bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selecting treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma based on the results of hepatic resection and local ablation therapy
Authors: Nanashima Atsushi , Tobinaga Syuuichi , Masuda Junichi , Miyaaki Hisamitsu , Taura Naota , Takeshita Hiroaki , Hidaka Shigekazu , Sawai Terumitsu , Nakao Kazuhiko , Nagayasu Takeshi
Published: February 2010

Background

First‐line treatment for ≤3 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) ≤3 cm in size remains controversial. The superiority of survival benefit needs to be clarified between these modalities for such lesions.

Methods

We examined post‐treatment survival of 144 consecutive HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy and of 56 consecutive HCC patients who underwent thermal ablation therapy limited to the HCC (≤3 cm, ≤3 lesions).

Results

Pretreatment liver function was significantly worse and prevalence of Child‐Pugh classification B/C was significantly higher in the ablation group compared to the hepatectomy group. Prevalence of tumor recurrence after treatment did not differ significantly between groups, irrespective of solitary or multiple HCC. In solitary HCC, overall survival rates in both groups did not differ significantly. Even in Child‐Pugh B patients, survival was not significantly different between hepatectomy and ablation. In HCC with 2–3 lesions ≤3 cm, overall survival was significantly longer with hepatectomy than with ablation and mean survival periods in the hepatectomy and ablation groups were 4.5 and 1.2 years, respectively.

Conclusion

In cases of multiple small HCCs, hepatic resection is recommended over local ablation therapy as the first‐line treatment in cases where liver function has been preserved. J. Surg. Oncol. 2010; 101:481–485. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
DNA Polyplexes Formed Using PEGylated Biodegradable Hyperbranched Polymers
Authors: Tao Lei , Chou William C. , Tan Beng H. , Davis Thomas P.
Published: February 2010

A novel PEGylated biodegradable hyperbranched PEG‐b‐PDMAEMA has been synthesized. The low toxicity, small molecular weight PDMAEMA chains were crosslinked using a biodegradable disulfide‐based dimethacrylate (DSDMA) agent to yield higher molecular weight hyperbranched polymers. PEG chains were linked onto the polymer surface, masking the positive charge (as shown by Zeta potential measurements) and reducing the toxicity of the polymer. The hyperbranched structures were also cleaved under reducing conditions and analyzed, confirming the expected component structures. The hyperbranched polymer was mixed with DNA and efficient binding was shown to occur through electrostatic interactions. The hyperbranched structures could be reduced easily, generating lower toxicity oligomer chains.

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Orientation Control of Photo‐Immobilized Antibodies on the Surface of Azobenzene‐Containing Polymers by the Introduction of Functional Groups
Authors: Mouri Makoto , Ikawa Taiji , Narita Mamiko , Hoshino Fumihiko , Watanabe Osamu
Published: February 2010

In our photo‐induced immobilization technique for an antibody (IgG) using azopolymers, the introduction of COOH and NMe2 into the azopolymers, which can introduce surface charges, strongly affected the immobilization properties such as the efficiency of immobilization and the activity of the immobilized IgG (i.e., the orientation of the immobilized IgG). The introduction of COOH promoted a more active orientation of the immobilized IgG. The orientation was determined during the adsorption process onto the azopolymer surface in solution before photo‐immobilization, and was maintained during the photo‐immobilization. The surface charge of the azopolymer appears to be an important factor for IgG orientation, which involves electrostatic interactions between its Fab and the azopolymer surface.

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Asymptotic behavior of eigenvalues of Schrödinger type operators with degenerate kinetic energy
Authors: Hainzl Christian , Seiringer Robert
Published: February 2010

We study the eigenvalues of Schrödinger type operators T + λV and their asymptotic behavior in the small coupling limit λ → 0, in the case where the symbol of the kinetic energy, T (p), strongly degenerates on a non‐trivial manifold of codimension one (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Radial solutions for Neumann problems involving mean curvature operators in Euclidean and Minkowski spaces
Authors: Bereanu Cristian , Jebelean Petru , Mawhin Jean
Published: February 2010

In this paper we study the existence of radial solutions for Neumann problems in a ball and in an annular domain, associated to mean curvature operators in Euclidean and Minkowski spaces. Our approach relies on the Leray‐Schauder degree together with some fixed point reformulations of our nonlinear Neumann boundary value problems (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Boundary interpolation and rigidity for generalized Nevanlinna functions
Authors: Alpay Daniel , Dijksma Aad , Langer Heinz , Reich Simeon , Shoikhet David
Published: February 2010

We solve a boundary interpolation problem at a real point for generalized Nevanlinna functions, and use the result to prove uniqueness theorems for generalized Nevanlinna functions (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A Predictive Coarse‐Grained Model for Semiflexible Polymers in Specific Solvents
Authors: Shie Sheng C. , Lee Cheng K. , Hua Chi C. , Chen Show A.
Published: February 2010

A predictive CG model based on a conventional freely rotating chain was developed to describe semiflexible polymers on a relatively large length/time scale. Parameterization of the model requires only two material properties such as, the Kuhn length and coil density. The diameter of spherical “beads” employed in the model is used as an effective parameter that needs to be determined from preliminary data. Once determined for a particular solvent system, this parameter can then be used to model general solvent systems on a parameter‐free basis. Comparison with SANS data on dilute conjugated polymer solutions reveals that the CG polymer model can well describe material properties ranging from local rodlike segments to bulk interchain aggregates.

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The neural cell adhesion molecule is involved in the metastatic capacity in a murine model of lung cancer
Authors: Campodónico Paola B. , de Kier Joffé Elisa D. Bal , Urtreger Alejandro J. , Lauria Lilia S. , Lastiri José M. , Puricelli Lydia I. , Todaro Laura B.
Published: February 2010

Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is involved in cell growth, migration, and differentiation. Its expression and/or polysialylation appear to be deregulated in many different cancer types. We employed the lung tumor cell line LP07, syngeneic in BALB/c mice to investigate the role of NCAM in malignant progression. LP07 cells express the three main NCAM isoforms, all of them polysialylated. This cells line, pretreated with an anti‐NCAM antibody and inoculated intravenously (i.v.) into syngeneic mice, developed less and smaller lung metastases. In vitro studies showed that NCAM bound antibody inhibited cell growth, mainly due to an increase in apoptosis, associated with a decrease of cyclin D1 and enhanced expression of active caspase 3 and caspase 9. Anti‐NCAM‐treated LP07 cells showed impairment in their ability to migrate and adhere to several extracellular matrix components. Secreted uPA activity was also reduced. NCAM‐140 knocked‐down by siRNA in LP07 cells pretreated or not with anti‐NCAM showed an impaired metastasizing ability upon i.v. inoculation into mice. These results suggest that anti‐NCAM treatment could be mimicking homophilic trans‐interactions and NCAM‐140 knocked‐down impairs heterophilic interactions, both leading to inhibition of metastatic dissemination. The involvement of NCAM in lung tumor progression was confirmed in human NSCLC tumors. Sixty percent of the cases expressed NCAM at tumor cell level. A multivariate analysis indicated that NCAM expression was associated with a shorter overall survival in this homogeneous series of Stages I and II NSCLC patients. NCAM may be able to modulate mechanisms involved in lung carcinoma progression and represents an attractive target to control metastatic progression. Mol. Carcinog. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Goal Programming: realistic targets for the near future
Authors: Caballero Rafael , Gómez Trinidad , Ruiz Francisco
Published: February 2010

Goal Programming (GP) can be regarded as one of the most widely used multicriteria decision‐making techniques. In this paper, two surveys are carried out. First, the evolution of GP since its birth to the present time, in terms of number of publications, references, journals, etc., has been studied. Second, a more in‐depth survey has been carried out, which covers the publications from year 2000 to the present time. All the references are listed, and some conclusions and future research lines have been extracted about the late trends of GP. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Protein degradation, aggregation, and misfolding
Authors: Cuervo Ana Maria , Wong Esther S.P. , Martinez‐Vicente Marta
Published: February 2010

The cellular surveillance systems guarantee proper removal of altered components from inside cells. Alterations of these systems in neurons have been proposed to be involved in the pathogenesis of different neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we comment on the advances in our current understanding of how changes in the intracellular proteolytic systems, the main components of the cellular quality control system, contribute to neurodegeneration, with special emphasis on Parkinson's disease. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society
Clinical implications of gene discovery in Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism
Authors: Wider Christian , Foroud Tatiana , Wszolek Zbigniew K.
Published: February 2010

Over the past decade, major progress has been achieved in the identification of genes associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) and parkinsonism. Five genes have now been shown conclusively to play a role in PD susceptibility. Mutations in three of these genes, PRKN, PINK1, and DJ1, are important in early onset, recessively inherited PD, while mutations in LRRK2 and SNCA result in autosomal‐dominant PD. LRRK2 has emerged as the most prevalent genetic cause of PD and has been implicated in both familial and sporadic forms of disease. In addition, autosomal‐dominant dementia and Parkinsonism has been shown to be caused by mutations in the MAPT and PGRN genes. Molecular tests are now commercially available for several of these genes; however, in some of them, positive results need to be interpreted with caution until penetrance is better understood. In addition, clinical treatment of PD remains largely unaltered by the results of genetic testing. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society
Evaluation of the Braak staging scheme for Parkinson's disease: Introduction to a panel presentation
Authors: Burke Robert E.
Published: February 2010

Braak and colleagues have proposed a staging scheme for Parkinson's disease (PD) based on patterns of abnormal immunostaining for α‐synuclein. They have proposed a temporal sequence in which the appearance of Lewy bodies and neurites in brainstem structures represent the earliest manifestations of the disease, and that this involvement of non‐dopaminergic structures long antedates involvement of the substantia nigra and the appearance of the cardinal motor signs that are now required for diagnosis. This proposed scheme has had a wide and profound impact on many aspects of current thinking about PD, and it has already received wide acceptance. Given the importance and growing acceptance of the Braak staging scheme, the Scientific Program Committee for this Educational Symposium to honor the 50th Anniversary of the Parkinson's Disease Foundation agreed that it would be highly worthwhile to devote an entire session of the Scientific Program to consideration of the Braak staging scheme. There was a consensus among members of the Committee that, given the importance of the Braak scheme, it would be of value to create a venue that would stimulate and encourage a thorough and incisive critical analysis. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society
Sleep disturbances in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Menza Matthew , Dobkin Roseanne DeFronzo , Marin Humberto , Bienfait Karina
Published: February 2010

Sleep disturbances are very common in patients with PD and are associated with a variety of negative outcomes. The evaluation of sleep disturbances in these patients is complex, as sleep may be affected by a host of primary sleep disorders, other primary medical or psychiatric conditions, reactions to medications, aging or the neuropathophysiology of PD itself. In this article, we review the evaluation of the common disturbances of sleep seen in PD. This includes the primary sleep disorders, the interaction of depression and insomnia, the impact that medications for PD have on sleep, as well as the role of factors such as nocturia, pain, dystonia, akinesia, difficulty turning in bed, and vivid dreaming. The treatment of sleep disturbances in PD is largely unstudied but recommendations based on clinical experience in PD and research studies in other geriatric populations can be made. Important principles include, diagnosis, treating the specific sleep disorder or co‐occurring disorder, and control of the motor aspects of PD. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society
Assessment of regional variation in polypharmacy
Authors: Hovstadius Bo , Åstrand Bengt , Petersson Göran
Published: February 2010

Purpose

To assess polypharmacy in a population with emphasis on regions.

Methods

We studied the individual‐based data of all dispensed prescription drugs (DP) during a 3‐month study period in Sweden 2006. As an indicator of polypharmacy, five or more (DP ≥ 5) different drugs (substances) dispensed were applied. For analysis, we used comparisons of prevalence, correlation of prevalence of polypharmacy with different socioeconomic variables, and a novel weighted polypharmacy index.

Results

The national prevalence of polypharmacy, DP ≥ 5, was 10.5% (inter‐regional variation 9.1–12.1%). The regional variation in the prevalence of polypharmacy was largest for the age groups ≥90 (45.6–59.1%), 80–89 (46.1–53.4%) and 70–79 years (33.1–38.0%). The national prevalence of excessive polypharmacy, DP ≥ 10, was 2.2% (inter‐regional variation 1.9–2.6%). The regional variation in prevalence of excessive polypharmacy was largest for the age groups ≥90 (9.8–22.3%), 80–89 (11.4–17.1%) and 70–79 years (7.0–9.4%). We found a fairly strong positive correlation between polypharmacy and the age group ≥70 years (r = 0.84 for men and 0.71 for women). The novel weighted polypharmacy index indicated regional differences in the internal distribution of the prevalence of dispensed drugs for individuals with polypharmacy.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that the observed regional differences in the prevalence of polypharmacy partly can be explained by the regional age distribution in Sweden. The use of the novel weighted polypharmacy index indicated regional differences in drug therapy for individuals with polypharmacy. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Decreased annexin A3 expression correlates with tumor progression in papillary thyroid cancer
Authors: Jung Eun‐Jung , Moon Hyeong‐Gon , Park Soon‐Tae , Cho Bok‐Im , Lee Sun‐Min , Jeong Chi‐Young , Ju Young‐Tae , Jeong Sang‐Ho , Lee Young‐Joon , Choi Sang‐Kyung , Ha Woo‐Song , Lee Jong Sil , Kang Kee Ryeon , Hong Soon‐Chan
Published: February 2010

Purpose: The aim of this study is to identify the potential tumor markers that function in carcinogenesis and tumor progression, thus providing important diagnostic and prognostic information.

Experimental design: We performed 2‐D gel electrophoresis and MALDI‐TOF MS to investigate the differentially expressed proteins in 25 papillary thyroid carcinoma tissues. For validation of candidate proteins and investigation of clinical significance, we performed Western, Northern blot analysis and immunohistochemical staining.

Results: Our proteomic analyses revealed significantly decreased annexin A3 expression in papillary thyroid carcinoma at both the protein and mRNA levels, compared with normal thyroid tissue. ANXA3 immunoreactivity was not significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis, multifocality, capsular invasion or perithyroidal extension in thyroid cancer. However, the tumor subgroup with a lymph node metastasis score of >3 displayed significantly lower ANXA3 expression than did subgroups with negative and ≤3 scores (p=0.001). Moreover, ANXA3 expression was markedly lower in large tumors (>1 cm in diameter) than in microcarcinomas (p=0.001).

Conclusion and clinical relevance: Decreased expression of ANXA3 in papillary thyroid cancer supports the idea that ANXA3 may be an effective marker of microcarcinoma, and a negative predictor of papillary thyroid cancer progression.
The feasibility of MS and advanced data processing for monitoring Schistosoma mansoni infection
Authors: Balog Crina I. A. , Alexandrov Theodore , Derks Rico J. , Hensbergen Paul J. , van Dam Govert J. , Tukahebwa Edridah M. , Kabatereine Narcis B. , Thiele Herbert , Vennervald Birgitte J. , Mayboroda Oleg A. , Deelder André M.
Published: February 2010

Purpose: Sensitive diagnosis, monitoring of disease progression and the evaluation of chemotherapeutic interventions are of prime importance for the improvement of control and prevention strategies for Schistosomiasis. The aim of the present study was to identify novel markers of Schistosoma mansoni infection and disease using urine samples from a large cohort from an area endemic for S. mansoni. Experimental design: Urine samples were collected and processed on an automated sample clean‐up and fractionation system combining strong cation exchange and reversed phase, and analyzed by MS (MALDI ToF MS). The ClinPro Tools™ (CPT) software and the Discrete Wavelet Transformation–Support Vector Machine (DWT‐SVM) procedure were used for classification and statistical analysis. Results: We observed a large difference in urinary peptide profiles between children and adults but classification based on infection was possible only for children. Here, in the external validation data set, 93% of the infected children were classified correctly with DWT‐SVM (versus 76% for CPT). In addition 91% of low‐infected children were classified correctly using DWT‐SVM (versus 85% for CPT). The discriminating peptides were identified as fragments of collagen 1A1 and 1A3, and uromodulin. Conclusions and clinical relevance: In conclusion, we provide the usefulness of a peptidomics profiling approach combined with DWT‐SVM in the monitoring of S. mansoni infection.
Peroxiredoxin 2 as a chemotherapy responsiveness biomarker candidate in osteosarcoma revealed by proteomics
Authors: Kikuta Kazutaka , Tochigi Naobumi , Saito Shigeru , Shimoda Tadakazu , Morioka Hideo , Toyama Yoshiaki , Hosono Ako , Suehara Yoshiyuki , Beppu Yasuo , Kawai Akira , Hirohashi Setsuo , Kondo Tadashi
Published: February 2010

Purpose: We aimed to identify novel chemotherapy responsiveness biomarkers for osteosarcoma (OS) by investigating the global protein expression profile of 12 biopsy samples from OS patients. Experimental design: Six patients were classified as good responders and six as poor responders, according to the Huvos grading system. The protein expression profiles obtained by 2‐D DIGE consisted of 2250 protein spots. Results: Among them, we identified 55 protein spots whose intensity was significantly different (Bonferroni adjusted p‐value<0.01) between the two patient groups. Mass spectrometric protein identification demonstrated that the 55 spots corresponded to 38 distinct gene products including peroxiredoxin 2 (PRDX 2). Use of a specific antibody against PRDX 2 confirmed the differential expression of PRDX 2 between good and poor responders, while PRDX 2 levels as measured by Western blotting correlated highly with their corresponding 2‐D DIGE values. The predictive value of PRDX 2 expression was further confirmed by examining an additional four OS cases using Western blotting. Conclusions and clinical relevance: These results establish PRDX 2 as a candidate for chemotherapy responsiveness marker in OS. Measuring PRDX 2 in biopsy samples before treatment may contribute to more effective management of OS.
An optimized chemical synthesis of human relaxin‐2
Authors: Barlos Kostas K. , Gatos Dimitrios , Vasileiou Zoe , Barlos Kleomenis
Published: February 2010

Human gene 2 relaxin (RLX) is a member of the insulin superfamily and is a multi‐functional factor playing a vital role in pregnancy, aging, fibrosis, cardioprotection, vasodilation, inflammation, and angiogenesis. RLX is currently applied in clinical trials to cure among others acute heart failure, fibrosis, and preeclampsia. The synthesis of RLX by chemical methods is difficult because of the insolubility of its B‐chain and the required laborious and low yielding site‐directed combination of its A (RLXA) and B (RLXB) chains. We report here that oxidation of the Met25residue of RLXB improves its solubility, allowing its effective solid‐phase synthesis and application in random interchain combination reactions with RLXA. Linear Met(O)25‐RLX B‐chain (RLXBO) reacts with a mixture of isomers of bicyclic A‐chain (bcRLXA) giving exclusively the native interchain combination. Applying this method Met(O)25‐RLX (RLXO) was obtained in 62% yield and was easily converted to RLX in 78% yield, by reduction with ammonium iodide. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Noninferiority trial designs for odds ratios and risk differences
Authors: Hilton Joan F.
Published: February 2010

This study presents constrained maximum likelihood derivations of the design parameters of noninferiority trials for binary outcomes with the margin defined on the odds ratio (ψ) or risk‐difference (δ) scale. The derivations show that, for trials in which the group‐specific response rates are equal under the point‐alternative hypothesis, the common response rate, πN, is a fixed design parameter whose value lies between the control and experimental rates hypothesized at the point‐null, {πC, πE}. We show that setting πN equal to the value of πC that holds under H0 underestimates the overall sample size requirement. Given {πC, ψ} or {πC, δ} and the type I and II error rates, or algorithm finds clinically meaningful design values of πN, and the corresponding minimum asymptotic sample size, N=nE+nC, and optimal allocation ratio, γ=nE/nC. We find that optimal allocations are increasingly imbalanced as ψ increases, with γψ<1 and γδ≈1/γψ, and that ranges of allocation ratios map to the minimum sample size. The latter characteristic allows trialists to consider trade‐offs between optimal allocation at a smaller N and a preferred allocation at a larger N. For designs with relatively large margins (e.g. ψ>2.5), trial results that are presented on both scales will differ in power, with more power lost if the study is designed on the risk‐difference scale and reported on the odds ratio scale than vice versa. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A confirmatory seamless phase II/III clinical trial design incorporating short‐term endpoint information
Authors: Stallard Nigel
Published: February 2010

Seamless phase II/III designs allow strong control of the familywise type I error rate when the most promising of a number of experimental treatments is selected at an interim analysis to continue along with the control treatment. If the primary endpoint is observed only after long‐term follow‐up it may be desirable to use correlated short‐term endpoint data available at the interim analysis to inform the treatment selection. If short‐term data are available for some patients for whom the primary endpoint is not available, basing treatment selection on these data may, however, lead to inflation of the type I error rate. This paper proposes a method for the adjustment of the usual group‐sequential boundaries to maintain strong control of the familywise error rate even when short‐term endpoint data are used for the treatment selection at the first interim analysis. This method allows the use of the short‐term data, leading to an increase in power when these data are correlated with the primary endpoint data. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modelling continuous exposures with a ‘spike’ at zero: A new procedure based on fractional polynomials
Authors: Royston Patrick , Sauerbrei Willi , Becher Heiko
Published: February 2010

A common task in epidemiology is to estimate the dose–response function for a continuous exposure. Often a proportion of subjects is unexposed. Typical examples are cigarette consumption, alcohol intake, or occupational exposures. The question arises as to how to model such variables statistically. The fractional polynomial method of modelling continuous exposure variables is extended to allow for a proportion unexposed. A binary variable for the unexposed fraction is added to the model. In a two‐stage procedure, we assess whether the binary variable and/or the continuous function for the exposed individuals is required for a good fit to the data. Extension to the multivariable situation is described. Three data sets with different characteristics are used as illustrations. The analyses of the three studies using the proposed procedure give differing results. In one example, only the binary variable seems to be required. In the other two examples, the binary variable and fractional polynomial functions of the exposure variable are needed. One function is monotonic and the other has a minimum. In the third example, adjusting for confounders has almost no effect on the function selected. In conclusion, the new procedure offers a worthwhile extension of dose–response modelling with an unexposed fraction. It is simple to carry out with standard software. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Global alteration of freshwaters: influences on human and environmental well‐being
Authors: Naiman Robert J. , Dudgeon David
Published: February 2010

Human and environmental well‐being—including disease resistance or avoidance, good nutrition, and species‐appropriate population dynamics—are congruent with sustained healthy conditions. Unfortunately, hydrological alterations designed to benefit human societies often have unintended—and sometimes severe—consequences for the environment and the biodiversity it supports, and hence affecting billions of people. Improving this situation necessitates new water‐resource developments, better water‐use efficiency, and a reduction of contamination. Overall, the influences of existing and future freshwater (FW) regimes on human and environmental well‐being are varied and wide‐ranging. Furthermore, the scale is daunting: >1 billion people currently live in basins likely to require river management interventions for climate change alone. Global declines in FW biodiversity, in the nutritional value, and abundance of harvestable FW and riparian products, as well as deterioration in habitat quality for many species, require solutions; as do ongoing increases in the spread of FW‐related diseases and non‐native species. Modifications to FWs are now manifested in population declines and non‐sustainable demographics for many aquatic species, as well as in deterioration of human health. In response, scientists, policy‐makers, and water users are beginning to conceptualize FWs in terms of a global water system (GWS) to better understand and manage anthropogenic impacts. This involves identifying the ecological and policy implications of changes to the GWS, establishing international programs to understand and resolve major social and environmental issues arising from those changes, and developing broad‐based mitigation or restoration techniques (e.g., environmental flow methodologies). Achieving these goals is paramount for maintaining human health as well as for the FW ecosystems upon which we depend.
Self‐Assembled Structures of Catanionic Associations: How to Optimize Vesicle Formation?
Authors: Bize Cécile , Blanzat Muriel , Rico-Lattes Isabelle
Published: February 2010

Like other amphiphilic compounds, bolaforms do not always possess surfactant properties; it depends on the spacer chain length and the nature of the polar head group (both sufficiently hydrophobic or hydrophilic, respectively, to intensify the amphiphilic properties). In this regard, unsymmetrical bolaamphiphiles bearing a sugar polar head group and a carboxylic acid function at the opposite ends of a hydrophobic binding spacer were synthesized. These biocompatible sugar‐derived bolaforms were associated with basic fatty amines, by an acid–base reaction, to obtain catanionic mixtures. Associations with 1,7‐lactobionamidoheptanoic acid and decylamine or octylamine spontaneously form stable 200–600 nm vesicles. This new type of association may find an application in drug delivery since catanionic vesicles can transport active substances inside the hydrophilic core, as well as hydrophobic drugs within the bilayer.
Optimization of the Conditions for Removing Cholesterol from Cod Liver Oil by β‐Cyclodextrin Crosslinked with Adipic Acid
Authors: Chang Yoon Hyuk , Lee Jung Eun , Kwak Hae‐Soo
Published: February 2010

This study was conducted to find the optimum conditions for β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) crosslinked by adipic acid to remove cholesterol from cod liver oil. The cholesterol content of the non‐treated cod liver oil was 554.51 mg/100 g oil. The different factors considered were concentrations of crosslinked β‐CD, mixing temperature, ratio of cod liver oil to distilled water, mixing time, and mixing speed. The optimum conditions for cholesterol removal from cod liver oil using crosslinked β‐CD were a 1:2 ratio of cod liver oil to distilled water, 25% (crosslinked β‐CD/distilled water, w/v) crosslinked β‐CD concentration, 20 min mixing time, 400 rpm mixing speed and 60 °C mixing temperature with about 87% cholesterol removal. In a recycling study, cholesterol removal from the cod liver oil with recycled crosslinked β‐CD in the first recycling trial was 85.09%, which was slightly lower than that with new crosslinked β‐CD (87.27%). Up to three time trials, more than 82% cholesterol removal was observed.
Welche Nationalparke braucht Deutschland?
Authors: Job Hubert
Published: February 2010

Nationalparke stellen die weltweit älteste und bekannteste Flächenschutzkategorie dar. Sie haben eine bipolare Aufgabenstellung. Im Vordergrund steht der für die Fachplanung Naturschutz relativ junge Prozessschutz. Für das eine lange Kulturlandschaftsgeschichte und vergleichsweise hohe Besiedlungsdichte aufweisende Mitteleuropa ist er wegen der Landnutzungskonkurrenzen und raumfunktionalen Konflikte schwierig umzusetzen. Daneben dienen Nationalparke dem Naturtourismus. Wie sonst soll die „Wildnis“-Idee den Menschen nahegebracht werden? Nationalparke stellen für periphere, strukturschwache ländliche Räume potenzielle Motoren einer endogenen Regionalentwicklung dar. Diese basiert vor allem auf dem wirtschaftlich komplex vernetzten Naherholungs- und Fremdenverkehr – in Zukunft mehr noch als heute. Denn der demographische Wandel wird dort zu erheblichen Bevölkerungsverlusten führen. Chancen eröffnen sich gerade in dünn besiedelten Regionen. Dort sollten Raumplanungsinstitutionen proaktiv mit dieser Thematik umgehen und somit helfen, langfristig regionale Identitäten neu zu schaffen. Um die derzeit bestehenden Lücken bei Moorlandschaften, Fließgewässern und Auen, Buchen- und Mischwaldgesellschaften sowie auf offener See hin zu einer repräsentativen Abdeckung der mitteleuropäischen Naturräume zu schließen, wird die Zahl von maximal 20 Nationalparke in Deutschland als Richtwert erachtet. Insbesondere größere zusammenhängende Waldgebiete und ehemalige Truppenübungsplätze stellen Potenzialräume für künftige Nationalparke dar. Sowohl aus naturschutzfachlicher Sicht als auch aus Perspektive des Besuchermanagements sollten bestehende und künftige Nationalparke unbedingt größer als 10.000 ha sein.
Parkin‐mediated selective mitochondrial autophagy, mitophagy: Parkin purges damaged organelles from the vital mitochondrial network
Authors: Tanaka Atsushi
Published: February 2010

Cellular homeostasis is linked tightly to mitochondrial functions. Some damage to mitochondrial proteins and nucleic acids can lead to the depolarization of the inner mitochondrial membrane, thereby sensitizing impaired mitochondria for selective elimination by autophagy. Mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the key aspects of the pathobiology of neurodegenerative disease. Parkin, an E3 ligase located in the cytosol and originally discovered as mutated in monogenic forms of Parkinson's disease (PD), was found recently to translocate specifically to uncoupled mitochondria and to induce their autophagy.
Early‐life treatment of antiserotonin antibodies alters sensitivity to serotonin receptors, nociceptive stimulus and serotonin metabolism in adult rats
Authors: Bhanja Shravani , Mohanakumar Kochupurackal P.
Published: February 2010

A single systemic administration of serotonin (5‐HT) antibodies on day‐1 of the life of rat has been investigated for neurotransmitter contents in nucleus raphe, and several discrete brain regions, as well as for serotoninergic syndromes and nociceptive responses in adult animals. 5‐HT antiserum raised in rabbits were purified and characterized prior to subcutaneous administration in neonatal rats. Control animals received normal rabbit serum. Antibodies tagged with radioactive iodine were traced in the brains of rat pups treated subcutaneously. These animals at adulthood, exhibited an increase in body weight, increased sensitivity to serotonin agonist 5‐methoxy‐N‐N‐dimethyl tryptamine, and to nociceptive stimulus to subcutaneously administered formalin. Animals neonatally treated with 5‐HT antiserum once on day 1 of life, exhibited significant decrease in the contents of serotonin and its metabolite as compared to normal serum treated animals specifically in nucleus raphe dorsalis, but not in substantia gresia centralis, nucleus accumbens, nucleus caudatus putamen, substantia nigra or tuberculum olfactorium during the study period of seven days to four months. The contents of dopamine or norepinephrine were not consistently altered in any of the nuclei studied. Since 5‐HT is known to act as a trophic factor for its own development and its target areas, exposure to 5‐HT antibodies during birth might have adversely affected the development of the serotoninergic system and resulted in long‐lasting changes in behavior and 5‐HT levels in the brain. These results have strong implications for the treatment of childhood developmental disorders such as autism where hyperserotoninemia is associated with the disease syndromes.
Health Care and Social Service Providers' Descriptions of Pacific Islander Mothers' Breastfeeding Patterns
Authors: Flood Jeanie L. , Dodgson Joan E.
Published: February 2010

Introduction: Despite recommendations and numerous health benefits attributed to breastfeeding, rates in the United States are below desired levels, particularly within vulnerable populations. In Hawaí, breastfeeding rates are higher than national averages except in Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander populations. Health care and social service providers are integral to successful breastfeeding promotion efforts. They are in an ideal position to reflect on the context in which their clients live and on its relationship to breastfeeding activities. The aim of this study was to describe health care and social service providers' perceptions of the influences on the breastfeeding patterns of Pacific Islander women.

Methods: Focus ethnographic methods were used to collect interview data from health care and social service providers (N = 20) serving Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women in one rural community. An iterative analysis process of coding and categorizing, followed by conceptual abstraction into patterns, was completed.

Results: Four patterns emerged: shaped by connections, lived unfamiliarity, stressed by circumstance, and missed opportunities. Participants' insights concerning the needs of this population yielded population‐specific issues and health care system issues affecting breastfeeding promotion. A number of gaps in breastfeeding services were identified.

Discussion: Sociocultural, maternal knowledge, and workload barriers to successful breastfeeding predominated providers' perspectives. Broader system and community level issues were implied, but not directly addressed. The nature of successful breastfeeding support and promotion requires inclusion of this broader level perspective.

J Midwifery Womens Health 2010;55:162–170 c̊ 2010 by the American College of Nurse‐Midwives.
The Long‐Term Effects of Prenatal Nicotine Exposure on Neurologic Development
Authors: Blood‐Siegfried Jane , Rende Elizabeth K.
Published: February 2010

A large body of documented evidence has found that smoking during pregnancy is harmful to both the mother and the fetus. Prenatal exposure to nicotine in various forms alters neurologic development in experimental animals and may increase the risk for neurologic conditions in humans. There is a positive association between maternal smoking and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS); however, the connection between nicotine addiction, depression, attention disorders, and learning and behavior problems in humans is not straightforward. Nicotine's action on the production and function of neurotransmitters makes it a prime suspect in the pathology of these diseases. Nicotine accentuates neurotransmitter function in adults but desensitizes these functions in prenatally exposed infants and children. This desensitization causes an abnormal response throughout the lifespan. Furthermore, nicotine use by adolescents and adults can alleviate some of the symptoms caused by these neurotransmitter problems while they increase the risk for nicotine addiction. Although nicotine replacement drugs are used by pregnant women, there is no clear indication that they improve outcomes during pregnancy, and they may add to the damage that occurs to the developing neurologic system in the fetus. Understanding the effects of nicotine exposure is important in providing safe care for pregnant women, children, and families and for developing appropriate smoking cessation programs during pregnancy.
Factors Associated With Non‐Normal Birth Outcomes for Low‐Risk Women in an Inner‐City Hospital
Authors: McDermott Anne M.
Published: February 2010

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with normal versus non‐normal birth outcomes for low‐risk women who were admitted for care in spontaneous labor.

Methods: The birth records of 93 women were reviewed.

Results: At the completion of the fourth stage of labor, 61% of births (n = 57) met the criteria for normal, while 39% of births (n = 36) had non‐normal outcomes. On bivariate analysis, variables associated with non‐normal outcomes included nulliparity (odds ratio [OR], 9.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3–28; P <.0001), lower average centimeters of dilation at admission (t‐score 4.422; P <.001), use of pharmacologic pain relief, including narcotics and epidural anesthesia (OR, 5.03; 95% CI, 2–16; P = .005), and birth attended by a physician versus a certified nurse‐midwife (OR, 3.60; 95% CI, 2–9; P = .004). In a multivariate analysis, nulliparity (OR, 6.07; 95% CI, 2–19; P = .002) and lower average centimeters of dilation at admission (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.5–0.9; P = .005) were independently associated with non‐normal outcome.

Discussion: The development of clinical guidelines aimed at reducing admissions of women in early labor may reduce non‐normal outcomes, particularly for nulliparous women.
The Coping With Labor Algorithm: An Alternate Pain Assessment Tool for the Laboring Woman
Authors: Roberts Leissa , Gulliver Brenda , Fisher Janet , Cloyes Kristin G.
Published: February 2010

The documentation of pain in the labor and delivery setting is one of the essential tasks of all health care providers who care for women in labor. The Joint Commission standards mandate regular pain assessments, but compliance with this mandate in the highly unique patient population of laboring woman is problematic when using the standard 0 to 10 Numeric Rating Scale. Labor pain is always unique given the various contributing physiologic, emotional, social, and cultural components. This article describes the work of a process improvement group to create an alternative pain assessment tool named the Coping With Labor Algorithm. The group, consisting of nurses and nurse‐midwives, used the FOCUS format and Deming's “Plan, Do, Check, and Act” cycle to create a formalized assessment tool for use with laboring women. The Coping With Labor Algorithm is currently in use in the labor unit of a large tertiary care facility, which successfully passed a Joint Commission inspection while using the coping algorithm. The value of the coping algorithm is two‐fold: it provides a mechanism for pain documentation, and it provides nursing care suggestions for the laboring woman. This article reports nurses' perceptions of the tool.
Return on Investment for Essential Obstetric Care Training in Ghana: Do Trained Public Sector Midwives Deliver Postabortion Care?
Authors: Clark Kathryn Andersen , Mitchell Ellen H. M. , Aboagye Patrick Kuma
Published: February 2010

Introduction: In Ghana, the provision of postabortion care (PAC) by trained midwives is critical to the efficient and cost‐effective reduction of unsafe abortion morbidity and mortality.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of provider data from a representative sample of Ghanaian health facilities in order to consider the determinants of PAC provision among both physicians and midwives.

Results: In the previous 5 years, more than 58% of providers had participated in at least one type of essential obstetric training. Overall, 28% of clinicians were offering PAC services (80% of physicians as compared to 20% of midwives). Bivariately, the provision of PAC services was associated with in‐service training. After adjusting for select provider and facility characteristics, PAC/MVA training, working in a facility with the National Reproductive Health Standards and Policy available, and not working in a publicly run facility were associated with midwives offering PAC services.

Discussion: Although the provision of PAC by midwives is an efficient and cost‐effective strategy for reducing maternal morbidity and mortality, clinical training of midwives leads to a lower yield of PAC providers when compared to physicians. Policy and practice should continue to support PAC expansion by trained midwives in the public sector and by understanding the barriers to provision of services by midwives working in public facilities.

J Midwifery Womens Health 2010;55:153–161 c̊ 2010 by the American College of Nurse‐Midwives. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
‘Garments so Chequered’: the Bible of Cîteaux, the Bayeux Tapestry and the Vair Pattern
Authors: Phoenix Daniel
Published: February 2010

The Bayeux Tapestry depicts three curious chequered garments. These garments are usually identified as gambesons, or some form of scaled armour. Several scholars have observed similar garments in the early twelfth-century Bible of Cîteaux. The Cîteaux garments are depicted in a pattern later used to represent fur (called ‘vair’) in heraldic art. This identification is confirmed by the pattern’s usage in cloak linings, but its simultaneous appearance as tunic material is unfamiliar in later art. The Cîteaux tunics suggest the possibility that the Bayeux garments may also have been intended to represent fur tunics. Reasons for that identification, as well as problems with the identification, are considered.
A Missing Link: a Reappraisal of the Date, Architectural Context and Significance of the Great Tower of Dudley Castle
Authors: Hislop Malcolm
Published: February 2010

The great tower of Dudley Castle, in the West Midlands, is re-examined in order to situate it within the evolutionary sequence of great tower designs. In so doing, it is argued that the origins of its plan are to be found in the works of the early to mid-thirteenth century, and that the tower itself was probably begun during the 1260s. Furthermore, it is asserted that the tower represents a milestone in the thinking that underpinned the redevelopment of castle mottes, and that it is to be seen as the prime connection between the circle-based plans that dominated motte redevelopments in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, and later developments that led, ultimately, to the radically different, but architecturally successful scheme adopted by the builder of the donjon of Warkworth Castle in Northumberland.
Mulberry fruit protects dopaminergic neurons in toxin-induced Parkinson's disease models
Authors: Kim Hyo Geun , Ju Mi Sun , Shim Jin Sup , Kim Min Cheol , Lee Sang-Hun , Huh Youngbuhm , Kim Sun Yeou , Oh Myung Sook
Published: February 2010

Parkinson's disease (PD), one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, is characterised by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) to the striatum (ST), and involves oxidative stress. Mulberry fruit fromMorus albaL. (Moraceae) is commonly eaten, and has long been used in traditional oriental medicine. It contains well-known antioxidant agents such as anthocyanins. The present study examined the protective effects of 70 % ethanol extract of mulberry fruit (ME) against neurotoxicity inin vitroandin vivoPD models. In SH-SY5Y cells stressed with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), ME significantly protected the cells from neurotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner. Other assays demonstrated that the protective effect of ME was mediated by its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects, regulating reactive oxygen species and NO generation, Bcl-2 and Bax proteins, mitochondrial membrane depolarisation and caspase-3 activation. In mesencephalic primary cells stressed with 6-OHDA or 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), pre-treatment with ME also protected dopamine neurons, showing a wide range of effective concentrations in MPP+-induced toxicity. In the sub-acute mouse PD model induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), ME showed a preventative effect against PD-like symptoms (bradykinesia) in the behavioural test and prevented MPTP-induced dopaminergic neuronal damage in an immunocytochemical analysis of the SNpc and ST. These results indicate that ME has neuroprotective effects inin vitroandin vivoPD models, and that it may be useful in preventing or treating PD.
On ion-dust streaming instability in a collisional magnetized plasma with warm dust
Authors: ROSENBERG M.
Published: February 2010

This brief communication discusses theoretically a resistive ion-dust streaming instability in a collisional dusty plasma, where the ions and electrons are magnetized, and the dust is unmagnetized. The instability is driven by ions streaming along the magnetic field. The emphasis is on the case where the dust has large thermal speed, and where the ion drift speed is ≲ the ion thermal speed. Application to possible laboratory experimental parameters is considered.
‘As far as 90 north’: Joseph Elzéar Bernier's 1907 and 1909 sovereignty claims
Authors: Cavell Janice
Published: February 2010

Joseph Elzéar Bernier's well known sector claim of 1 July 1909 was predated by a similar, but until now unknown, proclamation in 1907. Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier, although eager to assert Canadian sovereignty, was unwilling to countenance the first claim because he did not think that the right time for such a gesture had yet come. However, in 1909 Bernier's action was welcomed, but only as a convenient way to counter the widely publicised American claim made by Robert Peary. In the eyes of government officials, neither of Bernier's proclamations held any real importance for Canada's northern sovereignty which rested primarily on the 1880 transfer of ownership from Britain. Bernier believed that his achievements had never been sufficiently recognised, but in fact the problem was that he himself overrated their significance.