Spin waves in nickel nanorings of large aspect ratio.

The spin dynamics of high-aspect-ratio nickel nanorings in a longitudinal magnetic field have been investigated by Brillouin spectroscopy and the results are compared with a macroscopic theory and three-dimensional micromagnetic simulations. Good agreement is found between the measured and calculated magnetic field dependence of the spin wave frequency. Simulations show that as the field decreases from saturation, the rings switch from a "bamboo" to a novel "twisted bamboo" state at a certain critical field, and predict a corresponding dip in the dependence of the spin wave frequency on the magnetic field.

Individual and combined effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor and {gamma} agonists, fenofibrate and rosiglitazone, on biomarkers of lipid and glucose metabolism in healthy nondiabetic volunteers.

This open-label, randomized, placebo-controlled, incomplete-block, 3-period crossover pilot study investigated the effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha- and gamma-agonists on biomarkers of lipid and glucose metabolism in 12 nondiabetic subjects. Plasma samples were collected before and after each 14-day treatment with placebo, fenofibrate (201 mg/d), rosiglitazone (4 mg twice daily), and combined fenofibrate (201 mg/d) plus rosiglitazone (4 mg twice daily). Except for triglycerides (P < .

Single-dose pharmacokinetics and tolerability of alendronate 35- and 70-milligram tablets in children and adolescents with osteogenesis imperfecta type I.

Context: Alendronate (ALN) is a bisphosphonate compound that can be administered orally and has potential use in pediatric osteoporotic conditions.

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and single-dose tolerability of ALN in children with osteogenesis imperfecta.

Design: ALN was administered iv and orally in a two-period, randomized crossover study, with doses separated by a 2-wk washout and follow-up carried out within 2 wk after the last ALN dose.

Full-length sucrose-formulated recombinant factor VIII for treatment of previously untreated or minimally treated young children with severe haemophilia A: results of an international clinical investigation.

The safety and efficacy of a full-length sucrose-formulated recombinant factor VIII product (rFVIII-FS; Kogenate FS; Kogenate Bayer) was evaluated in previously untreated (PUPs) and minimally treated (MTP) patients with severe haemophilia A (FVIII <2%). Patients (37 PUPs; 24 MTPs) aged 0.1-25.

Ontogeny, phylogeny, and morphology in anuran larvae: morphometric analysis of cranial development and evolution in Rana tadpoles (Anura: Ranidae).

Comparative studies of chondrocranial morphology in larval anurans are typically qualitative in nature, focusing primarily on discrete variation or gross differences in the size or shape of individual structures. Detailed data on chondrocranial allometry are currently limited to only two species, Rana sylvatica and Bufo americanus. This study uses geometric morphometric and multivariate statistical analyses to examine interspecific variation in both larval chondrocranial shape and patterns of ontogenetic allometry among six species of Rana.

Redox-active monolayers on nano-scale silicon electrodes.

Uniform arrays of nano-scale electrolyte-molecule-silicon capacitors have been successfully fabricated. This was done by a combination of reactive ion etch and a selective wet etch through an anodic aluminium oxide mask to form nano-holes in silicon oxide/silicon nitride insulator layers on silicon. Self-assembled monolayers of 4-ferrocenylbenzyl alcohol were then attached to the exposed silicon surfaces at the bottom of the nano-holes.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: a report on 29 patients treated by Mohs micrographic surgery with long-term follow-up and review of the literature.

Background: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is an uncommon tumor of the skin. Clinically, it often masquerades as a benign, indolent tumor on the trunk and extremities. Microscopically, it extends far beyond assessed clinical margins, spreading locally in the dermis, subcutaneous tissue, and muscle.

Role of the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid domain of activated factor X in the presence of calcium during inhibition by antithrombin-heparin.

Background: Factor (F)Xa has 11 gamma-carboxylated glutamic acid (Gla) residues that are involved in calcium-dependent membrane binding. The serpin antithrombin (AT) is an important physiological regulator of FXa activity in an inhibition reaction that is enhanced by heparin. Recently, Rezaie showed that calcium further enhanced the heparin-catalyzed AT inhibition of FXa by promoting 'ternary complex' formation, and these results showed a role for the gamma-carboxyl-glutamate (Gla)-domain of FXa.

Thalamic deep brain stimulation for essential tremor: relation of lead location to outcome.

Objective: Thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) is commonly used to treat essential tremor, but the optimal lead location within the thalamus has not been systematically evaluated. We examined the relation of lead location to clinical outcome in a series of essential tremor patients treated by thalamic DBS.

Methods: Fifty-seven leads in 37 patients were studied.

Development and validation of a measure of disease-specific quality of life in young children with haemophilia.

No disease-specific tool for measuring health-related quality of life (HRQL), an important outcome when assessing medical treatment, has been developed for children with haemophilia. The goal of this study was to develop a parent-administered questionnaire for evaluating quality of life (QOL) in paediatric haemophilia patients between 2 and 6 years of age. After interviewing physicians (5), nurses (5) and parents (10) of children with haemophilia aged between 2 and 6 years, 92 questions were developed and pilot-tested with parents (44) of children with haemophilia to create a 39-question instrument that assessed somatic symptoms, physical functioning, sleep disturbance, stigma, social functioning, fear/resentment, mood/behaviour, restrictions, treatment upset, haemophilia concern and energy level.

Modelling haemophilia epidemiology and treatment modalities to estimate the unconstrained factor VIII demand.

The article presents a new method for estimating the unconstrained factor VIII (FVIII) demand based on the principles of decision analysis. Epidemiology and treatment modalities were integrated into a model for unconstrained FVIII demand. Assumptions for each variable with impact on the unconstrained FVIII demand were defined and probability estimates for these variables were obtained from the literature and medical experts.

Health-related quality of life assessment in adult haemophilia patients: a systematic review and evaluation of instruments.

The objective of this study was to review and evaluate the performance of health-related quality of life (HRQL) and other health status measures used in studies of adult haemophilia and provide recommendations for future research. A systematic literature review was performed to identify HRQL and health status measures used in haemophilia. Literature was identified using medical databases, Internet and manual searches.

Sex differences in mental rotation and spatial rotation in a virtual environment.

The visuospatial ability referred to as mental rotation has been shown to produce one of the largest and most consistent sex differences, in favor of males, in the cognitive literature. The current study utilizes both a paper-and-pencil version of the mental rotations test (MRT) and a virtual environment for investigating rotational ability among 44 adult subjects. Results replicate sex differences traditionally seen on paper-and-pencil measures, while no sex effects were observed in the virtual environment.

Pharmacokinetics of etoricoxib in patients with hepatic impairment.

The effect of hepatic insufficiency on the pharmacokinetics of etoricoxib, a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2, was investigated following administration of single and multiple oral doses to mild hepatic insufficiency patients (Child-Pugh score of 5 to 6), multiple oral doses to moderate hepatic insufficiency patients (Child-Pugh score of 7 to 9), and single intravenous doses to both mild and moderate hepatic insufficiency patients. A trend of decreasing systemic clearance with increasing hepatic impairment was observed. Absorption of etoricoxib was unaffected by hepatic impairment.

An evaluation of the dose-dependent inhibition of CYP1A2 by rofecoxib using theophylline as a CYP1A2 probe.

This study was undertaken to determine whether rofecoxib can interfere with CYP1A2 activity in humans using theophylline as a probe substrate. Single oral doses of theophylline were administered to each of three panels of 12 healthy subjects receiving daily doses of rofecoxib for 7 days to examine the effect of rofecoxib administration on the absorption and disposition of theophylline. Each panel was administered doses of 12.

Loss of heterozygosity in serial plasma DNA samples during follow-up of women with breast cancer.

We evaluated the potential utility of occult circulating tumor DNA as a molecular marker of disease in subjects previously diagnosed with breast cancer. Using 24 microsatellite markers located at sites of frequent loss of heterozygosity (LOH) or allele imbalance in breast cancer, we analyzed DNA from 16 primary tumors (Stage IIA or more advanced) and 30 longitudinally collected plasma specimens. Clinical data at the time of plasma collection were obtained.

Absorption, metabolism, and excretion of etoricoxib, a potent and selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, in healthy male volunteers.

[(14)C]Etoricoxib (100 microCi/dose) was administered to six healthy male subjects (i.v., 25 mg; p.