bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gene transfer into skeletal muscle using novel AAV serotypes
Authors: Louboutin Jean‐Pierre , Wang Lili , Wilson James M. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractBackgroundSkeletal muscle is an interesting target for gene delivery because of its mass and because the vectors can be delivered in a noninvasive way. Adeno‐associated virus (AAV) vectors are capable of transducing skeletal muscle fibers and achieving stable and safe transgene expression. To date, most animal experiments using AAV have been based on AAV serotype 2, but some recent studies have demonstrated that AAV1 is more efficient than AAV2/2 in transducing muscle fibers. Recently, novel AAVs (AAV7 and AAV8) were isolated from rhesus macaques.MethodsWe injected three different muscles (gastrocnemius, soleus, biceps femoris) of immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice with different pseudotyped AAV serotypes (AAV2/1, AAV2/2, AAV2/5, AAV2/7 and AAV2/8) and quantitatively compared the different gene transfer efficiencies.ResultsThe efficiencies of transduction in skeletal muscle with AAV2/7 and AAV2/8 were similar to AAV2/1, and higher than that seen with AAV2/2 and AAV2/5. All serotypes were able to transduce both slow and fast muscle fibers similarly at the vector titer used (1 × 1011 genome copies per mouse). Despite a limited inflammatory response (slightly higher when using AAV2/2, AAV2/7 and AAV2/8 vectors than AAV2/1 and AAV2/5), transgene expression was observed throughout the length of the experiment.DiscussionThese results show that AAV2/7 and AAV2/8 are able to transduce muscle fibers of immunocompetent mice very efficiently, offering new perspectives in gene transfer of skeletal muscle. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clinical and molecular characterization of chronic hepatitis B in Albania: A country that is still highly endemic for HBV infection
Authors: Kondili L.A. , Brunetto M.R. , Maina A.M. , Argentini C. , Chionne P. , La Sorsa V. , Resuli B. , Mele A. , Rapicetta Maria 
Published: November 2004

AbstractAlbania is a Mediterranean country, still with a high endemicity level of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The chronic hepatitis B profile was characterized in this geographical area and used as a model to investigate the impact of endemicity level on the prevalence of the two major forms of chronic hepatitis B (HBeAg‐positive and HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B). A cross‐sectional study was conducted among 62 chronic hepatitis B patients consecutively admitted to the most important tertiary health care center for the diagnosis and treatment of liver disease in Albania. HBV‐DNA was measured with an in‐house PCR with a sensitivity of 104 copies/ml which uses primers encompassing the pre‐core/core region. PCR products were subjected to sequencing and oligohybridization assay. Of the 62 patients, 75.8% had HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B. Genotype D was found in all 39 patients with detectable HBV viremia, for whom the heterogeneity of the region modulating HBeAg expression was assessed. Basic core promoter (BCP) mutations (1762/1764) were observed more often in anti‐HBe‐positive and older patients. In more than 90% of the HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B patients with detectable viremia, HBV that carries the G to A pre‐core mutation at nucleotide 1896 was found. Patients with HBeAg‐positive chronic hepatitis B were younger than HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B patients, and for symptomatic and asymptomatic liver‐disease patients, the age of peak prevalence was at least 10 years lower for HBeAg‐positive chronic hepatitis B patients. In conclusion, the virological and clinical pattern of chronic hepatitis B in Albania is similar to that observed in other Mediterranean countries; it seems to be independent of the HBV endemicity level. J. Med. Virol. 75:20–26, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prevalence of human papillomavirus genotypes in women from three clinical settings
Authors: Chaturvedi Anil K. , Dumestre Jeanne , Gaffga Ann M. , Mire Kristina M. , Clark Rebecca A. , Braly Patricia S. , Dunlap Kathleen , Beckel Tracy E. , Hammons Ansley F. , Kissinger Patricia J. , Hagensee Michael E. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractPrevalence of 27 human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes was assessed in 1,331 women in three clinical settings: Family planning clinic (low‐risk HIV−, n = 202, 21.3% HPV+), colposcopy clinic (high‐risk HIV−, n = 854, 34.3% HPV+), and HIV outpatient clinic (HIV+, n = 275, 48.7% HPV+). Compared to women from both family planning and colposcopy clinics, HIV+ women revealed significantly higher prevalence of infection with oncogenic, non‐oncogenic, and multiple HPV types. HPV types 52 and 51 were most prevalent in the low‐risk HIV− women, whereas in the high‐risk HIV− women, HPV types 16, 52, 58, and 35 were most prevalent. Interestingly, in the HIV+ women, less characterized types 83, 53, and 54 were most prevalent. The distinct profiles of genotype prevalence persisted after stratification by Pap smear status. After adjustment for concurrent infections with other types, HPV type 51 in the low‐risk HIV− women, and types 16, 35, 39, 45, 52, and 58 in the high‐risk HIV− women were significantly associated with cytologic abnormalities (exact P < 0.05). In HIV+ women across CD4 cell count strata, HPV types 42, 16, and 82 revealed significant decreasing trends with increasing CD4 counts (exact P for trend < 0.05). These data suggest distinct genotypic prevalence profiles in women at diverse risk for cervical cancer. The association of several genotypes with cytologic abnormalities underscores the need for vaccines targeting a wide range of HPV types. J. Med. Virol. 75:105–113, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression of PDE5 splice variants during ontogenesis of chick dorsal root ganglia
Authors: Giordano Daniela , Giorgi Mauro , Tata Ada Maria , Modica Anna , Augusti‐Tocco Gabriella 
Published: November 2004

AbstractCyclic GMP (cGMP)‐binding cGMP‐specific phosphodiesterase (PDE5) activity was found in chick dorsal root ganglia (DRG). PDE5 expression was studied at different stages of development: in embryonic day 10 (E10) and E18 embryos and in 5‐day post‐hatching chick (P5). The presence of PDE5 was suggested by the ion exchange chromatography elution profile in E18 DRG extracts, where cGMP‐specific hydrolytic calmodulin‐independent activity was found; in other stages, this activity coeluted with the PDE1 calmodulin‐stimulated isoform characterized previously. Inhibition studies supported the hypothesis that the newly identified PDE activity belongs to the PDE5 isoform. Western blot analysis using a PDE5‐specific antibody was also carried out and revealed the presence of three specific immunoreactive bands with apparent molecular weights of 98, 93, and 86 kDa, corresponding to the three described splice variants (PDE5A1, PDE5A2, and PDE5A3). The expression in DRG of the three PDE5 isoforms was also confirmed by RT‐PCR. Developmental regulation of PDE5 was revealed by the immunoblot analysis at different stages; expression was very low at E10 but an overall substantial increase occurred between E10–18 (about 12‐fold, considering the three PDE5 isoforms together). Differences were revealed, however, when a single PDE5 isoform was considered. PDE5A1 and PDE5A3 showed an increase at all stages although more pronounced between E10–18, whereas PDE5A2 underwent a marked increase (about 38‐fold) in the first period and remained nearly constant between E18 and P5. This is the first evidence of PDE5 in sensory neurons, and the distinct temporal expression patterns of enzyme isoforms may indicate different physiologic roles in developing and mature chick DRG. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Precise Synthesis and Surface Characterization of Well‐Defined Chain‐End‐Functionalized Polystyrenes with Two, Four, Eight, Sixteen and Thirty‐Two Perfluorooctyl Groups
Authors: Sugiyama Kenji , Sakai Shiko , El‐Shehawy Ashraf , Hirao Akira 
Published: November 2004

AbstractA series of well‐defined chain‐end‐functionalized polystyrenes with a definite number of two, four, eight, sixteen, and thirty‐two C8F17 groups have been successfully synthesized by applying the recently developed methodology based on an iterative divergent approach. These polymers were precisely controlled in chain length and degree of end‐functionalization. The surface structures of films cast from these polymers have been characterized by XPS and contact angle measurements. Significant segregation and preferential enrichment of C8F17 group at the surfaces were observed in all films. The surface enrichment estimated from F atomic % measured by XPS increased markedly with increasing the number of C8F17 group from two to four, but almost saturated at the number of four where the F atomic % from top surface to 20 Å depths was 44.2 %. The surface enrichment was enhanced only a small extent by further increasing the number of C8F17 group, although the maximum values (49.8 %) were obtained with chain‐end‐functionalized polystyrenes with sixteen and thirty‐two C8F17 groups.
Synthesis of Star‐Shaped Polystyrenes with Glucose in the Chain‐End and Core
Authors: Kaga Harumi , Yamane Shin , Narumi Atsushi , Satoh Toshifumi , Kakuchi Toyoji 
Published: November 2004

Abstract2,2,6,6‐Tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl (TEMPO) was reacted with 4‐ethylphenyl 2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside using tert‐butyl hydroperoxide and cobalt(II)acetate tetrahydrate in acetonitrile. The reaction provided 4‐[1′‐(2″,2″,6″,6″‐tetramethyl‐1″‐piperidinyloxy)‐ethyl]phenyl 2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside, glycoconjugated initiator. Star‐shaped polystyrene architectures in which glucose was covalently bonded in the core and chain‐end were successfully prepared from the glycoconjugated initiator, styrene, and 1,4‐divinylbenzene as starting materials.
Contribution of Supercritical CO2 to the Preparation of Aliphatic Polyesters and Materials Thereof
Authors: Stassin F. , Jérôme R. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThis paper is a short review of the most recent achievments of CERM in the synthesis of poly (ϵ‐caprolactone) (PCL) and polylactides (PLA) in supercritical carbon dioxide (sc CO2). In addition to the macromolecular engineering of these aliphatic polyesters, nanocomposites and PCL microspheres have been prepared with the assistance of this supercritical fluid.
Determination of Rate of Crystallinity and Thermodynamical Interaction Parameters of Polycaprolactone with Some Solvents by Gas Chromatography
Authors: Saraç Ayfer , Cankurtaran Özlem , Yilmaz Ferdane 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThe retention diagram of polycaprolactone for tert‐butyl acetate was obtained by inverse gas chromatography method in the temperature range of 40‐140 °C. Rate of crystallinity was determined between 45.0 percent and 37.1 percent in the temperatures at 40 and 53 °C, respectively. Thermodynamic interaction parameters were determined for cyclopentane, cyclohexane, tetrahydrofuran and 1,4‐dioxane with polycaprolactone between 70 and 130 °C. Specific retention volumes, Vgo, Flory Huggins polymer‐solvent interaction parameters, χ12∞, equation of state polymer‐solvent interaction parameters, χ12*, weight fraction activity coefficients of the solvents at infinite dilution, Ω1∞, effective exchange energy parameters, X̄12were determined.
Thermo‐Oxidative Degradation during Creep Crack Growth of PE‐HD Grades as Assessed by FT‐IR Spectroscopy
Authors: Pinter Gerald , Haager Markus , Wolf Christian , Lang Reinhold W. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractCreep crack growth experiments under static loads were done with two polyethylene high density (PE‐HD) types stabilised in two different ways. The degree of oxidation at the cracks was estimated by CO‐numbers measured with FT‐IR spectroscopy. The CO‐number is the ratio of the peak of oxidation products at approx. 1720 cm−1 to an inherent PE‐HD‐peak at 2020 cm−1 and represents a direct measure for oxidative damage. Higher CO‐numbers could be measured near the crack surfaces. However, this phenomenon could only be found in the low crack growth rate regime, where sufficient time is available for oxidation processes to take place. Moreover, local ageing decreases very quickly in some distance away from the crack path. A direct influence of different stabiliser systems on the degree of these local ageing processes could not be found.
The Reaction Mechanism of the Transetherification and Crosslinking of Melamine Resins
Authors: Rätzsch Manfred , Bucka Hartmut , Ivanchev Sergey , Pavlyuchenko Valery , Leitner Paul , Primachenko O.N. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractMelamine formaldehyde resins (MFR) are well known resins in the wood board and paper coating market. Etherified MFR's are applied as crosslinkers in the automotive coating industry. In Europe the growth of the market and the research activities are relatively small. On the other side in comparison to other polymers outstanding properties are possible to realize. So the development of new melamine ether resins (MER) was started. MER is a partly methylolated and fully etherified resin with a highly stable “thermoplastic” processing range. The MER's themselves are transparent granulates with enough stability for storage and transport. The crosslinking reaction can be started either by thermal or acidic catalytic activation, without losses of formaldehyde. Transetherifications with oligomeric diols can lead to more elastic and higher molecular melamine polyether resin (MPER) structures. The reaction mechanism and the crosslinking kinetics of the partly methylolated melamine ethers of methanol in comparison to the fully methylolated hexamethylol melamine ether will be discussed in this paper.
Determining the extent to which delayed‐enhancement images reflect the partition‐coefficient of Gd‐DTPA in canine studies of reperfused and unreperfused myocardial infarction
Authors: Thornhill Rebecca E. , Prato Frank S. , Wisenberg Gerald , Moran Gerald R. , Sykes Jane 
Published: November 2004

AbstractMRI after a constant infusion (CI) of Gd‐DTPA has been used to identify the extent of myocardial infarction (MI). However, Gd‐DTPA‐enhanced “viability” imaging is more commonly performed with a bolus (for “delayed‐enhancement” (DE) imaging). This study sought to determine how image delay time and time postinfarction influence the assessment of necrosis by DE. Both infusion and DE imaging was performed in dogs with reperfused (N = 6) or unreperfused (N = 4) MI. Estimates of the partition‐coefficient of Gd‐DTPA (λ) with DE were compared with those calculated after 60 min of infusion, and the comparisons were repeated until 4 (reperfused) or 8 (unreperfused) weeks postinfarction. In reperfused animals, the concordance (Rc) between DE and infusion estimates of λ was > 0.90 for most image delays > 8 min postinjection, for day 0 through week 3, with Rc at day 0 greater than at week 4 (P = 0.022). In unreperfused animals, there was an interaction between image delay time and time postinfarction (P < 0.001): Rc > 0.90 corresponded to longer image delays at week 1 than at weeks 4–8. Therefore, when image delays are selected appropriately, DE images can strongly reflect λ and identify irreversibly injured myocardium. Magn Reson Med 52:1069–1079, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
“Squashing peanuts and smashing pumpkins”: How noise distorts diffusion‐weighted MR data
Authors: Jones Derek K. , Basser Peter J. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractNew diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) methods, including high‐b, q‐space, and high angular resolution MRI methods, attempt to extract information about non‐Gaussian diffusion in tissue that is not provided by low‐b‐value (b ≈ 1000 s mm−2) diffusion or diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT‐MRI). Additionally, DWI data with higher spatial resolution are being acquired to resolve fine anatomic structures, such as white matter fasciculi. Increasing diffusion‐weighting or decreasing voxel size can reduce the signal‐to‐noise ratio so that some DWI signals are close to the background noise level. Here we report several new artifacts that can be explained by considering how background noise affects the peanut‐shaped angular apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) profile. These include an orientationally dependent deviation from Gaussian behavior of the ADC profile, an underestimation of indices of diffusion anisotropy, and a correlation between estimates of mean diffusivity and diffusion anisotropy. We also discuss how noise can cause increased gray/white matter DWI contrast at higher b values and an apparent elevation of diffusion anisotropy in acute ischemia. Importantly, all of these artifacts are negligible in the b‐value range typically used in DT‐MRI of brain (b ≈ 1000 s mm−2). Finally, we demonstrate a strategy for ameliorating the rectified noise artifact in data collected at higher b values. Magn Reson Med 52:979–993, 2004. Published 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Feridex labeling of mesenchymal stem cells inhibits chondrogenesis but not adipogenesis or osteogenesis
Authors: Kostura Lisa , Kraitchman Dara L. , Mackay Alastair M. , Pittenger Mark F. , Bulte Jeff W. M. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractMagnetic resonance (MR) tracking of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)‐labeled cells is a relatively new technique to non‐invasively determine the biodistribution and migration of transplanted stem cells. A number of studies have recently reported encouraging results in the use of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for repair of a variety of tissues. For MR tracking of SPIO‐labeled MSCs, it is important to determine the effect that the magnetic labeling procedure may have on the differentiation capacity of labeled MSCs. Human MSCs were labeled with poly‐L‐lysine (PLL)‐coated Feridex, with Feridex being an FDA‐approved SPIO formulation in an off‐label application, and assayed for cellular differentiation using five different assays. As compared with unlabeled controls, labeled MSCs exhibited an unaltered viability, proliferated similarly, and underwent normal adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation. However, there was a marked inhibition of chondrogenesis. The blocking of chondrogenic activity was mediated by the Feridex, rather than by the transfection agent (PLL). This is the first report showing Feridex blocking of cellular differentiation down a specific pathway (while not affecting viability and proliferation), and caution should thus be exercised when using Feridex‐labeled MSCs for chondrogenic MR tracking studies. On the other hand, no detrimental effects of Feridex‐labeling are anticipated for MR‐guided osteogenic or adipogenic transplantation studies. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
GradH‐Correction: guaranteed sizing gradation in multi‐patch parametric surface meshing
Authors: Pippa Stefano , Caligiana Gianni 
Published: November 2004

AbstractIn this paper a new method, called GradH‐Correction, for the generation of multi‐patch parametric surface meshes with controlled sizing gradation is presented. Such gradation is obtained performing a correction on the size values located on the vertices of the background mesh used to define the control space that governs the meshing process.In the presence of a multi‐patch surface, like shells of BREP solids, the proposed algorithm manages the whole composite surface simultaneously and as a unique entity. Sizing information can spread from a patch to its adjacent ones and the resulting size gradation is independent from the surface partitioning.Theoretical considerations lead to the assertion that, given a parameter λ, after performing a GradH‐Correction of level λ over the control space, the unit mesh constructed using the corrected control space is a mesh of gradation λ in the real space (target space). This means that the length ratio of any two adjacent edges of the mesh is bounded between 1/λ and λ.Numerical results show that meshes generated from corrected control spaces are of high quality and good gradation also when the background mesh has poor quality. However, due to mesh generator imprecision and theoretical limitations, guaranteed gradation is achieved only for the sizing specifications and not for the generated mesh. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An adaptive discretization algorithm for the weak approximation of stochastic differential equations
Authors: Rößler Andreas 
Published: November 2004

AbstractNumerical methods with fixed step size have limitations if they are applied for example to stiff stochastic differential equations where the step size is forced to be very small. In this paper, an adaptive step size control algorithm for the weak approximation of stochastic differential equations is introduced. The proposed algorithm calculates an estimation of the local error in order to determine the optimal step size such that the local error is bounded by some given tolerances. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Function space interior point methods for PDE constrained optimization
Authors: Weiser Martin , Schiela Anton 
Published: November 2004

AbstractA primal‐dual interior point method for optimal control problems with PDE constraints is considered. The algorithm is directly applied to the infinite dimensional problem. Existence and convergence of the central path are analyzed. Numerical results from an inexact continuation method applied to a model problem are shown. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Image analysis studies of dimensional changes in swellable hydrophilic polymer matrices
Authors: Vlachou Marilena , Naseef Hani , Efentakis Manuel 
Published: November 2004

AbstractStudies of the fronts which are created by the process of swelling, their movement and the effect of drug solubility on release mechanisms, are presented. Tablets comprising solely of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) (Metolose 90 SH 100 000 SR), HPMC with sodium diclofenac (relatively soluble in the buffer solution used) and HPMC with furosemide (insoluble in the buffer solution used) were prepared. The tablets were made by direct compression in a manual hydraulic press and the matrix swelling was studied by an optical analysis technique. During the experimental procedure measurements were taken of the gel layer dimensions, the movement of the swelling, and the erosion and diffusion fronts at different time points. These measurements allowed the investigation of the possible mechanisms involved in the swelling/release process. The results showed that the rate and mechanism of drug release from swellable matrices depends on the following factors: the dissolution, the diffusion of the drug, the translocation of undissolved drug particles in the gel layer, and the solubility of the drugs used. This is supported by the following: (a) the diffusion layer thickness, which is observed as a result of the presence of undissolved drug in the gel layer, increases in the case of the water insoluble drug furosemide and as a result the diffusion front converges on the erosion front; (b) from the analysis of the dissolution data it appears that sodium diclofenac is released as a result of diffusion via the gel layer as well as due to polymer relaxation and/or matrix erosion. Conversely, the release of furosemide is only dependent on the polymer relaxation and/or matrix erosion. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.