bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does pregnancy provide vaccine‐like protection against rheumatoid arthritis?
Authors: Guthrie Katherine A. , Dugowson Carin E. , Voigt Lynda F. , Koepsell Thomas D. , Nelson J. Lee
Published: March 2010

Objective

Previous studies have evaluated the correlation between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk and pregnancy history, with conflicting results. Fetal cells acquired during pregnancy provide a potential explanation for modulation of RA risk by pregnancy. The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of parity on RA risk.

Methods

We examined parity and RA risk using results from a population‐based prospective study in Seattle, Washington and the surrounding area and compared women who were recently diagnosed as having RA (n = 310) with controls (n = 1,418). We also evaluated the distribution of parity in cases according to HLA genotype.

Results

We found a significant reduction of RA risk associated with parity (relative risk [RR] 0.61 [95% confidence interval 0.43–0.86], P = 0.005). RA risk reduction in parous women was strongest among those who were younger. Most striking was that RA risk reduction correlated with the time that had elapsed since the last time a woman had given birth. RA risk was lowest among women whose last birth occurred 1–5 years previously (RR 0.29), with risk reduction lessening progressively as the time since the last birth increased (for those 5–15 years since last birth, RR 0.51; for those >15 years, RR 0.76), compared with nulliparous women (P for trend = 0.007). No correlation was observed between RA risk and either age at the time a woman first gave birth or a woman's total number of births. Among cases with the highest genetic risk of RA (i.e., those with 2 copies of RA‐associated HLA alleles), a significant underrepresentation of parous women versus nulliparous women was observed (P = 0.02).

Conclusion

In the present study, there was a significantly lower risk of RA in parous women that was strongly correlated with the time elapsed since a woman had last given birth. While the explanation for our findings is not known, HLA‐disparate fetal microchimerism can persist many years after a birth and could confer temporary protection against RA.
Near‐infrared lymphatic imaging demonstrates the dynamics of lymph flow and lymphangiogenesis during the acute versus chronic phases of arthritis in mice
Authors: Zhou Quan , Wood Ronald , Schwarz Edward M. , Wang Yong‐Jun , Xing Lianping
Published: March 2010

Objective

To develop an in vivo imaging method to assess lymphatic draining function in the K/BxN mouse model of inflammatory arthritis.

Methods

Indocyanine green, a near‐infrared fluorescent dye, was injected intradermally into the footpads of wild‐type mice, mouse limbs were illuminated with an 806‐nm near‐infrared laser, and the movement of indocyanine green from the injection site to the draining popliteal lymph node (LN) was recorded with a CCD camera. Indocyanine green near‐infrared images were analyzed to obtain 5 measures of lymphatic function across time. Images of K/BxN arthritic mice and control nonarthritic littermates were obtained at 1 month of age, when acute joint inflammation commenced, and again at 3 months of age, when joint inflammation became chronic. Lymphangiogenesis in popliteal LNs was assessed by immunochemistry.

Results

Indocyanine green and its transport within lymphatic vessels were readily visualized, and quantitative measures were derived. During the acute phase of arthritis, the lymphatic vessels were dilated, with increased indocyanine green signal intensity and lymphatic pulses, and popliteal LNs became fluorescent quickly. During the chronic phase, new lymphatic vessels were present near the foot. However, the appearance of indocyanine green in lymphatic vessels was delayed. The size and area of popliteal LN lymphatic sinuses progressively increased in the K/BxN mice.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that indocyanine green near‐infrared lymphatic imaging is a valuable method for assessing the lymphatic draining function in mice with inflammatory arthritis. Indocyanine green–near‐infrared imaging of K/BxN mice identified 2 distinct lymphatic phenotypes during the acute and chronic phase of inflammation. This technique can be used to assess new therapies for lymphatic disorders.
Anatomical Sciences Education vol. 3, issue 2, 2010 cover image
Authors: Darda David M.
Published: March 2010

Biology undergraduate students learn about vertebrate skull structure, function, and evolution. In the Integrative Anatomy course at Central Washington University, students gain a broad perspective on vertebrate (including human) anatomy, histology, and embryology in an evolutionary context. In this issue of ASE, Darda summarizes data gathered from biology departments at fouryear undergraduate institutions in Washington State and suggests how the undergraduate anatomy curriculum might be modified to meet student needs (both pre‐health career students and “regular” biology majors) given the constraints of staffing and time. Pictured in the photograph (taken by CWU photographer Richard Villacres) are Dr. David Darda (on the right) and his students Jessica Christnacht, Tyler Dexter and Spencer Moen.
Query polyrepresentation for ranking retrieval systems without relevance judgments
Authors: Efron Miles , Winget Megan
Published: March 2010

Ranking information retrieval (IR) systems with respect to their effectiveness is a crucial operation during IR evaluation, as well as during data fusion. This article offers a novel method of approaching the system‐ranking problem, based on the widely studied idea of polyrepresentation. The principle of polyrepresentation suggests that a single information need can be represented by many query articulations–what we call query aspects. By skimming the top k (where k is small) documents retrieved by a single system for multiple query aspects, we collect a set of documents that are likely to be relevant to a given test topic. Labeling these skimmed documents as putatively relevant lets us build pseudorelevance judgments without undue human intervention. We report experiments where using these pseudorelevance judgments delivers a rank ordering of IR systems that correlates highly with rankings based on human relevance judgments.
A robust benchmark for the h‐ and g‐indexes
Authors: Abramo Giovanni , D'Angelo Ciriaco Andrea , Viel Fulvio
Published: March 2010

The use of Hirsch's h‐index as a joint proxy of the impact and productivity of a scientist's research work continues to gain ground, accompanied by the efforts of bibliometrists to resolve some of its critical issues through the application of a number of more or less sophisticated variants. However, the literature does not reveal any appreciable attempt to overcome the objective problems of measuring h‐indexes on a large scale for purposes of comparative evaluation. Scientists may succeed in calculating their own h‐indexes but, being unable to compare them to those of their peers, they are unable to obtain truly useful indications of their individual research performance. This study proposes to overcome this gap, measuring the h‐ and Egghe's g‐indexes of all Italian university researchers in the hard sciences over a 5‐year window. Descriptive statistics are provided concerning all of the 165 subject fields examined, offering robust benchmarks for those who wish to compare their individual performance to those of their colleagues in the same subject field.
Unusual Chiral Transfer in Radical Copolymerization of Vinyl Monomers Bearing Side‐on p‐Terphenyl Pendants
Authors: Cui Jiaxi , Liu Anhua , Cao Hongqing , Wan Xinhua , Zhou Qifeng
Published: March 2010

Radical copolymerization of a chiral monomer, (+)‐2,5‐bis[4′‐((S)‐2‐methylbutoxy)phenyl]styrene and an achiral monomer, 2,5‐bis(4′‐hexyloxyphenyl)styrene, is carried out in anisole at 90 °C with benzoyl peroxide as the initiator. The resultant optically active helical copolymers show an unusual linear relationship between optical activity and composition, in sharp contrast with Green’s “sergeants‐and‐soldiers” and “majority” rules. Analysis of the polarimetry, circular dichroism, and chain extension results suggest that the weak steric interaction between the propagation helical radical and the incoming monomer drove the copolymer chain to grow in a specific direction. Moreover, the helical macroinitiator is successfully used to induce the helix‐sense‐selective atom transfer radical polymerization of an achiral analogous monomer to yield optically‐active block copolymers, which indicate a convenient way to prepare helical polymers with an excess screw sense from an achiral monomer by means of radical polymerization.
Les Sohettes: A model for integrated biorefineries
Authors: Baylis Alan
Published: March 2010

With its abundant supply of biomass and its network of farmer cooperatives, companies, universities and research centers, Les Sohettes is a model integrated biorefinery. Alan Baylis takes a closer look and examines what the future holds for the French biorefinery. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Extracellular matrix provides an optimal niche for the maintenance and propagation of mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Chen Xiao‐Dong
Published: March 2010

Relatively little is known about the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the control of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) proliferation, differentiation, and survival. This presents difficulties in following and characterizing cells along the lineage because of our inability to isolate and obtain a sufficient number of homogeneous MSCs using current culture systems for in vitro expansion. Adjusting the cellular machinery to allow greater proliferation can lead to other unwanted outcomes, such as unmanageable precancerous changes, or differentiation down an undesired pathway. Recently, it has become increasingly evident that the extracellular matrix (ECM) is an important component of the cellular niche in a tissue, supplying critical biochemical and physical signals to initiate and sustain cellular functions. Indeed, it is very doubtful that the intricate and highly ordered nature of the ECM could be reproduced with synthetic or purified components. This review cites evidence that supports an alternative approach for maintenance of MSCs by simulating in vitro the bone marrow ECM, where MSCs reside in vivo, and discusses the potential mechanisms whereby the ECM regulates the exposure of cells to growth factors that subsequently control MSC replication and differentiation, and also how the ECM provides unique cues that govern the lineage specification and differentiation of MSCs. Birth Defects Research (Part C) 90:45–54, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The role of mechanical signals in regulating chondrogenesis and osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Kelly Daniel J. , Jacobs Christopher R.
Published: March 2010

It is becoming increasingly clear that mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation is regulated by mechanical signals. Mechanical forces generated intrinsically within the cell in response to its extracellular environment, and extrinsic mechanical signals imposed upon the cell by the extracellular environment, play a central role in determining MSC fate. This article reviews chondrogenesis and osteogenesis during skeletogenesis, and then considers the role of mechanics in regulating limb development and regenerative events such as fracture repair. However, observing skeletal changes under altered loading conditions can only partially explain the role of mechanics in controlling MSC differentiation. Increasingly, understanding how epigenetic factors, such as the mechanical environment, regulate stem cell fate is undertaken using tightly controlled in vitro models. Factors such as bioengineered surfaces, substrates, and bioreactor systems are used to control the mechanical forces imposed upon, and generated within, MSCs. From these studies, a clearer picture of how osteogenesis and chondrogenesis of MSCs is regulated by mechanical signals is beginning to emerge. Understanding the response of MSCs to such regulatory factors is a key step towards understanding their role in development, disease and regeneration. Birth Defects Research (Part C) 90:75–85, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The effects of prompting, fading, and differential reinforcement on vocal mands in non‐verbal preschool children with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Thomas Benjamin R. , Lafasakis Michael , Sturmey Peter
Published: March 2010

There are few procedures to teach non‐vocal children vocal mands. This study evaluated the effects of prompting, fading, and differential reinforcement on eye contact, pointing, vocal approximations, independent requests and immature mands in three children with Autism Spectrum Disorders who in baseline emitted almost no independent vocal mands. This procedure resulted in a large and socially valid increase in independent vocal mands, other appropriate responses and near elimination of immature mands. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Developing and assessing stimulus control based on establishing operations during mand training using representative objects
Authors: Gutierrez Anibal , Vollmer Timothy R. , Samaha Andrew L.
Published: March 2010

The acquisition of verbal behavior can be difficult for some individuals with severe developmental disabilities. For two individuals who previously did not acquire picture exchange communication despite extensive efforts, we evaluated the effectiveness of using representative objects to teach mands for preferred items. In addition, we replicated and extended the findings of our previous research manipulating motivating operations (MO) for functional discriminated mands. Two individuals with developmental disabilities participated in a training procedure designed to teach two separate mands for two separate preferred items. Participants were taught to mand (e.g., for chips) using representative objects (e.g., empty bag of chips). Following training, the MO manipulation was used to assess for discriminated manding. This manipulation involved providing free access to one of the preferred items, such that there should be no motivation to ask for it, while motivation to ask for the other item remained in place. Results showed that both participants acquired at least a degree of discriminated manding using representative objects. At a minimum, a method was established to test complex discrimina‐ tions for preferred objects. Although we previously used this procedure in teaching picture card exchange discriminations, the current research extended previous research to individuals who were previously unresponsive to training and by using representative objects. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of textual response prompts for adolescents in a substance abuse treatment program
Authors: Taylor Sarah Ann , Anderson Kerrie , Mudford Oliver C.
Published: March 2010

Adolescents in a drug and alcohol treatment facility had behavioral deficits in having essential items ready for organized group adventure activities. Checklists (i.e., textual response prompts) were introduced. The data from five participants showed increases in the percentage of required items ready. Generalization was demonstrated across checklists for different activities, across staff and peer leaders, and a different day of the week. Performance was also maintained when the checklist was removed. It was concluded that the use of checklists can be a reliable and efficient strategy to improve performance in adolescents with a substance abuse history. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Study on the interaction between human serum albumin and a novel bioactive acridine derivative using optical spectroscopy
Authors: Chen Liangbi , Wu Menghui , Lin Xucong , Xie Zenghong
Published: March 2010

The interaction of a novel bioactive agent N‐{[N‐(2‐dimethylamino) ethyl] acridine‐4‐carboxamide}‐α‐alanine [N‐(ACR‐4‐CA)‐α‐ALA] with human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy, UV–vis absorption and circular dichroism spectrophotometric techniques under simulative physiological conditions. The fluorescence quenching of HSA by addition of N‐(ACR‐4‐CA)‐α‐ALA is due to static quenching and hydrogen bonding. Moreover, hydrophobic interactions play a role in the binding of N‐(ACR‐4‐CA)‐α‐ALA to HSA as well. The number of binding sites, n, and the binding constant values, KA, were noted to be 0.88 and 3.4 × 104 L mol−1 for N‐(ACR‐4‐CA)‐α‐ALA at 293 K. The binding distances and the energy transfer efficiency between N‐(ACR‐4‐CA)‐α‐ALA and protein were determined. The negative value of enthalpy change and positive value of entropy change in the present study indicated that both hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic forces played a major role in the binding of N‐(ACR‐4‐CA)‐α‐ALA to HSA. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electrochemiluminescence of palmatine being oxidized by electrogenerated hydroxyl radical and its analytical application
Authors: Liang Yao‐Dong , Yu Chun‐Xia , Song Jun‐Feng
Published: March 2010

A strong electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of palmatine in NaOH medium was observed at a vaseline‐impregnated graphite anode. The ECL production could be described as follows: hydroxyl radical (OH•) was generated via the oxidation of hydroxyl group (OH‐) in NaOH medium, and the formed OH• subsequently oxidized palmatine base converted from palmatine in NaOH medium to the excited state oxypalmatine (oxypalmatine*). As the oxypalmatine* went back to its ground state, a stronger chemiluminescence was produced. Based on the ECL of palmatine, an ECL method for the determination of palmatine was proposed. An ECL signal of palmatine in NaOH solution was obtained by applying direct current of 15 mA to the vaseline‐impregnated graphite anode. The ECL intensity was rectilinear with palmatine concentration in the range of 8.0 × 10−7 to 2.0 × 10−5 mol l−1 and the limit of detection (signal‐to‐noise = 3) was 3 × 10−7 mol l−1. The proposed method was applied to the determination of palmatine in pharmaceutical preparations. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The configuration, solvatochromism and metallo‐responses of two novel cyano‐containing oligo(phenylene‐vinylene) derivatives
Authors: Lv Jing , Yin Xiaodong , Zheng Haiyan , Li Yongjun , Li Yuliang , Zhu Daoben
Published: March 2010

Two novel cyano‐containing oligo(phenylenevinylene) (OPV) derivatives have been designed and synthesized. Photophysical and sensing properties of the two compounds were studied. Such studies reveal the intramolecular charge transfer process between cyano groups and OPV core. The results showed that the alkyl difference of substituted OPV leads to the changes of molecular configuration and metallo‐response of two compounds. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Semi‐micro flow injection analysis method for evaluation of quenching effect of health foods or food additive antioxidants on peroxynitrite
Authors: Wada Mitsuhiro , Kira Megumi , Kido Hirotsugu , Ikeda Rie , Kuroda Naotaka , Nishigaki Toshiaki , Nakashima Kenichiro
Published: March 2010

A semi‐micro flow injection analysis (SMFIA) method for evaluation of quenching effect of food additive antioxidants or health foods on peroxynitrite (ONOO‐) is described. The injected sample was carried with phosphate buffer containing NaNO2, mixed with a trigger solution to generate ONOO‐ and then detected CL generated after mixing with luminol solution. Selective chemiluminescence caused by ONOO‐ in this generation system was confirmed by catalase treatment. Ascorbic acid (ASA), Trolox and ascorbyl palmitate (ASP) were used as food additive antioxidants. EC50 values of ASA, Trolox and ASP were 2.6, 6.4 and 43 µg/mL, respectively. The amount of reagents required for an assay by this SMFIA system could reduce the time by a third compared with the conventional method previously reported. Furthermore, as an application of the proposed method, the quenching effect of commercially available Noni (Morinda citrifolia) juices was evaluated. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bariatric surgery reduces mortality in Swedish men
Authors: Marsk R , Näslund E , Freedman J , Tynelius P , Rasmussen F
Published: March 2010

Background

Mortality is lower in obese patients who have undergone surgery for obesity than in those who have not. The majority of patients in these studies have been women. Perioperative mortality is known to be higher among men, and this may counterbalance the survival advantage seen after surgery. This cohort study compared mortality among operated obese patients, non-operated obese patients and a general control cohort of men.

Methods

The study was based on record linkage between Swedish registries. An operated obese, a non-operated obese and a general control cohort were created. The two non-operated cohorts were assigned pseudosurgery dates. Data regarding preoperative and postoperative morbidity were collected, as well as mortality data.

Results

Hazard ratios were calculated for mortality between the cohorts adjusting for preoperative morbidity and age. Comparison of all-cause mortality for the obese surgical and non-surgical cohorts gave an adjusted mortality risk of 0·7 (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 0·5 to 1·0) (P = 0·039); the adjusted mortality risk was 1·5 (95 per cent c.i. 1·1 to 2·0) (P = 0·011) when the obese surgical cohort was compared with the general control cohort.

Conclusion

Bariatric surgery reduces overall mortality in obese men.
Intraoperative near-infrared image-guided surgery for peritoneal carcinomatosis in a preclinical experimental model
Authors: Keramidas M , Josserand V , Righini C A , Wenk C , Faure C , Coll J L
Published: March 2010

Background

This study compared the quality of surgery performed under conventional light with near-infrared (NIR) image-guided surgery using a tumour-targeting probe and a portable clinical grade imaging device in a mouse model of peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Methods

Peritoneal carcinomatosis was induced by injection of luciferase-positive tumour cells, leading to the formation of small nodules in the peritoneal cavity. One day after intravenous injection of RAFT-c(RGDfK)4-Alexa Fluor® 700, a fluorescent tumour-targeting probe, the surgeon operated using the Fluobeam®, a portable device that illuminated the mouse with NIR light and allowed NIR vision. The quality of the surgery was evaluated using bioluminescence, a highly sensitive method that detected the remaining tumour cells, and operating time was measured.

Results

Under normal light, the surgeon detected and removed a mean(s.d.) of only 50·6(2·3) per cent of the nodules that were visible under NIR light. The duration of surgery was reduced from 19·5(3·3) min under normal light to 14·0(2·6) min when NIR light was used (P = 0·025). The sensitivity of the NIR system allowed the detection of nodules containing as few as 227 tumour cells.

Conclusion

NIR image-guided surgery improved the quality of surgery for peritoneal carcinomatosis by doubling the number of nodules detected and significantly reducing the duration of surgery.
Surgical management of primary retroperitoneal sarcoma
Authors: Strauss D C , Hayes A J , Thway K , Moskovic E C , Fisher C , Thomas J M
Published: March 2010

Background

Local recurrence after surgical resection is the main cause of disease-related mortality in patients with primary retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS). This study analysed predictors of local recurrence and disease-specific survival.

Methods

A prospective database was reviewed to identify patients who underwent surgery for primary RPS between 1990 and 2009. Patient demographics, operative outcomes and tumour variables were correlated with local recurrence and disease-specific survival. Multivariable analysis was performed to evaluate predictors for local recurrence and disease-free survival.

Results

Macroscopic clearance was achieved in 170 of 200 patients. The median weight of tumours was 4·0 kg and median maximum diameter 27 cm. Resection of adjacent organs was required in 126 patients. The postoperative mortality rate was 3·0 per cent. Seventy-five patients developed local recurrence during follow-up. At 5 years the local recurrence-free survival rate was 54·6 per cent and the disease-specific survival rate 68·6 per cent. Inability to obtain macroscopic clearance at resection and high-grade tumours were significant predictors for local recurrence and disease-specific survival.

Conclusion

Complete macroscopic excision should be the goal of surgical resection. Ability to resect a RPS completely and tumour grade are the most important predictors of local recurrence and overall survival.
Endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer treated by guideline and expanded National Cancer Centre criteria
Authors: Gotoda T , Iwasaki M , Kusano C , Seewald S , Oda I
Published: March 2010

Background

Criteria for endoscopic resection in patients with early gastric cancer (EGC) have been expanded recently by the National Cancer Centre (NCC). This study compared long-term outcomes in patients with EGC who underwent endoscopic treatment according to guideline criteria with those treated according to expanded criteria.

Methods

Baseline and outcome data from patients undergoing curative endoscopic resection for EGC between January 1999 and December 2005 were collected from electronic medical records. Survival time hazard ratios and 95 per cent confidence intervals were calculated using the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

Of 1485 patients who had a curative resection, 635 (42·8 per cent) underwent resection according to traditional criteria and 625 (42·1 per cent) according to expanded criteria. There was no significant difference in overall survival between the groups.

Conclusion

Patients who have treatment following the expanded criteria have similar long-term survival and outcomes to those treated according to guideline criteria.
Developing object‐based learning environment to promote learners' motivation for learning digital systems
Authors: Siong Hoe Lau , Woods Peter C.
Published: March 2010

This article aims at sharing the authors' experiences with object‐based learning environment. The purpose of this study is to assess the learners' perceptions and usage of learning objects in Digital Systems course. Overall, learning objects are good alternative learning strategy, which enables learners to take more control over their own learning. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 18: 640–650, 2010; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com; DOI 10.1002/cae20268
Teaching mechatronics: An innovative group project‐based approach
Authors: Shyr Wen‐Jye
Published: March 2010

This study presents an innovative group project‐based approach to teaching mechatronics. Mechatronics is a complex, highly technical and multidisciplinary field involving the design and manufacture of integrated products. Mechatronics course at the undergraduate level is rapidly increasing across the world. Most courses require student teams to design a product. The complexity of student projects can make administration of mechatronics courses extremely difficult. Students develop both practical and theoretical understanding of mechatronics while working on group projects. They also develop the interpersonal and communication skills needed to work in a multi‐disciplinary field. This study describes a group project‐based approach for enabling teams of students to complete mechatronics projects. A set of heuristic guidelines is also proposed. At the National Changhua University of Education in the Department of Industrial Education and Technology, this approach has yielded high student satisfaction and achievement. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 20: 93–102, 2012
Successful use of the five‐in‐six system with IVUS guided transradial renal artery stenting
Authors: Abdou Sayed M. , Wu Chiung‐Jen
Published: March 2010

In transradial renal intervention, the long distance between the vascular access and the target lesion represents a major issue. The 100 cm guiding catheter (GC) may be too short to engage the renal artery particularly in tall patients or with excessive aortic turtousity. On the other hand, with the use of 125 cm long GC, only few premounted dedicated renal stents can be used. The shaft of the stent delivery system must be 140 cm or more to be compatible with the 125 GC. However, in many renal interventions, only few more centimeters are required to give the GC the sufficient working length needed for proper engagement and back up support. For this purpose, we used the Terumo “five‐in‐six” system to provide the necessary extra length through the protruding part of the 5 Fr GC out of the tip of the 6 Fr GC. With the super soft distal segment of the 5 FR GC deeply intubated into the right renal artery, we had the sufficient backup support to do renal stenting with IVUS guidance. This case illustrates that the “five‐in‐six” system can be an alternative strategy whenever extra length or strong backup support is needed during transradial renal artery intervention. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transcatheter occlusion of the left atrial appendage—Experimental testing of a new amplatzer device
Authors: Bass John L.
Published: March 2010

Objectives: This study assessed the feasibility and efficacy of implanting a new nitinol device in the left atrial appendage (LAA) in a canine model. Background: Left atrial thrombus occurs in the LAA in 90% of humans with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: The Amplatzer Left Atrial Appendage Occluder Device now known as the Amplatzer Cardiac Plug (Amplatzer Medical LLC, Plymouth MN) is a new transcatheter Nitinol device containing polyester fabric designed to seal the LAA. The device was implanted in 10 canines with immediate, ∼30 and ∼90‐day follow‐up by echocardiography, angiography, and final pathological examination. Results: The device was successfully implanted in all animals and found to be retrievable and repositionable. There was complete occlusion of the LAA in all cases without embolization. There was no thrombus formation on the device and no pericardial effusion or impingement on the circumflex coronary artery, mitral valve, or left pulmonary vein. A single instance of tiny left atrial mural thrombus at device end screw contact was attributed to the small canine left atrium. Conclusions: The success of this animal study confirms safety and feasibility of the Amplatzer Cardiac Plug. Human trials are warranted. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Efficacy of everolimus eluting stent implantation in patients with calcified coronary culprit lesions: Two‐year angiographic and three‐year clinical results from the SPIRIT II study
Authors: Onuma Yoshinobu , Tanimoto Shuzou , Ruygrok Peter , Neuzner Jörg , Piek Jan J. , Seth Ashok , Schofer Joachim J. , Richardt Gert , Wiemer Marcus , Carrié Didier , Thuesen Leif , Dorange Cecile , Miquel‐Hebert Karine , Veldhof Susan , Serruys Patrick W.
Published: March 2010

Background: Little is known about the impact of treatment with drug‐eluting stents (DES) on calcified coronary lesions. This analysis sought to assess the safety and efficacy of the XIENCE V everolimus‐eluting stent (EES) in patients with calcified or noncalcified culprit lesions. Methods: The study population consisted of 212 patients with 247 lesions, who were treated with EES alone. Target lesions were angiographically classified as none/mild, moderate, or severe grades of calcification. The population was divided into two groups: those with at least one target lesion moderately or severely calcified (the calcified group: 68 patients with 75 calcified lesions) and those with all target lesions having mild or no calcification (the noncalcified group: 144 patients). Six‐month and 2‐year angiographic follow‐up and clinical follow‐up up to 3 years were completed. Results: The baseline characteristics were not significantly different between both groups. When compared with the noncalcified group, the calcified group had significantly higher rates of 6‐month in‐stent angiographic binary restenosis (ABR, 4.3% vs. 0%, P = 0.03) and ischemia‐driven target lesion revascularization (ID‐TLR, 5.9% vs. 0%, P = 0.01), resulting in numerically higher major cardiac adverse events (MACE, 5.9% vs. 1.4%, P = 0.09). At 2 years, when compared with the noncalcified group, the calcified group presented higher in‐stent ABR (7.4% vs. 0%, P = 0.08) and ID‐TLR (7.8% vs. 1.5%, P = 0.03), resulting in numerically higher MACE (10.9% vs. 4.4%, P = 0.12). At 3 years, ID‐TLR tended to be higher in the calcified group than in the noncalcified group (8.6% vs. 2.4%, P = 0.11), resulting in numerically higher MACE (12.1% vs. 4.7%, P = 0.12). Conclusions: The MACE rates in patients treated with EES for calcified lesions were higher than in those for noncalcified lesions, but remained lower than the results of previously reported stent studies. EES implantation in patients with calcified culprit lesions was safe and associated with favorable reduction of restenosis and repeat revascularization. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A novel technique of chronic total occlusion retrograde wire crossing by wiring into the antegrade microcatheter
Authors: Liu Wei , Wagatsuma Kenji
Published: March 2010

We described a novel transradial retrograde wiring technique to treat chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the left anterior descending artery. When both retrograde wire and kissing wire technique failed to cross the CTO lesion, an antegrade microcatheter was placed in the CTO lesion. Then, a retrograde wire was manipulated into the antegrade microcatheter and subsequently exchanged and wire externalized. This technique appears to be feasible and safe alternative for retrograde wire crossing of the CTO lesion. It is a less traumatic modified version of controlled antegrade and retrograde subintimal tracking (CART) technique that can be attempted before embarking on CART or reverse CART strategy. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Efficacy and safety of bivalirudin in patients receiving clopidogrel therapy after diagnostic angiography for percutaneous coronary intervention in acute coronary syndromes
Authors: Feldman Dmitriy N. , Minutello Robert M. , Bergman Geoffrey , Moussa Issam , Wong S. Chiu
Published: March 2010

Objectives: This study sought to investigate if the efficacy of bivalirudin monotherapy is similar to heparin plus GP IIb/IIIa inhibition in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) treated with clopidogrel following diagnostic angiography. Background: Prior trials have demonstrated that peri‐procedural bivalirudin therapy confers similar efficacy as heparin plus GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors, while lowering the risk of bleeding complications in ACS patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervnetions (PCI). However, the incidence of adverse ischemic events post‐PCI appeared to be higher in patients receiving bivalirudin without adequate pretreatment with clopidogrel. Methods: Using the 2004/2005 Cornell Angioplasty Registry, we evaluated 980 consecutive patients undergoing urgent PCI for UA/NSTEMI who were treated with either bivalirudin or UFH plus GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor. We excluded patients who were on chronic clopidogrel therapy or received clopidogrel pretreatment prior to angiography. All patients received a clopidogrel load (≥300‐mg dose) immediately before or after the PCI. Long‐term all‐cause mortality was obtained for 100% of patients, with a mean follow‐up of 24.6 ± 7.7 months. Results: Of the 980 study patients, 461 (47.0%) were treated with bivalirudin and 519 (53.0%) patients received UFH plus GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor. DES were used in 88% of PCI; 45% of patients presented with NSTEMI. The incidence of in‐hospital death (0.4% vs. 0.2%, P = 0.604), post‐procedural MI (6.9% vs. 5.4%, P = 0.351), and MACE including death, stroke, emergent CABG/PCI, and MI (7.6% vs. 5.8%, P = 0.304) were similar in patients treated with bivalirudin versus UFH plus GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors, respectively. The incidence of in‐hospital stent thrombosis was similar (0.7% vs. 0%, P = 0.104), while major (0.9% vs. 2.9%, P = 0.034) and minor bleeding (10.4% vs. 18.9%, P < 0.001) was reduced in the bivalirudin‐treated group. By two‐years of follow‐up, after propensity‐score adjusted multivariate Cox regression analysis, there was no significant difference in long‐term mortality between the two groups (HR 1.18; 95%CI 0.64–2.19, P = 0.598). Conclusions: In patients presenting with ACS and receiving clopidogrel treatment after angiography (before or within 30 min of PCI), peri‐procedural bivalirudin monotherapy suppresses acute and long‐term adverse events to a similar extent as does UFH plus GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors, while significantly lowering the risk of bleeding complications. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Percutaneous treatment of iatrogenic left‐anterior descending artery to right ventricle fistula
Authors: Oreglia Jacopo A. , Bruschi Giuseppe , Klugmann Silvio
Published: March 2010

Iatrogenic coronary fistula is a rare condition whose treatment strategy is not well established. We report the case of a 70‐year‐old patient who came to our attention with echocardiographic and scintigraphic signs of myocardial ischemia and who had undergone heart transplantation 10 years earlier. The coronary angiogram showed a coronary fistula connecting the left‐anterior descending artery to the right ventricle via an enlarged septal branch. Because of the presence of myocardial ischemia, the patient was scheduled for percutaneous coronary intervention. The fistula was sealed with implant of two polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)‐covered stents that excluded the septal branch. One‐year follow‐up showed persistence of the good result in terms of angiographic and clinical outcome. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Increasing the Sensitivity and Single‐Base Mismatch Selectivity of the Molecular Beacon Using Graphene Oxide as the “Nanoquencher”
Authors: Lu Chun‐Hua , Li Juan , Liu Jing‐Jing , Yang Huang‐Hao , Chen Xi , Chen Guo‐Nan
Published: March 2010

Here, we report a novel, highly sensitive, selective and economical molecular beacon using graphene oxide as the “nanoquencher”. This novel molecular beacon system contains a hairpin‐structured fluorophore‐labeled oligonucleotide and a graphene oxide sheet. The strong interaction between hairpin‐structured oligonucleotide and graphene oxide keep them in close proximity, facilitating the fluorescence quenching of the fluorophore by graphene oxide. In the presence of a complementary target DNA, the binding between hairpin‐structured oligonucleotide and target DNA will disturb the interaction between hairpin‐structured oligonucleotide and graphene oxide, and release the oligonucleotide from graphene oxide, resulting in restoration of fluorophore fluorescence. In the present study, we show that this novel graphene oxide quenched molecular beacon can be used to detect target DNA with higher sensitivity and single‐base mismatch selectivity compared to the conventional molecular beacon.
From a Network of Computed Reaction Enthalpies to Atom‐Based Thermochemistry (NEAT)
Authors: Császár Attila G. , Furtenbacher Tibor
Published: March 2010

A simple and fast, weighted, linear least‐squares refinement protocol and code is presented for inverting the information contained in a network of quantum chemically computed 0 K reaction enthalpies. This inversion yields internally consistent 0 K enthalpies of formation for the species of the network. The refinement takes advantage of the fact that the accuracy of computed enthalpies depends strongly on the quantum‐chemical protocol employed for their determination. Different protocols suffer from different sources of error; thus, the reaction enthalpies computed by them have “random” residual errors. Since it is much more natural for quantum‐chemical energy and enthalpy results, including reaction enthalpies, to be based on the electronic ground states of the atoms and not on the historically preferred elemental states, and since these two possible protocols can be converted into each other straightforwardly, it is proposed that first‐principles thermochemistry should employ the ground electronic states of atoms. In this scheme, called atom‐based thermochemistry (AT), the enthalpy of formation of a gaseous compound corresponds simply to the total atomization energy of the species; it is always positive, and it reflects the bonding strength within the molecule. The inversion protocol developed and based on AT is termed NEAT, which represents the fact that the protocol proceeds from a network of computed reaction enthalpies toward atom‐based thermochemistry, most directly to atom‐based enthalpies of formation. After assembling a database that consisted of 361 ab initio reactions and reaction enthalpies involving 188 species, collected from 31 literature sources, the following dependable 0 K atom‐based enthalpies of formation, Δf${H{{{\rm AT}\hfill \atop 0\hfill}}}$, all in kJ mol−1, have been obtained by means of NEAT: H2=432.07(0), CH=334.61(15), NH=327.69(25), OH=425.93(21), HF=566.13(31), CO=1072.08(28), O2=493.51(34), CH2=752.40(21), H2O=918.05(20), HO2=694.53(32), CO2=1597.77(40), CH3=1209.64(29), NH3=1157.44(33), C2H2=1625.78(40), and CH4=1641.68(40), in which the uncertainty values given in parentheses represent 95 % confidence intervals. The average deviation of these values from the well‐established active thermochemical tables (ATcT) values is a mere 0.25 kJ mol−1, with a maximum deviation of 0.7 kJ mol−1. This shows that the use of a large number of ab initio reaction enthalpies within a NEAT‐type protocol has considerable advantages over the sequential utilization of the ab initio information.
New Fluorinated Rhodamines for Optical Microscopy and Nanoscopy
Authors: Mitronova Gyuzel Yu. , Belov Vladimir N. , Bossi Mariano L. , Wurm Christian A. , Meyer Lars , Medda Rebecca , Moneron Gael , Bretschneider Stefan , Eggeling Christian , Jakobs Stefan , Hell Stefan W.
Published: March 2010

New photostable rhodamine dyes represented by the compounds 1 a–r and 3–5 are proposed as efficient fluorescent markers with unique combination of structural features. Unlike rhodamines with monoalkylated nitrogen atoms, N′,N‐bis(2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl) derivatives 1 e, 1 i, 1 j, 3‐H and 5 were found to undergo sulfonation of the xanthene fragment at the positions 4′ and 5′. Two fluorine atoms were introduced into the positions 2′ and 7′ of the 3′,6′‐diaminoxanthene fragment in compounds 1 a–d, 1 i–l and 1 m–r. The new rhodamine dyes may be excited with λ=488 or 514 nm light; most of them emit light at λ=512–554 nm (compounds 1 q and 1r at λ=576 and 589 nm in methanol, respectively) and have high fluorescence quantum yields in solution (up to 98 %), relatively long excited‐state lifetimes (>3 ns) and are resistant against photobleaching, especially at high laser intensities, as is usually applied in confocal microscopy. Sulfonation of the xanthene fragment with 30 % SO3 in H2SO4 is compatible with the secondary amide bond (rhodamine‐CON(Me)CH2CH2COOH) formed with MeNHCH2CH2COOCH3 to providing the sterically unhindered carboxylic group required for further (bio)conjugation reactions. After creating the amino reactive sites, the modified derivatives may be used as fluorescent markers and labels for (bio)molecules in optical microscopy and nanoscopy with very‐high light intensities. Further, the new rhodamine dyes are able to pass the plasma membrane of living cells, introducing them as potential labels for recent live‐cell‐tag approaches. We exemplify the excellent performance of the fluorinated rhodamines in optical microscopy by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and stimulated emission depletion (STED) nanoscopy experiments.
Phthalocyanine–Polyamine Conjugates as pH‐Controlled Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Jiang Xiong‐Jie , Lo Pui‐Chi , Tsang Yee‐Man , Yeung Sin‐Lui , Fong Wing‐Ping , Ng Dennis K. P.
Published: March 2010

A series of aryl hydroxyamines prepared by reductive amination were treated with silicon(IV) phthalocyanine dichloride in the presence of pyridine to give the diaxially substituted phthalocyanine–polyamine conjugates 1–5. The electronic absorption, fluorescence emission, and efficiency at generating reactive oxygen species of these compounds were all sensitive to the pH environment. Under acidic conditions, the fluorescence quantum yields and the singlet oxygen quantum yields of these compounds were greatly enhanced in DMF as a result of protonation of the amino moieties, which inhibited the photoinduced electron‐transfer deactivation pathway. The Q band was diminished and broadened, and the fluorescence intensity decreased as the pH increased in citrate buffer solutions. The rate of superoxide radical formation was also reduced in a higher pH environment. Compound 3, containing a terminal 4‐chlorophenyl group at the axial substituent, showed the most desirable pH‐responsive properties, which makes it a promising tumor‐selective fluorescence probe and photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy. All of the phthalocyanines 1–5 were highly photocytotoxic against HT29 and HepG2 cells with IC50 values as low as 0.03 μM. Compound 3 was highly selective toward lysosomes, but not mitochondria of HT29 cells.
Applying Neural Network Classification to Obtain Mangrove Landscape Characteristics for Monitoring the Travel Environment Quality on the Beihai Coast of Guangxi, P. R. China
Authors: Yu Xiang , Shao Hong‐bo , Liu Xiang‐hua , Zhao Dong‐zhi
Published: March 2010

The spectral characteristics of mangroves on the Beihai Coast of Guangxi, P. R. China are acquired on the basis of spectral data from field measurements. Following this, the 3‐layer reverse‐conversing neural networks (NN) classification technology is used to analyze the Landsat TM5 image obtained on January 8, 2003. It is detailed enough to facilitate the introduction of the algorithm principle and trains project of the neural network. Neural network algorithms have characteristics including large‐scale data handling and distributing information storage. This research firstly analyzes the necessity and complexity of this translation system, and then introduces the strong points of the neural network. Processing mangrove landscape characteristics by using neural network is an important innovation, with great theoretical and practical significance. This kind of neural network can greatly improve the classification accuracy. The spatial resolution of Landsat TM5 is high enough to facilitate the research, and the false color composite from 3‐, 4‐, and 5‐bands has a clear boundary and provides a significant quantity of information and effective images. On the basis of a field survey, the exported layers are defined as mangrove, vegetation, bare land, wetlands and shrimp pool. TM satellite images are applied to false color composites by using 3‐, 4‐, and 5‐bands, and then a supervised classification model is used to classify the image. The processing method of hyper‐spectrum remote sensing allows the spectral characteristics of the mangrove to be determined, and integrates the result with the NN classification for the false color composite by using 3‐, 4‐, and 5‐bands. The network model consists of three layers, i. e., the input layer, the hidden layer, and the output layer. The input layer number of classification is defined as 3, and the hidden layers are defined as 5 according to the function operation. The control threshold is 0.9. The training ratio is 0.2. The maximum permit error is 0.08. The classification precision reaches 86.86%. This is higher than the precision of maximal parallel classification (50.79%) and the spectrum angle classification (75.39%). The results include the uniformity ratio (1.7789), the assembly ratio (0.6854), the dominance ratio (–1.5850), and the fragmentation ratio (0.0325).