bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Occlusion of the perimembranous ventricular septal defect using CERA® devices
Authors: Esteves Cesar A. , Solarewicz Leo A. , Cassar Renata , Neves Juliana R. , Esteves Vinicius , Arrieta Raul
Published: March 2012

Background

High incidence of atrioventricular (AV) block has been the major limitation of percutaneous closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect (PMVSD).

Methods

Prospective, multicenter, nonrandomized study including 55 patients who were submitted to 56 procedures from March 2010 to November 2010. Inclusion criteria were PMVSD with diameter ≥ 5 mm or if ≤5 mm with hemodynamic significance and age ≥ 1 year. Exclusion criteria were fixed pulmonary arterial hypertension and associated congenital heart disease needing surgical repair. Procedures were performed under general anesthesia and monitored by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). The device choice was based on left ventricle (LV) angiography and on TTE images. PMVSDs were crossed by retrograde approach.

Results

Mean age was 9.3 ± 7.5 years, and mean weight was 29.1 ± 15.9 kg. Thirty‐five (63.6%) patients were females. Mean pulmonary arterial mean pressure, mean LV diastolic diameter, and mean Qp/Qs were 24.0 ± 6.5 mm Hg, 43.0 ± 5.9 mm, and 2.2 ± 0.8, respectively. Associated nonsurgical malformations were present in 9 (16.3%) patients, and PMVSDs were multifenestrated in 16 (46.2%) cases. Mean PMVSDs diameter was 5.8 ± 1.8 mm by angiography and 6.8 ± 2.3 mm by TTE. New rhythm disturbance without clinical significance was observed in 29% of the patients and was reversible in 87.5%. After procedure, trivial residual shunt was present in 5 (8.9%) patients and moderate residual shunt in other 5 (8.9%). At late FU (mean of 298.7 ± 88.9 days), 91% of the patients had no residual shunts. Third‐degree AV block and severe aortic regurgitation occurred in one patient each.

Conclusions

In this experience, PMVSD closure with CERA® devices showed to be safe and effective with low incidence of complications at immediate and mid‐term FU. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Severe aortic valve regurgitation after percutaneous ventricular septal defect closure
Authors: Fouilloux Virginie , Kreitmann Bernard
Published: March 2012

Percutaneous closure of ventricular septal defect is now commonly used. We report a rare case, and especially a rare image of aortic leaflet damage caused by percutaneous ventricular septal device. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Active Site Transformation During the Induction Period of Ethylene Polymerization over the Phillips CrOx/SiO2 Catalyst
Authors: Zhong Lei , Liu Zhen , Cheng Ruihua , Tang Siyang , Qiu Pengyuan , He Xuelian , Terano Minoru , Liu Boping
Published: March 2012

In spite of the great importance of the Phillips catalyst in commercial polyethylene production and long‐term research efforts, the initiation mechanism of polymerization still remains unclear. The effect of formaldehyde desorption on the active site transformation during the induction period of the Phillips catalyst is investigated over cluster models by using DFT. No reaction can be initiated over the cluster model coordinated with two formaldehyde molecules, owing to steric hindrance and electronic donation. The first reaction over cluster models, on which either one or no formaldehyde molecule is adsorbed, follows the metallacyclic mechanism into chromacyclopentane. Subsequent dimerization to 1‐butene and metathesis to propylene and ethylene are more favorable over the cluster model adsorbed with one formaldehyde molecule. Only after a complete desorption of formaldehyde does further ring expansion to chromacycloheptane followed by 1‐hexene formation become preferential. Spin state crossing from quintet diethylene–CrII complex to triplet chromacyclopentane with a spin acceleration effect is revealed.
Design and Synthesis of Fluorescent Pilicides and Curlicides: Bioactive Tools to Study Bacterial Virulence Mechanisms
Authors: Chorell– Erik , Pinkner Jerome S. , Bengtsson Christoffer , Edvinsson Sofie , Cusumano Corinne K. , Rosenbaum Erik , Johansson Lennart B. Å. , Hultgren Scott J. , Almqvist Fredrik
Published: March 2012

Pilicides and curlicides are compounds that block the formation of the virulence factors pili and curli, respectively. To facilitate studies of the interaction between these compounds and the pili and curli assembly systems, fluorescent pilicides and curlicides have been synthesized. This was achieved by using a strategy based on structure–activity knowledge, in which key pilicide and curlicide substituents on the ring‐fused dihydrothiazolo 2‐pyridone central fragment were replaced by fluorophores. Several of the resulting fluorescent compounds had improved activities as measured in pili‐ and curli‐dependent biofilm assays. We created fluorescent pilicides and curlicides by introducing coumarin and 4,4‐difluoro‐4‐bora‐3a,4a‐diaza‐s‐indacene (BODIPY) fluorophores at two positions on the peptidomimetic pilicide and curlicide central fragment. Fluorescence images of the uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strain UTI89 grown in the presence of these compounds shows that the compounds are strongly associated with the bacteria with a heterogeneous distribution.
Innovative triboluminescence study of multivitamin doped europium tetrakis
Authors: Fontenot R. S. , Bhat K. N. , Hollerman W. A. , Aggarwal M. D.
Published: March 2012

As the Space Shuttle program ends, NASA is developing the next generation of space vehicles. These new concept designs will require new and innovative structural health monitoring capabilities. One way to solve this problem is with smart impact sensors that use triboluminescent materials. In 2011, the authors reported an 82% increase in the triboluminescence yield of europium dibenzoylmethide triethylammonium (EuD4TEA) by changing the starting material. It has been shown that introduction of dopants tends to enhance the triboluminescent light yield. Here we report the successful synthesis of a multivitamin doped europium tetrakis which appears to be spherical in shape. Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectroscopy analysis showed the presence of 3.6% calcium, 0.62% magnesium, 0.1% iron, 0.01% copper and manganese. This new product has no shift in the triboluminescent or photoluminescent emission peaks, but only a change in the intensity. In addition, the doped EuD4TEA powder statistically emits more triboluminescence while having the same decay time. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Preparation and characterisation of Ag incorporated Al2O3 nanocomposite films obtained by sol‐gel method
Authors: Ivanova T. , Harizanova A. , Koutzarova T. , Vertruyen B.
Published: March 2012

Sol‐gel route has been applied for a deposition of the thin films of aluminum oxide and Ag embedded in Al2O3 films. The films are spin‐coated on Si and quartz substrates with the film thickness of 120 nm. XRD analysis has been used for the determination of the film structure. FTIR spectroscopy is applied for studying vibrational properties of the obtained coatings. Optical characterization is done by UV‐VIS spectroscopy. The formation of Ag nanoparticles has been confirmed by XRD and optical data. The sol‐gel process is found to be useful technology for incorporation of Ag nanoparticles in the metal oxide matrices. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Gas‐Pulsed CVD for Film Growth in the CuNiN System
Authors: Lindahl Erik , Ottosson Mikael , Carlsson Jan‐Otto
Published: March 2012

A new ternary solid solution, Cu3‐xNix+yN, is prepared by gas‐pulsed CVD at 260 °C. Gas pulses of the precursor mixtures Cu(hfac)2 + NH3 and Ni(thd)2 + NH3, separated by intermittent ammonia pulses, are employed for the deposition of Cu3N and Ni3N, respectively. A few monolayers of the nitrides are grown in each CVD pulse and then mixed by diffusion to produce the solid solution. The metal content of the solid solution can be varied continuously from 100% to about 20% Cu, which means that the electrical properties can be varied from 1.6 eV (band gap of Cu3N) to metallic (Ni3N). This is of interest for various applications, e.g., solar energy, catalysis, and microelectronics.
Fhos encodes a Drosophila Formin‐Like Protein participating in autophagic programmed cell death
Authors: Anhezini Lucas , Saita Ana Paula , Costa Mara S.A. , Ramos Ricardo Guelerman Pinheiro , Simon Claudio Roberto
Published: March 2012

Larval tissues undergo programmed cell death (PCD) during Drosophila metamorphosis. PCD is triggered in a stage and tissue‐specific fashion in response to ecdysone pulses. The understanding of how ecdysone induces the stage and tissue‐specificity of cell death remains obscure. Several steroid‐regulated primary response genes have been shown to act as key regulators of cellular responses to ecdysone by inducing a cascade of transcriptional regulation of late responsive genes. In this article, the authors identify Fhos as a gene that is required for Drosophila larval salivary gland destruction. Animals with a P‐element mutation in Fhos possess persistent larval salivary glands, and precise excisions of this P‐element insertion resulted in reversion of this salivary gland mutant phenotype. Fhos encodes the Drosophila homolog of mammalian Formin Fhos. Fhos is differentially transcribed during development and responds to ecdysone in a method that is similar to other cell death genes. Similarly to what has been shown for its mammalian counterpart, FHOS protein is translocated to the nucleus at later stages of cell death. Fhos mutants posses disrupted actin cytoskeleton dynamics in persistent salivary glands. Together, our data indicate that Fhos is a new ecdysone‐regulated gene that is crucial for changes in the actin cytoskeleton during salivary gland elimination in Drosophila. genesis 50:672–684, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Heterometallic Complexes of Ruthenium and Lanthanides (Ce, Pr, Nd, Eu) with NO2 Bridges – Synthesis, Structures, Properties
Authors: Borodin A. O. , Kostin G. A. , Plusnin P. E. , Filatov E. Yu. , Bogomyakov A. S. , Kuratieva N. V.
Published: March 2012

Five new heterometallic complexes with a {Ln[RuNO(μ‐NO2)4(μ3‐OH)]2Ln} (Ln = Ce, Pr, Nd, Eu) core were prepared by reaction of Na2[RuNO(NO2)4OH] and lanthanide nitrates in the presence of pyridine. The crystal structures of the obtained compounds were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. In all complexes, Ru and Ln atoms are connected by N,O‐bridging nitrite groups and OH groups. The coordination environment of Ln3+ is completed by oxygen atoms of nitrate ions and water molecules and by nitrogen atoms of pyridine molecules. Magnetic interactions between lanthanide atoms become apparent at temperatures lower than 40–50 K, and at temperatures higher than 100 K, the dependencies of the magnetic susceptibilities of the complexes are well explained by the presence of two noninteracting paramagnetic centers. Thermal decomposition of the investigated complexes in an inert atmosphere results in a mixture of metallic ruthenium and the corresponding lanthanide oxide. Formation of mixed oxide phases RuPrOx was also detected after decomposition of the praseodymium complex.
(Dis)Connectivity in catchment sediment cascades: a fresh look at the sediment delivery problem
Authors: Fryirs Kirstie
Published: March 2012

The concept of the sediment delivery problem was introduced into the literature in 1983 by Des Walling. This concept describes how only a fraction of sediment eroded within a catchment will reach the basin outlet and be represented as sediment yield, and that sediment storage mechanisms operating within a catchment explain this discrepancy. Since this paper was published, geomorphologists have been examining in great detail the fate of sediment eroded from the landsurface, and the pathways and timeframes of sediment transport and storage in catchments. However, to fully understand the internal dynamics of sediment flux requires a ‘fresh look at the sediment delivery problem’. A framework is required that can incorporate the various processes involved in sediment movement from source areas through a basin to its outlet, and can take account of the spatial distribution of, and timeframes over which, these processes operate.

This paper presents a conceptual framework for analysis of catchment (dis)connectivity that incorporates both spatial and temporal variability in the operation of the sediment cascade. This approach examines where blockages occur to disrupt these longitudinal, lateral and vertical linkages in catchments. Depending on the position of blockages (termed buffers, barriers and blankets), and their sediment residence time, various parts of a catchment may be actively contributing sediment to the sediment cascade and be switched on, or inactive and switched off. This paper discusses how such a framework can be used to model response times to disturbance and explain the manifestation of geomorphic change in catchments. The paper then highlights challenges geomorphologists face in applying such a framework to understand the internal dynamics of the catchment sediment cascades, and forecast how environmental change might affect the operation of sediment fluxes into the future. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Functional parcellation of the inferior frontal and midcingulate cortices in a flanker‐stop‐change paradigm
Authors: Enriquez‐Geppert Stefanie , Eichele Tom , Specht Karsten , Kugel Harald , Pantev Christo , Huster René J.
Published: March 2012

Conflict monitoring and motor inhibition are engaged in the performance of complex tasks. The midcingulate cortex (MCC) has been suggested to detect conflicts, whereas the right inferior frontal cortex (IFC) seems to be of relevance for the inhibition process. The current experiment investigates the neural underpinnings of their interplay via a modified flanker paradigm. Conflict was manipulated by the congruency of flanking stimuli relative to a target (congruent vs. incongruent) and motor inhibition by a within‐trial response change of the initiated response (keep response vs. stop‐change). We used event‐related functional magnetic resonance imaging, decomposition with high model order ICA, and single trial analysis to derive a functional parcellation of the whole‐brain data. Results demonstrate the segmentation of the MCC into anterior and posterior subregions, and of the IFC into the pars opercularis, pars triangularis, and pars orbitalis. The pars opercularis and pars triangularis of the right IFC constituted the foundation of inhibition‐related networks. With high conflict on incongruent trials, activity in the posterior MCC network, as well as in one right IFC network was observed. Stop‐change trials modulated both the MCC as well as networks covering extended parts of the IFC. Whereas conflict processing and inhibition most often are studied separately, this study provides a synopsis of functionally coupled brain regions acting in concert to enable an optimal performance in situations involving interference and inhibition. Hum Brain Mapp, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A magnetoencephalographic study of face processing: M170, gamma‐band oscillations and source localization
Authors: Gao Zaifeng , Goldstein Abraham , Harpaz Yuval , Hansel Myriam , Zion‐Golumbic Elana , Bentin Shlomo
Published: March 2012

EEG studies suggested that the N170 ERP and Gamma‐band responses to faces reflect early and later stages of a multiple‐level face‐perception mechanism, respectively. However, these conclusions should be considered cautiously because EEG‐recorded Gamma may be contaminated by noncephalic activity such as microsaccades. Moreover, EEG studies of Gamma cannot easily reveal its intracranial sources. Here we recorded MEG rather than EEG, assessed the sources of the M170 and Gamma oscillations using beamformer, and explored the sensitivity of these neural manifestations to global, featural and configural information in faces. The M170 was larger in response to faces and face components than in response to watches. Scrambling the configuration of the inner components of the face even if presented without the face contour reduced and delayed the M170. The amplitude of MEG Gamma oscillations (30–70 Hz) was higher than baseline during an epoch between 230–570 ms from stimulus onset and was particularly sensitive to the configuration of the stimuli, regardless of their category. However, in the lower part of this frequency range (30–40 Hz) only physiognomic stimuli elevated the MEG above baseline. Both the M170 and Gamma were generated in a posterior‐ventral network including the fusiform, inferior‐occipital and lingual gyri, all in the right hemisphere. The generation of Gamma involved additional sources in the visual system, bilaterally. We suggest that the evoked M170 manifests a face‐perception mechanism based on the global characteristics of face, whereas the induced Gamma oscillations are associated with the integration of visual input into a pre‐existent coherent perceptual representation. Hum Brain Mapp, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in pregnant women
Authors: Eliassen Anna M. , Hauff Samantha J. , Tang Alice L. , Thomas Dafydd H. , McHugh Jonathan B. , Walline Heather M. , Stoerker Jay , Maxwell Jessica H. , Worden Francis P. , Eisbruch Avraham , Czerwinski Michael J. , Papagerakis Silvana M. , Chepeha Douglas B. , Bradford Carol R. , Hanauer David A. , Carey Thomas E. , Prince Mark E.
Published: March 2012

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate oral cancer in pregnant women, a rare but therapeutically challenging patient subset.

Methods

After institutional review board approval, an EMERSE search was used to identify all women treated at the University of Michigan from 1998 to 2010 with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) during pregnancy. This identified 4 patients with tongue cancer. Biomarkers and human papillomavirus (HPV) were assessed by immunohistochemistry and multiplex PCR/mass spectrometry, respectively.

Results

Two patients responded well to therapy and are alive more than 10 years after diagnosis; 2 patients died of disease. All tumors overexpressed EGFR and Bcl‐xL, 3 of 4 overexpressed c‐Met, both tumors that progressed overexpressed p53. All tumors were negative for HPV, p16, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER‐2.

Conclusions

Biomarkers of aggressive tumors (high EGFR, c‐Met; high Bcl‐xL‐low p53) did not correlate with outcome. Additional studies are needed to determine whether perineural invasion, delay in diagnosis, and p53 overexpression are factors in poor survival. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2013
Jugular and vagal paragangliomas: Systematic study of management with surgery and radiotherapy
Authors: Suárez Carlos , Rodrigo Juan P. , Bödeker Carsten C. , Llorente José L. , Silver Carl E. , Jansen Jeroen C. , Takes Robert P. , Strojan Primoẑ , Pellitteri Phillip K. , Rinaldo Alessandra , Mendenhall William M. , Ferlito Alfio
Published: March 2012

Background

The definitive treatment for head and neck paraganglioma (PG) is surgical excision. Unfortunately, surgery, particularly of vagal paraganglioma (VPG; “glomus vagale”) and foramen jugulare (“glomus jugulare”) tumors, may be complicated by injuries to the lower cranial nerves, a high price to pay for treatment for a benign tumor. Alternatively these tumors may be followed without treatment, or irradiated. The purpose of this review was to compare the existing evidence concerning the efficacy and safety of surgery, external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), for jugular paragangliomas (JPGs) and VPGs.

Methods

Relevant articles were reviewed using strict criteria for systematic searches. Forty‐one surgical studies met the criteria which included 1310 patients. Twenty articles including 461 patients treated with EBRT, and 14 radiosurgery studies comprising 261 patients were also evaluated. Results were compared between treatment modalities using analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests.

Results

A total of 1084 patients with JPGs and 226 VPGs were treated with different surgical procedures. Long‐term control of the disease was achieved in 78.2% and 93.3% of patients, respectively. A total of 715 patients with JPG were treated with radiotherapy: 461 with EBRT and 254 with SRS. Control of the disease with both methods was obtained in 89.1% and 93.7% of the patients, respectively. The treatment outcomes of a JPG treated with surgery or radiotherapy were compared. Tumor control failure, major complication rates, and the number of cranial nerve palsies after treatment were significantly higher in surgical than in radiotherapy series. The results of SRS and EBRT in JPGs were compared and no significant differences were observed in tumor control. Because only 1 article reported on the treatment of 10 VPGs with radiotherapy, no comparisons with surgery could be made. Nevertheless, the vagus nerve was functionally preserved in only 11 of 254 surgically treated patients (4.3%).

Conclusion

There is evidence that EBRT and SRS offer a similar chance of tumor control with lower risks of morbidity compared with surgery in patients with JPGs. Although the evidence is based on retrospective studies, these results suggest that surgery should be considered only for selected cases, but the decision should be individual for every patient. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2013
Immediate intraportal transplantation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells prevents death from fulminant hepatic failure in pigs
Authors: Li Jun , Zhang Liyuan , Xin Jiaojiao , Jiang Longyan , Zhang Ting , Jin Linfeng , Li Jianzhou , Zhou Pengcheng , Hao Shaorui , Cao Hongcui , Li Lanjuan
Published: March 2012

The effectiveness of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (hBMSC) transplantation to treat acute and chronic liver injury has been demonstrated in animal models and in a few nonrandomized clinical trials. However, no studies have investigated hBMSC transplantation in the treatment of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), especially in large animal (pig) models. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the safety, effectiveness, and underlying mechanism of hBMSC transplantation for treating FHF in pigs through the intraportal route. Human BMSCs (3 × 107) were transplanted into pigs with FHF via the intraportal route or peripheral vein immediately after D-galactosamine injection, and a sham group underwent intraportal transplantation (IPT) without cells (IPT, peripheral vein transplantation [PVT], and control groups, respectively, n = 15 per group). All of the animals in the PVT and control groups died of FHF within 96 hours. In contrast, 13 of 15 animals in the IPT group achieved long-term survival (>6 months). Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that transplanted hBMSC-derived hepatocytes in surviving animals were widely distributed in the hepatic lobules and the liver parenchyma from weeks 2 to 10. Thirty percent of the hepatocytes were hBMSC-derived. However, the number of transplanted cells decreased significantly at week 15. Only a few single cells were scattered in the regenerated liver lobules at week 20, and the liver tissues exhibited a nearly normal structure.

Conclusion
: Immediate IPT of hBMSCs is a safe and effective treatment for FHF. The transplanted hBMSCs may quickly participate in liver regeneration via proliferation and transdifferentiation into hepatocytes during the initial stage of FHF. This method can possibly be used in future clinical therapy.
Isocyanide‐Based Five‐Component Synthesis of 2‐Aryl‐2‐(2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐2,4‐dioxo‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepin‐3‐yl)acetamides (=α‐Aryl‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐2,4‐dioxo‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepine‐3‐acetamides)
Authors: Akbarzadeh Roya , Amanpour Tayebeh , Soorki Ali Abolhasani , Bazgir Ayoob
Published: March 2012

An efficient and simple method for the synthesis of new 2‐aryl‐2‐(2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐2,4‐dioxo‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepin‐3‐yl)acetamides (=α‐aryl‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐2,4‐dioxo‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepine‐3‐acetamides) by a five‐component condensation reaction of benzene‐1,2‐diamine (1), Meldrum's acid (2), aldehydes 3, isocyanides 4, and H2O in CH2Cl2 at room temperature is reported (Table 1 and Scheme 2). These products were evaluated in vitro for their antibacterial activities (Table 2).
Regioselective Arylation and Alkynylation of 2,3‐Dibromo‐1H‐inden‐1‐one by SuzukiMiyaura and Sonogashira Cross‐Coupling Reactions
Authors: Khera Rasheed Ahmad , Hussain Munawar , Hung Nguyen Thai , Eleya Nadi , Feist Holger , Villinger Alexander , Langer Peter
Published: March 2012

SuzukiMiyaura reactions of 2,3‐dibromo‐1H‐inden‐1‐one afforded a wide range of arylated 1H‐inden‐1‐ones. Sonogashira cross‐coupling reactions gave alkynylated indenones. The reactions proceeded with very good regioselectivity in the less sterically hindered and more electron‐deficient position 3.
Two 1,3‐Diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hex‐3‐enes with a ‘Tripod’ Core
Authors: Mahmoodi Nosrat O. , Tabatabaeian Khalil , Kiyani Hamzeh
Published: March 2012

The photochromic 1,3‐diazabiclyclo[3.1.0]hex‐3‐enes 5 and 6 were synthesized from two premade tris‐aldehydes and two premade aziridinyl ketones and characterized (Scheme 1). Their spectra showed structurephotochromic behavior relationships (SPBR), which were analyzed.
Sensitivity of snowmelt hydrology in Marmot Creek, Alberta, to forest cover disturbance
Authors: Pomeroy John , Fang Xing , Ellis Chad
Published: March 2012

A model including slope effects on snow redistribution, interception and energetics was developed using the Cold Regions Hydrological Model platform, parameterized with minimal calibration and manipulated to simulate the impacts of forest disturbance on mountain hydrology. A total of 40 forest disturbance scenarios were compared with the current land cover for four simulation years. Disturbance scenarios ranged from the impact of pine beetle kill of lodgepole pine to clear‐cutting of north‐ or south‐facing slopes, forest fire and salvage logging. Pine beetle impacts were small in all cases with increases in snowmelt volume of less than 10% and streamflow volume of less than 2%. This small impact is attributed to the low and relatively dry elevations of lodgepole pine forests in the basin. Forest disturbances due to fire and clear‐cutting affected much larger areas and higher elevations of the basin and were generally more than twice as effective as pine beetle in increasing snowmelt or streamflow. For complete forest cover removal by burning and salvage logging, a 45% increase in snowmelt volume was simulated; however, this only translated into a 5% increase in spring and summer streamflow volume. Forest burning with the retention of standing burned trunks was the most effective forest cover treatment for increasing streamflow (up to 8%) because of its minimizing of winter snow sublimation losses from interception and blowing snow. However, increases in streamflow volumes were almost entirely due to reductions in intercepted snow sublimation with decreasing canopy coverage. Peak daily streamflow discharges responded more strongly to forest cover disturbance than did seasonal streamflow volumes, with increases of almost 25% in peak streamflow from the removal of forest canopy by fire and the retention of standing burned trunks. Peak flow was most effectively increased by forest removal on south‐facing slopes and level sites. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the matrix metalloproteinase gene family and the frequency and duration of gastroesophageal reflux disease influence the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Cheung Winson Y. , Zhai Rihong , Bradbury Penny , Hopkins Jessica , Kulke Matthew H. , Heist Rebecca S. , Asomaning Kofi , Ma Clement , Xu Wei , Wang Zhaoxi , Hooshmand Suzanne , Su Li , Christiani David C. , Liu Geoffrey
Published: March 2012

The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family of proteins mediates various cellular pathways, including apoptosis and angiogenesis. Polymorphisms of MMP genes are associated with increased esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) risk. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is an established EAC risk factor. We examined whether MMP polymorphism‐EAC risk is modified by GERD. In total, 309 EAC patients and 279 frequency‐matched healthy controls underwent MMP1 1G/2G, MMP3 6A/5A, MMP12 −82A/G and MMP12 1082A/G genotyping. Questionnaires collected GERD history. EAC risk was analyzed using logistic regression, adjusted for key covariates and stratified by GERD. Joint effects models explored GERD severity and duration, whereas additional models explored genotype–GERD interactions in EAC risk. We determined that each MMP1 and MMP3 minor (variant) allele was independently associated with increased EAC risk (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0–5.1, p < 0.001 and AOR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1–2.7, p = 0.01, respectively) only among those with GERD but not in GERD‐free individuals (all p = nonsignificant). There were significant interactions between the MMP1 variants and the presence of GERD (p = 0.002) and between MMP3 variants and GERD (p = 0.04). There was an equally strong interaction between cumulative GERD severity and MMP1 (p = 0.002). The AOR of each variant allele was 14.9 (95% CI 1.6–136) for individuals with severe GERD, 1.7 (95% CI 1.0–2.7) for mild‐moderate GERD and 0.98 (95% CI 0.7–1.4) for those without GERD. This was further reflected in separate analyses of frequency and duration of GERD. In conclusion, MMP1
1G/2G (and possibly MMP3 6A/5A) polymorphisms alter EAC risk differentially for GERD and GERD‐free individuals.
NONLINEARITY, MACROECONOMIC FACTORS AND THE DOLLAR‐STERLING REAL EXCHANGE RATE
Authors: Kim Hyeyoen
Published: March 2012

Using recently proposed econometric methods for summarising very large macroeconomic data sets into a small number of observable factors, we investigate the dollar‐sterling real exchange rate in the factor‐incorporated nonlinear framework. We have shown that the large information contained nonlinear model can improve the out‐of‐sample forecasting performance. The accuracy of predictability is examined by the statistical significance of Clark and West (2007) test, which adjusts the downward bias of difference of error terms in nested models. The superior result of out‐of‐sample forecasting of factor model to univariate one and random walk suggests that the poor out‐of‐sample forecasting performance in the existing empirical literature may result from a failure properly to allow for the wide range of macroeconomic influences on the equilibrium real exchange rate. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Minority HIV‐1 resistant variants in recent infection and in patients who failed first‐line antiretroviral therapy with no detectable resistance‐associated mutations in Thailand
Authors: Le Nguyen Hai , Pitakpolrat Patrawadee , Sirivichayakul Sunee , Delaugerre Constance , Ruxrungtham Kiat
Published: March 2012

Through the Thai National AIDS Program, approximately 200,000 patients infected with HIV are on antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. Although studies have shown low prevalence of primary HIV‐1 resistance transmission in Thailand and in Southeast Asia where subtype CRF01_AE is predominant, minority HIV‐1 drug resistance has not been studied. Two groups of patients, whose conventional genotyping results showed no drug resistance‐associated mutations, were investigated: 104 homosexual men recently infected with HIV‐1, naïve to ARV treatment and 22 first‐line non‐nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)‐based failure patients. Pyrosequencing (PSQ) assay was developed to detect and quantify minority Y181C and M184V variants from the patients' plasma samples. The sensitivity of PSQ to detect minority Y181C and M184V variants was approximately 1%. 1/104 (0.5%) and 3/101 (3%) samples were found harboring Y181C and M184V in the group of homosexual men recently infected with HIV‐1. In patients with first‐line treatment failure, one had a minority M184V mutation (4.5%). The prevalence of Y181C and M184V minority variants in homosexual men recently infected and naïve to treatment was low in Thailand. Systematic monitoring of primary resistance transmission in Thailand and this region is essential to guide whether genotypic resistance test is required prior to commencing the first‐line highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). J. Med. Virol. 84:713–720, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hepatitis C virus promotes expression of the 3β‐hydroxysterol δ24‐reductase through Sp1
Authors: Saito Makoto , Kohara Michinori , Tsukiyama‐Kohara Kyoko
Published: March 2012

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) establishes chronic infection, which often causes hepatocellular carcinoma. Overexpression of 3β‐hydroxysterol Δ24‐reductase (DHCR24) by HCV has been shown to impair the p53‐mediated cellular response, resulting in tumorigenesis. In the present study, the molecular mechanism by which HCV promotes the expression of DHCR24 was investigated. A significant increase in DHCR24 mRNA transcription was observed in a cell line expressing complete HCV genome, whereas no significant difference in the expression of DHCR24 was seen in cell lines expressing individual viral proteins. The 5′‐flanking genomic region of DHCR24 was characterized to explore the genomic region and host factor(s) involved in the transcriptional regulation of DHCR24. As a result, the HCV response element (−167/−140) was identified, which contains AP‐2α, MZF‐1, and Sp1 binding motifs. The binding affinity of the host factor to this response element was increased in nuclear extracts from cells infected with HCV and corresponded with augmented affinity of Sp1. Both mithramycin A (Sp1 inhibitor) and small interfering RNA targeting Sp1 prevented the binding of host factors to the response element. Silencing of Sp1 also downregulated the increased expression of DHCR24. The binding affinity of Sp1 to the response element was augmented by oxidative stress, whereas upregulation of DHCR24 in cells expressing HCV was blocked significantly by a reactive oxygen species scavenger. Elevated phosphorylation of Sp1 in response to oxidative stress was mediated by the ATM kinase. Thus, activation of Sp1 by oxidative stress is involved in the promotion of expression of DHCR24 by HCV. J. Med. Virol. 84:733–746, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Review: Antibodies to cutaneous human papillomaviruses
Authors: Antonsson Annika
Published: March 2012

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are small double‐stranded DNA viruses that infect the epithelia of skin or mucosa. Cutaneous HPV is ubiquitous and many children have skin warts at some stage during childhood and a high proportion of the adult population have asymptomatic skin HPV infections. While a subset of mucosal HPV types are involved in cervical cancer, the role for cutaneous HPV types in skin cancer is still under debate. There is some evidence that the skin HPV types have mechanisms to induce skin cancer, but the role of HPV infection has never been proved in larger epidemiological studies and is not well understood. Cutaneous HPV serology has been employed more commonly during the last decade to help find a link between cutaneous HPV and skin cancer. This review covers the findings from cutaneous HPV serology studies published during the last decade and discusses differences in seroprevalence and risk factors. J. Med. Virol. 84:814–822, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The interleukin 28B rs12979860 C/T polymorphism and serum cholesterol as predictors of fibrosis progression in patients with chronic hepatitis C and persistently normal transaminases
Authors: Fabris Carlo , Falleti Edmondo , Cussigh Annarosa , Bitetto Davide , Fontanini Elisabetta , Colletta Cosimo , Vandelli Carmen , Cmet Sara , Ceriani Elisa , Smirne Carlo , Toniutto Pierluigi , Pirisi Mario
Published: March 2012

The interleukin 28B (IL‐28B) rs12979860 C/T polymorphism is a predictor of spontaneous and treatment‐induced hepatitis C virus (HCV) clearance. The C/C genotype is associated with higher serum cholesterol, predictor of a favorable outcome in chronic hepatitis C. Whether IL‐28B polymorphism and serum cholesterol play a role in modulating the history of mild hepatitis C is unknown. To clarify this issue, 93 untreated patients infected with HCV with normal or near‐normal transaminases and an initial Ishak staging score ≤1 were investigated retrospectively in the longitudinal study (median histological follow‐up of 10 years). An additional confirmatory cohort of 143 patients with chronic HCV infection and abnormal levels of transaminases was evaluated in the cross‐sectional study. In the longitudinal study, at the end of follow‐up, Ishak staging scores progressed more frequently among carriers of a T/* allele who had a baseline serum cholesterol ≤175 mg/dl than in remaining patients: 6/36 (change ≤0), 15/45 (change 1–2), 6/12 (change ≥3), improvement chi‐square P < 0.02, OR 3.1, 95% C.I. 1.3–7.7. In the cross‐sectional study, the frequency of patients carrying the T/T genotype or serum cholesterol values ≤175 mg/dl increased starting from those with a staging score ≤2 (36/76, 47.4%), to those with a staging score of 3–4 (26/41, 63.4%) and to those with a staging score of 5–6 (20/26, 76.9%, P < 0.01 for linear trend). In conclusion, the interaction between IL‐28B rs12979860 T/T genotype and low serum cholesterol concentration is an independent predictor of a worse disease course among patients infected with HCV with normal or near‐normal transaminases. J. Med. Virol. 84:747–755, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Genetic analysis of hepatitis A virus variants circulating among children presenting with acute diarrhea in Cameroon
Authors: Forbi Joseph C. , Agwale Simon M. , Ndip Lucy M. , Esona Mathew D.
Published: March 2012

Molecular investigation was undertaken of circulating hepatitis A virus (HAV) associated with cases of acute diarrhea among children under 5 years of age in Kumba–Cameroon. Reverse transcription PCR, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis of a 371 bp segment of the VP1/P2A junction of six isolates obtained from stool samples showed the exclusive emergence of genetically related HAV subgenotype IA. All the isolates clustered within a unique lineage exhibiting a 99.5% nucleotide identity suggesting infection from a common source. The Cameroonian HAV isolates did not intermix or cluster with those from other regions of Africa and the rest of the world. Tajima's neutralization tests using the six sequences suggested HAV/IA population expansion (D = −1.37;P = 0.016). This is the first description of indigenous HAV genotypes circulating in Cameroon revealing a community‐wide spread and predominance of HAV/1A infection in the Kumba area. These findings stress the need for routine molecular tracking of HAV infection as a contributory cause of acute diarrhea in Cameroonian children. J. Med. Virol. 84:728–732, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Epstein–Barr virus‐associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in Los Angeles County
Authors: Kelesidis Theodoros , Humphries Romney , Terashita Dawn , Eshaghian Shahrooz , Territo Mary C. , Said Jonathan , Lewinski Michael , Currier Judith S. , Pegues David
Published: March 2012

Data on Epstein–Barr virus‐related hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV‐HLH) in adults in the United States remain very limited. A cluster of four cases of EBV‐HLH was observed in a 4‐month period at a tertiary center in Los Angeles County (LA County) and the clinical and molecular characteristics identified in these cases are being described. EBV typing, immunophenotypic and molecular genetic studies were performed. Diagnostic criteria that may be used to identify EBV as a cause of HLH in adults are also being suggested. Finally, the crude incidence rate for HLH in LA County was determined and was compared to the worldwide crude incidence rate for HLH. The cases each occurred in young male adult residents of California and were associated with evidence of EBV reactivation and ferritin levels of >20,000 µg/L. A higher rate of cases of EBV‐HLH in 2010 was found at UCLA Medical Center than for 2007–2009 (4.9/10,000 hospital discharges vs. 0.14/10,000 hospital discharges, respectively; P = 0.0017). The cases were associated with EBV type 1, and the insertion of the codon CTC (leucine) was found in numerous of the EBNA‐2 gene sequences. The annual incidence of secondary, non‐familial HLH was estimated to be 0.9 cases per million persons >15 years of age in LA County. Although EBV‐HLH is a rare disease, the incidence in adults in Western countries may be underestimated. J. Med. Virol. 84:777–785, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Spontaneous firing and evoked responses of spinal nociceptive neurons are attenuated by blockade of P2X3 and P2X2/3 receptors in inflamed rats
Authors: Xu Jun , Chu Katharine L. , Brederson Jill‐Desiree , Jarvis Michael F. , McGaraughty Steve
Published: March 2012

P2X3 and P2X2/3 receptors are selectively expressed on primary afferent nociceptors and have been implicated in modulating nociception in different models of pathological pain, including inflammatory pain. In an effort to delineate further the role of P2X3 receptors (homomeric and heteromeric) in the modulation of nociceptive transmission after a chronic inflammation injury, A‐317491, a potent and selective P2X3–P2X2/3 antagonist, was administered to CFA‐inflamed rats in order to examine its effects on responses of spinal dorsal horn neurons to mechanical and thermal stimulation. Systemic injection of A‐317491 (30 μmol/kg, i.v.) reduced the responses of wide‐dynamic‐range (WDR) and nociceptive specific (NS) neurons to both high‐intensity mechanical (pinch) and heat (49°C) stimulation. A‐317491 also decreased low‐intensity (10 g von Frey hair) mechanically evoked activity of WDR neurons but did not alter WDR neuronal responses to cold stimulation (5°C). Spontaneous firing of WDR neurons in CFA‐inflamed rats was also significantly attenuated by A‐317491 injection. By using immunohistochemistry, P2X3 receptors were demonstrated to be enhanced in lamina II of the spinal dorsal horn after inflammation. In summary, blockade of P2X3 and P2X2/3 receptors dampens mechanical‐ and heat‐related signaling, as well as nonevoked activity of key classes of spinal nociceptive neurons in inflamed animals. These data suggest that P2X3 and/or P2X2/3 receptors have a broad contribution to somatosensory/nociceptive transmission in rats with a chronic inflammatory injury and are consistent with previous behavioral data demonstrating antiallodynic and antihyperalgesic effects of receptor antagonists. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Selective laser vaporization of polypropylene mesh used in treatment of female stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse: Preliminary studies using a red diode laser
Authors: Burks David , Rosenbury Sarah B. , Kennelly Michael J. , Fried Nathaniel M.
Published: March 2012

Background and Objectives

The most common mesh‐related complication experienced by patients undergoing transvaginal polypropylene synthetic slings for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and transvaginal pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repair with mesh is vaginal mesh erosion. More than half of the patients who experience erosion from synthetic mesh require surgical excision which is technically challenging and risks damage to healthy adjacent tissue. This study explores selective laser vaporization of polypropylene suture/mesh materials commonly used in SUI and POP.

Materials and Methods

A compact, 7 Watt, 647‐nm, red diode laser was operated with a radiant exposure of 81 J/cm2, pulse duration of 100 milliseconds, and 1.0‐mm‐diameter laser spot. The 647‐nm wavelength was selected because its absorption by water, hemoglobin, and other tissue chromophores is low, while polypropylene absorption is high. Laser vaporization of ∼200‐µm‐diameter polypropylene suture/mesh strands, in contact with fresh urinary tissue samples was performed, ex vivo. Temperature mapping of suture/mesh samples with a thermal camera was also conducted.

Results

Selective vaporization of polypropylene suture and mesh using a single laser pulse was achieved with peak temperatures of 180 and 232°C, respectively, while direct laser irradiation of tissue alone resulted in only a 1°C temperature increase.

Conclusions

Selective laser vaporization of polypropylene suture/mesh materials is feasible without significant thermal elevation in the adjacent tissue. This technique may be useful for treatment of eroded mesh after SUI or POP procedures that require surgical revision. Lasers Surg. Med. 44:325–329, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Light‐Induced Dynamics in Conjugated Bis(terpyridine) Ligands – A Case Study Toward Photoactive Coordination Polymers
Authors: Siebert Ronald , Winter Andreas , Schmitt Michael , Popp Jürgen , Schubert Ulrich S. , Dietzek Benjamin
Published: March 2012

Terpyridine coordination compounds have recently revealed their potential toward optoelectronic applications, which are based on (i) their excellent charge‐transfer properties or (ii) intriguing luminescence properties of the systems, depending on their design. This article features recent work in dissecting the photophysical properties of such materials by investigating the photoinduced processes in individual molecular fragments. The article starts considering the terpyridine ligands themselves before discussing the impact of metal coordination. After shedding light into the interplay of different electronic states in the terpyridine complexes, first results of a single‐molecule fluorescence study are presented, which allow for correlation of the overall luminescence properties with the structure of the polymer.
Mechanism for dynamic regulation of iNOS expression after UVB‐irradiation
Authors: Lu Wei , Wu Shiyong
Published: March 2012

Ultraviolet B (UVB) induces an immediate activation of cNOSs, which contributes to the early release of nitric oxide after irradiation. UVB also induces the expression of iNOS, which peaks at both the mRNA and protein level near 24 h post‐irradiation. The induced expression of iNOS contributes largely to the late elevation of nitric oxide after UVB irradiation. However, the regulation of iNOS expression in the early stages of UVB irradiation is not well studied. We previously reported that the UVB‐induced early release of nitric oxide leads to the activation of PERK and GCN2, which phosphorylate the alpha‐subunit of eIF2 and inhibit protein synthesis. In this report, we demonstrate that eIF2 phosphorylation plays a critical role in regulation of iNOS expression in the early‐phase (with in 12 h) of UVB irradiation. Our data shows that with an increased phosphorylation of eIF2, the iNOS protein expression was reduced even though the iNOS mRNA expression was linearly increased in HaCaT and MEF cells after UVB irradiation. The UVB‐induced dynamic up‐ and down‐regulation of iNOS expression was almost completely lost in MEFA/A cells, which contain a nonphosphorylatable S51A mutation on eIF2. Our results suggest that the UVB‐induced eIF2 phosphorylation does not only regulate iNOS expression at the translational level, but at the transcriptional level as well. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.