bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lead Toxicity in a Family as a Result of Occupational Exposure
Authors: Raviraja Aryapu , Babu Gaja , Bijoor Anita , Menezes Geraldine , Venkatesh Thuppil 
Published: June 2008

Lead Toxicity in a Family as a Result of Occupational ExposureThis article describes an entire family manufacturing lead acid batteries who all suffered from lead poisoning. The family of five lived in a house, part of which had been used for various stages of battery production for 14 years. Open space was used for drying batteries. They all drank water from a well located on the premises. Evaluation of biomarkers of lead exposure and/or effect revealed alarming blood lead levels [(3.92±0.94) μmol L-1], 50 % reduction in the activity of δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase [(24.67±5.12) U L-1] and an increase in zinc protoporphyrin [(1228±480) μg L-1]. Liver function tests showed an increase in serum alkaline phosphatase [(170.41±41.82) U L-1]. All other liver function test parameters were normal. Renal function tests showed an increase in serum uric acid [(515.81±86.29) μmol L-1] while urea and creatinine were normal. Serum calcium was low [(1.90±0.42) mmol L-1in women and (2.09±0.12) mmol L-1in men], while blood pressure was high in the head of the family and his wife and normal in children. Lead concentration in well water was estimated to 180 μg L-1. The family was referred to the National Referral Centre for Lead Poisoning in India, were they were received treatment and were informed about the hazards of lead poisoning. A follow up three months later showed a slight decrease in blood lead levels and a significant increase in haemoglobin. These findings can be attributed to behavioural changes adopted by the family, even though they continued producing lead batteries.
Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke in the Workplace in Macedonia: Where Are We Now?
Authors: Minov Jordan , KaradžInska-Bislimovska Jovanka , Vasilevska Kristin , Risteska-Kuc Snežana , Stoleski Sašo 
Published: June 2008

Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke in the Workplace in Macedonia: Where Are We Now?To assess the prevalence and the level of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in the workplace after the enactment of the law restricting indoor smoking in Macedonia, we performed a cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire study including 372 never-smoking workers recruited from six workplaces. We found a high prevalence of workers exposed to ETS in the workplace (27.4 %) with no significant difference between particular occupation groups. We found no significant difference in the prevalence of passive smokers in the workplace between this study and our study conducted before the law was enacted (31.5 %vs.27.4 %, P=0.324). The prevalence of workers exposed to ETS for less than three hours a day was significantly lower than of passive smokers with longer exposure (28.4 %vs.71.6 %, P=0.038). The prevalence of workers exposed to ETS from less than 10 cigarettes smoked by coworkers per day was lower than the prevalence of workers with higher exposure, but statistical significance was not reached (37.9 %vs.62.1 %, P=0.087). Our findings indicate a high prevalence and a high level of exposure to ETS in the workplace, which calls for stricter adherence to smoking-free legislation or even the total ban of smoking in the workplace.
Optimal Doping for Enhanced SnO2 Sensitivity and Thermal Stability
Authors: Tricoli Antonio , Graf Markus , Pratsinis Sotiris E. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractTin oxide nanocrystals (5–10 nm) doped with silica (0–15 wt %) were made by flame‐spray‐pyrolysis direct deposition onto the sensing electrodes and in situ stabilization by rapid flame annealing. Although increased SiO2‐doping reduced the SnO2 crystal and grain size, its sensing performance to ethanol vapor (0.1–50 ppm) exhibited an optimum with respect to SiO2 content. The thermal stability and morphology of SiO2‐doped SnO2 nanoparticles were evaluated by sintering at 200–900 °C for 4–24 h in air. At low SiO2 content, sintering of SnO2 was prevented only partially resulting in small sinter necks (bottlenecks) between SnO2 primary particles (smaller than twice the Debye length). This morphology drastically enhanced the sensitivity toward the analyte by maintaining a thermally stable high surface area and fully depleted connections at the primary particle necks. This enhancement is attributed mostly to the decreasing neck size of the SnO2SiO2 heterojunctions rather than the decreasing SnO2 crystallite and grain sizes with increasing SiO2 doping. At high SiO2 contents, SnO2 sintering was inhibited as its grains were separated effectively by dielectric SiO2; this resulted in isolated SnO2 nanocrystals with drastically reduced sensitivity, thereby effectively being insulators.
Direct‐Write Assembly of Microperiodic Silk Fibroin Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications
Authors: Ghosh Sourabh , Parker Sara T. , Wang Xianyan , Kaplan David L. , Lewis Jennifer A. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThree–dimensional, microperiodic scaffolds of regenerated silk fibroin have been fabricated for tissue engineering by direct ink writing. The ink, which consisted of silk fibroin solution from the Bombyx mori silkworm, was deposited in a layer‐by‐layer fashion through a fine nozzle to produce a 3D array of silk fibers of diameter 5 µm. The extruded fibers crystallized when deposited into a methanol‐rich reservoir, retaining a pore structure necessary for media transport. The rheological properties of the silk fibroin solutions were investigated and the crystallized silk fibers were characterized for structure and mechanical properties by infrared spectroscopy and nanoindentation, respectively. The scaffolds supported human bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) adhesion, and growth. Cells cultured under chondrogenic conditions on these scaffolds supported enhanced chondrogenic differentiation based on increased glucosaminoglycan production compared to standard pellet culture. Our results suggest that 3D silk fibroin scaffolds may find potential application as tissue engineering constructs due to the precise control of their scaffold architecture and their biocompatibility.
Synthesis and properties of N3 and CN delivery compounds and related precursors for nitride and ceramic fabrication
Authors: Tice Jesse B. , Ritter C. J. , Chizmeshya A. V. G. , Forrest Brandon , Torrison Levi , Groy T. L. , Kouvetakis J. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe simple azido and cyano compounds Cl2AsN3, Br2AsN3, (C6H5)SiH2N3, (C6H5)SiH2CN and p‐(tolyl)SiH2CN have been prepared for the first time by metathesis reactions involving the corresponding halides and NaN3, LiN3 and LiCN. These compounds represent a highly reactive and efficient family of delivery reagents for the preparation of N3 and CN molecular precursors to bulk ceramics and nitride thin films. They are isolated as low volatility liquids and characterized by spectroscopic methods and chemical analysis. Ab initio simulations were used to elucidate the structural and vibrational properties of the simpler, fully inorganic Cl2AsN3 and Br2AsN3 species. This theoretical treatment was extended to include the hypothetical H2AsN3 and HClAsN3 derivatives which are particularly desirable as single‐source low‐temperature AsN sources for the formation of highly sought after, metastable GaAs1−xNx materials for solar cell applications. The practical utility of the title molecules is also demonstrated by synthesizing several representative compounds of B, Be, Ga and Al, which are of interest for the development of open frameworks, optoelectronic nitrides and refractory BCN hybrids. The cyanide derivatives (C6H5)SiH2CN and p‐(tolyl)SiH2CN react readily with Be and B halides to yield crystalline Be(CN)2 and amorphous BCN. The latter is crystallized upon heating to form graphite‐like polymorphs with homogeneous nanoscale morphologies. The azide derivatives Cl2AsN3, Br2AsN3 and (C6H5)SiH2N3 react readily with GaBr3, GaCl3 and BBr3 to produce high yields of the previously reported Br2GaN3, Cl2GaN3 and Br2BN3, respectively. The latter is shown to possess a trimeric molecular structure in which the α‐nitrogen of the azide group bridges the boron atoms to form cyclohexane‐like B3N3 rings. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Facile One‐Pot Synthesis and Antimycobacterial Evaluation of Pyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyrimidines
Authors: Trivedi Amit , Dodiya Dipti , Surani Janak , Jarsania Samir , Mathukiya Hitesh , Ravat Naresh , Shah Viresh 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe present article describes a facile one‐pot synthesis of a series of eight pyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyrimidines 4a–h which were evaluated for their in‐vitro antibacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv using the Alamar‐Blue susceptibility test and the activity expressed as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in mg/mL. The compounds 4b, 4c, 4d, and 4g exhibited the best results (1.2 μg/mL) when compared with first‐line drugs such as isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIP). Therefore, this class of compounds could be a good starting point to develop new lead compounds in the treatment of multidrug‐resistant tuberculosis.
Synthesis and Anti‐HBV Activities Evaluation of New Ethyl 8‐Imidazolylmethyl‐7‐hydroxyquinoline‐3‐carboxylate Derivatives in vitro
Authors: Liu Yajing , Zhao Yanfang , Zhai Xin , Liu Xiuping , Sun Lixue , Ren Yanxia , Gong Ping 
Published: June 2008

AbstractSome new ethyl 8‐imidazolylmethyl‐7‐hydroxyquinoline‐3‐carboxylate derivatives have been synthesized and evaluated for their anti‐hepatitis B virus (HBV) activities and cytotoxicities in HepG2.2.15 cells stable transfection with HBV. Compounds 13a, 11b, 11c, 12c, 13c, 11g, and 12g inhibited the expression of the viral antigens HBsAg or HBeAg in a low concentration, of which 11c (IC50 = 12.6 μM, SI = 12.4), 12c (IC50 = 3.5 μM, SI = 37.9), and 12g (IC50 = 2.6 μM, SI = 61.6) showed more active abilities to inhibit the replication of HBV DNA than the positive control lamivudine (3TC, IC50 = 343.2 μM, SI = 7.0).
Treatment of collagen‐induced arthritis with an anti‐osteopontin monoclonal antibody through promotion of apoptosis of both murine and human activated T cells
Authors: Fan Kexing , Dai Jianxin , Wang Hao , Wei Huafeng , Cao Zhiguo , Hou Sheng , Qian Weizhu , Wang Huaqing , Li Bohua , Zhao Jian , Xu Huji , Yang Chengde , Guo Yajun 
Published: June 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo test the effects of a novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) against human osteopontin (OPN) in the prevention and treatment of collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of these effects.MethodsDBA/1J mice immunized with type II collagen to induce CIA were monitored to assess the effects of anti‐OPN mAb on the clinical severity of the disease, and pathologic changes in the joints were examined histologically. The effects of anti‐OPN mAb on survival of activated T cells from arthritic mice and from the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were determined by TUNEL assay or annexin V assay. The levels of apoptosis‐related proteins (Bim, Bax, and Bcl‐2) and NF‐κB were detected by immunoblot analysis.ResultsOne anti‐OPN mAb, 23C3, was effective in inhibiting the development of CIA and even reversing established disease in DBA/1J mice. Monoclonal antibody 23C3 reduced the levels of serum type II collagen–specific autoantibodies and proinflammatory cytokines, and suppressed T cell recall responses to type II collagen. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that OPN prevented the death of type II collagen–activated murine T cells and synovial T cells from RA patients. Monoclonal antibody 23C3 promoted apoptosis of the activated T cells, particularly CD4+ T cells, by inhibiting activation of NF‐κB and by altering the balance among the proapoptotic proteins Bim and Bax and the antiapoptotic protein Bcl‐2. Screening of a phage display peptide library led to identification of the epitope ATWLNPDPSQKQ as being recognized by this novel antibody.ConclusionBecause of its ability to effectively promote apoptosis of activated T cells, mAb 23C3 may be a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of RA.
Efficacy and safety of etanercept 50 mg twice a week in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had a suboptimal response to etanercept 50 mg once a week: Results of a multicenter, randomized, double‐blind, active drug–controlled study
Authors: Weinblatt Michael E. , Schiff Michael H. , Ruderman Eric M. , Bingham Clifton O. , Li Juan , Louie James , Furst Daniel E. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatment with 50 mg of etanercept twice a week plus weekly methotrexate (MTX; ≥15 mg) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had a suboptimal response to 50 mg of etanercept once a week plus weekly MTX (≥15 mg).MethodsIn this multicenter, randomized, double‐blind, active drug–controlled study, suboptimal responders to treatment with MTX plus etanercept 50 mg once weekly were given MTX plus etanercept 50 mg twice weekly (n = 160) or MTX plus etanercept 50 mg once weekly plus a placebo (n = 40) for 12 weeks. In a subsequent 12‐week open‐label period, patients who responded to etanercept 50 mg twice weekly decreased their dosage to 50 mg once weekly, those who had a partial response to etanercept 50 mg once weekly increased their dosage to 50 mg twice weekly, and those who had no response to etanercept 50 mg twice weekly were discontinued. The primary end point was the proportion of patients with a response on the Disease Activity Score 28‐joint assessment (DAS28) at week 12.ResultsA total of 201 patients were randomized; 187 completed 12 weeks, and 102 completed 24 weeks. At week 12 (double‐blind period), the DAS28 response in the 50 mg twice weekly and the 50 mg once weekly groups was not significantly different (45.6% versus 35.0%; P = 0.285), and similar proportions of patients in the groups taking 100 mg and 50 mg experienced adverse events (34.4% versus 37.5%; P = 0.711). Serious adverse events occurred in 7 of 160 of the 50 mg twice weekly group and 0 of 40 of the 50 mg once weekly group (P = 0.387), and serious infectious events occurred in 3 of 160 patients in the 50 mg twice weekly group (P = 0.884).ConclusionEtanercept 50 mg once weekly is an optimal dosage in most patients with RA. Increasing the dosage from 50 mg once weekly to 50 mg twice weekly in suboptimal responders did not significantly improve their DAS28 responses.
Integration of safety technologies into rheumatology and orthopedics practices: A randomized, controlled trial
Authors: Moorjani Gautam R. , Bedrick Edward J. , Michael Adrian A. , Peisajovich Andres , Sibbitt Wilmer L. , Bankhurst Arthur D. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo identify and integrate new safety technologies into outpatient musculoskeletal procedures and measure the effect on outcome, including pain.MethodsUsing national resources for patient safety and literature review, the following safety technologies were identified: a safety needle to reduce inadvertent needlesticks to heath care workers, and the reciprocating procedure device (RPD) to improve patient safety and reduce pain. Five hundred sixty‐six musculoskeletal procedures involving syringes and needles were randomized to either an RPD group or a conventional syringe group, and pain, quality, safety, and physician acceptance were measured.ResultsDuring 566 procedures, no accidental needlesticks occurred with safety needles. Use of the RPD resulted in a 35.4% reduction (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 24–46%) in patient‐assessed pain (mean ± SD scores on a visual analog pain scale [VAPS] 3.12 ± 2.23 for the RPD and 4.83 ± 3.22 for the conventional syringe; P < 0.001) and a 49.5% reduction (95% CI 34–64%) in patient‐assessed significant pain (VAPS score ≥5) (P < 0.001). Physician acceptance of the RPD combined with a safety needle was excellent.ConclusionAs mandated by the Joint Commission and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, safety technologies and the use of pain scales can be successfully integrated into rheumatologic and orthopedic procedures. The combination of a safety needle to reduce needlestick injuries to health care workers and the RPD to improve safety and outcome of patients is effective and well accepted by physicians.
Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines and CXCL5 are essential for the recruitment of neutrophils in a multicellular model of rheumatoid arthritis synovium
Authors: Smith Emily , McGettrick Helen M. , Stone Michael A. , Shaw John S. , Middleton Jim , Nash Gerard B. , Buckley Christopher D. , Ed Rainger G. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractObjectiveThe role of chemokines and their transporters in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is poorly described. Evidence suggests that CXCL5 plays an important role, because it is abundant in RA tissue, and its neutralization moderates joint damage in animal models of arthritis. Expression of the chemokine transporter Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) is also up‐regulated in early RA. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of CXCL5 and DARC in regulating neutrophil recruitment, using an in vitro model of RA synovium.MethodsTo model RA synovium, RA synovial fibroblasts (RASFs) were cocultured with endothelial cells (ECs) for 24 hours. Gene expression in cocultured cells was investigated using TaqMan gene arrays. The roles of CXCL5 and DARC were determined by incorporating cocultures into a flow‐based adhesion assay, in which their function was demonstrated by blocking neutrophil recruitment with neutralizing reagents.ResultsEC–RASF coculture induced chemokine expression in both cell types. Although the expression of CXC chemokines was modestly up‐regulated in ECs, the expression of CXCL1, CXCL5, and CXCL8 was greatly increased in RASFs. RASFs also promoted the recruitment of flowing neutrophils to ECs. Anti‐CXCL5 antibody abolished neutrophil recruitment by neutralizing CXCL5 expressed on ECs or when used to immunodeplete coculture‐conditioned medium. DARC was also induced on ECs by coculture, and anti‐Fy6 antibody or small interfering RNA targeting of DARC expression effectively abolished neutrophil recruitment.ConclusionThis study is the first to demonstrate, in a model of human disease, that the function of DARC is essential for editing the chemokine signals presented by ECs and for promoting unwanted leukocyte recruitment.
Reduced CD4+,CD25− T cell sensitivity to the suppressive function of CD4+,CD25high,CD127−/low regulatory T cells in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Chowdary Venigalla Ram Kumar , Tretter Theresa , Krienke Stefan , Max Regina , Eckstein Volker , Blank Norbert , Fiehn Christoph , Dick Ho Anthony , Lorenz Hanns‐Martin 
Published: June 2008

AbstractObjectiveCD4+,CD25high regulatory T (Treg) cells play a crucial role in the maintenance of self tolerance and prevention of organ‐specific autoimmunity. The presence of many in vivo–preactivated CD4+,CD25++ T cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) poses a difficulty in discriminating CD25++ activated T cells from CD25high Treg cells. To overcome this problem, we analyzed the phenotype and function of CD4+,CD25high,CD127−/low natural Treg (nTreg) cells isolated from the peripheral blood of patients with SLE.MethodsCD4+,CD25high,CD127−/low nTreg cells and CD4+,CD25− responder T (Tresp) cells from patients with SLE and normal donors were separated by fluorescence‐activated cell sorting. Cell proliferation was quantified by 3H‐thymidine incorporation, and immunophenotyping of the cells was done using FACScan.ResultsComparable percentages of CD4+,CD25high,FoxP3+ T cells were observed in patients with SLE and normal donors. Proliferation of SLE nTreg cells sorted into the subset CD4+,CD25high,CD127−/low was significantly decreased compared with that of SLE nTreg cells sorted into the subset CD4+,CD25high (mean ± SEM 2,223 ± 351 counts per minute versus 9,104 ± 1,720 cpm, respectively), while in normal donors, these values were 802 ± 177 cpm and 2,028 ± 548 cpm, respectively, confirming that effector cell contamination was reduced. Notably, the suppressive activity of nTreg cells was intact in all groups. However, CD4+,CD25− Tresp cells isolated from patients with active SLE were significantly less sensitive than those from patients with inactive SLE to the suppressive function of autologous or normal donor CD4+,CD25high,CD127−/low nTreg cells. Furthermore, a significant inverse correlation was observed between the extent of T cell regulation in suppressor assays and the level of lupus disease activity.ConclusionThis study is the first to show that, in human SLE, impaired sensitivity of Tresp cells to the suppressive effects of a comparably functional, highly purified nTreg cell population leads to a defective suppression of T cell proliferation in active SLE. Studies aiming to define the mechanisms leading to Tresp cell resistance might help in the development of highly specific, alternative immunotherapeutic tools for the control of systemic autoimmune diseases such as SLE.
Role of Rac1 in a bleomycin‐induced scleroderma model using fibroblast‐specific Rac1‐knockout mice
Authors: Liu Shangxi , Kapoor Mohit , Shi‐Wen Xu , Kennedy Laura , Denton Christopher P. , Glogauer Michael , Abraham David J. , Leask Andrew 
Published: June 2008

AbstractObjectiveActivated adhesive signaling is a hallmark of fibroblasts isolated from the scars of scleroderma (systemic sclerosis [SSc]) lesions. Rac1 plays a key role in adhesive signaling. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of Rac1 in bleomycin‐induced scleroderma, using mice with a fibroblast‐specific deletion of Rac1.MethodsCutaneous sclerosis was induced by subcutaneous injection of bleomycin. Control groups were treated with phosphate buffered saline. Mice with a fibroblast‐specific deletion of Rac1 and control mice were investigated. Dermal thickness, inflammation, collagen production, and the number of α‐smooth muscle actin–positive cells were determined. The quantity of the collagen‐specific amino acid hydroxyproline was also measured.ResultsBleomycin treatment induced marked cutaneous thickening, inflammation, and fibrosis in control mice. Conversely, deletion of Rac1 resulted in resistance to bleomycin‐induced fibrosis and inflammation.ConclusionRac1 expression by fibroblasts is required for fibrogenesis. Inhibition of Rac1 may be a viable method to alleviate the development of cutaneous sclerosis.