bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tribological behavior of a carbon‐nanofiber‐modified santoprene thermoplastic elastomer under dry sliding and fretting conditions against steel
Authors: Karger‐Kocsis J. , Felhös D. , Thomann R.
Published: January 2008

Vapor‐grown carbon nanofiber (CNF) was incorporated in concentrations of 0.9 and 4.5 wt % into a thermoplastic dynamic vulcanizate (TPV), Santoprene 8201‐80HT, by melt blending. CNF was introduced from its aqueous dispersion with crumb ethylene/propylene/diene rubber as the carrier. The dispersion of the CNF was studied with transmission electron microscopy. The TPV compounds were characterized by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, hardness measurements, and tensile and tear tests. For their tribotesting, different test configurations (pin on plate and roller on plate, where the plate was always the rubber) were adopted. The oscillation wear (fretting) of the CNF‐modified TPVs was also studied. The coefficient of friction and specific wear rate of the TPVs were determined for each tribotest. These friction and wear parameters strongly depended on the tribotests' configurations. With increasing CNF content, the coefficient of friction and wear rate decreased for the pin‐on‐plate configuration. On the other hand, no such clear tendency could be deduced for the roller‐on‐plate configuration and fretting. The worn surfaces of the specimens were inspected with scanning electron microscopy, and the related mechanisms were discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Application of fractional calculus to the modeling of the complex rheological behavior of polymers: From the glass transition to flow behavior. I. The theoretical model
Authors: Reyes‐Melo M. E. , González‐González V. A. , Guerrero‐Salazar C. A. , García‐Cavazos F. , Ortiz‐Méndez U.
Published: January 2008

A model based on the concept of fractional calculus is proposed for the description of the dynamic elastic modulus (E* = E′ + iE″, where E* is the complex modulus, E′ is the storage modulus, or real part of the complex modulus, and E″ is the loss modulus, or imaginary part of the complex modulus) under isothermal and isochronal conditions for amorphous polymers, including both the glass transition process and the flow behavior. The differential equations obtained for this model, which we call the extended fractional Zener model (EFZM), have differential and/or integral operators of fractional order between 0 and 1. The application of the Fourier transform to the fractional equation of the EFZM, the association of their parameters to the relaxation times of the cooperative or noncooperative molecular movements of polymer chains, and the isothermal and isochronal diagrams of E′ and tan δ = E″/E′ were evaluated. These theoretical diagrams were typical curves that clearly showed the glass‐transition (α‐relaxation) and flow behavior. The EFZM will enable us to analyze the complex rheological behavior of amorphous polymers. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Preparation and characterization of polyimide/Al2O3 hybrid films by sol–gel process
Authors: Ma Pengchang , Nie Wei , Yang Zhenghua , Zhang Peihong , Li Gang , Lei Qingquan , Gao Lianxun , Ji Xiangling , Ding Mengxian
Published: January 2008

A sol–gel process has been developed to prepare polyimide (PI)/Al2O3 hybrid films with different contents of Al2O3 based on pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and 4,4′‐oxydianiline (ODA) as monomers. FESEM and TEM images indicated that Al2O3 particles are relatively well dispersed in the polyimide matrix after ultrasonic treatment of the sol from aluminum isopropoxide and thermal imidization of the gel film. The dimensional stability, thermal stability, mechanical properties of hybrid PI films were improved obviously by an addition of adequate Al2O3 content, whereas, dielectric property and the elongation at break decreased with the increase of Al2O3 content. Surprisingly, the corona‐resistance property of hybrid film was improved greatly with increasing Al2O3 content within certain range as compared with pure PI film. Especially, the hybrid film with 15 wt % of Al2O3 content exhibited obviously enhanced corona‐resistance property, which was explained by the formation of compact Al2O3 network in hybrid film. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Converting waste plastic containing acrylonitrile into a water‐absorbent polymer
Authors: Inagaki Yasuhito
Published: January 2008

Waste ABS (acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene) resin and waste AS (acrylonitrile‐styrene) resin used for videocassettes were converted into a water‐absorbent polymer. Concretely, these waste resins containing acrylonitrile were made to react with heated high‐concentration sulfuric acid. In this chemical modification, the acrylonitrile portion and the styrene portion in the AS resin were hydrolyzed and sulfonated, respectively. We studied the relationship between the water absorbency of the modified waste AS and the conditions of chemical modification. It was confirmed that the water absorbency greatly depends on the degree of hydrolysis of the acrylonitrile portion in the waste AS resin. We have succeeded in developing a water‐absorbent polymer, which can absorb water of about 800 times of its own weight by the chemical modification of the waste AS resin. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008.
Physicochemical study of the complexation of poly(acrylic acid) with Cu2+ ions in water
Authors: Iatridi Z. , Bokias G. , Kallitsis J. K.
Published: January 2008

The complexation of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) with Cu2+ ions in a dilute aqueous solution has been investigated as a function of the mixing molar ratio of the two species and the neutralization degree (i) of PAA by means of turbidimetry, viscometry, potentiometry, and ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectrophotometry. Turbidimetry reveals that, for i > 0.1, phase separation takes place when the mixing ratio approaches the critical value of two carboxylate ions per Cu2+ ion, which is indicative of the formation of a 2 : 1 polymer/metal complex. This complex is very compact, as evidenced by the very low reduced viscosity values obtained just before phase separation. The variation of the fraction of complexed carboxylate anions and complexed Cu2+ ions can be followed as a function of the mixing ratio and i from the analysis of the potentiometric results for i < 0.5. Finally, the combination of the potentiometric and UV–vis spectrophotometric results supports the idea that both mononuclear and binuclear PAA/Cu2+ complexes are formed in an aqueous solution, depending on the mixing ratio and i. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Synthesis and Cytotoxicity of Platinum(II) Complexes of a Physiologically Active Carrier Histamine
Authors: Chen Xi‐Zhu , Ye Qing‐Song , Lou Li‐Guang , Xie Ming‐Jin , Liu Wei‐Ping , Yu Yao , Hou Shu‐Qian
Published: January 2008

A series of novel platinum(II) complexes involving a physiologically active carrier histamine as the carrier,cis‐[Pt(histamine)X2] (X2= 2Cl–, oxalate, malonate, 1,1‐cyclobutanedicarboxylate (CBDCA), 3‐hydroxy‐1,1‐cyclobutanedicarboxylate (HO‐CBDCA)), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic data along with X‐ray crystal structure for a representative complexcis‐[Pt(histamine)Cl2]. The cytotoxicity of the complexes has also been assessed in the human cancer cell lines A549/ATCC, HT‐29, and LNcap. One complex,cis‐[Pt(histamine)Cl2], is more active than carboplatin against both the sensitive and resistant cells.
A conserved stable core structure in the passenger domain β‐helix of autotransporter virulence proteins
Authors: Renn Jonathan P. , Clark Patricia L.
Published: January 2008

In Gram‐negative bacteria, a wide variety of virulence factors are secreted via the autotransporter (AT) pathway. Intriguingly, there is no significant concentration of ATP in the periplasm, nor a proton gradient across the OM, so the energetic origin of efficient secretion of AT proteins is unknown. More than 97% of AT proteins are predicted to contain right‐handed parallel β‐helical structure, and the three crystal structures available for AT passenger domains each contain a long right‐handed parallel β‐helix. Previous studies have shown that pertactin, an AT from Bordetella pertussis, exhibits three‐state folding and has a C‐terminal stable core structure. Here, we show that Pet, an unrelated AT from Escherichia coli, also exhibits three‐state unfolding and also has a stable core structure. Deletion mutants, mass spectrometry, and N‐terminal sequencing demonstrate that the Pet stable core is also located near the C‐terminus of the passenger domain. Moreover, sequence analysis suggests that three‐state folding and a C‐terminal stable core structure could be important general features of the biogenesis of AT proteins in vivo. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 89: 420–427, 2008.

This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com
Determination of caudatin‐2,6‐dideoxy‐3‐O‐methy‐β‐d‐cymaropyranoside in rat plasma using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Peng Yunru , Li Youbin , Wang Dawei , Liu Xiaodong , Zhang Jianfeng , Qian Shihui , Duan Jinao
Published: January 2008

A selective, sensitive and rapid liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed for the determination of caudatin‐2,6‐dideoxy‐3‐O‐methy‐β‐d‐cymaropyranoside (CDMC) in rat plasma. This method involves a plasma clean‐up step using liquid–liquid extraction, followed by LC separation and positive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry detection (LC/ESI‐MS/MS). Chromatographic separation of the analytes was achieved using a C18 column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile and water (70:30, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Low energy collision tandem mass spectrometric analysis (CID‐MS/MS) using the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was used for analyte quantification. For the MRM analysis of CDMC, the following transition at m/z 658.4 → 529.6 derived from the protonated molecule [M + Na]+. A calibration curve was linear in the 5–500 ng/mL range for CDMC, and the limit of detection was 5 ng/mL. The inter‐ and intra‐day precisions (RSD) were ≤8.5 and ≤9.1%, respectively. The accuracy (RE) was ± 10.9%. The novel developed LC/ESI‐MS/MS method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic studies of CDMC after oral administration to rats. The total chromatographic run time of this method was 5.0 min per sample, allowing for analysis of a large number of samples per batch. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The posterior inferior cerebellar artery and its branches in relation to the cerebellomedullary fissure
Authors: Ucerler H. , Saylam C. , Cagli S. , Orhan M. , Zileli M.
Published: January 2008

The conventional approach to the fourth ventricle is by splitting the vermis on the suboccipital surface of the cerebellum. By a unilateral transcerebellomedullary fissure approach, it is possible to provide sufficient operative space from cerebral aqueduct to obex without splitting the vermis. This approach needs meticulous dissection of the cerebellomedullary fissure and preservation of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) and its branches. The tonsillomedullary and telovelotonsillar segments of the PICA are the most important vessels encountered in the transcerebellomedullary fissure approach. The PICA was examined under a surgical microscope in a total of 40 specimens by perfusing with a mixture of 10% Indian ink and gelatin. The passing of the tonsillomedullary segment of the PICA through the cerebellomedullary fissure was observed superior to the tonsil in 5%, at the level of the upper pole of the tonsil in 17.5%, at the middle of the tonsil in 37.5% and at the level of the lower pole of the tonsil in 37.5% specimens. When the PICA arose from the lateral medullary (LM) segment of the vertebral artery (VA), a caudal loop was present in 90%, when the PICA originated from the premedullary segment of the VA, the loop was present in 87.5% specimens. When the PICA arose from the basilar artery (BA), the loop was absent, and the tonsillomedullary segment of the PICA showed a straight course (100%). A thorough understanding of the relationship of the branches of the PICA to the cerebellar tonsils are prerequisites for surgery in and around the fourth ventricle. Clin. Anat. 21:119–126, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Indoloquinolizidine Derivatives as Novel and Potent Apoptosis Inducers and Cell‐Cycle Blockers
Authors: Wehner Frank , Nören‐Müller Andrea , Müller Oliver , Reis‐Corrêa Ivan , Giannis Athanassios , Waldmann Herbert
Published: January 2008

A collection of approximately 11 000 natural‐product derived and inspired compounds was screened for potential apoptosis inducers in the human tumour cell lines HepG2 (liver), HeLa (cervix) and MCF‐7 (breast) by means of MTT and ATP‐luminescence assays, automated cell counting, caspase 3/7 assay as well as by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. A group of seven indoloquinolizidine derivatives was identified that exhibited IC50 values for cell proliferation as low as 2 μmol L−1, with no major necrosis of cells detectable. At the same time, an increase in the rate of apoptosis of up to 600 % relative to the reference level was observed. FACS analysis indicated that these effects are related to an arrest of cells in the G2M phase of the cell cycle.
New Synthesis of 2‐Heteroarylperfluoropropionic Acids Derivatives by Reaction of Azine N‐Oxides with Hexafluoropropene
Authors: Loska Rafał , Mąkosza Mieczysław
Published: January 2008

Hexafluoropropene reacts with aromatic azine N‐oxides under mild conditions to produce fluorides of 2‐heteroarylperfluoropropionic acids. The reaction proceeds as 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition followed by spontaneous scission of the NO bond in the isoxazolidine ring and elimination of HF. When the reaction is carried out in the presence of alcohols or N‐alkyl anilines, the in situ formed acyl fluorides give the corresponding esters and amides. They can be also treated separately with nucleophiles to produce the respective acylation products, whereas their hydrolysis leads to unstable carboxylic acids that undergo spontaneous decarboxylation to 1‐aryl‐1,2,2,2‐tetrafluoroethanes. This new reaction provides a simple and general method of synthesizing 2‐heteroarylperfluoropropionic acid derivatives that were previously unknown and unavailable.
Direct Thermal Decomposition of Metal Nitrates in Octadecylamine to Metal Oxide Nanocrystals
Authors: Wang Ding‐Sheng , Xie Ting , Peng Qing , Zhang Shao‐Yan , Chen Jun , Li Ya‐Dong
Published: January 2008

We have developed a method for the synthesis of metal oxide nanocrystals with controllable shape and size, which is based on the direct thermal decomposition of metal nitrates in octadecylamine. Mn3O4 nanoparticles and nanorods with different lengths were synthesized by using manganese nitrate as the decomposition material. Other metal oxide nanocrystals such as NiO, ZnO, CeO2, CoO, and Co3O4 were also prepared by this method. These nanocrystals were then assembled into 3D colloidal spheres by a surfactant‐assisted self‐assembly process. Subsequently, calcination was carried out to remove the surfactants to obtain mesoporous metal oxides, which show large pores, good crystallization, thermally stable pore mesostructures, and potential applications in various fields, especially in catalysis and lithium‐ion batteries.
A phase 2 trial of fludarabine and mitoxantrone chemotherapy followed by yttrium‐90 ibritumomab tiuxetan for patients with previously untreated, indolent, nonfollicular, non‐Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Zinzani Pier Luigi , Tani Monica , Fanti Stefano , Stefoni Vittorio , Musuraca Gerardo , Vitolo Umberto , Perrotti Alessio , Fina Mariapaola , Derenzini Enrico , Baccarani Michele
Published: January 2008

BACKGROUND

A prospective, single‐arm, open‐label, nonrandomized Phase 2 study of combined fludarabine and mitoxantrone (FM) plus radioimmunotherapy was conducted to evaluate efficacy and safety in patients with untreated, indolent, nonfollicular non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

METHODS

Between February 2005 and June 2006, at their institute, the authors treated 26 eligible patients with previously untreated, indolent, nonfollicular NHL (10 marginal zone lymphomas, 8 lymphoplasmacytic lymphomas, and 8 small lymphocytic lymphomas) using a novel regimen that consisted of 6 cycles of FM chemotherapy followed 6 to 10 weeks later by yttrium‐90 (90Y) ibritumomab tiuxetan.

RESULTS

After FM chemotherapy, the overall response rate was 80.5% and included a 50% complete remission (CR) rate (13 patients) and a 30.5% partial remission (PR) rate (8 patients). Of the 20 patients (13 with CR and 7 with PR) who were evaluable (at least a PR with normal platelet counts and bone marrow infiltration <25%) for subsequent 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan, 100% obtained a CR at the end of the entire treatment regimen. At a median follow‐up of 20 months, the estimated 3‐year progression‐free survival rate was 89.5%, and the estimated 3‐year overall survival rate was 100%. The 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan toxicity included grade ≥3 hematologic toxicity in 16 of 20 patients; the most common grade ≥3 toxicities were neutropenia (11 patients) and thrombocytopenia (16 patients) (adverse events were graded according to the World Health Organization criteria for toxicity). Transfusions of erythrocytes and/or platelets were given to 5 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study established the feasibility, tolerability, and efficacy of the FM plus 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan regimen for the treatment of patients with untreated, indolent, nonfollicular NHL. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Survival benefits and trends in use of adjuvant therapy among elderly stage II and III rectal cancer patients in the general population
Authors: Dobie Sharon A. , Warren Joan L. , Matthews Barbara , Schwartz David , Baldwin Laura‐Mae , Billingsley Kevin
Published: January 2008

BACKGROUND

This study examined elderly stage II and III rectal cancer patients' adjuvant chemoradiation therapy adherence, trends in adherence over time, and the relation of levels of adherence to mortality.

METHODS

The authors studied 2886 stage II and III rectal cancer patients who had surgical resection and who appeared in 1992–1999 linked SEER‐Medicare claims data. The authors compared measures of adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy receipt and completion between stage II and III patients. Adjusted risk of cancer‐related 5‐year mortality was calculated by multivariate logistic regression for different levels of chemoradiation adherence among stage II and III patients.

RESULTS

Of the 2886 patients, 45.4% received both adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy. Stage III patients were more likely to receive chemoradiation than stage II patients. The receipt of chemoradiation by stage II patients increased significantly from 1992 to 1999. Stage III patients were more likely to complete radiation therapy (96.6%), chemotherapy (68.2%), and both modalities (67.5%) than stage II patients (91.5%, 49.8%, 47.6%, respectively). Only a complete course of both radiation and chemotherapy for both stage II (relative risk [RR] 0.74; 95% CI, 0.54, 0.97) and III (RR 0.80; 95% CI, 0.65, 0.96) decreased the adjusted 5‐year cancer mortality risk compared with counterparts with no adjuvant therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Even though stage II rectal cancer patients were less likely than stage III patients to receive and complete adjuvant chemoradiation, both patient groups in the general population had lower cancer‐related mortality if they completed chemoradiation. These patients deserve support and encouragement to complete treatment. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Nonplatinum‐based chemotherapy with irinotecan plus docetaxel for advanced or metastatic olfactory neuroblastoma
Authors: Kiyota Naomi , Tahara Makoto , Fujii Satoshi , Kawashima Mitsuhiko , Ogino Takashi , Minami Hironobu , Hayashi Ryuichi , Ohtsu Atsushi
Published: January 2008

BACKGROUND

The efficacy and safety of chemotherapy with irinotecan plus docetaxel were retrospectively evaluated for olfactory neuroblastoma.

METHODS

Twelve patients with histologically proven advanced or metastatic olfactory neuroblastoma were treated with chemotherapy with irinotecan plus docetaxel at the study institution between 2001 and 2005. Of these, 7 patients with locoregional disease and no prior radiotherapy received irinotecan plus docetaxel followed by definitive radiotherapy, 1 with photon radiotherapy and 6 with proton radiotherapy, whereas 3 patients with distant metastases and 2 with locoregional disease who had received prior radiotherapy received irinotecan plus docetaxel only.

RESULTS

The most common toxicities of ≥grade 3 among the 12 patients receiving irinotecan plus docetaxel were leukopenia (33%), neutropenia (50%), febrile neutropenia (8%), and diarrhea (25%), all of which were manageable. Partial response was achieved in 3 patients, giving an overall response rate of 25%. The response rate was higher in patients aged <50 years (3 of 4 patients) compared with those aged >50 years (0 of 8 patients) (P = .018). With a median follow‐up period of 22.2 months, the median progression‐free survival and overall survival were 13.6 months and 36.6 months, respectively. Of the 7 patients with locoregional disease also receiving definitive radiotherapy, the 2‐year survival rate was 100% and 6 patients were alive at the time of last follow‐up.

CONCLUSIONS

Chemotherapy for olfactory neuroblastoma with irinotecan plus docetaxel is safe and manageable. Patients aged <50 years may be sensitive to chemotherapy. Induction chemotherapy followed by definitive radiotherapy may represent a promising option for patients with locally advanced olfactory neuroblastoma. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Is mode of breast cancer detection associated with cancer treatment in the United States?
Authors: Yabroff K. Robin , Harlan Linda C. , Clegg Limin X. , Ballard‐Barbash Rachel , Stevens Jennifer , Weaver Donald L.
Published: January 2008

BACKGROUND

The prognosis for women who have breast cancer detected by mammography is more favorable than that for women who have breast cancer detected by other methods, even after controlling for tumor characteristics. In the current study, the authors explored whether detection by mammography was associated with greater use of guideline‐consistent breast cancer treatment among patients with recently diagnosed breast cancer in the United States.

METHODS

The authors evaluated the association between mode of breast cancer detection (mammography vs other) and use of guideline‐consistent treatment in 1006 women aged ≥40 years who were diagnosed in 2000. These patients were sampled from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program as part of the Patterns of Care studies. The analyses controlled for the potential confounders of clinical, demographic, and health system characteristics in multivariate logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Breast cancer patients who were diagnosed by mammography were more likely to be aged ≥55 years, to have lower stage disease, and to be treated in larger hospitals than patients who were diagnosed by other methods (P < .05). Women whose breast cancer was diagnosed by a method other than mammography were more likely to receive guideline‐consistent treatment than women who were diagnosed by mammography in unadjusted (odds ratio, 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–1.80) and multivariate analyses (odds ratio, 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–1.95).

CONCLUSIONS

The current results indicated that women who had breast cancer detected by methods other than mammography were slightly more likely to receive guideline‐consistent therapy than women who had breast cancer detected by mammography. Future research exploring mode of detection, guideline‐consistent treatment, and survival among patients with recently diagnosed breast cancer may inform understanding of factors associated with breast cancer prognosis. Cancer 2008. Published 2008 by the American Cancer Society.
Determinants of breast cancer knowledge among newly diagnosed, low‐income, medically underserved women with breast cancer
Authors: Chen Judy Y. , Diamant Allison L. , Thind Amardeep , Maly Rose C.
Published: January 2008

BACKGROUND

Among women with breast cancer (BC), greater BC knowledge has been associated with greater participation in treatment decision‐making, patient satisfaction, and survival. The objective of this study was to identify modifiable determinants associated with BC knowledge.

METHODS

Data were collected from a telephone survey of medically underserved women with BC in California (n = 909). The dependent variable for analysis was BC knowledge. The modifiable determinants that were assessed included 1) physician‐patient discussion of BC topics, 2) receipt of written BC‐related material, 3) self‐efficacy in interacting with physicians, 4) physician emotional support, 5) discussions with a BC survivor, and 6) office visit support by relatives/friends. Multivariate linear regression was used to examine the effect of those determinants on BC knowledge while controlling for socioeconomic factors, clinical characteristics, and treatment received.

RESULTS

The average knowledge score was 6.9 (standard deviation, 2.3; range, 0–10). In multivariate analyses among women with less physician emotional support, those with the greatest self‐efficacy had higher knowledge scores than those with the least self‐efficacy (8.2 vs 5.4; P < .001). For women with low self‐efficacy, those with more physician emotional support had higher knowledge scores than those with less physician emotional support when the analysis was controlled for confounding factors (6.3 vs 5.4; P < .001); physician information‐giving had no effect on BC knowledge.

CONCLUSIONS

The study findings suggested significant associations of patient self‐efficacy and physician emotional support with BC knowledge; physician emotional support appeared to be more important than physician informational support. Further research will be needed to investigate whether interventions that target these 2 domains may be effective in increasing BC knowledge in disadvantaged populations. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Combination therapy with fludarabine and rituximab followed by alemtuzumab in the first‐line treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma
Authors: Hainsworth John D. , Vazquez Elizabeth R. , Spigel David R. , Raefsky Eric , Bearden James D. , Saez Ruben A. , Greco F. Anthony
Published: January 2008

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of fludarabine and rituximab, followed by alemtuzumab, as first‐line treatment for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).

METHODS

In a nonrandomized phase 2 trial, 41 patients who had previously untreated CLL or SLL and required treatment received 4 cycles of the fludarabine and rituximab combination followed 5 weeks later by 4 weeks (12 doses) of intravenous alemtuzumab therapy. The response to treatment was evaluated after completion of treatment with fludarabine and rituximab, and again after the completion of alemtuzumab consolidation.

RESULTS

Initial treatment with the combination of fludarabine and rituximab was well tolerated, and produced a 71% overall response rate (13% complete response). Thirty‐four patients began treatment with intravenous alemtuzumab, but this drug was relatively poorly tolerated when given at a short interval after fludarabine and rituximab, and only 20 patients (49% of total) were able to complete the prescribed course. Five patients had an improvement in their response with alemtuzumab; the final complete response rate was 21%. The median progression‐free survival for the entire group was 42 months. Toxicity with alemtuzumab included infusion‐related toxicity, myelosuppression, and opportunistic infections.

CONCLUSIONS

The intravenous schedule of alemtuzumab employed in the trial was relatively poorly tolerated in this community‐based trial. The relatively low complete response rates after treatment with the combination of fludarabine and rituximab and after the completion of treatment suggest that these abbreviated courses may compromise efficacy. The generalized use of alemtuzumab as consolidation therapy cannot yet be recommended for community practice. However, optimization of the route of administration, duration of treatment, and interval after completion of induction therapy may improve efficacy, and further investigation is ongoing. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Generation of Nanopores Down to 10 nm for Use in Deep‐Nulling Interferometry
Authors: Wehling Axel , Pohl Wiebke H. , Gerke Birgit , Kipp Stephan , Walla Peter J.
Published: January 2008

Scanning electron microscope images show that it is easy to generate nanopores on polycarbonate membranes with well‐defined pore diameters by ion‐track perforation and subsequent magnetron sputtering with metal. The size reduction of the nanopores during sputtering with gold is a linear function of time. Images of different angles and from the bottom side of the membrane show that the channels are the smallest very close to the surface of the metal layer, have a conelike shape, and reach about half as much into the polymer membranes as the metal‐layer thickness. This topographical pore shape is ideal for use as optically coherent near‐field sources in deep‐nulling microscopy. We present the first results of significantly improved nulling stabilization in the presence (<2 nm optical pathway difference) and the absence (<0.6 nm optical pathway difference) of the nanoapertures in the focal region of a deep‐nulling microscope.
Imaging Nanometre‐Sized Hot Spots on Smooth Au Films with High‐Resolution Tip‐Enhanced Luminescence and Raman Near‐Field Optical Microscopy
Authors: Sackrow Marcus , Stanciu Catrinel , Lieb M. Andreas , Meixner Alfred J.
Published: January 2008

A novel near‐field optical microscope based on a parabolic mirror is used for recording high‐resolution tip‐enhanced photoluminescence (PL) and Raman images with unprecedented sensitivity and contrast. The measurements reveal small islands on the Au surface with dimensions of only a few nanometres with locally enhanced Au PL. These islands appear as nanometre‐sized hot spots in tip‐enhanced Raman microscopy when benzotriazole molecules adsorbed on the Au surface serve as local sensors for the optical field. The spectra show that localized plasmons are the cause of both the locally enhanced Au PL and enhanced Raman scattering. This finding suggests that the dispersive background in the surface‐enhanced Raman spectra can be explained simply by the enhanced Au PL in the gap. Furthermore, our results show that the surface flatness must be better than 1 nm, to provide an optically homogeneous substrate for near‐field enhanced PL and Raman spectroscopy.
Spectral Versatility of Single Reef Coral Fluorescent Proteins Detected by Spectrally‐Resolved Single Molecule Spectroscopy
Authors: Blum Christian , Meixner Alfred J. , Subramaniam Vinod
Published: January 2008

We use spectrally‐resolved room temperature single molecule spectroscopy to yield insights into the occurrence and dynamics of spectral forms of single tetramers of DsRed and its variants DsRed2, Fluorescent Timer, DsRed_N42H and AG4. The red‐emitting chromophore in DsRed and all studied variants readily converts into a high quantum efficiency super‐red emitting form. We propose the existence of two super‐red forms of different quantum efficiencies. The observed emission from the green‐emitting chromophore is consistent with bulk spectroscopy. We further observe distinct new spectral forms from each variant, which we attribute to a photoinduced chemical reaction leading to a truncated form of the red‐emitting chromophore analogous to the chromophore in the visible fluorescent protein zFP538. Our results have implications for the accurate interpretation of biological and biochemical processes illuminated by fluorescent proteins as well as for choosing appropriate experimental configurations.
Flow acetone‐staining technique: A highly efficient procedure for the simultaneous analysis of DNA content, cell morphology, and immunophenotype by flow cytometry
Authors: Carbonari Maurizio , Mancaniello Debora , Tedesco Tiziana , Fiorilli Massimo
Published: January 2008

The accurate determination of cell cycle, immunophenotypes and morphology at single‐cell level is not fully achieved by current flow cytometry protocols. Acetone, a coagulant fixative/permealizing agent, is widely used in static cytometry, but is impractical in flow cytometry because of its shrinking effect. We sought for conditions of acetone treatment that could permit the simultaneous analysis of physical parameters, surface and intracellular immunostaining, and DNA content. We evaluated different experimental conditions (concentration, duration of fixation, temperature, presence of proteins) to test the capacity of acetone fixation/permeabilization to preserve cell physical parameters (forward and side scatters, FSC, and SSC) and immunophenotyping while allowing stoichiometric DNA staining. The commonly used ethanol fixation technique was used as reference method. To detect phenotypes and DNA content simultaneously, we employed 7‐aminoactinomycin D (7‐AAD) as “intercalating” dye for DNA in spite of, or just for, its controversial ability in stoichiometric DNA staining. Cells were resting peripheral blood monucleated cells (PBMCs), T‐ and B‐cell blasts obtained by PBMCs stimulation, and the human cell lines Ramos and Shep. Acetone fixation, preserving both the recovery and the physical parameters of cells, is drastically influenced by temperature of treatment and is practicable only when the protocol is realized at 8°C. Under this condition, acetone maintains the immunophenotypic fluorescences (realized before or after the fixation) better than ethanol. Stoichiometric DNA staining of acetone processed cells, the variation coefficients (CV) of frequency distributions of G1/G0 and G2/M phases, the modes ratio of these distributions and doublets generation are at least comparable to those obtained with ethanol treatment. The assay developed in the present study, that we called flow acetone‐staining technique (FAST), accurately analyzes cell cycle, physical parameters and immunophenotypes in heterogenous cell populations, and thus provides a useful tool for cytomics. © 2008 International Society for Analytical Cytology.
Stereomutation and Experimental Determination of the Relative Stability of Diastereomeric O‐Equatorial Anti‐Apicophilic Spirophosphoranes
Authors: Jiang Xin‐Dong , Matsukawa Shiro , Yamamichi Hideaki , Kakuda Ken‐ichiro , Kojima Satoshi , Yamamoto Yohsuke
Published: January 2008

A novel bidentate ligand based on 1,1,1,3,3,4,4,4‐octafluoro‐2‐phenyl‐2‐butanol (16) has been used to synthesize a diastereomeric pair of hydrophosphoranes (18‐exo and 18‐endo). A comparison of the structures of a series of hydrophosphoranes (18‐exo, 18‐endo, 19, and 20‐exo) obtained by X‐ray crystallography indicated that the apical P–O bond lengths were affected by the electronic properties of the oxygen atom, which can be interpreted by the “single bond/no bond resonance” concept. From the hydrophosphoranes, O‐apical (13‐exo and 13‐endo) and anti‐apicophilic O‐equatorial (12‐exo and 12‐endo) phosphoranes were synthesized. The O‐equatorial phosphoranes were irreversibly converted into diastereomeric pairs of O‐apical isomers. Kinetic measurements implied that the electronic properties of the pentafluoroethyl group are comparable to those of the trifluoromethyl group. The activation enthalpies calculated for the stereomutations enabled us for the first time to experimentally show the stability of an O‐apical isomer to be greater than that of an O‐equatorial isomer by 13.7 kcal mol–1.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Chiral Phosphoric Acid Catalyzed Asymmetric Friedel–Crafts Alkylation of Indoles with Simple α,β‐Unsaturated Aromatic Ketones
Authors: Tang Hong‐Ying , Lu Ai‐Dang , Zhou Zheng‐Hong , Zhao Guo‐Feng , He Lian‐Nian , Tang Chu‐Chi
Published: January 2008

Asymmetric Michael‐type Friedel–Crafts (F‐C) alkylations of indoles with nonchelating α,β‐unsaturated aromatic ketones catalyzed by a chiral H8‐BINOL‐based phosphoric acid were investigated. The reactions took place smoothly in the presence of only 2 mol‐% of catalyst at room temperature to afford the desired F‐C alkylation products in good yields and with moderate enantioselectivities.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Fuzzy modeling for environmental pollution potential ranking of industries
Authors: Lad Ravindra K. , Desai Nisha G. , Christian Robin A. , Deshpande Ashok W.
Published: January 2008

Urbanization and industrialization with minimal focus on environmental pollution has resulted in rapid degradation of natural environment demanding a fresh look at the pollution control strategies. An attempt has been made to address the problem, and a viable procedure for ranking of industries based on their environmental pollution potential has been proposed. Vagueness in the perception of environmental experts for ranking the techno‐scientific parameters in linguistic terms for the specific usage coupled with imprecision in parametric data calls for the application of fuzzy modeling in this study. The formalized approach detailed in this article using fuzzy multicriteria decision making for ranking the industries is one of the important techniques in decision research. The case study discussed in this article relates to three dying and printing textile industries located in Surat, in the State of Gujarat, India. The feasibility of the proposed approach for ranking of the industries has been discussed. The approach detailed in this sequel might be considered as a small step in the formulation of appropriate environmental pollution control strategies. A commentary on pollution tax, stringent emission standards, and its effect on the ranking of industries with further research needs form an integral part of the article. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2008
Odour‐active compounds of Jinhua ham
Authors: Song Huanlu , Cadwallader Keith R. , Singh Tanoj K.
Published: January 2008

Using DHS, SAFE, GC–O and GC–MS, the odour‐active compounds of Jinhua ham were identified and ranked according their odour potencies. For DHS, the ham powder was purged with a nitrogen stream at a flow rate of 50 ml/min for 25 min, 5 min and 1 min, respectively. The effluent of sample headspace was trapped by a Tenax tube, which was placed onto the vessel for GC–O. The most important odorants (FD factor = 125) in Jinhua ham headspace were ethyl 2‐methylbutanoate/ethyl 3‐methylbutanoate, hexanal, 1‐hexen‐3‐one, 1‐octen‐3‐one, 2‐acetyl‐1‐pyrroline and 2‐methoxyphenol, followed by the following odorants (FD factor = 25): 3‐methyl butanal, dimethyl trisulphide, 1‐nonen‐3‐one, butanoic acid, phenylacetaldehyde, 3‐methylbutanoic acid, 2‐methyl(3‐methyldithio)furan, γ‐nonalctone and 4‐methylphenol (p‐cresol). For SAFE, the ham powder was extracted with diethyl ether, distilled by SAFE and then separated into neutral/basic and acidic fractions. Both fractions were subjected to AEDA. The relatively high‐odour impact compounds (Log3FD Factor ≤5) of the N/B fraction of SAFE extract of Jinhua ham were 1‐octen‐one, ethyl 3‐methylbutanoate, methional, phenylacetaldehyde, 2‐phenylethanol, (E)‐4,5‐epoxy‐(E)‐decenal, p‐cresol (4‐methylphenol); 3‐methylbutanal, hexanal, 2‐acetyl‐1‐pyrroline, decanal, (E,Z)‐2,6‐nonadienal and (E,E)‐decadienal. The important odorants of the Ac fraction of SAFE extract of Jinhua ham were butanoic acid, 3‐methylbutanoic acid, hexanoic acid, phenylacetic acid and an unknown. It was shown that the aroma of Jinhua ham consisted of a variety of compounds having different odour properties; a single compound could not characterize the aroma of Jinhua ham. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antifungal activity of Myrtaceae essential oils and their components against three phytopathogenic fungi
Authors: Lee Yeon‐Suk , Kim Junheon , Shin Sang‐Chul , Lee Sang‐Gil , Park Il‐Kwon
Published: January 2008

Commercial plant essential oils obtained from 11 Myrtaceae plant species were tested for their antifungal activity against Phytophthora cactorum, Cryponectria parasitica and Fusarium circinatum. Good antifungal activity against Phytophthora cactorum was achieved with the essential oil derived from Leptospermum petersonii at 28 × 10−3 mg/ml air concentration. Inhibition rates of Eucalyptus citriodora and Melaleuca quinquenervia were 35.4% and 33.6% at 28 × 10−3 mg/ml air concentration, respectively. In a test with C. parasitica, inhibition rates of E. citriodora and L. petersonii were 29.4% and 38.5%, respectively. Only L. petersonii essential oil showed antifungal activity against F. circinatum. Analysis by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry led to identification of 16, 15 and 12 compounds, respectively, in the oils of L. petersonii, M. quinquenervia and E. citriodora. The antifungal activity of the identified compounds was tested individually using standard or synthesized compounds. The inhibition rates of citronellol, neral, geraniol and geranial were 100% against P. cactorum at 28 × 10−3 mg/ml air concentration. In a test with C. parasitica, the inhibition rates of neral and geranial were 61.7% and 68.9% at 28 × 10−3 mg/ml air concentration. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Testing for an economic gradient in health status using subjective data
Authors: Lokshin Michael , Ravallion Martin
Published: January 2008

Can self‐assessments of health reveal the true health differentials between ‘rich’ and ‘poor’? The potential sources of bias include psychological adaptation to ill‐health, socioeconomic covariates of health reporting errors and income measurement errors. We propose an estimation method to reduce the bias by isolating the component of self‐assessed health that is explicable in terms of objective health indicators and allowing for broader dimensions of economic welfare than captured by current incomes. On applying our method to survey data for Russia we find a pronounced (nonlinear) economic gradient in health status that is not evident in the raw data. This is largely attributable to the health effects of age, education and location. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimal drug pricing, limited use conditions and stratified net benefits for Markov models of disease progression
Authors: Zaric Gregory S.
Published: January 2008

Limited use conditions (LUCs) are a method of directing treatment with new drugs to those populations where they will be most cost effective. In this paper we investigate how a drug manufacturer could determine pricing and LUCs to maximize profits. We assume that the payer makes formulary decisions on the basis of net monetary benefits, that the disease can be modeled using a Markov model of disease progression, and that the drug reduces the probability of progression between states of the Markov model. LUCs are expressed as a range of probabilities of disease progression over which patients would have access to the new drug. We assume that the manufacturer determines the price and LUCs in order to maximize profits. We show that an explicit trade‐off exists between the drug's price and the use conditions, that there is an upper bound on the drug price, that the proportion of the population targeted by the LUC does not depend on quality of life or costs in each health state or the payer's willingness to pay, and that high drug prices do not always correspond with high profits. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hospital ownership and quality of care: what explains the different results in the literature?
Authors: Eggleston Karen , Shen Yu‐Chu , Lau Joseph , Schmid Christopher H. , Chan Jia
Published: January 2008

This systematic review examines what factors explain the diversity of findings regarding hospital ownership and quality. We identified 31 observational studies written in English since 1990 that used multivariate analysis to examine quality of care at nonfederal general acute, short‐stay US hospitals. We find that pooled estimates of ownership effects are sensitive to the subset of studies included and the extent of overlap among hospitals analyzed in the underlying studies. Ownership does appear to be systematically related to differences in quality among hospitals in several contexts. Whether studies find for‐profit and government‐controlled hospitals to have higher mortality rates or rates of adverse events than their nonprofit counterparts depends on data sources, time period, and region covered. Policymakers should be aware of the underlying reasons for conflicting evidence in this literature, and the strengths and weaknesses of meta‐analytic synthesis. The ‘true’ effect of ownership appears to depend on institutional context, including differences across regions, markets, and over time. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Heterogeneity in preferences for smoking cessation
Authors: Paterson Robert W. , Boyle Kevin J. , Parmeter Christopher F. , Neumann James E. , De Civita Paul
Published: January 2008

Promoting cessation is a cornerstone of tobacco control efforts by public‐health agencies. Economic information to support cessation programs has generally emphasized cost‐effectiveness or the impact of cigarette pricing and smoking restrictions on quit rates. In contrast, this study provides empirical estimates of smoker preferences for increased efficacy and other attributes of smoking cessation therapies (SCTs). Choice data were collected through a national survey of Canadian smokers. We find systematic preference heterogeneity for therapy types and SCT attributes between light and heavy smokers, as well as random heterogeneity using random parameters logit models. Preference heterogeneity is greatest between length of use and types of SCTs. We estimate that light smokers would be willing to pay nearly $500 ($CAN) to increase success rates to 40% with the comparable figure for heavy smokers being near $300 ($CAN). Results from this study can be used to inform research and development for smoking cessation products and programs and suggest important areas of future inquiry regarding heterogeneity of smoker preferences and preferences for other health programs. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.