bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ginkgo biloba affords dose‐dependent protection against 6‐hydroxydopamine‐induced parkinsonism in rats: neurobehavioural, neurochemical and immunohistochemical evidences
Authors: Ahmad Muzamil , Saleem Sofiyan , Ahmad Abdullah Shafique , Yousuf Seema , Ansari Mubeen Ahmad , Khan M Badruzzaman , Ishrat Tauheed , Chaturvedi Rajnish Kumar , Agrawal Ashok Kumar , Islam Fakhrul 
Published: March 2005

Abstract Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb), a potent antioxidant and monoamine oxidase B (MAO‐B) inhibitor, was evaluated for its anti‐parkinsonian effects in a 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) rat model of the disease. Rats were treated with 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg EGb for 3 weeks. On day 21, 2 µL 6‐OHDA (10 µg in 0.1% ascorbic acid saline) was injected into the right striatum, while the sham‐operated group received 2 µL of vehicle. Three weeks after 6‐OHDA injection, rats were tested for rotational behaviour, locomotor activity, and muscular coordination. After 6 weeks, they were killed to estimate the generation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) content, to measure activities of glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and to quantify catecholamines, dopamine (DA) D2 receptor binding, and tyrosine hydroxylase‐immunoreactive (TH‐IR) fibre density. The increase in drug‐induced rotations and deficits in locomotor activity and muscular coordination due to 6‐OHDA injections were significantly and dose‐dependently restored by EGb. The lesion was followed by an increased generation of TBARS and significant depletion of GSH content in substantia nigra, which was gradually restored with EGb treatment. EGb also dose‐dependently restored the activities of glutathione‐dependent enzymes, catalase, and SOD in striatum, which had reduced significantly by lesioning. A significant decrease in the level of DA and its metabolites and an increase in the number of dopaminergic D2 receptors in striatum were observed after 6‐OHDA injection, both of which were significantly recovered following EGb treatment. Finally, all of these results were exhibited by an increase in the density of TH‐IR fibers in the ipsilateral substantia nigra of the lesioned group following treatment with EGb; the lesioning had induced almost a complete loss of TH‐IR fibers. Considering our behavioural studies, biochemical analysis, and immunohistochemical observation, we conclude that EGb can be used as a therapeutic approach to check the neuronal loss following parkinsonism.
Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors, mGlu1a and mGlu5a, couple to cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) through a common Ca2+‐ and protein kinase C‐dependent pathway
Authors: Warwick Helen K. , Nahorski Stefan R. , Challiss R. A. John 
Published: March 2005

AbstractCoupling of the group I metabotropic glutamate receptors, mGlu1a and mGlu5a, to the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) has been studied in Chinese hamster ovary cell lines where receptor expression is under the control of an inducible promoter. Both receptors stimulate CREB phosphorylation with similar time courses, and agonist potency was also comparable between the two receptors. Stimulation of cells in Ca2+‐free medium containing EGTA (100 μm), with or without the additional depletion of intracellular stores, caused marked decreases in agonist‐mediated responses in both cell lines. Down‐regulation of protein kinase C (PKC) activity by phorbol ester treatment, or treatment with the broad spectrum PKC inhibitor Ro 31–8220, partially attenuated both mGlu1a and mGlu5a receptor‐mediated responses. Furthermore, stimulation of cells in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ following prior PKC down‐regulation resulted in additive inhibitory effects. The involvement of extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (ERK1/2), Ca2+/calmodulin or Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinases was assessed using pharmacological inhibitors. Results indicated that coupling of the group I mGlu receptors to CREB phosphorylation occurs independently of these pathways. Thus, although the [Ca2+]i signatures activated by these mGlu receptors differ, they couple to CREB with comparable potency and recruit similar downstream components to execute CREB phosphorylation.
Tyrosinase exacerbates dopamine toxicity but is not genetically associated with Parkinson's disease
Authors: Greggio Elisa , Bergantino Elisabetta , Carter Donald , Ahmad Rili , Costin Gertrude‐Emilia , Hearing Vincent J. , Clarimon Jordi , Singleton Andrew , Eerola Johanna , Hellström Olli , Tienari Pentti J. , Miller David W. , Beilina Alexandra , Bubacco Luigi , Cookson Mark R. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractTyrosinase is a key enzyme in the synthesis of melanin in skin and hair and has also been proposed to contribute to the formation of neuromelanin (NM). The presence of NM, which is biochemically similar to melanin in peripheral tissues, identifies groups of neurons susceptible in Parkinson's disease (PD). Whether tyrosinase is beneficial or detrimental to neurons is unclear; whilst the enzyme activity of tyrosinase generates dopamine‐quinones and other oxidizing compounds, NM may form a sink for such radical species. In the present study, we demonstrated that tyrosinase is expressed at low levels in the human brain. We found that mRNA, protein and enzyme activity are all present but at barely detectable levels. In cell culture systems, expression of tyrosinase increases neuronal susceptibility to oxidizing conditions, including dopamine itself. We related these in vitro observations to the human disease by assessing whether there was any genetic association between the gene encoding tyrosinase and idiopathic PD. We found neither genotypic or haplotypic association with three polymorphic markers of the gene. This argues against a strong genetic association between tyrosinase and PD, although the observed contribution to cellular toxicity suggests that a biochemical association is likely.
POVERTY AND INCOME DISTRIBUTION IN BRAZIL1
Authors: Pfeffermann Guy , Webb Richard 
Published: March 2005

The article refutes the contention that Brazil's development has not benefited the poor and that rapid growth has had a polarizing effect on the distribution of income. It uses the National Household Expenditure Survey of 1974–75 to try to quantify the extent of poverty and concludes that the incòme levels of the poor have been underestimated in the past. The evidence suggests also that occupational and regional variables are powerful determinants of income stratification. Wage rate statistics convey information about long‐term trends in income. The article notes considerable increases in rural wages during the 1970s as well as wage improvements in the urban informal sector. Shifts in the structure of employment have probably been the most powerful cause of economic improvement in Brazil. The enormous absorption of rural‐urban migrants occurred without a flooding of the lower income urban categories. Social indicators and statistics referring to ownership of household durable consumer goods corroborate income and labor market evidence to the effect that there has been considerable progress for the poor during the 1970s. The article reviews statistical evidence bearing on distribution. There is little doubt that the distribution of income in Brazil is very skewed. It is not possible, however, to come to conclusions about changes that might have occurred in the degree of inequality over time. Finally, the article includes data on the “distribution of education” and the “distribution of life expectancy” and notes improvement over time in both.This article takes advantage of the Brazilian population census of 1980 to bring up to date some of the statistical material that bears on the issues of poverty and income distribution. First, the article describes the overall context of Brazilian development since 1960. The second part analyzes the extent of poverty in the mid‐1970s. The third part deals with trends in wages, employment and selected welfare indicators. The last section briefly summarizes the information relating to income distribution: what is the extent of skewedness and how has it evolved over time?
Reproductive outcome of women with unicornuate uterus
Authors: AKAR Munire E. , BAYAR Didem , YILDIZ Sema , OZEL Murat , YILMAZ Zarif 
Published: March 2005

AbstractThis study was undertaken to examine the reproductive impact of unicornuate uterine abnormalities cases in a group of 571 women with a uterine anomaly. Hospital records of 1784 patients who presented to the infertility outpatient clinic with infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, pain or acute abdomen during the study period between January 1991 and January 2001, were reviewed retrospectively. The reproductive performance of women with unicornuate uterus was poor, with a live birth rate of only 29.2%, prematurity rate of 44%, miscarriage rate of 29%, and an ectopic pregnancy rate of 4%.
Utility of fetal echocardiogram in high‐risk patients
Authors: MULLER Peter R. , JAMES Andra , FELDMAN Kristin , HERLONG J. Rene 
Published: March 2005

AbstractAim:  Patients at high risk of fetal congenital heart disease are commonly referred for second trimester fetal echocardiogram. The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of routine fetal echocardiogram in high‐risk patients after the evaluation of the four‐chamber/left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) views during comprehensive second trimester anatomy ultrasound.Methods:  Second trimester comprehensive anatomy ultrasounds, which included a four‐chamber/LVOT view, and subsequent fetal echocardiograms carried out at the Duke University Medical Center from January 1995 and July 2002 were reviewed. Those fetal echocardiograms carried out between 17 and 30 weeks gestation were included in the analysis.Results:  A total of 725 individual subjects met the inclusion criteria. Twenty‐nine fetal echocardiograms were ultimately reported as abnormal. Of these, 19 had an abnormal four‐chamber/LVOT view, four had a suboptimal view and six had a normal view. Of the six patients with a normal four‐chamber/LVOT, all had been referred for echocardiogram based on the presence of other significant fetal anomalies noted at the time of second trimester anatomy ultrasound (3), documented aneuploidy (2), and significant fetal arrhythmia (1).Conclusion:  Utility in carrying out fetal echocardiogram was seen in patients with an abnormal four‐chamber/LVOT view, a suboptimal view in a high‐risk patient, and the presence of other significant fetal abnormalities. Utility was not seen in patients with pre‐existing diabetes mellitus.
Use of umbilical‐cerebral Doppler ratios in predicting fetal growth restriction in near‐term fetuses
Authors: TO William W. K. , CHAN Alice M. Y. , MOK Ka‐Ming 
Published: March 2005

AbstractObjective:  To compare the sensitivity and specificity of different umbilical‐cerebral ratios in the prediction and detection of fetal growth restriction in near‐term fetuses when the umbilical arterial waveform is within normal.Methods:  A prospective cross‐sectional observational study was carried out recruiting consecutive singleton pregnancies with clinically suspected fetal growth restriction after 34 weeks gestation. The umbilical‐cerebral ratios were then calculated from the S/D, RI and PI values and correlated with immediate perinatal outcome.Results:  A total of 187 patients were recruited. Twelve cases had abnormal UA Doppler flow velocity waveform studies. Of the 175 with normal UA Doppler findings, 92 (53.1%) were confirmed to have fetal growth restriction (FGR) with birth weights below the tenth centile for gestation. The detection rate of FGR by ultrasound biometry was 96.7%. The mean umbilical artery S/D, RI and PI values were higher in the fetal growth restriction group, while the middle cerebral artery values were lower as compared to fetuses with no growth restriction. A small but significant difference was seen in the umbilical‐cerebral ratios of the different indices between the two groups. Receiver operator characteristic curves showed that there was little difference between the performances of the S/D, RI or PI ratios and all had limited power in predicting fetal growth restriction.Conclusion:  In the presence of normal umbilical artery Doppler waveforms, umbilical‐cerebral ratios have limited power to predict fetal growth restriction.
Early medical abortion: A new regimen up to 49 days’ gestation
Authors: ASHIMA Taneja , VINITA Agrawal , SHALINI Rajaram 
Published: March 2005

AbstractAim:  To evaluate a new regimen of mifepristone and misoprostol in early medical abortion up to 49 days of amenorrhoea.Methods:  One hundred healthy women requesting pregnancy termination up to 49 days gestation received 200 mg mifepristone followed by 800 µg misoprostol orally 24 h later. Statistical analysis was carried out by unpaired t‐test.Results:  Ninety‐six percent of patients aborted completely 4.3 h after they were given misoprostol. No significant side‐effects were noted. The duration of bleeding correlated with gestational age (P‐value 0.009).Conclusion:  This new regimen of mifepristone‐misoprostol is effective in terminating early pregnancy, with shorter induction to abortion interval and greater acceptability.
Routine investigations might be useful in pre‐eclampsia, but not in gestational hypertension
Authors: BAILEY David J. , WALTON Stuart M. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractBackground:  Women referred to secondary care with suspected pregnancy‐induced hypertension (PIH) are commonly investigated with blood tests and cardiotocography (CTG), regardless of the clinical severity of their condition. Over‐investigation might lead to inappropriate intervention.Aims:  To investigate how often abnormal blood test and CTG results occur in women with pre‐eclampsia and gestational hypertension and in women who do not have pregnancy‐induced hypertension.Methods:  Retrospective case note review of 526 consecutive women referred with suspected pregnancy‐induced hypertension to a district hospital. The frequency of abnormal test results and the pregnancy outcomes were analysed according to clinical classification.Results:  36% of women referred did not meet the clinical criteria for a diagnosis of pregnancy‐induced hypertension. Abnormalities of platelet count and/or liver function were seen in 11% of women with pre‐eclampsia and in less than 2% of women with gestational hypertension and in a similar proportion of women who did not have pregnancy‐induced hypertension. Gestational hypertension was associated with increased induction and caesarean birth rates, but not with low birthweight or preterm delivery. Progression from gestational hypertension to pre‐eclampsia was not predicted by blood test abnormalities. Support for the routine use of antenatal CTG was not found.Conclusions:  A clinical diagnosis of pregnancy‐induced hypertension should be confirmed before blood tests are ordered. The incidence of test abnormalities was only increased in pre‐eclampsia and in gestational hypertension before term. CTG might only be of use in selected cases.
STOCK PRICE PROCESSES WITH DISCONTINUOUS TIME PATHS: AN EMPIRICAL EXAMINATION
Authors: Akgiray Vedat , Booth Geoffrey 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTThis paper discusses the statistical properties of a mixed stochastic process and conducts a thorough empirical test of the process for an extensive group of common stocks and portfolios of stocks. It is found that a homogeneous diffusion process does not adequately describe stock price fluctuations and that there are significant discontinuities in the sample paths of stock prices. This result holds for both individual stocks and portfolios of various sizes. The statistical fit of a particular mixed diffusion‐jump process to sample data is also demonstrated.
AN EXAMINATION OF ASKED‐BID SPREADS FOR TWO OVER‐THE‐COUNTER MARKET SEGMENTS
Authors: Dubofsky David A. , Groth John C. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTPrevious studies of over‐the‐counter (OTC) asked‐bid spread behavior treat the sample stocks as a homogeneous group. Actually, there are several segments of the OTC market, ranging from the recently created National Market System to the pink sheets. We find that although previously proposed independent variables (risk, transaction rate, number of dealers, and price) determine inside spreads for two OTC market segments in ways consistent with the results of others, the models do explain the observed spreads differently.
OPTION PRICING THEORY AND ASSET EXPECTATIONS: A Review and Discussion in Tribute to James Boness
Authors: O'Brien Thomas J. , Selby Michael J. P. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTJames Boness shared with other early option theorists the hope that options could be used to infer investor expectations revealed in observed market prices. His research unfortunately pre‐dated theoretical tools that might have helped that hope become a reality. Moreover, the modern option theory of Black and Scholes, Merton, Rubinstein, and others appeared to have “doomed to failure” any attempt to pursue the original “expectations intuition,” since expectations terms are not explicit terms in their option pricing equations. A subsequent theoretical advance by O'Brien, following Brennan, along with some observations by Figlewski, have furthered the possibility that obtaining implied expectations from observed option prices can become a reality. This review discussion of the literature is in honor of James Boness. The review is confined to the fundamental theory of valuing dividend‐protected European “equity” options.
DIVIDEND CHANGES OF FINANCIALLY WEAK FIRMS
Authors: Eddy Albert , Seifert Bruce 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTThis study examines both the patterns of dividend changes of financially weak firms and the announcement effects of unexpected dividend changes on both stocks and bonds. Most of the weak firms initially examined did not pay a dividend. For those firms that did, dividend increases were modest, and dividend decreases were large. The results of the bond analysis cannot be used to support either the signalling hypothesis or a wealth expropriations hypothesis. Finally, on average, the stock market does not appear to interpret dividend news for weak firms differently than for strong firms.
TAX AND SAVINGS IMPLICATIONS OF THE CANADIAN REGISTERED RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLANS
Authors: Rashid Muhammad , Gandhi Devinder K. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTThis paper shows that the net effective tax rate on the Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) in Canada has not been inflation non‐neutral because of the combination of the non‐neutrality of various sources of retirement income and the progressivity of the personal tax system. The paper also shows that although the RRSPs provide some tax arbitrage opportunities, these opportunities in Canada are limited due to the non‐tax‐deductibility of interest on mortgage and consumer credits. Finally, on theoretical grounds, the paper argues that the RRSPs may not have provided any incentives for personal savings in Canada.
A NOTE ON INTEREST RATES AND THE RISK OF BANK AND SAVINGS AND LOAN STOCK
Authors: French Dan W. , Fraser Donald R. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTThis study examines the relationship between interest rates and the risk of bank and savings and loan stocks. Implied standard deviations from call option prices are used as risk estimates of the financial institutions’ stocks. Results indicate that there is a positive relationship between the risk of depository institution equities and the general level of interest rates. In addition, an upward shift in their risk occurred in late 1982, coinciding with several events that were important to the financial industry (the Penn‐Square Bank failure, the Mexican debt crisis, and the passage of the Garn‐St. Germain Depository Institutions Act).
OPERATING PERFORMANCE AND MERGER BENEFITS: THE SAVINGS AND LOAN EXPERIENCE
Authors: Neely Walter P. , Rochester David P. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTThis research examines the operating performance benefits attained by merging savings institutions. Merging and nonmerging savings and loan associations are compared before and after the merger year on the basis of financial performance. A univariate test of differences and a multivariate test, probit analysis, are used to distinguish between the two groups. Improvements in operating performance are found for the merged savings institutions.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE AND STOCK MARKET BASED MEASURES OF CORPORATE DIVERSIFICATION
Authors: Jahera John S. , Lloyd William P. , Page Daniel E. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTThis study examines the relationship between corporate diversification and financial performance. The use of a stock market based measure of diversification allowed a much larger database than in previous studies and overcame the subjective nature of measuring internal diversification. Because previous researchers found that firm size affected performance, size was controlled in this analysis. The authors conclude that there is no statistically significant relationship between the degree of internal diversification and financial performance.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EARNINGS YIELD AND MARKET VALUE: EVIDENCE FROM THE AMERICAN STOCK EXCHANGE
Authors: Rogers Ronald C. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTThis paper provides new evidence on the empirical anomalies known as the earnings/price (E/P) effect and the size effect in the pricing of common stock. Previous authors have arrived at contradictory conclusions regarding the existence and relative importance of the anomalies, and the intent of this paper is to help clarify the issues. An empirical method used in a previous study of these issues is replicated and applied to a new set of firms—those traded on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX). This approach assures comparability with previous results and provides a sample with different market value and E/P distributions. The results from the AMEX suggest that the size effect and the E/P effect both exist and that the size effect is predominant. These results persist even after accounting for the January effect.
EFFECTS OF INFLATION ON CAPITAL STRUCTURE
Authors: Kim Moon K. , Wu Chunchi 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study is to examine the aggregate capital structure based on several factors that affect the demand for and supply of corporate debt. The main hypotheses are that under inflation the larger the amount of depreciation and the larger the yield differences between corporate and municipal bonds and between corporate bonds and equities, the larger the amount of corporate debt. The empirical tests performed in this study support these hypotheses.
AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF BEN GRAHAM'S NET CURRENT ASSET VALUE RULE
Authors: Vu Joseph D. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTThis paper presents evidence that the net current asset value rule developed by Ben Graham in 1930 is still profitable in the 1970s and early 1980s. The abnormal gain is not due to future mergers because both the merged and nonmerged subsamples have positive and statistically significant returns in the post‐event period.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BEFORE‐ AND AFTER‐TAX YIELDS ON FINANCIAL ASSETS
Authors: Bey Roger P. , Collins J. Markham 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTIn this research, the traditional approximation that after‐tax yields equal before‐tax yields times one minus the tax rate is shown in general to be incorrect. The traditional relationship holds only for one‐year assets and perpetuities when a single tax rate applies to both ordinary income and capital gains. For all other multiperiod assets, the correct relationship is much more complex and is a function of the statutory tax rates on ordinary income and capital gains, the holding period, the dividend growth rate for common stocks, and any premium or discount on bonds. The direction of bond price changes is related inversely to the direction of the tax rate changes, but the direction of common stock price changes is related ambiguously to the direction of tax rate changes.