos Evangelos , Tsimihodimos Vasilis , Tselepis Alexandros D. , Elisaf Moses 
Published: March 2006

Background: Human plasma platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) is a phospholipase A2 primarily associated with low-density lipoprotein (LDL). PAF-AH activity has also been found on high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Most of the clinical studies that have investigated the plasma levels of PAF-AH activity in cardiovascular disease have involved patients who were under treatment with various drugs, such as antihypertensive or hypolipidemic agents. However, the influence of these drugs on the enzyme activity has not been adequately studied. Material and Methods: We evaluated the effects of representative antihypertensive and hypolipidemic drugs on the total plasma, as well as on the HDL-associated PAF-AH activity, in 121 patients with essential hypertension and in 90 patients with dyslipidemias of type IIA or type IIB. Serum lipids and enzymatic activities were determined at baseline and after 3 months of treatment. Results: The administration of lacidipine (4 mg, n = 21), valsartan (80 mg, n = 26), indapamide (2.5 mg, n = 20), benazepril (20 mg, n = 20), or atenolol (50 mg, n = 34) did not affect either the total plasma- or the HDL-associated PAF-AH activity. In contrast, treatment with fluvastatin (40 mg, n = 50) or ciprofibrate (100 mg, n = 40) reduced by 25% plasma PAF-AH activity ( P < .001) associated with a decrease in serum levels of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol ( P < .001). Furthermore, ciprofibrate induced an increase by 26% in HDL-associated PAF-AH activity ( P = .004) along with an increase in serum HDL-cholesterol levels ( P = .02). Conclusions: Among all types of drugs studied, only those that significantly affect lipid metabolism, such as statins and fibrates, significantly influence PAF-AH activity in human plasma.
Anticoagulation in Pregnant Women With Prosthetic Heart Valves
Authors: Elkayam Uri , Singh Harpreet , Irani Adil , Akhter Mohammed W. 
Published: March 2006

Background: Pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of thrombosis in women with mechanical prosthetic heart valves. Effective anticoagulation is therefore critical in such patients but remains problematic, since oral anticoagulation and both unfractionated and low-molecular-weight heparin may be associated with important fetal and maternal side effects. Purpose: To review information related to the use of anticoagulation with both warfarin and heparin and reassess the safety and efficacy of these therapies in pregnant women with mechanical prosthetic heart valves. Data source and selection: A MEDLINE search from 1966 to October 2003 for English and non-English language articles that reported the use of anticoagulation in pregnancy was conducted. Articles were included if they reported use of anticoagulation in pregnancy with emphasis on those that included women with mechanical prosthetic heart valves. Conclusions: Anticoagulation prophylaxis with both warfarin and heparin (unfractionated heparin and low-molecular-weight heparin) may be associated with important fetal and maternal side effects. Optional regimens for the treatment of low-risk and high-risk patients are proposed to minimize potential complications.
Smoking Increases Inflammation and Metalloproteinase Expression in Human Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaques
Authors: Kangavari Simon , Matetzky Shlomo , Shah Prediman K. , Yano Juliana , Chyu Kuang-Yuh , Fishbein Michael C. , Cercek Bojan 
Published: March 2006

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of cigarette smoking on the composition of human carotid endarterectomy plaques. Background: Smoking has been recognized as a major risk factor in atherogenesis. It is believed that smoking contributes to the atherosclerotic process and plaque instability in part by increasing the adherence of macrophages to the vessel wall and inducing the release of proteolytic enzymes. However, data are lacking in humans. Methods: Carotid endarterectomy specimens of 21 smokers and 21 nonsmokers matched for age, gender, and symptoms were immunohistochemically stained with antibodies against CD68 (macrophages [MAC]), macrophage-derived metalloelastase (MMP-12), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1). Sections were also evaluated for elastin content by van Gieson staining. The stained areas were planimetrically quantified as the percentage of immunopositive tissue area of the total tissue area. Results: Smoking was associated with increased macrophage immunoreactivity (9.1% ± 7.4% vs 3.4% ± 2.9%; P = .003) as well as increased expression of MMP-12 (13.4% ± 6.7% vs 5.5% ± 3.5%; P = .0004). However, plaques from smokers had decreased TIMP-1 expression (7.7% ± 5.7% vs 13.1% ± 8.5%; P = .04) and decreased elastin content (26.9% ± 14.5% vs 38.9% ± 18.4%; P = .02). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that cigarette smoking increases markers of inflammation and tissue destruction in atherosclerotic plaques. This change in plaque composition may at least in part explain the effect of smoking on the instability of human atherosclerotic plaques.
Trends in the Care of Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction at a University-Affiliated Veterans Afffairs Medical Center
Authors: Bansal Darpan , Gaddam Venkat , Aude Y. Wady , Bissett Joe , Fahdi Ibrahim , Garza Luis , Joseph Jacob , Molavi Behzad , Pai B. V. , Sinha Anjan , Smith Eugene S. , Mehta J. L. 
Published: March 2006

Background: Acute cardiac care of the veterans at Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals has been thought of as poor in quality. We examined the use of life-saving, evidence-based medical therapy in patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences-affiliated VA Medical Center in Little Rock and compared the use of this therapy with other hospitals in Arkansas and in the rest of the nation. Methods: Use of life-saving medical therapy in 117 patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction from January 2002 to December 2002 was compared with the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction database for the identical period. Results: Heparin/low-molecular-weight heparin and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors were used in 88% and 66% of patients, respectively. Aspirin, β adrenergic-blocking agents, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) were used in 92%, 93%, 62%, and 79% of the patients, respectively. The use of these therapies was better than in similar patients in Arkansas ( P < .001) and the United States as a whole ( P < .01). Calcium-channel blockers were used in 16% of the patients. At a mean follow-up period of 1.5 years, use of β blockers and aspirin had decreased, whereas the use of statins and ACE inhibitors/ARBs was unchanged. Conclusion: This study shows that patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted to this university-affiliated VA Medical Center receive evidence-based life-saving medical therapy more often than in the rest Arkansas or in the entire United States. More important, patients at this federal institution continue to receive life-saving medical therapy during follow-up. Better use of evidence-based therapy may be related to affiliation of this VA Medical Center with a teaching institution where board certified cardiologists are involved in short- and long-term care of these patients.
Administration of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Adjunctive to Fetal Cardiomyocyte Transplantation and Improvement of Cardiac Function in the Rat Model
Authors: Schuh Alexander , Breuer Sebastian , Al Dashti Raja , Sulemanjee Nasir , Hanrath Peter , Weber Christian , Uretsky Barry F. , Schwarz Ernst R. 
Published: March 2006

Background: The functional impact of cellular transplantation and the potential role of the addition of angiogenic factors for survival of engrafts remain controversial. Methods: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (25 ng/mL) was added to cultured fetal cardiomyocytes labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrDU), which was injected into the border zones of myocardial infarction 4 weeks after coronary occlusion in rat hearts. Group 1 (n = 12) received cells plus VEGF protein (100 ng), group 2 (n = 12) received cells without VEGF, group 3 (n = 10) received VEGF without cells, and group 4 (n = 12) received pure culture medium. Cardiac function was then assessed by transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography and Langendorff perfusion system. In situ hybridization for Y chromosomes of transplanted cells, detection of BrDU-labeled cells, and platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) staining for endothelial cells was performed. Results: Echocardiography revealed smaller end-diastolic left ventricular dimensions in transplanted hearts in group 1 (0.83 ± 0.13 cm 4 weeks after coronary occlusion before transplantation and 0.69 ± 0.14 cm 2 months after transplantation, P < .05) and in group 2 (0.88 ± 0.09 cm after coronary occlusion before transplantation and 0.76 ± 0.08 cm 2 months after transplant), and increases in fractional shortening (34.2% ± 8.53% before transplant and 45.3% ± 10.9% after [ P < .05] in group 1; 26.9% ± 6.02% before transplant and 37.15% ± 8.08% after [ P < .005] in group 2), whereas groups 3 and 4 showed a decrease in fractional shortening. Transplanted hearts developed higher pressures at rest (group 1, 96.8 ± 20.8 mm Hg; group 2, 98.6 ± 21.9 mm Hg) compared with controls (group 4, 70.9 ± 25 mm Hg) ( P < .05) and during inotropic stimulation (group 1, 111 ± 19.5 mm Hg and group 2, 113.3 ± 32.6 vs group 4, 80.7 ± 31.6 mm Hg, P < .05). Histologic analysis demonstrated the presence of transplanted cells in border zones of infarcted host myocardium with neovascularization in all transplanted hearts. Conclusion: Transplantation of fetal cardiomyocytes results in improvement of left ventricular function. The addition of VEGF does not contribute to further improvement of left ventricular function and angiogenesis in the present model.
The Influence of Extracellular Acidosis on the Effect of IKr Blockers
Authors: Lin Congrong , Ke Xiaogang , Cvetanovic Ivana , Ranade Vasant , Somberg John 
Published: March 2006

Background: Myocardial infarction causes the acidification of the cellular environment and the resultant acidosis maybe arrhythmogenic. The effect of acidosis on the action of antiar-rhythmic drugs, an important issue in the antiarrhythmic drug therapy after myocardial infarction, remains to be studied. Methods: To evaluate the effect of acidosis on rectifier potassium current (Ikr) blockers, the human ether-a-go-go-related gene (HERG), which encodes IKr, was expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The two electrodes voltage clamp technique was used and the experiments were performed at room temperature. Results: Quinidine (10 µM) inhibited HERG tail current by 37% ± 5% at pH7.4. The block decreased to 5% ± 2% with extracellular pH at 6.2. Dofetilide (0.3 µM) inhibited HERG tail current by 34% ± 3% and 1% ± 2% at extracellular pH 7.4 and 6.2, respectively. Azimilide (10 µM) inhibited HERG tail current by 59% ± 3% and 17% ± 3% at extracellular pH 7.4 and 6.2. There were significant differences in the HERG inhibition by quinidine, dofetilide, and azimilide between pH 7.4 and pH 6.2 ( P < .01). The drug concentration blocking 50% of current (IC50) was 5.8 ± 0.3 µM for azimilide, 9.9 ±1.0 µM for quinidine, and 0.5 ± 0.02 µM for dofetilide at pH 7.4. When extracellular pH was decreased from 7.4 to 6.2, the IC50 increased to 95.5 ± 11.3 µM for azimilide, 203.2 ± 15.7 µM for quinidine, and 12.6 ± 1.2 µM for dofetilide. Unlike quinidine, dofetilide, and azimilide, there was no significant difference in the percentage of current block by amiodarone between pH 6.2 and 7.4. For amiodarone, the IC50 was 38.3 ± 8.5 µM at pH 7.4 and 27.3 ± 1.6 µM at pH 6.2. Conclusion: Our data show that the Ikr blocking effect of azimilide, dofetilide, and quinidine was attenuated at acid pH, whereas this was not the case for amiodarone. These observations may explain the efficacy of amiodarone in reducing arrhythmic death in patients after a myocardial infarction compared with other IKr blockers.