bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relation between use of antihypertensive medications and risk of breast carcinoma among women ages 65–79 years
Authors: Li Christopher I. , Malone Kathleen E. , Weiss Noel S. , Boudreau Denise M. , Cushing‐Haugen Kara L. , Daling Janet R. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractBACKGROUNDLimited data are available regarding the incidence of breast carcinoma among users of relatively recently introduced forms of antihypertensive therapy. Although it has been suggested that women who have taken calcium channel blockers (CCBs) have an increased risk and that women who have taken angiotensin‐I‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have a decreased risk, currently, no conclusions can be drawn.METHODSA population‐based case–control study of women ages 65–79 years was conducted in western Washington State. The responses of 975 women who were diagnosed with invasive breast carcinoma during 1997–1999 were compared with the responses of 1007 women in a control group. Associations between use of different types of antihypertensive medications and breast carcinoma incidence were evaluated using logistic regression.RESULTSOverall, women who had ever used CCBs, β‐blockers, or ACE inhibitors did not have an altered risk of breast carcinoma relative to women who had never used antihypertensive medications. Although the use of immediate‐release CCBs, thiazide diuretics, and potassium‐sparing diuretics was associated with modestly increased risks of breast carcinoma (odds ratio [OR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.0–2.1; OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1–1.8; and OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2–2.1, respectively), the absence of any trend in the size of excess risk with increasing duration or with current versus former use of these agents argues for a cautious interpretation.CONCLUSIONSThe use of particular types of antihypertensive medications, including immediate‐release CCBs and certain diuretics, may increase the risk of breast carcinoma among older women. Additional studies are warranted to clarify these potential associations. Cancer 2003;98:1504–13. © 2003 American Cancer Society.DOI 10.1002/cncr.11663
The potential consequences of alternative exchange rate regimes: A study of three candidate regions
Authors: Hochreiter Eduard , Korinek Anton , Siklos Pierre L. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractThis paper examines the macroeconomic consequences of selecting alternative exchange rate regimes of countries in three regions. In particular, it studies whether Austria, the Netherlands, Canada and New Zealand made the right monetary regime choices between 1970 and 2000. We focus on the role of asymmetric shocks as a core determinant for the evaluation of various monetary regimes by studying the impact of a hard peg, a full monetary union, or floating exchange rates (with or without inflation targeting) on selected macroeconomic variables. Estimates of structural VARs are used to ascertain if the countries under review meet the essential ingredients of an Optimum Currency Area (OCA) and thus are candidates for a monetary union. Counterfactual experiments help to study economic outcomes had these countries pursued alternative monetary strategies. We conclude that a floating regime with inflation targeting is best for Canada, a monetary union with Australia is the best course of action for New Zealand, and monetary union is the appropriate choice for the Netherlands while there are reasons to believe that Austria might have been better off with a floating regime, at least for a time. We also find that good monetary policy is not confined to any particular exchange rate regime and that political and institutional factors weigh heavily in this decision. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Functional magnetic resonance cholangiography (fMRC) of the gallbladder and biliary tree with contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance cholangiography
Authors: Fayad Laura M. , Holland George A. , Bergin Diane , Iqbal Nasir , Parker Laurence , Curcillo Paul G. , Kowalski Thomas E. , Park Pauline , Intenzo Charles , Mitchell Donald G. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractPurposeTo determine the diagnostic performance of functional magnetic resonance cholangiography (fMRC) for the evaluation of anatomic and functional biliary disorders.Materials and MethodsAt 1.5 T, 39 MR examinations with conventional MRC and mangafodipir trisodium‐enhanced fMRC were retrospectively reviewed by three observers who recorded anatomic (duct dilation, stricture, filling defects) and functional (cholecystitis, obstruction) abnormalities in three modes: MRC alone, fMRC alone, and MRC and fMRC images together (combined‐MRC). Performance was determined by comparing findings with each mode to findings of invasive cholangiography (IC) and surgery.ResultsAmong 75 biliary segments (correlated with IC), the sensitivity/specificity for diagnosing dilation (N = 41) with MRC was 95%/97%; with fMRC, 90%/100%; with combined‐MRC, 100%/97%. For stricture (N = 7), the sensitivity/specificity of MRC was 86%/98%; of fMRC, 43%/100%; of combined‐MRC, 86%/100%. For filling defects (N = 9), the sensitivity/specificity of MRC was 91%/98%; of fMRC, 82%/100%; of combined‐MRC, 91%/100%. For diagnosing obstruction (N = 9), the sensitivity/specificity of MRC, fMRC, and combined‐MRC were 89%/100%, 100%/100%, and 100%/100%, respectively. For surgically proven cholecystitis (N = 13), positive predictive values for diagnosing acute/chronic cholecystitis for MRC were 33%/40%; for fMRC, 100%/50%; for combined‐MRC, 100%/50%.ConclusionAlthough single‐shot fast spin echo (SSFSE)‐MRC is valuable, the addition of fMRC increased diagnostic performance for functional biliary disorders. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2003;18:449–460. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Directional diffusion in relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis: A possible in vivo signature of Wallerian degeneration
Authors: Henry Roland G. , Oh Joonmi , Nelson Sarah J. , Pelletier Daniel 
Published: September 2003

AbstractPurposeTo examine the role of directional dependence of the apparent diffusion coefficients in the evaluation of normal‐appearing brain regions of patients with relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis.Materials and MethodsThe role of diffusion tensor eigenvalues was investigated in the normal‐appearing brain regions for 18 patients with relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis and 15 age‐matched normal controls.ResultsThe isotropic apparent diffusion was increased in all regions. However, reduced anisotropy was significant only in regions with high anisotropy, including the corpus callosum and the internal capsule, and was due to increased diffusion tensor eigenvalues corresponding to diffusion transverse to the fibers without significant increase along the fibers. This characteristic pattern of changes in diffusion tensor eigenvalues has been observed previously in cases of Wallerian degeneration. Low‐anisotropy regions corresponded to gray matter and gray/white interface regions. Since fiber tract orientations are not determined for regions of low anisotropy, this characteristic pattern of diffusion change is not detectable in these regions.ConclusionExamination of diffusion tensor eigenvectors may provide insight into the changes observed in diffusion and a signature of Wallerian degeneration in the normal‐appearing white matter of relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis patients. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2003;18:420–426. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Correlation of dynamic contrast enhancement MRI parameters with microvessel density and VEGF for assessment of angiogenesis in breast cancer
Authors: Su Min‐Ying , Cheung Yun‐Chung , Fruehauf John P. , Yu Hon , Nalcioglu Orhan , Mechetner Eugene , Kyshtoobayeva Ainura , Chen Shin‐Cheh , Hsueh Swei , McLaren Christine E. , Wan Yung‐Liang 
Published: September 2003

AbstractPurposeTo investigate the association between parameters obtained from dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE‐MRI) of breast cancer using different analysis approaches, as well as their correlation with angiogenesis biomarkers (vascular endothelial growth factor and vessel density).Materials and MethodsDCE‐MRI results were obtained from 105 patients with breast cancer (108 lesions). Three analysis methods were applied: 1) whole tumor analysis, 2) regional hot‐spot analysis, and 3) intratumor pixel‐by‐pixel analysis. Early enhancement intensities and fitted pharmacokinetic parameters were studied. Paraffin blocks of 71 surgically resected specimens were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining to measure microvessel counts (with CD31) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression levels.ResultsMRI parameters obtained from the three analysis methods showed significant correlations (P < 0.0001), but a substantial dispersion from the linear regression line was noted (r = 0.72–0.97). The entire region of interest (ROI) vs. pixel population analyses had a significantly higher association compared to the entire ROI vs. hot‐spot analyses. Cancer specimens with high VEGF expression had significantly higher CD31 microvessel densities than did specimens with low VEGF levels (P < 0.005). No significant association was found between MRI parameters obtained from the three analysis strategies and IHC based measurements of angiogenesis.ConclusionA consistent analysis strategy was important in the DCE‐MRI study. In this series, none of these strategies yielded results for MRI based quantitation of tumor vascularity that were associated with IHC based measurements. Therefore, different analyses could not account for the lack of association. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2003;18:467–477. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Implementation of helical computed tomography in magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Azhari Haim , Rosenthal Shirrie , Montag Avram 
Published: September 2003

AbstractPurposeTo provide a rapid sequence for volumetric imaging of large fields of view.Materials and MethodsThe volumetric imaging principles of x‐ray helical computed tomograpy (CT) were implemented here on an MRI scanner. However, using the advantages offered by MRI, spiral trajectories in K‐space were incorporated to make the helical scan more efficient. Thus, data acquisition and interpolations were conducted in K‐space and images reconstructed by gridding and applying the inverse Fourier transform. The rapid spiral helical (RASH) imaging method was evaluated by computer simulations, by scanning phantoms and an in vitro heart, and by comparison to conventional multislice interleaved spirals (MSIS) imaging.ResultsA significant time saving (61.4% to 85.9%) relative to MSIS was achieved without significant degradation in image quality. Volume assessment and in‐plane resolution by RASH were almost identical to the MSIS pulse sequence. The corresponding increase in effective slice width was estimated to range (for the values studied here) from 1.31 to 2.5 according to the selection of the helical pitch and the slice thickness used for imaging.ConclusionThe suggested method offers the advantages provided by x‐ray helical CT and can be useful in MRI volumetric scanning of large objects. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2003;18:478–486. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Tagging juvenile seabass and sole with telemetry transmitters: medium-term effects on growth
Authors: Bégout Anras M.L , Covés D , Dutto G , Laffargue P , Lagardère F 
Published: September 2003

AbstractThe effects of tagging with acoustic transmitters on the growth of juvenile seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax (L.) (initial mean mass±SD, 173 g ± 23.4) in a 47 d tank experiment, and sole, Solea solea (L.) (103.2 g ± 14.8) in a 72 d tank experiment and (104.0 g ± 18.4) in a 58 d salt marsh mesocosm experiment were examined. Twenty externally tagged seabass grew more slowly than the 20 with surgically implanted tags, which reached the same mass as nine control fish. Movements of the external transmitter's harness caused abrasions of the skin and loss of the tag in 60% of the cases. We thus recommend implanting transmitters for telemetry studies of juvenile seabass weighing between 120 and 214 g and carrying a tag that represents 2.2–2.5% of body mass. Both tank and mesocosm experiments conducted on juvenile sole concluded that the externally attached tag retention rate was good, but at the expense of the fish growth rate.
Female tannin avoidance: a possible explanation for habitat and dietary segregation of giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis peralta) in Niger
Authors: Caister Lauren E. , Shields William M. , Gosser Allen 
Published: September 2003

AbstractNiger is host to the last free‐roaming herd of G.c. peralta (Giraffa camelopardalis peralta). We examined the foraging preferences of these giraffe in their dry‐season habitats, with the goal of preserving the herd in the regions that they currently inhabit. The current dry‐season habitat comprises two distinct vegetation zones. In both of these zones the giraffe must exist alongside the people of this region. The giraffes exhibit a sexual segregation in their dry‐season habitat selection and forage choices. The females show a strong preference for the intermediate zone (IM) when lactating. The males and pregnant females show a preference for the Dallol Bosso (DB). Nursing cows exhibit an avoidance of tannins. Bulls and non‐nursing cows prefer high protein and high fat forage, while subadults show a strong preference for high protein and carbohydrate contents and moderate tannin levels. Combretum glutinosum is the preferred species for adults of both sexes in the IM. Males and females have strong preferences for both Acacia nilotica and Acacia seyal in the DB. Sub‐adults of both sexes strongly prefer Prosopis africana in the IM. Unlike females, males retain their preference for A. nilotica when in the IM.
Insect diversity in the Cape Floristic Region
Authors: Giliomee J. H. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractThe Cape Floristic Region (CFR) is characterized by exceptionally high plant species richness and it is yet to be determined whether this is matched by an equally high diversity of insect fauna associated with these plants. In an attempt to do this, data from the literature on the number of insects for various taxa found at different sites in the CFR were compared with equivalent data from other areas in South Africa and elsewhere. Results indicate that the herbivorous insect fauna of the CFR is not particularly rich in species, perhaps except for the small guild of endophagous insects. It is speculated that this is the result of CFR vegetation being a poor food source for herbivores, particularly in view of its sclerophyllous nature. Plant defence mechanisms, such as a pronounced cyanogenic ability of the leaves coupled with the relatively simple architecture of the plants are possible contributing factors.
Emphysematous Cystitis due to Escherichia coli Associated with Prolonged Chemotherapy in a Non‐Diabetic Dog
Authors: Aizenberg I. , Aroch I. 
Published: September 2003

SummaryAn 11‐year‐old male Labrador retriever dog with chronic recurrent complicated urinary tract infection due to Escherichia coli and a history of prolonged multi‐drug chemotherapeutic protocol due to lymphoma was diagnosed with emphysematous cystitis. Diagnosis was based on ultrasonographic and radiographic findings. The immunosuppressive effects of the long glucocorticoid treatment were probably the main underlying mechanism involved in the pathogenesis, however, chemotherapy and/or the presence of lymphoma might have also been involved.
Activation of the amygdalo‐entorhinal pathway in fear‐conditioning in rat
Authors: Majak Katarzyna , Pitkänen Asla 
Published: September 2003

AbstractSeveral studies implicate a role for the amygdala in processing of emotional memories that might partially occur in the connections between the amygdala and the hippocampal–parahippocampal areas. The present study was designed to determine if the pathway from the amygdala to the entorhinal cortex becomes activated during acquisition of fear‐conditioning. First, the retrograde tracer Fluoro‐Gold (FG) was iontophoresed into the entorhinal cortex in rats. Following habituation, animals were divided into five groups: (i) controls that received another habituation session; (ii) animals given a tone only; (iii) animals given a footshock only; (iv) animals given an unpaired presentation of a shock and a tone; and (v) conditioned animals that received a single tone–footshock pairing. Then double‐immunohistochemistry against c‐Fos and FG or glutamate decarboxylase (GAD67) was performed. The numbers and densities of labelled neurons were calculated in the lateral and basal nuclei of the amygdala. In conditioned animals the number and density of c‐Fos‐positive nuclei increased in dorsolateral and medial divisions of the lateral nucleus compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Additionally, in the medial division of the lateral nucleus, the percentage of c‐Fos/FG double‐labelled neurons was higher in the conditioned animals compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). Only a very few GAD67‐positive interneurons expressed c‐Fos. These data indicate that a part of the amygdalo‐entorhinal pathway is activated during acquisition of fear‐conditioning. These data support the idea that emotionally relevant sensory information in the lateral nucleus can influence information processing in the hippocampal and parahippocampal areas via the amygdalo‐entorhinal pathway.
Caspase‐3 dependent proteolytic activation of protein kinase Cδ mediates and regulates 1‐methyl‐4‐phenylpyridinium (MPP+)‐induced apoptotic cell death in dopaminergic cells: relevance to oxidative stress in dopaminergic degeneration
Authors: Kaul Siddharth , Kanthasamy Arthi , Kitazawa Masashi , Anantharam Vellareddy , Kanthasamy Anumantha G. 
Published: September 2003

Abstract1‐Methyl‐4‐phenylpyridinium (MPP+), the neurotoxic metabolite of MPTP (1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine), induces apoptosis in dopaminergic neurons; however, the cellular mechanisms underlying the degenerative process are not well understood. In the present study, we demonstrate that caspase‐3 mediated proteolytic activation of protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ) is critical in MPP+‐induced oxidative stress and apoptosis. MPP+ exposure in rat dopaminergic neuronal cells resulted in time‐dependent increases in reactive oxygen species generation, cytochrome c release, and caspase‐9 and caspase‐3 activation. Interestingly, MPP+ induced proteolytic cleavage of PKCδ (72–74 kDa) into a 41‐kDa catalytic and a 38‐kDa regulatory subunit, resulting in persistently increased kinase activity. The caspase‐3 inhibitor Z‐DEVD‐fmk effectively blocked MPP+‐induced PKCδ cleavage and kinase activity, suggesting that the proteolytic activation is caspase‐3 mediated. Similar results were seen in MPP+‐treated rat midbrain slices. Z‐DEVD‐fmk and the PKCδ specific inhibitor rottlerin almost completely blocked MPP+‐induced DNA fragmentation. The superoxide dismutase mimetic, MnTBAP also effectively attenuated MPP+‐induced caspase‐3 activation, PKCδ cleavage, and DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, rottlerin attenuated MPP+‐induced caspase‐3 activity without affecting basal activity, suggesting positive feedback activation of caspase‐3 by PKCδ. Intracellular delivery of catalytically active recombinant PKCδ significantly increased caspase‐3 activity, further indicating that PKCδ regulates caspase‐3 activity. Finally, over‐expression of a kinase inactive PKCδK376R mutant prevented MPP+‐induced caspase activation and DNA fragmentation, confirming the pro‐apoptotic function of PKCδ in dopaminergic cell death. Together, we demonstrate for the first time that MPP+‐induced oxidative stress proteolytically activates PKCδ in a caspase‐3‐dependent manner to induce apoptosis and up‐regulate the caspase cascade in dopaminergic neuronal cells.
Differential thalamic connections of the posteroventral and dorsal posterior cingulate gyrus in the monkey
Authors: Shibata Hideshi , Yukie Masao 
Published: September 2003

AbstractPrevious functional studies suggest that the posterior cingulate gyrus is involved in spatial memory and its posteroventral part, in particular, is also involved in auditory memory. However, it is not clear whether the neural connections of the posteroventral part differ from those of the rest of the posterior cingulate gyrus. Here, we describe the thalamic connections of the posteroventral part of monkey area 23b (pv‐area 23b), the main component of the posteroventral posterior cingulate gyrus. We compare these thalamic connections with those of the more dorsal area 23b (d‐area 23b) and of adjoining retrosplenial areas 29 and 30. Thalamocortical projections to pv‐area 23b originate mainly from the anterior nuclei, nucleus lateralis posterior and medial pulvinar. In contrast, projections to d‐area 23b originate from the nucleus lateralis posterior, medial pulvinar, nucleus centralis latocellularis, mediodorsal nucleus and nucleus ventralis anterior and lateralis and weakly from the anterior nuclei. Projections to retrosplenial areas 29 and 30 originate from the anterior nuclei. Corticothalamic projections from pv‐area 23b terminate in the anterior and laterodorsal nuclei, nucleus lateralis posterior and medial pulvinar. Projections from d‐area 23b terminate in these nuclei as well as the nucleus ventralis anterior and lateralis. Projections from area 30 terminate mainly in the anterior nuclei and, to a lesser extent, in the medial pulvinar. These results show that the connections of pv‐area 23b differ from those of d‐area 23b or areas 29 and 30. This suggests that pv‐area 23b may play distinct functional roles in memory processes, such as spatial and auditory memory.
Intracochlear injection of pseudorabies virus labels descending auditory and monoaminerg projections to olivocochlear cells in guinea pig
Authors: Horváth Miklós , Ribári Ottó , Répássy Gábor , Tóth Ida E. , Boldogkõi Zsolt , Palkovits Miklós 
Published: September 2003

AbstractPseudorabies virus was used to label transneuronally descending auditory projections following intracochlear injections. At different time points after injection, virus‐infected cells were detected immunohistochemically in the central nervous system. Initially (25 h), virus was transported retrogradely to olivocochlear cells in the pons. At 32–72 h after injection, labelling occurred in higher order auditory brainstem nuclei as well as in the locus coeruleus and pontine dorsal raphe. At 90–108 h, virus‐infected neurons were found bilaterally in the medial geniculate body and in layer V of the auditory cortex. Viral transneuronal labelling in the auditory cortex after intracochlear application confirms the existence of a continuous descending chain of neurons from the auditory cortex to the cochlea, via the medial and lateral olivocochlear systems. The transneuronal labelling of the locus coeruleus and pontine dorsal raphe suggests that noradrenergic and serotonergic inputs may substantially influence the activity of olivocochlear cells, and thus the cochlea.