bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of smoking and drinking habits on urinary o‐cresol excretion after occupational exposure to toluene vapor among chinese workers
Authors: Inoue Osamu , Seiji Kazunori , Watanabe Takao , Chen Zhen , Huang Mei‐Yuan , Xu Xiao‐Ping , Qiao Xin , Ikeda Masayuki 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe relationship between the time‐weighted average intensity of exposure to toluene and o‐cresol concentration in shift‐end urine was investigated in nearly 500 factory workers of both sexes in China, together with a similar number of nonexposed control subjects. Toluene concentration (25 ppm as geometric mean and 550 ppm as the maximum) was monitored by diffusive sampling using carbon cloth as adsorbent followed by gas chromatographic (GC) analysis. o‐Cresol (up to 7 mg/1) was measured by GC after acid hydrolysis of samples. Urinary o‐cresol levels correlated significantly (r = 0.69–0.77; p < 0.01) with toluene exposure in men, women and the two sexes in combination, regardless of correction for urine density. When compared with hippuric acid, however, o‐cresol was less sensitive as an indicator of exposure to toluene and is not a suitable biological marker for detecting low level toluene exposure. Since urinary o‐cresol level was significantly reduced by smoking, drinking, and the two habits combined, it cannot be considered reliable as an indicator of exposure to toluene. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Statistical model for prediction of retrospective exposure to ethylene oxide in an occupational mortality study
Authors: Hornung Richard W. , Greife Alice L. , Stayner Leslie T. , Kyle Steenland N. , Herrick Robert F. , Elliott Larry J. , Ringenburg Virginia L. , Morawetz John 
Published: April 2007

AbstractSince direct measures of individual exposure seldom exist for the entire period of an occupational mortality study, retrospective exposure estimates are necessary. This is often done in a subjective manner involving a consensus of opinion from a panel of epidemiologists and industrial hygienists. An alternative method utilizing a statistical model provides a more objective procedure for retrospective exposure assessment. The development of a weighted multiple regression model is presented for estimation of exposure levels to ethylene oxide (ETO) for inclusion in a cohort mortality study of workers in the sterilization industry. Three steps in development of the model are described: (1) data acquisition and assessment, (2) model building, and (3) evaluation of the model. The final model explained a remarkable 85% of the variability in 205 average measurements of ETO levels. Exposure factors included in the model were exposure category, product type, size of the sterilization unit, selected engineering controls, days after sterilization, and calendar year. The model was evaluated in two ways: against a set of measurement data not used to develop the model and a panel of 11 industrial hygienists representing the sterilization industry. The model predicted ETO exposures within 1.1 ppm of the validation data set with a standard deviation of 3.7 ppm. The arithmetic and geometric means of the 46 measurements in the validation data set were 4.6 and 2.2 ppm, respectively. The model also outperformed the panel of industrial hygienists relative to the validation data in terms of both bias and precision.
Dust‐ and endotoxin‐related acute lung function changes and work‐related symptoms in workers in the animal feed industry
Authors: Smid Tjabe , Heederik Dick , Houba Remko , Quanjer Philip H. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractReported respiratory and related symptoms during work were compared between 265 exposed animal feed workers and a control group consisting of 175 external controls and nonexposed workers in the animal feed industry. Symptoms indicating respiratory and nasal irritation were significantly increased in the animal feed workers. Prevalences ranged from 9% (cough) to 21% (sneezing). Reported cough after work was also significantly increased. In 119 workers, a total of 457 across‐shift spirometric lung function changes were measured. Almost all lung function variables showed a decrease during the work shift, as could be expected since the circadian rhythm is in a downward phase during the measurement period (2 p.m.‐10 p.m.). When the workers were grouped into dust and endotoxin exposure categories according to their job titles, and exposure‐response trend was seen for maximum mid‐expiratory flow (MMEF) and maximum expiratory flow rate at 50% of vital capacity (MEF50). The effect of endotoxin was stronger than that of dust, both in magnitude and significance. For the same lung function variables and for forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and MEF25, a significant across‐week change was also detected. The results of this study are in concordance with other studies that indicate acute effects on lung function and elevated prevalences of respiratory symptoms during work caused by exposure to grain dust.
Retrospective cohort study of workers of a synthetic textiles plant in quebec: II. Colorectal cancer mortality and incidence
Authors: Goldberg Mark S. , Thériault Gilles 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis paper describes standard mortality and nested case‐control analyses of colorectal cancer for a cohort of synthetic textiles workers in which a cluster of five cases was observed previously. The cohort consisted of 7,487 men and 2,724 women who had more than 1 year's experience at the plant and who were either working in 1947 or were newly employed between 1947 and 1977. The Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) for colorectal cancer for men was 0.69 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.52‐0.92; 50 deaths) and for women it was 1.02 (95% CI: 0.57‐1.69; 15 deaths). Among men only there was a suggestion that risks increased according to the length of service at the plant. In the nested case‐control study, incident cases as well as deceased cases were included. A variety of analyses were carried out according to duration of employment in the processing units. For men the risk of colon cancer increased with duration of employment in the polypropylene and cellulose triacetate extrusion unit (unadjusted odds ratio (OR) for ≤5 years duration = 5.52; 95% CI: 1.12‐27,26; 4 exposed cases). It was not possible, however, to provide an independent confirmation of this putative association because the case series included three of the original five cases. There was some evidence of increased risks in the cellulose acetate fiber manufacturing unit and in the dyeing and finishing unit, but the data were compatible with the null hypothesis of no effect. No associations were observed for employment in any of the other processing unit.
Genetic epidemiological studies of congenital/prelingual deafness in Turkey: Population structure and mating type are major determinants of mutation identification
Authors: Tekin Mustafa , Arıcı Zehra Serap 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn order to evaluate the genetic epidemiology of deafness in Turkey, we first analyzed the pedigree data obtained from 2,169 families whose children were students of the schools for hearing loss/deafness in 31 cities of Turkey. Single major locus segregation analysis was performed after families were grouped according to hearing status of the parents. The results showed that sporadic phenocopies, autosomal dominant, and autosomal recessive transmission account for 18.2%, 4.9%, and 76.9% of the cases respectively, after exclusion of probands with unequivocal evidence for environmental etiologies. The high frequency of autosomal recessive transmission of this study differs from those of previous ones in Western populations. We subsequently analyzed the data from a subset of 574 unrelated families that were evaluated clinically, including mutation analysis of the GJB2 gene in 406 probands. Biallelic mutations were detected in 22.4% of all probands. They were present in 68.8% of probands whose parents were both deaf, yet in only 9.3% when both parents were hearing and consanguineous without a family history of deafness. Our study shows that GJB2 is the major gene for deafness in Turkey and was amplified in deaf by deaf matings, since assortative mating preferentially affects common genes. Deafness in the remaining families appears to result from mutations at many loci that are less frequent causes of deafness, because consanguinity has a proportionally greater effect on rare genes. Conclusions of this study may be relevant to other populations where consanguineous or assortative mating is present with various frequencies. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of candidate genes for DYX1 and DYX2 in families with dyslexia
Authors: Brkanac Zoran , Chapman Nicola H. , Matsushita Mark M. , Chun Lani , Nielsen Kathleen , Cochrane Elizabeth , Berninger Virginia W. , Wijsman Ellen M. , Raskind Wendy H. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractDyslexia is a common heterogeneous disorder with a significant genetic component. Multiple studies have replicated the evidence for linkage between variously defined phenotypes of dyslexia and chromosomal regions on 15q21 (DYX1) and 6p22.2 (DYX2). Based on association studies and the possibility for functional significance of several polymorphisms, candidate genes responsible for the observed linkage signal have been proposed—DYX1C1 for 15q21, and KIAA0319 and DCDC2 for 6p22.2. We investigated the evidence for contribution of these candidate genes to dyslexia in our sample of multigenerational families. Our previous quantitative linkage analyses in this dataset provided supportive evidence for linkage of dyslexia to the locus on chromosome 15, but not to the locus on chromosome 6. In the current study, we used probands from 191 families for a case control analysis, and proband‐parent trios for family‐based TDT analyses. The observation of weak evidence for transmission disequilibrium for one of the two studied polymorphisms in DYX1C1 suggests involvement of this gene in dyslexia in our dataset. We did not find evidence for the association of KIAA0319 or DCDC2 alleles to dyslexia in our sample. We observed a slight tendency for an intronic deletion in DCDC2 to be associated with worse performance on some quantitative measures of dyslexia in the probands in our sample, but not in their parents. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fetal brain magnetic resonance imaging response acutely to hypoxia‐ischemia predicts postnatal outcome
Authors: Drobyshevsky Alexander , Derrick Matthew , Prasad P. V. , Ji Xinhai , Englof Ila , Tan Sidhartha 
Published: April 2007

AbstractObjectiveCerebral palsy (CP) is caused by either hypoxia‐ischemia (H‐I) or long‐standing causative factors such as inflammation or genetics. Multiple pathophysiological events over time are thought to contribute eventually to cerebral palsy. Our objective was to examine whether the immediate response of the fetus to an acute H‐I event determined the motor deficits associated with cerebral palsy.MethodsSerial diffusion‐weighted imaging were performed on 79% gestation New Zealand white rabbits using a 3‐Tesla magnetic resonance scanner during 40 minutes of uterine ischemia, 20 minutes of reperfusion, and at 4, 24, and 72 hours. Individual fetuses were tracked to near term, and the delivered kits were divided into hypertonic H‐I (n = 18), nonhypertonic H‐I (n = 9), stillbirth H‐I (n = 4), and control groups (n = 16).ResultsThe hypertonia group had significantly less of a nadir in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) during H‐I (71.6 ± 23.8% vs 84.5 ± 9.3% baseline) and slower and incomplete recovery of ADC during reperfusion compared with the nonhypertonic group. All fetuses in the hypertonic and stillbirth groups had an ADC nadir of less than 0.83μm2/msec (70.3% decrease from baseline), whereas 94% of control animals had an ADC nadir greater than this value. The difference between outcome groups was the largest at 4 hours reperfusion and persisted for 24 hours.InterpretationSerial fetal brain scans indicate that the immediate response of a fetus to H‐I is crucial to the development of hypertonia. If the fetal brain can be scanned at the time of insult, ADC changes can predict which fetuses will have an unfavorable outcome. Ann Neurol 2007;61:307–314
Is hemiplegic cerebral palsy equivalent to amblyopia of the corticospinal system?
Authors: Eyre Janet A. , Smith Martin , Dabydeen Lyvia , Clowry Gavin J. , Petacchi Eliza , Battini Roberta , Guzzetta Andrea , Cioni Giovanni 
Published: April 2007

AbstractObjectiveSubjects with severe hemiplegic cerebral palsy have increased ipsilateral corticospinal projections from their noninfarcted cortex. We investigated whether their severe impairment might, in part, be caused by activity‐dependent, competitive displacement of surviving contralateral corticospinal projections from the affected cortex by more active ipsilateral corticospinal projections from the nonaffected cortex, thereby compounding the impairment.MethodsTranscranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) characterized corticospinal tract development from each hemisphere over the first 2 years in 32 healthy children, 14 children with unilateral stroke, and 25 with bilateral lesions. Magnetic resonance imaging and anatomic studies compared corticospinal tract growth in 13 patients with perinatal stroke with 46 healthy subjects.ResultsInfants with unilateral lesions initially had responses after TMS of the affected cortex, which became progressively more abnormal, and seven were eventually lost. There was associated hypertrophy of the ipsilateral corticospinal axons projecting from the noninfarcted cortex. Magnetic resonance imaging and anatomic studies demonstrated hypertrophy of the corticospinal tract from the noninfarcted hemisphere. TMS findings soon after the stroke did not predict impairment; subsequent loss of responses and hypertrophy of ipsilateral corticospinal axons from the noninfarcted cortex predicted severe impairment at 2 years. Infants with bilateral lesions maintained responses to TMS from both hemispheres with a normal pattern of development.InterpretationRather than representing “reparative plasticity,” increased ipsilateral projections from the noninfarcted cortex compound disability by competitively displacing surviving contralateral corticospinal projections from the infarcted cortex. This may provide a pathophysiological explanation for why signs of hemiplegic cerebral palsy appear late and progress over the first 2 years of life. Ann Neurol 2007
In‐situ‐ und Operando‐Spektroskopie zur Untersuchung von Mechanismen der Gaserkennung
Authors: Gurlo Alexander , Riedel Ralf 
Published: April 2007

AbstractDer Mechanismus der Gaserkennung auf anorganischen, organischen und polymeren Materialien ist von großem wissenschaftlichem und technologischem Interesse. Die Aufklärung der Reaktionen an der Oberfläche und in der Volumenphase, die an der Gaserkennung beteiligt sind, wird zu einer selektiveren und empfindlicheren chemischen Bestimmung von Gasen und somit zur Entwicklung besserer Sensoren führen. In den vergangenen Jahren sind Methoden entwickelt worden, mit deren Hilfe physikochemische Prozesse in einem aktiven Sensor unter Arbeitsbedingungen und in Echtzeit verfolgt werden können. Damit ist das Verfolgen der Prozesse in arbeitenden Gassensoren heute kein unlösbares Problem mehr. Der vorliegende Aufsatz gibt einen Überblick zu diesen In‐situ‐ und Operando‐Spektroskopietechniken für Untersuchungen zum Mechanismus der Gaserkennung auf Festkörpern.
And the segmentation clock keeps ticking
Authors: Mallo Moisés 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe vertebrate body is organized in segments, easily visible in the consecutive vertebrae of the skeleton. These are first defined in the embryo by the formation of somites. Somites are generated at regular intervals from the presomitic mesoderm by a combination of oscillating signals, known as the segmentation clock, which establish the pace at which new somites are formed, and signaling gradients that set the location of new intersomitic borders. Using a microarray approach, Dequéant et al.1 have now shown that the segmentation clock is more complex than previously thought and includes oscillating expression of genes from at least three signaling pathways organized in coordinated networks. BioEssays 29:412–415, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Social behavior and the evolution of neuropeptide genes: lessons from the honeybee genome
Authors: Predel Reinhard , Neupert Susanne 
Published: April 2007

AbstractHoneybees display a fascinating social behavior. The structural basis for this behavior, which made the bee a model organism for the study of communication, learning and memory formation, is the tiny insect brain. Neurons of the brain communicate via messenger molecules. Among these molecules, neuropeptides represent the structurally most‐diverse group and occupy a high hierarchic position in the modulation of behavior. A recent analysis of the honeybee genome revealed a considerable number of predicted (200) and confirmed (100) neuropeptides in this insect.1 Is this quantity merely the result of advanced mass spectrometric techniques and bioinformatic tools or does it reflect the expression of more of these important messenger molecules, more than known from other insects studied so far? Our analysis of the data suggests that the social behavior is by no means correlated with a specific increase in the number of neuropeptides. Indeed, the honeybee genome is likely to contain fewer neuropeptide genes, neuropeptide paralogues and neuropeptide receptor genes than the solitary fruitfly Drosophila. BioEssays 29:416–421, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Redox rhythmicity: clocks at the core of temporal coherence
Authors: Lloyd David , Murray Douglas B. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractUltradian rhythms are those that cycle many times in a day and are therefore measured in hours, minutes, seconds or even fractions of a second. In yeasts and protists, a temperature‐compensated clock with a period of about an hour (30–90 minutes) provides the time base upon which all central processes are synchronized. A 40‐minute clock in yeast times metabolic, respiratory and transcriptional processes, and controls cell division cycle progression. This system has at its core a redox cycle involving NAD(P)H and dithiol–disulfide interconversions. It provides an archetype for biological time keeping on longer time scales (e.g. the daily cycles driven by circadian clocks) and underpins these rhythms, which cannot be understood in isolation. Ultradian rhythms are the foundation upon which the coherent functioning of the organism depends. BioEssays 29:465–473, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The size and form of chromosomes are constant in the nucleus, but highly variable in bacteria, mitochondria and chloroplasts
Authors: Bendich Arnold J. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractFrom cytological examination, the size and form of the chromosomes in the eukaryotic nucleus are invariant across generations, leading to the expectation that constancy of inheritance likely depends on constancy of the chromosomal DNA molecule conveying the constant phenotype. Indeed, except for rare mutations, major phenotypic traits appear largely without change from generation to generation. Thus, when it was discovered that the inheritance of traits for bacteria, mitochondria and chloroplasts was also constant, it was assumed that chromosomes in those locations were also constant. Such has not turned out to be the case, however; those chromosomes are highly variable in structure. I propose, therefore, that only for the nucleus is there a requirement that a chromosome be “finished” (contain only fully replicated genomes) before it may segregate to daughter cells. This requirement does not apply to the variable chromosomes among chloroplasts, mitochondria and bacteria. BioEssays 29:474–483, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Systematic review of dysplasia after restorative proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis
Authors: Scarpa M , van Koperen P J , Ubbink D T , Hommes D W , ten Kate F J W , Bemelman W A 
Published: April 2007

Abstract

Background
The aim of this systematic review was to assess the prevalence and site of dysplasia after restorative proctocolectomy (RPC) for ulcerative colitis (UC), and to identify risk factors that could be used in a surveillance programme.

Methods
Medical databases were searched for potentially relevant publications between 1978 and 2006. Studies that dealt with RPC for UC and postoperative surveillance were included. Two researchers independently performed study selection, quality assessment, data extraction and analysis.

Results
Twenty-three observational studies and case series were included, with a total of 2040 patients. The pooled prevalence of confirmed dysplasia in the pouch, anal transitional zone or rectal cuff was 1·13 (range 0–18·75) per cent. The prevalence of high-grade dysplasia, low-grade dysplasia and indefinite for dysplasia was 0·15 (range 0–4·49), 0·98 (range 0–15·62) and 1·23 (range 0–25·28 per cent) respectively. Dysplasia was equally frequent in the pouch and rectal cuff or anal transitional zone. Dysplasia and cancer identified before or at operation seemed to be significant predictors of the development of dysplasia. Pouchitis and duration of follow-up were not of predictive value.

Conclusion
Although based on low-level evidence from uncontrolled studies, the prevalence of dysplasia observed after RPC was remarkable. A surveillance programme that takes into account the risk factors found is therefore advocated.
Comparison of HPLC and CE methods for the determination of cetirizine dihydrochloride in human plasma samples
Authors: Kowalski Piotr , Plenis Alina 
Published: April 2007

AbstractTwo methods, capillary electrophoresis (CE) and high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), for analysis of cetirizine dihydrochloride in small sample volumes of human plasma were compared. The CE and HPLC assays were developed and validated by analyzing a series of plasma samples containing cetirizine dihydrochloride in different concentrations using these two methods. The extraction procedure is simple and no complicated purification steps or derivatization are required. The analysis time in the HPLC method was shorter than that in the CE method, but solvent consumption was considerably lower in the CE method. The calibration curve was linear to at least 10–1000 ng/mL both for CE and HPLC with r2 = 0.9993 and r2 = 0.9994, respectively. The detection limits for cetirizine dihydrochloride were 3 and 5 ng/mL with CE and HPLC (a UV detector was applied in the both cases), respectively. Both methods were selective, robust and specific, allowing reliable quantification of cetirizine dihydrochloride, and could be useful for clinical and biomedical investigations. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chemical Etiology of Nucleic Acids: Aminopropyl Nucleic Acids (APNAs)
Authors: Zhou Ding , Froeyen Matheus , Rozenski Jozef , Van Aerschot Arthur , Herdewijn Piet 
Published: April 2007

AbstractAminopropyl nucleic acids (APNAs) are constitutionally simple nucleic acid alternatives with one stereogenic center per nucleotide, and with the potential to hybridize with RNA and to exert catalytic functions. We have developed a protecting group strategy to synthesize APNAs, although in a not very efficient way. Isolation and purification of APNAs proved to be difficult. Their structures might be more suited to function as potential catalytic polymers than as information systems that may evolve into RNA.