bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dilated cardiomyopathy after pacemaker implantation in complete heart block
Authors: Yasuda Kenji , Hayashi George , Ohuchi Hideo , Ono Yasuo , Yutani Chikao , Echigo Shigeyuki 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
Background
: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features of patients with congenital complete heart block (CCHB) who developed dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) after pacemaker implantation (PMI) and to determine factors predicting DCM development.
Method
: A total of 15 patients were reviewed retrospectively. They were classified into two groups, one consisted of four patients who were diagnosed as having CCHB in utero or at birth and who developed DCM after PMI (DCM group) and the other consisted of 11 patients who did not (non‐DCM group).
Results
: Maternal autoantibodies were found in two of the DCM group and in five of the non‐DCM group. Perfusion defects in myocardial imaging were detected in all DCM patients and in five non‐DCM patients. DCM developed 2 to 43 months after PMI and three DCM patients died of heart failure 7 to 48 months after PMI. In pathological studies, endocardial or interstitial fibrosis was present in all DCM patients and in one of two in the non‐DCM group. No significant differences between the two groups were found in age at PMI, atrial or ventricular rate, end‐diastolic dimension and ejection fraction of the left ventricle before PMI, and width of QRS after PMI.
Conclusion
: Although it was suspected that the patients with CCHB had myocardial involvement before PMI, there was no significant factor predicting the risk of DCM after PMI. In addition to cardiac rhythm abnormalities, careful attention should be paid to cardiac function in CCHB patients after PMI.
Vasopressin in the treatment of vasodilatory shock in children
Authors: Masutani Satoshi , Senzaki Hideaki , Ishido Hirotaka , Taketazu Mio , Matsunaga Tamotsu , Kobayashi Toshiki , Sasaki Nozomu , Asano Haruhiko , Kyo Shunei , Yokote Yuji 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
Background
: Many recent studies suggest that vasopressin deficiency is an important cause of catecholamine‐resistant hypotension with vasodilation in adults, but little is known about vasopressin deficiency in children.
Methods
: To clarify the usefulness of vasopressin administration in pediatric cathecolamine‐resistant hypotension with preserved ventricular contractility, urinary output and blood pressure response to vasopressin were retrospectively analyzed in 12 consecutive patients (15 instances) who were treated with vasopressin. The causes of vasodilation were central nervous system disturbance (n = 5), side‐effect of drug (n = 5), and infection (n = 5). Plasma vasopressin concentration was measured six times before vasopressin administration and five times during vasopressin administration.
Results
: Patients were divided into four groups according to their response to vasopressin administration. In group 1 (n = 5), urinary output increased to > 3 mL/kg per h within 3 h after vasopressin administration. In group 2 (n = 4), urinary output increased to > 3 mL/kg per h from 3 to 5 h after vasopressin administration. In group 3 (n = 4), urinary output did not increase to > 3 mL/kg per min within 5 h after vasopressin administration, but systolic blood pressure increased to > 120% of the level at the time of vasopressin administration. All remaining patients were classified into group 4 (n = 3). Plasma vasopressin concentration were low considering the markedly hypotensive state in all six instances. Plasma vasopressin concentration during vasopressin administration were significantly increased compared with before administration (P < 0.05). No apparent side‐effects were observed in this series.
Conclusion
: Vasopressin deficiency may occur in catecholamine‐resistant hypotension of pediatric patients due to various causes including central nervous system disturbance, drug induced hypotension and sepsis. Small doses of vasopressin administration seems to be very effective in such conditions by increasing blood pressure and urinary output.
Risk factors for low Kaup index among children in rural ethnic minority areas of Yunnan, China
Authors: Hotta Masanaka , Li Yan , Anme Tokie , Ushijima Hiroshi 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
Background
: The general living standard and health level have been greatly improved in China. But the result of a significant change in a child's growth level has not been reported in the Yunnan rural minority area. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for low Kaup index in the Dai peoples’ autonomous region to construct a better health service system in rural minority areas.
Methods
: A total of 1173 mother–child pairs were selected in 36 villages of the Dai peoples’ autonomous region. Sampled mothers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Sampled children were measured for weight and height.
Results
: In total, 36.1% of the candidate group was under weight, 12.0% was wasting, and 30.8% had stunted growth. A child's gender (odds ratio; OR, 1.42; 95% confidence interval; 95% CI, 1.07–1.88), existence of a weaning food (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.26–0.46), grasp of the cause of the child's malnutrition (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.16–2.89), positiveness to information on better nutrition (OR, 2.97; 95% CI, 1.07–8.18), coincidence of the child‐rearing plan between parents (OR, 3.15; 95% CI, 1.12–4.11), and existence of a doctor who can consult about child‐rearing (OR, 3.17; 95% CI, 1.22–8.22) indicated significant relationships to the low value of a child's Kaup index.
Conclusion
: The mother's child‐rearing behavior and social support were identified as risk factors. An offer of effective and abundant information to mothers, and the existence of professionals with whom mothers can consult immediately, were required to construct a better health system in the target area.
Genetic influences on early word recognition abilities and disabilities: a study of 7‐year‐old twins
Authors: Harlaar Nicole , Spinath Frank M. , Dale Philip S. , Plomin Robert 
Published: March 2005

Background:  A fundamental issue for child psychology concerns the origins of individual differences in early reading development.Method:  A measure of word recognition, the Test of Word Reading Efficiency (TOWRE), was administered by telephone to a representative population sample of 3,909 same‐sex and opposite‐sex pairs of 7‐year‐old twins. Analyses allowing for sex differences in aetiology were used to estimate the extent to which genetic and environmental influences contribute to normal variation in word recognition and word recognition difficulties, defined by scores below the 5th and 10th percentiles of the unselected sample.Results:  Both normal variation in word recognition and impaired word recognition abilities were substantially heritable (h2 = .65–.67; h = .37–.72). Environmental influences were primarily shared between twins, rather than specific to each individual, and small to moderate in magnitude. There was evidence for qualitative sex differences. Quantitative sex differences were also suggested at the extremes, with genetic influences being more important as a cause of reading difficulties in boys than in girls.Conclusions:  These findings indicate that early individual differences and impairments in word recognition are principally influenced by genetic factors and may involve partly distinct genetic or environmental effects in boys and girls. Crucially, they also provide evidence that reading impairments are linked genetically to the normal distribution. Genetic risk for early impairments in word recognition is continuous rather than discrete.
The relationship between vocabulary, grammar, and false belief task performance in children with autistic spectrum disorders and children with moderate learning difficulties
Authors: Fisher Naomi , Happé Francesca , Dunn Judy 
Published: March 2005

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between language and theory of mind in children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) and children with moderate learning difficulties (MLD). Previous studies have found a strong association between language and theory of mind in a range of groups, but mostly have not included measures of both grammar and vocabulary; including these enables us to speculate about the causal direction of the relationship.Methods: Fifty‐eight children with ASD and 118 children with MLD were given standardised assessments of vocabulary and grammar, along with standard theory of mind tasks.Results: The relationship between language and theory of mind was more evident in children with ASD than in those with MLD, and grammar was a particularly strong predictor of theory of mind performance in children with ASD. Children with MLD performed better on false belief (FB) tasks than did children with ASD, and their performance was more predictable across the different theory of mind tasks.Conclusions: Language, in particular grammar, and theory of mind appear to be more strongly related in children with ASD than in those with MLD. We speculate that this relationship may be causal, with some grammatical understanding being a precursor of theory of mind. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to possible routes for compensatory strategies for mentalising in children with ASD.
Metabolism, physiology and stress defense in three aging Ins/IGF‐1 mutants of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Houthoofd Koen , Fidalgo Manuel A. , Hoogewijs David , Braeckman Bart P. , Lenaerts Isabelle , Brys Kristel , Matthijssens Filip , De Vreese Annemie , Van Eygen Sylvie , Muñoz Manuel J. , Vanfleteren Jacques R. 
Published: March 2005

SummaryThe insulin/insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (Ins/IGF‐1) pathway regulates the aging rate of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We describe other features of the three Ins/IGF‐1 mutants daf‐2, age‐1 and aap‐1. We show that the investigated Ins/IGF‐1 mutants all have a reduced body volume, reduced reproductive capacity, increased ATP concentrations and an elevated stress resistance. We also observed that heat production is lower in these mutants, although the respiration rate was similar or higher compared with wild‐type individuals, suggesting a metabolic shift in these mutants.
Photogrammetry and 3D laser scanning as spatial data capture techniques for a national craniofacial database
Authors: Majid Zulkepli , Chong Albert K. , Ahmad Anuar , Setan Halim , Samsudin Abdul Rani 
Published: March 2005

AbstractPhotogrammetry is a non‐contact, high‐accuracy, practical and cost‐effective technique for a large number of medical applications. Lately, three‐dimensional (3D) laser scanning and digital imaging technology have raised the importance of digital photogrammetry technology to a new height in craniofacial mapping. Under the support of the Eighth Malaysian Development Plan, the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment (MOSTE) Malaysia allocated a grant to establish procedures for the development of a national craniofacial spatial database to assist the medical profession to provide better health services to the public. To populate the database with normal and abnormal (malformation, diseased and trauma and burn victims) craniofacial information, it is necessary to evaluate the technology needed to capture the essential data of craniofacial features.The paper provides a discussion on the basic features of the spatial data and the data capture techniques. Both are needed for the establishment of a national spatial craniofacial database. The discussion includes a brief review of the current status of two selected high‐accuracy craniofacial spatial data capture techniques, namely, digital photogrammetry and 3D laser scanning. The paper highlights a system which has been developed for a Malaysian craniofacial mapping project.Laboratory tests with mannequins showed that the photogrammetric and 3D laser scanning system could achieve an accuracy exceeding the design specification of ±0·7 mm (one standard deviation) for all the measured craniofacial distances. However, tests with two living subjects showed that the accuracy was in the order of ±1·2 mm because of facial movement during data capture.
Mini‐ICE effectively mobilises peripheral blood stem cells after fludarabine‐based regimens in acute myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Mele Anna , Leopardi Giuliana , Sparaventi Giovanni , Nicolini Giuseppina , D'Adamo Francesca , Guiducci Barbara , Barulli Sara , Malerba Lara , Stramigioli Stefania , Talevi Nadia , Politi Patrizia , Isidori Alessandro , Malagola Michele , Piccaluga Pierpaolo , Visani Giuseppe 
Published: March 2005

Abstract:Fludarabine‐based cycles severely impair mobilisation and collection of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). In an effort of reversing this side‐effect, we studied the action on mobilisation and collection of PBSC of a low‐dose regimen: 5‐d Mini‐ICE (oral idarubicin and etoposide; subcutaneous cytosine arabinoside) administered after fludarabine‐based regimens in seven adult AML patients. Leukapheresis were started when the CD34+ cell count was more than 10/μL. The median number of harvested CD34+ cells was 8.1 × 106/kg (range 3.08–15.2). All the patients were successfully submitted to PBSC transplantation. Median times to neutrophil and platelet recovery were rapid with a normal transfusional support. We suggest that the Mini‐ICE programme is feasible, well tolerated and effective in terms of PBSC mobilisation and collection in low‐yield AML patients previously treated with fludarabine. It is well known that a negative effect on stem cell mobilisation and harvest is observed not only after fludarabine administration in AML or low‐grade lymphomas, but also after cycles based on different agents, such as thalidomide in multiple myeloma. This preliminary experience, if confirmed on larger series and/or other haematological malignancies, could open new opportunities to perform autologous PBSC transplantation in heavily pretreated cases, allowing a full source of therapeutic options before the start of the mobilisation process.
Imaging of central nervous system lymphomas with iodine‐123 labeled rituximab
Authors: Dietlein Markus , Pels Hendrik , Schulz Holger , Staak Oliver , Borchmann Peter , Schomäcker Klaus , Fischer Thomas , Eschner Wolfgang , von Strandmann Elke Pogge , Schicha Harald , Engert Andreas , Schnell Roland 
Published: March 2005

Abstract:Most patients with primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma (PCNSL) relapse after initial response to chemotherapy or the combination of chemotherapy and irradiation. Thus, novel treatment regimens for relapsed PCNSL are needed. As the majority of PCNSL are B‐cell neoplasms expressing the CD20 antigen, treatment with the chimeric monoclonal antibody (MAb) rituximab might be reasonable. Nevertheless, the potential efficacy of intravenous rituximab in PCNSL seems to be limited as MAbs are high molecular weight proteins, which might be unable to pass the blood brain barrier. Thus, we performed dosimetric measurements with iodine‐123 (123I)‐rituximab to evaluate rituximab uptake in PCNSL after systemic intravenous administration. We analyzed four patients with PCNSL receiving a preinfusion of 250 mg/m2 rituximab followed by 200–500 MBq of the gamma‐emitter 123I‐rituximab. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was performed 1, 24 and 48 h after administration of the radio‐immunoconstruct. Only one patient showed a very weak or questionable uptake of 123I‐rituximab into tumor tissue which was ninefold lower compared with the blood‐pool accumulation. These data suggest that systemic MAb‐based radio‐immunotherapy is not feasible in patients with PCNSL because a sufficient activity in the tumor will be associated with severe hematotoxicity. If an uptake of therapeutic rituximab doses into PCNSL can be achieved remains questionable.
Biochemical Genetics of Short‐Season Cotton Cultivars that Express Early Maturity Without Senescence
Authors: YU Shu‐Xun , SONG Mei‐Zhen , FAN Shu‐Li , WANG Wu , YUAN Ri‐Hong 
Published: March 2005

Abstract: The present study is aimed to investigate the mechanism of the biochemical genetic in short‐seasoned cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) (SSC). Ten cultivars from two types of SSC were selected, five SSC with no premature senescence crossed with five SSC with premature senescence. The parents, F1, and F2 from the reciprocal crosses were field tested in replication in 2001 and 2002. The results indicated that the activities of protective enzymes of the antioxidant system, such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD), were higher in the early maturing SSC with premature senescence compared with activities in the SSC parental cultivars that showed premature senescence, whereas the malondialdehyde (MD A) content in former group was lower than that in latter group. Various genetic variances and heritabilities for these biochemical traits and auxin (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), and chlorophyll (Chl a+b) contents were also estimated. Significant additive variance for CAT, POD, ABA, and IAA existed, whereas CAT specific activity and SOD activity were largely controlled by dominant effects. Both maternal and dominant variances played equally predominant roles in the specific activity of POD and SOD, MDA, and soluble portents. The relative contribution of the various genetic components to the phenotypic variation varied in the boll‐setting period.(Managing editor: Li‐Hui ZHAO)
Two Na+ and Cl− Hyperaccumulators of the Chenopodiaceae
Authors: ZHAO Ke‐Fu , FAN Hai , SONG Jie , SUN Ming‐Xia , WANG Bao‐Zeng , ZHANG Sheng‐Qiang , UNGAR I. A. 
Published: March 2005

Abstract: The authors found five sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl‐.) hyperaccumulating halophytes in the Temperate Desert of Xinjiang, China and studied two of them (Suaeda salsa (L.) Pall. and Kalidium folium (Pall.) Moq.). K. folium and S. salsa had a NaCl content of 32.1% and 29.8%, respectively, on a dry weight basis. X‐ray microanalysis of the Na+ in the vacuole, apoplasts and cytoplasm of the two plants indicated a ratio of 7.3:5.6:1.0 in K. folium and 7.3:6.6:1.0 in S. salsa. These data show that K. folium and S. salsa both have a high Na+ and Cl‐ accumulating capacity, which is related to high activity of tonoplast H+‐ATPase and H+‐PPase.(Managing editor: Ping HE)
Soil Organic Matter Dynamics Along a Vertical Vegetation Gradient in the Gongga Mountain on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: WANG Lin , OUYANG Hua , ZHOUM Cai‐Ping , ZHANG Feng , SONG Ming‐Hua , TIAN Yu‐Qiang 
Published: March 2005

Abstract: Our knowledge about soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics is limited although this is an important issue in the study of responses of ecosystems to global climate changes. Twelve sampling plots were set up every 200 m from 1 700 to 3 900 m along the vertical vegetation gradient along the east slope of Gongga Mountain. Samples were taken from all 12 plots for SOM content measurement, although only 5 of the 12 plots were subjected to radiocarbon measurements. A radiocarbon isotope method and a time‐dependent model were used to quantify the SOM dynamics and SOM turnover rates along the vertical vegetation gradient. The results showed that the SOM turnover rate decreased and turnover time increased with soil depth for all vegetation types. The litter layer turnover rates presented a clear trend along the gradient. The litter layer turnover rates decreased with an increase in elevation, except that the litter layer turnover rate of mixed forest was higher than that of evergreen forest. Climatic factors, such as temperature and precipitation, were the main factors influencing the surface soil carbon dynamics. The turnover rates of the subsoil (including the A, B, and C horizons in the soil profiles) along the vertical gradient had no clear trends. The SOM of subalpine shrub and meadow turned over more slowly than that of the forest types in almost all soil horizons. The characteristic of short roots distributing in the upper part of the soil profile leads to different SOM dynamics of shrub and meadow compared with the forest types. Coniferous and mixed forests were susceptible to carbon loss from the young carbon pool, but their long and big roots resulted in high Δ14C values of the deep soil profiles and increased the input of young carbon to the deep soil. In evergreen forest, the carbon cumulative ability from the B horizon to the C horizon was weak. The different vegetation types, together with their different modes of nutrient and carbon intake, may be the mechanism conditioning the subsoil organic matter dynamics.(Managing editor: Ya‐Qin HAN)
ISOSPIN BREAKING IN HADRONIC REACTIONS
Authors: HANHART CHRISTOPH 
Published: March 2005

In the standard model the isospin symmetry is broken by electro magnetic interactions as well as the difference in the quark masses. Given a systematic scheme that allows to disentangle these two effects it is possible to get direct access to properties of QCD from low and medium energy hadronic reactions. Recently interest in isospin breaking reactions has revived due to the measurement of a forward–backward asymmetry in pn→dπ0 as well as the total cross section for dd→απ0—both quantities vanish in an isospin symmetric world. The current status of the theoretical analysis for these reactions is disucssed. In addition, I will briefly discuss how the isospin violating a0(980)-f0(980) transition amplitude can be studied in dd and pn induced production reactions—a quantity that is believed to reveal important information on the nature of these lightest scalar mesons.
K+ PRODUCTION FROM pp AND pd INTERACTIONS
Authors:   FOR THE ANKE COLLABORATION: For a complete collaboration list see: ., VALDAU YURY 
Published: March 2005

The K+-production cross section in pn collisions is an important input parameter for model calculations of K+ production in proton-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus interactions. Experimental data in the close-to-threshold region are not yet available and theoretical predictions give a wide scatter of numbers for the ratio of the total cross sections [Formula: see text]. K+ production from pd interaction has been investigated using the magnetic spectrometer ANKE at COSY-Jülich at proton beam momenta 2.65, 2.81 and 3.46 GeV/c. For the extraction of [Formula: see text] from the pd data at low beam momenta, a naive phase-space approach has been used, assuming that [Formula: see text]. Double differential cross sections and missing mass spectra for proton-kaon correlations have also been analysed. Both methods give consistent result: [Formula: see text]. During a recent beam time, experimental data have been collected at pp=3.46 GeV/c for both hydrogen and deuterium targets. A ratio [Formula: see text] has been extracted from these data.
A TIED-MIXTURE 2D HMM FACIAL IMAGE RETRIEVAL SYSTEM
Authors: OTHMAN H. , ABOULNASR T. 
Published: March 2005

In this paper, the effect of mixture tying on a second-order 2D Hidden Markov Model (HMM) is studied as applied to the face recognition problem. While tying HMM parameters is a well-known solution in the case of insufficient training data that leads to nonrobust estimation, it is used here to improve the overall performance in the small model case where the resolution in the observation space is the main problem. The fully-tied-mixture 2D HMM-based face recognition system is applied to the facial database of AT&T and the facial database of Georgia Institute of Technology. The performance of the proposed 2D HMM tied-mixture system is studied and the expected improvement is confirmed.