bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing laparoscopic with open mesh repair of recurrent inguinal hernia
Authors: Karthikesalingam A , Markar S R , Holt P J E , Praseedom R K 
Published: December 2009

Abstract

Background
Although there is plentiful evidence regarding the use of laparoscopic surgery for primary inguinal hernia, there is a paucity of literature concerning its role after recurrence. There has been no quantitative review of the evidence, despite suggestions that pooled analysis of existing data is required.

Methods
Medline, Embase, trial registries, conference proceedings and reference lists were searched for controlled trials of laparoscopic versus conventional open surgery for mesh repair of recurrent hernia. The primary outcomes were recurrence and chronic pain. Secondary outcomes were operating time, visual analogue pain score, superficial wound infection, haematoma or seroma formation, time to return to normal activities and serious complications requiring operation. Pooled odds ratios were calculated for categorical outcomes and weighted mean differences for continuous outcomes.

Results
Four trials were included in the analysis. There was no effect on recurrence or chronic pain. Laparoscopic surgery was associated with significantly less postoperative pain, a quicker return to normal activities and fewer wound infections, at the cost of a longer operating time. There was no difference in haematoma formation or the need for additional operations.

Conclusion
Careful patient selection and surgeons' experience are important in the selection of technique for recurrent inguinal hernia repair.
Influence of Gold Nanoparticles of Varying Size in Improving the Lipase Activity within Cationic Reverse Micelles
Authors: Maiti Subhabrata , Das Dibyendu , Shome Anshupriya , Das Prasanta Kumar 
Published: December 2009

AbstractHerein, we report the effect of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in enhancing lipase activity in reverse micelles of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)/water/isooctane/n‐hexanol. The size and concentration of the nanoparticles were varied and their specific roles were assessed in detail. An overall enhancement of activity was observed in the GNP‐doped CTAB reverse micelles. The improvement in activity becomes more prominent with increasing concentration and size of the GNPs (0–52 μM and ca. 3–30 nm, respectively). The observed highest lipase activity (k2=1070±12 cm3 g−1 s−1) in GNP‐doped CTAB reverse micelles ([GNP]: 52 μm, ca. 20 nm) is 2.5‐fold higher than in CTAB reverse micelles without GNPs. Improvement in the lipase activity is only specific to the GNP‐doped reverse micellar media, whereas GNP deactivates and structurally deforms the enzyme in aqueous media. The reason for this activation is probably due to the formation of larger‐sized reverse micelles in which the GNP acts as a polar core and the surfactants aggregate around the nanoparticle (‘GNP pool’) instead of only water. Lipase at the augmented interface of the GNP‐doped reverse micelle showed improved activity because of enhancement in both the substrate and enzyme concentrations and increased flexibility in the lipase conformation. The extent of the activation is greater in the case of the larger‐sized GNPs. A correlation has been established between the activity of lipase and its secondary structure by using circular dichroism and FTIR spectroscopic analysis. The generalized influence of GNP is verified in the reverse micelles of another surfactant, namely, cetyltripropylammonium bromide (CTPAB). TEM, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and UV/Vis spectroscopic analysis were utilized to characterize the GNPs and the organized aggregates. For the first time, CTAB‐based reverse micelles have been found to be an excellent host for lipase simply by doping with appropriately sized GNPs.
Chiral Auxiliaries as Emerging Tools for the Asymmetric Synthesis of Octahedral Metal Complexes
Authors: Meggers Eric 
Published: December 2009

AbstractNew methods for the stereocontrolled synthesis of octahedral metal complexes are needed in order to fully exploit the stereochemical richness of the octahedron in the fields of catalysis, materials sciences, and life sciences. Whereas a large body of work exists regarding the diastereoselective coordination chemistry with chiral ligands, such efforts are restricted to certain carefully designed chiral ligands which remain in the coordination sphere. The emerging strategy of chiral‐auxiliary‐mediated asymmetric synthesis holds promise to solve the problem of controlling relative and absolute configuration in octahedral metal complexes in a general fashion, thus hopefully in the future providing access to any desired optical active octahedral metal complex without the need for chiral separations. This short review will summarize reported examples of chiral auxiliaries applied to the asymmetric synthesis of octahedral metal complexes.
CB1 receptor inverse agonist pharmacotherapy for metabolic disorders
Authors: Fong Tung M. , Addy Carol , Erondu Ngozi , Heymsfield Steven B. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThe cannabinoid‐1 receptor (CB1R) has been implicated in the control of energy balance based on its anatomical localization, the interaction among the endocannabinoid system and other transmitter systems, and the appetite‐enhancing effect of tetrahydrocannabinol. Recent development of CB1R inverse agonists indicated that these agents inhibit food intake, increase energy expenditure, and reduce fat mass. This article reviews the preclinical and clinical efficacy of several CB1R inverse agonists and provides a perspective on the use of CB1R inverse agonists in studies of obesity and metabolic disorders. The compounds reviewed here are no longer in clinical development for obesity. Drug Dev Res 70:566–576, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Recent CB1 cannabinoid receptor antagonists and inverse agonists
Authors: Seltzman Herbert H. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractAntagonists or inverse agonists of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CB1R) reported from the 2006–2007 period are reviewed. The compounds are either variations of the archetypical cannabinoid CB1 inverse agonist rimonabant (SR141716) or are other structures less obviously related to the archetype. Many of the former class replace the core pyrazole ring of rimonabant with other ring systems to display/arrange the appended binding/activity elements. A structure‐activity relationship evolves from bioassays of these compounds that also provides a more detailed understanding of the molecular mechanism of the binding to and stabilization of the active and inactive states of the constitutively active CB1R. In addition to diverse variations of the core ring and appended substituents, conformationally constrained analogs with high affinity were revealed, a number of which do not fit a one‐to‐one atom correspondence with the putatively active conformations of the rimonabant template and other active analogs. Diphenylmethyl analogs were a repeated motif in structures where core rings were either absent or played less restrictive roles in structures pursuing higher conformational freedom. Bicyclic nitrogen heterocyclic ring systems as the central core structures were reported, as were linear structures including phenyl ureas and taranabant analogs. Finally, peptides in the hemopressin class were presented as CB1 antagonists. Drug Dev Res 70:601–615, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Analysis of non‐ketoic steroids 17α‐methylepithiostanol and desoxymethyl‐ testosterone in dietary supplements
Authors: Okano Masato , Sato Mitsuhiko , Ikekita Ayako , Kageyama Shinji 
Published: December 2009

AbstractDietary supplements containing 17α‐methyl‐2,3‐epithio‐5α‐androstane‐17β‐ol (17α‐methylepithiostanol), which is a 17‐methylated analogue of epithiostanol or a prodrug of desoxymethyltestosterone (17α‐methyl‐5α‐androst‐2‐en‐17β‐ol), have recently appeared on the Internet. 17α‐Methylepithiostanol and desoxymethyltestosterone are classified as prohibited substances on the World Anti‐Doping Agency (WADA) list. Two preparations, EPISTANE™ and P‐PLEX™, were obtained from the Internet so that their contents could be investigated. This study involved gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis after trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatization, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) in atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) mode and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Analysis using LC/MS in APPI mode would be a useful tool for detecting heat‐labile and non‐polar steroids.Although the labelling of EPISTANE™ indicates that it contains 17α‐methyl‐2α, 3α‐epithio‐5α‐androstane‐17β‐ol only, 17α‐methyl‐2β,3β‐epithio‐5α‐androstane‐17β‐ol and desoxymethyltestosterone were identified in the supplement. The results showed that P‐PLEX™ contained desoxymethyltestosterone and its isomer 17α‐methyl‐5α‐androst‐3‐en‐17β‐ol. Urine samples can be screened after EPISTANE™ or P‐PLEX™ administration using the normal screening procedure for anabolic steroids with GC/MS. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Coupled electrothermal analysis of a micro flow sensor with control circuit using spice
Authors: Kamiunten Shoji , Nagayo Hidetomo , Motosuke Masahiro , Honami Shinji 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThis paper reports an electrothermal analysis of a two‐element micro flow sensor (MFS). The measurement principle is based on temperature difference between the upstream and downstream parts of electrically connected heating‐sensing elements. The two‐heater MFS, the thermal fluid flow around MFS, and the electric circuit were modeled together using a commercial general‐purpose circuit simulator based on SPICE (Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis). The model has a partial three‐dimensional lumped thermal network model involved in a two‐dimensional one. Two‐dimensional laminar Poiseuille channel flow was assumed as the flow field in the model, and the forced convective heat transfer was calculated by energy balance at each node in the fluid flow. The tendency on the sensor characteristics was in good agreement between the simulation and experiment. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 93(1): 58–64, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience. wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10095
Preparation and evaluation of composite electromagnetic wave absorbers made of aluminum fine particles dispersed in polystyrene medium
Authors: Asano Norizumi , Wada Yoichi , Sakai Kenji , Yoshikado Shinzo 
Published: December 2009

AbstractWe developed composite electromagnetic wave absorbers consisting of dispersed aluminum fine particles in a polystyrene medium and evaluated their properties in order to realize single‐layer electromagnetic wave absorbers with good absorption in the gigahertz region. Polystyrene particles with two diameters (approximately 200 μm and 1 μm) and fine aluminum particles were mixed by mechanical milling. The mixture was heated above the melting point of polystyrene and then cooled naturally in air. The frequency characteristics of the complex relative permeability and the complex relative permittivity were calculated from the values of the scattering parameters of a coaxial line loaded with a sample of a toroidal‐core shape. Both the diamagnetism and the magnetic loss increased in proportion to the volume mixing ratios of aluminum particles up to approximately 34 vol for samples made of polystyrene particles with approximately 200 μm or 1μm diameter. The diamagnetism was almost frequency‐independent and the magnetic loss decreased with increasing frequency for all samples. These results were in agreement with qualitative theoretical prediction. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 93(1): 30– 40, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10169
The Tricarbonyliron Chalcogenolates [(OC)3Fe(μ‐ESitBu3)]2 (E = S, Se, Te)
Authors: Kückmann Theresa , Schödel Frauke , Sänger Inge , Bolte Michael , Wagner Matthias , Lerner Hans‐Wolfram 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThe tricarbonyliron thiolate and selenolate [(OC)3Fe(μ‐ESitBu3)]2 (E = S, Se) were synthesized photochemically from the reaction of 2 equiv. of pentacarbonyliron with the dichalcogenides tBu3Si–E2–SitBu3 (E = S, Se). X‐ray‐quality crystals of the tricarbonyliron thiolate [(OC)3Fe(μ‐SSitBu3)]2 (monoclinic, P21/n) and selenolate [(OC)3Fe(μ‐SeSitBu3)]2 (monoclinic, P21/n) were grown from benzene. The cyclic voltammograms of [(OC)3Fe(μ‐ESitBu3)]2 (E = S, Se, Te) resemble each other. Electrochemical reduction at potential below –2.2 V or reduction of [(OC)3Fe(μ‐ESitBu3)]2 (E = S, Se, Te) with Na or K led to degradation of the complex core with the formation of the chalcogenolates [ESitBu3]– (E = S, Se, Te). The dichalcogenides tBu3Si–E2–SitBu3 (E = Se, Te) are accessible by the reaction of Na[ESitBu3] with oxygen. However, the disulfide tBu3Si–S2–SitBu3 (monoclinic, P21/c) which is used in the synthesis of tricarbonyliron thiolates [(OC)3Fe(μ‐ESitBu3)]2 as starting material, was prepared from S2Cl2 and Na[SitBu3]. Depending on the solvent used for crystallization, the sodium supersilyl chalcogenolates Na[ESitBu3] (E = S, Se) form dimeric or tetrameric structures in the solid state. Single crystals of the dimeric thiolate [Na(thf)2SSitBu3]2 (monoclinic, P21/c) were obtained from thf at –25 °C whereas crystals suitable for X‐ray diffraction of tetrameric chalcogenolates [Na(thf)ESitBu3]4 (E = S, Se) were grown from hexane at –25 °C.
Pump‐free and low‐cost negative pressure sampling device for rapid sample loading in MCE
Authors: Hu Hongmei , Yin Xuefeng , Qi Liya , Liu Jinhua 
Published: December 2009

AbstractA pump‐free and low‐cost negative pressure sampling device for injecting well‐defined non‐biased sample plugs into the separation channel of MCE was developed. It was composed of a pipet bulb, a 3‐way electromagnetic valve and a single voltage supply at constant voltage. A sub‐atmospheric pressure was created by hand‐pressing air out of the pipet bulb and retained in it by switching the 3‐way electromagnetic valve at cutoff position. During the sample loading stage, the sub‐atmospheric pressure in the pipet bulb was applied via a 3‐way electromagnetic valve to the headspace of the sealed sample waste reservoir (SW). A pinched sample plug was formed at the channel intersection in less than 0.5 s. Once the 3‐way electromagnetic valve was switched to connect SW to ambient atmosphere to release the vacuum in SW, electrophoresis separation was consequently activated under the electric potentials applied. Experimental results demonstrated the pump‐free negative pressure sampling device worked well in a wide vacuum degree ranged from −250 to −30 mbar with a satisfactory analytical precision. The sample consumption for each cycle was calculated to be 51–12 nL under the sampling pressure. Theoretical deduction indicates that the volume of the pipet bulb can be further reduced to 1 mL, which is critical for minimizing the sampling device for MCE.
The use of encompassing tests for forecast combinations
Authors: Kışınbay Turgut 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThis paper proposes an algorithm that uses forecast encompassing tests for combining forecasts when there are a large number of forecasts that might enter the combination. The algorithm excludes a forecast from the combination if it is encompassed by another forecast. To assess the usefulness of this approach, an extensive empirical analysis is undertaken using a US macroeconomic dataset. The results are encouraging; the algorithm forecasts outperform benchmark model forecasts, in a mean square error (MSE) sense, in a majority of cases. The paper also compares the empirical performance of different approaches to forecast combination, and provides a rule‐of‐thumb cut‐off point for the thick‐modeling approach. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Olfactory ensheathing cell membrane properties are shaped by connectivity
Authors: Rela Lorena , Bordey Angelique , Greer Charles A. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractOlfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) have been repeatedly implicated in mediating plasticity, particularly in situ in the olfactory nerve in which they support the extension of olfactory sensory neuron (OSN) axons from the olfactory epithelium to the olfactory bulb (OB). OECs are specialized glia whose processes surround OSN axon fascicles within the olfactory nerve and across the OB surface. Despite their purported importance in promoting axon extension, and following transplants, little is known about either morphology or biophysical properties of OECs in situ. In particular, cell–cell interactions that may influence OEC function are largely unexplored. Here, we studied OEC connectivity and morphology in slice preparations, preserving tissue structure and cell–cell interactions. Our analyses showed that OECs form a matrix of cellular projections surrounding axons, unique among glia, and express high levels of connexin‐43. Lucifer Yellow injections revealed selective dye coupling among small subgroups of OECs. Two types of OECs were biophysically distinguished with whole‐cell voltage‐clamp recordings: (1) with low‐input resistance (Ri), linear current profiles, and frequently dye coupled; and (2) with high Ri, nonlinear current profiles, and infrequent dye coupling. Pharmacological blockade of gap junctions changed OEC membrane properties such that linear OECs became nonlinear. Double recordings indicated that the appearance of the nonlinear current profile was associated with the loss of electrical coupling between OECs. We conclude that the diversity of OEC current profiles can be explained by differences in gap‐junction connectivity and discuss implications of this diversity for OEC influences on axon growth and excitability. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression and prognostic significance of APAF‐1, caspase‐8 and caspase‐9 in stage II/III colon carcinoma: Caspase‐8 and caspase‐9 is associated with poor prognosis
Authors: Sträter Jörn , Herter Ines , Merkel Gaby , Hinz Ulf , Weitz Jürgen , Möller Peter 
Published: December 2009

AbstractApoptosis protease activating factor‐1 (APAF‐1), caspase‐8 and caspase‐9 are important factors in the execution of death signals. To study their prognostic influence in colon carcinoma, expression of APAF‐1, caspase‐8 and caspase‐9 was determined by immunohistochemistry in normal colon mucosa (n = 8) and R0‐resected stage II/III colon carcinomas (n ≥ 124) using a semiquantitative score. Staining results were correlated with disease‐free survival by Kaplan–Meier estimates, and multivariate Cox analyses were performed. In normal colon, APAF‐1 and caspase‐8 are most strongly expressed in the luminal surface epithelium, whereas caspase‐9 is expressed all along the crypt axis. In colon carcinomas, there is considerable variability in the expression of these proapoptotic factors, although complete loss of caspase‐8 and caspase‐9 is rare. APAF‐1 expression did not correlate with disease‐free survival. Instead, both expression of caspase‐9 and high‐level expression of caspase‐8 in a majority of tumor cells were significantly associated with adverse prognosis (p = 0.004 and p = 0.029, respectively). The influence of caspase‐8 expression was mainly seen in patients with stage III colon carcinoma (p = 0.011), whereas the prognostic influence of caspase‐9 expression was significant in stage II cases (p = 0.037) and just failed to be significant in stage III tumors (p = 0.0581). After adjusting for confounding factors in a multivariate Cox analysis, the effect of caspase‐9 in predicting disease‐free survival was confirmed (p = 0.003). Our data suggest that, in colon carcinomas, expression of caspase‐8 and caspase‐9 is significantly associated with poor survival. Caspase‐9 may be an independent prognosticator in colon carcinoma.
PELP1: A novel therapeutic target for hormonal cancers
Authors: Chakravarty Dimple , Tekmal Rajeshwar Rao , Vadlamudi Ratna K. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractRecent studies implicate that the estrogen receptor (ER) coregulator proline‐, glutamic acid‐, and leucine‐rich protein (PELP) 1 as playing critical roles in ER‐genomic, ER‐nongenomic, and ER‐signaling cross talk with growth factor signaling pathways. PELP1 expression is deregulated in hormonal cancers and recent studies further elucidated the molecular mechanisms by which PELP1 regulates hormone therapy response. Although PELP1 is important for normal functions of the ER, the possibility to target ER‐PELP1 axis appears to be an effective strategy for preventing hormonal carcinogenesis and therapy resistance. Thus, PELP1 may be useful as prognostic marker for hormonal cancers and PELP1 signaling may be useful to generate targeted therapeutics to overcome hormonal therapy resistance. © 2009 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 62(3): 163–169, 2010
Functional and conformational properties of phaseolin (Phaseolus vulgris L.) and kidney bean protein isolate: A comparative study
Authors: Yin Shou‐Wei , Tang Chuan‐He , Wen Qi‐Biao , Yang Xiao‐Quan 
Published: December 2009

AbstractBACKGROUND: Kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgris L.) seed is an underutilised plant protein source with good potential to be applied in the food industry. Phaseolin (also named G1 globulin) represents about 50 g kg−1 of total storage protein in the seed. The aim of the present study was to characterise physicochemical, functional and conformational properties of phaseolin, and to compare these properties with those of kidney bean protein isolate (KPI).RESULTS: Compared with kidney bean protein isolate (KPI), the acid‐extracted phaseolin‐rich protein product (PRP) had much lower protein recovery of 320 g kg−1 (dry weight basis) but higher phaseolin purity (over 950 g kg−1). PRP contained much lower sulfhydryl (SH) and disulfide bond contents than KPI. Differential scanning calorimetry analyses showed that the phaseolin in PRP was less denatured than in KPI. Thermal analyses in the presence or absence of dithiothreitol, in combination with SH and SS content analyses showed the contributions of SS to the thermal stability of KPI. The analyses of near‐UV circular dichroism and intrinsic fluorescence spectra indicated more compacted tertiary conformation of the proteins in PRP than in KPI. PRP exhibited much better protein solubility, emulsifying activity index, and gel‐forming ability than KPI. The relatively poor functional properties of KPI may be associated with protein denaturation/unfolding, with subsequent protein aggregation.CONCLUSION: The results presented here suggest the potential for acid‐extracted PRP to be applied in food formulations, in view of its functional properties. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry