bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Triplication of the lesser occipital nerve
Authors: Madhavi C. , Holla S.J. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractTriplication of the lesser occipital nerve (LON) was observed bilaterally in an adult male cadaver during routine prosection of the posterior triangle. The three LONs were studied to determine the clinical importance of this variation. The origin of one LON was from a nerve to the trapezius that had a common origin with the trunk of the supraclavicular nerve (C3,4) from the cervical plexus. Such a common origin of a LON may explain the pain referred to the shoulder and arm that is experienced by some patients with cervicogenic headache. Another LON ran across the roof of the posterior triangle, passed through the trapezius and was closely related to the point of exit of the greater occipital nerve (GON) from the trapezius. This LON supplied the nape of the neck, back of the scalp and the auricle. The anomalous course taken by this LON through the trapezius may be an explanation for cervicogenic headache precipitated by neck movement. The close relationship of this variant LON to the exit of the GON from the trapezius seems to be relevant to the management of cervicogenic headache. The authors suggest that the reason for the complete pain relief experienced by some patients with cervicogenic headache by anesthetic blockade of the GON may be because both the GON and LON are blocked simultaneously due to their proximity in these patients. Clin. Anat. 17:667–671, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Biochemical Association of Poly(ADP‐ribose) Polymerase‐1 and Its Apoptotic Peptide Fragments with DNA Polymerase β
Authors: Confer Nils F. , Kumari Sunitha R. , Alvarez‐Gonzalez Rafael 
Published: October 2004

AbstractWe have characterized the biochemical association of two DNA damage‐dependent enzymes, poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase‐1 (PARP‐1) [EC 2.4.2.30] and DNA polymerase β (pol β) [2.7.7.7]. We reproducibly observed that pol β is an efficient covalent target for ADP‐ribose polymers under standard conditions of enzymatically catalyzed ADP‐ribosylation of βNAD+ as a substrate. The efficiency of poly(ADP‐ribosyl)ation increased as a function of the pol β and βNAD+ concentrations. To further characterize the molecular interactions between these two unique polymerases, we also subjected human recombinant PARP‐1 to peptide‐specific enzymatic degradation with either caspase‐3 or caspase‐7 in vitro. This proteolytic treatment, commonly referred to as ‘a hallmark of apoptosis’, generated the two physiologically relevant peptide fragments of PARP‐1, e.g., a 24‐kDa amino‐terminus and an 89‐kDa carboxy‐terminal domain. Interestingly, co‐incubation of the two peptide fragments of PARP‐1 with full‐length pol β resulted in their domain‐specific molecular association as determined by co‐immunoprecipitation and reciprocal immunoblotting. Therefore, our data strongly suggest that, once PARP‐1 is proteolyzed by either caspase‐3 or caspase‐7 during cell death, the specific association of its apoptotic fragments with DNA repair enzymes, such as pol β, may serve a regulatory molecular role in the execution phase of apoptosis.
Understanding Sterol‐Membrane Interactions, Part II: Complete 1H and 13C Assignments by Solid‐State NMR Spectroscopy and Determination of the Hydrogen‐Bonding Partners of Cholesterol in a Lipid Bilayer
Authors: Soubias Olivier , Jolibois Franck , Réat Valérie , Milon Alain 
Published: October 2004

AbstractThe complete assignment of cholesterol 1H and 13C NMR resonances in a lipid bilayer environment (Lα‐dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine/cholesterol 2:1) has been obtained by a combination of 1D and 2D MAS NMR experiments: 13C spectral editing, ge‐HSQC, dipolar HETCOR and J‐based HETCOR. Specific chemical shift variations have been observed for the C1–C6 atoms of cholesterol measured in CCl4 solution and in the membrane. Based on previous work (F. Jolibois, O. Soubias, V. Réat, A. Milon, Chem. Eur. J. 2004, 10, preceding paper in this issue: DOI: 10.1002/chem.200400245) these variations were attributed to local changes around the cholesterol hydroxy group, such as the three major rotameric states of the C3O3 bond and different hydrogen bonding partners (water molecules, carboxy and phosphodiester groups of phosphatidylcholine). Comparison of the experimental and theoretical chemical shifts obtained from quantum‐chemistry calculations of various transient molecular complexes has allowed the distributions of hydrogen bonding partners and hydroxy rotameric states to be determined. This is the first time that the probability of hydrogen bonding occurring between cholesterol's hydroxy group and phosphatidylcholine's phosphodiester has been determined experimentally.
Immunophenotyping is an independent factor for risk stratification in AML
Authors: Repp R. , Schaekel U. , Helm G. , Thiede C. , Soucek S. , Pascheberg U. , Wandt H. , Aulitzky W. , Bodenstein H. , Sonnen R. , Link H. , Ehninger G. , Gramatzki M. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractBackgroundChromosomal abnormalities are one of the most important prognostic factors in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, only a limited number of patients have such informative chromosomal abnormalities. The prognostic value of immunophenotyping in this disease is still unclear.MethodsSeven hundred and eighty‐three newly diagnosed AML patients treated in the German SHG‐AML trials in 1991 and 1996 were analyzed with a panel of 33 antibodies. Expression was correlated to overall survival, complete remission‐rate, and complete remission duration, and tested in a multivariate analysis including other clinical and biological markers.ResultsWith a median follow‐up of 4.3 years, patients with AML blasts negative for CD9, CD11b, CD13, CD34, and CD41, or positive for CD15, CD33, CD38, CD64, and MPO had superior overall survival. This effect was associated with a significantly higher complete remission rate (CD13, CD34, CD41, and CD64) or a longer complete remission duration (CD9, CD11b, and CD64). Cox‐regression analysis, including cytogenetic, morphologic, and biologic parameters showed CD9, CD13, CD34, and CD64 as independent factors for overall survival. These markers were used for a prognostic score. Patients were pooled in three groups with highly significant differences of overall survival. The prognostic relevance of this score was confirmed in patients with normal karyotype and/or in younger patients ≤ 60 years.ConclusionsImmunophenotyping is not only helpful for diagnosis but is of independent significance for prognosis, and may be useful for risk stratification in AML patients. Cytometry Part B (Clin. Cytometry) 53B:11–19, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Increased predictive value of parameters by fuzzy logic‐based multiparameter analysis
Authors: Peltri Gregor , Bitterlich Norman 
Published: October 2004

AbstractBackgroundA recent study on postoperative effusions and edema was used to demonstrate the potential of fuzzy techniques in multiparameter data analysis. In this study, more than 50 parameters of 75 patients were collected and examined for correlations between some of the parameters and the later development of complications.MethodsWe employed a rule‐based fuzzy‐logic system in order to combine the diagnostic values of single parameters. The advantage of fuzzy sets is that they substitute sharp cut‐off values with a smooth transition from one property to another. Therefore, there is no decision of “either–or” but rather a graded assessment of “more or less”, which is often more suitable for a problem.ResultsThe fuzzy combination of parameters led to a large increase of sensitivity and specificity when compared with the best single parameter. This increase was achieved by taking a close look at the parameters. A newly created parameter, relative weight, turned out to be very powerful.ConclusionsFuzzy techniques can increase the discriminating power of classical statistical tools. In addition, results obtained by fuzzy analysis are highly interpretable. A combination of the CLASSIF1 algorithm for the identification of the most relevant parameters, followed by fuzzy analysis, represents a powerful tool for the handling of large amounts of multiparameter data. Cytometry Part B (Clin. Cytometry) 53B:75–77, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Development of an Enzymeless/Mediatorless Glucose Sensor Using Ruthenium Oxide‐Prussian Blue Combinative Analogue
Authors: Kumar Annamalai Senthil , Chen Pei‐Yen , Chien Shu‐Hua , Zen Jyh‐Myng 
Published: October 2004

AbstractPresented in this work is the first step towards an enzymeless/mediatorless glucose sensor. We first observed remarkable electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose using combinative ruthenium oxide (RuOx)‐Prussian blue (PB) analogues (designated as mvRuOx‐RuCN, mv: mixed valent) at ca. 1.1 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in acidic media (pH 2 Na2SO4/H2SO4). Individual RuOx and PB analogs failed to give any such catalytic response. A high ruthenium oxidation state (i.e., oxy/hydroxy‐RuVII, E°≈1.4 V vs. RHE), normally occurring in strong alkaline conditions at RuOx‐based electrodes, was electrogenerated and stabilized (without any conventional disproportionation reaction) in the mvRuOx‐RuCN matrix for glucose catalysis. Detail X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies can fully support the observation. The catalyst was chemically modified onto a disposable screen‐printed carbon electrode and employed for the amperometric detection of glucose via flow injection analysis (FIA). This system has a linear detection range of 0.3–20 mM with a detection limit and sensitivity of 40 μM (S/N=3) and 6.2 μA/(mM cm2), respectively, for glucose. Further steps towards the elimination of interference and the extendibility to neutral pHs were addressed.
Cytoprotection against oxidative stress‐induced damage of astrocytes by extracellular ATP via P2Y1 receptors
Authors: Shinozaki Youichi , Koizumi Schuichi , Ishida Seiichi , Sawada Jun‐Ichi , Ohno Yasuo , Inoue Kazuhide 
Published: October 2004

AbstractOxidative stress is the main cause of neuronal damage in traumatic brain injury, hypoxia/reperfusion injury, and neurodegenerative disorders. Although extracellular nucleosides, especially adenosine, are well known to protect against neuronal damage in such pathological conditions, the effects of these nucleosides or nucleotides on glial cell damage remain largely unknown. We report that ATP but not adenosine protects against the cell death of cultured astrocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). ATP ameliorated the H2O2‐induced decrease in cell viability of astrocytes in an incubation time‐ and concentration‐dependent fashion. Protection by ATP was inhibited by P2 receptor antagonists and was mimicked by P2Y1 receptor agonists but not by adenosine. The expressions of P2Y1 mRNAs and functional P2Y1 receptors in astrocytes were confirmed. Thus, ATP, acting on P2Y1 receptors in astrocytes, showed a protective action against H2O2. The astrocytic protection by the P2Y1 receptor agonist 2‐methylthio‐ADP was inhibited by an intracellular Ca2+ chelator and a blocker of phospholipase C, indicating the involvement of intracellular signals mediated by Gq/11‐coupled P2Y1 receptors. The ATP‐induced protection was inhibited by cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, and it took more than 12 h for the onset of the protective action. In the DNA microarray analysis, ATP induced a dramatic upregulation of various oxidoreductase genes. Taken together, ATP acts on P2Y1 receptors coupled to Gq/11, resulting in the upregulation of oxidoreductase genes, leading to the protection of astrocytes against H2O2. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Human alpha rhythms during visual delayed choice reaction time tasks: A magnetoencephalography study
Authors: Babiloni Claudio , Babiloni Fabio , Carducci Filippo , Cincotti Febo , Del Percio Claudio , Della Penna Stefania , Franciotti Raffaella , Pignotti Sandro , Pizzella Vittorio , Rossini Paolo Maria , Sabatini Elisabetta , Torquati Kathya , Romani Gian Luca 
Published: October 2004

AbstractMagnetoencephalography (MEG) includes fast and comfortable recording procedures very suitable for the neurophysiological study of cognitive functions in aged people. In this exploratory MEG study in normal young adults, we tested whether very simple short‐term memory (STM) demands induce visible changes in amplitude and latency of surface α rhythms. Two delayed response tasks were used. In the STM condition, a simple cue stimulus (one bit) was memorized along a brief delay period (3.5–5.5 s). In the control (no short‐term memory; NSTM) condition, the cue stimulus remained available along the delay period. To make extremely simple the tasks, the explicit demand was visuospatial but the retention could be also based on phonological and somatomotor coding. Compared to the control condition, the amplitude of the α 1 (6–8 Hz) ERD decreased in the left hemisphere, whereas the amplitude of the α 2 (8–10 Hz) and α 3 (10–12 Hz) event‐related desynchronization (ERD) increased in right and left parietal areas, respectively. Furthermore, the latency of the α ERD peak was slightly but significantly (P < 0.05) later in STM compared to control condition. In conclusion, whole‐head MEG technology and very simple STM demands revealed significant changes of human neuromagnetic α rhythms in normal young adults. Hum. Brain Mapp 24:184–192, 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Do Valine Side Chains Have an Influence on the Folding Behavior of β‐Substituted β‐Peptides?
Authors: Glättli Alice , Seebach Dieter , van Gunsteren Wilfred F. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractThe influence of valine side chains on the folding/unfolding equilibrium and, in particular, on the 314‐helical propensity of β3‐peptides were investigated by means of molecular‐dynamics (MD) simulation. To that end, the valine side chains in two different β3‐peptides were substituted by leucine side chains. The resulting four peptides, of which three have never been synthesized, were simulated for 150 to 200 ns at 298 and 340 K, starting from a fully extended conformation. The simulation trajectories obtained were compared with respect to structural preferences and folding behavior. All four peptides showed a similar folding behavior and were found to predominantly adopt 314‐helical conformations, irrespective of the presence of valine side chains. No other well‐defined conformation was observed at significant population in any of the simulations. Our results imply that β3‐peptides show a structural preference for 314‐helices independent of the branching nature of the side chains, in contrast to what has been previously proposed on the basis of circular‐dichroism (CD) measurements.
Probing the Conformational Changes in the Enzymatic Hydrolysis of 2‐Acetamido‐2‐deoxy‐β‐D‐glucopyranosides
Authors: Böhm Matthias , Vasella Andrea 
Published: October 2004

AbstractThe isoquinuclidines 7 and 8 were synthesised and tested as inhibitors of hexosaminidases from jack beans and from bovine kidney. These isoquinuclidines mimick the 1,4B‐conformer of a N‐acetyl‐glucosamine‐derived β‐d‐glucopyranoside; they are competitive inhibitors with Ki values from 0.014 to 0.30 μM. The strong inhibition of these enzymes agrees with the hypothesis that the enzymatic hydrolysis of 2‐acetamido‐2‐deoxy‐β‐d‐glucopyranosides proceeds via a boat‐like conformer with a pseudo‐axial scissile glycosidic bond and a pseudo‐axial acetamido substituent optimally oriented to effect an intramolecular substitution of the aglycon.
Cytotoxic Isoprenylated Flavonoids from the Roots of Sophora flavescens
Authors: Ding Peilan , Chen Daofeng , Bastow Kenneth F. , Nyarko Alexander K. , Wang Xihong , Lee Kuo‐Hsiung 
Published: October 2004

AbstractThree new flavonoids, which are isoprenylated by fused 2,2‐dimethyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran moieties, were isolated from the roots of Sophora flavescens and named flavenochromanes A–C (1–3). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 2D‐NMR techniques. Flavenochromane C (3) showed strong cytotoxic activity against A549 (lung carcinoma), 1A9 (ovarian carcinoma), KB (epidermoid carcinoma of the nasopharynx), and KB‐Vin (drug‐resistant variant KB) cell lines with IC50 values ≤1.7 μM, and significant activity against the MCF‐7 (breast adenocarcinoma) cell line with an IC50 value of 3.6 μM. Flavenochromane B (2) displayed slightly lower inhibitory effects (IC50 3.2–6.9 μM) as compared with 3.
Synthesis and Absolute Configuration at C(8) of ‘p‐Menthane‐3,8,9‐triol’ Derived from (–)‐Isopulegol
Authors: Yuasa Yoshifumi , Yuasa Yoko 
Published: October 2004

AbstractTwo diastereoisomers of the new, potentially insecticidal ‘p‐menthane‐3,8,9‐triol’ (=(2S)‐ and (2R)‐ 2‐[(1R,2R,4R)‐2‐hydroxy‐4‐methylcyclohexyl]propane‐1,2‐diol; (8S)‐ and (8R)‐1), have been synthesized from (–)‐isopulegol by both conventional dihydroxylation and catalytic Sharpless dihydroxylation (Scheme). The absolute configuration at C(8) of the corresponding orthoformate adduct (8S)‐3a was determined by 1H‐NMR and X‐ray crystallographic analysis (Figure).
2,4‐Dioxa‐7‐aza‐, 2,4‐Dioxa‐8‐aza‐, and 2,4‐Dioxa‐9‐aza‐3‐phosphadecalins as Rigid Acetylcholine Mimetics: Syntheses and Characterization
Authors: Furegati Stefan , Ganci Walter , Gorla Fabrizio , Ringeisen Urs , Rüedi Peter 
Published: October 2004

AbstractPhosphorylation of suitable piperidine precursors yielded a series of novel decalin‐type O,N,P‐heterocycles. The title compounds, P(3)‐axially and P(3)‐equatorially X‐substituted, cis‐ and trans‐configurated 2,4‐dioxa‐7‐aza‐, 2,4‐dioxa‐8‐aza‐, and 2,4‐dioxa‐9‐aza‐3‐phosphabicyclo[4.4.0]decane 3‐oxides (X=Cl, F, 4‐nitrophenoxy, and 2,4‐dinitrophenoxy), are configuratively fixed and conformationally constrained P‐analogues of acetylcholine and as such represent acetylcholine (7‐aza and 9‐aza isomers) or γ‐homo‐acetylcholine mimetics (8‐aza isomers). Being irreversible inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the compounds are considered to be suitable probes for the investigation of the stereochemical course of the inhibition reaction by 31P‐NMR spectroscopy. Moreover, the design of these mimetics will enable studies of molecular interactions with AChE, in particular, the recognition conformation of acetylcholine.
Quantifying the local‐scale uncertainty of estimated actual evapotranspiration
Authors: Hupet F. , Bogaert P. , Vanclooster M. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractIn this study, we quantified the local‐scale uncertainty of the actual evapotranspiration estimated from a water balance approach combining two soil‐water‐content measurement techniques (time‐domain reflectometry and neutron probe sounding). The local‐scale uncertainty was quantified for 28 sampling points located within a small maize cropped field. This was done by determining progressively the expected value and uncertainty on soil‐water content, soil‐water storage, soil‐water storage variation and on bottom flux. This latter term was quantified using two different hydraulic conductivity curves (HCC), derived from a pedotransfer function (PTF) and from field measurements. Results show that uncertainty on a soil water storage estimate for the considered experimental measurements in terms of standard deviation range between 9·72 and 10·37 mm. This uncertainty is related mainly to the calibration of the soil‐water content measurement instruments. For a soil‐water storage variation estimate, the uncertainty is smaller, with values ranging between 3·48 and 5·42 mm. In this case, the main component of the total variance is the instrumental variance and the variance resulting from the technique used to integrate soil‐water‐content measurements. The expected values and uncertainties for the bottom fluxes were significantly different for the two different HCC characterization techniques in some places in the field. For estimated ET fluxes with in situ estimated HCC results show that the uncertainty ranges in terms of standard deviation between 3·82 and 5·97 mm. It should be stressed that these values can be considered as very low and that a better precision is probably very difficult to obtain as all sensitive factors contributing to the ET variance have been determined in a consistent and optimal way. Finally, it is shown that the uncertainties in estimated HCC with PTFs may result in large uncertainties in estimated ET, questioning thereby the use of PTFs in characterizing the field water balance. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantification of irreversible benzene sorption in sandy materials
Authors: Kim Dong‐Ju , Choi Nag‐Choul , Kim Song‐Bae 
Published: October 2004

AbstractBased on a previous study of the irreversible sorption of benzene in sandy aquifer materials, we further investigated a method to quantify an irreversible sorption coefficient of aqueous benzene. Assuming that the rate of irreversible loss from the solution to the sorption sites followed first‐order kinetics, the irreversible sorption coefficient was derived from a kinetic batch sorption test conducted for an appropriate soil‐to‐solution ratio to reflect the flow conditions imposed on a column test. Simulation results revealed that the irreversible sorption coefficient estimated from the kinetic batch test provided a good agreement with the measured data obtained from the column test, indicating that the method proposed in this study can be used to quantify the irreversible sorption coefficient. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In vivo performance of the Nitinol shape‐memory stapes prosthesis during hearing restoration surgery in otosclerosis: A first report
Authors: Rajan Gunesh P. , Eikelboom Robert H. , Anandacoomaraswamy Keith S. , Atlas Marcus D. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractThe limitations of manual prosthesis crimping in hearing restoration surgery for otosclerosis are thought to have a key role in the occurrence of incomplete postoperative elimination of conductive hearing loss and postoperative recurrences of conductive hearing loss. To eliminate manual crimping, the self‐crimping, shape‐memory alloy Nitinol stapes piston was introduced in nine otosclerosis patients. The results were compared with those in a database of surgeries performed with conventional titanium pistons. The effects of the self‐crimping Nitinol prosthesis on the postoperative elimination of conductive hearing loss and its postoperative variations were investigated. The variations of postoperative residual conductive hearing loss were significantly smaller and the extent of conductive hearing‐loss elimination greater in the Nitinol group. The mean postoperative residual conductive hearing loss was smaller in the Nitinol group. The postoperative stability of conductive hearing loss elimination was similar in both patient groups. Preliminary results suggest that the self‐crimping shape‐memory alloy Nitinol stapes piston overcomes the drawbacks of manual crimping in hearing restoration surgery for otosclerosis. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 72B: 305–309, 2005
Hepatoprotection by L‐cysteine‐glutathione mixed disulfide, a sulfhydryl‐modified prodrug of glutathione
Authors: Berkeley Lorelle I. , Cohen Jonathan F. , Crankshaw Daune L. , Shirota Frances N. , Nagasawa Herbert T. 
Published: October 2004

AbstractL‐Cysteine‐glutathione disulfide, a ubiquitous substance present in mammalian cells, was shown to be highly effective in protecting mice against acetaminophen‐induced hepatotoxicity. Since the corresponding D‐cysteine‐glutathione disulfide was totally ineffective in this regard, an enzymatic mechanism that provides glutathione directly to cells is postulated. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 17:95–97, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.10069