bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chlamydia screening or prophylaxis before laparoscopy and dye hydrotubation: no readmissions, no worry, or is that so?
Authors: Siassakos Dimitrios , Manley Kristyn , Wardle Peter , Halawa Shehrazad
Published: November 2007

We present a retrospective analysis of 120 laparoscopy and dye hydrotubation procedures. Our aim was to assess chlamydia screening or prophylaxis before, and the rate of readmission after, such procedures. We found evidence of a chlamydia screening test performed in 109 cases. Of the 37 women where antibiotic cover should have been considered, only 18 were treated. There were no readmissions for suspected pelvic inflammatory disease or for other complications. Our study may not have demonstrated any acute clinical recurrences, but there is a potential for subclinical reactivation or for delayed clinical recurrence leading to tubal damage in the untreated women.
Commandos do not use condoms
Authors: Başer Mürüvvet , Taşci Sultan , Albayrak Evrim
Published: November 2007

The aim of this study was to determine private soldiers' knowledge and attitudes about the use of condoms. This study includes privates discharged from the Zincidere 1st Commando Brigade, Kayseri, Türkiye. This study was composed of volunteers ( n = 481) who were present at their Brigade at the time of the research. Data were collected with a questionnaire. It was found that 44.7% of the privates had not used a condom. Reasons for not using a condom included the following: lack of enjoyment and feeling of discomfort, belief in its unreliability and the difficulty of obtaining one. Privates stated that they had knowledge regarding protection against sexually transmitted diseases (95.8%), the importance of always using condoms (84.8%) and the importance of having a single partner (60.7%). The results of this study show that although knowledge of condoms is relatively good, they are not widely used.
Immunohistochemical Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor Associated with Tumor Cell Proliferation in Canine Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas and Trichoepitheliomas
Authors: Al-Dissi A. N. , Haines D. M. , Singh B. , Kidney B. A.
Published: November 2007

The expression of 5 markers associated with angiogenesis was studied in canine squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) ( n = 19) and canine trichoepitheliomas (TCPs) ( n = 24). SCCs were assigned histologic grades, and tissue sections from both tumor types were immunohistochemially stained for the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), as well as intratumoral microvessel density (iMVD), tumor proliferation index (PI), and tumor apoptotic index (AI), using antibodies against VEGF, VEGFR-2, von Willebrand's factor, Ki-67 antigen, and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated 2′-deoxyuridine 5′-triphosphate endlabeling method (TUNEL), respectively. VEGF and VEGFR-2 were detected in 17/19 (89.4%) and 19/19 (100%) SCCs and in 17/24 (70.8%) and 20/24 (83.3%) TCPs, respectively. In SCCs, there was substantial correlation between histologic grade and PI ( r = 0.51); and moderate correlation between VEGF and histologic grade ( r = 0.43), VEGFR-2 and histologic grade ( r = 0.47), VEGF and PI ( r = 0.47), and VEGFR-2 and PI ( r = 0.47) (Spearman rank correlation coefficient). In TCPs, there was substantial correlation between VEGF and PI ( r = 0.51) and a moderate correlation between VEGFR-2 and iMVD ( r = 0.36). The median iMVD of SCCs (15.5) was significantly higher than the median iMVD of TCPs (9.05) ( P value < .05). It was concluded that VEGF and VEGFR-2 may promote tumor cell proliferation in TCPs and SCCs. An autocrine pathway for VEGF probably operates in canine SCCs and TCPs, as VEGF and VEGFR-2 expression was found in most tumors and was associated with evidence for tumor cell proliferation.
Lesion Development and Immunohistochemical Changes in Granulomas from Cattle Experimentally Infected with Mycobacterium bovis
Authors: Palmer M. V. , Waters W. R. , Thacker T. C.
Published: November 2007

Mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis, persists within granulomas. Formation of granulomas involves a complex array of immune activation and cellular migration. To examine temporal changes in granuloma development, we inoculated 32 cattle with M. bovis of deer origin. Tissues from 4 calves each were examined at 15, 28, 42, 60, 90, 180, 270, and 370 days after inoculation. Granulomas in the medial retropharyngeal lymph node were staged (I–IV) on the basis of cellular composition and the presence or absence of necrosis and peripheral fibrosis. Immunohistochemistry for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), CD68, CD4, CD8, and γ/δ T cells was performed. Fifteen days after inoculation only stage I granulomas were seen, while between 28 and 60 days, there was a steady progression through granuloma stages such that by day 60, granulomas of all 4 stages were seen. Acid-fast bacilli were present in moderate-to-large numbers in stage I granulomas 15–60 days after inoculation. Stage IV granulomas contained large numbers of acid-fast bacteria. Abundant iNOS immunoreactivity was associated with granulomas from day 15 through day 60 but was minimal from day 90 to the termination of the experiment. The relative number of CD4+ and CD68+ cells remained constant throughout the study. In contrast, at time points >60 days, numbers of CD8+ and γ/δ T cells diminished. Tuberculous granulomas are dynamic lesions that follow an orderly progression through disease stages. Diminished expression of iNOS and reduced numbers of CD8+ and γ/δ T cells late in the progression of tuberculous granulomas may represent a failure of the host response to control infection.
Immunohistochemical Detection of Multiple Myeloma 1/Interferon Regulatory Factor 4 (MUM1/IRF-4) in Canine Plasmacytoma: Comparison with CD79a and CD20
Authors: Ramos-Vara J. A. , Miller M. A. , Valli V. E. O.
Published: November 2007

Multiple myeloma oncogene 1/interferon regulatory factor 4 (MUM1/IRF4) is involved in lymphoid cell differentiation, particularly in the production of plasma cells. We examined the immunoreactivity of mouse monoclonal antibody Mum-1p to MUM1/IRF4 and compared it with expression of CD79a and CD20 in 109 plasmacytomas in 107 dogs. Tissues had been fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. One hundred one of 109 (93.5%) tumors were positive for MUM1/IRF4. The staining was nuclear with weak cytoplasmic reaction. Fifty-nine of 105 (56.2%) plasmacytomas were positive for CD79a; only 21 of 108 (19.4%) cases were positive for CD20. MUM1/IRF4 staining was performed on 139 other tumors including B- and T-cell lymphomas, histiocytic proliferations, mast cell tumors, and melanocytic tumors. The only MUM1/IRF4-positive nonplasmacytic tumors were 10 B-cell lymphomas and 1 anaplastic lymphoma. We conclude the following: 1) Antibody Mum-1p is very specific for canine plasmacytomas, 2) antibody Mum-1p is superior in sensitivity and specificity to CD79a and CD20 for the identification of canine plasmacytomas in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues, 3) canine lymphomas that express MUM1/IRF4 are few and usually of B-cell origin, 4) other canine leukocytic and melanocytic tumors do not express MUM1/IRF4, and 5) prospective studies are needed to determine whether the expression of MUM1/IRF4, particularly in lymphomas, has prognostic significance.
Immunohistochemical Demonstration of the Putative Canine Distemper Virus Receptor CD150 in Dogs with and without Distemper
Authors: Wenzlow N. , Plattet P. , Wittek R. , Zurbriggen A. , Grone A.
Published: November 2007

Signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) or CD150 can function as a receptor for the canine distemper virus (CDV) in vitro. The expression of SLAM was studied using immunohistochemistry in order to evaluate the presence and distribution of the receptor in dogs in vivo. Additionally, receptor expression was assessed after experimental infection of dogs with CDV. In 7 control dogs without distemper virus, the receptor was found in various tissues, mostly on cells morphologically identified as lymphocytes and macrophages. In 7 dogs with early distemper lesions characterized by presence of the virus, higher numbers of SLAM-expressing cells were found in multiple tissues recognized as targets of CDV compared with those in control dogs. These findings suggest that SLAM, a putative distemper receptor, is expressed in dogs in vivo. Additionally, virus infection is associated with up-regulation of SLAM, potentially causing an amplification of virus in the host.
A Mutant dec-1 Transgene Induces Dominant Female Sterility in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Spangenberg Daniel K , Waring Gail L
Published: November 2007

The Drosophila dec-1 gene produces three proproteins required for female fertility and eggshell assembly. The three proproteins are distinguished by their C termini. Fc106, the most abundant proprotein, is cleaved within the vitelline membrane to three mature derivatives in a developmentally regulated manner. To define sequences within fc106 that are critical for its function, we created wild-type and mutant versions of an fc106 cDNA transgene. The functional consequences of the mutations were assessed in dec-14, a female-sterile splicing mutant that does not produce the fc106 isoform. The fertility of dec-14 females was restored by the introduction of either a wild-type transgene or a transgene bearing a C-terminal deletion that included fc106-specific sequences. Surprisingly, the removal of internal coding sequences created an aberrant DEC-1 proprotein that induced female sterility when introduced into wild-type flies. Dominant female sterility was not associated with larger deletions that included the fc106 N terminus, suggesting that abnormal juxtaposition of N- and C-terminal sequences in the aberrant proprotein interfered with endogenous DEC-1 proteins. Changes in the fractionation behavior of the endogenous fc106 C-terminal derivative, s60, and morphological changes in the endochorion in response to expression of the aberrant proprotein support this interpretation.
Cystic struma ovarii, a rare form of ovarian tumor – a case report, and review of the literature
Authors: Östör Gabriella , Tóth Ildikó , Hrubyné Tóth Zsuzsanna , Bazsa Sándor
Published: November 2007

Az ovarialis strumák a petefészek-teratomák kevesebb mint 3%-át adják. Megjelenhet bennük a pajzsmirigy szinte minden betegsége, és előfordulhat malignitás is. A szerzők esetében egy 31 éves nő bal oldali petefészekcisztáját távolították el, amely az ovariumcarcinoma klinikai tüneteit mutatta, úgymint nagy hasi térfoglalás, ascites, emelkedett szérum-CA 125-szint. A szövettani diagnózis benignus struma ovarii volt. A posztoperatív pajzsmirigyműködés normális maradt.
Factors in Consistency between Attitudes and Behavior: Implications for Policies and Programs
Authors: Kar Snehendu B.
Published: November 2007

The paper deals with the factors which affect contraceptive attitudes, behaviors, and the relationship between the two. The analysis is based upon original survey data from 2,446 women in Venezuela and related literature. The results suggest that both positive attitudes and contraceptive accessibility are major determinants of contraception but at the aggregate level neither has a decisive advantage over the other. The three best predictors of contraceptive use are: specific contraceptive attitudes, social support, and accessibility of contraceptives. Their impacts on behavior are direct and additive; however, their impacts vary significantly by education and number of living children. In general attitude change strategy is more effective with younger women while improving accessibility affects older women more often. Implications for policy and programs are presented.
Eléments pour une typologie des SN complexes en de en français
Authors: Bartning Inge
Published: November 2007

Inge Bartning : An Interpretation Typology of French complex nominals with de

This paper presents a two level interpretation model of French noun phrases with de. On the basis of semantic and argumentai properties of the head noun and the interrelationship between the two nouns it is argued that there is a limited set of prototypical semantic interpretations at the level of the NP itself, the micro-level. These prototypical relations are covered by two essential meanings, namely possession and origin. Syntactic tests support this dichotomy.

The second interpretation level is a textual one where the complex NP is interpreted by contextual clues (salient themes in the preceding discourse) or by extra-linguistic knowledge of the referents of the two NPs and their interrelations. In the last two cases the interpretation demands a larger context (at the macro-level) than that of the complex NP itself.
Anaphore associative et relation partie-tout : condition d'aliénation et principe de congruence ontologique
Authors: Kleiber Georges
Published: November 2007

Georges Kleiber: Anaphore associative et relation partie-tout: condition d'aliénation et principe de congruence ontologique

The aim of this paper is to give an answer to the problem raised by the analysis of the relation which holds between the two referents involved in an associative anaphor. Starting with restricted facts over the phenomenon, we try to show that two factors are involved in the mechanism of the relation: a condition of alienation and the principle of ontological congruence. These two factors explain in a novel and stimulating fashion why the utterances:

?Pierre a exposé son dernier tableau. La beauté (= la beauté du tableau) est fascinante

?Max entre. Les yeux (= les yeux de Max) sont hors de leur orbite

?Paul ouvrit la commode. Le bois (= le bois de la commode) était polychrome

are deviant, when the sequences:

Paul lava la voiture, mais oublia le capot (= le capot de la voiture)

Max entre, les yeux brillants

are well formed. Georges Kleiber: Anaphore associative et relation partie-tout: condition d'aliénation et principe de congruence ontologique

The aim of this paper is to give an answer to the problem raised by the analysis of the relation which holds between the two referents involved in an associative anaphor. Starting with restricted facts over the phenomenon, we try to show that two factors are involved in the mechanism of the relation: a condition of alienation and the principle of ontological congruence. These two factors explain in a novel and stimulating fashion why the utterances:

?Pierre a exposé son dernier tableau. La beauté (= la beauté du tableau) est fascinante

?Max entre. Les yeux (= les yeux de Max) sont hors de leur orbite

?Paul ouvrit la commode. Le bois (= le bois de la commode) était polychrome

are deviant, when the sequences:

Paul lava la voiture, mais oublia le capot (= le capot de la voiture)

Max entre, les yeux brillants

are well formed.
La formation d'un espace de production linguistique. La Grammaire au Brésil
Authors: Orlandi Eni Puccinelli , Guimarães Eduardo
Published: November 2007

This article aims to coordinate the history of linguistic ideas with the constitution of a national language, taking the Portuguese language in Brazil as its specific object. So we need to study the relations between unity and diversity that are found in language studies as well as in the formation of a nation. Thanks to the notion of "Hyperlangue", we can analyse the processes of the constitution of the Brazilo-Portuguese language, which leads us to the question of national language and to the role played in this matter by the process of Brazilian grammatisation. We here analyse the birth of Brazilian grammars at the end of the 19th century in three respects: first, their definition of "grammar"; second, the problem of the marks of innovation/tradition in the development of Brazilian grammatisation; and third, lexical description as a tool for verifying the difference between Brazil and Portugal. Finally, we are led to study the relation between grammatisation and linguistic identity just as we do the relation between grammar and linguistic policy.
Langage et communications animales.
Authors: Lestel Dominique
Published: November 2007

Results on animal communications have exploded these last 20 years. If nobody still thinks that animal may have a kind of language as humans have, complexity of animal communications have been shown to be much more complex that what had been previously thought: traditions, meta-communication, innovation and abilities to manipulate information through deception, especially among primates, as well as great plasticity in referential processes have been observed. Simple syntaxes and dialogic situations have also been shown among animal communications, but no species studied to date seem able to naturally refer to presentles phenomena. We nevertheless must be cautious. Our intuitions about animal communications are often wrong. Examples of not yet solved problems abond. We can refer to what G. Bateson said about inability of animal to express negation, suggestion by P. Marier that play behaviour is the great analog with human language in animals, or D. Dennett's about the lack of secrecy among vervet monkeys. It seems to be an illusory belief to look for THE great feature of human language, compared with animal communications. It is more fruitful to consider that a number of meaningful differences distinguish language and animal communications. Such a careful and technical position being adopted here had already been defended by British biologist J.B.S. Haldane in the fifties, but it is still the best one.
A twin study of the common vulnerability between heightened sensitivity to hypercapnia and panic disorder
Authors: Battaglia Marco , Pesenti‐Gritti Paola , Spatola Chiara A.M. , Ogliari Anna , Tambs Kristian
Published: November 2007

For unknown reasons the inhalation of CO2‐enriched air mixtures evokes acute panic‐like symptoms in people with panic disorder and in their unaffected relatives. This study was set to determine whether, and to what extent, CO2‐induced acute anxiety and panic disorder share the same genetic and environmental determinants. Cholesky structural equation models were used to decompose into genetic and environmental elements the correlation between self‐assessed anxiety post‐35%CO2–65%O2 inhalation and interview‐based DSM‐IV lifetime diagnoses of panic disorder in 346 young adult twin pairs of the Norwegian Institute of Health Panel, 12% of whom had been invited to take part into the CO2 study on the basis of self‐reported symptoms of anxiety gathered 4–7 years before the provocation challenge. A full model corrected for the partially selective ascertainment showed that the phenotypic correlation between post‐CO2 anxiety and DSM‐IV panic was largely due to additive genetic influences, while shared and unique environmental agents concurred to explain a relatively minor proportion of the correlation between these two traits. According to the best‐fitting model the genetic correlation between post‐CO2 anxiety and panic was 0.81 (0.50–0.98); a common genetic factor was sufficient to explain the traits' covariation and a further, specific genetic factor was necessary to account for the residual phenotypic variance. The genetic determinants that lead to overreact to a hypercapnic stimulus coincide at a considerable extent with those that influence liability to naturally occurring panic. Environmental factors provide a modest—or no—contribution to the covariation of CO2‐provoked anxiety with naturally occurring panic. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of linear metallocene polyethylenes
Authors: Hussein Ibnelwaleed A.
Published: November 2007

The effect of weight‐average molecular weight (Mw) on the nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of linear metallocene polyethylene (m‐PE) was studied with modulated differential scanning calorimetry. Six linear m‐PEs of molecular weights in the range 122–934 kg/mol were prepared by gas‐phase polymerization. The cooling rate (R) was varied in the range 2–20°C/min, and it significantly affected the crystallization behavior. Mw had a weak influence on both the peak crystallization temperature and the crystallization onset temperature. All m‐PEs showed primary and secondary crystallizations. At both low and high R's, the crystallinity showed a significant drop (∼ 30%) when Mw was increased from 122 to 934 kg/mol. At low R's (< 10°C/min), the rate parameters in the modified Avrami method [primary rate constant (kR)] and Mo method [F(T)] of analyses agreed in suggesting that an increased Mw slowed the rate of crystallization. The Mw dependency of kR followed the Arrhenius type (kR = kRoe281/Mw, where kRo is a rate‐dependent constant). However, at higher R's, kR approached a constant value. The order parameters obtained by the different methods of analysis (n and α) were independent of Mw, which suggests that the crystal type remained the same. Hoffman–Lauritzen theory was used for data analysis, and activation energy per segment showed a significant decrease, from 225.0 to 11.8 kJ/mol, when Mw was increased from 152 to 934 kg/mol. Finally, all methods of analysis suggested a significant effect of Mw on slowing the overall crystallization process. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Ageing studies of ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber/styrene butadiene rubber blends: Effects of heat, ozone, gamma radiation, and water
Authors: Nair T. Muraleedharan , Kumaran M. G. , Unnikrishnan G. , Kunchandy Sam
Published: November 2007

The ageing behavior due to the effects of heat, ozone, γ‐ radiation, and water on ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber/styrene butadiene rubber (EPDM/SBR) blends was studied. The tensile strength, crack initiation, ozone ageing, gamma radiation, and water resistance of the blends were measured and used to determine the extent of ageing. Tensile strength of blends of different compositions increased after thermal ageing for 96 h at 100°C probably due to the continued cross‐linking. It has been observed that an increase in EPDM in the blends improves the ozone resistance of the blends. Crack initiation was noted only in blends with lesser amount of EPDM and the cracks in such blends were found deeper, wider and continuous. With 15 kGy irradiation dose, the tensile strength of the blends found to be decreased while it increased with 80 kGy dosage of γ‐radiation. The elongation at break showed a decreasing trend with increased dosage of γ‐radiation. It has also been observed that the EPDM rich blends showed negligible water uptake. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Electrocatalysis and determination of uracil on polythionine/multiwall carbon nanotubes modified electrode
Authors: Liu Hongying , Wang Guangfeng , Hu Jinsong , Chen Daolei , Zhang Wei , Fang Bin
Published: November 2007

A new type of poly (thionine)/multiwall carbon nanotube/glassy carbon (PTH/MWNTs/GC) electrode was fabricated by electropolymerization thionine onto the surface of MWNTs modified GC electrode. The properties and behaviors of the modified electrode were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The results show that the high sensitivity and selectivity are mainly caused by the unique carbon surface of the carbon nanotubes and the catalytic activity of thionine. The modified electrode exhibited excellent electrocatalytic behavior to the oxidation of uracil, and was firstly applied to determinate the concentration of uracil for the differential pulse voltammograms. Under the optimum conditions, linear calibration equation was obtained over the uracil concentration range from 1.0 × 10−5 to 5.5 × 10−2M with a correlation coefficient of 0.9978 and a detection limit 2.0 × 10−7M (based on S/N = 3) was also gained. The good electrocatalytic response of uracil at PTH/MWNTs/GC electrode suggests that the PTH/MWNTs are an excellent platform for electrochemical biosensing. The modified electrode displays excellent repeatability, stability, and high sensitivity. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Preparation of ethylene/1‐octene copolymers from ethylene stock with tandem catalytic system
Authors: Jiang Tao , Huang Zhijun , Luo Mingjian , Chen Hongxia , Ning Yingnan
Published: November 2007

Tandem catalysis offers a novel synthetic route to the production of linear low‐density polyethylene. This article reports the use of homogeneous tandem catalytic systems for the synthesis of ethylene/1‐octene copolymers from ethylene stock as the sole monomer. The reported catalytic systems involving a highly selective, bis(diphenylphosphino)cyclohexylamine/Cr(acac)3/methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalytic systems for the synthesis of 1‐hexene and 1‐octene, and a copolymerization metallocene catalyst, rac‐Et(Ind)2ZrCl2/MAO for the synthesis of ethylene/1‐octene copolymer. Analysis by means of DSC, GPC, and 13C‐NMR suggests that copolymers of 1‐hexene and ethylene and copolymers of 1‐octene and ethylene are produced with significant selectivity towards 1‐hexene and 1‐octene as comonomers incorporated into the polymer backbone respectively. We have demonstrated that, by the simple manipulation of the catalyst molar ratio and polymerization conditions, a series of branched polyethylenes with melting temperatures of 101.1–134.1°C and density of 0.922–0.950 g cm−3 can be efficiently produced. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Investigations into Transition‐State Geometry in the Mukaiyama Directed Aldol Reaction
Authors: Denmark Scott E. , Lee Wheeseong
Published: November 2007

A model compound was designed to study the relative orientation of enol silane and carbonyl moieties in the Mukaiyama aldol reaction. The cyclization must proceed with either a synclinal or an antiperiplanar orientation of the aldehyde with respect to the enol silane. These two orientations lead to diastereomeric products, thus allowing for unambiguous correlation between product configuration and transition‐state geometry. As steric bias is minimal, the product distribution should reflect the intrinsic preferences for reactant geometry in the transition state. Cyclizations of the model compound showed a modest preference for reaction via an antiperiplanar (open transition state) orientation of reactants in the presence of a wide range of Lewis acids (TiCl4, SnCl4, SnCl2, BF3⋅OEt2, TMSBr, trityl perchlorate, EtAlCl2) and triflic acid. The cyclizations promoted by tin(II) salts were syn‐selective and dependent on the nature of the counterion. Fluoride ion promoted reactions were anti‐selective and were independent of the nature of the cation.
Pancreatic insufficiency after different resections for benign tumours
Authors: Falconi M , Mantovani W , Crippa S , Mascetta G , Salvia R , Pederzoli P
Published: November 2007

Background

Pancreatic resections for benign diseases may lead to long-term endocrine/exocrine impairment. The aim of this study was to compare postoperative and long-term results after different pancreatic resections for benign disease.

Methods

Between 1990 and 1999, 62 patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), 36 atypical resection (AR) and 64 left pancreatectomy (LP) for benign tumours. Exocrine and endocrine pancreatic function was evaluated by 72-h faecal chymotrypsin and oral glucose tolerance test.

Results

The incidence of pancreatic fistula was significantly higher after AR than after LP (11 of 36 versus seven of 64; P = 0·028). The long-term incidence of endocrine pancreatic insufficiency was significantly lower after AR than after PD (P < 0·001). Exocrine insufficiency was more common after PD (P < 0·001) and LP (P = 0·009) than after AR. The probability of developing both endocrine and exocrine insufficiency was higher for PD and LP than for AR (32, 27 and 3 per cent respectively at 1 year; 58, 29 and 3 per cent at 5 years; P < 0·001).

Conclusion

Different pancreatic resections are associated with different risks of developing long-term pancreatic insufficiency. AR represents the best option in terms of long-term endocrine and exocrine function, although it is associated with more postoperative complications.
Diameter of vessels across the tonsillar capsule as an anatomical consideration for tonsillectomy
Authors: Lee Kang‐Dae , Lee Hyoung‐Shin , Hong Jong‐Chul , Yu Tai‐Hyun , Lee Hwan‐Ho , Chun Bong‐Gwon , Gil Young‐Gi , Kim Kwang‐Hoon
Published: November 2007

The authors measured the diameters of vessels around the surgical plane of tonsillectomy to investigate an anatomical basis to reduce hemorrhage. Thirty tonsils removed from 15 adult cadavers with the mean age of 56 years (range 44–71 years) at the time of death were studied. Calibration of the vessels across the tonsillar capsule was performed at the 1‐mm intracapsular, capsular, and 1‐mm extracapsular plane as artery and vein, respectively. The average diameter of the arteries was 73.0 ± 33.1 μm at the 1‐mm intracapsular plane, 94.7 ± 33.5 μm at the capsular plane, and 139.5 ± 51.2 μm at the 1‐mm extracapsular plane. For the veins, it was 62.9 ± 38.7 μm at the 1‐mm intracapsular plane, 86.8 ± 50.4 μm at the capsular plane, and 133.6 ± 78.6 μm at the 1‐mm extracapsular plane. The diameters of the vessels at the 1‐mm intracapsular plane were significantly smaller than those at the capsular plane (P < 0.01), and likewise the diameters of the vessels at the capsular plane were significantly smaller than those at the 1‐mm extracapsular plane (P < 0.01). The result of this study on the diameter of the vessels across the tonsillar capsule could be considered to be an important factor providing an anatomical rationale for a change in recommendation leading to safer tonsillectomies that minimize vascular injury. Clin. Anat. 21:33–37, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Distance Measurement between Tyr10 and Met35 in Amyloid β by Site‐Directed Spin‐Labeling ESR Spectroscopy: Implications for the Stronger Neurotoxicity of Aβ42 than Aβ40
Authors: Murakami Kazuma , Hara Hideyuki , Masuda Yuichi , Ohigashi Hajime , Irie Kazuhiro
Published: November 2007

The neurotoxicity of the 42‐mer and 40‐mer amyloid β peptides (Aβ42 and Aβ40) is closely related to the radicalization at both Tyr10 and Met35. Aβ42 is more neurotoxic than Aβ40. Our previous structural analyses of Aβ42 suggested that Tyr10 and Met35 are brought closer together by the turn at positions 22 and 23, and the S‐oxidized radical cation at position 35, which is the ultimate toxic radical species, can be produced effectively through oxidation by the phenoxy radical at position 10. To verify this idea, their separation was measured by site‐directed spin labeling (MTSSL) by using ESR spectroscopy. Among the three kinds of Aβ42 derivatives, which are doubly or singly spin‐labeled at position 10 and 35, only 10,35‐MTSSL‐Aβ42 showed a clear dipole coupling in continuous‐wave ESR; this suggests that the intramolecular spin labels at position 10 and 35 in Aβ42 are located within ∼15 Å. In contrast, 10,35‐MTSSL‐Aβ40 did not give such signals. The distance between Tyr10 and Met35 in 10,35‐MTSSL‐Aβ40, which was successfully measured by pulsed ESR spectroscopy was 30 Å long. The difference in the distance between Aβ42 and Aβ40 could explain in part the stronger neurotoxicity of Aβ42 compared to Aβ40.
Modifying pain perception: is it better to be hypnotizable or feel that you are hypnotized?
Authors: Hylands‐White Nicholas , Derbyshire Stuart WG
Published: November 2007

Two studies investigated the effect of hypnotic susceptibility (study 1) and the label ‘hypnosis’ (study 2) on the perception of a noxious stimulus (cold pressor). Suggestions for pain control during hypnosis are highly effective but the mechanisms of this effect and the role of the hypnotic induction in achieving pain relief remain uncertain. Study 1 demonstrated increasing pain experience with hypnotic susceptibility during performance of a visual distraction task, i.e. greater hypnotic susceptibility resulted in greater pain experience when performing the task. There was no relationship between pain experience and hypnotic susceptibility when not performing the task. Study 2 demonstrated that the use of the label ‘hypnosis’ to describe a relaxation recording increased feelings of being hypnotized and decreased pain experience relative to the same recording being labelled ‘relaxation’ outside of task involvement. In conclusion, hypnotizability per se does not facilitate a reduction in pain experience whereas the label ‘hypnosis’ does reduce pain experience. It is possible that the use of hypnotic terminology in the context of pain provides a reduction in pain experience through mechanisms that are not automatically engaged by those who are highly hypnotizable. Copyright © 2007 British Society of Experimental & Clinical Hypnosis. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Polycyano‐Anion‐Based Energetic Salts
Authors: Gao Haixiang , Zeng Zhuo , Twamley Brendan , Shreeve Jean'ne M.
Published: November 2007

Energetic salts based on polycyano anions and cations with a high nitrogen content tend to have extensive hydrogen bonding and exhibit heats of formation up to ΔHf=1579.1 kJ mol−1. Based on theoretical calculations, some of the new salts may be considered to be low‐energy monopropellants. One of the salts can be used as a precursor to a carbon nitride.
Unique Properties of DNA Interstrand Cross‐Links of Antitumor Oxaliplatin and the Effect of Chirality of the Carrier Ligand
Authors: Kasparkova Jana , Vojtiskova Marie , Natile Giovanni , Brabec Viktor
Published: November 2007

The different antitumor and other biological effects of the third‐generation antitumor platinum drug oxaliplatin [(1R,2R‐diamminocyclohexane)oxalatoplatinum(II)] in comparison with those of conventional cisplatin [cis‐diamminedichloridoplatinum(II)] are often explained by the ability of oxaliplatin to form DNA adducts of different conformation and consequently to exhibit different cytotoxic effects. This work describes, for the first time, the structural and biochemical characteristics of the interstrand cross‐links of oxaliplatin. We find that: 1) DNA bending, unwinding, thermal destabilization, and delocalization of the conformational alteration induced by the cross‐link of oxaliplatin are greater than those observed with the cross‐link of cisplatin; 2) the affinity of high‐mobility‐group proteins (which are known to mediate the antitumor activity of platinum complexes) for the interstrand cross‐links of oxaliplatin is markedly lower than for those of cisplatin; and 3) the chirality at the carrier 1,2‐diaminocyclohexane ligand can affect some important structural properties of the interstrand cross‐links of cisplatin analogues. Thus, the information contained in the present work is also useful for a better understanding of how the stereochemistry of the carrier amine ligands of cisplatin analogues can modulate their anticancer and mutagenic properties. The significance of this study is also reinforced by the fact that, in general, interstrand cross‐links formed by various compounds of biological significance result in greater cytotoxicity than is expected for monofunctional adducts or other intrastrand DNA lesions. Therefore, we suggest that the unique properties of the interstrand cross‐links of oxaliplatin are at least partly responsible for this drug's unique antitumor effects.
Racial differences in pain during 1 year among women with metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Castel Liana D. , Saville Benjamin R. , DePuy Venita , Godley Paul A. , Hartmann Katherine E. , Abernethy Amy P.
Published: November 2007

BACKGROUND.

Longitudinal tumor‐specific studies of cancer pain across the disease trajectory provide insight into the course of pain. Information on pain predictors refines our understanding of patients with greatest distress and need.

METHODS.

The authors studied 1124 women with metastatic breast cancer and bone metastases, all of whom received standard treatment in an international clinical trial conducted from October 1998 to January 2001. The Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) was administered repeatedly during the course of 1 year. Hazard models were fitted to identify baseline and time‐dependent covariates as predictors of pain worsening within cumulative 80‐day intervals during the year.

RESULTS.

Increased severe pain hazards were associated with non‐Caucasian race (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.52; 95% CI, 1.69–3.76), restricted performance status (HR = 1.73; 95% CI, 1.13–2.64), and radiation therapy in a previous interval (HR = 2.86; 95% CI, 1.61‐5.09). Estimated cumulative rates for not yet reaching a BPI score of 7 or above ranged from 0.79 (0.72–0.85) in the first interval to 0.64 (0.55–0.74) in the last interval for non‐Caucasian women, whereas these rates ranged from 0.91 (0.89–0.93) to 0.84 (0.81–0.87) for Caucasian women.

CONCLUSIONS.

By using a time‐to‐event hazards analysis for cancer symptom data, the authors demonstrated that non‐Caucasian race predicted poorer pain control among women with metastatic breast cancer. Disparity findings from cross‐sectional studies were confirmed. Pain management strategies should take race into account as a risk factor for worsening pain outcomes, and further investigation should seek to uncover and resolve the reasons for this obvious disparity. Cancer 2008. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Treatment ‘mismatch’ in early prostate cancer
Authors: Chen Ronald C. , Clark Jack A. , Manola Judith , Talcott James A.
Published: November 2007

BACKGROUND.

Pretreatment urinary, bowel, and sexual dysfunction may increase the toxicity of prostate cancer treatments or preclude potential benefits. Using patient‐reported baseline dysfunction from a prospective cohort study, we determined the proportion of patients receiving relatively contraindicated (‘mismatched’) treatments.

METHODS.

Baseline obstructive uropathy and bowel dysfunction relatively contraindicate brachytherapy (BT) and external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), respectively, because they increase patients' vulnerability to treatment‐related toxicity. Baseline sexual dysfunction renders moot the intended benefit of nerve‐sparing radical prostatectomy (NSRP), which is to preserve sexual function. We categorized patients' clinical circumstances by increasing complexity and counted the mismatches in each, expecting weaker or multiple contraindications to increase mismatched treatments.

RESULTS.

Of 438 eligible patients, 389 (89%) reported preexisting dysfunction, and more than one‐third received mismatched treatments. Mismatches did not significantly increase with clinical complexity, and watchful waiting was very infrequent, even when all treatment options were contraindicated. Patient age and comorbidity, but not preexisting dysfunction, were associated with treatment choice. As expected, mismatched BT and EBRT led to worsened urinary and bowel symptoms, respectively, and NSRP did not improve outcomes after baseline sexual dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS.

Pretreatment dysfunction does not appear to reliably influence treatment choices, and patients receiving mismatched treatments had worse outcomes. Further study is needed to determine why mismatched treatments were chosen, including the role of incomplete patient‐physician communication of baseline dysfunction, and whether using a validated questionnaire before treatment decision‐making would bypass this difficulty. Treatment mismatch may be a useful outcome indicator of the quality of patient‐centered decisions. Cancer 2008. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
VEGF and VEGFR‐1 are coexpressed by epithelial and stromal cells of renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Rivet Jacqueline , Mourah Samia , Murata Hideyuki , Mounier Nicolas , Pisonero Helena , Mongiat‐Artus Pierre , Teillac Pierre , Calvo Fabien , Janin Anne , Dosquet Christine
Published: November 2007

BACKGROUND.

Tumor angiogenesis is a dynamic process that plays a major role in cancer progression. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors play a pivotal role in angiogenesis. The expression of VEGF and its receptors VEGFR‐1 and VEGFR‐2 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) was investigated in the perspective of anti‐VEGF treatments.

METHODS.

Total VEGF protein levels were quantified by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in tumor tissue samples from surgical specimens of 65 patients with clear cell RCC. At the cellular level the VEGF isoforms VEGFR‐1 and VEGFR‐2 mRNA were quantified by real‐time quantitative reverse‐transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) in laser‐microdissected tumoral epithelial as stromal cells and in corresponding normal tissue compartments. Colocalization of VEGF and VEGFR‐1 proteins was studied by triple immunofluorescent labeling.

RESULTS.

Protein VEGF in cytosolic extracts was significantly higher in tumoral than in nontumoral tissue (P < .0001). Event‐free survival was significantly longer for patients with cytosolic VEGF lower than the cutoff (75th percentile of VEGF protein levels, P = .02). In laser‐microdissected epithelial cells, VEGF121 and VEGFR‐1 mRNA expressions were higher in RCC than in corresponding nontumoral kidney (P = .007 and P = .002, respectively); they were also higher in stromal cells of RCC compared with nontumoral kidney (P = .02 and P = .003, respectively). There was no differential VEGFR‐2 expression in epithelial or in stromal cells of tumoral or nontumoral kidney. By immunofluorescent labeling VEGF and VEGFR‐1 colocalized on RCC tumor epithelial and stromal cells.

CONCLUSIONS.

Combined laser microdissection and quantitative RT‐PCR, as triple immunofluorescent labeling, underlined the preferential expression of the most soluble VEGF isoform, VEGF121, and its receptor VEGFR‐1, but not VEGFR‐2, in epithelial and stromal cells of RCC. Cancer 2008. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
A novel type of microglomerular synaptic complex in the polarization vision pathway of the locust brain
Authors: Träger Ulrike , Wagner Robert , Bausenwein Bernhard , Homberg Uwe
Published: November 2007

The lateral accessory lobes (LALs) are prominent integration centers in the insect brain. In the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria, they are connected with the anterior optic tubercles (AOTus), with the central complex, and with the ventral nerve cord. Two subcompartments of the LALs, the lateral triangle and the median olive, are easily recognized by their prominent granular texture. Both areas are part of the polarization vision pathway in the locust brain; they receive input from projection neurons of the AOTu and are the site of presumed dendritic arborizations of tangential neurons of the lower division of the central body. Both types of neuron are sensitive to polarized light and most likely play a role in sky compass navigation of the locust. We show here that neurons from the AOTu and tangential neurons of the central body form large microglomerular contacts in the median olive and lateral triangle. Presynaptic elements from the AOTu end in small numbers of large cup‐shaped terminals. These cups enclose many small γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)‐immunoreactive (‐ir) profiles from tangential neurons of the lower division of the central body. Each cup‐shaped profile makes numerous (>150) dyadic output synapses with the small postsynaptic GABA‐ir profiles. No synaptic connections were found between the small core profiles. The microglomerular organization of the median olive and lateral triangle is unlike that of any other synaptic microglomeruli reported for the insect brain. It might provide precise spike timing information possibly used to extract spatial information by comparison of binocular inputs in the central complex. J. Comp. Neurol. 506:288–300, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Chronic nerve compression injury induces a phenotypic switch of neurons within the dorsal root ganglia
Authors: Chao Tom , Pham Khoa , Steward Oswald , Gupta Ranjan
Published: November 2007

Chronic nerve compression (CNC) injury initiates a series of pathological changes within the peripheral nerve at the site of injury. However, to date, little work has been performed to explore neuronal cell body responses to CNC injury. Here we show a preferential upregulation of growth‐associated protein‐43 (GAP‐43) and enhanced Fluoro Ruby uptake by the small‐diameter calcitonin gene‐related protein (CGRP) and isolectin B4 (IB4)‐positive neurons in the L4 and L5 ipsilateral dorsal root ganglion (DRG) 2 weeks and 1 month post injury. Furthermore, L4 and L5 DRGs ipsilateral to CNC injury also demonstrated a marked reduction in neurofilament 200 (NF‐200) neurons and an increase in CGRP and IB4 neurons at early time points. All numbers normalized to values comparable to those of control when the DRG was evaluated 6 months post injury. Quantification of glial‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) protein revealed an upregulation in L4 and L5 DRG followed by a return to baseline values at later stages following injury. Upregulation of GDNF expression by Schwann cells was also readily apparent with both immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis of 1 month compressed sciatic nerve specimens. Thus, CNC induces a phenotypic change in the DRG that appears to be temporally associated with increases in GDNF protein expression at and near the site of the compression injury in the nerve. J. Comp. Neurol. 506:180–193, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparative functional analysis provides evidence for a crucial role for the homeobox gene Nkx2.1/Titf‐1 in forebrain evolution
Authors: van den Akker Willem M.R. , Brox Aurora , Puelles Luis , Durston Antony J. , Medina Loreta
Published: November 2007

Knockout of the Nkx2.1 (Titf‐1) homeobox gene in the mouse leads to severe malformation and size reduction of the basal telencephalon/preoptic area and basal hypothalamus, indicating an important role of this gene in forebrain patterning. Here we show that abrogation of the orthologous gene in the frog Xenopus laevis by way of morpholino knockdown also affects the relative size of major regions in both the telencephalon (subpallium versus pallium) and diencephalon (hypothalamus versus thalamus). Remarkably, while a similar effect on the telencephalon was noted previously in Nkx2.1‐knockout mice, the effect on the diencephalon seems to be specific for Xenopus. This difference may be explained by the partially dissimilar expression of the orthologous genes in the forebrain of Xenopus and mouse. In both species Nkx2.1 is expressed in the basal telencephalon/preoptic area and basal hypothalamus, but in Xenopus this gene is additionally expressed in the alar hypothalamus. Phylogenetic comparison of Nkx2.1 expression in the forebrain suggests that the expression in the basal telencephalon‐preoptic region and alar hypothalamus appeared in the transition from jawless to jawed vertebrates, but the alar hypothalamic expression was later dramatically reduced during evolution to birds and mammals. Our study suggests that changes in the regulation of Nkx2.1 expression have played an important role on the evolution of forebrain development, and emphasizes the potential of the combined analysis of expression and function of master control genes in different vertebrates for unraveling the origin of brain complexity and diversity. J. Comp. Neurol. 506:211–223, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.