bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Maternal medicine: Morphometric placental villous and vascular abnormalities in early‐ and late‐onset pre‐eclampsia with and without fetal growth restriction
Authors: Egbor M , Ansari T , Morris N , Green CJ , Sibbons PD 
Published: March 2006

Objective  To evaluate placental morphology in pregnancies complicated by early‐ and late‐onset pre‐eclampsia (PET) with and without fetal growth restriction (FGR) using stereological techniques.Design  A total of 69 pregnant women were studied. Twenty women had pregnancies complicated by PET, 17 by FGR and 16 by both PET and FUR; the remaining 16 were from gestational‐age‐matched controls. Each group was further classified into early onset (<34 weeks) and late onsets (>34 weeks) based on gestational ages.Setting  NPIMR at Northwick Park and St Marks Hospital.Population  placentae from pregnant women.Methods  Formalin‐fixed, wax‐embedded sections stained with anti‐CD34 antibodies and counterstained with haematoxylin.Main outcome measures  Volumes, surface areas, lengths, diameters and shape factors of the villous tissues and fetal vasculature in the intermediate and terminal villi of all the groups studied.Results  Terminal villi volume and surface area were compromised in early‐onset PET cases, late‐onset PET had no impact on peripheral villi or vasculature features. The morphology of the vascular and villous subcomponents in the intermediate and terminal villi was significantly influenced by late‐onset FGR, whereas early‐onset FGR caused a reduction in placental weight. Length estimates were not influenced by PET, FGR or age of onset. Intermediate arteriole shape factor was significantly reduced in late‐onset FGR.Conclusions  Isolated early‐onset PET was associated with abnormal placental morphology, but placentas from late‐onset PET were morphologically similar to placentas from gestational‐age‐matched controls, confirming the existence of two subsets of this condition and supporting the hypothesis that late‐onset PET is a maternal disorder and not a placental disease.
ms2ms.pl: a PERL script for generating microsatellite data
Authors: PIDUGU SREENIVASA R. , SCHLÖTTERER CHRISTIAN 
Published: March 2006

AbstractMicrosatellites are frequently used to infer population structure and demographic history. Contrary to DNA sequence data, only very limited simulation software is currently available for microsatellites. The ‘ms‐program’ is an advanced computer simulation tool for sequence data under a broad range of demographic models. We report a PERL script that converts the output of the ms‐program into microsatellite data. The ms2ms PERL script generates an output file that could be read by the microsatellite analyser software to calculate the desired summary statistics.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the woolly mouse opossum, Micoureus paraguayanus (Marsupialia: Didelphimorphia)
Authors: RODRIGUES FERNANDO P. , ROCHA FLÁVIA S. , GARCIA JOSÉ E. , GARCIA JOSÉ F. , DE VIVO MARIO , MATIOLI SERGIO R. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractFive microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized within the woolly mouse opossum (Micoureus paraguayanus), a Neotropical marsupial, using an enrichment cloning procedure. Between four and seven alleles were detected per locus, with expected heterozygosity ranging from 0.358 to 0.560. These microsatellites should provide useful markers in a variety of genetic analyses to examine parentage, inbreeding, population structure and population dynamics in fragmented forest habitats.
Modulation of pentylenetetrazole‐induced seizures and oxidative stress parameters by sodium valproate in the absence and presence of N‐acetylcysteine
Authors: Uma Devi P. , Kolappa Pillai K. , Vohora Divya 
Published: March 2006

AbstractIn view of a role of oxidative stress in epilepsy and the evidence for the involvement of peroxidative injury in sodium valproate (SVP)‐induced adverse effects on liver and kidneys, we investigated whether the combination of SVP with N‐acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant, may help us to achieve maximal efficacy in terms of seizure control, with minimal toxicity on liver and kidneys. Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)‐induced seizures were used to evaluate the anticonvulsant effect of drugs. Biochemical estimations included the determination of oxidative stress markers like thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances in brain tissue and glutathione (GSH) levels in liver and kidney tissues. Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase concentrations in the serum were also determined to assess liver function. In our study, NAC exhibited a nondose‐dependent anticonvulsant effect. The concurrent administration of NAC with SVP significantly prolonged the latency to jerks, myoclonus and clonic generalized seizures. No significant oxidative stress was evident in brain tissue following PTZ‐induced seizures, though an elevation of serum transaminase enzymes was seen. SVP at the dose studied did not produce any significant oxidative stress on the liver and kidneys, while treatment with NAC elevated liver and kidney GSH levels. The concurrent administration of NAC with SVP had beneficial effects on liver and kidney cells.
Distribution and behaviour of Common Scoter Melanitta nigra relative to prey resources and environmental parameters
Authors: KAISER M. J. , GALANIDI M. , SHOWLER D. A. , ELLIOTT A. J. , CALDOW R. W. G. , REES E. I. S. , STILLMAN R. A. , SUTHERLAND W. J. 
Published: March 2006

Offshore wind farms are proposed around the coast of the UK and elsewhere in Europe. These sites tend to be located in shallow coastal waters that often coincide with areas used by over‐wintering Common Scoter Melanitta nigra. A large‐scale study was undertaken to ascertain the relationship of the spatial distribution of Common Scoter in Liverpool Bay with prey abundance and environmental and anthropogenic variables that may affect foraging efficiency. The highest numbers of Common Scoter coincided with sites that had a high abundance and biomass of bivalve prey species. There was strong evidence that the maximum observed biomass of bivalves occurred at a mean depth of c. 14 m off the Lancashire coast and at c. 8 m off the north Wales coast. This coincided well with the distribution of Common Scoter at Shell Flat, but less well with the distribution of birds off North Wales. Common Scoters were observed in lowest numbers or were absent from areas in which anthropogenic disturbance (shipping activity) was relatively intense, even when these areas held a high prey biomass. Commercial fishing activities did not appear to contribute to this disturbance.
The relation between motor activity and [3H]uridine uptake in the mouse brain
Authors: Pakkenberg H. , Fog R. 
Published: March 2006

Using microautoradiography ex vivo we tested the effect of forced running on a roller drum for 3 h on the nuclear incorporation of [5‐3H uridine] in mouse brain. Specific neuron types with increased nuclear labelling included primary motor cortex layer 5 nerve cells with nuclei greater than 12 μm (+38%) and large neuron nuclei in putamen (+58%). Mice running for 45 min do not show any change in the labelling of nerve cell nuclei compared with mice moving freely in the cage. The [3H]uridine uptake in other cell types, e.g. other neurons in cortical layer 5, neurons in sensory cortex and in the other cell layers in motor cortex, were not different from control mice.We conclude that RNA synthesis is normally low in adult mouse brain, but that physical exercise stimulates RNA synthesis in specific populations of large neurons in the motor system.
Potential prognostic value of leptin receptor in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wang S-N , Chuang S-C , Yeh Y-T , Yang S-F , Chai C-Y , Chen W-T , Kuo K-K , Chen J-S , Lee K-T 
Published: March 2006

Background:Obesity is associated with several human malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This association may result from the deregulated expression of adipokines.Aims:To explore the potential role and the prognostic value of leptin receptor (Ob-R) in HCC.Methods:66 patients with pathologically confirmed HCC were included in this study. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the expression of Ob-R, microvessel density (MVD) and Ki-67 index in these patients. Eventually, the profiles of Ob-R expression, obtained by a semiquantitative scoring system, were further correlated with Ki-67 expression, intratumour MVD, clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival.Results:High Ob-R expression was seen in 53% of patients with HCC and was significantly correlated with intratumour MVD (highvlow; 59.4 ?3.2)v44.7 ?3.7); p = 0.004), but not with Ki-67 expression. In addition, Ob-R expression was inversely correlated with vascular invasion (p = 0.037), but not with other known clinicopathological characteristics. The Kaplan–Meier survival curve showed that high Ob-R expression was associated with a better overall survival (p = 0.027). Meanwhile, multivariate analysis showed that Ob-R expression was a significant determinant for HCC (odds ratio 0.02, 95% confidence interval 0.01 to 0.85; p = 0.041).Conclusion:Ob-R expression may have a potential role in the carcinogenesis of HCC. The positive association of Ob-R expression in the cancerous lesions of HCC with the survival outcome can be explained by its inverse correlation with vascular invasion, and may have prognostic value in HCC.
Prognostic relevance of P-cadherin expression in melanocytic skin tumours analysed by high-throughput tissue microarrays
Authors: Bauer R , Wild P J , Meyer S , Bataille F , Pauer A , Klinkhammer-Schalke M , Hofstaedter F , Bosserhoff A K 
Published: March 2006

Aim:To investigate whether protein expression or cellular localisation of P-cadherin is associated with clinicopathological characteristics in benign and malignant melanocytic skin tumours.Experimental design:P-cadherin expression and the Ki-67 labelling index were analysed immunohistochemically by using tissue microarrays (TMAs). Membranous and cytoplasmic expression was scored semiquantitatively (0 to 2+).Results:P-cadherin protein expression of any intensity (1+ to 2+) was detected in the membrane in 41.5% (132/318) and in the cytoplasm in 64.2% (204/318) of patients. In general, P-cadherin expression was significantly reduced in malignant melanomas (p<0.001) and melanoma metastases (p<0.001), compared with benign nevi. Additionally, loss of membranous P-cadherin was associated with Clark level (p = 0.011) and tumour thickness (p<0.001). Interestingly, a significantly lower P-cadherin expression was shown by dermal nevi than by compound and junctional nevi (p = 0.005; p = 0.025). In primary melanomas, a Ki-67 labelling index <5% was not associated with P-cadherin protein expression, suggesting that loss of P-cadherin expression was not associated with proliferation. None of the other clinical and histological factors analysed was significantly related to P-cadherin expression. Low cytoplasmic P-cadherin expression was associated with tumour recurrence (p = 0.03) in all the patients who were analysed. After testing various multivariate Cox regression models, loss of cytoplasmic P-cadherin expression remained a highly significant adverse risk factor for tumour recurrence in patients with tumours <2 mm.Conclusions:Loss of cytoplasmic P-cadherin expression is common in advanced melanomas and can be a prognostic marker of progression in patients with melanoma, most useful in patients with primary tumours <2 mm in thickness.
Comparison of RANTES expression in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis: an aid in the differential diagnosis?
Authors: Ansari N , Abdulla J , Zayyani N , Brahmi U , Taha S , Satir A A 
Published: March 2006

Background:RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted) expression is increased in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). RANTES is produced at higher levels in granulomatous conditions, so increased RANTES expression can be expected in Crohn’s disease compared with ulcerative colitis.Aim:To compare RANTES expression between intestinal biopsy specimens of patients with Crohn’s disease and those with ulcerative colitis.Materials and methods:A prospective study of patients presenting with lower gastrointestinal symptoms at the Bahrain Specialist Hospital from July 2004 to April 2005 was carried out. Endoscopic colonic biopsy specimens were taken from every patient and subjected to (a) routine haematoxylin and eosin staining examination by light microscopy, (b) immunohistochemistry for examination of RANTES protein expression by light microscopy and (c) in situ hybridisation for examination of RANTES mRNA expression by light microscopy. RANTES expression was assessed and quantified.Results:58 patients were enrolled to the study. Of them, 40 had IBD (21 had Crohn’s disease and 19 had ulcerative colitis), 15 were controls with normal colonic biopsy results or non-inflammatory lesions and 3 had colonic inflammatory lesions other than IBD. RANTES expression in lymphocytes or histiocytes was significantly higher (p = 0.04) in new patients with ulcerative colitis than in those with Crohn’s disease analysed by immunohistochemistry (IHC).Conclusion:RANTES expression in lymphocytes or histiocytes is significantly higher in patients with ulcerative colitis than in those with Crohn’s disease. Hence, RANTES IHC can be an effective method for distinguishing between biopsy specimens of patients with ulcerative colitis from those of patients with Crohn’s disease, where routine histological features are indeterminate. RANTES IHC may prove to be a useful technique for identifying early or equivocal granulomas.
Methylation of INK4 and CIP/KIP families of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in Chinese patients
Authors: Chim C S , Fung T K , Wong K F , Lau J S , Law M , Liang R 
Published: March 2006

Background:INK4 (p15, p16, p18 and p19) and CIP/KIP (p21, p27 and p57) are two families of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKI) targeting CDK4/6 and CDK2, respectively.Aim:To study the role of methylation in the inactivation of CKI in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).Materials and methods:Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was carried out on DNA obtained from the bone marrow of 56 newly diagnosed patients with CLL.Results:Similar demographic features and clinical outcome were observed in our patients when compared with Caucasian patients, including an indolent clinical course (10-year overall survival 51%) and advanced Rai stage (p = 0.006), and a high-risk karyotype such as trisomy 12 and complex aberrations (p = 0.03). In the INK4 family, methylation inp15andp16occurred in 20 (35.7%) and 8 (14.3%) patients, respectively. In all, 5 (8.9%) CLL samples harboured concurrent methylation of bothp15andp16. Apart from an association ofp16methylation with higher presenting leucocyte count (64.5×109/l in methylatedp16and 16.0×109/l in unmethylatedp16patients; p = 0.016), there was no association betweenp15andp16methylation and age, sex and Rai stage. No difference was observed in the overall survival for patients with and withoutp15andp16methylation. By contrast,p18andRbwere unmethylated in all samples. In the CIP/KIP family, apart from infrequent methylation ofp57in 4 (7.1%) patients, methylation ofp21andp27was uniformly absent.Conclusion:p15and, less frequently,p16of the INK4 family of CKI, instead of the CIP or KIP family, were targeted by methylation in CLL.p16methylation was associated with a higher lymphocyte count at presentation. This is the first comprehensive study of the epigenetic dysregulation of the INK4 and CIP/KIP families of CKI in Chinese patients with CLL.
Limitations in the ability of NB84 to detect metastatic neuroblastoma cells in bone marrow
Authors: Bomken S N , Redfern K , Wood K M , Reid M M , Tweddle D A 
Published: March 2006

Background:The accurate assessment of metastases is an essential component of the staging process for children with neuroblastoma.Aims:To study the sensitivity of the immunohistochemical marker neuroblastoma 84 (NB84) for the detection of bone marrow infiltrates in children with stage 4 neuroblastoma.Methods:Primary tumour specimens, bone marrow trephine biopsy specimens and lymph node metastases, taken from children with neuroblastoma that had metastasised to bone marrow, were assessed with a panel of commonly used immunohistochemical markers for neuroblastoma. A comparison was drawn between the sensitivity of the marker NB84 for primary tumours and for bone marrow metastases.Results:NB84 immunolabelled all pre-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy (n = 24) paired primary tumour specimens, as well as each of a further 20, unpaired, pre-chemotherapy primary tumour specimens. It also labelled all (n = 4) lymph node metastases. Immunolabelling of bone marrow trephine biopsy specimens (21/33) was less sensitive. Of 16 primary tumour specimens with a paired bone marrow trephine biopsy specimen, all immunostained positive, whereas only 62.5% of bone marrow biopsy specimens immunostained positive for NB84. The number of bone marrow biopsy specimens immunostaining for NB84 was significantly lower than the number of paired primary tumour specimens (p = 0.041).Conclusions:NB84 remains a useful marker for the diagnosis of neuroblastoma in primary tumour specimens, but not for neuroblastoma that has metastasised to bone marrow.
Potential role of leptin expression in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wang S-N , Yeh Y-T , Yang S-F , Chai C-Y , Lee K-T 
Published: March 2006

Background:Obesity is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The association may result from the aberrant expression of adipokines.Aim:To explore the potential biological effect and prognostic value of leptin, one of the adipokines, in HCC.Methods:Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the expression of leptin in 68 patients with HCC. The expression of Ki-67 and microvessel density (MVD) of tumorous lesions in HCC were also analysed. The result of leptin expression was further correlated with Ki-67 expression, intratumour MVD, clinicopathological characteristics, overall survival and the postoperative use of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA).Results:High leptin expression was seen in 60.3% of patients with HCC and was significantly correlated with intratumour MVD (highvlow; 59.2 (standard deviation 3.2)v44.2 (19.5), p = 0.004), but not with Ki-67 expression. No marked correlation was seen between leptin expression and clinicopathological characteristics. However, using a multivariate Cox’s proportional hazards model, leptin expression was a predictor for improved overall survival of patients with HCC (odds ratio 0.16; 95% confidence interval 0.03 to 0.87; p = 0.033). In addition, the Kaplan–Meier survival curve showed that high leptin expression was associated with a better survival in patients with HCC, treated postoperatively with MPA (p = 0.008, log rank test).Conclusion:High leptin expression was associated with an increased intratumour MVD and thus may be associated with HCC development. In addition, high leptin expression was a predictor for improved survival of patients with HCC, treated postoperatively with MPA.
Challenges to the peer influence paradigm: results for 12–13 year olds from six European countries from the European Smoking Prevention Framework Approach study
Authors: de Vries H , Candel M , Engels R , Mercken L 
Published: March 2006

Objective:To examine whether smoking onset in young adolescents is predicted by peer or parental smoking.Design:Longitudinal design with one pretest and one follow-up at 12 months.Setting:Schools in Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal.Participants:7102 randomly selected adolescents from six countries. Mean age was 12.78 years.Main outcome measures:Smoking behaviour of adolescents, peers and parents.Results:No support was found for peer smoking as an important predictor of smoking onset in most countries. Support was found for the selection paradigm, implying that adolescents choose friends with similar smoking behaviour. Support for the impact of parents on adolescent behaviour and the choice of friends was also found.Conclusions:Smoking uptake in this age cohort may be more strongly influenced by personal and parental influences than initially believed. Hence, social inoculation programmes teaching youngsters to resist the pressures to smoke may be less appropriate if youngsters have a positive attitude towards smoking, associate smoking with various advantages and look for peers with similar values. For this group attitudes towards smoking may thus guide future friend selection.
Litigation in Argentina: challenging the tobacco industry: Table 1
Authors: Flores M L , Barnoya J , Mejia R , Alderete E , Pérez-Stable E J 
Published: March 2006

Objective:To evaluate the processes and outcomes of tobacco litigation in Argentina and to analyse the strategies of the tobacco industry to oppose litigation using tobacco industry documents.Methods:A systematic search of tobacco industry documents on the internet dating from 1978 to 2002. Law library searches using Argentinean official and unofficial reports systems were combined with computerised online searches.Results:There have been at least 15 failed litigation cases in Argentina and the tobacco industry presented a concerted defence in every claim regardless of cost. We categorised 11 cases as product liability and nicotine addiction, two as health care reimbursement, and two as criminal law and secondhand smoke. Industry strategies included hiring legal consultants from prestigious international and Argentinean law firms and developing litigation prevention programmes. Industry monitored legal academic meetings, controlled the development of new product liability legislation, obtained favourable opinions from experts, and closely observed the development of litigation in Argentina.Conclusion:The strategies used by the industry have been successful in preventing recovery for tobacco injuries through litigation. Argentinean health advocates and lawyers need to be aware of the roles and strategies of the tobacco industry in order to develop effective litigation in Argentina.
Point of purchase cigarette promotions before and after the Master Settlement Agreement: exploring retail scanner data: Figure 1
Authors: Loomis B R , Farrelly M C , Nonnemaker J M , Mann N H 
Published: March 2006

Background:Evidence indicates that point of purchase (POP) advertising and promotions for cigarettes have increased since the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). Retail promotions have the potential to offset the effects of cigarette tax and price increases and tobacco control programmes.Objective:To describe the trend in the proportion of cigarette sales that occur as part of a POP promotion before and after the MSA.Design:Scanner data were analysed on cigarette sales from a national sample of grocery stores, reported quarterly from 1994 through 2003. The proportion of total cigarette sales that occurred under any of three different types of POP promotions is presented.Results:The proportion of cigarettes sold under a POP promotion increased notably over the sample period. Large increases in promoted sales are observed following implementation of the MSA and during periods of sustained cigarette excise tax increases.Conclusions:The observed pattern of promoted cigarette sales is suggestive of a positive relationship between retail cigarette promotions, the MSA, and state cigarette tax increases. More research is needed to describe fully the relationship between cigarette promotions and tobacco control policy.