bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Virus Overlay Protein Binding Assay (VOPBA) Reveals Serotype Specific Heterogeneity of Dengue Virus Binding Proteins on HepG2 Human Liver Cells
Authors: Jindadamrongwech Sumalee , Smith Duncan R. 
Published: December 2004

<i>Objective:</i> This study sought to investigate the presence of dengue virus binding proteins expressed on the surface of HepG2 cells and to determine if there were serotype specific differences in binding. <i>Methods:</i> HepG2 cell membrane proteins were extracted and separated by SDS-PAGE, transferred to nitrocellulose membranes and incubated with dengue virus serotypes 2, 3 and 4 under varying hybridization conditions. The positions of dengue virus binding proteins were established with a pan-specific anti-dengue virus monoclonal antibody. <i>Results:</i> Dengue virus binding proteins were seen at approximately 78–80, 90, 98, and 102 kD for dengue serotype 2, 90, 130 and 182 kD for dengue serotype 3, and 90 and 130 kD for dengue serotype 4. Binding of the serotypes 3 and 4 was significantly altered by the hybridization conditions, while serotype 2 was affected to a lesser extent. <i>Conclusions:</i> The virus overlay assay used here provides further evidence that there is a serotype specific component regulating the entry of the dengue virus into cells. Given that several virus binding proteins are seen for each serotype, multiple proteins may be required to facilitate the entry of the virus into some cell types.
Five-Year Trial of Deferiprone Chelation Therapy in Thalassaemia major Patients
Authors: Taher A. , Aoun E. , Sharara A.I. , Mourad F. , Gharzuddine W. , Koussa S. , Inati A. , Dhillon A.P. , Hoffbrand A.V. 
Published: December 2004

Twelve thalassaemia major patients have been given deferiprone 75 mg/kg body weight daily as iron chelation therapy for 5 years. Their ages ranged from 18 to 34 years (mean 24.2) at the end of the study. Two patients were hepatitis C virus (HCV) mRNA positive and a further 5 were positive for HCV antibody. The mean serum ferritin level fell significantly from 4,302 ± 2,245 µg/l SD at baseline to 3,032 ± 1,155 µg/l at 2 years (p = 0.037) and 2,229 ± 1,070 µg/l (p = 0.007) at 5 years. At the end of the study, liver iron ranged from 3.59 to 23.7 mg/g dry weight (mean 11.9 ± 5.4), 3 patients having levels >15 mg/g. There was no significant change in serum AST levels, but ALT levels fell significantly at 2 years (p = 0.019) and 5 years (p = 0.001). Liver biopsy at the end of the study showed no evidence of hepatic fibrosis caused by deferiprone. Cardiac studies showed no overall change in left ventricular ejection fraction but a significant improvement in isovolumic relaxation time (p = 0.045). We conclude that in this albeit small group of thalassaemia major patients, deferiprone was a safe long-term method of iron chelation. In a minority, higher doses of deferiprone or a combination with desferrioxamine would be needed to lower liver iron below 15 mg/g.
A Study of Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin in Platinum-Refractory Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Wilailak Sarikapan , Linasmita Vasant 
Published: December 2004

<i>Objectives:</i> The purposes of this study were to determine the efficacy of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD), using a dose of 40 mg/m<sup>2</sup> given every 3 weeks, in the treatment of platinum-refractory epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and to evaluate the toxicities. <i>Methods:</i> Fourteen patients with platinum-resistant EOC were treated with intravenous PLD 40 mg/m<sup>2</sup> every 3 weeks. Tumor responses were assessed every 2–3 cycles by CT scan. <i>Results:</i> All 14 patients were evaluable for toxicity, but only 13 patients were evaluable for response because 1 patient who had grade 3 palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE) refused to continue with the treatment. Three partial responses were observed in 13 patients. The overall response rate was 23% (95% confidence interval 10–38%). The median time to response was 2 months, and the median duration of response was 3 months. The median survival of the 13 patients was 14.5 months, and the median progression-free survival was 6 months. In this study, we had only 4 cases of grade 3 toxicity (2 cases of grade 3 leukopenia and 2 cases of grade 3 PPE). All toxicities that occurred were manageable. <i>Conclusion:</i> This is the first report of the use of a slightly modified dose schedule for PLD at a dose of 40 mg/m<sup>2</sup> every 3 weeks, which is active in platinum-refractory EOC with manageable toxicities.
Nelson’s Syndrome: Complete Remission with Cabergoline but Not with Bromocriptine or Cyproheptadine Treatment
Authors: Casulari Luiz Augusto , Naves Luciana A. , Mello Paulo A. , Pereira Neto Aldo , Papadia Carla 
Published: December 2004

A woman affected by Cushing’s disease underwent bilateral adrenalectomy followed by radiotherapy of the hypothalamic-pituitary area when she was 18 years old. Thereafter, she used hydrocortisone acetate replacement therapy (35.5 mg divided into two daily doses). At the age of 26 years, the patient exhibited the clinical signs of the Nelson’s syndrome, i.e. skin and gingival hyperpigmentation accompanied by amenorrhea, and elevated ACTH plasma levels (2,850 pg/ml, normal range 15–80 pg/ml). The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis of the sellar region evidenced a pituitary macroadenoma, measuring 14 × 13 mm. The patient was initially treated with cyproheptadine hydrochloride (12 mg/day) for 18 months. There was a partial improvement of the symptoms, with a reduction of the ACTH plasma levels to 112 pg/ml, but without any modification of the tumor mass. Due to sleepiness and weight gain, the cyproheptadine treatment was interrupted and substituted by a cabergoline (0.5 mg twice a week) therapy. Soon after cabergoline was applied an improvement of the clinical symptoms and signs was observed such as a regression of the tumor mass and the normalization of the ACTH plasma titers (38 pg/ml). Later, cabergoline was substituted by bromocriptine (7.5 mg/day) and the plasma levels of ACTH increased again (247 pg/ml), and headache and cutaneous hyperpigmentation were recorded. When cabergoline was reintroduced there was a clinical improvement and normalization of ACTH plasma levels (64 pg/ml). The MRI analysis of the sella region demonstrated a complete remission of the pituitary adenoma. The results obtained show for the first time that a long-term treatment with cabergoline also brings about a complete remission of Nelson’s syndrome in the presence of a pituitary macroadenoma.
Hypothalamic Antihypertensive Effect of Irbesartan in Chronic Aortic Coarctated Rats
Authors: Höcht Christian , Opezzo Javier A.W. , Taira Carlos A. 
Published: December 2004

The aim of the present work was to study the central and plasma pharmacokinetics of irbesartan (IRB) and its possible hypothalamic antihypertensive effect in sham-operated (SO) and aortic-coarctated (ACo) rats at a chronic hypertensive stage using the microdialysis technique. Anesthetized Wistar rats were used 42 days after ACo or SO. For the study of plasma pharmacokinetics, a vascular shunt probe was inserted into the carotid artery. In a separated experiment, a concentric probe was placed into the anterior hypothalamus for the study of IRB distribution in the central nervous system. Based on the hypothalamic concentrations of IRB reached in ACo rats, the anterior hypothalamus of SO and ACo animals was perfused with a Ringer solution containing approximately 6 µg·ml<sup>–1</sup> of the drug. IRB (10 mg·kg<sup>–1</sup> i.v.) induced a late decrease of heart rate (HR) in ACo animals (ΔHR: –42 ± 10 bpm, n = 5, p < 0.05 vs. SO rats) but not in SO rats (ΔHR: 11 ± 13 bpm, n = 5). Systemic administration of the drug reduced the mean arterial pressure (MAP) of both experimental groups, but the hypotensive effect was greater in ACo (ΔMAP: –39.9 ± 5.0 mm Hg, n = 5, p < 0.05 vs. SO rats) than in SO rats (ΔMAP: –25.4 ± 2.1 mm Hg, n = 5). A similar pharmacokinetic profile was observed in both experimental groups. Hypothalamic distribution of IRB was greater in ACo (<i>AUC: </i>730 ± 130 ng·ml<sup>–1</sup> h<sup>–1</sup>, n = 5, p < 0.05 vs. SO rats) than in SO animals (<i>AUC: </i>283 ± 87 ng·ml<sup>–1</sup> h<sup>–1</sup>, n = 5). The IRB hypothalamic perfusion induced an antihypertensive effect in ACo (ΔMAP: –15.1 ± 1.0 mm Hg, n = 5, p < 0.05 vs. Ringer perfusion) but not in SO rats. In conclusion, the chronic aortic coarctation did not modify the plasma pharmacokinetics of IRB, but it increased the distribution of the drug in the central nervous system. The greater hypotensive effect of IRB observed in ACo animals suggests the involvement of AT1 receptors in the maintenance of the hypertensive stage in chronic ACo rats. The hypotensive effect of IRB in ACo animals could be explained, at least in part, due an action on the anterior hypothalamic angiotensin system.
Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis-Regulated Stress Response and Negative Feedback Sensitivity Is Altered by Prenatal Morphine Exposure in Adult Female Rats
Authors: Šlamberová Romana , Rimanóczy Ágnes , Riley Michelle A. , Vathy Ilona 
Published: December 2004

It has been shown that adult female rats react to stressors more intensely than adult male rats. Our previous work demonstrated that the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) but not corticosterone (CORT) response to stress is altered by prenatal morphine exposure in adult male rats. Response of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to stress is known to be sex specific and dependent on the hormonal fluctuation of the estrous cycle. Therefore, the present study examined the effect of prenatal morphine exposure on the levels of ACTH and CORT before and after restraint stress in adult female rats. Experiment 1 tested ACTH and CORT plasma levels before and after restraint stress in prenatally morphine- and saline-exposed, adult diestrus and proestrus female rats. Prenatal morphine exposure suppressed the restraint stress-induced ACTH levels in both diestrus and proestrus females, but did not have any effects on the basal or stress-induced CORT levels. Experiment 2 examined the sensitivity of negative feedback using the dexamethasone (DEX) (0.001, 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg) suppression test in adult, prenatally morphine- and saline-exposed female rats. In saline-exposed, proestrus but not diestrus females, all doses of DEX were effective in suppressing the restraint stress-induced increase in CORT levels. In both diestrus and proestrus, morphine-exposed females, only the two highest doses of DEX (0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg) were successfully suppressing the stress-induced CORT levels. The stress-induced increase in the ACTH level was suppressed only by the highest dose of DEX (1.0 mg/kg) in both saline- and morphine-exposed, diestrus and proestrus females. Thus, the present study demonstrates that prenatal morphine exposure alters the HPA axis-regulated stress response and the sensitivity of negative feedback that are affected by the fluctuation of ovarian hormones.
Low-Latitude Freshwater Influence on Centennial Variability of the Atlantic Thermohaline Circulation
Authors: Vellinga Michael , Wu Peili 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
Variability of the thermohaline circulation (THC) has been analyzed in a long control simulation by the Met Office's Third Hadley Centre Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere General Circulation Model (HadCM3). It is shown that internal THC variability in the coupled climate system is concentrated at interannual and centennial time scales, with the centennial mode being dominant. Centennial oscillations of the THC can impact surface climate via an interhemispheric SST contrast of 0.1°C in the Tropics and more than 0.5°C in mid- and high latitudes. A mechanism is proposed based on detailed process analysis involving large-scale air–sea interaction on multidecadal time scales. Anomalous northward ocean heat transport associated with a strong phase of the Atlantic THC generates a cross-equatorial SST gradient. This causes the ITCZ to move to a more northerly position with increased strength. The extra rainfall resulting from the anomalous ITCZ imposes a freshwater flux and produces a salinity anomaly in the tropical North Atlantic. Such sustained salinity anomalies slowly propagate toward the subpolar North Atlantic at a lag of 5–6 decades. The accumulated low-salinity water lowers upper-ocean density, which causes the THC to slow down. The oscillation then enters the opposite phase.
Characterizing Tropical Cirrus Life Cycle, Evolution, and Interaction with Upper-Tropospheric Water Vapor Using Lagrangian Trajectory Analysis of Satellite Observations
Authors: Luo Zhengzhao , Rossow William B. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
Tropical cirrus evolution and its relation to upper-tropospheric water vapor (UTWV) are examined in the paper by analyzing satellite-derived cloud data, UTWV data from infrared and microwave measurements, and the NCEP–NCAR reanalysis wind field. Building upon the existing International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) data and the Television and Infrared Observation Satellite (TIROS) Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) product, a global (except polar region), 6-hourly cirrus dataset is developed from two infrared radiance measurements at 11 and 12 μm. The UTWV is obtained in both clear and cloudy locations by developing a combined satellite infrared and microwave-based retrieval. The analysis in this study is conducted in a Lagrangian framework. The Lagrangian trajectory analysis shows that the decay of deep convection is immediately followed by the growth of cirrostratus and cirrus, and then the decay of cirrostratus is followed by the continued growth of cirrus. Cirrus properties continuously evolve along the trajectories as they gradually thin out and move to the lower levels. Typical tropical cirrus systems last for 19–30 ± 16 h. This is much longer than cirrus particle lifetimes, suggesting that other processes (e.g., large-scale lifting) replenish the particles to maintain tropical cirrus. Consequently, tropical cirrus can advect over large distances, about 600–1000 km, during their lifetimes. For almost all current GCMs, this distance spans more than one grid box, requiring that the water vapor and cloud water budgets include an advection term. Based on their relationship to convective systems, detrainment cirrus are distinguished from in situ cirrus. It is found that more than half of the tropical cirrus are formed in situ well away from convection. The interaction between cirrus and UTWV is explored by comparing the evolution of the UTWV along composite clear trajectories and trajectories with cirrus. Cirrus are found to be associated with a moister upper troposphere and a slower rate of decrease of UTWV. Moreover, the elevated UTWV has a longer duration than cirrus. The amount of water in cirrus is too small for evaporation of cirrus ice particles to moisten the upper troposphere significantly (but cirrus may be an important water vapor sink). Rather, it is likely that the same transient motions that produce the cirrus also transport water vapor upward to maintain a larger UTWV.
Global Occurrences of Extreme Precipitation and the Madden–Julian Oscillation: Observations and Predictability
Authors: Jones Charles , Waliser Duane E. , Lau K. M. , Stern W. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
This study investigates 1) the eastward propagation of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and global occurrences of extreme precipitation, 2) the degree to which a general circulation model with a relatively realistic representation of the MJO simulates its influence on extremes, and 3) a possible modulation of the MJO on potential predictability of extreme precipitation events. The observational analysis shows increased frequency of extremes during active MJO phases in many locations. On a global scale, extreme events during active MJO periods are about 40% higher than in quiescent phases of the oscillation in locations of statistically significant signals.
A 10-yr National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Laboratory for the Atmospheres (GLA) GCM simulation with fixed climatological SSTs is used to generate a control run and predictability experiments. Overall, the GLA model has a realistic representation of extremes in tropical convective regions associated with the MJO, although some shortcomings also seem to be present. The GLA model shows a robust signal in the frequency of extremes in the North Pacific and on the west coast of North America, which somewhat agrees with observational studies. The analysis of predictability experiments indicates higher success in the prediction of extremes during an active MJO than in quiescent situations. Overall, the predictability experiments indicate the mean number of correct forecasts of extremes during active MJO periods to be nearly twice the correct number of extremes during quiescent phases of the oscillation in locations of statistically significant signals.
Global Warming and Western North Pacific Typhoon Activity from an Observational Perspective
Authors: Chan Johnny C. L. , Liu Kin Sik 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
Based on results from climate model simulations, many researchers have suggested that because of global warming, the sea surface temperature (SST) will likely increase, which will then lead to an increase in the intensity of tropical cyclones (TCs). This paper reports results of a study of the relationship between SST and observed typhoon activity (which is used as a proxy for the intensity of TCs averaged over a season) over the western North Pacific (WNP) for the past 40 yr. The average typhoon activity over a season is found to have no significant relationship with SST in the WNP but increases when the SST over the equatorial eastern Pacific Ocean is above normal. The mean annual typhoon activity is generally higher (lower) during an El Niño (La Niña) year. Such interannual variations of typhoon activity appear to be largely constrained by the large-scale atmospheric factors that are closely related to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon. These large-scale dynamic and thermodynamic factors include low-level relative vorticity, vertical wind shear, and moist static energy. Such results are shown to be physically consistent with one another and with those from previous studies on the interannual variations of TC activity. The results emphasize the danger of drawing conclusions about future TC intensity based on current climate model simulations that are not designed to make such predictions.
Strong Trends in the Skill of the ERA-40 and NCEP–NCAR Reanalyses in the High and Midlatitudes of the Southern Hemisphere, 1958–2001*
Authors: Bromwich David H. , Fogt Ryan L. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis (ERA-40) and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction–National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP–NCAR) reanalysis (NCEP1) data are compared with Antarctic and other mid- to high-latitude station observations for the complete years of overlap, 1958–2001. Overall, it appears that ERA-40 more closely follows the observations; however, a more detailed look at the presatellite era reveals many shortcomings in ERA-40, particularly in the austral winter.
By calculating statistics in 5-yr moving windows for June–July–August (JJA), it is shown that ERA-40 correlations with observed MSLP and surface (2 m) temperatures are low and even negative during the mid-1960s. A significant trend in skill in ERA-40 is observed in conjunction with the assimilation of satellite data during winter, eventually reaching a high level of skill after 1978 that is superior to NCEP1. NCEP1 shows consistency in its correlation with observations throughout time in this season; however, the biases in the NCEP1 MSLP fields decrease significantly with time. Similar problems are also found in the 500-hPa geopotential height fields above the direct influences of the mountainous topography. The height differences between ERA-40 and NCEP1 over the South Pacific are substantial before the modern satellite era throughout the depth of the troposphere. The ability for ERA-40 to be more strongly constrained by the satellite data compared to NCEP1, which is largely constrained by the station observational network, suggests that the differing assimilation schemes between ERA-40 and NCEP1 lead to the large discrepancies seen here. Thus, both reanalyses must be used with caution over high southern latitudes during the nonsummer months prior to the assimilation of satellite sounding data.
An approach to similarity measurement of absence-presence data: the case that common zeros matter
Authors: Egghe Leo , Rousseau Ronald 
Published: December 2004

Similarity between objects (documents, persons, answers to a questionnaire, etc.) is generally determined through relations between representations of these objects. In the case of binary representations the presence of a property (e.g. an index term) carries a weight of one, its absence a weight of zero. In many similarity studies common zeros are ignored. This situation is called the zero insensitive case. In this article, however, we study the zero sensitive case. Clearly, answers to binary questionnaires (yes-no, encoded as 1-0) are zero sensitive, as people who answer ‘no’ to the same questions are more similar than those who give different answers. We present a wish list for such a zero sensitive approach to similarity. Making a difference between common zeros and common ones leads to an ‘identity-similarity’ theory. Hence, we move beyond a pure similarity theory. Two approaches to the problem of similarity measurement of presence-absence data, where common zeros matter and have the same effect as common ones, are presented. For the case that there is a difference between common ones and common zeros a totally new approach is proposed. In each case a coding approach is used, leading to new representations, which then lead to a similarity ranking. Examples of functions respecting these rankings are given. When discussing similarity in general terms authors should clearly state which requirements they imply for the notion of ‘similarity’. It is only then that the problem of the best measure for a given study can be brought up for discussion in a meaningful way.