bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of porcine small intestinal submucosa on elution characteristics of gentamicin-impregnated plaster of Paris
Authors: Seddighi Mohammad Reza , Griffon Dominique J. , Constable Peter D. , Martin-Jimenez Tomas
Published: February 2007

Objective—To evaluate effects of small intestinal submucosa (SIS) on elution properties of plaster of Paris (POP).

Sample Population—27 POP cylinders, 27 POP spheres, and 9 polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) spheres.

Procedures—Pellets were loaded with gentamicin (50 mg/g) and divided into 7 groups of 9 beads each: PMMA spheres; POP cylinders coated with 0, 4, or 8 layers of SIS; and POP spheres coated with 0, 4, or 8 layers of SIS. Gentamicin concentration was measured 6, 12, 18, 24, 32, 40, and 48 hours and 3, 4, 5, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days after wrapping. Porosity was evaluated via scanning electron microscopy. Curvature factor of elution curves, total amount of drug released (TDR), time required to reach 50% of total release (TDRt50), and number of days with concentrations ≥ 1 μg/mL were compared among groups.

Results—SIS decreased the curvature factor and increased the TDRt50 and TDR of POP spheres and cylinders. Curvature factor of the PMMA-release curve remained lower than that for any POP group, but all POP groups wrapped in SIS released more gentamicin than PMMA spheres. Gentamicin concentrations remained ≥ 1 μg/mL in SIS-wrapped POP and PMMA groups throughout the study. Wrapping POP in SIS minimized the increase in porosity of pellets.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Wrapping POP with SIS slows the release and increases the amount of gentamicin leaching from spheres and cylinders. All groups wrapped in SIS maintained antimicrobial concentrations greater than the minimum inhibitory concentration of most pathogens.
Effect of vaccination on parvovirus antigen testing in kittens
Authors: Patterson Erin V. , Reese Michael J. , Tucker Sylvia J. , Dubovi Edward J. , Crawford P. Cynda , Levy Julie K.
Published: February 2007

Objective—To determine the frequency and duration of feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) vaccine-induced interference with fecal parvovirus diagnostic testing in cats.

Design—Prospective controlled study.

Animals—Sixty-four 8- to 10-week-old specific-pathogen–free kittens.

Procedures—Kittens were inoculated once with 1 of 8 commercial multivalent vaccines containing modified-live virus (MLV) or inactivated FPV by the SC or intranasal routes. Feces were tested for parvovirus antigen immediately prior to vaccination, then daily for 14 days with 3 tests designed for detection of canine parvovirus. Serum anti-FPV antibody titers were determined by use of hemagglutination inhibition prior to vaccination and 14 days later.

Results—All fecal parvovirus test results were negative prior to vaccination. After vaccination, 1 kitten had positive test results with test 1, 4 kittens had positive results with test 2, and 13 kittens had positive results with test 3. Only 1 kitten had positive results with all 3 tests, and only 2 of those tests were subjectively considered to have strongly positive results. At 14 days after vaccination, 31% of kittens receiving inactivated vaccines had protective FPV titers, whereas 85% of kittens receiving MLV vaccines had protective titers.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Animal shelter veterinarians should select fecal tests for parvovirus detection that have high sensitivity for FPV and low frequency of vaccine-related test interference. Positive parvovirus test results should be interpreted in light of clinical signs, vaccination history, and results of confirmatory testing. Despite the possibility of test interference, the benefit provided by universal MLV FPV vaccination of cats in high-risk environments such as shelters outweighs the impact on diagnostic test accuracy.
Anomotaenia barusi sp. nov. and A. alata (Cestoda, Dilepididae) from Charadrius dubius (Aves, Charadriiformes) in Slovakia, with comments on related species
Authors: Hanzelová Vladimíra , Macko Jozef , Macková Anna
Published: February 2007

During a re-assessment of tapeworm collections from wild birds in Slovakia, two Anomotaenia spp. were recovered from the intestine of the little ringed plover Charadrius dubius Scop., 1786. One of them is described as Anomotaenia barusi sp. nov. The new taxon is distinguished from related congeneric species by the different shape and size of the rostellar hooks, the number of testes and the morphology of male and female reproductive organs. The other species was identified as Anomotaenia alata Spassky et Konovalov, 1969. The validity of this species has formerly been questioned because of its striking morphological similarity to the type-species of the genus, A. microrhyncha (Krabbe, 1869), described from the same host, Philomachus pugnax (L.). Present data revealed differences in the number and measurements of the rostellar hooks, the size of the cirrus-sac, the armament of the cirrus and the presence or absence of setae at the polar ends of the inner egg envelope, which supported the validity of A. alata. The finding of A. alata in C. dubius from Slovakia represents a new host and geographical record.
Use of FT-NIR Spectroscopy for Bovine Colostrum Analysis
Authors: Navrátilová P. , Hadra L. , Dračková M. , Janštová B. , Vorlová L. , Pavlata L.
Published: February 2007

Fourier transformation near infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR) in combination with partial least squares (PLS) method were used to determine the content of total solids, fat, non-fatty solids, lactose and proteins in bovine colostrum. Spectra of 90 samples were measured in the reflectance mode with a transflectance cuvette in the 10000-4000 cm-1 spectral ranges with 100 scans. Calibration was performed and statistical values of correlation coefficients (R) and standard error of calibration values (SEC) were computed for total solids (0.986 and 0.919, respectively), fat (0.997 and 0.285, respectively), non-fatty solids (0.995 and 0.451, respectively), lactose (0.934 and 0.285, respectively) and protein (0.999 and 0.149, respectively). The calibration models developed were verified by cross validation. It follows from the study that FT-NIR spectroscopy can be used to determine the components of bovine colostrum.
Evaluation of the Dressing Percentage of 3-year-old Experimental Scaly Crossbreds of the Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio, Linnaeus 1758) in Relation to Sex
Authors: Buchtová H. , Svobodová Z. , Kocour M. , Velíšek J.
Published: February 2007

The aim of the present study was to compare dressing percentages, with relation to sex, of three bisexual groups of hybrid carp, i.e. Hungarian mirror carp and Northern mirror carp (M2 × M72), the hybrid line of Přerov scaly carp and Northern mirror carp (PS × M72), the hybrid line of P.erov scaly carp and Ropsha scaly carp (PS × ROP), and the pure line of P.erov scaly carp (PS) in harvest size (K3). There were practically no differences in growth variables of male and female carp between the pure line PS carp and M2 × M72 and PS × ROP hybrids. Statistically significant differences in some variables between sexes were found in the scaly hybrid line PS × M72. Females in that group had significantly higher growth rates (TL and SL by 4.08% and 4.52%, respectively; p < 0.05), and their weight variables were also higher (FW, CW and FilletWabs by 11.37%, 13.70% and 14.83%, respectively; p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). The weight of gonads of male carp from all the groups studied was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than that of ovaries of female carp (or, rather, the GSI of male carp was higher).
Prevalence and Characteristics of Campylobacter Species Isolated from Gallbladder of Slaughtered Sheep in Van (Eastern) Turkey
Authors: Ekin I. H. , Gürtürk K. , Arslan A. , Boynukara B.
Published: February 2007

To determine the prevalence of campylobacter species in gallbladder of sheep in Van, (Eastern) Turkey, a total of 220 gallbladder samples from healthy slaughtered sheep were examined bacteriologically in October 2000 and 2002. Of the 110 samples examined each year, 27 (24.6%) and 24 (21.8%) campylobacter strains were isolated, respectively. Of the 27 campylobacter strains isolated in the year 2000, 14 (51.9%) were identified as C. jejuni, 7 (25.9%) C. fetus, 3 (11.1%) C. coli and 3 (11.1%) C. lari. Similar results were obtained in the study performed in 2002, but C. lari could not be isolated. Growth and biochemical characteristics of all identified Campylobacter species with some exceptions were typical of each species. Six of 13 examined C. fetus strains grew well at both 25 °C and 42 °C in thioglycollate medium and on blood agar. C. jejuni strains differed from C. coli only by Na-hippurate hydrolysis test. Results of the present study revealed that C. jejuni is the most common campylobacter species isolated from gallbladders of sheep. The thermophilic campylobacters in significant proportions may cause contamination of carcass during slaughter and transmission of the food-borne pathogens to humans.
Radiation field optimization in photocatalytic monolith reactors for air treatment
Authors: Singh Maniraj , Salvadó‐Estivill Ignasi , Li Puma Gianluca
Published: January 2007

The tools for optimal design of photocatalytic air purifiers are still being established. In this article, the optimal design of monolith photocatalytic reactors irradiated by cylindrical UV lamps was investigated. The radiative transfer equation in dimensionless monoliths was solved by the Monte‐Carlo method to yield the radiation field in the reactor. The effect of the dimensionless design parameters, monolith aspect ratio, geometric ratios, catalyst reflectivity and number of lamps were investigated and correlated in terms of photon absorption efficiency (ϕ), uniformity of radiation distribution (η), and overall monolith photonic efficiency (Φ = η ϕ). Optimal design is achieved for aspect ratios of 2.5 and monolith‐to‐lamp‐length ratios in the range from 1 to 1.1. The largest number of lamps compatible with uniform air distribution over the monoliths should always be used. The optimal monolith‐to‐lamp‐distance ratio, βoptimum, was correlated as: [βoptimum = 1.698 (n + 1) − 0.279],where n is the number of lamps. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007
Dual‐site supported metallocene catalyst design for bimodal polyolefin synthesis
Authors: Hamilton Phillip , Song Hao , Luss Dan
Published: January 2007

The processability of various polyolefins may be enhanced by producing one having a bimodal molecular weight distribution. Such polymers can be produced by loading the reactor with a catalyst on which two different catalytic sites are impregnated. The catalysts must be loaded with a proper ratio between the two catalytic sites to produce the desired polymer. The total loading should enable a maximum polymer production in the specified residence time while keeping the maximum transient temperature below a specified maximum, in order to avoid local melting and sheet formation. A model is presented that enables this catalyst design based on kinetic information about the initiation, propagation, and deactivation reaction rates of the two individual catalytic sites. The model simulations provide insight about the factors affecting the maximum safe loading of the two catalytic sites. We show here how to utilize kinetic information about each of the two catalytic sites to predict the optimum loading of dual‐site metallocene catalysts. As the maximum temporal temperature occurs during the initial stages of the reaction, the site that leads to a faster generation of a temperature peak, exerts a stronger bound on the total polymer production than the second site. The larger the propagation and/or the initiation rate constants or their activation energies are, the lower should be the catalyst loading. The deactivation rate constants affect both the relative site loading of the two sites as well as the total production. The total polymer production can be increased by decreasing the deactivation rate of the more active site. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007
Drying and film formation of industrial waterborne latices
Authors: Ludwig I. , Schabel W. , Kind M. , Castaing J.‐C. , Ferlin P.
Published: January 2007

Experimental evidence is given for the mechanism of film formation from industrial waterborne latices using Inverse‐Micro‐Raman‐Spectroscopy (IMRS). In the vertical direction of the film drying is gas‐side controlled, indicated by uniform water concentration profiles. In the horizontal direction inhomogeneous drying resulting from a horizontal mass flux toward the edge of the film and the formation of a drying front are observed. The completeness of film formation is tested by so‐called IMRS redispersion experiments. For hard latices (Texperiment ≃ Tmff) particle deformation is incomplete and the final coating—although transparent and optically clear—is a porous structure with a network of surfactant material located at the particle interfaces. The use of a film‐forming aid lowers the polymer's minimum film formation temperature (Tmff) and facilitates particle deformation and polymer interdiffusion. The result is a nonporous film structure where individual particles and a network of surfactant material are no longer observed. IMRS redispersion experiments are compared with pictures of the final coating surface obtained from atomic force microscopy (AFM). © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007
Branchio‐oto‐renal syndrome
Authors: Kochhar Amit , Fischer Stephanie M. , Kimberling William J. , Smith Richard J.H.
Published: January 2007

Branchio‐oto‐renal syndrome, a phenotype consisting of hearing loss, auricular malformations, branchial arch remnants, and renal anomalies is now recognized as one of the more common forms of autosomal dominant syndromic hearing impairment. Three loci known to be associated with the BOR phenotype have been identified and two genes that act in a regulatory network have been cloned, EYA1 and SIX1. EYA1 and SIX1 are homologous to genes involved in Drosophila eye development, eyes absent gene (eya), and sine oculis (so), respectively. EYA1, a transcriptional co‐activator has a conserved, 271‐amino acid, C‐terminal known as the Eya Domain (ED). SIX1 has two highly conserved domains; a homeodomain (HD) and a specific Six‐domain (SD) whose products function as transcription factors with specific DNA‐binding activity that are crucial for protein–protein interaction. To determine the molecular basis for the organ defects that occur in BOR syndrome, many studies have focused on the effects of mutations to EYA and effects of mutations of the EYA‐SIX regulatory system. However, over 60% of BOR syndrome patients do not have known mutations in EYA1 and relatively little is known about mutations to SIX1. Further evaluation of SIX1 and its related target genes may provide a better understanding of the pathophysiology of BOR syndrome and offer greater clues to the disease mechanisms. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Selective desorption of carbon dioxide from sewage sludge for in situ methane enrichment—Part II: modelling and evaluation of experiments
Authors: Lindberg Anna , Rasmuson Åke C.
Published: January 2007

In situ methane enrichment in anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge has been investigated by experiments and by modelling. Sludge from a full scale digester was fed to a pilot scale bubble column having 0.3 m diameter for preferential desorption of carbon dioxide. In this second part, a model describing the steady‐state performance of the bubble column for desorption of carbon dioxide and methane has been developed. The column is assumed to operate in the homogeneous flow regime, and with respect to carbon dioxide and methane both phases are described by the axial dispersion model. The model treats the chemical reaction equilibrium between carbon dioxide and bicarbonate as being slow and the bicarbonate concentration as being constant. The model is correlated to previously reported experimental results to determine the liquid side mass transfer coefficient in each experiment. A simple power law model is used to correlate the mass transfer coefficient to the gas flow rate. In general, the model allows for a reasonable qualitative description of the behaviour of the bubble column performance but the quantitative agreement with experimental results is not satisfactory. It is believed, though that the main problem is actually not in the model but is related to experimental uncertainties concerning inlet concentrations of liquid phase methane and bicarbonate. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007; 97: 1039–1052. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prolonged cell‐free protein synthesis using dual energy sources: Combined use of creatine phosphate and glucose for the efficient supply of ATP and retarded accumulation of phosphate
Authors: Kim Tae‐Wan , Oh In‐Seok , Keum Jung‐Won , Kwon Yong‐Chan , Byun Ju‐Young , Lee Kyung‐Ho , Choi Cha‐Yong , Kim Dong‐Myung
Published: January 2007

The accumulation of inorganic phosphate inhibits protein synthesis in cell‐free protein synthesis reactions that are energized by high‐energy‐phosphate‐containing compounds. This study developed a new scheme for supplying energy using dual energy sources to enhance the regeneration of ATP and lower the rate of phosphate accumulation. In the proposed scheme, where creatine phosphate (CP) and glucose were simultaneously used as the energy sources, the phosphate released from the CP was subsequently used in the glycolytic pathway for the utilization of the glucose, which enhanced the ATP supply and reduced the rate of inorganic phosphate accumulation. When tested against different proteins, the developed method produced 2–3 times more protein than the conventional ATP regeneration methods using single energy sources. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007; 97: 1510–1515. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of sulfide on nitrate reduction in mixed methanogenic cultures
Authors: Tugtas A. Evren , Pavlostathis Spyros G.
Published: January 2007

The effect of sulfide on nitrate reduction and methanogenesis was investigated in two mixed, mesophilic (35°C) methanogenic cultures: sulfide‐free and sulfide‐acclimated (67 mg S/L total sulfide). A mixture of dextrin/peptone served as the carbon/electron donor source for the two stock cultures, as well as in all assays reported here. The sulfide‐free enriched culture was amended with both nitrate (75–350 mg N/L) and sulfide (10–100 mg S/L). Denitrification was the predominant pathway at all sulfide levels tested and methanogenesis did not recover in any of the sulfide‐ and nitrate‐amended cultures, except in the 10 mg S/L culture. Accumulation of denitrification intermediates such as NO and N2O took place, which irreversibly inhibited the methanogens and resulted in the complete cessation of methane production. In contrast, conversion of nitrate to nitrite and then to ammonia via dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonia (DNRA) prevented the accumulation of denitrification intermediates and led to the recovery of methanogenesis in the nitrate‐amended, sulfide‐acclimated, mixed methanogenic culture. The effect of the COD/N value on nitrate reduction was assessed with the sulfide‐acclimated, methanogenic culture at COD/N values of 10, 20, and 60. As the COD/N value increased, the fraction of nitrate reduced through DNRA also increased. The results of this study have significant implications relative to the combined anaerobic treatment of carbon‐, nitrogen‐, and/or sulfur‐bearing wastes. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;97:1448–1459. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Identification of flux regulation coefficients from elementary flux modes: A systems biology tool for analysis of metabolic networks
Authors: Nookaew Intawat , Meechai Asawin , Thammarongtham Chinae , Laoteng Kobkul , Ruanglek Vasimon , Cheevadhanarak Supapon , Nielsen Jens , Bhumiratana Sakarindr
Published: January 2007

Within a metabolic network, the elementary flux modes enables a unique description of different operations of the network. Thus, the metabolic fluxes can be specified as convex combinations of the elementary flux modes. Here, we describe an approach to identify the set of elementary flux modes that operates in a given metabolic network through the use of measurements of macroscopic fluxes, that is, fluxes in and out of the cell. Besides enabling estimation of the metabolic fluxes, the parameters of the linear combinations of the elementary flux modes provide valuable physiological information; we call these parameters flux regulation coefficients (FRCs). These coefficients indicate which enzyme subsets are important at different growth conditions. We demonstrate how FRCs can be used to map the operation of the metabolic network of the yeast Saccharomyces sp. under different growth conditions. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007; 97: 1535–1549. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Peptide tags for enhanced cellular and protein adhesion to single‐crystalline sapphire
Authors: Krauland Eric M. , Peelle Beau R. , Wittrup K. Dane , Belcher Angela M.
Published: January 2007

In order to facilitate a novel means for coupling proteins to metal oxides, peptides were identified from a dodecamer peptide yeast surface display library that bound a model metal oxide material, the C, A, and R crystalline faces of synthetic sapphire (α‐Al2O3). Seven rounds of screening yielded peptides enriched in basic amino acids compared to the naive library. While the C‐face had a high background of endogenous yeast cell binding, the A‐ and R faces displayed clear peptide‐mediated cell adhesion. Cell detachment assays showed that cell adhesion strength correlated positively with increasing basicity of expressed peptides. Cell adhesion was also shown to be sensitive to buffer ionic strength as well as incubation with soluble peptide (with half maximal inhibition of cell binding at ∼5 µM peptide). Next, dodecamer peptides cloned into yeast showed that lysine led to stronger interactions than arginine, and that charge distribution affected adhesion strength. We postulate binding to arise from peptide geometries that permit conformation alignment of the basic amino acids towards the surface so that the charged groups can undergo local electrostatic interactions with the surface oxide. Lastly, peptide K1 (‐(GK)6) was cloned onto the c‐terminus of maltose binding protein (MBP) and the resultant mutant protein showed a half‐maximal binding at ∼10−7–10−6M, which marked a ∼500‐ to 1,000‐fold binding improvement to sapphire's A‐face as compared with wild‐type MBP. Targeting proteins to metal oxide surfaces with peptide tags may provide a facile one‐step alternative coupling chemistry for the formation of protein bioassays and biosensors. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007; 97: 1009–1020. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Influence of culture medium supplementation of tobacco NT1 cell suspension cultures on the N‐glycosylation of human secreted alkaline phosphatase
Authors: Becerra‐Arteaga Alejandro , Shuler Michael L.
Published: January 2007

We report for the first time that culture conditions, specifically culture medium supplementation with nucleotide‐sugar precursors, can alter significantly the N‐linked glycosylation of a recombinant protein in plant cell culture. Human secreted alkaline phosphatase produced in tobacco NT1 cell suspension cultures was used as a model system. Plant cell cultures were supplemented with ammonia (30 mM), galactose (1 mM) and glucosamine (10 mM) to improve the extent of N‐linked glycosylation. The highest levels of cell density and active extracellular SEAP in supplemented cultures were on average 260 g/L and 0.21 U/mL, respectively, compared to 340 g/L and 0.4 U/mL in unsupplemented cultures. The glycosylation profile of SEAP produced in supplemented cultures was determined via electrospray ionization mass spectrometry with precursor ion scanning and compared to that of SEAP produced in unsupplemented cultures. In supplemented and unsupplemented cultures, two biantennary complex‐type structures terminated with one or two N‐acetylglucosamines and one paucimannosidic glycan structure comprised about 85% of the SEAP glycan pool. These three structures contained plant‐specific xylose and fucose residues and their relative abundances were affected by each supplement. High mannose structures (6–9 mannose residues) accounted for the remaining 15% glycans in all cases. The highest proportion (approximately 66%) of a single complex‐type biantennary glycan structure terminated in both antennae by N‐ acetylglucosamine was obtained with glucosamine supplementation versus only 6% in unsupplemented medium. This structure is amenable for in vitro modification to yield a more human‐like glycan and could serve as a route to plant cell culture produced therapeutic glycoproteins. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007; 97: 1585–1593. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Survival after hepatic resection in metastatic colorectal cancer
Authors: Cummings Linda C. , Payes Jonathan D. , Cooper Gregory S.
Published: January 2007

BACKGROUND.

Hepatectomy is the standard of care for patients with colorectal cancer who have isolated hepatic metastases; however, the long‐term survival benefits of hepatectomy in this population have not been characterized well outside of case series. For the current study, a population‐based database was used to compare the survival of patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer who did and did not undergo hepatectomy.

METHODS.

Patients aged ≥65 years with incident colorectal cancer who were diagnosed from 1991 to 2001 were identified from the linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)‐Medicare database. Liver metastasis diagnoses, colorectal resections, and hepatectomies were identified from hospital, outpatient, and physician‐supplier claims. Patients who did not undergo colorectal resection were excluded. Five‐year survival from the time of cancer diagnosis was determined by the Kaplan–Meier method. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate survival.

RESULTS.

Among 13,599 patients who were identified with incident colorectal cancer and liver metastases, 7673 patients (56.4%) presented with stage IV disease, and the remaining patients presented with earlier stage disease and developed subsequent metastases. Only 833 patients (6.1%) in the cohort underwent hepatic resection, and their 30‐day mortality rate was 4.3%. The 5‐year survival was 32.8% among patients who underwent hepatic resection, compared with 10.5% among patients who did not undergo hepatic resection (P < .0001), and better survival was observed in the subset of patients who presented initially with disease in stages I through III. In a Cox model, which was controlled for age, sex, race, comorbidities, and stage at presentation, lack of hepatic resection was associated with a 2.78‐fold increased risk of death.

CONCLUSIONS.

Although hepatectomy rates among patients with colorectal cancer were low, hepatic resection was associated with improved survival. Cancer 2007 © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Intraperitoneal chemotherapy in the first‐line treatment of women with stage III epithelial ovarian cancer
Authors: Elit Laurie , Oliver Thomas K. , Covens Allan , Kwon Janice , Fung Michael Fung‐Kee , Hirte Holger W. , Oza Amit M.
Published: January 2007

Because women with advanced ovarian cancer have poor outcomes, it is imperative to continue exploring for novel therapies. The opportunity for intraperitoneal treatment, especially in the subgroup of patients with minimal residual disease, in which the intraperitoneal approach may have a biologic rationale for benefit over and above the standard intravenous route, needs to be explored to the fullest extent. The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched up to January 2006 for randomized trials that compared first‐line intraperitoneal‐containing chemotherapy with first‐line intravenous chemotherapy in the treatment of women with stage III epithelial ovarian cancer. Seven randomized, controlled trials were identified, including 3 large Phase III trials and 4 smaller randomized trials. The 3 large Phase III trials detected statistically significant overall survival benefits with intraperitoneal cisplatin‐containing chemotherapy compared with intravenous chemotherapy alone. The improvements in survival were 8 months, 11 months, and 16 months, respectively. Pooled analysis from 6 of the 7 randomized trials confirmed the survival effect with intraperitoneal chemotherapy compared with intravenous chemotherapy alone (relative risk, 0.88; 95% confidence interval, 0.81–0.95). Severe adverse events and catheter‐related complications with intraperitoneal chemotherapy were significantly more common and often were dose‐limiting. The results from this review indicated that cisplatin‐containing intraperitoneal chemotherapy should be offered to patients on the basis of significant improvements in overall survival. The appropriate clinical and institutional multidisciplinary facilities are needed for the safe delivery of this treatment in optimally debulked patients. Further research is needed concerning specific aspects of the treatment, such as optimal agent, dose, and scheduling. Cancer 2007;109:692–702. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Testicular cancer mortality in the Americas, 1980–2003
Authors: Bertuccio Paola , Malvezzi Matteo , Chatenoud Liliane , Bosetti Cristina , Negri Eva , Levi Fabio , La Vecchia Carlo
Published: January 2007

BACKGROUND.

Testicular cancer is generally curable if appropriate treatment is given. Data and statistics on testicular cancer mortality over the last decades are available from the US and Canada, but are more difficult to find, in a standard and comparable format, for Central and South American countries. The objective of the study was to compare death rates and trends over the 1980–2003 period in all the American countries that provide data.

METHODS.

Overall and 20 to 44 years age‐standardized (world population) mortality rates from testicular cancer, derived from the World Health Organization (WHO) database, are presented for the most recent available calendar years in 10 American countries. Trends in mortality for selected countries of the Americas are also given over the period 1980–2003.

RESULTS.

In the early 1980s the highest testicular cancer mortality rates were observed in Chile (1.7/100,000 at all ages, 3.6/100,000 at 20–44 years) and Argentina (0.9/100,000 at all ages, 1.7/100,000 at 20–44 years), as compared with 0.4/100,000 for all ages and 0.6/100,000 at 20 to 44 years in Canada, and 0.3/100,000 for all ages and 0.7/100,000 at 20 to 44 years in the US. In 2001–2003, testicular cancer mortality had fallen to 0.2/100,000 in men aged 20 to 44 years in Canada, and to 0.4/100,000 in the US. Conversely, rates were still 1.6/100,000 in Argentina, 2.2/100,000 in Chile and 1.2/100,000 in Mexico, and were around 0.5–0.6/100,000 in most other Latin American countries that provide data.

CONCLUSIONS.

Mortality from testicular cancer in (young) men remains exceedingly high in most Latin American countries. Urgent intervention is required to provide treatment (essentially modern integrated platinum‐based chemotherapy) for this largely curable neoplasm in young men. Cancer 2007 © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Brain tumors in individuals with familial adenomatous polyposis
Authors: Attard Thomas M. , Giglio Pierre , Koppula Sireesha , Snyder Carrie , Lynch Henry T.
Published: January 2007

BACKGROUND.

Most individuals with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) harbor mutations in the APC gene on chromosome 5q21. They are at an increased risk of brain tumors, including cerebellar medulloblastoma, when compared with the general population (Brain Tumor Polyposis—BTP Type 2). Genotype‐phenotype correlations between APC gene mutations and central nervous system (CNS) tumors have, thus far not been successful. Herein the authors have pooled their registry experience in BTP type 2 with the published reports.

METHODS.

The authors analyzed their established hereditary CRC Registry for brain tumors in FAP pedigrees (56 families, 213 individuals), pooled their patients with BTP and known APC mutations with those reported thus far elsewhere, and compared the resulting mutation distribution of FAP‐BTP with the mutation distribution for APC mutations in the US.

RESULTS.

Twenty‐eight patients from 24 families were accrued, the most common brain tumor in BTP was medulloblastoma (60%) predominantly in females (12:5) under the age of 20 (mean age 14.7 SD 9.2). Other histologic subtypes included astrocytoma and ependymoma. Analysis of the pooled APC mutation data by Chi‐square test of association shows an odds ratio of 3.7 (P < .005) for all brain tumor subtypes and 13.1 (P < .001) for medulloblastoma in patients harboring segment 2 APC mutation (codons 679–1224) compared to nonsegment 2 mutation.

CONCLUSIONS.

In patients with FAP and identifiable APC gene mutation, CNS tumors, especially medulloblastoma which developed in most cases during childhood, are more common in females with FAP and APC gene mutation in codons 686–1217. Further studies are necessary to determine if this observation and the natural history of medulloblastoma in children justifies novel, aggressive, targeted screening of at—risk individuals. Cancer 2007 © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Abnormalities of epidermal growth factor receptor in lung squamous‐cell carcinomas, adenosquamous carcinomas, and large‐cell carcinomas
Authors: Ohtsuka Kouki , Ohnishi Hiroaki , Fujiwara Masachika , Kishino Tomonori , Matsushima Satsuki , Furuyashiki Go , Takei Hidefumi , Koshiishi Yoshihiko , Goya Tomoyuki , Watanabe Takashi
Published: January 2007

BACKGROUND.

Tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) gene mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene (EGFR) have proven to be clinically significant in nonsmall‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly in adenocarcinoma. However, TKD mutations together with deletion mutations in the extracellular domain of EGFR (EGFRvIII) have not been fully investigated in NSCLC except for adenocarcinoma. The present study sought to gain further insight into the significance of EGFR mutations in NSCLC by focusing on nonadenocarcinoma NSCLC.

METHODS.

EGFR TKD mutations were investigated using direct sequencing and mutation‐specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and EGFRvIII mutations were examined using reverse transcriptase‐PCR in samples from 42 NSCLC patients and 6 NSCLC cell lines excluding adenocarcinoma.

RESULTS.

EGFR TKD mutations were detected in 1 of 7 (14%) squamous‐cell carcinomas with an adenocarcinoma component and 2 of 4 (50%) adenosquamous carcinomas. In contrast, EGFR TKD mutations were not identified in 24 pure squamous‐cell carcinomas without any adenocarcinoma component, 7 large‐cell carcinomas, or 6 cell lines. EGFRvIII was detected solely in 1 of 7 large‐cell carcinomas (14%), but not in 31 squamous‐cell carcinomas, 4 adenosquamous carcinomas, or 6 cell lines.

CONCLUSIONS.

These results suggest that EGFR TKD mutations are found in NSCLCs with an adenocarcinoma element. Patients with such lesions are thus considered candidates for molecular therapies targeting EGFR. Cancer 2007 © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Sequential chemotherapy in nonsmall‐cell lung cancer
Authors: Ceribelli Anna , Pino Maria S. , Gelibter Alain J. , Milella Michele , Cecere Fabiana L. , Caterino Mauro , Facciolo Francesco , Mirri Alessandra , Cognetti Francesco
Published: January 2007

BACKGROUND.

Improving results in nonsmall‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) will require the development of new drugs and strategies to combine available agents. On the basis of data indicating the activity of docetaxel as second‐line therapy, a Phase II study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the sequential combination of chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin (P) and gemcitabine (G) followed by docetaxel (DOC) in patients with advanced NSCLC.

METHODS.

Patients with 1997 TNM stage IIIB (pleural effusion)/stage IV NSCLC, performance status (PS) of 0–1, and normal organ function were eligible. Therapy consisted of P at 75 mg/m2 on Day 1 and G 1200 mg/m2 on Days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks for 3 cycles followed, in nonprogressive patients, by DOC 30 mg/m2 every week for 6 consecutive weeks every 8 weeks for 2 cycles.

RESULTS.

Fifty‐two eligible patients were enrolled (M/F, 39/13; stage IIIB/IV, 8/44; PS 0, 73%, PS 1, 27%; median age, 58 years; range, 36–73). The overall response rate was 36.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 23–49). The median overall survival was 11 months (95% CI: 9–13); the median progression‐free survival was 6 months (95% CI: 5–7); and the 1‐ and 2‐year survivals were 48% and 25%, respectively. One‐ and 2‐year progression‐free survivals were 12% and 8%, respectively. Both phases of the treatment protocol were well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS.

P/G followed by weekly DOC is well tolerated and active as first‐line therapy for NSCLC patients and provides a feasible chemotherapeutic option in this clinical setting. Cancer 2007 © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Clinical outcome of patients with Ewing sarcoma family of tumors of bone in Japan
Authors: Obata Hideto , Ueda Takafumi , Kawai Akira , Ishii Takeshi , Ozaki Toshifumi , Abe Satoshi , Tanaka Kazuhiro , Tsuchiya Hiroyuki , Matsumine Akihiko , Yabe Hiroo
Published: January 2007

BACKGROUND.

Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT) of bone is extremely rare in Japan. The objectives of the current study were to assess the clinical outcome and prognostic factors of patients with ESFT of bone in Japan and to compare them between Euro‐American and Japanese populations.

METHODS.

The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of 243 patients who were treated for ESFT of bone in Japan between 1981 and 2003. Local therapy was surgery in 35% of patients, surgery combined with radiotherapy in 40% of patients, radiotherapy alone in 22% of patients, and no local treatment in 3% of patients. All but 3 patients received various regimens of multidrug chemotherapy.

RESULTS.

The median patient age was 16 years. The primary disease sites were the trunk in 53% of patients and the extremities in 47% of patients. Forty‐one patients had metastases at presentation. The median follow‐up was 66 months. A univariate survival analysis demonstrated that patients who had metastases at presentation, primary site in the trunk, age ≥16 years, tumor size ≥10 cm, tumor that responded poorly to induction chemotherapy, and local treatment with radiotherapy alone had a significantly worse event‐free survival (EFS). A multivariate analysis further verified that the former 3 factors were significant adverse prognostic factors. Of 201 patients with localized disease, 45 patients who received current chemotherapy regimens that included ifosfamide and etoposide had a significantly better 5‐year EFS rate (67.6%) compared with other patients.

CONCLUSIONS.

The clinical outcome of patients with localized ESFT of bone in Japan has improved markedly with the use of current chemotherapy regimens that include ifosfamide and etoposide and has become comparable to the outcomes observed in other major series of Euro‐American patients. The prognostic factors are also almost identical. Cancer 2007 © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Production of activated carbon by H3PO4 activation treatment of corncob and its performance in removing nitrobenzene from water
Authors: Sun Yong , Zhang Jin‐Ping , Yang Gang , Li Zuo‐Hu
Published: January 2007

Activated carbon was produced by fast precarbonization of corncobs in a fluidized bed followed by H3PO4 activation. The results showed that the product is essentially microporous carbon whose BET surface area and pore volume when the carbon was activated at 900°C were 1588 m2/g and 0.8163 mL/g, respectively. The experimental operating conditions were as follows: carbonizing the corncobs in the preheated fluidized‐bed at 350°C for 5 min using N2 as carrier gas; impregnating the char with H3PO4 with an impregnation ratio of 1:5 (Char/H3PO4); and activating the mixture at 900°C for 30 min in the tubular furnace. The potential usefulness of the resultant carbons for removal of nitrobenzene from water was also investigated. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog 26:78–85, 2007.
Soil properties and perceived disturbance of grasslands subjected to mechanized military training: evaluation of an index
Authors: Althoff D. P. , Althoff P. S. , Lambrecht N. D. , Gipson P. S. , Pontius J. S. , Woodford P. B.
Published: January 2007

Mechanized maneuver training impacts the landscape by creating depressions, compacting soils, producing bare ground areas, transporting seeds of invasive plants, and crushing vegetation. We measured 3 physical, 13 chemical, and 2 biological soil properties and used a disturbance index (DI) based on perceptions of soil conditions on a military installation to assess the condition of 100 × 100 m plots (1 ha): 10 in 2002 and 10 in 2004. Potential DI scores range from 0 (no appreciable evidence of disturbance) to 1 (>95 per cent of the plot disturbed). Bulk density, porosity (%), and water content (%)—all at 5·1–10·0 cm depth, and nematode family richness (NFR) were significantly, negatively correlated (Spearman coefficients, rs) with the DI of both years. The strong negative correlation (rs = −0·69 in 2002, −0·79 in 2004) of NFR with the DI appears to reflect the status of nematode diversity and, therefore, may serve as a useful, inexpensive approach to rapidly assessing grasslands subjected to mechanized military training. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Integrating local and scientific knowledge for adaptation to land degradation: Kalahari rangeland management options
Authors: Reed M. S. , Dougill A. J. , Taylor M. J.
Published: January 2007

Despite numerous assessments of the sensitivity and resilience of drylands to degradation, there has been little research into the way affected communities innovate and adapt in response to land degradation. This paper shows how local and scientific knowledge can be combined to identify rangeland management strategies to reduce or adapt to land degradation. To achieve this, we have developed and applied a four‐stage social learning approach based on stakeholder participation in three degradation ‘hotspots’ in communal rangelands of the Kalahari, Botswana. This approach aims to collate, evaluate and apply both scientific and local knowledge on rangeland degradation and management options. First, current practice and possible management options were identified from the literature. Second, a series of semi‐structured interviews with rangeland users identified local knowledge of strategies to reduce and adapt to land degradation. Third, these options were discussed and evaluated with rangeland stakeholders in focus groups held across each study region. Finally, the outputs from these focus groups were used to produce rangeland assessment guides for each region that provided management options agreed to be locally relevant by both researchers and local stakeholders. The study found that the majority of strategies reported in the literature were not suitable for use by pastoralists in the Kalahari. However, many of the strategies suggested by stakeholders could only be applied effectively under common property regimes, giving impetus to the growing literature encouraging institutional reform to strengthen common property management regimes. The research stimulated a social learning process that combined knowledge from local stakeholders (both pastoralists and extension workers) with the scientific knowledge of researchers to provide a range of management options that could help land managers reduce or adapt to land degradation. By combining participatory research with insights from scientific literature in this way, more relevant results were provided than either approach could have achieved alone. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Caregiver burden in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Martínez‐Martín Pablo , Forjaz Maria João , Frades‐Payo Belén , Rusiñol Angels Bayés , Fernández‐García José Manuel , Benito‐León Julián , Arillo Víctor Campos , Barberá Miquel Aguilar , Sordo Margarita Pondal , Catalán María José
Published: January 2007

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that imposes an important burden upon the patient's caregiver. This study aims at assessing caregiver burden (CB) and analyzing its relationship with sociodemographic, emotional, and functional factors, as well as health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). The following measures were applied to 80 patients with PD: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); the EuroQoL (for HRQoL); and PD‐specific measures (Hoehn and Yahr staging and SCOPA‐Motor ADL subscale). Patients' main caregivers completed the HADS, SF‐36, EuroQoL, and Zarit CB Inventory (ZCBI). The ZCBI was found to be a valid and reliable measure in the context of PD. There was a significant association between CB and caregivers' HRQoL (r = −0.29 to −0.64). Mental aspects of caregivers' HRQoL and burden were affected by disability and disease severity. The presence of caregivers' depression had a significant negative effect on both CB and HRQoL. The main predictors of CB were caregivers' psychological well‐being, patients' mood and clinical aspects of PD (disability and severity), and HRQoL of patients and caregivers. This study underscores the need to consider the impact of PD on caregivers' well‐being. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
High levels of CXCL8 in tracheal aspirate samples taken at birth are associated with adverse respiratory outcome only in preterm infants younger than 28 weeks gestation
Authors: De Dooy Jozef , Ieven Margareta , Stevens Wim , De Clerck Luc , Mahieu Ludo
Published: January 2007

We investigated the relation between perinatal endotracheal colonization, the associated cytokine response and respiratory outcome in ventilated preterm neonates. Between September 1999 and March 2002, a cohort of 141 neonates with a gestational age <31 weeks requiring ventilation directly after birth, were followed prospectively. All were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Antwerp, Belgium. A tracheal aspirate (TA) sample was collected soon after birth and was processed for microbiological examination, leukocyte count, and cytokine analysis (interleukines [IL] IL‐1β, IL‐6, CXCL8 (formerly called IL‐8), IL‐10, IL‐12p70 and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF‐α]). Together with the prospectively registered patient's comorbidities and severity of disease, these inflammatory parameters were analyzed in a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model with time of extubation and duration of oxygen therapy as main outcome measures. Of the 141 patients included, 31 (22%) died before discharge from the unit and 37 (26%) had a positive TA culture. Independent predictors of duration of mechanical ventilation were: gestational age <28 weeks, degree of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) at birth, significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), the SNAP‐score, and high levels of CXCL8 (>4,153 pg/ml) in TA only in neonates with a gestational age <28 weeks. Variables associated with extended duration of oxygen therapy were gestational age <28 weeks, birth weight <1,000 g, degree of RDS at birth, and duration of mechanical ventilation. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2007; 42:193–203. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.