bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Acoustic Vowel Reduction in Creek: Effects of Distinctive Length and Position in the Word
Authors: Johnson Keith , Martin Jack 
Published: April 2003

AbstractEight speakers (4 male and 4 female) of the Muskogee dialect of Creek pronounced a set of words illustrating the vowels and diphthongs of Creek. These recordings were analyzed acoustically and data on vowel duration and vowel formant frequencies are presented in this paper. The ratio of the durations of dictinctively long and short vowels was 1.8. This ratio showed a sex difference, being larger for female speakers than it was for male speakers. Final lengthening was also observed: both distinctively long and short vowels were longer in word-final position than in word-initial position. The vowel formant data showed two additive, orthogonal phonetic vowel reduction processes: short vowel centralization and positional reduction. Short vowel centralization has been found in many languages. Distinctively long vowels in Creek tended to be more peripheral in the acoustic vowel space than were the distinctively short vowels. Positional reduction is also evident in these data: vowels in word-final position were reduced relative to vowels in word-initial position. Short vowel centralization was preserved in both positions in the word. Positional reduction has been documented in several languages, and these results from Creek lend support to the hypothesis that it is a general property of speech production. The results of this acoustic-phonetic study, the first such study of Creek, are discussed in light of cross-linguistic phonetic trends.
Established Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Benefit of Corticosteroid Rescue Therapy
Authors: Keel J.B.P. , Hauser M. , Stocker R. , Baumann P.C. , Speich R. 
Published: April 2003

The mortality of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is still very high. There is some evidence based on case series suggesting that corticosteroids may be beneficial in the chronic fibroproliferative state of the disease. In a retrospective study we analysed the data of 31 non-trauma ARDS patients who had been on mechanical ventilation for at least 7 days. Thirteen cases received corticosteroids at a dosage equivalent to 100–250 mg methylprednisolone at the discretion of the attending physician in charge. Apart from corticosteroid administration, supportive care was identical in the treated and non-treated patient subgroups. Both groups were comparable regarding the relevant demographic, clinical and physiologic data, Apache-II score, radiological score, lung injury score and multiple organ failure score. Mortality in the treatment group was 38% (5/13) as opposed to 67% (12/18) in the untreated group (p = 0.117). There was a significant improvement in the PaO<sub>2</sub>/FIO<sub>2</sub> ratio from a median of –26 to +5 mm Hg measured in a 48-hour period before and after corticosteroid treatment (p = 0.039). The response to corticosteroid therapy could not be predicted on the basis of clinical or physiologic data. Five patients responded within 48 h, and 3 showed a delayed response after 5–6 days. There were no significant complications attributable to corticosteroid treatment. <b>Conclusions:</b> Although the data of this first comparative study were retrospective, they suggest a beneficial effect of corticosteroid treatment in patients with established fibroproliferative ARDS. A prospective clinical trial, however, is highly warranted in order to fully elucidate the true effect of this therapeutic approach under controlled conditions.
Effects of Mometasone Furoate on Human Keratinocytes and Fibroblasts in vitro
Authors: Wach F. , Bosserhoff A. , Kurzidym U. , Nowok K. , Landthaler M. , Hein R. 
Published: April 2003

The long-term treatment of inflammatory skin diseases with topical glucocorticoids is limited by their side effects such as skin atrophy, delayed wound healing and striae distensae. Mometasone furoate (MF) is a newly synthesized glucocorticoid with the advantage of increasing efficacy and reducing the number of adverse effects. The aim of our study was to compare the effects of MF and conventional fluorinated corticosteroids on a human keratinocyte cell line (HaCat) and human skin fibroblasts in vitro. Monolayer cultures of these cell lines were exposed to different concentrations of the active compounds for 5 days to analyze the influence on morphology and proliferation. Chemotaxis of HaCat cells and fibroblasts was studied in blind-well Boyden chambers using collagen type I and fibroblast-conditioned medium as a chemoattractant. Additionally, fibroblasts were used to investigate the contraction of collagen gels since lattice contraction appears to model the contraction of skin wounds. All glucocorticoids tested influenced fibroblast and keratinocyte proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, yet the effect was clearly more marked with fluorinated corticosteroids than with MF. Similar effects were obtained using the chemotaxis assay. At low concentrations (10<sup>–9</sup> <i>M</i>) MF exerted almost no influence, while the conventional fluorinated substances inhibited direct migration significantly. Contraction of collagen gels was inhibited completely by betamethasone valerate at high concentrations (10<sup>–5</sup>– 10<sup>–3</sup> <i>M</i>), but only partially inhibited by MF at its highest concentration (10<sup>–3</sup> <i>M</i>). Although MF reveals high anti-inflammatory activity similar to that known for conventional fluorinated derivatives of corticosteroids, the study shows that MF has less effect in the tested in vitro systems. Therefore, it remains to be seen whether these data might indicate the possibility of a dissociation between the inflammatory activity and the inhibition of the biosynthetic capacities of fibroblasts and keratinocytes by modification of the steroidal structure of corticosteroids.
Semiquantitative Evaluation of Testicular Histology after Testicular Torsion: Protective Effect of External Cooling
Authors: Sarica Kemal , Bakir Kemal 
Published: April 2003

To evaluate the protective effect of external cooling on testicular histology and tubular diameter, an experimental study was performed on rat testes that underwent a torsion procedure for a defined period of time (4 h). In a second group of animals external cooling for 90 min was performed during the torsion procedure. Evaluation of both the semiquantitative testicular histology and tubular diameter demonstrated a relatively well-preserved histology and tubular diameter. However, significant changes were noted in testes that underwent the torsion procedure without any protective measure. Our results indicate the protective effects of hypothermia in ischemic testes undergoing torsion with regard to both histologic and tubular alterations.
α-Thalassemia in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: El-Kalla Salah , Baysal Erol 
Published: April 2003

A neonatal screening survey of α-thalassemia (α-thal) among the United Arab Emirates (UAE) nationals was conducted on 418 consecutive cord blood samples. Our findings demonstrate that 49% of the cases studied were found with an α-globin gene defect. The gene frequency of the –α<sup>3.7</sup> was 0.2847 and that of the –α<sup>4.2</sup> was 0.0072. Four nondeletional α-thal mutations were found; α<sup>PA-1</sup>, α<sup>PA-2</sup>, Hb CS and α<sup>-5nt del</sup> with gene frequencies of 0.0036, 0.0012, 0.0024, and 0.0072, respectively. We also report here the genotype-phenotype correlation in 22 patients with Hb H disease or Hb H-like syndrome. Of these, 6 were homozygous for the α<sup>PA-1</sup> mutation, 2 were homozygous for Hb CS, and 14 were compound heterozygous for either α<sup>PA-1</sup>, Hb CS, α<sup>-5nt del</sup> or ––MED-I, with the –α<sup>3.7</sup>. The data reported here demonstrate that a considerable heterogeneity of α-thal mutations occurs in the UAE and that the incidence of α-thal in the indigenous population is one of the highest in the world. Our clinical data suggest that Hb H disease in the UAE has, in general, a mild to moderate phenotypic presentation.
Respiratory Distress due to Tracheal Aspergillosis in a Severely Immunocompromised Patient
Authors: Lévy V. , Burgel P.R. , Rabbat A. , Cornet M. , Molina T. , Zittoun R. 
Published: April 2003

A 23-year-old man, intensively treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in relapse and with documented pulmonary aspergillosis, was admitted to the intensive care unit for acute respiratory failure. The diagnosis of invasive tracheal aspergillosis was made by bronchoscopy and biopsy. The lesions consisted of extensive necrotizing bronchitis with transmural and peribronchial extension associated with tracheal and bronchial obstruction due to the presence of pseudomembranes almost entirely composed of fungal hyphae. Despite treatment with amphotericin B and itraconazole, mechanical ventilation and bronchoscopy, the patient died 3 weeks later of massive bleeding.
Epsilon-Aminocaproic Acid Inhibits the Activity of Factor VIII Inhibitors in Patients with Severe Haemophilia A in vivo and in vitro
Authors: Ghosh Kanjaksha , Shetty Shrimati , Pathare Anil , Mohanty Dipika 
Published: April 2003

Haemophilia patients with inhibitors pose a formidable challenge for patient management. This is particularly problematic in developing countries, where porcine factor VIII, FEIBA, factor VIIa or immunoadsorption column are generally unavailable or unaffordable. Under these circumstances, any effective modality of affordable treatment is welcome. We investigated, both in vivo and in vitro, the effect of ε-aminocaproic acid (EACA) on the inhibitory activity of factor VIII inhibitor. It was found that in vitro EACA (final concentration 1.25–5 mg/ml) substantially inhibited the activity of the inhibitors, while the same concentration of EACA had no effect on other immunological reactions like red cell agglutination and immunofluorescence. The inhibitory action of EACA on factor VIII inhibitor was also confirmed in an improvised antigen-binding ELISA system. Further, the inhibitory activity of EACA was confirmed in 2 patients, in whom the inhibitory activity persisted for 15 min following infusion of EACA (100 mg/kg over 10 min). EACA was found to be even more effective in local wound application in patients of haemophilia A with inhibitors. EACA at the concentration cited did not act as an inhibitor of factor VIII inhibitor through occupancy of lysine binding sites. The inhibitory activity of EACA on factor VIII inhibitor was equally seen with recombinant factor VIII also; hence this action cannot be explained by its antifibrinolytic activity.
Red Blood Cell Osmotic Fragility in Chronically Hemodialyzed Patients
Authors: Wu San-Giang , Jeng Fu-Rong , Wei Shu-Yi , Su Chin-Zung , Chung Tieh-Chi , Chang Wen-Jou , Chang Hsueh-Wen 
Published: April 2003

Chronic renal failure induces anemia and a short erythrocyte life span. Red blood cell (RBC) osmotic fragility is the resistance of RBC hemolysis to osmotic changes that is used to evaluate RBC friability. To find the cause of shortened red cell survival in uremic patients, we evaluated the RBC osmotic fragility in 57 chronic hemodialyzed patients. Each patient had received 12 h of dialysis per week continuously prior to being enrolled in the study. Nineteen healthy volunteers served as a control group. Biochemistry, hemoglobin, electrolyte, osmolarity, β<sub>2</sub>-microglobulin, and intact parathyroid hormone were examined before and after the dialysis session. To evaluate the osmotic fragility of RBC, blood samples were collected in heparinized test tubes. Fifty microliters of the RBC of each individual was then incubated in solutions containing a series of various concentrations of NaCl ranging from 0 to 0.6%. The concentration of NaCl at which 50% of RBCs were lysed was considered the median osmotic fragility (MOF). The results showed that the MOF was significantly greater in hemodialyzed patients before dialysis than in the control group (0.41 ± 0.03 vs. 0.39 ± 0.02%). The osmotic resistance to hemolysis was also recorded after dialysis (MOF 0.38 ± 0.03%). Correlation analysis showed that the MOF was significantly correlated with urea nitrogen, serum osmolarity, and intact parathyroid hormone level. In addition, the osmotic fragility was higher in patients who had a predialysis intact parathyroid hormone level >100 pg/dl. In conclusion, hemodialysis can improve the osmotic fragility. The mechanism underlying this improvement may be the removal of low molecular weight uremic toxins, resulting in normalization of serum osmolarity. Our results indicate that parathyroid hormone is probably a major factor influencing RBC osmotic fragility in chronic renal failure.
Effects of Oral Administration of Heparan Sulphate in the Rat Remnant Kidney Model
Authors: Barsotti Giuliano , Cupisti Adamasco , Gervasi GianBattista , Bartoli Carlo , Barsotti Massimiliano , Pasquariello Antonio , Moriconi Luigi , Giovannetti Sergio 
Published: April 2003

Heparins are useful for the protection of residual renal function in several nephropathies, but the anticoagulant action and the need of parenteral administration are two main drawbacks limiting their use in chronic renal failure patients. Heparan sulphate (HS) is a heparin-like mucopolysaccharide devoid of anticoagulant action and active orally. In this study, the effects of HS oral administration have been evaluated in 18 subtotally nephrectomized rats;18 untreated remnant kidney rats served as control. No mortality was observed in the HS-treated rats, whereas in the control rats the survival rate was 72.2% at 18 weeks. At the end of the study, HS-treated rats showed lower urinary protein excretion (44 ± 22 vs. 80 ± 54 mg/24 h , p < 0.01), lower urea plasma levels (75 ± 34 vs. 134 ± 105 mg/dl, p < 0.01) and higher creatinine clearance (66 ± 15 vs. 47 ± 21 ml/min · 10<sup>2</sup>, p < 0.05) than control rats. Remnant kidney weight (2.3 ± 1.1 vs. 1.3 ± 0.2 g, p < 0.01) and heart weight (1.3 ± 0.2 vs. 1.1 ± 0.1 g, p < 0.05) were greater in the control than in the HS-treated rats, as well as the systemic blood pressure values (167 ± 19 vs. 115 ± 32 mm Hg, respectively, p < 0.001). The remnant kidney histological examination in the HS-treated rats showed a lower prevalence of glomerular sclerosis, mesangial proliferation, and a much less evident tubulointerstitial damage than in controls. The antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory actions of HS together with its protective action on the endothelium are the putative mechanisms that could account for our findings. In conclusion, the present study supports evidence of an antiproteinuric and a renoprotective effect of orally administered HS in subtotally nephrectomized rats. This is in keeping with the well-known effects exerted also by other heparins, but the effectiveness of an orally available heparin-like product in this animal model could suggest the possibility of a clinical use also in progressing chronic renal failure patients.
HDL Cholesterol and TaqIB Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein Gene Polymorphism in Renal Transplant Recipients
Authors: Radeau T. , Vohl M.C. , Houde I. , Lachance J.G. , Noël R. , Després J.P. , Douville P. , Bergeron J. 
Published: April 2003

Decreased serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are a well-known risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) in the general population and have been suggested as one of the best predictor of CHD after renal transplantation. However, very heterogeneous HDL-C levels have been reported in renal transplant recipients. In this patient population, serum HDL-C levels are determined by complex interactions between hormonal, environmental (such as a high amount of abdominal adipose tissue), and genetic factors and drugs (particularly glucocorticoids). We, therefore, evaluated the effects of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene TaqIB polymorphism as well as of abdominal obesity on HDL-C levels in 78 male renal transplant recipients who were receiving azathioprine and/or ciclosporin A in combination with prednisone as immunosuppression. The patients were classified into genotypic groups according to the presence or absence of the restriction site (B1 allele or B2 allele, respectively). The distribution of CETP genotypes was similar to that previously described in the general population. Overall, HDL-C levels were 19 and 26% higher in B1B2 and B2B2 patients as compared with B1B1 homozygotes (p < 0.05), even after control for other lipid measurements. Patients with abdominal obesity (waist girth ≧93 cm) showed reduced HDL-C levels as compared with lean (waist girth <93 cm) patients (1.20 ± 0.28 vs. 1.42 ± 0.41 mmol/l, respectively, p < 0.01). Moreover, the HDL-C levels were markedly affected by the CETP TaqIB polymorphism in lean patients (+28 and +41% in B1B2 and B2B2 as compared with B1B1 patients, p < 0.05), but no significant difference was observed among obese patients. Significantly lower total cholesterol:HDL-C ratios were obtained in lean B2B2 homozygotes, suggesting that these patients could be less susceptible to atherosclerosis than lean B1B1 homozygotes. In addition, patients with the B1B1 genotype had more documented CHD as compared with patients carrying at least one B2 allele, supporting the protective effect of the B2 allele against CHD. In conclusion, considerable variation in HDL-C levels appears to be explained by the CETP TaqIB gene polymorphism in male renal transplant recipients, but this potential protective gene effect appears strongly reduced by concomitant abdominal obesity.
A Controlled Trial of the Effect of Folate Supplements on Homocysteine, Lipids and Hemorheology in End-Stage Renal Disease
Authors: McGregor David , Shand Brett , Lynn Kelvin 
Published: April 2003

Elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy), dyslipidemia and hemorheological abnormalities all occur commonly in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and are recognized risk factors for arteriosclerosis. To study the effect of folate supplementation on these factors we conducted a randomized controlled trial. Thirteen hemodialysis (HD) and 8 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients received either 5 mg folic acid daily or placebo for 3 months. After 1 and 3 months, fasting blood samples were taken for Hcy, lipid profile, blood and plasma viscosity, red blood cell (RBC) osmotic fragility, plasma fibrinogen concentration and in vivo platelet aggregability. At baseline, the CAPD patients had a higher mean plasma fibrinogen concentration than the HD patients and they also tended to have higher mean plasma viscosity. Folate-treated patients showed marked increases in RBC folate and an average decrease in plasma Hcy concentration of 33%. Mean total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations decreased significantly in the CAPD patients who took folate. Folate had no significant effect on hemorheology. In conclusion, folate supplements in ESRD reduce plasma Hcy concentrations and may improve lipid profiles. In our patients, hemorheological abnormalities were more marked in patients on CAPD than in those on HD and were not improved by folate supplementation.
Ultrastructural Changes of the Neuromuscular Junction in Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Tömböl T. , Pataki G. , Németh A. , Hamar J. 
Published: April 2003

Ischemia followed by reperfusion of skeletal muscle frequently takes place in trauma surgery. Anoxia followed by reoxygenation leads to reperfusion injury, which damages the involved tissues. However, no information is available about how the neuromuscular junction is affected by ischemia-reperfusion. Tourniquet ischemia of the left hind limb was applied in the anesthetized rat for 2 h. Reperfusion lasted for 2 and 24 h and for 1, 2 and 4 weeks. The extensor digitorum longus and the soleus muscles from both legs were prepared for electron-microscopic analyses. Morphological changes of the neuromuscular junction were investigated. In all cases only the nerve endings (terminals) were affected. The postsynaptic structures were not affected. Changes can be grouped in two categories: degeneration and recovery. Degeneration consisted of the loss of synaptic vesicles, disruption of the presynaptic membrane, degeneration of the mitochondria and the development of vacuoles. It was most severe at 24 h and was still present at 4 weeks of reperfusion. Recovery started at 1 week of reperfusion and lasted at least for 4 weeks. It consisted of the slow reappearance of synaptic vesicles and mitochondria, and restoration of the presynaptic membrane with active zones. Ultrastructure of the skeletal muscle fibers did not show pathological changes. The recovery of the structures may be regulated by the Schwann cells and also by the postsynaptic membrane which is not affected by 2 h of ischemia followed by reperfusion.
Avascular Necrosis of the Hip in Children with Sickle Cell Disease and High Hb F: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings and Influence of α-Thalassemia Trait
Authors: Adekile A.D. , Gupta R. , Yacoub F. , Sinan T. , Al-Bloushi M. , Haider M.Z. 
Published: April 2003

Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the hip is a common cause of morbidity in sickle cell disease (SCD). Its prevalence increases with age and predisposing factors include coexistent α-thalassemia trait, frequent vaso-occlusive crisis and a high hematocrit (Hct). SCD is relatively mild among Kuwaiti patients because of their elevated Hb F levels, but a subset exists with severe recurrent vaso-occlusive crises. We carried out a prospective magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of the hip in a group of patients being followed in the Pediatric Hematology clinics of Al-Mubarak and Al-Amiri Hospitals. The association of AVN with age, frequency of hospitalization, α-thal trait, steady-state Hb, Hct, Hb F, WBC and platelet counts was investigated. MRI was carried out with a 1.5-tesla GE unit with a super-conducting magnet. Thirty patients (19 males, 11 females) (23 SS and 7 SβThal) were studied. Their ages ranged from 6 to 17 years, with a mean of 9.8 ± 3.5 years, and Hb F from 11 to 35% with a mean of 22.8 ± 5.7%. Among the SS patients, 11 (47.8%) had coexistent α-thal trait (–3.7-kb deletion). A total of 8 (26.7%) patients (6 SS and 2 SβThal) had varying degrees of osteonecrosis of the hip. Four (36.4%) of the 11 SS patients with α-thal trait and 2 (16.7%) of those without α-thal trait had osteonecrosis. This difference is, however, not statistically significant (χ<sup>2</sup> = 0.3, p = 0.5). While there was also no significant difference in the mean age and hematological parameters (Hb, Hct, Hb F, WBC, platelets), the SS patients with osteonecrosis had a significantly higher number of hospitalizations for vaso-occlusive crisis in the preceding 3 years than those without osteonecrosis.