bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of increased atmospheric CO2 on varieties of oat
Authors: Johannessen M. M. , Mikkelsen T. N. , Nersting L. G. , Gullord M. , von Bothmer R. , Jörgensen R. B. 
Published: July 2005

AbstractThe effects of elevated CO2 were investigated on seven Scandinavian varieties of oat. Three landraces (before 1920), two varieties of intermediate‐age (1920‐1940), and two recent varieties (after 1940) were exposed to two atmospheric CO2 concentrations (approx. 380 and 700 ppm). Elevated CO2 increased the yield 7% on average but with large variation between varieties. The yield‐response was variety specific and not related to the age of the variety. The mean seed number increased about 11%, with an increase in the landraces and diverging responses within the other age groups. The mean seed weight was reduced about 5.5%, with small changes within the landraces and diverging results within the two other age‐groups. The mean dry biomass was increased about 20%; the landraees had a marked increase in dry biomass, while the response in the other varieties ranged from a large increase to a small decrease. These different responses among varieties provide a spectrum of trait‐combinations desirable in breeding oats for different purposes. The quality of the seeds was not affected by the elevated CO2.
Genetic diversity assessment in cultivated cardoon by AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) and microsatellite markers
Authors: Portis E. , Barchi L. , Acquadro A. , Macua J. I. , Lanteri S. 
Published: July 2005

AbstractCultivated cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L. var. altilis DC) belongs, together with globe artichoke (C. (cardunculus L. var. sylvestris L.) and wild cardoon (C. cardunculus L. var., sylvestris (Lamk) Fiori). to the family Asteraceae (Compositae). Cultivated cardoon is of regional importance in Italy. Spain and southern France, where it is used for the preparation of traditional dishes. It has been shown to have potential as a source of oil from its seeds, inulin from its roots and various biopharmaceuticals from its leaves. Levels of genetic diversity and relatedness between eleven Italian and 10 Spanish accessions were assessed by DNA profiling with eight AFLP primer combinations and at five microsatellite loci. The AFLP analysis of genetic similarities showed that the Spanish and Italian accessions represent two distinct gene pools; substantial variation was present within each accession. On the other hand a limited variation was detectable by applying SSR markers.
The protective role of melatonin in experimental hypoxic brain damage
Authors: Tütüncüler Filiz , Eskiocak Sevgi , BaŞaran Ümit Nusret , Ekuklu Galip , Ayvaz Süleyman , Vatansever Ülfet 
Published: July 2005

Abstract
Background
: It is known that oxygen‐derived free radicals play an important role in the pathogenesis of brain injury. Melatonin is a powerful scavenger of the oxygen free radicals. In this study, the protective effect of melatonin against the damage inflicted by reactive oxygen species during brain hypoxia was investigated in newborn rats using biochemical parameters.
Methods
: For biochemical analyses, the levels of lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde ([MDA]), levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were estimated.
Results
: After the third day of brain hypoxia, the brain levels of MDA increased. Pretreatment of animals with melatonin abolished the rise in MDA induced by hypoxia. GSH concentration did not increase by pretreatment with melatonin. Additonally, the activities of two antioxidative enzymes (SOD and CAT) decreased after the experimental period with melatonin only preventing the change of CAT. The activity of SOD was not influenced by melatonin administration as expected.
Conclusion
: In this experimental study, exogenously administered melatonin effectively protected against brain injury by oxidative stress. This protective effect of melatonin may be due to its direct scavenger activity and activation of CAT. Thus, melatonin may potentially be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions that may involve free radical production, such as perinatal hypoxia.
Assessment of the short‐term effect of antispastic positioning on spasticity
Authors: Akbayrak Turkan , Armutlu Kadriye , Gunel Mintaze Kerem , Nurlu Gulay 
Published: July 2005

Abstract Background: This study was performed in order to investigate the effect of antispastic positioning on spasticity by using different assessment methods.Methods: A total of 16 patients (11 males [68.75%] and five females [31.25%]), diagnosed as spastic diplegic and referred to the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Paediatric Rehabilitation Unit for treatment, were included in this study. The mean age of patients was 6.43 ± 1.99 years (range, 4–13 years). Passive dorsi‐flexion movement was measured by using goniometer and intensity of spasticity was determined by using Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and electromyography. For the objective measurement of severity of spasticity, Hoffman reflex (H) and Hoffman reflex/motor response (H/M) ratios were used. Children were placed in an antispastic position for 20 min. The patient was placed in a sitting position, by a physiotherapist, with hips abducted at a 45° angle and externally rotated, knees extended, and ankles placed in a neutral position.Results: The decrease in H responses, H/M ratios, MAS values and the increase in goniometric measurement values were found statistically significant after antispastic positioning (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Our study supports that antispastic positioning can be used with neurodevelopmental treatment approaches when it is required. Antispastic positioning may help exercises to be performed more easily, and also has importance in a home exercise program to prevent muscle contractures and joint limitation in children with long‐term spastic diplegia.
Safety and efficacy of palivizumab prophylaxis in children with congenital heart disease*
Authors: Saji Tsutomu , Nakazawa Makoto , Harada Kensuke 
Published: July 2005

Abstract
Background
: Infants with congenital heart diseases (CHD) are at high risk for Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, which causes severe respiratory distress. Palivizumab, an anti‐RSV monoclonal antibody, was licensed in the USA, Europe and Canada, and a large‐scale placebo‐controlled double‐blind test in these countries confirmed its efficacy and safety. A survey using questionnaires to assess usage, prophylactic efficacy, and safety of palivizumab in Japanese infants and young children with CHD was conducted.
Methods
: The survey was conducted between October 2002 and March 2003. The questionnaire asked for patients’ characteristics, presence of CHD, underlying diseases, starting date and number of injection, adverse events, correlation between adverse events and treatment with palivizumab, and evaluation of efficacy.
Results
: In total, 108 infants were reported from 61 institutions. A total of 60 of the 108 infants evaluated without major non‐cardiac complications received intramuscular injection of 15 mg/kg per month of palivizumab in a manner not consistent with approved indications for this drug. A total of 43 cases (39.8%) had complexed CHD, while 64 cases (59.3%) had the first injection in October or November. The average number of injections was 3.0 ± 1.4. Seven children (6.5%) had notable respiratory infections confirmed by positive test for RSV antigen, and five (4.6%) were hospitalized. No children died nor received mechanical ventilation. The number of adverse events was nine in five cases. There was no significant relationship between adverse events and treatment with palivizumab.
Conclusion
: Palivizumab is well‐tolerated, fairly effective and safe in preventing severe RSV infection in infants and young children with CHD.
Lamivudine treatment in maternally transmitted chronic hepatitis B virus infection patients
Authors: Ni Yen‐Hsuan , Huang Fu‐Chen , Wu Tzee‐Chung , Kong Man‐Shan , Jeng Yung‐Ming , Chen Pei‐Jer , Tsuei Daw‐Jen , Chen Huey‐Ling , Hsu Hong‐Yuan , Chang Mei‐Hwei 
Published: July 2005

Abstract
Background
: Lamivudine treatment in chronic carriers who acquired hepatitis B virus through maternal transmission were investigated.
Methods
: A total of 29 subjects (Male : Female, 24:5; mean age, 14.7 ± 5.6 years) who were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seropositive for >6 months, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was >1.3 times of upper limit of normal value, and receiving a 52 week‐long treatment, received open‐label lamivudine (3 mg/kg per day, maximum 100 mg/day). Another 29 subjects matched for gender, age, liver function, and HBeAg status followed up before the introduction of lamivudine served as the control group. The control group did not receive any treatment and were evaluated at week 52 after the onset of abnormal ALT. Mothers of all study subjects were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers. A successful treatment response at week 52 was defined as: (i) undetectable hepatitis B virus DNA by real time polymerase chain reaction; (ii) normal ALT; and (iii) HBeAg/anti‐HBe seroconversion. Lamivudine‐resistant YMDD mutants were checked at week 52.
Results
: The lamivudine group did not reach a better successful treatment response rate than the control group (17 vs 10%, P = 0.44), except in patients with a baseline ALT >5 times of the upper limit of normal value. YMDD mutants developed in 34% of patients in the lamivudine group.
Conclusion
: Lamivudine treatment is effective for maternally transmitted subjects with high ALT.
Assessing the effectiveness of a mammography screening service
Authors: Clayforth Cassandra , Fritschi Lin , McEvoy Suzanne , Byrne Michael J. , Wylie Elizabeth , Threlfall Tim , Sterrett Greg , Harvey Jennet M. , Jamrozik Konrad 
Published: August 2005

Background:  Trials have shown that mammography screening reduces mortality and probably decreases morbidity related to breast cancer.Methods:  We assessed whether the major mammography service in Western Australia (BreastScreen WA) is likely to reduce mortality by comparing prognostic variables between screen‐detected and other cases of breast cancer diagnosed in 1999. We assessed likely reductions in morbidity by comparing treatments received by these two groups. To confirm mortality and morbidity reduction, we also compared prognostic variables and treatments with targets. Information on demographic variables, tumour characteristics at presentation and treatments were collected from medical records for all incident cases of breast cancer in Western Australia in 1999. We matched cases with the Western Australian Cancer Registry records to determine which cases had been detected by BreastScreen WA.Results:  BreastScreen WA achieved the targets for mortality reduction. Tumours detected by BreastScreen WA were smaller in size, less likely to have vascular invasion, of lower histological grade and were more likely to be ductal carcinoma in situ alone without invasive carcinoma. Oestrogen receptor status was more likely to be positive, the difference in progesterone status was not significant, and lymph node involvement tended to be lower. BreastScreen WA patients were treated more often with local therapy and less often with systemic therapy, and the proportion of patients treated with breast‐conserving surgery was close to the target for minimizing morbidity in breast cancer.Conclusion:  Mammographic detection of breast cancer by BreastScreen WA is associated with reduced breast cancer morbidity and a more favourable prognosis.
Impact of skip metastasis in gastric cancer
Authors: Park Sung‐Soo , Ryu Je‐Seock , Min Byung‐Wook , Kim Wan‐Bae , Kim Seung‐Joo , Kim Chong‐Suk , Mok Young‐Jae 
Published: August 2005

Background:  Several studies have shown the features of skip metastasis in other cancers besides gastric cancer. Since minimally invasive surgery has been applied to gastric cancer, the concerns and awareness of skip metastasis have grown in the medical community. We conducted the present retrospective study to reveal the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with skip metastasis. We also wished to clarify the clinical impact of skip metastasis for gastric cancer.Methods:  Five hundred and eighty‐nine patients having lymphatic metastases were enrolled in the present study. Among them, 266 patients had positive nodes extending into the N2 group. We divided these patients into the skip positive (+) and the skip negative (−) group, and we comparatively analysed clinicopathological factors and calculated the survival probabilities for the two groups.Results:  The skip (+) and skip (−) groups involved 14 (5.3%) and 252 (94.7%) patients, respectively. Of all the investigated factors, a significant difference between two groups was observed only in the total number of retrieved nodes. Stations of skip nodes were along left gastric (7), anterior common hepatic (8a), celiac (9), splenic (11) artery and right paracardial nodes (1). The survival curves calculated in the present study did not show any statistical differences between the groups.Conclusions:  Due to problems of skip metastasis in gastric cancer, D2 lymph node dissection should be performed until sentinel node detection is feasible and reliable. The potential risk from skip metastasis is not great and skip metastasis itself should not be a major consideration in therapeutic decisions.
‘Listen to my madness’: understanding the experiences of people with serious mental illness
Authors: Lester Helen , Tritter Jonathan Q. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractThis article explores the salience of disability theory for understanding the experiences of people with serious mental illness. Drawing on data from a focus group study, we suggest that users experience both impairment (as embodied irrationality) which can, in itself, be oppressive, and also have to manage their lives within a largely disabling society. We outline some of the strategies adopted by users to manage their situation and ensure they access and receive health services, and illustrate how these are a result of the complex relationship between disability and impairment. We suggest that using a framework of the social model of disability provides a useful way of understanding and making sense of the experience of users with serious mental illness.
Improving Communication Between Children with Autism and Their Peers Through the ‘Circle of Friends’: A Small‐scale Intervention Study
Authors: Kalyva Efrosini , Avramidis Elias 
Published: August 2005

Background  The ‘circle of friends’ is an educational approach that facilitates the inclusion of children with disabilities into the school community by engaging their peer group in supporting the individual proactively. The present small‐scale study examines the efficacy of this intervention in improving the communication (and ultimately social) skills of pre‐school aged children with autism.Methods  Five children identified with autism aged between 3.10 and 4.7 years participated in the study – three in the intervention and two in the control group. The ‘circle of friends’ was applied for 30 min on a weekly basis at a nursery setting for a period of 3 months with the active involvement of one teacher and five peers of each child with autism. The effects of the intervention were systematically examined by means of an observation schedule which recorded the number of responses and initiation attempts – both unsuccessful and successful – of all participating children with autism during baseline, post‐intervention and at 2 months follow‐up.Results  The statistical analysis of the data revealed that children in the intervention group had significantly lower unsuccessful response and initiation rates at post‐intervention and follow‐up than children in the control group. Moreover, children in the intervention group had significantly higher successful response and initiation rates at post‐intervention and follow‐up than those in the control group.Conclusions  The recorded changes in the interaction patterns indicate that the ‘circle of friends’ is a powerful intervention that, if carefully applied, can improve the social skills of children with autism and their ability to communicate, and ultimately facilitate their ‘inclusion’ in mainstream settings. Further larger‐scale longitudinal research is needed to examine the long‐term benefits of the approach for children with autism and the broader changes in the nexus of relations within the mainstream environment.
Staff Stress and Morale in Community‐Based Settings for People with Intellectual Disabilities and Challenging Behaviour: A Brief Report
Authors: Robertson Janet , Hatton Chris , Felce David , Meek Andrea , Carr Deborah , Knapp Martin , Hallam Angela , Emerson Eric , Pinkney Lisa , Caesar Emma , Lowe Kathy 
Published: August 2005

Background  There are no studies that have compared outcomes for staff in different types of supported accommodation for people with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour. This study looked at stress, morale and intended job turnover in staff in two types of community‐based residential supports: non‐congregate settings where the minority of residents have challenging behaviour; and congregate settings where the majority of residents have challenging behaviour.Materials and methods  A self‐completion survey questionnaire was used to collect information on the basic characteristics of staff, levels of staff stress, job satisfaction and propensity to leave their employment.Results  One hundred and fifty‐seven questionnaires were returned from staff, the majority of whom were on fixed‐term contracts. Congregate settings were not associated with higher levels of stress as might be assumed. Overall, over a quarter of staff reached criterion on the General Health Questionnaire‐12 for experiencing emotional distress, and over a third were likely to actively seek new employment in the next year. The greatest perceived sources of stress were lack of resources and lack of staff support. The lowest level of satisfaction was with the rate of pay. Those in non‐congregate settings reported greater perceived stress because of lack of procedures to deal with challenging behaviour.Conclusions  High levels of intended staff turnover may be more due to job insecurity and lack of support than service user challenging behaviour. Employers seeking to reduce turnover should pay attention to basic pay and conditions, as well as staff training in appropriate methods for dealing with challenging behaviour.
Dicer and eIF2c are enriched at postsynaptic densities in adult mouse brain and are modified by neuronal activity in a calpain‐dependent manner
Authors: Lugli Giovanni , Larson John , Martone Maryann E. , Jones Ying , Smalheiser Neil R. 
Published: July 2005

AbstractWe have hypothesized that small RNAs may participate in learning and memory mechanisms. Because dendritic spines are important in synaptic plasticity and learning, we asked whether dicer, the rate‐limiting enzyme in the formation of small RNAs, is enriched within dendritic spines. In adult mouse brain, dicer and the RNA‐induced silencing complex (RISC) component eIF2c were expressed in the somatodendritic compartment of principal neurons and some interneurons in many regions, and dicer was enriched in dendritic spines and postsynaptic densities (PSDs). A portion of dicer and eIF2c were associated with each other and with fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), as assessed by co‐immunoprecipitation. Calpain I treatment of recombinant dicer or immunopurified brain dicer caused a marked increase in RNAse III activity. Purified PSDs did not exhibit RNAse III activity, but calpain caused release of dicer from PSDs in an enzymatically active form, together with eIF2c. NMDA stimulation of hippocampal slices, or calcium treatment of synaptoneurosomes, caused a 75 kDa dicer fragment to appear in a calpain‐dependent manner. The findings support a model whereby acute neuronal stimulation at excitatory synapses increases intracellular calcium, which activates calpain, which liberates dicer and eIF2c bound to PSDs. This supports the hypothesis that dicer could be involved in synaptic plasticity.
Subcellular localization suggests novel functions for prolyl endopeptidase in protein secretion
Authors: Schulz Ingo , Zeitschel Ulrike , Rudolph Thomas , Ruiz‐Carrillo David , Rahfeld Jens‐Ulrich , Gerhartz Bernd , Bigl Volker , Demuth Hans‐Ulrich , Roßner Steffen 
Published: July 2005

AbstractFor a long time, prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) was believed to inactivate neuropeptides in the extracellular space. However, reports on the intracellular activity of PEP suggest additional, as yet unidentified, physiological functions for this enzyme. Here, we demonstrate using biochemical methods of subcellular fractionation, immunocytochemical double‐labelling procedures and localization of PEP–enhanced green fluorescent protein fusion proteins that PEP is mainly localized to the perinuclear space, and is associated with the microtubulin cytoskeleton in human neuroblastoma and glioma cell lines. Disassembly of the microtubules by nocodazole treatment disrupts both the fibrillar tubulin and PEP labelling. Furthermore, in a two‐hybrid screen, PEP was identified as binding partner of tubulin. These findings indicate novel functions for PEP in axonal transport and/or protein secretion. Indeed, a metabolic labelling approach revealed that both PEP inhibition and PEP antisense mRNA expression result in enhanced peptide/protein secretion from human U‐343 glioma cells. Because disturbances in intracellular transport and protein secretion mechanisms are associated with a number of ageing‐associated neurodegenerative diseases, cell‐permeable PEP inhibitors may be useful for the application in a variety of related clinical conditions.
Structural requirements for steady‐state localization of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter
Authors: Ferreira Lucimar T. , Santos Magda S. , Kolmakova Natalia G. , Koenen Janaina , Barbosa Jose , Gomez Marcus V. , Guatimosim Cristina , Zhang Xiaodong , Parsons Stanley M. , Prado Vania F. , Prado Marco A. M. 
Published: July 2005

AbstractThe vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) regulates the amount of acetylcholine stored in synaptic vesicles. However, the mechanisms that control the targeting of VAChT and other synaptic vesicle proteins are still poorly comprehended. These processes are likely to depend, at least partially, on structural determinants present in the primary sequence of the protein. Here, we use site‐directed mutagenesis to evaluate the contribution of the C‐terminal tail of VAChT to the targeting of this transporter to synaptic‐like microvesicles in cholinergic SN56 cells. We found that residues 481–490 contain the trafficking information necessary for VAChT localization and that within this region L485 and L486 are strictly necessary. Deletion and alanine‐scanning mutants lacking most of the carboxyl tail of VAChT, but containing residues 481–490, were still targeted to microvesicles. Moreover, we found that clathrin‐mediated endocytosis of VAChT is required for targeting to microvesicles in SN56 and PC12 cells. The data provide novel information on the mechanisms and structural determinants necessary for VAChT localization to synaptic vesicles.