bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of human papillomavirus in the increased incidence of base of tongue cancer
Authors: Attner Per , Du Juan , Näsman Anders , Hammarstedt Lalle , Ramqvist Torbjörn , Lindholm Johan , Marklund Linda , Dalianis Tina , Munck‐Wikland Eva
Published: October 2009

Numerous reports have shown that the incidence for oropharyngeal cancer is increasing and that human papillomavirus (HPV) is a risk factor. However, few studies have investigated the specific subsites of the oropharynx. Following our previous research on tonsillar cancer, we assessed the increase in the incidence of base of tongue cancer and the prevalence of HPV in this disease. Between 1998 and 2007, 109 patients were diagnosed for base of tongue cancer in Stockholm county. Ninety‐five paraffin‐embedded diagnostic tumor biopsies from patients were obtained and tested for HPV, both by general HPV PCR and HPV‐16/HPV‐33 type‐specific PCR. Expression of HPV‐16 RNA was analyzed to confirm E6 and/or E7 expression. Incidence data were obtained from the Swedish Cancer Registry. An overall increase in the incidence of base of tongue cancer from 0.15/100,000 person‐years during 1970–1974 to 0.47/100,000 person‐years during 2005–2007 was found in Sweden. The prevalence of HPV in base of tongue cancer in Stockholm county increased from 58% during 1998–2001 to 84% during 2004–2007 (p < 0.05). In the HPV‐positive tumors, HPV‐16 dominated (86%) but interestingly, HPV33 was detected in as many as 10%. E6 and/or E7 RNA were found in 85% of the samples tested. The incidence of base of tongue cancer, as well as the proportion of HPV‐positive tumors, has increased in Sweden during the study period, suggesting that HPV may contribute to this increase.
Surface complexation modeling of soluble molybdenum adsorption by Mn3O4
Authors: Zhao Zhongwei , Liu Jing , Xia Wentang , Cao Caifang , Chen Xingyu , Li Honggui
Published: October 2009

BACKGROUND: Mo is a harmful element that should strictly be limited in electrolytic manganese dioxide but can readily be removed by Mn3O4. However, as its adsorption mechanism is not yet clear the aims of this work are to clarify the absorption phenomena and specific reaction processes of Mo onto Mn3O4.

RESULTS: Some theoretical parameters have been obtained: the total surface site density and protonation constants (NT = 6.84 × 10−3 mol g−1, $K_{a1}^{\rm {int}} = 2.0 \times 10^{-5}$, $K_{a2}^{\rm {int}} = 1.49 \times 10^{-10}$) were obtained by non‐linear data fitting of acid‐base titrations. Distribution of soluble Mo species derived from thermodynamic calculations showed that the concentration of poly‐molybdenum acid ion was extraordinarily low and could be ignored when the concentration of soluble Mo was 1 mg L−1. The adsorption isotherm followed the Freundlich adsorption equation. Under the conditions V = 0.15 L, W = 2 g L−1, [Mo]T = 1.12 mg L−1, T = 80 °C, P = 1.013 × 105 Pa, 1.0 mol L−1 MnSO4 and pH range 1–6.5, the non‐electrostatic model (NEM) was used to quantify Mo adsorption.

CONCLUSION: The surface adsorption complexation modeling of Mo onto Mn3O4 can be successfully applied to predict adsorption rates of Mo onto Mn3O4 at different pH values, with an absolute error less than 6%. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Conservative management of an extensive renal graft subcapsular hematoma arising during living donor nephrectomy. Role of Doppler sonographic posttransplant follow‐up
Authors: Salgado Octavio J. , Vidal Angela M. , Semprun Prospera , Garcia Rafael
Published: October 2009

We report a case of subcapsular hematoma (SH) of a kidney graft arising during minimal‐incision living‐donor nephrectomy. SH covered at least two‐thirds of the cortical surface. Capsulotomy was not done because it was deemed too risky. In the immediate postoperative period, a rapid deterioration of graft function was observed associated with Doppler sonographic evidence of graft compression. However, in the following days, spontaneous resolution of SH and progressive improvement of Doppler findings was observed, which preceded full recovery of graft function. Conservative management seemed a valid approach of this complication in this case where Doppler sonography proved essential for the follow‐up. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2010
Decentralised and cooperative aid provision with short‐term and long‐term aid
Authors: Strand Jon
Published: October 2009

We analyze two donors providing long‐ and short‐run aid to one receiving (poor) country, and who may give aid in coordinated or non‐coordinated fashion. An elite controls receiver policy, and diverts resources away from a poor target group. When strategic moves are simultaneous, there is excessive wasteful short‐run aid diversion, which could be made worse by donor cooperation. When donors move first, aid is lower, donor utility is higher, and donors should always cooperate. Investments, by the receiving country and due to long‐term aid, is greater and the solution more efficient when investments are complements than when they are substitutes. The model characterizes donors that may be considered as “gullible”, or as “skeptical”. The former type gives generously but its aid is largely wasted; the latter gives less aid, but also wastes less. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessment of osteoarthritis in hips with femoroacetabular impingement using delayed gadolinium enhanced MRI of cartilage
Authors: Jessel Rebecca H. , Zilkens Christoph , Tiderius Carl , Dudda Marcel , Mamisch Tallal Charles , Kim Young‐Jo
Published: October 2009

Purpose

To determine the feasibility of assessing early osteoarthritis (OA) in hips with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) using delayed Gadolinium enhanced MRI of Cartilage (dGEMRIC).

Materials and Methods

Thirty‐seven hips in 30 patients who had a dGEMRIC scan and radiographic evidence of FAI were identified. Clinical symptoms were assessed. Radiographic measurements were performed to determine acetabular and femoral morphology. The severity of radiographic OA was determined using Tönnis grade and minimum joint space width (JSW). On MRI, the alpha angle was measured on the sagittal oblique slices. Correlations between dGEMRIC index, patient symptoms, morphologic measurements, radiographic OA, and age were determined.

Results

Significant correlations were observed between dGEMRIC index, pain (P < 0.05), and alpha angle (P < 0.05). The correlation of dGEMRIC with alpha angle suggests that hips with more femoral deformity show signs of early OA.

Conclusion

The results of osteoplasty for FAI depend on the amount of pre‐existing OA in the joint. dGEMRIC may be a useful technique for diagnosis and staging of early osteoarthritis in hips with impingement. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:1110–1115. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparison of methods to assess quadriceps muscle volume using magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Nordez Antoine , Jolivet Erwan , Südhoff Ingrid , Bonneau Dominique , de Guise Jacques A. , Skalli Wafa
Published: October 2009

Purpose

To compare the precision of four methods to estimate the volume of quadriceps muscles using axial MRI.

Materials and Methods

Entire legs of 10 healthy young subjects were scanned using a 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging scanner and 4‐mm‐thick sections without any gaps. Quadriceps muscles were outlined on all of the slices to obtain the MRI reference standard measure of quadriceps muscle volume. This MRI reference standard was compared with the volume estimated using (i) the truncated cone formula, (ii) the Cavalieri method, (iii) a cubic spline interpolation of missing cross sectional areas, and, (iv) the deformation of a parametric specific object. For each method, 3 to 21 slices were used.

Results

The average volume error was significantly (P < 0.001) different in comparing the four methods (4.4%, 2.3%, 1.1%, and 1.2%, respectively). In addition, the number of slices required to reach a given volume error was significantly (P < 0.001) different across all methods (respectively, 12, 9, 5, and 7 slices required to reach a volume error of 1.1%).

Conclusion

While methods based on interpolation and deformation of a parametric specific object have not been used in literature, these two methods are the most precise approaches to reach a given level of precision. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:1116–1123. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Regional corpus callosum morphometry: Effect of field strength and pulse sequence
Authors: Abdul‐Kareem Ihssan A. , Stancak Andrej , Parkes Laura M. , Sluming Vanessa
Published: October 2009

Purpose:

To investigate whether scanning at different field strengths and pulse sequences would influence reproducibility of corpus callosum (CC) morphometric measurements as variations in scanning parameters may result in differences in contrast properties between resulting images that are independent of the underlying tissue but rather reflect the physics of the imaging process.

Materials and Methods:

Ten subjects were scanned twice at 3T using magnetization‐prepared rapid gradient‐echo imaging (MPRAGE) and modified driven equilibrium Fourier transform (MDEFT) sequences and once at 1.5T using MPRAGE. Cross‐sectional area measurements of four callosal regions were performed on midsagittal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sections.

Results:

Repeated measures analysis of variance with four regions as dependent variables and three scanning protocols (1.5T MPRAGE, 3T MPRAGE and 3T MDEFT) as independent variables revealed no significant region by protocol interaction: F(6,54) = 0.69, P = 0.52. Reliability measures for (3T MPRAGE/3T MDEFT) and (1.5T MPRAGE/3T MPRAGE; 1.5T MPRAGE/3T MDEFT) comparisons were high, ranging between 0.90 and 0.97.

Conclusion:

Based on our results, combining and comparing CC morphometric data obtained at different field strengths and/or with different pulse sequences appears possible. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:1184–1190. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Optimized glutamate detection at 3T
Authors: Hancu Ileana
Published: October 2009

Purpose:

To identify the pulse sequence and acquisition parameters that result in the most accurate and repeatable measurements of glutamate (Glu) concentration in the brain at 3T.

Materials and Methods:

Simulations were performed to compare the accuracy and repeatability of 11 pulse sequences and acquisition parameters, within four general classes (PRESS, STEAM, Carr–Purcell PRESS [CPRESS] and TE averaged PRESS [JPRESS]), the majority of which were previously suggested as optimal for Glu detection. Three of the simulated acquisitions were implemented in a clinical scanner and measures of repeatability in vivo were compared to their simulated values.

Results:

Good agreement was demonstrated between simulated and experimentally determined measures of repeatability. Among the acquisitions considered, a CPRESS sequence with minimal echo time, together with, possibly, a short TE PRESS sequence, result in the most repeatable within session Glu measurements, while slightly overestimating the Glu concentration. Excellent accuracy is demonstrated by the simulations for a JPRESS sequence, at the expense of lower repeatability than optimal PRESS or CPRESS sequences.

Conclusion:

Further proof of concept is presented toward validation of a simulation approach to understand pulse sequence performance in measuring the concentration of a given metabolite. Improved within session Glu measurement repeatability is predicted for CPRESS and demonstrated in vivo. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:1155–1162. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
MR imaging in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Quantification of T1‐weighted signal, contrast uptake, and the effects of exercise
Authors: Garrood Penelope , Hollingsworth Kieren G. , Eagle Michelle , Aribisala Benjamin S. , Birchall Daniel , Bushby Kate , Straub Volker
Published: October 2009

Purpose:

To quantify the differences between normal and corticosteroid‐treated Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) lower limb muscle using signal intensity measurements on T1‐weighted and gadolinium contrast‐enhanced images and by measurement of muscle T2 values, and to investigate the effect of exercise.

Materials and Methods:

Eleven ambulant boys with DMD were imaged at 3 Tesla (T1‐weighted, gadolinium enhancement and T2 measurement) before stepping exercise and again (gadolinium, T2 measurement) 4 days later and were compared with five healthy controls imaged 4 days before and after stepping exercise. Muscle region‐of‐interest signal intensities were referenced to external oil and gadolinium phantoms.

Results:

DMD thigh muscle T2 values were significantly higher than normal values with the exception of the gracilis muscle. Eight of nine muscles studied showed a significant increase in T1‐w signal intensity in DMD as compared to normal muscle, suggestive of increased fat infiltration in DMD muscle. In the DMD boys, an exercise effect (increased contrast enhancement) was only seen for the tibialis anterior muscle.

Conclusion:

Referenced signal intensity measurements may be used to quantify differences between dystrophic and normal muscle without T1 mapping. Stepping exercise does not have a large impact on subsequent MR imaging of dystrophic muscle. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:1130–1138. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Principal component analysis of breast DCE‐MRI adjusted with a model‐based method
Authors: Eyal Erez , Badikhi Daria , Furman‐Haran Edna , Kelcz Fredrick , Kirshenbaum Kevin J. , Degani Hadassa
Published: October 2009

Purpose:

To investigate a fast, objective, and standardized method for analyzing breast dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE‐MRI) applying principal component analysis (PCA) adjusted with a model‐based method.

Materials and Methods:

3D gradient‐echo DCE breast images of 31 malignant and 38 benign lesions, recorded on a 1.5T scanner, were retrospectively analyzed by PCA and by the model‐based three‐timepoints (3TP) method.

Results:

Intensity‐scaled (IS) and enhancement‐scaled (ES) datasets were reduced by PCA yielding a first IS‐eigenvector that captured the signal variation between fat and fibroglandular tissue; two IS‐eigenvectors and the two first ES‐eigenvectors captured contrast‐enhanced changes, whereas the remaining eigenvectors captured predominantly noise changes. Rotation of the two contrast‐related eigenvectors led to a high congruence between the projection coefficients and the 3TP parameters. The ES‐eigenvectors and the rotation angle were highly reproducible across malignant lesions, enabling calculation of a general rotated eigenvector base. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of the projection coefficients of the two eigenvectors indicated high sensitivity of the first rotated eigenvector to detect lesions (area under the curve [AUC] > 0.97) and of the second rotated eigenvector to differentiate malignancy from benignancy (AUC = 0.87).

Conclusion:

PCA adjusted with a model‐based method provided a fast and objective computer‐aided diagnostic tool for breast DCE‐MRI. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:989–998. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Personal exposure to static and time‐varying magnetic fields during MRI system test procedures
Authors: de Vocht Frank , Muller Floris , Engels Hans , Kromhout Hans
Published: October 2009

Purpose:

To assess personal time‐weighted average (TWA) static magnetic field and time‐varying magnetic field exposure for several system testing tasks routinely conducted by engineers at an MRI manufacturing plant.

Materials and Methods:

Personal exposure was measured using a personal dosimeter that measured B and dB/dt in all three orthogonal directions with a 1 Hz frequency. TWA exposure was calculated and random effects and linear mixed effects models were used to assess exposure levels and variability.

Results:

Whereas full‐body peak (2T) and TWA (200 mT/8 h) exposure limits for the static magnetic field originally proposed by ICNIRP were not exceeded, time‐varying magnetic field peaks (dB/dt) did exceed the proposed threshold value (767.9 mT/s) suggested by IEEE on several occasions at the 3.0 Tesla (T) whole‐body cylindrical system.

Conclusion:

TWA exposure levels are well below the proposed limit values, but peak exposure limits are exceeded during certain procedures performed on 1.0T to 3.0T systems. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:1223–1228. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Shorter difference between myocardium and blood optimal inversion time suggests diffuse fibrosis in dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Han Yuchi , Peters Dana C. , Dokhan Basem , Manning Warren J.
Published: October 2009

Purpose:

To find evidence of diffuse fibrosis in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients by comparing measurements on clinical late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) studies between DCM and healthy subjects.

Materials and Methods:

LGE‐CMR and the Look–Locker images from 20 DCM patients and 17 healthy controls were analyzed. Blood signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), myocardium SNR, and blood‐to‐myocardium contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) were measured on the LGE‐CMR images. The optimal inversion time (TI) to null blood and myocardium was determined on the Look–Locker images. The postcontrast T1 was estimated using a phantom study that correlated optimal TI and heart rate to T1.

Results:

The blood SNR was lower, myocardium SNR was higher, and the blood‐to‐myocardium CNR was lower (6.6 ± 0.7 vs. 10.3 ± 0.9, P = 0.004) on DCM LGE‐CMR images as compared to controls. The blood‐myocardium optimal TI difference (ΔTI) was lower (38 ± 2 msec vs. 55 ± 3 msec, P < 0.001) in DCM, and the estimated blood‐myocardium T1 difference (ΔT1) (116 ± 6 msec vs. 152 ± 8 msec, P = 0.001) was also lower.

Conclusion:

DCM patients have reduced blood‐myocardium ΔTI and ΔT1, and lower CNR as compared to controls, suggesting the presence of diffuse fibrosis. This may impact the interpretation of LGE data. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:967–972. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
MRI signal intensity based B‐Spline nonrigid registration for pre‐ and intraoperative imaging during prostate brachytherapy
Authors: Oguro Sota , Tokuda Junichi , Elhawary Haytham , Haker Steven , Kikinis Ron , Tempany Clare M.C. , Hata Nobuhiko
Published: October 2009

Purpose:

To apply an intensity‐based nonrigid registration algorithm to MRI‐guided prostate brachytherapy clinical data and to assess its accuracy.

Materials and Methods:

A nonrigid registration of preoperative MRI to intraoperative MRI images was carried out in 16 cases using a Basis‐Spline algorithm in a retrospective manner. The registration was assessed qualitatively by experts' visual inspection and quantitatively by measuring the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) for total gland (TG), central gland (CG), and peripheral zone (PZ), the mutual information (MI) metric, and the fiducial registration error (FRE) between corresponding anatomical landmarks for both the nonrigid and a rigid registration method.

Results:

All 16 cases were successfully registered in less than 5 min. After the nonrigid registration, DSC values for TG, CG, PZ were 0.91, 0.89, 0.79, respectively, the MI metric was −0.19 ± 0.07 and FRE presented a value of 2.3 ± 1.8 mm. All the metrics were significantly better than in the case of rigid registration, as determined by one‐sided t‐tests.

Conclusion:

The intensity‐based nonrigid registration method using clinical data was demonstrated to be feasible and showed statistically improved metrics when compare to only rigid registration. The method is a valuable tool to integrate pre‐ and intraoperative images for brachytherapy. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:1052–1058. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
T1 independent, T2* corrected MRI with accurate spectral modeling for quantification of fat: Validation in a fat‐water‐SPIO phantom
Authors: Hines Catherine D.G. , Yu Huanzhou , Shimakawa Ann , McKenzie Charles A. , Brittain Jean H. , Reeder Scott B.
Published: October 2009

Purpose:

To validate a T1‐independent, T2*‐corrected fat quantification technique that uses accurate spectral modeling of fat using a homogeneous fat‐water‐SPIO phantom over physiologically expected ranges of fat percentage and T2* decay in the presence of iron overload.

Materials and Methods:

A homogeneous gel phantom consisting of vials with known fat‐fractions and iron concentrations is described. Fat‐fraction imaging was performed using a multiecho chemical shift‐based fat‐water separation method (IDEAL), and various reconstructions were performed to determine the impact of T2* correction and accurate spectral modeling. Conventional two‐point Dixon (in‐phase/out‐of‐phase) imaging and MR spectroscopy were performed for comparison with known fat‐fractions.

Results:

The best agreement with known fat‐fractions over the full range of iron concentrations was found when T2* correction and accurate spectral modeling were used. Conventional two‐point Dixon imaging grossly underestimated fat‐fraction for all T2* values, but particularly at higher iron concentrations.

Conclusion:

This work demonstrates the necessity of T2* correction and accurate spectral modeling of fat to accurately quantify fat using MRI. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:1215–1222. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Vessel size imaging using dual contrast agent injections
Authors: Hsu Yuan‐Yu , Yang Wei‐Shan , Lim Kun‐Eng , Liu Ho‐Ling
Published: October 2009

Purpose:

To investigate the feasibility of a vessel size imaging (VSI) technique with separate contrast agent injections for evaluation of the vessel caliber in normal tissues and in brain tumors.

Materials and Methods:

Computer simulation was first performed to assess the potential errors in the estimation of vessel caliber that could result from time shifts between the dual contrast agent injections. Eight patients (four female, four male, 37–77 years old) with brain tumors (three high‐grade gliomas, two low‐grade gliomas, and three meningiomas) were recruited for clinical study. Dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using gradient echo (GE) and spin echo (SE) echo‐planar imaging sequences were performed separately with a 10‐minute interval on a 3.0T scanner. Vessel caliber maps were calculated and analyzed in regions of interest at cortical gray matter (GM), thalamus, white matter (WM), and tumors.

Results:

From the computer simulation, the error of vessel caliber measurement was less than 8% when the difference between the time‐to‐peak of the GE and the SE studies was 1.5 seconds, and reduced to within 5% when the difference was 1 second. From the patient datasets of a 64 × 64 matrix, the estimated vessel calibers were 37.4 ± 12.9 μm for cortical gray matter, 20.7 ± 8.8 μm for thalamus, and 15.0 ± 5.1 μm for white matter, comparable to results in the literature. Two patients had a VSI with 128 × 128 matrix and showed similar results in vessel calibers of normal tissues. All the tumors had larger mean vessel diameter than normal‐appearing tissues. The difference in vascular size between normal tissue and tumor was demonstrated clearly in both the VSIs of regular and high spatial resolution.

Conclusion:

This study suggests that VSI with a dual injection method is a feasible technique for estimating microvascular calibers of normal tissues and brain tumors in clinical scanners. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:1078–1084. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characterization of sodium alginate and its block fractions by surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Campos‐Vallette Marcelo M. , Chandía Nancy P. , Clavijo Ernesto , Leal David , Matsuhiro Betty , Osorio‐Román Igor O. , Torres Simonet
Published: October 2009

The surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of sodium alginates and their hetero‐ and homopolymeric fractions obtained from four seaweeds of the Chilean coast was studied. Alginic acid is a copolymer of β‐D‐mannuronic acid (M) and α‐L guluronic acid (G), linked 1 → 4, forming two homopolymeric fractions (MM and GG) and a heteropolymeric fraction (MG). The SERS spectra were registered on silver colloid with the 632.8 nm line of a HeNe laser. The SERS spectra of sodium alginate and the polyguluronate fraction present various carboxylate bands which are probably due to the coexistence of different molecular conformations. SERS allows to differentiate the hetero‐ and homopolymeric fractions of alginic acid by characteristic bands. In the fingerprint region, all the poly‐D‐mannuronate samples present a band around 946 cm−1 assigned to CO stretching, and CCH and COH deformation vibrations, a band at 863 cm−1 assigned to deformation vibration of β‐C1H group, and one at 799–788 cm−1 due to the contributions of various vibration modes. Poly‐L‐guluronate spectra show three characteristic bands, at 928–913 cm−1 assigned to symmetric stretching vibration of COC group, at 890–889 cm−1 due to CCH, skeletal CC, and CO vibrations, and at 797 cm−1 assigned to α C1H deformation vibration. The heteropolymeric fractions present two characteristic bands in the region with the more important one being an intense band at 730 cm−1 due to ring breathing vibration mode. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Survival of molecular information under surfaced‐enhanced resonance Raman (SERRS) conditions
Authors: Jernshøj K. D. , Hassing S.
Published: October 2009

In the present paper, we discuss the molecular information that can be derived from surface‐enhanced resonance Raman Scattering (SERRS) experiments performed with different excitation wavenumbers, which are close to resonance with an excited electronic state of the molecule [surface‐enhanced Raman dispersion spectroscopy (SERADIS)]. We specifically consider the situation, where a molecule is physisorbed to a site characterized by a local electric field with a direction independent of the direction of the external, exciting field. The molecular information available in this experimental situation is compared with the information available in a corresponding Raman dispersion spectroscopy (RADIS) experiment performed on a free molecule or a molecule physisorbed to a site, where the local field is isotropic. The consequences for resonance Raman scattering (RRS) and RADIS, when the molecule is adsorbed in the highly anisotropic hot spot (HS), are discussed; here it is shown that only the molecular information originating from the symmetric part of the scattering tensor can survive in SERRS and in SERADIS. Besides, it is shown that the depolarization ratio can no longer be used to discriminate between totally and non‐totally symmetric modes in the polarized surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra. These results have implications for the resonance Raman spectra, but even more important for the application of the resonance Raman effect in the investigation of excited vibronic molecular states, in general, and in the investigation of electronic states in larger bio‐molecules, such as the various metallo‐porphyrins. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The use of alternative lipid resources for bioenergy
Authors: Zyaykina Nadezhda Zyaykina, Vera Van Hoed, Wim De Greyt and Roland Ve , Van Hoed Vera , De Greyt Wim , Verhé Roland
Published: October 2009

Alternative resources such as animal fats, used cooking oils and side streams from oil refining can be used for the production of biodiesel. The quality of the biodiesel is largely dependent upon the quality and properties of the feedstock. A number of technologies involving pretreatment of the feedstock, post treatment of the biodiesel and new production processes have been developed in order to meet the biodiesel standards.
Stearic acid or palmitic acid as a substitute for trans fatty acids?
Authors: Stanley John C.
Published: October 2009

The evidence for unfavourable effects of trans fatty acids on risk of developing coronary heart disease is overwhelming. The food industry must now search for substitutes for trans fatty acids with acceptable nutritional properties which at the same time retain the functionality of fats for baking and margarine manufacture. Comparisons of fats rich in stearic acid with fats rich in mixtures of palmitic, myristic and lauric acids show that fasting total and LDL‐cholesterol levels, postprandial lipaemia and factor VII activation are lower in response to stearic rich fats. All of these effects of stearic acid would be expected to lower the risk of developing coronary heart disease by comparison with palmitic acid. While fasting HDL‐cholesterol levels are higher in response to the saturated fatty acid mixture than in response to stearic acid this is probably due to the lauric acid content of the mixture rather than its palmitic acid content. To date there is no evidence that randomization of stearic acid or palmitic acid caused by interesterification has any effect on risk factors for coronary heart disease although more research is needed. It can be concluded that stearic acid is a better substitute for trans fatty acids than palmitic acid in fats for baking and margarine manufacture.
Lipid analysis via HPLC with a charged aerosol detector
Authors: Moreau Robert A.
Published: October 2009

Most lipid extracts are a mixture of saturated and unsaturated molecules. Therefore, the most successful high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) detectors for the quantitative analysis of lipids have involved the use of “universal” or “mass” detectors such as flame ionization detectors and evaporative light scattering detectors. Recently a new type of HPLC “universal” detector, a charged aerosol detector (CAD), was developed and is now commercially available. This detection method involves nebulizing the HPLC column effluent, evaporating the solvents, charging the aerosol particles and measuring the current from the charged aerosol flux. During the approximately four years that the charged aerosol detector has been commercially available, several publications have described HPLC‐CAD methods for lipid analysis. The most common lipids can be quantitatively analyzed via HPLC‐CAD except for some volatile lipids such as common fatty acid methyl esters and short chain free fatty acids (<C16). The major results of these publications will be summarized in this report.
Simultaneous measurement of NH and CαHα coupling constants in proteins
Authors: Pantoja‐Uceda David , Santoro Jorge
Published: October 2009

We present a pulse sequence for the simultaneous measurement of NH and CαHα couplings in double‐labeled proteins from 2D spectra. The proposed sequence, a modification of the HN(CO)CA experiment, combines the J‐modulation method and the IPAP scheme. The couplings can be readily retrieved from a series of 2D 15N1H correlation spectra, differing in the time point at which a 1H 180° pulse is applied. This induces an intensity modulation of the 15N1H correlation peaks with the CαHα coupling. The CαHα coupling is then obtained by fitting the observed intensities to the modulation equation. The NH coupling is measured in each member of the set from peak‐to‐peak separations in the IPAP subspectra. The pulse sequence is experimentally verified with a sample of 15N/13C‐enriched ubiquitin. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The development of the birdcage resonator: a historical perspective
Authors: Hayes Cecil E.
Published: October 2009

The author gives a personal account of the development of the birdcage resonator while he worked at GE Medical Systems. The emphasis is on promoting an intuitive understanding of the underlying principles of RF coil design by recounting the assumptions, misconceptions, and reasoning involved in addressing the challenging problems in a new field of technology. Topics covered include the historic context of early MRI development, the critical role of RF coil technology in high field imaging, the need for an RF shield, the importance of distributed capacitance, the scientific controversies over magnetic field strength for imaging, a comparison of the birdcage design to an earlier Technicare phased coil, the distribution of electric fields in birdcage resonators, and the limitations of birdcages at very high fields. The author often cites less well‐known patent literature on RF coil technology. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Solution theory for complete bilinear systems of equations
Authors: Johnson Charles R. , Link Joshua A.
Published: October 2009

For A1,…, Am∈Mp, q(F) and g∈Fm, any system of equations of the form yTAix=gi, i=1,…, m, with y varying over Fp and x over Fq is called bilinear. Given here are some general observations about bilinear systems, a complete solution theory for complete systems (m=pq, A1,…, Am linearly independent) and implications of the complete theory for general (incomplete, m<pq) systems. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A tissue reconstitution model to study cancer cell‐intrinsic and ‐extrinsic factors in mammary tumourigenesis
Authors: Evers Bastiaan , Speksnijder Ewoud N , Schut Eva , Ciampricotti Metamia , Smalley Matthew J , Derksen Patrick WB , Jonkers Jos , de Visser Karin E
Published: October 2009

The contribution of cancer cell‐intrinsic and ‐extrinsic factors to metastatic breast cancer is still poorly understood, hampering development of novel therapeutic strategies that decrease breast cancer mortality. Cre/loxP‐based conditional mouse models of breast cancer present unique opportunities to study sporadic tumour formation and progression in a controlled setting. Unfortunately, the generation of mouse strains carrying multiple mutant alleles needed for such studies is very time‐consuming. Moreover, conditional mouse tumour models do not permit independent manipulation of tumour cell‐intrinsic and ‐extrinsic factors. Although the latter can be achieved by cleared fat‐pad transplantation of mouse mammary epithelial cells (MMECs) from tumour suppressor gene (TSG) knockouts into wild‐type or mutant recipients, this procedure is not possible for mutations that cause embryonic lethality or preclude mammary gland development. Here we show that cleared fat‐pad transplantations with MMECs isolated from K14cre;Cdh1F/F; Trp53F/F mice expressing Cre recombinase under control of the cytokeratin‐14 promoter and carrying conditional null alleles for p53 and E‐cadherin (Cdh1) first resulted in the formation of phenotypically normal mammary glands, followed by the development of invasive metastatic mammary tumours. Tumour formation in the recipients mimicked tumour latency, spectrum, morphology, immunophenotype, and metastatic characteristics of the original mammary tumour model. This transplantation system, which can be expanded to other conditional TSG knockouts, permits independent genetic analysis of stromal factors and testing of additional cancer cell‐intrinsic mutations that would otherwise be embryonic lethal or require intensive breeding. Copyright © 2009 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Initial testing (stage 1) of mapatumumab (HGS‐ETR1) by the pediatric preclinical testing program
Authors: Smith Malcolm A. , Morton Christopher L. , Kolb E. Anders , Gorlick Richard , Keir Stephen T. , Carol Hernan , Lock Richard , Kang Min H. , Reynolds C. Patrick , Maris John M. , Watkins Amy E. , Houghton Peter J.
Published: October 2009

Mapatumumab (HGS‐ETR1) is a fully human IgG1 agonistic monoclonal antibody that exclusively targets and activates tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand receptor 1 (TRAIL‐R1). It was tested in vitro at concentrations from 0.01 to 100 µg/ml and in vivo at a dose of 10 mg/kg administered intraperitoneally using a twice‐weekly schedule. Mapatumumab demonstrated limited activity against the 23 cell lines of the PPTP in vitro panel with no lines achieving 50% growth inhibition. Mapatumumab induced significant differences in event‐free survival distribution compared to controls in 9 of 37 evaluable solid tumor xenografts tested, but in none of the 8 ALL xenografts. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010;54:307–310. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Paediatric presentation of familial cerebral cavernoma
Authors: Holme Harriet , Nanduri Vasanta
Published: October 2009

We report the case of a 13‐year‐old male who presented with headaches and was presumed to have a brain tumour. He was subsequently found to have multiple cerebral cavernomas with haemorrhage and positive family history. We review the literature on familial cavernomas. Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are characterized by abnormally enlarged capillary cavities without intervening brain parenchyma [Verlaan et al. Neurology 2005; 65:1982–1983] that may involve any part of the central nervous system. Focal neurologic deficit and haemorrhage occur in 45% of children, higher than in adults [Stoeter. Neurosurg Rev 2001; 24]. Paediatric patients with symptomatic cavernous malformations should be treated surgically because of the risk of haemorrhage [Lee et al. Child's Nervous Syst 2008; 24:321–327]. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010;54:468–469. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pitfalls in the differential diagnosis of renal tumor in an adolescent
Authors: Valera Elvis Terci , Brassesco María Sol , de Freitas Cortez Maria Angélica Abdalla , Queiroz Rosane Gomes , Castro‐Gamero Angel Mauricio , Barros Marcus Vinicius de Castro , Vicente Yvone Avalloni , Junior Silvio Tucci , Scrideli Carlos Alberto , Tone Luiz Gonzaga
Published: October 2009

The differential diagnosis of renal tumors, particularly in adolescents, may be challenging. We describe an 11‐year‐old female with a primary intra‐renal mass. Initial differential diagnoses included primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET), desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT), and Wilms Tumor (WT). Extensive pathologic and molecular analysis on initial and relapsed tumor samples confirmed WT. The EWS‐WT1 and EWS‐FLI1 rearrangements, distinctive of DSRCT and PNET were negative. The differential diagnosis on monophasic blastemal WT may be complex. Primary renal DSRCT and PNET have been rarely described. Nevertheless, molecular confirmation for these rare conditions may be necessary in selected cases. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010;54:319–321. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Adherence to study medication and visits: Data from the BABY HUG trial
Authors: Thornburg Courtney D. , Rogers Zora R. , Jeng Michael R. , Rana Sohail R. , Iyer Rathi V. , Faughnan Lane , Hassen Leann , Marshall Jennifer , McDonald Roy P. , Wang Winfred C. , Huang Xiangke , Rees Renée C.
Published: October 2009

Background

Subject retention and adherence are essential to maintain the power and validity of the Pediatric Hydroxyurea Phase III Clinical Trial (BABY HUG). We designed a study to assess adherence with study medication administration and study visits and to evaluate socioeconomic factors (SES) that may influence these measurements of adherence. These data are important for assessing impact of adherence on BABY HUG trial outcome and defining impact of SES on adherence.

Methods

Each subject's median study medication (MedAd) and mean visit adherence (VAd) were evaluated. We examined associations of adherence with SES of participating families.

Results

MedAd data were available on 153 of the 191 subjects who started randomized study medication. MedAd was 101.7% of volume prescribed, with 88.9% of subjects taking at least 80% of doses. VAd data were available on 185 of the 191 subjects who started randomized study medication. VAd was 97.3%, with 82.2% of subjects having no missed visits. During dose titration, subjects had on average 12.9% higher medication adherence than subjects who were on a stable dose and had less frequent study visits. MedAd and VAd were not significantly associated with SES.

Conclusion

Subjects in the BABY HUG trial have had excellent adherence. SES was not associated with adherence, suggesting that SES should not be used as a criterion for enrolment in clinical trials. Additional efforts are needed to maintain medication adherence, particularly when the interval between scheduled visits increases. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00006400). Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010;54:260–264. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Silk fibroin/chitosan/heparin scaffold: preparation, antithrombogenicity and culture with hepatocytes
Authors: She Zhending , Liu Weiqiang , Feng Qingling
Published: October 2009

Antithrombogenicity is very important for tissue engineering scaffolds used in situations involving contact with blood. A silk fibroin/chitosan (SFCS) scaffold has been developed for liver tissue engineering with porous structure, suitable mechanical properties and biocompatibility. Because the interaction between silk fibroin and blood coagulation factors can lead to blood coagulation, the anticoagulant property of the SFCS scaffold should be improved. Heparin was added into SFCS scaffold under mild conditions. The effects of heparin on the morphology, swelling properties, structure, porosity, mechanical properties, antithrombogenicity and cytocompatibility of the SFCS scaffold were studied. SFCS scaffold containing heparin maintains the porous structure and good mechanical properties of the fibroin‐based scaffold; moreover, it is not cytotoxic. Addition of heparin leads to the SFCS scaffold being blood‐compatible and an effective heparin‐delivering system. The anticoagulant property of the SFCS scaffold can be improved by the addition of heparin, which may be helpful for scaffolds used in situations involving contact with blood. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Dihalodiazirines and the photochemical generation of dihalocarbenes: new light on old problems
Authors: Moss Robert A.
Published: October 2009

The Graham oxidation of amidines to halodiazirines, coupled with the diazirine exchange reaction, makes available many new diazirine precursors of carbenes. Nitration of the phenoxy moieties of phenoxychloro‐ or phenoxyfluorodiazirine converts them to leaving groups, ultimately permitting the preparations of CCl2, CClF, and CF2. Absolute rate constants and activation parameters are measured for the additions of these carbenes to several alkenes. The comparative contributions of ΔH‡ and ΔS‡ to ΔG‡ are assessed for these reactions, as are the dependences of ΔH‡ and ΔS‡ on the structures and reactivities of the carbenes and alkenes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Method of Choice for Ring Cleavage of 2‐(Dinitroethylene)‐ 4,5‐Imidazolidinedione
Authors: Li Yongxiang , Cao Duanlin , Fude Ren , Zheng Linjuan
Published: October 2009

2‐(dinitroethylene)‐4,5‐imidazolidinedione, which is the intermediate in preparing FOX‐7, was synthesized by acetamidine hydrochloride and diethyl oxalate. Ring cleavage reaction could be carried out more quickly, when methanol, water, and formic acid were used as ring cleavage reagents; the disadvantages from using ammonia as ring cleavage reagent could be overcome with yields of up to 65.5%. When water is used as ring cleavage reagent, the reaction rate will be high and the reaction conditions will be milder. So this method is more suitable for further up‐scaling research.
Fifty years of the integrated control concept: the role of landscape ecology in IPM in San Joaquin valley cotton
Authors: Goodell Peter B
Published: October 2009

In defining the integrated control concept, Stern, Smith, van den Bosch and Hagan described ‘understanding the ecosystem’ as a key underpinning of the concept. In following years, Stern and van den Bosch continued to refine and expand the role of the ecological landscape. They and their colleagues developed cultural practices that took advantage of this understanding to limit the need of pesticide intervention in cotton in the San Joaquin Valley during the 1960s and 1970s. Research and extension activities in the intervening years built upon those fundamental concepts using geospatial tools and analytical techniques to refine current understanding and develop ecological landscape level approaches to manage Lygus hesperus (Knight) in San Joaquin Valley cotton, Gossypium hirsutum (L.) and more recently G. barbadense (L.). The result has been a significant drop in insecticide use against L. hesperus, with less than one application per season during the 1990s and early 2000s. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Prescribing home oxygen therapy for chronic respiratory conditions
Authors: Wedzicha Jadwiga
Published: October 2009

Oxygen therapy can be prescribed for home use for chronic respiratory conditions and can improve survival and quality of life. Here, Professor Wedzicha describes the indications and assessment for the different types of oxygen therapy, as well as the recent changes to the provision of home oxygen in England and Wales. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Interface Ltd
Recommended drug treatment of osteoarthritis in primary care
Authors: Courtney Philip , Doherty Michael
Published: October 2009

Nonpharmacological interventions are central to the long‐term management of OA, but control of symptoms will require analgesic therapy. Here, the authors discuss the properties, efficacy and side‐effects of the available drug treatments, followed by an analysis of prescription data and sources of further information. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Interface Ltd
One‐pot protection and activation of amino acids using pentafluorophenyl carbonates
Authors: Ramapanicker Ramesh , Baig Nasir Baig Rashid , De Kavita , Chandrasekaran Srinivasan
Published: October 2009

Protection of the amino group and activation of the carboxylic acid groups are the most important steps associated with any peptide synthesis protocol; hence, a one‐pot process to achieve these is highly desirable. A possible strategy is to use pentafluorophenyl carbonates to simultaneously protect the amino group as a carbamate derivative and activate the carboxylic acid group as a pentafluorophenyl ester. A detailed study is carried out to understand the scope and limitations of this method using five different pentaflurophenyl carbonates. The efficiency of these one‐pot reactions depends largely on the nature of the pentafluorophenyl carbonates and also on the nature of the amino acids. Electron deficient and sterically less demanding carbonates reacted faster than the others, whereas amino acids with longer aliphatic side chains gave better yields than more polar amino acids. Copyright © 2009 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evidence of Effectiveness of Herbal Medicinal Products in the Treatment of Arthritis
Authors: Cameron Melainie , Gagnier Joel J. , Little Christine V. , Parsons Tessa J. , Blümle Anette , Chrubasik Sigrun
Published: October 2009

Herbal medicinal products (HMPs) are used in a variety of oral and topical forms for the treatment of osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to update a previous systematic review published in 2000. We searched electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CISCOM, AMED, CINAHL, Cochrane registers) to June 2007, unrestricted by date or language, and included randomized controlled trials that compared HMPs with inert (placebo) or active controls in patients with osteoarthritis. Five reviewers contributed to data extraction. Disagreements were discussed and resolved by consensus with reference to Cochrane guidelines and advice from the Cochrane Collaboration.

Thirty‐five studies (30 studies identified for this review update, and 5 studies included in the original review) evaluating the effectiveness of 22 HMPs were included. However, due to differing HMPs, interventions, comparators, and outcome measures, meta‐analysis was restricted to data from studies of three HMPs: topical capsaicin, avocado‐soybean unsaponifiables, and the Chinese herbal mixture SKI306X showed benefit in the alleviation of osteoarthritic pain.

Several studies investigating products from devil's claw, and a powder from rose hip and seed, reported favorable effects on osteoarthritic pain, whereas two studies of a willow bark extract returned disparate results. Three studies of Phytodolor NRwere of limited use because doses and measures were inconsistent among trials. The remaining single studies for each HMP provided moderate evidence of effectiveness. No serious side effects were reported with any herbal intervention.

Despite some evidence, the effectiveness of none of the HMPs is proven beyond doubt. The obvious potential benefits of HMPs in the treatment of osteoarthritis are reduced reliance on synthetic medications with the associated risks of harmful adverse events, but further clinical trials are necessary before HMPs can be adopted in osteoarthritis treatment guidelines. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.