bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antioxidant and phytochemical properties of Carpobrotus edulis (L.) bolus leaf used for the management of common infections in HIV/AIDS patients in Eastern Cape Province
Authors: Omoruyi Beauty E , Bradley Graeme , Afolayan Anthony J
Published: November 2012

Background

Carpobrotus edulis (Mesembryanthemaceae), also known as igcukuma in Xhosa language is a medicinal plant used by the traditional healers to treat common infections in HIV/AIDS patients. Based on this information, we researched on the plant phytoconstituents, as well as its inhibitory effect using aqueous and three different organic solvent extracts in order to justify its therapeutic usage.

Methods

Antioxidant activity of the extracts were investigated spectrophotometrically against 1,1- diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) diammonium salt, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nitric oxide (NO), and ferric reducing power, Total phenols, flavonoids, flavonols, proanthocyanidins, tannins, alkaloids and saponins were also determined using the standard methods.

Results

Quantitative phytochemical analysis of the four solvent extracts revealed a high percentage of phenolics (55.7 ± 0.404%) in the acetone extract, with appreciable amount of proanthocyanidins (86.9 ± 0.005%) and alkaloids (4.5 ± 0.057%) in the aqueous extract, while tannin (48.9 ± 0.28%) and saponin (4.5 ± 0.262%) were major constituents of the ethanol extract. Flavonoids (0.12 ± 0.05%) and flavonols (0.12 ± 0.05%) were found at higher level in the hexane extract in comparison with the other extracts. The leaf extracts demonstrated strong hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity, with the exception of water and ethanol extracts. IC50 values of the aqueous and ethanolic extract against DPPH, ABTS, and NO were 0.018 and 0.016; 0.020 and 0.022; 0.05 and 0.023 mg/ml, respectively. The reducing power of the extract was found to be concentration dependent.

Conclusion

The inhibitory effect of the extracts on free radicals may justify the traditional use of this plant in the management of common diseases in HIV/AIDs patients in Eastern Cape Province. Overall, both aqueous and ethanol were found to be the best solvents for antioxidant activity in C. edulis leaves.
MALVAC 2012 scientific forum: accelerating development of second-generation malaria vaccines
Authors: Vannice Kirsten S , Brown Graham V , Akanmori Bartholomew D , Moorthy Vasee S
Published: November 2012

The World Health Organization (WHO) convened a malaria vaccines committee (MALVAC) scientific forum from 20 to 21 February 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland, to review the global malaria vaccine portfolio, to gain consensus on approaches to accelerate second-generation malaria vaccine development, and to discuss the need to update the vision and strategic goal of the Malaria Vaccine Technology Roadmap. This article summarizes the forum, which included reviews of leading Plasmodium falciparum vaccine candidates for pre-erythrocytic vaccines, blood-stage vaccines, and transmission-blocking vaccines. Other major topics included vaccine candidates against Plasmodium vivax, clinical trial site capacity development in Africa, trial design considerations for a second-generation malaria vaccine, adjuvant selection, and regulatory oversight functions including vaccine licensure.
Tissue dyslipidemia in salmonella-infected rats treated with amoxillin and pefloxacin
Authors: Rotimi Solomon O , Ojo David A , Talabi Olusola A , Balogun Elizabeth A , Ademuyiwa Oladipo
Published: November 2012

Background

This study investigated the effects of salmonella infection and its chemotherapy on lipid metabolism in tissues of rats infected orally withSalmonella typhimuriumand treated intraperitoneally with pefloxacin and amoxillin.

Methods

Animals were infected withSalmonella entericaserovarTyphimuriumstrain TA 98. After salmonellosis was confirmed, they were divided into 7 groups of 5 animals each. While one group served as infected control group, three groups were treated with amoxillin (7.14 mg/kg body weight, 8 hourly) and the remaining three groups with pefloxacin (5.71mg/kg body weight, 12 hourly) for 5 and 10 days respectively. Uninfected control animals received 0.1ml of vehicle. Rats were sacrificed 24h after 5 and 10 days of antibiotic treatment and 5 days after discontinuation of antibiotic treatment. Their corresponding controls were also sacrificed at the same time point. Blood and tissue lipids were then evaluated.

Results

Salmonella infection resulted in dyslipidemia characterised by increased concentrations of free fatty acids (FFA) in plasma and erythrocyte, as well as enhanced cholesterogenesis, hypertriglyceridemia and phospholipidosis in plasma, low density lipoprotein-very low density lipoprotein (LDL-VLDL), erythrocytes, erythrocyte ghost and the organs. The antibiotics reversed the dyslipidemia but not totally. A significant correlation was observed between fecal bacterial load and plasma cholesterol (r=0.456, p<0.01), plasma triacyglycerols (r=0.485, p<0.01), plasma phospholipid (r=0.414, p<0.05), plasma free fatty acids (r=0.485, p<0.01), liver phospholipid (r=0.459, p<0.01) and brain phospholipid (r=0.343, p<0.05).

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest that salmonella infection in rats and its therapy with pefloxacin and amoxillin perturb lipid metabolism and this perturbation is characterised by cholesterogenesis.
Diagnostic accuracy of diffusion-weighted imaging with conventional MR imaging for differentiating complex solid and cystic ovarian tumors at 1.5T
Authors: Zhang Ping , Cui Yanfen , Li Wenhua , Ren Gang , Chu Caiting , Wu Xiangru
Published: November 2012

Background

Preoperative characterization of complex solid and cystic adnexal masses is crucial for informing patients about possible surgical strategies. Our study aims to determine the usefulness of apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) for characterizing complex solid and cystic adnexal masses.

Methods

One-hundred and 91 patients underwent diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of 202 ovarian masses. The mean ADC value of the solid components was measured and assessed for each ovarian mass. Differences in ADC between ovarian masses were tested using the Student’s t-test. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to assess the ability of ADC to differentiate between benign and malignant complex adnexal masses.

Results

Eighty-five patients were premenopausal, and 106 were postmenopausal. Seventy-four of the 202 ovarian masses were benign and 128 were malignant. There was a significant difference between the mean ADC values of benign and malignant ovarian masses (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in ADC values between fibrothecomas, Brenner tumors and malignant ovarian masses. The ROC analysis indicated that a cutoff ADC value of 1.20 x10-3 mm2/s may be the optimal one for differentiating between benign and malignant tumors.

Conclusions

A high signal intensity within the solid component on T2WI was less frequently in benign than in malignant adnexal masses. The combination of DW imaging with ADC value measurements and T2-weighted signal characteristics of solid components is useful for differentiating between benign and malignant ovarian masses.
Robotic thyroidectomy versus endoscopic thyroidectomy: a meta-analysis
Authors: Lin Shuang , Chen Zhi-Heng , Jiang Hong-Gang , Yu Ji-Ren
Published: November 2012

Background

To conduct a meta-analysis to determine the relative merits of robotic thyroidectomy (RT) and endoscopic thyroidectomy (ET).

Methods

A literature search was performed to identify comparative studies reporting peri-operative outcomes for RT and ET. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated using either a fixed-effects or a random-effects model.

Results

Six studies matched the selection criteria, which reported on 2048 subjects, of whom 978 underwent RT and 1070 underwent ET. Comparing the outcomes of RT with ET, this meta-analysis indicated that RT was associated with more complications (WMD = 1.51, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.94) and greater amount of drainage fluid (WMD = 17.10, 95% CI 5.69 to 28.51). Meanwhile, operating time (WMD = 1.50, 95% CI −39.59 to 42.58), conversion (WMD = 0.63, 95% CI 0.07 to 6.17), post-operative hospital stay (WMD = −0.05; 95% CI −0.18 to 0.08), and the number of lymph nodes harvested (WMD = 0.62, 95% CI −0.29 to 1.53) were similar for both procedures.

Conclusion

The results of this meta-analysis indicated that RT is associated with an increased risk of complications and a greater amount of drainage fluid. Therefore, RT does not appear to have any advantage over ET. Further studies are required to confirm these results.
Layer-dependent morphologies of silver on n-layer graphene
Authors: Huang Cheng-wen , Lin Hsing-Ying , Huang Chen-Han , Shiue Ren-Jye , Wang Wei-Hua , Liu Chih-Yi , Chui Hsiang-Chen
Published: November 2012

The distributions of sizes of silver nanoparticles that were deposited on monolayer, bilayer, and trilayer graphene films were observed. Deposition was carried out by thermal evaporation and the graphene films, placed on SiO2/Si substrates, were obtained by the mechanical splitting of graphite. Before the deposition, optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were utilized to identify the number of the graphene layers. After the deposition, scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the morphologies of the particles. Systematic analysis revealed that the average sizes of the nanoparticles increased with the number of graphene layers. The density of nanoparticles decreased as the number of graphene layers increased, revealing a large variation in the surface diffusion strength of nanoparticles on the different substrates. The mechanisms of formation of these layer-dependent morphologies of silver on n-layer graphene are related to the surface free energy and surface diffusion of the n-layer graphene. The effect of the substrate such as SiO2/Si was investigated by fabricating suspended graphene, and the size and density were similar to those of supported graphene. Based on a comparison of the results, the different morphologies of the silver nanoparticles on different graphene layers were theorized to be caused only by the variation of the diffusion barriers with the number of layers of graphene.
Synthesis of crystalline and amorphous, particle-agglomerated 3-D nanostructures of Al and Si oxides by femtosecond laser and the prediction of these particle sizes
Authors: Sivayoganathan Mugunthan , Tan Bo , Venkatakrishnan Krishnan
Published: November 2012

We report a single step technique of synthesizing particle-agglomerated, amorphous 3-D nanostructures of Al and Si oxides on powder-fused aluminosilicate ceramic plates and a simple novel method of wafer-foil ablation to fabricate crystalline nanostructures of Al and Si oxides at ambient conditions. We also propose a particle size prediction mechanism to regulate the size of vapor-condensed agglomerated nanoparticles in these structures. Size characterization studies performed on the agglomerated nanoparticles of fabricated 3-D structures showed that the size distributions vary with the fluence-to-threshold ratio. The variation in laser parameters leads to varying plume temperature, pressure, amount of supersaturation, nucleation rate, and the growth rate of particles in the plume. The novel wafer-foil ablation technique could promote the possibilities of fabricating oxide nanostructures with varying Al/Si ratio, and the crystallinity of these structures enhances possible applications. The fabricated nanostructures of Al and Si oxides could have great potentials to be used in the fabrication of low power-consuming complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor circuits and in Mn catalysts to enhance the efficiency of oxidation on ethylbenzene to acetophenone in the super-critical carbon dioxide.
CDK2 Regulates HIV-1 Transcription by Phosphorylation of CDK9 on Serine 90
Authors: Breuer Denitra , Kotelkin Alexander , Ammosova Tatiana , Kumari Namita , Ivanov Andrey , Ilatovskiy Andrey V , Beullens Monique , Roane Philip R , Bollen Mathieu , Petukhov Michael G , Kashanchi Fatah , Nekhai Sergei
Published: November 2012

Background

HIV-1 transcription is activated by the viral Tat protein that recruits host positive transcription elongation factor-b (P-TEFb) containing CDK9/cyclin T1 to the HIV-1 promoter. P-TEFb in the cells exists as a lower molecular weight CDK9/cyclin T1 dimer and a high molecular weight complex of 7SK RNA, CDK9/cyclin T1, HEXIM1 dimer and several additional proteins. Our previous studies implicated CDK2 in HIV-1 transcription regulation. We also found that inhibition of CDK2 by iron chelators leads to the inhibition of CDK9 activity, suggesting a functional link between CDK2 and CDK9. Here, we investigate whether CDK2 phosphorylates CDK9 and regulates its activity.

Results

The siRNA-mediated knockdown of CDK2 inhibited CDK9 kinase activity and reduced CDK9 phosphorylation. Stable shRNA-mediated CDK2 knockdown inhibited HIV-1 transcription, but also increased the overall level of 7SK RNA. CDK9 contains a motif (90SPYNR94) that is consensus CDK2 phosphorylation site. CDK9 was phosphorylated on Ser90 by CDK2 in vitro. In cultured cells, CDK9 phosphorylation was reduced when Ser90 was mutated to an Ala. Phosphorylation of CDK9 on Ser90 was also detected with phospho-specific antibodies and it was reduced after the knockdown of CDK2. CDK9 expression decreased in the large complex for the CDK9-S90A mutant and was correlated with a reduced activity and an inhibition of HIV-1 transcription. In contrast, the CDK9-S90D mutant showed a slight decrease in CDK9 expression in both the large and small complexes but induced Tat-dependent HIV-1 transcription. Molecular modeling showed that Ser 90 of CDK9 is located on a flexible loop exposed to solvent, suggesting its availability for phosphorylation.

Conclusion

Our data indicate that CDK2 phosphorylates CDK9 on Ser 90 and thereby contributes to HIV-1 transcription. The phosphorylation of Ser90 by CDK2 represents a novel mechanism of HIV-1 regulated transcription and provides a new strategy for activation of latent HIV-1 provirus.
RabGDI controls axonal midline crossing by regulating Robo1 surface expression
Authors: Philipp Melanie , Niederkofler Vera , Debrunner Marc , Alther Tobias , Kunz Beat , Stoeckli Esther T
Published: November 2012

Background

Axons navigate to their future synaptic targets with the help of choice points, intermediate targets that express axon guidance cues. Once they reach a choice point, axons need to switch their response from attraction to repulsion in order to move on with the next stage of their journey. The mechanisms underlying the change in axonal responsiveness are poorly understood. Commissural axons become sensitive to the repulsive activity of Slits when they cross the ventral midline of the CNS. Responsiveness to Slits depends on surface expression of Robo receptors. In Drosophila, Commissureless (Comm) plays a crucial regulatory role in midline crossing by keeping Robo levels low on precommissural axons. Interestingly, to date no vertebrate homolog of comm has been identified. Robo3/Rig1 has been shown to control Slit sensitivity before the midline, but without affecting Robo1 surface expression.

Results

We had identified RabGDI, a gene linked to human mental retardation and an essential component of the vesicle fusion machinery, in a screen for differentially expressed floor-plate genes. Downregulation of RabGDI by in ovo RNAi caused commissural axons to stall in the floor plate, phenocopying the effect observed after downregulation of Robo1. Conversely, premature expression of RabGDI prevented commissural axons from entering the floor plate. Furthermore, RabGDI triggered Robo1 surface expression in cultured commissural neurons. Taken together, our results identify RabGDI as a component of the switching mechanism that is required for commissural axons to change their response from attraction to repulsion at the intermediate target.

Conclusion

RabGDI takes over the functional role of fly Comm by regulating the surface expression of Robo1 on commissural axons in vertebrates. This in turn allows commissural axons to switch from attraction to repulsion at the midline of the spinal cord.
Vitreoretinal surgery for bilateral macular holes after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis for the correction of myopia: a case report
Authors: García-Fernández Miriam , Castro-Navarro Joaquín , Bajo-Fuente Antonio
Published: November 2012

Introduction

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis surgery may induce postoperative changes in the vitreomacular interface due to the mechanical stretch of the vitreous produced by the suction ring and the shock waves generated by the excimer laser and, subsequently, may provoke macular hole formation.

Case presentation

A 53-year-old Spanish woman who had undergone a laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis for the correction of myopia in her right and left eye (10 years ago) was referred to our department with a complaint of decreased visual acuity in both eyes. A fundoscopy and optical coherence tomography examination revealed a bilateral full-thickness macular hole. A 23-gauge sutureless pars plana vitrectomy was performed in both eyes, and 1 month after surgery her visual acuity improved and the hole closed.

Conclusion

The development of a bilateral full-thickness macular hole after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis has been reported once. This case study enhances our understanding of the vitreoretinal pathology induced by laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, showing the importance of a rigorous follow-up, because complications may occur even a decade later. In this case study we must also consider the contribution of the underlying myopia to the development of the bilateral macular holes.
Inhibition of the ecto-beta subunit of F1F0-ATPase inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia cell lines
Authors: Wen-Li Zhao , Jian Wang , Yan-Fang Tao , Xing Feng , Yan-Hong Li , Xue-Ming Zhu , Min Zhang , Jian Ni , Jian Pan
Published: November 2012

Background

Leukemia, a heterogeneous clonal disorder of hematopoietic progenitor cells, presents a world-wide health problem, especially in childhood. F1F0 ATPase, an inner mitochondrial enzyme, is expressed on the plasma membrane of tumor cells, and its inhibition induces both anti-angiogenic and anti-tumorigenic activity.

Methods

Monoclonal Antibody (McAb) against ATPase was produced by polyethylene glycol-mediated fusions and screened by ELISA. Proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of cells were analyzed when the surface ATPase of cells was blockaded with McAb.

Results

We detected cell-membrane expression of the F1F0 ATPase β subunit on 0.1% to 56% of the 11 cell lines derived from leukemia, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We produced a monoclonal antibody, McAb7E10, which recognizes both the native and recombinant ATPase β subunit, with a dissociation constant (KD) of 3.26E–10. We demonstrate that McAb7E10 binds to ATPase at the cell surface, where it is able to inhibit ATP synthesis. McAb7E10 significantly inhibited proliferation of AML cell lines in vitro: the relative inhibitory rates of 50 μg/mL McAb7E10 treated MV4-11and HL-60 cells were 69.6% and 81.9% respectively. Cell cycle analysis indicated that McAb7E10 significantly induced apoptosis in MV4-11 and HL-60 cells: the relative rates of apoptosis in 5, 10 and 50ug/mL McAb7E10 treated MV4-11 cells was 3.6 ± 0.83%, 8.4 ± 1.69% and 17.3 ± 2.56% compared to 1.5% ± 0.85% in mouse IgG treated cells (p < 0.01). The relative rate of apoptosis in 5, 10 and 50ug/mL McAb7E10 treated HL-60 cells was 5.5 ± 2.37%, 11.3 ± 3.62% and 19.9 ± 3.31% compared to 1.56% ± 0.97% in mouse IgG treated cells (p < 0.01). Annexin V staining demonstrated that the relative apoptotic rates in 50 μg/mL McAb7E10 treated MV4-11 and HL-60 cells were 50.5% ± 7.04% and 32.9% ± 4.52%, respectively, significantly higher than IgG control antibody treated cells were 21.9% ± 3.11% and 15.3% ± 3.95%, p < 0.01.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that ectopic expression of ATPase β subunit may be a tumor-associated antigen in hematological malignancies. The F1F0 ATPase β subunit provides a potential target for immunotherapy in AML and hematological malignancies.
Hemolymph osmotic, ionic status, and branchial Na+/K+-ATPase activity under varying environmental conditions in the intertidal grapsid crab, Gaetice depressusd
Authors: Nanba Takeshi , Takahashi Hideya , Abe Tsukasa , Godo Waichirou , Ogoshi Maho , Sakamoto Hirotaka , Tsutsui Naoaki , Sakamoto Tatsuya
Published: November 2012

Osmo- and ionoregulatory abilities were examined in the intertidal grapsid crab, Gaetice depressus, transferred from normal seawater (30 ppt) to low (10 ppt) or high (50 ppt) salinities for 2 and 10 days, in addition to animals kept out of water for 2 days. The results of the hemolymph osmotic and ionic status indicate that G. depressus is able to adapt for more than 10 days in these salinities and for 2 days under terrestrial conditions. Especially, the free Ca2+ concentration was relatively maintained compared with concentrations of monovalent ions and osmolality values in 10 and 50 ppt, partly using the complexed calcium (total minus free calcium) as an internal reserve in the hemolymph. In 10 ppt, complexed calcium disappeared from the hemolymph after 10 days, indicating that all the hemolymph calcium was ionized. In 50 ppt, free Ca2+ was regulated to lower levels than concentrations in the medium, while total calcium increased to higher levels after 2 days. Examination of Na+/K+-ATPase activity, which has been implicated in ion transport in many crustaceans, revealed that induction of high Na+/K+-ATPase activity varies among the posterior gills in response to salinities. Ten-ppt salinity induces activity in two of the posterior gills (gill numbers 6 and 7, eight in total), albeit with differing degrees of response. In contrast, 50-ppt salinity stimulates the activity primarily in gill number 8, suggesting that this gill may be associated specifically with ion excretion in G. depressus. As a euryhaline amphibious crab, this abundant species around Japan will serve as a model to study the osmotic/ionic regulatory mechanisms which operate in crustaceans.
Tight junctions at the blood brain barrier: physiological architecture and disease-associated dysregulation
Authors: Luissint Anny-Claude , Artus Cédric , Glacial Fabienne , Ganeshamoorthy Kayathiri , Couraud Pierre-Olivier
Published: November 2012

The Blood–brain barrier (BBB), present at the level of the endothelium of cerebral blood vessels, selectively restricts the blood-to-brain paracellular diffusion of compounds; it is mandatory for cerebral homeostasis and proper neuronal function. The barrier properties of these specialized endothelial cells notably depend on tight junctions (TJs) between adjacent cells: TJs are dynamic structures consisting of a number of transmembrane and membrane-associated cytoplasmic proteins, which are assembled in a multimolecular complex and acting as a platform for intracellular signaling. Although the structural composition of these complexes has been well described in the recent years, our knowledge about their functional regulation still remains fragmentary. Importantly, pericytes, embedded in the vascular basement membrane, and perivascular microglial cells, astrocytes and neurons contribute to the regulation of endothelial TJs and BBB function, altogether constituting the so-called neurovascular unit.

The present review summarizes our current understanding of the structure and functional regulation of endothelial TJs at the BBB. Accumulating evidence points to a correlation between BBB dysfunction, alteration of TJ complexes and progression of a variety of CNS diseases, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis and brain tumors, as well as neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Understanding how TJ integrity is controlled may thus help improve drug delivery across the BBB and the design of therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders.
Quantitative hormone therapy follow-up in an ER+/ERαKD mouse tumor model using FDG and [11C]-methionine PET imaging
Authors: Paquette Michel , Tremblay Sébastien , Bénard Francois , Lecomte Roger
Published: November 2012

Background

The estrogen receptor α (ERα) is known to play an important role in the modulation of tumor response to hormone therapy. In this work, the effect of different hormone therapies on tumors having different ERα expression levels was followed up in vivo in a mouse model by PET imaging using 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose (FDG) and [11C]-methionine ([11C]-MET). A new model of MC7-L1 ERα-knockdown (ERαKD) tumor cell lines was designed as a negative estrogen receptor control to follow up the effects of changes in ERα expression on the early metabolic tumor response to different hormone therapies.

Methods

MC7-L1 (ER+) and MC7-L1 ERα-knockdown cell lines were implanted subcutaneously in Balb/c mice and allowed to grow up to 4 mm in diameter. Animals were separated into 4 groups (n = 4 or 5) and treated with a pure antiestrogen (fulvestrant), an aromatase inhibitor (letrozole), a selective estrogen receptor modulator (tamoxifen), or not treated (control). Tumor metabolic activity was assessed by PET imaging with FDG and [11C]-MET at days 0 (before treatment), 7, and 14 after the treatment. Tumor uptake of each radiotracer in %ID/g was measured for each tumor at each time point and compared to tumor growth. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed to verify the expression of breast cancer-related genes (ERα, ErbB2, progesterone receptor (PR), and BRCA1) in each tumor cell lines.

Results

While both ER+ and ERαKD tumors had similar uptake of both radiotracers without treatment, higher uptake values were generally seen in ERαKD tumors after 7 and 14 days of treatment, indicating that ERαKD tumors behave in a similar fashion as hormone-unresponsive tumors. Furthermore, the ERα-specific downregulation induced a slight PR expression decrease and overexpression of BRCA1 and ErbB2.

Conclusion

The results indicate that the proposed ER+/ERαKD tumor-bearing mouse model is suitable to test pure antiestrogen and aromatase inhibitor therapies in vivo in a preclinical setting and could help to elucidate the impact of ERα levels on tumor response to hormone therapy.
Life-event specificity: bipolar disorder compared with unipolar depression
Authors: Hosang Georgina M. , Korszun Ania , Jones Lisa , Jones Ian , McGuffin Peter , Farmer Anne E.
Published: November 2012

Background

Little is known about the impact of different types of stressful events (for example divorcev.bereavement) on unipolar depression compared with bipolar disorder. Inconsistencies exist concerning the association between independent events (beyond an individual's control, such as bereavement) and bipolar disorder.

Aims

To examine the role of specific, independent and dependent events in mood disorders.

Method

Life-event information was collected from 512 people with bipolar disorder, 1448 people with unipolar depression and over 600 controls.

Results

Various events were associated with unipolar depression and bipolar disorder, but some event specificity was detected. For example, financial crisis was more strongly related to bipolar disorder rather than unipolar depression. Independent events were only related to unipolar depression and not bipolar disorder.

Conclusions

The events that were linked to bipolar disorder and unipolar depression were similar. Independent events were not associated with bipolar episodes, suggesting that life stress may be a consequence of, rather than a trigger for, bipolar episodes.
Prospective Histomorphometric and DXA Evaluation of Bone Remodeling in Imatinib-Treated CML Patients: Evidence for Site-Specific Skeletal Effects
Authors: Vandyke Kate , Fitter Stephen , Drew Jenny , Fukumoto Seiji , Schultz Christopher G. , Sims Natalie A. , Yeung David T. , Hughes Timothy P. , Zannettino Andrew C. W.
Published: November 2012

Context:

Imatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has been successfully used to treat Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Kit+ gastrointestinal stromal tumors. We have previously shown that imatinib therapy is associated with an increase in trabecular bone volume.

Objective:

In the present study, we performed a prospective analysis of bone indices in imatinib-treated CML patients to determine the mechanism responsible for this altered bone remodeling.

Design, Patients, and Intervention:

This study assessed the effects of high-dose (600 mg/d) imatinib on bone parameters in newly diagnosed chronic-phase Philadelphia chromosome-positive CML patients (n = 11) enrolled in the TIDEL II study. At baseline and after 6, 12, and 24 months of treatment, serum markers of bone remodeling were quantitated, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry analysis of bone mineral density (BMD) was carried out, and a bone biopsy was collected for histological and micro-computed tomography analysis.

Results:

Our studies show that the increase in trabecular bone volume and trabecular thickness after imatinib treatment was associated with a significant decrease in osteoclast numbers, accompanied by a significant decrease in serum levels of a marker of osteoclast activity. In contrast, osteoblast numbers were not altered by up to 24 months of imatinib treatment. Notably, we also found that imatinib caused a site-specific decrease in BMD at the femoral neck.

Conclusions:

These data suggest that imatinib therapy dysregulates bone remodeling, causing a generalized decrease in osteoclast number and activity that is not counterbalanced by a decrease in osteoblast activity, leading to increased trabecular bone volume. Further long-term investigations are required to determine the causes and consequences of the site-specific decrease in BMD at the femoral neck.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Electrochemical Properties of (Li,Na)xMn1−yTiyO2 (0 < y < 0.49) with O3-type Layered Structure
Authors: Ishida Naoya , Hayakawa Hiroshi , Shibuya Hideka , Imaizumi Junichi , Akimoto Junji
Published: November 2012

O3-type (Li,Na)xMn1−yTiyO2 (0 < y < 0.49) materials were first prepared from Na0.7Mn1−yTiyO2 via Na/Li ion exchange. The substitution of Ti for Mn was confirmed by using XRD and STEM-EDX mapping. The solubility limit of Ti for Mn was estimated to be less than 0.49. The electrochemical measurements between 4.5 and 2.4 V showed that the initial discharge capacity increased from 163 to 191 mA h g−1 with decreasing Ti contents, while the capacity retention rate increased with Ti contents.
Wavelength Dependence of IR Laser for Dual-laser Shattering of a Water Microdroplet
Authors: Sugiyama Akinori , Nakajima Atsushi
Published: November 2012

For the single- and dual-laser shattering of water microdroplets, the wavelength dependence of an infrared (IR) laser was experimentally examined in the range 2.25–3.75 µm using ion current measurements coupled with time-resolved imaging. Compared to a single IR laser, simultaneous illumination by dual IR lasers effectively compresses the spatial distribution of small fragments around the absorption maximum for the OH-stretching vibration of liquid water (λ = 2.75–3.25 µm). The effect can be explained by the small penetration depth of the IR laser toward water microdroplets.
Synthesis of an Amphiphilic Macromonomer Bearing a Terminal Fluorene Moiety and Its Application to the Preparation of Fluorescent Polymer Particles
Authors: Motoyanagi Jin , Nagura Katsutoshi , Sawada Kohei , Miki Sadao , Minoda Masahiko
Published: November 2012

A new amphiphilic macromonomer MA-PMEEVE-FmPH bearing a methacryloyl group at the α-terminus and a fluorene moiety at the ω-terminus was synthesized by living cationic polymerization and reductive amination, and its application to the preparation of monodisperse polymer particles was studied. It was found that the macromonomer afforded colloidal spheres covered with fluorene moieties, causing it to exhibit fluorescence.
Nickel-catalyzed Cycloaddition of α,β-Unsaturated Oximes with Alkynes: Synthesis of Highly Substituted Pyridine Derivatives
Authors: Yoshida Yuji , Kurahashi Takuya , Matsubara Seijiro
Published: November 2012

A nickel-catalyzed cycloaddition of α,β-unsaturated oximes with alkynes to afford 2,3,4,6-tetrasubstituted pyridine derivatives has been developed. The reaction involves oxidative addition of the N–O bond of α,β-unsaturated oximes to Ni(0) and subsequent alkyne insertion to an N–Ni bond, followed by intramolecular cyclization. It was also found that β,γ-unsaturated oximes participate in the nickel-catalyzed reaction with alkynes to furnish pyridine derivatives.
Rose Bengal Immobilized on Wool as an Efficiently “Green” Sensitizer for Photooxygenation Reactions
Authors: Yan Zhang , Wei Wang , Xun He , Anguo Sang
Published: November 2012

A new type of supported photosensitizer derived from renewable wool and Rose Bengal is described. The novel sensitizer could efficiently promote the photooxygenation of furan derivatives to the corresponding 5-hydroxy-2-(5H)-furanone in excellent yields, via singlet oxygen, using visible light as the energy source. The sensitizer could be easily recovered from the reaction mixture by a simple filtration. It is discovered that the recovered sensitizer can be reused four times.
Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Diarylethynes by Pd(0)/Cu(I)-cocatalyzed Sila-Sonogashira–Hagihara Coupling Reactions of Alkynylsilanes with Aryl Tosylates or Mesylates
Authors: Nishihara Yasushi , Ogawa Daisuke , Noyori Shintaro , Iwasaki Masayuki
Published: November 2012

Palladium/copper-cocatalyzed cross-coupling reactions of alkynylsilanes with aryl tosylates or mesylates afforded the corresponding unsymmetrical diarylethynes in moderate to good yields. The optimized reaction conditions to afford higher yields of cross-coupled products were found to be 5 mol % of [PdCl2(bpy)], 15 mol % of BrettPhos, and 10 mol % of CuICl in DMF as a solvent.
Effect of Temperature on DNA Chromatographic Separation in Free Solution
Authors: Li Ruonan , Liu Lei , Wang Yu , Wang Xiayan
Published: November 2012

Narrow-bore open capillaries without stationary-phase coatings were used for DNA chromatographic separation in free solution. The retention behaviors of various sizes of DNA fragments were investigated using 1 × TE buffer as the eluent at various temperatures. It was shown that the temperature was an important parameter affecting the speed of DNA separation, with little loss of resolution in narrow-bore open-capillary chromatography.
Rapid and High-capacity Adsorption of Glucose Oxidase on Amine-functionalized Mesoporous Silica SBA-15 Platelets
Authors: Ding Yi , Yin Guangfu , Liao Xiaoming , Huang Zhongbin , Chen Xianchun , Yao Yadong
Published: November 2012

We have synthesized platelet-like SBA-15 particles and functionalized their surfaces with amine groups for use as adsorbent materials in glucose oxidase (GOD) adsorption. The amine-functionalized SBA-15 exhibits very rapid (<20 min to reach equilibrium) and high-capacity (up to 680 mg g−1) adsorption of GOD. It is found that electrostatic interaction is the dominant driving force for GOD adsorption on these mesoporous materials.
Synthesis and Electrochemical Properties of Porous Titania Prepared by Spray-drying of Titania Nanosheets
Authors: Sakao Mitsumasa , Kijima Norihito , Akimoto Junji , Okutani Takeshi
Published: November 2012

Porous titania was synthesized through the spray-drying of titania nanosheets. SEM-FIB analyses showed that the spray-dried nanosheets were spherical particles with no hollow center. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms showed that the porous titania had a mesoporous structure composed of slit-shaped pores. The porous titania acted as a rechargeable active material for the lithium battery. Rechargeable capacities of about 200 mA h g−1 (cutoff voltage: 1.0 V) and about 300 mA h g−1 (cutoff voltage: 0.5 V) could be achieved over the first ten cycles.
Selective Extraction of Heavy Rare-earth Metal Ions with a Novel Calix[4]arene-based Diphosphonic Acid
Authors: Morohashi Naoya , Hayashi Tomoko , Nakamura Yuka , Kobayashi Takahiro , Tanaka Shinya , Hattori Tetsutaro
Published: November 2012

The selective extraction of heavy rare-earth metal ions is achieved by using a novel calix[4]arenediphosphonic acid 4, in which two phosphono groups are introduced directly at the lower rim of the calix skeleton through the Ullmann-type phosphonation of the 1,3-bistriflate ester of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene 3 as a key step.
Nonequilibrium Acidic Fluctuations in Room-temperature Ionic Liquid/Water Mixture: N,N-Diethyl-N-methyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl)ammonium Tetrafluoroborate
Authors: Aono Masami , Tomita Yukitaka , Abe Hiroshi , Yoshimura Yukihiro
Published: November 2012

Room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL)/water mixtures show acidic properties at around 90 mol % H2O. The RTIL is N,N-diethyl-N-methyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl)ammonium tetrafluoroborate. The pH of the mixture in the nonequilibrium state is sensitive to the quality of the water type: city water (CW), distilled water (DIS), or ultrapure water (UP). At 90 mol % [H2O]DIS, rhythmic oscillations of pH are observed. The time periodicity is found to be approximately 20 min. In contrast, 90 mol % [H2O]CW and [H2O]UP mixtures show no synchronization in the pH.
Guest-dependent Structural Transformation of Dehydrobenzoannulene Inclusion Crystals Composed of π-Stacked Parallelogram Columnar Motifs
Authors: Shigemitsu Hajime , Hisaki Ichiro , Kometani Eriko , Tohnai Norimitsu , Miyata Mikiji
Published: November 2012

Octadehydrotribenzo[14]annulene (DBA) derivative 1 gave inclusion crystals with thirteen kinds of aromatic guest molecules. Heat-induced guest release of the inclusion crystals resulted in the formation of guest-free polymorphs, Forms I and III, which depended on the guest species.
Can MRI-derived factors predict the survival in glioblastoma patients treated with postoperative chemoradiation therapy?
Authors: Nakamura Hideo , Murakami Ryuji , Hirai Toshinori , Kitajima Mika , Yamashita Yasuyuki
Published: November 2012

Background

Advanced diagnostic and therapeutic developments may yield novel prognostic factors in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

Purpose

To validate the predictive values of pretreatment quantitative diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRI performed within 72 h after surgery in patients with GBM.

Material and Methods

Between January 2000 and September 2009, 138 patients with GBM underwent postoperative chemoradiation therapy (chemo-RT) and longitudinal MRI before surgery, in the early postoperative period, and at 1-month intervals thereafter. The role of the patient age, Karnofsky performance scale (KPS) score, minimum apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) on pretreatment DW-MRI, and gross residual tumor on early postoperative MRI were assessed by factor analysis of overall survival (OS). Survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method; the multivariate Cox's proportional hazards model was used to adjust for the influence of prognostic factors. Radiation Therapy Oncology Group-recursive partitioning analysis (RTOG-RPA) criteria were used to validate the predictive value of the MRI-derived factors.

Results

Substantial independent prognostic factors were the KPS score (hazard ratio [HR], 1.812), minimum ADC (HR, 2.365), and gross residual tumor (HR, 1.777). Based on MRI-derived factors, we assigned the patients to different prognostic groups in the RTOG-RPA classification and grouped them according to the level of risk, i.e. a high-risk group with low minimum ADCs (<0.93 × 10–3 mm2/s) with gross residual tumor and a low-risk group with high minimum ADCs (≥0.93 × 10–3 mm2/s) without gross residual tumor; the other patients were assigned to the intermediate-risk group. Median OS for the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups were 28.2, 14.7, and 10.8 months, respectively ( P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The minimum ADC on pretreatment DW-MRI and gross residual tumor on early postoperative MRI can predict the survival in GBM patients treated with postoperative chemo-RT.
Aetiology of acquired ‘drop foot’ deformity in Malawian children: a case series of 50 patients
Authors: Namate Chinsisi , Shabana Merai , Mumba Pilirani , Chimangeni Sande , Prime Matthew , Cashman John
Published: November 2012

The objective of our study was to investigate the clinical presentation of patients with acquired foot drop in Malawi; the association of intramuscular injections and quinine administration; and the association between private sector clinics. A consecutive case series of 50 paediatric patients with foot drop was identified that represented 5% of all outpatient appointments during the study period. Ninety percent of all patients had received a gluteal intramuscular injection of quinine, of which 58% were treated in private clinics. This study presents the first description of the aetiology of acquired foot drop in Malawi and suggests that gluteal intramuscular injection of quinine is the leading cause.
Networks, Social Influence, and the Choice Among Competing Innovations: Insights from Open Source Software Licenses
Authors: Singh Param Vir , Phelps Corey
Published: November 2012

Existing research provides little insight into how social influence affects the adoption and diffusion of competing innovative artifacts and how the experiences of organizational members who have worked with particular innovations in their previous employers affect their current organizations' adoption decision. We adapt and extend the heterogeneous diffusion model from sociology and examine the conditions under which prior adopters of competing open source software (OSS) licenses socially influence how a new OSS project chooses among such licenses and how the experiences of the project manager of a new OSS project with particular licenses affects its susceptibility to this social influence. We test our predictions using a sample of 5,307 open source projects hosted at SourceForge. Our results suggest the most important factor determining a new project's license choice is the type of license chosen by existing projects that are socially closer to it in its inter-project social network. Moreover, we find that prior adopters of a particular license are more infectious in their influence on the license choice of a new project as their size and performance rankings increase. We also find that managers of new projects who have been members of more successful prior OSS projects and who have greater depth and diversity of experience in the OSS community are less susceptible to social influence. Finally, we find a project manager is more likely to adopt a particular license type when his or her project occupies a similar social role as other projects that have adopted the same license. These results have implications for research on innovation adoption and diffusion, open source software licensing, and the governance of economic exchange.
Modeling complex biological systems: From solution chemistry to membranes and channels
Authors: Laurent Benoist , Murail Samuel , Da Silva Franck , Corringer Pierre-Jean , Baaden Marc
Published: November 2012

Complex biological systems are intimately linked to their environment, a very crowded and equally complex solution compartmentalized by fluid membranes. Modeling such systems remains challenging and requires a suitable representation of these solutions and their interfaces. Here, we focus on particle-based modeling at an atomistic level using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. As an example, we discuss important steps in modeling the solution chemistry of an ion channel of the ligand-gated ion channel receptor family, a major target of many drugs including anesthetics and addiction treatments. The bacterial pentameric ligand-gated ion channel (pLGIC) called GLIC provides clues about the functional importance of solvation, in particular for mechanisms such as permeation and gating. We present some current challenges along with promising novel modeling approaches.
Cigarette smoke extract-induced adipogenesis in Graves' orbital fibroblasts is inhibited by quercetin via reduction in oxidative stress
Authors: Yoon Jin Sook , Lee Hyun Jung , Chae Min Kyung , Lee Sang Yeul , Lee Eun Jig
Published: November 2012

Cigarette smoking is known to aggravate Graves' orbitopathy (GO) severity by enhancing adipogenesis. We investigated the effect of quercetin, an antioxidant, on adipocyte differentiation induced by cigarette smoke extract (CSE) in primary cultured orbital fibroblasts (OFs) from GO patients. Freshly prepared CSE was added to the cells and H2O2 was used as a positive control. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and adipogenesis were measured. The expressions of proteins peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ, CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBP) α and β, and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an antioxidant enzyme, were examined during adipogenic differentiation. In result, CSE and H2O2 dose-dependently stimulated intracellular ROS production in normal and Graves' OFs. The effect of 2% CSE was similar to that of 10 μM H2O2; both concentrations were noncytotoxic and were used throughout the experiment. Quercetin pretreatment reduced the ROS generation stimulated by either CSE or H2O2 in preadipocyte OFs. CSE and H2O2 stimulated adipocyte differentiation in cultured OFs. The addition of quercetin (50 or 100 μM) suppressed adipogenesis. Quercetin also suppressed ROS generation in differentiating OFs during adipogenesis stimulated by CSE and H2O2. Additionally, the expressions of PPARγ, C/EBPα, and C/EBPβ proteins were reduced in the quercetin-treated OFs. Quercetin also reduced the CSE- and H2O2-induced upregulation of ROS and HO-1 protein in differentiated OFs and preadipocyte OFs. As shown in this study, quercetin inhibited adipogenesis by reducing ROS in vitro, supporting the use of quercetin in the treatment of GO.
Effect of waste ash on clinker phase composition and microstructure
Authors: Karagiannis John , Ftikos Christos
Published: November 2012

In most kiln systems the coal ash is incorporated into the kiln feed, thus affecting the final compound composition of clinker. This work examines the effects of waste ash on clinker phase composition and crystalline structure (microstructure). Clinkers were prepared from mixtures of industrial raw mix with coal ash and waste ash, respectively. The coal ash was substituted on a calorific basis by 50% and 100% of waste ash originating from refuse-derived fuel (RDF). The thermal treatment of the mixtures was monitored by differential thermal analysis (DTA). The phase composition and microstructure of the produced clinkers were investigated by X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy and the level of trace element content was measured. According to the results of DTA, the addition of waste ash shifts clinkering reactions to lower temperatures. The unit cell volume calculations of clinker phases suggest only limited alterations in the crystal lattice of alite and cubic tricalcium aluminate compared to the reference clinker. Free lime tends to increase when moving from coal to RDF ash but decreases with increasing RDF addition. The microscopic study of clinkers did not reveal significant differences. Finally, clinkers produced with waste ash addition meet environmental criteria relating to trace element content.