bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Human intervertebral disc internal strain in compression: The effect of disc region, loading position, and degeneration
Authors: O'Connell Grace D. , Vresilovic Edward J. , Elliott Dawn M. 
Published: October 2010

AbstractThe primary function of the disc is mechanical; therefore, degenerative changes in disc mechanics and the interactions between the annulus fibrosus (AF) and nucleus pulposus (NP) in nondegenerate and degenerate discs are important to functional evaluation. The disc experiences complex loading conditions, including mechanical interactions between the pressurized NP and the surrounding fiber‐reinforced AF. Our objective was to noninvasively evaluate the internal deformations of nondegenerate and degenerate human discs under axial compression with flexion, neutral, and extension positions using magnetic resonance imaging and image correlation. The side of applied bending (e.g., anterior AF in flexion) had higher tensile radial and compressive axial strains, and the opposite side of bending exhibited tensile axial strains even though the disc was loaded under axial compression. Degenerated discs exhibited higher compressive axial and tensile radial strains, which suggest that load distribution through the disc subcomponents are altered with degeneration, likely due to the depressurized NP placing more of the applied load directly on the AF. The posterior AF exhibited higher compressive axial and higher tensile radial strains than the other AF regions, and the strains were not correlated with degeneration, suggesting this region undergoes high strains throughout life, which may predispose it to failure and tears. In addition to understanding internal disc mechanics, this study provides important new data into the changes in internal strain with degeneration, data for validation of finite element models, and provides a technique and baseline data for evaluating surgical treatments. © 2010 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29: 547–555, 2011
Osteocyte apoptosis is mechanically regulated and induces angiogenesis in vitro
Authors: Cheung Wing‐Yee , Liu Chao , Tonelli‐Zasarsky Rachel M.L. , Simmons Craig A. , You Lidan 
Published: October 2010

AbstractOsteocyte apoptosis, associated with reduced interstitial fluid flow, precedes osteoclast precursor recruitment and may aid in the delivery of osteoclast precursors to the remodeling site by promoting angiogenesis. To test the association between fluid flow and osteocyte apoptosis, osteocyte‐like MLO‐Y4 cells were subjected to either oscillatory fluid flow (10 dynes/cm2, 1 Hz) or no flow conditions with or without TNF‐α treatment to induce osteocyte apoptosis chemically. Flow protected osteocytes from apoptosis regardless of whether they were treated with TNF‐α (p < 0.001) or not (p < 0.05). TNF‐α‐induced apoptotic and nonapoptotic osteocyte conditioned media were used to study the effect of osteocyte apoptosis on angiogenesis. Apoptotic osteocyte conditioned media caused more endothelial cell proliferation (p < 0.05) and migration (p < 0.05), and tubule networks with longer (p < 0.01) and more (p < 0.001) branches than nonapoptotic osteocyte conditioned media. Apoptotic osteocyte conditioned media contained more vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) than nonapoptotic osteocyte conditioned media (p < 0.05). VEGF concentrations found in apoptotic osteocyte conditioned media formed endothelial tubule networks with longer (p < 0.05) and more (p < 0.02) branches than VEGF concentrations in nonapoptotic osteocyte conditioned media. Blocking VEGF in apoptotic osteocyte conditioned media abolished tubule formation effects (p < 0.001). Our results suggest that osteocyte apoptosis is flow‐regulated and promotes angiogenesis in a VEGF‐mediated manner. © 2010 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29:523–530, 2011
Improving methods of resident selection
Authors: Prager Jeremy D. , Myer Charles M. , Hayes Kay M. , Myer Charles M. , Pensak Myles L. 
Published: October 2010

AbstractObjectives:Applying the concept of the ACGME general competencies, it is possible to define the essential job objectives and competencies of a junior otolaryngology resident. The objective of this study is to incorporate commercially available tools of business in the identification of competencies specific to the junior otolaryngology resident and develop behavioral‐based interview questions and techniques designed to identify these qualities in candidates for residency.Study Design:Institution of a pilot program involving a focus group within an otolaryngology department, a professional development consultant, commercial business software for occupational analysis and personnel selection, and an interview technique training seminar for faculty and residents.Methods:In coordination with a university‐based professional development consultant, a formal job analysis was conducted to define the job objectives and competencies of a junior otolaryngology resident. These results were used to generate behavioral‐based interview questions for use in the resident selection process. All interviewing faculty and residents were trained in behavioral‐based interviewing.Results:Occupational objectives for the junior resident position specific to a particular university department of otolaryngology were identified. Additionally, the essential skills, areas of knowledge, and competencies were identified. Behavioral‐based questions specific to the competencies were created and incorporated into the current resident selection interview.Conclusions:Using tools of occupational analysis and personnel selection, a list of job objectives and competencies for the junior otolaryngology resident can be created. Using these results, behavioral‐based interviews may be implemented to complement traditional interviews with the ultimate goal of improving candidate selection. Laryngoscope, 2010
Exostoses of the paranasal sinuses
Authors: Ramakrishnan Jeevan B. , Pirron Jose A. , Perepletchikov Aleksandr , Ferguson Berrylin J. 
Published: October 2010

AbstractWhile bony exostoses of the external auditory canal have long been recognized as a complication of cold‐water swimming, bony exostoses of the paranasal sinuses have not been previously reported. We present an unusual case of multiple exostoses of the paranasal sinuses, which began coincident with nasal irrigation with cold gentamicin solution. The patient had had prior endoscopic sinus surgery. Topical antibiotic gentamicin irrigation lessened recurrence of bacterial sinus episodes. He admitted to using the irrigation directly from the refrigerator daily for two years. A biopsy was consistent with exostosis. Patients should be counseled to avoid irrigating their paranasal sinuses with cold irrigants. Laryngoscope, 2010
In vivo neurochemistry of primary focal hand dystonia: A magnetic resonance spectroscopic neurometabolite profiling study at 3T
Authors: Herath Priyantha , Gallea Cecile , van der Veen Jan Willem , Horovitz Silvina G. , Hallett Mark 
Published: October 2010

AbstractThe neurochemical basis of dystonia is unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess the differences of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, gamma amino butyric acid (GABA), in the sensorimotor cortex and the basal ganglia using magnetic resonance spectroscopy with optimized GABA sensitivity. Twenty‐two patients with focal hand dystonia and 22 healthy controls were studied. No significant differences in GABA were observed between the groups in either the sensorimotor cortex or in the basal ganglia. © Movement Disorder Society.
Outcome of Chinese children with unrelated donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Chen Jing , Lim ZiYi , Luo Cheng‐Juan , Jiang Hua , Luo Chang‐Ying , Tang Jing‐yan , Wang Yao‐ping , Gu Long‐jun 
Published: October 2010

AbstractBackgroundTo evaluate the prognostic factors and outcomes in Chinese children undergoing unrelated donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (UDT).MethodsRetrospective analysis of clinical data from 53 consecutive children who received UDT from November 2002 to December 2007 in our center.ResultsThe median recipient age was 8.4 years (range 1.5–21). With a median follow‐up of 36 months (range 18–80), the probability of 3‐year overall survival (OS) was 71.5%. Treatment‐related mortality (TRM) was 19.0%, and 9.5% died after post‐transplant leukemia relapse. Incidence of grades I–II, III–IV acute and chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD) was 63%, 29%, and 46%. There was significant difference in OS between patients older or younger than 10 years (50.0% vs. 84.8%, P = 0.003), patients with different underlying diseases (ALL, AML, CML, and non‐malignant disease: 36.4%, 80.0%, 61.5%, and 100%, P = 0.001) and patients receiving either HLA 0–1 versus 2–3 loci high‐resolution mismatched UDT (83.3% vs. 53.3%, P = 0.034). The OS was not affected by the stem cell source (peripheral stem cell 70.3%, bone marrow 87.5% vs. cord blood 62.5%, P = 0.542) or the severity of acute GVHD (grade 0–II 77.8% vs. grade III–IV 60.0%, P = 0.140).ConclusionsThe important prognostic factors for OS after UDT were the degree of HLA match, the age of patient and the type of underlying disease. Patients <10‐year with non‐malignant disease receiving 0–1 locus high‐resolution mismatched UDT had the most favorable outcomes. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010;55:1386–1392. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
KIR receptor‐ligand incompatibility predicts killing of osteosarcoma cell lines by allogeneic NK cells
Authors: Delgado David , Webster Daniel E. , DeSantes Kenneth B. , Durkin Emily T. , Shaaban Aimen F. 
Published: October 2010

AbstractBackgroundThe effectiveness of killer immunoglobulin‐like receptor (KIR) incompatible, alloreactive natural killer (NK) cells has been primarily documented in hematological malignancies following stem‐cell transplant. This effect has not been thoroughly evaluated for pediatric solid tumors. In this study, we evaluated KIR receptor‐ligand incompatibility of NK cells against osteosarcoma cell lines.ProcedureFollowing the KIR receptor‐ligand mismatch model, MHC I cell surface expression and KIR ligand mRNA content of 3 osteosarcoma cell lines was determined by flow cytometry and quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR), respectively. NK cells were isolated from healthy volunteer donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and KIR surface expression determined by flow cytometry. An Annexin‐V based flow cytometric killing assay was used to determine % of dying osteosarcoma target cells by donor NK effector cells.ResultsOne of seven healthy volunteer donors tested lacked phenotypic expression of one KIR. However, variable expression of KIR ligands was observed in 3 osteosarcoma cell lines. The highest rates of dying cells were seen in osteosarcoma cells with the lowest KIR ligand expression. Following down‐regulation of KIR ligand expression, an increased susceptibility to NK cell‐mediated killing was observed in a previously NK‐resistant osteosarcoma cell line.ConclusionsVariable MHC I and KIR ligand expression was observed in osteosarcoma cell lines and this resulted in variable susceptibility to NK cell‐mediated killing predicted by the degree of KIR receptor‐ligand incompatibility. Collectively, these data provide rationale for the study of KIR incompatible stem‐cell transplant for osteosarcoma, although further studies with fresh osteosarcoma samples are necessary. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010;55:1300–1305. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nutritional intake of long‐term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Evidence for bone health interventional opportunities
Authors: Tylavsky Frances A. , Smith Karen , Surprise Harriet , Garland Sarah , Yan Xiaowei , McCammon Elizabeth , Hudson Melissa M. , Pui Ching‐Hon , Kaste Sue C. 
Published: October 2010

AbstractBackgroundSurvivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are vulnerable to exaggeration of the aging process including decreased bone mineral density (BMD). As little is known about their dietary or nutrient intake that may affect their long‐term bone health, we examined nutrient intake in long‐term survivors of childhood ALL.ProcedureSurvivors (n = 164) of childhood ALL who had completed treatment for at least 5 years and were in continuous remission, completed a 110‐item food questionnaire that reflected dietary intake over the previous year. The analyzed cohort comprised 34 females and 38 males younger than 19 years and 45 females and 47 males at least 19 years. Reported nutrient intake and food selection were compared with age‐specific Recommended Dietary Allowance and USDA Pyramid Food Guide. Body mass index was compared to the general US population, adjusted for age, gender, Tanner stage and race.ResultsLess than 30% of participants met recommended dietary intakes for vitamin D, calcium, potassium, or magnesium regardless of age. Mean daily caloric intake was 2,204 kcal (51% from carbohydrates) for younger and 2,160 kcal (49% from carbohydrates) for older participants. Energy intake from sweets was 70% higher than recommended. Participants <19 years were less likely to have a healthy weight (odds ratio 0.48, 95% CI 0.30–0.79); >19 years more likely to be overweight (odds ratio 1.95, 95% CI 1.11–3.32, P < 0.002).ConclusionsSurvivors of childhood ALL need careful dietary intervention to optimize long‐term health. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010;55:1362–1369. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Flow of non‐newtonian fluids in porous media
Authors: Sochi Taha 
Published: October 2010

AbstractThe study of flow of non‐Newtonian fluids in porous media is very important and serves a wide variety of practical applications in processes such as enhanced oil recovery from underground reservoirs, filtration of polymer solutions and soil remediation through the removal of liquid pollutants. These fluids occur in diverse natural and synthetic forms and can be regarded as the rule rather than the exception. They show very complex strain and time dependent behavior and may have initial yield‐stress. Their common feature is that they do not obey the simple Newtonian relation of proportionality between stress and rate of deformation. Non‐Newtonian fluids are generally classified into three main categories: time‐independent whose strain rate solely depends on the instantaneous stress, time‐dependent whose strain rate is a function of both magnitude and duration of the applied stress and viscoelastic which shows partial elastic recovery on removal of the deforming stress and usually demonstrates both time and strain dependency. In this article, the key aspects of these fluids are reviewed with particular emphasis on single‐phase flow through porous media. The four main approaches for describing the flow in porous media are examined and assessed. These are: continuum models, bundle of tubes models, numerical methods and pore‐scale network modeling. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2010
Rational design of peptide nanotubes for varying diameters and lengths
Authors: Ueda Motoki , Makino Akira , Imai Tomoya , Sugiyama Junji , Kimura Shunsaku 
Published: October 2010

AbstractAmphiphilic helical peptides (Sar)m‐b‐(L‐Leu‐Aib)n (m = 22–25; n = 7, 8, 10) with a hydrophobic block as a right‐handed helix were synthesized and their mixtures with (Sar)25‐b‐(D‐Leu‐Aib)6 containing the hydrophobic block as a left‐handed helix were examined in their molecular assembly formation. The single component (Sar)25‐b‐(D‐Leu‐Aib)6 forms peptide nanotubes of 70 nm diameter and 200 nm length. The two‐component mixtures of (Sar)25‐b‐(D‐Leu‐Aib)6 with (Sar)24‐b‐(L‐Leu‐Aib)7, (Sar)22‐b‐(L‐Leu‐Aib)8, and (Sar)25‐b‐(L‐Leu‐Aib)10 yield peptide nanotubes of varying dimensions with 200 nm diameter and 400 nm length, 70 nm diameter and several micrometer length (maximum 30 µm), and 70 nm diameter and 100–600 nm length, respectively. The right‐handed and the left‐handed helix were thus found to be molecularly mixed due to the stereo‐complex formation and to generate nanotubes of different sizes. When the mismatch of the hydrophobic helical length between the two components was of four residues, the longest nanotube was generated. Correspondingly, the hydrophobic helical segments have to interdigitate with an anti‐parallel orientation at the hydrophobic core region of the nanotube. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A retro‐inverso α‐melanocyte stimulating hormone analog with MC1R‐binding selectivity
Authors: Weeden Timothy , Stefano Jim , Duan Su , Edling Andrea , Hou Lihui , Chuang Wei‐Lien , Perricone Michael A. , Pan Clark , Dzuris John L. 
Published: October 2010

Abstractα‐melanocyte stimulating hormone (α‐MSH) is a tridecapeptide fragment of pro‐opiomelanocortin (POMC) with broad effects on appetite, skin pigmentation, hormonal regulation, and potential roles in both inflammation and autoimmunity. The use of this peptide as an anti‐inflammatory agent is limited by its low selectivity between the melanocortin receptors, susceptibility to proteolytic degradation, and rapid clearance from circulation. A retro‐inverso (RI) sequence of α‐MSH was characterized for receptor activity and resistance to protease. This peptide demonstrated surprisingly high selectivity for binding the melanocortin receptor 1 (MC1R). However, RI‐α‐MSH exhibited a diminished binding affinity for MC1R compared to α‐MSH. Mapping of the residues critical for agonist activity, receptor binding, and selectivity by alanine scanning, identified the same critical core tetrapeptide required for the native peptide. Modest improvements in affinity were obtained by conservative changes employing non‐natural amino acids and substitution of the C‐terminal sequence with a portion of a MC1R ligand peptide previously identified by phage display. Recombination of these elements yielded a peptide with an identical Ki as α‐MSH at MC1R and a lower EC50 in Mel‐624 melanoma cells. A number of other structural modifications of the RI peptide were found to differ in effect from those reported for the L‐form α‐MSH, suggesting a significantly altered interaction with the MC1R. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nanoparticles containing octreotide peptides and gadolinium complexes for MRI applications
Authors: Accardo Antonella , Morisco Anna , Gianolio Eliana , Tesauro Diego , Mangiapia Gaetano , Radulescu Aurel , Brandt Astrid , Morelli Giancarlo 
Published: October 2010

AbstractNew mixed nanoparticles were obtained by self‐aggregation of two amphiplic monomers. The first monomer (C18)2L5‐Oct contains two C18 hydrophobic moieties bound to the N‐terminus of the cyclic peptide octreotide, and spaced from the bioactive peptide by five units of dioxoethylene linkers. The second monomer, (C18)2DTPAGlu, (C18)2DTPA or (C18)2DOTA, and the corresponding Gd(III) complexes, contains two C18 hydrophobic moieties bound through a lysine residue to different polyamino‐polycarboxy ligands: DTPAGlu, DTPA or DOTA. Mixed aggregates have been obtained and structurally characterized by small angle neutron scattering (SANS) techniques and for their relaxometric behavior. According to a decrease of negative charges in the surfactant head‐group, a total or a partial micelle‐to‐vesicle transition is observed by passing from (C18)2DTPAGlu to (C18)2DOTA. The thicknesses of the bilayers are substantially constant, around 50 Å, in the analyzed systems. Moreover, the mixed aggregates, in which a small amount of amphiphilic octreotide monomer (C18)2L5‐Oct (10% mol/mol) was inserted, do not differ significantly from the respective self‐assembled systems. Fluorescence emission of tryptophan residue at 340 nm indicates low mobility of water molecules at the peptide surface. The proton relaxivity of mixed aggregates based on (C18)2DTPAGlu(Gd), (C18)2DTPA(Gd) and (C18)2DOTA(Gd) resulted to be 17.6, 15.2 and 10.0 mM−1 s−1 (at 20 MHz and 298K), respectively. The decrease in the relaxivity values can be ascribed to the increase in τM (81, 205 and 750 ns). The presence of amphiphilic octreotide monomer exposed on mixed aggregate surface gives the entire nanoparticles a potential binding selectivity toward somatostatin sstr2 receptor subtype, and these systems could act as MRI target‐specific contrast agent. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Two novel antimicrobial peptides from skin secretions of the frog, Rana nigrovittata
Authors: Liu Xiuhong , Liu Rui , Wei Lin , Yang Hailong , Zhang Keyun , Liu Jingze , Lai Ren 
Published: October 2010

AbstractTwo novel antimicrobial peptides with similarity to brevinin‐2 family are purified and characterized from the skin secretions of the frog, Rana nigrovittata. Their amino acid sequences were determined as GAFGNFLKGVAKKAGLKILSIAQCKLSGTC (brevinin‐2‐RN1) and GAFGNFLKGVAKKAGLKILSIAQCKLFGTC (brevinin‐2‐RN2), respectively, by Edman degradation. Different from brevinin‐2, which is composed of 33 amino acid residues (aa), both brevinin‐2‐RN1 and ‐RN2 contain 30 aa. Five cDNA sequences (Genbank accession numbers, EU136465‐9) encoding precursors of brevinin‐2‐RN1 and ‐RN2 were screened from the skin cDNA library of R. nigrovittata. These precursors are composed of 72 aa including a predicted signal peptide, an acidic spacer peptide, and a mature brevinin‐2‐RN. Both brevinin‐2‐RN1 and ‐RN2 showed strong antimicrobial activities against gram‐positive and gram‐negative bacteria and fungi. The current work identified and characterized two novel antimicrobial peptides with unique primary structure. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis, biological activity and solution structure of new analogues of the antimicrobial Gramicidin S
Authors: Kamysz Elżbieta , Mickiewicz Beata , Kamysz Wojciech , Bielińska Sylwia , Rodziewicz‐Motowidło Sylwia , Ciarkowski Jerzy 
Published: October 2010

AbstractGramicidin S (GS) is a cyclo‐decapeptide antibiotic isolated fromBacillus brevis. The structural studies have shown that GS forms a two‐stranded antiparallel β‐sheet imposed by two II′ β‐turns. Despite its wide Gram+ and Gram− antimicrobial spectrum, GS is useless in therapy because of its high hemotoxicity in humans. It was found, however, that the analogues of GS‐14 (GS with 14 amino acid residues) attained a better antimicrobial selectivity when their amphipatic moments were perturbed. In this study, we report effects of similar perturbations imposed on GS cyclo‐decapeptide analogues. Having solved their structures by NMR/molecular dynamics and having tested their activities/selectivities, we have concluded that the idea of perturbation of the amphipatic moment does not work for GS‐10_0 analogues. An innovative approach to the synthesis of head‐to‐tail cyclopeptides was used. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cu2S nanowires and MnS/Cu2S nanojunctions derived from γ‐MnS nanowires via selective cation‐exchange reaction
Authors: Xu G. , Zhu Y. L. , Ma X. L. 
Published: October 2010

AbstractCu2S nanowires and MnS/Cu2S junctions have been derived on the basis of γ‐MnS nanowires via cation‐exchange reaction. Relationships between a selective cation exchange and the growth direction of the γ‐MnS nanowires are identified by means of transmission electron microscopy. In the case of γ‐MnS nanowires with [0001] growth direction, Cu+ exchange with an initial γ‐MnS nanowire results in a Cu2S nanowire. In contrast, for γ‐MnS nanowires with [1–100] growth direction, Cu+ exchange leads to a striped MnS/Cu2S junction. Mechanisms for this selective cation exchange are proposed.