bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical Characteristics and Medication Uses Among Fibromyalgia Patients Newly Prescribed Amitriptyline, Duloxetine, Gabapentin, or Pregabalin
Authors: Kim Seoyoung C. , Landon Joan E. , Solomon Daniel H. 
Published: July 2013

ObjectiveFibromyalgia is a common chronic pain disorder with unclear etiology. No definitive treatment is available for fibromyalgia, and treatment with antidepressants or antiepileptics is often used for symptom management.MethodsUsing US health care utilization data, a large population‐based cohort study was conducted to describe clinical characteristics and medication use patterns in patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia who newly started amitriptyline, duloxetine, gabapentin, or pregabalin.ResultsThere were 13,404 amitriptyline starters, 18,420 duloxetine starters, 23,268 gabapentin starters, and 19,286 pregabalin starters. The mean age ranged from 48–51 years and 72–84% in each group were women. Back pain was the most frequent comorbidity in all 4 groups (range 48–64%) and hypertension, headache, depression, and sleep disorder were also common. The median daily dose at the start of followup was 25 mg for amitriptyline, 60 mg for duloxetine, 300 mg for gabapentin, and 75 mg for pregabalin, and >60% of patients remained on the same dose throughout the followup period. Only one‐fifth of patients continued the treatment started for ≥1 year. The mean number of different prescription drugs at baseline ranged from 8–10 across the groups. More than one‐half of patients took opioids and one‐third took benzodiazepines, sleep disorder drugs, and muscle relaxants.ConclusionPatients who started 1 of the 4 common drugs for fibromyalgia similarly had multiple comorbidities and other fibromyalgia‐related medication use, but continued the treatment only for a short time. The dose of the 4 drugs was not increased in most patients during the followup period.
“Somebody to Say ‘Come On We Can Sort This’”: A Qualitative Study of Primary Care Consultation Among Older Adults With Symptomatic Foot Osteoarthritis
Authors: Thomas Martin J. , Moore Andrew , Roddy Edward , Peat George 
Published: July 2013

ObjectiveTo examine the experiences of primary care consultation among older adults with symptomatic foot osteoarthritis (OA).MethodsEleven participants (6 women and 5 men) ages 56–80 years who had radiographically confirmed symptomatic foot OA and consulted a general practitioner in the last 12 months for foot pain were purposively sampled. Semistructured interviews explored the nature of the foot problem, help‐seeking behaviors, and consultation experiences. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.ResultsThe decision to consult a physician was often the outcome of a complex process influenced by quantitative and qualitative changes in symptoms, difficulty maintaining day‐to‐day roles and responsibilities and the effect this had on family and work colleagues, and a reluctance to present a fragile or aging self to the outside world. Self‐management was commonly negotiated alongside multimorbidities. Upon seeking help, participants often believed they received limited information, they were given a brief or even cursory assessment, and that treatment was focused on the prescription of analgesic drugs.ConclusionThis is the first qualitative study of primary care experiences among patients with symptomatic foot OA. The experience of primary care seldom appeared to move beyond a label of arthritis and an unwelcome emphasis on pharmacologic treatment.
Infection Risk After Orthopedic Surgery in Patients With Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases Treated With Immunosuppressive Drugs
Authors: Scherrer Catrina B. , Mannion Anne F. , Kyburz Diego , Vogt Markus , Kramers‐de Quervain Inès A. 
Published: July 2013

ObjectiveThe influence of specific medications on the risk of postoperative infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs) remains unclear. This retrospective study examined the risk of postoperative infection at the site of surgery in patients treated with immunosuppressive drugs (including biologic agents) undergoing different types of orthopedic surgery.MethodsThe study included 50,359 cases of orthopedic surgery performed in our hospital between 2000 and 2008. The primary outcome was operation‐related infection. IRD patients were compared with those with degenerative or posttraumatic disorders, and in IRD patients, the effect of immunosuppressive medication, specifically tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) inhibitors and their preoperative management, was examined.ResultsThere were 373 operation‐related infections (0.8%) of 47,887 cases in the degenerative/posttraumatic group and 49 (2.0%) of 2,472 in the IRD group (higher infection rate in the IRD group; odds ratio [OR] 2.58 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.91–3.48], P < 0.001). In the IRD group, elbow and foot surgery had the highest infection rates. The risk of infection was significantly increased in patients taking multiple conventional disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs; OR 2.49 [95% CI 1.06–5.84], P = 0.036) or TNFα inhibitors (OR 2.54 [95% CI 1.08–5.97], P = 0.032). The risk was especially high (6 [12%] of 49) if the last dose of TNFα inhibitor was given <1 administration interval before surgery.ConclusionThe risk of postoperative infection was elevated in patients with IRDs, especially those taking >1 conventional DMARD or TNFα inhibitors. It may be advisable to consider stopping TNFα inhibitors ≥1 administration interval before surgery, since the risk of postoperative infection appears to be higher if the operation occurs within this period.
Synthesis of a tung oil–rosin adduct via the diels–alder reaction: Its reaction mechanism and properties in an ultraviolet‐curable adhesive
Authors: Wu Jianbing , Zhang Tong , Ma Guozhang , Li Ping , Ling Lixia , Wang Baojun 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTA Diels–Alder adduct of rosin with tung oil was effectively prepared for use as a filler and adhesion promoter in UV‐curable adhesives. The characteristics of the adduct were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) absorption spectra. The reaction mechanism was studied with gel permeation chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis, 1H‐NMR, and the density functional theoretical method. The FTIR and 1H‐NMR results showed that the Diels–Alder addition occurred between the rosin and tung oil. The still‐existing characteristic peaks of the conjugated diene in the adduct, as shown in the FTIR and UV–vis absorption spectra, indicated that the most favorable reaction between the rosin and tung oil was when the rosin was used as the conjugated diene and the tung oil was used as the dienophile. The molecular weights of the adduct with different molar ratios showed that the most possible addition molar ratio between the rosin and tung oil was 3:1. The favorable addition mechanism was further proved by a comparison of the relative energies of different isomers of the adduct with theoretical calculation, and the most stable structure of adduct showed that the addition position of tung oil was the terminal CC double bond. The properties analysis indicated that the adduct could improve the adhesion of UV‐curable adhesives and reduce the curing shrinkage rate. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 4201–4208, 2013
Transparent poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐butyl acrylate) nanofibers
Authors: Avcı Merih Zeynep , Sarac A. Sezai 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTNanofibers of n‐Butyl Acrylate/Methyl Methacrylate copolymer [P(BA‐co‐MMA)] were produced by electrospinning in this study. P(BA‐co‐MMA) was synthesized by emulsion polymerization. The structural and thermal properties of copolymers and electrospun P(BA‐co‐MMA) nanofibers were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy–Attenuated total reflectance (FTIR–ATR), Nuclear magnetic spectroscopy (NMR), and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). FTIR–ATR spectra and NMR spectrum revealed that BA and MMA had effectively participated in polymerization. The morphology of the resulting nanofibers was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, indicating that the diameters of P(BA‐co‐MMA) nanofibers were strongly dependent on the polymer solution dielectric constant, and concentration of solution and flow rate. Homogeneous electrospun P(BA‐co‐MMA) fibers as small as 390 ± 30 nm were successfully produced. The dielectric properties of polymer solution strongly affected the diameter and morphology of electrospun polymer fibers. The bending instability of the electrospinning jet increased with higher dielectric constant. The charges inside the polymer jet tended to repel each other so as to stretch and reduce the diameter of the polymer fibers by the presence of high dielectric environment of the solvent. The extent to which the choice of solvent affects the nanofiber characteristics were well illustrated in the electrospinning of [P(BA‐co‐MMA)] from solvents and mixed solvents. Nanofiber mats showed relatively high hydrophobicity with intrinsic water contact angle up to 120°. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 4264–4272, 2013
Hydroxyl‐phosphazene‐wrapped carbon nanotubes and its application in ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymer
Authors: Zhang Tao , Du Zhongjie , Zou Wei , Li Hangquan , Zhang Chen 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTMultiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) are covalently grafted with hydroxyl modified phosphazene, which constitutes a novel flame retardant structure, and introduced into ethylene‐vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer via melt blending. The structure and morphology of the phosphazene‐wrapped MWNTs are characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The grafted phosphazene introduces phosphorus‐ and nitrogen‐containing species onto the surface of MWNTs and thus improves thermal stability of EVA resin and the dispersion of MWNTs in EVA matrix. Thermogravimetric analysis and cone calorimeter analysis reveal that phosphazene and MWNTs produce a synergistic effect on the enhancement of the thermal stability and flame retardancy of EVA. Furthermore, SEM observation indicates that phosphazene accelerates the formation of char residue on the surface of MWNTs. The char residue fills the space in the network structure of MWNTs and glues the MWNTs together. The dense char/MWNTs layers constitute a heat and mass block and therefore a better flame retardancy is observed. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 4245–4254, 2013
Methodology for development of new active barrier PET copolymers
Authors: Mahajan Kamal , Lofgren Elizabeth A. , Jabarin Saleh A. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTActive barrier developments for poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) are among important approaches being used to achieve improvements in the polyester's barrier properties. This work utilized two active barrier materials and their PET copolymers, synthesized by melt polymerization of terephthalic acid (TPA) with ethylene glycol (EG) and active oxygen scavengers: monoolein (MO) or 3‐cyclohexene‐1,1‐dimethanol (CHEDM), in separate compositions. The oxidizable monomers and their copolymers were characterized with respect to changes resulting from their reactions with oxygen. Evaluations of their infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra established that the monomers as well as their PET copolymers underwent first order reactions and had rate constants ranging from 0.03 to 0.08 day−1. The only volatile oxidation product of MO was acetaldehyde and no volatile products resulted from oxidation of CHEDM. In comparison to unmodified PET, the PET/MO and PET/CHEDM copolymers achieved respective oxygen barrier property improvements of about 30 and 40%. Results from this study have shown that the oxidation kinetics of pure monomers of this type may be used for evaluation of their effectiveness and suitability as active barrier materials, without the need to synthesize their corresponding PET copolymers. This is significant and work is continuing to include other moieties that will interact with higher levels of oxygen and react at faster rates. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 4273–4283, 2013
Construction of a controllable β‐carotene biosynthetic pathway by decentralized assembly strategy in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Xie Wenping , Liu Min , Lv Xiaomei , Lu Wenqiang , Gu Jiali , Yu Hongwei 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTSaccharomyces cerevisiae is an important platform organism for the synthesis of a great number of natural products. However, the assembly of controllable and genetically stable heterogeneous biosynthetic pathways in S. cerevisiae still remains a significant challenge. Here, we present a strategy for reconstructing controllable multi‐gene pathways by employing the GAL regulatory system. A set of marker recyclable integrative plasmids (pMRI) was designed for decentralized assembly of pathways. As proof‐of‐principle, a controllable β‐carotene biosynthesis pathway (∼16 kb) was reconstructed and optimized by repeatedly using GAL10–GAL1 bidirectional promoters with high efficiency (80–100%). By controling the switch time of the pathway, production of 11 mg/g DCW of total carotenoids (72.57 mg/L) and 7.41 mg/g DCW of β‐carotene was achieved in shake‐flask culture. In addition, the engineered yeast strain exhibited high genetic stability after 20 generations of subculture. The results demonstrated a controllable and genetically stable biosynthetic pathway capable of increasing the yield of target products. Furthermore, the strategy presented in this study could be extended to construct other pathways in S. cerevisisae. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2014;111: 125–133. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Carbon Nanofiber Supported Transition‐Metal Carbide Catalysts for the Hydrodeoxygenation of Guaiacol
Authors: Jongerius Anna L. , Gosselink Robert W. , Dijkstra Jelmer , Bitter Johannes H. , Bruijnincx Pieter C. A. , Weckhuysen Bert M. 
Published: July 2013

AbstractHydrodeoxygenation (HDO) studies over carbon nanofiber‐supported (CNF) W2C and Mo2C catalysts were performed on guaiacol, a prototypical substrate to evaluate the potential of a catalyst for valorization of depolymerized lignin streams. Typical reactions were executed at 55 bar hydrogen pressure over a temperature range of 300–375 °C for 4 h in dodecane, using a batch autoclave system. Combined selectivities of up to 87 and 69 % to phenol and methylated phenolics were obtained at 375 °C for W2C/CNF and Mo2C/CNF at >99 % conversion, respectively. The molybdenum carbide‐based catalyst showed a higher activity than W2C/CNF and yielded more completely deoxygenated aromatic products, such as benzene and toluene. Catalyst recycling experiments, performed with and without regeneration of the carbide phase, showed that the Mo2C/CNF catalyst was stable during reusability experiments. The most promising results were obtained with the Mo2C/CNF catalyst, as it showed a much higher activity and higher selectivity to phenolics compared to W2C/CNF.
Silicon‐Based Material with Spiro‐Annulated Fluorene/Triphenylamine as Host and Exciton‐Blocking Layer for Blue Electrophosphorescent Devices
Authors: Chen Hua , Jiang Zuo‐Quan , Gao Chun‐Hong , Xu Mei‐Feng , Dong Shou‐Cheng , Cui Lin‐Song , Ji Shun‐Jun , Liao Liang‐Sheng 
Published: July 2013

AbstractA novel silicon‐based compound, 10‐phenyl‐2′‐(triphenylsilyl)‐10H‐spiro[acridine‐9,9′‐fluorene] (SSTF), with spiro structure has been designed, synthesized, and characterized. Its thermal, electronic absorption, and photoluminescence properties were studied. Its energy levels make it suitable as a host material or exciton‐blocking material in blue phosphorescent organic light‐emitting diodes (PhOLEDs). Accordingly, blue‐emitting devices with iridium(III) bis[(4,6‐difluorophenyl)‐pyridinato‐N,C2′]picolinate (FIrpic) as phosphorescent dopant have been fabricated and show high efficiency with low roll‐off. In particular, 44.0 cd A−1 (41.3 lm W−1) at 100 cd m−2 and 41.9 cd A−1 (32.9 lm W−1) at 1000 cd m−2 were achieved when SSTF was used as host material; 28.1 lm W−1 at 100 cd m−2 and 20.6 lm W−1 at 1000 cd m−2 were achieved when SSTF was used as exciton‐blocking layer. All of the results are superior to those of the reference devices and show the potential applicability and versatility of SSTF in blue PhOLEDs.
Light Activation for the Versatile and Accurate Kinetic Analysis of Disassembly of Self‐Immolative Spacers
Authors: Alouane Ahmed , Labruère Raphaël , Le Saux Thomas , Aujard Isabelle , Dubruille Sylvie , Schmidt Frédéric , Jullien Ludovic 
Published: July 2013

AbstractThree procedures that rely on photoactivation are introduced to accurately analyze the disassembly kinetics of a collection of self‐immolative spacer groups within the window 10−2–103 s. Our results are relevant for deriving quantitative structure–property relationships. In particular, we have been able to access 20 ms temporal resolution, which made possible the measurement of the shortest ever reported disassembly time for an activated self‐immolative spacer.
Development of a Virtual Spectrometer for Chiroptical Spectroscopies: The Case of Nicotine
Authors: Egidi Franco , Bloino Julien , Cappelli Chiara , Barone Vincenzo 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTThe impressive advances of computational spectroscopy in most recent years are providing robust and user‐friendly multifrequency virtual spectrometers, which can also be used by nonspecialists to complement experimental studies. At the heart of these developments there are latest‐generation models based on Density Functional Theory for the proper treatment of stereo‐electronic effects, coupled to the polarizable continuum model to deal with bulk solvent effects, and low‐order perturbative treatments of anharmonic effects. Continuing our efforts to increase the range of application of virtual spectrometers, we report here about chiroptical spectroscopies with special reference to optical rotation and vibrational circular dichroism. The capabilities and possible limitations of our latest tool will be analyzed for the specific case of (S)‐nicotine in vacuo and in different solvents. Chirality 25:701–708, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cholinergic circuitry of the human nucleus basalis and its fate in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Mesulam M.‐Marsel 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTThe nucleus basalis is located at the confluence of the limbic and reticular activating systems. It receives dopaminergic input from the ventral tegmental area/substantia nigra, serotonergic input from the raphe nuclei, and noradrenergic input from the nucleus locus coeruleus. Its cholinergic contingent, known as Ch4, provides the principal source of acetylcholine for the cerebral cortex and amygdala. More than half of presynaptic varicosities along its cholinergic axons make traditional synaptic contacts with cortical neurons. Limbic and paralimbic cortices of the brain receive the heaviest cholinergic input from Ch4 and are also the principal sources of reciprocal cortical projections back to the nucleus basalis. This limbic affiliation explains the role of the nucleus basalis in modulating the impact and memorability of incoming sensory information. The anatomical continuity of the nucleus basalis with other basomedial limbic structures may underlie its early and high vulnerability to the tauopathy and neurofibrillary degeneration of Alzheimer's disease. The tauopathy in Ch4 eventually leads to the degeneration of the cholinergic axons that it sends to the cerebral cortex. The early involvement of Ch4 has a magnifying effect on Alzheimer's pathology, because neurofibrillary degeneration in a small number of neurons can perturb neurotransmission in all cortical areas. Although the exact contribution of the Ch4 lesion to the cognitive changes of Alzheimer's disease remains poorly understood, the cholinergic circuitry of the nucleus basalis is emerging as one of the most strategically positioned and behaviorally consequential modulatory systems of the human cerebral cortex. J. Comp. Neurol. 521:4124–4144, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Characterization of secretagogin‐immunoreactive amacrine cells in marmoset retina
Authors: Weltzien Felix , Dimarco Stefano , Protti Dario A. , Daraio Teresa , Martin Paul R. , Grünert Ulrike 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTThe retina contains at least 30 different types of amacrine cells but not many are well characterized. In the present study the calcium‐binding protein secretagogin was localized in a population of regular and displaced amacrine cells in the retina of the common marmoset Callithrix jacchus. Irrespective of their soma location, the dendrites of secretagogin amacrine cells occupy strata 2, 3, and 4 of the inner plexiform layer, between the two bands formed by cholinergic amacrine cells. Segretagogin amacrine cells are also immunopositive to antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase, suggesting that they use γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) as their neurotransmitter. The spatial density of secretagogin amacrine cells decreases from a peak of about 400 cells/mm2 near 1 mm eccentricity to less than 100 cells/mm2 in peripheral retina; these densities account for about 1% of amacrine cells in the inner nuclear layer and for up to 27% of displaced amacrine cells. The cell bodies form a regular mosaic, suggesting that they constitute a single amacrine cell population. Secretagogin cells have varicose dendrites, which are decorated with small spines. Intracellular injection of DiI into secretagogin cells revealed an average dendritic field diameter of 170 μm and an average coverage factor of 3.2. In summary, secretagogin cells in marmoset retina are medium‐field amacrine cells that share their stratification pattern with narrow‐field amacrine cells and their neurotransmitter with wide‐field amacrine cells. They may mediate spatial inhibition spanning the centralmost (on and off) bands of the inner plexiform layer. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:435–455, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Regional innervation of the heart in the goldfish, Carassius auratus: A confocal microscopy study
Authors: Newton Cecilia M. , Stoyek Matthew R. , Croll Roger P. , Smith Frank M. 
Published: July 2013

ABSTRACTThe intracardiac nervous system represents the final common pathway for autonomic control of the vertebrate heart in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis. In teleost fishes, details of the organization of this system are not well understood. Here we investigated innervation patterns in the heart of the goldfish, a species representative of a large group of cyprinids. We used antibodies against the neuronal markers zn‐12, acetylated tubulin, and human neuronal protein C/D, as well as choline acetyltransferase, tyrosine hydroxylase, nitric oxide synthetase, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) to detect neural elements and their transmitter contents in wholemounts and sections of cardiac tissue. All chambers of the heart were innervated by choline acetyltransferase‐positive axons, implying cholinergic regulation; and by tyrosine hydroxylase‐containing axons, implying adrenergic regulation. The mean total number of intracardiac neurons was 713 ± 78 (SE), nearly half of which were cholinergic. Neuronal somata were mainly located in a ganglionated plexus around the sinoatrial valves. Somata were contacted by cholinergic, adrenergic, nitrergic, and VIP‐positive terminals. Putative pacemaker cells, identified by immunoreactivity for hyperpolarization activated, cyclic nucleotide‐gated channel 4, were located in the base of the sinoatrial valves, and this region was densely innervated by cholinergic and adrenergic terminals. We have shown that the goldfish heart possesses the necessary neuroanatomical substrate for fine, region‐by‐region autonomic control of the myocardial effectors that are involved in determining cardiac output. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:456–478, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.