bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impaired long‐term potentiation–like plasticity of the trigeminal blink reflex circuit in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Battaglia Fortunato , Ghilardi Maria Felice , Quartarone Angelo , Bagnato Sergio , Girlanda Paolo , Hallett Mark 
Published: October 2006

AbstractWe investigated the hypothesis that Parkinsons's disease (PD) is associated with abnormal plasticity of the neuronal circuits mediating blink reflex. We induced long‐term potentiation (LTP)‐like plasticity in trigeminal wide dynamic range neurons of the blink reflex circuit by pairing an high‐frequency train of electrical stimuli over the right supraorbital nerve (SO) coincident with the R2 response elicited by a preceding SO stimulus. The facilitation of the R2 response after the induction protocol was markedly decreased in patients relative to controls. Treatment with dopaminergic drugs normalized the LTP‐like plasticity of the R2 response. We conclude that nigrostriatal denervation disrupts LTP‐like plasticity in the trigeminal reflex circuit. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society
Long‐term benefit to pallidal deep brain stimulation in a case of dystonia secondary to pantothenate kinase‐associated neurodegeneration
Authors: Krause Martin , Fogel Wolfgang , Tronnier Volker , Pohle Sabine , Hörtnagel Konstanze , Thyen Ute , Volkmann Jens 
Published: October 2006

AbstractPantothenate kinase‐associated neurodegeneration (PKAN) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder with onset in childhood and rapid progression. There is no causative and insufficient symptomatic drug therapy. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the internal pallidum (GPi) has been reported to improve motor function. Most case reports, however, are limited to short observational periods. The impact of DBS on the progression and life expectancy in PKAN is unknown. We present a 5‐year outcome and video documentation of bilateral GPi‐DBS of an adolescent patient suffering from genetically defined PKAN. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society
Potassium sensitivity test (PST) as a measurement of treatment efficacy of painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis: A prospective study with cyclosporine A and pentosan polysulfate sodium
Authors: Sairanen Jukka , Tammela Teuvo L. J. , Leppilahti Mikael , Onali Markku , Forsell Tapio , Ruutu Mirja 
Published: October 2006

AbstractAimsPotassium sensitivity test (PST) has been used as an optional tool in diagnosing painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis (PBS/IC). The role of PST in the follow‐up of patients with PBS/IC is elusive. We performed PST before and after treatment of PBS/IC with cyclosporine A (CyA) or pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS), to test whether the result of repeated PST correlates with alleviation of PBS/IC‐related symptoms.Materials and MethodsSixty‐four patients who participated in a randomized clinical study comparing CyA and PPS in the treatment of PBS/IC were recruited to the present study. Patients underwent 0.4 M PST before and after 6 months of treatment. The primary end point was a change from positive PST to negative among patients who responded to both treatments determined by global response assessment (GRA).ResultsPotassium sensitivity test (PST) was more likely to change from positive to negative among patients who responded to their treatment according to GRA (P < 0.001). The PST change follows the clinical course (ICSI score, voiding frequency, VAS score), which was more beneficial in the CyA‐treated patients.ConclusionsPotassium sensitivity test (PST) reflects symptom severity of PBS/IC patients. Change of pre‐treatment positive PST to negative correlates well with clinical alleviation of PBS/IC‐related symptoms. In patients with persistent symptoms it may be painful and does not offer additional information. Thus, we do not recommend PST to be used as a routine clinical test in monitoring of PBS/IC treatment efficacy. Neurourol. Urodynam. 26:267–270, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinical experience with urethral retro‐resistance pressure measurement: A prospective pre‐ and postoperative evaluation in women with stress urinary incontinence
Authors: Tunn Ralf , Marschke Juliane , Wildt Bettina , Gauruder‐Burmester Annett 
Published: October 2006

AbstractAimsTo identify possible correlations of urethral retro‐resistance pressure (URP) with clinically and urodynamically proven stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and the outcome of anti‐incontinence surgery.Materials and MethodsURP was measured using the Monitorr® system in women with clinically and urodynamically proven SUI without prolapse before and after anti‐incontinence surgery (colposuspension n = 8, tension‐free vaginal tape n = 6, tension‐free transobturator tape n = 34).ResultsForty‐eight women (mean age 61.8 ± 8.9 years) were evaluated preoperatively and on average 10 weeks postoperatively. Mean URP was 75.6 ± 20.8 cm H2O preoperatively versus 75.4 ± 17.9 cm H2O postoperatively (P = 0.898). The type of anti‐incontinence surgery performed had no significant effect on postoperative URP. While no association was found between age and URP (P = 0.35), there was a positive correlation between URP and body mass index (BMI; r = 0.49, P = 0.0004). There was no correlation of URP with the preoperative pad test (P = 0.17) and urethral closure pressure at rest (P = 0.51). Finally, URP did not correlate significantly with the preserved length of the continence zone (0‐1/3‐2/3‐3/3) as determined by the urethral stress profile (P = 0.37–0.72) or with the objective cure rate (negative pad test).ConclusionsPreoperative URP does not correlate with SUI in all women, has no predictive value, and does not correlate with the outcome of anti‐incontinence surgery. However, there seems to be an association with biomechanical factors such as obesity, which may open up a new area of application for URP measurement in urogynecologic diagnosis. Neurourol. Urodynam. 26:262–266, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinical ultrashort echo time imaging of bone and other connective tissues
Authors: Robson Matthew D. , Bydder Graeme M. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThe background underpinning the clinical use of ultrashort echo time, SPRITE and other pulse sequences for imaging bone and other connective tissues with short T2 is reviewed. Features of the basic physics relevant to UTE imaging are described, including the consequences when the radiofrequency pulse duration is of the order of T2 so that rotation of tissue magnetization into the transverse plane is incomplete. Consequences of the broad linewidth of short T2 components are also discussed, including partial saturation by off‐resonance fat suppression pulses as well as those used in multislice and multiecho imaging. The need for rapid data acquisition of the order of T2 is explained. The basic two‐dimensional UTE pulse sequence with its half excitation pulse and radial imaging from the centre of k‐space is described, together with options that suppress fat and/or reduce the signal from long T2 components. The basic features of SPRITE and other sequences with very short TE are described. Image interpretation is discussed. Clinical features of the imaging of cortical bone, tendons, ligaments, menisci, periosteum and the spine are illustrated. The source of the short T2 signal in these tissues is predominantly collagen and water tightly bound to collagen. Short T2 components in all of these tissues are detectible and may show high signals. Possible future developments are outlined, as are technical limitations of clinical magnetic resonance systems. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Advances in MR imaging of the skin
Authors: Bittoun Jacques , Querleux Bernard , Darrasse Luc 
Published: October 2006

AbstractMR imaging of the skin is challenging because of the small size of the structures to be visualized. By increasing the gradient amplitude and/or duration, skin layers can be visualized with a voxel size of the order of 20 µm, clearly the smallest obtained for in vivo images in a whole‐body imager. Currently, the gradient strength of most commercial systems enables acquisition of such a small voxel size, and the main difficulty has thus become to achieve sufficient detection sensitivity. The signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) can be increased either by increasing the magnetic field strength or by minimizing noise with small coils; cooling copper coils or superconducting coils can enhance the SNR by a factor of 3 or more. MR imaging, because of the large number of parameters it is able to measure, can provide more than the microscopic architecture of the skin: physical parameters such as relaxation times, magnetization transfer or diffusion, and chemical parameters such as the water and fat contents or phosphorus metabolism. In spite of the amount of information they have provided to date, MR imaging and spectroscopy have had limited clinical applications, mainly because cutaneous pathologies are easily accessible to the naked eye and surgery. However, MR technologies indeed represent powerful research tools to study normal and diseased skin. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preparation of monodisperse fluorescent core–shell polymer microspheres with functional groups in the shell layer by two‐stage distillation–precipitation polymerization
Authors: Qi Donglai , Yang Xinlin , Huang Wenqiang 
Published: October 2006

AbstractMonodisperse crosslinked core–shell micrometer‐sized microspheres bearing a brightly blue fluorescent dye, carbazole, and containing various functional groups in the shell layers were prepared by a two‐stage distillation–precipitation polymerization in acetonitrile in the absence of any stabilizer. Commercial divinylbenzene (DVB), containing 80 vol.% of DVB, was polymerized by distillation–precipitation in acetonitrile without any stabilizer using 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator for the first stage of polymerization which resulted in monodisperse polyDVB microspheres used as the core. Several functional monomers, including 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile together with N‐vinylcarbazole blue fluorescent comonomer, were incorporated into the shell layers with AIBN as initiator during the second stage of polymerization. The resultant core–shell polymer microspheres were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV‐visible spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
An all‐atom, distance‐dependent scoring function for the prediction of protein–DNA interactions from structure
Authors: Robertson Timothy A. , Varani Gabriele 
Published: October 2006

AbstractWe have developed an all‐atom statistical potential function for the prediction of protein–DNA interactions from their structures, and show that this method outperforms similar, lower‐resolution statistical potentials in a series of decoy discrimination experiments. The all‐atom formalism appears to capture details of atomic interactions that are missed by the lower‐resolution methods, with the majority of the discriminatory power arising from its description of short‐range atomic contacts. We show that, on average, the method is able to identify 90% of near‐native docking decoys within the best‐scoring 10% of structures in a given decoy set, and it compares favorably with an optimized physical potential function in a test of structure‐based identification of DNA binding‐sequences. These results demonstrate that all‐atom statistical functions specific to protein–DNA interactions can achieve great discriminatory power despite the limited size of the structural database. They also suggest that the statistical scores may soon be able to achieve accuracy on par with more complex, physical potential functions. Proteins 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The location and characterisation of the O‐linked glycans of the human insulin receptor
Authors: Sparrow Lindsay G. , Gorman Jeffrey J. , Strike Phillip M. , Robinson Christine P. , McKern Neil M. , Epa V. Chandana , Ward Colin W. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractO‐linked glycosylation is a post‐translational and post‐folding event involving exposed S/T residues at β‐turns or in regions with extended conformation. O‐linked sites are difficult to predict from sequence analyses compared to N‐linked sites. Here we compare the results of chemical analyses of isolated glycopeptides with the prediction using the neural network prediction method NetOGlyc3.1, a procedure that has been reported to correctly predict 76% of O‐glycosylated residues in proteins. Using the heavily glycosylated human insulin receptor as the test protein six sites of mucin‐type O‐glycosylation were found at residues T744, T749, S757, S758, T759, and T763 compared to the three sites (T759 and T763‐ correctly, T756‐ incorrectly) predicted by the neural network method. These six sites occur in a 20 residue segment that begins nine residues downstream from the start of the insulin receptor β‐chain. This region which also includes N‐linked glycosylation sites at N742 and N755, is predicted to lack secondary structure and is followed by residues 765–770, the known linear epitope for the monoclonal antibody 18–44. Proteins 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
IR spectral and structural studies of 4‐aminobenzenesulfonamide (sulfanilamide)‐d0, ‐d4, and ‐15N, as well as their azanions: Combined DFT B3LYP/experimental approach
Authors: Popova Angelina D. , Georgieva Miglena. K. , Petrov Ognyan. I. , Petrova Katya. V. , Velcheva Evelina. A. 
Published: October 2006

AbstractThe infrared (IR) spectra of sulfanilamide 1 and of its azanion (counter ion Na+) 2 have been measured in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solutions. The density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP 6‐31++G(d,p) computations performed adequately describe the experimental spectroscopic data, including the corresponding frequency isotopic shifts. In agreement between theory and experiment, the conversion of sulfanilamide 1 into azanion 2 results in strong frequency decreases of the asymmetrical and symmetrical vibrations of the SO2 group: predicted 122 cm−1, measured 140 cm−1 in solution (total values), as well as in other essential IR spectral changes. According to the computations, the strongest changes in the steric structure take place at and next to the azanionic center. The new (azanionic) charge is distributed, as follows: 0.08e−, 0.23e−, and 0.12e− are delocalized over the amino, phenylene, and sulfonic groups, respectively, and 0.57e− of it remain localized at the azanionic center. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007
Is Mars alive?
Authors: Allen Mark , Sherwood Lollar Barbara , Runnegar Bruce , Oehler Dorothy Z. , Lyons James R. , Manning Craig E. , Summers Michael E. 
Published: October 2006

Mars long has been considered a cold, dead planet. However, recent reports of methane in the Martian atmosphere [Formisano et al., 2004; Krasnopolsky et al., 2004; Mumma et al., 2004] suggest that methane currently is being produced, since its calculated atmospheric lifetime of 400 years or less [Nair et al., 2005] requires a constant resupply. Possible subsurface sources for this resupply are geological, or even microbiological, in nature. So the question is: Is Mars alive, biologically or geologically speaking?If either geological or microbiological sources of methane on Mars can be confirmed, there will be profound implications for astrobiology and the U.S. space program. If the existence of active microbiology were established, it would not be surprising if NASA reorganized its mission plan to follow‐up on such a discovery. Additionally, current geological processes that result in the formation of methane would be in locations that are warm and wet, and thus likely habitable. If key nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus—in addition to liquid water—also were available, such locations could support life, and not necessarily just methane‐producing organisms.
Bronchial stump fistula: treatment with covered, retrievable, expandable, hinged stents—preliminary clinical experience
Authors: Li Yong-Dong , Han Xin-Wei , Li Ming-Hua , Wu Gang 
Published: October 2006

Purpose: To evaluate the preliminary clinical efficacy and retrievability of a covered, retrievable, metallic hinged stent in the treatment of bronchial stump fistula (BPF). Material and Methods: Between April 2003 and March 2005, eight patients with bronchial stump fistula after pneumonectomy or lobectomy were treated with two types of covered, retrievable, metallic hinged stents. Type A stent was placed in six patients and type B in two under fluoroscopic guidance. The stent was removed with a retrieval set when BPF was healed or complications occurred. Results: Stent placement in the bronchial tree was technically successful in all patients, without procedure-related complications. Immediate closure of the BPF was achieved in all patients after the procedure. Stents were removed from all patients but one. Removal of the stents was difficult in two patients due to tissue hyperplasia. Patients were followed for 4–16 months. Placement of the stents remained stable in all patients except one due to severe cough. Permanent closure of BPF was achieved in seven (87.5%) of eight patients. Conclusion: Use of a covered, retrievable, expandable, metallic hinged stent is a simple, safe, and effective procedure for the closure of bronchial stump fistula. Retrieval of the stent seems feasible.
Cine magnetic resonance imaging of the small bowel: comparison of different oral contrast media
Authors: Asbach P. , Breitwieser C. , Diederichs G. , Eisele S. , Kivelitz D. , Taupitz M. , Zeitz M. , Hamm B. , Klessen C. 
Published: October 2006

Purpose: To evaluate several substances regarding small bowel distension and contrast on balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) cine magnetic resonance (MR) images. Material and Methods: Luminal contrast was evaluated in 24 volunteers after oral application of two different contrast agent groups leading to either bright lumen (pineapple, blueberry juice) or dark lumen (tap water, orange juice) on T1-weighted images. Bowel distension was evaluated in 30 patients ingesting either methylcellulose or mannitol solution for limiting intestinal absorption. Fifteen patients with duodeno-jejunal intubation served as the control. Quantitative evaluation included measurement of luminal signal intensities and diameters of four bowel segments, qualitative evaluation assessed luminal contrast and distension on a five-point scale. Results: Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the four contrast agents revealed no significant differences regarding luminal contrast on bSSFP images. Quantitative evaluation revealed significantly lower ( P<0.05) small bowel distension for three out of four segments (qualitative evaluation: two out of four segments) for methylcellulose in comparison to the control. Mannitol was found to be equal to the control. Conclusion: Oral ingestion of tap water or orange juice in combination with mannitol is recommended for cine MR imaging of the small bowel regarding luminal contrast and small bowel distension on bSSFP sequences.
Conserved F84 and P86 residues in αB‐crystallin are essential to effectively prevent the aggregation of substrate proteins
Authors: Santhoshkumar Puttur , Sharma K. Krishna 
Published: October 2006

AbstractPreviously, we have shown that residues 73–92 (sequence DRFSVNLDVKHFSPEELKVK) in αB‐crystallin are involved in preventing the formation of light scattering aggregates by substrate proteins. In this study, we made single substitutions of three conserved amino acid residues (H83 → A, F84 → G, and P86 → A) and a nonconserved amino acid residue (K90 → C) in the functional region of αB‐crystallin and evaluated their role in anti‐aggregation activity. Mutation of conserved residues led to changes in intrinsic tryptophan intensity, bis‐ANS binding, and in the secondary and tertiary structures. The H83A mutation led to a twofold increase in molar mass, while the other mutants did not produce significant changes in the molar mass when compared to that of wild‐type protein. The chaperone‐like activity of the H83A mutant was enhanced by 15%–20%, and the chaperone‐like activity of F84G and P86A mutants was reduced by 50%–65% when compared to the chaperone‐like activity of wild‐type αB‐crystallin. The substitution of the nonconserved residue (K90 → C) did not induce an appreciable change in the structure and function of the mutant protein. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay demonstrated that destabilized ADH interacted near the K90 region in αB‐crystallin. The data show that F84 and P86 residues are essential for αB‐crystallin to effectively prevent the aggregation of substrate proteins. This study further supports the involvement of the residues in the 73–92 region of αB‐crystallin in substrate protein binding and chaperone‐like action.
Risk factors for medication misadventure among residents in sheltered housing complexes
Authors: George Johnson , Munro Kim , McCaig Dorothy , Stewart Derek 
Published: October 2006

What is already known about this subject• Medication‐related problems are more common among the elderly and are associated with poor outcomes.• Identification of elderly patients at high risk of medication misadventure and timely interventions could avoid unnecessary hospitalizations.What this study adds• Three‐quarters of elderly patients living in sheltered housing complexes had at least one risk factor for medication‐related problems.• Sheltered housing residents using five or more medications or using any medication with a narrow therapeutic index were more likely to have unplanned hospitalizations.• Use of medications with high potential for adverse drug reactions in the elderly or self‐reported non‐adherence to prescribed medications were not independent predictors of unplanned hospitalizations.AimTo identify risk factors for unplanned hospitalizations among residents of sheltered housing complexes (SHCs).MethodsMedication‐related risk factors for health outcomes among residents of SHCs in Aberdeen (n = 1137) were assessed using a postal questionnaire. Predictors of unplanned hospitalization/emergency department (ED) visit were identified using logistic regression.ResultsOf the 695 (61.1%) responses received, 645 were from residents (mean age 78.2 years) using prescribed medications. One or more risk factors for medication‐related problems was seen in 467 (72.4%) respondents; 488 (75.7%) were using medications with high potential for adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in the elderly. Unplanned hospitalizations/ED visits (n = 230) were found to be associated with use of drugs of narrow therapeutic index [P < 0.001; odds ratio (OR) 2.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.69, 5.28]; use of five or more different medications (P = 0.001; OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.34, 3.31); and greater disability (Townsend score) (P = 0.005; OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02, 1.11).ConclusionResidents of SHCs using drugs of narrow therapeutic index, using five or more different medications, and with greater disability warrant periodic monitoring.