bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Insertion polymorphisms of SINE200 retrotransposons within speciation islands of Anopheles gambiae molecular forms
Authors: Santolamazza Federica , Mancini Emiliano , Simard Frédéric , Qi Yumin , Tu Zhijian , della Torre Alessandra 
Published: August 2008

Abstract

Background
SINEs (Short INterspersed Elements) are homoplasy-free and co-dominant genetic markers which are considered to represent useful tools for population genetic studies, and could help clarifying the speciation processes ongoing within the major malaria vector in Africa, Anopheles gambiae s.s. Here, we report the results of the analysis of the insertion polymorphism of a nearly 200 bp-long SINE (SINE200) within genome areas of high differentiation (i.e. "speciation islands") of M and S A. gambiae molecular forms.

Methods
A SINE-PCR approach was carried out on thirteen SINE200 insertions in M and S females collected along the whole range of distribution of A. gambiae s.s. in sub-Saharan Africa. Ten specimens each for Anopheles arabiensis, Anopheles melas, Anopheles quadriannulatus A and 15 M/S hybrids from laboratory crosses were also analysed.

Results
Eight loci were successfully amplified and were found to be specific for A. gambiae s.s.: 5 on 2L chromosome and one on X chromosome resulted monomorphic, while two loci positioned respectively on 2R (i.e. S200 2R12D) and X (i.e. S200 X6.1) chromosomes were found to be polymorphic. S200 2R12D was homozygote for the insertion in most S-form samples, while intermediate levels of polymorphism were shown in M-form, resulting in an overall high degree of genetic differentiation between molecular forms (Fst = 0.46 p < 0.001) and within M-form (Fst = 0.46 p < 0.001). The insertion of S200 X6.1 was found to be fixed in all M- and absent in all S-specimens. This led to develop a novel easy-to-use PCR approach to straightforwardly identify A. gambiae molecular forms. This novel approach allows to overcome the constraints associated with markers on the rDNA region commonly used for M and S identification. In fact, it is based on a single copy and irreversible SINE200 insertion and, thus, is not subjected to peculiar evolutionary patterns affecting rDNA markers, e.g. incomplete homogenization of the arrays through concerted evolution and/or mixtures of M and S IGS-sequences among the arrays of single chromatids.

Conclusion
The approach utilized allowed to develop new easy-to-use co-dominant markers for the analysis of genetic differentiation between M and S-forms and opens new perspectives in the study of the speciation process ongoing within A. gambiae.
Signal transduction around thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in atopic asthma
Authors: Sebastian Katrin , Borowski Andreas , Kuepper Michael , Friedrich Karlheinz 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), a novel interleukin-7-like cytokine, triggers dendritic cell-mediated inflammatory responses ultimately executed by T helper cells of the Th2 subtype. TSLP emerged as a central player in the development of allergic symptoms, especially in the airways, and is a prime regulatory cytokine at the interface of virus- or antigen-exposed epithelial cells and dendritic cells (DCs). DCs activated by epithelium-derived TSLP can promote naïve CD4+ T cells to adopt a Th2 phenotype, which in turn recruite eosinophilic and basophilic granulocytes as well as mast cells into the airway mucosa. These different cells secrete inflammatory cytokines and chemokines operative in inducing an allergic inflammation and atopic asthma. TSLP is, thus, involved in the control of both an innate and an adaptive immune response. Since TSLP links contact of allergen with the airway epithelium to the onset and maintainance of the asthmatic syndrome, defining the signal transduction underlying TSLP expression and function is of profound interest for a better understandimg of the disease and for the development of new therapeutics.
Anticipation of Pain Enhances the Nociceptive Transmission and Functional Connectivity within Pain Network in Rats
Authors: Wang Jin-Yan , Zhang Han-Ti , Chang Jing-Yu , Woodward Donald J , Baccalá Luiz A , Luo Fei 
Published: August 2008

Background: Expectation is a very potent pain modulator in both humans and animals. There is evidence that pain transmission neurons are modulated by expectation preceding painful stimuli. Nonetheless, few studies have examined the influence of pain expectation on the pain-related neuronal activity and the functional connectivity within the central nociceptive network. Results: This study used a tone-laser conditioning paradigm to establish the pain expectation in rats, and simultaneously recorded the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), the medial dorsal thalamus (MD), and the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) to investigate the effect of pain expectation on laser-induced neuronal responses. Cross-correlation and partial directed coherence analysis were used to determine the functional interactions within and between the recorded areas during nociceptive transmission. The results showed that under anticipation condition, the neuronal activity to the auditory cue was significantly increased in the ACC area, whereas those to actual noxious stimuli were enhanced in all the recorded areas. Furthermore, neuronal correlations within and between these areas were significantly increased under conditions of expectation compared to those under non-expectation conditions, indicating an enhanced synchronization of neural activity within the pain network. In addition, information flow from the medial (ACC and MD) to the lateral (SI cortex) pain pathway increased, suggesting that the emotion-related neural circuits may modulate the neuronal activity in the somatosensory pathway during nociceptive transmission. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that the nociceptive processing in both medial and lateral pain systems is modulated by the expectation of pain.
An association study of ADSS gene polymorphisms with schizophrenia
Authors: Zhang Fuquan , Sham Pak C , Fan Hua , Xu Yong , Huang Xuezhu , So Honcheong , Song Yuqing , Liu Pozi 
Published: August 2008

Abstract

Background
Adenylosuccinate synthase (ADSS) catalyzes the first committed step of AMP synthesis. It was suggested that the blood-derived RNA of ADSS was down-regulated in schizophrenia (SZ) and one of the eight putative biomarker genes to discriminate SZ from normal controls. However, it remains unclear whether the reduction of ADSS RNA is due to the polymorphisms of the gene or not.

Methods
We attempted to examine the association of ADSS gene with schizophrenia in a Chinese population of 480 schizophrenics and 502 normal controls. Genotyping was performed by the Sequenom platform.

Results
The 6 marker SNPs (rs3102460, rs3127459, rs3127460, rs3127465, rs3006001, and rs3003211) were genotyped. The frequencies of alleles, genotypes, and haplotypes were tested between cases and controls. There was no significant difference of genotypic, allelic, or haplotypic distributions of the 6 SNPs between the two groups.

Conclusion
Our data did not support ADSS gene as a susceptibility gene for SZ in Chinese Han population. Large sample size study is needed to validate or replicate our association study, especially from other ethnic populations.
Double dermal sinuses: a case study
Authors: El Khashab Mostafa , Nejat Farideh , Ertiaei Abolhasan 
Published: August 2008

Abstract

Introduction
Dermal sinus tracts are rare congenital lesions located in the midline characterized by a cutaneous pit or dimple. They occur all along the midline neuroaxis, from the nasion and occipital area down to the lumbar and sacral regions, most frequently in the lumbar and lumbosacral region.

Case presentation
Here we report a 5-year-old girl who presented with occasional headache. There were two dimples, one on the dorsal aspect of her head and another on her neck.

Conclusion
Dermal sinuses are almost always singular and the co-existence of double dermal sinuses has not been reported previously.
Variable size computer-aided detection prompts and mammography film reader decisions
Authors: Gilbert Fiona J , Astley Susan M , Boggis Caroline RM , McGee Magnus A , Griffiths Pamela M , Duffy Stephen W , Agbaje Olorunsola F , Gillan Maureen GC , Wilson Mary , Jain Anil K , Barr Nicola , Beetles Ursula M , Griffiths Miriam A , Johnson Jill , Roberts Rita M , Deans Heather E , Duncan Karen A , Iyengar Geeta 
Published: August 2008

Abstract
Introduction
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of computer-aided detection (CAD) prompts on reader behaviour in a large sample of breast screening mammograms by analysing the relationship of the presence and size of prompts to the recall decision.

Methods
Local research ethics committee approval was obtained; informed consent was not required. Mammograms were obtained from women attending routine mammography at two breast screening centres in 1996. Films, previously double read, were re-read by a different reader using CAD. The study material included 315 cancer cases comprising all screen-detected cancer cases, all subsequent interval cancers and 861 normal cases randomly selected from 10,267 cases. Ground truth data were used to assess the efficacy of CAD prompting. Associations between prompt attributes and tumour features or reader recall decisions were assessed by chi-squared tests.

Results
There was a highly significant relationship between prompting and a decision to recall for cancer cases and for a random sample of normal cases (P < 0.001). Sixty-four per cent of all cases contained at least one CAD prompt. In cancer cases, larger prompts were more likely to be recalled (P = 0.02) for masses but there was no such association for calcifications (P = 0.9). In a random sample of 861 normal cases, larger prompts were more likely to be recalled (P = 0.02) for both mass and calcification prompts. Significant associations were observed with prompting and breast density (p = 0.009) for cancer cases but not for normal cases (P = 0.05).

Conclusions
For both normal cases and cancer cases, prompted mammograms were more likely to be recalled and the prompt size was also associated with a recall decision.
Characterization of phenotypically distinct B-cell subsets and receptor-stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in human cord blood B cells
Authors: Ha Yun Jung , Mun Yeung-Chul , Seong Chu-Myong , Lee Jong Ran 
Published: August 2008

AbstractHuman cord blood (CB) is a valuable source of hematopoietic stem cells, but clinical reports have indicated slow recovery of B-cell development and function after CB transplantation. To investigate the basis of these B-cell defects in reconstitution, we characterized B cells purified from CB. We compared B-cell receptor activation and B-cell subsets in CB, bone marrow (BM), and peripheral blood (PB). We found that in CB B cells activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 following ligation of CD40 but not of the B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) was inefficient. The patterns of expression of CD5, CD34, and CD40 in the B-cell population of CB were similar to those in PB rather than in BM. The B cells in CB contained an increased proportion of B cells expressing a high level of CD24 and a low proportion of B cells expressing CD27, pointing to the presence of circulating CD24high immature transitional and CD27− naive B cells. CD40-mediated activation of ERK and p38 was also minimal in these B cells of CB. These findings may account for the functional defects of B cells in transplanted CB.
Trends in Survival Over the Past Two Decades Among White and Black Patients With Newly Diagnosed Stage IV Breast Cancer
Authors: Dawood Shaheenah , Broglio Kristine , Gonzalez-Angulo Ana M. , Buzdar Aman U. , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. , Giordano Sharon H. 
Published: August 2008

Purpose Overall, breast cancer mortality has been declining in the United States, but survival studies of patients with stage IV disease are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate trends in and factors affecting survival in a large population-based cohort of patients with newly diagnosed stage IV breast cancer. Patients and Methods We searched the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry to identify female patients with stage IV breast cancer diagnosed between 1988 and 2003. Patients were divided into three groups according to year of diagnosis (1988 to 1993, 1994 to 1998, and 1999 to 2003). Survival outcomes were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox models were fit to determine the characteristics independently associated with survival. Results We identified 15,438 patients. Median age was 62 years. Median follow-up was 16 months, 18 months, and 11 months in periods 1988 to 1993, 1994 to 1998, and 1999 to 2003, respectively. Median breast cancer–specific survival was 23 months. In the multivariate model, earlier year of diagnosis, grade 3 disease, increasing age, being unmarried, hormone receptor–negative disease, and no surgery were all independently associated with worse overall and breast cancer–specific survival. With each successive year of diagnosis, black patients had an increasingly greater risk of death compared with white patients (hazard ratio, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.06; P = .031). Conclusion The survival of patients with newly diagnosed stage IV breast cancer has modestly improved over time, but these data suggest that the disparity in survival between black and white patients has increased.
ANGIOGRAPHIC PATTERNS OF WINGSPAN IN-STENT RESTENOSIS
Authors: Albuquerque Felipe C. , Levy Elad I. , Turk Aquilla S. , Niemann David B. , Aagaard-Kienitz Beverly , Pride G. Lee , Purdy Phillip D. , Welch Babu G. , Woo Henry H. , Rasmussen Peter A. , Hopkins L. Nelson , Masaryk Thomas J. , McDougall Cameron G. , Fiorella David J. 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE
A classification system developed to characterize in-stent restenosis (ISR) after coronary percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stenting was modified and applied to describe the appearance and distribution of ISR occurring after Wingspan (Boston Scientific, Fremont, CA) intracranial percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stenting.

METHODS
A prospective, intention-to-treat, multicenter registry of Wingspan treatment for symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease was maintained. Clinical and angiographic follow-up results were recorded. ISR was defined as greater than 50% stenosis within or immediately adjacent (within 5 mm) to the implanted stent(s) and greater than 20% absolute luminal loss. ISR lesions were classified by angiographic pattern, location, and severity in comparison with the original lesion treated.

RESULTS
Imaging follow-up (3–15.5 months) was available for 127 intracranial stenotic lesions treated with Wingspan percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stenting. Forty-one lesions (32.3%) developed either ISR (n = 36 [28.3%]) or complete stent occlusion (n = 5 [3.9%]) after treatment. When restenotic lesions were characterized using the modified classification system, 25 of 41 (61.0%) were focal lesions involving less than 50% of the length of the stented segment: three were Type IA (focal stenosis involving one end of the stent), 21 were Type IB (focal intrastent stenosis involving a segment completely contained within the stent), and one was Type IC (multiple noncontiguous focal stenoses). Eleven lesions (26.8%) demonstrated diffuse stenosis (&gt;50% of the length of the stented segment): nine were Type II with diffuse intrastent stenosis (completely contained within the stent) and two were Type III with proliferative ISR (extending beyond the stented segment). Five stents were completely occluded at follow-up (Type IV). Of the 36 ISR lesions, 16 were less severe or no worse than the original lesion with respect to severity of stenosis or length of the segment involved; 20 lesions were more severe than the original lesion with respect to the segment length involved (n = 5), actual stenosis severity (n = 6), or both (n = 9). Nine of 10 supraclinoid internal carotid artery ISR lesions and nine of 13 middle cerebral artery ISR lesions were more severe than the original lesion.

CONCLUSION
Wingspan ISR typically occurs as a focal lesion. In more than half of ISR cases, the ISR lesion was more extensive than the original lesion treated in terms of lesion length or stenosis severity. Supraclinoid internal carotid artery and middle cerebral artery lesions have a propensity to develop more severe posttreatment stenosis.
ENDOSCOPIC THIRD VENTRICULOSTOMY IN IDIOPATHIC NORMAL PRESSURE HYDROCEPHALUS
Authors: Gangemi ichelangelo , Maiuri Francesco , Naddeo Michele , Godano Umberto , Mascari Carmelo , Broggi Giovanni , Ferroli Paolo 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES
The aim of the report is to define the indications and results of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus and to discuss the physiopathological mechanism of this procedure.

METHODS
The cases of 110 patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus who underwent ETV in four Italian neurosurgical centers were retrospectively reviewed. The postoperative outcome was correlated with patient age, length of clinical history, preoperative clinical score, symptoms of clinical onset, type of hydrocephalus, and intraoperative findings.

RESULTS
The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 12 years (average, 6.5 yr). The outcome evaluation was made 2 years after the procedure. Postoperative clinical improvement occurred in 76 (69.1%) of 110 patients. There was no correlation between success rate and patient age or type of ventricular enlargement (normal or enlarged fourth ventricle). Conversely, the rate of neurological improvement was higher in patients with shorter clinical history, better preoperative neurological score, and clinical onset with gait disturbances. Moreover, the intraoperative finding of the sudden reappearance of normal cerebral pulsations and significant downward and upward movements of the third ventricular floor after ETV was also correlated with a good outcome.

CONCLUSION
ETV results in a relatively high rate of clinical improvement and a low complication rate in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. Therefore, it may be easily performed with the same approach used for intracranial pressure monitoring with low morbidity. However, our data must be confirmed by additional studies.
LOWER INCIDENCE OF REOPERATION WITH LONGER SHUNT SURVIVAL WITH ADULT VENTRICULOPERITONEAL SHUNTS PLACED FOR HEMORRHAGE-RELATED HYDROCEPHALUS
Authors: Hoh Brian L. , Lang Shih-Shan , Ortiz Michael V. , Chi Yueh-Yun , Lewis Stephen B. , Pincus David W. 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE
The incidence of reoperation for ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPS) in adults, although lower than in pediatric patients, is not insignificant. We hypothesize that adult VPS placed for hemorrhage-related hydrocephalus have a lower incidence of reoperation than those placed for other types of hydrocephalus.

METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed all adult (≥ 20 yr) VPS initially placed from February 2001 to August 2006 at the University of Florida. We determined the incidence and time interval to reoperation. Follow-up was conducted by telephone interview and review of medical records.

RESULTS
A total of 286 adult VPS were initially placed: 96 (34%) hemorrhage and 190 (66%) nonhemorrhage. A total of 15 (16%) hemorrhage patients underwent 22 shunt reoperations, compared with 50 (27%) nonhemorrhage patients who underwent 82 shunt reoperations (P = 0.0316). A Poisson regression analysis of the number of reoperations, factoring hemorrhage, age, and sex, demonstrated a significantly lower incidence of reoperation in hemorrhage patients (P = 0.0900). A Cox proportional hazards model analysis of time to first reoperation, factoring hemorrhage, age, and sex, demonstrated a significantly longer shunt survival in hemorrhage patients (P = 0.0404).

CONCLUSION
Adult VPS placed for hemorrhage-related hydrocephalus have a significantly lower incidence of reoperation and significantly longer shunt survival. This result may be related to an incidence of transient shunt dependency in patients with hemorrhage-related hydrocephalus. However, the precise mechanism remains unclear.
EFFECT OF MICROVASCULAR DECOMPRESSION IN TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA PATIENTS WITH OR WITHOUT CONSTANT PAIN
Authors: Sandell Tiril , Eide Per Kristian 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of microvascular decompression (MVD) in trigeminal neuralgia (TN) patients with or without constant pain.

METHODS
The study includes all first-time MVDs for facial pain performed by the senior author (PKE) during the 6-year period from 1999 to 2005 in the Department of Neurosurgery at the National Hospital. At the time of follow-up, pain relief was assessed using a standard mail questionnaire; those patients still having residual pain were further examined in the outpatient clinic or interviewed by phone.

RESULTS
The total study population includes 135 patients who underwent initial MVDs (67% of MVDs for TN without constant pain and 33% of MVDs for TN with constant pain). At the time of follow-up, the response rate was 95%, which provided us with 128 patients. The median observation period was 38 months (range, 12–87 mo). For episodic pain, MVD caused complete (i.e., 100%) pain relief in 78% of TN patients without constant pain and in 77% of TN patients with constant pain before MVD, and a significant pain relief (i.e., worst pain marked as 0–3 cm on a 10-cm visual analog scale) in 85 and 81%, respectively. For constant pain, MVD caused complete pain relief in 70% of the TN patients with constant pain before MVD, and significant pain relief in 77%.

CONCLUSION
In TN patients with constant pain before MVD, significant relief of episodic and constant pain was observed in 81 and 77%, respectively. Hence, the presence of constant pain should not prevent TN patients from being offered MVD.
SUBDURAL MOTOR CORTEX STIMULATION FOR CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHIC PAIN
Authors: Delavallée Maxime , Abu-Serieh Basel , de Tourchaninoff Marianne , Raftopoulos Christian 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE
In certain chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) conditions, extradural electrode implantation is preferred to a subdural location for motor cortex stimulation (MCS) therapy, but the rationale for this preference remains debatable. We provide documented long-term results of subdural MCS in CNP.

METHODS
Our eight consecutive patients (five men, three women; age range, 45–81 yr) had either central or peripheral CNP. We localized the central sulcus using anatomic landmarks and three-dimensional neuronavigation and by detecting the N20 wave inversion. We then created an elongated craniotomy (3 cm long × 1 cm wide), followed by a linear incision of the dura. An eight-polar plate electrode was slipped in subdurally. We used motor-evoked potentials to choose the optimal electrode position before fixing the electrode to the dura.

RESULTS
Six patients had favorable outcomes, and two had poor outcomes at the time of the last assessment (mean, 54 mo; range, 19–69 mo). Three patients experienced five transient complications, each having an episode of partial motor seizure, one that evolved into a secondary generalized seizure. Seizures were related to an abrupt increase in stimulation intensity. Two of these three patients also had hardware infections that required system replacement, with the electrode implanted extradurally at the second implantation in one case because of severe arachnoiditis. This change necessitated a greater intensity and a longer duration of stimulation to deliver a therapeutic effect equivalent to that with subdural MCS.

CONCLUSION
In this small series, subdural MCS seemed a tolerable approach in the long term for CNP patients. In addition, subdural MCS provided a therapeutic effect comparable to that obtained with extradural placement.