bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ovarian tumors in childhood and adolescents - Our eight years experiences
Authors: Amatya Archana , Rana Ashma , Gurung Geeta
Published: November 2008

Aims: To study the distribution of different types of ovarian tumors seen in adolescents and children and evaluate the commonest tumor during this period. Methods: A prospective study conducted at Dept of Ob/Gyn, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital form January 1999 - January 2008. Results: There were a total of 80 cases of ovarian tumors in childhood and adolescents. Most of the cases had presented to the outpatient department of Ob/Gyn (54%), Medicine (10%), Surgery (21%) and Emergency Unit (15%). Majority of the cases were between the ages of 15 to 19 and tumors in childhood age up to 14 represented 21% of the total ( < 10year being 4). The most frequently occurring tumor was Germ cell tumors accounting for 59 (73.7%) of the total. Out of which dermoid was the most frequently occurring in 45(76.2%). Nineteen (23.71 %) of the total tumor were malignant. All of them underwent laparatomy followed by enucleation (14); Unilateral ophoorectomy (28), unilateral salphingooophorectomy (36) and TAHBSO (2). Conclusion: This study shows the preponderance of germ cell tumor and high percentages of malignancies within germ cell tumor in young children and adolescents. Keywords: childhood, adolescent, ovarian tumors, malignancy   doi:10.3126/njog.v3i1.1438   NJOG 2008 May-June; 3(1): 39 - 42
Outcome of fallopian tube recanalization
Authors: Gautam Jageshwor
Published: November 2008

Objective: To find out the fertility outcome of tubal surgery. Method: This was a hospital based descriptive study conducted at Om Hospital, Bharatpur. Forty-one women who were operated in this hospital during the period of 6 years. (Jan 2002- December 2007). Results: Of 41 patients who underwent tuboplasty, 34 (82.9%) cases were available for follow-up. Out of these 34 cases, 14 (41.2%) became pregnant. Among them 9 (64.3%) had viable births, 3 (21.4%) ectopic pregnancies and 2 (14.3%) spontaneous miscarriages. Conclusion: Fallopian tube recanalization has been established as an effective, useful and novel treatment of infertility due to tubal occlusion. Key words: Infertility, fallopian tube, tuboplasty, pregnancy.   doi:10.3126/njog.v3i1.1439 NJOG 2008 May-June; 3(1): 43 - 45
Classical caesarean section- A time honoured surgery
Authors: Rawal Suniti , Gurung Geeta , Bista Kesang D
Published: November 2008

Classical caesarean section seldom performed worldwide and even at our hospital was carried out in a 37 years old G3 P0+2 at 36+4 weeks with the indications of transverse lie, cervical fibroid, low lying placenta, oligohydramnios with severe IUGR and PIH, complicated with intraoperative post partum hemorrhage (PPH). Though the classical caesarean section (CCS) is almost a forgotten surgery, its importance may be reminded in situations like this when such an intervention becomes imperative and lower segment caesarean section (LSCS) being lesser advantageous. Key words: classical caesarean section, transverse lie, cervical fibroid, low lying placenta   doi:10.3126/njog.v3i1.1442 NJOG 2008 May-June; 3(1): 51 - 54
Self made device by rural Nepalese women for pelvic organ prolapse worn for more than a decade: A constant source of vaginal discharge
Authors: Pant Padam Raj
Published: November 2008

Complete disappearances of prolapse after the removal of the self made vaginal vaginal devices, made out of sand, jute and fruit seed residue worn for 17-30 years is presented here which speaks of uterovaginal prolapse as gynecological morbidity. Key words: Gynecological morbidity and uterine prolapse.   doi:10.3126/njog.v3i1.1444 NJOG 2008 May-June; 3(1): 58 - 59
SKEPTICAL TRANQUILITY AND HUME's MANNER OF DEATH
Authors: GUIMARÃES LÍVIA
Published: November 2008

In this essay I examine the relevance of Hume's skepticism for the debate around his death. I argue that as to the official record of Hume's manner of death, `My Own Life' indirectly points to his skepticism, while Adam Smith's `Letter to Strahan' evades the issue altogether. As for the responses, when they address the problem of Hume's skepticism, they are either hostile or, at best, dismissive of it. I claim that William Cullen's letter to John Hunter constitutes the one relation of Hume's death that positively acknowledges his skeptical principles, and acknowledges, in a Humean fashion, their beneficial moral influence. Along with Cullen, I argue that such influence both delivers one from superstitious disquiet and heightens the enjoyment of common life. It thus plays a central role in Hume's tranquil acceptance of death.
The Importance of Care in the Theory and Practice of Human Security
Authors: Robinson Fiona
Published: November 2008

This paper argues that human rights-based approaches to human security overlook the importance of caring values, relations of care, and care work in the achievement and long-term maintenance of human security. It outlines an alternative approach to the ethics of human security which combines a feminist ontological and normative position on the centrality of caring values and practices in sustaining life with a feminist account of the gendered political economy of contemporary globalisation. Moreover, it argues that a critical, feminist ethics of care can provide a comprehensive ontological and normative framework for integrating economic exclusion with violence, and thus for understanding and conceptualising human security in a way that is sensitive to the role played by gender identities and other types of power relations. This, I argue, can be achieved through an interrogation of the relationship between neoliberal globalisation and hegemonic forms masculinity in the context of contemporary global governance.
‘Death to Tyrants’: The Political Philosophy of Tyrannicide—Part I
Authors: Brincat Shannon K.
Published: November 2008

This paper examines the conceptual development of the philosophical justifications for tyrannicide. It posits that the political philosophy of tyrannicide can be categorised into three distinct periods or models, the classical, medieval, and liberal, respectively. It argues that each model contained unique themes and principles that justified tyrannicide in that period; the classical, through the importance attached to public life and the functional role of leadership; the medieval, through natural law doctrine; and the liberal, through the postulates of social contract theory. Subsequent analysis of these different models however, reveals that these historical models are unable to provide a sufficient philosophical basis for a contemporary justification of tyrannicide. In Part II, it will be contended that a reinvigorated conception of self-defence, a theme common to all three models, when coupled with the modern notion of universal human rights, may provide the foundation for a contemporary theory of tyrannicide.
Law, Cosmopolitan Law and the Protection of Human Rights
Authors: Sorial Sarah
Published: November 2008

In Between Facts and Norms, Habermas articulates a system of rights, including human rights, within the democratic constitutional state. For Habermas, while human rights, like other subjective rights have moral content, they do not structurally belong to a moral system; nor should they be grounded in one. Instead, human rights belong to a positive and coercive legal order upon which individuals can make actionable legal claims. Habermas extends this argument to include international human rights, which are realised within the context of a cosmopolitan legal order. The aim of this paper is to assess the relevance of law as a mechanism for securing human rights protection. I argue that positive law does make a material difference to securing individual human rights and to cultivating and augmenting a general rights culture both nationally and globally. I suggest that Habermas' model of law presents the most viable way of negotiating the tensions that human rights discourse gives rise to: the tensions between morality and law, between legality and politics, and between the national and international contexts of human rights protection.
Human Rights in Iran: The Ethnography of ‘Others’ and Global Political Theory
Authors: Van Den Anker Christien
Published: November 2008

Knowledge about the ‘other’ is one of the founding pillars for the development of global political theory. Although human rights are an important part of the moral and legal discourse on global governance, there is still a gap between these theories and detailed accounts of human rights violations and the context for resistance. This article examines the treatment of the ‘other’ in a specific country (Iran), and the oppression as Muslims of Iranians living abroad, in order to begin to fill this gap. More specifically, it is argued that anthropology, journalism and diaspora literature about Iran provide useful input for the field of global political theory on human rights, democratisation and global justice. This literature helps bring home the realities of human rights violations, contributes to a better understanding of injustice and ways of creating social change, and illuminates issues of universality and difference that are of direct relevance to global political theory.
Principal Component Regression Analysis of the Relation Between CIELAB Color and Monomeric Anthocyanins in Young Cabernet Sauvignon Wines
Authors: Han Fu-Liang , Zhang Wen-Na , Pan Qiu-Hong , Zheng Cheng-Rong , Chen Hai-Yan , Duan Chang-Qing
Published: November 2008

Color is one of the key characteristics used to evaluate the sensory quality of red wine, and anthocyanins are the main contributors to color. Monomeric anthocyanins and CIELAB color values were investigated by HPLC-MS and spectrophotometry during fermentation of Cabernet Sauvignon red wine, and principal component regression (PCR), a statistical tool, was used to establish a linkage between the detected anthocyanins and wine coloring. The results showed that 14 monomeric anthocyanins could be identified in wine samples, and all of these anthocyanins were negatively correlated with the L*, b* and H*ab values, but positively correlated with a* and C*ab values. On an equal concentration basis for each detected anthocyanin, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (Cy3-glu) had the most influence on CIELAB color value, while malvidin 3-O-glucoside (Mv3-glu) had the least. The color values of various monomeric anthocyanins were influenced by their structures, substituents on the B-ring, acyl groups on the glucoside and the molecular steric structure. This work develops a statistical method for evaluating correlation between wine color and monomeric anthocyanins, and also provides a basis for elucidating the effect of intramolecular copigmentation on wine coloring.
Highly Fluorescent Mesostructured Films that consist of Oligo(phenylenevinylene)–Silica Hybrid Frameworks
Authors: Mizoshita Norihiro , Goto Yasutomo , Tani Takao , Inagaki Shinji
Published: November 2008

Highly fluorescent and visible‐light‐responsive mesostructured organosilica films are successfully obtained by acidic sol–gel polycondensation of oligo(phenylenevinylene) (OPV)‐bridged organosilane and tetraethoxysilane precursors in the presence of a template surfactant. The OPV‐bridged organosilane precursors with different lateral alkoxy substituents, hexyloxy and 2‐ethylhexyloxy, and no substituent, are synthesized by Rh‐catalyzed silylation of corresponding aromatic iodides. From the organosilane precursors, three kinds of mesostructured OPV–silica hybrid films are prepared by spin‐casting using evaporation‐induced self‐assembly. UV‐vis absorption and fluorescence behavior of the OPV–silica hybrid films show that the optical properties and intermolecular interactions of the OPV moieties embedded within the organosilica frameworks strongly depend on the lateral alkoxy substituents in the precursors. The hexyloxy and 2‐ethylhexyloxy substituents prevent aggregation of the OPV units in the organosilica frameworks; this result leads to high fluorescence quantum yields of 0.48–0.61 and 0.63–0.66, respectively, while non‐substitution leads to lower fluorescence quantum yields of 0.25–0.34. Fluorescence decay profiles of the organosilica hybrid films also confirm a suppression of the aggregation of OPV moieties by the lateral substituents. These mesostructured organosilica films with significant optical properties in the visible‐light region are promising as a new class of phosphor materials.
Effect of seasonal programming on fetal development and longevity: Links with environmental temperature
Authors: Flouris Andreas D. , Spiropoulos Yiannis , Sakellariou Giorgos J. , Koutedakis Yiannis
Published: November 2008

This study examined the effect of birth season on fetal development and longevity using two independent databases of all Greek citizens that were born (total: 516,874) or died (total: 554,101) between 1999 and 2003. We found significantly increased birth weight, gestational age, and longevity in individuals born during the autumn and winter seasons of the year. These individuals also demonstrated statistically significantly lower prevalence rates for fetal growth restriction and premature birth. Furthermore, we found that increased temperature at birth was associated with adverse effects on fetal development and longevity. In conclusion, our results show strong effects of season of birth on fetal development and longevity mediated, at least in part, by environmental temperature at time of birth. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Occupational exposure to blood and body fluids among health care workers in a general hospital, China
Authors: Zhang Min , Wang Huanqiang , Miao Jianying , Du Xieyi , Li Tao , Wu Zhenglai
Published: November 2008

Objectives

To understand current status of occupational exposure to blood and body fluids (BBF), and awareness of knowledge about occupational bloodborne pathogen exposures and universal precaution among hospital‐based health care workers (HCWs).

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted during April to May 2004 to study incidence of occupational exposure to BBF among 1,144 hospital‐based HCWs.

Results

The total incidence and the average number of episodes exposure to BBF was 66.3/100 HCWs per year and 7.5 per person per year in the past year, respectively. The incidence (per 100/HCWs per year) and the average number of episodes (per HCW per year) of percutaneous injury (PCI), mucous‐membrane exposure (MME), and exposure to BBF by damaged skin was 50.3 and 1.8; 34.4 and 1.7; and 37.9 and 4.0, respectively. The leading incidence and the average number of episodes of PCI occurred in delivery room (82.6 and 1.8). The highest percentage of PCI's that occurred during the previous 2 weeks occurred during a surgical operation (22.8%). Of all sharp instruments, the suture needle contributed the highest percentage of PCI's (24.7%) among HCWs in the last 2 weeks. Over two‐thirds (68.3%) of respondents were immunized with Hepatitis B vaccine; less than one‐half (47%) of HCWs wore gloves while doing procedures on patients. The respondents demonstrated a lack of knowledge regarding transmission of bloodborne diseases and universal precautions.

Conclusions

Risk for potential exposure to BBF appears high in HCWs, and almost all of episodes are not reported. It is urgent to establish the Guideline for Prevention and Control of Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens among HCWs. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:89–98, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Protecting human subjects: How much responsibility falls to editorial boards?
Authors: Wegman David H. , Major Elaine
Published: November 2008

Editorial policy for biomedical journals increasingly calls on authors to affirm that approval was received from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) (or equivalent) prior to initiating any human subjects research presented in a manuscript submitted for publication. For most investigations and investigators this does not present any problem. However, when research is carried out in a setting where there is no IRB, should editors consider a report of such a study based on the merits alone? There is no simple answer to this question. This commentary explores aspects of the question and presents issues to be considered in developing an answer. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:172–175, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Specific and non‐specific upper extremity musculoskeletal disorder syndromes in automobile manufacturing workers
Authors: Gold Judith E. , d'Errico Angelo , Katz Jeffrey N. , Gore Rebecca , Punnett Laura
Published: November 2008

Objective

A longitudinal cohort of automobile manufacturing workers (n = 1,214) was examined for: (1) prevalence and persistence of specific upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMSDs) such as lateral epicondylitis and de Quervain's disease, and non‐specific disorders (NSDs) defined in symptomatic individuals without any specific disorder, and (2) disorder prognoses based on symptom characteristics and other factors.

Methods

Eight specific disorders were identified through case definitions based on upper extremity physical examinations and symptom surveys administered on three occasions over 6 years.

Results

At baseline, 41% of the cohort reported upper extremity symptoms; 18% (n = 214) of these had NSDs. In each survey, tendon‐related conditions accounted for over half of the specific morbidity. Twenty‐five percent had UEMSDs in multiple anatomical sites, and most with hand/wrist disorders had two or more hand/wrist UEMSDs. Persistence for all specific disorders decreased with length of follow‐up. Specific UEMSDs were characterized by greater pain severity and functional impairment, and more lost work days than NSDs.

Conclusions

Upper extremity symptoms and diagnoses vary over time. NSDs may be the early stages of conditions that will eventually become more specific. NSDs and overlapping specific UEMSDs should be taken into account in UEMSD classification. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:124–132, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Geographic variation in opioid prescribing for acute, work‐related, low back pain and associated factors: A multilevel analysis
Authors: Webster Barbara S. , Cifuentes Manuel , Verma Santosh , Pransky Glenn
Published: November 2008

Background

Given reports about variation in opioid prescribing, concerns about increasing opioid use and its associated negative consequences make understanding the sources of variability important. The aims of the study were to assess the extent of and factors associated with geographic variation in early opioid prescribing for acute, work‐related, low back pain (LBP).

Methods

Cases were selected from workers compensation administrative data filed between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2003 and included claims from states with more than 40 cases. Early opioid prescribing (one or more prescriptions within first 15 days) was the outcome. Weighted coefficient of variation (wCOV) estimated geographic variation, and multilevel models measured variability controlling for individual and contextual factors.

Results

Of the 8,262 claimants, 21.3% received at least one early opioid prescription. Significant between‐state variation was found (wCOV = 53%), from 5.7% (Massachusetts) to 52.9% (South Carolina). Seventy‐nine percent of the between‐state variation was explained by three contextual factors: state household income inequality (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01, 1.12), number of physicians per capita (PR 0.99, 95% CI = 0.98, 0.99), and workers compensation cost containment effort score (PR 1.12, 95% CI = 1.02, 1.24). Individual‐level factors, including severity, explained only a small portion of the geographic variability.

Conclusion

Geographic variation of early opioid prescribing for acute LBP is important and almost fully explained by state‐level contextual factors. The study suggests that clinician and patient interaction and the subsequent decision to use opioids are substantially framed by social conditions and control systems. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:162–171, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prevalence of common mental disorders and their work consequences in France, according to occupational category
Authors: Cohidon Christine , Imbernon Ellen , Gorldberg Marcel
Published: November 2008

Background

The aims of the study are to estimate the prevalence of the common mental disorders according to occupational category and to describe the consequences of these disorders on their work, in the French population.

Methods

It took place in France from 1999 to 2003. The sample consisted of about 36,000 people aged 18 years and older. Data were collected face‐to‐face using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI).

Results

Anxiety disorders were most common (17% in men and 26% in women), while prevalence estimates for mood disorders were 10% in men and 14% in women. Prevalence of troubles were consistently higher among those in the lowest occupational categories. Among those reporting mental disorders, about 50% said that their work was affected. The repercussions on job varied by occupational category and differently for men and women.

Conclusion

This study shows the social and occupational inequalities in the prevalence of mental disorders and their important work consequences in the French working population. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:141–152, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Injuries and fatalities to U.S. farmers and farm workers 55 years and older
Authors: Myers John R. , Layne Larry A. , Marsh Suzanne M.
Published: November 2008

Background

Previous studies have shown that older farmers and farm workers have been identified at high risk for farm fatalities, most notably involving tractor overturns. Older farmers also incur more severe non‐fatal injuries.

Methods

Data from two national surveillance systems are presented to describe fatal and non‐fatal injuries occurring to older farmers 55+ years of age. Tractor‐related fatality investigations for older farmers are examined for characteristics of the tractors not available in the injury surveillance systems.

Results

Older farmers and farm workers averaged 26,573 lost‐time injuries annually in 2001 and 2004, with an injury rate of 4.5 injuries/100 workers/year compared to an overall farming injury rate of 4.8 injuries/100 workers/year. Fatality data show that older farmers accounted for over half of all farming deaths between 1992 and 2004 (3,671 of 7,064 deaths), and had a fatality rate of 45.8 deaths/100,000 workers/year compared to the overall farming fatality rate of 25.4 deaths/100,000 workers/year. Most common mechanisms of fatal injury to older farmers were “tractors” (46%), “trucks” (7%), and “animals” (5%).

Conclusions

Although older farmers and farm workers are at lower risk of overall injury compared to their younger counterparts, injuries to farmers 55 years and older tend to be much more severe. To effectively minimize the risk faced by older farmers, prevention programs must encourage safe work behaviors and practices and the implementation/installation of appropriate safety devices and equipment. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:185–194, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Assembly of Supramolecular Boxes and Coordination Polymers Based on Bis‐Zinc‐Salphen Building Blocks
Authors: Kuil Mark , Puijk Iris M. , Kleij Arjan W. , Tooke Duncan M. , Spek Anthony L. , Reek Joost N. H.
Published: November 2008

We report the assembly of supramolecular boxes and coordination polymers based on a rigid bis‐zinc(II)‐salphen complex and various ditopic nitrogen ligands. The use of the bis‐zinc(II)‐salphen building block in combination with small ditopic nitrogen ligands gave organic coordination polymers both in solution as well as in the solid state. Molecular modeling shows that supramolecular boxes with small internal cavities can be formed. However, the inability to accommodate solvent molecules (such as toluene) in these cavities explains why coordination polymers are prevailing over well‐defined boxes, as it would lead to an energetically unfavorable vacuum. In contrast, for relatively longer ditopic nitrogen ligands, we observed the selective formation of supramolecular box assemblies in all cases studied. The approach can be easily extended to chiral analogues by using chiral ditopic nitrogen ligands.
2‐(1 H‐1,2,3‐Triazol‐4‐yl)‐Pyridine Ligands as Alternatives to 2,2′‐Bipyridines in Ruthenium(II) Complexes
Authors: Happ Bobby , Friebe Christian , Winter Andreas , Hager Martin D. , Hoogenboom Richard , Schubert Ulrich S.
Published: November 2008

The synthesis of a variety of 2‐(1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)‐pyridines by click chemistry is demonstrated to provide straightforward access to mono‐functionalized ligands. The ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone initiated by such a mono‐functionalized ligand highlights the synthetic potential of this class of bidentate ligands with respect to polymer chemistry or the attachment onto surfaces and nanoparticles. The coordination to RuII ions results in homoleptic and heteroleptic complexes with the resultant photophysical and electrochemical properties strongly dependent on the number of these ligands attached to the RuII core.
Reduced levels of immunoglobulin in children with autism correlates with behavioral symptoms
Authors: Heuer Luke , Ashwood Paul , Schauer Joseph , Goines Paula , Krakowiak Paula , Hertz‐Picciotto Irva , Hansen Robin , Croen Lisa A. , Pessah Isaac N. , Van de Water Judy
Published: November 2008

Objectives: To assay if plasma antibody levels in children with autism or developmental delays (DD) differ from those with typical development as an indicator of immune function and to correlate antibody levels with severity of behavioral symptoms.

Methods: Plasma was collected from children with autistic disorder (AU; n=116), DD but not autism (n=32), autism spectrum disorder but not full autism (n=27), and age‐matched typically developing (TD) controls (n=96). Samples were assayed for systemic levels of immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM, IgA, and IgE) by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Subjects with autism were evaluated using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and the Autism Diagnostic Interview—Revised, and all subjects were scored on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) by the parents. Numerical scores for each of the ABC subscales as well as the total scores were then correlated with Ig levels.

Results: Children with AU have a significantly reduced level of plasma IgG (5.39±0.29 mg/mL) compared to the TD (7.72±0.28 mg/mL; P<0.001) and DD children (8.23±0.49 mg/mL; P<0.001). Children with autism also had a reduced level of plasma IgM (0.670.06mg/mL) compared to TD (0.79±0.05 mg/mL; P<0.05). Ig levels were negatively correlated with ABC scores for all children (IgG: r=−0.334, P<0.0001; IgM: r=−0.167, P=0.0285).

Conclusion: Children with AU have significantly reduced levels of plasma IgG and IgM compared to both DD and TD controls, suggesting an underlying defect in immune function. This reduction in specific Ig levels correlates with behavioral severity, where those patients with the highest scores in the behavioral battery have the most reduced levels of IgG and IgM.
Osteoblasts stimulated with pulsed electromagnetic fields increase HUVEC proliferation via a VEGF‐A independent mechanism
Authors: Hopper Richard A. , VerHalen Jon P. , Tepper Oren , Mehrara Babek J. , Detch Robert , Chang Edward I. , Baharestani Samuel , Simon Bruce J. , Gurtner Geoffrey C.
Published: November 2008

The clinically beneficial effect of low frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (ELF‐PEMF) on bone healing has been described, but the exact mechanism of action remains unclear. A recent study suggests that there is a direct autocrine mitogenic effect of ELF‐PEMF on angiogenesis. The hypothesis of this study is that ELF‐PEMF also has an indirect effect on angiogenesis by manipulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐A‐based paracrine intercellular communication with neighboring osteoblasts. Conditioned media experiments measured fetal rat calvarial cell (FRC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation using tritiated thymidine uptake. We demonstrate that ELF‐PEMF (15 Hz, 1.8 mT, for 8 h) has an indirect effect on the proliferation rate of both endothelial cells and osteoblasts in vitro by altering paracrine mediators. Conditioned media from osteoblast cells stimulated with ELF‐PEMF increased endothelial proliferation 54‐fold, whereas media from endothelial cells stimulated with ELF‐PEMF did not affect osteoblast proliferation. We examined the role of the pro‐angiogenic mediator VEGF‐A in the mitogenic effect of ELF‐PEMF‐stimulated osteoblast media on endothelial cells. The production of VEGF‐A by FRC as measured by ELISA was not changed by exposure to PEMF, and blocking experiments demonstrated that the ELF‐PEMF‐induced osteoblast‐derived endothelial mitogen observed in these studies was not VEGF‐A, but some other soluble angiogenic mediator. Bioelectromagnetics 30:189–197, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of novel peptide ligands for the cancer‐specific receptor mutation EFGRvIII using a mixture‐based synthetic combinatorial library
Authors: Denholt Charlotte Lund , Hansen Paul Robert , Pedersen Nina , Poulsen Hans Skovgaard , Gillings Nic , Kjær Andreas
Published: November 2008

We report here, the design and synthesis of a positional scanning synthetic combinatorial library for the identification of novel peptide ligands targeted against the cancer‐specific epidermal growth factor tyrosine kinase receptor mutation variant III (EGFRvIII). This receptor is expressed in several kinds of cancer, in particular, ovarian, glioblastomas, and breast cancer, but not in normal tissue. The library consisted of six individual positional sublibraries in the format, H‐O1–6XXXXX‐NH2, O being one of the 19 proteinogenic amino acids (cysteine omitted) and X an equimolar mixture of these. The library consisted of 114 mixtures in total. Using a biotin‐streptavidin assay, the binding of each sublibrary to NR6M, NR6W‐A, and NR6 cells was tested. These cells express EGFRvIII, EGFR, and neither of the receptors, respectively. The result from each sublibrary was examined to identify the most active amino acid residue at each position. On the basis of this knowledge, eight peptides were synthesized and tested for binding to EGFRvIII. We identified one peptide, H‐FALGEA‐NH2, that showed more selective binding to the mutated receptor than the EGFRvIII specific peptide PEPHC1. This study demonstrates the value of using mixture‐based combinatorial positional scanning libraries for the identification of novel peptide ligands targeted against the cancer‐specific EGFRvIII. Our best candidate H‐FALGEA‐NH2 will be radioactively labeled and evaluated as an imaging agent for positron emission tomography investigation for diagnosis, staging, and monitoring of therapy of various types of cancer. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 91: 201–206, 2009.

This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com
NMR structure of rALF‐Pm3, an anti‐lipopolysaccharide factor from shrimp: Model of the possible lipid A‐binding site
Authors: Yang Yinshan , Boze Hélène , Chemardin Patrick , Padilla André , Moulin Guy , Tassanakajon Anchalee , Pugnière Martine , Roquet Françoise , Destoumieux‐Garzón Delphine , Gueguen Yannick , Bachère Evelyne , Aumelas André
Published: November 2008

The anti‐lipopolysaccharide factor ALF‐Pm3 is a 98‐residue protein identified in hemocytes from the black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon. It was expressed in Pichia pastoris from the constitutive glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase promoter as a folded and 15N uniformly labeled rALF‐Pm3 protein. Its 3D structure was established by NMR and consists of three α‐helices packed against a four‐stranded β‐sheet. The C34C55 disulfide bond was shown to be essential for the structure stability. By using surface plasmon resonance, we demonstrated that rALF‐Pm3 binds to LPS, lipid A and to OM®‐174, a soluble analogue of lipid A. Biophysical studies of rALF‐Pm3/LPS and rALF‐Pm3/OM®‐174 complexes indicated rather high molecular sized aggregates, which prevented us to experimentally determine by NMR the binding mode of these lipids to rALF‐Pm3. However, on the basis of striking structural similarities to the FhuA/LPS complex, we designed an original model of the possible lipid A‐binding site of ALF‐Pm3. Such a binding site, located on the ALF‐Pm3 β‐sheet and involving seven charged residues, is well conserved in ALF‐L from Limulus polyphemus and in ALF‐T from Tachypleus tridentatus. In addition, our model is in agreement with experiments showing that β‐hairpin synthetic peptides corresponding to ALF‐L β‐sheet bind to LPS. Delineating lipid A‐binding site of ALFs will help go further in the de novo design of new antibacterial or LPS‐neutralizing drugs. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 91: 207–220, 2009.

This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com
Preoperative tissue diagnosis for tumours of the pancreas
Authors: Hartwig W , Schneider L , Diener M K , Bergmann F , Büchler M W , Werner J
Published: November 2008

Background

Preoperative biopsy of pancreatic lesions suspected of malignancy is controversial.

Methods

A systematic Medline literature search was carried out. Diagnostic studies reporting quantitative preoperative pancreatic biopsy data were evaluated.

Results

The analysis included 53 studies, mostly of a retrospective nature. Despite acceptable rates for sensitivity and specificity, the negative predictive value of percutaneous and endoscopic ultrasonography-guided biopsies was 60–70 per cent. Biopsy results were considered to be essential for directing non-surgical therapy in advanced disease. However, they were of limited value in planning the treatment of resectable solid or cystic tumours, or focal lesions in the setting of chronic pancreatitis.

Conclusions

Biopsy of suspected pancreatic malignancies with systemic spread or local irresectability is indicated for planning palliative or neoadjuvant therapy. Preoperative biopsy of potentially resectable pancreatic tumours is not generally advisable, as malignancy cannot be ruled out with adequate reliability.
Meta-analysis of adjuvant chemotherapy after radical surgery for advanced gastric cancer
Authors: Sun P , Xiang J-B , Chen Z-Y
Published: November 2008

Background

There is no consensus of opinion about postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy after radical surgery for advanced gastric cancer. This is a meta-analysis of the published results of relevant randomized clinical trials (RCTs).

Methods

Electronic databases from January 1998 to December 2007 were searched and 12 RCTs were selected. These included a total of 3809 patients. The hazard ratio (HR) for overall survival was calculated.

Results

The pooled HR for overall survival was 0·78 (95 per cent confidence interval 0·71 to 0·85) in favour of chemotherapy. Subgroup analysis showed that the advantage of chemotherapy was not influenced by depth of tumour infiltration, status of lymph node metastasis, type of lymphadenectomy, geographical distribution of patients or route of drug administration.

Conclusions

Postoperative chemotherapy can improve overall survival after radical surgery for gastric cancer; there is no standardized chemotherapy regimen. Japanese-style D2 radical surgery plus oral 5-fluorouracil appears an effective treatment at present.
Detection of lymph node metastases in oesophageal cancer
Authors: Jamieson G G , Thompson S K
Published: November 2008

Background

The importance of lymph node status in oesophageal cancer cannot be disputed. It is therefore surprising that no standardization exists in either terminology or methodology in lymph node analysis.

Methods

All online databases were searched to identify articles published from 1970 onwards. This was supplemented by hand searching references of retrieved articles.

Results and conclusion

Without accurate identification of lymph node metastases, patients cannot be staged properly, nor can best practice for the treatment of oesophageal cancer be determined. This review outlines the problem and proposes recommendations for standardization in terminology and methodology for the detection of lymph node metastases in oesophageal cancer.
LC‐MS analysis for the components captured by ECV304 cell from extract of Aconitum szechenyianum Gay.
Authors: Yuan Jiang‐Feng , Zhang Zhi‐Qi , Kang Xue‐Qin , Liu Jian‐Li
Published: November 2008

A novel method of cell affinity screening (CAS), cell affinity capture coupled with LC‐MS analysis, was developed for screening the bioactive compounds related to cardiovascular diseases from the natural product libraries. One of the major characteristics lies in its function in affinity‐capturing and separating the bioactive components from the natural product libraries in vitro. Another characteristic is its use in analyzing and identifying the target compounds, by employing high‐performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. CAS was used for screening the bioactive components from the alkaloid extract derived from Aconitum szechenyianum Gay. Of the five components found to be bound to the oxidative‐damaged endothelial cells, the two compounds identified, mesaconitine and aconitine, were recognized in the literature as being related to cardiovascular diseases. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Salting‐out assisted liquid/liquid extraction with acetonitrile: a new high throughput sample preparation technique for good laboratory practice bioanalysis using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry
Authors: Zhang Jun , Wu Huaiqin , Kim Elaine , El‐Shourbagy Tawakol A.
Published: November 2008

Acetonitrile, an organic solvent miscible with aqueous phase, has seen thousands of publications in the literature as an efficient deproteinization reagent. The use of acetonitrile for liquid–liquid extraction (LLE), however, has seen very limited application due to its miscibility with aqueous phase. The interest in LLE with acetonitrile has been pursued and reported in the literature by significantly lowering the temperature of the mixture or increasing the salt concentration in the mixture of acetonitrile and aqueous phase, resulting in the separation of the acetonitrile phase from aqueous phase, as observed in conventional LLE. However, very limited application of these methods has been reported. The throughput was limited. In this report, we report a new sample preparation technique, salting‐out assisted liquid–liquid extraction with acetonitrile, for high‐thoughput good laboratory practice sample analysis using LCMS, Two compounds from an approved drug, Kaletra®, were used to demonstrate the extractability of drugs from human plasma matrix. Magnesium sulfate was used as the salting‐out reagent. Extracts were diluted and then injected into a reversed phase LC‐MS/MS system directly. One 96‐well plate was extracted with this new approach to evaluate multiple parameters of a good laboratory practice analytical method. Results indicate that the method is rapid, reliable and suitable for regulated bioanalysis. With minimal modification, this approach has been used for high‐throughput good laboratory practice analysis of a number of compounds under development at Abbott. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Determination of a hydrophilic paclitaxel derivative, 7‐xylosyl‐10‐deacetylpaclitaxel in rat plasma by LC–MS/MS
Authors: Jiang Shou Gang , Zu Yuan Gang , Zhang Lin , Fu Yu Jie , Zhang Yu , Wang Zhou , Hua Xin , Wang Jing Tao
Published: November 2008

A LC‐MS/MS method for the determination of a hydrophilic paclitaxel derivative 7‐xylosyl‐10‐deacetylpaclitaxel in rat plasma was developed to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of 7‐xylosyl‐10‐deacetylpaclitaxel in the rats. 7‐Xylosyl‐10‐deacetylpaclitaxel and docetaxel (IS for 7‐xylosyl‐10‐deacetylpaclitaxel) were extracted from rat plasma with acetic ether and analyzed on a Hypersil C18 column (4.6 × 150 mm i.d., particle size 5 µm) with the mobile phase of ACN/0.05% formic acid (50:50, v/v). The analytes were detected using an ESI MS/MS in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The standard curves for 7‐xylosyl‐10‐deacetylpaclitaxel in plasma were linear (r >0.999) over the concentration range of 2.0–1000 ng/mL with a weighting of 1/concentration2. The method showed a satisfactory sensitivity (2.0 ng/mL using 50 µL plasma), precision (CV ≤ 10.1%), accuracy (relative error −12.4 to 12.0%), and selectivity. This method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of 7‐xylosyl‐10‐deacetylpaclitaxel in rat plasma after intravenous administration of 7‐xylosyl‐10‐deacetylpaclitaxel to female Wistar rats. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Determination of quinapril and quinaprilat in human plasma by ultraperformance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Dasandi Bhavesh , Shah Sanjay , Shivprakash
Published: November 2008

A novel, specific and sensitive ultraperformance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of quinapril and its active metabolite quinaprilat in human plasma. The method involves a simple, one‐step extraction procedure coupled with an Acquity UPLC™ BEH C18 column (100 × 2.1 mm, i.d., 1.7 µm) with isocratic elution at a flow‐rate of 0.2 mL/min and lisinopril as the internal standard. Detection was performed on a triple‐quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer in multiple reaction monitoring mode via electrospray ionization. Using 250 µL plasma, the methods were validated over the concentration range 5.010–500.374 ng/mL for quinapril and 10.012–1000 ng/mL for quinaprilat, with a lower limit of quantification of 5.010 ng/mL for quinapril and 10.012 ng/mL for quinaprilat. The intra‐ and inter‐day precision and accuracy were within 10.0%. The recovery was 85.8, 62.6 and 61.3% for quinapril, quinaprilat and lisinopril, respectively. Total run time was 3.0 min only. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Determination of a novel paclitaxel derivative (NPD‐103) in human plasma by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Zhang Shuang‐Qing , Chen Guo‐Hua
Published: November 2008

A sensitive and specific ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS‐MS) method for quantification of a newly developed anticancer agent NPD‐103 has been established. An aliquot of human plasma sample (200 µL) was spiked with 13C‐labeled paclitaxel (internal standard) and extracted with 1.3 mL of tert‐butyl methyl ether. NPD‐103 was quantitated on a C18 column with methanol–0.1% formic acid (75:25, v/v) as mobile phase using UPLC‐MS‐MS operating in positive electrospray ionization mode with a total run time of 3.0 min. For NPD‐103 at the concentrations of 1.0, 5.0 and 10.0 µg/mL in human plasma, the absolute extraction recoveries were 95.58, 102.43 and 97.77%, respectively. The linear quantification range of the method was 0.1–20.0 µg/mL in human plasma with linear correlation coefficients greater than 0.999. The intra‐ and inter‐day accuracy for NPD‐103 at 1.0, 5.0 and 10.0 µg/mL levels in human plasma fell into the ranges of 95.29–100.00% and 91.04–94.21%, and the intra‐ and inter‐day precisions were in the ranges of 8.96–11.79% and 7.25–10.63%, respectively. This assay is applied to determination of half‐life of NPD‐103 in human plasma. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New Insight into the Mode of Action of Nickel Superoxide Dismutase by Investigating Metallopeptide Substrate Models
Authors: Tietze Daniel , Breitzke Hergen , Imhof Diana , Kothe Erika , Weston James , Buntkowsky Gerd
Published: November 2008

For the first time, the existence of a substrate adduct of a nickel superoxide dismutase (NiSOD) model, based on the first nine residues from the N terminus of the active form of Streptomyces coelicolor NiSOD, has been proven and the adduct has been isolated. This adduct is based on the cyanide anion (CN−), as a substrate analogue of the superoxide anion (O2.−), and the nickel metallopeptide H‐HCDLPCGVY‐NH2‐Ni. Spectroscopic studies, including IR, UV/Vis, and liquid‐ and solid‐state NMR spectroscopy, show a single nickel‐bound cyanide anion, which is embedded in the metallopeptide structure. This complex sheds new light on the question of whether the mode of action of the NiSOD enzyme is an inner‐ or outer‐sphere mechanism. Whereas discussion was previously biased in favor of an outer‐sphere electron‐transfer mechanism due to the fact that binding of cyanide or azide moieties to the nickel active site had never been observed, our results are a clear indication in favor of the inner‐sphere electron‐transfer mechanism for the disproportionation of the O2.− ion, whereby the substrate is attached to the Ni atom in the active site of the NiSOD.
Noise in magnitude magnetic resonance images
Authors: Cárdenas‐Blanco Arturo , Tejos Cristian , Irarrazaval Pablo , Cameron Ian
Published: November 2008

The aims of this article are to review the properties of noise in magnitude MR images to clarify the terminology used when referring to the noise and to discourage the use of the terms Rician noise and Rician noise bias. The distribution of measured MR pixel intensities in the presence of noise is known to be Rician, and the width of this distribution is directly related to the Gaussian noise on the measured real and imaginary signals. It is the pixel magnitude values that follow the Rician distribution, not the noise. The term Rician noise should be used cautiously or, better still, avoided completely since inherent to this terminology is behavior that is not normally associated with noise, such as dependence on signal strength. This terminology is misleading and can lead to conceptual and practical misunderstandings. It is better to relate the image noise to the Gaussian noise on the real and imaginary signals. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Concepts Magn Reson Part A 32A:409–416, 2008.
Psychologic intervention improves survival for breast cancer patients
Authors: Andersen Barbara L. , Yang Hae‐Chung , Farrar William B. , Golden‐Kreutz Deanna M. , Emery Charles F. , Thornton Lisa M. , Young Donn C. , Carson William E.
Published: November 2008

BACKGROUND.

The question of whether stress poses a risk for cancer progression has been difficult to answer. A randomized clinical trial tested the hypothesis that cancer patients coping with their recent diagnosis but receiving a psychologic intervention would have improved survival compared with patients who were only assessed.

METHODS.

A total of 227 patients who were surgically treated for regional breast cancer participated. Before beginning adjuvant cancer therapies, patients were assessed with psychologic and behavioral measures and had a health evaluation, and a 60‐mL blood sample was drawn. Patients were randomized to Psychologic Intervention plus assessment or Assessment only study arms. The intervention was psychologist led; conducted in small groups; and included strategies to reduce stress, improve mood, alter health behaviors, and maintain adherence to cancer treatment and care. Earlier articles demonstrated that, compared with the Assessment arm, the Intervention arm improved across all of the latter secondary outcomes. Immunity was also enhanced.

RESULTS.

After a median of 11 years of follow‐up, disease recurrence was reported to occur in 62 of 212 (29%) women and death was reported for 54 of 227 (24%) women. Using Cox proportional hazards analysis, multivariate comparison of survival was conducted. As predicted, patients in the Intervention arm were found to have a reduced risk of breast cancer recurrence (hazards ratio [HR] of 0.55;P= .034) and death from breast cancer (HR of 0.44;P= .016) compared with patients in the Assessment only arm. Follow‐up analyses also demonstrated that Intervention patients had a reduced risk of death from all causes (HR of 0.51;P= .028).

CONCLUSIONS.

Psychologic interventions as delivered and studied here can improve survival. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.