bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of Naltrexone in a Community Treatment Program
Authors: Killeen Therese K. , Brady Kathleen T. , Gold Paul B. , Simpson Kit N. , Faldowski Richard A. , Tyson Clare , Anton Raymond F. 
Published: November 2004

Objective: In several large, well‐designed, randomized, double‐blind studies, the opiate antagonist naltrexone demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Specifically, when combined with certain psychosocial therapies, naltrexone reduces the number of drinking days, heavy drinking, and time to relapse to alcohol use in alcohol‐dependent individuals. Whether this efficacy can be generalized to individuals who have alcohol use disorders and present for treatment at front‐line community treatment programs has not been well established.Methods: A total of 145 patients who presented for treatment at a rural community substance abuse treatment center were randomized to receive naltrexone 50 mg daily plus usual program treatment (n= 54), placebo plus usual treatment (n= 43), or usual treatment alone (n= 48) for 12 week. A total of 133 participants had at least one follow‐up visit. Primary outcome measures included percent days drinking, average drinks per drinking day, average drinks per day, heavy drinking days (four or more for women and six or more for men), and time to first heavy drinking day. Secondary measures included changes in serum biological markers (alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and γ‐glutamyltransferase), craving, and psychosocial functioning.Results: In the intention‐to‐treat analysis, there were no between‐group differences for any of the primary drinking outcomes at 12 weeks. In post hoc exploratory analyses, the entire sample of participants was divided into two new groups: (1) people who drank during the 2 weeks before the start of medication (entry drinkers) and (2) people who did not drink during this interval (entry abstainers). Entry abstainers were at an advantage at study entry in that they were significantly more likely to have an inpatient hospitalization immediately before entry into outpatient treatment. Mixed‐model analysis of variance revealed a main effect for entry group at the 12‐week treatment endpoint on the primary outcome measures of percent days drinking, average drinks per drinking day, average drinks per day, heavy drinking days, and time to first heavy drinking day. Participants in any of the randomized groups who were entry abstainers had significantly better improvement on all of the primary outcome measures. The abstainer groups that were randomized to placebo and usual treatment had significantly better outcomes than the entry drinkers in those perspective groups. However, for the naltrexone‐treated group, entry drinkers and entry abstainers had similar improvement in drinking‐related outcomes.Conclusions: These data suggest that naltrexone may offer particular benefit to patients who continue to drink during the early stages of the trial as compared with those who have achieved abstinence before treatment entry.
Perceptual Learning in Detoxified Alcoholic Men: Contributions From Explicit Memory, Executive Function, and Age
Authors: Fama Rosemary , Pfefferbaum Adolf , Sullivan Edith V. 
Published: November 2004

Background: Visuospatial and visuoperceptual deficits have consistently been observed in detoxified alcoholics; however, the severity of impairment varies with test and task type. Identifying the component processes and factors that underlie a particular deficit may reveal why some visuospatial and visuoperceptual tasks are more compromised than others and may lead to the specification of neural systems that are particularly vulnerable in alcoholism.Methods: We examined visuoperception and perceptual learning with a picture fragment identification task in 51 recently detoxified nonamnesic alcoholic men (aged 29–66 years) compared with 63 normal control men (aged 21–70 years). Executive function and explicit declarative memory were also assessed.Results: Despite deficits in the primary components of visuoperception and explicit memory for visuospatial stimuli, the alcoholics showed normal perceptual learning. Although the alcoholics and controls performed at comparable levels on the perceptual learning task, multiple regression analyses indicated that the factors accounting for perceptual learning variance differed between and within groups. Visuoperceptual abilities consistently predicted perceptual learning in the control subjects but not the alcoholic subjects. Explicit memory contributed to perceptual learning performance in both the alcoholic and control groups. Frontal executive ability consistently predicted perceptual learning in the alcoholic subjects, but it had predictive ability only in the control subjects as time elapsed. Age was significantly correlated with perceptual learning performance in both groups. Lifetime alcohol consumption, but not alcoholism duration, was an independent predictor of 1‐hr perceptual learning.Conclusions: These correlational analyses suggest that controls invoke basic visuospatial processes to perform a perceptual learning task, whereas alcoholics invoke higher‐order cognitive processes (i.e., frontal executive systems) to perform the same task at normal levels. Use of more demanding cognitive systems by the alcoholics may be less efficient and more costly to processing capacity than those invoked by controls.
Magnesium Treatment of Primary Alcohol‐Dependent Patients During Subacute Withdrawal: An Open Pilot Study With Polysomnography
Authors: Hornyak Magdolna , Haas Peter , Veit Johannes , Gann Horst , Riemann Dieter 
Published: November 2004

Background: Sleep electroencephalogram alterations and insomnia complaints persist after alcohol withdrawal in dependent patients and are considered strong predictors of relapse. Although disturbances of magnesium household due to alcohol consumption are well known, the relationship of magnesium metabolism and sleep disturbances has not been investigated in this patient group. We conducted an open pilot study to evaluate the effects of magnesium treatment on the sleep of primary alcohol‐dependent patients during subacute withdrawal.Methods: Patients were treated with 30 mmol magnesium daily over 4 weeks. Eleven of the 14 included patients were evaluated. Patients were free of any kind of psychotropic medication or other substances known to influence sleep. Polysomnographic recordings with monitoring of periodic leg movements in sleep (PLMS) were performed for two consecutive nights 2 weeks after acute withdrawal (baseline) and 4 weeks later at the end of the treatment period. After the baseline polysomnography, patients were investigated by the magnesium loading test to verify magnesium depletion.Results: We found a significant decrease of sleep onset latency from 40.6 to 21.7 min (p= 0.03) and a significant improvement of subjective sleep quality, as assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, from 8.1 to 5.8 (p= 0.05) during magnesium treatment. Changes in PLMS indices revealed two subgroups of patients: one with an increase of PLMS from 30.7 to 39.4 per hour of sleep (n= 4) and the other one with a decrease of PLMS from 8.9 to 2.1 per hour of sleep (p= 0.04). Patients with PLMS decreases seemed to have a more favorable prognosis: total sleep time, γ‐glutamyltransferase, carbohydrate‐deficient transferrin, and Beck Depression Inventory scores improved significantly during treatment in this group. The magnesium loading test revealed a magnesium deficiency in only one patient, five patients showed normal retention values, and the remaining five patients had an increased magnesium excretion, indicating a possible continued renal magnesium loss during abstinence.Conclusions: The results of this study should be interpreted with caution, because no control group with placebo was investigated. Both subjective and, partly, objective parameters of sleep improved during the 4‐week study period. Further research is needed to clarify the relationship of magnesium metabolism and sleep alterations.
Gender Differences in the Performance of a Computerized Version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test in Subcritically Injured Patients Who Are Admitted to the Emergency Department
Authors: Neumann Tim , Neuner Bruno , Gentilello Larry M. , Weiss‐Gerlach Edith , Mentz Henriette , Rettig Jordan S. , Schröder Torsten , Wauer Helmar , Müller Christian , Schütz Michael , Mann Karl , Siebert Gerda , Dettling Michael , Müller Joachim M. , Kox Wolfgang J. , Spies Claudia D. 
Published: November 2004

Objective: The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) has been recommended as a screening tool to detect patients who are appropriate candidates for brief, preventive alcohol interventions. Lower AUDIT cutoff scores have been proposed for women; however, the appropriate value remains unknown. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the optimal AUDIT cutpoint for detecting alcohol problems in subcritically injured male and female patients who are treated in the emergency department (ED). An additional purpose of the study was to determine whether computerized screening for alcohol problems is feasible in this setting.Methods: The study was performed in the ED of a large, urban university teaching hospital. During an 8‐month period, 1205 male and 722 female injured patients were screened using an interactive computerized lifestyle assessment that included the AUDIT as an embedded component. World Health Organization criteria were used to define alcohol dependence and harmful drinking. World Health Organization criteria for excessive consumption were used to define high‐risk drinking. The ability of the AUDIT to classify appropriately male and female patients as having one of these three conditions was the primary outcome measure.Results: Criteria for any alcohol use disorder were present in 17.5% of men and 6.8% of women. The overall accuracy of the AUDIT was good to excellent. At a specificity >0.80, sensitivity was 0.75 for men using a cutoff of 8 points and 0.84 for women using a cutoff of 5 points. Eighty‐five percent of patients completed computerized screening without the need for additional help.Conclusions: Different AUDIT scoring thresholds for men and women are required to achieve comparable sensitivity and specificity when using the AUDIT to screen injured patients in the ED. Computerized AUDIT administration is feasible and may help to overcome time limitations that may compromise screening in this busy clinical environment.
Association Study of Brain‐Derived Neurotrophic Factor Gene Polymorphism and Alcoholism
Authors: Matsushita Sachio , Kimura Mitsuru , Miyakawa Tomohiro , Yoshino Aihide , Murayama Masanobu , Masaki Toshihiro , Higuchi Susumu 
Published: November 2004

Objective: Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) influences dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitters that are heavily linked to addiction. A quantitative trait loci study indicated that genes localized to 11p13, where the BDNF gene is mapped (11p13–15), increase the risk for severe alcohol withdrawal. Moreover, a recent study using a pooled‐sample microarray suggested that the BDNF gene locus was included in the loci that were shown to be associated with drug abuse. These lines of evidence suggested that BDNF might play some role in the development of or vulnerability to alcoholism and/or clinical characteristics of alcoholic individuals.Methods: The alcoholic subjects consisted of 377 male Japanese patients. A structured interview was used to obtain social background, drinking history, history of violence while intoxicated, history of alcohol withdrawal, and family history of alcoholism. The control group consisted of 336 nonalcoholic male subjects. Genotyping of the G196A polymorphism of the BDNF gene was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–restriction fragment length polymorphism method.Results: Genotype and allele distributions of the BDNF gene polymorphism did not differ significantly between alcoholic and control subjects. However, comparing clinical characteristics across G196A genotypes, we found that alcoholic subjects with violent tendencies and a history of delirium tremens had a significantly higher frequency of AA genotypes and A allele frequencies than those without them. Moreover, alcoholic subjects with the A allele had earlier onset of the disease than those without it.Conclusions: These results indicate that BDNF gene polymorphism might modify phenotypes of alcoholism.
Bitter Receptor Gene (TAS2R38), 6‐n‐Propylthiouracil (PROP) Bitterness and Alcohol Intake
Authors: Duffy Valerie B. , Davidson Andrew C. , Kidd Judith R. , Kidd Kenneth K. , Speed William C. , Pakstis Andrew J. , Reed Danielle R. , Snyder Derek J. , Bartoshuk Linda M. 
Published: November 2004

Background: Phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) and 6‐n‐propylthiouracil (PROP), chemically related compounds, are probes for genetic variation in bitter taste, although PROP is safer with less sulfurous odor. Threshold for PROP distinguishes nontasters (increased threshold) from tasters (lower threshold); perceived intensity subdivides tasters into medium tasters (PROP is bitter) and supertasters (PROP is very bitter). Compared with supertasters, nontasters have fewer taste papillae on the anterior tongue (fungiform papillae) and experience less negative (e.g., bitterness) and more positive (eg, sweetness) sensations from alcohol. We determined whether the TAS2R38 gene at 7q36 predicted PROP bitterness, alcohol sensation and use.Methods: Healthy adults (53 women, 31 men; mean age 36 years)—primarily light and moderate drinkers—reported the bitterness of five PROP concentrations (0.032‐3.2 mM) and intensity of 50% ethanol on the general Labeled Magnitude Scale. PROP threshold and density of fungiform papillae were also measured. Subjects had common TAS2R38 gene haplotypes [alanine‐valine‐isoleucine (AVI) and proline‐alanine‐valine (PAV)].Results: PROP bitterness varied significantly across genotypes with repeated measures ANOVA: 26 AVI/AVI homozygotes tasted less bitterness than either 37 PAV/AVI heterozygotes or 21 PAV/PAV homozygotes. The PAV/PAV group exceeded the PAV/AVI group for bitterness only for the top PROP concentrations. The elevated bitterness was musch less than if we defined the groups using psychophysical criteria. With multiple regression analyses, greater bitterness from 3.2 mM PROP was a significant predictor of greater ethanol intensity and less alcohol intake—effects separate from age and sex. Genotype was a significant predictor of alcohol intake, but not ethanol intensity. With ANOVA, AVI/AVI homozygotes reported higher alcohol use than either PAV/AVI heterozygotes or PAV/PAV homozygotes. When age effects were minimized, PROP bitterness explained more variance in alcohol intake than did the TAS2R38 genotype.Conclusions: These results support taste genetic effects on alcohol intake. PROP bitterness serves as a marker of these effects.
Sexual behavior during the first eight weeks after legal termination of pregnancy
Authors: Boesen Hans Christian , RØrbye Christina , NØrgaard Mogens , Nilas Lisbeth 
Published: November 2004

Background.  The aim of the study was to describe sexual symptoms and resumption of sexual activity during the first 8 weeks after unrestricted first‐trimester termination of pregnancy (TOP).Methods.  Questionnaires 2 and 8 weeks after legal first‐trimester abortion in 1327 women.Results.  The 8‐week questionnaire was returned by 941 (71%). Overall, 51.0% of the women recommenced coitus within 2 weeks after TOP. This figure was significantly higher among women aged 18–24 years (60.6%) than among women in higher age groups (41.7–47.8%). At 8 weeks follow‐up coitus was reported by 86.9%, ranging from 65.8% of women not in a steady relationship to 93.7% of women in a relationship (p < 0.001), and age‐related differences were insignificant. Long duration of vaginal bleeding, medical abortion and need for reevacuation of the uterus diminished the resumption frequency at 2 weeks follow‐up, but 8 weeks after termination postabortion complications did not affect resumption. At 8 weeks follow‐up 15.3% reported diminished sexual desire and 6.0% reported diminished orgasm ability comparing to prepregnancy level. Of the sexually active women 6.2% did not use sufficient contraception 8 weeks after termination.Conclusion.  Coitus is recommenced shortly after termination of pregnancy but not always with sufficient contraception. Legal abortion is associated with few adverse effects on sexual function.
LIPID MODIFICATIONS RELATED TO ENCYSTMENT AND EXCYSTMENT OF CRYPTOMONAS RUFESCENS SKUJA (CRYPTOPHYCEAE)1
Authors: Lichtlé C. , Dubacq J. P. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTThe lipids of Cryptomonas rufescens (Skuja) cells have been analyzed. Quantitative changes of polar and neutral lipids were observed during cell encystment, induced by cultures in a nitrogen‐deficient medium. During encystment, thylakoids disappeared while unsaturated galactolipids, characteristics of chloroplast membranes, decreased and neutral lipids accumulated in the cytoplasm. When excystment was induced, the reversal of the phenomenon was observed while thylakoids containing galactolipids were formed.
FACULTATIVE PARASITISM OF SPIROGYRA SP. (CHLOROPHYTA) BY SAPROLEGNIA ASTEROPHORA AND PYTHIUM GRACILE (EUMYCOTA, OOMYCETES)1
Authors: Beck Stephen J. , Erb Kenneth 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACT Spirogyra sp. Link was found to be parasitized by filamentous fungi tentatively identified as Saprolegnia asterophora de Bary and Pythium gracile Schenk, in field samples and when maintained in unaltered pond water in an 18 h fluorescent light–6 h dark regime at 18 ± 2°C. Collections were made periodically between March 1978, and November 1979, from a pond in Mill Seek Sanctuary near Oyster Bay, Nassau Co., Long Island, New York. Initially, less than 1% of the total field population of Spirogyra sp. was infected by either fungal parasite with Saprolegnia asterophora being the dominant parasite present generally alone in most samples or present in 80–95% of the total number of infected algal filaments when occurring concurrently with P. gracile. However, in the laboratory, approximately 100% of the Spirogyra sp. filaments in any given sample became infected by Saprolegnia asterophora and/or P. gracile within a 1—2 wk and 3–4 wk period, respectively, with vegetative hyphae involved in the spread of infection to neighboring algal filaments. Infection of algal filaments occurred at random points with cell to cell hyphal extension within the filament causing disruption of host cells. Development of S. asterophora, and possibly P. gracile, sexual reproductive structures was common in relation with the host with asexual sporangial production not observed. Saprolegnia asterophora and P. gracile were cultured on glucose, yeast extract, malt extract (GYM) medium from infected Spirogyra sp. filaments, with infection of healthy algal filaments using these cultures by Saprolegnia asterophora, but not by P. gracile, induced in the laboratory. Growth responses and tropic responses of the fungi to the algal host could not be demonstrated.
INDIAN OCEAN NANOPLANKTON. I. RHABDOSPHAERACEAE (PRYMNESIOPHYCEAE) WITH A REVIEW OF EXTANT TAXA1
Authors: Richard E. Norris 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTFamily characteristics of the Rhabdosphaeraceae are revised to limit the genera to those having cyrtoliths; genera with placoliths are removed from the family. Rhabdoliths, cyrtoliths bearing a process in the central area, are present in all genera. Coccospheres having monomorphic coccoliths, all being rhabdoliths, form one group within the family, whereas genera with dimorphic coccoliths in the coccosphere comprise a second group. Cyrtoliths without processes in the latter group may be intermixed with rhabdoliths in some genera, whereas other genera have rhabdoliths located only in polar regions of the coccosphere. Two generic nomenclatural changes are proposed, Algirosphaera being the name applied to species previously placed in Anthosphaera, an invalid generic name, and Palusphaera is recognized as a valid monotypic genus, P. vandeli being the name applied to the species that has been named Rhabdosphaera longistylis in recent literature. A new combination is made, Rhabdosphaera xiphos (Deflandre et Fert) comb. nov., recognizing a species formerly known only in sediments as extant. Rhabdosphaera, Acanthoica and Algirosphaera are genera with dimorphic coccoliths in the coccospheres; Discosphaera, Palusphaera and Anacanthoica are genera having monomorphic coccoliths in the coccosphere.
VALVE MORPHOGENESIS IN THE PENNATE DIATOM NAVICULA CUSPIDATA1
Authors: Edgar Lesley A. , Pickett‐Heaps Jeremy D. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTThe deposition of siliceous valves during asexual reproduction of the pennate diatom, Navicula cuspidata Kütz., is described with emphasis on the cytoplasmic components involved. The events accompanying valve secretion are similar to those already known from other pennate species. After mitosis, the microtubule centre (MC) moves to the center of the cleavage furrow where silica deposition is initiated inside a tubular silicalemma, and it remains associated with the prospective central nodule during valve growth. Microtubules (MTs), emanating from the MC, run parallel to the prospective raphe and together with the raphe fibres, appear to be involved with raphe development. Multiple raphe fibres occupy the maturing raphe fissure, in contrast to the single fibre of Pinnularia viridis, P. maior and Hantzschia amphioxys. The fibers exhibit a periodic substructure and are often opposed to the silicalemma where they may inhibit silica deposition and control the shaping of the raphe fissure. In contrast with the above species, in N. cuspidata MTs are clustered strictly opposite the raphe and lose their association with the MC which degenerates before the valves are mature. The primary role of MTs may be the stabilization of the cytoplasmic region where initial silicification occurs. Mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum are not involved in molding valve growth in this species. Evidence for vesicle involvement in silica transport and deposition was limited. The possible contributions provided by comparative studies on the ultrastructure of valve morphogenesis towards elucidating the control of valve formation and the taxonomy of diatoms are discussed briefly.
D‐VITAMINS AND THEIR PRECURSORS AS GROWTH REGULATORS IN AXENICALLY CULTIVATED MARINE MACROALGAE1
Authors: Fries Lisbeth 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTLight petroleum extracts from thalli of Fucus vesiculosus (L.) and Laminaria digitata (Huds.) Lamour. stimulate growth of axenically cultured Fucus spiralis L. and Enteromorpha compressa (L.) Grev. in amounts per litre culture medium corresponding to one to 10 mg wet weight of the brown algae. This indicates the presence of a lipophilic, very active growth regulator in the blades. Extracts from the meristematic zone of Laminaria are much less active. Vitamins D3, D2 and 1,25‐(OH)2‐D3 at 1·10−8– 1·10−7 M increase the fresh weight of Enteromorpha compressa and Fucus spiralis up to 100% or more. The dry weight of Nemalion helminthoides (Veil, in With.) Batt. is also increased under the same conditions. Ergosterol and cholesterol are also growth‐stimulating but higher concentrations (e.g. 1·10−6 M) are necessary. The effects of the D vitamins manifest themselves without any auxins being added to the medium.
INDETERMINATE GROWTH OF PERICARPS IN THREE MEMBERS OF THE RHODYMENIALES (RHODOPHYTA)12
Authors: Thursby Glen B. , Steele Richard L. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTPericarps generally are thought of as structures having determinate growth, serving as a protective covering for the developing gonimoblast. In laboratory culture, the pericarps of Champia parvula (C. Agardh) Harvey, Lomentaria baileyana (Harvey) Farlow and Lomentaria sp. exhibited indeterminate growth. These tissues could be excised and grown as separate female plants. The new plants were indistinguishable from the parent tissue, were fertile, and produced viable carpospores.