bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Functional Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Secretogranin III (SCG3) Gene that Form Secretory Granules with Appetite-Related Neuropeptides Are Associated with Obesity
Authors: Tanabe Atsushi , Yanagiya Takahiro , Iida Aritoshi , Saito Susumu , Sekine Akihiro , Takahashi Atsushi , Nakamura Takahiro , Tsunoda Tatsuhiko , Kamohara Seika , Nakata Yoshio , Kotani Kazuaki , Komatsu Ryoya , Itoh Naoto , Mineo Ikuo , Wada Jun , Funahashi Tohru , Miyazaki Shigeru , Tokunaga Katsuto , Hamaguchi Kazuyuki , Shimada Tatsuo , Tanaka Kiyoji , Yamada Kentaro , Hanafusa Toshiaki , Oikawa Shinichi , Yoshimatsu Hironobu , Sakata Toshiie , Matsuzawa Yuji , Kamatani Naoyuki , Nakamura Yusuke , Hotta Kikuko 
Published: January 2007

Abstract
Context: Genetic factors are important for the development of obesity. However, the genetic background of obesity still remains unclear.
Objective: Our objective was to search for obesity-related genes using a large number of gene-based single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
Design and Setting: We conducted case-control association analyses using 94 obese patients and 658 controls with 62,663 SNPs selected from the SNP database. SNPs that possessed P ≤ 0.02 were further analyzed using 796 obese and 711 control subjects. One SNP (rs3764220) in the secretogranin III (SCG3) gene showed the lowest P value (P = 0.0000019). We sequenced an approximately 300-kb genomic region around rs3764220 and discovered SNPs for haplotype analyses. SCG3 was the only gene within a haplotype block that contained rs3764220. The functions of SCG3 were studied.
Patients: Obese subjects (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2, n = 890) and control subjects (general population; n = 658, body mass index ≤ 25kg/m2; n = 711) were recruited for this study.
Results: Twelve SNPs in the SCG3 gene including rs3764220 were in almost complete linkage disequilibrium and significantly associated with an obesity phenotype. Two SNPs (rs16964465, rs16964476) affected the transcriptional activity of SCG3, and subjects with the minor allele seemed to be resistant to obesity (odds ratio, 9.23; 95% confidence interval, 2.77–30.80; χ2 = 19.2; P = 0.0000067). SCG3 mRNA and immunoreactivity were detected in the paraventricular nucleus, lateral hypothalamic area, and arcuate nucleus, and the protein coexisted with orexin, melanin-concentrating hormone, neuropeptide Y, and proopiomelanocortin. SCG3 formed a granule-like structure together with these neuropeptides.
Conclusions: Genetic variations in the SCG3 gene may influence the risk of obesity through possible regulation of hypothalamic neuropeptide secretion.
Inhibition of 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 Activity in Vivo Limits Glucocorticoid Exposure to Human Adipose Tissue and Decreases Lipolysis
Authors: Tomlinson Jeremy W. , Sherlock Mark , Hughes Beverley , Hughes Susan V. , Kilvington Fiona , Bartlett William , Courtney Rachel , Rejto Paul , Carley William , Stewart Paul M. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractContext: The pathophysiological importance of glucocorticoids (GCs) is exemplified by patients with Cushing’s syndrome who develop hypertension, obesity, and insulin resistance. At a cellular level, availability of GCs to the glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors is controlled by the isoforms of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD). In liver and adipose tissue, 11β-HSD1 converts endogenous, inactive cortisone to active cortisol but also catalyzes the bioactivation of the synthetic prednisone to prednisolone.Objective: The objective of the study was to compare markers of 11β-HSD1 activity and demonstrate that inhibition of 11β-HSD1 activity limits glucocorticoid availability to adipose tissue.Design and Setting: This was a clinical study.Patients: Seven healthy male volunteers participated in the study.Intervention: Intervention included carbenoxolone (CBX) single dose (100 mg) and 72 hr of continuous treatment (300 mg/d).Main Outcome Measures: Inhibition of 11β-HSD1 was monitored using five different mechanistic biomarkers (serum cortisol and prednisolone generation, urinary corticosteroid metabolite analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and adipose tissue microdialysis examining cortisol generation and glucocorticoid-mediated glycerol release).Results: Each biomarker demonstrated reduced 11β-HSD1 activity after CBX administration. After both a single dose and 72 hr of treatment with CBX, cortisol and prednisolone generation decreased as did the urinary tetrahydrocortisol+5α-tetrahydrocortisol to tetrahydrocortisone ratio. Using adipose tissue microdialysis, we observed decreased interstitial fluid cortisol availability with CBX treatment. Furthermore, a functional consequence of 11β-HSD1 inhibition was observed, namely decreased prednisone-induced glycerol release into adipose tissue interstitial fluid indicative of inhibition of GC-mediated lipolysis.Conclusion: CBX is able to inhibit rapidly the generation of active GC in human adipose tissue. Importantly, limiting GC availability in vivo has functional consequences including decreased glycerol release.
Isoprostane Measurement in Plasma and Urine by Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry with One-Step Sample Preparation
Authors: Sircar Debajit , Subbaiah Papasani V 
Published: January 2007

Abstract
Background: Isoprostane F2α (iPF2α-III) concentration in plasma and urine is widely accepted as a measure of oxidative stress. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) methods for measuring iPF2α-III involve several steps of sample preparation and are labor-intensive, and ELISA methods, although easier to use, are less reliable. Therefore we developed a simple and sensitive method involving 1-step sample cleanup and HPLC/MS quantification.
Methods: Samples of plasma or urine were enriched with a deuterated (iPF2α-III-D4) standard, treated with KOH to liberate the bound isoprostanes, then loaded onto an immunoaffinity column, and the bound isoprostane was eluted with 95% ethanol. The concentrated sample was injected onto a C-18 HPLC column, and the isoprostane was eluted with a gradient of acetonitrile in water and analyzed by electrospray negative ionization, selectively monitoring the ions 353.2 (iPF2α-III) and 357.2 (iPF2α-III-D4). The amount of isoprostane in the sample was calculated from the ratio of the intensities of the 2 ions.
Results: The described method has a detection limit of 0.5 ng/L, with a linear dynamic range of 1–5000 ng/L. The intra- and interassay imprecisions were 4.68% and 3.88%, respectively. The values obtained correlated strongly with the GC/MS procedure (r = 0.80), but the absolute values were ∼4– to 5-fold lower, because the present method measures specifically 1 isomer of isoprostane, whereas the GC/MS method measures 4 isomers together.
Conclusions: Because of its simplicity and lower limit of quantification, the present method provides a useful noninvasive tool for determining oxidative stress in patients.
Biomarkers of Folate and Vitamin B12 Are Related in Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid
Authors: Obeid Rima , Kostopoulos Panagiotis , Knapp Jean-Pierre , Kasoha Mariz , Becker George , Fassbender Klaus , Herrmann Wolfgang 
Published: January 2007

Abstract
Background: B-vitamins (folate, B12) are important micronutrients for brain function and essential cofactors for homocysteine (HCY) metabolism. Increased HCY has been related to neurological and psychiatric disorders. We studied the role of the B-vitamins in HCY metabolism in the brain.
Methods: We studied blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 72 patients who underwent lumbar puncture. We measured HCY, methylmalonic acid (MMA), and cystathionine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; and the B-vitamins by HPLC or immunoassays.
Results: Concentrations were lower in CSF than serum or plasma for HCY (0.09 vs 9.4 μmol/L), SAH (13.2 vs 16.8 nmol/L), cystathionine (54 vs 329 nmol/L), and holotranscobalamin (16 vs 63 pmol/L), whereas concentrations in CSF were higher for MMA (359 vs 186 nmol/L) and SAM (270 vs 113 nmol/L; all P &lt;0.05). CSF concentrations of HCY correlated significantly with CSF folate (r = −0.46), CSF SAH (r = 0.48), CSF-albumin (r = 0.31), and age (r = 0.32). Aging was also associated with lower concentrations of CSF-folate and higher CSF-SAH. The relationship between serum and CSF folate depended on serum folate: the correlation (r) of serum and CSF-folate was 0.69 at serum folate &lt;15.7 nmol/L. CSF concentrations of MMA and holotranscobalamin were not significantly correlated.
Conclusions: CSF and serum/plasma concentrations of vitamin biomarkers are significantly correlated. Older age is associated with higher CSF-HCY and CSF-SAH and lower CSF-folate. These metabolic alterations may be important indicators of low folate status, hyperhomocysteinemia, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Is Supine Rest Necessary before Blood Sampling for Plasma Metanephrines?
Authors: Lenders Jacques WM , Willemsen Jacques J , Eisenhofer Graeme , Ross H Alec , Pacak Karel , Timmers Henri JLM , Sweep CGJ (Fred) 
Published: January 2007

Abstract
Background: The impact of blood sampling in sitting vs supine positions on measurements of plasma metanephrines for diagnosis of pheochromocytoma is unknown.
Methods: We compared plasma concentrations of free metanephrines in samples from patients with primary hypertension obtained after supine rest with those obtained in the sitting position without preceding rest. We also assessed the effects on diagnostic test performance retrospectively in patients with and without pheochromocytoma, and we calculated cost-effectiveness for pheochromocytoma testing.
Results: Upper reference limits of plasma free metanephrines were higher in samples obtained from seated patients without preceding rest than from supine patients with preceding rest. Application of these higher upper reference limits to samples from supine patients with pheochromocytoma decreased the diagnostic sensitivity from 99% to 96%. In patients without pheochromocytoma, adjusting the plasma concentration for the effects of sitting while preserving the 99% sensitivity by use of the supine upper reference limits increased the number of false-positive test results from 9% to 25%.
Conclusions: To preserve high diagnostic sensitivity we recommend the use of upper reference limits determined from blood samples collected in the supine position. Under these conditions, negative test results for blood samples obtained with patients sitting are as effective for ruling out pheochromocytoma as negative results from samples obtained after supine rest. Repeat testing with samples obtained in the supine position offers a cost-effective approach for dealing with the increased numbers of false-positive results expected after initial sampling in the sitting position.
Community-orientierte Dienste für digitales interaktives Fernsehen: Das Beispiel der „Find-a-Friend”-Anwendung (Community Based Services for Digital Interactive Television: The „Find-a-Friend” Prototype)
Authors: Heß Jan , Wulf Volker 
Published: December 2006

Abstract
Die Digitalisierung des Fernsehens bildet die Grundlage für neue interaktive Dienste. Die veränderten technischen Rahmenbedingungen ermöglichen neue Formen von Kommunikationsanwendungen. So können On-Demand Dienste (Individualkommunikation) die TV-Rezeption (Massenkommunikation) ergänzen. Die entwickelte Anwendung „Find-a-Friend” ermöglicht die Ausbildung von sozialen Kontakten in lokalen Gemeinschaften von Fernsehzuschauern. Innerhalb eines Postleitzahlbereiches können Zuschauer untereinander Textnachrichten austauschen, die als Programmüberblendung angezeigt werden.
Geogames – Ortsbezogene Spiele als neue Form des Edutainment (Geogames – Location-based Games as a Novel Type of Edutainment)
Authors: Schlieder Christoph , Kiefer Peter , Matyas Sebastian 
Published: December 2006

Abstract
Ortsbezogene Spiele nutzen die durch Lokalisierungstechnologien wie GPS aufgezeichnete Fortbewegung der Spieler als zentrale Form der Interaktion mit der auf mobilen Endgeräten implementierten Spiellogik. Dieser Artikel beschreibt den Geogames-Ansatz, der es ermöglicht, strategische Elemente aus herkömmlichen Brettspielen mit ortsbezogenen Spielkonzepten zu kombinieren. Ein Beispiel ist das Spiel GeoTicTacToe. Wir zeigen, dass bei jedem Geogame die Spielereignisse durch Auszeiten synchronisiert werden müssen. Diese Auszeiten eignen sich hervorragend zur Einbettung von Edutainmentinhalten. Anhand eines Testspiels wird vorgeführt, wie der Geogame-Ansatz bei Vermittlung des UNESCO-Weltkulturerbegedankens in der Altstadt von Bamberg umgesetzt wurde.
A National Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Confidence of Prehospital Providers in the Assessment and Management of Child Maltreatment
Authors: Markenson David , Tunik Michael , Cooper Arthur , Olson Lenora , Cook Lawrence , Matza-Haughton Hedda , Treiber Marsha , Brown William , Dickinson Phil , Foltin George 
Published: January 2007

OBJECTIVE. The goal was to assess the knowledge and confidence in recognition, management, documentation, and reporting of child maltreatment among a representative sample of emergency medical services personnel in the United States.
METHODS. A questionnaire was developed and pilot-tested, with the input of experts in emergency medical services and child maltreatment, to assess knowledge, attitudes, confidence, and training needs regarding assessment and treatment of child maltreatment. The questionnaire was distributed nationally to a random sample of prehospital providers by using a previously validated sampling plan.
RESULTS. Of 2863 surveys sent to prehospital providers, 1237 (43%) were returned. Most prehospital providers reported receiving ≤1 hour of continuing medical education regarding child maltreatment. Most (78%) asked for additional educational opportunities, with only 3% stating that they required no additional training. Participants lacked knowledge regarding the developmental abilities of children, management of families in which child maltreatment is suspected, key elements of the history that should be noted, and the degree of suspicion necessary for reporting.
CONCLUSIONS. Prehospital providers expressed confidence in their abilities to recognize and to manage cases of child abuse and neglect; however, significant deficiencies were reported in several critical knowledge areas, including identification of child maltreatment, interviewing techniques, and appropriate documentation.
Pediatrician Characteristics Associated With Attention to Spirituality and Religion in Clinical Practice
Authors: Grossoehme Daniel H. , Ragsdale Judith R. , McHenry Christine L. , Thurston Celia , DeWitt Thomas , VandeCreek Larry 
Published: January 2007

OBJECTIVE. The literature suggests that a majority of pediatricians believe that spirituality and religion are relevant in clinical practice, but only a minority gives them attention. This project explored this disparity by relating personal/professional characteristics of pediatricians to the frequency with which they give attention to spirituality and religion.METHODS. Pediatricians (N = 737) associated with 3 academic Midwestern pediatric hospitals responded to a survey that requested information concerning the frequency with which they (1) talked with patients/families about their spiritual and religious concerns and (2) participated with them in spiritual or religious practices (eg, prayer). The associations between these data and 10 personal and professional characteristics were examined.RESULTS. The results demonstrated the disparity, and the analysis identified 9 pediatrician characteristics that were significantly associated with more frequently talking with patients/families about their spiritual and religious concerns. The characteristics included increased age; a Christian religious heritage; self-description as religious; self-description as spiritual; the importance of one's own spirituality and religion in clinical practice; the belief that the spirituality and religion of patients/families are relevant in clinical practice; formal instruction concerning the role of spirituality and religion in health care; relative comfort asking about beliefs; and relative comfort asking about practices. All of these characteristics except pediatrician age were also significantly associated with the increased frequency of participation in spiritual and religious practices with patients/families.CONCLUSIONS. Attention to spiritual and religious concerns and practices are associated with a web of personal and professional pediatrician characteristics. Some characteristics pertain to the physician's personal investment in spirituality and religion in their own lives, and others include being uncomfortable with spiritual and religious concerns and practices. These associations shed light on the disparity between acknowledged spirituality and religion relevancy and inattention to it in clinical practice.
Infection in the First 2 Years of Life and Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Rosen Nila J. , Yoshida Cathleen K. , Croen Lisa A. 
Published: January 2007

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this work was to investigate the association between infections in the first 2 years and subsequent diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders.METHODS. We conducted a case-control study among children born at Kaiser Permanente Northern California from 1995 to 1999. Case subjects (n = 403) were children with an autism diagnosis recorded in Kaiser Permanente databases. Control subjects (n = 2100) were randomly sampled from the remaining children without autism and frequency matched to case subjects on gender, birth year, and birth hospital. Information on infections and covariates were obtained from Kaiser Permanente and birth certificate databases.RESULTS. Overall, infection diagnoses in the first 2 years of life were recorded slightly less often for children with autism than control children (95.0% vs 97.5%). Among specific diagnoses, upper respiratory infections were significantly less frequently diagnosed and genitourinary infections more frequently diagnosed in children with autism. In the first 30 days of life, the frequency of having an infection was slightly higher among children with autism (22.6% vs 18.7%).CONCLUSIONS. Children with subsequent diagnoses of autism do not have more overall infections in the first 2 years of life than children without autism. Data suggest that children with autism may have modestly elevated rates of infection in the first 30 days and that, during the first 2 years, children with autism may be at higher risk for certain types of infections and lower risk for others. Additional studies that explore the associations between prenatal and early childhood infections and autism may help clarify the role of infection and the immune system in the etiology of autism spectrum disorder.
Effects of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Venlafaxine During Pregnancy in Term and Preterm Neonates
Authors: Ferreira Ema , Carceller Ana Maria , Agogué Claire , Martin Brigitte Zoé , St-André Martin , Francoeur Diane , Bérard Anick 
Published: January 2007

OBJECTIVES. Our goals were to (a) describe neonatal behavioral signs in a group of newborns exposed in utero to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or venlafaxine at the time of delivery, (b) compare the rate of neonatal behavioral signs, prematurity, and admission to specialized neonatal care between a group of exposed and unexposed newborns, and (c) compare the effects in exposed preterm and term newborns.
PATIENTS AND METHODS. This was a retrospective cohort study including mothers taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or venlafaxine during the third trimester and mothers who were not taking any antidepressants, psychotropic agents, or benzodiazepines at the time of delivery of their newborns. Neonatal behavioral signs included central nervous, respiratory, and digestive systems, as well as hypoglycemia and the need for phototherapy.
RESULTS. Seventy-six mothers taking antidepressants and 90 untreated mothers and their newborns were analyzed. Smoking, alcohol intake, and substance abuse were more frequent among treated mothers. In infants in the exposed group, signs involving the central nervous and the respiratory systems were often observed (63.2% and 40.8%, respectively). These signs appeared during the first day of life, with a median duration of 3 days for exposed newborns. The signs resolved in 75% of cases within 3 to 5 days for term and premature newborns, respectively. All exposed premature newborns presented behavioral manifestations compared with 69.1% of term exposed newborns. Median length of stay was almost 4 times longer for exposed premature newborns than for those who were unexposed (14.5 vs 3.7 days).
CONCLUSIONS. Neonatal behavioral signs were frequently found in exposed newborns, but symptoms were transient and self-limited. Premature infants could be more susceptible to the effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and venlafaxine.
Orthoconic antiferroelectric liquid crystals containing biphenyl, terphenyl, or naphthyl mesogenic unit
Authors: Dąbrowski R. , Drzewiński W. , Dziaduszek J. , Gąsowska J. , Henderson P. , Kula P. , Otón J. , Bennis N. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractThree homologous series of orthoconic (45 degree tilt) antiferroelectric liquid crystals containing either naphthyl or terphenyl groups as mesogenic unit have been synthesized and their mesomorphic behaviour investigated by DSC and polarized light microscopy, and their properties discussed. X-ray diffraction studies have shown the presence of a de Vries-type smectic A phase which does not exhibit a layer shrinkage on transition to the ferroelectric smectic C phase. Mixtures of the new materials have been formulated and their electro-optical properties investigated for their use in surface stabilized orthoconic antiferroelectric liquid crystal (SSOAFLC) devices
Low viscosity, high birefringence liquid crystalline compounds and mixtures
Authors: Dąbrowski R. , Dziaduszek J. , Ziółek A. , Szczuciński Ł. , Stolarz Z. , Sasnouski G. , Bezborodov V. , Lapanik W. , Gauza S. , Wu S. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractTwo types of fast switching mixtures with high positive dielectric anisotropy were described. The first type, with a birefringence below 0.3, was designed for devices operating at room or lower temperatures and the second one, with a birefringence higher than 0.3 for devices operating at elevated temperatures.
Bistability in dual-frequency nematic liquid crystals
Authors: Palto S. , Barnik M. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractDifferent modes of bistable switching in liquid crystals with frequency inversion of the dielectric anisotropy sign are discussed. The study is performed by numerical simulation and experimentally. It is shown that dual frequency driving can be effectively used to control switching between topologically equivalent and non-equivalent director field distributions. The experimental results on temperature performance of the dual-frequency switching and possible driving methods for energy consumption and expanding the temperature range are presented.