bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of mild intraischemic hypothermia versus mannitol to reduce infarct size after temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats
Authors: Karibe Hiroshi , Zarow Gregory J. , Weinstein Philip R.
Published: June 2009

✓ To determine which of two treatments for reducing ischemic injury after temporal focal ischemia is more effective, the effects of mild (33°C) intraischemic hypothermia were compared with those of mannitol, the most commonly used neuroprotective agent. Four groups of Sprague-Dawley rats underwent 1 hour of endovascular middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 23 hours of normothermic reperfusion. The four experimental groups were as follows: Group A, saline control; Group B, mannitol (25%, 1 g/kg); Group C, hypothermia; and Group D, hypothermia plus man-nitol.

Laser-Doppler estimates of cortical blood flow showed that hypothermia did not affect blood flow during ischemia or reperfusion. Mannitol increased cortical blood flow during ischemia and reperfusion under both normothermic and hypothermic conditions (p < 0.05). Neurological deficit was significantly less severe in treated rats (Group B, p < 0.05; Group C or D, p < 0.01) than in controls (Group A). Infarct volume, measured on semiserial Nissl-stained sections, was significantly smaller in treated rats (p < 0.01) than in controls. Infarct volume was also significantly smaller in rats treated with hypothermia than in those treated with mannitol (Group C vs. Group B, p < 0.05); there was no difference between rats treated with mannitol and those treated with mannitol and hypothermia. All three treatments reduced infarct area in the ischemic penumbra; hypothermia with or without mannitol also reduced infarct area in the ischemic core.

These results demonstrate that both mild intraischemic hypothermia and mannitol reduce infarct size and neurological deficit: hypothermia reduces infarct size more effectively than mannitol, and mannitol adds no significant protection to hypothermia, whereas hypothermia adds significant protection beyond that afforded by mannitol after brief focal ischemia followed by reperfusion in rats. The results suggest that mild intraischemic hypothermia alone, or in combination with mannitol, may be useful in avoiding ischemic injury from temporary vessel occlusion during cerebrovascular surgery.
Symptomatic cerebellar metastasis and late local recurrence of a cauda equina paraganglioma
Authors: Strommer Kevin N. , Brandner Sebastian , Sarioglu Ali C. , Sure Ulrich , Yonekawa Yasuhiro
Published: June 2009

✓ This case report contains a description of a 61-year-old patient who presented with a progressive truncal ataxia 22 years after complete removal of a small paraganglioma of the cauda equina. Magnetic resonance imaging of the neuraxis revealed a large cystic lesion in the cerebellar midline, three small cortical-to-subcortical nodular tumors in the posterior fossa, and local recurrences of the paraganglioma of the cauda equina. Pathological examination showed the cerebellar midline lesion to be a paraganglioma, most likely a metastasis from the cauda equina localization.
Intracranial pressure changes induced during papaverine infusion for treatment of vasospasm
Authors: McAuliffe William , Townsend Murphy , Eskridge Joseph M. , Newell David W. , Grady M. Sean , Winn H. Richard
Published: June 2009

✓ The authors reviewed the cases of 21 patients who received intraarterial infusions of papaverine to determine the drug's effects on intracranial pressure (ICP), mean arterial blood pressure, pulse rate, and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). The study focused on patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage who developed clinical signs and symptoms of vasospasm, which was documented by cerebral angiography. In 18 patients, an average dose of 300 mg papaverine was administered over 20 to 35 minutes using a No. 5 French catheter inserted into the high cervical internal carotid artery or vertebral artery. Two other patients received superselective infusions via a microcatheter placed in the anterior cerebral artery.

Sixteen patients (76%) experienced good angiographic results, and 11 (52%) obtained objective clinical improvement within 48 hours. Significant elevations in ICP, blood pressure, and pulse rate were noted during papaverine infusion. In contrast, no statistically significant sustained change in CPP was observed, although it tended to decrease during papaverine infusion. In one elderly patient, infusion of the common carotid artery resulted in profound bradycardia and hypotension with a subsequent significant increase in ICP and a marked decrease in CPP. The increase in ICP in these patients correlates well with changes seen in animal models and is probably related to increased cerebral blood flow.

A careful, titrated infusion of papaverine, with constant reference to the patient's ICP, blood pressure, and pulse rate, minimizes the transient increase in ICP while maintaining adequate blood pressure and CPP. Failure to monitor these parameters during the infusion, with appropriate modification of the rate of titration, could potentially produce an uncontrolled change in ICP or CPP.
Use of indomethacin in brain-injured patients with cerebral perfusion pressure impairment: preliminary report
Authors: Biestro Alberto A. , Alberti Ricardo A. , Soca Ana E. , Cancela Mario , Puppo Corina B. , Borovich Bernardo
Published: June 2009

✓ The effect of indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, was studied in the treatment of 10 patients with head injury and one patient with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage, each of whom presented with high intracranial pressure (ICP) (34.4 ± 13.1 mm Hg) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) impairment (67.0 ± 15.4 mm Hg), which did not improve with standard therapy using mannitol, hyperventilation, and barbiturates. The patients had Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 8 or less. Recordings were made of the patients' ICP and mean arterial blood pressure from the nurse's end-hour recording at the bedside, as well as of their CPP, rectal temperature, and standard therapy regimens. The authors assessed the effects of an indomethacin bolus (50 mg in 20 minutes) on ICP and CPP; an indomethacin infusion (21.5 ± 11 mg/hour over 30 ± 9 hours) on ICP, CPP, rectal temperature, and standard therapy regimens (matching the values before and during infusion in a similar time interval); and discontinuation of indomethacin treatment on ICP, CPP, and rectal temperature.

The indomethacin bolus was very effective in lowering ICP (p < 0.0005) and improving CPP (p < 0.006). The indomethacin infusion decreased ICP (p < 0.02), but did not improve CPP and rectal temperature. The effects of standard therapy regimens before and during indomethacin infusion showed no significant changes, except in three patients in whom mannitol reestablished its action on ICP and CPP. Sudden discontinuation of indomethacin treatment was followed by significant ICP rebound. The authors suggest that indomethacin may be considered one of the frontline agents for raised ICP and CPP impairment.
Invading C6 glioma cells maintaining tumorigenicity
Authors: Chicoine Michael R. , Silbergeld Daniel L.
Published: June 2009

✓ To characterize rat glioma cell invasion, 2 × 106 fluorophore-labeled or transfection-labeled C6 rat glioma cells were implanted in the rat frontal lobe. Eighty percent of the rats implanted formed bulk tumors (3–4 mm in diameter). Two weeks after implantation, fluorescence microscopy revealed single tumor cells in sites over 16 mm from the bulk brain tumor. Tumor cells distant from the bulk tumor remained single without mass formation and invaded primarily along white matter tracts. Two weeks after tumor implantation, three cell lines were created from each brain by disaggregation and initiation in culture of 1) bulk tumor, 2) contralateral hemisphere, and 3) cerebellum; all disaggregated specimens generated viable cultures. Cells cultured from the contralateral hemisphere were morphologically indistinguishable from cells from the bulk tumor and from the original C6 cell line. Cells cultured from the cerebellum were morphologically quite distinct from the C6 cell line. Cells from disaggregated specimens obtained from the tumor, contralateral hemisphere, and cerebellum were implanted in the frontal lobe of naive rats to test tumorgenicity. Bulk tumor formed in 58% of the rats implanted with specimens from tumor, in 75% of the rats implanted with specimens from contralateral hemisphere, and in only 12.5% of the rats implanted with specimens from the cerebellar hemispheres. Experiments using C6 cells labeled by transfection with the p3′ss DNA vector prior to implantation confirmed that the cells cultured from the contralateral hemisphere were derived from the implanted C6 cells. Experiments with C6 cells anchored in agar served to verify that movement to the contralateral hemisphere was secondary to parenchymal invasion rather than dispersion in the cerebrospinal fluid.
A more potent bystander cytocidal effect elicited by tumor cells expressing the herpes simplex virus—thymidine kinase gene than by fibroblast virus—producer cells in vitro
Authors: Vrionis Fotios D. , Wu Julian K. , Qi Peimin , Cano William , Cherington Van
Published: June 2009

✓ Retrovirus-mediated herpes simplex virus—thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene therapy is a promising approach in the treatment of brain tumors. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated a bystander effect in which nonmodified tumor cells in proximity to HSV-tk—modified tumor cells are killed with the modified cells in the presence of ganciclovir. In the present study the authors assessed the contribution of infectious HSV-tk retrovirus made by producer cells to the bystander cytocidal effect in tissue culture using Walker 256 rat breast carcinosarcoma cells, which represent an established model for carcinomatous meningitis. The authors observed ganciclovir-dependent growth inhibition even when only one HSV-tk—positive Walker cell was mixed with 1000 HSV-tk—negative Walker cells and showed that the bystander cytocidal effect is not mediated by toxic cell lysis products. Walker cells engineered to produce HSV-tk retrovirus with titers ranging from 103 to 105 colony-forming units/ml exert no greater cytocidal effect than nonviral producer HSV-tk—positive Walker cells in vitro. Murine fibroblast—producer cells with viral titers ranging from 106 to 107 colony-forming units/ml exerted a stronger cytocidal effect than nonviral producer HSV-tk—positive murine fibroblasts. Despite the high viral titers of fibroblast producer cells, HSV-tk—modified Walker cells performed better than fibroblast producer cells in their cytotoxic effect on wild—type Walker tumor cells. Given that HSV-tk—modified tumor cells can become ganciclovir resistant, we tested γ-irradiation as a means to overcome resistance. Lethal γ-irradiation of the HSV-tk—positive Walker cells did not abolish their bystander effect on Walker HSV-tk—negative cells. One can infer from these results that HSV-tk—modified tumor cells, irradiated or not, may be a better alternative to murine fibroblast producer cells in the treatment of central nervous system neoplasia.
Failure of a titanium anterior cervical plate implant: microstructural analysis of failure
Authors: Baldwin Nevan G. , Hartman Gregg P. , Weiser Martin W. , Benzel Edward C.
Published: June 2009

✓ The authors present the case of a failed titanium anterior cervical spine plate. The plate was contoured during implantation. Analysis of the failed implant with electron microscopy showed no metallurgical flaw to have caused the plate fracture. A crack was apparently initiated with the contouring of the plate. It was located at the weakest point in the plate (the position of the intermediate screw hole), and with subsequent stress, it propagated and led to fracture. Techniques for avoiding failure of this type are discussed.
Cerebral arterial aneurysm formation and rupture in 20,767 elderly patients: hypertension and other risk factors
Authors: Taylor Christopher L. , Yuan Zhong , Selman Warren R. , Ratcheson Robert A. , Rimm Alfred A.
Published: June 2009

✓ Cerebral arterial aneurysms are common in the general population and their rupture is a catastrophic event. Considerable uncertainty remains concerning the conditions that predispose individuals to aneurysm formation or rupture. The role of systemic hypertension in aneurysm formation and rupture has been especially controversial. Demographic variables have rarely been addressed because of the small sample sizes in previous studies. The authors describe the demographics and prevalence of hypertension in 20,767 Medicare patients with an unruptured aneurysm and compare these to a random sample of the hospitalized Medicare population. The prevalence of hypertension in patients with unruptured aneurysms was 43.2% compared with 34.4% in the random sample.

Patients who survived their initial hospitalization were separated into two groups: those with an unruptured cerebral aneurysm as the primary diagnosis and those with an unruptured cerebral aneurysm as a secondary diagnosis. Follow-up data for 18,119 patients were examined to determine the risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) associated with age, gender, race, hypertension, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and surgical treatment. For patients with an unruptured cerebral aneurysm as the primary diagnosis, hypertension was found to be a significant risk factor for future SAH (risk ratio: 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01–2.11), whereas surgical treatment (risk ratio: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.09–0.97) had a significant protective effect. Advancing age had a small but significant protective effect in both groups.

Elderly patients identified with unruptured aneurysms are more likely to have coexisting hypertension than the general hospitalized population. In elderly patients hospitalized with an unruptured cerebral aneurysm as their primary diagnosis, hypertension is a risk factor for subsequent SAH, whereas surgical treatment is a protective factor against SAH.
Anesthetic-dependent pial arteriolar response to ethanol
Authors: Gordon Ellen L. , Meno Joseph R. , Ngai Al C. , Lam Arthur M. , Winn H. Richard
Published: June 2009

✓ Anesthetic agents are often administered in the presence of ethyl alcohol, both in research and in the clinical setting. The authors tested the hypothesis that anesthetic agents may affect cerebrovascular responses to ethanol. A closed cranial window preparation in the rat was used to compare the response of pial arterioles to topically applied ethanol (0.01% to 1% vol/vol) in the presence of α-chloralose/urethane (50 and 600 mg/kg, respectively) or halothane (0.5% to 1%) anesthesia. Heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, and blood gas levels were maintained stable and within the physiological range throughout each experiment. Ethanol induced significant vasoconstriction in α-chloralose/urethane-anesthetized animals (multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), p = 0.039); conversely, ethanol induced significant vasodilation of the pial arterioles in halothane-anesthetized animals (MANOVA, p = 0.017). These responses were significantly different from one another (MANOVA, p = 0.001). Thus, the choice of anesthetic agent alters the cerebrovascular response to ethanol, and care should be taken to ascertain the influence of anesthesia in both research and clinical settings.
Role of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor in acute spinal cord injury
Authors: Yanase Mitsuhiro , Sakou Takashi , Fukuda Takeo
Published: June 2009

✓ To clarify the role of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in acute spinal cord injury, changes in the intraspinal microcirculation after acute spinal cord injury in rabbits were examined. Systemic administration of MK-801, an NMDA receptor antagonist, at a dose of 5 mg/kg, significantly improved motor recovery after injury and significantly reduced edema formation at the injured site without altering spinal cord blood flow or vascular permeability at the injured site. These findings indicate that excitatory amino acids contribute to secondary spinal cord damage, especially edema formation, mediated by NMDA receptors in the early stage after injury.
A synthetic dural prosthesis constructed from hydroxyethylmethacrylate hydrogels
Authors: Bhatia Sanjiv , Bergethon Peter R. , Blease Susan , Kemper Thomas , Rosiello Arthur , Zimbardi Guy P. , Franzblau Carl , Spatz Edward L.
Published: June 2009

✓ Hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) hydrogels were investigated for their suitability as a dural prosthesis. Poly-HEMA has many characteristics required for an artificial dural substitute: it is durable, flexible, easily prepared, inexpensive, easily sterilized and handled, easily shaped, and known to be chemically inert and nontoxic. Sheets made of plain HEMA were evaluated as dural substitutes in rats and rabbits after either craniotomy or laminectomy with durectomy. Histological evaluations of the prostheses and the underlying tissues were undertaken at various time points from 2 to 9 weeks postoperatively. There was minimal tissue response to the implanted HEMA gel in contrast to marked thickening of the overlying leptomeninges and cortical herniation in the control animals. It is concluded that HEMA gels fulfill the essential criteria for an effective dural substitute.
Galen's anecdote of the fallen sophist: on the certainty of science through anatomy
Authors: Awad Issam A.
Published: June 2009

✓ In this paper the author recounts an anecdote presented by Galen of Pergamum (circa 130–200 A.D.) about a sophist named Pausanias, who fell from his mount and struck his back against a rock. The patient developed a subsequent loss of sensation in the fingers of his left hand with complete sparing of motor function. Numerous medications were applied to his hand but to no avail. Galen stated that he applied the same medications to the original point of dorsal tenderness, resulting in the patient's dramatic and full recovery. Galen attributed the healing to local drug action at the site of a presumed spinal root injury, at the level of C-7. Galen repeated this anecdote elsewhere to illustrate the remote effects of spinal cord and nerve injury and the importance of treating the site of pathology, rather than its somatic manifestations. Galen's observation is interpreted in light of his earlier experiments on spinal cord and nerve transections in live animals and his evolving concepts of functional and correlative neuroanatomy. This anecdote is also discussed as a striking example of the dangers of conjecture and the temptation to confuse association with causation when interpreting the effects of therapy in light of widely accepted paradigms.
Surgical approaches for the correction of unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures: a retrospective analysis of treatment outcomes
Authors: Danisa Olumide A. , Shaffrey Christopher I. , Jane John A. , Whitehill Richard , Wang Gwo-Jaw , Szabo Thomas A. , Hansen Carolyn A. , Shaffrey Mark E. , Chan Donald P. K.
Published: June 2009

✓ The authors retrospectively studied 49 nonparaplegic patients who sustained acute unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures. All patients underwent surgical treatment and were followed for an average of 27 months. All but one patient achieved solid radiographic fusion. Three treatment groups were studied: the first group of 16 patients underwent anterior decompression and fusion with instrumentation; the second group of 27 patients underwent posterior decompression and fusion; and the third group of six patients had combined anterior—posterior surgery. Prior to surgical intervention, these groups were compared and found to be similar in age, gender, level of injury, percentage of canal compromise, neurological function, and kyphosis. Patients treated with posterior surgery had a statistically significant diminution in operative time and blood loss and number of units transfused. There were no significant intergroup differences when considering postoperative kyphotic correction, neurological function, pain assessment, or the ability to return to work. Posterior surgery was found to be as effective as anterior or anterior—posterior surgery when treating unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures. Posterior surgery, however, takes the least time, causes the least blood loss, and is the least expensive of the three procedures.
A prospective 15-year follow up of 154 consecutive patients with trigeminal neuralgia treated by percutaneous stereotactic radiofrequency thermal rhizotomy
Authors: Taha Jamal M. , Tew John M. , Buncher C. Ralph
Published: June 2009

✓ There is a lack of prospective studies for the long-term results of percutaneous stereotactic radiofrequency rhizotomy (PSR) in the treatment of patients with trigeminal neuralgia. The authors present results in 154 consecutive patients with trigeminal neuralgia treated by PSR and prospectively followed for 15 years. Ninety-nine percent of the patients obtained initial pain relief after one PSR. Dysesthesia occurred in 31 patients (23%): in 7% with mild initial hypalgesia; in 15% with dense hypalgesia; and in 36% with analgesia. Dysesthesia was mild and did not require treatment in most patients. The corneal reflex was absent or depressed in 29 patients, and keratitis developed in three patients. In 19 of 22 patients with trigeminal motor weakness, the paresis resolved within 1 year. Of 33 patients who had pain recurrence, 10 patients had pain that was mild or controlled with medications, and 23 patients required additional surgical treatment. The authors estimated using Kaplan—Meier analysis that the 14-year recurrence rate was 25% in the total group: 60% in patients with mild hypalgesia, 25% in those with dense hypalgesia, and 20% in those with analgesia. Timing of pain recurrence varied according to the degree of sensory loss. All pain recurrences in patients with mild hypalgesia occurred within 4 years after surgery; 10% more of the patients with dense hypalgesia had pain recurrences within the first 10 years compared with patients with analgesia. The median pain-free survival rate was 32 months for patients with mild hypalgesia and more than 15 years for patients with either analgesia or dense hypalgesia. Of the 100 patients followed for 15 years after one or two PSR procedures, 95 patients (95%) rated the procedure excellent (77 patients) or good (18 patients). The authors conclude that PSR is an effective, safe treatment for trigeminal neuralgia. Dense hypalgesia in the painful trigger zone, rather than analgesia, should be the target lesion.
Synthesized population databases: A US geospatial database for agent-based models
Authors: Wheaton William , Cajka James , Chasteen Bernadette , Wagener Diane , Cooley Philip , Ganapathi Laxminarayana , Roberts Douglas , Allpress Justine
Published: June 2009

Agent-based models simulate large-scale social systems. They assign behaviors and activities to "agents" (individuals) within the population being modeled and then allow the agents to interact with the environment and each other in complex simulations. Agent-based models are frequently used to simulate infectious disease outbreaks, among other uses.
RTI used and extended an iterative proportional fitting method to generate a synthesized, geospatially explicit, human agent database that represents the US population in the 50 states and the District of Columbia in the year 2000. Each agent is assigned to a household; other agents make up the household occupants.
For this database, RTI developed the methods for
• generating synthesized households and persons
• assigning agents to schools and workplaces so that complex interactions among agents as they go about their daily activities can be taken into account
• generating synthesized human agents who occupy group quarters (military bases, college dormitories, prisons, nursing homes).
In this report, we describe both the methods used to generate the synthesized population database and the final data structure and data content of the database. This information will provide researchers with the information they need to use the database in developing agent-based models.
Portions of the synthesized agent database are available to any user upon request. RTI will extract a portion (a county, region, or state) of the database for users who wish to use this database in their own agent-based models.
A Study of Relationships Between Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms from the Growth Hormone-Insulin-like Growth Factor Axis and Bone Mass: the Hertfordshire Cohort Study
Authors: DENNISON ELAINE M. , SYDDALL HOLLY E. , JAMESON KAREN A. , SAYER AVAN AIHIE , GAUNT TOM R. , RODRIGUEZ SANTIAGO , DAY IAN N.M. , COOPER CYRUS , LIPS MIRJAM A.
Published: June 2009

Objective.

We sought evidence of association of candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) within the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) axis, largely selected on the basis of functional data available at the time of our study, with adult bone mass.

Methods.

Four hundred ninety-eight men and 468 women aged 59–71 years were recruited. A lifestyle questionnaire was administered, and bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) were measured at the lumbar spine and femoral neck. Two hundred fifty-four men and 271 women had repeat bone densitometry 4 years later. DNA was obtained from whole blood samples using standard extraction techniques. Single nucleotide variants in the growth hormone releasing hormone gene (GHRH, G/A 223 Phe75Leu, rs4988492), growth hormone releasing hormone receptor gene (GHRHR, G/A 217, Ala57Thr, rs4988496), the growth hormone secretagogue receptor gene (GHSR, T/C, Gly57Gly, rs495225), and the growth hormone receptor gene (GHR, T/G, noncoding, rs2940944) were analyzed.

Results.

In both sexes, allelic variation in the gene encoding GHRH was associated with BMC and BMD at the proximal femur and lumbar spine, with results generally stronger in women. In women, the mean BMC lumbar spine within the GHRH 11 genotype was 56.9 g, while that of the GHRH 12 genotype was 68.4 g [p < 0.001, fully adjusted for age, body mass index, cigarette and alcohol consumption, dietary calcium intake, physical activity, years since menopause, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use]; corresponding figures for BMD lumbar spine (GHRH 11 genotype) were 0.96 g/cm2 versus 1.10 g/cm2 (p < 0.001 fully adjusted).

Conclusion.

We have demonstrated a relationship between allelic variation in the gene encoding GHRH and bone density; we welcome attempts at replication in other populations.
Facilitating the Use of COBRA Combination Therapy in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Pilot Implementation Study
Authors: van TUYL LILIAN H.D. , PLASS ANNE MARIE C. , LEMS WILLEM F. , VOSKUYL ALEXANDRE E. , KERSTENS PIT J.S.M. , DIJKMANS BEN A.C. , BOERS MAARTEN
Published: June 2009

Objective.

COBRA combination therapy is well known and has uncontested efficacy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, it is infrequently applied in Dutch clinical practice. Based on qualitative research on opinions of physicians and patients towards COBRA therapy, our study describes the development and pilot testing of an implementation package to facilitate prescription and use of COBRA therapy in early RA.

Methods.

The implementation package was developed to address specific barriers towards prescription of COBRA therapy and comprised informational handouts (an information booklet and leaflet for patients), preprinted prescription orders, and background information on COBRA therapy for the rheumatologists. Twenty-two rheumatologists agreed to participate, including the arthritis nurse where available. Rheumatologists, nurses, and patients were asked to record their experience. All Dutch arthritis nurses were invited to an educational session on COBRA therapy.

Results.

Sixteen rheumatologists accompanied by 10 arthritis nurses used the material to prescribe COBRA therapy to a total of 27 patients. Rheumatologists and nurses both gave high marks to the supplied materials. Eighty-eight percent of rheumatologists reported that the material sped up the prescription process, and 65% indicated they would prescribe COBRA therapy more frequently if these materials were available routinely. Patients expressed great satisfaction with the information handouts, rating it 2.8 (standard deviation 0.5) on a scale of −3 (very negative) to +3 (very positive). Most patients (89%) planned to keep the information booklet as a reference and 70% used it as a tool to remember the correct intake of medication. The attitude and perceived capability of nurses towards the guidance of patients with RA receiving COBRA therapy was improved through a brief educational intervention.

Conclusion.

Rheumatologists, patients, and arthritis nurses all highly appreciated the implementation package and indicated that its availability would increase uptake of COBRA therapy.
Iron‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling Reaction of Vinyl Bromides or Chlorides with Imidazoles in the Absence of Ligands and Additives
Authors: Mao Jincheng , Xie Guanlei , Zhan Jiaming , Hua Qiongqiong , Shi Daqing
Published: June 2009

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Highly effective coupling of imidazoles with (E)‐vinyl halides can be achieved by using readily available iron catalysts under ligand‐free, copper‐free and palladium‐free conditions. Coupling of (E)‐vinyl bromides led to (Z)‐products predominantly, while the reactions of (E)‐vinyl chlorides afforded (E)‐isomers as the major products.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Three‐Component 1:2:1 Coupling of Aryl Iodides, Alkynes, and Alkenes to Produce 1,3,5‐Hexatriene Derivatives
Authors: Horiguchi Hakaru , Hirano Koji , Satoh Tetsuya , Miura Masahiro
Published: June 2009

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The intermolecular three‐component coupling of aryl iodides, diarylacetylenes, and alkenes effectively proceeds in the presence of palladium acetylacetonate and silver acetate as catalyst and base, respectively, to give the corresponding 1:2:1 coupling products, 1,3,5‐hexatriene derivatives. A further homologation of the oligoene chain of the three‐component coupling products by a simple procedure is also presented.
The Use of Samarium Enolates, A Novel Alternative in the Addition Reactions to Imines. Synthesis of 3‐Amino Esters, Amides and Enantiopure 3,4‐Diamino Esters
Authors: Concellón José M. , Rodríguez‐Solla Humberto , Simal Carmen
Published: June 2009

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An efficient reaction of tosylimines with a range of samarium enolates (derived from esters, and amides) is reported. The reaction with the α‐dibenzylamino‐N‐tert‐butanesulfinimine derived from chiral phenylalaninal afforded the corresponding enantiopure 3,4‐diamino ester with very high diastereoselectivity.
Sulfur‐Participated Nazarov‐Type Cyclization: A Simple and Efficient Synthesis for 3‐Thio‐1H‐indenes
Authors: Zhou Hongwei , Xie Yongfa , Ren Lianjun , Wang Kai
Published: June 2009

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An intramoluclar addition of sulfur‐participated Nazarov‐type cyclization affording 3‐thio‐1H‐indenes was reported. As a result of the ready availability of the starting materials and the simple and convenient operation, the type of reaction presented here has potential utility in organic synthesis.
Chemical Infiltration during Atomic Layer Deposition: Metalation of Porphyrins as Model Substrates
Authors: Zhang Lianbing , Patil Avinash J. , Li Le , Schierhorn Angelika , Mann Stephen , Gösele Ulrich , Knez Mato
Published: June 2009

Neue Verwendung für ALD: Mit einer Standard‐Metalloxid‐Atomlagenabscheidung (ALD) gelingt bei zwei Arten von Porphyrinen eine ortsspezifische chemische Infiltration von Substratmolekülen: Diethylzink kann in das Innere von supramolekularen Porphyrinstrukturen diffundieren und die Metallierung der Porphyrinmoleküle aus der Gasphase induzieren. A=Ph, p‐HO3SC6H4.

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Wie werden Iminium‐katalysierte Cyclopropanierungen durch elektrostatische Aktivierung gesteuert?
Authors: Lakhdar Sami , Appel Roland , Mayr Herbert
Published: June 2009

Wieder gilt lg k=s(N+E): Im Gegensatz zu früheren Behauptungen reagieren einfache α,β‐ungesättigte Iminiumionen mit Schwefel‐Yliden. Elektrostatische Wechselwirkungen beschleunigen die Reaktion allerdings mehr als 105‐fach und sind für die hohe Stereoselektivität maßgebend.

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Comparison of Cyanide and Carbon Monoxide as Ligands in Iron(II) Porphyrinates
Authors: Li Jianfeng , Noll Bruce C. , Schulz Charles E. , Scheidt W. Robert
Published: June 2009

Sehen Sie den Unterschied? Fünffach koordinierte Eisen(II)‐Cyanoporphyrinate zeigen Spin‐Crossover und können als Ausgangspunkt für die Synthese bislang unbekannter sechsfach koordinierter Komplexe dienen. Solche Bis(cyano)‐ und (Cyano)imidazol‐Komplexe werden vorgestellt, und die fünf‐ und sechsfach koordinierten (Cyano)eisen(II)‐Derivate werden mit ihren CO‐Analoga verglichen.

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Hydrogen‐Bond‐Selective Phase Transfer of Nanoparticles across Liquid/Gel Interfaces
Authors: Mao Zhengwei , Guo Jinshan , Bai Shuo , Nguyen Tich‐Lam , Xia Haibing , Huang Yubin , Mulvaney Paul , Wang Dayang
Published: June 2009

Schwimmunterricht: Kolloidale Nanopartikel mit Bürsten aus Polylactid (PLA, rot) und Poly(ethylenglycol) (PEG, schwarz) als Schale können über Flüssig‐flüssig‐ oder Flüssigkeits‐Gel‐Grenzflächen von einer organischen in eine wässrige Phase wechseln (siehe Bild: erster Schritt). Ursache ist die Zersetzung des PLA‐Überzugs und die Bildung von Wasserstoffbrücken zwischen den PEG‐Bürsten und der wässrigen Phase (zweiter Schritt).

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Hochstabile Mikroblasen durch pH‐abhängige Aggregation oberflächenaktiver Teilchen
Authors: Drenckhan Wiebke
Published: June 2009

Extrem monodisperse, mikroskalige Gasblasen lassen sich herstellen, indem CO2‐gefüllte Blasen in einem Mikrokanal in einer wässrigen Dispersion von Teilchen mitgeführt werden, deren Hydrophobie mit sinkendem pH‐Wert steigt. Innerhalb weniger Sekunden geht das in den Blasen enthaltene CO2 in Lösung, was den pH‐Wert der Dispersion senkt und damit die pH‐empfindlichen Teilchen an die Gas/flüssig‐Grenzfläche treibt (siehe Bild). Dort bilden sie eine Art festen „Schutzpanzer“, der die Blase vor weiterem Schrumpfen schützt.

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Magnetic Bistability of Individual Single‐Molecule Magnets Grafted on Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Giusti Anna , Charron Gaëlle , Mazerat Sandra , Compain Jean‐Daniel , Mialane Pierre , Dolbecq Anne , Rivière Eric , Wernsdorfer Wolfgang , Ngo Biboum Rosa , Keita Bineta , Nadjo Louis , Filoramo Arianna , Bourgoin Jean‐Philippe , Mallah Talal
Published: June 2009

Einzelmolekülmagnete aus sechskernigem FeIII‐Polyoxometallat (siehe Struktur) können nichtkovalent auf der Oberfläche von einwandigen Kohlenstoffnanoröhren angeordnet werden. Sich ergänzende Charakterisierungsmethoden (siehe TEM‐Bild und magnetische Hystereseschleifen) belegen die Integrität und Bistabilität der einzelnen Moleküle, die für den Aufbau von Einzelmolekül‐Speichereinheiten genutzt werden könnten.

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Dynamic Nuclear Polarization with a Rigid Biradical
Authors: Matsuki Yoh , Maly Thorsten , Ouari Olivier , Karoui Hakim , Le Moigne François , Rizzato Egon , Lyubenova Sevdalina , Herzfeld Judith , Prisner Thomas , Tordo Paul , Griffin Robert G.
Published: June 2009

A new polarizing agentwith superior performance in dynamic nuclear polarization experiments is introduced, and utilizes two TEMPO (2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl) moieties connected through a rigid spiro tether (see structure). The observed NMR signal intensities were enhanced by a factor of 1.4 compared to those of TOTAPOL, a previously described TEMPO‐based biradical with a flexible tether.

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A Soft Alternative to the Dominant {(C5Me5)2U} Motif
Authors: Ephritikhine Michel
Published: June 2009

Pincers do something for U that sandwiches don′t: The dead‐ends in the metallocene chemistry of the actinides can be circumvented by using a soft PNP pincer ligand (see scheme). The PNP ligand has been shown to be flexible, hemilabile, and capable of stabilizing low‐ and high‐valent uranium species. The bis(PNP) framework is a valuable alternative to the (C5Me5)2 ligand set, offering distinct structures and reaction patterns.

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Hydrogen‐Bond‐Selective Phase Transfer of Nanoparticles across Liquid/Gel Interfaces
Authors: Mao Zhengwei , Guo Jinshan , Bai Shuo , Nguyen Tich‐Lam , Xia Haibing , Huang Yubin , Mulvaney Paul , Wang Dayang
Published: June 2009

In the swim: Colloidal nanoparticles coated with polylactide (PLA, red) and poly(ethylene glycol) brushes (PEG, black) can transfer from organic to aqueous phases across liquid/liquid or liquid/gel interfaces during degradation of the PLA coating (see picture: first step), which is driven selectively by the hydrogen bonding of the PEG coating with the aqueous phase (second step).

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Generation of Superstable, Monodisperse Microbubbles Using a pH‐Driven Assembly of Surface‐Active Particles
Authors: Drenckhan Wiebke
Published: June 2009

Bubbling to the surface: Microscale gas bubbles can be generated in a microfluidic device by simultaneously injecting CO2 and a dispersion of particles whose hydrophobicity increases as the pH value decreases. The CO2 dissolves rapidly out of the bubbles, which shrink, and render the dispersion increasingly acidic. This drives the particles to the bubble surface where they form a type of “armor” against further dissolution (see picture).

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Ketone Hydrosilylation with Sugar Silanes Followed by Intramolecular Aglycone Delivery: An Orthogonal Glycosylation Strategy
Authors: Buchan Zachary A. , Bader Scott J. , Montgomery John
Published: June 2009

Gettin' a little sugar—no alcohol required: A procedure for the direct glycosylation of ketones without a hydroxy intermediate enables the site‐selective glycosylation of hydroxyketones at the ketone or the alcohol functionality without the use of protecting groups on the aglycone (see scheme). Site selectivity is controlled by the catalyst structure in hydrosilylation and dehydrogenative silylation reactions with sugar silanes. Bn=benzyl.

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The effect of heat history on thermal degradation of elastomers containing butadiene units
Authors: Amiri Amraee I.
Published: June 2009

The aim of this research is to develop a new method for studying thermal degradation behavior of elastomers containing butadiene units by isothermal and anisothermal analysis. Accelerated aging such as isothermal thermogravimetry analysis shows that when BR, SBR and NBR elastomers are subjected to specific time and temperature condition in nitrogen atmosphere, an interchain reaction occurs. Experimental observations also show that thermal degradation mechanism of these elastomers depends on heating rate and time–temperature history. For these types of elastomers, the effect of time is similar to temperature and time–temperature superposition principle can be employed for studying the thermal degradation mechanism of elastomer containing butadiene units. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Synthesis and characterization of new soluble and thermally stable poly(amide‐imide)s containing pendent benzimidazole moieties
Authors: Toiserkani Hojjat , Saidi Kazem , Sheibani Hassan
Published: June 2009

Preparation of new types of poly(amide‐imide)s with high thermal stability and improved solubility was investigated. Two new diimide‐dicarboxylic acid containing pendent benzimidazole group, viz., 2‐[3,5‐bis(N‐trimellitimidoyl)‐phenyl] benzimidazole (DIDA‐i) and 2‐[3,5‐bis(N‐trimellitimidoyl)‐phenyl] 5‐methyl benzimidazole (DIDA‐ii) from the condensation of 5‐(2‐benzimidazole)‐1,3‐phenylenediamine (DABIA) and 5‐(5‐methyl‐2‐benzimidazole)‐1,3‐phenylenediamine (DABIB) with trimellitic anhydride in glacial acetic acid were synthesized, respectively. 1,3‐bis(N‐trimellitimidoyl)benzene (DIDA‐iii, as a reference) was also synthesized in a similar manner to study the properties of the its structure. Three series of aromatic poly(amide‐imide)s were prepared by triphenyl phosphite‐activated polycondensation from diimide‐dicarboxylic acid DIDA‐i, DIDA‐ii, and the reference monomer DIDA‐iii with various aromatic diamines. The polymers were obtained in quantitative yields with inherent viscosities between 0.46 and 0.81 dL g−1. The effects of the benzimidazole pendent groups on the polymer properties, such as solubility and thermal stability were investigated by comparison of the polymers. The polymers bearing benzimidazole pendent groups exhibited thermal stability and good solubility in common polar solvents higher than the reference polymers. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Oriented Growth of Small Mesochannels Utilizing a Porous Anodic Alumina Substrate: Preparation of Continuous Film with Standing Mesochannels
Authors: Yamauchi Yusuke , Nagaura Tomota , Inoue Satoru
Published: June 2009

Standing mesochannels: An “oriented growth on the mesoscale” is demonstrated for the formation of standing mesochannels. The standing mesochannels in the continuous film grow epitaxially from the mesochannels oriented along the straight holes of porous anodic alumina substrate.

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Spannglieder mit Kunststoffhüllrohren zur Herstellung von Brücken ohne Betonstahlbewehrung
Authors: Berger Johannes , Kollegger Johann
Published: June 2009

Bei Brückentragwerken aus Beton weist die konventionelle Abdichtung in der Praxis häufig keine zufriedenstellende Gebrauchsdauer auf. Fehlerhafte Abdichtungen führen zu Chlorideintrag in das Tragwerk durch Biegerisse an der Brückenoberseite im Bereich negativer Momente. Bei Durchfahrten unter Brücken besteht die Gefahr des Chlorideintrags durch Salznebel, welcher sich an allen Außenflächen der Brücke anlegt. Neben der Sanierungsanfälligkeit der Abdichtung stellt der Fahrbahnbelag ebenfalls ein Verschleißteil dar. Beide müssen in regelmäßigen Abständen erneuert werden, was neben der Beeinträchtigung des Verkehrs auch hohe Kosten verursacht. Die in diesem Aufsatz vorgestellte Methode ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass keine korrosionsempfindliche Bewehrung verwendet und der Fahrbahnbelag in das Tragwerk integriert wird. Das Ziel besteht darin, Betonbrücken zu schaffen, die gegenüber den bekannten Ausführungen eine verbesserte Dauerhaftigkeit aufweisen und mit vergleichbarem Kostenaufwand hergestellt werden können. Die Ergebnisse von experimentellen Untersuchungen zum Tragverhalten solcher Tragstrukturen werden vorgestellt.
Ingenieurbaukunst: Die Anfänge des Spannbetonbaus
Authors: Kleinmanns Joachim , Weber Christiane
Published: June 2009

Der weltbekannte Bauingenieur Fritz Leonhardt wäre am 11. Juli 2009 hundert Jahre alt geworden. In der Öffentlichkeit ist er vor allem als “Vater” des Stuttgarter Fernsehturms bekannt. Er selbst sah sich jedoch in erster Linie als Brückenbauer, auch wenn ihm seine Türme gleichermaßen weltweit Anerkennung eingebracht hatten.

An dieser Stelle wird seine Leistung auf dem Gebiet des Spannbetonbaus gewürdigt, mit dem er sich seit 1944 intensiv beschäftigte. Behandelt werden seine frühen Spannbetonbrücken und ‐türme. Für Fachleute, insbesondere Bauingenieure, war und ist Fritz Leonhardt der “Spannbeton‐Papst”, ein Ruf, der sich in Leonhardts wissenschaftlichen und anwendungsbezogenen Leistungen für den Spannbetonbau begründet. Leonhardts technische Kunstfertigkeit und seine unermüdliche, auch auf seine Mitarbeiter übertragene Suche nach optimierten Lösungen führten zu zahlreichen Innovationen auf diesem Gebiet. Dabei war Leonhardt stets die praktische Anwendung der Forschungsergebnisse wichtig.

Eine umfassende Publikation zu Leben und Werk Fritz Leonhardts, herausgegeben von den Autoren dieses Beitrags, ist gerade aus Anlass des hundertsten Geburtstags erschienen.
Predation between prokaryotes and the origin of eukaryotes
Authors: Davidov Yaacov , Jurkevitch Edouard
Published: June 2009

Accumulating data suggest that the eukaryotic cell originated from a merger of two prokaryotes, an archaeal host and a bacterial endosymbiont. However, since prokaryotes are unable to perform phagocytosis, the means by which the endosymbiont entered its host is an enigma. We suggest that a predatory or parasitic interaction between prokaryotes provides a reasonable explanation for this conundrum. According to the model presented here, the host in this interaction was an anaerobic archaeon with a periplasm‐like space. The predator was a small (facultative) aerobic α‐proteobacterium, which penetrated and replicated within the host periplasm, and later became the mitochondria. Plausible conditions under which this interaction took place and circumstances that may have led to the contemporary complex eukaryotic cell are discussed.
Structure brings clarity: Structured illumination microscopy in cell biology
Authors: Langhorst Matthias F. , Schaffer Joerg , Goetze Bernhard
Published: June 2009

Biological samples are three dimensional and, therefore, optical sectioning is mandatory for microscopic images to precisely show the localization or function of structures within biological samples. Today, researchers can choose from a variety of methods to obtain optical sections. This article focuses on structured illumination microscopy, which is a group of techniques utilizing a combination of optics and mathematics to obtain optical sections: A structure is imaged onto the sample by optical means and the additional information thereby encoded in the image is used to calculate an optical section from several acquired images. Different methods of structured illumination microscopy (mainly grid projection and aperture correlation) are discussed from a practical point of view, concentrating on advantages, limitations and future prospects of these techniques and their use in cell biology. Structured illumination can also be used to obtain super‐resolution information if structures of higher frequency are projected onto the sample. This promising approach to super‐resolution microscopy is also briefly discussed from a user's perspective.
Going live: A comparative analysis of the suitability of the RFP derivatives RedStar, mCherry and tdTomato for intravital and in vitro live imaging of Plasmodium parasites
Authors: Graewe Stefanie , Retzlaff Silke , Struck Nicole , Janse Chris J. , Heussler Volker T.
Published: June 2009

Fluorescent proteins have proven to be important tools for in vitro live imaging of parasites and for imaging of parasites within the living host by intravital microscopy. We observed that a red fluorescent transgenic malaria parasite of rodents, Plasmodium berghei‐RedStar, is suitable for in vitro live imaging experiments but bleaches rapidly upon illumination in intravital imaging experiments using mice. We have therefore generated two additional transgenic parasite lines expressing the novel red fluorescent proteins tdTomato and mCherry, which have been reported to be much more photostable than first‐ and second‐generation red fluorescent proteins including RedStar. We have compared all three red fluorescent parasite lines for their use in in vitro live and intravital imaging of P. berghei blood and liver parasite stages, using both confocal and wide‐field microscopy. While tdTomato bleached almost as rapidly as RedStar, mCherry showed improved photostability and was bright in all experiments performed.