bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Body mass index as a prognostic factor in epithelial ovarian cancer and correlation with clinico‐pathological factors
Authors: SKÍRNISDÓTTIR INGIRIDUR , SORBE BENGT 
Published: December 2009

AbstractObjective. To find out if body mass index (BMI) was associated with clinico‐pathological features and prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Design. Retrospective cohort study. Setting. Patients with EOC, who underwent primary surgery and postoperative chemotherapy in the Örebro Medical Region, Sweden, 1994–2003. Sample. A total of 446 patients with stage I–IV EOC, who underwent primary surgery and chemotherapy with information of values of height and weight at the start of chemotherapy were eligible. Methods. Patients were stratified by BMI according to guidelines set forth by the World Health Organization. Pearson's chi‐squared test was used for univariate analyses. The level of statistical significance was p < 0.05. Main outcome measures. The survival curves were generated by using the Kaplan‐Meier method, and in multivariate analyses the Cox regression model was used with cancer‐specific survival as the end point. Results. Of the patients, 5% were underweight (BMI < 18.5), 55% were of ideal body weight (BMI 18.5–25), 25% were overweight (BMI 25–30) and 15% were obese (BMI > 30). Among patients with serous tumors a significant (p = 0.01) worse survival was found in the subgroup of underweight (BMI < 18.5) patients compared with patients in the other BMI groups. In multivariate analysis only FIGO‐stage and age were independent and significant prognostic factors. Conclusion. Overweight and obese patients did not have worse survival than normal weight and underweight patients. The prognostic impact of BMI on survival was only noted for underweight patients with serous tumors.
COX‐2 expression in uterine carcinosarcoma
Authors: MENCZER JOSEPH , SCHREIBER LETIZIA , SUKMANOV OLEG , KRAVTSOV VLADIMIR , BERGER ESTHER , GOLAN ABRAHAM , LEVY TALLY 
Published: December 2009

AbstractObjective. To assess cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) expression in the carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements of uterine carcinosarcoma. Design. Retrospective study. Setting. Medical center. Sample. Twenty‐seven consecutive uterine specimens with carcinosarcoma. Methods. COX‐2 expression assessment by immunohistochemistry was performed on deparaffinized sections of paraffin‐embedded tissue blocks. Analysis of all stained tissue sections was done by means of light microscopy counting 10 high power fields with a minimum of 1,000 cells per slide. Analysis of the stained tissue sections was done by pathologists blinded to the clinical data and the follow‐up course of the malignancy. Main outcome measures. Staining of more than 10% of the cells was considered positive. Staining intensity was graded on a 0–3 scale. A scoring index was calculated by multiplying the intensity grade by the percentage of stained cells and considered low when it was ≤1 and high when it was >1. COX‐2 expression was associated with prognostic factors and survival. Results. COX‐2 immunohistochemical staining was positive in 74% of the carcinomatous component of carcinosarcoma and a high staining score was observed in 48.2%. Staining parameters were significantly lower in the sarcomatous component. No significant association between COX‐2 expression with stage, grade, depth of myometrial invasion, lymphvascular involvement or with survival was observed. Conclusions. COX‐2 is expressed in a high percentage of uterine carcinosarcoma, but does not seem to be associated with prognostic factors or survival.
A randomized trial comparing changes in sexual health and psychological well‐being after subtotal and total hysterectomies
Authors: ELLSTRÖM ENGH MARIE A , JERHAMRE KARIN , JUNSKOG KARIN 
Published: December 2009

AbstractObjective. To evaluate changes in sexual health and psychological well‐being one year after subtotal and total hysterectomies. Design. Prospective randomized controlled trial. Material and methods. One hundred and thirty‐two premenopausal patients scheduled for hysterectomy without planned oophorectomy for benign disorders and without a history of cervical dysplasia or symptomatic prolapse were randomized to total (n = 66) or subtotal hysterectomy (n = 66). The McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire was used to evaluate changes in sexual health and the Psychological General Well‐Being index was used to evaluate changes in psychological well‐being. Differences in outcome before and one year after the hysterectomy were calculated for each individual, and changes compared between the groups. Results. Women who had subtotal hysterectomy (SH) reported a significantly greater positive change in frequency of orgasm and sexual pleasure as compared with women who had total hysterectomy (TH) (mean values ± standard deviation (SD), orgasm: SH: 0.4 ± 1.1; TH: ‐0.2 ± 0.9, p = 0.012, sexual enjoyment: SH 0.3 ± 1.5; TH: ‐0.3 ± 1.3, p = 0.039). There was a significantly greater general health gain for the women who underwent subtotal hysterectomy as compared with total hysterectomy (mean values ± SD SH: 1.2 ± 2.3; TH: 0.3 ± 1.6, p = 0.03). The total score did not show a difference. Conclusions. Women undergoing subtotal hysterectomy experience a greater positive change in the frequency of orgasm and extent of sexual pleasure after surgery than women undergoing total hysterectomy, but the results must be interpreted with caution.
Occurrence of pharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis is uncommon in patients with a suspected or confirmed genital infection
Authors: WIKSTRÖM ARNE , ROTZÉN‐ÖSTLUND MARIA , MARIONS LENA 
Published: December 2009

AbstractObjective. To evaluate how common pharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is among mainly heterosexual women and men with a confirmed or a highly suspicious genital infection having had recent unprotected active oral sex. Design. Prospective observational study. Setting. Out‐patient clinics for sexually transmitted infections in Stockholm. Population. A total of 143 women and 138 men with a confirmed or suspected genital CT infection and a history of active oral sex. Methods. Pharyngeal samples from men and women in the study population were analyzed for the presence of CT. Main outcome measures. Number of positive CT in pharyngeal samples in relation to positive CT in genital samples. Results. Of the women, 9/128 (7.0%) were positive in the pharyngeal samples. None were exclusively positive in the pharynx. Three of 110 men (2.7%) had pharyngeal involvement. One man was positive in the pharynx as well as in the urine sample, and two men were exclusively pharyngeal CT positive. Conclusions. The finding of CT in the pharynx is not common in spite of the presence of a genital infection and a history of active oral sex.
Evaluation of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone agonist treatment for prevention of menstrual‐related attacks in acute porphyria
Authors: INNALA EVA , BÄCKSTRÖM TORBJÖRN , BIXO MARIE , ANDERSSON CHRISTER 
Published: December 2009

AbstractObjective. To describe the benefits and adverse effects of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist treatment for prevention of recurrent menstrual attacks in women with acute intermittent porphyria and variegate porphyria. To describe concomitant add‐back therapies with estradiol and progesterone and describe their benefits and adverse effects. Design. A retrospective follow‐up with questionnaires, interviews and medical records. Setting. Out‐patient care at the Umeå University Hospital in Sweden. Population. Sixteen Caucasian women with DNA‐diagnosed porphyria and menstrual‐cycle‐related porphyria attacks were treated with GnRH agonists during 1984–2000. Fourteen women participated. The mean age when treatment started was 33 years (17–48 years). The duration of treatment varied between 5 months and 9 years. Methods. GnRH agonists were administered by the intranasal route or by injections. To reduce menopausal symptoms, add‐back therapy with low doses of estradiol was administered, and for endometrial protection progesterone was usually administered. Main outcome measures. Treatment effects and adverse events as detected in questionnaires, interviews and medical records. Results. Eleven women reported benefits from GnRH agonist treatment with less intense and/or less frequent porphyria attacks, and in four of them attacks almost disappeared. Two women reported no change. One woman had only temporary improvement. Porphyria attacks were triggered by solely estradiol add‐back in two women and in five of nine women when progesterone was given. Conclusions. GnRH agonist treatment can ameliorate menstrual‐cycle‐related attacks of porphyria. Dose findings for GnRH agonists and add‐back regimes especially for progesterone are intricate.
Changed indications for cesarean sections
Authors: STJERNHOLM YLVA VLADIC , PETERSSON KARIN , ENEROTH EVA 
Published: December 2009

AbstractObjective. The aim of this study was to investigate the indications for cesarean sections in the early 1990s as compared to the middle 2000s. Design. Retrospective cohort study. Methods. Data were collected from original obstetrical records in a tertiary hospital in 1992 and 2005. Results. The total cesarean delivery rate rose from 11% to 20%. The main indications for an elective cesarean in 1992 were a pathological fetal lie or a uterine factor. The dominant indication for an elective cesarean in 2005 was a psychosocial indication defined as maternal fear of childbirth or maternal request without any co‐existing medical indication. Presumed fetal compromise and prolonged labor remained the main indications for urgent and emergency cesareans. No apparent alterations in population characteristics could be identified for these years. Conclusions. The increased rate of elective cesareans for psychosocial indications would reflect altered attitudes towards mode of delivery in the childbearing population and among obstetricians. We suggest that extended support from community antenatal care should be provided and that standardized keys aiding a physician in decision‐making procedures concerning the cesarean section practice should be developed.
Adhesives
Authors: Pocius Alphonsus , Campbell Christopher J. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractAn adhesive is a material used to join two or more other materials (often called adherends) by means of surface attachment to form a final assembly. In the simplest case, the assembly is called an adhesive joint or adhesive bond. Adhesives can be made from any material that displays the properties required for an adhesive. These properties include: adhesion (the ability to “surface attach”), the handling characteristics of the adhesive (so that it can be easily and economically applied to the adherends), the curing characteristics of the adhesive (if any), and the strength of the final assembly. In this article, we describe various chemistries that have been used to obtain the wide variety of adhesives that are available.Adhesives can be classified in many ways. In this article we they are classified loosely by strength. Thus, the article is divided into classes of adhesives that are based upon the strength of the joints that result from the use of these adhesives. The article will be divided into sections based upon the following classifications: market economics, adhesion, pressure sensitive adhesives, hot‐melt adhesives, solution‐based adhesives, structural adhesives and natural product based adhesives. This final class of adhesives is somewhat broader than the first four since it deals mainly with the source of the adhesive material rather than its strength.
Hydrogen‐Ion Activity
Authors: Durst Richard A. , Bates Roger G. 
Published: December 2009

Abstract
In a world in which most chemical and biological reactions occur in aqueous media, it it well recognized that the hydrogen ion is of fundamental importance. Hydrogen ions are involved in a wide variety of natural and industrial reactions, and the equilibrium position as well as the rates of these reactions are therefore dependent on hydrogen‐ion concentration. The hydrogen ion is more correctly termed hydronium ion. The hydrogen ion concentration or total acidity is obtained by titration and corresponds to the total concentration of hydrogen ions available in a solution. Two methods are used to determine pH:electrometirc and chemical indicator.The most common is electrometric and uses the the commercial pH meter with a glass electrode. The glass electrode is the hydrogen‐ion sensors in most pH measurement systems. This article gives details on the pH instrumentation and includes basic analyzers, microprocessor based pH analyzers, and smart analyzers. The indicator method is convenient when pH must be measured at room temperature with an accuracy of no greater than 0.5 pH. The measurement of pH is valuable as a leak detector, a measurement of concentration, reaction monitoring, and in industrial process control.
Superabsorbent Materials
Authors: Wang Aiqin , Wang Wenbo 
Published: December 2009

AbstractSuperabsorbent materials (SAMs) are hydrophilic polymer networks that can rapidly absorb water at amounts hundreds or even thousands times their own mass, and they can retain the absorbed water for a long time even under some pressure. Because of their excellent properties, SAMs are mainly used in disposable hygiene products as substitutes for traditional absorbents (cotton, sponge, wood pulp, and colloidal silica) and used in modern agriculture as water‐saving materials. Since the commercialization of the first SAM in 1978, the global yield and consumption of SAM was dramatically increased year by year, and the applications of such materials were also extended to other fields, such as wastewater treatment, medicine, construction, and sealing materials. Although SAMs are only decades old, they has developed into one of the most potential and prospective polymer materials in the market. Common SAMs are generally white sugar‐like hygroscopic materials, which can be classified as the following three types: starch‐based SAM, cellulose‐based SAM, and synthetic SAM. Today, the common commercial SAMs are cross‐linked sodium polyacrylate prepared through solution or inverse‐suspension polymerization techniques. In allusion to the drawbacks of currently prepared SAMs (including low salt‐resistance, high production cost, and poor gel strength), multiple kinds of raw materials and preparation methods were developed and adopted by manufacturers. Based on the above description, the development background, characteristics, chemical structures, type, physical and chemical properties of SAM, and the corresponding applied research works and future development prospects are introduced in this article.
Efficient Heterogeneous Dual Catalyst Systems for Alkane Metathesis
Authors: Huang Zheng , Rolfe Eleanor , Carson Emily C. , Brookhart Maurice , Goldman Alan S. , El‐Khalafy Sahar H. , MacArthur Amy H. Roy 
Published: December 2009

AbstractA fully heterogeneous and highly efficient dual catalyst system for alkane metathesis (AM) has been developed. The system is comprised of an alumina‐supported iridium pincer catalyst for alkane dehydrogenation/olefin hydrogenation and a second heterogeneous olefin metathesis catalyst. The iridium catalysts bear basic functional groups on the aromatic backbone of the pincer ligand and are strongly adsorbed on Lewis acid sites on alumina. The heterogeneous systems exhibit higher lifetimes and productivities relative to the corresponding homogeneous systems as catalyst/catalyst interactions and bimolecular decomposition reactions are inhibited. Additionally, using a “two‐pot” device, the supported Ir catalysts and metathesis catalysts can be physically separated and run at different temperatures. This system with isolated catalysts shows very high turnover numbers and is selective for the formation of high molecular weight alkanes.
Morphology of poly(ethylene terephthalate) blends: An analysis under real processing conditions by rheology and microscopy
Authors: Özen İlhan , Menceloǧlu Yusuf Zi̇ya 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThe present work describes the formation of co‐continuous phase morphologies in uncompatibilized and compatibilized poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)–poly(m‐xylene adipamide) (MXD6) and PET– poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl alcohol) (EVOH) melt‐extruded blends. Phase continuity has been determined by using the Jordhamo relationship. Viscosity values, which are essential for the calculation of the phase continuity, have been obtained by capillary rheometry. Thermal behavior of the blends has been analyzed by employing differential scanning calorimetry and phase continuity has been investigated for the noncompatibilized and the compatibilized blends by scanning electron microscopy. PET–MXD6 blends [92.35:7.65 (v/v) and 84.5:15.5 (v/v)] and PET–EVOH blends [73.63:26.37 (v/v)] exhibit droplet‐in‐matrix phase morphology, whereas uncompatibilized PET–MXD6 [75.8:24.2 (v/v)] blend has a combination of rod‐like, droplet–matrix structure, and quasi‐interpenetrating network structure. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 28:173–184, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/adv.20156
Improved compatibility of EVOH/LDPE blends by γ‐ray irradiation
Authors: Li Haihong , Yin Yuan , Liu Meihua , Deng Pengyang , Zhang Wanxi , Sun Jiazhen 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThe change of compatibility of poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl alcohol) (EVOH)/LDPE blends induced byγ‐ray radiation was studied. Gel extraction experiment results show that the gel fraction of blends increases linearly with the content of LDPE and reaches a maximum at 100 kGy, because neat EVOH is difficult to cross‐link by irradiation. A comparison of theoretical and experimental gel contents indicates that some EVOH molecular chains enter the LDPE gel network. The peak at 3363 cm−1 on the Fourier transform infrared spectrum of pure blend gel is assigned to typical stretching of an OH bond, which indicates that a “graft” reaction occurs in the interface between EVOH and LDPE phases during the irradiation process. Mechanical property measurement results support such a structural change. The tensile strength of cross‐linked blends increases with absorbed dose first, reaches a maximum value at 150 kGy, and then decreases with dose. A similar trend can also be observed in bending tests. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 28:192–198, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/adv.20160
Sea urchin embryos exposed to thalidomide during early cleavage exhibit abnormal morphogenesis later in development
Authors: Reichard‐Brown Jan L. , Spinner Hannah , McBride Katherine 
Published: December 2009

AbstractBACKGROUND: Clinical use of thalidomide has increased drastically, pushing the questions concerning the teratogenic mechanisms of this drug back to the forefront. Progress in understanding the teratogenic mechanisms has been slow, with the lack of non‐primate vertebrate animal models susceptible to the classic reduction deformities remaining a concern. Sea urchin embryos have been used as model organisms for developmental studies for the last century. Like vertebrates, they are deuterostomes and share similar developmental and signaling pathways suggesting they may be an effective system for thalidomide studies. Therefore, we tested sea urchin embryos to see if they were sensitive to the effects of thalidomide. METHODS: Sea urchin embryos were obtained using standard spawning and fertilization techniques. Thalidomide dissolved in DMSO was added to embryo cultures either at fertilization or during early cleavage. Samples of the embryos were evaluated during specific development stages. RESULTS: Lytechinus pictus embryos exposed to 400 µM thalidomide at fertilization or within a window during early cleavage (2–6 hours post‐fertilization) exhibit significant levels of abnormal embryos (60–82%) at the pluteus stage, compared to controls levels (≤10%). Strongylocentrotus purpuratus embryos exposed at initial fertilization or during early cleavage (2–6 hours post‐fertilization) exhibit similar responses with significant abnormal levels ranging from (55–70%) at pluteus stage. CONCLUSIONS: Both species of sea urchin tested were susceptible to thalidomide‐induced teratogenesis during cleavage (4–16 cell stages). This response during cleavage stages warrants further study and indicates that sea urchin embryos may prove to be a useful tool for studying thalidomide effects early in development. Birth Defects Res (Part B) 86:496–505, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Assessment of COMT isolation by HIC using a dual salt system and low temperature
Authors: Nunes V. S. , Bonifácio M. J. , Queiroz J. A. , Passarinha L. A. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractSodium citrate (SC) and low temperatures between 7 and 5°C are effective in suppressing aggregation of proteins and may be beneficial to be included during a purification process. In this work, we analyzed the application of dual salt system, ammonium sulfate (AS) and SC on binding and elution conditions of recombinant hSCOMT on typical HIC sorbents. Specifically in butyl and octyl supports, the use of, respectively, 300 mm AS/200 mm SC and 25 mm AS/25 mm SC in the loading buffer resulted in complete binding of COMT. Elution was obtained by decreasing the ionic strength to 0 M of salt. For the delineate goal, it also favorably increased the support chain length while a consequent decrease in the dual ionic strength was observed for hSCOMT retention. In the presence of dual salt systems octyl media exhibited classic HIC behavior, good protein selectivity, an excellent purification factor and reduced denaturation effects of hSCOMT observed with higher salt concentrations. Also the inclusion of temperature control during the elution step appears to be advantageous for greater activity recovery without enzyme aggregation. In fact, these results could allow the prediction of most stabilizing conditions for this termolabile enzyme on the chromatographic stage, regarding salt types and therefore effectiveness to improve HIC selectivity and desirable purity on the target fractions. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Trans‐septal closure of a right pulmonary artery to left atrial communication
Authors: Ramakrishnan Sivasubramanian , Shivdas Sunil , Kothari Shyam S. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractRight pulmonary artery–left atrial communication is a rare anomaly and is characterized by significant cyanosis and normal auscultation of the heart. Interventional closure of the fistula using occluder devices and coils have been rarely reported. We report an easy method of closure of the communication through trans‐septal approach using an Amplatzer duct occluder. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.