bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Calcium signal‐dependent plasticity of neuronal excitability developed postnatally
Authors: Zhang Mei , Hung Fen S. , Zhu Yan , Xie Zuoping , Wang Jin‐Hui 
Published: September 2004

AbstractNeuronal plasticity and its development were investigated at pyramidal neurons in the cortical slices of rats. The threshold and probability of firing spikes were measured by using whole‐cell recording to assess neuronal excitability. Postsynaptic high frequency activity (HFA) at the pyramidal neurons, evoked by 20 trains (250‐ms interval) of five depolarization‐pulses (1 ms) at 100 Hz, persistently lowered the threshold and increased the probability of firing spikes. After long‐term enhancement of neuronal excitability by HFA was stable, another HFA induced further enhancement. Infusing 1 mM 1,2‐bis(2‐aminophenoxy)‐ethane‐N, N,N′,N′‐tetraacetic acid or 100 μM CaMKII(281–301) into the recording neurons prevented HFA‐induced long‐term enhancement of neuronal excitability. The infusion of 40 μM calcineurin autoinhibitory peptide enhanced neuronal excitability, which occluded HFA effect. HFA‐induced long‐term enhancement of intrinsic excitability expressed at most pyramidal neurons after postnatal day (PND) 14, but not at those before PND 9. Our results show a new type of neuronal plasticity induced by physiological activity at cortical neurons, which requires calcium‐dependent protein phosphorylation and develops during postnatal period. An upregulation of intrinsic excitability at cortical neurons facilitates their activity and broadens signal codes; consequently, their computational ability is upgraded. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol, 2004
Civil society and public sector institutions: more than a zero‐sum relationship
Authors: Uphoff Norman , Krishna Anirudh 
Published: September 2004

AbstractMeasuring civil society strength has become entangled in competing definitions of civil society (CS). A more productive approach begins by considering CS from the perspective not of what it is but from what it does. Civil society functions—articulating citizens' interests and demands, defending their rights and meeting their needs—can be performed by a variety of institutions and organisations, not all of which are or need to be detached from the government. Determining the strength of CS requires assessing how well these functions are performed by a continuum of organisations and institutions. A disaggregated, multi‐sector model is developed that assists in measuring CS strength in any specific context. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
From policy lessons to policy actions: motivation to take evaluation seriously
Authors: Gordillo Gustavo , Andersson Krister 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThe purpose of this article is to analyse the institutional aspects of creating effective systems for monitoring and evaluations (M&E) in government‐led rural development efforts in developing countries. We argue that the ultimate challenge of creating effective M&E systems for public policy is not only related to thesupplyof information and the delivery of new knowledge to policy makers, but more importantly to theirdemandfor lessons learnt about the effects of earlier policies. The challenge, then, is for governments to construct institutional arrangements that support the transformation of policylessonsinto policyactions. This article shows that the likelihood of this transformation is closely related to the capacity of institutions to deliver mechanisms fordownward accountabilityand processes fororganisational learning. We add to earlier work in this area by considering the conditions under which such a transformation process is more or less likely, given the severe power and information asymmetries that characterise the institutional context of many developing countries' national governments. We use the tools of institutional analysis to examine the incentive structures of the actors involved in two concrete field settings, and assess to what extent these actors are likely to take evaluations seriously. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reforming war's administrative rubble in Lebanon
Authors: El‐Zein Fares , Sims Holly 
Published: September 2004

AbstractAfter 17 years of civil strife in Lebanon, an Office of Minister of State for Administrative Reform (OMSAR) was established in 1993 to plan for short‐term rehabilitation and long‐term institutional development within the public sector. Since external technical assistance to public administration was delivered through OMSAR, its role as a host agency for international aid donors' efforts in reform policy‐making and implementation is critical. The article discusses OMSAR's approach to channelling foreign aid for administrative development in post‐war Lebanon. Lessons from the Lebanese experience in post‐war institutional development may interest countries emerging from conflicts and trying to rebuild administrative infrastructure. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Glycaemic control in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes and fetal macrosomia
Authors: Stott A , Nik H , Platt MJ , Casson IF , Walkinshaw SJ , Howard V , Stanisstreet M , Pennycook S 
Published: September 2004

AbstractDespite improvements in the clinical management of pregnant women with diabetes, pregnancy outcomes compare unfavourably to those of people without diabetes. The link between maternal glycaemia as a measure of metabolic control and fetal size has been the subject of previous studies. Evidence is conflicting due to the small numbers of cases and/or a mixture of different types of diabetes in most of these studies. This population‐based cohort study was carried out on 274 women with type 1 diabetes from 10 maternity units in the Mersey area. We showed that in early (10±2 weeks gestation) and late pregnancy (≥34 weeks gestation), maternal HbA1c is not associated significantly with macrosomic or large for gestational age infants. Good glycaemic control measured by HbA1c in pregnancy, although of proven benefit in reducing perinatal mortality and morbidity, is therefore unable to prevent these problems Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cardiovascular aspects of erectile dysfunction
Authors: Jackson G 
Published: September 2004

AbstractErectile dysfunction (ED) reflects endothelial dysfunction, which is the most common organic cause of ED. Vascular disease and/or diabetes are most frequently associated with ED with coexisting coronary artery disease a major concern. Advising on sexual activity and the treatment of ED is a management challenge but simple guidelines exist for advice in the out‐patient (or out of hospital) and in‐patient setting which allow safe and effective recommendations to be given in properly assessed diabetic patients. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The impact of erectile dysfunction and its treatment with phosphodiesterase type‐5 (PDE5) inhibitors in patients with diabetes
Authors: Cummings MH 
Published: September 2004

AbstractMen with diabetes are prone to cardiovascular and neurological complications that can result in a higher incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED) than in the general population. Management of ED is similar to that in men without diabetes, with the goal of restoring the sex life the patient had previously enjoyed. Treatments for ED must be suitable for patients with diabetes with or without comorbidities and should not interfere with metabolic control or existing medications.The oral phosphodiesterase type‐5 (PDE5) inhibitors are the first‐line treatment for most causes of ED in men with diabetes. They promote smooth muscle relaxation by blocking the hydrolysis of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). All commercially available PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil, vardenafil and tadalafil) are effective with minimal side effects in both the general ED population and patients with diabetes. Tadalafil has pharmacokinetic properties different from those of sildenafil and vardenafil. Tadalafil, however, has a long half‐life producing a broad period of responsiveness and its pharmacokinetics are not altered by food. These properties give patients with diabetes and ED, and their partners, further freedom in choosing when to have sex. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Love's labour's lost
Authors: McAughey D 
Published: September 2004

AbstractErectile dysfunction (previously referred to as erectile impotence) is a common complication of diabetes in men. It is reported that between 35% and 50% of all men with diabetes will experience an episode of erectile dysfunction at some time in their life. At age 60 the prevalence of the problem increases to 60%.1Despite this, health care professionals appear reluctant to ask men with diabetes about their erectile status.2 In my experience, which covers 40 years as a man with diabetes and 22 two years as a health professional involved in the diabetes specialty, very few health care professionals feel able to discuss such intimate issues.Whether it is due to the fact that the health care professional is embarrassed to delve into such personal health matters, or rather to avoid embarrassment on the part of the person with diabetes, is unclear. With such a plethora of treatments available, I consider the attitude ‘We don't ask because we don't want to know’ indefensible.The following is a report of the Janet Kinson Lecture 2004, given at the Annual Professional Conference of Diabetes UK at the International Conference Centre, Birmingham in March this year, in an attempt to encourage health care professionals to ask the man with diabetes about his erectile status. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantitative profiling of plasma peptides in asthmatic mice using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry
Authors: Yeo SinKoo , Roh Gu Seob , Kim Dong‐Hoon , Lee Jung Min , Seo Seong‐Won , Cho Jin Won , Kim Chan‐Wha , Kwack KyuBum 
Published: September 2004

AbstractAsthma is increasing in prevalence worldwide as a result of factors associated with a Western lifestyle. However, simple and reliable diagnostic and prognostic markers are yet to be found. In an attempt to identify protein biomarker profiles among small molecular weight ranges, we employed an approach combining liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry, instead of two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis (2‐DE), which has previously been used to analyze protein expression patterns. Here we described its application to compare plasma peptides from control and chronic asthma mice. Peptides were quantitatively profiled as a multidimensional peptide mass fingerprint by a combination of reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. They were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight/time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry. In this study, we quantitatively identified the fragment f of complement 3 (C3f), which is important in inflammation. C3f was significantly higher in controls than chronic asthma mice. Our strategy allowed the detection and identification of different plasma peptides between control and chronic asthma mice on a proteomic scale. Therefore, these results suggest that native small peptides detected by non‐2‐DE techniques may be useful and specific biomarkers of disease.
Proteome analysis of differential protein expression in allergen‐induced asthmatic mice lung after dexamethasone treatment
Authors: Roh Gu Seob , Shin YoungHyun , Seo Seong‐Won , Yoon Bo Ra , Yeo SinKoo , Park Sung Jin , Cho Jin Won , Kwack KyuBum 
Published: September 2004

AbstractAsthma has become substantially more prevalent in recent decades and is one of the foremost contributors to morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries. Corticosteroids are among the most effective medications for the treatment of asthma, but some patients do not respond well to corticosteroid treatment. In this study, we characterized the responses to an allergen and identified potential molecular targets of dexamethasone (Dex) treatment in acute asthma. Female BALB/c mice sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) were challenged with aerosolized OVA for 1 week. During the challenge period, mice were treated daily with Dex by intraperitoneal injection. Phosphate‐buffered saline treated and non‐challenged mice served as control. Histological evaluation of OVA‐induced mice revealed airway inflammation and goblet cell hyperplasia. In addition, interleukin 4 levels and interferon‐γ levels were increased and decreased, respectively. These changes were moderated by Dex treatment. Protein expression profiles were compared in each experimental group by two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis and identified using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time of flight/time of flight mass spectrometry. Some proteins were increased, while others were decreased by Dex treatment. These results indicated that the regulation of protein expression might play a role in the immunological and pathological development of asthma and could be targeted for therapeutic intervention. These results may assist in the development of quantitative diagnostic markers to monitor disease progression or responses to therapy using proteomic approaches.
Multiplexed fluorescence detection of phosphorylation, glycosylation, and total protein in the proteomic analysis of breast cancer refractoriness
Authors: Ge Yue , Rajkumar Lakshmanswamy , Guzman Raphael C. , Nandi Satyabrata , Patton Wayne F. , Agnew Brian J. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThe Multiplexed Proteomics (MP) technology is a new approach that permits quantitative, multicolor fluorescence detection of proteins in one‐dimensional or two‐dimensional gels. This methodology allows for multiplexed identification and differential analysis of phosphoproteins, glycoproteins, and total proteins within a single gel electrophoresis experiment. Here the MP system was applied to the differential proteomic analysis of pregnancy‐induced refractoriness to breast cancer using a rat model system. Differential analyses identified multiple proteins with altered phosphorylation, glycosylation, or protein expression patterns.
Proteomic analysis revealed a strong association of a high level of α1‐antitrypsin in gastric juice with gastric cancer
Authors: Lee Kyunghee , Kye Minsu , Jang Joung Soon , Lee Ok Jae , Kim Taehyo , Lim Dongbin 
Published: September 2004

AbstractTo investigate the pathology of gastric disorders, we compared the proteomic patterns of gastric juice from patients with various gastric disorders. In healthy subjects pepsin A, pepsin B and gastric lipase were the major proteins detected by two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis. These digestive enzymes were not detected in 60% of gastric cancer cases (18 out of 30 analyzed cases). Interestingly, an extraordinary amount of α1‐antitrypsin was observed in these cases. In contrast to gastric cancer cases, α1‐antitrypsin was detected in only 5% of patients (three out of 56) with chronic atrophic gastritis, and the detection frequency went up as the disease developed (one of four intestinal metaplasia cases, two of seven tubular adenoma cases, a single examined case of hyperplastic polyp and 60% of gastric cancer). Zymography showed that a 60 kDa protease strongly associated with α1‐antitrypsin and mass spectrometric analysis revealed that the gastric α1‐antitrypsin was a protease‐cleaved form. Our data suggest that α1‐antitrypsin and 60 kDa protease may serve as good diagnostic and prognostic markers for conditions associated with gastric cancer.
Strategic proteome analysis of Candida magnoliae with an unsequenced genome
Authors: Kim Hyo‐Jin , Lee Do‐Yup , Lee Dae‐Hee , Park Yong‐Cheol , Kweon Dae‐Hyuk , Ryu Yeon‐Woo , Seo Jin‐Ho 
Published: September 2004

AbstractErythritol is a noncariogenic, low calorie sweetener. It is safe for people with diabetes and obese people. Candida magnoliae is an industrially important organism because of its ability to produce erythritol as a major product. The genome of C. magnoliae has not been sequenced yet, limiting the available proteome database. Therefore, systematic approaches were employed to construct the proteome map of C. magnoliae. Proteomic analysis with systematic approaches is based on two‐dimensional electrophoresis, matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF MS), tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and database interrogation. First, 24 spots were analyzed using peptide mass fingerprinting along with MALDI‐TOF MS with high mass accuracy. Only four spots were reliably identified as carbonyl reductase and its isoforms. The reason for low sequence coverage seemed to be that these identification strategies were based on the presence of the protein database obtained from the publicly accessible genome database and the availability of cross‐species protein identification. MS/MS (MS/MS ion search and de novo sequencing) in combination with similarity searches allowed successful identification of 39 spots. Several proteins including transaldolase identified by MS/MS ion searches were further confirmed by partial sequences from the expressed sequence tag database. In this study, 51 protein spots were analyzed and then potentially identified. The identified proteins were involved in glycolysis, stress response, other essential metabolisms and cell structures.
A strain‐specific alteration of proteomic expression in mouse liver fructose 1,6‐bisphosphatase isoforms by alcohol
Authors: Park Bokyung , Oh Seung‐Hyun , Seong Je‐Kyung , Paik Young‐Ki 
Published: September 2004

AbstractTo study alcohol‐related metabolism across inbred mouse strains, liver tissues from C57BL/6J (B6, an alcohol‐preferring mouse) and DBA/2J (D2, an alcohol‐avoiding strain) mice were analyzed for proteomic expression patterns over time after a single‐dose of alcohol (1.5 g/kg ingestion). Despite no significant difference in the elimination rate of blood ethanol, two‐dimensional electrophoresis gel images of liver proteins showed that proteins in B6 mice exhibited faster response and more quantitative (spot numbers) and qualitative (spot densities) changes than in D2 mice. Among the differentially expressed metabolic enzymes, four variants (α, β, γ and δ) of fructose 1,6‐bisphosphatase (FBPase), a key regulatory gluconeogenic enzyme, showed remarkable changes in expression with time across the strains. The degree of spot alteration in α‐ and γ‐variants of FBPase in B6 mice was much higher than in D2 mice, while the β‐ and δ‐forms were not changed as much. Mass spectrometry (MS) analysis showed that the 1714.9 ± 1 mass peak from the α‐ and γ‐variants of FBPase was much stronger than that of the β‐ and δ‐variants in both strains regardless of spot density. This MS peak contains 2‐ANHAPFETDISTLTR‐16, located at the N‐terminal of FBPase, where the N‐terminal alanine was found to be trimethylated. Thus, we propose this N‐terminal fragment as a potential site for enzyme modification in response to ethanol, allowing for differences in two‐dimensional gel spot intensity of variants of FBPase in the two mouse strains.
Fluoropolyethers end‐capped by polar functional groups. IV. A novel approach to the evaluation of reactivities of hydroxy‐terminated ethoxylated fluoropolyethers in the tin(IV)‐catalyzed reactions with isophorone diisocyanate
Authors: Khomko Elena , Mashlyakovskiy Leonid , Tonelli Claudio 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThe effect of catalyst dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTDL) on the kinetics of urethane formation reactions of α,ω‐bis(hydroxy)‐terminated fluoropolyethers Fomblin® Z‐DOL TXs (FPEs) of various molecular weights and poly(oxyethylene) glycol PEG‐400 with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) in hexafluoroxylene (HFX) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) at 40 °C and NCO:OH = 2:1 have been studied in a broad range of catalyst (0.10–9.00) ×10−4 M and total reagents (10.0–60.1 wt %) concentrations. The rate of tin‐catalyzed second‐order reactions (with respect to diol and diisocyanate) was found to be proportional to the square root of catalyst concentration [DBTDL]0.5 both in low polar (HFX) and polar (THF) solvents. Effect of catalyst saturation was revealed for all the reaction systems at higher DBTDL concentrations as well as the appearance of the limiting catalyst concentrations Clim below which the rates of reaction were close to zero. Based on these findings new effective rate coefficients have been derived k = kcat/(C − C) that are independent of the total reagent concentration in the range of 10.0–60.1 wt % ([OH] = 0.10–0.91 equiv/L). This new approach highlights that the rate of the tin‐catalyzed urethane formation reactions of α,ω‐bis(hydroxy)‐terminated fluoropolyethers Z‐DOL TXs with IPDI in HFX at 40 °C and NCO:OH = 2:1 increases significantly with increasing MW of FPE from 776 up to 3405. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5354–5371, 2004
Strategies toward biocompatible artificial implants: Grafting of functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)s to poly(ethylene terephthalate) surfaces
Authors: Fukai Ryoko , Dakwa Piwai H. R. , Chen Wei 
Published: September 2004

AbstractEpoxide and aldehyde end‐functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) (Mw = 400, 1000, 3400, 5000, and 20,000) were grafted to poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film substrates that contained amine or alcohol groups. PET‐PAH and PET‐PEI were prepared by reacting poly(allylamine) (PAH) and polyethylenimine (PEI) with PET substrates, respectively; PET‐PVOH was prepared by the adsorption of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) to PET substrates. Grafting was characterized and quantified by the increase of the intensity of the PEG carbon peak in the X‐ray photoelectron spectra. Grafting yield was optimized by controlling reaction parameters and was found to be substrate‐independent in general. Graft density consistently decreased as PEG chain length was increased. This is likely due to the higher steric requirement of higher molecular weight PEG molecules. Water contact angles of surfaces containing long PEG chains (3400, 5000, and 20,000) are much lower than those containing shorter PEG chains (400 and 1000). This indicates that longer PEG chains are more effective in rendering surfaces hydrophilic. Protein adsorption experiments were carried out on PET‐ and PEG‐modified derivatives using collagen, lysozyme, and albumin. After PEG grafting, the amount of protein adsorbed was reduced in all cases. Trends in surface requirements for protein resistance are: surfaces with longer PEG chains and higher chain density, especially the former, are more protein resistant; PEG grafted to surfaces containing branched or network polymers is not effective at covering the underlying substrate, and thus does not protect the entire surface from protein adsorption; and substrates containing surface charge are less protein‐resistant. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5389–5400, 2004