bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Traumatic hand amputations among children in Greece: epidemiology and prevention potential
Authors: Panagopoulou Paraskevi , Antonopoulos Constantine N , Iakovakis Ilias , Dessypris Nick , Gkiokas Andreas , Pasparakis Dimitrios , Michelakos Theodoros , Kanavidis Prodromos , Soucacos Panayotis N , Petridou Eleni Th
Published: December 2011

Background

Traumatic hand and finger amputations frequently lead to permanent disability.

Objective

To investigate their epidemiological characteristics and estimate the prevention potential among children 0–14 years old, through a cross-sectional survey.

Methods

Nationwide extrapolations were produced based on data recorded between 1996 and 2004 in the Greek Emergency Department Injury Surveillance System and existing sample weights. Incident and injury related characteristics were analysed to identify preventable causes.

Results

Among 197 417 paediatric injuries, 28 225(14%) involved the hand and fingers resulting in 236 amputations (∼1% of hand injuries). The annual probability to seek emergency department care for a hand injury was 3%. The estimated incidence rate (IR) of hand amputations was 19.7/100 000 person-years. Over 50% concerned children 0–4 years old (male:female=2:1), peaking at 12–24 months. Male preschoolers suffered the highest IR (38.7/100 000). Migrant children were overrepresented among amputees. Of all amputations, 64% occurred in the house/garden and 14% in day-care/school/sports activities, usually between 08:00 and 16:00 (61%). Doors were the product most commonly involved (55% overall; 72% in day-care/school/gym) followed by furniture/appliances (15%) and machinery/tools (7%). Crushing was the commonest mechanism. Inadequate supervision and preventive measures were also frequently reported. 5% of the amputees were referred to specialised units for replantation/reconstructive surgery.

Conclusions

The majority of paediatric hand and finger amputations could be prevented in Greece, particularly among preschoolers, by a single product modification, namely door closure systems, coupled with improved supervision. Paediatricians should incorporate this advice into their routine child-safety counselling. This country-specific profile supports the need for maintaining similar databases as an indispensable tool for assisting decision-making and preventing disabling and costly injuries.
PATHWAY REGULATORY ANALYSIS IN THE CONTEXT OF BAYESIAN NETWORKS USING THE COEFFICIENT OF DETERMINATION
Authors: ZHAO CHEN , IVANOV IVAN , BITTNER MICHAEL L. , DOUGHERTY EDWARD R.
Published: December 2011

To effectively intervene when cells are trapped in pathological modes of operation it is necessary to build models that capture relevant network structure and include characterization of dynamical changes within the system. The model must be of sufficient detail that it facilitates the selection of intervention points where pathological cell behavior arising from improper regulation can be stopped. What is known about this type of cellular decision-making is consistent with the general expectations associated with any kind of decision-making operation. If the result of a decision at one node is serially transmitted to other nodes, resetting their states, then the process may suffer from mechanistic inefficiencies of transmission or from blockage or activation of transmission through the action of other nodes acting on the same node. A standard signal-processing network model, Bayesian networks, can model these properties. This paper employs a Bayesian tree model to characterize conditional pathway logic and quantify the effects of different branching patterns, signal transmission efficiencies and levels of alternate or redundant inputs. In particular, it characterizes master genes and canalizing genes within the quantitative framework. The model is also used to examine what inferences about the network structure can be made when perturbations are applied to various points in the network.
Guest column
Authors: Chen X.
Published: December 2011

The complexity of counting problems has been studied intensively over the years. During the past decade, significant progress has taken place and a series of successively more powerful complexity dichotomies have been discovered. Given a class of counting problems, a dichotomy states that every problem in the class is either in polynomial time or #P-hard. In this guest column, we briefly survey two threads of recent developments in counting graph homomorphisms and the counting constraint satisfaction problem.
Utilization of the Safe Surgical Dislocation Approach of the Hip to Retrieve a Bullet from the Femoral Head
Authors: Delaney Ruth , Albright Maurice , Rebello Gleeson
Published: December 2011

Retained intra-articular missiles from low-velocity handguns can lead to mechanical arthritis, synovitis, and lead toxicity. Various surgical approaches have been described to extract such foreign bodies from the hip joint. We present the case of a 17-year-old male in which the surgical dislocation approach was utilized to retrieve a bullet from the femoral head with a good short-term outcome. This case represents a rare application of the surgical hip dislocation approach for an unusual trauma.
Integrative Structural Biomechanical Concepts of Ankylosing Spondylitis
Authors: Masi Alfonse T. , Nair Kalyani , Andonian Brian J. , Prus Kristina M. , Kelly Joseph , Sanchez Jose R. , Henderson Jacqueline
Published: December 2011

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is not fully explained by inflammatory processes. Clinical, epidemiological, genetic, and course of disease features indicate additional host-related risk processes and predispositions. Collectively, the pattern of predisposition to onset in adolescent and young adult ages, male preponderance, and widely varied severity of AS is unique among rheumatic diseases. However, this pattern could reflect biomechanical and structural differences between the sexes, naturally occurring musculoskeletal changes over life cycles, and a population polymorphism. During juvenile development, the body is more flexible and weaker than during adolescent maturation and young adulthood, when strengthening and stiffening considerably increase. During middle and later ages, the musculoskeletal system again weakens. The novel concept of an innate axial myofascial hypertonicity reflects basic mechanobiological principles in human function, tissue reactivity, and pathology. However, these processes have been little studied and require critical testing. The proposed physical mechanisms likely interact with recognized immunobiological pathways. The structural biomechanical processes and tissue reactions might possibly precede initiation of other AS-related pathways. Research in the combined structural mechanobiology and immunobiology processes promises to improve understanding of the initiation and perpetuation of AS than prevailing concepts. The combined processes might better explain characteristic enthesopathic and inflammatory processes in AS.
Stochastic Modeling of Rainfall in Peninsular Malaysia Using Bartlett Lewis Rectangular Pulses Models
Authors: Suliman Hanaish Ibrahim , Ibrahim Kamarulzaman , Jemain Abdul Aziz
Published: December 2011

Three versions of Bartlett Lewis rectangular pulse rainfall models, namely, the Original Bartlett Lewis (OBL), Modified Bartlett Lewis (MBL), and 2N‐cell‐type Bartlett Lewis model (BL2n), are considered. These models are fitted to the hourly rainfall data from 1970 to 2008 obtained from Petaling Jaya rain gauge station, located in Peninsular Malaysia. The generalized method of moments is used to estimate the model parameters. Under this method, minimization of two different objective functions which involve different weight functions, one weight is inversely proportional to the variance and another one is inversely proportional to the mean squared, is carried out using Nelder‐Mead optimization technique. For the purpose of comparison of the performance of the three different models, the results found for the months of July and November are used for illustration. This performance is assessed based on the goodness of fit of the models. In addition, the sensitivity of the parameter estimates to the choice of the objective function is also investigated. It is found that BL2n slightly outperforms OBL. However, the best model is the Modified Bartlett Lewis MBL, particularly when the objective function considered involves weight which is inversely proportional to the variance.
Regulatory T‐Cell‐Associated Cytokines in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Okamoto Akiko , Fujio Keishi , Okamura Tomohisa , Yamamoto Kazuhiko
Published: December 2011

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibody production, complement activation, and immune complex deposition, resulting in tissue and organ damage. An understanding of the mechanisms responsible for homeostatic control of inflammation, which involve both innate and adoptive immune responses, will enable the development of novel therapies for SLE. Regulatory T cells (Treg) play critical roles in the induction of peripheral tolerance to self‐ and foreign antigens. Naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ Treg, which characteristically express the transcription factor forkhead box protein P3 (Foxp3), have been intensively studied because their deficiency abrogates self‐tolerance and causes autoimmune disease. Moreover, regulatory cytokines such as interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) also play a central role in controlling inflammatory processes. This paper focuses on Tregs and Treg‐associated cytokines which might regulate the pathogenesis of SLE and, hence, have clinical applications.
Noncompliance with Medical Regimen in Haemodialysis Treatment: A Case Study
Authors: Theofilou Paraskevi
Published: December 2011

Patients undergoing haemodialysis treatment have a high burden of disease (particularly cardiovascular comorbidities) affecting their quality of life and dramatically shortening life expectancy. Effective chronic kidney disease (CKD) control requires regular preventive medication and a response to that medication. Poor receptiveness to CKD medication can be related to individual variability in the dose needed to achieve a response, as well as to low-adherent behaviour in relation to the CKD medication regimen. Some patients, though not many, according to studies' findings, abuse the medical regimen as a result of suicidal tendencies. The present case gave us the opportunity to consider the causes and clinical findings and review the specific psychological interventions for patients with CKD.
An Inequality of Meromorphic Vector Functions and Its Application
Authors: Zhaojun Wu , Yuxian Chen
Published: December 2011

Firstly, an inequality for vector‐valued meromorphic functions is established which extend a corresponding inequality of Milloux for meromorphic scalar‐valued function (1946). As an application, the relationship between the characteristic function of a vector‐valued meromorphic function f and its derivative f′ is studied, results are obtained to extend some related results for meromorphic scalar‐valued function of Weitsman (1969) and Singh and Gopalakrishna (1971).
The Therapeutic Effect of Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells on Pancreatic Cancer Enhanced by Dendritic Cells Pulsed with K-Ras Mutant Peptide
Authors: Tan Guang , Zhang Xin , Feng Hongbo , Luo Haifeng , Wang Zhongyu
Published: December 2011

Objective. This study is to investigate the role of the CIKs cocultured with K-ras-DCs in killing of pancreatic cancer cell lines, PANC-1 (K-ras+) and SW1990 (K-ras−).Methods. CIKs induced by IFN-γ, IL-2, and anti-CD3 monoantibody, K-ras-DCCIKs obtained by cocultivation of k-ras-DCs and CIKs. Surface markers examined by FACS. IFN-γIL-12 ,CCL19 and CCL22 detected by ELISA. Proliferation of various CIKs tested via 3H-TdR. Killing activities of k-ras-DCCIKs and CTLs examined with 125IUdR.Results. CD3+CD56+and CD3+CD8+were highly expressed by K-ras-DCCIKs. In its supernatant, IFN-γ, IL-12, CCL19 and CCL22 were significantly higher than those in DCCIK and CIK. The killing rate of K-ras-DCCIK was greater than those of CIK and CTL. CTL induced by K-ras-DCs only inhibited the PANC-1 cells.Conclusions. The k-ras-DC can enhance CIK's proliferation and increase the killing effect on pancreatic cancer cell. The CTLs induced by K-ras-DC can only inhibit PANC-1 cells. In this study, K-ras-DCCIKs also show the specific inhibition to PANC-1 cells, their tumor suppression is almost same with the CTLs, their total tumor inhibitory efficiency is higher than that of the CTLs.
Mechanical Performance of Actuators in an Active Orthosis for the Upper Extremities
Authors: Wiegand Roland , Schmitz Bastian , Pylatiuk Christian , Schulz Stefan
Published: December 2011

The aim of the project OrthoJacket is to develop a lightweight, portable, and active orthosis for the upper limps. The system consists of two special designed fluidic actuators which are used for supporting the elbow function and the internal rotation of the shoulder. A new design of flexible fluid actuator (FFA) is presented that enables more design options of attaching parts, as it is allowed by conventional actuators with a stationary centre of rotation. This advantage and the inherent flexibility and the low weight of this kind of actuator predestined them for the use in exoskeletons, orthoses, and prostheses. The actuator for the elbow generates a maximum torque of 32 Nm; the internal rotation is supported with 7 Nm. Both actuators support the movement with up to 100% of the necessary power. The shells for the arm and forearm are made of carbon reinforced structures in combination with inflatable cushions.
Polymer Characterization by Combined Chromatography‐Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Dwyer James L. , Zhou Ming
Published: December 2011

Infrared spectroscopy is widely used in the analysis and characterization of polymers. Polymer products are not a singular species, but rather, they are a population of polymer molecules varying in composition and configuration plus other added components. This paper describes instrumentation that provides the benefit or resolving polymer populations into discrete identifiable entities, by combining chromatographic separation with continuous spectra acquisition. The technology also provides a way to determine the mass distribution of discrete components across the chromatographic distribution of a sample. Various examples of application of this technology to polymer products are described. Examples include additives analysis, resolution of polymer blends, composition characterization of copolymers, analysis of degradation byproducts, and techniques of analysis of reactive polymer systems.
Combining Many-Body Perturbation and Quantum Electrodynamics
Authors: Lindgren Ingvar , Salomonson Sten , Hedendahl Daniel
Published: December 2011

It has been a long-sought problem to be able to combine many-body perturbation theory and quantum electrodynamics into a unified, covariant model. Such a model has recently been developed at our laboratory and is outlined in the present paper. The model has potential applications in many areas and opens up the possibility of studying the interplay between various interactions in different system. The model has so far been applied to highly ionized helium-like ions, and some numerical results are given. It is expected that the combined effect—that has never been calculated before—could have a significant effect on certain experimental data. The radiative effects are being regularized using the dimensional regularization in Coulomb gauge, and the first numerical results have been obtained.
Immunomodulatory Role ofOcimum gratissimumand Ascorbic Acid against Nicotine-Induced Murine Peritoneal MacrophagesIn Vitro
Authors: Mahapatra Santanu Kar , Chakraborty Subhankari Prasad , Roy Somenath
Published: December 2011

The aim of this present study was to evaluate the immune functions and immune responses in nicotine-induced (10 mM) macrophages and concurrently establish the immunomodulatory role of aqueous extract ofOcimum gratissimum(Ae-Og) and ascorbic acid. In this study, nitrite generations and some phenotype functions by macrophages were studied. Beside that, release of Th1 cytokines (TNF-α, IL-12) and Th2 cytokines (IL-10, TGF-β) was measured by ELISA, and the expression of these cytokines at mRNA level was analyzed by real-time PCR. Ae-Og, at a dose of 10 μg/mL, significantly reduced the nicotine-induced NO generation and iNOSII expression. Similar kinds of response were observed with supplementation of ascorbic acid (0.01 mM). The administration of Ae-Og and ascorbic acid increased the decreased adherence, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and intracellular killing of bacteria in nicotine-treated macrophages. Ae-Og and ascorbic acid were found to protect the murine peritoneal macrophages through downregulation of Th1 cytokines in nicotine-treated macrophages with concurrent activation of Th2 responses. These findings strongly enhanced our understanding of the molecular mechanism leading to nicotine-induced suppression of immune functions and provide additional rationale for application of anti-inflammatory therapeutic approaches byO. gratissimumand ascorbic acid for different inflammatory disease prevention and treatment during nicotine toxicity.
Numerical Simulation for Thermal Shock Resistance of Ultra-High Temperature Ceramics Considering the Effects of Initial Stress Field
Authors: Li Weiguo , Cheng Tianbao , Li Dingyu , Fang Daining
Published: December 2011

Taking the hafnium diboride ceramic as an example, the effects of heating rate, cooling rate, thermal shock initial temperature, and external constraint on the thermal shock resistance (TSR) of ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) were studied through numerical simulation in this paper. The results show that the external constraint has an approximately linear influence on the critical rupture temperature difference of UHTCs. The external constraint prepares a compressive stress field in the structure because of the predefined temperature field, and this compressive stress field relieves the tension stress in the structure when it is cooled down and then it improves the TSR of UHTCs. As the thermal shock initial temperature, a danger heating rate (or cooling rate) exists where the critical temperature difference is the lowest.
Peripheral Arterial Disease in Patients Presenting with Acute Coronary Syndrome in Six Middle Eastern Countries
Authors: Al-Thani Hassan A. , El-Menyar Ayman , Zubaid Mohammad , Rashed Wafa A. , Ridha Mustafa , Almahmeed Wael , Sulaiman Kadhim , Al-Motarreb Ahmed , Amin Haitham , Al Suwaidi Jassim
Published: December 2011

To describe prevalence and impact of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), data were collected over 5 months from 6 Middle Eastern countries. Patients were divided into 2 groups (with and without PAD). Out of 6705 consecutive ACS patients, PAD was reported in 177 patients. In comparison to non-PAD, PAD patients were older and more likely to have cardiovascular risk factors. They were more likely to have high Killip class, high GRACE risk score, and non-ST elevation ACS (NSTEACS) at presentation. Thrombolytics, antiplatelet use, and coronary intervention were comparable in both groups. When presented with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), patients with PAD had worse outcomes, while in NSTEACS; PAD was associated with higher rate of heart failure in comparison to non-PAD patients. In diabetics, PAD was associated with 2-fold increase in mortality when compared to non-PAD (P=0.028). After adjustment, PAD was associated with high mortality in STEMI (adjusted OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.23–5.65,P=0.01). Prevalence of PAD in ACS in the Gulf region is low. Patients with PAD and ACS constitute a high risk group and require more attention. PAD in patients with STEMI is an independent predictor of in-hospital death.
The Possibilities of Fission Material Reproduction Increase in Thermal Reactor with the Assemblies with a Hard Neutron Spectrum
Authors: Kotov Vladimir M. , Sergeeva Anna S. , Irkimbekov Ruslan A. , Suprunov Vladislav I.
Published: December 2011

This paper addresses the problem of fission material reproduction increase in thermal reactors. Reproduction increase is achieved while decreasing the fission material content in the fuel. In that case, a decrease of neutron loss in construction materials and a neutron leakage decrease are required for obtaining reactor criticality. Effectiveness of the reactor functioning can be increased by the use of additional neutron sources, for example, n‐2n reaction in beryllium framing.
The possibility of additional neutron source development with the use of fast neutrons with an energy distribution close to the fission spectrum in the major part of thermal reactor core is researched in this paper.
Histology of the LarvalNeodiprion abietis(Hymenoptera: Diprionidae) Digestive Tract
Authors: Lucarotti Christopher J. , Whittome-Waygood Beatrixe H. , Levin David B.
Published: December 2011

The alimentary canal ofNeodiprion abietislarvae is a straight tube divided into foregut, midgut, and hindgut. Posterior to the mouth, the foregut is further divided into the pharynx, esophagus (crop), and proventriculus, all of which are lined with cuticle. A pair of muscular, chitin-lined pouches branch off the anterior foregut and lie lateral to the alimentary canal. Gastric caeca are located at the anterior end of the midgut, where the peritrophic membrane is formed and was observed throughout the midgut. A single layer of midgut columnar epithelial cells abuts on the basal lamina at one end with microvilli extending into the gut lumen at the other. Nidi of regenerative cells were observed between columnar epithelial cells at the basal lamina. Malpighian tubules are attached to the posterior end of the midgut. The hindgut consists of the pylorus, a muscular ileum connecting to a bulbous rectum, which then opens to the anus.
Human Polymorphisms as Clinical Predictors in Leprosy
Authors: Prado Montes de Oca Ernesto
Published: December 2011

Genetic and serum markers in human host can predict leprosy susceptibilityper seas well as be useful in classification and/or prediction of clinical variants and immunological responses in leprosy. Adequate and timely assessment of potential risks associated with these 38 host leprosy genes could diminish epidemiological burden and improve life quality of patients with this still prevalent mycobacterial disease.
Attempted Depletion of Passenger Leukocytes by Irradiation in Pigs
Authors: Tai Hao-Chih , Zhu Xiaocheng , Lin Yih Jyh , Hara Hidetaka , Ezzelarab Mohamed , Epperley Michael , Quader Mubina A. , Cooper David K. C.
Published: December 2011

Allograft/xenograft rejection is associated with “passenger leukocyte” migration from the organ into recipient lymph nodes. In Study 1, we attempted to deplete leukocytes from potential kidney “donor” pigs, using two regimens of total body irradiation. A dose of 700 cGy was administered, followed by either 800 cGy (“low-dose”) or 1,300 cGy (“high dose”) with the kidneys shielded. Neither regimen was entirely successful in depleting all leukocytes, although remaining T and 8 cell numbers were negligible. Study 2 was aimed at providing an indication of whether near-complete depletion of leukocytes had any major impact on kidney allograft survival. In non-immunosuppressed recipient pigs, survival of a kidney from a donor that received high-dose irradiation was compared with that of a kidney taken from a non-irradiated donor. Kidney graft survival was 9 and 7 days, respectively, suggesting that depletion had little impact on graft survival. The lack of effect may have been related to (i) inadequate depletion of passenger leukocytes, thus not preventing a direct T cell response, (ii) the presence of dead or dying leukocytes (antigens), thus not preventing an indirect T cell response, or (iii) constitutive expression of MHC class II and B7 molecules on the porcine vascular endothelium, activating recipient T cells.
Development of an Oral Form of Azacytidine: Triacetyl-5-Azacytidine
Authors: Ziemba Amy , Hayes Eugene , Freeman Burgess B. , Ye Tao , Pizzorno Giuseppe
Published: December 2011

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) represent a group of incurable stem-cell malignancies which are predominantly treated by supportive care. Epigenetic silencing through promoter methylation of a number of genes is present in poor-risk subtypes of MDS and often predicts transformation to acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Azacitidine and decitabine, two FDA-approved DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitors, are able to improve overall response although their oral bioavailability complicates their clinical use. This study evaluated -triacetyl-5-azacitidine (TAC) as a potential prodrug for azacitidine. The prodrug demonstrated significant pharmacokinetic improvements in bioavailability, solubility, and stability over the parent compound. In vivo analyses indicated a lack of general toxicity coupled with significantly improved survival. Pharmacodynamic analyses confirmed its ability to suppress global methylation in vivo. These data indicate that esterified nucleoside derivatives may be effective prodrugs for azacitidine and encourages further investigation of TAC into its metabolism, activity, and possible clinical evaluation.
Observations of Correlated Behavior of Two Light Torsion Balances and a Paraconical Pendulum in Separate Locations during the Solar Eclipse of January 26th, 2009
Authors: Pugach A. F. , Olenici D.
Published: December 2011

On January 26th, 2009, simultaneous observations of the reactions of two very light torsion balances (Kiev, Ukraine) and a paraconical pendulum (Suceava, Romania, 440 km away) were performed during a solar eclipse that was not visible at those locations but only in the Indian Ocean. Significant correlation between the behavior of the torsion balances and the pendulum was observed. The conclusion is that a solar eclipse influences the reactions of torsion balances and pendulums, even in areas of the Earth where it is not optically visible.
Differing Pattern of Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Very Elderly Men Expresses Dynamics in Atherosclerotic Load in the Senescence
Authors: Siennicki-Lantz Arkadiusz , Elmståhl Sölve
Published: December 2011

To assess an impact of vascular risk factors on ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) in the elderly, we followed up a population-based cohort of men from 68 until 82 years, when 104 survivors underwent ABPM.Results. At age 68, hypertension and high clinic blood pressure (CBP) did not predict ABPM level. Smoking and low ankle-brachial index (ABI) predicted higher ABPM variability and pulse pressure (PP), but not absolute ABPM values. At age 82, hypertension, high or increasing CBP, strongly positively correlated with all variables of ABPM. Carotid stenosis, low or declining ABI during followup, correlated with higher nocturnal ABPM and PP.Concluding. Hypertension and vascular risk factors in a cohort of 68-year-old men do not result in higher ABPM at age 82, possibly due to inflection point in their pressure development. Higher ABPM reflects instead an increasing CBP and aggravating atherosclerosis during the preceding decade in that part of the cohort with previously favorable risk factor status.
Prevention of Sepsis in Children: A New Paradigm for Public Policy
Authors: Riley Carley , Wheeler Derek S.
Published: December 2011

Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. While the management of critically ill patients with sepsis is certainly better now compared to 20 years ago, sepsis-associated mortality remains unacceptably high. Annual deaths from sepsis in both children and adults far surpass the number of deaths from acute myocardial infarction (AMI), stroke, or cancer. Given the substantial toll that sepsis takes worldwide, prevention of sepsis remains a global priority. Multiple effective prevention strategies exist. Antibiotic prophylaxis, immunizations, and healthcare quality improvement initiatives are important means through which we may reduce the morbidity and mortality from sepsis around the world. Inclusion of these strategies in a coordinated and thoughtful campaign to reduce the global burden of sepsis is necessary for the improvement of pediatric health worldwide.
Development of Anti-VEGF Therapies for Intraocular Use: A Guide for Clinicians
Authors: Keane Pearse A. , Sadda Srinivas R.
Published: December 2011

Angiogenesis is the process by which new blood vessels form from existing vessel networks. In the past three decades, significant progress has been made in our understanding of angiogenesis; progress driven in large part by the increasing realization that blood vessel growth can promote or facilitate disease. By the early 1990s, it had become clear that the recently discovered “vascular endothelial growth factor” (VEGF) was a powerful mediator of angiogenesis. As a result, several groups targeted this molecule as a potential mediator of retinal ischemia-induced neovascularization in disorders such as diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion. Around this time, it also became clear that increased intraocular VEGF production was not limited to ischemic retinal diseases but was also a feature of choroidal vascular diseases such as neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Thus, a new therapeutic era emerged, utilizing VEGF blockade for the management of chorioretinal diseases characterized by vascular hyperpermeability and/or neovascularization. In this review, we provide a guide for clinicians on the development of anti-VEGF therapies for intraocular use.
Current Operative Management of Breast Cancer: An Age of Smaller Resections and Bigger Cures
Authors: Rostas Jack W. , Dyess Donna Lynn
Published: December 2011

Surgical resection was the first effective treatment for breast cancer and remains the most important treatment modality for curative intent. Refinements in operative techniques along with the use of adjuvant radiotherapy and advanced chemotherapeutic agents have facilitated increasingly focused breast cancer operations. Surgical management of breast cancer has shifted from extensive and highly morbid procedures, to the modern concept obtaining the best possible cosmetic result in tandem with the appropriate oncological resection. An ever-growing comprehension of breast cancer biology has led to substantial advances in molecular diagnosis and targeted therapies. An emerging frontier involves the breast cancer microenvironment, as a thorough understanding, while currently lacking, represents a critical opportunity for diagnosis and treatment. Collectively, these improvements will continue to push all therapeutic interventions, including operative, toward the goal of becoming more focused, targeted, and less morbid.
On Exponential Stability Conditions of Descriptor Systems with Time‐Varying Delay
Authors: Cong S. , Sheng Z.-B.
Published: December 2011

We are interested in the exponential stability of the descriptor system, which is composed of the slow and fast subsystems with time‐varying delay. In computing a kind of Lyapunov functional, we employ a necessary number of slack matrices to render the balance and to yield the convexity condition for reducing the conservatism and dealing with the case of time‐varying delay. Therefore, we can get the decay rate of the slow variables. Moreover, we characterize the effect of the fast subsystem on the derived decay rate and then prove the fast variables to decay exponentially through a perturbation approach. Finally, we provide an example to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.
Role of Estrogen Receptor Signaling in Breast Cancer Metastasis
Authors: Saha Roy Sudipa , Vadlamudi Ratna K.
Published: December 2011

Metastatic breast cancer is a life-threatening stage of cancer and is the leading cause of death in advanced breast cancer patients. Estrogen signaling and the estrogen receptor (ER) are implicated in breast cancer progression, and the majority of the human breast cancers start out as estrogen dependent. Accumulating evidence suggests that ER signaling is complex, involving coregulatory proteins and extranuclear actions. ER-coregualtory proteins are tightly regulated under normal conditions with miss expression primarily reported in cancer. Deregulation of ER coregualtors or ER extranuclear signaling has potential to promote metastasis in ER-positive breast cancer cells. This review summarizes the emerging role of ER signaling in promoting metastasis of breast cancer cells, discusses the molecular mechanisms by which ER signaling contributes to metastasis, and explores possible therapeutic targets to block ER-driven metastasis.
Restoration of Noncarious Cervical Lesions: When, Why, and How
Authors: Perez Cesar dos Reis , Gonzalez Mariana Rodrigues , Prado Natália Aráujo Silva , de Miranda Marianna Sorozini Ferreira , Macêdo Mariana de Andrade , Fernandes Bárbara Monteiro Pessôa
Published: December 2011

At this time, restoration of noncarious cervical lesions (NCCLs) is a common occurrence in clinics nowadays. Some reasons for this are the growth of the elderly population, a smaller rate of tooth loss, and possibly the increase of some etiologic factors. These factors include inadequate brushing techniques in gingival recession cases, corrosive food and drink consumption, and occlusal stress concentrating factors (occlusal interferences, premature contacts, habits of bruxism, and clenching). Unfortunately, Class V restorations also represent one of the less durable types of restorations and have a high index of loss of retention, marginal excess, and secondary caries. Some causes for these problems include difficulties in isolation, insertion, contouring, and finishing and polishing procedures. This work aims to help dentists in choosing the best treatment strategy, which necessarily involves steps of problem identification, diagnosis, etiological factor removal or treatment, and, if necessary, restoration. Finally, appropriate restorative techniques are suggested for each situation.
Negotiating the Joint Career: Couples Adapting to Alzheimer's and Aging in Place
Authors: Beard Renée L. , Sakhtah Sasha , Imse Vanessa , Galvin James E.
Published: December 2011

To understand the impact of memory loss on aging in place, this paper investigated dyads where one spouse had been diagnosed with memory loss. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with ten couples (N=20). Grounded theory methods were used to collect, code, and analyze data into themes. Data revealed consensus among and between dyads that it was best to focus on living, rather than what had been or might someday be lost. Nonetheless, differences according to gender and cognitive status (e.g., diagnosed or spouse) were reported. Given population aging, identifying the impact of gender roles and social norms on the potential for aging in place with memory loss is critical. Community services and care practices must be sensitive to the ways that couples prioritized and organized their relationship prior to diagnosis in order to encourage positive patterns of care between couples, foster successful adaptation to changing needs, and support in-home arrangements as long as possible.
Hierarchical CuO/ZnO Membranes for Environmental Applications under the Irradiation of Visible Light
Authors: Liu Zhaoyang , Bai Hongwei , Sun Darren Delai
Published: December 2011

Solar visible light is a source of clean and cheap energy. Herein, a new kind of hierarchical CuO/ZnO nanomaterial was synthesized using a facile process. Characterized by FESEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, and so forth, this CuO/ZnO naomaterial shows a special hierarchical nanostructure with CuO nanoparticles grown on ZnO nanorods. By assembling the hierarchical CuO/ZnO nanomaterials on a piece of commercial glassfiber membrane, a novel hierarchical CuO/ZnO membrane was fabricated. This CuO/ZnO membrane demonstrated excellent environmental applications, such as improved photodegradation of contaminants and antibacterial activity, under the irradiation of visible light. Compared with pure ZnO nanorod membrane, the improved photodegradation and antibacterial capacities of this hierarchical CuO/ZnO membrane result from the special hierarchical nanostructure of CuO/ZnO nanomaterials, which could enhance light utilization rate, enlarge specific surface area, and retard the recombination of electrons and holes at the interfacial between CuO and ZnO. This hierarchical CuO/ZnO membrane is also easy to be regenerated by completely mineralizing the adsorbed contaminants under the irradiation of visible light. All the above characteristics of this hierarchical CuO/ZnO membrane indicate its great potential in environmental applications with solar visible light.
Some Clarifications Regarding Literature on Atmospheric Corrosion of Weathering Steels
Authors: Díaz I. , Cano H. , Chico B. , de la Fuente D. , Morcillo M.
Published: December 2011

Extensive research work has thrown light on the requisites for a protective rust layer to form on weathering steels (WSs) in the atmosphere, one of the most important is the existence of wet/dry cycling. However, the abundant literature on WS behaviour in different atmospheres can sometimes be confusing and lacks clear criteria regarding certain aspects that are addressed in the present paper. What corrosion models best fit the obtained data? How long does it take for the rust layer to stabilize? What is the morphology and structure of the protective rust layer? What is an acceptable corrosion rate for unpainted WS? What are the guideline environmental conditions, time of wetness (TOW), SO2, and Cl−, for unpainted WS? The paper makes a review of the bibliography on this issue.
Advanced Practice Nursing Education: Challenges and Strategies
Authors: Fitzgerald Cynthia , Kantrowitz-Gordon Ira , Katz Janet , Hirsch Anne
Published: December 2011

Nursing education programs may face significant difficulty as they struggle to prepare sufficient numbers of advanced practice registered nurses to fulfill the vision of helping to design an improved US healthcare system as described in the Institute of Medicine's “Future of nursing” report. This paper describes specific challenges and provides strategies to improve advanced practice nursing clinical education in order to ensure that a sufficient number of APRNs are available to work in educational, practice, and research settings. Best practices are identified through a review of classic and current nursing literature. Strategies include intensive interprofessional collaborations and radical curriculum revisions such as increased use of simulation and domestic and international service work. Nurse educators must work with all stakeholders to create effective and lasting change.
Synthesis of a Layered Organic‐Inorganic Nanohybrid of 4‐Chlorophenoxyacetate‐zinc‐Layered Hydroxide with Sustained Release Properties
Authors: Hussein Mohd Zobir , Nazarudin Nor Farhana binti , Sarijo Siti Halimah , Yarmo Mohd Ambar
Published: December 2011

A zinc‐layered hydroxide‐4‐chlorophenoxy acetate (4CPA) organic‐inorganic nanohybrid was prepared using a simple direct reaction of 4CPA anions with ZnO under an aqueous environment to be used as a controlled release formulation of the herbicide, 4CPA. The concentration of the active agent, 4CPA, was found to be a controlling factor for the formation of a pure phase well‐ordered nanolayered hybrid in which it could be synthesised at 0.2 M 4CPA. ZnO shows a well‐defined grain structure of variable size in the nanometre range. However, the formation of the 4CPA‐ZLH nanohybrid resulted in a flake‐like fibrous structure. On heating at 500°C for 5 h under atmospheric conditions, the nanohybrid transformed back to a well‐defined grain structure, as previously observed with the starting material, ZnO. The release of 4CPA was found to occur in a controlled manner and was generally governed by pseudo‐second‐order kinetics.
Applications of Potential Energy Surfaces in the Study of Enzymatic Reactions
Authors: Bushnell Eric A. C. , Huang WenJuan , Gauld James W.
Published: December 2011

From a generated PES, one can determine the relative energies of species involved, the sequence in which they occur, and the activation barrier(s) associated with individual steps or the overall mechanism. Furthermore, they can provide more insights than a simple indication of a path of sequential mechanistic structures and their energetic relationships. The investigation into the activation of O2by alpha-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase (AlkB) clearly shows the opportunity for spin inversion, where one can see that the lowest energy product may be formed via several possible routes. In the investigation of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase III (UROD), the use of QM/MM methods allowed for the inclusion of the anisotropic protein environment providing greater insight into the rate-limiting barrier. Lastly, the mechanism of 6-phospho-α-glucosidase (GlvA) was discussed using different active site models. In particular, a continuum model PES was compared to the gas-phase PES.
Neuroendocrine Mechanisms of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Hypertension
Authors: Zhou Wei , Longhurst John C.
Published: December 2011

Hypertension affects approximately 1 billion individuals worldwide. Pharmacological therapy has not been perfected and often is associated with adverse side effects. Acupuncture is used as an adjunctive treatment for a number of cardiovascular diseases like hypertension. It has long been established that the two major contributors to systemic hypertension are the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system and chronic activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Recent evidence indicates that in some models of cardiovascular disease, blockade of AT1 receptors in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM) reduces sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure, suggesting that overactivity of the angiotensin system in this nucleus may play a role in the maintenance of hypertension. Our experimental studies have shown that electroacupuncture stimulation activates neurons in the arcuate nucleus, ventrolateral gray, and nucleus raphe to inhibit the neural activity in the rVLM in a model of visceral reflex stimulation-induced hypertension. This paper will discuss current knowledge of the effects of acupuncture on central nervous system and how they contribute to regulation of acupuncture on the endocrine system to provide a perspective on the future of treatment of hypertension with this ancient technique.
Chain Gangs: New Aspects of Hyaluronan Metabolism
Authors: Erickson Michael , Stern Robert
Published: December 2011

Hyaluronan is a matrix polymer prominent in tissues undergoing rapid growth, development, and repair, in embryology and during malignant progression. It reaches 107Daltons in size but also exists in fragmented forms with size-specific actions. It has intracellular forms whose functions are less well known. Hyaluronan occurs in all vertebrate tissues with 50% present in skin. Hyaluronan provides a scaffold on which sulfated proteoglycans and matrix proteins are organized. These supramolecular structures are able to entrap water and ions to provide tissues with hydration and turgor. Hyaluronan is recognized by membrane receptors that trigger intracellular signaling pathways regulating proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Cell responses are often dependent on polymer size. Catabolic turnover occurs by hyaluronidases and by free radicals, though proportions between these have not been determined. New aspects of hyaluronan biology have recently become realized: involvement in autophagy, in the pathology of diabetes., the ability to modulate immune responses through effects on T regulatory cells and, in its fragmented forms, by being able to engage several toll-like receptors. It is also apparent that hyaluronan synthases and hyaluronidases are regulated at many more levels than previously realized, and that the several hyaluronidases have functions in addition to their enzymatic activities.
Spatial Correlation and Ergodic Capacity of MIMO Channel in Reverberation Chamber
Authors: Chen Xiaoming
Published: December 2011

It has previously been shown that a reverberation chamber can conveniently be used to measure ergodic multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) capacity for over-the-air (OTA) tests. However, the MIMO channel in the reverberation chamber has not been fully studied before. In this paper, the spatial correlation of the MIMO channel in the chamber is studied by comparing the measured channel with two popular MIMO channel models. It is shown that the models can accurately predict the ergodic MIMO capacity of the channel in the reverberation chamber, but not the outage capacity (especially at high signal-to-noise regime). It is verified that the capacity estimation error is due to the fact that the measured MIMO channel in the chamber does not satisfy multivariate normality (MVN), which causes the capacity error increases additively with MIMO size and multiplicatively with signal-to-noise (SNR).
The Fate of Fat
Authors: Belaj Klara J. , Eller Philipp
Published: December 2011

Adipose tissue is not merely a storage depot for fat. Both brown and white adipose tissues are finely regulated endocrine organs that modulate energy balance and temperature homeostasis. In a recent issue of Gerontology, Saely and Drexel dissected the different morphology and the prime functions of brown and white adipose tissue. They impressively showed that adipose tissues are not inert deposits, but instead highly plastic tissues in close interface with guts, liver, and brain. Brown and white adipose tissues are essentially complementary organs that serve different teleological purposes. The molecular understanding of their physiological pathways opens the door to the development of a rational pharmacotherapy of obesity and associated disorders. Thus, the targeting of energy expenditure in brown adipose tissue may be an attractive alternative strategy to combat obesity. However, every intervention in cellular bioenergetics to treat obesity or cachexia will have to face principal safety considerations, as the thermodynamic implications of such interventions are largely unknown and potentially dangerous.
Comorbidity as a Mediator of Survival Disparity Between Younger and Older Women Diagnosed With Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Jung Su Yon , Rosenzweig Margaret , Linkov Faina , Brufsky Adam , Weissfeld Joel L. , Sereika Susan M.
Published: December 2011

The presence of comorbidity becomes increasingly important for its prognostic effect on survival in breast cancer patients with advancing age. This study aimed to evaluate the role of comorbidities including hypertension as a mediator of disparity in survival after metastasis diagnosis between younger (≤51 years) and older (>51 years) patients. A total of 553 patients 26–88 years of age with breast cancer metastasis diagnosis from 1 large urban practice were followed between January 1, 1999, and June 30, 2008. Comorbidity variables and survival were analyzed using Cox regression model. To assess comorbidity variables as a mediator of age-survival relationship, 2 approaches have been applied: (1) Baron Kenny approach and (2) alternative assessment to compute the percentage change in the hazard ratios (HRs). The median survival was 40 months, with 265 (47.9%) alive and 288 (52.1%) dead. Older patients had worse survival than younger patients (HR, 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11–1.84). Hypertension was related to survival (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.12–1.89) when age and other covariates were controlled. The effect of age on survival was no longer significant after adjustment for hypertension (HR, 1.26; 95%, CI 0.97–1.65) or hypertension-augmented Charlson comorbidity score (HR, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.95–1.63). Hypertension-augmented Charlson comorbidity score or hypertension was a strong mediator of age-survival relationship among metastatic breast cancer patients, explaining survival disparity between younger and older patients by 44% and 40%, respectively. The study findings suggest that hypertension should be included in the comorbidity information for decision-making support programs.