bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Renal embolic protection devices improve blood flow after stenting for atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis
Authors: Paul Timir K. , Lee John H. , White Christopher J.
Published: March 2012

Objectives

We sought to measure angiographic renal frame counts (RFC), as a quantitative angiographic assessment of renal blood flow, to evaluate microvascular compromise due to atheroembolism associated with RAS.

Background

Atheroembolism associated with renal artery stenting (RAS) has been implicated as a cause for worsening renal function following successful intervention. Use of a distal embolic protection device (EPD) during RAS has been shown to be safe with debris capture in a high percentage of cases. However, objective benefit for renal function with EPD has been difficult to demonstrate.

Methods

A control group of 30 consecutive patients (33 kidneys) who underwent RAS without EPD were compared with 33 consecutive patients (33 kidneys) who underwent RAS with EPD using RFC measurement.

Results

The prestent and poststent mean RFC for the control group was 30.4 ± 12.1 vs. 23.7 ± 9.9 (P = 0.002) and for the EPD group it was 42.6 ± 12.6 vs. 28.3 ± 9.2 (P < 0.0001). The EPD group had a greater improvement in renal blood flow, manifested by a greater reduction of the RFC (Δ RFC) 14.2 ± 15.2 vs. 6.7 ± 11.7 (P = 0.03) compared with the control group.

Conclusions

The use of an EPD was associated with a much larger improvement in renal blood flow (lower RFC) following RAS. This suggests that EPD's may be effective in preventing renal atheroembolic injury and that a controlled trial measuring the impact of EPD's on renal blood flow following RAS should be performed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Survey of diabetes risk assessment tools: concepts, structure and performance
Authors: Thoopputra Thitaporn , Newby David , Schneider Jennifer , Li Shu Chuen
Published: March 2012

The objective of this study is to review the effectiveness and limitations of existing diabetes risk screening tools to assess the need for further developing of such tools. An electronic search of the EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane library supplemented by a manual search was performed from 1995–2010. The search retrieved a total of 2168 articles reporting diabetes risk assessment tools which, after culling, produced 41 tools developed in 22 countries, with the majority (n = 26) developed in North America and Europe. All are short questionnaires of 2–16 questions incorporating common variables including age, gender, waist circumference, BMI, family history of diabetes, history of hypertension or antihypertensive medications. While scoring format and cut‐offs point are diverse between questionnaires, overall accuracy value range of 40‐97%, 24‐86% and 62‐87% were reported for sensitivity, specificity and receiver operating characteristic curve respectively. In summary, there is a trend of increasing availability of diabetes prediction tools with the existing risk assessment tools being generally a short questionnaire aiming for ease of use in clinical practice. The overall performance of existing tools showed moderate to high accuracy in their predictive performance. However, further detailed comparison of existing questionnaires is needed to evaluate whether they can serve adequately as diabetes risk assessment tool in clinical practice. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reduced adsorption of propanil to black carbon: Effect of dissolved organic matter loading mode and molecule size
Authors: Xiao Xiaoyu , Li Feili , Huang Jiexun , Sheng G. Daniel , Qiu Yuping
Published: March 2012

In the present study, the reduced adsorption of propanil on black carbon (BC) influenced by dissolved organic matter (DOM) was verified to be closely related to DOM molecule size and loading mode. Two congenetic carbons, a rice-residue–derived BC and the reduced product (RC), were characterized by similar specific surface area and different surface properties. Reduced product exhibits higher adsorption of propanil and DOM than BC. A series of model DOMs, including tannic acid (TA), pentagalloylglucose (PA), 3-O-galloylmucic acid (OA), and gallic acid (GA), characterized by different molecule sizes and molecular weights, were used to evaluate the different inhibitory effects. The DOM adsorption (mmol/g) on BC and RC follows the order of GA > PA > OA > TA, whereas the reduction of propanil adsorption influenced by the model DOM follows the order of PA ≈ TA > OA ≈ GA. The suppressive degree is connected to their molecule sizes rather than to molecular weights. Tannic acid and PA weakened propanil adsorption more effectively than OA and GA because the large DOM molecules may hinder propanil molecules into the micropore regions. Because of the similar molecule size, TA and PA present a similar suppressive effect on propanil adsorption. The influence of the DOMs was greater when preloaded than when in competition with propanil. The preloading of macromolecules (TA and PA) and OA on the carbons may lead to secondary and primary micropore blocks, respectively. The preloading of GA may cause partial GA molecule sequestration in the primary micropore, thus leading to strong attenuation of propanil adsorption on the carbons. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012;31:1187–1193. © 2012 SETAC
Contaminant driven genetic erosion: A case study with Daphnia longispina
Authors: Ribeiro Rui , Baird Donald J. , Soares Amadeu M.V.M. , Lopes Isabel
Published: March 2012

Natural populations exposed to pollutants are predicted to experience a loss of genetic diversity, especially through genetic drift, gene flow (emigration), and/or selection (as sensitive genotypes may be lost). In the present study, the authors discuss the use of selectable markers and neutral markers to evaluate a contaminant-driven loss of genetic diversity and possible implications of genetic erosion on populations' viability. Viability could be reduced by altering life history parameters, especially due to fitness costs associated with the acquisition of resistance and/or by compromising the resilience and adaptation to future environmental changes. This discussion aims at an integrated and critical analysis of this topic; it is illustrated by several independent studies (each with its own specific objectives) that were carried out at the same location with Daphnia longispina populations. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the most extensively documented case study on genetic erosion of a natural zooplankton population. Directional selection has been found to be a main factor of microevolution; therefore, genetic erosion was detected by monitoring suitable phenotypic markers. Genetic drift was found to be probably irrelevant or masked by other factors, especially gene flow. Although the acquisition of resistance apparently did not entail genetically determined fitness costs under uncontaminated conditions, the present case study suggests the possibility of a further loss of genotypes due to some negative linkages between the sensitivity to potential ulterior toxicants. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 977–982. © 2012 SETAC
Differential tolerance of native and nonnative fish exposed to ultraviolet radiation and fluoranthene in Lake Tahoe (California/Nevada), USA
Authors: Gevertz Amanda K. , Tucker Andrew J. , Bowling Anna M. , Williamson Craig E. , Oris James T.
Published: March 2012

Within Lake Tahoe (CA/NV), USA, multiple environmental stressors are present that can affect both native and nonnative fish species. Stressors include natural ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Many PAHs, such as fluoranthene (FLU) are phototoxic to aquatic organisms in the presence of UVR. Decreasing levels of UVR due to eutrophication and increasing levels of PAHs due to recreational activities may combine to affect the relative ability of native versus nonnative fish species to survive in the lake. The objective of the present study was to examine the differential effects of exposure to different levels of UVR and phototoxic FLU in native and nonnative fish species. Responses to these changes in the native Lahontan redside minnow (Richardsonius egregius) and the nonnative warm-water bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) were compared during toxicity tests, which were conducted in controlled outdoor exposures. Physiological defenses were also investigated in an attempt to elucidate ways each species may tolerate UVR and UVR + FLU exposures. It was determined that the native redside minnow is more tolerant to UVR and UVR + FLU exposure when compared to the nonnative bluegill. In addition, a natural UVR coping mechanism, increased pigmentation, is exhibited to a greater extent in the native redside. The present study will help determine the potential for a future successful invasion of the bluegill and similar species in Lake Tahoe and other oligotrophic, montane lakes that are susceptible to habitat alteration, nutrient inputs, and recreational activity. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 1129–1135. © 2012 SETAC
Managing valuation
Authors: Julnes George
Published: March 2012

This chapter introduces some of the challenges in valuing programs and policies that seek to serve the public interest. After examining variations in current practice, the author addresses ways of managing the use of valuing methodologies according to the contexts in which they work best. This, in turn, supports conclusions about desired types of balance in our methods of valuing in the field of evaluation. ©Wiley Periodicals, Inc., and the American Evaluation Association.
The logic of valuing
Authors: Scriven Michael
Published: March 2012

This chapter outlines the logical infrastructure that makes it possible to claim that one can validate values, both at a general and a context‐specific level, other than by direct deduction from other value premises. To make the argument, the author distinguishes between the logic of valuing and the logic of evaluation, the former being the primary focus of the argument, and analyzes the invalidity of the long‐standing value‐free doctrine in social sciences. The author discusses several ways in which we can establish factual as well as evaluative premises by observation, inference, or definition, that make it possible to infer beyond reasonable doubt to evaluative conclusions. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc., and the American Evaluation Association.
Step arounds for common pitfalls when valuing resources used versus resources produced
Authors: Yates Brian T.
Published: March 2012

The value of a program can be understood as referring not only to outcomes, but also to how those outcomes compare to the types and amounts of resources expended to produce the outcomes. Major potential mistakes and biases inassessing the worth of resources consumed, as well as the value of outcomes produced, are explored. Most of these occur when the evaluation is limited in contexts examined or perspectives adopted. In particular, it is noted that the price of a resource often is context‐dependent, and may not describe the value of a resourcefrom important perspectives. Also, the monetary value of outcomes as inferred from earned income, and from avoided human service expenditures, may not reflectoutcome value from key perspectives, possibly exacerbating discrimination according to gender, ethnicity, and age. Solutions for these problems are recommended. More complete and detailed information on resources consumed and outcomesproduced also may facilitate systematic optimization of program value, if theevaluation includes the amounts and types of resources used by those program activities that change the participant processes that lead to desired program outcomes. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc., and the American Evaluation Association.
Valuing, evaluation methods, and the politicization of the evaluation process
Authors: Chelimsky Eleanor
Published: March 2012

The author argues that valuing is often about methodology, or questions about how to measure the value of a public program or policy, including how we measure the factual underpinnings of programs and how we synthesize information about issues relevant to public programs and policies. The organizational context is discussed as an important determinant of what methods are used, and that these decisions have become increasingly influenced by a single narrative—a narrative that sees increasing numbers of government programs and policies embodying a single idea, or positing a simple, one‐on‐one cause‐and‐effect relationship, both of which are established, not by evidence, but rather by suppressing existing evidence that is inconvenient to the particular idea or relationship being advanced. The implications of this single narrative on methodology are discussed and ways forward described. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc., and the American Evaluation Association.
Pain following stroke: A prospective study
Authors: Hansen A.P. , Marcussen N.S. , Klit H. , Andersen G. , Finnerup N.B. , Jensen T.S.
Published: March 2012

Background

Post‐stroke pain is common and affects the quality of life of stroke survivors, but the incidence and severity of headache, shoulder pain, other joint pain and central post‐stroke pain following stroke still remain unclear. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the incidence and intensity of these different types of post‐stroke pain.

Methods

A total of 299 consecutive stroke patients, admitted to the Department of Neurology at Aarhus University Hospital, underwent a structured interview and a short sensory examination within 4 days of admission. Follow‐up was conducted by phone 3 and 6 months after stroke onset, with 275 patients completing the whole study. Pain with onset in relation to stroke onset or following stroke was defined as ‘newly developed pain’.

Results

At the 6‐month follow‐up, newly developed pain was reported by 45.8% of the patients; headache by 13.1%, shoulder pain by 16.4%, other joint pain by 11.7%, other pain by 20.0% and evoked pain by light touch or thermal stimuli by 8.0%. More than one pain type was reported by 36.5% of the patients with newly developed pain. According to pre‐defined criteria, 10.5% of the patients were classified as having possible central post‐stroke pain. There was a moderate to severe impact on daily life in 33.6% of the patients with newly developed pain.

Conclusions

Pain following stroke is common, with almost half of the patients reporting newly developed pain 6 months after stroke.
Evaluation of glutathione s‐transferase as toxicity indicator for roxarsone and arsanilic acid in Eisenia fetida
Authors: Rizwan‐ul‐Haq Muhammad , Zhenling Zeng , Yongxue Sun , Wenguang Xiong
Published: March 2012

Different compounds can induce stress response by targeting specific genes. Studies related to elucidating the detoxification and adaptive responses of proteins like glutathione‐s‐transferase (GST) can be helpful in better understanding toxicity. Roxarsone and arsanilic acid, which have been exhaustively used as animal and poultry feed additives, pose a threat to the environment and human health. GST enzyme bioassay revealed fluctuations in response to different concentrations of roxarsone and arsanilic acid at different time intervals. The highest GST enzyme activity (40.51%) was observed on day 15 of treatment with roxarsone. On the other hand, arsanilic acid caused the maximum enzyme activity (52.11%) on day 10 of treatment. During this study, the full‐length gene sequence of GST, having the size 984 bp (Genbankno. HQ693699), was achieved from Eisenia fetida and established as a biomarker to assess the toxicity of roxarsone and arsanilic acid. The deduced protein has a computed molecular mass of 23.56 kDa and a predicted isoelectric point of 9.92. Quantitative real‐time PCR revealed significant differential gene expression in response to roxarsone and arsanilic acid treatment as compared with control treatment. Roxarsone caused the highest gene expression of 7.0‐fold increase over control on day 15 of treatment, whereas arsanilic acid resulted in the highest gene expression reaching to 14.56‐fold as compared with control. This study is helpful in understanding the role of GST as a potential biomarker for chemicals like roxarsone and arsanilic acid, which can pollute the food chain. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tissue factor antisense deoxyoligonucleotide prevents monocrotaline/LPS hepatotoxicity in mice
Authors: Hammad Mohamed A. , Abdel‐Bakky Mohamed Sadek , Walker Larry A. , Ashfaq Mohammad K.
Published: March 2012

Tissue factor (TF) is a membranous glycoprotein that functions as a receptor for coagulation factor VII/VIIa and activates the coagulation system when blood vessels or tissues are damaged. TF was upregulated in our monocrotaline (MCT)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS) hepatotoxicity model. We tested the hypothesis that TF‐dependent fibrin deposition and lipid peroxidation in the form of oxidized low‐density‐lipoprotein (ox‐LDL) accumulation contribute to liver inflammation induced by MCT/LPS in mice. In the present study, we blocked TF using antisense oligodeoxynucleotides against mouse TF (TF‐ASO). TF‐ASO (5.6 mg kg−1) was given i.v. to ND4 male mice 30 min after administration of MCT (200 mg kg−1) p.o. followed after 3.5 h by LPS i.p. (6 mg kg−1). Blood alanine aminotransferase (ALT), TF, ox‐LDL, platelets, hematocrit and keratinocyte‐derived chemokine (KC) levels were evaluated in different treatment groups. Fibrin deposition and ox‐LDL accumulation were also analyzed in the liver sections using immunofluorescent staining. The results showed that TF‐ASO significantly restored blood ALT, hematocrit and KC levels, distorted after MCT/LPS co‐treatment, as well as preventing the accumulation of ox‐LDL and the deposition of fibrin in the liver tissues, and thereby inhibited liver injury caused by MCT/LPS. In a separate experiment, TF‐ASO administration significantly prolonged animal survival. The current study demonstrates that TF is associated with MCT/LPS‐induced liver injury. Administration of TF‐ASO successfully prevented this type of liver injury. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Th2 cytokine‐mediated methimazole‐induced acute liver injury in mice
Authors: Kobayashi Masanori , Higuchi Satonori , Ide Mika , Nishikawa Satomi , Fukami Tatsuki , Nakajima Miki , Yokoi Tsuyoshi
Published: March 2012

Drug‐induced liver injury (DILI) is a major safety concern in drug development and clinical practice. The pathogenesis of DILI usually involves the participation of the parent drug or metabolites that either affect cellular function or elicit an immune response. However, the mechanisms leading to DILI are unknown in most cases. Methimazole (MTZ) is used as an antithyroid drug and is well known to have induced liver injuries such as cholestatic hepatitis in a small number of human cases. Immune‐mediated reactions were also suggested to play a role in MTZ‐induced acute liver injury, but the mechanism underlying this process has not been elucidated. To address this issue, we measured plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, hepatic glutathione levels, hepatic expression of CD4+ Th cell‐related transcriptional factors, cytokines and chemokines, plasma interleukin (IL)‐4 levels and histopathological changes in the liver following MTZ (450 mg kg−1, p.o.) administration in mice. The hepatic expression of mRNA for Th2 cell‐related factors, such as GATA‐binding protein, macrophage inflammatory protein‐2 (MIP‐2) and plasma IL‐4 levels, as well as plasma AST and ALT levels, was significantly increased in mice treated with MTZ. These changes were markedly enhanced by pre‐treatment with L‐buthionine sulfoximine (3 mmol kg−1, i.p.) and MTZ (15 mg kg−1, p.o.). Neutralization of IL‐4 using a monoclonal anti‐mouse IL‐4 antibody (100 µg/mouse, single i.p.) suppressed the hepatotoxic effect of MTZ. In conclusion, this report is the first to demonstrate that Th2 cytokine‐mediated immune responses are involved in MTZ‐induced acute liver injury in mice. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Subchronic hepatotoxicity evaluation of bromobenzene in Fischer 344 rats
Authors: Dodd Darol E. , Pluta Linda J. , Sochaski Mark A. , Banas Deborah A. , Thomas Russell S.
Published: March 2012

Male Fischer 344 (F344) rats were exposed to bromobenzene (BB) for 5 days and 2, 4 and 13 weeks. BB was administered by gavage (corn oil vehicle) at doses of 0, 25, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg kg−1 per day. Endpoints evaluated included clinical observations, body weights, liver weights, serum chemistry, blood BB, gross pathology and liver histopathology. There were no BB exposure‐related clinical signs of toxicity. Mean body weight decreased by 5–10% compared with control in the 400 mg kg−1 per day group. Liver weight increases were dose‐ and exposure time‐related and statistically significant at ≥25 mg kg−1 per day. Incidence and severity of centrilobular cytoplasmic alteration and hepatocyte hypertrophy were related to dose and exposure time. At early time points (5 days and 2 weeks), centrilobular inflammation, including granulomatous areas, and necrotic and anisokaryocytic hepatocytes were observed in rats of the two highest BB dose groups. Blood BB concentrations increased linearly with dose and at 13 weeks ranged from 8 to 136 µg ml−1 (25–400 mg kg−1 per day). In conclusion, rats administered BB doses up to 400 mg kg−1 per day for up to 13 weeks had mild liver effects. A NOAEL of 200 mg kg−1 per day was selected based on the statistically significant incidence of hepatocyte hypertrophy at doses ≥ 400 mg kg−1 per day. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bone geometry, density, and microarchitecture in the distal radius and tibia in adults with osteogenesis imperfecta type I assessed by high-resolution pQCT
Authors: Folkestad Lars , Hald Jannie Dahl , Hansen Stinus , Gram Jeppe , Langdahl Bente , Abrahamsen Bo , Brixen Kim
Published: March 2012

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a hereditary disorder characterized by decreased biosynthesis or impaired morphology of type I collagen that leads to decreased bone mass and increased bone fragility. We hypothesized that patients with OI have altered bone microstructure and bone geometry. In this cross-sectional study we compared patients with type I OI to age- and gender-matched healthy controls. A total of 39 (13 men and 26 women) patients with OI, aged 53 (range, 21–77) years, and 39 controls, aged 53 (range, 21–77) years, were included in the study. Twenty-seven of the patients had been treated with bisphosphonates. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) at the distal radius and distal tibia and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry of total hip, femoral neck, trochanteric region, and the lumbar spine (L1–L4) were performed. The patients were shorter than the controls (159 ± 10 cm versus 170 ± 9 cm, p < 0.001), but had similar body weight. In OI, areal bone mineral density (aBMD) was 8% lower at the hip (p < 0.05) and 13% lower at the spine (p < 0.001) compared with controls. The trabecular volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) was 28% lower in radius (p < 0.001) and 38% lower in tibia (p < 0.001) in OI compared with controls. At radius, total bone area was 5% lower in OI than in controls (p < 0.05). In the tibia, cortical bone area was 18% lower in OI (p < 0.001). In both radius and tibia the number of trabeculae was lower in patients compared to the controls (35% and 38%, respectively, p < 0.001 at both sites). Furthermore, trabecular spacing was 55% higher in OI in both tibia and radius (p < 0.001 at both sites) when compared with controls. We conclude that patients with type I OI have lower aBMD, vBMD, bone area, and trabecular number when compared with healthy age- and gender-matched controls. © 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Evaluation of trabecular microarchitecture in nonosteoporotic postmenopausal women with and without fracture
Authors: Kijowski Richard , Tuite Michael , Kruger Diane , Munoz Del Rio Alejandro , Kleerekoper Michael , Binkley Neil
Published: March 2012

This study compared microscopic magnetic resonance imaging (µMRI) parameters of trabecular microarchitecture between postmenopausal women with and without fracture who have normal or osteopenic bone mineral density (BMD) on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). It included 36 postmenopausal white women 50 years of age and older with normal or osteopenic BMD (T-scores better than −2.5 at the lumbar spine, proximal femur, and one-third radius on DXA). Eighteen women had a history of low-energy fracture, whereas 18 women had no history of fracture and served as an age, race, and ultradistal radius BMD-matched control group. A three-dimensional fast large-angle spin-echo (FLASE) sequence with 137 µm × 137 µm × 400 µm resolution was performed through the nondominant wrist of all 36 women using the same 1.5T scanner. The high-resolution images were used to measure trabecular bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness, surface-to-curve ratio, and erosion index. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare differences in BMD and µMRI parameters between postmenopausal women with and without fracture. Post-menopausal women with fracture had significantly lower (p < 0.05) trabecular bone volume fraction and surface-to-curve ratio and significantly higher (p < 0.05) erosion index than postmenopausal women without fracture. There was no significant difference between postmenopausal women with and without fracture in trabecular thickness (p = 0.80) and BMD of the spine (p = 0.21), proximal femur (p = 0.19), one-third radius (p = 0.47), and ultradistal radius (p = 0.90). Postmenopausal women with normal or osteopenic BMD who had a history of low-energy fracture had significantly different (p < 0.05) µMRI parameters than an age, race, and ultradistal radius BMD-matched control group of postmenopausal women with no history of fracture. Our study suggests that µMRI can be used to identify individuals without a DXA-based diagnosis of osteoporosis who have impaired trabecular microarchitecture and thus a heretofore-unappreciated elevated fracture risk. © 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Urinary osteocalcin and serum pro-C-type natriuretic peptide predict linear catch-up growth in infants
Authors: Kilpeläinen Leena , Ivaska Kaisa K , Kuiri-Hänninen Tanja , Väänänen H Kalervo , Rehfeld Jens F , Goetze Jens P , Sankilampi Ulla , Dunkel Leo
Published: March 2012

Preterm (PT) infants are at risk of growth failure despite advanced early care and nutrition. In addition to poor weight gain, slow postnatal linear growth also is associated with adverse neurological outcome. Markers distinguishing infants at risk for impaired catch-up growth are needed. The aim of this longitudinal study was to determine the extent to which postnatal levels of circulating cartilage (serum pro-C-type natriuretic peptide [S-proCNP]) and urinary bone metabolic markers (urinary osteocalcin [MidOC] and two forms of C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen [U-α-CTX-I and U-β-CTX-I]) predict catch-up growth in infancy in 67 PT and 58 full-term (FT) infants. PT infants were significantly shorter than FT infants during the first 6 months of life, but no statistically significant difference was found at the corrected age of 14 months (M14). At the age of 3 months (M3), S-ProCNP and U-MidOC levels, but not U-α-CTX-I and U-β-CTX-I levels, correlated positively with prospective growth velocity from M3 to M14 (ρ = 0.460, p < 0.001 and ρ = 0.710, p < 0.001, respectively). In predicting slow linear growth (growth velocity at the lowest quartile), the area under the S-ProCNP ROC curve was 0.662 and that of U-MidOC 0.891. Thus, U-MidOC, and to lesser extent S-ProCNP at M3 are predictors of catch-up growth in infancy. © 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
miR-764-5p promotes osteoblast differentiation through inhibition of CHIP/STUB1 expression
Authors: Guo Junwei , Ren Fangli , Wang Yinyin , Li Shan , Gao Zhengrong , Wang Xiaoyan , Ning Hongxiu , Wu Jianguo , Li Yi , Wang Zhao , Chim Shek Man , Xu Jiake , Chang Zhijie
Published: March 2012

Differentiation of committed precursor cells into the osteoblast lineage is tightly regulated by several factors, including Runx2 and BMP2. We previously reported that C terminus of Hsc70-interacting protein/STIP1 homology and U-Box containing protein 1 (CHIP/STUB1) negatively regulated osteoblast differentiation through promoting Runx2 protein degradation. However, how CHIP is regulated during osteoblast differentiation remains unknown. In this study, we found that miR-764-5p is up-expressed during the osteoblast differentiation in calvarial and osteoblast progenitor cells, coupled with down-expression of CHIP protein. We observed that forced expression or inhibition of miR-764-5p decreased or increased the CHIP protein level through affecting its translation by targeting the 3′-UTR region. Perturbation of miR-764-5p resulted in altered differentiation fate of osteoblast progenitor cells and the role of miR-764-5p was reversed by overexpression of CHIP, whereas depletion of CHIP impaired the effect of miR-764-5p. Our data showed that miR-764-5p positively regulates osteoblast differentiation from osteoblast progenitor cells by repressing the translation of CHIP protein. © 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Removal of sulfamethoxazole from waters and wastewaters by conductive‐diamond electrochemical oxidation
Authors: Martín de Vidales María J. , Robles‐Molina José , Domínguez‐Romero Juan C. , Cañizares Pablo , Sáez Cristina , Molina‐Díaz Antonio , Rodrigo Manuel A.
Published: March 2012

BACKGROUND: Sulfamethoxazole (SMX, used as a model bacteriostatic antibiotic) is persistent to conventional biological treatments of wastewaters. In this work, conductive‐diamond electrochemical oxidation (CDEO) was found to be an effective technology for its removal from the effluents of conventional wastewater treatment plants.

RESULTS: The use of CDEO has been evaluated for the removal of the antibiotic SMX from water and wastewaters. The results show that CDEO can reduce the concentration of this organic pollutant to values below 0.1 µg dm−3. The variation of the SMX concentration during electrolysis shows a complex shape with a plateau zone that increases in size with the initial concentration of SMX. This complex trend is not observed in the changes of TOC, which seems to indicate that the CDEO of SMX solutions does not lead directly to the generation of carbon dioxide as a final product. A tentative reaction pathway has been proposed based on a thorough analysis of the reaction mixture, in which the main intermediate products were identified. The use of liquid chromatography time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (LC‐TOFMS) allowed the identification of nine organic intermediates (with Mw 98, 108, 172, 173, 197, 203, 227, 269 and 287) during the electrolysis and the concentration of these compounds depends on the initial SMX concentration and on the current density applied.

CONCLUSIONS: CDEO is able to reduce the concentration of the organic pollutant below 0.1 mg dm−3. SMX removal is faster than that of TOC. This fact indicates the formation of reaction intermediates. Analytical techniques show that nine reaction intermediates are generated in the system, and that their concentration depends on the initial SMX concentration and on the current density used. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Clinical usefulness of low‐dose dobutamine stress real‐time myocardial contrast echocardiography for detection of viable myocardium
Authors: Li Dong‐ye , Hao Ji , Xia Yong , Zhang Hui , Xu Tong‐da , Wang Xiao‐ping , Zhang Yan‐bin , Chen Jun‐hong
Published: March 2012

Objectives.

To evaluate and compare the diagnostic accuracy of semi‐quantitative and quantitative real‐time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RT‐MCE) with low‐dose dobutamine stress echocardiography (LD‐DSE) in detecting viable myocardium.

Methods.

Thirty in‐patients with coronary artery disease and regional wall motion abnormalities underwent RT‐MCE without and with LD‐DSE. Percutaneous coronary intervention was performed within 1 week after RT‐MCE in all patients. Myocardial perfusion was evaluated from A, β, and A × β indices from microbubble replenishment curves. The motion of each myocardium segment was observed by routine echocardiography 1, 3, and 6 months after percutaneous coronary intervention and its improvement over time was the criterion of viable myocardium.

Results.

RT‐MCE sensitivity and specificity for the assessment of viable myocardium were 71.7% and 69.8%, rising to 81.3% and 76.7% (p < 0.05) when combined with LD‐DSE. Using quantitative RT‐MCE with cutoff values of A, β, and A × β, the sensitivity and specificity were 75.6%, 78.8%, 82.1%, and 82.4%, 77.9%, 78.6%, respectively. When combined with LD‐DSE, the sensitivity and specificity were 86.0%, 83.2%; 88.9% and 84.1%; 89.6%, 79.9%, respectively.

Conclusions.

Quantitative RT‐MCE analysis yielded higher sensitivity and specificity than semi‐quantitative RT‐MCE with or without LD‐DSE for the detection of viable myocardium. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2012
Clostridium difficile infection: The scope of the problem
Authors: Dubberke Erik
Published: March 2012

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is increasingly common, and it is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and cost burden for patients and the healthcare system. The severity and rates of recurrent CDI and associated mortality are also increasing. This article is an overview of the changes in CDI epidemiology that have occurred since the turn of the century and the current scope of the problem. The 3 articles that follow in this supplement address the diagnosis and treatment of initial and recurrent CDI, and current practice guidelines for the prevention and control of CDI in the hospital setting. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2012;7:S1–S4. © 2012 Society of Hospital Medicine
Predictors of complications of free flap reconstruction in head and neck surgery: Analysis of 304 free flap reconstruction procedures
Authors: le Nobel Gavin J. , Higgins Kevin M. , Enepekides Danny J.
Published: March 2012

Objectives:

The objectives of this study were to classify and analyze perioperative complications following free flap reconstruction in the head and neck and investigate potential predictors of these complications.

Methods:

A retrospective chart analysis of 304 consecutive free flap reconstructions for defects in the head and neck were examined. Patient and operative characteristics as well as complications were recorded prospectively and analyzed using ordinal logistic regression.

Results:

The overall complication rate was 32.6% with a perioperative mortality rate of 0.3%. The flap loss rate was 2.0% and the partial flap necrosis rate was 1.0%. Multivariate analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between perioperative complication and tumor stage as well as reconstruction site.

Conclusions:

The rate and grade of complications with free flap reconstruction in the head and neck were found to be low. Higher tumor stage and pharyngoesophageal reconstruction were found to be associated with increased complication grades, whereas preoperative radiation alone and chemoradiation were not. Smoking and alcohol use, age, diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, and preoperative myocardial infarction as well as preoperative cerebrovascular accident were not found to be associated with increased complications. No statistically significant difference in complication grades was found with different flap types or indications for reconstruction.
Gas‐phase dissociation of glycosylated peptide ions
Authors: Dodds Eric D.
Published: March 2012

Among the myriad of protein post‐translational modifications (PTMs), glycosylation presents a singular analytical challenge. On account of the extraordinary diversity of protein‐linked carbohydrates and the great complexity with which they decorate glycoproteins, the rigorous establishment of glycan–protein connectivity is often an arduous experimental venture. Consequently, elaborating the interplay between structures of oligosaccharides and functions of proteins they modify is usually not a straightforward task. A more mature biochemical appreciation of carbohydrates as PTMs will significantly hinge upon analytical advances in the field of glycoproteomics. Undoubtedly, the analysis of glycosylated peptides by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) will play a pivotal role in this regard. The goal of this review is to summarize, from an analytical and tutorial perspective, the present state of knowledge regarding the dissociation of glycopeptide ions as accomplished by various MS/MS methods. In addition, this review will endeavor to harmonize some seemingly disparate findings to provide a more complete and broadly applicable description of glycopeptide ion fragmentation. A fuller understanding of the rich variety of glycopeptide dissociation behaviors will allow glycoproteomic researchers to maximize the information yielded by MS/MS experiments, while also paving the way to new innovations in MS‐based glycoproteomics. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev 31:666–682, 2012
Bargaining over Managerial Contracts in Delegation Games: The Generalized Oligopolistic Case
Authors: Nakamura Yasuhiko
Published: March 2012

The main purpose of this paper is to disclose the properties of the equilibrium outcomes in the differentiated‐products model with two stages: (i) owner‐shareholders negotiate managerial compensation with their managers that comprises their profits and sales (sales delegation) and (ii) they engage in their market competition. The other purpose of this paper is to study the differentiated goods model in which an owner bargains the managerial compensation with her/his manager that comprises her/his profit and her/his rival's profit (relative performance delegation). We further investigate the situation wherein the firm with sales delegation and the firm with the relative performance delegation coexist. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Role of environmental disturbance in an eco‐epidemiological model with disease from external source
Authors: Das Krishna pada , Chattopadhyay J.
Published: March 2012

An eco‐epidemiological model with random environmental disturbance is proposed and analyzed. We assume that the susceptible prey population can acquire infection both from external sources and from internal transmission of the disease. It is also assumed that there is no recovery of the disease, and the consumption of diseased prey has a deleterious effect on the predator population. The conditions for the extinction of the predator and the prey populations are worked out. The most important observation of the present investigation is that oscillatory behavior of the populations observed in deterministic framework undergoes stable coexistence in the stochastic framework. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Combined use of filtered and edited 1H NMR spectroscopy to detect 13C‐enriched compounds in complex mixtures
Authors: Howe P. W. A. , Ament Z. , Knowles K. , Griffin J. L. , Wright J.
Published: March 2012

In conventional metabolism and pharmacokinetic studies, radioactive isotopes are used to identify and quantify the breakdown products of xenobiotics. However, the stable isotope 13C provides a cheaper and less hazardous alternative. Metabolites of 13C‐enriched xenobiotics can be detected, quantified and identified by 13C‐filtered NMR spectroscopy. However, one obstacle to using 13C is its 1.1% natural abundance that produces a background signal in 13C‐filtered NMR spectra of crude biological extracts. The signal makes it difficult to distinguish between 13C‐enriched xenobiotics resonances from endogenous metabolites unrelated to the xenobiotic. This study proposes that the 13C background signal can be distinguished from resonances of 13C‐enriched xenobiotics by the absence of a 12C component in the xenobiotic. This is detected by combined analysis of 13C‐filtered and ‐edited NMR spectra. The theory underlying the approach is described and the method is demonstrated by the detection of sub‐microgram amounts of 13C‐enriched phenacetin in crude extracts of hepatocyte microsomes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Calderon's preconditioning for periodic fast multipole method for elastodynamics in 3D
Authors: Isakari Hiroshi , Niino Kazuki , Yoshikawa Hitoshi , Nishimura Naoshi
Published: March 2012

Preconditioning methods based on Calderon's formulae for the periodic fast multipole method for elastodynamics in 3D are investigated. Three different types of formulations are proposed. The first type is a preconditioning just by appropriately ordering the coefficient matrix without multiplying preconditioners. The other two types utilise preconditioners constructed using matrices needed in the main fast multipole method algorithms. We make several numerical experiments with proposed preconditioners to confirm the efficiency of these proposed methods. We also conclude that the preconditioning of the first type is faster with respect to the computational time than other preconditioning methods discussed in this article. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Direct evidence that PKCα positively regulates wound re‐epithelialization: correlation with changes in desmosomal adhesiveness
Authors: Thomason Helen A , Cooper Nichola H , Ansell David M , Chiu Maybo , Merrit Anita J , Hardman Matthew J , Garrod David R
Published: March 2012

Non‐healing wounds cause considerable patient morbidity and represent a significant economic burden. Central to wound repair is re‐epithelialization, a crucial process involving the modulation of cell adhesion to allow keratinocyte migration to cover the exposed underlying tissues. The cellular mechanisms regulating the earliest stages of re‐epithelialization are unclear. We present the first direct evidence that protein kinase Cα (PKCα) plays an important role in regulating wound re‐epithelialization. In PKCα−/− mice re‐epithelialization is delayed, while in novel bitransgenic mice over‐expressing constitutively active PKCα it is accelerated. These effects are not due to changes in keratinocyte proliferation, apoptosis or intrinsic cell motility. Instead, they correlate with changes in desmosomal adhesiveness, delay being preceded by retained desmosomal hyper‐adhesiveness and acceleration with a rapid switch to desmosomal Ca2+‐dependence. We demonstrate mechanistic conservation in acute human wounds where PKCα localizes to wound edge desmosomes, which become Ca2+‐dependent. However, in chronic wounds PKCα remains cytoplasmic and desmosomes fail to switch from the hyper‐adhesive state. These results throw new mechanistic light on the earliest stages of wound re‐epithelialization and suggest activation of PKCα as a new therapeutic strategy for non‐healing wounds. Copyright © 2012 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stem cell identification—in vivo lineage analysis versus in vitro isolation and clonal expansion
Authors: Wright Nicholas A
Published: March 2012

Recently, a dispute has arisen concerning the operational definition and identification of epithelial stem cells. There is a current view which considers that epithelial stem cell identification depends solely on the in vitro isolation and expansion of cells from the putative stem cell. This article argues strongly that this is a perverse and erroneous view, and that lineage labelling, using genetic markers, remains the gold standard for identifying epithelial stem cells and for analysing their behaviour: in vitro methods show, at best, clonogenic potential but not fate, and constitute ancillary support for conclusions drawn from lineage analysis. Copyright © 2012 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Managerial Complexity in Process Industrial R&D Projects: A Swedish Study
Authors: Chronéer Diana , Bergquist Bjarne
Published: March 2012

Process industries often have features that differ from other businesses, such as round-the-clock production and costly and specialized production processes—features that have not been dealt with in the project management literature. We highlight and identify the complexity of R&D projects in the Swedish process industry and its interrelated process development and product development activities based on results from interviews and a case study. The different competence areas in which a project manager must integrate and manage R&D projects is illustrated. We conclude that a project manager needs both production and product-related competence, including customers' processes.
N‐terminal acetylation is critical for forming α‐helical oligomer of α‐synuclein
Authors: Trexler Adam J. , Rhoades Elizabeth
Published: March 2012

The aggregation of the protein α‐synuclein (AS) is critical to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Although generally described as an unstructured monomer, recent evidence suggests that the native form of AS may be an α‐helical tetramer which resists aggregation. Here, we show that N‐terminal acetylation in combination with a mild purification protocol results in an oligomeric form of AS with partial α‐helical structure. N‐terminal acetylation of AS could have important implications for both the native and pathological structures and functions of AS. Through our demonstration of a recombinant expression system, our results represent an important step toward biochemical and biophysical characterization of this potentially important form of AS.
Ribavirin, a nucleoside with potential insecticidal activity
Authors: Liu Ying‐Qian , Zhang Jing , Feng Gang , Li Lin‐Hai , Yang Liu , Kou Liang
Published: March 2012

BACKGROUND: The triazole‐based antiviral nucleoside ribavirin exhibited significant in vitro insecticidal effects against Spodoptera litura, a finding that has prompted further investigations into its in vivo insecticidal properties and mode of action against this insect pest.

RESULTS: Ribavirin showed delayed insecticidal effects on third‐instar larvae of S. litura at a concentration of 1 mg mL−1. When incorporated into an artificial diet, ribavirin caused various effects, depending on the concentration used. Compared with controls, food intake was lower, larval growth was reduced and larval development prolonged. Pupae weight was reduced, and adult morphology was also affected. Relative to the untreated group, treated groups showed higher mortality at larval and pupal stages, which was generally caused by moult disruption. Results of this study with ribavirin resemble those found in treatment with insect growth regulators.

CONCLUSION: This work shows that ribavirin merits further study as a lead compound in a novel class of potential insect control agents or for managing field populations of Lepidoptera pests on cruciferous crops. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry