bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differential mRNA Expression of the Two Mineralocorticoid Receptor Splice Variants Within the Human Brain: Structure Analysis of their Different DNA Binding Domains
Authors: Wickert L. , Selbig J. , Watzka M. , Stoffel‐Wagner B. , Schramm J. , Bidlingmeier F. , Ludwig M. 
Published: July 2002

AbstractIn human brain tissue, cortisol action, at basal concentrations, is mediated by the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). An in‐frame insertion of 12 bp in the MR‐DNA‐binding domain due to alternative splice site usage between exons 3 and 4 results in an MR mRNA splice variant (MR+4) encoding a receptor protein with four additional amino acids compared to the wild‐type MR protein. To elucidate the questions of sex, age, and/or tissue dependent differences of the relative amount of the two mRNA subtypes, we examined 131 fresh human brain tissue samples from temporal and frontal lobe or hippocampus. One hundred and twenty samples were obtained from patients with epilepsy and 11 samples from patients with brain tumours. A small but signi®cant difference of the MR+4 mRNA splice variant proportions in cortex (9.5t0.8%) and subcortical white matter (6.6t0.7%) of the temporal lobe could be detected, indicating differential MR splice variant expression within these brain areas. Moreover, the splice variant ratios in samples of the temporal lobe cortex collected from patients with epilepsy differed from samples of patients with brain tumours. These data point to an altered expression of the MR splice variants in epilepsy, and strengthen the supposition of a tissue speci®c alternative splicing of the MR mRNA. The frequent occurence of the MR+4 transcript raises the question of its functional signi®cance. For this reason, an MR+4 DNA‐binding‐domain structure model was generated by computer‐based homology modelling based on the known glucocorticoid receptor structure. The data obtained revealed no distorting effect of the inserted four amino acids on the adjacent secondary structures, thereby suggesting that both zinc ®ngers retain their function. The resulting structure of the MR+4 model leads to the supposition that the receptor retains its function. Moreover, databank analysis with respect to this kind of steroid receptor variation and our own sequence data of the closely related progesterone receptor sustained the hypothesis that only corticosteroid receptors were affected by this alternative splicing event.
Endoscopic treatment for urinary incontinence in children with a congenital neuropathic bladder
Authors: Silveri  , Capitanucci  , Mosiello  , Broggi  , DE Gennaro  
Published: July 2002

Objective To verify, in a retrospective analysis, the effectiveness of endoscopic treatment (collagen injection) in children with neurogenic bladder and neurogenic urinary incontinence.Patients and methods From January 1992 to March 1997, 36 endoscopic collagen injections were performed to treat neurogenic urinary incontinence in 23 patients (mean age 10.9 years, range 6–17 at the time of the first procedure) selected on the basis of clinical status and the patient’s motivation. Nineteen patients were affected by myelomeningocele and four had an occult spinal dysraphism. All patients underwent a preoperative cystometric urodynamic evaluation (without urethral pressure measurement) which showed detrusor areflexia in 12, normal reflexia in one and hyper‐reflexia in 10 patients. Bladder compliance was considered good (≥20 cmH2O) in 13 patients and low (10–20 cmH2O) in 10, four of whom had detrusor areflexia. Twenty‐one children emptied their bladder by intermittent clean catheterization. The mean (range) follow‐up was 19.2 (6–54) months. Twenty (group A) and 16 (group B) procedures, performed early and late in the series, were analysed separately to determine any increase in effectiveness with surgical experience. The evaluation criteria were; the increase in the ‘dry’ interval (between catheterizations) before and after treatment/s (Δdry); the patient’s and parent’s satisfaction; the number of endoscopic procedures and quantity of injected materials.Results There was an improvement (dryness of at least 2 h; Δdry of 1 h) in 13 of 23 patients after 1–3 (mean 1.5) procedures; 10 patients had a 0.2 h increase in Δdry after 1–3 injections and none was satisfied. There was no difference in the Δdry (0.9 vs. 0.7 h) between groups A and B, and/or the patient’s/parent’s satisfaction. Success rates differed with urodynamic patterns; seven of 10 patients showing no improvement had hyper‐reflexia and three of the remaining 12 with areflexia had hypocompliant bladders, while nine of the 13 showing improvement had an areflexic detrusor and low‐pressure bladders.Conclusion The efficacy of the treatment depends largely on the urodynamic selection of patients (mainly those with detrusor areflexia and good compliance). The outcome may be improved further by increasing the quantity of injected material and with a longer follow‐up, performing the procedure again if advisable. A close postoperative clinical (pad test) and personal observation is necessary to evaluate the outcome and thus optimize the strategy of treatment.
The histology and immunohistochemistry of free buccal mucosa and full‐skin grafts after exposure to urine
Authors: Filipas D. , Fisch M. , Fichtner J. , Fitzpatrick J. , Berg K. , Störkel S. , Hohenfellner R. , Thüroff J. W. 
Published: July 2002

ObjectiveTo investigate the histological and immunohistochemical behaviour of free buccal mucosa and fullskin grafts after exposure to urine.Materials and methodsA buccal mucosal graft and a full‐skin graft were freely transferred into the bladder of 12 minipigs, after stripping the bladder mucosa. Endoscopic investigations were carried out 2 and 5 months after surgery, and the grafts examined after death at 7 months, both histologically and immunohi‐stochemically.Results ShrinkageShrinkage of the full‐skin graft was apparent endoscopically in five cases. Of the nine full‐skin grafts, four showed severe inflammatory reactions, two necrosis and two ulcerations. Conversely, the 10 buccal mucosal grafts had fewer pathological findings (three minimal inflammation and three with scars) and a pronounced similarity on immunofullhistochemistry.ConclusionsThe buccal mucosal graft showed significantly fewer adverse histopathological findings after long‐term exposure to urine than the full‐skin graft and is therefore a preferable material for urethral reconstruction.
Increased aortic stiffness in women with Type 1 diabetes mellitus is associated with diabetes duration and autonomic nerve function
Authors: Ahlgren Å. Rydén , Sundkvist G. , Wollmer P. , Sonesson B. , Lärme T. 
Published: July 2002

AimsThe increase in risk for cardiovascular complications in diabetic women is even greater than that in diabetic men. We found arterial stiffness to be increased in women, but not in men, with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). The aims of the present study were to evaluate whether the changes in arterial distensibility are influenced by diabetes duration and to evaluate any association between autonomic neuropathy and decreased arterial distensibility.MethodsStiffness of the abdominal aorta was measured noninvasively using echo‐tracking sonography and parasympathetic function by heart rate variation during deep breathing (E/I ratio) in 40 women (mean age 33 years, range 20‐61) and 38 men (mean age 36 years, range 22‐56) with Type 1 DM.ResultsThere was a significant correlation between aortic stiffness and duration of diabetes in women (r = 0.41, P = 0.008), but not in men (r = 0.15, P = 0.35). There was also a significant correlation between aortic stiffness and the E/I ratio in women (r = ‐0.49, P = 0.002), but not in men (r = ‐0.14, P = 0.41). When adjusted for diabetes duration, the significant association between the E/I ratio and aortic stiffness remained in diabetic women (r = ‐0.44, P = 0.008) and was stronger than the association between diabetes duration and aortic stiffness. There were no significant correlations between aortic stiffness and triglycerides or total cholesterol, respectively.ConclusionsIncreased aortic wall stiffness found in women with Type 1 DM is related to diabetes duration. Further, in women with Type 1 DM there is a correlation between increased aortic stiffness and parasympathetic dysfunction. This may be of importance for the increased susceptibility to cardiovascular complications in diabetic women.
Black teachers: curriculum and career
Authors: Pole Christopher 
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACTThe influence of both the formal and hidden curriculum has been largely absent from studies of black and Asian teachers' lives and careers. This article seeks to address that absence by focusing on the successful career of one black teacher included in an ESRC‐funded life history study of black and Asian teachers (Pole, 1998, 1999). The article, which draws heavily on the words of the teacher, examines the way in which experience of both the formal and hidden curriculum was instrumental in eventually shaping a black identity and a positive sense of self for the teacher concerned. However, part of the journey towards this positive outcome involved coping with and overcoming different forms of racism manifest not only through the curriculum but also through pedagogy and school organization.
Unrecorded alcohol consumption in Ontario, Canada: estimation procedures and research implications
Authors: MACDONALD SCOTT , WELLS SAMANTHA , GIESBRECHT NORMAN 
Published: July 2002

AbstractIn 1975 the amount of alcohol consumed through unrecorded sources in Ontario was estimated to be between 4% and 6% of overall consumption of absolute alcohol. Population surveys and other data sources were used to produce more recent estimates of the amount of alcohol consumed through U‐brew and U‐vint production, home brewing, cross‐border shopping and illegal channels. Based on converging extimates, consumption of absolute alcohol from unrecorded sources is now estimated to be about 19.5%. Generally, the data provide more support for the substitution model rather than the additive model, as declines in official sales data appear to have coincided with increases in consumption from unrecorded sources. The implications of unrecorded consumption from a research and public health perspective are discussed.
Teacher perceptions of communication impairment at screening stage in preschool children living in Patras, Greece
Authors: Okalidou Areti , Kampanaros Maria 
Published: July 2002

AbstractThe general aim was to obtain piloting data for a series of experiments about the prevalence of communication impairment in preschool children in Greece. At this screening stage of the overall project, teacher perceptions of communication impairment in 57 kindergartens servicing 1113 children were examined via a questionnaire distributed in the urban region of Patras. The specific research goals were (1) to screen for specific categories of communication impairment such as articulation/phonology, receptive language, expressive language and pragmatics, hearing, stuttering, and voice, as they appear in the mainstreamed kindergarten population and (2) to offer comparative information on sex differences in communication impairment(s). The information was gathered by administration of a Greek‐adapted version of the Communication Checklist for Pre‐school Teachers, which was administered three times to obtain validity and reliability measures. The results were analysed separately for two studies (original and follow‐up) and indicated teacher estimates of 14.4Þ18.7% for communication impairment in kindergarten children of the Patras region. Prevalence was higher for boys than for girls. Analysis of specific communication areas revealed that prevalence varies according to gender and category of communicative impairment. The limitations and follow‐up needs of this study are discussed.
High Constitutive Glucocorticoid Receptor β in Human Neutrophils Enables Them to Reduce Their Spontaneous Rate of Cell Death in Response to Corticosteroids
Authors: Strickland Ian , Kisich Kevin , Hauk Pia J. , Vottero Alessandra , Chrousos George P. , Klemm Dwight J. , Leung Donald Y.M. 
Published: July 2002

Neutrophils are markedly less sensitive to glucocorticoids than T cells, making it difficult to control inflammation in neutrophil-mediated diseases. Development of new antiinflammatory strategies for such diseases would be aided by an understanding of mechanisms underlying differential steroid responsiveness. Two protein isoforms of the human glucocorticoid receptor (GR) exist, GRα and GRβ, which arise from alternative splicing of the GR pre-mRNA primary transcripts. GRβ does not bind glucocorticoids and is an inhibitor of GRα activity. Relative amounts of these two GRs can therefore determine the level of glucocorticoid sensitivity. In this study, human neutrophils and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were studied to determine the relative amounts of each GR isoform.
The mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) using immunofluorescence analysis for GRα was 475 ± 62 and 985 ± 107 for PBMCs and neutrophils, respectively. For GRβ, the MFI was 350 ± 60 and 1,389 ± 143 for PBMCs and neutrophils, respectively (P &lt; 0.05). After interleukin (IL)-8 stimulation of neutrophils, there was a statistically significant increase in intensity of GRβ staining to 2,497 ± 140 (P &lt; 0.05). No change in GRα expression was observed. This inversion of the GRα/GRβ ratio in human neutrophils compared with PBMCs was confirmed by quantitative Western analysis. Increased GRβ mRNA expression in neutrophils at baseline, and after IL-8 exposure, was observed using RNA dot blot analysis. Increased levels of GRα/GRβ heterodimers were found in neutrophils as compared with PBMCs using coimmunoprecipitation/Western analysis. Transfection of mouse neutrophils, which do not contain GRβ, resulted in a significant reduction in the rate of cell death when treated with dexamethasone.
We conclude that high constitutive expression of GRβ by human neutrophils may provide a mechanism by which these cells escape glucocorticoid-induced cell death. Moreover, upregulation of this GR by proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-8 further enhances their survival in the presence of glucocorticoids during inflammation.
A Dynamic Attribute Satiation Model of Variety-Seeking Behavior
Authors: McAlister Leigh 
Published: July 2002

Abstract
This paper presents a model of individual consumer choice for separate choice occasions. Contrary to the notion that each choice is essentially independent of its predecessors, dependence is proposed as the key to variety-seeking behavior. As an individual's consumption history evolves, the pattern of attribute accumulations changes, leading to preference for items rich in different attributes at different points in time. The model is operationalized using soft drink consumption diaries, and predicts choices better than a model that ignores choice dependence.
Tate cohomology lowers chromatic Bousfield classes
Authors: Hovey Mark , Sadofsky Hal 
Published: July 2002

Let

G
G

be a finite group. We use recent results of J. P. C. Greenlees and H. Sadofsky to show that the Tate homology of

E
(
n
)

E(n)

local spectra with respect to

G
G

produces

E
(
n
−
1
)

E(n-1)

local spectra. We also show that the Bousfield class of the Tate homology of

L

n

X

L_{n}X

(for

X
X

finite) is the same as that of

L

n
−
1

X

L_{n-1}X

. To be precise, recall that Tate homology is a functor from

G
G

-spectra to

G
G

-spectra. To produce a functor

P

G

P_{G}

from spectra to spectra, we look at a spectrum as a naive

G
G

-spectrum on which

G
G

acts trivially, apply Tate homology, and take

G
G

-fixed points. This composite is the functor we shall actually study, and we’ll prove that

⟨

P

G

(

L

n

X
)
⟩
=
⟨

L

n
−
1

X
⟩

\langle P_{G}(L_{n}X) \rangle = \langle L_{n-1}X \rangle

when

X
X

is finite. When

G
=

Σ

p

G = \Sigma _{p}

, the symmetric group on

p
p

letters, this is related to a conjecture of Hopkins and Mahowald (usually framed in terms of Mahowald’s functor

R

P

−
∞

(
−
)

{\mathbf R}P_{-\infty }(-)

).
Calign: aligning sequences with restricted affine gap penalties.
Authors: Chao K M 
Published: July 2002

Abstract
MOTIVATION: Given a genomic DNA sequence, it is still an open problem to determine its coding regions, i.e. the region consisting of exons and introns. The comparison of cDNA and genomic DNA helps the understanding of coding regions. For such an application, it might be adequate to use the restricted affine gap penalties which penalize long gaps with a constant penalty. RESULTS: Several techniques developed for solving the approximate string-matching problem are employed to yield efficient algorithms for computing the optimal alignment with restricted affine gap penalties. In particular, efficient algorithms can be derived based on the suffix automaton with failure transitions and on the diagonalwise monotonicity of the cost tables. We have implemented the above methods in C on Sun workstations running SunOS Unix. Preliminary experiments show that these approaches are very promising for aligning a cDNA sequence with a genomic DNA sequence. AVAILABILITY: Calign is available free of charge by anonymous ftp at: iubio.bio. indiana.edu, directory: molbio/align, files: calign.driver.c calign. c. Another URL reference for the files is http://iubio.bio.indiana.edu/soft/molbio/align/+ ++calign.c.
The Predictive Toxicology Challenge 2000–2001
Authors: Helma C. , King R. D. , Kramer S. , Srinivasan A. 
Published: July 2002

Abstract
Summary: We initiated the Predictive Toxicology Challenge (PTC) to stimulate the development of advanced SAR techniques for predictive toxicology models. The goal of this challenge is to predict the rodent carcinogenicity of new compounds based on the experimental results of the US National Toxicology Program (NTP). Submissions will be evaluated on quantitative and qualitative scales to select the most predictive models and those with the highest toxicological relevance.
Availability: http://www.informatik.uni-freiburg.de/~ml/ptc/
Contact: helma@informatik.uni-freiburg.de
* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Linear modes of gene expression determined by independent
component analysis
Authors: Liebermeister Wolfram 
Published: July 2002

Abstract
Motivation: The expression of genes is controlled by specific combinations of cellular variables. We applied Independent Component Analysis (ICA) to gene expression data, deriving a linear model based on hidden variables, which we term ‘expression modes’. The expression of each gene is a linear function of the expression modes, where, according to the ICA model, the linear influences of different modes show a minimal statistical dependence, and their distributions deviate sharply from the normal distribution.
Results: Studying cell cycle-related gene expression in yeast, we found that the dominant expression modes could be related to distinct biological functions, such as phases of the cell cycle or the mating response. Analysis of human lymphocytes revealed modes that were related to characteristic differences between cell types. With both data sets, the linear influences of the dominant modes showed distributions with large tails, indicating the existence of specifically up- and downregulated target genes. The expression modes and their influences can be used to visualize the samples and genes in low-dimensional spaces. A projection to expression modes helps to highlight particular biological functions, to reduce noise, and to compress the data in a biologically sensible way.
Availability: The FastICA algorithm (Hyvärinen, IEEE Trans. Neural Netw. , 10, 626–634, 1999) is freely available at http://www.cis.hut.fi/projects/ica/fastica/. Additional matlab scripts and detailed results can be downloaded from http://www.molgen.mpg.de/research/lehrach/projects/genica/
Contact: wolfram.liebermeister@rz.hu-berlin.de
Compensation for nucleotide bias in a genome by representation
as a discrete channel with noise
Authors: Schreiber Mark , Brown Chris 
Published: July 2002

Abstract
Motivation: Calculation of the information content of motifsin genomes highly biased in nucleotide composition is likely to lead to overestimates of the amount of useful informationin the motif. Calculating relative information can compensate for biases, however the resulting information content is the amount seen by an observer and not by a macromolecule binding to the motif. The latter is needed to calculate the discriminatory power of the motif and to compare motifs between species.
Results: By treating a biased genome as a discrete channel with noise, in accordance with Shannon Information Theory, we were able to remove both ‘Distortion’ and ‘Noise’ from the motif and recover a more instructive biological ‘signal.’ A Java application, LogoPaint, was developed to remove nucleotide bias distortion and triplet frequency noise from motifs, calculate information content and present the motif as a logo. We demonstrate how this technique can ‘unmask’ motifs in the translation initiation regions of bacteria that are obscured by strong sequence biases.
Availability: LogoPaint is available to all users from the authors as an executable JAR file. Source code is available by arrangement.
Contact: chris.brown@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
A multicentre randomized controlled trial of oral misoprostol and i.m. syntometrine in the management of the third stage of labour
Authors: Ng P.S. , Chan A.S.M. , Sin W.K. , Tang L.C.H. , Cheung K.B. , Yuen P.M. 
Published: July 2002

Abstract
Postpartum haemorrhage accounts for nearly 28% of maternal mortality in developing countries. Syntometrine is an effective and commonly used oxytocic in preventing postpartum haemorrhage, but it requires a controlled storage environment and i.m. administration. Misoprostol is an orally active uterotonic agent. A total of 2058 patients having a singleton pregnancy, low risk for postpartum haemorrhage and vaginal delivery were randomized to receive either 1 ml syntometrine or 600 μg misoprostol for the management of the third stage of labour. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the mean blood loss, the incidence of postpartum haemorrhage and the fall in haemoglobin concentration. The need for additional oxytocic injection was significantly higher in the misoprostol group [relative risk (RR) 1.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34–1.96], but that of manual removal of placenta was reduced (RR 0.29, 95% CI 0.09–0.87). Shivering and transient pyrexia were more common in the misoprostol group. Oral misoprostol might be used in the management of the third stage, especially in situations where the use of syntometrine is contraindicated and facilities for storage and parenteral administration of oxytocics are limited.