bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ACUTE PRESSURE–NATRIURESIS RELATIONSHIP FOLLOWING WITHDRAWAL OF CHRONIC NORADRENALINE INFUSION
Authors: Boesen EI , Anderson WP , Kett MM 
Published: April 2007

SUMMARY

Pathological changes to the kidney, such as vascular remodelling, have been found in several models of hypertension and may contribute to the maintenance of hypertension or confer susceptibility to redeveloping hypertension after the original prohypertensive stimulus is withdrawn.
To investigate whether noradrenaline‐induced hypertension induces persistent, functionally important changes to the kidney, the acute pressure–natriuresis relationship was characterized in anaesthetized rats under controlled neural and hormonal conditions following chronic (14 days) intravenous infusion of noradrenaline (48 µg/kg per h) or vehicle (0.04 mg/mL ascorbic acid and 0.156 mg/mL NaH2PO4·2H2O in 10 IU/mL heparinized saline).
Conscious mean arterial pressure was significantly elevated by infusion of noradrenaline at 48 µg/kg per h (+10 ± 2 mmHg at Day 14; P < 0.01 vs vehicle group). The acute relationships between arterial pressure and renal blood flow, glomerular filtration rate, Na+ excretion and urine flow were not significantly different between the noradrenaline‐ and vehicle‐infused rats immediately after termination of noradrenaline infusion.
In summary, chronic intravenous noradrenaline infusion did not cause persistent changes in renal function, indicating that, in contrast with many models of hypertension, this model does not induce underlying prohypertensive changes to the kidney.
VASODILATOR EFFECTS OF LEPTIN ON CANINE ISOLATED MESENTERIC ARTERIES AND VEINS
Authors: Mohammed MMJ , Myers DS , Sofola OA , Hainsworth R , Drinkhill MJ 
Published: April 2007

SUMMARY

Although leptin increases sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure, its direct action on large arterial rings is to cause relaxation. However, it is the small resistance arteries and veins that are important in blood pressure control. The effects of leptin on these small vessels has not been reported previously in the canine and the effect of leptin on the capacitance vessels is not known.
In the present study, third‐ or fourth‐order canine mesenteric arteries and veins were isolated and placed in a perfusion myograph and preconstricted with noradrenaline. The responses to graded concentrations of leptin were determined and the role of nitric oxide was assessed by administration of NG‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester (l‐NAME), a blocker of nitric oxide synthase.
Leptin induced dose‐related dilatations in both arterial and venous segments. The mean (±SEM) maximum increases in the diameter of the arteries and veins were 25.0 ± 4.8 and 29.9 ± 2.0% of the initial preconstriction, respectively. Relaxations of both arteries and veins were abolished by l‐NAME or by endothelium denudation, although dilatations were still obtained to sodium nitroprusside, a nitric oxide donor.
These results indicate that leptin dilates canine small mesenteric arteries and veins by a mechanism involving endothelial release of nitric oxide. This observation may result in a decrease of peripheral resistance and venous return and, hence, counteract the leptin‐induced neurally mediated vasoconstriction that has been reported previously.
IN VITRO EFFECTS OF ANTIPSYCHOTICS ON HUMAN PLATELET ADHESION AND AGGREGATION AND PLASMA COAGULATION
Authors: Axelsson Stina , Hägg Staffan , Eriksson Andreas C , Lindahl Tomas L , Whiss Per A 
Published: April 2007

SUMMARY

Several studies suggest an association between venous thromboembolism and the use of antipsychotic drugs, especially clozapine, but the biological mechanisms are unknown. It has been suggested that antipsychotic drugs enhance aggregation of platelets and thereby increase the risk of venous thrombosis. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of clozapine and its main metabolite, N‐desmethyl clozapine, as well as olanzapine, risperidone and haloperidol, on platelet adhesion and aggregation and on plasma coagulation in vitro.
Blood was collected from healthy subjects free of medication. Platelet adhesion to different protein surfaces and aggregation were measured in microplates. The coagulation methods of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time were performed in platelet‐poor plasma.
Clozapine was the only compound that increased platelet adhesion and aggregation and shortened APTT. The effect appeared at therapeutic concentrations and was significant but weak.
This weak effect of clozapine on haemostasis may explain, in part, the association of this compound and venous thromboembolism.
The Bayesian revolution approaches psychological development
Authors: Shultz Thomas R. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis commentary reviews five articles that apply Bayesian ideas to psychological development, some with psychology experiments, some with computational modeling, and some with both experiments and modeling. The reviewed work extends the current Bayesian revolution into tasks often studied in children, such as causal learning and word learning, and provides evidence that children's performance can be optimal in a Bayesian sense. There remains much to be done in terms of understanding how representations are created, how development occurs, how Bayesian computation might be neurally implemented, and in reconciling the new work with older evidence that even skilled adults are incompetent Bayesians.
Can we trust levelled texts? An examination of their reliability and quality from a linguistic perspective
Authors: Pitcher Brandy , Fang Zhihui 
Published: April 2007

AbstractOver the past decade in the United States, levelled texts, or ‘little books’ with finely graduated levelling of text difficulty, have regained their status as a literacy staple for beginning readers. Despite their resurgence, questions remain regarding the reliability and quality of these books. In this study, we conducted a detailed analysis of 20 sample texts at levels 5, 10, 15 and 20, from one series of levelled books published in the United States. We found that the levelling system used in this series is not a particularly reliable indicator of text difficulty and that the quality of these books varies considerably between and within levels. We suggest that close attention to text levels could be detrimental in the reader–text matching process. We further recommend that in order to judge and select quality books that answer the needs of their students, teachers become more aware of the various factors influencing text comprehensibility and quality.
A Sociology of Reuse: Deconstructing the Milk Bottle
Authors: Vaughan Paul , Cook Matthew , Trawick Paul 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis article investigates the practice of reuse, the relation between individuals and objects, using as a case study the refillable glass milk bottle. Based on interviews with 22 individuals in mainly rural settings, the study aims to understand what the milk bottle means today to the many people who still use it, and what the socioeconomic and other structures are that sustain this kind of product reuse. The discussion exposes the way that reuse is about both consumption and disposal and is maintained by a web of household practices, revealing the milk bottle as both a site of resistance to supermarkets and a site for the construction of collective and individual identities. We also expose the way that the materiality of the bottle enables myth and trust to be articulated. We conclude that this reuse practice is a form of non‐market mediated exchange, marking reciprocal relations of care and trust.
THE EFFECTS OF LENIENCY PROGRAMS AND FINES ON CARTEL STABILITY
Authors: Chavda Ankur , Jegers Marc 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACTUsing a stylized oligopoly model, we analyze the effect of cartel deterring fines, taking into consideration exemptions granted to cartel members cooperating with the competition authorities. We conclude that the fines can act as a deterrent to breaking collusive agreements, thus stabilizing the cartel.
CAPITALISTS, WORKERS AND SOCIAL SECURITY
Authors: Michl Thomas R. 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACTThis paper elaborates an exogenous growth model that nests overlapping generations of workers who save for life cycle reasons with dynastic agents who save for bequest reasons (‘capitalists’). The model overcomes Marglin's objection that the overlapping generations framework requires special assumptions about technology, and it also provides a natural environment to revisit Samuelson's analysis of lump‐sum transfers between generations. The ability of a benevolent planner to improve workers' welfare is severely restricted by the control capitalists exercise over the accumulation process. Prefunding social security assumes renewed significance because it overcomes this restriction.
INTEREST RATE, DEBT, DISTRIBUTION AND CAPITAL ACCUMULATION IN A POST‐KALECKIAN MODEL
Authors: Hein Eckhard 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACTIn the present paper we extend Lavoie's (Metroeconomica, 1995, vol. 46, pp. 146–177) ‘Minsky–Steindl’ model, building our analysis on a Kaleckian distribution and growth model which has already taken into account distribution effects of interest rate variations on the short‐run equilibrium. Into this model the effects of debt and debt services are explicitly introduced and the effects of interest rate variations on the short‐ and the long‐run equilibrium are derived. It is shown that the effects of interest rate variations on the endogenously determined equilibrium values of the model not only depend on the parameter values in the saving and investment functions but also on the interest elasticity of distribution and on initial conditions with respect to the interest rate and the debt–capital ratio.
IS CORPORATISM FEASIBLE?
Authors: Acocella Nicola , Di Bartolomeo Giovanni 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACTThis paper investigates the effects of cooperation (corporatism) on macroeconomic performance by considering a rather standard policy game between the government and a monopoly union. We stress the shortcomings of the traditional way used to model cooperation in policy games (the maximization of the weighted sum of players’ preferences), which only approximates the Nash product solution. We find that it is difficult to implement corporatism, although it generally increases social welfare, as it often reduces the union's utility. In particular, we show that an inflation‐neutral union will never find it profitable to cooperate with the government, unless side‐payments are considered. The study of this issue, however, is beyond the scope of this paper.
A comparison of DEA and the stochastic frontier model using panel data
Authors: Ruggiero John 
Published: April 2007

AbstractTwo competing approaches for the measurement of efficiency are the stochastic frontier model and data envelopment analysis (DEA). Previous research has established that the two models applied to cross‐sectional data are both adversely affected by measurement error. While the cross‐sectional stochastic frontier model does not effectively handle statistical noise, panel data models do. This is true because additional information from multiple time periods is incorporated into the estimation. A panel data DEA model that uses averaged data has been shown to effectively smooth out measurement error. In this paper, we compare the panel data models using simulated data.
Simulated Cryptosporidium removal under swimming pool filtration conditions
Authors: Croll B. T. , Hayes C. R. , Moss S. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThere has been no information available on the removal of Cryptosporidium oocysts or oocyst‐sized particles under the sand filtration conditions normally used for swimming pool water treatment. A pilot sand filtration plant has therefore been constructed at The University of Wales Swansea and operated under swimming pool conditions (25 m/h downflow, 30°C, 1.5 mg/L free chlorine, pH 7.3 to 7.5, alkalinity 120–150 mg/L as calcium carbonate). Removal of fluorescent polystyrene particles of a size range (1–7 μm) similar to the size of Cryptosporidium oocysts (about 5 μm) without added coagulant was less than 50%. Removal of the particles under the operating conditions above but with the addition of either of the coagulants polyaluminium chloride (PAC) or aluminium sulphate was capable of giving better than 99% removal of the particles.
Effects of Rural Medical Financial Assistance in China
Authors: Zhu Ling 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis paper presents research results from the evaluation of the Medical Financial Assistance (MFA) program, supported by the World Bank, to extremely poor rural residents. It is found that MFA can help to improve the ability of the poor to make use of medical services, and especially their ability to receive services from township clinics. The present study also shows that adoption of the MFA mechanism helps to reduce the impact of disease on the economies of poor families, and prevents the poor afflicted with serious illnesses from being marginalized. However, as the beneficiaries often suffer from serious, complicated and lasting illnesses, the financial assistance is often insignificant in relation to medical expenses. Furthermore, the MFA plays no significant role in restoring a patient's income‐earning ability.
Decomposing Income Inequality and Policy Implications in Rural China
Authors: Yu Lerong , Luo Renfu , Zhang Linxiu 
Published: April 2007

AbstractUsing village data from samples covering 6 provinces, 36 counties and 216 townships, the income inequalities within and between townships in rural China are assessed. The Theil index and the mean logarithmic deviation methods enable us to test income inequality at the township level, and to decompose it into intra‐regional and inter‐regional at county and provincial levels. In the present paper, we also decompose income inequalities between and within the nationally designated poor counties (NDPC). The results show that approximately two‐thirds of the income inequality in rural China would be eliminated if measures and policies were targeted at the county level. This study also confirms the rationale that China's poverty alleviation strategy of focusing on poor counties based on the inequalities between NDPC and non‐NDPC accounts for the most inter‐province inequality.
Emerging Urban Poverty and Effects of the Dibao Program on Alleviating Poverty in China
Authors: Wang Meiyan 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe present paper describes the current urban poverty situation, examines the factors affecting the probability of a household being in poverty and investigates how the urban minimum living standard guarantee (dibao) program helps poor people to get out of poverty. The targeting efficiency of the urban dibao program is discussed. The present study finds that the poverty rate of households with unemployed workers is much higher than that of households without unemployed workers. The urban dibao program is helpful in reducing poverty rates, but it does not reduce poverty rates too much. The government should place emphasis on helping laid‐off and unemployed workers to become reemployed. The most urgent problem for the dibao program is improving the efficiency of targeting.
High‐dose vitamins E and C supplementation prevents ribavirin‐induced hemolytic anemia in patients with chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Kawaguchi Yasunori , Mizuta Toshihiko , Takahashi Kazuhiro , Iwane Shinji , Ario Keisuke , Kawasoe Hiroaki , Hamaoka Kazuhiro , Eguchi Yuichiro , Yasutake Tsutomu , Shigematsu Hironao , Kawazoe Seiji , Fukushima Noriko , Ozaki Iwata , Fujimoto Kazuma 
Published: April 2007

Aim:  In combination therapy using interferon (IFN) and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C, reduced doses should be used due to ribavirin‐induced hemolytic anemia. The present study aimed to elucidate whether high‐dose vitamins E and C supplementation attenuated ribavirin‐induced hemolytic anemia.Methods:  Twenty‐one consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled in this study between July 2003 and December 2004, and received high‐dose vitamins E (2000 mg) and C (2000 mg) supplementation, daily, in addition to IFN alfa‐2b and ribavirin combination therapy (vitamins E/C group). Twenty‐one sex‐ and age‐matched patients who received a standard regimen of IFN alfa‐2b and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C between January 2001 and June 2003 were evaluated as the control group.Results:  Decrease in hemoglobin level was significantly prevented in the vitamins E and C group compared to that in the control group (P = 0.029). Three (14.3%) patients in the control group discontinued treatment because of anemia, while no treated patient dropped out of the study due to anemia. Sustained virological response was not significantly different between the two groups.Conclusion:  High‐dose vitamins E and C supplementation prevented ribavirin‐induced hemolytic anemia during combination therapy with ribavirin and IFN alfa‐2b in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Epigenetic and genetic alterations of PTEN in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wang Li , Wang Wen‐Liang , Zhang Yong , Guo Shuang‐Ping , Zhang Jing , Li Qin‐Long 
Published: April 2007

Aim:  To investigate the roles of epigenetic and genetic alterations of the phosphatase and tensin homologue on chromosome 10 gene (PTEN) in carcinogenesis and the development of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC).Methods:  A total of 56 cases of HCC tissues and six liver cell lines were studied for the expression of PTEN by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. The PTEN gene mutations in exon5 and exon8 were detected by a combination of single‐strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and DNA sequencing. Methylation‐specific PCR (MSP) was used to identify PTEN promoter methylation.Results:  Of the 56 cases of HCC, 24 (42.9%) expressed the PTEN protein. All surrounding liver tissues of the hepatoma (32 cases) were positive for PTEN. Of the six cell lines, three liver cancer cell lines showed a low expression of PTEN. Five mutations of 56 HCC samples were detected. All of them were located at intron4. No mutation was found in exon5 and exon8. After MSP analysis, we found nine cases of PTEN promoter methylation in 56 specimens (16.1%). However, no CpG island of PTEN was found to be methylated in all six liver cell lines.Conclusion:  The level of PTEN protein was altered in part of the HCC. The downregulation of PTEN expression may not be mainly associated with the PTEN mutations, but partly due to PTEN promoter methylation and other epigenetic regulation.
Inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma growth by antisense oligonucleotides to type I insulin‐like growth factor receptor in vitro and in an orthotopic model
Authors: Lin Ru‐Xian , Wang Zhi‐Yan , Zhang Nin , Tuo Chao‐Wei , Liang Qian‐De , Sun Yu‐Ning , Wang Sheng‐Qi 
Published: April 2007

Aim:  The type I insulin‐like growth factor receptor (IGF‐IR) is overexpressed in many tumors including human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is a critical signaling molecule for tumor cell proliferation and survival. In the present study, IGF‐IR expression was down‐regulated by phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides (AS[S]ODN) to evaluate their specific effects on growth of hepatoma cells in vitro and in vivo.Methods:  HepG2 cells were transfected with different doses of AS[S]ODN, sense [S]ODN, mismatch [S]ODN, or Lipofectin for 72 h, and cell proliferation was analyzed by MTS assay. In vivo, an orthotopic transplant model of HCC was established in nude mice, which were then injected with AS[S]ODN, sense [S]ODN, 5‐fluorouracil or saline. At the endpoint of treatment, the tumors were excised and evaluated.Results:  Compared to sense and mismatched oligonucleotides, AS[S]ODN targeting to IGF‐IR mRNA significantly inhibited hepatoma cell lines HepG2 proliferation and IGF‐IR expression at both mRNA and protein levels. The in vivo results showed that systemic treatment also resulted in significant inhibition in tumor growth. Tumor growth in mice treated with AS[S]ODN (50 and 75 mg/kg per day) was significantly inhibited (71.81% and 61.74%, respectively) compared to the saline‐treated group (P < 0.01) in a dose‐dependent manner. The antitumor effect of IGF‐IR AS[S]ODN was associated with down‐regulation of IGF‐IR in tumor xenografts. Furthermore, IGF‐IR AS[S]ODN prevented liver recurrence tumor growth and metastasis in the lung, showing a dose‐dependent response. The level of serum α‐fetoprotein in AS[S]ODN‐treated groups was also decreased in a dose‐dependent manner, and a good correlation was observed between tumor volume and serum α‐fetoprotein concentration.Conclusions:  These data suggest that IGF‐IR AS[S]ODN can effectively and specifically inhibit HCC growth in vitro and in vivo. Blockage of IGF‐IR expression could be a promising therapeutic approach for the management of patients with HCC.
Vitamin K2 inhibits the proliferation of HepG2 cells by up‐regulating the transcription of p21 gene
Authors: Liu Weidong , Nakamura Hideji , Yamamoto Teruhisa , Ikeda Naoto , Saito Masaki , Ohno Masao , Hara Naoki , Imanishi Hiroyasu , Shimomura Soji , Yamamoto Tetsuo , Sakai Toshiyuki , Nishiguchi Shuhei , Hada Toshikazu 
Published: April 2007

Aim:  Vitamin K2 has been reported to inhibit the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in vitro and suppress hepatocarcinogenesis in vivo. However, its inhibitory mechanism has not yet been clarified.Methods:  Different concentrations of vitamin K2 (30, 10, 1, 0.1 and 0.01 μM) were added to the HCC cell line HepG2 to assess effects on cell growth. The effect of vitamin K2 on cell cycle progression was determined by flow‐cytometric analysis. The expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins p21 and p27 was then examined by Western blot. Whether vitamin K2 regulates the gene expression through action on the p21 promoter region was investigated by luciferase assay.Results:  Vitamin K2 inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells dose‐dependently, and its inhibitory rate reached approximately 50% at the dose of 30 μM after 96 h treatment. After treatment with vitamin K2, the proportion of cells in G0–G1 phase increased, and in S phase decreased. Apoptotic cells were not detected. The expression of cell cycle regulatory protein p21 was induced by vitamin K2 treatment, but p27 was not. By the luciferase assay, vitamin K2 significantly activated the promoter of p21. Knock‐down of p21 by siRNA reversed the growth inhibition of HepG2 cells by vitamin K2.Conclusions:  The findings suggest that vitamin K2 suppresses the proliferation of HCC cells by blocking the cell cycle G1/S progression through the transcriptional induction of p21.