bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stent Grafts for Thoracic Aortic Pathology: Single-Center Experience in Western Australia
Authors: Velu Ramesh B. , Halak Moshe , Muhlmann Mark , Baker Steve 
Published: February 2011

The purpose of this article is to report a single-center experience in treating thoracic aortic pathology with stent grafts. This is a retrospective review of cases done within a period of 30 months. Between January 2002 and May 2004, 12 patients were treated in our institution with thoracic stent grafts ( n = 12) for various clinical conditions. There were seven men and five women. Three patients required emergency treatment ( n = 3), two for aortic transection and one for iatrogenic injury during lung biopsy. Others were treated electively ( n = 9). All patients were high risk for open surgery. There was one perioperative death, with a patient with multiple trauma succumbing to head injury 4 weeks after stent graft insertion. There was no incidence of paraplegia. Three patients underwent bypass surgery in the neck to achieve an adequate proximal seal zone prior to stent grafting. One patient with an aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta required an extension limb below the original graft for an increase in sac size, possibly owing to endotension. Renal failure occurred in one patient and resolved without dialysis. One patient died 18 months after her procedure, possibly owing to aneurysm expansion. Stent grafts are a viable alternative to open surgery for thoracic aortic pathology in high-risk individuals. Visceral and spinal cord ischemia is less prevalent with stent grafts compared with open surgery. The short-term results are promising. Long-term follow-up is awaited. Stent grafts might have greater impact in the thoracic aorta than the abdominal aorta for which they were initially developed.
Erratum: Modeling Critical Ground-Motion Sequences for Inelastic Structures (Vol. 13, 665–679, 2010)
Authors: Moustafa Abbas , Takewaki Izuru 
Published: February 2011

In Equations (5), (6), (7) and (9–11), the term wijt + (i – 1) T should be replaced with wij{t – (i – 1) T} and the term t + (i – 1) T with t – (i – 1)T. The envelope function shown in Figure 3 should be replaced with Figure 1 below for the two time periods 0 ⩽ t ⩽ T and T ⩽ t ⩽ 2T. [Figure: see text]
Provision of Primary Care to Patients with Chronic Cough in the Community Pharmacy Setting
Authors: Schneider Carl R , Everett Alan W , Geelhoed Elizabeth , Kendall Peter A , Murray Kevin , Garnett Peter , Salama Mariam , Clifford Rhonda M 
Published: February 2011

Background: Community pharmacies are at the forefront of primary care providers and have an important role in the referral of patients to a medical practitioner for review when necessary. Chronic cough is a common disorder in the community and requires medical assessment. The proficiency of community pharmacy staff to refer patients with chronic cough is currently unknown. Objective: To assess the ability of community pharmacy staff to recognize and medically refer patients with a chronic nonproductive cough. Methods: Following ethics approval, a simulated patient study of 156 community pharmacies in Perth, Western Australia, was conducted over a 3-month period. Simulated patients presented to the pharmacy requesting treatment for a cough. The simulated patient required a referral based on a designated scenario. Demographic details, assessment questions, and advice provided were recorded by the simulated patient immediately postvisit. A logistic regression analysis was performed, with referral for medical assessment as the dependent variable. Results: Of the 155 community pharmacies included in the analysis, 38% provided appropriate medical referral. Cough suppressants were provided as therapy in 72% of all visits. Predictors of medical referral were assessment of symptom duration, medical history, current medications being taken, frequency of reliever use, and the position of the pharmacy staff member conducting the consultation. A third of community pharmacies provided appropriate primary care by recommending medical referral advice to patients with chronic cough. The majority of pharmacy staff members acquired information from the patient that suggested a need for medical referral, yet did not provide referral advice. Conclusions: Appropriate medical referral is more likely when adequate assessment is undertaken and when a pharmacist is directly involved in the consultation. This highlights the need for pharmacies to ensure that processes are in place for patients to access the pharmacist.
Medical Utilization and Costs Associated with Statin Adherence in Medicaid Enrollees with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Wu Jun , Seiber Eric , Lacombe Veronique A , Nahata Milap C , Balkrishnan Rajesh 
Published: February 2011

Background: Statin adherence is a serious problem in patients with hyperlipidemia. However, it is not clear whether statin adherence is associated with medical utilization or health-care costs. Objective: To study statin adherence and assess associated medical utilization and health-care costs in patients with type 2 diabetes, based on a national Medicaid database. Methods: A retrospective claims-based study was conducted using the records of patients with type 2 diabetes with comorbid hyperlipidemia who were continuously enrolled in Medicaid from January 2004 to December 2006. All data were drawn from MarketScan Medicaid Database, including inpatient, outpatient, and drug claims. The eligible patients starting statins in 2005 were followed for 1 year to measure medication use, hospitalization, outpatient visits, emergency department (ED) visits, and health-care costs based on Medicaid medical and drug claims. Adherence was measured by medication possession ratio (MPR). Multiple regression analyses were implemented to assess statin adherence–associated outcomes, including medical utilization (risks for hospitalization and ED visits), all-cause costs, and hyperlipidemia-related medical costs. Results: A total of 1705 eligible patients with type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia were identified. The average adherence rate to statins (MPR) at 1 year was 0.61, and 37% of the patients (n = 624) were adherent to statins (MPR ≥0.8). Regression analyses indicated that diabetic patients who were adherent to statins showed lower risks for hospitalization (OR 0.80; 95% CI 0.636 to 0.966) and ED visits (OR 0.71; 95% CI 0.519 to 0.812) and decreased all-cause medical costs by 15% (p < 0.05) and hyperlipidemia-related medical costs by 12% (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our study found high prevalence of nonadherence to statins in Medicaid patients with type 2 diabetes. Adherence to statins (MPR ≥0,8) was associated with reduced medical utilization and lower medical costs.
Maternal Serum Visfatin at 11–13 Weeks of Gestation in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Ferreira Ana Fatima A , Rezende Juliana C , Vaikousi Eirini , Akolekar Ranjit , Nicolaides Kypros H 
Published: February 2011

BACKGROUNDVisfatin and adiponectin are produced by adipose tissue and have opposite effects on insulin resistance. Circulating concentrations of these biomarkers are altered in type 2 diabetes mellitus. We sought to examine the potential value of maternal serum visfatin and adiponectin concentrations in early pregnancy as potential biomarkers in the prediction of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).METHODSThis work was a case-control study of 100 women who developed GDM and 300 nondiabetic controls. Maternal serum visfatin and adiponectin were measured between 11 and 13 weeks of gestation. Regression analysis in the nondiabetic group was performed to examine the maternal characteristics affecting the serum concentrations of visfatin and adiponectin. Likelihood ratios for GDM were calculated for visfatin and adiponectin, and performance of screening was assessed by using ROC curve analysis.RESULTSIn the GDM group compared with the nondiabetic group, the median maternal serum visfatin concentration was increased (1.34 multiples of the median [MoM], interquartile range [IQR] 0.70–2.87, vs 1.00 MoM, IQR: 0.53–1.92; P = 0.004) and serum adiponectin was decreased (0.66 MoM, IQR 0.50–0.92, vs 1.01, IQR 0.70–1.29; P &lt; 0.0001). In screening for GDM by a combination of maternal factors and serum adiponectin and visfatin, the estimated detection rate was 68.0% (95% CI 58.3–76.3%), at a false-positive rate of 10%.CONCLUSIONSAt 11–13 weeks in pregnancies that develop GDM, the serum concentration of adiponectin is decreased and visfatin is increased, and these biomarkers can be combined with maternal factors to provide effective early screening for GDM.
Two common genetic variants near nuclear-encoded OXPHOS genes are associated with insulin secretion in vivo
Authors: Olsson Anders H , Rönn Tina , Ladenvall Claes , Parikh Hemang , Isomaa Bo , Groop Leif , Ling Charlotte 
Published: February 2011

ContextMitochondrial ATP production is important in the regulation of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Genetic factors may modulate the capacity of the β-cells to secrete insulin and thereby contribute to the risk of type 2 diabetes.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify genetic loci in or adjacent to nuclear-encoded genes of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway that are associated with insulin secretion in vivo.Design and methodsTo find polymorphisms associated with glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, data from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 1467 non-diabetic individuals, including the Diabetes Genetic Initiative (DGI), was examined. A total of 413 single nucleotide polymorphisms with a minor allele frequency ≥0.05 located in or adjacent to 76 OXPHOS genes were included in the DGI GWAS. A more extensive population-based study of 4323 non-diabetics, the PPP-Botnia, was used as a replication cohort. Insulinogenic index during an oral glucose tolerance test was used as a surrogate marker of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Multivariate linear regression analyses were used to test genotype–phenotype associations.ResultsTwo common variants were identified in the DGI, where the major C-allele of rs606164, adjacent to NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) 1 subunit C2 (NDUFC2), and the minor G-allele of rs1323070, adjacent to cytochrome c oxidase subunit VIIa polypeptide 2 (COX7A2), showed nominal associations with decreased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (P=0.0009, respective P=0.003). These associations were replicated in PPP-Botnia (P=0.002 and P=0.05).ConclusionOur study shows that genetic variation near genes involved in OXPHOS may influence glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vivo.
Incretin-Related Therapies in Type 2 Diabetes: A Practical Overview
Authors: Robertson Carolyn 
Published: February 2011

Progressive deterioration of the incretin system has been shown to be a key component of the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes. Improved understanding of the physiology underlying incretins has led to the development of new therapies that act through modulation of the incretin system. These agents offer some potential advantages over previous antidiabetes drugs and have been approved for use in type 2 diabetes.
There are two broad classes of incretin-related therapies: dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (sitagliptin and saxagliptin) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (exenatide and liraglutide). Although the two classes have some benefits in common—notably a low risk of hypoglycemia—they can be differentiated in terms of their pharmacology, efficacy and safety profiles, and clinical considerations.
Introducing new therapies into everyday clinical use requires careful consideration of the practical implications of their use and how they fit in with current treatment regimens. With regard to incretin-related therapies, some patients with type 2 diabetes may benefit more from their use than others, whereas their use in a small subset of patients with type 2 diabetes should be avoided. With appropriate provider and patient education about the potential benefits and practicalities of incretin-related therapies, these agents should prove to be a valuable resource in type 2 diabetes management.
Assessment of river water quality in the South Baltic coast by multivariate techniques
Authors: Cieszynska Monika , Wesolowski Marek , Bartoszewicz Maria , Michalska Malgorzata 
Published: February 2011

Abstract
The paper presents an example of using multivariate techniques to interpret a large data set obtained during a 4-year water quality monitoring program in the Gdansk Municipality region, on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea. From 2004 to 2007, 11 physicochemical water parameters were analyzed monthly at 15 sites within eight watercourses. Principal-components analysis and cluster analysis were used to explore the data. Spatio-temporal trends in water quality were evaluated, the variables that determined the data set’s structure and the factors that affected the water’s physicochemical composition identified, with the goal of helping to optimize future monitoring. To reduce the number of analyzed variables, relationships between the analyzed parameters were also identified. The results revealed that the differences in physicochemical water properties among stations were generally smaller than those between the warmer and cooler seasons. It was determined that seasonal intrusions of brackish water from the Gulf of Gdansk can modify the water properties of some watercourses in the study area, but that dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand, and total phosphorus were the main parameters responsible for the overall variation in the observed data. These parameters are related to pollution of anthropogenic origin.
Preparation of polymer based sorbents for solid phase extraction of polyphenolic compounds
Authors: Qureshi Muhammad , Stecher Guenther , Huck Christian , Bonn Guenther 
Published: February 2011

Abstract
This article discusses the preparation of different polymeric sorbents for solid phase extraction. Various monomers like acrylamide, methacrylic acid and 4-vinylpyridine (VP), cross-linkers such as divinylbenzene (DVB) and ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate (EDMA), porogens like tetrahydrofuran (THF) and dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) / acetonitrile (ACN) with different ratios were investigated in order to optimize recoveries. Resulting polymers were characterized through scanning electron microscope (SEM) and compared with Oasis HLB (Waters, MA, USA) and Strata-X (Phenomenex, Torrance, USA) on the basis of extraction performance, recovery efficiency and loading capacity. Sample applied was a mixture of flavonoid standards (rutin, myricetin, luteolin, quercetin, apigenin and kaempferol). HPLC hyphenated with PDA was used for the analysis of samples. Results showed that among the prepared SPE materials, 4-VP-co-EDMA produced best results. Comparison of the produced polymers with of Oasis HLB and Strata-X resulted in comparable efficiencies; especially the polymer 4-VP-co-EDMA gave almost similar results for all analytes to those of commercially available SPE materials. A general trend of decrease in retention efficiency with increase in polarity has been observed in both synthesized and already available SPE materials. The newly synthesized polymeric materials can be employed as SPE sorbents for efficient extraction of polyphenolic compounds especially for flavonoid aglycons.
The determination of molybdenum in selected mushrooms by stripping voltammetry
Authors: Piech Robert , Niewiara Ewa , Paczosa-Bator Beata , Szlósarczyk Marek 
Published: February 2011

Abstract
The highly sensitive method of adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV), with differential pulse steps, was performed at a mercury film electrode and has been applied here for the determination of trace molybdenum content in selected wild mushrooms. Fruiting body caps of 12 selected macrofungi species from Basidiomycetes have been investigated. Molybdenum content of investigated samples was determined in the range of 0.006 to 0.38 mg kg−1 of dry matter. The highest value of molybdenum content was found in Leccinum rufum and the lowest in Lactarius deliciosus.
Major elements as possible factors of trace element urban pedochemical anomalies
Authors: Zinkutė Rimantė , Taraškevičius Ričardas , Želvys Tomas 
Published: February 2011

Abstract
The relationship between real total contents of the major elements Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, K, Ca, Ti, Fe and the trace elements Ag, As, B, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, V, U, Zn in topsoil from the central part of Vilnius is analysed. The amounts of most elements were determined by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence, while amounts of Ag, B, Co were measured by optical atomic emission spectrophotometry. Two factors were distinguished according to major elements: anthropogenic (A) including Ca, Mg, Fe, P, S and clayey (C) including K, Al, Ti. Boron, Mn, Cr and U are significantly correlated with members of both factors, Sb with none of them and other trace elements either with all (Cu, Zn, Pb, Se, Ba, Ni, Co) or with separate (V, Ag, Sn, Mo, As) members of the A-factor. Only B, Mn, Cr, U (partly their additive index Z1) are influenced by the C-factor, while twelve other trace elements (also their additive index Z2) are influenced by the A-factor. The additive index Z of all 17 elements is also affected by the A-factor. Four groups of sites have been distinguished according to normal or higher contents of both factors. The majority of trace element anomalies are related to the sites affected by the A-factor.
Increased vegetative development and sturdiness of storekeeper-transgenic tobacco
Authors: Bömer Moritz , Uhrig Joachim , Jach Guido , Müller Kai 
Published: February 2011

Abstract
The STOREKEEPER (STK) family of DNA-binding proteins work as transcription factors and the ectopic expression of two stk-like genes from Arabidopsis thaliana, stk01 (At1g61730) and stk03 (At4g00238), in tobacco increased the number of vegetative internodes and promoted plant and leaf size, stem diameter and sturdiness. The development of these plants started with rosette formation while pronounced shoot elongation and flowering was delayed. Moreover, when the STK01 and STK03 proteins were fused to the Herpes Simplex Virus VP16 transcriptional activation domain and expressed in tobacco the vigorous storekeeper-phenotype did not appear indicating that transgenic STK-like proteins in part worked as repressors of tobacco reproductive development. Furthermore, Yeast Two-Hybrid screenings proved that STK01 and STK03 can form homodimers and heterodimers with further members of the STKlike family. Therefore, we assume that interactions between transgenic Arabidopsis STKs and resident tobacco STKs could have contributed to the observed developmental changes in transgenic tobacco. Our findings open up promising applications for overexpression of stk-like genes in crops that benefit from increased sturdiness and vegetative organ development, such as tobacco in molecular farming approaches, biomass-based energy crops and medicinal plants that produce bioactive compounds in leaves.
Magnesium substitution effect on porous scaffolds for bone repair
Authors: Craciunescu Oana , Tardei Christu , Moldovan Lucia , Zarnescu Otilia 
Published: February 2011

Abstract
Of great interest in developing artificial bone is the incorporation of magnesium (Mg) ions into the ceramic lattice in order to improve the physico-chemical and structural properties of the material and to increase its morphological affinity towards newly formed osseous tissue. In the present study, we evaluated the morphological and biological properties of composite scaffolds fabricated by mixing a nanopowder of Mg-substituted beta-tricalcium phosphate with collagen type I in two dry weight ratios (variant I and II). We used biochemical methods, and electron and light microscopy to investigate their porosity, biodegradability and morphology. Osteoblast cell culture behavior in the presence of nanocomposite variants was also examined. Variant I scaffold presented a higher percentage of cross-links and a better resistance to collagenase degradation compared to variant II scaffold. Their porosity did not vary significantly. Osteoblasts cultivated in the presence of nanocomposite scaffolds for 72 h exhibited good cell viability and a normal morphology. When osteoblasts were injected into the scaffolds, a slightly higher proportion of adhered cells were observed for Mg-substituted samples after 7 days of cultivation. All these results showed that Mg-containing porous composite scaffolds had controlled degradation, allowed osteoblast proliferation and adhesion and are good candidates for bone repair.
The mitochondria mediate the induction of NOX1 gene expression by aldosterone in an ATF-1-dependent manner
Authors: Fu Yanping , Shi Gang , Wu Yong , Kawai Yasuyuki , Tian Qing , Yue Linlin , Xia Qinjie , Miyamori Isamu , Fan Chunyuan 
Published: February 2011

AbstractHigh aldosterone (Ald) levels can induce hypertrophy of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), which carries high risks of heart failure. A previous study showed that Ald induces hypertrophy of VSMCs by up-regulating NOX1, a catalytic subunit of NADPH oxidase that produces superoxides. However, the precise mechanism remains unknown. Diphenylene iodonium (DPI) is known as an inhibitor of complex I in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, and it was also found to almost completely suppress the induction of NOX1 mRNA and the phosphorylation of activating transcription factor (ATF-1) by PGF2α or PDGF in a rat VSMC cell line. In this study, we found that the Ald-induced phosphorylation of ATF-1 and NOX1 expression was significantly suppressed by DPI. Silencing of ATF-1 gene expression attenuated the induction of NOX1 mRNA expression, and over-expression of ATF-1 restored Ald-induced NOX1 expression. On the basis of this data, we show that the mitochondria mediate aldosterone-induced NOX1 gene expression in an ATF-1-dependent manner.
Enantioselective extraction of terbutaline enantiomers with β-cyclodextrin derivatives as hydrophilic selectors
Authors: Tang Kewen , Zhang Panliang 
Published: February 2011

AbstractHydrophilic β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and its derivatives are not soluble in organic liquids but they are highly soluble in water and can interact with enantiomers selectively to form diastereomeric complexes which enable their use as chiral selectors in chiral solvent extraction. In this paper, terbutaline enantiomers were extracted by hydrophilic β-CD derivatives in an aqueous/organic biphasic solvent system with racemic terbutaline in the organic phase and β-CD in the aqueous phase. Five β-CD derivatives, namely: methyl-β-cyclodextrin (Me-β-CD), hydroxyethyl-β-cyclodextrin (HE-β-CD), 2-hydroxyethyl-β-cyclodextrin (2-HE-β-CD), (2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) and (4-sulfobutylether)-β-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD) were used as hydrophilic selectors, respectively. Process variables affecting extraction efficiency were investigated, namely influence of the type of organic solvents and β-CD derivatives, concentrations of selectors and terbutaline enantiomers, pH, and temperature. Experimental results show that the efficiency of extraction depends, often strongly, on process variables. All five β-CD derivatives studied preferentially extract the more biologically active (R)-terbutaline from the organic phase; HP-β-CD has the strongest recognition ability. The maximum enantioselectivity (α) of 1.42 was achieved under optimal conditions: pH 7.0 and temperature of 5°C. Utilization of the extraction method for separation of terbutaline enantiomers is expected to be cheap and easy to scale up to commercial scale.