bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
RENAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE SYMPOSIUM: Longitudinal Study of Apoptosis in Chronic Uremic Patients
Authors: D'Intini Vincenzo , Bordoni Valeria , Fortunato Antonio , Galloni Elisabetta , Carta Mariarita , Galli Francesco , Bolgan Irene , Inguaggiato Paola , Poulin Sonya , Bonello Monica , Tetta Ciro , Levin Nathan , Ronco Claudio 
Published: November 2003

AbstractUremia is associated with a state of immune dysfunction, increasing infection and malignancy rates. Dysregulation of homeostasis may be directly related to abnormal apoptosis regulation, a process which is crucial for the maintenance of the biologic system. Abnormal apoptosis rates (ARs) have been reported in the literature. We performed a longitudinal study over a 10‐week period in three groups of uremic subjects—hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD), and predialysis chronic renal failure (CRF). Our results showed that ARs were consistent over the observed period. Monocytes extracted from HD and CRF subjects had higher ARs compared to PD and controls (HD: 26.06 ± 8.82; CRF: 26.96 ± 12.81; PD: 14.77 ± 5.87; C: 11.42 ± 4.60) when placed in culture medium. The plasma of HD and CRF subjects when incubated with U937 cells had a stronger apoptogenic potential compared with PD and controls (HD: 26.08 ± 11.39; CRF: 24.87 ± 9.07; PD: 12.13 ± 4.51; C: 11.69 ± 4.02). Inflammatory markers (C‐reactive protein [CRP], procalcitonin) and cytokines (interleukin [IL]‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐10) had a generally poor correlation except for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α (p < 0.001). The phagocytic ability of U937 cells when incubated with the various plasma demonstrated impaired response in the HD and CRF subjects (HD: 27.56 ± 6.67; CRF: 30.24 ± 9.08; PD: 36.55 ± 9.80; C: 40.04 ± 6.98). These results suggest continuous renal purification, such as in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), may have advantages over intermittent therapies in regulating apoptosis and maintaining biologic function and homeostasis.
RENAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE SYMPOSIUM: Surveillance of Access Function by the Blood Temperature Monitor
Authors: Schneditz Daniel , Kaufman Allen M. , Levin Nathan 
Published: November 2003

AbstractLow access blood flow is considered the most important cause of peripheral vascular access thrombosis, particularly with grafts. The measurement of access flow is time consuming, operator dependent, and may affect the efficiency of dialysis so that it cannot be done with every treatment. The measurement of recirculation, however, is possible with every treatment and can be done automatically when using the thermodilution offered by the blood temperature monitor (BTM). Since BTM recirculation always includes a component related to cardiopulmonary recirculation, the threshold to detect access recirculation in peripheral arteriovenous grafts and native fistulas must be shifted from zero recirculation applicable for bolus techniques to 15% for the slow thermodilution technique. In one study, recirculation in native arteriovenous fistulas was measured with every treatment in 80 patients over a period of 6 months. Nine of 11 interventions performed during the entire observation period were triggered by a BTM recirculation above the threshold. Two fistulas thrombosed in spite of a BTM recirculation below the threshold. BTM recirculation to detect fistulas for revision is sensitive (81.8%) and specific (98.6%) in the presence of cardiopulmonary recirculation and can be done with minimum intervention and without loss of efficient treatment time.
RENAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE SYMPOSIUM: Effect of Time on Sensitivity and Specificity of Access Flow in Predicting Thrombosis
Authors: Weitzel William F. , Segal Jonathan H. , Leavey Sean F. , Saran Rajiv , Swartz Richard D. , Messana Joseph M. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractDialysis access monitoring may help decrease thrombosis‐related morbidity. We investigated the effect of time elapsed since an access flow measurement on test accuracy of a novel flow monitoring method called variable flow (VF) Doppler. A retrospective review was conducted in 36 patients with prosthetic grafts for vascular access using access thrombosis as the clinical endpoint. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves and test sensitivity and specificity were determined for various follow‐up time intervals. ROC analysis showed increasing test discrimination for shorter time intervals. Sensitivity and specificity for a commonly used surveillance threshold (600 ml/min) showed specificity that was little changed (88–93%) from follow‐up time intervals of 15 days to 6 months. However, sensitivity was low (21%) at 6 months, increased to 50% at 2 months, 67% at 1 month, and 100% at 15 days (a single event). Low access blood flow using VF Doppler predicts near‐term thrombosis. These data further imply that the discriminative value of access flow monitoring appears to be highly dependent on time from the flow measurement, improving with shorter time intervals from the measurement.
General and relationship‐specific models of social cognition: explaining the overlap and discrepancies
Authors: Humfress Harriet , O'Connor Thomas G. , Slaughter Jeremy , Target Mary , Fonagy Peter 
Published: November 2003

Background: This study examined the degree of overlap and sources of discrepancies between two alternative models of social cognition in early adolescence, a general model based on ‘theory of mind’ and a relationship‐specific model rooted in attachment theory.Methods: We administered newly developed, age‐appropriate measures of advanced theory of mind or ‘mentalising’ and child–parent attachment, indexed by the coherence of children's narratives about attachment relationships, to a sample of 70 early adolescents (mean age 12.6 years).Results: The central findings were that, as expected, there was significant overlap between the mentalising and attachment indices of social cognition (r(70)=.35, p < .01). The overlap was not significantly mediated by verbal ability or general measures of parenting. There were also substantial discrepancies in children's performance on these measures that were conceptually interesting and statistically reliable. Specifically, adolescent reports of parenting discriminated between measures of mentalising and attachment coherence. In addition, those children who exhibited a less coherent model of attachment than was predicted from performance on a mentalising task were more likely to be rated as exhibiting a ‘Dismissing/Avoidant’ style in the attachment interview.Conclusions: Findings support a connection between mentalising and attachment in early adolescence, and further suggest that social cognitive processes may be context and relationship‐specific.
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘Ecstasy‘) Serves as a Robust Positive Reinforcer in a Rat Runway Procedure
Authors: Wakonigg Gudrun , Sturm Katja , Saria Alois , Zernig Gerald 
Published: November 2003

Although ‘ecstasy’ (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA) is, after marijuana, the second most prevalent illegal drug of abuse in European adolescents, animal experimental evidence of MDMA’s reinforcing effect has remained scarce, particularly in the rodent model, raising questions about the robustness of MDMA’s reinforcing effect under controlled laboratory conditions. In the present rat runway study, Sprague-Dawley and Long-Evans rats were given the opportunity to run for intravenous injections of saline or MDMA (1 mg/kg). MDMA significantly decreased runtimes in both rat strains. Thus, MDMA’s positive reinforcing effect can be demonstrated not only across rat strains but also across operant conditioning paradigms. These findings should reassure the drug abuse research community that the investigation of MDMA’s reinforcing effect in the inexpensive and widely used rodent model is indeed feasible.
Effect of the Antidepressant Desipramine on Cytosolic Ca<sup>2+</sup> Movement and Proliferation in Human Osteosarcoma Cells
Authors: Jan Chung-Ren , Lu Yih-Chau , Tseng Li-Ling , Jiann Bang-Ping , Chang Hong-Tai , Wang Jue-Long , Chen Wei-Chuan , Huang Jong-Khing 
Published: November 2003

In human osteosarcoma MG63 cells, the effect of desipramine, an antidepressant, on intracellular Ca<sup>2+</sup> concentration ([Ca<sup>2+</sup>]<sub>i</sub>) was measured by using fura-2. Desipramine (>10 µmol/l) caused a rapid and sustained rise of [Ca<sup>2+</sup>]<sub>i</sub> in a concentration-dependent manner (EC<sub>50</sub> = 200 µmol/l). Desipramine-induced [Ca<sup>2+</sup>]<sub>i</sub> rise was prevented by 80% by removal of extracellular Ca<sup>2+</sup> but was not altered by voltage-gated Ca<sup>2+</sup> channel blockers. In Ca<sup>2+</sup>-free medium, thapsigargin, an inhibitor of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca<sup>2+</sup>-ATPase, caused a monophasic [Ca<sup>2+</sup>]<sub>i</sub> rise, after which the increasing effect of desipramine on [Ca<sup>2+</sup>]<sub>i</sub> was abolished; also, pretreatment with desipramine partly reduced thapsigargin-induced [Ca<sup>2+</sup>]<sub>i</sub> increase. U73122, an inhibitor of phospholipase C, did not affect desipramine-induced [Ca<sup>2+</sup>]<sub>i</sub> rise. Overnight incubation with 10 µmol/l desipramine did not alter cell proliferation, but killed 32 and 89% of cells at concentrations of 100 and 200 µmol/l, respectively. These findings suggest that desipramine rapidly increases [Ca<sup>2+</sup>]<sub>i</sub> in osteoblasts by stimulating both extracellular Ca<sup>2+</sup> influx and intracellular Ca<sup>2+</sup> release, and is cytotoxic at high concentrations.
Pharmacological Effects of Darifenacin on Human Isolated Urinary Bladder
Authors: Miyamae Koichi , Yoshida Masaki , Murakami Shigetaka , Iwashita Hitoshi , Ohtani Masayuki , Masunaga Koichi , Ueda Shoichi 
Published: November 2003

Darifenacin [(S)-2--2,2-diphenylacetamide] is a novel antimuscarinic drug currently undergoing phase III trials for the treatment of overactive bladder. We investigated the functional antagonist potency of darifenacin, and the antimuscarinic drugs propiverine, oxybutynin and atropine, on human detrusor smooth muscle. Urinary bladder specimens were obtained from 20 patients who underwent total cystectomy for malignant bladder tumor. Using an organ-bath technique, the effects of the compounds on carbachol-, KCl-, CaCl<sub>2</sub>- or electrical field stimulation (EFS)-induced contractions of the tissues were evaluated. The order of antagonist potency (pA<sub>2 </sub>values) at the muscarinic M<sub>3</sub> receptors was: darifenacin (9.34) > atropine (9.26) > oxybutynin (7.74) > propiverine (7.68). Darifenacin and atropine, at concentrations up to 10<sup>–6</sup> mol/l, did not inhibit the KCl- and CaCl<sub>2</sub>-induced contractions (concentrations 80 and 5 mmol/l, respectively), while propiverine and oxybutynin (10<sup>–5</sup> mol/l) significantly inhibited these contractions. Pretreatment with darifenacin (10<sup>–9</sup>–10<sup>–6</sup> mol/l), propiverine (10<sup>–8</sup>– 10<sup>–5</sup> mol/l), oxybutynin (10<sup>–8</sup>–10<sup>–5</sup> mol/l) and atropine (10<sup>–9</sup>–10<sup>–6</sup> mol/l) significantly inhibited maximum EFS-induced contractions. Darifenacin inhibited contractions of human detrusor smooth muscle only through its antimuscarinic action, while propiverine and oxybutynin had both antimuscarinic and Ca<sup>2+</sup> channel antagonist actions. These findings indicate that darifenacin is a potent antagonist at the M<sub>3</sub> receptor and support its use as a treatment for overactive bladder.
A New Glycoprotein Allergen/Antigen with the Protease Activity from <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i>
Authors: Nigam Shailly , Ghosh P.C. , Sarma P. Usha 
Published: November 2003

<i>Background:</i><i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> is an opportunistic fungus causing allergic and invasive aspergillosis in humans and animals. It secretes an array of complex biologically active glycoprotein antigens and allergens. It is important to identify and characterize probable potential virulent factors playing a major role in the pathogenesis of aspergillosis. <i>Methods:</i> Using protein purification techniques (lectin affinity chromatography, gel filtration, electroelution and high-pressure liquid chromatography), a major antigen/allergen with a molecular weight of 56 kD (gp56) from <i>A. fumigatus </i>was purified to homogeneity. The protein was characterized by immunoblot, ELISA and protease assays. The N-terminal amino acid sequencing was performed. <i>Results:</i> The gp56 protein showed a single band on silver staining and isoelectric focussing. The protein to carbohydrate ratio was 1.5:1 and gp56 gave a protein band at a molecular weight of 34 kD on enzymatic deglycosylation. It also exhibited IgG and IgE immunobinding with antibodies present in sera of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis patients. The gp56 exhibited protease activity and N-terminal seven-amino acid sequence showed homology with fungal serine proteases. <i>Conclusions:</i> The gp56 protein by virtue of its proteolytic activity could be one of the virulent factors of <i>A. fumigatus</i> involved in establishing infection in the host along with other factors.
Remission of HHV-8 and HIV-associated multicentric Castleman disease with ganciclovir treatment
Authors: Casper Corey , Nichols W. Garrett , Huang Meei-Li , Corey Lawrence , Wald Anna 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
Multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) is a lymphoproliferative disorder associated with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection among persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Treatment often includes chemotherapy, and progression to non-Hodgkin lymphoma frequently occurs. MCD is characterized in part by active HHV-8 replication, and many of the symptoms of MCD may be attributable to viral gene products. We describe the effect of ganciclovir on the clinical and virologic course of MCD in a series of 3 case reports. Two patients experienced a reduction in the frequency of episodic flares of MCD and detectable HHV-8 DNA with intravenous or oral ganciclovir, whereas the third patient recovered from an acute episode of renal and respiratory failure with intravenous ganciclovir therapy. These data provide in vivo evidence for the utility of antiviral agents against HHV-8 in the management of MCD.
Total Synthesis of Bioactive Tricyclic Marine Alkaloids, Lepadiformine and Related Compounds
Authors: Kibayashi Chihiro , Aoyagi Sakae , Abe Hideki 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
The first total synthesis of tricyclic marine alkaloids (±)-fasicularin (2) and (±)-lepadiformine (5) has been accomplished. The key common strategic element for the synthesis is the stereocontrolled intramolecular hetero-Diels–Alder reaction of an N-acylnitroso moiety with an exocyclic diene with or without bromine substitution to control the syn-facial or anti-facial selectivity, respectively. This reaction leads to the trans- or cis-fused decahydroquinoline ring systems 13 or 23 involving the simultaneous introduction of the nitrogenated quaternary center in a single step. On further elaboration of the six-membered or five-membered ring A, the trans-fused adduct 13 provided either (±)-fasicularin (2) or (±)-lepadiformine (5). The hydrochloride salt of synthetic (±)-5 was found to be identical with the isolated natural sample of lepadiformine, however, the tricyclic amino alcohol 4 that has the proposed structure of lepadiformine in a non-zwitterionic form, derived from the cis-fused adduct 23, was found to be different from lepadiformine by spectral comparison. These results thus unambiguously established the relative stereochemistry of lepadiformine, formerly assigned incorrectly, as shown by 5. The synthesis of natural (−)-enantiomer of lepadiformine was then undertaken using a highly efficient protocol involving a new variant of the N-acyliminium ion-initiated intramolecular spirocyclization in which a conjugated diene was exploited as a π nucleophile. Thus, the synthesis is accomplished in nine steps with 31.4% overall yield, making this the most selective and shortest synthesis of lepadiformine to date. Direct comparison of chiral HPLC analysis of synthetic (−)-lepadiformine and the natural product allowed to assign the absolute configuration of natural lepadiformine to be 3R,5S,7aR,11aR.
Photochemical Transformations of Quintet m-Phenylenedinitrenes
Authors: Chapyshev Sergei Victorovich , Tomioka Hideo 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
Photochemical transformations of quintet dinitrenes have been studied for the first time by FTIR spectroscopy during the photolysis of 1,3-diazidobenzene and its 2-methyl- and 2,4,6-trimethyl-substituted derivatives in solid argon at 13 K. The reactions involve two competitive processes. In the first one, the intramolecular insertion of the nitrene unit into the 1,6-aromatic bond induces ring-opening, which leads to the formation of aminoacetylenes. The second process involves the intramolecular addition of the nitrene unit to the 1,2-aromatic bond followed by ring-opening to form 4(2H-azirin-2-ylidene)-2-butenenitrile derivatives. Methyl groups in ortho-positions to the nitrene units of quintet dinitrenes efficiently protect their aromatic ring from nitrene attacks, substantially increasing the photochemical stability of such species. However, even quintet 2,4,6-trimethylphenylene-1,3-dinitrene decomposes to ring-opened products on extended irradiation. This indicates that quintet dinitrenes are much more photochemically reactive species than triplet nitrenes. Undesirable photochemical rearrangements of the latter at early stages of the photolysis of 1,3-diazidobenzenes are suppressed on introducing the methyl group in position 2 of these azides.
Mixed-Valence States of 1′,1″′-Bis(2-phenylbutyl)-1,1″-biferrocenium(1+) Triiodides: Effects of the Cation Symmetry and Counter Anion on the Electron-Transfer Rate
Authors: Oda Takashi , Nakashima Satoru , Okuda Tsutomu 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
The effects of cation symmetry and packing on the mixed-valence state of binuclear ferrocene derivatives are discussed by using chiral isomers and the racemic modification of 1′,1″′-bis(2-phenylbutyl)-1,1″-biferrocenium(1+) triiodide. Although the three chiral isomers showed trapped-valence states at 78 K, only the (R,S) isomer showed a perfect detrapped-valence state at room temperature in the three isomers. The racemic modification consisted of the (R,R) and the (S,S) isomers showed a perfect detrapped-valence state at room temperature. This shows that the packing effect overcomes the effect of cation asymmetry. The electron-transfer rate for each pentaiodide salt was faster than that of the corresponding triiodide salt. A comparison between the (S,S) triiodide and the (S,S) pentaiodide salts reveals an important packing effect. The polymeric pentaiodide skeleton forced the (S,S) cation to have pseudo-inversion center.
Generation of Sulfur Ylides from Sulfonium Salts and Their Reactions. Comparative Study of Electrochemical Reduction with the Base Method and Mechanism Elucidation by the MO Method
Authors: Okazaki Yuichi , Ando Fumio , Koketsu Jugo 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
The cathodic reduction of sulfonium salts in acetonitrile in the presence and absence of benzaldehyde was carried out. Results were compared with results of the base method. In the presence of benzaldehyde, the electrochemical reduction gave epoxides as a result of the Corey–Chaykovsky reaction, thus confirming ylide formation. The electrochemical reduction of sulfonium salts without benzaldehyde yielded rearrangement products in high yield. On the contrary, upon base treatment of sulfonium salts without benzaldehyde, symmetrical epoxides derived from the benzyl group of the sulfonium salt are obtained as main products as a result of the auto oxidation of the sulfur ylide. The reaction mechanisms were elucidated based on the results obtained by a semi-empirical molecular orbital method.
Titanocene-Catalyzed Alkylation of Aryl-Substituted Alkenes with Alkyl Halides
Authors: Terao Jun , Watabe Hiroyasu , Miyamoto Masako , Kambe Nobuaki 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
Aryl-substituted alkenes (ArHC=CH2) react with alkyl halides (R–X, X = Br or Cl) in the presence of a catalytic amount of [Cp2TiCl2] and nBuMgCl in Et2O to give alkylated alkenes (ArHC=CHR). This reaction proceeds regio- and stereoselectively under mild conditions to afford E-olefins. Primary and secondary alkyl bromides and secondary alkyl chlorides can be used as suitable alkylating reagents. The reactions of aliphatic alkenes, such as 1-octene and internal alkenes, were sluggish. When t-alkyl halides are employed, alkylative dimerization of alkenes proceeds exclusively to give symmetrical vic-diarylalkanes. These reactions involve addition of alkyl radicals to arylalkenes to form benzyl radicals as a carbon–carbon bond-forming step. Dimerization of thus formed benzyl radicals affords symmetrical alkanes and β-hydrogen elimination from benzyltitanocene intermediates gives alkylated alkenes. A possibility that titanocene activates alkenes as radical accepters was also proposed.
Selective Selenate Adsorption on Cationated Amino-Functionalized MCM-41
Authors: Yokoi Toshiyuki , Tatsumi Takashi , Yoshitake Hideaki 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
A large distribution coefficient and large sorption capacity were observed during selenate adsorption by cation (Fe3+, Cu2+, and H+)-anchored diamino-functionalized MCM-41. Moreover, these synthetic adsorption media showed excellent selectivity for selenate sorption in the presence of other anions. In a pure potassium selenate solution, the distribution coefficients, Kd, exceeded 200000 when [selenate] &lt; 25 mg in 1 g of these adsorbents (i.e., when the coverage of selenate &lt; 0.4). The adsorption capacities of these three adsorption media were 117, 83.0, and 123 mg (g-adsorbent)−1, respectively, with the Fe and Cu centers having the capacity to bind 1.5 and 1.1 selenate anions on average. Tests on mono- (N-), di- (NN-), and triamino- (NNN-) functionalized MCM-41 showed that the diamino-functionalized varieties exhibited the largest value for Kd when cationated by Fe3+ and Cu2+. In the case of Fe/NN-MCM-41, diamino-functionalized MCM-41 cationated by Fe3+, the degree of inhibition caused by coexisting SO42− was much lower than the value reported for aluminum oxide. Cu/NN-MCM-41 showed the largest resistance to inhibition by Cl−. For the adsorbents that we tested, the effects of coexisting nitrate were smallest for these three anions. The local structure of the adsorption center in Fe/NN-MCM-41 was analyzed by EXAFS spectroscopy.
Soft Carbon-coated Hard Carbon Beads as a Lithium-ion Battery Anode Material
Authors: Yoshio Masaki , Wang Hongyu , Fukuda Kenji , Abe Takeshi , Ogumi Zempachi 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
Thermal vapor decomposition (TVD) process has been applied to coat soft carbon onto the surface of hard carbon beads. The resultant spherical hard–soft carbon composites with “core-shell” structure demonstrate better electrochemical performance than the starting hard carbon beads as anode materials in lithium-ion batteries. The effect of TVD-carbon shell on the electrochemical performance was correlated with some physical properties.
Microwave-polyol Preparation of Single-crystalline Gold Nanorods and Nanowires
Authors: Zhu Ying-Jie , Hu Xian-Luo 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
Single-crystalline gold (Au) nanorods and nanowires have been successfully prepared in liquid phase by one-step, seedless and template-free microwave-polyol method. Ethylene glycol (EG) reduced HAuCl4 to form Au by microwave heating at 160 °C. Single-crystalline Au with other morphologies was also produced.
A Novel and Convenient Synthetic Route to a 9-Phosphatriptycene and Systematic Comparisons of 9-Phosphatriptycene Derivatives
Authors: Kobayashi Junji , Agou Tomohiro , Kawashima Takayuki 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
A novel synthetic route to a 9-phosphatriptycene was developed by utilizing ortho-lithiation of a triarylphosphine oxide as a key step. Systematic comparisons of the NMR spectra of 9-phosphatriptycene derivatives indicated the large s character of the lone pair orbital or the phosphorus–chalcogen bonds of the 9-phosphatriptycene derivatives.