bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Loss of language in early development of autism and specific language impairment
Authors: Pickles Andrew , Simonoff Emily , Conti‐Ramsden Gina , Falcaro Milena , Simkin Zoë , Charman Tony , Chandler Susie , Loucas Tom , Baird Gillian 
Published: February 2009

Background: Several authors have highlighted areas of overlap in symptoms and impairment among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and children with specific language impairment (SLI). By contrast, loss of language and broadly defined regression have been reported as relatively specific to autism. We compare the incidence of language loss and language progression of children with autism and SLI.Methods: We used two complementary studies: the Special Needs and Autism Project (SNAP) and the Manchester Language Study (MLS) involving children with SLI. This yielded a combined sample of 368 children (305 males and 63 females) assessed in late childhood for autism, history of language loss, epilepsy, language abilities and nonverbal IQ.Results: language loss occurred in just 1% of children with SLI but in 15% of children classified as having autism or autism spectrum disorder. Loss was more common among children with autism rather than milder ASD and is much less frequently reported when language development is delayed. For children who lost language skills before their first phrases, the phrased speech milestone was postponed but long‐term language skills were not significantly lower than children with autism but without loss. For the few who experienced language loss after acquiring phrased speech, subsequent cognitive performance is more uncertain.Conclusions: Language loss is highly specific to ASD. The underlying developmental abnormality may be more prevalent than raw data might suggest, its possible presence being hidden for children whose language development is delayed.
Orienting of visual attention among persons with autism spectrum disorders: reading versus responding to symbolic cues
Authors: Landry Oriane , Mitchell Peter L. , Burack Jacob A. 
Published: February 2009

Background:  Are persons with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) slower than typically developing individuals to read the meaning of a symbolic cue in a visual orienting paradigm?Methods:  Participants with ASD (n = 18) and performance mental age (PMA) matched typically developing children (n = 16) completed two endogenous orienting conditions in which the cue exposure time and response preparation time were manipulated within a consistent series of cue‐target stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs).Results:  Participants with ASD displayed facilitation effects at all SOAs, whereas typically developing children displayed facilitation effects only at shorter SOAs. The magnitude of the facilitation effect was greater for the group with ASD at 400ms SOA. Both groups showed similar effects of condition, with similar patterns of facilitation in both conditions.Conclusion:  Persons with ASD were not slower to read the symbolic cue, as the effect was elicited by brief cues within longer SOAs before target onset. The participants with ASD were also less efficient in using the predictability of the cues to guide responding. The difficulties of participants with ASD on endogenous orienting occur at the response selection level, not the perceptual level.
Genetic and environmental influence on attachment disorganization
Authors: Spangler Gottfried , Johann Monika , Ronai Zsolt , Zimmermann Peter 
Published: February 2009

Background:  Empirical studies demonstrate that maternal sensitivity is associated with attachment security in infancy, while maternal frightening/frightened behavior is related to attachment disorganization. However, attachment disorganization is also predicted by individual dispositions in infancy. Indeed, recent studies indicate a link between attachment disorganization and DRD4 gene polymorphisms, thus suggesting a genetic vulnerability for attachment disorganization. The aims of our study were twofold, to test a) a possible direct link between molecular genetic variations and attachment disorganization, and b) a possible gene–environment interaction with a moderating effect of early maternal caregiving.Methods:  Attachment security and disorganization, as well as quality of maternal behavior were assessed in the infants of the Regensburg Longitudinal Study IV (N = 106) at the age of 12 months. DNA samples were collected in order to assess the exon III repeat polymorphism in the coding region and the −521 C/T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the regulatory region of the DRD4 gene and a repeat polymorphism (5‐HTTLPR) in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene.Results:  Significant associations were found between attachment disorganization and the short polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene. Also, a gene–environment interaction indicated that this genetic association was only valid for infants of mothers exhibiting low responsiveness. No other significant genetic associations with attachment disorganization were apparent.Conclusions:  The study suggests a gene–environment interaction whereby biological determinants of attachment disorganization are moderated by social experiences. Different pathways of the development of attachment disorganization are discussed based on a bio‐behavioral model of development.
Iatrogenic effect of juvenile justice
Authors: Gatti Uberto , Tremblay Richard E. , Vitaro Frank 
Published: February 2009

Background:  The present study uses data from a community sample of 779 low‐SES boys to investigate whether intervention by the juvenile justice system is determined, at least in part, by particular individual, familial and social conditions, and whether intervention by the juvenile courts during adolescence increases involvement in adult crime.Method:  The study considers self‐reported crime in childhood and adolescence, and introduces individual, familial and social variables into its analysis.Results:  The results show that youths who are poor, impulsive, poorly supervised by their parents, and exposed to deviant friends are more likely, for the same degree of antisocial behavior, to undergo intervention by the Juvenile Court, and that this intervention greatly increases the likelihood of involvement with the penal system in adulthood. The results also show that the various measures recommended by the Juvenile Court exert a differential criminogenic effect; those that involve placement have the most negative impact.
The Predictive Content of Aggregate Analyst Recommendations
Authors: HOWE JOHN S. , UNLU EMRE , YAN XUEMIN (STERLING) 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTUsing more than 350,000 sell‐side analyst recommendations from January 1994 to August 2006, this paper examines the predictive content of aggregate analyst recommendations. We find that changes in aggregate analyst recommendations forecast future market excess returns after controlling for macroeconomic variables that have been shown to influence market returns. Similarly, changes in industry‐aggregated analyst recommendations predict future industry returns. Changes in aggregate analyst recommendations also predict one‐quarter‐ahead aggregate earnings growth. Overall, our results suggest that analyst recommendations contain market‐ and industry‐level information about future returns and earnings.
Diadenosine pentaphosphate is a potent activator of cardiac ryanodine receptors revealing a novel high‐affinity binding site for adenine nucleotides
Authors: Song L , Carter SM , Chen Y , Sitsapesan R 
Published: February 2009

Background and purpose:  Diadenosine polyphosphates are normally present in cells at low levels, but significant increases in concentrations can occur during cellular stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of diadenosine pentaphosphate (Ap5A) and an oxidized analogue, oAp5A on the gating of sheep cardiac ryanodine receptors (RyR2).Experimental approach:  RyR2 channel function was monitored after incorporation into planar bilayers under voltage‐clamp conditions.Key results:  With10 µmol·L−1 cytosolic Ca2+, a significant ‘hump’ or plateau at the base of the dose–response relationship to Ap5A was revealed. Open probability (Po) was significantly increased to a plateau of approximately 0.2 in the concentration range 100 pmol·L−1–10 µmol·L−1. High Po values were observed at >10 µmol·L−1 Ap5A, and Po values close to 1 could be achieved. Nanomolar levels of ATP and adenosine also revealed a hump at the base of the dose–response relationships, although GTP did not activate at any concentration, indicating a common, high‐affinity binding site on RyR2 for adenine‐based compounds. The oxidized analogue, oAp5A, did not significantly activate RyR2 via the high‐affinity binding site; however, it could fully open the channel with an EC50 of 16 µmol·L−1 (Ap5A EC50 = 140 µmol·L−1). Perfusion experiments suggest that oAp5A and Ap5A dissociate slowly from their binding sites on RyR2.Conclusions and implications:  The ability of Ap5A compounds to increase Po even in the presence of ATP and their slow dissociation from the channel may enable these compounds to act as physiological regulators of RyR2, particularly under conditions of cellular stress.
Statins and fenofibrate affect skeletal muscle chloride conductance in rats by differently impairing ClC‐1 channel regulation and expression
Authors: Pierno S , Camerino GM , Cippone V , Rolland J‐F , Desaphy J‐F , De Luca A , Liantonio A , Bianco G , Kunic JD , George Jr. AL , Conte Camerino D 
Published: February 2009

Background and purpose: Statins and fibrates can produce mild to life‐threatening skeletal muscle damage. Resting chloride channel conductance (gCl), carried by the ClC‐1 channel, is reduced in muscles of rats chronically treated with fluvastatin, atorvastatin or fenofibrate, along with increased resting cytosolic calcium in statin‐treated rats. A high gCl, controlled by the Ca2+‐dependent protein kinase C (PKC), maintains sarcolemma electrical stability and its reduction alters muscle function. Here, we investigated how statins and fenofibrate impaired gCl.Experimental approach: In rats treated with fluvastatin, atorvastatin or fenofibrate, we examined the involvement of PKC in gCl reduction by the two intracellular microelectrodes technique and ClC‐1 mRNA level by quantitative real time‐polymerase chain reaction. Direct drug effects were tested by patch clamp analysis on human ClC‐1 channels expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells.Key results: Chelerythrine, a PKC inhibitor, appliedin vitroon muscle dissected from atorvastatin‐treated rats fully restored gCl, suggesting the involvement of this enzyme in statin action. Chelerythrine partially restored gCl in muscles from fluvastatin‐treated rats but not in those from fenofibrate‐treated rats, implying additional mechanisms for gCl impairment. Accordingly, a decrease of ClC‐1 channel mRNA was found in both fluvastatin‐ and fenofibrate‐treated rat muscles. Fenofibric acid, thein vivometabolite of fenofibrate, but not fluvastatin, rapidly reduced chloride currents in HEK 293 cells.Conclusions and implications: Our data suggest multiple mechanisms underlie the effect of statins and fenofibrate on ClC‐1 channel conductance. While statins promote Ca2+‐mediated PKC activation, fenofibrate directly inhibits ClC‐1 channels and both fluvastatin and fenofibrate impair expression of mRNA for ClC‐1.
Low‐dose oral sirolimus reduces atherogenesis, vascular inflammation and modulates plaque composition in mice lacking the LDL receptor
Authors: Zhao L , Ding T , Cyrus T , Cheng Y , Tian H , Ma M , Falotico R , Praticò D 
Published: February 2009

Background and purpose:  Chronic proliferative responses of different vascular cell types have been involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. However, their functional role remains to be established. Sirolimus reduces neointimal proliferation after balloon angioplasty and chronic graft vessel disease. These studies were undertaken to investigate the effects of this anti‐proliferative drug on atherogenesis.Experimental approach:  Low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐deficient (LDL r‐KO) mice on a cholesterol‐rich diet were randomized to receive placebo or sirolimus (0.1; 0.3; or 1 mg·kg−1) in their diet for 8 or 16 weeks.Results:  In both studies, plasma levels of the drug increased in a dose‐dependent fashion, animals gained weight normally and, among groups, plasma lipids levels did not differ significantly. Compared with placebo, plasma levels of interleukin‐6, monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1, interferon γ, tumour necrosis factor α and CD40, and their mRNA levels in aortic tissue were significantly reduced in sirolimus‐treated mice. This effect resulted in a significant and dose‐dependent reduction in atherosclerotic lesions, in both the root and aortic tree. Also these lesions contained less monocyte/macrophages and smooth muscle cells, but more collagen.Conclusions and implications:  The present results demonstrated that at low doses, sirolimus was an effective and safe anti‐atherogenic agent in the LDL r‐KO mice. It attenuated the progression of atherosclerosis and modulated the plaque phenotype by reducing the pro‐inflammatory vascular responses typical of the disease. British Journal of Pharmacology (2009) doi:10.1111/j.1476‐5381.2008.00080.x
Ca2+‐calmodulin can activate and inactivate cardiac ryanodine receptors
Authors: Sigalas C , Bent S , Kitmitto A , O'Neill S , Sitsapesan R 
Published: February 2009

Background and purpose: Ca2+‐calmodulin (Ca2+CaM) is widely accepted as an inhibitor of cardiac ryanodine receptors (RyR2); however, the effects of physiologically relevant CaM concentrations have not been fully investigated.Experimental approach: We investigated the effects of low concentrations of Ca2+CaM (50–100 nmol·L−1) on the gating of native sheep RyR2, reconstituted into bilayers. Suramin displaces CaM from RyR2 and we have used a gel‐shift assay to provide evidence of the mechanism underlying this effect. Finally, using suramin to displace endogenous CaM from RyR2 in permeabilized cardiac cells, we have investigated the effects of 50 nmol·L−1CaM on sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+‐release.Key results: Ca2+CaM activated or inhibited single RyR2, but activation was much more likely at low (50–100 nmol·L−1) concentrations. Also, suramin displaced CaM from a peptide of the CaM binding domain of RyR2, indicating that, like the skeletal isoform (RyR1), suramin directly competes with CaM for its binding site on the channel. Pre‐treatment of rat permeabilized ventricular myocytes with suramin to displace CaM, followed by addition of 50 nmol·L−1CaM to the mock cytoplasmic solution caused an increase in the frequency of spontaneous Ca2+‐release events. Application of caffeine demonstrated that 50 nmol·L−1CaM reduced SR Ca2+content.Conclusions and implications: We describe for the first time how Ca2+CaM is capable, not only of inactivating, but also of activating RyR2 channels in bilayers in a CaM kinase II‐independent manner. Similarly, in cardiac cells, CaM stimulates SR Ca2+‐release and the use of caffeine suggests that this is a RyR2‐mediated effect.
Histamine H1 receptor blockade predominantly impairs sensory processes in human sensorimotor performance
Authors: Van Ruitenbeek P , Vermeeren A , Smulders FTY , Sambeth A , Riedel WJ 
Published: February 2009

Background and purpose:  Centrally active antihistamines impair cognitive performance, particularly sensorimotor performance. The aim of the present study was to further elucidate the scarcely studied subprocesses involved in sensorimotor performance, which may be affected by H1 receptor blockade. Better knowledge about the cognitive deficits associated with histamine dysfunction can contribute to better treatment of clinical disorders in which histamine hypofunction may be a contributing factor, such as in schizophrenia.Experimental approach:  Interactions of dexchlorpheniramine with specific task manipulations in a choice reaction time task were studied. Task demands were increased at the level of sensory subprocesses by decreasing stimulus quality, and at the level of motor subprocesses by increasing response complexity. A total of 18 healthy volunteers (9 female) aged between 18 and 45 years participated in a three‐way, double‐blind, crossover design. Treatments were single oral doses of 4 mg dexchlorpheniramine, 1 mg lorazepam and placebo. Behavioural effects were assessed by measuring reaction times and effects on brain activity by event‐related potentials.Key results:  Dexchlorpheniramine significantly slowed reaction times, but did not significantly interact with task manipulations. However, it did significantly interact with stimulus quality, as measured by event‐related potentials. Lorazepam slowed reaction times and interacted with perceptual manipulations, as shown by effects on reaction times.Conclusions and implications:  The results confirm that the histamine system is involved in sensory information processing and show that H1 blockade does not affect motoric information processing. Histamine hypofunction in clinical disorders may cause impaired sensory processing, which may be a drug target.
A retrospective analysis of radiation therapy for the treatment of feline vaccine‐associated sarcoma*
Authors: Eckstein C. , Guscetti F. , Roos M. , Martín de las Mulas J. , Kaser‐Hotz B. , Rohrer Bley C. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractWe retrospectively evaluated predictive prognostic factors in 73 cats with vaccine‐associated sarcoma given postsurgical curative (n = 46, most with clean margins) or coarse fractionated radiotherapy (n = 27, most with either macroscopic disease or dirty margins). The former animals displayed a median survival of 43 months and a median progression free interval (PFI) of 37 months, the latter reached a median survival of 24 months and a median PFI of 10 months. In cats undergoing coarse fractionated therapy, factors predictive of a better outcome included lack of visible mass (n = 10) as opposed to macroscopic disease (n = 17, survival: 30 versus 7 months,P = 0.025; PFI: 20 versus 4 months,P = 0.01), adjuvant chemotherapy for gross disease (n = 5/17, survival: 29 versus 5 months,P = 0.04) and a smaller number of surgeries preceding radiation therapy (coeff = 0.41,P = 0.03). The Ki67 index was not predictive for survival. We concluded that postsurgical curative and coarse fractionated radiotherapy are effective legitimate options for managing vaccine‐associated sarcomas.
Impact of Recent Prior Opioid Use on Rizatriptan Efficacy. A Post Hoc Pooled Analysis
Authors: Ho Tony W. , Rodgers Anthony , Bigal Marcelo E. 
Published: February 2009

Background.— Limited evidence suggests that, in individuals with migraine, prior use of opioids reduces responsiveness to treatment with subsequent acute migraine therapies. The evidence is more robust with regard to opioids as a risk factor for chronic migraine.Objectives.— To explore whether recent prior opioid use influenced treatment response, in a post hoc pooled analysis of rizatriptan clinical trials.Methods.— We included rizatriptan 10 mg and placebo data from phase 3 moderate/severe migraine studies as well as from the rizatriptan “Treat a Migraine Early” (TAME) studies. As part of the clinical assessment, medication usage for migraine and other reasons in the 30 days prior to a screening visit and up to the time of taking study drug was captured via patient's self‐report. The influence of recent prior opioid use on the endpoint of pain freedom at 2 hours was assessed via logistic regression. We further explored the influence of gender and disability on treatment response.Results.— In the moderate/severe migraine studies of 2068 individuals treated with rizatriptan, 284 (13.7%) reported recent prior use of opioids. Of those treated with placebo (1258), 12.5% recently used opioids. In the TAME studies, the proportions were lower, 3.9% and 5.3%, respectively. The pretreatment and demographic characteristics were similar across the study groups. In the moderate/severe studies, recent prior opioid use was associated with reduced 2‐hour pain freedom. Although the influence of recent prior opioid use was assessed independently of treatment, the finding was driven primarily by rizatriptan (recent prior use vs no use: 34% vs 42% for rizatriptan and 10% vs 10% for placebo; P = .013). In the TAME studies, recent prior opioid use was also predictive of reduced efficacy (recent prior use vs no use: 41% vs 59% for rizatriptan and 13% vs 32% for placebo; P = .007).Conclusion.— Recent prior opioid use was associated with lower triptan response. Because of the post hoc nature of the analysis and limitations in capturing amount of opioid used, as well as to adjust for disability levels, these findings require replication in prospective studies.
Pathology type does not predict language lateralization in children with medically intractable epilepsy
Authors: Kadis Darren S. , Kerr Elizabeth N. , Rutka James T. , Snead III O. Carter , Weiss Shelly K. , Smith Mary Lou 
Published: February 2009

SummaryPurpose:  We examined potential differences in the effects of pathology type on language lateralization in pediatric epilepsy.Methods:  We examined findings from intracarotid sodium amobarbital procedure (IAP/Wada) in a large consecutive sample of children with refractory epilepsy. Subjects were assigned to one of three pathology groups: developmental (n = 28), acquired (n = 26), and tumor (n = 20); groups were compared for language lateralization.Results:  Rates of atypical language lateralization did not differ across groups. Greater than half of the subjects with left hemisphere insults and seizure onset before 6 years of age had atypical language lateralization, independent of pathology type.Discussion:  Atypical language lateralization may occur in the context of developmental, acquired, and/or tumor pathology.
BIODIVERSITY OF CORALLINE ALGAE IN THE NORTHEASTERN ATLANTIC INCLUDING CORALLINA CAESPITOSA SP. NOV. (CORALLINOIDEAE, RHODOPHYTA)1
Authors: Walker Rachel H. , Brodie Juliet , Russell Stephen , Irvine Linda M. , Orfanidis Sotiris 
Published: February 2009

The Corallinoideae (Corallinaceae) is represented in the northeastern Atlantic by Corallina officinalis L.; Corallina elongata J. Ellis et Sol.; Haliptilon squamatum (L.) H. W. Johans., L. M. Irvine et A. M. Webster; and Jania rubens (L.) J. V. Lamour. The delimitation of these geniculate coralline red algae is based primarily on morphological characters. Molecular analysis based on cox1 and 18S rRNA gene phylogenies supported the division of the Corallinoideae into the tribes Janieae and Corallineae. Within the Janieae, a sequence difference of 46–48 bp (8.6%–8.9%) between specimens of H. squamatum and J. rubens in the cox1 phylogeny leads us to conclude that they are congeneric. J. rubens var. rubens and J. rubens var. corniculata (L.) Yendo clustered together in both phylogenies, suggesting that for those genes, there was no genetic basis for the morphological variation. Within the Corallineae, it appears that in some regions, the name C. elongata has been misapplied. C. officinalis samples formed two clusters that differed by 45–54 bp (8.4%–10.0%), indicating species‐level divergence, and morphological differences were sufficient to define two species. One of these clusters was consistent with the morphology of the type specimen of C. officinalis (LINN 1293.9). The other species cluster is therefore described here as Corallina caespitosa sp. nov. This study has demonstrated that there is a clear need for a revision of the genus Corallina to determine the extent of “pseudocryptic” diversity in this group of red algae.