bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of prenatal diagnosis of associated congenital heart diseases by fetal ultrasonographic examination in Europe
Authors: Stoll C. , Garne E. , Clementi M. ,   EUROSCAN Study Group
Published: August 2002

AbstractUltrasound scans in the mid trimester of pregnancy are now a routine part of antenatal care in most European countries. With the assistance of Registries of Congenital Anomalies a study was undertaken in Europe. The objective of the study was to evaluate prenatal detection of congenital heart defects (CHD) by routine ultrasonographic examination of the fetus. All congenital malformations suspected prenatally and all congenital malformations, including chromosome anomalies, confirmed at birth were identified from the Congenital Malformation Registers, including 20 registers from the following European countries: Austria, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, UK and Ukrainia. These registries follow the same methodology. The study period was 1996–1998, 709 030 births were covered, and 8126 cases with congenital malformations were registered. If more than one cardiac malformation was present the case was coded as complex cardiac malformation. CHD were subdivided into ‘isolated’ when only a cardiac malformation was present and ‘associated’ when at least one other major extra cardiac malformation was present. The associated CHD were subdivided into chromosomal, syndromic non‐chromosomal and multiple. The study comprised 761 associated CHD including 282 cases with multiple malformations, 375 cases with chromosomal anomalies and 104 cases with non‐chromosomal syndromes. The proportion of prenatal diagnosis of associated CHD varied in relation to the ultrasound screening policies from 17.9% in countries without routine screening (The Netherlands and Denmark) to 46.0% in countries with only one routine fetal scan and 55.6% in countries with two or three routine fetal scans. The prenatal detection rate of chromosomal anomalies was 40.3% (151/375 cases). This rate for recognized syndromes and multiply malformed with CHD was 51.9% (54/104 cases) and 48.6% (137/282 cases), respectively; 150/229 Down syndrome (65.8%) were livebirths. Concerning the syndromic cases, the detection rate of deletion 22q11, situs anomalies and VATER association was 44.4%, 64.7% and 46.6%, respectively. In conclusion, the present study shows large regional variations in the prenatal detection rate of CHD with the highest rates in European regions with three screening scans. Prenatal diagnosis of CHD is significantly higher if associated malformations are present. Cardiac defects affecting the size of the ventricles have the highest detection rate. Mean gestational age at discovery was 20–24 weeks for the majority of associated cardiac defects. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The comorbidities of obesity
Authors: Webber Jonathan 
Published: August 2002

AbstractObesity is a major risk factor for a number of diseases. It has direct effects on glucose and lipid metabolism and on blood pressure, leading via these to type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. These comorbidities are particularly associated with excess intra‐abdominal fat. Other important diseases which obesity increases the risks of include obstructive sleep apnoea, osteoarthritis of weight‐bearing joints and a number of types of cancer. In addition to these medical comorbidities obesity has many adverse social and psychological costs. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The epidemiology of fatalities reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System 1990–1997
Authors: Silvers Linda E. , Ellenberg Susan S. , Wise Robert P. , Varricchio Frederick E. , Mootrey Gina T. , Salive Marcel E. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractPurposeTo examine the fatalities reported to the federally administered Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a passive surveillance system, in its first 7 years.MethodsThe working data set included variables such as demographic information, dates of vaccination, adverse event onset and death, vaccines administered, and vaccination facility data. Frequencies for these data and state reporting rates were calculated.ResultsA total of 1266 fatalities were reported to VAERS during July 1990 through June 1997. The number of death reports peaked in 1992–1993 and then declined. The overall median age of cases was 0.4 years, with a range of 1 day to 104 years. Nearly half of the deaths were attributed to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).ConclusionsThe trend of decreasing numbers of deaths reported to VAERS since 1992–1993 follows that observed for SIDS overall for the US general population following implementation of the ‘Back to Sleep’ program. These data may support findings of past controlled studies showing that the association between infant vaccination and SIDS is coincidental and not causal. VAERS reports of death after vaccination may be stimulated by the temporal association, rather than by any causal relationship. Published in 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ultraviolet‐induced crosslinking of poly(vinyl alcohol) evaluated by principal component analysis of FTIR spectra
Authors: Miranda Teresa M R , Gonçalves Adilson R , Amorim M T Pessoa 
Published: August 2002

AbstractThe crosslinking of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) films under ultraviolet irradiation for between 1 and 4 h was studied in air at 25 °C in the presence of sodium benzoate by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) using the attenuated total reflectance technique (ATR). Principal component analysis (PCA) is a mathematical procedure that allows treatment of the entire infrared spectrum and is very appropriate for analysing the chemical modifications initiated by sodium benzoate which occur in PVA upon UV irradiation. By PCA it was possible to clarify the mechanism of crosslinking of PVA. From this FTIR–PCA study, it is suggested that a free radical arising from the photolysis of sensitizer would abstract a tertiary hydrogen atom from the polymer chain to yield a polymeric radical. This radical reacts with OH groups, leading to the formation of ether bonds between the polymeric chains and hence to crosslinking and insolubilization of the PVA.© 2001 Society of Chemical Industry
Strong effects of counterions on the electrochemistry of poly(N‐methylaniline) thin films
Authors: Planes Gabriel A , Miras María C , Barbero Cesar 
Published: August 2002

AbstractPoly(N‐methylaniline) thin films show different cyclic voltammetric behaviour when cycled in HClO4, HBF4, HCl or HNO3. While in the first two acids the film shows profiles peak potentials similar to those of polyaniline, profiles in HCl and HNO3 show higher peak potentials for oxidation and a different shape. The free energy for the process, calculated from the oxidation peak potential, shows a linear correlation with the free energy of hydration of the anions present in the test solution. An energy cycle for the oxidation process is proposed to explain the results. The reaction mechanism assumes that anions have to lose their hydration shell to form the polymer salt during electrochemical oxidation of the films. Electropolymerization also depends on the anion present in the solution. While this is possible with low hydration energy anions (ClO4−, BF4−), it is difficult or impossible when the electrolyte solution contains other anions (Cl−, NO3−) where a higher oxidation potential of the preformed polymer is observed.© 2002 Society of Chemical Industry
Introduction to the special issue on the appraisal and prediction of school violence
Authors: Furlong Michael J. , Kingery Paul M. , Bates Michael P. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractThis article provides an overview of a special issue of Psychology in the Schools that critically examines issues related to the appraisal of the risk for violence among students. It is argued that school psychologists can assume the important role of informing communities about the limitations of school violence screening and assessment procedures and can implement student‐appraisal techniques that focus on long‐term student development. They can also work toward more accurate measurement of general school violence trends and intervention needs. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Studies on copolymerization of n‐isopropylacrylamide and glycidyl methacrylate
Authors: Virtanen Janne , Tenhu Heikki 
Published: August 2002

AbstractFree‐radical homopolymerization of N‐isopropyl acrylamide (NIPA, monomer 1) and copolymerizations of NIPA with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA, monomer 2) were conducted in deuterated dioxane at 70 °C. The conversion of the monomers was followed by 1H NMR spectroscopy. After the polymerization reactions the polymers were precipitated and analyzed. Reactivity ratios were determined using both Fineman–Ross and extended Kelen–Tüdős methods. Values obtained by these two methods were r1 = 0.39, r2 = 2.69 and r1 = 0.30, r2 = 2.66, respectively. In both cases, r ∼ 1, which is indicative of an ideal copolymerization resulting in a first‐order Markov distribution of the monomers in the final copolymer. The compositional heterogeneities of the polymers were estimated by following the instantaneous copolymer compositions as functions of conversion. Given the different reactivities of the two monomers it is concluded that a copolymer with a homogeneous distribution of monomers may be obtained not by a batch reaction, but by slowly and continuously adding GMA into the polymerizing reaction mixture. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3716–3725, 2001
Compatibility and thermal properties of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate)/poly(glycidyl methacrylate) blends
Authors: Lee Moo Sung , Park Won Ho 
Published: August 2002

AbstractPoly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)/poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) blends were prepared by a solution‐precipitation procedure. The compatibility and thermal decomposition behavior of the PHB/PGMA blends was studied with differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The blends were immiscible in the as‐blended state, but for the blends with PGMA contents of 50 wt % or more, the compatibility was dramatically changed after 1 min of annealing at 200 °C. In addition, PHB/PGMA blends showed higher thermal stability, as measured by maximum decomposition temperatures and residual weight during thermal degradation. This was probably due to crosslinking reactions of the epoxide groups in the PGMA component with the carboxyl chain ends of PHB fragments during the degradation process, and the occurrence of such reactions can be assigned to the exothermic peaks in the DTA thermograms. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 351–358, 2002
Methyl methacrylate emulsion polymerization at low monomer concentration: Kinetic modeling of nucleation, particle size distribution, and rate of polymerization
Authors: Herrera‐Ordóñez Jorge , Olayo Roberto 
Published: August 2002

AbstractThe results of a mathematical model developed in the authors' previous work are discussed and compared against final number (N) and size distribution of particles (PSD) and the rate of polymerization (RP) experimental data of methyl methacrylate (MMA) emulsion polymerization above the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of the surfactant. On the basis of the model results, the hypothesis that the observed bimodal PSD can be ascribed to secondary nucleation as proposed in the literature is questionable. It is discussed that this PSD can also be caused by differences in the growing rate of different‐size particles as predicted for styrene emulsion polymerization. Because of the small particle size obtained at low initial monomer concentration, the high rate of free‐radical desorption reduces the accumulation of these species; therefore, the autoacceleration effect is less pronounced for the conditions under study compared with the usual behavior of the RP during MMA emulsion polymerization above cmc. Similarities and differences between model predictions and experimental data are discussed. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2547–2556, 2001
On the wall slip of polymer blends
Authors: Maciel A. , Salas V. , Soltero J. F. A. , Guzmán J. , Manero O. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractThe slip flow of the polypropylene (PP)/poly[ethylene‐co‐(vinyl acetate)] (EVA) system was studied in a capillary rheometer for shear rates of 40–1000 s−1 at four temperatures. Three dies made of aluminum with a length/diameter (L/D) ratio of 15 and diameters of 1.59, 1.19, and 0.79 mm provided the flow data. Calculations of the slip velocity by the Mooney method showed power‐law behavior with the stress. Blends were prepared at various proportions of PP and EVA for observation of the variation of the slip velocity for different compositions and temperatures. Direct microscopic observations of the slip layer on extruded samples showed domains of the dispersed phase unevenly distributed between the slip layer and the core and provided estimates of the thickness of the layer adjacent to the capillary wall. Results showed that the viscosity in the slip layer was 10–100 times lower than that in the bulk for the same value of the shear stress. In terms of the extrapolation length, the development of the slip layer was the result of different disentanglement dynamics of the molecules in the slip layer in comparison with those in the bulk. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 303–316, 2002
Relationship between trait anxiety, brain activity and natural killer cell activity in cancer patients: a preliminary PET study
Authors: Tashiro Manabu , Itoh Masatoshi , Kubota Kazuo , Kumano Hiroaki , Masud Mehedi M. , Moser Ernst , Arai Hiroyuki , Sasaki Hidetada 
Published: August 2002

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between psychological factors, regional brain activity and natural killer cell activity (NKA). Eight patients with malignant diseases were studied by FDG‐PET under a resting condition. NKA and degree of anxiety and depression were measured using Taylor's manifest anxiety scale (MAS) and Zung's self‐rating depression scale (SDS). Linear correlation of NKA and psychological measures to the regional brain metabolism in cancer patients was examined using statistical parametric mapping (SPM).Positive linear correlation between NKA and regional metabolic rate ratios was identified in the visual association cortex, anterior cingulate gyrus (CG) and sensorimotor area, and negative correlation was identified in the inferolateral prefrontal cortex (ILPFC), prefrontal cortex (PFC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and anterior temporal cortex. Positive linear correlation to the MAS score was identified in the visual association cortex, anterior CG, primary sensorimotor area and the posterior parietal cortex, and negative correlation was detected in the ILPFC, PFC, OFC and anterior temporal cortex. The NKA and MAS scores positively correlated with each other (p<0.001).The result might serve as supporting data for a hypothesis that psycho‐immune interaction is also mediated by the cerebral cortex and limbic system. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cancer patients' perceptions of do not resuscitate orders
Authors: Olver Ian N. , A. Eliott Jaklin , Blake‐Mortimer Jane 
Published: August 2002

AbstractPatients' perceptions of do not resuscitate (DNR) orders and how and when to present the information were sought to aid in framing DNR policy. Semi‐structured interviews of 23 patients being treated for cancer, were conducted by a clinical psychologist. The interviews were transcribed and analysed with the aid of a qualitative software package. Discourse analysis enabled hypotheses to be formed based on consistencies and variations of the language used. Most patients understood what DNR meant and preferred DNR orders to ‘good palliative care’ orders. They saw it as their autonomous right and responsibility to make such decisions. They would seek information on the likely medical outcomes of resuscitation but also would use non‐rational criteria based on emotional and social factors to make their decisions. Family considerations suggest that personal autonomy is not the overriding basis of the decision. Patients were unsure of the best timing of a DNR discussion and were prepared to defer to doctors' intuition. Most advocated written DNR orders but few had them. Families were construed as advocates but also seen as constraining individual autonomy. When considering DNR orders, patients recognise the diversity of preferences likely to exist that belie a one policy fits all approach Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genetic differences of rock glaciers and the discontinuous mountain permafrost zone in Kanchanjunga Himal, Eastern Nepal
Authors: Ishikawa Mamoru , Watanabe Teiji , Nakamura Naohiro 
Published: August 2002

AbstractA number of rock glaciers, including glacier‐derived and talus‐derived rock glaciers, were identified in Kanchanjunga Himal, easternmost Nepal. DC resistivity imagings were applied to representative rock glaciers of both types. The distribution of resistivity values in the subsurface within these rock glaciers was significantly different. A massive glacial ice body was found within the glacier‐derived rock glacier, suggesting this rock glacier originated from glacial dead ice (ice‐cored rock glacier). The lower limits of discontinuous mountain permafrost zone in Kanchanjunga Himal were inferred from the distribution of talus‐derived rock glaciers (ice‐cemented rock glaciers) and the estimated mean annual air temperature. The lower limit of the discontinuous mountain permafrost zone is 4800 m ASL on the north‐facing slopes, while 5300 m ASL on the south‐ to east‐facing slopes. These altitudes were considerably higher than those of the western Himalaya, which are under dry continental climatic conditions. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Use of nasal potential difference and sweat chloride as outcome measures in multicenter clinical trials in subjects with cystic fibrosis**
Authors: Ahrens Richard C. , Standaert Thomas A. , Launspach Janice , Han Seung‐Ho , Teresi Mary E. , Aitken Moira L. , Kelley Thomas J. , Hilliard Kathleen A. , Milgram Laura J.H. , Konstan Michael W. , Weatherly Mark R. , McCarty Nael A. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractOne of the goals of current research in cystic fibrosis (CF) is to develop treatments that correct or compensate for defects in function of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene. The use of outcome measures that assess CFTR function such as nasal potential difference (NPD) measurements and sweat chloride determinations will be required to evaluate the efficacy of such treatments in multicenter clinical trials. The purpose of this work was to identify the sources and magnitude of variability in NPD and sweat chloride measurements when performed at multiple centers. For the variance component analysis presented here, we used NPD and sweat chloride measurements from 37 subjects with CF participating in a phase I, four‐center clinical trial of CPX (8‐cyclopentyl‐1,3‐dipropylxanthine), a drug intended to enhance trafficking of ΔF508 CFTR to the cell membrane. The specific techniques used to measure these outcomes were not standardized, and varied between the four sites.Variability of both NPD measurements (baseline potential difference during infusion with Ringer's solution; change in response to addition of 0.1 mM amiloride; and subsequent change in response to perfusion with low chloride solution containing 0.1 mM amiloride and 0.01 mM isoproterenol) and sweat chloride measurements differed significantly between study sites. For change in NPD, one study site had significantly greater variability (lower reproducibility) of measurement than the other three sites. For sweat chloride measurements, reproducibility was lower at two of the sites relative to the other two sites.Sample size calculations showed that lower reproducibility at one or more sites can substantially reduce the power of studies using NPD or sweat chloride determinations as outcome measures. Standardization of measurement protocols, careful operator training and certification, and ongoing monitoring of individual operator performance may help to improve reliability in multicenter trials. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2002; 33:142–150. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of choice of reference equation on analysis of pulmonary function in cystic fibrosis patients*
Authors: Rosenfeld Margaret , Pepe Margaret S. , Longton Gary , Emerson Julia , FitzSimmons Stacey , Morgan Wayne 
Published: August 2002

AbstractPulmonary function is an important measure of disease severity and prognosis in cystic fibrosis (CF). It is generally expressed as a percentage of a predicted value, calculated using regression equations derived from a reference population. A number of reference equations are in widespread use. The purposes of this study were to determine: 1) the extent to which, for a given absolute FEV1 value, percent of predicted (PPFEV1) values vary when derived by different reference equations; and 2) whether these differences affect conclusions of longitudinal and cross‐sectional analyses. Subjects were all Caucasians 6–18 years old in the 1990 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Registry.We found clinically important discrepancies in PPFEV1 when calculated by the methods of Dockery et al. [Am Rev Respir Dis 1983;128:405–412] and Wang et al. [Pediatr Pulmonol 1993;15:75–78] as compared to Knudson et al. [Am Rev Respir Dis 1983;127:725–734] or Polgar and Promadhat [Pulmonary Function Testing in Children 1971; Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders]. In longitudinal analyses, the choice of reference equation resulted in varying apparent rates of decline in FEV1. For example, among subjects ages 12–14 years in 1990, the decline in PPFEV1 from 1990–1995 varied between 2–11%, depending on the choice of reference equation. In cross‐sectional analyses, the choice of reference equation affected the distribution of subjects classified as having mild, moderate, or severe lung disease.CF physicians should be aware of the impact of choice of reference equation in both clinical care and research. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2001; 31:227–237. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
DNA methylation in the androgen receptor gene promoter region in rat prostate cancers
Authors: Takahashi Satoru , Inaguma Shingo , Sakakibara Michihisa , Cho Young‐Man , Suzuki Shugo , Ikeda Yoshihisa , Cui Lin , Shirai Tomoyuki 
Published: August 2002

AbstractBACKGROUNDInvasive adenocarcinomas developing in the rat dorsolateral prostate on combined treatment with 3,2′‐dimethyl‐4‐aminobiphenyl (DMAB) and testosterone propionate (TP) are biologically androgen‐independent and lacking androgen receptor protein (AR) expression. The present study was conducted to assess the mechanisms underlying this loss of AR expression in rat prostate cancer.METHODSThe methylation status of the AR gene promoter region in rat prostate cancer and cell lines (PLS10, 20, and 30) was examined by Southern blotting, methylation‐specific polymerase chain reaction, and methylation‐sensitive single‐strand conformation analysis (MS‐SSCA).RESULTSAR mRNA expression was not detected in any of the rat prostate cancers or cancer cell lines tested by Northern blot analysis. Higher levels of methylated CpGs were observed in PLS20 than PLS10 or 30. Demethylation treatment by 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine restored AR mRNA expression in PLS20. The CpGs suggested to be responsible for AR expression in rat prostate cancer were found to be located ‐9 and ‐1 nucleotides upstream of the transcriptional initiation site. All of the examined rat prostate and seminal vesicle cancers demonstrated hypermethylation at these CpG sites.CONCLUSIONSThese data clearly demonstrate that aberrant hypermethylation in the AR promoter region may play a critical role in AR expression in rat prostate cancers. Prostate 52: 82–88, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.