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Subsequent Development (subsequent + development)
Selected AbstractsAdult survivors of children's cancer and their offspringPEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2000Fumio Bessho AbstractBackground: Although it is anticipated in Japan that the number of long-term survivors of children's cancer will rapidly increase and that they will have children, reports of studies concerning the offspring of such survivors have come mainly from western countries. For this reason, it seems that the results of this study will be important. Methods: Ninety-seven survivors of children's cancer, who were diagnosed between 1962 and 1989 and are now older than 20 years old, and their offspring were studied. Results: Of 97 survivors, 30 have married and 23 survivors or their spouses had been pregnant (33 total pregnancies). Twenty-five babies were born and seven pregnancies ended in spontaneous abortion. The abortion rate was not different from that of the Japanese general population. The birthweights of babies born to survivors tended to be lower than those of control subjects. The proportion of babies with birthweights under 2500 g was significantly greater for babies born to survivors than to the control subjects. None of the 25 babies born had congenital anomalies. Subsequent development of these children has been uneventful with no malignancies after a median follow-up period of 4 years 10 months (range: 10 months to 16 years, 3 months). Conclusions: The reproductive activity of children's cancer survivors and the health status of their offspring seem to be satisfactory. However, the sample size of the present study is too small to draw any definite conclusions. Because it is anticipated that the number of long-term survivors of children's cancer will rapidly increase in Japan, it is important to establish an effective system of following up these survivors and their offspring in order to provide them with appropriate suggestions for a better quality of life. [source] Worker representation in health and safety: options for regulatory reformINDUSTRIAL RELATIONS JOURNAL, Issue 2 2002Phil James Worker representation in health and safety in Britain has received statutory support since the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977. Subsequent developments have, however, acted to undermine the effectiveness of these regulations. The paper consequently discusses a range of reforms that could be introduced to strengthen the present regulatory regime. [source] Hyperthermia in utero due to maternal influenza is an environmental risk factor for schizophreniaCONGENITAL ANOMALIES, Issue 3 2007Marshall J. Edwards ABSTRACT A hypothesis is presented that the association between maternal influenza and other causes of fever during the second trimester of pregnancy and the subsequent development of schizophrenia in the child is due to the damage caused by hyperthermia to the developing amygdalohippocampal complex and associated structures in the fetal brain. Hyperthermia is a known cause of congenital defects of the central nervous system and other organs after sufficiently severe exposures during early organogenesis. The pathogenic mechanisms include death of actively dividing neuroblasts, disruption of cell migration and arborization and vascular damage. In experimental studies, hyperthermia during later stages of central nervous system development also caused damage to the developing brainstem that was associated with functional defects. This damage usually results in hypoplasia of the parts undergoing active development at the time of exposure. Recent studies have shown no evidence of direct invasion of the fetus by the influenza virus. Factors that might interact with hyperthermia include familial liability to schizophrenia, season of birth, maternal nutrition, severe stress and medications used to alleviate the symptoms of fevers. The time of the development of the fetal amygdalohippocampal complex and the changes found in its structure and associated areas of the brain are compatible with the known effects of hyperthermia. [source] Developmental expression and comparative genomic analysis of Xenopus cardiac myosin heavy chain genesDEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 4 2005Robert J. Garriock Abstract Myosin heavy chains (MHC) are cytoskeletal motor proteins essential to the process of muscle contraction. We have determined the complete sequences of the Xenopus cardiac MHC genes, ,-MHC and ventricular MHC (vMHC), and have characterized their developmental expression profiles. Whereas ,-MHC is expressed from the earliest stages of cardiac differentiation, vMHC transcripts are not detected until the heart has undergone chamber formation. Early expression of vMHC appears to mark the cardiac conduction system, but expression expands to include the ventricle and outflow tract myocardium during subsequent development. Sequence comparisons, transgenic expression analysis, and comparative genomic studies indicate that Xenopus ,-MHC is the true orthologue of the mammalian ,-MHC gene. On the other hand, we show that the Xenopus vMHC gene is most closely related to chicken ventricular MHC (vMHC1) not the mammalian ,-MHC. Comparative genomic analysis has allowed the detection of a mammalian MHC gene (MyH15) that appears to be the orthologue of vMHC, but evidence suggests that this gene is no longer active. Developmental Dynamics 233:1287,1293, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Motherless rats show deficits in maternal behavior towards fostered pupsDEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Daniela J. Palombo Abstract Complete maternal deprivation in rats, through artificial rearing (AR), produces deficits in subsequent maternal behavior of the offspring. These deficits are partially reversed when isolated pups are provided with additional tactile stimulation designed to simulate maternal licking (e.g., Gonzalez et al. [2001] Developmental Psychobiology, 38, 11,32). These findings highlight the importance of the early maternal environment in subsequent development. However, given the possibility that prenatal environments may differ between AR and maternally reared (MR) offspring, the deficits in the behavior of AR mothers may be driven by the characteristics of their pups derived from the effects of an altered prenatal environment. Hence differences in the neonatal pups of AR mothers may produce the alterations in the AR maternal behavior. To rule out this possibility, we employed a fostering paradigm where AR and MR mothers received cross-fostered mother-reared pups. AR mothers showed the same level of deficits in maternal behavior towards MR foster pups as they do with their own pups and these deficits were partially reversed with additional tactile stimulation. Hence, maternal behavior deficits reported in mothers who had been reared in isolation are due primarily to the direct effects of the earlier experience on mechanisms regulating their maternal behavior and not to the effects on their offspring. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 52:142,148, 2010 [source] Metabolic memory in diabetes,focus on insulinDIABETES/METABOLISM: RESEARCH AND REVIEWS, Issue 2 2005Derek LeRoith Abstract Large-scale clinical trials have demonstrated that metabolic control achieved early in the course of diabetes substantially reduces development and progression of diabetes and the associated microvascular complications. Additionally, prospective observational studies have demonstrated that atherogenic and inflammatory mediators are elevated even prior to the onset of diabetes and significantly contribute to subsequent development of macrovascular complications. Collectively, these data suggest that metabolic memories are stored early in the course of diabetes. We believe that insulin suppresses inflammation and also suppresses glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity (and the consequences thereof, such as the formation of advanced glycation end products and epigenetic phenomena), and thus has a pivotal and beneficial role. Comprehensive metabolic control, especially when instituted early, may alter the natural history of diabetic complications by affecting this metabolic memory. Thus, our overall goal is to understand in more detail the molecular mechanisms involved in these changes, thereby affording us opportunities to reduce the long-term effects of diabetes. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Intermediate metabolism in normal pregnancy and in gestational diabetesDIABETES/METABOLISM: RESEARCH AND REVIEWS, Issue 4 2003G. Di Cianni Abstract Complex though integrated hormonal and metabolic changes characterize pregnancy. In the face of progressive decline in insulin action, glucose homeostasis is maintained through a compensatory increase in insulin secretion. This switches energy production from carbohydrates to lipids, making glucose readily available to the fetus. This precise and entangled hormonal and metabolic condition can, however, be disrupted and diabetic hyperglycemia can develop (gestational diabetes). The increase in plasma glucose level is believed to confer significant risk of complications to both the mother and the fetus and the newborn. Moreover, exposition of fetal tissues to the diabetic maternal environment can translate into an increased risk for development of diabetes and/or the metabolic syndrome in the adult life. In women with previous gestational diabetes, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is greatly enhanced, to the point that GDM represents an early stage in the natural history of type 2 diabetes. In these women, accurate follow-up and prevention strategies are needed to reduce the subsequent development of overt diabetes. This paper will review current knowledge on the modifications occurring in normal pregnancy, while outlining the mechanisms. In this paper, we will review the changes of intermediary metabolism occurring during pregnancy. In particular, we will outline the mechanisms responsible for gestational diabetes; the link between these alterations and associated maternal and neonatal morbidity will be examined. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Depressive symptoms in the first year from diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes: results from the DESMOND trialDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 8 2010T. C. Skinner Diabet. Med. 27, 965,967 (2010) Abstract Aims, To describe the course of depressive symptoms during the first year after diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. Methods,Post hoc analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial of self-management education for 824 individuals newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Participants completed the Depression scale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale after diagnosis and at 4, 8 and 12 months follow-up. Participants also completed the Problem Areas in Diabetes scale at 8 and 12 months follow-up. We present descriptive statistics on prevalence and persistence of depressive symptoms. Logistic regression is used to predict possible depression cases, and multiple regression to predict depressive symptomatology. Results, The prevalence of depressive symptoms in individuals recently diagnosed with diabetes (18,22% over the year) was not significantly different from normative data for the general population (12%) in the UK. Over 20% of participants indicated some degrees of depressive symptoms over the first year of living with Type 2 diabetes; these were mostly transient episodes, with 5% (1% severe) reporting having depressive symptoms throughout the year. At 12 months post diagnosis, after controlling for baseline depressive symptoms, diabetes-specific emotional distress was predictive of depressive symptomatology. Conclusions, The increased prevalence of depressive symptoms in diabetes is not manifest until at least 1 year post diagnosis in this cohort. However, there are a significant number of people with persistent depressive symptoms in the early stages of diabetes, and diabetes-specific distress may be contributing to subsequent development of depressive symptoms in people with Type 2 diabetes. [source] Endoscopic stapling technique for redundant free jejunal interposition graftDISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS, Issue 2 2003C. A. Gutschow SUMMARY Dysphagia may occur after reconstruction of the cervical esophagus by jejunal interposition. It may be caused by redundancy and subsequent development of a diverticulum. The present report relates to the case of a patient who developed complete aphagia 2 months after surgery and was treated transorally by division of a common wall between diverticulum and descending jejunal limb with the use of an endoscopic stapling device. The patient started swallowing the first postoperative day and remained able to take oral food at follow-up. [source] The apical ectodermal ridge in the pectoral fin of the Australian Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri): keeping the fin to limb transition in the foldACTA ZOOLOGICA, Issue 2009Verity S. Hodgkinson Abstract The apical ectodermal ridge (AER) in Neoceratodus develops after an initial period of mesenchymal proliferation and outgrowth of the fin bud and persists until chondrogenesis of the stylopod and zeugopod is initiated. At this time, the lateral margins of the AER convert to the fin fold leading to subsequent development of the dermal fin skeleton. Thorogood's (1991) fin fold model predicts that the AER should persist longer in Neoceratodus than it does in actinopterygians because of the comparatively extensive endochondral skeleton in lungfish. While the AER does persist into early chondrogenesis and is extended compared to actinopterygians (lost before fin radial chondrogenesis) it does not persist into further stages of chondrogenesis, providing partial support for Thorogood's model. Fgf8 appears in the lungfish fin epithelium during the initial period of fin outgrowth before a physical AER forms, when Fgf8 is restricted to the AER plus the preaxial and postaxial epithelium immediately adjacent to the AER. Fgf8 is no longer detected after the AER is replaced by a fin fold. Neoceratodus appears to provide a halfway point between ray fins and limbs during very early development as Thorogood proposed, but not precisely for the reasons his model suggests. [source] Intravenous cocaine induced-activity and behavioural sensitization in norepinephrine-, but not dopamine-transporter knockout miceEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 3 2002Andy N. Mead Abstract Previously, it was reported that both norepinephrine transporter (NET) and dopamine transporter (DAT) knockout (KO) mice were sensitive to the reinforcing effects of cocaine. However, assessing the locomotor-stimulant effects of cocaine in these subjects has proven difficult due to significant differences in their baseline activity compared to wild-type controls. The present studies were designed to clarify the role of NET and DAT in the stimulant effects of acute and repeated cocaine utilizing these knockout mice, and thereby assess the role of these substrates in the locomotor stimulant effects of cocaine. Mice were habituated to the test environment for sufficient time to ensure equal baselines at the time of cocaine administration. Mice then received cocaine (3,25 mg/kg) intravenously according to a within-session cumulative dose,response design. Cocaine dosing was repeated at 48-h intervals for four sessions to assess behavioural sensitization. NET-KO mice exhibited a reduced response to acute cocaine administration compared to wild-type (WT) controls. However, comparable sensitization developed in NET-KO and WT mice. The DAT-KO and DAT-heterozygote (HT) mice displayed no locomotor activation following either acute or repeated cocaine administration. These data suggest a role for the NET in the acute response to cocaine, but no involvement in sensitization to cocaine. In contrast, DAT appears to be necessary for both the acute locomotor response to cocaine and the subsequent development of sensitization. In addition to existing data concerning the reinforcing effects of cocaine in DAT-KO mice, these data suggest a dissociation between the reinforcing and locomotor stimulant effects of cocaine. [source] Enhanced survival of vascular smooth muscle cells accounts for heightened elastin deposition in arteries of neonatal spontaneously hypertensive ratsEXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Silvia M. Arribas Abnormal stiffening and narrowing of arteries are characteristic features of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In this strain, we have previously demonstrated an increased elastin content and abnormal organization of lamellae in conduit and resistance arteries from neonatal rats that preceded the impending inward remodelling, increased vascular stiffness and development of hypertension. The aim of this study was to assess the mechanism responsible for such excessive and aberrant elastin deposition in SHR vessels during perinatal development. We compared elastin, collagen and fibronectin production (inmunocytochemistry and quantitative assay of metabolically labelled insoluble elastin), DNA content as well as cell proliferation (proliferative cellular nuclear antigen, bromodeoxyuridine incorporation) and death rates (propidium iodide exclusion test, terminal transferase nick and labeling (TUNEL) assay) in cultures of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) derived from neonatal SHR and Wistar,Kyoto (WKY) control rats. Cultures of VSMC derived from neonatal SHR exhibited hypertrophy, produced more elastin, collagen and fibronectin and contained more DNA than equally plated WKY counterparts. Further analysis revealed that the higher net DNA content in SHR-derived cultures was due to increased diploidy, but not to a heightened cell multiplication. The SHR-derived VSMC also exhibited lower rates of cell death and apoptosis, which were associated with increased levels of the anti-apoptotic protein, survivin. We therefore conclude that the peculiar heightened survival of matrix-producing VSMC in neonatal SHR is responsible for accumulation of hard-wearing elastin and other extracellular matrix elements in the growing arteries, thereby contributing to the subsequent development of systemic hypertension. [source] Neuroendocrine Function and Chronic Inflammatory StressEXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 5 2002Michael Harbuz The factors regulating susceptibility and severity of autoimmune diseases are poorly understood. That neuroendocrine factors are critical modulators in this regard is self-evident. For example, there are major gender differences in susceptibility with women at greater risk than men of, for example, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis (MS). The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has rightly attracted a considerable amount of attention. Of particular interest has been the hypothesis that susceptibility to autoimmune disease may be related to an impaired responsiveness of the HPA axis; that is, an inability to mount an appropriate cortisol response with which to down-regulate the immune system might allow the immune system to rampage unchecked and attack self. This hypothesis links regulation of the release from the adrenal gland of the potent anti-inflammatory glucocorticoids to the disease process. Endogenous glucocorticoids are crucial for the regulation of the severity of the disease process. The hypothesis proposing a link between a hyporesponsive HPA axis and susceptibility to disease is compelling. However, evidence from a number of sources has suggested that this may not be the entire story and alterations in the activity of the HPA axis have not been consistently observed in patients with RA. This review will concentrate on recent findings concerning the HPA axis in determining susceptibility to, and in regulating the severity of, inflammatory processes in autoimmune disease. These studies have revealed that a single exposure to endotoxin can confer protection to subsequent development of inflammation in an arthritis model in both neonatal and adult rats. Behavioural differences within a single population of rats are associated with differences in the plasma corticosterone responses to stress. However, relative hyporesponsiveness is not reflected by an increase in the severity of inflammation. In humans with RA the dexamethasone-corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) test has revealed two distinct sub-populations of patients. Studies in patients with MS have shown that this is not related to depression but rather to the severity of the disease. A better understanding of these complex neuroendocrine interactions may lead to novel clinical interventions. [source] THE SEARCH FOR A PROPORTIONATE CARE LAW BY FORMULA FUNDING IN THE ENGLISH NHSFINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY & MANAGEMENT, Issue 4 2009Gwyn Bevan Although the National Health Service was created to achieve equity of access to health care in 1948, over twenty years later an ,inverse care law' was seen to operate. The 1976,Report of the Resource Allocation Working Party,laid the principles of formula funding to achieve an equitable distribution of resources, to move, over time, towards the operation of a proportionate care law. These principles have been applied ever since in England. This paper describes the context, governance and subsequent development of formulas and three persistent problems: accounting for populations, their needs and variations in the unavoidable costs of providers. The paper concludes by outlining continuing problems from the past and new challenges of formula funding in England to reduce ,avoidable' inequalities in health. [source] Genetic influences on behavioral inhibition and anxiety in juvenile rhesus macaquesGENES, BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR, Issue 4 2008J. Rogers In humans and other animals, behavioral responses to threatening stimuli are an important component of temperament. Among children, extreme behavioral inhibition elicited by novel situations or strangers predicts the subsequent development of anxiety disorders and depression. Genetic differences among children are known to affect risk of developing behavioral inhibition and anxiety, but a more detailed understanding of genetic influences on susceptibility is needed. Nonhuman primates provide valuable models for studying the mechanisms underlying human behavior. Individual differences in threat-induced behavioral inhibition (freezing behavior) in young rhesus monkeys are stable over time and reflect individual levels of anxiety. This study used the well-established human intruder paradigm to elicit threat-induced freezing behavior and other behavioral responses in 285 young pedigreed rhesus monkeys. We examined the overall influence of quantitative genetic variation and tested the specific effect of the serotonin transporter promoter repeat polymorphism. Quantitative genetic analyses indicated that the residual heritability of freezing duration (behavioral inhibition) is h2 = 0.384 (P = 0.012) and of ,orienting to the intruder' (vigilance) is h2 = 0.908 (P = 0.00001). Duration of locomotion and hostility and frequency of cooing were not significantly heritable. The serotonin transporter polymorphism showed no significant effect on either freezing or orienting to the intruder. Our results suggest that this species could be used for detailed studies of genetic mechanisms influencing extreme behavioral inhibition, including the identification of specific genes that are involved in predisposing individuals to such behavior. [source] Bioinspired Material Approaches to SensingADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 16 2009Michael E. McConney Abstract Bioinspired design is an engineering approach that involves working to understand the design principles and strategies employed by biology in order to benefit the development of engineered systems. From a materials perspective, biology offers an almost limitless source of novel approaches capable of arousing innovation in every aspect of materials, including fabrication, design, and functionality. Here, recent and ongoing work on the study of bioinspired materials for sensing applications is presented. Work presented includes the study of fish flow receptor structures and the subsequent development of similar structures to improve flow sensor performance. The study of spider air-flow receptors and the development of a spider-inspired flexible hair is also discussed. Lastly, the development of flexible membrane based infrared sensors, highly influenced by the fire beetle, is presented, where a pneumatic mechanism and a thermal-expansion stress-mediated buckling-based mechanism are investigated. Other areas that are discussed include novel biological signal filtering mechanisms and reciprocal benefits offered through applying the biology lessons to engineered systems. [source] Altered promoter usage characterizes monoallelic transcription arising with ERBB2 amplification in human breast cancersGENES, CHROMOSOMES AND CANCER, Issue 11 2006Christopher C. Benz Analysis of a collection of human breast cancers (n = 150), enriched in ERBB2-positive cases (n = 57) and involving tumor genotyping relative to population-matched blood genotyping (n = 749) for a common ERBB2 single nucleotide polymorphism Ala(G)1170Pro(C), revealed that ERBB2 amplification in breast cancer is invariably monoallelic. Analysis of paired breast cancer and blood samples from informative (G1170C heterozygotic) ERBB2-positive (n = 12) and ERBB2-negative (n = 17) cases not only confirmed monoallelic amplification and ERBB2 transcriptional overexpression but also revealed that most low ERBB2 expressing breast cancers (12/17) exhibit unbalanced allelic transcription, showing 3-fold to nearly 5,000-fold preferential expression from one of two inherited alleles. To explore cis-acting transcriptional mechanisms potentially selected during ERBB2 amplification, levels of four different ERBB2 transcript variants (5.2, 4.7, 2.1, and 1.4 kb) were correlated with total (4.6 kb) ERBB2 mRNA levels in ERBB2-positive (n = 14) versus ERBB2-negative (n = 43) primary breast cancers. Relative expression of only the 2.1 kb extracellular domain-encoding splice variant and a 4.7 kb mRNA variant that uses an alternative start site were significantly increased in association with ERBB2-positivity, implicating altered promoter usage and selective transcript regulation within the ERBB2 amplicon. Altogether, these findings provide new mechanistic insights into the development of ERBB2-positive breast cancer and strong rationale for delineating candidate cis-acting regulatory elements that may link allele-specific ERBB2 transcription in premalignant breast epithelia with subsequent development of breast cancers bearing monoallelic ERBB2 amplicons. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Direct DNA delivery into zebrafish embryos employing tissue culture techniquesGENESIS: THE JOURNAL OF GENETICS AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 1 2001Raquel Sussman Abstract Summary: The production of transfected fish embryos requires expertise in injecting the fertilized eggs and/or expensive equipment for electroporation or microprojectiles. This article demonstrates that by exposure to DNA constructs conjugated with transfecting reagents dechorionated Danio rerio embryos are capable of acquiring extracellular DNA and expressing reporter genes. Embryos incubated with pCMVluc complexed with GeneJammer or GenePORTER expressed luciferase 24,48 h after exposure. pCMVGFP DNA mixed with the same agents generated embryos that exhibited differential patterns of expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP). Embryonic development varied depending on the procedure employed and the reporter gene utilized. Expression of the luciferase gene did not interfere with the subsequent development of the embryos. In contrast, the embryos expressing a high level of GFP were affected, probably due to a very active promoter. These results demonstrate the ease of obtaining transfected fish embryos, which facilitate the mass production of new genotypes and extend the procedure to laboratories with limited resources. genesis 31:1,5, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Immune Response to a 26-kDa Protein, Alkyl Hydroperoxide Reductase, in Helicobacter pylori-Infected Mongolian Gerbil ModelHELICOBACTER, Issue 4 2001Jing Yan ABSTRACT Background. The host immune response is thought to play an important role in the outcome of Helico-bacter pylori infection. The successful development of the H. pylori -infected Mongolian gerbil model that mimics human disease has enabled study of the antibody response against H. pylori antigens. Materials and Methods. Serum samples from ulcer and carcinogenesis models of H. pylori -infected gerbils were used to screen for H. pylori antigens that cause a humoral immune response in the infected hosts. H. pylori alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (AhpC) is one such antigen on which we report here. The tsaA gene encoding AhpC was amplified by PCR from H. pylori ATCC 43504 strain, cloned into pMALTM -c2 expression vector and expressed in Escherichia coli. Maltose-binding protein fusion protein (MBP-AhpC) was purified by a MBP affinity column. Using purified recombinant AhpC protein as an antigen, the antibody response and changes of antibody levels against AhpC in the gerbil models were studied by Western blotting and ELISA. Results. Antibody against AhpC was negative in the early stages of infection, and became positive in the gerbils with the emergence of gastric diseases such as chronic active gastritis, gastric ulcer and gastric cancer. The antibody levels (ELISA) increased gradually over time and were higher in gerbils with gastric ulcer than that in gerbils without ulcers. Conclusions. Use of the gerbil model that mimics human H. pylori infection is likely to provide insights into the role of H. pylori -specific antigens possibly related to the subsequent development of gastric diseases. [source] Depression and practice guidelinesHUMAN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL, Issue 1 2001John S Mcintyre Abstract Over the past two decades there have been great advances in the understanding of depression and in the development of pharmacological agents and psychosocial treatments that have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of this common and disabling illness. Unfortunately, this knowledge and evidence is not consistently translated into actual treatment, and depression remains undiagnosed in a large percentage of patients, and when it is accurately diagnosed, it often is suboptimally treated. The frequent failure to properly diagnose depression may be due to the continuing stigma of mental illness, the persistence of the biomedical, rather than the biopsychosocial, paradigm of illness and treatment, educational issues and the time constraints in the typical medical practice. The suboptimal treatment may be due to all of these issues plus the difficulty in changing physician behaviours even when there exists much evidence that would seem to dictate such a change. The development of a criteria-based nomenclature and the subsequent development and dissemination of evidence-based practice guidelines addresses some of these issues. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Hierarchically Ordered Topographic Patterns via Plasmonic Mask PhotolithographyADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 19 2009Woo Soo Kim By employing a block copolymer to spatially organize silver nanoparticles, laser light can be concentrated via plasmon resonance to locally expose a photoresist. By subsequent development, this plasmonic lithography can provide deep subwavelength scale features. [source] The numerical solution of third-order boundary value problems using Sinc-collocation methodINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 7 2007A. Saadatmandi Abstract The Sinc-collocation method is presented for solving boundary value problems for nonlinear third-order differential equations. Properties of the Sinc-collocation method required for our subsequent development are given and are utilized to reduce the computation of nonlinear third-order boundary value problems to some algebraic equations. The method is computationally attractive and applications are demonstrated through illustrative examples. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Maternal medication use and the risk of brain tumors in the offspring: The SEARCH international case-control studyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 5 2006Amanda H. Cardy Abstract N -nitroso compounds (NOC) have been associated with carcinogenesis in a wide range of species, including humans. There is strong experimental data showing that nitrosamides (R1NNO·COR2), a type of NOC, are potent neuro-carcinogens when administered transplacentally. Some medications are a concentrated source of amides or amines, which in the presence of nitrites under normal acidic conditions of the stomach can form NOC. Therefore, these compounds, when ingested by women during pregnancy, may be important risk factors for tumors of the central nervous system in the offspring. The aim of the present study was to test the association between maternal use of medications that contain nitrosatable amines or amides and risk of primary childhood brain tumors (CBT). A case-control study was conducted, which included 1,218 cases and 2,223 population controls, recruited from 9 centers across North America, Europe and Australia. Analysis was conducted for all participants combined, by tumor type (astroglial, primitive neuroectodermal tumors and other glioma), and by age at diagnosis (,5 years; >5 years). There were no significant associations between maternal intake of medication containing nitrosatable amines or amides and CBT, for all participants combined and after stratification by age at diagnosis and histological subtype. This is the largest case-control study of CBT and maternal medications to date. Our data provide little support for an association between maternal use of medications that may form NOC and subsequent development of CBT in the offspring. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Eccrine squamous syringometaplasia mimicking a herpetic infectionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2006Vicent Alonso MD A 69-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and essential tremor was diagnosed with a Burkitt-like diffuse large-cell lymphoma. She received chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, vincristine and adriamycin (HyperCVAD). Ten days after starting the second cycle of chemotherapy (HyperCVAD), she presented with well-defined, intense, erythematous macules which coalesced to form a symmetric diffuse erythema located on the upper back. Later, the lesions progressed and affected the lower back and perineal areas, extending to the groin. In a few days, a gradual diminution of the erythema was seen, with subsequent development of postinflammatory gray-brownish hyperpigmentation. On the lower back, there were also superficial erosions. Some asymptomatic, closely grouped, gray papules, vesicles, and blisters were found in the groin, resembling the typical lesions of herpetic infection (Fig. 1). Two biopsies of the groin and one of the upper back were performed, and were processed for histopathologic and microbiologic study. Figure 1. Closely grouped gray papules, vesicles, and blisters on the groin mimicking a herpetic infection The histopathologic study showed epidermal hyperplasia with acanthosis and papillomatosis. In both biopsies, eccrine ducts covered by mature squamous epithelium were found in the reticular dermis (Fig. 2a,c). In the sample from the groin, an intracorneal bulla was found. Numerous normal isolated cornified cells were seen within the lumen of the bulla (Fig. 2d). An inflammatory mononuclear infiltrate was also present in a periductal and perivascular distribution. No multinucleation, ground-glass nuclei, or peripheral margination of chromatin were found. Therefore, no morphologic evidence of herpes virus infection was present. Figure 2. Low (a), medium (b), and high (c) magnification showing epidermal hyperplasia and squamous syringometaplasia involving dermal eccrine ducts. (d) Medium power magnification of the intracorneal bulla (hematoxylin and eosin staining; a, ×40; b, ×100; c, ×400; d, ×100) Cultures and serologic analyses for herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 and 2, varicella zoster virus (VZV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) were negative. The lesions were treated with topical corticosteroids, with a good response in a few days. [source] Personality disorder traits evident by early adulthood and risk for eating and weight problems during middle adulthoodINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, Issue 3 2006Jeffrey G. Johnson PhD Abstract Objective: The current article investigates the association of personality disorder (PD) with the subsequent development of eating and weight problems. Method: Psychiatric interviews were administered to a community-based sample of 658 individuals at mean ages 14, 16, 22, and 33 years. Results: Individuals with PD by age 22 were at an elevated risk for eating disorders at mean age 33 years. PDs were associated with risk for onset of binge eating, purging, daily dietary restriction, and obesity among individuals without a history of these problems. Borderline and histrionic PD symptoms were associated with recurrent binging and purging at mean age 33 years. Antisocial and schizotypal symptoms were associated with recurrent binging and obesity at mean age 33 years. Depressive PD symptoms were associated with recurrent binging and dietary restriction at mean age 33 years. Conclusion: PD symptoms, evident by early adulthood, may be associated with the risk for the development of eating and weight problems by middle adulthood. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Int J Eat Disord, 2006 [source] Low coronary driving pressure early in the course of myocardial infarction is associated with subendocardial remodelling and left ventricular dysfunctionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2007Marcia Kiyomi Koike Summary Subendocardial remodelling of the left ventricular (LV) non-infarcted myocardium has been poorly investigated. Previously, we have demonstrated that low coronary driving pressure (CDP) early postinfarction was associated with the subsequent development of remote subendocardial fibrosis. The present study aimed at examining the role of CDP in LV remodelling and function following infarction. Haemodynamics were performed in Wistar rats immediately after myocardial infarction (MI group) or sham surgery (SH group) and at days 1, 3, 7 and 28. Heart tissue sections were stained with HE, Sirius red and immunostained for ,-actin. Two distinct LV regions remote to infarction were examined: subendocardium (SE) and interstitium (INT). Myocyte necrosis, leucocyte infiltration, myofibroblasts and collagen volume fraction were determined. Compared with SH, MI showed lower CDP and LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Necrosis was evident in SE at day 1. Inflammation and fibroplasia predominated in SE as far as day 7. Fibrosis was restricted to SE from day 3 on. Inflammation occurred in INT at days 1 and 3, but at a lower grade than in SE. CDP correlated inversely with SE necrosis (r = ,0.65, P = 0.003, at day 1), inflammation (r = ,0.76, P < 0.001, at day 1), fibroplasia (r = ,0.47, P = 0.04, at day 7) and fibrosis (r = ,0.83, P < 0.001, at day 28). Low CDP produced progressive LV expansion. Necrosis at day 1, inflammation at days 3 and 7, and fibroplasia at day 7 correlated inversely with LV function. CDP is a key factor to SE integrity and affects LV remodelling and function following infarction. [source] The final gift: targeting the potential charity legatorINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NONPROFIT & VOLUNTARY SECTOR MARKETING, Issue 1 2005Adrian Sargeant Although legacy income is of enormous importance to many of the UK's fundraising charities, little reliable information exists to assist practitioners in targeting potential legators with appropriate messages. In particular, the motives for making a legacy gift and the differences between those doing so and the general supporter base are unknown. This makes segmentation and the subsequent development of strategy problematic. This exploratory study seeks to address these issues and compare the motives of individuals who support charities during their lifetime with the motives of individuals who, in addition, pledge a legacy. The authors conclude that fundraisers looking to increase legacy income should target their older supporters, particularly those in their mid to late 60s', as well as users of their services. The findings also suggest that communications to these groups should stress organizational performance and service quality commitments. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Chlamydial seminal vesiculitis without symptomatic urethritis and epididymitisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 4 2006RYOJI FURUYA Abstract, We previously reported that seminal vesiculitis was associated with acute epididymitis, and that Chlamydia trachomatis was the major causative pathogen for infection of the seminal vesicle, suggesting that seminal vesiculitis was a discrete disease entity. In this paper, we report two patients with bacteriologically and cytologically proven seminal vesiculitis who had asymptomatic urethritis but not epididymitis. The clinical courses of these patients suggest that chlamydial seminal vesiculitis may be a cause of asymptomatic infection of the urethra or subsequent development of acute epididymitis. [source] Cooperativity and allostery in haemoglobin functionIUBMB LIFE, Issue 2 2008Chiara Ciaccio Abstract Tetrameric haemoglobins display a cooperative ligand binding behaviour, which has been attributed to the functional interrelationship between multiple ligand binding sites. The quantitative description of this feature was initially carried out with a phenomenological approach, which was limited to the functional effect of the occupancy by a ligand molecule of a binding site on further binding steps. However, subsequent development of structural,functional models for the description of the cooperativity in haemoglobin brought about a much deeper information on the interrelationships between ligand binding at the heme and structural variations occurring in the surrounding free subunits. This approach opened the way to the evolution of the concept of allostery, which is intended as the structural,functional effect exerted by the presence of a ligand in a binding site on other binding sites present in the same molecule. This concept can be applied to either sites for the same ligand (homotropic allostery) and for sites of different ligands (heterotropic allostery). Several models trying to take into account the continuous building up of structural and functional information on the physicochemical properties of haemoglobin have been developed along this line. © 2008 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 60(2): 112,123, 2008 [source] Cells migrating from the neural crest contribute to the innervation of the venous pole of the heartJOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 1 2008Victoria Hildreth Abstract Cells migrating from the neural crest are known to septate the outflow tract of the developing heart, and to contribute to the formation of the arterial valves, their supporting sinuses, the coronary arteries and cardiac neural ganglia. Neural crest cells have also been suggested to contribute to development of the venous pole of the heart, but the extent and fate of such cells remains unclear. In this study, in the mouse, it is shown that cells from the neural crest contribute to the parasympathetic and, to a lesser extent, the sympathetic innervation of the venous pole of the heart. Nerves within the venous pole of the heart are shown to be of mixed origin, with some being derived from the neural crest, while others have an alternative origin, presumably placodal. The neurons innervating the nodal tissue, which can exert chronotropic effects on cardiac conduction, are shown not to be derived from the neural crest. In particular, no evidence was found to support previous suggestions that cells from the neural crest make a direct contribution to the myocardial atrioventricular conduction axis, although a small subset of these cells do co-localize with the developing left bundle branch. We have therefore confirmed that cells from the neural crest migrate to the venous pole of the heart, and that their major role is in the development of the parasympathetic innervation. In addition, in some embryos, a population of cells derived from the neural crest persist in the leaflets of the atrioventricular valves, but their role in subsequent development remains unknown. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||