bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Risk factors for diabetic retinopathy in self-reported rural population with diabetes
Authors: Rani PK , Raman R , Chandrakantan A , Pal SS , Perumal GM , Sharma T 
Published: June 2009

Background:
Diabetes and its related microvascular complications like diabetic retinopathy (DR) are showing increased prevalence in India. However, the magnitude of DR in rural population with diabetes needs exploration.

Aim:
To estimate the prevalence and risk factors for the presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy in the self-reported rural population with diabetes.

Settings and Design:
In a cross-sectional study, a total of 26,519 participants (age ≥ 30 years) attended 198 diabetic retinopathy screening camps conducted in three southern districts of Tamilnadu, India, between February 2004 and April 2006.

Materials and Methods:
All the participants underwent a dilated eye examination to detect DR by indirect ophthalmoscopy. Systemic and ocular risk factor estimation was done in a comprehensive examination.

Statistical Analysis:
Univariate and stepwise regression analyses were done to identify the independent risk factors associated with the presence and severity of retinopathy. Results: The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was 17.6% among the self-reported rural population with diabetes. The prevalence of referable (sight threatening) retinopathy was 5.3%. Risk factors associated with the development of any DR were male gender (OR= 1.37), longer duration of diabetes (per year, OR= 1.07), lean body mass index (OR= 1.30), higher systolic blood pressure (per 10 mm Hg, OR= 1.18), and insulin treatment (OR= 1.34; P < 0.0001). Risk factors associated with referable retinopathy included longer duration of diabetes (per year, OR= 1.22), lean body mass index (OR= 1.25), higher systolic blood pressure (per 10 mm Hg, OR= 1.03), and insulin treatment (OR= 1.36; P < 0.0001).

Conclusion:
The study identified risk factors associated with DR in the rural population with diabetes. The results suggested that there was a need for formulating effective preventive strategies to minimize avoidable blindness due to diabetes, in rural areas.
Clinical information in drug package inserts in India
Authors: Shivkar YM 
Published: June 2009

Background:
It is widely recognized that accurate and reliable product information is essential for the safe and effective use of medications. Pharmaceutical companies are the primary source of most drug information, including package inserts. Package inserts are printed leaflets accompanying marketed drug products and contain information approved by the regulatory agencies. Studies on package inserts in India, in 1996, had shown that crucial information was often missing and they lacked uniformity.

Aim:
To assess the presentation and completeness of clinically important information provided in the currently available package inserts in India.

Materials and Methods:
Package inserts accompanying allopathic drug products marketed by pharmaceutical companies in India were collected. These package inserts were analyzed for the content of clinically important information in various sections.

Statistical Analysis:
The results were expressed as absolute numbers and percentages. Results: Preliminary analyses revealed that most package inserts did contain information under headings, such as, therapeutic indications, contraindications, undesirable effects, etc., listed in the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules 1945. The findings indicated considerable improvement in package inserts since 1996. However, on critical evaluation it was revealed that clinically important information was not well presented and was often incomplete. Information with regard to pediatric and geriatric use was present in only 44% and 13% of the package inserts, respectively. Only five of the inserts had information on the most frequent adverse drug reactions associated with the drug. Also, information on interactions and overdosage was often missing.

Conclusion:
Although the package inserts appear to have improved over the past decade there is still a definite need to further refine the clinical information contained, to minimize the risks to patients. This could be brought about by self-regulation on the part of the industry as well as by updating the relevant guidelines in line with those of developed countries.
Medical education in Maharashtra
Authors: Hira RS , Gupta AK , Salvi VS , Ross MW 
Published: June 2009

Background:
There is hardly any structured study reporting the perspective of medical students, with regard to the medical education system in Maharashtra, which is facing challenges.

Aim:
A perception study of students was conducted to explore the situation, challenges, and consequent solutions of medical education in Maharashtra.

Settings and Design:
A descriptive perception study.

Materials and Methods:
A structured questionnaire was e-mailed to 92 students, and interviews with seven key-informants comprising of faculty, administrators, and policy makers were conducted, to gather qualitative insights. Results: Thirty-seven student replies were received and analyzed. The satisfaction level of student respondents for various factors was as follows: infrastructure 18/37 (48.6%), quality of teaching 14/37 (37.8%), patient population 22/37 (59.5%), and administration 8/37 (21.6%). Ninety-two percent (34/37) of the students stated that the fundamental problem was the inability of the system to attract good, quality teachers. The reasons stated were low salaries, low level of job satisfaction, high level of bureaucracy, and high work load.

Conclusions:
The medical education system in Maharashtra is viewed as being stagnant. The respondents emphasized an urgent need for educational reforms, which should include better compensation for teachers, sharing of facilities between government and private medical colleges, and improved efficiency of the Medical Council of India. In the long run a public-private mix with sharing of resources may be a plausible solution.
Declaration of Helsinki, 2008
Authors: Puri KS , Suresh KR , Gogtay NJ , Thatte UM 
Published: June 2009

The Declaration of Helsinki (DoH) was adopted by the World Medical Association (WMA) in 1964, as a statement of ethical principles, to provide guidance to physicians and other participants in medical research involving human subjects. Having undergone several amendments, the most recent version was approved on 18 October 2008, by the WMA General Assembly at Seoul, South Korea, replacing all previous versions. This version highlights issues such as, participant safety, the need to include participants from otherwise underrepresented groups, clinical trial registration, post-study access, usage of data and human tissues, compensating participants with research-related injury, and usage of placebo.
In this article, we discuss the major aspects of the 2008 version, including the impact of this version on all stakeholders in research, including, investigators, ethics committee members, sponsors, authors, editors, and reviewers.
Efficient Light‐Emitting Devices Based on Phosphorescent Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane Materials
Authors: Yang Xiaohui , Froehlich Jesse D. , Chae Hyun Sik , Li Sheng , Mochizuki Amane , Jabbour Ghassan E. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractSynthesis, photophysical, and electrochemical characterizations of iridium‐complex anchored polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) macromolecules are reported. Monochromatic organic light‐emitting devices based on these phosphorescent POSS materials show peak external quantum efficiencies in the range of 5–9%, which can be driven at a voltage less than 10 V for a luminance of 1000 cd m−2. The white‐emitting devices with POSS emitters show an external quantum efficiency of 8%, a power efficiency of 8.1 lm W−1, and Commission International de'lÉclairage coordinates of (0.36, 0.39) at 1000 cd m−2. Encouraging efficiency is achieved in the devices based on hole‐transporting and Ir‐complex moieties dual‐functionalized POSS materials without using host materials, demonstrating that triplet‐dye and carrier‐transporting moieties functionalized POSS material is a viable approach for the development of solution‐processable electrophosphorescent devices.
PbS and CdS Quantum Dot‐Sensitized Solid‐State Solar Cells: “Old Concepts, New Results”
Authors: Lee HyoJoong , Leventis Henry C. , Moon Soo‐Jin , Chen Peter , Ito Seigo , Haque Saif A. , Torres Tomas , Nüesch Frank , Geiger Thomas , Zakeeruddin Shaik M. , Grätzel Michael , Nazeeruddin Md. Khaja 
Published: June 2009

AbstractLead sulfide (PbS) and cadmium sulfide (CdS) quantum dots (QDs) are prepared over mesoporous TiO2 films by a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) process. These QDs are exploited as a sensitizer in solid‐state solar cells with 2,2′,7,7′‐tetrakis(N,N‐di‐p‐methoxyphenylamine)‐9,9′‐spirobifluorene (spiro‐OMeTAD) as a hole conductor. High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images reveal that PbS QDs of around 3 nm in size are distributed homogeneously over the TiO2 surface and are well separated from each other if prepared under common SILAR deposition conditions. The pore size of the TiO2 films and the deposition medium are found to be very critical in determining the overall performance of the solid‐state QD cells. By incorporating promising inorganic QDs (PbS) and an organic hole conductor spiro‐OMeTAD into the solid‐state cells, it is possible to attain an efficiency of over 1% for PbS‐sensitized solid‐state cells after some optimizations. The optimized deposition cycle of the SILAR process for PbS QDs has also been confirmed by transient spectroscopic studies on the hole generation of spiro‐OMeTAD. In addition, it is established that the PbS QD layer plays a role in mediating the interfacial recombination between the spiro‐OMeTAD+ cation and the TiO2 conduction band electron, and that the lifetime of these species can change by around 2 orders of magnitude by varying the number of SILAR cycles used. When a near infrared (NIR)‐absorbing zinc carboxyphthalocyanine dye (TT1) is added on top of the PbS‐sensitized electrode to obtain a panchromatic response, two signals from each component are observed, which results in an improved efficiency. In particular, when a CdS‐sensitized electrode is first prepared, and then co‐sensitized with a squarine dye (SQ1), the resulting color change is clearly an addition of each component and the overall efficiencies are also added in a more synergistic way than those in PbS/TT1‐modified cells because of favorable charge‐transfer energetics.
Synthesis and Structure–Property Relations of a Series of Photochromic Molecular Glasses for Controlled and Efficient Formation of Surface Relief Nanostructures
Authors: Walker Roland , Audorff Hubert , Kador Lothar , Schmidt Hans‐Werner 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThis paper reports on the synthesis and properties of a new series of photochromic molecular glasses and their structure–property relations with respect to a controlled and efficient formation of surface relief nanostructures. The aim of the paper is to establish a correlation between molecular structure, optical susceptibility, and the achievable surface relief heights. The molecular glasses consist of a triphenylamine core and three azobenzene side groups attached via an ester linkage. Structural variations are performed with respect to the substitution at the azobenzene moiety in order to promote a formation of a stable amorphous phase and to tune absorption properties and molecular dynamics. Surface relief gratings (SRGs) and complex surface patterns can easily be inscribed via holographic techniques. The modulation heights are determined with an equation adapted from the theory for thin gratings, and the values are confirmed with AFM measurements. Temperature‐dependent holographic measurements allow for monitoring of SRG build‐up and decay and the stability at elevated temperatures, as well as determination of the glass transition temperature. SRG modulation heights of above 600 nm are achieved. These are the highest values reported for molecular glasses to date. The surface patterns of the molecular glasses are stable enough to be copied in a replica molding process. It is demonstrated that the replica can be used to transfer the surface pattern onto a common thermoplastic polymer.
Influence of Dielectric Surface Chemistry on the Microstructure and Carrier Mobility of an n‐Type Organic Semiconductor
Authors: Dhagat Parul , Haverinen Hanna M. , Kline R. Joseph , Jung Youngsuk , Fischer Daniel A. , DeLongchamp Dean M. , Jabbour Ghassan E. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThis paper examines the microstructure evolution of 3,4,9,10‐perylene‐tetracarboxylic bis‐benzimidazole (PTCBI) thin films resulting from conditions imposed during film deposition. Modification of the silicon dioxide interface with a hydrophobic monolayer (octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS‐18)) alters the PTCBI growth habit by changing the unit cell contact plane. PTCBI films deposited on oxide surface have an orientation of (011), while films atop OTS‐treated oxide surface have a preferred orientation of (001). The quality of the self assembled monolayer does not appear to influence the PTCBI growth preference significantly yet it enhances the carrier mobility, suggesting that charge traps are adequately passivated due to uniform monolayer coverage. High‐quality monolayers result in n‐type carrier mobility values of 0.05 cm2V–1s–1 Increasing the substrate temperature during PTCBI film deposition correlates with an increase in mobility that is most significant for films deposited on OTS‐treated surface.
Improving the Hydrogen Reaction Kinetics of Complex Hydrides
Authors: Yang Jun , Hirano Shinichi 
Published: June 2009

AbstractAlanates, borohydrides, and amides are complex hydrides with high concentration hydrogen that have been actively investigated for materials‐based hydrogen storage on‐board polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) vehicle applications. The major challenge is to release hydrogen at fuel cell working temperature range at fast enough rate without simultaneous desorption of fuel cell poisoning impurities. We review recent progress in hydrogen reaction mechanism and schemes for complex hydride hydrogen storage.
Controlled Growth Factor Delivery for Tissue Engineering
Authors: Tayalia Prakriti , Mooney David J. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractGrowth factors play a crucial role in information transfer between cells and their microenvironment in tissue engineering and regeneration. They initiate their action by binding to specific receptors on the surface of target cells and the chemical identity, concentration, duration, and context of these growth factors contain information that dictates cell fate. Hence, the importance of exogenous delivery of these molecules in tissue engineering is unsurprising, considering their importance for tissue regeneration. However, the short half‐lives of growth factors, their relatively large size, slow tissue penetration, and their potential toxicity at high systemic levels, suggest that conventional routes of administration are unlikely to be effective. In this review, we provide an overview of the design criteria for growth factor delivery vehicles with respect to the growth factor itself and the microenvironment for delivery. We discuss various methodologies that could be adopted to achieve this localized delivery, and strategies using polymers as delivery vehicles in particular.
Advanced Material Strategies for Tissue Engineering Scaffolds
Authors: Freed Lisa E. , Engelmayr George C. , Borenstein Jeffrey T. , Moutos Franklin T. , Guilak Farshid 
Published: June 2009

AbstractTissue engineering seeks to restore the function of diseased or damaged tissues through the use of cells and biomaterial scaffolds. It is now apparent that the next generation of functional tissue replacements will require advanced material strategies to achieve many of the important requirements for long‐term success. Here, we provide representative examples of engineered skeletal and myocardial tissue constructs in which scaffolds were explicitly designed to match native tissue mechanical properties as well as to promote cell alignment. We discuss recent progress in microfluidic devices that can potentially serve as tissue engineering scaffolds, since mass transport via microvascular‐like structures will be essential in the development of tissue engineered constructs on the length scale of native tissues. Given the rapid evolution of the field of tissue engineering, it is important to consider the use of advanced materials in light of the emerging role of genetics, growth factors, bioreactors, and other technologies.
Theoretical studies on structural and electrical properties of PES/SPEEK blend nanofiltration membrane
Authors: Ismail A. F. , Lau W. J. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractPolyethersulfone (PES) nanofiltration membranes were prepared using a simple dry‐jet wet spinning technique with different contents of sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) ranging from 0 to 4 wt %. The structural parameters (rp and Ak/Δx) and electrostatic properties (ξ and X) of the blend membranes were deduced by employing the combination of irreversible thermodynamic model, steric hindrance pore (SHP) model, and Teorell‐Meyer‐Sievers (TMS) model. The modeling results obtained have been analyzed and discussed. The mean pore radius and pore size distribution of the blends were also determined based on the theoretical models. The results showed that pore radius increased with increasing the concentration of SPEEK from 0 to 2 wt % but decreased with a further increase in SPEEK content. The water flux, however, showed a systematically increase with increasing SPEEK content. The SPEEK also showed significant effect on membrane electrical properties. Both effective charge density and ratio of effective charge density to electrolyte solution increased with increasing concentration of SPEEK in the dope solution, reaching a value of −21.02 and −2.29, respectively. The pore radius which was determined by using different transport models has also been analyzed and discussed. It is found that the addition of SPEEK into dope solution is one of the paramount parameters in developing the negatively charged nanofiltration membrane with enhanced water flux while retaining the pore radius in the nanometer range. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009
A phase II study of 5‐day intravenous azacitidine in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Martin Mike G. , Walgren Richard A. , Procknow Elizabeth , Uy Geoffrey L. , Stockerl‐Goldstein Keith , Cashen Amanda F. , Westervelt Peter , Abboud Camille N. , Kreisel Frederieke , Augustin Kristan , DiPersio John F. , Vij Ravi 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThe approved 7‐day schedule of subcutaneous azacitidine for myelodysplastic syndrome is associated with injection site reactions and bruising and may be inconvenient because of the need for weekend doses. Although pharmacokinetic data with IV azacitidine suggests equivalence, there are no efficacy data published. Patients with all myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) FAB subtypes were enrolled and received 75 mg/m2/d of azacitidine by 20‐min intravenous infusion for 5 days in every 28 days. Global methylation studies were performed at baseline and prior to Cycle 3. Twenty‐five patients were enrolled and 22 were evaluable. Median age was 69.5 years; 9 (41%) patients had lower‐risk disease (IPSS Low or Int‐1) and 13 (59%) had higher‐risk disease (IPSS Int‐2 or High). Twenty‐seven percent of patients responded (5 CRs and 1 PR). The median time to response was 108 days. The median PFS was 339 days (11.3 months), the median OS was 444 days (14.8 months) and the median duration of response (DOR) was 450 days (15.0 months). Global methylation studies suggest a greater degree of demethylation in responders. This regimen appeared to offer a PR + CR rate and median DOR somewhat similar to what has been reported with the 7‐day subcutaneous regimen; however, OS was shorter. Am. J. Hematol. 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Association analyses between brain‐expressed fatty‐acid binding protein (FABP) genes and schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
Authors: Iwayama Yoshimi , Hattori Eiji , Maekawa Motoko , Yamada Kazuo , Toyota Tomoko , Ohnishi Tetsuo , Iwata Yasuhide , Tsuchiya Kenji J. , Sugihara Genichi , Kikuchi Mitsuru , Hashimoto Kenji , Iyo Masaomi , Inada Toshiya , Kunugi Hiroshi , Ozaki Norio , Iwata Nakao , Nanko Shinichiro , Iwamoto Kazuya , Okazaki Yuji , Kato Tadafumi , Yoshikawa Takeo 
Published: June 2009

AbstractDeficits in prepulse inhibition (PPI) are a biological marker for psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. To unravel PPI‐controlling mechanisms, we previously performed quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis in mice, and identified Fabp7, that encodes a brain‐type fatty acid binding protein (Fabp), as a causative gene. In that study, human FABP7 showed genetic association with schizophrenia. FABPs constitute a gene family, of which members FABP5 and FABP3 are also expressed in the brain. These FABP proteins are molecular chaperons for polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids. Additionally, the involvement of PUFAs has been documented in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and mood disorders. Therefore in this study, we examined the genetic roles of FABP5 and 3 in schizophrenia (N = 1,900 in combination with controls) and FABP7, 5, and 3 in bipolar disorder (N = 1,762 in the case–control set). Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from FABP7 showed nominal association with bipolar disorder, and haplotypes of the same gene showed empirical associations with bipolar disorder even after correction of multiple testing. We could not perform association studies on FABP5, due to the lack of informative SNPs. FABP3 displayed no association with either disease. Each FABP is relatively small and it is assumed that there are multiple regulatory elements that control gene expression. Therefore, future identification of unknown regulatory elements will be necessary to make a more detailed analysis of their genetic contribution to mental illnesses. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mono‐, bis‐ and tris‐piperidine fused imidazolinium salts: their in situ catalytic applications for CC bond formation in aqueous solutions
Authors: Türkmen Hayati , Can Rahime , Çetinkaya Bekir 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThe 1,5,6,7,8,8a‐hexahydroimidazo[1,5‐a]pyridine, 3, was quaternized with 2‐(bromomethyl‐1,3,5‐trimethylbenzene, 1,4‐bis(bromomethyl)‐2,3,5,6‐tetramethylbenzene, 2,4‐bis(bromomethyl)‐1,3,5‐trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5‐tris(bromomethyl)‐2,4,6‐trimethylbenzene and 1,3,5‐tris(bromomethyl)‐2,4,6‐triethylbenzene to obtain mono‐, bis‐ and tris‐imidazolinium salts (4–7) which were characterized by elemental analysis and NMR spectroscopy. In order to understand the effects of these changes on the N‐substituent and how they translate to catalytic activity, these new salts (4–7) with Pd(OAc)2 were applied as in situ catalysts for Suzuki‐Miyaura and Heck‐Mirozoki cross‐coupling reactions of aryl chlorides and aryl bromides, respectively. The tris‐imidazolinium salts (7) were found to be more efficient than the related analogs 4–6. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.