bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prognosis in breast cancer utilizing histologic characteristics of the primary tumor
Authors: Black Maurice M. , Barclay Thomas H. C. , Hankey Benjamin F.
Published: August 2010

A study was made of the inter‐relationships and prognostic significance of structural characteristics found in primary breast cancers and their associated axillary lymph nodes. The prognostically favorable characteristics included the following. For the primary tumor: nuclear differentiation of the cancer cells, diffuse lymphoid cell infiltrations (LI), and perivenous lymphoid cell infiltrations (PVI). For the axillary lymph nodes: sinus histiocytosis (SH). Perivenous lymphoid cell infiltrations (PVI) in the primary tumor are found to be as important a prognostic factor as SH in the axillary lymph nodes; these two characteristics are found to be positively associated. Evaluation of the nuclear grade (NG), LI, and PVI in the primary tumor allows for the definition of prognostically significant patient groupings. LI is found to occur primarily in assoication with cancer cells having a low (anaplastic) nuclear grade, and to be positively associated with follicular hyperplasia (FH) in the lymph nodes. We also found a positive association between the cellular responses to areas of in situ carcinoma and the cellular responses to accompanying invasive breast cancer. These findings add to our general understanding of immunogenicity of breast cancer tissue. They also provide a progonstic system for classifying breast cancer patients on the basis of the microscopic characteristics of the primary tumor and surrounding breast tissue. The latter system should be of value in comparing the therapeutic benefits of various treatments.
Breast thermography as a screening technique: An evalutation of performance data
Authors: Revesz George , Lapayowker Marc S.
Published: August 2010

The concepts of relative operating characteristics (ROC‐curves) and detectability index (d') are introduced for the purpose of evaluating performance in breast thermography. In assessing published information on the subject we have found that much of it is anecdotal and lacks sufficient data to determine performance. We have also found that for those published findings which had sufficient data it was possible to reconcile conflicting conclusions as to the efficacy of thermography, and that performance could be quantitated with the use of the detectability index. Conclusions for optimizing available clinical thermographic techniques are given together with ways for future improvement.
Mesenchymal tumors of the uterus. V. Intravenous leiomyomatosis: A clinical and pathologic study of 14 cases
Authors: Norris Henry J. , Parmley Tim
Published: August 2010

Fourteen examples of intravenous leiomyomatosis in the AFIP files were studied. Growth beyond the uterus occurred in 10 of the 14 examples, largely in vessels in the broad ligament and in uterine and iliac veins. Metastasis to the heart occurred in 1 example. The study provides evidence that is consistent with both theories of origin of intravenous leiomyomatosis; namely, that it may arise either from the wall of veins within the myometrium or be a result of unusually extensive vascular invasion from a leiomyoma of the myometrium. Intravenous leiomyomatosis should be distinguished from a leiomyoma with vascular invasion by arbitrarily limiting the designation of leiomyoma with vascular invasion to neoplasms in which the vascular growth is a microscopic finding and confined within the leiomyoma. Criteria are given for distinguishing intravenous leiomyomatosis from endometrial stromal sarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, leiomyoma with vascular invasion, and leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata.
“Skip” metastases in osteosarcoma
Authors: Enneking W. F. , Kagan A.
Published: August 2010

Careful study of 40 cases of osteosarcoma without evidence of multifocal disease, pulmonary metastasis, or history of exposure to predisposing factors has given histologic evidence of microscopic foci of osteosarcoma separate from the primary focus of osteogenic sarcoma. These “skip” lesions are to all pathologic examination completely separate from the primary focus of osteogenic sarcoma. They are more often found proximal to the primary, both intraosseously and transarticularly. Histologically, these “skips” represent areas of osteosarcoma which in many cases are a less‐differentiated form of the tumor. The natural history of such tumors with “skips” following ablative surgery is an increased incidence of local recurrence and subsequent pulmonary metastases.
Water‐Soluble Ultra‐Small Manganese Oxide Surface Doped Gadolinium Oxide (Gd2O3@MnO) Nanoparticles for MRI Contrast Agent
Authors: Sook Choi Eun , Young Park Ja , Ju Baek Myung , Xu Wenlong , Kattel Krishna , Hyun Kim Joo , Jun Lee Jae , Chang Yongmin , Jeong Kim Tae , Eun Bae Ji , Seok Chae Kwon , Jin Suh Kyung , Ho Lee Gang
Published: August 2010

We have developed ultra‐small gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3) nanoparticles, which are surface‐doped with manganese oxide (MnO) (abbreviated as Gd2O3@MnO). The surface‐doped nanoparticles ranged from 1 to 2 nm in diameter. They were further coated with hydrophilic biocompatible lactobionic acid. In‐vitro tests of the sample solution indicated clear dose‐dependent contrast enhancements in both T1 and T2 map images, showing that the nanoparticles may be used as both T1 and T2 MRI contrast agents. Their performance as a T1 MRI contrast agent was proved in vivo through T1 MR images of a mouse.
Effect of sialic acid content on glycoprotein pI analyzed by two‐dimensional electrophoresis
Authors: Barrabés Sílvia , Sarrats Ariadna , Fort Esther , De Llorens Rafael , Rudd Pauline M. , Peracaula Rosa
Published: August 2010

2‐DE is broadly used for quantitative analysis of differential protein expression in complex mixtures such as serum samples or cell lysates. PTMs directly influence the 2‐DE pattern, and knowledge of the rules of protein separation is required in order to understand the protein distribution in a 2‐DE gel. Glycosylation is the most common PTM and can modify both the molecular weight and the pI of a protein. In particular, the effect of charged monosaccharides (mainly sialic acids, SAs) on the 2‐DE pattern of a protein is of major interest since changes in sialylation are regularly observed in comparative studies. Little is known about the pI shift of a glycoprotein induced by the presence of SAs, or whether this shift is the same for all glycoproteins. To address this issue, this study examined the influence of SA on the 2‐DE pattern of three serum glycoproteins (haptoglobin, α1‐antitrypsin and ribonuclease 1), which N‐glycan chains had been previously characterised, and reviewed existing bibliographic data. The SA content of the different glycoforms of a glycoprotein showed a negative linear correlation with the pI, although the slope varied among the studied glycoproteins. We also described a positive correlation between the protein pI and the pI decrease per SA molecule.
On‐line separation of bacterial cells by carbon‐electrode dielectrophoresis
Authors: Jaramillo Maria del Carmen , Torrents Eduard , Martínez‐Duarte Rodrigo , Madou Marc J. , Juárez Antonio
Published: August 2010

Dielectrophoresis (DEP) represents a powerful approach to manipulate and study living cells. Hitherto, several approaches have used 2‐D DEP chips. With the aim to increase sample volume, in this study we used a 3‐D carbon‐electrode DEP chip to trap and release bacterial cells. A continuous flow was used to plug an Escherichia coli cell suspension first, to retain cells by positive DEP, and thereafter to recover them by washing with peptone water washing solution. This approach allows one not only to analyze DEP behavior of living cells within the chip, but also to further recover fractions containing DEP‐trapped cells. Bacterial concentration and flow rate appeared as critical parameters influencing the separation capacity of the chip. Evidence is presented demonstrating that the setup developed in this study can be used to separate different types of bacterial cells.
Impurity profiling of dexamphetamine sulfate by cyclodextrin‐modified microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography
Authors: Wongwan Sudaporn , Scriba Gerhard K. E.
Published: August 2010

A CD‐modified microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography method has been developed and validated for dexamphetamine sulfate which allows the simultaneous determination of charged and uncharged impurities of the drug including the levorotary (R)‐enantiomer. The optimized background electrolyte consisted of 1.5% w/w SDS, 0.5% w/w ethyl acetate, 3.5% w/w 1‐butanol, 2.5% w/w 2‐propanol and 92% w/w 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 3.0, containing 5.5% w/w sulfated β‐CD. Separations were performed in a 50.2/40 cm, 50 μm id fused silica capillary at a temperature of 20°C and an applied voltage of −14 kV. Carbamazepine was used as internal standard. The assay was validated in the range of 0.1–1.0% for the related substances and 0.1–5.0% for levoamphetamine based on a concentration of 3 mg/mL of dexamphetamine sulfate. The LOD of all analytes ranged between 0.05 and 0.2%. In commercial samples of dexamphetamine sulfate, levoamphetamine was found at concentrations between 3.2 and 3.8%, whereas none of the other impurities could be detected.
Geotechnics and mass balance of the earthworks for the second tube of the Tauern Tunnel /
Authors: Burger Daniela , Kohlböck Bernhard , Schoitsch Christian
Published: August 2010

The construction of the 6,545 m long second tube of the Tauern Tunnel required a well thought‐out concept for the disposal and reuse of the material excavated from the tunnel. Because the reuse of the excavated material had been assigned the highest priority for saving resources according to the Waste Management Law (AWG), the project also included a number of officially approved earthworks projects. This article gives an overview of the considerations and challenges, which arose during the design and construction phases with regard to the disposal and reuse of this material. Particular attention is paid to embankment filling to raise the level of the Tauernalm service area, where about 235,000 m3 of tunnel spoil was filled in only three months. The article also describes the particular challenges of geotechnical design, supervision and logistics on this project, and also the overall mass balance of the tunnel excavation, which had to be adapted a number of times during the construction phase due to altered project parameters and had to be considered as a direct interaction with the tunnelling concept.

Der Bau der 6.545 m langen zweiten Röhre des Tauerntunnels erforderte ein durchdachtes Konzept für die Disposition und Verwendung des Tunnelausbruchmaterials. Da der Wiederverwertung des dabei gewonnenen Materials im Sinne des Abfallwirtschaftsgesetztes (AWG) zur Schonung der Ressourcen höchste Priorität eingeräumt wurde, umfasste das Bauvorhaben auch mehrere behördlich bewilligte Erdbauprojekte. Der vorliegende Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über die Themenkreise und Herausforderungen, die sich im Zusammenhang mit der Disposition und Verwertung des angefallenen Ausbruchmaterials im Zuge der Planungs‐ und Ausführungsphase ergeben haben. Hierbei wird insbesondere auf die Dammschüttung zur Anhebung der Raststation Tauernalm eingegangen, bei der rund 235.000 m3 Tunnelausbruchmaterial in nur knapp drei Monaten eingebaut wurden. Der Artikel beschreibt die besonderen Anforderungen an die geotechnische Planung, die Überwachung und die Logistik für dieses Bauwerk. Daneben wird auf die Massenbilanz des gesamten Tunnelausbruchs eingegangen, die aufgrund geänderter Projektrandbedingungen auch während der Ausführungsphase mehrfach angepasst werden musste und in direkter Wechselwirkung mit dem Vortriebskonzept zu betrachten war.
Use of micro‐Raman spectroscopy to investigate hybrid layer quality in demineralized root dentine
Authors: Rolland Sarah L. , Walls Angus W. G. , McCabe John F. , German Matthew J.
Published: August 2010

Treatment of early root caries using resin adhesives to stabilize demineralized dentine and deprive bacteria of nutrients is a recognized and conservative treatment option. Essential to its success is a stable resin‐dentine interface, with effective infiltration of demineralized dentine and adequate resin curing. The objective of this study was therefore to examine degree of cure (DoC) and depth of penetration of dentine adhesives in demineralized dentine using micro‐Raman spectroscopy. Three commercially available adhesives were applied essentially according to manufacturers' instructions to visibly wet demineralized dentine, with two coats of primer to reduce dilution. Specimens were sectioned perpendicular to the bonded interface and micro‐Raman spectroscopy performed on the cross section. Molecules associated with the adhesive were detected to depths greater than 100 μm indicating a thicker hybrid layer than seen in sound dentine. The hybrid layer showed an increase in proportion of aliphatic CC double bonds at the base of the hybrid layer, which may be a consequence of reduced DoC or phase separation. Micro‐Raman spectra suggest deep zones contain an increased concentration of HEMA and a lower concentration of BisGMA, which is likely to be less stable and may contribute to early breakdown of the dentine adhesive interface. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2010.
Effect of silica coating combined to a MDP‐based primer on the resin bond to Y‐TZP ceramic
Authors: May Liliana Gressler , Passos Sheila Pestana , Capelli Diana Barca , Özcan Mutlu , Bottino Marco Antonio , Valandro Luiz Felipe
Published: August 2010

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of silica coating and 10‐methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP)‐based primer applications upon the bonding durability of a MDP‐based resin cement to a yttrium stabilized tetragonal zirconia (Y‐TZP) ceramic. Ninety‐six Y‐TZP tabs were embedded in an acrylic resin (free surface for adhesion: 5 × 5 mm2), ground finished and randomly divided into four groups (N = 24) according to the ceramic surface conditioning: (1) cleaning with isopropanol (ALC); (2) ALC + phosphoric acid etching + MDP‐based primer application (MDP‐primer); (3) silica coating + 3‐methacryloyloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (MPS)‐based coupling agent application (SiO2 + MPS‐Sil); and (4) SiO2 + MDP‐primer. The MDP‐based resin cement was applied on the treated surface using a cylindrical mold (diameter= 3 mm). Half of the specimens from each surface conditioning were stored in distilled water (37°C, 24 h) before testing. Another half of the specimens were stored (90 days) and thermo‐cycled (12,000×) during this period (90d/TC) before testing. A shear bond strength (SBS) test was performed at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Two factors composed the experimental design: ceramic conditioning strategy (in four levels) and storage condition (in two levels), totaling eight groups. After 90d/TC (Tukey; p < 0.05), SiO2 + MDP‐primer (24.40 MPa) promoted the highest SBS. The ALC and MDP‐primer groups debonded spontaneously during 90d/TC. Bonding values were higher and more stable in the SiO2 groups. The use of MDP‐primer after silica coating increased the bond strength. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2010.
Flowsheet simulation of aqueous two‐phase extraction systems for protein purification
Authors: Ahmad Murni M. , Hauan Steinar , Przybycien Todd M.
Published: August 2010

BACKGROUND: Aqueous two‐phase extraction (ATPE) has many advantages as an efficient, inexpensive large‐scale liquid–liquid extraction technique for protein separation. However, the realization of ATPE as a protein separation technology at industrial scales is rather limited due to the large, multidimensional design space and the paucity of design approaches to predict phase and product behavior in an integrated fashion with overall system performance. This paper describes a framework designed to calculate suitable flowsheets for the extraction of a target protein from a complex protein feed using ATPE. The framework incorporated a routine to set up flowsheets according to target protein partitioning behavior in specific ATPE systems and a calculation of the amounts of phase‐forming components needed to extract the target protein. The thermodynamics of phase formation and partitioning were modeled using Flory‐Huggins theory and calculated using a Gibbs energy difference minimization approach.

RESULTS: As a case study, suitable flowsheets to recover phosphofructokinase from a simple model feedstock using poly(ethylene glycol)‐dextran (PEG6000‐DxT500) and poly(ethylene glycol)‐salt (PEG6000‐Na3PO4) two‐phase systems were designed and the existence of feasible solutions was demonstrated. The flowsheets were compared in terms of product yield, product purity, phase settling rate and scaled process cost. The effect of the mass flowrates of phase‐forming components on product yield and purity was also determined.

CONCLUSION: This framework is proposed as a basis for flowsheet optimization for protein purification using ATPE systems. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Effects of an educational program and a standardized insulin order form on glycemic outcomes in non‐critically ill hospitalized patients
Authors: Wesorick David H. , Grunawalt Julie , Kuhn Latoya , Rogers Mary A. M. , Gianchandani Roma
Published: August 2010

BACKGROUND:

The optimal approach to managing hyperglycemia in noncritically ill hospital patients is unclear.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the effects of targeted quality improvement interventions on insulin prescribing and glycemic control.

DESIGN:

A cohort study comparing an intervention group (IG) to a concurrent control group (CCG) and an historic control group (HCG).

SETTING:

University of Michigan Hospital.

PATIENTS:

Hyperglycemic, noncritically ill hospital patients treated with insulin.

INTERVENTION:

Physician and nurse education and a standardized insulin order form based on the principles of physiologic insulin use.

MEASUREMENTS:

Glycemic control and insulin prescribing patterns.

RESULTS:

Patients in the IG were more likely to be treated with a combination of scheduled basal and nutritional insulin than in the other groups. In the final adjusted regression model, patients in the IG were more likely to be in the target glucose range (odds ratio [OR], 1.72; P = 0.01) and less likely to be severely hyperglycemic (OR, 0.65; P < 0.01) when compared to those in the CCG. Patients in the IG were also less likely to experience hypoglycemia than those in the CCG (P = 0.06) or the HCG (P = 0.01). Over 80% of all patient‐days for all groups contained glucose readings outside of the target range.

CONCLUSIONS:

Standardized interventions encouraging the physiologic use of subcutaneous insulin can lead to significant improvements in glycemic control and patient safety in hospitalized patients. However, the observed improvements are modest, and poor metabolic control remains common, despite these interventions. Additional research is needed to determine the best strategy for safely achieving metabolic control in these patients. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2010. © 2010 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Managing hyponatremia in cirrhosis
Authors: Ross Elizabeth , Sigal Samuel H.
Published: August 2010

The development of hyponatremia represents an ominous event in the progression of cirrhosis to end‐stage liver disease. It usually develops in those with refractory ascites and is a manifestation of the non‐osmotic release of arginine vasopressin (AVP). In the hospitalized cirrhotic patient, hyponatremia is associated with increased disease severity and mortality. In this article, we review the pathophysiology of hyponatremia, its clinical implications, evaluation, and treatment. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2010;5:S8–S17. © 2010 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Investigation of ionic liquids under Bi‐ion and Bi‐cluster ions bombardment by ToF‐SIMS
Authors: Holzweber Markus , Pittenauer Ernst , Hutter Herbert
Published: August 2010

A systematic study of five different imidazolium‐based room temperature ionic liquids, 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium acetate, 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium nitrate, 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium iodide, 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate and 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide were carried out by means of time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) in positive and negative ion mode. The compounds were measured under Bi‐ion and Bi‐cluster ions (Bi2–7+, Bi3, 52+) bombardment, and spectral information and general rules for the fragmentation pattern are presented. Evidence for hydrogen bonding, due to high molecular secondary cluster ions, could be found. Hydrogen bonding strength could be estimated by ToF‐SIMS via correlation of the anionic yield enhancement with solvent parameters. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fragmentation pathways of metopimazine and its metabolite using ESI‐MSn, HR‐MS and H/D exchange
Authors: Hubert‐Roux Marie , Bounoure Frédéric , Skiba Mohamed , Bozec Philippe , Churlaud Florence , Lange Catherine M.
Published: August 2010

Metopimazine (MPZ) is a phenothiazine derivative used to prevent emesis during chemotherapy where few structural analysis of the aforementioned compound have been described in the literature. Thus, this work reports, for the first time, the detailed study of fragmentation pathways of MPZ and its metabolite (AMPZ) using electrospray ionization (EI) with multistage mass spectrometry (ESI‐MSn) in positive‐ion mode. The structures of 21 product ions were identified and their accurate masses were determined using high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) experiments. Characteristic product ions of these two phenothiazine derivatives are more particularly displayed along with differences between their relative abundances and their structures checked by H/D exchange experiments. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PTR‐TOF‐MS and data‐mining methods for rapid characterisation of agro‐industrial samples: influence of milk storage conditions on the volatile compounds profile of Trentingrana cheese
Authors: Fabris Alessandra , Biasioli Franco , Granitto Pablo M. , Aprea Eugenio , Cappellin Luca , Schuhfried Erna , Soukoulis Christos , Märk Tilmann D. , Gasperi Flavia , Endrizzi Isabella
Published: August 2010

Proton transfer reaction‐mass spectrometry (PTR‐MS), a direct injection mass spectrometric technique based on an efficient implementation of chemical ionisation, allows for fast and high‐sensitivity monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The first implementations of PTR‐MS, based on quadrupole mass analyzers (PTR‐Quad‐MS), provided only the nominal mass of the ions measured and thus little chemical information. To partially overcome these limitations and improve the analytical capability of this technique, the coupling of proton transfer reaction ionisation with a time‐of‐flight mass analyser has been recently realised and commercialised (PTR‐TOF‐MS). Here we discuss the very first application of this new instrument to agro‐industrial problems and dairy science in particular. As a case study, we show here that the rapid PTR‐TOF‐MS fingerprinting coupled with data‐mining methods can quickly verify whether the storage condition of the milk affects the final quality of cheese and we provide relevant examples of better compound identification in comparison with the previous PTR‐MS implementations. In particular, ‘Trentingrana’ cheese produced by four different procedures for milk storage are compared both in the case of winter and summer production. It is indeed possible to set classification models with low prediction errors and to identify the chemical formula of the ion peaks used for classification, providing evidence of the role that this novel spectrometric technique can play for fundamental and applied agro‐industrial themes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from selected Apulia coastal sites evaluated by GC–HRMS
Authors: Bianco Giuliana , Novario Giuseppe , Anzilotta Giuseppe , Palma Achille , Mangone Annarosa , Cataldi Tommaso R. I.
Published: August 2010

Samples of Mytilus galloprovincialis were examined to investigate the levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the Apulia's marine environment, a region in the South of Italy. The levels of nine PBDE congeners were measured in 40 mussel samples taken from the aquaculture farms in the South of Adriatic Sea and North Ionian Sea along the Apulia coast. While accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) was the extraction technique adopted using acetone/n‐hexane (1:1, v/v), the content of PBDEs was evaluated by using gas chromatography coupled with high‐resolution mass spectrometry (GC–HRMS) via electron ionization (EI) in the multiple ion monitoring (MIM) mode (two ions for each compound). The 13C mass‐labeled compounds were used to establish the levels of PBDEs in M. galloprovincialis samples. The total concentration of PBDEs (ΣPBDEs) ranged from 0.2 to 6.9 ng/g dry mass, with the highest concentrations found around coastal areas of Salento. With regard to the composition of PBDE congeners, BDE‐47, BDE‐99 and BDE‐100 were the predominant congeners in most of the samples. The present study is the first to report levels of PBDEs occurring in aquatic organisms living in aquaculture farms of Apulia region. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Long‐term course of probable PTSD after the 9/11 attacks: A study in urban primary care
Authors: Neria Yuval , Olfson Mark , Gameroff Marc J. , DiGrande Laura , Wickramaratne Priya , Gross Raz , Pilowsky Daniel J. , Neugebaur Richard , Manetti‐Cusa Julián , Lewis‐Fernandez Roberto , Lantigua Rafael , Shea Steven , Weissman Myrna M.
Published: August 2010

Although the short‐ and midterm psychological effects of the attacks on September 11, 2001 (9/11) have been well described, less is known about the long‐term effects. This study examines the course of probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), its predictors and clinical consequences in a cohort of 455 primary care patients in New York City, interviewed approximately 1 and 4 years after 9/11. The rate of PTSD decreased from 9.6% to 4.1%. Pre‐9/11 major depressive disorder emerged as the strongest predictor of PTSD, particularly late‐PTSD. At follow‐up, late‐PTSD was associated with major depressive and anxiety disorders, and PTSD regardless of timing was associated with impaired functioning. Findings highlight the importance of ongoing evaluation of mental health needs in primary care settings in the aftermath of disasters.
Elder mistreatment and physical health among older adults: The South Carolina elder mistreatment study
Authors: Cisler Josh M. , Amstadter Ananda B. , Begle Angela M. , Hernandez Melba , Acierno Ron
Published: August 2010

Exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs), including interpersonal violence, is associated with poorer physical health in young adults. This relation has not been well‐investigated among older adults in specific populations. The present study was designed to investigate whether exposure to PTEs and elder mistreatment are associated with physical health status among older adults residing in South Carolina. Older adults aged 60 and above (N = 902) participated in a structured interview assessing elder mistreatment history, PTEs, demographics, and social dependency variables. Results demonstrated that PTEs were associated with poor self‐rated health independently and when controlling for other significant predictors. A recent history of emotional mistreatment was associated with poor self‐rated health independently, but not when controlling for other significant predictors.
Implementation of a screen and treat program for child posttraumatic stress disorder in a school setting after a school suicide
Authors: Charuvastra Anthony , Goldfarb Elizabeth , Petkova Eva , Cloitre Marylene
Published: August 2010

To provide effective treatments for childhood posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) children with PTSD must first be identified. The authors implemented a “screen and treat” program following a widely witnessed school suicide. Three months after the suicide, exposed students received the Child Trauma Symptom Questionnaire at school. Parents received the questionnaire to rate their children's PTSD symptoms. Children with scores ⩾5 received follow‐up interviews and those diagnosed with PTSD were referred for treatment. Ninety‐six percent of exposed students were screened, 14% screened positive, and 6% had PTSD. Child and parent agreement was generally poor. All children with PTSD were successfully referred to treatment. Screen and treat programs using existing clinical instruments are efficient and acceptable for use in school settings following trauma.
Defining torture: A review of 40 years of health science research
Authors: Green Debbie , Rasmussen Andrew , Rosenfeld Barry
Published: August 2010

The current review critically examines the body of torture research (N = 209), focusing on the definition and operationalization of the primary construct. Almost three‐quarters (69.9%) of the studies reviewed did not reference any definition of torture. Few studies identified important contextual variables related to defining torture such as identities and motivations of perpetrators and severity of abuse. Definitional ambiguity further impacted how individuals were queried about their experiences and the extent to which torture was distinguished from other forms of maltreatment. Although there are notable exceptions, the methods used in the torture literature are variable and often undefined, impacting the interpretation of findings of risk factors, consequences, and treatment of torture events.
A comparison of two methods for preventing cross‐contamination when using flexible fiberoptic endoscopes in an otolaryngology clinic: Disposable sterile sheaths versus immersion in germicidal liquid
Authors: Elackattu Alphi , Zoccoli Mary , Spiegel Jeffrey H. , Grundfast Kenneth M.
Published: August 2010

Objectives/Hypothesis:

To assess the efficacy of using a sterile sheath to prevent cross‐contamination when using a fiberoptic nasopharnygolaryngoscope (FNPL) in an otolaryngology clinic.

Study Design:

Prospective controlled trial.

Methods:

All FNPLs were disinfected according to applicable current guidelines recommended by the US Center for Disease Control. Swabs were taken from multiple sites on 100 FNPLs for cultures to detect the presence of bacteria, viruses, or both. Each FNPL was then assigned to either the sheath alone (experimental) or germicidal immersion (control) group. After using an FNPL in a patient, swabs were again taken so that a comparison could be made in microbes on the scopes. Throughout the study, the steps in the disinfection process taken by medical assistants as they worked with the FNPLs were observed and recorded.

Results:

Microbial counts on insertion shafts of FNLPs for the sheath and immersion groups were similar, with 1/50 versus 0/50, respectively. Time spent using the sheath method averaged 89 seconds, whereas immersion in the germicidal liquid took 14 minutes. No breaches in adherence to applicable protocols were observed.

Conclusions:

Using an individually packaged disposable sterile sheath on a FNLP prevents microbes from adhering to the shaft of the scope, thus providing a reasonably safe method of avoiding the transmission of infection from one patient to the next patient when using an FNLP successively in multiple patients in an otolaryngology clinic. Laryngoscope, 2010
Lack of KISS1R expression is associated with rapid progression of conventional renal cell carcinomas
Authors: Chen Ying , Yusenko Maria V , Kovacs Gyula
Published: August 2010

The mortality of patients with conventional renal cell carcinomas (RCC) correlates directly with the development of metastasis, which cannot be reliably predicted simply by TNM classification. The aim of this study was to identify genes associated with the tumour progression. We have analysed the global gene expression in conventional RCCs, including those with and without progression by Affymetrix GeneChip and selected the genes by gene set enrichment analysis. The expression and function of KISS1R was validated by RT–PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry and by in vitro experiments. An immunohistochemical and clinical follow‐up study showed that lack of KISS1R expression is associated with rapid progression of tumours. In vitro studies showed that activation of KISS1/KISS1R signalling by kisspeptin treatment decreases the motility and invasive capacity of tumour cells. The kisspeptin treatment also induces the expression of KISS1R in tumour cells in vitro and activates signalling in cases without constitutional expression of the receptor. Expression of the KISS1R protein can be used for estimating the prognosis of conventional RCCs. Confirming the activation of KISS1R signalling in vivo may open a way for kisspeptin treatment of patients with conventional RCCs. Copyright © 2010 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Determination of S‐Adenosyl‐l‐methionine in Fruits by Capillary Electrophoresis
Authors: Van de Poel Bram , Bulens Inge , Lagrain Pieter , Pollet Jeroen , Hertog Maarten L. A. T. M. , Lammertyn Jeroen , De Proft Maurice P. , Nicolaï Bart M. , Geeraerd Annemie H.
Published: August 2010

Introduction – S‐adenosyl‐l‐methionine (SAM) plays an important role in many biochemical reactions in plants. It is mainly used as a methyl donor for methylation reactions, but it also participates in, for example, the biosynthesis of polyamines and the plant hormone ethylene.

Objective –

To develop a fast capillary electrophoresis technique to separate SAM in fruits and fruit juices without any pre‐purification steps.

Methodology – Four different extraction solutions and two extraction times were tested, of which 5% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) for 10 min was found most suited. A glycine : phosphate buffer (200 : 50 mm, pH 2.5) was found optimal to analyse SAM in TCA extracts. Analyses were preformed on different climacteric and non‐climacteric fruits and fruit juices. The calibration curve was created in degraded tomato extract. The CE‐method was compared with a more conventional HPLC method described in literature.

Results – The CE technique made it possible to completely separate the S,S‐ and R,S‐diastereoisomeric forms of SAM. The CE method proved to be very fast (20 min total running time instead of 42 min) and more sensitive (limit of detection of 0.5 µm instead of 1 µm) compared with the conventional HPLC method.

Conclusion – Fast measurements of SAM in fruits and juices are favoured by capillary electrophoresis in a 200 : 50 mm glycine : phosphate (pH 2.5) buffer system.
Radical copolymerization of vinylidene fluoride with 1‐bromo‐2,2‐difluoroethylene
Authors: Kostov G. K. , Sauguet L. , Ameduri B. , Kaspar H. , Zipplies T. , Hintzer K.
Published: August 2010

The radical copolymerization of vinylidene fluoride (VDF) and 1‐bromo‐2,2‐difluoroethylene (BDFE) in 1,1,1,3,3‐pentafluorobutane solution at different monomer molar ratios (ranging from 96/4 to 25/75 mol %) and initiated by tert‐butylperoxypivalate (TBPPI, mainly) is presented. Poly(VDF‐co‐BDFE) copolymers of various aspects (from white powders to yellow viscous liquids) were produced depending on the copolymer compositions. The microstructures of the obtained copolymers were characterized by 19F and 1H NMR spectroscopy and by elementary analysis and these techniques enabled one to assess the contents of both comonomers in the produced copolymers. VDF was shown to be more incorporated in the copolymer than BDFE. From the extended Kelen and Tudos method, the kinetics of the radical copolymerization led to the determination of the reactivity ratios, ri, of both comonomers (rVDF = 1.20 ± 0.50 and rBDFE = 0.40 ± 0.15 at 75 °C) showing that VDF is more reactive than BDFE. Alfrey‐Price's Q and e values of BDFE monomer were calculated to be 0.009 (from QVDF = 0.008) or 0.019 (from QVDF = 0.015) and +1.22 (vs. eVDF = 0.40) or +1.37 (vs. eVDF = 0.50), respectively, indicating that BDFE is an electron‐accepting monomer. Statistic cooligomers were produced with molar masses ranging from 1,800 to 5,500 g/mol (assessed by GPC with polystyrene standards). A further evidence of the successful copolymerization was shown by the selective reduction of bromine atoms in poly(VDF‐co‐BDFE) cooligomers that led to analog PVDF. The thermal properties of the poly(VDF‐co‐BDFE) cooligomers were also determined and those containing a high VDF amount exhibited a high thermal stability. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3964–3976, 2010.
Amino acid‐functionalized ethyl cellulose: Synthesis, characterization, and gas permeation properties
Authors: Ikeuchi Yoshitaka , Khan Fareha Zafar , Onishi Naoya , Shiotsuki Masashi , Masuda Toshio , Nishio Yoshiyuki , Sanda Fumio
Published: August 2010

Amino acid esters of ethyl cellulose [R′ = H (1), CH3 (2), CH2CH(CH3)2 (3), CH2CONH2 (4), CH2OCH2C6H5 (5, 5′), CH2CH2CH2CH2NHOCOC(CH3)3 (6)] were synthesized in moderate to quantitative yields (30–99%) by the reaction of t‐butoxycarbonyl (t‐Boc)‐protected amino acids or an activated ester derivative with hydroxy groups of ethyl cellulose [EC; degree of substitution (DSEt), 2.69]. The amino acid functionalities displaying varied chemical nature, shape, and bulk were used, and bulk of the substituent on the α‐carbon of amino acids was elucidated to be of vital significance for the observed degree of incorporation (DSEst). 1H NMR spectra were used to determine the degree of incorporation of amino acid moiety (DSEst), and almost complete substitution of the hydroxy protons was revealed in 1, 2, and 5′. The onset temperatures of weight loss of 1–6 were 198–218 °C, indicating fair thermal stability. The glass transition temperatures of the derivatized polymers were 30–40 °C lower than that of EC (Tg 131 °C; cf. Tg of 1–6, 93.5–103 °C). Free‐standing membranes of EC and its amino acid esters (1, 2, 5, 5′, and 6) were fabricated, and enhanced permselectivity for CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 gas pairs was discerned, when compared with EC. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3986–3993, 2010
s‐Triazine‐based hyperbranched polyethers: Synthesis, characterization, and properties
Authors: Karak Niranjan , Roy Buddhadeb , Voit Brigitte
Published: August 2010

A series of s‐triazine‐based hyperbranched polyethers (HBPE) have been synthesized to obtain thermostability but flexible polymers by an interfacial polycondensation of different diols as A2 and cyanuric chloride as B3 monomers using A2 + B3 approach in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst. The polymerization reaction parameters are optimized, and the results indicate that the optimum conditions for the interfacial polycondensation are a 2:3 mole ratio of cyanuric chloride to diol using butanediol, benzyldimethylhexadecyl ammonium chloride as the catalyst, dichloromethane as the organic solvent, and a three‐step procedure with keeping the reaction mixture at different low temperatures for 2h/2h/5h. Other techniques such as high‐temperature solution, one‐step polycondensation, and transesterification were also carried out to synthesize the HBPE but proved to be not suitable due to large number of side reactions. The synthesized polymers were characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy, hydroxyl number determination, solution viscosity measurements, and GPC analysis. The thermal behavior of the hyperbranched polymer was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. All the results were compared with those from an analogous linear polyether, obtained from 2‐methoxy‐4,6‐dichloro‐s‐triazine and butanediol by using the same polymerization technique. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3994–4004, 2010
Hyperbranched‐upon‐dendritic macromolecules as unimolecular hosts for controlled release
Authors: Xia Changlei , Ding Xiangyu , Sun Yan , Liu Hewen , Li Yuesheng
Published: August 2010

Novel amphiphilic hyperbranched‐upon‐dendritic polymers with a dendritic polyester core, a linear poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) inner shell, and a hyperbranched polyglycerol outer shell have been prepared. The structures of the hyperbranched‐upon‐dendritic polymers were characterized by using NMR spectra. The critical aggregating concentrations (CACs) of those amphiphilic hyperbranched‐upon‐dendritic polymers were measured by using pyrene as the polarity probe. To study the encapsulation performances of those hyperbranched‐upon‐dendritic polymers as unimolecular hosts, inter‐molecular encapsulation was carefully prevented by controlling the host concentrations below their CACs and by washing with good organic solvents. The study on encapsulation of two model guest molecules, pyrene and indomethacin, was performed. The amounts of encapsulated molecules were dependent mainly on the size of inner linear shells. About three pyrene molecules or five indomethacin molecules were encapsulated in hyperbranched‐upon‐dendritic polymers with average PCL repeating units of two but different hyperbranched polyglycerol outer shells, whereas about five pyrene molecules or about 12 indomethacin molecules were encapsulated in those with PCL repeating units of nine. The encapsulated molecules could be released in a controlled manner. Thus, the hyperbranched‐upon‐dendritic polymers could be used as unimolecular nanocarriers with controllable molecular encapsulation dosage for controlled release. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 4013–4019, 2010
Preparation, characterization, and properties of fluorene‐containing benzoxazine and its corresponding cross‐linked polymer
Authors: Liu Ying‐Ling , Chang Che‐Yuan , Hsu Chih‐Yuan , Tseng Min‐Chi , Chou Ching‐I
Published: August 2010

A benzoxazine compound (FDP‐FBz), which possesses a fluorene group and two terminal furan groups, and its corresponding cross‐linked polymer (CR‐FDP‐FBz) have been prepared using 4,4′‐(9‐fluorenylidene)diphenol (FDP), furfurylamine, and formaldehyde as precursors. The chemical structure of FDP‐FBz has been characterized with Fourier‐transform infrared and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. FDP‐FBz displays a melting point at about 173 °C and a processing window of 52 °C as well as good solubility in common organic solvents. As a result, FDP‐FBz can be fabricated in both molten and solution processes. Under an excitation at 365 nm, FDP‐FBz exhibits a photoluminescent (PL) emission at about 445 nm. The PL intensity of FDP‐FBz is as high as sixfolds of the intensity recorded with FDP. CR‐FDP‐FBz displays a glass transition temperature of 215 °C, a high storage modulus of 3.1 GPa, a 10% weight loss at 384 °C, and a high char yield of 56 wt % (900 °C, in nitrogen). Moreover, CR‐FDP‐FBz has a high refractive index of about 1.65 as a result of incorporating fluorene groups to its structure. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 4020–4026, 2010
A hyperbranched, rotaxane‐type mechanically interlocked polymer
Authors: Li Shijun , Zheng Bo , Chen Jianzhuang , Dong Shengyi , Ma Zhi , Huang Feihe , Gibson Harry W.
Published: August 2010

Based on the dibenzo‐24‐crown‐8/1,2‐bis(pyridinium)ethane recognition motif, a hyperbranched mechanically interlocked polymer was prepared by polyesterification of an easily available dynamic trifunctional AB2 pseudorotaxane monomer. It was characterized by various techniques including 1H NMR, COSY, NOESY, GPC, viscosity, TGA, dynamic laser light scattering, AFM, and SEM. Its GPC Mn was determined to be 191 kDa with polydispersity 1.7 and its hydrodynamic diameter in a dilute solution in acetone was about 70 nm. This measured Mn value corresponds to about 93 repeating units. The study reported here presents not only a new polymer topology but also a novel and convenient way to prepare mechanically interlocked polymers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 4067–4073, 2010
Mesoglobules of random copolyethers as templates for nanoparticles
Authors: Trzebicka Barbara , Weda Paweł , Utrata‐Wesołek Alicja , Dworak Andrzej , Tsvetanov Christo
Published: August 2010

An approach to nanoparticles based upon the thermosensitivity of a copolyether is described. Two thermosensitive copolymers of glycidol with molar masses of 800,000 g/mol randomly substituted with ethyl isocyanate (28 and 35% substitution) were used to obtain mesoglobules. The effects of copolymer concentration and of the presence of surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide) on the size of the mesoglobules formed were investigated. The obtained mesoglobules were monomodal and of narrowly distributed diameters, as shown by dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy measurements. The radical nucleated copolymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide with N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinker was performed in the presence of the mesoglobules. Nanoparticles of monomodal size distribution and low dispersity were obtained. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 4074–4083, 2010
The synthesis of water‐soluble PHEMA via ARGET ATRP in protic media
Authors: Paterson Stefan M. , Brown David H. , Chirila Traian V. , Keen Imelda , Whittaker Andrew K. , Baker Murray V.
Published: August 2010

2‐Hydroxyethyl methacrylate has been polymerized in methanol using activators regenerated by electron transfer (ARGET) atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), to produce water‐soluble poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA). The various parameters that determine control of the living polymerization have been explored. Using the Cu(II)/TPMA catalyst system (TPMA = tris(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine), controlled polymerization was achieved with Cu concentrations as low as 50 ppm relative to HEMA, with a [TPMA]/[Cu(II)] ratio of 5. Use of hydrazine as the reducing agent generally gave better control of polymerization than use of ascorbic acid. The polymerization conditions were tolerant of small amounts of air, and colorless polymers were easily isolated by simple precipitation and washing steps. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 4084–4092, 2010
Amphiphilic silicones prepared from branched PEO‐silanes with siloxane tethers
Authors: Murthy Ranjini , Bailey Brennan M. , Valentin‐Rodriguez Celimar , Ivanisevic Albena , Grunlan Melissa A.
Published: August 2010

Amphiphilic silicones were prepared by the covalent incorporation of branched polyethylene oxide (PEO) via a siloxane tether. This was achieved by using six novel branched PEO‐silanes with varying siloxane tether lengths and PEO molecular weight (Mn). Each PEO‐silane was crosslinked via acid‐catalyzed sol–gel condensation with α,ω‐bis(Si‐OH)polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) (Mn = 3000 g/mol) to yield six amphiphilic silicone films. Film surface hydrophilicity increased with siloxane tether length, particularly after exposure to an aqueous environment, indicating that the PEO segments were more readily driven to the surface. This effect was more pronounced for films prepared with PEO‐silanes containing lower Mn PEO segments. AFM was used to study surface reconstruction of films upon exposure to an aqueous environment. Adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human fibrinogen (HF) proteins decreased with siloxane tether length, particularly after first exposing films to an aqueous environment. For a given siloxane tether length, relatively less BSA adsorbed onto films prepared with PEO‐silanes with lower Mn PEO segments whereas less HF adsorbed onto films prepared with PEO‐silanes with higher Mn PEO segments. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 4108–4119, 2010