bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Medication adherence and associated outcomes in medicare health maintenance organization‐enrolled older adults with Parkinson's disease
Authors: Kulkarni Amit S. , Balkrishnan Rajesh , Anderson Roger T. , Edin Heather M. , Kirsch Jeff , Stacy Mark A. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractMaintenance of symptom control in Parkinson's disease (PD) requires continuous titration of medication and addition of multiple therapies over the course of the disease. Adherence to medication is vital to symptom control and key to maximizing the efficacy of existing therapies. However, adherence is compromised by a variety of factors, including motor symptoms, complex dosing regimens, multiple medications, and lack of patient/physician awareness of the impact and prevalence of suboptimal adherence. This retrospective, longitudinal cohort study assessed the prevalence of suboptimal adherence [measured as the medication possession ratio (MPR)] to PD medications, and its impact on the worsening of PD symptoms (measured as increase in monotherapy dose, augmentation of therapy, PD‐related emergency department visit, or hospitalization), in a Medicare Health Maintenance Organization population in the United States. Irrespective of the MPR threshold chosen, a high percentage of patients were categorized as suboptimally adherent to their PD medications, and patients with suboptimal adherence to their PD medications had higher risks of worsening of PD symptoms, compared with those who were adherent. Increased awareness of both the magnitude and impact of suboptimal adherence to PD medications, coupled with dosage simplification and a unified effort by healthcare professionals and patients, may improve adherence to PD medications and ultimately improve symptom control. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Prolonged cortical silent period but normal sensorimotor plasticity in spinocerebellar ataxia 6
Authors: Teo James T.H. , Schneider Susanne A. , Cheeran Binith J. , Fernandez‐del‐Olmo Miguel , Giunti Paola , Rothwell John C. , Bhatia Kailash P. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractSpinocerebellar ataxia 6 (SCA6) is a hereditary disease characterized by a trinucleotide repeat expansion in the CACNA1A gene and late‐onset bilateral cerebellar atrophy. It is unclear if there is significant pathology outside of the cerebellum. We used transcranial magnetic stimulation to assess sensorimotor cortical circuits and cortical plasticity in 8 SCA6 patients and 8 age‐matched controls. Behavioral performance was assessed using a rhythmic tapping task. Neurophysiological measures of SCA6 patients showed a prolonged cortical silent period (CSP) but normal MEP recruitment curve, short‐latency afferent inhibition, long‐latency afferent inhibition and ipsilateral silent period. Paired‐associative stimulation induction also increased motor‐evoked potentials normally. SCA6 patients had greater variability with cued rhythmic tapping than normals and deteriorated when the cue was removed; in comparison, normal subjects had similar variability between cued and uncued rhythmic tapping. Analysis using a Wing–Kristofferson timing model indicated that both clock variance and motor delay variance were abnormal. Conclusion. In SCA6, the circuits for sensorimotor integration and the mechanisms for LTP‐like plasticity in the sensorimotor cortex are unimpaired. A prolonged CSP in SCA6 just like in other cerebellar atrophies would suggest that this neurophysiological change typifies cerebellar dysfunction. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Predictors of deterioration in health‐related quality of life in Parkinson's disease: Results from the DATATOP trial
Authors: Marras Connie , McDermott Michael P. , Rochon Paula A. , Tanner Caroline M. , Naglie Gary , Lang Anthony E. ,   Parkinson Study Group DATATOP Investigators
Published: December 2007

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with decline in health‐related quality of life in Parkinson's disease, by a retrospective cohort study from referral centers in Canada and the United States. Subjects were patients with early Parkinson's disease (N = 362) enrolled in a clinical trial of deprenyl (selegiline) and tocopherol (DATATOP) and followed prospectively. The main outcome measure was change in health‐related quality of life using SF‐36 Mental and Physical Component Summary scores. The mean interval between SF‐36 measurements was 1.7 ± 0.1 years, beginning 5 to 6 years after enrolment into the trial. In multivariable analysis, baseline Hamilton Depression Scale scores and self‐rated cognitive function were associated with subsequent decline in Physical Component Summary scores, while older age and Schwab and England activities of daily living scores were associated with decline in Mental Component Summary scores. The Postural Instability Gait Disorder score was the only variable found to decline concurrently with HRQOL. Our results suggest that depression, self‐rated cognitive function, and one's degree of functional independence are predictors of subsequent changes in HRQOL. Our focus in clinical care needs to be broadened beyond assessing and treating Parkinsonism, recognizing the impact of mood, cognition and function on HRQOL. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
A validation study of depressive syndromes in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Starkstein Sergio E. , Merello Marcelo , Jorge Ricardo , Brockman Simone , Bruce David , Petracca Gustavo , Robinson Robert G. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThe validity, sensitivity, and specificity of depressive symptoms for the diagnosis of major depression, minor depression, dysthymic disorder, and subsyndromal depression in Parkinson's disease (PD) were examined. A consecutive series of 173 patients with PD attending a Movement Disorders Clinic underwent a comprehensive psychiatric and neurological assessment. The symptoms of loss of interest/pleasure, changes in appetite or weight, changes in sleep, low energy, worthlessness or inappropriate guilt, psychomotor retardation/agitation, concentration deficits, and suicide ideation were all significantly associated with the presence of the DSM‐IV depressed mood criterion for major depression. The symptoms of changes in appetite, changes in sleep, low energy, low self‐esteem, poor concentration, and hopelessness were all significantly associated with the presence of the DSM‐IV criterion of sad mood for dysthymic disorder. Thirty percent of our sample met DSM‐IV diagnostic criteria for major depression, 20% met diagnostic criteria for dysthymic disorder, 10% met diagnostic criteria for minor depression, and 8% met clinical criteria for subsyndromal depression. Patients with either major or minor depression had significantly more severe deficits in activities of daily living, more severe cognitive impairments, and more severe Parkinsonism than patients with either dysthymic disorder or no depression. This study provides validation to the DSM‐IV diagnostic criteria for major depression and dysthymic disorder for use in PD. The categories of minor and subsyndromal depression may need further validation. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Clinical characteristics of restless legs syndrome in end‐stage renal failure and idiopathic RLS patients
Authors: Enomoto Minori , Inoue Yuichi , Namba Kazuyoshi , Munezawa Takashi , Matsuura Masato 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThis study was done to identify the clinical characteristics of uremic restless legs syndrome (RLS). Consecutive uremic RLS patients (n = 15) and idiopathic RLS patients (iRLS; n = 20) were evaluated. The groups were compared with respect to their clinical course, subjective symptoms [using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the International Restless Legs Syndrome Severity Scale (IRLS)], polysomnographic (PSG) variables, the results of the suggested immobilization test (SIT), and the drug doses used to treat RLS. The duration of the disorder was significantly shorter in the uremic RLS group than in the iRLS group. The PSQI and IRLS scores before treatment were higher in the uremic RLS group than in the iRLS group. The periodic leg movement index (PLM index) on PSG and the SIT index were also higher in the uremic RLS group (P < 0.001, respectively). The bromocriptine equivalent dose of dopaminergic agonists used to treat RLS was significantly higher in the uremic RLS group (P < 0.001). Uremic RLS appears to deteriorate faster and to become more severe than iRLS. Moreover, uremic RLS patients appear to have a decreased response to dopaminergic agonists. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Exacerbation of blepharospasm associated with craniocervical dystonia after placement of bilateral globus pallidus internus deep brain stimulator
Authors: Reza Vagefi M. , Cheng Lin Chun , McCann John D. , Anderson Richard L. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractTo report a case of exacerbation of blepharospasm after bilateral globus pallidus internus (GPi) deep brain stimulator (DBS) placement. A 69‐year‐old male presented after bilateral GPi DBS placement for blepharospasm and craniocervical dystonia with worsening eyelid spasms and associated apraxia of lid opening (ALO). Numerous attempts to adjust DBS parameters were ineffective. Consequently, bilateral upper eyelid myectomy was performed. Myectomy surgery was free of complications. The patient had significant improvement of blepharospasm and ALO. Although early success has been reported with DBS placement in a small number of patients with focal dystonias, further studies and longer follow‐up are needed to demonstrate whether this will prove to be a useful approach in the treatment of blepharospasm. Upper eyelid myectomy can provide an effective means for treating blepharospasm and associated ALO. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society
Glucocerebrosidase gene mutations are associated with Parkinson's disease in southern Italy
Authors: De Marco Elvira V. , Annesi Grazia , Tarantino Patrizia , Rocca Francesca E. , Provenzano Giovanni , Civitelli Donatella , Cirò Candiano Innocenza C. , Annesi Ferdinanda , Carrideo Sara , Condino Francesca , Nicoletti Giuseppe , Messina Demetrio , Novellino Fabiana , Morelli Maurizio , Quattrone Aldo 
Published: December 2007

AbstractRecent studies have reported an association between the glucocerebrosidase (GBA) gene and Parkinson's disease (PD). To elucidate the role of this gene in our population, we screened 395 PD patients and 483 controls from southern Italy for the N370S and the L444P mutations. We found 11 patients (2.8%) carrying a heterozygous mutant GBA allele, whereas only one control subject (0.2%) had a heterozygous substitution (P = 0.0018). These results strongly suggest that Italian carriers of a GBA mutation have an increased risk of developing PD. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
The treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures with vascularized great trochanter periosteal flap transposition in children
Authors: Qi Baiwen , Yu Aixi , Zhang Gongli , Yu Guorong , Shi Yongyan , Zhu Shaobo , Pan Zhenyu 
Published: December 2007

AbstractIn this study, we investigated the clinical outcome of the treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures with vascularized great trochanter periosteal flap transposition in children. There were 23 children with displaced femoral neck fractures. Using Delbet classification, there were 2 type I (transepiphyseal), 12 type II (transcervical), and 9 type III (cervicotrochanteric). All the treatments were carried out with vascularized great trochanter periosteal flap transposition, and fixed by Kirschner needle or hollow screws. Both methods achieved healing and patients were followed from 9 months to 5 years, with average follow‐up of 3 years. Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head occurred in three children; early closure of epiphysis occurred in one child; and restricted movement was seen in three children. According to Ratliff function assessment and Harris hip score, the results were: 17 excellent, 3 good, and 3 poor. The excellent and good rates reached 87.1%. The vascularized greater trochanter periosteal flap transposition may accelerate the union of fractures, improve blood supply to the femoral head, and reduce the incidence rate of AVN. This flap is therefore an effective method for the treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures in children. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2008.
Xenobiotic activity in serum and sperm chromatin integrity in European and inuit populations
Authors: Krüger Tanja , Spanò Marcello , Long Manhai , Eleuteri Patrizia , Rescia Michele , Hjelmborg Philip S. , Manicardi Gian‐Carlo , Bizzaro Davide , Giwercman Alexander , Toft Gunnar , Bonde Jens Peter , Bonefeld‐Jorgensen Eva C. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractLipophilic persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are ubiquitous in the environment and suspected to interfere with hormone activities and reproduction. In previous studies we demonstrated that POP exposure can affect sperm DNA integrity and differences between Inuits and Europeans in sperm DNA integrity and xenobiotic activity were observed. The aim of this study was to investigate possible relations between human sperm chromatin integrity and the xenobiotic serum activity of lipophilic POPs assessed as effects on the estrogen (ER), androgen (AR), and/or aryl hydrocarbon (AhR) receptors. Human sperm chromatin integrity was assessed as DNA fragmentation index (%DFI) and high DNA stainability (%HDS) using the flow cytometric sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA). Xenobiotic receptor activities were determined using chemically activated luciferase gene expression (CALUX) assay. The study included 53 Greenlandic Inuits and 247 Europeans (Sweden, Warsaw (Poland) and Kharkiv (Ukraine)). A heterogeneous pattern of correlations was found. For Inuits, ER and AhR activities and %DFI were inversely correlated, whereas a positive correlation between AR activity and %DFI was found for Europeans. In contrast, no correlation between receptor activities and %HDS was observed for Inuits but for Europeans positive and negative correlations were observed between ER and AR activities and %HDS, respectively. We suggest that the different patterns of xenobiotic serum activities, in combination with diet associated factors and/or genetics, might be connected to the observed differences in sperm chromatin integrity between the Inuits and Europeans. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 669–680, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Impact of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment on women's sexuality: a survey of Japanese patients
Authors: Takahashi Miyako , Ohno Shinji , Inoue Hiromichi , Kataoka Akemi , Yamaguchi Hiroshi , Uchida Yoko , Oshima Akira , Abiru Kinuko , Ono Kikuyo , Noguchi Rie , Kai Ichiro 
Published: December 2007

AbstractObjective: Research on the impact of breast cancer on Asian women's sexual lives is extremely scarce. This study investigated the sexual changes experienced by breast cancer patients in Japan following surgery, and their sexuality‐related information needs.Methods: An anonymous, cross‐sectional survey of breast cancer out‐patients was conducted in 2005. Data from 85 subjects, who were without recurrence and reported being sexually active pre‐surgery, were analyzed.Results: Subjects were mainly in their 40's and 50's, and the median time since surgery was 43 months. Seventy‐three (85.9%) had resumed sex after surgery with the median time being 3.5 months after surgery. Among 73 who resumed sex, 43 reported that the frequency of sex decreased, and 72 reported at least one sexually related change. The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that those who had perceived the sexual relationship with their partner important before surgery (OR, 6.705; 95%CI, 1.320–34.051; p = 0.022) were more likely to maintain the same frequency of sex as before surgery. Perceived changes in respondents' sexual relationship did not necessarily result in deterioration of the couple's overall relationship. Regarding sexuality‐related information needs, respondents wished to have information on treatment‐induced sexual changes as well as sexual and general inter‐couple communication strategies.Conclusion: This research revealed that breast cancer patients in Japan experience various sexual problems following breast cancer treatment. Sexuality‐related information should be provided to all patients, regardless of patients age or type of surgery, as a part of routine treatment information giving. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tissue expression and enzymologic characterization of human prostate specific membrane antigen and its rat and pig orthologs
Authors: Rovenská Miroslava , Hlouchová Klára , Šácha Pavel , Mlčochová Petra , Horák Vratislav , Zámečník Josef , Bařinka Cyril , Konvalinka Jan 
Published: December 2007

AbstractBACKGROUNDProstate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), also called glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII), is a target enzyme for diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. Moreover, it is upregulated in the vasculature of most solid tumors and is therefore a potential target for the generation of novel antineoplastics. In this context, we analyze the possibility of using rat and pig as animal models for enzymologic and in vivo studies.METHODSWe prepared the recombinant extracellular part of human, rat, and pig GCPII in S2 cell media and characterized the activity and inhibition profiles of the three orthologs by radioenzymatic assay. We performed Western blot analysis of GCPII expression in human, rat, and pig tissues using the monoclonal antibody GCP‐04 and confirmed these findings by activity measurements and immunohistochemistry.RESULTSThe three recombinant proteins show similar specific enzymatic activities and inhibition profiles. Tissue expression analysis revealed that most of the pig and human tissues show at least some GCPII‐positivity, while the expression pattern in rat is more restricted. Moreover, tissues such as prostate and testes exhibit different GCPII expression levels among the species studied.CONCLUSIONSThe rat and pig orthologs of GCPII seem to be suitable to approximate human GCPII in enzymologic studies. However, the diffuse expression pattern of GCPII in animal and human tissues could be a caveat for the potential utilization of GCPII‐targeted anticancer drugs. Furthermore, variations in GCPII tissue distribution among the species studied should be considered when using rat or pig as models for antineoplastic drug discovery. Prostate 68: 171–182, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The C‐terminal region of thermophilic tRNA (m7G46) methyltransferase (TrmB) stabilizes the dimer structure and enhances fidelity of methylation
Authors: Tomikawa Chie , Ochi Anna , Hori Hiroyuki 
Published: December 2007

AbstractTransfer RNA (m7G46) methyltransferase catalyzes methyl‐transfer from S‐adenosyl‐L‐methionine to N7 atom of the semi‐conserved G46 base in tRNA. Aquifex aeolicus is a hyper thermophilic eubacterium that grows at close to 95°C. A. aeolicus tRNA (m7G46) methyltransferase [TrmB] has an elongated C‐terminal region as compared with mesophilic counterparts. In this study, the authors focused on the functions of this C‐terminal region. Analytic gel filtration chromatography and amino acid sequencing reveled that the start point (Glu202) of the C‐terminal region is often cleaved by proteases during purification steps and the C‐terminal region tightly binds to another subunit even in the presence of 6M urea. Because the C‐terminal region contains abundant basic amino acid residues, the authors assumed that some of these residues might be involved in tRNA binding. To address this idea, the authors prepared eight alanine substitution mutant proteins. However, measurements of initial velocities of these mutant proteins suggested that the basic amino acid residues in the C‐terminal region are not involved in tRNA binding. The authors investigated effects of the deletion of the C‐terminal region. Deletion mutant protein of the C‐terminal region (the core protein) was precipitated by incubation at 85°C, while the wild type protein was soluble at that temperature, demonstrating that the C‐terminal region contributes to the protein stability at high temperatures. The core protein had a methyl‐transfer activity to yeast tRNAPhe transcript. Furthermore, the core protein slowly methylated tRNA transcripts, which did not contain G46 base. Moreover, the modified base was identified as m7G by two‐dimensional thin layer chromatography. Thus, the deletion of the C‐terminal region causes nonspecific methylation of N7 atom of guanine base(s) in tRNA transcripts. Proteins 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Distant homology detection using a LEngth and STructure‐based sequence Alignment Tool (LESTAT)
Authors: Lee Marianne M. , Bundschuh Ralf , Chan Michael K. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractA new machine learning algorithm, LESTAT (LEngth and STructure‐based sequence Alignment Tool) has been developed for detecting protein homologs having low‐sequence identity. LESTAT is an iterative profile‐based method that runs without reliance on a predefined library and incorporates several novel features that enhance its ability to identify remote sequences. To overcome the inherent bias associated with a single starting model, LESTAT utilizes three structural homologs to create a profile consisting of structurally conserved positions and block separation distances. Subsequent profiles are refined iteratively using sequence information obtained from previous cycles. Additionally, the refinement process incorporates a “lock‐in” feature to retain the high‐scoring sequences involved in previous alignments for subsequent model building and an enhancement factor to complement the weighting scheme used to build the position specific scoring matrix. A comparison of the performance of LESTAT against PSI‐BLAST for seven systems reveals that LESTAT exhibits increased sensitivity and specificity over PSI‐BLAST in six of these systems, based on the number of true homologs detected and the number of families these homologs covered. Notably, many of the hits identified are unique to each method, presumably resulting from the distinct differences in the two approaches. Taken together, these findings suggest that LESTAT is a useful complementary method to PSI‐BLAST in the detection of distant homologs. Proteins 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The point mutation A34F causes dimerization of GB1
Authors: Jee JunGoo , Byeon In‐Ja L. , Louis John M. , Gronenborn Angela M. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThe immunoglobulin‐binding domain B1 of streptococcal protein G (GB1), a very stable, small, single‐domain protein, is one of the most extensively used models in the area of protein folding and design. Variants derived from a library of randomized hydrophobic core residues previously revealed alternative folds, namely a completely intertwined tetramer (Frank et al., Nat Struct Biol 2002;9:877–885) and a domain‐swapped dimer (Byeon et al., J Mol Biol 2003;333:141–152). Here, we report the NMR structure of the single amino acid mutant Ala‐34‐Phe which exists as side‐by‐side dimer. The dimer dissociation constant is 27 ± 4 μM. The dimer interface comprises two structural elements: First, the β‐sheets of the two monomers pair in an antiparallel arrangement, thereby forming an eight‐stranded β‐sheet. Second, the α‐helix is shortened, ending in a loop that engages in intermolecular contacts. The largest difference between the monomer unit in the A34F dimer and the monomeric wild‐type GB1 is the dissolution of the C‐terminal half of the α‐helix associated with a pronounced slow conformational motion of the interface loop. This involves a large movement of the Tyr‐33 side chain that swings out from the monomer to engage in dimer contacts. Proteins 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.