bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions of Epilepsy in Asia: Toward a Uniform Study Protocol
Authors: Lim Shih‐Hui , Pan Andrew 
Published: March 2005

Summary:  Purpose: Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of epilepsy (KAPE) among the public play a major role in determining the extent to which people with epilepsy can be integrated into their society. KAPE Surveys in Asia: Surveys conducted among Chinese in China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong demonstrated similarities as well as differences in certain aspects of KAPE. These suggest that KAPE might not be uniform among other racial groups in the same or different regions of Asia. For KAPE to have usefulness to a country or community, it has to be location specific. Toward a Uniform Study Protocol: There are several advantages of using a uniform study protocol. Collection of KAPE data could be faster for any country or community that chooses to use any existing study protocol. Intraregional, interregional, intercontinental, interethnic, intercommunity, and longitudinal comparison within any subgroup could be carried out. Sharing of common information would enhance the regional effort in improving the quality of life of people affected by epilepsy. However, survey methods need not be uniform. Regional adaptation and flexibility of a unified protocol should be encouraged. After the study, concerted local and regional efforts in epilepsy education must be carried out systematically for the general public as well as for strategic groups. Conclusions: Determination of the KAPE in different parts of Asia would help to define the magnitude of and be the first step toward alleviating social discrimination against people with epilepsy in Asia.
What We Confront with Employment of People with Epilepsy in Korea
Authors: Lee Sang‐Ahm 
Published: March 2005

Summary:  Purpose: To investigate the current status of employability in people with epilepsy (PWE) in Korea. Methods: Data were collected from 543 adult epilepsy patients. Housewives and students were excluded. Information was obtained from self‐completed questionnaires. Results: The unemployment rate for Korean PWE was as high as 31%. This figure was five times higher than that of the general population. The unemployed PWE had significantly lower quality of life than the employed PWE. The employability of PWE was significantly affected by certain factors: the frequency and severity of seizures; age at onset; interseizure psychosocial disabilities including self‐esteem, personality, and problem‐solving style; and social discrimination. Actual discriminatory practices in the employment of the PWE were prevalent in Korea. Overall, 24.5% of respondents believed they had ever been treated unfairly at work or when trying to get a job. More than half of those who disclosed their disease to employers reported that they were refused a job because of epilepsy. About 75% of the patients surveyed said that they had never disclosed their disease in applying for a job. Conclusions: In Korea, PWE have faced many difficulties in employment. The discrimination against PWE and negative social attitudes toward epilepsy might play an important role in the employability of PWE. We need active participation in the “Out of the Shadows” world campaign.
Does thyroid subspecialization alter practice and outcome? A completed 4‐year audit loop
Authors: Agada F.O. , King‐Im J.U. , Atkin S.L. , England R.J.A. 
Published: March 2005

Objective:  To assess the effect of subspecialization on thyroid surgical practice and outcome.Design:  The multidisciplinary thyroid clinic was established in November 2000. A retrospective study of all thyroid surgery covering the period November 1998 to November 2000 was carried out. Best practice principles were implemented and prospective data were collected over a further 2 years to complete the audit loop. Practice and results were compared.Setting:  The project was carried out through the Hull and East Yorkshire Multidisciplinary Thyroid Clinic, a tertiary referral clinic for the management of thyroid disease.Participants:  All patients who underwent thyroid surgery through the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery for 2 years before the establishment of the thyroid clinic (39 patients) and all patients who underwent thyroid surgery through the department for 2 years after the establishment of the clinic (108 patients) were included.Main outcome measures:  Referral patterns, preoperative workup, types of surgery, histopathological diagnosis and complications rates were compared.Results:  The audit loop revealed that permanent vocal cord palsy rates had fallen from 8% to 0%, haematoma rates had fallen from 5% to 2% and permanent hypoparathyroidism rates had fallen from 8% to 2%. In addition, caseload had markedly increased, preoperative investigations were reduced and types of surgery standardized.Conclusion:  It is clear that thyroid subspecialization is beneficial as far as overall outcome is concerned. However, this may lead to increased throughput which must be borne in mind for future activity planning.
Treatment of hypopharyngeal carcinoma: analysis of nationwide study in the Netherlands over a 10‐year period
Authors: Sewnaik A. , Hoorweg J.J. , Knegt P.P. , Wieringa M.H. , van der Beek J.M.H. , Kerrebijn J.D.F. 
Published: March 2005

Objective:  To analyse different treatment strategies and treatment results of hypopharyngeal carcinoma in the Netherlands.Design:  Retrospective study.Setting:  Eight head and neck centres in the Netherlands.Participants:  A total of 893 patients were treated between 1985 and 1994. Patients were mostly treated with radiotherapy alone, combined surgery and radiotherapy and surgery alone.Results:  The 5‐year survival for the whole group was 26%. The 5‐year survival for patients treated with curative intention was 32% and treated with palliative intention was 5%. The 5‐year disease‐free survival after radiotherapy alone was 37%, after surgery alone 41% and after combined therapy 47%. The role of chemotherapy could not be investigated because of a small number of patients treated with chemotherapy in this period.Conclusion:  Combined therapy with surgery and radiotherapy has a better survival for patients with a hypopharyngeal carcinoma in comparison with radiotherapy alone. The N‐stage is more important for the prognosis than the T‐stage.
The effect of mental alerting on gaze‐evoked nystagmus
Authors: Humphriss R.L. , Morgan K.F.L. , Baguley D.M. 
Published: March 2005

Objectives:  To determine whether mental alerting (MA) makes a significant difference to nystagmus recorded during gaze testing using electronystagmography (ENG).Design:  A prospective study, blinded interpretation of test results, alternate order of testing sequence.Setting:  Vestibular assessment clinic in a tertiary referral centre.Participants:  A total of 80 patients were seen by the authors (R.L.H., K.F.L.M.) for vestibular assessment, between August 2002 and February 2004. Patients cognitively unable to perform MA tasks or with limited English were omitted. Patients all underwent gaze‐testing using ENG. Each patient was tested twice, once without MA and once with an MA task, in an alternate test order.Main outcome measures:  Slow‐phase velocity values of recorded nystagmus, number of patients with clinically significant nystagmus (slow‐phase velocity ≥6 deg/s).Results:  A total of eight patients had significant gaze‐evoked nystagmus when tested without MA and a total of six patients when tested with MA. Only four of these patients were common to both groups. When all nystagmus values (regardless of significance) were considered, no statistically significant differences between nystagmus measured with and without alerting were found (Wilcoxon signed rank test, P > 0.05).Conclusions:  Mental alerting during gaze testing did not result in a significant difference in nystagmus and is just as likely to result in an exacerbation as a reduction in slow‐phase velocity. In addition, MA is likely to result in a noisy (and therefore difficult to interpret) recording and increases the impact of the test on the patient. In view of these findings, we propose that MA is contraindicated during the gaze‐testing component of the vestibular test battery.
Superior canal dehiscence: review of a new condition
Authors: Banerjee A. , Whyte A. , Atlas M.D. 
Published: March 2005

Keypoints•  A new cause of sound and pressure induced vertigo, superior canal dehisence, is described.•  Auditory manifestations include hyperacusis to bone‐conducted sounds and conductive hearing loss with normal acoustic reflexes.•  The diagnosis is reached by a directed history, documentation of upward and torsional nystagmus evoked by sound and pressure, and radiology.•  Acoustic reflexes and VEMP (vestibular evoked myogenic potentials) aid in the identification of patients with an apparent conductive loss with normal acoustic reflexes or have an asymptomatic dehiscense on radiology.•  Treatment involves avoidance of the precipitating stimuli. Surgical treatment, by resurfacing the dehiscence, is considered in patients with more severe symptoms.
How we do it: Radiofrequency‐turbinectomy for nasal obstruction symptoms
Authors: Harsten G. 
Published: March 2005

Keypoints•  Radiofrequency energy has been reported to be effective to reduce nasal obstruction because of inferior turbinate hypertrophy.•  A total of 158 patients who had undergone such surgery are reported.•  Three to 30 months postoperatively 85% of the patients reported a marked decrease in nasal obstruction. This was irrespective of a short‐term or a long‐term follow‐up, and was applicable to patients that had septal deviations in addition.•  Radiofrequency‐turbinectomy is a simple and effective method for treatment of nasal obstruction as a result of hypertrophy of the inferior turbinates, even if combined with a moderate septal deviation.
Interactions of Adenosine Tetraphosphate with Myosin and Actomyosin
Authors: Winand‐Devigne J. , Hamoir G. , Liébecq C. 
Published: March 2005

Myosin‐ATPase prepared from dog heart and rabbit skeletal muscle catalyzed the hydrolysis of adenosine tetraphosphate into adenosine diphosphate and orthophosphate.
Maximum activities were measured in the presence of Ca++ ions and represented 15 to 50% (according to pH and to origin) of the maximum activites measured in the presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Low activities were measured in the presence of Co++ > Ni++ > Mg++ ions.
Actomyosin‐ATPase prepared from rabbit and from carp muscles hardly catalyzed the hydrolysis of adenosine tetraphosphate (2.5% of the rate of ATP hydrolysis) in the presence of Mg++ ions at low ionic strength.
Ultracentrifugation analysis showed that carp muscle actomyosin is split into actin and myosin by low concentrations of adenosine tetraphosphate whereas the contaminating ATP or the ATP formed from adenosine tetraphosphate during the centrifugation does not markedly influence the centrifugal pattern.
The Mechanism of Enzyme Secretion by the Cell
Authors: Babad H. , Ben‐Zvi R. , Bdolah A. , Schramm M. 
Published: March 2005

Preparation of rat parotid slices in cold medium caused extensive leakage of amylase during subsequent incubation. Enzyme secretion, by slices not prepared in the cold, was almost absolutely dependent on the addition of an inducer such as epinephrine. Both epinephrine and norepinephrine were more effective than other agents tested. Since epinephrine was apparently consumed during incubation, a sufficient excess of the hormone was required to achieve a maximal yield of enzyme secreted into the medium. Further experiments indicated that 3′5′cyclic AMP is an intermediate in the induction of enzyme secretion by epinephrine. The dibutyryl and monobutyryl derivatives of cyclic AMP caused amylase secretion at a rate which was even slightly higher than that obtained with epinephrine. An initial lag period was apparently due to the slow penetration of such compounds into the cell.β‐hydroxybutyrate was the only substrate which maintained a linear rate of amylase secretion up to termination of the process. The reaction stopped within 40–60 minutes when about 50% of the amylase which had been in the slice was secreted into the medium. This amount corresponded roughly to that located in the intracellular zymogen granules at zero time. Inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation prevented enzyme secretion and caused some release of enzyme from the intracellular zymogen granules into a soluble pool within the slice. Enzyme secretion apparently required the continuous supply of energy since dinitrophenol was inhibitory even when added after onset of the process. EDTA caused discharge of amylase, presumably by releasing an endogenous inducer.
Characterization of Ribonucleic Acid with Template Activity in Rat Liver Cytoplasm
Authors: Di Girolamo A. , Di Girolamo M. , Gaetani S. , Spadoni M. A. 
Published: March 2005

Template activity of RNA from rat liver and the distribution of this activity along a sucrose gradient have been studied. The experiments were performed with RNA extracted from polysomes monosomes and ribosomal subunits.There is no correlation between template activity of RNA extracted from polysomes and early‐labelled RNA, since template activity is distributed all along a sucrose gradient while the radioactivity after a 20 min pulse with [14C]orotic acid is almost exclusively localized in the 18–4 S region.Stimulatory activity in the heavy regions of the gradient is due either to unique large molecules of messenger RNA or to aggregation of ribosomal RNA with messenger RNA. Our experimental results, however, seem to exclude aggregation due to the presence of bivalent ions as well as aggregates held by hydrogen bonds.Ribosomal RNA is itself responsible for part of the template activity found in different fractions of the gradient. Ribosomal RNA extracted from monosomes prepared from polysomes by treatment with RNase, and from subunits, showed a stimulatory activity which, although inferior to that due to messenger RNA, was consistent. Experiments were performed which excluded the possibility that residual messenger still attached to ribosomal RNA was responsible for this activity.Treatment of ribosomal RNA with chemical agents such as EDTA and urea increased the template activity in those cases where a permanent increase in hyperchromicity could be demonstrated. Although neomycin also increased stimulatory activity, it is thought unlikely, on the basis of our experiments, that this is due to a separation of the strands of RNA.
Transamidinase of Hog Kidney
Authors: Grazi E. , Vigi V. , Rossi N. 
Published: March 2005

The modification of one cysteine residue of transamidinase by reaction with 5,5′‐dithiobis‐2‐nitrobenzoic acid alters the catalytic properties of the enzyme.The Michaelis constant of transamidinase for arginine is increased and the capacity to utilize glycine and hydroxylamine as amidine acceptors is lost.Arginine, the amidine donor substrate, protects the cysteine residue and prevents the changes in catalytic activity induced by the treatment with 5,5′‐dithiobis‐2‐nitrobenzoic acid.
The Participation of GTP‐AMP‐P Transferase in Substrate Level Phosphate Transfer of Rat Liver Mitochondria1
Authors: Heldt H. W. , Schwalbach K. 
Published: March 2005

From kinetic studies on the reaction sequence of substrate level phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria, using anaerobic ketoglutarate dismutation in the presence of oligomycin and [32P]phosphate, phosphohistidine appears to be the first intermediate to be labelled, followed by GTP. [32P]ADP rather than [32P]ATP is shown to be the main product of the reaction. The phosphorylation of AMP requires ketoglutarate and is stimulated by 2,4‐dinitrophenol.GTP‐AMP‐P transferase is localized in the mitochondria. This conclusion is based on enzymatic assays of fractionally ectracted rat liver and of isolated mitochondria and microsomes.Mean values for the activities of GTP‐AMP‐P transferase, nucleoside diphosphate kinase and succinic thiokinase in rat liver mitochondria are given and are compared with the rate of ketoglutarate oxidation.A possible function of GTP‐AMP‐P transferase for the phosphorylation of endogenous AMP is discussed with regard to the compartmentation of nucleotides in the mitochondria.A new chromatographic assay for GTP‐AMP‐P transferase is reported, an assay which is not affected by nucleoside diphosphate kinase and adenylate kinase occurring in liver homogenates. An optical enzymatic assay for nucleoside diphosphate kinase is also described.
Vergleichende Untersuchungen zur Biosynthese von Nucleotid‐Zuckern in S‐ und R‐Formen vonSalmonella minnesotaundSalmonella ruiru
Authors: Risse H. J. , Lüderitz O. , Westphal O. 
Published: March 2005

About 30 R mutants derived fromSalmonella minnesotaandSalmonella ruiruand the corresponding wild‐type strains were analysed comparatively for the presence of enzymes catalyzing the synthesis of UDP‐glucose, UDP‐galactose, UDP‐N‐acetylglucosamine and UDP‐N‐acetylgalactosamine.In the biosynthesis of the corresponding O antigens these UDP‐sugars function as precursors, whose sugar residues are transferred on to the growing polysaccharide by specific transferases. In cell‐free extracts of the strains the following enzyme activities were determined: (quantitatively) hexokinase, phosphoglucomutase, UDP‐glucose synthetase and UDP‐galactose‐4‐epimerase; (qualitatively) glucosephosphate isomerase and UDP‐N‐acetylglucosamine‐4‐epimerase; (qualitatively, in 10strains) glutamine: fructose‐6‐phosphate transaminase and (in 6strains) UDP‐N‐acetylglucosamine synthetase. Most of the mutants were found to contain the enzymes in activities equal to those found in the wild‐type strains. These mutants therefore probably have a block involving a transferase. Three mutants were identified to have a defect in UDP‐glucose synthetase synthesis. 4 mutants lacked the enzyme UDP‐N‐acetylglucosamine‐4‐epimerase. Some of these mutants have an additional block which involves a transferase. In extracts ofS. ruiruthe enzyme system of Matsuhashi and Strominger which catalyzes the conversion of TDP‐glucose to TDP‐4‐amino‐4,6‐dideoxyhexose (probably with the configuration ofd‐galactose), could be identified.
A Comparative Study of Basic, Acidic and Neutral Polypeptidyl RNases, Including Polyarginyl and Polyhistidyl Derivatives
Authors: Frensdorff A. , Wilchek M. , Sela M. 
Published: March 2005

The syntheses of poly‐l‐arginyl and of poly‐l‐histidyl RNase are described. Poly‐l‐arginyl RNase was obtained by guanidisation of poly‐l‐ornithyl RNase, which, in turn, was prepared from native RNase by reacting it with δ,N‐trifluoroacetyl‐α, N‐carboxy‐l‐ornithine anhydride, with subsequent removal of the trifluoroacetyl groups with piperidine. Derivatives enriched with up to 71 arginine residues were prepared and studied. Poly‐l‐histidyl RNase was prepared by the reaction of RNase with the unprotected N‐carboxy‐l‐histidine anhydride hydrochloride. Derivatives enriched with up to 22 histidine residues per RNase molecule were obtained.The enzymic activity of both poly‐l‐ornithyl RNase and poly‐l‐arginyl RNase towards cytidine‐2′,3′‐cyclic phosphate is only moderately affected by the attachment of the basic peptides. The activity on RNA is, on the other hand, strongly decreased in poly‐l‐ornithyl RNase and completely abolished in polyarginyl RNase, thus illustrating that the activity of the modified enzymes on these two substrates is affected independently. The pH of optimal activity of the basic polyarginyl RNase on cytidine‐2′,3′‐cyclic phosphate at low ionic strength was found to be increased in comparison to that of the native enzyme, while that of the acidic polyglutamyl RNase, the synthesis of which was previously described, was lowered. Polyhistidyl RNase was less active on RNA than the native enzyme, while its activity toward cytidine 2′,3′‐cyclic phosphate exceeded that of unmodified RNase. All the derivatives described recovered their full initial enzymic activity after complete reduction of the disulfide bridges followed by reoxidation.
Protection of Polynucleotide Phosphorylase by Substrates against Urea Inactivation
Authors: Harvey R. A. , Godefroy T. , Lucas‐Lenard J. , Grunbebg‐Manago M. 
Published: March 2005

Polynucleotide phosphorylase from Escherichia coli is irreversibly inactivated by preincubation with urea at concentrations of 3.0 M or greater. The addition of ribonucleotide polymers, oligonucleotides or nucleoside diphosphates to the preincubation medium markedly decreases the rate of this inactivation. Both oligonucleotides terminated with an unesterified 3′‐hydroxyl group or esterified with a 3′‐phosphate are equally effective.The presence of 2.0 M and 4.0 M urea in the normal reaction medium results in a complete. inhibition of the polymerization of the nucleoside diphosphates UDP and ADP, respectively. Full enzymic activity can be regained either by diluting the urea or by addition of oligonucleotides terminating with an uneserified 3′‐hydroxyl group. Long polynucleotides or oligonucleotides with a terminal 3′‐phosphate group are ineffective in restoring enzymic activity, in contrast to their ability to protect on the enzyme against irreversible denaturation.The phosphorolysis reaction catalyzed by polynucleotide phosphorylase is appreciably inhibited only at concentrations of urea in excess of 4.0 M.The present results suggest that at concentrations of 4.0 M or less, urea inhibits selectively and reversibly the chain initiation reaction either by drastically decreasing the binding constant of the oligonucleotide to the enzyme, or by slowing down the first steps of the polymerization.La polynucléotide phosphorylase extraite de Escherichia coli est inactivée de façon irréversible à la suite d'une pré‐incubation avec de l'urée à des concentrations de 3 M ou plus. Cette inactivation est notablement diminuée par l'addition de polyribonucléotides, d'oligonucléotides ou de nucléosides diphosphates au milieu de préincubation. Les oligonucléotides sont actifs, qu'ils soient terminés par un groupe 3′‐hydroxyle libre, ou qu'ils soient estérifiés en 3′ phosphate.En présence d'urée (2 M et 4 M, respectivement pour l'UDP et l'ADP) la polymérisation des nucléosides diphosphates est complétement inhibée. L'activité enzymatiquement peut être totalement rétablie, soit par dilution de l'urée, soit par addition d'oligonucléotides terminés par un groupement 3′ hydroxyle non estérifié. Les longs polynucléotides de même que les oligonucléotides terminés par un groupement 3′ phosphate, ne peuvent restaurer l'activité enzymatique, bien qu'ils puissent protéger l'enzyme contre une dénaturation irréversible.La réaction de phosphorolyse catalysée par la polynucléotide phosphorylase n'est inhibée de façon appréciable par la présence d'urée qu'à des concentrations au dessus de 4 M.Ces résultats suggèrent qu'à des concentrations de 4 M ou moins, l'urée inhibe la réaction d'initiation de la chaîne polynucléotidique de façon sélective et réversible; cette inhibition se produit soit par une forte diminution de la constante d'association entre l'oligonucleotide et l'enzyme, soit par un ralentissement des premières étapes de la polymérisation.