bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recombinant Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor 121 Infusion Lowers Blood Pressure and Improves Renal Function in Rats With PlacentalIschemia-Induced Hypertension
Authors: Gilbert Jeffrey S. , Verzwyvelt Joseph , Colson Drew , Arany Marietta , Karumanchi S. Ananth , Granger Joey P.
Published: December 2009

Antagonism of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling by soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 occurs during preeclampsia and is proposed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. We reported recently that hypertension associated with chronic reductions in uteroplacental perfusion pressure (RUPP) is associated with increased soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 and decreased free VEGF. Whether restoration of circulating VEGF can restore renal function and chronically decrease arterial pressure associated with placental ischemia remains unknown. We hypothesized that chronic infusion of VEGF
121
would attenuate hypertension, increase glomerular filtration rate, and reverse the endothelial dysfunction associated with chronic RUPP. VEGF
121
(at either 90 or 180 μg/kg per day) was administered for 5 days via osmotic minipump placed IP. Mean arterial pressure, renal function, and tissues were obtained on day 19 of pregnancy from RUPP+VEGF, RUPP, and normal pregnant dams. Mean arterial pressure was increased in the RUPP (131±3 mm Hg) compared with the normal pregnant (102±1 mm Hg) rats, and infusion of VEGF
121
resolved the hypertension (105±5 mm Hg). Glomerular filtration rate was decreased in the RUPP dams (1.5±0.3 mL/min) and restored to normal pregnant levels (3.1±0.5 mL/min) by VEGF
121
treatment (3.1±0.4 mL/min). Effective renal plasma flow, decreased by RUPP, was also increased by VEGF
121
infusion. Relaxation to acetylcholine was enhanced by the VEGF treatment (
P
<0.05). These data demonstrate that chronic infusion of VEGF
121
during late gestation restores glomerular filtration rate and endothelial function and reduces high blood pressure associated with placental ischemia. The present results suggest that VEGF
121
may be a candidate molecule for management of preeclampsia and its related complications.
Early Life Stress Sensitizes Rats to Angiotensin II–Induced Hypertension and Vascular Inflammation in Adult Life
Authors: Loria Analia S. , Pollock David M. , Pollock Jennifer S.
Published: December 2009

Maternal separation during early life is an established chronic behavioral model of early life stress in rats. It is known that perinatal adverse environments increase activity of the renin-angiotensin (Ang) system, specifically Ang II, in adulthood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the effects of early life stress augment the sensitivity of the Ang II pathway. Using Wistar Kyoto rats, the maternal separation (MS) protocol was performed by separating approximately half of the male pups from their mother 3 h/d from days 2 to 14 of life. Pups remaining with the mother at all times were used as controls. Maternal separation did not influence the plasma basal parameters, such as blood glucose, insulin, Ang II, Ang 1-7 and plasma renin activity. Furthermore, body weight, blood pressure, and heart rate were similar in MS and control rats. The acute pressor response to Ang II was not different in anesthetized MS and control rats. However, the chronic infusion of Ang II (65 ng/min SC) elicited an exaggerated hypertensive response in MS compared with control rats (P<0.05). Surprisingly, HR was dramatically increased during the second week of Ang II infusion in MS compared with control rats (P<0.05). This enhanced Ang II sensitivity was accompanied by a greater vascular inflammatory response in MS versus control rats. Chronic Ang II infusion increased vascular wall structure in both groups similarly. These data indicate that early life stress sensitizes rats to an increased hemodynamic and inflammatory response during Ang II–induced hypertension.
Efficient Learning and Feature Selection in High-Dimensional Regression
Authors: Ting Jo-Anne , D'Souza Aaron , Vijayakumar Sethu , Schaal Stefan
Published: December 2009

We present a novel algorithm for efficient learning and feature selection in high-dimensional regression problems. We arrive at this model through a modification of the standard regression model, enabling us to derive a probabilistic version of the well-known statistical regression technique of backfitting. Using the expectation-maximization algorithm, along with variational approximation methods to overcome intractability, we extend our algorithm to include automatic relevance detection of the input features. This variational Bayesian least squares (VBLS) approach retains its simplicity as a linear model, but offers a novel statistically robust black-box approach to generalized linear regression with high-dimensional inputs. It can be easily extended to nonlinear regression and classification problems. In particular, we derive the framework of sparse Bayesian learning, the relevance vector machine, with VBLS at its core, offering significant computational and robustness advantages for this class of methods. The iterative nature of VBLS makes it most suitable for real-time incremental learning, which is crucial especially in the application domain of robotics, brain-machine interfaces, and neural prosthetics, where real-time learning of models for control is needed. We evaluate our algorithm on synthetic and neurophysiological data sets, as well as on standard regression and classification benchmark data sets, comparing it with other competitive statistical approaches and demonstrating its suitability as a drop-in replacement for other generalized linear regression techniques.
The Wintertime Wind Stress Curl Field in the North Atlantic and Its Relation to Atmospheric Teleconnection Patterns
Authors: Sugimoto Shusaku , Hanawa Kimio
Published: December 2009

Adopting a rotated empirical orthogonal function (REOF) analysis and a maximum covariance analysis (MCA), characteristics of the wintertime wind stress curl (WSC) anomaly field in the North Atlantic are investigated. In terms of both temporal variation and spatial distribution, the first four leading modes of WSC show a one-to-one relation with four atmospheric teleconnection patterns over the North Atlantic sector: the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the east Atlantic (EA), tropical–Northern Hemisphere (TNH), and Pacific–North American (PNA) patterns. These four patterns characterize the WSC variations over the different regions in the North Atlantic: NAO and EA over the eastern side of the basin, TNH over the central part of the basin, and PNA over the western side of the basin.
Momentum Advection and the Gradient of a Vector Field: A Discussion of Standard Notation
Authors: DeCaria Alex J. , Sikora Todd D.
Published: December 2009

The confusion and ambiguity in the literature regarding the notation (V · ∇)V versus V · ∇V is discussed, and the equivalence of the two expressions is demonstrated. The invariance of this notation in any coordinate system is also shown.
Two-Dimensional Continuous Wavelet Analysis and Its Application to Meteorological Data
Authors: Wang Ning , Lu Chungu
Published: December 2009

The two-dimensional continuous wavelet transform (2D CWT) has become an important tool to examine and diagnose nonstationary datasets on the plane. Compared with traditional spectral analysis methods, the 2D CWT provides localized spectral information of the analyzed dataset. It also has the advantage over the 2D discrete wavelet transform (DWT) in that it covers the domain of the analyzed data with a continuous analysis from which detailed, shift-invariant spectral information of different positions and orientations can be obtained. In this paper, a brief introduction of the 2D CWT and some of the most common wavelet mother functions are given, and some practical issues arising from the implementation and applications of the 2D CWT are discussed. The 2D CWT is applied to several test functions to illustrate the effects of the transforms. To demonstrate its practical application, the 2D CWT is used to analyze a set of meteorological data obtained from a numerical model stimulation.
Patient-centred tuberculosis treatment delivery under programmatic conditions in Tanzania: a cohort study
Authors: Egwaga Saidi , Mkopi Abdallah , Range Nyagosya , Haag-Arbenz Vera , Baraka Amuri , Grewal Penny , Cobelens Frank , Mshinda Hassan , Lwilla Fred , van Leth Frank
Published: December 2009

Background

Directly observed therapy (DOT) remains the cornerstone of the global tuberculosis (TB) control strategy. Tanzania, one of the 22 high-burden countries regarding TB, changed the first-line treatment regimen to contain rifampicin-containing fixed-dose combination for the full 6 months of treatment. As daily health facility-based DOT for this long period is not feasible for the patient, nor for the health system, Tanzania introduced patient centred treatment (PCT). PCT allows patients to choose for daily DOT at a health facility or at their home by a supporter of choice. The introduction of fixed dose combinations in the intensive and continuation phase made PCT feasible by eliminating the risk of selective drug taking by patients and reducing the number of tablets to be taken. The approach was tested in three districts with the objective to assess the effect of this strategy on TB treatment outcomes

Methods

Cohort analysis comparing patients treated under the PCT strategy (registered April-September 2006) with patients treated under health-facility-based DOT (registered April-September 2005). The primary outcome was the cure rate. Differences were assessed by calculating the risk ratios. Associations between characteristics of the supporters and treatment outcomes in the group of patients opting for home-based DOT were assessed through logistic regression.

Results

In the PCT cohort there were 1208 patients and 1417 were included in the historic cohort. There was no significant difference in cure rates between the cohorts (risk ratio [RR]: 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.96-1.16). In the PCT cohort, significantly more patients had successful treatment (cure or treatment completed; RR: 1.10; 95%CI: 1.01-1.15). There were no characteristics of supporters that were associated with treatment outcome.

Conclusion

The PCT approach showed similar cure rates and better treatment success rates compared to daily health-facility DOT. The results indicate that there are no specific prerequisites for the supporter chosen by the patient. The programmatic setting of the study lends strong support for scaling-up of TB treatment observation outside the health facility.
Wolfram Syndrome presenting with optic atrophy and diabetes mellitus: two case reports
Authors: Manaviat Masoud Reza , Rashidi Maryam , Mohammadi Seyed Mohammad
Published: December 2009

Wolfram syndrome is the constellation of juvenile onset diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy, known as DIDMOAD (Diabetes Insipidus, Diabetes Mellitus, Optic Atrophy, and Deafness).

Patients demonstrate diabetes mellitus followed by optic atrophy in the first decade, diabetes insipidus and sensorineural deafness in the second decade, dilated renal outflow tracts early in the third decade, and multiple neurological abnormalities early in the fourth decade.

This study reports two siblings with late diagnosed wolfram syndrome with diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, deafness and severe urological abnormalities.

In conclusion, cases having early onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and optic atrophy together need to be evaluated with respect to Wolfram.
Duration of red blood cell storage and outcomes in pediatric cardiac surgery: an association found for pump prime blood
Authors: Ranucci Marco , Carlucci Concetta , Isgrò Giuseppe , Boncilli Alessandra , De Benedetti Donatella , De la Torre Teresa , Brozzi Simonetta , Frigiola Alessandro
Published: December 2009

Introduction

Cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass in newborns, infants and small children often requires intraoperative red blood cell transfusions to prime the circuit and oxygenator and to replace blood lost during surgery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of red blood cell storage time prior to transfusion on postoperative morbidity in pediatric cardiac operations.

Methods

One hundred ninety-two consecutive children aged five years or less who underwent cardiac operations using cardiopulmonary bypass and who received red blood cells for priming the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit comprised the blood-prime group. Forty-seven patients receiving red blood cell transfusions after cardiopulmonary bypass were separately analyzed. Patients in the blood-prime group were divided into two groups based on the duration of storage of the red blood cells they received. The newer blood group included patients who received only red blood cells stored for less than or equal to four days and the older blood group included patients who received red blood cells stored for more than four days.

Results

Patients in the newer blood group had a significantly lower rate of pulmonary complications (3.5% versus 14.4%; P = 0.011) as well as a lower rate of acute renal failure (0.8% versus 5.2%; P = 0.154) than patients in the older blood group. Major complications (calculated as a composite score based on pulmonary, neurological, and gastroenterological complications, sepsis and acute renal failure) were found in 6.9% of the patients receiving newer blood and 17.1% of the patients receiving older blood (P = 0.027). After adjusting for other possible confounding variables, red blood cell storage time remained an independent predictor of major morbidity. The same association was not found for patients receiving red blood cell transfusions after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Conclusions

The storage time of the red blood cells used for priming the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit in cardiac operations on newborns and young infants is an independent risk factor for major postoperative morbidity. Pulmonary complications, acute renal failure, and infections are the main complications associated with increased red blood cell storage time.
A blind deconvolution approach to high-resolution mapping of transcription factor binding sites from ChIP-seq data
Authors: Lun Desmond S , Sherrid Ashley , Weiner Brian , Sherman David R , Galagan James E
Published: December 2009

We present CSDeconv, a computational method that determines locations of transcription factor binding from ChIP-seq data. CSDeconv differs from prior methods in that it uses a blind deconvolution approach that allows closely-spaced binding sites to be called accurately. We apply CSDeconv to novel ChIP-seq data for DosR binding in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and to existing data for GABP in humans and show that it can discriminate binding sites separated by as few as 40 bp.
Identification of β-catenin as a target of the intracellular tyrosine kinase PTK6
Authors: Palka-Hamblin Helena L. , Gierut Jessica J. , Bie Wenjun , Brauer Patrick M. , Zheng Yu , Asara John M. , Tyner Angela L.
Published: December 2009

Disruption of the gene encoding protein tyrosine kinase 6 (PTK6) leads to increased growth, impaired enterocyte differentiation and higher levels of nuclear β-catenin in the mouse small intestine. Here, we demonstrate that PTK6 associates with nuclear and cytoplasmic β-catenin and inhibits β-catenin- and T-cell factor (TCF)-mediated transcription. PTK6 directly phosphorylates β-catenin on Tyr64, Tyr142, Tyr331 and/or Tyr333, with the predominant site being Tyr64. However, mutation of these sites does not abrogate the ability of PTK6 to inhibit β-catenin transcriptional activity. Outcomes of PTK6-mediated regulation appear to be dependent on its intracellular localization. In the SW620 colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line, nuclear-targeted PTK6 negatively regulates endogenous β-catenin/TCF transcriptional activity, whereas membrane-targeted PTK6 enhances β-catenin/TCF regulated transcription. Levels of TCF4 and the transcriptional co-repressor TLE/Groucho increase in SW620 cells expressing nuclear-targeted PTK6. Knockdown of PTK6 in SW620 cells leads to increased β-catenin/TCF transcriptional activity and increased expression of β-catenin/TCF target genes Myc and Survivin. Ptk6-null BAT-GAL mice, containing a β-catenin-activated LacZ reporter transgene, have increased levels of β-galactosidase expression in the gastrointestinal tract. The ability of PTK6 to negatively regulate β-catenin/TCF transcription by modulating levels of TCF4 and TLE/Groucho could contribute to its growth-inhibitory activities in vivo.
The Rehabilitation Needs of Adult Siblings of Persons With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Quantitative Investigation
Authors: Degeneffe Charles Edmund
Published: December 2009

This study examined the post-injury rehabilitation needs of 158 adult siblings of persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the United States. The mean age of participants was 37.0 years (SD= 10.0 years), and their ages ranged from 19 to 72 years. A total of 120 (75.9%) of the participants were female. Participants completed the Family Needs Questionnaire (FNQ) (Kreutzer, 1988), which measures the unique needs of families following TBI. The FNQ counts the types of needs rated as important and the frequency in which those needs have been met. Data were analysed via hierarchical multiple regression analysis with the number of met needs set as the outcome variable. A total of 15 predictor variables assessed direct and indirect markers of caregiving related stresses corresponding to position in the Pearlin stress process model. Participants indicated that health information was the most important need while needs for involvement with care were the most often met. Results also indicated that participant feelings of more restrictions in valued family activities and perceptions of greater cognitive-behavioural impairments with their injured siblings were associated with lower number of met rehabilitation needs. Participants reported that the use of effective coping behaviours and access to social support were associated with higher numbers of met rehabilitation needs. Findings suggest adult siblings share similar needs to parents and spouses (i.e., the most common primary caregivers) and require professional attention and support following TBI.
Brain Tumor Signs and Symptoms: Analysis of Primary Health Care Records From the UKCCS
Authors: Ansell Pat , Johnston Tom , Simpson Jill , Crouch Simon , Roman Eve , Picton Susan
Published: December 2009

OBJECTIVE: To compare the frequency of brain tumor signs and symptoms in children with and without brain tumors.

METHODS: This was a UK population-based retrospective analysis of primary care records. Participants were 195 children (1–14 years) newly diagnosed with brain tumors and 285 controls matched by age, gender, and region. Comparisons included total number of prediagnosis consultations, number with ≥1 symptom suggestive of a brain tumor, total number of symptoms, number of different symptoms, and number of visits with specific combinations of symptoms.

RESULTS: On average, cases consulted more often than controls between birth and diagnosis/pseudodiagnosis with brain tumor signs and symptoms. Their consultation rate with ≥1 suggestive symptom escalated in the 2 years before diagnosis. Symptom prevalence was higher among cases than controls, a relative difference of 3.29 times as many consultations with ≥1 suggestive symptom (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.82–3.83) and 7.01 as many with more than 1 (95% CI: 5.38–9.13). In each 6-month period in the 4 years before diagnosis, cases had at least twice as many consultations with ≥1 suggestive symptom (20.81 times as many in the 6 months before diagnosis [95% CI: 14.29–30.30]) and 2–3 times more records of suggestive symptoms (28.35 times more in the 6 months before diagnosis [95% CI: 19.05–42.19]). Symptoms rarely or not observed among control children included head tilt, odd head movements, odd posture, back or neck stiffness, and unsteadiness without obvious cause.

CONCLUSION Key to identifying the 1 child among many who merits prompt investigation is recognition of unusual symptoms, or specific symptom patterns.
Displacement‐current analysis of organic light‐emitting diodes
Authors: Lee Soonseok , Hur Jeongwook , Lim Sungkyoo
Published: December 2009

Abstract— Organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) having multiple organic layers were fabricated to analyze the physical phenomena occurring in an OLED according to the amplitude of the applied voltage. The staircase voltage with both an increasing period and a constant period was designed and applied to an OLED. The displacement current began to change at a voltage where the conduction current began to change, and partly originated from the formation of space charge due to the low mobility of the majority carrier. The displacement current was shown to be constant at low voltage and decreased after showing a maximum value as the applied voltage increased. The exact voltage for the injection of two types of carriers and light emission could be obtained from the variation in the displacement current.
Achromatic quarter‐wave film using two chromatic wave plates and a twisted‐nematic liquid‐crystal cell
Authors: Wu Di , Wang Qiong‐Hua , Li Da‐Hai , Zhang Jian‐De
Published: December 2009

Abstract— An achromatic quarter‐wave film using one twisted‐nematic liquid‐crystal (TNLC) cell, a chromatic half‐wave plate, and a chromatic quarter‐wave plate is presented. The Jones matrix is used to calculate the optical properties of the system. An optimal algorithm is used for optimizing the configuration parameters. Simulation results indicate that the designed configuration is capable of turning a linearly polarized light into perfectly circularly polarized light in the wavelength range 400–700 nm. The manufacturing tolerance of the cell gap and twisted angle of the TNLC are good.
A novel low‐power‐consumption all‐digital system‐on‐glass display with serial interface
Authors: Harada Kenji , Kimura Hiroyuki , Miyatake Masaki , Kataoka Seiji , Tsunashima Takanori , Motai Tomonobu , Kawamura Tetsuya
Published: December 2009

Abstract— A new conceptual ultra‐compact LCD panel, which features a simple interface and lower‐power consumption by using low‐temperature polysilicon thin‐film transistor (LTPS‐TFT) technology has been developed. This panel is capable of switching operation modes based on an input command, and all the data are directly communicated with the circuit inside the panel through a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) protocol. The integration of the serial‐data‐receiver function on glass substrate has enabled the achievement of a significant reduction in the number of interface pins. Moreover, a low power consumption of 15 μW for a 2.26‐in. reflective LCD panel in combination with the technique of integrating a memory circuit in each pixel has been achieved.
Introduction to an Open Source Internet-Based Testing Program for Medical Student Examinations
Authors: Lee Yoon-Hwan
Published: December 2009

The author developed a freely available open source internet-based testing program for medical examination. PHP and Java script were used as the programming language and postgreSQL as the database management system on an Apache web server and Linux operating system. The system approach was that a super user inputs the items, each school administrator inputs the examinees??information, and examinees access the system. The examinee?占퐏 score is displayed immediately after examination with item analysis. The set-up of the system beginning with installation is described. This may help medical professors to easily adopt an internet-based testing system for medical education.
LASIK Flap Buttonhole Treated Immediately by PRK With Mitomycin C
Authors: Kymionis George D. , Portaliou Dimitra M. , Karavitaki Alexandra E. , Krasia Maria S. , Kontadakis Georgios A. , Stratos Aimilianos A. , Yoo Sonia H.
Published: December 2009

PURPOSE:

To describe the visual outcomes of three patients who had LASIK flap buttonhole and were treated immediately with photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and topical mitomycin C (MMC) 0.02%.

METHODS:

Three patients underwent bilateral LASIK with the SCHWIND Carriazo-Pendular 90-
µ
m head microkeratome. In all three cases, a buttonhole flap occurred in the left eye. The flap was repositioned and phototherapeutic keratectomy for 50
µ
m was used for epithelial removal while immediate PRK with MMC was performed to treat the buttonhole flap.

RESULTS:

Three months after the procedure, uncorrected distance visual acuity and corrected distance visual acuity were 20/20 with regular topographic findings.

CONCLUSIONS:

Using PRK with MMC immediately after the occurrence of a LASIK flap buttonhole may be an effective treatment. [
J Refract Surg
. 2010;26:225–228.]
Determining Spherocylindrical Correction Using Four Different Wavefront Error Analysis Methods: Comparison to Manifest Refraction
Authors: Campbell Charles E.
Published: December 2009

Purpose:

To evaluate methods that determine refractive correction from wavefront data that best matches the manifest refraction.

Methods:

Wavefront data in the form of Zernike polynomial coefficients from several VISX US Investigational Device Exemption studies were used to calculate the spherocylindrical distance correction using four methods: full pupil second order, central curvature, reduced aperture, and 4-mm pupil. The data were analyzed in two groups, preoperative (3686 measurements, 882 eyes) and 6-month postoperative (2570 measurements, 797 eyes). Differences were formed between values found with each method and the manifest refractive values for the spherical equivalent (dSE), cylinder power (dCc), and axis power (dAc). The wavefront spherical equivalent values were corrected for chromatic shift, lane length, and vertex.

Results:

Values derived using the reduced aperture and 4-mm pupil methods corresponded with manifest spherical equivalent values for both preoperative (
x̄
=−0.03 diopters [D],
x̄
=0.95 D) and postoperative (
x̄
=−0.36 D,
x̄
=0.65 D) data. The full pupil second order method results corresponded best with manifest data for the astigmatic variables for both preoperative (
x̄ dCc
=0.15 D, σ
dCc
=0.31 D,
x̄ dAc
= 0.02 D, σ
dAc
=0.22 D) and postoperative data (
x̄ dCc
=0.25 D, σ
dCc
=0.33 D,
x̄ dAc
=0.01 D, σ
dAc
=0.21 D). However, all methods did well on these variables.

Conclusions:

The Zernike coefficient set as measured best calculates the astigmatic correction. The Zernike coefficient set resized to a 4-mm pupil is best in determining spherical equivalent.
US FDA Clinical Trial of the Tetraflex Potentially Accommodating IOL: Comparison to Concurrent Age-Matched Monofocal Controls
Authors: Sanders Donald R. , Sanders Monica L. ,   Tetraflex Presbyopic IOL Study Group
Published: December 2009

Purpose:

To assess the efficacy of the Tetraflex (Lenstec Inc) intraocular lens (IOL) to provide enhanced near reading ability and spectacle independence relative to a monofocal control IOL in bilaterally implanted eyes tested binocularly.

Methods:

A prospective, age-matched, non-randomized US Food and Drug Administration clinical trial of 255 Tetraflex and 101 monofocal IOL control patients was performed. To date, 239 Tetraflex and 96 control patients were examined at 12 months postoperatively.

Results:

At 12 months postoperative, the Tetraflex patients read better than the controls at print sizes of 20/80 (P=.04), 20/63 (P=.01), 20/50 (P<.001), 20/40 (P=.001), 20/32 (P<.001), and 20/25 (P=.001). The proportion of patients reading at a speed of ≥80 words per minute was significantly higher with the Tetraflex IOL (P=.003). Ninety-six percent of Tetraflex patients reported never wearing glasses for distance compared with 80% of control patients (P<.001). Seventy-five percent of the Tetraflex patients reported near spectacle wear either never or only occasionally for small print and/or dim light (21% never) compared with 46% of control patients (P<.001) (9% never). Near add power requirement for corrected near visual acuity was less in the Tetraflex group (P<.001); 28% of Tetraflex patients required ≤1.25 diopters of near add, compared to only 7% of control patients. Spectacle independence, as measured by the proportion of patients with uncorrected distance visual acuity of 20/25 or better and various degrees of uncorrected near visual acuity, was also significantly better (P<.001) as was distance-corrected near visual acuity (P<.001).

Conclusions:

The results support the efficacy of the Tetraflex IOL to provide enhanced near reading ability and spectacle independence relative to a monofocal IOL control.
Pupil Size, White-to-White Corneal Diameter, and Anterior Chamber Depth in Patients with Myopia
Authors: Alfonso José F. , Ferrer-Blasco Teresa , González-Méijome José M. , García-Manjarres M. , Peixoto-de-Matos Sofia C. , Montés-Micó Robert
Published: December 2009

Purpose:

To evaluate anatomical parameters in a population of patients with myopia.

Methods:

Nine hundred sixty-four myopic eyes (−3.00 to −20.00 diopters [D] spherical equivalent refraction) were evaluated to measure mesopic and photopic pupil size with an infrared pupillometer; anterior chamber depth and white-to-white corneal diameter were obtained with Orbscan II (Bausch & Lomb). Correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationships among anatomical parameters of the anterior segment of the eye.

Results:

Average change in pupil size between mesopic and photopic conditions shows a uniform gap of 1.5 mm in patients aged 18 to 62 years with a slight insignificant trend to decrease with age. Photopic and mesopic pupil size were highly correlated (r=0.694,
P
<.001) and the difference between both measures was positively correlated with mesopic pupil size (r=0.207,
P
<.001) and inversely correlated with photopic pupil size (r=0.561,
P
<.001). Anterior chamber depth and white-to-white corneal diameter were positively correlated (r=0.389,
P
<.001). White-to-white corneal diameter and anterior chamber depth were not correlated with age (r=−0.096,
P
<.001) or anterior chamber depth (r=−0.183,
P
<.001–0.183) as a function of age.

Conclusions:

Average difference between photopic and mesopic pupil size remained constant across the range of ages included in this cohort. A positive correlation was noted between anterior segment dimensions, and anterior chamber depth decreased with age.
Diagnostic and Pathophysiological Impact of Myocardial MIBG Scintigraphy in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Spiegel Jörg
Published: December 2009

Myocardial MIBG scintigraphy is established in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Numerous studies address the pathophysiological impact of myocardial MIBG scintigraphy: the myocardial MIBG uptake correlates with the clinical phenotype of PD; the background of this phenomenon is unclear. Furthermore MIBG scintigraphy enables to study the extracranial Lewy body type-degeneration. In combination with cerebral dopamine transporter imaging, MIBG scintigraphy allows to correlate cerebral and extracranial Lewy body type-degeneration in PD.
Copy number and sequence variants implicate APBA2 as an autism candidate gene
Authors: Babatz Timothy D. , Kumar Ravinesh A. , Sudi Jyotsna , Dobyns William B. , Christian Susan L.
Published: December 2009

We recently reported an autistic proband and affected sibling with maternally inherited microduplications within the 15q13.1 and 15q13.3 regions that contain a total of 4 genes. The amyloid precursor protein‐binding protein A2 (APBA2) gene is located within the 15q13.1 duplication and encodes a neuronal adaptor protein essential to synaptic transmission that interacts directly with NRXN1 at the presynaptic membrane. We interpreted this as evidence for a putative role of APBA2 in autism as larger maternal duplications of 15q11‐q13 are the most common known cause of autism. We therefore resequenced 512 subjects with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 463 controls, and identified 7 novel nonsynonymous coding variants in ASD subjects compared with 4 in controls. Five of the seven variants in the ASD group were predicted to affect protein function, alter residues conserved across 18 species, or both. All of the variants for which parental DNA was available were inherited. We also found two different nonsynonymous variants in two siblings with autism: (1) a paternally inherited heterozygous 6 bp deletion and (2) a maternally inherited heterozygous missense mutation, the latter also found in a single control. These results indicate compound heterozygous mutations of APBA2 in this autism sibship. The co‐occurrence of two nonsynonymous mutations in both affected siblings in a single family, each transmitted from a different unaffected parent, suggest a role for APBA2 mutations in rare individuals with ASD.
Dose‐dependent actions of curcumin in experimentally induced myocardial necrosis: a biochemical, histopathological, and electron microscopic evidence
Authors: Tanwar Vineeta , Sachdeva Jaspreet , Kishore Kamal , Mittal Rajan , Nag Tapas Chandra , Ray Ruma , Kumari Santosh , Arya Dharamvir Singh
Published: December 2009

Curcumin, an active component of turmeric, is a well‐known antioxidant due to its reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging property. However, some in vitro studies have suggested that curcumin induces generation of ROS at higher doses and thus exerts pro‐oxidant effect. We demonstrate, for the first time, the dose‐dependent effects of curcumin in isoprenaline‐induced model of myocardial necrosis in rats. The animals were assigned to control, isoprenaline and three curcumin treatment groups. Curcumin (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) and vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide) were administrated orally for 15 days and isoprenaline (85 mg/kg, s.c.) was given to curcumin treated and isoprenaline group on 13th and 14th day, respectively. Thereafter, on 15th day, the animals were sacrificed for biochemical analysis along with histopathological and ultrastructural examination. There was an increase in glutathione, superoxide dismutase (SOD), creatine kinase‐MB (CK‐MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, decrease in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and preservation of myocardial architecture in the curcumin (100 and 200 mg/kg) treated groups. However, at 400 mg/kg dose there was ineffectual protection against isoprenaline‐induced myocardial damage. Instead, there was significant lipid peroxidation as evident by increased levels of TBARS (93.87 ± 9.93, p < 0.0001) and decrease in CK‐MB (206.32 ± 13.54, p < 0.0001) and LDH (134.26 ± 9.13, p < 0.01) as compared to the two lower doses. Hence, it can be concluded that curcumin augments endogenous antioxidant system at lower doses but mediates ROS induction at higher concentration leading to myocardial damage. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Wandering coronary stenoses: Adrenaline‐induced coronary artery spasm in a patient resuscitated from cardiac arrest
Authors: Battaglia Salvatore , Nammas Wail
Published: December 2009

A 68‐year‐old ex‐smoker man with history of allergy, presented to the emergency department with progressive dyspnea one hour following self‐medication with aspirin for troublesome headache. Examination revealed diffuse sibilant rhonchi over both lungs. Electrocardiogram showed signs of ischemia. In the intensive care unit, he received bronchodilators, nitroglycerin, and aspirin. Bronchospasm increased, and then the patient was shocked, and developed cardiac arrest. After resuscitation, he was kept on mechanical ventilation and adrenaline infusion. He was sceduled for coronary angiography. The left system demonstrated stenosis of the mid‐segment of the left anterior descending artery (LAD), which was totally occluded distally, stenosis of the left circumflex (LCx) with a mild plaque in its marginal branch. The right system demonstrated stenosis of the mid‐segment of the right coronary artery (RCA), with diffusely diseased posterior descending artery (PDA) and posterolateral left ventricular branch (PLLV). Successful direct stenting was performed to the RCA. Angiography demonstrated worsening of the distal stenosis in the PLLV and complete occlusion of the PDA. Balloon dilatation of the PLLV was adequate, but dilatation of the PDA failed. Repeat angiography of the left system revealed an occluded LCx with critical stenosis of its marginal branch; nevertheless, the LAD was as before. Balloon dilatation of the distal LAD was attempted without improvement, yet, angiography therein, demonstrated “migration” of the stenoses in the LCx. The procedure was halted, adrenaline infusion discontinued, and an intra‐aortic balloon pump inserted. The patient was discharged one day later. Follow‐up angiography 6 months later demonstrated mild atherosclerotic coronary irregularities. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Feasibility of percutaneous transcatheter mitral valve repair with the MitraClip® system using conscious sedation
Authors: Ussia Gian Paolo , Barbanti Marco , Tamburino Corrado
Published: December 2009

We report the first human case of percutaneous transcatheter mitral valve repair with the MitraClip® system under conscious sedation in a patient with severe mitral regurgitation. The procedure was performed using the standard MitraClip® technique, in the catheterization laboratory, with transesophageal echocardiographic and fluoroscopic guidance. Transesophageal echocardiography is the primary imaging modality of the MitraClip procedure, which usually necessitates general anesthesia to guarantee complete immobilization of the patient allowing precise delivery of the MitraClip® device. We successfully performed the procedure under deep sedation, using remifentanil and local anesthesia in a patient who had serious contraindications to general anesthesia. The success of this procedure suggests that percutaneous transcatheter mitral repair with the MitraClip® system can be safely realized using conscious sedation. Conscious sedation may represent a convenient alternative approach for selected patients who undergo this innovative procedure. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Synthesis and Optical Properties of Europium‐Complex‐Doped Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Materials Built from Oxo–Hydroxo Organotin Nano Building Blocks
Authors: Fan Wei‐Qiang , Feng Jing , Song Shu‐Yan , Lei Yong‐Qian , Zheng Guo‐Li , Zhang Hong‐Jie
Published: December 2009

Hybrid materials doped with novel europium complexes were synthesized using PMMA‐co‐Sn12Clusters (copolymers from oxohydroxo‐organotin dimethacrylate and methylmethacrylate) as the matrix material. Two types of hybrid materials were obtained: the physically doped product, PMMA‐co‐Sn12Cluster/Eu(TTA)3phen, and the grafted product, PMMA‐co‐Sn12Cluster‐co‐[EuAA(TTA)2phen] (TTA=2‐thenoyltrifluoroacetone, phen=phenanthroline and AA=acrylic acid). The hybrid materials exhibited characteristic luminescence of the Eu3+ ions, and also showed relative especial optical properties compared with samples just using PMMA as the matrix material. The PMMA‐co‐Sn12Cluster matrix exhibited a high physical doping quantity of [Eu(TTA)3phen], which can be attributed to the special structure of this kind of hybrid material. GPC (gel‐permeation chromatography), TGA (thermogravimetric analysis), SEM, 1H NMR, ICP (inductively coupled plasma), 119Sn NMR, FTIR, and diffuse reflectance techniques were employed to characterize the structures and properties of these hybrid materials.
Regiocontrolled Synthesis of Ethene‐Bridged para‐Phenylene Oligomers Based on PtII‐ and RuII‐Catalyzed Aromatization
Authors: Chen Tse‐An , Lee Te‐Ju , Lin Ming‐Yuan , Sohel Shariar M. A. , Diau Eric Wei‐Guang , Lush Shie‐Fu , Liu Rai‐Shung
Published: December 2009

We report the regiocontrolled syntheses of ethene‐bridged para‐phenylene oligomers in three distinct classes by using PtII‐ and RuII‐catalyzed aromatization. This synthetic approach has been developed based on twofold aromatization of the 1‐aryl‐2‐alkynylbenzene functionality, which proceeds by distinct regioselectivity for platinum and ruthenium catalysts. Variable‐temperature NMR spectra provide evidence that large arrays of these oligomers are prone to twist from planarity. The UV/Vis and photoluminescence (PL) spectra as well as the band gaps of these regularly growing arrays show a pattern of extensive π conjugation with increasing array sizes, except for in one instance.
Evaluation of direct medical costs of hospitalization for febrile neutropenia
Authors: Lathia Nina , Mittmann Nicole , DeAngelis Carlo , Knowles Sandra , Cheung Matthew , Piliotis Eugenia , Shear Neil , Walker Scott
Published: December 2009

BACKGROUND:

Treatment of febrile neutropenia (FN) is costly, because it typically involves hospitalization. As cancer rates continue to increase, the number of patients suffering from FN will also increase, making it important to quantify the costs of treating this condition accurately and comprehensively.

METHODS:

A consecutive sample of patients admitted to an inpatient hematology/oncology ward at a tertiary care hospital for the treatment of chemotherapy‐induced FN was enrolled in this study. Patients were followed prospectively during hospitalization, and information on medical resource utilization including length of stay, medications, and laboratory and diagnostic tests was collected. Costs, extracted from hospital and provincial databases, were used to calculate the overall cost per FN episode, from the hospital perspective.

RESULTS:

Fifty‐one episodes of FN that occurred in 46 patients were included in the study. Approximately 52% of these episodes occurred in women, and 65% of these episodes occurred in patients with hematologic malignancies. The mean ± standard deviation age of patients was 60.3 ± 13.4 years. The mean length of stay per episode was 6.8 ± 4.9 days. The mean overall cost per episode was 6324 ± 4783 in 2007 Canadian dollars.

CONCLUSIONS:

Hospitalization for the treatment of FN is expensive. The results of this study could be used in future economic evaluations of preventive measures and treatments for FN, including primary prophylactic administration of hematopoietic growth factors and outpatient treatment of this condition. Cancer 2010. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Complex care systems in developing countries
Authors: Dye Timothy D. , Bogale Solomon , Hobden Claire , Tilahun Yared , Hechter Vanessa , Deressa Teshome , Bizé Marion , Reeler Anne
Published: December 2009

BACKGROUND:

As the global visibility and importance of breast cancer increases, especially in developing countries, ensuring that countries strengthen and develop health systems that support prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of a complex chronic disease is a priority. Understanding how breast cancer patients navigate health systems to reach appropriate levels of care is critical in assessing and improving the health system response in countries to an increasing breast cancer burden in their populations. Ethiopia has accelerated attention to breast cancer, expanding clinical and public health efforts at diagnosing and treating breast cancer earlier and more efficiently.

METHODS:

This project used a mixed‐method approach to assessing patient navigation of the healthcare system that resulted in care at the cancer referral hospital for Ethiopia (Tikur Anbessa Hospital [TAH]). In total, 69 patients representative of the entire breast cancer clinical population at TAH were interviewed.

RESULTS:

Navigation chains are widely divergent and typically involve 3 or more care nodes until they reach the referral hospital. Patients who consult traditional healers have significantly more care nodes to reach the referral hospital than others, and patients who have direct access to local and regional hospitals have the smallest number of care nodes. Patients report moving laterally from 1 health institution to another or regressing to lower levels of care, sometimes complicated by reinvolving traditional healers.

CONCLUSIONS:

The care system can be streamlined for breast cancer patients in Ethiopia to facilitate patient access to available and clinically effective diagnostic and treatment services in the country, largely through improving local primary care and hospital capacity to provide basic breast cancer services and improve detection and referral. Cancer 2010. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Quality of life after adjuvant intra‐arterial chemotherapy and radiotherapy versus surgery alone in resectable pancreatic and periampullary cancer
Authors: Morak Marjolein J. M. , Pek Chulja J. , Kompanje Erwin J. O. , Hop Wim C. J. , Kazemier Geert , van Eijck Casper H. J.
Published: December 2009

BACKGROUND:

Adjuvant therapies for pancreatic and periampullary cancer reportedly achieve only a marginal survival benefit. In this randomized controlled trial, 120 patients with resected pancreatic or periampullary cancer received either adjuvant celiac axis infusion chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy (CAI/RT) or no adjuvant treatment. The objective of the study was to compare the quality of life (QoL) in patients who received CAI/RT after pancreatoduodenectomy with the QoL in patients who did not receive adjuvant treatment.

METHODS:

During and after CAI/RT, QoL was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Questionnaire C30 every 3 months during the first 24 months after randomization.

RESULTS:

Eighty‐six percent of patients (n = 103) completed 1 or more questionnaires. In total, 355 questionnaires were completed. The results indicated that CAI/RT did not impair physical, emotional, or social functioning. During and after CAI/RT, patients had significantly less pain (P = .02) and less nausea and vomiting (P = .01). Overall QoL (global functioning) tended to be better (P = .08) after CAI/RT.

CONCLUSIONS:

Over a period of 24 months, CAI/RT improved QoL compared with observation alone in patients with resected pancreatic and periampullary cancer. This beneficial effect of CAI/RT was most prominent in the latter half of the follow‐up. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Polarized Absorption, Spontaneous and Stimulated Blue Light Emission of J‐type Tetraphenylbutadiene Monocrystals
Authors: Tavazzi Silvia , Silvestri Leonardo , Miozzo Luciano , Papagni Antonio , Spearman Peter , Ianelli Sandra , Girlando Alberto , Camposeo Andrea , Polo Marco , Pisignano Dario
Published: December 2009

Blue amplified spontaneous emission at room temperature is demonstrated from the exposed face of the strongly emitting organic semiconductor 1,1,4,4‐tetraphenyl‐1,3‐butadiene in single crystal form. The symmetry of the crystal and calculation of lattice sums indicate the J‐type organization of the molecular transition moments. The minimum in the lowest exciton dispersion branch, from which emission takes place, is found at the edge of the Brillouin zone leading to a dominant vibronic emission since the zero‐phonon line is forbidden. The observed gain narrowed line is attributed to the vibronic replica which becomes amplified with increased pumping. The reported emission is along the normal to the exposed crystal face, important for the development of vertical cavity geometry lasers based on organic single crystals. The threshold excitation fluence of 400 μJ cm−2 is comparable to other organic crystalline systems, even if the amplification path is much reduced as a consequence of the vertical geometry. Considering these relevant aspects, the optical characterization of this material is provided. The polarized absorption spectra are reported and the properties of the lowest‐energy excitonic state investigated. Calculation of the electronic transitions for the isolated molecule, lattice sums for the transition at lowest energy, and the symmetry of the crystal allow attributing the largest face of the samples and the observed optical bands in the spectra. Polarized time‐resolved spectra are also reported allowing to identify the intrinsic excitonic emission.