bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preliminary Findings of Health Promotion Plans among Institutions Caring for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities: A National Survey in Taiwan
Authors: Lin Jin‐Ding , Loh Ching‐Hui , Yen Chia‐Feng , Lee Jiunn‐Tay , Chwo Miao‐Ju , Wu Jia‐Ling , Li Chi‐Wei , Lin Ya‐Wen 
Published: September 2005

Background  In encouraging good health for people with intellectual disabilities, health promotion serves as an effective intervention. However, little is known about health promotion strategies for this sector of the population. The objectives of this study were to describe the current profile of health promotion planning among institutions caring for people with intellectual disabilities in Taiwan, and to examine differences among institutions.Method  The study employed a cross‐sectional survey of 157 directors of institutions caring for people with intellectual disabilities in Taiwan. A structured questionnaire was posted to obtain information relating to the planning, budget appropriations, and decision‐making processes concerning health promotion at these institutions.Results  A total of 120 directors of institutions completed the posted questionnaire. Health promotion plans were operative at 88.4% of the institutions. Among these institutions, 82 settings (76.6%) set aside funding on an annual basis for health promotion programmes for people with intellectual disabilities. With regard to budget spending, most of the respondents did not know exactly what percentage of the annual budget was spent on the health promotion programmes operating in their institutions. The process of health promotion implementation was multidisciplinary and intersectoral in terms of the staff involved. Those institutions that employed skilled nurses were more likely to run health promotion programmes than those institutions without nursing staff.Conclusions  Further research should be focused on the efficacy of health promotion programmes for people with intellectual disabilities, and on the creation of supportive environments in institutions for enabling these people to participate in the process of decision‐making on health promotion issues.
Facial surface analysis by 3D laser scanning and geometric morphometrics in relation to sexual dimorphism in cerebral–craniofacial morphogenesis and cognitive function
Authors: Hennessy Robin J. , McLearie Stephen , Kinsella Anthony , Waddington John L. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractOver early fetal life the anterior brain, neuroepithelium, neural crest and facial ectoderm constitute a unitary, three‐dimensional (3D) developmental process. This intimate embryological relationship between the face and brain means that facial dysmorphogenesis can serve as an accessible and informative index of brain dysmorphogenesis in neurological and psychiatric disorders of early developmental origin. There are three principal challenges in seeking to increase understanding of disorders of early brain dysmorphogenesis through craniofacial dysmorphogenesis: (i) the first, technical, challenge has been to digitize the facial surface in its inherent three‐dimensionality; (ii) the second, analytical, challenge has been to develop methodologies for extracting biologically meaningful shape covariance from digitized samples, making statistical comparisons between groups and visualizing in 3D the resultant statistical models on a ‘whole face’ basis; (iii) the third, biological, challenge is to demonstrate a relationship between facial morphogenesis and brain morphogenesis not only in anatomical–embryological terms but also at the level of brain function. Here we consider each of these challenges in turn and then illustrate the issues by way of our own findings. These use human sexual dimorphism as an exemplar for 3D laser surface scanning of facial shape, analysis using geometric morphometrics and exploration of cognitive correlates of variation in shape of the ‘whole face’, in the context of studies relating to the early developmental origins of schizophrenia.
The interleukin‐1 signalling pathway in astrocytes: a key contributor to inflammation in the brain
Authors: Moynagh Paul N. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractA dysregulated inflammatory response in the central nervous system (CNS) lies at the heart of many neuropathological conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. A key component of these inflammatory conditions is the accumulation of leukocytes in the CNS. The infiltration of leukocytes into the brain is dependent on the induction of leukocyte adhesion molecules and chemoattractant chemokines. Recent studies have suggested the astrocyte to be a key cell in mediating the inflammatory process in the brain and in expressing adhesion molecules and chemokines. Here I overview work in my laboratory and others that demonstrates interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) to be a key inducer of the expression of these molecules in astrocytes. The temporal expression is sustained in nature and this is due to prolonged activation of the transcription factor NFκB. The molecular basis to the sustained activation of NFκB is also discussed. The IL‐1 signalling pathway thus emerges as a valuable therapeutic target in the treatment of presently incurable neuropathological conditions.
The subiculum: what it does, what it might do, and what neuroanatomy has yet to tell us
Authors: O'Mara Shane 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThe subiculum is a pivotal but under‐investigated structure positioned between the hippocampus proper and entorhinal and other cortices, as well as a range of subcortical structures. The subiculum has a range of electrophysiological and functional properties which are quite distinct from its input areas; given the widespread set of cortical and subcortical areas with which it interacts, it is able to influence activity in quite disparate brain regions. The rules governing plasticity of synaptic transmission in the hippocampal–subicular axis are poorly understood; this axis appears to share some properties in common with the hippocampus proper, but behaves quite differently in other respects. Equally, its functional properties are not well understood; it plays an important but ill‐defined role in spatial navigation, mnemonic processing and control of the response to stress. Here, I review investigations of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampal–subicular pathway, recordings of subicular neurons in the freely moving behaving animal, the effects of behavioural and other stressors on subicular synaptic plasticity, and anatomical data on the dorso‐ventral organization of the subiculum in relation to the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. I argue that there is a dorso‐ventral segregation of function within the subiculum: the dorsal component appears principally concerned with the processing of information about space, movement and memory, whereas the ventral component appears to play a major regulatory role in the inhibition of the HPA axis.
The role of growth/differentiation factor 5 (GDF5) in the induction and survival of midbrain dopaminergic neurones: relevance to Parkinson's disease treatment
Authors: Sullivan Aideen M. , O'Keeffe Gerard W. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractGrowth/differentiation factor‐5 (GDF5) is a member of the transforming growth factor‐β superfamily which has potent effects on dopaminergic neurones in vitro and in vivo. GDF5 is under investigation as a potential therapeutic agent for Parkinson's disease (PD), which is caused by the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurones projecting from the substantia nigra (SN) to the striatum. In the rat ventral mesencephalon (VM; the developing SN), GDF5 expression peaks at embryonic day 14, the time at which dopaminergic neurones undergo terminal differentiation. Addition of GDF5 protein to cultures of embryonic rat VM increases the survival and improves the morphology of dopaminergic neurones in these cultures. GDF5 treatment also increases the number of cells which adopt a dopaminergic phenotype in cultures of VM progenitor cells. Intracerebral administration of GDF5 has potent neuroprotective and restorative effects on the nigrostriatal pathway in animal models of PD. Furthermore, addition of GDF5 protein to embryonic rat dopaminergic neuronal transplants improves their survival and function in a rat model of PD. Thus, GDF5 has potential applications to PD therapy as a dopaminergic neuroprotective agent and as a factor that may induce a dopaminergic neuronal fate in unrestricted progenitor cells.
The survival of neural precursor cell grafts is influenced by in vitro expansion
Authors: Zietlow Rike , Pekarik Vladimir , Armstrong Richard J. E. , Tyers Pamela , Dunnett Stephen B. , Rosser Anne E. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractEmbryonic neural precursor cells (ENPs) provide a potential alternative for transplantation in neurodegenerative diseases, as they can be expanded in culture, avoiding many of the practical obstacles that limit the application of transplanting primary neurones. However, grafts of ENPs into animal models show variable survival and limited differentiation into neurones. The effect of expansion time on their ability to survive and differentiate may be an important factor in this and has not been examined directly. In these experiments, murine and human ENPs were expanded for short (4 weeks) and long (20 weeks) periods before transplantation into the adult rat striatum. Whereas grafts of both short‐ and long‐term expanded human ENPs survived for 4 weeks following transplantation, by 20 weeks all long‐term expanded grafts had disappeared. Murine ENPs behaved similarly: only grafts of short‐term expanded ENPs survived at 12 weeks following transplantation. RT‐PCR analysis of ENP cultures after 4 and 20 weeks of expansion demonstrated changes in expression of a number of different groups of genes. We conclude that long‐term expansion of ENPs profoundly impairs their ability to survive long‐term after transplantation into the adult brain. This has implications for the potential use of these cells for neural transplantation strategies.
Midbrain dopaminergic development in vivo and in vitro from embryonic stem cells
Authors: Maxwell Sarah L. , Li Meng 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThe midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons play a key role in the function of a variety of brain systems, including motor control and reward pathways. This has led to much interest in these neurons as targets for intervention in human disorders such as Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. A major area of interest is to direct embryonic stem (ES) cells to differentiate into mDA neurons in vitro, which can then be used for cell therapy or drug screening. At present, our understanding of mDA development in vivo is limited. However, recent studies have identified a number of regulatory factors that influence the development of mDA neurons in vivo. Such studies will not only increase our understanding of mDA development in vivo, they may also promote new paradigms for regulating mDA production from ES cells in vitro. Here we review the current knowledge on mDA development in vivo and mDA differentiation.
Oxidative stress activates MMP‐2 in cultured human coronary smooth muscle cells
Authors: Valentin François , Bueb Jean‐Luc , Kieffer Pascal , Tschirhart Eric , Atkinson Jeffrey 
Published: September 2005

AbstractOxidative stress is a cardinal feature of the inflammatory process and is involved in various pathologies including atherosclerosis. One of the important mechanisms in which oxidative stress may play a role is activation of matrix metalloproteinases such as MMP‐2, which are involved in plaque destabilization. We investigated the mechanisms by which oxidative stress induces MMP‐2 activation in cultured human coronary artery smooth muscle cells. Using zymography and Western blot analysis, we showed that oxidized low‐density lipoproteins activate MMP‐2 through up‐regulation of the expression and activation of a membrane‐type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1‐MMP). A second mechanism of MMP‐2 activation involves oxidative radicals generated by the xanthine/xanthine oxidase complex (X/Xo). Research on these two mechanisms of MMP activation could lead to the elaboration of new vascular therapies for the treatment of atheroma based on interruption of a specific oxidative stress pathway.
Inhibition of angiotensin II‐ and endothelin‐1‐stimulated proliferation by selective MEK inhibitor in cultured rabbit gingival fibroblasts†
Authors: Ohsawa Masami , Ohuchi Nozomi , Taniguchi Yumiko , Kizawa Yasuo , Koike Katsuo , Iwamoto Keishi , Hayashi Kazuhiko , Murakami Hajime 
Published: September 2005

AbstractWe investigated the implication of extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) in the proliferation stimulated by angiotensin II (Ang II) and endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) in cultured rabbit gingival fibroblasts (CRGF). Ang II stimulated activation of ERK1/2 and the activation was inhibited by CV‐11974, an AT1 antagonist, and saralasin, an AT1/AT2 antagonist, but not by PD123,319, an AT2 antagonist in the CRGF. Ang II‐stimulated proliferation was inhibited by PD98059 or U0126, selective MEK inhibitors. Furthermore, ET‐1 stimulated proliferation via G‐protein‐coupled ETA receptors, which were identified by Western blot analysis of membrane protein from the CRGF. ET‐1 also stimulated activation of ERK1/2 and the activation was inhibited by BQ‐123, an ETA inhibitor, and TAK044, an ETA/ETB inhibitor, but not by BQ‐788, an ETB inhibitor. ET‐1‐stimulated proliferation was inhibited by PD98059 or U0126. These findings suggest that ERK1/2 play a role in the signaling process leading to proliferation stimulated by Ang II and ET‐1 via G‐protein‐coupled receptors, AT1 and ETA in CRGF.
New host record for three scuttle flies, Megaselia flava, M. kanekoi and M. gotoi (Diptera: Phoridae), on the poisonous fungus Amanita ibotengutake (Agaricales: Amanitaceae)
Authors: YAMASHITA Hiroshi , TANAKA Chihiro , NAKAYAMA Hiroto , TUNO Nobuko , OSAWA Naoya 
Published: September 2005

AbstractWe identified three species of fungivorous scuttle fly –Megaselia flava, M. kanekoi and M. gotoi– from eight fruit bodies of a fungus, Amanita ibotengutake, which has not previously been recorded as the host of these flies.
Techniques for continuous rearing and assessing host preference of a multivoltine leaf‐mining moth, Acrocercops transecta (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)
Authors: OHSHIMA Issei 
Published: September 2005

AbstractTechniques for rearing the leaf‐mining moth Acrocercops transecta successively over several generations are described. Based on continuous rearing, some life historical parameters in A. transecta were determined. Because of its short generation time, successive rearing makes the moth suitable for mating experiments and a model organism to elucidate the mechanism of host‐associated speciation.
Effect of gall formation by a cynipid wasp, Andricus symbioticus, on the development of the leaves and shoots of Quercus dentata
Authors: ITO Masato 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThe sexual generation of a cynipid wasp, Andricus symbioticus Kovalev, forms its leaf galls most frequently near and on the leaf petiole of Quercus trees. I examined the effect of gall formation by A. symbioticus on the leaf development of a host plant, Quercus dentata Thunberg, by comparing the size and shape of galled and ungalled leaves. I also examined the effect of gall formation on shoot development by comparing the length of shoots with and without galled leaves. Three of seven Q. dentata trees surveyed were heavily infested with A. symbioticus. Leaf size did not differ between galled and ungalled leaves. However, the ratio of leaf width to length was greater in galled leaves, which is regarded to be a result of gall formation by A. symbioticus inhibiting the growth in length of Q. dentata leaves. Shoot length did not differ significantly between shoots with and without galled leaves. These results suggest that galls of A. symbioticus act as a sink that competes with leaves for reserved photoassimilates.
Functional association between female sperm storage organs and male sperm removal organs in calopterygid damselflies
Authors: HAYASHI Fumio , TSUCHIYA Kaori 
Published: September 2005

AbstractFemale damselflies in the family Calopterygidae have two sperm storage organs: a spherical bursa copulatrix and a tubular spermatheca. Male flies have a peculiar aedeagus with a recurved head with which to remove bursal sperm, and lateral spiny processes to remove spermathecal sperm. The lateral processes differ among species and populations in terms of their width relative to the spermathecal duct: the narrower processes are physically able to access spermathecal sperm, while the wider ones are not. In the present study, sperm storage patterns and aedeagal structures were compared between two calopterygid species with different spermathecal structures –Calopteryx cornelia and Mnais pruinosa– with respect to not only sperm quantity (number) but also sperm quality (viability), by using a recently developed method based on live/dead dual fluorescence. Calopteryx cornelia is a typical spermathecal sperm remover. In this species, viability was similar between bursal and spermathecal sperm. In contrast, in M. pruinosa, the spermatheca was much smaller than the bursa and often contained no sperm. Even when the spermatheca of this species did contain sperm, a high percentage of it was dead. Although the spermatheca of M. pruinosa has such atrophic tendencies, males have nevertheless developed long and spiny lateral processes similar to those of C. cornelia, suggesting the processes have functions other than spermathecal sperm removal. They possibly function as stoppers or guides for manipulating the aedeagal head to remove the sperm mass from the bursa.
Factors affecting internest variation in the aggressiveness of a polygynous ant, Camponotus yamaokai
Authors: SATOH Toshiyuki , HIROTA Tadao 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThe facultatively polygynous ant Camponotus yamaokai shows various degrees of internest hostility. We examined the relationship between aggressiveness and possible factors that affect the level of hostility, such as internest distance, numbers of queens and workers, and brood size. We found that the aggression level did not significantly correlate with these factors. Our study suggests that information on the colony genetic structure is important in understanding variation in the aggressiveness of polygynous colonies.
Bicarbonate inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis in platelet concentrates by lowering the level of non‐transferrin‐bound iron
Authors: Matinaho Sanna , Karhumäki Paulina , Parkkinen Jaakko 
Published: September 2005

BACKGROUND: Platelet concentrates (PCs) contain non‐transferrin‐bound iron (NTBI) owing to the displacement of iron from plasma‐derived transferrin by citrate. NTBI in the PC medium supports the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis. The possibilities of lowering the level of NTBI have been studied with the aim to inhibit the growth of S. epidermidis in the PC medium.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: NTBI in PC supernatants was determined by a chelation method and by the bleomycin‐detectable iron assay. Iron binding by transferrin was determined by spectrophotometry. The growth of inoculated S. epidermidis in PC supernatants was monitored by optical density and determination of viable counts.RESULTS: Bicarbonate enhanced in a dose‐dependent manner transferrin iron binding in citrate‐containing solutions, including citrated plasma and PAS‐II. The use of a modified anticoagulant supplemented with bicarbonate effectively lowered the level of NTBI and inhibited bacterial growth in citrated plasma. Supplementation of bicarbonate to the additive solution to increase the ratio of bicarbonate to citrate in a reconstituted PC medium further inhibited bacterial growth. Maintenance of stable pH and bicarbonate level in the reconstituted medium necessitated storage under 5 percent CO2.CONCLUSIONS: The relatively low bicarbonate level in PC medium promotes iron displacement by citrate from plasma‐derived transferrin. The appearance of NTBI can be decreased and iron‐dependent bacterial growth can be inhibited by increasing bicarbonate level in citrated plasma and PC medium. To achieve the same beneficial effect in blood banking, other more practical ways to bind NTBI in a harmless form should be developed.
Treatment with C1 inhibitor concentrate in abdominal pain attacks of patients with hereditary angioedema
Authors: Bork Konrad , Meng Gabriele , Staubach Petra , Hardt Jochen 
Published: September 2005

BACKGROUND: Abdominal edema attacks in patients with hereditary angioedema are often extremely painful, associated with vomiting and diarrhea, and have a high potential for causing recurrent disability of the patient.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Intraindividual comparison of retrospective data in 75 hereditary angioedema patients comprising 4,834 abdominal attacks treated with C1 inhibitor concentrate versus 17,444 untreated abdominal attacks.RESULTS: The mean duration of abdominal attacks was 92.0 hours (SD, 40.8 hr) when untreated compared to 39.9 hours (SD, 30.0 hr) when treated. Patients reported a mean maximal pain score of 8.6 (SD, 1.7; range, 1‐10) for untreated attacks compared to 4.5 (SD, 2.9) when treated. Vomiting occurred in 83.3 percent of untreated attacks and in 6.0 percent of treated attacks, respectively. Diarrhea was reported in 41.8 percent of untreated attacks and in 11.0 percent of treated attacks, whereas cardiovascular collapse due to hypovolemia was observed in 3.5 percent of untreated attacks versus 0.1 percent in treated attacks. Mean time to relief of symptoms was 53.5 minutes when treated early compared to 114 minutes when treatment was delayed. No drug‐related adverse or serious adverse events were observed as far as the injections were performed correctly.CONCLUSION: C1 inhibitor concentrate is highly effective and safe in treating abdominal attacks in patients suffering from hereditary angioedema.
Beneficial effect of transfusion with low‐affinity red blood cells in endotoxemia
Authors: Huang Fei , Nojiri Hidetoshi , Shimizu Takahiko , Shirasawa Takuji 
Published: September 2005

BACKGROUND: Sepsis caused by endotoxins such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) impairs the microcirculation, diminishing tissue blood supply and aggravates systemic hypoxia. A novel lower‐affinity hemoglobin (Hb) variant, Hb Presbyterian, enhances oxygen release to peripheral tissues and may improve tissue oxygen supply during sepsis.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This study investigated the effectiveness of Presbyterian Hb in transfusion therapy with LPS‐challenged sepsis mouse model. Septic wild‐type mice were transfused with RBCs from Presbyterian Hb–carrying mutant mice and wild‐type mice. Their survival rates were assessed, and apoptosis of hepatocytes was evaluated. Survival rates of septic Presbyterian mutant mice and the wild‐type littermates were also studied.RESULTS: The Presbyterian mutant RBC–transfused septic group survived longer than the wild‐type RBC–transfused group. Apoptosis was reduced in the hepatocytes of the former group. Presbyterian mutant mice themselves, however, did not have stronger resistance to LPS‐induced sepsis.CONCLUSION: Transfusion of low‐affinity Hb‐containing RBCs has beneficial effects in septic mice.