bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gelatin‐Modified Polyurethanes for Soft Tissue Scaffold
Authors: Kucińska-Lipka Justyna , Gubańska Iga , Janik Helena
Published: November 2013

Recently, in the field of biomaterials for soft tissue scaffolds, the interest of their modification with natural polymersis growing. Synthetic polymers are often tough, and many of them do not possess fine biocompatibility. On the other hand, natural polymers are biocompatible but weak when used alone. The combination of natural and synthetic polymers gives the suitable properties for tissue engineering requirements. In our study, we modified gelatin synthetic polyurethanes prepared from polyester poly(ethylene‐butylene adipate) (PEBA), aliphatic 1,6‐hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), and two different chain extenders 1,4‐butanediol (BDO) or 1‐ethoxy‐2‐(2‐hydroxyethoxy)ethanol (EHEE). From a chemical point of view, we replaced expensive components for building PU, such as 2,6‐diisocyanato methyl caproate (LDI) and 1,4‐diisocyanatobutane (BDI), with cost‐effective HDI. The gelatin was added in situ (in the first step of synthesis) to polyurethane to increase biocompatibility and biodegradability of the obtained material. It appeared that the obtained gelatin‐modified PU foams, in which chain extender was BDO, had enhanced interactions with media and their hydrolytic degradation profile was also improved for tissue engineering application. Furthermore, the gelatin introduction had positive impact on gelatin‐modified PU foams by increasing their hemocompatibility.
The Drinking Effect of Hydrogen Water on Atopic Dermatitis Induced byDermatophagoides farinaeAllergen in NC/Nga Mice
Authors: Ignacio Rosa Mistica C. , Kwak Hyun-Suk , Yun Young-Uk , Sajo Ma. Easter Joy V. , Yoon Yang-Suk , Kim Cheol-Su , Kim Soo-Ki , Lee Kyu-Jae
Published: November 2013

Hydrogen water (HW) produced by electrolysis of water has characteristics of extremely low oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) value and high dissolved hydrogen (DH). It has been proved to have various beneficial effects including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects; however, HW effect on atopic dermatitis (AD), an inflammatory skin disorder, is poorly documented. In the present study, we examined the immunological effect of drinking HW onDermatophagoides farinae-induced AD-like skin in NC/Nga mice. Mice were administered with HW and purified water (PW) for 25 days. We evaluated the serum concentration of pro-inflammatory (TNF-α), Th1 (IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-12p70), Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10), and cytokine expressed by both subsets (GM-CSF) to assess their possible relationship to the severity of AD. The serum levels of cytokines such as IL-10, TNF-α, IL-12p70, and GM-CSF of mice administered with HW was significantly reduced as compared to PW group. The results suggest that HW affects allergic contact dermatitis through modulation of Th1 and Th2 responses in NC/Nga mice. This is the first note on the drinking effect of HW on AD, clinically implying a promising potential remedy for treatment of AD.
Power and Stability Properties of Resampling-Based Multiple Testing Procedures with Applications to Gene Oncology Studies
Authors: Li Dongmei , Dye Timothy D.
Published: November 2013

Resampling-based multiple testing procedures are widely used in genomic studies to identify differentially expressed genes and to conduct genome-wide association studies. However, the power and stability properties of these popular resampling-based multiple testing procedures have not been extensively evaluated. Our study focuses on investigating the power and stability of seven resampling-based multiple testing procedures frequently used in high-throughput data analysis for small sample size data through simulations and gene oncology examples. The bootstrap single-step minPprocedure and the bootstrap step-down minPprocedure perform the best among all tested procedures, when sample size is as small as 3 in each group and either familywise error rate or false discovery rate control is desired. When sample size increases to 12 and false discovery rate control is desired, the permutation maxTprocedure and the permutation minPprocedure perform best. Our results provide guidance for high-throughput data analysis when sample size is small.
Preparation of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Materials Based on MCM-41 and Its Applications
Authors: Alahmadi Sana M. , Mohamad Sharifah , Jamil Maah Mohd
Published: November 2013

This work reports the covalent attachment of three different calix[4]arenes (calix[4]arene (C4), p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene (C4S), and p-tert-butyl-calix[4]arene (PC4)) to MCM-41, using a three-step modification process. 3-Chloropropyltrimethoxysilane (ClPTS) was first attached to the mesoporous silica surface and subsequently converted to amides via the reaction with toluene diisocyanate (TDI). Finally, calix[4]arene derivatives attached to the isocyanate ending remained available on toluene di-iso-cyanate. Changes in the surface properties of the mesoporous silica caused by the chemical modification were monitored using the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal analysis (TGA), and elemental analysis. The FTIR spectra and TGA analysis verify that the calix[4]arene derivatives are covalently attached to the mesoporous silica. The preservation of the MCM-41 channel system was checked by the X-ray diffraction and nitrogen adsorption analysis. These materials were then used to evaluate the sorption properties of some organotins compounds (Tributyltin (TBT), Triphenyltin (TPT), and Dibutyltin (DBT)).
Low-Dose and Scatter-Free Cone-Beam CT Imaging Using a Stationary Beam Blocker in a Single Scan: Phantom Studies
Authors: Dong Xue , Petrongolo Michael , Niu Tianye , Zhu Lei
Published: November 2013

Excessive imaging dose from repeated scans and poor image quality mainly due to scatter contamination are the two bottlenecks of cone-beam CT (CBCT) imaging. Compressed sensing (CS) reconstruction algorithms show promises in recovering faithful signals from low-dose projection data but do not serve well the needs of accurate CBCT imaging if effective scatter correction is not in place. Scatter can be accurately measured and removed using measurement-based methods. However, these approaches are considered unpractical in the conventional FDK reconstruction, due to the inevitable primary loss for scatter measurement. We combine measurement-based scatter correction and CS-based iterative reconstruction to generate scatter-free images from low-dose projections. We distribute blocked areas on the detector where primary signals are considered redundant in a full scan. Scatter distribution is estimated by interpolating/extrapolating measured scatter samples inside blocked areas. CS-based iterative reconstruction is finally carried out on the undersampled data to obtain scatter-free and low-dose CBCT images. With only 25% of conventional full-scan dose, our method reduces the average CT number error from 250 HU to 24 HU and increases the contrast by a factor of 2.1 on Catphan 600 phantom. On an anthropomorphic head phantom, the average CT number error is reduced from 224 HU to 10 HU in the central uniform area.
An Inventory Model for Perishable Products with Stock-Dependent Demand and Trade Credit under Inflation
Authors: Yang Shuai , Lee Chulung , Zhang Anming
Published: November 2013

We consider an inventory model for perishable products with stock-dependent demand under inflation. It is assumed that the supplier offers a credit period to the retailer, and the length of credit period is dependent on the order quantity. The retailer does not need to pay the purchasing cost until the end of credit period. If the revenue earned by the end of credit period is enough to pay the purchasing cost or there is budget, the balance is settled and the supplier does not charge any interest. Otherwise, the supplier charges interest for unpaid balance after credit period, and the interest and the remaining payments are made at the end of the replenishment cycle. The objective is to minimize the retailer’s (net) present value of cost. We show that there is an optimal cycle length to minimize the present value of cost; furthermore, a solution procedure is given to find the optimal solution. Numerical experiments are provided to illustrate the proposed model.
Flow of an Eyring-Powell Model Fluid between Coaxial Cylinders with Variable Viscosity
Authors: Hussain Azad , Malik M. Y. , Khan Farzana
Published: November 2013

We consider the flow of Eyring-Powell model fluid in the annulus between two cylinders whose viscosity depends upon the temperature. We consider the steady flow in the annulus due to the motion of inner cylinder and constant pressure gradient. In the problem considered the flow is found to be remarkedly different from that for the incompressible Navier-Stokes fluid with constant viscosity. An analytical solution of the nonlinear problem is obtained using homotopy analysis method. The behavior of pertinent parameters is analyzed and depicted through graphs.
Privacy Protection Based Secure Data Transaction Protocol for Smart Sensor Meter in Smart Grid
Authors: Go Woong , Choi SeulKi , Kwak Jin
Published: November 2013

A smart grid is a data communications network integrated with an electrical grid that collects and analyzes near-real-time data on power transmission, distribution, and consumption. Currently, smart grid systems are considered to be necessary for improving the monitoring and control of a power distribution infrastructure. Using distributed measurement architecture, it is possible to gather information about the smart grid status for monitoring and controlling the overall infrastructure, including remote units. This architecture can control the use of electricity. In particular, users can monitor and regulate the electricity consumption of each home appliance in real time. Likewise, power companies can monitor and control electricity consumption for stabilizing electricity supply. However, serious problems can arise in case of data leakage. For example, if malicious attackers can sniff and analyze data, they can obtain the usage pattern of a house and ascertain when it is empty. They could then burgle the house. We propose a privacy-enhanced secure data transaction protocol that can protect private data by encrypting them. The encrypted data include the user's ID, home appliance serial number, and electricity consumption. Thus, attackers cannot obtain important data from the encrypted data. In addition, unauthorized power companies cannot access this information too.
Improved Method for the Quantification of Motility in Glia and Other Morphologically Complex Cells
Authors: Sild Mari , Chatelain Robert P. , Ruthazer Edward S.
Published: November 2013

Cells such as astrocytes and radial glia with many densely ramified, fine processes pose particular challenges for the quantification of structural motility. Here we report the development of a method to calculate a motility index for individual cells with complex, dynamic morphologies. This motility index relies on boxcar averaging of the difference images generated by subtraction of images collected at consecutive time points. An image preprocessing step involving 2D projection, edge detection, and dilation of the raw images is first applied in order to binarize the images. The boxcar averaging of difference images diminishes the impact of artifactual pixel fluctuations while accentuating the group-wise changes in pixel values which are more likely to represent real biological movement. Importantly, this provides a value that correlates with mean process elongation and retraction rates without requiring detailed reconstructions of very complex cells. We also demonstrate that additional increases in the sensitivity of the method can be obtained by denoising images using the temporal frequency power spectra, based on the fact that rapid intensity fluctuations over time are mainly due to imaging artifact. The MATLAB programs implementing these motility analysis methods, complete with user-friendly graphical interfaces, have been made publicly available for download.
Ozonation of Indigo Carmine Catalyzed with Fe-Pillared Clay
Authors: Bernal Miriam , Romero Rubí , Roa Gabriela , Barrera-Díaz Carlos , Torres-Blancas Teresa , Natividad Reyna
Published: November 2013

The ozonation catalyzed by iron-pillared clays was studied. The degradation of dye indigo carmine (IC) was elected as test reaction. Fe-pillared clays were synthesized by employing hydrolyzed FeCl3solutions and bentonite. The pillared structure was verified by XRD and by XPS the oxidation state of iron in the synthesized material was established to be +2. By atomic absorption the weight percentage of iron was determined to be 16. The reaction was conducted in a laboratory scale up-flow bubble column reactor. From the studied variables the best results were obtained with a particle size of 60 microns,pH=3, ozone flow of 0.045 L/min, and catalyst concentration of 100 mg/L. IC was completely degraded and degradation rate was found to be double when using Fe-PILCS than with ozone alone. DQO reduction was also significantly higher with catalyzed than with noncatalyzed ozonation.
Dialysis and Pregnancy in End Stage Kidney Disease Associated with Lupus Nephritis
Authors: Sivasuthan Goutham , Dahwa Rumbi , John George T. , Ranganathan Dwarakanathan
Published: November 2013

Female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus are often of childbearing age at diagnosis, and though fertility in these patients is similar to the general population, successful pregnancy remains a rare occurrence. This incidence is, however, increasing and the management of these high risk pregnancies is often further complicated by the patient’s need for dialysis as a result of lupus nephritis (LN). We share our experience in managing two LN patients with successful pregnancies, one on automated peritoneal dialysis and the other on haemodialysis, as well as a review of cases in the literature.
Effectiveness of Interstitial Laser Acupuncture Depends upon Dosage: Experimental Results from Electrocardiographic and Electrocorticographic Recordings
Authors: He Wei , Litscher Gerhard , Jing Xiang-Hong , Shi Hong , Wang Xiao-Yu , Gaischek Ingrid , Su Yang-Shuai , Litscher Daniela , Yang Zhao-Kun , Xin Juan-Juan , Hu Ling
Published: November 2013

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the duration of interstitial laser acupuncture therapy effects on neurovegetative and neurobioelectrical parameters like heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and electroencephalogram (EEG). We investigated 6 male Sprague-Dawley rats. They underwent 10 min, 20 min, and 30 min interstitial laser acupuncture (in randomized order, with a break of at least 30 min between the different measurement conditions) at the acupoint Neiguan. HR changed significantly only during 20 min red laser stimulation, whereas 10 and 30 min stimulation did not induce significant changes. HRV did not change significantly during any of the different durations; however, an increase was found during 20 min irradiation. Neither the LF/HF ratio of HRV nor the integrated EEG showed significant changes. In this study, it could be experimentally proved that some effects of laser acupuncture are time dependent, and therefore the dosage, as well known from theory, also depends on the time factor. We could especially demonstrate that different treatment times lead to different effects on neurovegetative and neurobioelectrical parameters. Further studies are needed to verify or refute these results.
The Disparate Twins: A Comparative Study of CXCR4 and CXCR7 in SDF-1α–Induced Gene Expression, Invasion and Chemosensitivity of Colon Cancer
Authors: Heckmann Doreen , Maier Patrick , Laufs Stephanie , Li Li , Sleeman Jonathan P. , Trunk Marcus J. , Leupold Jörg H. , Wenz Frederik , Zeller W. Jens , Fruehauf Stefan , Allgayer Heike
Published: November 2013

Purpose: In colorectal cancer, increased expression of the CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) has been shown to provoke metastatic disease due to the interaction with its ligand stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1). Recently, a second SDF-1 receptor, CXCR7, was found to enhance tumor growth in solid tumors. Albeit signaling cascades via SDF-1/CXCR4 have been intensively studied, the significance of the SDF-1/CXCR7–induced intracellular communication triggering malignancy is still only marginally understood.

Experimental Design: In tumor tissue of 52 patients with colorectal cancer, we observed that expression of CXCR7 and CXCR4 increased with tumor stage and tumor size. Asking whether activation of CXCR4 or CXCR7 might result in a similar expression pattern, we performed microarray expression analyses using lentivirally CXCR4- and/or CXCR7-overexpressing SW480 colon cancer cell lines with and without stimulation by SDF-1α.

Results: Gene regulation via SDF-1α/CXCR4 and SDF-1α/CXCR7 was completely different and partly antidromic. Differentially regulated genes were assigned by gene ontology to migration, proliferation, and lipid metabolic processes. Expressions of AKR1C3, AXL, C5, IGFBP7, IL24, RRAS, and TNNC1 were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. Using the in silico gene set enrichment analysis, we showed that expressions of miR-217 and miR-218 were increased in CXCR4 and reduced in CXCR7 cells after stimulation with SDF-1α. Functionally, exposure to SDF-1α increased invasiveness of CXCR4 and CXCR7 cells, AXL knockdown hampered invasion. Compared with controls, CXCR4 cells showed increased sensitivity against 5-FU, whereas CXCR7 cells were more chemoresistant.

Conclusions: These opposing results for CXCR4- or CXCR7-overexpressing colon carcinoma cells demand an unexpected attention in the clinical application of chemokine receptor antagonists such as plerixafor. Clin Cancer Res; 20(3); 604–16. ©2013 AACR.
The Natural Inhibitor of DNA Topoisomerase I, Camptothecin, Modulates HIF-1α Activity by Changing miR Expression Patterns in Human Cancer Cells
Authors: Bertozzi Davide , Marinello Jessica , Manzo Stefano G. , Fornari Francesca , Gramantieri Laura , Capranico Giovanni
Published: November 2013

DNA topoisomerase I (Top1) inhibition by camptothecin derivatives can impair the hypoxia-induced cell transcriptional response. In the present work, we determined molecular aspects of the mechanism of camptothecin's effects on hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) activity in human cancer cells. In particular, we provide evidence that low concentrations of camptothecin, without interfering with HIF-1α mRNA levels, can reduce HIF-1α protein expression and activity. As luciferase assays demonstrated the involvement of the HIF-1α mRNA 3′ untranslated region in camptothecin-induced impairment of HIF-1α protein regulation, we performed microarray analysis to identify camptothecin-induced modification of microRNAs (miRNA) targeting HIF-1α mRNA under hypoxic-mimetic conditions. The selected miRNAs were then further analyzed, demonstrating a role for miR-17-5p and miR-155 in HIF-1α protein expression after camptothecin treatments. The present findings establish miRNAs as key factors in a molecular pathway connecting Top1 inhibition and human HIF-1α protein regulation and activity, widening the biologic and molecular activity of camptothecin derivatives and the perspective for novel clinical interventions. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(1); 239–48. ©2013 AACR.
Licochalcone A, a Natural Inhibitor of c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase 1
Authors: Yao Ke , Chen Hanyong , Lee Mee-Hyun , Li Haitao , Ma Weiya , Peng Cong , Song Nu Ry , Lee Ki Won , Bode Ann M. , Dong Ziming , Dong Zigang
Published: November 2013

The c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) play an important role in many physiologic processes induced by numerous stress signals. Each JNK protein appears to have a distinct function in cancer, diabetes, or Parkinson's disease. Herein, we found that licochalcone A, a major phenolic constituent isolated from licorice root, suppressed JNK1 activity but had little effect on JNK2 in vitro activity. Although licochalcone A binds with JIP1 competitively with either JNK1 or JNK2, a computer simulation model showed that after licochalcone A binding, the ATP-binding cleft of JNK1 was distorted more substantially than that of JNK2. This could reduce the affinity of JNK1 more than JNK2 for ATP binding. Furthermore, licochalcone A inhibited JNK1-mediated, but not JNK2-mediated, c-Jun phosphorylation in both ex vivo and in vitro systems. We also observed that in colon and pancreatic cancer cell lines, JNK1 is highly expressed compared with normal cell lines. In cancer cell lines, treatment with licochalcone A or knocking down JNK1 expression suppressed colon and pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and colony formation. The inhibition resulted in G1 phase arrest and apoptosis. Moreover, an in vivo xenograft mouse study showed that licochalcone A treatment effectively suppressed the growth of HCT116 xenografts, without affecting the body weight of mice. These results show that licochalcone A is a selective JNK1 inhibitor. Therefore, we suggest that because of the critical role of JNK1 in colon cancer and pancreatic carcinogenesis, licochalcone A might have preventive or therapeutic potential against these devastating diseases. Cancer Prev Res; 7(1); 139–49. ©2013 AACR.
Prediction of Extraprostatic Extension in Patients with Clinically Organ-Confined Prostate Cancer
Authors: Lin Shuchen , Zhang Qing , Li Ping , Li Zhaobin , Sun Yi , Shao Yuhui , Zhang Xiulong , Fu Shen
Published: November 2013

Introduction: Preoperative parameters for predicting extraprostatic extension (ECE) in clinically organ-confined prostate cancer patients are not well defined. Our aim was to evaluate the roles of the biopsy Gleason score, prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based parameters, volume, and clinical T classification in prediction of ECE. Materials and Methods: A total of 188 patients with clinically organ-confined prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy from January 1998 to December 2007 were included in the study. Age, prostate volume, preoperative total serum PSA (tPSA), free PSA, PSA density (PSAD), biopsy Gleason score, and clinical T classification were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses to predict ECE. Results: Pathologic examination revealed 130 patients had organ-confined disease and 58 patients were positive for ECE. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that tPSA was an independent predictor of ECE. Gleason score ≥8 had a trend for predicting ECE. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves suggested that tPSA and PSAD had a similar diagnosis performance in the whole cohort. For patients with Gleason score of 7, PSAD was found to be statistically better than tPSA for predicting ECE. Conclusions: tPSA remains one of the most important factors for predicting ECE in prostate cancer patients. PSAD may be more helpful than tPSA for predicting ECE in the patients with Gleason score of 7.
Fifteen-Second Skin Icing Using a Frozen Gel Pack Is Effective for Reducing Goserelin Injection Pain
Authors: Naya Yoshio , Hagiwara Nobuhisa , Takeuchi Ichiro , Mori Masaru , Inagaki Akinori , Nakanouchi Tsuneyuki , Mikami Kazuya
Published: November 2013

Objective: The efficacy of skin icing to reduce the pain of goserelin injection has been reported. We investigated the optimal icing time with a frozen gel pack and its effectiveness. Methods: Abdominal skin temperatures of 49 healthy volunteers were measured after application of the frozen gel pack for 10, 15 and 30 s, and it was decided that a 15-second icing was adequate. For 55 consecutive patients who received goserelin (10.8 mg) injection, pain was evaluated employing a visual analog scale (VAS). The first injection was administered routinely. A second injection was administered after skin icing in 27 of 55 patients who wanted to try icing. At the time of the third injection, all patient decided whether they were to receive icing or the routine method. Results: After icing, VAS scores decreased in 20 of 27 patients. At the third injection, 18 patients requested icing. Conclusion: When a patient complains of injection pain, the icing method should be considered for pain reduction.
De novo Frameshift Mutation in Fibroblast Growth Factor 8 in a Male Patient with Gonadotropin Deficiency
Authors: Suzuki Erina , Yatsuga Shuichi , Igarashi Maki , Miyado Mami , Nakabayashi Kazuhiko , Hayashi Keiko , Hata Kenichirou , Umezawa Akihiro , Yamada Gen , Ogata Tsutomu , Fukami Maki
Published: November 2013

Background/Aims: Missense, nonsense, and splice mutations in the Fibroblast Growth Factor 8(FGF8) have recently been identified in patients with hypothalamo-pituitary dysfunction and craniofacial anomalies. Here, we report a male patient with a frameshift mutation in FGF8. Case Report: The patient exhibited micropenis, craniofacial anomalies, and ventricular septal defect at birth. Clinical evaluation at 16 years and 8 months of age revealed delayed puberty, hyposmia, borderline mental retardation, and mild hearing difficulty. Endocrine findings included gonadotropin deficiency and primary hypothyroidism. Results: Molecular analysis identified a de novo heterozygous p.S192fsX204 mutation in the last exon of FGF8. RT-PCR analysis of normal human tissues detected FGF8 expression in the genital skin, and whole-mount in situ hybridization analysis of mouse embryos revealed Fgf8 expression in the anlage of the penis. Conclusion: The results indicate that frameshift mutations in FGF8 account for a part of the etiology of hypothalamo-pituitary dysfunction. Micropenis in patients with FGF8 abnormalities appears to be caused by gonadotropin deficiency and defective outgrowth of the anlage of the penis.
The Effect of an EDTA-based Chelation Regimen on Patients With Diabetes Mellitus and Prior Myocardial Infarction in the Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT)
Authors: Escolar Esteban , Lamas Gervasio A. , Mark Daniel B. , Boineau Robin , Goertz Christine , Rosenberg Yves , Nahin Richard L. , Ouyang Pamela , Rozema Theodore , Magaziner Allan , Nahas Richard , Lewis Eldrin F. , Lindblad Lauren , Lee Kerry L.
Published: November 2013

Background—

The Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT) showed clinical benefit of an EDTA-based infusion regimen in patients aged ≥50 years with prior myocardial infarction. Diabetes mellitus before enrollment was a prespecified subgroup.

Methods and Results—

Patients received 40 infusions of EDTA chelation or placebo. A total of 633 (37%) patients had diabetes mellitus (322 EDTA and 311 placebo). EDTA reduced the primary end point (death, reinfarction, stroke, coronary revascularization, or hospitalization for angina; 25% versus 38%; hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.44–0.79;
P
<0.001) over 5 years. The result remained significant after Bonferroni adjustment for multiple subgroups (99.4% CI, 0.39–0.88; adjusted
P
=0.002). All-cause mortality was reduced by EDTA chelation (10% versus 16%; hazard ratio, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.36–0.88;
P
=0.011), as was the secondary end point (cardiovascular death, reinfarction, or stroke; 11% versus 17%; hazard ratio, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.39–0.91;
P
=0.017). However, after adjusting for multiple subgroups, those results were no longer significant. The number needed to treat to reduce 1 primary end point over 5 years was 6.5 (95% CI, 4.4–12.7). There was no reduction in events in non–diabetes mellitus (n=1075;
P
=0.877), resulting in a treatment by diabetes mellitus interaction (
P
=0.004).

Conclusions—

Post–myocardial infarction patients with diabetes mellitus aged ≥50 demonstrated a marked reduction in cardiovascular events with EDTA chelation. These findings support efforts to replicate these findings and define the mechanisms of benefit. However, they do not constitute sufficient evidence to indicate the routine use of chelation therapy for all post–myocardial infarction patients with diabetes mellitus.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00044213.
Impact of Partner Bereavement on Quality of Cardiovascular Disease Management
Authors: Shah Sunil M. , Carey Iain M. , Harris Tess , DeWilde Stephen , Victor Christina R. , Cook Derek G.
Published: November 2013

Background—

Bereavement is a period of increased risk of cardiovascular death. There is limited understanding of the potential contribution of quality of cardiovascular disease management to this increased risk.

Methods and Results—

In a UK primary-care database, 12 722 older individuals with preexisting cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, stroke) and a partner bereavement were matched with a non-bereaved control group (n=33 911). We examined key routine annual process measures of care in the year before and after bereavement and cardiovascular medication prescribing (lipid-lowering, antiplatelet, renin–angiotensin system drugs). Odds ratios for change after bereavement compared with the change in non-bereaved matched controls are presented. In the bereaved, uptake of all annual measures was lower in the year before bereavement, with improvement in the year after, whereas in the controls, uptake was relatively stable. The odds ratio for change was 1.30 (95% confidence interval, 1.15–1.46) for cholesterol measurement and 1.40 (95% confidence interval, 1.22–1.61) for blood pressure measurement. For all medication, there was a transient fall in prescribing in the peri-bereavement period lasting until about 3 months after bereavement. The odds ratio for at least 80% prescription coverage in the 30 days after bereavement was 0.80 (95% confidence interval, 0.73–0.88) for lipid-lowering medication and 0.82 (95% confidence interval, 0.74–0.91) for antiplatelet medication compared with the change in non-bereaved individuals.

Conclusions—

Lower uptake of key cardiovascular care measures in the year before bereavement and reduced medication coverage after bereavement may contribute to increased cardiovascular risk. Clinicians need to ensure that quality of cardiovascular care is maintained in the pre- and post-bereavement periods.
Efficacy and Safety of Longer-Term Administration of Evolocumab (AMG 145) in Patients With Hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Koren Michael J. , Giugliano Robert P. , Raal Frederick J. , Sullivan David , Bolognese Michael , Langslet Gisle , Civeira Fernando , Somaratne Ransi , Nelson Patric , Liu Thomas , Scott Rob , Wasserman Scott M. , Sabatine Marc S.
Published: November 2013

Background—

Evolocumab (AMG 145), a monoclonal antibody against proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in phase 2 studies of 12 weeks’ duration. The longer-term efficacy and safety of PCSK9 inhibition remain undefined.

Methods and Results—

Of 1359 randomized and dosed patients in the 4 evolocumab phase 2 parent studies, 1104 (81%) elected to enroll into the Open-Label Study of Long-term Evaluation Against LDL-C (OSLER) study. Regardless of their treatment assignment in the parent study, patients were randomized 2:1 to receive either open-label subcutaneous evolocumab 420 mg every 4 weeks with standard of care (SOC) (evolocumab+SOC, n=736) or SOC alone (n=368). Ninety-two percent of patients in the evolocumab+SOC group and 89% of patients in the SOC group completed 52 weeks of follow-up. Patients who first received evolocumab in OSLER experienced a mean 52.3% [SE, 1.8%] reduction in LDL-C at week 52 (
P
<0.0001). Patients who received 1 of 6 dosing regimens of evolocumab in the parent studies and received evolocumab+SOC in OSLER had persistent LDL-C reductions (mean reduction, 50.4% [SE, 0.8%] at the end of the parent study versus 52.1% [SE, 1.0%] at 52 weeks;
P
=0.31). In patients who discontinued evolocumab on entry into OSLER, LDL-C levels returned to near baseline levels. Adverse events and serious adverse events occurred in 81.4% and 7.1% of the evolocumab+SOC group patients and 73.1% and 6.3% of the SOC group patients, respectively.

Conclusion—

Evolocumab dosed every 4 weeks demonstrated continued efficacy and encouraging safety and tolerability over 1 year of treatment in the largest and longest evaluation of a PCSK9 inhibitor in hypercholesterolemic patients to date.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01439880.
Convergence between DSM-5 Section II and Section III diagnostic criteria for borderline personality disorder
Authors: Sellbom Martin , Sansone Randy A , Songer Douglas A , Anderson Jaime L
Published: November 2013

Objective:

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a common mental health condition in psychiatric settings. The current study examined the overlap between the operationalization of BPD listed in Section II (Diagnostic Criteria and Codes) and the alternative, dimensional personality trait-based operationalization listed in Section III (Emerging Measures and Models) of the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Moreover, the unique contributions of specific personality traits for indexing the traditional BPD operationalization were also evaluated, including conceptually relevant traits not originally proposed for Section III BPD.

Method:

Participants were 145 consecutive patients from a psychiatric unit in a hospital in the USA. These individuals completed a series of questionnaires that index both traditional (DSM-IV/DSM-5 Section II) and alternative (DSM-5 Section III personality traits) diagnostic criteria for BPD.

Results:

Structural equation modeling results revealed that latent constructs representing the Section II and Section III operationalizations of BPD, respectively, overlapped substantially ( r = 0.86, p < 0.001). Hierarchical latent regression models indicated that at least five of the seven traits proposed to define Section III BPD uniquely accounted for variance (69%) in a latent Section II BPD variable. Finally, at least one other conceptually relevant trait (Perceptual Dysregulation) augmented the prediction of latent BPD scores.

Conclusions:

The proposed personality traits for Section III BPD are clearly aligned with traditional conceptualizations of this important personality disorder construct. At least five of the seven dimensional traits proposed to define Section III contributed uniquely to the characterization of Section II BPD, and these traits can be augmented by Perceptual Dysregulation. If replicated in other settings, these findings might warrant some modification to the operationalization of DSM-5 Section III BPD.
Impact of the “Like Minds, Like Mine” anti-stigma and discrimination campaign in New Zealand on anticipated and experienced discrimination
Authors: Thornicroft Calum , Wyllie Allan , Thornicroft Graham , Mehta Nisha
Published: November 2013

Objective:

The “Like Minds, Like Mine” anti-stigma and discrimination programme has been running in New Zealand since 1997. We aimed to investigate the nature and degree of anticipated and experienced discrimination reported by people with mental illness, and their views on whether the campaign was contributing to reductions in stigma and discrimination.

Methods:

Questionnaires were sent to randomly selected people who were representative of those who had recently used mental health services in New Zealand. The measure used was the modified Discrimination and Stigma Scale (DISC-12), adding questions on the effect of “Like Minds, Like Mine”, and also assessing overall changes in discrimination in the previous 5 years.

Results:

A total of 1135 participants completed the questionnaire. This included 225 Ma–ori, 196 Pacific, and 152 Asian persons. Over half of all participants reported improvement in discrimination over the previous 5 years, and 48% thought that the “Like Minds Like Mine” programme had assisted in reducing discrimination “moderately” or “a lot”. Nevertheless, a clear majority (89%) reported experiencing at least “a little” unfair treatment in the previous 12 months due to their mental health problems. The primary source of both positive and negative discrimination was the family. Many (57%) participants had concealed or hidden their mental health problems from others, and 33% had stopped themselves from applying for work because they anticipated discrimination.

Conclusions:

Family, friendship, and social life were the most common areas of discrimination reported by the participants; however, many believed the overall level of discrimination had reduced over the previous 5 years. Overall, these results characterize the nature of stigma and discrimination anticipated and experienced by people with mental health problems and indicate modest but clear and positive recent progress in their reduction.
Human Capital Is Dead; Long Live Human Capital Resources!
Authors: Ployhart Robert E. , Nyberg Anthony J. , Reilly Greg , Maltarich Mark A.
Published: November 2013

This paper introduces a radically different conceptualization of human capital resources that runs counter to the individual-level approaches that have dominated human capital theory for the last 50 years. We leverage insights from economics, strategy, human resources, and psychology to develop an integrated and holistic framework that defines the structure, function, levels, and combinations of human capital resources. This multidisciplinary framework redefines human capital resources as individual or unit-level capacities based on individual knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) that are accessible for unit-relevant purposes. The framework and definition offer three broad contributions. First, multidisciplinary communication is facilitated by providing precise definitions and distinctions between individual differences, KSAOs, human capital, human capital resources, and strategic human capital resources. Second, given that human capital resources originate in individuals’ KSAOs, multiple distinct types of human capital resources exist at individual and collective levels, and these types are much more diverse than the historical generic-specific distinction. Third, the multiple types of human capital resources may be combined within and across levels, via processes of emergence and complementarity. Consequently, the locus of competitive advantage has less to do with whether human capital resources are generic or specific but instead occurs because nearly all human capital resource combinations are complex, are firm-specific, and lack strategic (or efficient) factor markets. Overall, the proposed multidisciplinary framework opens new avenues for future research that challenge the prevailing literature’s treatment of human capital resources.
Life-Course Changes and Parent–Adult Child Contact
Authors: Ward Russell , Deane Glenn , Spitze Glenna
Published: November 2013

Despite increased interest in parent–adult child relations, there has been little attention to how these are influenced by changes in their lives, reflecting transitions and linked lives within a life-course perspective. Hybrid multilevel models are used to analyze the change in parent–adult child contact over two waves of the National Survey of Families and Households. Changes in parent–child proximity, parent and child marital status, and child parental status are associated with change in contact; continued coresidence with another adult child is related to contact with non-coresidential children; but change in parent health does not affect contact. Some patterns are stronger for daughters and biological children who tend to have stronger relationships with their parents. These analyses demonstrate how life-course transitions of parents and adult children can be examined in family context to understand how changes in the life of one family member may influence relations with another.
Arterial false aneurysm in the groin following endovenous laser ablation
Authors: Ostler Alexandra E , Holdstock Judy M , Harrison Charmaine C , Whiteley Mark S
Published: November 2013

Endovenous laser ablation is a minimally invasive catheter-based procedure for the treatment of varicose veins. The procedure involves injecting tumescent anaesthesia around the catheterised truncal vein, before thermal ablation by the laser. We report a case of a false aneurysm arising from a branch of the inferior epigastric artery, following endovenous laser ablation. The false aneurysm was thought to be caused by injury to the artery by the needle used to inject the tumescent anaesthesia. Although a rare complication, newer tumescentless techniques such as mechanicochemical ablation and cyanoacrylate glue would prevent such a complication.
The effect of polyethylene graft maleic anhydride compatibilizer on the physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of extruded noncross-linked low-density polyethylene nanocomposite foams
Authors: Kasiri Ali , Rezaei Mostafa , Zandi Farhad
Published: November 2013

An investigation was carried out on the noncross-linked low-density polyethylene (LDPE) nanocomposite foams with polyethylene graft maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA) compatibilizer. Nanocomposite foams with similar densities were produced by extrusion method, and the effect of organophilic montmorillonite (OMMT) nanoclay (closite20A) content on cell microstructure, mechanical properties, thermal conductivity, and flame retardancy of samples were studied. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to investigate the nanoclay dispersion in LDPE matrix. In XRD patterns of LDPE nanocomposite foams, closite20A characteristic peak was not observed as an evidence of nanoclay intercalation–exfoliation in the polymer matrix. For increasing the compatibility of PE and nanoclay, PE-g-MA compatibilizer was used. Due to the presence of compatibilizer in the nanocomposite foams and decreasing the cell nucleation energy around the nanoclay, the average cell size was reduced, but the cell density and microstructure uniformity increased. Furthermore, the compatibilized nanocomposites showed lower thermal conductivity and burning rate than that of the nanocomposites without PE-g-MA compatibilizer and neat LDPE foams, which can be attributed to the cell size reduction as well as distribution of cells of narrow size in nanocomposite foams.
Performance of galloping piezoelectric energy harvesters
Authors: Ewere Felix , Wang Gang
Published: November 2013

A galloping piezoelectric energy harvester is composed of a cantilevered piezoelectric beam and a tip bluff body. Self-excited vibration is induced when the tip bluff body is subjected to airflow. Then, the piezoelectric materials can convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy. In this article, a coupled aero-electro-mechanical model is developed to analyze a galloping piezoelectric energy harvester. A dimensionless formulation is adopted so that it is very convenient to conduct scaling and performance comparison of different galloping piezoelectric devices. Analytical approximate solution approach is employed to solve these coupled nonlinear equations using the Krylov–Bogoliubov method. Tip bluff body is assumed to have either rectangular or square section. System parameters such as galloping velocity, limit cycle oscillation amplitude, and harvested energy are determined accordingly and presented in an explicit form. Performances of galloping piezoelectric energy harvesters with different tip bluff bodies and electrical loads are characterized. In addition, experimental data are used to validate our predictions with good agreement. The galloping piezoelectric energy harvester having square section shows better performance compared to the one with rectangular section. Furthermore, the performance can be substantially improved by exploring the inherent jump phenomenon as observed in the limit cycle oscillation hysteresis response of a galloping piezoelectric energy harvester with square bluff body.
Virtual prototyping through multisoftware integration for energy harvester design
Authors: Tornincasa Stefano , Bonisoli Elvio , Di Monaco Francesco
Published: November 2013

A strong integration between different design tools is desirable to improve the work of engineers, reducing the number of errors and speeding up the design process. In this article, the authors present a strong integration between three-dimensional computer-aided design models and multidomain simulation applied to the design of a magnetomechanical energy harvester. A MATLAB framework controls a block-oriented Simulink model, drives the Finite Element Method Magnetic simulation and manages the updating of the SolidWorks computer-aided design models of the device. The parameters involved in the different simulations and in the computer-aided design models are stored in a unique data file. Moreover, constructive drawings are automatically updated and are immediately suitable for tolerance and design constraint checks and also for the effective prototyping of the device. Constructed prototypes are immediately suitable to validate the performance predicted by the model.
Thromboelastographic Study of Psychophysiological Stress
Authors: Peng Henry T. , Rhind Shawn G.
Published: November 2013

Thromboelastography (TEG) is drawing more attention for clinical and laboratory studies of hemostasis. It has been applied to evaluate the effects of both psychological and physiological stress on whole blood coagulation from the onset of the coagulation cascade through clot formation, to the end with fibrinolysis. We conducted a comprehensive review on the applications of TEG for assessment of different stressors, ranging from physical exercise to emotional situations. The methodology is unique in terms of instrumentation, the methods to activate blood coagulation, the type of blood (citrated vs fresh blood), and study settings (in vitro vs in vivo vs clinical trials). Thromboelastography has most often been used to study the effects of physiological stress. The author’s own work and future directions are discussed as well. The review would facilitate future development of TEG for evaluating hemostasis and potential pathological pathways in response to various forms of stress.
Is Serum Cystatin C a Predictor of Acute Pulmonary Thromboembolism in Patients With Normal Renal Function?
Authors: Tutar Nuri , Kemik N. Aleyna , Yılmaz Insu , Büyükoğlan Hakan , Kanbay Asiye , Dogan Ali , Oyak Fatma Sema , Gülmez Inci , Demir Ramazan
Published: November 2013

Early diagnosis is the key point in the management of acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). There are no reports in the literature comparing the serum cystatin C levels in patients with acute PTE and normal volunteers. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed 50 patients with acute PTE and 45 healthy volunteers with normal renal function. The serum cystatin C level was significantly higher in the PTE group than in the non-PTE group (1.08 mg/dL [interquantile range (IQR) 0.79-1.56] and 0.85 mg/dL [IQR 0.77-1.03], respectively, P = .017). When determining the presence of PTE, the highest value of sensitivity and specificity was set at a cutoff value of 1.15 mg/dL with 93.3% specificity, 46.0% sensitivity, 88.5% positive predictive value, and 60.9% negative predictive value. In the multivariate model, cystatin C was significantly associated with the presence of PTE (odds ratio: 12.34, 95% CI 2.64-57.75). In conclusion, cystatin C may be an indicator of acute PTE in patients with normal renal function.
Defining crisis in families of individuals with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Weiss Jonathan A , Wingsiong Aranda , Lunsky Yona
Published: November 2013

Parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder often report higher levels of depression, anxiety, and mental health–related issues. The combination of stressors and family adjustment difficulties can cause distress which may develop into a crisis. Understanding crisis in the family is important to mental health practice since it can serve as a guide in delivering service to at-risk families. This study investigated the subjective experience of crisis in 155 mothers of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Thematic analysis revealed that crisis is characterized by factors influencing four major areas: demands, internal capabilities, external resources, and subjective appraisal. Understanding what crisis means to families of individuals with autism spectrum disorder can help inform effective preventative and crisis services.