bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stable second‐order nonlinear optical poly(amide–imide)/inorganic materials via simultaneous sequential self‐repetitive reaction and sol–gel process
Authors: Lin Hsun‐Lien , Chao Tsung‐Yi , Shih Yeng‐Fong , Dai Shenghong A. , Su Wen‐Chiung , Jeng Ru‐Jong 
Published: February 2008

AbstractA series of thermally stable organic/inorganic second‐order nonlinear optical (NLO) composites via sequential self‐repetitive reaction (SSRR) and sol–gel process has been developed. This SSRR is based on carbodiimide (CDI) chemistry. The difunctional azo chromophores (2,4‐diamino‐4′‐(4‐ nitrophenyl‐diazenyl)azobenzene (DNDA)) was reacted with excessive amount of 4, 4′‐methylene‐ diphenylisocyanate (MDI) to form poly‐CDI, and subsequently trimellitic anhydride (TMA) was added to obtain poly(N‐acylurea). The organic/inorganic composites containing prepolymer of phenyltriethoxysilane (PTEOS) and poly(N‐acylurea) in different weight ratios (10:90, 30:70, 50:50, 70:30, 90:10 wt%) were prepared, respectively. The moderate glass transition temperature (Tg) characteristic of the poly(N‐acylurea) allows the NLO‐active polymer to achieve high poling efficiency. After in situ poling and curing process, the Tgs of the composites were elevated, and higher than that of the pristine poly(amide–imide) sample. Electro‐optical (EO) coefficients (r33) of about 5.5 ∼ 18.0 pm/V at 830 nm were obtained. Excellent temporal stability at 100°C, and waveguide characteristics (3.1–4.2 dB/cm at 830 nm) were also obtained for these composites. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Monitoring of epithelial cell caspase activation via detection of durable keratin fragment formation
Authors: Tao G‐Z , Li DH , Zhou Q , Toivola DM , Strnad P , Sandesara N , Cheung RC , Hong A , Omary MB 
Published: February 2008

AbstractKeratins 18 and 19 (K18/K19) are epithelial‐specific intermediate filament proteins. Apoptosis induces caspase cleavage at the highly conserved K18 or K19 Asp237, which in K18 is preceded by cleavage at Asp396. We characterized the keratin N‐terminal fragments that are generated upon caspase digestion of K18/K19 at Asp237 in order to study keratin dynamics during apoptosis. This was carried out by generating and characterizing antibodies selective to K18/K19 Asp237. K18 or K19 peptides that expose Asp237 in 234VEVD were used for rabbit immunization. The generated antibodies recognized cleaved but not intact K18/K19, exclusively, as determined by blotting or immunofluorescence staining of apoptotic human HT29 cells or livers isolated from Fas‐Ab‐injected mice. Antibodies to K18/K19 Asp237 recognized the common VEVD‐motif as determined by immunoblotting of cells transfected with K18, K19 or K20. The K18/K19 VEVD‐directed antibodies demonstrated sequential Asp396 then Asp237 K18 cleavage during apoptosis. Specific‐keratin selectivity of the anti‐Asp237 antibodies was confirmed by their inability to recognize K14 after UV‐induced apoptosis in transfected cells. The Asp237‐containing apoptotic keratin fragments are secreted into the medium of cultured HT29 cells and are stable up to 96 h after inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, the generated antibodies recognize keratin apoptotic fragments in sera of mice undergoing hepatocyte apoptosis and sera of patients with cirrhosis, and also recognize apoptotic cells in various epithelial human tumours. Therefore, the N‐terminal caspase‐generated K18 fragment is stable in tissues and biological fluids. The Asp237‐directed antibodies provide a powerful tool to study apoptosis in human and mouse tissues, cells and serum, using a broad range of detection modalities. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Proton versus photon radiotherapy for common pediatric brain tumors: Comparison of models of dose characteristics and their relationship to cognitive function
Authors: Merchant Thomas E. , Hua Chia‐ho , Shukla Hemant , Ying Xiaofei , Nill Simeon , Oelfke Uwe 
Published: February 2008

AbstractBackgroundTo determine whether proton radiotherapy has clinical advantages over photon radiotherapy, we modeled the dose characteristics of both to critical normal tissue volumes using data from patients with four types of childhood brain tumors.ProceduresThree‐dimensional imaging and treatment planning data, including targeted tumor and normal tissues contours, were acquired for 40 patients, 10 each with optic pathway glioma (OPG), craniopharyngioma (CR), infratentorial ependymoma (EP), or medulloblastoma (MB). Dose–volume data were collected for the entire brain, temporal lobes, cochlea, and hypothalamus from each patient. The data were averaged and compared based on treatment modality (protons vs. photons) using dose‐cognitive effects models. Outcomes were estimated over 5 years.ResultsRelatively small critical normal tissue volumes such as the cochlea and hypothalamus may be spared from radiation exposure when not adjacent to the primary tumor volume. Larger normal tissue volumes such as the supratentorial brain or temporal lobes receive less of the low and intermediate doses. When applied to longitudinal models of radiation dose‐cognitive effects, these differences resulted in clinically significant higher IQ scores for patients with MB and CR and academic reading scores in patients with OPG. Extreme differences between proton and photon dose distributions precluded meaningful comparison of protons and photons for patients with EP.ConclusionsDifferences in the overall dose distributions, as indicated by modeling changes in cognitive function, showed that a reduction in the lower‐dose volumes or mean dose would have long‐term, clinical advantages for children with MB, CR, and OPG. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;51:110–117. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Appendicitis in immunosuppressed children: Still a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma?
Authors: Chui Chan‐Hon , Chan Mei‐Yoke , Tan Ah‐Moy , Low Yee , Yap Te‐Lu , Jacobsen Anette S. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractAcute appendicitis in the immunosuppressed patients are often difficult to diagnose and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Recent debates on primary appendicitis and typhlitis‐associated appendicitis have contributed to the diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. We retrospectively reviewed all our immunosuppressed patients with appendicitis. The most frequent presenting symptom was fever followed by non‐specific intermittent abdominal pain. The median delay in diagnosis was 4 days. CT scan was useful in making the diagnosis, but the presence of adjacent bowel thickening has contributed to the dilemma in diagnosis and treatment. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;50:1282–1283. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Current status of prenatal diagnosis, operative management and outcome of esophageal atresia/tracheo‐esophageal fistula
Authors: Houben C. H. , Curry J. I. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractUltrasonographic features suggestive of esophageal atresia with or without tracheo‐esophageal fistula (EA/TEF) are only in a small minority of fetuses with EA/TEF (<10%) identifiable on prenatal scans.The prenatal diagnosis of EA/TEF relies in principle, on two nonspecific signs: polyhydramnios and absent or small stomach bubble. Polyhydramnios is associated with a wide range of fetal abnormalities, but most commonly it pursues a benign course. Similarly the sonographic absence of a stomach bubble may point to a variety of fetal anomalies.The combination of polyhydramnios and absent stomach bubble in two small series offers a modest positive predictive value of 44 and 56% respectively. Prenatal scanning for EA/TEF identifies a larger proportion of fetuses with Edwards syndrome; there is also a higher proportion of isolated EA in comparison to postnatal studies.Current ultrasound technology does not allow for a definite diagnosis of EA/TEF and therefore, counseling of parents should be guarded.Postnatal diagnosis of EA is confirmed by the failure to pass a firm nasogastric tube into the stomach; on chest X‐ray, the tube is seen curling in the upper esophageal pouch. Corrective surgery for EA/TEF is well established and survival rates of over 90% can be expected. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
First‐trimester combined screening for Down syndrome: prediction of low birth weight, small for gestational age and pre‐term delivery in a cohort of non‐selected women
Authors: Pihl Kasper , Sørensen Tina Lindvig , Nørgaard‐Pedersen Bent , Larsen Severin Olesen , Nguyen Tri Huu , Krebs Lone , Larsen Torben , Christiansen Michael 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo establish the relationship between the first‐trimester screening markers [pregnancy‐associated plasma protein A (PAPP‐A), free human chorionic gonadotrophin‐β (β‐hCG), nuchal translucency (NT)], the Down syndrome (DS) risk estimate, and the adverse outcomes such as low birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA) and pre‐term delivery.MethodsA retrospective cohort study including 1734 non‐selected singleton pregnancies consecutively enrolled into the programme of first‐trimester combined screening for DS in a 12‐month period at a single centre. Data from the Prenatal Patient Registry in ASTRAIA were combined with the Danish National Newborn Screening Registry and Danish Birth Registry.ResultsThere was a significant relation between low PAPP‐A MoM, low β‐hCG MoM, increased risk estimate for DS and low birth weight and SGA. Low PAPP‐A MoM and increased NT showed a significant relation to pre‐term and spontaneous pre‐term delivery. Low PAPP‐A MoM showed a significant relation to early pre‐term delivery.ConclusionFirst‐trimester screening markers exhibited a significant relation to low birth weight, SGA and to some extent, to pre‐term and early pre‐term delivery. The screening performance of individual markers was poor. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Onset of acute myocardial infarction after use of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs
Authors: Hammad Tarek A. , Graham David J. , Staffa Judy A. , Kornegay Cynthia J. , Dal Pan Gerald J. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractPurposeTo examine the association between cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) selective and traditional nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and incident acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and to address unanswered questions regarding the contour of risk over time.MethodsA cohort of new NSAID users aged 40–84 years was followed for the occurrence of first AMI. Data were collected within the General Practice Research Database (GPRD) from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2004.ResultsThe study population included 1185 AMI events (889 probable and 296 possible) from a cohort of 283 136 patients. After adjustment for demographic and cardiovascular risk factors, the hazard ratio (HR) for AMI was significantly increased for both coxib (2.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–4.26) and non‐coxib (2.24, 95%CI 1.13–4.42) COX‐2 selective NSAIDs when compared to remote exposure to NSAIDs, but was not increased for traditional NSAIDs. Stratifying exposure into the first month of use versus use beyond 1 month, the risk of AMI was increased during the first month of COX‐2 selective NSAIDs use, but not later (3.43, 95%CI 1.66–7.07 and 1.88, 95%CI 0.82–4.31, respectively p‐value for interaction = 0.6).ConclusionsThe results suggest that the use of coxib and non‐coxib COX‐2 selective NSAIDs was associated with an elevated risk of AMI within the first month of exposure. Recent past exposure to NSAID was not associated with a similar increase in risk. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Young adolescents' use of medicine for headache: sources of supply, availability and accessibility at home
Authors: Holstein Bjørn E. , Andersen Anette , Krølner Rikke , Due Pernille , Hansen Ebba Holme 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjectiveUse of medicines for headache is common among young adolescents but little is known about their sources of supply and access to medicines. The purpose was to describe sources of supply, availability and accessibility at home and to examine if supply, availability and accessibility were associated with medicine use.MethodsCross‐sectional study in eight schools where all fifth and seventh grade students (11‐ and 13‐year‐olds) answered a questionnaire about socio‐demographic factors, health and medicine use. Response rate: 84.0%, n = 595.ResultsThe reported prevalence of headache at least monthly was 45.0%, and 42.5% had used medicines for headache during the past month. 68.2% reported that medicines for headache were always available at home, and 22.2% were allowed to use these without asking for permission. Most pupils received medicine from their parents (73.1%) and physicians (25.4%). Smaller proportions had received medicine from school nurses, teachers, friends and others; 11.6% mentioned at least three sources of supply. Pupils with frequent episodes of headache reported more sources of supply and higher availability and accessibility at home. OR for medicine use among children who mentioned three or more sources of supply was 4.53 (95% CI 2.63–7.83) in a multivariate model controlled for sex, age and prevalence of headache. Use of medicine was also associated with availability at home (OR = 1.51, 1.01–2.27) and accessibility (OR = 2.49, 1.57–3.93).ConclusionMedicine use for headache among children and young adolescents is common and control of access may be the key issue for safe medicine use. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dispensed volumes of anti‐asthmatic drugs related to the prevalence of asthma and COPD in Sweden
Authors: Haupt Dan , Wettermark Björn , Nilsson J. Lars G. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractPurposeTo explore the possibility of using dispensed volumes asthma/COPD drugs as a proxy for the combined prevalence of asthma plus COPD.MethodsThe proportions of the Swedish population with inhalation drugs for asthma/COPD 2004 were obtained using three different databases. A pharmacy record database gave the volumes of dispensed drugs (defined daily doses, DDDs of R03A + R03B drugs) for each patient, 20 years and older. The X‐plain database of Apoteket AB gave drug sales data for Sweden and Swedish population data were obtained from Swedish statistics.ResultsThe sales volumes of asthma/COPD drugs were much higher for older than for younger people. The volumes increased from 18 DDD/TID for the 20–29 year group up to 124 DDD/TID for patients 70–79 years, or about seven times. The average volumes per patient in the different age groups corresponded to one DDD/day in only three of the age groups (50–79 years). In the youngest group the average drug volume per patient corresponded to one DDD every second day, which may indicate undermedication. The percentages of the Swedish population with asthma/COPD drugs increased from 4.0% for 20–29 years old to 14.5% for 80+ years old, or 3.6 times. When head‐to‐head comparisons could be made between reported prevalence data of asthma and COPD and our data the two sets of data were in a reasonable agreement.ConclusionThe prevalence of drug treatment, i.e. the proportion of the population with dispensed asthma/COPD drugs, could function as a proxy for the disease prevalence of asthma plus COPD. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
COMT genotypes and use of antipsychotic medication: linking population‐based prescription database to the HUNT study
Authors: Hagen Knut , Stovner Lars Jacob , Skorpen Frank , Pettersen Elin , Zwart John‐Anker 
Published: February 2008

AbstractPurposeThe aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the impact of codon 158 polymorphism at the catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) gene on prescription of antipsychotic medication in a general population.MethodsThe sample comprised 2623 non‐diabetic individuals who participated in the Nord‐Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) in the period 1995–97 and who were alive 1 January 2004. The subjects were followed up with respect to prescription of antipsychotic medication based on data obtained from the Norwegian prescription database.ResultsAmong the group of 76 individuals who had been prescribed antipsychotic medication the distribution did not differ between genotypes and alleles when compared to a control group. For 47 individuals with at least three prescriptions a correlation between median total defined daily doses (DDDs) and genotype groups was found (Spearman's rho, −0.40,p = 0.01), being highest for the Met/Met genotype (250), intermediate for the Met/Val genotype (126) and lowest for the Val/Val genotype (47) (p = 0.03).ConclusionIn this population‐based cohort of 2623 adults, the Val158Met polymorphism at theCOMTgene had no major impact on number of individuals who had been prescribed antipsychotic medication. However, linkage to the prescription database may in an indirect way indicate an association between theCOMTVal158Met polymorphism and treatment response or dose requirements of antipsychotic medication. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Shedding & shaving: Disclosure of proteomic expressions on a bacterial face
Authors: Tjalsma Harold , Lambooy Lambert , Hermans Peter W. , Swinkels Dorine W. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractBacterial surface proteins are critically important in determining the success of bacterial strains in their competition for survival, which makes comprehensive knowledge of the microbial ‘face’ of high relevance to understand bacterial physiology. Therefore, the aim of this study was to inventorize the proteomic composition of a bacterial surface by gel‐free approaches using Bacillus subtilis as a model organism. To this purpose, intact bacteria were incubated with trypsin to cleave surface proteins, after which these ‘shaved’ proteins were identified by LC‐MS/MS analysis of tryptic peptides that were released into the incubation buffer. In parallel, proteins that were released from bacterial cells without trypsin treatment were inventorized and defined as ‘shed’ proteins. The results showed that peptides of 41 proteins, comprising transmembrane proteins, secretory and lipoproteins, known ‘anchorless’ surface proteins and ribosomal proteins, were specifically released by shaving. Some of these proteins were also cleaved by trypsin‐beads, which are unable to penetrate the bacterial cell wall, indicating a genuine surface‐exposed localization. Together this shows that these combined gel‐free approaches can reveal novel proteomic decorations on a bacterial face and may provide leads for future studies on protein sorting in B. subtilis and other Gram‐positive bacteria.
Determining the protein repertoire of Cryptosporidium parvum sporozoites
Authors: Sanderson Sanya J. , Xia Dong , Prieto Helena , Yates John , Heiges Mark , Kissinger Jessica C. , Bromley Elizabeth , Lal Kalpana , Sinden Robert E. , Tomley Fiona , Wastling Jonathan M. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe genome of the intracellular parasite Cryptosporidium parvum has recently been sequenced, but protein expression data for the invasive stages of this important zoonotic gastrointestinal pathogen are limited. In this paper a comprehensive analysis of the expressed protein repertoire of an excysted oocyst/sporozoite preparation of C. parvum is presented. Three independent proteome platforms were employed which yielded more than 4800 individual protein identifications representing 1237 nonredundant proteins, corresponding to ∼30% of the predicted proteome. Peptide data were mapped to the corresponding locations on the C. parvum genome and a publicly accessible interface for proteome data was developed for data‐mining and visualisation at CryptoDB (http://cryptodb.org). These data provide a timely and valuable resource for improved annotation of the genome, verification of predicted hypothetical proteins and identification of proteins not predicted by current gene models. The data indicated the expression of proteins likely to be important to the invasion and intracellular establishment of the parasite, including surface proteins, constituents of the remnant mitochondrion and apical organelles. Comparison of the expressed proteome with existing transcriptional data indicated only a weak correlation. For approximately half the proteome there was limited functional and structural information, highlighting the limitations in the current understanding of Cryptosporidium biology.
Time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometric analysis of the interface between bone and titanium implants
Authors: Eriksson Cecilia , Malmberg Per , Nygren Håkan 
Published: February 2008

AbstractImplant healing into bone tissue is a process where the mature bone grows towards and eventually fuses with the implant. In this study we investigated implant healing during 4 weeks with focus on the implant‐tissue interface. Our main interest was to study the mineralization process around the implant. Titanium discs were implanted in rat tibia for 2 and 4 weeks. After implantation cross sections of bone and implant were made using a low‐speed saw equipped with a diamond wafering blade. One section from each sample was stained with basic fuchsin and micrographed by light microscopy (LM). The other section was analyzed with imaging time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF‐SIMS) using a Bi cluster ion source. This ion source has recently been shown to enable identification of high‐mass hydroxyapatite (HA) fragment ions (m/z 291–653) in bone samples. The LM images were used to identify areas suitable for TOF‐SIMS analysis. Three areas were selected for mass spectral analysis, corresponding to interface region, bone and soft tissue, from which positive ion spectra were recorded. In the areas identified as bone, high‐mass HA fragments ions were found after both 2 and 4 weeks. In the soft tissue area, no high‐mass ions were found after 4 weeks. However, after 2 weeks HA‐related ions were identified in mineralized spots in areas defined as soft tissue. After 4 but not after 2 weeks, high‐mass HA fragment ions were found in the interface region. In conclusion, differences were observed regarding mineralization between 2 and 4 weeks of implantation and between different regions surrounding the implants. Imaging TOF‐SIMS analysis using a Bi cluster as ion source enables identification of high‐mass HA fragment ions at implant‐tissue interfaces in bone. This technique might therefore be useful for biocompatibility assessment and for studying the mineralization process at implant surfaces. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.