bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nitric oxide averts hypoxia‐induced damage during reoxygenation in rat heart
Authors: Rus Alma , Molina Francisco , Peinado M. Ángeles , Del Moral M. Luisa 
Published: April 2011

AbstractNitric oxide (NO), synthesized by the hemoproteins NO synthases (NOS), is known to play important roles in physiological and pathological conditions in the heart, including hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). This work investigates the role that endogenous NO plays in the cardiac H/R‐induced injury. A follow‐up study was conducted in Wistar rats subjected to 30 min of hypoxia, with or without prior treatment using the nonselective NOS inhibitor L‐NAME (1.5 mM). The rats were studied at 0 h, 12 h, and 5 days of reoxygenation, analysing parameters of cell, and tissue damage (lipid peroxidation, apoptosis, and protein nitration), as well as in situ NOS activity and NO production (NOx). The results showed that after L‐NAME administration, in situ NOS activity was almost completely eliminated in all the experimental groups, and consequently, NOx levels fell. Contrarily, the lipid peroxidation level and the percentage of apoptotic cells rose throughout the reoxygenation period. These results reveal that NOS inhibition exacerbates the peroxidative and apoptotic damage observed before the treatment with L‐NAME in the hypoxic heart, pointing to a cardioprotective role of NOS‐derived NO against H/R‐induced injury. These findings could open the possibility of future studies to design new therapies for H/R‐dysfunctions based on NO‐pharmacology. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐pLiss, Inc.
Assembly modes of dragonfly wings
Authors: Zhao Hong‐Xiao , Yin Ya‐Jun , Zhong Zheng 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThe assembly modes of dragonfly wings are observed through FEG‐ESEM. Different from airplane wings, dragonfly wings are found to be assembled through smooth transition mode and global package mode. First, at the vein/membrane conjunctive site, the membrane is divided into upper and lower portions from the center layer and transited smoothly to the vein. Then the two portions pack the vein around and form the outer surface of the vein. Second, at the vein/spike conjunctive site, the vein and spike are connected smoothly into a triplet. Last, at the vein/membrane/spike conjunctive site, the membrane (i.e., the outer layer of the vein) transits smoothly to the spike, packs it around, and forms its outer layer. In short, the membrane looks like a closed coat packing the wing as a whole. The smooth transition mode and the global package mode are universal assembly modes in dragonfly wings. They provide us the references for better understanding of the functions of dragonfly wings and the bionic manufactures of the wings of flights with mini sizes. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Termination Kinetics of 1‐Vinylpyrrolidin‐2‐one Radical Polymerization in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Schrooten Jens , Buback Michael , Hesse Pascal , Hutchinson Robin A. , Lacík Igor 
Published: April 2011

AbstractTermination kinetics of 1‐vinylpyrrolidin‐2‐one radical polymerization in aqueous solution has been studied at 40 °C between 20 and 100 wt.‐% VP. The <kt>/kpvalues from laser single‐pulse experiments with microsecond time‐resolved NIR detection of monomer conversion, in conjunction withkpfrom literature, yield chain‐length‐averaged termination rate coefficients, <kt>. Because of better signal‐to‐noise quality, experiments were carried out at 2 000 bar, but also at 1 500, 1 000, and 500 bar, thus allowing for estimates of <kt> at ambient pressure. The dependence of <kt> on monomer conversion indicates initial control by segmental diffusion followed by translational diffusion and finally reaction diffusion control. To assist the kinetic studies, viscosities of VP–water mixtures at ambient pressure have been determined.magnified image
The economic impact of cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Vossius Corinna , Larsen Jan P. , Janvin Carmen , Aarsland Dag 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBackground:We investigated to what extent cognitive impairment and dementia were related to the direct medical and nonmedical costs in Parkinson's disease.Methods:Sixty‐one patients with Parkinson's disease from a population‐based cohort were assessed for motor and cognitive symptoms in 1993, 1997, and 2001. Data on use of health care and social services were collected.Results:The costs of patients with dementia were 3.3 times higher (€34,980) than those of nondemented patients (€10,626) per year of survival. Institutional care was the largest cost factor, representing 67% of the costs. Cognitive functioning predicted direct costs by 29.4%. Cognitive decline was associated with increased costs, even in nondemented subjects.Conclusions:Our findings suggest that dementia has a substantial impact on direct costs in Parkinson's disease, mainly due to high costs for institutional care. In addition, there were indications that even patients with mild cognitive impairment have higher nonmedical costs. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
Cardiac autonomic denervation in Parkinson's disease is linked to REM sleep behavior disorder
Authors: Postuma Ronald B. , Montplaisir Jacques , Lanfranchi Paola , Blais Hélène , Rompré Sylvie , Colombo Roberto , Gagnon Jean‐François 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBackground:Recent studies have suggested a close connection between autonomic dysfunction and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, which differs in nature from other early‐stage markers of Parkinson's disease. In this study we examined the relationship between rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder and autonomic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease as measured by cardiac beat‐to‐beat variability.Methods:In 53 patients with Parkinson's disease and 36 controls, electrocardiographic trace from a polysomnogram was assessed for measures of beat‐to‐beat RR variability including RR‐standard deviation and frequency domains (low‐ and high‐frequency components). Results were compared between patients with Parkinson's disease and controls, and between patients with Parkinson's disease with and without rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder.Results:On numerous cardiac autonomic measures, patients with Parkinson's disease showed clear abnormalities compared with controls. However, these abnormalities were confined only to those patients with associated rapid eye movement sleep behavior; those without were not different than controls.Conclusions:As with other clinical autonomic variables, cardiac autonomic denervation is predominantly associated not with Parkinson's disease itself, but with the presence of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
Reward processing abnormalities in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Kapogiannis Dimitrios , Mooshagian Eric , Campion Paul , Grafman Jordan , Zimmermann Trelawny J. , Ladt Kelsey C. , Wassermann Eric M. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThe primary motor cortex is important for motor learning and response selection, functions that require information on the expected and actual outcomes of behavior. Therefore, it should receive signals related to reward. Pathways from reward centers to motor cortex exist in primates. Previously, we showed that gamma aminobutyric acid–A–mediated inhibition in the motor cortex, measured by paired transcranial magnetic stimulation, changes with expectation and uncertainty of money rewards generated by a slot machine simulation. We examined the role of dopamine in this phenomenon by testing 13 mildly affected patients with Parkinson's disease, off and on dopaminergic medications, and 13 healthy, age‐matched controls. Consistent with a dopaminergic mechanism, reward expectation or predictability modulated the response to paired transcranial magnetic stimulation in controls, but not in unmedicated patients. A single dose of pramipexole restored this effect of reward, mainly by increasing the paired transcranial magnetic stimulation response amplitude during low expectation. Levodopa produced no such effect. Both pramipexole and levodopa increased risk‐taking behavior on the Iowa Gambling Task. However, pramipexole increased risk‐taking behavior more in patients showing lower paired transcranial magnetic stimulation response amplitude during low expectation. These results provide evidence that modulation of motor cortex inhibition by reward is mediated by dopamine signaling and that the physiological state of the motor cortex changes with risk‐taking tendency in patients on pramipexole. The cortical response to reward expectation may represent an endophenotype for risk‐taking behavior in patients on agonist treatment. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
Adverse effects of concentrated green tea extracts
Authors: Schönthal Axel H. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractA myriad of health claims are being made in favor of the consumption of green tea. However, mostly due to the easy availability and greater than ever popularity of highly concentrated green tea extracts, sometimes combined with an attitude of more‐is‐better, certain health risks of green tea consumption have begun to emerge. Among such risks are the possibility of liver damage, the potential to interact with prescription drugs to alter their therapeutic efficacy, and the chance to cause harm when combined with other highly popular herbal remedies. This review will summarize documented examples of adverse effects of green tea in humans, and will discuss risks of copious consumption of highly concentrated green tea extracts as indicated by studies in animals. While there is no intention to minimize any of the scientifically established benefits of the use of green tea, the purpose of this review is to focus primarily on the potential for adverse effects and raise awareness of the rare, yet underappreciated risks.
Interaction of hydroxycinnamic acids and their conjugates with organic anion transporters and ATP‐binding cassette transporters
Authors: Wong Chi C. , Barron Denis , Orfila Caroline , Dionisi Fabiola , Krajcsi Peter , Williamson Gary 
Published: April 2011

AbstractScope: Hydroxycinnamic acids are abundant antioxidants in our diet. In humans, hydroxycinnamic acids are metabolized to form sulfates and glucuronides, with the majority recovered in urine.Methods and results: We assessed the potential roles of organic anion transporters (OATs) and ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporters in the renal uptake and efflux of hydroxycinnamic acid conjugates. Uptake studies using OAT1 (SLC22A6)‐, OAT2 (SLC22A7)‐, and OAT3 (SLC22A8)‐expressing 293H embryonic kidney cells showed that OAT1 and OAT3, but not OAT2, accepted hydroxycinnamic acid conjugates as substrates. OAT1 and OAT3 mediated the basolateral uptake of hydroxycinnamic acid sulfates and glucuronide conjugates, respectively. Hydroxycinnamic acid sulfates are substrates of OAT4 and were capable of trans‐stimulating 5‐carboxyfluorescein uptake mediated by OAT4. On the other hand, hydroxycinnamic acid conjugates are not substrates for the ABC transporters, multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2/ABCC2) or breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2), demonstrated by the inability to alter ATPase activity. Cis‐inhibition studies with OATs and MRPs revealed that hydroxycinnamic acid conjugates have limited impact on the transport of model substrates significantly at physiological concentrations.Conclusion: Concerted action of OAT1, OAT3, and OAT4 is involved in the elimination of hydroxycinnamic acid conjugates into urine, whereas MRP2 and breast cancer resistance protein are not involved in the disposition of these conjugates.
Green tea and breast cancer
Authors: Wu Anna H. , Butler Lesley M. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThe identification of modifiable lifestyle factors that could reduce the risk of breast cancer is a research priority. Despite the enormous chemopreventive potential of green tea and compelling evidence from animal studies, its role in breast cancer development in humans is still unclear. Part of the uncertainty is related to the relatively small number of epidemiological studies on green tea and breast cancer and that the overall results from case‐control studies and prospective cohort studies are discordant. In addition, the mechanisms by which green tea intake may influence risk of breast cancer in humans remain not well studied. We review the human studies that have evaluated the relationship between green tea intake and four biomarkers (sex steroid hormones, mammographic density, insulin‐like growth factor, adiponectin) that are believed to be important in breast cancer development. Results from these biomarker studies are also inconclusive. Limitations of observational studies and areas of further investigations are discussed.
Exercise training improves autonomic profiles in patients with Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease
Authors: El Mhandi Lhassan , Pichot Vincent , Calmels Paul , Gautheron Vincent , Roche Frédéric , Féasson Léonard 
Published: April 2011

AbstractIntroduction:The effect of an interval exercise training (ITE) program on heart rate variability (HRV) was studied in 8 patients with Charcot–Marie–Tooth (CMT) disease and 8 healthy controls.Methods:At baseline, all subjects underwent ambulatory 24‐hour Holter electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring to evaluate HRV. HRV analysis was repeated on CMT patients after they completed a 24‐week ITE program on a cycle ergometer.Results:Before exercise, all HRV indices were lower in patients compared with controls, and the difference reached statistical significance for pNN50 (percent of differences between adjacent R–R intervals exceeding 50 ms). After ITE, time‐ and frequency‐domain indices were significantly improved, particularly at night (+8% mean R–R interval, +95% pNN50, 52% reduction in low/high‐frequency ratio). We observed significant increases in some of the time and frequency parameters, and values sometimes exceeded those of controls at baseline.Conclusions:Our results suggest that ITE improves HRV modulation in CMT patients by enhancing parasympathetic activity. Muscle Nerve, 2011
Coupled modelling of hydro‐mechanical behaviour of unsaturated compacted expansive soils
Authors: Sun Wenjing , Sun De'an 
Published: April 2011

SUMMARYThe Barcelona basic model cannot predict the mechanical behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils, whereas the Barcelona expansive model (BExM) can only predict the stress–strain behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils without the water‐retention behaviour being incorporated. Moreover, the micro‐parameters and the coupling function between micro‐structural and macro‐structural strains in the BExM are difficult to determine. Experimental data show that the compression curves for non‐expansive soils under constant suctions are shifted towards higher void ratios with increasing suction, whereas the opposite is true for expansive soils. According to the observed water‐retention behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils, the air‐entry value increases with density, and the relationship between the degree of saturation and void ratio is linear at constant suction.According to the above observation, an elastoplastic constitutive model is developed for predicting the hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils, based on the existing hydro‐mechanical model for non‐expansive unsaturated soil. The model takes into consideration the effect of degree of saturation on the mechanical behaviour and that of void ratio on the water‐retention behaviour. The concept of equivalent void ratio curve is introduced to distinguish the plastic potential curve from the yield curve. The model predictions are compared with the test results of an unsaturated expansive soil, including swelling tests under constant net stress, isotropic compression tests and triaxial shear tests under constant suction. The comparison indicates that the model offers great potential for quantitatively predicting the hydraulic and mechanical behaviour of unsaturated expansive soils. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient modeling of localized material failure by means of a variationally consistent embedded strong discontinuity approach
Authors: Mosler J. , Stanković L. , Radulović R. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThis paper is concerned with a novel embedded strong discontinuity approach suitable for the analysis of material failure at finite strains. Focus is on localized plastic deformation particularly relevant for slip bands. In contrast to already existing models, the proposed implementation allows to consider several interacting discontinuities in each finite element. Based on a proper re‐formulation of the kinematics, an efficient parameterization of the deformation gradient is derived. It permits to compute the strains explicitly that improves the performance significantly. However, the most important novel contribution of the present paper is the advocated variational constitutive update. Within this framework, every aspect is naturally driven by energy minimization, i.e. all unknown variables are jointly computed by minimizing the stress power. The proposed update relies strongly on an extended principle of maximum dissipation. This framework provides enough flexibility for different failure types and for a broad class of non‐associative evolution equations. By discretizing the aforementioned continuous variational principle, an efficient numerical implementation is obtained. It shows, in addition to its physical and mathematical elegance, several practical advantages. For instance, the physical minimization principle itself specifies automatically and naturally the set of active strong discontinuities. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Combination testing of cediranib (AZD2171) against childhood cancer models by the pediatric preclinical testing program
Authors: Morton Christopher L. , Maris John M. , Keir Stephen T. , Gorlick Richard , Kolb E. Anders , Billups Catherine A. , Wu Jianrong , Smith Malcolm A. , Houghton Peter J. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractBackgroundCediranib (AZD2171) is a potent small molecule inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors. Cediranib has demonstrated single agent activity in several adult cancers and is being studied in combination with standard cytotoxic agents in multiple disease settings.ProceduresCediranib was tested in vivo against six childhood tumor xenograft models (four sarcomas, one glioblastoma, one neuroblastoma) alone or combined with cyclophosphamide (two models), vincristine (three models) or cisplatin (one model), each administered at its maximum tolerated dose, or rapamycin (six models).ResultsThe combination of cediranib with standard cytotoxic agents was superior to the cytotoxic agent used alone for a single xenograft (one of the three xenografts evaluated for the vincristine–cediranib combination). The cediranib–cyclophosphamide combination was inferior to single agent cyclophosphamide in time to event for both models studied and was significantly inferior for one of the models. Cediranib combined with rapamycin was superior to each of the agents used alone in two of the six models and was determined to be additive or supra‐additive with rapamycin in four models, although the effects were not large.ConclusionsCediranib combined with cytotoxic chemotherapy agents demonstrated little or no benefit (and in one case was significantly inferior) compared to chemotherapy alone for the six pediatric cancer xenografts studied. By contrast, the combination of cediranib with rapamycin was additive or supra‐additive in four of the six models in terms of prolongation of time to event, though tumor regressions were not observed for this combination. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012; 58: 566–571. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Near real‐time vaccine safety surveillance with partially accrued data
Authors: Greene Sharon K. , Kulldorff Martin , Yin Ruihua , Yih W. Katherine , Lieu Tracy A. , Weintraub Eric S. , Lee Grace M. 
Published: April 2011

ABSTRACTPurposeThe Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) Project conducts near real‐time vaccine safety surveillance using sequential analytic methods. Timely surveillance is critical in identifying potential safety problems and preventing additional exposure before most vaccines are administered. For vaccines that are administered during a short period, such as influenza vaccines, timeliness can be improved by undertaking analyses while risk windows following vaccination are ongoing and by accommodating predictable and unpredictable data accrual delays. We describe practical solutions to these challenges, which were adopted by the VSD Project during pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccine safety surveillance in 2009/2010.MethodsAdjustments were made to two sequential analytic approaches. The Poisson‐based approach compared the number of pre‐defined adverse events observed following vaccination with the number expected using historical data. The expected number was adjusted for the proportion of the risk window elapsed and the proportion of inpatient data estimated to have accrued. The binomial‐based approach used a self‐controlled design, comparing the observed numbers of events in risk versus comparison windows. Events were included in analysis only if they occurred during a week that had already passed for both windows.ResultsAnalyzing data before risk windows fully elapsed improved the timeliness of safety surveillance. Adjustments for data accrual lags were tailored to each data source and avoided biasing analyses away from detecting a potential safety problem, particularly early during surveillance.ConclusionsThe timeliness of vaccine and drug safety surveillance can be improved by properly accounting for partially elapsed windows and data accrual delays. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Proteomic characterization of the human sperm nucleus
Authors: de Mateo Sara , Castillo Judit , Estanyol Josep Maria , Ballescà José Luis , Oliva Rafael 
Published: April 2011

AbstractGenerating a catalogue of sperm nuclear proteins is an important first step towards the clarification of the function of the paternal chromatin transmitted to the oocyte upon fertilization. With this goal, sperm nuclei were obtained through CTAB treatment and isolated to over 99.9% purity without any tail fragments, acrosome or mitochondria as assessed by optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The nuclear proteins were extracted and separated in 2‐D and 1‐D gels and the 2‐D spots and 1‐D bands were excised and analysed to identify the proteins through LC‐MS/MS. With this approach, 403 different proteins have been identified from the isolated sperm nuclei. The most abundant family of proteins identified are the histones, for which several novel members had not been reported previously as present in the spermatogenic cell line or in the human mature spermatozoa. More than half (52.6%) of the proteins had not been detected in the previous human whole sperm cell proteome reports. Of relevance, several chromatin‐related proteins, such as zinc fingers and transcription factors, so far not known to be associated with the sperm chromatin, have also been detected. This provides additional information about the nuclear proteins that are potentially relevant for epigenetic marking, proper fertilization and embryo development.