bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Entwurf linearer Deskriptorsysteme durch Polvorgabe (Pole Assignment in Linear Descriptor Systems)
Authors: Konigorski Ulrich
Published: February 2004

Der Beitrag beschreibt einen neuen Zugang zum Entwurf linearer Deskriptorsysteme durch Polvorgabe. Bei R-steuerbaren Deskriptorsystemen ermöglicht das vorgestellte Verfahren neben der Vorgabe sämtlicher endlicher Eigenwerte auch die gezielte Verschiebung der unendlichen Eigenwerte. Die resultierende Zustandsregelung liefert daher nicht nur eine vollständige Lösung des Polvorgabeproblems bei linearen Deskriptorsystemen, sondern ermöglicht gleichzeitig auch eine stabile Indexreduktion. Nach einer geeigneten Transformation werden dazu einige der Deskriptorvariablen als zusätzliche fiktive Eingangsgrößen interpretiert, die zusammen mit den realen Stellgrößen für den Entwurf einer konstanten Zustandsrückführung herangezogen werden können. Diese Rückführung wird in Anlehnung an den Entwurf einer Verkopplungsregelung anhand eines reduzierten expliziten Zustandsraummodells entworfen, wobei die Berücksichtigung der zusätzlichen algebraischen Nebenbedingungen problemlos möglich ist.
Fission fragment angular momentum in the spontaneous fission of 244Cm
Authors: Naik H. , Singh R. J. , Iyer R. H.
Published: February 2004

Independent isomeric yield ratios (IYR) of 128Sb, 130Sb, 132Sb, 131Te, 133Te, 132I, 134I, 135Xe and 138Cs have been determined in the spontaneous fission of 244Cm using off-line gamma ray spectrometric technique. From the IYR, fragment angular momenta (J
rms) have been deduced using spin dependent statistical model analysis. It was observed that: (i) J
rms of fragments having spherical 82n shell and even-Z products are lower than the fragments away from spherical neutron shell and odd-Z products which indicates the effect of nuclear structure. (ii) The yield-weighted average angular momentum shows an inverse correlation with the elemental yield which indicate coupling between collective and intrinsic degrees of freedom. (iii) Comparison of the present data in 244Cm(SF) with similar data for 245Cm(n
th, f) shows comparable odd-even effect on fragment angular momentum in both fissioning systems inspite of higher odd-even effect on elemental yield in the former compared to latter. This may be due to the linear correlation of J
rms with deformation parameter and thus with deformation energy unlike the exponential dependence of the proton odd-even effect on intrinsic excitation energy.
Studies on the equilibrium and mechanism of Th(IV) extraction by CYANEX 272 in kerosene from nitrate medium
Authors: El-Dessouky S. I. , El-Hefny N. E. , Daoud Jacqueline A.
Published: February 2004

The extraction behavior of Th(IV) from aqueous nitrate medium by the commercial bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) phosphinic acid extractant, (CYANEX 272) in kerosene has been studied. Batch extraction investigation was firstly carried out to elucidate the stoichiometry of the extracted Th(IV) species and deduce the suitable conditions to be applied in the kinetic studies using Lewis cell technique. The extracted species was found to be [Th(OH)3A(HA)3] on the basis of slope analysis method. The different parameters affecting the extraction rate of Th(IV) as well as temperature were separately investigated, and a rate equation was deduced. The experimental results indicate that the rate of Th(IV) extraction is first order dependent on CYANEX 272 concentration, first order dependent on hydrogen ion concentration and inversely first order dependent on thorium concentration. The proposed mechanism for the extraction process is controlled by chemical reaction in the bulk phase rather than at the interface.
Strontium and cesium sorption to Snake River Plain, Idaho soil
Authors: Mincher Bruce J. , Fox Robert V. , Riddle Catherine L. , Cooper D. Graig , Groenewold Gary S.
Published: February 2004

The behavior of strontium and cesium on soil from the Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC) of the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL), located on the Snake River Plain of southern Idaho, USA, was investigated using sequential aqueous extractions and batch sorption methods over six orders of magnitude in aqueous ion concentration. Sequential extractions revealed that most Sr is retained in the operationally-defined ion exchangeable and carbonate fractions, while Cs is predominantly found in the residual fraction. Strontium sorption was reversible, while Cs was not, except at the lowest concentrations. Freundlich isotherms can describe sorption of both metals at low aqueous concentrations, but Langmuir isotherms were needed to describe Cs and Sr sorption over the entire range used in this study. Slightly higher sorption was observed for both when experiments were repeated on soil that was treated to remove carbonates.
Crystal and molecular structures of new enantiopure quinuclidines
Authors: Kania Iwona , Stadnicka Katarzyna , Oleksyn Barbara J.
Published: February 2004

X‐ray crystal structure analysis was performed on single crystals of two diastereomeric enantiopure quinuclidines, (3R,8R)‐3‐vinyl‐8‐hydroxymethyl‐quinuclidine (quincoridine, QCD) and (3R,8S)‐3‐vinyl‐8‐hydroxymethyl‐quinuclidine (quincorine, QCI) as their salts with tartaric and p‐toluenesulphonate anions, respectively. The molecules of these quinuclidine derivatives are considered here as fragments of the Cinchona alkaloids, quinidine and quinine. A comparison of the conformational features of QCD, QCI, and Cinchona alkaloids in the crystalline state shows that the molecular geometry of the title compounds is similar to that of threo‐alkaloids (e.g., R,R isomer of epicinchonine) rather than to quinidine and quinine. The packing of the molecules in both structures is dominated by intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Chirality 16:180–189, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Trans‐diaryl epoxides: Asymmetric synthesis, ring‐opening, and absolute configuration
Authors: Solladié‐Cavallo A. , Roje M. , Giraud‐Roux M. , Chen Y. , Berova N. , Sunjic V.
Published: February 2004

Anthryl‐phenyl, phenanthryl‐phenyl, and naphthyl‐phenyl trans‐epoxides (1, 2, and 3, respectively) having enantiomeric purities of 95%, 99%, and 96% were synthesized from a diastereo and enantiopure sulfonium salt derived from Eliel's oxathiane. The determination of their (1R,2R) absolute configurations was achieved by application of the CD exciton chirality method using a Zn‐porphyrin tweezer on the corresponding alcohols obtained after opening of these epoxides with LiAlH4. The R‐configuration at C2 of these epoxides, (–)‐1, (+)‐2, and (–)‐3, is consistent with our previous results concerning asymmetric synthesis of monoaryl epoxides, cyclopropanes, and aziridines. The (1S,2R)‐configuration of the cis isomer (when present) was also confirmed. Moreover, the agreement between the negative exciton chirality for conjugates of (S)‐configuration predicted by molecular modeling and the observed CD spectra helps to clarify the relative steric size of phenyl and CH2‐aryl (phenanthryl or anthryl), which is critical when the tweezer method is applied for absolute configurational assignment (phenyl = medium group; anthacenyl CH2 and phenanthryl CH2 = large group). Chirality 16:196–203, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Chiral recognition based on enantioselective interactions of propranolol enantiomers with cyclosophoraoses isolated from Rhizobium meliloti
Authors: Lee Sanghoo , Choi Youngjin , Lee Sangsan , Jeong Karpjoo , Jung Seunho
Published: February 2004

Cyclosophoraoses isolated from Rhizobium meliloti, as an NMR chiral shift agent, were used to discriminate propranolol enantiomers. Continuous variation plot made from the complex of cyclosophoraoses with propranolol showed that the diastereomeric complex had predominantly 1:1 stoichiometry through UV spectroscopic analysis. The chiral recognition of propranolol enantiomers by cyclosophoraoses was investigated through the determination of binding constant based on the 13C NMR chemical shift changes. The averaged Kobs values from the plots were 55.7 M−1 for (R)‐(+)‐propranolol and 36.6 M−1 for (S)‐(–)‐propranolol, respectively. Enantioselectivity (α = KR(+)/KS(–)) of 1.52 was then obtained. Computational calculation also revealed that (R)‐(+) propranolol was more tightly bound with cyclosophoraose than (S)‐(–)‐propranolol due to the enhanced van der Waals interaction. Chirality 16:204–210, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Children, cancer, and nutrition—A dynamic triangle in review
Authors: Sala Alessandra , Pencharz Paul , Barr Ronald D.
Published: February 2004

The overall cure rate for cancer in childhood now exceeds 70% and is projected to reach 85% by the year 2010 in industrialized countries. Therefore, major attention is being placed on reducing the side effects of therapy. However, 85% of the world's children live in developing countries, where access to adequate care often is limited and health status frequently is influenced adversely by prevalent infectious diseases and malnutrition. Despite several confounding factors (different definitions of nutritional status, the wide variety of measures used for its assessment, the selection biases by disease and stage, treatment protocols of variable dose intensity and efficacy, small sample sizes of the studies conducted in the last 20 years), it is accepted that the prevalence of malnutrition at diagnosis averages 50% in children with cancer in developing countries; whereas, in industrialized countries, it is related to the type of tumor and the extent of the disease, ranging from < 10% in patients with standard‐risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia to 50% in patients with advanced neuroblastoma. The importance of nutritional status in children with cancer is related to its possible influence on the course of the disease and survival. Some authors have described decreased tolerance of chemotherapy associated with altered metabolism of antineoplastic drugs, increased infection rates, and poor clinical outcome in malnourished children. In this article, the authors review methods of nutritional assessment and the pathogenesis of nutritional morbidity in children with cancer as well as correlations of nutritional status with diagnosis, treatment, and outcome. Cancer 2004;100:677–87. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Fertility after testicular cancer treatments
Authors: Huyghe Eric , Matsuda Tomohiro , Daudin Myriam , Chevreau Christine , Bachaud Jean‐Marc , Plante Pierre , Bujan Louis , Thonneau Patrick
Published: February 2004

BACKGROUND

Patients with testicular cancer have an excellent survival rate, and fertility is one of the main concerns of survivors. The authors investigated fertility status after treatment for testis cancer in long‐term survivors.

METHODS

Four hundred fifty‐one consecutive patients with testicular cancer (1979–1999) from health facilities in the French Midi‐Pyrenees region were enrolled. Testis tumors were classified according to the Royal Marsden Hospital Classification. Fertility status was assessed by means of a mailed, standardized questionnaire focused on reproductive events that occurred before and after treatment. Of 451 patients with germ‐cell tumors, information concerning fertility was obtained in 446 patients (98.9%). The follow‐up was at least 3 years.

RESULTS

Before they were diagnosed with testicular cancer, 91.2% of patients who had tried to get their partners pregnant had succeeded, compared with 67.1% of patients after treatment. Radiotherapy had a much more deleterious effect on fertility compared with chemotherapy alone. Furthermore, cumulative conception rates (log‐rank test) for patients who received radiotherapy were significantly lower compared with the rates for patients who received chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The outcome of this study, which included the largest series reported to date, showed that fertility in patients with testicular cancer decreased by 30% after treatments and that radiotherapy seemed to have the most deleterious effect on fertility. Cancer 2004;100:732–7. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Results of a prospective study for the treatment of retinoblastoma
Authors: Chantada Guillermo , Fandiño Adriana , Dávila María T. G. , Manzitti Julio , Raslawski Elsa , Casak Sandra , Schvartzman Enrique
Published: February 2004

BACKGROUND

The objectives of this prospective study were to avoid adjuvant treatment for patients with intraocular disease and patients with postlaminar optic nerve invasion (PL‐ONI) without full choroidal or scleral invasion. Adjuvant chemotherapy (Regimen 1) was given to patients with scleral invasion, PL‐ONI without cut section, and full choroidal and/or scleral invasion. A more intensive regimen of higher dose intravenous chemotherapy (Regimen 2) and local radiotherapy was given to patients with PL‐ONI and compromise at the cut end and to patients with overt extraocular disease.

METHODS

Six‐month intravenous chemotherapy included carboplatin plus etoposide alternating with cyclophosphamide plus vincristine (Regimen 1) and the same drugs at higher dosage plus idarubicin (Regimen 2). Chemoreduction with carboplatin and vincristine with or without etoposide was given to selected patients (n = 39 patients).

RESULTS

From 1994 to 2001, 169 patients were evaluable at the Hospital Garrahan (Buenos Aires, Argentina). One hundred eighteen patients with intraocular disease had a 5‐year disease free survival (DFS) rate of 0.98, including 54 patients with choroidal invasion. None of 22 patients with isolated PL‐ONI developed recurrent disease, whereas 2 of 8 patients with concomitant risk factors had tumor recurrences and died. Three of 5 patients with scleral invasion survived, and 7 of 10 patients with cut‐end ONI survived. The only patient with metastatic disease that survived (n = 6) had only lymph node invasion.

CONCLUSIONS

Adjuvant therapy can be avoided in patients with intraocular and isolated PL‐ONI. Patients with PL‐ONI who also had other risk factors required intensive adjuvant therapy, such as patients with cut‐end and overt extraocular disease. Metastatic disease was not found to be curable with this approach. Cancer 2004;100:834–42. © 2003 American Cancer Society.
Reduced folate carrier mutations are not the mechanism underlying methotrexate resistance in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Kaufman Yotam , Drori Stavit , Cole Peter D. , Kamen Barton A. , Sirota Jenny , Ifergan Ilan , Arush Myriam Weyl Ben , Elhasid Ronit , Sahar Dvora , Kaspers Gert Jan L. , Jansen Gerrit , Matherly Larry H. , Rechavi Gideon , Toren Amos , Assaraf Yehuda G.
Published: February 2004

BACKGROUND

Although the majority of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are cured with combination chemotherapy containing methotrexate (MTX), drug resistance contributes to treatment failure for a substantial fraction of patients. The primary transporter for folates and MTX is the reduced folate carrier (RFC). Impaired drug transport is a documented mechanism of MTX resistance in patients with ALL; however, to the authors' knowledge it is not known whether inactivating RFC mutations are a contributing factor.

METHODS

The authors devised a genomic polymerase chain reaction‐single strand conformational polymorphism assay followed by sequencing and screened the entire RFC coding region for sequence alterations in DNA from 246 leukemia specimens from patients with diverse ethnic variation, 24 at the time of recurrence and the rest at the time of diagnosis. This cohort was comprised of 203 B‐precursor ALL specimens (82.5%), 32 T‐lineage ALL specimens (13%), and 11 acute myeloblastic leukemia specimens (4.5%).

RESULTS

Of 246 DNA samples, only 3 diagnosis B‐precursor ALL specimens (1.2%) were found to harbor alterations in the RFC gene, including heterozygous single nucleotide changes resulting in D56H and D522N substitutions in the first extracellular loop and the C‐terminus of this transporter, respectively. The third sample had a sequence alteration in exon 3 that could not be identified because of the lack of availability of DNA.

CONCLUSIONS

Whereas inactivating RFC mutations are a frequent mechanism of MTX resistance in human leukemia cell lines and in patients with osteosarcoma, they are not common and do not appear to play any significant role in intrinsic or acquired resistance to MTX in childhood leukemia. This is the first study of RFC mutations in multiple pediatric leukemia specimens. Cancer 2004;100:773–82. © 2003 American Cancer Society.
Evaluation of the synergistic effect of insulin resistance and insulin‐like growth factors on the risk of breast carcinoma
Authors: Malin Alecia , Dai Qi , Yu Herbert , Shu Xiao‐Ou , Jin Fan , Gao Yu‐Tang , Zheng Wei
Published: February 2004

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the association between insulin resistance (which was measured using fasting blood C‐peptide) and its joint association with insulin‐like growth factors (IGF‐1, IGF‐2, and IGF binding protein‐3 [IGFBP‐3]) on the risk of breast carcinoma.

METHODS

Included in the current study were 400 case–control pairs from the Shanghai Breast Cancer Study. Pretreatment biospecimens and interview data were collected from all breast carcinoma cases and their individually matched controls.

RESULTS

Breast carcinoma risk was found to be statistically significantly increased when higher blood levels of C‐peptide and IGFs were noted in a dose‐response manner. There was a statistically significant twofold to threefold increased risk of breast carcinoma for women in the highest quartile of C‐peptide, IGF‐1, or IGFBP‐3 compared with women in the lowest quartiles. Women with high levels of both C‐peptide and IGF‐1 or IGFBP‐3 also were found to have a substantially higher risk of breast carcinoma than those women with a high level of only one of these molecules. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were 3.79 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 2.03–7.08) for those with a higher level of both C‐peptide and IGF‐1 and 4.03 (95% CI, 2.06–7.86) for those with a higher level of both C‐peptide and IGFBP‐3.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the current study suggest that insulin resistance and IGFs may synergistically increase the risk of breast carcinoma. Cancer 2004;100:694–700. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Symptomatic hypogonadism in male survivors of cancer with chronic exposure to opioids
Authors: Rajagopal Arun , Vassilopoulou‐Sellin Rena , Palmer J. Lynn , Kaur Guddi , Bruera Eduardo
Published: February 2004

BACKGROUND

Profound hypogonadism has been noted in patients receiving intrathecal opioids. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether chronic consumption of oral opioids by male survivors of cancer also would lead to central hypogonadism and whether this hypogonadism was associated with symptoms of sexual dysfunction, fatigue, anxiety, and depression.

METHODS

A case–control study was conducted at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX), in which 20 patients who were chronically consuming opioids were compared with 20 matched controls. Patients completed the Sexual Desire Inventory (SDI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy with general and fatigue subscales (FACT‐G/FACIT‐F), and the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) questionnaires. Serum samples were collected for testosterone, follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH).

RESULTS

Comparing the opioid group with the control group, 18 of the 20 patients (90%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 65–98%) exhibited hypogonadism, compared with 8 of the 20 control patients (40%; 95% CI, 19–64%). The median testosterone level was 145 ng/dL versus 399.5 ng/dL (5.0 nmol/L vs. 13.9 nmol/L; P < 0.0001), the median FSH level was 2.85 milli–International Units (mIU)/mL versus 5.3 mIU/mL (P = 0.08), the median LH level was 1.8 mIU/mL versus 4.2 mIU/mL (P = 0.0014), the median SDI‐dyadic score was 18.5 versus 40 (P = 0.01), the median SDI‐solitary score was 0 versus 5 (P = 0.007), the HADS (anxiety) score was 8.5 versus 5.5 (P = 0.053), the HADS (depression) score was 7.5 versus 1.5 (P = 0.0002), the FACT‐G score was 64 versus 96.3 (P = 0.0001), and the FACIT‐F score was 24 versus 46 (P = 0.0003).

CONCLUSIONS

Survivors of cancer who chronically consumed opioids experienced symptomatic hypogonadism with significantly higher levels of depression, fatigue, and sexual dysfunction. With the increasing use of opioids among patients with cancer, further research in improving quality‐of‐life outcomes is warranted. Cancer 2004;100:851–8. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Access to multidisciplinary cancer care
Authors: Baldwin Laura‐Mae , Taplin Stephen H. , Friedman Harvey , Moe Roger
Published: February 2004

BACKGROUND

Breast‐conserving surgery (BCS) with radiation (BCSR) requires a multidisciplinary care approach between surgeons and radiation oncologists.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study examined the use of preoperative radiation oncology consultation and whether use of or distance to this care was associated with treatment choice among 1188 women age ≥ 65 years who were diagnosed with local or regional breast carcinoma in Washington State in 1994 and 1995. Study outcomes included rates of BCSR; BCS alone; and mastectomy; and radiation therapy among women who underwent BCS.

RESULTS

Only 29% of patients in the current study consulted with a radiation oncologist preoperatively, and less than half of the patients (46.6%) consulted with either a medical oncologist or a radiation oncologist. Among women who underwent either BCSR or mastectomy, the odds of undergoing BCSR among women who had a preoperative radiation oncology consultation were 6.7 times the odds of women who did not have the consultation (P ≤ 0.001). Similarly, the odds of receiving radiation therapy among women who underwent BCS and had a preoperative radiation oncology consultation were 5 times the odds of women who did not have the consultation (P < 0.001). The 3.4% of women who lived > 50 miles from the radiation therapy center had the lowest BCSR rate (15.8%) and had the lowest radiation therapy rate among women who underwent BCS (54.5%), although these findings were not statistically significant in adjusted analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

A preoperative visit with a radiation oncologist was associated strongly with BCSR use. More should be done to evaluate the role of multidisciplinary consultation in the decision to use BCSR. Cancer 2004;100:701–9. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Clinicopathologic review of 58 patients with biliary papillomatosis
Authors: Lee Sang Soo , Kim Myung‐Hwan , Lee Sung Koo , Jang Se Jin , Song Moon‐Hee , Kim Kyu‐Pyo , Kim Hong Ja , Seo Dong‐Wan , Song Dong Eun , Yu Eunsil , Lee Seung‐Gyu , Min Young Il
Published: February 2004

BACKGROUND

Biliary papillomatosis (BP) is a rare disease that is characterized by multiple numerous papillary adenomas in the biliary tree. The clinical features and outcome, however, are not well known. The authors retrospectively analyzed their clinicopathologic features and long‐term follow‐up results.

METHODS

Between March 1995 and January 2003, 58 patients were diagnosed with BP by cholangioscopic and histologic findings at a tertiary referral center, Asan Medical Center (University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea). The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records to obtain demographic, radiologic, cholangioscopic, and pathologic data.

RESULTS

The common clinical manifestations at the presentation of patients were repeated episodes of abdominal pain, jaundice, and acute cholangitis. Acute cholangitis was more common in patients with mucin‐hypersecreting BP (MBP), whereas patients with nonmucin‐producing BP (NMBP) were more asymptomatic (P < 0.05). Papillary adenocarcinoma and mucinous carcinoma were detected in 48 patients (83%) with papillary adenomas. Overall survival rates of NMBP and MBP were 89% and 69% at 1 year, 57% and 37% at 3 years, and 52% and 19% at 5 years, respectively. The mean survival period of NMBP and MBP was 52.27 ± 6.72 months and 30.84 ± 8.36 months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

BP should be regarded as a premalignant disease with high malignant potential. The pathogenesis of progression from benign to malignant disease may follow the adenomacarcinoma sequence. Although clinical presentations were somewhat different for patients with NMBP and MBP, the long‐term survival rate was similar. Cancer 2004;100:783–93. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Treatment of atypical neurocytomas
Authors: Rades Dirk , Fehlauer Fabian , Schild Steven E.
Published: February 2004

BACKGROUND

The majority of central neurocytomas are benign. Approximately 25% of these rare central nervous system tumors are more aggressive, with an MIB‐1 labeling index > 2% or atypical histologic features, and are classified as atypical neurocytomas. The objective of this analysis was to define the optimal treatment for patients with these atypical tumors.

METHODS

The first atypical neurocytoma was described in 1989. The patients reported since then were reviewed for age, gender, extent of resection, MIB‐1 index, histology, irradiation, local control, and survival. In addition to the data available in the literature, more relevant data were obtained from the authors of that literature. Treatment approaches included complete resection alone (CR), complete resection followed by radiotherapy (CR‐RT), incomplete resection alone (IR), and incomplete resection followed by radiotherapy (IR‐RT). These four therapies were compared for local control and survival using Kaplan–Meier analysis and the log‐rank test.

RESULTS

Complete data were available on 85 patients (15 patients who underwent CR, 13 patients who underwent CR‐RT, 17 patients who underwent IR, and 40 patients who received IR‐RT). Local control rates at 3 years and 5 years were 73% and 57% after CR, 81% and 53% after CR‐RT, 21% and 7% after IR, and 85% and 70% after IR‐RT, respectively (P < 0.0001). Survival rates at 3 years and 5 years and were 93% and 93% after CR, 90% and 90% after CR‐RT, 65% and 43% after IR, and 87% and 78% after IR‐RT, respectively (P = 0.0076).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who underwent CR achieved better local control and survival rates compared with patients who underwent IR. After IR, patients appeared to benefit from RT. A beneficial effect of RT after CR was not observed. Cancer 2004;100:814–7. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Health care for childhood cancer survivors
Authors: Zebrack Brad J. , Eshelman Debra A. , Hudson Melissa M. , Mertens Ann C. , Cotter Kelly L. , Foster Barbara M. , Loftis Lauren , Sozio Margaret , Oeffinger Kevin C.
Published: February 2004

BACKGROUND

Most children diagnosed with cancer are surviving into adulthood but are not receiving adequate or appropriate follow‐up health care. However, to the authors' knowledge, there is little literature published to date exploring potential barriers to long‐term risk‐based follow‐up care for young adult survivors of childhood cancer.

METHODS

In the current study, using a modified Delphi technique, young adult cancer survivors identified barriers to utilizing appropriate follow‐up care and offered suggestions for ways to enhance health care in this young adult population.

RESULTS

Major barriers to health care were found to be a lack of knowledge on the part of both physicians and survivors regarding long‐term health issues related to cancer. Suggestions to enhance care included self‐advocacy training for survivors and advanced training for primary care physicians who may treat childhood cancer survivors as they transition into adulthood.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the current study are consistent with reports that young adult survivors of childhood cancer need or desire information regarding their medical histories, psychosocial support, and social advocacy. Cancer 2004;100:843–50. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Survivin expression is associated with features of biologically aggressive prostate carcinoma
Authors: Shariat Shahrokh F. , Lotan Yair , Saboorian Hossein , Khoddami Seyed M. , Roehrborn Claus G. , Slawin Kevin M. , Ashfaq Raheela
Published: February 2004

BACKGROUND

Survivin counteracts cell death and controls mitotic progression. The objectives of the current study were to compare the expression patterns of survivin in normal prostate, primary prostate carcinoma, and lymph node tissues involved with prostate carcinoma and to determine whether the expression of survivin is associated with prostate carcinoma characteristics and progression.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical staining for survivin and for transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1) and its receptors (types I and II; TGF‐βR1 and TGF‐βR2, respectively) was carried out on archival specimens from 114 consecutive patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (median follow‐up, 64.8 months). Punch biopsies of the index carcinoma and normal tissue from each specimen were sectioned onto a single slide and stained. The authors also evaluated the expression of survivin in normal and malignant lymph node tissue from eight patients.

RESULTS

Survivin was expressed in 41 of 114 normal prostate specimens (36%) from prostates that contained carcinoma, in 81 of 114 primary prostate carcinoma specimens (71%), in 3of 8 normal lymphoid specimens (38%), and in 7 of 8 prostate carcinoma lymphoid specimens (88%). Survivin expression was associated with higher final Gleason sum (P = 0.001), loss of TGF‐βR1 and TGF‐βR2 expression (P = 0.041 and P = 0.008, respectively), and an increased risk of biochemical progression on univariate analysis (P = 0.0441). Among patients who had disease progression, survivin was expressed more commonly in those who had tumors with features of aggressive behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

The expression of survivin gradually increased from normal prostate tissue, to low‐grade primary carcinoma, to high‐grade primary carcinoma and was highest in lymph node metastases. Survivin expression was associated further with alteration of the TGF‐β pathway and with overall and aggressive biochemical progression after radical prostatectomy. Cancer 2004;100:751–7. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Prognostic significance and interobserver variability of histologic grading systems for endometrial carcinoma
Authors: Scholten Astrid N. , Smit Vincent T. H. B. M. , Beerman Henk , van Putten Wim L. J. , Creutzberg Carien L.
Published: February 2004

BACKGROUND

The most widely used histologic grading system for endometrial carcinoma is the three‐tiered International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) system. Although FIGO grading has significant predictive value, the reproducibility of Grade 2 is limited. Recently, a binary grading system was proposed based on the amount of solid growth, the pattern of myometrial invasion, and the presence of tumor cell necrosis. The authors analyzed and compared the prognostic significance and the interobserver variability of both grading systems and of the three criteria for the binary grading system.

METHODS

Eight hundred patients with Stage I–III endometrioid endometrial carcinoma were reviewed and graded independently by two pathologists according to the three‐tiered FIGO grading system and the novel binary grading system.

RESULTS

The interobserver agreement for both systems was moderate, with 70% and 73% agreement rates for the FIGO (κ = 0.41) and binary (κ = 0.39) grading systems, respectively. When converting the FIGO grading system into an artificial, 2‐tiered grading system (Grade 3 vs. Grades 1–2), the agreement was much better (agreement rate, 85%; κ = 0.58). Of the 3 criteria for the binary grading system, amount of solid growth (≤ 50% vs. > 50%) had the greatest reproducibility (agreement rate, 80%; κ = 0.50). Both the 2‐tiered FIGO grading system and the binary grading system were significant predictors of local recurrence, distant recurrence, and disease‐specific survival (hazard ratios [HRs]: 1.7, 2.5, and 2.6, respectively, for FIGO and 2.1, 4.1, and 3.8, respectively, for the binary grading system). The amount of solid growth also was a strong prognostic factor for these three endpoints (HRs: 2.4, 3.9, and 3.8, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Both the binary grading system and the FIGO grading system had strong prognostic significance. Their reproducibility, however, was limited. A simple architectural binary grading system that divided tumors into low‐grade lesions and high‐grade lesions based on the proportion of solid growth (≤ 50% or > 50%) had superior prognostic power and greater reproducibility. Cancer 2004;100:764–72. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Second‐line treatment with carboplatin for recurrent or progressive oligodendroglial tumors after PCV (procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine) chemotherapy
Authors: Soffietti Riccardo , Nobile Mauro , Rudà Roberta , Borgognone Marzia , Costanza Alessandra , Laguzzi Elena , Mutani Roberto
Published: February 2004

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of second‐line chemotherapy for patients with recurrent or progressive oligodendroglial tumors is limited. In the current study, the authors investigated the use of carboplatin as a second‐line chemotherapeutic agent against these types of tumors.

METHODS

Twenty‐three patients with recurrent or progressive oligodendrogliomas or oligoastrocytomas after first‐line PCV (procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine) chemotherapy were enrolled in a single‐institution Phase II study of second‐line carboplatin chemotherapy. All patients had undergone surgery, and most also had undergone conventional radiotherapy. Carboplatin was administered at a dose of 560 mg/m2 intravenously every 4 weeks. Responses were evaluated according to conventional criteria, based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.

RESULTS

Three of 23 patients (13%) had partial responses, with neurologic improvement. Twelve patients (52%) had stable disease; in 2 of these 12 patients, a minor response was seen on MRI. Eight patients (35%) had progressive disease. The median time to tumor progression was 3 months for all patients and 9 months for patients who experienced responses to treatment. Progression‐free survival rates at 6 and 12 months were 34.8% and 8.7%, respectively. Among the salvage treatment plans followed after carboplatin chemotherapy were supportive care alone, radiotherapy, third‐line chemotherapy, and reoperation. The median survival duration from the start of carboplatin administration was 16 months. Myelotoxicity was severe, with Grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia in 60% of patients and Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia in 48% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

When administered according to a monthly schedule, carboplatin exhibited modest activity in adult patients with recurrent or progressive oligodendroglioma or oligoastrocytoma who experienced treatment failure after PCV chemotherapy; the current treatment regimen also was associated with severe toxicity. Further improvement of second‐line chemotherapy for the patient group examined in the current study is necessary. Cancer 2004;100:807–13. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Neurologic disorders in 432 consecutive patients with small cell lung carcinoma
Authors: Seute Tatjana , Leffers Pieter , ten Velde Guul P. M. , Twijnstra Albert
Published: February 2004

BACKGROUND

Neurologic complications are an important cause of morbidity and possibly also mortality in patients with small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). The current study was undertaken to prospectively investigate survival and the frequency of neurologic disorders in patients with SCLC.

METHODS

Between October 1980 and September 2001, 432 consecutive patients with microscopically proven SCLC were included in the current study. Patients underwent neurologic examinations on a regular basis prior to, during, and after treatment. Routine imaging of the brain (computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging) was performed before and after systemic therapy.

RESULTS

A neurologic disorder was diagnosed in approximately 56% of the SCLC patients. In nearly half of the cases, the neurologic disorder already was present at the time of diagnosis. Brain metastases (BM) were diagnosed most frequently. Seventy‐four patients (18%) had BM at the time of diagnosis; in 20 of these patients, the BM did not demonstrate clinical signs. Another 101 patients developed BM during follow‐up. The 2‐year cumulative risk of BM reached 49% for patients with limited disease (LD) and 65% for patients with extensive disease (ED). Patients with BM as the only site of disease dissemination were found to have a poorer survival compared with LD patients. The majority of the nonmetastatic disorders preceded the diagnosis of SCLC. The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) was diagnosed most frequently.

CONCLUSIONS

In this prospective study, neurologic disorders were diagnosed in greater than half of the patients with SCLC. BM were detected most frequently. Approximately 18% of the patients were found to have BM at the time of diagnosis. In approximately 33% of the cases, these BM did not cause symptoms. BM were found to have a negative effect on survival in patients with SCLC. Cancer 2004;100:801–6. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Incidence and distribution of argininosuccinate synthetase deficiency in human cancers
Authors: Dillon Brian J. , Prieto Victor G. , Curley Steven A. , Ensor C. Mark , Holtsberg Frederick W. , Bomalaski John S. , Clark Mike A.
Published: February 2004

BACKGROUND

Argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) was the first of two enzymes to convert citrulline to arginine. This pathway allowed cells to synthesize arginine from citrulline, making this amino acid nonessential for the growth of most mammalian cells. Previous studies demonstrated that several human tumor cell lines were auxotrophic for arginine due to an inability to express ASS. Selective elimination of arginine from the circulation of animals with these tumors is a potentially effective anticancer treatment. The purpose of these experiments was to determine the frequency of ASS deficiency and arginine auxotrophy in a variety of human malignant tumors.

METHODS

The authors analyzed the expression of ASS by immunohistochemistry with a monoclonal antibody in a variety of human tumor biopsies. They found that the incidence of ASS deficiency varied greatly with the tumor type and tissue of origin.

RESULTS

Melanoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and prostate carcinoma were most frequently deficient in ASS. Some human cancers were almost always positive for ASS (e.g., lung and colon carcinomas). However, other human cancers, including sarcomas, invasive breast carcinoma, and renal cell carcinoma, also were sometimes ASS deficient.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicated that immunohistochemical detection of ASS may prove an effective means for determining ASS deficiency in malignant human tumors and for identifying patients most likely to respond to arginine deprivation therapy. Based on these results, human clinical trials using arginine‐degrading enzyme therapy to treat patients with advanced melanoma or hepatocellular carcinoma have been initiated. Cancer 2004;100:826–33. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Flume experiments on the horizontal stream offset by strike‐slip faults
Authors: Ouchi Shunji
Published: February 2004

Flume experiments, in which the middle section of an erosion channel is displaced horizontally, have been conducted to assess the response of streams to horizontal displacement by a strike‐slip fault. The experimental erosion channel was developed in a mixture of sand and clay, which provided relatively stable banks with its cohesiveness. Horizontal displacement of a strike‐slip fault perpendicular to the channel is expected to add a ﬂat section to its longitudinal proﬁle along the fault line. The experimental stream eliminated this ﬂat section with downstream degradation, upstream aggradation, and lateral channel shift. As a result, a roughly continuous longitudinal proﬁle was maintained. This maintenance of a continuous longitudinal proﬁle along channel is considered to be the principle of stream response to horizontal displacement by a strike‐slip fault. Downstream degradation was the dominant process of this stream response in the overall tendency of erosion without sand supply. When the rate of fault displacement was low (long recurrence interval), the experimental stream eroded the fault surface, jutting laterally into the channel like a scarp, and deﬂected the channel within the recurrence interval. This lateral channel shift gave some gradient to the reach created by fault displacement (offset reach), and the downstream degradation occurred as much as completing the remaining longitudinal proﬁle adjustment. When the rate of fault displacement was high (short recurrence interval), the lateral erosion on the ﬁrst fault surface was interrupted by the next fault displacement. The displacement was then added incrementally to the existing channel offset making channel shift by lateral erosion increasingly difﬁcult. The channel offset with sharp bends persisted without much modiﬁcation, and downstream degradation and upstream aggradation became evident with the effect of the offset channel course, which worked like a dam. In this case, a slight local convexity, which was incidentally formed by downstream degradation and upstream aggradation, tended to remain in the roughly continuous longitudinal proﬁle, as long as the horizontal channel offset persisted. In either case, once the experimental stream obtained a roughly continuous gradient, further channel adjustment seemed to halt. Horizontal channel offset remained to a greater or lesser extent at the end of each run long after the last fault displacement. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Coastal cliff retreat rates at Beit‐Yannay, Israel, in the 20th century
Authors: Zviely Dov , Klein Micha
Published: February 2004

Research indicates that the aeolianite (Kurkar) cliffs along the Israeli Mediterranean coastline have continuously retreated eastward during the last few decades. There seems to be no dispute among Earth scientists regarding the general trend of cliff retreat. However the majority of papers displaying cliff retreat rates are based upon comparison of aerial photographs. Their lack of advanced geometric measurement methods causes a high margin of error. Public attention is focused upon the Beit‐Yannay coastal cliff since private homes are located along the southern section of the cliff crest. The current research compares the historic location of the cliff crest edge at Beit‐Yannay as observed in a series of aerial photographs taken during the period 1918–2000. Quantitative measurement methods included applications of satellite geodesy and digital photogrammetry and mapping. Research results offer quantitative, consecutive and highly accurate data regarding retreat rates over a relatively long period of 82 years. It is concluded that: 1. Annual average cliff retreat rates of the cliff crest is 20 cm/year. 2. Categorization of the study time span reveals periods displaying varying retreat rates such as 27 cm/year during 1918–1946, 21 cm/year during 1946–1973 and 10 cm/year during 1973–2000. 3. Maximum retreat distances of the cliff crest, over the study period were found to be approximately 25 m along the northern, lowest section of the cliff. Minimum distances of 11 m were identiﬁed at the highest, southern section of the cliff. 4. The eolianite (Kurkar) cliffs along the Israeli Mediterranean coast throughout the 20th century have been an important source of sediment, contributing approximately 24 × 106 m3 of sediments to the sediment balance of Israeli beaches. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evidence for direct suspension of loessial soils on the Columbia Plateau
Authors: Kjelgaard J. F. , Chandler D. G. , Saxton K. E.
Published: February 2004

Wind erosion modelling efforts, both ﬁeld and wind tunnel studies, have traditionally focused on saltation‐based processes for estimating dust emissions from high wind events. This approach gives generally good results when saltation‐sized particles, 90 µm to 2 mm mean diameter, are prevalent on the exposed soil surface. The Columbia Plateau, located in north‐central Oregon and south‐central Washington, is a region with extensive loess deposits where up to 90 per cent of sieved particles (by mass) are less than 100 µm mean diameter. During high‐wind events, large amounts of soil and ﬁne particulate matter are suspended. However, ﬁeld surfaces typically show little evidence of surface scouring or saltation, e.g. soil drifts or covered furrows. Velocity proﬁle analysis of two high‐wind events and additional data from a third event show evidence of direct suspension process where saltation is not a major mechanism for eroding soil or generating dust emissions. Surface roughness heights are less than saltation roughness height estimates during peak wind speeds. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Monitoring and modelling of pore water pressure changes and riverbank stability during flow events
Authors: Rinaldi Massimo , Casagli Nicola , Dapporto Stefano , Gargini Alessandro
Published: February 2004

Pore water pressures (positive and negative) were monitored for four years (1996–1999) using a series of tensiometer‐piezometers at increasing depths in a riverbank of the Sieve River, Tuscany (central Italy), with the overall objective of investigating pore pressure changes in response to ﬂow events and their effects on bank stability.

The saturated/unsaturated ﬂow was modelled using a ﬁnite element seepage analysis, for the main ﬂow events occurring during the four‐year monitoring period. Modelling results were validated by comparing measured with computed pore water pressure values for a series of representative events. Riverbank stability analysis was conducted by applying the limit equilibrium method (Morgenstern‐Price), using pore water pressure distributions obtained by the seepage analysis.

The simulation of the 14 December 1996 event, during which a bank failure occurred, is reported in detail to illustrate the relations between the water table and river stage during the various phases of the hydrograph and their effects on bank stability. The simulation, according to monitored data, shows that the failure occurred three hours after the peak stage, during the inversion of ﬂow (from the bank towards the river). A relatively limited development of positive pore pressures, reducing the effective stress and annulling the shear strength term due to the matric suction, and the sudden loss of the conﬁning pressure of the river during the initial drawdown were responsible for triggering the mass failure.

Results deriving from the seepage and stability analysis of nine selected ﬂow events were then used to investigate the role of the ﬂow event characteristics (in terms of peak stages and hydrograph characteristics) and of changes in bank geometry. Besides the peak river stage, which mainly controls the occurrence of conditions of instability, an important role is played by the hydrograph characteristics, in particular by the presence of one or more minor peaks in the river stage preceding the main one. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
122‐GHz SiGe HBT push‐push oscillator for large‐scale integrated RF‐ and radar‐based sensors
Authors: Steinhauer Matthias , Thiel Michael , Irion Hans , Ruoß Hans‐Oliver
Published: February 2004

RF‐ and radar‐based sensors are used in numerous fields of applications with an increasing trend towards mass produced articles. Hence, large‐scale integration is a key component for low‐cost production. For the first time, recent SiGe processes allow the frequency bands beyond 100 GHz to be accessible for this purpose. Initially, the feasibility of key components (for example, oscillators) has to be proven basically for the new processes. Therefore, a SiGe HBT push‐push oscillator has been developed to demonstrate the suitability of this technology for applications in the 122‐GHz ISM frequency band. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 40: 443–444, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20000