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Precise Nature (precise + nature)
Selected AbstractsENDOSCOPIC TRANSPAPILLARY CATHETERIZATION INTO THE GALLBLADDER FOR DIAGNOSIS OF GALLBLADDER CARCINOMADIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY, Issue 2 2006Naohito Uchida It is often difficult to determine the precise nature of lesions in the gallbladder by radiographic, endoscopic and ultrasonographic methods. The approach to the gallbladder by a percutaneous transhepatic route has been reported. However, there is a possibility of seeding tumor cells into the peritoneal cavity and liver in a percutaneous procedure. On the contrary, transpapillary route can be performed without a possibility of seeding. The double-contrast cholecystography, intragallbladder sonography, direct biopsy of gallbladder lesions and cytology using gallbladder bile have been performed by the procedure of the transpapillary catheterization into the gallbladder. Confirming malignancy by histopathological diagnosis is desirous for determining therapeutic strategy in gallbladder carcinoma. Gathering gallbladder bile is comparatively easier than biopsy of the lesion using the transpapillary catheterization into the gallbladder. Examination of telomerase-related molecules is useful for diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma. Usefulness of combination assay of human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA (hTERT mRNA) and cytology using gallbladder bile obtained by transpapillary catheterization is reported here. However, it would appear that hTERT mRNA is less important in the diagnosis of gallbladder carcinoma than in that of pancreatic carcinoma. When the molecular biological substances with higher sensitivity are found, the reliance of the combination assay of the molecular biological substances and cytology will be established. [source] Hereditary angioedema: The mutation spectrum of SERPING1/C1NH in a large Spanish cohort,HUMAN MUTATION, Issue 2 2005Olga Roche Abstract Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a disease caused by defects in the C1 inhibitor gene (SERPING1/C1NH). We screened the entire C1NH gene for mutations in a large series of 87 Spanish families (77 with type I, and 10 with type II HAE) by SSCP, sequencing, Southern blotting, and quantitative multiplex PCR of short fluorescent fragments (QMPSF), and we characterized several defects at the mRNA level. We found large rearrangements in 13 families, and point mutations or microdeletions/insertions in 74 families. The 13 large rearrangements included nine exon deletions, of which at least eight were distinct, two were distinct exon duplications, and two were rearrangements whose precise nature could not be determined. We confirmed that exon 4 is particularly prone to rearrangements. Thirty-six mutations were unreported, and included 10 microdeletions/insertions, 10 missense, five nonsense, eight splicing, and three splicing or missense mutations. Moreover, we detected six novel uncharacterized sequence variants (USV). RT-PCR studies showed that in addition to several intronic splice site mutations tested, the exonic mutations c.882C>G and c.884T>G, located near the 3, end of exon 5, also produced exon skipping. This is the first evidence of SERPING1/C1NH mutations in coding regions that differ from the canonical splice sites that affect splicing, which suggests the presence of an exonic splicing enhancer (ESE) in exon 5. Hum Mutat 26(2), 1,10, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Inflammatory bowel disease and African Americans: A systematic reviewINFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES, Issue 7 2008Suhal S. Mahid MRCS Abstract Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is comprised of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). There are conflicting reports on whether African Americans have a more severe disease course, presentation, and more frequent extraintestinal manifestations (EIM). We examined the precise nature of this relationship by conducting a systematic review. Methods: Using predefined inclusion criteria we searched multiple healthcare databases and Grey literature. Eight reports met the inclusion criteria. Using the parameters as defined in the Montreal classification and the presence or absence of EIM, we compared IBD in African Americans and Caucasians. Results: Over 2000 IBD cases were pooled from 8 reports with African Americans comprising 17%. African Americans and Caucasians had similar distribution of types of IBD, with CD being more common than UC in both groups (CD 76% versus 68% and UC 24% versus 32%, respectively). With respect to CD, both groups presented with nonstricturing and nonpenetrating disease behavior (55% versus 41%) more frequently and had similar rates of ileocolonic disease location (42% versus 38%), and presence of perianal disease (26% versus 29%). In UC patients, proctitis was the most frequent initial presentation in both races. Joint complications were the most frequent EIM in both African Americans (52%) and Caucasians (60%). Conclusions: This study dispels the commonly held views that African Americans with IBD generally have more colonic disease, more severe disease behavior, and more perianal disease than Caucasians. African Americans also have similar variety and frequency of EIMs as compared to Caucasians. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2008) [source] In Search of the Audit Society: Some Evidence from Health Care, Police and SchoolsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AUDITING, Issue 1 2000Mary Bowerman Claims that we are moving towards an ,audit society' (Power 1994, 1997) are fuelled by the emergence of a wealth of audit and other performance monitoring initiatives. To date, however, very little empirical evidence has been gathered on the precise nature, role and scope of this ,society'. This paper draws on academic literature, official and unofficial reports and interviews with auditors, inspectors and auditees across three major public service organisations. The paper argues that audit is just one aspect of a broader, but rapidly evolving, ,performance measurement society'; other important elements of which include the growth of inspection and self-assessment. Public sector audit emerges as an increasingly questionable function. The remainder of the paper dismantles some of the myths associated with its practice, particularly regarding its public visibility and contribution in terms of enhancing processes of public service delivery, management and accountability. [source] The regional scale impact of land cover change simulated with a climate modelINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2002Mei Zhao Abstract A series of 17-year integrations using the NCAR CCM3 (at about 2.8° × 2.8° resolution) were performed to investigate the regional-scale impact of land cover change. Our aim was to determine the impact of historical land cover change on the regional-scale climate over the regions where most change occurred: Europe, India and China. The change from natural to current land cover was estimated using BIOME3 to predict the natural vegetation type, and then using remotely sensed data to estimate the locations where land cover had been changed through human activity. Results show statistically significant changes in the 15-year averaged 1000 hPa wind field, mean near-surface air temperature, maximum near-surface air temperature and the latent heat flux over the regions where land cover change was imposed. These changes disappeared if the land cover over a particular region was omitted, indicating that our results cannot be explained by model variability. An analysis of changes on an averaged monthly time scale showed large changes in the maximum daily temperature in (Northern Hemisphere) summer and little change in the minimum daily temperature, resulting in changes in the diurnal temperature range. The change in the diurnal temperature range could be positive or negative depending on region, time of year and the precise nature of the land cover changes. Our results indicate that the inclusion of land cover change scenarios in simulations of the 20th century may lead to improved results. The impact of land cover changes on regional climates also provides support for the inclusion of land surface models that can represent future land cover changes resulting from an ecological response to natural climate variability or increasing carbon dioxide. Copyright © 2002 Royal Meteorological Society. [source] Antiphospholipid antibodies and hepatitis C virus infection in Iranian thalassemia major patientsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LABORATORY HEMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2008S. KASHEF Summary Although the precise nature of Antiphospholipid antibodies is still not clearly defined, they are known to have association with thromboembolic events and have been found in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Moreover, high prevalence of HCV infection and thrombotic risk is described in thalassemia. We aimed at investigating the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies (aCLAbs), lupus anticoagulant (LA), and their relation with HCV infection in Iranian thalassemic patients. Presence of anti-HCV antibody, serum HCV-RNA, aCLAbs, and LA activity was determined in 131 patients with thalassemia major (male/female: 63/68 aged 3,29 years) registered at thalassemia unit, Dastgheib Hospital, Shiraz, Iran. Sixty-one healthy controls were also included. Anti-HCV antibody was positive in 24 (18.3%), IgG aCLAbs in 56 (42.7%), and LA activity in 9 (6.9%) patients. 87.5% of patients positive for aCLAbs had a low titer of aCLAbs. Although none of the participants had a previous history of thrombosis, higher prevalence of aCLAbs was detected in thalassemic patients compared with controls. No significant difference in the prevalence of aCLAbs was found between HCV-infected and noninfected patients. A high prevalence of aCLAbs, the majority in low titers, was detected in Iranian thalassemic patients irrespective of previous history of thrombosis and presence of HCV infection. [source] The development of the resource-based view of the firm: A critical appraisalINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT REVIEWS, Issue 1 2009Andy Lockett Over the last 20 years, the resource-based view (RBV) has reached a pre-eminent position among theories in the field of strategy, but debate continues as to its precise nature. This paper contributes to the debate by critically reviewing the development of the RBV to date. The critical appraisal examines the development of the RBV in terms of theory, method, empirical evidence and practical insights. It is contended that the permeable and eclectic nature of the RBV stems from its being a theory about what firms are and how they function, and that its popularity is due to an absence of limiting behavioural assumptions. Finally, the authors provide their own subjective views on where they think RBV scholars should focus their efforts in the future. [source] The European Union as a Protagonist to the United States on Climate ChangeINTERNATIONAL STUDIES PERSPECTIVES, Issue 1 2006JOHN VOGLER The European Union (EU) has established itself as the moving force in the development of the international climate-change regime. By proceeding with the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and building its own carbon emissions trading system, it has directly confronted the United States. Contemporary commentaries on the politics of climate change center upon the conflict between the EU and the U.S., but the precise nature of the EU as a protagonist remains elusive. It is neither a state nor an orthodox international organization but it can be regarded as an actor. This article investigates what it means for the EU to be an actor and develops a conceptualization based upon presence, opportunity, and capability. This is applied to the analysis of how the Union became an actor in climate-change politics, and its special characteristics, strengths, and vulnerabilities. The final part of the article then proceeds to consider the differences between the European actor and the United States over the development of the climate-change regime. [source] Irregular Atrial Activation During Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia:JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2003Evidence of an Upper Common Pathway Controversy continues regarding the precise nature of the reentrant circuit of AV nodal reentrant tachycardia, especially the existence of an upper common pathway. In this case report, we show that marked variation and irregularity in atrial activation (maximum AA interval variation of 80 msec) can exist with fixed and constant activation of the His bundle and ventricles during AV nodal reentrant tachycardia in a 45-year-old female patient. We propose that irregular atrial activation is due to variable and inconsistent conduction from the AV node to the atria through the perinodal transitional cell envelope extrinsic to the reentrant circuit. Our observations support the concept of an upper common pathway, at least in some patients with AV nodal reentrant tachycardia.(J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 14, pp. 309-313, March 2003) [source] Neuropathology, biochemistry, and biophysics of ,-synuclein aggregationJOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2007Vladimir N. Uversky Abstract Aggregation of ,-synuclein, an abundant and conserved pre-synaptic brain protein, is implicated as a critical factor in several neurodegenerative diseases. These diseases, known as synucleinopathies, include Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies (LBs), diffuse LB disease, the LB variant of Alzheimer's disease, multiple system atrophy, and neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation type I. Although the precise nature of in vivo,-synuclein function remains elusive, considerable knowledge has been accumulated about its structural properties and conformational behavior. ,-Synuclein is a typical natively unfolded protein. It is characterized by the lack of rigid, well-defined, 3-D structure and possesses remarkable conformational plasticity. The structure of this protein depends dramatically on its environment and it accommodates a number of unrelated conformations. This paper provides an overview of the biochemistry, biophysics, and neuropathology of ,-synuclein aggregation. [source] Serum markers of chronic dehydration are associated with saliva spinabilityJOURNAL OF ORAL REHABILITATION, Issue 10 2007A. YOSHIHARA Summary, Findings of a relationship between saliva and dehydration have been observed, but the precise nature of these relationships is unclear and no evidence of a direct link has been found. In particular, no study reports a relationship between chronic dehydration and saliva conditions in community-dwelling older adults. This study aimed to identify whether salivary conditions are sensitive to body hydration markers in an elderly population. A total of 403 subjects aged 76 years participated in the study. Stimulated saliva flow rate and spinability of saliva were measured. In addition, determinations of serum levels of uric acid, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, sodium and potassium were made. Dehydration was defined as uric acid , 7 mg dL,1 according to the standard value. The salivary spinability were significantly associated with the concentration of uric acid (OR=2·06, P=0·044) according to multiple logistic regression analysis. In addition, after adjusting for gender, the uric acid concentration and the salivary spinability was significantly associated with BUN, potassium and creatinine levels. The subjects with high uric acid levels (,,7 mg dL,1) had the most elastic saliva. Both BUN and serum creatinine are the most commonly used indicators of renal function. Therefore, our findings might demonstrate that older adults who are dehydrated showed highly elastic saliva, which was associated with renal function. In conclusion, this study suggests that there is a significant relationship between chronic dehydration status and salivary spinability level. [source] Effect of GDF-7 deficiency on tail tendon phenotype in miceJOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 6 2008Borjana Mikic Abstract The subfamily of growth/differentiation factors (GDFs) known as GDFs 5, 6, and 7 appears to be involved in tendon maintenance and repair, although the precise nature of this role has yet to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of GDF-7 in tendon maintenance by studying tail tendon fascicle gene expression, composition, and material property strain rate dependency in 16-week-old male and female GDF-7 deficient mice. GDF-7 deficiency did not affect the biochemical composition of tail tendon fascicles, nor did it significantly affect the tensile material properties obtained at either slow (5%/s) or fast (50%/s) strain rates. Further, no difference was found between genotypes in the strain rate sensitivity of any tensile material property. Consistent with the compositional analyses, QRT-PCR data did not reveal any differences of twofold or greater in the gene expression levels of collagens I, III, V, nor in the proteoglycans decorin, fibromodulin, lumican, biglycan, versican, or aggrecan. Gdf5 expression was upregulated twofold in GDF-7 deficient tail tendons, and Bmp7 expression was downregulated twofold. No notable differences in expression levels for Bmp1-6 or Gdf6 were detected. GDF-5 protein levels were 50% higher in GDF-7 deficient tail tendon compared to wild type tail tendon. The results of this study support the intriguing possibility that compensation by Gdf-5 may be at least in part responsible for the absence of a strong phenotype in GDF-7 deficient mice. © 2008 Orthopaedic Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 26:834,839, 2008 [source] Interpreting the Bill of Rights and the Nature of Federalism: Barron v. City of BaltimoreJOURNAL OF SUPREME COURT HISTORY, Issue 3 2007BRENDAN J. DOHERTY In 1833, a mere forty-five years after the Constitution of the United States took effect, the young republic was striving to establish the form its constitutional government would take. For while the Constitution and its first ten amendments had set forth many principles regarding the rights of individual citizens with respect to the actions of their government, the precise nature of these relations would be determined in large part by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall. [source] The movement disorder of Maurice RavelMOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 7 2004Francisco Cardoso MD It has long been known that in the last years of his life Maurice Ravel (1875,1937) suffered from a progressive neurological illness. Despite several proposed diagnostic hypotheses, the precise nature of his illness remains elusive. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society [source] What's behind crashing memories?APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 9 2009Plausibility, belief, memory in reports of having seen non-existent images The present study investigated the precise nature of crashing memory reports: Are they truly memories or are they based on beliefs? We asked 88 individuals whether they had seen non-existent footage of the Pim Fortuyn assassination and conducted thorough post-experimental interviews. Two-thirds of our participants falsely reported having seen the footage, while less than 10% also reported details that they could not have seen. Moreover, plausibility ratings of having seen the images were higher than false belief ratings, which in turn were higher than false memory ratings. After having been fully debriefed, 81% of the participants who reported crashing memories attributed their false report to their lack of a full understanding of the critical question. Another 10% of this subsample stated that they truly remembered the images (i.e. false memories). Thus, only a small subset of crashing memory reports seems to be induced by false beliefs and/or false memories. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Expression of a plant-derived peptide harboring water-cleaning and antimicrobial activitiesBIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 1 2003M. Suarez Abstract Drinking water is currently a scarce world resource, the preparation of which requires complex treatments that include clarification of suspended particles and disinfection. Seed extracts of Moringa oleifera Lam., a tropical tree, have been proposed as an environment-friendly alternative, due to their traditional use for the clarification of drinking water. However, the precise nature of the active components of the extract and whether they may be produced in recombinant form are unknown. Here we show that recombinant or synthetic forms of a cationic seed polypeptide mediate efficient sedimentation of suspended mineral particles and bacteria. Unexpectedly, the polypeptide was also found to possesses a bactericidal activity capable of disinfecting heavily contaminated water. Furthermore, the polypeptide has been shown to efficiently kill several pathogenic bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant isolates of Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Legionella species. Thus, this polypeptide displays the unprecedented feature of combining water purification and disinfectant properties. Identification of an active principle derived from the seed extracts points to a range of potential for drinking water treatment or skin and mucosal disinfection in clinical settings. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 81: 13,20, 2003. [source] Cytokine alterations in lichen sclerosus: an immunohistochemical studyBRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2006A.M. Farrell Summary Background, Although the histology of lichen sclerosus is characteristic, the precise nature of the inflammatory changes and the signals provoking them is uncertain. Objectives, To delineate the inflammatory changes in lichen sclerosus more accurately by studying cytokine changes. Methods, An immunohistochemical study of 12 specimens of genital lichen sclerosus and one specimen of extragenital lichen sclerosus was undertaken using monoclonal antibodies to interferon (IFN)- ,, IFN- , receptor, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)- ,, interleukin (IL)-1,, IL-2 receptor (CD25), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and its ligand CD11a. Control specimens were seven specimens of normal vulva obtained during gynaecological procedures, three specimens of normal skin, adjacent uninvolved thigh from three of the patients with lichen sclerosus, five specimens of nonvulval psoriasis, four specimens of nonvulval lichen planus and two specimens from chronic wounds. Results, The lichen sclerosus specimens demonstrated slightly increased staining for IFN- , within the epidermis compared with the normal vulva and nonvulval skin. There was increased dermal staining for IFN- , both within the pale zone of the upper dermis and within the inflammatory zone below this. We confirmed our previous demonstration that in lichen sclerosus HLA-DR immunostaining is increased in association with vascular endothelium, the inflammatory cell infiltrate and around the keratinocytes. The areas of the epidermis with the strongest immunostaining for HLA-DR generally also had the strongest staining for IFN- ,. In the lichen sclerosus specimens the zone of inflammation also demonstrated increased immunostaining for TNF- ,, IL-1,, IFN- , receptor, CD25, CD11a and ICAM-1 while the zone of sclerosus demonstrated a smaller increase in immunostaining for IFN- , receptor, TNF- ,, CD11a and ICAM-1, and the epidermis demonstrated increased staining for ICAM-1. Conclusions, The increased staining for IFN- ,, TNF- ,, IL-1,, IFN- , receptor, CD25, CD11a and ICAM-1 suggest that the cytokine response in lichen sclerosus shares characteristics of the cytokine response in lichen planus and chronic wounds. [source] Eosinophilic fasciitis treated with psoralen-ultraviolet A bath photochemotherapyBRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2000R. Schiener Eosinophilic fasciitis is a rare disorder which can markedly affect the quality of life in individual patients. So far, no generally accepted and effective treatment modality has been available. Although the precise nature of eosinophilic fasciitis is still unknown, it is often regarded as a variant of localized scleroderma (morphoea). Phototherapy and photochemotherapy have been shown to be effective in the treatment of sclerodermatous skin lesions. We report a patient with eosinophilic fasciitis which was successfully treated with psoralen plus ultraviolet A bath photochemotherapy within 6 months. [source] Who Owns Democracy?: Explaining the Long-running Debate over Canadian/American Value Differences*CANADIAN REVIEW OF SOCIOLOGY/REVUE CANADIENNE DE SOCIOLOGIE, Issue 3 2005MICHAEL E. CARROLL Depuis un certain temps, Seymour Martin Lipset et bon nombre de théoriciens canadiens anglais débattent de la question des différences entre les valeurs canadiennes et américaines. Ce que personne n'a encore jamais demandé est pourquoi ce débat se poursuit-il après toutes ces années. L'auteur propose ici que la longévité de ce débat découle principalement du fait qu'il est alimenté par des affirmations idéologiques rivales et insolubles implicites dans les arguments avancés de part et d'autre. Corame première étape de la démonstration de cette idée, il met en évidence les facons selon lesquelles le débat entre Lipset et ses critiques aurait pu se dérouler vraiment différemment si les préoccupations exprimées par les participants , la comparaison des cultures canadienne et américaine et l'évaluation des effets qui se continuent de la révolution américaine , avaient véritablement été celles suscitant le débat. Enfin, l'auteur cerne la nature précise de ces affirmations idéologiques implicites. Dans les deux cas, il soutient qu'elles reviennent à discuter de « qui détient la meilleure forme de démocratic ». For some time now, Seymour Martin Lipset and a variety of English-Canadian academics have debated the issue of Canadian/American value differences. However, no one has yet asked why this debate is still ongoing. This article suggests that its longevity is mainly fuelled by competing and irresolvable ideological claims implicit in the arguments put forward by each side. It points to the ways in which the debate between Lipset and his critics might have proceeded quite differently if the participants' stated concerns,i.e., comparing the Canadian and American cultures; assessing the continuing cultural effects of the American Revolution,had truly been those fuelling the debate. The final section identifies the precise nature of the implicit ideological claims being advanced. In both cases, I argue, these claims are about "who owns the best sort of democracy." [source] | |||||||||||||||||||