bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of unilateral vestibular ganglionectomy on glutaminase activity in the vestibular nerve root and vestibular nuclear complex of the rat
Authors: Godfrey Donald A. , Xu Jiansong , Godfrey Matthew A. , Li Hongyan , Rubin Allan M. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractThe metabolism of glutamate, the most likely neurotransmitter of vestibular ganglion cells, includes synthesis from glutamine by the enzyme glutaminase. We used microdissection combined with a fluorometric assay to measure glutaminase activity in the vestibular nerve root and nuclei of rats with unilateral vestibular ganglionectomy. Glutaminase activity in the lesioned‐side vestibular nerve root decreased by 62% at 4 days after ganglionectomy and remained at similar values through 30 days. No change occurred in the contralateral vestibular nerve root. Glutaminase activity changes in the vestibular nuclei were lesser in magnitude and more complex, including contralateral increases as well as ipsilateral decreases. At 4 days after ganglionectomy, glutaminase activity was 10–20% lower in individual lesioned‐side nuclei compared with their contralateral counterparts. By 14 and 30 days after ganglionectomy, there were no statistically significant differences between the nuclei on the two sides. This transient asymmetry of glutaminase activities in the vestibular nuclei contrasts with the sustained asymmetry in the vestibular nerve root and suggests that intrinsic, commissural, or descending pathways are involved in the recovery of chemical symmetry. This recovery resembles our previous finding for glutamate concentrations in the vestibular nuclei and may partially underlie central vestibular compensation after peripheral lesions. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rheological Characterization of Computationally Synthesized Reactor Populations of Hyperbranched Macromolecules: Bivariate Seniority‐Priority Distribution of ldPE
Authors: Iedema Piet D. , Slot Johan J. M. , Kim Dong‐Min , Hoefsloot Huub C. J. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractSummary: Hyperbranched molecules like low‐density polyethylene (ldPE) adopt a huge variety of molecular architectures. Previous work has shown that it is possible to computationally synthesize these architectures and to characterize them according to radius of gyration. Here, a method is presented and applied on ldPE to characterize populations using rheological quantities in terms of comb‐shaped and Cayley tree structures. Interbranch segments are assigned seniority and priority values that quantify their behavior in relaxation and elastic deformation processes. New general‐purpose algorithms have been developed to derive the full bivariate seniority/priority distribution using a representation from the graph theory of branched architectures. This paper describes the computation of bivariate chain length/degree of branching distributions (CLD/DBD) using a Galerkin finite element method for two scission mechanisms: linear and topological scission. The DBD is calculated using pseudo‐distributions. Random scission is treated with fragment length and branch point redistribution functions as obtained from scission statistics of branched molecules, preferentially yielding short and long fragments. Reactor populations of ldPE architectures are then obtained using computational synthesis. The seniority and priority distributions calculated indeed prove to be an adequate characterization method. They show good comparison, although not a complete overlap, with size characterization using a variant of the radius of gyration. It was possible to calculate a full bivariate seniority/priority fraction distribution, but due to the limited sample size its surface was not smooth. Subsequent work has shown the consequences for the prediction of rheological properties.Seniority/priority values for segments of molecules for one chain length/number of branch points combination.imageSeniority/priority values for segments of molecules for one chain length/number of branch points combination.
Negative growth control of renal cell carcinoma cell by connexin 32: Possible involvement of Her‐2
Authors: Fujimoto Eriko , Satoh Haruna , Negishi Etsuko , Ueno Koichi , Nagashima Yoji , Hagiwara Kiyokazu , Yamasaki Hiroshi , Yano Tomohiro 
Published: May 2004

AbstractConnexin (Cx) genes have negative growth effects on tumor cells with certain cell specificity. We have previously reported that Cx32 is specifically downregulated in human renal cell carcinoma cell (RCC) lines as well as cancerous regions of kidneys and that the Cx is expressed in the progenitor cells of the carcinoma. However, the precise role of Cx32 in growth control of RCC cells remains unknown. In this study, we examined whether Cx32 could act in growth control against a human RCC cell, Caki‐2 cell. In order to estimate the cell growth control, we established Caki‐2 cells that have stable expression of Cx32 genes. Cx32 expression in Caki‐2 cells induced contact inhibition of growth and reduced anchorage‐independent growth ability, but did not significantly affect lag phase growth rates. This growth control by Cx32 was dependent on the inhibition of the cell‐cycle transition from G1 to S phase at high cell density, and the inhibition of the cell‐cycle transition related to the suppression of Her‐2 activation. Furthermore, the suppression of Cx32 expression in Caki‐2 cells by short interfering RNA induced the activation of Her‐2. These data suggest that Cx32 has negative growth control of Caki‐2 cells, partly due to the inhibition of the Her‐2 activation. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Generation and adaptation of computational surface meshes from discrete anatomical data
Authors: Frey Pascal J. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractFast and accurate scanning devices are nowadays widely used in many engineering and biomedical fields. The resulting discrete data is usually directly converted into polygonal surface meshes, using ‘brute‐force’ algorithms, often resulting in meshes that may contain several millions of polygons. Simplification is therefore required in order to make storage, computation and display possible if not efficient. In this paper, we present a general scheme for mesh simplification and optimization that allows to control the geometric approximation as well as the element shape and size quality (required for numerical simulations). Several examples ranging from academic to complex biomedical geometries (organs) are presented to illustrate the efficiency and the utility of the proposed approach. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of viscoelastic behavior and dynamic mechanical relaxation of copolyester based layered silicate nanocomposites using Havriliak–Negami model
Authors: Kalgaonkar Rajendra A. , Nandi Somnath , Tambe Sanjeev S. , Jog Jyoti P. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractThe solid‐state viscoelastic properties are examined for intercalated nanocomposites based on a copolyester and (2‐ethyl‐hexyl)dimethyl hydrogenated‐tallow ammonium montmorillonite. The nanocomposites are prepared via the direct melt intercalation technique using a conventional twin‐screw extruder. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis of the nanocomposites is conducted using two different test setups. The dynamic mechanical relaxation spectra show an increase in the storage modulus of the nanocomposite over the entire temperature range under study as compared to the pristine polymer (except in the transition region from 70 to 80 °C). These results are analyzed using the empirical Havriliak–Negami (HN) equation. The four temperature independent HN parameters (α, β, E0, and E∞) and one temperature dependent parameter (τ, the relaxation time) are determined by solving the HN equation for each temperature over the range of temperatures. The calculated moduli results fit well with the experimental values of the relaxation spectra for the nanocomposites. This study shows that the HN model can be applied to polymer layered silicate nanocomposites, and it can be used to predict their dynamic mechanical properties over a wide range of temperatures and frequencies a priori. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2657–2666, 2004
Curing kinetics of epoxy resins with hyperbranched polyesters as toughening agents
Authors: Xu Gang , Shi Wenfang , Shen Shijun 
Published: May 2004

AbstractThe effects of hyperbranched polyesters on the cure kinetics of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) in the presence of m‐phenylene diamine were investigated with nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetry. The results showed that the addition of hyperbranched polyesters enhanced the cure reaction of DGEBA with m‐phenylene diamine, and this resulted in a reduction of the peak temperature of the curing curve and the activation energy because of the low viscosity and large number of terminal hydroxyl groups. However, when linear poly(ethylene glycol) was added, the activation energy of the blends also slightly decreased, whereas the peak temperature of the curing curve increased. The curing kinetics of the blends were calculated by the isoconversional method of Málek. The two‐parameter autocatalytic model (i.e., the Šesták–Berggren equation) was found to be the most adequate for describing the cure kinetics of the studied systems. The obtained nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetry curves showed results in agreement with those theoretically calculated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2649–2656, 2004
Effect of Dry Cassava Chip Storage on Yield and Functional Properties of Extracted Starch
Authors: Abera Solomon , Rakshit Sudip Kumar 
Published: May 2004

AbstractDry cassava chips of variety CMR35‐22‐196 and KU50 were stored at 5 and 30°C up to a period of 8 months. The yield and functional properties of the starches extracted from the chips after 2 months of storage were compared with those of starches extracted from fresh roots and freshly dried chips. Starch yield from dry chips was reduced by up to 5% after 8 months of storage. Functional properties of the starches exhibited a declining trend with increasing storage period of the chips. Peak viscosity and swelling power decreased by up to 30% and 5 g/g, respectively. Paste clarity dropped by up to 30% and syneresis of the gels increased by up to 10% after 8 months storage. A high storage temperature (30°C) was found to increase the changes in functional properties of the starches. The changes in the functional properties, however, were not so severe to negatively affect the application of the dry‐chip starches. All the properties remained within the generally recognized ranges of cassava starches. The use of dry chips for extraction of starch could thus overcome the problems of seasonal glut and closure of factories in low season.
Prosodic problems in Swedish children with language impairment: towards a classification of subgroups
Authors: Samuelsson Christina , Nettelbladt Ulrika 
Published: May 2004

AbstractBackground: Symptoms of prosodic problems have been found in Swedish children with language impairment at word and phrase level and possibly also at discourse level.Aims: The aim was twofold. First, to characterize a group of children with prosodic problems compared with children with normal language development. Second, to investigate the possibilities to classify subgroups of prosodic problems.Methods & Procedures: A new Swedish assessment procedure for prosody that captures prosodic features at word, phrase and discourse level was used. Twenty‐five children with prosodic problems and 25 children with typically developing language matched by age, gender and regional dialect participated in the study. Pretesting included tests of language comprehension, grammatical skills and oral motor skills.Outcomes & Results: The difference between the experimental and control groups was highly significant in all parts of the procedure. The total score of the procedure significantly correlated with grammatical abilities measured in the pretesting procedure, but there was no correlation with the other linguistic abilities measured in the pretesting procedure.Conclusions: The results indicate a possible differentiation into two different subgroups, one with primarily phonetic and/or linguistic problems, the other with prosodic problems at discourse level possibly related to pragmatic problems.
Ask a silly question: two decades of troublesome trials
Authors: Pring Tim 
Published: May 2004

AbstractBackground: Randomized control trials and the use of meta‐analysis in systematic reviews are the basis of evidence‐based practice. The paper reviews their use in the development of evidence‐based practice in speech and language therapy.Aims: It is accepted that clinical outcome research should develop in a sequence of phases. A model of this process is described. Examples of outcome research in speech and language therapy are used to illustrate the use of the model and the problems that result when it is not followed.Main Contribution: Existing research has largely ignored the agreed procedures for outcome research. Particular problems have arisen when randomized control trials are used to examine therapy provision for a client group. Clients are often a heterogeneous group and receive different therapies. Consequently, it is unlikely that trials can obtain significant results, nor, if they do, can they provide clinicians with useful information about the choice of treatment. Systematic reviews are equally uninformative. Many of the studies on which they are based have methodological problems and their frequent failure adequately to describe the therapies used mean that reviews cannot evaluate or compare different types of therapy.Conclusions: Researchers in speech and language therapy have given too little attention to the basics of clinical outcome research. This requires that clinical and theoretical insights are used to identify specific therapies for well‐defined groups of clients. These therapies must be tested first in efficacy, then in effectiveness studies, and their results should be disseminated to clinicians. Only then is it meaningful to carry out large‐scale trials of the effectiveness of therapy provision for a client group or to conduct systematic reviews of existing research.
Adverse effects of short‐acting beta‐agonists: Potential impact when anti‐inflammatory therapy is inadequate
Authors: WRAIGHT Jonathan M. , SMITH Andrew D. , COWAN Jan O. , FLANNERY Erin M. , HERBISON G. Peter , TAYLOR D. Robin 
Published: May 2004

Background:  Short‐acting beta‐agonists (SABAs) are associated with reduced lung function and increased bronchial hyper‐responsiveness. Earlier studies have failed to show that these changes are clinically important when SABAs are taken regularly in modest doses. However, some patients use SABAs to excess, especially with deteriorating asthma. Our aim was to establish whether adverse effects of SABAs are greater at higher than normal doses and after withdrawing inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy.Methodology:  This was a randomized controlled study. The treatments were salbutamol/ipratropium 100 µg/20 µg/puff or ipratropium 20 µg/puff, each 12 puffs daily. Phase 1 was of 2 weeks duration. During phase 2 ICS were withdrawn until loss of control (LOC) occurred.Results:  During phase 1 the mean FEV1 fell by 9.3% with salbutamol (0.26 L; 95% C.I. 0.13, 0.39), but by only 1.6% with ipratropium (0.05 L; 95% C.I. −0.06, 0.16; P= 0.006). During phase 2 FEV1 fell by a further 18.9% with salbutamol (0.54 L; 95% C.I. 0.39, 0.69), but by only 10.5% (0.33 L; 95% C.I. 0.17, 0.49; P= 0.032) with ipratropium. Time to LOC was significantly shorter with salbutamol (8.9 days) compared to ipratropium (16.8 days; P= 0.03).Conclusion:  Adverse changes in lung function with SABA appear to be greater with higher doses and increasing airway inflammation. This highlights the risks of excessive SABA use in patients who neglect ICS therapy and/or who rely on ‘relievers’.
Predictive risk factors for chronic renal failure in primary high‐grade vesico‐ureteric reflux
Authors: Caione P. , Villa M. , Capozza N. , De Gennaro M. , Rizzoni G. 
Published: May 2004

OBJECTIVETo evaluate and define the risk factors predictive of chronic renal failure (CRF) in children with severe bilateral primary vesico‐ureteric reflux (VUR), observed within the first year of life and with a long follow‐up.PATIENTS AND METHODSThe study comprised 50 patients presenting with grade 3–5 bilateral VUR diagnosed in the first year of life; 12 were suspected prenatally and confirmed shortly after birth, before any urinary tract infection (UTI). The mean (range) follow‐up was 6.3 (1–16) years. The variables considered within the first year of life were: gender, prenatal diagnosis with no UTI, number of febrile UTIs, serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels, metabolic acidosis, proteinuria, 24‐h urine output, hypertension, bilateral renal length on ultrasonography and renal scarring on renal scintigraphy. CRF was defined as a creatinine clearance of <80 mL/min/1.73 m2 at the last follow‐up. The results were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses (backward‐stepwise multiple regression) of the selected variables.RESULTSCRF was detected at the last follow‐up in 27 patients (54%), all boys, while renal function was normal in 23 (46%; seven girls). None of the 12 patients with prenatal diagnosis had UTI, but six had CRF. Febrile UTI was the presenting symptom in 38 (76%) patients and 17 (34%) of them had renal scarring. There was no significant difference between the prenatally detected VUR and febrile UTI group in the outcome as CRF. The univariate and multiple regression analysis showed that the first serum creatinine threshold of >6 mg/L before 1 year old was the most significant risk factor for CRF (P < 0.001; odds ratio 1.25).CONCLUSIONSChildren with primary bilateral high‐grade VUR and a serum creatinine of > 6 mg/L in the first year of life have a significant risk of developing CRF in the long‐term. Prenatal diagnosis and postnatal febrile UTI do not modify the outcome for renal function.
Urodynamic findings before and after noninvasive management of bladder calculi
Authors: Millán‐Rodríguez F. , Errando‐Smet C. , Rousaud‐Barón F. , Izquierdo‐Latorre F. , Rousaud‐Barón A. , Villavicencio‐Mavrich H. 
Published: May 2004

OBJECTIVESTo determine the most frequent urodynamic observations associated with bladder calculi, and to assess whether the presence of calculi alters these observations.PATIENTS AND METHODSFifty patients with bladder stones were included in a prospective study in which two urodynamic tests were used, one at inclusion and another once the patient was stone‐ free after treatment by noninvasive methods (mainly extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy).RESULTSThe results from the urodynamic evaluation with the stone in the bladder were: bladder outlet obstruction in 51%, detrusor overactivity in 68%, detrusor under‐activity in 10%, and a normal study in 18%. There were no significant differences between the urodynamic study before or after treatment in maximum flow rate and postvoid residual volume, detrusor overactivity and detrusor pressure at maximum flow.CONCLUSIONSConversely to what has been accepted for years, bladder calculi are not always associated with bladder outlet obstruction and the urodynamic results are not influenced by the presence of bladder stones during the urodynamic testing.
An open‐label, randomized, flexible‐dose, crossover study to assess the comparative efficacy and safety of sildenafil citrate and apomorphine hydrochloride in men with erectile dysfunction
Authors: Eardley I. , Wright P. , MacDonagh R. , Hole J. , Edwards A. 
Published: May 2004

Two papers in this section deal with well‐known pharmacological agents used to treat male erectile dysfunction. In the first of these, authors from the UK compared the efficacy and safety of sildenafil and apomorphine in such patients. This open‐label crossover trial suggested that sildenafil was better than apomorphine, where the primary endpoint was the erectile function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function.The second paper is an update on the efficacy and safety of tadalafil. It describes the results of its use in a large number of men with erectile dysfunction, compared to placebo. Once again, the erectile function domain was one of the primary endpoints. Tadalafil was an effective and well tolerated treatment for this condition.OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy and safety of sildenafil and apomorphine in the treatment of men with erectile dysfunction (ED).PATIENTS AND METHODSIn all, 139 men with ED who were naïve to treatment were entered into an open‐label crossover trial with two treatment periods, each of 8 weeks, separated by a 2‐week washout period. Men were randomized to receive either sildenafil then apomorphine or apomorphine then sildenafil, and were allowed to titrate the dose on both drugs. The primary endpoint was the erectile function (EF) domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), and other endpoints included diary data, the other domains of the IIEF, overall assessment questions and the Erectile Dysfunction Index of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS) questionnaire.RESULTSThe EF domain score after treatment was 25.2 for sildenafil and 15.9 for apomorphine. The treatment difference of the adjusted means was 9.3 points (95% confidence interval 7.6–11.1; P < 0.001). After sildenafil the successful intercourse rate was 75%, vs 35% for apomorphine (P < 0.001), and the EDITS scores were 82.5 for sildenafil and 46.8 for apomorphine (P < 0.001). Of the men, 96% expressed a preference for sildenafil as a treatment for their ED. The side‐effect profiles for both drugs were in keeping with published data.CONCLUSIONBy all measurable endpoints sildenafil was superior to apomorphine in this open‐label crossover study of men with ED who were naïve to therapy
The efficacy and safety of tadalafil: an update
Authors: Carson C.C. , Rajfer J. , Eardley I. , Carrier S. , Denne J.S. , Walker D.J. , Shen W. , Cordell W.H. 
Published: May 2004

OBJECTIVETo provide an update on the efficacy and safety of tadalafil, a phosphodiesterase‐5 inhibitor, in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED).PATIENTS AND METHODSIn all, 2102 men (mean age 56 years) with mild‐to‐severe ED of various causes were randomized to placebo or tadalafil, taken as needed with no food restrictions, at fixed ‘on‐demand’ doses of 10 or 20 mg in 11 randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trials lasting 12 weeks. The three co‐primary outcomes were changes from baseline in the erectile function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and the proportion of ‘yes’ responses to questions 2 and 3 of the Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP). Additional efficacy instruments included a Global Assessment Question (GAQ).RESULTSCompared with placebo, tadalafil gave significantly better outcomes. Patients receiving either dose of tadalafil had a significant mean improvement of 6.5 and 8.6, respectively, in the IIEF erectile function domain score from baseline (P < 0.001 vs placebo). At both doses the mean success rate for intercourse attempts (SEP‐Q3) was 58% and 68%, respectively, compared with 31% in the placebo group (P < 0.001), and 71% and 84% reported improved erections at the endpoint (GAQ), vs 33% on placebo (P < 0.001). Tadalafil was effective up to 36 h after dosing and was effective regardless of disease severity and causes, and in patients of all ages. The most frequent adverse events were headache, dyspepsia, back pain and myalgia.CONCLUSIONTadalafil was an effective and well‐tolerated treatment for ED.