bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Grain Size on Transverse Bend Strength of Alumina and Magnesia
Authors: SPRIGGS R. M. , VASILOS T. 
Published: November 2006

Experimental findings are presented for the effect of microstructure on the room‐temperature transverse bend strength properties of hot‐pressed dense pure alumina and magnesia. Bend strength shows an exponential dependence on porosity but is sensitive to fabricating temperatures because of changes in grain size. Log‐log plots of strength (extrapolated to zero porosity) versus grain size reveal the relation S= 86,000G−1/3 (psi) for alumina and S= 50,000G−1/6 (psi) for heat‐treated specimens of magnesia (G= grain size in microns).
Eruptive cherry angiomas associated with vitiligo: Provoked by topical nitrogen mustard?
Authors: MA Hui‐Jun , ZHAO Guang , SHI Fei , WANG Yi‐Xia 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTWe report a 27‐year‐old man who had suffered with vitiligo for 7 years and with eruptive cherry angiomas within or around the repigmented vitiliginous skin for 2 years. After continual therapy for vitiligo with topical nitrogen mustard in a concentration of 0.001% for 5 years, multiple cherry angiomas erupted within or around the repigmented vitiliginous plaques. The discontinue therapy with nitrogen mustard stopped the appearance of new cherry angiomas. The presence of eruptive cherry angiomas was evident and was confirmed by histopathology. We suggest that the chronic chemical stimuli caused by topical nitrogen mustard might result in the formation of eruptive cherry angiomas.
Pharmacokinetics and bone effects of budesonide in primary biliary cirrhosis
Authors: RAUTIAINEN H. , FÄRKKILÄ M. , NEUVONEN M. , SANE T. , KARVONEN A.‐L. , NURMI H. , KÄRKKÄINEN P. , NEUVONEN P. J. , BACKMAN J. T. 
Published: November 2006

SummaryBackground/aim  To evaluate the safety of budesonide in primary biliary cirrhosis.Methods  77 primary biliary cirrhosis patients, with stages I–III at entry, were randomized to use either budesonide 6 mg and ursodeoxycholic acid 15 mg/kg (group A), or ursodeoxycholic acid alone (group B) daily for 3 years. In 22 patients, budesonide pharmacokinetics was determined after 3 years. Bone mass density was measured in 62 patients at baseline and 3 years; in 57 patients also liver biopsies were performed.Results  At 3 years, no significant differences in the pharmacokinetics of budesonide were found between the patients with stages 0–I, II and III primary biliary cirrhosis. In group A, bone mass density in femoral neck and lumbar spine were decreased by 3.6% (P = 0.0002) and 2.8% (P = 0.003) from the baseline. In group B, the corresponding decreases were 1.9% (P = 0.029) and 0.7% (P = 0.25), but the differences between the groups were not statistically significant (P = 0.16 for femoral neck and P = 0.08 for lumbar spine).Conclusions  The plasma concentrations of budesonide do not significantly differ within stages I–III primary biliary cirrhosis patients. The combination of budesonide and ursodeoxycholic acid may decrease bone mass density in the femoral neck and lumbar spine in some primary biliary cirrhosis patients, and bone mass density is recommended to be monitored during budesonide therapy.
Molecular therapies in β‐thalassaemia
Authors: Quek Lynn , Thein Swee Lay 
Published: November 2006

SummaryThe β‐thalassaemias have a major global impact on health and mortality. Allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation is the only approach that may lead to a cure but this approach is not available to most patients. The mainstay treatment for the majority remains life‐long blood transfusion in combination with a rigorous regime of iron chelation. Improved understanding of the pathophysiology and molecular basis of the disease has provided clues for more effective strategies that aim to correct the defect in β‐globin chain synthesis at the primary level or redress the α/β‐globin chain imbalance at the secondary level. Improved understanding of the molecular basis of the disease complications, such as iron overloading, has also provided clues for potential molecular targets at the tertiary level.
Expression and production of aberrant PAX5 with deletion of exon 8 in B‐lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia of children
Authors: Sadakane Y. , Zaitsu M. , Nishi M. , Sugita K. , Mizutani S. , Matsuzaki A. , Sueoka E. , Hamasaki Y. , Ishii E. 
Published: November 2006

SummaryWe investigated PAX5 expression in childhood B‐lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Seven of 21 children with B‐lineage ALL had multiple PAX5 variants, while 14 children and healthy controls showed full‐length (FL) and one variant PAX5. By Western blotting, healthy controls displayed Pax5‐FL, while one short Pax5, derived from the deletion of exon 8 (Pax5‐ΔE8) was produced in 90% of ALL samples, as well as in ALL cell lines. PAX5‐ΔE8 lacked more than 50% of the transactivation domain, indicating that aberrant Pax5 production might lead to the arrest of B‐cell differentiation, contributing to the pathogenesis of B‐lineage ALL.
Living in poverty: a qualitative inquiry of emaciated adolescents and young women coming from low‐income families in a Chinese context
Authors: Ma Joyce L. C. 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTAnorexia nervosa (AN) is no longer a disease of the rich in the West. Hitherto, no study has been carried out in the West or in the Chinese context that documents the experiences of poor people suffering from AN. This qualitative study aims to identify the subjective experiences of seven Chinese emaciated adolescents and young women coming from low‐income families, their family difficulties and needs, and resilience in coping. The results of the study have shown that family poverty has significantly triggered the onset of AN for two emaciated adolescents, while factors such as parents’ marital discord and relentless pursuit of thinness have also been reported. Family difficulties experienced included problems in parenting, inadequate financial resources, and insufficient information and access to health and social services. Strong family motivation and filial piety are found to be important cultural assets conducive to recovery. Implications of this study for social work practice are discussed.
How children experience fostering outcomes: participatory research with children
Authors: Fernandez Elizabeth 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTThis paper presents findings from longitudinal research that uses quantitative and qualitative methods to explore children’s perceptions of outcomes of the care experience. Children’s self‐assessments on two occasions reflect a high level of psychosocial need. Important relationships emerged regarding the children’s judgements of their interpersonal skills and attachments. Children who displayed stronger maternal attachment were likely to sustain highly cohesive relationships with the rest of the foster family. Themes emerging from the data are discussed, including the role of foster mothers and fathers in enhancing developmental outcomes for children.
Closing the gap? The effectiveness of referred access family support services
Authors: Sanders Robert , Roach Gareth 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTThis paper presents findings from a study of the effectiveness of family support services provided through two family centres run by a voluntary agency in partnership with a South Wales local authority. It evaluates the effectiveness of family support services by looking at both the family views and a number of measurable outcomes in terms of reported changes in family functioning and the well‐being of children and parents. Interventions were monitored over 6 months using a pre‐test post‐test non‐equivalent groups design, incorporating quantitative and qualitative methods. Child well‐being, family functioning and some aspects of parental well‐being (related directly to the child) did improve over the intervention period for family support service users. This improvement resulted in the family support service users ‘closing the gap’ with non‐service users (comparison group), to such an extent on some measures, as to be statistically significant. The qualitative evidence confirmed these improvements. The only area that did not improve, according to the quantitative findings, was that of parental well‐being (not related directly to the child). This includes important factors around social support networks, such as parental confidence, social interaction and social contact. The reasons for lack of improvement in these areas are discussed, emphasizing the importance of monitoring the impact of using the service and incorporating a focus on the quality of the nature of the relationship between the worker and the service user.
Severe fibrosis in hepatitis C virus-infected patients is associated with increased activity of the mannan-binding lectin (MBL)/MBL-associated serine protease 1 (MASP-1) complex
Authors: Brown K S , Keogh M J , Tagiuri N , Grainge M J , Presanis J S , Ryder S D , Irving W L , Ball J K , Sim R B , Hickling T P 
Published: November 2006

SummaryMannan-binding lectin (MBL) binds microorganisms via interactions with glycans on the target surface. Bound MBL subsequently activates MBL-associated serine protease proenzymes (MASPs). A role for MBL in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection had been indicated by previous studies examining MBL levels and polymorphisms in relation to disease progression and response to treatment. We undertook this study to investigate a possible relationship between disease progression and functional MBL/MASP-1 complex activity. A functional assay for MBL/MASP-1 complex activity was employed to examine serum samples from patients with chronic HCV infection, non-HCV liver disease and healthy controls. Intrapatient consistency of MBL/MASP-1 complex activity levels was assessed in sequential samples from a subgroup of patients. Median values of MBL/MASP-1 complex activity were higher in sera from patients with liver disease compared with healthy controls. MBL/MASP-1 complex activity levels correlate with severity of fibrosis after adjusting for confounding factors (P = 0·003). MBL/MASP-1 complex activity was associated more significantly with fibrosis than was MBL concentration. The potential role of MBL/MASP-1 complex activity in disease progression is worthy of further study to investigate possible mechanistic links.
Diclofenac induces basophil degranulation without increasing CD63 expression in sensitive patients
Authors: Malbrán A , Yeyati E , Rey G L , Galassi N 
Published: November 2006

Summary
Diclofenac (Dc) induces an IgE-independent basophil (Ba) degranulation in susceptible individuals. CD63 Ba expression is utilized as an in vitro test for diagnosis of drug hypersensitivity. We tested the ability of Dc to induce CD63 Ba expression by flow cytometry (BAT) and Ba degranulation using light microscopy (HBDT) in patients sensitive to Dc. We studied 14 patients with diclofenac hypersensitivity, also two patients sensitive to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp), and 12 normal controls. HBDT was performed by mononuclear cells toluidine blue staining. BAT determined CD63 expression in antiCD63/anti-IgE/anti-CD45-labelled whole blood. In each case, the percentage of activated Ba post-stimulation with 1 and 10 µg/ml Dc was determined. Positive controls included N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) peptide-induced activation. IgE-mediated Ba activation was induced with a Dp allergenic extract. With Dc 1 µg/ml, mean HBDT in Dc-susceptible individuals was 33·62 ± 18·35% and 8·49 ± 4·79% in controls (P = 0·0001). Mean BAT was 2·04 ± 1·68% and 1·93 ± 1·40% in controls (P = 0·8). Ba preincubation with Dc did not affect fMLP-induced CD63 expression, neither in Dc-sensitive individuals (P = 0·8) (n = 4) nor in subjects without Dc hypersensitivity (P = 0·25) (n = 4). Ba from the two patients sensitive both to Dc and Dp responded to Dp but not to Dc by BAT: Dc, 1·99 ± 0·78%; Dp: 60·87 ± 9·28%; but showed degranulation by HBDT: Dc, 30·53 ± 1·02%, Dp: 48·78 ± 22·17%. Dc induces Ba degranulation in sensitive patients in a way that does not induce CD63 expression and is different from IgE-mediated and fMLP-mediated degranulation. Our results suggest that CD63 expression is not a reliable diagnostic method for diclofenac allergy.
Intraoperative cytology of clear cell carcinoma of the ovary
Authors: Vrdoljak‐Mozetič D. , Stanković T. , Krašević M. , Verša‐Ostojić D. , Štemberger‐Papić S. , Rupčić S. 
Published: November 2006

Objective:  To describe the cytomorphology of clear cell carcinoma (CCC) of the ovary in intraoperative samples of peritoneal fluid, imprint and scraping samples of the tumour tissue.Study design:  Fourteen histologically confirmed cases, stained by standard cytological procedures, were analysed by light microscopy.Results:  In 33.3% of peritoneal fluid samples and 92.9% of imprint and scraping cytological samples, besides variable clear cell cellular morphology, one or both distinct cytological characteristics were observed: eosinophilic, hyaline, extracellular, globular substance with or without formation of a ‘raspberry’ body and an eosinophilic, intracytoplasmic inclusions. These structures were clearly seen only in samples stained by May‐Grünwald–Giemsa.Conclusion:  Using cytological analysis of imprint and scraping samples of ovarian tumours it is possible to make a precise intraoperative cytological diagnosis in most cases of CCC of the ovary.
Plum pox virusand the estimated costs associated with sharka disease
Authors: Cambra M. , Capote N. , Myrta A. , Llácer G. 
Published: November 2006

Since first being recorded in 1917–18 in Bulgaria, sharka (plum pox) disease has progressively spread via infected plant material to be present in mostPrunus‐growing nations today. The disease has serious agronomic and political consequences because it causes enormous economic losses. In countries in which sharka is endemic, a high percentage of apricot and European plum production is unmarketable because of the disease. To these figures should be added the costs of sanitary controls, surveys and eradication programmes against sharka virus. Estimated costs associated with sharka management worldwide in the last 30 years exceed 10 000 million euros. However, improvements in knowledge of the disease and in techniques used to identify the disease are significantly aiding disease control and management.
Aquatic and terrestrial invertebrate drift in southern Appalachian Mountain streams: implications for trout food resources
Authors: ROMANISZYN ERIC D. , HUTCHENS JOHN J. , BRUCE WALLACE J. 
Published: November 2006

Summary1. We characterised aquatic and terrestrial invertebrate drift in six south‐western North Carolina streams and their implications for trout production. Streams of this region typically have low standing stock and production of trout because of low benthic productivity. However, little is known about the contribution of terrestrial invertebrates entering drift, the factors that affect these inputs (including season, diel period and riparian cover type), or the energetic contribution of drift to trout.2. Eight sites were sampled in streams with four riparian cover types. Drift samples were collected at sunrise, midday and sunset; and in spring, early summer, late summer and autumn. The importance of drift for trout production was assessed using literature estimates of annual benthic production in the southern Appalachians, ecotrophic coefficients and food conversion efficiencies.3. Abundance and biomass of terrestrial invertebrate inputs and drifting aquatic larvae were typically highest in spring and early summer. Aquatic larval abundances were greater than terrestrial invertebrates during these seasons and terrestrial invertebrate biomass was greater than aquatic larval biomass in the autumn. Drift rates of aquatic larval abundance and biomass were greatest at sunset. Inputs of terrestrial invertebrate biomass were greater than aquatic larvae at midday. Terrestrial invertebrate abundances were highest in streams with open canopies and streams adjacent to pasture with limited forest canopy.4. We estimate the combination of benthic invertebrate production and terrestrial invertebrate inputs can support 3.3–18.2 g (wet weight) m−2 year−1 of trout, which is generally lower than values considered productive [10.0–30.0 g (wet weight) m−2 year−1].5. Our results indicate terrestrial invertebrates can be an important energy source for trout in these streams, but trout production is still low. Any management activities that attempt to increase trout production should assess trout food resources and ensure their availability.
Fitness consequences of variation in natural antibodies and complement in the Barn SwallowHirundo rustica
Authors: MØLLER ANDERS PAPE , HAUSSY CLAUDY 
Published: November 2006

SummaryThe immune system and its component parts have evolved and are maintained due to the fitness benefits that hosts acquire in terms of parasite resistance. However, there are relatively few studies of the fitness consequences of natural variation in immunity in free‐living populations, mainly due to the complexity of the immune system and logistic problems of assessing immunity and fitness components.We quantified two aspects of humoral immunity in a population of Barn SwallowsHirundo rustica, natural antibodies and complement that constitute the first line of defence against parasites.The magnitude of both immune components increased during the breeding season.Very old adults had reduced levels of natural antibodies, providing evidence consistent with immuno‐senescence, while that was not the case for lysis. However, there was no evidence that survivors from one year to the next had stronger agglutination or lysis than nonsurvivors.Females with a second clutch had higher levels of natural antibodies than females that only had a single clutch, while males showed no differences. Annual fecundity of females decreased with natural antibody levels, that was not evident in males. Therefore, in females, natural antibody and complement levels are important predictors of vital rates.Tail length of male partners, but not of females, explained the variation in female natural antibodies and complement, while there was no similar effect in males. This pattern may have arisen from differential parental investment by females mated to the most attractive males.The abundance of four different ectoparasites was not predicted by either immune component.
Characterization of the 12C4 survivin monoclonal antibody and insight into the expression of survivin in human adult tissues
Authors: Spaulding B , Pan D , Ghadersohi A , Nielsen G , Jensen S , Gellert F , Ling X , Zhang M , Black A , Li F 
Published: November 2006

Aims:  To elucidate the expression and regulation of survivin in normal tissues.Methods and results:  A novel monoclonal antibody (12C4) to survivin was generated. Application of this antibody to determine survivin expression in human normal adult tissues revealed that most adult tissues do not express survivin and, where it is present, survivin is largely restricted to a small subset of epithelial cells and cells with proliferative potential such as thymus. Survivin expression among positive tissues showed individual variations, ranging from zero to < 5% positive cells in epithelial cell populations. Testis is the only human adult tissue highly expressing survivin, with 60–70% positivity in the nuclei of spermatogonia. Consistent with deregulated expression of survivin associated with oncogenesis, we found that certain ligands and transcription factors differentially modulate survivin promoter activity in cancer cells versus normal/untransformed cells.Conclusion:  Deregulation of survivin transcription controls in individual epithelial cells may contribute to oncogenesis in various human adult tissues.
Mutations and nuclear accumulation of β‐catenin correlate with intestinal phenotypic expression in human gastric cancer
Authors: Ogasawara N , Tsukamoto T , Mizoshita T , Inada K , Cao X , Takenaka Y , Joh T , Tatematsu M 
Published: November 2006

Aims:  Abnormal localization of β‐catenin is frequently observed in human gastric cancers. The aim of the present study was to evaluate relationships among gastrointestinal differentiation phenotypes, β‐catenin localization and mutations of Wnt signalling genes.Methods and results:  Seventy‐seven regions in 39 gastric adenocarcinomas were classified according to β‐catenin localization and gastric and intestinal phenotypes. Cases with membranous β‐catenin localization showed a gradual decrease from gastric (G) (55% = 6/11) and gastric‐and‐intestinal‐mixed (GI) (17% = 5/29) to intestinal (I) (0% = 0/21) phenotypes, while those with nuclear localization showed a concomitant increase: 18% (2/11), 41% (12/29), 95% (20/21) and 63% (10/16) for G, GI, I and null type (N), respectively (P < 0.001, membranous versus nuclear localization in G, GI through I). Mutations in exon 3 of the β‐catenin gene were found in G (50% = 1/2), GI (67% = 8/12), I (45% = 9/20) and N (0% = 0/10) regions with nuclear β‐catenin localization (GI versus N, P < 0.01; I versus N, P < 0.05). Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene mutations were demonstrated only in GI, I and N types, irrespective of β‐catenin localization. Molecular analysis of these genes revealed 10 tumours to be heterogeneous out of 16 informative cases (62.5%).Conclusion:  Intestinal phenotypic expression is accompanied by a shift from membranous to cytoplasmic/nuclear accumulation of β‐catenin. In contrast, N‐type regions may progress along a different pathway.
The role of liver‐derived regulatory dendritic cells in prevention of type 1 diabetes
Authors: Liang Xiaoyan , Ma Linlin , Thai Ngoc L. , Fung John J. , Qian Shiguang , Lu Lina 
Published: November 2006

SummaryDevelopment of type 1 diabetes has been attributed to T‐cell‐mediated autoimmunity, which is regulated by antigen‐presenting cells. To study the role of liver‐derived B220+ regulatory dendritic cells (DCs) in the development of diabetes in non‐obese diabetic (NOD) mice, we found that liver 220+ DCs could easily be propagated from young NOD mice, but that such propagation was extremely difficult from mice older than 11 weeks, when insulitis began. This was not simply an age‐related phenomenon, because liver B220+ DCs were readily propagated from both young and old congenic non‐obese diabetic‐resistant (NOR) and normal BALB/c mice. It was therefore speculated that the development of diabetes might be associated with a lack of precursors of B220+ DC in the liver in this animal model. Unfortunately, the specific marker for precursors of liver B220+ DC has not been identified. An alternative approach to supplement liver B220+ DCs by intravenous administration significantly inhibited the development of diabetes by inducing T‐cell hyporesponsiveness via enhancement of their apoptotic death. Liver B220+ DCs were capable of effectively presenting antigens but, unlike plasmacytoid DCs, did not express CD11c and were not interferon‐α producers. These observations may throw new light on the aetiopathology of type 1 diabetes.
On a key postulate of T‐cell receptor restrictive function: the V‐gene loci act as a single pool encoding recognition of the polymorphic alleles of the species major histocompatibility complex
Authors: Cohn Melvin 
Published: November 2006

SummaryThe proposition that single Vα or Vβ gene segments specify the recognition of the allele‐specific determinants expressed on the major histocompatibility complex‐encoded restricting elements of the species has as its consequence a totally different picture of the functioning of the T‐cell receptor. This commentary justifies this assumption and outlines some of its most important consequences.