bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Torsade de pointes in a patient with complex medical and psychiatric conditions receiving low‐dose quetiapine
Authors: Vieweg W. V. R. , Schneider R. K. , Wood M. A. 
Published: August 2005

Objective:  Describe potential cardiac complications of low‐dose quetiapine and other atypical antipsychotic drugs.Method:  We present a case report of a 45‐year‐old Black woman with multiple medical and psychiatric problems taking low‐dose quetiapine.Results:  Coincident with a generalized seizure, the patient developed ‘ventricular fibrillation’. She was countershocked with restoration of normal sinus rhythm. The initial electrocardiogram showed QT interval prolongation. Shortly thereafter, classical torsade de pointes appeared, lasted 10 min, and resolved spontaneously. Hypomagnesemia was present. A cardiac electrophysiologist was concerned that the very slow shortening of the prolonged QTc interval after magnesium replacement implicated quetiapine as a risk factor for QTc interval prolongation and torsade de pointes. A psychosomatic medicine consultant asserted that the fragmented medical and psychiatric care almost certainly contributed to the patient's medical problems. We discuss other cases of QT interval prolongation by newer antipsychotic drugs and previous reports by our group concerning the association of psychotropic drugs, QT interval prolongation, and torsade de pointes.Conclusion:  Atypical antipsychotic drug administration, when accompanied by risk factors, may contribute to cardiac arrhythmias including torsade de pointes.
Testing the In‐Well Horizontal Laminar Flow Assumption with a Sand‐Tank Well Model
Authors: Britt Sanford L. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractThe assumption of horizontal laminar flow within a monitoring well is a commonly cited basis for interval sampling using low‐flow or no‐purge sampling techniques. A few studies have shown horizontal flow over short distances within the well for short periods of time. Others have demonstrated specific circumstances under which the assumption fails. But surprisingly, little focus has been given to confirming the underlying concept—that under “normal” conditions (i.e., no vertical hydraulic gradient) water enters one side of a well and exits the other side of the well at the same elevation. To test the horizontal flow assumption, a physical sand‐tank model was constructed to observe flow through in a simulated monitoring well. The well, filter pack, and aquifer largely mimic real world conditions of a submerged well in a moderately high‐permeability sand. To observe flow behavior in the simulated well, a dye “stringer” was introduced into an injection port upgradient of the simulated well. In all tests, regardless of flow rate or small density differences, the dye stringer eventually mixed throughout the model monitoring well. Since the model approximates a section of an at‐scale well subjected to real world bulk flow rates, mixing appears to be the rule rather than the exception for near–neutrally buoyant contaminant stringers in homogeneous flow fields. Despite additional heterogeneities introduced by field conditions, there are several clear and important implications of this study: (1) some degree of in‐well mixing and flow‐weighted concentration averaging may occur in a well before any purge or sampling efforts are made; (2) in‐well mixing may mask low to moderate contaminant stratification in an aquifer; (3) contaminant stratification, if present inside a well, implies strong contaminant stratification outside the well; (4) contaminant stratification inside a well may not correspond to stratification at the same interval outside the well; and (5) vertical stratification within an aquifer may not be accurately monitored by sampling multiple intervals within an open well.
Validity and reproducibility of arterial pulse wave velocity measurement using new device with oscillometric technique: A pilot study
Authors: Naidu Madireddy Umamaheshwar Rao , Reddy Budda Muralidhar , Yashmaina Sridhar , Patnaik Amar Narayana , Rani Pingali Usha 
Published: August 2005

Abstract

Background
Availability of a range of techniques and devices allow measurement of many variables related to the stiffness of large or medium sized arteries. There is good evidence that, pulse wave velocity is a relatively simple measurement and is a good indicator of changes in arterial properties. The pulse wave velocity calculated from pulse wave recording by other methods like doppler or tonometry is tedious, time-consuming and above all their reproducibility depends on the operator skills. It requires intensive resource involvement. For epidemiological studies these methods are not suitable. The aim of our study was to clinically evaluate the validity and reproducibility of a new automatic device for measurement of pulse wave velocity that can be used in such studies.

Methods
In 44 subjects including normal healthy control and patients with coronary artery disease, heart brachial, heart ankle, brachial ankle and carotid femoral pulse wave velocities were recorded by using a new oscillometric device. Lead I and II electrocardiogram and pressure curves were simultaneously recorded. Two observers recorded the pulse wave velocity for validation and one observer recorded the velocity on two occasions for reproducibility.

Results and Discussion
Pulse wave velocity and arterial stiffness index were recorded in 24 control and 20 coronary artery disease patients. All the velocities were significantly high in coronary artery disease patients. There was highly significant correlation between the values noted by the two observers with low standard deviation. The Pearson's correlation coefficient for various velocities ranged from (r = 0.88–0.90) with (p < 0.0001). The reproducibility was also very good as shown by Bland-Altman plot; most of the values were lying within 2 SD. The interperiod measurements of pulse wave velocity were also significantly correlated (r = 0.71 – 0.98) (P < 0.0001). Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity was found to correlate significantly with heart brachial, heart ankle, brachial ankle pulse wave velocity and arterial stiffness index values. Reproducibility of our method was good with very low variability in both interobserver and interperiod analysis.

Conclusion
The new device "PeriScope" based on oscillometric technique has been found to be a simple, non-invasive and reproducible device for the assessment of pulse wave velocity and can be used to determine arterial stiffness in large population based studies.
Life and death of lymphocytes: a role in immunesenescence
Authors: Gupta Sudhir , Su Houfen , Bi Ruifen , Agrawal Sudhanshu , Gollapudi Sastry 
Published: August 2005

AbstractHuman aging is associated with progressive decline in immune functions, increased frequency of infections. Among immune functions, a decline in T cell functions during aging predominates. In this review, we will discuss the molecular signaling in two major pathways of apoptosis, namely death receptor pathway and mitochondrial pathway, and their alterations in both T and B lymphocytes in human aging with a special emphasis on naïve and different memory subsets of CD8+ T cells. We will also discuss a possible role of lymphocyte apoptosis in immune senescence.
(Re)form with Substance? Restructuring and governance in the Australian health system 2004/05
Authors: Rix Mark , Owen Alan , Eagar Kathy 
Published: August 2005

Abstract
The Australian health system has been the subject of multiple reviews and reorganisations over the last twenty years or more. The year 2004–2005 was no different.
This paper reviews the reforms, (re)structures and governance arrangements in place at both the national and state/territory levels in the last year. At the national level some progress has been made in 2004/05 through the Australian Health Ministers' Council and there is now a national health reform agenda, albeit not a comprehensive one, endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in June 2005. Quality and safety was an increasing focus in 2004–2005 at both the national and jurisdictional levels, as was the need for workforce reform. Although renewed policy attention was given to the need to better integrate and coordinate health care, there is little evidence of any real progress this last year. More progress was made on a national approach to workforce reform.
At the jurisdictional level, the usual rounds of reviews and restructuring occurred in several jurisdictions and, in 2005, they are organisationally very different from each other. The structure and effectiveness of jurisdictional health authorities are now more important. All health authorities are being expected to drive an ambitious set of national and local reforms. At the same time, most have now blurred the boundary between policy and service delivery and are devoting significant resources to centrally 'crisis managing' their service systems. These same reasons led to decentralisation in previous restructuring cycles. While there were many changes in 2004–2005, and a new national report to COAG on health reform is expected at the end of 2005, based on current evidence there is little room for optimism about the prospects for real progress.
Between-Lot Variation in External Quality Assessment of Glucose: Clinical Importance and Effect on Participant Performance Evaluation
Authors: Kristensen Gunn BB , Christensen Nina Gade , Thue Geir , Sandberg Sverre 
Published: August 2005

AbstractBackground: External quality assessment schemes (EQAS) are conducted to evaluate user performance (participant assessment) and to assess different methods and instruments (method assessment). The quality of control materials is crucial to achieving these goals. Inconsistencies in between-lot variations detected by use of different control and sample materials may affect EQAS outcomes.Methods: For the Accu-Chek Sensor, Precision Xtra, Ascensia Elite, and HemoCue 201 glucometers, 3 different lots of glucose strips were used with each instrument. Method assessment results from analysis of capillary blood and 3 control materials were used to calculate between-lot differences. A simulation study was performed to evaluate the effect of between-lot variation on participant assessment results.Results: With the Precision Xtra, the results obtained with EQA control material mirrored those obtained with capillary blood, but for the other instruments, we found between-lot differences of as much as 1.3 mmol/L, which were substantially greater than those found with capillary blood and of clinical importance at decision limits. The simulation study showed an effect on participant assessment results related to the target values, with the percentage of poor results decreasing (38%, 10%, and 4%) with the use of common, method-specific, and lot-specific target values, respectively.Conclusions: Between-lot variation may influence participant EQA results for participant and method assessments. The clinical relevance of between-lot variation discovered in EQAS using noncommutable control materials should be examined by use of native blood samples.
Optimal consumption strategies under model uncertainty
Authors: Burgert Christian , Rüschendorf Ludger 
Published: August 2005

Summary
In this paper we consider the problem of finding optimal consumption strategies in an incomplete semimartingale market model under model uncertainty. The quality of a consumption strategy is measured by not only one probability measure but as common in risk theory by a class of scenario measures. We formulate a dual version of the optimization problem and prove the existence of a saddle point and give a characterization of an optimal consumption strategy in terms of solutions of the dual problem. This generalizes results of Karatzas and Zitkovic (2003) for the optimal consumption problem under a fixed probability measure.
Probability of Fixation in a Heterogeneous Environment
Authors: Whitlock Michael C , Gomulkiewicz Richard 
Published: August 2005

Abstract
We investigate the probability of fixation of a new mutation arising in a metapopulation that ranges over a heterogeneous selective environment. Using simulations, we test the performance of several approximations of this probability, including a new analytical approximation based on separation of the timescales of selection and migration. We extend all approximations to multideme metapopulations with arbitrary population structure. Our simulations show that no single approximation produces accurate predictions of fixation probabilities for all cases of potential interest. At the limits of low and high migration, previously published approximations are found to be highly accurate. The new separation-of-timescales approach provides the best approximations for intermediate rates of migration among habitats, provided selection is not too intense. For nonzero migration and relatively strong selection, all approximations perform poorly. However, the probability of fixation is bounded above and below by the approximations based on low and high migration limits. Surprisingly, in our simulations with symmetric migration, heterogeneous selection in a metapopulation never decreased—and sometimes substantially increased—the probability of fixation of a new allele compared to metapopulations experiencing homogeneous selection with the same mean selection intensity.
Mitochondrial Genome Recombination in the Zone of Contact Between Two Hybridizing Conifers
Authors: Jaramillo-Correa Juan P , Bousquet Jean 
Published: August 2005

Abstract
Variation in mitochondrial DNA was surveyed at four gene loci in and around the zone of contact between two naturally hybridizing conifers, black spruce (Picea mariana) and red spruce (P. rubens) in northeastern North America. Most of the mtDNA diversity of these species was found in populations next to or into the zone of contact, where some individuals bore rare mitotypes intermediate between the common mitotypes observed in the allopatric areas of each species. Sequence analysis and tests for mtDNA recombination point to this phenomenon, rather than to recurrent mutation, as the most tenable hypothesis for the origin of these rare mitotypes. From the 10 mitotypes observed, at least 4 would be the product of recombination between 4 of the 5 putative ancestral mitotypes. Tests for cytonuclear disequilibrium and geographical structure of the putative recombinant mitotypes suggest that mtDNA recombination is not frequent and relatively recent on the geological time scale. mtDNA recombination would have been promoted by transient heteroplasmy due to leakage of paternal mtDNA since the Holocene secondary contact between the two species.
Genetic Modifier Screens on Hairless Gain-of-Function Phenotypes Reveal Genes Involved in Cell Differentiation, Cell Growth and Apoptosis in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Müller Dominik , Kugler Sabrina J , Preiss Anette , Maier Dieter , Nagel Anja C 
Published: August 2005

Abstract
Overexpression of Hairless (H) causes a remarkable degree of tissue loss and apoptosis during imaginal development. H functions as antagonist in the Notch-signaling pathway in Drosophila, and the link to growth and apoptosis is poorly understood. To further our insight into H-mediated apoptosis, we performed two large-scale screens for modifiers of a small rough eye phenotype caused by H overexpression. Both loss- and gain-of-function screens revealed known and new genetic interactors representing diverse cellular functions. Many of them did not cause eye phenotypes on their own, emphasizing a specific genetic interaction with H. As expected, we also identified components of different signaling pathways supposed to be involved in the regulation of cell growth and cell death. Accordingly, some of them also acted as modifiers of proapoptotic genes, suggesting a more general involvement in the regulation of apoptosis. Overall, these screens highlight the importance of H and the Notch pathway in mediating cell death in response to developmental and environmental cues and emphasize their role in maintaining developmental cellular homeostasis.
Persistence Time of Loss-of-Function Mutations at Nonessential Loci Affecting Eye Color in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Yampolsky Lev Y , Allen Chenoa , Shabalina Svetlana A , Kondrashov Alexey S 
Published: August 2005

Abstract
Persistence time of a mutant allele, the expected number of generations before its elimination from the population, can be estimated as the ratio of the number of segregating mutations per individual over the mutation rate per generation. We screened two natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster for mutations causing clear-cut eye phenotypes and detected 25 mutant alleles, falling into 19 complementation groups, in 1164 haploid genomes, which implies 0.021 eye mutations/genome. The de novo haploid mutation rate for the same set of loci was estimated as 2 × 10−4 in a 10-generation mutation-accumulation experiment. Thus, the average persistence time of all mutations causing clear-cut eye phenotypes is ∼100 generations (95% confidence interval: 61–219). This estimate shows that the strength of selection against phenotypically drastic alleles of nonessential loci is close to that against recessive lethals. In both cases, deleterious alleles are apparently eliminated by selection against heterozygous individuals, which show no visible phenotypic differences from wild type.
A New Approach to Measuring the Action Spectrum for Singlet Oxygen Production by Human Retinal Lipofuscin
Authors: Avalle L. B. , Dillon J. , Tari S. , Gaillard E. R. 
Published: August 2005

ABSTRACTThe human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) layer contains a complex mixture of components called lipofuscin; this mixture forms with age and with various genetic disorders such as Stargardt's disease. Its presence may contribute to retinal deterioration via several mechanisms including photochemical processes. In the lipofuscin mixture, both type I and II mechanisms have been identified, with the latter consisting of the generation of singlet oxygen. Several components of that mixture have been identified, most notably a bis‐retinoid pyridinium compound called A2E and its derivatives. Photo‐oxidative studies on the compound A2E have revealed that its dominant photochemical mechanism is via free radical or type I processes. Because singlet oxygen is an important photooxidative intermediate in tissue, its generation in the RPE may contribute to retinal maculopathies. It is therefore necessary to determine which specific component(s) in the lipofuscin mixture produce singlet oxygen upon excitation with light. This was ascertained by evaluating the action spectrum for singlet oxygen production for the whole lipofuscin mixture using time‐resolved spectroscopy. Singlet oxygen was generated by excitation of the sample at different wavelengths while maintaining a constant beam energy, and was directly detected by its phosphorescence decay at 1270 nm using a Ge photodiode. The action spectrum for singlet oxygen sensitization by the organic soluble portion of lipofuscin had an absorption maximum at ca 380 nm, which is to the blue of A2E (maximum at 430 nm). Compounds with a similar absorption maximum eluted in the HPLC earlier than A2E and were detected in human lipofuscin. The concentration of this component apparently increased in concentration in human RPE lipofuscin mixture as a function of age up to 90 years old.
Value of baseline positron emission tomography for predicting overall survival in patient with nonmetastatic esophageal or gastroesophageal junction carcinoma
Authors: Hong David , Lunagomez Simon , Kim E. Edmund , Lee Jeffery H. , Bresalier Robert S. , Swisher Stephen G. , Wu Tsung‐Tse , Morris Jeffery , Liao Zhongxing , Komaki Ritsuko , Ajani Jaffer A. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe value of baseline positron emission tomography (PET) for predicting overall survival (OS) or disease‐free survival (DFS) is unclear in patients with nondistant metastatic (locoregional only) esophageal carcinoma. The authors tested the hypothesis that, in this setting, the number of PET abnormalities (NPA) would correlate with OS and DFS.METHODSThe authors of the current study analyzed patients with localized esophageal carcinoma (Stages II and III) who had a baseline PET and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and were all treated with chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery. The standardized uptake value (SUV) of PET avid lesions were evaluated for: SUV of the primary, NPA, peak SUV, and total SUV. Correlations were performed with baseline EUS results, OS, DFS, and clinical and pathologic response.RESULTSForty‐seven patients who underwent chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery were analyzed. Most patients had clinical Stage III cancer. NPA was significantly associated with OS (Cox model, P = 0.02; log‐rank test, P = 0.04) and DFS (P = 0.04). Patients with NPA > 1 had a death hazard ratio of 4.49 (reference, NPA = 1). In a multivariate analysis, NPA was independently predictive of OS (P = 0.03). Alternatively, SUV of the primary tumor, peak SUV, total SUV, and EUS clinical stage did not correlate with the type of response, OS or DFS.CONCLUSIONSData from the current study suggest that for nondistant metastatic esophageal carcinoma, baseline PET can predict patient outcome. Baseline NPA (> 1), reflecting the regional nodal metastases, is an independent predictor of OS. Baseline PET may become a useful stratification factor in randomized trials and for individualizing therapy. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Is the Aromatic Fragment of Piano‐Stool Ruthenium Compounds an Essential Feature for Anticancer Activity? The Development of New RuII‐[9]aneS3 Analogues (Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 17/2005)
Authors: Serli Barbara , Zangrando Ennio , Gianferrara Teresa , Scolaro Claudine , Dyson Paul J. , Bergamo Alberta , Alessio Enzo 
Published: August 2005

AbstractThe cover picture shows the X‐ray structures of some new half‐sandwich (or piano‐stool) RuII‐[9]aneS3 complexes ([9]aneS3 = 1,3,7‐trithiacyclononane) against a background of cells in culture. The complexes of the type [RuCl2(L)([9]aneS3)], [RuCl(L)2([9]aneS3)][CF3SO3], and [Ru(dmsoS)(L)2([9]aneS3)][CF3SO3]2 (L = 1,3,5‐triaza‐7‐phosphaadamantane, PTA; (L)2 = 2 PTA or chelating N‐ligand) were prepared from Ru‐[9]aneS3‐dmso precursors and structurally characterized, both in solution and in the solid state. Some of them are analogues of known cytotoxic half‐sandwich RuII(η6‐arene) organometallic compounds of the type [RuCl(en)(η6‐arene)][PF6] and [RuCl2(PTA)(η6‐arene)], in which the aromatic fragment is replaced by the sulfur macrocycle [9]aneS3 while the rest of the coordination sphere is left unchanged. Preliminary in vitro tests performed on some complexes against the mouse adenocarcinoma cancer cell line (TS/A) and the human mammary normal cell line (HBL‐100) showed that, in general, the Ru‐[9]aneS3 compounds have a cytotoxicity comparable to that of the corresponding organometallic analogues. These results suggest that the aromatic fragment of the piano‐stool RuII compounds is not an essential feature for the in vitro anticancer activity, and it might be effectively replaced by another face‐capping ligand with a low steric demand, such as [9]aneS3. Details are discussed in the article by E. Alessio et al. on p. 3423 ff. This work was performed within the framework of COST Action D20, a collaboration between WG 0001 and WG 0005.