julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Growth Hormone Treatment of Short Children Born Small for Gestational Age: Growth Responses with Continuous and Discontinuous Regimens Over 6 Years1
2000-08-01

We report an epi-analysis of 6-yr growth responses obtained with GH treatment in short children born small for gestational age (SGA). Four randomized, multicenter studies explored the effects of continuous and discontinuous regimens of GH treatment in short, non-GH-deficient SGA children. A total of 49 untreated and 139 treated children were followed over 2 and 6 yr, respectively. At the start of the study, the age of these 188 children averaged 5.2 yr (range, 2-8 yr), height was -3.4 SD score, and height adjusted for parental height was -2.4 SD score. Onset of puberty was observed in 46% of the GH-treated cohort, on the average, at 10.7 yr in girls and 11.7 yr in boys. Two studies essentially investigated the effects of continuous GH treatment at a dose of 33 or 67 microg/kg, day, and two studies focused on the growth characteristics during an initial GH treatment for 2-3 yr (dose range, 33-100 microg/kg x day), followed by a withdrawal phase of 1-2 yr, and then by either no or 1 or more episodes of further GH treatment (33 or 67 microg/kg x day). Continuous GH treatment for 6 yr resulted in height increments of 2.0 +/- 0.2 SD (33 microg/kg x day; n = 35) and 2.7 +/- 0.2 SD (67 microg/kg x day; n = 27). Discontinuous GH treatment was given to 77 children, most of them experiencing only 1 (n = 47) or 2 (n = 26) treatment phases with an average duration of 2.0 yr. All these children received GH during the first 2 yr; the dose was only 32 microg/kg x day when averaged over 6 yr. Some individualization of treatment schedules was allowed, and the majority of investigators seemed to aim for a low normal height level, adjusted for parental height. After 2 yr, the mean adjusted height SD score had increased to -0.4 +/- 0.1 and stabilized thereafter. Bone maturation progressed similarly in all treatment subgroups, and after 6 yr of study, bone age remained slightly delayed compared to chronological age. Multivariate analysis identified the average GH dose over 6 yr, parental-adjusted height SD score, and age at start as prime predictors of the growth response. GH treatment was well tolerated. In conclusion, this epi-analysis of growth responses over 6 yr confirms the administration of GH as an effective approach to normalize the stature of short, non-GH-deficient SGA children, at least during childhood and early puberty. In addition, it is now increasingly apparent that a relatively broad spectrum of GH regimens is effective, and this experience should facilitate the design of more individualized treatment schedules in the future, in particular for young children.
Neurophysiological distinction of verb categories
2000-08-01

Neurophysiological brain responses to subcategories of action verbs were recorded using high resolution EEG. Starting 240 ms after word onset, topographies of event-related potentials distinguished between verbs referring to different action types. Current source density estimates revealed that verbs referring to actions executed with the legs (to kick) produced an activity focus close to the vertex, above motor areas involved in the programming of leg movements, whereas face-related verbs (to speak) produced a focus at left-lateral recordings, above perisylvian areas and the cortical representation of the face and articulators. This is evidence that brain mechanisms involved in word processing can differ even between fine-grained lexico-semantic subcategories and already within the first quarter of a second after word onset. We offer an explanation of the data in neurobiological terms.
Enhanced T cell responsiveness to citrulline-containing myelin basic protein in multiple sclerosis patients
2000-08-01

Myelin basic protein (MBP), a candidate autoantigen in multiple sclerosis (MS), exists in different isoforms and charge isomers generated by differential splicing of exons and by a combination of posttranslational modifications, respectively. These various isoforms and charge isomers of MBP vary in abundance and most likely serve different functions during myelinogenesis and remyelination. The least cationic among the charge isomers of MBP is citrullinated and is referred to as MBP-C8. MBP-C8 is relatively increased in the population of MBP isomers in more developmentally immature myelin and in MS brain tissue. In a previous study, we found that MBP-C8-reactive T cells could be detected in CD4+ T cell lines (TCL) generated with MBP from both MS patients and normal controls. Here, we examined the frequency and peptide specificity of MBPC8-specific TCL generated with MBP-C8 in MS patients and controls. Ten subjects grouped in five sets, each an MS patient and a control, were studied. In all cases, the MS patient had either a higher overall number of MBP-C8-responding lines, responded with greater sensitivity to the MBPC8 antigen or both. Few lines responded to the MBP-C8 peptides but, if they did, they appeared to be specific to the carboxyl-half of the MBP-C8 molecule. Given the large amounts of citrullinated MBP in MS brain tissue, a preferential T cell response to MBP-C8 may be involved in the induction and perpetuation of this disease.
Prenatal immune priming with helminth infections: parasite‐specific cellular reactivity and Th1 and Th2 cytokine responses in neonates
2000-08-01

The present investigation aimed to determine to what extent maternal helminth infection primes parasite‐specific cellular responsiveness in neonates. Umbilical cord mononuclear blood cells (UCBC) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from mothers proliferated in response to mitogenic stimulation with concanavalin A, as well as to bacterial Streptococcus pyogenes ‐derived (streptolysin O) and helminth‐specific antigens of Necator americanus and Onchocerca volvulus. Cellular responses to Echinococcus multilocularis (Em) and Oesophagostomum bifurcum (Oes), helminth parasites not endemic in the study area, were absent (for Em) or very low (for Oes due to antigenic cross‐reactivity). Cellular responsiveness to mitogen and antigens was higher in mothers than in their neonates. Several Th1‐type (IL‐2, IL‐12, and IFN‐γ) and Th2‐type (IL‐5 and IL‐10) cytokines were produced by UCBC from neonates and PBMC from mothers. Low levels of IFN‐γ were elicited by UCBC in response to helminth and bacterial antigens, while secretion of IL‐2 was pronounced and similarly high in neonates and their mothers. Amounts of IL‐5 produced by UCBC in response to bacterial SL‐O and mitogenic stimulation (PHA) were low, but equivalent levels of IL‐5 were induced by intestinal helminth and filaria‐derived antigens in neonates and mothers. A pronounced production of IL‐10 and IL‐12 by UCBC was observed – spontaneous IL‐10 and IL‐12 secretion by UCBC was higher in neonates than by PBMC from mothers. Net amounts of IL‐10 elicited by helminth antigens were similar, while net IL‐12 in response to mitogen, and bacterial and helminth antigens was significantly higher in mothers than their offspring. Our results indicate that human maternal helminth infection does sensitize in utero for parasite‐specific cellular responsiveness in offspring, and also activates specific production of several cytokines, and such children do not present a dominant expression of immunity of either Th1 or Th2.
Stacked long Josephson junctions in zero magnetic field: A numerical study of coupled one-dimensional sine-Gordon equations
2000-08-01

We present a systematic numerical study of the coupled one-dimensional sine-Gordon equations for a stack of 20 Josephson junctions, with junction parameters that are representative for intrinsic Josephson junctions in Simulations were performed for zero external magnetic field. We found a large variety of fluxon and antifluxon modes, often involving the excitation of collective Josephson plasma oscillations or cavity resonances. Representative states are discussed in detail.
Vestibular Influence on Human Auditory Space Perception
2000-08-01

We investigated the effect of vestibular stimulation on the lateralization of dichotic sound by cold-water irrigation of the external auditory canal in human subjects. Subjects adjusted the interaural level difference of the auditory stimulus to the subjective median plane of the head. In those subjects in whom dizziness and nystagmus indicated sufficient vestibular stimulation, these adjustments were significantly shifted toward the cooled ear compared with the control condition (irrigation with water at body temperature); i.e., vestibular stimulation induced a shift of the sound image toward the nonstimulated side. The mean magnitude of the shift was 7.3 dB immediately after vestibular stimulation and decreased to 2.5 dB after 5 min. As shown by an additional control experiment, this effect cannot be attributed to a unilateral hearing loss induced by cooling of the auditory periphery. The results indicate the involvement of vestibular afferent information in the perception of sound location during movements of the head and/or the whole body. We thus hypothesize that vestibular information is used by central-nervous mechanisms generating a world-centered representation of auditory space.
Prospective Randomized Trial Comparing Bowel Cleaning Preparations for Colonoscopy
2000-08-01

Colonoscopy is commonly accepted as the procedure of choice for the detection and treatment of colonic lesions. The current study was undertaken to compare effectiveness and tolerance of different bowel preparations. Three hundred patients were randomized into three groups, to be administered either a senna compound, a polyethylene glycol lavage, or an oral sodium phosphate (NaP) solution. Tolerance of the preparation was considered. After each colonoscopy, the endoscopist blindly scored cleansing for each bowel segment and defined the quality of the examination as "optimal," "acceptable," or to be repeated. Significantly more patients in Group C (68%) achieved a "good" cleansing compared with Group B (50%; P < 0.0001) and with Group A (38%; P < 0.005). Sixty-three percent of constipated patients obtained a "good" preparation in Group C, which was significantly higher than in Group A (28%; P < 0.05) and than in Group B (42%; P < 0.02). Feasibility of the examination was considered "optimal" in 80% of procedures in Group C, which was higher than in Group A (59%; P < 0.005) and in Group B (62%; P < 0.005). The tolerance of preparation was "good" in 93% of the examinations for Group C. This prospective randomized trial showed good effectiveness of NaP solutions, with an optimal tolerance. Results of use of the NaP solution showed a clear advantage for constipated patients, with similar results for nonconstipated patients. The author believes that the NaP solution should be the standard preparation for elective colonoscopy.
Locomotory design of ‘cyclostome’ fishes: Spatial arrangement and architecture of myosepta and lamellae
2000-08-01

Abstract Vogel, F. and Gemballa, S. 2000. Locomotory design of ‘cyclostome’ fishes: Spatial arrangement and architecture of myosepta and lamellae. — Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 81 : 267–283 In recent years, it has been established that the main features of the locomotory apparatus of gnathostome fishes (myoseptal and muscular system) have remained relatively unchanged throughout evolution. The petromyzontiforms (lampreys) and myxiniforms (hagfishes) display a similar way of undulatory locomotion as gnathostomes. We investigated whether the anatomical features of the myoseptal system that facilitate undulatory locomotion in gnathostomes are also present in lampreys and hagfishes. We present a description of the myoseptal system, including for the first time the spatial arrangement and fibre architecture in ‘cyclostomes’, using a clearing technique, microdissections, polarized light microscopy, and SEM. We revealed that the myoseptal system of the Myxiniformes, Petromyzontiformes and Gnathostomata are each constructed in different ways. Petromyzontiform myosepta lack the conical structures but bear tendon‐like structures in the flanking parts. Their central parts lack tendon‐like structures but possess a system of crossing collagen fibres. Myxiniform myosepta bear comparable conical structures as gnathostomes but a highly asymmetric spatial arrangement. The fibre architecture of myosepta is not comparable to any of the two remaining taxa. The collagen fibre architectures of the multiple horizontal sheets of lamellae in ‘cyclostomes’ and the gnathostome horizontal septum are comparable. Our results 1) support the monophyly of Myopterygii (Petromyzontiformes + gnathostomes and a sistergroup relationshop of Myopterygii and Myxiniformes; 2) demonstrate that considerable changes must have taken place in the locomotory apparatus early in vertebrate evolution.
Simultaneous, quantitative analysis of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine, UDP-glucose and UDP-galactose in human peripheral blood cells, muscle biopsies and cultured mesangial cells by capillary zone electrophoresis
2000-08-01

The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a capillary zone electrophoretic (CE) procedure for the accurate quantification of the UDP-hexosamines as well as for the corresponding UDP-hexoses in samples from various biological origins. Testing different buffer conditions, voltages, capillary dimensions and temperatures, optimal results were achieved with a 90 mM borate buffer, pH 9.0, at 18 degrees C and 15.5 kV in an uncoated fused-silica capillary of 50 cm x 50 microm and a detection wavelength of lambda = 262 nm. The total procedure, i.e., including variations of the sample preparation, showed coefficients of variation for the peak areas between 4. 1% and 10.4% in mesangial cells (n = 7) and between 7.8 and 10.3% (n = 6) in leukocytes for the components of interest. To improve precision, an internal standard was used for calibration. The limit of detection for all compounds is an absolute amount of 180 fmol, sufficient for the precise analysis of UDP-sugars in a limited amount of biological samples, such as human leukocytes (obtained from a 10 mL blood sample), muscle biopsies (< or = 100 mg), and mesangial kidney cells (ca. 2.5 x 10(5) cells). This reproducible, quantitative analysis of all four UDP-sugars from various biomedically relevant origins by CZE is a definite improvement over the generally used high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedures. The CZE method allows the study of the flux through the hexosamine pathway in diabetes mellitus and other diseases in a simple, quantitative and accurate way.
One-step single-chain Fv recombinant antibody-based purification of gp96 for vaccine development.
2000-08-01

Heat shock proteins such as gp96 (grp94) isolated from tumor or infected cells are able to induce specific cytotoxic T-cell responses and protective immunity. To facilitate rapid and efficient isolation, we generated gp96-specific recombinant single-chain Fv (scFv) antibodies from a semisynthetic phage display library. When immobilized on Sepharose beads, these antibodies allow a high-yield, one-step purification of native gp96 molecules from both mouse and human tumor cell lysates. gp96 molecules eluted from these affinity columns under mild conditions are still capable of generating antigen-specific CTL responses in mice. Thus, scFv-purified gp96 is still associated with peptides; however, in contrast to conventionally purified gp96, scFv-isolated gp96 is free of contaminating material such as mitogenic concanavalin A and proteolytic cathepsins. With the help of these high-yield antibody columns, it is now possible to rapidly isolate immunogenic gp96-peptide complexes from small amounts of tumor material to a purity that allows their use in cancer immunotherapy protocols.
Heart failure development in rats with ascending aortic constriction and angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibition
2000-08-01

It remains unknown whether angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition can prevent heart failure in rats with a fixed high pressure load of the left ventricle and if this effect could be attributed to normalization of contractile protein phenotype and cardiac collagen content. Rats with constriction of the ascending aorta were treated with the ACE inhibitor quinapril (6 mg kg −1 day −1 ) ( n =95) or placebo ( n =96) (starting 6 weeks post surgery. Quinapril treatment improved survival markedly ( P &lt;0.0000001) during the 24 weeks observation period. There were 69 deaths with placebo and only 25 deaths with quinapril. At the end of the observation period signs of left ventricular backward failure were, however, detected in 75 rats with placebo and in 67 rats treated with quinapril ( P =0.229). Cox proportional hazard model with time‐dependent covariates was used to document that the effect of quinapril treatment had been dependent on time. Quinapril had no significant effect on the development of morphological signs of left ventricular dysfunction after the first 54 days of treatment. The increased isomysin V 3 proportion of hypertrophied non‐failing hearts was also not affected by quinapril treatment. Irrespective of treatment, failing hypertrophied hearts were characterized by an increase in left ventricular volume ( P &lt;0.05), percentage of the ‘foetal’ isomyosin V 3 ( P &lt;0.05), and hydroxyproline concentration ( P &lt;0.05). While the cause of the improved survival remains unknown, quinapril did apparently not interfere with the restitution of ‘foetal’ gene expression of pressure overloaded cardiomyocytes leading to depressed myocardial performance, ventricular dysfunction and the consecutive myocardial fibrosis. British Journal of Pharmacology (2000) 130 , 1671–1677; doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0703467
Sequential occurrence of primary sclerosing cholangitis and autoimmune hepatitis type III in a patient with ulcerative colitis: a follow up study over 14 years
2000-08-01

Abstract: In 1983, a female patient born in 1963 presented with symptoms of ulcerative colitis and typical clinical and histological signs of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). At this time only pANCA were positive while other marker antibodies for autoimmune liver disorders could not be detected. In summer 1987 the clinical picture changed and was replaced by laboratory and histological signs typical of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Thus, IgG levels increased considerably and cholestatic enzymes became normal. For the first time, anti‐liver‐pancreas antibodies (LP), a diagnostic marker for AIH type III could be detected. In the following years several relapses occurred also induced by repeated discontinuation of immunosuppressive therapy. Symptoms of colitis persisted but signs of cholestasis remained absent for the following ten years. In 1997, colitis exacerbated again and colectomy had to be performed together with liver transplantation. Surprisingly, histology of the explanted liver now showed the typical features of PSC stage III/IV while the significant criteria for AIH were now lacking. Thus, progression to cirrhosis was, probably, mainly induced by the biliary destructive and fibrotic process although biochemical and serological data were clearly indicative of an autoimmune, i.e. AIH‐related manifestation.
Hypereosinophilia Induced by High-Dose Intratumoral and Peritumoral Mistletoe Application to a Patient with Pancreatic Carcinoma
2000-08-01

Before high-dose intratumoral and peritumoral treatment with a Viscum album L. extract containing mistletoe, lectin 1 can be associated with hypereosinophilia and strong production of TH1 as TH2 cytokines as well.
Adaptive view dependent tessellation of displacement maps
2000-08-01

Displacement Mapping is an effective technique for encoding the high levels of detail found in today's triangle based surface models. Extending the hardware rendering pipeline to be capable of handling displacement maps as geometric primitives, will allow highly detailed models to be constructed without requiring large numbers of triangles to be passed from the CPU to the graphics pipeline. We present a new approach based on recursive tessellation that adapts to the surface complexity described by the displacement map. We also ensure that the resolution of the displaced mesh is tessellated with respect to the current view point. Our tessellation scheme performs all tests only on triangle edges to avoid generating cracks on the displaced surface. The main decision for vertex insertion is based on two comparisons involving the average height surrounding the vertices and the normals at the vertices. Individually, the tests will fail to tessellate a mesh satisfactorily, but their combination achieves good results.
Lectin purified human class I MHC‐derived peptides: evidence for presentation of glycopeptides in vivo
2000-08-01

Previously, using synthetic glycopeptides carrying a natural cytosolic type of monosaccharide O ‐β‐linked N‐acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) glycosylation of serine residues, we have shown that glycopeptides act as suitable substrates for TAP‐mediated transport into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and that they bind efficiently to class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules and can elicit glycopeptide‐specific cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte (CTL) responses in mice. Recently, we have reported that peptides presented by human class I MHC molecules in vivo encompass a small but significant amount of peptides which seem to be carrying O ‐β‐linked monosaccharide GlcNAc. In the present report we provide further evidence that glycosylated peptides are indeed presented by class I MHC molecules in vivo. Thus, peptides derived from HLA‐A*0201 were purified by wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) lectin affinity chromatography as previously described. Subsequently, the peptides contained in the WGA‐eluate were subjected to sequence analysis by Edman degradation. It was found that the peptides derived from HLA‐A*0201 which had been retained by the O ‐GlcNAc‐binding lectin WGA did indeed carry a HLA‐A*0201 binding motif. Furthermore, using an enzymatic labeling procedure we present evidence that the HLA‐A*0201‐derived peptides which bind to the WGA lectin are glycosylated with terminal GlcNAc residues. Together, these data provide further evidence for the natural presentation by human class I MHC of glycopeptides carrying terminal O ‐GlcNAc residues in vivo .
Neuroblastoma Cells Expressing the Noradrenaline Transporter Are Destroyed More Selectively by 6‐Fluorodopamine than by 6‐Hydroxydopamine
2000-08-01

6‐Hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) has been used for lesioning catecholaminergic neurons and attempted purging of neuroblastoma cells from hematopoietic stem cells in autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). Neurotoxicity is mediated primarily by reactive oxygen species. In ABMT, 6‐OHDA, as a purging agent, has been unsuccessful. At physiological pH it autooxidizes before targeted uptake, resulting in nonspecific cytotoxicity of nontarget cells. A catecholamine analogue, similar to 6‐OHDA but with a lower rate of autooxidation enabling uptake by target cells, is thus required. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra in this study show that 6‐fluorodopamine (6‐FDA) hydrolyzes slowly to 6‐OHDA at physiological pH. Oxygen consumption, H 2 O 2 , and quinone production are found to be intermediate between those of 6‐OHDA and dopamine (DA). Relative neurotoxicity of these compounds was assessed by cell viability and DNA damage in the human neuroblastoma lines SH‐SY5Y and SK‐N‐LO, which express and lack the noradrenaline transporter, respectively. Specific uptake of DA and 6‐FDA by SH‐SY5Y cells was demonstrated by competitive m ‐[ 131 I]iodobenzylguanidine uptake inhibition. The competition by 6‐OHDA was low owing to rapid autooxidation during incubation with equal toxicity toward both cell types. 6‐FDA toxicity was preferential for SH‐SY5Y cells and reduced in the presence of desipramine, a catecholamine uptake inhibitor. We demonstrate that 6‐FDA cytotoxicity is more specific for cells expressing catecholamine reuptake systems than is 6‐OHDA cytotoxicity.