bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vitamin A Supplementation for Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants: Outcome at 18 to 22 Months
Authors: Ambalavanan Namasivayam , Tyson Jon E. , Kennedy Kathleen A. , Hansen Nellie I. , Vohr Betty R. , Wright Linda L. , Carlo Waldemar A. ,   and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network
Published: February 2005

Background. A National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network randomized trial showed that vitamin A supplementation reduced bronchopulmonary dysplasia (O2 at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age) or death in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonates (relative risk [RR]: 0.89). As with postnatal steroids or other interventions, it is important to ensure that there are no longer-term adverse effects that outweigh neonatal benefits.
Primary Objective. To determine if vitamin A supplementation in ELBW infants during the first month after birth affects survival without neurodevelopmental impairment at a corrected age of 18 to 22 months.
Design/Methods. Infants enrolled in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development vitamin A trial were evaluated at 18 to 22 months by carefully standardized assessments: Bayley Mental Index (MDI) and Psychomotor Index (PDI), visual and hearing screens, and physical examination for cerebral palsy (CP). The medical history was also obtained. Neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) was predefined as ≥1 of MDI &lt;70, PDI &lt;70, CP, blind in both eyes, or hearing aids in both ears.
Results. Of 807 enrolled infants, 133 died before and 16 died after discharge. Five hundred seventy-nine (88%) of the 658 remaining infants were followed up. The primary outcome of NDI or death could be determined for 687 of 807 randomized infants (85%). Baseline characteristics and predischarge and postdischarge mortality were comparable in both study groups. NDI or death by 18 to 22 months occurred in 190 of 345 (55%) infants in the vitamin A group and in 204 of 342 (60%) of the control group (RR: 0.94; 95% confidence interval: 0.80-1.07). RRs for low MDI, low PDI, and CP were also &lt;1.0. We found no evidence that neonatal vitamin A supplementation reduces hospitalizations or pulmonary problems after discharge.
Conclusion. Vitamin A supplementation for ELBW infants reduces bronchopulmonary dysplasia without increasing mortality or neurodevelopmental impairment at 18 to 22 months. However, this study was not powered to evaluate small magnitudes of change in long-term outcomes.
Flocculation mechanism induced by phenolic resin/PEO and floc properties
Authors: Negro C. , Fuente E. , Blanco A. , Tijero J. 
Published: February 2005

AbstractThe flocculation of an industrial furnish of TCF Kraft bleached pulp and ground calcium carbonate, induced by polyethylene oxide, and by the dual system formed by polyethylene oxide (PEO) and formaldehyde‐phenol resin (PFR), was investigated and compared in order to study the flocculation kinetics, the flocculation mechanism and the properties of the formed flocs. A technique based on the measurement of the particle chord size distribution, called focused beam reflectance measurement, was used to carry out the research. The ability of the polyacrylate contained in the commercial ground calcium carbonate as a PEO cofactor was observed. Results confirmed the formation and the coacervation of the complex PFR‐PEO, which loses its flocculant properties over time, confirming the complex bridging flocculation model. The shearing forces effect on the flocculation kinetics and on the properties of the formed flocs was also studied. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 51: 1022–1031, 2005
Continuous RAFT miniemulsion polymerization of styrene in a train of CSTRs
Authors: Smulders Wilfred W. , Jones Christopher W. , Schork F. Joseph 
Published: February 2005

AbstractReversible addition fragmentation transfer (RAFT) miniemulsion polymerization of styrene in a train of continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) is described. It is observed that the polydispersity of the polymer decreases as the number of CSTRs in the train increases, as has been derived theoretically. Furthermore, the CSTRs do not reach steady state, which has been attributed to, at least in part, slow oligomerization of monomer and capping by RAFT agent in the feed. Particle nucleation in a CSTR is found to be less effective than in a batch reactor. This is attributed to a “dry‐out” mechanism, which is observed to be more significant in a CSTR than in batch, leading to a “nongrowing” population of dormant chains. Experimental evidence for the presence of this “nongrowing” population is also provided. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 51: 1009–1021, 2005
Association analysis of transcripts from the bipolar susceptibility locus on chromosome 4q35, exclusion of a pathogenic role for eight positional candidate genes
Authors: Blair Ian P. , Badenhop Renee F. , Scimone Anna , Moses Melissa J. , Kerr Nicholas P. , Donald Jennifer A. , Mitchell Philip B. , Schofield Peter R. 
Published: February 2005

AbstractBipolar affective disorder is a major psychiatric illness with a population prevalence of up to 1.6%. The disorder is genetically complex. To date, no specific gene or DNA sequence variation that predisposes to the disorder has been described, however several susceptibility loci have been proposed through genetic linkage analysis. We previously identified one such susceptibility locus on chromosome 4q35, and refined the interval harboring this susceptibility gene to a size that is amenable to positional cloning. Several independent studies have now been described that support the presence of a susceptibility gene at this locus. In order to identify candidate genes for testing association with bipolar disorder, we previously established a comprehensive transcript map that encompasses the chromosome 4q35 susceptibility locus implicated in our linkage analysis. In this study, we have selected full‐length genes from the transcript map and determined the genomic structure of each gene. We identified informative, intragenic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by screening all exons and flanking intron sequences in affected individuals from seven bipolar pedigrees that we previously reported as showing evidence for linkage to chromosome 4q35. Analysis of these SNPs was then extended to our unrelated bipolar case‐control cohort to test for association with the disorder. Our data suggests that all genes analyzed can be excluded from direct involvement in the disorder. We have therefore, excluded approximately half the genes within the chromosome 4q35 candidate interval from playing a direct pathogenic role in bipolar disorder. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hypermethylation of the reelin (RELN) promoter in the brain of schizophrenic patients: A preliminary report
Authors: Abdolmaleky Hamid Mostafavi , Cheng Kuang‐hung , Russo Andrea , Smith Cassandra L. , Faraone Stephen V. , Wilcox Marsha , Shafa Rahim , Glatt Stephen J. , Nguyen Giang , Ponte Joe F. , Thiagalingam Sam , Tsuang Ming T. 
Published: February 2005

AbstractDNA methylation changes could provide a mechanism for DNA plasticity and dynamism for short‐term adaptation, enabling a type of cell memory to register cellular history under different environmental conditions. Some environmental insults may also result in pathological methylation with corresponding alteration of gene expression patterns. Evidence from several studies has suggested that in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, mRNA of the reelin gene (RELN), which encodes a protein necessary for neuronal migration, axonal branching, synaptogenesis, and cell signaling, is severely reduced in post‐mortem brains. Therefore, we investigated the methylation status of the RELN promoter region in schizophrenic patients and normal controls as a potential mechanism for down regulation of its expression. Ten post‐mortem frontal lobe brain samples from male schizophrenic patients and normal controls were obtained from the Harvard Brain Tissue Resources Center. DNA was extracted using a standard phenol–chloroform DNA extraction protocol. To evaluate differences between patients and controls, we applied methylation specific PCR (MSP) using primers localized to CpG islands flanking a potential cyclic AMP response element (CRE) and a stimulating protein‐1 (SP1) binding site located in the promoter region. For each sample, DNA extraction, bisulfite treatment, and MSP were independently repeated at least four times to accurately determine the methylation status of the target region. Forty‐three PCR trials were performed on the test and control samples. MSP analysis of the RELN promoter revealed an unmethylated signal in all reactions (43 of 43) using DNA from the frontal brain tissue, derived from either the schizophrenic patients or normal controls indicating that this region of the RELN promoter is predominantly unmethylated. However, we observed a distinct methylated signal in 73% of the trials (16 of 22) in schizophrenic patients compared with 24% (5 of 21) of controls. Thus, the hypermethylation of the CpG islands flanking a CRE and SP1 binding site observed at a significantly higher level (t = −5.07, P = 0.001) may provide a mechanism for the decreased RELN expression, frequently observed in post‐mortem brains of schizophrenic patients. We also found an inverse relationship between the level of DNA methylation using MSP analysis and the expression of the RELN gene using semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR. Despite the small sample size, these studies indicate that promoter hypermethylation of the RELN gene could be a significant contributor in effecting epigenetic alterations and provides a molecular basis for the RELN gene hypoactivity in schizophrenia. Further studies with a larger sample set would be required to validate these preliminary observations. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Serotonin receptor 2C (HTR2C) and schizophrenia: Examination of possible medication and genetic influences on expression levels
Authors: Castensson Anja , Åberg Karolina , McCarthy Shane , Saetre Peter , Andersson Björn , Jazin Elena 
Published: February 2005

AbstractThe serotonin receptor 2C (HTR2C) gene is of interest in schizophrenia due to its involvement in regulation of dopamine activity in the prefrontal cortex. We have previously reported a decreased expression of HTR2C mRNA levels in the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenia patients. The variability in mRNA expression levels is evaluated here more closely in relation to promoter haplotypes and neuroleptic treatment received by the patients. The decrease in HTR2C mRNA was present in neuroleptic treated individuals and in patients untreated at death, indicating that the lower expression is not a short‐term medication effect. Three promoter polymorphisms were used to construct haplotypes. No SNP displayed genotypic or haplotypic association with the disease. Gene expression of HTR2C was not affected by haplotype and the expression decrease in schizophrenia patients was similar in all haplotype combinations (diplotypes). We conclude that the decrease in HTR2C expression in schizophrenia may be related to the disease mechanism rather than to drug treatment. The disease related changes in HTR2C expression are not related to the promoter variants typed in our sample, but could be due to other regulatory variants or trans‐acting factors. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Detection of bladder carcinoma by combined testing of urine for hyaluronidase and cytokeratin 20 RNAs
Authors: Eissa Sanaa , Kassim Samar K. , Labib Randa Ali , El‐Khouly Inas M. , Ghaffer Taghreed M. , Sadek Mohamed , Razek Omar Abdel , El‐Ahmady Omar 
Published: February 2005

AbstractBACKGROUNDA new, sensitive, noninvasive method for the detection of urothelial carcinomas of the urinary bladder would open new possibilities in both the diagnosis and followup of patients.METHODSThis study included 228 patients diagnosed with bladder carcinoma, 68 patients with benign bladder lesions, and 44 healthy persons served as the control group. All were subjected to: serologic schistosomiasis antibody assay in serum, urine cytology, estimation of urine hyaluronic acid (HA) by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and detection of CK‐20 and hyaluronidase (HAase) by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) in urothelial cells from voided urine.RESULTSHA mean rank was higher in benign and malignant groups than in the healthy group (P < 0.0001) and was significantly related to tumor grade (P = 0.021). HA best‐cutoff, determined using receiver operating characteristic curve to discriminate between malignant and nonmalignant groups, was 58.5 units/mg protein at 85.8% sensitivity and 60.7% specificity. HAase RNA showed superior sensitivity (90.8%) over cytology (68.9%) and CK‐20 (78.1%) with specificity of 93.4%, 98.1% and 80.2%, respectively. The sensitivity reached 94.7% at a specificity of 91.5% when combined with CK‐20. All 4 of the investigated markers were related to grade at P <0.05. Whereas only HAase and CK‐20 were significantly related to stage (P < 0.05). As to schistosomiasis, only HAase RNA positivity was significantly associated (P = 0.038).CONCLUSIONSHAase RNA is a promising noninvasive test with high sensitivity and specificity in bladder carcinoma detection. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Transitin, a nestin‐related intermediate filament, is expressed by neural progenitors and can be induced in Müller glia in the chicken retina
Authors: Fischer Andy J. , Omar Ghezal 
Published: February 2005

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to test whether transitin, the avian homologue of nestin, is expressed by retinal progenitors in the developing and postnatal chicken. Because nestin has been widely used as a cell‐distinguishing marker of neural progenitors in the mammalian nervous system, we expected to find transitin expressed specifically by the neural progenitors of the retina. In early stages of development, transitin is expressed by neural progenitors in the retina and by cells in the developing ciliary body. During later stages of development, transitin expression persists in differentiating Müller glia but is down‐regulated by these cells as maturation proceeds. In the postnatal chick, transitin expression is restricted to neural progenitors at the peripheral edge of the retina. We found that the expression of transitin in mature Müller glia was induced by intraocular injections of insulin and fibroblast growth factor‐2 (FGF2) but not by ciliary neurotrophic factor. In response to insulin and FGF2, the expression of transitin was induced in the nonpigmented epithelium (NPE) of the ciliary body. In the postnatal retina, acute retinal damage transiently induces transitin expression in Müller glia. We propose that the expression of transitin by retinal Müller glia and NPE cells in the postnatal animal represents a state of de‐differentiation and a step toward becoming neurogenic progenitor cells. Taken together, our findings indicate that transitin is expressed by neural progenitors in the embryonic and postnatal chicken retina. However, transitin is not exclusively expressed by neural progenitors and is also expressed by non‐neurogenic cells. J. Comp. Neurol. 484:1–14, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Heterogeneity of γ‐aminobutyric acid type A receptors in mitral and tufted cells of the rat main olfactory bulb
Authors: Panzanelli Patrizia , Perazzini Alice‐Zaira , Fritschy Jean‐Marc , Sassoè‐Pognetto Marco 
Published: February 2005

AbstractMitral and tufted cells of the olfactory bulb receive strong γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)‐ergic input and express GABAA receptors containing the α1 or α3 subunit. The distribution of these subunits was investigated in rats via multiple immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy, by using gephyrin as a marker of GABAergic synapses. A prominent immunoreactivity was detected throughout the external plexiform layer (EPL) and glomerular layer (GL). However, although staining for the α1 subunit was uniform throughout the EPL, that of the α3 subunit was most intense in the outer one‐third of this layer. All mitral cells were positive for the α1 subunit. In contrast, the α3 subunit was restricted to a subpopulation of mitral cells, many of which also expressed calretinin. Likewise, external tufted cells could be subdivided into distinct groups, either singly labeled for the α1 or α3 subunit or doubly labeled. At the subcellular level, staining for the α1 and α3 subunits was punctate, forming clusters partially colocalized with gephyrin. However, many α1‐ and α3‐positive clusters lacked gephyrin, suggesting the existence of either nonsynaptic GABAA receptor clusters or synaptic receptors not associated with gephyrin. Quantitative analysis of colocalization among the three markers in the inner EPL, outer EPL, and GL revealed considerable heterogeneity, suggestive of a differential organization of GABAA receptor subtypes in the apical and basal dendrites of mitral and tufted cells. Together these results reveal a complex subunit organization of GABAA receptors in the olfactory bulb and suggest that mitral and tufted cells participate in different synaptic circuits controlled by distinct GABAA receptor subtypes. J. Comp. Neurol. 484:121–131, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Organization and regulation of paraventricular nucleus glutamate signaling systems: N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptors
Authors: Ziegler Dana R. , Cullinan William E. , Herman James P. 
Published: February 2005

AbstractStress activation of the hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) axis is mediated in part by glutamatergic neurotransmission. The precise nature of glutamate effects on stress‐integrative hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) neurons remains to be determined. Therefore, the current study was designed to delineate the organization of glutamate/NMDA receptor systems in the PVN and to assess regulation of PVN glutamate receptor subunit expression by chronic intermittent stress and glucocorticoids. Immunohistochemical studies verified that N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit proteins NR1 and NR2A/2B are expressed in the medial parvocellular PVN, indicating the potential for NMDA receptor regulation of corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH) release. Dual‐label confocal analysis revealed that CRH neurons are apposed by vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2)‐containing terminals, consistent with glutamatergic innervation from hypothalamus and/or brainstem. In situ hybridization analysis revealed a significant and selective stress‐induced decrease (37%) in NR2B subunit mRNA expression in the CRH‐containing region of the PVN. No changes were observed for NR1 or NR2A mRNAs. In contrast, none of the subunits investigated showed altered expression following adrenalectomy with or without low/high‐dose corticosterone replacement. Thus, the observed stress regulation is likely mediated by neurogenic mechanisms in the PVN and upstream stress‐transducing neurocircuitry. Because a loss of NR2B subunit inclusion in NR receptors would likely confer increased Ca++ conductance and faster deactivation kinetics, the stress‐induced decrease in NR2B mRNA is consistent with enhanced glutamate signaling in the PVN following chronic stress and, perhaps, increased basal HPA activity and more rapid and/or more robust HPA responses to stress. J. Comp. Neurol. 484:43–56, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Semantic and phonological skills in predicting reading development: from 3–16 years of age
Authors: Frost Jørgen , Madsbjerg Sigrid , Niedersøe Jan , Olofsson Åke , Sørensen Peer Møller 
Published: February 2005

AbstractThe present longitudinal study investigated the relationship between pre‐school semantic skills (vocabulary, comprehension and sentence construction), phonological awareness and later word decoding and reading comprehension skills. More than 200 Danish children were followed from a speech therapist screening at the age of three, through a phonological group screening at six, word decoding tests in Grade 2, sentence reading tests in Grades 3, 4, and 6, and to a text reading test in Grade 9 (age 16). The predictor variables consisted of both standardized test results, professional ratings, and a factor of interest in books.The results showed that both the semantic variables and interest in books at the age of three and the phonological variables at the age of six predicted reading development significantly at the age of 16. In addition the results demonstrated changing main effect from semantic and phonological variables on reading development. Phonological awareness at the age of 6 seemed to have the greatest influence on reading at the beginning of Grade 2 compared to the semantic variables at the age of three. On all other measures in time, the semantic variables had the greatest influence. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Use of Tosylhydrazone Salts as a Safe Alternative for Handling Diazo Compounds and Their Applications in Organic Synthesis
Authors: Fulton J. Robin , Aggarwal Varinder K. , de Vicente Javier 
Published: February 2005

AbstractDiazo compounds are useful synthetic intermediates in organic synthesis but, due to their toxicity and unpredictable explosive behaviour, their unique reactivity has not been fully exploited and their use on large scale has been avoided. We have developed a reliable method that generates diazo compounds in situ. Our approach is based on the Bamford–Stevens reaction, which utilizes tosylhydrazone salts as diazo precursors. In the presence of phase‐transfer‐catalysts (PTC), we found that tosylhydrazone salts can be cleanly converted to diazo compounds under mild reaction conditions and in a wide range of solvents. These diazo compounds can then be induced to react directly with alkenes or alkynes to synthesize pyrazoles or with aldehydes to generate ketones. Alternatively, diazo compounds can react with transition metals capable of carbene transfer reactions. We have shown the usefulness of this chemistry in a number of different transformations, such as Wittig olefination reactions and the sulfur ylide mediated epoxidation, as well as aziridination and cyclopropanation chemistry as applied toward the synthesis of more complicated molecules. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)
Cognitive and functional neuroimaging correlate for anosognosia in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Vogel Asmus , Hasselbalch Steen G. , Gade Anders , Ziebell Morten , Waldemar Gunhild 
Published: February 2005

AbstractObjectivesTo investigate the correlation between anosognosia and behavioural symptoms, performance on executive tests, and frontal cortex regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients with ‘amnestic mild cognitive impairment’ (MCI) and mild Alzheimer's disease (AD).MethodsFrom a prospective Memory Clinic cohort including consecutively referred patients, age 60 years or above, and with MMSE score 20 or above, 36 patients with AD and 30 with MCI were included in this study. Anosognosia was assessed using a categorical scale and discrepancy scores between patients' and relatives' reports on a 20‐item Memory Questionnaire (MQ). Behavioural symptoms were assessed with Frontal Behavioural Inventory (FBI). Executive functions were examined with a range of neuropsychological tests. Tc99m‐HMPAO SPECT was obtained in an unselected sample of 55 of the 66 patients, and rCBF was analysed in six cortical frontal regions.ResultsInsight was equally impaired in the two patient groups. A significant correlation was found between impaired awareness and dementia severity (MMSE). Discrepancy‐scores on the MQ were significantly correlated to scores on FBI and to rCBF in the right inferior frontal gyrus, but not to executive tests. The groups classified by the categorical ratings ‘full’, ‘shallow’ and ‘no’ awareness were not characterized by differences in behavioural symptoms, executive performance or frontal rCBF.ConclusionsImpaired awareness is associated with behavioural symptoms and may reflect functional impairment in the right inferior frontal cortex. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.