bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Myotonic dystrophy protein kinase of the cardiac muscle: Evaluation using an immunochemical approach
Authors: Schiavon Giorgia , Furlan Sandra , Marin Oriano , Salvatori Sergio 
Published: October 2002

AbstractMyotonic dystrophy (DM) is an inherited multisystem disorder characterized by the presence of a high polymorphic expansion of trinucleotide (CTG) repeat in the 3′ untranslated region of the DM protein kinase (DMPK) gene. However, the role of myotonic dystrophy protein kinase (DMPK) has yet to be elucidated. Studies aimed to discover possible physiological targets of DMPK indicated several subcellular localization sites, such as neuromuscular junctions, myotendinous junctions, and terminal cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in the skeletal muscle and intercalated discs in the cardiac muscle. Here, we extend our previous observations on the localization of DMPK at gap junction (GJ) level in the heart, taking advantage of the polyclonal peptide‐specific anti‐DMPK antibodies raised against two different domains of the protein. DMPK was detected by immunofluorescence at the intercalated disc level by both antibodies. Double immunofluorescence staining experiments performed with each anti‐DMPK and anti‐connexin43 showed colocalization of the two antigens. Immunoblot analysis of partially purified GJs showed co‐sedimentation of DMPK and connexin43. We conclude that GJs are a genuine localization site of DMPK. Given the known regulation exerted by protein kinases on assembly, trafficking, gating, and disassembly of connexins, such a localization may be relevant to the functional role of connexins. DM is the most common muscular dystrophy in adults, and is known by the cardiac involvement that is a common feature in DM patients. Localization of DMPK at GJ in relation to DM is also briefly discussed. Microsc. Res. Tech. 58:404–411, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Adeno‐cosmid cloning vectors for regulated gene expression
Authors: Giampaoli Saverio , Nicolaus Giancarlo , Delmastro Paola , Cortese Riccardo 
Published: October 2002

AbstractBackgroundAdenovectors are widely used for efficient delivery of genes into a variety of cell types and organisms. However, the construction of the desired vector/genes combination, especially if it involves the cloning of several gene cassettes, can be laborious due to the large size of these vectors. New methods are needed to simplify the construction of complex combinations of gene cassettes into adenovectors.MethodsUsing simple cloning techniques and exploiting the λ‐phage packaging system, we devised efficient methods for the ‘selection’ of the desired vector constructs. Thus we generated a series of cosmids containing the adeno helper dependent (HD) backbone in which we inserted cis‐ and trans‐acting tetracycline (tet) elements for the regulation of any gene of interest. One of these cosmids has been used to produce an HD adenovirus carrying a tetracycline‐regulated gene expressing β‐galactosidase.ResultsWe have demonstrated that the adeno‐cosmid system allows rapid and efficient cloning of genes of interest in helper dependent vectors, and described a prototype ‘ready‐to‐use’ vector in which any gene of interest can be easily expressed under the control of the tet system. The HD viruses produced with this novel methodology can be grown at high titers, can be easily separated from the helper adenovirus, and allow delivery and regulated gene expression in a variety of tissues.ConclusionsExploiting the λ‐packaging system, complex adeno constructs can be generated with a simple and reproducible protocol, which allows selection of the desired size construct, counterselecting for the frequently observed intramolecular recombinations and deletions. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Comparative study of retinal effects from continuous wave and femtosecond mode‐locked lasers
Authors: Thomas Robert J. , Noojin Gary D. , Stolarski David J. , Hall Rebecca T. , Cain Clarence P. , Toth Cynthia A. , Rockwell Benjamin A. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesIn order to provide a direct comparison of the effects of mode‐locked systems to those with continuous‐wave (CW) or nonpulsed output, we have performed an experiment with lasers possessing otherwise identical output characteristics. This in vivo minimum visible lesion study compares retinal effects of mode‐locked and CW lasers complete with histopathology of the treated areas.Study Design/Materials and MethodsTitanium:Sapphire lasers produced 800‐nm output for either mode‐locked (76 MHz repetition rate, 120 femtoseconds) or CW exposures. Alternating CW and mode‐locked laser exposures were delivered to the paramacular retinal region of rhesus subjects. Laser exposure duration was set to one‐quarter second for both types of exposures. Through ophthalmoscopic examination of the fundus, a minimal visible lesion (MVL) threshold for damage was established.ResultsApproximately 75 test sites for each type of exposure were examined. The laser dosage thresholds and 95% confidence intervals for minimal visible damage at 24 hours postexposure were found to be 5.9 mJ (5.23–6.6 mJ) and 5.84 mJ (5.23–6.58 mJ) for mode‐locked and CW exposures, respectively.ConclusionsResults are compared with published studies conducted at similar exposures. These nearly identical damage thresholds indicate a primarily thermal tissue damage mechanism. Comparative histopathology of acute and chronic lesions of both exposure types is also presented. Lasers Surg. Med. 31:9–17, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Photothermal time‐resolved imaging of living cells
Authors: Lapotko Dmitri O. , Romanovskaya Tat'yana R. , Shnip Alexander , Zharov Vladimir P. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesThermal effects of laser radiation at cell level play very important role in cell functioning and in many laser applications. The aim of this study was to evaluate a new method of photothermal imaging (PTI) for monitoring short‐time nano‐scale thermal effects in individual living cells.Study Design/Materials and MethodsPTI is based on the irradiation of a cell with a short laser pump pulse (8 nanoseconds, 532 nm) and on registration of the laser‐induced local thermal effects using time‐resolved phase‐contrast imaging with a pulsed probe laser.ResultsPT images of lymphocytes, lympholeukemia cells in vitro were obtained at different laser energies. PTI in time‐resolved mode allowed visualizing the structures with size less than diffraction limit (90‐nm liposomes). The photodamage process was visualized for a single human leukocyte in suspension.ConclusionsPTI in non‐invasive mode offered better contrast of living cell image than conventional optical phase‐contrast microscopy. The data obtained showed that PTI is in perspective for studies of live non‐fluorescent cells. Lasers Surg. Med. 31:53–63, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mechanism of water augmentation during IR laser ablation of dental enamel
Authors: Fried Daniel , Ashouri Nahal , Breunig Thomas , Shori Ramesh 
Published: October 2002

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesThe mechanism of water augmentation during IR laser ablation of dental hard tissues is controversial and poorly understood. The influence of an optically thick applied water layer on the laser ablation of enamel was investigated at wavelengths in which water is a primary absorber and the magnitude of absorption varies markedly.Study Design/Materials and MethodsQ‐switched and free running Er: YSGG (2.79 μm) and Er:YAG (2.94 μm), free running Ho:YAG and 9.6 μm TEA CO2laser systems were used to produce linear incisions in dental enamel with and without water. Synchrotron‐radiation IR spectromicroscopy with the Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory was used to determine the chemical changes across the laser ablation profiles with a spatial resolution of 10‐μm.ResultsThe addition of water increased the rate of ablation and produced a more desirable surface morphology during enamel ablation with all the erbium systems. Moreover, ablation was markedly more efficient for Q‐switched (0.15 microsecond) versus free‐running (150 microsecond) erbium laser pulses with the added water layer. Although the addition of a thick water layer reduced the rate of ablation during CO2laser ablation, the addition of the water removed undesirable deposits of non‐apatite mineral phases from the crater surface. IR spectromicroscopy indicates that the chemical composition of the crater walls deviates markedly from that of hydroxyapatite after Er:YAG and CO2laser irradiation without added water. New mineral phases were resolved that have not been previously observed using conventional IR spectroscopy. There was extensive peripheral damage after irradiation with the Ho:YAG laser with and without added water without effective ablation of enamel.ConclusionsWe postulate that condensed mineral phases from the plume are deposited along the crater walls after repetitive laser pulses and such non‐apatitic phases interfere with subsequent laser pulses during IR laser irradiation reducing the rate and efficiency of ablation. The ablative recoil associated with the displacement and vaporization of the applied water layer removes such loosely adherent phases maintaining efficient ablation during multiple pulse irradiation. Lasers Surg. Med. 31:186–193, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Centrosome dynamics and inheritance in related sexual and parthenogenetic Bacillus (Insecta Phasmatodea)
Authors: Marescalchi Ombretta , Zauli Cristina , Scali Valerio 
Published: October 2002

AbstractIn animals, some general features of centrosome dynamics and inheritance have been widely recognized. The most acknowledged model assigns to sperm the contribution of a centriole to the fertilized egg, which in turn provides the pericentriolar materials, including γ‐tubulin, recruiting them from the cytoplasm: the main zygote microtubule organizing center (MTOC) is thus reconstituted to organize first the spermaster and then the full first embryonic spindle. Obviously the model cannot apply to parthenogenetic systems, which actually rely on egg components alone. In stick insects of the Bacillus genus, the spindle of both somatic and germ cells is clearly anastral, therefore we have been investigating their centrosome in sexual and parthenogenetic taxa by analyzing its component dynamics and transmission through the use of monoclonal β‐ and γ‐tubulin antibodies and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It has been shown that in sexually reproducing species the spermatozoon does not contribute the centriole, so that the egg wholly provides the MTOC and the ensuing anastral spindle of the embryo: MTs appear to derive from pronuclear chromatin surroundings and no asters are observed. The parthenogenetic embryo development is the same as the sexual one if syngamy is excepted. The parthenogenetic mechanism realized by these panoistic insects appears to differ from that observed in the meroistic hymenopteran and drosophilid species, where the embryo spindle derives from asters formed in the egg cortex. In stick insects, the lack of sperm contribution to embryonic centrosome appears to be a major trait accounting for the widespread occurrence of facultative and obligate parthenogenesis within the order. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 63: 89–95, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Biochemical and morphological effects of bladder pumping on the urinary bladder in rats
Authors: Sugaya Kimio , Nishijima Saori , Hatano Tadashi , Ogawa Yoshihide , Kudo Takamasa , Nishizawa Osamu 
Published: October 2002

AbstractAimsTo study the influence of bladder pumping on the urinary bladder in 44 female rats.MethodsUnder halothane anesthesia, a urethral catheter was inserted into the bladder of 27 rats, and air (0.4–0.8 mL) was pumped in and out of the bladder at 0.5 cycles/second for a period of 5 minutes. Twenty‐four hours after pumping, the bladder was harvested for measurement of the tissue levels of myosin, actin, and nerve growth factor, as well as for electron microscopy. In nine of the 27 rats, cystometry was performed without anesthesia before and 1, 7, 30, and 90 days after bladder pumping. The remaining 17 rats that did not undergo pumping were anesthetized and their bladders were harvested as a control.ResultsBladder pumping increased the bladder capacity and decreased the maximum bladder contraction pressure, but did not increase the residual volume. Bladder pumping also increased the tissue level of nerve growth factor and decreased the levels of myosin and actin. Electron microscopy showed degeneration of bladder smooth muscle cells and nerve fibers after bladder pumping, as well as derangement and disruption of collagen fiber bundles in the bladder wall. These functional and morphological effects of pumping disappeared within 90 days.ConclusionsBladder pumping therapy appears to have various effects on the bladder wall collagen fiber bundles, smooth muscle cells, and nerves. Neurourol. Urodynam. 21:511–515, 2002. © Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Home environmental modification strategies used by caregivers of elders
Authors: Messecar Deborah C. , Archbold Patricia G. , Stewart Barbara J. , Kirschling Jane 
Published: October 2002

AbstractAlthough several definitions and categorizations of home environmental modification strategies exist, previous researchers have not addressed whether the conceptualizations developed by clinicians and researchers match the way families think about how they modify the home environment in order to provide care to frail elders. The aim of the analysis reported here was to describe, from the family's perspective, the home environmental modification strategies that they use. Twenty‐four caregivers of community‐dwelling elders with a variety of impairments were interviewed. Seventeen families provided guided tours of the elder's home and allowed selected observation of some caregiving activities. Forty‐four modification strategies were identified and categorized into one of seven home environmental modification purposes: organizing the home, supplementing the elder's function, structuring the elder's day, protecting the elder, working around limitations or deficits in the home environment, enriching the home environment, and transitioning to a new home setting. More research is needed on the processes families use to generate and refine the home environmental modification strategies identified in this study. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 25:357–370, 2002
Exercise participation after diagnosis of breast cancer: trends and effects on mood and quality of life
Authors: Pinto Bernardine M. , Trunzo Joseph J. , Reiss Philip , Shiu Shang‐Ying 
Published: October 2002

AbstractIndividuals treated for cancer often experience higher levels of emotional distress than the general population. Previous research has shown that exercise can have an ameliorating effect on these problems. This 12‐month prospective longitudinal study investigated mood, quality of life, cancer‐related symptoms, and exercise behavior of 69 women who had completed treatment for Stage 0–2 breast cancer. We studied the natural progression of exercise participation after cancer treatment. Effects on mood, quality of life, and cancer‐related symptoms were assessed after controlling for demographic variables, disease variables, social support, and baseline values to test the hypothesis that women who exercised were more likely to report better mood, higher quality of life, and fewer cancer‐related symptoms. Results indicated that women did not increase their exercise participation over time and that overall mean minutes of exercise participation were below recommended levels. Baseline demographic predictors of exercise participation included younger age, having a spouse or partner, increased time since diagnosis, higher social support, and higher depression. Exercise participation was associated with improved physical functioning, but not overall mood or cancer‐related symptoms. We discuss implications of these findings towards the well‐being of breast cancer survivors. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Solution structure of nociceptin peptides
Authors: Amodeo Pietro , Guerrini Remo , Picone Delia , Salvadori Severo , Spadaccini Roberta , Tancredi Teodorico , Temussi Piero A. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractPeptides embedded in the sequence of pre‐pro‐nociceptin, i.e. nociceptin, nocistatin and orphanin FQ2, have shed light on the complexity of the mechanisms involving the peptide hormones related to pain and have opened up new perspectives for the clinical treatment of pain. The design of new ligands with high selectivity and bioavailability, in particular for ORL1, is important both for the elucidation and control of the physiological role of the receptor and for their therapeutic importance. The failure to obtain agonists and antagonists when using, for nociceptin, the same substitutions that are successful for opioids, and the conformational flexibility of them all, justify systematic efforts to study the solution conformation under conditions as close as possible to their natural environment. Structural studies of linear peptides in solution are hampered by their high flexibility. A direct structural study of the complex between a peptide and its receptor would overcome this difficulty, but such a study is not easy since opioid receptors are membrane proteins. Thus, conformational studies of lead peptides in solution are still important for drug design. This review deals with conformational studies of natural pre‐nociceptin peptides in several solvents that mimic in part the different environments in which the peptides exert their action. None of the structural investigations yielded a completely reliable bioactive conformation, but the global conformation of the peptides in biomimetic environments can shed light on their interaction with receptors. Copyright © 2002 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Atmospheric pressure laser desorption/ionization on porous silicon
Authors: Laiko Victor V. , Taranenko Nelli I. , Berkout Vadym D. , Musselman Brian D. , Doroshenko Vladimir M. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractA recently developed commercial atmospheric pressure matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (AP‐MALDI) source (MassTech, Inc.) was modified to adopt commercially available DIOS plates (Mass Consortium Corp.) for the studies of laser desorption from the surface of porous silicon under atmospheric pressure conditions. The feasibility of atmospheric pressure laser desorption/ionization from the surface of porous silicon (AP‐DIOS) was demonstrated. The advantages of this new AP‐DIOS technique include reasonably good sensitivity (subpicomole range for standard peptide mixtures), simplicity of sample preparation, uniformity of target spots and the absence of matrix peaks in the spectra. The AP‐DIOS source was interfaced with a commercial ion trap (LCQ Classic, Thermo Finnigan) which additionally provides a unique MSn capability. The AP‐DIOS spectrum of 250 fmol of unseparated tryptic digest of bovine serum albumin (BSA) was compared with that of AP‐MALDI for the same compound. AP‐DIOS offers significantly better coverage for the digest components in the mass range 200–1000 Da. The combined data of both techniques enabled us to nearly double the number of matched peaks in BSA digest analysis compared with AP‐DIOS or AP‐MALDI analysis separately. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Graphical models for multivariate time series from intensive care monitoring
Authors: Gather Ursula , Imhoff Michael , Fried Roland 
Published: October 2002

AbstractNowadays physicians are confronted with high‐dimensional data generated by clinical information systems. The proper extraction and interpretation of the information contained in such massive data sets, which are often observed with high sampling frequencies, can hardly be done by experience only. This yields new perspectives of data recording and also sets a new challenge for statistical methodology. Recently graphical models have been developed for analysing the partial correlations between the components of multivariate time series. We apply this technique to the haemodynamic system of critically ill patients monitored in intensive care. In this way we can appraise the practical value of the new procedure by re‐identifying known associations within the haemodynamic system. From separate analyses for different pathophysiological states we can even conclude that distinct clinical states are characterized by distinct partial correlation structures. Hence, this technique seems useful for automatic statistical analysis of high‐dimensional physiological time series and it can provide new insights into physiological mechanisms. Moreover, we can use it to achieve an adequate dimension reduction of the variables needed for online monitoring at the bedside. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The integration of manufacturing and marketing/sales decisions: impact on organizational performance
Authors: O’Leary‐Kelly Scott W. , Flores Benito E. 
Published: October 2002

AbstractResearch in the areas of both manufacturing and marketing/sales have advocated the integration of several important interrelated decisions between the two functions (i.e. product development, process development, marketing/sales planning, and manufacturing planning decisions). The process of managing the strategic alignment between a firm’s business strategy, external environment, and the integration of manufacturing and marketing/sales decisions is very complex phenomenon that requires a level of analysis that has not occurred previously. This study examined the moderating effects of business strategy and demand uncertainty on the relationship between the integration of manufacturing and marketing/sales‐based decisions and organizational performance. The study found general support for the proposed model, suggesting that the impact of the integration of manufacturing and marketing/sales decision on organizational performance is moderated by a firm’s business strategy and demand uncertainty.
Feasibility of using a transmission ion chamber for QA tests of medical linear accelerators
Authors: Farrokhkish Makan , Veres Andrew J. , Fong de los Santos Luis E. , DeMarco John J. , Islam Mohammad K. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractPurposeTo study the feasibility of using the Integral Quality Monitoring (IQM) system for routine quality assurance (QA) of photon beams.MethodsThe IQM system is a commercially available dose delivery verification tool, which consists of a spatially sensitive large area transmission ion chamber, mounted on the Linac collimator, and a calculation algorithm to predict the signals in response to radiation beams. By comparing the measured and predicted signals the system verifies the accuracy of beam delivery. The ion chamber unit is a battery powered system including a dual‐electrometer, temperature and pressure sensors, and inclinometers. The feasibility of using the IQM system for routine QA tests was investigated by measuring constancy values of beam parameters, with specially designed tests fields, and comparing them with those determined by a conventional system.ResultsThe sensitivity of the beam output constancy measurements by the IQM system was found to agree with those measured by a Farmer type ion chamber placed in water phantoms to within 0.1% for typical daily output variation of ± 0.5% and ± 1%. The beam symmetry was measured with a 4 cm × 4 cm aperture at multiple off‐axis distances and was found to have a highly linear relationship with those measured in a water phantom scan for intentionally introduced asymmetry between ‐3% and +3%. The beam flatness was measured with a two‐field ratio method and was found to be linearly correlated with those measured by water phantom scan. The dosimetric equivalent of a picket fence test performed by the IQM system can serve as a constancy check of the multileaf collimator (MLC) bank positioning test.ConclusionsThe IQM system has been investigated for constancy measurements of various beam parameters for photon beams. The results suggest that the system can be used for most of the routine QA tests effectively and efficiently.