bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hydrophilic Core‐Shell Microspheres: A Suitable Support for Controlled Attachment of Proteins and Biomedical Diagnostics
Authors: Basinska Teresa 
Published: November 2005

AbstractSummary: Functional hydrophilic microspheres (latex particles) have found various applications in life sciences and in medicine – particularly in latex diagnostic tests. This paper presents a comprehensive review of studies on latex particles with a hydrophilic interfacial layer composed of various hydrophilic polymers with reactive groups at the ends of macromolecules or at each monomeric unit along the chain. Typical examples of these hydrophilic polymers are poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methyl methacrylate), poly(acrylic acid), poly(N,N‐dimethylacrylamide), polysaccharides, poly(ethylene oxide) and polyglycidol. Hydrophilic microspheres with different morphologies (uniform or core‐shell, see Figure) have been synthesized by emulsion and dispersion polymerizations. The chemical structure of polymers which constitute the interfacial layer of microspheres has been investigated using a variety of instrumental techniques (such as XPS, SSIMS and NMR) and analytical methods based on specific chemical reactions suitable for the determination of particular functional groups. Microspheres are exposed to contact with proteins in the majority of medical applications. This paper presents examples of studies on the attachment of these biomacromolecules to microspheres. The relation between the structure of the interfacial layer of microspheres and the ability of these particles for the covalent binding of proteins is discussed. Several examples of diagnostic tests, in which hydrophilic microspheres with adsorbed or covalently immobilized proteins were used as reagents, are presented. The paper also contains a short review of the application of magnetic hydrophilic particles for protein separation. Examples of hydrophilic latex particles used for hemoperfusion or heavy metal ion separation are presented.Hydrophilic microspheres with uniform or core‐shell morphologies.magnified imageHydrophilic microspheres with uniform or core‐shell morphologies.
Measuring aid costs: what has been learnt and what still needs to be learnt
Authors: Amis Philip , Green Lara , Hubbard Michael 
Published: November 2005

AbstractThis short article reviews recent efforts to measure the costs to recipient governments of how aid is managed. Overall measurement of transaction costs was found to be impractical, so the focus of empirical work shifted to ranking categories of perceived costs. Results indicated that recipient governments find the lack of fit of donor approaches with their own to be more burdensome than the administrative costs of dealing with multiple donors. Subsequent surveys have monitored changes in alignment and harmonisation. While there is clear progress in defining and assessing indicators of donor behaviour, two issues stand out for urgent attention. First, the need to give priority in future surveys to assessing changes in capacity of recipient governments, since capacity underlies alignment. Second, the need for conceptually consistent and reliable international data on aid flows, particularly to enable quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of different types of aid. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aid disbursement delays: measures, causes, solutions
Authors: Leurs Robert 
Published: November 2005

AbstractAid disbursement delays are a significant problem for donors and partner governments around the world, yet there appear to be no agreed definitions or measurement criteria, very little data and hardly any coverage in the literature on development aid. This article addresses some of the definitional and measurement questions involved, and illustrates both the scale and the perceived significance of disbursement delays. It also outlines possible causes and solutions. The article concludes that a strategy which focuses on managing the negative consequences of aid disbursement delays is likely to be more effective than one based on an attempted resolution of its many causes. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bolivia: making government leadership in donor coordination work
Authors: Nickson Andrew 
Published: November 2005

AbstractThis article addresses the extent to which concepts of ‘partnership’ and ‘ownership’ of aid are understood differently by donors and local partners even in a country such as Bolivia where central government underwent a growing commitment to improved governance from the mid‐1990s through poverty reduction, decentralisation and citizen participation. The introduction of two basket‐funding initiatives is testimony to the growing confidence of the donor community in the emerging national ownership of the overall development process. Yet informational and motivational asymmetries, by creating perverse incentives, militate against the spread of basket funding, undermining the shift to national ownership and sustainability. Similarly, even though relations with the donor community were excellent, sector‐level donor coordination is a surprisingly recent phenomenon. Government officials frequently reported the same kind of administrative burdens that are found in many other aid recipient countries. In addition, conditionalities of multilateral agencies embedded in structural adjustment and subsequent HIPC membership imposed a major burden on the government. They often caused delays in disbursements, especially where loans are disbursed in tranches subject to compliance with non‐project specific conditions. Finally, the article draws attention to the contested meaning of ‘national ownership’ itself in a country with marked ethnic and social divisions, a factor that contributed to a marked decline in political stability and other governance indicators in 2003. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Vietnam: the benefits of a strong consultative framework
Authors: Bartholomew Ann , Lister Stephen 
Published: November 2005

AbstractDuring the 1990s Vietnam's economic reforms led to rapid growth and dramatic poverty reduction, attracting more donors and higher levels of aid. As this happened, bottlenecks and the transaction costs of aid became more apparent and led to efforts at harmonisation. However, the task has been complicated by donors' distrust of government's low standards of transparency and accountability but respect for its poverty reduction performance and macroeconomic management record. As a result donors have concentrated first on harmonisation with each other while supporting institutional reforms. They have done this through the unusually extensive donor‐government consultative machinery, with its biannual Consultative Group (CG) meetings and a large number of sectoral and topical partnership groups. The article assesses the role this machinery plays, concluding that its vitality results from mutual commitment and its unusual extent from the number of sectors addressed. The collaboration between government and donors may face greater challenges in the future if economic growth slows, the reform agenda stalls or inequality increases. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and characterization of pendant carboxylic acid functional poly(lactic acid) and poly(lactic acid‐co‐glycolic acid) and their drug release behaviors
Authors: Kayaman‐Apohan N. , Akdemir Z. S. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractThe carboxylic acid functionalized biodegradable aliphatic polyesters were prepared by ring‐opening polymerization of L‐lactide and glycolide with 2,2′‐bis(hydroxymethyl propionic acid) (HMPA) as an initiator. The polymers were characterized by FT‐IR, 1H‐NMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Molecular weights of homopolymers and copolymers ranged from 0.28 × 104 to 11 × 104 and decreased with increasing weight fraction of HMPA in the feed. Moreover by changing the HMPA content, the solubility and degradation behavior of resulting polymers could be varied. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) studies revealed that the microspheres were spherical in shape and had a smooth surface texture. For the investigation of drug release behavior of biopolymers, Lidocain was used as a model ionic drug. It was observed that an increase in drug loading reduces the encapsulation efficiency. After the initial burst, the release rate of the drug increased with time, with most of the drug released within 15 days. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differential expression of oestrogen receptors in human secondary lymphoid tissues
Authors: Shim Gil‐Jin , Gherman Delia , Kim Hyun‐Jin , Omoto Yoko , Iwase Hirotaka , Bouton Didier , Kis Loránd Levente , Andersson Christina Thulin , Warner Margaret , Gustafsson Jan‐Åke 
Published: November 2005

AbstractMany autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) occur much more frequently in women than in men. There is much evidence that oestrogen is the major cause of this gender difference. Interestingly, oestrogen relieves the symptoms of RA and SS but it exacerbates SLE. This contradictory effect of oestrogen on autoimmune diseases is not well understood. Most of the effects of oestrogen are mediated by two receptors: oestrogen receptor α and β (ERα and ERβ). To determine whether these contradictory effects of oestrogen relate to the involvement of distinct effects of the two ERs, we investigated expression of ERα and ERβ in human secondary lymphoid tissues. We observed that, in tonsils, ERβ is expressed in lymphocytes of germinal centres (GC) and the follicular mantle zone as well as in granulocytes, while ERα is expressed only in activated germinal centres but not in the follicular zone. ERβ is the predominant ER in human leucocytes from peripheral blood, spleen and in leucocytes infiltrating cancers in both males and females. In addition, in different human lymphoma cell lines including Hodgkin lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, ERβ is abundant while ERα is not detectable. Our results indicate that ERβ is the predominant type of ER in mature lymphocytes. We suggest that ERα and ERβ have distinct roles in secondary lymphoid tissues and that further studies with ERβ‐specific agonists will help to elucidate the role of ERβ in these tissues. Copyright © 2005 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spontaneous reporting of hepatotoxicity associated with antiandrogens: data from the Spanish pharmacovigilance system
Authors: Manso Gloria , Thole Zebron , Salgueiro Esther , Revuelta Pilar , Hidalgo Agustín 
Published: November 2005

AbstractPurposeTo analyse the type and main features of the hepatotoxicity induced by steroidal and non‐steroidal antiandrogens spontaneously reported by physicians, pharmacists and nurses. This analysis could increase the information related to these adverse reactions mainly available from the published isolated cases.MethodsUsing the Spanish Pharmacovigilance database we searched for spontaneous reports recorded since the date of approval of each antiandrogen up to the present time. We analysed the frequency of liver disorders, the preferred terms coded, the presence of other hepatotoxic drugs, and the characteristics of cases of hepatitis.ResultsLiver disorders were the most common adverse reactions associated with flutamide and bicalutamide, but not with cyproterone acetate. ‘Hepatitis’ and ‘cholestatic hepatitis’ were the most frequent terms coded. In 38% of the reports related to cyproterone acetate, 18% of those related to flutamide and 33% of those related to bicalutamide the patient had simultaneously received other hepatotoxic drugs. The disproportionality analysis of hepatitis showed a strong association with flutamide and a weak association with bicalutamide and cyproterone acetate. Mean doses of flutamide and bicalutamide were very close to their defined daily dose (DDD) to treat prostate cancer, although in the case of cyproterone acetate it was slightly higher. The latency period of hepatitis was between 3 and 10 months for the three antiandrogens, and the recovery period was shorter (0.5–3 months). The majority of the reported cases of hepatitis evolved favourably.ConclusionOur results highlight the hepatotoxic potential of flutamide compared to cyproterone acetate. The data related to bicalutamide should be cautiously considered due to the smaller number of reports. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The impact of Cytochrome P450‐2D6 genotype on the use and interpretation of therapeutic drug monitoring in long‐stay patients treated with antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs in daily psychiatric practice
Authors: Mulder Hans , Herder Anita , Wilmink Frederik W. , Tamminga Wim J. , Belitser Svetlana V. , Egberts Antoine C. G. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractPurposeThis retrospective follow‐up study investigates whether cytochrome P450‐2D6 (CYP2D6) genotype explains variability in plasma concentrations of psychotropic drugs in daily psychiatric practice.MethodsThe study population consisted of 62 hospitalised psychiatric patients genotyped for CYP2D6. Primary endpoint was the normalised plasma concentration ratio which was defined as the [measured concentration]/[mean therapeutic concentration] allowing comparison of plasma concentrations of different substrates. Secondary endpoint was a plasma concentration above the therapeutic range. The determinant was CYP2D6 genotype classified as ultrarapid metaboliser (UM), extensive metaboliser (EM), intermediate metaboliser (IM), or poor metaboliser (PM). The relation between CYP2D6 genotype and the normalised plasma concentration ratio was assessed with a linear mixed‐effects model after adjustment for the Prescribed Daily Dose (PDD). The risk of having a plasma concentration above the therapeutic range was assessed with a logistic mixed‐effects model.ResultsFor antidepressants, CYP2D6 genotype PM (1.68 (95%CI: 1.01–2.28)) and IM (1.09 (95%CI: 0.77–1.29)) were associated with higher normalised plasma concentration ratios of antidepressants compared to EMs (0.56 (95%CI: 0.26–0.74)). In addition, the risk of a plasma concentration above the therapeutic range was increased for PMs (OR 33.1 (95%CI: 2.0–544.6)) and IMs (OR 8.2 (95%CI: 1.1–60.3)) relative to EMs using antidepressants. CYP2D6 genotype could not clearly explain variability in plasma concentrations of antipsychotics possibly due to a low frequency of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in antipsychotics primarily metabolised by CYP2D6 in daily psychiatric practice.ConclusionsCYP2D6 genotype contributes to clinically relevant variability in plasma concentrations of antidepressants but probably not antipsychotics in daily clinical practice. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using a pharmacoepidemiological approach to estimate diabetes type 2 prevalence in Portugal
Authors: Duarte‐Ramos Filipa , Cabrita José 
Published: November 2005

AbstractPurposeTo estimate the prevalence of drug‐treated diabetes type 2 in Portugal using drug consumption data and accounting for the proportion of patients treated with combinations of oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHAs).MethodsThe prevalence of diabetes treated by OHAs was calculated on the basis of: IMS‐Health data for Portugal (2003) and two measures of daily drug intake—defined daily dose (DDD) and prescribed daily dose (PDD), after correcting for the proportion of patients treated with two or more OHAs.The PDD and proportion of patients in combination therapies have been obtained in a descriptive, cross‐sectional national survey, conducted in 2003, by inquiry of 1046 type 2 diabetics countrywide distributed.ResultsDrug use study: We have studied 1046 type 2 diabetics (539 women, 501 men, 6 sex unkown), with a mean age of 64.5 (SD = 11) years. OHAs were prescribed as monotherapy in 46.8% (489/1046) of the patients and the remaining 557 (53.2%) received from 2 to 4 OHAs concomitantly.Diabetes prevalence: Using DDD as the mean daily intake consumption unit, the prevalence of drug‐treated type 2 diabetes was 4.15%, which dropped to 2.52% when the proportion of OHAs associations was taken into account. Using PDD these values were 4.48% and 2.72%, respectively.ConclusionsSince a high proportion of patients are treated with combination of OHAs in clinical practice, it is imperative to account for that confounder in order to improve the accuracy of estimate from drug consumption data. The use of this methodology provided a slight under‐estimation of diabetes prevalence, compared with the National Health Authorities values (3%–5%). Nevertheless we consider this as an efficient tool to estimate drug‐treated diabetes prevalence that should be implemented in a regular way for longitudinal observations, in order to generate signals. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estimates of acetaminophen (paracetomal)‐associated overdoses in the United States
Authors: Nourjah Parivash , Ahmad Syed Rizwanuddin , Karwoski Claudia , Willy Mary 
Published: November 2005

AbstractObjectiveTo estimate the number of acetaminophen‐associated overdoses in the United States and identify possible risk factors for intervention.MethodsThe investigators obtained estimates of acetaminophen‐associated overdoses using different national databases. Two emergency room databases, a hospital discharge database, a national mortality file, and a poison surveillance database were used to identify cases. The FDA's spontaneous reporting system was searched to identify possible root causes for overdoses.ResultsAnalysis of national databases show that acetaminophen‐associated overdoses account for about 56 000 emergency room visits and 26 000 hospitalizations yearly. Analysis of national mortality files shows 458 deaths occur each year from acetaminophen‐associated overdoses; 100 of these are unintentional. The poison surveillance database showed near‐doubling in the number of fatalities associated with acetaminophen from 98 in 1997 to 173 in 2001. AERS data describe a number of possible causes for unintentional acetaminophen‐associated overdoses.ConclusionsEach year a substantial numbers of Americans experience intentional and unintentional acetaminophen‐associated overdoses that, in severe cases, lead to serious illness and possible death. This summary of a series of analyses highlights the need for strategies to reduce this public health burden. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A new synthetic route to borane‐terminated isotactic polypropylenes via styrene/hydrogen consecutive chain transfer reaction
Authors: Fan Guoqiang , Dong Jin‐Yong , Wang Zhigang , Chung T. C. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractThis paper discusses a new process of preparing borane‐terminated isotactic polypropylenes (i‐PPs) via in situ chain transfer reaction, which avoids the use of B‐H‐containing chain transfer agent and thus can be carried out with Al‐activated metallocene catalyst under mild reaction conditions. The chemistry centers on a consecutive chain transfer reaction, first to a trialkylborane‐containing styrene derivative, 4‐[B‐(n‐butylene)‐9‐BBN]styrene (B‐styrene), then to hydrogen in the isoselective polymerization of propylene catalyzed by rac‐Me2Si(2‐Me‐4‐Ph‐Ind)2ZrCl2/MAO. The borane‐terminated i‐PP thus obtained keeps the desired properties of a polymeric alkyl‐9‐BBN reagent and was used to initiate radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) to prepare i‐PP‐b‐PMMA diblock copolymer. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 539–548, 2006
Quality of life among long‐term survivors of breast cancer: different types of antecedents predict different classes of outcomes
Authors: Carver Charles S. , Smith Roselyn G. , Petronis Vida M. , Antoni Michael H. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractQuality of life (QOL) has many aspects, both in the short‐term and in the long‐term. Different aspects of QOL may have different types of precursors: demographic, medical, and psychosocial. We examined this possibility in a group of long‐term breast cancer survivors. Early‐stage breast cancer patients (N=163) who had provided information about medical, demographic, and psychosocial variables during the year after surgery completed a multidimensional measure of QOL 5–13 years later. Initial chemotherapy and higher stage predicted greater financial problems and greater worry about appearance at follow‐up. Being partnered at diagnosis predicted many psychosocial benefits at follow‐up. Hispanic women reported greater distress and social avoidance at follow‐up. Initial trait optimism predicted diverse aspects of better psychosocial QOL at follow‐up, but not other aspects of QOL. Thus, different aspects of QOL at long‐term follow‐up had different antecedents. Overall, psychological outcomes were predicted by psychosocial variables, presence of a partner at diagnosis, and ethnicity. Financial outcomes, in contrast, were predicted by medical variables, which otherwise predicted little about long‐term QOL. This divergence among aspects of QOL should receive closer attention in future work. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and antitumor efficacy of a human glandular kallikrein 2 (hK2)‐activated thapsigargin prodrug
Authors: Janssen Samuel , Rosen D. Marc , Ricklis Rebecca M. , Dionne Craig A. , Lilja Hans , Christensen Soeren B. , Isaacs John T. , Denmeade Samuel R. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBACKGROUNDProstate cancer cells secrete unique proteases such as prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) and human glandular kallikrein 2 (hK2) that represent targets for the activation of prodrugs as systemic treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. Previously, a combinatorial peptide library was screened to identify a highly active peptide substrate for hK2. The peptide was coupled to an analog of the potent cytotoxin thapsigargin, L12ADT, to generate an hK2‐activated prodrug that was efficiently hydrolyzed by purified hK2, stable to hydrolysis in human and mouse plasma in vitro and selectively toxic to hK2 producing prostate cancer cells in vitro.METHODSIn the current study, toxicology, pharmacokinetics, prodrug biodistribution, and antitumor efficacy studies were performed to evaluate the hK2‐activated prodrug in vivo.RESULTSThe single intravenous maximally tolerated dose of prodrug was 6 mg/kg (i.e., 3.67 µmole/kg) which produced peak serum concentration of ∼36 µM and had a half‐life of ∼40 min. In addition, over a 24 hr period <0.5% of free L12ADT analog was observed in plasma. The prodrug demonstrated significant antitumor effect in vivo while it was being administered, but prolonged intravenous administration was not possible due to local toxicity to tail veins. Subcutaneous administration of equimolar doses produced lower plasma AUC compared to intravenous dosing but equivalent intratumoral levels of prodrug following multiple doses.CONCLUSIONSThe hK2‐activated prodrug was stable in vivo. The prodrug, however, was rapidly cleared and difficult to administer over prolonged dosing interval. Additional studies are underway to assess antitumor efficacy with prolonged administration of higher subcutaneous doses of prodrug. Second‐generation hK2‐activated thapsigargin prodrugs with increased half‐lives and improved formulations are also under development. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.