bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oxaliplatin‐based chemotherapy (dexamethasone, high‐dose cytarabine, and oxaliplatin) ± rituximab is an effective salvage regimen in patients with relapsed or refractory lymphoma
Authors: Rigacci Luigi , Fabbri Alberto , Puccini Benedetta , Chitarrelli Ida , Chiappella Annalisa , Vitolo Umberto , Levis Alessandro , Lauria Francesco , Bosi Alberto
Published: June 2010

BACKGROUND:

Patients affected by relapsed or primary refractory lymphomas currently have a poor prognosis and no standard salvage treatment options. This study was carried out to assess the efficacy and safety of a dexamethasone, high‐dose cytarabine, and oxaliplatin as salvage therapy in those patients, replacing cisplatin with oxaliplatin in the standard dexamethasone, cytarabine, and cisplatin scheme.

METHODS:

Seventy patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive non‐Hodgkin or Hodgkin lymphoma were treated from September 2001 to September 2007. The median age of patients was 51 years (range, 19‐75 years). Histological subtypes were: diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (n = 47) and Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 23). The overall response rate was 73% (51 of 70), with 30 (43%) complete remissions and 21 (30%) partial remissions. Fifty‐two patients were treated with dexamethasone, high‐dose cytarabine, and oxaliplatin as second‐line chemotherapy. Forty‐eight patients were enrolled in an autologous stem cell transplantation program; forty (83%) finally proceeded to high‐dose consolidation and autografting.

RESULTS:

No grade 3 or 4 nonhematological toxicity was demonstrated; in particular, no renal or neurotoxicity was reported. After a median follow‐up period of 21 months (range, 2‐87 months), 22 (31%) patients had died. Probabilities of 2‐year progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 44% and 71%, respectively. In the chemosensitive patients, the PFS and OS were 52% and 83%, respectively. The only factor that significantly correlated with better OS was the response to therapy.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study confirms that dexamethasone, high‐dose cytarabine, and oxaliplatin ± rituximab is an effective and feasible outpatient regimen for salvage therapy in patients affected by relapsed or refractory lymphoma. Moreover, the feasibility and efficacy of this scheme as an in vivo chemosensitive test in patients in autotransplantation programs was confirmed. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Influence of patients' preferences and treatment site on cancer patients' end‐of‐life care
Authors: Wright Alexi A. , Mack Jennifer W. , Kritek Patricia A. , Balboni Tracy A. , Massaro Anthony F. , Matulonis Ursula A. , Block Susan D. , Prigerson Holly G.
Published: June 2010

BACKGROUND:

Research suggests that patients' end‐of‐life (EOL) care is determined primarily by the medical resources available, and not by patient preferences. The authors examined whether patients' desire for life‐extending therapy was associated with their EOL care.

METHODS:

Coping with Cancer is a multisite, prospective, longitudinal study of patients with advanced cancer. Three hundred one patients were interviewed at baseline and followed until death, a median of 4.5 months later. Multivariate analyses examined the influence of patients' preferences and treatment site on whether patients received intensive care or hospice services in the final week of life.

RESULTS:

Eighty‐three of 301 patients (27.6%) with advanced cancer wanted life‐extending therapy at baseline. Patients who understood that their disease was terminal or who reported having EOL discussions with their physicians were less likely to want life‐extending care compared with others (23.4% vs 42.6% and 20.7% vs 44.4%, respectively; P ≤ .003). Patients who were treated at Yale Cancer Center received more intensive care (odds ratio [OR], 3.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16‐8.47) and less hospice services (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.29‐0.92) compared with patients who were treated at Parkland Hospital. However, in multivariate analyses that controlled for confounding influences, patients who preferred life‐extending care were more likely to receive intensive care (adjusted OR [AOR], 2.91; 95% CI, 1.09‐7.72) and were less likely to receive hospice services (AOR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.26‐0.78). Treatment site was not identified as a significant predictor of EOL care.

CONCLUSIONS:

The treatment preferences of patients with advanced cancer may play a more important role in determining the intensity of medical care received at the EOL than previously recognized. Future research is needed to determine the mechanisms by which patients' preferences for care and treatment site interact to influence EOL care. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Translating research into evidence‐based practice
Authors: Minasian Lori M. , Carpenter William R. , Weiner Bryan J. , Anderson Darrell E. , McCaskill‐Stevens Worta , Nelson Stefanie , Whitman Cynthia , Kelaghan Joseph , O'Mara Ann M. , Kaluzny Arnold D.
Published: June 2010

The recent rapid acceleration of basic science is reshaping both our clinical research system and our healthcare delivery system. The pace and growing volume of medical discoveries are yielding exciting new opportunities, yet we continue to face old challenges to maintain research progress and effectively translate research into practice. The National Institutes of Health and individual government programs increasingly are emphasizing research agendas that involve evidence development, comparative‐effectiveness research among heterogeneous populations, translational research, and accelerating the translation of research into evidence‐based practice as well as building successful research networks to support these efforts. For more than 25 years, the National Cancer Institute Community Clinical Oncology Program has successfully extended research into the community and facilitated the translation of research into evidence‐based practice. By describing its keys to success, this article provides practical guidance to cancer‐focused, provider‐based research networks as well as those in other disciplines. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Efficacy and toxicity of reirradiation using intensity‐modulated radiotherapy for recurrent or second primary head and neck cancer
Authors: Sher David J. , Haddad Robert I. , Norris Charles M. , Posner Marshall R. , Wirth Lori J. , Goguen Laura A. , Annino Donald , Balboni Tracy , Allen Aaron , Tishler Roy B.
Published: June 2010

BACKGROUND:

Patients with locally recurrent squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCCHN) are reported to have a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Optimal management is selectively applied and morbid. Both surgical resection and chemoradiotherapy are reported to result in median survivals of approximately 12 months. Intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is a highly conformal approach for delivering RT. This study reported the experience of the Dana‐Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) with IMRT‐based chemoradiotherapy with or without surgery for locally recurrent SCCHN.

METHODS:

The current study was a retrospective study of all patients treated at DFCI who were diagnosed with nonmetastatic second primary or recurrent SCCHN and who received reirradiation based on IMRT. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), and secondary endpoints were locoregional (LRC) and distant control and acute and chronic toxicity.

RESULTS:

Thirty‐five patients were treated from August 2004 until December 2008. Recurrent disease was treated in the oral cavity (4 patients), larynx/hypopharynx (13 patients), oropharynx (7 patients), nasopharynx (2 patients), and neck (9 patients). The median radiation dose was 60 Gray (Gy), and all patients received concurrent chemotherapy. The median follow‐up was 2.3 years. The 2‐year actuarial OS and LRC rates were 48% and 67%, respectively. Approximately 91% and 46%, respectively, of all patients developed at least 1 acute and late grade 3 toxicity. Four (11%) late deaths occurred in patients with no evidence of disease (2 aspiration events, 1 oropharyngeal hemorrhage, and 1 infectious death).

CONCLUSIONS:

Aggressive chemoradiotherapy with IMRT was found to be feasible and resulted in favorable survival outcomes in comparison with published reports. Acute and late toxicities were substantial. The apparently improved LRC appears to carry a significant risk of developing late complications. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Anthracycline dose intensification in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Thomas Deborah , O'Brien Susan , Faderl Stefan , Ravandi Farhad , Jabbour Elias , Pierce Sherry , Cortes Jorge , Kantarjian Hagop
Published: June 2010

BACKGROUND:

In previous studies of frontline therapy for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), early treatment with higher doses of anthracyclines has been reported to improve outcome. The current study was conducted to evaluate whether addition of anthracycline‐based consolidation chemotherapy (Course 2) with liposomal daunorubicin (150 mg/m2 intravenously [IV] on Days 1 and 2) and cytarabine (1.5 g/m2 IV on Days 1 and 2) to the standard hyper‐CVAD regimen (fractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone alternating with high dose methotrexate and cytarabine) would improve outcome.

METHODS:

Sixty‐eight consecutive adults with de novo ALL or lymphoblastic lymphoma were treated with this modified hyper‐CVAD regimen inclusive of rituximab for CD20 expression ≥20%.

RESULTS:

Sixty‐three (93%) patients achieved complete response (CR). With a median follow‐up of 90 months, the 5‐year CR duration (CRD) and overall survival (OS) rates were 46% and 44%, respectively. Compared with 208 patients treated with standard hyper‐CVAD (rates of 45% and 47%, respectively; P = not significant), outcome with the modified hyper‐CVAD regimen was not improved overall. Outcome was improved by the addition of rituximab for the CD20‐positive subset (rates of CRD and OS of 50% and 53%, respectively), whereas anthracycline intensification worsened outcome for the CD20‐negative subset (rates of CRD and OS of 41% and 35%, respectively; P = .01) compared with standard hyper‐CVAD. A high mortality rate related to infections in CR was noted among patients aged 60 years or older.

CONCLUSIONS:

In the context of the hyper‐CVAD regimen, early anthracycline intensification did not improve outcome for adults with de novo ALL or lymphoblastic lymphoma. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Invasive neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast
Authors: Wei Bing , Ding Tian , Xing Yan , Wei Wei , Tian Zhen , Tang Feng , Abraham Susan , Nayeemuddin Khazi , Hunt Kelly , Wu Yun
Published: June 2010

BACKGROUND:

Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the breast, a pathologic entity newly defined in the 2003 World Health Organization classification of tumors, is a rare type of tumor that is not well recognized or studied. The purpose of this first case‐controlled study is to reveal the clinicopathologic features, therapeutic response, and outcomes of patients with NEC of the breast.

METHODS:

Seventy‐four patients with NEC of the breast who were treated at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center were analyzed; 68 of them had complete clinical follow‐up. Two cohorts of invasive mammary carcinoma cases were selected to pair with NEC to reveal demographic, pathologic, and clinical features at presentation, along with therapeutic response to treatment and patient outcomes.

RESULTS:

NEC was more likely to be estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative. Despite similar age and disease stages at presentation, NEC showed a more aggressive course than invasive ductal carcinoma, with a higher propensity for local and distant recurrence and poorer overall survival. High nuclear grade, large tumor size, and regional lymph node metastasis were significant negative prognostic factors for distant recurrence‐free survival; high nuclear grade and regional lymph node metastasis were also significant negative prognostic factors for overall survival. Although endocrine therapy and radiation therapy showed a trend toward improved survival, the small number of cases in this study limited the statistical power to reveal therapeutic benefits in NEC of the breast.

CONCLUSIONS:

NEC is a distinct type of aggressive mammary carcinoma. Novel therapeutic approaches should be explored for this uniquely different clinical entity. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Self‐Sustainable Production of Hydrogen, Chemicals, and Energy from Renewable Alcohols by Electrocatalysis
Authors: Bambagioni Valentina , Bevilacqua Manuela , Bianchini Claudio , Filippi Jonathan , Lavacchi Alessandro , Marchionni Andrea , Vizza Francesco , Shen Pei Kang
Published: June 2010

The selective and simultaneous production of hydrogen and chemicals from renewable alcohols, such as ethanol, glycerol, and ethylene glycol, can be accomplished by means of electrolyzers in which the anode electrocatalyst is appropriately designed to promote the partial and selective oxidation of the alcohol. In the electrolyzers described herein, the production of 1 kg of hydrogen from aqueous ethanol occurs with one‐third the amount of energy required by a traditional H2/O2 electrolyzer, by virtue of the much lower oxidation potential of ethanol to acetate vs. water to oxygen in alkaline media (E0=0.10 V vs. 1.23 V). The self‐sustainability of H2 production is ensured by the simultaneous production of 25 kg of potassium acetate for every kg of H2, if the promoting co‐electrolyte is KOH.
An environmental evaluation of household garbage processors
Authors: Haruki Kazuhito
Published: June 2010

The amount of garbage emitted from households and industries has been constantly increasing in recent years, and its treatment cost has been a financial burden to municipal governments in Japan. Many municipal governments recommend that their citizens purchase household garbage processors in order to reduce the volume of garbage transferred to and incinerated at their facilities. Actually, 1535 municipal governments subsidize their citizens' purchase of electrical garbage processors and/or compost containers. These subsidies should be assessed from various points of view, such as the costs and benefits to municipal governments and citizens, and also global or local environmental loads. An environmental planning department of a city office sent questionnaires to its residents to investigate the utilization of the subsidized devices. An environmental organization of citizens supported the department with design of the questionnaire form and analysis of the collected questionnaire data. In this paper, the processes of designing the form and analyzing the data are explained, and then an evaluation of the subsidy is presented. The conclusions are as follows: Electrical garbage processors would be beneficial for dealing with local environmental problems such as lack of a final landfill site. However, the processors will increase CO2 emissions unless their electrical consumption efficiency can be improved. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 93(7): 42–52, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10285
Extended changing crossover operators to solve the traveling salesman problem
Authors: Takahashi Ryouei
Published: June 2010

In order to efficiently obtain an approximate solution of the traveling salesman problem (TSP), the use of extended changing crossover operators (ECXO) which can substitute for any crossover operator of genetic algorithms (GAs) and ant colony optimization (ACO) for another crossover operator at any time is proposed. In this investigation, ECXO uses both ACO or edge recombination crossover (EX) and edge exchange crossover (EXX) in the early generations in order to create local optimum subpaths, and it uses edge assembly crossover (EAX) to create a global optimum solution after a certain number of generations. In EX or ACO any individual or any ant determines the next city it visits from the lengths of the edges or the amounts of pheromone deposited on the edges, where the pheromone indicates the lengths of tours that other ants have completed, thus generating local optimum paths. In EXX, the generated paths converge to a provisional optimal path. In EAX, a parent exchanges edges with another parent to create subcyclic paths, before restructuring the total cyclic path by combining the subcyclic paths so as to minimize the distances between them. In this paper the validity of ECXO is experimentally verified by using medium‐sized problems from TSPLIB, and it is shown that ECXO can find the best solution earlier than EAX. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 93(7): 1–16, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10313
Partitioning hydrologic contributions to an ‘old‐growth’ riparian area in the Huron Mountains of Michigan, USA
Authors: Kolka Randall K. , Giardina Christian P. , McClure Jason D. , Mayer Alex , Jurgensen Martin F.
Published: June 2010

Over the past century, annual snowfall has increased across the ‘snow‐belt’ region of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, yet total annual precipitation has not changed, with potential impacts on hydrological processes and ecosystem composition. Using an integrated hydrochemical approach, we characterized groundwater discharge and quantified the contribution of snow‐ and rain‐derived waters to groundwater for an old‐growth riparian area within the Huron Mountains in northern Michigan. We then quantified the relative contribution of lateral, hillslope‐derived groundwater and upstream lake water to streamwater, and the extent of hyporheic zone expansion and contraction during one growing season. During a period of above‐average snowfall, yet below average growing season precipitation, ∼80% of the riparian area's groundwater reservoir was derived from snowmelt. The relative contribution of groundwater to streamflow ranged from 70% in June to 100% in August. The remainder was derived from upstream lakes and wetlands, which dropped in elevation and relative contribution from June to August. Finally, the extent of the hyporheic zone was small (<50 cm from streambed surface) and contracted towards the stream during the recession limb of the hydrograph. We conclude that if snowfall continues to rise while total annual precipitation declines, in line with climate change scenarios for the region, then water fluxes from snowmelt will increasingly dominate summer baseflow and could potentially increase spring flooding. However, because of overall declines in precipitation, streamflow patterns will likely change towards lower overall flow following the influence of the snowmelt period. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Decreased rainfall interception balances increased transpiration in exotic ponderosa pine plantations compared with native cypress stands in Patagonia, Argentina
Authors: Licata Julian A. , Pypker Thomas G. , Weigandt Mariana , Unsworth Michael H. , Gyenge Javier E. , Fernández María Elena , Schlichter Tomás M. , Bond Barbara J.
Published: June 2010

Exotic ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosaDoug. ex. Laws) is being planted for timber production in the natural distribution area of cordilleran cypress [Austrocedrus chilensis(D. Don) Pic. Serm. et Bizzarri] in the forest‐steppe ecotone at the base of the Andes Mountains in northwest Patagonia. Our previous studies showed that transpiration of ponderosa pine plantations was between 33% and 64% greater than that of cordilleran cypress under similar growing conditions. Although transpiration is typically the largest term in evapotranspiration (ET) in closed‐canopy forests, evaporative losses of rainfall intercepted by the canopy (IL) can also account for a large proportion of ET in forest ecosystems. The objective of this case study was to assess differences inILbetween exotic ponderosa pine plantations and cordilleran cypress stands, as well as the combined effect ofILand transpiration. Net and gross precipitation were measured using arrays of manual rain gauges and tipping buckets with troughs in four forest stands of ponderosa pine and cordilleran cypress at two densities each. Additionally, water storage capacity of cut branches was measured in the laboratory. Annual estimates ofILwere calculated using the Gash model (Gash,1979) for two consecutive years with markedly different spring and summer precipitation. In cordilleran cypress stands,ILranged from 35% to 44% of gross precipitation, whereasILranged from 17% to 22% of gross precipitation in pine plantations. Total annualILfully offset the differences of spring and summer transpiration between ponderosa pine plantations and cordilleran cypress stands of similar densities. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rearrangements of N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes of Pyrazole to 4‐Aminoquinolines and Benzoquinolines
Authors: Dreger Andrij , Cisneros Camuña Rafael , Münster Niels , Rokob Tibor András , Pápai Imre , Schmidt Andreas
Published: June 2010

1‐Phenyl‐substituted pyrazolium salts, formed by quaternization of pyrazoles with benzyl halides or long‐chain alkyl halides, deprotonate to pyrazol‐3‐ylidenes that undergo a sequence of ring‐opening, ring‐closure, and tautomerization to new substituted 4‐aminoquinolines. Similarly, 1‐naphthyl‐substituted pyrazolium‐3‐carboxylates decarboxylate on heating in toluene to give benzoquinolines in excellent yields by an analogous reaction pathway. DFT calculations indicate that the ring transformation proceeds through a sequence of intramolecular elimination, imine inversion and 6π‐electrocyclization steps.
Late phase of long‐term potentiation in the mossy fiber—CA3 hippocampal pathway is critically dependent on metalloproteinases activity
Authors: Wójtowicz Tomasz , Mozrzymas Jerzy W.
Published: June 2010

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are known to play a pivotal role in remodeling of the extracellular matrix and have been implicated in synaptic plasticity, learning and memory. In hippocampus, inhibition of MMPs impairs the maintenance of long term plasticity in Schaeffer collateral‐CA1 (Sch/CA1) synapses while its effect on short term plasticity remains a matter of debate. Surprisingly little is known on the role of MMPs in other hippocampal synapses. In this study we have investigated the impact of a broad spectrum MMPs inhibitor, FN‐439 on synaptic transmission in mossy fiber‐CA3 (MF/CA3) synapses exhibiting profoundly different mechanism of long term potentiation (LTP) as well as robust short‐term plasticity, features that clearly distinguish them from the Sch/CA1 synapses. We report, that MMPs blockade before and up to 30 minutes after LTP induction resulted in a severe disruption of the late phase of tetanically induced LTP. However, LTP time course was not changed when FN439 was administered 60 minutes post LTP induction indicating that MMPs activity is required for the consolidation of the synaptic plasticity within a specific time window. The paired‐pulse facilitation ratio or post‐tetanic potentiation or burst‐like pattern of mossy fiber stimulation were not changed in the presence of FN‐439 administered for 15 minutes suggesting that temporal pattern of presynaptic transmitter release and, in general, the MF‐CA3 fidelity is not significantly affected by MMPs inhibition. We conclude that although the mechanisms of long‐term plasticity in MF/CA3 and in Sch/CA1 are profoundly different, MMPs play a crucial role in both pathways in the maintenance of LTP, which is believed to play an important role in learning and memory in the hippocampus. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Structural and functional plasticity of the hippocampal formation in professional dancers and slackliners
Authors: Hüfner Katharina , Binetti Carolina , Hamilton Derek A. , Stephan Thomas , Flanagin Virginia L. , Linn Jennifer , Labudda Kirsten , Markowitsch Hans , Glasauer Stefan , Jahn Klaus , Strupp Michael , Brandt Thomas
Published: June 2010

The acquisition of special skills can induce plastic changes in the human hippocampus, a finding demonstrated in expert navigators (Maguire et al. (2000) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 97:4,398–403). Conversely, patients with acquired chronic bilateral vestibular loss develop atrophy of the hippocampus, which is associated with impaired spatial memory (Brandt et al. (2005) Brain 128:2,732–741). This suggests that spatial memory relies on vestibular input. In this study 21 professional dancers and slackliners were examined to assess whether balance training with extensive vestibulo‐visual stimulation is associated with altered hippocampal formation volumes or spatial memory. Gray matter voxel‐based morphometry showed smaller volumes in the anterior hippocampal formation and in parts of the parieto‐insular vestibular cortex of the trained subjects but larger volumes in the posterior hippocampal formation and the lingual and fusiform gyri bilaterally. The local volumes in the right anterior hippocampal formation correlated negatively and those in the right posterior hippocampal formation positively with the amount of time spent training ballet/ice dancing or slacklining at the time of the study. There were no differences in general memory or in spatial memory as assessed by the virtual Morris water task. Trained subjects performed significantly better on a hippocampal formation‐dependent task of nonspatial memory (transverse patterning). The smaller anterior hippocampal formation volumes of the trained subjects may be the result of a long‐term suppression of destabilizing vestibular input. This is supported by the associated volume loss in the parieto‐insular vestibular cortex. The larger volumes in the posterior hippocampal formation of the trained subjects might result from their increased utilization of visual cues for balance. This is supported by the concomitant larger volumes in visual areas like the lingual and fusiform gyri. Our findings indicate that there is a spatial separation of vestibular and visual processes in the human hippocampus. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In vivo evaluation of 13‐93 bioactive glass scaffolds with trabecular and oriented microstructures in a subcutaneous rat implantation model
Authors: Fu Qiang , Rahaman Mohamed N. , Bal B. Sonny , Kuroki Keiichi , Brown Roger F.
Published: June 2010

The ability of two groups of 13‐93 bioactive glass scaffolds to support tissue ingrowth was evaluated after implantation for 4 weeks into subcutaneous pockets in the dorsum of Fisher 344 rats. One group of scaffolds (porosity = 85%; pore size = 100–500 μm) had a “trabecular” microstructure similar to that of dry human trabecular bone, whereas the other group had a “columnar” microstructure of oriented pores (porosity = 65%; pore width = 90–110 μm). Despite the lower porosity and pore width, the columnar scaffolds supported abundant soft tissue ingrowth (glycosaminoglycan and fibrillar stroma), whereas the trabecular scaffolds showed only limited tissue ingrowth. When seeded with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), both groups of scaffolds supported abundant tissue infiltration. Bone‐like tissue was formed in both groups of scaffolds seeded with MSCs, but not in the scaffolds without MSCs. The new tissues integrated with the hydroxyapatite‐like surface layer of the scaffolds which resulted from the conversion of the bioactive glass in the body fluids. The results indicate that the trabecular bioactive glass scaffolds seeded with MSCs, as well as the columnar bioactive glass scaffolds, seeded with MSCs or unseeded, could serve as substrates for bone repair and regeneration. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2010.
Biological and mechanical properties of novel composites based on supramolecular polycaprolactone and functionalized hydroxyapatite
Authors: Shokrollahi Parvin , Mirzadeh Hamid , Scherman Oren A. , Huck Wilhelm T. S.
Published: June 2010

Supramolecular polymers based on quadruple hydrogen‐bonding ureido‐pyrimidinone (UPy) moieties hold promise as dynamic/stimuli‐responsive materials in applications such as tissue engineering. Here, a new class of materials is introduced: supramolecular polymer composites. We show that despite the highly ordered structure and tacticity‐dependent nature of hydrogen‐bonded supramolecular polymers, the bioactivity of these polymers can be tuned through composite preparation with bioceramics. These novel supramolecular composites combine the superior processability of supramolecular polymers with the excellent bioactivity and mechanical characteristics of bioceramics. In particular, the bioactive composites prepared from supramolecular polycaprolactone and UPy‐grafted hydroxyapatite (HApUPy) are described that can be easily formed into microporous biomaterials. The compression moduli increased about 40 and 90% upon composite preparation with HAp and HApUPy, respectively, as an indication to improved mechanical properties. These new materials show excellent potential as microporous composite scaffolds for the adhesion and proliferation of rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) as a first step toward bone regeneration studies; rMSCs proliferate about 2 and 2.7 times faster on the conventional composite with HAp and the supramolecular composite with (HApUPy) than on the neat PCL1250(UPy)2. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2010.
Composite nanofiber mats consisting of hydroxyapatite and titania for biomedical applications
Authors: Kim Hong Mi , Chae Won‐Pyo , Chang Ki‐Whan , Chun Sungsu , Kim Sukyoung , Jeong Yongsoo , Kang Inn‐Kyu
Published: June 2010

Composite nanofiber mats (HA/TiO2) consisting of hydroxyapatite (HA) and titania (TiO2) were fabricated via an electrospinning technique and then collagen (type I) was immobilized on the surface of the HA/TiO2composite nanofiber mat to improve tissue compatibility. The structure and morphology of the collagen‐immobilized composite nanofiber mat (HA/TiO2‐col) was investigated using an X‐ray diffractometer, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, and scanning electron microscope. The potential of the HA/TiO2‐col composite nanofiber mat for use as a bone scaffold was assessed by an experiment with osteoblastic cells (MC3T3‐E1) in terms of cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. The results showed that the HA/TiO2‐col composite nanofiber mats possess better cell adhesion and significantly higher proliferation and differentiation than untreated HA/TiO2composite nanofiber mats. This result suggests that the HA/TiO2‐col composite nanofiber mat has a high‐potential for use in the field of bone regeneration and tissue engineering. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2010.
Preparation, microstructures, mechanical properties, and cytocompatibility of TiMn alloys for biomedical applications
Authors: Zhang Faming , Weidmann Arne , Nebe J. Barbara , Beck Ulrich , Burkel Eberhard
Published: June 2010

The titanium‐manganese (TiMn) alloys have been extensively used in aerospace and hydrogen storage. In this study, the TiMn alloys with various manganese contents ranging from 2 to 12 wt % were prepared by using mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering (SPS) techniques. The microstructures, mechanical properties including hardness, elastic modulus and ductility, cytotoxicity and cell proliferation properties of the TiMn alloys were investigated to explore their biomedical applications. The addition of manganese to the titanium reduced the α to β transformation temperature and was confirmed as a β stabilizer element. The manganese increased the relative density of the alloy and thus high density TiMn alloys with α+β structure were prepared by using SPS at 700°C. The hardness increased significantly ranging from 2.4 GPa (Ti2Mn) to 5.28 GPa (Ti12Mn) and the elastic modulus ranging from 83.3 GPa (Ti2Mn) to 122 GPa (Ti12Mn), the ductility decreased ranging from 21.3% (Ti2Mn) to 11.7% (Ti12Mn) with increasing manganese content in the Ti. Concentrations of Mn below 8 wt % in titanium reveal negligible effects on the metabolic activity and the cell proliferation of human osteoblasts. The Mn could be used in lower concentrations as an alloying element for biomedical titanium. The Ti2Mn, Ti5Mn, and Ti8Mn alloys with supervisor mechanical properties and acceptable cytocompatibility have a potential for use as bone substitutes and dental implants. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2010.
In vitro performance assessment of new brushite‐forming Zn‐ and ZnSr‐substituted β‐TCP bone cements
Authors: Pina S. , Vieira S.I. , Torres P. M. C. , Goetz‐Neunhoeffer F. , Neubauer J. , da Cruz e Silva O. A. B. , da Cruz e Silva E. F. , Ferreira J. M. F.
Published: June 2010

The present study investigated the in vitro performance of brushite‐forming Zn‐ and ZnSr‐substituted β‐TCP bone cements in terms of wet mechanical strength and biological response. Quantitative phase analysis and structural refinement of the powdered samples were performed by X‐ray powder diffraction and Rietveld refinement technique. Initial and final setting times of the cement pastes, measured using Gilmore needles technique, showed that ZnSrCPC sets faster than ZnCPC. The measured values of the wet strength after 48 h of immersion in PBS solution at 37°C showed that ZnSrCPC cements are stronger than ZnCPC cements. Human osteosarcoma‐derived MG63 cell line proved the nontoxicity of the cement powders, using the resazurin metabolic assay. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2010.
Three‐dimensional ultrasound inversion rendering technique facilitates the diagnosis of hydrosalpinx
Authors: Timor‐Tritsch Ilan E. , Monteagudo Ana , Tsymbal Tanya
Published: June 2010

Purpose.

To test the utility of three‐dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US) inversion rendering technique in the evaluation of fluid‐distended fallopian tubes.

Methods.

Fifty‐two patients with fluid‐filled adnexal masses suspected of being abnormal fallopian tubes were scanned by two‐dimensional and 3D transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS). Six patients had bilateral disease. The acquired volumes were then “inverted” to display a cast‐like appearance of the fluid‐filled structures. The ipsilateral ovaries were identified in all patients. Five patients had acute tubal disease.

Results.

Fifty‐two of the 58 inversion renderings yielded acceptable images of hydrosalpinges. Only in four patients were the two‐dimensional images more informative than the 3D‐rendered and inverted views. In nine patients adjacent corpora lutea, ovarian cysts, and follicles within normal ovaries were also identified, but appeared separate from the fluid‐filled tubes. The tubes in the patients with acute disease were all successfully inverted.

Conclusions.

The 3D inversion technique is a simple and effective way to render fluid‐filled spaces, which may be tortuous and follow various directions. The rendered images increased the confidence in diagnosing hydrosalpinx. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 38:372‐376, 2010
Ultrasound training for medical students and internal medicine residents—A needs assessment
Authors: Kessler Chad , Bhandarkar Stephen
Published: June 2010

Purpose

While sonography has been a mainstay of certain medical specialties, such as obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine has been slower to integrate this technology into practice. No standardized training in sonography exists for either medical students or internal medicine residents, and little is known about the current competency and utilization of ultrasound among these groups. The goal of this article is to examine the present state of ultrasound education among internal medicine residents and medical students at a major university hospital.

Methods

Third‐year medical students from the University of Illinois at Chicago and senior medicine residents from University of Illinois at Chicago and Northwestern University were invited to complete a Likert‐type survey regarding their attitudes, competence, and interest in ultrasound, the nature of previous training, and areas where incorporation of ultrasound would be useful.

Results

One hundred sixty‐three students and 40 residents participated (81.8% response rate). Students and residents generally felt incompetent in the use of ultrasound; objective competency in the resident group, as evaluated by an emergency physician certified by the American College of Emergency Physicians, was equally low. However, interest in additional training was high. Nearly 50% of the respondents had no prior sonography training; however, those with previous training rated it highly. Areas in which sonography was most sought‐after include central line placement, paracentesis, and thoracentesis.

Conclusions

There is a clear desire for training in sonography among the medical students and internal medicine residents surveyed. As ultrasound is further integrated into clinical practice, students and residents would strongly benefit from formal didactic and hands‐on training in the modality. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 38:401–408, 2010
Fast analysis of phenolic acids by electrokinetic supercharging‐nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Lu Yuanqi , Breadmore Michael C.
Published: June 2010

A method was developed to analyze phenolic acids by nonaqueous CE after online concentration with electrokinetic supercharging. The EOF was reversed using a polyelectrolyte multilayer approach based on the successive adsorption of poly(diallyldimethylamonium chloride) and poly(styrenesulfonate) to reduce the analysis time. The results showed that the coatings were stable during 40 consecutive injections. Four phenolic acids were separated within 8 min using 30 mM ammonium acetate (pH* 8.0). The electrokinetic injection time and terminator length of the electrokinetic supercharging method were optimized to improve the detection sensitivity. Under the optimized conditions (electrokinetic injection of 100 s, −10 kV; terminator of 20 mM 2‐(cyclohexylamino) ethanesulfonic acid, 22 s, 0.5 psi), the sensitivity was enhanced from 300‐ to 440‐fold. The detection limits, based on three times noise, were in the range 1.0–2.5 ng/mL.
Nano and rapid resolution liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry to identify and quantify phenolic compounds in olive oil
Authors: García‐Villalba Rocío , Carrasco‐Pancorbo Alegría , Zurek Gabriela , Behrens Marina , Bäßmann Carsten , Segura‐Carretero Antonio , Fernández‐Gutiérrez Alberto
Published: June 2010

The applicability of nanoLC‐ESI‐TOF MS for the analysis of phenolic compounds in olive oil was studied and compared with a HPLC method. After the injection, the compounds were focused on a short capillary trapping column (100 μm id, effective length 20 mm, 5 μm particle size) and then nanoLC analysis was carried out in a fused silica capillary column (75 μm id, effective length 10 μm, 3 μm particle size) packed with C18 stationary phase. The mobile phase was a mixture of water + 0.5% acetic acid and ACN eluting at 300 nL/min in a gradient mode. Phenolic compounds from different families were identified and quantified. The quality parameters of the nanoLC method (linearity, LODs and LOQs, repeatability) were evaluated and compared with those obtained with HPLC. The new methodology presents better sensitivity (reaching LOD values below 1 ppb) with less consumption of mobile phases, but worse repeatability, especially inter‐day repeatability, resulting in more difficulties to get highly accurate quantification. The results described in this article open up the application fields of this technique to cover a larger variety of compounds and its advantages will make it especially useful for the analysis of samples containing low concentration of phenolic compounds, as for instance, in biological samples.
The analytical resolution of parallel first‐ and second‐order reaction mechanisms
Authors: Caballero N. B. , Croce A. E. , Pensa E. , Irrazábal C. Vicente
Published: June 2010

Given the species A1 and A2, the competition among the three different elementary processes

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is frequently found in thermal and photochemical reaction systems. In the present paper, an analytical resolution of the system (1)–(3), performed under plausible contour conditions, namely, finite initial molar concentrations for both reactants, [A2]0 and [A1]0, and nonzero reaction rate coefficients k1, k2, and k3, leads to the equation [A1] = ((δ[A2]γ − [A2])/β) − α, where α = k1/2k3, γ = β + 1 = 2k3/k2, and δ = ([A2]0 + β[A1]0 + β α))/[A2]0γ.

The comparison with a numerical integration employing the fourth‐order Runge–Kutta algorithm for the well‐known case of the oxidation of organic compounds by ferrate ion is performed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 562–566, 2010
Evaluation of 100 patients for living donor liver transplantation
Authors: Trotter James F. , Wachs Michael , Trouillot Thomas , Steinberg Tracy , Bak Thomas , Everson Gregory T. , Kam Igal
Published: June 2010

The initial success of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in the United States has resulted in a growing interest in this procedure. The impact of LDLT on liver transplantation will depend in part on the proportion of patients considered medically suitable for LDLT and the identification of suitable donors. We report the outcome of our evaluation of the first 100 potential transplant recipients for LDLT at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (Denver, CO). All patients considered for LDLT had first been approved for conventional liver transplantation by the Liver Transplant Selection Committee and met the listing criteria of United Network for Organ Sharing status 1, 2A, or 2B. Once listed, those patients deemed suitable for LDLT were given the option to consider LDLT and approach potential donors. Donors were evaluated with a preliminary screening questionnaire, followed by formal evaluation. Of the 100 potential transplant recipients evaluated, 51 were initially rejected based on recipient characteristics that included imminent cadaveric transplantation (8 patients), refusal of evaluation (4 patients), lack of financial approval (6 patients), and medical, psychosocial, or surgical problems (33 patients). Of the remaining 49 patients, considered ideal candidates for LDLT, 24 patients were unable to identify a suitable donor for evaluation. Twenty-six donors were evaluated for the remaining 25 potential transplant recipients. Eleven donors were rejected: 9 donors for medical reasons and 2 donors who refused donation after being medically approved. The remaining 15 donor-recipient pairs underwent LDLT. Using our criteria for the selection of recipients and donors for LDLT gave the following results: (1) 51 of 100 potential transplant recipients (51%) were rejected for recipient issues, (2) only 15 of the remaining 49 potential transplant recipients (30%) were able to identify an acceptable donor, and (3) 15 of 100 potential living donor transplant recipients (15%) were able to identify a suitable donor and undergo LDLT. Recipient characteristics and donor availability may limit the widespread use of LDLT. However, careful application of LDLT to patients at greatest risk for dying on the waiting list may significantly reduce waiting list mortality.
The real danger of lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus infection in the immunocompromised host
Authors: Vargas Hugo E.
Published: June 2010

Abstract

Background:

In many transplant centres lamivudine is an important component of prophylaxis against, and treatment of, hepatitis B virus (HBV) graft infection. Drug resistant HBV species with specific polymerase mutations may emerge during lamivudine treatment.

Aims:

To examine the clinical consequences of graft infection by lamivudine resistant virus.

Methods:

The clinical course of four liver transplant patients who developed graft infection with lamivudine resistant virus was reviewed. The response of HBV infection to reduction of immunosuppression and to manipulation of antiviral therapy was assessed. For each patient, serum viral titre was measured and the viral polymerase gene was sequenced at multiple time points.

Results:

High serum titres were observed following emergence of the lamivudine resistant species. Wild type HBV re-emerged as the dominant serum species after lamivudine withdrawal. All patients developed liver failure, and onset of liver dysfunction was observed when resistant virus was the dominant serum species. In three patients, liver recovery was observed when immunosuppression was stopped and when alternative antivirals were given. Wild type virus appeared to respond to ganciclovir, and to reintroduction of lamivudine. For one patient, introduction of famciclovir was associated with clinical, virological, and histological response.

Conclusions:

Failure of lamivudine prophylaxis may identify patients at special risk for the development of severe graft infection. Treatment of graft reinfection should include reduction of immunosuppression, and systematic exposure to alternative antivirals. Viral quantitation and genetic sequencing are essential components of therapeutic monitoring.
Around the world with the model for end-stage liver disease
Authors: Freeman Richard B.
Published: June 2010

Abstract

Background:

Indices for predicting survival are essential for assessing prognosis and assigning priority for liver transplantation in patients with liver cirrhosis. The model for end stage liver disease (MELD) has been proposed as a tool to predict mortality risk in cirrhotic patients. However, this model has not been validated beyond its original setting.

Aim:

To evaluate the short and medium term survival prognosis of a European series of cirrhotic patients by means of MELD compared with the Child-Pugh score. We also assessed correlations between the MELD scoring system and the degree of impairment of liver function, as evaluated by the monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX) test.

Patients and methods:

We retrospectively evaluated survival of a cohort of 129 cirrhotic patients with a follow up period of at least one year. The Child-Pugh score was calculated and the MELD score was computed according to the original formula for each patient. All patients had undergone a MEGX test. Multivariate analysis was performed on all variables to identify the parameters independently associated with one year and six month survival. MELD values were correlated with both Child-Pugh scores and MEGX test results.

Results:

Thirty one patients died within the first year of follow up. Child-Pugh and MELD scores, and MEGX serum levels were significantly different among patients who survived and those who died. Serum creatinine, international normalized ratio, and MEGX60 were independently associated with six month mortality while the same variables and the presence of ascites were associated with one year mortality. MELD scores showed significant correlations with both MEGX values and Child-Pugh scores.

Conclusions:

In a European series of cirrhotic patients the MELD score is an excellent predictor of both short and medium term survival, and performs at least as well as the Child-Pugh score. An increase in MELD score is associated with a decrease in residual liver function.
A Simple Method for Cell Sheet Fabrication Using Mica Surfaces Grafted with Peptide Detergent A6K
Authors: Qiu Feng , Chen Yongzhu , Cheng Jingqiu , Wang Chen , Xu Hongyan , Zhao Xiaojun
Published: June 2010

Cell sheet technology is a very important strategy for scaffold‐free tissue engineering. In order to fabricate cell sheets by a simple method, peptide detergent A6K was grafted on mica surfaces by dropping its aqueous solution at different concentrations on the surface. As revealed by surface topographical observation and water contact angle measurement, the most hydrophobic surface was obtained using peptide solution at the concentration of 0.2 mg · mL−1. The peptide‐grafted mica surface was used to culture mouse preosteoblast cell MC3T3‐E1. After the cells reached confluence and the peptide was biodegraded, an intact cell sheet was peeled from the mica. This simple method does not need any non‐biological reagents or complicated procedures, and may have great potential in tissue engineering based on cell sheet technology.

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