bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plantar Pressure Distribution in Patients with Müller-Weiss Disease
Authors: Hetsroni Iftach , Nyska Meir , Ayalon Moshe
Published: February 2007

Background: Müller-Weiss disease (MWD) is a rare pathological entity of unclear etiology that occurs in middle aged individuals and is characterized by midfoot pain and typical radiographic findings of navicular compression between the talar head and lateral cuneiform. Pes planovarus is a hallmark of advanced disease. The purpose of this study was to characterize the plantar pressure distribution in patients with this diagnosis. Methods: Eight symptomatic feet in six patients with MWD, between the ages of 40 and 60 years, were compared to 18 feet of nine normal individuals. Midfoot scores were recorded according to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scale. Radiographic staging of navicular fragmentation and talar head displacement was done according to the Meary-Tomeno lines. Plantar pressure was measured during walking on a level floor at a natural preferred cadence. All subjects used the same shoe model, and plantar pressure data were collected over four cycles. For each step, the mean pressure and mean normalized pressure impulse were calculated for each of 10 foot zones. The mean of the four steps was computed for comparison between groups. Statistical analysis was performed using a t-test, and the level of significance was set at 0.05. Results: All patients with MWD had advanced radiographic characteristics, and their midfoot scores did not exceed 47 points. Plantar pressure measurements demonstrated significantly higher values ( p < 0.05) in the midfoot segments of patients with MWD than the control group, while significantly lower values ( p < 0.01) were recorded in the toe segments. Conclusions: Müller-Weiss disease is characterized by increased plantar pressures at the midfoot, combined with reduction in toe pressures. This abnormal pressure distribution may be at least partially responsible for patients’ pain and discomfort. Considering these foot characteristics in treatment plans may help choose appropriate nonoperative treatment (i.e. insoles, arch support, hard platform shoes), as well as operative alternatives (appropriate fusion procedures).
J. Leonard Goldner Award 2006: Total Ankle Replacement in Ankle Osteoarthritis: An Analysis of Muscle Rehabilitation
Authors: Valderrabano Victor , Nigg Benno M. , Tscharner Venzenz von , Frank Cyril B. , Hintermann Beat
Published: February 2007

Background: The aim of this prospective study was to determine muscle rehabilitation in total ankle replacement (TAR) for unilateral severe ankle osteoarthritis. Methods: Fifteen patients were assessed before and after TAR in 3-month intervals up to 1 year. Clinically, the pain score, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle score, ankle range of motion for dorsiflexion and plantarflexion (ROM DF/PF), and the calf circumference difference between the affected and contralateral healthy leg were measured. Radiographic assessment consisted of osteoarthritis grading and evaluation of TAR loosening or migration. Biomechanically, isometric maximal voluntary torque for ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion was measured simultaneously with surface electromyography (EMG; mean frequency and intensity) of the anterior tibial, medial gastrocnemius, soleus, and peroneus longus muscles. Data were compared to a group of 15 age-matched and gender-matched normal subjects. Results: From preoperative to 12 months after TAR, improvement was noted in pain scores (from 6.8 to 0.8 points), AOFAS ankle scores (33.7 to 93.3 points), and ROM DF/PF significantly (16.0 to 31.0 degrees). The difference in mean calf circumference between legs decreased not significantly from 2.1 cm to 1.7 cm. The mean DF torque (16.4 to 23.1 Nm) and PF torque (15.8 to 21.6 Nm) of the affected ankle increased significantly. Compared to the contralateral healthy side, the mean EMG frequency remained lower during rehabilitation; the mean EMG intensity recovered. Conclusion: TAR surgery improved muscle function (torque, EMG intensity) in osteoarthritic ankles. However, after 1 year, patients did not reach the level of the contralateral healthy leg, and the EMG frequency remained unchanged.
Fast times and easy questions: the effects of age, experience and question complexity on web survey response times
Authors: Yan Ting , Tourangeau Roger
Published: February 2007

This paper examines response times (RT) to survey questions. Cognitive psychologists have long relied on response times to study cognitive processes but response time data have only recently received attention from survey researchers. To date, most of the studies on response times in surveys have treated response times either as a predictor or as a proxy measure for some other variable (e.g. attitude accessibility) of greater interest. As a result, response times have not been the main focus of the research. Focusing on the nature and determinants of response times, this paper examines variables that affect how long it takes respondents to answer questions in web surveys. Using the survey response model proposed by Tourangeau, Rips, and Rasinski (2000), we include both item‐level characteristics and respondent‐level characteristics thought to affect response times in a two‐level cross‐classified model. Much of the time spent on processing the questions involves reading and interpreting them. The results from the cross‐classified models indicate that response times are affected by question characteristics such as the total number of clauses and the number of words per clause that probably reflect reading times. In addition, response times are also affected by the number and type of answer categories, and the location of the question within the questionnaire, as well as respondent characteristics such as age, education and experience with the Internet and with completing web surveys. Aside from their fixed effects on response times, respondent‐level characteristics (such as age) are shown to vary randomly over questions and effects of question‐level characteristics (such as types of questions and response scales) vary randomly over respondents. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Heavy Metal Contamination in Street Dusts of Istanbul (Pendik to Levent) E‐5 Highway
Authors: Yetimoğlu Ece Kök , Ercan Özgen , Tosyali Kerem
Published: February 2007

Street dust composition is an important environmental parameter that should be considered in investigations of environmental pollution originating from traffic. In this study, fifty‐six samples of street dusts were collected during the period December 2003–April 2004 from Pendik to Levent on E‐5 highway in Istanbul, Turkey. Analyses were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after digestion using USEPA, 1996 (Method 3050B). The mean concentration levels of Pb, Mn, Zn, Ni, Cd and Cu were found to be 368.3, 747.8, 431.2, 27.1, 0.3 and 191.1 μg/g respectively. Pb, Cu, Zn and Mn mean concentrations in studied areas were higher than levels of these heavy metals according to USEPA (1992) and Republic of Turkey Ministry of Environment and Foresty (2003). Highly significant correlations except for Mn were found between the number of vehicles and heavy metal concentrations.
How formulating implementation plans and remembering past actions facilitate the enactment of effortful decisions
Authors: Dholakia Utpal M. , Bagozzi Richard P. , Gopinath Mahesh
Published: February 2007

Building on prior research studying effortful decision making and enactment processes (Bagozzi, Dholakia, & Basuroy, 2003; BDB), we identify and provide an in‐depth understanding of two specific self‐regulatory strategies: (1) formulating an implementation plan, and (2) remembering past actions, that decision makers can use in facilitating enactment of effortful decisions. The results of three experiments, in which the decision maker's goal and self‐regulatory strategy were manipulated, showed that for goals that decision makers chose volitionally, the motivational effects of both these strategies lay in increasing levels of proximal implementation‐related variables (implementation intentions, plan completeness, plan enactment, and goal realization) significantly. In contrast, for goals that were assigned to participants, these strategies' motivational effects additionally extended to significantly increasing distal goal‐related variables (goal desire, goal intentions, perceived self‐efficacy, and implementation desires). The theoretical implications of our findings are discussed, and future research opportunities are explored. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An HPLC method for the determination of ethacridine lactate in human urine
Authors: Guo Zhi‐Yong , Wei Dan‐Yi , Wang Yuan‐Yuan , Xuan Kun‐Fei , Yu Xu‐Fei , Yu Qiu‐Luan , Chu Yun
Published: February 2007

An HPLC method was developed and validated for the determination of ethacridine lactate in human urine. Solid‐phase extraction cartridges were used to extract urine samples. Separation was carried out on a C18 column maintained at 30°C with methanol–0.05% sodium dodecylsulfonate (70:30, v/v, pH 3) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Detection was at UV 272 nm. The calibration curve was linear in the concentration range of 4–4000 ng/mL, with linear correlation coefficient r equal to 0.9998. The limit of detection for the assay was 1.1 ng/mL. The within‐day accuracy ranged from 94.8 to 101.6% and precision from 2.3 to 5.4%. The between‐day accuracy ranged from 96.8 to 102.6% and precision from 4.0 to 5.3%. The absolute recovery was 95.4–101.2%. Urine samples were stable for at least 15 days if stored in the dark at −20°C. This simple and accurate method allows the sensitive determination of ethacridine lactate in human urine. It was successfully applied to assess the urine level of ethacridine lactate in women received intra‐amniotic injection. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Liquid chromatographic–electrospray tandem mass spectrometric determination of bisoprolol in human plasma
Authors: Liu Mingyuan , Zhang Dan , Sun Yantong , Wang Yingwu , Liu Zeyuan , Gu Jingkai
Published: February 2007

An analytical method for the determination of bisoprolol in human plasma has been developed based on liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The analyte and internal standard (IS) diphenhydramine were cleaned up by protein precipitation with acetonitrile, reconstituted in mobile phase and separated by reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using methanol:10 mm ammonium acetate:formic acid (70:30:0.1 v/v/v) as mobile phase. Detection was carried out by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) on an LC–MS/MS system and was completed within 2.5 min. The assay was linear over the range 0.5–100 ng/mL with a limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 0.5 ng/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐day precision levels were within 5.54 and 9.95%, respectively, while the accuracy was in the range 89.4–113%. This method has been utilized in a pharmacokinetic study, where healthy volunteers were treated with an oral dose of 5 mg bisoprolol. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prevention of premature discontinuation of dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with coronary artery stents: A science advisory from the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, American College of Surgeons, and American Dental Association, with representation from the American College of Physicians
Authors: Grines Cindy L. , Bonow Robert O. , Casey, Donald E. , Gardner Timothy J. , Lockhart Peter B. , Moliterno David J. , O'Gara Patrick , Whitlow Patrick
Published: February 2007

Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and a thienopyridine has been shown to reduce cardiac events after coronary stenting. However, many patients and healthcare providers prematurely discontinue dual antiplatelet therapy, which greatly increases the risk of stent thrombosis, myocardial infarction, and death. This advisory stresses the importance of 12 months of dual antiplatelet therapy after placement of a drug‐eluting stent and educating the patient and healthcare providers about hazards of premature discontinuation. It also recommends postponing elective surgery for 1 year, and if surgery cannot be deferred, considering the continuation of aspirin during the perioperative period in high‐risk patients with drug‐eluting stents. © 2007 the American Heart Association, Inc., the American College of Cardiology Foundation, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, the American College of Surgeons, and the American Dental Association.
Switching to an aromatase inhibitor provides mortality benefit in early breast carcinoma
Authors: Boccardo Francesco , Rubagotti Alessandra , Aldrighetti Daniela , Buzzi Franco , Cruciani Giorgio , Farris Antonio , Mustacchi Giorgio , Porpiglia Mauro , Schieppati Giorgio , Sismondi Piero
Published: February 2007

BACKGROUND

The superiority of new generation aromatase inhibitors over tamoxifen in the adjuvant treatment of early breast carcinoma has emerged from several randomized trials. However, until now not all previous studies have shown a mortality benefit.

METHODS

A pooled analysis of 2 prospective multicentric trials, sharing the same study design and nearly identical inclusion criteria, was performed. In both trials, women treated previously with tamoxifen for 2 or 3 years were randomly assigned to either continuing tamoxifen for an additional 2 or 3 years or to having their treatment switched to aminoglutethimide or anastrozole for a comparable time period. Mortality was analyzed according to allocated treatment and other patient and tumor variables.

RESULTS

In all, 828 postmenopausal women, mostly with estrogen receptor (ER)‐positive and node‐positive tumors who had been monitored for a median time of 78 months (range, 6–141 months) were analyzed. Of these women, 415 were randomly selected to continue tamoxifen and 413 switched to aminoglutethimide or anastrozole. All‐cause mortality and breast cancer‐specific mortality were significantly improved by the switch: all‐cause mortality: hazard ratio (HR) = 0.61 (0.42–0.88)P= .007; breast cancer‐specific mortality: HR = 0.61 (0.39–0.94)P= .025. No increase was recorded in breast cancer‐unrelated mortality in women after switching. Multivariate analysis showed that patient age, tumor size, allocated treatment, and nodal status, in that order, were independent mortality predictors.

CONCLUSIONS

Switching to an aromatase inhibitor after 2 or 3 years of tamoxifen therapy significantly improves survival compared with continuing 2 or 3 years of additional tamoxifen treatment. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Neuronal recruitment in adult zebra finch brain during a reproductive cycle
Authors: Barkan Shay , Ayali Amir , Nottebohm Fernando , Barnea Anat
Published: February 2007

Previous studies suggest that adult neurogenesis and neuronal replacement are related to the acquisition of new information. The present study supports this hypothesis by showing that there is an increase in new neuron recruitment in brains of adult male and female zebra finches that coincides with the need to memorize vocalizations of nestlings before they fledge. We counted [3H]‐Thymidine labeled neurons 40 days after [3H]‐Thymidine injections. These counts were made in the parents' brains at the time eggs hatched, at the time juveniles fledged and still needed parental care, and at the time juveniles were already independent. We focused on nidopallium caudale (NC), a brain region which plays a role in sound processing. Recruitment of new NC neurons increased at the time the young fledged, followed by a significant decrease when the young reached independence. We suggest that this increase enables parents to recognize their own young when they are still dependent on parental feeding, yet easily lost among other fledglings in the colony. We saw no such increase in neuronal recruitment in the olfactory bulb, suggesting anatomical specificity for the effect seen in NC. We also found a preliminary, positive correlation between number of fledglings and number of new NC neurons in the parents' brain at fledging, suggesting that the number of neurons recruited is sensitive to the number of young fledged. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2007.
The Notch response inhibitor DAPT enhances neuronal differentiation in embryonic stem cell‐derived embryoid bodies independently of sonic hedgehog signaling
Authors: Crawford T. Quinn , Roelink Henk
Published: February 2007

During development of the neural tube, inhibition of the Notch response as well as the activation of the Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) response results in the formation of neuronal cell types. To determine whether Shh and Notch act independently, we tested the effects of the Notch inhibitor DAPT (N‐[N‐(3,5‐difluorophenacetyl)‐l‐alanyl]‐S‐phenylglycine t‐butyl ester) on neuralized, embryonic stem (ES) cell‐derived embryoid bodies (EBs), while varying the levels of Shh pathway activation. Shh‐resistant EBs were derived from Smo null ES cells, while EBs with constitutive high level of Shh pathway activation were derived from Ptc1 null ES cells. Intermediate levels of Shh pathway activation was achieved by the addition of ShhN to the EB culture medium. It was found that DAPT‐mediated inhibition of the Notch response resulted in enhanced neuronal differentiation. In the absence of Shh, more interneurons were detected, while the main effect of DAPT on EBs with an activated Shh response was the precocious loss of ventral neuronal precursor‐specific markers. Developmental Dynamics 236:886–892, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mutagenic activity of overnight urine from healthy non‐smoking subjects
Authors: Pavanello Sofia , Lupi Silvia , Pulliero Alessandra , Gregorio Pasquale , Saia Bruno Onofrio , Clonfero Erminio
Published: February 2007

Urinary mutagenicity was evaluated in relation to environmental mutagen exposure (i.e., diet, indoor/outdoor activities, residential area etc.) on the day prior to sample collection, and also considering factors that contribute to the variability of Salmonella mutagenicity assay results. Overnight urine samples from 283 healthy non‐smoking residents of northeast Italy (46% males, 20–62 years) were analyzed for mutagenicity on sensitive Salmonella typhimurium strain YG1024 with S9 mix employing the preincubation version of the plate incorporation assay (i.e., the Salmonella reverse mutation test). Urinary mutagenicity varied between 0.02 and 9.84 rev/ equiv. ml, and 7% of samples were positive (i.e., sample elicited a two‐fold increase in revertants). There was an evident increase in mutagenicity in subjects with increased intake of mutagen‐rich meals (n = 80) (P < 0.01 and positive urine 13% vs. 5%, P = 0.025). Indoor‐exposed subjects (n = 65) also showed a higher percentage of positive urine (14% vs. 5%, P = 0.015). In particular, those subjects exposed to cooking fumes the previous evening (n = 28) revealed higher urinary mutagenicity (P = 0.035, positive urine 25% vs. 5%, P < 0.001) than non‐indoor exposed. The sources of variability of the mutagenicity assay, mainly the histidine content of the urine concentrate (z = 4.06, P < 0.0001), and to a lesser extent bacterial inoculum size (z = 2.33, P = 0.019), also significantly influenced urinary mutagenicity values. In a linear multiple regression analysis, their effects were still significant (i.e., histidine content P = 0.026 and inoculum size P = 0.021), but the effects of diet, indoor exposure, and other environmental exposures (i.e., traffic and heating system exhausts, residential area) were not. It is concluded that the previous day's exposure to mutagen‐rich meals and cooking fumes may influence the presence of mutagenic activity in the overnight urine of non‐smoking subjects. This mutagenic activity, which remains in contact with bladder mucosa for several hours, could be considered risk factors for colorectal adenoma and possibly other cancers (i.e., bladder) in non‐smokers. Accurate control of histidine content and bacterial inoculum size is strongly recommended when investigating the mutagenic activity of urine from non‐smokers. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Iterative channel estimation and decoding in turbo coded space‐time systems
Authors: Ronen Sefi (Yosef) , Bross Shraga I. , (Shitz) Shlomo Shamai , Duman Tolga M.
Published: February 2007

A noncoherent multiple antenna coded communication system over both block fading and time‐selective flat fading Rayleigh channel is considered. Several iterative decoding strategies consisting of pilot symbol assisted demodulation and turbo decoding are proposed. It is shown that, at a system rate of 0.9 bits per channel use, the SNR required to achieve a BER of 10−4is only about 2dB from the imperfect CSI capacity lower bound. The channel estimation error variance is demonstrated to be close to the theoretical limit set by the Modified Cramér‐Rao bound. The simulation results coincide with the trends dictated by recent information‐theoretic analysis and demonstrate the effect that inaccuracy of the channel estimation has on the performance of the iterative decoding scheme. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Vector quantisation for finite‐state Markov channels and application to wireless communications
Authors: Yahampath Pradeepa , Pawlak Mirek
Published: February 2007

Vector quantisation for joint source‐channel (JSC) coding over a finite‐state Markov channel (FSMC) is studied. In particular, minimum mean square error (MMSE) decoding of a vector quantised source in the absence of channel state information (CSI) is considered. Based on hidden Markov modelling of the channel output, two decoding strategies are proposed. The first one is a soft‐decoder which estimates the source reconstruction vectors directly from a sequence of channel output samples. The second one is a hard‐decoder based on joint maximum a posteriori (MAP) probability estimation of channel symbols and channel states. An iterative procedure for designing JSC optimised vector quantisers (VQs) is also proposed. Finally, the design of VQs for wireless channels using a finite‐state model is examined. Experimental results are provided for a Gauss‐Markov source and flat‐fading wireless channels. A comparison with an idealised tandem source‐channel coding system is also provided to demonstrate the advantage of the proposed JSC coding approach. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the effects of interpolator window shape and symbol location on the BER of diversity PSAM 16‐QAM
Authors: Cao Lingzhi , Beaulieu Norman C.
Published: February 2007

We consider pilot symbol assisted modulation (PSAM) implemented with a sinc interpolator. The sensitivity of the error rate performance to different window functions applied to the sinc interpolator is investigated. The bit error rates (BERs) for diversity M‐ary quadrature amplitude modulation (MQAM) with different window functions applied to the sinc interpolator are compared. The Kaiser window is found superior to the other windows considered. A thorough discussion of the dependency of the BER performance on the symbol location is also given. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Frequency domain equalisation in CDMA detection
Authors: Martoyo Ihan , Jondral Friedrich K.
Published: February 2007

The present paper introduces frequency domain equalisation (FDE) as an efficient means for single‐user detection (SUD) in universal mobile telecommunication systems (UMTS) handhelds. Such an SUD is, at least partially, able to remove multiple access interference (MAI) like a multi‐user detector (MUD), however with several important advantages

the operation principle of an FDE‐SUD is simple and easy to understand,

the FDE‐SUD shows low numerical complexity and therefore,

it is not power hungry like an MUD.

The problem of applying FDE without zero‐padding or cyclic‐prefix insertion is solved by using the overlap‐cut method. In this paper we also prove that the performance of the FDE‐SUD is practically identical to that of linear MUD for a fully loaded UMTS cell. Furthermore, armed with the idea of FDE for code division multiple access (CDMA), we can construct a common receiver structure for CDMA, time division multiple access (TDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and multi‐carrier CDMA (MC‐CDMA) systems. This is an extremely useful idea in enabling a software‐defined radio (SDR) which can operate seamlessly in several environments such as UMTS, the IEEE 802.11a and WiMaX. FDE based receivers could be one important building‐block for the next generation mobile communications. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A technique for the deidentification of structural brain MR images
Authors: Bischoff‐Grethe Amanda , Ozyurt I. Burak , Busa Evelina , Quinn Brian T. , Fennema‐Notestine Christine , Clark Camellia P. , Morris Shaunna , Bondi Mark W. , Jernigan Terry L. , Dale Anders M. , Brown Gregory G. , Fischl Bruce
Published: February 2007

Due to the increasing need for subject privacy, the ability to deidentify structural MR images so that they do not provide full facial detail is desirable. A program was developed that uses models of nonbrain structures for removing potentially identifying facial features. When a novel image is presented, the optimal linear transform is computed for the input volume (Fischl et al. [2002]: Neuron 33:341–355; Fischl et al. [2004]: Neuroimage 23 (Suppl 1):S69–S84). A brain mask is constructed by forming the union of all voxels with nonzero probability of being brain and then morphologically dilated. All voxels outside the mask with a nonzero probability of being a facial feature are set to 0. The algorithm was applied to 342 datasets that included two different T1‐weighted pulse sequences and four different diagnoses (depressed, Alzheimer's, and elderly and young control groups). Visual inspection showed none had brain tissue removed. In a detailed analysis of the impact of defacing on skull‐stripping, 16 datasets were bias corrected with N3 (Sled et al. [1998]: IEEE Trans Med Imaging 17:87–97), defaced, and then skull‐stripped using either a hybrid watershed algorithm (Ségonne et al. [2004]: Neuroimage 22:1060–1075, in FreeSurfer) or Brain Surface Extractor (Sandor and Leahy [1997]: IEEE Trans Med Imaging 16:41–54; Shattuck et al. [2001]: Neuroimage 13:856–876); defacing did not appreciably influence the outcome of skull‐stripping. Results suggested that the automatic defacing algorithm is robust, efficiently removes nonbrain tissue, and does not unduly influence the outcome of the processing methods utilized; in some cases, skull‐stripping was improved. Analyses support this algorithm as a viable method to allow data sharing with minimal data alteration within large‐scale multisite projects. Hum Brain Mapp 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Information processing speed in ecstasy (MDMA) users
Authors: Wareing Michelle , Fisk John E. , Montgomery Catharine , Murphy Philip N. , Chandler Martin D.
Published: February 2007

Previous research draws parallels between ecstasy‐related and age‐related deficits in cognitive functioning. Age‐related impairments in working memory have been attributed to a slow down in information processing speed. The present study compared 29 current ecstasy users, 10 previous users and 46 non‐users on two tests measuring information processing speed and a computation span task measuring working memory. Results showed that ecstasy users performed worse than non‐ecstasy users in the letter comparison task although the overall difference was not significant (p = 0.089). Results from the pattern recognition task showed that current ecstasy users produced significantly more errors than the other two groups (p < 0.01). When results were combined for both the letter and pattern tasks, once again current ecstasy users produced significantly more errors than non‐ecstasy users (p < 0.01). Working memory deficits obtained were statistically significant with both ecstasy using groups performing significantly worse than non‐users on the computation span measure (p < 0.01). Moreover, ANCOVA with measures of processing speed as covariates failed to eliminate the group difference in computation span (p < 0.01). Therefore, it is likely the mechanism responsible for impairments in the computation span measure is not the same as that in elderly adults where processing speed generally removes most of the age‐related variance. Also of relevance is the fact that the ecstasy users reported here had used a range of other drugs making it difficult to unambiguously attribute the results obtained to ecstasy use. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Acceleration of apatite nucleation on microrough bioactive titanium for bone‐replacing implants
Authors: Aparicio C. , Manero J.M. , Conde F. , Pegueroles M. , Planell J.A. , Vallet‐Regí M. , Gil F.J.
Published: February 2007

The viability of a new two‐step method for obtaining bioactive microrough titanium surfaces for bone replacing implants has been evaluated. The method consists of (1) Grit blasting on titanium surface to roughen it; and (2) Thermo‐chemical treating to obtain a bioactive surface with bone‐bonding ability by means of nucleating and growing an apatite layer on the treated surface of the metal. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of surface roughness and chemical composition of the grit‐blasting particles on the ability of the surfaces of nucleating and growing a homogeneous apatite layer. The determination and kinetics of the nucleation and growing of the apatite layer on the surfaces has mainly been studied with environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and grazing‐incidence X‐ray diffractometry. The results show that Al2O3‐blasted and thermochemically‐treated titanium surfaces accelerates nucleation of the apatite, whereas SiC‐blasted and thermochemically‐treated titanium surfaces inhibits apatite nucleation, compared with the well studied polished and thermochemically‐treated titanium surfaces. The acceleration of the apatite nucleation on the Al2O3‐blasted microrough titanium surfaces is because concave parts of the microroughness that are obtained during grit blasting provides to the rough and bioactive surfaces with a chemical‐ and electrostatic‐favored situation for apatite nucleation. This consists of a high density of surface negative charges (also assisted by the nanoroughness of the surface obtained after the thermochemical treatment) and an increased concentration of the Ca2+‐ions of the fluid, which have a limited mobility at the bottom of the concave parts. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2007
Phagocyte responses to degradable polymers
Authors: Jiang Wei‐Wu , Su Shih‐Horng , Eberhart Robert C. , Tang Liping
Published: February 2007

Although many biodegradable polymers, such as poly‐L‐lactic acid and poly‐L‐glycolic acid, are preferentially composed of biological residues normally present in the human body, implants made of these materials often trigger inflammatory and fibrotic responses. Unfortunately, the mechanisms involved in degradable material‐mediated tissue responses remain largely unknown. Using animal implantation and cell culture system models, we found a strong correlation between the rate of material degradation and the degree of inflammatory response to material implants. Furthermore, we have identified that both water‐soluble and water‐insoluble degradation products are potent triggers of phagocyte activation, including at the least, superoxide production. These results support a new concept that slow degradation may improve the biocompatibility of degradable drug‐releasing particles and tissue engineering scaffolds. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2007
Phenotypic expression of human hepatoma cells in culture
Authors: Cutroneo Kenneth R. , White Sheryl L. , Buttolph Thomas R. , Allison Gretchen , Ehrlich H. Paul
Published: February 2007

Hepatomas thrive in a hypoxic environment resulting in the induction of a cluster of hypoxia related genes. The protein phenotypic expression include hypoxia inducible factor‐α, prolyl‐4‐hydroxylase, vascular endothelear growth factor and erythropoietin. The present study was undertaken to determine if human hepatoma cells when cultured for 72 h in the presence of serum under normoxia would maintain their cancerous phenotypic expression of certain hypoxia inducible genes. Our positive results affords an in vitro model system to test hypoxia inhibitors on the expression and the intracellular compartmentalization or the secretion of these hypoxia‐inducible proteins. J. Cell. Biochem. 100: 1081–1085, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Towards in situ tissue repair: Human mesenchymal stem cells express chemokine receptors CXCR1, CXCR2 and CCR2, and migrate upon stimulation with CXCL8 but not CCL2
Authors: Ringe Jochen , Strassburg Sandra , Neumann Katja , Endres Michaela , Notter Michael , Burmester Gerd‐Rüdiger , Kaps Christian , Sittinger Michael
Published: February 2007

The recruitment of bone marrow CD34−mesenchymal stem‐ and progenitor cells (MSC) and their subsequent differentiation into distinct tissues is the precondition for in situ tissue engineering. The objective of this study was to determine the entire chemokine receptor expression profile of human MSC and to investigate their chemotactic response to the selected chemokines CCL2, CXCL8 and CXCL12. Human MSC were isolated from iliac crest bone marrow aspirates and showed a homogeneous population presenting a typical MSC‐related cell surface antigen profile (CD14−, CD34−, CD44+, CD45−, CD166+, SH‐2+). The expression profile of all 18 chemokine receptors was determined by real‐time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Both methods consistently demonstrated that MSC express CC, CXC, C and CX3C receptors. Gene expression and immunohistochemical analysis documented that MSC express chemokine receptors CCR2, CCR8, CXCR1, CXCR2 and CXCR3. A dose‐dependent chemotactic activity of CXCR4 and CXCR1/CXCR2 ligands CXCL12 and CXCL8 (interleukin‐8) was demonstrated using a 96‐well chemotaxis assay. In contrast, the CCR2 ligand CCL2 (monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1, MCP‐1) did not recruited human MSC. In conclusion, we report that the chemokine receptor expression profile of human MSC is much broader than known before. Furthermore, for the first time, we demonstrate that human MSC migrate upon stimulation with CXCL8 but not CCL2. In combination with already known data on MSC recruitment and differentiation these are promising results towards in situ regenerative medicine approaches based on guiding of MSC to sites of degenerated tissues. J. Cell. Biochem. 101: 135–146, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Alternative production of Bcl‐2 and Bax by tumor cells determines the rates of in vivo tumor progression: Suggested mechanisms
Authors: Deichman Galina I. , Dyakova Natalya A. , Matveeva Valentina A. , Kashkina Lydia M.
Published: February 2007

The hypothesis tested in the study suggests that mechanisms of the earlier described delayed or accelerated tumor progression may be regulated by the antiapoptotic and proapoptotic cellular programs activated in stress reactions of transformed cells to the host normal cellular environment. Therefore, spontaneously transformed hamster cell line STHE, its bcl‐2‐transduced line STHE‐Bcl‐2, and 64 of their descendant tumor cell variants naturally selected in two in vivo regimes (local tumor growth versus dissemination) were examined. The role of Bcl‐2 and the possible activation of endogenous death‐signaling Bax, Ras, and HSP90/HSP70 stress proteins in STHE (Bcl‐2+/−) tumor cell variants were studied in dynamics of in vivo tumor progression. The data demonstrate: (1) Immediate in vivo activation of Bax and of HSP90/HSP70 stress proteins in disseminated STHE cells on the background of accelerated tumor progression; (2) No immediate activation of Bax and the gradual downregulation of Bcl‐2 in STHE‐Bcl‐2 cells on the background of delayed tumor progression; (3) Alternative and mutually suppressive character of Bcl‐2 and Bax expression in both regimes of tumor progression; (4) In the later stages of tumor progression, the regular transit of the initial Bcl‐2 antiapoptotic, Bax‐suppressing program, and the delayed tumor progression towards Bcl‐2 loss, activation of Bax, and acceleration of tumor progression. Thus, the delay of tumor progression is apparently determined by the ability of Bcl‐2‐expressing tumor cells to extinguish the cell‐damaging environmental stress signals and Bax activation, while its acceleration correlates with Bcl‐2 loss, activation of proapoptotic Bax, and tumor cells damage. J. Cell. Biochem. 101:1148–1164, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cytoskeleton/stretch‐activated ion channel interaction regulates myogenic differentiation of skeletal myoblasts
Authors: Formigli Lucia , Meacci Elisabetta , Sassoli Chiara , Squecco Roberta , Nosi Daniele , Chellini Flaminia , Naro Fabio , Francini Fabio , Zecchi‐Orlandini Sandra
Published: February 2007

In the present study, we investigated the functional interaction between stress fibers (SFs) and stretch‐activated channels (SACs) and its possible role in the regulation of myoblast differentiation induced by switch to differentiation culture in the presence or absence of sphingosine 1‐phosphate. It was found that there was a clear temporal correlation between SF formation and SAC activation in differentiating C2C12 myoblasts. Inhibition of actin polymerization with the specific Rho kinase inhibitor Y‐27632, significantly decreased SAC sensitivity in these cells, suggesting a role for Rho‐dependent actin remodeling in the regulation of the channel opening. The alteration of cytoskeletal/SAC functional correlation had also deleterious effects on myogenic differentiation of C2C12 cells as judged by combined confocal immunofluorescence, biochemical and electrophysiological analyses. Indeed, the treatment with Y‐27632 or with DHCB, an actin disrupting agent, inhibited the expression of the myogenic markers (myogenin and sarcomeric proteins) and myoblast‐myotube transition. The treatment with the channel blocker, GdCl3, also affected myogenesis in these cells. It impaired, in fact, myoblast phenotypic maturation (i.e., reduced the expression of α‐sarcomeric actin and skeletal myosin and the activity of creatine kinase) but did not modify promoter activity and protein expression levels of myogenin. The results of this study, together with being in agreement with the general idea that cytoskeletal remodeling is essential for muscle differentiation, describe a novel pathway whereby the formation of SFs and their contraction, generate a mechanical tension to the plasma membrane, activate SACs and trigger Ca2+‐dependent signals, thus influencing the phenotypic maturation of myoblasts. J. Cell. Physiol. 211: 296–306, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Extracellular nucleotides regulate CCL20 release from human primary airway epithelial cells, monocytes and monocyte‐derived dendritic cells
Authors: Marcet Brice , Horckmans Michael , Libert Frédérick , Hassid Sergio , Boeynaems Jean‐Marie , Communi Didier
Published: February 2007

Extracellular nucleotides regulate ion transport and mucociliary clearance in human airway epithelial cells (HAECs) via the activation of P2 receptors, especially P2Y2. Therefore, P2Y2receptor agonists represent potential pharmacotherapeutic agents to treat cystic fibrosis (CF). Nucleotides also modulate inflammatory properties of immune cells like dendritic cells (DCs), which play an important role in mucosal immunity. Using DNA‐microarray experiments, quantitative RT‐PCR and cytokine measurements, we show here that UTP up‐regulated ∼2‐ to 3‐fold the antimicrobial chemokine CCL20 expression and release in primary HAECs cultured on permeable supports at an air–liquid interface (ALI). Both P2Y2(ATPγS, UTP, INS365) and P2Y6(UDP, INS48823) agonists increased CCL20 release. UTP‐induced CCL20 release was insensitive to NF‐κB pathway inhibitors but sensitive to inhibitors of ERK1/2 and p38/MAPK pathways. Furthermore, UTP had no effect on interleukin‐(IL)‐8 release and reduced the release of both CCL20 and IL‐8 induced by TNF‐α and LPS. Accordingly, UTP reduced the capacity of basolateral supernatants of HAECs treated with TNF‐α or LPS to induce the chemoattraction of both CD4+T lymphocytes and neutrophils. In addition, we show that, in monocyte‐derived DCs, ATPγS, and UDP but not UTP/INS365‐stimulated CCL20 release. Likewise, UDP but not ATPγS was also able to increase CCL20 release from monocytes. Pharmacological experiments suggested an involvement of P2Y11or P2Y6receptors through NF‐κB, ERK1/2, and p38/MAPK pathways. Altogether, our data demonstrate that nucleotides may modulate chemokine release and leukocyte recruitment in inflamed airways by acting on both epithelial and immune cells. Our results could be relevant for further clinical investigations in CF. J. Cell. Physiol. 211: 716–727, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sonographic detection of indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans), an unusual foreign body, in the urinary bladder
Authors: Taori Kishor , Saha Bimal , Shah Deepal , Khadaria Narottam , Sanyal Rupan , Jawale Rajesh , Jadhav Vijay
Published: February 2007

A variety of foreign bodies have been described in the urinary bladder. These bodies are usually found in patients who have a psychiatric disorder with a sexual perversion or inquisitiveness (as in children) as the underlying cause. We report a case of Indian grass inserted into the urinary bladder by an adult male that was detected on sonography and subsequently removed successfully via surgery. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2007
Coprecipitation with calcium hydroxide for determination of iron in fish otoliths by collision cell ICP‐MS
Authors: Daniels Stephanie L. , Arslan Zikri
Published: February 2007

A method has been described for the determination of iron from fish otoliths containing high levels of calcium by collision cell technology (CCT) ICP‐MS. Iron (Fe) in otolith solutions was quantitatively coprecipitated with small amounts of calcium hydroxide by adding 1.0 M sodium hydroxide solution. The performance of CCT‐ICP‐MS pressurized with He/H2 cell gas was investigated on the elimination of Ca‐based spectral interferences at m/z 54, 56 and 57. Molecular ion interferences at m/z 54 and 56 were reduced by 2 orders of magnitude. However, the interferences at m/z 57 increased by the same amount in the presence of Ca in solutions owing to the formation of 40Ca16 OH+ through reactions with H2 in collision cell, indicating that 57Fe was not suitable for the determination of Fe from otoliths. Results for 56Fe suffered significantly from interferences of Ca‐based molecular ions when the Ca concentration in solution exceeded 100 µg ml−1, for which matrix‐matched calibration was required for accurate determination. CCT with the aid of He/H2 cell gas proved to be very effective in eliminating the interferences (40Ar14N+ and 40Ca14N+) at m/z 54. Presence of Ca up to 300 µg ml−1 had virtually no effect on the ion signals of 54Fe, which with low background signals, afforded accurate determination of Fe from otoliths by using aqueous external standards. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Beste Sicht dank schnellem Licht – Femtosekundenlaser für die Hornhautchirurgie des 21. Jahrhunderts
Authors: Loesel Frieder
Published: February 2007

Laser haben die Augenheilkunde in den letzten Jahrzehnten stark beeinflusst. Mit den Lichtstrahlen wird unter anderem die Netzhaut schonend von außen therapiert, mittels Wellenfrontverfahren werden Abbildungsfehler des Auges höchst präzise und objektiv erfasst, und UV‐Laser formen die Krümmung der Hornhaut neu, um Fehlsichtigkeiten dauerhaft zu korrigieren. Nun tritt der Femtosekundenlaser an, die Ophthalmologie erneut zu revolutionieren. Ein “kalt” wirkender ultraschneller Laserstrahl, der beliebig innerhalb des Gewebes schneiden und ablatieren kann. Ein Laserskalpell, das keinen mechanischen Limitierungen mehr unterliegt und komplexe, auch dreidimensionale Schnittführungen erlaubt. Ein minimal‐invasives chirurgisches Werkzeug, dessen Anwendungsvielfalt nur durch die Vorstellungskraft des Operateurs begrenzt sein wird.
Kompakte Femtosekunden‐Halbleiterlaser – Es zählen auch Zuverlässigkeit und Preis
Authors: Wallenstein Richard
Published: February 2007

Im Jahre 1962 emittierte der erste Halbleiterlaser auf der Basis eines Gallium‐Arsenid‐Kristalls kohärentes Licht. Seit dieser Zeit haben Generationen von Halbleiterlasern mit immer komplexeren Strukturen und verbesserten Eigenschaften einander abgelöst. Massenanwendungen in optischer Nachrichtenübertragung und CD‐/DVD‐Laufwerken führten zu einer starken Reduzierung der Herstellungskosten. Dadurch erschlossen sich für diese Laser neue Anwendungsfelder, die zunächst anderen Laserarten vorbehalten waren.
Charakterisierung von Laseroptiken für die Femtonik – Standardmessverfahren im Überblick
Authors: Starke Kai
Published: February 2007

Die Evolution von Lasersystemen zur Erzeugung ultrakurzer Pulse von ersten Laborstudien bis hin zu kompakten, leistungsfähigen und industrietauglichen Turn‐Key‐Systemen kann unbestritten als Erfolgsgeschichte bezeichnet werden. In jüngster Vergangenheit sind mit Hilfe wartungsarmer Tischgeräte zahlreiche Anwendungen in der Mikromaterialbearbeitung, der Medizin, der zeitaufgelösten Analytik und der physikalischen Grundlagenforschung erstmals möglich geworden.
Good News!
Authors: Thoß Andreas , Kock Holger
Published: February 2007

Now, with the old year fading, the first prognoses for the economic development come up. And the numbers look good: Arnold Mayer from Optech Consulting sees a new all time high in the market for laser materials systems with sales at 5.91 billion USD in 2005. After a decline between 2000 and 2003 the market has now recovered and further growth is expected (see p. 11 for more information). One big issue in the foreseeable future will be the development of new markets, particularly in Asia. Here in Europe, everybody is looking at China. In December 2005, a 10 billion Dollar deal with Chinese authorities was announced by Airbus. Just two weeks earlier, Boeing received an order over 4 billion USD from China. It looks as if the Chinese dragon is taking off. But how look things in the laser business? How does China compare with the established high tech markets in Asia? And how many domestic products are coming up? To answer all these questions we have prepared a special report on the Chinese laser market in this issue (page 12).

Although Asia may be on the rise, Europe is still playing a leading part in the development of laser technology. It has an excellent structure for basic research and a number of companies making successful products on the basis of academic findings. This is particularly true for Germany with laser companies such as Trumpf or Rofin Sinar, which lead their markets for many years. On the other side, German universities are more and more suffering from budget cuts. The new German government has promised to raise funding but there is no agenda yet. More activity is going on at the European arena at the moment. On December 2nd, a new platform “Photonics21” has been founded in Brussels. Lead by the chairmen of companies like Jenoptik, Bookham, TRUMPF Lasertechnik, Carl Zeiss, Philips Lighting, SAGEM, this platform will formulate a European agenda for photonics and advise the European Commission for the next big funding plan, the 7. Framework Programme of the European Commission. FP 7 is valid for seven years and has a total funding budget of 72 billion Euro.

Thinking about the use of lasers in industry you can generally distinguish between the processing tool and the device for measurement. In this issue we will focus on the latter one. After some decades of development of laser based measurement, technologies have become very diverse and it is even difficult to cover them by a single headline. Therefore it is very appropriate when Gerd Häusler and his co‐authors named their article “3D sensor zoo”. Nevertheless, holographic and interferometric techniques have become mature and found a widespread use from automotive industry to plastic surgery (p. 42), and all the issues of homeland security will further boost this fast and precise technology.