bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epitaxial Growth of Crystalline Polyaniline on Reduced Graphene Oxide
Authors: Majumdar Dipanwita , Baskey Moni , Saha Shyamal K.
Published: June 2011

Due to its unique electronic properties, graphene has already been identified as a promising material for future carbon based electronics. To develop graphene technology, the fabrication of a high quality P‐N junction is a great challenge. Here, we describe a general technique to grow single crystalline polyaniline (PANI) films on graphene sheets using in situ polymerization via the oxidation‐reduction of aniline monomer and graphene oxide, respectively, to fabricate a high quality P‐N junction, which shows diode‐like behavior with a remarkably low turn‐on voltage (60 mV) and high rectification ratio (1880:1) up to a voltage of 0.2 V. The origin of these superior electronic properties is the preferential growth of a highly crystalline PANI film as well as lattice matching between the d‐values [∼2.48 Å] of graphene and {120} planes of PANI.

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Psychiatric disorders, myoclonus dystonia, and the epsilon‐sarcoglycan gene: A systematic review
Authors: Peall Kathryn J. , Waite Adrian J. , Blake Derek J. , Owen Mike J. , Morris Huw R.
Published: June 2011

Background:

Mutations in the maternally imprinted epsilon‐sarcoglycan gene occur in 30%–50% of myoclonus‐dystonia cases. Psychiatric symptoms, particularly obsessive‐compulsive disorder, have been described in some patients.

Methods:

We systematically reviewed 22 reports of psychiatric symptoms in myoclonus‐dystonia, dividing individuals according to clinical and mutation status.

Results:

Clinically manifesting mutation carriers demonstrated an excess of psychiatric disorders compared with nonmutation carriers (P < .001). No differences were seen between non‐motor‐manifesting carriers and nonmutation carriers with the exception of alcohol excess/dependence, higher in non‐motor‐manifesting carriers.

Conclusions:

The results confirm the association of epsilon‐sarcoglycan gene mutations with psychiatric disease and suggest a possible separation of the motor and psychiatric effects. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
Validation of digital spiral analysis as outcome parameter for clinical trials in essential tremor
Authors: Haubenberger Dietrich , Kalowitz Daniel , Nahab Fatta B. , Toro Camilo , Ippolito Dominic , Luckenbaugh David A. , Wittevrongel Loretta , Hallett Mark
Published: June 2011

Essential tremor, one of the most prevalent movement disorders, is characterized by kinetic and postural tremor affecting activities of daily living. Spiral drawing is commonly used to visually rate tremor intensity, as part of the routine clinical assessment of tremor and as a tool in clinical trials. We present a strategy to quantify tremor severity from spirals drawn on a digitizing tablet. We validate our method against a well‐established visual spiral rating method and compare both methods on their capacity to capture a therapeutic effect, as defined by the change in clinical essential tremor rating scale after an ethanol challenge. Fifty‐four Archimedes spirals were drawn using a digitizing tablet by nine ethanol‐responsive patients with essential tremor before and at five consecutive time points after the administration of ethanol in a standardized treatment intervention. Quantitative spiral tremor severity was estimated from the velocity tremor peak amplitude after numerical derivation and Fourier transformation of pen‐tip positions. In randomly ordered sets, spirals were scored by seven trained raters, using Bain and Findley's 0 to 10 rating scale. Computerized scores correlated with visual ratings (P < 0.0001). The correlation was significant at each time point before and after ethanol (P < 0.005). Quantitative ratings provided better sensitivity than visual rating to capture the effects of an ethanol challenge (P < 0.05). Using a standardized treatment approach, we were able to demonstrate that spirography time‐series analysis is a valid, reliable method to document tremor intensity and a more sensitive measure for small effects than currently available visual spiral rating methods. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
Psychopathology and psychogenic movement disorders
Authors: Kranick Sarah , Ekanayake Vindhya , Martinez Valeria , Ameli Rezvan , Hallett Mark , Voon Valerie
Published: June 2011

Psychogenic movement disorder is defined as abnormal movements unrelated to a medical cause and presumed related to underlying psychological factors. Although psychological factors are of both clinical and pathophysiological relevance, very few studies to date have systematically assessed their role in psychogenic movement disorder. We sought to assess the role of previous life stress using validated quantitative measures in patients with psychogenic movement disorder compared with age‐ and sex‐matched healthy volunteers as well as a convenience sample of patients with focal hand dystonia. Sixty‐four patients with psychogenic movement disorder (72% female; mean age, 45.2 years [standard deviation, 15.2 years]), 38 healthy volunteers (74% female; mean age, 49 years [standard deviation, 13.7 years]), and 39 patients with focal hand dystonia (37% female; mean age, 48.7 years [standard deviation, 11.7 years]) were evaluated using a standardized psychological interview as well as validated quantitative scales to assess trauma and previous stressors, depression, anxiety, and personality traits. Patients with psychogenic movement disorder reported higher rates of childhood trauma, specifically greater emotional abuse and physical neglect, greater fear associated with traumatic events, and a greater number of traumatic episodes compared with healthy volunteers and patients with focal hand dystonia controlled for depressive symptoms and sex (Bonferroni corrected P < .005). There were no differences in categorical psychiatric diagnoses or scores on childhood physical or sexual abuse subscales, personality traits, or the dissociative experience scale. Our findings highlight a biopsychosocial approach toward the pathophysiology of psychogenic movement disorder, although the association with psychological issues is much less prominent than expected compared with the nonepileptic seizure population. A careful psychological assessment is indicated to optimize therapeutic modalities. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
High‐frequency deep brain stimulation of the putamen improves bradykinesia in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Montgomery Erwin B. , Huang He , Walker Harrison C. , Guthrie Barton L. , Watts Ray L.
Published: June 2011

Deep brain stimulation is effective for a wide range of neurological disorders; however, its mechanisms of action remain unclear. With respect to Parkinson's disease, the existence of multiple effective targets suggests that putamen stimulation also may be effective and raises questions as to the mechanisms of action. Are there as many mechanisms of action as there are effective targets or some single or small set of mechanisms common to all effective targets? During the course of routine surgery of the globus pallidus interna in patients with Parkinson's disease, the deep brain stimulation lead was placed in the putamen en route to the globus pallidus interna. Recordings of hand opening and closing during high‐frequency and no stimulation were made. Speed of the movements, based on the amplitude and frequency of the repetitive hand movements as well as the decay in amplitude, were studied. Hand speed in 6 subjects was statistically significantly faster during active deep brain stimulation than the no‐stimulation condition. There were no statistically significant differences in decay in the amplitude of hand movements. High‐frequency deep brain stimulation of the putamen improves bradykinesia in a hand‐opening and ‐closing task in patients with Parkinson's disease. Consequently, high‐frequency deep brain stimulation of virtually every structure in the basal ganglia‐thalamic‐cortical system improves bradykinesia. These observations, together with microelectrode recordings reported in the literature, argue that deep brain stimulation effects may be system specific and not structure specific. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
Spatiotemporal analysis of meteorological drought variability in the Indian region using standardized precipitation index
Authors: Naresh Kumar M. , Murthy C. S. , Sesha Sai M. V. R. , Roy P. S.
Published: June 2011

Grid (1° latitude × 1° longitude) level daily rainfall data over India from June to September for the years 1951–2007, generated by the India Meteorological Department, were analysed to build monthly time series of Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). Analysis of SPI was done to study the spatial and temporal patterns of drought occurrence in the country. Geographic spread of SPI‐derived Area under Dryness (AUD) in different years revealed the uniqueness of the 2002 drought, with widespread dryness in July. Mann–Kendall trend analysis and moving average based trends performed on the AUD indicated an increasing trend in July. The area under moderate drought frequency has increased in the most recent decade. Ranking of years based on Drought Persistency Score (DPS) indicated that 1987 was the most severe drought year in the country. The results of the study have revealed various aspects of drought climatology in India. A similar analysis with the SPI of finer spatial resolution and relating it to crop production would be useful in quantifying the impact of drought in economic terms. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society
Phytosterols can impair vitamin D intestinal absorption in vitro and in mice
Authors: Goncalves Aurélie , Gleize Béatrice , Bott Romain , Nowicki Marion , Amiot Marie‐Josèphe , Lairon Denis , Borel Patrick , Reboul Emmanuelle
Published: June 2011

Scope: Adequate vitamin D status is necessary and beneficial for health, although deficiency and insufficiency are very common. As cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) structure is close to cholesterol structure, we hypothesized that phytosterols, frequently used to decrease cholesterol, intestinal absorption and consequently to reduce hypercholesterolemia, may also interact with cholecalciferol absorption.

Methods and results: β‐Sitosterol effect on cholecalciferol postprandial response was first assessed in mice. We then evaluated the effect of different sterols on (i) cholecalciferol micellar incorporation, (ii) cholecalciferol apical uptake and (iii) basolateral efflux in vitro or ex vivo. In mice, cholecalciferol bioavailability was 15‐fold lower in the presence of β‐sitosterol (p<0.05). This can partly be explained by the fact that phytosterols significantly impaired cholecalciferol incorporation into mixed micelles (from −16 to −36% depending on sterol micellar composition). This can also be due to the fact that in Caco‐2 cells and mouse intestinal explants, phytosterols significantly lowered cholecalciferol apical uptake (from −13 to −39%). Conversely, phytosterols had no effect on cholecalciferol secretion at the basolateral side of Caco‐2 cells.

Conclusion: The present data suggest for the first time that phytosterols can interact with vitamin D3 intestinal absorption. This interaction can be explained by a competition for micellar incorporation and for apical uptake.
Enhancing the bioavailability of resveratrol by combining it with piperine
Authors: Johnson Jeremy J. , Nihal Minakshi , Siddiqui Imtiaz A. , Scarlett Cameron O. , Bailey Howard H. , Mukhtar Hasan , Ahmad Nihal
Published: June 2011

Scope: Resveratrol (3,5,4′‐trihydroxystilbene) is a phytoalexin shown to possess a multitude of health‐promoting properties in pre‐clinical studies. However, the poor in vivo bioavailability of resveratrol due to its rapid metabolism is being considered as a major obstacle in translating its effects in humans. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that piperine will enhance the pharmacokinetic parameters of resveratrol via inhibiting its glucuronidation, thereby slowing its elimination.

Methods and results: Employing a standardized LC/MS assay, we determined the effect of piperine co‐administration with resveratrol on serum levels resveratrol and resveratrol‐3‐O‐β‐D‐glucuronide in C57BL mice. Mice were administered resveratrol (100 mg/kg; oral gavage) or resveratrol (100 mg/kg; oral gavage)+piperine (10 mg/kg; oral gavage), and the serum levels of resveratrol and resveratrol‐3‐O‐β‐D‐glucuronide were analyzed at different times. We found that the degree of exposure (i.e. AUC) to resveratrol was enhanced to 229% and the maximum serum concentration (Cmax) was increased to 1544% with the addition of piperine.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that piperine significantly improves the in vivo bioavailability of resveratrol. However, further detailed research is needed to study the mechanism of improved bioavailability of resveratrol via its combination with piperine as well as its effect on resveratrol metabolism.
The spatial and mechanical challenges of female meiosis
Authors: Evans Janice P. , Robinson Douglas N.
Published: June 2011

Recent work shows that cytokinesis and other cellular morphogenesis events are tuned by an interplay among biochemical signals, cell shape, and cellular mechanics. In cytokinesis, this includes cross‐talk between the cortical cytoskeleton and the mitotic spindle in coordination with cell cycle control, resulting in characteristic changes in cellular morphology and mechanics through metaphase and cytokinesis. The changes in cellular mechanics affect not just overall cell shape, but also mitotic spindle morphology and function. This review will address how these principles apply to oocytes undergoing the asymmetric cell divisions of meiosis I and II. The biochemical signals that regulate cell cycle timing during meiotic maturation and egg activation are crucial for temporal control of meiosis. Spatial control of the meiotic divisions is also important, ensuring that the chromosomes are segregated evenly and that meiotic division is clearly asymmetric, yielding two daughter cells – oocyte and polar body – with enormous volume differences. In contrast to mitotic cells, the oocyte does not undergo overt changes in cell shape with its progression through meiosis, but instead maintains a relatively round morphology with the exception of very localized changes at the time of polar body emission. Placement of the metaphase‐I and ‐II spindles at the oocyte periphery is clearly important for normal polar body emission, although this is likely not the only control element. Here, consideration is given to how cellular mechanics could contribute to successful mammalian female meiosis, ultimately affecting egg quality and competence to form a healthy embryo. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 78:769–777, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Parallel imaging with nonlinear reconstruction using variational penalties
Authors: Knoll Florian , Clason Christian , Bredies Kristian , Uecker Martin , Stollberger Rudolf
Published: June 2011

A new approach based on nonlinear inversion for autocalibrated parallel imaging with arbitrary sampling patterns is presented. By extending the iteratively regularized Gauss–Newton method with variational penalties, the improved reconstruction quality obtained from joint estimation of image and coil sensitivities is combined with the superior noise suppression of total variation and total generalized variation regularization. In addition, the proposed approach can lead to enhanced removal of sampling artifacts arising from pseudorandom and radial sampling patterns. This is demonstrated for phantom and in vivo measurements. Magn Reson Med 67:34–41, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Addressing phase errors in fat‐water imaging using a mixed magnitude/complex fitting method
Authors: Hernando D. , Hines C. D. G. , Yu H. , Reeder S.B.
Published: June 2011

Accurate, noninvasive measurements of liver fat content are needed for the early diagnosis and quantitative staging of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Chemical shift‐based fat quantification methods acquire images at multiple echo times using a multiecho spoiled gradient echo sequence, and provide fat fraction measurements through postprocessing. However, phase errors, such as those caused by eddy currents, can adversely affect fat quantification. These phase errors are typically most significant at the first echo of the echo train, and introduce bias in complex‐based fat quantification techniques. These errors can be overcome using a magnitude‐based technique (where the phase of all echoes is discarded), but at the cost of significantly degraded signal‐to‐noise ratio, particularly for certain choices of echo time combinations. In this work, we develop a reconstruction method that overcomes these phase errors without the signal‐to‐noise ratio penalty incurred by magnitude fitting. This method discards the phase of the first echo (which is often corrupted) while maintaining the phase of the remaining echoes (where phase is unaltered). We test the proposed method on 104 patient liver datasets (from 52 patients, each scanned twice), where the fat fraction measurements are compared to coregistered spectroscopy measurements. We demonstrate that mixed fitting is able to provide accurate fat fraction measurements with high signal‐to‐noise ratio and low bias over a wide choice of echo combinations. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Localized blood flow imaging using quantitative flow‐enhanced signal intensity
Authors: Ouyang Cheng , Sutton Bradley P.
Published: June 2011

Flow‐enhanced signal intensity (FENSI) was previously introduced as a novel functional imaging method for measuring changes in localized blood flow in response to a stimulus. However, FENSI was limited to a qualitative functional MRI tool, due to magnetization transfer effects and different tagging plane profiles between tag and control images. In this work, a revised FENSI acquisition is proposed to enable quantitative imaging, which is capable of providing absolute localized blood flow maps free from magnetization transfer and slice profile errors. The feasibility and accuracy of measuring microvascular (arteriole, capillary, and venule) blood flow by using quantitative FENSI was validated by our phantom studies. Additionally, localized cerebral blood flow, 366 ± 45 μL/min/cm2 in gray matter and 153 ± 23 μL/min/cm2 in white matter, was measured in healthy subjects during resting state, whereas a flow change of 73 ± 13% was detected during a visual task. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lung morphometry with hyperpolarized 129Xe: Theoretical background
Authors: Sukstanskii A. L. , Yablonskiy D. A.
Published: June 2011

The 3He lung morphometry technique, based on MRI measurements of hyperpolarized 3He gas diffusion in lung airspaces, provides unique information on the lung microstructure at the alveolar level. In vivo 3D tomographic images of standard morphological parameters (airspace chord length, lung parenchyma surface‐to‐volume ratio, and number of alveoli per unit volume) can be generated from a rather short (several seconds) MRI scan. The technique is based on a theory of gas diffusion in lung acinar airways and experimental measurements of diffusion‐attenuated MRI signal. The present work aims at developing the theoretical background of a similar technique based on hyperpolarized 129Xe gas. As the diffusion coefficient and gyromagnetic ratio of 129Xe gas are substantially different from those of 3He gas, the specific details of the theory and experimental measurements with 129Xe should be amended. We establish phenomenological relationships between acinar airway geometrical parameters and the diffusion‐attenuated MR signal for human and small animal lungs, both normal lungs and lungs with mild emphysema. Optimal diffusion times are shown to be about 5 ms for human and 1.3 ms for small animals. The expected uncertainties in measuring main morphometrical parameters of the lungs are estimated in the framework of Bayesian probability theory. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparison of two methods for measuring the pubococcygeal line from sagittal‐plane magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Madill Stéphanie , Tang An , Pontbriand‐Drolet Stéphanie , Dumoulin Chantal
Published: June 2011

Aims

The pubococcygeal line (PCL) is an important reference line for determining measures of pelvic organ support on sagittal‐plane magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); however, there is no consensus on where to place the posterior point of the PCL. As coccyx movement produced during pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contractions may affect other measures, optimal placement of the posterior point is important. This study compared two methods for measuring the PCL, with different posterior points, on T2‐weighted sagittal MRI to determine the effect of coccygeal movement on measures of pelvic organ support in older women.

Methods

MRI of the pelvis was performed in the midsagittal plane, at rest and during PFM contractions, on 47 community‐dwelling women 60 and over. The first PCL was measured to the tip of the coccyx (PCLtip) and the second to the sacrococcygeal joint (PCLjnt). Four measures of pelvic organ support were made using each PCL as the reference line: urethrovesical junction height, uterovaginal junction height, M‐line and levator plate angle.

Results

During the PFM contraction the PCLtip shortened and lifted (P < 0.001); the PCLjnt did not change (P > 0.05). The changes in the four measures of pelvic organ support were smaller when measured relative to the PCLtip as compared to those to the PCLjnt (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Coccyx movement affected the length and position of the PCLtip, which resulted in underestimates of the pelvic‐organ lift produced by the PFM contraction. Therefore, we recommend that the PCL be measured to the sacrococcygeal joint and not to the tip of the coccyx. Neurourol. Urodynam. Neurourol. Urodynam. 30: 1613–1619, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Developmental and spinal cord injury‐induced changes in nitric oxide‐mediated inhibition in rat urinary bladder
Authors: Artim Debra E. , Kullmann F. Aura , Daugherty Stephanie L. , Bupp Evan , Edwards Cassandra L. , de Groat William C.
Published: June 2011

Aims

During postnatal development large amplitude spontaneous activity of the neonatal rat bladder changes to a low amplitude adult pattern of activity that leads to improved storage function. Previously, we have shown that spontaneous activity in neonatal rat bladder strips is inhibited by activation of the nitric oxide (NO)–cGMP signaling pathway. In the present experiments we determined if this inhibitory pathway is altered during postnatal development or spinal cord injury.

Methods

Baseline tone and amplitude and frequency of spontaneous contractions were measured in bladder strips from male or female neonatal (days 10–21), juvenile (days 24–39) and adult female spinal cord intact or chronic spinal cord injured Sprague–Dawley rats.

Results

The inhibitory effects of an NO donor (SNAP) and a PDE‐5 inhibitor (zaprinast) on spontaneous activity of bladder strips decreased during postnatal development, while an inhibitory effect of 8‐bromo‐cGMP, which was blocked by a protein kinase G inhibitor, was detected at all ages tested. However, the effect of NO–cGMP signaling to reduce baseline tone emerged during postnatal development. The inhibition induced by the NO donor was blocked by an inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC). Chronic spinal cord injury (cSCI), which causes the re‐emergence of a neonatal‐like pattern of spontaneous activity, did not restore sensitivity to NO‐mediated inhibition in adult rat bladders.

Conclusions

These data indicate that while cGMP signaling inhibits activity in young and adult bladders as well as after cSCI, there is a developmental decrease in the sensitivity of bladder to NO‐mediated inhibition. Neurourol. Urodynam. Neurourol. Urodynam. 30: 1666–1674, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Subadult Age‐at‐Death Estimation From the Human Calcaneus
Authors: Passalacqua Nicholas V.
Published: June 2011

The estimation of age from subadult skeletal remains relies on the measurement of bones, which when unavailable or damaged hampers the ability to generate a reliable age estimate. The goal of this project was to demonstrate two methods for estimating age at death from the developing human calcaneus. These methods are generated from a sample of 32 European American and African American males and females with ages ranging from 1 to 19 years from the Hamann–Todd Collection. The first method was based on linear regression from two standard measurements of the calcaneus (maximum length and middle breadth); the second was based on transition analysis of fusion states of the calcaneal epiphysis. Results suggest that both methods perform well in estimating subadult age at death. Additional testing with larger contemporary samples would likely increase the accuracy of both methods. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Alteration of Time Perception in Young and Elderly People during Jigsaw Puzzle Tasks with Different Complexities
Authors: Iwamoto Yuko , Hoshiyama Minoru
Published: July 2011

We investigated the relationship between time perception during tasks and subjective feelings in young and elderly people. Simple and complex jigsaw puzzles were given to healthy young and elderly subjects. The subjects were asked to estimate the time they had taken to complete the tasks after performing them. The ratio of the subjective to actual duration of time, the duration judgment ratio (DJR), and the relationship between the DJR and the subjective feelings during the tasks were analysed. The elderly group required a significantly longer time than the younger group for both tasks, and both elderly and young subjects estimated a longer time than the actual time to complete the tasks. The effect of the tasks on the DJR was significant, and the value was higher for the 24‐piece than 54‐piece task in both groups. The DJR was smaller in subjects with “much interest” than in those with “little interest” in the 24‐piece task, but there was no difference in the 54‐piece task. The results indicate that time perception was modulated by subjective feelings during the task, as well as by the age and task complexity. Because the goal and the result of the task may modulate time perception during it, time perception while actually performing the task may differ from that after completing it. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PLATEAUS NOT SUMMITS: REFORMING PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IN AFRICA
Authors: Peterson Stephen Bovard
Published: June 2011

Successful public sector reform is rare in Africa. Over 12 years, Ethiopia transformed its public financial management (PFM) to international standards and now has the third best system in Africa that is managing the largest aid flows to the continent. This article presents a framework for understanding PFM reform based on the Ethiopian experience. Reforms succeed when they are aligned with the four drivers of public sector reform: context, ownership, purpose, and strategy. PFM is a core function of the state and its sovereignty, and it is not an appropriate arena for foreign aid intervention—governments must fully own it, which was a key to the success of Ethiopia's reform. The purpose of PFM reform should be building stable and sustainable “plateaus” of PFM that are appropriate to the local context, and they should not be about risky and irrelevant “summits” of international best practice. Plateaus, not summits, are needed in Africa. Finally, a strategy of reform has four tasks: recognize, improve, change, and sustain. Ethiopia succeeded because it implemented a recognize–improve–sustain strategy to support the government policy of rapid decentralization. All too often, much of the PFM reform in Africa is about the change task and climbing financial summits. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clonal architecture of human prostatic epithelium in benign and malignant conditions
Authors: Gaisa Nadine T , Graham Trevor A , McDonald Stuart AC , Poulsom Richard , Heidenreich Axel , Jakse Gerhard , Knuechel Ruth , Wright Nicholas A
Published: July 2011

The location of stem cells in the epithelium of the prostatic acinus remains uncertain, as does the cellular origin of prostatic neoplasia. Here, we apply lineage tracing to visualize the clonal progeny of stem cells in benign and malignant human prostates and understand the clonal architecture of this epithelium. Cells deficient for the mitochondrially‐encoded enzyme cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) were identified in 27 frozen prostatectomy specimens using dual colour enzyme histochemistry and individual CCO‐normal and ‐deficient cell areas were laser‐capture microdissected. PCR‐sequencing of the entire mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) of cells from CCO‐deficient areas found to share mtDNA mutations not present in adjacent CCO‐normal cells, thus proving a clonal origin. Immunohistochemistry was performed to visualize the three cell lineages normally present in the prostatic epithelium. Entire CCO‐deficient acini, and part‐deficient acini were found. Deficient patches spanned either basal or luminal cells, but sometimes also both epithelial cell types in normal, hyperplastic or atrophic epithelium, and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN). Patches comprising both PIN and invasive cancer were observed. Each cell area within a CCO‐deficient patch contained an identical mtDNA mutation, defining the patch as a clonal unit. CCO‐deficient patches in benign epithelium contained basal, luminal and endocrine cells, demonstrating multilineage differentiation and therefore the presence of a stem cell. Our results demonstrate that the normal, atrophic, hypertrophic and atypical (PIN) epithelium of human prostate contains stem cell‐derived clonal units that actively replenish the epithelium during ageing. These deficient areas usually included the basal compartment indicating the basal layer as the location of the stem cell. Importantly, single clonal units comprised both PIN and invasive cancer, supporting PIN as the pre‐invasive lesion for prostate cancer. Copyright © 2011 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clinical predictors of high risk histopathology in retinoblastoma
Authors: Kashyap Seema , Meel Rachna , Pushker Neelam , Sen Seema , Bakhshi Sameer , Sreenivas Vishnubhatla , Sethi Sumita , Chawla Bhavna , Ghose Supriyo
Published: June 2011

Background

Previous studies show that clinical features at presentation, in retinoblastoma patients, like glaucoma and neovascularization of iris are associated with a higher incidence of high risk histopathology findings (HRF) in enucleated eyes. Herein, we analyze association between clinical features at time of enucleation and occurrence of HRF including invasion of anterior chamber, iris, ciliary body, choroid (massive), sclera, extrascleral tissue, optic nerve beyond lamina cribrosa, and optic nerve cut end, in a large series of eyes enucleated for retinoblastoma.

Procedure

We retrospectively studied demographic, clinical, and histopathology findings in all retinoblastoma patients who underwent primary enucleation at our center, over a 5 years duration. Statistical analysis was done to find any association between clinical features at presentation and the presence of HRF.

Results

Three hundred twenty‐six eyes were studied. Median age of presentation was 2 years. Glaucoma was the most common clinical finding at presentation apart from leucocoria. Out of 326 enucleated eyes, 28 (8.6%) had extrascleral and/or optic nerve transection invasion. Among remaining 298 eyes, with completely resected tumor, 115 (38.6%) had massive choroidal invasion, 54 (17%) had retrolaminar optic nerve invasion, and 24 (7%), 29 (9%), and 23(7%) had anterior chamber, iris, and ciliary body invasion, respectively. Age more than 2 years, lag period more than 3 months, hyphema, pseudohypopyon, staphyloma, and orbital cellulitis were associated with occurrence of three or more HRF on univariate analysis.

Conclusions

Clinical variables including older age, longer lag period, hyphema, pseudohypopyon, staphyloma, and orbital cellulitis were strongly associated with occurrence of HRF in this study. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012; 58: 356–361. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of cord puncture site in cordocentesis at mid‐pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes
Authors: Tangshewinsirikul Chayada , Wanapirak Chanane , Piyamongkol Wirawit , Sirichotiyakul Supatra , Tongsong Theera
Published: June 2011

Objectives

To compare the procedure and pregnancy outcomes of pregnancies undergoing cordocentesis between a group of cord insertion puncture and that of free loop puncture.

Materials and Methods

Pregnancies undergoing cordocenteses meeting the following inclusion criteria were recruited: (1) singleton pregnancies at gestational ages of 18–22 weeks; (2) no fetal abnormalities; (3) the procedures performed by experienced operators; and (4) the procedures of no placenta penetration. The recruited cases were classified into two groups: a group of cordocenteses with puncture site at placental cord insertion (Group 1) and those with puncture site at cord free loop (Group 2). The primary outcomes to be compared were rates of fetal loss, newborns with low birth weight and preterm birth. The secondary outcomes included a rate of successful procedures, umbilical cord bleeding, fetal bradycardia, maternal blood contamination, and duration of the procedure time.

Results

Of 6147 cordocenteses recruited, 2214 met inclusion criteria. The mean duration to complete the procedure in Group 1 was significantly shorter than that in Group 2 (4.5 ± 5.4 vs 6.7 ± 8.5 min, Student's t‐test; p = 0.001). The mean birth weight and gestational age at delivery were comparable between the two groups. No significant differences between the two groups were seen in rates of fetal loss, low birth weight, preterm birth, successful procedures, umbilical cord bleeding, or fetal bradycardia. However, the rate of maternal blood contamination was significantly higher in the group of puncture at the cord insertion site.

Conclusion

Of cordocenteses performed based on accessibility and quality of visualization, cord insertion puncture may cause more maternal blood contamination but free loop puncture may be associated with more difficult procedures, while the safety was comparable. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Holoprosencephaly at prenatal diagnosis: analysis of 28 cases regarding etiopathogenic diagnoses
Authors: Petracchi F. , Crespo L. , Michia C. , Igarzabal L. , Gadow E.
Published: June 2011

Objective

To assess the likelihood of finding an etiopathogenic cause in an ultrasonographic prenatal diagnosis of holoprosencephaly.

Materials and Methods

From January 1996 to June 2010, 13 883 prenatal diagnoses through chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis were made. Every fetus with holoprosencephaly at ultrasound was evaluated. Gestational age, additional ultrasound findings, and fetal karyotype were recorded. Molecular diagnosis and parental karyotype were studied, if relevant.

Results

Twenty‐eight fetuses were diagnosed with holoprosencephaly (0.20%). All cases had additional ultrasound findings (100%). A definitive etiology was found in 23 cases (82.14%): karyotype was abnormal in 19 (67.9%) and normal in 8 (28.5%) cases. In the normal karyotype group, although molecular testing was performed in a few cases, one mutation of gene SIX 3 was diagnosed, one diagnosis of dysgnathia complex was made, and two fetuses presented Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome. No etiopathogenic diagnosis was made in five fetuses.

Conclusions

Our results showed that a definitive etiology can be established in most cases of prenatal holoprosencephaly. Chromosomal anomalies were the most frequent finding. However, in euploid fetuses, molecular diagnosis is worthwhile, as different genes with different inheritance patterns may be responsible for this malformation. Thorough evaluation proved beneficial for assessing more accurate prognosis and recurrence risks. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The transvaginal probe as a uterine manipulator: a new technique to simplify transabdominal chorionic villus sampling in cases with difficult access to the trophoblast
Authors: Bertucci E. , Pati M. , Cani C. , Volpe A. , Mazza V.
Published: June 2011

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy of using the transvaginal probe to manipulate the uterus and change the position of the trophoblast, and to simplify access to the chorionic villus under difficult conditions.

Methods

One thousand five hundred and thirty‐nine procedures were performed in our centre in 1524 pregnant women from September 2006 to September 2009. In 90 of these, a difficult access to the trophoblast was observed and uterine manipulation under continuous ultrasound guidance with a double needle technique, was applied to obtain the sample. Of these, 86 samples were taken from singleton pregnancies and 4 from two bichorionic twin pregnancies

Results

One thousand five hundred and thirty‐nine transabdominal chorionic villus sampling (TA‐CVS) procedures were conducted on 1524 pregnant women. As many as 1449 were performed without manipulation with the transvaginal probe and in 90 cases the manipulation was carried out. In 89 cases, access to the trophoblast was difficult and the uterus was manipulated, which enabled an adequate TA‐CVS to be performed with a single aspiration. In one case, TA‐CVS was not performed due to significant pelvic pain in a patient with a fixed, retroflexed uterus and a previous history of endometriosis.

Conclusions

Uterine manipulation with the transvaginal probe may be a useful solution in cases where TA‐CVS is limited by difficult access to the trophoblast. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Second trimester fetal nasal bone length in a low‐risk Turkish population
Authors: Yanik Filiz Fatma , Eroglu Derya , Baser Eralp , Dursun Polat , Kisa Karakaya Burcu
Published: June 2011

Objective

To define normal values of second trimester fetal nasal bone length (NBL) in a low‐risk Turkish population.

Method

Prenatal records of singleton fetuses who underwent second trimester ultrasonographic examination in the 16 to 23 weeks of pregnancy were retrospectively analyzed for NBL and biometric measurements (BPD, FL and HL). The relationship among NBL and gestational age (GA), biparietal diameter (BPD), femur length (FL) and humerus length (HL) was determined. Additionally, percentile values of NBL for each gestational week were provided.

Results

A total of 1467 fetuses were included in this study. There was a significant linear association among NBL and GA (R2 = 0.709), BPD (R2 = 0.752), FL (R2 = 0.742) and HL (R2 = 0.747). Fifth percentile values of fetal NBL were 3.11 mm for 16th, 3.50 mm for 17th, 3.70 mm for 18th, 4.10 mm for 19th, 4.50 mm for 20th, 4.62 mm for 21st, 5.24 mm for 22nd and 5.37 mm for 23rd gestational weeks.

Conclusion

The study provides normal ranges of NBL between 16 and 23 weeks of pregnancy in a low‐risk Turkish population. Future studies with larger sample sizes including pregnancies carrying high risk for aneuploidy are needed to define cut‐off values for NBL. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Managing security and privacy concerns over data storage in healthcare research
Authors: Mackenzie Isla S. , Mantay Brian J. , McDonnell Patrick G. , Wei Li , MacDonald Thomas M.
Published: June 2011

Purpose

Issues surrounding data security and privacy are of great importance when handling sensitive health‐related data for research. The emphasis in the past has been on balancing the risks to individuals with the benefit to society of the use of databases for research. However, a new way of looking at such issues is that by optimising procedures and policies regarding security and privacy of data to the extent that there is no appreciable risk to the privacy of individuals, we can create a ‘win–win’ situation in which everyone benefits, and pharmacoepidemiological research can flourish with public support. We discuss holistic measures, involving both information technology and people, taken to improve the security and privacy of data storage.

Methods

After an internal review, we commissioned an external audit by an independent consultant with a view to optimising our data storage and handling procedures.

Results

Improvements to our policies and procedures were implemented as a result of the audit.

Conclusions

By optimising our storage of data, we hope to inspire public confidence and hence cooperation with the use of health care data in research. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Linear and networked polymers formed by the near simultaneous occurrence of etherification and esterification under mild reaction conditions
Authors: Parthiban Anbanandam , Ming Choo Foo , Chai Christina L L
Published: June 2011

Despite the large difference in their nucleophilicity, phenoxide and carboxylate anions take part nearly simultaneously in the aliphatic nucleophilic substitution reaction with 1,4‐dibromo‐2‐butene. This leads to the formation of ether (O) and ester (COO) linkages simultaneously under mild reaction conditions when hydroxyl benzoic acids are employed as nucleophiles. The process yields a new class of polymer broadly classified as unsaturated poly(ether ester) which are potentially functionalizable. This methodology has also been extended for preparing networked polymers by making use of 3,5‐dihydroxybenzoic acid as A3 type monomer. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Fast and reliable location of stationary points in a reaction path
Authors: Cantillo David , Ávalos Martín , Babiano Reyes , Cintas Pedro , Jiménez José L. , Palacios Juan C.
Published: June 2011

This manuscript describes an easy, accurate, and expeditious methodology to locate all the stationary points in common organic reactions. The protocol is based on the analysis of potential energy surfaces (PES) by fitting the calculated data to a mathematical function. The method has been tested in several organic reactions, especially cycloadditions. In all cases, we succeeded in locating the bond parameters for the existing saddle points and intermediates, which were further corroborated by conventional geometry optimizations of the corresponding stationary points. Thus, the concerted or stepwise character of a typical cycloaddition can easily be predicted. It should be emphasized that this protocol is not intended to replace the current computational methodology to construct a PES, which is otherwise a long and rather tedious procedure, usually applied to very discrete molecular system. We prove instead that the present surrogate represents a valuable shortcut to identify stationary points at a given level of theory, which is in turn both reproducible and accurate and should be of interest to a large readership of practitioners engaged in mechanistic studies, who often fear quantum computational methods. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Linear free‐energy relationships in semiquinone species and their Mn(II) and Cu(II) complexes
Authors: Sloop Joseph C. , Shultz David A. , Marcus Mithra Beikmohamadi , Shepler Benjamin
Published: June 2011

Linear free‐energy relationships for a series of functionalized semiquinone ligands and their MnII‐ and CuIIhydro‐tris(3‐cumenyl‐5‐methylpyrazolyl) borate complexes were examined. Quinone–semiquinone cycle half‐wave reduction potentials and semiquinone hydrogen hyperfine coupling constants (aH) were determined and their correlation with Hammett σ parameters reported. A new σ parameter, σaH, has been proposed. MnII and CuII metal complex metal–ligand charge transfer and n → π* UV transitions were found to be modulated by substituents. Satisfactory Hammett correlations between UV transitions and various σ values have been determined and compared in a number of instances. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Micromechanical modeling of the deformation kinetics of semicrystalline polymers
Authors: Sedighiamiri A. , Govaert L. E. , van Dommelen J. A. W.
Published: June 2011

The mechanical behavior of semicrystalline polymers is strongly dependent on their crystallinity level, the initial underlying microstructure, and the evolution of this structure during deformation. A previously developed micromechanical constitutive model is used to capture the elasto‐viscoplastic deformation and texture evolution in semicrystalline polymers. The model represents the material as an aggregate of two‐phase layered composite inclusions, consisting of crystalline lamellae and amorphous layers. This work focuses on adding quantitative abilities to the multiscale constitutive model, in particular for the stress‐dependence of the rate of plastic deformation, referred to as the slip kinetics. To do that, the previously used viscoplastic power law relation is replaced with an Eyring flow rule. The slip kinetics are then re‐evaluated and characterized using a hybrid numerical/experimental procedure, and the results are validated for uniaxial compression data of HDPE, at various strain rates. A double yield phenomenon is observed in the model prediction. Texture analysis shows that the double yield point in the model is due to morphological changes during deformation, that induce a change of deformation mechanism. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 49: 1297–1310, 2011
Sleep problems in cancer patients: prevalence and association with distress and pain
Authors: Sharma Neelom , Hansen Christian Holm , O'Connor Mark , Thekkumpurath Parvez , Walker Jane , Kleiboer Annet , Murray Gordon , Espie Colin , Storey Dawn , Sharpe Michael
Published: July 2011

Background

Although it is increasingly recognized that cancer patients often have sleep problems, we lack data on their prevalence and associations in representative clinical populations. We aimed to determine (i) the prevalence of sleep problems amongst outpatients of a cancer centre and (ii) the association with medical variables, emotional distress and pain.

Methods

Secondary analysis of self‐report and medical data on 2862 cancer centre outpatients. Sleep problems were identified using the sleep item from the Patient Health Questionnaire‐9: ‘Over the last two weeks, how often have you been bothered by trouble falling or staying asleep or sleeping too much?’ scored on a four‐point frequency scale. Emotional distress was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and pain using the subscale of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core 30 questionnaire. Medical data were obtained from the cancer centre clinical database.

Results

Sleep problems (bothered more than half the days during the previous 2 weeks) were reported by 30.2% (865/2862, 95% CI = 28.5 to 31.9) of the patients. They were common in both patients with active cancer (34.5%) and in cancer survivors (28.0%). There was only a modest association with cancer site and treatment status, but there was a strong association with pain (odds ratio = 2.7, 95% CI = 2.2 to 3.4) and emotional distress (odds ratio = 4.5, 95% CI = 3.7 to 5.6).

Conclusions

Sleep problems are common in cancer outpatients and are strongly associated with pain and emotional distress. A combined approach to the management of sleep, pain and emotional distress is indicated. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.