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HT
Terms modified by HT Selected AbstractsEfficient Aerobic Oxidation of Alcohols using a Hydrotalcite-Supported Gold Nanoparticle CatalystADVANCED SYNTHESIS & CATALYSIS (PREVIOUSLY: JOURNAL FUER PRAKTISCHE CHEMIE), Issue 11-12 2009Takato Mitsudome Abstract Hydrotalcite-supported gold nanoparticles (Au/HT) were found to be a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the aerobic oxidation of alcohols under mild reaction conditions (40,°C, in air). This catalyst system does not require any additives and is applicable to a wide range of alcohols, including less reactive cyclohexanol derivatives. This Au/HT catalyst could also function in the oxidation of 1-phenylethanol under neat conditions; the turnover number (TON) and turnover frequency (TOF) reached 200,000 and 8,300,h,1, respectively. These values are among the highest values compared to those of other reported catalyst systems at high conversion. Moreover, the Au/HT can be recovered by simple filtration and reused without any loss of its activity and selectivity. [source] Optical studies of defects generated in neutron-irradiated Cz-Si during HP-HT treatmentCRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 4-5 2005B. Surma Abstract Neutron-irradiated Czochralski grown silicon subjected to heat treatment (HT) at 350 °C and 1000 °C under enhanced hydrostatic pressure (HP) was studied in this work. It has been shown that external hydrostatic pressure enhances the creation of VO2 defects in neutron irradiated silicon subjected to the HP - HT treatment at 350 °C. Enhanced formation of platelet-like oxygen precipitates was found in the samples treated at 1000 °C under 1.1 GPa. This effect was more pronounced in the samples with VO2 defects. Presented results seem to suggest that probably HP helps to transform VO2 to some kind of defects or change alone VO2 defects in the form that can act as an additional nucleus for an additional oxygen precipitation at 1000°C. No correlation between the plate-like oxygen precipitates related absorption at 1225 cm -1 and dislocation-related emission has been confirmed. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Infant information processing and family history of specific language impairment: converging evidence for RAP deficits from two paradigmsDEVELOPMENTAL SCIENCE, Issue 2 2007Naseem Choudhury An infant's ability to process auditory signals presented in rapid succession (i.e. rapid auditory processing abilities [RAP]) has been shown to predict differences in language outcomes in toddlers and preschool children. Early deficits in RAP abilities may serve as a behavioral marker for language-based learning disabilities. The purpose of this study is to determine if performance on infant information processing measures designed to tap RAP and global processing skills differ as a function of family history of specific language impairment (SLI) and/or the particular demand characteristics of the paradigm used. Seventeen 6- to 9-month-old infants from families with a history of specific language impairment (FH+) and 29 control infants (FH,) participated in this study. Infants' performance on two different RAP paradigms (head-turn procedure [HT] and auditory-visual habituation/recognition memory [AVH/RM]) and on a global processing task (visual habituation/recognition memory [VH/RM]) was assessed at 6 and 9 months. Toddler language and cognitive skills were evaluated at 12 and 16 months. A number of significant group differences were seen: FH+ infants showed significantly poorer discrimination of fast rate stimuli on both RAP tasks, took longer to habituate on both habituation/recognition memory measures, and had lower novelty preference scores on the visual habituation/recognition memory task. Infants' performance on the two RAP measures provided independent but converging contributions to outcome. Thus, different mechanisms appear to underlie performance on operantly conditioned tasks as compared to habituation/recognition memory paradigms. Further, infant RAP processing abilities predicted to 12- and 16-month language scores above and beyond family history of SLI. The results of this study provide additional support for the validity of infant RAP abilities as a behavioral marker for later language outcome. Finally, this is the first study to use a battery of infant tasks to demonstrate multi-modal processing deficits in infants at risk for SLI. [source] DIASTOLIC DYSFUNCTION IN HYPERTENSIVES AS ASSESSED BY TISSUE DOPPLER; RELATION TO MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASESECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 5 2004S. Nadar Objectives: To assess the severity of diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients as compared to normal controls and correlate it with plasma matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Methods: 52 patients with controlled hypertension (HT) (38 male, age 57+ 11 yrs) and 24 normotensive controls 15 male, mean age 53+ 12 years) had tissue doppler echocardiography to assess diastolic dysfunction (e, and e,/e ratios). They also had plasma MMP-9 and TIMP-1 measured. Results: The HT patients had significantly lower e, and higher e,/e ratios as compared to normotensive controls. They also had higher MMP-9 and TIMP-1 values. There was a significant inverese correlation between MMP-9 and TIMP-1 with e, and a significant positive correlation between the MMPs and e,/e ratio. THe e/a ratios as assessed by pulse wave doppler were also higher in the controls than the hypertensive patients suggesting abnormal diastolic function. Conclusions: There is significant diastolic dysfunction even in controlled hypertensives which can be assessed by tissue doppler. This newer technique compares favourably with established methods such as e/a ratio. The tissue doppler indices also correlate well with abnormalities in the matrix metalloproteinases suggesting that abnormal matrix turnover is responsible for the diastolic dysfunction. [source] Application of Hadamard transformation to MEKCELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 3 2007Kazuki Hata Abstract The Hadamard transform (HT) technique, which permits the S/N in CE to be improved, was applied to MEKC. Multiple sample injection of fluorescent analytes according to a Hadamard code sequence was performed using an optically gated sample injection technique, in which a sample plug was produced based on photodegradation by irradiation with an intense laser beam. The capillary and reservoirs were filled with a sample solution containing buffer components and SDS as a pseudostationary phase. A preliminary study confirmed that fluorescein ion could be photobleached in the presence of SDS. The optically gated sample injection technique was then applied to multiple sample injection, based on a Hadamard matrix. The S/N in the electropherogram obtained by HT-MEKC was improved substantially compared to that obtained by a single injection method. When the technique was applied to the separation of several amino acids labeled with FITC, the S/N ratio for each amino acid was enhanced, without any evidence of degradation in separation resolution. Moreover, HT-MEKC was applied to the analysis of amino acids contained in a Japanese beverage, resulting in improved S/Ns for the amino acids. [source] Systematic Hydrothermal Investigation of Metal Phosphonatobenzenesulfonates by High-Throughput MethodsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 24 2010Palanikumar Maniam Abstract A high-throughput (HT) investigation using the rigid bifunctional ligand 4-phosphonobenzenesulfonic acid, H2O3P-C6H4 -SO3H (H3L), generated five new phosphonatobenzenesulfonates with copper(II) or lead(II) ions. A comprehensive HT study comprising the screenings of different metal ions, metal salt types and the synthesis optimization were conducted whereby the influence of pH and molar ratios M2+/H3L were investigated. The HT-study led to five new compounds Pb2[(O3P-C6H4 -SO3)(OH)] (1), Cu1.5[(O3P-C6H4 -SO3)(H2O)] (2), NaCu(O3P-C6H4 -SO3)(H2O)3 (3), Cu2[(O3P-C6H4 -SO3)(OH)(H2O)] (4) and Cu3[(O3P-C6H4 -SO3)2(H2O)2] (5). Metal ion screening showed lead(II) and copper(II) to be suitable metal ions. The utilization of discovery and focused arrays allowed to determine the optimal formation fields of the respective compounds. The crystal structures were determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction and revealed the presence of various MOx polyhedra that form clusters, chains or layers which are connected through the organic linker. IR spectra, thermogravimetric studies, magnetic susceptibility measurements and elemental analyses were conducted to further characterize the compounds 1, 3, 4 and 5. [source] Valence-Tautomeric RbMnFe Prussian Blue Analogues: Composition and Time Stability InvestigationEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2009Lionel Salmon Abstract Three different stoichiometric forms of RbxMn[Fe(CN)6]y·zH2O [x = 0.96, y = 0.98, z = 0.75 (1); x = 0.94, y = 0.88, z = 2.17 (2); x = 0.61, y = 0.86, z = 2.71 (3)] Prussian blue analogues were synthesized and investigated by magnetic, calorimetric, Raman spectroscopic, X-ray diffraction, and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1 and 2 show a hysteresis loop between the high-temperature (HT) FeIII(S = 1/2),CN,MnII(S = 5/2) and the low-temperature (LT) FeII(S = 0),CN,MnIII(S = 2) forms of 61 and 135 K width centered at 273 and 215 K, respectively, whereas the third compound remains in the HT phase down to 5 K. The splitting of the quadrupolar doublets in the 57Fe Mössbauer spectra reveal the electron-transfer-active centers. Refinement of the X-ray powder diffraction profiles shows that electron-transfer-active materials have the majority of the Rb ions on only one of the two possible interstitial sites, whereas nonelectron-transfer-active materials have the Rb ions equally distributed. Moreover, the stability of the compounds with time and following heat treatment is also discussed.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009) [source] Intravenous cocaine induced-activity and behavioural sensitization in norepinephrine-, but not dopamine-transporter knockout miceEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 3 2002Andy N. Mead Abstract Previously, it was reported that both norepinephrine transporter (NET) and dopamine transporter (DAT) knockout (KO) mice were sensitive to the reinforcing effects of cocaine. However, assessing the locomotor-stimulant effects of cocaine in these subjects has proven difficult due to significant differences in their baseline activity compared to wild-type controls. The present studies were designed to clarify the role of NET and DAT in the stimulant effects of acute and repeated cocaine utilizing these knockout mice, and thereby assess the role of these substrates in the locomotor stimulant effects of cocaine. Mice were habituated to the test environment for sufficient time to ensure equal baselines at the time of cocaine administration. Mice then received cocaine (3,25 mg/kg) intravenously according to a within-session cumulative dose,response design. Cocaine dosing was repeated at 48-h intervals for four sessions to assess behavioural sensitization. NET-KO mice exhibited a reduced response to acute cocaine administration compared to wild-type (WT) controls. However, comparable sensitization developed in NET-KO and WT mice. The DAT-KO and DAT-heterozygote (HT) mice displayed no locomotor activation following either acute or repeated cocaine administration. These data suggest a role for the NET in the acute response to cocaine, but no involvement in sensitization to cocaine. In contrast, DAT appears to be necessary for both the acute locomotor response to cocaine and the subsequent development of sensitization. In addition to existing data concerning the reinforcing effects of cocaine in DAT-KO mice, these data suggest a dissociation between the reinforcing and locomotor stimulant effects of cocaine. [source] A 3-year comparison of dental anxiety treatment outcomes: hypnosis, group therapy and individual desensitization vs. no specialist treatmentEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 4 2002Rod Moore Outcomes of hypnotherapy (HT), group therapy (GT) and individual systematic desensitization (SD) on extreme dental anxiety in adults aged 19,65 yr were compared by regular attendance behaviors, changes in dental anxiety and changes in beliefs about dentists and treatment after 3 yr. Treatment groups were comparable with a static reference control group of 65 anxious patients (Dental Anxiety Scale ,,15) who were followed for a mean of nearly 6 yr. After 3 yr, 54.5% of HT patients, 69.6% of GT patients and 65.5% of SD patients were maintaining regular dental care habits. This was better than the 46.1% of the reference group, who reported going regularly to the dentist again within the cohort follow-up period, and 38.9% of a control subgroup with observation for 3 yr. Women were better regular attenders than men at 3 yr. Specialist-treated regular attenders were significantly less anxious and had more positive beliefs than regular attenders from reference groups. There were few differences between HT, GT and SD after 3 yr. It was concluded that many patients can, on their own, successfully start and maintain regular dental treatment habits with dentists despite years of avoidance associated with phobic or extreme anxiety. However, it also appears that these patients had less success in reducing dental anxiety and improving beliefs about dentists long-term than did patients who were treated at the specialist clinic with psychological strategies. [source] In vitro expansion of DNA triplet repeats with bulge binders and different DNA polymerasesFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 18 2008Di Ouyang The expansion of DNA repeat sequences is associated with many genetic diseases in humans. Simple bulge DNA structures have been implicated as intermediates in DNA slippage within the DNA repeat regions. To probe the possible role of bulged structures in DNA slippage, we designed and synthesized a pair of simple chiral spirocyclic compounds [Xi Z, Ouyang D & Mu HT (2006) Bioorg Med Chem Lett16, 1180,1184], DDI-1A and DDI-1B, which mimic the molecular architecture of the enediyne antitumor antibiotic neocarzinostatin chromophore. Both compounds strongly stimulated slippage in various DNA repeats in vitro. Enhanced slippage synthesis was found to be synchronous for primer and template. CD spectra and UV thermal stability studies supported the idea that DDI-1A and DDI-1B exhibited selective binding to the DNA bulge and induced a significant conformational change in bulge DNA. The proposed mechanism for the observed in vitro expansion of long DNA is discussed. [source] Antihypertensive effect of Nigella sativa seed extract in patients with mild hypertensionFUNDAMENTAL & CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 4 2008Farshad Roghani Dehkordi Abstract Hypertension (HT) is a lifestyle-related disease and dietary modifications are effective for its management and prevention. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of treatment with an oral Nigella sativa (NS) seed extract supplement in patients with mild HT. Subjects were randomized into three groups: a placebo and two test groups that received 100 and 200 mg of NS extract twice a day. After 8 weeks, systolic blood pressure (SBP) values in both case groups were found to be significantly reduced when compared with the baseline values for each group. In addition, the decrease in SBP in the two case groups was statistically significant relative to the placebo group (P < 0.05,0.01). Meanwhile, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) values in the case groups were found to be significantly reduced from the baseline and a significant reduction was also observed in these groups (P < 0.01) when compared with the placebo group. In addition, extract administration reduced both SBP and DBP in a dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile, NS extract caused a significant decline in the level of total and low-density-lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol relative to baseline data. No complications caused by NS were observed. The results suggest that the daily use of NS seed extract for 2 months may have a blood pressure-lowering effect in patients with mild HT. [source] Relation of hypertension and glucose tolerance impairment in elderly people to the development of arteriosclerosis: Investigation using pulse wave velocity,GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2005Takeshi Isobe Background: The aim of the present study was to determine the correlation between the combination of hypertension and diabetes mellitus and arteriosclerosis using pulse wave velocity (PWV). Methods: The subjects were 186 men over the age of 60 years (mean age: 68.8 ± 5.8 years). PWV, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, fasting blood sugar (FBS), total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL cholesterol were measured in all subjects. The subjects were divided into three groups on the basis of FBS level: a normal group (FBS < 110 mg/dL), an impaired fasting glucose group (110 , FBS < 126 mg/dL) and a diabetes mellitus group (FBS , 126 mg/dL or taking antidiabetics). The subjects were also divided into two groups on the basis of blood pressure level: a hypertension (HT) group (SBP , 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure , 90 mmHg or taking antihypertensives) and a normotension group (other subjects). Results: PWV showed positive correlations with SBP and FBS (r = 0.499 and r = 0.300, respectively). In all three groups classified by FBS level, PWV was higher in subjects with HT than in subjects with normotension (P < 0.01 in all three groups). In the HT group, PWV had already increased at the stage of impaired fasting glucose and was significantly higher in the diabetes mellitus group than in the normal FBS group (P = 0.002). In multiple regression analysis using PWV as a dependent variable, SBP and FBS were selected as independent variables. Conclusions: Even in the elderly, strict control of blood pressure and blood sugar level may be necessary in order to prevent the development of arteriosclerotic diseases. [source] Basin-Scale Transmissivity and Storativity Estimation Using Hydraulic TomographyGROUND WATER, Issue 5 2008Kristopher L Kuhlman While tomographic inversion has been successfully applied to laboratory- and field-scale tests, here we address the new issue of scale that arises when extending the method to a basin. Specifically, we apply the hydraulic tomography (HT) concept to jointly interpret four multiwell aquifer tests in a synthetic basin to illustrate the superiority of this approach to a more traditional Theis analysis of the same tests. Transmissivity and storativity are estimated for each element of a regional numerical model using the geostatistically based sequential successive linear estimator (SSLE) inverse solution method. We find that HT inversion is an effective strategy for incorporating data from potentially disparate aquifer tests into a basin-wide aquifer property estimate. The robustness of the SSLE algorithm is investigated by considering the effects of noisy observations, changing the variance of the true aquifer parameters, and supplying incorrect initial and boundary conditions to the inverse model. Ground water flow velocities and total confined storage are used as metrics to compare true and estimated parameter fields; they quantify the effectiveness of HT and SSLE compared to a Theis solution methodology. We discuss alternative software that can be used for implementing tomography inversion. [source] A case-control study on hormone therapy as a risk factor for breast cancer in Finland: Intrauterine system carries a risk as wellINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 2 2010Heli K. Lyytinen Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) and the risk for breast cancer in recently postmenopausal Finnish women. All Finnish women with first invasive breast cancer diagnosed between the ages of 50 and 62 years during 1995,2007 (n = 9,956) were identified from the Finnish Cancer Registry. For each case, 3 controls of the same age were retrieved from the Finnish Population Register. The cases and controls were linked to the national medical reimbursement register to assess the use of HT. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for breast cancer were calculated with conditional logistic regression analysis, adjusting for parity, age at the first birth and health care district. Estradiol-only therapy (991 users with breast cancer, n) or oral progestagen (n = 138) was not accompanied by an increased risk. Estradiol-progestagen therapy (EPT) (n = 1,731) was associated with an elevated risk in the whole series (OR 1.36; 95% CI 1.27,1.46). The risk became detectable in less than 3 years of use. Continuous EPT use tended to be associated with a higher risk for breast cancer than the sequential EPT use. The use of tibolone (n = 80) (1.36; 1.15,1.96), a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG,IUS) alone (n = 154) (1.45; 1.97,1.77) or as a complement to estradiol (n = 137) (2.15; 1.72,2.68) was also associated with an increased risk. The association between HT use and the risk for breast cancer shows a large variation between various forms of HT, and also the use of LNG-IUS may carry a risk. [source] Endogenous sex hormones, prolactin and mammographic density in postmenopausal Norwegian womenINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 11 2007Yngve Bremnes Abstract The associations between endogenous sex hormone levels and breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women are well established. Mammographic density is a strong risk factor for breast cancer, and possibly an intermediate marker. However, the results from studies on the associations between endogenous sex hormones and mammographic density are conflicting. The authors examined the associations between circulating levels of sex hormones, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and prolactin and mammographic densities among postmenopausal women not currently using postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT). The authors also examined if insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels influenced the association between estrogen and mammographic density. Altogether, 722 postmenopausal participants in the Norwegian governmental mammographic screening program had endogenous hormone concentrations measured. Mammograms were classified according to percent and absolute mammographic density using a previously validated computer-assisted method. After adjustment for age, number of children, age at menopause, body mass index and HT use, both plasma concentrations of SHBG (p -trend = 0.003) and estrone (p -trend = 0.07) were positively associated with percent mammographic density. When the analyses were stratified according to median IGF-I concentration, the weak association between estrone and mammographic density was strengthened among women with IGF-I levels below median, while the association disappeared among women with over median IGF-I levels (p for interaction = 0.02). In summary, the authors found a positive association between plasma SHBG levels and mammographic densities among 722 postmenopausal Norwegian women not currently using HT. Further, the authors found a positive but weak association between plasma estrone concentration and mammographic density, which appeared to be modified by IGF-I levels. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Reproductive factors, exogenous hormone use and bladder cancer risk in a prospective study,INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 10 2006Marie M. Cantwell Abstract Sex is a consistent predictor of bladder cancer: men experience 2,4-fold higher age-adjusted rates than women in the U.S. and Europe. The objective of this study was to examine whether hormone-related factors are associated with bladder cancer in women. We examined parity, age at menarche, age at first birth, age at menopause, oral contraceptive use and menopausal hormone therapy (HT) use and bladder cancer risk in the Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project Follow-Up Study. Endpoint and exposure information was collected on 54,308 women, using annual telephone interviews (1980,86) and 3 mailed, self-administered questionnaires (1987,98). During an average follow-up time of 15.3 years, 167 cases of bladder cancer were identified. Univariate and adjusted rate ratios (RRs) were estimated using Poisson regression. Parity, age at menarche, age at first birth, age at menopause, and oral contraceptive use were not associated with bladder cancer risk. The majority of menopausal women who took HT used estrogen therapy (ET). Postmenopausal women with less than 4 years, 4,9 years, 10,19 years and 20 or more years of ET use had RRs of 1.55 (95% CI = 0.96,2.51), 1.00 (95% CI = 0.49,2.04), 1.23 (95% CI = 0.62,2.43) and 0.57 (95% CI = 0.14,2.34), respectively, compared with nonusers (p = 0.50). Findings from this study are not consistent with the hypothesis that hormone-related factors in women are associated with bladder cancer. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Hashimoto's thyroiditis associated with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis: case report and review of the literatureINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 1 2007A. M. Pizzini Summary Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (IRF) is a rare disease of unknown origin, characterised by an inflammatory proliferative fibrosing process occurring in the retroperitoneum. Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is a form of chronic thyroiditis that in some cases shows an extensive replacement of thyroid parenchyma by fibrous tissue. We report the rare association of IRF with HT in a 68-year-old woman presenting with pulmonary oedema, acute renal failure due to bilateral hydronephrosis and a firm diffuse goitre with hypothyroidism. The so far reported cases of IRF associated with chronic thyroiditis are reviewed, and the possible aetiopathogenetic link between these two entities is discussed. [source] Development of a minimally invasive epidermal abrasion device for clinical skin sampling and its applications in molecular biologyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 1 2009J.-M. Lee Synopsis A new abrasion tool (US patent US7087063 B2) has been developed for collecting skin epidermal samples. This device includes a central shaft that holds the probe in a split chuck. Of the variety of probe designs tested, the laser-cut hollow tube (HT) probe abraded the basal layer of the epidermis most consistently, resulting in representative epidermal skin samples. Compared with traditional clinical methods, the abrasion method allows for high-throughput epidermal skin collection with minimal invasiveness to the volunteer subjects. A large number of abrasion samples have been collected in various clinical studies with no adverse effects observed. Epidermal abrasion, when used appropriately and with the optimized probes, can yield high quality tissue samples that are representative of the epidermis. A sufficient quantity of RNA and protein can be obtained for many subsequent molecular and biochemical applications. Because of its minimal invasiveness and high-throughput nature, the abrasion method can be a valuable tool used to investigate the efficacy of topical applications of skin care products. Resume Un nouvel outil d'abrasion (US Patent US 7 087 063 B2) a été développé pour collecter des échantillons de peaux épidermiques. Cet instrument est constitué d'une tige centrale qui tient la sonde dans un mandrin fendu. Parmi tous les modèles de sondes testées, celle constituée d'un tube creux (HT) coupé au laser, abrase la couche basale de l'épiderme le plus régulièrement, conduisant ainsi à des échantillons de peaux épidermiques représentatifs. Comparée aux méthodes classiques, la méthode d'abrasion permet un prélèvement de peaux épidermiques haut débit avec un minimum d'invasion des sujets volontaires. Un grand nombre d'échantillons a été collecté dans diverses études cliniques sans qu'aucun effet adverse n'ait été observé. L'abrasion épidermique, quand elle est utilisée de façon appropriée et avec une sonde appropriée, peut conduire à des échantillons de haute qualité qui sont représentatifs de l'épiderme. Une quantité suffisante d'ARN et de protéines peut être obtenue en vue de tests moléculaires et biochimiques. Du fait de sa faible agressivité et de sa nature haut débit, la méthode d'abrasion peut être un outil précieux utilisé pour étudier l'efficacité des applications topiques de produits de soins cutanés. [source] Vibrational,rotational energies of all H2 isotopomers using Monte Carlo methodsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUANTUM CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2006S. A. Alexander Abstract Using variational Monte Carlo techniques, we have computed several of the lowest rotational,vibrational energies of all the hydrogen molecule isotopomers (H2, HD, HT, D2, DT, and T2). These calculations do not require the excited states to be explicitly orthogonalized. We have examined both the usual Gaussian wave function form as well as a rapidly convergent Padé form. The high-quality potential energy surfaces used in these calculations are taken from our earlier work and include the Born,Oppenheimer energy, the diagonal correction to the Born,Oppenheimer approximation, and the lowest-order relativistic corrections at 24 internuclear points. Our energies are in good agreement with those determined by other methods. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006 [source] Prevalence of erectile dysfunction in patients with metabolic syndromeINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 4 2006TEVFIK DEMIR Aim:, We wished to investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome and erectile dysfunction (ED). Materials and methods:, A total of 268 patients were included in this study. All of the patients were asked to fill in an International Index for Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire. The presence of metabolic syndrome was determined when any three or more of the five risk factors were present according to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel (ATP)-III. The relationship between risk factor for metabolic syndrome and ED status was determined according to logistic regression analysis. Results:, Eighty-nine patients (33%) constituted the metabolic syndrome group. IIEF-EF domain scores of patients with and without metabolic syndrome were 17.7 ± 7.9 and 21.7 ± 7.5, respectively (P < 0.001). Seventy-four percent of patients with metabolic syndrome and 50% of patients without metabolic syndrome had ED (P < 0.001; odds ratio 2.9; 95% CI 1.7,5.0). Erectile function domain scores significantly decreased as the number of metabolic risk factors increased (P < 0.001). Patients with the risk factor of fasting blood glucose (FBG), waist circumference (WC), or hypertension (HT) had lower erectile function domain scores than the patients with other metabolic risk factors. Logistic regression analysis revealed that FBG and WC were the most important criteria for ED. Conclusions:, Metabolic syndrome seems to be a potential risk factor for ED. We recommend patients with metabolic syndrome should be questioned about ED, and WC measurement might take part in the evaluation of ED. [source] Influence of hypertension on lower urinary tract symptoms in benign prostatic hyperplasiaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 11 2003KIMIO SUGAYA Abstract Aim:, To clarify the influence of hypertension on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) we examined the relationship between blood pressure, LUTS, and the effect of terazosin on LUTS in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods:, The subjects were patients who had LUTS and BPH. They were treated with terazosin (1 mg, twice-a-day) for 12 weeks. Calculation of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), measurement of blood pressure, and uroflowmetry were performed before and after 12 weeks of therapy. Patients were divided into a normotensive (NT) group and a hypertensive (HT) group at the time of first examination. Results:, The IPSS for urinary frequency and nocturia in BPH-HT patients (n = 21; mean age, 71 years) were significantly higher than those in the BPH-NT patients (n = 21; mean age, 69 years) before the administration of terazosin. The total IPSS the BPH-HT patients was also significantly higher than that of the BPH-NT patients. There were no differences of uroflowmetric parameters between the two groups. After 12 weeks of therapy, systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased in the BPH-HT patients, but not in the BPH-NT patients. However, the systolic pressure of the BPH-HT patients was still significantly higher than that of the BPH-NT patients. The score for each IPSS parameter decreased in both groups, but the difference of the score between the two groups increased. Conclusion:, Hypertension may worsen LUTS and may decrease the improvement of symptoms by terazosin. [source] Effect of UV and hygrothermal aging on the mechanical performance of polyurethane elastomersJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 1 2008H. Aglan Abstract In this study, the effects of environmental aging on the mechanical performance of elastomeric polyurethane (PU) were investigated using two accelerated aging techniques, namely, ultraviolet (UV) and hygrothermal (HT). Samples were prepared and subjected to UV and HT exposure for a period of 5 months and removed and mechanically tested at different time intervals. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was performed. A noticeable change in the chemical structure of the PU after 1 month of UV exposure was found, however, that was not the case after 1 month of HT exposure. The stress and strain to failure, tearing energy, and storage modulus were evaluated at different intervals for both aging techniques. It was found that the UV exposure caused severe degradation of the PU in comparison with the HT. A reduction of more than 98% in the tearing energy was observed for the UV-exposed samples after 5 months when compared with only a 35% reduction in the tearing energy for the HT-exposed samples. A similar trend was observed for tear strength and storage modulus. The degradation mechanisms of the PU elastomers have been identified using SEM and correlated with the tearing energy. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source] FoxO1 is involved in the antineoplastic effect of calorie restrictionAGING CELL, Issue 3 2010Haruyoshi Yamaza Summary The FoxO transcription factors may be involved in the antiaging effect of calorie restriction (CR) in mammals. To test the hypothesis, we used FoxO1 knockout heterozygotic (HT) mice, in which the FoxO1 mRNA level was reduced by 50%, or less, of that in wild-type (WT) mouse tissues. The WT and HT mice were fed ad libitum (AL) or 30% CR diets from 12 weeks of age. Aging- and CR-related changes in body weight, food intake, blood glucose, and insulin concentrations were similar between the WT and HT mice in the lifespan study. The response to oxidative stress, induced by intraperitoneal injection of 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NPA), was evaluated in the liver and hippocampus at 6 months of age. Several of the selected FoxO1-target genes for cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, apoptosis, and stress resistance were up-regulated in the WT-CR tissues after 3-NPA injection, while the effect was mostly diminished in the HT-CR tissues. Of these gene products, we focused on the nuclear p21 protein level in the liver and confirmed its up-regulation only in the WT-CR mice in response to oxidative stress. The lifespan did not differ significantly between the WT and HT mice in AL or CR conditions. However, the antineoplastic effect of CR, as indicated by reduced incidence of tumors at death in the WT-CR mice, was mostly abrogated in the HT-CR mice. The present results suggest a role for FoxO1 in the antineoplastic effect of CR through the induction of genes responsible for protection against oxidative and genotoxic stress. [source] Diversity, extinction risk and conservation of Malaysian fishesJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 9 2010V. C. Chong A total of 1951 species of freshwater and marine fishes belonging to 704 genera and 186 families are recorded in Malaysia. Almost half (48%) are currently threatened to some degree, while nearly one third (27%) mostly from the marine and coral habitats require urgent scientific studies to evaluate their status. Freshwater habitats encompass the highest percentage of threatened fish species (87%) followed by estuarine habitats (66%). Of the 32 species of highly threatened (HT) species, 16 are freshwater and 16 are largely marine,euryhaline species. Fish extinctions in Malaysia are confined to two freshwater species, but both freshwater and marine species are being increasingly threatened by largely habitat loss or modification (76%), overfishing (27%) and by-catch (23%). The most important threat to freshwater fishes is habitat modification and overfishing, while 35 species are threatened due to their endemism. Brackish-water, euryhaline and marine fishes are threatened mainly by overfishing, by-catch and habitat modification. Sedimentation (pollution) additionally threatens coral-reef fishes. The study provides recommendations to governments, fish managers, scientists and stakeholders to address the increasing and unabated extinction risks faced by the Malaysian fish fauna. [source] EFFECT OF PECTINOLYTIC AND AMYLOLYTIC ENZYMES ON APPLE JUICE TURBIDITYJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 2 2006V. SORRIVAS ABSTRACT The mechanisms governing the enzymatic clarification of apple juice were studied by electron microscopy techniques. Full ripe and unripe apple juice samples (Granny Smith) were treated with commercial pectinase (Solvay 5XLHA) and amylase (Röhalase HT) enzymes, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy studies revealed that commercial amylolytic enzymes quickly reduced starch content in unripe apple juice to undetectable values. It was also observed that after pasteurization of this juice (90C, 5 min) all starch granules gelatinized. Using transmission electron microscopy, it was possible to observe pectin bonded to ripe apple juice particles. This protective colloid is known to be responsible for cloudy juice stability. The effect of pectic enzyme to destroy the protective pectin colloid was also detected with this technique. As a result of the enzymatic treatment, average particle size initially increased from 1000 to 1500 nm and decreased thereafter to ,1100 nm, and Z-potential increased in absolute values from ,9.6 to ,11.4 mV. It was speculated that the destruction of the weak pectin net by the action of the specific enzyme caused particle aggregation, followed by the collapse of aggregates, increasing the number of particles <500 nm. [source] Low plasma adiponectin is associated with coronary artery disease but not with hypertension in high-risk nondiabetic patientsJOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 5 2006M. CESARI Abstract. Objective., To investigate the association of plasma adiponectin levels with coronary artery disease (CAD), arterial hypertension (HT), and insulin resistance (IR) in nondiabetic Caucasian patients. Design., We measured plasma adiponectin levels, IR (HOMA index), and the CAD atherosclerotic burden (angiography-based modified Duke Index score) in 400 nondiabetic patients undergoing coronary angiography. HT was diagnosed by the European Society of Hypertension/European Society of Cardiology (ESH/ESC) guidelines or if patients were on antihypertensive treatment. Results., Coronary artery disease was found in 62% of the patients and ruled out in the rest (non-CAD group). Plasma adiponectin levels were inversely related to the CAD score (, = ,0.12, P = 0.029) and predicted the coronary atherosclerotic burden independent of other cardiovascular risk factors. However, they were similar in NT and HT and showed no correlation with blood pressure values. In non-CAD, but not in CAD patients, they were lower in patients with than without IR (8.3 ± 1.2 vs. 11.3 ± 1.3, respectively; P = 0.007). Conclusions., In nondiabetic high-risk Caucasian patients plasma adiponectin levels are inversely related to CAD severity and IR; however, they are not strongly related to blood pressure values. [source] Hormone therapy and mortality during a 14-year follow-up of 14 324 Norwegian womenJOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 5 2004S. Graff-Iversen Abstract. Objectives., We evaluated mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD), coronary heart disease (CHD) and all causes in relation to use of any hormone therapy (HT) and HT with oestradiol and norethisterone or levonorgestrel. Design., Population-based cohort study. Setting and subjects., Women in three Norwegian counties were invited to a health survey in 1985,88 and 82.8% participated. In all 14 324 post- or perimenopausal women aged 35,62 years, including 702 HT users with a mean age of 48.8 years, were followed for 14 years. Results., Women using HT had mortality from all causes and CVD comparable with that of nonusers. The relative risk (RRs) for CVD mortality amongst all women were 0.69 (95% CI: 0.35,1.33) for users of HT, and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.43,2.17) for users of HT with norethisterone or levonorgestrel. Amongst women free of self-reported cardiovascular health problems at baseline all-cause, CVD and CHD mortality tended to be lower amongst users of HT whilst HT use was linked with increased mortality amongst women with cardiovascular health problems. Conclusions., In this cohort of women around the usual age of menopause all-cause or CVD mortality amongst users of HT, most often oestradiol combined with norethisterone or levonorgestrel, was not markedly different from that of nonusers. Early CHD events amongst HT users prior to the baseline survey, together with selective inclusion of healthy subjects, may in part explain protective effects of HT on CHD reported from previous observational studies. [source] In vitro study comparing two collageneous membranes in view of their clinical application for rotator cuff tendon regenerationJOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 1 2007Milena Fini Abstract Tenocytes were isolated from the rotator cuff tendons of healthy (HT) and glucocorticoid (GC)-treated rats (GCT) and were cultured on polystyrene wells (TCP) as control, and on 2 de-cellularized collagen matrices: porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS), and human dermal matrix (Graftjacket®, GJ). At 3 and 7 days cell proliferation and synthesis were evaluated. Proliferation of HT tenocytes increased between experimental times for both tested membranes, but already at 3 days, HT tenocytes cultured on GJ showed the highest WST-1 value. The collagen-I (CICP) synthesis on GJ membrane did not change between experimental times and was significantly higher than TCP and SIS at 7 days. Proteoglycans (PG), and fibronectin (FBN) synthesis increased when HT were cultured on GJ, between experimental times, and both PG and FBN synthesis on GJ membrane were higher than TCP and SIS at 7 days. GC determined decreases in cell proliferation, CICP and PG syntheses at 3 days of culture on TCP when compared to HT tenocytes while a decrease in WST-1 was maintained at 7 days. CICP, PG and FBN (only at 3 days) syntheses were significantly higher in GCT tenocytes cultured on GJ. The negative effects on GC on GCT tenocytes cultured on membrane were particularly evident on SIS for CICP (,18%) and FBN (,67%) synthesis. The obtained results support the conclusion that GJ is more suitable than SIS as a scaffold for in situ tissue engineering and for the in vitro bioengineering of tendons to heal massive tears of the rotator cuff tendon. © 2006 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 25:98,107, 2007 [source] ARE SPERM LIMITING IN THE SEA?JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 2000M. L. Berndt The reproductive success of marine species with external fertilization depends on environmental conditions during gamete release. There is special interest presently in whether water motion causes sperm limitation under natural conditions. We investigated gamete release of Fucus vesiculosus from an exposed shore to ascertain: 1) when gametes are released during the tidal cycle, 2) when fertilization occurs, and 3) what the natural sperm:egg ratios are. Water samples were collected and concentrated over five minutes every half hour off Pemaquid Point, ME from three replicate sites within each of two locations using a pump-filter device. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that gamete release occurred only on the two calmest spring tides. Sperm became present in the water column at the same time as oogonia (30 min,1 h prior to high tide [HT]) and reached peak concentration at exactly HT. The sperm:egg ratio was 76:1 on 8 Oct 1999 and 21:1 on 8 Nov 1999 at exactly 30 min prior to HT and dropped sharply after HT. Gametes continued to be collected for several hours after HT but analysis of pronuclear position in aceto-iron-hematoxylin stained eggs revealed that all fertilization occurred at approximately HT. We modelled the total number of days when reproduction was possible using these results and wind and wave data from the National Data Buoy Center. Our research provides evidence that gamete release by F. vesiculosus occurs at slack HT on calm days and that sperm are not a limiting factor in fertilization for this species. [source] Effects of intrathecal bupivacaine in conjunction with hypothermia on neuronal protection against transient spinal cord ischemia in ratsACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 1 2007J.-R. Lee Background:, Excitotoxic neuronal injury from ischemia may be reduced by local anesthetics. We investigated the neuroprotective effects of intrathecally administered bupivacaine and hypothermia in a rat model of transient spinal cord ischemia. Methods:, PE-10 intrathecal catheter-implanted male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of four groups: normothermia (NT) and hypothermia (HT) groups (given 15 ,l of normal saline) and bupivacaine (B) and bupivacaine,hypothermia (BHT) groups (given 15 ,l of 0.5% bupivacaine). Transient spinal cord ischemia was induced by inflation of a 2F Fogarty catheter placed in the aortic arch for 12 min. The rectal temperature was maintained at 37.0 ± 0.5 °C for the NT and B groups, and at 34.5 ± 0.5 °C for the HT and BHT groups. Motor and sensory deficit scores were assessed 2 and 24 h after reperfusion. Lumbar spinal cords were harvested for histopathology and immunoreactivity of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). Results:, After reperfusion, the motor and sensory deficit scores of the NT group were significantly higher than those of the HT (P < 0.05) and BHT (P < 0.001) groups. Significant differences were evident in the motor and sensory deficit scores between the HT and BHT groups at 24 h (P < 0.05). Neuronal cell death and immunoreactivity of HSP70 were frequently observed in the NT and BT groups, but not in the HT and BHT groups. Conclusions:, These results collectively suggest that intrathecal bupivacaine does not provide neuroprotection during normothermic transient spinal cord ischemia in rats, but enhances the neuroprotective effects of hypothermia. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||