bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RESEARCH STATUS ABOUT SURFACE MODIFICATION OF BIOMEDICAL Ti AND ITS ALLOYS BY MICRO-ARC OXIDATION
Authors: DONG QING , CHEN CHUANZHONG , WANG DIANGANG , JI QIANMAO
Published: July 2006

Ti and its alloys are considered to be very promising in biological material field. But their biological activity and corrosion resistance in body fluid still need to be improved. As a novel technique for surface treatment, Micro-arc oxidation (MAO) is attracting interest from those who want to improve their implant properties through surface modification. This paper reviewed the application of MAO on biomedical Ti -alloys. The structure characteristic such as surface and cross-section micrographs, phase components, and element distribution were analyzed. The mechanical and biological properties of MAO films were further discussed on this basis. The effects of current density, voltage, and electrolyte on the structure and properties of the films were summarized.
GROWTH MORPHOLOGY OF THE {100} CLEAVAGE FACES OF LAP CRYSTALS OBSERVED BY AFM
Authors: GENG Y. L. , XU D. , WANG X. Q. , HOU X. Q. , ZHANG H. B. , GUO W. F. , ZHANG G. H.
Published: July 2006

Morphology of the {100} cleavage faces of L-arginine phosphate monohydrate single crystal before and after its growth at 40°C at a supersaturation of 0.031 has been studied. Monolayer and multilayer steps are found on the original cleaved surfaces. The regrowth morphology varies in nature with different growth time. With the increase of the growth time more growth layers and two-dimensional nucleus come into being, and they become more stable.
EVALUATION OF ACUPUNCTURE WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAMME USING LASER DOPPLER PERFUSION IMAGING
Authors: NG EDDIE Y.-K. , GOH C. T. , WONG P. J.
Published: July 2006

Recent development of non-invasive and remote sensing modalities such as the Laser Doppler Perfusion Imager (LDPI) technology for probing the skin blood perfusion and its spatial variability over a region of interest, allows for detailed analysis of alterations in skin blood perfusion, with virtually no disturbance of the microcirculation under study. In this study, we have investigated perfusion flux pattern changes obtained from the abdominal area of 30 Chinese male patients (mean age of 26, presented only 2 typical cases) undergoing an acupuncture slimming course. The objective was to study the alterations in skin blood flux by detailed analysis of the Doppler images taken before, during which and after the insertion of needles. We explained the correlation of alterations of skin blood flux with the flow of Qi and the losses of body weight and body fat content. The purpose was to quantify a relationship between changes in perfusion flux pattern and the efficacy of weight loss through acupuncture. In conclusion, this study affirmed that skin blood perfusion flux values in the abdominal area were the highest, whilst the acupuncture needles were inserted. There is also evidence that the increased flux values occurred along the meridian channels of acupuncture, thereby acknowledging the flow of Qi in them. Hence, further clinical studies in the use of LDPI to investigate acupuncture with more subjects are warranted.
ANALYSIS OF CONSERVED HYDROPHOBIC CORES IN PROTEINS AND SUPRAMOLECULAR COMPLEXES
Authors: KARYAGINA ANNA , ERSHOVA ANNA , TITOV MIKHAIL , OLOVNIKOV IVAN , AKSIANOV EVGENIY , RYAZANOVA ALEXANDRA , KUBAREVA ELENA , SPIRIN SERGEI , ALEXEEVSKI ANDREI
Published: July 2006

The conserved hydrophobic core is an important feature of a family of protein domains. We suggest a procedure for finding and the analysis of conserved hydrophobic cores. The procedure is based on using an original program called CluD (). Conserved hydrophobic cores of several families including homeodomains and interlock-containing domains are described. Hydrophobic clusters on some protein-DNA and protein-protein interfaces were also analyzed.
A HYBRID GENE TEAM MODEL AND ITS APPLICATION TO GENOME ANALYSIS
Authors: KIM SUN , CHOI JEONG-HYEON , SAPLE AMIT , YANG JIONG
Published: July 2006

It is well-known that functionally related genes occur in a physically clustered form, especially operons in bacteria. By leveraging on this fact, there has recently been an interesting problem formulation known as gene team model, which searches for a set of genes that co-occur in a pair of closely related genomes. However, many gene teams, even experimentally verified operons, frequently scatter within other genomes. Thus, the gene team model should be refined to reflect this observation.

In this paper, we generalized the gene team model, that looks for gene clusters in a physically clustered form, to multiple genome cases with relaxed constraints. We propose a novel hybrid pattern model that combines the set and the sequential pattern models. Our model searches for gene clusters with and/or without physical proximity constraint. This model is implemented and tested with 97 genomes (120 replicons). The result was analyzed to show the usefulness of our model. We also compared the result from our hybrid model to those from the traditional gene team model. We also show that predicted gene teams can be used for various genome analysis: operon prediction, phylogenetic analysis of organisms, contextual sequence analysis and genome annotation. Our program is fast enough to provide a service on the web at . Users can select any combination of 97 genomes to predict gene teams.
APPLICATION OF A GENERALIZED MWC MODEL FOR THE MATHEMATICAL SIMULATION OF METABOLIC PATHWAYS REGULATED BY ALLOSTERIC ENZYMES
Authors: NAJDI TAREK S. , YANG CHIN-RANG , SHAPIRO BRUCE E. , HATFIELD G. WESLEY , MJOLSNESS ERIC D.
Published: July 2006

In our effort to elucidate the systems biology of the model organism, Escherichia coli, we have developed a mathematical model that simulates the allosteric regulation for threonine biosynthesis pathway starting from aspartate. To achieve this goal, we used kMech, a Cellerator language extension that describes enzyme mechanisms for the mathematical modeling of metabolic pathways. These mechanisms are converted by Cellerator into ordinary differential equations (ODEs) solvable by Mathematica™. In this paper, we describe a more flexible model in Cellerator, which generalizes the Monod, Wyman, Changeux (MWC) model for enzyme allosteric regulation to allow for multiple substrate, activator and inhibitor binding sites. Furthermore, we have developed a model that describes the behavior of the bifunctional allosteric enzyme aspartate kinase I-homoserine dehydrogenase I (AKI-HDHI). This model predicts the partition of enzyme activities in the steady state which paves the way for a more generalized prediction of the behavior of bifunctional enzymes.
SELECTIVE TARGETING OF INDEL-INFERRED DIFFERENCES IN SPATIAL STRUCTURES OF HOMOLOGOUS PROTEINS
Authors: LI YVONNE Y. , JONES STEVEN J. M. , CHERKASOV ARTEM
Published: July 2006

The eukaryotic pathogen Leishmania donovani possesses a housekeeping protein Elongation-Factor-1α (EF-1α) which has been found to be unexpectedly involved in the pathogen's virulence. Because it is associated with virulence and essential for cell survival, this protein is an attractive choice for drug targeting; however, its sequence is highly similar (> 80% sequence identity) to that of its human homolog, rendering it a risky choice for a drug target.

The chief difference between these two proteins has been found to be a 12 amino acid sequence present in human EF-1α but absent from leishmania EF-1α. Furthermore, it has been shown that this 12 amino acid insert in the human sequence corresponds to a hairpin loop on the surface of the protein. In this study, we searched for those spatial features in leishmania EF-1α that are impacted or obscured by the extra hairpin loop in the human counterpart.

We have also conducted a large-scale in silico screening for small molecules that could plausibly bind to these protein features. While experimental evidence is required to verify our results, our findings thus far appear to support this approach as a new strategy for the development of antagonists against pathogenic targets having close human homologs.
DERIVING PATHWAY MAPS FROM AUTOMATED TEXT ANALYSIS USING A GRAMMAR-BASED APPROACH
Authors: OLSSON BJÖRN , GAWRONSKA BARBARA , ERLENDSSON BJÖRN
Published: July 2006

We demonstrate how automated text analysis can be used to support the large-scale analysis of metabolic and regulatory pathways by deriving pathway maps from textual descriptions found in the scientific literature. The main assumption is that correct syntactic analysis combined with domain-specific heuristics provides a good basis for relation extraction. Our method uses an algorithm that searches through the syntactic trees produced by a parser based on a Referent Grammar formalism, identifies relations mentioned in the sentence, and classifies them with respect to their semantic class and epistemic status (facts, counterfactuals, hypotheses). The semantic categories used in the classification are based on the relation set used in KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes), so that pathway maps using KEGG notation can be automatically generated. We present the current version of the relation extraction algorithm and an evaluation based on a corpus of abstracts obtained from PubMed. The results indicate that the method is able to combine a reasonable coverage with high accuracy. We found that 61% of all sentences were parsed, and 97% of the parse trees were judged to be correct. The extraction algorithm was tested on a sample of 300 parse trees and was found to produce correct extractions in 90.5% of the cases.
DOES THE UTTO MODEL OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FIT PUBLIC SECTOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES?
Authors: SAVORY CLIVE
Published: July 2006

Public sector healthcare services are both large users and innovators of health technologies. In the UK's National Health Service (NHS) initiatives have been developed to manage the process of technological innovation more effectively. This has two main aims, to maximize potential commercial returns from innovations developed within the NHS; and to improve levels of patient care through appropriate diffusion of innovations. The initiatives have been devised using approaches and processes already used in other public sector organizations, in particular, universities. Central to the approach taken by many universities is the setting up of a university technology transfer office (UTTO) to provide innovation management services. This paper assesses the extent to which the UTTO-based approach to technology transfer matches the needs of the NHS. Several significant factors are identified that suggest that the two sectors merit different approaches to innovation management. An agenda for further research into health service innovation management processes is suggested that emphasises issues including: the relative roles of formal and informal innovation processes; contingent variables affecting design of innovation processes; limitations of technology-push approaches to managing practice-based innovation; and cultural fit of innovation management models.
USING INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS FOR MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT
Authors: SSEWAMALA FRED M. , LOMBE MARGARET , CURLEY JAMI C.
Published: July 2006

This study examines whether there is a role for microenterprise development as an anti-poverty strategy in the United States. This question is important because skeptical views exist regarding whether, generally, poor Americans would have the enthusiasm to undertake the risk of dealing with small-businesses, especially given that the United States has a public welfare system to take care of the poor and "abundant jobs" for those with the skills. Using data from 14 community-based programs promoting small-business investment through Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), this study finds that, overall, there is a considerable level of interest in saving for and investing in small-businesses among poor Americans, including those who are less advantaged in terms of income poverty and employment. Policy makers should thus consider promoting IDAs/subsidized savings for small-businesses development as a potentially viable strategy to address income poverty and inequality in the United States.
RETAIL SERVICE QUALITY EXPECTATIONS AND PERCEPTIONS AMONG PHILIPPINE SMALL/MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Authors: MARK MUNOZ J. , RAVEN PETER , WELSH DIANNE H. B.
Published: July 2006

The Philippines is among the emerging markets in the world. Along with China, the Philippines attracts international enterprises seeking to establish a presence in Asia. This study examines small/medium enterprises (SMEs) management and employee perceptions of customer service on a number of dimensions. The results suggest that managers and employees in the Philippines behave in similar ways to those in Western countries, but there are differences, probably related to cultural characteristics. As the Philippine market becomes more involved with global business, the importance of service quality increases. The results can be valuable in the formulation of training, sales and marketing, business development, human resources management, and strategic planning. Implications for practice are discussed.
VARIATIONS ON A THEME OF CASSELS FOR ADDITIVE BASES
Authors: GREKOS G. , HADDAD L. , HELOU C. , PIHKO J.
Published: July 2006

We introduce the notion of caliber, cal (A, B), of a strictly increasing sequence of natural numbers A with respect to another one B, as the limit inferior of the ratio of the nth term of A to that of B. We further consider the limit superior t(A) of the average order of the number of representations of an integer as a sum of two elements of A. We give some basic properties of each notion and we relate the two together, thus yielding a generalization, of the form t(A) ≤ t(B)/ cal (A, B), of a result of Cassels specific to the case where A is an additive basis of the natural numbers and B is the sequence of perfect squares. We also provide some formulas for the computation of t(A) in a large class of cases, and give some examples.
ON THE BOUNDARY BEHAVIOR OF AUTOMORPHIC FORMS
Authors: BRINGMANN KATHRIN , KANE BENJAMIN , KOHNEN WINFRIED
Published: July 2006

We investigate the boundary behavior of modular forms f on the full modular group. We first show that {x ∈ [0, 1] | lim y→0+ yk/2|f(x + iy)| exists } is contained in a set of Lebesgue measure 0. In particular, we recover the well-known fact that the real axis is a natural boundary of definition for f. On the other hand, using the Rankin–Selberg Dirichlet series attached to f, we show that taking the limit over the "average" over all x ∈ [0,1] behaves "well". Our results also apply to Maass wave forms.
Properties of Correlated Neural Activity Clusters in Cat Auditory Cortex Resemble Those of Neural Assemblies
Authors: Eggermont Jos J.
Published: July 2006

Spiking activity was recorded from cat auditory cortex using multi-electrode arrays. Cross-correlograms were calculated for spikes recorded on separate microelectrodes. The pair-wise cross-correlation matrix was constructed for the peak values of the correlograms. Hierarchical clustering was performed on the cross-correlation matrix for six stimulus conditions. These were silence, three multi-tone stimulus ensembles with different spectral densities, low-pass amplitude-modulated noise, and Poisson-distributed click trains that each lasted 15 min. The resulting neuron clusters reflect patches in cortex of up to several mm2 in size that expand and contract in response to different stimuli. Cluster positions and size were very similar for spontaneous activity and multi-tone stimulus-evoked activity but differed between those conditions and the noise and click stimuli. Cluster size was significantly larger in posterior auditory field (PAF) compared with primary auditory cortex (AI), whereas the fraction of common spikes (within a 10-ms window) across all electrode activity participating in a cluster was significantly higher in AI compared with PAF. Clusters crossed area boundaries in <5% of the cases were simultaneous recording were made in AI and PAF. Clusters are therefore similar to but not synonymous with the traditional view of neural assemblies. Common-spike spectrotemporal receptive fields (STRFs) were obtained for common-spike activity and all-spike activity within a cluster. Common-spike STRFs had higher signal-to-noise ratio than all-spike STRFs and showed generally spectral and temporal sharpening. The coincident and noncoincident output of the clusters could potentially act in parallel and may serve different modes of stimulus coding.
Action Potentials Induce Uniform Calcium Influx in Mammalian Myelinated Optic Nerves
Authors: Zhang Chuan-Li , Wilson J. Adam , Williams Justin , Chiu Shing Yan
Published: July 2006

The myelin sheath enables saltatory conduction by demarcating the axon into a narrow nodal region for excitation and an extended, insulated internodal region for efficient spread of passive current. This anatomical demarcation produces a dramatic heterogeneity in ionic fluxes during excitation, a classical example being the restriction of Na influx at the node. Recent studies have revealed that action potentials also induce calcium influx into myelinated axons of mammalian optic nerves. Does calcium influx in myelinated axons show spatial heterogeneity during nerve excitation? To address this, we analyzed spatial profiles of axonal calcium transients during action potentials by selectively staining axons with calcium indicators and subjected the data to theoretical analysis with parameters for axial calcium diffusion empirically determined using photolysis of caged compounds. The results show surprisingly that during action potentials, calcium influx occurs uniformly along an axon of a fully myelinated mouse optic nerve.
Temporal Analysis of the Flow From V1 to the Extrastriate Cortex in Humans
Authors: Inui Koji , Kakigi Ryusuke
Published: July 2006

We previously examined the cortical processing in response to somatosensory, auditory and noxious stimuli, using magnetoencephalography in humans. Here, we performed a similar analysis of the processing in the human visual cortex for comparative purposes. After flash stimuli applied to the right eye, activations were found in eight cortical areas: the left medial occipital area around the calcarine fissure (primary visual cortex, V1), the left dorsomedial area around the parietooccipital sulcus (DM), the ventral (MOv) and dorsal (MOd) parts of the middle occipital area of bilateral hemispheres, the left temporo-occipito-parietal cortex corresponding to human MT/V5 (hMT), and the ventral surface of the medial occipital area (VO) of the bilateral hemispheres. The mean onset latencies of each cortical activity were (in ms): 27.5 (V1), 31.8 (DM), 32.8 (left MOv), 32.2 (right MOv), 33.4 (left MOd), 32.3 (right MOv), 37.8 (hMT), 46.9 (left VO), and 46.4 (right VO). Therefore the cortico-cortical connection time of visual processing at the early stage was 4–6 ms, which is very similar to the time delay between sequential activations in somatosensory and auditory processing. In addition, the activities in V1, MOd, DM, and hMT showed a similar biphasic waveform with a reversal of polarity after 10 ms, which is a common activation profile of the cortical activity for somatosensory, auditory, and pain-evoked responses. These results suggest similar mechanisms of the serial cortico-cortical processing of sensory information among all sensory areas of the cortex.
A Multiplex Tissue Immunoblotting Assay for Proteomic Profiling: A Pilot Study of the Normal to Tumor Transition of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Chung Joon-Yong , Braunschweig Till , Hu Nan , Roth Mark , Traicoff June L. , Wang Quan-Hong , Knezevic Vladimir , Taylor Philip R. , Hewitt Stephen M.
Published: July 2006

Esophageal cancer remains a highly lethal malignancy for which the genetic and proteomic events are poorly understood. Studies have reported dysregulated proteins in esophageal carcinoma; however, the magnitude of these changes remains largely uncharacterized. Little is known about alterations early in the neoplastic pathway. Using multiplex tissue immunoblotting, we quantified the expression of seven proteins in esophageal carcinogenesis. Regions of normal, dysplasia, and invasive carcinoma of the squamous esophagus in six patients were characterized. Pan-cytokeratin (CK) was essentially unchanged across the transition (0.96 in dysplasia and 0.69 in tumor). Expression levels of annexin 1, CK-4, and CK-14 were all decreased in dysplasia and tumor compared with normal (reference, 1.00): annexin 1, 0.30 in dysplasia and 0.15 in tumor; CK-4, 0.20 in dysplasia and 0.16 in tumor; and CK-14, 0.54 in dysplasia and 0.40 in tumor. Expression of two proteins was increased in dysplasia and tumor versus normal: cyclooxygenase-2, 1.35 in dysplasia and 2.32 in tumor and p53, 1.29 in dysplasia and 2.37 in tumor. Secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine, which is expressed in the adjacent stroma, was 1.56-fold higher in stroma underlying dysplasia and 6.20-fold increased in dysplastic stroma surrounding invasive tumor. These findings suggest that changes in protein expression can be detected during the transition to dysplasia and may be useful biomarkers. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(7):1403–8)
Human Papillomavirus Type–Specific 18-Month Risk of High-Grade Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia in Women with a Normal or Borderline/Mildly Dyskaryotic Smear
Authors: Berkhof Johannes , Bulkmans Nicole W.J. , Bleeker Maaike C.G. , Bulk Saskia , Snijders Peter J.F. , Voorhorst Feja J. , Meijer Chris J.L.M.
Published: July 2006

Introduction: High-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) DNA testing is an increasingly used instrument in cervical cancer prevention along cervical cytology. The inclusion of hrHPV testing in cervical screening requires efficient management as many hrHPV infections are transient. We investigated the potential value of hrHPV genotyping in normal and borderline/mildly dyskaryotic (BMD) smears.

Materials and Methods: From a screening population of 44,102 women in the Netherlands, we included hrHPV-positive women with a normal or BMD smear. We assessed the type-specific 18-month risk of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).

Results: In hrHPV-positive women, 18-month risk of CIN grade 3 or invasive cancer (≥CIN3) was 6% [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 4-9] after normal cytology and 20% (95% CI, 16-25) after BMD. If positive for HPV16, ≥CIN3 risks were 14% (95% CI, 9-21) and 37% (95% CI, 28-48), respectively. In the subset of hrHPV-positive women without HPV16, HPV18 was associated with an increased risk of high-grade CIN after normal cytology and HPV31 and HPV33 were associated with an increased risk, particularly after BMD. HPV16 and HPV18 were also associated with an increased risk of high-grade CIN in women with an hrHPV-positive normal baseline smear and a repeat normal smear at 6 months.

Discussion: HrHPV-positive women without type 16, 18, 31, or 33 had a relatively low risk of high-grade CIN. Among women with baseline normal cytology and among women with a baseline and repeat normal smear, HPV16/18–positive women showed an increased risk of high-grade CIN. This warrants more aggressive management of HPV16/18–positive women compared with other hrHPV-positive women. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(7):1268–73)
Factors Associated with Enrollment in Cancer Genetics Research
Authors: Ford Beth M. , Evans James S. , Stoffel Elena M. , Balmaña Judith , Regan Meredith M. , Syngal Sapna
Published: July 2006

Previous studies have identified low patient accrual in large-scale cancer clinical trials, particularly for underrepresented groups, such as ethnic minorities, females, and patients >65 years. As there have been few studies examining participation in cancer genetics epidemiologic research, our objective was to identify clinical and demographic factors predicting enrollment in these studies. A total of 1,111 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer presenting to a gastrointestinal oncology clinic were approached to enroll in a study investigating the role of the MSH6 gene in familial colorectal cancer. Patient consent was sought for providing a blood specimen for DNA analysis and review of medical records/tumor specimens and contacting family members to confirm the family history of cancer. Seven predictor variables for enrollment (age, sex, ethnicity, family history of colorectal cancer in a first-degree relative, presence of children, insurance type, and type of visit) were analyzed using logistic regression analysis to determine the effect on decision to enroll. Of 1,111 patients approached, 696 (62.6%) enrolled in the study. Of these approached individuals, 4.2% were of nonwhite ethnicity and 33.5% were age ≥65 years. Patients of white ethnicity [odds ratio (OR), 2.10; P = 0.018], males (OR, 1.47; P = 0.002), those ages ≤65 years (OR, 1.42; P = 0.009), and those with a first-degree relative with colorectal cancer (OR, 1.57; P = 0.005) were significantly more likely to enroll. Fewer than 4% of all participants denied permission for the study researchers to access information from medical records or to be recontacted by researchers to discuss the enrollment of additional family members. Our data suggest that, once subjects decided to enroll, the majority (88%) was comfortable with consenting to all study components, including the creation of cell lines and future recontact. Low participation rates for ethnic minorities, females, and elderly patients are similar for both cancer genetics and clinical trial studies. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(7):1355–9)
Mothers' Attitudes towards Preventing Cervical Cancer through Human Papillomavirus Vaccination: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Waller Jo , Marlow Laura A.V. , Wardle Jane
Published: July 2006

Prophylactic vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) types causing cervical cancer will soon be available. Success of the vaccine relies on parents' willingness to vaccinate their prepubescent daughters. We explored mothers' attitudes towards vaccination. Twenty-four mothers of girls ages 8 to 14 years took part in four focus groups. Discussions covered attitudes to vaccination in general, cancer vaccines, vaccines for sexually transmitted infections (STI), and the HPV vaccine. Discussions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed thematically. Mothers were broadly provaccination. Some were excited about a cancer vaccine, although there were fears that it might lead to unhealthy behaviors (e.g., smoking). STI vaccines got a mixed reception. Enthusiasm was moderated by concerns about an increase in risky sexual behavior. When provided with information about the HPV vaccine, women were in favor of protecting their daughters from cervical cancer, abnormal Papanicolaou results and, potentially, from cervical screening. Some worried about an increase in promiscuity and risk of other STIs. There was disagreement about the age at which girls should be vaccinated. Although some women thought this question should be medically driven, others were concerned about discussing the vaccine with young girls and preferred to wait until they were older. In conclusion, mothers were broadly in favor of HPV vaccination but had reservations, particularly about vaccinating girls as young as 10. Larger-scale quantitative work is needed to assess acceptability at the population level. If the vaccine is introduced, information provision is likely to be key to ensuring parents understand the rationale for vaccinating at a young age. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(7):1257–61)
Obesity, Adipokines, and Prostate Cancer in a Prospective Population-Based Study
Authors: Baillargeon Jacques , Platz Elizabeth A. , Rose David P. , Pollock Brad H. , Ankerst Donna Pauler , Haffner Steven , Higgins Betsy , Lokshin Anna , Troyer Dean , Hernandez Javier , Lynch Steve , Leach Robin J. , Thompson Ian M.
Published: July 2006

Background: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the association of obesity and the adipokines leptin, adiponectin, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) with prostate cancer risk and aggressiveness.

Methods: One hundred twenty-five incident prostate cancer cases and 125 age-matched controls were sampled from among participants in the original San Antonio Center for Biomarkers of Risk of Prostate Cancer cohort study. The odds ratios (OR) of prostate cancer and high-grade disease (Gleason sum >7) associated with the WHO categories of body mass index (kg/m2) and with tertiles of serum concentrations of adiponectin, leptin, and IL-6 were estimated using multivariable conditional logistic regression models.

Results: Body mass index was not associated with either incident prostate cancer [obese versus normal; OR, 0.75; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.38-1.48; Ptrend = 0.27] or high-grade versus low-grade disease (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.39-3.52; Ptrend = 0.62). Moreover, none of the three adipokines was statistically significant associated with prostate cancer risk or high-grade disease, respectively: leptin (highest versus lowest tertile; OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.28-1.37; Ptrend = 0.57; OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.48-3.01; Ptrend = 0.85); adiponectin (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.46-1.65; Ptrend = 0.24; OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 0.74-5.10; Ptrend = 0.85); IL-6 (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.46-1.53; Ptrend = 0.98; OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.30-2.33; Ptrend = 0.17).

Conclusions: Findings from this nested case-control study of men routinely screened for prostate cancer and who had a high prevalence of overweight and obesity do not provide evidence to support that prediagnostic obesity or factors elaborated by fat cells strongly influence prostate cancer risk or aggressiveness. However, due to the small sample population, a small or modest effect of obesity and adipokines on these outcomes cannot be excluded. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(7):1331–5)
Gene Expression Profiles in Peripheral Lymphocytes by Arsenic Exposure and Skin Lesion Status in a Bangladeshi Population
Authors: Argos Maria , Kibriya Muhammad G. , Parvez Faruque , Jasmine Farzana , Rakibuz-Zaman Muhammad , Ahsan Habibul
Published: July 2006

Millions of individuals worldwide are chronically exposed to arsenic through their drinking water. In this study, the effect of arsenic exposure and arsenical skin lesion status on genome-wide gene expression patterns was evaluated using RNA from peripheral blood lymphocytes of individuals selected from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study. Affymetrix HG-U133A GeneChip (Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA) arrays were used to measure the expression of ∼22,000 transcripts. Our primary statistical analysis involved identifying differentially expressed genes between participants with and without arsenical skin lesions based on the significance analysis of microarrays statistic with an a priori defined 1% false discovery rate to minimize false positives. To better characterize differential expression, we also conducted Gene Ontology and pathway comparisons in addition to the gene-specific analyses. Four-hundred sixty-eight genes were differentially expressed between these two groups, from which 312 differentially expressed genes were identified by restricting the analysis to female never-smokers. We also explored possible differential gene expression by arsenic exposure levels among individuals without manifest arsenical skin lesions; however, no differentially expressed genes could be identified from this comparison. Our findings show that microarray-based gene expression analysis is a powerful method to characterize the molecular profile of arsenic exposure and arsenic-induced diseases. Genes identified from this analysis may provide insights into the underlying processes of arsenic-induced disease and represent potential targets for chemoprevention studies to reduce arsenic-induced skin cancer in this population. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(7):1367–75)
Human Papillomavirus Infections with Multiple Types and Risk of Cervical Neoplasia
Authors: Trottier Helen , Mahmud Salaheddin , Costa Maria Cecilia , Sobrinho João P. , Duarte-Franco Eliane , Rohan Thomas E. , Ferenczy Alex , Villa Luisa L. , Franco Eduardo L.
Published: July 2006

Background: Besides an established role for certain human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes in the etiology of cervical cancer, little is known about the influence of multiple-type HPV infections on cervical lesion risk. We studied the association between multiple HPV types and cervical lesions among 2,462 Brazilian women participating in the Ludwig-McGill study group investigation of the natural history of HPVs and cervical neoplasia.

Methods: Cervical specimens were typed by a PCR protocol. The cohort's repeated-measurement design permitted the assessment of the relation between the cumulative and concurrent number of HPV types and any-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) and high-grade SIL (HSIL).

Result: At individual visits, 1.9% to 3.2% of the women were infected with multiple HPVs. Cumulatively during the first year and the first 4 years of follow-up, 12.3% and 22.3% were infected with multiple types, respectively. HSIL risk markedly increased with the number of types [odds ratio (OR), 41.5; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 5.3-323.2 for single-type infections; OR, 91.7; 95% CI, 11.6-728.1 for two to three types; and OR, 424.0; 95% CI, 31.8-5651.8 for four to six types, relative to women consistently HPV-negative during the first year of follow-up]. The excess risks for multiple-type infections remained after exclusion of women infected with HPV-16, with high-risk HPV types, or persistent infections, particularly for any-grade SIL. Coinfections involving HPV-16 and HPV-58 seemed particularly prone to increase risk.

Conclusion: Infections with multiple HPV types seem to act synergistically in cervical carcinogenesis. These findings have implications for the management of cervical lesions and prediction of the outcome of HPV infections. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(7):1274–80)
Acculturation and Breast Density in Foreign-Born, U.S. Chinese Women
Authors: Tseng Marilyn , Byrne Celia , Evers Kathryn A. , London W. Thomas , Daly Mary B.
Published: July 2006

The role of acculturation in the breast cancer risk increase among U.S. Chinese women is unclear. We examined the association between acculturation and breast density in a sample of foreign-born, U.S. Chinese women and examined factors that may explain such an association. Between January 2002 and May 2003, 212 Chinese women were recruited from Philadelphia region screening programs. Cranial-caudal mammographic images were classified into one of four categories ranging from “entirely fatty” to “extremely dense.” Questionnaires assessed information on sociodemographic, cultural, reproductive, and lifestyle factors. An index of acculturation was created based on self-reported English proficiency and within- and cross-ethnicity social interactions. To estimate odds ratios (OR) for falling into a higher versus lower category for breast density, we conducted logistic regression analysis using proportional odds models for polychotomous outcomes. We found that women in the highest acculturation category had denser breasts [age-adjusted OR, 3.1; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.6-6.0]. They also had fewer live births, higher age at first live birth, and higher dairy food intake, all factors associated with breast density. In 196 women with complete covariate data, only adjustment for number of live births and dairy food intake attenuated the estimate for acculturation by >10%. With adjustment for both simultaneously, the most acculturated women were still more likely to have denser breasts (age- and menopause-adjusted OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.0-4.2). These analyses are the first to show breast density differences by level of acculturation among foreign-born, U.S. Chinese women. Despite reproductive and lifestyle differences by level of acculturation, differences in these factors did not explain the acculturation-breast density association. Future longitudinal research will examine whether the association is due to early-life factors, postmigration lifestyle changes, or perimenopausal exposures. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(7):1301–5)
Polymorphisms in the Two Helicases ERCC2/XPD and ERCC3/XPB of the Transcription Factor IIH Complex and Risk of Lung Cancer: A Case-Control Analysis in a Chinese Population
Authors: Hu Zhibin , Xu Liang , Shao Minhua , Yuan Jing , Wang Yi , Wang Feng , Yuan Wentao , Qian Ji , Ma Hongxia , Wang Ying , Liu Hongliang , Chen Weihong , Yang Lin , Jing Guangfu , Huo Xiang , Chen Feng , Jin Li , Wei Qingyi , Wu Tangchun , Lu Daru , Huang Wei , Shen Hongbing
Published: July 2006

The transcription factor IIH (TFIIH) helicases ERCC2/XPD and ERCC3/XPB are responsible for opening the DNA strand around the lesion site during nucleotide excision repair process. Genetic variants in these two genes may be markers for interindividual variability in DNA repair capacity and thus predisposition to cancer risk. In this case-control study of 1,010 incident lung cancer cases and 1,011 age and sex frequency–matched cancer-free controls in a Chinese population, we genotyped eight tagging polymorphisms of ERCC2 and ERCC3 using the high-throughput Taqman platform to determine their associations with risk of lung cancer. Although none of the eight polymorphisms was individually associated with lung cancer risk, we found that genetic variants in ERCC2 and ERCC3 jointly contributed to lung cancer risk in a dose-response manner. Compared with those with 0 to 1 “at-risk” locus, subjects carrying >1 at-risk loci were at increased risk for lung cancer [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 1.29; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.98-1.70 for 2 at-risk loci; adjusted OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.02-1.85 for 3 at-risk loci; and adjusted OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.09-2.10 for ≥4 at-risk loci, respectively; Ptrend = 0.015]. This combined effect was slightly more evident in young subjects (<60 years), males, current smokers, and those with family history of cancer, particularly for histologic type of adenocarcinomas. No evidence for interaction was found. These findings indicate that these tagSNPs of the ERCC2 and ERCC3 along with their surrounding regions may serve as biomarkers of susceptibility to lung cancer, which warrant further validation by other population-based and phenotypic studies to determine the biological relevance of these tagSNPs. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(7):1336–40)
Reduction of Paracetamol Metabolism after Hepatic Resection
Authors: Galinski Michel , Delhotal-Landes Brigitte , Lockey David J. , Rouaud Jean , Bah Salman , Bossard Anne-Elisabeth , Lapostolle Frédéric , Chauvin Marcel , Adnet Frédéric
Published: July 2006

Introduction: Paracetamol is often used as an analgesic following hepatic resection. During liver resection, vascular clamping is carried out to reduce blood loss. Previous studies have described transient postoperative rises in serum aminotransferase levels and decreases in prothrombin time and factor V levels. We have examined paracetamol metabolism after liver resection. Methods: A prospective observational study was performed. All patients undergoing liver resection were included. Propacetamol was given every 6 h. Blood samples for plasma paracetamol concentrations were collected before, 1 h after the end of the first injection (T1), just before the second injection (6 h: T6), and just before the fifth injection (24 h: T24). Results: 37 patients were recruited. 13 had hepatic vascular exclusion (HVE group), 13 had portal triad clamping (PTC group) and 11 had abdominal surgery with no liver resection (NLR group: control group). At T6, the plasma paracetamol concentration in the HVE group was significantly higher than in the NLR groups; at T24, this concentration was significantly higher in the HVE group than in the NLR and PTC groups, and was higher in the PTC group than in the NLR group. Prothrombin time and factor V was significantly lower in the HVE group than in the PTC group on the first postoperative day. Discussion: This study showed a reduction of paracetamol metabolism in the liver resection group with significantly increased paracetamol levels. However, the maximum mean plasma concentration reached was not clinically or toxicologically significant. For these reasons, we cannot suggest that paracetamol should or should not be avoided in patients undergoing liver resection.
Comparative Impact of Multiple Biomarkers and N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide in the Context of Conventional Risk Factors for the Prediction of Recurrent Cardiovascular Events in the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE) Study
Authors: Blankenberg Stefan , McQueen Matthew J. , Smieja Marek , Pogue Janice , Balion Cynthia , Lonn Eva , Rupprecht Hans J. , Bickel Christoph , Tiret Laurence , Cambien Francois , Gerstein Hertzel , Münzel Thomas , Yusuf Salim
Published: July 2006

Background—

Individual markers of inflammation may add incremental predictive value in the context of conventionally available risk factors. We evaluated the ability of 9 inflammatory biomarkers, microalbuminuria, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (Nt-proBNP) to improve cardiovascular risk prediction beyond that obtained from traditional risk factors in a secondary-prevention population.

Methods and Results—

We measured biomarkers representing the acute-phase reaction (C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and interleukin-6), proinflammatory pathways (soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 and -2, soluble interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, and interleukin-18), endothelial activation (soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1 and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1), Nt-proBNP, and microalbuminuria in 3199 study individuals of the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE) Study and assessed their association with risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death (primary outcome, n=501) over 4.5 years of follow-up. In a backward Cox regression procedure that included risk factors and biomarkers, Nt-proBNP (hazard ratio [HR] 1.72 per increment SD, 95% CI 1.39 to 2.12;
P
<0.0001), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.80;
P
=0.0003), microalbuminuria (HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.98;
P
=0.0004), soluble interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.61;
P
=0.02), and fibrinogen (HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.62;
P
=0.02) remained significantly related to the primary outcome. Only inclusion of Nt-proBNP provided incremental information above that obtained by models of traditional risk factors.

Conclusions—

Although levels of various inflammatory biomarkers are significantly related to future cardiovascular risk, their incremental predictive value is modest. A model consisting of simple traditional risk factors and Nt-proBNP provided the best clinical prediction in the secondary-prevention population.
Mice Deficient in Telomerase Activity Develop Hypertension Because of an Excess of Endothelin Production
Authors: Pérez-Rivero Gema , Ruiz-Torres María P. , Rivas-Elena Juan V. , Jerkic Mirjana , Díez-Marques María L. , Lopez-Novoa José M. , Blasco María A. , Rodríguez-Puyol Diego
Published: July 2006

Background—

Telomere shortening has been related to vascular dysfunction and hypertension. In the present study, we analyzed the influence of telomerase deficiency and telomere shortening on arterial pressure (AP).

Methods and Results—

AP was evaluated in 6-month-old mice lacking the RNA component of the telomerase (
terc
−/−
) at the first generation and third generation (G3). First generation and G3 mice showed higher AP than wild-type (WT) mice. To analyze the mechanisms involved, mean AP and vascular resistance in response to vasoactive substances were measured in G3 and WT mice. These mice showed similar responses to acetylcholine,
N
G
-nitro-
l
-arginine methyl ester, angiotensin II, and losartan administration. Mean AP did not increase after endothelin-1 (ET-1) administration in G3 mice, but it did in WT animals. Bosentan treatment decreased mean AP only in G3 mice. Serum and urine concentrations of ET-1 were higher in
terc
−/−
than in WT mice. Endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE-1) mRNA expression was higher in
terc
−/−
animals than in the WT group. FR901533, an ECE antagonist, decreased blood pressure in conscious G3 mice. Studies in mouse embryonic fibroblasts from G3 mice suggest that ECE-1 overexpression could be mediated by reactive oxygen species in an AP-1–dependent mechanism, in which some kinases such as PI3-kinase, Akt, erk1/2, and Jun Kinase could be involved. An increased activity of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase seems to be the main source of reactive oxygen species.

Conclusions—

Mice lacking telomerase activity show hypertension as a result of an increase in plasma ET-1 levels, which is a consequence of ECE-1 overexpression. A direct link between telomerase activity and hypertension is reported.
Technology Issues and the New ICTs
Authors: Verzola Roberto
Published: July 2006

The author provides examples of low-cost information and communications technologies (ICTs) and suggests five major strategies for their low-cost deployment in developing countries: (1) appropriate technology, (2) free/open software, (3) compulsory licensing, (4) pay-per-use public stations and (5) community/public ownership of ICT infrastructure. Aside from the problems of affordability and universal access, the author identifies the Internet's built-in biases for (1) English, (2) subsidizing globalization, (3) automation and (4) the technofix, and explores the implications of these biases. The challenge is not only to design affordable and accessible technologies or to redesign technologies to be consistent with our deeply held values, but also to make ourselves less technology dependent.
The Bandung Center for New Media Arts: Local Commitment and International Collaboration
Authors: Le Sourd Marie
Published: July 2006

The article focuses on the Bandung Center for New Media Arts (BCNMA), an autonomous cultural space set up in 2001 by three Indonesian artists and architects. The BCNMA aims to encourage a dialogue with circles outside the art world and to offer greater dynamic possibilities for experimental forms of expressions. The Indonesian sociopolitical context after 1998 has had a great influence on the nature, development and methodologies used by this center. The case study of the Third Asia-Europe Art Camp, coorganized in 2005 by the BCNMA and the Asia-Europe Foundation, also highlights how international projects are developed by the BCNMA while taking into consideration the local cultural networks and creative environment.
Compasses, Meetings and Maps: Three Recent Media Works
Authors: O'Reilly Rachel
Published: July 2006

The article explores possible cultural approaches to new-media art aesthetics and criticism through an in-depth appraisal of recent works by three contemporary practitioners from Asia and the Pacific: Lisa Reihana, Vernon Ah Kee and Qiu Zhijie. Particular attention is paid to the issues of place, location and cultural practice in their work, issues currently under-examined in new-media art discourse. The analysis pays close attention to the operationality of the works, the influence of pre-digital aesthetic histories and the richly locative and virtual schemas of indigenous epistemologies that serve to meaningfully expand Euro-American notions of locative media art.
Making Things Our Own: The Indigenous Aesthetic in Digital Storytelling
Authors: Hopkins Candice
Published: July 2006

This essay makes use of the characteristics of oral story-telling to define indigenous perspectives on narrative and to provide a framework in which to interpret video and new media art created by Zacharias Kunuk, Nation to Nation's Cyberpowwow project and Paula Giese's Native American Indian Resources.