bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Mediates Delayed Cardioprotection Induced by Morphine In Vivo
Authors: Jiang Xiaojing , Shi Enyi , Nakajima Yoshiki , Sato Shigehito 
Published: June 2004

Background
It is not known whether morphine induces delayed cardioprotection against ischemia and reperfusion. The authors measured the delayed preconditioning induced by morphine and determined the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in mediating this effect using a pharmacological inhibitor and iNOS gene-knockout mice.

Methods
Adult male wild-type and iNOS gene-knockout (B6, 129) mice were treated with morphine (0.3 or 0.1 mg/kg intraperitoneal) or saline. Twenty-four hours later, mice were subjected to 45 min of coronary artery occlusion followed by 120 min of reperfusion. S-methylthiourea sulfate (3 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) was given 30 min before the occlusion to block iNOS. Infarct size as a percentage of the area at risk was determined by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. iNOS and endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression were measured by Western blot.

Results
Infarct size was significantly reduced in wild-type mice from 43.1 +/- 5.3% in the saline group to 22.4 +/- 4.4% in the higher-dose morphine group (0.3 mg/kg) (P < 0.05). This cardioprotective effect was abolished by S-methylthiourea sulfate (43.3 +/- 3.9%) and was absent in iNOS gene-knockout mice (42.3 +/- 4.7%). Pretreatment with the lower dose of morphine (0.1 mg/kg) did not reduce infarct size (41.1 +/- 5.4%). A significant increase in myocardial iNOS expression was observed 24 h after morphine administration (0.3 mg/kg but not 0.1 mg/kg; P < 0.05), whereas endothelial nitric oxide synthase remained unchanged.

Conclusions
: Pretreatment with morphine induces delayed cardioprotection in mice. The authors demonstrated an obligatory role for iNOS in mediating morphine-induced delayed cardioprotection.
Anesthetics Inhibit Acetylcholine-promoted Guanine Nucleotide Exchange of Heterotrimeric G Proteins of Airway Smooth Muscle
Authors: Sakihara Chie , Perkins William J. , Warner David O. , Jones Keith A. 
Published: June 2004

Background
Anesthetics inhibit airway smooth muscle contraction in part by a direct effect on the smooth muscle cell. This study tested the hypothesis that the anesthetics halothane and hexanol, which both relax airway smooth muscle in vitro, inhibit acetylcholine-promoted nucleotide exchange at the alpha subunit of the Gq/11 heterotrimeric G protein (Galphaq/11; i.e., they inhibit muscarinic receptor-Galphaq/11 coupling).

Methods
The effect of halothane (0.38 +/- 0.02 mm) and hexanol (10 mm) on basal and acetylcholine-stimulated Galphaq/11 guanosine nucleotide exchange was determined in membranes prepared from porcine tracheal smooth muscle. The nonhydrolyzable, radioactive form of guanosine-5'-triphosphate, [S]GTPgammaS, was used as the reporter for Galphaq/11 subunit dissociation from the membrane to soluble fraction, which was immunoprecipitated with rabbit polyclonal anti-Galphaq/11 antiserum.

Results
Acetylcholine caused a significant time- and concentration-dependent increase in the magnitude of Galphaq/11 nucleotide exchange compared with basal values (i.e., without acetylcholine), reaching a maximal difference at 100 microm (35.9 +/-2.9 vs. 9.8 +/-1.2 fmol/mg protein, respectively). Whereas neither anesthetic had an effect on basal Galphaq/11 nucleotide exchange, both halothane and hexanol significantly inhibited the increase in Galphaq/11 nucleotide exchange produced by 30 microm acetylcholine (by 59% and 68%, respectively).

Conclusions
Halothane and hexanol interact with the receptor-heterotrimeric G-protein complex in a manner that prevents acetylcholine-promoted exchange of guanosine-5(')-triphosphate for guanosine-5'-diphosphate at Galphaq/11. These data are consistent with the ability of anesthetics to interfere with cellular processes mediated by heterotrimeric G proteins in many cells, including effects on muscarinic receptor-G-protein regulation of airway smooth muscle contraction.
Ultrasound Guidance in Caudal Epidural Needle Placement
Authors: Chen Carl P. C. , Tang Simon F. T. , Hsu Tsz-Ching , Tsai Wen-Chung , Liu Hung-Pin , Chen Max J. L. , Date Elaine , Lew Henry L. 
Published: June 2004

Background
This study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of using ultrasound as an image tool to locate the sacral hiatus accurately for caudal epidural injections.

Methods
Between August 2002 and July 2003, 70 patients (39 male and 31 female patients) with low back pain and sciatica were studied. Soft tissue ultrasonography was performed to locate the sacral hiatus. A 21-gauge caudal epidural needle was inserted and guided by ultrasound to the sacral hiatus and into the caudal epidural space. Proper needle placement was confirmed by fluoroscopy.

Results
In all the recruited patients, the sacral hiatus was located accurately by ultrasound, and the caudal epidural needle was guided successfully to the sacral hiatus and into the caudal epidural space. There was 100% accuracy in caudal epidural needle placement into the caudal epidural space under ultrasound guidance as confirmed by contrast dye fluoroscopy.

Conclusions
Ultrasound is radiation free, is easy to use, and can provide real-time images in guiding the caudal epidural needle into the caudal epidural space. Ultrasound may therefore be used as an adjuvant tool in caudal needle placement.
The Appreciative System of Urban ICT Policies: An Analysis of Perceptions of Urban Policy Makers
Authors: COHEN‐BLANKSHTAIN GALIT , NIJKAMP PETER 
Published: June 2004

ABSTRACT  Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become an important tool to promote a variety of public goals and policies. In the past years much attention has been given to the expected social benefits from deploying ICTs in different urban fields (transportation, education, public participation in planning, etc.) and to its potential to mitigate various current or emerging urban problems. The growing importance of ICTs in daily life, business activities, and governance prompts the need to consider ICTs more explicitly in urban policies. Alongside the expectation that the private sector will play a major role in the ICT field, the expected benefits from ICTs also encourage urban authorities to formulate proper public ICT policies.Against this background, various intriguing research questions arise. What are the urban policy‐makers’ expectations about ICTs? And how do they assess the future implications of ICTs for their city? A thorough analysis of these questions will provide a better understanding of the extent to which urban authorities are willing to invest in and to adopt a dedicated ICT policy.This study is focusing on the way urban decision‐makers perceive the opportunities of ICT policy. After a sketch of recent development and policy issues, a conceptual model is developed to map out the driving forces of urban ICT policies in cities in Europe. Next, by highlighting the importance of understanding the decision‐maker's “black box,” three crucial variables are identified within this box. In the remaining part of the paper these three variables will be operationalized by using a large survey comprising more than 200 European cities. By means of statistical multivariate methods (i.e., factor and cluster analysis), the decision‐makers were able to be characterized according to the way they perceive their city (the concept of “imaginable city”), their opinion about ICT, and the way they assess the relevance of ICT policies to their city. Next, a solid explanatory framework will be offered by using a log‐linear logit analysis to test the relationships between these three aspects.
Prediction of recurrence of nonfunctioning pituitary tumours by loss of heterozygosity analysis
Authors: Buch H. N. , Raskauskiene D. , Bahar A. , Bicknell E. J. , Farrell W. E. , Clayton R. N. 
Published: June 2004

Summarybackground  Postsurgical regrowth or recurrence of nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFAs) is not uncommon and often requires further surgery or radiotherapy (DXT). Routine postoperative DXT increases the incidence of hypopituitarism, which is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Identification of genetic abnormalities in the tumour tissue, which can predict recurrence, may allow targeting DXT to the most appropriate patients.design and methods  We have performed loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analysis on 96 NFAs of which 43 (45%) were recurrent and 53 (55%) were nonrecurrent tumours. Analysis of all tumours was performed on the surgical specimen obtained at the time of first surgery. All tumours underwent allelotyping across nine highly informative microsatellite markers selected on the basis of high LOH frequency in an earlier study involving genome‐wide allelotyping. LOH frequency across all microsatellite markers as well as across individual markers was compared between the two cohorts of tumours.results  LOH frequency in tumours that subsequently recurred was significantly higher across all microsatellite markers as compared to tumours that did not recur (P < 0·05). Allelic loss across one or more microsatellite marker was significantly higher in recurrent tumours (30/43) as compared to their nonrecurrent counterparts (17/53) (P < 0·01). On Poisson regression analysis, the higher LOH frequency in recurrent tumours was independent of the invasiveness of tumours determined radiologically. In addition, LOH at the microsatellite markers D1S215 and D1S459 was significantly higher in tumours that recurred as compared to tumours that did not (32%vs. 3% and 27%vs. 2%, respectively; P < 0·01 for both). No significant difference in LOH frequency between the two tumour groups was evident at the other markers. No association could be demonstrated between the frequency and pattern of LOH and the time to manifest recurrence.conclusions  We have shown that it may be possible to predict recurrence of NFAs by LOH analysis of the initial tumour specimen at predefined microsatellite markers, especially on chromosome 1q. This merits further prospective study.
The sodium‐iodide symporter protein is always present at a low expression and confined to the cell membrane in nonfunctioning nonadenomatous nodules of toxic nodular goitre
Authors: Tonacchera Massimo , Viacava Paolo , Fanelli Giovanni , Agretti Patrizia , De Marco Giuseppina , De Servi Melissa , Di Cosmo Catia , Chiovato Luca , Pinchera Aldo , Vitti Paolo 
Published: June 2004

Summaryobjective  The sodium‐iodide (Na+/I−) symporter (NIS) is known to be overexpressed in toxic adenomas and in about half of benign solitary nonfunctioning adenomas of the thyroid. In nonfunctioning adenomas, however, the protein is localized mainly in the cytoplasm and fails to reach the basolateral membrane of the follicular cell where it is found in normal thyroid tissue and in hyperfunctioning adenomas. Our aim was to study both the level of expression and the cell localization of NIS in nonfunctioning nonadenomatous nodules of toxic nodular goitre.design and patients  Tissue specimens from nine patients who were submitted to surgery for toxic or functionally autonomous goitre were studied. Tissues from 12 patients who underwent lobectomy for a toxic thyroid adenoma were used as controls.measurements  Tissue sections embedded in paraffin were stained with haematoxylin–eosin for histological evaluation and for immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody that recognized human (h) NIS.results  Functioning and nonfunctioning nodules scattered in multinodular goitres consisted of unencapsulated micro/macrofollicular aggregates. All toxic adenomas were characterized by a micro/macrofollicular pattern of growth and histological examination showed that they were surrounded by a capsule. Like the 12 toxic adenomas, all the 14 functioning hyperplastic nodules and two adenomas of toxic multinodular goitre showed a high level of hNIS protein expression with respect to the normal collateral parenchyma and, in all cases, the protein was confined to the cell membrane.conclusions  Contrary to what was observed for solitary nonfunctioning thyroid adenomas, all the 19 nonfunctioning hyperplastic nodules showed a very low hNIS and this was always confined to the cell membrane. These data suggest that the mechanisms leading to loss of iodide uptake in nonfunctioning hyperplastic nodules of toxic multinodular goitre are different from those that act on solitary nonfunctioning follicular adenomas.
Prepubertal gynaecomastia: aetiology, course and outcome
Authors: Einav‐Bachar R. , Phillip M. , Aurbach‐Klipper Y. , Lazar L. 
Published: June 2004

Summarybackground  Palpable and measurable glandular breast tissue is a rare finding in prepubertal boys and warrants thorough evaluation to rule out an underlying pathology.objective  To characterize the course and outcome of prepubertal gynaecomastia, examine its effect on puberty, and try to identify its underlying cause.patients and methods  Twenty‐nine out of 581 (5%) boys referred to our clinic for evaluation of gynaecomastia between 1980 and 2000 were prepubertal at diagnosis. Data on age at appearance of gynaecomastia, general and endocrine evaluation, course of growth and puberty, and treatment were collected from the medical files.results  Prepubertal gynaecomastia was diagnosed at mean age of 8·9 ± 2·2 years. In 27 of the 29 boys (93·2%) no underlying cause was identified. The remaining two boys (6·8%) had hyperaromatase syndrome. Nine boys (31%) were obese. Spontaneous resolution was recorded in six boys (20·5%), no change in 15 (52%), and further breast enlargement in eight (including the two with hyperaromatase syndrome) (27·5%). Accelerated growth and bone maturation rates were noted only in the two boys with hyperaromatase syndrome. Pubertal onset was documented in 13 boys at 11·8 ± 1·1 years.conclusions  According to our large single tertiary care centre experience, 5% of boys referred for evaluation of gynaecomastia were prepubertal. The develop‐ment of gynaecomastia was the only abnormality and was not associated with other pubertal signs or accelerated growth rate. In most cases, the gynaecomastia was idiopathic. Further prospective studies are needed to evaluate the pathophysiological mechanisms respon‐sible for this phenomenon.
Diagnostic value of serum thyroglobulin measurements in the follow‐up of differentiated thyroid carcinoma, a structured meta‐analysis
Authors: Eustatia‐Rutten C. F. A. , Smit J. W. A. , Romijn J. A. , Van Der Kleij‐Corssmit E. P. M. , Pereira A. M. , Stokkel M. P. , Kievit J. 
Published: June 2004

Summaryobjective  To investigate to what extent thyroid remnant ablation and withdrawal from thyroxine are required to achieve sufficient accuracy of serum thyroglobulin (Tg) measurements as an indicator of tumour recurrence in the follow‐up of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.design and methods  We conducted a meta‐analysis of the literature from 1975 to 2003 on serum Tg measurements in the follow‐up of differentiated thyroid carcinoma. In a computer‐based search, we initially found 915 articles that were finally narrowed down to 120. These 120 papers were subjected to strict in/and exclusion criteria, leaving 46 articles (totalling 9094 patients). Data from these articles were extracted in a structured fashion and were grouped according to initial therapy, TSH status, Tg assay method and definition of a ‘gold standard’. Original 2 × 2 tables were pooled by summary receiver operating characteristic curve analysis (sROCa), best estimates of sensitivity and specificity being obtained by the combination of sROCa and Mantel–Haenszel odds ratios.results  Despite considerable differences between series in laboratory and clinical methodology, we consistently found higher specificity for Tg measurements after thyroid remnant ablation than after surgery alone. Highest pooled sensitivity 0·961 ± 0·013 (SE) was found for immunometric assay (IMA) after thyroid remnant ablation and thyroid hormone withdrawal, at a specificity of 0·947 ± 0·007. Pooled sensitivity decreased significantly if ablated patients were tested while on thyroid hormone (0·778 ± 0·023, at a specificity of 0·977 ± 0·005). Significantly decreased pooled specificity was found in patients who did not undergo remnant ablation (sensitivity 0·972 ± 0·023, at a specificity of 0·759 ± 0·028). If recombinant human TSH (rhTSH) stimulation was used as a substitute for thyroxine withdrawal, sensitivity remained high (0·925 ± 0·018) while specificity decreased to 0·880 ± 0·013. In all analyses, specificity of Tg would decrease when unspecified activity in the thyroid region at scintigraphy was considered benign, whereas sensitivity decreased when such activity was considered malignant.conclusion  This study confirms that the best accuracy of Tg‐guided follow‐up in patients treated for differentiated thyroid carcinoma is obtained if treatment includes remnant ablation, and Tg testing is performed while off thyroxine.
Saliva and bloodspot cortisol: novel sampling methods to assess hydrocortisone replacement therapy in hypoadrenal patients
Authors: Wong Vincent , Yan Tony , Donald Andrew , McLean Mark 
Published: June 2004

Summarybackground  In patients with hypoadrenalism, it is often difficult to assess the optimal dose of glucocorticoid replacement. Serial serum cortisol measurements for a cortisol day curve are sometimes used, but this has low acceptability for patients. In this study, we evaluate the reliability of saliva and capillary bloodspot cortisol as alternative methods in assessing cortisol profiles in hypoadrenal patients on hydrocortisone replacement.methods  We first examined the correlations between serum cortisol, saliva and bloodspot cortisol in in‐hospital patients not on glucocorticoid therapy. We then studied 18 hypoadrenal patients on hydrocortisone therapy and measured their serum, saliva and bloodspot cortisol concurrently at seven different time points in a single day.results  For in‐hospital patients, a significant correlation exists between saliva and serum cortisol (R = 0·7121, P < 0·0001), but there is a stronger correlation between bloodspot and serum cortisol (R = 0·9494, P < 0·0001). The correlations were weaker in hypoadrenal patients on hydrocortisone (saliva and serum cortisol: R = 0·6262, P < 0·001; bloodspot and serum cortisol: R = 0·7871, P < 0·001). When we evaluated each measurement with respect to an arbitrary target range, there was a greater degree of agreement between serum and capillary bloodspot cortisol (85% agreement) than between serum and saliva cortisol (65% agreement) (P < 0·001).conclusion  Bloodspot samplings provide a simple and convenient way for ambulant hypoadrenal patients on hydrocortisone replacement therapy to assess cortisol levels at multiple times in a single day. This may be useful in determining the optimal glucocorticoid dose for hypoadrenal patients.
No mutation in the KCNE3 potassium channel gene in Chinese thyrotoxic hypokalaemic periodic paralysis patients
Authors: Tang Nelson L. S. , Chow C. C. , Ko Gary T. C. , Tai Morris H. L. , Kwok Rachel , Yao X. Q. , Cockram Clive S. 
Published: June 2004

Summaryobjectives  Mutation in KCNE3 gene (Isk‐related family potassium voltage‐gated channel member 3 gene) was recently associated with the aetiology of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP). We studied 79 Chinese TPP patients by DNA sequencing of the entire coding sequence of KCNE3 to determine if this gene is the cause of TPP in Chinese patients.design and measurements  A case–control genetic association study was carried out to determine the role of mutation/polymorphism in KCNE3 gene in the pathogenesis of TPP. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples. DNA sequencing was performed to cover the coding region of the KCNE3 gene for the TPP subjects. Restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to genotype specific sequence variants.subjects  Seventy‐nine TPP patients (cases) and 111 male thyrotoxic patients without history of paralysis (controls) were identified from thyroid clinic and during acute admission in a teaching hospital.results  No pathogenic mutation in KCNE3 was found in the TPP patients. The reported R83H mutation was also not found in the Chinese TPP patients. In addition, another silent polymorphism, 290T/C, was also not associated with TPP.conclusion  The results indicate that mutation in KCNE3 is not a cause of TPP in Chinese patients.
Head circumference and linear growth during the first 3 years in treated congenital hypothyroidism in relation to aetiology and initial biochemical severity
Authors: Ng Sze May , Wong Sze Choong , Didi Mohammed 
Published: June 2004

Summaryaims  To determine the head circumference and linear growth in children with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) during the first 3 years of life in relation to the aetiology of CH and initial biochemical severity of thyroid function.methods  We examined the head circumference and linear growth of 125 patients with CH from diagnosis up to 3 years of age. All infants had radionuclide scans prior to treatment. Patients were categorized into athyreosis, ectopia and dyshormonogenesis. Occipito‐frontal circumference (OFC) SD, length SD, initial plasma TSH, initial plasma thyroxine (T4) and age of suppression of plasma TSH were compared between the groups. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine factors affecting OFC SD at 3 years of age.results  There were 125 children in the study: athyreosis (n = 34), ectopia (n = 73) and dyshormonogenesis (n = 18). No difference was found in gestation, birth weight, age of starting L‐T4 and initial dose of L‐T4 in mcg/kg/day between groups. Confirmatory plasma total T4 at diagnosis was significantly lower for athyreosis when compared with ectopia and dyshormonogenesis. Median values for confirmatory TSH were significantly lower in dyshormonogenesis compared with the other two groups. At diagnosis, OFC were similar in all three groups. Children with athyreosis showed significantly larger OFCs compared with ectopia and dyshormonogenesis from 1 to 3 years. Length SD was within 1 SD of normal population standards at diagnosis and did not differ between the three groups throughout the 3 years. Spearman's correlation for OFC SD at 3 years of age showed a significant negative correlation with initial confirmatory plasma T4 (r = −0·35, P = 0·01). Multivariate analysis for OFC SD at 3 years of age showed confirmatory T4 as the only independent risk factor.conclusion  Children with athyreosis showed significantly larger OFC from 1 to 3 years of age compared with ectopia and dyshormonogenesis, independent of linear growth. Our data shows that initial confirmatory T4 at diagnosis is an independent factor influencing head growth in the first 3 years of life.