bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prospective Change in Health-Related Quality of Life and Subsequent Mortality Among Middle-Aged and Older Women
Authors: Kroenke Candyce H. , Kubzansky Laura D. , Adler Nancy , Kawachi Ichiro
Published: May 2008

Objectives. We sought to determine prospective changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures and subsequent mortality in middle-aged and older women.

Methods. We obtained data from 40 337 healthy women from the Nurses’ Health Study aged 46 to 71 years in 1992. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to evaluate associations of changes in self-assessed physical and mental component summary (PCS and MCS) scores from the Short Form 36 Health Survey between 1992 and 1996 and between 1996 and 2000, with all-cause mortality through 2004.

Results. Women with low HRQoL (PCS and MCS scores) and the greatest HRQoL declines had higher mortality than did women with stable scores. Change in PCS score predicted mortality across the range of 4-year change: severe decline (relative risk [RR] = 3.32; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.45, 4.50), moderate decline (RR = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.16, 1.79), slight decline (RR = 1.35; 95% CI = 1.12, 1.63), no change (reference category), improvement (RR = 0.72; 95% CI = 0.56, 0.91; continuous P < .001). MCS score results were similar. Score increases were associated with lifestyle improvements, especially increased physical activity.

Conclusions. Observed associations demonstrate the predictive validity of changes in self-assessed HRQoL for subsequent mortality in healthy populations. Future research should examine determinants of patterns of change.
The Effect of Widowhood on Mortality by the Causes of Death of Both Spouses
Authors: Elwert Felix , Christakis Nicholas A.
Published: May 2008

Objectives. We investigated the effect of spousal bereavement on mortality to document cause-specific bereavement effects by the causes of death of both the predecedent spouse and the bereaved partner.

Methods. We obtained data from a nationally representative cohort of 373 189 elderly married couples in the United States who were followed from 1993 to 2002. We used competing risk and Cox models in our analyses.

Results. For both men and women, the death of a predecedent spouse from almost all causes, including various cancers, infections, and cardiovascular diseases, increased the all-cause mortality of the bereaved partner to varying degrees. Moreover, the death of a predecedent spouse from any cause increased the survivor's cause-specific mortality for almost all causes, including cancers, infections, and cardiovascular diseases, to varying degrees.

Conclusions. The effect of widowhood on mortality varies substantially by the causes of death of both spouses, suggesting that the widowhood effect is not restricted to one aspect of human biology. Future research should examine the specific mechanisms of the widowhood effect and identify opportunities for health interventions.
Medicaid Prescription Formulary Restrictions and Arthritis Treatment Costs
Authors: Johnson Tricia J. , Stahl-Moncada Stephanie
Published: May 2008

Objectives. We used the Arizona Medicaid program as a model to examine the consequences of the relative restrictiveness of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)–preferred drug lists on health care use and costs for Medicaid enrollees with arthritis.

Methods. In a retrospective, cross-sectional study of Medicaid enrollees with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, we used data from the Arizona HealthQuery database and generalized linear regression models to estimate the effect of the restrictiveness of formularies on the association between number of NSAID drugs covered and the number of emergency department visits, ambulatory physician visits, hospital stays, and total health expenditures.

Results. For plans with NSAID formularies that were more restrictive, enrollees with rheumatoid arthritis experienced 22% fewer ambulatory visits and 29% more hospitalizations, and enrollees with osteoarthritis experienced 38% fewer ambulatory visits and 52% more hospitalizations. These plans spent an additional $935 for medical care and prescription drugs annually per enrollee with rheumatoid arthritis.

Conclusions. Formularies that are more restrictive significantly change the patterns of health care and prescription drug use and may have unintended consequences in terms of more frequent and, for those with rheumatoid arthritis, more expensive medical care.
Prevalence of Chronic Diseases and Multimorbidity Among the Elderly Population in Sweden
Authors: Marengoni Alessandra , Winblad Bengt , Karp Anita , Fratiglioni Laura
Published: May 2008

We explored the role of age, gender, and socioeconomic status in the occurrence of chronic diseases and multimorbidity in 1099 elderly participants in the Kungsholmen Project. Cardiovascular and mental diseases were the most common chronic disorders. Of the participants, 55% had multimorbidity. Advanced age, female gender, and lower education were independently associated with a more than 50% increased risk for multimorbidity. Multimorbidity is the most common clinical picture of the elderly and may be increased by unhealthy behaviors linked to education.
The SECRET and SOUL of Marlboro
Authors: Stevenson Terrell , Proctor Robert N.
Published: May 2008

Philip Morris and other tobacco companies have been using ammonia in their manufacturing for more than half a century, and for a variety of purposes: to highlight certain flavors, to expand or “puff up” the volume of tobacco, to prepare reconstituted tobacco sheet (“recon”), to denicotinize (reduce the amount of nicotine in) tobacco, and to remove carcinogens.

By the early 1960s, however, Philip Morris had also begun using ammonia to “freebase” the nicotine in cigarette smoke, creating low-yield (reduced-tar or -nicotine) cigarettes that still had the nicotine kick necessary to keep customers “satisfied” (i.e., addicted). We show that Philip Morris discovered the virtues of freebasing while analyzing the impact of the ammoniated recon used in Marlboro cigarettes.

We also show how Marlboro’s commercial success catalyzed efforts by the rest of the tobacco industry to discover its “secret,” eventually identified as ammonia technology, and how Philip Morris later exploited the myriad uses of ammonia (e.g., for flavoring and expanding tobacco volume) to defend itself against charges of manipulating the nicotine deliveries of its cigarettes.
Exploring Potential Pathways Between Parity and Tooth Loss Among American Women
Authors: Russell Stefanie L. , Ickovics Jeannette R. , Yaffee Robert A.
Published: May 2008

Objectives. We assessed the impact of parity on tooth loss among American women and examined mediators of this relationship.

Methods. The study sample comprised 2635 White and Black non-Hispanic women who had taken part in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We examined the relationship between parity and tooth loss, by age and by socioeconomic position, and tested a theoretical model focusing on direct and indirect influences of parity on dental disease. Robust regression techniques were used to generate path coefficients.

Results. Although parity was associated with tooth loss, the relationship was not moderated through dental care, psychosocial factors, or dental health–damaging behaviors.

Conclusions. Parity is related to tooth loss among American women, but the mechanisms of the association remain undefined. Further investigation is warranted to determine whether disparities in dental health among women who have been pregnant are caused by differences in parity or to physiological and societal changes (e.g., factors related to pregnant women’s access to care) paralleling reproductive choices.
Evaluating the Bray P1 Test on Alkaline, Calcareous Soils
Authors: Ebeling Angela M. , Bundy Larry G. , Kittell Aaron W. , Ebeling Daniel D.
Published: May 2008

Soil test phosphorus (STP) measurements are important for predicting crop P needs and for P loss risk assessments. Previous work indicates that the Bray P1 method extracts less P and does not correlate as well with Mehlich 3 or Olsen STP methods in alkaline or highly calcareous soils. This research was conducted to determine if the Bray P1 test is an appropriate method for the eastern red soil (ERS) region of Wisconsin, where pH typically ranges from 7 to 8 and soils are often calcareous. Soil samples (n = 113) from the ERS region and comparison soils (CS) from Iowa and Kansas (n = 38) with high pH and carbonate content were analyzed for P using the Bray P1, Mehlich 3, and Olsen methods and for soil pH and carbonate content. Results indicate that Bray P1 is strongly correlated with Olsen and Mehlich 3 for all samples in ERS regardless of carbonate content (R2 = 0.83 and 0.98, respectively), but only weakly correlated to Olsen and Mehlich 3 for Iowa and Kansas soils with carbonate contents ≥ 5 g kg−1 (R2 = 0.01 and 0.08, respectively). Further investigation indicated that carbonate in CS is calcitic while in ERS it is dolomitic. Because dolomite reacts much more slowly than calcite, Bray P1 is not neutralized in ERS during the 5 min extraction time. For soil with unknown carbonate content, a pH measurement on the Bray P1 filtrate can identify samples where Bray P1 is neutralized and an alternative P extractant should be used.
Evaluation of Distillation and Diffusion Techniques for Estimating Hydrolyzable Amino Sugar‐Nitrogen as a Means of Predicting Nitrogen Mineralization
Authors: Bushong J. T. , Roberts T. L. , Ross W. J. , Norman R. J. , Slaton N. A. , Wilson C. E.
Published: May 2008

A rapid method to estimate soil N mineralization to improve N fertilizer recommendations has long been sought. Over the years, numerous methods to predict N mineralization have been proposed, but no one method has been widely accepted. Recently, researchers observed the concentration of hydrolyzable amino sugar‐N in the soil correlated with crop N response. The objective of this study was to determine if developmental methods that quantify hydrolyzable amino sugar‐N accurately predict N mineralization when compared to net‐N mineralization by anaerobic incubation. Methods evaluated to predict hydrolyzable amino sugar‐N were the Illinois soil nitrogen test (ISNT) by diffusion, and 2, 5, and 10MNaOH direct steam distillation procedures. It was observed that the hydrolyzable amino sugar‐N was a somewhat accurate predictor of N mineralization (R2= 0.38). However, when the hydrolyzable amino sugar‐N concentrations were combined with the hydrolyzable NH4–N concentrations, the ability to predict N mineralization improved (R2= 0.61). Suggesting more labile soil organic N forms along with amino sugar‐N are potentially mineralizable. Rapid analytical procedures like the ISNT diffusion method and the 2, 5, and 10MNaOH direct steam distillation techniques accurately predicted hydrolyzable amino sugar‐N as well as hydrolyzable (NH4+ amino sugar)‐N. These methods also accurately predicted NH4–N mineralized after anaerobic incubation. It could be assumed that this predictability may increase when soils are analyzed based on soil management, geographic area, and crop rotation. Glucosamine recovery was significant ( >85%,P= 0.05) for both methods showing their ability to quantify amino sugar‐N in the soil as well as estimate the amount of potentially mineralizable‐N. Lastly, in soil‐testing facilities where the ISNT is already implemented as a procedure, the much quicker and equally reliable 10MNaOH distillation technique may be used to achieve near identical test values.
Carbon Dioxide and Nitrous Oxide Content in Soils under Corn and Soybean
Authors: Sey B. K. , Whalen J. K. , Gregorich E. G. , Rochette P. , Cue R. I.
Published: May 2008

Agricultural practices affect the production and emission of CO2 and N2O from soil. The purpose of this 2‐yr field study was to determine the effects of tillage (conventionally tilled [CT] and no‐till [NT]) and fertilizer source (composted cattle manure and inorganic N–P–K fertilizer) on the CO2 and N2O content in soil profiles under corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. The mean CO2 and N2O gas contents (i.e., mass of gas per unit soil volume) in the soil profile were determined periodically during two field seasons by sampling the soil atmosphere using plastic tubes installed at three depths (10, 20, and 30 cm) within the crop row. The soil CO2 content was greater in CT than NT soil and in manure‐amended than inorganically fertilized plots during 1 yr of the study. The soil N2O content was not affected by tillage practices or fertilizer sources. A significant autocorrelation between sampling dates in both years suggested that the CO2 and N2O contents in the soil profile were not erratic or random, but temporally dependent on site‐specific factors. The peak CO2 and N2O levels were measured within 50 d after seeding, probably because soil moisture conditions slowed diffusive gas flux but were favorable for microbial activity. Fluctuations in soil CO2 and N2O contents were not related to the seasonal variation in soil temperature. At most sampling dates, there was a significant (P < 0.05) positive correlation between the CO2 and N2O content in the soil profile, suggesting similarity in the rate of gas accumulation and diffusive flux for CO2 and N2O in soils. The CO2 and N2O content in the soil profile appeared to be controlled more by soil moisture than soil temperature or agricultural practices.
Linking Nitrous Oxide Flux During Spring Thaw to Nitrate Denitrification in the Soil Profile
Authors: Wagner-Riddle C. , Hu Q. C. , van Bochove E. , Jayasundara S.
Published: May 2008

The importance of spring thaw nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes to the total N2O emission budget in cold climates has been recognized recently. Two mechanisms have been proposed to explain the burst in N2O fluxes due to soil freezing and thawing: enhanced microbial activity due to increased nutrient availability at spring thaw, and release of N2O trapped at depth during winter. The objective of this study was to determine whether increased surface N2O fluxes were due to physical release at spring thaw of N2O accumulated all winter at depth in the soil profile, or whether fluxes were due to rapid N2O production in the surface layer during the thaw process. Micrometeorological flux measurements and a chamber method applied to in situ soil columns receiving 15N tracer were used in Ontario, Canada during winters of 2003 and 2004. Labeled K15NO3 fertilizer (60% excess 15N) at the rate of 100 kg N ha−1 was applied to two layers, that is, surface layer 0 to 5 cm (SL) and deep layer 12 to 17 cm (DL) in nondisturbed soil columns placed in the field during the winter. The burst in N2O fluxes from the soil surface measured by both methods occurred within the same period of soil thawing. Denitrification was the main mechanism responsible for N2O production, and conditions conducive to N2O and N2 production occurred both in the SL and DL during thawing. Despite high 15N2O concentrations at depth, the burst in N2O fluxes from DL soil columns were 1.5 to 5 times lower than that from SL soil columns as more N2O from DL was converted to N2 before diffusing out of the soil profile. Comparison of N2O fluxes originating from SL and DL soil columns indicates that the source of N2O burst at spring thaw is mostly ‘newly’ produced N2O in the surface layer, and not the release of N2O trapped in the unfrozen soil beneath the frozen layers.
Best Practices in Predicting and Encouraging Student Persistence and Achievement Online
Authors: Morris Libby V. , Finnegan Catherine L.
Published: May 2008

Four research studies of students and faculty engaged in fully online undergraduate courses are analyzed to generate best practices for teaching and learning online. These studies investigated the relationship of student background variables and online behaviors to student persistence and achievement in the online environment. Over 500 students enrolled in lower division, undergraduate courses offered online were included in the analyses. The courses were designed by faculty and instructional design experts and met standards of quality course design established by the offering colleges and universities. By combining the results of the study, guidelines for advising students and faculty for success in the online environment emerged.
Impact of Odor from Industrial Hog Operations on Daily Living Activities
Authors: Tajik M. , Muhammad N. , Lowman A. , Thu K. , Wing S. , Grant G.
Published: May 2008

Intensive industrial animal production systems worldwide require confinement of large numbers of animals in small spaces and concentration of enormous quantities of waste. Industrial hog operations, in particular, have raised public concerns about their adverse impact on public health and sustainable development. Using a community-based participatory research approach and qualitative interviews, we explored people's perception of the impact of odor from these industries on daily living activities as they relate to the beneficial use of property and enjoyment of life. Our research indicates that hog odor limits several leisure time activities and social interactions which could have adverse public health consequences. The results of this study can assist the communities and other stakeholders in public policy development that addresses these concerns.
Post-Disaster Victimization: How Survivors of Disasters Can Continue to Suffer after the Event is over
Authors: Phua Kai-Lit
Published: May 2008

When public health researchers study the health effects of disasters (whether “naturally-occurring,” disasters due to failure of technology, or disasters due to terrorism), some aspects of the post-disaster situation of victims are often overlooked. Social science research has shown that the vast majority of people tend to behave altruistically during and after a disaster. Nevertheless, cases of victimization of survivors do occur. They can include post-disaster victimization of survivors by other individuals (including fellow survivors, opportunistic outsiders, and even unethical aid workers and rogue members of the police, armed forces or international organizations such as the United Nations), groups (such as organized criminal gangs) and institutions (through neglect, incompetence, bureaucratic inefficiency or through institutionalized discriminatory practices). In this article, various kinds of post-disaster victimization that can occur are discussed.
‘Protective OSH Laws Available to Only a Few’
Authors: Patel Jagdish , Dunn Mary Lee
Published: May 2008

The American Public Health Association's occupational health and safety section honored Indian safety activist Jagdish Patel last year by giving him its International Award. Here is a brief look at his career followed by his talk at the APHA awards ceremony.
An action for a classical string, the equation of motion and group invariant classical solutions
Authors: Bracken Paul
Published: May 2008

A string action which is essentially a Willmore functional is presented and studied. This action determines the physics of a surface in Euclidean three space which can be used to model classical string configurations. By varying this action an equation of motion for the mean curvature of the surface is obtained which is shown to govern certain classical string configurations. Several classes of classical solutions for this equation are discussed from the symmetry group point of view and an application is presented.
In Vitro evaluation of the cytotoxic and anti-proliferative properties of resveratrol and several of its analogs
Authors: Billack Blase , Radkar Vijayalaxmi , Adiabouah Christelle
Published: May 2008

Resveratrol (RES), a component of red wine, possesses anti-inflammatory properties. The studies described in the present work were aimed at evaluating the potential for RES and related stilbene analogs (piceatannol, PIC; pterostilbene, TPS; trans-stilbene, TS; and trans-stilbene oxide, TSO) to exhibit toxicity towards RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages. The effect of TS, TSO, RES and TPS on RAW 264.7 macrophage viability was determined by two standard methods: (a) the MTT assay and (b) the trypan blue dye exclusion test. Whereas macrophages were more sensitive to PIC (LC50 trypan ∼ 1.3 μM) and to TPS (LC50 trypan ∼ 4.0 μM and LC50 MTT ∼ 8.3 μM) than to RES (LC50 trypan ∼ 8.9 μM and LC50 MTT ∼ 29.0 μM), they were relatively resistant to TSO (LC50 trypan ∼ 61.0 μM and LC50 MTT > 100 μM) and to TS (LC50 trypan ≥ 5.0 μM and LC50 MTT ≥ 5.0 μM). The ability of selected stilbenes (RES, TPS and PIC) to exhibit growth inhibitory effects was also examined. Although RES and TPS were observed to inhibit cell proliferation in macrophages (IC50 ≤ 25 μM), these cells were resistant to growth inhibition by PIC (IC50 ≥ 50 μM). The data obtained in the present analysis demonstrate that substituted stilbene compounds such as RES have the capacity to exhibit cytotoxic and anti-proliferative activities in macrophages.
Progress in Drug Delivery to the Central Nervous System by the Prodrug Approach
Authors: Pavan Barbara , Dalpiaz Alessandro , Ciliberti Nunzia , Biondi Carla , Manfredini Stefano , Vertuani Silvia
Published: May 2008

This review describes specific strategies for targeting to the central nervoussystem (CNS). Systemically administered drugs can reach the brain by crossing one of twophysiological barriers resistant to free diffusion of most molecules from blood to CNS: theendothelial blood-brain barrier or the epithelial blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. Thesetissues constitute both transport and enzymatic barriers. The most common strategy fordesigning effective prodrugs relies on the increase of parent drug lipophilicity. However,increasing lipophilicity without a concomitant increase in rate and selectivity of prodrugbioconversion in the brain will result in failure. In these regards, consideration of theenzymes present in brain tissue and in the barriers is essential for a successful approach.Nasal administration of lipophilic prodrugs can be a promising alternative non-invasiveroute to improve brain targeting of the parent drugs due to fast absorption and rapid onsetof drug action. The carrier-mediated absorption of drugs and prodrugs across epithelial andendothelial barriers is emerging as another novel trend in biotherapeutics. Several specifictransporters have been identified in boundary tissues between blood and CNScompartments. Some of them are involved in the active supply of nutrients and have been used to explore prodrug approaches with improved brain delivery. The feasibility of CNSuptake of appropriately designed prodrugs via these transporters is described in detail.
Facile Synthesis of Heterocycles via 2-Picolinium Bromide and Antimicrobial Activities of the Products
Authors: Darwish Elham S.
Published: May 2008

The 2-picolinium N-ylide 4, generated in situ from the N-acylmethyl-2-picolinium bromide 3, underwent cycloaddition to N-phenylmaleimide or carbon disulfideto give the corresponding cycloadducts 6 and 8, respectively similar reactions ofcompound 3 with some electron-deficient alkenes in the presence of MnO2 yielded theproducts 11 and 12. In addition, reaction of 4 with arylidene cyanothioacetamide andmalononitrile derivatives afforded the thiophene and aniline derivatives 15 and 17,respectively. Heating of picolinium bromide 3 with triethylamine in benzene furnished 2-(2-thienyl)indolizine (18). The structures of the isolated products were confirmed byelemental analysis as well as by 1H- and 13C-NMR, IR, and MS data. Both thestereochemistry and the regioselectivity of the studied reactions are discussed. Thebiological activity of the newly synthesized compounds was examined and showedpromising results.
Identification of Terfenadine as an Inhibitor of Human CD81-Receptor HCV-E2 Interaction: Synthesis and Structure Optimization
Authors: Holzer Marcel , Ziegler Sigrid , Albrecht Beatrice , Kronenberger Bernd , Kaul Artur , Bartenschlager Ralf , Kattner Lars , Klein Christian D. , Hartmann Rolf W.
Published: May 2008

Terfenadine (4-[4-(hydroxydiphenylmethyl)-1-piperidyl]-1-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-butan-1-ol) was identified in a biological screening to be a moderate inhibitor (27% inhibition) of the CD81-LEL–HCV-E2 interaction. To increase the observed biologicalactivity, 63 terfenadine derivates were synthesized via microwave assisted nucleophilicsubstitution. The prepared compounds were tested for their inhibitory potency by means ofa fluorescence labeled antibody assay using HUH7.5 cells. Distinct structure-activityrelationships could be derived. Optimization was successful, leading to 3g, identfied as themost potent compound (69 % inhibition). Experiments with viral particles revealed thatthere might be additional HCV infection reducing mechanisms.
Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Modeling of Dimeric PPI Analogues as Novel DNA Minor Groove Binders
Authors: Yang Yan-Hui , Wang Qing-He , Nie Han , Chen Hong , Cheng Mao-Sheng
Published: May 2008

A series of symmetrical dimeric proton pump inhibitor (PPI) analogues, designed as novel type DNA minor groove binders, was synthesized and evaluated for anti-tumor activity. Some of these new compounds showed IC50 values below 10 μM in an in vitro anti-tumor test. A molecular modeling study was performed to confirm the sequence selectivity of these compounds towards AT base pairs in DNA. Two effective compounds were selected and docked into the minor groove of DNA. The snug binding may be responsible for their cytotoxic and anti-tumor effects.
The genetic divergence of prehistoric populations of the south‐central Andes as established by means of craniometric traits
Authors: Varela Héctor H. , O'Brien Tyler G. , Cocilovo Jose A.
Published: May 2008

The peopling of the south‐central Andean region can be determined by exploring a combination of cultural, economic, and biological factors that influence the structure of populations and determine particular dispersals of gene frequencies. Quantitative characters from 1,586 adult crania of both sexes from northern Chile, northwestern Argentina, and the Cochabamba valleys in Bolivia were analyzed employing multivariate statistical analyses. Biological distances, representing phenotypic variation between these regions and their subregions, were studied within a population genetics framework. An analysis of Mahalanobis D2 distances establishes two principle directions of interaction: the first between the Cochabamba valleys and northern Chile, and the second between the Cochabamba region and northwestern Argentina. The Chile and Argentina regions are shown to be less related to each other than each is to the Bolivian region. A higher mean genetic divergence is found for the entire region (FST = 0.195); with northwestern Argentina having the highest spatial isolation (FST = 0.143) and northern Chile the lowest (FST = 0.061). These results allow us to propose a populating model based on the dispersion of several lines from a common ancestral population similar to those who inhabited the Cochabamba valleys. These lines differentiated themselves in time and space according to the effective size and the rate of gene flow, eventually producing the human groups which inhabited the valleys of northern Chile and northwestern Argentina. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Occupational physical activities and long‐term functional and radiographic outcomes in patients with ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: Ward Michael M. , Reveille John D. , Learch Thomas J. , Davis John C. , Weisman Michael H.
Published: May 2008

Objective

We sought to identify specific occupational activities associated with functional limitations and radiographic damage in patients with longstanding ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods

We asked patients diagnosed with AS for ≥20 years to report all past occupations, which we mapped to specific physical activities using the Occupational Information Network, which is the US Department of Labor job classification database. For each occupation reported, we obtained ratings for 13 physical abilities of the worker and 13 aspects of the work environment or work tasks (work context) thought to be most relevant to patients with AS. Averages for each measure, weighted by the number of years in each job, were related to the degree of functional limitation as assessed by the Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI) and to the extent of spinal radiographic damage as assessed by the Bath AS Radiology Index for the spine (BASRI‐s).

Results

Among 397 patients, those with a history of jobs requiring dynamic flexibility (the ability to repeatedly bend, stretch, twist, or reach) had more functional limitations than those whose past jobs required little or no dynamic flexibility (adjusted mean BASFI score 48.3 in the top quartile versus 38.1 in all others). Those whose past jobs required more dynamic flexibility, extent flexibility, and exposure to whole body vibration also had significantly higher BASRI‐s scores.

Conclusion

Bending, twisting, and stretching are the occupational activities associated with greater functional limitations and radiographic damage in patients with longstanding AS. Exposure to whole body vibration was also associated with more radiographic damage.
The relationship between affect balance style and clinical outcomes in fibromyalgia
Authors: Hassett Afton L. , Simonelli Laura E. , Radvanski Diane C. , Buyske Steven , Savage Shantal V. , Sigal Leonard H.
Published: May 2008

Objective

Affective balance, relative levels of negative affect (NA) and positive affect (PA), better describes emotional functioning than NA or PA alone. Affect balance styles and their relationship to clinical outcomes were compared between patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and controls.

Methods

FM patients (n = 79) were compared with patients with other medical conditions (controls; n = 92). Patients underwent a physical examination, completed questionnaires, and were screened for clinical disorders such as depression, with diagnoses confirmed by structured interview. Affect balance style categories were calculated as follows: healthy (high PA/low NA), low (low PA/low NA), reactive (high PA/high NA), and depressive (low PA/high NA).

Results

Compared with controls, FM patients had lower levels of PA (P = 0.0031; P values are adjusted for multiple testing), higher levels of NA (P = 0.0061), lower levels of functioning (P < 0.0001), and more clinical disorders (P = 0.0031). Groups differed regarding affect balance style (P = 0.0061), with FM patients being more likely than controls to be categorized as depressive (odds ratio 5.60) and reactive (odds ratio 3.81). FM patients and controls with reactive and depressive affect balance styles reported poorer functioning (P < 0.0001) compared with patients with healthy affect balance style. Finally, there was an association between affect balance style and psychiatric comorbidity (P < 0.0001), with patients with depressive and reactive affect balance styles having a 9.00 and 4.75 odds ratio, respectively, of having psychiatric comorbidity compared with patients with healthy affect balance style.

Conclusion

Depressive (low PA, high NA) and reactive (high PA, high NA) affect balance styles were predominant in FM patients and related to poor functioning and psychiatric comorbidity.
Development and validation of a needs‐based quality of life instrument for osteoarthritis
Authors: Keenan Anne‐Maree , Mckenna Stephen P. , Doward Lynda C. , Conaghan Philip G. , Emery Paul , Tennant Alan
Published: May 2008

Objective

To develop and validate a disease‐specific quality of life (QOL) measure for osteoarthritis (OA), the OAQoL, using the needs‐based conceptual model.

Methods

In the first phase of this study, in‐depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 44 OA patients to explore the issues associated with impact of OA and to derive items for a draft OAQoL questionnaire. In phase 2, 17 OA patients were interviewed on the relevance, clarity, and ease of completion of the measure in structured interviews. In phase 3, the draft questionnaire was mailed to 635 patients to test the psychometric properties of the questionnaire using Rasch analysis. Test–retest assessment of the revised questionnaire was performed in phase 4 by mailing the questionnaire to an additional 201 participants, with a second questionnaire repeated 2 weeks later.

Results

A 38‐item draft measure was devised during phase 1 and mailed in phase 2. Rasch analysis of the draft questionnaire (n = 259) indicated initial misfit, which was rectified with the removal of 13 problematic items (χ2[75] = 83.602, P = 0.232). For the test–retest assessment (n = 60), 3 additional items were removed, leaving a 22‐item OAQoL that demonstrated good fit to the Rasch model (χ2[44] = 44.559, P = 0.533) with excellent test–retest correlation (ρ = 0.925, P < 0.001; z = −0.06, P = 0.995).

Conclusion

The OAQoL is a simple and easy to use 22‐item unidimensional questionnaire developed specifically to assess the impact of OA on QOL. The measure has been developed as a true patient‐based questionnaire and demonstrates good psychometric properties, including test–retest reliability.
Improvement in patient‐reported outcomes in a rituximab trial in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis refractory to anti–tumor necrosis factor therapy
Authors: Keystone E. , Burmester G. R. , Furie R. , Loveless J. E. , Emery P. , Kremer J. , Tak P. P. , Broder M. S. , Yu E. , Cravets M. , Magrini F. , Jost F.
Published: May 2008

Objective

To assess the effects of treatment with rituximab plus methotrexate on patient‐reported outcomes in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who experienced inadequate response to anti–tumor necrosis factor therapy.

Methods

Patients with active RA were randomly assigned to rituximab (1,000 mg on days 1 and 15) or placebo. The primary end point was the proportion of patients with an American College of Rheumatology 20% response at week 24. Additional goals were to assess treatment effects on pain, fatigue, functional disability, health‐related quality of life, and disease activity by comparing mean changes between groups. The analysis was conducted in the intent‐to‐treat population. The proportion of patients who achieved the minimum clinically important difference on the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) disability index (DI), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Fatigue (FACIT‐F), and Short Form 36 (SF‐36) was determined.

Results

Rituximab patients had statistically significantly greater pain relief. The FACIT‐F showed significantly greater improvement in rituximab patients than placebo patients from weeks 12 through 24. Mean improvement from baseline in functional disability (measured by the HAQ DI) was significantly greater in rituximab patients from weeks 8 to 24. The mean ± SD change from baseline for the SF‐36 Physical Component Score was 6.64 ± 8.74 for rituximab patients and 1.48 ± 7.32 for placebo patients (P < 0.0001). The mean change from baseline for the SF‐36 Mental Component Score was 5.32 ± 12.41 for rituximab patients and 2.25 ± 12.23 for placebo patients (P = 0.0269).

Conclusion

Rituximab produced rapid, clinically meaningful, and statistically significant improvements in patient‐reported pain, fatigue, functional disability, health‐related quality of life, and disease activity. These effects were sustained throughout the study.
Incidence of melanoma and other malignancies among rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with methotrexate
Authors: Buchbinder Rachelle , Barber Melissa , Heuzenroeder Louise , Wluka Anita E. , Giles Graham , Hall Stephen , Harkness Andrew , Lewis Daniel , Littlejohn Geoff , Miller Marian H. , Ryan Peter F. J. , Jolley Damien
Published: May 2008

Objective

To determine cancer risk in a cohort of 459 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with methotrexate in community practice.

Methods

All RA patients who started methotrexate prior to June 1986 and were attending 1 of 6 rheumatologists were studied. Demographic data were matched to the State Cancer Registry to identify all malignancies (except nonmelanoma skin cancer) for 1983–1998, and to the National Death Index to identify all deaths to the end of 1999. Followup started on the date when methotrexate was started and ended either on the last confirmed date on which the patient was seen by the rheumatologist or at death. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated using state population cancer rates stratified by sex, age (in 5‐year groups), and calendar year.

Results

There were 4,145 person‐years of followup (average 9.3 years). Eighty‐seven malignancies were identified (14 before, 64 during, and 9 after the followup period). There was an estimated 50% excess risk of malignancy among methotrexate‐exposed RA patients relative to the general population (SIR 1.5, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.2–1.9), with a 3‐fold increase in melanoma (SIR 3.0, 95% CI 1.2–6.2), a 5‐fold increase in non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (SIR 5.1, 95% CI 2.2–10.0), and an almost 3‐fold increase in lung cancer (SIR 2.9, 95% CI 1.6–4.8).

Conclusion

Compared with the general population, methotrexate‐treated RA patients have an increased incidence of melanoma, non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma, and lung cancer. There may be a role for regular skin cancer screening for all RA patients, particularly those receiving immunosuppressive therapy.
Acute radio frequency irradiation does not affect cell cycle, cellular migration, and invasion
Authors: Lee Je‐Jung , Kwak Hee‐Jin , Lee Yun‐Mi , Lee Joong‐Won , Park Myung‐Jin , Ko Young‐Gyu , Choi Hyung‐Do , Kim Nam , Pack Jeong‐Ki , Hong Seok‐Il , Lee Jae‐Seon
Published: May 2008

Although in vitro studies have been previously conducted to determine the biological effects of radio frequency (RF) radiation, it has not yet been determined whether or not RF radiation poses a potential hazard. This study was conducted to determine whether RF radiation exposure exerts detectable effects on cell cycle distribution, cellular invasion, and migration. NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts were exposed to 849 MHz of RF radiation at average SAR values of 2 or 10 W/kg for either 1 h, or for 1 h per day for 3 days. During the exposure period, the temperature in the exposure chamber was maintained isothermally by circulating water throughout the cavity. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed at 24 and 48 h after exposure, by flow cytometry. We detected no statistically significant differences between the sham‐exposed and RF radiation‐exposed cells. Cellular invasion and migration were assessed by in vitro Matrigel invasion and Transwell migration assays. The RF radiation‐exposed groups evidenced no significant changes in motility and invasiveness compared to the sham‐exposed group. However, the ionizing radiation‐exposed cells, used as a positive control group, manifested dramatic alterations in their cell cycle distribution, cellular invasiveness, and migration characteristics. Our results show that 849 MHz RF radiation exposure exerts no detectable effects on cell cycle distribution, cellular migration, or invasion at average SAR values of 2 or 10 W/kg. Bioelectromagnetics 29:615–625, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Spindle disturbances in human‐hamster hybrid (AL) cells induced by mobile communication frequency range signals
Authors: Schrader Thorsten , Münter Klaus , Kleine‐Ostmann Thomas , Schmid Ernst
Published: May 2008

The production of spindle disturbances in FC2 cells, a human‐hamster hybrid (AL) cell line, by non‐ionizing radiation was studied using an electromagnetic field with a field strength of 90 V/m at a frequency of 835 MHz. Due to the given experimental conditions slide flask cultures were exposed at room temperature in a µTEM (transversal electromagnetic field) cell, which allows optimal experimental conditions for small samples of biological material. Numerical calculations suggest that specific absorption rates of up to 60 mW/kg are reached for maximum field exposure. All exposure field parameters—either measured or calculable—are precisely defined and, for the first time, traceable to the standards of the SI system of physical units. Compared with co‐incident negative controls, the results of two independently performed experiments suggest that exposure periods of time from 0.5 to 2 h with an electric field strength of 90 V/m are spindle acting agents as predominately indicated by the appearance of spindle disturbances at the ana‐ and telophase stages (especially lagging and non‐disjunction of single chromosomes) of cell divisions. The spindle disturbances do not change the fraction of mitotic cells with increasing exposure time up to 2 h. Due to the applied experimental conditions an influence of temperature as a confounder parameter for spindle disturbances can be excluded. Bioelectromagnetics 29:626–639, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF‐EMFs) induce in vitro angiogenesis process in human endothelial cells
Authors: Delle Monache Simona , Alessandro Riccardo , Iorio Roberto , Gualtieri Giancaterino , Colonna Rosella
Published: May 2008

Effects of extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on activation of angiogenesis were analysed using cultured umbilical human vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The cultures were exposed to a sinusoidal EMF to intensity of 1 mT, 50 Hz for up to 12 h. EMFs increased the degree of endothelial cell proliferation and tubule formation, coupled by an acceleration in the process of wound healing. Since this process is physiologically accompanied by a large modification in the structural organization of actin and focal adhesions, we analyzed the rearrangement of some cytoskeleton elements demonstrating a major reorganization of the fibres and of the focal adhesion complexes after EMF exposure. Finally, Western blot analysis revealed a significant increase in phosphorylation as well as the overall expression of VEGF receptor 2 (KDR/Flk‐1) suggesting that EMFs may modulate in vitro some endothelial functions correlated to angiogenesis through signal transduction pathways dependent on VEGF. Bioelectromagnetics 29:640–648, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Antioxidant protection during ageing and senescence in chloroplasts of tobacco with modulated life span
Authors: Procházková Dagmar , Haisel Daniel , Wilhelmová Nad'a
Published: May 2008

We studied changes in antioxidant protection during ageing and senescence in chloroplasts of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L., cv. Wisconsin) with introduced SAG12 promoter fused with ipt gene for cytokinin synthesis (transgenic plants with increased levels of cytokinins, SAG) or without it (control). Old leaves of SAG plants as well as their chloroplasts maintained higher physiological parameters compared to controls; accordingly, we concluded that their ageing was diverted due to increased cytokinin content. The chloroplast antioxidant protection did not decrease as well. Although antioxidant protection usually decreased in whole leaves of senescing control plants, ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) activity, which maintained the high redox state of ascorbate, increased in chloroplasts of old control leaves. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Molecular Orbital Rationalization of Ligand Effects in N2 Activation
Authors: Ariafard Alireza , Brookes Nigel J , Stranger Robert , Yates Brian F
Published: May 2008

Molecular orbital theory has been used to study a series of [(μ‐N2){ML3}2] complexes as models for dinitrogen activation, with M=Mo, Ta, W, Re and L=NH2, PH2, AsH2, SbH2 and N(BH2)2. The main aims of this study have been to provide a thorough electronic analysis of the complexes and to extend previous work involving molecular orbital analyses. Molecular orbital diagrams have been used to rationalize why for L=NH2 ligand rotation is important for the singlet state but not the triplet, to confirm the effect of ligand π donation, and to rationalize the importance of the metal d‐electron configuration. The outcomes of this study will assist with a more in‐depth understanding of the electronic basis for N2 activation and allow clearer predictions to be made about the structure and multiplicity of systems involved in transition‐metal catalysis.
Plasticity of lumbosacral propriospinal neurons is associated with the development of autonomic dysreflexia after thoracic spinal cord transection
Authors: Hou Shaoping , Duale Hanad , Cameron Adrian A. , Abshire Sarah M. , Lyttle Travis S. , Rabchevsky Alexander G.
Published: May 2008

Complete thoracic (T) spinal cord injury (SCI) above the T6 level typically results in autonomic dysreflexia, an abnormal hypertensive condition commonly triggered by nociceptive stimuli below the level of SCI. Overexpression of nerve growth factor in the lumbosacral spinal cord induces profuse sprouting of nociceptive pelvic visceral afferent fibers that correlates with increased hypertension in response to noxious colorectal distension. After complete T4 SCI, we evaluated the plasticity of propriospinal neurons conveying visceral input rostrally to thoracic sympathetic preganglionic neurons. The anterograde tracer biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) was injected into the lumbosacral dorsal gray commissure (DGC) of injured/nontransected rats immediately after injury (acute) or 2 weeks later (delayed). At 1 or 2 weeks after delayed or acute injections, respectively, a higher density (P < 0.05) of BDA+ fibers was found in thoracic dorsal gray matter of injured vs. nontransected spinal cords. For corroboration, fast blue (FB) or cholera toxin subunit beta (CTb) was injected into the T9 dorsal horns 2 weeks postinjury/nontransection. After 1 week transport, more retrogradely labeled (P < 0.05) DGC propriospinal neurons (T13–S1) were quantified in injured vs. nontransected cords. We also monitored immediate early gene c‐fos expression following colorectal distension and found increased (P < 0.01) c‐Fos+ cell numbers throughout the DGC after injury. Collectively, these results imply that, in conjunction with local primary afferent fiber plasticity, injury‐induced sprouting of DGC neurons may be a key constituent in relaying visceral sensory input to sympathetic preganglionic neurons that elicit autonomic dysreflexia after high thoracic SCI. J. Comp. Neurol. 509:382–399, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Dawson‐Type Dirhenium(V)‐Oxido‐Bridged Polyoxotungstate: X‐ray Crystal Structure and Hydrogen Evolution from Water Vapor under Visible Light Irradiation
Authors: Kato Chika Nozaki , Hara Kazunobu , Hatano Ayumi , Goto Kazuhiro , Kuribayashi Tomonori , Hayashi Kunihiko , Shinohara Akira , Kataoka Yusuke , Mori Wasuke , Nomiya Kenji
Published: May 2008

The synthesis and crystal structure of a Dawson‐type dirhenium(V)‐oxido‐bridged polyoxotungstate are described. The potassium salt K14[O{ReV(OH)(α2‐P2W17O61)}2]·21H2O (K‐1) was obtained as analytically pure, homogeneous, black‐purple crystals by the reaction of a monolacunary Dawson polyoxotungstate with [ReIVCl6]2– in water, followed by crystallization from an aqueous HCl solution in the dark. Single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis revealed that the dimeric dirhenium(V)‐oxido‐bridged structure has overall C2h symmetry. Characterization of K‐1 was also accomplished by elemental analysis, TG/DTA, and FTIR, UV/Vis absorption, ESR, and solution 31P NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the black‐purple compound K‐1 was grafted onto a TiO2 surface by electrostatic binding to give TiO2 with a cationic quaternaryammonium moiety (1‐grafted TiO2). Elemental analysis of 1‐grafted TiO2 indicated that the seven potassium counterions of K‐1 were ion‐exchanged with seven cationic ammonium moieties to form {TiO2}5500[≡Si(CH2)3N(CH3)3Cl]7[≡Si(CH2)3N+(CH3)3]7(K7[O{Re(OH)(α2‐P2W17O61)}2]7–) and seven molecules of KCl. The diffuse reflectance (DR) UV/Vis spectrum of 1‐grafted TiO2 exhibited two sharp bands at 496 nm and 751 nm due to the ReV→WVI intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) band and the d–d band of the rhenium(V) atom, respectively, in the visible light region, which suggestedthat polyoxoanion 1 was isolated on the TiO2 surface. With 1‐grafted TiO2, hydrogen evolution from water vapor under irradiation with visible light (>400 nm and >420 nm) was achieved. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)