bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Photocatalytic oxidation of methanol using silica‐titania composites in a packed‐bed reactor
Authors: M. Stokke Jennifer , Mazyck David W. , Wu C.Y. , Sheahan Rick
Published: October 2006

The processing of forest products into pulp, paper, paperboard, and other wood products results in the generation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). This work focused on the development of a photocatalytic packed‐bed reactor for the oxidation of methanol, which is the primary constituent in high volume low concentration gases emitted from pulp and paper mills. Bench‐scale studies using an annular reactor packed with silica‐titania composite (STC) pellets were conducted to maximize methanol removal and minimize the formation of byproducts, such as formaldehyde. Parameters such as STC pore size (ca. 40, 120, and 260 Å) and UV wavelength (UVA and UVC) were varied. In the dark, the STC pellets removed methanol via adsorption and had a finite adsorption capacity dependent on the surface area of the composite. When irradiated with UV light, the STC pellets adsorbed and oxidized methanol simultaneously. At the bench‐scale, 40 Å STC pellets irradiated with UVC light achieved the greatest methanol removal (ca. 90%) with minimal byproduct formation (i.e., effluent formaldehyde concentration was <1 ppmv). Based on these results, a 40 acfm pilot reactor was fabricated and achieved methanol removal rates up to 66% ± 7% with <1 ppmv formaldehyde production at steady state. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2006
Family physicians' perceptions and predictors regarding the competence of a person with Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Werner Perla
Published: October 2006

Objective

The aim of the present study was to assess family physicians' perceptions about the competence of a person with AD.

Methods

Telephone interviews were conducted with a representative sample of 395 family physicians using an experimental vignette methodology, varying in the severity of the disease. Participants were requested to rate the competence of the person described in the vignette in the areas of driving, health‐decision making, financial decisions, and the performance of instrumental activities of daily living.

Results

Results of the study showed that family physicians perceived the person described in the vignette to be highly incompetent in items involving safety issues. Only a small variety of factors were associated with these perceptions. The main factors were the severity of the disease as reflected in the vignette, participants' perceptions regarding the dangerousness and responsibility of the person with AD, and the percentage of patients aged 65 + with cognitive deterioration in the physician's practice.

Conclusion

The assessment of competence in persons with AD is a subtle and complex process. Future research is urgently needed to further explore the factors affecting the process, such as stigmatic views. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An ESR Approach to the Estimation of the Rate Constants of the Addition and Fragmentation Processes Involved in the RAFT Polymerization of Styrene
Authors: Alberti Angelo , Benaglia Massimo , Fischer Hanns , Guerra Maurizio , Laus Michele , Macciantelli Dante , Postma Almar , Sparnacci Katia
Published: October 2006

The reversible‐addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) controlled radical polymerization of such vinylic monomers as styrene (= ethenylbenzene) has gained increasing popularity in current years. While there is a general agreement on the mechanism of RAFT polymerization, there is an ongoing debate about the values of the rate constants of its key steps, i.e., the addition of the propagating radicals to the mediator and the fragmentation of the resulting spin adducts. By carrying out an ESR spectroscopic investigation of the AIBN‐initiated polymerization of styrene (AIBN = 2,2′‐azobis[2‐methylpropanenitrile]), mediated by benzyl (diethoxyphosphoryl)dithioformate (5) as RAFT agent, we were able to detect and characterize four different radical species involved in the process. By reproducing their concentration–time profiles through a kinetic model, the addition and fragmentation rate constants at 90° of the propagating radicals to and from the mediator were estimated to be ca.107 M−1 s−1 and ca. 103 s−1, respectively. The validity of the kinetic model was supported by hybrid meta DFT calculations with the BB1K functional that predicted addition‐ and fragmentation‐rate‐constant values in good agreement with those estimated from the ESR experiments.
Epoxidation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Double Bonds by Dioxirane Reagent: Regioselectivity and Lipid Supramolecular Organization
Authors: Grabovskiy Stanislav A. , Kabal'nova Natalia N. , Chatgilialoglu Chryssostomos , Ferreri Carla
Published: October 2006

The use of dimethyldioxirane (DMD) as the epoxidizing agent for polyunsaturated fatty acids was investigated. With fatty acid methyl esters, this is a convenient method for avoiding acidic conditions, using different solvents, and simplifying the isolation procedures, with less contamination due to by‐products. The reagent was also tested with free fatty acids in water. In this case, the supramolecular organization of fatty acids influenced the reaction outcome, and the epoxidation showed interesting regioselective features. The CC bonds closest to the aqueous‐micelle interface is the most favored for the interaction with dimethyldioxirane. The preferential epoxidation of linoleic acid (= (9Z,12Z)‐octadeca‐9,12‐dienoic acid) to the 9,10‐monoepoxy derivative was achieved, with a high yield and 65% regioselectivity. In case of arachidonic acid (= (5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)‐eicosa‐5,8,11,14‐tetraenoic acid) micelles, the regioselective outcome with formation of the four possible monoepoxy isomers was studied under different conditions. It resulted to be a convenient synthesis of ‘cis‐5,6‐epoxyeicosatrienoic acid’ (= 3‐[(2Z,5Z,8Z)‐tetradeca‐2,5,8‐trienyl]oxiran‐2‐butanoic acid), whereas in reverse micelles, epoxidation mostly gave ‘cis‐14,15‐epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (= (5Z,8Z,11Z)‐13‐(3‐pentyloxiran‐2‐yl)trideca‐5,8,11‐trienoic acid).
Quenching of Singlet Oxygen by Tertiary Aliphatic Amines. Structural Effects on Rates and Products
Authors: Baciocchi Enrico , Del Giacco Tiziana , Lapi Andrea
Published: October 2006

A kinetic and product study of the reaction of a series of α‐methyl‐substituted N‐methylpiperidines with thermally generated 1O2 in MeCN was carried out. It was found that as the number of α‐methyl groups (Me in α‐position relative to the N‐atom) increases, the rate of 1O2 quenching (physical plus chemical) slightly decreases. This finding shows that, with respect to the reaction rate, steric effects are much more important than electronic effects as the latter should have produced the opposite result. The opposite outcome was instead found for the chemical quenching that leads to the N‐demethylation products and N‐formyl derivatives. The same trend was observed for the ratio between N‐demethylation and formation of the N‐formyl derivatives (NH/NCHO ratio). All these results are consistent with the mechanism reported in Scheme 1 where an exciplex is first formed that by a H‐atom transfer process produces an α‐amino‐substituted C‐radical. The latter forms the product of N‐demethylation by one electron oxidation, or affords the N‐formyl derivative by radical coupling (Scheme 1). Similar results were obtained with N,N‐dimethylcyclohexanamine. However, this ‘acyclic’ amine exhibited behaviors quite distinct from those of the N‐methylpiperidines series, with respect to reaction rate, extent of chemical quenching, and NH/NCHO ratio.
Synthesis and Properties of a pH‐Insensitive Fluorescent Nitric Oxide Cheletropic Trap (FNOCT)
Authors: Hornig Frank Stefan , Korth Hans‐Gert , Rauen Ursula , de Groot Herbert , Sustmann Reiner
Published: October 2006

The synthesis and properties of the new fluorescent nitric oxide cheletropic trap (FNOCT) 14, designed for the trapping and quantification of nitric oxide (NO) production in chemical and biological systems, is described (Scheme 3). The dicarboxylic acid 14 and the corresponding bis[(acetyloxy)methyl] ester derivative 15 of the FNOCT contain a 2‐methoxy‐substituted phenanthrene group as fluorophoric unit. The fluorescence of the reduced NO adduct of this FNOCT (λexc 320 nm, λem 380 nm) is pH‐independent. Trapping experiments were carried out in aqueous buffer solution at pH 7.4 with nitric oxide being added as a bolus as well as being released from the NO donor compound MAHMA NONOate (= (1Z)‐1‐{methyl[6‐(methylammonio)hexyl]amino}diazen‐1‐ium‐1,2‐diolate), indicating a trapping efficiency of ca. 50%. In a biological application, nitric oxide was scavenged from a culture of lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated rat alveolar macrophages. Under the applied conditions, a production of 11.1 ± 1.5 nmol of NO per hour and per 105 cells was estimated.
Polarity‐Reversal‐Catalyzed Hydrostannylation Reactions: Benzeneselenol‐Mediated Homolytic Hydrostannylation of Electron‐Rich Olefins
Authors: Ford Leigh , Wille Uta , Schiesser Carl H.
Published: October 2006

Addition of 10 mol‐% of diphenyl diselenide to hydrostannylation reactions involving electron‐rich olefins results in a dramatic improvement in yield. For example, reaction of α‐{[(tert‐butyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy}styrene (1) with triphenylstannane (2a; 1.1 equiv.) in the presence of PhSeSePh and 2,2′‐azobis[2‐methylpropanenitrile] (AIBN) affords {2‐{[(tert‐butyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy}‐2‐phenylethyl}triphenylstannane (3a) in 95% yield after 2 h. This reaction presumably benefits, by the increased rate of H‐atom transfer, from the in situ generated polarity‐reversal catalyst, benzeneselenol.
Re‐formation Reaction of Cyclic Nitroxide‐Based Alkoxyamines: Steric and Polar/Stabilization Effects
Authors: Fischer Hanns , Marque Sylvain R. A. , Nesvadba Peter
Published: October 2006

In nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization, the polymerization times decrease with the increasing re‐formation rate constant of the CON bond (→ alkoxyamine) between the growing polymer chain and the nitroxide radical. The factors influencing the re‐formation rate constant are of considerable interest, but up to now, the polar/stabilization effects have not been addressed thoroughly. The combination of new data with previously reported data now showed that the re‐formation rate constant kc increases with the increasing polar character of the substituents attached to the nitroxide moiety. The polar/stabilization effects are weaker for the re‐formation than for the homolysis of the CON bond, and may be mainly attributed to the relocation of the odd electron onto the O‐atom of the NO moiety, i.e., the stabilization of the nitroxide moiety. Hence, it is possible to predict the values of kc by combining both the polar/stabilization (σI) and steric effects (E$E\rm{_{{s}}^1 }$), i.e., log(kc/M−1 s−1) = 9.86 + 0.57 ⋅ σI + 0.40 ⋅ Es.
Radical‐Mediated Three‐Component Coupling of Alkenes
Authors: Schaffner Arnaud Pierre , Sarkunam Kandhasamy , Renaud Philippe
Published: October 2006

A tandem radical process involving conjugate addition to an activated alkene followed by allylation is reported. B‐Alkylcatecholboranes, easily available via hydroboration of the corresponding alkenes, were used to generate the initial radicals. These radicals add efficiently to electrophilic alkenes such as phenyl vinyl sulfone, N‐phenylmaleimide, and dialkyl fumarate. In the last step of this one‐pot process, the radical adducts react with the allylic sulfones. The whole process can be considered as a unique and selective coupling of three different alkenes.
Initial Radical Separation after Photolysis of 2,2′‐Azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) in Solution: Modeling the Primary Cage Effect for Polar Radicals
Authors: Savitsky Anton N. , Paul Henning , Shushin Anatoly I.
Published: October 2006

There is a contradiction as to the initial spatial separation ri of the two transient 2‐cyanoprop‐2‐yl radicals (Me2$\rm{{{\dot C}}}$CN) formed by flash photolysis of 2,2′‐azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) in solvents of various viscosities. The cage effect, expressed in terms of the in‐cage termination probability of the resulting radicals, is predicted correctly by classical Langevin models assuming a decrease of ri with increasing viscosity. However, the electron‐spin polarization of the radicals escaping the primary cage clearly indicates that the initial separation distance ri is independent of the solution viscosity. This obvious discrepancy can be reconciled by accounting for the strong electric dipole moments of these radicals and the resulting inter‐radical dipoledipole interaction potential.

We propose a primary‐caging model for polar radicals in solution based on an attractive inter‐radical mean‐force potential. The model is applied to the flash photolysis of AIBN and shown to describe properly the viscosity dependence of both the in‐cage termination probability (cage effect) and the electron‐spin polarization of the escaping 2‐cyanoprop‐2‐yl radicals.
Impact of utilizing p16INK4A immunohistochemistry on estimated performance of three cervical cancer screening tests
Authors: Zhang Qi , Kuhn Louise , Denny Lynette A. , De Souza Michelle , Taylor Sylvia , Wright Thomas C.
Published: October 2006

The histopathological diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2,3 (CIN 2,3) is subjective and prone to variability. In our study, we analyzed the impact of utilizing a biomarker (p16INK4A) together with histopathology to refine the “gold standard” utilized for evaluating the performance of 3 different cervical cancer screening tests: cervical cytology, human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing and visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA). Cervical biopsies from 2 South African cervical cancer screening studies originally diagnosed by a single pathologist were reevaluated by a second pathologist and a consensus pathology diagnosis obtained. Immunohistochemical staining for p16INK4A was then performed. The estimated sensitivity of some cervical cancer screening tests was markedly impacted by the criteria utilized to define CIN 2,3. Use of routine histopathology markedly underestimated the sensitivity of both conventional cytology and HPV DNA testing compared to an improved gold standard of consensus pathology and p16INK4A positivity. In contrast, routine histopathology overestimated the sensitivity of VIA. Our results demonstrate that refining the diagnosis of CIN 2,3 through the use of consensus pathology and immunohistochemical staining for p16INK4A has an important impact on measurement of the performance of cervical cancer screening tests. The sensitivity of screening tests such as HPV DNA testing and conventional cytology may be underestimated when an imperfect gold standard (routine histopathology) is used. In contrast, the sensitivity of other tests, such as VIA, may be overestimated with an imperfect gold standard. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Alcoholic beverage consumption and gastric cancer risk: A prospective population‐based study in women
Authors: Larsson Susanna C. , Giovannucci Edward , Wolk Alicja
Published: October 2006

The association between alcohol consumption and risk of gastric cancer remains controversial. Moreover, prospective data on the role of alcoholic beverage type are sparse. We prospectively investigated the association between total alcohol (ethanol) intake as well as specific alcoholic beverages and risk of gastric cancer in the Swedish Mammography Cohort, a population‐based cohort of 61,433 women. Alcohol intake and other dietary exposures were assessed at baseline (1987–1990) and again in 1997 using a food‐frequency questionnaire. Incident gastric cancer cases were ascertained through the Swedish Cancer Register. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). During 966,807 person‐years of follow‐up, through June 2005, 160 incident cases of gastric cancer occurred. Total alcohol intake was not significantly associated with risk of gastric cancer. Compared with nondrinkers, the multivariate HR of gastric cancer for women with an alcohol intake of 40 g or more per week was 1.33 (95% CI, 0.79–2.25). Consumption of medium‐strong/strong beer was associated with a statistically significant increased risk of gastric cancer; the multivariate HR for women who consumed more than one serving of medium‐strong/strong beer per week (median, 2.5 drinks/week) was 2.09 (95% CI, 1.11–3.93; p‐trend = 0.02) compared with no consumption. Consumption of light beer, wine, and hard liquor was not significantly associated with gastric cancer risk. Our findings suggest that constituents of beer other than alcohol may be associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cancer incidence in eastern Libya: The first report from the Benghazi Cancer Registry, 2003
Authors: El Mistiri Mufid , Verdecchia Arduino , Rashid Ivan , El Sahli Nadia , El Mangush Mohamed , Federico Massimo
Published: October 2006

Cancer registration in Northern Africa is still limited and, until now, there have been no population‐based data available for Libya. In this paper, we present the first data collected and analyzed by the Benghazi Cancer Registry. Registration was carried out by active data collection; the registry staff routinely visited all hospitals and pathological laboratories in eastern Libya (1.6 million inhabitants) and collected information from all death registration offices. A huge archive of prevalent cases was established before the 2003 data were collected. A total of 997 cases of primary cancers were registered among residents in 2003. The world age‐standardized incidence rate for all sites combined (except nonmelanoma skin) was 118 per 100,000 for men and 95 per 100,000 for women. The most frequently diagnosed malignancies in males were lung cancer (19%) and colorectal cancer (10%), followed by cancers of the head and neck (9%) and bladder (9%). Among females, they were breast cancer (26%), cancer of the colon and rectum (9%), uterus (7%) and non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (5%). Our study provides data on cancer incidence in eastern Libya, and confirms that cancer incidence is much lower than in western countries. Moreover, observed patterns indicate that the incidence of many cancers, including those of the lung, breast, colon, rectum and bladder is quite different from previous estimates based on the data available from the neighboring countries. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Aclarubicin‐loaded cationic albumin‐conjugated pegylated nanoparticle for glioma chemotherapy in rats
Authors: Lu Wei , Wan Jin , Zhang Qing , She Zhenjue , Jiang Xinguo
Published: October 2006

Traditional glioma chemotherapy with those second‐line drugs such as anthracyclines usually failed because they are inaccessible to blood–brain barrier (BBB) in tumor. In our study, we incorporated aclarubicin (ACL) into cationic albumin‐conjugated pegylated nanoparticle (CBSA‐NP–ACL) to determine its therapeutic potential of rats with intracranially implanted C6 glioma cells. When labeled with fluorescent probe, 6‐coumarin, CBSA‐NP was shown to accumulate much more in tumor mass than nanoparticle without conjugated CBSA (NP) 1 hr post intravenous injection, as well as better retention after 24 hr. Tumor drug concentration of CBSA‐NP–ACL displayed 2.6‐ and 3.3‐fold higher than that of NP–ACL and ACL solution 1 hr post injection, while 2.7 and 6.6‐fold higher after 24 hr, respectively. Moreover, using tumor microdialysis sampling, AUC0–24 hrof free drug amount in tumor interstitium delivered by CBSA‐NP–ACL was about 2.0‐ and 2.7‐fold higher than that of NP–ACL and ACL solutions, respectively. When the tumor rat model was subjected to 4 cycles of 2 mg/kg of ACL in different formulations, a significant increase of median survival time was found in the group of CBSA‐NP–ACL compared with that of saline control animals, animals treated with NP–ACL and ACL solution. By terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick‐end‐labeling, CBSA‐NP–ACL can extensively make the tumor cell apoptosis. Histochemical evaluation by periodic acid Shiff staining and biochemical analysis depicted that the incorporation of ACL into CBSA‐NP reduced its toxicity to liver, kidney and heart. Besides, CBSA‐NP–ACL was not shown to open tight junction evaluated by BBB coculture. It was concluded that CBSA‐NP–ACL could have a therapeutic potential for treatment of glioma. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cancer/testis antigen expression and specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in non small cell lung cancer
Authors: Groeper Célia , Gambazzi Franco , Zajac Paul , Bubendorf Lukas , Adamina Michel , Rosenthal Rachel , Zerkowski Hans‐Reinhard , Heberer Michael , Spagnoli Giulio C.
Published: October 2006

Non small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) express cancer/testis antigens (CTA) genes and MAGE‐A expression correlates with poor prognosis in squamous cell carcinomas. We addressed cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) responses to HLA class I restricted CTA epitopes in TIL from NSCLC in an unselected group of 33 patients consecutively undergoing surgery. Expression of MAGE‐A1, ‐A2, ‐A3, ‐A4, ‐A10, ‐A12 and NY‐ESO‐1 CTA genes was tested by quantitative RT‐PCR. Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) recognizing MAGE‐A and NY‐ESO‐1 CTA were used to detect CTA by immunohistochemistry. CD8+ TIL obtained from tumors upon culture with anti CD3 and anti CD28 mAb and IL‐2 were stimulated with autologous mature DC (mDC) and HLA‐A*0101 restricted MAGE‐A1161–169 or MAGE‐A3168–176 peptides or HLA‐A*0201 restricted MAGE‐A4230–239, MAGE‐A10254–262, NY‐ESO‐1157–165 or multi‐MAGE‐A (YLEYRQVPV) peptides or a recombinant vaccinia virus (rVV) encoding MAGE‐A and NY‐ESO‐1 HLA‐A*0201 restricted epitopes and CD80 co‐stimulatory molecule. Specificity was assessed by 51Cr release and multimer staining. At least one CTA gene was expressed in tumors from 15/33 patients. In 10 specimens, at least 4 CTA genes were concomitantly expressed. These data were largely confirmed by immunohistochemistry. TIL were expanded from 26/33 specimens and CTA‐specific CTL activity was detectable in 7/26 TIL. In 6, however, specific cytotoxicity was weak, (<40% lysis at a 50:1 E:T ratio) and multimer staining was undetectable. In one case, high (>60% lysis at 50:1 E:T ratio) MAGE‐A10254–262 specific, HLA‐A*0201 restricted response was observed. Supportive evidence was provided by corresponding multimer staining. Although CTA genes are frequently expressed in NSCLC, detection of CTL reactivity against CTA epitopes in TIL from nonimmunized NSCLC patients represents a rare event. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Association of frequent consumption of fatty fish with prostate cancer risk is modified by COX‐2 polymorphism
Authors: Hedelin Maria , Chang Ellen T. , Wiklund Fredrik , Bellocco Rino , Klint Åsa , Adolfsson Jan , Shahedi Katarina , Xu Jianfeng , Adami Hans‐Olov , Grönberg Henrik , Bälter Katarina Augustsson
Published: October 2006

Dietary intake of marine fatty acids from fish may protect against prostate cancer development. We studied this association and whether it is modified by genetic variation in cyclooxygenase (COX)‐2, a key enzyme in fatty acid metabolism and inflammation. We assessed dietary intake of fish among 1,499 incident prostate cancer cases and 1,130 population controls in Sweden. Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified and genotyped in available blood samples for 1,378 cases and 782 controls. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated by multivariate logistic regression. Multiplicative and additive interactions between fish intake and COX‐2 SNPs on prostate cancer risk were evaluated. Eating fatty fish (e.g., salmon‐type fish) once or more per week, compared to never, was associated with reduced risk of prostate cancer (OR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.43–0.76). The OR comparing the highest to the lowest quartile of marine fatty acids intake was 0.70 (95% CI: 0.51–0.97). We found a significant interaction (p< 0.001) between salmon‐type fish intake and a SNP in theCOX‐2gene (rs5275: +6365 T/C), but not with the 4 other SNPs examined. We found strong inverse associations with increasing intake of salmon‐type fish among carriers of the variant allele (OR for once per week or morevs. never = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.18–0.45;ptrend< 0.01), but no association among carriers of the more common allele. Frequent consumption of fatty fish and marine fatty acids appears to reduce the risk of prostate cancer, and this association is modified by genetic variation in theCOX‐2gene. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression of phosphoinositide‐specific phospholipase C isoenzymes in cultured astrocytes
Authors: Lo Vasco Vincenza Rita , Fabrizi Cinzia , Artico Marco , Cocco Lucio , Billi Anna Maria , Fumagalli Lorenzo , Manzoli Francesco Antonio
Published: October 2006

Signal transduction from plasma membrane to cell nucleus is a complex process depending on various components including lipid signaling molecules, in particular phosphoinositides and their related enzymes, which act at cell periphery and/or plasma membrane as well as at nuclear level. As far as the nervous system may concern the inositol lipid cycle has been hypothesized to be involved in numerous neural as well as glial functions. In this context, however, a precise panel of glial PLC isoforms has not been determined yet. In the present experiments we investigated astrocytic PLC isoforms in astrocytes obtained from foetal primary cultures of rat brain and from an established cultured (C6) rat astrocytoma cell line, two well known cell models for experimental studies on glia. Identification of PLC isoforms was achieved by using a combination of RT‐PCR and immunocytochemistry experiments. While in both cell models the most represented PI‐PLC isoforms were β4, γ1, δ4, and ε, isoforms PI‐PLC β2 and δ3 were not detected. Moreover, in primary astrocyte cultures PI‐PLC δ3 resulted well expressed in C6 cells but was absent in astrocytes. Immunocytochemistry performed with antibodies against specific PLC isoforms substantially confirmed this pattern of expression both in astrocytes and C6 glioma cells. In particular while some isoenzymes (namely isoforms β3 and β4) resulted mainly nuclear, others (isoforms δ4 and ε) were preferentially localized at cytoplasmic and plasma membrane level. J. Cell. Biochem. 100: 952–959, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cyclic nucleotide response element binding (CREB) protein activation is involved in K562 erythroleukemia cells differentiation
Authors: Di Pietro Roberta , di Giacomo Viviana , Caravatta Luciana , Sancilio Silvia , Rana Rosa Alba , Cataldi Amelia
Published: October 2006

K562 are human erythroleukemia cells inducible to differentiate into megakaryocytic or erythroid lineage by different agents. Cyclic nucleotide Response Element Binding (CREB) protein, a nuclear transcription factor which mediates c‐AMP signaling, is a potential candidate involved in the occurrence of erythroid differentiation and adaptive response. Here we investigated signaling events in K562 cells induced with 30 µM hemin to undergo erythroid differentiation. CREB activation was detected early 1 h after hemin treatment and up to 4 and 6 days of treatment, when K562 terminal differentiation occurs together with caspase‐3 maximal activation and PARP degradation. It was interesting to note that after hemin treatment in the presence of SB203580, p38 MAP kinase specific inhibitor, a reduced rate of CREB phosphorylation as well as a lower percentage of CD71/Gly+ (Glycophorin A) cells were detectable, demonstrating the p38 MAP kinase dependency of these phenomena. All in all these results document a novel relationship between CREB activation and differentiation‐related apoptotic cell death and assign a role to p38 MAP kinase pathway in determining these events in K562 erythroleukemia cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 100: 1070–1079, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rat mast cells communicate with fibroblasts via gap junction intercellular communications
Authors: Au Stephen R. , Au Katherine , Saggers Gregory C. , Karne Neel , Ehrlich H. Paul
Published: October 2006

Usually mast cells (MCs) modulate other cellular activities through the release of their cytoplasmic granules. Recently, gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) between an established human MC cell line (HMC‐1) co‐cultured with human dermal fibroblasts in fibroblast populated collagen lattices (FPCLs), enhanced the rate and degree of FPCL contraction. However, HMC‐1 cells were unable to generate GJIC with human neonatal fibroblasts in monolayer culture. Here freshly isolated rat peritoneal MCs are co‐cultured with fibroblasts in collagen lattices and in monolayer culture in vitro and introduced into rat polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) sponge implants in vivo. Co‐cultured MC‐FPCL contracted faster and to a greater degree. Loading Calcein AM green fluorescent dye into red fluorescent Dil tagged MC generates MC‐paratroopers. When MC‐paratroopers form GJIC with fibroblasts, some green dye is passed into the fibroblast, while the MC‐paratrooper retains both its red and green fluorescence. MC‐paratroopers passed green fluorescent dye into both human and rat dermal fibroblasts in monolayer culture. In rats 7‐day‐old subcutaneous PVA sponge implants, which received an injection of MC‐paratroopers, exhibited auto‐fluorescent green fibroblasts, when harvested 24 h later. MC‐paratroopers pretreated with a long‐acting GJIC inhibitor prior to their introduction into PVA sponge implants, failed to pass dye into fibroblasts. It is proposed that GJIC between granulation tissue fibroblasts and MCs can modulate some aspects of wound repair and fibrosis. J. Cell. Biochem. 100: 1170–1177, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gadd45α does not modulate the carboplatin or 5‐fluorouracil‐induced apoptosis in human papillomavirus‐positive cells
Authors: Singh Sandeep , Upadhyay Ankur Kumar , Ajay Amrendra Kumar , Bhat Manoj Kumar
Published: October 2006

Gadd45α is shown to be induced by a wide spectrum of DNA‐damaging agents and implicated in negative regulation of cell growth by causing G2‐M arrest or induction of apoptosis. In the present study, we explored the involvement of p53 in the promoter activation of Gadd45α as well as the role of Gadd45α in carboplatin (Carb) or 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU)‐induced apoptosis in human papillomavirus virus (HPV)‐positive HEp‐2 and HeLa cells. We report that Carb or 5‐FU upregulate Gadd45α and p53 in both these cells. Transient transfection of chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT)‐reporter construct driven by Gadd45α promoter clearly indicated that Gadd45α upregulation was mediated through activation of its promoter. Inhibition of p53 function by dominant‐negative‐p53 expression partially suppressed the activation of Gadd45α promoter. Further, the induction of apoptosis was assessed by detection of poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage by Western blot analysis. Inhibition of upregulated Gadd45α expression by antisense expression vector did not modulate the Carb or 5‐FU‐induced apoptosis. Overall, we conclude that Gadd45α promoter activation partially depends on p53 function in HPV‐positive cells. Moreover, Gadd45α protein does not modulate Carb or 5‐FU‐induced apoptosis in these cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 100: 1191–1199, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transcription factor Runx1 recruits the polyomavirus replication origin to replication factories
Authors: Murakami Yota , Chen Ling‐Feng , Sanechika Noriyuki , Kohzaki Hidetsugu , Ito Yoshiaki
Published: October 2006

Eukaryotic DNA replication takes place in the replication factories, where replication proteins are properly assembled to form replication forks. Thus, recruitment of DNA replication origins to the replication factories must be the key step for the regulation of DNA replication. The transcription factor Runx1 associates with the nuclear matrix, the putative substructure of DNA replication factories. An earlier report from our laboratory showed that Runx1 activates polyomavirus DNA replication, and that this requires its nuclear matrix‐binding activity. Here, we show that Runx1 activates polyomavirus DNA replication by stimulating the binding of the viral‐encoded replication initiator/helicase, large T antigen, to its replication origin. We found that newly replicated polyomavirus DNA is associated with the nuclear matrix and that large T antigen is targeted to replication factories, suggesting that polyomavirus is replicated in replication factories on the nuclear matrix. Although Runx1 did not co‐localize with large T antigen‐containing foci by itself, it co‐localized with large T antigen‐containing replication factories during Runx1‐dependent polyomavirus DNA replication. These observations together suggest that Runx1 recruits the polyomavirus replication origin to the replication factory on the nuclear matrix, and that this requires the nuclear matrix‐binding activity of Runx1. J. Cell. Biochem. 100: 1313–1323, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Signal peptide of eosinophil cationic protein upregulates transforming growth factor‐alpha expression in human cells
Authors: Chang Hao‐Teng , Kao Yu‐Lin , Wu Chia‐Mao , Fan Tan‐chi , Lai Yiu‐Kay , Huang Kai‐Ling , Chang Yuo‐Sheng , Tsai Jaw‐Ji , Chang Margaret Dah‐Tsyr
Published: October 2006

Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is a major component of eosinophil granule protein that is used as a clinical bio‐marker for asthma and allergic inflammatory diseases. Previously, it has been reported that the signal peptide of human ECP (ECPsp) inhibits the cell growth of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Pichia pastoris (P. pastoris), but not mammalian A431 cells. The inhibitory effect is due to the lack of human signal peptide peptidase (hSPP), a protease located on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, in the lower organisms. In this study, we show that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is upregulated by the exogenous ECPsp‐eGFP as a result of the increased expression of the transforming growth factor‐alpha (TGF‐α) at both transcriptional and translational levels in A431 and HL‐60 clone 15 cell lines. Furthermore, the N‐terminus of ECPsp fragment generated by the cleavage of hSPP (ECPspM1‐G17) gives rise to over threefold increase of TGF‐α protein expression, whereas another ECPsp fragment (ECPspL18‐A27) and the hSPP‐resistant ECPsp (ECPspG17L) do not show similar effect. Our results indicate that the ECPspM1‐G17 plays a crucial role in the upregulation of TGF‐α, suggesting that the ECPsp not only directs the secretion of mature ECP, but also involves in the autocrine system. J. Cell. Biochem. 100: 1266–1275, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
QTAIM n‐center delocalization indices as descriptors of aromaticity in mono and poly heterocycles
Authors: Mandado Marcos , González‐Moa María J. , Mosquera Ricardo A.
Published: October 2006

The implementation of the n‐center electron delocalization indices, n‐DIs, and n‐order electron localization indices, n‐LIs, within the framework of the quantum theory of atoms in molecules, QTAIM, is performed. n‐DIs are shown to be very useful to study the local aromaticity in monocyclic and polycyclic compounds. Total and π n‐DIs from n = 4 to 7 were computed for a series of typical 4, 5, 6, and 7‐center aromatic and antiaromatic rings. For n ≥ 5 the π n‐DI accounts for the 95% of the total n‐DI and can be employed alone to measure the aromaticity. A scaling factor on the n‐DIs is required in order to compare the aromaticity of [5c‐6e] and [6c‐6e] rings, the same correction allows to estimate the relative aromatic stabilization of polycyclic compounds using the sum of its values for individual rings. This is called Effective Scaled Electron Delocalization, ESED. The comparison with other aromaticity indices reflects a good correlation between ESED and both resonance energies, and HOMA indices. The most important differences between scaled π n‐DIs and NICS(0) indices are found for compounds that contain rings with different number of centers or π electrons. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2007
A study of precipitation variability in the Duero Basin (Iberian Peninsula)
Authors: Caramelo Liliana , Orgaz M. Dolores Manso
Published: October 2006

Spatial and temporal average behaviour of winter precipitation in the Duero basin (DB) were analysed for 1958–1993. Monthly observed data (observed data) from 34 weather stations and a subset of daily precipitation data from the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis project (reanalysis data) were used.

The spatial variability of winter precipitation was examined using principal component analysis (PCA) for both types of data. The winter precipitation fields are well represented by the first three principal components (PC), which describe 81% and 87% of the total variance for the observed and reanalysis data, respectively. The relationship between the three leading PCs and circulation patterns was also investigated. The PC1 is related to the North Atlantic Pattern (NAO), East Atlantic Pattern (EA) and Pacific North American Pattern (PNA). The PC2 is related to the East Atlantic/West Russia Pattern (EAWR), while the PC3 depends mainly on Scandinavia Pattern (SCAND) influences.

The reanalysis data were used to calculate a 10‐day period to study the intra‐annual variation (S‐mode of PCA) and the spatial distribution of those precipitation amounts during the year (T‐mode of PCA). For the intra‐annual variation of precipitation, two modes statistically significant were obtained. The first mode was characterized by a broad maximum that extended from mid October to early April, and a minimum that extended from early May to September. The second mode exhibited two maxima and a minimum. The first maximum occurred in late February and the second maximum extended from early April to June. The minimum extended from mid July to early February. For the spatial distribution of precipitation, we obtained three patterns. The ‘winter’ pattern, which showed a maximum over the western area, the ‘spring’ pattern with a maximum over the eastern area, and the ‘autumn’ with a maximum over the easternmost edge of the basin. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society.
Determination of diphenylether herbicides in water samples by solid‐phase microextraction coupled to liquid chromatography
Authors: Sheu Hong‐Li , Sung Yu‐Hsiang , Melwanki Mahaveer B. , Huang Shang‐Da
Published: October 2006

Solid‐phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to LC for the analysis of five diphenylether herbicides (aclonifen, bifenox, fluoroglycofen‐ethyl, oxyfluorfen, and lactofen) is described. Various parameters of extraction of analytes onto the fiber (such as type of fiber, extraction time and temperature, pH, impact of salt and organic solute) and desorption from the fiber in the desorption chamber prior to separation (such as type and composition of desorption solvent, desorption mode, soaking time, and flush‐out time) were studied and optimized. Four commercially available SPME fibers were studied. PDMS/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB, 60 μm) and carbowax/templated resin (CW/TPR, 50 μm) fibers were selected due to better extraction efficiencies. Repeatability (RSD, <7%), correlation coefficient (>0.994), and detection limit (0.33–1.74 and 0.22–1.94 ng/mL, respectively, for PDMS/DVB and CW/TPR) were investigated. Relative recovery (81–104% for PDMS/DVB and 83–100% for CW/TPR fiber) values have also been calculated. The developed method was successfully applied to the analysis of river water and water collected from a vegetable garden.
Determination of the interconversion energy barrier of 2,3‐pentadienedioic acid enantiomers by HPLC. 2. On‐column interconversion
Authors: Mydlová Janka , Fedurcová Andrea , Lehotay Jozef , Krupcík Jan , Májek Pavel , Armstrong Daniel W. , Lingfeng He Brian , Cotton F. Albert
Published: October 2006

In this paper, an HPLC method is used to determine the enantiomerization barrier of 2,3‐pentadienedioic acid enantiomers. The racemate of 2,3‐pentadienedioic acid was separated by HPLC on a chiral CHIROBIOTIC T column with a 90:10 (100:0.5:0.5 MeOH/HOAc/TEA)/H2O mobile phase. Peak areas of enantiomers prior to (A(+)0, A(–)0) and after the separation (A(+), A(–)), were used for calculation of the rate constants and the enantiomerization barrier, as determined by computer‐assisted peak deconvolution of the peak clusters on the chromatograms. The kinetic equation for irreversible reactions was used to determine the apparent enantiomerization rate constants and the interconversion energy barrier. The dependence of the apparent enantiomerization barrier (ΔG1app, ΔG–1app) on temperature was used to determine the apparent activation enthalpy (ΔH1app, ΔH–1app) and entropy (ΔS1app, ΔS–1app) for the interconversion of 2,3‐pentadienedioic acid enantiomers, where the coefficients 1 and –1 designate the interconversions (+) → (–) and (–) → (+), respectively.
HPLC–MS characterization of cyclo‐statherin Q‐37, a specific cyclization product of human salivary statherin generated by transglutaminase 2
Authors: Cabras Tiziana , Inzitari Rosanna , Fanali Chiara , Scarano Emanuele , Patamia Maria , Sanna Maria T. , Pisano Elisabetta , Giardina Bruno , Castagnola Massimo , Messana Irene
Published: October 2006

In the present study the analytical potential of HPLC–MS/MS was utilized for the structural characterization of a post‐translational modification of statherin. Human salivary statherin (Mav 5380.0 ± 0.3 Da) is transformed by the action of transglutaminase 2 into a cyclic derivative with an average molecular mass of 5363.0 ± 0.3 Da. The intra‐molecular bridge is generated by the loss of an ammonia molecule between the unique lone‐pair donating nucleophile Lys‐6 and one acceptor among the seven glutamine residues of statherin. Digestion of the cyclic derivative with chymotrypsin, proteinase K, and carboxypeptidase Y, monitored by HPLC–electrospray ionization‐ion trap‐mass spectrometric analysis, demonstrated that cyclization involved almost specifically Gln‐37 (>95%), with the percentage of Gln‐39 implicated in the cross‐linking being less than 5%. The main derivative was named cyclo‐statherin Q‐37. Guinea pig transglutaminase 2 showed high affinity for statherin in vitro (Km = 0.65 ± 0.06 μM). Cyclo‐statherin was detected in vivo by HPLC‐electrospray ionization ion trap‐mass spectrometry analysis of whole human saliva and it accounted for about 1% of total statherin. Detection of cyclo‐statherin in whole saliva is suggestive of a putative role of this molecule in the formation of the “oral protein pellicle”.
The effects of intense pulsed light (IPL) on blood vessels investigated by mathematical modeling
Authors: Bäumler Wolfgang , Vural Emre , Landthaler Michael , Muzzi Francesco , Shafirstein Gal
Published: October 2006

Background and Objectives

Intense pulsed light (IPL) sources have been successfully used for coagulation of blood vessels in clinical practice. However, the broadband emission of IPL hampers the clinical evaluation of optimal light parameters. We describe a mathematical model in order to visualize the thermal effects of IPL on skin vessels, which was not available, so far.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

One IPL spectrum was shifted towards the near infrared range (near IR shifted spectrum: NIRSS) and the other was heavily shifted toward the visible range (visible shifted spectrum: VSS). The broadband emission was separated in distinct wavelengths with the respective relative light intensity. For each wavelength, the light and heat diffusion equations were simultaneously solved with the finite element method. The thermal effects of all wavelengths at the given radiant exposure (15 or 30 J/cm2) were added and the temperature in the vessels of varying diameters (60, 150, 300, 500 µm) was calculated for the entire pulse duration of 30 milliseconds.

Results

VSS and NIRSS both provided homogeneous heating in the entire vessel. With the exception of the small vessels (60 µm), which showed only a moderate temperature increase, all vessels exhibited a temperature raise within the vessel sufficient for coagulation with each IPL parameter. The time interval for effective temperature raise in larger vessels (diameter >60 µm) was clearly shorter than the pulse duration. In most instances, the vessel temperature was higher for VSS when compared to NIRSS.

Conclusions

We presented a mathematical model capable of calculating the photon distribution and the thermal effects of the broadband IPL emission within cutaneous blood vessels. Lasers Surg. Med. 39:132–139, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy combined with conventional endodontic treatment to eliminate root canal biofilm infection
Authors: Garcez Aguinaldo S. , Ribeiro Martha S. , Tegos George P. , Núñez Silvia C. , Jorge Antonio O.C. , Hamblin Michael R.
Published: October 2006

Background and Objective

To compare the effectiveness of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (PDT), standard endodontic treatment and the combined treatment to eliminate bacterial biofilms present in infected root canals.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

Ten single‐rooted freshly extracted human teeth were inoculated with stable bioluminescent Gram‐negative bacteria, Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to form 3‐day biofilms in prepared root canals. Bioluminescence imaging was used to serially quantify bacterial burdens. PDT employed a conjugate between polyethylenimine and chlorin(e6) as the photosensitizer (PS) and 660‐nm diode laser light delivered into the root canal via a 200‐µ fiber, and this was compared and combined with standard endodontic treatment using mechanical debridement and antiseptic irrigation.

Results

Endodontic therapy alone reduced bacterial bioluminescence by 90% while PDT alone reduced bioluminescence by 95%. The combination reduced bioluminescence by >98%, and importantly the bacterial regrowth observed 24 hours after treatment was much less for the combination (P<0.0005) than for either single treatment.

Conclusions

Bioluminescence imaging is an efficient way to monitor endodontic therapy. Antimicrobial PDT may have a role to play in optimized endodontic therapy. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Persistent psychosocial problems in children who develop posterior fossa syndrome after medulloblastoma resection
Authors: Wolfe‐Christensen Cortney , Mullins Larry L. , Scott James G. , McNall‐Knapp René Y.
Published: October 2006

Purpose

Posterior fossa syndrome (PFS) occurs in approximately 20% of patients after resection of a tumor from the posterior fossa. Few descriptions of persistent psychosocial consequences exist. We assessed whether the development of PFS is associated with increased risk for emotional, behavioral, and social problems after the cessation of cancer treatment.

Procedures

Medical charts and neuropsychological data from 21 children (range = 6–17 years old, median = 9.8) were reviewed. All participants were survivors of childhood medulloblastoma and had been treated with surgical resection of the tumor, craniospinal radiation, +/− chemotherapy, and had comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations 1–2 years post‐treatment. Six of the 21 were diagnosed with PFS. A series of chi‐square tests were conducted to determine whether a relationship existed between PFS and clinically significant levels of emotional, behavioral, and social problems as measured by parent‐report on the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Conners' Parent Rating Scale‐93 (CPRS‐93).

Results

Children who developed PFS were significantly more likely to exhibit obsessive–compulsive type (i.e., perfectionistic) behaviors, withdrawal behaviors, social problems, and internalizing problems (all P < 0.05) than those who did not develop PFS. Additionally, children with PFS were more likely to evidence anxious–shy behaviors, attention problems, and somatic complaints, although these differences were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Results from the current preliminary study suggest that PFS may place children at increased risk for emotional, behavioral, and social problems long after completion of their cancer treatment. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;49:723–726. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.