bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Risk of coronary events by baseline factors during 28 years follow‐up and three periods in a random population sample of men
Authors: Wilhelmsen L. , Lappas G. , Rosengren A. 
Published: September 2004

Abstract.Aims. To investigate the predictive value of risk factors for coronary events measured in midlife during three separate periods over a follow‐up period extending through 28 years.Methods. A total of 7437 men aged 47–55 years and free of myocardial infarction at baseline were examined. Risk of coronary events (nonfatal myocardial infarction and coronary deaths) was analysed for the entire period and for 0–15, 16–21 and 22–28 years’ follow‐up, using age‐adjusted and multiple Cox regression analyses.Results. Age, diabetes, elevated blood pressure and serum cholesterol were all independently associated with increased risk of coronary events for the entire 28 years as well as for each of the periods. A family history of coronary events amongst fathers, mothers and siblings was independently significant for the entire follow‐up period, and the risk did not decline with extended follow‐up. Effort‐related chest pain was a strong and independent risk factor for the first 21 years but not thereafter. The importance of smoking decreased over time and was not significantly associated with outcome during the last period. Stress was also significant for the entire 28 years, but in selected periods only up to 21 years. Body mass index, low physical activity and low social class were inconsistently or not at all related to outcome in multiple analyses.
Kinetics of hepatitis B viral load during 48 weeks of treatment with 600 mg vs 100 mg of lamivudine daily*
Authors: Wang C. C. , Holte S. , Huang M.‐L. , Sacks S. L. , Engelberg R. , Ferrenberg J. , Shuhart M. , Corey L. 
Published: September 2004

Summary.  Oral therapy for chronic hepatitis B remains suboptimal. Mathematical modelling of viral decay kinetics to rapidly assess potential antiviral regimens has proved valuable for human immunodeficiency virus and cytomegalovirus. We defined the kinetics of viral replication in 10 chronic hepatitis B patients randomized to lamivudine 100 mg vs 600 mg for 48 weeks. Viral decay kinetics conformed to a biphasic pattern in nine of 10 subjects. Persons receiving 600 mg daily of lamivudine exhibited a 1.6‐fold faster decay rate in the infected cell compartment (0.028/day vs 0.017/day, P = 0.06) and a greater overall change in serum viral load when compared with those receiving 100 mg (4.06 vs 1.52 log10 copies/mL, P = 0.08). More potent therapy appeared to result in more rapid decrease in the infected cell population. Studies using mathematical modelling of viral decay may be a useful method to evaluate single or combination therapy for HBV infection in vivo.
Hepatitis C virus infection in Egyptian children: single centre experience
Authors: El‐Raziky M. S. , El‐Hawary M. , El‐Koofy N. , Okasha S. , Kotb M. , Salama K. , Esmat G. , El‐Raziky M. , Abouzied A. M. , El‐Karaksy H. 
Published: September 2004

Summary.  The outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection acquired in childhood is uncertain because of the diversity of the epidemiological and clinical features of infection and disease. The aim of this study was to determine the outcome of HCV infection in 105 Egyptian children who tested positive for HCV antibody (anti‐HCV). The data of 105 anti‐HCV‐positive children presenting to the Pediatric Hepatology Unit, Cairo University Children's Hospital, between 1995 and 2002, were retrospectively analysed for risk factors. Seventy‐four children with available polymerase chain reaction results were further analysed clinically, serologically and histologically. The age range was 1.3–22 years, with a mean of 11.2 ± 4.9 years. History of blood transfusion was found in 81 children (77%). HCV RNA was detected in 58.1% of 74 children. Persistently elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were present in 40 patients (54.1%). Hepatitis B virus markers (HBsAg and/or anti‐HBc) were detected in 18 patients (24.3%). Twenty‐six of the 43 HCV RNA‐positive children underwent a diagnostic liver biopsy that showed chronic hepatitis in 19 patients (73.1%), cirrhosis in one case only (3.8%), and normal biopsy findings in seven children (26.9%). Blood transfusion remains a major risk of HCV transmission among Egyptian children. HCV infection is not always benign in the childhood period. ALT levels remain elevated in half of the children and histological abnormalities are detected in three quarters of HCV RNA‐positive cases.
Immune thrombocytopenic purpura in a patient treated with interferon alfacon‐1
Authors: Dimitroulopoulos D. , Dourakis S. P. , Xinopoulos D. , Tsamakidis K. , Paraskevas E. 
Published: September 2004

Summary.  Immune thrombocytopenic purpura is an acquired disorder characterized by severe thrombocytopenia and caused by one or more antiplatelet autoantibodies. We present a case of a 20‐year‐old woman referred to our Unit for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. At week 28 of treatment with interferon (alfacon‐1), undetectable HCV RNA and transaminase levels within normal limits, the patient presented with immune thrombocytopenic purpura, which was successfully treated with immunoglobulin and methylprednisolone. Despite the high doses and long life of corticosteroid treatment HCV RNA remained undetectable.
Large‐scale screening of Arabidopsis circadian clock mutants by a high‐throughput real‐time bioluminescence monitoring system
Authors: Onai Kiyoshi , Okamoto Kazuhisa , Nishimoto Harumi , Morioka Chisato , Hirano Minako , Kami‐ike Nobunori , Ishiura Masahiro 
Published: September 2004

SummaryUsing a high‐throughput real‐time bioluminescence monitoring system, we screened large numbers of Arabidopsis thaliana mutants for extensively altered circadian rhythms. We constructed reporter genes by fusing a promoter of an Arabidopsis flowering‐time gene – either GIGANTEA (GI) or FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) – to a modified firefly luciferase gene (LUC+), and we transferred the fusion gene (PGI::LUC+ or PFT::LUC+) into the Arabidopsis genome. After mutagenesis with ethyl methanesulfonate, 50 000 M2 seedlings carrying the PGI::LUC+ and 50 000 carrying PFT::LUC+ were screened their bioluminescence rhythms. We isolated six arrhythmic (AR) mutants and 29 other mutants that showed more than 3 h difference in the period length or phase of rhythms compared with the wild‐type strains. The shortest period length was 16 h, the longest 27 h. Five of the six AR mutants carrying PGI::LUC+ showed arrhythmia in bioluminescence rhythms in both constant light and constant dark. These five AR mutants also showed arrhythmia in leaf movement rhythms in constant light. Genetic analysis revealed that each of the five AR mutants carried a recessive mutation in a nuclear gene and the mutations belonged to three complementation groups, and at least one of which was mapped on a novel locus. Our results suggest that the three loci identified here may contain central clock or clock‐related genes, at least one of which may be a novel.
AtSUC8 and AtSUC9 encode functional sucrose transporters, but the closely related AtSUC6 and AtSUC7 genes encode aberrant proteins in different Arabidopsis ecotypes
Authors: Sauer Norbert , Ludwig Andreas , Knoblauch Alexander , Rothe Petra , Gahrtz Manfred , Klebl Franz 
Published: September 2004

SummaryThree members of the Arabidopsis sucrose transporter gene family, AtSUC6–AtSUC8 (At5g43610; At1g66570; At2g14670), share a high degree of sequence homology in their coding regions and even in their introns and in their 5′‐ and 3′‐flanking regions. A fourth sucrose transporter gene, AtSUC9 (At5g06170), which is on the same branch of the AtSUC‐phylogenetic tree, shows only slightly less sequence homology. Here we present data demonstrating that two genes from this subgroup, AtSUC6 and AtSUC7, encode aberrant proteins and seem to represent sucrose transporter pseudogenes, whereas AtSUC8 and AtSUC9 encode functional sucrose transporters. These results are based on analyses of splice patterns and polymorphic sites between these genes in different Arabidopsis ecotypes, as well as on functional analyses by cDNA expression in baker's yeast. For one of these genes, AtSUC7 (At1g66570), different, ecotype‐specific splice patterns were observed in Wassilewskija (Ws), C24, Columbia wild type (Col‐0) and Landsberg erecta (Ler). No incorrect splicing and no sequence polymorphism were detected in the cDNAs of AtSUC8 and AtSUC9, which encode functional sucrose transporters and are expressed in floral tissue. Finally, promoter‐reporter gene plants and T‐DNA insertion lines were analyzed for AtSUC8 and AtSUC9.
The Effect of Intravaginal Applied GnRH‐agonist on the Time of Ovulation and Subsequent Reproductive Performance of Weaned Multiparous Sows
Authors: Baer C , Bilkei G 
Published: September 2004

Retraction: The following article fromReproduction in Domestic Animals, “The Effect of Intravaginal Applied GnRH‐agonist on the Time of Ovulation and Subsequent Reproductive Performance of Weaned Multiparous Sows” by C. Baer and G. Bilkei, published online on 13 September 2004 in Wiley InterScience (http://www.interscience.wiley.com), has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal Editor‐in‐Chief, Heriberto Rodriguez‐Martinez and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.The retraction has been agreed due to concern about the reliability of the data and overlap with the article “Intravaginal GnRH agonist‐gel advances time of ovulation and facilitates timed AI in weaned sows” by R.V. Knox, K.L. Willenburg, S.L. Rodriguez‐Zas, D.L. Greger, M.E. Swanson and H.D. Hafs published in the proceedings of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians in 2003.
Prostaglandin F2α Treatment Associated with Timed Artificial Insemination in Ewes
Authors: Menchaca A , Miller V , Gil J , Pinczak A , Laca M , Rubianes E 
Published: September 2004

ContentsTraditional treatments of two prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2α) doses at 10‐day intervals or more did not result in acceptable pregnancy rates in timed artificial insemination (TAI) programmes in ewes. An explanation might be the undefined time‐period of the onset of oestrus and ovulation after the treatment. Recently a consistent interval to oestrus and ovulation was obtained by giving PGF2α at day 3 post‐ovulation, i.e. when the largest follicle of the first follicular wave of the cycle was still growing. This can be achieved when a second dose of PGF2α is given 7 days after a first dose. In this work, we evaluated the synchronization of oestrus and determined which of three different moments of TAI was the most successful using a PGF2α (PG‐7d) protocol in a large flock. A total of 436 nulliparous and multiparous ewes were treated with two doses of a PGF2α analogue (delprostenate 160 μg, i.m.) separated by 7 days. Onset of oestrus was recorded twice a day and a single cervical TAI with fresh undiluted semen was performed either at 42 h (n = 152), 48 h (n = 120), or 54 h (n = 164), after the second PGF2α dose without taking into account the oestrous response. Pregnancy rate was determined by transrectal ultrasonography 30 days after insemination. Onset of oestrus was detected in 308 of 328 and 89 of 108 multiparous and nulliparous ewes, respectively (p < 0.001), within 72 h after treatment. The distribution of the onset of oestrus did not differ between multiparous and nulliparous ewes and the highest proportion of ewes in oestrus was detected between 25 to 48 h (313/397) from the second PGF2α dose. The pregnancy rate in ewes inseminated at 42 h tended to be higher than those inseminated at 48 h (p = 0.09) and was higher than those inseminated at 54 h (p < 0.05) (56/152, 31/120, 37/164; respectively). Therefore, the use of the PG‐7d protocol resulted in a very high synchronization of oestrus with the highest concentration (around 80%) between 25 to 48 h from the end of treatment. The best pregnancy rate (37%) was obtained after a single cervical TAI with fresh semen at 42 h.
Mating system and pollination biology of the spring‐flowering shrub,Dirca palustris
Authors: WILLIAMS CHARLES E. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractDirca palustrisL., eastern leatherwood or wicopy (Thymelaeaceae), a widely distributed shrub of eastern North America, flowers in early spring and so may face some of the same constraints faced by ephemeral vernal herbs of the eastern deciduous forest, most notably the influence of low temperature on pollinator activity. I studied the mating system ofD. palustrisand the influence of temperature on pollinator visitation of flowers, during three field seasons in a small stream valley in north‐western Pennsylvania, USA. Specifically, I was interested in how a species with apparently specialized floral morphology, likeD. palustris,may ensure reproductive success in a thermally unpredictable vernal environment. Pollinator visitation of flowers ofD.palustriswas strongly regulated by temperature, with no visits occurring below 14.9°C. Lack of treatment effects in mating system studies, especially the lack of significant differences in fruit set between the bagged, self‐pollination treatment and various cross‐pollination treatments accessible to pollinators, suggests thatD. palustrisis self‐compatible or perhaps apomictic. Thus, like other spring‐flowering species faced with pollinator unpredictability,D. palustrismay rely on a mixed mating system to ensure reproductive success during cool temperate springs.
The social sciences and successful aging: Issues for Asia–Oceania
Authors: Kendig Hal 
Published: September 2004

Aim: This paper presents social science understandings of successful aging for a broad audience in multidisciplinary gerontology in Asia–Oceania.Methods: The international literature on social science aspects of successful aging is reviewed with a focus on Asia and social improvement.Results: New positive approaches to aging research are identifying opportunities for maintaining capacities and well‐being over the life course. Successful aging, productive aging, and active aging are key concepts. Increasing life expectancy and fertility control are major social achievements that underpin population aging as the mainstream social transformation facing the world. Asia will be at the forefront of this change and the consequences will vary greatly between cultures, nations, and subgroups within them. Older people generally maintain good quality of life and the capacity to ‘age well’ is influenced by life‐long maturation and emotional, social, and economic resources. Good health can be enhanced through positive actions such as physical activity, good nutrition, and not smoking. Mental capacities can also be improved and maintained throughout old age. In advanced old age, the ‘fourth age’, the focus turns to ameliorating the effects of loss and to maintaining dignity.Conclusions: The social sciences contribute knowledge useful for improving life experiences for older people and aging societies. Population aging is central to national economic development. Public policy and individual action concerning aging can benefit all age groups. To better inform these developments it is important to address the serious shortfall of social science research on aging in the Asia–Oceania region.
Population aging in the Asia–Oceania region
Authors: Sagaza Haruo 
Published: September 2004

Recently the term ‘global aging’, which refers to the universal trend of aging of the world population, is being widely used. First of all, I will shed some light on this trend of world population aging from the viewpoint of regional populations and their future projections.Second, I will discuss about the determinants of population aging in the Asia and Oceania region. So far as the region is concerned, it will be divided into three groups of countries according to the level of population aging. The first group is the most advanced aged countries such as Japan, Australia, and New Zealand whose percentage of the elderly aged 65 and over is more than 10% in the year of 2000. The second group is the aging countries such as Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and China whose percentage of the elderly is between 5 and 10%. and the third group is the remaining countries in this region whose percentage is less than 5%. The demographic aspects of each group are analyzed and the relationships between the fertility reduction and aging are also discussed in the perspectives of the demographic transition.Third, I will discuss about the consequences of population aging in this region with special reference to Asian developing countries. In this section, I will mention the problems of dependency burden, the so‐called population bonus, health expectancy, and social security systems. Fourth, some prominent characteristics concerning the living conditions and norms or attitudes of the elderly will be indicated, and I will also raise such points like family systems, living arrangements, social participation, and Ikigai (the worth of life) peculiar to Asian countries. Fifth and finally, I will touch on the topics of the issues and policies of the aging society. At present the social status of the elderly is improving in Asian countries and it is in the hope that the myth of aging will disappear in the near future.
Mental health of elderly in the Asia–Oceania region
Authors: Chiu Edmond 
Published: September 2004

The mental health of the elderly can be conceptualized through universal values that facilitate, promote, and maintain it. The provision of care for the mentally disordered elderly is discussed with reference to a WHO/WPA Consensus statement.Examples of services available in China, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Singapore are given in line with the expectations contained in the Consensus statement.Conclusions of a positive view that the region has the potential to provide quality service for the mental health of the elderly.
Public policy on aging in Korea
Authors: Cha Heung Bong 
Published: September 2004

Korea has undergone the most dynamic social changes in the world during its modernization in the latter half of the 20th century. During the dynamic modernization period, the traditional rural society has been disorganized, and industrialization and urbanization has rapidly proceeded.In this trend the traditional family system has changed, and the problem of the elderly has emerged as a social issue. However, public policy on aging has been laggedly developed, compared to the social change during the modernization.In order to explain the public policy on aging in Korea, this paper examines the social changes and population aging, the family changes and the problem of the elderly, and then the development of the public policy on aging social care programs by stages. and this paper examines the reason why the development of the public policy on aging in Korea has been delayed.
The rural elderly support in China and Thailand
Authors: Ding Shijun 
Published: September 2004

Aims:  This paper aims to investigate support mechanisms for the elderly in rural China and rural Thailand, and to take lessons from each other on its rural elderly support and the policy interventions.Methods:  Using data from secondary sources, the situation of the rural elderly was investigated from different aspects. Policies and programs designed for the rural elderly were then summarized in the following section.Results:  China and Thailand are both under tremendous social changes and economic development processes, with Thailand more economically developed. Family remains the main source of support for the rural elderly in both countries, however, it has been suffering increasing difficulties and problems such as industrialization, modernization, and rural‐to‐urban migration have been taking place. This calls for attention and the development of social security services to support the elderly in rural areas.Both countries have set up a number of policies, plans, and programs toward supporting the elderly, the coverage, however, is relatively low.Conclusions:  Governments should introduce policies for integrating the rural elderly into national development strategies. Family should be empowered to become strong sociocultural units, as well as an economic resource and a focal point for the preservation of social and moral values in providing support for the elderly. Health care should be given freely to the rural elderly. Programs providing support to the rural elderly should be gender‐specific with more focus on female elderly.
Hormesis and intervention of aging
Authors: Yu Byung Pal 
Published: September 2004

The concept of hormesis has recently been introduced into the gerontological field. The tenet of this concept embraces the notion that the aging process has been evolved through the organism's physiologic adaptation to the ever‐changing stressful environmental conditions for survival. The hormetic phenomenon is exhibited by a biphasic bell‐shape curve response that is the characteristic biological reaction, rather than a linear response. The beneficial effect of hormesis is due to a mild and low stress inductive to stimulated response, while high stress resulting in inhibitory or harmful results.The adaptive response to a mild stress induces the organism's ability to maximize the metabolic efficiency to cope with a new challenging environment. Evidence strongly suggests that most of stresses under sub‐lethal levels can in fact to be beneficial for the survival of the organism, as exhibited by a growth stimulation of bacteria treated by sub‐lethal pesticides or the life‐span extension of mice by a low dose of irradiation. The anti‐aging action of calorie restriction stimulated by the mild nutritional deprivation considered being another good example of this hormetic phenomenon. For the future intervention of the aging and age‐related diseases based on hormesis concept, one could conceive experimental models in which the endogenous defense systems and certain immune components may be strengthened by selective stimulatory measures. In this review, discussion is presented for further development of this hormetic concept on the premise as the potential anti‐aging strategies.
Glucose metabolism, advanced glycation endproducts, and cognition
Authors: Araki Atsushi , Ito Hideki 
Published: September 2004

The accumulation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications and aging. Diabetes mellitus is associated with moderate cognitive deficit. The AGEs may exert several actions on central nervous system. To explore a possible role of AGEs for cognitive impairment, we have examined the association between serum AGEs and cognitive function in diabetic patients.We studied 198 diabetic patients with a mean age of 74 years. Serum AGE (N‐epsilon‐ carboxymethyllysine, CML) was measured with the enzyme immunoassay. The several domains of cognitive function were assessed using the WAIS‐R, Stroop test, and Benton test. Diabetic patients had more impairment of complex pychomotor skill and visual memory as assessed with the digit symbol substitution test and Benton test than non‐diabetic subjects. Among the diabetic patients, a marker of hyperglycemia, HbA1c level was associated with the cognitive impairment, while short‐term glucose control partially improved the cognitive impairment. Serum AGE levels correlated with age, duration of diabetes, and HbA1c. Serum AGE levels were significantly associated with the impairment of complex psychomotor skills independent of HbA1c. In conclusion, hyperglycemia and increased AGE accumulation were associated with the cognitive impairment in patients with diabetes mellitus as a model of accelerated aging.