bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Linaclotide for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation
Authors: Chaplin Steve 
Published: January 2013

AbstractLinaclotide is a guanylate cyclase agonist that promotes increased stool water content, which increases bowel movement frequency. It has recently received a positive opinion from the CHMP for the treatment of constipation‐predominant IBS. In this Drug profile Steve Chaplin presents the clinical data relating to its efficacy and adverse events. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydrogen Tungsten Bronze‐Supported Platinum as Electrocatalyst for Methanol Oxidation
Authors: Li X. P. , Xiang X. D. , Yang H. Y. , Wang X. J. , Tan C. L. , Li W. S. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractHydrogen tungsten bronze (HxWO3)‐supported platinum was prepared by electrodeposition and used as an electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation. The prepared electrocatalyst was characterized by Raman spectrum, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and chronoamperometry (CA). It is found that the support, HxWO3, not only reduces the platinum particle size and thus reduces the platinum loading, but also provides platinum with the anti‐poison ability to carbon monoxide and thus improves the activity of platinum toward methanol oxidation.
A critical role for the cholesterol‐associated proteolipids PLP and M6B in myelination of the central nervous system
Authors: Werner Hauke B. , Krämer‐Albers Eva‐Maria , Strenzke Nicola , Saher Gesine , Tenzer Stefan , Ohno‐Iwashita Yoshiko , De Monasterio‐Schrader Patricia , Möbius Wiebke , Moser Tobias , Griffiths Ian R. , Nave Klaus‐Armin 
Published: January 2013

AbstractThe formation of central nervous system myelin by oligodendrocytes requires sterol synthesis and is associated with a significant enrichment of cholesterol in the myelin membrane. However, it is unknown how oligodendrocytes concentrate cholesterol above the level found in nonmyelin membranes. Here, we demonstrate a critical role for proteolipids in cholesterol accumulation. Mice lacking the most abundant myelin protein, proteolipid protein (PLP), are fully myelinated, but PLP‐deficient myelin exhibits a reduced cholesterol content. We therefore hypothesized that “high cholesterol” is not essential in the myelin sheath itself but is required for an earlier step of myelin biogenesis that is fully compensated for in the absence of PLP. We also found that a PLP‐homolog, glycoprotein M6B, is a myelin component of low abundance. By targeting the Gpm6b‐gene and crossbreeding, we found that single‐mutant mice lacking either PLP or M6B are fully myelinated, while double mutants remain severely hypomyelinated, with enhanced neurodegeneration and premature death. As both PLP and M6B bind membrane cholesterol and associate with the same cholesterol‐rich oligodendroglial membrane microdomains, we suggest a model in which proteolipids facilitate myelination by sequestering cholesterol. While either proteolipid can maintain a threshold level of cholesterol in the secretory pathway that allows myelin biogenesis, lack of both proteolipids results in a severe molecular imbalance of prospective myelin membrane. However, M6B is not efficiently sorted into mature myelin, in which it is 200‐fold less abundant than PLP. Thus, only PLP contributes to the high cholesterol content of myelin by association and co‐transport. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Analytical studies on transient groundwater flow induced by land reclamation using different fill materials
Authors: Hu Litang , Jiao Jiu Jimmy 
Published: January 2013

AbstractLand reclamation may have a significant influence on groundwater regimes. Analytical solutions have been developed in the past to study the impact of land reclamation on a steady‐state groundwater flow and transient flow in fill materials, assuming that the reclamation site consists of a single zone of uniform hydraulic parameters. In this paper, we derive analytical solutions to describe the transient water table change in response to multi‐stage land reclamation where the fill material is uniform in each stage but the hydraulic conductivity of the fill material varies from stage to stage. By introducing the method of separation of variables, we develop a transient analytical solution to study the impact of land reclamation consisting of fill material with different hydraulic properties on groundwater dynamics. The results show that the water table first increases significantly into the reclaimed zone following the fill material deposition, and then the increase gradually propagates into the original aquifer. The change of water table in the original aquifer mainly depends on the value of hydraulic conductivity of the fill materials. Examples in this paper illustrate how the aquifer system experiences a long time unsteady‐state flow as a result of the reclamation, and it takes at least tens of years for the system to approach a new equilibrium. It is suggested that for a large‐scale reclamation project, the response of the groundwater regime to reclamation should be carefully studied. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pain catastrophizing moderates the effects of pain‐contingent task interruptions
Authors: Schrooten M.G.S. , Karsdorp P.A. , Vlaeyen J.W.S. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBackgroundA prominent behavioural consequence of pain is the temporary suspension of current activities with intent to resume them later. Little is known about the effects of such pain‐contingent task interruptions. This experiment examines the influence of pain‐contingent interruptions on the amount of time spent performing a cognitive achievement task: We expected that people would spend more time on task when task performance was interrupted in response to pain (vs. no interruption), and that negative mood and pain catastrophizing would enhance this negative impact.MethodsHealthy volunteers read behaviour descriptions until they felt they could form a good impression. Before task performance, participants underwent a negative or positive mood induction. During the task, all participants expected painful stimulation. Half of the participants in each mood induction group received an acute (electrocutaneous) pain stimulus, resulting in a 2‐min break from the task. The other participants received no sensory stimulation during task performance and their performance was not interrupted.ResultsResults revealed no effect of mood on task performance (i.e., total number of descriptions read). There was, however, a significant interaction between task interruption and pain catastrophizing, indicating that participants with low levels of catastrophizing tended to read more descriptions when performance was interrupted than when not, whereas participants reporting relatively high levels of catastrophizing showed the reverse behavioural pattern.ConclusionsThe impact of pain‐contingent task interruptions was reversed in participants reporting relatively high levels of pain catastrophizing. Results are discussed with regard to interruption management in the context of chronic pain.
Impact of CCR2 and SDF1 Polymorphisms on Disease Progression in HIV‐Infected Subjects in Thailand
Authors: Ammaranond Palanee , Sanguansitthianan Sayompoo , Phaengchomduan Poonlaph , Sae‐Lee Chanachai , Mardkhumchan Sirimarn 
Published: January 2013

BackgroundThe genotypic polymorphisms of CCR5, CCR2, and SDF1 were analyzed to determine their impact as potential confounders with regard to disease progression because of the role that host genetic factors appear to be involved in determining rates of disease progression. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 27:38–44, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.MethodsGenomic DNA was extracted from Ethylenediaminetetraacetate whole blood using Qiagen DNA extraction kit . The amplification of CCR5, CCR2, and SDF1 genes was performed by PCR.ResultsTwo hundred and twenty‐one samples were genotyped for the CCR5, CCR2, and SDF1 mutation. Among these, all (100%) were identified as wild type for CCR5. All were then investigated considering the impact on CD4+ T‐cell counts. Samples were divided into two groups based on the CD4+ T‐cell numbers. It revealed that in the group of CD4+ T‐cell counts ≥200 cells/μl, 15 were found for the homozygous for SDF1 gene (3′A/3′A) whereas one was found in the group of CD4+ T‐cell counts <200 cells/μl. Homozygosity for the CCR2 polymorphisms (64I/64I) were five in the group of CD4+ T‐cell counts ≥200 cells/μl and none were found in the group of CD4+ T‐cell counts <200 cells/μl. These results demonstrated that there was a significant association between CD4+ T‐cell numbers and CCR2 and SDF1 polymorphisms (P < 0.001).ConclusionsThe mutation of CCR2 and SDF1 genes showed a significant difference in the distribution of CD4+ T‐cell numbers (P < 0.001) whereas mutation of chemokine coreceptor CCR5 was not appeared to be associated with the impact of CD4+ T‐cell counts.
Biochemical Markers of Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress in Acne Vulgaris: Correlation With Disease Activity
Authors: Al‐Shobaili Hani A. , Alzolibani Abdullateef A. , Al Robaee Ahmad A. , Meki Abdel‐Raheim M.A. , Rasheed Zafar 
Published: January 2013

BackgroundAcne vulgaris is a multifactorial skin disorder of unknown etiology. Free radical‐mediated reactions have been implicated but their role in eliciting this response and contributing to disease progress remains unexplored. This study was undertaken to investigate the status and contribution of oxidative/nitrosative stress in patients with acne vulgaris. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 27:45–2, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.MethodsSera from 50 acne vulgaris with varying levels of disease activity (mild, moderate, and severe) according to the Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) and 40 age‐ and sex‐matched controls were evaluated for serum levels of oxidative/nitrosative stress markers, including protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH).ResultsSerum analysis showed significantly higher levels of carbonyl contents, malondialdehyde (MDA) and NO, in acne patients compared with healthy controls (P < 0.05). Interestingly, not only there were an increased number of subjects positive for carbonyl contents, but also the levels of these oxidants were significantly increased with the increase of the disease activity (P < 0.05). In addition, a significant correlation was observed between the levels of carbonyl contents and the GAGS scores (r = 0.341, r = 0.355, and r = 0.299, respectively). Furthermore, sera from acne patients had lower levels of SOD and GSH compared with healthy control sera.ConclusionThese findings support an association between oxidative/nitrosative stress and acne. The stronger response observed in serum samples from patients with higher GAGS scores suggests that markers of oxidative/nitrosative stress may be useful in evaluating the progression of acne and in elucidating the mechanisms of disease pathogenesis.
Improved Allele‐Specific PCR Technique for Kidd Blood Group Genotyping
Authors: Intharanut Kamphon , Grams Rudi , Bejrachandra Sasitorn , Sriwanitchrak Pramote , Nathalang Oytip 
Published: January 2013

BackgroundWe developed an allele‐specific polymerase chain reaction (AS‐PCR) technique for Kidd blood group genotyping. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 27:53–58, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.MethodsAltogether, 340 blood samples from Thai blood donors at the National Blood Centre, Thai Red Cross Society, were tested with anti‐Jka and anti‐Jkb using the gel technique and the direct urea lysis test was used for screening Jk(a−b−) phenotype. For AS‐PCR technique, different types of primers were used for JK*01 and JK*02 allele detections in known DNA controls.ResultsRegarding JK*02 allele detection, the pseudopositve amplification products were found when using correctly matched forward primer and a single mismatch forward primer. Interestingly, one type of two mismatch pairing at the 3′ end of the forward primer can be used together with the newly designed reverse primer for Kidd blood group genotyping. It was found that the typing results in all samples obtained by serological techniques and newly developed AS‐PCR technique were in agreement and this PCR technique also gave 100% concordance of results in 30 samples randomly tested twice and demonstrated reproducible results.ConclusionThis study shows that the in‐house AS‐PCR is simple, cost‐effective, and convenient for Kidd blood group genotyping in routine laboratories, especially, in resolving serologic investigations.
Patient monitoring and follow‐up in lentiviral clinical trials
Authors: McGarrity Gerard J. , Hoyah Gloria , Winemiller April , Andre Kris , Stein David , Blick Gary , Greenberg Richard N. , Kinder Clifford , Zolopa Andrew , Binder‐Scholl Gwen , Tebas Pablo , June Carl H. , Humeau Laurent M. , Rebello Tessio 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBackgroundLentiviral vectors are being used with increasing frequency in human clinical trials. We were the first to use lentiviral vectors in clinical trials in 2003. Our lentiviral vector encoded a long RNA antisense sequence to the HIV‐1 envelope and was used in an ex vivo autologous setting to provide viral load control in HIV‐1 positive subjects failing anti‐HIV therapy. A total of 65 subjects have been treated in Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials in six institutions.MethodsGood manufacturing practices (GMP) lots of the lentiviral vector used in our clinical trials were assayed for the presence of replication competent lentivirus (RCL). RCL assays were conducted at two stages. The first testing was performed on samples collected immediately following bulk harvest of the GMP product lot and consisted of 1 × 108 cells used in production. RCL assays were also performed on aliquots of the final fill of the vector by the inoculation of at least 5% of the GMP final fill volume into C8166 cells, passaged for at least ten passages and tested for RCL by p24 enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and vesicular stomatitis virus‐G envelope DNA.ResultsFollowing 263 infusions of autologous, transduced cells, no adverse events have been detected in these subjects, with some followed for more than 8 years following infusions. More than 4.3 × 1012 VRX496 proviral copies were administered to these 65 subjects.ConclusionsData from this small population suggest that there is no apparent risk for serious adverse events with the use of lentiviral vectors. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Density weighted turbo spin echo imaging
Authors: Zeller Mario , Gutberlet Marcel , Stäb Daniel , Ritter Christian Oliver , Beer Meinrad , Hahn Dietbert , Köstler Herbert 
Published: January 2013

AbstractPurposeTo optimize the spatial response function (SRF) while maintaining optimal signal to noise ratio (SNR) in T2 weighted turbo spin echo (TSE) imaging by prospective density weighting.Materials and MethodsDensity weighting optimizes the SRF by sampling the k‐space with variable density without the need of retrospective filtering, which would typically result in nonoptimal SNR. For TSE, the T2 decay needs to be considered when calculating an optimized sampling pattern. Simulations were carried out and T2 weighted in vivo TSE measurements were performed on a 3 Tesla MRI system. To evaluate the SNR, reversed centric density weighted and retrospectively filtered Cartesian acquisitions with identical measurement parameters and SRFs were compared with TEeff = 90 ms and a density weighted k‐space sampling optimized to yield a Kaiser function for SRF side lobe suppression for white matter.ResultsDensity weighting of a reversed centric reordering scheme resulted in an SNR increase of (43 ± 13)% compared with the Cartesian acquisition with retrospective filtering while maintaining comparable contrast behavior.ConclusionDensity weighting is applicable to TSE imaging and results in significantly increased SNR. The gain can be used to shorten the measurement time, which suggests applying density weighting in both time and SNR constrained MRI. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;37:965–973. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Influence of structural variations on imidazolium‐based ionic liquids
Authors: Dold Christian , Amann Tobias , Kailer Andreas 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACTIn this work, a fundamental study of ionic liquids (ILs) is shown. The main goal was to establish relationships between rheological and tribological properties of ILs and to understand how these properties are linked to the molecular structure of ILs. Of particular interest were the effects occurring to a frictional system due to variations of the anions and the alkyl chain length of the imidazolium‐based cations. Tribological experiments were performed using a reciprocating ball‐on‐disc test machine. To understand the effects resulting from a variation of the structural characteristics of the used ILs on the rheological properties, studies were performed using a rheometer. The results obtained are very promising in terms of improving friction and wear behaviour by using ILs as lubricants. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Luteoprotective roles of luteinizing hormone are mediated by not only progesterone production but also glucocorticoid conversion in bovine corpus luteum
Authors: Kawaguchi Syota , Bowolaksono Anom , Sakumoto Ryosuke , Okuda Kiyoshi 
Published: January 2013

AbstractLuteinizing hormone (LH) is known as a key regulator of corpus luteum (CL) function, but the luteoprotective mechanisms of LH in the maintenance of bovine CL function are not well understood. The current study investigated if LH increases cell viability and induces cortisol conversion, and if the luteoprotective action of LH is mediated by stimulating the local production and action of progesterone (P4) and/or cortisol. Cultured bovine luteal cells obtained at the mid‐luteal stage (Days 8–12 of the estrous cycle) were treated for 24 hr with LH (10 ng/ml) with/without onapristone (OP, a specific P4 receptor antagonist; 100 µM), cortisone (1 µM), and aminoglutethimide (AGT, a specific inhibitor of cytochrome P450 side‐chain cleavage; 100 µM). LH with and without OP significantly increased the mRNA and protein expressions of 11β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD11B) 1, but did not affect the mRNA or protein expression of HSD11B2. These treatments also significantly increased HSD11B1 activity. Cell viability was significantly increased by LH alone or by LH in combination with cortisone and OP. LH in combination with OP or AGT significantly decreased cell viability as compared to LH alone. The overall results suggest that LH stimulates not only P4 production but also HSD11B1 expression, thereby increasing the cortisol concentration in the bovine CL, and that LH prevents cell death through these survival pathways. LH may consequently support CL function during the luteal phase in cattle. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 80: 204–211, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dynamic methylation pattern of the methyltransferase1o (Dnmt1o) 5′‐flanking region during mouse oogenesis and spermatogenesis
Authors: Ko Yeoung‐Gyu , Yun Jisoo , Park Hyoung Joon , Tanaka Satoshi , Shiota Kunio , Cho Jae‐Hyeon 
Published: January 2013

AbstractDNA methyltransferase1o (Dnmt1o), which is specific to oocyte and preimplantation embryo, plays a role in maintaining DNA methylation in mammalian cells. Here, we investigated the methylation status of CpGs sites in the Dnmt1o 5′‐flanking region in germ cells at different stages of oogenesis or spermatogenesis. The methylation levels of the CpG sites at the 5′‐flanking regions were hypermethylated in growing oocytes of all follicular stages, while the oocytes in meiotic metaphase II (MII) were demethylated. The methylation pattern within the CpGs sites in the 5′‐flanking region, however, was dramatically changed during spermatogenesis. We observed that there was significant non‐CpG methylation both in MII oocytes and spermatocytes. Although a low methylation level in non‐CpG sites was observed in primary and secondary oocytes, the CpA site of position 25 and CpT site of position 29 within the no‐CpG region in the 5′‐flanking region of Dnmt1o was highly methylated in MII oocytes. During spermatogenesis, the low degree of methylation at CpG sites in spermatocytes increased to a higher degree in sperm, while the high ratio of methylation in non‐CpG sites in spermatocytes decreased. Together, germ cells showed inverted methylation patterns between CpG and non‐CpG sites in the Dnmt1o 5′‐upstream region, and the methylation pattern during oogenesis did not drastically change, remaining generally hypomethylated at the MII stage. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 80: 212–222, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prospective and retrospective high order eddy current mitigation for diffusion weighted echo planar imaging
Authors: Xu Dan , Maier Joseph K. , King Kevin F. , Collick Bruce D. , Wu Gaohong , Peters Robert D. , Hinks R. Scott 
Published: January 2013

PurposeThe proposed method is aimed at reducing eddy current (EC) induced distortion in diffusion weighted echo planar imaging, without the need to perform further image coregistration between diffusion weighted and T2 images. These ECs typically have significant high order spatial components that cannot be compensated by preemphasis.Theory and MethodsHigh order ECs are first calibrated at the system level in a protocol independent fashion. The resulting amplitudes and time constants of high order ECs can then be used to calculate imaging protocol specific corrections. A combined prospective and retrospective approach is proposed to apply correction during data acquisition and image reconstruction.ResultsVarious phantom, brain, body, and whole body diffusion weighted images with and without the proposed method are acquired. Significantly reduced image distortion and misregistration are consistently seen in images with the proposed method compared with images without.ConclusionThe proposed method is a powerful (e.g., effective at 48 cm field of view and 30 cm slice coverage) and flexible (e.g., compatible with other image enhancements and arbitrary scan plane) technique to correct high order ECs induced distortion and misregistration for various diffusion weighted echo planar imaging applications, without the need for further image post processing, protocol dependent prescan, or sacrifice in signal‐to‐noise ratio. Magn Reson Med 70:1293–1305, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Tailoring the crystalline structure of polypropylene parts molded through water‐assisted injection molding: Effects of melt temperature and polymeric nucleating agent
Authors: Wang Bin , Huang Han‐Xiong 
Published: January 2013

AbstractThe melt temperature and a special polymeric nucleating agent [acrylonitrile–styrene copolymer (SAN)] were investigated to find an effective way for tailoring the crystalline structures of the water‐assisted injection‐molded polypropylene (WAIM PP) parts. The results showed that lowering the melt temperature led to the formation of a small amount of β‐form crystals in both outer and core layers of the WAIM PP parts. Nevertheless, the melt temperature had little effect on tailoring the crystalline structures of the WAIM PP parts. The addition of a low content (6 wt%) of the SAN was interestingly found to gradually influence the crystalline structures as lowering the melt temperature. WAIM PP/SAN blend parts with high contents of β‐form in both outer and core layers (30.7 and 18.4%, respectively), and high contents of transcrystals in the inner layer were molded at relatively low melt temperature (180°C), whereas the SAN had little influence on the crystalline structures at higher melt temperature (230°C). The formation of the transcrystals was ascribed to the in situ fibrillation of the SAN, which was resulted from high shear and cooling rates caused by high‐pressure water penetration during WAIM. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers