bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prenatal course and pregnancy outcome of fetuses with a transient nuchal translucency
Authors: Fukada Y , Amemiya A , Kohno K , Sunami R , Kobayashi Y , Hoshi K 
Published: December 2002

AbstractObjectives: This study was designed to correlate fetuses in a normal prenatal population who exhibited transient nuchal translucency (NT) with both prenatal course and pregnancy outcome. Methods: The fetuses with abnormal NT were followed by ultrasonography at 1–2‐week intervals during their prenatal course. Fetuses with NT who exhibited no detectable congenital malformations were defined as the NTO group; fetuses with abnormal NT and structural malformations but no chromosomal abnormalities were placed in the SM group; and fetuses with abnormal NT, structural malformations, and chromosomal abnormalities were categorized as the CA group. The groups were compared by: maternal age, weeks of gestation by ultrasound and the NT value at the initial exam, the maximum NT value, and the duration of abnormal NT. Results: During the study period, 92 fetuses with abnormal NT were found, monochorionic twins excluded. Of the 92 fetuses, 80 were in the NTO group, 10 were in the SM group, and two were in the CA group. The maternal age and the gestational weeks at the initial diagnosis were not significantly different in the NTO and the SM groups. However, the NT value at the initial diagnosis, maximum NT value, and the duration of abnormal NT were significantly greater in the SM group than those values in the NTO group. Conclusions: Fetuses with transient nuchal translucency commonly had structural malformations, particularly fetuses with significant and large persistent NT.
Helicobacter pylori seropositivity in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum
Authors: Kazerooni T , Taallom M , Ghaderi A.A 
Published: December 2002

AbstractObjectives: To test the hypothesis that infection with Helicobacter pylori is associated with hyperemesis gravidarum. Methods: From November 1999 to February 2001, we enrolled 54 pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum and 53 asymptomatic pregnant women in a prospective study. Specific serum immunoglobulin G for Helicobacter pylori was assayed in the sera of the study group and compared with the asymptomatic group. Chi‐square and Student's t‐test were used accordingly for statistical analysis of the data. Results: Serologically positive Helicobacter pylori infection was detected in 44 out of 54 patients with hyperemesis gravidarum (81.5%) whereas 29 out of 53 asymptomatic gravidas (54.7%) had positive antibody titers for Helicobacter pylori. The ratio of Helicobacter pylori seropositivity in pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum was significantly higher than asymptomatic pregnant women (P<0.01). The mean (±S.D.) of the IgG titer was 69.7 (±77.5) in the hyperemesis gravidarum group and 34.5 (±47.8) in the control group (P<0.01). Conclusions: There is a significant association between Helicobacter pylori infection and hyperemesis gravidarum in our hyperemetic pregnant patients.
Radiation and your patient: A guide for medical practitioners
Authors: Valentin J. 
Published: December 2002

This didactic text is devoted to the protection of patients against unnecessary exposure to ionising radiation. It is organised in a questions-and-answers format. There are obvious benefits to health from medical uses of radiation, in x-ray diagnostics, interventional radiology, nuclear medicine, and radiotherapy. However, there are well-established risks from high doses of radiation (radiotherapy, interventional radiology), particularly if improperly applied, and possible deleterious effects from small radiation doses (such as those used in diagnostics). Appropriate use of large doses in radiotherapy prevents serious harm, but even low doses carry a risk that cannot be eliminated entirely. Diagnostic use of radiation requires therefore such methodology that would secure high diagnostic gains while minimising the possible harm. For assessment of the risk, a quantitative measure of exposure is a necessary prerequisite. Therefore, dosimetric quantities are explained and defined (absorbed dose, effective dose). Basic facts are presented on mechanisms of action of ionising radiations on living matter. Undesired deleterious effects in man are categorised into two categories. The first one comprises sequelae resulting from massive cell killing (the so-called deterministic effects), requiring a high dose for their manifestation (exceeding the threshold dose). The second category includes those effects originating from mutational changes in the cellular DNA. These may eventually lead to development of radiation-induced cancer and to hereditary changes, transmitted to descendants of exposed individuals after irradiation of their gonads. Data on the magnitude of threshold doses for cell killing effects are presented. On the basis of experimental, clinical, and epidemiological evidence, assessment is also given of the probability with which cancers and hereditary mutations may be induced by doses of various magnitudes, most likely without a threshold dose (below which no effect would obtain). The text provides ample information on opportunities to minimise doses, and therefore the risk from diagnostic uses of radiation. This objective may be reached by avoiding unnecessary (unjustified) examinations, and by optimising the procedures applied both from the standpoint of diagnostic quality and in terms of reduction of the excessive doses to patients. Optimisation of patient protection in radiotherapy must depend on maintaining sufficiently high doses to irradiated tumours, securing a high cure rate, while protecting the healthy tissues to the largest extent possible. Problems related to special protection of the embryo and fetus in the course of diagnostic and therapeutic uses of radiation are presented and practical solutions are recommended. This issue of the Annals of the ICRP also includes a brief report concerning Diagnostic Reference Levels in medical imaging: Review and additional advice.
Role of the Crumbs complex in the regulation of junction formation in Drosophila and mammalian epithelial cells
Authors: Médina Emmanuelle , Lemmers Céline , Lane‐Guermonprez Lydie , Le Bivic André 
Published: December 2002

AbstractThe formation of a belt‐like junctional complex separating the apical from the lateral domain is an essential step in the differentiation of epithelial cells. Thus protein complexes regulating this event are of first importance for the development of cell polarity and physiological functions of epithelial tissues. In Drosophila, the discovery of a gene, crb, controlling the coalescence of the spots of zonula adherens (ZA) into a adhesive ring around the cells was a major step. We know now that Crumbs, the product of crb is an apical transmembrane protein conserved in mammals and that it interacts by its cytoplasmic domain with two cortical modular proteins, Stardust (Sdt) and Discs lost (Dlt) that are also essential for the correct assembly of the ZA. These two proteins are also conserved in mammals and it is most likely that the Crumbs complex plays a similar role in very different species. Recently, we have shown that Crumbs interacts with the cortical cytoskeleton made of DMoesin and βheavy‐Spectrin and this connection could explain in part the role of Crumbs in building the ZA. Future work will help to understand several aspects of the Crumbs complex that are still unknown, like the role of the large extracellular domain or the precise function of Sdt and Dlt in the building of the ZA. Finding an answer to these questions will help to find new therapies for Retinitis pigmentosa and other retina degeneration in which CRB1, the human homologue of crb, has been involved.
Cadherin‐based cell adhesion in neuromuscular development
Authors: Marthiens Véronique , Gavard Julie , Lambert Mireille , Mège René Marc 
Published: December 2002

AbstractThe organisation and differentiation of striated skeletal muscles and their innervation is a particularly complex process implicating cells of mesodermic (myoblasts and fibroblasts) and neuroectodermic origin (neurons and glial cells). Myogenic and motor neuron precursors, the two major cell types participating in the formation of the neuromuscular axis, migrate, segregate, reassociate and differentiate in a coordinated fashion. The subsequent organisation of muscle cells and the establishment of muscle innervation rely on a complex tissular and cellular architectural organisation, which cannot be understood without taking into account juxtacrine cell interactions, and especially cell adhesion. Cell adhesion receptors of the cadherin family are widely expressed and dynamically regulated in space and time throughout neuromuscular development. A single cell expresses in general more than one cadherin at its surface and it is the combination of these molecules and their level of expression that determine their action within a given cell population. We focused in this review on the expression and roles of classical cadherins in relation to muscle cell and motoneuron differentiation. We also review the latest results on the mode of action of cadherins allowing to propose cellular and molecular cues on the mechanisms by which these cell adhesion receptors control muscle and neuronal cell shape, migration and differentiation.
Elemental characterization of microorganism granules by EFTEM in the tube wall of a deep‐sea vent invertebrate
Authors: Lechaire Jean‐Pierre , Shillito Bruce , Frébourg Ghislaine , Gaill Françoise 
Published: December 2002

AbstractMicroorganisms colonizing the exoskeletons of the tube worm Riftia pachyptila are described at the ultrastructural level. The prokaryotic cells from the worm tube wall differ from those colonizing the exoskeleton outer surface in the presence of an electron dense granule. The morphology and distribution of these bacteria‐like cells are described. Prokaryotic organisms are assembled in nodules which increased in size in the oldest part of the exoskeleton. The aspect, location and elemental composition of the intracellular granules are determined. Most of them (100 nm in diameter) are located close to the cell membrane and exhibit a homogeneous and amorphous content. EDX and EFTEM microanalyses show that these structures contain phosphorus, oxygen and iron. All together these data suggest that these granules are iron polyphosphates. These structures may act as energy sources for making ATP during anoxic conditions as existing in hydrothermal environments.
Nuclear transcription factor GATA‐1 is activated during aclacinomycin‐induced erythroid differentiation
Authors: Gillet Reynald , Bobichon Hélène , Trentesaux Chantal 
Published: December 2002

AbstractAnthracycline antitumor drugs induce erythroid differentiation of the K562 erythroleukemic cell line at subtoxic concentrations. Aclacinomycin (ACM) stimulates this process by activating the erythroid transcription factor GATA‐1, that controls genes involved in hemoglobin biosynthesis. To investigate the implication of GATA‐1 in this process, we used a specific anti‐GATA‐1 polyclonal antibody that we produced in our laboratory. The GATA‐1 transcription factor was then monitored during erythroid differentiation induced by aclacinomycin. Here we show that a cellular redistribution and a modification of the phosphorylation state of this transcription factor occurred during ACM‐mediated cell differentiation. It suggests that anthracyclines can induce the erythroid differentiation of neoplastic cells by activating the transcription factor GATA‐1, probably via its clustering into nuclear foci.
Centrosome separation: respective role of microtubules and actin filaments
Authors: Uzbekov Rustem , Kireyev Igor , Prigent Claude 
Published: December 2002

AbstractIn mammalian cells, the separation of centrosomes is a prerequisite for bipolar mitotic spindle assembly. We have investigated the respective contribution of the two cytoskeleton components, microtubules and actin filaments, in this process. Distances between centrosomes have been measured during cell cycle progression in Xenopus laevis XL2 cultured cells in the presence or absence of either network. We considered two stages in centrosome separation: the splitting stage, when centrosomes start to move apart (minimum distance of 1 μm), and the elongation stage (from 1 to 7 μm). In interphase, depolymerisation of microtubules by nocodazole significantly inhibited the splitting stage, while the elongation stage was, on the contrary, facilitated. In mitosis, while nocodazole treatment completely blocked spindle assembly, in prophase, we observed that 55% of the centrosomes separated, versus 94% in the control. Upon actin depolymerisation by latrunculin, splitting of the interphase centrosome was blocked, and cells entered mitosis with unseparated centrosomes. Cells compensated for this separation delay by increasing the length of both prophase and prometaphase stages to allow for centrosome separation until a minimal distance was reached. Then the cells passed through anaphase, performing proper chromosome separation, but cytokinesis did not occur, and binuclear cells were formed. Our results clearly show that the actin microfilaments participate in centrosome separation at the G2/M transition and work in synergy with the microtubules to accelerate centrosome separation during mitosis.
Nucleus behavior during the closed mitosis of Tritrichomonas foetus
Authors: Ribeiro Karla Consort , Mariante Rafael Meyer , Coutinho Letícia Lopes , Benchimol Marlene 
Published: December 2002

AbstractWe present observations on the fine structure and the division process of the nucleus in the protist Tritrichomonas foetus, parasite of the urogenital tract of cattle. The nucleus was followed by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy during interphase and mitosis. Conventional karyotyping coupled to image processing and bright field Panotic staining were used to follow nucleus modifications, chromosome number and condensation pattern along the whole cell cycle. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) using DNA fluorescent probes, followed by image processing in the SURF‐Driver program, produced three‐dimensional reconstruction data of the mitotic nucleus under each phase of the division process. Immunocytochemistry in thin‐sections revealed the chromosome spatial arrangement after bromodeoxyuridine incorporation and immunogold labeling using anti‐DNA monoclonal antibodies. Our results indicate that: (1) the nucleus assumes different size and shapes along mitosis: it appears oval in interphase, becoming lobed or concave in prophase, then undergoing torsion and constriction, displaying an ‘S’ shape (metaphase). Next, it becomes elongated and it is finally separated in two nuclei at the transition of anaphase to telophase; (2) T. foetus nucleus harbors five chromosomes; (3) chromosomes become condensed in a pre‐mitotic phase; (4) the nucleolus persists during the mitosis.
The natural course of DSM-IV somatoform disorders and syndromes among adolescents and young adults: a prospective-longitudinal community study
Authors: Lieb Roselind , Zimmermann Petra , Friis Robert H , Höfler Michael , Tholen Sven , Wittchen Hans-Ulrich 
Published: December 2002

SummaryObjective.Although somatoform disorders are assumed to be chronic clinical conditions, epidemiological knowledge on their natural course based on representative samples is not available.Method.Data come from a prospective epidemiologic study of adolescents and young adults in Munich, Germany. Respondents’ diagnoses (N = 2548) at baseline and follow-up on average 42 months later are considered. The follow-up incidence, stability as well as selected baseline risk factors (sociodemographics, psychopathology, trauma exposure) for the incidence and stability of somatoform disorders and syndromes are prospectively examined. Diagnostic information was assessed by using the standardized Munich-Composite International Diagnostic Interview (M-CIDI).Results.Over the follow-up period, incidence rate for any of the covered somatoform diagnoses was 25.7%. Stability for the overall group of any somatoform disorder/syndrome was 48%. Female gender, lower social class, the experience of any substance use, anxiety and affective disorder as well as the experience of traumatic sexual and physical threat events predicted new onsets of somatoform conditions, while stability was predicted by being female, prior existing substance use, affective and eating disorders as well as the experience of a serious accident.Conclusions.At least for a substantial proportion of individuals, the overall picture of somatization seems to be relatively stable, but with fluctuation in the symptom picture over time. Being female, the experience of substance use as well as anxiety disorder seem to constitute risk factors for the onset of new somatoform conditions as well as for a stable course over time.
Neuroleptic-induced dystonia: incidence and risk factors
Authors: Ballerini Massimo , Bellini Simona , Niccolai Carlo , Pieroni Valentina , Ferrara Maurizio 
Published: December 2002

SummaryRetrospective evaluation of patients admitted consecutively to the psychiatric units of two general hospitals in Florence, to evaluate the rate and risk factors of neuroleptic-induced dystonia (NDA). One hundred and fifty-nine patients out of 2354 reviewed charts were included. The incidence of NDA was 15.7%. Multivariate analyses revealed that both age and neuroleptization speed (NS)—a new variable—were related to the occurrence of dystonia.
Early development and unstable genes in schizophrenia: preliminary results
Authors: Ayton Agnes , Morris Alex G. , Tyson Philip J. , Hunt David , Mortimer Ann M. , Cottrell David 
Published: December 2002

SummaryBackground.Trinucleotide repeats have been associated with schizophrenia, but the evidence, based on cross-sectional clinical information, is equivocal.Aims.To examine the relationship between genomic CAG/CTG repeat size and premorbid development in schizophrenia.Method.Early development and premorbid functioning of 22 patients with DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia were assessed by parental interviews. Repeat expansion detection (RED) technique was used to measure genomic CAG/CTG repeat size, and PCR for CAG repeat size at the ERDA-1 and CTG 18.1 loci.Results.There was an inverse association between CAG/CTG size and perinatal complications. Patients with speech and motor developmental delay had larger repeats. The results were not due to expansion in the ERDA-1 and CTG 18.1 genes.Conclusions.CAG/CTG repeat expansion is associated with speech and motor developmental delay in schizophrenia. We propose that the developmental model may be useful for research into the genetics of schizophrenia.
Annual rates of admission and seasonal variations in hospitalizations for heart failure
Authors: Martínez‐Sellés Manuel , Robles José A. García , Prieto Luis , Serrano José A. , Muñoz Roberto , Frades Elisa , Almendral Jesús 
Published: December 2002

AbstractAims:To investigate the annual hospitalization rate and seasonal variation in confirmed heart failure (HF) admissions.Methods and Results:Records from all admissions to one hospital during 1 year with a HF diagnostic code were reviewed. From 1953 admissions, 595 were excluded because they did not fulfill the diagnostic criteria. A total of 1069 patients had 1358 admissions with confirmed HF. Mean age was 74.8±11.5 years, 42% were males. The admission data were matched with data from the municipal census with 537 666 people aged ≥15 years. There were 2.5 admissions per 1000 for the adult population and 26.5/1000 in those aged ≥80 years. There were 444 males and 625 females, giving a higher rate of admission for female patients 2.2/1000 vs. 1.7/1000 (P<0.0001), although age adjusted rates in females were higher only for ≥80 years. Echocardiogram was performed in 706 patients (66%), 325 (46%) had a normal ejection fraction. This proportion increased in females—64% vs. 29% males—and in older patients—55% in ≥75 vs. 39% in <75 years. Mortality during the first admission of 1996 was 8.3%. There was a seasonal variation in HF hospitalizations (P<0.0001) peaking at 25% above average in January and dipping to 33% below average in August.Conclusion:The rate of HF admissions was 2.5/1000 with an elderly preponderance and a higher rate of admission in males <80 years and in females ≥80 years. A seasonal variation ranging from 25% above average in January to 33% below average in August was observed.
Combined effect of the force–frequency and length–tension mechanisms on left ventricular function in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Petretta Mario , Vicario Maria L.E. , Spinelli Letizia , Ferro Adele , Cuocolo Alberto , Condorelli Mario , Bonaduce Domenico 
Published: December 2002

AbstractBackground:The myocardial length–tension and the force–frequency relations are important mechanisms that regulate the contractile strength of the heart.Aims:To evaluate in humans the effect on left ventricular function of the interaction between the myocardial length–tension and force–frequency relations.Methods and results:Eight patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and 6 control subjects underwent radionuclide monitoring of left ventricular function during atrial pacing, saline loading and atrial pacing at the end of saline loading. In controls, atrial pacing reduced left ventricular end‐diastolic (P<0.001) and end‐systolic volumes (P<0.001) with no change in ejection fraction whereas after volume expansion end‐diastolic volume (P<0.001) and ejection fraction (P<0.001) increased. Atrial pacing after volume expansion increased ejection fraction (P<0.05). In patients with DCM, ejection fraction was reduced during atrial pacing (P<0.001) and volume expansion (P<0.05) due to an increase in left ventricular end‐systolic volume (P<0.001). Pacing tachycardia after volume expansion further increased end‐systolic volume and reduced ejection fraction with a significant ‘pacing by load’ interaction (P<0.001). Peak filling rate increased at each step in controls while it remained unchanged in patients with DCM.Conclusion:The heart rate increase during left ventricular distension improves ventricular function in normals and has detrimental effects in patients with DCM.