bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Disease Management Protocol for Outpatient Perioperative Bridge Therapy with Enoxaparin in Patients Requiring Temporary Interruption of Long‐Term Oral Anticoagulation
Authors: Spyropoulos Alex C. , Jenkins Patti , Bornikova Larissa
Published: June 2004

Study Objective. Traditional perioperative bridge therapy for patients receiving long‐term oral anticoagulation involves weight‐adjusted intravenous unfractionated heparin (UFH) in the perioperative period during temporary discontinuation of the oral anticoagulant. We sought to determine whether an alternate strategy of outpatient‐based perioperative disease management with low‐molecular‐weight heparin (LMWH) as bridge therapy provides the potential for cost savings.

Design. Retrospective review of all clinic notes from an anticoagulation clinic.

Setting. An integrated, staff‐model health maintenance organization.

Patients. Patients receiving long‐term warfarin therapy from January 1998–March 2002 who received perioperative bridge therapy with the LMWH enoxaparin 1 mg/kg twice/day subcutaneously.

Measurements and Main Results. A total of 126 bridge therapy encounters in 84 patients receiving LMWH as perioperative bridge therapy were identified, with 48 of those encounters involving patients with at least one mechanical heart valve. A total of 1108 hospital bed days were saved. Based on 1996 cost estimates, the total approximate cost savings for the 4.25 years of the outpatient bridge therapy program was $903,020. No thrombotic events were reported. Three major hemorrhagic events that required discontinuation of LMWH were reported.

Conclusion. Outpatient‐based disease management protocols and the LMWH enoxaparin as bridge therapy during temporary discontinuation of warfarin for an elective surgical procedure resulted in cost savings of approximately $212,475/year in an integrated health maintenance organization. In addition, this strategy appears both safe and effective.
Modeling of nanoparticles formation by mixing of two reactive microemulsions
Authors: Ramesh Kumar A. , Hota G. , Mehra A. , Khilar Kartic C.
Published: June 2004

A stochastic population balance model for the formation of nanoparticles, involving mixing of two micellized aqueous solutions containing the individual reactants, respectively, has been developed to study the effects of various parameters that influence the formation process of nanoparticles. Population balance equations have been formulated assuming a cooperative mode of intermicellar exchange in an attempt to explore the largest possible particles that can form in a given system. The proposed model essentially divides the entire population of micelles into different categories and formulates the equations describing the rate of change of the probabilities of different states of the micelles in each category. The effect of parameters, such as nucleation rate, intermicellar exchange rate, critical nucleation number, and concentration of the reactants on the particle sizes that can be obtained, has been investigated. The model predictions show a reasonable qualitative agreement with experimental data. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 50:1556–1567, 2004
Effect of halogen in high‐density oxygen plasmas on photoresist trimming
Authors: Sin Chian‐Yuh , Chen Bing‐Hung , Loh W. L. , Yu J. , Yelehanka P. , See A. , Chan L.
Published: June 2004

Effects of halogens, CF4, Cl2, or HBr, on the photoresist trimming in high‐density oxygen plasmas for sub‐0.1‐μm device fabrication were studied in an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) etcher. The trim rates were measured as a function of halogen gas percentages. The activation energy and the resulting resist profiles were investigated as well, showing that the CF4/O2gives the highest trim rate, followed by HBr/O2and then Cl2/O2at the same amount of additive gas in the mixture. Effects of different plasma chemistry on the chemical constituents of the resist sidewall films were also examined with the angle‐resolved X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS analysis reveals that all halogen gases are useful for resist sidewall protection because of the passivation by the halogen‐containing polymer. The effects of halogen addition include the reaction enhancement, reaction‐site competition between oxygen and halogen, changes in the plasma gas chemistry, and the resist passivation. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 50: 1578–1588, 2004
Decomposition of monochlorobiphenyl isomers in supercritical water in the presence of methanol
Authors: Anitescu Gheorghe , Tavlarides Lawrence L. , Munteanu Valentin
Published: June 2004

Comprehensive studies of monochlorobiphenyl (MCB) decomposition in supercritical water in the presence of methanol and other cosolvents, both with and without oxygen, are being conducted to understand the reaction kinetics and pathways of individual PCB isomers and to determine the structure–reactivity relationships. In the present study the disappearance rate of MCBs, delivered in an isothermal plug‐flow tubular reactor as methanolic solutions, is investigated at 25 MPa and temperatures of 673, 723, and 773 K. Experiments are conducted at nominal MCB feed concentrations of 1–100 μmol/L (reaction conditions) using MCB/MeOH and H2O2/H2O solutions (1–3 g/L and 0–10 wt. %, respectively). Molar conversions of these isomers vary from 3% (2‐CB, 773 K, 2 s) to 30% (4‐CB, 773 K, 46 s) without oxygen (SCWT) and from 1% (2‐CB, 673 K, 3.8 s) to 97% (4‐CB, 773 K, 24.5 s) with oxygen (SCWO). For SCWT the overall conversion follows apparent first order, whereas for SCWO the conversion is second order. The regressed data lead to Arrhenius parameters of frequency factor and activation energy with values of 1020.5–1021.3 s−1 and 320–331 kJ/mol for SCWT and 1024.1–1024.8 s−1 (mol/L)−1 and 281–292 kJ/mol for SCWO, respectively. The reactivity of the MCB isomers increases in the order 2‐MCB < 3‐MCB < 4‐MCB. The positively identified reaction products by GC‐MSD and GC‐FID/ECD/TCD analyses are mainly biphenyl, open‐ring biphenyl compounds such as acetophenone and benzaldehydes, and mineral products (CO, CO2, and HCl). More studies are in progress regarding the role of the second solvent on reaction rates and reaction mechanisms and pathways. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 50: 1536–1544, 2004
3‐D simulation and visualization of laminar flow in a microchannel with hair‐pin curves
Authors: Yamaguchi Y. , Takagi F. , Yamashita K. , Nakamura H. , Maeda H. , Sotowa K. , Kusakabe K. , Yamasaki Y. , Morooka S.
Published: June 2004

The purpose of the present study was to investigate fluidic behavior in a microchannel with hair‐pin curves, using a three‐dimensional (3‐D) computational fluid dynamics simulation, and to observe the 3‐D flow pattern, to validate the simulation. The microchannel used was fabricated on a PMMA plate using a flat‐end mill. The channel width and depth were 210 and 205 μm, respectively, and the radius of each hair‐pin curve was 500 μm. Two liquids; purified water and an aqueous solution of 50 μmol/L fluorescein, were introduced into the microchannel through different inlets and were merged, forming a side‐by‐side parallel flow in the straight channel. When the average velocity was 25 mm/s, the liquid was thrust outward by centrifugal force and, as a result, the vertical line that crossed the central axis was distorted after passing the first hair‐pin curve. At the second hair‐pin curve, the centrifugal force was exerted in the opposite direction, and the distorted line returned nearly to an initial vertical line. When the average velocity was 125 mm/s, however, the vertical line, which was distorted at the first hair‐pin curve, did not recover to the initial vertical line after the second curve. The interface between the two liquids was permanently waved. The simulation was in good agreement with the experimental data. The results suggest that the diffusion rate through the interface of two liquids in microchannels with hair‐pin curves can increase, compared to that in straight microchannels. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 50: 1530–1535, 2004
Atypical findings in Kabuki syndrome: Report of 8 patients in a series of 20 and review of the literature
Authors: Geneviève D. , Amiel J. , Viot G. , Le Merrer M. , Sanlaville D. , Urtizberea A. , Gérard M. , Munnich A. , Cormier‐Daire V. , Lyonnet Stanislas
Published: June 2004

Kabuki syndrome (KS) is a rare multiple congenital anomaly/mental retardation syndrome with an estimated frequency of 1/32,000 in Japan. Five major criteria delineate KS namely postnatal short stature, skeletal anomalies, moderate mental retardation, dermatoglyphic anomalies, and a characteristic facial dysmorphism. Here we report on a series of 20 sporadic KS patients and we focus on some rare and atypical features that we have observed: chronic and/or severe diarrhea (4/20) including celiac disease, diaphragmatic defects (3/20), pseudarthrosis of the clavicles (2/20), vitiligo (2/20), and persistent hypoglycemia (2/20). Other occasional findings were severe autoimmune thrombopenia, cerebellar vermis atrophy, and myopathic features. Interestingly, one of our KS patients presented with a clinical overlap with CHARGE syndrome (right eye microphtalmia with optic nerve coloboma, VSD, bilateral cryptorchidism, and severe deafness). Because these features are more frequent in our series than previously described, we propose to carefully investigate these manifestations during KS patient survey in an attempt to determine their real frequency and in order to improve clinical management. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Endocrine abnormalities in patients with Jacobsen (11q−) syndrome
Authors: Haghi Marjan , Dewan Asheesh , Jones Kenneth Lee , Reitz Richard , Jones Christopher , Grossfeld Paul
Published: June 2004

Jacobsen syndrome (JS), a rare disorder with multiple dysmorphic features, is caused by the terminal deletion of chromosome 11q. Short stature has been reported in this syndrome, however very few of these patients have undergone endocrine evaluation. Serum insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) levels are an indirect indicator of growth hormone activity and are a useful initial screening tool in the assessment of an individual's growth hormone axis. We studied nine children with JS, eight of whom had short stature. Four out of eight children with short stature (50%) had low IGF‐1 values, with three low for age and one low for Tanner stage. Four out of six males (67%) had cryptorchidism, a potential sign of hypogonadism. We conclude that low IGF‐1 is common in patients with JS and short stature, and that growth hormone status and possibly hypothalamic‐pituitary function should be evaluated in this patient population. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Encapsulation and controlled release in polyacrylamide hydrogels
Authors: Joseph Mary , Mathew Tessymol , Devipriya S. , Kuriakose Sunny
Published: June 2004

A novel host–guest system was developed by the encapsulation of simple organic guest molecules in the hydrophilic molecular architecture of crosslinked polyacrylamide hydrogels. The crosslinking agents used for the preparation of the host systems were hexanediol dimethacrylate (HDDMA) and divinyl benzene (DVB). This enabled us to construct hydrogels with different hydrophobic–hydrophilic equilibria. The model guest system used for the studies was benzoic acid. The selections gave simple but excellent host–guest systems with fine polar–apolar balancing. Polyacrylamide hydrogels with encapsulated benzoic acid were prepared with varying crosslink densities (5, 10, 15, and 20 mol %) by the solution polymerization technique. The rate of release of the host from the host–guest assembly was studied in different swelling conditions. The rate of release depended on the interaction forces between the polymer and the solvents. Polar forces, dispersion forces, and hydrogen bonding all played a vital role. The swelling behavior of the host‐polymer system and the host–guest assembly was analyzed and compared by the Flory–Rehner method. The amount of benzoic acid encapsulated in the DVB‐crosslinked polymer was higher than in the HDDMA‐crosslinked polymer, and the rate of release was in the order 5 > 15 > 10 > 20% for the DVB‐crosslinked polymer. The rate of release for the HDDMA‐crosslinked host–guest assembly was in the order 10 > 5 > 15 > 20%. These results were in excellent agreement with those of the Flory–Rehner analysis of the swelling properties. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1816–1824, 2004
Development of new eco‐friendly options for cotton wet processing
Authors: Ibrahim Nabil A. , El‐Hossamy Mamdouh , Morsy Mahmoud S. , Eid Basma M.
Published: June 2004

A new approach was used to search for the optimal conditions for enzymatic scouring with an alkaline pectinase and to investigate the feasibility of performed combined bioscouring and H2O2 bleaching and combined bioscouring and reactive dyeing of unscoured cotton fabrics. The possibility of conducting enzymatic desizing, bioscouring, and H2O2 bleaching of starch‐sized cotton fabrics in a single bath was also examined. The results indicated that changes in the parameters of the bioscouring process, the types and concentrations of the treating bath components, and the sequence of the treatment and addition had pronounced effects on certain properties of the treated cotton substrates (e.g., the residual size, weight loss, wettability, yellowness and whiteness, and dyeability with reactive dyes). The optimal conditions for efficient bioscouring alone and in combination with H2O2 bleaching, reactive dyeing, and enzymatic desizing and H2O2 bleaching were determined. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1825–1836, 2004
Potential and limits of dynamic mechanical analysis as a tool for fracture resistance evaluation of isotactic polypropylenes and their polyolefin blends
Authors: Grein C. , Bernreitner K. , Gahleitner M.
Published: June 2004

Potential and limits of dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) as a tool for fracture resistance evaluation of isotactic polypropylenes and their polyolefin blends are presented. A minimum of information about the materials under investigation is a prerequisite to interpret the DMA traces in a right way. Although DMA is, in general, a powerful method to rank materials in term of toughness, care should be taken with (1) nucleated materials (where both intensity and strength of molecular relaxations need to be taken into account in material evaluation) and with (2) visbroken (i.e., peroxyde treated) grades. Except for these cases, the strengths of the principal or secondary molecular relaxation evaluated by DMA and the Charpy impact toughness correlate quantitatively when all the grades of a series exhibit unstable crack propagation. When changes in the macroscopic mode of fracture or in blend morphology occur, only qualitative correlations remain possible. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1854–1867, 2004
Synthesis and characterization of polyimides containing pyridine moiety
Authors: Hariharan R. , Bhuvana S. , Malbi M. Anitha , Sarojadevi M.
Published: June 2004

A series of new polyimides was prepared by reacting 2,6‐diaminopyridine with various aromatic dianhydrides in DMF in 1 : 1 mole ratio. All the resulting polyimides were readily soluble in organic solvents such as dimethylformamide, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, pyridine, m‐cresol, THF, etc. They also show good film‐forming ability. The polyimides exhibit good thermal stability and mechanical properties. The polymers have high Tg in the range of 252–296°C. The inherent viscosities of the polymers vary from 0.81 to 1.28 dL/g. A new class of bismaleimide and polyaspartimide as also synthesized. All the resulting polymer structures were characterized by FTIR and elemental analysis. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1846–1853, 2004
The effect of alkyd resins on the properties of AA‐NC semi‐IPNs as binders in wood finish
Authors: Lu Kun‐Tsung , Liu Cheng‐Tzu , Lin Shih‐Mien
Published: June 2004

Wood coatings of AA‐NC semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks (semi‐IPNs), made from acid curing amino‐alkyd resins (AA) and nitrocellulose (NC), were prepared by sequential polymerization method. To investigate the effects of oil length on the properties of AA‐NC semi‐IPNs, three grades of alkyd resins (Alkyd) containing 38, 48, and 58% oil were synthesized with phthalic anhydride, glycerol, and soybean oil, employing alcoholysis method. The butylated urea formaldehyde resin (UF) and melamine formaldehyde resin (MF) were also prepared in this study. The AA‐NC semi‐IPNs were maintained at a weight ratio of AA : NC of 25 : 75, where the AA was the composition of MF : UF : Alkyd of 7.5 : 22.5 : 70 (by weight), and 10% of p‐toluene sulfonic acid solution (concentration, 25% in isopropyl alcohol) based on the weight of amino resins was added as acid catalyst. The properties of coatings such as viscosity, drying time, and gel time, and the properties of films including adhesion, hardness, abrasion resistance, impact resistance, tensile strength, released formaldehyde, lightfastness, solvent resistance, and durability were examined. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1923–1927, 2004
Numerical simulation of controlled nifedipine release from chitosan microgels
Authors: Li Hua , Yan Guoping , Wu Shunnian , Wang Zijie , Lam K. Y.
Published: June 2004

The numerical simulating investigation of drug delivery can provide deeper insight into drug release mechanisms and elucidate efficiently the influences of various physical parameters. Controlled nifedipine release from nonswellable chitosan sphere‐based microgels is investigated numerically with a mathematical model in this article. The mathematical model takes into account both drug dissolution and drug diffusion through the continuous matrices of the spherical microgels. Meshless Hermite‐cloud method is employed to solve the formulated partial differential equations. It is seen that the model well describes the nifedipine release process from the spherical chitosan microgels. The effect of several important physical parameters on drug release is evaluated, which include microsphere radius, equivalent drug saturation concentration, drug diffusion coefficient, and drug dissolution rate constant. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1928–1937, 2004
Influence of formulation variables and manufacturing process on propranolol extended release profile from HPMC matrices tablets
Authors: Huang Yaw‐Bin , Tsai Yi‐Hung , Yang Wan‐Chiech , Chang Jui‐Sheng , Wu Pao‐Chu
Published: June 2004

The influences of some formulation variables and manufacturing processes of the release rates of propranolol from gelation of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) matrices tablets were investigated. The amount of propranolol was determined by UV–Vis spectroscopy at 290 nm. The effects of extended release of matrices tablets were evaluated by the in vitro dissolution test and were compared to the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) monograph specifications. The results showed that the lowest viscosity grade of HPMC (Metolose 4000) used gave the least burst effect in the earlier stage. The drug/Metolose ratio was an important influence on the drug release; increasing the polymer content decreased the dissolution rate of the drug. The release rate was increased with increase in the tablet content of avicel. The release curve of experimental formulation with 17% avicel was optimal compared with the USP monograph specification; there was no burst effect in the earlier stage (the release percent at 1.5 h was 26.6%) and almost total drug was released from matrices tablet after 24 h (97.4%). The other factors such as lubricant level (0.5 to 2.0%), compaction pressure (100 to 200 kPa), brand of HPMC (HPMC 4000 from Shin Etsu or Methocel K4MP from Dow Chemical Co.), and manufacturing process (tabletted from wet‐massed granules or by direct compression) appeared not to modify release rates. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1886–1890, 2004
Sensitivity of surface free energy analysis methods to the contact angle changes attributed to the thickness effect in thin films
Authors: Abbasian A. , Ghaffarian S. R. , Mohammadi N. , Fallahi D.
Published: June 2004

The surface tension of thin, uncured epoxy films spun‐cast onto oxidized silica wafers was analyzed as a function of their thickness in the range of 5 to 75 nm. Based on contact angle measurements with polar and apolar liquids, the surface free energies of various films were analyzed and compared using Lifshitz–van der Walls/acid–base (LW/AB), harmonic mean (of Wu), geometric mean, and Zisman approaches. Results of harmonic mean and Zisman surface tension analyses, in spite of significant changes in contact angle attributed to changes in thickness, did not show significant changes. However, geometric mean and LW/AB methods did reveal limited changes in free energy of epoxy surface attributed to variations in thickness. The surface tension components showed a similar trend to that of contact angle changes. It seems that it is better to use surface free energy analysis methods, which use several liquids with different polarities, to reveal the accumulative effect of different group free energy densities on total surface free energy. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1972–1980, 2004
Shared knowledge and subgroup influence during decision‐making discussions
Authors: Larson James R. , Sargis Edward G. , Bauman Christopher W.
Published: June 2004

It was predicted that preference factions within decision‐making groups would have greater influence to the extent that faction‐member preferences are based on a common pool of decision‐relevant information. Such factions are said to exhibit high informational commonality (IC). Four‐person groups decided how much money to invest in each of two pharmaceutical companies developing new cholesterol‐lowering drugs. Prior to discussion, information about these companies and drugs was distributed among members such that two would initially prefer investing in one company and two would initially prefer investing in the other company. Further, whereas half of the information held by members of one preference faction was held in common between them (high IC), almost none of the information held by those in the other faction was held in common between them (low IC). It was found that groups invested more money in a given company when that company was initially preferred by their high‐IC faction. Additionally, high‐IC factions exerted greater influence on members' private allocation preferences. These effects appear to have been due to the ability of members in the high‐IC factions to work together in a more coordinated manner to argue their position. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Separating the wheat from the chaff: does discriminating between diagnostic and nondiagnostic information eliminate the dilution effect?
Authors: Kemmelmeier Markus
Published: June 2004

The dilution effect refers to the finding that judgments are often unduly influenced by nondiagnostic information, producing regressive judgment. Because the dilution effect is a problem in various domains, strategies to control the impact of nondiagnostic information were explored by drawing on a perceptual and a conversational account of the dilution effect. Three experiments (n = 259) demonstrate that explicit instructions to discriminate between diagnostic and nondiagnostic information did not reduce the dilution effect. Rather, consistent with a perceptual explanation but not consistent with a conversational explanation, the dilution effect disappeared only when participants engage in perceptual control, that is, when they actively remove nondiagnostic pieces of information before making a judgment. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural and Dynamic Studies of Zinc, Gallium, and Cadmium Complexes of a Dicarboxylate Pendant‐Armed Cross‐Bridged Cyclen
Authors: Niu Weijun , Wong Edward H. , Weisman Gary R. , Peng Yijie , Anderson Carolyn J. , Zakharov Lev N. , Golen James A. , Rheingold Arnold L.
Published: June 2004

ZnII, GaIII, and CdII complexes of a dicarboxylate pendant‐armed derivative of an important new cross‐bridged cyclen ligand were prepared and characterized spectrally. Crystal structures of the ZnII and GaIII complexes both feature pseudo‐octahedral metal centers, fully enveloped by the ligand’s cis‐N4O2 donor set with the zinc coordination sphere less distorted. All Ga−N and Ga−O bonds are significantly shorter than the corresponding values in the zinc structure. Solution NMR spectral studies revealed dynamic enantiomerization for the ZnII complex with ΔG≠ = 12.3(1) kcal/mol (24 °C). By contrast, the GaIII complex gave only slow‐exchange limit spectra up to the highest temperature measured [87(2) °C; ΔG≠ > 21.1(2) kcal/mol]. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)
Effect of XPD/ERCC2 polymorphisms on chromosome aberration frequencies in smokers and on sensitivity to the mutagenic tobacco‐specific nitrosamine NNK
Authors: Affatato Alessandra A. , Wolfe Kevin J. , Lopez Mirtha S. , Hallberg Csilla , Ammenheuser Marinel M. , Abdel‐Rahman Sherif Z.
Published: June 2004

Polymorphisms in DNA‐repair genes could contribute to the interindividual differences in cancer susceptibility in smokers. By reducing DNA‐repair capacity, these polymorphisms may influence the net level of smoking‐induced genetic damage significantly, a critical step in the cascade of events leading to cancer. In this biomonitoring study, we examined the relationship between polymorphisms in the DNA‐repair gene XPD/ERCC2 and genetic damage. We tested the hypothesis that coding polymorphisms in XPD/ERCC2 limit DNA‐repair efficiency in humans leading to increased frequencies of chromosome aberration (CA) in their lymphocytes. We also used the mutagen‐sensitivity assay, with the tobacco‐specific nitrosamine NNK as a model mutagen, to determine whether lymphocytes from individuals with the variant XPD alleles are more sensitive to this tobacco‐specific carcinogen. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) as estimates of relative risk of increased frequencies of CA associated with two XPD polymorphisms (Asp312Asn in exon 10 and Lys751Gln in exon 23). We observed a 2.57‐fold (95% confidence limit [CL] = 0.88–7.50; P = 0.10) increase in risk of elevated in vivo frequencies of CA associated with the variant 312Asn allele in the total population. The relative risk was more pronounced in smokers (OR = 4.67; 95% CL = 1.04–20.90; P = 0.04) and in all subjects >48 years old (OR = 7.33; 95% CL = 1.53–35.10; P = 0.01). Similarly, elevations in NNK‐induced aberrations were significantly associated with the 312Asn allele (OR = 3.69; 95% CL = 1.29–10.56; P = 0.02). The risk was higher in smokers (OR = 4.62; 95% CL = 1.14–18.70; P = 0.04) and in subjects >48 years old (OR = 5.76; 95% CL = 1.30–25.41; P = 0.03). No significant effect was observed with the 715Gln variant allele in relation to either in vivo or NNK‐induced CA. These data suggest that the Asp312Asn polymorphism may alter the phenotype of the XPD protein, resulting in reduced DNA‐repair capacity. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 44:65–73, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transforming growth factor‐β3–loaded microtextured membranes for skin regeneration in dermal wounds
Authors: Vooijs D. P. P. , Walboomers X. F. , Parker J. A. T. C. , Von den Hoff J. W. , Jansen J. A.
Published: June 2004

Adverse effects of wound healing, such as excessive scar tissue formation, wound contraction, or nonhealing wounds represent a major clinical issue in today's healthcare. Transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β3 has specifically been implicated in wound healing. Our hypothesis was that local administration of TGF‐β3 to excisional dermal wounds would diminish wound contraction and scar formation. Microtextured wound covers, containing different concentrations of TGF‐β3, were placed onto full‐thickness excisional skin wounds in guinea pigs. Tattooed reference marks were used to quantify wound contraction. Sixty‐four male guinea pigs in four study groups (5 ng TGF‐β3, 50 ng TGF‐β3, no growth factor, sham wound) were followed for up to 6 weeks. We analyzed 19 different parameters of wound healing. Results showed that, in some instances, the 50‐ng TGF‐β3 group gave less contraction, whereas the 5‐ng TGF‐β3 group gave more contraction. These differences confirm that TGF‐β3 has an optimum working concentration, and suggest this concentration to be closer to 50 ng than to 5 ng TGF‐β3. However, only very few significant differences occurred, and thus we conclude that the clinical relevance of our findings is negligible. Earlier studies, reporting clinically improved wound healing by TGF‐β3, could therefore not be confirmed by this study. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 70A: 402–411, 2004
A fast pairlist‐construction algorithm for molecular simulations under periodic boundary conditions
Authors: Heinz Tim N. , Hünenberger Philippe H.
Published: June 2004

A new grid‐cell algorithm is presented that permits the fast construction of cutoff‐based nonbonded pairlists in molecular simulations under periodic boundary conditions based on an arbitrary box shape. The key features of the method are (1) the use of a one‐dimensional mask array (to determine which grid cells contain interacting atoms) that incorporates the effect of periodicity, and (2) the grouping of adjacent interacting cells of the mask array into stripes, which permits the handling of empty cells with a very low computational overhead. Testing of the algorithm on water systems of different sizes (containing about 2000 to 11,000 molecules) shows that the method (1) is about an order of magnitude more efficient compared to a standard (double‐loop) algorithm, (2) achieves quasi‐linear scaling in the number of atoms, (3) is weakly sensitive in terms of efficiency to the chosen number of grid cells, and (4) can be easily parallelized. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 25: 1474–1486, 2004
Hydrogen bonding and solvatochromatic shift of the lowest 1(n, π*) excitation of s‐tetrazine in its hydrated clusters and dilute solutions
Authors: Xie Daiqian , Zeng Jun
Published: June 2004

Hydrogen bonding involving azine and its derivatives such as nucleic bases is very important for understanding the structure and function of biological systems. In this work, we have investigated the hydrogen bonding structures of the hydrated cluster and dilute aqueous solution of s‐tetrazine using computer simulation techniques, and evaluated the absorption and fluorescence shifts of the lowest 1(n, π*) excitation of s‐tetrazine solution using our solvent shift method. For the s‐tetrazine–water cluster, a linear orthodox hydrogen bond arrangement is predicted in both ground and excited states with small structural and energetic differences, and a bifurcated hydrogen bond isomerization is anticipated. Further, ab initio calculations have verified these conformations. For the s‐tetrazine–water solution, a mixture of two hydrogen bonding arrangements is found to be in both ground and excited states, resulting in small magnitudes of absorption and fluorescence solvent shifts. This finalizes our series investigation of hydrogen bonding and solvent shifts of dilute azines in water. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 25: 1487–1494, 2004
In silico analysis of gene expression profiles in the olfactory mucosae of aging senescence‐accelerated mice
Authors: Getchell Thomas V. , Peng Xuejun , Green C. Paul , Stromberg Arnold J. , Chen Kuey‐Chu , Mattson Mark P. , Getchell Marilyn L.
Published: June 2004

We utilized high‐density Affymetrix oligonucleotide arrays to investigate gene expression in the olfactory mucosae of near age‐matched aging senescence‐accelerated mice (SAM). The senescence‐prone (SAMP) strain has a significantly shorter lifespan than does the senescence‐resistant (SAMR) strain. To analyze our data, we applied biostatistical methods that included a correlation analysis to evaluate sources of methodologic and biological variability; a two‐sided t‐test to identify a subpopulation of Present genes with a biologically relevant P‐value <0.05; and a false discovery rate (FDR) analysis adjusted to a stringent 5% level that yielded 127 genes with a P‐value of <0.001 that were differentially regulated in near age‐matched SAMPs (SAMP‐Os; 13.75 months) compared to SAMRs (SAMR‐Os, 12.5 months). Volcano plots related the variability in the mean hybridization signals as determined by the two‐sided t‐test to fold changes in gene expression. The genes were categorized into the six functional groups used previously in gene profiling experiments to identify candidate genes that may be relevant for senescence at the genomic and cellular levels in the aging mouse brain (Lee et al. [2000] Nat Genet 25:294–297) and in the olfactory mucosa (Getchell et al. [2003] Ageing Res Rev 2:211–243), which serves several functions that include chemosensory detection, immune barrier function, xenobiotic metabolism, and neurogenesis. Because SAMR‐Os and SAMP‐Os have substantially different median lifespans, we related the rate constant α in the Gompertz equation on aging to intrinsic as opposed to environmental mechanisms of senescence based on our analysis of genes modulated during aging in the olfactory mucosa. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Upregulation of annexins I, II, and V after traumatic spinal cord injury in adult rats
Authors: Liu Naikui , Han Shu , Lu Pei‐Hua , Xu Xiao‐Ming
Published: June 2004

The posttraumatic inflammatory reaction contributes to progressive tissue damage after spinal cord injury (SCI). Annexins, a family of structurally related calcium‐ and phospholipid‐binding proteins, have potent anti‐inflammatory effects by inhibiting the activity of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), a key enzyme responsible for inflammation and cytotoxicity. We investigated spatiotemporal expression of annexins I, II, and V after a contusive SCI using the New York University impact device (a 10‐g rod, height 12.5 mm) in adult rats. Western blot analysis revealed that annexin I expression increased at 3 days after injury, peaked at 7 days (1.75‐fold above the baseline level; P < 0.01), started to decline at 14 days, and returned to the baseline level at and beyond 28 days post‐injury. The expression of annexin II started to increase at 3 days, reached its maximal level at 14 days (2.73‐fold; P < 0.01), remained at a high level up to 28 days, and then declined to the basal level by 56 days after injury. Annexin V expression started at 3 days, reached its maximal level at 7 days (1.61‐fold; P < 0.05) and remained at this level until 56 days after injury. RT‐PCR results confirmed expression of all three annexins at the mRNA level after SCI. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence double‐labeling analyses revealed that increased annexins I, II, and V were localized in neurons and glial cells. The present study thus revealed increased expression of the three annexin isoforms after moderate contusive SCI. The precise role of annexins in posttraumatic inflammation and neuroprotection after SCI remains to be determined. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Stable isotopes in obesity research
Authors: Dolnikowski Gregory G. , Marsh Julian B. , Das Sai Krupa , Welty Francine K.
Published: June 2004

Obesity is recognized as a major public health problem. Obesity is a multifactorial disease and is often associated with a wide range of comorbidities including hypertension, non‐insulin dependent (Type II) diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease, all of which contribute to morbidity and mortality. This review deals with stable isotope mass spectrometric methods and the application of stable isotopes to metabolic studies of obesity. Body composition and total energy expenditure (TEE) can be measured by mass spectrometry using stable isotope labeled water, and the metabolism of protein, lipid, and carbohydrate can be measured using appropriate labeled tracer molecules. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Mass Spec Rev 24:311–327, 2005
Botulinum toxin type A therapy during pregnancy
Authors: Newman William J. , Davis Thomas L. , Padaliya Bismal B. , Covington Cassondra D. , Gill Chandler E. , Abramovitch Anna I. , Charles P. David
Published: June 2004

Injection with botulinum toxin type A (Botox) is a safe and efficacious treatment for idiopathic cervical dystonia. We present the first case report of clinical Botox treatment during pregnancy. This patient underwent four apparently uncomplicated full‐term pregnancies while receiving regular Botox treatments. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
Putaminal cavernous angioma presenting with hemichorea
Authors: Donmez Berril , Çakmur Raif , Uysal Utku , Men Süleyman
Published: June 2004

We report on a 63‐year‐old man presenting with hemichorea on his right side. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a left putaminal cavernoma. To our knowledge this is the first report of such a case caused by contralateral putaminal cavernous angioma. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
Epilepsia partialis continua of the abdominal muscles: A detailed electrophysiological study of a case
Authors: Fernández‐Torre José L. , Calleja Jesús , Pascual Julio , Galdós Pilar , De Pablos Carmen , Berciano José
Published: June 2004

We describe the clinical and electrophysiological features of an elderly woman presenting with persistent clonic twitching of the abdominal muscles that were considered to represent a rare manifestation of epilepsia partialis continua due to a metastatic cortical lesion. © 2004 Movement Disorder Society
Simulation of crack growth in composite material shell structures
Authors: Charoenphan S. , Plesha M. E. , Bank L. C.
Published: June 2004

This paper implements a domain integral energy method for modelling crack growth in composite material shell structures using the finite element method. Volume integral expressions to evaluate the dynamic energy release rate in a through‐thickness three‐dimensional crack are derived. Using the domain integral, the energy release rate computation is implemented in the DYNA3D explicit non‐linear dynamic finite element analysis program wherein crack propagation is modelled by releasing the constraints between initially constrained node pairs. The implementation enables the program to either determine the energy resistance response for the material (provided experimental data is available) or predict the rate of crack propagation in shell structures. The numerical implementation was verified by simulating mode I and mode III slow crack growth problems in semi‐infinite transversely isotropic media, for which analytic solutions are available. Oscillations of energy following the release of nodal constraints as the crack propagates in discrete increments were suppressed using light mass proportional damping and a moving averaging scheme. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Neonatal prostatic rhabdomyosarcoma
Authors: Shah Amar , Parashar Karan , English Martin , Chandran Harish
Published: June 2004

Rhabdomyosarcoma is one of the commonest soft tissue sarcomas of childhood, but neonatal presentation is extremely rare. This limited experience means there are no clear treatment guidelines in this age group. The authors report a boy with recurrent attacks of hematuria commencing in the neonatal period, which were shown to be from a prostatic rhabdomyosarcoma. To the best of our knowledge this is the first reported case of neonatal rhabdomyosarcoma in this site. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Statistical sequence analyses of G‐protein‐coupled receptors: Structural and functional characteristics viewed with periodicities of entropy, hydrophobicity, and volume
Authors: Imai Takashi , Fujita Norihisa
Published: June 2004

G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) play a crucial role in signal transduction and receive a wide variety of ligands. GPCRs are a major target in drug design, as nearly 50% of all contemporary medicines act on GPCRs. GPCRs are membrane proteins possessing a common structural feature, seven transmembrane helices. In order to design an effective drug to act on a GPCR, knowledge of the three‐dimensional (3D) structure of the target GPCR is indispensable. However, as GPCRs are membrane bound, their 3D structures are difficult to obtain. Thus we conducted statistical sequence analyses to find information about 3D structure and ligand binding using the receptors' primary sequences. We present statistical sequence analyses of 270 human GPCRs with regard to entropy (Shannon entropy in sequence alignment), hydrophobicity and volume, which are associated with the α‐helical periodicity of the accessibility to the surrounding lipid. We found periodicity such that the phase changes once in the middle of each transmembrane region, both in the entropy plot and in the hydrophobicity plot. The phase shift in the entropy plot reflects the variety of ligands and the generality of the mechanism of signal transduction. The two periodic regions in the hydrophobicity plot indicate the regions facing the hydrophobic lipid chain and the polar phospholipid headgroup. We also found a simple periodicity in the plot of volume deviation, which suggests conservation of the stable structural packing among the transmembrane helices. Proteins 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Potential folding–function interrelationship in proteins
Authors: Barzilai Adi , Kumar Sandeep , Wolfson Haim , Nussinov Ruth
Published: June 2004

The possibility is addressed that protein folding and function may be related via regions that are critical for both folding and function. This approach is based on the building blocks folding model that describes protein folding as binding events of conformationally fluctuating building blocks. Within these, we identify building block fragments that are critical for achieving the native fold. A library of such critical building blocks (CBBs) is constructed. Then, it is asked whether the functionally important residues fall in these CBB fragments. We find that for over two‐thirds of the proteins in our library with available functional information, the catalytic or binding site residues lie within the CBB regions. From the evolutionary standpoint, a folding–function relationship is advantageous, since the need to guard against mutations is limited to one region. Furthermore, conformationally similar CBBs are found in globally unrelated proteins with different functions. Hence, substituting CBBs may lead to designed proteins with altered functions. We further find that the CBBs in our library are conformationally unstable. Proteins 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prediction of protein tertiary structure using PROFESY, a novel method based on fragment assembly and conformational space annealing
Authors: Lee Julian , Kim Seung‐Yeon , Joo Keehyoung , Kim Ilsoo , Lee Jooyoung
Published: June 2004

A novel method for ab initio prediction of protein tertiary structures, PROFESY (PROFile Enumerating SYstem), is proposed. This method utilizes the secondary structure prediction information of a query sequence and the fragment assembly procedure based on global optimization. Fifteen‐residue‐long fragment libraries are constructed using the secondary structure prediction method PREDICT, and fragments in these libraries are assembled to generate full‐length chains of a query protein. Tertiary structures of 50 to 100 conformations are obtained by minimizing an energy function for proteins, using the conformational space annealing method that enables one to sample diverse low‐lying local minima of the energy. We apply PROFESY for benchmark tests to proteins with known structures to demonstrate its feasibility. In addition, we participated in CASP5 and applied PROFESY to four new‐fold targets for blind prediction. The results are quite promising, despite the fact that PROFESY was in its early stages of development. In particular, PROFESY successfully provided us the best model‐one structure for the target T0161. Proteins 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Immunologically demonstrable hormones and hormone‐like molecules in rat white blood cells and mast cells
Authors: Csaba G. , Kovács P , Pállinger Éva
Published: June 2004

The presence or absence of four biologically active hormone or hormone‐like molecules was studied in rat immune cells using specific antibodies with flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) was not demonstrable at all, digoxin was present only in blood lymphocytes, and insulin was found in the monocyte‐macrophage‐granulocyte group in peritoneal fluid and thymic lymphocytes. Immunologically demonstrable triiodothyronine (T3) was present in all cells studied (lymphocytes, mast cells and monocyte‐macrophage‐granulocytes in peritoneal fluid and blood, and thymic lymphocytes). While there is no explanation of the presence of digoxin and insulin, it is assumed that T3 is an extrathyroidal source of the hormone that is needed for maintaining cell proliferation and normal status in the immune system, particularly as it is absent in the case of transitional or durable thyroid deficiency.
The α4 and α7 subunits and assembly of the 20S proteasome
Authors: Apcher Géraud-Sébastien , Maitland Joanne , Dawson Simon , Sheppard Paul , Mayer R.John
Published: June 2004

The detailed mechanism of eukaryotic 20S proteasome assembly is currently unknown. In the present study, we demonstrate that the 20S proteasome subunits α4 and α7 interact with each other as well as all the α‐subunits in vivo and in vitro. The N‐terminal parts of α4 and α7 are essential for these newly discovered interactions in vitro. Glycerol gradient centrifugation of soluble extracts of HEK293 cells and Western blot analyses show that several α‐subunits are found in non‐proteasomal low‐density fractions. The α4 and α7 subunits co‐immunoprecipitate together from these low‐density fractions. The unexpected interaction between α4 and α7 may provide a molecular basis for the formation of previously reported 13S and 16S assembly intermediates.
Management of Ludwig's Angina with Small Neck Incisions: 18 Years Experience
Authors: Bross‐Soriano Daniel , Arrieta‐Gómez José R. , Prado‐Calleros Héctor , Schimelmitz‐Idi Jose , Jorba‐Basave Santiago
Published: June 2004

OBJECTIVE

To review Ludwig's angina medical and surgical approach with small incisions.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective, open, noncomparative, longitudinal.

METHODS

All patients with Ludwig's angina who received medical, metabolic, airway management, and surgical treatment from January 1, 1983 to December 31, 2000.

STUDIED PARAMETERS

Antibiotic treatment, surgical treatment, hospitalization time, associated diseases, etiologic factors, recuperation time.

RESULTS

Age range was 18 to 87 years, with a female‐to‐male ratio of 1.1:1 (68 females, 53 males). Thirty patients belonged to middle or high socio‐economic status. The primary site of infection was odontogenic in 107 of the patients. All the patients were managed with surgical drainage made within the first 12 hours after hospital admission. The most common antibiotic treatments were the combination of clindamycin with crystalline penicillin G. The hospital stay for more than half of patients was 6 days or less. In 62 patients we found extension into the parapharyngeal space and in 32 cases we found retropharyngeal extension of the Ludwig's angina. Forty‐six patients had or were diagnosed as having diabetes mellitus. Tracheotomy was required in 34 patients. The airway of the rest of patients was controlled with nasotracheal intubation. Only 33 patients had major complications, such as mediastinitis, sepsis, or death.

CONCLUSIONS: Drainage using small incisions is a safe and effective method as part of treatment of Ludwig's angina. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2004;130:712‐7.)