bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The self‐administered comorbidity questionnaire: A new method to assess comorbidity for clinical and health services research
Authors: Sangha Oliver , Stucki Gerold , Liang Matthew H. , Fossel Anne H. , Katz Jeffrey N. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjectiveTo develop the Self‐Administered Comorbidity Questionnaire (SCQ) and assess its psychometric properties, including the predictive validity of the instrument, as reflected by its association with health status and health care utilization after 1 year.MethodsA cross‐sectional comparison of the SCQ with a standard, chart abstraction‐based measure (Charlson Index) was conducted on 170 inpatients from medical and surgical care units. The association of the SCQ with the chart‐based comorbidity instrument and health status (short form 36) was evaluated cross sectionally. The association between these measures and health status and resource utilization was assessed after 1 year.ResultsThe Spearman correlation coefficient for the association between the SCQ and the Charlson Index was 0.32. After restricting each measure to include only comparable items, the correlation between measures was stronger (Spearman r = 0.55). The SCQ had modest associations with measures of resource utilization during the index admission, and with health status and resource utilization after 1 year.ConclusionThe SCQ has modest correlations with a widely used medical record‐based comorbidity instrument, and with subsequent health status and utilization. This new measure represents an efficient method to assess comorbid conditions in clinical and health services research. It will be particularly useful in settings where medical records are unavailable.
Randomized trial of a self‐management program for primary care patients with acute low back pain: Short‐term effects
Authors: Damush Teresa M. , Weinberger Morris , Perkins Susan M. , Rao Jaya K. , Tierney William M. , Qi Rong , Clark Daniel O. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjectiveWe evaluated the effect of a self‐management program (SMP) on primary care patients with acute low back pain (ALBP) from low income, inner city neighborhood health centers and an emergency department of a public teaching hospital.MethodsWe randomized 211 primary care patients who visited a physician for ALBP (<90 days duration) to usual care or an SMP. The SMP consisted of 3 group sessions and telephone followup that focused on understanding back pain, increasing physical activity, and dealing with fears and frustrations.ResultsOf the eligible patients, 52% expressed interest in participation and 39% of all eligible patients were randomized into the study. Among patients in the treatment group, 28.3% attended at least 1 group class, 62.3% received the intervention by mail, telephone, and audiotapes, and 9.4% received no intervention. Interviewers, blinded to the treatment given, collected data at baseline and at 4 months following randomization. Compared with the control group, the intervention group reported significantly better emotional functioning (P < 0.01), increased self efficacy to manage ALBP (P = 0.03), and less fear of movement (P = 0.05) after 4 months.ConclusionThis SMP produced short‐term improvements in emotional functioning and self efficacy to manage symptoms among patients with ALBP living in the inner city. However, methods of program delivery other than group classes are needed to reach a greater portion of the inner city patients.
A prospective study of sicca symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Brun Johan G. , Madland Tor Magne , Jonsson Roland 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate sicca symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with respect to constancy, temporal changes of prevalence, and possible risk factors.MethodsA prospective cohort study of 70 patients with RA was conducted over 5 years. The main variables of interest were the 6 questions on sicca symptoms used in the preliminary European criteria for Sjögren's syndrome.ResultsFourteen patients were lost to followup. We found that 84.2% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 59.5–95.8) of the patients reporting sicca symptoms at baseline also reported them at followup. During the study period, sicca symptoms increased by 52.6% in general (P = 0.02) and by 80.0% for the ocular components (P = 0.04). Sicca symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 8.35, 95% CI 1.91–36.49) and pain (OR = 1.03, 95% CI 1.00–1.07) at baseline were identified as independent predictive factors for sicca symptoms at followup.ConclusionsSicca symptoms in patients with RA are remarkably constant over time. There is also a substantial time‐dependent increase in the prevalence of such symptoms. As the prevalence of ocular sicca symptoms in general populations tend to level out with age, there seems to be a disease‐related increase of ocular symptoms over time in patients with RA. Present pain and sicca symptoms constitute risk factors for future sicca symptoms.
Quality of life, social support, and knowledge of disease in women with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Minnock Patricia , Fitzgerald Oliver , Bresnihan Barry 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the relationships between the quality of life (QOL) of women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 1) their perceived levels of social support and 2) their primary caregivers' knowledge of RA and its treatment.MethodsWomen aged 40–60 years with established RA completed validated questionnaires on health status (Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2) and satisfaction with the levels of social support from their primary caregiver (Significant Others Scale A). In addition, both the caregivers and patients independently completed questionnaires that were designed to elicit knowledge of RA and its treatment.ResultsFifty‐eight patients and their primary caregivers completed the questionnaires. Analysis of the patients' health status demonstrated widespread biopsychosocial impairments. Arthritis pain, identified as the poorest health status dimension, was associated with the lowest levels of satisfaction, and received the highest priority for health status improvement. In contrast, the patients reported highest levels of satisfaction with social support from family and friends. Positive associations between social support variables and a number of QOL measures were observed. Both the caregivers and the patients displayed limited knowledge of RA and its treatment. Associations between the levels of knowledge and the patients' QOL measures were not observed.ConclusionIn this study of women with RA and their caregivers, a limited knowledge of disease did not appear to impact QOL measures. However, failure to detect an association between knowledge of disease and QOL may have been influenced by a combination of the relatively small study numbers and insufficient variation in caregivers' knowledge, such that a floor effect existed.
Detection of viable fungal spores contaminant on documents and rapid control of the effectiveness of an ethylene oxide disinfection using ATP assay
Authors: Rakotonirainy Malalanirina S. , Héraud Cécile , Lavédrine Bertrand 
Published: April 2003

AbstractFilamentous fungi are able to damage and even destroy archival and library materials. Nowadays the conventional method for detecting such micro‐organisms is to put them in cultures but such methods are laborious and time‐consuming. ATP methodology has been widely applied in other domains and its success on bacteria and yeast has been demonstrated. Several commercial reagent kits are available but they did not give satisfactory results on spores mould. We have elaborated new extraction strategies specific to fungi. A comparison of 42 extraction protocols of ATP from fungal spores was carried out. Extraction at 100°C with DMSO 90% in a Tris–acetate–EDTA buffer proved to be the best method. The viability of cells is estimated by the determination of adenylate energy charge (EC). We applied our method successfully on well‐known species such as Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. fumigatus, A. versicolor, Neosartorya fischeri, Eurotium chevalieri, Penicillium chrysogenum, Chaetomium globosum and Ulocladium spp. The results suggest that the ATP bioluminescence assay provides a sensitive and time‐saving method for detecting viable fungal spores. The validity of the procedure was also tested on spores killed by steam and on spores treated with ethylene oxide. We showed that EC determination could be used for a rapid control of the effectiveness of a disinfection process performed with ethylene oxide. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Conversion of a racemic mixture of 8‐chloro‐2‐(2,6‐difluorophenylmethyl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐3‐methyl‐1,2,5‐benzothiadiazepin‐4(5h)‐one 1,1‐dioxide into a single enantiomer via a chromatographic resolution/racemization method
Authors: La Torre F. , Cirilli R. , Ferretti R. , Gallinella B. , Costi R. , Di Santo R. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractA simple and efficient strategy to convert the racemic mixture of 8‐chloro‐2‐(2,6‐difluorophenylmethyl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐3‐methyl‐1,2,5‐benzothiadiazepin‐4(5H)‐one 1,1‐dioxide, a new anti‐HIV‐1 agent targeted to reverse transcriptase, into the more active (S)‐enantiomer is described. The method utilizes repetition of the following two steps: 1) semipreparative enantioseparation by HPLC on chiral stationary phase; 2) base‐induced racemization of the less active (R)‐enantiomer. Chirality 15:429–432, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Deracemization of an axially chiral biphenylic derivative as a tool for investigating chiral recognition in self‐assemblies
Authors: Borocci Stefano , Ceccacci Francesca , Galantini Luciano , Mancini Giovanna , Monti Donato , Scipioni Anita , Venanzi Mariano 
Published: April 2003

AbstractTwo diastereomeric cationic surfactants derived from L‐proline, in which the second chiral center is a quaternary nitrogen, have been separated and fully characterized. The recognition properties of the aggregates formed by the two diastereomeric surfactants have been investigated by circular dichroism and 1H NMR through deracemization of racemic 2‐carboxy‐2′‐dodecyloxy‐6‐nitrobiphenyl. Chirality 15:441–447, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Catecholaminergic systems in the zebrafish. IV. Organization and projection pattern of dopaminergic neurons in the diencephalon
Authors: Ma PoKay M. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractIn the diencephalons of the adult zebrafish brain, all catecholamine‐containing neurons are dopaminergic. The organization and projection pattern of these neurons are studied using tyrosine hydroxylase immunocytochemistry. By their locations, 3 neuronal complexes and 17 cell groups are identified on the bases of their morphology, staining intensity, and projection pattern: 1) the preoptic complex (5 groups); 2) the posterior tuberal complex (4 groups); and 3) the hypothalamic complex (5 groups). In addition, three other groups can be distinguished: one group in the ventral thalamus; one in the pretectal area, and one found in the postoptic commissure and above the pituitary stalk in a few brains. Two dopaminergic pathways are defined: 1) the preoptico‐hypophyseal tract runs in close association with the lateral forebrain bundle along the base of the brain between the preoptic area and the pituitary stalk, and neurons of the preoptic complex are major contributors to this pathway; additional fibers come from the large periventricular organ‐associated neurons of the posterior tuberal; 2) the endohypothalamic tract links neurons of the hypothalamic complex and consists mainly of processes from hypothalamic neurons. Axons from neurons of the suprachiasmatic, periventricular organ‐associated, and posterior tuberal nuclei also join this pathways after entering the hypothalamus. Several groups of neurons contact the cerebrospinal fluid. These appear to be primarily local neurons because none have processes that join the two major pathways. The preoptic area, dorsal thalamus, tuberal and hypothalamic areas, optic tectum, and pituitary are the major targets of diencephalic dopaminergic neurons. The dorsal telencephalon does not receive input from these cells. The large periventricular organ‐accompanying neurons have descending projections beyond the diencephalon and isthmus. Some cells of this group terminate in the crista cerebellaris. A few axons also exit the medulla via a branch of the octavolateralis nerve. J. Comp. Neurol. 460:13–37, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Heterogeneous expression of connexin 36 in the olfactory epithelium and glomerular layer of the olfactory bulb
Authors: Zhang Chunbo , Restrepo Diego 
Published: April 2003

AbstractGap junctions regulate a variety of cell functions by directly connecting two cells through intercellular channels. Connexins are gap junction channel‐forming protein subunits. In this study, we studied the expression of connexin 36 (Cx36) in the olfactory epithelium and olfactory bulb of adult mice. In situ hybridization revealed that mRNA for Cx36 was expressed in the olfactory sensory epithelium, main olfactory bulb and accessory olfactory bulb. Expression of mRNA encoding Cx36 was observed in the olfactory epithelium mainly in ventral and lateral regions of the turbinates. Immunohistochemical determination of Cx36 protein expression showed sparse punctuate staining in the olfactory epithelial layer. Intense Cx36‐like immunostaining was found in the olfactory nerve bundles underlying the olfactory epithelium and in the olfactory nerve layer and glomerular layer of the olfactory bulb. Mapping of the intensity of Cx36‐like immunofluorescence in glomeruli throughout the main olfactory bulb indicated a heterogeneous distribution. A set of approximately 50 glomeruli located in the anterior and posterior limits of the olfactory bulb was more intensely labeled than other glomeruli. There was intense immunofluorescence signal in the glomerular layer of the accessory olfactory bulb and in the vomeronasal nerve. β‐Galactosidase distribution in the olfactory epithelium and olfactory bulb in Cx36 knockout mice (Deans et al. [2001] Neuron 31:477–485) supported the findings with immunofluorescence. Cx36‐like immunofluorescence was absent in the olfactory nerve bundles in Cx36 knockout mice. The immunolocalization of Cx36 to the olfactory and vomeronasal nerves, and a subset of olfactory glomeruli suggest a functional role for Cx36 in odor coding. J. Comp. Neurol. 459:426–439, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Time‐lapse in vivo imaging of the morphological development of Xenopus optic tectal interneurons
Authors: Wu Gang Yi , Cline Hollis T. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractExcitatory and inhibitory interneurons play a key role in the establishment of neuronal responses and circuit properties in the brain. Despite their importance in brain function, the structural development of interneurons has not been well studied. We used in vivo time‐lapse imaging in intact anesthetized Xenopus tadpoles to determine the morphological events underlying the development of interneuron dendritic arbor structure. Single optic tectal neurons were labeled with DiI and imaged at daily intervals over 4 days in intact albino Xenopus tadpoles. The same neurons were also imaged at shorter intervals to determine the dynamic rearrangements in arbor branches that accompany large‐scale arbor growth. Tectal interneurons, like projection neurons, develop from neuroepithelial cells located near the ventricular layer. They elaborate complex dendritic arbors over a period of 2 days. Short‐interval time‐lapse images reveal that tectal interneuron arbors have rapid rates of branch additions and retractions. We identified four patterns of interneuron arbor development, based on the cell morphology and types of structural rearrangements that occur over the development of the neuronal arbor. A surprising feature of interneuronal development is the large extent of structural rearrangements: many interneurons extend transient processes so that the neuronal structure is dramatically different from one day to the next. Because the majority of synaptic contacts are formed on dendrites, the structural changes we observed in interneuronal dendritic arbors suggest that optic tectal circuits are extremely plastic during early stages of development. J. Comp. Neurol. 459:392–406, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Removal of polysialic acid induces aberrant pathways, synaptic vesicle distribution, and terminal arborization of retinotectal axons
Authors: El Maarouf Abderrahman , Rutishauser Urs 
Published: April 2003

AbstractDeveloping chick retinotectal projections extend rostrally in the superficial stratum opticum of the tectum until they reach their appropriate target zone. They then penetrate, arborize, and form synapses within distinct tectal retinorecipient layers. In this study, we show that the polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule is expressed both on the membrane of these developing projections and in the stratum opticum and retinorecipient layers during the period of optic innervation. On this basis, the role of polysialic acid was analyzed with respect to both trajectory and arborization in the tectum, using confocal imaging of DiI‐labeled retinotectal fibers in whole‐mount tecta of embryos pretreated with a polysialic acid‐specific degrading enzyme, endoneuraminidase N. The removal of polysialic acid caused several distinct abnormalities, including random dorsal/ventral meandering of fibers in the stratum opticum, a distorted branching and extension of arbors in the retinorecipient layers, and inappropriate synaptic vesicle accumulation in pretarget areas. These findings indicate that the unique ability of polysialic acid to regulate different types of cell interactions is an essential component of axon behavior during multiple steps of tectal target innervation. J. Comp. Neurol. 460:203–211, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
AMPA, kainate, and NMDA receptor densities in the hippocampus of untreated male rats and females in estrus and diestrus
Authors: Palomero‐Gallagher Nicola , Bidmon Hans‐Jürgen , Zilles Karl 
Published: April 2003

AbstractSteroid hormones systematically affect numerous neuronal targets, thus influencing, in a permanent or a transitory manner, the way the brain reacts to external and internal stimuli. The hippocampus is an important brain region for learning and memory and the glutamatergic intrahippocampal pathway plays a major role in performing such functions. We applied quantitative in vitro receptor autoradiography to examine how the in vivo hormone milieu affects the densities of AMPA, kainate, and NMDA receptors in the hippocampus of adult male rats and females in estrus and diestrus. All three examined receptor types presented significant gender‐specific differences in their densities. The hippocampus of male rats contains significantly more AMPA, kainate, and NMDA receptors than that of female rats. Female rats in diestrus have significantly higher AMPA receptor densities than female rats in estrus. AMPA changes occurred to the same extent in CA1‐3 and in the dentate gyrus. Significant differences in the densities of NMDA receptors were observed in the CA1‐3 regions, whereas kainate receptor differences were restricted to the CA1 region. These results further support that steroid hormones, through their modulation of AMPA and NMDA receptors, may be involved in the control of synaptic efficacy and, therefore, influence learning and memory. J. Comp. Neurol. 459:468–474, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Is there remyelination during aging of the primate central nervous system?
Authors: Peters Alan , Sethares Claire 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThe effect of aging on myelin sheaths in the rhesus monkey was studied in the vertical bundles of nerve fibers that traverse monkey cerebral cortex in primary visual area 17 and prefrontal area 46. As shown previously, with age the internodes of many of these myelin sheaths show structural changes, the most common of which is an accumulation of electron‐dense cytoplasm within some sheaths, a change which is considered to indicate that breakdown of myelin is taking place. Supporting the suggestion that myelin is breaking down with age, astrocytes in the cortices of old monkeys contain phagocytosed myelin and some of the inclusion bodies in astrocytes label with antibodies to myelin basic protein. There is also evidence that remyelination is taking place. Thus, we have found an increase in the frequency of profiles of paranodes when transverse sections of the nerve fibers are examined. The increase in paranodal frequency with age is 57% in area 17 and 90% in area 46. This increase cannot all be attributed to lengthening of paranodes with age, because in area 17 the 11% increase in mean paranodal length with age is insufficient to account for an age‐related increase in paranodal profile frequency. Consequently, there must be an increase in the number of internodal lengths of myelin with age, as would occur if shorter lengths of myelin are produced by remyelination. In support of the proposal that remyelination is occurring, short internodal lengths of myelin have been found in the nerve bundles passing through the cortices of old monkeys and inappropriately thin sheaths occur around some axons. Both of these features are generally considered to be the hallmarks of remyelination. Consequently, it is proposed that in the aging cerebral cortex of the monkey there is some breakdown of internodes of myelin with subsequent remyelination that leads to the formation of some new and shorter internodal lengths of myelin. J. Comp. Neurol. 460:238–254, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Globose basal cells are required for reconstitution of olfactory epithelium after methyl bromide lesion
Authors: Jang Woochan , Youngentob Steven L. , Schwob James E. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractDespite a remarkable regenerative capacity, recovery of the mammalian olfactory epithelium can fail in severely injured areas, which subsequently reconstitute as aneuronal respiratory epithelium (metaplasia). We contrasted the cellular response of areas of the rat epithelium that recover as olfactory after methyl bromide lesion with those undergoing respiratory metaplasia in order to identify stem cells that restore lesioned epithelium as olfactory. Ventral olfactory epithelium is at particular risk for metaplasia after lesion and patches of it are rendered acellular by methyl bromide exposure. In contrast, globose basal cells (GBCs, marked by staining with GBC‐2) are preserved in surrounding ventral areas and uniformly throughout dorsal epithelium, which consistently and completely recovers as olfactory after lesion. Over the next few days, neurons reappear, but only in those areas in which GBCs are preserved and multiply. In contrast, parts of the epithelium in which GBCs are destroyed are repopulated in part by Bowman's gland cells, which pile up above the basal lamina. Electron microscopy confirms the reciprocity between gland cells and globose basal cells. By 14 days after lesion, the areas that are undergoing metaplasia are repopulated by typical respiratory epithelial cells. As horizontal basal cells are eliminated from all parts of the ventral epithelium, the data suggest that GBC‐2(+) cells are ultimately responsible for regenerating olfactory neuroepithelium. In contrast, GLA‐13(+) cells may give rise to respiratory metaplastic epithelium where GBCs are eliminated. Thus, we support the idea that a subpopulation of GBCs is the neural stem cell of the olfactory epithelium. J. Comp. Neurol. 460:123–140, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.