bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MBG/PLGA composite microspheres with prolonged drug release
Authors: Li Xia , Wang Xiupeng , Zhang Lingxia , Chen Hangrong , Shi Jianlin
Published: September 2008

Mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) and composite microspheres with MBG particles embedded in biodegradable poly(D,L‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PLGA) matrix have been prepared and used to load gentamicin (GS). The in vitro drug release experiments from both MBG and composite microspheres were conducted in distilled water and phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution at 37°C for more than 30 days. In both water and PBS, GS release from the MBG was very fast with about 60 wt % of the loaded drug released in the first 24 h, and more than 80 wt % released in two days. MBG/PLGA composite microspheres showed an initial release of about 33 wt % in the first day, and 48 wt % in 2 days, and a subsequent sustained release lasting for more than 4 weeks in PBS. MBG/PLGA composite microspheres may be used as an alternative drug release system, especially as a bone void filler for bone repair due to their combined advantages of sustained release of antibiotics and apatite‐forming ability. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009
A pH‐sensitive nano drug delivery system derived from pullulan/doxorubicin conjugate
Authors: Lu Dianxiang , Wen Xiantao , Liang Jie , Gu Zhongwei , Zhang Xingdong , Fan Yujiang
Published: September 2008

A novel pH‐sensitive nanoparticle drug delivery system for doxorubicin (DOX) is prepared. Pullulan, a natural biocompatible polysaccharide, was partly carboxymethylized; hydrazine hydrate was condensed with the carboxyl groups forming hydrazide. The hydrazide was coupled with DOX through the formation of hydrazone bond. The chemical structure of the conjugate was determined by FTIR and 1H NMR. The pullulan/DOX conjugate nanoparticles were formed through the aggregation of hydrophobic DOX. The size and morphology of prepared nanoparticles were characterized using dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscope. The results showed that the nanoparticles were spherical and their size was less than 100 nm. The content of DOX in conjugate was 3.18 wt %. The investigation of the release behavior in vitro indicated that the DOX was released from nanoparticles faster at pH 5.0 (62% DOX released within 24 h) than at pH 7.4 (29% DOX released within 24 h). The in vitro cytotoxicity of pullulan/DOX conjugate nanoparticles was tested by the MTT assay. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009
Protein adsorption resistance and oxygen permeability of chemically crosslinked phospholipid polymer hydrogel for ophthalmologic biomaterials
Authors: Goda Tatsuro , Matsuno Ryosuke , Konno Tomohiro , Takai Madoka , Ishihara Kazuhiko
Published: September 2008

The biomimetic structure of a polymer hydrogel bearing phosphorylcholine groups was obtained from 2‐methacryloyloxyethylphosphorylcholline (MPC) and a novel crosslinker, 2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl‐N‐(2‐methacryloyloxy)ethyl]phosphorylcholine (MMPC), to prepare biocompatible ocular materials. MMPC is a dimethacrylate with phosphorylcholine‐analogous linkage. Previous reports clarified that the affinity of MMPC to MPC enables the water contents and mechanical properties of the poly(MPC) hydrogels to be varied without disturbing the bulk phases. In this study, we examined the protein adsorption resistance, water wettability, oxygen permeability, and electrolyte permeability of the mechanically enhanced poly(MPC) hydrogel crosslinked with MMPC. The amount of protein adsorbed on this hydrogel was 0.9 μg/cm2, which accounted for 30% of Omafilcon A and 3% of Etafilcon A. Water contact angle experiments revealed the high wettability of the poly(MPC) hydrogels. The oxygen permeability and NaCl diffusion constant of the poly(MPC) hydrogels were 64 barrer and 48 × 10−6 cm2/s, respectively. This high permeability resulted from the high water content, similar to the case of the human cornea. These results suggested that poly(MPC) hydrogels have good potential for use in ophthalmologic biomaterials. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009
The gross morphology and histochemistry of respiratory muscles in bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus
Authors: Cotten Pamela B. , Piscitelli Marina A. , McLellan William A. , Rommel Sentiel A. , Dearolf Jennifer L. , Pabst D. Ann
Published: September 2008

Most mammals possess stamina because their locomotor and respiratory (i.e., ventilatory) systems are mechanically coupled. These systems are decoupled, however, in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) as they swim on a breath hold. Locomotion and ventilation are coupled only during their brief surfacing event, when they respire explosively (up to 90% of total lung volume in approximately 0.3 s) (Ridgway et al. 1969 Science 166:1651–1654). The predominantly slow‐twitch fiber profile of their diaphragm (Dearolf 2003 J Morphol 256:79–88) suggests that this muscle does not likely power their rapid ventilatory event. Based on Bramble's (1989 Amer Zool 29:171–186) biomechanical model of locomotor‐respiratory coupling in galloping mammals, it was hypothesized that locomotor muscles function to power ventilation in bottlenose dolphins. It was further hypothesized that these muscles would be composed predominantly of fast‐twitch fibers to facilitate the bottlenose dolphin's rapid ventilation. The gross morphology of craniocervical (scalenus, sternocephalicus, sternohyoid), thoracic (intercostals, transverse thoracis), and lumbopelvic (hypaxialis, rectus abdominis, abdominal obliques) muscles (n = 7) and the fiber‐type profiles (n = 6) of selected muscles (scalenus, sternocephalicus, sternohyoid, rectus abdominis) of bottlenose dolphins were investigated. Physical manipulations of excised thoracic units were carried out to investigate potential actions of these muscles. Results suggest that the craniocervical muscles act to draw the sternum and associated ribs craniodorsally, which flares the ribs laterally, and increases the thoracic cavity volume required for inspiration. The lumbopelvic muscles act to draw the sternum and caudal ribs caudally, which decreases the volumes of the thoracic and abdominal cavities required for expiration. All muscles investigated were composed predominantly of fast‐twitch fibers (range 61–88% by area) and appear histochemically poised for rapid contraction. These combined results suggest that dolphins utilize muscles, similar to those used by galloping mammals, to power their explosive ventilation. J. Morphol., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rate‐independent processes in viscous solids at small strains
Authors: Roubíček Tomáš
Published: September 2008

The so‐called generalized standard solids (of Halphen–Nguyen type) involving also activated typically rate‐independent processes such as plasticity, damage, or phase transformations are described as a system of a momentum equilibrium equation and a variational inequality for inelastic evolution of internal‐parameter variables. Various definitions of solutions are examined, especially from the viewpoint of the ability to combine rate‐independent processes and other rate‐dependent phenomena, as viscosity or also inertia. If those rate‐dependent phenomena are suppressed, then the system becomes fully rate‐independent. Illustrative examples are presented as well. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The performance of the Japanese version of the K6 and K10 in the World Mental Health Survey Japan
Authors: Furukawa Toshi A. , Kawakami Norito , Saitoh Mari , Ono Yutaka , Nakane Yoshibumi , Nakamura Yosikazu , Tachimori Hisateru , Iwata Noboru , Uda Hidenori , Nakane Hideyuki , Watanabe Makoto , Naganuma Yoichi , Hata Yukihiro , Kobayashi Masayo , Miyake Yuko , Takeshima Tadashi , Kikkawa Takehiko
Published: September 2008

Two new screening scales for psychological distress, the K6 and K10, have been developed using the item response theory and shown to outperform existing screeners in English. We developed their Japanese versions using the standard backtranslaton method and included them in the World Mental Health Survey Japan (WMH‐J), which is a psychiatric epidemiologic study conducted in seven communities across Japan with 2436 participants. The WMH‐J used the WMH Survey Initiative version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) to assess the 30‐day Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fourth Edition (DSM‐IV). Performance of the two screening scales in detecting DSM‐IV mood and anxiety disorders, as assessed by the areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs), was excellent, with values as high as 0.94 (95% confidence interval = 0.88 to 0.99) for K6 and 0.94 (0.88 to 0.995) for K10. Stratum‐specific likelihood ratios (SSLRs), which express screening test characteristics and can be used to produce individual‐level predicted probabilities of being a case from screening scale scores and pretest probabilities in other samples, were strikingly similar between the Japanese and the original versions. The Japanese versions of the K6 and K10 thus demonstrated screening performances essentially equivalent to those of the original English versions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Patients' dependence on a nurse for the administration of their intravenous anti‐TNF therapy: A phenomenographic study
Authors: Larsson Ingrid , Bergman Stefan , Fridlund Bengt , Arvidsson Barbro
Published: September 2008

Background: Pain, stiffness and functional restriction of the joints are the main problems for many patients with inflammatory rheumatic conditions. When conventional drugs fail to delay the development of the disease, the patient may require biological treatment such as anti‐TNF therapy. Some biological drugs are administered in the form of intravenous infusions and thus the patient is obliged to attend a clinic in order to receive his/her medication, which can affect everyday life as well as independence. It is therefore important to focus on the patient perspective.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe variations in how patients with rheumatic conditions conceive their dependence on a nurse for the administration of their intravenous anti‐TNF therapy.

Method: The study had a descriptive qualitative design with a phenomenographic approach. Interviews were conducted with 20 patients.

Result: Three descriptive categories and seven sub‐categories emerged: Dependence that affords security (encountering continuity, encountering competence and obtaining information); Dependence that creates involvement (being allowed influence and being given freedom); Dependence that invigorates (obtaining relaxation and encountering the environment).

Conclusion: The patients had not reflected on the fact that they were dependent on a nurse for the administration of their intravenous anti‐TNF therapy, which may be due to their possibility to influence the treatment. The patients' needs should constitute the basis for the nurse's role in the provision of care. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Glycaemic control and metabolic risk: getting the extra mile from diabetes control
Authors: Devers M , Fisher M
Published: September 2008

Cardiometabolic risk is an emerging term which has been used to denote the cluster of risk factors defined by the metabolic syndrome and, in addition, to include the newer risk factors which are now recognised to occur in association with dysglycaemia and abdominal obesity. Interventions for diabetes can have effects on cardiometabolic risk factors beyond lowering of hyperglycaemia, and may be an explanation for the reductions in cardiovascular events that are seen with some but not all antidiabetic drugs. Newer antidiabetic agents and the weight‐reducing drug, rimonabant, have demonstrated favourable effects on cardiometabolic risk factors and on glycaemia, and should be further studied in long‐term cardiovascular outcomes trials. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons.
Fully denaturing two‐dimensional electrophoresis of membrane proteins: A critical update
Authors: Rabilloud Thierry , Chevallet Mireille , Luche Sylvie , Lelong Cécile
Published: September 2008

The quality and ease of proteomics analysis depends on the performance of the analytical tools used, and thus of the performances of the protein separation tools used to deconvolute complex protein samples. Among protein samples, membrane proteins are one of the most difficult sample classes, because of their hydrophobicity and embedment in the lipid bilayers. This review deals with the recent progresses and advances made in the separation of membrane proteins by 2‐DE separating only denatured proteins. Traditional 2‐D methods, i.e., methods using IEF in the first dimension are compared to methods using only zone electrophoresis in both dimensions, i.e., electrophoresis in the presence of cationic or anionic detergents. The overall performances and fields of application of both types of method is critically examined, as are future prospects for this field
Cell surface biomarkers of embryonic stem cells
Authors: Nagano Kohji , Yoshida Yoko , Isobe Toshiaki
Published: September 2008

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can give rise to any adult cell type and thus offer enormous potential for regenerative medicine and drug discovery. Molecular biomarkers serve as valuable tools to classify and isolate ESCs and to monitor their differentiation state by antibody‐based techniques. A number of biomarkers, such as certain cell surface antigens, are used to assign pluripotent ESCs; however, accumulating evidence suggests that ESCs are heterogeneous in morphology, phenotype and function, and are thereby classified into subpopulations characterized by multiple sets of molecular biomarkers. Biomarker discovery is also important for ESC biology to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that regulate pluripotency and differentiation. This review summarizes studies of ESC biomarker discovery. “Genome‐wide” expression profiling of ESC mRNAs and proteins and direct analyses of the cell surface subproteome have demonstrated that ESCs express a diverse range of biomarkers, cell surface antigens, and signaling molecules found in different cell lineages, as well as a number of key molecules that assure “stemness”. Clearly, future quantitative proteomics approaches will enhance our knowledge of the stage‐ and lineage‐specific expression of the proteome and its temporal changes upon differentiation, and provide a more detailed view of nascent and clonally amplified ESCs.
Proteomic profiling of exosomes: Current perspectives
Authors: Simpson Richard J. , Jensen Søren S. , Lim Justin W. E.
Published: September 2008

Exosomes are 40–100 nm membrane vesicles of endocytic origin secreted by most cell types in vitro. Recent studies have shown that exosomes are also found in vivo in body fluids such as blood, urine, amniotic fluid, malignant ascites, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, synovial fluid, and breast milk. While the biological function of exosomes is still unclear, they can mediate communication between cells, facilitating processes such as antigen presentation and in trans signaling to neighboring cells. Exosome‐like vesicles identified in Drosophila (referred to as argosomes) may be potential vehicles for the spread of morphogens in epithelia. The advent of current MS‐based proteomic technologies has contributed significantly to our understanding of the molecular composition of exosomes. In addition to a common set of membrane and cytosolic proteins, it is becoming increasingly apparent that exosomes harbor distinct subsets of proteins that may be linked to cell‐type associated functions. The secretion of exosomes by tumor cells and their implication in the transport and propagation of infectious cargo such as prions and retroviruses such as HIV suggest their participation in pathological situations. Interestingly, the recent observation that exosomes contain both mRNA and microRNA, which can be transferred to another cell, and be functional in that new environment, is an exciting new development in the unraveling exosome saga. The present review aims to summarize the physical properties that define exosomes as specific cell‐type secreted membrane vesicles.
A practical guide for the identification of membrane and plasma membrane proteins in human embryonic stem cells and human embryonal carcinoma cells
Authors: Dormeyer Wilma , van Hoof Dennis , Mummery Christine L. , Krijgsveld Jeroen , Heck Albert J. R.
Published: September 2008

The identification of (plasma) membrane proteins in cells can provide valuable insights into the regulation of their biological processes. Pluripotent cells such as human embryonic stem cells and embryonal carcinoma cells are capable of unlimited self‐renewal and share many of the biological mechanisms that regulate proliferation and differentiation. The comparison of their membrane proteomes will help unravel the biological principles of pluripotency, and the identification of biomarker proteins in their plasma membranes is considered a crucial step to fully exploit pluripotent cells for therapeutic purposes. For these tasks, membrane proteomics is the method of choice, but as indicated by the scarce identification of membrane and plasma membrane proteins in global proteomic surveys it is not an easy task. In this minireview, we first describe the general challenges of membrane proteomics. We then review current sample preparation steps and discuss protocols that we found particularly beneficial for the identification of large numbers of (plasma) membrane proteins in human tumour‐ and embryo‐derived stem cells. Our optimized assembled protocol led to the identification of a large number of membrane proteins. However, as the composition of cells and membranes is highly variable we still recommend adapting the sample preparation protocol for each individual system.
Production of membrane proteins using cell‐free expression systems
Authors: Schwarz Daniel , Dötsch Volker , Bernhard Frank
Published: September 2008

Production of membrane proteins (MPs) is a challenging task as their hydrophobic nature and their specific requirements in cellular expression systems frequently prevent an efficient synthesis. Cell‐free (CF) expression systems have been developed in recent times as promising tools by offering completely new approaches to synthesize MPs directly into artificial hydrophobic environments. A considerable variety of CF produced MPs has been characterized by functional and structural approaches and the high success rates and the rapidly accumulating data on quality and expression efficiencies increasingly attract attention. In addition, CF expression is a highly dynamic and versatile technique and new modifications for improved performance as well as for extended applications for the labeling, throughput expression and proteomic analysis of MPs are rapidly emerging.
Chromatographic benefits of elevated temperature for the proteomic analysis of membrane proteins
Authors: Blackler Adele R. , Speers Anna E. , Wu Christine C.
Published: September 2008

Integral membrane proteins (IMPs) perform crucial cellular functions and are the primary targets for most pharmaceutical agents. However, the hydrophobic nature of their membrane‐embedded domains and their intimate association with lipids make them difficult to handle. Numerous proteomic platforms that include LC separations have been reported for the high‐throughput profiling of complex protein samples. However, there are still many challenges to overcome for proteomic analyses of IMPs, especially as compared to their soluble counterparts. In particular, considerations for the technical challenges associated with chromatographic separations are just beginning to be investigated. Here, we review the benefits of using elevated temperatures during LC for the proteomic analysis of complex membrane protein samples.
From complementarity to comprehensiveness – targeting the membrane proteome of growing Bacillus subtilis by divergent approaches
Authors: Hahne Hannes , Wolff Susanne , Hecker Michael , Becher Dörte
Published: September 2008

The analysis of integral membrane proteins (IMPs) with mass spectrometry‐centered technologies has undergone great progress during the past few years, allowing for the analysis of several hundreds of IMPs. In this study, we investigated three promising shotgun approaches for the identification of IMPs of the model organism Bacillus subtilis. One comprises a classical membrane preparation procedure with carbonate and high‐ionic‐strength buffers, followed by SDS‐PAGE and LC‐MS/MS analysis. The two others are based on enzymatic trimming of the crude membrane fraction either with trypsin or proteinase K and subsequent gel‐free analysis. As a result, we observed the highest degree of complementarity between the gel‐based and the proteinase K approach, since the first exclusively addresses soluble loops and domains of IMPs and gave rise to 8709 unique peptides, whereas the latter contributed 1180 unique peptide identifications from otherwise inaccessible transmembrane helices (TMHs). All three methods contribute significant numbers (381, 284, and 276, respectively) to the total of 527 IMP identifications from the membrane fraction of exponentially growing B. subtilis cells, thus representing approximately 69% of all transcribed IMPs.
Flow Pattern Tracing for Mass Flow Rate Measurement in Pneumatic Conveying Using Twin Plane Electrical Capacitance Tomography
Authors: Mosorov Volodymyr
Published: September 2008

This paper presents an original concept for automatic determination of the time intervals for calculation of the mass flow rate of intermittent flow using a twin‐plane electrical capacitance tomography system. The concept allows a solids mass flow rate to be calculated more accurately. It is based on images of instantaneous distributions of the material inside the measured volume by means of Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT), and extraction of the appropriate flow patterns, which are further used for calculation of the mass flow rate. The preliminary results of the mass flow rate measurement using the proposed concept for gas‐solid flow during pneumatic conveying are presented.
A novel knot‐tying approach for minimally invasive surgical robot systems
Authors: Wang Shuxin , Wang Huijuan , Yue Longwang
Published: September 2008

Background

In robot‐assisted minimally invasive surgery (MIS), knot‐tying is an important but challenging task for surgeons when performing surgery by manipulating a master–slave robot system. Knot‐tying in the conventional way is restricted by a confined workspace, which may cause the suture loop to be unstable and make knot‐tying difficult and time‐consuming in robot‐assisted MIS.

Methods

A knot‐tying approach named ‘bending–twisting knot‐tying’ (BTKT) has been developed for robot‐assisted surgery systems operating in a confined workspace. The non‐linear deformation of sutures during knot‐tying is qualitatively described using knot theory. The length ratio of a knot (LoK) and the feasible coefficient (Fc) are introduced to evaluate the quality of BTKT knots. Simulations and experiments are performed based on finite segment dynamic models and the MicroHand surgical system, respectively, to describe the dynamic behaviours of the knots. Sensitive parameters, including the length of a suture (L), the distance between two ends (d) and the angle between tangents of the two ends (α) are analysed based on the model.

Results

For a terylene suture, the length of the sutureLand the distance between the two endsdshould satisfy 1.12d⩽L⩽14.4d. WhenLand α are constant, the smallerdis, the larger are LoK and Fc relative to different sutures. A knot of high quality can be tied with a small α.

Conclusions

Simulation and experimental results show that BTKT requires a smaller workspace and can form more stable loops compared to conventional methods. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Meta‐analysis of Mendelian randomization studies incorporating all three genotypes
Authors: Palmer Tom M. , Thompson John R. , Tobin Martin D.
Published: September 2008

In Mendelian randomization a carefully selected gene is used as an instrumental variable in the estimation of the association between a biological phenotype and a disease. A study using Mendelian randomization will have information on an individual's disease status, the genotype and the phenotype. The phenotype must be on the causal pathway between gene and disease for the instrumental‐variable analysis to be valid. For a biallelic polymorphism there are three possible genotypes with which to compare disease risk. Existing methods select two of the three possible genotypes for use in a Mendelian randomization analysis. Multivariate meta‐analysis models for Mendelian randomization case–control studies are proposed, which extend previous methods by estimating the pooled phenotype–disease association across both genotype comparisons by using the gene–disease log odds ratios and differences in mean phenotypes. The methods are illustrated using a meta‐analysis of the effect of a gene related to collagen production on bone mineral density and osteoporotic fracture. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid Isomers Reduce Cholesterol Accumulation in Acetylated LDL‐Induced Mouse RAW264.7 Macrophage‐Derived Foam Cells
Authors: Ringseis Robert , Wen Gaiping , Saal Daniela , Eder Klaus
Published: September 2008

Synthetic activators of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors (PPAR)‐α and ‐γ are capable of reducing macrophage foam cell cholesterol accumulation through the activation of genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis. Since conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) were also demonstrated to activate PPARα and PPARγ in vivo and in vitro, we tested the hypothesis that CLA are also capable of reducing macrophage foam cell cholesterol accumulation. Thus, mouse RAW264.7 macrophage‐derived foam cells were treated with CLA isomers, c9t11‐CLA and t10c12‐CLA, and linoleic acid (LA), as reference fatty acid, and analyzed for the concentrations of free and esterified cholesterol, cholesterol efflux and expression of genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis (CD36, ABCA1, LXRα, NPC‐1, and NPC‐2). Treatment with c9t11‐CLA and t10c12‐CLA, but not LA, lowered cholesterol accumulation, stimulated acceptor‐dependent cholesterol efflux, and increased relative mRNA concentrations of CD36, ABCA1, LXRα, NPC‐1, and NPC‐2 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the present study showed that CLA isomers reduce cholesterol accumulation in RAW264.7 macrophage‐derived foam cells presumably by enhancing lipid acceptor‐dependent cholesterol efflux.
Populationsgenetik autosomaler Polymorphismen
Authors: Schneider P.M.
Published: September 2008

Für die Sammlung valider populationsgenetischer Daten zu den in der forensischen Genetik gebräuchlichen autosomalen DNA-Polymorphismen müssen eine Reihe von Kriterien erfüllt werden. Diese umfassen zunächst die untersuchten polymorphen Marker und ihre Typisierungsverfahren, da nur auf der Basis einer gesicherten Unterscheidung der Allele sowie einer verbindlichen Nomenklatur die Vergleichbarkeit und Reproduzierbarkeit der gesammelten Daten gegeben ist. Die genetische Validierung umfasst den Nachweis des Mendel-Erbgangs sowie die Überprüfung der Mutationsrate. Die Selektion der Probanden für die Bestimmung der Allelhäufigkeiten, die für eine Bevölkerungsgruppe repräsentativ sein sollen, muss zufällig erfolgen, und die Daten müssen auf das Vorliegen des Hardy-Weinberg-Gleichgewichts geprüft werden. Eine allgemein anerkannte Definition von Populationen im forensisch-genetischen Kontext ist Gegenstand der aktuellen Diskussion. Daher beruht die Auswahl der Probanden aus pragmatischen Gründen primär auf ihrer geografischen Herkunft. Zusätzlich wird empfohlen, bei der biostatistischen Bewertung populationsgenetische Maßzahlen wie Fst und Θ als Korrekturen für mögliche Inhomogenitäten in der untersuchten Populationsstichprobe zu verwenden.
Reversal of IFN‐γ, oxLDL and prolactin serum levels correlate with clinical improvement in patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy
Authors: Forster Olaf , Hilfiker‐Kleiner Denise , Ansari Aftab A. , Sundstrom J. Bruce , Libhaber Elena , Tshani Winnie , Becker Anthony , Yip Anthony , Klein Gunnar , Sliwa Karen
Published: September 2008

Aim:

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is characterized by acute onset of heart failure of unknown aetiology. We aimed to identify mechanisms involved in initiation and progression of the disease.

Methods and results:

Serum markers related to cardiac function, apoptosis, oxidative stress, remodelling, inflammation and the nursing hormone prolactin were analyzed in PPCM patients and healthy controls. The kinetics of these markers were compared between patients who improved cardiac function (IMP) and those patients who did not improve (NIMP), over 6 months follow‐up. All patients received ACE‐inhibitors, beta‐blockers and diuretics. Baseline levels of TGF‐beta‐1 were significantly lower, MMP‐9 and VEGF were not different; all other markers were significantly higher in PPCM compared with controls. Only baseline NT‐proBNP levels were higher in NIMP compared with IMP. After 6 months, NT‐proBNP, oxLDL and IFN‐γ were significantly lower in IMP and the decrease in oxLDL, IFN‐γ and prolactin was significant in IMP but not in NIMP. Significant correlations were observed between the kinetics of NT‐proBNP, oxLDL, prolactin and IFN‐γ in PPCM patients.

Conclusion:

Baseline NT‐proBNP and the failure to decrease oxLDL, IFN‐γ and prolactin are associated with poor outcome in PPCM, suggesting a potential role of these factors in the pathophysiology of PPCM and for risk stratification of PPCM patients.
Type D personality and depressive symptoms are independent predictors of impaired health status in chronic heart failure☆
Authors: Schiffer Angélique A. , Pedersen Susanne S. , Widdershoven Jos W. , Denollet Johan
Published: September 2008

Objective:

To examine whether Type D personality exerts a stable, independent effect on health status in CHF over time, adjusted for depressive symptoms.

Subjects:

CHF outpatients (n=166; 75% men; mean age 66 years) completed the Type D Scale and Beck Depression Inventory (baseline) and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire and Short‐Form Health Survey (baseline and 12 months).

Results:

There was a general improvement in disease‐specific physical (p=.029) and mental (p<.001) health over time, but Type D patients scored significantly lower on both outcomes (p≤.001). The interaction effects Type D×time were not significant, indicating stability of the personality effect. Type D patients also scored significantly lower on all generic physical (p values between .001 and .04) and mental (all p values ≤.01) health status subdomains; these effects were also stable over time. Type D was an independent predictor of disease‐specific mental health (p<.001), social functioning (p=.04), role emotional functioning (p≤.001), bodily pain (p=.05), and general health (p=.04), adjusted for depressive symptoms, baseline health status and clinical characteristics. Depressive symptoms was an independent predictor of role physical functioning and bodily pain.

Conclusions:

Type D personality and depressive symptoms were independent predictors of impaired health status in CHF.
Effect of bariatric surgery on pregnancy outcome
Authors: Weintraub Adi Y. , Levy Amalia , Levi Isaac , Mazor Moshe , Wiznitzer Arnon , Sheiner Eyal
Published: September 2008

Objective

To compare the perinatal outcomes of women who delivered before with women who delivered after bariatric surgery.

Methods

A retrospective study was undertaken to compare perinatal outcomes of women who delivered before with women who delivered after bariatric surgery in a tertiary medical center between 1988 and 2006. A multivariate logistic regression model was constructed to control for confounders.

Results

During the study period, 301 deliveries preceded bariatric surgery and 507 followed surgery. A significant reduction in rates of diabetes mellitus (17.3% vs 11.0; P = 0.009), hypertensive disorders (23.6% vs 11.2%; P < 0.001), and fetal macrosomia (7.6% vs 3.2%; P = 0.004) were noted after bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery was found to be independently associated with a reduction in diabetes mellitus (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.26–0.67; P < 0.001), hypertensive disorders (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.25–0.59; P < 0.001), and fetal macrosomia (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21–0.94; P = 0.033).

Conclusion

A decrease in maternal complications, such as diabetes mellitus and hypertensive disorders, as well as a decrease in the rate of fetal macrosomia is achieved following bariatric surgery.
Amenorrhea and resumption of menstruation after uterine artery embolization for fibroids
Authors: Katsumori Tetsuya , Kasahara Toshiyuki , Tsuchida Yoko , Nozaki Taiki
Published: September 2008

Objectives

To determine whether women will experience permanent amenorrhea following uterine artery embolization for fibroids, and whether rates of onset differ in the long term according to age at the time of the procedure.

Methods

Over 77 months, 211 consecutive eligible women were grouped by age (group A, < 40 years [n = 39]; group B, 40–44 years [n = 98]; and group C, ≥ 45 years [n = 74]) and the cumulative rates of onset of permanent amenorrhea were compared between the groups.

Results

The likelihood of incurring permanent amenorrhea was significantly higher in group C. The cumulative rates in groups A, B, and C were 0%, 1.4%, and 19.7% at 3 years and 0%, 11.2%, and 40.4% at 6 years.

Conclusion

The rates of onset of permanent amenorrhea changed over time and differed according to age at the time of the procedure, with little likelihood of permanent amenorrhea at 6 years for women younger than 40 years at the time of the procedure.
The thalamus and working memory
Authors: NADEAU STEPHEN E.
Published: September 2008

In this issue of JINS, Gasparini and her colleagues (2008) report a subject with a right anterior choroidal artery territory stroke that damaged the anterior hippocampus, but likely more importantly, much of the ventral posterior limb of the internal capsule, effectively disconnecting the right thalamus from temporal cortex. Through systematic cognitive neuropsychological detective work, they provide a compelling case that the essential deficit was one of working memory. This is potentially a very important discovery. The thalamus is a phylogenetically ancient structure, and there is considerable evidence that, in human beings, much of its function has been subsumed by cortical mechanisms (Nadeau & Crosson, 1997). Consequently, there are fundamental limits to how much animal studies can inform us about human thalamic functions, and we are particularly reliant on cognitive neuropsychological studies like this one. The work of Gasparini et al. also provides a fine demonstration of the continuing value of cognitive neuropsychology in advancing our understanding of the details of brain function.
Directed forgetting in depression
Authors: COTTENCIN O. , GRUAT G. , THOMAS P. , DEVOS P. , GOUDEMAND M. , CONSOLI S.M
Published: September 2008

Subjects with depression exhibit deficits in prefrontal function. We posited that as a result, in a supraspan memory test, they would be impaired in their ability to inhibit recall of irrelevant words, and because of consequent overload of working and episodic memory capacity, would be impaired in their ability to recall relevant words. We tested this hypothesis in 30 inpatients and outpatients with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder and 30 controls subjects using a form of the Directed Forgetting Paradigm using exclusively neutral words. The depressed subjects did exhibit deficits in prefrontal function. All subjects were given four lists of 24 items each, in which half the words were followed by the instruction “remember” and half by the instruction “forget.” Our hypothesis found support in a significant group by item type interaction effect exhibited when subjects were instructed to recall only those items followed by the “remember” instruction: depressed subjects recalled relatively more words to be forgotten and relatively fewer words to be remembered. A control experiment suggested that these results could not be accounted for by a differential effect of depression on memory encoding. (JINS, 2008, 14, 895–899.)
Molecular pathology of myofibrillar myopathies
Authors: Ferrer Isidre , Olivé Montse
Published: September 2008

Myofibrillar myopathies (MFMs) are clinically and genetically heterogeneous muscle disorders that are defined morphologically by the presence of foci of myofibril dissolution, accumulation of myofibrillar degradation products, and ectopic expression of multiple proteins. MFMs are the paradigm of conformational protein diseases of the skeletal (and cardiac) muscles characterised by intracellular protein accumulation in muscle cells. Understanding of this group of disorders has advanced in recent years through the identification of causative mutations in various genes, most of which encode proteins of the sarcomeric Z-disc, including desmin, αB-crystallin, myotilin, ZASP and filamin C. This review focuses on the MFMs arising from defects in these proteins, summarising genetic and clinical features of the disorders and then discussing emerging understanding of the molecular pathogenic mechanisms leading to muscle fibre degeneration. Defective extralysosomal degradation of proteins is now recognised as an important element in this process. Several factors – including mutant proteins, a defective ubiquitin–proteasome system, aggresome formation, mutant ubiquitin, p62, oxidative stress and abnormal regulation of some transcription factors – are thought to participate in the cascade of events occurring in muscle fibres in MFMs.
Entwicklungspsychopathologie der ersten Lebensjahre
Authors: Petermann Ulrike , Petermann Franz , Damm Franziska
Published: September 2008

Externalisierende Verhaltensstörungen entwickeln sich zumeist bereits in der frühen Kindheit. Befunde aus der Säuglingsforschung und Neurobiologie weisen darauf hin, welche Risiken in der Genese früh auftretender Verhaltensprobleme beteiligt sind und über welche Mechanismen sie wirken. Aufgrund der enormen Plastizität des kindlichen Gehirns repräsentiert die pränatale und frühkindliche Entwicklungsperiode eine Phase erhöhter Vulnerabilität gegenüber stressinduzierenden widrigen Erfahrungen, die durch Merkmale der Beziehungsgestaltung zwischen dem Kind und seinen primären Bezugspersonen kompensiert oder verstärkt werden können. Für die klinische Praxis ergibt sich, dass Präventions- und Interventionsmaßnahmen mit dem Einsetzen der Schwangerschaft erfolgen und sich stärker an der aktuellen psychosozialen Lebenssituation und dem psychischen Befinden der Mutter orientieren sollten.
Entwicklungspsychopathologie der Persönlichkeitsstörungen
Authors: Resch Franz , Parzer Peter , Brunner Romuald
Published: September 2008

Störungen der Persönlichkeitsentwicklung finden sich schon im Kindes- und Jugendalter. So zeigen kindliche Temperamentsmerkmale eine hohe Übereinstimmung mit Persönlichkeitszügen des Erwachsenenalters. Normale Persönlichkeitsvarianten gehen fließend in klinisch relevante Persönlichkeitsstörungen über. Die Kategorialen Diagnosen weisen eine relativ geringe longitudinale Stabilität auf. Die Entwicklung von Persönlichkeitsstörungen ist als Risikoprozess aufzufassen, wobei unterschiedliche Vulnerabilitäten und dysfunktionale Kommunikationsprozesse in einen Teufelskreis sich selbst verstärkender ungünstiger Wechselwirkungen münden. Paradigmatisch werden die Entwicklungswege der Borderline-Persönlichkeitsstörung sowie der Antisozialen Persönlichkeitsstörung aufgezeigt.
Inkonsistentes Erziehungsverhalten
Authors: Koglin Ute , Petermann Franz
Published: September 2008

Ein negatives Erziehungsverhalten, besonders inkonsistentes Verhalten und ein geringes elterliches Engagement, gelten als wichtige Risikofaktoren für aggressives Verhalten von Kindern. Im Zusammenhang mit affektiven Auffälligkeiten, wie Affektarmut und Emotionslosigkeit als Psychopathiemerkmale, wird jedoch diskutiert, ob diese den Zusammenhang zwischen aggressivem Verhalten und Erziehung moderieren. In einer Stichprobe von Kindergartenkindern und Kindern der ersten Klassen (N = 177) wurde die potenziell moderierende Rolle von Psychopathiemerkmalen untersucht. In der vorliegenden Stichprobe wurde nur für Jungen mit geringen Psychopathiemerkmalen ein Zusammenhang zwischen inkonsistentem Erziehungsverhalten und aggressivem Verhalten gefunden. Jungen mit erhöhten Psychopathiemerkmalen zeigten unabhängig vom Erziehungsverhalten immer ausgeprägt aggressives Verhalten. Für Mädchen stand hingegen nur inkonsistentes Erziehungsverhalten und elterliches Engagement mit aggressivem Verhalten im Zusammenhang, aber nicht die affektiven Auffälligkeiten.
Transposed-Letter Priming Effects for Close Versus Distant Transpositions
Authors: Perea Manuel , Duñabeitia Jon Andoni , Carreiras Manuel
Published: September 2008

Transposing two internal letters of a word produces a perceptually similar item (e.g., CHOLOCATE being processed as CHOCOLATE). To determine the precise nature of the encoding of letter position within a word, we examined the effect of the number of intervening letters in transposed-letter effects with a masked priming procedure. In Experiment 1, letter transposition could involve adjacent letters (chocloate-CHOCOLATE) and nonadjacent letters with two intervening letters (choaolcte-CHOCOLATE). Results showed that the magnitude of the transposed-letter priming effect – relative to the appropriate control condition – was greater when the transposition involved adjacent letters than when it involved nonadjacent letters. In Experiment 2, we included a letter transposition condition using nonadjacent letters with one intervening letter (cholocate-CHOCOLATE). Results showed that the transposed-letter priming effect was of the same size for nonadjacent transpositions that involved one or two intervening letters. In addition, transposed-letter priming effects were smaller in the two nonadjacent conditions than in the adjacent condition. We examine the implications of these findings for models of visual-word recognition.
Recognizing Users of the Recognition Heuristic
Authors: Hilbig Benjamin E. , Pohl Rüdiger F.
Published: September 2008

The recognition heuristic is hypothesized to be a frugal inference strategy assuming that inferences are based on the recognition cue alone. This assumption, however, has been questioned by existing research. At the same time most studies rely on the proportion of choices consistent with the heuristic as a measure of its use which may not be fully appropriate. In this study, we propose an index to identify true users of the heuristic contrasting them to decision makers who incorporate further knowledge beyond recognition. The properties and the applicability of the proposed index are investigated in the reanalyses of four published experiments and corroborated by a new study drawn up to rectify the shortcomings of the reanalyzed experiments. Applying the proposed index to explore the influence of knowledge we found that participants who were more knowledgeable made use of the information available to them and achieved the highest proportion of correct inferences.
Influence of Intermixed Emotion-Relevant Trials on the Affective Simon Effect
Authors: Zhang Yanmin , Proctor Robert W.
Published: September 2008

“Good” and “bad” vocal responses are faster when an irrelevant emotional stimulus feature corresponds with the response than when it does not, a phenomenon known as the affective Simon effect. Two experiments investigated how this effect was influenced by an intermixed emotion-relevant evaluation task. In Experiment 1, four schematic faces (friendly, happy, hostile, sad) were used for the affective Simon task and four different images (bird, heart, gun, ghost) for the evaluation task, whereas in Experiment 2 the schematic faces were used for both tasks. Mixed-compatible emotion-relevant trials increased the affective Simon effect in both experiments, but mixed-incompatible emotion-relevant trials did not influence it. Also, the advantage of the compatible mapping over the incompatible mapping increased in mixed conditions rather than decreased. These results differ from those obtained when visual-manual tasks for which location is relevant and irrelevant are mixed. They confirm that enhancement of the affective Simon effect when the Simon task is mixed with a compatible emotion-relevant task is due to increased salience of the affective valence.
Quantitative Evaluation of Microvascular Density after Stroke in Rats using MRI
Authors: Bosomtwi Asamoah , Jiang Quan , Ding Guang L , Zhang Li , Zhang Zheng G , Lu Mei , Ewing James R , Chopp Michael
Published: September 2008

We investigated vascular changes after stroke using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) microvascular density (MVD) measurement. T2 and T2 were measured in eight rats before and after injecting an intravascular superparamagnetic iron oxide contrast agent to derive the corresponding transverse relaxation shift. Reliability of MRI for measurement of MVD was compared with corresponding sections immunostained with von Willebrand factor (vWF) 2 weeks after stroke. The intracorrelation coefficient (ICC) and its 95% lower bound (LB) was high in the ischemic recovery region (ICC = 0.753), moderate in the contralateral area of normal brain tissue (ICC = 0.70), and low in the ischemic core (ICC = 0.24). A very good agreement (ICC = 0.85) and correlation ( r = 0.90) were observed using only the recovery region and normal contralateral hemisphere (ICC = 0.85; 95% LB = 0.78; P < 0.05). The mean MRI MVD in the center of the core lesion (26 ± 9 per mm2) was lower than in the recovery region (209 ±60 per mm2) or contralateral normal hemisphere (313 ± 32 per mm2). However, large errors in MRI MVD were encountered in the ischemic core. Our data demonstrate that MRI MVD measurements can quantitatively evaluate microvascular changes in the brain tissue after stroke, if the MVD is not extremely low as in the ischemic core.
Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase-driven free radical modifications: copper- and carbonate radical anion-initiated protein radical chemistry
Authors: Ramirez Dario C. , Gomez-Mejiba Sandra E. , Corbett Jean T. , Deterding Leesa J. , Tomer Kenneth B. , Mason Ronald P.
Published: September 2008

The understanding of the mechanism, oxidant(s) involved and how and what protein radicals are produced during the reaction of wild-type SOD1 (Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase) with H2O2 and their fate is incomplete, but a better understanding of the role of this reaction is needed. We have used immuno-spin trapping and MS analysis to study the protein oxidations driven by human (h) and bovine (b) SOD1 when reacting with H2O2 using HSA (human serum albumin) and mBH (mouse brain homogenate) as target models. In order to gain mechanistic information about this reaction, we considered both copper- and CO3•− (carbonate radical anion)-initiated protein oxidation. We chose experimental conditions that clearly separated SOD1-driven oxidation via CO3•− from that initiated by copper released from the SOD1 active site. In the absence of (bi)carbonate, site-specific radical-mediated fragmentation is produced by SOD1 active-site copper. In the presence of (bi)carbonate and DTPA (diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid) (to suppress copper chemistry), CO3•− produced distinct radical sites in both SOD1 and HSA, which caused protein aggregation without causing protein fragmentation. The CO3•− produced by the reaction of hSOD1 with H2O2 also produced distinctive DMPO (5,5-dimethylpyrroline-N-oxide) nitrone adduct-positive protein bands in the mBH. Finally, we propose a biochemical mechanism to explain CO3•− production from CO2, enhanced protein radical formation and protection by (bi)carbonate against H2O2-induced fragmentation of the SOD1 active site. Our present study is important for establishing experimental conditions for studying the molecular mechanism and targets of oxidation during the reverse reaction of SOD1 with H2O2; these results are the first step in analysing the critical targets of SOD1-driven oxidation during pathological processes such as neuroinflammation.