bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gene transfer of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide into the penis improves erectile response in the diabetic rat
Authors: Shen Zhou‐Jun , Wang Hua , Lu Ying‐Li , Zhou Xie‐Lai , Chen Shan‐Wen , Chen Zhao‐Dian 
Published: March 2005

OBJECTIVESTo determine the feasibility of transfecting penile corpora cavernosa with pcDNA3/vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) cDNA, which encodes for VIP in streptozotocin (STZ)‐diabetic rats, to clarify whether transfection of VIP cDNA into the cavernosum affects the physiological response to cavernosal nerve stimulation, and whether this process would affect other organs in the diabetic rat model in vivo.MATERIALS AND METHODSpcDNA3/VIP cDNA was injected into the corpus cavernosum of STZ‐induced diabetic Sprague‐Dawley rats. The intracavernosal pressure (ICP) and response to electrical stimulation of the cavernosal nerve (15 Hz, 1.5 ms, 20 V, 1 min) were measured in subsamples of rats at 1, 3, 7 and 14 days after injection; after measuring the ICP the animals were killed, and penile, hepatic, renal artery and abdominal aorta tissue samples were frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at −80° C. The gene expression of VIP in all samples, assessed as the expression of VIP mRNA, was estimated using a semiquantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction.RESULTSThe mean amplitude of ICP and expression of VIP mRNA in the cavernosa of the VIP‐treated rats was greater at 1, 3, 7 and 14 days after injection (P < 0.05) than in the control animals. There were no changes in the expression of VIP mRNA in hepatic, renal and abdominal aorta samples after injection (P > 0.05).CONCLUSIONSVIP cDNA is easily incorporated into corpus cavernosum, and the expression is sustained for ≥ 2 weeks in the penis in vivo. The transfer of VIP is capable of altering the physiologically relevant erectile response, as measured by an increase in the ICP after stimulating the cavernosal nerve. The intracorporal micro‐injection of pcDNA3/VIP cDNA had little effect on the expression of VIP mRNA in other important organs.
Local anaesthetic infiltration increases the accuracy of assessment of ulnar collateral ligament injuries
Authors: Cooper Jamie G , Johnstone Alan J , Hider Phil , Ardagh Michael W 
Published: March 2005

AbstractObjective:  To assess the effectiveness of a systematic examination of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ) prior to and post infiltration of local anaesthetic.Methods:  During the study period from 24 October 2001 to 22 February 2002, 51 patients with clinical signs suggestive of UCL injuries were identified prospectively from initial ED attendances and attendances at a subsequent review clinic. Patients were formally assessed a mean of 6.6 days post injury. A single ED Senior House Officer carried out examination before and after direct infiltration of local anaesthetic around the site of injury. Stress radiography was also performed as the ‘gold standard’ diagnostic test of UCL instability.Results:  Forty‐seven patients were enrolled in the study. When reviewed by the single observer, examination prior to and post local anaesthetic infiltration revealed a degree of joint stability in 28% (95% CI 16–43%) and 98% (95% CI 88–100%) cases, respectively, compared to the gold standard. Post infiltration, this technique had a specificity of 100% (95% CI 94–100%) and a sensitivity of 87.5% (95% CI 74–95%) (P < 0.001). Stress radiography offered additional information in one patient. A total of eight patients previously underdiagnosed in the ED were found to have unstable thumb MCPJs.Conclusion:  This simple technique improves assessment of suspected UCL injuries approximately 1 week post injury. Further studies are indicated to determine its effectiveness in the ED immediately post injury.
Management of chronic heart failure: An old disease with a new face
Authors: Prendergast Heather M , Bunney E Bradshaw 
Published: March 2005

AbstractHeart failure is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. It affects over 5 million patients annually. There are an estimated 400 000–700 000 new cases diagnosed each year. The management of heart failure has changed significantly over the last decade. This review focuses on the pharmacologic management of systolic heart failure, and provides current recommendations for the practicing acute care provider.
Death by oral ingestion of iodine
Authors: Edwards Nicholas A , Quigley Paul , Hackett L Peter , James Ross 
Published: March 2005

AbstractWe report the clinical and toxicological features of a case of fatal iodine ingestion, and summarize the physiology, clinical characteristics and management of iodine ingestion. Physicians are likely to have little experience in managing such patients, particularly with the advent of less toxic preparations, and therefore need ready access to management guidelines. This case also highlights the potential for substances to retain their toxicity over long periods of time.
Detection of BRAF mutations in colorectal tumours and peritoneal washings using a mismatch ligation assay
Authors: Busby K , Morris A 
Published: March 2005

Aims:To detect cells bearing BRAF mutations in colorectal tumour samples and peritoneal washings, using a mismatch ligation assay (MLA).Methods:DNA from 46 colorectal tumours was studied. Part of exon 15 of the BRAF gene was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction, and T→A mutations at codon 600 were detected using MLA. When a mutation was detected, the same mutation was sought in peritoneal washings from that patient.Results:BRAF mutations were detected in five of the 45 analysable tumour samples. In four cases, this result was confirmed by sequencing analysis. More tumours with BRAF mutations were Dukes’ stage C or D rather than A or B (p < 0.02). Dilution experiments revealed that one mutant cell could be detected in 1000 normal cells. Cells with the same BRAF mutation were present in the peritoneal washing taken at the start of the operation in four of the five patients.Conclusions:MLA is a suitable technique for the detection of BRAF mutations, and allows the detection of small numbers of isolated tumour cells shed from the primary tumour.
Significant expression of IGFBP2 in breast cancer compared with benign lesions
Authors: Busund L-T , Richardsen E , Busund R , Ukkonen T , Bjørnsen T , Busch C , Stalsberg H 
Published: March 2005

Background/Aim:Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) play a role in the normal development of breast tissue, and possibly in breast cancer aetiology. IGFBP2, one of six members of the IGFBP superfamily, acts as regulator of the IGFs and has pleiotropic effects in normal and neoplastic tissues. Because IGFs have mitogenic effects on mammary epithelia, this study investigated IGFBP2 expression in mammary tissues of different benign and malignant entities.Methods:Immunohistochemistry was used to study correlations between the presence and intensity of IGFBP2 staining and tumour type and grade, in addition to steroid hormone receptor status, in 120 breast specimens. Expression was measured by quantitative colour video image analysis and semiquantitative evaluation, and the measurements correlated well (r = 0.92; p<0.05).Results:Both methods found no significant expression of IGFBP2 in normal glandular cells and hyperplasia (group I). Atypical hyperplasia showed a slightly increased cytoplasmic expression of IGFBP2, and carcinoma in situ showed a distinctive, membrane associated and cytoplasmic expression (group II). Infiltrating carcinomas strongly expressed cytoplasmic IGFBP2 (group III). There were significant differences between group I and II, and between group II and III. There were no significant differences between invasive lobular and invasive ductal carcinoma, or between grades I, II, and III within these entities. There was no significant correlation between IGFBP2 immunostaining and oestrogen or progesterone receptor positivity within the malignant group.Conclusions:IGFBP2 mitogenic signals of autocrine/paracrine regulatory mechanisms may be responsible for the growth of breast carcinomas and IGFBP2 may be an independent indicator of malignancy.
Histological features used in the diagnosis of melanoma are frequently found in benign melanocytic naevi
Authors: Urso C , Rongioletti F , Innocenzi D , Batolo D , Chimenti S , Fanti P L , Filotico R , Gianotti R , Lentini M , Tomasini C , Pippione M 
Published: March 2005

Aims:The histological features used in the diagnosis of melanoma may be present in benign naevi, but quantitative data are not available. The aim of this study was to establish the real prevalence of such features in naevi.Methods:Ten dermatopathologists, from nine Italian institutions, studied a series of naevi. Eleven histological parameters currently used in melanoma diagnosis were analysed: asymmetry, poor circumscription, predominance of single melanocytes, irregular confluent nests, suprabasal melanocytes, hair follicle involvement, absence of maturation, cytological atypia, dermal lymphocytic infiltrate, mitoses, and necrosis.Results:Ninety one naevi were examined: 22 junctional, 59 compound, and 10 intradermal. None of the studied parameters was seen in 22 of the benign naevi studied. One or more investigated features were found in 69 naevi. Poor circumscription was found in 49 cases, single melanocytic predominating in 42, asymmetry in 41, irregular confluent nests in 16, cytological atypia in 14, suprabasal melanocytes in seven, and hair follicle involvement in seven; absence of maturation, mitoses and necrosis were not found.Conclusions:The histological features used for the histological diagnosis of melanoma are often present in benign melanocytic naevi. This suggests a critical, non-mechanical use of them in melanoma diagnosis.
Differences in growth characteristics and elementary body associated cytotoxicity betweenChlamydia trachomatisoculogenital serovars D and H andChlamydia muridarum
Authors: Lyons J M , Ito J I , Peña A S , Morré S A 
Published: March 2005

Aim:In vitro growth and elementary body (EB) associated cytotoxicity of twoChlamydia trachomatisstrains belonging to serovars D and H andC muridarumwere compared to identify difference(s) that correlate with virulence variations between these strains in the mouse model of human female genital tract infection, and phenotypic characteristics that could explain human epidemiological data on serovar prevalence and levels of shedding during serovar D and H infection.Methods:Replication cycle kinetics, inclusion characteristics, and EB associated cytotoxicity were assessed in McCoy cell monolayers using culture, light microscopy, and lactate dehydrogenase release.Results:Over 72 hours, more rapid production and release of inclusion forming units (ifu) allowedC muridarumto initiate two replication rounds, resulting in 4–8 times more ifu/input unit of infection than with serovars D and H. AlthoughC muridarumEBs were significantly more cytotoxic to McCoy cell monolayers than serovar D at moderate and high multiplicity of infection ratios (MOI), serovar H EBs were significantly more cytotoxic thanC muridarum, even at the lowest MOI tested.Conclusions:These phenotypic differences are consistent with the more invasive course and severe pathological outcome of infection in mice infected withC muridarum, providing an objective basis for questioning the appropriateness ofC muridarumas a surrogate for the human biovar ofC trachomatisin the murine model of female genital tract infection. The differences seen between the human strains could help explain human epidemiological data relating to differences in prevalence and level of shedding that occurs during infection with oculogenital serovars D and H.
Bone marrow biopsy morbidity: review of 2003: Table 1
Authors: Bain B J 
Published: March 2005

Background:Although some hazards are recognised, in general, bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy are thought to be safe procedures. Until recently, no attempt had been made to quantify any attendant risks. For this reason, documentation of adverse events was begun in 2001, under the auspices of the British Society for Haematology. Three consecutive years have now been surveyed, the results for 2003 being presented here and compared with earlier results.Methods:Members of the British Society of Haematology were requested to document adverse events associated with diagnostic bone marrow aspirates and trephine biopsies between 1 January and 31 December, 2003. Data were collected early in 2004.Results:In total, 19 259 procedures were reported from 63 hospitals, 13 147 being combined procedures and 6112 aspirates without a trephine biopsy. Sixteen adverse events were reported, representing 0.08% of total reported procedures. The major adverse event was haemorrhage, which comprised 11 of the 16 adverse events. Although infrequent, adverse events were associated with significant morbidity and three were judged as very serious. The major risk factors for haemorrhage, in order of frequency, were diagnosis of a myeloproliferative disorder, aspirin treatment, other putative platelet dysfunctions, and thrombocytopenia.Conclusions:Adverse events following trephine biopsies and bone marrow aspirates are rare, but nevertheless can have considerable impact on individual patients.
Dorsal and Ventral Stream Interaction: Contributions from Optic Ataxia
Authors: Himmelbach Marc , Karnath Hans-Otto 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
In monkeys and humans, two functionally specialized cortical streams of visual processing emanating from V1 have been proposed: a dorsal, action-related system and a ventral, perception-related pathway. Traditionally, a separate organization of the two streams is assumed; the extent of functional interaction is unknown. After lesions of the dorsal stream in patients with optic ataxia, it has recently been shown that the ventral perception-related system might contribute to visuo-motor processing if movements rely on remembered target positions. The ventral pathway thus seemed to participate in goal-directed movements, a function that previously has been assigned exclusively to the dorsal stream. We wondered whether different types of pointing movements are controlled by switching between two separated cortical pathways or whether a variable interaction of interconnected systems should be assumed. Our study investigated two acute stroke patients with optic ataxia following lesions of the dorsal stream in a delayed pointing task. The delays ranged from 0 to 10 sec. The patients' pointing error decreased in a linear manner with the length of time. The finding suggests a gradual change between dorsal and ventral control of reaching behavior, rather than a sudden switch between two separated cortical processing streams. Although our observations with two patients require further validation, the results suggest that the ventral and dorsal systems interact closely in the sensorimotor control of reaching behavior.
To Look or Not to Look? Typical and Atypical Development of Oculomotor Control
Authors: Scerif Gaia , Karmiloff-Smith Annette , Campos Ruth , Elsabbagh Mayada , Driver Jon , Cornish Kim 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
The ability to inhibit saccades toward suddenly appearing peripheral stimuli (prosaccades) and direct them to contralateral locations instead (antisaccades) is a crucial marker of eye movement control. Typically developing infants as young as 4-month-olds can learn to inhibit reflexive saccades to peripheral stimuli, but they do not produce antisaccades, whose development later in infancy and its underlying neural computations remain unexplored. Here we tested oculomotor control in typically developing toddlers and toddlers with fragile X syndrome (FXS), a disorder of known genetic origin that allows the investigation of the neuro-computational properties contributing to the development of saccadic control. Typically developing toddlers decreased looking toward peripheral cues that predicted contralateral rewards, whose appearance they anticipated. Furthermore, this correlated with age, indicating a gradual development of saccadic control. In contrast with the typical case, toddlers with FXS did not decrease their looks to peripheral onsets that predicted contralateral events. Importantly, the atypical pattern of performance was also evident in the elimination of the correlation with mental or chronological age found in controls. Taken together, the findings suggest that control of saccades and its developmental trajectory is atypical in toddlers with FXS, consistent with inhibitory deficits previously shown at later ages in this condition. Potential implications for the neural mechanisms underlying the typical and atypical development of oculomotor control are discussed.
Common Mechanisms for Working Memory and Attention: The Case of Perseveration with Visible Solutions
Authors: Stedron Jennifer Merva , Sahni Sarah Devi , Munakata Yuko 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
Everyone perseverates at one time or another, repeating previous behaviors when they are no longer appropriate. Such perseveration often occurs in situations with working memory demands, and the ability to overcome perseveration has been linked to brain regions critical for working memory. Many theories thus explain perseveration in terms of working memory deficits. However, perseveration also occurs in situations without apparent working memory demands, in which the visible environment specifies appropriate behavior. Such findings appear to challenge working memory accounts of perseveration. To evaluate this challenge, a neural network model of a working memory account of perseveration was tested on tasks with visible solutions. With advances in the mechanisms that support working memory, networks became increasingly able to attend to relevant information in the environment. These developments led to improvements in performance on tasks with visible solutions, paralleling the developmental progression observed in infants. The simulations demonstrate how mechanisms of working memory can subserve perseveration and success on tasks with and without obvious memory demands. In both types of tasks, controlled processing occurs through the activation of task-relevant representations, which provide top-down biasing of other processing pathways. More generally, the simulations demonstrate how common mechanisms can support working memory and attention.
Synoptic Disturbances over the Equatorial South China Sea and Western Maritime Continent during Boreal Winter
Authors: Chang C-P. , Harr P. A. , Chen H-J. 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
During boreal winter, the Maritime Continent is a region of deep cumulus convection and heavy precipitation systems that play a major role in several global- and regional-scale processes. Over the western part of this region, the synoptic-scale Borneo vortex, the northeast cold surge, and the intraseasonal Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) contribute to the variability in deep convection. This work studies the impact on deep convection due to interactions among these three different motion systems. Furthermore, the role of the unique topography of the region is examined with respect to the variability in the synoptic-scale cold surge and Borneo vortex.
On the synoptic scale, the interaction of northeast winds with local topography and the dynamic response to the change in latitude contribute to the turning of the winds and localized patterns of deep convection. In days without a Borneo vortex, deep convection tends to be suppressed over the South China Sea and Borneo and enhanced downstream over the landmasses on the western and southern peripheries of the equatorial South China Sea. The pattern is reversed in days with a vortex. The presence of a cold surge enhances this contrast. The surge also interacts with the Borneo vortex, in that the vortex is strengthened and the vortex center shifts from over the South China Sea to be located over the western coast of Borneo.
The frequency of cold surges and vortex days is reduced during periods when the MJO is present. Composites of large-scale circulation and outgoing longwave radiation are used to show that often the MJO-related circulation patterns oppose the synoptic-scale cold-surge and vortex circulations. Thus, a primary impact of the MJO is to inhibit weak cold-surge events, which then produces a secondary impact on the Borneo vortex via interactions between the cold-surge winds and the vortex.
Conservative Semi-Lagrangian Transport on a Sphere and the Impact on Vapor Advection in an Atmospheric General Circulation Model
Authors: Peng Xindong , Xiao Feng , Ohfuchi Wataru , Fuchigami Hiromitsu 
Published: March 2005

AbstractA conservative semi-Lagrangian scheme with rational function for interpolation is implemented in spherical geometry and tested in an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM). The new scheme, different from the conventional semi-Lagrangian method, is conservative and oscillation free. By introducing polar mixing and a time split computation of divergence, the scheme can compute advection transport correctly over the polar regions. Idealized advection tests with various velocity fields were carried out to demonstrate numerical accuracy and conservation in comparison with the spectral schemes. The impact of the advection computation on water vapor circulation in an AGCM is also investigated with numerical simulations on the Earth Simulator. Both pure advection tests and general circulation experiments show that the presented scheme is effective in improving the tracer transport property and the precipitation field in comparison with the leapfrog-spectral method.
Three Years of TRMM Precipitation Features. Part I: Radar, Radiometric, and Lightning Characteristics
Authors: Cecil Daniel J. , Goodman Steven J. , Boccippio Dennis J. , Zipser Edward J. , Nesbitt Stephen W. 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
During its first three years, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite observed nearly six million precipitation features. The population of precipitation features is sorted by lightning flash rate, minimum brightness temperature, maximum radar reflectivity, areal extent, and volumetric rainfall. For each of these characteristics, essentially describing the convective intensity or the size of the features, the population is broken into categories consisting of the top 0.001%, top 0.01%, top 0.1%, top 1%, top 2.4%, and remaining 97.6%. The set of “weakest/smallest” features composes 97.6% of the population because that fraction does not have detected lightning, with a minimum detectable flash rate of 0.7 flashes (fl) min−1. The greatest observed flash rate is 1351 fl min−1; the lowest brightness temperatures are 42 K (85 GHz) and 69 K (37 GHz). The largest precipitation feature covers 335 000 km2, and the greatest rainfall from an individual precipitation feature exceeds 2 × 1012 kg h−1 of water. There is considerable overlap between the greatest storms according to different measures of convective intensity. The largest storms are mostly independent of the most intense storms. The set of storms producing the most rainfall is a convolution of the largest and the most intense storms.
This analysis is a composite of the global Tropics and subtropics. Significant variability is known to exist between locations, seasons, and meteorological regimes. Such variability will be examined in Part II. In Part I, only a crude land–ocean separation is made. The known differences in bulk lightning flash rates over land and ocean result from at least two differences in the precipitation feature population: the frequency of occurrence of intense storms and the magnitude of those intense storms that do occur. Even when restricted to storms with the same brightness temperature, same size, or same radar reflectivity aloft, the storms over water are considerably less likely to produce lightning than are comparable storms over land.