bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultra‐spatial synchrotron radiation for imaging molecular chemical structure: Applications in plant and animal studies
Authors: Yu Peiqiang
Published: March 2012

Synchrotron‐based Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (S‐FTIR) has been developed as a rapid, direct, non‐destructive, bioanalytical technique. This technique takes advantage of synchrotron light brightness and small effective source size and is capable of exploring the molecular chemical features and make‐up within microstructures of a biological tissue without destruction of inherent structures at ultra‐spatial resolutions within cellular dimension. To date there has been very little application of this advanced synchrotron technique to the study of plant and animal tissues′ inherent structure at a cellular or subcellular level. In this article, a novel approach was introduced to show the potential of the newly developed, advanced synchrotron‐based analytical technology, which can be used to reveal molecular structural‐chemical features of various plant and animal tissues.
Application of attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy in the study of Peruphasma schultei defensive secretion
Authors: Mcleod Michael P. , Dossey Aaron T. , Ahmed M. Khalique
Published: March 2012

In this short communication, we present the first Fourier Transform Infrared Absorbance (FT‐IR) study of peruphasmal; a defensive secretion from Peruphasma schultei. The spectral data collected are representative of the natural product structure proposed by Dossey et al. This study demonstrates the viability of FT‐IR as another tool in the physical and biological chemist′s repertoire for use in determining important structural characteristics from minute amounts of available sample.
Flexible GMR Sensor Array for Magnetic Flux Leakage Testing of Steel Track Ropes
Authors: Singh W. Sharatchandra , Rao B. P. C. , Thirunavukkarasu S. , Jayakumar T.
Published: March 2012

This paper presents design and development of a flexible GMR sensor array for nondestructive detection of service-induced defects on the outer surface of 64 mm diameter steel track rope. The number of GMR elements and their locations within saddle-type magnetizing coils are optimized using a three dimensional finite element model. The performance of the sensor array has been evaluated by measuring the axial component of leakage flux from localized flaw (LF) and loss of metallic cross-sectional area (LMA) type defects introduced on the track rope. Studies reveal that the GMR sensor array can reliably detect both LF and LMA type defects in the track rope. The sensor array has a fast detection speed along the length of the track rope and does not require circumferential scanning. It is also possible to image defects using the array sensor for obtaining their spatial information.
Potential Symmetry Studies on a Rotating Fluid System
Authors: Lou S. Y. , Jia Man , Huang F. , Tang X. Y.
Published: March 2012

A rotational fluid model which can be used to describe broad vortical flows ranging from large scale to the atmospheric mesoscale and the oceanic submesoscale is studied by the symmetry group theory. After introducing one scalar-, two vector-, and two tensor potentials, we find that the Lie symmetries of the extended system include many arbitrary functions ofzand{z,t}. The obtained Lie symmetries are used to find some types of exact solutions. One of exact solutions can be used to qualitatively describe the three-dimensional structure of hurricanes.
An Operation in the Park Bench Position Complicated by Massive Tongue Swelling
Authors: Koizumi Hiroyuki , Utsuki Satoshi , Inukai Madoka , Oka Hidehiro , Osawa Shigeyuki , Fujii Kiyotaka
Published: March 2012

This paper presents a case of massive tongue swelling as a complication after an operation in the park bench position. A 43-year-old male who had undergone a resection of a mass in the petrous bone of the clivus showed massive tongue swelling after the surgery in the left park bench position. A direct compression of the bite block caused the swelling of tongue. Tongue swelling may become fatal if it progresses to an airway obstruction; therefore the intraoperative and postoperative management is important.
Proteomic Technologies for the Study of Osteosarcoma
Authors: Byrum Stephanie D. , Washam Charity L. , Montgomery Corey O. , Tackett Alan J. , Suva Larry J.
Published: March 2012

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone cancer of children and is established during stages of rapid bone growth. The disease is a consequence of immature osteoblast differentiation, which gives way to a rapidly synthesized incompletely mineralized and disorganized bone matrix. The mechanism of osteosarcoma tumorogenesis is poorly understood, and few proteomic studies have been used to interrogate the disease thus far. Accordingly, these studies have identified proteins that have been known to be associated with other malignancies, rather than being osteosarcoma specific. In this paper, we focus on the growing list of available state-of-the-art proteomic technologies and their specific application to the discovery of novel osteosarcoma diagnostic and therapeutic targets. The current signaling markers/pathways associated with primary and metastatic osteosarcoma that have been identified by early-stage proteomic technologies thus far are also described.
Controlling Initial and Final Radii to Achieve a Low-Complexity Sphere Decoding Technique in MIMO Channels
Authors: Eshagh Hosseini Fatemeh , Shirvani Moghaddam Shahriar
Published: March 2012

In order to apply sphere decoding algorithm in multiple-input multiple-output communication systems and to make it feasible for real-time applications, its computational complexity should be decreased. To achieve this goal, this paper provides some useful insights into the effect of initial and the final sphere radii and estimating them effortlessly. It also discusses practical ways of initiating the algorithm properly and terminating it before the normal end of the process as well as the cost of these methods. Besides, a novel algorithm is introduced which utilizes the presented techniques according to a threshold factor which is defined in terms of the number of transmit antennas and the noise variance. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm offers a desirable performance and reasonable complexity satisfying practical constraints.
Application of Ionic Liquids in the Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Pectin from Lemon Peels
Authors: Guolin Huang , Jeffrey Shi , Kai Zhang , Xiaolan Huang
Published: March 2012

Microwave-assisted extraction of pectin from lemon peels by using ionic liquid as alternative solvent was investigated. The extracted pectin was detected by Fourier transform infrared spectra. The extraction conditions were optimized through the different experiments in conjunction with the response surface methodology. A pectin yield of 24.68 % was obtained under the optimal parameters: the extraction temperature of 88°C, the extraction time of 9.6 min, and a liquid-solid ratio of 22.7 ml⋅g-1. The structure of the pretreated lemon peel samples and the samples after microwave-assisted extraction were characterized by a field emission scanning electron microscope.
Fabrication of Microscale Carbon Nanotube Fibers
Authors: Sun Gengzhi , Zhang Yani , Zheng Lianxi
Published: March 2012

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have excellent mechanical, chemical, and electronic properties, but realizing these excellences in practical applications needs to assemble individual CNTs into larger‐scale products. Recently, CNT fibers demonstrate the potential of retaining CNT′s superior properties at macroscale level. High‐performance CNT fibers have been widely obtained by several fabrication approaches. Here in this paper, we review several key spinning techniques including surfactant‐based coagulation spinning, liquid‐crystal‐based solution spinning, spinning from vertical‐aligned CNT arrays, and spinning from CNT aerogel. The method, principle, limitations, and recent progress of each technique have been addressed, and the fiber properties and their dependences on spinning parameters are also discussed.
The Existence of Solutions to a System of Discrete Fractional Boundary Value Problems
Authors: Pan Yuanyuan , Han Zhenlai , Sun Shurong , Zhao Yige
Published: March 2012

We study the existence of solutions for the boundary value problem −Δνy1(t) = f(y1(t + ν − 1), y2(t + μ − 1)), −Δμy2(t) = g(y1(t + ν − 1), y2(t + μ − 1)), y1(ν − 2) = Δy1(ν + b) = 0, y2(μ − 2) = Δy2(μ + b) = 0, where 1 < μ, ν ≤ 2, f, g : ℝ × ℝ → ℝ are continuous functions, b ∈ ℕ0. The existence of solutions to this problem is established by the Guo‐Krasnosel′kii theorem and the Schauder fixed‐point theorem, and some examples are given to illustrate the main results.
Comparison of the Data Classification Approaches to Diagnose Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Arslan Yunus Ziya , Demirer Rustu Murat , Palamar Deniz , Ugur Mukden , Karamehmetoglu Safak Sahir
Published: March 2012

In our previous study, we have demonstrated that analyzing the skin impedances measured along the key points of the dermatomes might be a useful supplementary technique to enhance the diagnosis of spinal cord injury (SCI), especially for unconscious and noncooperative patients. Initially, in order to distinguish between the skin impedances of control group and patients, artificial neural networks (ANNs) were used as the main data classification approach. However, in the present study, we have proposed two more data classification approaches, that is, support vector machine (SVM) and hierarchical cluster tree analysis (HCTA), which improved the classification rate and also the overall performance. A comparison of the performance of these three methods in classifying traumatic SCI patients and controls was presented. The classification results indicated that dendrogram analysis based on HCTA algorithm and SVM achieved higher recognition accuracies compared to ANN. HCTA and SVM algorithms improved the classification rate and also the overall performance of SCI diagnosis.
Improved Efficacy of Dendritic Cell–Based Immunotherapy by Cutaneous Laser Illumination
Authors: Chen Xinyuan , Zeng Qiyan , Wu Mei X.
Published: March 2012

Purpose: The present study investigates a convenient laser-based approach to enhance dendritic cell (DC) migration and improve DC-based immunotherapy in murine models.

Experimental Design: Influence of laser illumination on dermal tissue microenvironment and migration of DCs following intradermal injection were determined by whole-mount immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscope, and flow cytometry. We also investigated in vivo expansion of CTLs by flow cytometry, CTL activity by in vitro CTL assay, and antitumor efficacy of DC immunization following cutaneous laser illumination in both preventive and therapeutic tumor models.

Results: Laser illumination was found to significantly enlarge perforations in the perilymphatic basement membrane, disarray collagen fibers, and disrupt cell–matrix interactions in the dermis. The altered dermal tissue microenvironment permitted more efficient migration of intradermally injected DCs from the dermis to the draining lymph nodes (dLN). Laser illumination also slightly but significantly enhanced the expression of costimulatory molecule CD80 and MHC I on inoculated DCs. As a result, more vigorous expansion of tumor-specific IFN-γ+CD8+ T lymphocytes and enhanced CTL activity against 4T1 but not irrelevant tumor cells were obtained in the laser-treated group over the control group. Laser-augmented DC immunization also completely abrogated early growth of 4T1 tumor and B16F10 melanoma in preventive tumor models and significantly extended the survival of 4T1-resected mice in a therapeutic tumor model.

Conclusion: These data suggest a simple, safe, laser-based approach to significantly enhance DC-based immunotherapy. Clin Cancer Res; 18(8); 2240–9. ©2012 AACR.
Functional Protein Pathway Activation Mapping of the Progression of Normal Skin to Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Einspahr Janine G. , Calvert Valerie , Alberts David S. , Curiel-Lewandrowski Clara , Warneke James , Krouse Robert , Stratton Steven P. , Liotta Lance , Longo Caterina , Pellicani Giovanni , Prasad Anil , Sagerman Paul , Bermudez Yira , Deng Jianghong , Bowden G. Timothy , Petricoin Emanuel F.
Published: March 2012

Reverse phase protein microarray analysis was used to identify cell signaling derangements in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) compared with actinic keratosis (AK) and upper inner arm (UIA). We analyzed two independent tissue sets with isolation and enrichment of epithelial cells by laser capture microdissection. Set 1 served as a pilot and a means to identify protein pathway activation alterations that could be further validated in a second independent set. Set 1 was comprised of 4 AK, 13 SCC, and 20 UIA. Set 2 included 15 AK, 9 SCCs, and 20 UIAs. Activation of 51 signaling proteins, known to be involved in tumorigenesis, were assessed for set 1 and showed that the MEK–ERK [mitogen-activated protein (MAP)/extracellular signal-regulated (ERK; MEK)] pathway was activated in SCC compared with AK and UIA, and that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and mTOR pathways were aberrantly activated in SCC. Unsupervised two-way hierarchical clustering revealed that AK and UIA shared a common signaling network activation architecture while SCC was dramatically different. Statistical analysis found that prosurvival signaling through phosphorylation of ASK and 4EBP1 as well as increased Bax and Bak expression was higher in AK compared with UIA. We expanded pathway network activation mapping in set 2 to 101 key signaling proteins, which corroborated activation of MEK–ERK, EGFR, and mTOR pathways through discovery of a number of upstream and downstream signaling molecules within these pathways to conclude that SCC is indeed a pathway activation–driven disease. Pathway activation mapping of SCC compared with AK revealed several interconnected networks that could be targeted with drug therapy for potential chemoprevention and therapeutic applications. Cancer Prev Res; 5(3); 403–13. ©2012 AACR.
Metformin and Cancer Stem Cells: Old Drug, New Targets
Authors: Bednar Filip , Simeone Diane M.
Published: March 2012

In this issue of the journal, Bao and colleagues report (beginning on page 355) that the antidiabetic drug metformin targets pancreatic cancer stem cells through, at least partially, the modulation of miRNA expression and subsequent regulation of stem cell renewal and signaling factors. In this Perspective, we briefly discuss the cancer stem cell hypothesis, its clinical relevance, and how targeting the mTOR pathway may yield an avenue for disrupting the cancer stem cell compartment and thus yield long-term therapeutic benefit in multiple cancers. Cancer Prev Res; 5(3); 351–4. ©2012 AACR.
Development and Validation of the Current Concept of Major Depression
Authors: Maj Mario
Published: March 2012

The operational diagnostic criteria for major depression have remained more or less the same in the past 40 years. However, the threshold for the diagnosis fixed by operational definitions has been criticized for either being too high, excluding many depressive states which do not differ from currently defined major depression on several variables, or too low, so that the milder cases receiving the diagnosis do not respond to antidepressants better than to placebo. Furthermore, it has been stated that current operational criteria do not convey anymore the gestalt of the depressive syndrome, and that they lead to the inclusion under the heading of depression of several homeostatic responses to adverse life events. This paper reviews the development and validation of the current concept of major depression and identifies priorities for future research.
Diffusion of Protein through the Human Cornea
Authors: Charalel Resmi A. , Engberg Kristin , Noolandi Jaan , Cochran Jennifer R. , Frank Curtis , Ta Christopher N.
Published: March 2012

Aims: To determine the rate of diffusion of myoglobin and bovine serum albumin (BSA) through the human cornea. These small proteins have hydrodynamic diameters of approximately 4.4 and 7.2 nm, and molecular weights of 16.7 and 66 kDa, for myoglobin and BSA, respectively. Meth  ods: Diffusion coefficients were measured using a diffusion chamber where the protein of interest and balanced salt solution were in different chambers separated by an ex vivo human cornea. Protein concentrations in the balanced salt solution chamber were measured over time. Diffusion coefficients were calculated using equations derived from Fick’s law and conservation of mass in a closed system. Results: Our experiments demonstrate that the diffusion coefficient of myoglobin is 5.5 ± 0.9 × 10–8 cm2/s (n = 8; SD = 1.3 × 10–8 cm2/s; 95% CI: 4.6 × 10–8 to 6.4 × 10–8 cm2/s) and the diffusion coefficient of BSA is 3.1 ± 1.0 × 10–8 cm2/s (n = 8; SD = 1.4 × 10–8 cm2/s; 95% CI: 2.1 × 10–8 to 4.1 × 10–8 cm2/s). Conclusions: Our study suggests that molecules as large as 7.2 nm may be able to passively diffuse through the human cornea. With applications in pharmacotherapy and the development of an artificial cornea, further experiments are warranted to fully understand the limits of human corneal diffusion and its clinical relevance.
Identity and Eating Disorders (IDEA): A Questionnaire Evaluating Identity and Embodiment in Eating Disorder Patients
Authors: Stanghellini Giovanni , Castellini Giovanni , Brogna Patrizia , Faravelli Carlo , Ricca Valdo
Published: March 2012

Background: In this paper we tested the hypothesis that persons with eating disorders (EDs) are affected by disturbances of the way they experience their own body (embodiment) and shape their personal identity, assuming that the various kinds of anomalies of eating behavior are consequences thereof. Sampling and Methods: We developed and validated a new self-reported questionnaire named IDEA (IDentity and EAting disorders), which was administered to 147 ED patients and 187 healthy controls. Test-retest reliability, internal consistency, psychopathological correlates, and concurrent validity were evaluated. A factor analysis was performed to verify the distribution of items into subscales. Results: The questionnaire showed good test-retest reliability, and internal consistency. IDEA scores were specifically associated with ED psychopathology, and they did not show any correlation with sociodemographic and general clinical variables. Four factors were extracted, which were related to the following phenomena: ‘feeling oneself only through the gaze of the other and defining oneself only through the evaluation of the other’, ‘feeling oneself only through objective measures’, ‘feeling extraneous from one’s own body’, and ‘feeling oneself through starvation’. Conclusions: IDEA represents a multidimensional, brief, versatile, easy-to-perform instrument for clinical evaluation, assessing abnormalities in lived corporeality, and of personal identity, which appeared to be specifically associated with the core features of ED psychopathology. The main limitations of the study are the cross-sectional design. Also, it is impossible to ascertain whether the domains we assessed are specific traits of patients with EDs, or state-related features. To answer this question, a longitudinal study is needed.
Anisakis simplex Recombinant Allergens Increase Diagnosis Specificity Preserving High Sensitivity
Authors: Caballero María Luisa , Umpierrez Ana , Perez-Piñar Teresa , Moneo Ignacio , de Burgos Carmen , Asturias Juan A. , Rodríguez-Pérez Rosa
Published: March 2012

Background: So far, the frequency of Anisakis simplex-specific IgE antibodies has been determined by skin prick tests (SPTs) and the ImmunoCAP system. These commercial methods have good sensitivity, but their specificity is poor because they use complete parasite extracts. Our aim was to determine the frequency of sensitization to A. simplex using recombinant Ani s 1, Ani s 3, Ani s 5, Ani s 9 and Ani s 10 and to evaluate these allergens for diagnosis, comparing their performance with the commercial methods. Patients and Methods: We conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional validation study performed in an allergy outpatient hospital clinic. Patients without fish-related allergy (tolerant patients, n = 99), and A. simplex-allergic patients (n = 35) were studied by SPTs, ImmunoCAP assays and detection of specific IgE to A. simplex recombinant allergens by dot blotting. Results: SPTs and ImmunoCAP assays were positive in 18 and 17% of tolerant patients, respectively. All A. simplex-allergic patients had positive SPTs and ImmunoCAP assays. Specific IgE against at least one of the A. simplex recombinant allergens tested was detected in 15% of sera from tolerant patients and in 100% of sera from A. simplex-allergic patients. Detection of at least one A. simplex recombinant allergen by dot blotting and ImmunoCAP assay using complete extract showed a diagnostic sensitivity of 100% with both methods. However, the specificity of dot blotting with A. simplex recombinant allergens was higher compared with ImmunoCAP (84.85 vs. 82.83%). Conclusions: There are 15% of tolerant patients with specific IgE against important A. simplex allergens. The recombinant allergens studied here increase the specificity of A. simplex diagnosis while keeping the highest sensitivity. A. simplex recombinant allergens should be included with A. simplex allergy diagnostic tests to improve their specificity.
Drug Allergy in Hospitalized Patients: The Contribution of Allergy Consultation and a Structured Questionnaire
Authors: Confino-Cohen Ronit , Leader Avi , Klein Noa , Pereg David , Khoury Shafik , Perl Leor , Goldberg Arnon
Published: March 2012

Background: Hospitalized patients with an alleged history of drug allergy pose medical and economic concerns when selecting medications for treatment, possibly leading to deviations from standards of care and the use of expensive agents. Accurate history taking and clear documentation of drug allergy are essential for preventing subsequent administration of the offending drug and overdiagnosis of drug allergy. We aimed to evaluate drug allergy-related history taking by internists compared to allergists and to prospectively assess the effect of a simple, structured questionnaire on the accuracy of drug allergy diagnosis. Methods: Consenting patients with an alleged drug allergy who were able to give a coherent history were recruited from two internal medicine wards. In both wards, the internists’ drug allergy diagnosis was initially compared to that of the allergists. In the second part, in the intervention ward, after the same procedure, the internists completed the structured questionnaire. Their diagnostic conclusions with and without the questionnaire were compared. Results: 202 patients labeled with a medication allergy were enrolled. In the control and intervention wards, 54 and 58% of the patients, respectively, labeled by the internists as allergic, were found not to be allergic by the allergist. In the intervention ward, after using the questionnaire, the percentage of patients tagged by the internists as allergic dropped initially by 31% and finally by 59%. Conclusions: Discrepancies between drug allergy diagnosis of internists and allergists are common. Allergist consultation or use of a simple structured questionnaire may be beneficial for accurate diagnosis of drug allergies.
Early Life Interventions to Prevent Allergy in the Offspring: The Role of Maternal Immunization and Postnatal Mucosal Allergen Exposure
Authors: Hansen Jitka S. , Nygaard Unni C. , Lyle Robert , Lovik Martinus
Published: March 2012

Background: Childhood allergy is influenced by maternal factors and allergen exposure in early life, but the factors that determine the development of allergy and tolerance are unknown. Therefore, we compared the effects of two early life interventions, i.e. maternal allergen immunization and postnatal intranasal allergen exposure, as well as a combination of both treatments on allergic responses in the offspring. Methods: Female mice were immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) or vehicle during pregnancy. After birth, half the offspring from each group were exposed intranasally to low doses of OVA or vehicle weekly for 5 weeks before intraperitoneal immunization with OVA. Results: Maternal immunization reduced OVA-specific IgE and IgG1, but increased IgG2a and TH2 cytokine responses in the offspring after immunization. Postnatal intranasal OVA exposure similarly reduced both IgE and IgG1, but also spleen cell numbers and cytokine secretion. Following airway challenges of the offspring, IgE and airway inflammation were suppressed only by intranasal exposure, but not by maternal immunization, the effect of which also waned with age. Differential gene expression in the spleen of offspring supported that IgE suppression by the two interventions was caused by different mechanisms. Despite this, tolerance development after mucosal exposure was obtained in the offspring of immunized dams. Conclusions: The study suggests that prevention of allergy is possible if initiated in early life, and early mucosal allergen exposure may play a protective role independent of the maternal immune responses.
Stereotactic Placement of Ventricular Catheters: Does It Affect Proximal Malfunction Rates?
Authors: Sampath Raghuram , Wadhwa Rishi , Tawfik Tamir , Nanda Anil , Guthikonda Bharat
Published: March 2012

Background: The majority of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt malfunctions are due to proximal catheter failure. Ideal placement of Ommaya reservoirs is desired to avoid toxicity from intraparenchymal chemotherapy infusion. Objective: To determine whether stereotactic placement of ventricular catheters decreases the rate of Ommaya reservoir complications and the rate of proximal VP shunt failure. Methods: Under institutional review board approval, areview of a prospectively collected database was doneidentifying all patients who underwent stereotactic-guided placement of VP shunts and Ommaya reservoirs performed by a single surgeon between November 2007 and November 2009. Neuronavigation was used to preset a surgical plan consisting of an ideal entry point (usually frontal) and target point (ipsilateral foramen of Monro). The navigation probe was passed along this trajectory. After removal of the navigation probe, pre-sized ventricular catheters were passed without a stylet along the created path. Post-operative CT scans and clinical follow-up were assessed. Results: 70 patients (mean age 44.6 years) underwent 52 VP shunt and 18 Ommaya reservoir placement procedures. Rigid cranial fixation was used in all cases. All catheters were placed in a single pass. Mean operative time was 62 min. Mean follow-up was 16.3 months. No proximal malfunctions or Ommaya complications have been seen thus far. One patient required repositioning of an Ommaya reservoir as post-operative CT showed poor placement (1.4%). One patient with hydrocephalus due to cryptococcal meningitis developed an abdominal abscess and required removal of his entire shunt with subsequent replacement. One patient was noted to have a small amount of intraventricular hemorrhage; this did not result in any clinical change and did not require any further intervention. No other surgical complications were noted. Conclusion: In terms of results corroborating decreased proximal malfunction rates, we present the largest series of stereotactic-guided ventricular catheter placements to date. Though time in the operating room is increased due to navigation registration, actual operative time is comparable to procedures without navigation. A longer-term follow-up is needed to assess the longevity of our positive short-term results.
Outcomes of Acute Phase Cognitive Therapy in Outpatients with Anxious versus Nonanxious Depression
Authors: Smits Jasper A.J. , Minhajuddin Abu , Thase Michael E. , Jarrett Robin B.
Published: March 2012

Objective: Compared to nonanxious depressed patients, anxious depressed patients respond less to pharmacotherapy, prompting consideration of alternate treatments. Based on the transdiagnostic principles of cognitive therapy (CT), we predicted that anxious depressed patients would respond as well to CT as nonanxious depressed patients. Method: Adults (n = 523) with recurrent major depressive disorder received 12–14 weeks of CT as part of the Continuation Phase Cognitive Therapy Relapse Prevention Trial. Anxious depressed patients (n = 264; 50.4%) were compared to nonanxious depressed patients (n = 259; 49.6%) on demographic variables, initial severity, attrition, and rates and patterns of response and remission. Results: Anxious depressed patients presented with greater illness severity and had significantly lower response (55.3 vs. 68.3%) and remission rates (26.9 vs. 40.2%) based on clinician-administered measures. By contrast, smaller between-group differences for attrition, and for response (59.1 vs. 64.9%) and remission (41.7 vs. 48.7%) rates on self-report measures were not significant. Further, anxious depressed patients had greater speed of improvement on self-reported anxiety symptom severity and clinician-rated depressive and anxiety symptom severity measures. Conclusion: Consistent with prior reports, anxious depressed patients presented with greater severity and, following CT, had lower response and remission rates on clinician-administered scales. However, anxious depressed patients improved more rapidly and response and remission rates on self-report measures were not significantly different from nonanxious depressed patients. Our findings suggest that anxious depressed patients may simply need additional time or more CT sessions to reach outcomes fully comparable to those of less anxious patients.
The Role of Ghrelin, Neuropeptide Y and Leptin Peptides in Weight Gain after Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Markaki Elli , Ellul John , Kefalopoulou Zinovia , Trachani Eftichia , Theodoropoulou Anastasia , Kyriazopoulou Venetsana , Constantoyannis Constantine
Published: March 2012

Background: The exact mechanism of weight gain (WG) after deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease remains unknown. Objectives: To investigate a possible involvement of ghrelin, neuropeptide Y (NPY) and leptin in WG after DBS. Methods: Twenty-three Parkinson patients were submitted for body composition measurements and blood sampling 3 days before, and 3 and 6 months after STN DBS. Peripheral concentrations of ghrelin, NPY, and leptin were determined, as well as the L-dopa equivalent daily dose. Patients were clinically evaluated using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale. Results: Three months after surgery, a significant WG was observed (3.09 ± 5.00 kg; p = 0.007) with no further increase at 6 months. Three months postoperatively, NPY circulating levels increased significantly (p = 0.05), while the increase of ghrelin levels reached statistical significance at 6 months (p = 0.001). WG was significantly associated with changes of ghrelin and leptin levels at 3 and 6 months, respectively. Conclusions: STN DBS seems to temporarily dysregulate the hypothalamic secretion of NPY and ghrelin. The variation of weight may be attributed to an increased production of ghrelin and leptin. A possible neuroprotective role of DBS, exerted through the increase of ghrelin levels, should be further studied.
Collagen VI Encodes Antimicrobial Activity: Novel Innate Host Defense Properties of the Extracellular Matrix
Authors: Abdillahi Suado M. , Balvanović Selma , Baumgarten Maria , Mörgelin Matthias
Published: March 2012

Collagen type VI is a subepithelial extracellular matrix component in airways and an adhesive substrate for oral pathogens [Bober et al.: J Innate Immun 2010;2:160–166]. Here, we report that collagen VI displays a dose-dependent antimicrobial activity against group A, C, and G streptococci by membrane disruption in physiological conditions. The data disclose previously unrecognized aspects of the extracellular matrix in innate host defense.
A Technique for Mapping Cortical Areas Associated with Speech Arrest
Authors: Schapiro Robert , Ferson David , Prabhu Sujit S. , Tummula Sudhakar , Wefel Jeffrey , Rao Ganesh
Published: March 2012

Background: Awake craniotomy with cortical stimulation is the standard for language mapping in patients with tumors near or within the language cortex. Reliable identification of the speech cortex is difficult, however, and adjunctive pre- and intraoperative techniques have inconsistent reliability. Objectives: We describe a technique based on direct cortical stimulation which localizes speech areas by correlating vocal cord activation in the anesthetized patient with speech arrest in the awake patient. Methods: Direct cortical stimulation is applied to the patient and the vocal cords are visualized by fiberoptic endoscopy. The cortical site that produces vocal cord activation is identified. Once the patient is awakened, cortical stimulation is repeated and sites that produce speech arrest are identified. Results: We have performed this technique in 3 patients and have consistently correlated vocal cord activation with speech arrest in all patients. These areas of activation also correlate with areas of functional MRI BOLD activation obtained from the expressive language paradigms. Conclusions: Colocalization of the site of vocal cord activation in the asleep patient to the site of speech arrest in the awake patient represents an adjunct for defining speech areas. This technique is useful for patients unable to tolerate awake craniotomy.
L-Ficolin Binds to the Glycoproteins Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase and Inhibits Influenza A Virus Infection Both in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Pan Qin , Chen Haidan , Wang Feng , Jeza Victor Tunje , Hou Wei , Zhao Yinglan , Xiang Tian , Zhu Ying , Endo Yuchi , Fujita Teizo , Zhang Xiao-Lian
Published: March 2012

L-ficolin, one of the complement lectins found in human serum, is a novel pattern recognition molecule that can specifically bind to microbial carbohydrates, thereby activating the lectin complement pathway and mounting a protective innate immune response. However, little is known about the role of L-ficolin during viral infections in vivo. In the present study, we used a mouse model of influenza A virus infection to demonstrate that the administration of exogenous L-ficolin or ficolin A (FCNA – an L-ficolin-like molecule in the mouse) is protective against the virus. Furthermore, FCNA-null mice have a greatly increased susceptibility to infection with the influenza A virus. Moreover, we found recombinant human L-ficolin inhibited influenza A virus entry into Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. More importantly, L-ficolin can recognize and bind hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) glycoproteins and different subtypes of influenza A virus, and these interactions can be competitively inhibited by N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. In addition, the binding of L-ficolin and FCNA may lead to the activation of the lectin complement pathway. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that L-ficolin can block influenza virus infections both in vitro and in vivo using FCNA-knockout mice, possibly by interacting with the carbohydrates of HA and NA. Therefore, these data may provide new immunotherapeutic strategies based on the innate immune molecule L-ficolin against the influenza A virus.
On the Origin of Oscillopsia during Pedunculopontine Stimulation
Authors: Jenkinson Ned , Brittain John-Stuart , Hicks Stephen L. , Kennard Christopher , Aziz Tipu Z.
Published: March 2012

We report a case of induced oscillopsia caused by deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN). Recent reports have described involuntary oscillopsia during DBS of the PPN that patients have described as trembling vision. Here we substantiate this observation using infra-red eye tracking. It has been suggested that this phenomenon might be used as an indicator of accurate targeting of the PPN with DBS. Our observations suggest that this phenomenon may not be related to a constricted anatomical structure and therefore such practise may be unwise. Scrutiny has led us to believe that the oscillopsia in our patient is not caused by direct stimulation of the oculomotor nerve as suggested in a previous report, but by stimulation of fibres in the uncinate fasciculus of the cerebellum and the superior cerebellar peduncle, which in turn stimulate the saccadic pre-motor neurones in the brainstem.
A Sparse Transmission Disequilibrium Test for Haplotypes Based on Bradley-Terry Graphs
Authors: Ma Li , Wong Wing Hung , Owen Art B.
Published: March 2012

Background: Linkage and association analysis based on haplotype transmission disequilibrium can be more informative than single marker analysis. Several works have been proposed in recent years to extend the transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) to haplotypes. Among them, a powerful approach called the evolutionary tree TDT (ET-TDT) incorporates information about the evolutionary relationship among haplotypes using the cladogram of the locus. Methods: In this work we extend this approach by taking into consideration the sparsity of causal mutations in the evolutionary history. We first introduce the notion of a Bradley-Terry (BT) graph representation of a haplotype locus. The most important property of the BT graph is that sparsity of the edge set of the graph corresponds to small number of causal mutations in the evolution of the haplotypes. We then propose a method to test the null hypothesis of no linkage and association against sparse alternatives under which a small number of edges on the BT graph have non-nil effects. Results and Conclusion: We compare the performance of our approach to that of the ET-TDT through a power study, and show that incorporating sparsity of causal mutations can significantly improve the power of a haplotype-based TDT.
Resources as a Protective Factor for Negative Outcomes of Frailty in Elderly People
Authors: Ament Bart H.L. , de Vugt Marjolein E. , Koomen Floortje M.K. , Jansen Maria W.J. , Verhey Frans R.J. , Kempen Gertrudis I.J.M.
Published: March 2012

Background: Although frailty is often conceptualized in terms of deficits, the level of frailty can be perceived as a complex interplay between deficits and resources. Objective: We studied whether resources such as educational level, financial situation, and living-alone status moderate the negative effects of deficits on two potentially adverse consequences of frailty: self-perceived health and receiving professional care. Methods: Logistic regression analysis was performed with data from a cross-sectional survey, designed by the public health service in the south of the Netherlands. The questionnaire was completed by a representative sample of people aged 70 and over (n = 5,559). Interaction effects between deficits (multimorbidity, difficulty performing ADLs, psychological distress, loneliness) and resources (educational level, financial situation, living-alone status) were studied in relation to self-perceived health and receiving professional care. Results: We found that in males the effect of difficulty in performing ADLs on self-perceived health was modified by educational level (p < 0.05, indicating that difficulty in performing ADLs is more strongly related to moderate/bad self-perceived health for those with higher education). In females, the effect of psychological distress on self-perceived health was modified by educational level (p < 0.05, indicating that suffering from psychological distress is more strongly related to moderate/bad self-perceived health for those with higher education) and the effect of difficulty in performing ADLs on receiving professional care was modified by living-alone status (p < 0.05, indicating that difficulty in performing ADLs was more strongly related to receiving professional care for those women who lived alone). Conclusions: Resources moderate the impact of personal deficits on self-perceived health and receiving professional care. Some frail people seem to be more vulnerable as they lack resources such as a high level of education. This should be taken into account in deciding when elderly people are at risk of negative outcomes of frailty and is therefore important for health professionals and policy-makers.
Comparative Evaluation of Diaton and Goldmann Applanation Tonometers
Authors: Bali Shveta Jindal , Bhartiya Shibal , Sobti Amit , Dada Tanuj , Panda Anita
Published: March 2012

Aim: To evaluate the agreement between intra-ocular pressure (IOP) measurements with the Diaton and the Goldmann applanation tonometers (GAT). Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, a total of 196 eyes of 196 participants (66 patients with glaucoma, 130 healthy subjects) were included. IOP measurements were obtained from all patients using the Diaton and GAT. Results: The average age of the patients enrolled in this study was 48.3 ± 14.6 years (range 18–79). The overall mean IOP measured by the Diaton was 17.2 ± 6.4 mm Hg, while that in glaucoma patients was 17.9 ± 6.2 mm Hg and in the control group 15.8 ± 4.9 mm Hg. Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed a moderate correlation in IOP measurements by the two instruments in healthy controls (r = 0.460, p < 0.01); however, the same correlation for the glaucomatous subjects was noted to be poor (r = 0.261, p = 0.57). The limits of agreement (95% confidence intervals) ranged from –9.9 to +11.2 and from –15.3 to +19.7 mm Hg in healthy controls and glaucoma patients, respectively. Conclusion: The Diaton measurements do not correlate well with those provided by applanation tonometry. The two tonometers show very wide limits of agreement so they may not be used interchangeably in clinical practice for the measurement of IOP.
Obesity-Independent Inverse Association between Regular Alcohol Consumption and Hemoglobin A1C
Authors: Wakabayashi Ichiro
Published: March 2012

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether obesity influences relationships between habitual alcohol drinking and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) level. Methods: Japanese men (35–70 years old, n = 24858) were divided into non-, light (<22 g ethanol/day), moderate (≧22 and <44 g ethanol/day), and heavy (≧44 g ethanol/day) drinkers. Relationships of alcohol with HbA1C were investigated in overall subjects and subjects of quartile groups for degree of obesity. Results: HbA1C tended to be higher as quartiles of BMI and waist-to-height ratio increased. HbA1C was significantly lower in light, moderate and heavy drinkers than in nondrinkers. These associations in overall subjects were also found in all of the quartiles of BMI and waist-to-height ratio, except for light drinkers in the 3rd and 4th quartiles of BMI and the 4th quartile of waist-to-height ratio. Odds ratios versus nondrinkers for high HbA1C were significantly lower than a reference level of 1.0 in all drinker groups, and these associations were not altered after adjustment for age, history of smoking, and BMI or waist-to-height ratio. Conclusion: The results suggest that alcohol consumption is associated with lower HbA1C level independent of degree of obesity.
Corpus Callosotomy with the CO2 Laser Suction Device: A Technical Note
Authors: Falowski Steven , Byrne Richard
Published: March 2012

Introduction: Patients with symptomatic generalized epilepsy who are not candidates for resections may be considered for corpus callosotomy. Methods: The two patients who were followed in this series underwent resection of the corpus callosum utilizing the OmniGuide CO2 Laser System. Surgical Technique: The OmniGuide CO2 Laser Systemcan be used in place of the bipolar electrocautery in a corpus callosotomy to improve midline dissection, decrease the likelihood of entering the ventricle, and improve visualization in the dissection. Conclusion: The OmniGuide CO2 Laser System is a valuable option when performing a corpus callosotomy.
Shielded Battery Syndrome: A New Hardware Complication of Deep Brain Stimulation
Authors: Chelvarajah Ramesh , Lumsden Daniel , Kaminska Margaret , Samuel Michael , Hulse Natasha , Selway Richard P. , Lin Jean-Pierre , Ashkan Keyoumars
Published: March 2012

Background: Deep brain stimulation hardware is constantly advancing. The last few years have seen the introduction of rechargeable cell technology into the implanted pulse generator design, allowing for longer battery life and fewer replacement operations. The Medtronic® system requires an additional pocket adaptor when revising a non-rechargeable battery such as their Kinetra® to their rechargeable Activa® RC. This additional hardware item can, if it migrates superficially, become an impediment to the recharging of the battery and negate the intended technological advance. Aim: To report the emergence of the ‘shielded battery syndrome’, which has not been previously described. Methods: We reviewed our deep brain stimulation database to identify cases of recharging difficulties reported by patients with Activa RC implanted pulse generators. Results: Two cases of shielded battery syndrome were identified. The first required surgery to reposition the adaptor to the deep aspect of the subcutaneous pocket. In the second case, it was possible to perform external manual manipulation to restore the adaptor to its original position deep to the battery. Conclusions: We describe strategies to minimise the occurrence of the shielded battery syndrome and advise vigilance in all patients who experience difficulty with recharging after replacement surgery of this type for the implanted pulse generator.
Evaluation of Multimeric Tyrosine-O-Sulfate as a Cytoprotectant in an in vivo Model of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Pigs
Authors: Banz Yara , Hess Otto M. , Meier Pascal , Korchagina Elena Y. , Gordeeva Elena A. , Robson Simon C. , Gajanayake Thusitha , Csizmadia Eva , Mettler Daniel , Haeberli André , Bovin Nicolai V. , Rieben Robert
Published: March 2012

Objectives: Intracoronary administration of glycosaminoglycan analogs, including the complement inhibitor dextran sulfate, attenuates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R injury). However, dextran sulfate has a distinct anticoagulatory effect, possibly limiting its use in specific situations in vivo. We therefore developed multimeric tyrosine sulfate (sTyr-PAA), a novel, minimally anticoagulatory, fully synthetic non-carbohydrate-containing polyacrylamide conjugate, for in vivo testing in an acute closed-chest porcine model of acute myocardial infarction. Methods: Following balloon occlusion of the left anterior descending artery just after the first diagonal branch (60-minute ischemia), sTyr-PAA (approx. 10 mg/kg bodyweight, fraction with strongest complement-inhibitory and minimal anticoagulatory properties, n = 11) or phosphate-buffered saline (controls, n = 9) was administered intracoronarily into ischemic myocardium prior to 120 min of reperfusion. Results: sTyr-PAA significantly reduced infarct size (from 61.0 ± 12.0% of the ischemic area at risk to 39.4 ± 17.0%), plasma creatine kinase, local complement deposition and tissue factor upregulation, without affecting systemic coagulation. Protection was associated with significantly reduced myocardial neutrophil extravasation and translated into a significant improvement of ejection fraction and left ventricular enddiastolic pressure. Conclusions: sTyr-PAA protected significantly against myocardial I/R injury without substantially affecting systemic coagulation. Local intravascular sTyr-PAA administration may prove advantageous in situations where bleeding complications are likely or are to be avoided at all costs.