bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The essential oil composition of Acroptilon repens (L.) DC. of Turkish origin
Authors: Tunalier Zeynep , Candan Nurcan T. , Demirci Betul , K. Husnu Can Baser  
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe composition of essential oil obtained from the aerial parts of Russian knapweed [Acroptilon repens (L.) DC.] (Asteraceae) was analyzed by GC and GC‐MS. Seventy‐two components were identified in the essential oil of Acroptilon repens (L.) DC. Major constituents of the essential oil were α‐copaene (22.8%), β‐caryophyllene (9.5%), germacrene D (9.0%), β‐cubebene (7.9%) and caryophyllene oxide (6.4%). Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How common is the ‘prominence effect’? Additional evidence to Whynes et al.
Authors: Covey Judith , Smith Richard D. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractIn a recent issue of Health Economics Letters, Whynes et al. report an observation not previously reported in the willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) literature; that when people are asked to provide an estimate using payment scales they tend to disproportionately select prominent values (that is, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, etc.). However, it remains an open question just how common this prominence effect actually is. Here we present data from several additional contingent valuation (CV) studies, which suggest that although prominence occurs, it does not reach statistical significance, as found by Whynes et al. A number of reasons are outlined to explain this. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In defence of societal sovereignty: a comment on Nyman ‘the inclusion of survivor consumption in CUA’
Authors: Richardson Jeffrey R. J. , Olsen Jan Abel 
Published: January 2006

AbstractWhether to include or exclude consumption costs and costs of unrelated illnesses in economic evaluation is not a technical issue which may be answered by reference to individuals alone and the consistency of the treatment of individual costs and benefits. In the context of a publicly funded health service the relevant costs and benefits may differ from those normally included in evaluation studies. Specifically, the social welfare function is likely to exclude benefits which would result in preferential care for wealthier members of society. But this conclusion must be established by analysis of social, not individual, values. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Does the whole equal the sum of the parts? Patient‐assigned utility scores for IBS‐related health states and profiles
Authors: Brazier John , Dolan Paul , Karampela Korina , Towers Isabel 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe quality‐adjusted life year (QALY) assumes that the value of a health state is linearly related to the time spent in it, which implies that the value of a health state is independent of the states which precede or follow it. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a suitable condition to test this assumption since it is subject to considerable fluctuations over time.Forty‐nine IBS patients were asked to rate their own health using generic measures of health and a condition specific classification. They were then asked to value five IBS states and four profiles using a self‐completed version of the standard gamble technique. The implied value of each profile was estimated using the QALY assumption of linearity over time and compared with the direct profile valuations.The directly elicited profile values suggest that reductions in the duration of IBS symptoms has less of an impact on the value of quality of life than would be implied by the QALY assumption of linearity over time, though the differences were small. There are a number of competing explanations for this finding, including possible sequence effects, quantity effects or time preference, or it might be due to gestalt effects resulting in a neglect of time spent in symptomatic states of health. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Does non‐profit health insurance reduce financial burden? Evidence from the Vietnam living standards survey panel
Authors: Sepehri Ardeshir , Sarma Sisira , Simpson Wayne 
Published: January 2006

AbstractMany low‐income countries are implementing non‐profit medical insurance to increase access to health services, especially among low‐income households, and to raise additional revenue for financing public health services. This paper estimates the effect of insurance on out‐of‐pocket health expenditures using the Vietnam Living Standards Surveys for 1993 and 1998 and appropriate models for panel data. Our findings suggest that health insurance reduces health expenditure when unobserved heterogeneity is accounted for. Failure to capture unobserved heterogeneity produces contrary results that are consistent with previous cross‐sectional studies in the literature. Health insurance is found to reduce out‐of‐pocket expenditure between 16 and 18% and the reduction in expenditure is more pronounced for individuals with lower incomes. At mean income, the effect of health insurance is to reduce health expenditures between 28 and 35%. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A preference‐based index for the SF‐12
Authors: Stratmann‐Schoene D. , Kuehn T. , Kreienberg R. , Leidl R. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractBackground: The SF‐12 is a widely used generic measure of subjective health. As the scoring algorithms of the SF‐12 do not include preference values, different approaches to assign a preference‐based index are available that should be tested regarding their feasibility and validity.Objectives: To develop a concept for a preference‐based index for the SF‐12 on the basis of multi‐attribute decision analysis and to perform initial tests of its feasibility and validity in an empirical study.Methods: A multi‐attribute preference function for the SF‐12 was developed, estimated and tested for validity. Two mail surveys (n = 100, 200) and an interview (n = 72) were conducted with women who had an operation for breast cancer. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and standard gamble (SG) measures elicited preference‐based valuations.Results: Eight attributes were identified in the SF‐12. Validity tests showed an average difference of 8 VAS score points between directly measured and predicted values for given health states.Conclusion: The initial results show that this approach might allow the direct assignment of a preference‐based valuation to the SF‐12. The quality of the psychometric features of the multi‐attribute value function is encouraging. Future studies should test this concept more extensively, especially by determining parameters for a representative sample of the general population and by comparing performance with other approaches to value the SF‐12. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of the cognitive, psychomotor and pharmacokinetic profiles of rupatadine, hydroxyzine and cetirizine, in combination with alcohol, in healthy volunteers
Authors: Barbanoj Manuel J. , García‐Gea Consuelo , Antonijoan Rosa , Izquierdo Iñaki , Donado Ester , Pérez Iñaki , Solans Anna , Jané Francesc 
Published: January 2006

AbstractIntroductionThe Central Nervous System (CNS) impairment induced by moderate alcohol (ALC) ingestion may be enhanced if other drugs are taken simultaneously. Rupatadine (RUP) is a new H1‐antihistamine which also inhibits platelet activating factor (PAF) release in inflammatory reactions.ObjectiveThe main aim of the study was to assess the effects of ALC 0.8 g/Kg on RUP (10 mg and 20 mg) CNS effects. An evaluation of alcohol and RUP pharmacokinetics was also attained.MethodsEighteen healthy young volunteers of both sexes participated in a phase I, randomised, crossover, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study. At 2‐week intervals they received six treatments: (a) placebo (PLA), (b) ALC alone and ALC in combination with: (c) hydroxyzine 25 mg (HYD), (d) cetirizine 10 mg (CET), (e) RUP 10 mg or (f) RUP 20 mg. At baseline and several times thereafter, seven psychomotor performance tests (finger tapping, fine motoric skills, nystagmus, temporal estimation, critical‐flicker‐fusion frequency, ‘d2’ cancellation, simple reaction) and eleven subjective self‐reports (drunkenness, sleepiness, alertness, clumsiness, anger, inattentiveness, efficiency, happiness, hostility, interest and extraversion) were carried out. Two‐way (treatment, time) ANOVAs for repeated measures to each variable together with a multivariate non‐parametric approach were applied. Plasma concentrations of alcohol, and of RUP and its metabolites, were quantified by validated immunofluorescence and LC/MS/MS methods, respectively. Plasma‐time curves for all compounds were analysed by means of model‐independent methods.ResultsThe combination of alcohol with HYD, CET and RUP 20 mg produced more cognitive and psychomotor impairment as compared to alcohol alone, being the combination of alcohol and HYD the one which induced the greatest deterioration. The combination of alcohol and RUP 10 mg could not be differentiated from ALC alone. Subjective self‐reports reflect effects on metacognition after the combination of alcohol with HYD and CET i.e. the increased objective impairment observed was not subjectively perceived by the subjects. No significant differences were obtained when comparing alcohol plasma concentrations assessed after the treatments evaluated. RUP showed a lineal kinetic relationship after 10 and 20 mg with a higher exposition to both metabolites assayed.ConclusionsPresent results showed that single oral doses of rupatadine 10 mg in combination with alcohol do not produce more cognitive and psychomotor impairment than alcohol alone. Higher doses of rupatadine, in combination with alcohol, may induce cognitive and psychomotor deterioration as hydroxyzine and cetirizine at therapeutic doses. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Acute effect of isometric exercise on desire to smoke and tobacco withdrawal symptoms
Authors: Ussher Michael , West Robert , Doshi Reena , Sampuran Amandeep Kaur 
Published: January 2006

AbstractA brief bout of aerobic exercise (e.g. stationary bicycle) has been shown to result in an acute reduction in tobacco withdrawal symptoms and cravings in abstinent smokers. However, aerobic exercise is often not practical and it is of interest to examine whether non‐aerobic exercise has a similar effect. We investigated whether isometric exercise (involving muscular contractions against resistance without movement, e.g. placing the palms of the hands together and pushing) reduces desire to smoke and tobacco withdrawal symptoms. Following overnight abstinence smokers were randomized to 5‐min of: isometric exercises (n = 20), body scanning (focusing attention on sensations in different areas of the body, n = 20, control), or sitting passively (n = 20, control). Desire to smoke and tobacco withdrawal symptoms (‘irritable’, ‘depressed’, ‘stressed’, ‘tense’, ‘restless’ and ‘poor concentration’) were rated at baseline, immediately post‐intervention, and 5‐, 10‐, 15‐ and 20‐min post‐intervention. Isometric exercise produced a significantly greater reduction in desire to smoke versus passive control at immediate post‐intervention and 5‐min post‐intervention, relative to baseline (p < 0.05). Most withdrawal symptoms were significantly moderated by exercise versus controls at some point between 5‐ to 20‐min post‐intervention, relative to baseline (p < 0.05). Brief isometric exercise has potential for offering immediate relief from a desire to smoke. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pharmacological management of behavioural and psychological disturbance in dementia
Authors: Kozman Mervat N. , Wattis John , Curran Stephen 
Published: January 2006

AbstractBehavioural and psychological symptoms in patients with dementia are common, distressing and often difficult to manage. This review evaluates a range of drugs commonly used to manage these symptoms including antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, antidementia drugs and antidepressants.The risks and benefits of individual treatments are discussed and the relatively poor evidence base and need for further research is highlighted. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Controlled drug release from a novel injectable biodegradable microsphere/scaffold composite based on poly(propylene fumarate)
Authors: Kempen Diederik H. R. , Lu Lichun , Kim Choll , Zhu Xun , Dhert Wouter J. A. , Currier Bradford L. , Yaszemski Michael J. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe ideal biomaterial for the repair of bone defects is expected to have good mechanical properties, be fabricated easily into a desired shape, support cell attachment, allow controlled release of bioactive factors to induce bone formation, and biodegrade into nontoxic products to permit natural bone formation and remodeling. The synthetic polymer poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) holds great promise as such a biomaterial. In previous work we developed poly(DL‐lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) and PPF microspheres for the controlled delivery of bioactive molecules. This study presents an approach to incorporate these microspheres into an injectable, porous PPF scaffold. Model drug Texas red dextran (TRD) was encapsulated into biodegradable PLGA and PPF microspheres at 2 μg/mg microsphere. Five porous composite formulations were fabricated via a gas foaming technique by combining the injectable PPF paste with the PLGA or PPF microspheres at 100 or 250 mg microsphere per composite formulation, or a control aqueous TRD solution (200 μg per composite). All scaffolds had an interconnected pore network with an average porosity of 64.8 ± 3.6%. The presence of microspheres in the composite scaffolds was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy. The composite scaffolds exhibited a sustained release of the model drug for at least 28 days and had minimal burst release during the initial phase of release, as compared to drug release from microspheres alone. The compressive moduli of the scaffolds were between 2.4 and 26.2 MPa after fabrication, and between 14.9 and 62.8 MPa after 28 days in PBS. The scaffolds containing PPF microspheres exhibited a significantly higher initial compressive modulus than those containing PLGA microspheres. Increasing the amount of microspheres in the composites was found to significantly decrease the initial compressive modulus. The novel injectable PPF‐based microsphere/scaffold composites developed in this study are promising to serve as vehicles for controlled drug delivery for bone tissue engineering. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2006
Corrosion resistance of a laser spot‐welded joint of NiTi wire in simulated human body fluids
Authors: Yan Xiao‐Jun , Yang Da‐Zhi 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to investigate corrosion resistance of a laser spot‐welded joint of NiTi alloy wires using potentiodynamic tests in Hank's solution at different PH values and the PH 7.4 NaCl solution for different Cl− concentrations. Scanning electron microscope observations were carried out before and after potentiodynamic tests. The composition of a laser spot‐welded joint and base metal were characterized by using an electron probe microanalyzer. The results of potentiodynamic tests showed that corrosion resistance of a laser spot‐welded joint of NiTi alloy wire was better than that of base metal, which exhibited a little higher breakdown potential and passive range, and a little lower passive current density. Corrosion resistances of a laser spot‐welded joint and base metal decreased with increasing of the Cl− concentration and PH value. The improvement of corrosion resistance of the laser spot‐welded joint was due to the decrease of the surface defects and the increase of the Ti/Ni ratio. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2006
Improvement of cell adhesion on poly(L‐lactide) by atmospheric plasma treatment
Authors: Nakagawa Masafumi , Teraoka Fumio , Fujimoto Shinji , Hamada Yoshinosuke , Kibayashi Hiroyuki , Takahashi Junzo 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to elucidate the interaction between the cell and the surface of poly(L‐lactide) (PLLA) samples, which were modified using a low‐temperature plasma treatment apparatus at atmospheric pressure. The plasma treatments were carried out in the atmospheres of air, carbon dioxide (CO2), and perfluoro propane (C3F8) gas. The PLLA samples before and after the plasma treatment were analyzed by XPS and their contact angles with water. Furthermore, the cell adhesion capability and cell mass culturing tests on the PLLA samples were carried out using MC3T3‐E1 cells. The results showed that the contact angle of the samples, which was plasma treated in air or in CO2 gas, decreased compared with that of the untreated samples. On the other hand, the contact angle of the samples, which was plasma treated in the C3F8 gas, increased compared with the untreated plasma samples. The cell response on the PLLA samples plasma treated in air or in the CO2 gas were significantly superior to that of the PLLA samples, which was plasma treated in the C3F8 gas. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2006
Lymphangiogenesis in the bone–implant interface of orthopedic implants: Importance and consequence
Authors: Jell Gavin , Kerjaschki Dontscho , Revell Peter , Al‐Saffar Najat 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe lymphatic system plays an essential physiological role in homeostasis, interstitial fluid composition, and immunity while impaired lymphatic function has been implicated in a number of pathological conditions, including arthritis and delayed wound healing. This study investigated lymphatic capillary growth and lymphangiogenesis pathways in the bone–implant interface from patients with aseptically loosened prosthetic joints. The newly developed lymphatic specific marker, podoplanin, has enabled the first demonstration of lymphatic capillaries in peri‐prosthetic tissues (60% of cases contained podoplanin positive vessels). The pro‐lymphangiogenic factor (VEGF‐C) and its receptor VEGFR‐3 showed high level of expression in these tissues, (often in areas of high levels of wear debris). However despite the upregulation of the lymphangiogenesis pathway by a VEGF‐C/VEGFR‐3‐mediated mechanism, there were relatively few podoplanin positive lymphatic vessels in the bone–implant interface (3.4% of total vessels). This may have important pathological consequences in terms of perpetuating inflammation and edema by inhibiting the removal of macromolecules, cells, and interstitial fluid. The identification of lymphatic vessels with internalized polyethylene wear particles provides evidence of this route of wear debris transportation to distal sites. This paper highlights the importance of lymphatic vessels in the maintenance of local and distal inflammatory responses to prosthetic wear particles. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Biomed. Mater. Res, 2006.
Encapsulating drugs in biodegradable ultrafine fibers through co‐axial electrospinning
Authors: Huang Zheng‐Ming , He Chuang‐Long , Yang Aizhao , Zhang Yanzhong , Han Xiao‐Jian , Yin Junlin , Wu Qingsheng 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThis article describes an electrospinning process to fabricate double‐layered ultrafine fibers. A bioabsorbable polymer, Polycaprolactone (PCL), was used as the outer layer or the shell and two medically pure drugs, Resveratrol (RT, a kind of antioxidant) and Gentamycin Sulfate (GS, an antibiotic), were used as the inner layers or the cores. Morphology and microstructure of the ultrafine fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), whereas mechanical performance of them was understood through tensile test. In vitro degradation rates of the nanofibrous membranes were determined by measuring their weight loss when immersed in pH 7.4 phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) mixed with certain amount of Pseudomonas lipase for a maximum of 7 days. The drug release behaviors of the RT and GS were measured using a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, respectively. It has been found that the drug solutions without any fiber‐forming additive could be encapsulated in the PCL ultrafine fibers, although they alone cannot be made into a fiber form. Beads on the fiber surface influenced the tensile behavior of the ultrafine fibers remarkably. When the core solvent was miscible with the shell solvent, higher drug concentration decreased the bead formation and thus favored the mechanical performance. The situation, however, became different if the two solvents were immiscible with each other. The degradation rate was closely related to hydrophilicity of the drugs in the cores. Higher hydrophilicity apparently led to faster degradation. The release profiles of the RT and GS exhibited a sustained release characteristic, with no burst release phenomenon. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2006
Cyto‐ and histocompatibility of multilayered DNA‐coatings on titanium
Authors: van den Beucken J.J.J.P. , Walboomers X.F. , Vos M.R.J. , Sommerdijk N.A.J.M. , Nolte R.J.M. , Jansen J.A. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractDNA‐containing biomaterial coatings offer potential beneficial effects for both soft and hard tissue implants because of the structural properties of DNA. In the current study, the aim was to assess the in vitro cyto‐ and in vivo histocompatibility of multilayered DNA‐coatings generated using the electrostatic self‐assembly technique, with poly‐D‐lysine or poly(allylamine hydrochloride) as the cationic counterparts of anionic DNA. Multilayered DNA‐coatings were fabricated on titanium substrates. Noncoated titanium substrates served as controls. In vitro experiments with rat primary dermal fibroblasts (RDF) assessing their viability were performed using a Live/Dead assay and an MTT‐based assay. The presence of multilayered DNA‐coatings did not affect RDF cell viability. On the other hand, an increased proliferation was demonstrated on both types of multilayered DNA‐coatings. An in vivo rat model was used to study the soft tissue histocompatibility of subcutaneously inserted implants during implantation periods of 4 and 12 weeks. Light microscopic analysis revealed that all implants were surrounded by a fibrous capsule containing α‐smooth muscle actin, and that the presence of a multilayered DNA‐coating did not induce any adverse effects in terms of inflammation and wound healing. Histomorphometrically, no significant differences in capsule quality or thickness were observed dependent on multilayered DNA‐coating or implantation period. The cyto‐ and histocompatibility of multilayered DNA‐coatings demonstrated in this study allows their use and functionalization with appropriate compounds to modulate cell and tissue responses in dental and medical implantology. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Biomed. Mater. Res, 2006.