bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of severity of renal dysfunction on determinants of in‐hospital mortality among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Parikh Puja B. , Jeremias Allen , Naidu Srihari S. , Brener Sorin J. , Lima Fabio , Shlofmitz Richard A. , Pappas Thomas , Marzo Kevin P. , Gruberg Luis 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBackground: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a known prognostic indicator of poor outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for coronary artery disease. However, it is unclear whether other predictors of mortality differ among patients with varying degrees of renal impairment. Thus, we aimed to identify determinants of in‐hospital mortality which are specific to patients with preserved renal function, moderate CKD, or end stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis, undergoing PCI. Methods: The study population included 25,018 patients who underwent PCI between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2007, at four New York State hospitals. The primary endpoint of the study was in‐hospital mortality. Results: A total of 474 (1.9%) patients had ESRD on dialysis, 6,596 (26.4%) had moderate CKD (GFR<60 ml/min/1.73m2), and 17,948 (71.7%) had preserved renal function (GFR>60 ml/min/1.73m2). Patients with ESRD and moderate CKD were older, more often male, and had higher rates of prior coronary revascularization, peripheral vascular disease, congestive heart failure, prior stroke, and diabetes than those with preserved function. All‐cause in‐hospital mortality rates were significantly higher in patients with ESRD and moderate CKD compared to patients with GFR >60ml/min/1.73m2 (2.1% and 1.3%, respectively vs. 0.3%, p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, ESRD (OR: 3.68, 95% CI 1.62–8.36) and moderate CKD (OR: 2.92, 95% CI 1.91–4.46) were independently associated with higher rates of in‐hospital mortality. Independent predictors of mortality were markedly distinct in each group and included female gender and myocardial infarction within the past 72 hr in the ESRD group, versus left ventricular ejection fraction, peripheral vascular disease, congestive heart failure, emergency PCI, and absence of prior PCI in the moderate CKD group and age, prior bypass graft surgery, congestive heart failure, emergency PCI, and absence of prior myocardial infarction in patients with preserved renal function Conclusions: Patients with moderate CKD or ESRD undergoing PCI have an approximately threefold increase in the risk of in‐hospital mortality compared with patients with preserved renal function, with radically different mortality predictors existing for varying levels of renal function. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Ca2+ and Rho GTPase signaling pathways underlying activity‐dependent actin remodeling at dendritic spines
Authors: Saneyoshi Takeo , Hayashi Yasunori 
Published: May 2012

AbstractMost excitatory synapses reside on small protrusions located on the dendritic shaft of neurons called dendritic spines. Neuronal activity regulates the number and structure of spines in both developing and mature brains. Such morphological changes are mediated by the modification of the actin cytoskeleton, the major structural component of spines. Because the number and size of spines is tightly correlated with the strength of synaptic transmission, the activity‐dependent structural remodeling of a spine plays an important role in the modulation of synaptic transmission. The regulation of spine morphogenesis utilizes multiple intracellular signaling pathways that alter the dynamics of actin remodeling. Here, we will review recent studies examining the signaling pathways underlying activity‐dependent actin remodeling at excitatory postsynaptic neurons. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc
Late Pleistocene–Holocene river dynamics at the Trent‐Soar confluence, England, UK
Authors: Brown Antony G. , Toms Phillip S. , Carey Chris J. , Howard Andy J. , Challis Keith 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTAlthough river confluences have received geomorphic attention in recent years it is difficult to upscale these studies, so confluence‐dominated reaches are commonly presumed to be either: (1) braided; or (2) meandering and characterized by laterally migrating channels. If the geomorphology of a confluence zone is to be considered over longer timescales, changes in river style need to be taken into account. This paper uses a combination of remote sensing techniques (LiDAR, GPR, ER), borehole survey and chronometric dating to test this differentiation in the confluence‐zone of a medium‐sized, mixed‐load, temperate river system (Trent, UK), which on the basis of planform evidence appears to conform to the meandering model. However, the analysis of ‘confluence sediment body stratigraphy’ demonstrates that the confluence does not correspond with a simple meander migration model and chronostratigraphic data suggests it has undergone two major transformations. Firstly, from a high‐energy braid‐plain confluence in the Lateglacial (25–13 K yrs cal BP), to a lower‐energy braided confluence in the early to middle Holocene (early Holocene‐2.4 kyr BP), which created a compound terrace. Second, incision into this terrace, creating a single‐channel confluence (2.4–0.5 kyr cal BP) with a high sinuosity south bank tributary (the River Soar). The confluence sediment‐body stratigraphy is characterized by a basal suite of Late Pleistocene gravels bisected by younger channel fills, which grade into the intervening levee and overbank sediments. The best explanation for the confluence sediment body stratigraphy encountered is that frequent switching (soft‐avulsions sensu Edmonds et al., 2011) of the tributary are responsible for the downstream movement of the channel confluence (at an average rate of approximately 0.5 m per year) dissecting and reworking older braid‐plain sediments. The late Holocene evolution of the confluence can be seen as a variant of the incisional‐frequent channel reorganization (avulsion) model with sequential downstream migration of the reattachment point. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Photocrosslinkable hyaluronic acid as an internal wetting agent in model conventional and silicone hydrogel contact lenses
Authors: Weeks Andrea , Morrison David , Alauzun Johan G. , Brook Michael A. , Jones Lyndon , Sheardown Heather 
Published: May 2012

AbstractPhotocrosslinkable methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HA) was prepared and incorporated into model conventional and silicone hydrogel contact lenses as an internal wetting agent. The molecular weight of the HA, the degree of methacrylation as well as the amount (0.25 to 1.0 wt %) incorporated were varied. The HA‐containing hydrogels were analyzed using a variety of techniques including water contact angles, equilibrium water content (EWC), and lysozyme sorption. The presence of HA could be detected in the materials using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy—attenuated total reflectance. The materials containing methacrylated HA had improved hydrophilicity and reduced lysozyme sorption. Effects of modified HA on EWC were dependent upon the materials but generally increased water uptake. Increased mobility of the HA associated with a lower molecular weight and lower degree of methacrylation was found to be more effective in improving hydrophilicity and decreasing lysozyme sorption than the less mobile HA. All results found suggest that photocrosslinkable HA has significant potential in contact lens applications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2012.
Adhesion of Staphylococcus epidermidis to biomaterials is inhibited by fibronectin and albumin
Authors: Linnes J. C. , Mikhova K. , Bryers J. D. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractDecades of contradictory results have obscured the exact role of adsorbed fibronectin in the adhesion of the bacterium, Staphylococcus epidermidis, to biomaterials. Here, the ability of adsorbed fibronectin (FN) or bovine serum albumin (BSA) to modulate S. epidermidis adhesion to various biomaterials is reported. FN or BSA was adsorbed in increasing surface densities up to saturated monolayer coverage onto various common biomaterials, including poly(ethylene terephthalate), fluorinated ethylene propylene, poly(ether urethane), silicone, and borosilicate glass. Despite the wide range of surface characteristics represented, adsorption isotherms varied only subtly between materials for the two proteins considered. S. epidermidis adhesion to the various protein‐coated biomaterials was quantified in a static‐fluid batch adhesion assay. Although slight differences in overall adherent cell numbers were observed between the various protein‐coated substrata, all materials exhibited significant dose‐dependent decreases in S. epidermidis adhesion with increasing adsorption of either protein (FN, BSA) to all surfaces. Results here indicate that S. epidermidis adhesion to FN‐coated surfaces is not a specific adhesion (i.e., receptor: ligand) mediated process, as no significant difference in adhesion was found between FN‐ and BSA‐coated materials. Rather, results indicate that increasing surface density of either FN or BSA actually inhibited S. epidermidis adhesion to all biomaterials examined. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: , 2012.
Effects of surfactants on the properties of PLGA nanoparticles
Authors: Menon Jyothi U. , Kona Soujanya , Wadajkar Aniket S. , Desai Foram , Vadla Anupama , Nguyen Kytai T. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe objective of this study was to investigate the physical characteristics of poly(D,L‐lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) coated with two surfactants, Pluronic or the commonly used polyvinyl alcohol (PVA); and determine their in vitro efficiency as drug carriers for cancer therapy. Free surfactant cytotoxicity results indicated that Pluronic F127 (PF127) was most cytocompatible among the Pluronics tested and hence chosen for coating PLGA NPs for further studies. Release studies using doxorubicin (DOX) as a drug model showed sustained release of DOX from both PVA‐ and PF127‐coated PLGA NPs (PLGA‐PVA and PLGA‐PF127, respectively) over 28 days. Further, there was no significant difference in human dermal fibroblasts and human aortic smooth muscle cell survival when exposed to both types of NPs. Cellular uptake studies demonstrated that uptake of both nanoparticle types was dose‐dependent for both prostate and breast cancer cells. However, these cancer cells internalized more PLGA‐PF127 NPs than PLGA‐PVA NPs. Moreover, studies showed that drug‐loaded PLGA‐PF127 NPs not only killed more cancer cells than drug‐loaded PLGA‐PVA NPs, but also overcame drug resistance in LNCaP, MDA‐MB‐231, and MDA‐MB‐468 cancer cells on re‐exposure. These results indicate that PLGA‐PF127 NPs can form a promising system that not only delivers anti‐cancer drugs, but also overcomes drug resistance, which is prevalent in most cancer cells. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2012.
Immobilization of the direct thrombin inhibitor‐bivalirudin on 316L stainless steel via polydopamine and the resulting effects on hemocompatibility in vitro
Authors: Lu Lei , Li Quan‐Li , Maitz Manfred F. , Chen Jia‐Long , Huang Nan 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBivalirudin (BV), a peptidic direct thrombin inhibitor, derived from hirudin, has gained increasing interest in clinical anticoagulant therapy in the recent years. In this work, a hemocompatible surface was prepared by immobilization of BV on 316L stainless steel (SS) using a bonding layer of polydopamine (DA). X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to determine the chemical composition of the surfaces to characterize polydopamine intermediate layer and the immobilized BV. The quantity of bound BV was measured by quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). The hemocompatibility in vitro was evaluated by coagulating time of activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT) assay, platelet adhesion and activation, fibrinogen adsorption, and activation and whole blood test. The effect of sterilizing method on the bioactivity of immobilized BV was also evaluated. The results showed that BVs were successfully immobilized on SS surface with the DA interlayer at a density of 98 ng/cm2. BV coating surface prolonged aPTT and PT, inhibited the activation of platelet and fibrinogen significantly. Sterilization by ultraviolet radiation was possible with only marginal loss of activity. Thus, the approach described here may provide a basis for the preparation of 316L SS surface modification for use in cardiovascular implants. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 100A: 2421–2430, 2012.
Macrochanneled bioactive ceramic scaffolds in combination with collagen hydrogel: A new tool for bone tissue engineering
Authors: Yu Hye‐Sun , Jin Guang‐Zhen , Won Jong‐Eun , Wall Ivan , Kim Hae‐Won 
Published: May 2012

AbstractNew tissue‐engineering tool for bone regeneration is described to facilitate homogeneous cell seeding and effective osteogenic development. Calcium phosphate (CaP) scaffolds with macrochanneled and well‐defined pore structure was developed, however, a large portion of the cells seeded directly within the scaffold easily penetrates without good adhesion to the scaffold surface. To overcome this, a method was exploited to dispense cells evenly throughout the CaP scaffold using collagen hydrogel. Rat bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were mixed within a neutralized collagen solution, which was then infiltrated into the macrochanneled pore space and gelled to result in macrochanneled bioceramic scaffold combined with MSCs–hydrogel. MSCs contained within the hydrogel‐CaP scaffolds were highly viable, with similar growth pattern to those in the collagen hydrogel. Cells seeded by this approach were initially almost double in number compared with those seeded directly onto the CaP scaffold and had an active proliferation more than 14 days. Assessments of the MSCs showed significantly higher alkaline phosphatase levels in the combined scaffold, which was accompanied by enhanced osteogenesis including the expression of genes [collagen type I, bone sialoprotein, and osteopontin (OPN)] and proteins (OPN and osteocalcin). Extracellular calcium was also elevated significantly in the combined scaffold compared to the CaP scaffold. In addition, mechanical strength of the constructs was improved significantly in the combined scaffold compared to the CaP scaffold. Based on these, the cell culturing and tissue engineering strategy within the macrochanneled bioactive ceramic scaffolds could be improved greatly by the combinatory approach of using collagen hydrogel. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 100A: 2431–2440, 2012.
Osteoclastogenesis and osteoclastic resorption of tricalcium phosphate: Effect of strontium and magnesium doping
Authors: Roy Mangal , Bose Susmita 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBone substitute materials are required to support the remodeling process, which consists of osteoclastic resorption and osteoblastic synthesis. Osteoclasts, the bone‐resorbing cells, generate from differentiation of hemopoietic mononuclear cells. In the present study, we have evaluated the effects of 1.0 wt % strontium (Sr) and 1.0 wt % magnesium (Mg) doping in beta‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP) on the differentiation of mononuclear cells into osteoclast‐like cells and its resorptive activity. In vitro osteoclast‐like cell formation, adhesion, and resorption were studied using osteoclast precursor RAW 264.7 cell, supplemented with receptor activator of nuclear factor κβ ligand (RANKL). Osteoclast‐like cell formation was noticed on pure and Sr‐doped β‐TCP samples at day 8, which was absent on Mg‐doped β‐TCP samples indicating decrease in initial osteoclast differentiation due to Mg doping. After 21 days of culture, osteoclast‐like cell formation was evident on all samples with osteoclastic markers such as actin ring, multiple nuclei, and presence of vitronectin receptor αvβ3 integrin. After osteoclast differentiation, all substrates showed osteoclast‐like cell‐mediated degradation, however, significantly restricted for Mg‐doped β‐TCP samples. Our present results indicated that substrate chemistry controlled osteoclast differentiation and resorptive activity, which can be used in designing TCP‐based resorbable bone substitutes with controlled degradation properties. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 100A: 2450–2461, 2012.
Impact of the number of lymph nodes sampled on outcome in ypT0N0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients
Authors: Chao Yin‐Kai , Liu Hui‐Ping , Hsieh Ming‐Ju , Wu Yi‐Cheng , Liu Yun‐Hen , Yeh Chi‐Hsiao , Chang Hsien‐Kun , Tseng Chen‐Kan 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBackgroundHigher extent of lymph node dissection (LND) is beneficial in primarily resected esophageal cancer patients by providing accurate staging and better tumor control. Achieving pathological complete response (pCR) after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) also represents better outcome. We studied the controversial question whether higher LND could further improve survival after pCR.MethodBetween 1996 and 2007, Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients with pCR after CRT were included. Based on the median number of dissected lymph node, patients were divided into two groups (Group 1: Lower LND; Group 2: Higher LND). We compared the demographic features, perioperative outcomes, recurrence, and survival between groups.ResultsThe cohort comprised 101 patients (100 males and one female) with a mean age of 58 years. There were 56 and 45 patients in Group 1 and 2, respectively. Clinical features and perioperative outcome were similar between groups. During a mean follow‐up of 78.8 months, 32 (33.7%) patients died of the disease and 35.8% of patients developed recurrence. There was no difference in locoregional (11.3% vs. 9.5%, P = 0.78) or distant recurrence (22.6% vs. 33.3%, P = 0.18) between the two groups. Patients with lowest LND also had similar outcomes as those with the highest LND. The 5‐year disease specific survival rate was 65 and 64% in Group 1 and 2, respectively.ConclusionIn ESCC patients, the number of negative lymph nodes had no prognostic impact after pCR. J. Surg. Oncol. 2012; 106:436–440. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Specific activation requirements of in vitro‐matured sheep oocytes following vitrification‐warming
Authors: Asgari V. , Hosseini S.M. , Ostadhosseini S. , Hajian M. , Azhdari Z.T. , Mosaie M. , Nasr‐Esfahani M.H. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractOocyte vitrification and assisted oocyte activation have increasingly important roles in assisted reproductive technology. Yet, an important area of concern with matured oocyte cryobiology is that elements of oocytes intimately involved in metaphase‐II arrest may be modified by cryopreservation. By comparing different cellular characteristics of unvitrified, vitrified‐warmed, and unvitrified‐activated oocytes, the present study investigated how vitrification‐warming process may affect developmental competence of in vitro‐matured sheep oocytes following parthenogenetic activation. Structural, ultrastructural, and molecular analyses indicated that the characteristics of vitrified‐warmed oocytes vastly differed from fresh oocytes, instead resembling unvitrified‐activated oocytes. For unvitrified oocytes, the highest blastocyst yield (41.8 ± 0.6%) was achieved using the maximum ionomycin concentration (5 µM), and importantly, the duration of ionomycin treatment was not of utmost importance at this concentration. In contrast, the maximum blastocyst yield of vitrified‐warmed oocytes (28.4 ± 1.4%) was achieved with a minimal duration of ionomycin treatment (1 min), and further extending the duration dramatically reduced developmental potential of vitrified‐warmed oocytes. These results suggested that vitrified‐warmed oocytes may need an activation protocol different from unvitrified oocytes. In this respect, unvitrified oocytes were more sensitive to the concentration rather than the duration of ionomycin treatment when compared with vitrified oocytes, which were sensitive to the treatment duration. These results may provide a platform to improve the potential applications of vitrified oocytes in medicine and agriculture. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 79:434–444, 2012. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reproductive mode and ovarian morphology regulation in chimeric planarians composed of asexual and sexual neoblasts
Authors: Nodono Hanae , Matsumoto Midori 
Published: May 2012

AbstractPlanarians are comprised of populations with different reproductive strategies: exclusively innately asexual (AS), exclusively innately sexual (InS), and seasonally switching. AS worms can be sexualized experimentally by feeding them with minced InS worms, and the resultant worms are characterized as acquired sexual (AqS). Differences between InS and AqS worms are expected to provide important clues to the poorly understood mechanism underlying the regulation of their reproductive mode. Morphological differences were found between InS and AqS worm ovaries, and we showed that the pluripotent stem cells (neoblasts) from InS worms, but not those of AqS worms, have the capacity to initiate the sexual state autonomously via neoblast fraction transplantation. To compare their reproductive mode and ovarian morphology regulation, InS donor neoblast fractions were transplanted into non‐lethally X‐ray‐irradiated AS recipients. All transplants showed stable chimerism and reproduced sexually, suggesting that InS worm neoblasts can initiate sexual state autonomously, even when coexisting with AS worm neoblasts. The chimeras formed extraordinarily large and supernumerary ovaries equivalent to AqS worms, which were not seen in InS worms, suggesting that regulation of ovarian morphology in AS worm‐derived cells in response to endogenous sexualizing stimulation distinctly differs from that of InS worms. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 79:451–460, 2012. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Thermorheological properties of poly (ε‐caprolactone)/polylactide blends
Authors: Noroozi Nazbanoo , Schafer Laurel L. , Hatzikiriakos Savvas G. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBlends of poly (ε‐caprolactone) (PCL)/polylactide (PLA) were prepared by solution‐casting method to study their thermal and rheological properties. Differential scanning calorimetry thermographs have shown two separate melting peaks in the blends, which are indicative of immiscible structure at all compositions. Scanning electron microscopy images show droplet morphology of PCL into PLA matrix up to 40 wt% of PCL. Above this concentration, the co‐continuous morphology starts to appear, which becomes again droplet morphology for blends with concentration of PCL higher than about 60 wt%. The viscoelastic properties of the various blends were investigated using rotational rheometry. The enhancement of the elastic modulus of blends at small frequencies at which terminal zone behavior is expected, is a signature behavior of immiscible systems due to the presence of interface and contribution to the stress from interfacial tension. Two emulsion models were used to predict the viscoelastic properties of the blends from the corresponding properties of their pure components that led to the determination of the interfacial tension of PCL/PLA in agreement with experimental findings. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers