bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Prostate Cancer–Specific Survival After Radiation Therapy for Patients With Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer
Authors: D’Amico Anthony V. , Cote Kerri , Loffredo Marian , Renshaw Andrew A. , Schultz Delray
Published: November 2002

PURPOSE: Identifying pretreatment and posttreatment predictors of time to prostate cancer–specific death (PCSD) after external-beam radiation therapy (RT) was the subject of this study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the ability of the pretreatment risk group to predict time to PCSD for 381 patients who underwent RT for clinically localized prostate cancer. Posttreatment factors analyzed for the 94 patients who experienced prostate-specific antigen (PSA) failure included the time to PSA failure, the posttreatment PSA doubling time (DT), and the timing of salvage hormonal therapy.

RESULTS: Despite the median age of 73 years at diagnosis, 45% of patients with high-risk disease were estimated to die from prostate cancer within 10 years after RT compared with 0% (P = .004) and 6% (P = .05) for patients with low- or intermediate-risk disease, respectively. Predictors of time to PCSD after PSA failure included PSA DT (P = .01) and delayed use of hormonal therapy (P ≤ .002). Nearly identical estimates of PCSD and all-cause death after PSA failure were noted for patients with a short PSA DT (ie, ≤ 12 months).

CONCLUSION: Prostate cancer was a major cause of death during the first decade after RT for patients with clinically localized but high-risk disease, and the cause of death for patients with a short PSA DT after RT was nearly always prostate cancer. These data provide evidence to propose the hypothesis that a short posttreatment PSA DT may serve as a possible surrogate for PCSD. Prospective validation is needed.
Mental Health Service Use Among Adult Cancer Survivors: Analyses of the National Health Interview Survey
Authors: Hewitt Maria , Rowland Julia H.
Published: November 2002

PURPOSE: Analyses were conducted to obtain national estimates of mental health service use, unmet need for such services, and the prevalence of mental health problems among individuals reporting a cancer history.

METHODS: Of a nationally representative sample of 95,615 adults in the United States interviewed as part of the 1998, 1999, and 2000 National Health Interview Survey, 4,878 reported a history of cancer (excluding superficial skin cancer). Analyses assessed whether cancer survivors relative to those without a self-reported history of cancer had increased use of mental health services and had increased reports of unmet need for such services. Analyses were also conducted to ascertain demographic and health characteristics associated with service use and unmet need.

RESULTS: Compared with individuals without a cancer history, cancer survivors reported significantly greater contact in the past year with a mental health provider (7.2% v 5.7%). Cancer survivors were more likely to have used mental health services (odds ratio, 1.60 among those without other chronic illnesses and 3.04 among those with other chronic illnesses), and mental health service use was significantly greater among those who were under age 65 and diagnosed at younger ages, were formerly married, or had other comorbid chronic conditions. If all cancer survivors with mental health problems or who needed but could not access mental health services due to cost had received such care, mental health service use would have increased from 7.2% to 11.7%, a 62% increase in use.

CONCLUSION: Cancer seems to be one of several chronic illnesses that precipitates the need for and use of mental health services. Improvements are needed in recognizing mental health problems among cancer survivors and reducing barriers to psychosocial service use.
Phase II and Pharmacologic Study of Weekly Oral Paclitaxel Plus Cyclosporine in Patients With Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Kruijtzer C.M.F. , Schellens J.H.M. , Mezger J. , Scheulen M.E. , Keilholz U. , Beijnen J.H. , Rosing H. , Mathôt R.A.A. , Marcus S. , van Tinteren H. , Baas P.
Published: November 2002

PURPOSE: A phase II study was performed to assess the efficacy and toxicity of oral cyclosporine (CsA) plus paclitaxel in advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Chemotherapy-naive or previously treated patients (one regimen) with measurable disease and World Health Organization performance status ≤ 2 were eligible. Oral paclitaxel was given weekly in a dose of 90 mg/m2 bid. CsA (10 mg/kg) was given 30 minutes before each dose of oral paclitaxel.

RESULTS: Twenty-six patients with a median age of 54 years (range, 32 to 77 years) were entered onto this study. Eighteen patients (69%) had received one prior chemotherapy regimen. The most frequently recorded toxicities were as follows: National Cancer Institute common toxicity criteria grade 3 neutropenia, eight patients (31%); grade 4, six patients (23%); grade 4 febrile neutropenia, three patients (12%); grade 2/3 neurotoxicity, three patients (12%); and grade 2 nail changes, four patients (15%). The overall response rate (ORR) of the 23 assessable patients was 26% (95% confidence interval [CI], 10% to 48%). In the intention-to-treat population, the ORR was 23% (95% CI, 9% to 44%). The median time to progression was 3.5 months (95% CI, 1.2 to 3.9 months), and median overall survival was 6.0 months (95% CI, 2.3 months to not available). Pharmacokinetics revealed that the mean area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of oral paclitaxel was 5.0 ± 2.3 μmol/L/h in week 1 and 4.6 ± 2.0 μmol/L/h in week 2, with interpatient variabilities (coefficient of variation [%CV]) of 45% and 42%, respectively. The intrapatient variability (%CV) of the AUC was 14.5%.

CONCLUSION: Oral paclitaxel plus CsA is active and safe in advanced NSCLC, including in patients previously treated with chemotherapy.
Risk Group Assessment and Clinical Outcome Algorithm to Predict the Natural History of Patients With Surgically Resected Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Zisman Amnon , Pantuck Allan J. , Wieder Jeffery , Chao Debby H. , Dorey Fredrick , Said Jonathan W. , deKernion Jean B. , Figlin Robert A. , Belldegrun Arie S.
Published: November 2002

PURPOSE: To create a comprehensive algorithm that can predict postoperative renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patient outcomes and response to therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study was performed with outcome assessment on the basis of chart review of 814 patients who underwent nephrectomy between 1989 and 2000. At diagnosis, M1 or N1/N2M0 metastatic disease (M) was present in 346 patients (43%), whereas 468 patients had no metastatic disease (NM) (N0M0). On the basis of UCLA Integrated Staging System category and the presence of metastases, patients were divided into low-risk (LR), intermediate-risk (IR), and high-risk (HR) groups. Decision boxes integrating tumor-node-metastasis staging, tumor grade, and performance status were compiled for determining a patient’s risk group.

RESULTS: NM-LR patients had 91% disease-specific survival at 5 years, lower recurrence rate, and better disease-free survival compared with NM-IR and HR patients. Disease progressed in 50% of NM-HR patients. Disease-specific survival of NM-HR patients who received immunotherapy (IMT) for recurrent disease was similar to that of M-LR patients treated with cytoreductive nephrectomy and adjuvant IMT. Time from recurrence to death for NM-HR patients was inferior to that for M-LR patients. After IMT, approximately 25% of M-LR and 12% of M-IR patients had long-term progression-free survival. M-HR patients did poorly despite IMT.

CONCLUSION: Stratifying RCC patients into high-, intermediate-, and low-risk subgroups provides a clinically useful system for predicting outcome and provides a unique tool for risk assignment and outcome analysis. Subclassifying RCC into well-defined risk groups should allow better patient counseling and identification of both NM-HR subgroups that need adjuvant treatment and nonresponders who need alternative therapies.
Clinicopathologic Correlations of Genomic Gains and Losses in Follicular Lymphoma
Authors: Viardot Andreas , Möller Peter , Högel Josef , Werner Kirsten , Mechtersheimer Gunhild , Ho Anthony D. , Ott German , Barth Thomas F.E. , Siebert Reiner , Gesk Stefan , Schlegelberger Brigitte , Döhner Hartmut , Bentz Martin
Published: November 2002

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical relevance of genomic aberrations in follicular lymphomas (FLs).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, we analyzed 124 biopsy samples of patients with FL using comparative genomic hybridization.

RESULTS: In 87 cases (70%), genomic imbalances were detectable. The most frequent aberrations were gains of chromosome arms 7p (21 patients), 7q (21 patients), Xp (16 patients), 12q (15 patients), and 18q (14 patients) as well as losses on 6q (21 patients). Grades 2 and 3 according to the World Health Organization classification correlated with a more complex karyotype (P < .0001). In a subset of 82 patients, a comprehensive clinical data set was available. In a multivariate analysis including all clinical risk factors of the International Prognostic Index as well as genomic aberrations, the loss of material on chromosomal bands 6q25q27 was the strongest predictor of a shorter survival (P = .0001; hazard ratio, 6.5), followed by elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase level (P = .0009; hazard ratio, 4.9), the presence of more than one extranodal manifestation (P = .017; hazard ratio, 4.2), and age greater than 60 years (P = .022; hazard ratio, 2.6).

CONCLUSION: These data indicate that genomic aberrations may contribute significantly to risk assessment in patients with FL, the majority of whom are included in low-risk groups using established clinical prognostic scores.
DPC4/Smad4 Expression and Outcome in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Biankin Andrew V. , Morey Adrienne L. , Lee C.-Soon , Kench James G. , Biankin Sandra A. , Hook Henry C. , Head Darren R. , Hugh Thomas B. , Sutherland Robert L. , Henshall Susan M.
Published: November 2002

PURPOSE: Prognostic indicators in pancreatic cancer (PC) are poorly defined and difficult to quantify preoperatively, hence they may lead to inappropriate patient selection for treatment. We examined the protein expression of key cell-cycle regulatory and cell-signaling molecules that occur at high frequency in PC and assessed their relationship to clinicopathologic parameters, response to operative resection, and outcome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We identified 348 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and assessed the influence of reported clinicopathologic prognostic factors and the expression of the cell-cycle regulatory genes p21WAF1/CIP1 (CDKN1A), cyclin D1 (CCND1), p53, and p16INK4A (CDKN2) and the cell-signaling molecule DPC4/Smad4 (MADH4) using immunohistochemistry in a subgroup of 129 patients.

RESULTS: Independent prognostic factors in resected patients were tumor size greater than 45 mm (P = .0015), involvement of surgical margins (P < .0001), and perineural invasion (P = .014). Loss of DPC4/Smad4 expression cosegregated with resectability (P < .0001) and was associated with improved survival after resection (P < .0001), whereas resection did not improve survival in patients whose tumor expressed DPC4/Smad4 (P = .5). Aberrant expression of p21WAF1/CIP1, cyclin D1, p53, or p16INK4A was not associated with a difference in survival.

CONCLUSION: Tumor size (> 45 mm), resection margin involvement, and perineural invasion were independent prognostic factors. Preoperative assessment of DPC4/Smad4 expression has potential as a prognostic indicator in patients with PC since resection did not benefit those patients whose cancers expressed DPC4/Smad4 and accurate assessment of DPC4/Smad4 expression, unlike tumor size, margin status, and perineural invasion, does not require resection.
Limiting factors in Escherichia coli fed‐batch production of recombinant proteins
Authors: Sandén Anna Maria , Prytz Ingela , Tubulekas Ioannis , Förberg Cecilia , Le Ha , Hektor Andrea , Neubauer Peter , Pragai Zoltan , Harwood Colin , Ward Alan , Picon Antonia , de Mattos Joost Teixeira , Postma Pieter , Farewell Anne , Nyström Thomas , Reeh Solvejg , Pedersen Steen , Larsson Gen
Published: November 2002

Fed‐batch production of recombinant β‐galactosidase in E. coli was studied with respect to the specific growth rate at induction. The cultivations were designed to induce protein production by IPTG at a glucose feed rate corresponding to high (μ = 0.5 h−1) or low (μ = 0.1 h−1) specific growth rate. Protein production rate was approximately 100% higher at the higher specific growth rate, resulting in the accumulation of β‐galactosidase up to 30% of the total cell protein. Transcription analysis showed that β‐galactosidase‐specific messenger RNA was immediately formed after induction (<5 min), but the amount was the same in both cases and was thus not the initial limiting factor. The content of ribosomes, as represented by rRNA, rapidly decreased with specific growth rate from a relative level of 100%, at the high specific growth rate, to 20% at the low specific growth rate. At high specific growth rate, ribosomes were additionally degraded upon induction due to the high production level. Translation therefore seemed to be the initial limiting factor of the protein synthesis capacity. The alarmone guanosine tetraphosphate increased at both high and low feed level inductions, indicating an induction‐forced starvation of charged tRNA and/or glucose. The altered physiological status was also detected by the formation of acetic acid. However, the higher production rate resulted in high‐level accumulation of acetic acid, which was absent at low feed rate production. Acetic acid production is thus coupled to the high product formation rate and is proposed to be due either to a precursor drain of Krebs cycle intermediates and a time lag before induction of the glyoxalate shunt, or to single amino acid overflow, since the model product is relatively poor in glycin and alanin. In conclusion, it is proposed that production at high specific growth rate becomes precursor‐limited, while production at low specific growth rate is carbon‐ and/or energy‐limited. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 81: 158–166, 2003.
Thermodynamic parameters monitoring the equilibrium shift of enzyme‐catalyzed hydrolysis/synthesis reactions in favor of synthesis in mixtures of water and organic solvent
Authors: Deschrevel Brigitte , Vincent Jean‐Claude , Ripoll Camille , Thellier Michel
Published: November 2002

The main strategy developed to shift the equilibrium state of a hydrolase‐catalyzed hydrolysis/synthesis reaction consists in reducing water activity by addition of organic solvents in the reaction medium. We have used several mixtures of water and 1,4‐butanediol, ranging from pure water to pure 1,4‐butanediol, to study the hydrolysis/synthesis reaction of the N‐Cbz‐L‐tryptophanyl‐glycineamide dipeptide, catalyzed by α‐chymotrypsin. In the presence of 1,4‐butanediol, α‐chymotrypsin also catalyzed the esterification reaction between this diol and N‐Cbz‐L‐tryptophan; this ester hydrolysis/synthesis reaction has thus also been examined. The dipeptide and ester equilibrium concentrations increase when the water content of the reaction medium is decreased. Using our experimental data, we have determined the equilibrium constants of the hydrolysis/synthesis equilibria involving the nonionized forms of the protected amino acids, the estimated values of which are Ksp = 8 105 for the dipeptide and Kse = 78 for the ester respectively. They are true thermodynamic equilibrium constants, each related to a single, well‐defined reaction equilibrium and with water activity being taken into account. If an organic solvent is added to the reaction medium these equilibria can be shifted towards synthesis by decreasing the water activity but also by modifying the ionization/neutralization equilibrium constant of the ionizable groups. These two effects depend both on the water content and on the nature of the organic solvent used, and, in particular, on its dielectric constant. Because of the importance of this parameter in our study, we discuss using it as an indicator to select an appropriate organic solvent to perform an enzyme‐catalyzed synthesis. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 81: 167–177, 2003.
Coupling of chemical extraction and expanded‐bed adsorption for simplified inclusion‐body processing: Optimization using surface plasmon resonance
Authors: Choe Woo‐seok , Clemmitt Robert H. , Chase Howard A. , Middelberg Anton P. J.
Published: November 2002

Integration of the chemical extraction of recombinant inclusion‐body protein from Escherichia coli, and its recovery by metal‐affinity expanded‐bed adsorption (IMAC‐EBA) under denaturing conditions, was investigated. The viral coat protein L1 with a hexa‐histidine tag was expressed in Escherichia coli HMS174(DE3) as a model protein. Interference of released host DNA with adsorbent fluidization in the EBA step was solved by selective precipitation using spermine and low‐speed centrifugation. However, the capacity and selectivity of the adsorbent for L1 remained lower than anticipated. The binding of L1 to immobilized Ni2+ was therefore studied in detail using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The Tris buffer and ethylene‐diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) used in the extraction mixture were found to interfere significantly with the L1–Ni2+ interaction. The SPR studies suggest that L1 binding could be improved by replacing the Tris buffer with HEPES and by adding CaCl2 to inactivate the EDTA. The modified chemical extraction conditions resulted in effective L1 extraction from cytoplasmic inclusion bodies, at high cell density (OD600 = 80) and without the use of reducing agent, into a medium optimized for subsequent IMAC recovery. The modified buffer conditions resulted in an improved binding capacity and a good L1 purification factor (12.7) and recovery yield (71%). This work demonstrates that it is possible to reduce the complexity and hence the cost associated with traditional processes used to prepare purified denatured protein, ready for refolding, from cytoplasmic inclusion bodies. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 81: 221–232, 2003.
Fine‐needle aspiration diagnosis of giant cell tumour of bone presenting at unusual sites
Authors: Jain Manjula , Aiyer Hema M. , Singh Monu , Narula M.
Published: November 2002

Giant cell tumour (GCT) of bone is a distinctive neoplasm, which has only recently been included within the diagnostic purview of the cytopathologist. Four cases of GCT of bone diagnosed primarily and exclusively by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), presenting at unusual sites, are presented with a view to highlight the cytomorphologic features of this tumour and its differential diagnosis on FNAC. Each of these cases were distinctive by virtue of their localisation, but presented as classical expansile osteolytic lesions roentgenologically. Despite the paucity of literature regarding the cytodiagnosis of these lesions, the authors nevertheless recommend FNAC as a primary tool in the diagnosis of these lesions. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2002;27:375–378. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reed‐Sternberg‐like cells in lymph node aspirates in the absence of Hodgkin's disease: Pathologic significance and differential diagnosis
Authors: Iacobuzio‐Donahue Christine A. , Clark Douglas P. , Ali Syed Z.
Published: November 2002

We discuss nine cases identified at our institution with prominent Reed‐Sternberg‐like cells in fine‐needle aspiration of lymph nodes in patients without Hodgkin's disease. Cytomorphology was studied using Diff‐Quik and Papanicolaou‐stained smears and flow cytometric analysis was performed in all cases. Clinical and/or histopathologic follow‐up was reviewed. Of the nine cases, all were diagnosed as “atypical lymphoid proliferation” despite a negative flow cytometric analysis. Clinicopathologic follow‐up revealed that three cases evolved into malignant non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma and one case into a posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder. The remaining five cases were benign in the follow‐up period also, of which one case was later diagnosed as an inflammatory pseudotumor. In two cases of reactive hyperplasia and in the inflammatory pseudotumor case, an in situ hybridization stain for Epstein Barr virus (EBV) was positive. The significance and differential diagnosis of Reed‐Sternberg‐like cells in lymph nodes in the absence of Hodgkin's disease is discussed. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2002;27:335–339. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Investigation of air gaps entrapped in protective clothing systems
Authors: Kim Young , Lee Calvin , Li Peng , Corner Brian D. , Paquette Steven
Published: November 2002

Air gaps entrapped in protective clothing are known as one of the major factors affecting heat transfer through multiple layers of flexible clothing fabrics. The identification and quantification of the air gaps are two aspects of a multidisciplinary research effort directed toward improving the flame/thermal protective performance of the clothing. Today's three‐dimensional (3‐D) whole body digitizers, which provide accurate representations of the surface of the human body, can be a novel means for visualizing and quantifying the air gaps between the wearer and his clothing. In this paper we discuss how images from a 3‐D whole body digitizer are used to determine local and global distributions of air gaps and the quantification of air gap sizes in single and multilayer clothing systems dressed on a thermal manikin. Examples are given that show concordance between air gap distributions and burn patterns obtained from full‐scale manikin fire tests. We finish with a discussion of the application of air gap information to bench‐scale testing to improve the protective performance of current flame/thermal protective clothing. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Study of vapor concentration during boiling process of binary liquid mixtures
Authors: Utaka Yoshio , Takahashi Katsuaki , Tsuboi Takao
Published: November 2002

The object of the study is to clarify experimentally the variation of the vapor concentration of binary mixtures generated during nucleate boiling in a saturated pool under various boiling conditions. The generated vapor concentrations in the bulk vapor layer were measured for binary mixtures of water‐ethanol and ethanol‐acetone under various liquid concentrations, heat fluxes, and liquid layer heights from heated thin wires at atmospheric pressure.

Two methods of measuring concentration, namely, the dew point method and the laser absorption method, were used. The dew point measurement utilized a copper heat transfer block installed in the center of the vapor layer in the boiling vessel. The commencement of condensation on the surface was observed directly via a microscope used for determining the dew point by controlling its temperature. A laser light having a wavelength of 3.39 µm was used for the laser light absorption method utilizing its absorptive property against ethanol vapor.

The measurement of the concentrations of the bulk vapor was carried out for various superheats of heated wires, the depth of liquid mixture layer, and the liquid concentrations. They were almost independent of those parameters and were almost in equilibrium with bulk liquid conditions even under higher surface superheats and lower liquid heights. Also, the measured results using both methods were in close agreement. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 31(8): 595–605, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.10060
Performance of passive heat removal by an air‐cooling panel from a high‐temperature gas‐cooled reactor
Authors: Takada Shoji , Suzuki Kunihiko , Inagaki Yoshiyuki , Sudo Yukio
Published: November 2002

An experiment was performed to simulate an air‐cooling panel system for passive decay heat removal from a high‐temperature gas‐cooled reactor to investigate the performance of decay heat removal and the temperature distributions of components of the system. The experimental apparatus consisted of a pressure vessel 1 m wide and 3 m high. Nineteen simulated standpipes containing heaters with a maximum heating rate of 100 kW simulated residual heat of the core, and the cooling panels surrounded the pressure vessel. An analytical code (THANPACST2) was applied to the experimental data to investigate the validity of the analytical method and the model proposed. Under the conditions of helium gas at a pressure of 0.64 MPa and temperature of 514 °C in the pressure vessel, the predicted temperature distribution in the pressure vessel was estimated and was within −10 to +50 °C as compared to the experimental data. The analysis indicated that the heat transferred to the cooling panel was 15.4% less than the experimental value. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 31(8): 665–677, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.10061
Enhancement of steam absorption into a film of LiBr aqueous solution falling over a downward‐facing plate
Authors: Himeno Nobuhiro , Hinata Shigeru , Kirita Yuji
Published: November 2002

An experimental study was performed on the enhancement of steam absorption into a LiBr aqueous solution. The enhancement method proposed here is to set an absorption heat transfer plate facing downward to generate free convection within a liquid film falling over the plate. The experiment was conducted varying the tilt angle of the heat transfer plate in a range of 40 to 90°. The heat transfer coefficients were compared for both cases of the heat transfer plate facing upward and downward. It was found from the experimental results that the downward‐facing plate has a higher heat transfer coefficient than the upward‐facing plate, which confirmed that free convection and mixing occur in the liquid film and enhance the absorption heat transfer in the case of the downward‐facing plate. The enhancement effect becomes remarkable as the tilt angle approaches horizontal, though the liquid film becomes thick and its thermal resistance increases. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 31(8): 606–616, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.10062
The flow characteristics of an upward gas‐liquid two‐phase flow in a vertical tube with a wire coil: Part 1. Experimental results of flow pattern, void fraction, and pressure drop
Authors: Takeshima Keishi , Fujii Terushige , Takenaka Nobuyuki , Asano Hitoshi
Published: November 2002

Experiments were carried out to investigate the flow pattern, average void fraction, and pressure drop of an upward air‐water two‐phase flow in vertical tubes of 25‐mm inside diameter with wire coils of varying wire diameter, pitch, and number of coils in cross section. Five kinds of flow patterns—bubble, slug, churn, semiannular, and annular flow—were defined based on the observation of flow behavior in the experiments. At higher water flowrates, the bubble‐to‐slug transition occurred at lower air flowrates in tubes with wire coils than in smooth tubes. The average void fraction was found by using the drift flux model. Further, the experimental results of the friction pressure drop were compared with the Lockhart‐Martinelli correlation. As a result, a correlation with the constant C in Chisholm's equation was obtained as a function of the wire coil pitch‐to‐diameter ratio. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 31(8): 639–651, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.10066
Translational and rotational forces on heart valve prostheses subjected ex vivo to a 4.7‐T MR system
Authors: Edwards Maria‐Benedicta , Ordidge Roger J. , Thomas David L. , Hand Jeffrey W. , Taylor Kenneth M.
Published: November 2002

Purpose

To assess the magnetic field interactions on 60 heart valve prostheses subjected to a 4.7 T MR system. It addresses the question of whether heart valves deemed safe at 1.5 T may pose safety hazards as patients are exposed to increased static magnetic fields.

Materials and Methods

Ex vivo testing was performed to evaluate translational and rotational forces on 60 heart valves using previously described techniques.

Results

Translational forces were detected on 58 heart valves ranging from 0.5° to 7.5°. Seven valves exhibited paramagnetic/weakly ferromagnetic behavior, and 51 valves exhibited diamagnetic behavior. Rotational forces were observed for 46 valves.

Conclusions

Criteria previously used for safety assessment of heart valve prostheses and expressed in terms of magnetic forces suggest the forces observed in this study are compatible with the safe use of these valves in magnetic resonance (MR) systems with static fields up to 4.7 T. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2002;16:653–659. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Motion of the distal renal artery during three‐dimensional contrast‐enhanced breath‐hold MRA
Authors: Vasbinder G. Boudewijn C. , Maki Jeffrey H. , Nijenhuis Robbert J. , Leiner Tim , Wilson Gregory J. , Kessels Alfons G.H. , Lemarie Etienne E.L.E. , Kaandorp Dave W. , Ho Kai Yiu J.A.M. , van Engelshoven Jos M.A.
Published: November 2002

Purpose

To study the potential detrimental effects of renal motion on breath‐hold three‐dimensional contrast‐enhanced (CE) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).

Materials and Methods

A computer model simulating linear motion was applied to MRA pulse sequences. Subsequently, to study whether renal motion was present, 24 patients being evaluated for possible renovascular hypertension underwent a breath‐hold nonenhanced single slice two‐dimensional dynamic turbo field‐echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan with a typical duration of 32 seconds. This sequence was followed by breath‐hold three‐dimensional CE renal MRA. CE‐MRA images were evaluated by two independent observers.

Results

The computer model revealed linear renal motion to cause artifacts. The severity of these artifacts correlated with velocity. Significant (P < 0.001) near linear cranial motion of the kidneys and diaphragm during a sustained breath‐hold was found for the right kidney, left kidney, right diaphragm, and left diaphragm (0.26 ± 0.21 mm/second, 0.25 ± 0.23 mm/second, 0.43 ± 0.43 mm/second, and 0.29 ± 0.33 mm/second [mean ± SD], respectively). CE‐MRA images showed artifacts of the distal renal artery that corroborated the computer model findings.

Conclusion

The observed cranial motion of the kidneys during a breath‐hold adversely affects distal renal artery image quality on three‐dimensional CE‐MRA and jeopardizes reliable clinical evaluation. Shortening scan time may be beneficial for decreasing image degradation caused by this phenomenon. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2002;16:685–696. Published 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prospective analysis of quality of life after surgical resection for esophageal cancer: Preliminary results
Authors: Brooks Jo Ann , Kesler Kenneth A. , Johnson Cynthia S. , Ciaccia Donato , Brown John W.
Published: November 2002

Background and Objectives

This pilot study prospectively evaluates the impact of esophageal resection on health‐related quality of life (HRQL) and mood states at diagnosis and during the first year after surgery.

Methods

Participants included 38 patients with planned esophageal resection. Two instruments were used: the Functional Assessment in Cancer Therapy core instrument with the esophageal subscale (FACT‐E), and the Profile of Mood States (POMS). Subjects were evaluated after diagnosis and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after surgical resection.

Results

All subjects demonstrated a decrease in overall HRQL after resection with a gradual return toward baseline by month 9. The functional and physical subscales of the FACT‐E demonstrated the largest decrease at 1 month with a gradual return toward baseline. The POMS subscales that demonstrated the highest amount of disorder after surgery were tension, fatigue, and vigor. Although the trends were similar between patients undergoing surgery alone (n = 18) and those with neoadjuvant therapy (n = 20), the group that had received surgery alone demonstrated a higher HRQL and less mood disorder during the postoperative period, as compared with the neoadjuvant group.

Conclusions

Patient perceptions of HRQL and mood states change over the first 12 months after esophageal resection. Although no statistically significant differences were found in this study, several trends were identified. Ongoing assessments of these changes are important, and interventions need to be developed and implemented to produce an effective decrease in the impact of esophageal resection on HRQL and mood states, particularly after trimodality therapy. J. Surg. Oncol. 2002, 81:185–194. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Anterior interosseous nerve and multifocal motor neuropathy
Authors: Seror P. , Leger J. M. , Maisonobe T.
Published: November 2002

We report the case of a 47‐year‐old woman with a left anterior interosseous nerve palsy. Surgical release of the anterior interosseous nerve was initially proposed, but electrodiagnostic evaluation demonstrated that the neuropathy was due not to compression or to neuralgic amyotrophy but to a proximal conduction block. At that time, the conduction block could be defined only by indirect electrodiagnostic criteria. A multifocal motor neuropathy with persistent conduction block was subsequently diagnosed, and the patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulins. The efficacy of this treatment and the subsequent disclosure of conduction block in the right posterior interosseous and peroneal nerves definitively confirmed the multifocal motor neuropathy. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 26: 841–844, 2002
Naturally occurring cell death during postnatal development of rat skeletal muscle
Authors: Torres Carmen De , Munell Francina , Roig Manuel , Reventós Jaume , Macaya Alfons
Published: November 2002

Naturally occurring cell death has been extensively analyzed in many tissues, but little data exist regarding its occurrence in developing skeletal muscle. We investigated its occurrence and time course in rat hindlimb skeletal muscles during the first 3 weeks of postnatal development, its morphological and biochemical features, and the concomitant expression of Bax, Bcl‐2, and Bcl‐xL. Myofibers displaying morphological features of apoptosis were found during the first 9 postnatal days. Terminal transferase (TdT)‐mediated dUTP‐biotinylated nick end labeling (TUNEL)–positive nuclei were present at all days examined and peaked between postnatal days 5 and 7. Total genomic DNA extracted from muscles at postnatal days 5, 7, and 9 showed internucleosomal fragmentation after Southern hybridization. Constitutive levels of Bax, Bcl‐2, and Bcl‐xL were detected by means of reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) analysis at all ages examined, with a moderate increase around the period of maximal apoptosis. The results show that apoptosis and a concurrent expression of some genes of the Bcl‐2 family, occur postnatally in rat skeletal muscle. This information is relevant to studies addressing the mechanisms of developmental muscle injuries. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 26: 777–783, 2002
Juvenile and adult rat neuromuscular junctions: Density, distribution, and morphology
Authors: Ma Jianjun , Smith Beth P. , Smith Thomas L. , Walker Francis O. , Rosencrance Eileen V. , Koman L. Andrew
Published: November 2002

Anatomical and physiological differences in neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) between juvenile and adult muscle may partially explain the variability in clinical results following chemodenervation with botulinum toxin or nerve repair in children and adults. We evaluated NMJ density, distribution, and morphometry in biceps brachii and gastrocnemius muscles from juvenile and adult rats. Motor endplates were stained with Karnovsky–Roots methods, and NMJ density (number/gram muscle tissue) was determined. The NMJ morphometry was quantitated with alpha‐bungarotoxin labeling using confocal microscopy. Juvenile rats had a greater NMJ density in both muscles compared with adult rats. Juveniles and adult rats had a similar NMJ distribution in both muscles. In juvenile muscles NMJs occupied approximately 50% of the surface area and 70% of the length, width, circumference, and gutter depth compared with adult muscles. Our study demonstrates that although NMJs are smaller, juvenile muscles have a higher NMJ density than do adult muscles with similar distributions. If these age‐dependent differences in NMJ density are obtained in humans, they may account, at least in part, for the better recovery that occurs in children than adults after nerve repair and also suggest that the dosage of botulinum toxin (units per kg) for chemodenervation may need to be increased in juveniles. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 26: 804–809, 2002
Incomplete recovery of endplate potential amplitude while intermittently activating rat soleus neuromuscular junctions in situ
Authors: Desaulniers Patrice , Lavoie Pierre‐André , Gardiner Phillip F.
Published: November 2002

Studies dealing with neuromuscular transmission efficacy typically employ continuous patterns of activation to demonstrate decrements in endplate potential (epp) amplitude. Recent evidence from rat diaphragm muscle has shown that including periods of quiescence to the stimulation protocol allows epp amplitude to recover between series of contractions. Whether similar recovery occurs in rat hindlimb muscle is unknown. In this study, we have measured declines in epp amplitude in rat soleus muscle during trains of stimulation evoked either continuously (10 s) or intermittently (400 ms repeated every second), using an in situ approach. As in diaphragm, we found that rest periods within the intermittent trains significantly improved neuromuscular transmission efficacy. However, unlike the diaphragm, epp amplitude recovery was incomplete even by the second train in the intermittent protocols, recovery being frequency‐dependent and ranging from 40 to 50%. The results suggest that the kinetics of epp amplitude rundown and recovery may be muscle‐specific, and should be considered when evaluating situations in which neuromuscular transmission efficacy may be altered. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 26: 810–816, 2002
Increased expression of lipoprotein lipase in transgenic rabbits does not lead to abnormalities in skeletal and heart muscles
Authors: Koike Tomonari , Wang Xiaofei , Unoki Hiroyuki , Liang Jingyan , Ichikawa Tomonaga , Kitajima Shuji , Watanabe Teruo , Fan Jianglin
Published: November 2002

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) plays an important role in plasma lipoprotein metabolism and the uptake of free fatty acid in muscle. Previous studies using transgenic mice showed that increased LPL leads to myopathies, but these results were controversial. To examine this hypothesis, we studied LPL transgenic rabbits, and our results refute the suggested role of LPL in the pathogenesis of myopathies. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 26: 823–827, 2002
Welfare reforms, family resources, and child maltreatment
Authors: Paxson Christina , Waldfogel Jane
Published: November 2002

This paper examines the impact of welfare reforms on several measures of child maltreatment. The authors use
state‐level data from 1990 to 1998 to examine whether recent welfare reforms have increased or reduced the
incidence of reported and substantiated cases of maltreatment, the incidence of specific types of substantiated
maltreatment—physical abuse and neglect—and the number of children living in out‐of‐home
care. The welfare reforms considered are the imposition of: family caps, lifetime limits, work requirements,
sanctions for non‐compliance, and the restriction of welfare benefits to immigrants. How welfare benefit
levels and changes in state Earned Income Tax Credit programs affect reports and substantiated cases of maltreatment
are also considered. Evidence strongly indicates that reductions in states' welfare benefit levels increase the
number of children in out‐of‐home care, and some evidence indicates that strict lifetime welfare
limits and tougher sanctions for noncompliance are related to higher levels of substantiated maltreatment. The
evidence on family caps is mixed: family caps appear to be associated with fewer instances of substantiated
maltreatment, but more children in out‐of‐home care. Because most of the welfare reforms examined have
been in effect for only a short time, these results should be considered preliminary. Overall, however, they provide
some evidence that the recent welfare reforms in the United States may have increased child maltreatment. ©
2003 by the Association for Public Policy and Analysis and Management.
Prenatal diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis
Authors: Antsaklis Aris , Daskalakis George , Papantoniou Nikolaos , Mentis Andreas , Michalas Stylianos
Published: November 2002

Ninety‐three pregnant women with Toxoplasma gondii seroconversion during pregnancy underwent prenatal diagnosis of fetal toxoplasmosis. The following tests were used: (1) amniocentesis for mouse inoculation (93 subjects), (2) amplification of T. gondii DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (79 subjects), and (3) cordocentesis for the detection of T. gondii‐specific IgM antibodies (13 subjects). All patients had serial ultrasonographic scans to detect those fetuses with abnormalities that could be associated with congenital toxoplasmosis. Eighteen pregnancies (19.4%) had evidence of vertical transmission. A total of 11/18 (61.1%) had positive amniotic mouse inoculation test, while 10/12 (83.3%) had positive PCR results. The combination of both tests allowed the prenatal diagnosis in 17/18 infected fetuses (94.4%). All patients who underwent cordocentesis for the detection of T. gondii‐specific IgM antibodies had negative results. However, in two of the above cases fetal toxoplasmosis was detected by amniotic fluid studies. In five of the infected fetuses there were abnormal ultrasonographic findings. All pregnancies with evidence of vertical transmission were terminated, whereas the remaining pregnancies proceeded normally to term. The present data showed that amniotic fluid studies, preferably PCR amplification of T. gondii DNA, are the best diagnostic tools for the detection of vertical transmission in pregnancies with seroconversion during pregnancy. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Real‐time PCR with molecular beacons provides a highly accurate assay for detection of Tay‐Sachs alleles in single cells
Authors: Rice John E. , Sanchez J. Aquiles , Pierce Kenneth E. , Wangh Lawrence J.
Published: November 2002

The results presented here provide the first single‐cell genetic assay for Tay‐Sachs disease based on real‐time PCR. Individual lymphoblasts were lysed with an optimized lysis buffer and assayed using one pair of primers that amplifies both the wild type and 1278 + TATC Tay‐Sachs alleles. The resulting amplicons were detected in real time with two molecular beacons each with a different colored fluorochrome. The kinetics of amplicon accumulation generate objective criteria by which to evaluate the validity of each reaction. The assay had an overall utility of 95%, based on the detection of at least one signal in 235 of the 248 attempted tests and an efficiency of 97%, as 7 of the 235 samples were excluded from further analysis for objective quantitative reasons. The accuracy of the assay was 99.1%, because 228 of 230 samples gave signals consistent with the genotype of the cells. Only two of the 135 heterozygous samples were allele drop‐outs, a rate far lower than previously reported for single‐cell Tay‐Sachs assays using conventional methods of PCR. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stage‐specific expressed sequence tags obtained during preimplantation bovine development by differential display RT‐PCR and suppression subtractive hybridization
Authors: Ponsuksili Siriluck , Tesfaye David , El‐Halawany Nermin , Schellander Karl , Wimmers Klaus
Published: November 2002

Differential display RT‐PCR (DDRT‐PCR) and suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) were applied in order to detect preimplantation stage‐specific expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of bovine embryos. Seventeen ESTs were detected from the differential display RT‐PCR approach. All clones but two showed homology to genes or ESTs known in human, cattle or other species. One of the clones similar to H. sapiens mRNA for KIAA1764 protein was used exemplarily to quantify the transcripts by real‐time PCR. The result of quantitative differential screening was found to be in agreement with DDRT‐PCR banding patterns. In the second approach, a blastocyst‐stage enriched cDNA library was constructed using SSH of blastocyst versus morula transcripts. The 71 clones that were analysed represent 33 distinct loci including candidate genes for the regulative processes during differentiation of inner cell mass (ICM) and trophoblast cells and the initial phase of embryo implantation, such as galectin‐3 and fibronectin. As revealed by real‐time PCR, the mRNA level of galectin‐3 was three times higher in the blastocyst stage than in the morula stage. DDRT‐PCR and SSH are both powerful tools for the identification of stage‐specific expressed gene in preimplantation bovine embryos. Real‐time PCR allows to test and confirm the outcome and to add quantitative data of selected transcripts of interest. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
XPS study of ion‐beam‐assisted formation of Si nanostructures in thin SiO2 layers
Authors: Kesler V. G. , Yanovskaya S. G. , Kachurin G. A. , Leier A. F. , Logvinsky L. M.
Published: November 2002

Thin thermally grown SiO2 layers have been enriched with Si up to ∼15 at.% by Si ion implantation at room temperature. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to monitor the composition changes caused in the layers by bombardment with 3 keV Ar ions at elevated temperatures. Argon ion irradiation of pure SiO2 does not lead to the formation of Si nanoprecipitates. That was the case also for room‐temperature Ar bombardment of Si‐rich layers. Their ‘hot’ irradiation with Ar ions was found to enhance considerably the formation of segregated Si nanophase inclusions. The process starts at ∼500°C and becomes strongly pronounced at 650°C. At this temperature ion‐beam‐induced crystallization of Si nanoprecipitates may be achieved. The results obtained are explained in the framework of the physical model, based on the irradiation‐enhanced diffusion of excess Si atoms. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
XPS analysis of FIB‐milled Si
Authors: Ferryman Amy C. , Fulghum Julia E. , Giannuzzi Lucille A. , Stevie Fred A.
Published: November 2002

The development of focused ion beam (FIB) workstations with beam sizes <10 nm in diameter has initiated a revolution in the modification and characterization of materials on a nanoscale. Focused ion beams are now widely used to obtain site‐specific specimens for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses, but are being utilized also in connection with Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). In order to understand the structure/property relationships of new materials, it is imperative that nano‐characterization techniques with site‐specific precision be available. In this work, x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and imaging are used to study the surface changes that occur due to FIB milling of Si(100). The FIB‐prepared specimen was analyzed ‘as received’ and after the specimen was stored at room temperature and in the atmosphere for 5 months. The XPS images were acquired to determine the distribution of Si4+ (SiO2) and Ga contamination on the Si0 surface. Small‐area XPS spectra of the Si FIB specimen were collected to evaluate the changes in SiO2 surface concentration. The XPS spectra were also extracted from areas ∼1 µm × 1 µm by exploiting the images‐to‐spectra approach to XPS analysis. This study demonstrates both the problems inherent in the analysis of small samples and the critical information that can be obtained from high spatial resolution XPS analysis. In this example, increased SiO2 was observed in the ‘aged’ sample relative to the ‘as‐received’ sample, and non‐uniform Ga contamination was detected. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.