bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Headache frequency and intensity in female migraineurs using desogestrel-only contraception: A retrospective pilot diary study
Authors: Merki-Feld Gabriele S , Imthurn Bruno , Langner Ronald , Sándor Peter S , Gantenbein Andreas R
Published: January 2013

Background

Migraine seems to be substantially related to hormonal changes. However, migraine, but also the use of combined oral contraceptives (COC), is associated with an increased risk for vascular events. Therefore progestagen-only contraception is an important alternative to combined preparations. Clinical observations and one pilot study demonstrate that the use of desogestrel 75 µg may have a positive impact on migraine.

Aim

The aim of this retrospective analysis of prospectively collected headache diaries was to study the effect of desogestrel 75 µg on headache frequency, intensity and use of acute medication in premenopausal women with migraine in a clinical setting.

Methods

Patients’ charts were included from women who wanted to use desogestrel 75 µg as a contraceptive and had kept headache diaries over six months (three months pretreatment and three months during treatment). Out of 58 women, 38 women had completed headache diaries for this period. Incomplete diaries ( n = 12), side effects ( n = 5) and loss to follow-up ( n = 3) were the reasons for the exclusion of 20 women. The three months (total of 90 days) before and after initiation of the progestin were compared.

Results

Days with migraine (5.2 vs. 3.7), days with all kind of headache (8.3 vs. 6.5) and days with use of any headache medication (5.7 vs. 3.5) were significantly reduced at follow-up after three months. In addition there was a reduction in headache intensity ( p < 0.0001). The reduction in number of days with use of triptans was not significant ( p < 0.14).

Conclusion

In the 38/58 migraineurs with complete diaries there was a statistically significant decrease in migraine days, headache intensity and medication use. Tension-type headache days decreased but were not significant. Our preliminary data are promising, but should be interpreted cautiously because they were obtained in a small population of women visiting a specialty hormone and migraine clinic. Randomised controlled trials need to be conducted to substantiate our results.
Subacute oral toxicity of combinations of selected synthetic pyrethroids, piperonyl butoxide, and tetramethrin in rats
Authors: Yavuz Oguzhan , Aksoy Abdurrahman , Das Yavuz Kursad , Gulbahar Mustafa Yavuz , Guvenc Dilek , Atmaca Enes , Yarim Fatma Gul , Cenesiz Metin
Published: January 2013

In this study, 70 Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven equal groups (six experimental and one control), which consisted of animals belonging to both sexes. Different combinations of insecticides were administered daily to the experimental groups (group 1: cypermethrin + piperonyl butoxide (PBO); group 2: alphacypermethrin + PBO; group 3: deltamethrin + PBO; group 4: cypermethrin + PBO + tetramethrin; group 5: alphacypermethrin + PBO + tetramethrin; and group 6: deltamethrin + PBO + tetramethrin) for 28 days. During the study period, mortality and serious clinical findings were not observed in any animal. However, feed consumptions decreased in groups 1 and 3 ( p < 0.05). Red blood cells, white blood cells, and hemoglobin levels, especially in cypermethrin and alphacypermethrin groups (groups 1, 2, and 4), were found to be higher than the control group ( p < 0.05). Furthermore, biochemical changes related to liver, kidney functions, and protein metabolism occurred in males of almost all the groups. Relative liver and kidney weights of the male animals increased in the cypermethrin and alphacypermethrin groups ( p < 0.05). The most common finding observed during the histopathological examination of all the experimental groups was centrilobular degeneration in the liver. It was concluded that although clinical symptoms were not observed, synthetic pyrethroid, synergist, and knockdown agent combinations might cause serious abnormalities when administered in certain doses in mammalians.
Protective effect of Lygodium flexuosum (family: Lygodiaceae) against excision, incision and dead space wounds models in experimental rats
Authors: Chandra Phool , Yadav Esha , Mani Munesh , Ghosh Ashoke Kumar , Sachan Neetu
Published: January 2013

Ethnopharmacological relevance:

Lygodium flexuosum (Linn) Sw. is a climbing fern, and it is the sole genus in the family Lygodiaceae. It commonly grows epiphytically on moss covered tree trunks and branches as lithophytes on shady boulders along with moss. It has been reported as a traditional folkloric medicine for a variety of ailments particularly useful for carbuncles, inflammation, ulcer, various respiratory diseases, general disorders, muscle sprains and acts as panacea for wounds. However, there are no scientific reports on wound healing activity of the plant L. flexuosum (Linn) Sw.

Aim of the study:

To explore the protective effect of L. flexuosum against excision, incision and dead space wounds models in experimental rats.

Methods:

Wistar albino rats of either sex weighing between 180 and 220 g were topically treated with extract formulated in ointment using simple ointment BP as base. Ointments, 4% and 5% (w/w), were applied once daily in excision wound model. L. flexuosum ethanolic extract was given orally at a dose of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg in incision and dead space wound healing models. Rats of standard groups were treated with 0.2% nitrofurazone ointment topically. The percentage wound contraction, epithelization time in excision wound model; breaking strength in incision wound model and wet and dry granulation weight, hydroxyproline content were measured.

Results:

Topical application of L. flexuosum in excision wound model increased the percentage of wound contraction, and the epithelization time was decreased. In the incision wound model, the breaking strength of wounds increased and in dead space model the weight of dry and wet granuloma of wounds and hydroxyproline was increased. Conclusively, the data of present study indicated that the leaf extract of L. flexuosum accelerated wound healing in rats and thus supports its traditional use.
The Design of Grids in Web Surveys
Authors: Couper Mick P. , Tourangeau Roger , Conrad Frederick G. , Zhang Chan
Published: January 2013

Grid or matrix questions are associated with a number of problems in web surveys. In this article, we present results from two experiments testing the design of grid questions to reduce breakoffs, missing data, and satisficing. The first examines dynamic elements to help guide respondent through the grid, and on splitting a larger grid into component pieces. The second manipulates the visual complexity of the grid and on simplifying the grid. We find that using dynamic feedback to guide respondents through a multiquestion grid helps reduce missing data. Splitting the grids into component questions further reduces missing data and motivated underreporting. The visual complexity of the grid appeared to have little effect on performance.
The influence of surface effects on the coupling vibration of bioliquid-filled microtubules
Authors: Chen W , Li HB , Wang X
Published: January 2013

This article reports the result of an investigation into the effects of surface modulus, residual surface tension and bioliquid density on the vibration frequency of bioliquid-filled microtubule. Results show that influences of surface modulus and residual surface tension on the vibration frequency of bioliquid-filled microtubule are different. The influence of surface effect on the vibration frequency of bioliquid-filled microtubule is dependent on the vibration mode of microtubule and the bioliquid density in the microtubule.
Sealing performance test for V-insert clamp applicable to automobile exhaust pipes
Authors: Yoon Sung Ho , Hwang Young Eun
Published: January 2013

The sealing performance of V-insert clamp used in automobile exhaust pipes was examined for various applied torques by a specially designed pneumatic testing system. Axial clamping forces of V-insert clamp were evaluated through a clamping performance test. In the clamping performance test, increase in the torque showed gradual increase in the axial clamping force for all gaps between exhaust pipes that were considered. Slight increase in the torque resulted in relatively high axial clamping force. In the sealing performance test, when applied pressure was 50 kPa, the leak was not present in all applied torques due to no pressure change as a function of time. For 100 kPa, the leak was observed for applied torques of 3 N-m and lower. When V-insert clamp was used to join the pipes together, at least the applied torque of 4 N-m was needed in order for V-insert clamp to effectively function in the exhaustion system. Therefore, it can be concluded that V-insert clamp showed sufficient sealing performance to support the applied pressure of up to 100 kPa within the exhaustion system when relatively high torque was applied.
Agro-industrial alluvium in the Swale catchment, northern England, as an event marker for the Anthropocene
Authors: Foulds Simon A , Macklin Mark G , Brewer Paul A
Published: January 2013

Physically and chemically distinctive late-Prehistoric and historical age alluvial deposits are characteristic of many upland and lowland river systems in the UK. Despite their widespread distribution, there have been few attempts to construct robust chronologies or to identify environmental factors that governed their formation. The Swale catchment in northern England is typical in this respect, with large areas of its valley floor covered by sedimentologically distinctive laminated sands and silts, enriched in organic material and Pb, and underlain by uncontaminated and structureless silts. Using 14C dating, chemostratigraphy, lichenometry and historical maps, a catchment-wide change in sedimentation style has been dated to between the mid 18th and early 19th centuries ad. Several causative factors were responsible for this change in sedimentation style and include the initiation of large-scale, intensive lead mining from the latter half of the 18th century onwards, embankment construction in the lowlands and historical peat erosion in the uplands. Transformation of the Swale floodplain also reflects longer-term land-use and climate change. In particular, deforestation of headwater tributaries by monastic grazing practices in the High Middle Ages (ad 1000–1300) led to a period of fine-grained sedimentation in upland catchments, as well as priming hillslopes for erosion and widespread channel network incision and increased fine sediment flux during the climatic downturn of the ‘Little Ice Age’. Sediment facies of a similar nature have been widely recorded in other northern English river catchments and represent a regional land use–climate signal characteristic of the Anthropocene. We introduce the term ‘agro-industrial alluvium’ to describe these types of deposit. They have similarities to post-settlement alluvium in North America and Australia, where historical land-use change had a similar impact on valley floor sedimentology.
Tilia forest dynamics, Kretzschmaria deusta attack, and mire hydrology as palaeoecological proxies for mid-Holocene climate reconstruction in the Kashubian Lake District (N Poland)
Authors: Latałowa Małgorzata , Pędziszewska Anna , Maciejewska Emilia , Święta-Musznicka Joanna
Published: January 2013

Pollen, non-pollen palynomorph, macrofossil, and lithological analyses of mid-Holocene deposits from a small peat bog in northern Poland provide new proxy data on vegetation dynamics and climate between c. 9500 and 4600 cal. BP. The most prominent wetter climate phases occurred between c. 9500 and 9280±160 and between c. 5000 and 4600 cal. BP while a hot and dry period between 8185±145 and 5299±195 cal. BP corresponds with the Holocene Thermal Maximum (HTM). The HTM phase has been characterized by absolute dominance of Tilia cordata and the presence of T. platyphyllos beyond its current geographical range limit and a c. 2700 yr long, high incidence of the parasite fungus Kretzschmaria deusta in the local forest stand, concurrent with a dry phase on the mire. For the HTM, we suggest mean summer temperatures at least 3°C higher than today’s values. These data are in accordance with the geographic pattern of the HTM temperature anomalies in northern Europe, including the Baltic region, which suggest a gradient of positive anomalies from north to south and from west to east. The data also illustrate the effect of climate warming on the mid-Holocene pathogen outbreak and may indicate intensive vegetative reproduction as a Tilia strategy for population survival. Summer drought was probably important for high success of K. deusta in infecting weakened Tilia trees.
Sport and social cohesion in a provincial town in South Africa: The case of a tourism project for aid and social development through football
Authors: Cubizolles Sylvain
Published: January 2013

This article examines sport and social cohesion in South Africa through a case study of a project on aid and social development through tourism and football in the provincial town of Stellenbosch, in the Western Cape. The field of study includes the project that was initiated, the group that benefits from it – African footballers – and another group that believes they too were entitled to benefit – Coloured footballers. The observation scale focuses not on the content of the initiative, as the usual sociological approach would do, but on the effects of its allocation. Those effects are observed first from the viewpoint of how they contribute to heighten acceptance of the national governance principles, and then from that of the consequences of that level of acceptance. The results show that the allocation of the project has heightened acceptance of the democratic framework among African footballers, and had the opposite effect among Coloured footballers, who view it as deeply inequitable. In Stellenbosch, the project on aid and social development through tourism and football thus has been harmful to the national project of social cohesion as, far from enhancing the acceptance of the governance framework by all, it has fostered conflict. Next, our results show that allocating the project to one group has strengthened the feeling that there are fundamental differences between the two football groups, by throwing the inequality between them into relief. It has revived among each group the stereotypes inherited from apartheid, in which Coloureds are perceived as ‘racists’ and Africans as ‘primitive’, which harms the South African social cohesion project further, as such stereotypes only contribute to harden the boundaries between the different groups.
Preferences for Death and Dying Among Veterans With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Reinke Lynn F. , Uman Jane , Udris Edmunds M. , Moss Brianna R. , Au David H.
Published: January 2013

Rationale:

Studies identify common factors important for a “good death.” However, it is important for clinicians to individualize end-of-life care by eliciting patients’ preferences. We sought to determine preferences for death and dying among veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by performing a cross-sectional study. Participants (n = 376) completed a preferences about death and dying questionnaire.

Results:

Common themes ranked as most important by veterans include health care costs (86.6%) and avoiding strain on loved ones (78.8%). Unique items include being unafraid of dying (67.1%) and having discussed your treatment preferences with your clinician (59.3%).

Conclusion:

Preferences for death and dying are consistent among individuals with life-limiting illness, thus should be incorporated as core components in all end-of-life care planning. We identified unique preferences important to patients with COPD. This study suggests that clinicians need to engage in end-of-life discussions to learn about individual preferences to improve the patients’ dying experience.
DISC1
Authors: Narayan Soumya , Nakajima Kazunori , Sawa Akira
Published: January 2013

For the past decade, DISC1 has been studied as a promising lead to understand the biology underlying major mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia. Consequently, many review articles on DISC1 have been published. In this article, rather than repeating comprehensive overviews of research articles, we will introduce the utility of DISC1 in the study of cortical development in association with a wide range of developmental brain disorders. Cortical development involves cell autonomous and cell nonautonomous mechanisms as well as host responses to environmental factors, all of which involve DISC1 function. Thus, we will discuss the significance of DISC1 in forming an overall understanding of multiple mechanisms that orchestrate corticogenesis and can serve as therapeutic targets in diseases caused by abnormal cortical development.
Does Expanding Public Insurance Prevent Material Hardship for Families With Children?
Authors: Saloner Brendan
Published: January 2013

The 1997 Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provided states with funding to expand public insurance to children in low-income families. Recent studies suggest CHIP improved family finances, but it is unknown whether CHIP specifically affected the prevalence of material hardships such as food and housing insecurity. This study uses cross-sectional data on low-income children from the National Survey of American Families (1997-2002) to examine the impact of CHIP on material hardships. Using an instrumental variable that exploits variation in income eligibility cutoffs across states and years, I find that households gaining CHIP eligibility did not experience significant changes in material hardship. CHIP significantly reduced the prevalence of postponed care for the subgroup of households close to the poverty line. For low-income families with children, public health insurance may play a larger role in increasing access to care than in supplementing the budget for necessities.
The lived experience of Taiwanese mothers of a child diagnosed with adrenoleukodystrophy
Authors: Lee Tsorng-Yeh , Li Chia-Chi , Liaw Jen-Jiuan
Published: January 2013

This research was conducted to describe Taiwanese mothers’ lived experience of caring for their child diagnosed with adrenoleukodystrophy. Analysis of eight interviews by Colaizzi’s method revealed six themes: (1) difficulty confirming the diagnosis; (2) powerlessness toward unsatisfactory treatment; (3) struggles with decisions around carrier testing; (4) guilt about being a carrier; (5) support from family, other parents, and religion; and (6) lack of integrated resources and support. The results suggest the need to raise public and physician awareness about adrenoleukodystrophy via the media and medical education. A central organization to provide parents with comprehensive information is needed.
South East Asian migrant experiences in regional Victoria: Exploring well-being
Authors: Townsend Rob , Pascal Jan , Delves Mel
Published: January 2013

This article outlines a recent pilot project in Bendigo that collected baseline data in order to develop a preliminary understanding of regional migration experiences. The literature indicated that migrant experiences in Australian regional communities are under-researched. Sixty participants from South East Asia, who have migrated to Bendigo, Victoria within the last five years, completed a mixed-methods survey. The key findings reported upon are socio-structural factors, social connectedness and psychosocial well-being. Crucial factors such as culture, spirituality and non-English-language, link to the more complex issues of personal, social and cultural identity. These findings are significant in adding to the limited data and discussion about newly arrived migrants in rural and regional communities. There are sociological implications from this preliminary data concerning social capital and psychosocial well-being. There are also implications for policy development and professional practice for migration to rural and regional communities.
The making of ‘democracy’s champions’: Understanding police support for democracy in Ghana
Authors: Tankebe Justice
Published: January 2013

Marks and Fleming (2006: 178–179) have conjectured that ‘if we are to expect the police to behave democratically, it is important for the police themselves to experience democratic engagement within the organisations in which they work’. This article tests their conjecture, using data from a survey of frontline officers in Ghana. In particular, it explores whether police support for, and satisfaction with, democracy and police commitment to procedural justice in police–public encounters are driven by experiences of organizational distributive justice and procedural justice. The findings show strong support for democracy and for procedural justice in police–public encounters, but they also indicate dissatisfaction with ‘the way democracy works’. Further analyses suggest that assessments of distributive justice and procedural justice within the Ghanaian police service are the main drivers of support for democracy, satisfaction with democracy and commitment to procedural justice in police–public encounters. The findings thus lend support to the Marks–Fleming conjecture. It was also found that satisfaction with personal financial circumstance undermines commitment to procedural justice in police–public encounters.
Victim Personal Statements: An analysis of notification and utilization
Authors: Mastrocinque Jeanna M
Published: January 2013

Victim statement policies are a controversial topic inspiring several decades of debate. Criminal justice systems internationally have implemented diverse types of victim statement policies; however, regardless of the type of policy, literature supports that victims seldom provide statements. Despite these findings, few studies have explored the notification and utilization of these policies. The current study selects the Victim Personal Statement (VPS) policy in England and Wales to evaluate what factors influence whether victims are informed of the VPS, and what factors influence one’s decision to provide a VPS by using British Crime Survey (BCS) data. The findings support that several victim, offender, offense, and jurisdictional characteristics influence both notification and utilization of victim statements. The implications for these findings regarding victim statement policies are discussed.
Flow field-flow fractionation (FlFFF) coupled to sensitive detection techniques: a way to examine radionuclide interactions with nanoparticles
Authors: Bouby M. , Finck N. , Geckeis H.
Published: January 2013

The capabilities of the asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AsFlFFF) technique coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and UV–Vis spectrophotometry in the characterization of synthetic and natural colloidal samples are demonstrated in two different systems. The first system is a sol of hectorite which was co-precipitated in the presence of Lu. The results show that hectorite nanoparticles can be mobilized from a bulk sample and that they still contain the dopant Lu, which is homogeneously incorporated into the hectorite crystal structure. The second system is a natural groundwater from the Gorleben site on the northern German plain, which is being tentatively explored to assess its suitability as a nuclear waste repository. Colloidal matter heterogeneity is evident in this system. Alkaline-earth elements are mainly found as ionic species. Rare earth elements (REEs) and actinides are distributed in two main colloidal fractions: the heavier REEs and U are concentrated in the <4 nm fraction corresponding to the size range of organic colloidal particles, whereas lighter REEs and Th are concentrated in colloidal particles between 4 and 18 nm in size that are both organic and inorganic in nature. Similar results are reported for another sample from the same site, collected ∼2 km from the first one, demonstrating the homogeneity of the aquifer system and/or a possible colloid migration pathway. The extent of the reversibility of colloid–radionuclide interactions remains to be evaluated.
Characterization of Eu(III) co-precipitated with and adsorbed on hectorite: from macroscopic crystallites to nanoparticles
Authors: Finck N. , Bouby M. , Dardenne K. , Geckeis H.
Published: January 2013

Hectorite was synthesized from a Eu(III)-bearing brucite precursor in a multistep procedure. In a separate experiment, Eu(III) ions were adsorbed onto hectorite in suspension. Colloids were extracted from both samples. The size distributions in the colloidal fractions were characterized by application of the asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AsFlFFF) method and the corresponding elemental compositions were obtained by ICP-MS. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy was used to characterize the local chemical environment surrounding Eu in the bulk samples and in the colloidal fractions.

The EXAFS results show that Eu is associated with hectorite upon co-precipitation or adsorption. Results from AsFlFFF suggest that Eu is structurally associated with the colloidal fraction extracted from bulk Eu-bearing co-precipitated hectorite. The AsFlFFF data are different for the colloidal fraction containing Eu(III) adsorbed on hectorite; in this sample they are consistent with a surface retention mechanism. These small but significant differences enable surface sorbed Eu to be distinguished from co-precipitated Eu. Eu is very likely located in a clay-like environment in the co-precipitation experiment, and it forms inner-sphere surface complexes in the adsorption experiment. The results obtained using the different experimental techniques agree, and show the benefits of using multiple methods of analysis.

Trivalent europium was used as non-radioactive chemical homologue for trivalent actinides. Similar retention mechanisms are expected for the trivalent actinides if they are co-precipitating with or adsorbing onto sheet silicates. The present study provides information which can be usefully added to the safety assessments required for deeply buried nuclear waste disposal sites.
Effect of carbonate incorporation on the hydroxyl content of hydroxylapatite
Authors: Pasteris J. D. , Yoder C. H. , Sternlieb M. P. , Liu S.
Published: January 2013

Mechanisms for the incorporation of carbonate into minerals of the apatite group have been explored in both the geological and medical literature. An important problem with respect to biological apatite, which requires further clarification, is the hydroxyl content of the carbonated apatite of bone. Recent studies reveal bone apatite to contain only ∼20 mol.% of the hydroxyl content of stoichiometric hydroxylapatite, with negligible chloride or fluoride. We investigated the hypothesis that the development of vacancies in the hydroxyl channel sites is a charge-balancing mechanism for the substitution of carbonate ions into hydroxylapatite. Raman spectroscopic analyses of synthetic carbonated apatites (containing 1 to >15 wt.% carbonate) show that their hydroxyl ion concentration correlates inversely with carbonate concentration. The specific relationship between carbonate and hydroxyl concentration in these samples closely follows the theoretical relationship defined by type-B substitution of carbonate for phosphate in the apatite structure. However, the 6–8 wt.% carbonate concentration in bone apatite falls far short of accounting for all of the hydroxyl depletion that occurs in bone apatite. Some of the additional hydroxyl depletion in bone apatite might result from substitution of Na+ for Ca2+, but further mechanism(s), perhaps (HPO4)2– substitution, must also play a significant role.
D'ansite-(Mn), Na21Mn2+(SO4)10Cl3 and d'ansite-(Fe), Na21Fe2+(SO4)10Cl3, two new minerals from volcanic fumaroles
Authors: Demartin F. , Campostrini I. , Castellano C. , Gramaccioli C. M. , Russo M.
Published: January 2013

The new minerals d'ansite-(Mn), Na21Mn2+(SO4)10Cl3, and d'ansite-(Fe), Na21Fe2+(SO4)10Cl3, occur as encrustations in fumaroles at Vesuvius, Naples, Italy and La Fossa crater, Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy, respectively. Both minerals are cubic and crystallize in space group I3d. D'ansite-(Mn) forms colourless translucent tristetrahedral crystals up to 0.2 mm on edge; d'ansite-(Fe) forms aggregates of colourless to white complex isometric crystals of about the same size. Chemical analyses obtained by energy-dispersive spectrometry on an electron microprobe gave the following mean compositions: d'ansite-(Mn), Na2O 39.37, MnO 3.46, MgO 0.13, SO3 49.99, Cl 6.36, O=Cl–1.44, total 97.87 wt.%, corresponding to an empirical formula, on the basis of 43 anions, of Na20.61 (Mn2+0.79Mg0.05)Σ0.84S10.13O40.09Cl2.91; and d'ansite-(Fe), Na2O 39.12, FeO 4.18, MgO 0.12, SO3 49.91, Cl 6.81, O=Cl –1.54, total 98.60 wt.%, corresponding to an empirical formula of Na20.42(Fe2+0.94Mg0.05)Σ0.99S10.08O39.89Cl3.11. The six strongest reflections in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern of d'ansite-(Fe) [listed as dobs(Å) (I) (hkl)] are as follows: 2.807(100)(044), 2.570(37)(235), 1.714(29)(129), 3.384(27)(233), 3.113(26)(134), 2.108(15)(237). The unit-cell parameters obtained from single-crystal data are 15.9291(9) and 15.882(3) Å for d'ansite-(Mn) and d'ansite-(Fe), respectively. The structure of both minerals was refined, using single-crystal diffraction data, to final R parameters of 0.0309 and 0.0336 on reflections with I > 2σ(I). The structure contains three independent Na sites, one of which is partially occupied by Mn2+ or Fe2+, two independent sulfate anions and one chlorine site.
Crystal structure and formula revision of deliensite, Fe[(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2](H2O)7
Authors: Plášil J. , Hauser J. , Petříček V. , Meisser N. , Mills S. J. , Škoda R. , Fejfarová K. , Čejka J. , Sejkora J. , Hloušek J. , Johannet J.-M. , Machovič V. , Lapčák L.
Published: January 2013

The crystal structure of deliensite, Fe[(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2](H2O)7, was solved by direct methods and refined toR1= 6.24% for 5211 unique observed reflections [Iobs> 3σ(I)], on a crystal that was found to consist of rotational and inversion (merohedral) twins, from Jeroným mine, Abertamy in the Czech Republic. The presence of four twin domains was taken into account in the refinement. The structure is orthorhombic, space groupPnn2, with unit-cell parametersa= 15.8514(9),b= 16.2478(7),c= 6.8943(3) Å,V= 1775.6(1) Å3andZ= 4. The crystal structure of deliensite contains uranyl-sulfate sheets with a phosphuranylite topology, consisting of dimers of edge-sharing uranyl pentagonal bipyramids linked by corner-sharing with sulfate tetrahedra. The sheets lie in the (100) plane and are decorated by [Fe2+O(H2O)5] octahedra; two weakly bonded H2O molecules are present in the interlayer. The [Fe2+O(H2O)5] octahedron is linked directly to the sheet via the uranyl oxygen atom. Adjacent sheets are linked by hydrogen bonds only. The sheet topology and geometrical isomerism is discussed and a comparison of the composition obtained from electron-probe microanalysis, powder-diffraction data, Raman and infrared spectra of deliensite samples from Mas d'Alary, Lodève, France; L'Ecarpière mine, Gétigné, France; and several localities at Jáchymov, Western Bohemia, Czech Republic is made.
The role of complement component 3 (C3) in differentiation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells
Authors: Hsieh Ching-Chuan , Chou Hong-Shiue , Yang Horng-Ren , Lin Feng , Bhatt Sumantha , Qin Jie , Wang Lianfu , Fung John J. , Qian Shiguang , Lu Lina
Published: January 2013

Key Points

C3 and MDSC development
The central nervous system is a target of acute graft versus host disease in mice
Authors: Hartrampf Steffen , Dudakov Jarrod A. , Johnson Linda K. , Smith Odette M. , Tsai Jennifer , Singer Natalie V. , West Mallory L. , Hanash Alan M. , Albert Michael H. , Liu Bingfang , Toth Miklos , van den Brink Marcel R. M.
Published: January 2013

Key Points

The central nervous system can be a direct target of alloreactive T cells during GVHD. Central nervous system damage in mouse models of GVHD lead to deficits in learning and increased anxiety behavior.
Time course and progression of wild type α-Synuclein accumulation in a transgenic mouse model
Authors: Amschl David , Neddens Jörg , Havas Daniel , Flunkert Stefanie , Rabl Roland , Römer Heinrich , Rockenstein Edward , Masliah Eliezer , Windisch Manfred , Hutter-Paier Birgit
Published: January 2013

Background

Progressive accumulation of α-synuclein (α-Syn) protein in different brain regions is a hallmark of synucleinopathic diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy. α-Syn transgenic mouse models have been developed to investigate the effects of α-Syn accumulation on behavioral deficits and neuropathology. However, the onset and progression of pathology in α-Syn transgenic mice have not been fully characterized. For this purpose we investigated the time course of behavioral deficits and neuropathology in PDGF-β human wild type α-Syn transgenic mice (D-Line) between 3 and 12 months of age.

Results

These mice showed progressive impairment of motor coordination of the limbs that resulted in significant differences compared to non-transgenic littermates at 9 and 12 months of age. Biochemical and immunohistological analyses revealed constantly increasing levels of human α-Syn in different brain areas. Human α-Syn was expressed particularly in somata and neurites of a subset of neocortical and limbic system neurons. Most of these neurons showed immunoreactivity for phosphorylated human α-Syn confined to nuclei and perinuclear cytoplasm. Analyses of the phenotype of α-Syn expressing cells revealed strong expression in dopaminergic olfactory bulb neurons, subsets of GABAergic interneurons and glutamatergic principal cells throughout the telencephalon. We also found human α-Syn expression in immature neurons of both the ventricular zone and the rostral migratory stream, but not in the dentate gyrus.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrates that the PDGF-β α-Syn transgenic mouse model presents with early and progressive accumulation of human α-Syn that is accompanied by motor deficits. This information is essential for the design of therapeutical studies of synucleinopathies.
Effectiveness of mat Pilates or equipment-based Pilates in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: a protocol of a randomised controlled trial
Authors: da Luz Maurício Antônio , Costa Leonardo Oliveira Pena , Fuhro Fernanda Ferreira , Manzoni Ana Carolina Taccolini , de Oliveira Naiane Teixeira Bastos , Cabral Cristina Maria Nunes
Published: January 2013

Background

Chronic low back pain is an expensive and difficult condition to treat. One of the interventions widely used by physiotherapists in the treatment of chronic non-specific low back pain is exercise therapy based upon the Pilates principles. Pilates exercises can be performed with or without specific equipment. These two types of Pilates exercises have never been compared on a high-quality randomised controlled trial.

Methods/design

This randomised controlled trial with a blinded assessor will evaluate eighty six patients of both genders with chronic low back pain, aged between 18 and 60 years, from one Brazilian private physiotherapy clinic. The patients will be randomly allocated into two groups: Mat Group will perform the exercises on the ground while the Equipment-based Group will perform the Pilates method exercises on the following equipment: Cadillac, Reformer, Ladder Barrel, and Step Chair. The general and specific disability of the patient, kinesiophobia, pain intensity and global perceived effect will be evaluated by a blinded assessor before randomisation and at six weeks and six months after randomisation. In addition, the expectation of the participants and their confidence with the treatment will be evaluated before randomisation and after the first treatment session, respectively.

Discussion

This will be the first study aiming to compare the effectiveness of Mat and Equipment-based Pilates exercises in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain. The results may help health-care professionals in clinical decision-making and could potentially reduce the treatment costs of this condition.

Trial registration

Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials RBR-7tyg5j
The biomechanical demands of standing yoga poses in seniors: The Yoga empowers seniors study (YESS)
Authors: Wang Man-Ying , Yu Sean S-Y , Hashish Rami , Samarawickrame Sachithra D , Kazadi Leslie , Greendale Gail A , Salem George
Published: January 2013

Background

The number of older adults participating in yoga has increased dramatically in recent years; yet, the physical demands associated with yoga performance have not been reported. The primary aim of the Yoga Empowers Seniors Study (YESS) was to use biomechanical methods to quantify the physical demands associated with the performance of 7 commonly-practiced standing yoga poses in older adults.

Methods

20 ambulatory older adults (70.7 + − 3.8 yrs) attended 2 weekly 60-minute Hatha yoga classes for 32 weeks. The lower-extremity net joint moments of force (JMOFs), were obtained during the performance of the following poses: Chair, Wall Plank, Tree, Warrior II, Side Stretch, Crescent, and One-Legged Balance. Repeated-measure ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc tests were used to identify differences in JMOFs among the poses. Electromyographic analysis was used to support the JMOF findings.

Results

There was a significant main effect for pose, at the ankle, knee and hip, in the frontal and sagittal planes (p = 0.00 – 0.03). The Crescent, Chair, Warrior II, and One-legged Balance poses generated the greatest average support moments. Side Stretch generated the greatest average hip extensor and knee flexor JMOFs. Crescent placed the highest demands on the hip flexors and knee extensors. All of the poses produced ankle plantar-flexor JMOFs. In the frontal plane, the Tree generated the greatest average hip and knee abductor JMOFs; whereas Warrior II generated the greatest average hip and knee adductor JMOFs. Warrior II and One-legged Balance induced the largest average ankle evertor and invertor JMOFs, respectively. The electromyographic findings were consistent with the JMOF results.

Conclusions

Musculoskeletal demand varied significantly across the different poses. These findings may be used to guide the design of evidence-based yoga interventions that address individual-specific training and rehabilitation goals in seniors.

Clinical trial registration

This study is registered with NIH Clinicaltrials.gov #NCT 01411059
Association of serum osteoprotegerin with vascular calcification in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Aoki Atsushi , Murata Miho , Asano Tomoko , Ikoma Aki , Sasaki Masami , Saito Tomoyuki , Otani Taeko , Jinbo Sachimi , Ikeda Nahoko , Kawakami Masanobu , Ishikawa San-e
Published: January 2013

Background

Osteoprotegerin is a member of the tumor necrosis factor-related family and inhibits RANK stimulation of osteoclast formation as a soluble decoy receptor. The goal of this study was to determine the relationship of serum osteoprotegerin with vascular calcification in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

The subjects were 124 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, including 88 males and 36 females with a mean (± SD) age of 65.6 ± 8.2 years old. Serum levels of osteoprotegerin, osteocalcin, fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and adiponectin were measured by ELISA. Vascular calcification in the cervical artery was examined by ultrasound sonography. The subjects were divided into 4 quartiles depending on serum osteoprotegerin levels.

Results

Vascular calcification was significantly higher in the 4th quartile and significantly lower in the 1st quartile of serum osteoprotegerin levels, compared to other quartiles. There were no differences in serum osteoprotegerin and vascular calcification among patients with different stages of diabetic nephropathy, but serum FGF23 levels were elevated in those with stage 4 diabetic nephropathy. Simple regression analysis showed that serum osteoprotegerin levels had significant positive correlations with age, systolic blood pressure and serum adiponectin levels, and significant negative correlations with BMI and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that elevated serum osteoprotegerin may be involved in vascular calcification independently of progression of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Effect of a plant sterol, fish oil and B vitamin combination on cardiovascular risk factors in hypercholesterolemic children and adolescents: a pilot study
Authors: Garaiova Iveta , Muchová Jana , Nagyová Zuzana , Mišľanová Csilla , Oravec Stanislav , Dukát Andrej , Wang Duolao , Plummer Sue F , Ďuračková Zdeňka
Published: January 2013

Background

Assessment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors can predict clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis in adulthood. In this pilot study with hypercholesterolemic children and adolescents, we investigated the effects of a combination of plant sterols, fish oil and B vitamins on the levels of four independent risk factors for CVD; LDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerols, C-reactive protein and homocysteine.

Methods

Twenty five participants (mean age 16 y, BMI 23 kg/m2) received daily for a period of 16 weeks an emulsified preparation comprising plant sterols esters (1300 mg), fish oil (providing 1000 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) and vitamins B12 (50 μg), B6 (2.5 mg), folic acid (800 μg) and coenzyme Q10 (3 mg). Atherogenic and inflammatory risk factors, plasma lipophilic vitamins, provitamins and fatty acids were measured at baseline, week 8 and 16.

Results

The serum total cholesterol, LDL- cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, subfractions LDL-2, IDL-1, IDL-2 and plasma homocysteine levels were significantly reduced at the end of the intervention period (p<0.05). The triacylglycerols levels decreased by 17.6%, but did not reach significance. No significant changes in high sensitivity C-reactive protein, HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-1 were observed during the study period. After standardisation for LDL cholesterol, there were no significant changes in the levels of plasma γ-tocopherol, β-carotene and retinol, except for reduction in α-tocopherol levels. The plasma levels of n-3 fatty acids increased significantly with the dietary supplementation (p<0.05).

Conclusions

Daily intake of a combination of plant sterols, fish oil and B vitamins may modulate the lipid profile of hypercholesterolemic children and adolescents.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN89549017
The Wilms’ tumor gene (WT1) regulates E-cadherin expression and migration of prostate cancer cells
Authors: Brett Adina , Pandey Sony , Fraizer Gail
Published: January 2013

Background

One key step in the development of prostate cancer (PCa) metastasis is the loss of E-cadherin expression associated with increased cellular motility and tumor invasion. This loss of E-cadherin expression is also required during normal embryogenesis and similar transcriptional repressors have been identified in both processes. We have previously reported the presence of one such transcription factor, WT1 in high Gleason grade prostate tumor tissues, and its absence in non-neoplastic or benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues.

Results

To better understand the effect of WT1 on E-cadherin expression and migration of PCa cells we quantified WT1 and E-cadherin mRNA levels in normal prostate epithelial and PCa cell lines with varying migratory potential. In WT1 transfected cells E-cadherin transcript levels were decreased, while they were increased in siWT1-RNA transfected PCa cells, suggesting that elevated WT1 expression was sufficient to dampen E-cadherin levels and potentially enhance migratory ability. To delineate the mechanism of WT1-mediated repression of E-cadherin, potential WT1 binding sites were tested in vitro and in vivo binding of WT1 to the E-cadherin promoter in the chromatin of LNCaP and PC3 cells was assessed by Chromatin Immunoprecipitation. The effect of WT1 binding was measured in reporter assays; in PC3 and DU145 cells WT1 decreased the activity of the proximal E-cadherin promoter. Using site-directed mutagenesis, a newly identified WT1 binding site located 146 bp from the transcription start site was shown to be required for this repression by WT1. Transwell migration and wound healing assays revealed that in LNCaP cells with low migratory potential, over-expression of WT1 was sufficient to enhance migration, conversely, in the highly migratory PC3 cells silencing of WT1 decreased migration.

Conclusions

These findings suggested that WT1 expression in high grade prostate cancer may contribute to migration and metastasis. Thus, in prostate cancer WT1 may function as a novel oncogene facilitating development of the lethal metastatic phenotype.
Editorial: can China master the guideline challenge?
Authors: Yang Kehu , Chen Yaolong , Li Youping , Schünemann Holger J ,   Members of the Lanzhou International Guideline Symposium
Published: January 2013

China is experiencing increased health care use and expenditures, without sufficient controls to ensure quality and value. Transparent, cost-conscious and patient-centered guidelines based on the best available evidence could help establishing these quality and practice measures.

We examined how guidelines could support the Chinese health reform. Specifically, we summarized the current state of the art and related challenges in guideline development and explored possible solutions in the context of the Chinese health reform.

China currently lacks capacity for evidence-based guideline development and coordination by a central agency. Most Chinese guideline users rely on recommendations developed by professional groups that lack demonstration of transparency (including conflict of interest management and evidence synthesis) and quality. These deficiencies appear larger than in other regions of the world. In addition, misperceptions about the role of guidelines in assisting practitioners as opposed to providing rules requiring adherence, and a perception that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) cannot be appropriately incorporated in guidelines are present.

China’s capacity could be strengthened by a central guideline agency to provide or coordinate evidence synthesis for guideline development and to oversee the work of guideline developers. China can build on what is known and work with the international community to develop methods to meet the challenges of evidence-based guideline development.
Simple projection algorithm for a countable family of weak relatively nonexpansive mappings and applications
Authors: Zhang Jingling , Su Yongfu , Cheng Qingqing
Published: January 2013

Let E be a uniformly convex and uniformly smooth Banach space, let C be a nonempty closed convex subset of E, let

{

T
n

}
:
C
→
C

be a countable family of weak relatively nonexpansive mappings such that

F
=

⋂

n
=
1

∞

F
(

T
n

)
≠
∅

. For any given gauss

x
0

∈
C

, define a sequence

{

x
n

}

in C by the following algorithm:

{

C
0

=
C
,

C

n
+
1

=
{
z
∈

C
n

:
ϕ
(
z
,

T
n

x
n

)
=
ϕ
(
z
,

x
n

)
}
,

n
=
0
,
1
,
2
,
3
,
…
,

x

n
+
1

=

Π

C

n
+
1

x
0

.

Then

{

x
n

}

converges strongly to

q
=

Π
F

x
0

.

MSC:47H05, 47H09, 47H10.