bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Elevated striatal and decreased dorsolateral prefrontal cortical activity in response to emotional stimuli in euthymic bipolar disorder: no associations with psychotropic medication load
Authors: Hassel Stefanie , Almeida Jorge RC , Kerr Natalie , Nau Sharon , Ladouceur Cecile D , Fissell Kate , Kupfer David J , Phillips Mary L 
Published: November 2008

Objective:  To examine abnormal patterns of frontal cortical‐subcortical activity in response to emotional stimuli in euthymic individuals with bipolar disorder type I in order to identify trait‐like, pathophysiologic mechanisms of the disorder. We examined potential confounding effects of total psychotropic medication load and illness variables upon neural abnormalities.Method:  We analyzed neural activity in 19 euthymic bipolar and 24 healthy individuals to mild and intense happy, fearful and neutral faces.Results:  Relative to healthy individuals, bipolar subjects had significantly increased left striatal activity in response to mild happy faces (p < 0.05, corrected), decreased right dorsolateral prefrontal cortical (DLPFC) activity in response to neutral, mild and intense happy faces, and decreased left DLPFC activity in response to neutral, mild and intense fearful faces (p < 0.05, corrected). Bipolar and healthy individuals did not differ in amygdala activity in response to either emotion. In bipolar individuals, there was no significant association between medication load and abnormal activity in these regions, but a negative relationship between age of illness onset and amygdala activity in response to mild fearful faces (p = 0.007). Relative to those without comorbidities, bipolar individuals with comorbidities showed a trend increase in left striatal activity in response to mild happy faces.Conclusions:  Abnormally increased striatal activity in response to potentially rewarding stimuli and decreased DLPFC activity in response to other emotionally salient stimuli may underlie mood instabilities in euthymic bipolar individuals, and are more apparent in those with comorbid diagnoses. No relationship between medication load and abnormal neural activity in bipolar individuals suggests that our findings may reflect pathophysiologic mechanisms of the illness rather than medication confounds. Future studies should examine whether this pattern of abnormal neural activity could distinguish bipolar from unipolar depression.
Effect of Transgene Introduction and Recloning on Efficiency of Porcine Transgenic Cloned Embryo Production In Vitro
Authors: Uhm SJ , Gupta MK , Das ZC , Kim JH , Park C , Kim T , Lee HT 
Published: November 2008

ContentsRetrovirus‐mediated exogenous gene transfection of somatic cells is an efficient method to produce transgenic embryos by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). This study evaluated whether efficiency of transgenic embryos production, by SCNT using fibroblast cells transfected by retrovirus vector, is influenced by the introduced transgene and whether recloning could further improve its efficiency. Transgenic cloned embryos were produced by SCNT of porcine foetal fibroblast cells transfected by either LNβ‐Z or LNβ‐enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) retrovirus vector and evaluated for their developmental ability in vitro. Blastomeres from four‐cell stage porcine embryos, produced by SCNT of foetal fibroblast cells transfected with LNβ‐EGFP retroviral vector, were subsequently recloned into enucleated metaphase II oocytes and evaluated for changes in chromatin configuration, in vitro embryo development and gene expression. Analysis of results showed that cleavage and blastocyst rates of porcine SCNT embryos, using LacZ (53.6 ± 6.4%; 12.0 ± 5.7%) or EGFP (57.5 ± 6.3%; 10.1 ± 4.1%) transfected fibroblasts, did not differ (p > 0.05) from those of non‐transfected controls (60.9 ± 8.2%; 12.3 ± 4.0%). Recloning of blastomeres did not further improve the in vitro development rate. Interestingly, the nuclei of blastomere underwent slower remodelling process than somatic cell nuclei. Both cloned and recloned embryos showed 100% transgene expression and there were no evidence of mosaicism. In conclusion, our data shows that the efficiency of transgenic cloned embryos production by SCNT of somatic cells transfected with replication‐defective retrovirus vector is not influenced by the transgene introduction into donor cells and recloning of four‐cell stage blastomere could not further improve its efficiency.
LHRH Fusion Protein Immunization Alters Testicular Development, Ultrasonographic and Histological Appearance of Ram Testis
Authors: Ülker H , Yılmaz A , Karakuş F , Yörük M , Budağ C , DeAvila DM , Reeves JJ 
Published: November 2008

ContentsThis study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) fusion protein immunization on reproductive traits in ram lambs including the changes in histology and ultrasonographic appearance of testis. Thirty native ram lambs at 19 weeks of age were divided into control (C, n = 10), immunization (I, n = 10) and castration (E, n = 10) groups. Animals in immunization group were immunized against LHRH using ovalbumin‐LHRH‐7 (OL) protein generated by recombinant DNA technology as a primary and a booster injection at 19 and 23 weeks of age respectively. Animals were bled via jugular venepuncture at 2‐week intervals to determine LHRH antibody and testosterone concentrations. Bi‐weekly ultrasonographic examination of the testes was performed to determine the changes in ultrasonographic appearance as the age increased. Biopsied testicular tissues taken at 19, 29 and 41 weeks age were also evaluated. At 41 weeks of age, animals were slaughtered. Semen and epididymis were evaluated for the presence of sperm cells. Testicular development and sperm production were suppressed in the immunized animals. Semineferous tubule diameters decreased, basal membrane of the tubule was thickened and hyalinized in immunized ram lambs. While testes of control animals gained their normal ultrasonographic appearance as the age increased, immunized animals had uniform hypoechogenic testicular structure as observed at 19 weeks of age until slaughter. Simultaneous histological and ultrasonographic evaluations indicated that the changes in testicular histology could partly be monitored via ultrasonographic imaging. Nevertheless, it is difficult to claim that ultrasonographic image reflects the exact changes in such instances. In conclusion, these results indicate that recombinant OL fusion protein is effective in immunocastration in ram lambs and has a potential to be used as an alternative to physical castration. Further research studies should be conducted to help assess reproductive status of testes from ultrasound images.
Changing trend in antimicrobial resistance of pediatric uropathogens in Taiwan
Authors: Tseng Min‐Hua , Lo Wen‐Tsung , Lin Wei‐Jen , Teng Ching‐Shen , Chu Mong‐Ling , Wang Chih‐Chien 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBackground: There is growing concern regarding antimicrobial resistance worldwide, particularly of Escherichia coli, and the first choice of an antimicrobial agent for empiric treatment of pediatric urinary tract infection (UTI) is not well established.Methods: The medical records from January 1991 to December 2005 for all children under 18 years of age admitted to Tri‐Service General Hospital, Taipei for their first UTI were reviewed. Two study periods, early (1991–2000) and late (2001–2005), were chosen during the 15 year period for evaluating the trend of antimicrobial resistance.Results: Of the 368 isolates, E. coli was the most common pathogen (81.0%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (6.5%), Enterococcus spp. (6.0%), and Proteus mirabilis (3.5%). Of the 368 isolates, 77.4% were resistant to ampicillin, 44.6% to co‐trimoxazole, 27.2% to cephalothin, 15.0% to gentamicin, and 8.4% to nitrofurantoin. In the early (1991–2000) and late (2001–2005) study periods, 199 isolates (54.1%) and 169 isolates (45.9%), respectively, were compared. The resistance to antimicrobial agents for overall pathogens in the early and late study periods, respectively, was as follows: 68.8% and 88.0% to ampicillin, 48.9% and 46.6% to co‐trimoxazole, 26.8% and 28.9% to cephalothin, 16.2% and 19.8% to gentamicin, and 8.7% and 9.0% to nitrofurantoin.Conclusion: Among commonly used antimicrobial agents for the treatment of pediatric UTI, there is a trend towards increasing resistance to ampicillin and a persistently low resistance rate to gentamicin, cephalosporin, and nitrofurantoin. Parenteral first‐generation cephalosporins, gentamicin, and oral nitrofurantoin should be considered for first‐line agents, given the resistance patterns of this study.
New cystoscopic diagnosis for interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome using narrow‐band imaging system
Authors: Ueda Tomohiro , Nakagawa Masayuki , Okamura Motohiro , Tanoue Hideki , Yoshida Hiroshi , Yoshimura Naoki 
Published: November 2008

Objectives:  Diagnosing the bladder lesions associated with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) is sometimes difficult for general urologists. We therefore aimed to develop an IC/PBS diagnosis method using a cystoscope with a narrow‐band imaging (NBI) system that can detect mucosal angiogenic lesions.Methods:  Fifty‐two subjects suspected of having IC between October 2006 and June 2007 were included in this study. There were 49 women and three men, ranging in age from 19 through 85 with an average age of 59. First, conventional cystoscopy under spinal anesthesia was performed to examine the ulcerative lesions by a urological specialist. Then, other health care professionals made a separate observation of capillary‐rich areas of the superficial layer of the bladder mucosa by cystoscopy with the NBI system.Results:  Among the 52 patients, 37 cases were found to have ulcers by conventional cystoscopy, which were also recognized as capillary‐rich brownish areas using the NBI system (100% accuracy); 13 cases were found to have NBI‐positive areas without ulcer, which were coincided with those with petechial hemorrhages and glomerulations following subsequent hydrodistention; and two cases of normal mucosa were detected. Furthermore, six cases of bladder cancer (carcinoma in situ) were detected by biopsies that were obtained from the ulcerative lesions positively identified by NBI cystoscopy.Conclusions:  Examining the urinary bladder mucosa with a flexible cystoscope with the NBI system makes it possible to easily detect ulcers of bladder mucosa and areas with angiogenesis. Therefore, it is considered that the use of a flexible cystoscope with the NBI system is highly practical for the IC/PBS diagnosis.
Are voiding symptoms really associated with abnormal urodynamic voiding parameters in women?
Authors: Jeffery Stephen T , Doumouchtsis Stergios K , Vlachos Ioannis S , Fynes Michelle M 
Published: November 2008

Objectives:  To examine the relationship between voiding symptoms and objective measurements of voiding dysfunction.Methods:  We prospectively collected data from 116 consecutive women attending for urodynamic investigations. Symptoms of voiding dysfunction and objective voiding parameters including uroflowmetry and post‐void residual volume were evaluated.Results:  Sixteen (14%) patients reported a symptom of straining, 21 (18%) double voiding, 32 (27%) post‐micturition dribbling, 10 (8%) poor stream and 34 (29%) incomplete emptying. Using receiver–operator curves we were unable to determine a cut‐off value for flow or residual volume where symptoms became more prevalent. Poor stream was, however, a good predictor for a residual volume of >100 mL and >150 mL. Strain predicted a residual volume of >100 and >150 mL and it correlated with maximum flow rate <15 mL/s. The other three symptoms did not correlate with any of the cut‐off values.Conclusions:  Poor steam and strain are weakly predictive of abnormal voiding function.
History of malignancy is a predictor of prostate cancer detection: Incorporation into a pre‐biopsy nomogram
Authors: Kawakami Satoru , Koga Fumitaka , Fujii Yasuhisa , Saito Kazutaka , Yamamoto Shinya , Tatokoro Manabu , Yonese Junji , Kageyama Yukio , Fukui Iwao , Kihara Kazunori 
Published: November 2008

Objectives:  To examine whether history of malignancy adds any significant information to the prediction of positive prostate biopsy in referred men with moderately elevated prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) and to develop a predicting nomogram that does not require extra examinations other than PSA.Methods:  A total of 1767 consecutive Japanese men with PSA less than 10 ng/mL who underwent prostate biopsy were included in the study cohort. Age, digital rectal examination (DRE), PSA, body mass index, family history of prostate cancer and number of previous malignancies other than the prostate were evaluated in regard to their association with prostate cancer. A logistic regression‐based nomogram for predicting prostate cancer was developed and externally validated.Results:  Of the 1767 men, 269 had a history of malignancy with a total of 312 primary sites. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that DRE, PSA, age, family history and number of previous malignancies are independent and significant predictors of positive biopsy result. External validation revealed that the predicting accuracy of a nomogram incorporating these five variables is significantly higher than those of PSA or PSA and DRE. Using the nomogram, 8% of unnecessary biopsies would be saved at 95% sensitivity.Conclusions:  We demonstrated for the first time that history of malignancy is a potent predictor of prostate cancer in men with moderately elevated PSA even if the established risk factors are adjusted. The nomogram can be a useful tool in decision‐making of prostate biopsy. In daily practice, history of malignancy should be rigorously taken from these men before a decision is made regarding prostate biopsy.
Effects of chronic treatment with vardenafil, a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, on female rat bladder in a partial bladder outlet obstruction model
Authors: Matsumoto Seiji , Hanai Tadashi , Uemura Hirotsugu , Levin Robert M. 
Published: November 2008

OBJECTIVESTo investigate whether vardenafil, a phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE‐5) inhibitor, would protect the bladder from decompensatory changes in a 4‐week rat bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) model, as evidence has been accumulating that PDE‐5 inhibitors improve lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).MATERIALS AND METHODSIn all, 50 12‐week‐old female Sprague‐Dawley rats were divided into five equal groups; group 1, sham operated vehicle control rats; group 2, BOO vehicle rats; group 3–5, BOO rats given oral vardenafil at 5, 20, 80 mg/L, respectively. Vardenafil was given in drinking water from the day of surgery. At 4‐weeks after the introduction of BOO, vardenafil was washed‐out by giving water for 24–48 h, and then the bladder was excised and dissected into four longitudinal strips for isometric organ‐bath assay. Contractile responses of bladder strips to electrical field stimulation (EFS), carbachol and KCl was determined for each group.RESULTSBOO induced a significant increase in bladder weight in group 2 compared with group 1. Bladder weights of groups 3–5 were not significantly different from that of group 2. The contractile forces in response to EFS, carbachol and KCl in group 2 were 30.7–51.7% of those in group 1. Vardenafil treatment in groups 3–5 generally did not block the BOO‐induced reduction of contractile force in the bladder strips. However, treatment with a high dose of vardenafil resulted in a significant increase in the contractile response to carbachol (78.4% group 5 vs 51.7% group 2).CONCLUSIONChronic treatment with a high dose of vardenafil protected the rat bladder from BOO‐induced contractile dysfunction to carbachol.
Research and Technology Commercialization
Authors: Markman Gideon D. , Siegel Donald S. , Wright Mike 
Published: November 2008

abstractThis paper introduces the special themed section on organizational interactions involving universities and firms that result in the commercialization of research and technology. Our objective is to shed light on some of the most vexing, yet under‐researched predicaments research institutions encounter, despite their best efforts to advance commercialization. First, we synthesize and extend recent studies, including the papers in the special themed section. Next, we develop a taxonomy of modes of commercialization. Specifically, we consider internal approaches, quasi‐internal approaches (e.g. incubators), university research parks, regional clusters, academic spin‐offs and start‐ups, licensing, contract research and consultancy, corporate venture capital, and open science and innovation. We also identify areas for further research at the individual (e.g. heterogeneity of entrepreneurial teams and experience; incentives), organizational and intra‐university (e.g. corporate governance; nature of growth strategies; relationships with trading partners; boundary spanning activities) and technology levels (e.g. institutional context; reconfiguration of technology; valuation of technology).
Primary angiitis of the central nervous system: report of eight cases from Southern China
Authors: Yin Zhao , Li Xianliang , Fang Yannan , Luo Baining , Zhang Aiwu 
Published: November 2008

Background and purpose:  This study is to report the clinical, neuroimaging and pathological characteristics of patients with primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) from Southern China.Methods:  Eight patients with PACNS admitted between August 1995 and April 2006 were retrospectively studied. Records of clinical features, neuroimaging, brain biopsy and therapy were analyzed.Results:  Primary angiitis of the central nervous system occurred predominantly in youth and middle‐aged adults. Headache, hemiplegia and speech disturbance were the most predominant manifestations. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was slightly abnormal in only one case, MRI was abnormal in seven, magnetic resonance angiography in seven, diffusion‐weighted imaging in five and digital subtraction angiography in four. Brain biopsy in four cases revealed lymphocytic angiitis. All cases had good outcome with the treatment of single corticoid or cyclophosphamide.Conclusion:  We report eight cases of PACNS from Southern China associated with neurological and neuroimaging abnormalities; these patients presented a mild to moderate inflammatory disease that was correlated with few CSF abnormalities and good response to single steroid or cyclophosphamide treatment without relapses. Although brain biopsy represents the gold standard for diagnosis of PACNS, considering the difficulty and challenge of identification of this disease, combination with other examinations might be necessary to arrive at an early and definitive diagnosis.
Bibliotherapy for mental health service users Part 1: a systematic review
Authors: Fanner Deborah , Urquhart Christine 
Published: November 2008

AbstractAims and objectives:  UK health policy advocates a patient‐centred approach to patient care. Library services could serve the rehabilitation needs of mental health service users through bibliotherapy (the use of written, audio, or e‐learning materials to provide therapeutic support). Part 1 of a two part article describes a systematic review of the evidence for the effectiveness of bibliotherapy in mental health services.Methods:  The systematic review of the literature used Cochrane guidelines, together with an overview of evaluations of bibliotherapy initiatives, and assessments of the needs of adult mental health service users for rehabilitation support.Results:  The evidence strongly suggests that library‐based interventions and the provision of information could be beneficial for service users and economical for the health service in assisting treatment of a range of conditions. At present, public libraries in the UK are developing basic bibliotherapy services.Conclusions:  Librarians, including librarians working for the health service, might provide more sophisticated bibliotherapy services, but the evidence to guide delivery is limited.
DNA perseverance of microorganisms exposed to silica: an experimental study
Authors: SCHELBLE R. T. , HALL J. A. , NEALSON K. H. , STEELE A. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTThe persistence of DNA from microorganisms exposed to various concentrations of SiO2 (ranging from 0 to 3000 p.p.m.) was monitored over time. The impact of silica mineralization or silicification on the longevity of 16S rRNA and 16 s rDNA genes from whole cells of Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli K12 was quantified using real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), and cells were visualized using optical microscopy. For B. subtilis, DNA longevity decreased in experiments with higher levels of SiO2 (1000 and 3000 p.p.m.), in comparison to zero or low (100 p.p.m.) levels. For B. subtilis, cell viability was greatest in the absence of silica, and markedly decreased in the presence of any concentration of silica. Survival of Escherichia coli cells, on the other hand, was not sensitive to silica in the solution. All cells died at similar rates over the 180 days they were monitored, decreasing to about 1% survival. DNA longevity for E. coli did appear to be enhanced to some degree by the presence of 1000 p.p.m. silica, but higher or lower concentrations showed no increased longevity in comparison to the no‐silica control. Overall, findings of this study do not support the hypothesis that siliceous environments provide enhanced protection and preservation of DNA over time. However, results of this study do provide guidelines on the persistence of DNA that might be expected in modern silica‐rich environments, which may be an important factor for proper characterization of present‐day microbial communities.
ANALYST REPUTATION, DEALER AFFILIATION, AND MARKET MAKING
Authors: Li Mingsheng , Zhao Xin 
Published: November 2008

AbstractWe investigate the effects of analysts' affiliation and reputation on dealers' market making activities. We find that for a given stock, dealers who have affiliated analysts covering the stock quote and trade more aggressively than those who do not have any affiliated analysts. More important, the reputation of affiliated analysts plays an additional role in the affiliated dealer's quote and trade behavior. Dealers with affiliated star analysts post more aggressive quotes and have larger market shares than dealers with affiliated nonstar analysts. Although dealers who post more aggressive quotes also induce affiliated star analysts to cover the stocks, the positive effect of analyst reputation on the affiliated dealers' quote aggressiveness remains significant and robust after controlling for potential endogenous and simultaneous problems.
CLUSTERED SYNERGIES IN THE TAKEOVER MARKET
Authors: Madura Jeff , Ngo Thanh 
Published: November 2008

AbstractIn a competitive market for takeover bids, the takeover premium serves as an effective proxy for the expected synergy. We find that the expected synergy is primarily related to the premiums paid in other recent takeovers in the same industry. This relation is even stronger when considering previous takeovers (especially over the previous three‐month horizon) in the same industry that have the same payment method (cash versus stock) or form of takeover (tender offer versus merger). More of the variation in expected synergies among takeovers can be explained by the premiums derived from recent takeovers in the same industry than by all bidder‐ and target‐specific characteristics combined. We also find that the bidder valuation effects are inversely related to the premium paid for targets, implying that abnormally high premiums may reflect overpayment rather than abnormally high synergies.