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It is commonly assumed that creatine kinase (CK) activity in plasma is related to the state of an inflammatory response at 24-48 h, and also it has shown biphasic patterns after a marathon run. No information is available on CK isoenzymes after an ultra-marathon run. The purpose of the present study is to examine the CK isoenzymes after a 200 km ultra-marathon run and during the subsequent recovery. Blood samples were obtained during registration 1 2 h before the 200-km race and during the race at 100 km, 150 km and at the end of 200 km, as well as after a 24 h period of recovery. Thirty-two male ultra-distance runners participated in the study. Serum CPK showed a marked increase throughout the race and 24 h recovery period (p<0.001). Serum CK during the race occurs mostly in the CK-MM isoform and only minutely in the CK-MB isoform and is unchanged in the CK-BB isoform. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), oestradiol, AST and ALT increased significantly from the pre-race value at 100 km and a further increase took place by the end of the 200 km run. The results of our study demonstrate a different release pattern of creatine kinase after an ultra-distance (200 km) run compared to the studies of marathon running and intense eccentric exercise, and changes in several biomarkers, indicative of muscle damage during the race, were much more pronounced during the latter half (100-200 km) of the race. However, the increases in plasma concentration of muscle enzymes may reflect not only structural damage, but also their rate of clearance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A-train Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) and Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) observations are used to investigate the development of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) and the gas phase nitric acid distribution in the early 2008 Antarctic winter. Observational evidence of gravity-wave activity is provided by Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) radiances and infrared spectroscopic detection of nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) in PSCs is obtained from the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS). Goddard Earth Observing System Data Assimilation System (GEOS-5 DAS) analyses are used to derive Lagrangian trajectories and to determine temperature-time histories of air parcels. We use CALIOP backscatter and depolarization measurements to classify PSCs and the MLS measurements to determine the corresponding gas phase HNO3 as a function of temperature. For liquid PSCs the uptake of HNO3 follows the theoretical equilibrium curve for supercooled ternary solutions (STS), but at temperatures about 1 K lower as determined from GEOS-5. In the presence of solid phase PSCs, above the ice frost-point, the HNO3 depletion occurs over a wider range of temperatures (+2 to -7 K) distributed about the NAT equilibrium curve. Rapid gas phase HNO3 depletion is first seen by MLS from from 23-25 May 2008, consisting of a decrease in the volume mixing ratio (parts per billion by volume) from 14 ppbv to 7 ppbv on the 46--32 hPa (hectopascal) pressure levels and accompanied by a 2--3 ppbv increase by renitrification at the 68 hPa pressure level. Temperature-time histories of air parcels demonstrate that the depleted HNO3 region is more clearly correlated with prior low temperature exposure of a few kelvin above the frost-point than with either the region bounded by the NAT existence temperature threshold or the region of minimum temperatures. From the combined data we infer the presence of large-size NAT particles with effective radii > 5--7 µm and low NAT number densities < 1 x 10-3 cm-3. This denitrification event is observed close to the pole in the Antarctic vortex before synoptic temperatures first fall below the ice frost point and before the widespread occurrence of large-scale NAT PSCs at altitudes 18--26 km in a polar freezing belt. The NAT outbreak is similar to an event previously reported from MIPAS observations in mid-June 2003 and is again linked to NAT formation via ice-seeding following an episode of mountain wave activity detected by AIRS. Subsequent wave-ice formation in the rapid cooling phases over the Antarctic Peninsula and Ellsworth Mountains is detected here by CALIOP and MIPAS. The NAT clouds appear to be composed of relatively small particles with estimated effective radii of around 1 µm and high NAT number densities >0.2 cm-3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study cloud/aerosol features in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UT/LS) with the NASA's A-Train sensors, a research algorithm is developed for a re-gridded CALIOP (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization) Level 1 (L1) backscatter dataset. This paper provides a detailed analysis of the measurement noise of this re-gridded dataset in order to compare the lidar measurements with other collocated measurements (e.g., CloudSat, Microwave Limb Sounder). The regridded dataset has a manageable data volume for multi-year analysis. It has a fixed (5 km) horizontal resolution, and the measurement error is derived empirically from the background-corrected backscatter profile on a profile-by-profile basis. The 532-nm and 1064-nm measurement noises, determined from the data at altitudes above 19 km, are analyzed and characterized in terms of the mean (μ), standard deviation (σ), and normalized probability density function (PDF). These noises show a larger variance over landmasses and bright surfaces during day, and in regions with enhanced flux of energetic particles during night, where the instrument's ability for feature detection is slightly degraded. An increasing trend in the nighttime 1064-nm σ appears to be significant, which likely causes the increasing differences in cloud occurrence frequency between the 532-nm and 1064-nm channels. Most of the CALIOP backscatter noise distributions exhibit a Gaussian-like behavior but the nighttime 532-nm perpendicular measurements show multi-Gaussian characteristics. We apply σ - based thresholds to detect cloud/aerosol features in the UT/LS from the subset L1 data. The observed morphology is similar to that from the Level 2 (L2) 05km CLAY+05km ALAY product, but the occurrence frequency obtained in this study is slightly lower than the L2 product due to differences in spatial averaging and detection threshold. In the case where the measurement noises of two data sets are different, the normalized PDF has proven useful for quantifying the day-night difference of the CALIOP backscatters, showing higher daytime cloud occurrence frequency in the tropical UT/LS. Other cloud/aerosol properties, such as depolarization ratio and color ratio, can be also evaluated with the PDF method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature and water vapor variations due to clouds in the TTL have been investigated using co-located MLS, CALISPO, and CloudSat data. Convective cooling occurs only up to cloud top heights, but there is warming above these heights in the TTL. Water vapor and ozone anomalies above cloud top heights support that the warming anomalies occur due to downward motion. Thicker clouds cause a greater magnitude of the temperature anomalies. Water vapor of the environment below cloud tops can either increase or decrease, depending on the cloud top height. The critical factor, which divides these different water vapor variations below cloud tops, is the relative humidity. Clouds hydrate the environment below 16 km, where the air after mixing between cloud and the environmental air does not reach saturation, but clouds dehydrate above 16 km, due to the supersaturation because of the larger temperature drop and the high initial relative humidity. Water vapor above cloud tops has negative anomalies compared to clear skies and suggests another dehydration mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better define seizure characteristics and to examine whether semiological seizure classification (SSC) can be appropriately applied to the seizures of infants and children, we studied 152 videotaped seizures recorded in 133 children. Seizure semiology was described on the basis of a series of behavioural, sensory, and motor phenomena according to SSC. Special emphasis was placed on whether one semiology can be representative of a patient's whole semiology sequence. If one semiology was able to represent the whole sequence, the seizure was classified according to SSC. Ninety of 152 seizures (59.2%) could be classified as a single seizure type by SSC. However, only 19 of 53 seizures (35.9%) consisting of two semiologies, three of 24 seizures (12.5%) consisting of three semiologies, and one of eight seizures (12.5%) consisting of four semiologies could be classified according to SSC. Although SSC is very efficient, it is more accurately a descriptive terminology for clinical ictal events than a classification system., (Copyright 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of BEA Trading Ltd.)

This study was carried out to verify the relationship between major depression and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), which is related to immunological function such as T-cell regulation. Among the Korean patients diagnosed with major depression according to DSM-IV, 77 patients without neurological illness, hormonal disorder, or comorbid mental illness were selected. The stored data on 149 normal Koreans from the Catholic Hemopoietic Stem Cell Bank of Korea, were used as a control group. The data of the Korean control group were compared with those of the studies of different ethnic groups. DNA was extracted from whole blood using proteinase K and the exon 1 region of CTLA-4 gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Gene typing was performed using single strand conformation polymorphism. The results were assessed. There were significant differences in frequencies of CTLA-4 allele (chi2 = 56.472, d.f. = 1, P = 0.001) and genotype (chi2 = 46.132, d.f. = 2, P = 0.001) between the Korean population and the Caucasian population. However, we could not find any differences between the Korean and the Japanese population. There were no significant differences in genotype frequencies of CTLA-4*G/G, CTLA-4*G/A, and CTLA-4*A/A between the patients with major depression and the control group in the Korean population (48.1% vs. 46.3%, 41.6% vs 39.6%, 10.3% vs. 14.1%, respectively). There were no significant differences in allelic frequencies of CTLA-4*G and CTLA-4*A between the patients with major depression and the control group in the Korean population (68.8% vs. 66.1%, 31.2% vs. 33.9%, respectively). Although the present study produced negative results for the association of exon 1 polymorphism of CTLA-4 gene with major depression in the Korean population, further systematic research, including diverse clinical variables, would be necessary.

This study was performed to assess the efficacy and safety of olanzapine for the treatment of delirium in a Korean population. An open trial of olanzapine was conducted in Korean patients with delirium caused by multiple medicosurgical conditions. All subjects were evaluated by Delirium Rating Scale (DRS), which is known to be one of the most sensitive scales for delirium. In addition, other data for profiles of side-effects were collected and analyzed. Twenty patients were treated by olanzapine with doses of 5.9 +/- 1.5 mg/day. The initial dose was 4.6 +/- 0.9 mg/day and maximal dose of olanzapine was 8.8 +/- 2.2 mg/day. The average duration of treatment was 6.6 +/- 1.7 days and the day of maximal response was 3.8 +/- 1.7 treated days. The scores of DRS were significantly improved from 20.0 +/- 3.6 at the time of pretreatment to 9.3 +/- 4.6 at the post-treatment. All subjects showed no definite serious side-effects including anticholinergic and extrapyramidal symptoms. Olanzapine treatment for patients with delirium was effective and safe. This newer drug may be a useful alternative agent to classical antipsychotics in the treatment of delirium.

The cerebellum is known to have an inhibitory effect on seizures. Nevertheless, cerebellar dysplastic lesions can be epileptogenic. A 4-month-old infant had paroxysmal facial contractions; tachypnea and nystagmoid eyeball and tremulous movements were occasionally combined. These evolved to stereotypic clinical patterns and frequencies, which increased despite administration of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a mass arising from the superior cerebellar peduncle, although video-scalp EEG monitoring revealed no abnormal findings. Positron emission tomography with [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose revealed focal hypermetabolism in the same area identified by MRI. A depth electrode implanted in the mass revealed focal spike-and-wave discharges. The lesion was partly removed; pathologic diagnosis was ganglioglioma. Because of incomplete seizure control and residual tumor visible on MRI, a second operation was performed. After complete excision of the tumor, the patient became seizure free without AEDs. This case confirms the presence of seizure originating from the cerebellum and emphasizes the need for the complete removal of an epileptogenic lesion.

Recent advances in the study of globin gene switching in the context of complete gene locus have contributed greatly to our understanding of developmental regulation mechanism of globin gene expression. However, it is not clear yet whether the cluster is sufficient in proper gene switching when the globin genes are replaced with conventional reporter genes. Furthermore, even though erythroid-specific and ubiquitous transcription factors involved in erythroid-specific globin gene expression have been characterized and some plausible globin gene switching models have been suggested, any specific factor directly involved in globin gene switching is not yet identified. In this study, as an effort to further understand globin switching mechanism and to identify globin switching factors, we constructed reporter vectors by juxtaposing several putative regulatory elements in human beta-globin locus to conventional reporter genes and analyzed their stage-specific expression in erythroid cell lines. At the end, we demonstrated that gammabeta-type constructs, in which both gamma-type and beta-type globin reporter genes were linked in cis below beta-globin locus control region (LCR), show proper stage-specific reporter gene expression in erythroid cell lines and also recapitulate globin switching in cell hybrids.

Based on the surmise that a variety of genes might play important roles in embryonic development and tissue differentiation, and that some of them are likely to be expressed in undifferentiated ES cells, we attempted to identify new genes from the ES cell cDNA library. The modified method of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and the examination of the expression patterns in adult tissues and in vitro differentiated ES cells were utilized in this study. We have isolated and identified several novel cDNA clones with interesting developmental expression pattern. Among the 83 clones randomly chosen, 23 clones (27.7%) have no homology to any sequences in public databases. The rest contain limited or complete sequence homology to the previously reported mammalian genes or ESTs, yet some clones have not been previously identified in the mouse. To examine the expression profile of clones during development and differentiation, sets of slot blots were hybridized with developmental stage specific or tissue specific probes. Out of 40 novel clones tested (21 totally unknown clones and 19 unidentified clones in mouse), most of them were up- or down-regulated as differentiation proceeded, and some clones showed differentiation-stage specific expression profiles. Surprisingly, a majority of genes were also expressed in adult tissues, and some clones even revealed tissue specific expression. These results demonstrate that not only was the strategy we employed in this study quite efficient for screening novel genes, but that the information gained by such studies would also be a useful guide for further analysis of these genes. It also suggests the feasibility of this approach to explore the genomewide network of gene expression during complicated biological processes, such as embryonic development and tissue differentiation.

Increased airway responsiveness (AR) is frequently associated with bronchiectasis. Roxithromycin is a new semisynthetic macrolide antibiotic that also has anti-inflammatory activities. This study was designed to see whether roxithromycin could favourably alter the degree of AR in patients with bronchiectasis and increased AR. Twenty five children with bronchiectasis, who had an increased AR (defined as a provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (PC20) <25 mg x mL(-1) evaluated by the dosimeter method), were randomized, double-blind into two parallel groups. Thirteen of the children were treated with roxithromycin (4 mg x kg(-1) b.i.d.) for 12 weeks and 12 received placebo. FEV1, sputum purulence and leucocyte scores were assessed every 3 weeks. To estimate AR, high-dose methacholine challenge tests were performed before and after treatment. On the dose-response curve to methacholine, PD20 and maximal response (two indices of AR) were measured. Changes in FEV1 were not observed during the course of the study in both groups. A significant improvement in sputum features was noted after 6 weeks of treatment in the roxithromycin group. After 12 weeks of roxithromycin therapy, the geometric mean (range of 1 SD) of provocative cumulative dose producing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PD20) increased significantly (p<0.01) to 169.2 (83.2-344.2) breath units (BU) (1 BU denotes one inhalation of 1 mg x mL(-1) methacholine) and the mean+/-SD of maximal response decreased significantly (p<0.01) to 32.5+/-6.8%, as compared with the initial values (PD20 87.1 (47.3-160.4) BU; maximal response 40.9+/-7.4%). No significant changes in either parameter were observed in the placebo group. Our results indicate that roxithromycin may decrease the degree of airway responsiveness in patients with bronchiectasis and increased airway responsiveness. Further study is necessary to determine the mechanism by which roxithromycin reduces airway responsiveness in bronchiectasis and its clinical impact.