bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cognitive impairment in persons with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Shin So Young , Katz Patricia , Wallhagen Margaret , Julian Laura 
Published: April 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo explore the prevalence and possible predictors of cognitive impairment in persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsIndividuals from a longitudinal cohort study of RA participated in a study visit that included a range of physical, psychosocial, and biologic metrics. Cognitive function was assessed using a battery of 12 standardized neuropsychological measures yielding 16 indices. Subjects were classified as “impaired” if they performed 1 SD below age‐based population norms on at least 4 of 16 indices. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify which of the following were significant predictors of cognitive impairment: sex, race, income, education, depression, disease duration, disease severity, C‐reactive protein (CRP) level, glucocorticoid use, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.ResultsA total of 115 subjects with a mean ± SD age of 58.6 ± 10.8 years were included; 64% were women and 81% were white. The proportion of persons who were classified as cognitively impaired was 31%. Education, income, glucocorticoid use, and CVD risk factors independently predicted cognitive impairment, controlling for sex, race, disease duration, disease severity, CRP level, and depression. Individuals with cognitive impairment were more likely to have low education (odds ratio [OR] 6.18, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.6–23.87), have low income (OR 7.12, 95% CI 1.35–37.51), use oral glucocorticoids (OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.05–8.12), and have increased CVD risk factors (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.19–2.17 per risk factor).ConclusionThe findings of this study suggest that the burden of cognitive impairment in RA is significant, and future studies identifying specific etiologic contributors to cognitive impairment are warranted.
Self‐efficacy and pain catastrophizing in systemic lupus erythematosus: Relationship to pain, stiffness, fatigue, and psychological distress
Authors: Somers Tamara J. , Kurakula Preethi C. , Criscione‐Schreiber Lisa , Keefe Francis J. , Clowse Megan E. B. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo determine how self‐efficacy for pain control and pain catastrophizing, both potentially modifiable pain coping cognitions, are related to pain, stiffness, fatigue, and psychological distress in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).MethodsWe conducted a cross‐sectional study of patients with SLE who completed measures of pain coping cognitions (i.e., self‐efficacy for pain control, pain catastrophizing), symptom ratings (i.e., pain, stiffness, fatigue), and psychological distress.ResultsCorrelational analyses revealed that self‐efficacy for pain control and pain catastrophizing were associated with the patients' physical symptom reports and psychological distress. After controlling for age, race, and disease activity, patients with lower levels of self‐efficacy for pain control reported much higher levels of pain, stiffness, and fatigue. Patients with higher levels of pain catastrophizing reported much lower positive mood. SLE activity as assessed by the rheumatologist was not associated with physical symptoms, psychological distress, self‐efficacy for pain control, or pain catastrophizing.ConclusionThese results suggest that pain coping cognitions (i.e., either self‐efficacy for pain control or pain catastrophizing) are significantly related to physical symptoms and psychological distress in patients with SLE. This finding is important because the results of studies from other samples of patients with persistent pain conditions have shown that these pain coping variables can be modified using psychological interventions, and that such treatment‐related changes in pain cognitions are related to improved patient outcomes.
DNA hypermethylation and 1p Loss silence NHE‐1 in oligodendroglioma
Authors: Blough Michael D. , Al‐Najjar Mohammad , Chesnelong Charles , Binding Carmen E. , Rogers Alexandra D. , Luchman H. Artee , Kelly John J. , Fliegel Larry , Morozova Olena , Yip Stephen , Marra Marco , Weiss Samuel , Chan Jennifer A. , Cairncross J. Gregory 
Published: April 2012

AbstractOligodendroglioma is characterized by mutations of IDH and CIC, 1p/19q loss, and slow growth. We found that NHE‐1 on 1p is silenced in oligodendrogliomas secondary to IDH‐associated hypermethylation and 1p allelic loss. Silencing lowers intracellular pH and attenuates acid load recovery in oligodendroglioma cells. Others have shown that rapid tumor growth cannot occur without NHE‐1–mediated neutralization of the acidosis generated by the Warburg glycolytic shift. Our findings show for the first time that the pH regulator NHE‐1 can be silenced in a human cancer and also suggest that pH deregulation may contribute to the distinctive biology of human oligodendroglioma. Ann Neurol 2012;71:845–849
Glucocerebrosidase deficiency in substantia nigra of parkinson disease brains
Authors: Gegg Matthew E. , Burke Derek , Heales Simon J. R. , Cooper J. Mark , Hardy John , Wood Nicholas W. , Schapira Anthony H. V. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractObjective:Mutations in the glucocerebrosidase gene (GBA) represent a significant risk factor for developing Parkinson disease (PD). We investigated the enzymatic activity of glucocerebrosidase (GCase) in PD brains carrying heterozygote GBA mutations (PD+GBA) and sporadic PD brains.Methods:GCase activity was measured using a fluorescent assay in cerebellum, frontal cortex, putamen, amygdala, and substantia nigra of PD+GBA (n = 9–14) and sporadic PD brains (n = 12–14). Protein expression of GCase and other lysosomal proteins was determined by western blotting. The relation between GCase, α‐synuclein, and mitochondria function was also investigated in vitro.Results:A significant decrease in GCase activity was observed in all PD+GBA brain areas except the frontal cortex. The greatest deficiency was in the substantia nigra (58% decrease; p < 0.01). GCase activity was also significantly decreased in the substantia nigra (33% decrease; p < 0.05) and cerebellum (24% decrease; p < 0.05) of sporadic PD brains. GCase protein expression was lower in PD+GBA and PD brains, whereas increased C/EBP homologous protein and binding immunoglobulin protein levels indicated that the unfolded protein response was activated. Elevated α‐synuclein levels or PTEN‐induced putative kinase 1 deficiency in cultured cells had a significant effect on GCase protein levels.Interpretation:GCase deficiency in PD brains with GBA mutations is a combination of decreased catalytic activity and reduced protein levels. This is most pronounced in the substantia nigra. Biochemical changes involved in PD pathogenesis affect wild‐type GCase protein expression in vitro, and these could be contributing factors to the GCase deficiency observed in sporadic PD brains. ANN NEUROL 2012;72:455–463.
Real time estimation of brain water content in comatose patients
Authors: Ko Sang‐Bae , Choi H. Alex , Parikh Gunjan , Schmidt J. Michael , Lee Kiwon , Badjatia Neeraj , Claassen Jan , Connolly E. Sander , Mayer Stephan A. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractObjective:Although brain swelling is an important cause of neurological deterioration, real time measurement of brain edema does not currently exist. Because thermal conductivity is proportional to percentage water content, we used the thermal conductivity constant to estimate brain water content (BWC).Methods:Between June 2008 and November 2010, 36 comatose brain‐injured patients underwent cerebral blood flow monitoring using a thermal diffusion probe in our neurocritical care unit. BWC was estimated hourly utilizing the measured thermal conductivity and the known temperature‐adjusted thermal conductivity of water. In vitro experiments were performed to validate this formula using agar, glycerol, and water mixtures with different water content.Results:Thermal conductivity was highly correlated (R2 = 0.99) and estimated water content was well correlated with actual water content (mean difference, 0.58%) in the in vitro preparations. The majority of the 36 patients (median age, 57 years; 44% female) had subarachnoid hemorrhage (n = 14) or cardiac arrest (n = 9). Initial BWC at the time of monitoring ranged from 67.3 to 85.5%. Brain regions appearing edematous on computed tomography showed higher estimated BWC than normal‐appearing brain regions (79.1 vs 70.2%; p < 0.01). Bolus osmotherapy (20% mannitol or 23.4% hypertonic saline) decreased BWC from 77.2 ± 0.7% (mean ± standard error) at baseline to 76.1 ± 0.5% at 1 hour, 76.5 ± 0.3% at 2 hours, and 76.7± 0.2% at 3 hours (all p ≤ 0.03).Interpretation:Real time monitoring of BWC is feasible using thermal conductivity. Further studies are needed to confirm the clinical utility of this technique. ANN NEUROL 2012;72:344–350
Neuromyelitis optica lesions may inform multiple sclerosis heterogeneity debate
Authors: Brück Wolfgang , Popescu Bogdan , Lucchinetti Claudia F. , Markovic‐Plese Silva , Gold Ralf , Thal Dietmar Rudolf , Metz Imke 
Published: April 2012

AbstractObjective:Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are considered inflammatory demyelinating diseases with distinguishing pathological characteristics. NMO pathology shows perivascular immunoglobulin G and complement deposition, as well as an astrocytopathy with aquaporin‐4 (AQP4) loss. MS lesions reveal a profound, interindividual heterogeneity in immunopathological patterns of active demyelination, which has been challenged by the description of stage‐dependent sequences of pathological features. The aim of our study was to compare the histological characteristics of early active demyelinating NMO and MS brain lesions.Methods:Thirteen cases with supraspinal active demyelinating NMO lesions were analyzed using immunohistochemistry. Results were compared with the published characteristics of MS lesions.Results:A subset of supraspinal lesions from AQP4‐IgG‐seropositive NMO patients revealed both (1) complement activation products within macrophages at sites of active demyelination and (2) oligodendrocyte apoptosis and a preferential loss of myelin‐associated glycoprotein. These characteristics resemble features previously associated with MS lesion patterns II and III, and were present in addition to characteristic histopathological NMO features, namely loss of AQP4 and astrocytes.Interpretation:Early active demyelinating NMO lesions may show complement within macrophages and oligodendrocyte apoptosis associated with a selective loss of minor myelin proteins, in addition to typical NMO features. We hypothesize these findings occur simultaneously only in a subset of active demyelinating NMO lesions. These observations plausibly explain the findings of Barnett and Prineas and further support the concept of interindividual heterogeneity in MS. ANN NEUROL 2012;72:385–394.
Influence of cure conditions on the properties of a one‐component moisture‐cured polyurethane adhesive in the context of green gluing of wood
Authors: Sterley Magdalena , Trey Stacy , Lundevall Åsa , Olsson Sara 
Published: April 2012

AbstractA commercial one‐component moisture‐cured polyurethane‐urea wood adhesive was investigated under different curing environments to simulate parameters during green gluing, that is, gluing of freshly sawn and undried timber. This process is an eco‐efficient and waste eliminating process in which only the finished wood product properties have been tested; however, not the adhesive itself. Therefore, the effect of moisture and postcuring heat treatment on the adhesive properties such as cure, chemical, and physical characteristics, and adhesion to wood were studied. It was determined by rheometry that the water content was proportional to the time to gel point, with moisture content of 2.6–5.6 wt % water, resulting in a higher initial storage modulus of the adhesive. Additionally, it was found that the strength of the wet glued bonds was significantly higher after the heat treatment, corresponding to the increase in ordered bidentate groups (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), higher storage modulus (rheometry), and higher Tg (dynamic mechanical thermal analysis). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Synthesis and characterization of conducting copolymer of Trans‐1‐(4‐methyl‐3′‐thienyl)‐2‐(ferrocenyl)ethene with EDOT
Authors: Turac Ersen , Sahmetlioglu Ertugrul , Demircan Aydin , Toppare Levent 
Published: April 2012

AbstractFerrocene‐substituted conducting polymer namely poly(trans‐1‐(4‐methyl‐3′‐thienyl)‐2‐(ferrocenyl)ethene‐co‐3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) [P(MTFE‐co‐EDOT)] was synthesized and its electrochromic properties were studied. Monomer, MTFE, was obtained using 2‐(ferrocenyl)ethene and 3‐methyl‐4‐bromothiophene. The structure of monomer was determined via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 1H‐NMR, and 13C‐NMR techniques. The copolymer was synthesized using this monomer and EDOT. The resulting copolymer P(MTFE‐co‐EDOT) was characterized by cyclic voltammetry, FTIR, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and UV–vis spectroscopy. The conductivity measurements of copolymer and PEDOT were accomplished by the four‐probe technique. Although poly(trans‐1‐(4‐methyl‐3′‐thienyl)‐2‐(ferrocenyl)ethene) [P(MTFE)] reveals no electrochromic activity, its copolymer with EDOT has two different colors (violet and gray). Band gap (Eg) and λmax of P(MTFE‐co‐EDOT) were determined. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Protease‐resistant peptide design—empowering nature's fragile warriors against HIV
Authors: Weinstock Matthew T. , Francis J. Nicholas , Redman Joseph S. , Kay Michael S. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractPeptides have great potential as therapeutic agents, but their use is often limited by susceptibility to proteolysis and their resulting in vivo fragility. In this review, we focus on peptidomimetic approaches to produce protease‐resistant peptides with the potential for greatly improved clinical utility. We focus on the use of mirror‐image (D‐peptide) and ß‐peptides as two leading approaches with distinct design principles and challenges. Application to the important and difficult problem of inhibiting HIV entry illustrates the current state‐of‐the‐art in peptidomimetic technologies. We also summarize future directions for this field and highlight remaining obstacles to widespread use of protease‐resistant peptides. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 98: 431–442, 2012.
Recombinant human albumin supports single cell cloning of CHO cells in chemically defined media
Authors: Zhu Jiang , Wooh Jong Wei , Hou Jeff Jia Cheng , Hughes Benjamin S. , Gray Peter P. , Munro Trent P. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBiologic drugs, such as monoclonal antibodies, are commonly made using mammalian cells in culture. The cell lines used for manufacturing should ideally be clonal, meaning derived from a single cell, which represents a technically challenging process. Fetal bovine serum is often used to support low cell density cultures, however, from a regulatory perspective, it is preferable to avoid animal‐derived components to increase process consistency and reduce the risk of contamination from adventitious agents. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are the most widely used cell line in industry and a large number of serum‐free, protein‐free, and fully chemically defined growth media are commercially available, although these media alone do not readily support efficient single cell cloning. In this work, we have developed a simple, fully defined, single‐cell cloning media, specifically for CHO cells, using commercially available reagents. Our results show that a 1:1 mixture of CD‐CHO™ and DMEM/F12 supplemented with 1.5 g/L of recombinant albumin (Albucult®) supports single cell cloning. This formulation can support recovery of single cells in 43% of cultures compared to 62% in the presence of serum. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2012
A dynamic fed batch strategy for a Pichia pastoris mixed feed system to increase process understanding
Authors: Zalai Dénes , Dietzsch Christian , Herwig Christoph , Spadiut Oliver 
Published: April 2012

AbstractMixed substrate feeding strategies are frequently investigated to enhance the productivity of recombinant Pichia pastoris processes. For this purpose, numerous fed batch experiments or time‐consuming continuous cultivations are required to optimize control parameters such as the substrate mixing ratio and the applied methanol concentration. In this study, we decoupled the feeding of methanol and glycerol in a mixed substrate fed batch environment to gain process understanding for a recombinant P. pastoris Muts strain producing the model enzyme horseradish peroxidase. Specific substrate uptake rates (qs) were controlled separately, and a stepwise increased qGly‐control scheme was applied to investigate the effect of various substrate fluxes on the culture. The qs‐controlled strategy allowed a parallel characterization of the metabolism and the recombinant protein expression in a fed batch environment. A critical‐specific glycerol uptake rate was determined, where a decline of the specific productivity occurred, and a time‐dependent acceleration of protein expression was characterized with the dynamic fed batch approach. Based on the observations on recombinant protein expression, propositions for an optimal feeding design to target maximal productivities were stated. Thus, the dynamic fed batch strategy was found to be a valuable tool for both process understanding and optimization of product formation for P. pastoris in a mixed substrate environment. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2012
Mannose‐specific lectin isolation from Canavalia ensiformis seeds by PHEMA‐based cryogel
Authors: Perçin Işık , Yavuz Handan , Aksöz Erol , Denizli Adil 
Published: April 2012

AbstractMannose‐specific lectin Concanavalin A (Con A) was purified from Canavalia ensiformis seeds. For this purpose, mannose attached poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) cryogel was prepared by cryopolymerization. Mannose was used as the affinity ligand and was covalently attached onto the PHEMA cryogel via carbodiimide activation. The PHEMA cryogel containing 23.3 mmol mannose/g polymer were used in the binding studies. Con A binding with the mannose attached PHEMA cryogel from Con A aqueous solution was 5.2 mg/g at pH 7. Maximum binding capacity for Con A from C. ensiformis seed extract was 39 mg/g. Con A was eluted with 0.3 M galactose, and the purity of Con A was determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It was observed that the mannose attached PHEMA cryogel can be used without significant decrease in Con A binding capacity after six binding‐elution cycles. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2012
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins: From Sequence and Conformational Properties toward Drug Discovery
Authors: Rezaei‐Ghaleh Nasrollah , Blackledge Martin , Zweckstetter Markus 
Published: April 2012

AbstractStructural disorder of functional proteins under physiological conditions is widespread within eukaryotic proteomes. The lack of stable tertiary and secondary structure offers a variety of functional advantages to intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs): their malleability of interaction with different partners, specific but low‐affinity binding, and their fine modulation by post‐translational modifications. IDPs are therefore central players in key processes such as cell‐cycle control and signal‐transduction pathways, and impairment of their function is associated with many disease states such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Fascinating progress in the experimental characterization of IDPs has been made in the last decade, especially in NMR spectroscopy and small‐angle X‐ray scattering as well as in single‐molecule techniques. It has been accompanied by the development of powerful computational tools to translate experimental results in explicit ensemble representations of IDPs. With the aid of bioinformatics tools, these advances have paved the way to targeting IDP interactions in rational drug‐discovery projects.
Destruction of chlorinated organics by hydrotreatment using Ru/TiO2 catalyst
Authors: Vaidya Prakash D. , Dussa Vikramkumar S. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractCatalytic hydrodechlorination reactions of p‐chloro‐m‐cresol (PCMC) and p‐chloroaniline (PCA) were investigated in a slurry reactor using a Ru/TiO2 catalyst. The organic reaction intermediates, m‐cresol and aniline, were further converted into methylcyclohexanol and cyclohexylamine respectively. Kinetics of PCMC hydrogenation was studied over the ranges in temperature, 323–373 K, H2 partial pressure, 0.34–1.38 MPa, PCMC concentration, 3.5–14 mM and catalyst loading, 0.1–2 kg/m3. The reaction orders with respect to PCMC and H2 were evaluated as 0.5 and 0.8 respectively. It was found that aniline hydrogenation is the rate‐determining step in the hydrotreatment of PCA. Kinetics of aniline hydrogenation was studied at 343 and 363 K over the ranges in H2 partial pressure, 0.34–1.38 MPa, aniline concentration, 5.4–21.5 mM and catalyst loading, 0.1–0.6 kg/m3. The reaction orders with respect to aniline and H2 were found to be 1.3 and 1.0 respectively. © 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering
Investigation on the Temperature Difference Method for Producing Nanobubbles and Their Physical Properties
Authors: Guan Min , Guo Wen , Gao Lianhua , Tang Yuzhao , Hu Jun , Dong Yaming 
Published: April 2012

AbstractIn recent years, the possibility of nanobubbles at the solid–liquid interface has drawn wide attention in the scientific community and industry. Thus the search for evidences for the existence of nanobubbles became a scientific hotspot. To produce interfacial nanobubbles, a systematic experiment, called the temperature difference method, is carried out by replacing low temperature water (LTW) with high temperature water (HTW) at the highly‐oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG)–water interface. When LTW (4 °C) is mixed with HTW (25–40 °C), nanobubbles are observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and their size, density and total volume per square micrometer are measured. Furthermore, pancake‐like gas layers and the coexistence of nanobubbles on top of the pancake layers are also observed.