bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantity and quality: unifying food web and ecosystem perspectives on the role of resource subsidies in freshwaters
Authors: Marcarelli Amy M. , Baxter Colden V. , Mineau Madeleine M. , Hall Robert O.
Published: February 2011

Although the study of resource subsidies has emerged as a key topic in both ecosystem and food web ecology, the dialogue over their role has been limited by separate approaches that emphasize either subsidy quantity or quality. Considering quantity and quality together may provide a simple, but previously unexplored, framework for identifying the mechanisms that govern the importance of subsidies for recipient food webs and ecosystems. Using a literature review of >90 studies of open‐water metabolism in lakes and streams, we show that high‐flux, low‐quality subsidies can drive freshwater ecosystem dynamics. Because most of these ecosystems are net heterotrophic, allochthonous inputs must subsidize respiration. Second, using a literature review of subsidy quality and use, we demonstrate that animals select for high‐quality food resources in proportions greater than would be predicted based on food quantity, and regardless of allochthonous or autochthonous origin. This finding suggests that low‐flux, high‐quality subsidies may be selected for by animals, and in turn may disproportionately affect food web and ecosystem processes (e.g., animal production, trophic energy or organic matter flow, trophic cascades). We then synthesize and review approaches that evaluate the role of subsidies and explicitly merge ecosystem and food web perspectives by placing food web measurements in the context of ecosystem budgets, by comparing trophic and ecosystem production and fluxes, and by constructing flow food webs. These tools can and should be used to address future questions about subsidies, such as the relative importance of subsidies to different trophic levels and how subsidies may maintain or disrupt ecosystem stability and food web interactions.
Law and Development in the Islamic World: New Possibilities
Authors: Farrar Salim
Published: February 2011

This paper provides a brief discussion of law and development from Islamic perspectives and looks to the role of Islamic banking and finance as a means of alleviating poverty and promoting economic development in the Muslim world.
Circulating Follistatin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Miyamoto Tetsu , Carrero Juan Jesús , Rashid Qureshi Abdul , Anderstam Björn , Heimbürger Olof , Bárány Peter , Lindholm Bengt , Stenvinkel Peter
Published: February 2011

Background and objectives

Follistatin mediates muscle growth and bone mineralization. At present, it is unknown whether circulating follistatin levels are altered in chronic kidney disease (CKD) or links to CKD risk factors and outcomes.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

Plasma follistatin levels were cross-sectionally analyzed in relation to protein-energy wasting (PEW), handgrip strength (HGS), bone mineral density (BMD), and inflammatory markers in 280 CKD stage 5 patients, 32 CKD stage 4 patients, 16 CKD stage 3 patients, and 32 control subjects. In CKD stage 5 patients survival was prospectively investigated during a follow-up period of up to 5 years.

Results

The plasma follistatin concentration was not higher in CKD stage 5 patients than in other CKD stages or controls. In CKD stage 5 patients, circulating follistatin positively correlated with age, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and IL-6; negatively correlated with HGS, serum creatinine, and BMD; and was increased in patients with PEW. In a multivariate logistic regression model, lower HGS, lower BMD, and higher hsCRP independently correlated with higher follistatin levels. In a Cox regression model, follistatin levels were not associated with all-cause mortality.

Conclusions

Circulating follistatin levels were neither elevated nor predicted outcome in patients with CKD. However, increased follistatin levels occurred together with increased inflammation, reduced muscle strength, and low BMD, suggesting an involvement of a mechanism including follistatin in the uremic wasting process.
Dental condition of schoolchildren in Serbia over a century ago
Authors: Dimitrijevic Brana , Nedok Aleksandar , Lazarevic Gordana , Mihailovic Dragan
Published: February 2011

The exhibition of the legacy of Dr. Svetozar Markovic (1860-1916) held at the end of 2009 at the University library Svetozar Markovic in Belgrade, drew attention to this significant creator, school doctor, public worker, and the founder of school hygiene in Serbia. He was the founder of The Association for School Hygiene and National Enlightenment (1906), the founder and the editor of the magazine Svetlost (1908-1914). This work refers only to his findings regarding oral and dental condition of schoolchildren, gathered during the systematic examination of the pupils of the Third Belgrade (Pancic's) Grammar School (classes from I to VIII), during the school years 1903/1904, 1904/05, and 1907/08.
Hannah Jessie Hankin-Hardy, in medical and humanitarian mission in Serbia during the great war
Authors: Popovic-Filipovic Slavica
Published: February 2011

The Studenica Monastery, built in 1186 A.D., the royal mausoleum of the Nemanjic Dynasty, is considered the forerunner of the Serbian statehood and conscience because in it the first school and hospital were established. It is also where the first book was written in Serbian language. Studenica, as the cradle of the Serbian medicine, produced - and through the following eight centuries, nurtured many educators and iconic figures of the Serbian cultural tradition. Among them was St. Sava, the first Serbian Archbishop, whose name is also borne by one of the highest Serbian civilian orders, which is awarded for extreme dedication and philanthropy in Serbia and worldwide. This here is an attempt to preserve the memory of the philanthropist Hannah Henkin Hardy, who was also personally awarded one of these Serbian orders. Hannah Henkin Hardy (1886-1944) was born in Worchester, U.K., completed a medical school in Melbourne, Australia, and arrived in Serbia in January 1915 together with the first Scottish Women's Hospitals. In Kragujevac, together with the Serbian physicians, and the 'Kolo srpskih sestara,' Mrs. Hardy established the League of Serbian Women to jointly fight the great typhus epidemic. She also founded the out-patients ambulances for the poor in Kragujevac, as well as the soup kitchens, and took part in various humanitarian activities. Mrs. Hardy and her husband Samuel Hardy, together with some other philanthropists, repaired the war-damaged Church of St. George in Topola. She joined the Serbian refugees in their escape from the invading enemy forces to the Adriatic Coast through the dangerous snowbound mountains of Albania and Montenegro. She remembered the suffering of the Serbian people and the dedicated humanitarian activities of the Serbian medical corps and foreign medical missions for the rest of her life. Mrs. and Mr. Hardy dedicated their lives to philanthropy and humanitarian work, helping small and suffering peoples and nations.
Radiotherapy: Past and present
Authors: Vujosevic Bozica , Bokorov Bojana
Published: February 2011

Discovery of radioactive X-rays in 1895 by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen marked the beginning of significant events in diagnostics and treatment of many diseases. The idea of using X-rays in treatment of malignant diseases was born the same year, when X rays were used for treatment of local relapse of breast cancer, upon initiative of medical student Emil Grubbe. This event was followed by important discoveries of radioactive elements. Marie and Pierre Curie discovered polonium and radium and were awarded the Nobel Prize for their discovery in 1903 and 1911. Their daughter, Ir?ne Curie, joined their research on radioactivity and was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1935. The potentials of radiotherapy became increasingly exploited in treatment of oncological patients. The beginning of radiotherapy in Novi Sad dates from 1934 with the arrival of Dr. Nikola Vujic, a specialist in internal medicine and radiology, and when the first universal X-ray generator was installed and used for therapy. After the World War II, radiotherapy was modernized by purchasing modern devices: 4-valve multi-voltage device (Siemens) for deep radiotherapy and contact radiotherapy by Chaoul. Today, radiotherapy for oncological patients in Novi Sad complies with modern trends and protocols (conformal technique). It has the most advanced technical capacities used worldwide and it takes into account the therapeutical effects and patients' quality of life.
Effect of iron supplementation on maximal oxygen uptake in female athletes
Authors: Radjen Slavica , Radjen Goran , Zivotic-Vanovic Mirjana , Radakovic Sonja , Vasiljevic Nadja , Stojanovic Dusica
Published: February 2011

Background/Aim. Iron is a vital constituent of hemoglobin, myoglobin, and some mitochondrial enzymes; therefore, body iron deficiency may result in reduced aerobic capacity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of daily oral iron supplementation on body iron status, and the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) in female athletes with latent iron deficiency, as well as with irondeficiency anemia. Methods. A total of 37 female volleyball players were included in the study. Seventeen female athletes had latent iron deficiency, and 20 ones iron deficiency anemia. Both groups were divided into the experimental and the control group. The experimental groups received a daily oral iron supplement (200 mg ferrous sulfate), for a two-month training course. Iron status was determined by serum parameters as follows: red blood cells count, hemoglobin concentration, serum iron and ferritin levels, an unsaturated iron binding capacity, total iron binding capacity and transferrin saturation. VO2max was determined by an indirect test. Results. Statistical difference between the latent iron deficient group versus the iron deficient anemic group was found regarding VO2max (p < 0.001). There were correlations between hemoglobin concentration and VO2max in the latent iron deficient group, as well as in the iron deficient anaemic group (p < 0.05). After two months, there was a significant increase in VO2max in all groups (from 7.0% to 18.2%). Values of VO2max at the end of training period were significantly different (45.98 ? 1.76 vs 42.40 ? 1.22 mL/kg/min; p <0.001) between the experimental and the control group only in female athletes with iron deficiency anemia. After the supplementation, markers of iron status were significantly higher in supplemented groups than in the controls. Conclusion. VO2max was significantly lower in the iron deficient anemic group versus the latent iron deficient group. Iron supplementation during a two-month training period significantly improved body iron status in the iron deficient female athletes with or without anemia, and significantly increased VO2max only in the subjects with iron deficiency anemia.
Characteristics, outcome and predictors of one year mortality rate in patients with acute heart failure
Authors: Banovic Marko , Vasiljevic-Pokrajcic Zorana , Vujisic-Tesic Bosiljka , Stankovic Sanja , Nedeljkovic Ivana , Petrovic Olga , Boricic-Kostic Marija , Petrovic Milan , Trifunovic Danijela , Ostojic Miodrag
Published: February 2011

Background/Aim. Acute heart failure (AHF) is one of the most common diseases in emergency medicine, associated with poor prognosis and high in-hospital and longterm mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate characteristics, outcomes and one year mortality of patients with AHF in the local population. Methods. This prospective study consisted of 64 consecutive unselected patients treated in the Coronary Care Unit of the Emergency Centre (Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade) and were followed for one year after the discharge. Results. Mean age of the patients was 63.6 ? 12.6 years and 59.4% were males. Acute congestion (43.8%) and pulmonary edema (39.1%) were the most common presentations of AHF. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 39.7% ? 9.25%, while 44.4% of the patients had LVEF ? 50%. At discharge, 55.9% of the patients received therapy with ?-blockers, 94.9% diuretics, out of which 47.7% spironolactone, 94.9% patients were given ACE-inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blokcers (ARB). The 12-month all-cause mortality was 26.5%. Independent predictors of one year mortality were previous hospitalization due to heart disease, reduced LVEF, reduced fraction of shortening (FS) and a higher tricuspid velocity. Conclusion. One year mortality of our patients with AHF was high, similar to the known European studies. Independent predictors of one year mortality were previous hospitalization due to heart disease, reduced LVEF and LVFS and a higher tricuspid velocity.
Assessment of lower extremities ischemic disease by thallium 201 perfusion scintigraphy in patients with diabetic angiopathy
Authors: Cizmic Milica , Pucar Dragan , Zoranovic Uros
Published: February 2011

Background/Aim. Tibial perfusion in diabetic microangiopathy is considered to be a diagnostic problem. A special place in quantifying muscle microcirculatory perfusion belongs to thallium 201 muscle perfusion scintigraphy (201Tl PS). Thallium, showing the characteristics of potassium (K+), enters a cell by means of active cell transportation and follows erythrocyte up to the tissue. The aim of this study was to determine if 201Tl PS of lower extremities (LE) is a good method for estimating muscle microcirculatory perfusion in diabetic microangiopathy. Methods. The study included 32 patients of an average age 66.1 ? 14.9 years with signs of LE ischemia befalling into III and IV stage of ischemic disease according to the Lariche-Fontain classification. Out of that number there were 27 of the patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), while 5 of the patients were with Burger's disease and Raynand's disorder. Lower extremities PS was performed after 3 min of tibial loading by the use of dorsoplantar foot flexion and intravenous 74 MBq 201Tl as a 10-minute dynamic study. A 10 minute static scintigraphy was carried out of the gluteal region, femurs, tibias and feet per a position and repeated after 3 h at rest in the same projections. The results were interpreted visually and by the semiquantitive method using a program for calculating the number of pulses per pixel in the corresponding region over 1-, 2- and 10-minute dynamic study, thus obtaining numerical data for estimating perfusion. Binding ratio in both legs was estimated visually as low (1), medium (2) and significant (3) difference in both legs. The results were compared with doppler hemodynamic indices (PI and RI). Results. Regardless the group, 201Tl binding intensity rising was significantly 2 min after application, as compared to 1 min, and the obtained level of binding was maintained even after 10 min. In the group Fontain III the majority of the patients showed a medium difference in binding 201Tl (2) in regard to the group Fontain IV with the patients having a low difference (1) between both legs and a significant difference between both legs (3). A statistically significant positive correlation was obtained between the values of RI index regarding distal region of a. tibialis posterior (p < 0.05, r = 0.43), as well as a. tibialis anterior (p = 0.05, r = 0.38). There was no correlation for the PI index. Low collateral net development based on the values for the indices PI and RI showed a less muscle perfusion on 201Tl in regard to medium and well developed collateral net with identical perfusion. Conclusion. The results of lower extremities perfusion scintigraphy are reliable indice of muscle microcilculatory perfusion. There is a statistically significant correlation between the doppler hemodynamic indices and 201Tl perfusion scintigraphy.
Carotid endarterectomy should be performed early after a cerebral ischemic event in order to be most effective
Authors: Radak Djordje
Published: February 2011

nema
SGLT2 Deletion Improves Glucose Homeostasis and Preserves Pancreatic β-Cell Function
Authors: Jurczak Michael J. , Lee Hui-Young , Birkenfeld Andreas L. , Jornayvaz Francois R. , Frederick David W. , Pongratz Rebecca L. , Zhao Xiaoxian , Moeckel Gilbert W. , Samuel Varman T. , Whaley Jean M. , Shulman Gerald I. , Kibbey Richard G.
Published: February 2011

OBJECTIVE

Inhibition of the Na+-glucose cotransporter type 2 (SGLT2) is currently being pursued as an insulin-independent treatment for diabetes; however, the behavioral and metabolic consequences of SGLT2 deletion are unknown. Here, we used a SGLT2 knockout mouse to investigate the effect of increased renal glucose excretion on glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, and pancreatic β-cell function.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

SGLT2 knockout mice were fed regular chow or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 4 weeks, or backcrossed onto the db/db background. The analysis used metabolic cages, glucose tolerance tests, euglycemic and hyperglycemic clamps, as well as isolated islet and perifusion studies.

RESULTS

SGLT2 deletion resulted in a threefold increase in urine output and a 500-fold increase in glucosuria, as well as compensatory increases in feeding, drinking, and activity. SGLT2 knockout mice were protected from HFD-induced hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance and had reduced plasma insulin concentrations compared with controls. On the db/db background, SGLT2 deletion prevented fasting hyperglycemia, and plasma insulin levels were also dramatically improved. Strikingly, prevention of hyperglycemia by SGLT2 knockout in db/db mice preserved pancreatic β-cell function in vivo, which was associated with a 60% increase in β-cell mass and reduced incidence of β-cell death.

CONCLUSIONS

Prevention of renal glucose reabsorption by SGLT2 deletion reduced HFD- and obesity-associated hyperglycemia, improved glucose intolerance, and increased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vivo. Taken together, these data support SGLT2 inhibition as a viable insulin-independent treatment of type 2 diabetes.
A decomposition theorem for compact groups with an application to supercompactness
Authors: Kubiś Wiesław , Turek Sławomir
Published: February 2011

We show that every compact connected group is the limit of a continuous inverse sequence, in the category of compact groups, where each successor bonding map is either an epimorphism with finite kernel or the projection from a product by a simple compact Lie group.

As an application, we present a proof of an unpublished result of Charles Mills from 1978: every compact group is supercompact.
Trace elements in aerial parts and rhizosphere of Thymus pannonicus All.
Authors: Arsenijević Jelena , Ražić Slavica , Maksimović Zoran , Đogo Svetlana
Published: February 2011

This paper brings out the results of the study on the levels of selected trace elements (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cr) in aerial parts of Thymus pannonicus All. (Lamiaceae) and rhizosphere soil from twelve locations in Serbia. Prior to assays by flame and flameless atomic absorption spectrometry, samples were subjected to microwave-assisted acid digestion. Real and potential acidity of soil samples were also measured. Obtained results for soil samples, although slightly higher for some elements (Cu: 12.38–45.18 mg/kg; Fe: 22102–46193 mg/kg; Mn: 776.95–4901.27 mg/kg; Zn: 62.27–214.02 mg/kg; Cr: 48.86–69.13 mg/kg), were found to fit into biogeochemical background. Element contents in plant samples differed depending on collecting site (Cu: 5.26–14.07 mg/kg; Fe: 25.92–1454.07 mg/kg; Mn: 89.29–278.25 mg/kg; Zn: 1.81–10.64 mg/kg; Cr: 1.11–3.51 mg/kg), which can be partly explainable by different nutrient availability influenced by soil acidity. Zinc levels in T. pannonicus were below expected and seem to be strongly influenced by plant physiological properties.
Correlates of Antidepressant and Anxiolytic, Hypnotic or Sedative Medication Use in an Australian Community Sample
Authors: Harris Meredith G. , Burgess Philip M. , Pirkis Jane , Siskind Dan , Slade Tim , Whiteford Harvey A.
Published: February 2011

Objective: To explore the rates and correlates of antidepressant (AD) and anxiolytic, hypnotic or sedative (AHS) medication use in Australia, and describe possible reasons for their use.

Method: Analysis of data from the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, a nationally representative household survey of 8841 Australians aged 16 to 85 years. Two primary outcome variables: (i) use of any AD medication; and (ii) use of any AHS medication, in the past 2 weeks.

Results: Rates of AD and AHS medication use were 6.8% and 4.7% respectively. AD and AHS medication use were each associated with 12-month affective or anxiety disorder, age, chronic physical illness, sleep difficulties, and impaired role functioning. Psychological distress and lifetime affective or anxiety disorder or 12-month symptoms were associated with AD use; being previously married was associated with AHS use. Potential reasons for use are complex. Almost one third (30.6%) of AD users and half (49.2%) of AHS users did not report symptoms consistent with a 12-month or lifetime affective or anxiety disorder. Chronic physical illness was reported by 68.8% of AD users and 73.5% of AHS users, around half of whom had a 12-month mental disorder. People with mental-physical comorbidity had especially high rates of AD and AHS use. People with musculoskeletal and other conditions that may involve chronic pain had elevated rates of AD and AHS use, even in the absence of a mental disorder.

Conclusions: Low rates of medication use in younger adults and high rates of AHS use in older people warrant further investigation. Many AD and AHS users were not assessed as having an affective or anxiety disorder, suggesting that these medications are frequently used for other indications. Findings call for further research to explore the relationship between mental disorders, physical conditions and medication use.
Is Self Disturbance the Core of Borderline Personality Disorder? An Outcome Study of Borderline Personality Factors
Authors: Meares Russell , Gerull Friederike , Stevenson Janine , Korner Anthony
Published: February 2011

Object: To determine which constellation of clinical features constitutes the core of borderline personality disorder (BPD).

Method: The criterion of endurance was used to identify the constellation of features which are most basic, or core, in borderline personality disorder. Two sets of constellations of DSM-III features were tested, each consisting of three groupings. The first set of constellations was constructed according to Clarkin's factor analysis; the second was theoretically derived. Broadly speaking, the three groupings concerned ‘self’, ‘emotional regulation’, and ‘impulse’. Changes of these constellations were charted over one year in a comparison of the effect of treatment by the Conversational Model (n = 29) with treatment as usual (n = 31). In addition, measures of typical depression (Zung) were scored before and after the treatment period. The changes in the constellations were considered in relation to authoritative opinion.

Results: The changes in the two sets of constellations were similar. In the treatment as usual (TAU) group, ‘self’ endured unchanged, while ‘emotional regulation’ and ‘impulse’ improved. In the Conversational Model cohort, ‘self’ improved, ‘emotional regulation’ improved more greatly than the TAU group, while ‘impulse’ improved but not more than the treatment as usual group. Depression scores were not particularly associated with any grouping.

Conclusions: A group of features including self/identity disturbance, emptiness and fear of abandonment may be at the core of BPD. Correlations between the three groupings and Zung scores favoured the view that the core affect is not typical depression. Rather, the central state may be ‘painful incoherence’. It is suggested that the findings have implications for the refinement and elaboration of treatment methods in borderline personality disorder.
Does Supported Accommodation Improve the Clinical and Social Outcomes for People with Severe Psychiatric Disability? The Project 300 Experience
Authors: Meehan Tom , Stedman Terry , Robertson Samantha , Drake Suzanne , King Robert
Published: February 2011

Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the clinical and social outcomes for a group of individuals (n = 181) discharged into supported accommodation from three long-stay facilities in Queensland.

Method: Data were collected prospectively using a battery of standardized measures and individual interviews at 6 weeks pre-discharge and again at 6, 18, 36, and 84 months post-discharge.

Results: While there was little functional gain at follow up, the clients, as a group, did not deteriorate. Sixty per cent of the clients were engaged in some form of structured community activity and the need for hospitalization decreased significantly in the follow-up period. The ongoing costs of the programme, while remaining high, were significantly less than inpatient alternatives.

Conclusion: The provision of community accommodation with adequate clinical and non-clinical support is a suitable option for a large proportion of individuals with serious mental illness.
Psychiatrists' Knowledge and Practices in Screening and Assessment of Hepatitis C for Inpatients with Severe Mental Illness
Authors: Lagios Katerina , Deane Frank
Published: February 2011

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess psychiatrists' Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related knowledge and behaviour practices.

Method: A self-report survey was completed by doctors working at an urban psychiatric hospital in Australia.

Results: Doctors working in psychiatry underestimated the prevalence of HCV infection for their patients and less than one-third felt well informed about HCV. Overall, there was good knowledge regarding HCV acquisition epidemiology but knowledge of management was poor.

Conclusion: Improving knowledge about HCV, especially current management, may facilitate better health care for patients with severe mental illness.
Pedicle screw insertion angle and pullout strength: comparison of 2 proposed strategies
Authors: İnceoğlu Serkan , Montgomery William H. , Clair Selvon St. , McLain Robert F.
Published: February 2011

Object

Minimally invasive pedicle screws inserted vertically (that is, dorsoventrally) through the pedicle, as opposed to the more common coaxial technique, offer potential advantages by minimizing soft-tissue stripping during screw placement. The screws are designed for insertion through a medial starting point with vertical trajectory through the pedicle and into the vertebral body. As such, no lateral dissection beyond the insertion point is necessary. However, the effects of this insertion technique on the screw biomechanical performance over a short- and long-term are unknown. The authors investigated the pullout strength and stiffness of these screws, with or without fatigue cycling, compared with comparably sized, traditional screws placed by coaxial technique.

Methods

Twenty-one lumbar vertebrae (L-3, L-4, and L-5) were tested. Each pedicle of each vertebra was instrumented with either a traditional, coaxial pedicle screw (Group A), placed through a standard starting point, or a vertically oriented, alternative-design screw (Group B), with a medial starting point and vertical trajectory. The specimens were divided into 2 groups for testing. One group was tested for direct pullout (10 specimens) while the other was subject to pullout after tangential (toggle) cyclic loading (11 specimens). The screws were cycled in displacement control (± 5 mm producing ~ 4-Nm moment) at a rate of 3 Hz for 5000 cycles. Pullout tests were performed at a rate of 1 mm/minute.

Results

Two-way ANOVA showed that Group B screws with a medial starting point (2541 ± 1090 N for cycled vs 2135 ± 1323 N for noncycled) had significantly higher pullout loads than Group A screws with a standard entry point (1585 ± 766 N for cycled vs 1417 ± 812 N noncycled) (p = 0.001). There was no significant effect of cycling or screw insertion type on pullout stiffness. Tangential stiffness of the Group B screws was significantly less than that of the Group A screws (p = 0.001). The stiffness of both screws in the toe region was significantly affected by cycling (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

The use of Group B screws inserted through a medial starting point showed greater pullout load than a Group A screw inserted through a standard starting point. The greater pullout strength in Group B screws may be due to screw thread design and increased cortical bone purchase at the medial starting point. Nevertheless, anatomical considerations of the medial starting point, that is, pedicle or lateral vertebral body cortex breach, may limit its application. The medial starting point of the Group B screw was frequently in the facet at the L-3 and L-4 pedicle entry points, which may have clinical importance.
Double fascicular nerve transfer to the biceps and brachialis muscles after brachial plexus injury: clinical outcomes in a series of 29 cases
Authors: Ray Wilson Z. , Pet Mitchell A. , Yee Andrew , Mackinnon Susan E.
Published: February 2011

Object

The clinical outcomes of patients with brachial plexus injuries who underwent double fascicular transfer (DFT) using fascicles from the median and ulnar nerves to reinnervate the biceps and brachialis muscles were evaluated.

Methods

The authors conducted a retrospective chart review of 29 patients with brachial plexus injuries that were treated with DFT for restoration of elbow flexion. All patients underwent pre- and postoperative clinical evaluation using the Medical Research Council grading system.

Results

The mean patient age was 37 years (range 17–68 years), and there was a mean follow-up of 19 ± 12 months (range 8–68 months). At the most recent follow-up, all but 1 patient (97%) had regained elbow flexion. Eight patients recovered Grade M5, 15 patients recovered Grade M4, and 4 patients recovered Grade M3 elbow flexion strength. There was no evidence of functional deficit in the donor nerve distributions.

Conclusions

Study results demonstrated the reliable restoration of M4–M5 elbow flexion following double fascicular transfer in patients with brachial plexus injuries.
Prediction of adverse outcomes by blood glucose level after endovascular therapy for acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Natarajan Sabareesh K. , Dandona Paresh , Karmon Yuval , Yoo Albert J. , Kalia Junaid S. , Hao Qing , Hsu Daniel P. , Hopkins L. Nelson , Fiorella David J. , Bendok Bernard R. , Nguyen Thanh N. , Rymer Marilyn M. , Nanda Ashish , Liebeskind David S. , Zaidat Osama O. , Nogueira Raul G. , Siddiqui Adnan H. , Levy Elad I.
Published: February 2011

Object

The authors evaluated the prognostic significance of blood glucose level at admission (BGA) and change in blood glucose at 48 hours from the baseline value (CG48) in nondiabetic and diabetic patients before and after endovascular therapy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Methods

The BGA and CG48 data were analyzed in 614 patients with AIS who received endovascular therapy at 7 US centers between 2006 and 2009. Data reviewed included demographics, stroke risk factors, diabetic status, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at presentation, recanalization grade, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) rate, and 90-day outcomes (mortality rate and modified Rankin Scale score of 3–6 [defined as poor outcome]). Variables with p values < 0.2 in univariate analysis were included in a binary logistic regression model for independent predictors of 90-day outcomes.

Results

The mean patient age was 67.3 years, the median NIHSS score was 16, and 27% of patients had diabetes. In nondiabetic patients, BGA ≥ 116 mg/dl (≥ 6.4 mmol/L) and failure of glucose level to drop > 30 mg/dl (> 1.7 mmol/L) from the admission value were both significant predictors of 90-day poor outcome and death (p < 0.001). In patients with diabetes, BGA ≥ 116 mg/dl (≥ 6.4 mmol/L) was an independent predictor of poor outcome (p = 0.001). The CG48 was not a predictor of outcome in diabetic patients. A simplified 6-point scale including BGA, Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) Grade 2–3 Reperfusion, Age, presentation NIHSS score, CG48, and symptomatic ICH (BRANCH) corresponded with poor outcomes at 90 days; the area under the curve value was > 0.79.

Conclusions

Failure of blood glucose values to decrease in the first 48 hours after AIS intervention correlated with poor 90-day outcomes in nondiabetic patients. The BRANCH scale shows promise as a simple prognostication tool after endovascular therapy for AIS, and it merits prospective validation.
Reaction of endogenous progenitor cells in a rat model of posttraumatic syringomyelia
Authors: Tu Jian , Liao Jinxin , Stoodley Marcus A. , Cunningham Anne M.
Published: February 2011

Object

Endogenous stem cells theoretically could replace lost tissue and repair deficits caused by syringes. In this study the authors quantitatively examined 1) whether neural progenitor cells exist in an adult rat model of posttraumatic syringomyelia (PTS); 2) and if so, how long an active population of progenitor cells can persist; 3) whether the cell population's location is associated with the syrinx; 4) the degree of differentiation of the progenitor cells; and 5) the phenotypic fate of the progenitor cells.

Methods

Wistar rats were divided into intact, sham-operated, and experimental syrinx groups. Animals in each group were equally subdivided according to 4 time points: 7, 14, 28, and 56 days post–syrinx induction. Rats in the experimental syrinx group underwent a C-7 and T-1 laminectomy and then received 0.5 μl of a 24-mg/ml quisqualic acid spinal cord injection at the C-8 level to mimic an excitotoxic injury with an initial cyst, and 10 μl of a 250-mg/ml kaolin injection into the subarachnoid space at the C-8 level to create arachnoiditis. The proliferation, distribution, and differentiation of endogenous progenitor cells were identified immunocytochemically.

Results

The authors observed a 20-fold increase in progenitor cells excluding inflammatory cells in the 1st 2 weeks post–syrinx induction. The cells persisted for at least 56 days, and 80% of them were located in the gray matter along the border of cysts. They included neural multipotential progenitor cells, oligodendroglial progenitor cells, and astrocytes.

Conclusions

Data in this study provide evidence for proliferation, distribution, and differentiation of endogenous progenitor cells in a model of PTS in adult rats. These progenitor cells proliferate rapidly, extend for long periods, and are mainly located in the gray matter along the border of syringes. Neural multipotential progenitor cells are expected to be associated with reparative and regenerative mechanisms of PTS. Glial cells are involved in the formation of a glial scar barrier that surrounds the syrinx and may prevent cyst enlargement. The authors' findings suggest that neural progenitor cells play a protective role in PTS.
Outcomes following resection of intramedullary spinal cord cavernous malformations: a 25-year experience
Authors: Mitha Alim P. , Turner Jay D. , Abla Adib A. , Vishteh A. Giancarlo , Spetzler Robert F.
Published: February 2011

Object

The management of intramedullary spinal cord cavernous malformations (CMs) is controversial. At Barrow Neurological Institute, the authors selectively offer surgical treatment for symptomatic spinal cord CMs. The purpose of this paper is to review the clinical outcomes in patients after resection of these lesions based on a single-center experience over a 25-year period.

Methods

The records of 80 patients who underwent resection of pathologically confirmed spinal cord CMs from January 1985 to May 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Preoperative clinical status and imaging findings were evaluated as well as immediate and long-term postoperative outcomes.

Results

Compared with their preoperative Frankel grade, 11% of patients were worse, 83% were the same, and 6% improved immediately after surgery. At a mean follow-up interval of 5 years, 10% of patients were worse, 68% were the same, and 23% were improved compared with their preoperative status. Five percent of patients underwent reoperation for resection of a symptomatic residual or recurrent lesion. Immediate complications were encountered in 6% of patients, including CSF leakage and deep venous thrombosis. Long-term complications were encountered in 14% of patients and included kyphotic deformity, stenosis, and spinal cord tethering. A significant correlation was found between long-term outcome and anteroposterior length of the lesion (p = 0.01).

Conclusions

The resection of intramedullary spinal cord CMs can be achieved with good long-term outcomes and an acceptable risk of immediate or delayed complications.
Growth Factor Mediated Signaling in Pancreatic Pathogenesis
Authors: Nandy Debashis , Mukhopadhyay Debabrata
Published: February 2011

Functionally, the pancreas consists of two types of tissues: exocrine and endocrine. Exocrine pancreatic disorders mainly involve acute and chronic pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis typically is benign, while chronic pancreatitis is considered a risk factor for developing pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic carcinoma is the fourth leading cause of cancer related deaths worldwide. Most pancreatic cancers develop in the exocrine tissues. Endocrine pancreatic tumors are more uncommon, and typically are less aggressive than exocrine tumors. However, the endocrine pancreatic disorder, diabetes, is a dominant cause of morbidity and mortality. Importantly, different growth factors and their receptors play critical roles in pancreatic pathogenesis. Hence, an improved understanding of how various growth factors affect pancreatitis and pancreatic carcinoma is necessary to determine appropriate treatment. This chapter describes the role of different growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and transforming growth factor (TGF) in various pancreatic pathophysiologies. Finally, the crosstalk between different growth factor axes and their respective signaling mechanisms, which are involved in pancreatitis and pancreatic carcinoma, are also discussed.
Components of Cell-Matrix Linkage as Potential New Markers for Prostate Cancer
Authors: Navdaev Alexey , Eble Johannes A.
Published: February 2011

Prostate cancer is one of the most common tumor diseases worldwide. Often being non-aggressive, prostate tumors in these cases do not need immediate treatment. However, about 20% of diagnosed prostate cancers tend to metastasize and require treatment. Existing diagnostic methods may fail to accurately recognize the transition of a dormant, non-aggressive tumor into highly malignant prostate cancer. Therefore, new diagnostic tools are needed to improve diagnosis and therapy of prostate carcinoma. This review evaluates existing methods to diagnose prostate carcinoma, such as the biochemical marker prostate-specific antigen (PSA), but also discusses the possibility to use the altered expression of integrins and laminin-332 in prostate carcinomas as diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets of prostate cancer.
Tissue Transglutaminase (TG2)-Induced Inflammation in Initiation, Progression, and Pathogenesis of Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Mehta Kapil , Han Amy
Published: February 2011

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is among the deadliest cancers, with a median survival of six months. It is generally believed that infiltrating PC arises through the progression of early grade pancreatic intraepithelial lesions (PanINs). In one model of the disease, the K-ras mutation is an early molecular event during progression of pancreatic cancer; it is followed by the accumulation of additional genetic abnormalities. This model has been supported by animal studies in which activated K-ras and p53 mutations produced metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in mice. According to this model, oncogenic K-ras induces PanIN formation but fails to promote the invasive stage. However, when these mice are subjected to caerulein treatment, which induces a chronic pancreatitis-like state and inflammatory response, PanINs rapidly progress to invasive carcinoma. These results are consistent with epidemiologic studies showing that patients with chronic pancreatitis have a much higher risk of developing PC. In line with these observations, recent studies have revealed elevated expression of the pro-inflammatory protein tissue transglutaminase (TG2) in early PanINs, and its expression increases even more as the disease progresses. In this review we discuss the implications of increased TG2 expression in initiation, progression, and pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer.
Combined Toxic Exposures and Human Health: Biomarkers of Exposure and Effect
Authors: Silins Ilona , Högberg Johan
Published: February 2011

Procedures for risk assessment of chemical mixtures, combined and cumulative exposures are under development, but the scientific database needs considerable expansion. In particular, there is a lack of knowledge on how to monitor effects of complex exposures, and there are few reviews on biomonitoring complex exposures. In this review we summarize articles in which biomonitoring techniques have been developed and used. Most examples describe techniques for biomonitoring effects which may detect early changes induced by many chemical stressors and which have the potential to accelerate data gathering. Some emphasis is put on endocrine disrupters acting via epigenetic mechanisms and on carcinogens. Solid evidence shows that these groups of chemicals can interact and even produce synergistic effects. They may act during sensitive time windows and biomonitoring their effects in epidemiological studies is a challenging task.
Coupled Folding and Specific Binding: Fishing for Amphiphilicity
Authors: Jain Vikas P. , Tu Raymond S.
Published: February 2011

Proteins are uniquely capable of identifying targets with unparalleled selectivity, but, in addition to the precision of the binding phenomenon, nature has the ability to find its targets exceptionally quickly. Transcription factors for instance can bind to a specific sequence of nucleic acids from a soup of similar, but not identical DNA strands, on a timescale of seconds. This is only possible with the enhanced kinetics provided for by a natively disordered structure, where protein folding and binding are cooperative processes. The secondary structures of many proteins are disordered under physiological conditions. Subsequently, the disordered structures fold into ordered structures only when they bind to their specific targets. Induced folding of the protein has two key biological advantages. First, flexible unstructured domains can result in an intrinsic plasticity that allows them to accommodate targets of various size and shape. And, second, the dynamics of this folding process can result in enhanced binding kinetics. Several groups have hypothesized the acceleration of binding kinetics is due to induced folding where a “fly-casting” effect has been shown to break the diffusion-limited rate of binding. This review describes experimental results in rationally designed peptide systems where the folding is coupled to amphiphilicity and biomolecular activity.
RETRACTED: pH Dependent Molecular Self-Assembly of Octaphosphonate Porphyrin of Nanoscale Dimensions: Nanosphere and Nanorod Aggregates
Authors: Bhosale Sheshanath V. , Kalyankar Mohan B. , Nalage Santosh V. , Lalander Cecilia H. , Bhosale Sidhanath V. , Langford Steven J. , Oliver Ruth F.
Published: February 2011

Self-assembled nanostructures of zwitterionic octaphosphanatoporphyrin 1, of either nanoparticles or nanorods, depending on small changes in the pH, is demonstrated based on the J-aggregates. Porphyrin 1 self-assembled into nanosphere aggregates with a diameter of about 70–80 nm in the pH range 5–7, and nanorod aggregates were observed at pH 8.5. Hydrogen bonding, p-p stacking and hydrophilic interactions play important roles in the formation of this nanostructure morphology. Nanostructures were characterized by UV/Vis absorbance, fluorescence, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This interesting pH dependent self-assembly phenomenon could provide a basis for development of novel biomaterials.
Use of a Reflectance Spectroscopy Accessory for Optical Characterization of ZnO-Bi2O3-TiO2 Ceramics
Authors: Ghazali Mohd Sabri Mohd , Zakaria Azmi , Rizwan Zahid , Kamari Halimah Mohamed , Hashim Mansor , Zaid Mohd Hafiz Mohd , Zamiri Reza
Published: February 2011

The optical band-gap energy (Eg) is an important feature of semiconductors which determines their applications in optoelectronics. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the electronic states of ceramic ZnO and the effect of doped impurities under different processing conditions. Eg of the ceramic ZnO + xBi2O3 + xTiO2, where x = 0.5 mol%, was determined using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer attached to a Reflectance Spectroscopy Accessory for powdered samples. The samples was prepared using the solid-state route and sintered at temperatures from 1140 to 1260 °C for 45 and 90 minutes. Eg was observed to decrease with an increase of sintering temperature. XRD analysis indicated hexagonal ZnO and few small peaks of intergranular layers of secondary phases. The relative density of the sintered ceramics decreased and the average grain size increased with the increase of sintering temperature.
IL8 and Cathepsin B as Melanoma Serum Biomarkers
Authors: Zhang Hongtao , Fu Ting , McGettigan Suzanne , Kumar Suresh , Liu Shujing , Speicher David , Schuchter Lynn , Xu Xiaowei
Published: February 2011

Melanoma accounts for only a small portion of skin cancer but it is associated with high mortality. Melanoma serum biomarkers that may aid early diagnosis or guide therapy are needed clinically. However, studies of serum biomarkers have often been hampered by the serum interference that causes false readouts in immunological tests. Here we show that, after using a special buffer to eliminate the serum interference, IL-8 and cathepsin B levels were significantly elevated in melanoma patients (p < 0.05). More importantly, the combination of IL-8 and cathepsin B were also studied as a prognosis marker for melanoma mortality. Our study provides a novel approach to examine serum biomarkers.