bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiple Adverse Events with a Dual Chamber Pacemaker
Authors: GLIKSON MICHAEL , GUREVITZ OSNAT , YAACOBI ELAD , FELDMAN SHLOMO , BAR‐LEV DAVID , YAROSLAVTZEV SERGEI , ROTSTEIN ZEEV , ELDAR MICHAEL
Published: June 2006

The aim of the study was to evaluate our experience with Physiocor 400T, a dual chamber unipolar pacemaker manufactured by Sorin Biomedica. Between March 1993 and December 1994, 63 units of that model were implanted at our center. Patients were followed for 46 ± 16 months. By the end of follow‐up, 15 patients had died, 1 patient was lost to follow‐up, and two units had been replaced for unrelated reasons. During follow‐up the following phenomena had been observed: (1) Spontaneous backup reversion (VOO, 80 ppm) in 6 (9.5%) of 63 patients. In three patients this phenomenon was accompanied by concomitant ineffective pacing artifacts at 130 beats/min with very low pulse widths. (2) Unexpected battery depletion (EOL) occurred in 3 (5%) of 63 patients; two of the three occurred within weeks of routine evaluation that confirmed normal battery status. (3) Early elective replacement time (ERT) unpreceded by a gradual drop in magnet rate in 2 (3.2%) of 63 patients. (4) Total loss of telemetry without change in pacing mode in 1 (1.6%) of 63 patients. The estimated event‐free 5‐year survival of this model was 46%. In conclusion, 12 (19%) of 63 patients had adverse events with Physiocor 400T pacemakers. The potential risk of asynchronous pacing for prolonged periods and the risk of unexpected EOL warrants consideration of elective replacement of all remaining units.
Use of an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator in a Patient with Two Implanted Neurostimulators for Severe Parkinson's Disease
Authors: TAVERNIER RENE , FONTEYNE WINOC , VANDEWALLE VEERLE , DE SUTTER JOHAN , GEVAERT SOFIE
Published: June 2006

We report a patient with Parkinson's disease treated with two pectorally implanted neurostimulators (NSs) who presented with a life‐threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmia in whom an abdominal ICD was implanted. Testing during implantation showed that the NS did not affect the bipolar sensing of the ICD. even when the NSs were set at a frequency of 130 pulses/s with an output of 5 V and pulse width of 0.21 ms in a bipolar and a unipolar configuration. The ICD shock, however, did affect both NSs: there was a reset to the output Off state and there was a reset of the electrode polarities.
Practical application and evaluation of a care model for informing and reassuring children undergoing medical examinations and/or procedures (part 2): Methods of relating and practical nursing techniques that best bring out the potential of children*
Authors: MATSUMORI Naomi , NINOMIYA Keiko , EBINA Michiko , KATADA Noriko , KATSUDA Hitomi , KOSAKO Yukie , SASAKI Shinobu , MATSUBAYASHI Tomomi , NAKANO Ayami , TSUTSUI Mayumi , IIMURA Naoko , EMOTO Rina , SUZUKI Atsuko , NARAGINO Hiromi , TAKAHASHI Sayako , KISUGI Namiko , HUKUCHI Makiko
Published: June 2006

Aim:  Based on previous surveys, we developed a care model for informing and reassuring children undergoing medical examinations and/or procedures that respects the dignity of pediatric patients and their parents and aims to realize the potential of children.

Method:  We enlisted the cooperation of nurses working in eight pediatric wards in five hospitals in the Kanto and Kansai areas in applying the care model on a trial basis and evaluating its effect in monthly meetings.

Results:  Analysis of the 82 case reports received produced four categories. Here, we will concentrate on the second category, “bringing out the potential of children: methods of relating and nursing techniques attempted and used”, and eight subcategories. Five subcategories are related to the care model. Children tolerated procedures best when: they were provided with an explanation; were allowed to make choices related to the procedure; continuous explanations were given during procedures; the timing of the procedure suited the child; and distraction techniques were used. Three subcategories are not related to the care model and were newly identified as it was applied: negotiation with the child; cooperation of the mother and family; and the influence of first impressions.

Conclusions:  We found that nurses were best able to bring out the potential of children while protecting patient dignity by combining and continuing these various techniques.
Turning Base Hits into Earned Runs: Improving the Effectiveness of Forensic DNA Data Bank Programs
Authors: Bieber Frederick R.
Published: June 2006

Forensic data banks contain biological samples and DNA extracts as well as computerized databases of coded DNA profiles of convicted offenders, arrestees and crime scene samples. When used for investigative and law enforcement purposes, DNA data banks have been successful in providing key investigative leads in hundreds of criminal investigations. A number of these crimes would never have been resolved without use of such data banks. In addition, in some limited number of investigations, the exclusion of known suspects whose DNA profiles are known to be in an offender database can save valuable investigative time.

Despite the above benefits, in hundreds of cases DNA samples are never collected and administrative and laboratory logjams delay prompt database searches. Furthermore, hundreds of DNA database matches (hits) languish, without any followup by law enforcement or prosecutors. These prevent or delay DNA matches and therefore can leave the public in grave risk of potential harm from recidivistic offenders who otherwise could have been apprehended and convicted if the process functioned more effectively.
Effective Product Family Design Using Preference Aggregation
Authors: Dai Zhihuang , Scott Michael J.
Published: June 2006

The development of product families, groups of products that share a common platform, is one way to provide product variety while keeping design and production costs low. The design of a product platform can be formulated as a multicriteria optimization problem in which the performances of individual products trade off against each other and against the objective of platform standardization. The problem is often solved in two stages: one to determine the values of the shared platform variables and a second to optimize the product family members with respect to specific targets. In the first stage, it is common to target the mean and variability of performance when fixing the values of platform variables. This paper contributes three new methods for platform development. The new methods are demonstrated on an electric motor example from the platform design literature, and the results are compared to those from existing methods. First, a preference aggregation method is applied to aggregate the multiple objectives into a single overall objective function. On the example problem, this approach gives superior results to existing techniques. Second, an alternative method that targets the minimum and maximum of the range of performance across the platform, instead of the mean and standard deviation, is proposed and shown to succeed where the existing method may fail. Third, a single-stage optimization approach which solves for both platform and nonplatform variables in a single pass is presented. This method delivers notably superior performance on the example problem but will, in general, incur greater computational expense.
An Approach to Robust Design of Turbulent Convective Systems
Authors: Rolander Nathan , Rambo Jeffrey , Joshi Yogendra , Allen Janet K. , Mistree Farrokh
Published: June 2006

The complex turbulent flow regimes encountered in many thermal-fluid engineering applications have proven resistant to the effective application of systematic design because of the computational expense of model evaluation and the inherent variability of turbulent systems. In this paper the integration of a novel reduced order turbulent convection modeling approach based upon the proper orthogonal decomposition technique with the application of robust design principles implemented using the compromise decision support problem is investigated as an effective design approach for this domain. In the example application considered, thermally efficient computer server cabinet configurations that are insensitive to variations in operating conditions are determined. The computer servers are cooled by turbulent convection and have unsteady heat generation and cooling air flows, yielding substantial variability, yet have some of the most stringent operational requirements of any engineering system. Results of the application of this approach to an enclosed cabinet example show that the resulting robust thermally efficient configurations are capable of dissipating up to a 50% greater heat load and a 60% decrease in the temperature variability using the same cooling infrastructure.
In-stack and in-plume characterization of particulate metals emitted from a copper smelter
Authors: Wong Henry K. T. , Banic Catharine M. , Robert Stéphane , Nejedly Zdenek , Campbell J. L.
Published: June 2006

To better understand the transport of particles emitted from industrial sources, a research aircraft was flown in the plume of the Horne Copper Smelter in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, during winter and summer of 2000. During seven flights the industry performed in-stack sampling for metals while the aircraft determined in-situ chemical and microphysical properties of the particles in the plume over distances of 2 to 27 km. The estimated dilution factors for the samples collected in the plume ranged from 2000 to 50 000 compared with in-stack samples. The ratios of As/Cu, Pb/Cu and Zn/Cu for the stack and in-plume samples show good correspondence. The relative fraction of As, Cu, Pb and Zn in the size bins <2 μm, 2–8 μm and >8 μm aerodynamic diameter were established using a cascade impactor in the plume. The As, Cu and Pb were found in larger fraction in the <2 μm size bin with Zn more equally distributed between the <2 and >8 μm bins. There was no evidence found to support preferential loss of the particles detected in the >8 μm bin over the distances studied. These data provide input needed to initialize models to predict the deposition and transport of the emissions.
A review of the moss-monitoring survey around the Trail smelter,British Columbia
Authors: Goodarzi F. , Sanei H. , Garrett R. G. , Labonté M. , Duncan W. F.
Published: June 2006

The distribution of aerially deposited metals, As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn, was studied using passive collection moss monitoring in the vicinity of the smelter in Trail, British Columbia, Canada. The concentrations of metals/metalloids were measured in moss bags exposed to atmospheric deposition for periods of three months. The results show the greatest deposition of metals proximal to the smelter, and a decrease in deposition with increasing distance from the smelter. The pattern of deposition varies with the season, the element under study, and the location of the monitoring station. The depositional pattern around the Trail smelter is controlled mainly by the physiography of the region as related to shape and orientation of the Columbia river valley and direction of the prevailing wind. The results show that the annual aerial deposition of metals is directly related to the quantity of stack-emitted metals and Pb–Zn production levels.

The distribution of Pb, Zn and Cd in surface soils around the Trail smelter shows a similar pattern to their deposition at moss-monitoring stations. These soils are characterized by an elevated concentration of metals in the proximity of the smelter, indicating the effect of airborne materials on the geochemistry of the soils in the study area. Such similarity was not found for Hg, Cu and As, indicating that the variation of these elements in soil samples is more likely related to soil chemistry rather than to atmospheric deposition.
Numerical simulation of air concentration and deposition of particulate metals around a copper smelter in northern Québec, Canada
Authors: Daggupaty Sreerama M. , Banic Catharine M. , Cheung Philip , Ma Jianmin
Published: June 2006

A three-dimensional numerical modelling study of the dispersion of particles emitted from a copper smelter at Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, was conducted using the BLFMAPS, a mesoscale boundary layer forecast and air pollution prediction system. This numerical modelling system was used to simulate meteorology and air concentration, dry deposition and wet deposition of particulate matter emitted during February and July 2000. During these time periods an instrumented research aircraft measured the chemical and physical properties of the particles in the plume. Simulations were done for particulates with three aerodynamic particle diameters of fine (0.25 μm), medium (4 μm), and large (20 μm). The comparison of model-predicted air concentration for a few metals with the aircraft-measured data provided reasonable agreement. Particle-size-dependent deposition showed some interesting patterns and phenomena. Coarser particles have a stronger deposition rate than finer particles. Finer particles have a longer lifetime in the atmosphere and transport over long distances. Specifically,
c
. 95% and 85% of fine particle emissions during winter and summer study periods, respectively, were exported >100 km from the smelter plant, whereas only
c
. 50% of large particle emissions were exported >100 km from the plant during both study periods.
Regional and historical distributions of lake-water pH within a 100-km radius of the Horne smelter in Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, Canada
Authors: Alpay S. , Veillette J. J. , Dixit A. S. , Dixit S. S.
Published: June 2006

The spatial distribution of lake-water pH near the Horne smelter in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Canada, is affected not only by industrial sulphur dioxide emissions, but also by other anthropogenic and natural factors. Regional calcareous glaciolacustrine deposits from glacial lakes Barlow and Ojibway provide buffering capacity. Locally, some kettle lakes are buffered by silicate weathering. Small mines, tailings, and natural sources of acidity (e.g. peat basins, forested catchment areas with acidic soils) also contribute to lake acidification. Interpreting the modern regional distribution of lake-water pH, ranging from 3.7 to 9.3 in 99 lakes, is equivocal in this area where wind-transported emissions and buffering from calcareous glaciolacustrine deposits can yield similar spatial trends. However, in a parallel study, diatom assemblages have been used as bio-indicators of past lake-water pH since they respond to temporal shifts in environmental conditions, including lake-water acidity. The historical pH reconstructions for two lakes within a 100-km radius of Rouyn-Noranda suggest that they were naturally acidic before industrialization and have further acidified. Lac de la Pépinière was naturally acidic in the 1800s (pH 5.5) and reached a pH of 4.8 by 1998; its increased rate of acidification since 1927 corresponds to the beginning of mining and smelting operations.
The physical and chemical evolution of aerosols in smelter and power plant plumes: an airborne study
Authors: Banic Catharine , Leaitch W. Richard , Strawbridge Kevin , Tanabe Richard , Wong Henry , Gariépy Clément , Simonetti Antonio , Nejedly Zdenek , Campbell J.L. , Lu Julia , Skeaff Jim , Paktunc Dogan , MacPherson J.I. , Daggupaty Sreerama , Geonac'h Hélène , Chatt Amares , Lamoureux Marc
Published: June 2006

National and international concern about the health effects and continued use of Pb, Cd, As and Hg as well as other metals has defined a need for improved estimates of the long-term risks to ecosystems and human health from metals released from mining, metallurgical and energy production activities. A research aircraft was used to determine the microphysical and chemical properties of airborne particulate metal emissions from the Nanticoke coal-fired power-generating station located on the north shore of Lake Erie, Ontario, and the Horne copper smelter at Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. These properties are critical to the determination of the deposition rates of the metals emitted, and hence the potential for these species to have impacts on local or distant ecosystems. An overview of the measurements made during the study is given. The size distributions of particles emitted from the stacks and observed within 5 km of the point of emission are briefly described. After dilution by ambient air, the concentration of particles smaller than 0.135 μm in diameter in the plumes is tens of thousands per cubic centimetre, far exceeding the concentrations found in ambient air. However, in the size range 0.135 to 3 μm diameter the plumes generally contribute about one to four times more particles than present in ambient air.
The Effect of Polymer Molecular Weight and Solvent Type on the Planarization of Spin‐Coated Films
Authors: Bullwinkel M. D. , Gu J. , Campbell G. A. , Sukanek P. C.
Published: June 2006

Experiments were performed to determine how the physical properties of coating solutions affect the planarization of spin‐coated films. The planarization of lines 25 μm wide and 0.67 μm high by 1 μm thick spin‐coated films were measured for solutions composed of different solvent‐polymer molecular weight pairs. Three solvents (toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, and chloroform), which have different evaporation rates, were selected as a means of controlling the solvent concentration in the film. Four polystyrenes ranging from

3.10
×

10

5

 
to
 
8.30
×

10

3

weight average molecular weights

(

M

w

)

were used. Because the film thickness in these experiments was kept constant, the differences in planarization were due solely to the differences in coating materials. For a given solvent, step heights were significantly reduced by lowering

M

w

from 310,000 to 44,100 but remained unchanged for reduction below the critical molecular weight

M

c

. The step heights were essentially equal (0.40 μm) for all three solvents for

M

w

<

M

c

. Estimates of the solvent concentration in the film indicated that the solvent probably evaporated within the first few seconds of spin. As a result, the film viscosity increased rapidly so there was insufficient time for leveling before the film became glassy.
Novel Microelectromechanical System Force Transducer to Quantify Contractile Characteristics from Isolated Cardiac Muscle Cells
Authors: Lin G. , Pister K. S. J. , Roos K. P.
Published: June 2006

A custom‐designed microelectromechanical system (MEMS) force transducer, with a volume less than 1 mm3, is being fabricated to measure force development in isolated cardiac muscle cells to elucidate the physiology of muscle contraction. A single heart cell is attached to flexible, hinged polysilicon plates submerged in a nutrient saline solution. As the cell contracts, the plates bend, and the contractile force can be measured based on the known spring constant of the plate. The amount of deflection is measured by piezoresistive, ion‐implanted strain gauges placed at the base of the plates. Prototype structures have been fabricated and have been mechanically tested using probes. We have demonstrated that living rat heart cells can be attached to polysilicon using a silicone sealant. Polysilicon is an inert material when exposed to cardiac cells and their saline environment and has no effect on the cells themselves.
Investigation of the Formation Rate of Surface States in Semiconductor Electrodes by Photocapacitance Transients
Authors: Nogami Gyoichi , Shiratsuchi Ryuichi , Ohno Keiichi
Published: June 2006

The formation rate of surface states and its mechanism on a single‐crystal rutile was investigated by photocapacitance transients which Could be observed when the illuminating light was turned off after a long term illumination. By light illumination, the surface state was oxidized by a hole transfer from the valence band, resulting in band bending lowering. When the light was turned off, the surface state returned to the thermal equilibrium condition by an electron transfer from the conduction band and from the electroactive species in solution. As a result, the capacitance decreased exponentially with time. Two types of relaxation times, one of which is fast and the other slow, were observed. The fast and slow states are likely to be related to the native state inherent to the reduced

TiO

2

and to a complex produced by the interaction between the oxidation product such as

O

2

and the electrode surface, respectively. The fast state was found to distribute exponentially from the conduction bandedge to the midgap in the forbidden gap. In the meanwhile, the distribution of the slow state could be approximated by a Gaussian and had a sharp peak at −0.33 V vs. SCE, which disappeared by electrode rotation. It is pointed out that the overall electrode reaction rate is determined by the charge exchange between the reaction products and the species in solution.
Chronic stress induces adrenal hyperplasia and hypertrophy in a subregion-specific manner
Authors: Ulrich-Lai Yvonne M. , Figueiredo Helmer F. , Ostrander Michelle M. , Choi Dennis C. , Engeland William C. , Herman James P.
Published: June 2006

The adrenal gland is an essential stress-responsive organ that is part of both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympatho-adrenomedullary system. Chronic stress exposure commonly increases adrenal weight, but it is not known to what extent this growth is due to cellular hyperplasia or hypertrophy and whether it is subregion specific. Moreover, it is not clear whether increased production of adrenal glucocorticoid after chronic stress is due to increased sensitivity to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) vs. increased maximal output. The present studies use a 14-day chronic variable stress (CVS) paradigm in adult male rats to assess the effects of chronic stress on adrenal growth and corticosterone steroidogenesis. Exogenous ACTH administration (0–895 ng/100 g body wt) to dexamethasone-blocked rats demonstrated that CVS increased maximal plasma and adrenal corticosterone responses to ACTH without affecting sensitivity. This enhanced function was associated with increased adrenal weight, DNA and RNA content, and RNA/DNA ratio after CVS, suggesting that both cellular hyperplasia and hypertrophy occurred. Unbiased stereological counting of cells labeled for Ki67 (cell division marker) or 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (nuclear marker), combined with zone specific markers, showed that CVS induced hyperplasia in the outer zona fasciculata, hypertrophy in the inner zona fasciculata and medulla, and reduced cell size in the zona glomerulosa. Collectively, these results demonstrate that increased adrenal weight after CVS is due to hyperplasia and hypertrophy that occur in specific adrenal subregions and is associated with increased maximal corticosterone responses to ACTH. These chronic stress-induced changes in adrenal growth and function may have implications for patients with stress-related disorders.
Passive immunization of lactating mice with stanniocalcin-1 antiserum reduces mammary gland development, milk fat content, and postnatal pup growth
Authors: Zaidi Deenaz , James Kathi A. , Wagner Graham F.
Published: June 2006

During pregnancy and lactation in rodents, stanniocalcin-1 (STC-1) production by the ovaries is upregulated markedly and released into the circulation. The mammary glands are one target of this systemically delivered hormone. The purpose of this study was to lower serum levels of STC-1 in lactating mice through passive immunization so as to monitor the effects on mammary gland function and postnatal pup growth. Passive immunization significantly reduced circulating hormone levels, and pup growth was significantly compromised (30%), even though control and experimental litters had ingested equal amounts of milk. When mammary glands were analyzed, the alveolar area was significantly reduced in antibody-treated mothers. An analysis of milk composition revealed no changes in lactose, protein, or electrolyte levels but an ∼40% reduction in triglyceride levels. The latter was due to a significant reduction in mammary gland lipoprotein lipase activity and led to a significant buildup of triglycerides in the serum. Body fat content was also significantly reduced in pups from antibody-treated mothers, whereas pup fecal fat content was increased. In mothers, passive immunization also caused significant behavioral effects, in particular, increased locomotor and hindleg rearing activities. Collectively, the results suggest that systemically derived STC-1 has important effects on mammary gland development and the transfer of serum-based triglycerides into milk. Locomotor effects suggest that STC-1 also has a role in maternal behavior.
An important functional role of persistent Na+current in carotid body hypoxia transduction
Authors: Faustino Edward Vincent S. , Donnelly David F.
Published: June 2006

Systemic hypoxia in mammals is sensed and transduced by the carotid body into increased action potential (AP) frequency on the sinus nerve, resulting in increased ventilation. The mechanism of hypoxia transduction is not resolved, but previous work suggested that fast Na+channels play an important role in determining the rate and timing of APs (Donnelly, DF, Panisello JM, and Boggs D. J Physiol. 511: 301–311, 1998). We speculated that Na+channel activity between APs, termed persistent Na+current ( INaP), is responsible for AP generation that and riluzole and phenytoin, which inhibit this current, would impair organ function. Using whole cell patch clamp recording of intact petrosal neurons with projections to the carotid body, we demonstrated that INaPis present in chemoreceptor afferent neurons and is inhibited by riluzole. Furthermore, discharge frequencies of single-unit, chemoreceptor activity, in vitro, during normoxia (Po2150 Torr) and during acute hypoxia (Po290 Torr) were significantly reduced by riluzole concentrations at or above 5 μM, and by phenytoin at 100 μM, without significant affect on nerve conduction time, AP magnitude (inferred from extracellular field), and AP duration. The effect of both drugs appeared solely postsynaptic because hypoxia-induced catecholamine release in the carotid body was not altered by either drug. The respiratory response of unanesthetized, unrestrained 2-wk-old rats to acute hypoxia (12% inspired O2fraction), which was measured with whole body plethysmography, was significantly reduced after treatment with riluzole (2 mg/kg ip) and phenytoin (20 mg/kg ip). We conclude that INaPis present in chemoreceptor afferent neurons and serves an important role in peripheral chemoreceptor function and, hence, in the ventilatory response to hypoxia.
Effect of diaphragmatic contraction on the action of the canine parasternal intercostals
Authors: De Troyer André , Leduc Dimitri
Published: June 2006

The inspiratory intercostal muscles enhance the force generated by the diaphragm during lung expansion. However, whether the diaphragm also alters the force developed by the inspiratory intercostals is unknown. Two experiments were performed in dogs to answer the question. In the first experiment, external, cranially oriented forces were applied to the different rib pairs to assess the effect of diaphragmatic contraction on the coupling between the ribs and the lung. The fall in airway opening pressure (ΔPao) produced by a given force on the ribs was invariably greater during phrenic nerve stimulation than with the diaphragm relaxed. The cranial rib displacement (Xr), however, was 40–50% smaller, thus indicating that the increase in ΔPao was exclusively the result of the increase in diaphragmatic elastance. In the second experiment, the parasternal intercostal muscle in the fourth interspace was selectively activated, and the effects of diaphragmatic contraction on the ΔPao and Xr caused by parasternal activation were compared with those observed during the application of external loads on the ribs. Stimulating the phrenic nerves increased the ΔPao and reduced the Xr produced by the parasternal intercostal, and the magnitudes of the changes were identical to those observed during external rib loading. It is concluded, therefore, that the diaphragm has no significant synergistic or antagonistic effect on the force developed by the parasternal intercostals during breathing. This lack of effect is probably related to the constraint imposed on intercostal muscle length by the ribs and sternum.
A Comparison of Trends in the Incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma in the United States
Authors: McGlynn Katherine A. , Tarone Robert E. , El-Serag Hashem B.
Published: June 2006

The incidence rates of liver cancers, both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), are increasing in the U.S. It is possible that the increases are related to common exposures, and if so, similar trends in incidence by gender, age, ethnicity, and calendar period, might exist. To examine this hypothesis, age-specific trends in the incidence of HCC and ICC in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program (1976-2000) were examined by year of diagnosis and year of birth. Age-period-cohort models were also fit to the data. The incidence of HCC in the most recent time period was twice as high among Black men (8.8/100,000) and women (2.6/100,000) as among White men (4.6/100,000) and women (1.2/100,000). However, between 1976 and 2000, incidence among all four ethnic- and gender-specific groups increased by >90% (White males, 123.2%; White females, 96.8%; Black males, 97.9%; Black females, 91.9%) with young White men experiencing the greatest increases (432%). In contrast, ICC rates were similar for Black (0.93/100,000) and White men (0.92/100,000), but higher for White (0.57/100,000) than Black women (0.39/100,000). Although ICC incidence increased among all groups, the increase was greatest for Black men (138.5%), followed by White men (124.4%), White women (111.1%), and Black women (85.7%) Age-period-cohort analyses of HCC revealed a significant cohort effect among younger men (45-65 years old), but not older men (65-84 years old), suggesting possible differences in etiology. In conclusion, the rates of HCC and ICC approximately doubled between 1976 and 2000. Trends by age, gender, ethnicity, and birth cohort suggest that heterogeneity exists in the factors influencing these rates. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(6):1198-203)
Breast Density and Parenchymal Patterns as Markers of Breast Cancer Risk: A Meta-analysis
Authors: McCormack Valerie A. , dos Santos Silva Isabel
Published: June 2006

Mammographic features are associated with breast cancer risk, but estimates of the strength of the association vary markedly between studies, and it is uncertain whether the association is modified by other risk factors. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of publications on mammographic patterns in relation to breast cancer risk. Random effects models were used to combine study-specific relative risks. Aggregate data for >14,000 cases and 226,000 noncases from 42 studies were included. Associations were consistent in studies conducted in the general population but were highly heterogeneous in symptomatic populations. They were much stronger for percentage density than for Wolfe grade or Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System classification and were 20% to 30% stronger in studies of incident than of prevalent cancer. No differences were observed by age/menopausal status at mammography or by ethnicity. For percentage density measured using prediagnostic mammograms, combined relative risks of incident breast cancer in the general population were 1.79 (95% confidence interval, 1.48-2.16), 2.11 (1.70-2.63), 2.92 (2.49-3.42), and 4.64 (3.64-5.91) for categories 5% to 24%, 25% to 49%, 50% to 74%, and ≥75% relative to <5%. This association remained strong after excluding cancers diagnosed in the first-year postmammography. This review explains some of the heterogeneity in associations of breast density with breast cancer risk and shows that, in well-conducted studies, this is one of the strongest risk factors for breast cancer. It also refutes the suggestion that the association is an artifact of masking bias or that it is only present in a restricted age range.(Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(6):1159–69)
Associations between Catalase Phenotype and Genotype: Modification by Epidemiologic Factors
Authors: Ahn Jiyoung , Nowell Susan , McCann Susan E. , Yu Jihnhee , Carter Lisa , Lang Nicholas P. , Kadlubar Fred F. , Ratnasinghe Luke D. , Ambrosone Christine B.
Published: June 2006

Catalase is an endogenous antioxidant enzyme that neutralizes hydrogen peroxide and is induced by oxidative challenge. A −262C → T polymorphism in the promoter region of the gene (CAT) is associated with risk of several conditions related to oxidative stress. We sought to determine the functional effects of the CAT polymorphism on enzyme activity in erythrocytes and the potential modifying effects of demographic and lifestyle factors on genotype/phenotype relationships, using specimens and data from controls from breast and prostate cancer studies in Arkansas (n = 420). There was a dose-response reduction in catalase activity by genotype, with geometric means of 115.4 units/mg hemoglobin for those with CC genotypes, 82.1 units/mg for those with CT genotypes, and 73.5 units/mg for those with TT genotypes. Associations were only observed among Caucasians (P < 0.0001), with no effects among African Americans (P = 0.91), and were stronger among women than men, although numbers in stratified analyses were small. Differences in catalase activity by genotype were most pronounced among those in the highest tertiles of consumption of fruits and vegetables (−35%, P = 0.003), with weaker relationships among those who were lower consumers (−21.8%, P = 0.16). Among those with CC genotypes, there was no change in activity by consumption, but there were notable decreases in activity by tertiles of consumption for those with at least one T allele. These data indicate that the CAT −262C → T polymorphism predicts a portion of catalase phenotype, which may be limited to Caucasians. Associations between genotype and phenotype were modified by dietary factors, illustrating the biochemical complexity of studies of genetic polymorphisms and disease risk. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(6):1217-22)
Evaluation of the Prognostic Value of Cellular Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Using Automated Quantitative Protein Analysis
Authors: Psyrri Amanda , Yu Ziwei , Bamias Aris , Weinberger Paul M. , Markakis Sonia , Kowalski Diane , Camp Robert L. , Rimm David L. , Dimopoulos Meletios A.
Published: June 2006

Purpose: The cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein (cIAP) is regarded as an important prognostic biomarker in cancer. Here, we sought to determine the prognostic value of cIAP protein levels in epithelial ovarian cancer using a novel method of compartmentalized in situ protein analysis.

Methods: A tissue array composed of 150 advanced-stage ovarian cancers, treated with surgical debulking followed by platinum/paclitaxel–based combination chemotherapy, was constructed. For evaluation of protein expression, we used an immunofluorescence-based method of automated in situ quantitative measurement of protein analysis.

Results: The mean follow-up time for the entire cohort was 34.4 months. Patients with tumors bearing high cIAP membranous expression had a 3-year survival rate of 31% compared with 73% for patients with low cIAP expressing tumors (P = 0.0020). In multivariable analysis, adjusting for well-characterized prognostic variables, low membranous cIAP expression level was the only significant prognostic factor for overall survival.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that cIAP protein levels have prognostic value in ovarian cancer patients. Modulation of cIAP levels may improve clinical outcome in ovarian cancer. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(6):1179-83)
The Extent of Platelet Activation under Shear Depends on Platelet Count: Differential Expression of Anionic Phospholipid and Factor Va
Authors: Schulz-Heik Katherine , Ramachandran Jaimohan , Bluestein Danny , Jesty Jolyon
Published: June 2006

It is widely accepted that shear stress activates platelets. However, this may have two linked but separate causes: a direct effect of shear stress on individual platelets, and secondary inter-platelet activation dependent on the release of agonists caused by shear. Gel-filtered platelets were exposed to intermittent low shear at 20,000 and 200,000 platelets/µl and their activation was measured with a prothrombinase-based assay. At the lower count, activation was slow and essentially linear, but at the higher count, it rose exponentially with time, leading to 3-fold more prothrombinase activity. Inclusion of apyrase and/or prostaglandin I2 slightly reduced activation at high platelet counts, but did not abolish the nonlinear kinetics, and antibodies against von Willebrand factor had no significant effect. The contributions of anionic phospholipid and factor Va to the prothrombinase activity were assessed by measurements in the presence of exogenous factor Va. The results strongly suggest that anionic phospholipid appearance is caused directly by shear exposure, but that factor Va release from the α-granules is a secondary event and largely the result of platelet-platelet signaling.
Intermittent Recombinant Growth Hormone Treatment in Short Children Born Small for Gestational Age: Four-Year Results of a Randomized Trial of Two Different Treatment Regimens
Authors: Simon D. , Leger J. , Fjellestad-Paulsen A. , Crabbé R. , Czernichow P.
Published: June 2006

Background: Treatment of short children born small for gestational age (SGA) with recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) increases growth velocity during childhood. As in other indications, the growth velocity in these patients is more marked during the first year of treatment and then decreases. This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of different r-hGH treatment schedules (67 µg/kg/day in a discontinuous or continuous regimen) during the second year of r-hGH treatment by comparing height velocity changes and total gain of height over a 4-year period. Methods: 58 growth-retarded SGA children aged 2–5 years were randomized to a TOTO regimen [4 years alternating treatment (T) and observation (O), n = 30] or a TTOO regimen (2 years’ treatment, followed by 2 years’ observation, n = 28). Height velocity (HV) and total height gain were assessed during the 4-year study. Results: In both groups, HV and HV standard deviation score (HV-SDSCA) increased during treatment and decreased during observation periods. Interruption of treatment in the TOTO group did not result in a better gain in height standard deviation score (H-SDSCA) when compared with the TTOO group. After 4 years of study, the gain in H-SDSCA was 1.4 ± 01 in the TOTO group and 1.6 ± 0.2 in the TTOO group leading to a mean height of –2.0 ± 1.0 SDS and –2.0 ± 0.8 SDS, respectively. The rate of bone maturation was similar in the two groups. Conclusions: In short SGA children, TOTO and TTOO regimens produced significant improvements in growth during r-hGH treatment. However, treatment interruption after 1 year did not influence the overall gain in height SDS when compared with 2 years’ continuous treatment.
Double-Blind Study of OM-85 in Patients with Chronic Bronchitis or Mild Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Solèr M. , Mütterlein R. , Cozma G.
Published: June 2006

Background: Interventions against acute exacerbations (AEs) of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are increasingly called for to reduce morbidity, mortality and costs. OM-85, a detoxified immunoactive bacterial extract, has been shown to prevent recurrent exacerbations of bronchitis and COPD. Objectives: It was the aim of this study to demonstrate the protective effect of OM-85 against recurrent bronchitic exacerbations in patients with chronic bronchitis or mild COPD. The primary end point was the mean rate of AEs occurring within the study period. Methods: This double-blind multi-centre study enrolled adult outpatients >40 years old of both sexes with a history of chronic bronchitis or mild COPD at the time of an AE. The treatment consisted of one capsule of OM-85 or placebo per day for 30 days, followed by three 10-day courses for months 3, 4 and 5, with a 6-month study duration and monthly control visits. Results: One hundred and forty-two patients were treated with OM-85 and 131 received placebo. By the end of the treatment period, the mean number of AEs in the OM-85 group was 0.61 per patient versus 0.86 per patient in the placebo group (–29%; p = 0.03). The difference between treatments was most notable in patients with a history of current or past smoking (–40%; p < 0.01). No serious adverse events were attributed to the medication and no significant laboratory changes were reported. Conclusions: OM-85 significantly reduced the frequency of AEs in patients with a history of chronic bronchitis and mild COPD and was well tolerated. This study confirms the findings of previous trials conducted in elderly patients with chronic bronchitis or COPD.
Expanding research on the racial disparity in medical treatment with ideas from sociology
Authors: Malat Jennifer
Published: June 2006

While hundreds of studies document racial differences in the use of medical procedures in the United States, by comparison little is known about the causes of these differences. This gap in knowledge should serve as a call to sociologists who, drawing on their disciplinary tradition of studying inequality, could improve understanding of the disparity. This article offers suggestions about how medical sociologists in the USA might bring sociology to the study of racial disparities in medical treatment. The article begins by reviewing the existing approaches to understanding the racial disparity in medical treatment. After considering the extant research and its limits, the article goes on to describe how a few specific concepts from sociology - cultural capital, social networks, self-presentation and social distance, all framed in a race critical framework - and more diverse methodological approaches can advance studies of the racial disparity in medical treatment
Bortezomib plus melphalan and prednisone in elderly untreated patients with multiple myeloma: results of a multicenter phase 1/2 study
Authors: Mateos María-Victoria , Hernández José-M. , Hernández Miguel-T. , Gutiérrez Norma-C. , Palomera Luis , Fuertes Marta , Díaz-Mediavilla Joaquín , Lahuerta Juan-J. , de la Rubia Javier , Terol María-José , Sureda Ana , Bargay Joan , Ribas Paz , de Arriba Felipe , Alegre Adrian , Oriol Albert , Carrera Dolores , García-Laraña José , García-Sanz Ramón , Bladé Joan , Prósper Felipe , Mateo Gemma , Esseltine Dixie-Lee , van de Velde Helgi , Miguel Jesús-F. San
Published: June 2006

Standard first-line treatment for elderly multiple myeloma (MM) patients ineligible for stem cell transplantation is melphalan plus prednisone (MP). However, complete responses (CRs) are rare. Bortezomib is active in patients with relapsed MM, including elderly patients. This phase 1/2 trial in 60 untreated MM patients aged at least 65 years (half older than 75 years) was designed to determine dosing, safety, and efficacy of bortezomib plus MP (VMP). VMP response rate was 89%, including 32% immunofixation-negative CRs, of whom half of the IF– CR patients analyzed achieved immunophenotypic remission (no detectable plasma cells at 10–4 to 10–5 sensitivity). VMP appeared to overcome the poor prognosis conferred by retinoblastoma gene deletion and IgH translocations. Results compare favorably with our historical control data for MP—notably, response rate (89% versus 42%), event-free survival at 16 months (83% versus 51%), and survival at 16 months (90% versus 62%). Side effects were predictable and manageable; principal toxicities were hematologic, gastrointestinal, and peripheral neuropathy and were more evident during early cycles and in patients aged 75 years or more. In conclusion, in elderly patients ineligible for transplantation, the combination of bortezomib plus MP appears significantly superior to MP, producing very high CR rates, including immunophenotypic CRs, even in patients with poor prognostic features.
Predicting protein subcellular locations using hierarchical ensemble of Bayesian classifiers based on Markov chains
Authors: Bulashevska Alla , Eils Roland
Published: June 2006

Background

The subcellular location of a protein is closely related to its function. It would be worthwhile to develop a method to predict the subcellular location for a given protein when only the amino acid sequence of the protein is known. Although many efforts have been made to predict subcellular location from sequence information only, there is the need for further research to improve the accuracy of prediction.

Results

A novel method called HensBC is introduced to predict protein subcellular location. HensBC is a recursive algorithm which constructs a hierarchical ensemble of classifiers. The classifiers used are Bayesian classifiers based on Markov chain models. We tested our method on six various datasets; among them are Gram-negative bacteria dataset, data for discriminating outer membrane proteins and apoptosis proteins dataset. We observed that our method can predict the subcellular location with high accuracy. Another advantage of the proposed method is that it can improve the accuracy of the prediction of some classes with few sequences in training and is therefore useful for datasets with imbalanced distribution of classes.

Conclusion

This study introduces an algorithm which uses only the primary sequence of a protein to predict its subcellular location. The proposed recursive scheme represents an interesting methodology for learning and combining classifiers. The method is computationally efficient and competitive with the previously reported approaches in terms of prediction accuracies as empirical results indicate. The code for the software is available upon request.
Kernel-based distance metric learning for microarray data classification
Authors: Xiong Huilin , Chen Xue-wen
Published: June 2006

Background

The most fundamental task using gene expression data in clinical oncology is to classify tissue samples according to their gene expression levels. Compared with traditional pattern classifications, gene expression-based data classification is typically characterized by high dimensionality and small sample size, which make the task quite challenging.

Results

In this paper, we present a modified K-nearest-neighbor (KNN) scheme, which is based on learning an adaptive distance metric in the data space, for cancer classification using microarray data. The distance metric, derived from the procedure of a data-dependent kernel optimization, can substantially increase the class separability of the data and, consequently, lead to a significant improvement in the performance of the KNN classifier. Intensive experiments show that the performance of the proposed kernel-based KNN scheme is competitive to those of some sophisticated classifiers such as support vector machines (SVMs) and the uncorrelated linear discriminant analysis (ULDA) in classifying the gene expression data.

Conclusion

A novel distance metric is developed and incorporated into the KNN scheme for cancer classification. This metric can substantially increase the class separability of the data in the feature space and, hence, lead to a significant improvement in the performance of the KNN classifier.