bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PPL and MDM skin test: New test kit is helpful in detecting immediate‐type allergy to beta‐lactams
Authors: Treudler Regina , Simon Jan Christoph
Published: March 2007

Background: The diagnosis of PPL (major determinant) and MDM (minor determinant) sensitization as relevant allergens in beta‐lactam allergy has been recently hampered by withdrawal from the market of formerly available test kits. We investigated a new PPL/MDM test kit in the work‐up of beta‐lactam allergy.

Patients and Methods: 15 patients with history of beta‐lactam allergy were investigated for specific IgE and received patch, skin prick (SPT) and intracutaneous tests (ICT; immediate and late readings) using the relevant beta‐lactams. In addition the new test kit was used for parallel SPT and ICT.

Results:14 women and 1 man (16–73 years) with immediate (n = 7), delayed (n = 7) or unclear (n = 1) reactions to beta‐lactams 8–300 months previously (penicillin G/V n = 3, aminopenicillins n = 7, cephalosporins n = 4, unknown n = 2) were tested. In patients with immediate type reactions, n = 2 had specific IgE, n = 4 reacted to the new test kit (n = 3 MDM, all of whom reacted exclusively to this test, n = 1 PPL).Two patients with non‐immediate reactions reacted to other beta‐lactams.

Conclusions:Our data show that the new test kit may be helpful in detecting patients with immediate type allergy to beta‐lactams. Without this test, in those three patients reacting exclusively to MDM, and oral provocation test would have been necessary to clarify their allergy. Data from larger groups of patients are needed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of this test kit.
Angioedema due to type I allergy to snuff tobacco
Authors: Plaza Tobias , Nist Gabriele , Stetter Christoph , Von Den Driesch Peter
Published: March 2007

A 67‐year‐old male patient twice developed severe angioedema after enjoying a meal and an after‐dinner snuff. The cause for these allergic reactions was a type I allergy to tobacco contained in the snuff. In addition to positive prick tests to tobacco, specific serum IgE antibodies (CAP‐FEIA) to snuff were found, while prick tests and RASTs for suspected foods were negative. Tobacco belongs to the family Solanaceae which includes tomatoes and potatoes and comes from South America. Whenever allergic reactions together with tobacco snuff use occur, a possible type I allergy should be considered and investigated.
Effect of Surface Treatments and Bonding Agents on the Bond Strength of Repaired Composites
Authors: Cavalcanti Andrea Nóbrega , De Lima Adriano Fonseca , Peris Alessandra Rezende , Mitsui Fabio Hiroyuki Ogata , Marchi Giselle Maria
Published: March 2007

Statement of the Problem:  An adequate repair procedure depends on high bond strength between the existing composite and the new composite.

Purpose:  To evaluate the effect of surface treatments and bonding procedures on the bond strength of repairs performed 24 hours after composite polymerization.

Materials and Methods:  Composite specimens were stored in distilled water at 37°C for 24 hours. Specimens were allocated into 12 groups (N=10) according to the combination of surface treatment (none, air abrasion, diamond bur) and bonding procedure (none, Single Bond after H3PO4 cleansing, Clearfil SE Bond after H3PO4 cleansing, Clearfil SE Bond without H3PO4 cleansing). The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the composite was tested in nonrepaired specimens. Twenty‐four hours after repair, specimens were sectioned into three slabs and trimmed to an hourglass shape (1 mm2 area). Slabs were tested under tension and mean bond strengths analyzed with two‐way analysis of variance/Tukey and Dunnett tests (α=5%).

Results:  Two groups resulted in repair bond strengths similar to composite UTS: air abrasion combined with Clearfil SE Bond after H3PO4 cleansing, and air abrasion combined with Clearfil SE Bond without H3PO4 cleansing. Combinations of surface treatments and bonding procedures were not statistically different.

Conclusions:  When repair procedure was performed 24 hours after composite polymerization, different combinations of surface treatments and bonding procedures affected repair bond strength similarly. There was no statistical difference between the repair bond strength of groups air‐abraded and bonded with the self‐etching system and composite UTS.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Only air abrasion associated with a self‐etching system provided repair bond strength comparable to composite UTS.
Differential susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum versus yeast and mammalian enolases to dissociation into active monomers
Authors: Pal‐Bhowmick Ipsita , Krishnan Sadagopan , Jarori Gotam K.
Published: March 2007

In the past, several unsuccessful attempts have been made to dissociate homodimeric enolases into their active monomeric forms. The main objective of these studies had been to understand whether intersubunit interactions are essential for the catalytic and structural stability of enolases. Further motivation to investigate the properties of monomeric enolase has arisen from several recent reports on the involvement of enolase in diverse nonglycolytic (moonlighting) functions, where it may occur in monomeric form. Here, we report successful dissociation of dimeric enolases from Plasmodium falciparum, yeast and rabbit muscle into active and isolatable monomers. Dimeric enolases could be dissociated into monomers by high concentrations (∼ 250 mm) of imidazole and/or hydrogen ions. Two forms were separated using Superdex‐75 gel filtration chromatography. A detailed comparison of the kinetic and structural properties of monomeric and dimeric forms of recombinant P. falciparum enolase showed differences in specific activity, salt‐induced inhibition and inactivation, thermal stability, etc. Furthermore, we found that enolases from the three species differ in their dimer dissociation profiles. Specifically, on challenge with imidazole, Mg(II) protected the enolases of yeast and rabbit muscle but not of P. falciparum from dissociation. The observed differential stability of the P. falciparum enolase dimer interface with respect to mammalian enolases could be exploited to selectively dissociate the dimeric parasite enzyme into its catalytically inefficient, thermally unstable monomeric form. Thus enolase could be a novel therapeutic target for malaria.
Molecular dissection of the biosynthetic relationship between phthiocerol and phthiodiolone dimycocerosates and their critical role in the virulence and permeability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Siméone Roxane , Constant Patricia , Malaga Wladimir , Guilhot Christophe , Daffé Mamadou , Chalut Christian
Published: March 2007

Phthiocerol dimycocerosates and related compounds are important molecules in the biology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, playing a key role in the permeability barrier and in pathogenicity. Both phthiocerol dimycocerosates, the major compounds, and phthiodiolone dimycocerosates, the minor constituents, are found in the cell envelope of M. tuberculosis, but their specific roles in the biology of the tubercle bacillus have not been established yet. According to the current model of their biosynthesis, phthiocerol is produced from phthiodiolone through a two‐step process in which the keto group is first reduced and then methylated. We have previously identified the methyltransferase enzyme that is involved in this process, encoded by the gene Rv2952 in M. tuberculosis. In this study, we report the construction and biochemical analyses of an M. tuberculosis strain mutated in gene Rv2951c. This mutation prevents the formation of phthiocerol and phenolphthiocerol derivatives, but leads to the accumulation of phthiodiolone dimycocerosates and glycosylated phenolphthiodiolone dimycocerosates. These results provide the formal evidence that Rv2951c encodes the ketoreductase catalyzing the reduction of phthiodiolone and phenolphthiodiolone to yield phthiotriol and phenolphthiotriol, which are the substrates of the methyltransferase encoded by gene Rv2952. We also compared the resistance to SDS and replication in mice of the Rv2951c mutant, deficient in synthesis of phthiocerol dimycocerosates but producing phthiodiolone dimycocerosates, with those of a wild‐type strain and a mutant without phthiocerol and phthiodiolone dimycocerosates. The results established the functional redundancy between phthiocerol and phthiodiolone dimycocerosates in both the protection of the mycobacterial cell and the pathogenicity of M. tuberculosis in mice.
The cytoskeleton, a structure that is susceptible to the toxic mechanism activated by palytoxins in human excitable cells
Authors: Louzao M. Carmen , Ares Isabel R. , Vieytes Mercedes R. , Valverde Iago , Vieites Juan M. , Yasumoto Takeshi , Botana Luis M.
Published: March 2007

Palytoxin is a marine toxin responsible for a fatal type of poisoning in humans named clupeotoxism, with symptoms such as neurologic disturbances. It is believed that it binds to the Na+/K+‐ATPase from the extracellular side and modifies cytosolic ions; nevertheless, its effects on internal cell structures, such as the cytoskeleton, which might be affected by these initial events, have not been fully elucidated. Likewise, ostreocin‐D, an analog of palytoxin, has been only recently found, and its action on excitable cells is therefore unknown. Therefore, our aim was to investigate the modifications of ion fluxes associated with palytoxin and ostreocin‐D activities, and their effects on an essential cytoskeletal component, the actin system. We used human neuroblastoma cells and fluorescent dyes to detect changes in membrane potential, intracellular Ca2+ concentration, cell detachment, and actin filaments. Fluorescence values were obtained with spectrofluorymetry, laser‐scanning cytometry, and confocal microscopy; the last of these was also used for recording images. Palytoxin and ostreocin‐D modified membrane permeability as a first step, triggering depolarization and increasing Ca2+ influx. The substantial loss of filamentous actin, and the morphologic alterations elicited by both toxins, are possibly secondary to their action on ion channels. The decrease in polymerized actin seemed to be Ca2+‐independent; however, this ion could be related to actin cytoskeletal organization. Palytoxin and ostreocin‐D alter the ion fluxes, targeting pathways that involve the cytoskeletal dynamics of human excitable cells.
DNA binding and partial nucleoid localization of the chloroplast stromal enzyme ferredoxin:sulfite reductase
Authors: Sekine Kohsuke , Fujiwara Makoto , Nakayama Masato , Takao Toshifumi , Hase Toshiharu , Sato Naoki
Published: March 2007

Sulfite reductase (SiR) is an important enzyme catalyzing the reduction of sulfite to sulfide during sulfur assimilation in plants. This enzyme is localized in plastids, including chloroplasts, and uses ferredoxin as an electron donor. Ferredoxin‐dependent SiR has been found in isolated chloroplast nucleoids, but its localization in vivo or in intact plastids has not been examined. Here, we report the DNA‐binding properties of SiRs from pea (PsSiR) and maize (ZmSiR) using an enzymatically active holoenzyme with prosthetic groups. PsSiR binds to both double‐stranded and single‐stranded DNA without significant sequence specificity. DNA binding did not affect the enzymatic activity of PsSiR, suggesting that ferredoxin and sulfite are accessible to SiR molecules within the nucleoids. Comparison of PsSiR and ZmSiR suggests that ZmSiR does indeed have DNA‐binding activity, as was reported previously, but the DNA affinity and DNA‐compacting ability are higher in PsSiR than in ZmSiR. The tight compaction of nucleoids by PsSiR led to severe repression of transcription activity in pea nucleoids. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy showed that the majority of SiR molecules colocalized with nucleoids in pea chloroplasts, whereas no particular localization to nucleoids was detected in maize chloroplasts. These results suggest that SiR plays an essential role in compacting nucleoids in plastids, but that the extent of association of SiR with nucleoids varies among plant species.
Ferric‐Reducing Ability Power of Selected Plant Polyphenols and Their Metabolites: Implications for Clinical Studies on the Antioxidant Effects of Fruits and Vegetable Consumption
Authors: DeGraft‐Johnson Jeffrey , Kolodziejczyk Krzysztof , Krol Maciej , Nowak Piotr , Krol Boguslaw , Nowak Dariusz
Published: March 2007

Abstract:  Undeniably, low sensitivities in the ferric‐reducing ability power (FRAP) is evident in the detection of the augmentation of plasma antioxidant activity, relative to the rise in circulating polyphenols after ingestion of fruits and vegetables. We investigated in vitro the FRAP of 17 plant polyphenols and their metabolites at submicromolar concentrations commensurate in human plasma. We then explored the in vitro effects of polyphenols and purified apple quercetin glycosides on plasma FRAP. We found that apple quercetin glycosides along with various polyphenols observed this distinct power at submicromolar concentrations. The presence of a catechol structure in the compound molecule was positively associated with FRAP (r = 0.60, P < 0.05). An aliphatic substitute at a catechol ring and a double bond in an aliphatic substitute conjugated with an aromatic ring of catechol contributed to 37% of the variance in the FRAP of compounds with catechol in the backbone structure (n = 11). Plasma supplementation with 0.2 µM mixtures of seven of the most active compounds (catechin, 3,4‐dihydroxycinnamic acid, 3,4‐dihydroxyhydrocinnamic acid, 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, ferulic acid, gallic acid and quercetin) initiated a placid rise in FRAP (23.3 ± 1.2 versus 28.1 ± 1.3 nmol of Fe3+, P < 0.05). Apple quercetin glycosides at 0.5 µM did not elevate plasma FRAP. Plasma alone had 30 times higher power than quercetin glycosides at 0.5 µM. Abounding of FRAP exhibited in human plasma as compared to polyphenols at submicromolar concentrations, may offer elucidation to previous incongruities implicated in insignificant rises of plasma FRAP several days after ingestion of fruits or vegetables. This suggests that intake of food products and/or supplements rich in polyphenols containing a catechol ring with an aliphatic substitue augments the plasma FRAP in human beings.
Delayed Protection of Tetramethylpyrazine on Neonatal Rat Cardiomyocytes Subjected to Anoxia‐Reoxygenation Injury
Authors: Chen He‐Ping , He Ming , Huang Qi‐Ren , Zeng Guo‐Hua , Liu Dan
Published: March 2007

Abstract:   The aim of this study was to investigate the cardioprotective effects and the possible mechanisms of delayed preconditioning induced by tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes subjected to anoxia‐reoxygenation injury. Cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were preconditioned using TMP at different concentrations (100, 200 and 500 µM). Cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase release, malondialdehyde formation, superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione peroxidase activity were measured to determine the protective effects against anoxia‐reoxygenation injury. The expression of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) was measured 24 hr after TMP preconditioning by Western blot analysis. The results showed that TMP decreased lactate dehydrogenase release, increased cell viability, suppressed malondialdehyde formation and augmented activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in a concentration‐dependent manner. Moreover, the delayed protection was abolished by pre‐treating with either protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine chloride or PD98059, a selective inhibitor of extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinase 1/2, respectively, and the expression of Hsp70 was significantly increased in 24 hr after TMP preconditioning that was also suppressed by chelerythrine chloride or PD98059. These results suggest that TMP can induce delayed cardioprotective effects by activation of protein kinase C and extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinase 1/2 signalling pathways and subsequent increased expression of Hsp70 in rat neonatal cardiomyocytes.
Maternal Empathy, Self‐Confidence, and Stress as Antecedents of Preschool Children's Behavior Problems
Authors: Walker Lorraine O. , Cheng Ching‐Yu
Published: March 2007

PURPOSE.  To test psychosocial antecedents (maternal stress, self‐confidence, and empathy) of preschoolers’ behavior problems.

DESIGN AND METHODS.  One hundred and twenty‐two postpartum mothers completed a 24‐month longitudinal mail survey. A structural equation model that included empathy was tested.

RESULTS.  Stress, but not maternal self‐confidence or empathy, was directly related to child behavior problems (t = 1.98, p = .05). Maternal empathy in combination with self‐confidence or stress, however, moderated adverse effects on behavior problems (p = .03). Predictors explained 16% of variance of behavior problems.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS.  Empathy was protective when stress was high. Empathy training may enhance high‐risk parent education.
The Relationship Between Fatigue and Quality of Life in Children With Chronic Health Problems: A Systematic Review
Authors: Eddy Linda , Cruz Maria
Published: March 2007

PURPOSE.  This systematic review synthesized the literature regarding fatigue in children with chronic health problems and examined the relationship to quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS.  Most studies that have examined fatigue and its relationship to quality of life in children with chronic health problems have focused on children with cancer. Studies found that children often reported fatigue and that it decreased quality of life.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS.  Quantifying fatigue in children with chronic illnesses and disabilities is critical for pediatric nursing assessment. Understanding the impact of fatigue on children with chronic health problems is a first step in improving their quality of life.
School Health
Authors: Foley Marie
Published: March 2007

School Health provides a forum to discuss policy, practice, research, issues and trends, and pearls of wisdom to enhance the day‐to‐day care of children in the school setting, from daycare to high school.
Ask the Expert
Authors: Myers Leslie MacTaggart , McDowell Betsy M.
Published: March 2007

Ask the Expert provides research‐based answers to practice questions submitted by JSPN readers.
The Due Diligence Model: A New Approach to the Problem of Odious Debts
Authors: Shafter Jonathan
Published: March 2007

Odious debts are debts incurred by a government without either popular consent or a legitimate public purpose. There is a debate within academic circles as to whether the successor government to a regime that incurred odious debts has the right to repudiate repayment. In the real world, however, repudiation is not currently an option granted legitimacy by either global capital markets or the legal systems of creditor states. There are, thus, compelling reasons to reform the law of odious debts to allow for such repudiation in strictly limited circumstances. Beyond the moral problem of requiring the formerly captive citizens of a tyrant to repay their oppressor's personal debts, the burden of odious-debt servicing can perpetuate the cycle of state failure, which has direct national security consequences. In addition, a properly designed odious debt reform could function as an alternative punitive mechanism to trade sanctions with fewer harmful implications for the general population of the targeted state. Classical proponents of odious debt reform advocate for recognition of a legal rule under which successor governments could challenge the validity of debts incurred by prior regimes against the odious debt legal standard in a judicial-style forum. I make the case for an alternative “Due Diligence Model” of reform that provides far greater ex ante certainty for lenders, both as to which debts might be classified as odious debts and what steps the lender must take to protect its investments from subsequent invalidation. The Due Diligence Model also solves certain time-consistency problems inherent to the Classical Model.
SCALING LIMIT FOR A GENERALIZATION OF THE NELSON MODEL AND ITS APPLICATION TO NUCLEAR PHYSICS
Authors: SUZUKI AKITO
Published: March 2007

We study a mathematically rigorous derivation of a quantum mechanical Hamiltonian in a general framework. We derive such a Hamiltonian by taking a scaling limit for a generalization of the Nelson model, which is an abstract interaction model between particles and a Bose field with some internal degrees of freedom. Applying it to a model for the field of the nuclear force with isospins, we obtain a Schrödinger Hamiltonian with a matrix-valued potential, the one pion exchange potential, describing an effective interaction between nucleons.
ADDENDUM: "GENERALIZED EIGENVECTORS FOR RESONANCES IN THE FRIEDRICHS MODEL AND THEIR ASSOCIATED GAMOV VECTORS"
Authors: BAUMGÄRTEL HELLMUT
Published: March 2007

The addendum refers mainly to Sec. 5 of the paper (Friedrichs model on the positive half line). The "Schwartz space framework" is omitted because it is dispensable for the results. Improvements of the proofs are indicated. A supplement presents in the special case G0 := ℂ\(-∞,0] a surprising implication: the scattering matrix has only simple poles and its "main part" is a linear combination of all Gamov vectors.
GBT FORMULATION TO ANALYZE THE BUCKLING BEHAVIOR OF THIN-WALLED MEMBERS SUBJECTED TO NON-UNIFORM BENDING
Authors: BEBIANO RUI , SILVESTRE NUNO , CAMOTIM DINAR
Published: March 2007

In this paper, one investigates the local-plate, distortional and global buckling behavior of thin-walled steel beams subjected to non-uniform bending moment diagrams, i.e. under the presence of longitudinal stress gradients. One begins by deriving a novel formulation based on Generalized Beam Theory (GBT), which (i) can handle beams with arbitrary open cross-sections and (ii) incorporates all the effects stemming from the presence of longitudinally varying stress distributions. This formulation is numerically implemented by means of the finite element method: one (i) develops a GBT-based beam finite element, which accounts for the stiffness reduction associated to applied longitudinal stresses with linear, quadratic and cubic variation, as well as to the ensuing shear stresses, and (ii) addresses the derivation of the equilibrium equation system that needs to be solved in the context of a GBT buckling analysis. Then, in order to illustrate the application and capabilities of the proposed GBT-based formulation and finite element implementation, one presents and discusses numerical results concerning (i) rectangular plates under longitudinally varying stresses and pure shear, (ii) I-section cantilevers subjected to uniform major axis bending, tip point loads and uniformly distributed loads, and (iii) simply supported lipped channel beams subjected to uniform major axis bending, mid-span point loads and uniformly distributed loads — by taking full advantage of the GBT modal nature, one is able to acquire an in-depth understanding on the influence of the longitudinal stress gradients and shear stresses on the beam local and global buckling behavior. For validation purposes, the GBT results are compared with values either (i) yielded by shell finite element analyses, performed in the code ANSYS, or (ii) reported in the literature. Finally, the computational efficiency of the proposed GBT-based beam finite element is briefly assessed.
SIZE EFFECT OF WELDED THIN-WALLED TUBULAR JOINTS
Authors: MASHIRI FIDELIS RUTENDO , ZHAO XIAO-LING , HIRT MANFRED A. , NUSSBAUMER ALAIN
Published: March 2007

This paper clarifies the terminologies used to describe the size effect on fatigue behavior of welded joints. It summarizes the existing research on size effect in the perspective of newly defined terminologies. It identifies knowledge gaps in designing tubular joints using the hot spot stress method, i.e. thin-walled tubular joints with wall thickness less than 4 mm and thick-walled tubular joints with wall thickness larger than 50 mm, or diameter to thickness ratio less than 24. It is the thin-walled tubular joints that are addressed in this paper. It is found that thin-walled tube-plate T-joints do not follow the conventional trend: the thinner the section is, the higher the fatigue life. It is also found that simple extrapolation of existing fatigue design curves may result in unsafe design of thin-walled tube–tube T-joints. The effect of chord stiffness on fatigue behavior of thin-walled tubular T-joints is also discussed.
Multiple Behavioral Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer and Colorectal Cancer Screening Status
Authors: Coups Elliot J. , Manne Sharon L. , Meropol Neal J. , Weinberg David S.
Published: March 2007

Background: Individuals who are not adherent to colorectal cancer screening have a greater prevalence of several other behavioral risk factors for colorectal cancer than adherent individuals. However, previous relevant studies have typically not considered the co-occurrence of such behavioral risk factors at the individual level. In the current study, we examined the prevalence, patterns, and predictors of multiple behavioral risk factors for colorectal cancer according to colorectal cancer screening status (adherent versus not adherent).

Methods: The study sample consisted of 11,090 individuals ages 50 years and older who participated in the 2000 National Health Interview Survey. Based on responses to survey questions, individuals were categorized as being adherent or not adherent to colorectal cancer screening guidelines and were also denoted as having or not having each of seven behavioral risk factors for colorectal cancer (smoking, low physical activity, low fruit and vegetable intake, high caloric intake from fat, obesity, high alcohol intake, and low intake of multivitamins).

Results: Individuals who were not adherent to screening reported having a greater number of risk factors than adherent individuals. For each screening group, there was a high prevalence of having low physical activity, low fruit and vegetable intake, and low intake of multivitamins. Demographic and health-related correlates of behavioral risk factor prevalence were identified in both screening groups.

Conclusions: In combination with efforts to promote colorectal cancer screening uptake and adherence, there is a need to develop interventions to modify the colorectal cancer behavioral risk factors that are common among screening-adherent and nonadherent individuals. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(3):510–6)
Soy Product and Isoflavone Consumption in Relation to Prostate Cancer in Japanese Men
Authors: Kurahashi Norie , Iwasaki Motoki , Sasazuki Shizuka , Otani Tetsuya , Inoue Manami , Tsugane Shoichiro ,   Japan Public Health Center–Based Prospective Study Group
Published: March 2007

The incidence of prostate cancer is much lower in Asian than Western populations. Environmental factors, such as dietary habits, may play a major role in the causation of prostate cancer. Although isoflavones have been suggested to show a preventive effect against prostate cancer in animal experiments, the results of epidemiologic studies are inconsistent. Here, we conducted a population-based prospective study in 43,509 Japanese men ages 45 to 74 years who generally have a high intake of isoflavones and low incidence of prostate cancer. Participants responded to a validated questionnaire, which included 147 food items. During follow-up from 1995 through 2004, 307 men were newly diagnosed with prostate cancer, of which 74 cases were advanced, 220 cases were organ localized, and 13 cases were of an undetermined stage. Intakes of genistein, daidzein, miso soup, and soy food were not associated with total prostate cancer. However, these four items decreased the risk of localized prostate cancer. In contrast, positive associations were seen between isoflavones and advanced prostate cancer. These results were strengthened when analysis was confined to men ages >60 years, in whom isoflavones and soy food were associated with a dose-dependent decrease in the risk of localized cancer, with relative risks for men in the highest quartile of genistein, daidzein, and soy food consumption compared with the lowest of 0.52 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.30-0.90], 0.50 (95% CI, 0.28-0.88), and 0.52 (95% CI, 0.29-0.90), respectively. In conclusion, we found that isoflavone intake was associated with a decreased risk of localized prostate cancer. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(3):538–45)
Perceived Ambiguity about Screening Mammography Recommendations: Association with Future Mammography Uptake and Perceptions
Authors: Han Paul K.J. , Kobrin Sarah C. , Klein William M.P. , Davis William W. , Stefanek Michael , Taplin Steven H.
Published: March 2007

Conflicting expert recommendations regarding cancer screening and prevention are growing in number, visibility, and importance, but their impact are not well understood. In this study, we examined the impact of conflicting recommendations about mammography screening on women's mammography behavior and perceptions. We conducted a secondary analysis of longitudinal data from the 1995 Maximizing Mammography Participation Trial, a large randomized interventional trial examining the effectiveness of patient reminders in increasing mammography utilization among women ages 50 to 79. Using the decision theory concept of “ambiguity” as an analytic framework, we tested several predictions about the effects of conflicting recommendations regarding mammography recommendations on behavior, cognitions, and emotions related to mammography screening. We found high perceived ambiguity about mammography recommendations to be associated with both diminished uptake of mammography over time [odds ratio (OR), 0.42; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.23-0.76; P < 0.0001] and lower intentions for future mammography (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.20-0.55; P < 0.0001). High perceived ambiguity also predicted greater mammography-related worry over time (OR, 2.60; 95% CI, 1.79-3.78; P < 0.0001). These findings suggest that conflicting recommendations regarding cancer screening and prevention have important effects, and we discuss the implications of these findings for future research. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(3):458–66)
Epistatic Relationship between the Cancer Susceptibility Genes CHEK2 and p27
Authors: Cybulski Cezary , Gliniewicz Bartłomiej , Sikorski Andrzej , Kładny Józef , Huzarski Tomasz , Gronwald Jacek , Byrski Tomasz , Dȩbniak Tadeusz , Gorski Bohdan , Jakubowska Anna , Wokolorczyk Dominika , Narod Steven A. , Lubiñski Jan
Published: March 2007

We studied the effects of p27 and CHEK2 variants on prostate and colon cancer risk in a case-control study. Modest effects on prostate cancer risk were observed for both CHEK2 missense and truncating variants. However, the excess cancer risk was restricted to the subgroup of men who were homozygous for the VV genotype in codon 109 of the p27 gene. Among men with the VV p27 genotype, the odds ratios associated with truncating and missense CHEK2 mutations were 3.1 (P < 0.0001) and 1.9 (P < 0.0001), respectively. Among men with other p27 genotypes (GG and VG), the odds ratios were 1.5 and 1.2 for truncating and missense CHEK2 mutations, respectively, and were not statistically significant. The interaction between CHEK2 and p27 was confirmed in a group of patients with colon cancer. Thus, it seems that the clinical expression of CHEK2 variant alleles on prostate and colon cancer risk may be restricted to individuals with a specific genotype (VV) of the p27 gene. Two-gene models provide numerous challenges for gene identification and cancer risk assessment. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(3):572–6)
Differential Induction in Telomerase Activity among Bladder Cancer Patients and Controls on γ-Radiation
Authors: Xing Jinliang , Zhu Yong , Zhao Hua , Yang Hushan , Chen Meng , Spitz Margaret R. , Wu Xifeng
Published: March 2007

Expression of telomerase is one of the hallmarks of tumor cells and has been used as a diagnostic biomarker and a therapeutic target in cancer. Novel findings have shown that telomerase activation in normal human epithelial cells may affect expression of several cancer-related genes, such as growth-related genes and c-myc gene, suggesting a possible role of telomerase in tumor initiation. Therefore, we hypothesized that individuals who are sensitive to mutagen challenge in terms of induced telomerase activity might have increased cancer risk. We tested this hypothesis in a bladder cancer case-control study (51 cases and 51 matched controls) by measuring baseline and γ-radiation–induced telomerase activities in peripheral blood lymphocytes. We found a significantly higher γ-radiation–induced telomerase activity in bladder cancer cases compared with the controls (1.34 versus 1.23; P = 0.044). A similar finding was also observed using the normalized telomerase activity (ratio of γ-radiation induced versus baseline; 1.49 versus 1.19; P < 0.001). In further categorizing the telomerase activity using 75% of the normalized value in the controls as a cutoff point, we found a significantly increased risk for bladder cancer associated with higher induced telomerase activity (adjusted odds ratio, 3.62; 95% confidence interval, 1.38-9.51). In quartile analysis, a dose-response association was noted between the induced telomerase activity and increased bladder cancer risk (Ptrend = 0.005). Our findings provide the first evidence linking the mutagen-induced telomerase activity in peripheral blood lymphocytes to the risk of bladder cancer, which warrants further investigation in large-sized studies and other cancer types. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(3):606–9)
Haplotype-Based Analysis of Common Variation in theAcetyl-CoA Carboxylase αGene and Breast Cancer Risk: A Case-Control Study Nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition
Authors: Sinilnikova Olga M. , McKay James D. , Tavtigian Sean V. , Canzian Federico , DeSilva Deepika , Biessy Carine , Monnier Stéphanie , Dossus Laure , Boillot Catherine , Gioia Lydie , Hughes David J. , Jensen Majken K. , Overvad Kim , Tjonneland Anne , Olsen Anja , Clavel-Chapelon Françoise , Chajès Véronique , Joulin Virginie , Linseisen Jakob , Chang-Claude Jenny , Boeing Heiner , Dahm Stephan , Trichopoulou Antonia , Trichopoulos Dimitrios , Koliva Maria , Khaw Kay-Tee , Bingham Sheila , Allen Naomi E. , Key Timothy , Palli Domenico , Panico Salvatore , Berrino Franco , Tumino Rosario , Vineis Paolo , Bueno-de-Mesquita H. Bas , Peeters Petra H. , van Gils Carla H. , Lund Eiliv , Pera Guillem , Quirós José Ramón , Dorronsoro Miren , Martínez García Carmen , Tormo María-José , Ardanaz Eva , Hallmans Goran , Lenner Per , Berglund Göran , Manjer Jonas , Riboli Elio , Lenoir Gilbert M. , Kaaks Rudolf
Published: March 2007

A key fatty acid synthesis enzyme, acetyl-CoA carboxylase α (ACC-α), has been shown to be highly expressed in human breast cancer and other tumor types and also to specifically interact with the protein coded by one of two major breast cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1. We used a comprehensive haplotype analysis to examine the contribution of the ACC-α common genetic variation (allele frequency >5%) to breast cancer in a case-control study (1,588 cases/2,600 controls) nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. We identified 21 haplotype-tagging polymorphisms efficiently capturing common variation within 325 kb of ACC-α and surrounding sequences using genotype data from the HapMap project and our resequencing data. We found an effect on overall risk of breast cancer in homozygous carriers of one common haplotype [odds ratio (OR), 1.74; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.03-2.94]. When the data were subdivided by menopausal status, we found statistical evidence of heterogeneity for two other common haplotypes (P value for heterogeneity = 0.016 and 0.045). In premenopausal women, the carriers of these haplotypes, compared with noncarriers, had an altered risk of breast cancer (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.53-0.92 and OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.04-1.76). These findings were not significant after adjustment for multiple testing and therefore should be considered as preliminary and evaluated in larger independent studies. However, they suggest a possible role of the ACC-α common sequence variants in susceptibility to breast cancer and encourage studies of other genes involved in fatty acid synthesis. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(3):409–15)
Premenopausal Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Serum Levels and Changes in Breast Density over Menopause
Authors: Verheus Martijn , Peeters Petra H.M. , Kaaks Rudolf , van Noord Paulus A.H. , Grobbee Diederick E. , van Gils Carla H.
Published: March 2007

Background: A high proportion of glandular and stromal tissue in the breast (percentage breast density) is a strong risk factor for breast cancer development. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is hypothesized to influence breast cancer risk by increasing breast density.

Objectives: We studied the relation between premenopausal circulating IGF-I levels and premenopausal and postmenopausal, absolute nondense and dense area, and percentage breast density as well as changes in these measures over menopause.

Design and Methods: Mammograms and blood samples of 684 premenopausal participants of the Prospect-European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort were collected at baseline. A second mammogram of these women was collected after they became postmenopausal. Premenopausal IGF-I levels were measured in serum. Premenopausal and postmenopausal breast measures were assessed using a computer-assisted method. Mean values of breast measures were calculated for quartiles of serum IGF-I using linear regression analysis.

Results: Women with higher premenopausal IGF-I levels showed a slightly smaller decrease in dense area over menopause (−12.2 cm2 in the highest versus −12.9 cm2 in the lowest quartile; P trend = 0.58) and, at the same time, a smaller increase in the nondense (fat) area (P trend = 0.09). Due to the changes over menopause, high premenopausal IGF-I serum levels were associated with lower nondense area (P trend = 0.05), somewhat higher dense area (P trend = 0.66), and consequently higher percentage breast density (P trend = 0.02) after menopause.

Conclusion and Discussion: Women with higher premenopausal IGF-I levels have a smaller increase in nondense area and also a slightly smaller decrease in absolute dense area during menopause, resulting in higher breast density after menopause. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(3):451–7)
Prospective, Longitudinal Study of Leisure-Time Exercise in Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Authors: Andrykowski Michael A. , Beacham Abbie O. , Jacobsen Paul B.
Published: March 2007

Physical activity can have a beneficial effect on both physical and mental health in cancer survivors. However, evidence from cross-sectional and/or retrospective research suggests that cancer treatment can be associated with both short- and long-term reductions in physical activity. A prospective, longitudinal research design was used to examine the trajectory of leisure-time exercise in early-stage breast cancer patients from two treatment centers (n = 231). Participation in mild, moderate, and strenuous leisure-time exercise was assessed before, during, and following completion of adjuvant radiotherapy (n = 136) or chemotherapy + radiation (n = 95). Results indicated significant decreases, relative to pre-diagnosis baseline, in total estimated weekly metabolic equivalents and minutes of leisure-time exercise during adjuvant therapy for both the radiotherapy and chemotherapy + radiation groups. However, activity levels seemed to quickly recover and did not differ from pre-diagnosis baseline at assessments 2 and 6 months following completion of adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy + radiation. Although suggesting little effect of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment on participation in leisure-time exercise at 6-month follow-up, these group analyses obscure the fact that a large number of individuals (35.5%) exhibited clinically significant change, both decreases or increases, in total weekly metabolic equivalents between pre-diagnosis baseline and 6-month follow-up. Fostering appropriate participation in physical activity in cancer patients and survivors is likely to be enhanced by better understanding of the beliefs and motivations that underlie spontaneous changes in participation in leisure-time exercise. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(3):430–8)
Predictors of Participation in a Smoking Cessation Program among Young Adult Smokers
Authors: Audrain-McGovern Janet , Hughes Halbert Chanita , Rodriguez Daniel , Epstein Leonard H. , Tercyak Kenneth P.
Published: March 2007

This study investigated the predictors of participation in a smoking cessation trial for young adults ages 18 to 30 years old. Eligible smokers (n = 164) completed a telephone survey that measured demographic, smoking history, and psychosocial variables before the initiation of smoking cessation treatment. Young adult smokers who attended at least one smoking cessation session were compared with those who did not attend any sessions. Logistic regression analysis indicated that race and age were statistically significant multivariate predictors of participation. Caucasians were over six times (odds ratio, 6.03; 95% confidence interval, 2.41-15.05) more likely to participate in the smoking cessation program compared with non-Caucasians (61% versus 19%). For every SD increase in age (SD, 2.45), there was about a 2-fold increase in the likelihood that a young adult smoker participated in the smoking cessation program (odds ratio, 1.82; 95% confidence interval, 1.23-2.71). Future research should investigate how to promote participation in smoking cessation programs among smokers in emerging adulthood and among non-Caucasian young adult smokers to prevent a lifelong habit associated with disproportionate morbidity and mortality. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(3):617–9)
Differences in Risk Factors for Breast Cancer Molecular Subtypes in a Population-Based Study
Authors: Yang Xiaohong R. , Sherman Mark E. , Rimm David L. , Lissowska Jolanta , Brinton Louise A. , Peplonska Beata , Hewitt Stephen M. , Anderson William F. , Szeszenia-Dąbrowska Neonila , Bardin-Mikolajczak Alicja , Zatonski Witold , Cartun Richard , Mandich Daniza , Rymkiewicz Grzegorz , Ligaj Marcin , Lukaszek Stanislaw , Kordek Radzisaw , García-Closas Montserrat
Published: March 2007

Analysis of gene expression data suggests that breast cancers are divisible into molecular subtypes which have distinct clinical features. This study evaluates whether pathologic features and etiologic associations differ among molecular subtypes. We evaluated 804 women with invasive breast cancers and 2,502 controls participating in a Polish Breast Cancer Study. Immunohistochemical stains for estrogen receptor α, progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptors (HER2 and HER1), and cytokeratin 5 were used to classify cases into five molecular subtypes: luminal A, luminal B, HER2-expresing, basal-like, and unclassified. Relative risks were estimated using adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. We observed that compared with the predominant luminal A tumors (69%), other subtypes were associated with unfavorable clinical features at diagnosis, especially HER2-expressing (8%) and basal-like (12%) tumors. Increasing body mass index significantly reduced the risk of luminal A tumors among premenopausal women (odds ratios, 0.71; 95% confidence intervals, 0.57-0.88 per five-unit increase), whereas it did not reduce risk for basal-like tumors (1.18; 0.86-1.64; Pheterogeneity = 0.003). On the other hand, reduced risk associated with increasing age at menarche was stronger for basal-like (0.78; 0.68-0.89 per 2-year increase) than luminal A tumors (0.90; 0.95-1.08; Pheterogeneity = 0.0009). Although family history increased risk for all subtypes (except for unclassified tumors), the magnitude of the relative risk was highest for basal-like tumors. Results from this study have shown that breast cancer risk factors may vary by molecular subtypes identified in expression studies, suggesting etiologic, in addition to clinical, heterogeneity of breast cancer. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(3):439–43)
Trinucleotide Repeat Polymorphisms in the Androgen Receptor Gene and Risk of Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Schildkraut Joellen M. , Murphy Susan K. , Palmieri Rachel T. , Iversen Edwin , Moorman Patricia G. , Huang Zhiqing , Halabi Susan , Calingaert Brian , Gusberg Alison , Marks Jeffrey R. , Berchuck Andrew
Published: March 2007

Introduction: Androgens may play a role in the development of ovarian cancers. Two trinucleotide repeat polymorphisms have been described in exon 1 of the androgen receptor (AR) gene that may affect its function. Previous studies of ovarian cancer and AR repeat polymorphisms have been inconsistent.

Methods: We analyzed CAG and GGC repeat length polymorphisms in the AR gene using data from a population-based case-control study of ovarian cancer that included 594 cases and 681 controls. Repeat lengths were determined by fluorescent DNA fragment analysis using ABI GeneScan software. Change point models were used to determine appropriate repeat length cutoff points by race (African American versus Caucasian) for both the shorter and longer CAG and GGC repeats.

Results: No relationship was observed between CAG repeat length and ovarian cancer among Caucasians. Among African Americans, having a short repeat length on either allele was associated with a 2-fold increase in ovarian cancer risk (age-adjusted odds ratio, 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-4.1). Having short CAG repeat lengths for both alleles was associated with a 5-fold increased risk for developing ovarian cancer (age-adjusted odds ratio, 5.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-1.7). No relationship with the GGC repeat length polymorphisms was observed.

Conclusion: These results suggest that having a short CAG repeat length in AR increases ovarian cancer risk in African Americans. The failure to observe this relationship in Caucasians may be due to the rarity of such short CAG alleles in this population or could reflect racial differences in disease etiology. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(3):473–80)
Race, Socioeconomic Status, Treatment, and Survival Time among Pancreatic Cancer Cases in California
Authors: Zell Jason A. , Rhee Jessica M. , Ziogas Argyrios , Lipkin Steven M. , Anton-Culver Hoda
Published: March 2007

Background: Poor survival in pancreatic adenocarcinoma is associated with African-American race and also with low socioeconomic status (SES). However, it is not known whether the observed poor survival of African-American pancreatic adenocarcinoma cases is due to SES itself and/or treatment disparities. We set out to determine this using the large, population-based California Cancer Registry (CCR) database as a model.

Methods: We conducted a case-only analysis of CCR data (1989-2003), including descriptive analysis of relevant clinical variables and SES. The SES variable used has been derived from principle component analysis of census block level CCR data linked to census data to address seven major indicators of SES. Overall survival univariate analyses were conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate survival analyses were done using Cox proportional hazards ratios (HR).

Results: Incident cases of pancreatic cancer (24,735) were analyzed. Among adenocarcinomas, after adjustment for age, year of diagnosis, and gender, African-Americans [HR, 1.14; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.08-1.21] and Hispanics (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.11) had an increased risk of death compared with Caucasians. These differences persisted after adjustment for stage. However, after further adjustment for SES, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, the risk of death for African-Americans (HR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.94-1.06) and Hispanics (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.93-1.02) was not statistically different from Caucasians.

Conclusions: Differences in treatment and SES likely account for the observed poor survival of African-Americans and Hispanics among pancreatic adenocarcinoma cases. These data highlight the importance of improving access to care for ethnic minority pancreatic cancer patients. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(3):546–52)