bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Kinetics of N-substituted phenothiazines and N-substituted phenoxazines oxidation catalyzed by fungal laccases
Authors: Tetianec Lidija , Kulys Juozas 
Published: December 2008

AbstractLaccase-catalyzed oxidation of N-substituted phenothiazines and N-substituted phenoxazines was investigated at pH 5.5 and 25°C. The recombinant laccase from Polyporus pinsitus (rPpL) and the laccase from Myceliophthora thermophila (rMtL) were used. The dependence of initial reaction rate on substrate concentration was analyzed by applying the laccase action scheme in which the laccase native intermediate (NI) reacts with a substrate forming reduced enzyme. The reduced laccase produces peroxide intermediate (PI) which in turn decays to the NI. The calculated constant (kox) values of the PI formation are (6.1±3.1)×105 M−1s−1 for rPpL and (2.5±0.9)×104 M−1s−1 for rMtL. The bimolecular constants of the reaction of the native intermediate with electron donor (kred) vary in the interval from 2.2×105 to 2.1×107 M−1s−1 for rPpL and from 1.3×102 to 1.8×105 M-1s−1 for rMtL. The larger reactivity of rPpL in comparison to rMtL is associated with the higher redox potential of type I Cu of rPpL. The variation of kred values for both laccases correlates with the change of the redox potential of substrates. Following outer sphere (Marcus) electron transfer mechanism the calculated activationless electron transfer rate and the apparent reorganization energy are 5.0×107 M−1s−1 and 0.29 eV, respectively.
Changes in the human nuclear chromatin induced by ultra wideband pulse irradiation
Authors: Shckorbatov Yuriy , Pasiuga Vladimir , Kolchigin Nicolai , Batrakov Dmitry , Kazansky Oleg , Kalashnikov Vladimir 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe effects of ultra wideband pulse radiation on human cells were investigated. The density of the flow of energy on the surface of irradiated object varied from 10−6 to 10−2 W/cm2 with exposure of 10 s. It was shown that heterochromatin granule quantity in cell nuclei increased under the influence of radiation from 10−4 to 10−2 W/cm2. In some intervals the effect increased with irradiation dose. At irradiation intensity 10−3 W/cm2 the process of heterochromatin granule formation was fully reversible after 2 h of recovery; at intensity 10−2 W/cm2 the reversion of irradiation effects was not full. The data obtained indicated the strong biological activity of ultra wideband ultra short pulse radiation.
On the benefits of silymarin in murine colitis by improving balance of destructive cytokines and reduction of toxic stress in the bowel cells
Authors: Esmaily Hadi , Hosseini-Tabatabaei Azadeh , Rahimian Reza , Khorasani Reza , Baeeri Maryam , Barazesh-Morgani Ahmadreza , Yasa Nargues , Khademi Yassaman , Abdollahi Mohammad 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a multifactorial disease with an unknown etiology characterized by oxidative stress, leucocyte infiltration and a rise in inflammatory cytokines. In this study, we have investigated the effects of silymarin, a mixture of several flavonolignans with established antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, on trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in rats. Experimental colitis was induced in male Wistar-albino rats by delivering TNBS to the distal colon. All the medicines were administered by gavage for seven days. Thirty-six male rats were divided into six groups containing six rats in each one. Control rats received only TNBS. In the treated groups, animals were given different doses of silymarin (40, 80, and 160 mg/kg). Dexamethasone (1 mg/kg) was used as the positive treatment. Colonic status was investigated seven days post induction of colitis through macroscopic, histological, and biochemical analyses. Amelioration of the morphological signs including macroscopic damage, necrotic area, and histology were seen subsequent to treating animals with silymarin. These observations were accompanied by a significant reduction in the degree of both neutrophil infiltration, indicated by decreased myeloperoxidase activity, and lipid peroxidation, as measured by a decline in malodialdehyde content in inflamed colon as well as a decrease in levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β). The results of the present study reveal that the beneficial effect of silymarin in bowel cells is mediated through its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials.
Ultrasonographic observations of the maturation of basic movements in guinea pig fetuses
Authors: Sekulić Slobodan , Lukač Damir , Drapšin Minja , Čapo Ivan , Lalošević Dušan , Novakov-Mikić Aleksandra 
Published: December 2008

AbstractUltrasonography has not previously been used for studying fetal movements in precocial rodents. The objective of this study was to ultrasonographically determine the sequence of the appearance of basic movements in a guinea pig fetus. The research included eight guinea pig females carrying one fetus each. Fetal movements were observed for 10 minutes each day, from the 25th to 38th day of gestation. The time and sequence of the appearance of movements was observed as follows: whole body flexion (mean 27.6 SD ± 1.68), whole body extension (mean 28.1 SD ± 1.12), head flexion (mean 28.1 SD ± 1.80), head extension (mean 30.5 SD ± 2.67) forelimbs flexion (mean 30.5 SD ± 2.32), forelimbs extension (mean 30.7 SD ± 1.84), trunk rotation (mean 31.9 SD ± 2.23), forelimbs alternating flexion and extension (mean 32.1 SD ± 2.1), hind limbs extension (mean 32.2 SD ± 3.2), hind limbs flexion (mean 32.4 SD ± 3.16), and hind limbs alternating flexion and extension (mean 33.5 SD ± 2.39). The identical sequences of basic movement appearances in guinea pigs, sheep, and rats suggest that the rostrocaudal gradient of basic movement appearance could be a general developmental pattern in mammalian species.
Assessment of the effect of cyclic chalcone analogues on mitochondrial membrane and DNA
Authors: Kubálková Janka , Tomečková Vladimíra , Perjési Pál , Guzy Juraj 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe cytotoxic and protective effects of selected synthetic chalcone analogues have been shown in previous studies. We studied their cytotoxic effect on the modification of mitochondrial membrane potential and on DNA. The first spectral information about the methoxy group as well as the dimethylamino substituent in E-2-arylmethylene-1-benzosuberones molecule was obtained by absorption and emission spectra. The cytotoxic effect of both cyclic chalcone analogues on DNA were detected by alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis. Better fluorescent chalcone analogue E-2-(4′-dimethylamino-benzylidene)-1-benzosuberone was studied further in fresh isolated mitochondria. The decrease of rat liver mitochondria membrane potential (Δψ) was observed by fluorescence emission spectra. For the collapsing of mitochondrial potentials and as the negative control of mitochondrial function the CCCP uncoupler was used. The absorption maximum of the methoxy group was found at a shorter wavelength (λ = 335 nm) than that of the dimethylamino group (λ = 406 nm). The excitation spectra were very similar to the absorption spectra for both molecules but the emission spectra showed a better fluorescence for dimethylamino derivative. After the addition of E-2-(4′-dimethylamino-benzylidene)-1-benzosuberone to the intact mitochondria the decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential Δψ was observed by emisssion fluorescence spectra. Both cyclic chalcone analogues induced DNA damage, which was detected by alkaline comet assay. Mainly the apoptotic cells were detected, but necrotic cells were also present. Similarities in the percentages of DNA migration from the head were observed in both treatment groups. Both benzosuberones, with dimethylamino- and methoxy- substituent, were very active biologically, as shown by DNA results of the comet assay. Due to its better fluorescence properties, only the fluorophore with dimethylamino substituent was selected for further study of the function of rat liver mitochondria. Decline of mitochondrial function as well as mitochondrial DNA damage were evident between experimental and control groups.
The Time Needed for Clinical Documentation versus Direct Patient Care
Authors: Spötl H.-P. , Ammenwerth E. 
Published: December 2008

Summary
Objectives: Health care professionals seem to be confronted with an increasing need for high-quality, timely, patient-oriented documentation. However, a steady increase in documentation tasks has been shown to be associated with increased time pressure and low physician job satisfaction. Our objective was to examine the time physicians spend on clinical and administrative documentation tasks. We analyzed the time needed for clinical and administrative documentation, and compared it to other tasks, such as direct patient care.
Methods: During a 2-month period (December 2006 to January 2007) a trained investigator completed 40 hours of 2-minute work-sampling analysis from eight participating physicians on two internal medicine wards of a 200-bed hospital in Austria. A 37-item classifica tion system was applied to categorize tasks into five categories (direct patient care, communication, clinical documentation, administrative documentation, other).
Results: From the 5555 observation points, physicians spent 26.6% of their daily working time for documentation tasks, 27.5% for direct patient care, 36.2% for communication tasks, and 9.7% for other tasks. The documentation that is typically seen as administrative takes only approx. 16% of the total documentation time.
Conclusions: Nearly as much time is being spent for documentation as is spent on direct patient care. Computer-based tools and, in some areas, documentation assistants may help to reduce the clinical and administrative documentation efforts.
Medical Image Computing for Computer-supported Diagnostics and Therapy
Authors: Ehrhardt J. , Handels H. 
Published: December 2008

Summary
Objectives: Medical image computing has become one of the most challenging fields in medical informatics. In image-based diagnostics of the future software assistance will become more and more important, and image analysis systems integrating advanced image computing methods are needed to extract quantitative image parameters to characterize the state and changes of image structures of interest (e.g. tumors, organs, vessels, bones etc.) in a reproducible and objective way. Furthermore, in the field of software-assisted and navigated surgery medical image computing methods play a key role and have opened up new perspectives for patient treatment. However, further developments are needed to increase the grade of automation, accuracy, reproducibility and robustness. Moreover, the systems developed have to be integrated into the clinical workflow.
Methods: For the development of advanced image computing systems methods of different scientific fields have to be adapted and used in combination. The principal methodologies in medical image computing are the following: image segmentation, image registration, image analysis for quantification and computer assisted image interpretation, modeling and simulation as well as visualization and virtual reality. Especially, model-based image computing techniques open up new perspectives for prediction of organ changes and risk analysis of patients and will gain importance in diagnostic and therapy of the future.
Results: From a methodical point of view the authors identify the following future trends and perspectives in medical image computing: development of optimized application-specific systems and integration into the clinical workflow, enhanced computational models for image analysis and virtual reality training systems, integration of different image computing methods, further integration of multimodal image data and biosignals and advanced methods for 4D medical image computing.
Conclusions: The development of image analysis systems for diagnostic support or operation planning is a complex interdisciplinary process. Image computing methods enable new insights into the patient’s image data and have the future potential to improve medical diagnostics and patient treatment.
Challenges in the Evolution of the Medical Informatics Program at Heidelberg/Heilbronn (Germany)
Authors: Haag M. , Leven F. J. , Dickhaus H. , Knaup P. 
Published: December 2008

Summary
Objective: Health and medical informatics (HMI) is an evolving discipline. Therefore, evolving educational programs in HMI have to take a variety of requirements into account. The aim of this paper is to analyze these requirements and to compare them with the medical informatics program Heidelberg/Heilbronn, Germany.
Methods: Systematic analysis of the IMIA recommendations on educating HMI, the Bologna declaration, current technological and health care developments and the results of graduates surveys.
Results: The latest revision of the Heidelberg/ Heilbronn medical informatics program not only takes current developments into account but also realizes the IMIA recommendations, the Bologna declaration and graduates’ data and feedback obtained in structured surveys. The topics bioinformatics, IT security and tele-medicine were strengthened, taking major research and application trends into account. The program has been transformed into a consecutive bachelor/master program. It qualifies its graduates to work in the field of medical informatics as well as in informatics.
Conclusions: Medical informatics is a very broad field. Programs have to make concessions to scope: It is not possible to provide profound knowledge and skills in computer science and also teach a variety of application areas like bioinformatics, public health informatics and clinical informatics in depth within one medical informatics program. Many graduate programs in various nations concentrate on providing HMI skills to health care professionals.
Biomedical and Health Informatics in Translational Medicine
Authors: Kulikowski C. W. , Kulikowski C. A. 
Published: December 2008

Summary
Objectives: To discuss translational medicine advances challenging biomedical and health informatics.
Methods: Reviewing material presented at the Heidelberg 35th Anniversary Workshop, summarizing results from the 1st AMIA Summit on Translational Bioinformatics and discussing the opportunities, difficulties, and ethical dilemmas confronting researchers, practitioners, and healthcare managers in transitional bioinformatics.
Results: The first results in translational medicine are appearing in the biomedical literature. All rely on bioinformatics methods for analysis.
Conclusions: Translational medicine introduces new problems of interpretation and application to healthcare. Applying results to complex human-machine systems raises ethical issues, which are augmented in healthcare informatics. Bridging biological, medical, and informatics knowledge requires new epistemological approaches.
The Future of Medical Informatics
Authors: Winter A. 
Published: December 2008

Summary
Objectives: Presenting the author’s point of view on chances and challenges of medical informatics in research, education, and practice of information management, especially in the field of regional as well as institutional health information systems.
Method: Collecting and interpreting current issues concerning (health) information systems and their management from selected references.
Results: There are challenging research topics concerning information management, IT service management in small health care units, reference models, trustworthy architectures, service-oriented architectures. Medical informatics requires multidisciplinarity.
Conclusions: Medicine and health care need medical informatics as a scientific, researching discipline.
THE APPLICATION OF EXPANDABLE ENDOPROSTHETIC RECONSTRUCTION FOR LIMB SALVAGE SURGERY IN THE SKELETALLY IMMATURE PATIENTS
Authors: YANG RONG-SEN 
Published: December 2008

The development of new image techniques enables the early detection of bone tumors in the extremities in the past two decades. In addition, new advance of adjuvant therapy improves the long-term survival of patients with primary bone malignancies. Since the primary bone malignancy frequently occurs at the metaphysis of long bones of pediatric patients in the first and second decade, many patients have to face the late problems of limb length discrepancy after the limb salvage operation. Since the inevitable limb length discrepancy will interfere the functional outcomes and cosmetic appearance, the reconstruction of limb defect after limb salvage remains a challenge. Several options of reconstruction are available for these patients, including resection arthrodesis, rotationplasty, osteochondral allograft reconstruction, and endoprosthetic reconstruction. All these methods are difficult to address the limb length discrepancy. The development of expandable endoprosthetic reconstruction makes limb-salvage surgery feasible in the skeletally immature and provides another choice of solution. This article presents the current status of custom-expandable endoprosthetic reconstruction in the skeletally immature patients after wide resection of primary bone malignancies in the extremity. The surgical options, complications and functional results will be emphasized.Basically these expandable endoprostheses can be classified according to the expansion design. Recent reports demonstrated that the results of expandable prosthesis in the growing children are rather acceptable. Some patients can regain the equal limb length after expansion of the prosthesis. However these patients have to take several expansion procedures for the equality of limb length during the growing period. A rather high complication rate of either endoprosthesis-related or disease-associated still needs to be settled in the near future. These include mechanical failure of the expansion mechanism, extensive metallosis, aseptic loosening, fatigue fracture, flexion contracture, local recurrence, delayed wound healing, fat embolism, local overgrowth of counterpart bone, nerve palsy, infection, and bone fracture. Some patients even require an amputation even after expandable endoprosthesis reconstruction because of difficult reconstruction or severe functional impairment. However, with regard to difficult rehabilitation for patients under 8 years, amputation or alternative options need to be considered. A comprehensive discussion with the parents and patient about the detailed treatment protocol is needed before performing reconstruction using expandable endoprosthesis.
THE GAIT ANALYSIS OF PREGNANT WOMEN
Authors: HUANG TSAN-HSUN , LIN SHENG-CHE , HO CHIN-SHAN , YU CHIA-YUEN , CHOU YOU-LI 
Published: December 2008

During pregnancy, a woman changes obviously in body weight, body shape, and endocrine system. Those changes make the posture and gait pattern of the pregnant women different from those of the non-pregnant women. At the same time, activities of daily living become more difficult. But there was still no published paper discussing the posture and gait changes of the pregnant women in details and in a whole. In this study, we used the optimization method to define the hip joint center of the pregnant women. The optimization method could compensate the lack of the anthropometric data of the pregnant women. Due to the variations of physiological changes in the pregnant women, it was difficulty to standardize the gait analysis of pregnant women, even in the same gestational age. The results revealed that there really was some correlation between the significant finding of gait analysis and sacroiliac pain of the pregnant women. The sacroiliac pain often occurred in the following conditions of gait analysis: (1) when the hip extension moment increased; (2) when the knee extension moment decreased; (3) when the angle of ankle plantar-flexion decreased; and (4) when the sacroiliac ajoint torsion increased. The gait analysis of the pregnant is a feasible, but complicated method for study. The data of gait analysis were also compare with questionnaires for further analysis.
USE OF THE SECOND HARMONIC IN STRAIN IMAGING: A PHANTOM STUDY
Authors: YANG SHIUH-KUANG , HUANG YI-CHENG 
Published: December 2008

The clinical images of an ultrasound system are normally obtained by analyzing the ultrasonic echoes from the discontinuities in a patient. Information such as wave speed, acoustic impedance, and the attenuation coefficient computed from the ultrasonic echoes are the primary parameters used in constructing an ultrasonic image. However, the traditional medical imaging is insensitive to identify the abnormal regions of small stiff change. It often fails to reveal the extent or existence of tumors, which are found to be more stiff than surrounding normal tissues. To overcome these problems, this research proposes an ultrasonic imaging method based on tissue elasticity through the harmonic filter to construct a strain-harmonic image. This technique is formed by a process involving two steps. First, the phantom is compressed externally to generate an internal strain field. Second, ultrasonic transmitting signals before and after compression are acquired and processed by harmonic filter. The strain profiles of a soft sample are converted into two-dimensional gray images using MATLAB software. Experiments were conducted for the comparison between the strain and strain-harmonic image. It is observed that the strain-harmonic images can illustrate layer location of the phantoms better than those plotted in the strain images.
THE INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CAROTID INTIMA-MEDIA THICKNESS AND VASCULAR COMPLIANCE IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE
Authors: HUANG CHIH-CHENG , CHEN TAINSONG , CHAO TING-HSING , JUAN YAO-FENG 
Published: December 2008

Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) is used as an indicator of atherosclerosis and a risk predictor for stroke and cardiovascular diseases. In macroscopic view, the atherosclerotic process constitutes changes in structure and mechanical function of vessels. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between carotid IMT and elastic property, or compliance, of the vessel. Eighteen patients (10 males, 8 females, mean age: 65.5+/−12.2) who received coronary angiography due to coronary artery disease (CAD) were enrolled in this study. The IMT was measured at left carotid artery 5 cm below bifurcation. The blood pressure was measured through a catheter placed in aortic arch and continuous pressure change was recorded simultaneously during performing of carotid sonography. A sequence of cross section images of carotid sonogram was recorded. An image analysis algorithm is developed for serial luminal area measurements. Then the estimation of compliance was computed according to Windkessel model. Regression analysis shows negative correlation (r=−0.704) between IMT and vascular compliance. The results correlate the elastic property and structural change of carotid artery during the process of atherosclerosis. This finding further support that IMT is a good parameter for evaluation of the severity of atherosclerosis.