bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wave Forcing of Zonal Mean Angular Momentum in Various Coordinate Systems
Authors: Egger Joseph , Hoinka Klaus-Peter
Published: January 2014

The wave forcing of the atmospheric mean flow in isentropic coordinates has been investigated intensively in the past with the divergence of the Eliassen–Palm flux playing a dominating role. These concepts are reviewed briefly and it is pointed out that angular momentum is attractive in this context because the wave driving can be written in the form of a flux divergence. This helps to evaluate the wave forcing in other coordinate systems with a different separation of waves and mean flow. The following coordinates are chosen: (λ, φ, z), (λ, φ, θ), and (λ, θ, z). To be consistent, only one type of zonal averaging should be used. Mass-weighted averaging is applied in the isentropic standard case and simple averaging is applied in the others. The wave driving is presented for all three systems. It has to balance essentially the mean-flow part of the “Coriolis term” in the angular momentum budget in (φ, z) and (θ, z) coordinates but not in the (φ, θ) system where the form drag is a mean-flow term and, therefore, the forcing pattern differs from what has been published so far.
And Yet It Moves
Authors: Fernandez-Vazquez Pablo
Published: January 2014

This article analyzes the effect of parties’ election statements on voter perceptions of party policy positions. It reveals robust evidence that campaign policy announcements do influence party images: As a result of the campaign, party policy brands shift in the direction of the platform. Hence, it challenges the conclusion in Adams, Ezrow, and Somer-Topcu that voters do not adjust their perception of parties’ positions to campaign statements. This article makes a key contribution to our understanding of elections, as it provides empirical evidence that election campaigns are useful for voters to identify changes in parties’ policy preferences. It also opens avenues for further research that the results in Adams et al. had discouraged from, such as analyses of the factors that explain variation in the relevance of campaign statements.
Effect of Feedback Mode and Task Difficulty on Quality of Timing Decisions in a Zero-Sum Game
Authors: Tikuisis Peter , Vartanian Oshin , Mandel David R.
Published: January 2014

Objective:

The objective was to investigate the interaction between the mode of performance outcome feedback and task difficulty on timing decisions (i.e., when to act).

Background:

Feedback is widely acknowledged to affect task performance. However, the extent to which feedback display mode and its impact on timing decisions is moderated by task difficulty remains largely unknown.

Method:

Participants repeatedly engaged a zero-sum game involving silent duels with a computerized opponent and were given visual performance feedback after each engagement. They were sequentially tested on three different levels of task difficulty (low, intermediate, and high) in counterbalanced order. Half received relatively simple “inside view” binary outcome feedback, and the other half received complex “outside view” hit rate probability feedback. The key dependent variables were response time (i.e., time taken to make a decision) and survival outcome.

Results:

When task difficulty was low to moderate, participants were more likely to learn and perform better from hit rate probability feedback than binary outcome feedback. However, better performance with hit rate feedback exacted a higher cognitive cost manifested by higher decision response time.

Conclusion:

The beneficial effect of hit rate probability feedback on timing decisions is partially moderated by task difficulty.

Application:

Performance feedback mode should be judiciously chosen in relation to task difficulty for optimal performance in tasks involving timing decisions.
Chinese migrants’ work experience and city identification: Challenging the underclass thesis
Authors: Frenkel Stephen J , Yu Chongxin
Published: January 2014

Are internal migrant workers who have contributed so much to contemporary Chinese economic growth forming a distinct, impoverished underclass (Chan, 2010; Solinger, 2006) or are they slowly merging into the Chinese working class? In this article sociological theory is employed to develop the distinction between underclass and working class, including the conditions and criteria that enable these social categories to be distinguished theoretically and empirically. Drawing on a large range of survey data, including our own analysis of a recent Chinese migrant worker survey, we examine relevant aspects of work and city experience in order to assess the underclass thesis. In addition, we evaluate the argument that younger migrant workers are significantly different in work orientation and strategies for work-life improvement compared with their more experienced counterparts. We conclude that evidence for the underclass thesis is less compelling than an interpretation that views most migrant workers as transitioning into the working class. In addition, although younger workers are more intrinsically oriented than older migrants, both groups concur that labor law enforcement is critical for work-life improvement while simultaneously developing their own collective capacity to influence labor relations outcomes.
Digital control strategy and realization for harmonic compensation of dynamic voltage restorer
Authors: Wang Jianwei , Zhang Qingzhen , Hu Xiaoguang , Wang Yi
Published: January 2014

In order to make the dynamic voltage restorer (DVR) concurrently compensate for low-order harmonics and voltage sag, and eliminate the influence of digital control on system performance, we propose a novel double closed-loop digital control strategy, consisting of the fundamental proportional resonant (PR) control in a voltage loop and selective harmonic PR control in an inductance current loop. Then, we mainly analyse the discretization effects of the virtual LC method and the step response method, and further present a straightforward digital design method. Next, with this method, we design the parameters of the fundamental and selective harmonic PR controllers in the discrete domain, which inhibit the influence of sampling, calculation delay etc. on the steady-state error and the dynamic response performance. Finally, an 11-kVA DVR prototype is developed and tested. The experimental results indicate that the proposed control strategy satisfies the requirement of voltage quality for sensitive loads and achieves a good dynamic response performance.
Head and Neck Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Requiring Parotidectomy: Prognostic Indicators and Treatment Selection
Authors: Sweeny Larissa , Zimmerman Terence , Carroll William R. , Schmalbach Cecelia E. , Day Kristine E. , Rosenthal Eben L.
Published: January 2014

Objective

Evaluate characteristics and risk factors for patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).

Study Design

Retrospective case series.

Setting

Tertiary care center.

Patients and Methods

Chart review of patients with cSCC undergoing a parotidectomy (2003‐2012).

Results

Of 218 patients identified, 49% presented with a new primary lesion (n = 107) and 51% with a recurrence (n = 111). Parotid lymph nodes were positive in 52% of patients; 81% had a concurrent neck dissection, and 28% had cervical lymph node metastases. In 18% of patients, both parotid and cervical nodes were positive, while 44% were both parotid and cervical node negative; 33% had positive parotid and negative cervical nodes, and only 5% had negative parotid and positive cervical nodes. The overall 2‐ and 5‐year survival rates were 0.71 and 0.58. Overall 5‐year survival was lower for patients presenting with recurrent (0.49) versus new primary disease (0.69; P =. 04). In addition, decreased overall 5‐year survival rates were associated with cervical lymph node involvement (0.47 vs. 0.62; P =. 01). There was no difference in overall survival when stratified by parotid lymph node involvement (P =. 85), margin status (P =. 67), perineural invasion (P =. 42), facial nerve sacrifice (P =. 92), or type of parotid operation performed (P =. 51).

Conclusions

In this study, cervical, but not parotid, lymph node involvement was associated with poor outcomes in patients with advanced cSCC requiring a parotidectomy. In patients without evidence of cervical or parotid lymph node involvement, a neck dissection may be spared, given there is a 5% chance of occult disease.
Effect of Physician Perspective on Allocation of Medicare Resources for Patients with Advanced Cancer
Authors: Rocke Daniel J. , Beumer Halton W. , Thomas Steven , Lee Walter T.
Published: January 2014

Objectives

To assess how physician perspective (perspective of patient vs perspective of physician) affects Medicare resource allocation for patients with advanced cancer and compare physician allocations with actual cancer patient and caregiver allocations.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional assessment.

Setting

National assessment.

Subjects

Otolaryngologists.

Methods

Physicians used a validated tool to create a Medicare plan for patients with advanced cancer. Participants took the perspective of an advanced cancer patient and made resource allocations between 15 benefit categories (assessment 2, November/December 2012). Results were compared with data from a prior assessment made from a physician's perspective (assessment 1, February/March 2012) and with data from a separate study with patients with cancer and caregivers.

Results

In total, 767 physicians completed assessment 1 and 237 completed assessment 2. Results were compared with 146 cancer patient and 114 caregiver assessments. Assessment 1 physician responses differed significantly from patients/caregivers in 14 categories (P <. 05), while assessment 2 differed in 11. When comparing physician data, assessment 2 allocations differed significantly from assessment 1 in 7 categories. When these 7 categories were compared with patient/caregiver data, assessment 2 allocations in emotional care, drug coverage, and nursing facility categories were not significantly different. Assessment 1 allocations in cosmetic care, dental, home care, and primary care categories were more similar to patient/caregiver preferences, although all but home care were still significantly different.

Conclusions

Otolaryngology–head and neck surgery physician perspectives on end‐of‐life care differ significantly from cancer patient/caregiver perspectives, even when physicians take a patient's perspective when allocating resources. This demonstrates the challenges inherent in end‐of‐life discussions.
Predictors of recurrence of great saphenous vein reflux following treatment with ultrasound-guided foamsclerotherapy
Authors: Shadid N , Nelemans P , Lawson J , Sommer A
Published: January 2014

Objective

To investigate which clinical characteristics at baseline are predictive for great saphenous vein recurrence following ultrasound-guided foamsclerotherapy.

Material and methods

Data of patients treated for great saphenous vein incompetence with ultrasound-guided foamsclerotherapy were derived from a multicentre prospective randomized controlled trial comparing surgery versus ultrasound-guided foamsclerotherapy with a follow-up of two years. Recurrence of reflux was determined on colour duplex scans at three months, one year and two years. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the effect of gender, age, C of CEAP classification, diameter of great saphenous vein, injected foam volume, presence of distal great saphenous vein reflux, presence of reflux in the anterior accessory saphenous vein and Venous Clinical Severity Score on risk of recurrent reflux.

Results

Two hundred twenty-five patients were available for analysis. Treatment after one single session was successful in 120 patients and recurrence of saphenous reflux was observed in 105 patients within two years during follow-up. Significant associations with risk of recurrence were observed for mid thigh great saphenous vein diameter (HR = 1.012 with 95% CI: 1.002–1.022, p = 0.022) and presence of distal great saphenous vein reflux (HR = 1.882 with 95% CI: 1.029–3.443, p = 0.040).

Conclusion

In conclusion, this prospective study suggests that ultrasound-guided foamsclerotherapy treatment for the proximal great saphenous vein is less effective for patients with a large vein and a refluxing distal great saphenous vein at baseline.
Copper Corrosion in Nuclear Waste Disposal
Authors: Andersson Kjell
Published: January 2014

The article describes the founding principles, work program, and accomplishments of a Reference Group with both expert and layperson stakeholders for the corrosion of copper canisters in a proposed deep repository in Sweden for spent nuclear fuel. The article sets the Reference Group as a participatory effort within a broader context of stakeholder and public participation. It is argued that for the future it will be necessary to more precisely define the roles of different approaches to public participation in relation to the actual societal decision-making procedures, and the issue is raised whether an increasing level of their institutionalization is required. In particular, the focus is set on the safe-space approach to stakeholder participation designed to suit situations where independence and autonomy are crucial elements for the participants. To illustrate this we compare experiences from Sweden and the Czech Republic.
Variation in Citational Practice in a Corpus of Student Biology Papers
Authors: Swales John M.
Published: January 2014

This is a corpus-based study of a key aspect of academic writing in one discipline (biology) by final-year undergraduates and first-, second-, and third-year graduate students. The papers come from the Michigan Corpus of Upper-level Student Papers, a freely available electronic database. The principal aim of the study is to examine the extent of variation in citation practice in the biology subcorpus. To that end, it explores citation practices from a number of perspectives, including the distribution of integral versus parenthetical citations, the choice of reporting verbs, the effect of citing system, and the occurrence of selected features such as the use of citees’ first names. Results show little difference between the undergraduate and graduate papers, some effect of the citing system, and a somewhat richer intertextuality in the “evolutionary” as opposed to the “molecular” biology papers. Overall, this is an impressive body of student work from the viewpoint of textual variation in citation practice, but it should be remembered that the corpus consists of only “A” papers from a flagship research university.
Unconditional Reciprocity and the Case of Italian Social Cooperatives
Authors: Poledrini Simone
Published: January 2014

Although scholars of the nonprofit sector have looked at the theoretical implications of social enterprises (SEs), more details and clarification are desirable. In particular, most previous theoretical work refers to the nonprofit sector generically and fails to account for the particularities of organizations within a more general definition of SE. This article surveys previous theories and proposes a framework based on the theory of reciprocity and the concept of unconditional reciprocity to interpret a particular kind of SE: the Italian social cooperative.
Impact of Entrepreneurship Education on Entrepreneurial Intentions of University Students in Egypt
Authors: Hattab Hala W.
Published: January 2014

The main objective of the study was to investigate the impact of entrepreneurship education on the entrepreneurial intentions of university students to start a new venture using Linen’s model. The methodological approach involved analysis of a paper and pencil close ended questionnaire distributed to undergraduate students in their last year in a private Egyptian university from three faculties. The findings suggest positive relationship between entrepreneurship education and intentions and perceived desirability while no relation existed with perceived feasibility or self-efficacy. Given the significance and importance of entrepreneurship, it is desirable to reform the educational system to encourage creativity and innovativeness of students.
Fiscal Rules in Recessions
Authors: Hong Sounman
Published: January 2014

This study explores the impact of balanced-budget rules on states’ fiscal policy outcomes and tests whether this impact depends on the political and economic environments in light of the American states’ experience from 2004 to 2010. The findings suggest that (1) budget rules are more binding in recessions as compared with “normal” times; (2) the impact of the rule depends on the political environment, especially on the party identity of the governor; (3) a divided government influences the rule’s impact, particularly when one party controls the governorship and another controls the legislature; and (4) states’ responses, as measured by total budget cuts, to unexpected revenue shocks (such as unexpected decreases in tax revenue) tend to be larger than states’ responses to unexpected expenditure shocks.
The idea of constitutive order in ethnomethodology
Authors: Korbut Andrei
Published: January 2014

Despite its frequent appearances in sociological textbooks, dictionaries and theoretical opuses, ethnomethodology is still one of the most misunderstood and undervalued domains of sociological inquiry. This is particularly evident in the case of the central sociological question: social order. Harold Garfinkel, the founder of ethnomethodology, provided a unique answer to the question of order. His answer emphasized a contingent, situated character of constitutive practices of local order production. Initially a response to Talcott Parsons’ question about the conditions of the stability of social order, Garfinkel’s conception of constitutive order was later radicalized and used as the foundation of the programme of empirical ethnomethodological studies. To properly understand the radical character of the conception and programme, it is necessary to reveal the core elements of it and to separate them from the historically changed components.
Wave dynamics measurement and characterization of a charge air cooler at the intake of an internal combustion engine with integration into a nonlinear code
Authors: Mezher Haitham , Chalet David , Migaud Jérôme , Raimbault Vincent , Chesse Pascal
Published: January 2014

There exist two fundamental tools for modeling and simulating wave action of internal combustion engines. The first is a nonlinear time domain solution of the Euler equations using a space–time meshing. The second is a frequency domain solution of the linear wave equations. These two methods exist with a wide range of complexity and sophistication. Hybrid coupled methods also exist; they attempt to bridge the gap between the two techniques while maintaining the overall goal of engine simulation in mind. This work deals with the frequency characterization of a complex intake element, the charge air cooler. First, a transfer matrix for a simple tube is defined and measured. Two identical versions of the previous tube serve for identifying the transfer matrix of the charge air cooler directly on an operating four-cylinder turbocharged engine. Once the transfer matrix is measured, it is coupled to GT-Power as four transfer functions coded into Simulink. The final validation comprises two tubes in GT-Power with measured boundary conditions of pressure and mass flow with the Simulink model in between. Results are presented in the time and frequency domains with future objectives and perspectives as well.
A study of female central office administrators and their aspirations to the superintendency
Authors: Muñoz Ava J. , Pankake Anita , Ramalho Elizabeth Murakami , Mills Shirley , Simonsson Marie
Published: January 2014

The purpose of this research is to examine the motivations of females aspiring to school superintendency positions in Texas. We report on a reanalysis of data from two previous studies and how the findings build an understanding of previously documented obstacles and barriers female candidates encounter in their journey toward the superintendency. This reanalysis was done to assist us in developing research protocols to be used in a statewide study of female central office administrators and their aspirations to the superintendency.
Sonic hedgehog mediates a novel pathway of PDGF-BB–dependent vessel maturation
Authors: Yao Qinyu , Renault Marie-Ange , Chapouly Candice , Vandierdonck Soizic , Belloc Isabelle , Jaspard-Vinassa Béatrice , Daniel-Lamazière Jean-Marie , Laffargue Muriel , Merched Aksam , Desgranges Claude , Gadeau Alain-Pierre
Published: January 2014

Key Points

Maturation of vascular endothelial growth factor–induced new vessels in cornea involves a PDGF-Shh axis. Shh promotes PDGF-BB–mediated SMC migration by inducing ERK1/2 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase γ activation and increased motility.
Predicting HLA genotypes using unphased and flanking single-nucleotide polymorphisms in Han Chinese population
Authors: Hsieh Ai-Ru , Chang Su-Wei , Chen Pei-Lung , Chu Chen-Chung , Hsiao Ching-Lin , Yang Wei-Shiung , Chang Chien-Ching , Wu Jer-Yuarn , Chen Yuan-Tsong , Chang Tien-Chun , Fann Cathy SJ
Published: January 2014

Background

Genetic variation associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes has immunological functions and is associated with autoimmune diseases. To date, large-scale studies involving classical HLA genes have been limited by time-consuming and expensive HLA-typing technologies. To reduce these costs, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been used to predict HLA-allele types. Although HLA allelic distributions differ among populations, most prediction model of HLA genes are based on Caucasian samples, with few reported studies involving non-Caucasians.

Results

Our sample consisted of 437 Han Chinese with Affymetrix 5.0 and Illumina 550 K SNPs, of whom 214 also had data on Affymetrix 6.0 SNPs. All individuals had HLA typings at a 4-digit resolution. Using these data, we have built prediction model of HLA genes that are specific for a Han Chinese population. To optimize our prediction model of HLA genes, we analyzed a number of critical parameters, including flanking-region size, genotyping platform, and imputation. Predictive accuracies generally increased both with sample size and SNP density.

Conclusions

SNP data from the HapMap Project are about five times more dense than commercially available genotype chip data. Using chips to genotype our samples, however, only reduced the accuracy of our HLA predictions by only ~3%, while saving a great deal of time and expense. We demonstrated that classical HLA alleles can be predicted from SNP genotype data with a high level of accuracy (80.37% (HLA-B) ~95.79% (HLA-DQB1)) in a Han Chinese population. This finding offers new opportunities for researchers in obtaining HLA genotypes via prediction using their already existing chip datasets. Since the genetic variation structure (e.g. SNP, HLA, Linkage disequilibrium) is different between Han Chinese and Caucasians, and has strong impact in building prediction models for HLA genes, our findings emphasize the importance of building ethnic-specific models when analyzing human populations.
Chromothripsis-like patterns are recurring but heterogeneously distributed features in a survey of 22,347 cancer genome screens
Authors: Cai Haoyang , Kumar Nitin , Bagheri Homayoun C , von Mering Christian , Robinson Mark D , Baudis Michael
Published: January 2014

Background

Chromothripsis is a recently discovered phenomenon of genomic rearrangement, possibly arising during a single genome-shattering event. This could provide an alternative paradigm in cancer development, replacing the gradual accumulation of genomic changes with a “one-off” catastrophic event. However, the term has been used with varying operational definitions, with the minimal consensus being a large number of locally clustered copy number aberrations. The mechanisms underlying these chromothripsis-like patterns (CTLP) and their specific impact on tumorigenesis are still poorly understood.

Results

Here, we identified CTLP in 918 cancer samples, from a dataset of more than 22,000 oncogenomic arrays covering 132 cancer types. Fragmentation hotspots were found to be located on chromosome 8, 11, 12 and 17. Among the various cancer types, soft-tissue tumors exhibited particularly high CTLP frequencies. Genomic context analysis revealed that CTLP rearrangements frequently occurred in genomes that additionally harbored multiple copy number aberrations (CNAs). An investigation into the affected chromosomal regions showed a large proportion of arm-level pulverization and telomere related events, which would be compatible to a number of underlying mechanisms. We also report evidence that these genomic events may be correlated with patient age, stage and survival rate.

Conclusions

Through a large-scale analysis of oncogenomic array data sets, this study characterized features associated with genomic aberrations patterns, compatible to the spectrum of “chromothripsis”-definitions as previously used. While quantifying clustered genomic copy number aberrations in cancer samples, our data indicates an underlying biological heterogeneity behind these chromothripsis-like patterns, beyond a well defined “chromthripsis” phenomenon.
Evaluation of chromID strepto B as a screening media for Streptococcus agalactiae
Authors: Morita Toyohisa , Feng Dongyun , Kamio Yoko , Kanno Isao , Somaya Teruo , Imai Kazuhito , Inoue Misaki , Fujiwara Mutsunori , Miyauchi Akihito
Published: January 2014

Background

Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS), a leading cause of sepsis and meningitis in infants, can be transmitted vertically from mother to infant during passage through the birth canal. Detection of GBS colonization in perinatal women is a major strategy for the prevention of postpartum neonatal disease. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all women undergo vaginal-rectal screening for GBS colonization at 35-37 weeks of gestation. ChromID Strepto B (STRB) is a chromogenic GBS screening media on which GBS colonies appear pink or red, while other bacteria are either inhibited or form colonies in other colors. In this study, we compared STRB with a conventional GBS detection method using 5% sheep blood agar (BA) followed by a selective enrichment broth.

Methods

Anovaginal swabs were collected from 1425 women during weeks 35 to 37 of their pregnancies. The swabs were used to inoculate both STRB and BA plates after enrichment with selective Todd Hewitt Broth (THB). A GBS latex agglutination test was used to confirm the identity of isolates from each plate.

Results

GBS was recovered from 319 (22.4%) samples with one or both media: 318 on STRB compared to 299 using BA. One false negative was observed on STRB, and 20 false negatives were observed on BA. In addition, non-hemolytic GBS was recovered from 19 (6.0%) samples using STRB.

Conclusions

STRB offers effectiveness and convenience over BA for GBS screening in clinical laboratories. STRB produces fewer false negatives, has a higher detection rate and uses a simple color screen that is ideal for technician-level applications. We recommend STRB as the media of choice for GBS screening.
The Nightingale study: rationale, study design and baseline characteristics of a prospective cohort study on shift work and breast cancer risk among nurses
Authors: Pijpe Anouk , Slottje Pauline , van Pelt Cres , Stehmann Floor , Kromhout Hans , van Leeuwen Flora E , Vermeulen Roel CH , Rookus Matti A
Published: January 2014

Background

Evidence for the carcinogenicity of shift work in humans is limited because of significant heterogeneity of the results, thus more in-depth research in needed. The Nightingale Study is a nationwide prospective cohort study on occupational exposures and risks of chronic diseases among female nurses and focuses on the potential association between shift work and risk of breast cancer. The study design, methods, and baseline characteristics of the cohort are described.

Methods/Design

The source population for the cohort comprised 18 to 65 year old women who were registered as having completed training to be a nurse in the nationwide register for healthcare professionals in the Netherlands. Eligible women were invited to complete a web-based questionnaire including full job history, a detailed section on all domains of shift work (shift system, cumulative exposure, and shift intensity) and potential confounding factors, and an informed consent form for linkage with national (disease) registries. Women were also asked to donate toenail clippings as a source of DNA for genetic analyses. Between October 6, 2011 and February 1, 2012, 31% of the 192,931 women who were invited to participate completed the questionnaire, yielding a sample size of 59,947 cohort members. The mean age of the participants was 46.9 year (standard deviation 11.0 years). Toenail clippings were provided by 23,439 participants (39%).

Discussion

Results from the Nightingale Study will contribute to the scientific evidence of potential shift work-related health risks among nurses and will help develop preventive measures and policy aimed at reducing these risks.
Correlation between HER-2/neu(erbB-2) expression level and therapeutic effect of combination treatment with HERCEPTIN and chemotherapeutic agents in gastric cancer cell lines
Authors: Cui Hai , Cheng Ying , Piao Su-Zhou , Xu Yun-Jie , Sun Hong-Hua , Cui Xian , Li Xiang-Zi , Zhang Song-Nan , Piao Long-Zhen , Jin Yong-Min , Lin Zhen-hua , Shen Xiong-Hu
Published: January 2014

Introduction

Although advanced gastric cancer has many limitations and response rate is marginal in chemotherapy. Overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER-2/neu) gene and its protein are associated with increased cell division and a high rate of tumor growth and have been reported in several malignancies. Especially, approximately 30% of breast cancer patients have overexpression of HER-2/neu protein and the overexpression metastasize faster, induces resistance of the chemotherapy and down-regulate function of estrogen receptor. Recombinant humanized anti-HER2 antibody (Herceptin) inhibits proliferation of HER-2/neu overexpressing tumor cells and the use of that in combination in metastatic breast cancer have increased cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents.

Methods

We evaluated the expression of HER-2/neu protein in gastric cell lines by FACS and then comparing the cytotoxicity in chemotherapeutics (doxorubicin, cisplatin, paclitaxel, 5-FU) alone and in combination with Herceptin according to the expression of HER-2/neu protein by MTT assay.

Results

1. NCI-N87 (88%) gastric cancer cell line and SK-BR-3 (89%) breast cancer cell line with strong positivity of HER-2/neu expression. YBC-2 (55%) and YBC-3 (48%) gastric cancer cell line with intermediated, weak positivity respectively. Negative control U-87 MG (6%) brain cancer cell line were showed low expression of HER-2/neu. 2. Cell growth was dose-dependently inhibited in HER-2/neu positive, control cell line SK-BR-3 by Herceptin treatment but not observed in HER-2/neu negative control cell line U-87 MG. Effective growth inhibition was not observed in gastric cancer cell lines with single treatment of Herceptin, all cell lines observed the dose-dependent growth inhibition to chemotherapeutic agents (doxorubicin, cisplatin, paclitaxel and 5-FU). 3. Combination of Herceptin with doxorubicin observed synergistic effects in all cancer cell lines except YBC-3, combination of Herceptin with cisplatin observed NCI-N87 and SK-BR-3 and combination of Herceptin with paclitaxel observed synergistic effects in YBC-2. Combination of Herceptin with 5-FU observed antagonistic effects in all cancer cell lines.

Conclusions

According to HER-2/neu expression level, effect of anti-cancer agents was observed differently in combination of Herceptin with chemotherapeutic agents. This suggests that HER-2/neu expression level can be applied standard of combination drug selection in combination of Herceptin With chemotherapeutic agents in gastric cancer.
Effects of a standard provision versus an autonomy supportive exercise referral programme on physical activity, quality of life and well-being indicators: a cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Duda Joan L , Williams Geoffrey C , Ntoumanis Nikos , Daley Amanda , Eves Frank F , Mutrie Nanette , Rouse Peter C , Lodhia Rekha , Blamey Ruth V , Jolly Kate
Published: January 2014

Background

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the UK has recommended that the effectiveness of ongoing exercise referral schemes to promote physical activity should be examined in research trials. Recent empirical evidence in health care and physical activity promotion contexts provides a foundation for testing the feasibility and impact of a Self Determination Theory-based (SDT) exercise referral consultation.

Methods

An exploratory cluster randomised controlled trial comparing standard provision exercise referral with an exercise referral intervention grounded in Self Determination Theory. Individuals (N = 347) referred to an exercise referral scheme were recruited into the trial from 13 centres.

Outcomes and processes of change measured at baseline, 3 and 6-months: Minutes of self-reported moderate or vigorous physical activity (PA) per week (primary outcome), health status, positive and negative indicators of emotional well-being, anxiety, depression, quality of life (QOL), vitality, and perceptions of autonomy support from the advisor, need satisfaction (3 and 6 months only), intentions to be active, and motivational regulations for exercise.

Blood pressure and weight were assessed at baseline and 6 months.

Results

Perceptions of the autonomy support provided by the health and fitness advisor (HFA) did not differ by arm. Between group changes over the 6-months revealed significant differences for reported anxiety only. Within arm contrasts revealed significant improvements in anxiety and most of the Dartmouth CO-OP domains in the SDT arm at 6 months, which were not seen in the standard exercise referral group. A process model depicting hypothesized relationships between advisor autonomy support, need satisfaction and more autonomous motivation, enhanced well being and PA engagement at follow up was supported.

Conclusions

Significant gains in physical activity and improvements in quality of life and well-being outcomes emerged in both the standard provision exercise referral and the SDT-based intervention at programme end. At 6-months, observed between arm and within intervention arm differences for indicators of emotional health, and the results of the process model, were in line with SDT. The challenges in optimising recruitment and implementation of SDT-based training in the context of health and leisure services are discussed.

Trial registration

The trial is registered as Current Controlled trials ISRCTN07682833.
RNF14 is a regulator of mitochondrial and immune function in muscle
Authors: Ingham Aaron B , Osborne Simone A , Menzies Moira , Briscoe Suzie , Chen Wei , Kongsuwan Kritaya , Reverter Antonio , Jeanes Angela , Dalrymple Brian P , Wijffels Gene , Seymour Robert , Hudson Nicholas J
Published: January 2014

Background

Muscle development and remodelling, mitochondrial physiology and inflammation are thought to be inter-related and to have implications for metabolism in both health and disease. However, our understanding of their molecular control is incomplete.

Results

In this study we have confirmed that the ring finger 14 protein (RNF14), a poorly understood transcriptional regulator, influences the expression of both mitochondrial and immune-related genes. The prediction was based on a combination of network connectivity and differential connectivity in cattle (a non-model organism) and mice data sets, with a focus on skeletal muscle. They assigned similar probability to mammalian RNF14 playing a regulatory role in mitochondrial and immune gene expression. To try and resolve this apparent ambiguity we performed a genome-wide microarray expression analysis on mouse C2C12 myoblasts transiently transfected with two Rnf14 transcript variants that encode 2 naturally occurring but different RNF14 protein isoforms. The effect of both constructs was significantly different to the control samples (untransfected cells and cells transfected with an empty vector). Cluster analyses revealed that transfection with the two Rnf14 constructs yielded discrete expression signatures from each other, but in both cases a substantial set of genes annotated as encoding proteins related to immune function were perturbed. These included cytokines and interferon regulatory factors. Additionally, transfection of the longer transcript variant 1 coordinately increased the expression of 12 (of the total 13) mitochondrial proteins encoded by the mitochondrial genome, 3 of which were significant in isolated pair-wise comparisons (Mt-coxII, Mt-nd2 and mt-nd4l). This apparent additional mitochondrial function may be attributable to the RWD protein domain that is present only in the longer RNF14 isoform.

Conclusions

RNF14 influences the expression of both mitochondrial and immune related genes in a skeletal muscle context, and has likely implications for the inter-relationship between bioenergetic status and inflammation.
A case of metastatic cancer with markedly elevated PSA level that was not detected by repeat prostate biopsy
Authors: Iwamura Hiromichi , Hatakeyama Shingo , Tanaka Yoshimi , Tanaka Toshikazu , Tokui Noriko , Yamamoto Hayato , Imai Atsushi , Yoneyama Takahiro , Hashimoto Yasuhiro , Koie Takuya , Yoshikawa Kazuaki , Ohyama Chikara
Published: January 2014

Background

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a widely used specific tumor marker for prostate cancer. We experienced a case of metastatic prostate cancer that was difficult to detect by repeat prostate biopsy despite a markedly elevated serum PSA level.

Case presentation

A 64-year-old man was referred to our hospital with lumbar back pain and an elevated serum PSA level of 2036 ng/mL. Computed tomography, bone scintigraphy, and magnetic resonance imaging showed systemic lymph node and osteoblastic bone metastases. Digital rectal examination revealed a small, soft prostate without nodules. Ten-core transrectal prostate biopsy yielded negative results. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) was started because of the patient’s severe symptoms. Twelve-core repeat transrectal prostate biopsy performed 2 months later, and transurethral resection biopsy performed 5 months later, both yielded negative results. The patient refused further cancer screening because ADT effectively relieved his symptoms. His PSA level initially decreased to 4.8 ng/mL, but he developed castration-resistant prostate cancer 7 months after starting ADT. He died 21 months after the initial prostate biopsy from disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Conclusion

CUP remains a considerable challenge in clinical oncology. Biopsies of metastatic lesions and multimodal approaches were helpful in this case.
Effect of garlic on lipid profile and expression of LXR alpha in intestine and liver of hypercholesterolemic mice
Authors: Mohammadi Abbas , Oshaghi Ebrahim Abbasi
Published: January 2014

Background

Garlic is one of the medicinal plants which has showed beneficial effects on atherosclerosis risk factors. The liver X receptor α (LXRα) is an important regulator of cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose homeostasis that belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily. In this study we investigated the effect of garlic on lipid profile, glucose as well as LXRα expression in intestine and liver of mice.

Methods

Forty male N-Mary mice were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 8): group1 received chow + 2% cholesterol + 0.5% cholic acid, group 2: chow + 4% (w/w) garlic extract + 2% cholesterol + 0.5% cholic acid, and group 3: chow only. After one month of treatment, mice were anesthetized, blood was collected from their heart, and the first 10 cm of the small intestine and liver were removed. Glucose was measured by a glucometer; other biochemical factors were measured by enzymatic methods. LXR expression was checked by RT-PCR and western blotting.

Results

Compared with hypercholesterolemic mice, treatment with garlic extract significantly decreased total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-C), atherogenic index, alanine aminotranferease (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (all of them P < 0.05). Change in HDL-C levels was not significant in garlic-extract treated animals compared with hypercholesterolemic group. LXR protein and mRNA in the intestine were increased in garlic-extract treated group compared with chow group (P < 0.05), while in the liver, only mRNA of LXR was increased in hypercholesterolemic control mice (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The present study demonstrated that garlic extract reduced LXRα expression in the liver and increased its expression in the intestine. These effects probably have an important role in reducing serum triglyceride and cholesterol.
DMARD non-use in low-income, elderly rheumatoid arthritis patients: results of 86 structured interviews
Authors: Brown Erika M , Garneau Katie L , Tsao Hsun , Solomon Daniel H
Published: January 2014

Introduction

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) have become the treatment standard for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although several general-population studies document that a large population of patients diagnosed with RA do not use DMARDs, little is known about this group. We explored the characteristics, experiences, and knowledge of a low-income, elderly RA population not currently using DMARDs, or receiving care from a rheumatologist.

Methods

We administered structured telephone interviews to participants enrolled in a large pharmacy benefits program for the elderly who had two diagnoses of RA ≥7 days apart and no DMARD prescriptions or rheumatologist visits in the prior year. The interview contained questions concerning each participant’s sociodemographic information, disease activity, DMARD experiences, and the Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire (MHAQ). We described responses and compared prior users with never users.

Results

A total of 86 people completed the interview. The mean age was 80 years and 89% were female. On average, disease duration was 20 years. Mean MHAQ score was 0.55 (SD = 0.55). Of 86 participants, 19 had previously used DMARDs, 10 of whom discontinued them because of side effects or safety concerns. Among 67 never-users, 35 (52.2%) reported that their physicians had never offered them DMARDs, 13 (19.4%) described fear of side effects, and 49 (73.1%) knew nothing about them. Prior-users reported experiencing more-severe RA symptoms than never-users.

Conclusions

We found that side effects or safety concerns were the primary cause for DMARD cessation among prior-users. Among never-users, most reported never discussing or being offered DMARDs, suggesting that an educational gap may deter patients with RA from using them.
Increased physical activity severely induces osteoarthritic changes in knee joints with papain induced sulfate-glycosaminoglycan depleted cartilage
Authors: Siebelt Michiel , Groen Harald C , Koelewijn Stuart J , de Blois Erik , Sandker Marjan , Waarsing Jan H , Müller Cristina , van Osch Gerjo JVM , de Jong Marion , Weinans Harrie
Published: January 2014

Introduction

Articular cartilage needs sulfated-glycosaminoglycans (sGAGs) to withstand high pressures while mechanically loaded. Chondrocyte sGAG synthesis is regulated by exposure to compressive forces. Moderate physical exercise is known to improve cartilage sGAG content and might protect against osteoarthritis (OA). This study investigated whether rat knee joints with sGAG depleted articular cartilage through papain injections might benefit from moderate exercise, or whether this increases the susceptibility for cartilage degeneration.

Methods

sGAGs were depleted from cartilage through intraarticular papain injections in the left knee joints of 40 Wistar rats; their contralateral joints served as healthy controls. Of the 40 rats included in the study, 20 rats remained sedentary, and the other 20 were subjected to a moderately intense running protocol. Animals were longitudinally monitored for 12 weeks with in vivo micro-computed tomography (μCT) to measure subchondral bone changes and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT to determine synovial macrophage activation. Articular cartilage was analyzed at 6 and 12 weeks with ex vivo contrast-enhanced μCT and histology to measure sGAG content and cartilage thickness.

Results

All outcome measures were unaffected by moderate exercise in healthy control joints of running animals compared with healthy control joints of sedentary animals. Papain injections in sedentary animals resulted in severe sGAG-depleted cartilage, slight loss of subchondral cortical bone, increased macrophage activation, and osteophyte formation. In running animals, papain-induced sGAG-depleted cartilage showed increased cartilage matrix degradation, sclerotic bone formation, increased macrophage activation, and more osteophyte formation.

Conclusions

Moderate exercise enhanced OA progression in papain-injected joints and did not protect against development of the disease. This was not restricted to more-extensive cartilage damage, but also resulted in pronounced subchondral sclerosis, synovial macrophage activation, and osteophyte formation.
Paracrine signaling in mammary gland development: what can we learn about intratumoral heterogeneity?
Authors: Rosen Jeffrey M , Roarty Kevin
Published: January 2014

Paracrine signaling mechanisms play a critical role in both normal mammary gland development and breast cancer. Dissection of these mechanisms using genetically engineered mouse models has provided significant insight into our understanding of the mechanisms that guide intratumoral heterogeneity. In the following perspective, we briefly review some of the emerging concepts in this field and emphasize why elucidation of these pathways will be important for future progress in devising new and improved combinatorial therapeutic approaches for breast and other solid cancers.