bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Insulin‐like growth factor II mRNA is expressed in neurones of the brain of the bony fish Oreochromis mossambicus, the tilapia
Authors: Caelers Antje , Schmid Annette C. , Hrusovsky Andrea , Reinecke Manfred 
Published: July 2003

AbstractThe physiological meaning of insulin‐like growth factor II (IGF‐II) is still enigmatic. IGF‐II occurs in the adult mammalian brain where it is expressed in the mesodermal portion of the choroid plexus and the meninges, but results on its presence in cells of neuroepithelial origin are controversial. However, IGF‐II mRNA is transiently expressed in neurones during mammalian early development. In bony fish, IGF‐II mRNA is also present in the adult brain but nothing is known about its synthesis sites. Thus, the present study using in situ hybridization with digoxigenin‐labelled RNA species‐specific probes investigates the cellular distribution of IGF‐II mRNA in the adult brain of a bony fish, the tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus). As in mammals, IGF‐II mRNA was strongly expressed in the choroid plexus and meninges. Thus, IGF‐II synthesis by choroid plexus and meninges seems to have a long evolutionary history and may be common to all vertebrates. However, as shown by the detailed investigation of landmark nuclei and regions, IGF‐II mRNA occurred also in numerous neurones at all levels of the tilapia brain. The distinct localization of IGF‐II mRNA in neurones might indicate that neuronal IGF‐II acts as transmitter or modulator. However, the widespread occurrence of the IGF‐II‐producing neurones argues against this assumption and most probably suggests that IGF‐II plays a role in the differentiation, maintenance and regeneration of neurones. It is further assumed that the sustained neuronal IGF‐II expression in the brain of the adult tilapia correlates with continued post‐embryonic up to life‐long brain growth as has been shown in many teleost fishes.
Enkephalin contributes to the locomotor stimulating effects of 3,4‐methylenedioxy‐N‐methylamphetamine
Authors: Compan V. , Scearce‐Levie K. , Crosson C. , Daszuta A. , Hen R. 
Published: July 2003

Abstract3,4‐Methylenedioxy‐N‐methylamphetamine (MDMA, ‘Ecstasy’) is a potent inhibitor of serotonin uptake, which induces both an increase in locomotion and a decrease in exploratory activity in rodents. Serotonin 5‐HT1B receptors, located on the terminals of striatal efferent neurons, have been suggested to mediate these motor effects of MDMA. Striatal neurons projecting to the globus pallidus contain met‐enkephalin, whilst those projecting to the substantia nigra contain substance P. We therefore analysed the levels of both peptides using radioimmunocytochemistry after MDMA administration (10 mg/kg, 3 h) in wild‐type and 5‐HT1B receptor knockout mice. Our results demonstrate that MDMA induces a decrease in pallidal met‐enkephalin immunolabelling in wild‐type, but not in 5‐HT1B receptor knockout mice. Similar results were obtained following treatment with the 5‐HT1A/1B agonist RU24969 (5 mg/kg, 3 h), suggesting that activation of 5‐HT1B receptors leads to a reduction in met‐enkephalin levels in the globus pallidus. In contrast, MDMA had no effect on the nigral substance P levels. We have previously shown that both MDMA and RU24969 fail to stimulate locomotor activity in 5‐HT1B receptor knockout mice. Our present data indicate that the opioid antagonist naloxone suppressed the locomotor effects of MDMA. This study is the first to demonstrate that Enk contributes to MDMA‐induced increases in locomotor activity. Such an effect may be related to the 5‐HT control of pallidal met‐enkephalin levels via the 5‐HT1B receptors.
Tonotopic representation of missing fundamental complex sounds in the human auditory cortex
Authors: Fujioka Takako , Ross Bernhard , Okamoto Hidehiko , Takeshima Yasuyuki , Kakigi Ryusuke , Pantev Christo 
Published: July 2003

AbstractThe N1m component of the auditory evoked magnetic field in response to tones and complex sounds was examined in order to clarify whether the tonotopic representation in the human secondary auditory cortex is based on perceived pitch or the physical frequency spectrum of the sound. The investigated stimulus parameters were the fundamental frequencies (F0 = 250, 500 and 1000 Hz), the spectral composition of the higher harmonics of the missing fundamental sounds (2nd to 5th, 6th to 9th and 10th to 13th harmonic) and the frequencies of pure tones corresponding to F0 and to the lowest component of each complex sound. Tonotopic gradients showed that high frequencies were more medially located than low frequencies for the pure tones and for the centre frequency of the complex tones. Furthermore, in the superior–inferior direction, the tonotopic gradients were different between pure tones and complex sounds. The results were interpreted as reflecting different processing in the auditory cortex for pure tones and complex sounds. This hypothesis was supported by the result of evoked responses to complex sounds having longer latencies. A more pronounced tonotopic representation in the right hemisphere gave evidence for right hemispheric dominance in spectral processing.
Extracorporeal blood volume of donors during automated intermittent‐flow plasmapheresis and its relevance to the prevention of circulatory reactions
Authors: Karger Ralf , Slonka Janus , Junck Heike , Kretschmer Volker 
Published: July 2003

BACKGROUND: Intermittent‐flow plasmapheresis often involves a large extracorporeal blood volume of the donor during the procedure with the concomitant risk of circulatory reactions. Guidelines governing donor recruitment often apply an arbitrary threshold of 15 percent of the donors’ blood volume not to be exceeded during hemapheresis procedures. No data demonstrating the suitability of this approach exist.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The blood volumes of 1204 plasmapheresis donors were calculated with different formulae that utilized either body weight or body surface area. Extracorporeal blood volumes of these donors were determined for a commonly used intermittent‐flow plasmapheresis machine known to result in a large extracorporeal blood volume. A validated model was employed that calculated the fluid volume shifts occurring during the procedure. The records of all plasmapheresis procedures of these donors were retrospectively reviewed for circulatory reactions.RESULTS: The median extracorporeal volumes ranged from 14 to 17 percent of the blood volume at a donor Hct level of 0.40 to 0.48 L per L for men and from 17 to 20 percent at a Hct level of 0.36 to 0.44 L per L for women. In more than 60 percent of male and more than 90 percent of female donors, extracorporeal volumes exceeded 15 percent of the blood volume during plasmapheresis. In this subgroup, 65 percent of male and 75 percent of female donors never presented with any signs of circulatory reactions.CONCLUSION: Application of an arbitrary threshold of 15 percent of the donors’ blood volume not to be exceeded during hemapheresis procedures is expected to lead to an unjustified deferral rate in plasmapheresis donors.
Frequency, viral loads, and serotype identification of enterovirus infections in Scottish blood donors
Authors: Welch Jon , Maclaran Kate , Jordan Tony , Simmonds Peter 
Published: July 2003

BACKGROUND: Enteroviruses are non‐enveloped, frequently pathogenic RNA viruses infecting humans. Infection is potentially transmissible through blood or blood component transfusion from donor in the viremic phase before seroconversion for antibody. To investigate the threat to blood safety from enteroviruses, a large‐scale survey of frequency and levels of viremia in blood donors was conducted.STUDY DESIGNS AND METHODS: Blood donations from Scotland over a period of 22 calendar months were screened for enterovirus RNA sequences by PCR. Positive samples were quantified, and serotypes were identified by nucleotide sequencing of VP1.RESULTS: From a total of 3658 pools of 95 donations tested, 73 samples that were enterovirus‐positive were identified (corrected annual frequency 0.024% or 1 in 4000). The highest rates of viremia were in late summer months (e.g., 0.055%, 1 in 1800 in July) and lowest from January to May (0.009 and 0.012%). Viral loads ranged from 500 (the lower cutoff of the assay) to greater than 100,000 amplifiable enterovirus template copies per mL. Coxsackievirus A16, echoviruses 11 and 30, and enterovirus 71 were most often identified.CONCLUSIONS: The detection of enterovirus‐positive blood units indicates the potential for enteroviral transmission by blood components. Although the infrastructure established for PCR‐based screening for HCV RNA would allow parallel screening for enteroviruses, any decision concerning donor testing would require further information on the outcome of transfusion‐acquired enterovirus infections.
West Nile virus in blood: stability, distribution, and susceptibility to PEN110 inactivation
Authors: Mather Thomas , Takeda Tsutomu , Tassello Jodie , Ohagen Asa , Serebryanik Diana , Kramer Ed , Brown Fred , Tesh Robert , Alford Bernadette , Chapman John , Lazo Aris 
Published: July 2003

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of West Nile virus (WNV) is the most recent reminder that the blood supply continues to be vulnerable to emerging and reemerging pathogens. A potentially prospective approach to reducing the risk of transfusion‐transmitted infections of a known or newly emerging microbe is implementation of a broad‐spectrum pathogen reduction technology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility of WNV to PEN110 inactivation in RBCs and to characterize the WNV interaction with blood, including the stability of WNV in RBCs stored at 1 to 6°C, its distribution and infectivity, and its ability to infect WBCs.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Inactivation was performed with three WNV isolates spiked into WBC‐reduced RBCs. The stability of the virus was evaluated by spiking two viral loads into RBCs followed by storing at 1 to 6°C for up to 42 days. The distribution of the virus in plasma, RBCs, and PBMCs was evaluated with whole blood from infected hamsters. Finally, in vitro propagation of WNV was evaluated with the THP‐1 cell line and primary monocytes.RESULTS: The kinetics of PEN110 inactivation of WNV isolates RI‐44, NJ‐176, and 99‐3494031 were fast and complete within 24 hours with reduction factors of 5 to 7 log plaque‐forming units per mL. WNV remained infectious for up to 42 days at 1 to 6°C. The WNV titers in whole blood, plasma, RBCs, and PBMC fractions were equally distributed and ranged from 2 to 3 log tissue culture infectious dose 50 percent per mL. Productive infection of stimulated monocytes and THP‐1 cells was also demonstrated.CONCLUSIONS: These studies demonstrated that PEN110 efficiently inactivated WNV in RBCs and whole blood from infected hamsters to the limit of detection. WNV survived in RBCs stored at 1 to 6°C with a gradual loss of titer but infectivity could still be observed for up to 42 days. In addition, it was observed that WNV was equally distributed in all blood fractions including PBMCs and it was possible to establish productive infection of a human monocytic cell line and stimulated human monocytes.
Single hospital experience of TRALI
Authors: Wallis Jonathan P. , Lubenko Anatole , Wells Angus W. , Chapman Catherine E. 
Published: July 2003

BACKGROUND: TRALI is a serious adverse effect of blood transfusion. There is evidence that the condition is underrecognized and underreported.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was an observational study carried out in a single hospital.RESULTS: Eleven cases of TRALI were recognized over 12 years. In 10 cases the implicated donor unit was FFP and in 1 case uncertain. All implicated donors were parous women. In 4 cases the presumed causative antibodies were to an HLA class II antigen only. Specific anti‐neutrophil antibodies, possibly causative, were detected in 1 case only. Ten of the 11 cases required mechanical ventilatory support. Five persons died as a result of the TRALI. The observed incidence of TRALI caused by FFP is 1 in 7900 units transfused.CONCLUSION: TRALI is the most common serious adverse effect of blood transfusion in our hospital. Antibodies to HLA class II antigens should be looked for routinely when investigating a possible case of TRALI.
Do blood donors read and understand screening educational materials?
Authors: Rugege‐Hakiza S.E. , Glynn S.A. , Hutching S.T. , Bethel J. , Nass C.C. , McEntire R.L. , Hirschler N.V. , Campbell J.G. , Ladavac A. , Schreiber G.B. 
Published: July 2003

BACKGROUND: Blood donors with high‐risk behaviors may not self‐defer because they failed to read or understand the screening educational materials.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In 1993, a total of 34,726 allogeneic donors responded to an anonymous mail survey of 50,162 donors that inquired about demographics, donor status, amount of the donor educational materials read, new HIV knowledge gained, and donors’ opinions on the length and difficulty of materials.RESULTS: Although 78 percent reported reading all materials, only 32 percent indicated reading carefully; 34 percent learned new information about HIV and 95 percent perceived the materials as easy to understand. First‐time donors were more likely to read carefully (OR, 7.9) and gain more HIV knowledge from the materials (OR, 1.9) than repeat donors. Minority, less educated, screening test‐reactive, and HIV test‐seeking donors reported reading the materials more carefully and learning more about HIV than their respective counterparts. Donors with less education, those with reactive screening tests, those seeking HIV test results, and those not reporting a risk behavior were more likely to find the materials difficult to understand.CONCLUSION: Most donors reported skimming and not having difficulty understanding the educational materials. Some donors may be aware that they should not donate or are failing to assimilate the information in the materials. Methods to present information more clearly and concisely are clearly needed. However, some high‐risk donors may still continue donating no matter how improved the educational materials are.
Vasovagal reaction rates and body weight: findings in high‐ and low‐risk populations
Authors: Newman Bruce H. 
Published: July 2003

BACKGROUND: The effect of weight on vasovagal reaction rates has not been evaluated in high‐ and low‐risk populations or in first‐time versus repeat blood donors. In addition, vasovagal reaction rates and weight have not been evaluated based on solicited information.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 1073 Caucasian high school students from randomly selected whole‐blood drives in 2001 and 949 randomly selected Caucasian donors from the general donor population in 2001 and 2002 were subdivided into weight groups and evaluated for vasovagal reaction rates.RESULTS: The high school population had a much higher vasovagal reaction rate than the general donor population (8.0 vs. 2.6%). The vasovagal reaction rate was inversely proportional to body weight in first‐time blood donors in both populations, but the trend was not as well defined in repeat blood donors. Solicitation of information from the general donor population increased the vasovagal reaction detection rate by 2.5 times (from 2.6% to 6.5%), and it is suggested that the vasovagal reaction rate might be as high as 27 percent in first‐time general donors who weighed between 110 and 139 pounds.CONCLUSION: Body weight is a very important determinant of vasovagal reaction rates in first‐time donors, but previous successful blood donation appears to mitigate the effect of body weight on vasovagal reaction rates. Solicitation of information from blood donors increases the number of vasovagal reactions detected and enhances the data.
Estimated risk of transmission of the West Nile virus through blood transfusion in the US, 2002
Authors: Biggerstaff Brad J. , Petersen Lyle R. 
Published: July 2003

BACKGROUND: The West Nile virus (WNV) epidemic in 2002 in the US saw over 3300 reported human cases of WNV disease, with over 2300 reported cases of WNV encephalitis and meningitis. The first documented cases of transfusion transmission of WNV through voluntary blood donation also occurred.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Case onset dates from the 2002 WNV epidemic in the US were used to estimate the risk of transfusion‐associated transmission with statistical resampling. An easily computed approximating formula for the mean risk was derived. Estimates were computed for six high‐incidence states and metropolitan areas.RESULTS: Mean and maximum risk of transfusion‐associated WNV transmission (per 10,000 donations) during the epidemic period for the selected states ranged from 2.12 to 4.76 and from 4.34 to 10.46, respectively; for the selected metropolitan areas, they ranged from 1.46 to 12.33 and from 3.02 to 21.32, respectively.CONCLUSIONS: Estimates of the mean risk of WNV transmission by transfusion ranged from 1.46 to 12.33 per 10,000 donations for six high‐incidence metropolitan areas during the 2002 epidemic. Because the risk was highly geographically and temporally variable, computation of geographically localized estimates is recommended. The derived approximating formula for the mean risk performed well for the estimates given.
West Nile virus and the safety of plasma derivatives: verification of high safety margins, and the validity of predictions based on model virus data
Authors: Kreil Thomas R. , Berting Andreas , Kistner Otfried , Kindermann Johanna 
Published: July 2003

BACKGROUND: During the 2002 West Nile virus (WNV) epidemic in the US, virus transmission through solid organ transplantation and transfusion of blood components was observed. This raised concerns about the safety of plasma derivatives. To verify the safety margins of these products, which were initially shown with a panel of model viruses including some very similar to WNV, the effectiveness of the virus inactivation procedures incorporated into their manufacturing processes was reinvestigated.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: An infectivity assay for 1999 New York isolate of WNV was established to investigate virus inactivation steps commonly used during the manufacture of plasma derivatives, such as pasteurization for human albumin, S/D treatment for IVIG and FVIII, vapor heating for FVIII inhibitor‐bypassing activity, and incubation at low pH for IVIG.RESULTS: The results show that WNV behaves exactly as had been predicted based on available data for similar model viruses; that is, it is readily inactivated by all the commonly used virus inactivation procedures tested.CONCLUSION: Our investigation verifies the safety margins of plasma derivatives against a potential transmission of WNV and that the model virus concept is valid for predicting the behavior of closely related viruses.
Combined Amiodarone and Silymarin Treatment, But Not Amiodarone Alone, Prevents Sustained Atrial Flutter in Dogs
Authors: Vereckei András , Besch Henry R. , Zipes Douglas P. 
Published: July 2003

Introduction: Because amiodarone generates free radicals that may mediate amiodarone's toxicity, simultaneous therapy with an antioxidant might be beneficial if the antioxidant did not impair amiodarone's antiarrhythmic action. We tested whether simultaneous administration of a flavonoid antioxidant, silymarin, altered the electrophysiologic (EP) actions of amiodarone in 62 open chest dogs with electrically induced atrial flutter created by a Y‐shaped right atrial incision. Methods and Results: Fifteen dogs received oral amiodarone (600 mg/day); 15 dogs received amiodarone (600 mg/day) and silymarin (70 mg bid); and 8 dogs received silymarin (70 mg bid) alone. All dosing was for 8 weeks; 24 control dogs received no drugs prior to induction of atrial flutter. Atrial flutter was induced by rapid right atrial pacing, and EP measurements were made before (presurgical) and after (postsurgical) creation of a Y‐shaped right atrial incision. There was no difference in the frequency of induction of atrial flutter lasting >30 minutes among amiodarone‐treated (8/15 [53%]), silymarin‐treated (4/6 [67%]), and control (15/21 [71%]) groups, whereas the frequency of induction in the amiodarone+silymarin dogs (2/15 [13%]) was significantly reduced (P = 0.008) compared with the other three groups. Both amiodarone and amiodarone+silymarin treatment prolonged the presurgical and postsurgical right atrial effective refractory period (P = 0.012) compared with control; however, there was no significant difference in either parameter between the amiodarone+silymarin–treated and amiodarone‐treated groups. The increase in atrial flutter mean cycle length (postsurgical minus presurgical) was significantly (P = 0.005) less in the amiodarone+silymarin–treated and control dogs compared with the amiodarone‐treated dogs (16 ± 11 msec for amiodarone+silymarin; 24 ± 8 msec for control; and 42 ± 14 msec for amiodarone treatment). Amiodarone+silymarin treatment resulted in a longer postsurgical right atrial refractory period (155 ± 13 msec) than atrial flutter mean cycle length (154 ± 19 msec), consistent with reduction and/or elimination of the excitable gap. Silymarin alone did not exert significant EP or antiarrhythmic action. Conclusion: Amiodarone exerted no preventative antiarrhythmic action in this atrial flutter model, probably because it could not reduce the excitable gap of atrial flutter. However, an antioxidant, silymarin, without a direct antiarrhythmic action, when administered together with amiodarone, potentiated amiodarone's antiarrhythmic actions and prevented sustained atrial flutter by reduction and/or elimination of the excitable gap. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 14, pp. 861‐867, August 2003)
Defibrillation Causes Immediate Cardiac Dilation in Humans
Authors: Sylvester Erin , Hoffmeister Brent , Johnson Eric , Hess Paul , Malkin Robert 
Published: July 2003

Introduction: Prior studies in isolated heart tissue have shown both excitation and deexcitation to be the primary mechanism of defibrillation. This article presents the first evidence in man of deexcitation immediately following defibrillation by tracking the heart's mechanical response. Methods and Results: The geometric changes of the ventricular chambers were measured before and after defibrillation in seven human subjects receiving an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The ICD was used to produce approximately three episodes of ventricular fibrillation and defibrillation in each subject. Twenty‐two two‐dimensional echocardiographic images of the right ventricle (RV) and 11 images of the left ventricle (LV) were recorded and analyzed at 30 frames per second. Just over 2 seconds of each episode were digitized, beginning half a second before the defibrillation shock. Individual frames were analyzed to yield cross‐sectional, ventricular chamber area as a function of time. Immediately following defibrillation, ventricular chambers dilated with significant fractional area increase (RV: 1.58 ± 0.25, LV: 1.10 ± 0.06), with peak dilation at 194 ± 114 msec. Conclusion: Defibrillation causes a rapid increase in ventricular chamber area due to relaxation of the myocardium, suggesting that defibrillation synchronizes the cardiac cells to the deexcited state in man. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 14, pp. 832‐836, August 2003)