bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Certain Progestins Prevent the Enhancing Effect of 17β-Estradiol on NO-Mediated Inhibition of Platelet Aggregation by Endothelial Cells
Authors: Zerr-Fouineau Murielle , Jourdain Marie , Boesch Caroline , Hecker Markus , Bronner Christian , Schini-Kerth Valérie B. 
Published: December 2008

Objectives—Estro-progestin treatments have been associated with an increased risk of thromboembolic events in postmenopausal women. This study examined whether progestins affect the stimulatory effect of estrogens on the endothelial formation of nitric oxide (NO), a potent antithrombotic factor.Methods and Results—Experiments were performed with human endothelial cells. Endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and GTP cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH I) mRNA expression was assessed by RT-PCR, eNOS protein by Western blotting, NO formation by electron spin resonance spectroscopy, and platelet aggregation by an aggregometer. Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), progesterone, levonorgestrel, and nomegestrol acetate prevented the 17β-estradiol (17β-E)-induced expression of eNOS mRNA and protein. MPA and progesterone reduced the 17β-E-induced formation of NO and potentiation of the inhibitory effect of endothelial cells on platelet aggregation whereas levonorgestrel and nomegestrol acetate were without effect. Moreover, MPA and progesterone prevented the 17β-E-induced expression of GTPCH I mRNA. Mifepristone, a glucocorticoid and progesterone receptor antagonist, and L-sepiapterin prevented the inhibitory effect of MPA and progesterone on platelet aggregation.Conclusions—Certain progestins, including MPA, attenuate the 17β-E-induced NO-mediated inhibition of platelet aggregation by endothelial cells through preventing both eNOS and GTPCH I expression most likely via activation of glucocorticoid receptors.
Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibits G12/13and Rho-Kinase Activated by the Angiotensin II Type-1 Receptor
Authors: Suzuki Hiroyuki , Kimura Keita , Shirai Heigoro , Eguchi Kunie , Higuchi Sadaharu , Hinoki Akinari , Ishimaru Kazuhiro , Brailoiu Eugen , Dhanasekaran Danny N. , Stemmle Laura N. , Fields Timothy A. , Frank Gerald D. , Autieri Michael V. , Eguchi Satoru 
Published: December 2008

Background—Although, endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) is believed to antagonize vascular remodeling induced by the angiotensin II (AngII) type-1 receptor, the exact signaling mechanism remains unclear.Methods and Results—By expressing eNOS to vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) via adenovirus, we investigated a signal transduction mechanism of the eNOS gene transfer in preventing vascular remodeling induced by AngII. We found marked inhibition of AngII-induced Rho/Rho-kinase activation and subsequent VSMC migration by eNOS gene transfer whereas Gq-dependent transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor by AngII remains intact. This could be explained by the specific inhibition of G12/13activation by eNOS-mediated G12/13phosphorylation.Conclusion—The eNOS/NO cascade specifically targets the Rho/Rho-kinase system via inhibition of G12/13to prevent vascular migration induced by AngII, representing a novel signal cross-talk in cardiovascular protection by NO.
Despite Antiatherogenic Metabolic Characteristics, SCD1-Deficient Mice Have Increased Inflammation and Atherosclerosis
Authors: MacDonald Marcia L.E. , van Eck Miranda , Hildebrand Reeni B. , Wong Brian W.C. , Bissada Nagat , Ruddle Piers , Kontush Anatol , Hussein Hala , Pouladi Mahmoud A. , Chapman M. John , Fievet Catherine , van Berkel Theo J.C. , Staels Bart , McManus Bruce M. , Hayden Michael R. 
Published: December 2008

Objective—Absence of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) in mice reduces plasma triglycerides and provides protection from obesity and insulin resistance, which would be predicted to be associated with reduced susceptibility to atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of SCD1 deficiency on atherosclerosis.Methods and Results—Despite an antiatherogenic metabolic profile, SCD1 deficiency increases atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemic low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)-deficient mice challenged with a Western diet. Lesion area at the aortic root is significantly increased in males and females in two models of SCD1 deficiency. Inflammatory changes are evident in the skin of these mice, including increased intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and ulcerative dermatitis. Increases in ICAM-1 and interleukin-6 are also evident in plasma of SCD1-deficient mice. HDL particles demonstrate changes associated with inflammation, including decreased plasma apoA-II and apoA-I and paraoxonase-1 and increased plasma serum amyloid A. Lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response and cholesterol efflux are not altered in SCD1-deficient macrophages. In addition, when SCD1 deficiency is limited to bone marrow–derived cells, lesion size is not altered in LDLR-deficient mice.Conclusions—These studies reinforce the crucial role of chronic inflammation in promoting atherosclerosis, even in the presence of antiatherogenic biochemical and metabolic characteristics.
Edaravone, a Free Radical Scavenger, Inhibits MMP-9–Related Brain Hemorrhage in Rats Treated With Tissue Plasminogen Activator
Authors: Yagi Kenji , Kitazato Keiko T. , Uno Masaaki , Tada Yoshiteru , Kinouchi Tomoya , Shimada Kenji , Nagahiro Shinji 
Published: December 2008

Background and Purpose—Intracerebral hemorrhage, induced by recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) in ischemic stroke, is attributable to the increased activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Patients with acute infarct benefit from the neuroprotective drug edaravone, a free radical scavenger. We examined the mechanisms by which edaravone may help to suppress rtPA-induced brain hemorrhage.Methods—Male Wistar rats weighing 250 to 280 g were subjected to 3-hour transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and divided randomly into 3 groups. Immediately after reperfusion, 1 group was intravenously injected with 10 mg/kg rtPA, another with rtPA plus 3 mg/kg edaravone, and the 3rd group received no treatment. We assessed the hemorrhage volume and the activity of MMP-9 in the brain 24 hours postischemia. We also studied the activity of MMP-9, its mRNA expression, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activity in rtPA-stimulated human microvascular endothelial cells (HBECs).Results—The degree of hemorrhage and the level of endothelial cell–derived MMP-9 were elevated in rats treated with rtPA alone and attenuated in rats treated with rtPA plus edaravone. In rtPA-stimulated HBECs, edaravone suppressed the activity and mRNA expression of MMP-9 in a dose-dependent manner. Edaravone also inhibited NF-κB activation.Conclusions—We demonstrate that edaravone inhibits rtPA-induced cerebral hemorrhage in the ischemic brain of rats via the inhibition of MMP-9 expression in vivo, which is substantiated by inhibition of MMP-9 expression and NF-κB activation in HBECs. Edaravone may render thrombolytic therapy safer for the administration of rtPA in patients with ischemic stroke.
Enhanced Contractile Response of the Basilar Artery to Platelet-Derived Growth Factor in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Maeda Yoshihisa , Hirano Katsuya , Hirano Mayumi , Kikkawa Yuichiro , Kameda Katsuharu , Sasaki Tomio , Kanaide Hideo 
Published: December 2008

Background and Purpose—The level of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in cerebrospinal fluid is elevated in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Therefore, the contractile effect of PDGF on the basilar artery was examined in SAH.Methods and Results—A rabbit double-hemorrhage SAH model was used. In the medial layers of the control basilar artery, PDGF had no effect on contraction up to 1 nmol/L, whereas 3 nmol/L PDGF induced slight contraction. In SAH, PDGF induced an enhanced contraction with an increase in [Ca2+]iat 1 nmol/L and higher concentrations. The levels of [Ca2+]iand tension induced by 1 nmol/L PDGF in SAH were 17% and 20%, respectively, of those obtained with 118 mmol/L K+depolarization. The PDGF-induced elevation of [Ca2+]iand contraction seen in SAH were abolished in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. In α-toxin–permeabilized strips of SAH animals, PDGF induced no further development of tension during contraction induced by 300 nmol/L Ca2+, suggesting no direct effect on myofilament Ca2+sensitivity. Genistein at 10 μmol/L completely inhibited the tension induced by 1 nmol/L PDGF. The level of myosin light-chain phosphorylation was significantly increased by 1 nmol/L PDGF.Conclusions—These results show that the contractile response to PDGF of the basilar artery was enhanced in SAH. The PDGF-induced contraction depended mostly on tyrosine phosphorylation and Ca2+-dependent myosin light-chain phosphorylation. The enhancement of the responsiveness to PDGF may therefore contribute to the development of cerebral vasospasm after SAH.
Objective Definition of the Indian Summer Monsoon Onset*
Authors: Wang Bin , Ding Qinghua , Joseph P. V. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe onset of the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) over the southern tip of the Indian peninsula [also known as monsoon onset over Kerala (MOK)] has been considered the beginning of India’s rainy season. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) makes an official prediction of ISM onset every year using a subjective method. Based on an analysis of the past 60-yr (1948–2007) record, the authors show that the onset date can be objectively determined by the beginning of the sustained 850-hPa zonal wind averaged over the southern Arabian Sea (SAS) from 5° to 15°N, and from 40° to 80°E. The rapid establishment of a steady SAS westerly is in excellent agreement with the abrupt commencement of the rainy season over the southern tip of the Indian peninsula. In 90% of the years analyzed, this simple and objective index has excellent agreement with the onset dates that are subjectively defined by the IMD. There are only 3 yr of the past 60 yr during which the two onset dates differ by more than 10 days, and none of them perfectly reflects the MOK.A prominent onset precursor on the biweekly time scale is the westward extension of the convection center from the equatorial eastern Indian Ocean toward the southeast Arabian Sea. On the intraseasonal time scale, the onset tends to be led by northeastward propagation of an intraseasonal convective anomaly from the western equatorial Indian Ocean. The objective determination of the onset based on the SAS low-level westerly is a characteristic representation of the complex process of the ISM onset. Given its objectiveness and its representation of the large-scale circulation, the proposed new onset definition provides a useful metric for verifying numerical model performance in simulating and predicting the ISM onset and for studying predictability of interannual variations of the onset.
Dermatoglyphics of Congenital Abnormalities without Chromosomal Aberrations
Authors: Shiono Hiroshi , Kadowaki Junichi 
Published: December 2008

This review outlines the dermatoglyphics of congenital abnormalities without chromosomal aberrations. When combined with other clinical features of a particular disease, dermatoglyphics can serve to strengthen a diagnostic impression and may be useful as a screening device to select individuals for additional diagnostic studies.
Dyslexia
Authors: Jones Joyce 
Published: December 2008

A Title III grant made possible a three year experimental program to determine if children with the specific reading disability, dyslexia, could be remediated by the use of a structural-linguistic procedure taught through a multi-sensory approach. This remedial procedure was taught on a one-to-one basis of instruction through the use of para-educational personnel under close supervision in a regular public school setting. During the two years of the program seventy-eight students attended the full day Perceptual Development Center Program and 545 students participated in an hour-a-day reading program. Test-retest data revealed that students receiving this specialized training improved in reading skills and retained this gain or further improved after dismissal from the program.
Listening Centers
Authors: Bryant John E. 
Published: December 2008

This paper suggests that the use of listening centers with earphones for teaching listening skills may actually be depriving some young learners of crucial auditory experiences. It points out that electronic listening equipment, carelessly used, can impair hearing. Suggestions for preventing accidental acoustic trauma and for correcting temporary conductive hearing deprivation caused by collapsed auditory canals under earphone listening are given.
Auditory Vigilance Performance in Brain Damaged, Behavior Disordered, and Normal Children
Authors: Grassi Joseph R. 
Published: December 2008

Auditory vigilance of normal, behavior disordered and brain damaged children was investigated. A 20-minute tape recording of a series of randomized digits was played to each subject. Interspersed at irregular intervals a stimulus number was presented for detection. The results showed that the normal subjects detected far more signals than the brain damaged and behavior disordered subjects, and that the brain damaged subjects missed more signals than the behavior disordered subjects. Results confirmed the hypothesis that normal subjects would miss fewer signals because they accumulate less reactive inhibition; that brain damaged children would reveal extraverted behavior patterns; and there would be a progressive deterioration in vigilance as a direct function of time for all subjects. The implication is that work tasks for behavior disordered and brain damaged children should be kept as short as possible to prevent accumulation of any significant amount of reative inhibition.
Audiovisual Integration in Retarded Readers
Authors: Voort Lewis Vande , Senf Gerald M. 
Published: December 2008

Sixteen retarded readers and an equal number of controls were compared with respect to their performances on four matching tasks: (1) visual-spatial/visual-spatial, (2) visual-temporal/visual-temporal, (3) auditory-temporal/auditory-temporal, and (4) auditory-temporal/visual-spatial. The results suggested that the visual-spatial/visual-spatial and the auditory-temporal/auditory-temporal tasks discriminated between the two groups while the others did not. These findings were discussed as not supporting the Birch and Belmont hypothesis that auditory-visual integration is a critical skill in which retarded readers are deficient. An alternative explanation offered for the present findings was that memory and/or perceptual factors may account for performance deficits in retarded readers.
Social Status of Learning Disabled Children
Authors: Siperstein Gary N. , Bopp Michael J. , Bak John J. 
Published: December 2008

Though learning disabilities initially concern performance in academic subjects, the ramifications of the disability extend into other spheres of the child's life. The Journal has published reports of children's social interactions and their ability to interpret social cues (see Bryan, October 1977 and this issue). This article examines the peer relationships of learning disability children with respect not only to their academic ability but also to their physical appearance and athletic ability. Studies of this type should help practitioners understand the potentially difficult social environment in which the learning disabled child functions. — G.M.S. One hundred seventy-seven fifth- and sixth-grade children, including 22 who were learning disabled, responded to a sociometric survey. They also indicated the smartest, best-looking, and most athletic individuals in their class. Learning disabled children were found to be less popular, in general primarily because none were extremely popular; however, they were not overly represented among social isolates. A tendency for the best-liked learning disabled children to be good athletes was noted.
Classroom Behavioral Styles of Learning Disabled Boys
Authors: Richey David D. , McKinney James D. 
Published: December 2008

Observational studies have uniformly failed to find the cluster of symptoms associated with LD. Instead, one or another seems to typify most of the LD children in any context — in this case classroom distractibility. As the authors note, other behavior often associated with LD was found among some of the children — though not enough to distinguish them from normal learners. Such documentation of the heterogeneity of the LD group logically questions the relevance of comparing LD and normal children, and suggests the need for subtypes of LD to be identified, at least for research purposes. — G.M.S. The classroom behavior of 15 learning disabled boys was compared to that of 15 matched normal boys in order to determine differences in behavioral style and to examine the learning disabled children's behavior in different classroom environments. Results indicated that of 12 discrete kinds of classroom behavior only one, distractibility, differentiated the two groups. There was very limited support for the stereotyped cluster of negative behavior often associated with learning disabilities. The study also supports the position that characteristics of the classroom environment may exert much influence in fostering or minimizing specific behavior related to academic achievement and competence.
Learning Disabled Programs in California Community Colleges
Authors: Ostertag Bruce A. , Baker Ronald E. , Howard Robert F. , Best Laurel 
Published: December 2008

In a survey of the 106 California Community Colleges, it was found that over 75% operated formal programs for the learning disabled, while an additional 12% provided informal services for their LD student population. Though diversity existed among the college LD programs surveyed, a consistency of process and practice was evident. Most colleges provided similar means for the identification and diagnosis of potential LD students and in the support services delivered. More specifically, LD programming similarities were demonstrated in intake interviewing, referral procedure and agencies, assessment tools, personnel, counseling and availability of a learning center. Based on the model provided by the California Community Colleges, these recommendations are made for adoption by others who wish to implement LD programming at the post-secondary level: (a) a defined identification and assessment approach, IEP development, and delivery system; (b) collection of assessment data on all students that measures discrepancy; (c) appropriate, valid, and reliable assessment instruments; (d) IEPs that indicate assessment data, discrepancy, needs, goals, and programming methodology; (e) a multidisciplinary team approach to assessment, IEP development, and delivery systems; (f) consistent data reporting methods securely maintained; (g) confidentiality of material; and (h) in-service programming.
Reading Disability
Authors: Lipa Sally E. 
Published: December 2008

One cause of severe reading disability appears related to dysfunction or “difference” in functioning of the language area in the left hemisphere. Research also suggests lateralization differences, temporal sequencing difficulties, and undifferentiated left hemisphere processing as characteristic of children with reading problems. Some of this research does not differentiate those children with severe reading disability from those with easily corrected problems. Attempts to teach children with reading difficulty have typically centered on teaching methodology or notions of perceptual modality preference related to either visual or auditory processing. These notions have been short-sighted in view of the fact that reading is a highly integrative task based on cognitive development. The field of neurology currently is expanding our data base regarding the role of the hemispheres in word processing. The educator needs to examine the reading task in relation to teaching methodologies and the type of response individuals must make to the print given different teaching methods. Severely disabled readers may need to learn to read using methods that go beyond currently acceptable standards.
An Evaluation of the Slingerland Method With LD Youngsters
Authors: Lovitt Thomas C. , DeMier Dolores Michele 
Published: December 2008

This was a study to compare the reading gains of students who received Slingerland instruction with others enrolled in a class based on the Sullivan reading program. There were seven learning-disabled pupils who ranged in age from 6-7 to 9-11 in each class. Ten before and after treatment measures were obtained, and seven were gathered each day of the program. Analysis of the data indicated that the youngsters in both groups made substantial gains. They also showed that pupils in the Slingerland class out performed their Sullivan-instructed mates on some measures, whereas performances of the Sullivan-taught youngsters were better for an equal number of different measures. Discussion relates to possible reasons for the improvement of both groups, to reasons which may account for the popularity of the Slingerland method, and to directions for future research on the Slingerland program.
Orthography and Reading Disabilities
Authors: Stevenson Harold W. 
Published: December 2008

Recently, a number of influential writers have emphasized the role of orthography in the development of reading disabilities. The English writing system has been described by Gleitman and Rozin (1977), for example, as possessing “rampant irregularity, redundancy, and downright misrepresentation” (p. 35), while to these writers the Japanese writing system “seems ideal” (p. 36) from the point of utilizing scripts that represent both meanings and sounds. English, it is argued, poses problems for the beginning reader that are not encountered in learning to read the logographs (Chinese characters) and syllabary used in Japanese. Could it be that the widespread incidence of reading disabilities in our culture can be traced in large part to the idiosyncracies of the spelling and writing system used in English? If this is true, what can be done to remedy the situation, other than following those who have proposed that the written form of English must be revised? The purpose of this article is to discuss these issues in the context of research dealing with writing systems and their relation to reading and reading disabilities.