bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A t(5;16)(p15.32;q23.3) generating 16q23.3 → qter duplication and 5p15.32 → pter deletion in two siblings with mental retardation, dysmorphic features, and speech delay
Authors: Hellani Ali , Mohamed Sarar , Al‐Akoum Siham , Bosley Thomas M. , Abu‐Amero Khaled K.
Published: May 2010

We report on two siblings (half brothers on the paternal side) with a syndrome consisting of delayed development, cardiac anomalies, chest deformity, hip rotation, metatarsus adductus, genital hypoplasia, dysmorphic face, depressed nasal bridge, mental retardation, and speech delay. All metaphases examined showed a normal karyotype in the patients, their father, and both mothers. High‐resolution array CGH examination revealed a 16q (6 Mb) duplication dup(16)(16q23.3 → 16qter) and a 5p (0.97 Mb) terminal deletion del(5)(p15.32 → pter) in both affected boys but not their healthy siblings or parents. Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) confirmed both the 16q duplicated region and the 5p terminal deletion. Clinical abnormalities in the patients included thin upper lip, clinodactyly, and foot deformity, which were reported previously with duplications in 16q23.3. Pectus excavatum, hip rotation, metatarsus adductus, umbilical hernia, brachycephaly, and esotropia were not reported previously in chromosome 16q duplications but may be features that occur intermittently. The 5p deleted region has been associated previously only with speech delay, which was present in both patients. These patients display certain phenotypic characteristics not reported previously in 16q duplication and confirm 5p terminal deletion as an important chromosome anomaly for speech delay. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Co‐occurrence of Joubert syndrome and Jeune asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy
Authors: Lehman A.M. , Eydoux P. , Doherty D. , Glass I.A. , Chitayat D. , Chung B.Y.H. , Langlois S. , Yong S.L. , Lowry R.B. , Hildebrandt F. , Trnka P.
Published: May 2010

Ciliary disorders share typical features, such as polydactyly, renal and biliary cystic dysplasia, and retinitis pigmentosa, which often overlap across diagnostic entities. We report on two siblings of consanguineous parents and two unrelated children, both of unrelated parents, with co‐occurrence of Joubert syndrome and Jeune asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy, an association that adds to the observation of common final patterns of malformations in ciliary disorders. Using homozygosity mapping in the siblings, we were able to exclude all known genes/loci for both syndromes except for INVS, AHI1, and three genes from the previously described Jeune locus at 15q13. No pathogenic variants were found in these genes by direct sequencing. In the third child reported, sequencing of RPGRIP1L, ARL13B, AHI1, TMEM67, OFD1, CC2D2A, and deletion analysis of NPHP1 showed no mutations. Although this study failed to identify a mutation in the patients tested, the co‐occurrence of Joubert and Jeune syndromes is likely to represent a distinct entity caused by mutations in a yet to be discovered gene. The mechanisms by which certain organ systems are affected more than others in the spectrum of ciliary diseases remain largely unknown. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Lumbocostovertebral syndrome in an infant of a diabetic mother
Authors: Okumus Nurullah , Bas Ahmet Yagmur , Demirel Nihal , Zenciroglu Aysegul , Surmeli Sara , Ceylaner Serdar
Published: May 2010

Congenital lumbar hernia (CLH) is rarely seen in children and the patients with CLH usually have other congenital anomalies. The most common clinical presentation of CLH, previously named lumbocostovertebral syndrome, includes hemivertebrae, absent ribs, and abdominal wall muscle hypoplasia. We report on an infant of a diabetic mother presenting with CLH with other anomalies, and we speculate that this clinical picture fits a developmental field defect associated with maternal diabetes. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A new Ehlers–Danlos syndrome with craniofacial characteristics, multiple congenital contractures, progressive joint and skin laxity, and multisystem fragility‐related manifestations
Authors: Kosho Tomoki , Miyake Noriko , Hatamochi Atsushi , Takahashi Jun , Kato Hiroyuki , Miyahara Teruyoshi , Igawa Yasuhiko , Yasui Hiroshi , Ishida Tadao , Ono Kurahito , Kosuda Takashi , Inoue Akihiko , Kohyama Mohei , Hattori Tadashi , Ohashi Hirofumi , Nishimura Gen , Kawamura Rie , Wakui Keiko , Fukushima Yoshimitsu , Matsumoto Naomichi
Published: May 2010

We previously described two unrelated patients showing characteristic facial and skeletal features, overlapping with the kyphoscoliosis type Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS) but without lysyl hydroxylase deficiency [Kosho et al. (2005) Am J Med Genet Part A 138A:282–287]. After observations of them over time and encounter with four additional unrelated patients, we have concluded that they represent a new clinically recognizable type of EDS with distinct craniofacial characteristics, multiple congenital contractures, progressive joint and skin laxity, and multisystem fragility‐related manifestations. The patients exhibited strikingly similar features according to their age: craniofacial, large fontanelle, hypertelorism, short and downslanting palpebral fissures, blue sclerae, short nose with hypoplastic columella, low‐set and rotated ears, high palate, long philtrum, thin vermilion of the upper lip, small mouth, and micro‐retrognathia in infancy; slender and asymmetric face with protruding jaw from adolescence; skeletal, congenital contractures of fingers, wrists, and hips, and talipes equinovarus with anomalous insertions of flexor muscles; progressive joint laxity with recurrent dislocations; slender and/or cylindrical fingers and progressive talipes valgus and cavum or planus, with diaphyseal narrowing of phalanges, metacarpals, and metatarsals; pectus deformities; scoliosis or kyphoscoliosis with decreased physiological curvatures of thoracic spines and tall vertebrae; cutaneous, progressive hyperextensibility, bruisability, and fragility with atrophic scars; fine palmar creases in childhood to acrogeria‐like prominent wrinkles in adulthood, recurrent subcutaneous infections with fistula formation; cardiovascular, cardiac valve abnormalities, recurrent large subcutaneous hematomas from childhood; gastrointestinal, constipation, diverticula perforation; respiratory, (hemo)pneumothorax; and ophthalmological, strabismus, glaucoma, refractive errors. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mesua ferrea L. seed oil‐based epoxy resins
Authors: Das Gautam , Karak Niranjan
Published: May 2010

Exhaustion of fossil fuels, tremendous increase of materials demand, and unpredictable prices of petroleum based products urge upon the sustainable development. Three different epoxy resins have been synthesized from monoglyceride of Mesua ferrea L. seed oil and epichlorohydrin with and without other dihydroxy compound like tetrabromobisphenol‐A (TBPA) and bisphenol‐A (BPA). The synthesized epoxy resin were characterized by measurement of physical properties like epoxy equivalent, viscosity, hydroxyl value, saponification value, acid value, etc., and spectroscopic techniques like FTIR and 1H NMR. High thermostability with initial decompositions temperature of 225–265°C was observed for the cured resins and 75 mol % BPA based resin exhibits the highest thermostability. Newtonian flow behavior was observed for all resins as indicated by the rheometric study (CVO 100). The flame retardency rating of TBPA based epoxy was found to be V1 as tested by UL 94. The performance characteristics as coating materials were studied by the measurement of gloss, impact resistance, scratch hardness, tensile strength, elongation at break, adhesive strength, and chemical resistance. The results indicate the suitability of the synthesized resins as coating materials. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
Crystalline morphology of PLA/clay nanocomposite films and its correlation with other properties
Authors: Das Kunal , Ray Dipa , Banerjee Indranil , Bandyopadhyay N. R. , Sengupta Suparna , Mohanty Amar K. , Misra Manjusri
Published: May 2010

Polylactic acid (PLA)‐based composite films with four different loadings of nanoclay (2, 5, 10, and 15 wt %) were prepared using a solvent casting method and their crystalline morphology was investigated. The crystalline morphology was significantly different in the films depending on the clay content and its dispersion in the matrix. The clay platelets played the role of nucleating sites facilitating crystallization during solvent evaporation and this effect was most predominant in PLA 10. The % crystallinity and the crystallite size were determined by XRD analysis. The morphology was investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and by atomic force microscopy (AFM). A fibrillar pattern was evident in SEM micrographs, which were confirmed by AFM. The thermal properties were investigated with DSC and TGA. The glass transition temperature (Tg) increased from 51.9 to 55–57°C in all the nanocomposite samples. The melting peak temperature (168°C) remained unaltered in the nanocomposites, but the melting enthalpy varied depending on the PLA/clay interaction. The rate of degradation was controlled by the dispersion of clay platelets in the matrix and was very low in low clay‐filled films. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
BMP‐2 Regulates the Formation of Oral Sulcus in Mouse Tongue by Altering the Balance Between TIMP‐1 and MMP‐13
Authors: Fukui Tadayoshi , Suga Takeo , Iida Ryo‐Hei , Morito Mitsuhiko , Luan Xianghong , Diekwisch Thomas G.H. , Nakamura Yoshiki , Yamane Akira
Published: May 2010

The aim of this study is to investigate whether BMP‐2 regulates the oral sulcus formation of mouse embryonic tongue by modifying the expression of TIMP and MMP. The BMP‐2 siRNA induced a 180% increase in the depth of oral sulcus cavity (P < 0.01) by stimulating the invagination of oral sulcus into the mesenchymal tissues consisting of tongue floor, whereas the recombinant BMP‐2 suppressed the process in the organ culture system of mouse embryonic tongue. The BMP‐2 siRNA induced a 60% decrease in the expression of TIMP‐1 mRNA (P < 0.05) and a drastic decline in TIMP‐1 protein was observed around the oral sulcus in the BMP‐2 siRNA treated mandibles. The recombinant BMP‐2 induced a 220% increases in the expression of TIMP‐1 mRNA and the area of the immunostaining for TIMP‐1 around the oral sulcus was larger in the mandibles treated with the recombinant BMP‐2 than the vehicle. The BMP‐2 siRNA induced a 60% increase in the expression of MMP‐13 protein and a marked increase in the staining intensity for MMP‐13 was observed in the epithelial region of the BMP‐2 siRNA treated mandibles. The recombinant BMP‐2 induced a 70% decrease in the expression of MMP‐13 mRNA and the decrease was mainly observed in the tissues around oral sulcus. The expressions of BMP‐2, TIMP‐1, and MMP‐13 were verified in the tissues around in vivo developing oral sulcus at E11, 12, and 13 by immunohistochemistry. These results suggest that BMP‐2 regulates the formation of oral sulcus by altering the balance between TIMP‐1 and MMP‐13. Anat Rec 293:1408–1415, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of two piwi genes and their expression profile in honeybee, Apis mellifera
Authors: Liao Zhen , Jia Qidong , Li Fei , Han Zhaojun
Published: May 2010

Piwi genes play an important role in regulating spermatogenesis and oogenesis because they participate in the biogenesis of piRNAs, a new class of noncoding RNAs. However, these genes are not well understood in most insects. To understand the function of piwi genes in honeybee reproduction, we amplified two full‐length piwi‐like genes, Am‐aub and Am‐ago3. Both the cloned Am‐aub and Am‐ago3 genes contained typical PAZ and PIWI domains and active catalytic motifs “Asp‐Asp‐Asp/His/Glu/Lys,” suggesting that the two piwi‐like genes possessed slicer activity. We examined the expression levels of Am‐aub and Am‐ago3 in workers, queens, drones, and female larvae by quantitative PCR. Am‐aub was more abundant than Am‐ago3 in all the tested samples. Both Am‐aub and Am‐ago3 were highly expressed in drones but not in workers and queens. The significant finding was that the larval food stream influenced the expression of Piwi genes in adult honeybees. This helps to understand the nutritional control of reproductive status in honeybees at the molecular level. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Chemo‐ and Stereoselective Iron‐Catalyzed Hydrosilylation of Ketones
Authors: Addis Daniele , Shaikh Nadim , Zhou Shaolin , Das Shoubhik , Junge Kathrin , Beller Matthius
Published: May 2010

The reduction of ketones with polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) gives the corresponding alcohols in good to excellent yield applying iron‐based catalyst systems. In the case of prochiral ketones, the use of Fe(OAc)2/(S,S)‐Me‐DuPhos leads to high enantioselectivity up to 99 % ee. The reaction proceeds in the presence of several functional groups such as esters, halides as well as conjugated double bonds, with high chemoselectivity. The advantage of this protocol is that the reaction requires no activating agents or additives.
Object‐based attention benefits reveal selective abnormalities of visual integration in autism
Authors: Falter Christine M. , Grant Kate C. Plaisted , Davis Greg
Published: May 2010

A pervasive integration deficit could provide a powerful and elegant account of cognitive processing in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, in the case of visual Gestalt grouping, typically assessed by tasks that require participants explicitly to introspect on their own grouping perception, clear evidence for such a deficit remains elusive. To resolve this issue, we adopt an index of Gestalt grouping from the object‐based attention literature that does not require participants to assess their own grouping perception. Children with ASD and mental‐ and chronological‐age matched typically developing children (TD) performed speeded orientation discriminations of two diagonal lines. The lines were superimposed on circles that were either grouped together or segmented on the basis of color, proximity or these two dimensions in competition. The magnitude of performance benefits evident for grouped circles, relative to ungrouped circles, provided an index of grouping under various conditions. Children with ASD showed comparable grouping by proximity to the TD group, but reduced grouping by similarity. ASD seems characterized by a selective bias away from grouping by similarity combined with typical levels of grouping by proximity, rather than by a pervasive integration deficit.
A component analysis of a parent‐conducted multi‐component treatment for food selectivity
Authors: Penrod Becky , Wallace Michele D. , Reagon Kara , Betz Alison , Higbee Thomas S.
Published: May 2010

Treatment packages including differential reinforcement of alternative (DRA) behavior and escape prevention in the form of a non‐removal of the spoon procedure have been shown to successfully increase food consumption. However, when these treatment components are introduced simultaneously, the treatment component(s) responsible for behavior change cannot be determined. The purpose of this study was to conduct a sequential component analysis of the following treatment components: Bite fading, manipulation of reinforcer magnitude, and escape prevention. For two participants, food consumption did not increase until after escape prevention was introduced. For one participant, increased food consumption was observed after the magnitude of reinforcement was increased; therefore, escape prevention was not necessary. Results were maintained at a 12‐week follow‐up for all participants. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Immediate and subsequent effects of differential reinforcement of other behavior and noncontingent matched stimulation on stereotypy
Authors: Lanovaz Marc J. , Argumedes Malena
Published: May 2010

A three‐component multiple‐schedule and brief reversals were used to examine the effects of differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) and noncontingent matched stimulation (NMS) on the automatically reinforced mouthing of a child with autism. Both DRO and NMS decreased immediate engagement in mouthing, but NMS produced larger reductions in the behavior. Furthermore, NMS produced subsequent effects (i.e., when the treatment was withdrawn) similar to those of prior access, whereas DRO marginally increased subsequent engagement in mouthing. The results suggest that NMS was a functionally matched intervention for mouthing. Implications for the assessment and treatment of stereotypy and applications for future research are discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Computed tomographic colonography in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer
Authors: Sabanli M , Balasingam A , Bailey W , Eglinton T , Hider P , Frizelle F A
Published: May 2010

Background

This study aimed to determine the sensitivity of computed tomographic colonography (CTC) in diagnosing colorectal cancer and to explore the reasons why these cancers are missed on CTC.

Methods

Patients who underwent CTC in the 56-month period from 1 January 2004 to 1 September 2008, and all cases of colorectal cancer recorded in the National Cancer Registry database from 1 January 2004 to 1 December 2008, were identified. Cases from the two data sets were then matched to identify all patients in whom CTC had been performed more than 6 weeks before a histological report was available. CTC reports and patients' records were reviewed to determine the cancer site, and images were reviewed.

Results

A total of 3888 patients underwent CTC over a 56-month interval. After matching with the National Cancer Registry database, colorectal cancer was identified in 131 patients, whereas it had been suspected on CTC in 123 patients. One of the patients with missed cancer was excluded, leaving seven (5·3 per cent) missed cancers, four of which were located in the caecum. Five cancers were missed because of technical limitations of CTC and two were due to perceptive errors. Systems errors and severe patient co-morbidity contributed to three of the cases. The sensitivity of CTC for colorectal cancer was 95 (95 per cent confidence interval 89 to 98) per cent.

Conclusion

The sensitivity of 95 per cent for CTC in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer compares favourably with that of double-contrast barium enema (92 per cent) and colonoscopy (94 per cent).
Association of visceral adiposity with oesophageal and junctional adenocarcinomas
Authors: Beddy P , Howard J , McMahon C , Knox M , de Blacam C , Ravi N , Reynolds J V , Keogan M T
Published: May 2010

Background

Obesity is associated with an increased incidence of oesophageal and oesophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma, in particular Siewert types I and II. This study compared abdominal fat composition in patients with oesophageal/junctional adenocarcinoma with that in patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma and gastric adenocarcinoma, and in controls.

Method

In total, 194 patients (110 with oesophageal/junctional adenocarcinoma, 38 with gastric adenocarcinoma and 46 with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma) and 90 matched control subjects were recruited. The abdominal fat area was assessed using computed tomography (CT), and the total fat area (TFA), visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) were calculated.

Results

Patients with oesophageal/junctional adenocarcinoma had significantly higher TFA and VFA values compared with controls (both P < 0·001), patients with gastric adenocarcinoma (P = 0·013 and P = 0·006 respectively) and patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (both P < 0·001). For junctional tumours, the highest TFA and VFA values were seen in patients with Siewert type I tumours (respectively P = 0·041 and P = 0·033 versus type III; P = 0·332 and P = 0·152 versus type II).

Conclusion

Patients with oesophageal/junctional adenocarcinoma, in particular oesophageal and Siewert type I junctional tumours, have greater CT-defined visceral adiposity than patients with gastric adenocarcinoma or oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma, or controls.
Cellular requirements for the small molecule forchlorfenuron to stabilize the septin cytoskeleton
Authors: DeMay Bradley S. , Meseroll Rebecca A. , Occhipinti Patricia , Gladfelter Amy S.
Published: May 2010

The septins are filament‐forming, GTP‐binding proteins that are conserved from yeast to humans. Septins assemble into higher‐order structures such as rings, bars, and gauzes with diverse functions including serving as membrane diffusion barriers and scaffolds for cell signaling. The basis for septin filament polymerization and the rules governing septin polymer dynamics are presently not well understood. Pharmacological agents are essential tools in studying such properties of the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons however there are only limited reports of a drug specific to the septin cytoskeleton. Forchlorfenuron (FCF) is a synthetic plant cytokinin used in agriculture which has been shown to alter septin organization in yeast and mammalian tissue culture cells. Here we assess cellular requirements and properties of septin‐based structures induced by FCF. Treatment of the filamentous fungus Ashbya gossypii with FCF leads to assembly of extensive septin fibers throughout hyphae which is rapidly reversed upon removal of the drug. These fibers do not exchange or add septin subunits after assembly, indicating that FCF suppresses normal septin dynamics and stabilizes the polymers. While FCF‐induced septin fibers do not co‐localize to actin or microtubules, a polarized F‐actin cytoskeleton is likely required for the assembly of drug‐induced septin fibers. Thus, FCF is a potent inducer of septin polymerization and acts as a reversible stabilizer of extended septin polymers. This drug will be a powerful tool for studying mechanisms of septin polymerization and function, particularly in cell types where molecular analyses are complicated by the presence of multiple isoforms and limited genetics. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Health‐related quality of life in patients with spinal metastases treated with or without spinal surgery
Authors: Wu Juan , Zheng Wei , Xiao Jian‐Ru , Sun Xun , Liu Wei‐Zhi , Guo Qiang
Published: May 2010

BACKGROUND:

The objective of this study was to determine whether surgery for patients with spinal metastases could improve the quality of remaining life and prolong survival.

METHODS:

In total, 96 patients who had spinal metastases were recruited from Changzheng Hospital at the Second Military Medical University in Shanghai, China, over the period from July 2007 to June 2009. The patients received treatments with or without spinal surgery (surgery group, n = 46 patients; nonsurgery group, n = 50 patients), and all patients received adjuvant therapies according to their original cancer and individual conditions. Patients' quality of life (QOL) was assessed at 5 time points—at the initial diagnosis (baseline) and at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months of follow‐up—using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐General QOL questionnaire. Information on survival also was collected.

RESULTS:

Sixty‐seven of 96 patients completed all 5 follow‐up assessments, including 33 patients in the surgery group and 34 patients in the nonsurgery group. The other 29 patients died within 9 months after the initial diagnosis. At the end of the study (June 2009), 22 patients (47.8%) remained alive in the surgery group, and with 16 patients (32%) remained alive in the nonsurgery group. The surgery group had significantly higher total QOL scores, physical well being scores, emotional well being scores, and functional well being scores than the nonsurgery group over the 9‐month assessment period. There was no statistically significant difference in survival between the 2 groups (P = .056).

CONCLUSIONS:

The current results indicated that surgical treatment greatly improved and maintained the QOL of patients who had spinal metastases over the 9‐month assessment period and that surgery is an effective treatment for spinal metastases. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Surveillance imaging of Hodgkin lymphoma patients in first remission
Authors: Lee Alfred Ian , Zuckerman Dan S. , Van den Abbeele Annick D. , Aquino Suzanne L. , Crowley Diane , Toomey Christiana , Lacasce Ann S. , Feng Yang , Neuberg Donna S. , Hochberg Ephraim P.
Published: May 2010

BACKGROUND:

The majority of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) achieve disease remission after primary therapy. To the best of the authors' knowledge, no consensus exists for postremission surveillance imaging.

METHODS:

Retrospectively analyzed were 192 adult patients with classic HL in first remission. Events were defined as recurrent HL or secondary malignancies. Primary outcome was positive predictive value (PPV) of surveillance positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and CT scans in event detection. Secondary outcomes were costs and radiation exposures of surveillance scans.

RESULTS:

Sixteen events (12 recurrent HL cases and 4 secondary malignancies) were detected during a median follow‐up of 31 months. The PPV of surveillance PET/CT was 22.9% compared with 28.6% for CT (P = .73). Factors that were found to significantly improve the PPV of scans in detecting recurrent HL included PET and CT concordance, involvement of a prior disease site, or the occurrence of a radiographic abnormality within 12 months. There were too few events to determine whether event detection by PET/CT versus CT or the presence of symptoms at the time of event detection affected overall outcomes. The cost to detect a single event was approximately $100,000. Radiation exposure to detect a single event was 146.6 millisieverts per patient for each of 9 patients.

CONCLUSIONS:

For patients with HL in first disease remission, surveillance radiography appears to be expensive, with limited clinical impact. Surveillance CT is generally adequate. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Comparison of intensity‐modulated radiotherapy and 3‐dimensional conformal radiotherapy as adjuvant therapy for gastric cancer
Authors: Minn A. Yuriko , Hsu Annie , La Trang , Kunz Pamela , Fisher George A. , Ford James M. , Norton Jeffrey A. , Visser Brendan , Goodman Karyn A. , Koong Albert C. , Chang Daniel T.
Published: May 2010

BACKGROUND:

The current study was performed to compare the clinical outcomes and toxicity in patients treated with postoperative chemoradiotherapy for gastric cancer using intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) versus 3‐dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D CRT).

METHODS:

Fifty‐seven patients with gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer were treated postoperatively: 26 with 3D CRT and 31 with IMRT. Concurrent chemotherapy was capecitabine (n = 31), 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) (n = 25), or none (n = 1). The median radiation dose was 45 Gy. Dose volume histogram parameters for kidney and liver were compared between treatment groups.

RESULTS:

The 2‐year overall survival rates for 3D CRT versus IMRT were 51% and 65%, respectively (P = .5). Four locoregional failures occurred each in the 3D CRT (15%) and the IMRT (13%) patients. Grade ≥2 acute gastrointestinal toxicity was found to be similar between the 3D CRT and IMRT patients (61.5% vs 61.2%, respectively) but more treatment breaks were needed (3 vs 0, respectively). The median serum creatinine from before radiotherapy to most recent creatinine was unchanged in the IMRT group (0.80 mg/dL) but increased in the 3D CRT group from 0.80 mg/dL to 1.0 mg/dL (P = .02). The median kidney mean dose was higher in the IMRT versus the 3D CRT group (13.9 Gy vs 11.1 Gy; P = .05). The median kidney V20 was lower for the IMRT versus the 3D CRT group (17.5% vs 22%; P = .17). The median liver mean dose for IMRT and 3D CRT was 13.6 Gy and 18.6 Gy, respectively (P = .19). The median liver V30 was 16.1% and 28%, respectively (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy was well tolerated. IMRT was found to provide sparing to the liver and possibly renal function. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Classifying B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma by using MIB‐1 proliferative index in fine‐needle aspirates
Authors: Ali Abdullah E. , Morgen Eric K. , Geddie William R. , Boerner Scott L. , Massey Christine , Bailey Denis J. , da Cunha Santos Gilda
Published: May 2010

BACKGROUND:

MIB‐1 proliferation index (PI) has proven helpful for diagnosis and prognosis in non‐Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs). However, validated cutoff values for use in fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) samples are not available. We investigated MIB‐1 immunocytochemistry as an ancillary technique for stratifying NHL and attempted to establish PI cutpoints in cytologic samples.

METHODS:

B‐cell NHL FNA cases with available cytospins (CS) MIB‐1 immunocytochemistry results were included. Demographic, molecular, immunophenotyping and MIB‐1 PI data were collected from cytologic reports. Cases were subtyped according to the current World Health Organization classification and separated into indolent, aggressive, and highly aggressive groups. Statistical analysis was performed with pairwise Wilcoxon rank sum test and linear discriminant analysis to suggest appropriate PI cutpoints.

RESULTS:

Ninety‐one NHL cases were subdivided in 56 (61.5%) indolent, 30 (33%) aggressive, and 5 (5.5%) highly aggressive lymphomas. The 3 groups had significantly different MIB‐1 PIs from each other. Cutpoints were established for separating indolent (<38%), aggressive (≥38% to ≤80.1%) and highly aggressive (>80.1%). The groups were adequately predicted in 76 cases (83.5%) using the cutpoints and 15 cases showed discrepant PIs.

CONCLUSIONS:

MIB‐1 immunohistochemistry on CS can help to stratify B‐cell NHL and showed a significant increase in PI with tumor aggressiveness. Six misclassified cases had PIs close to the cutpoints. Discrepant MIB‐1 PIs were related to dilution of positive cells by non‐neoplastic lymphocytes and to the overlapping continuum of features between diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma. Validation of our approach in an unrelated, prospective dataset is required. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Responsible leadership: Building blocks of individual, organizational and societal behavior
Authors: Ketola Tarja
Published: May 2010

Responsible leadership achieves the best results when high levels of individual, organizational and societal leadership responsibility coincide. How can one find one's responsible leadership identity in the midst of the changing and chaotic world? The building blocks can be found in psychologist Erik Erikson's way of resolving individual identity crises.

The purpose of this paper is to adapt Erikson's model to individually, organizationally and societally responsible leadership and integrate them to achieve the best results. When working toward a responsible leader's identity, six areas of difficulty should be solved: (1) value basis, (2) self‐image vs external image, (3) time perspective, (4) role experimentation, (5) anticipation of achievement, and (6) leader‐follower relation.

Responsibility and irresponsibility are contagious. Individuals, organizations and societies boost or repress responsible behavior: inspiring leaders pull others to higher ethical levels of behavior; greedy leaders push others back to lower levels of behavior. Be a responsible leader: care and dare. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Vascular access graft thrombosis by iatrogenic fistula
Authors: Hwang Jeong Kye , Moon In Sung , Kim Ji Il
Published: May 2010

Prosthetic arteriovenous graft thrombosis is multifactorial and includes stenosis of the graft‐venous and graft‐arterial anastomosis, excessive compression for hemostasis at the end of dialysis, complication of dialysis needle placement, hypotension, hypovolemia, and hypercoagulable states. We report a case of arteriovenous graft thrombosis resulting from a traumatic fistula between an arteriovenous graft and the adjacent basilic vein related to repeated cannulation. A 49‐year‐old female with end‐stage renal disease visited our department with a thrombosed left forearm arteriovenous graft. On physical examination, there was strong pulsation on the arterial limb of the graft, but no thrill and bruit on the venous limb. Fistulography was performed for endovascular treatment of the arteriovenous graft thrombosis. However, it showed a fistula arising from the dialysis graft and communicating with the adjacent basilic vein. The purpose of this discussion is to highlight a rare cause of vascular access graft thrombosis including etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
Relationships between behavioral disturbances and cognitive function in elderly hemodialysis patients
Authors: Abo Shoko , Yamabe Hideaki , Urusizaka Mayumi , Ono Noriko , Narumi Choko
Published: May 2010

OBJECTIVE

We studied the relationships between behavioral disturbances, cognitive function, and patient characteristics in elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis.

METHODS

The study included 15 patients $65 years of age who were undergoing hemodialysis. Cognitive function was assessed using Hasegawa's Dementia Scale Revised Version (HDS‐R).The patients' nursing and dialysis records were scrutinized for 30 behavioral disturbance items and the numbers of items identified over a 6‐month period were recorded.

RESULTS

Relationships were detected between the levels of cognitive function and the total number of behavioral disturbances or specific behavioral disturbances. Behavioral disturbances appeared more frequently in the patients who were elderly, female, and who lived in care facilities.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that some behavioral disturbances in elderly hemodialysis patients are related to the levels of cognitive function and particular characteristics of the patients.
Monophasic parapharyngeal synovial sarcoma diagnosed by cytology, immunocytochemistry, and molecular pathology: Case report and review of the literature
Authors: Ouansafi Ihsane , Klein Melissa , Sugrue Chiara , Morgenstern Nora , Frank Douglas , Wasserman Patricia
Published: May 2010

Synovial sarcoma (SS) of the head and neck region are rare, accounting for less than 10% of all head and neck soft tissue sarcomas. A limited number of SS have been reported in the parapharyngeal space and these reports have all been based on histological examination of resection material. The diagnosis of monophasic SS on cytology is extremely difficult. We report the first case where a SS was correctly diagnosed on a fine needle aspirate by cytology with the assistance of immunocytochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization. We will emphasize the importance of ancillary techniques, such as immunocytochemistry and cytogenetic/molecular pathology, in avoiding diagnostic pitfalls and correctly diagnosing monophasic SS on cytologic material. We will propose an algorithmic approach to accurately diagnose parapharyngeal spindle cell neoplasms with the use of appropriate ancillary studies in conjunction to morphological features. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2010;38:822–827. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Littoral cell angioma of the spleen diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration biopsy
Authors: Nagarajan Priyadharsini , Cai Gouping , Padda Manmeet S. , Selbst Megan , Kowalski Diane , Proctor Deborah D. , Chhieng David , Aslanian Harry R. , Harigopal Malini
Published: May 2010

Littoral cell angiomas are uncommon primary vascular neoplasms that arise from the sinusoidal lining or littoral cells of the splenic red pulp, and hence are unique to the spleen. We report a case of littoral cell angioma in 34‐year‐old woman, which was diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (EUS‐FNAB). The cytologic features of littoral cell angiomas have been described only in three previous case reports, one of which was a bench‐top aspirate. In our case, we have utilized the fine‐needle aspiration samples obtained by a linear endoscopic ultrasound examination for establishing the diagnosis. The characteristic cytologic features identified on the smears along with immunohistochemical analysis performed on the compact cellblock prepared from the aspirate aided in the confirmation of the diagnosis. We suggest that EUS‐FNAB is a safe and reliable method in the diagnosis of vascular lesions of the spleen. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2011;39:318–322. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reliability of Her2/neu, estrogen receptor, and progesterone receptor testing by immunohistochemistry on cell block of FNA and serous effusions from patients with primary and metastatic breast carcinoma
Authors: Shabaik Ahmed , Lin Grace , Peterson Michael , Hasteh Farnaz , Tipps Ann , Datnow Brian , Weidner Noel
Published: May 2010

The prognostic and predictive value of Her2/neu and the hormone receptors in patient with primary or metastatic breast cancer is essential for a favorable outcome of treatment. We have been experiencing increasing requests to test cytologic specimens for these markers in patients with metastatic breast carcinoma. A recent study threw some doubts on the validity of such testing using cell blocks. In this study we compared our immunohistochemical Her2/neu, ER and PR testing performed on 42 formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded cell blocks from 27 fine needle aspirations (FNA) and 15 serous effusions of 42 patients with metastatic (n = 38) and primary (n = 4) breast carcinoma to the test results obtained on tissue sections. In seven cases the Her2/neu immunohistochemistry (IHC) results on cell blocks were also compared with Her2/neu fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on tissue or cell block. The study revealed 100% correlation for positive and negative Her2/neu results. For ER testing the results showed 85.7% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value (PPV), and 85.7% negative predictive value (NPV). For PR testing the results showed 80% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% PPV, and 88.8% NPV respectively. In conclusion, IHC for Her2/neu, ER and PR performed on formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded cell blocks prepared from fresh FNA and serous fluid is reliable in predicting the expression of these markers when correlated with IHC and FISH performed on the corresponding tumor tissue. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2011;39:328–332. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Objective assessment of conjunctival squamous metaplasia by measures of cell and nucleus dimensions
Authors: Doughty Michael J.
Published: May 2010

The main aim of this work is to present a special method for conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) and objective measures of measure cell and nucleus dimensions.

CIC using Millicell® Biopore filters was obtained from 50 Caucasian adults from the nasal bulbar conjunctiva. Giemsa‐stained images of cells in a monolayer were photographed with a scale bar and projected at 1,500× to generate an overlay. Measures were made of both the long (L) and short (S) dimensions of the cells and the longest dimension of the nucleus (LN). The selected images comprised sets of 10 from different individuals, which had been assigned grades 0, 1, 2, or 3 and an additional grade 0.5.

L ranged from 18.4 to 65.2 μm, S from 13.1 to 47.1 μm, to give average cell shape values (L:S ratio) of between 1.259 and 1.890. L and S were smallest for grade 0 cells (group mean 19.8 ± 1.1 and 14.8 ± 1.2 μm) and largest for grade 3 cells (group 51.2 ± 7.2 and 37.2 ± 4.7 μm), with no difference in L:S ratios across the cell grades. Longest dimension of the nucleus (NL) values ranged from 8.7 to 14.5 μm, with group mean values of 9.8 ± 0.6 μm for grade 0 cells and 12.9 ± 1.2 μm for grade 3 cells. NL was nonlinearly associated with L.

Measures of conjunctival cell and nucleus dimensions can be used to objectively distinguish between cells assigned different grades of squamous metaplasia, with slight nucleus enlargement being the earliest detectable change (at grade 0.5). Diagn. Cytopathol. 2011;39:409–423. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ontogeny of energy homeostatic pathways via neuroendocrine signaling in Atlantic salmon
Authors: Moen Anne‐Grethe Gamst , Murashita Koji , Finn Roderick Nigel
Published: May 2010

Leptin and ghrelin are known to regulate energy homeostasis via hypothalamic neuropeptide signaling in mammals. Recent studies have discovered that these hormones exist in teleosts, however, very little is known concerning their role during teleost ontogeny. Here, we have examined the steady state levels of leptins, ghrelins, their target neuropetides and several growth factors during Atlantic salmon development. Initial experiments revealed differential expression of leptin genes and ghrelin isoforms during embryogenesis. In larvae, equal upregulation of ghrl1 and ghrl2 was observed just prior to exogenous feeding while a surge of lepa1 occurred one week after first‐feeding. Subsequent dissection of the embryos and larvae showed that lepa1, cart, pomca1, and agrp are supplied as maternal transcripts. The earliest zygotic expression was observed for lepa1 and cart at 320 day degrees. By 400 day degrees, this expression was localized to the head and coincided with upregulation of ghrl2 and npy. Over the hatching period growth factor signaling predominated. The ghrelin surge prior to first‐feeding was exclusively localized in the internal organs and coincided with upregulation of npy and agrp in the head and agrp in the trunk. One week after exogenous feeding was established major peaks were detected in the head for lepa1 and pomca1 with increasing levels of cart, while lepa1 was also significantly expressed in the trunk. By integrating theses data into an ontogenetic model, we suggest that the mediation of Atlantic salmon energy homeostatic pathways via endocrine and neuropeptide signaling retains putative features of the mammalian system. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 70: 649–658, 2010
Photonic‐crystal surface‐emitting laser
Authors: Miyai Eiji , Noda Susumu
Published: May 2010

The unique properties of a photonic‐crystal surface‐emitting laser are reported. Single‐mode operation over a large area can be achieved due to the effect of zero group velocity in the band edge mode. This leads to high‐power operation and on‐demand beam control. Various beam patterns, including doughnut, multiple doughnuts, and circular, are generated by the design of the lattice structure, and show potential for application in various fields. Furthermore, the output power almost reaches 1 W under pulsed conditions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 93(6): 48–53, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10199
Early phase discharge voltage characteristics of La0.5Sr0.5CoO3used as a cathode material
Authors: Ichibakase Tsuyoshi
Published: May 2010

La0.5Sr0.5CoO3was used as a cathode material for the first time in plasma display panels installed in handheld personal computers. It has favorable antisputtering characteristics and stable discharge characteristics in gases. Cathodes made of La0.5Sr0.5CoO3have a unique early‐phase discharge voltage characteristic, in which the discharge voltage continues to decrease from the starting value. In this report, the discharge voltage shift of La0.5Sr0.5CoO3was investigated by analysis of a DC plasma panel that was fabricated as a prototype. It is assumed that the discharge voltage shift is caused by a current density shift in the cathode surface, and that the current density shift is caused by the surface profile of the cathode particles. In order to elucidate the mechanism involved, a spherical model was applied to the variation of the discharge voltage, and the calculated and measured values were compared. The calculated values correspond approximately to the measured values. This spherical model is useful for predicting the change in the discharge voltage up to the attainment of its minimum value. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 93(6): 41–47, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10201
Detection of metastable excited molecules N2(A3Σu+) in an atmospheric pressure nitrogen discharge by Raman scattering
Authors: Fukuchi Tetsuo
Published: May 2010

Raman scattering from metastable excited nitrogen molecules N2(A3Σu+) created by an impulse discharge in nitrogen at atmospheric pressure was detected. A pulsed Nd:YAG laser at a wavelength of 266 nm was used as the light source, and Raman scattering from N2(A3Σu+) at a wavelength of 277 nm was detected using an interference filter and photomultiplier tube. The filter had sufficient rejection of Rayleigh scattering of laser light at a wavelength of 266 nm and of Raman scattering from ground‐state nitrogen molecules N2(X1Σg+) at a wavelength of 284 nm. The temporal variation of the signal intensity of Raman scattering from N2(A3Σu+) was measured by transmitting the laser light at different time delays relative to sparkover. The results showed that the signal intensity decayed with a time constant of about 200µs. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 93(6): 34–40, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10205
Dual‐band microstrip‐line BPFs using tap‐coupling resonators
Authors: Okuzaki Nobuhiko , Shimakata Yukihiro , Yamauchi Mitsuyuki , Wada Kouji , Iwasaki Takashi
Published: May 2010

We focused on various dual‐band microstrip‐line bandpass filters (BPFs) based on tap‐coupled resonators. Three types of BPFs, the basic type, multiple‐pole type, and wideband type, were proposed and designed by classical filter theory based on the narrowband approximation method. These filters were analyzed by original computation programs and commercial circuit and electromagnetic simulators. The proposed BPFs were then fabricated and measured in the laboratory. The results confirm that the proposed BPFs produce dual passband response, multiple attenuation poles, and wide‐passband characteristics. Very good agreement is found between the results of simulations and experiments. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 93(6): 25–33, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10212
A state predictor‐based reinforcement learning system
Authors: Kobayashi Kunikazu , Nakano Koji , Kuremoto Takashi , Obayashi Masanao
Published: May 2010

The present paper proposes a new reinforcement learning (RL) system called a state predictor‐based RL system in order to solve the explosion of state space and create cooperative behaviors in multiagent systems. The proposed system realizes a predictive function by representing both the present and the next state‐action groups with ITPM, an incremental topology map. The proposed system is applied to the pursuit problem, and its performance is evaluated by comparison with the conventional RL method in computer simulations. The experimental results show that the proposed system can appropriately learn in a complex environment which is hardly solved by the conventional RL. Furthermore, it is confirmed that the proposed system can acquire cooperative strategies. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 93(6): 8–18, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10258