bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lipase‐Catalyzed Kinetic Resolution of 2‐Phenylethanol Derivatives and Chiral Oxa‐Pictet–Spengler Reaction as the Key Steps in the Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure Tricyclic Amines
Authors: Ketterer Christian , Wünsch Bernhard 
Published: March 2012

AbstractA series of 5,6,7,8,9,10‐hexahydro‐5,9‐epoxybenzocycloocten‐6‐amines have been synthesized and pharmacologically evaluated in receptor binding studies (σ1, σ2, NMDA, κ, and μ receptors). The first key step of the synthesis was a chiral oxa‐Pictet–Spengler reaction with enantiomerically pure 2‐phenylethanol derivatives (S)‐ and (R)‐14. After transformation of the dimethylamide 18 into the ester 19, the tricyclic system 20 was established by Dieckmann cyclization reaction. Finally, amino moieties were introduced diastereoselectively into the 6‐position by reductive amination and SN2 reaction. The enantiomerically pure building blocks (S)‐14 (>99.0 % ee) and (R)‐14 (98.4 % ee) were synthesized by enantioselective acetylation of racemic alcohol 14 catalyzed by Pseudomonas fluorescens lipase and enantioselective hydrolysis of racemic acetate 16 catalyzed by Candida rugosa lipase. The absolute configurations were determined by theoretical calculations of the specific optical rotation and CD spectra, as well as by X‐ray crystal structure analysis of (S,S,S)‐25 by the three‐beam interference method. Although enantiomerically pure dimethylamines (S,R,S)‐ and (R,S,R)‐29 with an axial amino moiety showed low‐to‐moderate affinity towards σ1 and σ2 receptors, a promising σ2 affinity (Ki = 2.9 μM) was found for (S,S,S)‐24 with an equatorially oriented dimethylamino group.
A lattice Boltzmann method for viscous free surface waves in two dimensions
Authors: Zhao Zhuangming , Huang Ping , Li Yineng , Li Junmin 
Published: March 2012

SUMMARYWe propose a new method based on the combination of the lattice Boltzmann equation (LBE) and the kinematic boundary condition (KBC) method to simulate viscous free surface wave in two dimensions. In our method, the flow field is modeled by LBE, whereas the free surface is explicitly tracked by the local height function, which is calculated by the KBC method. The free surface boundary condition (FSBC) for LBE is revised from previous researches. Interpolation‐supplemented lattice Boltzmann (ISLB) method is introduced, which enables our approach to be applied on arbitrary, nonuniform mesh grids. Five cases are simulated respectively to validate the LBE–KBC method: the stationary flow and the solitary waves simulated by the revised‐FSBC are more accurate than the one obtained by the former‐FSBC; numerical results of standing waves show that our method is compatible to the existing two‐dimensional finite‐volume scheme; cases of small amplitude Stokes wave and waves traveling over a submerged bar show good agreement on wave celerity, wavelength, wave amplitude and wave period between numerical results and corresponding analytical solutions and/or experiment data.Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A pilot study of yogic meditation for family dementia caregivers with depressive symptoms: effects on mental health, cognition, and telomerase activity
Authors: Lavretsky H. , Epel E.S. , Siddarth P. , Nazarian N. , Cyr N. St. , Khalsa D.S. , Lin J. , Blackburn E. , Irwin M.R. 
Published: March 2012

BackgroundThis study examined the effects of brief daily yogic meditation on mental health, cognitive functioning, and immune cell telomerase activity in family dementia caregivers with mild depressive symptoms.MethodsThirty‐nine family dementia caregivers (mean age 60.3 years old (SD = 10.2)) were randomized to practicing Kirtan Kriya or listening to relaxation music for 12 min per day for 8 weeks. The severity of depressive symptoms, mental and cognitive functioning were assessed at baseline and follow‐up. Telomerase activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBC) was examined in peripheral PBMC pre‐intervention and post‐intervention.ResultsThe meditation group showed significantly lower levels of depressive symptoms and greater improvement in mental health and cognitive functioning compared with the relaxation group. In the meditation group, 65.2% showed 50% improvement on the Hamilton Depression Rating scale and 52% of the participants showed 50% improvement on the Mental Health Composite Summary score of the Short Form‐36 scale compared with 31.2% and 19%, respectively, in the relaxation group (p < 0.05). The meditation group showed 43% improvement in telomerase activity compared with 3.7% in the relaxation group (p = 0.05).ConclusionThis pilot study found that brief daily meditation practices by family dementia caregivers can lead to improved mental and cognitive functioning and lower levels of depressive symptoms. This improvement is accompanied by an increase in telomerase activity suggesting improvement in stress‐induced cellular aging. These results need to be confirmed in a larger sample. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
NF‐κB inhibition significantly upregulates the norepinephrine transporter system, causes apoptosis in pheochromocytoma cell lines and prevents metastasis in an animal model
Authors: Pacak Karel , Sirova Marta , Giubellino Alessio , Lencesova Lubomira , Csaderova Lucia , Laukova Marcela , Hudecova Sona , Krizanova Olga 
Published: March 2012

AbstractPheochromocytomas (PHEOs) and paragangliomas (PGLs) are specific types of neuroendocrine tumors that originate in the adrenal medulla or sympathetic/parasympathetic paraganglia, respectively. Although these tumors are intensively studied, a very effective treatment for metastatic PHEO or PGL has not yet been established. Preclinical evaluations of novel therapies for these tumors are very much required. Therefore, in this study we tested the effect of triptolide (TTL), a potent nuclear factor‐kappaB (NF‐κB) inhibitor, on the cell membrane norepinephrine transporter (NET) system, considered to be the gatekeeper for the radiotherapeutic agent 131I‐metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I‐MIBG). We measured changes in the mRNA and protein levels of NET and correlated them with proapoptotic factors and metastasis inhibition. The study was performed on three different stable PHEO cell lines. We found that blocking NF‐κB with TTL or capsaicin increased both NET mRNA and protein levels. Involvement of NF‐κB in the upregulation of NET was verified by mRNA silencing of this site and also by using NF‐κB antipeptide. Moreover, in vivo treatment with TTL significantly reduced metastatic burden in an animal model of metastatic PHEO. The present study for the first time shows how NF‐κB inhibitors could be successfully used in the treatment of metastatic PHEO/PGL by a significant upregulation of NET to increase the efficacy of 131I‐MIBG and by the induction of apoptosis.
Serum DNA methylation for monitoring response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients
Authors: Avraham Ayelet , Uhlmann Ronit , Shperber Aino , Birnbaum Miriam , Sandbank Judith , Sella Avishay , Sukumar Saraswati , Evron Ella 
Published: March 2012

AbstractPatients with large or nonoperable breast cancers often receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy to facilitate full resection of the tumor and enable conservation of the breast. However, currently available methods for evaluation of response during therapy are limited and the actual effect of the treatment is only recognized at surgery upon completion of chemotherapy. Timely assessment of response could allow individual tailoring of the treatment and save noneffective drugs and unnecessary toxicity. Here, we suggest that tumor derived DNA methylation in the serum may reflect changes in tumor burden and allow early recognition of responders versus nonresponders. In this pilot study, we collected 7 consecutive serum samples from 52 patients with locally advanced breast cancer during neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We selected RASSF1, which was methylated in more than 80% of the tumors, for serum analysis. Using the “methylation sensitive PCR and high resolution melting,” we detected RASSF1 methylation in the serum of 21 patients prior to therapy. In four patients who achieved complete pathological response, RASSF1 methylation in the serum became undetectable early during therapy. In contrast, in 17 patients that had partial or minimal pathological response, serum RASSF1 methylation persisted longer or throughout the treatment (complete versus partial response p = 0.02). These findings support further development of this assay for monitoring response during neoadjuvant therapy.
Quantum dots hold promise for early cancer imaging and detection
Authors: Pericleous Pericles , Gazouli Maria , Lyberopoulou Anna , Rizos Spyros , Nikiteas Nikolaos , Efstathopoulos Efstathios P 
Published: March 2012

AbstractDespite all major breakthroughs in recent years of research concerning the complex events that lead to cancer expression and metastasis, we are not yet able to effectively treat cancer that has spread to vital organs. The various clinical phases originating from cancer diagnosis through treatment and prognosis require a comprehensive understanding of these events, to utilise pre‐symptomatic, minimally invasive and targeted cancer management techniques. Current imaging modalities such as ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and gamma scintigraphy facilitate the pre‐operative study of tumours, but they have been rendered unable to visualise cancer in early stages, due to their intrinsic limitations. The semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots (QDs) have excellent photo‐physical properties, and the QDs‐based probes have achieved encouraging developments in cellular (in vitro) and in vivo molecular imaging. However, the same unique physical and chemical properties which renowned QDs attractive may be associated with their potentially catastrophic effects on living cells and tissues. There are critical issues that need to be further examined to properly assess the risks associated with the manufacturing and use of QDs in cancer management. In this review, we aim to describe the current utilisation of QDs as well as their future prospective to decipher and confront cancer.
Peak and time‐integrated shear rates independently predict flow‐mediated dilation
Authors: Stoner Lee , McCully Kevin K. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractBackground:To determine whether peak and time‐integrated shear rates independently predict flow‐mediated dilation (FMD).Methods:Eleven physically active (25±5 years old) male subjects were tested. FMD was defined as the shear rate‐diameter relationship. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to estimate brachial artery diameter change with repeated measures of shear rate nested within each subject. Two models were tested: 1) FMD was induced using ischemia‐induced hyperemia (2, 4, 6, and 10 minutes); and 2) FMD was induced following transient (ischemia) and steady‐state (forearm heating and handgrip exercise) increases in shear rate. For both models we determined whether peak, in addition to time‐integrated shear rates, explained a significant portion of variation for diameter change.Results:Model 1: Time integrated shear rates explained most of the variation for diameter change. However, peak shear rate explained an additional significant portion of variation. Model 2: The transient condition resulted in significantly (p = 0.012) smaller diameter change per shear rate change than the steady‐state condition. However, when specifying peak shear rate as a covariate, the difference between conditions became nonsignificant (p = 0.138).Conclusions:Peak and time‐integrated shear rates independently predict FMD. Future studies using the FMD test should consider both parameters. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2012;
Planning and designing the care transitions innovation (C‐Train) for uninsured and Medicaid patients
Authors: Englander Honora , Kansagara Devan 
Published: March 2012

AbstractBACKGROUND:Uninsured and Medicaid patients are particularly vulnerable as they transition from hospital to home. Transitional care improvement programs require time and capital, incentives for which may be unclear for those lacking a third‐party payor. This article describes our experience developing a hospital‐funded transitional care program for uninsured and Medicaid patients.METHODS:We performed an inpatient needs assessment, convened multi‐stakeholder work groups, and engaged institutional change‐agents to inform program development and a business case.RESULTS:We mapped needs to specific program elements, including a transitional care nurse, pharmacy consult and provision of medications for uninsured patients, medical home linkages including community payment for medical homes, and monthly quality improvement meetings. A business case was informed by local needs and utilization data, and compelled the hospital to invest in up‐front resources for this population.DISCUSSION:We are studying our program's impact on 30‐day readmission and emergency department rates through a clustered, randomized controlled trial. Lessons from our experience may be useful to others aiming to improve care for socioeconomically disadvantaged patients. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2012; © 2012 Society of Hospital Medicine
Standardized AP radiographs do not provide reliable diagnostic measures for the assessment of acetabular retroversion
Authors: Wassilew Georgi I. , Heller Markus O. , Diederichs Gerd , Janz Viktor , Wenzl Markus , Perka Carsten 
Published: March 2012

AbstractDiagnosis of acetabular retroversion is essential in femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), but its assessment from radiographs is complicated by pelvic tilt and the two‐dimensional nature of plain films. We performed a study to validate the diagnostic accuracy of the cross‐over sign (COS) and the posterior wall sign (PWS) in identifying acetabular retroversion. COS and PWS were evaluated from radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans as the standard of reference in 50 hips of subjects with symptoms of FAI. A CT‐based method using three‐dimensional (3D) models was developed to measure the COS, PWS, true acetabular version, and pelvic tilt relative to the anterior pelvic plane. The new CT‐based method aimed to eliminate errors resulting from variations in the position and orientation of the pelvis during imaging. A low level of agreement for COS and PWS was found between radiographs and CT scans. A positive COS strongly correlated with pelvic tilt. These results suggest that COS and PWS determined from anteroposterior radiographs are considerably limited by pelvic tilt and inherent limitations of radiographs. Their use as the sole basis for deciding whether or not surgical intervention is indicated seems questionable. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:1369–1376, 2012
The natural compound Alizarin as an osteotropic drug for the treatment of bone tumors
Authors: Fotia Caterina , Avnet Sofia , Granchi Donatella , Baldini Nicola 
Published: March 2012

AbstractDespite significant clinical improvements, conventional therapies for bone cancer treatment are limited by significant systemic toxicity and lack of specific targeting. In this study, we considered Alizarin, a natural hydroxyanthraquinone derived from madder root with high affinity to calcium and remarkable osteotropic features, as a novel approach for bone cancer treatment. Due to its antitumor properties, as demostrated in colon cancer cells, and to its tropism to bone, Alizarin may be an ideal drug to reduce bone tumor growth. We demonstrated that low dosages of Alizarin strongly inhibited the osteosarcoma (IC50 for Saos‐2, MG‐63, and U‐2 OS cells, 27.5, 29.0, and 69.9 µg/ml, respectively) and breast carcinoma (IC50 for MDA‐MB‐231 cells, 62.1 µg/ml) cell proliferation in vitro. Importantly, Alizarin had a significantly lower inhibitory activity on normal cells (IC50 for MSC, 828.6 µg/ml), thereby revealing a selective activity towards malignant cells. Furthermore, we found that Alizarin acted through the inhibition of ERK phosphorylation and cell cycle arrest in the S‐phase. Finally, Alizarin significantly and strongly impaired both osteosarcoma and breast cancer tumorigenesis. Our results highlight a selective and effective inhibitory activity of Alizarin towards cancerous cells, laying the basis for further studies to investigate its application in bone cancer therapy. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:1486–1492, 2012
Neural‐differentiated mesenchymal stem cells incorporated into muscle stuffed vein scaffold forms a stable living nerve conduit
Authors: Hassan Nur Hidayah , Sulong Ahmad Fadzli , Ng Min‐Hwei , Htwe Ohnmar , Idrus Ruszymah B. H. , Roohi Sharifah , Naicker Amaramalar S. , Abdullah Shalimar 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAutologous nerve grafts to bridge nerve gaps have donor site morbidity and possible neuroma formation resulting in development of various methods of bridging nerve gaps without using autologous nerve grafts. We have fabricated an acellular muscle stuffed vein seeded with differentiated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a substitute for nerve autografts. Human vein and muscle were both decellularized by liquid nitrogen immersion with subsequent hydrolysis in hydrochloric acid. Human MSCs were subjected to a series of treatments with a reducing agent, retinoic acid, and a combination of trophic factors. The differentiated MSCs were seeded on the surface of acellular muscle tissue and then stuffed into the vein. Our study showed that 35–75% of the cells expressed neural markers such as S100b, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), p75 NGF receptor, and Nestin after differentiation. Histological and ultra structural analyses of muscle stuffed veins showed attachment of cells onto the surface of the acellular muscle and penetration of the cells into the hydrolyzed fraction of muscle fibers. We implanted these muscle stuffed veins into athymic mice and at 8 weeks post‐implantation, the acellular muscle tissue had fully degraded and replaced with new matrix produced by the seeded cells. The vein was still intact and no inflammatory reactions were observed proving the biocompatibility and biodegradability of the conduit. In conclusion, we have successfully formed a stable living nerve conduit which may serve as a substitute for autologous nerves. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:1674–1681, 2012
Memory Interference as a Determinant of Language Comprehension
Authors: Van Dyke Julie A. , Johns Clinton L. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe parameters of the human memory system constrain the operation of language comprehension processes. In the memory literature, both decay and interference have been proposed as causes of forgetting; however, while there is a long history of research establishing the nature of interference effects in memory, the effects of decay are much more poorly supported. Nevertheless, research investigating the limitations of the human sentence processing mechanism typically focus on decay‐based explanations, emphasizing the role of capacity, while the role of interference has received comparatively little attention. This paper reviews both accounts of difficulty in language comprehension by drawing direct connections to research in the memory domain. Capacity‐based accounts are found to be untenable, diverging substantially from what is known about the operation of the human memory system. In contrast, recent research investigating comprehension difficulty using a retrieval‐interference paradigm is shown to be wholly consistent with both behavioral and neuropsychological memory phenomena. The implications of adopting a retrieval‐interference approach to investigating individual variation in language comprehension are discussed.
Cardiac arterial spin labeling using segmented ECG‐gated Look‐Locker FAIR: Variability and repeatability in preclinical studies
Authors: Campbell‐Washburn Adrienne E. , Price Anthony N. , Wells Jack A. , Thomas David L. , Ordidge Roger J. , Lythgoe Mark F. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractMRI is important for the assessment of cardiac structure and function in preclinical studies of cardiac disease. Arterial spin labeling techniques can be used to measure perfusion noninvasively. In this study, an electrocardiogram‐gated Look‐Locker sequence with segmented k‐space acquisition has been implemented to acquire single slice arterial spin labeling data sets in 15 min in the mouse heart. A data logger was introduced to improve data quality by: (1) allowing automated rejection of respiration‐corrupted images, (2) providing additional prospective gating to improve consistency of acquisition timing, and (3) allowing the recombination of uncorrupted k‐space lines from consecutive data sets to reduce respiration corruption. Finally, variability and repeatability of perfusion estimation within‐session, between‐session, between‐animal, and between image rejection criteria were assessed in mice. The criterion used to reject images from the T1 fit was shown to affect the perfusion estimation. These data showed that the between‐animal coefficient of variability (24%) was greater than the between‐session variability (17%) and within‐session variability (11%). Furthermore, the magnitude of change in perfusion required to detect differences was 30% (within‐session) and 55% (between‐session) according to Bland‐Altman repeatability analysis. These technique developments and repeatability statistics will provide a platform for future preclinical studies applying cardiac arterial spin labeling. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Muscle fiber velocity and electromyographic signs of fatigue in fibromyalgia
Authors: Klaver‐KrÓl Ewa G. , Rasker Johannes J. , Henriquez Nizare R. , Verheijen Wilma G. , Zwarts Machiel J. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractIntroduction: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disorder of widespread muscular pain. We investigated possible differences in surface electromyography (sEMG) in clinically unaffected muscle between patients with FM and controls. Methods: sEMG was performed on the biceps brachii muscle of 13 women with FM and 14 matched healthy controls during prolonged dynamic exercises, unloaded, and loaded up to 20% of maximum voluntary contraction. The sEMG parameters were: muscle fiber conduction velocity (CV); skewness of motor unit potential (peak) velocities; peak frequency (PF) (number of peaks per second); and average rectified voltage (ARV). Results: There was significantly higher CV in the FM group. Although the FM group performed the tests equally well, their electromyographic fatigue was significantly less expressed compared with controls (in CV, PF, and ARV). Conclusion: In the patients with FM, we clearly showed functional abnormalities of the muscle membrane, which led to high conduction velocity and resistance to fatigue in electromyography. Muscle Nerve 46: 738–745, 2012
Moth‐eye antireflection coating fabricated by nanoimprint lithography on 1 eV dilute nitride solar cell
Authors: Tommila Juha , Aho Arto , Tukiainen Antti , Polojärvi Ville , Salmi Joel , Niemi Tapio , Guina Mircea 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACTWe report on the performance of biomimicked antireflection coating applied to dilute nitride solar cell. The coating consists of nanostructures replicating the moth‐eye geometry and has been fabricated by nanoimprint lithography directly within the window layer covering the dilute nitride absorbing junction. The mean reflectivity within the spectral range of 320–1800 nm remains under 5% for incident angles up to 45°. The effect of the coating on the cell performance was assessed by measuring the current–voltage characteristics under simulated solar illumination. A clear performance increase was identified when comparing a solar cell with the moth‐eye coating with a solar cell having a standard SiNx/SiO2 coating. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.