bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of electrical stimulation to increase muscle strength in people with neurological conditions: a systematic review
Authors: Glinsky Joanne , Harvey Lisa , Van Es Pauline 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackground and Purpose. Weakness in partially paralysed muscles is a disabling impairment for people with neurological conditions. Strength training programmes are widely administered to address this impairment. There is a common belief that the effectiveness of strength training programmes can be enhanced by the addition of electrical stimulation. The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the efficacy of electrical stimulation for increasing voluntary strength in people with neurological conditions. Method. Eligible randomized trials of electrical stimulation were identified by searches of computerized databases. The search yielded 11 267 abstracts, of which 60 were retrieved. Two assessors independently reviewed full text versions of these articles. Results. Eighteen studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. These studies involved participants with spina bifida (n = 1), cerebral palsy (n = 1), peripheral nerve lesion (n = 1), multiple sclerosis (n = 1), spinal cord injury (n = 3) and stroke (n = 11). The mean (SD) PEDro score for trial quality was 4.9 (1.0) out of 10. Meta‐analyses of studies involving similar patients were not done because of insufficient data or lack of homogeneity. The results of all studies were analysed individually. Conclusion. Several studies suggest a modest beneficial effect of electrical stimulation in patients with stroke. It is not clear whether patients with other types of neurological disabilities benefit from electrical stimulation in the same way. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigation of the advanced functionalities of a hybrid quadrupole orthogonal acceleration time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer
Authors: Weaver Paul J. , Laures Alice M.‐F. , Wolff Jean‐Claude 
Published: July 2007

AbstractTime‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (ToF‐MS) has gained wide acceptance in many fields of chemistry, proteomics, metabolomics and small molecule analysis. ToF‐MS, however, has some inherent advantages and drawbacks. Numerous developments have been made to hybrid ToF instruments to improve their capabilities. We have used a quadrupole orthogonal acceleration ToF (Q‐oa‐ToF) instrument to assess developments made to improve resolution, dynamic range and signal‐to‐noise (S/N) ratios (i.e. sensitivity). Higher mass resolution can improve the analysis of mixtures containing compounds with similar m/z values and improved mass accuracy gives greater confidence for structural elucidation applications. Wide dynamic ranges are necessary for the analysis of unknown samples or samples that vary widely in analyte concentrations. The performance of the advanced functionalities for routine structural elucidation in terms of resolution, dynamic range and S/N ratios was investigated using test compounds. The results presented in this work demonstrate and validate the use of these new enhancements for Q‐ToF instruments and also show their limitations. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectroscopic method for quantification of the cyclic peptide melanotan‐II. Plasma and brain tissue concentrations following administration in mice
Authors: Hatziieremia Sophia , Kostomitsopoulos Nikolaos , Balafas Vagelis , Tamvakopoulos Constantin 
Published: July 2007

AbstractMelanotan‐II (MT‐II), a synthetic analogue of the natural melanocortin peptide, α‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (α‐MSH), is well known for the anorexic effects it elicits in rodents. These effects are, at least partly, associated with agonistic action on the centrally located melanocortin receptors, MC3R and MC4R. Whether MT‐II exerts this effect via brain penetration still remains unclear. In order to address this question we administered MT‐II in rodents at efficacious doses and then employed a sensitive methodology for the determination of MT‐II in plasma and brain samples. MT‐II was extracted from mouse plasma and brain tissue by acetonitrile precipitation followed by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) analysis. The described assay improved significantly previously reported MT‐II levels of quantification in rat plasma and brain. The lower limits of quantification (LLOQs) of 0.5 ng/mL and 2.5 ng/g were obtained in 50 µL plasma and 100 µL brain homogenate, respectively. The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range of 0.5–500 ng/mL for plasma and 2.5–250 ng/g for brain tissue. The method was successfully applied in measuring levels of MT‐II in plasma and brain tissue following intraperitoneal (ip) administration of 1 mg/kg of peptide in mice. Following administration of MT‐II, clearance from plasma was rapid. The sensitivity of the assay allowed the determination of low concentrations of MT‐II (11.4 ± 5.5 ng/g) in brain homogenate at 30 min after dosing. However, the brain concentrations when compared with the high plasma levels of MT‐II at the same time point confirmed the low penetrability of the peptide in mouse brain. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fast and simultaneous determination of darunavir and eleven other antiretroviral drugs for therapeutic drug monitoring: method development and validation for the determination of all currently approved HIV protease inhibitors and non‐nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors in human plasma by liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: ter Heine Rob , Alderden‐Los Carolien G. , Rosing Hilde , Hillebrand Michel J. X. , van Gorp Eric C. M. , Huitema Alwin D. R. , Beijnen Jos H. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractFor the quantification of all currently approved non‐nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and protease inhibitors, including the new protease inhibitor darunavir and the active nelfinavir metabolite M8, an assay was developed, using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The sample pretreatment consisted of a protein precipitation with a mixture of methanol and acetonitrile using only 100 µL plasma. Chromatographic separation was performed on a reversed‐phase C18 column (150 × 2.0 mm, particle size 5 µm) with a quick stepwise gradient using an acetate buffer (pH 5) and methanol, at a flow rate of 0.25 mL/min. The analytical run time was only 10 min. The triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was operated in the positive ion mode and multiple reaction monitoring was used for drug quantification. The method was validated over a range of 0.1 to 20 µg/mL for amprenavir, atazanavir, efavirenz, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, the active nelfinavir metabolite M8, nevirapine and ritonavir, a range of 0.05 to 10 µg/mL for saquinavir and darunavir and a range of 0.5 to 100 µg/mL for tipranavir, based on observed concentration ranges in patients treated with these drugs. D5‐squinavir, D6‐indinavir, 13C6‐efavirenz and dibenzepine were used as internal standards. The method was proven to be specific, accurate, precise and robust. Accuracies ranged from 88.5% to 102.2% and all precisions were less than 9.5%. Furthermore, the assay demonstrates a high sensitivity for all analytes and the stepwise gradient allows addition of new analytes into the same method. The method is now successfully applied for routine therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacokinetic studies in HIV‐infected patients. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Vaginal birth after cesarean delivery in the West African setting
Authors: Adanu R.M.K. , McCarthy M.Y. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractObjective: To determine the fetal weight beyond which women with one previous cesarean delivery (CD) are most likely to have a repeat CD. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 586 women who had one previous CD and were undergoing trial of labor was conducted in Accra, Ghana. Following delivery, the women were allocated to one of three groups according to whether they had a successful vaginal delivery, underwent a CD for cephalopelvic disproportion, or underwent a CD for another indication. The groups were then compared using analysis of variance or Kruskal‐Wallis tests. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the effect of fetal weight on the odds of having a repeat CD. Results: A fetal weight greater than 3.45 kg tripled the odds of having a repeat CD, and the probability of having a repeat CD were 50% for a fetal weight of 3.70 kg. Conclusion: In settings similar to those in Ghana, women who have undergone a previous CD whose fetuses weigh more than 3.70 kg are likely to have less than a 50% chance of having a successful vaginal delivery.
Intraumbilical injection of uterotonics for retained placenta
Authors: Habek D. , Franičević D. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the effect of injecting an uterotonic agent in the umbilical vein during the third stage of labor in women with retained placentas.MethodsIn this prospective clinical study, 75 women with retained placentas received 20 mL of a 0.9% saline solution with either 20 IU of oxytocin (n = 54), 0.5 mg of carboprost tromethamine (n = 7), or 0.2 mg of methylergometrine (n = 14) injected in the umbilical vein after clamping. The treatment success was determined by the clinical signs of placental ablation.ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences among the 3 therapeutic groups regarding age, parity, risk factors, pregnancy duration, type of delivery (spontaneous, induced, or augmented), or possible early postpartum complications caused by the intraumbilical injection. The rates of therapeutic success were 76.9% in the oxytocin group, 85.7% in the synthetic prostaglandin group, and 64.2% in the methylergometrine group.ConclusionThe intraumbilical injection of uterotonics is a noninvasive, effective, and clinically safe method of shortening the third stage of labor in women with retained placentas.
Facial nerve preservation in relation to tumour size in acoustic nerve tumour surgery
Authors: Morrison A. W. , King T. T. 
Published: July 2007

SummaryA SERIES of twenty-five cases of acoustic nerve tumours operated upon by a translabyrinthine-transtentorial technique, employing micro-surgical techniques is analysed from the point of view of preservation of the facial nerve after total removal. The size of the tumour, as expected, has been the most important factor in determining preservation of the structure. If there is to be a high rate of facial nerve preservation after acoustic nerve tumour surgery, the diagnosis must be made by the otologist (rather than the neurologist) who has the opportunity of diagnosing the lesion when it is still small.
Clinical value of tone burst vestibular evoked myogenic potentials at threshold in acute and stable Ménière's disease
Authors: Osei-Lah V , Ceranic B , Luxon L M 
Published: July 2007

AbstractIntroduction:The objectives of this preliminary, prospective, cohort study were to ascertain the characteristics of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials at threshold levels in two groups of Ménière's disease patients – acute and stable – and to identify whether vestibular evoked myogenic potentials can provide any specific, objective information to distinguish acute from stable Ménière's disease.Subjects and methods:The study was based at a tertiary neuro-otology centre. Twenty adult patients who fulfilled the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery1 criteria for Ménière's disease were divided into two groups: 11 patients with acute Ménière's disease and nine patients with stable Ménière's disease. Eighteen healthy adult volunteers served as controls. All subjects underwent vestibular evoked myogenic potential testing with ipsilateral, short tone burst stimuli at 500 Hz, as well as pure tone audiometry. The patients also underwent caloric testing.Results:Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials were present in all controls, and were present in 65 per cent of patients but absent in 35 per cent. The mean absolute threshold (Tvestibular evoked myogenic potential) ± standard deviation in normal controls was 116 ± 7.7 dBSPL; this did not differ statistically from that in patients, nor did it differ between acute and stable Ménière's disease. The p13/n23 latencies at the threshold levels in the normal, acute and stable groups (mean ± standard deviation) were respectively: 15 ± 2.2 ms/23.0 ± 2.5 ms; 15.7 ± 0.9 ms/23.7 ± 0.9 ms; and 15.3 ± 2.0 ms/24.2 ± 1.9 ms. The mean interaural amplitude difference ratio (IAD) ± standard deviation was significantly higher in the stable group compared with the acute group (0.54 ± 0.33 vs −0.15 ± 0.22; p = 0.007) and with the controls (0.54 ± 0.33 vs 0.1 ± 0.22; p = 0.05).Conclusions:The parameter that best differentiated acute from stable Ménière's disease at threshold was the interaural amplitude difference ratio. Therefore, this parameter may be used to monitor the clinical course of Ménière's disease.
Identification of levamisole resistance markers in the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus using a cDNA-AFLP approach
Authors: NEVEU C. , CHARVET C. , FAUVIN A. , CORTET J. , CASTAGNONE-SERENO P. , CABARET J. 
Published: July 2007

SUMMARYA cDNA-AFLP (cDNA-Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism)-based strategy has been used to identify levamisole (LEV) resistance markers in the nematode Haemonchus contortus. Transcript profiles of adult nematodes from two LEV-resistant and two susceptible isolates were compared. Among the 17 280 transcript-derived fragments (TDFs) amplified, 26 presented a polymorphic pattern between resistant and susceptible nematodes: 11 TDFs were present in both resistant isolates and absent from both susceptible isolates whereas 15 TDFs were present in both susceptible isolates and absent from both resistant isolates. 8 TDFs specifically present in resistant isolates were cloned and sequenced. Some of these TDFs could represent novel genes, as their sequences presented no homologies in databases. Interestingly, specific expression of one candidate (HA17) in resistant nematodes from different isolates was confirmed by RT-PCR experiments. The finding that HA17 expression correlates with LEV resistance in three H. contortus isolates vs five susceptible isolates strongly suggest that we identified a new potential marker of LEV resistance. This differential approach at the transcriptome level could be of great interest for the identification of the molecular mechanism involved in this phenotype.
Nematode ligand-gated chloride channels: an appraisal of their involvement in macrocyclic lactone resistance and prospects for developing molecular markers
Authors: McCAVERA S. , WALSH T. K. , WOLSTENHOLME A. J. 
Published: July 2007

SUMMARYLigand-gated chloride channels, including the glutamate-(GluCl) and GABA-gated channels, are the targets of the macrocyclic lactone (ML) family of anthelmintics. Changes in the sequence and expression of these channels can cause resistance to the ML in laboratory models, such as Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. Mutations in multiple GluCl subunit genes are required for high-level ML resistance in C. elegans, and this can be influenced by additional mutations in gap junction and amphid genes. Parasitic nematodes have a different complement of channel subunit genes from C. elegans, but a few genes, including avr-14, are widely present. A polymorphism in an avr-14 orthologue, which makes the subunit less sensitive to ivermectin and glutamate, has been identified in Cooperia oncophora, and polymorphisms in several subunits have been reported from resistant isolates of Haemonchus contortus. This has led to suggestions that ML resistance may be polygenic. Possible reasons for this, and its consequences for the development of molecular tests for resistance, are explored.
Associations between salivary bacteria and reported sugar intake and their relationship with body mass index in women and their adolescent children
Authors: Vågstrand Karin , Karin Lindroos Anna , Birkhed Dowen , Linné Yvonne 
Published: July 2007

AbstractObjectiveTo study associations between reported sugar intake and salivary bacteria (mutans streptococci, MS and lactobacilli, LB), and sugar intake in relation to body mass index (BMI), in women and adolescents.DesignCross-sectional study. Habitual dietary intake was reported in a questionnaire and whole saliva samples were collected and cultivated.SettingStockholm, Sweden.SubjectsFour hundred and fourteen mothers and their 16-year-old children (57% girls).ResultsReported total sugar intake was significantly associated with LB in mothers (P= 0.001), but not in daughters and sons (P= 0.03 for mother–son interaction). When excluding lactose, the associations with LB and MS were significant in daughters (P= 0.032 and 0.005, respectively). High BMI and sugar intake from milk were independently associated with MS counts in mothers in a multiple regression model (R2= 0.053). In daughters, sugar from beverages, candies/chocolates and fruits were all independently associated with MS counts (R2= 0.074), whereas in sons, only mothers’ MS counts were associated (R2= 0.084). High BMI, low intake from cooked meals and high intake of candies/chocolates were all independently associated with LB in mothers (R2= 0.076), while, except for candies/chocolates in daughters, no significant associations were found in children. BMI was significantly associated with bacteria counts in both mothers and children, whereas reported sugar intake was not.ConclusionThe associations between reported sugar intake and bacteria were generally weak. In mothers and daughters, some significant associations were found, but not in sons. Bacteria counts, but not reported sugar intake, were positively associated with BMI.
Specific targeting of in vitro‐activated human antitumour effector cells using anti‐CD3 × anti‐c‐erbB‐2 bispecific antibody
Authors: TSUKAMOTO HIDEO , NAKAMURA YOSHIHIKO , MASUKO TAKASHI , HASHIMOTO YOSHIYUKI , HABU SONOKO , NISHIMURA TAKASHI 
Published: July 2007

SummaryBispecific antibody (BSAb) consisting of anti‐CD3 plus anti‐c‐cerbB‐2 Fab fragments for the application to adoptive tumour immunotherapy was prepared. This bifunctional hetero‐F(ab′)2 antibody reacted with both human CD3+ T cells and c‐erbB‐2 positive human tumour cells. Human CD8+ T cells activated with immobilized anti‐CD3 plus interleukin 2 showed marginal cytotoxicity against tumour cells. However, addition of the prepared BSAb into the culture resulted in a marked augmentation of the cytotoxicity by the activated CD8+ T cells in a dose‐dependent manner. The enhanced cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells in the presence of BSAb was specific for c‐erbB‐2 positive tumour cells. Moreover, it was demonstrated that anti‐CD3 × anti‐c‐erbB‐2 BSAb was also effective for the specific targeting of various kinds of in vitro‐activated antitumour effector cells such as lymphokine‐activated killer cells, CD4+ helper/killer cells, γδ T cells and activated tumour‐infiltrating CD8+ T cells. These results indicated that BSAb consisted of anti‐CD3 and anti‐c‐erbB‐2 will become a useful tool for the adoptive tumour immunotherapy of human cancer expressing c‐erbB‐2 oncogene products.
Characterization of thymic involution induced by murine cytomegalovirus infection
Authors: PRICE PATRICIA , OLVER STUART D. , GIBBONS ANNE E. , TEO HUI KUN , SHELLAM GEOFFREY R. 
Published: July 2007

SummaryInfection of BALB/c mice with murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) decreased the numbers of cells recovered from the thymus by 80–90% after 4–7 days, although less than 10 thymocytes per million were productively infected with the virus. A loss of cortical thymocytes was evident in histologic sections and correlated with depletion of CD4+CD8+ cells.Thymic involution was minimal in C57BL/6 mice. This resistance was not H‐2b‐associated, as BALB.B (H‐2b) mice were severely affected. In CXB recombinant inbred mice, thymic involution and MCMV replication co‐segregated with atrophy and infection of the spleen and bone marrow. This suggests common regulation by natural killer (NK)1.1+ cells, consistent with the enhanced thymic involution demonstrated in NK‐deficient bg/bg mice. However, CD4− CD8− cells were not depleted, so bone marrow hypoplasia may not be the proximal cause of thymic involution.MCMV infection activated CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+ CD8+ thymocytes, as expression of MEL14, major histocompatibility complex class I (H‐2) and Sca‐1 antigens increased on these cells. In vitro lymphoproliferation and interleukin (IL)‐3 release were enhanced in unseparated and CD4+ ‐enriched thymus preparations. Maturation of the thymus population was also evident from the high frequencies of single positive CD4+ and CD8+ cells and the decline in Sca‐2 expression. However, unlike peripheral T cells, thymocytes from infected mice did not release IL‐2. The results suggest that thymic involution accelerates the transit of cells through the thymus. The possibility that this impairs the elimination of autoreactive T cells within the thymus and promotes the autoimmune manifestations of MCMV disease is discussed.
Differences in antigen‐binding affinity caused by single amino acid substitution in the variable region of the heavy chain
Authors: XIANG JIM , CHEN ZHINAN , DELBAERE LOUIS T. J. , LIU ENWU 
Published: July 2007

SummarySite‐directed mutagenesis has been used to examine the importance of histidine‐99 in the VH CDR3 region of a mouse/human chimeric anti‐TAG72 antibody, cB72.3‐1‐3. The expression vectors mpSV2neo‐EPl‐Vm4–10C.γ1, containing seven different mutant VH region fragments (Vm4–10) in association with the immunoglobulin enhancer (E), promoter (P1) and human genomic Cγ1 region fragments, were transfected into a heavy chain loss mutant cell line B72.3Mut(K), respectively. Mutant chimeric antibodies cB72.3m4–10 were purified from the transfectant supernates, and their binding affinities for the TAG72 antigen relative to that of the original cB72.3‐1‐3 antibody were compared. Substitution of histidine‐99 by glutamine resulted in a higher affinity antibody (cB72.3m4) whereas substitution by isoleucine resulted in a lower affinity antibody (cB72.3m9). The binding affinity of these mutant antibodies varied nearly eight‐fold. It was concluded that the residue at position 99 in the VH CDR3 region is in a ‘contact’ position in the B72.3/TAG72 antibody‐combining site. The polar side‐chains of glutamine and asparagine or the ionized side‐chains of histidine, arginine or glutamic acid contribute to higher binding affinity, whereas the hydrophobic side‐chains of isoleucine, leucine or phenylalanine resulted in a lower binding affinity for the TAG72 antigen.
Vitamin D‐binding protein (group‐specific component) is the sole serum protein required for macrophage activation after treatment of peritoneal cells with lysophosphatidylcholine
Authors: HOMMA SADAMU , YAMAMOTO MASASHI , YAMAMOTO NOBUTO 
Published: July 2007

SummaryIn vitro treatment of mouse peritoneal cells with 1 μg lysophosphatidylcholine (lyso–Pc)/mL in serum free‐0.1% egg albumin‐supplemented RPMI 1640 medium for 30 min, followed by 3 h cultivation in a medium supplemented with human serum, resulted in a greatly enhanced Fc‐receptor‐mediated phagocytic activity of macrophages. Vitamin D‐binding protein (group‐specific component [Gc]) of α2‐globulin fraction was shown to he the sole serum glycoprotein required for the generation of a potent macrophage‐activating factor. When a mixture of lysophosphatidylcholine (lyso‐Pc)‐treated nonadherent and adherent cells were cultured in a medium supplemented with a small amount of purified Gc protein (1 ng/mL), a greatly enhanced activation of macrophages was demonstrated. The generation of macrophage‐activating factor from purified Gc protein was far more efficient than that from whole serum, indicating that a serum component is inhibitory to the activation process of macrophages. While three other major serum glycoproteins (α2‐macrcglobulin, α2‐HS‐glycoprotein and haptoglobin) were neither stimulatory nor inhibitory to lyso‐Pc‐primed macrophage activation, serum albumin (competitively with Gc protein) appeared to be inhibitory to the process of macrophage activation.