bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Hepatic Lipase −514C→T Polymorphism and Its Interactions With Apolipoprotein C3 −482C→T and Apolipoprotein E Exon 4 Polymorphisms on the Risk of Nephropathy in Chinese Type 2 Diabetic Patients
Authors: Baum Larry , Ng Maggie C.Y. , So Wing-Yee , Lam Vincent K.L. , Wang Ying , Poon Emily , Tomlinson Brian , Cheng Suzanne , Lindpaintner Klaus , Chan Juliana C.N. 
Published: March 2007

OBJECTIVE—Triglyceride-rich lipoprotein particles may promote the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Patients with diabetic nephropathy have increased plasma triglycerides and reduced activity of hepatic lipase (HL), which hydrolyzes triglycerides. We hypothesized that the HL −514C→T polymorphism, which reduces HL expression, and its interactions with polymorphisms in apolipoprotein (apo) E and apoC3 increase the risk of diabetic nephropathy.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—In a case-control study involving 374 Chinese type 2 diabetic patients with and 392 without diabetic nephropathy, we genotyped the HL −514C→T, apoE exon 4, and apoC3 −482C→T polymorphisms.
RESULTS—HL −514T−containing genotypes (T+) were associated with diabetic nephropathy (OR = 1.7, P = 0.0009). Adjustment by multiple logistic regression for hypertension, triglycerides, sex, non-HDL cholesterol, BMI, smoking, and alcohol intake did not diminish the association (OR = 1.8, P = 0.003). The association between HL T+ genotypes and diabetic nephropathy appeared stronger in diabetic patients with apoC3 −482 non-TT genotypes (OR = 1.9, P = 0.003) or apoE ε2 or ε4 alleles (OR = 2.2, P = 0.005). Subjects with HL TT exhibited trends toward increased triglyceride and non-HDL cholesterol levels compared with CC carriers.
CONCLUSIONS—HL T+ genotypes might increase the risk of developing diabetic nephropathy by slowing clearance of triglyceride-rich remnant lipoproteins. In concert with other risk factors (e.g., hyperglycemia), lipid abnormalities may damage the kidneys and endothelium, where reduced binding sites for lipases may precipitate a vicious cycle of dyslipidemia, proteinuria, and nephropathy.
Autoantibodies to Autonomic Nerves Associated With Cardiac and Peripheral Autonomic Neuropathy
Authors: Granberg Viktoria , Ejskjaer Niels , Peakman Mark , Sundkvist Göran 
Published: March 2007

OBJECTIVE—This study examines whether autonomic nerve autoantibodies (ANabs) are associated with development of autonomic neuropathy using a prospective study design.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—A group of type 1 diabetic patients were followed prospectively with regard to autonomic nerve function on four occasions. At the third examination, 41 patients were tested for ANabs (complement-fixing autoantibodies to the sympathetic ganglion, vagus nerve, and adrenal medulla), and the results were related to cardiac autonomic nerve function (heart rate variation during deep breathing [expiration/inspiration ratio] and heart-rate reaction to tilt [acceleration and brake index]) and to peripheral sympathetic nerve function (vasoconstriction after indirect cooling [vasoconstriction index]).
RESULTS—ANabs were detected in 23 of 41 (56%) patients at the third examination. Compared with patients without ANabs (ANabs−), patients with ANabs (ANabs+) showed significantly higher frequencies of at least one abnormal cardiac autonomic nerve function test at the third examination (17 of 23 [74%] vs. 7 of 18 [39%]; P = 0.03) and fourth examination (15 of 21 [71%] vs. 4 of 16 [25%]; P &lt; 0.01). In contrast, there was no similar difference at the first or second examination. The relative risk for ANabs+ patients to develop cardiac autonomic neuropathy at follow-up was 7.5 (95% CI 1.72–32.80). The vasoconstriction index was more abnormal in ANabs+ than in ANabs− patients at the fourth examination (median 1.40 [interquartile range 1.58] vs. 0.35 [2.05]; P = 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS—ANabs were associated with future development of cardiac and peripheral autonomic neuropathy in diabetic patients, implying an etiological relationship between nervous tissue autoimmunity and these diabetes complications.
An Evaluation of the Efficacy of Methods Used in Screening for Lower-Limb Arterial Disease in Diabetes
Authors: Williams Dean T. , Harding Keith G. , Price Patricia 
Published: March 2007

OBJECTIVE—Foot-related disease is the most common cause for hospital admission among the diabetic population. Lower-limb peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) is a major risk factor in diabetic foot disease. Screening for PAOD commonly includes foot pulses and the ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) and/or the toe-brachial pressure index (TBI), but concerns persist regarding their accuracy. We evaluated the efficacy of several commonly used screening methods in different subject populations.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We studied 130 limbs in 68 individuals with no critical ischemia over 8 months. Limbs were grouped on the basis of the presence or absence of diabetes, clinically detectable peripheral neuropathy, and PAOD identified on color duplex imaging. Comparative analyses of foot pulses, the ABPI, the TBI, and distal Doppler waveform analysis were performed.
RESULTS—Foot pulses, the TBI, and qualitative waveform analyses were highly sensitive screening methods in individuals with and without diabetes. However, detectable peripheral neuropathy was associated with a reduced sensitivity and poor specificity of foot pulses, a reduction in sensitivity of the ABPI (71 to 38%), and a reduction in specificity of the TBI (81 to 61%) and qualitative waveform analysis (96 to 66%). Quantitative analysis failed to detect disease with severely damped and low-intensity signals.
CONCLUSIONS—Screening tools that are effective in screening for lower-limb PAOD in the nondiabetic population are less efficacious in diabetes, particularly in the presence of detectable peripheral neuropathy. Qualitative waveform analysis and the TBI were demonstrated to be more effective screening methods than the ABPI and foot pulses particularly in high-risk limbs with detectable peripheral neuropathy.
The Impact of ACE Inhibitors or Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers on the Development of New-Onset Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Gillespie Effie L. , White C. Michael , Kardas Michael , Lindberg Michael , Coleman Craig I. 
Published: March 2007

OBJECTIVE—Angiotensin II has been shown to increase hepatic glucose production and decrease insulin sensitivity. Patients who utilize either an ACE inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) may experience a decreased incidence of new-onset type 2 diabetes.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Three reviewers conducted a systematic literature search of Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library (1966 to present) to extract a consensus of trial data involving an ACEI or ARB with an end point of new-onset type 2 diabetes. Studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials verses placebo/routine therapy. A random-effects model was utilized. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted.
RESULTS—Eleven trials were identified, including 66,608 patients. An ACEI or ARB prevented new-onset type 2 diabetes (odds ratio 0.78 [95% CI 0.73–0.83]). The influence of either an ACEI (six trials) or an ARB (five trials) alone on new-onset type 2 diabetes was similar (0.79 [0.71–0.89] and 0.76 [0.70–0.82], respectively). Regardless of indication for use, hypertension (seven trials), coronary artery disease (two trials), or heart failure (two trials), reductions in new-onset type 2 diabetes were maintained (0.79 [0.72–0.85], 0.76 [0.60–0.95], and 0.70 [0.50–0.96], respectively). No statistical heterogeneity was observed for any evaluation (P &gt; 0.1 for all comparisons). ACEIs and ARBs did not reduce the odds of mortality, cardiovascular, or cerebrovascular events versus control therapy among all of these studies combined or the hypertension trials. ACEIs and ARBs did reduce the odds of these outcomes among the coronary artery disease studies versus control therapy.
CONCLUSIONS—ACEIs or ARBs may decrease patients’ odds of developing new-onset type 2 diabetes but does not reduce the odds of mortality, cardiovascular, or cerebrovascular outcomes over the study follow-up periods among patients with hypertension.
Immunological Markers in the Diagnosis and Prediction of Autoimmune Type 1a Diabetes
Authors: Winter William E. , Harris Neil , Schatz Desmond 
Published: March 2007

In BriefSeveral autoantibodies are associated with autoimmune type 1 diabetes. Measurements of islet autoantibodies can assist in the diagnosis of autoimmune diabetes, and the detection of islet autoantibodies in nondiabetic individuals indicates a significantly increased risk for the subsequent development of type 1 diabetes. When preventive therapies for type 1 diabetes become available, islet autoantibody screening of the general pediatric population should be considered to identify at-risk individuals.
An Overview of Obesity and Weight Loss Surgery
Authors: O'Connell Thomas L. 
Published: March 2007

IN BRIEFObesity has become an epidemic in the United States, with more than 60% of the population now either overweight or obese. Lifestyle modifications and weight loss medications have failed to provide significant, lasting weight loss in the majority of people who are overweight. Weight loss surgery has proven to be a safe and effective means of losing significant and lasting weight and should be considered in those who are morbidly obese.
Oral Agents for Type 2 Diabetes: An Update
Authors: Kimmel Bonnie , Inzucchi Silvio E. 
Published: March 2007

IN BRIEFThe paradigms for oral pharmacological therapy in type 2 diabetes are shifting as we attain new insights into the optimal metabolic control in our patients. Each drug category has unique advantages and disadvantages, and their proper use necessitates a full understanding of their mechanisms of action, glycemic and nonglycemic effects, and prescribing indications. This article reviews published clinical trial data and places them into the context of contemporary, rational therapeutic strategies for this increasingly common condition.
A nonlinear tracking control for sensorless induction motors with uncertain load torque
Authors: Marino R. , Tomei P. , Verrelli C. M. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractWe propose a novel nonlinear tracking control algorithm for induction motors with uncertain load torque in which only stator currents are used for feedback: rotor speed and flux sensors are not required; no open‐loop integration of flux dynamics is used. For a class of reference signals, for sufficiently small computable time‐varying load torque uncertainty and for any initial condition belonging to an explicitly computed region, closed‐loop boundedness is guaranteed while, under persistency of excitation, local exponential rotor speed and flux modulus tracking are achieved in the case of constant load torque. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cross‐sectional study of electrocardiographic pattern in healthy children resident at high altitude
Authors: Huicho Luis , Niermeyer Susan 
Published: March 2007

AbstractElectrocardiographic studies have reported persistent right ventricle predominance in high altitude children as an adaptive response. No information was provided on ethnicity and environmental factors in those studies. We assessed the electrocardiographic characteristics in healthy high altitude children with mixed ancestry and relatively high mobility to lower altitudes. A cross‐sectional study of 321 children aged 2 months through 19 years old and living at high altitude (Tintaya, Peru, 4,100 m) was conducted. Standard 12‐lead electrocardiography was performed. Information was obtained on ethnicity, medical history, place and altitude of pregnancy and birth, mobility of children and their parents and grandparents to lower altitudes, and housing conditions. A medical examination, echocardiography, hemoglobin, oxygen saturation, and anthropometric measurements were performed. Means between sexes were compared through Mann–Whitney test for independent samples not normally distributed. Potentially influential variables on electrocardiographic values were controlled through a general linear model. Electrocardiographic parameters including QRS axis, RV1, RSV1, RV1SV5, RSV5, RSV6, and SV1RV5 did not show a right predominance pattern at any age. Values were within sea level norms. None of the genetic or environmental factors controlled showed a consistent influence on the electrocardiographic variables. Our study showed an electrocardiographic pattern similar to that of sea level in high altitude children with some degree of high‐altitude ancestry, comparatively well‐nourished and with relatively high mobility to low altitudes. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Synthesis of compatibilizers and characterization of the compatibilized and noncompatibilized blends of PP/Rodrun LC3000
Authors: Cidade M. T. , Filipe S. , Duarte A. P. , Bordado J. C. M. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe addition of a liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) to a matrix of a flexible thermoplastic (TP) has been used in the last two decades as an in situ reinforcement of the matrix. Owing to the immiscibility of the two phases and the high degree of orientation typical of LCPs, the dispersed phase is, after processing, essentially constituted by fibrillar structures, which are responsible for the reinforcement of the matrix and the decrease of viscosity with respect to the matrix. The low degree of adhesion typical of LCP/TP blends often requires the use of compatibilizers, which will act reducing the interfacial tension between the two components. In this work, we present the synthesis of three different compatibilizers, as well as the mechanical characterization of the corresponding compatibilized blends. Some scanning electron microphotographs will be also presented to better explain the mechanical results. The mechanical properties of these blends were compared with the noncompatibilized blend, as well as with the ones presented by blends obtained with two commercial compatibilizers, leading to the conclusion that, considering our compatibilizer C, the one that leads to the higher enhancement of the Young's modulus, when compared with the noncompatibilized blend, we obtain a Young's modulus 27% higher than the one presented by the noncompatibilized blend. Comparing this result with those presented by the blends compatibilized with the two commercial compatibilizers, D and E, we conclude that this enhancement is higher than those presented by those blends (increase in Young's modulus of 16% for both compatibilizers). © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007
Preparation of HDPE/SEBS‐g‐MAH and its effect on mechanical properties of HDPE/wood flour composites
Authors: Shi Hengchong , Li Bin , Chen Cheng , Jia Yonglin 
Published: March 2007

AbstractIn this article, high density polyethylene/styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene block copolymer blends (HDPE/SEBS) grafted by maleic anhydride (HDPE/SEBS‐g‐MAH), which is an effective compatibilizer for HDPE/wood flour composites was prepared by means of torque rheometer with different contents of maleic anhydride (MAH). The experimental results indicated that MAH indeed grafted on HDPE/SEBS by FTIR analysis and the torque increased with increasing the content of maleic anhydride and dicumyl peroxide (DCP). Styrene may increase the graft reaction rate of MAH and HDPE/SEBS. When HDPE/SEBS MAH was added to HDPE/wood flour composites, tensile strength and flexural strength of composites can reach 25.9 and 34.8 MPa in comparison of 16.5 and 23.8 MPa (without HDPE/SEBS‐g‐MAH), increasing by 157 and 146%, respectively. Due to incorporation of thermoplastic elastomer in HDPE/SEBS‐g‐MAH, the Notched Izod impact strength reached 5.08 kJ m−2, increasing by 145% in comparison of system without compatibilizer. That HDPE/SEBS‐g‐MAH improved the compatibility was also conformed by dynamic mechanical measurement. Scanning electron micrographs provided evidence for strong adhesion between wood flour and HDPE matrix with addition of HDPE/SEBS‐g‐MAH. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007
High‐performance liquid chromatography analysis of curcumin in rat plasma: application to pharmacokinetics of polymeric micellar formulation of curcumin
Authors: Ma Zengshuan , Shayeganpour Anooshirvan , Brocks Dion R. , Lavasanifar Afsaneh , Samuel John 
Published: March 2007

Abstract A simple, rapid and reliable high‐performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed and validated for the determination of curcumin in rat plasma. Plasma was precipitated with acetonitrile after addition of the internal standard (IS), 4‐hydroxybenzophenone. Separation was achieved on a Waters µBondapak™ C18 column (3.9 × 300 mm, 5 µm) using acetonitrile (55%) and citric buffer, pH 3.0 (45%) as the mobile phase (flow rate = 1.0 mL/min). The UV detection wavelength was 300 and 428 nm for IS and curcumin, respectively. The extraction efficiencies were 97.08, 95.69 and 94.90% for 50, 200 and 1000 ng/mL of curcumin in rat plasma, respectively. The calibration curve was linear over the range 0.02–1 µg/mL with a correlation coefficient of r2 > 0.999. The intra‐ and inter‐day coefficients of variation were less than 13%, and mean intra‐ and inter‐day errors were less than ±6% at 50, 200 and 1000 ng/mL of curcumin. This assay was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic studies of both solubilized curcumin and its polymeric micellar formulation in rats. It was found that polymeric micelles increased the half‐life of curcumin 162‐fold that of solubilized curcumin and increased the volume of distribution (Vdss) by 70‐fold. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fundamental Concepts of NMR in Paramagnetic Systems Part I: The Isotropic Shift
Authors: Satterlee James D. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractA simple model is presented as the basis for explaining the equations that describe the isotropic shift for paramagnetic molecules in solution. The simplest case is that of an axially symmetric molecule for which the Curie Law is valid and for which zero field splitting and second‐order Zeeman effects are small. It is used as a point of departure for considering the many underlying factors that affect observation of NMR resonances in paramagnetic molecules.
Echoes—how to generate, recognize, use or avoid them in MR‐imaging sequences. Part I: Fundamental and not so fundamental properties of spin echoes
Authors: Hennig Jürgen 
Published: March 2007

AbstractSpin echoes have been known since 1950. Although their formal description by use of the Bloch equations is straightforward, it does not lead to an intuitive understanding of their behavior except for the special cases of 180° or 90° pulses, especially when many pulses are applied before the magnetization has returned into thermal equilibrium. The extended‐phasegraph algorithm, which takes into account that the total magnetization in spin‐echo sequences is a superposition of many isochromats, allows the recognition of all possible echo signals in arbitrary pulse sequences. Its application to multi‐echo sequences leads to a number of surprising results. It can be demonstrated that refocusing pulses with flip angles much lower than 180° generate an unexpectedly high signal intensity after a few echo periods. Apart from leading to a simple algorithm for the exact calculation of echo intensities in arbitrary multi‐pulse sequences, the phase‐graph algorithm leads to a simple understanding of the contrast behavior of different gradient echo sequences and gives a rational means for the design of MR‐imaging sequences that are free from spurious echoes.
Relaxation. Can T2, be longer than T1?
Authors: Traficante Daniel D. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe basic equations describing the decay of the magnetization vector in the transverse plane and its growth along the longitudinal axis, after a pulse, are briefly examined for very simple systems that obey the extreme narrowing condition, and relax in the absence of radiation damping. It is shown that in these cases, the vector does not simply tip backwards with a constant magnitude, retracing the path it followed during the pulse. It is mathematically proven that if T2 is equal to or less than twice T1, then immediately after a pulse, the vector first shrinks and then grows back to its initial magnitude while it tips back toward the longitudinal axis, instead of simply retracing its path. It is also shown that if T2 is greater than this threshold value, then at some point during the relaxation, the magnitude of the resultant will exceed its starting value, a situation apparently not consistent with our present understanding of the laws of physics.
Statistically based image reconstruction for emission tomography
Authors: Liacer Jorge , Veklerov Eugene , Nunez Jorge 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThis paper presents the motivation, development, algorithms, and performance tests of some fundamental statistically based reconstruction algorithms in emission tomography (ET). The motivation is based on an analysis of the filtered backprojection method (FBP) of reconstruction as a statistical process in which it is shown that it corresponds to the wrong statistical distribution for the ET problem. The development of the target functions and algorithms for the maximum likelihood estimator method (MLE) and for a Bayesian method with entropy prior is shown in a manner consistent with the FBP analysis. The concept of a “feasible” image is discussed as a necessary condition for a reconstruction to be acceptable and the choice of a uniform image field as the initial guess for the iterative methods is justified in terms of the lack of prior information on the image to be reconstructed. Finally, a number of image and profile comparisons are presented in which the feasible images obtained by the above methods, and by the method of sieves, appear superior to FBP images. Real data from the ECAT‐III tomography are used for all the reconstruction.
Nonlinearized approach to profile inversion
Authors: Kleinman R. E. , Van Den Berg P. M. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractA method for reconstructing the index of refraction of a bounded inhomogeneous object of known geometric configuration from measured far‐field scattering data is presented. This work is an extension of recent results on the direct scattering problem wherein the governing domain integral equation was solved iteratively by a successive relaxation technique. The relaxation parameters were chosen to minimize the residual error at each step. Convergence of this process was established for indices of refraction much larger than required for convergence of the Born approximation. For the inverse problem, the same technique is applied, except is this case both the index of refraction and the field are unknown. Iterative solutions for both unknowns are postulated with two relaxation parameters at each step. They are determined by simultaneously minimizing the residual errors in satisfying the domain integral equation and matching the measured data. This procedure retains the nonlinear relation between the two unknowns. Numerical results are presented for the dielectric slab. The algorithm is shown to be effective in cases where the iterative solution of the direct problem is rapidly convergent and outperforms the Born‐based approaches.