bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prenatal diagnosis of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 deficiency in chorionic villi: a novel approach
Authors: Vekemans Bernadette Chadefaux , Bonnefont Jean‐Paul , Aupetit Joëlle , Royer Ghislaine , Droin Véronique , Attié‐Bitach Tania , Saudubray Jean‐Marie , Thuillier Laure 
Published: November 2003

AbstractCarnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 (CPT2) deficiency, the most common autosomal recessive inherited disease of the mitochondrial long‐chain fatty acid (LCFA) β‐oxidation, may result in three distinct clinical phenotypes, namely, a mild adult muscular form, a severe infantile hepatocardiomuscular disease, and a neonatal form, which includes dysmorphic features in addition to hepatocardiomuscular symptoms. Both the latter forms are life‐threatening diseases, and prenatal diagnosis (PND) can be offered to couples at a one‐fourth risk of having an affected child. PND of CPT2 deficiency hitherto relied mostly on mutation detection from fresh chorionic villi (10 weeks' gestation), since CPT2 activity could be assayed on cultured amniocytes only (16–17 weeks' gestation).We devised a CPT2 activity assay from 10 mg of chorionic villi sampling (CVS). Combining this enzymatic assay to haplotype study using polymorphic markers linked to the CPT2 gene, we were able to carry out within 2 days, CPT2 deficiency PND, in two unrelated families, using a CVS performed at the 11th week of gestation. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Changes in the frequency power spectrum of fetal heart rate in the course of pregnancy
Authors: Van Leeuwen Peter , Geue Daniel , Lange Silke , Hatzmann Wolfgang , Grönemeyer Dietrich 
Published: November 2003

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine changes in the heart rate variability based on the frequency power spectrum of healthy fetuses during the second and third trimester of pregnancy.MethodsWe analyzed 222 fetal magnetocardiograms recorded in 49 healthy singleton pregnancies between the 16th and 42nd week. Discrete Fourier transformation was performed on the time‐based step function of the RR‐intervals. Changes of spectral density in the frequency spectrum in various bands between 0.003 to 1 Hz, including low‐frequency (LF: 0.04–0.15 Hz) and high‐frequency (HF: 0.15–0.40 Hz) bands, were examined as a function of gestational age.ResultsSpectral density between 0.003 to 1.0 Hz increased with gestational age with large changes, in particular, at lower frequencies. At approximately the 32nd week, the rate of increase in power slowed substantially. Prior to this time, the rates of change in power were different for the bands 0.003 to 0.40 Hz, 0.40 to 0.60 Hz and 0.60 to 1.0 Hz. LF and HF showed similar development, with HF increasing slightly more rapidly.ConclusionWe conclude that characteristic spectral bands that increase in spectral density at different rates during the second and third trimester may be identified. They most likely reflect developmental changes and behavioral states during pregnancy. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fetal phenotype of Prader–Willi syndrome due to maternal disomy for chromosome 15
Authors: L'Herminé A. Coulomb , Aboura A. , Brisset S. , Cuisset L. , Castaigne V. , Labrune P. , Frydman R. , Tachdjian G. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractPrader–Willi syndrome (PWS) results from either paternal deletion of 15q11–q13, or maternal uniparental disomy (UPD) of chromosome 15 or imprinting center mutation. Prenatal diagnosis of PWS is currently indicated for chromosomal parental translocation involving chromosome 15 and for decreased fetal movements during the third trimester of gestation. Here we present the prenatal diagnosis of PWS during the first trimester of gestation and autopsy findings. Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) was performed for advanced maternal age at 13 weeks' gestation. CVS showed mosaicism including cells with a normal karyotype and cells with trisomy 15. Amniocentesis showed cells with a normal karyotype. Molecular analysis demonstrated that the fetus had a typical PWS abnormal methylation profile and maternal disomy for chromosome 15. Fetal ultrasound examination showed slightly enlarged lateral ventricles and hypoplasic male external genitalia without intra‐uterine growth retardation. The autopsy showed a eutrophic male fetus with facial dysmorphy, hypoplasic genitalia, abnormal position of both feet and posterior hypoplasia of the corpus callosum. This report points out that in a karyotypically normal fetus with ambiguous male external genitalia and cerebral anomalies, extensive cytogenetic and molecular biology studies are strongly recommended because of risk of PWS. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development of external methods to evaluate the quality of pharmacy services offered by community pharmacists
Authors: Azzopardi Lilian M. , Serracino‐Inglott Anthony , Salek Sam , Zarb‐Adami Maurice 
Published: November 2003

AbstractThe inclusion in a quality assessment program of the perception, held by patients and health professionals, of the impact of pharmacy services on patient care improves the comprehensiveness of the quality assurance program. The study described in this paper was carried out as part of a project intended to develop a quality assurance program for community pharmacies. The aim of the study was to develop external methods for non‐pharmacists to evaluate the quality of pharmacy services offered by community pharmacists. Two measurement instruments were developed: Consumer Services Tool and Health Professionals Tool. The tools were based on a quantitative measurement system and assessed satisfaction with pharmacists' advice, pharmacotherapy monitoring services and layout of the dispensary. The Consumer Services Tool was presented to 500 patients visiting community pharmacies and the Health Professionals Tool was presented to 33 health professionals attending clinics attached to community pharmacies. The results indicated that consumers have a good perception of the pharmacists and were satisfied with the pharmacy services while health professionals expressed the need to improve pharmacy services. The results were compared to those from a parallel study undertaken in the same pharmacies using an internal quality assessment exercise. There was absence of correlation between the external and internal quality assurance assessments: this supports the necessity for a comprehensive quality assurance program that includes an internal and an external component. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Liapunov's second method for continuous time difference equations
Authors: Pepe P. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractAmong many other cases such as economic and lossless propagation models, continuous time difference equations are encountered as the internal dynamics in a class of non‐linear time delay systems, when controlled by a suitable state feedback which drives the output exponentially to zero. The Liapunov's second method for these infinite dimensional systems has not been extensively investigated in the literature. This paper has the aim of filling this gap. Liapunov's second method theorems for checking the stability and the asymptotic stability of this class of infinite dimensional systems are built up, in both a finite and an infinite dimensional setting. In the finite dimensional setting, the Liapunov function is defined on finite dimensional sets. The conditions for stability are given as inequalities on continuous time. No derivatives are involved, as in the dynamics of the studied systems. In the infinite dimensional setting, the continuous time difference equation is transformed into a discrete time system evolving on an infinite dimensional space, and then the classical Liapunov theorem for the system in the new form is written. In this paper the very general case is considered, that is non‐linear continuous time difference equations with multiple non commensurate delays are considered, and moreover the functions involved in the dynamics are allowed to be discontinuous, as well as the initial state. In order to study the stability of the internal dynamics in non‐linear time delay feedback systems, an exogenous disturbance is added, which goes to zero exponentially as the time goes to infinity. An example is considered, from non‐linear time delay feedback theory. While the results available in the literature are inconclusive as far as the stability of that example is concerned, such stability is proved to hold by the theorems developed in this paper, and is validated by simulation results. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The beliefs of people with chronic pain in relation to ‘important’ treatment components
Authors: Brown Cary A 
Published: November 2003

AbstractBackground. The beliefs of people with chronic pain (service users) about the importance of treatment components offered through both multidisciplinary and other types of chronic pain programmes are not widely examined in the literature.Aim and method. As part of a wider research study of the congruence between what service providers and service users believe to be important treatments for chronic pain, members of three chronic pain support groups located in the North‐West region of England were surveyed. The survey asked service users' opinion about whether specific treatment components are important or not important for people with chronic pain. The survey also included Skevington's Beliefs About Pain Control Questionnaire (BPCQ) that measures beliefs in the internal or personal control of pain, beliefs that powerful others (doctors) control pain and beliefs that pain is controlled by chance events.Results and conclusion. Findings show that no treatment components were endorsed as important by more that 67% of the participants. Endorsements clustered around treatments that focused on self‐management and biomedical interventions. A statistically significant relationship emerged between certain treatment components and BPCQ scores. These findings contribute to the growing cautions regarding standardised, ‘one‐size‐fits all’ treatment programs and the mistake of assuming people with pain form a homogenous group.
Consolidation in US banking: Which banks engage in mergers?
Authors: Wheelock David C , Wilson Paul W 
Published: November 2003

AbstractThe number of U.S. commercial banks has declined by some 40% since 1984, primarily through mergers of solvent institutions. The relaxation of legal impediments to branching has enabled this consolidation, but specific characteristics of banks that engage in mergers reflect the regulatory process and market structure, as well as the bank's own condition. This paper seeks to quantify the regulatory, market, and financial characteristics that affect the probability of a bank engaging in mergers and the volume of banks it absorbs over time. We examine separately consolidation within holding companies and mergers of independent banks.
Feasibility and utility of microsatellite markers in archaeological cattle remains from a Viking Age settlement in Dublin
Authors: Edwards C. J. , Connellan J. , Wallace P. F. , Park S. D. E. , McCormick F. M. , Olsaker I. , Eythórsdóttir E. , MacHugh D. E. , Bailey J. F. , Bradley D. G. 
Published: November 2003

SummaryNineteen cattle bones from the Viking 10th and early 11th century levels in Dublin were assessed for presence of reliable genotypes from three autosomal markers. Due to the good preservational condition of the samples, it was possible to amplify and type at least two out of three of the microsatellite markers (CSRM60, HEL1 and ILSTS001) in 11 specimens. Full three‐loci genotypes were obtained from a subset of seven of these samples. A comparative analysis was performed using data from the same three markers in 11 extant British, Irish and Nordic cattle breeds. Although the medieval remains displayed lower levels of diversity than the modern European breeds, the results fit within the ranges obtained from the extant populations. The results indicate a probable origin for the ancient Irish cattle as the remains group significantly more closely with breeds from the British Isles than with those from Scandinavia. The data collected indicate that microsatellites may be useful for the further study of ancient cattle.
The road to success: A review of 1000 axillary brachial plexus blocks
Authors: Perris T. M. , Watt J M. 
Published: November 2003

SummaryThe authors present their experience of > 1000 axillary brachial plexus blocks performed over 13 years (1990–2002). Using a technique that involves the location of individual nerves with a nerve stimulator, the overall success rate was 97.9%, ranging from 89.7% in 1990 to 98.4% in 1998. There have been no failures, defined as the need for conversion to general anaesthesia, in the last 500 blocks. Supplementary nerve blocks at the elbow were performed in 22.2% of patients. The first author, trained and supervised by the second author, achieved similar success rates in half the time taken by the second author. The authors conclude that technique and experience are the keys to success, but that high success rates can be achieved in a short time if anaesthetists are trained by experts in regional anaesthesia.
Increased remissions from one course for intermediate‐dose cytosine arabinoside and idarubicin in elderly acute myeloid leukaemia when combined with cladribine. A randomized population‐based phase II study
Authors: Juliusson Gunnar , Höglund Martin , Karlsson Karin , Löfgren Christina , Möllgård Lars , Paul Christer , Tidefelt Ulf , Björkholm Magnus ,   for the Leukemia Group of Middle Sweden
Published: November 2003

Summary.  Cladribine has single‐drug activity in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), and may enhance the formation of the active metabolite (ara‐CTP) of cytosine arabinoside (ara‐C). To evaluate the feasibility of adding intermittent cladribine to intermediate‐dose ara‐C (1 g/m2/2 h) b.i.d. for 4 d with idarubicin (CCI), we performed a 2:1 randomized phase II trial in AML patients aged over 60 years. Primary endpoints were time to recovery from cytopenia and need for supportive care following the first course. Sixty‐three patients (median 71 years, range 60–84 years) were included, constituting 72% of all eligible patients. Toxicity was limited, with no differences between the treatment arms. The early toxic death rate was 11%. The median time to recovery from neutropenia and thrombocytopenia was 22 and 17 d from the start of course no. 1, respectively, and the requirement for platelet and red cell transfusions was four and eight units respectively. Patients had a median of 8 d with fever over 38°C, and 17 d with intravenous antibiotic treatment. The overall complete remission (CR) rate was 62%, with 51% CR from one course of CCI in comparison with 35% for the two‐drug therapy (P = 0·014). The median survival with a 2‐year follow‐up was 14 months, and the 2‐year survival was over 30%, with no differences between the treatment arms. Considering the median age and our population‐based approach, the overall results are encouraging.
Seasonal variations in food quality for pelagic and benthic invertebrates in Lake Erken – the role of fatty acids
Authors: AHLGREN G. , GOEDKOOP W. , MARKENSTEN H. , SONESTEN  , BOBERG M. 
Published: November 2003

1. Plankton net samples and sedimenting matter in traps from mesotrophic Lake Erken, Sweden, were analysed for carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), total lipids and fatty acid (FA) content to determine what differences and seasonal changes might exist in the quality of food available to pelagic zooplankters and benthic invertebrates.2. Matter collected in a plankton net was assumed to correspond to food available to pelagic grazers, while matter collected in sedimentation traps provided a measure of food available to benthic invertebrates. Furthermore, food quality was assumed to be related to polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content.3. The results suggest that suspended particulate matter, collected with a plankton net, is a much higher‐quality food resource than sedimenting matter. Our data also show that only during the spring and autumn do the benthic fauna have access to high‐quality food, because of the dominance of diatoms during these periods. During summer, pelagic grazer production was probably limited by food quantity, whereas benthic invertebrate production was probably limited by food quality.4. Plankton net samples showed consistently higher values than trap samples (% of dry weight, DW, or mg g–1 DW) for nearly all variables analysed: C, N, P, saturated FA (SAFA), monounsaturated FA (MUFA), PUFA, ω3 FA and ω6 FA. If N and P were expressed per C, the differences decreased and both data sets indicated moderate to no N or P limitation. N/P also showed well‐balanced ratios throughout most of the season, on average 10 and 7 (by weight), respectively. The largest differences between the two food resources occurred in the PUFA content, including the important FA of the ω3 type. The only FA with higher levels in the trap samples were some unidentified FA of relatively short chain lengths. Seasonal variation for most variables was also very large in both net and trap samples.5. PUFA and ω3 FA showed good relationships with the P content of net samples, but not with that of trap samples. Eicosapentaenoic acid alone did not give a good relationship with P. Thus, P seems to be a good predictor of food quality in living phytoplankton but not in dead matter or detritus.
The role of highly unsaturated fatty acids in aquatic foodweb processes
Authors: BRETT MICHAEL , MÜLLER‐NAVARRA DÖRTHE 
Published: November 2003

1. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are almost exclusively synthesized by plants. Animals can convert from one form of PUFA to another through elongation and desaturation, but very few can synthesize PUFA de novo. PUFA play an important role in regulating cell membrane properties, serve as precursors for important animal hormones and are essential for animals.2. In aquaculture studies, highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA), a subset of PUFA, have been found to be critical for maintaining high growth, survival and reproductive rates and high food conversion efficiencies for a wide variety of marine and freshwater organisms.3. The plankton literature suggests high food‐quality algae species are rich in HUFA and low food‐quality algae are poor in HUFA. Adding semi‐pure emulsions of HUFA to algae monocultures can markedly increase the growth rates of zooplankton feeding on these mixtures.4. A study measuring zooplankton biomass accrual when feeding on natural phytoplankton found a strong correlation between phytoplankton HUFA (specifically eicosapentaenoic acid) content and herbivorous zooplankton production.5. The aquatic ecology literature suggests that planktonic foodwebs with high HUFA content phytoplankton have high zooplankton to phytoplankton biomass ratios, while systems with low HUFA phytoplankton have low zooplankton biomass. Also, the seasonal succession of plankton in many temperate lakes follows patterns tied to phytoplankton HUFA content, with intense zooplankton grazing and ‘clear‐water‐phases’ characteristic of periods when the phytoplankton is dominated by HUFA‐rich species.6. Herbivorous zooplankton production is constrained by the zooplankton’s ability to ingest and digest phytoplankton. It is becoming increasingly clear, however, that much of the phytoplankton which is assimilated may be nutritionally inadequate. HUFA may be key nutritional constituents of zooplankton diets, and may determine energetic efficiency across the plant–animal interface, secondary production and the strength of trophic coupling in aquatic pelagic foodwebs.
The importance of highly unsaturated fatty acids in zooplankton nutrition: evidence from experiments with Daphnia, a cyanobacterium and lipid emulsions
Authors: DEMOTT WILLIAM , MÜLLER‐NAVARRA DÖRTHE 
Published: November 2003

1. We used laboratory growth and feeding experiments to evaluate the role of ω3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) in zooplankton nutrition. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) comprised 40% of total fatty acids (FA) in the green alga Scenedesmus acutus but only 6% in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus.Scenedesmus contained modest amounts of the ω3 HUFA eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20 : 5ω3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22 : 6ω3), whereas Synechococcus contained only a trace of EPA and no DHA.2. One‐day‐old Daphnia maintained high growth rates for 2–3 days on a diet of Synechococcus but exhibited reduced growth or even lost weight over the later part of the 6‐ or 7‐day experiments. Daphnia magna grew better than D. galeata or D. pulicaria on a diet of pure Synechococcus. Daphnids fed the same concentration (0.5 mgC l–1) of green algae or a mixture of green algae and Synechococcus maintained high growth rates.3. Supplementing Synechococcus with fish oil emulsions rich in ω3 HUFA markedly improved the growth and reproduction of all three Daphnia species. Supplementation with an emulsion of monounsaturated oleic acid (18 : 1ω9), however, did not affect the growth of D. galeata and caused a decrease in the growth of D. magna.4. Short‐term (7 min) and long‐term (3 h) feeding trials with 14C‐labelled Synechococcus were used to evaluate the effects of acclimation and mixed diets on carbon incorporation. D. galeata that had fed on unlabelled Synechococcus for 3 days exhibited no decline in clearance rate but a marked decline in carbon incorporation in comparison with animals acclimated with Scenedesmus or fed a mixture of Synechococcus and Scenedesmus.5. Our results support the hypothesis that the poor nutritional quality of a cyanobacterium is at least partially due to a HUFA deficiency. Growth and feeding experiments both suggest that the utilization of Synechococcus is enhanced by HUFA from lipid reserves or a mixed diet.
UV‐induced changes in phytoplankton cells and its effects on grazers
Authors: HESSEN DAG , DE LANGE HENDRIKA , VAN DONK ELLEN 
Published: November 2003

1. This review addresses the effects of UV‐radiation on the morphology and biochemistry of phytoplankton and the potential effects on grazers.2. UVA and UVB radiation inhibit the uptake of inorganic nutrients in phytoplankton. Reduced rates of ammonium and nitrate uptake in marine diatoms, and reduced uptake of phosphorus in freshwater flagellates are reported. The effects on cell stoichiometry are not settled.3. UVA and UVB radiation promote increased cell volumes owing to a decoupling between the photosynthetic processes and cell division. Loss or inactivation of flagellae and loss of motility are also reported for a number of phytoplankton species.4. UVA and UVB radiation may affect major biochemical constituents. Accumulation of intracellular, photosynthetic products (lipids or carbohydrates) is a common, although not unique, property of UV‐stressed algae. Fatty acid (FA) profiles seem susceptible to UV radiation. A relative increase of short‐chained, and a decrease in polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) are reported. The important membrane FA like eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20 : 5ω3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22 : 6ω3) seem particularly susceptible, owing to lipid peroxidation or reduced biosynthesis.5. UV‐related responses are highly dependent on taxonomy, cell‐cycle stage, nutrient‐limitation and the UV : PAR (photosynthetic active radiation)‐ratio.6. Nutrient deficiency, cell size, cell wall properties and FA can all have significant impacts on grazers. Thus the reported effects on cell morphology and biochemical constituents could have profound effects on grazers and energy transfer in aquatic foodwebs.