bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the Tono‐Pen and Goldmann tonometer for measuring intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma
Authors: Horowitz Gregory S , Byles Julie , Lee John , D’Este Catherine 
Published: December 2004

AbstractAim: To estimate agreement between measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) by the Tono‐Pen and by the Goldmann tonometer. The hypothesis tested was that the mean difference in measurements would be <–2 mmHg.Methods: A prospective, single‐centre, comparison study was carried out. The Tono‐Pen was compared to the Goldmann tonometer in 138 patients systematically selected from two glaucoma clinics and among selected patients known to have high pressures (n = 22). For both groups the investigators were masked to the value of the Goldmann readings, the instruments were used in random order, and duplicated readings were taken with both tonometers.Results: In the systematically selected group, for right eyes, the mean difference in measurement between the Tono‐Pen and Goldmann tonometer was –0.41 mmHg (SD: 2.59). The 95% limits of agreement were –5.5 to 4.7 mmHg, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.90. Results for left eyes were very similar. For patients with high pressures (≥25 mmHg), the mean difference between instruments (Tono‐Pen reading minus Goldmann reading): was –4.2 mmHg (P = 0.0004), SD: 4.6, 95% limits of agreement: –13.2 to 4.8 mmHg and ICC = 0.76. Combining the analysis for both groups, the Tono‐Pen significantly underestimated the IOP when the pressure was >20 mmHg.Conclusions: The Tono‐Pen cannot replace the Goldmann tonometer in the sense that it will give the same readings of IOP. The accuracy of the Tono‐Pen is increased, if at least two measurements are taken per eye and then averaged.
Glaucoma treatment in Australia: changing patterns of therapy 1994–2003
Authors: Walland Mark J 
Published: December 2004

AbstractAim: To document the change in pattern of glaucoma treatment in Australia over the decade 1994–2003.Methods: Observational study: retrospective data audit.Results: The total number of prescriptions for glaucoma items has increased in this time period from 1.9 million to 3.3 million, with a cost increase to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) of in excess of $50m. The largest increase has been in the class of prostaglandin analogues, which now comprise 49% of all glaucoma topical therapy prescriptions. Rates of laser trabeculoplasty and trabeculectomy surgery have fallen by 60% and 58%, respectively. Rates for secondary procedures such as repeat trabeculectomy, drainage implant devices and cycloablation have remained stable, although with some variation between Australian states.Conclusions: The introduction of multiple new medications has resulted in a decline in the amount of glaucoma surgery and laser trabeculoplasty performed. There has been an associated increase in the total number of glaucoma prescription items dispensed, and a large increase in the cost to the PBS of this change. Outcome measures of the benefit of these changes are lacking.
Clinical Case Notes
Authors: Garrott Helen M , Walland Mark J , O'Day Justin 
Published: December 2004

AbstractCataracts are well known to be associated with myotonic dystrophy. Less well known are the phenomena of recurrent posterior capsule opacification and capsulorhexis contracture post cataract surgery. Two cases are described herein of postoperative capsular complications requiring multiple capsulotomies in patients with myotonic dystrophy. It is proposed that a common aetiology may underlie both posterior capsule opacification and capsulorhexis contracture in myotonic dystrophy cases.
Sexually dimorphic effects of hippocampal cholinergic deafferentation in rats
Authors: Jonasson Zachariah , Cahill Jonathan F. X. , Tobey Rachel E. , Baxter Mark G. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractTo determine whether the basal forebrain‐hippocampal cholinergic system supports sexually dimorphic functionality, male and female Long‐Evans rats were given either selective medial septum/vertical limb of the diagonal band (MS/VDB) cholinergic lesions using the neurotoxin 192 IgG‐saporin or a control surgery and then postoperatively tested in a set of standard spatial learning tasks in the Morris water maze. Lesions were highly specific and effective as confirmed by both choline acetyltransferase/parvalbumin immunostaining and acetylcholinesterase histochemistry. Female controls performed worse than male controls in place learning and MS/VDB lesions failed to impair spatial learning in male rats, both consistent with previous findings. In female rats, MS/VDB cholinergic lesions facilitated spatial reference learning. A subsequent test of learning strategy in the water maze revealed a female bias for a response, relative to a spatial, strategy; MS/VDB cholinergic lesions enhanced the use of a spatial strategy in both sexes, but only significantly so in males. Together, these results indicate a sexually dimorphic function associated with MS/VDB‐hippocampal cholinergic inputs. In female rats, these neurons appear to support sex‐specific spatial learning processes.
Autonomous activity of CaMKII is only transiently increased following the induction of long‐term potentiation in the rat hippocampus
Authors: Lengyel I. , Voss K. , Cammarota M. , Bradshaw K. , Brent V. , Murphy K. P. S. J. , Giese K. P. , Rostas J. A. P. , Bliss T. V. P. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractA major role has been postulated for a maintained increase in the autonomous activity of CaMKII in the expression of long‐term potentiation (LTP). However, attempts to inhibit the expression of LTP with CaMKII inhibitors have yielded inconsistent results. Here we compare the changes in CaMKII autonomous activity and phosphorylation at Thr286 of αCaMKII in rat hippocampal slices using chemical or tetanic stimulation to produce either LTP or short‐term potentiation (STP). Tetanus‐induced LTP in area CA1 requires CaMKII activation and Thr286 phosphorylation of αCaMKII, but we did not observe an increase in autonomous activity. Next we induced LTP by 10 min exposure to 25 mm tetraethyl‐ammonium (TEA) or 5 min exposure to 41 mm potassium (K) after pretreatment with calyculin A. Exposure to K alone produced STP. These protocols allowed us to monitor temporal changes in autonomous activity during and after exposure to the potentiating chemical stimulus. In chemically induced LTP, autonomous activity was maximally increased within 30 s whereas this increase was significantly delayed in STP. However, in both LTP and STP the two‐fold increase in autonomous activity measured immediately after stimulation was short‐lived, returning to baseline within 2–5 min after re‐exposure to normal ACSF. In LTP, but not in STP, the phosphorylation of αCaMKII at Thr286 persisted for at least 60 min after stimulation. These results confirm that LTP is associated with a maintained increase in autophosphorylation at Thr286 but indicate that a persistent increase in the autonomous activity οf CaMKII is not required for the expression of LTP.
Impaired formation of the inner retina in an AChE knockout mouse results in degeneration of all photoreceptors
Authors: Bytyqi Afrim H. , Lockridge Oksana , Duysen Ellen , Wang Yuxia , Wolfrum Uwe , Layer Paul G. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBlinding diseases can be assigned predominantly to genetic defects of the photoreceptor/pigmented epithelium complex. As an alternative, we show here for an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) knockout mouse that photoreceptor degeneration follows an impaired development of the inner retina. During the first 15 postnatal days of the AChE–/– retina, three major calretinin sublaminae of the inner plexiform layer (IPL) are disturbed. Thereby, processes of amacrine and ganglion cells diffusely criss‐cross throughout the IPL. In contrast, parvalbumin cells present a nonlaminar IPL pattern in the wild‐type, but in the AChE–/– mouse their processes become structured within two ‘novel’ sublaminae. During this early period, photoreceptors become arranged regularly and at a normal rate in the AChE–/– retina. However, during the following 75 days, first their outer segments, and then the entire photoreceptor layer completely degenerate by apoptosis. Eventually, cells of the inner retina also undergo apoptosis. As butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is present at a normal level in the AChE–/– mouse, the observed effects must be solely due to the missing AChE. These are the first in vivo findings to show a decisive role for AChE in the formation of the inner retinal network, which, when absent, ultimately results in photoreceptor degeneration.
Dissociation between short‐term increased graft survival and long‐term functional improvements in Parkinsonian rats overexpressing glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor
Authors: Georgievska Biljana , Carlsson Thomas , Lacar Benjamin , Winkler Christian , Kirik Deniz 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe present study was designed to analyse whether continuous overexpression of glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in the striatum by a recombinant lentiviral vector can provide improved cell survival and additional long‐term functional benefits after transplantation of fetal ventral mesencephalic cells in Parkinsonian rats. A four‐site intrastriatal 6‐hydroxydopamine lesion resulted in an 80–90% depletion of nigral dopamine cells and striatal fiber innervation, leading to stable motor impairments. Histological analysis performed at 4 weeks after grafting into the GDNF‐overexpressing striatum revealed a twofold increase in the number of surviving tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)‐positive cells, as compared with grafts placed in control (green fluorescent protein‐overexpressing) animals. However, in animals that were allowed to survive for 6 months, the numbers of surviving TH‐positive cells in the grafts were equal in both groups, suggesting that the cells initially protected at 4 weeks failed to survive despite the continued presence of GDNF. Although cell survival was similar in both grafted groups, the TH‐positive fiber innervation density was lower in the GDNF‐treated grafted animals (30% of normal) compared with animals with control grafts (55% of normal). The vesicular monoamine transporter‐2‐positive fiber density in the striatum, by contrast, was equal in both groups, suggesting that long‐term GDNF overexpression induced a selective down‐regulation of TH in the grafted dopamine neurons. Behavioral analysis in the long‐term grafted animals showed that the control grafted animals improved their performance in spontaneous motor behaviors to approximately 50% of normal, whereas the GDNF treatment did not provide any additional recovery.
Galectin‐1 in regenerating motoneurons
Authors: McGraw J. , McPhail L. T. , Oschipok L. W. , Horie H. , Poirier F. , Steeves J. D. , Ramer M. S. , Tetzlaff W. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe exogenous application of recombinant galectin‐1 has recently been shown to promote the rate of peripheral nerve regeneration. Endogenous neuronal galectin‐1 expression has recently been demonstrated to increase after axotomy. Here we demonstrate a significant increase in the endogenous neuronal expression of galectin‐1 mRNA in facial motoneurons after either a nerve resection or crush injury in mice. This increase in galectin‐1 expression was due in part to the loss of target‐derived factor(s) as indicated by both the return of galectin‐1 expression to control levels following target re‐innervation and the increase in galectin‐1 expression after blockade of axonal transport by an interneuronal colchicine injection. Furthermore, interneuronal injections of glial‐derived neurotrophic factor into the uninjured nerve also increased galectin‐1 mRNA expression within facial motoneurons suggesting that positive signals may also be involved in the regulation of galectin‐1 expression. Galectin‐1 null mutant mice showed an attenuated rate of functional recovery of whisking movement after a facial nerve crush.
Primary pupils’ recall of interactive storybooks on CD‐ROM: inconsiderate interactive features and forgetting
Authors: Trushell John , Maitland Amanda 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe use of interactive storybooks in the primary classroom has the potential to facilitate pupils’ reading, in small groups or individually. However, critics have expressed concern at the exposure of pupils to interactive storybooks. In particular, concern has been expressed that the interactive animations and sound effects in such storybooks may adversely affect pupils’ responses to the written text. These small scale studies examined whether story recall of small groups of pupils, respectively in Year 5 and Year 4, was affected by the provision of cued animations and sound effects. Consideration of the outcomes of both studies indicates that access to cued animations and sound effects did have adverse effects on pupils’ story recall.
Competency, capability, complexity and computers: exploring a new model for conceptualising end‐user computer education
Authors: Phelps Renata , Hase Stewart , Ellis Allan 
Published: December 2004

AbstractNotions  of  competency  have  dominated  the  computer  education  literature, and have underpinned Competency‐Based Training (CBT) in information technology at all levels of education and training. The emergence of counter‐narratives underpinned by the capability movement, have as yet had minimal impact on practice in computer education. New discourses in educational theory and practice which are founded on non‐linear approaches to learning and teaching provide added impetus to engage in the competency/capability debate, and re‐examine our approaches to computer education. This paper explores complexity theories and demonstrates how complexity's pedagogical implications can lead to new models for understanding computer learning and teaching. A new model for conceptualising end‐user computer education is presented that was derived from a three‐year action research initiative with pre‐service teachers.
Biochemical and kinetic characterization of BACE1: investigation into the putative species‐specificity for β‐ and β′‐cleavage sites by human and murine BACE1
Authors: Yang Hsiu‐Chiung , Chai Xiyun , Mosior Marian , Kohn Wayne , Boggs Leonard N. , Erickson Jon A. , McClure Don B. , Yeh Wu‐Kuang , Zhang Lianshen , Gonzalez‐DeWhitt Patricia , Mayer John P. , Martin Jose Alfredo , Hu Jingdan , Chen Shu‐hui , Bueno Ana Belen , Little Sheila P. , McCarthy James R. , May Patrick C. 
Published: December 2004

Abstractβ‐amyloid peptides (Aβ) are produced by a sequential cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β‐ and γ‐secretases. The lack of Aβ production in beta‐APP cleaving enzyme (BACE1)–/– mice suggests that BACE1 is the principal β‐secretase in mammalian neurons. Transfection of human APP and BACE1 into neurons derived from wild‐type and BACE1–/– mice supports cleavage of APP at the canonical β‐secretase site. However, these studies also revealed an alternative BACE1 cleavage site in APP, designated as β′, resulting in Aβ peptides starting at Glu11. The apparent inability of human BACE1 to make this β′‐cleavage in murine APP, and vice versa, led to the hypothesis that this alternative cleavage was species‐specific. In contrast, the results from human BACE1 transgenic mice demonstrated that the human BACE1 is able to cleave the endogenous murine APP at the β′‐cleavage site. To address this discrepancy, we designed fluorescent resonance energy transfer peptide substrates containing the β‐ and β′‐cleavage sites within human and murine APP to compare: (i) the enzymatic efficiency; (ii) binding kinetics of a BACE1 active site inhibitor LY2039911; and (iii) the pharmacological profiles for human and murine recombinant BACE1. Both BACE1 orthologs were able to cleave APP at the β‐ and β′‐sites, although with different efficiencies. Moreover, the inhibitory potency of LY2039911 toward recombinant human and native BACE1 from mouse or guinea pig was indistinguishable. In summary, we have demonstrated, for the first time, that recombinant BACE1 can recognize and cleave APP peptide substrates at the postulated β′‐cleavage site. It does not appear to be a significant species specificity to this cleavage.
S100B protein is released by in vitro trauma and reduces delayed neuronal injury
Authors: Willoughby Karen A. , Kleindienst Andrea , Müller Christian , Chen Tao , Muir Judith K. , Ellis Earl F. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractS100B protein in brain is produced primarily by astrocytes, has been used as a marker for brain injury and has also been shown to be neurotrophic and neuroprotective. Using a well characterized in vitro model of brain cell trauma, we examined the potential role of exogenous S100B in preventing delayed neuronal injury. Neuronal plus glial cultures were grown on a deformable Silastic membrane and then subjected to strain (stretch) injury produced by a 50 ms displacement of the membrane. We have previously shown that this injury causes an immediate, but transient, nuclear uptake of the fluorescent dye propidium iodide by astrocytes and a 24–48 h delayed uptake by neurons. Strain injury caused immediate release of S100‐beta with further release by 24 and 48 h. Adding 10 or 100 nm S100B to injured cultures at 15 s, 6 h or 24 h after injury reduced delayed neuronal injury measured at 48 h. Exogenous S100B was present in the cultures through 48 h. These studies directly demonstrate the release and neuroprotective role of S100B after traumatic injury and that, unlike most receptor antagonists used for the treatment of trauma, S100B is neuroprotective when given at later, more therapeutically relevant time points.
Developmental regulation of tissue transglutaminase in the mouse forebrain
Authors: Bailey Craig D. C. , Johnson Gail V. W. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractTissue transglutaminase (tTG) is a multifunctional enzyme that catalyzes both transamidation and GTPase reactions. In cell culture models tTG‐mediated transamidation positively regulates many processes that occurin vivoduring the mammalian brain growth spurt (BGS), including neuronal differentiation, neurite outgrowth, synaptogenesis and cell death mechanisms. However, little is known about the levels of tTG expression and transglutaminase (TG) activity during mammalian brain development. In this study, C57BL/6 mouse forebrains were collected at embryonic day (E) 12, E14, E17, postnatal day (P) 0, P7 and P56 and analyzed for tTG expression and TG activity. RT–PCR analysis demonstrated that tTG mRNA content increases during mouse forebrain development, whereas immunoblot analysis demonstrated that tTG protein content decreases during this time. TG activity was low in prenatal mouse forebrain but increased fivefold to peak at P0, which corresponds with the beginning of the mouse BGS. Further analysis demonstrated that the lack of temporal correlation between tTG protein content and TG activity is the result of an endogenous inhibitor of tTG that is present in prenatal but not postnatal mouse forebrain. These results demonstrate for the first time that tTG enzymatic activity in the mammalian forebrain is developmentally regulated by post‐translational mechanisms.
Clindamycin is neuroprotective in experimental Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis compared with ceftriaxone
Authors: Böttcher Tobias , Ren Hao , Goiny Michel , Gerber Joachim , Lykkesfeldt Jens , Kuhnt Ulrich , Lotz Miriam , Bunkowski Stephanie , Werner Carola , Schau Ingmar , Spreer Annette , Christen Stephan , Nau Roland 
Published: December 2004

AbstractIn animal models of Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis, rifampin is neuroprotective in comparison to ceftriaxone. So far it is not clear whether this can be generalized for other protein synthesis‐inhibiting antimicrobial agents. We examined the effects of the bactericidal protein synthesis‐inhibiting clindamycin (n = 12) on the release of proinflammatory bacterial components, the formation of neurotoxic compounds and neuronal injury compared with the standard therapy with ceftriaxone (n = 12) in a rabbit model of pneumococcal meningitis. Analysis of the CSF and histological evaluation were combined with microdialysis from the hippocampal formation and the neocortex. Compared with ceftriaxone, clindamycin reduced the release of lipoteichoic acids from the bacteria (p = 0.004) into the CSF and the CSF leucocyte count (p = 0.011). This led to lower extracellular concentrations of hydroxyl radicals (p = 0.034) and glutamate (p = 0.016) in the hippocampal formation and a subsequent reduction of extracellular glycerol levels (p = 0.018) and neuronal apoptosis in the dentate gyrus (p = 0.008). The present data document beneficial effects of clindamycin compared with ceftriaxone on various parameters linked with the pathophysiology of pneumococcal meningitis and development of neuronal injury. This study suggests neuroprotection to be a group effect of bactericidal protein synthesis‐inhibiting antimicrobial agents compared with the standard therapy with β‐lactam antibiotics in meningitis.
Identification of Tbr‐1/CASK complex target genes in neurons
Authors: Wang Ting‐Fang , Ding Chia‐Nung , Wang Guey‐Shin , Luo Shih‐Chi , Lin Yi‐Ling , Ruan Youlin , Hevner Robert , Rubenstein John L. R. , Hsueh Yi‐Ping 
Published: December 2004

AbstractTbr‐1, a neuron‐specific T‐box transcription factor, plays a critical role in brain development. Here, we performed a computational search using the non‐palindromic T‐box binding sequence, namely the non‐palindromic T‐element, to determine the putative downstream target genes of Tbr‐1. More than 20 identified genes containing the non‐palindromic T‐element in the 5′ regulatory region were found expressed in brain. Luciferase reporter assays using cultured hippocampal neurons showed that overexpression of Tbr‐1 and CASK‐enhanced promoter activities of some of these putative target genes, including NMDAR subunit 2b (NR2b), glycine transporter, interleukin 7 receptor (IL‐7R) and OX‐2. Among these genes, NR2b promoter responded strongest to overexpression of Tbr‐1 and CASK. Deletion of the non‐palindromic T‐elements from NR2b promoter impaired the induction by Tbr‐1 and CASK. We also examined expression of these target genes in Tbr‐1 knockout mice, it was found that NR2b expression was consistently downregulated. Similarly, both RNA and protein expression levels of NMDAR subunit 1 (NR1), which also contains the non‐palindromic T‐elements in its 5′ regulatory region, were reduced in Tbr‐1 knockout mice. We suggest that Tbr‐1/CASK protein complex regulates expression of these downstream target genes and thus modulates neuronal activity and function.
Weight Loss Interventions for Adult Obesity: Evidence for Practice
Authors: Dick Jennifer J. 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACT Background: One out of three adults is obese, making obesity the most common presenting chronic medical condition in the primary care setting. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing secondary illnesses resulting in a higher rate of morbidity. This chronic condition is a constant challenge facing international health care systems. A need for a systematic approach to treatment is essential to conquering obesity and improving patients' outcomes and quality of lives. Despite the existence of evidence‐based guidelines, the proportion of primary care clinicians implementing weight loss counseling is low. Approach: This article identifies, critiques, and synthesizes the established body of research evidence for weight loss interventions. Findings: The strategies that have been shown to be effective in the management and treatment of obesity are outlined. Implications: Finally, the feasibility of applying these findings to practice and the practical implications of these findings are discussed.