bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A pattern of ocular morbidity of patients attending a clinic in Western Nepal
Authors: Tuladhar S , Dhakal S
Published: October 2012

INTRODUCTION: Very few reports exist regarding the causes of ocular morbidity in Western Nepal. The study is performed to identify the causes of ocular morbidity in a clinic at Waling in Western Nepal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was done by reviewing the case records of all patients attending the eye clinic at Waling from August 2010 to August 2011. RESULTS: The study included 915 patients, 617 were females (67.5%), and 298 were males (32.5%). Refractive error was the most common ocular morbidity accounting 26.8% followed by conjunctivitis 20.6%, cataract 11.8%, pterygium 6%, chalazion/stye 4%, ectropion/entropion 3.9%, keratitis 3.8%, dry eyes 2.8%, and corneal opacities 2.3%. CONCLUSIONS: The study gives a picture and patterns of ocular disease in Western Nepal which will be helpful in planning & management of ocular health programmes in Nepal. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijim.v1i1.6941Int J Infect Microbiol 2012;1(1):34-37
Serum Copper level in Term women
Authors: Sultana Masuda , Jahan Nasim , Sultana Nayma , Ali Md Liakat , Sunyal Dipok Kumar , Al Masud Mohammad Abdullah
Published: October 2012

Pregnancy is associated with an extraordinary metabolic demand both for the mother and developing fetus. Cu is essential for growth and development of normal human body. To measure serum Cu level in full term mother and non pregnant women. A total number of 55 subjects were included in this study; among them 27 were full term delivery mothers (group B) with age range from 20-40 years, taken as study group and 28 non pregnant women (group A) with age range from 20-30 years were taken as a control group. Statistical analysis was done by using appropriate method as applicable. Mean serum Cu level were significantly higher (p<0.001) in full term pregnant mother in comparison to that of non pregnant women. The present study revealed a higher level of Cu in full term mother than non pregnant women. The increased serum Cu level in full term mother than non pregnant women suggested that compensatory mechanism to counteract anemia this is accompained by increased synthesis of ceruloplasmin. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdnmch.v17i2.12202 J. Dhaka National Med. Coll. Hos. 2011; 17 (02): 18-20
Iron Status In Beta Thalassaemia Trait In Adult
Authors: Maruf-Ur-Rahman Md , Kirtania Kalyan , Rahman Md Mahbubur , Sultana Nasima , Rahman Md Shamsur , Ahmed Selina
Published: October 2012

Microcytic hypochromic anaemia is one of the commonest blood picture in Bangladeshi population. A vast majority of such cases have iron deficiency. In Bangladesh about 3% of total population that is about 3.6 million people with a microcytic hypochromic blood picture are beta thalassaemia trait. However iron deficiency may be associated with beta thalassaemia trait. Such patients are treated with iron to improve their anaemia. But the subjects of beta thalassaemia trait often have normal iron level. So, by observing microcytic hypochromic blood picture, supplementation of iron to that cases produce iron overload and may produce organ dysfunction. The study of serum ferritin was carried out on 50 confirmed cases of beta thalassaemia trait and 50 cases of healthy individuals. Estimation of serum ferritin level was done by Dimension RxL Max (Automatic Biochemistry Analyzer). The results show that serum iron level was normal in beta thalassaemia trait as like as healthy individuals. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdnmch.v17i2.12211 J. Dhaka National Med. Coll. Hos. 2011; 17 (02): 21-24
Efficacy Of Pulse Therapy Of Oral Fluconazole In The Treatment Of Seborrheic Dermatitis
Authors: Rahman Mustafizur , Rahman Aref , Mahmud Md Mostaque , Hazra Samaresh Chandra , Chowdhury Md Mostaque Hassan
Published: October 2012

An interventional study was carried out for a period of total two years in the department of Dermatology and Venereology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Total sixty five patients of seborrheic dermatitis were selected and were treated with oral fluconazole 150mg in a single dose per week for 4 weeks. Follow up were done at the end of 4th week and 8th week. Among the patients, 31-45 years age group was highest 44%, highest 54% males and 21(32%) had positive family history of seborrheic dermatitis. Regarding site of lesions, maximum patients of seborrheic dermatitis 92% had involvement of scalp; next 46% had involvement in the eyebrow. The study showed that the response was very good in 31.5 of cases, good response was found in 24.5% of cases, fair in 26% of cases and poor response was observed in 18.5% of cases. The study showed that 83% of study population was seen without clinical side-effect and only 17% were seen with side-effect(anorexia and dydpepsia) and it was showed that very good improvement 35% observed on the 1st follow up visit at the fourth week, 30% had good, 15% fair and poor improvement 20% respectively. On the 2nd follow up visit at the end of eight week, very good improvement was 39% cases; good, fair and poor improvement was 26%, 20% and 17% respectively. The results of this study indicate that fluconazole provides benefit for the therapy of seborrheic dermatitis. However, larger studies using different dosages and durations of therapy, fluconazole may provide a rationale for systemic use of fluconazole in seborrheic dermatitis. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdnmch.v17i2.12212 J. Dhaka National Med. Coll. Hos. 2011; 17 (02): 25-29
The Effect of Preoperative Short Course of Oral Steroids followed by Postoperative Topical Nasal Steroids Sprays on Nasal Polyp Recurrence after Endoscopic Nasal Polypectomy
Authors: Mahmud Khaled , Faruque MN , Faisal KA
Published: October 2012

Objective: To evaluate the effect of preoperative short course of oral steroids followed by postoperative topical nasal steroids sprays on nasal polyp recurrence after endoscopic nasal polypectomy. Methods: Forty eight patients of both genders with symptoms and signs of nasal polyps were included in this prospective study between January 2006 and December 2009. Their ages ranged between 18 and 60 years. The sample was divided into two groups. Group I constituted 24 patients treated by endoscopic nasal polypectomy without oral and local steroid therapy. Group II consisted of 24 patients also treated by endoscopic nasal polypectomy but received preoperatively 60mg prednisolone tablets daily for one week and postoperatively topical nasal steroid spray (Mometasone furoate suspension) for three months. All patients were followed up for at least one year. Recurrence of nasal polyps was assessed endoscopically at three, six and 12 months after surgery. Any evidence of nasal polyps-formation of whatever size was considered as recurrence. Results: Forty eight patients (32 males and 16 females) with sinonasal polyposis were included in this study. Male to female ratio was 2:1. Patients age ranged from 18 to 60 years; median age was 42 years. Recurrence rates at three, six and 12 months after surgery for the first group of patients were 8.33% (2 patients), 25% (6 patients) and 41.6% (10 patients) accordingly, while the recurrence rates for the second group were 4.1% (1 patient), 8.3% (2 patients) and 12.5% (3 patients) accordingly. Conclusions: Preoperative short course of oral steroid followed by postoperative nasal steroid spray show significant reduction in the recurrence rate of nasal polyps after endoscopic nasal polypectomy. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdnmch.v17i2.12215 J. Dhaka National Med. Coll. Hos. 2011; 17 (02): 40-43
Palliative Care: Our Moral Obligation
Authors: Ahmed Masud , Islam Md Manowarul , Ali Nadeem Parvez , Nessa Azizun , Karmakar Kamal Krishna
Published: October 2012

Palliative care (from Latin palliare - to cloak) is any form of medical care or treatment that concentrates on reducing severity of disease symptoms rather than striving to halt, delay or reverse progression of the disease itself or provide cure. The goal is to prevent and relieve suffering and to improve quality of life for people facing serious, complex, incurable illness. Non hospice palliative care is not dependent on prognosis and is offered in conjunction with curative and all other appropriate forms of medical treatment1. There is often confusion between the terms palliative care and hospice. In United States of America (USA) two aspects of care share a similar philosophy but differ in their payment system and location of service. Unlike palliative care hospice service are usually provided by government fund or by charities outside traditional hospital. Elsewhere for example in United Kingdom (UK) this distinction is not operative. For all practical purpose it is better to use the broader term palliative care as hospice care is part of it. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdnmch.v17i2.12219 J. Dhaka National Med. Coll. Hos. 2011; 17 (02): 52-55
Evaluation of Pleurotus ostreatus as an Ifter Item on Serum Alanine Transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate Transaminase (AST) during Ramadan Fast of Healthy Female Volunteers of Bangladesh
Authors: Choudhury Bazlul Karim , Sarker Nirod Chandra , Dey Bimal Chandra , Begum Mst Masuda , Hossain Md Shahdat , Choudhuri M Shahabuddin Kabir
Published: October 2012

In the month of holy Ramadan, food habit of Bangladeshi Muslims grossly changed. During this period they prefer to take lots of oily fried items which might be the cause of hepatocellular injury. The study was undertaken to find out the effect of oyster mushroom (P. ostreatus) on the serum level of hepatocellular enzymes like Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), which are the two common markers for liver function tests (LFTs). The feeding of 50 grams fresh fried oyster mushroom as ifter item in Ramadan fast significantly reduced the serum levels of AST and ALT in female subjects as compared to those with the control females. Findings of the study suggest that P. ostreatus may be hepatoprotective in females and hence the human subjects. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdnmch.v17i2.12220 J. Dhaka National Med. Coll. Hos. 2011; 17 (02): 56-60
Anti oxidants
Authors: Islam Md Nazrul , Pervin Shahana
Published: October 2012

Most of the human diseases are due to anti-oxidant deficiency or imbalance in the body. In the twenty-first century, knowledge about anti-oxidant is very essential and it is almost impossible to ignore. Anti-oxidant. Modern medical science development without the knowledge or some ideas about free radical cannot be accepted. So it is impossible to improve the medical science without the sufficient knowledge of anti-oxidants. Oxidative stress appears to be an important part of many human diseases, the use of antioxidants in pharmacology is ntensively studied, particularly as treatments for stroke and neurodegenerative diseases and age related macular degeneration. Antioxidants are frequently added to industrial products. A common use is as stabilizers in fuels and lubricants to prevent oxidation, and in gasolines to prevent the polymerization that leads to the formation of engine-fouling residues. They are widely used to prevent the oxidative degradation of polymers such as rubbers, plastics and adhesives that causes a loss of strength and flexibility in these materials. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdnmch.v17i2.12221 J. Dhaka National Med. Coll. Hos. 2011; 17 (02): 61-64
Pseudo-quantities, New Public Management and Human Judgement
Authors: Liedman Sven-Eric
Published: October 2012

In this article I will introduce a new concept: pseudoquantities. A pseudo-quantity is a spurious quantity that purports to indicate the dimensions of something but is actually arbitrary and, if taken at face value, misleading. A real quantity informs us about the number, weight or velocity of something and is, in this respect, always more exact than even the most exhaustive verbal description. By contrast, a pseudo-quantity is less nuanced and less exact than a ellinformed and conscientious verbal evaluation.

The term pseudo-quantity is new, but the phenomenon is well known to researchers and has become the subject of a rapidly growing stream of literature.1 The new term would primarily be intended to provide insight into the on-going mechanisms and processes that underlie this phenomenon. Furthermore, this term has a critical potential that is urgently needed at a time when many individuals erroneously believe that pseudoquantities can be used to gain both time and perspective.

In the first part of the article, I will present the new concept and its background in the concepts of quality and quantity. The importance of this term is pertinent to the founding of New Public Management (NPM) in the public sector. NPM will be treated in the following section. I will specifically highlight how this process influences education and research. In the conclusion, I summarise my argument and provide insight regarding a possible alternative.
Functional Food and Organic Food are Competing Rather than Supporting Concepts in Europe
Authors: Kahl Johannes , Załęcka Aneta , Ploeger Angelika , Bügel Susanne , Huber Machteld
Published: October 2012

A review of recent literature pertaining to organic and functional food was conducted according its conceptual background. Functional and organic food both belong to fast growing segments of the European food market. Both are food according to the European food regulations, but organic food is further regulated by the European regulation for organic agriculture and food production. This regulation restricts the number of food additives and limits substantial changes in the food. This may cause problems in changing the food based on single constituents or attributes when applying the concept of functional food to organic food production. Claims of the influence of the food positively on health can only be accepted as true when the claims have been tested and then validated by the EU-Commission. Whereas functional food focuses on product comparison based on specific constituents or attributes, organic food as a whole has no placebo for comparison and effects on environment and society are not part of the health claim regulation. Therefore it seems rather difficult to establish the health claims of organic foods. Consumers buy organic food out of an emotional attitude and associate the food with naturalness. In contrast, the decision for buying functional food is related to rationality and consumers associate functional food with a more technological approach. For this reason, the authors conclude that the concept of functional food seems not to support organic food production in Europe.
Neuroadaptation in Nicotine Addiction: Update on the Sensitization-Homeostasis Model
Authors: DiFranza Joseph R. , Huang Wei , King Jean
Published: October 2012

The role of neuronal plasticity in supporting the addictive state has generated much research and some conceptual theories. One such theory, the sensitization-homeostasis (SH) model, postulates that nicotine suppresses craving circuits, and this triggers the development of homeostatic adaptations that autonomously support craving. Based on clinical studies, the SH model predicts the existence of three distinct forms of neuroplasticity that are responsible for withdrawal, tolerance and the resolution of withdrawal. Over the past decade, many controversial aspects of the SH model have become well established by the literature, while some details have been disproven. Here we update the model based on new studies showing that nicotine dependence develops through a set sequence of symptoms in all smokers, and that the latency to withdrawal, the time it takes for withdrawal symptoms to appear during abstinence, is initially very long but shortens by several orders of magnitude over time. We conclude by outlining directions for future research based on the updated model, and commenting on how new experimental studies can gain from the framework put forth in the SH model.
Cancer Stem Cells, EMT, and Developmental Pathway Activation in Pancreatic Tumors
Authors: Hindriksen Sanne , Bijlsma Maarten F.
Published: October 2012

Pancreatic cancer is a disease with remarkably poor patient survival rates. The frequent presence of metastases and profound chemoresistance pose a severe problem for the treatment of these tumors. Moreover, cross-talk between the tumor and the local micro-environment contributes to tumorigenicity, metastasis and chemoresistance. Compared to bulk tumor cells, cancer stem cells (CSC) have reduced sensitivity to chemotherapy. CSC are tumor cells with stem-like features that possess the ability to self-renew, but can also give rise to more differentiated progeny. CSC can be identified based on increased in vitro spheroid- or colony formation, enhanced in vivo tumor initiating potential, or expression of cell surface markers. Since CSC are thought to be required for the maintenance of a tumor cell population, these cells could possibly serve as a therapeutic target. There appears to be a causal relationship between CSC and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in pancreatic tumors. The occurrence of EMT in pancreatic cancer cells is often accompanied by re-activation of developmental pathways, such as the Hedgehog, WNT, NOTCH, and Nodal/Activin pathways. Therapeutics based on CSC markers, EMT, developmental pathways, or tumor micro-environment could potentially be used to target pancreatic CSC. This may lead to a reduction of tumor growth, metastatic events, and chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer.
Carbon Aerogel-Supported Pt Catalysts for the Hydrogenolysis and Isomerization of n-Butane: Influence of the Carbonization Temperature of the Support and Pt Particle Size
Authors: Moreno-Castilla Carlos , Carrasco-Marín Francisco , Dawidziuk Marta B.
Published: October 2012

Carbon aerogels prepared at different carbonization temperatures and with varying mesopore volumes were used as supports for Pt catalysts to study the n-C4H10/H2 reaction. Mean Pt particle size depended on the mesopore volume of the support, showing a linear decrease when the mesopore volume increased. The turnover frequency (TOF) for hydrogenolysis was much higher than for isomerization in catalysts supported on carbon aerogels obtained at 900–950 °C. However, both TOF values were similar in catalysts supported on the carbon aerogel obtained at 500 °C. TOF for hydrogenolysis and isomerization were related to the mean Pt particle size in catalysts supported on carbon aerogels obtained at 900–950 °C. In addition, both reactions showed a compensation effect between the activation energy and pre-exponential factor, indicating that they have the same intermediate, i.e., the chemisorbed dehydrogenated alkane.
Tailoring Synthesis Conditions of Carbon Xerogels towards Their Utilization as Pt-Catalyst Supports for Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR)
Authors: Alegre Cinthia , Sebastián David , Baquedano Estela , Gálvez María Elena , Moliner Rafael , Lázaro María Jesús
Published: October 2012

Carbon xerogels characterized by different textural, structural and chemical properties were synthesized and used as supports for Pt catalysts for the application in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Synthesis conditions were varied in order to synthesize carbon xerogels following the sol-gel method. These included the reactants ratio (precursor/formaldehyde), the catalyst concentration (precursor/catalyst ratio) and type (basic and acid), the precursor type (resorcinol and pyrogallol) and the solvent (aqueous or acetone based). Stoichiometric mixtures of resorcinol and formaldehyde yielded well polymerized gels and highly developed structures. Slow gelation, favored by the presence of acetone as solvent in the sol and low catalyst concentration, resulted in higher polymerization extent with a highly mesoporous or even macroporous texture and more ordered structure, as evidenced by XPS and Raman spectroscopy. Small Pt particles of ca. 3.5 nm were obtained by using carbon xerogels characterized by an ordered surface structure. The specific activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction, i.e., the limiting catalytic process in low temperature fuel cells, is significantly favored by highly ordered carbon xerogels due to a metal-support enhanced interaction. Nevertheless, surface defects favor the distribution of the metallic particles on the surface of carbon, which in the end influences the effectiveness of the catalyst. Accelerated degradation tests were conducted to evaluate catalyst stability under potential cycling conditions. The observed decay of performance was considerably lower for the catalysts based on ordered carbon xerogels stabilizing Pt particles in a higher extent than the other xerogels and the commercial carbon black support.
Factors Behind Junk DNA in Bacteria
Authors: Gil Rosario , Latorre Amparo
Published: October 2012

Although bacterial genomes have been traditionally viewed as being very compact, with relatively low amounts of repetitive and non-coding DNA, this view has dramatically changed in recent years. The increase of available complete bacterial genomes has revealed that many species present abundant repetitive DNA (i.e., insertion sequences, prophages or paralogous genes) and that many of these sequences are not functional but can have evolutionary consequences as concerns the adaptation to specialized host-related ecological niches. Comparative genomics analyses with close relatives that live in non-specialized environments reveal the nature and fate of this bacterial junk DNA. In addition, the number of insertion sequences and pseudogenes, as well as the size of the intergenic regions, can be used as markers of the evolutionary stage of a genome.
Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction of Flavonoids from Pomelo (Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck) Peel and Their Antioxidant Activity
Authors: He Jin-Zhe , Shao Ping , Liu Jian-Hua , Ru Qiao-Mei
Published: October 2012

Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) extraction of flavonoids from pomelo (Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck) peel and their antioxidant activity were investigated. Box-Behnken design combined with response surface methodology was employed to maximize the extraction yield of flavonoids. Correlation analysis of the mathematical-regression model indicated that a quadratic polynomial model could be used to optimize the SC-CO2 extraction of flavonoids. The optimal conditions for obtaining the highest extraction yield of flavonoids from pomelo peel were a temperature of 80 °C, a pressure of 39 MPa and a static extraction time of 49 min in the presence of 85% ethanol as modifier. Under these conditions, the experimental yield was 2.37%, which matched positively with the value predicted by the model. Furthermore, flavonoids obtained by SC-CO2 extraction showed a higher scavenging activity on hydroxyl, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radicals than those obtained by conventional solvent extraction (CSE). Therefore, SC-CO2 extraction can be considered as a suitable technique for the obtainment of flavonoids from pomelo peel.
Disease Progression Mediated by Egr-1 Associated Signaling in Response to Oxidative Stress
Authors: Pagel Judith-Irina , Deindl Elisabeth
Published: October 2012

When cellular reducing enzymes fail to shield the cell from increased amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxidative stress arises. The redox state is misbalanced, DNA and proteins are damaged and cellular transcription networks are activated. This condition can lead to the initiation and/or to the progression of atherosclerosis, tumors or pulmonary hypertension; diseases that are decisively furthered by the presence of oxidizing agents. Redox sensitive genes, like the zinc finger transcription factor early growth response 1 (Egr-1), play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of these diseases. Apart from inducing apoptosis, signaling partners like the MEK/ERK pathway or the protein kinase C (PKC) can activate salvage programs such as cell proliferation that do not ameliorate, but rather worsen their outcome. Here, we review the currently available data on Egr-1 related signal transduction cascades in response to oxidative stress in the progression of epidemiologically significant diseases. Knowing the molecular pathways behind the pathology will greatly enhance our ability to identify possible targets for the development of new therapeutic strategies.
Optimization of Lipase-Mediated Synthesis of 1-Nonene Oxide Using Phenylacetic Acid and Hydrogen Peroxide
Authors: Abdulmalek Emilia , Arumugam Mahashanon , Basri Mahiran , Rahman Mohd Basyaruddin Abdul
Published: October 2012

Herein, an efficient epoxidation of 1-nonene is described. In a simple epoxidation system, commercially available Novozym 435, an immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were utilized to facilitate the in situ oxidation of phenylacetic acid to the corresponding peroxy acid which then reacted with 1-nonene to give 1-nonene oxide with high yield and selectivity. The aliphatic terminal alkene was epoxidised efficiently in chloroform to give an excellent yield (97%–99%) under the optimum reaction conditions, including temperature (35 °C), initial H2O2 concentration (30%), H2O2 amount (4.4 mmol), H2O2 addition rate (one step), acid amount (8.8 mmol), and stirring speed (250 rpm). Interestingly, the enzyme was stable under the single-step addition of H2O2 with a catalytic activity of 190.0 Ug−1. The entire epoxidation process was carried out within 12 h using a conventional water bath shaker.
Statin Pharmacogenomics: Opportunities to Improve Patient Outcomes and Healthcare Costs with Genetic Testing
Authors: Canestaro William J. , Brooks David G. , Chaplin Donald , Choudhry Niteesh K. , Lawler Elizabeth , Martell Lori , Brennan Troyen , Wassman E. Robert
Published: October 2012

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, commonly known as statins, are some of the most widely prescribed medications worldwide and have been shown to be effective at lowering cholesterol in numerous long-term prospective trials, yet there are significant limitations to their use. First, patients receiving statin therapy have relatively low levels of medication adherence compared with other drug classes. Next, numerous statin formulations are available, each with its own unique safety and efficacy profile, and it may be unclear to prescribers which treatment is optimal for their patients. Finally, statins have class-wide side effects of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis that have resulted in a product recall and dosage limitations. Recent evidence suggests that two genomic markers, KIF6 and SLCO1B1, may inform the therapy choice of patients initiating statins. Given the prevalence of statin usage, their potential health advantages and their overall cost to the healthcare system, there could be significant clinical benefit from creating personalized treatment regimens. Ultimately, if this approach is effective it may encourage higher adoption of generic statins when appropriate, promote adherence, lower rates of myopathy, and overall achieve higher value cardiovascular care. This paper will review the evidence for personalized prescribing of statins via KIF6 and SLCO1B1 and consider some of the implications for testing these markers as part of routine clinical care.
MiR-15a Decreases Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cell Viability and Lactation and Regulates Growth Hormone Receptor Expression
Authors: Li Hui-Ming , Wang Chun-Mei , Li Qing-Zhang , Gao Xue-Jun
Published: October 2012

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that regulate the expression of target genes at the post-transcriptional level by transcript degradation or translational inhibition. The role of bta-miR-15a in bovine mammary gland hasn’t been reported. Using miRNAs prediction software, GHR gene was predicted to be a potential target of bta-miR-15a. In this study, bovine mammary epithelial cell line was used as an in vitro cell model to address the function of bta-miR-15a on bovine mammary epithelial cells. The expression changes of bta-miR-15a and Ghr after bta-miR-15a transfection were detected by qRT-PCR; the expression of GHR protein and casein was detected by western blotting. To determine whether bta-miR-15a can affect cell viability, cells were examined using an electronic Coulter counter (CASY-TT). In conclusion, bta-miR-15a inhibited the expression of casein of bovine mammary epithelial cells, and cell number and viability were reduced by bta-miR-15a expression. Bta-miR-15a inhibited the viability of mammary epithelial cells as well as the expression of GHR mRNA and protein level, therefore suggesting that bta-miR-15a may play an important role in mammary gland physiology.
Design, Synthesis and Hydrolytic Behavior of Mutual Prodrugs of NSAIDs with Gabapentin Using Glycol Spacers
Authors: Mahdi Monther , Alsaad Hiba
Published: October 2012

The free –COOH present in NSAIDs is thought to be responsible for the GI irritation associated with all traditional NSAIDs. Exploitation of mutual prodrugs is an approach wherein the NSAID is covalently bounded to a second pharmacologically active carrier/drug with the ultimate aim of reducing the gastric irritation. In this study some NSAIDs were conjugated with gabapentin via ester bonds using glycol spacers with the expectation of reducing gastric adverse effects and obtaining synergistic analgesic effects. The kinetics of ester hydrolysis were studied in two different non enzymatic buffer solutions at pH 1.2 and 7.4, as well as in 80% human plasma using HPLC with chloroform -methanol as mobile phase. Compounds 9a–c with ethylene glycol spacers showed significant stability at buffer solutions with half lives ranging from about 8–25 h, while the underwent a reasonable plasma hydrolysis (49%–88%) in 2 h. Compound 9d with a propylene glycol spacer shows a higher rate of enzymatic hydrolysis than the corresponding ethylene glycol compound 9c. The result of compounds 9a-c indicate that these compounds may be stable during their passage through the GIT until reaching the blood circulation.
Computational Design of a Carbon Nanotube Fluorofullerene Biosensor
Authors: Hilder Tamsyn A. , Pace Ron J. , Chung Shin-Ho
Published: October 2012

Carbon nanotubes offer exciting opportunities for devising highly-sensitive detectors of specific molecules in biology and the environment. Detection limits as low as 10−11 M have already been achieved using nanotube-based sensors. We propose the design of a biosensor comprised of functionalized carbon nanotube pores embedded in a silicon-nitride or other membrane, fluorofullerene-Fragment antigen-binding (Fab fragment) conjugates, and polymer beads with complementary Fab fragments. We show by using molecular and stochastic dynamics that conduction through the (9, 9) exohydrogenated carbon nanotubes is 20 times larger than through the Ion Channel Switch ICSTM biosensor, and fluorofullerenes block the nanotube entrance with a dissociation constant as low as 37 pM. Under normal operating conditions and in the absence of analyte, fluorofullerenes block the nanotube pores and the polymer beads float around in the reservoir. When analyte is injected into the reservoir the Fab fragments attached to the fluorofullerene and polymer bead crosslink to the analyte. The drag of the much larger polymer bead then acts to pull the fluorofullerene from the nanotube entrance, thereby allowing the flow of monovalent cations across the membrane. Assuming a tight seal is formed between the two reservoirs, such a biosensor would be able to detect one channel opening and thus one molecule of analyte making it a highly sensitive detection design.
Italian Contributions to the Development of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Sensors for Diabetes Management
Authors: Sparacino Giovanni , Zanon Mattia , Facchinetti Andrea , Zecchin Chiara , Maran Alberto , Cobelli Claudio
Published: October 2012

Monitoring glucose concentration in the blood is essential in the therapy of diabetes, a pathology which affects about 350 million people around the World (three million in Italy), causes more than four million deaths per year and consumes a significant portion of the budget of national health systems (10% in Italy). In the last 15 years, several sensors with different degree of invasiveness have been proposed to monitor glycemia in a quasi-continuous way (up to 1 sample/min rate) for relatively long intervals (up to 7 consecutive days). These continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensors have opened new scenarios to assess, off-line, the effectiveness of individual patient therapeutic plans from the retrospective analysis of glucose time-series, but have also stimulated the development of innovative on-line applications, such as hypo/hyper-glycemia alert systems and artificial pancreas closed-loop control algorithms. In this review, we illustrate some significant Italian contributions, both from industry and academia, to the growth of the CGM sensors research area. In particular, technological, algorithmic and clinical developments performed in Italy will be discussed and put in relation with the advances obtained in the field in the wider international research community.
Hepatitis C Virus and Natural Compounds: A New Antiviral Approach?
Authors: Calland Noémie , Dubuisson Jean , Rouillé Yves , Séron Karin
Published: October 2012

Hepatitis C is a major global health burden with an estimated 160 million infected individuals worldwide. This long-term disease evolves slowly, often leading to chronicity and potentially to liver failure. There is no anti-HCV vaccine, and, until recently, the only treatment available, based on pegylated interferon and ribavirin, was partially effective, and had considerable side effects. With recent advances in the understanding of the HCV life cycle, the development of promising direct acting antivirals (DAAs) has been achieved. Their use in combination with the current treatment has led to encouraging results for HCV genotype 1 patients. However, this therapy is quite expensive and will probably not be accessible for all patients worldwide. For this reason, constant efforts are being made to identify new antiviral molecules. Recent reports about natural compounds highlight their antiviral activity against HCV. Here, we aim to review the natural molecules that interfere with the HCV life cycle and discuss their potential use in HCV therapy.
Modulating the activity of short arginine-tryptophan containing antibacterial peptides with N-terminal metallocenoyl groups
Authors: Albada H Bauke , Chiriac Alina-Iulia , Wenzel Michaela , Penkova Maya , Bandow Julia E , Sahl Hans-Georg , Metzler-Nolte Nils
Published: October 2012

A series of small synthetic arginine and tryptophan containing peptides was prepared and analyzed for their antibacterial activity. The effect of N-terminal substitution with metallocenoyl groups such as ferrocene (FcCO) and ruthenocene (RcCO) was investigated. Antibacterial activity in different media, growth inhibition, and killing kinetics of the most active peptides were determined. The toxicity of selected derivatives was determined against erythrocytes and three human cancer cell lines. It was shown that the replacement of an N-terminal arginine residue with a metallocenoyl moiety modulates the activity of WRWRW-peptides against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. MIC values of 2–6 µM for RcCO-W(RW)2and 1–11 µM for (RW)3were determined. Interestingly, W(RW)2-peptides derivatized with ferrocene were significantly less active than those derivatized with ruthenocene which have similar structural but different electronic properties, suggesting a major influence of the latter. The high activities observed for the RcCO-W(RW)2- and (RW)3-peptides led to an investigation of the origin of activity of these peptides using several important activity-related parameters. Firstly, killing kinetics of the RcCO-W(RW)2-peptide versus killing kinetics of the (RW)3derivative showed faster reduction of the colony forming units for the RcCO-W(RW)2-peptide, although MIC values indicated higher activity for the (RW)3-peptide. This was confirmed by growth inhibition studies. Secondly, hemolysis studies revealed that both peptides did not lead to significant destruction of erythrocytes, even up to 500 µg/mL for (RW)3and 250 µg/mL for RcCO-W(RW)2. In addition, toxicity against three human cancer cell lines (HepG2, HT29, MCF7) showed that the (RW)3-peptide had an IC50value of ~140 µM and the RcW(RW)2one of ~90 µM, indicating a potentially interesting therapeutic window. Both the killing kinetics and growth inhibition studies presented in this work point to a membrane-based mode of action for these two peptides, each having different kinetic parameters.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Sports-Related Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Victoroff Jeff , Baron David
Published: October 2012

CME Educational Objectives

1.

Understand the history of traumatic brain injury in sport.

2.

Learn proposed etiologic factors of sports-related traumatic brain injury (TBI).

3.

Appreciate current diagnostic formulations of sports TBI.

“For some time fight fans and promoters have recognized a peculiar condition occurring among prize fighters which, in ring parlance, they speak of as ‘punch drunk.’”
1
So begins Harrison Martland’s seminal 1928 article in the
Journal of American Medicine
, introducing physicians to the indisputable observation that some participants in sports suffer not just acute head injuries such as concussions or subdural hematomas, but persistent neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Treatment Considerations for the ADHD-Affected Athlete
Authors: Conant-Norville David
Published: October 2012

CME Educational Objectives

1.

Review the unique challenges for the ADHD-affected athlete in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.

2.

Become familiar with research on nonpharmacologic treatment strategies for the ADHD-affected child, including the use of exercise and sport.

3.

Learn what is needed to provide comprehensive care for the ADHD-affected athlete through transition from childhood to the elite adult stage.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is one of the best researched disorders in medicine. The symptom cluster that defines this disorder was first identified in children, and subsequently in adolescents and adults.
Pay Attention!: The Critical Importance of Assessing Attention in Older Adults with Dementia
Authors: Kolanowski Ann M. , Fick Donna M. , Yevchak Andrea M. , Hill Nikki L. , Mulhall Paula M. , McDowell Jane A.
Published: October 2012

Attention is an important cognitive domain that is affected in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. It influences performance in most other cognitive domains, as well as activities of daily living. Nurses are often unaware of the critical importance of assessing attention as part of the overall mental status examination. This article addresses an important gap in nurses’ knowledge. The authors present a brief overview of attention as a critical cognitive domain in dementia; review instruments/methods for standardizing and enhancing the assessment of attention; and offer ways to help ensure that best practices in the assessment, recognition, and documentation of inattention are implemented in the clinical area. Clinical resources that practicing nurses may find helpful are included.
Operation Restoration: Couples Reunification Retreats for Veterans of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom
Authors: Davis Louanne W. , Paul Robin , Tarr David , Eicher Amanda C. , Allinger Jessica , Knock Heidi
Published: October 2012

Couples interventions are promising approaches to help veterans successfully reintegrate into civilian life and recover from combat-related trauma. However, few programs are available to address these needs. This article describes a weekend retreat program we developed called Operation Restoration, which focuses on strengthening the relationships of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans and their partners. We also report results from program evaluations completed by participants of the initial two retreats, aimed at further developing and refining Operation Restoration. The program evaluations explored participants’ perceptions of the retreat, including benefits gained, suggestions for improvement, and mental health treatment interests. Information gathered from 43 couples suggests that such retreats may be a useful approach for strengthening the intimate relationships of OEF/OIF veterans and gives direction for future programs.
Anesthesia Awareness-Induced Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Authors: Prendergast Kathleen M. , Cullen-Drill Mary
Published: October 2012

While the incidence of anesthesia awareness has been well documented, information related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms resulting from anesthesia awareness is limited. Particularly scarce are descriptions of specific techniques to treat anesthesia awareness-induced PTSD. This article reviews an individual example of a woman who was experiencing anesthesia awareness-induced PTSD symptoms for 10 years. Treatment included supportive psychotherapy, psychoeducation, psychopharmacology, and group therapy with other individuals experiencing PTSD symptoms. Although this patient responded to these treatment approaches, additional studies are needed to identify optimal treatment options for patients with anesthesia awareness-induced PTSD.
EXPLORATION OF CRITICAL EXTERNAL PARTNERS OF ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING/CONSTRUCTION (AEC) FIRMS FOR DELIVERING GREEN BUILDING PROJECTS IN SINGAPORE
Authors: Li Yuan Yuan , Chen Po-Han , Chew David Ah Seng , Teo Chee Chong , Ding Rong Gui
Published: October 2012

Green Building involves many parties and has attracted attention recently. In this paper, the main external actors for Green Building were explored based on literature review. Then, a structured questionnaire was developed to facilitate systematic data collection. Finally, a stepwise multiple regression analysis was applied and “clients,” “government,” “qualified/certified materials and products suppliers,” and “good green consultants” were found to be significant external partners of Architecture/Engineering/Construction (AEC) firms for successful delivery of Green Mark certified projects. The research findings will help AEC firms understand how to achieve competitive advantages in the Green Building market in Singapore by using external resources.
MEASUREMENT OF THE EFFICIENCY OF EVACUATED TUBE SOLAR COLLECTORS UNDER VARIOUS OPERATING CONDITIONS
Authors: Zubriski S. E. , Dick K. J.
Published: October 2012

The operating efficiency of evacuated tubes themselves under varying environmental conditions and installation scenarios, independent of water and space heating auxiliary equipment, are not readily available values. Further, Manitoba specific data has not been established. The purpose of this research program was to measure the efficiency of evacuated tube solar collectors under various operating conditions including: the angle of inclination towards the incident solar radiation, heat transfer fluid flow rate, glazing installation, and number of evacuated tubes. The operating conditions and configurations were chosen to represent realistic or probable installation scenarios and environmental conditions. Furthermore, the research aimed to identify the suitability of evacuated tube solar collectors to each of the scenarios. These design values are of use for appropriate sizing of water or space heating systems, system configuration and optimization, and calculation of return on investment. The scope of the research project was limited to the efficiency of various configurations of a 32-tube panel, not the entire solar domestic hot water or space heating system. Thus, factors such as heat loss in the tubing, solar storage tank, and heat exchanger efficiency were not investigated. The findings indicated that efficiency varied by approximately 5% between the different collector configurations, as observed from the overlay graph of results. When the efficiency of a collector is considered within a system it is proposed that effectiveness may be a better measure of overall performance.
E-Government Initiative in the Sultanate of Oman
Authors: Al-Gharbi Khamis , Al-Kindi Ahmed
Published: October 2012

There are many interesting initiatives regarding the use of internet technologies in e-government that are taking place in developing countries. A number of studies have been conducted in recent years regarding the adoption and use of internet technologies in e-government. However, most of these studies focused on the developed countries. There are many interesting initiatives regarding the use of internet technologies in e-government that are taking place in the developing countries and yet have received very little research attention. The Sultanate of Oman is currently working on a project called e-Oman to provide e-government, e-commerce, e-learning and other e-services. The hope is to enhance the quality of services offered by the government to its citizens. The purpose of this paper is to highlight e-government Initiatives in Oman.
On the Performance of Content Delivery Clouds
Authors: Pathan Mukaddim , Broberg James , Buyya Rajkumar
Published: October 2012

Extending the traditional Content Delivery Network (CDN) model to use Cloud Computing is highly appealing. It allows developing a truly on-demand CDN architecture based upon standards designed to ease interoperability, scalability, performance, and flexibility. To better understand the system model, necessity, and perceived advantages of Cloud-based CDNs, this chapter provides an extensive coverage and comparative analysis of the state of the art. It also provides a case study on the MetaCDN Content Delivery Cloud, along with highlights of empirical performance observations from its world-wide distributed platform.
Mobile Agent-Based Services for Real-Time Multimedia Content Delivery
Authors: Fortino Giancarlo , Russo Wilma
Published: October 2012

Technologies and applications that enable multi-party, multimedia communications are becoming more and more pervasive in every facet of daily lives: from distance learning to remote job training, from peer-to-peer conferencing to distributed virtual meetings. To effectively use the evolving Internet infrastructure as ubiquitously accessible platform for the delivery of multi-faceted multimedia services, not only are advances in multimedia communications required but also novel software infrastructures are to be designed to cope with network and end-system heterogeneity, improve management and control of multimedia distributed services, and deliver sustainable QoS levels to end users. In this chapter, the authors propose a holistic approach based on agent-oriented middleware integrating active services, mobile event-driven agents, and multimedia internetworking technology for the component-based prototyping, dynamic deployment, and management of Internet-based real-time multimedia services. The proposed approach is enabled by a distributed software infrastructure (named Mobile Agent Multimedia Space – MAMS) based on event-driven mobile agents and multimedia coordination spaces. In particular, a multimedia coordination space is a component-based architecture consisting of components (players, streamers, transcoders, dumper, forwarders, archivers, GUI adapters, multimedia timers) that provide basic real-time multimedia services. The event-driven mobile agents act as orchestrators of the multimedia space and are capable of migrating across the network to dynamically create and deploy complex media services. The effectiveness and potential of the proposed approach are described through a case study involving the on-demand deployment and management of an adaptive cooperative playback service.