bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Health Care and Productivity Costs Associated With Diabetic Patients With Macrovascular Comorbid Conditions
Authors: Fu Alex Z. , Qiu Ying , Radican Larry , Wells Brian J.
Published: September 2009

OBJECTIVE

To examine and quantify from the societal perspective the impact of macrovascular comorbid conditions (MVCCs) on health care and productivity costs in diabetic patients in the U.S.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

With use of the pooled Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) 2004 and 2006 data, a nationally representative adult sample (aged ≥18 years) was included in the study. Health care cost was measured by the annual health care expenditure. Productivity cost was calculated from the lost productivity from missed work days and additional bed days due to illness/injury based on the 2006 average national hourly wage. Both 2004 and 2006 cost data were adjusted to 2006 dollars. Given the heavily right-skewed distribution of the cost data, the generalized linear model with log-link function and γ variance was used to identify the relationship between MVCCs and costs after controlling for age, sex, race, ethnicity, education, income, employment status, smoking status, health insurance, diabetes severity, and comorbidities. Negative binomial models were applied to analyze the outcomes of missed work days and bed days. All statistics were adjusted using the proper sampling weight from MEPS.

RESULTS

Compared with diabetic patients without MVCCs (n = 3,320), those with MVCCs (n = 913) had statistically significant higher annual health care costs (5,120 USD, P < 0.001), more missed work days (13.03 days, P < 0.001), and more bed days (7.60 days, P = 0.025) per patient after controlling for differences in sociodemographics, smoking, diabetes severity, and comorbidities. The marginal lost productivity cost was 2,388 USD annually per patient.

CONCLUSIONS

From the U.S. societal perspective, MVCCs in diabetic patients are associated with increased health care and lost productivity costs.
Bound for Success: A Systematic Review of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy in Children With Cerebral Palsy Supports Improved Arm and Hand Use
Authors: Huang Hsiang-han , Fetters Linda , Hale Jennifer , McBride Ashley
Published: September 2009

Background

Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is a potentially effective intervention for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP).

Purpose

The objectives of this systematic review are: (1) to investigate whether CIMT is supported with valid research of its effectiveness and (2) to identify key characteristics of the child and intervention protocol associated with the effects of CIMT.

Data Sources and Study Selection

A search of MEDLINE (1966 through March 2009), Entrez PubMed (1966 through March 2009), EMBASE (1980 through March 2009), CINAHL (1982 through March 2009), PsychINFO (1887 through March 2009), and Web of Science (1900 through March 2009) produced 23 relevant studies.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

The 2 objectives of the review were addressed by: (1) scoring the validity and level of evidence for each study and calculating evidence-based statistics, if possible, and (2) recording and summarizing the inclusion and exclusion criteria, type and duration of constraint, intervention and study durations, and outcomes based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

Limitations

Only studies published in journals and in English were included in the systematic review.

Conclusions

Studies varied widely in type and rigor of design; subject, constraint, and intervention characteristics; and ICF level for outcome measures. One outcome measure at the body functions and structure level and 4 outcome measures at the activity level had large and significant treatment effects (d≥.80), and these findings were from the most rigorous studies. Evidence from more-rigorous studies demonstrated an increased frequency of use of the upper extremity following CIMT for children with hemiplegic CP. The critical threshold for intensity that constitutes an adequate dose cannot be determined from the available research. Further research should include a priori power calculations, more-rigorous designs and comparisons of different components of CIMT in relation to specific children, and measures of potential impacts on the developing brain.
Treatment with transducible phosphopeptide analogues of the small heat shock–related protein, HSP20, after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage: prevention and reversal of delayed decreases in cerebral perfusion
Authors: Furnish Elizabeth J. , Brophy Colleen M. , Harris Valerie A. , Macomson Samuel , Winger Julia , Head Geoffrey A. , Shaver Ellen G.
Published: September 2009

Object

Delayed vasospasm is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Proteomic therapeutics offers a new modality in which biologically active proteins or peptides are transduced into cells via covalent linkage to cell permeant peptides (CPPs). The hypothesis of this study was that either intrathecal or intravenous delivery of a phosphopeptide mimetic of the small heat shock–related protein, HSP20, linked to a CPP, would inhibit delayed decreases in cerebral perfusion after experimental SAH in a rat model.

Methods

This study was conducted in 3 parts: 1) prevention and 2) reversal of delayed decreases in cerebral perfusion via either intrathecal or intravenous administration of a CPP linked to phosphopeptide mimetics of HSP20 (AZX100) and 3) determining the effect of intravenous administration of AZX100 on blood pressure and heart rate. Subarachnoid hemorrhage was induced in rats by endovascular perforation. Subsequently, AZX100 was administered intrathecally via a cisternal catheter or intravenously. Cerebral perfusion was determined by laser Doppler monitoring. Blood pressure was monitored by telemetry in a separate group of naïve animals treated with AZX100 for 24 hours.

Results

The maximal decrease in cerebral perfusion occurred 3 days after SAH. Cisternal administration of AZX100 (0.14–0.57 mg/kg) 24 hours after hemorrhage prevented decreases in cerebral perfusion after SAH. Animals receiving lower doses of AZX100 (0.068 mg/kg) or a scrambled sequence of the active HSP20 peptide linked to CPP developed decreases in cerebral perfusion similar to those seen in control animals. Intravenous administration of AZX100 (1.22 mg/kg) 24 hours after hemorrhage prevented the decreases in cerebral perfusion seen in the controls. Intravenous administration (0.175 mg/kg and 1.22 mg/kg) of AZX100 on Days 2 and 3 after SAH reversed decreases in cerebral perfusion as early as Day 3. There was no impact of AZX100 on blood pressure or heart rate at doses up to 2.73 mg/kg.

Conclusions

Cisternal administration of AZX100 24 hours after hemorrhage prevented decreases in cerebral perfusion. Intravenous administration of AZX100 also prevented and reversed decreases in cerebral perfusion at doses that did not induce hypotension. Transduction of biologically active motifs of downstream regulators like HSP20 represents a potential novel treatment for SAH.
Walter E. Dandy's contributions to vascular neurosurgery
Authors: Kretzer Ryan M. , Coon Alexander L. , Tamargo Rafael J.
Published: September 2009

Although Walter E. Dandy (1886–1946) is appropriately credited with the first surgical clipping of an intracranial aneurysm in 1937—a procedure that established the modern field of vascular neurosurgery—his numerous other contributions to this specialty are not as well known. Dandy can be credited with the first detailed description of the vein of Galen malformation, the first description of x-ray visualization of an intracranial aneurysm, the first characterization of basilar artery dolichoectasia, and the publication of the first comprehensive operative case series of arteriovenous malformations, cavernous malformations, and developmental venous anomalies. In addition, Dandy performed the first surgical trapping of a cavernous internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysm by clipping the supraclinoid ICA and ligating the cervical ICA, and he also executed the first intracranial surgical clipping of the ICA to treat a carotid-cavernous fistula. In this article the authors describe Dandy's contributions to the field of vascular neurosurgery.
Regression of multiple intracranial meningiomas after cessation of long-term progesterone agonist therapy
Authors: Vadivelu Sudhakar , Sharer Leroy , Schulder Michael
Published: September 2009

The authors present the case of a patient that demonstrates the long-standing use of megestrol acetate, a progesterone agonist, and its association with multiple intracranial meningioma presentation. Discontinuation of megestrol acetate led to shrinkage of multiple tumors and to the complete resolution of one tumor. Histological examination demonstrated that the largest tumor had high (by > 25% of tumor cell nuclei) progesterone-positive expression, including progesterone receptor (PR) isoform B, compared with low expression of PR isoform A; there was no evidence of estrogen receptor expression and only unaccentuated collagen expression. This is the first clinical report illustrating a causal relationship between exogenous hormones and modulation of meningioma biology in situ.
Improvement in intensive care unit outcomes in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage after initiation of neurointensivist co-management
Authors: Josephson S. Andrew , Douglas Vanja C. , Lawton Michael T. , English Joey D. , Smith Wade S. , Ko Nerissa U.
Published: September 2009

Object

Neurointensivists are specialists trained to manage all aspects of the intensive care unit (ICU) stay of neurologically ill patients. No study to date has examined the role of neurointensivists specifically in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) management. This study examined the use of a team-based neurointensivist co-management approach.

Methods

The authors reviewed all cases involving patients with SAH admitted to the neurosurgical service during a period of more than 4 years. A comparison was made between those patients admitted before and those admitted after the initiation of a mandatory neurointensivist co-management strategy. The primary outcome examined was length of ICU stay. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement, and other complications such as fever, antibiotic use, pressor utilization, and ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Results

A total of 512 patients were included, 216 prior to and 296 after the initiation of neurointensivist comanagement. Length of ICU stay was significantly decreased after the initiation of neurointensivist co-management (mean 12.4 vs 10.9 days, p = 0.02), even after adjusting for demographic characteristics and admission Hunt and Hess grade. The percentage of patients requiring a ventriculoperitoneal shunt significantly decreased after initiation of the co-management approach (23.0 vs 11.5%, p = 0.001), but in-house mortality was unaffected.

Conclusions

Initiation of a strategy of routine involvement of a neurointensivist, charged with managing all aspects of the patients' care, resulted in a significantly reduced length of ICU stay for neurosurgical SAH patients. This team-based approach, using neurointensivists to manage neurosurgical SAH patients, merits further study as a successful model of care.
Valuation of Long-Term Investments in Energy Assets under Uncertainty
Authors: Abadie Luis  M.
Published: September 2009

This paper aims to contribute to the development of valuation models for long-term investments while keeping an eye on market prices. The adopted methodology is rooted on the existence of markets for futures and options on commodities related to energy investments. These markets are getting ever-increasingly liquid with ever-longer maturities while trading contracts. We discuss the advantages of this approach relative to other alternatives such as the Net Present Value (NPV) or the Internal Rate of Return (IRR), despite a limited increase in the complexity of the models involved. More specifically, using the valuation methods well-known to energy-finance academics, the paper shows how to: break down an investment into its constituent parts, apply to each of them the corresponding risk premium, value annuities on assets with a deterministic or stochastic behavior, and value the options that are available to its owner, in order to get an overall value of the investment project. It also includes an application to improvement in coal consumption, where futures markets are used to get a numerical estimate of the parameters that are required for valuation. The results are then compared with those from traditional methodologies. Conclusions for this type of investments under uncertainty are derived.
Expression of CD40 and CD40L in Gastric Cancer Tissue and Its Clinical Significance
Authors: Li Rui , Chen Wei-Chang , Pang Xue-Qin , Hua Chen , Li Ling , Zhang Xue-Guang
Published: September 2009

To study expression of CD40 and CD40L in gastric cancer tissue we assessed gastric cancer patients admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology of The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and control subjects. Gastric cancer and normal (from around tumours) tissue samples were obtained from patients. Venous blood samples (gastric cancer and ulcer groups) were drawn on the morning of the day before surgery for the measurement of peripheral sCD40L. The expression of CD40 in gastric carcinoma specimens was examined immuno-histochemically. The clinicopathological factors, including age, sex, tumor size, gross appearance, degree of cellular differentiation, histological classification, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, peritoneal dissemination, and TNM stage were analyzed according to the different expression of CD40. The results indicated a high CD40 expression in gastric cancer tissues. This positive expression of CD40 revealed a significant (P < 0.05) correlation with lymphatic metastasis and tumor TNM stage in gastric cancer patients. It is concluded that higher CD40 expression existed in expanding type tumors and could play an important role in clinical diagnosis of gastric cancer patients.
Escherichia coli, an Intestinal Microorganism, as a Biosensor for Quantification of Amino Acid Bioavailability
Authors: Chalova Vesela I. , Sirsat Sujata A. , O’Bryan Corliss A. , Crandall Philip G. , Ricke Steven C.
Published: September 2009

In animal diets optimal amino acid quantities and balance among amino acids is of great nutritional importance. Essential amino acid deficiencies have negative impacts on animal physiology, most often expressed in sub-optimal body weight gains. Over supplementation of diets with amino acids is costly and can increase the nitrogen emissions from animals. Although in vivo animal assays for quantification of amino acid bioavailability are well established, Escherichia coli-based bioassays are viable potential alternatives in terms of accuracy, cost, and time input. E. coli inhabits the gastrointestinal tract and although more abundant in colon, a relatively high titer of E. coli can also be isolated from the small intestine, where primary absorption of amino acids and peptides occur. After feed proteins are digested, liberated amino acids and small peptides are assimilated by both the small intestine and E. coli. The similar pattern of uptake is a necessary prerequisite to establish E. coli cells as accurate amino acid biosensors. In fact, amino acid transporters in both intestinal and E. coli cells are stereospecific, delivering only the respective biological L-forms. The presence of free amino- and carboxyl groups is critical for amino acid and dipeptide transport in both biological subjects. Di-, tri- and tetrapeptides can enter enterocytes; likewise only di-, tri- and tetrapeptides support E. coli growth. These similarities in addition to the well known bacterial genetics make E. coli an optimal bioassay microorganism for the assessment of nutritionally available amino acids in feeds.
Growth and Development in the U.S. Retail Organic Food Sector
Authors: Smith Travis A. , Lin Biing-Hwan , Huang Chung L.
Published: September 2009

This study uses retail purchase data reported by the Nielsen Homescan panel to examine the development of selected U.S. organic food sectors since the implementation of the National Organic Standards. Results show that organic market shares within the fresh fruit and vegetable sectors grew slightly in 2003–2006. Apples, bananas, carrots, and tomatoes prove to have the highest share of organic sales within their sectors. The share of organic milk sales attributed to private labels has increased from 12 to 32 percent in 2004–2007. The organic market share within the strained baby food sector almost doubled from 8 to 15 percent in 2004–2007. Findings show a demographically diverse group of consumers willing to expend their food dollars on organic foods.
Tools for Measuring Progress towards Sustainable Neighborhood Environments
Authors: Karol Elizabeth , Brunner Julie
Published: September 2009

Various assessment tools are available to assist designers, developers and regulatory bodies to reduce the negative impacts of contemporary multi-housing subdivision projects in industrialized countries. These tools vary considerably in what and how they measure and how the measurement results are presented and interpreted. This paper is largely a desktop study of subdivision assessment tools developed in Australasia, Great Britain and the United States of America. The paper identified a variety of themes and sub-themes that support assessment tools at both the project design phase and the project operational phase. These themes and sub-themes revolve around one or more of the three pillars of sustainability—namely the environmental, economical and social pillars. The paper firstly compares the themes and sub-themes of the assessment tools and then relates those themes to a set of sustainability targets produced for a proposed inner suburban housing subdivision in Perth, Western Australia.
Botanical literacy: What and how should students learn about plants?
Authors: Uno Gordon E.
Published: September 2009

Botanists benefit from a scientifically literate society and an interested and botanically literate student population, and we have opportunities to promote literacy in our classes. Unfortunately, scientific illiteracy exists, in part, because students are technologically advanced but lack intellectual curiosity and rigor. Botanical illiteracy results from several interacting factors, including a lack of interest in plants and infrequent exposure to plant science before students reach college. If scientific or botanical literacy is a goal, we must understand what literacy means and how we can help students reach that goal. A model of biological literacy recognizes four levels; students enter courses at the lowest level possessing misconceptions about concepts; however, misconceptions can be used to our advantage, especially by using concept inventories. Inquiry‐based instruction is advocated for all science courses, and learning theory supports inquiry. Seven principles of learning inform recommendations about how botanists should teach, including using themes and “thinking botanically” to illustrate all biological concepts. Overall, consideration of the botanical content taught is less critical than the methods used to teach that content. If botanists emphasize thinking and process skills with an understanding of concepts, we will prepare scientifically literate students and citizens and benefit from our efforts.
Student Stress and Academic Performance: Home Hospital Program
Authors: Yucha Carolyn B. , Kowalski Susan , Cross Chad
Published: September 2009

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether nursing students assigned to a home hospital experience less stress and improved academic performance. Students were assigned to a home hospital clinical placement (
n
= 78) or a control clinical placement (
n
= 79). Stress was measured using the Student Nurse Stress Index (SNSI) and Spielberger's State Anxiety Inventory. Academic performance included score on the RN CAT, a standardized mock NCLEX-RN
®
-type test; nursing grade point average; and first attempt pass-fail on the NCLEX-RN. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups for age, gender, marital status, ethnicity, or score on the nurse entrance examination. There were significant changes in SNSI over time but not between groups. Academic load and state anxiety showed an interaction of time by group, with the home hospital group showing reductions over time, compared with the control group.
Effect of Monochromatic Induced Aberrations on Visual Performance Measured by Adaptive Optics Technology
Authors: Rouger Hélène , Benard Yohann , Legras Richard
Published: September 2009

Purpose:

The two objectives were 1) to measure visual acuity (VA) and contrast sensitivity (CS) losses induced by various amounts of individual Zernike aberrations, and 2) to examine the accuracy of image quality metrics in predicting these visual performance losses.

Methods:

Monocular 10 cycles/degree (cpd) and 25 cpd CS and high- and low-contrast VA were measured when introducing individual Zernike aberrations in four patients dynamically corrected using a CRX1 adaptive optics system (Imagine Eyes) and a 5.5-mm pupil. Seven levels (0, ±0.1, ±0.3, and ±0.9
μ
m) of astigmatism, spherical aberration, coma, and trefoil and four levels of defocus were induced. Several image quality metrics based on the radially averaged modulation transfer function (rMTF) and optical transfer function (rOTF) calculations were computed to attempt to predict the losses in VA and CS.

Results:

Modes near the center and at the top of the Zernike pyramid decreased VA significantly more than modes near the edge or at the bottom of the pyramid. The measured CS losses were reasonably correlated to the rMTF calculated at 10 cpd (R
2
=0.87) and 25 cpd (R
2
=0.75). The high-contrast VA degradations were also reasonably predicted (R
2
=0.85) by the intersection between the rMTF and the neural contrast threshold function. The low-contrast VA losses were also well predicted (R
2
=0.88) by three rMTF-based metrics.

Conclusions:

Image quality metrics based on wavefront aberration measurements were able to predict the impact of individual Zernike aberrations on CS and VA.
Organisationally relevant variables and Keyes's Mental Health Continuum Scale: An exploratory study
Authors: Strümpfer Deo J.W. , Hardy Anneli , De Villiers Joan S. , Rigby Susan
Published: September 2009

In an exploratory study on a sample of convenience (n = 165), 11 self-report variables with presumed organisational  relevance were  related,  as  predictors,  to  the  three  subscores  and  summed  score of  the Keyes  (2005a, 2005b; 2007) Mental Health Continuum  scale  (long  form). Keyes's  scale was administered five to seven days after the first set of scales. The predictor scores were reduced to three factorial scores, labelled positive orientation, negative orientation and positive striving. When classified thus, the predictor variables showed significant and meaningful relationships with some or all of the Keyes subscores and the total score, although few reached medium effect sizes.
Persuasion in 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Authors: Snyman Andries H.
Published: September 2009

In this article, 1 Corinthians 1:1�9 is analysed from a perspective that differs from the typical approach of researchers, who tend to force ancient rhetorical categories on the letter. The analysis is done in terms of what is called a �grounded theoretical approach�. This approach is briefly summarised, followed by a description of the rhetorical situation of the letter and a systematic analysis of these nine verses. It will be argued that these verses are an integral part of Paul�s rhetorical strategy, constructed from the text itself and aimed at persuading the Corinthians to accept his authority as apostle and to follow his instructions in realising their new life in Christ. The conclusion is that a text-centred approach with its focus on the functional aspects of the text provides a better understanding of Paul�s rhetorical strategy than a typical rhetorical analysis, with its focus on the formal aspects of the text.
The Conserved Glu in the Cyclotide Cycloviolacin O2 Has a Key Structural Role
Authors: Göransson Ulf , Herrmann Anders , Burman Robert , Haugaard‐Jönsson Linda M. , Rosengren K. Johan
Published: September 2009

Cyclotides are a large family of plant peptides that are characterised by a head‐to‐tail circular backbone and three disulfide bonds that are arranged in a cystine knot. This unique structural feature, which is referred to as a cyclic cystine knot, gives the cyclotides remarkable stability against chemical and biological degradation. In addition to their natural function as insecticides for plant defence, the cyclotides have a range of bioactivities with pharmaceutical relevance, including cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines. A glutamic acid residue, aside from the invariable disulfide array, is the most conserved feature throughout the cyclotide family, and it has recently been shown to be crucial for biological activity. Here we have used solution‐state NMR spectroscopy to determine the three‐dimensional structures of the potent cytotoxic cyclotide cycloviolacin O2, and an inactive analogue in which this conserved glutamic acid has been methylated. The structures of the peptides show that the glutamic acid has a key structural role in coordinating a set of hydrogen bonds in native cycloviolacin O2; this interaction is disrupted in the methylated analogue. The proposed mechanism of action of cyclotides is membrane disruption and these results suggest that the glutamic acid is linked to cyclotide function by stabilising the structure to allow efficient aggregation in membranes, rather than in a direct interaction with a target receptor.
Improvement of Flowability of Fine Cohesive Powders by Flow Additives
Authors: Tomas J. , Kleinschmidt S.
Published: September 2009

Most minerals and concentrates, auxiliaries, agricultural and synthetic particulate solid products are produced with particle sizes of less than 100 μm. These fine powders show similar problematic product properties. Their interparticle adhesion forces, especially van der Waals forces, exceed the gravitational forces by orders of magnitude. Thus, the trouble‐free treatment of these products presents large problems as well as scientific and technological challenges. The physical properties of such materials, especially flowability, are essential for many industrial applications including product generation, processing, application and consumption, e.g., in the pharmaceutical, chemical, food and manufacturing industries or plant engineering. In recent decades, one of the most frequently used solutions to this problem has been to add small amounts of flow additives that improve the flowability of these fine cohesive powders. This paper provides an overview of the physico‐chemically active principles of flow additives, model approaches and useful flowability evaluation methods. The efficiency of several flow additives, i.e., nanoparticles and surfactants, is critically discussed by the provision of selected test results from the literature. Conclusions are drawn with respect to the application of this flow additive method in process industries.
Supercritical Antisolvent Particle Precipitation: In Situ Optical Investigations
Authors: Braeuer A. , Dowy S. , Schatz R. , Rossmann M. , Schluecker E. , Leipertz A.
Published: September 2009

The manner in which the presence of a solute can affect the mixing behavior of a solute, solvent and antisolvent in a supercritical antisolvent (SAS) micronization process is demonstrated. The mixing behavior was analyzed by applying a two‐dimensional (2D) Raman scattering technique. Mole fraction and partial density distributions were measured for the CO2 antisolvent. The results originating from the optical investigations were correlated with the particle results. The experiments cover the variation of the solute concentration at fixed operating conditions of 10 MPa and 40 °C.
A flexible high‐performance Lattice Boltzmann GPU code for the simulations of fluid flows in complex geometries
Authors: Bernaschi Massimo , Fatica Massimiliano , Melchionna Simone , Succi Sauro , Kaxiras Efthimios
Published: September 2009

We describe the porting of the Lattice Boltzmann component of MUPHY, a multi‐physics/scale simulation software, to multiple graphics processing units using the Compute Unified Device Architecture. The novelty of this work is the development ofad hoctechniques for optimizing the indirect addressing that MUPHY uses for efficient simulations of irregular domains. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Targeted therapy to the IL‐2R using diphtheria toxin and caspase‐3 fusion proteins modulates Treg and ameliorates inflammatory colitis
Authors: Yarkoni Shai , Sagiv Yuval , Kaminitz Ayelet , Farkas Daniel L. , Askenasy Nadir
Published: September 2009

Pathogenic lymphocytes in the enteric wall of inflammatory bowel disease patients display various abnormalities, including reduced sensitivity to apoptosis. We evaluated a therapeutic approach to elimination of cytotoxic cells, using two IL‐2 fusion proteins, a diphtheria toxin (IL2‐DT) and a caspase‐3 (IL2‐cas) conjugate. In models of acute (dextran sodium sulfate and trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid) and chronic (dextran sodium sulfate) toxic colitis, therapeutic doses of the fusion proteins improved survival and prevented colon shortening. While both chimeric proteins eradicated CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells in mesenteric LN, IL2‐DT caused severe lymphopenia. In contrast, IL2‐cas was equally protective and increased fractional expression of Foxp3. Similar effects of the fusion proteins were observed in healthy mice: IL2‐DT caused lymphopenia and IL2‐cas increased fractional expression of FoxP3. The fusion proteins induced apoptosis in CD25+ T cells in vitro, with lower toxicity of IL2‐cas to Foxp3+ T cells. These data infer that targeted depletion of cells expressing the IL‐2 receptor has therapeutic potential in models of inflammatory colitis, despite depletion of CD25+ Treg. The IL2‐cas fusion protein is particularly relevant to inflammatory bowel disease, as direct internalization of toxic moieties overcomes multiple pathways of resistance to apoptosis of colitogenic T cells.
Redistribution of cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc among soil fractions in a contaminated calcareous soil after application of nitrogen fertilizers
Authors: Jalali Mohsen , Moharami Somaieh
Published: September 2009

This study was conducted to evaluate the redistribution of the heavy metals Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Zn among different soil fractions by N fertilizers. In a lab experiment, soil columns were leached with distilled water, KNO3, NaNO3, NH4NO3, or Ca(NO3)2 · 4H2O. After leaching, soil samples were sequentially extracted for exchangeable (EXCH), carbonate (CARB), organic‐matter (OM), Mn oxide (MNO), Fe oxide (FEO), and residual (RES) fractions. Distilled water significantly increased the concentrations of Cd and Ni in EXCH fraction, while concentration of Cu and Zn did not change significantly. Application of KNO3, NaNO3, NH4NO3, or Ca(NO3)2 · 4H2O significantly increased the concentrations of Cd and Zn in EXCH fraction, while concentration of Pb and Ni was decreased. Application of all fertilizers caused an increase of Cu in the OM fraction. Moreover, leaching with these solutions significantly increased Cd [except in Ca(NO3)2 · 4H2O], Cu, and Zn concentrations in the CARB fraction, while Pb and Ni concentrations were decreased. With application of all leaching solutions, Zn in the EXCH, CARB, FEO, and MNO fractions was significantly increased, while Zn in the OM fraction did not change. The mobility index indicated that Ca(NO3)2 · 4H2O increased the mobility of Cd, Cu, and Zn in the soil, whereas NaNO3 decreased the mobility of Pb and Ni in the soil. The mobility index of Pb decreased by all leaching solutions. Thus, these results suggest that applying N fertilizers may change heavy‐metal fractions in contaminated calcareous soil and possibly enhance metal mobility and that N‐fertilization management therefore may need modification.
Reconstructing ENSO: the influence of method, proxy data, climate forcing and teleconnections
Authors: Wilson Rob , Cook Edward , D'Arrigo Rosanne , Riedwyl Nadja , Evans Michael N. , Tudhope Alexander , Allan Rob
Published: September 2009

In this study we compare three newly developed independent NINO3.4 sea surface temperature (SST) reconstructions using data from (1) the central Pacific (corals), (2) the TexMex region of the USA (tree rings) and (3) other regions in the Tropics (corals and an ice core) which are teleconnected with central Pacific SSTs in the 20th century. Although these three reconstructions are strongly calibrated and well verified, inter‐proxy comparison shows a significant weakening in inter‐proxy coherence in the 19th century. This breakdown in common signal could be related to insufficient data, dating errors in some of the proxy records or a breakdown in El Niño–Southern Oscillation's (ENSO's) influence on other regions. However, spectral analysis indicates that each reconstruction portrays ENSO‐like spectral properties. Superposed epoch analysis also shows that each reconstruction shows a generally consistent ‘El Niño‐like’ response to major volcanic events in the following year, while during years T + 4 to T + 7 ‘La Niña‐like’ conditions prevail. These results suggest that each of the series expresses ENSO‐like ‘behaviour’, but this ‘behaviour’ does not appear to be spatially or temporally consistent. This result may reflect published observations that there appear to be distinct ‘types’ of ENSO variability depending on location within the tropical Pacific. Future work must address potential dating issues within some proxies (i.e. sampling of multiple coral heads for one location) as well as assessing the time stability of local climate relationships with central Pacific SSTs. More emphasis is needed on sampling new and extending old coral proxy records from the crucial central and eastern tropical Pacific region. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. and © Crown Copyright 2009.
GCH1 in early‐onset Parkinson's disease
Authors: Cobb Stephanie A. , Wider Christian , Ross Owen A. , Mata Ignacio F. , Adler Charles H. , Rajput Alex , Rajput Ali H. , Wu Ruey‐Meei , Hauser Robert , Josephs Keith A. , Carr Jonathan , Gwinn Katrina , Heckman Michael G. , Aasly Jan O. , Lynch Timothy , Uitti Ryan J. , Wszolek Zbigniew K. , Kapatos Gregory , Farrer Matthew J.
Published: September 2009

Mutations in GTP‐cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH1) cause autosomal dominant dopa‐responsive dystonia (DRD), characterized by childhood‐onset foot dystonia that later generalizes. DRD patients frequently present with associated Parkinsonism. Conversely, early‐onset Parkinson's disease (EOPD) patients commonly display dystonia. Herein, we investigated the frequency of GCH1 mutations in a series of 53 familial EOPD patients (21 with dystonia) and screened them for mutations in PRKN, PINK1, and DJ‐1. In addition, we examined a matched EOPD patient–control series for association of common variability at the GCH1 locus and EOPD susceptibility. No GCH1 coding change or copy‐number abnormality was identified in familial EOPD patients. A novel 18‐bp deletion was found in the proximal promoter (two patients, one control), which is expected to knock out two regulatory elements previously shown to regulate GCH1 transcription. No association was found between GCH1 variability and risk of EOPD. Fourteen (26.4%) familial EOPD patients had homozygous or compound heterozygous PRKN mutations. PRKN‐positive patients were 10 years younger than PRKN‐negative patients and had a twofold higher prevalence of dystonia. This study does not support a significant role for genetic variation at the GCH1 locus in EOPD. However, our results further highlight the relevance of PRKN screening in familial EOPD. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Comparison of weight gain and energy intake after subthalamic versus pallidal stimulation in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Sauleau Paul , Leray Emmanuelle , Rouaud Tiphaine , Drapier Sophie , Drapier Dominique , Blanchard Sophie , Drillet Gwenolla , Péron Julie , Vérin Marc
Published: September 2009

To compare body mass index (BMI) and daily energy intake (DEI) after subthalamic versus pallidal deep brain stimulation (DBS). Weight gain following DBS in Parkinson's disease patients remains largely unexplained and no comparison of subthalamic and pallidal (GPi) stimulation has yet been performed. BMI and DEI, dopaminergic drug administration and motor scores were recorded in 46 patients with PD before STN (n = 32) or GPi (n = 14) DBS and 3 and 6 months after. At M6, BMI had increased by an average of 8.4% in the STN group and 3.2% in the GPi group. BMI increased in 28 STN and 9 GPi patients. This increase was significantly higher in the STN group (P < 0.048) and the difference remained significant after adjustment for reduced dopaminergic medication; 28.6% of GPi patients were overweight at 6 months (14.3% preoperatively) versus 37.5% of STN patients (21.9% preoperatively). Changes in BMI were negatively correlated with changes in dyskinesia in the GPi–DBS group. Food intake did not change in the two groups, either quantitatively or qualitatively. Frequent weight gain, inadequately explained by motor improvement or reduced dopaminergic drug dosage, occurred in subthalamic DBS patients. The difference between groups suggests additional factors in the STN group, such as homeostatic control center involvement. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Synthesis of peptide thioesters via an N–S acyl shift reaction under mild acidic conditions on an N‐4,5‐dimethoxy‐2‐mercaptobenzyl auxiliary group
Authors: Nakamura Ken'ichiroh , Kanao Tomoki , Uesugi Tomoya , Hara Toshiaki , Sato Takeshi , Kawakami Toru , Aimoto Saburo
Published: September 2009

An efficient method of peptide thioester synthesis is described. The reaction is based on an N‐4,5‐dimethoxy‐2‐mercaptobenzyl (Dmmb) auxiliary‐assisted N‐S acyl shift reaction after assembling a peptide chain by Fmoc‐solid phase peptide synthesis. The Dmmb‐assisted N‐S acyl shift reaction proceeded efficiently under mildly acidic conditions, and the peptide thioester was obtained by treating the resulting S‐peptide with sodium 2‐mercaptoethanesulfonate. No detectable epimerization of the amino acid residue adjacent to the thioester moiety in the case of Leu was found. The reactions were also amenable to the on‐resin preparation of peptide thioesters. The utility was demonstrated by the synthesis of a 41‐mer peptide thioester, a phosphorylated peptide thioester and a 33‐mer peptide thioester containing a trimethylated lysine residue. Copyright © 2009 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of low‐dose intranasal (S)‐ketamine in patients with neuropathic pain
Authors: Huge Volker , Lauchart Meike , Magerl Walter , Schelling Gustav , Beyer Antje , Thieme Detlef , Azad Shahnaz C.
Published: September 2009

Background:NMDA receptors are involved in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of intranasal (S)‐ketamine, one of the most potent clinically available NMDA receptor antagonists.

Methods:Sixteen patients with neuropathic pain of various origins were randomized into two treatment groups: (S)‐ketamine 0.2mg/kg (group 1); (S)‐ketamine 0.4mg/kg (group 2). Plasma concentrations of (S)‐ketamine and (S)‐norketamine were measured over 6h by High Performance Liquid Chromatography combined with mass spectrometry. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) was conducted before, during and after treatment. Side effects and amount of pain reduction were recorded.

Results:Intranasal (S)‐ketamine administration lead to peak plasma concentrations of 27.7±5.9ng/ml at 10±6.3min (group 1) and 34.3±22.2ng/ml at 13.8±4.8min after application (group 2). Maximal plasma concentrations of (S)‐norketamine were 18.3±14.9ng/ml at 81±59min (group 1) and 34.3±5.5ng/ml at 75±40min (group 2). Pain scores decreased significantly in both groups with minimal pain at 60min after drug administration (70±10% and 61±13% of initial pain in groups 1 and 2). The time course of pain decrease was significantly correlated with plasma concentrations of (S)‐ketamine and (S)‐norketamine (partial correlations: (S)‐norketamine:−0.90 and−0.86; (S)‐ketamine:−0.72 and−0.71 for group 1 and group 2, respectively). Higher dosing elicited significantly more side effects. Intranasal (S)‐ketamine had no significant impact on thermal or mechanical detection and pain thresholds in normal or symptomatic skin areas.

Conclusions:Intranasal administration of low dose (S)‐ketamine rapidly induces adequate plasma concentrations of (S)‐ketamine and subsequently of its metabolite (S)‐norketamine. The time course of analgesia correlated with plasma concentrations.
Comparison of metformin treatment and laparoscopic ovarian diathermy in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Ashrafinia Mansoor , Hosseini Reihaneh , Moini Ashraf , Eslami Bita , Asgari Zahra
Published: September 2009

Objective

To compare hormone levels and clinical outcomes in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) after metformin therapy or laparoscopic ovarian diathermy (LOD) at 6 months follow‐up.

Methods

A randomized trial was conducted in 126 patients with PCOS who had a history of infertility for at least 1 year and resistance to clomiphene citrate (CC). Patients (n = 63) received metformin treatment or underwent LOD (n = 63).

Results

Levels of follicle‐stimulating hormone did not change in either group after the intervention (P > 0.05). Serum levels of testosterone (P < 0.001) and luteinizing hormone (P < 0.001) were significantly lower after the treatment in both groups. The proportion of women with regular menstrual cycles increased significantly to 35% (P < 0.001) in the LOD group and to 49% (P < 0.001) in metformin group compared with before the intervention. Although proportion was higher in the metformin group compared with the LOD group, the difference was not significant (odds ratio 1.81; 95% CI, 0.88–3.69, P = 0.1). Hirsutism decreased significantly from 100% to 79.37% (P < 0.001) in both groups.

Conclusion

CC‐resistant patients with PCOS were treated effectively by both metformin and LOD.
Evaluation of a single‐step diagnosis and treatment of premalignant cervical lesion by LEEP
Authors: Emam Mohamed , Elnashar Aboubakr , Shalan Hesham , Barakat Rafik
Published: September 2009

Objective

To explore whether a single‐step diagnosis and treatment of premalignant cervical lesions by the loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) is appropriate in women at high risk in low‐resource countries.

Method

Sixty women suspected of having a high‐grade lesion on both visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and colposcopic examination were randomly allotted to one of 2 groups. In group 1, LEEP was performed immediately and a tissue specimen was sent for histopathologic evaluation; in group 2, a punch biopsy was performed, followed by a histopathologic evaluation; then, LEEP was performed if needed.

Results

Among the patients who underwent LEEP, 4 (16%) in group 1 and 3 (15.8%) in group 2 were overtreated. No patients dropped out of the study in group 1 but 5 (20.8%) did in group 2.

Conclusion

The single‐step diagnosis and LEEP treatment of premalignant cervical lesions is appropriate in low‐resource countries.
Automated Extraction of DNA from Forensic Sample Types Using the PrepFiler Automated Forensic DNA Extraction Kit
Authors: Brevnov Maxim , Mundt Janna , Benfield Jacki , Treat-Clemons Lynda , Kalusche Geert , Meredith Jason , Porter Gregory , Furtado Manohar R. , Shewale Jaiprakash G.
Published: September 2009

The HID EVOlution—Extraction System (Tecan Group Ltd., Mannedorf, Switzerland) was developed to automate DNA extraction from biological samples using the PrepFiler Automated Forensic DNA Extraction Kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA). The system consists of a Tecan Freedom EVO 150 robot (Tecan Group Ltd., Mannedorf, Switzerland), a graphical user interface designed for use with Freedom EVOware software v 2.1 SPI (Tecan Group Ltd., Mannedorf, Switerland) as well as instrument hardware and plastic to support the PrepFiler reagents and protocol. The DNA quality and quantity obtained were comparable to that observed with the corresponding manual extraction protocol. Purified DNA was free of inhibitors and ready for downstream applications, such as real-time quantitative PCR and PCR for short tandem repeat (STR) analysis. The DNA quantity and quality obtained were consistent as demonstrated by the quantification and STR results. Our studies indicate that the HID EVOlution—Extraction System can easily be adopted in forensic laboratories to alleviate some of the bottlenecks of sample preparation in forensic laboratories.
Politics at the first Comité Special de l'Année Geophysique Internationale (CSAGI) Antarctic conference
Authors: Bulkeley Rip
Published: September 2009

At the first Comité Special de l'Année Geophysique Internationale (CSAGI) Antarctic conference, held in July 1955, the opening remarks of its president, supported by a resolution proposed by the Chilean Ambassador and passed unanimously, stipulated that the meeting was not to be concerned with political matters and that its purposes were exclusively scientific. Those guidelines were not entirely successful. The Chilean resolution was itself a political move, and delegates reported that the meeting was repeatedly disturbed by further political interventions. The conference was nevertheless significant because it was the first time that representatives of eleven countries ever attended such a meeting, thus ensuring that the International Geophysical Year would mark a new phase in international relations respecting Antarctica.
Perception advances in outdoor vehicle detection for automatic cruise control
Authors: Álvarez S. , Sotelo M. Á. , Ocaña M. , Llorca D. F. , Parra I. , Bergasa L. M.
Published: September 2009

This paper describes a vehicle detection system based on support vector machine (SVM) and monocular vision. The final goal is to provide vehicle-to-vehicle time gap for automatic cruise control (ACC) applications in the framework of intelligent transportation systems (ITS). The challenge is to use a single camera as input, in order to achieve a low cost final system that meets the requirements needed to undertake serial production in automotive industry. The basic feature of the detected objects are first located in the image using vision and then combined with a SVM-based classifier. An intelligent learning approach is proposed in order to better deal with objects variability, illumination conditions, partial occlusions and rotations. A large database containing thousands of object examples extracted from real road scenes has been created for learning purposes. The classifier is trained using SVM in order to be able to classify vehicles, including trucks. In addition, the vehicle detection system described in this paper provides early detection of passing cars and assigns lane to target vehicles. In the paper, we present and discuss the results achieved up to date in real traffic conditions.