bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of somatic and anxiety symptoms which contribute to the detection of depression in primary health care
Authors: Barkow Katrin , Heun Reinhard , Bedirhan Üstün T. , Berger Mathias , Bermejo Isaac , Gaebel Wolfgang , Härter Martin , Schneider Frank , Stieglitz Rolf-Dieter , Maier Wolfgang 
Published: August 2004

AbstractSomatic symptoms and anxiety symptoms are often disregarded in the detection of depression in primary care. The present investigation examined to what extent somatic and anxiety symptoms recorded with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview—Primary Health Care Version (CIDI—PHC) can improve the detection of depression as compared to the General Health Questionnaire—12-item version alone. Data from the World Health Organization study on Psychological Problems in General Health Care were used. The study sample consisted of primary care attenders from 15 centres from all over the world who underwent a psychiatric examination with the CIDI—PHC. Medically unexplained somatic symptoms (back pain, feelings of heaviness/lightness in parts of the body, periods of bodily weakness, seizures/convulsions, permanent tiredness, exhaustion after a minimum of effort) and—to a smaller extent—diverse anxiety symptoms (e.g. feelings of anxiousness/nervousness, feelings of tension, difficulties relaxing) significantly contributed to the detection of depression in a logistic regression analysis. The results confirm the observation that in primary care somatic symptoms play an important role in the manifestation of depressive disorders. The items investigated herein could prove beneficial for future depression screening instruments to improve the detection of depressive disorders in primary care.
Social adjustment in generalised anxiety disorder: a long-term placebo-controlled study of venlafaxine extended release
Authors: Boyer Patrice , Mahé Vincent , Hackett David 
Published: August 2004

AbstractThe objective of this analysis was to evaluate the short- (8 weeks) and long-term (24 weeks) efficacy of three fixed doses of venlafaxine extended release (ER) and placebo on the social adjustment of patients with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). We analysed data from 544 outpatients who participated in a 24-week, double-blind, multicentre, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study conducted at 55 centres in five countries. All patients meet the DSM-IV criteria for GAD and were randomly assigned to receive venlafaxine ER 37.5, 75, and 150 mg or matched placebo administered orally once daily. Social adjustment was measured using the Social Adjustment Scale-Self Report, which explores social adaptation in the areas of work, social and leisure, extended family, primary relationship (marital), parental, and family unit. At baseline, the GAD patients had a high level of social dysfunction. Venlafaxine ER showed a dose-related improvement in social impairment during short-term treatment and in sustaining this improvement over the long-term. In the most severely socially impaired subgroup, placebo remission rates on the HAM-A were low, and the magnitude of the venlafaxine-placebo difference on the mean HAM-A total score was high, reaching more than 7 points. The benefits of venlafaxine ER treatment of GAD extend beyond that of improvement of anxiety symptoms to a significant improvement in the impairment of functioning that is associated with the illness.
Carbamazepine may trigger new-onset epileptic seizures in an individual with autism spectrum disorders: a case report
Authors: Monji Akira , Maekawa Toshihiko , Yanagimoto Kazuyuki , Yoshida Ichiro , Hashioka Sadayuki 
Published: August 2004

AbstractWe herein report a case of new-onset epileptic seizures induced by carbamazepine in an individual with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We clinicians should bear in mind the possibility that epileptic seizures may possibly be either precipitated or exacerbated by carbamazepine especially in individuals with ASD.
“Bread madness” revisited: screening for specific celiac antibodies among schizophrenia patients
Authors: Peleg Roni , Itzhak Ben-Zion Z. , Peleg Aya , Gheber Larisa , Kotler Moshe , Weizman Zvi , Shiber Asher , Fich Alex , Horowitz Yael , Shvartzman Pesach 
Published: August 2004

AbstractPurposeA possible association between gluten consumption and schizophrenia has been reported. The objective was to compare patients with chronic schizophrenia and matched controls for sociodemographic variables, prevalence of celiac-specific anti-endomysial antibodies and disease-related variables.Subjects and methodsThe study group was comprised of 50 consecutive patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, 18 years of age and older attending the out-patient clinic of the Mental Health Center in Beer-Sheva, Israel. The control group was comprised of mentally normal volunteers who came to primary care clinics for blood tests unrelated to gastrointestinal tract complaints and who were not diagnosed with celiac disease. Known celiac patients and those who refused to participate, did non-speak Hebrew or were incoherent were excluded from the study. All participants in both groups underwent a blood test for anti-endomysial IgA antibody and completed a questionnaire.ResultsEach group was comprised of 50 participants. There were no significant differences between the groups in gender, BMI or country of birth. The mean age of the study group was significantly higher than the controls. All tests for anti-endomysial antibody in both groups were negative.Discussion and conclusionsIn contrast to previous reports, we found no evidence for celiac disease in patients with chronic schizophrenia as manifested by the presence of serum IgA anti-endomysial antibodies. It is unlikely that there is an association between gluten sensitivity and schizophrenia.
Corticosterone controls the developmental emergence of fear and amygdala function to predator odors in infant rat pups
Authors: Moriceau Stephanie , Roth Tania L. , Okotoghaide Terri , Sullivan Regina M. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractIn many altricial species, fear responses such as freezing do not emerge until sometime later in development. In infant rats, fear to natural predator odors emerges around postnatal day (PN) 10 when infant rats begin walking. The behavioral emergence of fear is correlated with two physiological events: functional emergence of the amygdala and increasing corticosterone (CORT) levels. Here, we hypothesize that increasing corticosterone levels influence amygdala activity to permit the emergence of fear expression. We assessed the relationship between fear expression (immobility similar to freezing), amygdala function (c‐fos) and the level of corticosterone in pups in response to presentation of novel male odor (predator), littermate odor and no odor. CORT levels were increased in PN8 pups (no fear, normally low CORT) by exogenous CORT (3 mg/kg) and decreased in PN12 pups (express fear, CORT levels higher) through adrenalectomy and CORT replacement. Results showed that PN8 expression of fear to a predator odor and basolateral/lateral amygdala activity could be prematurely evoked with exogenous CORT, while adrenalectomy in PN12 pups prevented both fear expression and amygdala activation. These results suggest that low neonatal CORT level serves to protect pups from responding to fear inducing stimuli and attenuate amygdala activation. This suggests that alteration of the neonatal CORT system by environmental insults such as alcohol, stress and illegal drugs, may also alter the neonatal fear system and its underlying neural control.
BMP binding peptide: A BMP‐2 enhancing factor deduced from the sequence of native bovine bone morphogenetic protein/non‐collagenous protein
Authors: Behnam Keyvan , Phillips Martin L. , Silva Jose Denison Prado , Brochmann Elsa J. , Duarte Maria Eugenia Leite , Murray Samuel S. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractForty years ago, Marshall Urist described a partially purified extract of demineralized bone matrix which induced the formation of ectopic bone. This substance, bone morphogenetic protein/non‐collagenous protein (BMP/NCP), was never purified to homogeneity but other investigators used similar starting materials to clone a number of recombinant BMPs. Urist recognized that his material probably contained the BMPs which had been cloned by others but always contended that it contained another, more potent, bone inducing material which differed significantly in its physical and chemical properties from the known BMPs. We have used Urist's protocol to isolate a protein that has the chemical and physical properties of Urist's “BMP”. It is an 18.5 kD fragment of the bone matrix protein, SPP‐24. This fragment contains the cystatin‐like domain of SPP‐24. We have located a 19 amino acid region which is similar to the TGF‐β/BMP‐binding region of fetuin, a member of the cystatin family of protease inhibitors. A cyclic peptide, which we call BMP binding peptide (BBP) was generated using this sequence. The peptide avidly bound rhBMP‐2 with a KD of 3 × 10−5 M. When implanted alone in mouse muscle, the peptide frequently induced dystrophic calcification. When implanted with rhBMP‐2, the peptide enhanced the osteogenic activity of the recombinant molecule. We hypothesize that Urist's “BMP” was a fragment of SPP‐24 which influenced bone induction by binding to bone morphogenetic proteins. BBP may be clinically useful because of its effects on other bone‐inducing substances. Published by Elsevier Ltd. on behalf of Orthopaedic Research Society. © 2004 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Viscoelastic properties of the human medial collateral ligament under longitudinal, transverse and shear loading
Authors: Bonifasi‐Lista Carlos , Lakez Spencer P. , Small Michael S. , Weiss Jeffrey A. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractLigament viscoelasticity controls viscous dissipation of energy and thus the potential for injury or catastrophic failure. Viscoelasticity under different loading conditions is likely related to the organization and anisotropy of the tissue. The objective of this study was to quantify the strain‐ and frequency‐dependent viscoelastic behavior of the human medial collateral ligament (MCL) in tension along its longitudinal and transverse directions, and under shear along the fiber direction. The overall hypothesis was that human MCL would exhibit direction‐dependent viscoelastic behavior, reflecting the composite structural organization of the tissue. Incremental stress relaxation testing was performed, followed by the application of small sinusoidal strain oscillations at three different equilibrium strain levels. The peak and equilibrium stress–strain curves for the longitudinal, transverse and shear tests demonstrate that the instantaneous and long‐time stress–strain response of the tissue differs significantly between loading conditions of along‐fiber stretch, cross‐fiber stretch and along‐fiber shear. The reduced relaxation curves demonstrated at least two relaxation times for all three test modes. Relaxation resulted in stresses that were 60–80% of the initial stress after 1000 s. Incremental stress relaxation proceeded faster at the lowest strain level for all three test configurations. Dynamic stiffness varied greatly with test mode and equilibrium strain level, and showed a modest but significant increase with frequency of applied strain oscillations for longitudinal and shear tests. Phase angle was unaffected by strain level (with exception of lowest strain level for longitudinal samples) but showed a significant increase with increasing strain oscillation frequency. There was no effect of test type on the phase angle. The increase in phase and thus energy dissipation at higher frequencies may protect the tissue from injury at faster loading rates. Results suggest that the long‐time relaxation behavior and the short‐time dynamic energy dissipation of ligament may be governed by different viscoelastic mechanisms, yet these mechanisms may affect tissue viscoelasticity similarly under different loading configurations. © 2004 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
What can one learn from experiments about the elusive transition state?
Authors: Chang Iksoo , Cieplak Marek , Banavar Jayanth R. , Maritan Amos 
Published: August 2004

AbstractWe present the results of an exact analysis of a model energy landscape of a protein to clarify the idea of the transition state and the physical meaning of the ϕ values determined in protein engineering experiments. We benchmark our findings to various theoretical approaches proposed in the literature for the identification and characterization of the transition state.
Characterization of SLAC: A small laccase from Streptomyces coelicolor with unprecedented activity
Authors: Machczynski Michael C. , Vijgenboom Erik , Samyn Bart , Canters Gerard W. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractLaccases and other four‐copper oxidases are usually constructed of three domains: Domains one and three house the copper sites, and the second domain often helps form a substrate‐binding cleft. In contrast to this arrangement, the genome of Streptomyces coelicolor was found to encode a small, four‐copper oxidase that lacks the second domain. This protein is representative of a new family of enzymes—the two‐domain laccases. Disruption of the corresponding gene abrogates laccase activity in the growth media. We have recombinantly expressed this enzyme, called SLAC, in Escherichia coli and characterized it. The enzyme binds four copper ions/monomer, and UV‐visible absorption and EPR measurements confirm that the conserved type 1 copper site and trinuclear cluster are intact. We also report the first known paramagnetic NMR spectrum for the trinuclear copper cluster of a protein from the laccase family. The enzyme is highly stable, retaining activity as a dimer in denaturing gels after boiling and SDS treatment. The activity of the enzyme against 2,6‐dimethoxyphenol (DMP) peaks at an unprecedentedly high pH (9.4), whereas the activity against ferrocyanide decreases with pH. SLAC binds negatively charged substrates more tightly than positively charged or uncharged molecules.
Intragastric acid suppression and pharmacokinetics of twice‐daily esomeprazole: a randomized, three‐way crossover study
Authors: Katz P. O. , Castell D. O. , Chen Y. , Andersson T. , Sostek M. B. 
Published: August 2004

SummaryBackground : Patients with refractory gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease, extra‐oesophageal reflux symptoms, Barrett's oesophagus, or Zollinger–Ellison syndrome may require greater acid suppression than that obtained with once‐daily esomeprazole.Aim : To assess gastric acid suppression (determined by intragastric pH) and pharmacokinetics of twice‐daily vs. once‐daily esomeprazole.Methods : In a randomized, double‐blind, three‐way crossover study, healthy subjects received esomeprazole 40 mg once daily, 20 mg twice daily, or 40 mg twice daily for five consecutive days. Twenty‐four‐hour continuous ambulatory intragastric pH was recorded on day 5.Results : Esomeprazole 40 mg twice daily provided a mean of 19.2 h with intragastric pH > 4.0 (80.1% of a 24‐h time period; 95% confidence interval 74.5–85.7%) vs. 14.2 h with 40 mg once daily (59.2%; 95% CI 53.7–64.7%) and 17.5 h with 20 mg twice daily (73.0%; 95% confidence interval 67.4–78.5%) in 25 subjects. Intragastric pH was maintained >4.0 for a similar percentage of time during active and sleeping periods for all doses.Conclusions : Esomeprazole 40 mg twice daily provides significantly greater acid suppression (number of hours in a 24‐h period with pH > 4.0) than once‐daily dosing and may be a reasonable consideration for patients requiring greater acid suppression for acid‐related disease.
The role of acid suppression in patients with endoscopy‐negative reflux disease: the effect of treatment with esomeprazole or omeprazole
Authors: Armstrong D. , Talley N. J. , Lauritsen K. , Moum B. , Lind T. , Tunturi‐Hihnala H. , Venables T. , Green J. , Bigard M. A. , Mössner J. , Junghard O. 
Published: August 2004

SummaryBackground : Patients with endoscopy‐negative reflux disease have reflux symptoms, mainly heartburn, but not mucosal breaks characteristic of erosive oesophagitis. Standard‐dose proton pump inhibitors can provide symptom relief in endoscopy‐negative reflux disease but the effect of greater acid suppression has not been studied.Aim : To test the hypothesis that esomeprazole produces heartburn resolution in a greater proportion of patients with ENRD than omeprazole.Methods : Three multi‐centre randomized, controlled, double‐blind, 4‐week acute treatment studies were conducted in endoscopy‐negative reflux disease patients. In study A (n = 1282), patients received either esomeprazole 40 mg, esomeprazole 20 mg or omeprazole 20 mg daily; in studies B (n = 693) and C (n = 670) patients received either esomeprazole 40 mg or omeprazole 20 mg (B), and esomeprazole 20 mg or omeprazole 20 mg (C), respectively.Results : Resolution of heartburn at 4 weeks (no heartburn symptoms during the last 7 days) was achieved in similar proportions of patients in each treatment arm in study A (esomeprazole 40 mg, 56.7%; esomeprazole 20 mg, 60.5%; omeprazole 20 mg, 58.1%), study B (esomeprazole 40 mg, 70.3%; omeprazole 20 mg, 67.9%) and study C (esomeprazole 20 mg, 61.9%; omeprazole 20 mg, 59.6%). There were no significant differences between treatment groups within each study.Conclusions : More than 60% of endoscopy‐negative reflux disease patients reported heartburn resolution but, after 4 weeks of therapy, these proportions did not differ significantly between treatments.
The validity and accuracy of the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire – irritable bowel syndrome version (WPAI:IBS)
Authors: Reilly M. C. , Bracco A. , Ricci J.‐F. , Santoro J. , Stevens T. 
Published: August 2004

SummaryBackground : Irritable bowel syndrome is a common chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and discomfort associated with alterations in bowel habit. Irritable bowel syndrome affects patients’ quality of life and increases productivity loss.Aim : To assess validity and accuracy of the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire in irritable bowel syndrome as a tool for quantifying the effects of irritable bowel syndrome on productivity and daily activities.Methods : Validity and accuracy were evaluated in 135 irritable bowel syndrome patients relative to three measures of irritable bowel syndrome disease severity; a debriefing questionnaire; retrospective diary; Work Limitations Questionnaire, and an activity impairment measure (Dimensions of Daily Activities).Results : Symptom severity scores, diary scores, Work Limitations Questionnaire and Dimensions of Daily Activities were significant predictors of work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire in irritable bowel syndrome measures of work time missed, and work and activity productivity loss (P = 0.04 to < 0.0001). Impairment due to irritable bowel syndrome was estimated to be 2.9–4.3% for work time missed and 22–32% for impairment at work, the equivalent of 9.7 –14 h lost productivity per week. Activity impairment was 24–41%.Conclusions : Discriminative validity of the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire in irritable bowel syndrome was established, making it the only validated tool for measuring the relative differences between disease severity groups and quantifying work productivity loss and activity impairment in irritable bowel syndrome patients.
Homologous recombination in Candida albicans: role of CaRad52p in DNA repair, integration of linear DNA fragments and telomere length
Authors: Ciudad Toni , Andaluz Encarnación , Steinberg‐Neifach Olga , Lue Neal F. , Gow Neil A. R. , Calderone Richard A. , Larriba Germán 
Published: August 2004

SummaryChromosomal rearrangements are common in both clinical isolates and spontaneous mutants of Candida albicans. It appears that many of these rearrangements are caused by translocations around the major sequence repeat (MSR) that is present in all chromosomes except chromosome 3, suggesting that homologous recombination (HR) may play an important role in the survival of this organism. In order to gain information on these processes, we have cloned the homologue of RAD52, which in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the only gene required for all HR events. CaRAD52 complemented poorly a rad52 mutant of S. cerevisiae. Two null Carad52Δ/Carad52Δ mutants were constructed by sequential deletion of both alleles and two reconstituted strains were obtained by reintegration of the gene. Characterization of these mutants indicated that HR plays an essential role in the repair of DNA lesions caused by both UV light and the radiomimetic compound methyl‐methane‐sulphonate (MMS), whereas the non‐homologous end‐joining pathway (NHEJ) is used only in the absence of Rad52p or after extensive DNA damage. Repair by HR is more efficient in exponentially growing than in stationary cells, probably because a larger number of cells are in late S or G2 phases of the cell cycle (and therefore, can use a sister chromatid as a substrate for recombinational repair), whereas stationary phase cells are mainly in G0 or G1, and only can be repaired using the chromosomal homologue. In addition, CaRad52p  is  absolutely  required  for  the  integration of linear DNA with long flanking homologous sequences. Finally, the absence of CaRad52p results in the lengthening of telomeres, even in the presence of an active telomerase, an observation not described in any other organism. This raises the possibility that both telomerase and homologous recombination may function simultaneously at C. albicans telomeres.
DNA binding properties of TnpX indicate that different synapses are formed in the excision and integration of the Tn4451 family
Authors: Adams Vicki , Lucet Isabelle S. , Lyras Dena , Rood Julian I. 
Published: August 2004

SummarySite‐specific recombination is an important mechanism for genetic exchange. Insertional recombination mediated by the recently delineated large resolvase or serine recombinase proteins is unique within the resolvase family as integration was thought to be a reaction catalysed only by members of the integrase or tyrosine recombinase family of site‐specific recombinases. The large resolvase TnpX is a serine recombinase that is responsible for the movement of the Tn4451/3 family of chloramphenicol resistance elements, which are found within two genera of the medically important clostridia. Deletion analysis of TnpX showed that the last 110 amino acids (aa) of TnpX, which comprise a cysteine rich region, were not essential for its biological function and that a region required for DNA binding was located between aa 493–597. Purified TnpX was shown to bind to the ends of the element and to the joint of the circular intermediate with high affinity but, most unusually, to bind to its target sites with a considerably lower affinity. Therefore, it was concluded that the resolvase‐like excision and insertion reactions mediated by TnpX were distinct processes even though the same serine recombinase mechanism was involved. TnpX is the first large serine recombinase in which differential binding to its transposon and target sites has been demonstrated.
Foreign Aid and Consumption Smoothing: Evidence from Global Food Aid
Authors: Gupta Sanjeev , Clements Benedict , Tiongson Erwin R. 
Published: August 2004

AbstractThe paper examines the cyclical properties of food aid with respect to food availability in recipient countries, with a view to assessing its impact on consumption in some 150 developing countries and transition economies, covering 1970 to 2000. The results show that global food aid has been allocated to countries most in need. Food aid has also been countercyclical within countries with the greatest need. However, for most countries, food aid is not countercyclical. The amount of food aid provided is also insufficient to mitigate contemporaneous shortfalls in consumption.