bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Complications of needle electromyography: Hematoma risk and correlation with anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy
Authors: Lynch Stacy L. , Boon Andrea J. , Smith Jay , Harper C. Michel , Tanaka Elisa M. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractElectromyography (EMG) is considered a relatively safe procedure based primarily on clinical experience. Literature review reveals few reported complications from bleeding or hematoma formation. No evidence‐based guidelines exist for EMG procedures in patients who are taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications. The purpose of this study was to determine if patients taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet agents exhibit an increased risk of hematoma formation after routine needle EMG of the tibialis anterior muscle when compared to controls. Study subjects underwent routine needle EMG of the tibialis anterior muscle followed by ultrasound examination to evaluate for the presence of hematoma formation. A mean of 30.8 min elapsed between needle insertion and ultrasound evaluation. A total of 101 patients who were taking warfarin were studied. They had International Normalized Ratio (INR) values at or above 1.5, and two were found to have small, subclinical hematomas. Of 57 patients taking clopidogrel and/or aspirin, 1 was found to have a small, subclinical hematoma. In the control group (51 patients taking neither class of medication), no hematomas were found on ultrasound. This study suggests that hematoma formation from a standard needle EMG is rare. In addition, hematoma formation in our study group of patients on anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications was also uncommon, and no patients with documented hematomas experienced symptoms. These findings should be considered when determining the feasibility of electrodiagnostic evaluation of patients who are taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications. Muscle Nerve, 2008
Oculomotor involvement in myotonic dystrophy type 2
Authors: Ajroud‐Driss Senda , Sufit Robert , Siddique Teepu , Hain Timothy C. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractOculomotor function has not been studied in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2). We report the presence of rebound nystagmus in seven of eight patients with DM2 in the absence of a structural brainstem or cerebellar lesion. The rebound nystagmus observed in these patients is very suggestive of ocular myotonia, and examination of patients using video‐Frenzel goggles may be a useful method for diagnosing myotonia of the extraocular muscles. Muscle Nerve, 2008
Animal models of sacral neuromodulation for detrusor overactivity
Authors: Vignes Jean‐Rodolphe , Deloire Mathilde , Petry Klaus 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe recent increase in the use of sacral neuromodulation (SN) for the treatment of detrusor overactivity has coincided with improved knowledge of micturition physiology and technological advances in nerve stimulation. Efficacy of SN treatment and patient satisfaction should continue to progress. Nevertheless, the exact mechanism of the action of this technique remains uncertain. Numerous theories have been proposed to explain the mechanism of action, including stimulation of efferents, or direct effect on the muscle, stimulation of the afferents, induction of spinal plasticity, and modifications of cortical activation. In experimental conditions, to evaluate the effects of electrical stimulation, animal models are generally focused on bladder inflammation or spinalization which both induce detrusor overactivity. Recently, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in rats has proven useful to study bladder dysfunction characterized as both detrursor overactivity or acontractile detrursor. The present article reviews experimental approaches for SN for treatment of detrusor overactivity and provides explanations for the potential acting mechanisms. Neurourol. Urodynam. 28:8–12, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High‐order layerwise finite element for the damped free‐vibration response of thick composite and sandwich composite plates
Authors: Plagianakos Theofanis S. , Saravanos Dimitris A. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractA high‐order layerwise finite element methodology is presented, which enables prediction of the damped dynamic characteristics of thick composite and sandwich composite plates. The through‐thickness displacement field in each discrete layer of the laminate includes quadratic and cubic polynomial distributions of the in‐plane displacements, in addition to the linear approximations assumed by linear layerwise theories. Stiffness, mass and damping matrices are formulated from ply to structural level. Interlaminar shear stress compatibility conditions are imposed on the discrete layer matrices, leading to both size reduction and prediction of interlaminar shear stresses at the laminate interfaces. The C1 continuous finite element implemented yields an element damping matrix in addition to element stiffness and mass matrices. Application cases include thick [0/90/0], [±θ]S and [±θ] composite plates with interlaminar damping layers and sandwich plates with composite faces and foam core. In the latter case, modal frequencies and damping were also experimentally determined and compared with the finite element predictions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Correlation between rheological, electrical, and microstructure characteristics in polyethylene/aluminum nanocomposites
Authors: Huang Xingyi , Kim Chonung , Ma Zhisen , Jiang Pingkai , Yin Yi , Li Zhe 
Published: September 2008

AbstractPolyethylene (PE)/aluminum (Al) nanocomposites with various filler contents were prepared by a solution compounding method. We investigated the influence of the surface modification of Al nanoparticles on the microstructure and physical properties of the nanocomposites. The silane coupling agent octyl‐trimethoxysilane was shown to significantly increase interfacial compatibility between the polymer phase and Al nanoparticles. Rheological percolation threshold values were determined by analyzing the improvement in storage modulus at low frequencies depending on the Al loadings. Lower percolation threshold values were obtained for the composites prepared with the original nanoparticles than those prepared with the silane‐modified Al nanoparticles. A strong correlation between the time and concentration dependences of dc conductivity and rheological properties was observed in the different nanocomposite systems. The rheological threshold of the composites is smaller than the percolation threshold of electrical conductivity for both of the nanocomposite systems. The difference in percolation threshold is understood in terms of the smaller particle–particle distance required for electrical conduction when compared with that required to impede polymer mobility. It was directly shown by SEM characterization that the nanoparticle surface modification yielded better filler dispersion, as is consistent with our rheological and electrical analysis. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 2143–2154, 2008
Investigation of thermodynamic properties of hyperbranched poly(ester amide) by inverse gas chromatography
Authors: Dritsas G. S. , Karatasos K. , Panayiotou C. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThermodynamic properties of the hyperbranched poly (ester amide) (Hybrane® 1200) were investigated by inverse gas chromatography (IGC) using 19 different solvents as the probes at infinite dilution. Retention data of probes were used for an extensive characterization of the polymer, which includes the determination of the Flory‐Huggins interaction parameter, the weight fraction activity coefficient, the total, partial, and additive solubility parameters. The analysis of the results indicated that the additive value of the solubility parameter is lower than the value obtained from a standard procedure. Furthermore, the solubility parameter decreases with increase of temperature. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 2166–2172, 2008
Investigation on nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of the high‐flow nylon 6 by differential scanning calorimetry
Authors: Zhang Fan , Zhou Li , Xiong Yuanqin , Xu Weijian 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe crystallization kinetics of the high‐flow nylon 6 containing polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers units in nylon 6 matrix was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. The Ozawa and Mo equations were used to describe the crystallization kinetics under nonisothermal condition. The values of Avrami exponent m and the cooling crystallization function F(T) were determined from the Ozawa plots, which showed bad linearity, and were divided into three sections depending on different cooling rates. The plots of the m and log F(T) values versus crystallization temperatures were obtained, which indicated that the actual crystallization mechanisms might change with the crystallization temperatures. The high‐flow nylon 6 has higher values of m and log F(T) than those of pure nylon 6, which implied that the high‐flow nylon 6 had more complicated crystallization mechanisms and slower crystallization rate than those of pure nylon 6. The good linearity of the Mo plots verified the success of this combined approach. The activation energies of the high‐flow nylon 6 ranged from 157 to 174 kJ/mol, which were determined by the Kissinger method. The ΔE values were lower than those of pure nylon 6, and the ΔE values were affected by both the generation and the content of PAMAM units in the nylon 6 matrix. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 2201–2211, 2008
Chiari I malformation presenting as chronic cough
Authors: Amos Louella B. , Quintero Diana R. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractWe present a 9‐month‐old infant with persistent cough refractory to conventional asthma therapy. An extensive evaluation eventually revealed a Chiari I malformation with syringohydromyelia. His cough resolved one month after surgical decompression, suggesting that brainstem compression from the Chiari malformation directly caused his symptoms. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:1040–1042. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
CSF amyloid‐β 1‐38 and 1‐42 in FTD and AD: Biomarker performance critically depends on the detergent accessible fraction
Authors: Bibl Mirko , Lewczuk Piotr , Esselmann Hermann , Mollenhauer Brit , Klafki Hans‐Wolfgang , Welge Volker , Wolf Stefanie , Trenkwalder Claudia , Otto Markus , Kornhuber Johannes , Wiltfang Jens 
Published: September 2008

AbstractCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ1‐38, Aβ1‐40, and Aβ1‐42 were comparatively analyzed by amyloid‐beta SDS‐PAGE with Western immunoblot (Aβ‐SDS‐PAGE/immunoblot), electrochemiluminescence detection and ELISA (MSD/ELISA) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD, n = 40), frontotemporal dementia (FTD, n = 30), and other dementias (n = 50) and nondemented disease controls (n = 30). CSF Aβ‐peptide concentrations were higher and selective decreases of CSF Aβ1‐38 in FTD and Aβ1‐42 in AD were more evident as measured after SDS‐denaturizing of samples by Aβ‐SDS‐PAGE/immunoblot. The SDS‐accessible pool of CSF Aβ1‐38 and Aβ1‐42, represented by the individual gain of Aβ‐peptide yield using Aβ‐SDS‐PAGE/immunoblot, was reduced in both FTD and AD. Accordingly, biomarker accuracies of Aβ1‐38 and Aβ1‐42 for detection of FTD and AD, respectively declined as determined by MSD/ELISA. We conclude that a pool of CSF Aβ1‐38 and Aβ1‐42, which shows disease‐specific reductions in FTD and AD, may be bound to carriers and can be released by SDS. Assessing this SDS‐accessible Aβ‐peptide pool may crucially enhance the accuracy of CSF biomarker tests. Identifying disease‐specific binding properties of affected Aβ carriers may elucidate pathogenic aspects and open up a novel field for therapeutic approaches.
Applications of protein microarrays for biomarker discovery
Authors: Ramachandran Niroshan , Srivastava Sanjeeva , LaBaer Joshua 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe search for new biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic monitoring of diseases continues in earnest despite dwindling success at finding novel reliable markers. Some of the current markers in clinical use do not provide optimal sensitivity and specificity, with the prostate cancer antigen (PSA) being one of many such examples. The emergence of proteomic techniques and systems approaches to study disease pathophysiology has rekindled the quest for new biomarkers. In particular the use of protein microarrays has surged as a powerful tool for large‐scale testing of biological samples. Approximately half the reports on protein microarrays have been published in the last two years especially in the area of biomarker discovery. In this review, we will discuss the application of protein microarray technologies that offer unique opportunities to find novel biomarkers.
Insulin receptor expression by human prostate cancers
Authors: Cox Michael E. , Gleave Martin E. , Zakikhani Mahvash , Bell Robert H. , Piura Esther , Vickers Elaine , Cunningham Matthew , Larsson Ola , Fazli Ladan , Pollak Michael 
Published: September 2008

AbstractBACKGROUNDAlthough recent laboratory and population studies suggest that prostate cancer may be responsive to insulin, there is a gap in knowledge concerning the expression of insulin receptors on benign or malignant prostate tissue.METHODSWe immunostained 644 cores on tissue microarrays prepared from 29 prostate tissue samples without malignancies, 78 Gleason grade 3 cancers, 21 Gleason grade 4 cancers and 33 Gleason grade 5 cancers with antibodies against the insulin‐like growth factor I receptor and the insulin receptor.RESULTSWe observed immunoreactivity with both antibodies, which implies the presence of hybrid receptors as well as IGF‐I receptors and insulin receptors. Insulin receptor staining intensity was significantly (P < 0.001) higher on malignant than benign prostate epithelial cells. Analysis of information from public gene expression databases confirmed that co‐expression of insulin receptor mRNA and IGF‐I receptor mRNA is common in prostate cancer specimens. RT‐PCR methods provided evidence for the presence of mRNA for both IR‐A and IR‐B insulin receptor isoforms.CONCLUSIONThese observations document the presence of insulin receptors on primary human prostate cancers. The findings are relevant not only to ongoing clinical trials of drug candidates that target IGF‐I and/or insulin receptors, but also to the hypothesis that obesity‐associated hyperinsulinemia mediates the adverse effect of obesity on prostate cancer prognosis. Prostate 69: 33–40, 2009. © 2008 Wiley–Liss, Inc.
Model quality assessment using distance constraints from alignments
Authors: Paluszewski Martin , Karplus Kevin 
Published: September 2008

AbstractGiven a set of alternative models for a specific protein sequence, the model quality assessment (MQA) problem asks for an assignment of scores to each model in the set. A good MQA program assigns these scores such that they correlate well with real quality of the models, ideally scoring best that model which is closest to the true structure. In this article, we present a new approach for addressing the MQA problem. It is based on distance constraints extracted from alignments to templates of known structure, and is implemented in the Undertaker program for protein structure prediction. One novel feature is that we extract noncontact constraints as well as contact constraints. We describe how the distance constraint extraction is done and we show how they can be used to address the MQA problem. We have compared our method on CASP7 targets and the results show that our method is at least comparable with the best MQA methods that were assessed at CASP7. We also propose a new evaluation measure, Kendall's τ, that is more interpretable than conventional measures used for evaluating MQA methods (Pearson's r and Spearman's ρ). We show clear examples where Kendall's τ agrees much more with our intuition of a correct MQA, and we therefore propose that Kendall's τ be used for future CASP MQA assessments. Proteins 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Binding and release of cholesterol in the Osh4 protein of yeast
Authors: Singh Rishi P. , Brooks Bernard R. , Klauda Jeffery B. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractSterols have been shown experimentally to bind to the Osh4 protein (a homolog of the oxysterol binding proteins) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae within a binding tunnel, which consists of antiparallel β‐sheets that resemble a β‐barrel and three α‐helices of the N‐terminus. This and other Osh proteins are essential for intracellular transport of sterols and ultimately cell life. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used to study the binding of cholesterol to Osh4 at the atomic level. The structure of the protein is stable during the course of all MD simulations and has little deviation from the experimental crystal structure. The conformational stability of cholesterol within the binding tunnel is aided in part by direct or water‐mediated interactions between the 3‐hydroxyl (3‐OH) group of cholesterol and Trp46, Gln96, Tyr97, Asn165, and/or Gln181 as well as dispersive interactions with Phe42, Leu24, Leu39, Ile167, and Ile203. These residues along with other nonpolar residues in the binding tunnel and lid contribute nearly 75% to the total binding energy. The strongest and most populated interaction is between Gln96 and 3‐OH with a cholesterol/Gln96 interaction energy of −4.5 ± 1.0 kcal/mol. Phe42 has a similar level of attraction to cholesterol with −4.1 ± 0.3 kcal/mol. A MD simulation without the N‐terminus lid that covers the binding tunnel resulted in similar binding conformations and binding energies when compared with simulations with the full‐length protein. Steered MD was used to determine details of the mechanism used by Osh4 to release cholesterol to the cytoplasm. Phe42, Gln96, Asn165, Gln181, Pro211, and Ile206 are found to direct the cholesterol as it exits the binding tunnel as well as Lys109. The mechanism of sterol release is conceptualized as a molecular ladder with the rungs being amino acids or water‐mediated amino acids that interact with 3‐OH. Proteins 2009. Published 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In silico analyses of substrate interactions with human serum paraoxonase 1
Authors: Hu Xin , Jiang Xiaohui , Lenz David E. , Cerasoli Douglas M. , Wallqvist Anders 
Published: September 2008

AbstractHuman paraoxonase (HuPON1) is a serum enzyme that exhibits a broad spectrum of hydrolytic activities, including the hydrolysis of various organophosphates, esters, and recently identified lactone substrates. Despite intensive site‐directed mutagenesis and other biological studies, the structural basis for the specificity of substrate interactions of HuPON1 remains elusive. In this study, we apply homology modeling, docking, and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations to probe the binding interactions of HuPON1 with representative substrates. The results suggest that the active site of HuPON1 is characterized by two distinct binding regions: the hydrophobic binding site for arylesters/lactones, and the paraoxon binding site for phosphotriesters. The unique binding modes proposed for each type of substrate reveal a number of key residues governing substrate specificity. The polymorphic residue R/Q192 interacts with the leaving group of paraoxon, suggesting it plays an important role in the proper positioning of this substrate in the active site. MD simulations of the optimal binding complexes show that residue Y71 undergoes an “open‐closed” conformational change upon ligand binding, and forms strong interactions with substrates. Further binding free energy calculations and residual decomposition give a more refined molecular view of the energetics and origin of HuPON1/substrate interactions. These studies provide a theoretical model of substrate binding and specificity associated with wild type and mutant forms of HuPON1, which can be applied in the rational design of HuPON1 variants as bioscavengers with enhanced catalytic activity. Proteins 2008. Published 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
PIK3CA somatic mutations in breast cancer: Mechanistic insights from Langevin dynamics simulations
Authors: Mankoo Parminder K. , Sukumar Saraswati , Karchin Rachel 
Published: September 2008

AbstractSomatic mutations in PIK3CA (phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase, catalytic subunit, alpha isoform) are reported in breast and other human cancers to concentrate at hotspots within its kinase and helical domains. Most of these mutations cause kinase gain of function in vitro and are associated with oncogenicity in vivo. However, little is known about the mechanisms driving tumor development. We have performed computational structural studies on a homology model of wildtype PIK3CA plus recurrent H1047R, H1047L, and P539R mutations, located in the kinase and helical domains, respectively. The time evolution of the structures show that H1047R/L mutants exhibit a larger area of the catalytic cleft between the kinase N‐ and C‐lobes compared with the wildtype that could facilitate the entrance of substrates. This larger area might yield enhanced substrate‐to‐product turnover associated with oncogenicity. In addition, the H1047R/L mutants display increased kinase activation loop mobility, compared with the wildtype. The P539R mutant forms more hydrogen bonds and salt‐bridge interactions than the wildtype, properties that are associated with enhanced thermostability. Mutant‐specific differences in the catalytic cleft and activation loop behavior suggest that structure‐based mutant‐specific inhibitors can be designed for PIK3CA‐positive breast cancers. Proteins 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Efficiency of a bagasse substrate in a biological bed system for the degradation of glyphosate, malathion and lambda‐cyhalothrin under tropical climate conditions
Authors: de Roffignac Laure , Cattan Philippe , Mailloux Julie , Herzog David , Le Bellec Fabrice 
Published: September 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: After the rinsing of spray equipment, the rinsing water contains polluting products. One way to avoid pollution is to bring the rinsing water over a purification system, a biological bed. The system consists of an impermeable tub filled with a biomix substrate that facilitates biodegradation of pesticides. Usually, straw is one component of the biomix. The objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of an unusual substrate, bagasse, a residue of sugar cane, for the degradation of three pesticides, glyphosate, malathion and lambda‐cyhalothrin.RESULTS: Results showed that more than 99% of malathion and glyphosate were degraded in 6 months. In the biological bed, the DT50 value for malathion was 17 days, for glyphosate 33 days and for lambda‐cyhalothrin 43 days. The degradation rate of aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) residues from the degradation of glyphosate was slower than that of the other pesticides (DT50 69 days). Finally, the innocuousness of the biomix after 6 months of degradation was confirmed by biological tests.CONCLUSIONS: Although the degradation rates of the three pesticides in the present bagasse‐based system were similar to those under temperate conditions, the degradation conditions were improved by comparison with those in soil under the given tropical conditions. Further benefits of this system are pesticide confinement, to avoid their dispersion in the environment by liquids or solids, and a lower overall cost. Finally, possibilities for optimising the bagasse‐based system (e.g. management of the water content and nature of the biomix) are discussed. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry