bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Immediate and Long‐term Results Following Balloon Mitral Valvotomy in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Mohanan Nair Krishna Kumar , Pillai Harikrishnan Sivadasan , Thajudeen Anees , Krishnamoorthy Kavassery Mahadevan , Sivasubramonian Sivasankaran , Namboodiri Narayanan , Sasidharan Bijulal , Ganapathy Sanjay , Varaparambil Ajitkumar , Titus Thomas , Tharakan Jaganmohan 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBackground:The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of atrial fibrillation (AF) on the immediate and long‐term outcome of patients undergoing balloon mitral valvotomy (BMV).Hypothesis:Patients with atrial fibrillation fair poorly after balloon mitral valvotomy.Methods:There were a total of 818 consecutive patients who underwent elective BMV in this institute from 1997 to 2003, with either double‐lumen or triple‐lumen BMV catheters included in the study. Of them, 95 were with AF. The clinical, echocardiographic, and hemodynamic data of these patients were compared with those of 723 patients in normal sinus rhythm (NSR). Immediate procedural results and long‐term events were compared between the 2 study groups.Results:Patients with AF were older (39.9 ± 9.9 years vs 29.4 ± 10.1, P < 0.001) and presented more frequently with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III‐IV (53.7% vs 32.9%, P < 0.001), echocardiographic score >8 (47.4% vs 24.9%, P < 0.001), and with history of previous surgical commissurotomy (33.7% vs 11.5%, P < 0.001). In patients with AF, BMV resulted in inferior immediate and long‐term outcomes, as reflected in a lesser post‐BMV mitral valve area (1.3 ± 0.4 vs 1.6 ± 0.4 cm2, P = 0.032) and higher event rate on follow‐up.Conclusions:Patients with AF were older, sicker, and had advanced rheumatic mitral valve disease. They had a higher incidence of stroke, new onset heart failure, and need for reinterventions on long‐term follow‐up. These patients need intense and more frequent follow‐up. Clin. Cardiol. 2011 DOI: 10.1002/clc.22068The authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.
Optimization of Minimal Salt Medium for Efficient Phenanthrene Biodegradation by Mycoplana sp. MVMB2 Isolated from Petroleum Contaminated Soil Using Factorial Design Experiments
Authors: Brinda Lakshmi Mahalingam , Muthukumar Karuppan , Velan Manickam 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThis study presents the degradation of phenanthrene by Mycoplana sp. MVMB2 isolated from petroleum contaminated soil and the media optimization by factorial design experiments. The Plackett–Burman design was used to evaluate the effects of eight variables (potassium dihydrogen phosphate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, magnesium sulfate, calcium chloride, ferrous sulfate, glucose, inoculum concentration, and phenanthrene concentration) on phenanthrene degradation. Based on the results, the critical medium components having significant influence on the degradation were found to be disodium hydrogen phosphate, magnesium sulfate, ferrous sulfate, and phenanthrene. Furthermore, these four variables were used as central composite design parameters. The optimum minimal salt medium composition obtained by conventional and factorial design experiments for the degradation of phenanthrene by Mycoplana sp. MVMB2 at pH 6.5 and 30°C were found to be, potassium 2.5 g/L dihydrogen phosphate, 0.3505 g/L disodium hydrogen phosphate, 0.5501 g/L magnesium sulfate, 0.02 g/L calcium chloride, 0.0261 g/L ferrous sulfate, 0.6756 g/L phenanthrene, 0.5 g/L glucose, 0.5 g/L ammonium sulfate, and inoculum 5% v/v. The phenanthrene degradation was confirmed by analyzing the metabolites formed.
Bacteria‐removing and Bactericidal Efficiencies of PDADMAC Composite Coagulants in Enhanced Coagulation Treatment
Authors: Zhao Xiaolei , Zhang Yuejun 
Published: November 2012

AbstractEnhanced coagulation treatment of bacteria‐containing raw water was studied by using three series of composite coagulants, that were prepared by combining polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDADMAC) with different intrinsic viscosity values (0.55–2.47 dL/g) and mass percentages (5–20%) with polyaluminum chloride (PAC), aluminum sulfate (AS), and the composite of aluminum sulfate and ferric chloride (A‐F), respectively. The coagulants were tested by jar tests for the efficiencies to remove bacteria in raw water and to kill bacteria in settled sludge. It was found that when the residual turbidity of supernatant after sedimentation reached the control standard of 2 NTU in drinking water plant, the bacteria‐removing rates of PAC, AS, and A‐F were 92.22, 92.60, and 94.99%, respectively, and the bactericidal rates were 2.52, 1.22, and 2.94%, respectively. Contrastively, the bacteria‐removing rates of PAC/PDADMAC, AS/PDADMAC, and A‐F/PDADMAC could reach 95.45, 96.90, and 98.89%, respectively, and the bactericidal rates could reach 86.60, 91.81, and 96.98%, respectively. It could be deduced from the results that the bactericidal efficiencies of composite coagulants stemmed from the bactericidal action of PDADMAC, and the inorganic coagulants had little bactericidal function.
Ultrastructure and motility of the spermatozoa of Polypedates leucomystax (Amphibia, Anura, Rhacophoridae)
Authors: Muto Kohei , Kubota Hiroshi Y. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractSperm morphology is thought to be shaped by evolutionary pressure from the fertilization environment. Rhacophoridae (Amphibia, Anura) include both foam‐nesting and nonfoam‐nesting species and exhibit a variety of sperm morphologies. Here, we examine the sperm morphology and motility of a foam‐nesting Rhacophoridae frog, Polypedates leucomystax. Their spermatozoa have a sickle‐shaped head and a thick tail containing two axonemes with their doublet microtubule ones (Db1s) facing one another. These two axonemes are surrounded by hundreds of satellite microtubules that form a hexagonal lattice structure. The spermatozoa move spirally by directly converting their tail movements into propulsion force, similar to the movement of the sickle‐shaped spermatozoa of Xenopus laevis. By comparing the spermatozoa of P. leucomystax to those of other foam‐nesting Rhacophoridae frogs, Rhacophorus and Chiromantis, and to the nonfoam‐nesting Rhacophoridae frog, Buergeria buergeri, we found the following: (i) Spermatozoa of foam‐nesting Rhacophoridae share common morphological features, a pair of axonemes and crystallized satellite microtubules. (ii) Spermatozoa of nonfoam‐nesting Rhacophoridae do not exhibit these features. (iii) Sperm motility in foam‐nesting Rhacophoridae is adapted to viscous environments. (iv) A diversity of sperm morphology and motility exists even among foam‐nesting Rhacophoridae frogs. (v) The spermatozoa of Rhacophorus are more adapted to the foam nest than the spermatozoa of Polypedates. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
Calcium‐phosphate microprecipitates mimic microparticles when examined with flow cytometry
Authors: Larson Michael C. , Luthi Maia R. , Hogg Neil , Hillery Cheryl A. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThere are increased levels of circulating microparticles (MPs) in several disease states. Flow cytometry is a common method to examine MPs, but their small size necessitates the use of markers to distinguish specifically MPs from artifact. Annexin V, which binds phosphatidylserine, is a commonly used marker for MP detection. Annexin V requires millimolar calcium ion for optimum binding. Ca++ can precipitate with phosphate in phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS). Calcium‐phosphate microprecipitates were formed by titrating Ca++ into PBS and examined using flow cytometry. Calcium‐phosphate microprecipitates were compared with MPs derived from aged donor blood units. Microprecipitates were ∼0.7–0.9 μm in diameter compared with standard beads of known size. The microprecipitates disappeared with the addition of Ca++ chelator. When we added fluorescently labeled antibodies to microprecipitates, the median fluorescent signal increased with increasing Ca++ concentration regardless of specificity of the antibody. When repeated with a biological sample, there was an apparent increase in the fluorescent signal that returned to baseline after Ca++ chelation. The flow cytometry signal of calcium‐phosphate microprecipitates overlaps with the MP signal. Since Ca++ is essential for annexin V binding, it is essential to avoid artifacts from calcium‐phosphate microprecipitates when using any buffer or biological fluid containing phosphate. This also highlights the potential utility of flow cytometry for the analysis of crystals in biological fluids. © 2012 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Deep sympatric mitochondrial divergence without reproductive isolation in the common redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Authors: Hogner Silje , Laskemoen Terje , Lifjeld Jan T. , Porkert Jiri , Kleven Oddmund , Albayrak Tamer , Kabasakal Bekir , Johnsen Arild 
Published: November 2012

AbstractMitochondrial DNA usually shows low sequence variation within and high sequence divergence among species, which makes it a useful marker for phylogenetic inference and DNA barcoding. A previous study on the common redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) revealed two very different mtDNA haplogroups (5% K2P distance). This divergence is comparable to that among many sister species; however, both haplogroups coexist and interbreed in Europe today. Herein, we describe the phylogeographic pattern of these lineages and test hypotheses for how such high diversity in mtDNA has evolved. We found no evidence for mitochondrial pseudogenes confirming that both haplotypes are of mitochondrial origin. When testing for possible reproductive barriers, we found no evidence for lineage‐specific assortative mating and no difference in sperm morphology, indicating that they are not examples of cryptic species, nor likely to reflect the early stages of speciation. A gene tree based on a short fragment of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 from the common redstart and 10 other Phoenicurus species, showed no introgression from any of the extant congenerics. However, introgression from an extinct congeneric cannot be excluded. Sequences from two nuclear introns did not show a similar differentiation into two distinct groups. Mismatch distributions indicated that the lineages have undergone similar demographic changes. Taken together, these results confirm that deeply divergent mitochondrial lineages can coexist in biological species. Sympatric mtDNA divergences are relatively rare in birds, but the fact that they occur argues against the use of threshold mtDNA divergences in species delineation.
Common garden experiments reveal uncommon responses across temperatures, locations, and species of ants
Authors: Pelini Shannon L. , Diamond Sarah E. , MacLean Heidi , Ellison Aaron M. , Gotelli Nicholas J. , Sanders Nathan J. , Dunn Robert R. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractPopulation changes and shifts in geographic range boundaries induced by climate change have been documented for many insect species. On the basis of such studies, ecological forecasting models predict that, in the absence of dispersal and resource barriers, many species will exhibit large shifts in abundance and geographic range in response to warming. However, species are composed of individual populations, which may be subject to different selection pressures and therefore may be differentially responsive to environmental change. Asystematic responses across populations and species to warming will alter ecological communities differently across space. Common garden experiments can provide a more mechanistic understanding of the causes of compositional and spatial variation in responses to warming. Such experiments are useful for determining if geographically separated populations and co‐occurring species respond differently to warming, and they provide the opportunity to compare effects of warming on fitness (survivorship and reproduction). We exposed colonies of two common ant species in the eastern United States, Aphaenogaster rudis and Temnothorax curvispinosus, collected along a latitudinal gradient from Massachusetts to North Carolina, to growth chamber treatments that simulated current and projected temperatures in central Massachusetts and central North Carolina within the next century. Regardless of source location, colonies of A. rudis, a keystone seed disperser, experienced high mortality and low brood production in the warmest temperature treatment. Colonies of T. curvispinosus from cooler locations experienced increased mortality in the warmest rearing temperatures, but colonies from the warmest locales did not. Our results suggest that populations of some common species may exhibit uniform declines in response to warming across their geographic ranges, whereas other species will respond differently to warming in different parts of their geographic ranges. Our results suggest that differential responses of populations and species must be incorporated into projections of range shifts in a changing climate.
Improvement in the efficacy of dexketoprofen by its prodrug in lipid emulsion
Authors: Gao Renchao , Ren Tianyang , Feng Jia , Wang Jing , Weng Yan , Yang Rui , Tang Xing 
Published: November 2012

AbstractA lipid emulsion delivery system was developed to improve the anti‐inflammatory and anti‐nociceptive activities of dexketoprofen. The dexketoprofen isopropyl ester (DE) lipid emulsion (DEE) with a particle size of 208.1 ± 33.1 nm and a charge of −34.81 mV was administered to rats and then compared with dexketoprofen injection solution (DS). There was no statistical significance in their pharmacokinetic parameters. The anti‐inflammatory effect of DEE was evaluated by experiments involving egg‐albumin‐induced paw edema in rats and xylene‐induced ear swelling in mice. In the paw edema test, the swelling of the DEE group recovered quickly from 1 to 3 h (p<0.05), compared with the DS group. In the ear swelling test, the inhibition rate produced by DEE and DS was 57.79 and 28.57%, respectively. Acetic acid‐induced abdominal constriction and hot‐plate experiments were used to evaluate the peripheral and central anti‐nociceptive actions of DEE. In the acetic acid‐induced abdominal constriction test, DEE significantly restrained the writhing responses with a pain inhibition rate of 66.38% compared with 30.06% for the DS group. In the hot‐plate test, both preparations had a similar pain threshold increasing percentage. This study shows that the anti‐inflammatory and anti‐nociceptive activities of dexketoprofen are markedly improved after incorporation into a lipid emulsion.Practical applications: Dexketoprofen is an important drug for the management of inflammation and treatment of pain. However, its commercial preparations have usually been applied to treat diseases which are less serious because of their limited efficiencies. In this study, the anti‐inflammatory and anti‐nociceptive activities of dexketoprofen are markedly improved by incorporating its prodrug into the lipid emulsion. Therefore, the lipid emulsion preparation can be used to treat more kinds of inflammation and pain in clinic.
Synthesis of γ‐Oxo γ‐Aryl and γ‐Aryl α‐Amino Acids from Aromatic Aldehydes and Serine
Authors: Chacko Shibin , Ramapanicker Ramesh 
Published: November 2012

Abstractγ‐Oxo α‐amino acids and γ‐aryl α‐amino acids are compounds with very interesting biological properties and are active components of many drug molecules. Oxo amino acids are also used as synthetic precursors for a number of unnatural amino acids and amino alcohols. We report a very efficient synthesis of such compounds through the coupling of aromatic dithianes, prepared from aromatic aldehydes and an iodide derivative of serine. The dithiane groups in compounds thus obtained can be either hydrolyzed or reduced to generate 4‐oxo‐4‐aryl or 4‐aryl 2‐amino butanol derivatives, respectively, which, on further transformations, can be converted into the title compounds. Starting with L‐serine provides the corresponding D‐amino acids with complete enantiopurity. The reported method is economically viable and complements the existing methods, which rely largely on cross‐coupling reactions.
e‐SPC: new approaches to delivering drug information
Authors: Maxwell Simon , Eichler Hans‐Georg , Bucsics Anna , Haefeli Walter E , Gustafsson Lars L 
Published: November 2012

AbstractPrescribing medicines safely and effectively represents one of the greatest challenges for healthcare systems. Prescribing errors are common. A recent prospective observational study in the UK suggested that 10% of hospital prescriptions contained errors and that senior doctors were almost as frequently culpable as those who had recently graduated.1 Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A set of specific miRNAs is connected with murine and human gastric cancer
Authors: Shah Aftab Ali , Leidinger Petra , Backes Christina , Keller Andreas , Karpinski Pawel , Sasiadek Maria M. , Blin Nikolaus , Meese Eckart 
Published: November 2012

AbstractMircoRNAs as a new class of regulatory molecules have been investigated in many specific cells and organs in healthy and diseased conditions. Although miRNA signatures can be directly assessed in patients' affected tissues such as tumor sections, recent studies revealed that miRNA profiles can also be obtained indirectly, that is, from the patients' peripheral blood. For better understanding of miRNA's contribution to gastric carcinoma (one of the leading causes of cancer‐related mortality worldwide), we screened for deregulated miRNAs in blood collected from human cancer patients and compared the expression patterns with a gastric carcinoma mouse model (Tff1 knock‐out). The profiles were assessed using species‐specific miRNA microarrays. Among many dozens of deregulated miRNAs (219 in H. sapiens; 75 in M. musculus), a subset of eight miRNAs comparable in sequence from both species was noted. By in silico analysis, their involvement in targeting neoplastic and MAPkinase pathways was demonstrated. We found a high probability of linkage of all noted miRNAs to pathways in cancer with P‐values of 0.013 and 0.018 in mice and humans, respectively. Linkage to the MAPK‐signaling pathway in mice was observed with a P‐value of 0.01. Moreover, when comparing the 219 deregulated miRNAs obtained from blood with deregulated miRNAs derived from gastric cancer (GC) tissues, as published previously, 24 miRNAs were identical. If confirmed in a larger patient pool, these miRNAs could constitute appropriate blood‐born biomarkers for GC. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PARK2 and PACRG are commonly downregulated in clear‐cell renal cell carcinoma and are associated with aggressive disease and poor clinical outcome
Authors: Toma Marieta I. , Wuttig Daniela , Kaiser Sandy , Herr Alexander , Weber Thomas , Zastrow Stefan , Koch Rainer , Meinhardt Matthias , Baretton Gustavo B. , Wirth Manfred P. , Fuessel Susanne 
Published: November 2012

AbstractPARK2 is an E3 ligase, known to be involved in ubiquitination of several proteins and to play a role in neuronal protection. The gene PARK2 and its potentially co‐regulated gene PACRG have been previously found to be deleted in clear‐cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCCs). The aim of our study was to evaluate the mRNA and protein expression of PARK2 and PACRG in a large cohort of ccRCC, and to investigate their association with outcome. The expression of both genes was measured by quantitative PCR in 94 primary ccRCCs and autologous nonmalignant kidney tissues. PACRG and PARK2 protein expression was determined immunohistochemically using tissue microarrays comprising 133 ccRCCs. The mRNA and protein expression of PARK2 and PACRG was significantly downregulated in ccRCCs compared with nonmalignant tissues. Low levels of PARK2 mRNA were associated with high‐grade ccRCC and lymph node metastasis. Patients with low PARK2 mRNA levels showed a higher tumor‐specific mortality rate and a shorter overall survival (OS) than those with high PARK2 expression. Patients without PACRG mRNA expression in the tumor had a shorter disease‐free survival and OS than those with tumors expressing PACRG. In multivariate analyses, neither PARK2 nor PACRG expression were independent prognostic factors. The protein expression of PARK2 and PACRG was significantly downregulated in ccRCCs (82.8, and 96.9%, respectively), but no association with clinical outcome was noticed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cholesterol and Alzheimer's disease: A still poorly understood correlation
Authors: Ricciarelli Roberta , Canepa Elisa , Marengo Barbara , Marinari Umberto M. , Poli Giuseppe , Pronzato Maria A. , Domenicotti Cinzia 
Published: November 2012

AbstractA large amount of evidence suggests a pathogenic link between cholesterol homeostasis dysregulation and Alzheimer's disease (AD). In cell culture systems, the production of amyloid‐β (Aβ) is modulated by cholesterol, and studies on animal models have consistently demonstrated that hypercholesterolemia is associated with an increased deposition of cerebral Aβ peptides. Consequently, a number of epidemiological studies have examined the effects of cholesterol‐lowering drugs (i.e., statins) in the prevention and the treatment of AD. However, while retrospective studies suggested a potential benefit of statin therapy, clinical trials produced inconsistent results. Here, we summarize the main findings from in vitro and in vivo research where the correlation between cholesterol and the neurodegenerative disorder was investigated. Recognition of this correlation could be an important step forward for our understanding of AD pathogenesis and, possibly, for the development of new therapeutic strategies. © 2012 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 64(12): 931–935, 2012
An exploratory study of the interplay between decreased concentration of tryptophan, accumulation of kynurenines, and inflammatory arthritis
Authors: Kolodziej Lukasz 
Published: November 2012

AbstractTryptophan is an essential amino acid which influences a wide range of physiological processes, including mood, cognition, and immunity. In the autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the induction of tryptophan catabolism may help to diminish exacerbated immune responses. In this study, using collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) in DBA/1 mice which is an animal model of RA, the endogenous activity of the kynurenine pathway in the immune system was monitored before and after onset of the disease. An increased rate of the initiation of tryptophan catabolism via the kynurenine pathway throughout CIA has been observed. However, decreased tryptophan concentration in the lymph nodes from pre‐arthritic mice was not enough to prevent development of CIA. In contrast, resolution of inflammation coincided with the decreased concentration of tryptophan and accumulation of its catabolites: kynurenine, anthranilic acid, and 3‐hydroxyanthranilic acid in lymph nodes but not in the spleen. In addition, the lack of the accumulation of kynurenine and its downstream metabolites in the pre‐arthritic lymph nodes coincided with increased mRNA expression for genes involved in the catabolism of kynurenine (Kynureninase, kynurenine 3‐monooxygenase, and 3‐hydroxyanthranilate 3,4 dioxygenase). However, in the lymph nodes from mice with established CIA, mRNA expression for these genes was normalized. Hence, keeping in mind an exploratory character of the results, it can be postulated that an anti‐inflammatory role of the kynurenine pathway reaches its full potential only when decreased concentration of tryptophan coincides with accumulation of kynurenines driven by metabolic regulation of gene expression on the kynurenine pathway. © 2012 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 64(12): 983–987, 2012