bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Distinctive new form of spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia with severe metaphyseal changes similar to Jansen metaphyseal chondrodysplasia
Authors: Al Kaissi A , Ghachem MB , Nessib N , Chehida FB , Hammou A , Kozlowski K 
Published: February 2005

SummaryWe report a boy with a unique, ‘new’ form of spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia. The conspicuous features of the spinal changes were the delay in ossification of the cervical spine and posterior elements of the thoraco‐lumbar spine. The vertebral bodies were of abnormal shape but of normal size and well ossified. The hallmark of epiphyseal changes was markedly delayed ossification (bone age). The severely disturbed metaphyseal ossification was similar to Jansen metaphyseal dysplasia. This pattern of changes has not yet been described in spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia.
Degree of adaptability of the somatosensory cortex to change: Prospects for integration of bone‐mounted dental prostheses
Authors: Calford Mike B 
Published: February 2005

SUMMARY1. The topographic representation of the body surface in the somatosensory cortex provides an important model system for thein vivostudy of neuronal plasticity, induced changes in somatotopy providing a direct measure of plasticity not available in most parts of the central nervous system.2. Over the past two decades, animal experimentation in a number of laboratories has shown a remarkable degree of adaptability of the cortical representation following peripheral lesions and has had a widespread influence by challenging the once‐accepted dogma that the brain is a structurally fixed organ.3. Although some aspects of original stimulation will be missing, it is likely that receptors stimulated through bone conduction and compression by bone‐mounted dental prostheses preserve some of the geometric and temporal relationships of original stimulation. By analogy with data obtained from the forearm representations, it would be expected that many features of the original cortical representations will be recreated.4. There are also examples in the literature of perceptual learning without gross changes to the cortical representation (some being within a class of adaptability known as gain control) and it is likely that perceptual integration of many dental prostheses occurs within the limits of these neural adaptation mechanisms.
BLOCK OF Na+ AND K+ CURRENTS IN RAT VENTRICULAR MYOCYTES BY QUINACAINOL AND QUINIDINE
Authors: Pugsley Michael K , Walker Michael JA , Saint David A 
Published: February 2005

SUMMARY1. The electrophysiological actions of quinacainol were investigated on sodium (INa), transient outward (ito) and sustained‐outward plateau (iKsus) potassium currents in rat isolated cardiac myocytes using the whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique and compared with quinidine.2. Quinacainol blocked sodium currents in a concentration‐dependent manner and with a potency similar to that of quinidine (mean (±SEM) EC50 50 ± 12 vs 95 ± 25 µmol/L for quinidine and quinacainol, respectively). However, quinacainol had a considerably prolonged onset and recovery from block compared with quinidine.3. Neither quinacainol nor quinidine significantly changed the steady state voltage dependence of activation of sodium currents. Quinidine produced a hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage dependence for sodium current inactivation, but no such shift was observed with quinacainol at doses that produced a substantial current block.4. Although quinacainol did not effectively block voltage‐dependent potassium currents, even at concentrations as high as 1.5 mmol/L, quinidine, at a half‐maximal sodium channel‐blocking concentration, reduced peak ito current amplitude, increased the rate of inactivation of ito and blocked iKsus.5. These results indicate that quinacainol, a quinidine analogue, blocks sodium currents in cardiac myocytes with little effect on ito or iKsus potassium currents, which suggests that quinacainol may be exerting class 1c anti‐arrhythmic actions.
EFFECT OF ULTRASONIC STIMULATION ON mRNA ABUNDANCE OF UNCOUPLING PROTEIN (UCP) 2 AND UCP 3 IN GASTROCNEMIUS MUSCLE OF RATS
Authors: Kogure Akinori , Yoshida Toshihide , Takakura Yasuto , Umekawa Tsunekazu , Hioki Chizuko , Yoshioka Keiji , Yoshimoto Kanji , Yoshikawa Toshikazu 
Published: February 2005

SUMMARY1. The hypothesis that ultrasonic stimulation upregulates uncoupling protein (UCP) 2 and UCP3 in gastrocnemius muscle by a different mechanism of exercise was investigated in Wister rats.2. The ultrasnonic‐stimulated group was given ultrasonic stimulation to the leg (1 MHz frequency, 1 W/cm2 intensity, 10 min continuously).3. The exercise group was given exercise training by swimming for 10 min in plastic barrels filled with warm water.4. After 3 h, rats were killed and the gastrocnemius muscle was removed rapidly, weighed and frozen in liquid nitrogen for real‐time quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction analysis.5. In gastrocnenius muscles of ultrasonic‐stimulated rats, UCP3 mRNA abundance was significantly increased 3.6‐fold and UCP2 mRNA abundance was significantly increased 2.2‐fold compared with control rats.6. In gastrocnenius muscles of exercised rats, UCP3 mRNA abundance was significantly increased 3.5‐fold compared with control rats, but no change in UCP2 mRNA abundance was observed.7. Plasma free fatty acid (FFA) levels were also significantly increased in the ultrasonic stimulation group, as well as the exercise group, compared with the control group.8. These findings show that ultrasonic stimulation lipolyses subcutaneous fat into FFA and glycerol and upregulates UCP2 and UCP3 mRNA by a mechanism different to that of exercise.
Prolongation of the QT interval in primary aldosteronism
Authors: Matsumura Kiyoshi , Fujii Koji , Kansui Yasuo , Arima Hisatomi , Iida Mitsuo 
Published: February 2005

SUMMARY1. Only limited information is available concerning the changes in the electrocardiogram in primary aldosteronism. The aim of the present study was to determine factors influencing the QTc interval in patients with primary aldosteronism.2. Nineteen patients with primary aldosteronism caused by a Conn's adenoma and 69 patients with essential hypertension, in whom all possible causes of secondary hypertension had been excluded, were included in the present study. Before and 10–20 days after adrenalectomy, blood and electrocardiographic examinations were conducted.3. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures in primary aldosteronism were found to be comparable to those in essential hypertension. However, the QTc interval was significantly prolonged and serum potassium concentrations were significantly decreased in patients with primary aldosteronism compared with patients with essential hypertension (492.7 ± 20.3 vs 428.5 ± 3.1 msec for QTc interval, respectively (P < 0.01); 3.07 ± 0.12 vs 4.07 ± 0.05 mEq/L for serum potassium concentrations, respectively (P < 0.01)). The QTc interval was significantly correlated with serum potassium concentrations in primary aldosteronism (P = 0.0011; r = −0.6902), but not in patients with essential hypertension.4. Blood pressure significantly decreased after adrenalectomy. Furthermore, serum potassium concentrations increased significantly and did not correlate with the QTc interval after adrenalectomy (P = 0.54; r = −0.1500).5. Our results indicate that the QTc interval is prolonged in patients with primary aldosteronism, probably owing to hypokalaemia.
Differences in long‐term survival after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for refractory ascites and variceal bleed
Authors: MEMBRENO FERNANDO , BAEZ ARTURO L , PANDULA REKA , WALSER ERIC , LAU DARYL T‐Y 
Published: February 2005

AbstractObjective: To compare the survival after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for refractory ascites and variceal bleed, and to identify the factors predictive of survival.Methods: Single tertiary center, retrospective‐prospective study. Chart review was performed on all patients who underwent TIPS between 1993 and 2000 and prospective follow‐up to determine survival. Pre‐ and post‐TIPS clinical parameters were compared and Kaplan–Meier analysis was applied to compare the survival of both groups. Cox regression was used to identify predictors of survival after TIPS.Results: A total of 163 patients were included, 62 with refractory ascites and 101 with variceal bleed. Both groups had similar age (48.2 vs 48.9 year; P = 0.65) and consisted of predominantly Caucasians (51%) and Mexican‐Americans (39%). More than 75% had chronic hepatitis C, alcoholic liver disease or both. Overall, the median survival was significantly better for variceal bleed (2 years) compared with refractory ascites (6 months) (P < 0.001). This survival advantage persisted in patients with Mayo risk score greater than 1.17. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt improved severe ascites in 45% of patients (P = 0.03). Mayo risk score was highly predictive of survival after TIPS with a hazard ratio of 2.3, followed by Child–Pugh score, creatinine, albumin and ethnicity, with better survival among Mexican‐Americans. Shunt dysfunction (31%) and hepatic encephalopathy (27%) were the most common complications of TIPS.Conclusions: Patients who received TIPS for variceal bleed had significantly longer survival compared with those for refractory ascites. Mexican‐Americans had an improved long‐term survival compared with Caucasians. The reason for this ethnic difference in survival is unclear and warrants further prospective evaluation.
THE POTENTIAL OF INTEGRATED POPULATION MODELLING†
Authors: Besbeas P. , Freeman S.N. , Morgan B.J.T. 
Published: February 2005

SummaryRecent work has shown how the Kalman filter can be used to provide a simple framework for the integrated analysis of wild animal census and mark‐recapture‐recovery data. The approach has been applied to data on a range of bird species, on Soay sheep and on grey seals. This paper reviews the basic ideas, and then indicates the potential of the method through a series of new applications to data on the northern lapwing, a species of conservation interest that has been in decline in Britain for the past 20 years. The paper analyses a national index, as well as data from individual sites; it looks for a change‐point in productivity, corresponding to the start of the decline in numbers, considers how to select appropriate covariates, and compares productivity between different habitats. The new procedures can be applied singly or in combination.
WAS IT THERE? DEALING WITH IMPERFECT DETECTION FOR SPECIES PRESENCE/ABSENCE DATA†
Authors: Mackenzie Darryl I. 
Published: February 2005

SummarySpecies presence/absence surveys are commonly used in monitoring programs, metapopulation studies and habitat modelling, yet they can never be used to confirm that a species is absent from a location. Was the species there but not detected, or was the species genuinely absent? Not accounting for imperfect detection of the species leads to misleading conclusions about the status of the population under study. Here some recent modelling developments are reviewed that explicitly allow for the detection process, enabling unbiased estimation of occupancy, colonization and local extinction probabilities. The methods are illustrated with a simple analysis of presence/absence data collected on larvae and metamorphs of tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) in 2000 and 2001 from Minnesota farm ponds, which highlights that misleading conclusions can result from naive analyses that do not explicitly account for imperfect detection.
PRICING AUSTRALIAN S&P200 OPTIONS: A BAYESIAN APPROACH BASED ON GENERALIZED DISTRIBUTIONAL FORMS
Authors: Flynn David B. , Grose Simone D. , Martin Gael M. , Martin Vance L. 
Published: February 2005

SummaryThis paper develops a new class of option price models and applies it to options on the Australian S&P200 Index. The class of models generalizes the traditional Black‐Scholes framework by accommodating time‐varying conditional volatility, skewness and excess kurtosis in the underlying returns process. An important property of these more general pricing models is that the computational requirements are essentially the same as those associated with the Black‐Scholes model, with both methods being based on one‐dimensional integrals. Bayesian inferential methods are used to evaluate a range of models nested in the general framework, using observed market option prices. The evaluation is based on posterior parameter distributions, as well as posterior model probabilities. Various fit and predictive measures, plus implied volatility graphs, are also used to rank the alternative models. The empirical results provide evidence that time‐varying volatility, leptokurtosis and a small degree of negative skewness are priced in Australian stock market options.
Regional variation of intracortical porosity in the midshaft of the human femur: age and sex differences
Authors: Thomas C. David L. , Feik Sophie A. , Clement John G. 
Published: February 2005

AbstractThis study investigated age and sex differences in patterns of porosity distribution in the midshaft of the human femur. Cross‐sections were obtained from 168 individuals from a modern Australian population. The sample comprised 73 females and 95 males, aged between 20 and 97 years. Microradiographs were made of 100‐µm sections and pore and bone areas were determined using image processing software. Initially the sample was divided by age: young (20–44 years), middle (45–64 years) and old (65+ years), but it was found that analysis on the basis of the ratio of medullary area to total subperiosteal area gave clearer results. The cortex was divided into three rings radially and into octants circumferentially and the porosity of each segment was calculated. Results showed that a pattern with raised porosity in the posterior and anterolateral regions, and with greater porosity in the inner parts of the cortex, becomes more pronounced with age. In males this pattern develops steadily; in females there are much greater differences between the middle and older groups than earlier in life. The patterns observed are consistent with progressive bone loss occurring along a neutral axis of the cortex where bending stress is lowest and the mechanical advantage of the bone is least.
Relationships among microstructural properties of bone at the human midshaft femur
Authors: Goldman H. M. , Thomas C. D. L. , Clement J. G. , Bromage T. G. 
Published: February 2005

AbstractMineralization density and collagen fibre orientation are two aspects of a bone's microstructural organization that influence its mechanical properties. Previous studies by our group have demonstrated a distinctly non‐random, though highly variable, spatial distribution of these two variables in the human femoral cortex. In this study of 37 specimens, these variables are examined relative to one another in order to determine whether regions of bone demonstrating higher or lower mineralization density also demonstrate a prevalence of either transversely or longitudinally oriented collagen fibres. An analysis of rank‐transformed collagen fibre orientation (as determined by circularly polarized light) and mineralization density (as determined by backscattered electron microscopy) data sets demonstrated that areas of low mineralization density (predominantly in the anterior‐lateral cortex) tended to correspond to regions of higher proportions of longitudinally oriented collagen fibres. Conversely, areas of higher mineralization density (postero‐medially) tended to correspond to regions of higher proportions of transversely oriented collagen fibres. High variability in the sample led to generally low correlations between the two data sets, however. A second analysis focused only on the orientation of collagen fibres within poorly mineralized bone (representing bone that was newly formed). This analysis demonstrated a lower proportion of transverse collagen fibres in newly formed bone with age, along with some significant regional differences in the prevalence of collagen fibres of either orientation. Again high variability characterized the sample. These results are discussed relative to the hypothesized forces experienced at the midshaft femur.
Inspiration‐induced vasoconstrictive responses in dominant versus non‐dominant hands
Authors: Mayrovitz Harvey N. , Groseclose Edye E. 
Published: February 2005

SummarySingle rapid and deep inspirations (inspiratory gasps, IG) result in arteriolar vasoconstriction with concomitant transient decreases in skin blood flow that are most prominent in fingers and toes. Vascular responses (inspiratory gasp responses, IGR) are determined as the maximum percentage reduction in blood flow and have been used to assess sympathetic neurovascular function in several conditions. Previous studies have described various features of the response but there has been no reported systematic investigation of the degree of similarity between IGR obtained on dominant and non‐dominant hands. This aspect is important in procedures that may use IGR to evaluate suspected unilateral sympathetic dysfunction of a limb‐pair or to test the effectiveness of physiological interventions imposed on a single limb of a pair. Thus, the goal of our study was to compare IGR magnitudes that were simultaneously determined in paired‐fingers of dominant and non‐dominant hands. In 30 healthy seated subjects, skin blood perfusion via laser‐Doppler (SBF) was measured on the dorsum of the middle finger of both hands while subjects performed three sequential IG at 3‐min intervals. Analysis of variance for repeated measures revealed no significant difference in IGR between dominant (79·3 ± 11·2%) and non‐dominant hands (81·9 ± 11·6%,P = 0·965) with an overall IGR of 80·6 ± 11·4%. These results indicate that hand‐dominance is not a factor that is likely to significantly effect IGR differentials determined in paired‐limbs.
Misoprostol for second and third trimester termination of pregnancy: A review of practice at the Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
Authors: DODD Jodie , O'BRIEN Lauri , COFFEY Judy 
Published: February 2005

AbstractAims:  To assess clinical outcomes for women undergoing induction of labour either for fetal anomaly or following intrauterine fetal death using intravaginal misoprostol.Methods:  Between January 1999 and December 2002, clinical outcomes for women who were admitted to the delivery suite of the Women's and Children's Hospital, South Australia, were prospectively collected and entered onto a database by the attending midwife. The effect of cumulative dose of misoprostol, indication for induction of labour, parity and gestational age were assessed.Results:  One hundred and ninety nine women were admitted during the study period. Women who required in excess of 800 µg of misoprostol were more likely to have side‐effects (57/78 women dose > 800 µg misoprostol versus 71/121 women dose ≤ 800 µg, RR 0.80 95% CI 0.66–0.98), in particular diarrhoea (12/78 women dose > 800 µg misoprostol versus 5/121 women dose ≤ 800 µg, RR 0.27 95% CI 0.10–0.73) and elevated temperature (46/78 women dose > 800 µg misoprostol versus 36/121 women dose ≤ 800 µg, RR 0.50 95% CI 0.36–0.70). Women with an intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) were less likely to require in excess of 800 µg of misoprostol to effect the termination (10/56 women IUFD versus 70/143 women fetal anomaly, RR 0.36 95% CI 0.20–0.66), had a shorter induction to birth interval (mean 13.2 h ± 7.5 h, women IUFD versus 21.2 ± 17.5 h, women fetal anomaly, WMD −8.02 95% CI −11.49 to −4.55) and were more likely to give birth within 24 h of the induction process commencing (48/56 women IUFD versus 106/143 women fetal anomaly, RR 1.16 95% CI 1.00–1.34).Conclusions:  Side‐effects increase with increasing dose of misoprostol. Induction following intrauterine fetal death is associated with a need for lower doses of misoprostol and a shorter induction to birth interval.
15 Circulating Levels of Interleukin‐6 in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Rus I , Avberšek‐Lužnik I 
Published: February 2005

Introduction  Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) has been described as both pro–inflammatory and anti–inflammatory molecule, a hematopoietic factor, an inducer of plasma cell development and modulator of bone resorption. Various studies reported that this cytokine induces osteoclast–mediated bone resorption in vitro and in vivo. Few studies have been reported circulating IL‐6 levels in hemodialysis (HD) patients so far. In the present study we measured IL‐6 serum levels in a group of HD patients. We hypothesized direct relationship between parathyroid hormone (PTH) and IL‐6 serum levels.Methods  Criteria for patient entry into the study were patients with end stage renal failure without signs of inflammation (CRP < 5 mg/L). We enrolled 35 HD patients (mean age: 60.2 years, HD duration: 6 to 384 months). Patients were divided into two subgroups with PTH below (N = 21) and above (N = 14) 450 pg/mL. The mean value of two consecutive PTH measurements within 1 month was obtained for each patient. In all patients IL‐6 and intact PTH were measured by immunometric assays (Immulite, DPC, USA).Results  We obtained higher serum IL‐6 in HD patients (5.43 ± 3.52 pg/mL) than in healthy people (reference range: 2.0–3.3 pg/mL, presented by manufacturer). Pearson's correlation between IL‐6 and PTH was not significant (r = −0.039, P = 0.824). IL‐6 levels differed significantly between low and high PTH subgroups (5.28 ± 4.17 pg/mL vs 5.65 ± 2.35 pg/mL; P = 0.033). The correlation between IL‐6 and PTH was not significant in both subgroups.Conclusions  Mean IL‐6 serum levels were 1.6‐fold higher in HD patients than the upper level of reference range. They were also significantly higher in HD patients with PTH above 450 pg/mL. The direct relationship between PTH and IL‐6 was not confirmed. Our results provide only a brief insight into circulating levels of IL‐6 in uremic patients which might reflect resorptive phase of bone remodeling process. This, however, has not yet been confirmed.
17 Osteoprotegerin and Bone Turnover Markers in Serum of Dialysis Patients
Authors: Rus I , Avberšek‐Lužnik I , Marc J 
Published: February 2005

Introduction  Recent studies have shown high circulating levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG), one of the local regulators of bone remodelling in renal osteodystrophy. For non‐invasive bone turnover assessment several serum markers are used, therefore we investigated the relationship between OPG and some of established serum markers.Methods  The 33 dialysis patients (age: 56.6 ± 12.2 years) and 20 control individuals (age: 56.0 ± 20.6 years) were included in this study. Dialysis patients were divided according PTH serum levels (below/above 300 pg/mL) into low (N = 23) and high (N = 10) PTH subgroups. Bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), osteocalcin (OC), tartarate‐resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRAP 5b) and OPG were measured in all serum samples by specific immunoassays, using commercially available reagent kits.Results  Serum OPG levels in the whole group of dialysis patients (679.0 ± 213.0 pg/mL) were approximately two times higher than in controls (337.1 ± 103.0 pg/mL). The difference in OPG levels between low (708.8 ± 219.3 pg/mL) and high (613.3 ± 191.9 pg/mL) PTH subgroup was not significant (P = 0.223). In contrast, serum levels of OC and TRAP 5b differed significantly (P < 0.045) and BALP near the limit of significance (P = 0.065). We observed nonsignificant correlation between OPG and measured bone markers in both PTH subgroups (r < 0.18). The relation between OPG and PTH was also inverse and nonsignificant (r < −0.365).Conclusions  These results indicate that OPG alone does not match the requirements of a useful biochemical marker for differentiation between dialysis patients with low and high bone turnover. However, established serum bone markers could serve clinicians in diagnosing specific types of renal osteodystrophy.