bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Generation of novel conditional and hypomorphic alleles of the Smad2 gene
Authors: Liu Ye , Festing Maria H. , Hester Mark , Thompson John C. , Weinstein Michael 
Published: September 2004

AbstractSmad2 is an intracellular mediator of the transforming growth factor beta signaling (TGFβ) pathway. It has been previously shown that, in the mouse, ablation of functional Smad2 results in embryonic lethality due to gastrulation defects. To circumvent the early lethality and study the spatially and temporally specific functions of Smad2, we utilized the Cre‐loxP system to generate a Smad2 conditional allele. Here we show that a conditional allele, Smad2flox, was generated. In this allele, exons 9 and 10 are flanked by loxP sites and the gene is functionally wildtype. Cre‐mediated recombination results in a deletion allele which phenocopies our previously reported Smad2ΔC null mutation. To generate this conditional allele, we first made a targeted mutation which introduced a floxed neo cassette into intron 10. This allele (Smad23loxP) functions hypomorphically when placed opposite a null allele, and unlike the other published Smad2 hypomorphic allele, can be maintained in the homozygous state. genesis 40:118–123, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sensory topography of the oral cavity and the impact of free flap reconstruction: A preliminary study
Authors: Zur Karen B. , Genden Eric M. , Urken Mark L. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractBackground.The purpose of this prospective randomized study was to (1) assess the computerized pressure‐specific sensory device (PSSD) as a tool for measuring oral cavity sensation, (2) establish a topographic sensory map of the oral cavity, and (3) objectively evaluate postoperative sensory recovery of noninnervated oral cavity free flap reconstruction.Methods.Twenty‐three healthy control subjects were recruited to test four intraoral sites and the volar forearm. Sensory scores were evaluated for consistent trends between an established sensory tool, the Semmes Weinstein Monofilament (SWM), and the PSSD. Sensory control values were then compared with those of 18 patients who underwent reconstruction of the oral cavity with a noninnervated microvascular free flap.Results.The SWM testing demonstrated the lowest sensory thresholds in the lower lip, followed by the lateral tongue, buccal mucosa, and central tongue. The PSSD also demonstrated the lowest sensory thresholds in the lower lip followed by the lateral tongue; however, the central tongue demonstrated a lower sensory threshold than did the buccal mucosa. The neotongue of patients with noninnervated free flaps demonstrated inferior sensation compared with the native tongue (p < .05).Conclusions.We have established normal sensory values for the oral cavity, skin of the volar forearm, and noninnervated free flap tissue within the oral cavity. Although discrepancies exist between the data derived from the SWM and the PSSD, the PSSD represents a reliable, sensitive, and easy method for assessing sensation of the oral cavity. Furthermore, PSSD testing is not affected by saliva or movement. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 26: 884–889,2004
Revisiting the use and effectiveness of modern management practices
Authors: Wood S.J. , Stride C.B. , Wall T.D. , Clegg C.W. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractA survey of UK manufacturing companies in 1996 (Waterson et al., 1999) found modest levels of use and success of modern management practices, such as total quality management, just‐in‐time, teamworking, and empowerment. However, the large majority of companies planned increased use of the practices. In this paper we report the results of a follow‐up survey conducted 4 years later. The aim was to assess whether the use of these practices had indeed increased within manufacturing by revisiting a sample of firms from the original study. In addition, data were collected from a sample of service companies to assess the extent to which the practices extend beyond manufacturing. The findings show that both the use and success of the modern management practices in manufacturing companies increased substantially between 1996 and 2000, and the practices are not limited to manufacturing. Service companies made equal use of total quality management and human resource practices, though they made less use of operational practices such as just‐in‐time. There are only minor differences between sectors in the reported success of the practices, with manufacturing companies tending to report greater success with operational practices. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 14: 415–432, 2004.
Item recognition is less impaired than recall and associative recognition in a patient with selective hippocampal damage
Authors: Holdstock J.S. , Mayes A.R. , Gong Q.Y. , Roberts N. , Kapur N. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThis article explores the recall, item recognition, and associative recognition memory of patient B.E., whose pattern of retrograde amnesia was reported by Kapur and Brooks (1999; Hippocampus 9:1–8). Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has shown that B.E. has bilateral damage restricted to the hippocampus. The structural damage he had sustained was accompanied by bilateral hypoperfusion of the temporal lobe, revealed by positron emission tomography (PET), and which single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) suggested was greater in the left than the right temporal lobe. B.E. showed a global anterograde amnesia for verbal material, but he displayed some sparing of nonverbal item recognition relative to nonverbal recall and associative recognition. His performance on an item recognition task that used the remember/know procedure and another that involved repetition of the test phase, to reduce the difference between the familiarity of the targets and foils, suggested that his relatively spared nonverbal item recognition may have been mainly supported by familiarity. This finding is consistent with the view that the anterior temporal lobe, including the perirhinal cortex, can support familiarity‐based memory judgments (Brown and Bashir, 2002; Philos Trans R Soc Lond B 357:1083–1095). B.E.'s data also highlight the importance of functional as well as structural scan information for interpreting the pattern of memory deficits shown by patients with selective hippocampal structural lesions. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The development of a multirater instrument for assessing employee problem‐solving skill
Authors: Lohman Margaret C. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThis study was an exploratory investigation of the development of a multirater instrument to measure employee problem‐solving skill. The instrument consisted of two parallel forms: an employee self‐assessment and a supervisory assessment. For the self‐assessment, twenty employees rated the degree to which they engage in activities commonly associated with seven stages of effective problem solving: (1) problem identification, (2) goal selection, (3) generation of alternative solutions, (4) consideration of consequences associated with alternative solutions, (5) approach to decision making, (6) implementation of solutions, and (7) evaluation of solutions. For the supervisory assessment, each employee's supervisor rated the employee on the same activities.Analysis of the data found that supervisors rated their employees significantly lower than the employees rated themselves on three of the seven problem‐solving stages (problem identification, goal selection, and consideration of consequences). In addition, an examination of the paired scores for each employee and his or her supervisor found significant differences for eleven of the twenty employee‐supervisor pairs on one or more of the seven problem‐solving stages. Analysis of the data also found that the ratings of supervisors were more stable than the self‐ratings of employees. Possible explanations for these findings and their implications for HRD theory, practice, and research are discussed.
Frequent downregulation of the runt domain transcription factors RUNX1, RUNX3 and their cofactor CBFB in gastric cancer
Authors: Sakakura Chouhei , Hagiwara Akeo , Miyagawa Koji , Nakashima Susumu , Yoshikawa Tetsuji , Kin Shuichi , Nakase Yuenn , Ito Kosei , Yamagishi Hisakazu , Yazumi Shujiro , Chiba Tsutomu , Ito Yoshiaki 
Published: September 2004

AbstractOur previous studies suggest that lack of RUNX3 function is causally related to the genesis and progression of human gastric cancer, but potential roles of other members of the RUNX family genes have not yet been reported. We examined the expression of 3 Runt‐related (RUNX) genes, RUNX1, RUNX2 and CBFB, in gastric cancer cell lines and primary gastric cancer specimens and compared them to those of RUNX3 reported earlier in conjunction with clinicopathologic factors. Expression of RUNX family genes in 9 gastric cancer cell lines, 56 primary gastric cancer specimens and surrounding normal gastric mucosa were estimated by Northern blot analysis, quantitative RT‐PCR and in situ hybridization. Northern blot analysis in gastric cancer cell lines showed downregulation of RUNX1 and RUNX3 in 67% and 78% of the cell lines tested, respectively. The ratio of the average RUNX mRNA/β‐actin mRNA ratio (×103) for RUNX1 was 48.0 ± 21.1 vs. 21.4 ± 8.1; RUNX2, 1.1 ± 0.3 vs. 1.0 ± 0.2; RUNX3, 9.2 ± 6.3 vs. 3.1 ± 1.3 and CBFB, 42.0 ± 19.4 vs. 21.0 ± 8.4 (normal vs. tumor, respectively, average ±SD). The basal RUNX2 expression was very weak, and there was no significant change in gastric cancers. Both RUNX1 and RUNX3 showed remarkable downregulation in 62% and 69%, respectively, of surgically resected specimens compared to surrounding mucosa analyzed by quantitative RT‐PCR (p < 0.01). Furthermore, CBFB, the gene encoding the cofactor of RUNX1, ‐2, ‐3, was also downregulated in significant fraction (32%, p < 0.05). The percentage of downregulation of RUNX1, RUNX3 and CBFB increased as the cancer stage progressed. Tricostatin A and 5′‐azacitidin reactivate RUNX3 expression, but they could not reactivate expression of RUNX1 and CBFB in gastric cancer cells, suggesting that the downregulation was due to mechanisms other than methylation of the promoter region. These findings suggest that RUNX1 and CBFB in addition to RUNX3 play some roles in gastric cancers and that roles of RUNX gene family in gastric cancer are more widespread and complex than previously realized.
Community outreach for children exposed to violence
Authors: Osofsky Joy D. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractChildren are traumatized by community and domestic‐violence exposure as victims and witnesses. Being exposed to violence and being abused also can doubly traumatize them. Information on the effects of violence exposure on children is presented in this article, including developmental implications, resultant behaviors, and the most extreme reaction, posttraumatic stress disorder. Parental and caregiver traumatization also are discussed. Prevention and early intervention are very important both to reduce exposure to violence and to reach children shortly after exposure. An innovative program, the Violence Intervention Program for Children and Families, which is designed to work with police officers as first responders as a way to reach traumatized children earlier, is presented. The importance of community outreach for better prevention and intervention is emphasized. The conclusion stresses that, for infants and toddlers who may not have language to express how they are feeling, it is important to be sensitive to the unique experience and meaning of violence exposure for that child.
New scaffold for recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein‐2
Authors: Kamakura S. , Nakajo S. , Suzuki O. , Sasano Y. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractA bioactive and resorbable scaffold is necessary to exhibit the osteoinductive potency of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (rhBMP‐2). In a previous study, we found that synthetic octacalcium phosphate (OCP) enhances bone regeneration and is replaced by newly formed bone after it is resorbed. We hypothesized that OCP may be useful as an effective scaffold for rhBMP‐2 to enhance bone regeneration. To test this hypothesis, the present study was designed to investigate whether an OCP/BMP composite implant could more effectively enhance bone regeneration. A critical‐sized defect was made in a rat calvarium and 1. 15 mg of OCP combined with 10 μg of rhBMP‐2 (OCP/BMP 10 μg), 2. 15 mg of OCP combined with 1 μg of rhBMP‐2 (OCP/BMP 1 μg), or 3. OCP (OCP alone) was implanted into the defect and fixed at 4 or 8 weeks after implantation. The percentage of newly formed bone (n‐Bone%) in the defect was determined by a histomorphometrical analysis. A statistical analysis showed that n‐Bone% with OCP/BMP was significantly higher than that with OCP at both time points, whereas the difference in n‐Bone% between OCP/BMP 10 μg and OCP/BMP 1 μg was not significant. The present results suggest that OCP can be used as an effective scaffold for rhBMP‐2 and this OCP delivery system may be able to reduce the standard effective dose of rhBMP‐2, which would be beneficial because low doses (<100 μg/g OCP) of rhBMP‐2 enhance bone regeneration. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 71A: 299–307, 2004
Biodegradable poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels crosslinked with genipin for tissue engineering applications
Authors: Moffat Kristen L. , Marra Kacey G. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractIn this study amino‐terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG‐diamine) hydrogels were crosslinked with genipin, a chemical naturally derived from the gardenia fruit. Dissolution, swelling, and PEG–genipin release properties were determined. The dissolution studies indicated that the hydrogels are water soluble, and that the dissolution rate was concentration, mass, and temperature dependent. The dissolution rates are easily tailored from 3 min to >100 days. The PEG–genipin release study indicated that the greatest release occurs within the first 24 h of immersion in water, and that incubation at 37 °C elicits a greater initial release than samples incubated at room temperature for all genipin concentrations. Through scanning electron microscopy it was observed that the hydrogels are porous, and surface morphology changes before and after swelling. Furthermore, smooth muscle cell (SMC) adhesion studies indicated that the PEG–genipin hydrogel is a suitable substrate for SMC seeding. Overall, the results of these studies indicate that PEG–genipin hydrogels may provide potential scaffolding for a variety of tissue engineering applications. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 71B: 181–187, 2004
Statins inhibit in vitro calcification of human vascular smooth muscle cells induced by inflammatory mediators
Authors: Kizu Akane , Shioi Atsushi , Jono Shuichi , Koyama Hidenori , Okuno Yasuhisa , Nishizawa Yoshiki 
Published: September 2004

AbstractAlthough lipid‐lowering therapy with 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) decreases the progression of coronary artery and aortic valve calcification, the mechanism of action of these drugs to inhibit the calcification process remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of statins such as cerivastatin and atorvastatin on vascular calcification by utilizing an in vitro model of inflammatory vascular calcification. Cerivastatin and atorvastatin dose‐dependently inhibited in vitro calcification of human vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMCs) induced by the following inflammatory mediators (IM): interferon‐γ, 1α,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3, tumor necrosis factor‐α, and oncostatin M. These statins also depressed expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in HVSMCs induced by these factors. Mevalonate and geranylgeranylpyrophosphate reversed the inhibitory effect of cerivastatin on ALP expression in HVSMCs, while farnesylpyrophosphate showed no effect on the ALP activities inhibited by this drug, suggesting that inhibition of Rho and its downstream target, Rho kinase may mediate the inhibitory effect of cerivastatin. Cerivastatin prevented RhoA activation in HVSMCs induced by the IM. A specific inhibitor of Rho kinase (Y‐27632) inhibited in vitro calcification and induction of ALP in HVSMCs. These findings provide a possible mechanism of statins to prevent the progression of calcification in inflammatory vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and cardiac valvular calcification. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression profiling of genes and proteins in HaCaT keratinocytes: Proliferating versus differentiated state
Authors: Lemaître Gilles , Lamartine Jérôme , Pitaval Amandine , Vaigot Pierre , Garin Jérôme , Bouet Stephan , Petat Cyrille , Soularue Pascal , Gidrol Xavier , Martin Michèle T. , Waksman Gilles 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThe knowledge of the mechanism of keratinocyte differentiation in culture is still uncompleted. The emergence of new technologies, such as cDNA microarrays or 2D electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry analysis, has allowed the identification of genes and proteins expressed in biological processes in keratinocytes. Here, we report a genome wide analysis of proliferating versus differentiated human HaCaT keratinocytes. We found that genes and proteins which take part in the cell cycle control, carbohydrate metabolism, cell auto‐immunity, adhesion and cytokine signal transduction pathways were regulated in differentiated HaCaT keratinocytes. In addition, we identified seven proteins and 33 transcripts that had not been previously described as differentially expressed in proliferating versus differentiated HaCaT cells. Furthermore, some of these transcripts or proteins were similarly regulated in human primary keratinocytes and in human epidermis. The present study opens new areas of investigation in the comprehension of keratinocyte differentiation. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Overlapping expression of Runx1(Cbfa2) and Runx2(Cbfa1) transcription factors supports cooperative induction of skeletal development
Authors: Smith Nathan , Dong Yufeng , Lian Jane B. , Pratap Jitesh , Kingsley Paul D. , van Wijnen Andre J. , Stein Janet L. , Schwarz Edward M. , O'Keefe Regis J. , Stein Gary S. , Drissi M. Hicham 
Published: September 2004

AbstractIdentifying the genetic pathways that regulate skeletal development is necessary to correct a variety of cartilage and bone abnormalities. The Runx family of transcription factors play a fundamental role in organ development and cell differentiation. Initial studies have shown that both Runx1 and Runx2 are expressed in pre‐chondrogenic mesenchyme of the developing embryo at E12.5. Abrogation of the Runx2 gene completely inhibits bone formation yet the cartilage anlagen in these mice is fully formed. In the present study, we hypothesized that Runx1 may compensate for the lack of Runx2 in vivo to induce the early stages of skeletal formation and development. Histologic β‐gal stained sections using the Runx1+/−‐Lac‐Z mice demonstrate Runx1 promoter activity in pre‐chondrocytic cell populations. In situ hybridization using Runx1 and Runx2 specific probes indicate that both factors are expressed in mesenchymal stem cell progenitors during early embryonic development. During later stages of mouse skeletal formation, Runx1 is excluded from the hypertrophic cartilage while Runx2 is present in these matured chondrocyte populations. Quantification of Runx expression by real time RT‐PCR and Western blot analyses reveals that Runx1 and Runx2 are differentially modulated during embryogenesis suggesting a temporal role for each of these transcriptional regulators during skeletal formation. We provide evidence that haploinsufficiency results in normal appearing embryo skeletons of heterozygote Runx2 and Runx1 mutant mouse models; however, a delay in bone formation was identified in the calvarium. In summary, our results support a function for Runx1 and Runx2 during skeletal development with a possible role for Runx1 in mediating early events of endochondral and intramembranous bone formation, while Runx2 is a potent inducer of late stages of chondrocyte and osteoblast differentiation. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Intratesticular arterial resistance and testicular volume in infertile men with subclinical varicocele
Authors: Akcar Nevbahar , Turgut Mehmet , Adapınar Baki , Ozkan I. Ragıp 
Published: September 2004

AbstractPurposeThe aim of this study was to evaluate whether intratesticular arterial resistance and testicular volume differed between infertile men with subclinical varicoceles and infertile men without varicoceles.Materials and MethodsFifty‐eight infertile men were examined by gray‐scale and color Doppler sonography for presence of varicocele, testicular volume, and arterial resistance. For men in the study group, mean testicular volume and resistance index (RI) in testes with varicoceles were compared with those in the contralateral testis by the paired t‐test; statistical analyses between the study and control groups were performed by independent t‐tests.ResultsTwenty‐seven men had left‐sided varicoceles (96% of which were subclinical), and 31 infertile men without varicoceles served as controls. Mean volumes of the right and left testes of study subjects were 14.8 ml and 14.6 ml, respectively, and in controls were 14.2 ml and 13.6 ml, respectively. Mean RI values for the right and left testes of study subjects were 0.61 and 0.58, respectively, and in controls were 0.61 and 0.58, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in volume or RI, either between the right and left testes within patient groups or between the control and study groups' combined mean values. While the mean intertesticular volume differences for the study and control groups were 2.2 ml and 3.4 ml, respectively, the mean intertesticular RI differences were 0.04 and 0.07, respectively. These values also did not differ significantly between the 2 groups.ConclusionsSubclinical varicocele is not associated with ipsilateral testicular atrophy, and does not affect the intratesticular arterial RI. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 32:389–393, 2004
A new role for chondrocytes as non‐professional phagocytes. An in vitro study
Authors: Castillo Elena Cristina González , Kourí Juan B. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractChondrocytes are capable of engulfing latex particles, cell detritus, and necrotic and apoptotic remains in vitro. It is conceivable that chondrocytes might be involved in the clearance by phagocytosis of different materials within the cartilage. In fact, so far there is no evidence for the presence of “professional phagocytes” (macrophages and neutrophils) in this tissue. Chondrocyte suspensions obtained from rat knees and hips were cultured to assess phagocytosis of latex particles (1 μm), articular cartilage detritus, and necrotic and apoptotic chondrocyte remains (induced by VP‐16 1 mM). We observed that chondrocytes phagocytosed latex particles as evaluated by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. In addition, we observed that chondrocytes phagocytosed articular cartilage detritus and necrotic and apoptotic VP‐16 induced‐chondrocytes, as observed by bright field microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Microsc. Res. Tech. 64:269–278, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Peptide and protein characterization by high‐rate electron capture dissociation Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. J. Mass Spectrom. 2004; 39(7): 719–729
Authors: Tsybin Youri O. , Ramström Margareta , Witt Matthias , Baykut Gökhan , Håkansson Per 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThe original article to which this Erratum refers was published in Journal of Mass Spectrometry 39 (7) 2004; 719–729. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.