bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Excision and meshed skin grafting for leg ulcers resistant to compression therapy
Authors: Abisi S , Tan J , Burnand K G 
Published: December 2006

Abstract

Background
The aim of this study was to determine the success of excision and meshed skin grafting for chronic leg ulcers. The effects of different ulcer aetiology and ulcer size on outcome were also assessed.

Methods
All patients who had excision and mesh grafting for chronic leg ulceration between January 1996 and December 2004 at St Thomas' Hospital were reviewed. Recurrence was classified as any breakdown of the ulcer during follow-up.

Results
Sixty-two patients with 100 chronic leg ulcers underwent operation. Seventy-two of the ulcers were venous and the median ulcer size was 36 (range 1·5–192) cm2. Only three patients left the hospital with their ulcers unhealed, but ulcers had recurred in 28 (28 per cent) by 2 months. A further 17 ulcers recurred later, with just over half (55 per cent) remaining healed by 5 years. There was no difference between the recurrence rates of venous ulcers and ulcers of other aetiologies (P = 0·980), or large (more than 10 cm2) and small ulcers (P = 0·686).

Conclusion
Wide local excision and meshed skin grafting benefitted over half of these patients with refractory leg ulcers. Recurrence was most likely to occur in the first 2 months and, provided that ulcers were healed at this time, there was a low rate of further breakdown.
Measurement of process as quality control in the management of acute surgical emergencies
Authors: Stevenson K S , Gibson S C , MacDonald D , Hole D J , Rogers P N , Byrne D S , Kingsmore D B 
Published: December 2006

Abstract

Background
Quality of care measured by adverse events cannot address errors of process that have no adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine whether process could be used to assess quality of care and whether process analysis could be used to assess interventions designed to improve quality.

Methods
A single-centre prospective cohort study was performed over 12 weeks in an acute surgical admission unit. Data were collected prospectively for the first 24 h of admission on three aspects of process: documentation, general management and presentation-specific criteria. After a period of observation, the impact of three interventions (active observation, increasing awareness and issuing a job description) on the mean number of process errors per patient (process score) was compared.

Results
The analysis was based on 566 patients admitted with general surgical pathology. Awareness of being observed failed to improve the process score. Interventions that increased awareness of process reduced the overall process score from 4·79 to 2·38 errors per person (P &lt; 0·001). The mean overall process score in patients with an adverse event was twice that of patients who did not have an adverse event (5·74 (95 per cent confidence interval 4·03 to 7·45) versus 3·43 (3·19 to 3·66)).

Conclusion
Process can be measured objectively and used as a measure of quality of care. Interventions to increase awareness reduced process error rates and adverse events.
Joining a consumer society: Russian immigrant versus American materialism
Authors: Lerman Dawn , Maxwell Sarah 
Published: December 2006

Abstract

Regardless of their home country, immigrants to the United States often arrive in search of personal freedom and a share of the riches of this country. Prior research has identified a range of knowledge and skills that immigrants must acquire in order to navigate such a consumer society. One aspect of joining a consumer society that has not been addressed, however, is the role of material goods in one's life. The purpose of this paper is to examine the changing role, if any, of material goods in the lives of immigrants arriving in the United States from a non‐consumer society and to compare the level of materialism among such immigrants with that of Americans. The results of a study of 278 Soviet‐era Russian immigrants and 200 native‐born Americans indicate that at the time the immigrants arrived, they were just as materialistic as Americans and became no more materialistic, the longer they lived in the United States. Both Americans and Russians, however, became less materialistic with age. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Communication about consumption: a family process perspective on ‘green’ consumer practices
Authors: Grønhøj Alice 
Published: December 2006

Abstract

Family decision‐making still constitutes a niche of consumer research. The preference towards using individualist approaches is even more prevalent in research on environmentally oriented consumer behaviour. However, many green consumer practices involve several family members, who may be able to exert significant influences on household subscription to these practices. The present study used qualitative research methods to examine family member interaction in relation to four topics: organic food, water and energy, waste and transport. Results show that peaceful as well as more conflict‐ridden, day‐to‐day influences between family members are a common phenomenon, even when it comes to inconspicuous, everyday consumer behaviour. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Choosing among alternative parties to be sponsored for supporting brand strategies, based upon emotional responses
Authors: Hansen Flemming , Halling Jens , Christensen Lars Bech 
Published: December 2006

Abstract

In recent years, much research has been concerned with the effects of sponsorships and the possible advantages a company can gain from engaging in sponsoring activities. Recently focus has been on the role, that sponsoring plays in branding strategy. Here it becomes important to understand exactly what a potential party to be sponsored contributes to the perception of a brand or a company. In this paper, the aim has been reversed to focus on the sponsored party. We propose a number of measurements to determine emotional responses and overall evaluations associated with a sponsored party who is a part of a sponsorship agreement with a company. Four different groups of parties to be sponsored are investigated: social aid organisations, culture, sport and TV‐programmes. Several interesting results emerged from this study; the parties to be sponsored were evaluated very differently on the dimensions used in the study and it is shown that a company can gain very different results depending on the type of object to choose to sponsor. Furthermore, it was shown that the overall evaluation of a party to be sponsored to a large extent is determined by emotions. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
I, me, and mine—how products become consumers' extended selves
Authors: Mittal Banwari 
Published: December 2006

Abstract

Consumer research literature has recognized the consumers' use of products and brands as props to their self‐identity. While this literature has illuminated that products indeed serve to extend one's sense of self, the concept of ‘self’ itself is under‐identified. In this conceptual essay, we propose a set of components that make up one's sense of self. Then we identify processes through which possessions become associated with one's identity or self‐concept. We suggest the utility of using the proposed framework in practice for consumers' self‐concept profiles, and for linking brands to appropriate components of ‘self.’ Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Preferred Reaction Path for the Oxidation of Methanol by PQQ‐Containing Methanol Dehydrogenase: Addition–Elimination versus Hydride‐Transfer Mechanism
Authors: Leopoldini Monica , Russo Nino , Toscano Marirosa 
Published: December 2006

AbstractThe catalytic oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde by pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)‐containing methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) was investigated at density functional B3LYP level. The still controversial addition–elimination and hydride‐transfer reaction mechanisms were analysed. Computations performed in the gas phase and in the protein environment indicated that both suggested reaction sequences involve very high activation barriers. In this situation, the reactions should have scarce probability to occur and the preference for one of the two paths cannot be stated. Here, we will show how some corrections to the successive steps in the addition–elimination mechanism can sensibly decrease the activation barriers height, making possible the determination of the MDH‐preferred catalytic path.
Nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis in pharmaceutical analysis
Authors: Geiser Laurent , Veuthey Jean‐Luc 
Published: December 2006

AbstractThis review presents different solvents and electrolytes commonly used as BGEs in NACE for the analysis of pharmaceutical compounds. Most NACE applications carried out since 1998 for the analysis of compounds of pharmaceutical interest are presented in four tables: (i) analysis of drugs and related substances, (ii) analysis of chiral substances, (iii) analysis of phytochemical extracts and (iv) analysis of drugs in biological fluids. These selected examples are used to illustrate the interest in NACE versus conventional aqueous CE.
Recent advances in enhancing the sensitivity of electrophoresis and electrochromatography in capillaries and microchips
Authors: Breadmore Michael C. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractPoor sensitivity is considered to be one of the major limitations of electrophoretic separation methods, particularly when compared to traditional liquid chromatographic techniques. To address this issue, various in‐line preconcentration techniques have been developed over the past 15 years, ranging in power and complexity, and there are now a number of well understood approaches routinely capable of providing a 10 000‐ to 100 000‐fold increase in sensitivity, as well as several that can be pushed above a million. Furthermore, these have been achieved with particularly troublesome and often difficult samples, such as those having high salinity from a biological or environmental origin. This review will discuss the most common methods for improving the sensitivity of CE, CEC and microchip version of these, with particular attention to those approaches developed over the last five years.
Combination of flow injection with electrophoresis using capillaries and chips
Authors: Chen Yonglei , Lü Wenjuan , Chen Xingguo , Hu Zhide 
Published: December 2006

AbstractThe technique of combined flow injection CE (FI‐CE) integrates the essential favorable merits of FI and CE and can significantly expand the application of CE by utilizing the various on‐line sample pretreatments and preconcentration of FI. The basic principles, instrumental developments, and applications of the FI‐CE system from 2004 to 2006 are reviewed. The recent developments and applications of FI‐CE are outlined.
Nonlinear determinism in river flow: prediction as a possible indicator
Authors: Sivakumar Bellie 
Published: December 2006

AbstractWhether or not river flow exhibits nonlinear determinism remains an unresolved question. While studies on the use of nonlinear deterministic methods for modeling and prediction of river flow series are on the rise and the outcomes are encouraging, suspicions and criticisms of such studies continue to exist as well. An important reason for this situation is that the correlation dimension method, used as a nonlinear determinism identification tool in most of those studies, may possess certain limitations when applied to real river flow series, which are always finite and often short and also contaminated with noise (e.g. measurement error). In view of this, the present study addresses the issue of nonlinear determinism in river flow series using prediction as a possible indicator. This is done by (1) reviewing studies that have employed nonlinear deterministic methods (coupling phase‐space reconstruction and local approximation techniques) for river flow predictions and (2) identifying nonlinear determinism (or linear stochasticity) based on the level of prediction accuracy in general, and on the prediction accuracy against the phase‐space reconstruction parameters in particular (termed as the ‘inverse approach’). The results not only provide possible indications to the presence of nonlinear determinism in the river flow series studied, but also support, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the low correlation dimensions reported for such. Therefore, nonlinear deterministic methods are a viable complement to linear stochastic ones for studying river flow dynamics, if sufficient caution is exercised in their applications and in interpreting the outcomes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Upregulation of AKT1 protein expression in forskolin‐stimulated macrophage: Evidence from ChIP analysis that CREB binds to and activates the AKT1 promoter
Authors: Misra Uma Kant , Pizzo Salvatore Vincent 
Published: December 2006

AbstractRecently, we reported that silencing CREB gene expression by RNAi significantly attenuates forskolin‐induced activation of Akt1. We now provide evidence that forskolin‐treatment causes transcriptional and translational upregulation of Akt1 in macrophages. Akt synthesis was demonstrated by [14C]leucine or [35S] incorporation into newly synthesized Akt1 protein. Akt protein levels increased by ∼1.5‐fold after only a 5 min exposure of macrophages to forskolin. Akt1 levels thereafter rapidly returned to basal values (t1/2 ∼ 15 min). Maximal upregulation of Akt1 occurred in cells treated with 10 µM forskolin. Forskolin‐dependent Akt1 synthesis was abolished by pretreating the cells with CREB‐directed dsRNA as demonstrated at both the message and protein level, as well as by determining the synthesis of [35S]‐labeled Akt1 protein. The PKA inhibitor H‐89, greatly attenuated forskolin‐induced Akt1 synthesis. Transcriptional and translational inhibitors also greatly reduced Akt1 synthesis in forskolin‐stimulated [14C]leucine‐labeled macrophages. Using a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, we demonstrate that CREB binds to a CRE binding domain of the Akt1 gene promoter. In conclusion, we show here for the first time transcriptional upregulation of Akt1 by CREB, based upon Akt1 protein synthesis and its modulation by transitional and translational inhibitors in forskolin‐stimulated cells, Akt1 protein. and mRNA levels upon silencing CREB gene expression, and binding of CREB to the Akt1 gene promoter. J. Cell. Biochem. 100: 1022–1033, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gestational diabetes mellitus: Fetal liver length measurements between 21and 24 weeks' gestation
Authors: Mirghani Hisham , Zayed Reem , Thomas Letha , Agarwal Mukesh 
Published: December 2006

AbstractPurpose.To evaluate sonographic measurements of the fetal liver, fetal abdominal fat layer, interventricular septum, and Wharton's jelly area between 21 and 24 weeks' gestation in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods.A total of 123 consecutive healthy pregnant women underwent sonographic examination at 21–24 weeks' gestational age. The measurements included fetal biometry, detailed anomaly scan, and fetal body composition measurements (subcutaneous fat, liver size, cardiac muscle thickness, and Wharton's jelly area). GDM was confirmed by way of a 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test using World Health Organization criteria within 1 week of the examination.Results.Nineteen (15.4%) women were diagnosed with GDM, while 104 (84.6%) women were without GDM. The mean fetal liver length was 36 mm (95% CI 32–37) in women with GDM and 31 mm (95% CI 30–33) in women without GDM (p < 0.01). Liver enlargement was related to maternal fasting glucose levels and not 2‐hour postprandial levels. There was no significant difference in the fetal biometric and other fetal body measurements between the 2 groups.Conclusions.The findings of this study suggest that midtrimester fetal liver length appears to be longer in GDM than in normal pregnancies. However, the fetal abdominal fat layer, interventricular septum, and Wharton's jelly were not affected. Nevertheless, further, larger randomized studies are required to confirm these findings. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 2007
Correlated fluorescence lifetime and spectral measurements in living cells
Authors: Spriet Corentin , Trinel Dave , Waharte François , Deslee Didier , Vandenbunder Bernard , Barbillat Jacques , Héliot Laurent 
Published: December 2006

AbstractStudies of proteins' interaction in cells by FRET can take benefit from two important photo‐physical properties describing fluorescent proteins: fluorescence emission spectrum and fluorescence lifetime. These properties provide specific and complementary information about the tagged proteins and their environment. However, none of them taken individually can completely quantify the involved fluorophore characteristics due to their multiparametric dependency with molecular environment, experimental conditions, and interpretation complexity. A solution to get a better understanding of the biological process implied at the cellular level is to combine the spectral and temporal fluorescence data acquired simultaneously at every cell region under investigation. We present the SLiM‐SPRC160, an original temporal/spectral acquisition system for simultaneous lifetime measurements in 16 spectral channels directly attached to the descanned port of a confocal microscope with two‐photon excitation. It features improved light throughput, enabling low‐level excitation and minimum invasivity in living cells studies. To guarantee a fairly good level of accuracy and reproducibility in the measurements of fluorescence lifetime and spectra on living cells, we propose a rigorous protocol for running experiments with this new equipment that preserves cell viability. The usefulness of SLiM approach for the precise determination of overlapping fluorophores is illustrated with the study of known solutions of rhodamine. Then, we describe reliable FRET experiments in imaging mode realized in living cells using this protocol. We also demonstrate the benefit of localized fluorescence spectrum‐lifetime acquisitions for the dynamic study of fluorescent proteins. proteins. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multiphoton fluorescence lifetime imaging of human hair
Authors: Ehlers Alexander , Riemann Iris , Stark Martin , König Karsten 
Published: December 2006

AbstractIn vivo and in vitro multiphoton imaging was used to perform high resolution optical sectioning of human hair by nonlinear excitation of endogenous as well as exogenous fluorophores. Multiphoton fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) based on time‐resolved single photon counting and near‐infrared femtosecond laser pulse excitation was employed to analyze the various fluorescent hair components. Time‐resolved multiphoton imaging of intratissue pigments has the potential (i) to identify endogenous keratin and melanin, (ii) to obtain information on intrahair dye accumulation, (iii) to study bleaching effects, and (iv) to monitor the intratissue diffusion of pharmaceutical and cosmetical components along hair shafts. Microsc. Res. Tech. 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rapid transport of plasmid DNA into the nucleolus via actin depolymerization using the HVJ envelope vector
Authors: Suvanasuthi Saroj , Tamai Katsuto , Kaneda Yasufumi 
Published: December 2006

AbstractBackgroundAlthough nuclear transport of therapeutic genes is an essential requirement of human gene therapy, factors required for nuclear entry of DNA remain to be elucidated. Non‐viral vector systems have led to numerous improvements in the efficiency of delivery of exogenous DNA into cells. However, nuclear transport of plasmid is difficult to achieve.MethodsWe examined nuclear translocation efficiency of Cy3‐labeled plasmid DNA (Cy3‐pDNA) delivered by the hemagglutinating virus of Japan envelope (HVJ‐E) vector, Lipofectamine or microinjection. We also examined the effect of actin depolymerization on nuclear transport of Cy3‐pDNA.ResultsCy3‐pDNA reached the nucleus, particularly in the nucleolus, in 30 min after fusion‐mediated delivery using the HVJ‐E vector, while the DNA was retained in the cytoplasm during the observed period after the delivery by cationic liposomes. HVJ‐E treatment transiently depolymerized actin filaments, and acceleration of nucleolar entry of microinjected DNA was achieved when treated with either empty HVJ‐E or cytochalasin D, an inhibitor of actin depolymerization, prior to microinjection.ConclusionsThese results suggest that plasmid DNA can be transported rapidly from the cytoplasm to the nucleolus when actin filaments are depolymerized. Thus, the HVJ‐E vector can accelerate the transport of DNA to the nucleolus by actin depolymerization. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
M+4 stable isotope labeling of levovirin and M+7 and carbon‐14 labeling of levovirin valinate pro‐drug
Authors: de Keczer Steve A. , Masjedizadeh Mohammad R. , Wu Shao‐Yong , Lara‐Jaime Teresa , Comstock Kate , Dvorak Charles , Liu Yu‐Ying , Berger Walter 
Published: December 2006

Abstract[M+4]‐labeled levovirin 5 (231 mg) was synthesized as an MS reference compound from [M+4] triazole ester 2. [M+7]‐labeled levovirin valinate 6 (127 mg) was synthesized as a comparison MS reference compound from [M+6] triazole ester 3. [14C]‐Levovirin 7 and [14C]‐levovirin valinate 8 were synthesized to support metabolism studies. The synthesis of 7 was accomplished in 33% overall yield (35.4 mCi, 57 mCi/mmol) from Ba14CO3 and 8 was synthesized in 41% yield (12.5 mCi, 57 mCi/mmol) from 7. An efficient metallation/carbonation reaction was developed to synthesize [14C]‐triazole ester 4. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simple and high radiochemical yield synthesis of 2′‐Deoxy‐2′‐[18F]fluorouridine via a new nosylate precursor
Authors: Kang Se Hun , Oh Seung Jun , Yoon Mi Kyung , Ryu Jin Sook , Lee Won Koo , Choi Sun Joo , Park Kyung Pae , Moon Dae Hyuk 
Published: December 2006

AbstractWe synthesized 2'‐deoxy‐2'‐[18F]fluorouridine (7) as a radiotracer for positron emission tomography from a new nosylate precursor (6). This new precursor was synthesized from uridine in four steps. The overall synthetic yield was 9.4% and we have high stability of >98% purity up to 6 months at 4°C. The optimal manual [18F]fluorination conditions were 30 mg of the precursor 6 in 500 µl of acetonitrile at 145°C for 15 min with 370 MBq of [18F]fluoride. The [18F]fluorination yield was 76.5±2.7% (n = 3). After hydrolysis of protecting groups with 1 N HCl and purification by HPLC, the overall radiochemical yield and purity were 26.5±1.4% and 98.2±2.5%, respectively. The preparation time was 70.0±10.5 min (n = 3 for each result). We also developed an automated method with a radiochemical yield and purity of 24.0±2.8 and 98.0±1.5% (n = 10) using a GE TracerLab MX chemistry module. This new nosylate precursor for 2'‐deoxy‐2'‐[18F]fluorouridine synthesis showed higher radiochemical yields and reproducibility than previous methods. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preparation of deuterium‐labeled monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids for use as stable isotope metabolic tracers
Authors: Crane Sheldon N. , Bateman Kevin , Gagne Sebastien , Levesque Jean‐Francois 
Published: December 2006

AbstractSynthetic routes adaptable to the preparation of a variety of d7‐labeled monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids are reported. Using these reaction sequences, d7‐oleic [18:1 (9c)], d7‐elaidic [18:1 (9t)], and d7‐stearic acid (18:0) were prepared for use in metabolism studies as stable isotope‐labeled tracers. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.