bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Magnetic resonance imaging examinations of the spine in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, before and after successful therapy with infliximab: Evaluation of a new scoring system
Authors: Braun J. , Baraliakos X. , Golder W. , Brandt J. , Rudwaleit M. , Listing J. , Bollow M. , Sieper J. , van der Heijde D. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scoring system for the assessment of spinal inflammation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) who participated in a randomized, placebo‐controlled trial of infliximab, and to examine whether infliximab is also effective for the reduction of MRI‐proven spinal inflammation.MethodsTwenty patients with AS (9 women and 11 men, mean age 40.9 years) were examined at baseline and after 3 months. Nine patients had received infusions of infliximab (5 mg/kg body weight) at weeks 0, 2, and 6, and 11 patients had received placebo. Three MRI sequences and 2 scoring systems were used. Chronic lesions were evaluated by T1‐weighted turbo spin‐echo (TSE) sequences and were assigned a chronicity score. Active lesions were evaluated either by repetition of T1‐weighted TSE sequences after infusion of gadolinium–diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd‐DTPA) or by short tau inversion recovery (STIR) sequences, and were assigned an activity score. The 40 images were evaluated twice by 2 readers who were blinded to the names of the patients and the dates of the examinations, and were analyzed in relation to the clinical results.ResultsActive spinal lesions were detected in 15 of 20 patients (75%); the frequency as determined by STIR was equal in the 2 groups. At baseline, the total MRI scores determined using Gd‐DTPA, STIR, and T1 were 112.5, 156, and 253.5, respectively. The interrater variance and intrarater variance were, respectively, 6.4 and 7.7 for the active lesion score as determined by Gd‐DTPA, 15.7 and 5.3 for the active lesion score as determined by STIR sequence, and 167.3 and 75.5 for the chronic lesion score as determined by T1 sequence. Based on the means of the scores assigned by the 2 readers, the active lesion score as determined by Gd‐DTPA improved by 40% in the infliximab group compared with 6% in the placebo group, the active lesion score as determined by STIR improved by 60% in the infliximab group but deteriorated by 21% in the placebo group, and the chronic lesion score as determined by T1 improved by 7% in the infliximab group but worsened by 35% in the placebo group. Five patients in the infliximab group and 2 in the placebo group were clinical responders. The acute MRI changes correlated with clinical improvement as assessed by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index.ConclusionThis novel MRI scoring system performed well in assessing acute inflammation by using STIR and post–Gd‐DTPA sequences. In correlation with clinical improvement in patients with active AS who were treated with infliximab, significant regression of spinal inflammation was shown by using the MRI activity scores.
Enhanced susceptibility to end‐organ disease in the lupus‐facilitating NZW mouse strain
Authors: Xie Chun , Zhou Xin J. , Liu Xuebin , Mohan Chandra 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjectiveAlthough the NZW mouse strain is phenotypically normal, fulminant lupus glomerulonephritis (GN) develops when NZW mice are bred to several other strains, such as NZB, BXSB, B6.Sle1, and B6.Yaa. Based on the observation that aging NZW mice exhibit histologic evidence of GN, we sought to test our hypothesis that NZW mice may be more susceptible to immune‐mediated renal damage.MethodsNZW mice, as well as C57BL/6 (B6) and BALB/c control mice, were challenged with rabbit anti–glomerular basement membrane nephrotoxic sera (NTS), to induce renal disease. The different mouse strains were monitored for the degree of clinical disease, renal pathology, chemokine profiles, and cellular infiltrates.ResultsAlthough the NZW and control strains showed similar glomerular deposits of rabbit Ig and exhibited similar levels of anti‐rabbit xenogeneic immune response, the NZW mice had significantly worse pathologic changes and disease. Compared with the control strains, the NTS‐injected NZW mice demonstrated significantly increased proteinuria, elevated blood urea nitrogen levels, more severe histologic GN and tubulointerstitial nephritis, increased glomerular crescent formation with macrophage and neutrophil infiltrates, elevated expression of CC and CXC chemokines (monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, RANTES, KC), and significantly accelerated mortality. Importantly, these changes occurred within a few days after NTS administration. Finally, (B6 × NZW)F1 mice were as susceptible as the NZW parents, which indicates dominant NZW contributions.ConclusionCollectively, these findings support the notion that a lupus‐facilitating genome may contribute to disease susceptibility by modulating the degree of immune‐mediated end‐organ damage. The availability of B6‐based congenic strains bearing individual NZW‐derived lupus susceptibility loci will permit future genetic dissection of end‐organ susceptibility in murine lupus.
Matrix fixed‐charge density as determined by magnetic resonance microscopy of bioreactor‐derived hyaline cartilage correlates with biochemical and biomechanical properties
Authors: Chen Chih‐Tung , Fishbein Kenneth W. , Torzilli Peter A. , Hilger Amy , Spencer Richard G. S. , Horton Walter E. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjectiveTo use noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), biochemical analyses, and mechanical testing of engineered neocartilage grown in a hollow‐ fiber bioreactor (HFBR) to establish tissue properties, and to test the hypothesis that MRI can be used to monitor biochemical and biomechanical properties of neocartilage.MethodsChondrocytes from day 16 embryonic chick sterna were inoculated into an HFBR and maintained for up to 4 weeks with and without exposure to chondroitinase ABC. The fixed‐charge density (FCD) of the cartilage was determined using the MRI gadolinium exclusion method. The sulfated glycosaminoglycan (S‐GAG), hydroxyproline, and DNA contents were determined using biochemical procedures, while dynamic and equilibrium moduli were determined from mechanical indentation tests.ResultsS‐GAG content, tissue cross‐sectional area, and equilibrium modulus of the neocartilage increased with development time. There was a gradient of S‐GAG content across the length of control neocartilage at the 4‐week time point, with higher values being found toward the inflow region. Exposure to chondroitinase ABC resulted in a decrease in tissue area, negative FCD, proteoglycan content, and equilibrium and dynamic moduli. The treated bioreactors displayed a lengthwise variation in S‐GAG content, with higher values toward the outflow end. Linear correlations were established among FCD, proteoglycan content, and biomechanical properties.ConclusionHFBR‐derived neocartilage showed regional variation in S‐GAG content under control conditions, and in the decrease of S‐GAG in response to enzyme treatment. In addition, the results support the hypothesis that tissue parameters derived from MRI can be used to noninvasively monitor focal neocartilage formation and biochemical and biomechanical properties.
Radiographic damage associated with low bone mineral density and vertebral deformities in rheumatoid arthritis: The Oslo‐Truro‐Amsterdam (OSTRA) collaborative study
Authors: Lodder Mariette C. , Haugeberg Glenn , Lems Willem F. , Uhlig Till , Orstavik Ragnhild E. , Kostense Piet J. , Dijkmans Ben A. C. , Kvien Tore K. , Woolf Anthony D. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractObjectiveTo examine variables associated with bone mineral density (BMD) and vertebral deformities in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from 3 northwest European countries.MethodsFemale patients were recruited from rheumatology clinics in Oslo, Norway; Truro, UK; and Amsterdam, The Netherlands (150 total, 50 per center, age 50–70 years, disease duration ≥5 years). Demographic and clinical data were collected and BMD was measured by means of dual energy x‐ray absorptiometry. Associations between demographic and clinical measures on the one hand and BMD and vertebral deformities on the other were investigated by single and multiple regression analyses.ResultsBody mass index (BMI), medication use, RA damage measures, and BMD differed significantly between the 3 centers. Overall, Norwegian patients had the lowest BMI, used more corticosteroids and antiosteoporotic drugs, had lower joint damage measured by Larsen score, and lower BMD at both spine and hip. High age, low BMI, and high cumulative dose of corticosteroids (last 2 years) are related to low BMD. A high Larsen score was associated with low BMD at the hip. Larsen score was the independent determinant of vertebral deformities after correction for center, age, BMI, and BMD.ConclusionData from 3 countries on BMD and vertebral deformities in female patients aged 50–70 years with longstanding RA are presented, demonstrating an association between radiographic RA damage and low BMD and between radiographic RA damage and vertebral deformities.
Simple luminescence method for estimation of benzo[a]pyrene in a complex mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons without a pre‐separation procedure
Authors: Patra Digambara 
Published: April 2003

AbstractBenzo[a]pyrene causes cancer at cellular level and is widely present in the environment. Conventional spectroscopic methods for analysis of this compound need a pre‐separation procedure due to severe spectral overlap from other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. We report a simple method that avoids spectral overlap of benzo[a]pyrene from other impurities or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), thus it can easily identify benzo[a]pyrene in a complex PAH mixture. The method could easily identify benzo[a]pyrene in an 18‐component PAH mixture. Calibration plots in methanol solution and in micellar media show a good linearity (R > 0.9997) in the benzo[a]pyrene concentration range generally found in the environment. The method gives a detection limit of 1.52 × 10−9 mol/L in CTAB micellar medium and 2.55 × 10−9 mol/L in methanol solution. The proposed method is selective, sensitive and fast. The fluorescence response of benzo[a]pyrene is found to be a potential candidate to sense the critical micellar concentration (CMC) of CTAB micelles. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Induced circular dichroism by chiral molecular interaction
Authors: Allenmark Stig 
Published: April 2003

AbstractMolecular interactions between chiral (nonracemic) and achiral compounds can give rise to induced circular dichroism (ICD) of the achiral counterpart, provided the latter absorbs in the UV or visible region under study. The CD spectra thus obtained are of interest as indicators of the absolute configuration of the chiral component, as well as of the orientation of the molecules relative to each other within the host–guest complex. The technique can provide unique information about supramolecular events, not only in solution but also in the solid state. The recent progress in the field is summarized in this brief review. Chirality 15:409–422, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
(S)‐2‐chloro‐2‐fluoroethanoyl isocyanate, a chiral derivative of trichloroacetyl isocyanate
Authors: Vodička Petr , Streinz Ludvík , Koutek Bohumír , Buděšínský Miloš , Ondrácek Jan , Císařová Ivana 
Published: April 2003

AbstractCarbamate diastereomers 3b–18b were prepared from easily accessible (S)‐2‐chloro‐2‐fluoroethanoyl isocyanate (1) and various secondary chiral alcohols. Compound 1 as a chiral analog of trichloroacetyl isocyanate undergoes the reaction with alcohols very fast, thus blocking the hydroxyl group for the purposes of NMR investigation. Moreover, the correlation of stereochemistry of 3b–18b with their 1H NMR spectra revealed that the constitution as well as configuration influences regularly the values of chemical shift difference (Δδ = δ(R) – δ(S)) except for those diastereomers bearing simple alkyl groups in the molecule. Spectral as well as crystallographic data manifest the predominant planar conformation of the central part of the molecule. Due to the good accessibility and high reactivity in particular, the acylisocyanate 1 might be considered, to some extent, an alternative for TAI giving additional information on a compound's spatial structure. Chirality 15:472–478, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Distribution of NPY and NPY‐Y1 receptor‐like immunoreactivities in the central nervous system of Triatoma infestans (Insecta: Heteroptera)
Authors: Settembrini Beatriz P. , Nowicki Susana , Hökfelt Tomas , Villar Marcelo J. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractThe distributions of neuropeptide Y (NPY) ‐like immunoreactivity (LI) and that of its Y1 receptor (Y1), as well as their coexistence with cholecystokinin (CCK) –LI, were studied in the central nervous system of Triatoma infestans by using immunohistochemistry. NPY‐immunoreactive (IR) cell bodies and fibers were observed in the brain, subesophageal ganglion, and thoracic ganglia. NPY‐IR somata were seen in the optic lobe and the anteromedial and caudolateral soma rinds of the protocerebrum. Immunostained cell bodies were also found in the lateral edge of the antennal lobe glomeruli as well as in the caudal part of the antennal mechanosensory and motor center. The subesophageal ganglion harbored few NPY‐IR perikarya and fibers in the three neuromeres. Positive somata of the prothoracic ganglion were detected near both the cephalic and posterior connectives as well as by the root of prothoracic nerve I, whereas in the posterior ganglion, they were seen by the roots of mesothoracic and abdominal nerves. Coexpression of NPY‐LI and CCK‐LI was seen in cell bodies of the protocerebrum, the subesophageal and posterior ganglia. Protocerebral Y1‐IR cell groups were detected in the anterolateral and posteromedial soma rinds and at the level of the lamina ganglionaris and the external optic chiasma. Numerous positive perikarya surrounded the antennal lobe glomeruli as well as the antennal mechanosensory and motor center. Other immunostained cell bodies were seen in the posterior edge of the esophageal canal and by the roots of the mandibular and the maxillary nerves. Y1‐IR cell bodies of the prothoracic ganglion were found near the roots of prothoracic nerves I‐II, whereas in the posterior ganglion, they were located mainly in the abdominal neuromeres. Coexpression of Y1‐LI and CCK‐LI were detected in several brain areas as well as in the metathoracic and abdominal neuromeres of the posterior ganglion. When assessed by immunoblotting, Y1 antibodies detected two protein bands between 34 and 46 kDa. Analysis of the distribution patterns of NPY‐LI and Y1‐LI suggest that peptide and receptor are mainly involved in the processing of information coming from sensory receptors. J. Comp. Neurol. 460:141–154, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Primary afferent terminals that express presynaptic NR1 in rats are mainly from myelinated, mechanosensitive fibers
Authors: Lu Chun‐Rong , Hwang Se Jin , Phend Kristen D. , Rustioni Aldo , Valtschanoff Juli G. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractPresynaptic N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors in terminals of primary afferents to spinal cord of rats were first reported by Liu et al. (1994; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:8383–8387) and were proposed to modulate nociceptive input (Liu et al. [1997] Nature 386:721–724). We previously demonstrated kainate and AMPA receptors in numerous primary afferent terminals in the spinal cord fixed with diluted paraformaldehyde and no glutaraldehyde. Therefore, we reinvestigated the occurrence of presynaptic NMDAR1 (NR1) with this fixation protocol. With confocal microscopy, numerous immunofluorescent puncta were double‐stained for NR1 and the presynaptic marker synaptophysin throughout the spinal gray. NR1‐immunostained puncta costained more frequently with a tracer that labels myelinated afferents (cholera toxin subunit B; CTB) than with a tracer that labels non‐peptidergic unmyelinated afferents (Griffonia simplicifolia isolectin B4; IB4). Virtually no double staining was found for NR1 and calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP), which labels somatic peptidergic primary afferents. In the gracile nucleus, virtually all puncta labeled for CTB appeared immunopositive for NR1. At the electron microscopic level, most immunopositive terminals in spinal cord and gracile nucleus displayed morphological characteristics of endings of myelinated primary afferents. NR1 was presynaptic in 60–65% of all synapses in which it was expressed pre‐ or postsynaptically, or both, in spinal laminae I–IV. Estimates for the gracile nucleus were higher (80%). No presynaptic NR1 was found in the ventroposterior thalamus. Because of the relative sparsity of presynaptic NR1 in terminals in laminae I and IIo and in terminals of peptidergic unmyelinated afferents, it is suggested that presynaptic NMDA receptors play a more significant role in modulation of mechanosensitive, innocuous input than in nociception. J. Comp. Neurol. 460:191–202, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Migratory pathway of sympathetic preganglionic neurons in normal and reeler mutant mice
Authors: Yip Yee Ping , Capriotti Christine , Yip Joseph W. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractOur previous study showed that the migration of sympathetic preganglionic neurons (SPN) in the spinal cord is affected in the reeler mutant. The present study, using morphometric analysis to describe and compare the location of SPN at progressive developmental stages, provides detailed information on how SPN migrate in the presence or absence of the reelin gene. We found that the initial migration (prior to E11.5) of SPN from the neuroepithelium to the ventrolateral spinal cord is similar in both control (wild‐type and heterozygous) and reeler mice. However, as development progressed (E12.5–E15.5), SPN in control mice migrated dorsally toward the intermediate lateral spinal cord region, where 80% settled to form the intermediolateral column (IML); the rest migrated medially to locations between the IML and the central canal. In reeler, 80% of SPN migrated dorsomedially to cluster around the central canal, with the rest distributed between the central canal and the intermediate lateral spinal cord region. The present study also examined the relationship among SPN, Reelin, and radial glial fibers in control and reeler mice. Confocal microscopic studies showed that during their initial migration, SPN in both control and reeler mice were closely apposed to radial glial fibers in the ventrolateral spinal cord. The majority of SPN in control mice then migrated dorsolaterally, in a direction perpendicular to radial glial fibers, to form the IML. In contrast, the majority of SPN in reeler migrated in the same orientation as radial glial fibers back toward the central canal, instead of migrating dorsolaterally to form the IML. A possible explanation for these results is that Reelin acts to prevent SPN from back‐migration on radial glial fibers toward the central canal. J. Comp. Neurol. 460:94–105, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inhibitory circuitry involving Y cells and Y retinal terminals in the C laminae of the cat dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus
Authors: Dankowski Aygul , Bickford Martha E. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractWe previously established (Datskovskaia et al. [2001] J Comp Neurol 430:85–100) that roughly 40% of Y retinal terminals contact interneurons in the A lamina of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) of the cat. However, we did not establish whether the dendritic terminals of interneurons postsynaptic to Y retinal terminals subsequently contact Y thalamocortical cells. To begin to address this issue, we examined the synaptic targets of Y retinal terminals in the magnocellular C lamina of the dLGN, which is populated almost exclusively by Y thalamocortical cells and interneurons. We utilized material generated from our previous work, in which we injected the superior colliculus with biotinylated dextran amine to backfill the geniculate branches of Y retinogeniculate axons in the dLGN. Sections prepared for electron microscopy were stained for gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) to distinguish interneurons from thalamocortical cells. We found that the majority of profiles postsynaptic to Y retinal axons were the GABA‐negative dendrites of thalamocortical cells (116/200, 58%). The remainder were GABA‐positive dendrites of interneurons (84/200, 42%), many of which contained vesicles (F2 profiles; 54/200, 27%). In addition, we examined the synaptic targets of F2 profiles and found that almost all contacts of F2 profiles in the magnocellular C lamina were made onto the GABA‐negative dendrites of thalamocortical cells (199/200, 99.5%). Thus, Y retinogeniculate axons contact interneurons and interneurons contact Y thalamocortical cells in the magnocellular C lamina of the dLGN. This indicates that interneurons are involved in modulation of the Y pathway. J. Comp. Neurol. 460:368–379, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
VR1‐positive primary afferents contact NK1‐positive spinoparabrachial neurons
Authors: Hwang Se Jin , Burette Alain , Valtschanoff Juli G. 
Published: April 2003

AbstractNeurons in rat superficial dorsal horn that express neurokinin receptor 1 (NK1), a receptor for substance P, play a critical role in the development of hyperalgesia. Thermal hyperalgesia is dramatically reduced after ablation of these neurons, but, paradoxically, not in mice that lack the NK1 receptor (Mantyh et al. [1997] Science 278:275–279). Because primary afferents that express vanilloid receptor 1 (VR1), a receptor for noxious heat, are essential for thermal nociception and hyperalgesia, we reasoned that VR1‐positive fibers may terminate onto NK1‐expressing dorsal horn neurons. We therefore combined immunofluorescent staining for VR1 and NK1 to show that NK1‐positive neurons in lamina I are contacted by VR1‐positive fibers. That these contacts represent synapses was verified by staining for the presynaptic marker synaptophysin and by electron microscopy. By combining retrograde tracing with immunocytochemistry, we also found that most NK1‐positive cells contacted by VR1‐positive fibers project to the lateral parabrachial nucleus. Because quantitative evaluation suggests a preferential targeting of NK1‐positive lamina I neurons by fibers containing VR1, these results demonstrate a significant monosynaptic innervation of spinoparabrachial neurons by VR1‐positive afferents. J. Comp. Neurol. 460:255–265, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Neg, a nerve growth factor–stimulated gene expressed by fetal neocortical neurons that is downregulated by ethanol
Authors: Miller Michael W. , Jacobs Julie S. , Yokoyama Ruth 
Published: April 2003

AbstractNeurotrophins are critical for neuronal development, plasticity, and survival. Ethanol affects these processes. We tested the hypothesis that ethanol inhibits nerve growth factor (NGF)–stimulated gene expression. Dissociated cultures of fetal cortical neurons were treated with NGF and/or ethanol. NGF sustained cell viability and reduced the incidence of terminal uridylated nick‐end labeling and pyknosis. Ethanol eliminated these effects and induced neuronal death. Differential display of mRNA showed that one gene fragment (245 bp) was expressed by cells treated with NGF alone; ethanol blocked its expression. This fragment, named neg (nerve growth factor–stimulated, ethanol‐depressed gene), has high nucleotide identity with genes from human myeloid cells and murine lymphocytes. Ribonuclease protection assay and in situ hybridization verified NGF upregulation and ethanol antagonism. Thus, ethanol specifically alters the expression of a gene that appears to be involved in NGF‐mediated neuroprotection. J. Comp. Neurol. 460:212–222, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.