bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GENERATING TEST PATTERNS FOR FPGA CIRCUITS: A QUANTUM COMPUTING APPROACH
Authors: SINGH AMARDEEP
Published: April 2009

This paper presents an effective test pattern generation approach for FPGA circuits by applying quantum computing algorithms. A prototypical new algorithm named QFPGA is developed utilizing the properties of quantum theory, such as quantum superposition and quantum parallelism. The effectiveness of this technique in terms of result quality, CPU requirements, fault detection and number of iterations is experimentally compared with some of the existing classical approaches, like exhaustive search, simulated annealing and genetic algorithms. The algorithm developed is so efficient that it requires only √N (N is the total number of vectors) iterations to find the desired test vector, whereas in classical computing it takes N/2 iterations. Simulation results on various benchmark circuits are also covered in this paper. The extendability of the new approach enables users to easily find the test vector from FPGA circuits and can be adapted for testing FPGA chips.
SIMULATION STUDY OF PROPAGATION OF PULSES IN OPTICAL FIBER COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS USING SOBOLEV GRADIENT AND SPLIT-STEP FOURIER METHODS
Authors: RAZA NAUMAN , SIAL SULTAN , SIDDIQI SHAHID S.
Published: April 2009

The one-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) has a wide range of applications in nonlinear optical and laser physics. The design of new optical systems requires analysis of the propagation characteristics of pulses in the fiber media. In this paper, the Sobolev gradient technique has been used for numerical solution of the NLSE. We show that gradients in a suitably chosen Sobolev space (Sobolev gradients) can be used in finite difference settings in a computationally efficient way to approximate the profile of a pulse given by the NLSE.
A NORMED G SPACE AND WEAKENED WEAK (W2) FORMULATION OF A CELL-BASED SMOOTHED POINT INTERPOLATION METHOD
Authors: LIU G. R. , ZHANG G. Y.
Published: April 2009

This paper presents a normed G1 space and a weakened weak (W2) formulation of a cell-based smoothed point interpolation method (CS-PIM) for 2D solid mechanics problems using three-node triangular cells. Displacement fields in the CS-PIM are constructed using the point interpolation method (polynomial PIM or radial PIM) and hence the shape functions possess the Kronecker delta property facilitating the easy enforcement of Dirichlet boundary conditions. The edge-based T-schemes are introduced for selecting supporting nodes for creating the PIM shape functions and an adaptive coordinate transformation (CT) technique is proposed to solve the singularity problem for the moment matrix. Smoothed strains are obtained by performing the generalized smoothing operation over each triangular background cell. Because the nodal PIM shape functions can be discontinuous, a W2 formulation of generalized smoothed Galerkin (GS-Galerkin) weak form is then used to create the discretized system equations. Numerical examples including static, free and forced vibration problems have been studied to examine the present method in terms of accuracy, convergence, efficiency and temporal stability.
The benefits of using a walking interface to navigate virtual environments
Authors: Ruddle Roy A. , Lessels Simon
Published: April 2009

Navigation is the most common interactive task performed in three-dimensional virtual environments (VEs), but it is also a task that users often find difficult. We investigated how body-based information about the translational and rotational components of movement helped participants to perform a navigational search task (finding targets hidden inside boxes in a room-sized space). When participants physically walked around the VE while viewing it on a head-mounted display (HMD), they then performed 90% of trials perfectly, comparable to participants who had performed an equivalent task in the real world during a previous study. By contrast, participants performed less than 50% of trials perfectly if they used a tethered HMD (move by physically turning but pressing a button to translate) or a desktop display (no body-based information). This is the most complex navigational task in which a real-world level of performance has been achieved in a VE. Behavioral data indicates that both translational and rotational body-based information are required to accurately update one's position during navigation, and participants who walked tended to avoid obstacles, even though collision detection was not implemented and feedback not provided. A walking interface would bring immediate benefits to a number of VE applications.
A quality-aware optimizer for information extraction
Authors: Jain Alpa , Ipeirotis Panagiotis G.
Published: April 2009

A large amount of structured information is buried in unstructured text. Information extraction systems can extract structured relations from the documents and enable sophisticated, SQL-like queries over unstructured text. Information extraction systems are not perfect and their output has imperfect precision and recall (i.e., contains spurious tuples and misses good tuples). Typically, an extraction system has a set of parameters that can be used as “knobs” to tune the system to be either precision- or recall-oriented. Furthermore, the choice of documents processed by the extraction system also affects the quality of the extracted relation. So far, estimating the output quality of an information extraction task has been an ad hoc procedure, based mainly on heuristics. In this article, we show how to use Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves to estimate the extraction quality in a statistically robust way and show how to use ROC analysis to select the extraction parameters in a principled manner. Furthermore, we present analytic models that reveal how different document retrieval strategies affect the quality of the extracted relation. Finally, we present our maximum likelihood approach for estimating, on the fly, the parameters required by our analytic models to predict the runtime and the output quality of each execution plan. Our experimental evaluation demonstrates that our optimization approach predicts accurately the output quality and selects the fastest execution plan that satisfies the output quality restrictions.
MEMMU
Authors: Bai Lan S. , Yang Lei , Dick Robert P.
Published: April 2009

Random access memory (RAM) is tightly constrained in the least expensive, lowest-power embedded systems such as sensor network nodes and portable consumer electronics. The most widely used sensor network nodes have only 4 to 10KB of RAM and do not contain memory management units (MMUs). It is difficult to implement complex applications under such tight memory constraints. Nonetheless, price and power-consumption constraints make it unlikely that increases in RAM in these systems will keep pace with the increasing memory requirements of applications.

We propose the use of automated compile-time and runtime techniques to increase the amount of usable memory in MMU-less embedded systems. The proposed techniques do not increase hardware cost, and require few or no changes to existing applications. We have developed runtime library routines and compiler transformations to control and optimize the automatic migration of application data between compressed and uncompressed memory regions, as well as a fast compression algorithm well suited to this application. These techniques were experimentally evaluated on Crossbow TelosB sensor network nodes running a number of data-collection and signal-processing applications. Our results indicate that available memory can be increased by up to 50% with less than 10% performance degradation for most benchmarks.
A novel software framework for embedded multiprocessor smart cameras
Authors: Doblander Andreas , Zoufal Andreas , Rinner Bernhard
Published: April 2009

Distributed smart cameras (DSC) are an emerging technology for a broad range of important applications including smart rooms, surveillance, entertainment, tracking, and motion analysis. By having access to many views and through cooperation among the individual cameras, these DSCs have the potential to realize many more complex and challenging applications than single-camera systems.

This article focuses on the system-level software required for efficient streaming applications on single smart cameras as well as on networks of DSCs. Embedded platforms with limited resources do not provide middleware services well known on general-purpose platforms. Our software framework supports transparent intra- and interprocessor communication while keeping the memory and computation overhead very low. The software framework is based on a publisher--subscriber architecture and provides mechanisms for dynamically loading and unloading software components as well as for graceful degradation in case of software- and hardware-related faults. The software framework has been completely implemented and tested on our embedded smart cameras consisting of an ARM-based network processor and several digital signal processors. Two case studies demonstrate the feasibility of our approach.
Cybercrime 2.0: When the Cloud Turns Dark
Authors: Provos Niels , Rajab Moheeb Abu , Mavrommatis Panayiotis
Published: April 2009

As the Web has become vital for day-to-day transactions, it has also become an attractive avenue for cybercrime. Financially motivated, the crime we see on the Web today is quite different from the more traditional network attacks. A few years ago Internet attackers relied heavily on remotely exploiting servers identified by scanning the Internet for vulnerable network services. Autonomously spreading computer worms such as Code Red and SQLSlammer were examples of such scanning attacks. Their huge scale put even the Internet at large at risk; for example, SQLSlammer generated traffic sufficient to melt down backbones.
JMT
Authors: Bertoli Marco , Casale Giuliano , Serazzi Giuseppe
Published: April 2009

We present the Java Modelling Tools (JMT) suite, an integrated framework of Java tools for performance evaluation of computer systems using queueing models. The suite offers a rich user interface that simplifies the definition of performance models by means of wizard dialogs and of a graphical design workspace.

The performance evaluation features of JMT span a wide range of state-of-the-art methodologies including discrete-event simulation, mean value analysis of product-form networks, analytical identification of bottleneck resources in multiclass environments, and workload characterization with fuzzy clustering. The discrete-event simulator supports several advanced modeling features such as finite capacity regions, load-dependent service times, bursty processes, fork-and-join nodes, and implements spectral estimation for analysis of simulative results. The suite is open-source, released under the GNU general public license (GPL), and it is available for free download at: http://jmt.sourceforge.net.
The PEPA eclipse plugin
Authors: Tribastone Mirco , Duguid Adam , Gilmore Stephen
Published: April 2009

The PEPA Eclipse Plug-in supports the creation and analysis of performance models, from small-scale Markov models to large-scale simulation studies and differential equation systems. Whichever form of analysis is used, models are expressed in a single highlevel language for quantitative modelling, Performance Evaluation Process Algebra (PEPA).
Multisensory Integration in Mesencephalic Trigeminal Neurons in Xenopus Tadpoles
Authors: Pratt Kara G. , Aizenman Carlos D.
Published: April 2009

Mesencephalic trigeminal (M-V) neurons are primary somatosensory neurons with somata located within the CNS, instead of in peripheral sensory ganglia. In amphibians, these unipolar cells are found within the optic tectum and have a single axon that runs along the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve. The axon has collaterals in the brain stem and is believed to make synaptic contact with neurons in the trigeminal motor nucleus, forming part of a sensorimotor loop. The number of M-V neurons is known to increase until metamorphosis and then decrease, suggesting that at least some M-V neurons may play a transient role during tadpole development. It is not known whether their location in the optic tectum allows them to process both visual and somatosensory information. Here we compare the anatomical and electrophysiological properties of M-V neurons in the Xenopus tadpole to principal tectal neurons. We find that, unlike principal tectal cells, M-V neurons can sustain repetitive spiking when depolarized and express a significant H-type current. M-V neurons could also be driven synaptically by visual input both in vitro and in vivo, but visual responses were smaller and longer-lasting than those seen in principal tectal neurons. We also found that the axon of M-V neurons appears to directly innervate a tentacle found in the corner of the mouth of premetamorphic tadpoles. Electrical stimulation of this transient sensory organ results in antidromic spiking in M-V neurons in the tectum. Thus M-V neurons may play an integrative multisensory role during tadpole development.
On Constructing Finite, Finitely Subadditive Outer Measures, and Submodularity
Authors: Traina Charles
Published: April 2009

Given a nonempty abstract set X, and a covering class 𝒞, and a finite, finitely subadditive outer measure ν, we construct an outer measure and investigate conditions for to be submodular. We then consider several
other set functions associated with ν and obtain conditions for equality of these
functions on the lattice generated by 𝒞. Lastly, we describe a construction of a finite, finitely subadditive outer measure given an arbitrary family of subsets, ℬ, of X and a nonnegative, finite set function τ defined on ℬ.
Dietary Modulation of Inflammation‐Induced Colorectal Cancer through PPARγ
Authors: Carter Ashlee B. , Misyak Sarah A. , Hontecillas Raquel , Bassaganya-Riera Josep
Published: April 2009

Mounting evidence suggests that the risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) is dramatically increased for patients with chronic inflammatory diseases. For instance, patients with Crohn′s Disease (CD) or Ulcerative Colitis (UC) have a 12–20% increased risk for developing CRC. Preventive strategies utilizing nontoxic natural compounds that modulate immune responses could be successful in the suppression of inflammation‐driven colorectal cancer in high‐risk groups. The increase of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ (PPAR‐γ) expression and its transcriptional activity has been identified as a target for anti‐inflammatory efforts, and the suppression of inflammation‐driven colon cancer. PPARγ down‐modulates inflammation and elicits antiproliferative and proapoptotic actions in epithelial cells. All of which may decrease the risk for inflammation‐induced CRC. This review will focus on the use of orally active, naturally occurring chemopreventive approaches against inflammation‐induced CRC that target PPARγ and therefore down‐modulate inflammation.
Selective Role for Mek1 but not Mek2 in the Induction of Epidermal Neoplasia
Authors: Scholl Florence A. , Dumesic Phillip A. , Barragan Deborah I. , Harada Kazutoshi , Charron Jean , Khavari Paul A.
Published: April 2009

The Ras/Raf/Mek/Erk mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway regulates fundamental processes in normal and malignant cells, including proliferation, differentiation, and cell survival. Mutations in this pathway have been associated with carcinogenesis and developmental disorders, making Mek1 and Mek2 prime therapeutic targets. In this study, we examined the requirement for Mek1 and Mek2 in skin neoplasia using the two-step 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene/12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (DMBA/TPA) skin carcinogenesis model. Mice lacking epidermal Mek1 protein develop fewer papillomas than both wild-type and Mek2-null mice following DMBA/TPA treatment. Mek1 knockout mice had smaller papillomas, delayed tumor onset, and half the tumor burden of wild-type mice. Loss of one Mek1 allele, however, did not affect tumor development, indicating that one Mek1 allele is sufficient for normal papilloma formation. No difference in TPA-induced hyperproliferation, inflammation, or Erk activation was observed between wild-type, conditional Mek1 knockout, and Mek2-null mice, indicating that Mek1 findings were not due to a general failure of these processes. These data show that Mek1 is important for skin tumor development and that Mek2 cannot compensate for the loss of Mek1 function in this setting. [Cancer Res 2009;69(9):3772–8]
Administration of Glucocorticoids to Ovarian Cancer Patients Is Associated with Expression of the Anti-apoptotic Genes SGK1 and MKP1/DUSP1 in Ovarian Tissues
Authors: Melhem Amal , Yamada S. Diane , Fleming Gini F. , Delgado Bertha , Brickley Deanna R. , Wu Wei , Kocherginsky Masha , Conzen Suzanne D.
Published: April 2009

Purpose: To prevent chemotherapy-related side effects, synthetic glucocorticoids, for example, dexamethasone, are routinely administered to patients with ovarian cancer. However, preclinical data implicate glucocorticoids in suppressing chemotherapy-mediated apoptosis in epithelial tumors. The anti-apoptotic mechanisms underlying this increased survival have been shown to require up-regulation of prosurvival genes, including serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) and map kinase phosphatase 1 (MKP1)/dual specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1). Despite abundant preclinical data, there are no correlative studies in patients. We therefore evaluated anti-apoptotic gene expression in tumor samples from patients randomized to dexamethasone or normal saline.

Experimental Design: Eighteen patients were randomized before exploratory laparotomy for suspected ovarian cancer. Dexamethasone or normal saline was administered i.v. following anesthesia. Ovarian and omental tumor samples were collected intra-operatively before and after infusion. Samples were analyzed for histology and glucocorticoid receptor expression by immunohistochemistry. SGK1 and MKP1/DUSP1 mRNA levels were determined using quantitative real-time PCR.

Results: Ten patients were evaluable. At 30 min postinfusion, tumor samples from five patients receiving dexamethasone revealed an average SGK1 mRNA induction of 6.1-fold (SEM, ±2.6) compared with only 1.5-fold (SEM, ±0.4) in tumor samples from five patients receiving normal saline (P = 0.028). Average MKP1/DUSP1 mRNA expression was increased by 8.2-fold (SEM, ±2.9) following dexamethasone versus 1.1-fold (SEM, ±0.4) following normal saline (P = 0.009). All samples expressed glucocorticoid receptor.

Conclusion: Glucocorticoid administration to patients is associated with rapid up-regulation of SGK1 and MKP1 expression in ovarian tumors. This finding supports the hypothesis that pharmacologic doses of glucocorticoids may decrease chemotherapy effectiveness in ovarian cancer patients through increased anti-apoptotic gene expression.
Estrous Cycle Modulates Ovarian Carcinoma Growth
Authors: Armaiz-Pena Guillermo N. , Mangala Lingegowda S. , Spannuth Whitney A. , Lin Yvonne G. , Jennings Nicholas B. , Nick Alpa M. , Langley Robert R. , Schmandt Rosemarie , Lutgendorf Susan K. , Cole Steven W. , Sood Anil K.
Published: April 2009

Purpose: The effects of reproductive hormones on ovarian cancer growth are not well understood. Here, we examined the effects of estrous cycle variation and specific reproductive hormones on ovarian cancer growth.

Experimental Design: We investigated the role of reproductive hormones in ovarian cancer growth using both in vivo and in vitro models of tumor growth.

Results: In vivo experiments using the HeyA8 and SKOV3ip1 ovarian cancer models showed that tumor cell inoculation during proestrus significantly increased tumor burden (251-273%) compared with injection during the estrus phase. Treatment of ovariectomized mice with 17β-estradiol resulted in a 404% to 483% increase in tumor growth compared with controls. Progestins had no significant effect, but did block estrogen-stimulated tumor growth. Tumors collected from mice sacrificed during proestrus showed increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and microvessel density compared with mice injected during estrus. HeyA8, SKOV3ip1, and mouse endothelial (MOEC) cells expressed estrogen receptor α and β and progesterone receptor at the protein and mRNA levels, whereas 2774 ovarian cancer cells were estrogen receptor–negative. In vitro assays showed that 17β-estradiol significantly increased ovarian cancer cell adhesion to collagen in estrogen receptor–positive, but not in estrogen receptor–negative cells. Additionally, 17β-estradiol increased the migratory potential of MOEC cells, which was abrogated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor, PD 09859. Treatment with 17β-estradiol activated MAPK in MOEC cells, but not in HeyA8 or SKOV3ip1 cells.

Conclusion: Our data suggest that estrogen may promote in vivo ovarian cancer growth, both directly and indirectly, by making the tumor microenvironment more conducive for cancer growth.
Phosphatidylinositol-3-Kinase as a Therapeutic Target in Melanoma
Authors: Aziz Saadia A. , Davies Michael , Pick Elah , Zito Christopher , Jilaveanu Lucia , Camp Robert L. , Rimm David L. , Kluger Yuval , Kluger Harriet M.
Published: April 2009

Purpose: Phosphatidylinositol-3 kinases (PI3K) are critical for malignant cellular processes including growth, proliferation, and survival, and are targets of drugs in clinical development. We assessed expression of PI3K in melanomas and nevi, and studied associations between PI3K pathway members and in vitro response to a PI3K inhibitor, LY294002.

Experimental Design: Using Automated Quantitative Analysis, we quantified expression of p85 and p110α subunits in 540 nevi and 523 melanomas. We determined the IC50 for LY294002 for 11 melanoma cell lines and, using reverse phase protein arrays, assessed the association between levels of PI3K pathway members and sensitivity to LY294002.

Results: p85 and p110α tend to be coexpressed (P < 0.0001); expression was higher in melanomas than nevi (P < 0.0001) for both subunits, and higher in metastatic than primary melanomas for p85 (P < 0.0001). Although phospho-Akt (pAkt) levels decreased in all cell lines treated with LY294002, sensitivity was variable. We found no association by t tests between baseline p85, p110α, and pAkt levels and sensitivity to LY294002, whereas pS6 Ser235 and Ser240 were lower in the more resistant cell lines (P = 0.01 and P = 0.004, respectively).

Conclusions: Expression of p85 and p110α subunits is up-regulated in melanoma, indicating that PI3K is a good drug target. Pretreatment pS6 levels correlated with sensitivity to the PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, whereas PI3K and pAkt did not, suggesting that full activation of the PI3K pathway is needed for sensitivity to PI3K inhibition. pS6 should be evaluated as a predictor of response in melanoma patients treated with PI3K inhibitors, as these drugs enter clinical trials.
Epigenetic reversal of acquired resistance to 5-fluorouracil treatment
Authors: Humeniuk Rita , Mishra Prasun J. , Bertino Joseph R. , Banerjee Debabrata
Published: April 2009

Acquired and intrinsic resistance still remains a limitation to the clinical use of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The contribution of epigenetic changes to the development of drug resistance remains to be elucidated. Several genes that are hypermethylated and silenced have been identified in colorectal cancer. Based on the findings described in the accompanying article, we hypothesized that acquired resistance to “pulse” 5-FU has an epigenetic origin and might be reversed. Here, we present a novel therapeutic approach to circumvent clinical resistance to bolus 5-FU, that is, treatment of bolus 5-FU-resistant colorectal cancer cells with low-dose 5-azadeoxycytidine (DAC), an inhibitor of DNA hypermethylation, restored sensitivity to 5-FU as well as 5-fluorouridine. Moreover, treatment of nude mice bearing a 5-FU-resistant tumor, characterized by decreased levels of UMP kinase (UMPK), with DAC overcame resistance to bolus 5-FU. DAC-mediated restoration of 5-FU sensitivity was associated with increases in UMPK levels. An increase in UMPK protein and mRNA levels following treatment with low-dose DAC was observed in cultured bolus 5-FU-resistant colorectal cancer cells (HCT-8) and in mice bearing these tumors. We conclude that DAC-mediated restoration of sensitivity to bolus 5-FU is mediated at least in part by increased UMPK levels and clinical resistance to 5-FU due to decreased UMPK in colorectal cancer may be overcome by including methylation inhibitors such as DAC. [Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(5):1045–54]
Hearing Conservation Surgery Using the Hybrid-L Electrode
Authors: Lenarz Thomas , Stöver Timo , Buechner Andreas , Lesinski-Schiedat Anke , Patrick Jim , Pesch Joerg
Published: April 2009

Patients with high-frequency deafness and/or substantial residual hearing across frequencies might benefit from combined electro-acoustic stimulation. The Hybrid-L electrode was designed to address the issues of both hearing conservation and effective electrical stimulation in those recipients. The electrode with 22 contacts should be inserted through the round window membrane, and covers approximately 270° of the basal turn of the cochlear. This insertion length is equivalent to the one seen in many patients using the former Nucleus straight electrode. Twenty-four patients with low-frequency thresholds of 60 dB or better, up to 500 Hz, were implanted with a Hybrid-L device in a clinical trial at the Medical University of Hannover. Another group of 8 recipients with less residual hearing was included under extended inclusion criteria. Residual hearing was conserved in the majority of cases. One patient had a loss of more than 30 dB, but hearing partially recovered after 9 months. The median loss in all patients was 10 dB in both the Hybrid group and the extended group. Patients were able to use the residual hearing postoperatively to the same extent as preoperatively. In the Hybrid mode (cochlear implant + ipsilateral hearing aid), patients showed a significant improvement of 21% (p = 0.002) in speech understanding in quiet using the Freiburger Monosyllabic Word Test compared to the preoperative scores under aided conditions with their hearing aid. The Oldenburg Sentence Test in noise showed a remarkable average improvement of 10.2 dB (p < 0.001) compared to the preoperative hearing aid only mode. An additional improvement could be seen in the combined mode using an additional contralateral hearing aid. Recipients with a shorter duration of high-frequency hearing loss showed a larger benefit than those with a longer duration of hearing loss. Hearing conservation using the Hybrid-L electrode and a given surgical technique is possible with high probability in patients with high-frequency deafness or pantonal hearing loss. The use of the residual acoustic hearing offers specific advantages, especially for understanding speech in noise and for spatial hearing.
Patterns of Alcohol Consumption and Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Case-Crossover Analysis
Authors: Gerlich M.G. , Krämer A. , Gmel G. , Maggiorini M. , Lüscher T.F. , Rickli H. , Kleger G.R. , Rehm J.
Published: April 2009

Background: Alcohol consumption has been causally related to the incidence of coronary heart disease, but the role of alcohol before the event has not been explored in depth. This study tested the hypothesis that heavy drinking (binge drinking) increases the risk of subsequent acute myocardial infarctions (AMI), whereas light to moderate drinking occasions decrease the risk. Methods: Case-crossover design of 250 incident AMI cases in Switzerland, with main hypotheses tested by conditional logistic regression. Results: Alcohol consumption 12 h before the event significantly increased the risk of AMI (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.4–6.9). Separately, the effects of moderate and binge drinking before the event on AMI were of similar size but did not reach significance. In addition, AMI patients showed more binge drinking than comparable control subjects from the Swiss general population. Conclusions: We found no evidence that alcohol consumption before the event had protective effects on AMI. Instead, alcohol consumption increased the risk.
A Case of Congenital Orbital Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor: Systemic Metastasis following Exenteration
Authors: Kook Koung Hoon , Park Moon Sung , Yim Hyunee , Lee Sang Yeul , Jang Jae Woo , Grossniklaus Hans E.
Published: April 2009

A newborn girl presented with massive proptosis of the right eye. Physical and radiologic examination disclosed that the primary orbital mass was confined to the site. A diagnosis of malignant rhabdoid tumor was made by histopathologic examination of an incisional biopsy specimen. Exenteration was performed, and the resection margins were free from tumor cells. However, distant metastasis developed in the liver 1 month after surgery. Despite chemotherapy, the patient died 2 months later due to tumor invasion into the central nervous system, which was confirmed by autopsy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of congenital orbital malignant rhabdoid tumor showing systemic metastasis after exenteration, which suggests the need for aggressive systemic treatment rather than exenteration, even in a case of locally confined tumor.
Large Subretinal Haemorrhage following Change from Intravitreal Bevacizumab to Ranibizumab
Authors: Karagiannis Dimitrios A. , Mitropoulos Panagiotis , Ladas Ioannis D.
Published: April 2009

Background: To report 2 cases of large subretinal haemorrhage in 2 patients with age-related macular degeneration when the intravitreal injections were changed from bevacizumab (Avastin) to ranibizumab (Lucentis). Methods: Both patients were treated initially with intravitreal bevacizumab 1.25 mg for 4 months (4 injections) and then switched to 0.5 mg ranibizumab which continued for another 6 months. Best-corrected visual acuity measurements, slit-lamp examination, contact lens biomicroscopy, optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography were performed at baseline examination and every month. Results: Both patients showed initial improvement when treated with intravitreal bevacizumab followed by deterioration and development of a large subretinal haemorrhage when changing to intravitreal ranibizumab. Conclusions: There is not enough experience switching from one anti-vascular-endothelial-growth-factor agent to another. A prospective study with large series of patients and controls may be necessary in order to determine whether it is safe enough to change from one medication to another.
Ultrasonography and Clinical Observation in Women with Suspected Acute Appendicitis: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Poortman Pieter , Oostvogel Henk , Lohle Paul , Cuesta Miguel , de Lange-de Klerk Elly , Hamming Jaap
Published: April 2009

Backgrounds/Aims: It was the aim of this study to evaluate the role of ultrasonography (US) and clinical observation in non-pregnant women of reproductive age with suspected appendicitis. Methods: In a prospective cohort study, US was performed in 234 women with suspected appendicitis. Based on US findings and clinical assessment, 3 patient categories were established. Group A: unequivocal signs – laparoscopy (regardless of US results); group B: equivocalsigns – positive US – laparoscopy; group C: equivocal signs – negative US – observation. US results were compared with surgery, observation and follow-up as the reference standard. Results: The percentages of macroscopically infected appendices at laparoscopy in groups A, B and C were 76, 55 and 5%, respectively. Group A: US was false negative in 27 of 128 women (21%) and false positive in 12 of 40 women (30%). Group B plus C: US was false negative in 3 of 9 women (33%) and false positive in 5 of 57 women (9%). Forty-six of 55 patients (84%) completed observation. Conclusion: Because of a high false-negative rate, US as a sole imaging tool is of limited value both in women with unequivocal and equivocal signs of appendicitis. Observation is safe in women with equivocal signs of appendicitis.
Preradiation Chemotherapy with ACNU-CDDP in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Han Jung Ho , Park Chul-Kee , Lee Se-Hoon , Kim Chae-Yong , Kim Dong-Wan , Paek Sun Ha , Kim Dong Gyu , Heo Dae Seog , Kim Il Han , Jung Hee-Won
Published: April 2009

Objective: We evaluated the benefit of preradiation chemotherapy with ACNU (nimustine) and CDDP (cisplatin) in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma by retrospective analysis. Methods: A total of 151 patients were newly confirmed to have glioblastoma between January 2000 and December 2004. All patients underwent surgical resection: 38 (25.2%) patients underwent complete resection, 73 (48.3%) underwent incomplete resection and 40 (26.5%) underwent biopsy. Preradiation chemotherapy using ACNU-CDDP was administered as an initial adjuvant therapy for 87 (57.6%) patients (ACNU-CDDP group), radiation therapy was performed in 31 (20.5%) patients (RT group) and the remaining 33 (21.9%) patients were treated with other regimens or refused to undergo further treatment. Results: The median survival time was 13 months (95% CI 11.29–14.71), and the overall survival rate was 54.0% at 1 year and 21.3% at 2 years. The differences in median survival time between the complete resection group and biopsy group and between the ACNU-CDDP group and RT group were significant (15.0 vs. 10 months, p = 0.028, and 16.0 vs. 12.0 months, p = 0.036, respectively) in the univariate analyses. Even in the multivariate analysis, preradiation chemotherapy using ACNU-CDDP had a significant effect on survival prolongation (HR = 0.628, p = 0.042). The usage of temozolomide for adjuvant or salvage therapy also had an independent and significantly positive effect on survival (HR = 0.511, p = 0.006). Grade 3 and 4 hematologic toxicities occurred in 28 (32.1%) patients in the ACNU-CDDP group, but there were no treatment-related deaths. Conclusion: Preradiation chemotherapy with ACNU-CDDP as an initial therapy for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma is feasible and should be assessed in a randomized phase III study.
In vitro Thrombogenicity Test of Materials Used in Arterial Prostheses
Authors: Wolf P. , Grimley R.
Published: April 2009

Coagulation rates in fresh, normal, venous blood was investigated when a given volume of blood was allowed to contact various materials of equivalent surface area, at 22 °C, without disturbance. The coagulation rate was determined indirectly by measuring residual thrombin-clottable fibrinogen in cell-free supernatants after arresting coagulation at fixed time intervals with a Ca++-chelating type of anticoagulant and comparing the thrombin-clottable fibrinogen content of the test samples with control samples of blood anticoagulated immediately after venipuncture. In glass containers, after initial formation of the clot, progressive fibrin formation, measured by the rate of disappearance of thrombinclottable fibrinogen, was found to take place as a gradual and linear progressive process not complete at 30 min after venipuncture with blood stored undisturbed at 22 °C. Various graft materials in tubular form were prepared to ensure equivalent blood surface contact. These were investigated for their influence on fibrinogen to fibrin conversion of fresh venous blood in a 15-min period at 22 °C. Fibrin formation was greatest in microvel pre-treated with clotting blood and decreased in the following order: microvel, woven Dacron, knitted dacron and Gore-tex. Gore-tex showed by far the least thrombogenicity of all the tested graft materials. We discuss our reasons for making our measurements under non-flow conditions and the reason for measuring fibrinogen to fibrin conversion rather than measuring platelet deposition on the various surfaces.
Fibrinolytic Activity in Experimental Vascular Grafts
Authors: Juhan- Vague I. , Aillaud M.F. , Juhan C. , Kadji H. , Choux R. , Barrat E.
Published: April 2009

The effects of grafting segments of femoral vein in the dog have been studied. The venous segments, either reversed or left in situ, were interposed in the course of the femoral artery; these ‘arterialized grafts’ were compared with a segment of vein grafted into the venous stream, with normal femoral artery and vein. Histological changes and alterations in fibrinolytic activity were studied after 15, 30 and 90 days. The two types of arterialized venous graft showed similar aspects: normal endothelium (scanning electron microscopy and F VIII immunofiuorescence), marked thickening of the smooth muscle cell layer, disappearance of intimal fibrinolytic activity (Todd’s technique, quantified by morphometric analysis), associated with a marked increase of antiplasmin activity (Noordhoek Hegt’s technique), increase in the activity of vascular plasminogen activator (measured with chromogenic substrates). The venous grafts in the venous stream showed no changes compared to the normal femoral vein. The proliferation of smooth muscle cells following exposure of a segment of vein to arterial conditions appears to be associated with increased synthesis of both an inhibitor of fibrinolysis (antiplasmin), and of vascular plasminogen activator. The contribution of these two factors to the development of the morphological changes in the vessel requires further study.
Evaluation of a Coagulation Assay Determining the Activity State of Factor VII in Plasma
Authors: van Deijk W.A. , van Dam-Mieras M.C.E. , Muller A.D. , Hemker H.C.
Published: April 2009

A coagulation assay is described that allows the measurement of the degree of activation of factor VII in circulating blood. The test is based on the use of both bovine and human brain thromboplastin, together with an artificial factor VII-deficient plasma. The latter can be prepared on a relatively large scale which makes it possible to measure factor VII activation in large series of patients. The determination of factor VII activation during incubation at 4 °C of plasma of women using oral contraceptives shows that the test described adequately measures factor VII activation. Differences in the time course of factor VII activation during this incubation in glass and plastic containers are found and implicate that rigorous standardization of blood sampling and test conditions is necessary. A possible mechanism that causes this critical dependence upon the test conditions is discussed.
Antithrombin III and Factor Xa Inhibitor in Atherosclerosis
Authors: Marra R. , Pagano L. , De Stefano V. , Bizzi B.
Published: April 2009

75 patients with atherosclerosis divided into five disease groups (previous myocardial infarction and cerebral thrombosis, angina pectoris, transient ischemic attacks, arteriosclerosis obliterans) were studied and compared to 20 healthy subjects. Antithrombin III (AT III) concentration was determined by single radial immunodiffusion; AT III and factor Xa-inhibitor (Xa-I) activities were measured by amidolytic methods. No significant difference was found in any group of patients as compared to normal controls by all the methods. A positive correlation was found between AT III concentration and AT III activity, AT III concentration and Xa-I activity, AT III activity and Xa-I activity. Results are discussed in relation to the literature data.
Fibrinopeptide A, Beta-Thromboglobulin, and Fibrin Degradation Products as Screening Test for the Diagnosis of Deep Vein Thrombosis
Authors: Wojciechowski Josef , Olausson May , Korsan-Bengtsen Kristoffer
Published: April 2009

In a group of 111 consecutive patients (mean age 65 years) with suspected deep venous thrombosis (DVT) phlebography demonstrated DVT in 51. In all patients blood tests for fibrinopeptide A (FPA), fibrin degradation products (FDP) and beta-thromboglobulin (beta-Tg) were carried out. There was a significant difference in FPA concentration between the group of patients with a positive and a negative phlebography. However, there was a wide variation of individual values in both groups. The difference in FPA concentration between the groups was not related to differences in predisposing diseases, age or sex. FDP and beta-Tg did not differ between the groups and, again, a wide variation of individual values was found in both groups. In our hands, none of these three methods reflecting activities in the hemostasis seems to be useful to diagnose DVT in clinical routine work.
Bleeding in Cirrhotic Patients: A Precipitating Factor due to Intravascular Coagulation or to Hepatic Failure?
Authors: Bertaglia E. , Belmonte P. , Vertolli U. , Azzurro M. , Martines D.
Published: April 2009

In 24 cirrhotic patients at different stages of hepatic failure, factor VIII: C (F VIIl·C), factor VIΠR:AG (F VIIIR:AG), factor VIII AG/C ratio (F VIII AG/C), and serum fibrin-fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) were investigated. In 11 of the 24 patients, several instances of gastrointestinal bleeding due to esophageal varices rupture were documented and 5 patients died of unarrestable bleeding. In our study, we evaluated whether the cause of bleeding was the development of intravascular coagulation or the severity of hepatic failure. A statistically significant difference between F VIIl·C, F VIIIR:AG/C ratio, and serum FDP was found in bleeding in comparison with non-bleeding patients. An inverse correlation between the F VIII :C plasma level and serum FDP as well as a direct correlation between F VIII AG/C ratio and serum FDP in the group of bleeding patients were also found. These data seem to suggest a hypercoagulable state which was more significant in the 5 patients who died owing to bleeding. Furthermore, only 1 of these patients had severe hepatic failure. From this study it appears that, in cirrhotic patients, bleeding is related more to the appearance of disseminated intravascular coagulation, as a consequence of both hemodynamic and endothelial changes, than to the degree of hepatic failure itself.
Green Tea (–)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Reduces Body Weight with Regulation of Multiple Genes Expression in Adipose Tissue of Diet-Induced Obese Mice
Authors: Lee Mak-Soon , Kim Chong-Tai , Kim Yangha
Published: April 2009

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the antiobesity effect of (–)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in diet-induced obese mice. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were fed on a high-fat diet for 8 weeks to induce obesity. Subsequently they were divided into 3 groups and were maintained on a high-fat control diet or high-fat diets supplemented with 0.2 or 0.5% EGCG (w/w) for a further 8 weeks. Changes in the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism and fatty acid oxidation were analyzed in white adipose tissue, together with biometric and blood parameters. Results: Experimental diets supplemented with EGCG resulted in reduction of body weight and mass of various adipose tissues in a dose-dependent manner. EGCG diet also considerably lowered the levels of plasma triglyceride and liver lipid. In the epididymal white adipose tissue of EGCG diet-fed mice, the mRNA levels of adipogenic genes such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), CCAAT enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBP-α), regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (aP2), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were significantly decreased. However, the mRNA levels of carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 (CPT-1) and uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), as well as lipolytic genes such as hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), were significantly increased. Conclusion: These results suggest that green tea EGCG effectively reduces adipose tissue mass and ameliorates plasma lipid profiles in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. These effects might be at least partially mediated via regulation of the expression of multiple genes involved in adipogenesis, lipolysis, β-oxidation and thermogenesis in white adipose tissue.
Studies on PIVKA VII
Authors: Mariani G. , Mazzucconi M.G. , Solinas S. , Avvisati G. , Chistolini A. , Moretti T.
Published: April 2009

In 30 subjects on stabilized oral anticoagulant treatment, factor VII activity (VII:C) and factor VII antigen (VIl·Ag) were evaluated. The average VII:C and VIl·Ag levels were 8.7 and 30.7, respectively. All plasma samples were treated with 1 M barium chloride: all the activity and a corresponding average amount of antigen were adsorbed by the salt. The cold-promoted activation of factor VII was found in 5/30 subjects. Corresponding amounts of VII:C and VII: Ag were also removed from the plasma of these subjects after cold activation following the addition of barium chloride. It clearly results from these studies that a portion of VIl·Ag cannot be adsorbed by barium chloride because of a reduction (or a lack) of the γ-carboxyglutamic groups. This portion of VIl·Ag can therefore be identified as Pivka VII.
Factor VIII Procoagulant Antigen Recovery Is a Dose-Related Response to Factor VIII Concentrate Infusions
Authors: Taylor Lindsay , Ekert Henry , Dean Faye
Published: April 2009

The recovery and initial half-disappearance rate of factor VIII procoagulant activity (VIIIC) and procoagulant antigen (VIIICAg) were studied in 9 haemophilia A patients following infusion of factor VIII concentrates to varying plasma VIIIC levels. While VIIIC recovery was independent of dose, the VIIICAg recovery varied in a dose-dependent fashion. The excess of VIIICAg relative to VIIIC found in the factor VIII concentrates (VIIICAg/VIIIC ratios of 1.9–3.1) was not observed in plasma samples taken after low level infusions (plasma VIIIC < 1 U/ml) but a significant excess of VIIICAg was observed in higher level infusions. The VIIICAg recovery of post-infusion plasma was not increased by treatment with phospholipase C.
Macrophage Procoagulants
Authors: Shands, Jr. Joseph W.
Published: April 2009

Monocytes and macrophages can be induced to produce tissue factor. Recent data suggest that macrophages make other products involved in the extrinsic coagulation pathway. These include vitamin K-dependent factors, factor X activators and a prothrombinase.
Induction of Macrophage Procoagulant by Products of Activated Lymphocytes
Authors: Geczy Carolyn L.
Published: April 2009

The induction of macrophage procoagulant activity by specific antigens is a close in vitro correlate of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions and provides a quantitative and sensitive measure of cell-mediated immune responses. The reaction is mediated by lymphokines from activated T lymphocytes and is potentiated by bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Lymphokines directly activated procoagulant activity on some murine and human macrophage tumor cell line cells although others required the collaboration of T lymphocytes, in the presence of lymphokine, to express activity. Macrophages in different stages of differentiation may vary, therefore, in their response to lymphokines. Pharmacological agents which regulate DTH reactions also mediated either the ability of lymphocytes to produce macrophage procoagulant inducing factor or the response of macrophages to the factors. Histamine and an anticoagulant found on stimulated T lymphocytes may be important regulatory mediators of macrophage procoagulant activity in vivo.