bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of aqueous cigarette smoke extract on the chemiluminescence kinetics of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and on their glycolytic and phagocytic activity
Authors: Zappacosta Bruno , Persichilli Silvia , Minucci Angelo , Stasio Enrico Di , Carlino Paola , Pagliari Gabriella , Giardina Bruno , Sole Pasquale De
Published: August 2002

Water‐soluble extracts of cigarette smoke are easily formed in some body compartments, such as saliva or fluid lining alveolar spaces, and can act on both cellular and extracellular compartments. In this paper we have analysed the effect of aqueous smoke extract on some metabolic and functional aspects of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. In particular, the following cellular aspects were studied: chemiluminescence, glycolysis, membrane fluidity and microscopic interaction with zymosan particles. While chemiluminescence and glycolytic activity are highly inhibited, no effect of smoke extract on membrane fluidity was observed. Moreover, the response of luminol‐dependent chemiluminescence was significantly delayed, while that of lucigenin‐dependent chemiluminescence was anticipated. Furthermore, the phagocytic ability of neutrophils pretreated with aqueous smoke extract was also significantly hindered. All these results might indicate that the finely tuned activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes is somehow hampered by the aqueous extract of cigarette smoke in a way which makes these cells less effective against bacteria and more noxious towards surrounding tissues. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optical and IR absorption as probe of dynamics of heme proteins
Authors: Stavrov Solomon S. , Wright Wayne W. , Vanderkooi Jane M. , Fidy Judit , Kaposi Andras D.
Published: August 2002

The spectroscopy of horseradish peroxidase with and without the substrate analogue benzohydroxamic acid (BHA) was monitored in different solvents as a function of the temperature in the interval from 10 to 300 K. Thermal broadening of the Q(0,0) optical absorption band arises mainly from interaction of the electronic π → π transition with the heme vibrations. In contrast, the width of the IR absorption band of CO bound to heme is controlled by the coupling of the CO transition moment to the electric field of the protein matrix. The IR bandwidth of the substrate free enzyme in the glycerol/H2O solvent hardly changes in the glassy matrix and strongly increases upon heating above the glass transition. Heating of the same enzyme in the trehalose/H2O glass considerably broadens the band. The binding of the substrate strongly diminishes the temperature broadening of the CO band. This result is consistent with the view that the BHA strongly reduces the amplitude of vibrations of the heme pocket environment. Unusually strong thermal broadening of the CO band above the glass transition is interpreted to be caused by thermal population of a very flexible excited conformational substate. The thermal broadening of the same band in the trehalose glass is caused by an increase of the protein vibrational amplitude in each of the conformational substates, their population being independent of the temperature in the glassy matrix. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Biospectroscopy) 67: 255–258, 2002
Modeling of the structure in aqueous solution of the exopolysaccharide produced by Lactobacillus helveticus 766
Authors: Faber Elisabeth J. , van Kuik J. Albert , Kamerling Johannis P. , Vliegenthart Johannes F. G.
Published: August 2002

A method is described for constructing a conformational model in water of a heteropolysaccharide built up from repeating units, and is applied to the exopolysaccharide produced by Lactobacillus helveticus 766. The molecular modeling method is based on energy minima, obtained from molecular mechanics calculations of each of the constituting disaccharide fragments of the repeating unit in vacuo, as starting points. Subsequently, adaptive umbrella sampling of the potential of mean force is applied to extract rotamer populations of glycosidic dihedral angles of oligosaccharide fragments in solution. From these analyses, the most probable conformations are constructed for the hexasaccharide‐repeating unit of the polysaccharide. After exploring the conformational space of each of the individual structures by molecular dynamics simulations, the different repeating unit conformations are used as building blocks for the generation of oligo‐ and polysaccharide models, by using a polysaccharide building program. The created models of the exopolysaccharide produced by L. helveticus 766 exhibit a flexible twisted secondary structure and tend to adopt a random coil conformation as tertiary structure. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopolymers 63: 66–76, 2002
Cell cycle‐dependent protein secretion by Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Frykman Scott , Srienc Friedrich
Published: August 2002

Synchronized Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell populations were used to examine secretion rates of a heterologous protein as a function of cell cycle position. The synchronization procedure had a profound effect on the type and quality of data obtained. When cell synchrony was induced by cell cycle‐arresting drugs, a significant physiological perturbation of cells was observed that obscured representative secretion data. In contrast, synchronization with centrifugal elutriation resulted in synchronized first‐generation daughter cells with undetectable perturbation of the physiological state. The synchronized cells did not secrete significant amounts of protein until they reached cell division, suggesting that the secretion process in these cells is strongly cell cycle dependent. However, the maximum secretion rate of the synchronized culture (7–14 molecules/cell/second) was significantly lower than that of an asynchronous culture (29–51 molecules/cell/second). This result indicates that young daughter cells isolated in the synchronization process exhibit different protein secretion behavior than older mother cells that are absent in the synchronized cell population but present in the asynchronous culture. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 76: 259–268, 2001.
Analysis of an engineered sulfate reduction pathway and cadmium precipitation on the cell surface
Authors: Wang Clifford L. , Clark Douglas S. , Keasling Jay D.
Published: August 2002

We previously have genetically engineered an aerobic sulfate reduction pathway in Escherichia coli for the generation of hydrogen sulfide and demonstrated the pathway's utility in the precipitation of cadmium. To engineer the pathway, the assimilatory sulfate reduction pathway was modified so that cysteine was overproduced. Excess cysteine was then converted by cysteine desulfhydrase to an abundance of hydrogen sulfide, which then reacted with aqueous cadmium to form cadmium sulfide. In this study, observations of various E. coli clones were combined with an analysis of kinetic and transport phenomena. This analysis revealed that cysteine production is the rate‐limiting step in the engineered pathway and provided an explanation for the phenomenon of cell surface precipitation. An analytical model showed that cadmium sulfide must form at the cell surface because the rate of cadmium sulfide formation is extremely fast and the rate of sulfide transport is relatively slow. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 75: 285–291, 2001.
The in vivo synthesis of plant sesquiterpenes by Escherichia coli
Authors: Martin Vincent J.J. , Yoshikuni Yasuo , Keasling Jay D.
Published: August 2002

Three plant genes encoding (+)‐δ‐cadinene, 5‐epi‐aristolochene, and vetispiradiene cyclases were expressed in Escherichia coli to evaluate the potential of this bacterium to synthesize sesquiterpenes in vivo. Various growth temperatures, carbon sources, and host strains were examined to optimize terpene production. The highest levels of sesquiterpene production occurred when the enzymes were expressed in strain DH5α from the trc promoter (Ptrc) of the high‐copy plasmidpTrc99A in M9 medium supplemented with 0.2% (v/v) glycerol at 30°C for 5‐epi‐aristolochene and vetispiradiene and 37°C for (+)‐δ‐cadinene. The highest concentrations of sesquiterpenes observed were 10.3 μg of (+)‐δ‐cadinene, 0.24 μg of 5‐epi‐aristolochene (measured as (+)‐δ‐cadinene equivalents), and 6.4 μg of vetispiradiene (measured as (+)‐δ‐cadinene equivalents) per liter of culture. These sesquiterpene production levels are >500‐fold lower than carotenoid production, both of which are synthesized from endogenous trans‐farnesyl diphosphate (FDP) in E. coli. Based on these results, we conclude that the limiting factor for sesquiterpene synthesis in E. coli is the poor expression of the cyclase enzyme and not supply of the FDP precursor. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 75: 497–503, 2001.
Enzyme microgels in packed‐bed bioreactors with downstream amperometric detection using microfabricated interdigitated microsensor electrode arrays
Authors: Guiseppi‐Elie Anthony , Sheppard Norman F. , Brahim Sean , Narinesingh Dyer
Published: August 2002

In this article, we describe the use of pH‐ responsive hydrogels as matrices for the immobilization of two enzymes, glucose oxidase (GOx) and glutamate oxidase (GlutOx). Spherical hydrogel beads were prepared by inverse suspension polymerization and the enzymes were immobilized by either physical entrapment or covalent immobilization within or on the hydrogel surface. Packed‐bed bioreactors were prepared containing the bioactive hydrogels and these incorporated into flow injection (FI) systems for the quantitation of glucose and monosodium glutamate (MSG) respectively. The FI amperometric detector comprised a microfabricated interdigitated array within a thin‐layer flow cell. For the FI manifold incorporating immobilized GOx, glucose response curves were found to be linear over the concentration range 1.8–280 mg dL−1 (0.1–15.5 mM) with a detection limit of 1.4 mg dL−1 (0.08 mM). Up to 20 samples can be manually analyzed per hour, with the hydrogel‐GOx bioreactor exhibiting good within‐day (0.19%) precision. The optimized FI manifold for MSG quantitation yielded a linear response range of up to 135 mg dL−1 (8 mM) with a detection limit of 3.38 mg dL−1 (0.2 mM) and a throughput of 30 samples h−1. Analysis of commercially produced soup samples gave a within‐day precision of 3.6%. Bioreactors containing these two physically entrapped enzymes retained > 60% of their initial activities after a storage period of up to 1 year. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 75: 475–484, 2001.
Bioengineering and characterization of DNA–protein assemblies floating on supported membranes
Authors: Boireau Wilfrid , Bombard Sophie , Sari Marie‐Agnès , Pompon Denis
Published: August 2002

A biodevice involving thiolated ssDNA and engineered cytochrome b5 linked through a cis‐platine bridge is described. This original nanostructure is associated to a supported membrane through a floating anchor, thus constituting a dynamic bidimensionnal DNA capture device contrasting with the constrained geometry of currently available DNA chips. Characterization by optical spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance and gel electrophoresis demonstrated that an unique molecular supra‐assembly featuring specific DNA recognition capability has been obtained. This device is characterized by the reversibility of its assembly, self‐organization and fluidity properties and is of interest as a prototype to design new generations of DNA chip biosensors. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 77: 225–231, 2002.
Recovery of small bioparticles by interfacial partitioning
Authors: Jauregi P. , Hoeben M. A. , van der Lans R. G. J. M. , Kwant G. , van der Wielen L. A. M.
Published: August 2002

In this article, a qualitative study of the recovery of small bioparticles by interfacial partitioning in liquid‐liquid biphasic systems is presented. A range of crystallised biomolecules with varying polarities have been chosen such as glycine, phenylglycine and ampicillin. Liquid‐liquid biphasic systems in a range of polarity differences were selected such as an aqueous two‐phase system (ATPS), water‐butanol and water‐hexanol. The results indicate that interfacial partitioning of crystals occurs even when their density exceeds that of the individual liquid phases. Yet, not all crystals partition to the same extent to the interface to form a stable and thick interphase layer. This indicates some degree of selectivity. From the analysis of these results in relation to the physicochemical properties of the crystals and the liquid phases, a hypothetical mechanism for the interfacial partitioning is deduced. Overall these results support the potential of interfacial partitioning as a large scale separation technology. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 78: 355–364, 2002.
Swimming characteristics of magnetic bacterium, Magnetospirillum sp. AMB‐1, and implications as toxicity measurement
Authors: Seong Shimyoung , Park Tai Hyun
Published: August 2002

To develop a novel toxicity measurement system using the persistent swimming property of magnetic bacteria along an externally applied magnetic field, certain characteristics of Magnetospirillum sp. AMB‐1 cells were examined, including their growth pattern, motility, magnetosensitivity, swimming speed, and cell length distribution. In addition, the effect of toxic compounds on the swimming speed was assessed relative to application as a toxicity sensor. With an inoculum of 1.0 × 108 cells/mL, the cells reached the stationary phase with a concentration of about 5 × 108 cells/mL after 20 h, under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The distribution of the cell length did not vary significantly during the growth period, and both aerobically and anaerobically growing cells showed a similar cell length distribution. Although the cells showed similar growth patterns under both conditions, the anaerobically grown cells exhibited higher motility and magnetosensitivity. Actively growing cells under anaerobic conditions had an average swimming speed of 49 μm/s with a standard deviation of 20 μm/s. When the anaerobically growing cells were exposed to various concentrations of toxic compounds, such as 1‐propanol and acetone, the swimming speed decreased with an increased concentration of the toxic compound. Accordingly, the relationship between swimming speed and toxicity can be used as an effective quantitative toxicity measurement; furthermore, the relative sensitivity of the proposed system was comparable to Microtox, which is commercially available. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 76: 11–16, 2001.
Kinetic resolution of chiral amines with ω‐transaminase using an enzyme‐membrane reactor
Authors: Shin Jong‐Shik , Kim Byung‐Gee , Liese Andreas , Wandrey Christian
Published: August 2002

A kinetic resolution process for the production of chiral amines was developed using an enzyme‐membrane reactor (EMR) and a hollow‐fiber membrane contactor with (S)‐specific ω‐transaminases (ω‐TA) from Vibrio fluvialis JS17 and Bacillus thuringiensis JS64. The substrate solution containing racemic amine and pyruvate was recirculated through the EMR and inhibitory ketone product was selectively extracted by the membrane contactor until enantiomeric excess of (R)‐amine exceeded 95%. Using the reactor set‐up with flat membrane reactor (10‐mL working volume), kinetic resolutions of α‐methylbenzylamine (α‐MBA) and 1‐aminotetralin (200 mM, 50 mL) were carried out. During the operation, concentration of ketone product, i.e., acetophenone or α‐tetralone, in a substrate reservoir was maintained below 0.1 mM, suggesting efficient removal of the inhibitory ketone by the membrane contactor. After 47 and 32.5 h of operation using 5 U/mL of enzyme, 98.0 and 95.5% ee of (R)‐α‐MBA and (R)‐1‐aminotetralin were obtained at 49.5 and 48.8% of conversion, respectively. A hollow‐fiber membrane reactor (39‐mL working volume) was used for a preparative‐scale kinetic resolution of 1‐aminotetralin (200 mM, 1 L). After 133 h of operation, enantiomeric excess reached 95.6% and 14.3 g of (R)‐1‐aminotetralin was recovered (97.4% of yield). Mathematical modeling of the EMR process including the membrane contactor was performed to evaluate the effect of residence time. The simulation results suggest that residence time should be short to maintain the concentration of the ketone product in EMR sufficiently low so as to decrease conversion per cycle and, in turn, reduce the inhibition of the ω‐TA activity. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 73: 179–187, 2001.
Enzyme stabilization by covalent binding in nanoporous sol‐gel glass for nonaqueous biocatalysis
Authors: Wang Ping , Dai Sheng , Waezsada S. D. , Tsao Alice Y. , Davison Brian H.
Published: August 2002

A unique nanoporous sol‐gel glass possessing a highly ordered porous structure (with a pore size of 153 Å in diameter) was examined for use as a support material for enzyme immobilization. A model enzyme, α‐chymotrypsin, was efficiently bound onto the glass via a bifunctional ligand, trimethoxysilylpropanal, with an active enzyme loading of 0.54 wt%. The glass‐bound chymotrypsin exhibited greatly enhanced stability both in aqueous solution and organic solvents. The half‐life of the glass‐bound α‐chymotrypsin was >1000‐fold higher than that of the native enzyme, as measured either in aqueous buffer or anhydrous methanol. The enhanced stability in methanol, which excludes the possibility of enzyme autolysis, particularly reflected that the covalent binding provides effective protection against enzyme inactivation caused by structural denaturation. In addition, the activity of the immobilized α‐chymotrypsin was also much higher than that of the native enzyme in various organic solvents. From these results, it appears that the glass–enzyme complex developed in the present work can be used as a high‐performance biocatalyst for various chemical processing applications, particularly in organic media. Published by John Wiley & Sons Biotechnol Bioeng 74: 249–255, 2001.
Identification of unilateral elbow‐joint position is impaired by Parkinson's disease
Authors: Zia Shagufta , Cody Frederick W.J. , O'Boyle Donald J.
Published: August 2002

We have compared the ability of patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) with that of control subjects to identify unilateral elbow‐joint position, in the absence of direct vision of the arm, by visual reference to a graduated angular scale, placed beside the elbow, across a range of test angles of 90–108 degrees. The positioning of the subject's elbow was achieved under either passive (subject relaxed, Experiment 1) or active (subject contracting, Experiment 2) conditions. PD patients' performance (while on L‐dopa medication) with the elbows on the sides of “worse” and “better” motor signs was compared with that of controls with, respectively, the left and right elbows. In both experiments, (a) both the individual, overall mean unsigned (with respect to direction) error averaged across all test angles (accuracy), and the SD about this mean (precision), were significantly larger on each side among PD patients than among controls, and (b) the subjective ranges of values employed by PD patients were substantially compressed, on average, by comparison with those of controls. Within‐group analyses revealed that (a) among control subjects, but not among PD subjects, individual, overall mean unsigned errors, on each side, averaged across test angles, were significantly smaller under active than under passive conditions, and (b) the subjective ranges employed by PD patients, but not by controls, under active conditions significantly exceeded those under passive conditions. We conclude that these results are generally consistent with the notion that PD impairs unilateral elbow‐joint position sense. Clin. Anat. 15:23–31, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The assessment of drawings from children who have been maltreated: a systematic review
Authors: Veltman Marijcke W. M. , Browne Kevin D.
Published: August 2002

This paper presents a systematic review that aims to identify studies using drawing techniques with maltreated children. The paper first introduces the relevant developmental theory relating to children's drawings and its application to practice. Studies using drawing techniques with maltreated children were identified from both the research and practice literature. These were summarized and compared. The evidence from the studies appears relatively inconclusive as to the value of children's drawings for the identification of possible maltreatment, although they do apparently help in aiding recall of important events. Drawings are widely used to assess maltreatment and neglect of children. However, researchers advocate caution in generalizing and interpreting drawings from children with differing experiences. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Economic deprivation, experiential deprivation and social loneliness in unemployed and employed youth
Authors: Creed Peter A. , Reynolds Judith
Published: August 2002

One hundred and forty‐eight youth were allocated to one of four occupational sub‐groups: 47 unemployed with no access to paid work; 32 unemployed with access to some paid work; 30 unemployed with access to regular paid work; and 39 full‐time employed. All participants were assessed for levels of Economic Deprivation, Experiential Deprivation, Social Loneliness and Psychological Distress. Results indicated that Economic Deprivation and Experiential Deprivation varied according to occupational status, with those full‐time employed having the least deprivation and those not attached to the work‐force experiencing the most. Levels of deprivation were related to levels of Psychological Distress. Social Loneliness also varied across the occupational groupings. The unemployed with access to regular paid work experienced the least Social Loneliness; the unemployed with no paid work experienced the most. Lastly, both Economic and Experiential Deprivation were able to predict Psychological Distress; only Experiential Deprivation was able to predict Social Loneliness. Results are discussed in the context of Jahoda's (1982) deprivation model and Weiss's (1973, 1974) social loneliness model. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Toward a more perfect union: Reflecting on trends and issues for enhancing the academic performance of minority transfer students
Authors: Lee Wynetta Y.
Published: August 2002

This chapter discusses policy issues pertaining to minority transfer students and presents a conceptual model for enhancing and facilitating minority transfers.
Rheolytic thrombectomy with Angiojet in thrombus‐containing lesions
Authors: Singh Mandeep , Tiede Daniel J. , Mathew Verghese , Garratt Kirk N. , Lennon Ryan J. , Holmes David R. , Rihal Charanjit S.
Published: August 2002

The AngioJet thrombectomy device removes thrombus by creating a negative pressure and causing fragmentation of the thrombus. The objective was to study the safety and efficacy of this thrombectomy device during coronary interventions and to report the results of our experience. We studied 72 patients (mean age, 64.9 ± 12.6 years; 79% males) who had an AngioJet procedure during coronary intervention; 33 (46%) had vein graft intervention. All patients had angiographic thrombus. Most patients presented either with unstable angina (54%) or acute myocardial infarction (32%) within 24 hr. The procedural success was high with AngioJet (93%). TIMI grade 3 flow was achieved in 79% of lesions treated with AngioJet. In‐hospital mortality was 1.4%, death/Q‐wave myocardial infarction was 4.2%, and the composite endpoint of death and Q‐wave myocardial infarction/revascularization was 5.6% for patients undergoing AngioJet. Subgroup analysis of patients with vein graft intervention demonstrated high procedural success in those undergoing AngioJet (91%). At 1‐year follow‐up of the successful percutaneous interventions with AngioJet, the mortality, death/Q‐myocardial infarction, and composite endpoint rates were 10%, 13.3%, and 35.5%, respectively. Long‐term event‐free survival was worse in vein graft interventions. The incidence of death, death/myocardial infarction, or composite endpoints at 1 year was 16%, 19%, and 46%, respectively. High procedural success can be achieved with the AngioJet thrombectomy device in lesions containing thrombus. It is effective in both native coronary arteries and vein graft interventions. However, the long‐term outcome of patients with vein graft intervention was worse. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2002;56:1–7. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Radiofrequency perforation in the treatment of congenital heart disease
Authors: Benson Lee N. , Nykanen David , Collison Amanda
Published: August 2002

Catheter‐directed perforation of cardiac tissue with radiofrequency (RF) energy has expanded the horizon of the interventional cardiologist dealing with congenital heart disorders. The focus of the following discussion will be to detail the biophysical basis behind RF perforation and review its application in the management of congenital heart lesions. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2002;56:72–82. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Retrieval of dislodged and disfigured transradially delivered coronary stent: Report on a case using forcep and antegrade brachial sheath insertion
Authors: Kim Moo Hyun , Cha Kwang Soo , Kim Jong Seong
Published: August 2002

We report a case of dislodged and damaged stent during transradial coronary procedure using 6 Fr device, which was successfully retrieved by using a forcep and 8 Fr antegrade brachial sheath. The disfigured and bulky stent can be removed, after their retrieval from the coronary circulation, using a forcep inserted through an 8 Fr brachial artery sheath if the radial artery is deemed too small to accommodate larger sheath. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2001;52:489–491. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Impact of contrast agent type (ionic versus nonionic) used for coronary angiography on angiographic, electrocardiographic, and clinical outcomes following thrombolytic administration in acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Gibson C. Michael , Kirtane Ajay J. , Murphy Sabina A. , Marble Susan J. , de Lemos James A. , Antman Elliot M. , Braunwald Eugene
Published: August 2002

The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between contrast agent type (ionic vs. nonionic) and angiographic, electrocardiographic, and clinical outcomes after thrombolytic administration. Ionic or nonionic contrast agents were selected in a nonrandomized fashion for 90‐min angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) following thrombolytic administration in the TIMI 14 trial [tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) or reteplase (rPA) vs. low‐dose lytic + abciximab]. There was no relationship between contrast agent type and overall patency, rate of TIMI grade 3 flow, or corrected TIMI frame counts (CTFCs) in open culprit arteries and in post‐PCI patency rates or post‐PCI CTFCs. In patients treated with ionic contrast, ejection fractions at 90 min were slightly but significantly lower (56.2 ± 16.5, n = 122, vs. 59.8 ± 14.4, n = 322; P = 0.02), chest pain duration was longer (2.8 ± 4.1 hr, n = 255, vs. 1.7 ± 3.6, n = 550; P = 0.0003), and complete ST segment resolution was less frequent (41.5% vs. 50.8%; P = 0.04). While there was no difference in epicardial blood flow, ionic contrast agent use was associated with poorer ST segment resolution, longer chest pain duration, and poorer ejection fractions, perhaps as a result of microvascular dysfunction. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2001;53:6–11. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Use of the new IntraStent for treatment of transverse arch hypoplasia/coarctation of the aorta
Authors: Recto Michael R. , Elbl Francisco , Austin Erle
Published: August 2002

We report the use of a new biliary stent (IntraStent Double Strut LD) adapted for use in a 16‐year‐old young man with moderate‐severe transverse arch hypoplasia/coarctation of the aorta following two surgical attempts at correction/relief of the coarctation. The stent implantation procedure resulted in complete relief of the coarctation. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2001;53:499–503. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bare metal stents with or without coil embolization for abdominal aortic aneurysm exclusion in high‐risk patients
Authors: Villareal Rollo P. , Kar Biswajit , Howell Marcus H. , Strickman Neil , Krajcer Zvonimir
Published: August 2002

The objective of the study was to determine if uncovered self‐expanding metallic stents with or without polyester‐covered coils can exclude abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Exclusion using uncovered metal stents with or without coils has been shown to be successful in the animal model. Twelve patients underwent aneurysmal therapy with uncovered self‐expanding metallic stents and polyester covered metallic coils (male, 8; female, 4; mean age, 74 ± 8 years) because no other therapeutic alternative was available. Indications were severe aorto‐iliac disease, presumptively high surgical risk due to comorbidities, a previously failed endograft attempt, and a hostile abdomen as a result of prior surgeries. Under local anesthesia, stents were introduced percutaneously via 10 or 11 Fr sheaths into the femoral artery and deployed in an overlapping fashion to cover the length of the AAA. All endoluminal procedures were successful, and no major complications were encountered. The average hospital stay was 33 ± 21 hr. At a mean follow‐up of 18 ± 13 months, there was no rupture, leak, or evidence of aneurysm expansion in any of the patients. There was one mortality that was not AAA‐related. The remaining patients had no aneurysm‐related symptoms. Endoluminal exclusion of an AAA using self‐expanding bare metal stents with or without coil embolization may be a viable treatment option for patients who cannot undergo standard surgical or endovascular repair. However, these data do not demonstrate that this methodology actually precludes rupture since the cohort is of small size. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2001;54:12–18. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Young people, social change and the negotiation of moral authority
Authors: Thomson Rachel , Holland Janet
Published: August 2002

This paper presents some of the main findings of the study ‘Youth values: identity, diversity and social change’, focusing on the ways in which young people aged between 11 and 16 negotiate moral authority. It begins by discussing young people's perceptions of social change, identifying narratives of both progress and decline. The structure of young people's values are then briefly described, including differences relating to gender, location, social class and age. The factors that contribute to the legitimacy of moral authority in young people's eyes are explored through young people's accounts of school discipline, bullying, parenting and media violence. The paper draws on a range of data sources including questionnaires, focus group discussions, individual interviews and research assignments in which young people undertook their own interviews with adults. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An unexplained sequestration of latrunculin A is required in neutrophils for inhibition of actin polymerization
Authors: Pring Martin , Cassimeris Lynne , Zigmond Sally H.
Published: August 2002

Latrunculin A (LatA) is a toxic natural product that causes disruption of the actin cytoskeleton in many eukaryotic cells at submicromolar concentrations. LatA has been found to bind G‐actin with a dissociation constant of 0.2 μM, and more recently to bind profilin‐G‐actin and, weakly, thymosin β4‐G‐actin. A number of investigators have used LatA as a G‐actin sequestering agent. Thus, we studied neutrophil chemotaxis and its requisite conversion of G‐actin to F‐actin, supported by an extensive pool of G‐actin, mainly bound to thymosin β4. Calculations suggest that the affinity of LatA is insufficient to cause significant sequestration of this pool, and the pool's buffering action should protect neutrophils from depletion of productive G‐actin species by submicromolar LatA. Nonetheless, we found that both chemoattractant stimulated migration and F‐actin polymerization in neutrophils were inhibited by LatA at these concentrations. The latter effect was accompanied by sequestration of LatA and showed a cell density dependence that was consistent with G‐actin sequestration. The apparent contradiction between the calculations and the experimental observations could be reconciled by assuming the presence of an accessory species, of unknown normal function, which forms a high affinity ternary complex with LatA and G‐actin, thus causing the cells to concentrate LatA. Other models that could not be ruled out also invoke new actions of LatA, suggesting caution in the interpretation of its effects on cells. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 52:122–130, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A prospective study of pulmonary function in patients treated with paclitaxel and carboplatin
Authors: Dimopoulou Ioanna , Galani Heleni , Dafni Urania , Samakovli Anastasia , Roussos Charis , Dimopoulos Meletios A.
Published: August 2002

BACKGROUND

Adverse effects of paclitaxel and carboplatin have been well described; however, pulmonary toxicity after patients receive this regimen has not been investigated extensively.

METHODS

To clarify this issue, 33 consecutive patients who were treated with paclitaxel and carboplatin underwent prospective evaluation of respiratory function, which included pulmonary symptoms, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), arterial blood gas levels, and radiographic studies. Assessment was performed before and after completion of chemotherapy in all patients. Patients with substantial declines in PFTs, defined as a decline ≥ 20 percent in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), total lung capacity (TLC), or diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), were reassessed 5 months later.

RESULTS

After chemotherapy, there were no significant changes in forced vital capacity (FVC; 111% ± 21% of the predicted value before chemotherapy vs. 111 ± 20% of the predicted value after chemotherapy), FEV1 (108% ± 24% of the predicted value before chemotherapy vs. 107% ± 22% of the predicted value after chemotherapy), FEV1/FVC ratio (79% ± 8% before chemotherapy vs. 78% ± 6% after chemotherapy), alveolar volume (VA; 95% ± 14% of the predicted value before chemotherapy vs. 96% ± 14% of the predicted value after chemotherapy), or TLC (96% ± 14% of the predicted value before chemotherapy vs. 97% ± 13% of the predicted value after chemotherapy). In contrast, there was a significant decline in DLCO (101% ± 20% of the predicted value before chemotherapy vs. 96 ± 21% of the predicted value after chemotherapy; P < 0.05). Arterial blood gas levels did not change after treatment. No patient had decreased FEV1 or TLC levels by ≥ 20%, whereas 4 of 33 patients (12%) exhibited a substantial decline (≥ 20%) in DLCO that persisted 5 months after treatment (DLCO at baseline, immediately after chemotherapy, and 5 months after the completion of chemotherapy, respectively: 99% ± 36% of the predicted value vs. 75% ± 28% of the predicted value vs. 74% ± 31% of the predicted value; P < 0.05). None of the 33 patients developed respiratory symptoms or had radiologic signs suggestive of lung toxicity. Among the various risk factors examined, baseline DLCO and FEV1 levels were associated with changes in DLCO post‐treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This prospective analysis showed that the combination of paclitaxel with carboplatin induced an isolated decrease in DLCO level in the absence of clinical or radiologic evidence of toxicity. Further studies are needed to clarify whether this reduction in DLCO is predictive of subsequent pulmonary impairment. Cancer 2002;94:452–8. © 2002 American Cancer Society.
Liposome‐encapsulated doxorubicin compared with conventional doxorubicin in a randomized multicenter trial as first‐line therapy of metastatic breast carcinoma
Authors: Harris Lyndsay , Batist Gerald , Belt Robert , Rovira Douglas , Navari Rudolph , Azarnia Nozar , Welles Lauri , Winer Eric ,   TLC D‐99 Study Group
Published: August 2002

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and toxicity of the liposome‐encapsulated doxorubicin, TLC D‐99 (Myocet, Elan Pharmaceuticals, Princeton, NJ), and conventional doxorubicin in first‐line treatment of metastatic breast carcinoma (MBC).

METHODS

Two hundred twenty‐four patients with MBC and no prior therapy for metastatic disease were randomized to receive either TLC D‐99 (75 mg/m2) or doxorubicin (75 mg/m2) every 3 weeks, in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary efficacy endpoint was response rate. Responses were assessed using World Health Organization criteria and were required to be of at least 6 weeks' duration. The primary safety endpoint was cardiotoxicity. Cardiac function was monitored by multiple‐gated radionuclide cardioangiography scan, and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was scored at a central laboratory. Patients were removed from study if LVEF declined 20 or more EF units from baseline to a final value of greater than or equal to 50%, or by 10 or more units to a final value of less than 50%, or onset of clinical congestive heart failure (CHF).

RESULTS

Median age was 54 years in both treatment groups. All relevant prog nostic factors were balanced, with the exception that there were significantly more progesterone receptor positive patients in the doxorubicin‐treated group. Protocol‐defined cardiotoxicity was observed in 13% of TLC D‐99 patients (including 2 cases of CHF) compared to 29% of doxorubicin patients (including 9 cases of CHF). Median cumulative doxorubicin dose at onset of cardiotoxicity was 785 mg/m2 for TLC D‐99 versus 570 mg/m2 for doxorubicin (P = 0.0001; hazard ratio, 3.56). The overall response rate was 26% in both treatment groups. The median TTP was 2.9 months on TLC D‐99 versus 3.1 months on doxorubicin. Median survival was 16 versus 20 months with a nonsignificant trend in favor of doxorubicin (P = 0.09). Clinical toxicities, commonly associated with doxorubicin, appeared less common with TLC D‐99, although the difference was not statistically significant. There was only one report of palmar‐plantar erythrodysesthesia (Grade 2) with this liposomal formulation of doxorubicin.

CONCLUSIONS

Single‐agent TLC D‐99 produces less cardiotoxicity than doxorubicin, while providing comparable antitumor activity. Cancer 2002;94:25–36. © 2002 American Cancer Society.
Percutaneous tumor ablation with radiofrequency
Authors: Wood Bradford J. , Ramkaransingh Jeffrey R. , Fojo Tito , Walther McClellan M. , Libutti Stephen K.
Published: August 2002

BACKGROUND

Radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) is a new minimally invasive treatment for localized cancer. Minimally invasive surgical options require less resources, time, recovery, and cost, and often offer reduced morbidity and mortality, compared with more invasive methods. To be useful, image‐guided, minimally invasive, local treatments will have to meet those expectations without sacrificing efficacy.

METHODS

Image‐guided, local cancer treatment relies on the assumption that local disease control may improve survival. Recent developments in ablative techniques are being applied to patients with inoperable, small, or solitary liver tumors, recurrent metachronous hereditary renal cell carcinoma, and neoplasms in the bone, lung, breast, and adrenal gland.

RESULTS

Recent refinements in ablation technology enable large tumor volumes to be treated with image‐guided needle placement, either percutaneously, laparoscopically, or with open surgery. Local disease control potentially could result in improved survival, or enhanced operability.

CONCLUSIONS

Consensus indications in oncology are ill‐defined, despite widespread proliferation of the technology. A brief review is presented of the current status of image‐guided tumor ablation therapy. More rigorous scientific review, long‐term follow‐up, and randomized prospective trials are needed to help define the role of RFA in oncology. Cancer 2002;94:443–51. © 2002 American Cancer Society.
Sialosyl‐Lex expression defines invasive and metastatic properties of bladder carcinoma
Authors: Numahata Kenji , Satoh Makoto , Handa Kazuko , Saito Seiichi , Ohyama Chikara , Ito Akihiro , Takahashi Toshiko , Hoshi Senji , Orikasa Seiichi , Hakomori Sen‐itiroh
Published: August 2002

BACKGROUND

Two types of transitional bladder carcinoma have been distinguished based on macroscopic morphology: type A papillary carcinomas, with papillomatous surface outgrowth without infiltration into muscular layer, and type B nodular carcinomas, with a nonpapillomatous surface appearance, most of which display infiltrative growth through muscular layer, and some of which display lymphatic or blood‐borne metastasis. However, there is no specific predictor at early stages for later invasive and metastatic clinical outcome of patients with type B tumors.

METHODS

The study included 1) glycosphingolipid (GSL) composition of type A and B tumors; 2) histologic and immunohistologic patterns of nodular (type B) bladder carcinoma from 44 patients based on a special sampling procedure termed whole‐layer core biopsy (WLCB) using the antisialosyl‐Lex (anti‐SLex; SLex: NeuAcα3Galβ4[Fucα3]GlcNAcβ3Galβ4GlcCer) SNH3 antibody or other antibodies; 3) comparison of the incidence of metastasis in patients with SNH3 positive versus SNH3 negative primary tumors and of 5‐year survival curves; 4) comparison of bladder carcinoma cell lines from tumors with high versus low malignancy in terms of expression patterns of SLex, SLea, and other carbohydrates, E‐selectin dependent adhesion, and transcript levels of five fucosyltransferases.

RESULTS

Anti‐SLex monoclonal antibody (mAb) SNH3 staining of WLCB samples from 44 type B tumors showed that the majority of tumors (n = 31 patients) were SNH3 positive and the minority (n = 13 patients) were SNH3 negative. SNH3 positive patients had more lymph node or blood‐borne metastasis and lower 5‐year and 7‐year survival rates, as indicated by Kaplan–Meier curves (P = 0.001). Staining of samples with other antibodies, including FH6 and CA19‐9, was not correlated with long‐term survival. Determination of GSL composition in extracts showed that SLex ganglioside was present in all three patients with nodular tumors but absent in all three patients with papillary tumors tested. Bladder carcinoma cell lines from invasive tumors that maintained their metastatic properties were SNH3 positive, showed high levels of α1,3‐fucosyltransferase VI (FT‐VI) and FT‐VII, and displayed E‐selectin dependent adhesion. Cell lines from noninvasive tumors or normal bladder epithelia were negative for SNH3 reactivity, FT‐VI, and FT‐VII, and E‐selectin dependent adhesion.

CONCLUSIONS

SLex expression in primary bladder carcinoma, defined by the mAb SNH3, is a predictor of invasive and metastatic outcome. No other carbohydrate epitope examined to date has equal prognostic value. Cancer 2002;94:673–85. © 2002 American Cancer Society.

DOI 10.1002/cncr.10268
Brain metastases from esophageal carcinoma
Authors: Ogawa Kazuhiko , Toita Takafumi , Sueyama Hiroo , Fuwa Nobukazu , Kakinohana Yasumasa , Kamata Minoru , Adachi Genki , Saito Atsushi , Yoshii Yoshihiko , Murayama Sadayuki
Published: August 2002

BACKGROUND

Brain metastases from esophageal carcinoma are extremely rare, and information regarding the natural history, results of treatment, and possible prognostic factors in these patients is limited.

METHODS

The records of 36 patients with brain metastases from esophageal carcinoma who were treated between 1986 and 2000 were reviewed. For brain metastases, 12 patients (33%) were treated with surgical resection followed by radiation therapy (S+RT), and the remaining 24 patients were treated with radiation therapy alone.

RESULTS

At the initial diagnosis of esophageal carcinoma, the median primary tumor length was 8 cm (range, 2–19 cm), and 26 of 32 available patients (81%) had clinical Stage III–IV tumors according to the International Union Against Cancer 1997 criteria. At time brain metastases appeared, lung metastases were not demonstrated in 25 of 36 patients (69%) who were assessed by chest computed tomography (CT) scans. The overall median survival for all patients was 3.9 months (range, 0.6–36.8 months), and the actuarial survival rates at 12 months and 24 months were 14% and 3%, respectively. In univariate analysis, treatment modality, Karnofsky performance status (KPS), and extracranial disease status each had a statistically significant impact on survival, and, in multivariate analysis, treatment modality and KPS were statistically significant prognostic factors for survival. Five patients (14%) survived more than 1 year, all of whom were treated with S+RT. These five patients had inactive extracranial disease and, four of five patients (80%) had a 90–100% KPS.

CONCLUSIONS

Brain metastases from esophageal carcinoma tended to occur in patients with a large primary tumors and/or disease in advanced clinical stages. With the appearance of brain metastases, an absence of lung metastasis frequently was observed on chest CT scans. The prognoses for these patients were generally poor, although selected patients may survive longer with intensive brain tumor treatment. Cancer 2002;94:759–64. © 2002 American Cancer Society.

DOI 10.1002/cncr.10271
Breast carcinoma treatment received by women with disabilities compared with women without disabilities
Authors: Caban Mabel E. , Nosek Margaret A. , Graves Daniel , Esteva Francisco J. , McNeese Marsha
Published: August 2002

BACKGROUND

Disability may make it difficult to lie flat or abduct the arm to deliver radiation therapy, imposing a high risk for radiation‐induced side effects or difficulty in positioning patients for mammography. The goal of the current study was to determine the differences in treatment options experienced by women with physical disabilities compared with those without disabilities.

METHODS

Chart review of 234 women who underwent surgery for breast carcinoma between June and September 1998 in a national comprehensive cancer center was conducted. Thirty‐nine of the women had physical disabilities; the remaining 195 women were without disabilities. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to determine whether women with disabilities were less likely than women without disabilities to be treated with breast‐conservation surgery (BCS) or neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Women with disabilities underwent BCS 38% of the time, whereas women without disabilities underwent BCS 49% of the time. Neither the presence nor absence of disability (P = 0.146) nor patient age (P = 0.747) were found to be significant predictors of BCS. However, the disease stage at the time of the surgery was reported to be a significant predictor of BCS (P = 0.007). The group of patients with disabilities received neoadjuvant chemotherapy 13% of the time, whereas women without disabilities received it 29% of the time. Disability was not found to be a significant predictor of whether a patient received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Using hierarchical logistic regression, patient age was found to be a significant predictor of neoadjuvant chemotherapy before the disease stage was entered into the regression equation. There were no data to support the hypothesis that breast carcinoma is at an advanced stage when diagnosed in women with disabilities.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings are clinically significant in that they indicate that women with disabilities are less likely to undergo BCS and are less likely to receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy compared with women without disabilities, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. To the authors' knowledge, there are no data to support the hypothesis that disabled women are diagnosed at a more advanced stage of disease compared with women without disabilities. Cancer 2002;94:1391–6. © 2002 American Cancer Society.

DOI 10.1002/cncr.10369