bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spider in a Jar: Women Who Have Recovered From Psychosis and Their Experience of the Mental Health Care System
Authors: Hagen Brad , Nixon Gary
Published: March 2011

A growing body of literature has documented considerable dissatisfaction with the mental health care system among people who use mental health services. This article adds to this literature by reporting on the results of qualitative interviews done with 18 women who had recovered from some form of transformative psychotic experience and were willing to share their experiences with the mental health care system. The participants unanimously felt that their experiences with the mental health system were very negative and detrimental to their overall healing and recovery process. Four main themes emerged from the qualitative analysis of the interview transcripts: (1) “the label factory,” which described the capricious and destructive nature of the psychiatric diagnoses they received; (2) “invalidated and unheard,” which described how little the women’s voices seemed to matter to the mental health care professionals caring for them; (3) “violence and violations,” which described the loss of free will and dignity the women experienced during inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations; and (4) “smashing the jar,” which described the hopes and dreams these women had for changing the way people receive mental health care. The implications of these findings for mental health practice are discussed.
STAR*D: A Tale and Trail of Bias
Authors: Pigott H. Edmund
Published: March 2011

The 35-million-dollar Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study is the largest antidepressant effectiveness study ever conducted. STAR*D enrolled 4,041 depressed patients and provided them with exemplary free acute and continuing antidepressant care to maximize their likelihood of achieving and maintaining remission. Patients who failed to get adequate relief from their first antidepressant were provided with up to three additional trials of pharmacologically distinct treatments. This article identifies numerous instances of apparent bias in the conduct and reporting of outcomes from this study. In contrast to STAR*D’s report of positive findings supporting antidepressants’ effectiveness, only 108 of its 4,041 patients (2.7%) had an acute-care remission, and during the 12 months of continuing care, these patients neither relapsed nor dropped out. This article also discusses the roles of the American Journal of Psychiatry (AJP) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in promoting the biased reporting of STAR*D’s results.
Microbiologic Results After Non‐Surgical Erbium‐Doped:Yttrium, Aluminum, and Garnet Laser or Air‐Abrasive Treatment of Peri‐Implantitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Persson G. Rutger , Roos‐Jansåker Ann‐Marie , Lindahl Christel , Renvert Stefan
Published: March 2011

Background: The purpose of this study is to assess clinical and microbiologic effects of the non‐surgical treatment of peri‐implantitis lesions using either an erbium‐doped:yttrium, aluminum, and garnet (Er:YAG) laser or an air‐abrasive subgingival polishing method.

Methods: In a 6‐month clinical trial, 42 patients with peri‐implantitis were treated at one time with an Er:YAG laser or an air‐abrasive device. Routine clinical methods were used to monitor clinical conditions. Baseline and 6‐month intraoral radiographs were assessed with a software program. The checkerboard DNA–DNA hybridization method was used to assess 74 bacterial species from the site with the deepest probing depth (PD) at the implant. Non‐parametric tests were applied to microbiology data.

Results: PD reductions (mean ± SD) were 0.9 ± 0.8 mm and 0.8 ± 0.5 mm in the laser and air‐abrasive groups, respectively (not significant). No baseline differences in bacterial counts between groups were found. In the air‐abrasive group, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus anaerobius were found at lower counts at 1 month after therapy (P <0.001) and with lower counts in the laser group for Fusobacterium nucleatum naviforme (P = 0.002), and Fusobacterium nucleatum nucleatum (P = 0.002). Both treatments failed to reduce bacterial counts at 6 months. Porphyromonas gingivalis counts were higher in cases with progressive peri‐implantitis (P <0.001).

Conclusions: At 1 month, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and S. anaerobius were reduced in the air‐abrasive group, and Fusobacterium spp. were reduced in the laser group. Six‐month data demonstrated that both methods failed to reduce bacterial counts. Clinical improvements were limited.
Factors Associated With Dental Implant Survival: A 4‐Year Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Zupnik Jamie , Kim Soo‐woo , Ravens Daniel , Karimbux Nadeem , Guze Kevin
Published: March 2011

Background: Dental implants are a predictable treatment option for replacing missing teeth and have strong survival and success outcomes. However, previous research showed a wide array of potential risk factors that may have contributed to dental implant failures. The objectives of this study are to study if implant survival rates were affected by known risk factors and risk indicators that may have contributed to implant failures. The secondary outcome measures were whether the level of expertise of the periodontal residents affected success rates and how the rate of implant success at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) compared to published standards.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients at the HSDM who had one of two types of rough‐surface implants (group A or B) placed by periodontology residents from 2003 to 2006 was performed. Demographic, health, and implant data were collected and analyzed by multimodel analyses to determine failure rates and any factors that may have increased the likelihood of an implant failure.

Results: The study cohort included 341 dental implants. The odds ratio for an implant failure was most clearly elevated for diabetes (2.59 implant surface group B (7.84), and male groups (4.01). There was no significant difference regarding the resident experience. The success rate for HSDM periodontology residents was 96.48% during the 4‐year study period.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that implant success rates at HSDM fell within accepted published standards, confirmed previously identified risk factors for a failure, and potentially suggested that other acknowledged risk factors could be controlled for. Furthermore, the level of experience of the periodontology resident did not have an impact on survival outcomes.
iNOS‐Derived Nitric Oxide Stimulates Osteoclast Activity and Alveolar Bone Loss in Ligature‐Induced Periodontitis in Rats
Authors: Herrera Bruno S. , Martins‐Porto Rodrigo , Maia‐Dantas Aline , Campi Paula , Spolidorio Luis C. , Costa Soraia K.P. , Van Dyke Thomas E. , Gyurko Robert , Muscara Marcelo N.
Published: March 2011

Background: Inflammatory stimuli activate inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in a variety of cell types, including osteoclasts (OC) and osteoblasts, resulting in sustained NO production. In this study, we evaluate the alveolar bone loss in rats with periodontitis under long‐term iNOS inhibition, and the differentiation and activity of OC from iNOS‐knockout (KO) mice in vitro.

Methods: Oral aminoguanidine (an iNOS inhibitor) or water treatment was started 2 weeks before induction of periodontitis. Rats were sacrificed 3, 7, or 14 days after ligature placement, and alveolar bone loss was evaluated. In vitro OC culture experiments were also performed to study the differentiation of freshly isolated bone marrow cells from both iNOS KO and wild‐type C57BL/6 mice. OC were counted 6 days later after tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase staining (a marker of osteoclast identity), and bone resorption activity was assessed by counting the number of resorption pits on dentin disks.

Results: Rats with ligature showed progressive and significant alveolar bone loss compared to sham animals, and aminoguanidine treatment significantly inhibited ligature‐induced bone loss at 7 and 14 days after the induction. In comparison to bone marrow cells from wild‐type mice, cells from iNOS KO mice showed decreased OC growth and the resulting OC covered a smaller culture dish area and generated fewer resorption pit counts.

Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that iNOS inhibition prevents alveolar bone loss in a rat model of ligature‐induced periodontitis, thus confirming that iNOS‐derived NO plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis, probably by stimulating OC differentiation and activity.
Permeability Change during CO2 Injection in Carbonate Aquifers: Experimental Study
Authors: Mohamed I. M. , He J. , Nasr-El-Din H. A.
Published: March 2011

Chemical interactions between CO2/brine/rock can cause formation damage during CO2 injection. These interactions can affect injectivity during EOR operations, as well as affect storage capacity and seal integrity, which are primary concerns during CO2 sequestration. These interactions and the degree of impact are affected by several parameters, including pressure, temperature, brine salinity, CO2 injection rate, and rock characteristics.

Carbonic acid generated from dissolution of CO2 in the formation brine can dissolve carbonate rock. Concurrently, calcium concentration increases in the brine may cause calcium carbonate to reprecipitate. This paper addresses the effects of the formation temperature, and CO2 injection rate on the precipitation and the relative impact of dissolution and precipitation on well performance.

A core flood study was conducted using carbonate rock under various temperatures and injection rates. Core effluent samples were collected and the concentration of calcium was measured as the primary indicator of reactivity.

Results showed that CO2 injection increased core permeability at high temperature and injection rate. And the permeability of the inlet part of the core always increases, while the permeability of the rest of the core always decreases.
Health Hazard Profiles: A Field Guide to Oil & Gas Service Industry Occupational Health and Hygiene
Authors: Hinton J. J.
Published: March 2011

The occupational health and hygiene aspects of activities and tasks associated with the Oil and Gas Service Industry have been assessed and placed into field-friendly Health Hazard Profiles to guide HSE practitioners in their recognition and management of the health aspect of HSE in their workplaces. Traditionally, the health aspect of the workplace has lagged behind the safety and environmental aspects. And, most HSE professionals are either skilled in safety or environment, with few having industrial hygiene skills or formal training. As a result, many times the occupational health and hygiene aspects of the workplace do not receive the attention workers may deserve. Baker Hughes and the University of Texas - School of Public Health initiated formal Health Hazard Assessments of processes and activities common to the Oil and Gas Service Industry. The results of these professional assessments were condensed into a series of Health Hazard Profiles; user-friendly field guides to assist the local HSE practitioner in effectively addressing the occupational health aspects of the workplace.

Example Health Hazard Profiles demonstrate the effectiveness of these summaries as a field-guide for HSE practitioners, as well as tabulations of occupational hygiene aspects and exposure potentials associated with such common processes and tasks as: machining, electroplating, parts washing, well completion, pressure pumping, product blending, wireline, honing, mud mixing, etc. The use of Health Hazard Profiles has proven to be a cost-effective way to render professional health and hygiene guidance to equip the HSE practitioner with practical guidance to control and manage the occupational health aspect of the workplace. The Health Hazard Profiles have been demonstrated to be an effective means to level the attention of HSE to health, instead of having it remain focused on safety or the environment.
Safety Management Programs and Standardized Application Equipment Minimize Risks of Nonconventional Chemical Usage
Authors: Horaska D. D. , San Juan C. M. , Bonnivier B. M. , Dickinson A. L. , Conaway J. L.
Published: March 2011

Acrolein (2-propenal) is a highly effective microbiocide and sulfide scavenger that has been commercially available since 1960 and has been widely used in the oil and gas production industry. Acrolein is a liquid product supplied in and applied from specialized containers, eliminating potential releases from transfers between tanks. The acrolein containers are built to comply with international transportation regulations. This paper will cover the development of a safety management program and standardization of application equipment that allow the usage of acrolein for applications with a risk comparable to, or in some cases lower than, conventional chemical products.

Standardized operating procedures, closed-system application equipment (verified by industrial hygiene monitoring), and redundant safety devices are built into the system to prevent chemical exposures or misapplications. Applications are performed by trained and certified personnel who have completed a specific competency evaluation under field conditions. A detailed and customized safety management program is completed and implemented for each application with extensive client participation.

This paper will cover the core of the safety management program, which focuses on developing site-specific elements including process safety information, process hazard analysis, operating procedures, employee and contractor training, applicator competency and field evaluation, pre-startup safety reviews, management of change, and emergency planning and response procedures. A safety audit program is also implemented to ensure the completed safety management program complies with each element. Audits are conducted at the actual location during the course of the chemical application.

A strong safety management program and standardized application system have proven to reduce personnel and environmental risks by lowering the potential for misapplications or equipment failures. These systems have allowed successful treatment programs on numerous global production assets. To validate this, a series of case histories will be presented that highlight the best practices that enable the safe application of acrolein.
Stream-based HAZOP: A More Effective HAZOP Method
Authors: Duhon H. J.
Published: March 2011

The Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP) is probably the most commonly applied process hazard analysis method. As such, HAZOPs are a very important tool for improvement of process safety. But HAZOPs are not as effective as they should be. Duhon and Sutton (SPE 120735, 2010) identified many reasons why we don’t learn all we should from HAZOPs. These insights suggest a path towards a more effective HAZOP process.

The process described here differs from the standard HAZOP process in several important ways. The most important difference is the definition of stream-based nodes rather than equipment-based nodes. In a stream-based node, a stream is followed from its inception to its logical conclusion. This is especially useful when considering flow deviations, because a flow disruption in any part of the stream affects all parts or at least all downstream parts of the stream. These stream-based nodes are much larger than typical equipment-based nodes and hence overcome the tendency of HAZOPs to create tunnel vision.

HAZOPs are supposed to evaluate operability, but that can’t be done effectively without reviewing the operating procedures or at least discussing how the system will be operated. There is no point in a typical HAZOP, because small nodes are selected, in which the procedures can be effectively introduced. Stream-based nodes provide a natural bridge to the procedures. High level operating procedures can be introduced during the stream-based node discussion providing an opportunity to do a Process HAZOP and a Procedure HAZOP simultaneously. A Procedure HAZOP often provides more insight than the Process HAZOP.

Another important difference is the use and ordering of guidewords. HAZOPs typically consider ‘flow’, ‘pressure’, ‘temperature’ and ‘level’ guidewords. But most pressure, temperature and level deviations are caused by flow deviations. Considering all four guidewords results in duplicated effort and tedium. The process described here avoids the duplication.
Integrating Upstream, Midstream and Downstream Environmental, Health and Safety Procedures to Maximize the Implementation of an EHS Management System in a Joint Venture
Authors: Guevara M.
Published: March 2011

The oil and gas industry have been successfully incorporating environmental, health and safety (EHS) as management systems (MS) for more than two decades. This integrated approach has been widely recognized to improve success, reduce cost, and facilitate administration of the three areas, among other benefits. Nevertheless, there are still challenges and barriers to implement truly integrated procedures associated to the EHS MS in different operations within the oil and gas industry.

This paper describes the process to revise, consolidate, integrate and implement the complete set of environmental, health and safety procedures in a Joint Venture (JV) in South America. The JV included exploration, drilling, production, pipeline, upgrading and port facilities. Due to several factors more than one EHS MSs and hundreds of redundant and overlapping procedures were developed during the first years of construction, commissioning and early operation. This paper describes the methods and activities conducted to develop companywide integrated EHS MS and associated procedures. The new EHS MS procedures covered upstream, midstream and downstream operations.

The process described in the paper can be used to assist the design and implementation of integrated EHS management system in small/middle size oil and gas companies, joint ventures, merged smaller independent companies or units, as well as integrated operations of major oil and gas companies that include upstream, midstream and/or downstream activities.

The main benefits of this process can be summarized in the following items:

Integrated EHS Management System procedures to support its implementation in upstream, middlestream and downstream operations. Increased the level of ownership and compliance with EHS procedures, as representatives from the line/operations were involved and had a fundamental role in the development of the new procedures. Originally identified barriers related to the differences between upstream and downstream operations were overcome by recognizing that similarities were greater than differences. The integration procedures was considered to generate cost saving for the JV.
Managing Environmental & Safety Performance as a Corporate Value - Key Lessons to be Learned from a CCPS Benchmarking Initiative
Authors: Bhatnagar Vivek , Smith Andrew , Berger Scott
Published: March 2011

In 2008, the Center for Chemical Process Safety published recommended lagging and leading indicators of Process Safety performance. These indicators enable companies to track progress of their process safety efforts and monitor trends in performance. While these metrics can help companies compare their performance in regard to incident frequency and severity, comparison at the leading indicator level is more difficult without first establishing a deeper comparison of company activities which lead to the resulting indicators. At the time, there was no way for companies to formally compare how their respective activities drive performance.

Formal benchmarking provides an opportunity for a company/site/unit to compare how it is performing and to compare its tools/techniques to those of other companies. By recognizing how other companies’ practices may lead to improved performance, the benchmarking participant can identify leveraged improvement opportunities.

Six critical aspects of the twenty CCPS Risk-Based Process Safety elements are described. The elements are Process Safety Culture, Compliance with Standards, Hazard Identification and Risk Analysis, Asset Integrity and Reliability, Management of Change, and Measures and Metrics. Future programs will cover the other elements. The paper describes how the program was developed. Later, it discusses some key lessons learned and their significance as they pertain to the upstream E&P industry.

The E&P industry continues to encounter new frontiers and environmental pressures that are changing and challenging how we do business. Increasingly, environmental and safety performance is becoming a source of corporate value, especially as the oil and gas industry plays a key role in addressing some of most important HSE issues of our time. The E&P industry therefore needs better tools to capture and share its HSSE performance. The CCPS process safety benchmarking initiative will provide many key lessons for the future.
Cumulative Impacts of Shale-Gas Water Management: Considerations and Challenges
Authors: Arthur J. D. , Coughlin B. J.
Published: March 2011

Exploration, drilling and production of shale gas plays such as the Barnett, Marcellus, Fayetteville, and Haynesville have transformed the unconventional gas industry. These and other existing and developing plays have had significant positive economic impacts to many regions, created tens of thousands of jobs, and have generated royalty and tax payments to a variety of state and local governments as well as many individuals. At the core of shale gas development are two key technologies: horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Techniques used to hydraulically fracture horizontal wells completed in shale reservoirs often require three to seven million gallons of water per well. The rapid development of shale gas across the country has resulted in a substantial discussion of water issues such as the impacts of water withdrawal, and disposal of produced water. Because of the rapid increase in shale gas development, the concerns about these issues have focused more and more on cumulative impacts of these activities. This paper will explore the considerations and challenges involved when examining the potential cumulative impacts from different water sourcing options, including low-quality water sources, and from different ways of managing produced water, such as underground injection, treatment through commercial and public treatment facilities, disposal and reuse. Basin-specific situations and factors will be discussed.
Experimental and Analytical Study of Microscopic Displacement Mechanisms of MIOR in Porous Media
Authors: Afrapoli M. Shabani , Nikooee E. , Alipour S. , Torsaeter O.
Published: March 2011

Pore network models are powerful tools for modeling processes and phenomena occurring in porous media. These models take the advantage of capturing a realistic representation of phenomena leading to a better understanding of pore scale processes. For processes like Microbial Improved Oil Recovery (MIOR) that incorporate numerous interconnected physical and biochemical factors, a prior knowledge of the underlying mechanisms is required. A pore network model, though small, can be implemented as a platform to understand the interactions between these acting mechanisms. In the present study, a pore network is constructed based on images of small regions of a glass micromodel. The model attempts to account for microbial growth and bio-surfactant production and their effect on flow characterization within the network. The authors have previously carried out a number of visualization experiments in a transparent pore network model to study the pore scale behavior of an alkane oxidizing bacterium, Rhodococcous sp 094, suspended in brine. Dodecane and an oxidizing bacterium were examined for evaluating the performance of microbial flooding in glass micromodels.

Observations showed the effects of bacteria on remaining oil saturation, allowing us to propose the active mechanisms and also to address the problem of network morphology alteration due to microbial growth. The present work studies displacement mechanisms of an oil phase displaced by a water phase containing bacteria from the pore network modeling viewpoint. It is focused on the characterization of post MIOR morphology change for two phase flow. Consequently a methodology for incorporating major aspects of MIOR, including interfacial tension reduction, wettability alteration and profile modification into a pore network framework is introduced and developed with experimentally obtained mechanisms.
Characterization of surface oxygen groups on different carbon materials by the Boehm method and temperature programmed desorption
Authors: Kalijadis Ana , Vukcevic Marija , Jovanovic Zoran , Lausevic Zoran , Lausevic Mila
Published: March 2011

The surface characteristics of different carbon materials: activated carbon,
carbon felt, glassy carbon and a porous carbon monolith were investigated.
The specific surface area was examined by the BET method with N2 adsorption,
the amount and the type of surface oxygen groups by Boehm titration as well
as by temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). By comparing the results
obtained using BET analysis with those of TPD and the Boehm method, it was
found that the number of surface groups was not proportional to the specific
surface area. The total amount of oxygen groups, obtained by TPD, is higher
than the amount obtained by Boehm?s method for porous samples. The
inconsistencies between these results originate from the fact that the Boehm
method is limited to the determination of acidic and basic groups, whereas
TPD provides information on the total number of all surface oxygen groups. In
addition, the presence of porosity could reduce the solvent-accessible
surface in the Boehm method. The TPD profiles of CO evolution showed the
presence of a low temperature maximum, below 650 K, which originates from CO2
reduction on the carbon material surface.
Evaluation of a prevention programme efficiency for patients with fixed orthodontic appliances
Authors: Matic Sava , Ivanovic Mirjana , Nikolic Predrag
Published: March 2011

Background/Aim. Orthodontic treatment enables the establishment of functional
occlusion and improvement of oral health, however, it increases the risk of
periodontal disease development. The aim of this paper was to examine the
efficiency of the applied programme for the prevention of gingivitis in
children undergoing the fixed orthodontic appliance therapy and to determine
the most efficient devices and techniques for maintaining oral hygiene during
orthodontic treatment. Methods. The study included 80 patients of both
genders - 60 patients comprised the experimental group and 20 patients
comprised the control group. All of them were patients of the Clinic for
Orthodontics at the School of Dentistry in Belgrade, aged between 13 and 18.
The Silness-L?e Plaque Index (PI) was utilised for the assessment of oral
hygiene quality and Silness-L?e Gingival Index (GI) and M?hlemann Papilla
Bleeding Index (PBI) were utilised for the assessment of gingival state.
Checkups were conducted as a single-blind study at the beginning and after
the first, the third and the sixth month of the preventive and prophylactic
programme. Results. During the observed period, a statistically significant
change in PI, GI and PBI values was noticed (p < 0.005), as well as the
difference in the dynamics of value changes during the periods between the
observed groups. Conclusion. The preventive programme, applied to children
undergoing the fixed orthodontic appliance therapy, had a positive effect
both on oral hygiene quality and gingival state. The values of the examined
parameters of the patients from the experimental group were significantly
lower in comparison with those of the patients from the control group. The
most efficient combination of devices for oral hygiene during orthodontic
treatment was: a Curaprox CP5460 toothbrush, CD Ortho 60 orthodontic
toothbrush and Curaprox CPS 14 interdental brush.
Evaluation of body mass index and lipid fractions levels in patients with retinal artery occlusion
Authors: Risimic Dijana , Nikolic Dejan , Jaksic Vesna , Simeunovic Dejan , Milenkovic Svetislav , Stefanovic Ivan , Jakovic Natasa , Milic Nada , Cekic Sonja , Babovic Sinisa
Published: March 2011

Background/Aim. There are studies stressing out that atherosclerosis is most
common associated systemic condition in patients with retinal artery
occlusion. The aim of this study was to analyze values of body mass index and
lipid fractions in healthy individuals and patients with retinal artery
occlusion. Methods. This study included 90 participants during a 6-year
period. The population was divided into 2 groups: the group with the
diagnosed retinal artery occlusion and the group without retinal artery
occlusion. The observed parameters were as follows: body mass index, low and
high density lipoproteins and triglycerides. Results. The study revealed no
significant difference regarding body mass index and triglycerides values
between the two evaluated groups, while low and high density lipoproteins
values were significantly higher in the group of patients with retinal artery
occlusion. Conclusions. The study demonstrated that body mass index and
triglycerides have less important role in atherogenic pathogenesis of retinal
artery occlusion, while low density lipoprotein is the fraction that is shown
to be most potent in such etiological processes.
Health claims made on food
Authors: Jovicic Jelena , Novakovic Budimka , Torovic Ljilja
Published: March 2011

nema
Congenital intestinal lymphangiectasia
Authors: Popovic Dusan , Spuran Milan , Alempijevic Tamara , Krstic Miodrag , Djuranovic Srdjan , Kovacevic Nada , Damjanovic Svetozar , Micev Marjan
Published: March 2011

Background. Congenital intestinal lymphangiectasia is a disease which leads
to protein losing enteropathy. Tortous, dilated lymphatic vessels in the
intestinal wall and mesenterium are typical features of the disease.
Clinical manifestations include malabsorption, diarrhea, steatorrhea, edema
and effusions. Specific diet and medication are required for disease
control. Case report. A 19-year old male patient was hospitalized due to
diarrhea, abdominal swelling, weariness and fatigue. Physical examination
revealed growth impairment, ascites, and lymphedema of the right hand and
forearm. Laboratory assessment indicated iron deficiency anaemia,
lymphopenia, malabsorption, inflammatory syndrome, and urinary infection.
Enteroscopy and video capsule endoscopy demonstrated dilated lymphatic
vessels in the small intestine. The diagnosis was confirmed by intestinal
biopsy. The patient was put on high-protein diet containing medium-chain
fatty acids, somatotropin and suportive therapy. Conclusion. Congenital
intestinal lymphangiectasia is a rare disease, usually diagnosed in
childhood. Early recognition of the disease and adequate treatment can
prevent development of various complications.
Visceral Adipocyte Hypertrophy is Associated With Dyslipidemia Independent of Body Composition and Fat Distribution in Women
Authors: Veilleux Alain , Caron-Jobin Maude , Noël Suzanne , Laberge Philippe Y. , Tchernof André
Published: March 2011

OBJECTIVE

We assessed whether subcutaneous and omental adipocyte hypertrophy are related to metabolic alterations independent of body composition and fat distribution in women.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Mean adipocyte diameter of paired subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue samples was obtained in lean to obese women. Linear regression models predicting adipocyte size in both adipose tissue depots were computed using body composition and fat distribution measures (n = 150). In a given depot, women with larger adipocytes than predicted by the regression were considered as having adipocyte hypertrophy, whereas women with smaller adipocytes than predicted were considered as having adipocyte hyperplasia.

RESULTS

Women characterized by omental adipocyte hypertrophy had higher plasma and VLDL triglyceride levels as well as a higher total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio compared with women characterized by omental adipocyte hyperplasia (P < 0.05). Conversely, women characterized by subcutaneous adipocyte hypertrophy or hyperplasia showed a similar lipid profile. In logistic regression analyses, a 10% enlargement of omental adipocytes increased the risk of hypertriglyceridemia (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 4.06, P < 0.001) independent of body composition and fat distribution measures. A 10% increase in visceral adipocyte number also raised the risk of hypertriglyceridemia (adjusted OR 1.55, P < 0.02). Associations between adipocyte size and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance were not significant once adjusted for adiposity and body fat distribution.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that omental, but not subcutaneous, adipocyte hypertrophy is associated with an altered lipid profile independent of body composition and fat distribution in women.
Effects of 34 Risk Loci for Type 2 Diabetes or Hyperglycemia on Lipoprotein Subclasses and Their Composition in 6,580 Nondiabetic Finnish Men
Authors: Stančáková Alena , Paananen Jussi , Soininen Pasi , Kangas Antti J. , Bonnycastle Lori L. , Morken Mario A. , Collins Francis S. , Jackson Anne U. , Boehnke Michael L. , Kuusisto Johanna , Ala-Korpela Mika , Laakso Markku
Published: March 2011

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the effects of 34 genetic risk variants for hyperglycemia/type 2 diabetes on lipoprotein subclasses and particle composition in a large population-based cohort.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The study included 6,580 nondiabetic Finnish men from the population-based Metabolic Syndrome in Men (METSIM) study (aged 57 ± 7 years; BMI 26.8 ± 3.7 kg/m2). Genotyping of 34 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) for hyperglycemia/type 2 diabetes was performed. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to measure particle concentrations of 14 lipoprotein subclasses and their composition in native serum samples.

RESULTS

The glucose-increasing allele of rs780094 in GCKR was significantly associated with low concentrations of VLDL particles (independently of their size) and small LDL and was nominally associated with low concentrations of intermediate-density lipoprotein, all LDL subclasses, and high concentrations of very large and large HDL particles. The glucose-increasing allele of rs174550 in FADS1 was significantly associated with high concentrations of very large and large HDL particles and nominally associated with low concentrations of all VLDL particles. SNPs rs10923931 in NOTCH2 and rs757210 in HNF1B genes showed nominal or significant associations with several lipoprotein traits. The genetic risk score of 34 SNPs was not associated with any of the lipoprotein subclasses.

CONCLUSIONS

Four of the 34 risk loci for type 2 diabetes or hyperglycemia (GCKR, FADS1, NOTCH2, and HNF1B) were significantly associated with lipoprotein traits. A GCKR variant predominantly affected the concentration of VLDL, and the FADS1 variant affected very large and large HDL particles. Only a limited number of risk loci for hyperglycemia/type 2 diabetes significantly affect lipoprotein metabolism.
Evidence Linking Hypoglycemic Events to an Increased Risk of Acute Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Johnston Stephen S. , Conner Christopher , Aagren Mark , Smith David M. , Bouchard Jonathan , Brett Jason
Published: March 2011

OBJECTIVE

This retrospective study examined the association between ICD-9-CM–coded outpatient hypoglycemic events (HEs) and acute cardiovascular events (ACVEs), i.e., acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting, revascularization, percutaneous coronary intervention, and incident unstable angina, in patients with type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Data were derived from healthcare claims for individuals with employer-sponsored primary or Medicare supplemental insurance. A baseline period (30 September 2006 to 30 September 2007) was used to identify eligible patients and collect information on their clinical and demographic characteristics. An evaluation period (1 October 2007 to 30 September 2008) was used to identify HEs and ACVEs. Patients aged ≥18 years with type 2 diabetes were selected for analysis by a modified Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set algorithm. Data were analyzed with multiple logistic regression and backward stepwise selection (maximum P = 0.01) with adjustment for important confounding variables, including age, sex, geography, insurance type, comorbidity scores, cardiovascular risk factors, diabetes complications, total baseline medical expenditures, and prior ACVEs.

RESULTS

Of the 860,845 patients in the analysis set, 27,065 (3.1%) had ICD-9-CM–coded HEs during the evaluation period. The main model retained 17 significant independent variables. Patients with HEs had 79% higher regression-adjusted odds (HE odds ratio [OR] 1.79; 95% CI 1.69–1.89) of ACVEs than patients without HEs; results in patients aged ≥65 years were similar to those for the entire population (HE OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.65–1.92).

CONCLUSIONS

ICD-9-CM–coded HEs were independently associated with an increased risk of ACVEs. Further studies of the relationship between hypoglycemia and the risk of ACVEs are warranted.
Diabetes as a Cause of Clinically Significant Functional Cobalamin Deficiency
Authors: Solomon Lawrence R.
Published: March 2011

OBJECTIVE

Functional cobalamin (Cbl) deficiency (i.e., high methylmalonic acid [MMA] values despite normal serum Cbl levels) is common in the elderly and associated with neuropathy and anemia. Because diabetes is also common in the elderly and diabetic neuropathy resembles that of Cbl deficiency, the role of diabetes in functional Cbl deficiency was explored.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A retrospective review was performed of all ambulatory community-dwelling adults with normal renal function evaluated for Cbl deficiency over a 12-year period in a primary care setting. Functional Cbl deficiency was defined as MMA values >250 nmol/L with Cbl levels >400 pg/mL.

RESULTS

In nondiabetic subjects, MMA values varied directly with age and inversely with serum Cbl. In diabetic subjects, MMA values also increased with age but did not fall as Cbl levels increased. Thus, when Cbl levels were >400 pg/mL, mean MMA values and the incidence of functional Cbl deficiency were both significantly greater in elderly diabetic subjects (at least 70 years old) than in elderly nondiabetic subjects. Moreover, neuropathy was present in 62% of diabetic subjects with high MMA values and in only 18% of diabetic subjects with normal MMA values. Finally, pharmacologic doses of Cbl improved MMA values and neuropathy in 88 and 86% of evaluable diabetic subjects, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

These observations suggest that functional Cbl deficiency is common in elderly diabetic individuals, is associated with neuropathy, and is responsive to Cbl therapy. A role for oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of functional Cbl deficiency is proposed.
Orbital Pleomorphic Liposarcoma in an Eight-Year-Old Boy
Authors: Rudzinski Erin , Mawn Louise , Kuttesch John , Wushensky Curtis , Wills Marcia
Published: March 2011

Adult-type sarcomas are, as the name indicates, rare tumors in the pediatric population. Although soft tissue sarcomas as a group are not uncommon diagnoses, nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcomas are much rarer and encompass a wide range of diagnoses. A few of these tumors are commonly found in the adult population and are thus referred to as adult-type sarcomas. We present a case of a pleomorphic liposarcoma, an adult-type sarcoma, arising as a primary tumor in the orbit of an 8-year-old boy. The histologic analysis revealed bizarre tumor giant cells and definitive lipoblastic differentiation. The atypical cells were positive for S100, and negative for CD34, desmin, MyoD1, and myogenin. This is a high-grade sarcoma, very rarely encountered in the pediatric population. We present the histologic findings of this unusual pediatric sarcoma and review the literature.
Conformational changes of peptidoglycan fragments during their interactions with vancomycin
Authors: Ślusarz Rafał , Ślusarz Magdalena , Samaszko Justyna , Madaj Janusz
Published: March 2011

Six complexes of vancomycin and peptidoglycan precursors were studied via molecular dynamics simulations. The interactions between the antibiotic and peptidoglycan fragments were identified and described in detail. All six studied modifications of the peptidoglycan precursor resulted in a weakening of the interaction with vancomycin when comparing to the native D-Ala-D-Ala-terminated fragment. It was confirmed that the N-terminus of the vancomycin is directly responsible for peptidoglycan recognition and antimicrobial activity. In simulated systems, the saccharide part of the antibiotic interacts with peptide precursors, thus it could also be important for antimicrobial activity. The complex terminated with D-Lac is the only one in which there is a weak interaction with the sugar moiety in the simulated systems. Analysis of conformational changes is a major scope of this work. The lack of interactions resulting from modification of the peptidoglycan precursors (D-Lac, D-Ser or other substitution) would be counterbalanced by proper modifications of the vancomycin moiety, especially the saccharide part of vancomycin.
SERS approach for Zn(II) detection in contaminated soil
Authors: Szabó László , Leopold Loredana , Cozar Bogdan , Leopold Nicolae , Herman Krisztian , Chiş Vasile
Published: March 2011

Soil contamination by metals is a common problem encountered in many industrialized countries. In this work we present a new approach for heavy metals detection by using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. Zn(II) can be clearly determined by SERS in contaminated soil by using 4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol (PAR) as chelating molecule for the metal ion. The SERS spectra of PAR, of its metal chelates and of the soil extract-PAR mixture were recorded using a hydroxylamine reduced silver colloid. An excellent match of the PAR-contaminated soil extracts SERS spectrum to the Zn(PAR)2 SERS spectrum can be observed, demonstrating the presence of Zn(II) in the soil probes. Density functional theory (DFT) based calculations were also performed for a reliable assignment of SERS spectra.
Erratum to: “Synthesis and characterization of molecularly imprinted polymer for controlled release of tramadol”
Authors: Azodi-Deilami Saman , Abdouss Majid , Rezvaneh Seyedi S.
Published: March 2011

The original version of the article was published in Cent. Eur. J. Chem., Vol. 8(3), (2010), pp. 687–695. Unfortunately, the original version of this article contains mistakes in the Authors names section. There should be: Saman Azodi-Deilami1, Majid Abdouss1 and S. Rezvaneh Seyedi2.
Electrochemical behavior of some purine derivatives on carbon based electrodes
Authors: Câmpean Anuţa , Tertiş Mihaela , Săndulescu Robert
Published: March 2011

The electrochemical behaviour of three purine derivatives was investigated by cyclic voltammetry on different electrode materials: glassy carbon in native form and electrochemically activated, carbon paste electrode unmodified or modified with 1, 4-benzoquinone. The preliminary study obtained on solid electrodes was extended to graphite based planar screen-printed electrodes, unmodified and modified with multi-wall carbon nanotubes, or cobalt phthalocyanine.

The influence of some experimental parameters (pH, scan rate, concentration and electrolytic medium) on the electrochemical behaviour of these alkaloids was also examined.

The electrochemical oxidation of purine derivatives is an irreversible and diffusion controlled process, proved by the linear dependence between the peak potentials and the logarithm of scan rates and between the anodic peak current and the square root of scan rate.
Influence of heat treatment on the phase transition of ZrMo2O8 and photocatalytic activity
Authors: Mancheva Maria , Iordanova Reni , Dimitriev Yanko , Tyuliev Georgi , Iliev Tzvetoslav
Published: March 2011

ZrMo2O7(OH)2·2H2O was obtained from ZrOCl2·2H2O and Na2MoO4·2H2O by a coprecipitation method. The phase and structural changes occurred during the heat-treatment of ZrMo2O7(OH)2·2H2O were investigated by XRD, IR and XPS analysis. The sequence of phase transformation can be divided into three stages: (1) transformation of ZrMo2O7(OH)2·2H2O to orthorhombic LT-ZrMo2O8 up to 300°C; (2) obtaining of mixture of both polymorphs of ZrMo2O8: cubic and trigonal at 400°C; (3) conversion to single trigonal (α) ZrMo2O8 above 450°C. The microstructure of the obtained trigonal (α) ZrMo2O8 was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The particle sizes were below 0.5 µm. The specific surface area was measured by modified BET method. The photocatalytic activity of the obtained trigonal (α) ZrMo2O8 powders was investigated by degradation of a model aqueous solution of Malachite Green (MG) upon UV-light irradiation.
The comparison of sample extraction procedures for the determination of cations in soil by IC and ICP-AES
Authors: Stanišić Svetlana , Ignjatović Ljubiša , Manojlović Dragan , Dojčinović Biljana
Published: March 2011

This paper presents the extraction of cations from a soil sample, type ranker on serpentinite, in deionized water, by use of three different extraction techniques. The first extraction technique included the use of a rotary mixer, the second technique involved the use of a microwave digestion system with different extraction temperatures, and the third technique employed an ultrasonic bath with different extraction times. Ion chromatography was used for determining the concentration of Li, Na, K, Ca, Mg and ammonium ions in soil extracts with subsequent determination of concentrations for all cations, except for ammonium ion extraction, conducted by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry. The results of cation extractions showed that microwave assisted extraction was most efficient for the Li, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Co, Mn, Ni, Pb and ammonium ions. Use of a rotary mixer for extraction was most efficient for Cd and Zn ions, while use of ultrasound bath was most efficient for Cr, Cu, Fe and Al ions. Several times higher amount of cations extracted by the most efficient, compared to the second best technique, under optimal conditions, were noticed in the case of: Ca, Mg, Co, Mn, Fe, Al, and Zn ions.
The North Dvina river delta development over the Holocene: Geochronology and palaeoenvironment
Authors: Zaretskaya Nataliya , Shevchenko Nataliya , Simakova Alexandra , Sulerzhitsky Leopold
Published: March 2011

In this paper, a detailed overview of the Holocene evolution of the North Dvina river (ND) delta (southern White Sea) is presented; it is based on radiocarbon dating, geomorphological and other field surveys, and plant macrofossil and palynological data. We have identified three main stages of the delta evolution: estuary erosional (Allerød — 5700 cal BC), lagoon or tidal-marsh (5700 cal BC — 3700 cal BC) and fan-delta accumulative (3700 cal BC — present). These stages are correlated with local climatic curves, sea level changes, glacioisostatic raise curve and Baltic Sea stages. A variety of landforms has been identified and dated within the delta. These results help to explain the spatial and temporal patterns in the prehistoric human occupation of this area.