bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The attitudes and practices of general practitioners regarding dementia diagnosis in Ireland
Authors: Cahill S. , Clark M. , O'Connell H. , Lawlor B. , Coen R. F. , Walsh C. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractBackgroundThe diagnosis of dementia poses difficulties for general practitioners (GPs) particularly when access to specialist diagnostic services is delayed. Ireland is soon to witness an increase in numbers of people presenting with dementia, yet little is known about the service needs of GPs when attempting to diagnose dementia.ObjectivesTo detail the service needs of GPs, especially their training needs, access to diagnostic resources such as CT and MRI brain scans and access to specialist services such as Old Age Psychiatry (OAP), Geriatric Medicine (GM) and Neuropsychology (NP).MethodsThe paper is based on survey data collected from a sample of GPs (<$>n<$> = 300) registered with the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) and on qualitative data collected from a Focus Group (<$>n<$> = 7).ResultsGPs were more likely to blame themselves than either the health care system, their patients or family members for the late presentation of dementia in primary care. Stigma was a major obstacle preventing GPs from being more proactive in this area. Rural GPs felt geographically disadvantaged accessing diagnostic services and both rural and urban GPs experienced considerable time delays accessing specialist diagnostic services.ConclusionsFindings provide compelling evidence that training and access to diagnostic services are only two of several different structural and ideological obstacles that GPs encounter when attempting to diagnose dementia. Future educational supports for GPs need to be developed which concentrate on these areas.Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Measuring primary care patients' attitudes about dementia screening
Authors: Boustani Malaz , Perkins Anthony J. , Monahan Patrick , Fox Chris , Watson Lea , Hopkins John , Fultz Bridget , Hui Siu , Unverzagt Frederick W. , Callahan Christopher M. , Hendrie Hugh C. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractObjectivesTo develop a questionnaire that will capture patients' attitudes about dementia screening in primary care.MethodsCross‐sectional study of 315 patients aged 65 and older attending urban and rural primary care clinics in Indianapolis and North Carolina. The Perceptions Regarding Investigational Screening for Memory in Primary Care (PRISM‐PC) questionnaire was administered via face‐to‐face or telephone interview.ResultsThe PRISM‐PC questionnaire consists of two separate scales: the patient's acceptance of dementia screening scale and the patient's perceived harms and benefits of dementia screening scale. The face validity of the PRISM‐PC questionnaire was based on a systematic literature review and the opinions of 16 clinician‐investigators with experience in screening for dementia. Exploratory factor analyses for the acceptance scale revealed the presence of two dimensions: knowledge about dementia risk and testing for dementia. For the benefits and harms scale, exploratory factor analyses identified four dimensions: perceived benefits of screening, stigma of screening, suffering from screening, and impact of screening on patients' independence. The internal consistency of each of the above subscales was good with Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.58–0.85.ConclusionThe PRISM‐PC questionnaire captures primary care patients' acceptance, perceived harms, and perceived benefits of dementia screening. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Promotion and prevention within a decentralized framework: changing health care in Brazil and Chile
Authors: Atkinson Sarah , Cohn Amélia , Ducci Maria E. , Fernándes Lucília , Smyth Fiona 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe study aims to define configurations of factors from local, regional and national levels that, within a context of decentralized health systems, enable or hinder change towards a health care model of promotion and disease prevention as advocated in current Latin American public health discourse. The project made in‐depth case studies of prevention and promotion activities in eight local health systems in rural and urban Brazil and Chile allowing three levels of comparison: national, regional and local. The data are based on interviews, secondary sources, policy documentation and observations.The results are summarized as pathways through configurations of factors leading to what are termed active and basic degrees of activity related to disease prevention and health promotion at the local level. The results raise considerations for policy‐makers at each of the three levels of health systems regarding vertical and horizontal system structures, relationships to local government, management options and human resource incentives. The findings from this study can serve as a guide or menu of issues to consider in the implementation of new models of health care provision, not only in Brazil and Chile, but also elsewhere in Latin America and more widely in the world. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Phenotypic effects of thermal mean and fluctuations on embryonic development and hatchling traits in a lacertid lizard, Takydromus septentrionalis
Authors: Du Wei‐Guo , Feng Jia‐Hua 
Published: January 2008

AbstractHow fluctuating temperatures influence reptilian embryos and hatchlings has attracted increasing scientific attention, but is poorly known. We conducted an incubation experiment with a factorial design of two mean temperatures (24 vs. 28°C) and three diel thermal fluctuations (0, ±3, ±6°C) to determine the effects of diel thermal fluctuations and mean temperature on incubation duration and hatchling phenotypes. Both diel thermal fluctuations and mean temperature significantly affected incubation duration, but not hatching success. Incubation duration increased with increasing temperature fluctuations at a mean temperature of 24°C, but not at a mean temperature of 28°C. The significant interaction between diel thermal fluctuations and mean temperature on hatchling morphology indicated that the effect of thermal fluctuations depended on the mean temperature. Hatchling mass differed significantly between 24±6 and 28±6°C, but not between the two constant temperatures or the temperatures with ±3°C fluctuations. At a mean temperature of 24°C, the effect of thermal fluctuations on hatchling size was marginally significant, with relatively large hatchlings at the constant temperature; at a mean temperature of 28°C, thermal fluctuations had no impact on hatchling size. The locomotor performances were significantly affected by mean temperature rather than diel thermal fluctuations. Therefore, diel thermal fluctuations around a given mean temperature do not affect hatchling phenotypes in a relatively large magnitude, but the influence of diel thermal fluctuations may differ with changing mean temperatures. J. Exp. Zool. 309A:138–146, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Self‐Assembled PEO‐Peptide Nanotapes as Ink for Plotting Nonwoven Silica Nanocomposites and Mesoporous Silica Fiber Networks
Authors: Kessel Stefanie , Börner Hans G. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractMacroscopic networks of oriented polymer‐silica composite fibers can be accessed via a convenient 2D‐plotting process. By using self‐assembled PEO‐peptide nanotapes as an ink to draw the composite fibers, the macroscopic form of the fiber networks, the line width, and both network orientation as well as network anisotropy can be defined. The plotting process relies on a biomimetic silicification route, which combines self‐assembly and peptide‐directed silicification in a cooperative manner. The local injection of PEO‐peptide nanotapes into a thin layer of a dilute solution of pre‐hydrolyzed TMOS leads to the rapid formation of the composite fibers, which exhibit several levels of hierarchical order. It was shown, that the rate of plotting is a parameter, enabling one to control the line width and the orientation of the nano‐ and sub‐micrometer structure elements in the network. Moreover, the plotted composite fibers can be used as precursors for networks of oriented, mesoporous silica‐fibers. After calcination procedures, nonwoven silica fabrics can be obtained with high surface areas and cylindrical pores aligned in plot direction.magnified image
3‐Oxo‐1,3‐oxathiolanes—synthesis and stereochemistry
Authors: Pihlaja Kalevi , Sinkkonen Jari , Stájer Géza 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe compound 3‐oxo‐1,3‐oxathiolane (6) and its cis ‐ and trans ‐ 2‐methyl (7,8), 4‐methyl (9,10), 5‐methyl (11,12) and 2‐p‐nitrophenyl (13,14) derivatives were prepared by oxidizing the corresponding 1,3‐oxathiolanes (1–5) with NaIO4 in water. The oxides were purified and their isomers separated using thin layer chromatography. The structural characterization was carried out with 1H NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling. Compounds 8–10, 12, and 14 attain the half‐chair type conformation with O(1) above and C(5) below the plane (HC1), but 6, 7, 11, and 13 are, for steric reasons, the mixtures with the alternative half‐chair (HC2), where O(1) is below and C(5) above this plane. Accordingly, 6 appears based on the values of experimental coupling constants as an 81:19, 7 as a 37:63, 11 as a 33:67 and 13 as a 54:46 mixture of HC1 and HC2, respectively. The relative energies of these conformations, the values of the vicinal H,H‐coupling constants and 1H chemical shifts were estimated for compounds 6–12 also by computational methods and they support nicely the conclusions based on experimental data. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assignment of the 1H and 13C NMR of tocotrienols
Authors: Ohnmacht Stephan , West Ryan , Simionescu Razvan , Atkinson Jeffrey 
Published: January 2008

AbstractVitamin E is a family of chromanols that vary by the degree of methylation of the chroman ring as well as the nature of the hydrophobic side chain at C2 that serves to anchor these lipids in biological membranes. The tocopherols contain saturated side chains, whereas the tocotrienols contain three sites of unsaturation and are derived from geranylgeranyl diphosphate. A growing interest in the unique biological activities of the tocotrienols has led us to begin syntheses of isotopically substituted forms and other derivatives that will be useful for probing the metabolism and membrane behavior of the tocotrienols. In order to be certain of our ability to selectively modify sites on the parent molecules it was necessary to make as complete an assignment of the 1H and 13C NMR as possible. Herein we report multidimensional NMR data (HSQC, COSY, ADEQUATE(1,1), CH HMBC, and NOESY) that have allowed us to assign the identity of almost all the resonances for α‐, β‐, γ‐, and δ‐tocotrienol. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Unexpected shielding of methyl group protons in some piperidines
Authors: Manimekalai A. , Maruthavanan T. , Selvaraju K. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractHigh resolution 1H and 13C NMR spectra of four 3‐ethyl‐4‐hydroxy‐ 4‐phenylpiperidines 1–4 have been recorded in CDCl3 and analysed. The conformations of phenyl and hydroxyl groups at C(4) and ethyl group at C(3) were analysed in detail. The chemical shift of the methyl protons in the ethyl group are quite surprising; they are close to TMS in CDCl3 and even negative in DMSO–d6. These results are interpreted in terms of the magnetic anisotropy of the phenyl rings at C(2) and C(4) which, in turn, depend on the conformations of the ethyl group at C(3) and the hydroxyl group at C(4). Favoured conformations of ethyl group at C(3) and hydroxyl group at C(4) were calculated by AM1 methods. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Skeletal muscle telomere length is not impaired in healthy physically active old women and men
Authors: Ponsot Elodie , Lexell Jan , Kadi Fawzi 
Published: January 2008

AbstractWe have previously shown that the number of satellite cells is lower in old than young men and women. The aim of this study was to further explore the effects of aging on the regenerative potential of skeletal muscle in 16 young and 26 old men and women with comparable physical activity level (young, 25 ± 4 years; old, 75 ± 4 years). Mean and minimum telomere lengths were determined using Southern blot analyses on biopsies obtained from the tibialis anterior muscle. There were no significant age or gender effects on mean and minimal telomeric lengths, suggesting that the replicative potential in the remaining satellite cells in the tibialis anterior muscle is not impaired with increasing age and the existence of in vivo regulatory mechanisms allowing the maintenance of telomere length. These results imply that moderate physical activity regularly performed by old subjects is not associated with accelerated telomere loss. Muscle Nerve, 2008
Age‐related muscle fatigue after a low‐force fatiguing contraction is explained by central fatigue
Authors: Yoon Tejin , De‐Lap Bonnie Schlinder , Griffith Erin E. , Hunter Sandra K. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe contribution of central fatigue during and after low‐ and high‐force isometric contractions sustained until failure with age is not established. We compared the time to failure and changes in voluntary activation measured using motor point stimulation of 15 young and 15 old adults for an isometric contraction sustained with the elbow flexor muscles at 20% and 80% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force. Young adults had a briefer time to task failure than old adults for the 20% MVC fatiguing contraction, but a similar duration for the 80% task. Voluntary activation was reduced at the end of the 20% MVC task, but by greater magnitudes for old than young adults. The reduction in MVC torque after the low‐force task was associated with the reduction in voluntary activation. After the 80% task, voluntary activation declined to similar levels for the young and old adults. Electromyographic activity levels (% MVC) of the biceps brachii and brachioradialis muscles during the fatiguing contraction were greater for the old than young for the 20% MVC task, but similar with age for the 80% MVC task. Our findings indicate that intensity and duration of contraction can be manipulated in young and old adults to induce varying magnitudes of fatigue within the central nervous system. Aging increases: (1) fatigue within the central nervous system immediately after a low‐force fatiguing contraction, and (2) the potential for large neural adaptations during neuromuscular rehabilitation in old adults. Muscle Nerve, 2008
Potential role of fetal cardiac evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging: preliminary experience
Authors: Manganaro Lucia , Savelli Sara , Di Maurizio Marco , Perrone Anna , Tesei Jacopo , Francioso Antonella , Angeletti Marco , Coratella Fabio , Irimia Daniela , Fierro Francesca , Ventriglia Flavia , Ballesio Laura 
Published: January 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo report our experience with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in fetal heart evaluation.MethodTwo radiologists examined 31 MRI of fetuses with no ultrasound (US) evidence of cardio‐thoracic anomalies. T2‐weighted half‐Fourier single‐shot turbo spin–echo sequences were acquired for anatomic evaluation; fast imaging with steady‐state free precession (TrueFISP) and cine‐MR sequences with real‐time steady‐state free precession oriented like standard fetal echocardiographic projections were acquired for the characterization of cardiovascular morphology and function.ResultsIn every case, MRI assessed the viscero‐atrial situs. The four‐chamber view and the short‐axis view of the left ventricle were obtained in all fetuses, the long‐axis view of the aortic arch in 28, the long‐axis view of the ductus arteriosus in 17, the five‐chamber view in 12, the long‐axis of the left ventricle in 9, the three‐vessel view in 7, the tricuspid‐aortic view in 3, and the transverse view of the aortic arch and the angulated view of the arch and the ductus arteriosus simultaneously in 2 fetuses.ConclusionOur preliminary experience demonstrates the feasibility to visualize the fetal heart with routine fetal MRI protocols in particular, by means of acquisition of TrueFISP imaging (morphological study) and real‐time cine‐MRI (dynamic study), potentially making MRI a second‐level tool to add to fetal echocardiography in the prenatal study of congenital cardiac malformations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differential expression of cardiac mitochondrial proteins
Authors: Smith Julia R. , Matus Isaac R. , Beard Daniel A. , Greene Andrew S. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractMitochondria were isolated from whole hearts of Dahl salt sensitive (SS) and chromosome 13 consomic control (SS.13BN/Mcwi) rats using a mechanical homogenization process followed by density centrifugation. The proteins present in the two mitochondria preparations were quantified; equal amounts of protein from each sample were taken and trypsinized in the presence of either 16O or 18O before pooling. Incorporation of one or two 18O atoms at the C‐terminus of the peptide cleaved by trypsin allows the distinction between the two samples. The proteins were identified by automated MS/MS sequencing and relative amounts of each protein assessed by comparison of the intensities of the constituent peptides. Relative quantification was performed using the ZoomQuant (v1.24) software. Nine proteins were found to be differentially expressed. Electron transfer flavoprotein alpha (P13803, ETFA) protein expression was two‐fold lower in the SS compared to the SS.13BN. This was confirmed by Western blot and 2‐DE gel quantification. Potential functional implications of this differential expression include an impaired capacity of the heart to oxidize fatty acids in the SS strain compared to the control. Mathematical modeling of mitochondrial electron transport predicted that the observed change in ETFA expression may result in decreased activity of the electron transport chain.
Host perception and signal transduction studies in wild‐type Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei and a quinoxyfen‐resistant mutant implicate quinoxyfen in the inhibition of serine esterase activity
Authors: Lee Susannah , Gustafson Gary , Skamnioti Pari , Baloch Roobina , Gurr Sarah 
Published: January 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: Quinoxyfen is a potent and effective fungicide, hitherto considered to control powdery mildew disease by perturbing signal transduction during early germling differentiation. The aim of this paper is to understand the mode of action of quinoxyfen by comparing the perception of host‐derived signals and signal relay in a wild‐type Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei EM Marchal (Bgh) (WT/IM82) and a quinoxyfen‐resistant field isolate (QR/2B11).RESULTS: QR/2B11 germinates more promiscuously on host‐like and artificial surfaces than the quinoxyfen‐sensitive WT/IM82. The pivotal role of host cuticle deprivation in the formation of hooked appressorial germ tubes (hAGTs) in WT/IM82 and a dramatic drop in germling differentiation in the presence of the mildewicide are demonstrated. QR/2B11 strain shows a dependence on host cuticle‐like features for hAGT formation but no significant difference between germling differentiation in the presence or absence of quinoxyfen. PKC‐inhibitor Ro 318220 induces morphological changes similar to those seen in quinoxyfen‐treated germlings. PKC1 transcript accumulation is equivalently upregulated by quinoxyfen in QR/2B11 and WT/IM82 strains, but Bgh cutinase CUT1 transcript is 8 times more abundant in QR/2B11 conidia than in WT/IM82 conidia. Quinoxyfen inhibits serine esterase activity in WT/IM82, but not in QR/2B11.CONCLUSION: Collectively, these data suggest that quinoxyfen interferes with the perception of host‐derived signals required for full germling differentiation, and that QR/2B11 bypasses the need for such signals. Moreover, quinoxyfen appears to target serine esterase activity, with a downstream perturbation in signal transduction; this represents the first demonstrable biochemical difference between the quinoxyfen‐resistant and ‐sensitive isolates. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Study of the dissociation of a charge‐reduced phosphopeptide formed by electron transfer from an alkali metal target
Authors: Hayakawa Shigeo , Hashimoto Mami , Nagao Hirofumi , Awazu Kunio , Toyoda Michisato , Ichihara Toshio , Shigeri Yasushi 
Published: January 2008

AbstractDoubly protonated phosphopeptide (YGGMHRQET(p)VDC) ions obtained by electrospray ionization were collided with Xe and Cs targets to give singly and doubly charged positive ions via collision‐induced dissociation (CID). The resulting ions were analyzed and detected by using an electrostatic analyzer (ESA). Whereas doubly charged fragment ions resulting from collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) were dominant in the CID spectrum with the Xe target, singly charged fragment ions resulting from electron transfer dissociation (ETD) were dominant in the CID spectrum with the Cs target. The most intense peak resulting from ETD was estimated to be associated with the charge‐reduced ion with H2 lost from the precursor. Five c‐type fragment ions with amino acid residues detached consecutively from the C‐terminal were clearly observed without a loss of the phosphate group. These ions must be formed by NCα bond cleavage, in a manner similar to the cases of electron capture dissociation (ECD) and ETD from negative ions. Although the accuracy in m/z of the CID spectra was about ±1 Th because of the mass analysis using the ESA, it is supposed from the m/z values of the c‐type ions that these ions were accompanied by the loss of a hydrogen atom. Four z‐type (or yNH3, or yH2O) ions analogously detached consecutively from the N‐terminal were also observed. The fragmentation processes took place within the time scale of 4.5 µs in the high‐energy collision. The present results demonstrated that high‐energy ETD with the alkali metal target allowed determination of the position of phosphorylation and the amino acid sequence of post‐translational peptides. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In Vivo MRI Detection of Gliomas by Chlorotoxin‐Conjugated Superparamagnetic Nanoprobes
Authors: Sun Conroy , Veiseh Omid , Gunn Jonathan , Fang Chen , Hansen Stacey , Lee Donghoon , Sze Raymond , Ellenbogen Richard G. , Olson Jim , Zhang Miqin 
Published: January 2008

AbstractConverging advances in the development of nanoparticle‐based imaging probes and improved understanding of the molecular biology of brain tumors offer the potential to provide physicians with new tools for the diagnosis and treatment of these deadly diseases. However, the effectiveness of promising nanoparticle technologies is currently limited by insufficient accumulation of these contrast agents within tumors. Here a biocompatible nanoprobe composed of a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) coated iron oxide nanoparticle that is capable of specifically targeting glioma tumors via the surface‐bound targeting peptide, chlorotoxin (CTX), is presented. The preferential accumulation of the nanoprobe within gliomas and subsequent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement are demonstrated in vitro in 9L cells and in vivo in tumors of a xenograft mouse model. TEM imaging reveals that the nanoprobes are internalized into the cytoplasm of 9L cells and histological analysis of selected tissues indicates that there are no acute toxic effects of these nanoprobes. High targeting specificity and benign biological response establish this nanoprobe as a potential platform to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of gliomas and other tumors of neuroectodermal origin.