bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New covalent modifications of phosphatidylethanolamine by alkanals: mass spectrometry based structural characterization and biological effects
Authors: Annibal Andrea , Schubert Kristin , Wagner Ulf , Hoffmann Ralf , Schiller Jürgen , Fedorova Maria 
Published: July 2014

The pathophysiology of numerous human disorders, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, obesity and Alzheimer's disease, is accompanied by increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS can oxidatively damage nearly all biomolecules, including lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. In particular, (poly)unsaturated fatty acids within the phospholipid (PL) structure are easily oxidized by ROS to lipid peroxidation products (LPP) carrying reactive carbonyl groups. Carbonylated LPP are characterized by high in vivo toxicity due to their reactivity with nucleophilic substrates (Lys‐, Cys‐and His‐residues in proteins or amino groups of phosphatidylethanolamines [PE]). Adducts of unsaturated LPP with PE amino groups have been reported before, whereas less is known about the reactivity of saturated alkanals – which are significantly increased in vivo under oxidative stress conditions – towards nucleophilic groups of PLs.Here, we present a study of new alkanal‐dipalmitoyl‐phosphatidylethanolamine (DPPE) adducts by MS‐based approaches, using consecutive fragmentation (MSn) and multiple reaction monitoring techniques. At least eight different DPPE–hexanal adducts were identified, including Schiff base and amide adducts, six of which have not been reported before. The structures of these new compounds were determined by their fragmentation patterns using MSn experiments. The new PE‐hexanal adducts contained dimeric and trimeric hexanal conjugates, including cyclic adducts. A new pyridine ring containing adduct of DPPE and hexanal was purified by HPLC, and its biological effects were investigated. Incubation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and monocytes with modified DPPE did not result in increased production of TNF‐α as one selected inflammation marker. However, incorporation of modified DPPE into 1,2‐dipalmitoleoyl‐sn‐phosphatidylethanolamine multilamellar vesicles resulted in a negative shift of the transition temperature, indicating a possible role of alkanal‐derived modifications in changes of membrane structure. © 2014 The Authors. Journal of Mass Spectrometry published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The utility of common surgical instruments for pediatric adenotonsillectomy
Authors: Thottam Prasad John , Christenson Jennifer R. , Cohen David S. , Metz Christopher M. , Saraiya Sonal S. , Haupert Michael S. 
Published: July 2014

Objectives/HypothesisTo evaluate the correlation between surgical instrumentation and intraoperative surgical time, postoperative hemorrhage, and associated healthcare cost for pediatric adenotonsillectomy.Study DesignRetrospective chart analysis.MethodsChart data were collected from pediatric patients who underwent adenotonsillectomy from 2011 to 2013. Monopolar electrocautery, radiofrequency ablation, and PlasmaBlade instruments were compared for intraoperative surgical time and postoperative hemorrhage rate. Univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) and χ analysis was utilized to evaluate differences between instrumentation and variables. Cost analysis examining instrumentation and intraoperative anesthesia was also reviewed.ResultsA total of 1,280 patients who underwent adenotonsillectomy were evaluated. There was no significant overall difference in age, sex, or preoperative diagnosis identified between the three instrumentation groups. When examining the various instruments' effect on procedure time in minutes, univariate ANOVA demonstrated a significant difference overall among the three groups (F = 8.79; P < .001). Post‐hoc pairwise comparisons identified significantly faster surgical times for monopolar cautery than either PlasmaBlade (P = .03) or radiofrequency ablation (P < .001). The difference in the number of patients who experienced a postoperative bleed by instrument was not statistically significant (χ2 = 2.36; P = .31). After instrumentation expenses were added to anesthesia cost, the overall average costs by instrument and surgical time were estimated to be $30.04 for monopolar cautery, $246.95 for PlasmaBlade, and $244.32 for radiofrequency ablation.ConclusionsThe ideal surgical instrumentation should be cost and time efficient with a low complication rate. Monopolar cautery was associated with a statistically significant lower intraoperative surgical time, similar postoperative hemorrhage rates, and lower operative costs when compared to radiofrequency ablation and PlasmaBlade.Level of Evidence4 Laryngoscope, 125:475–479, 2015
Thin‐slice T2 MRI imaging predicts vascular pathology in hemifacial spasm: A case‐control study
Authors: Sekula Raymond F. , Frederickson Andrew M. , Branstetter Barton F. , Oskin James E. , Stevens Dale R. , Zwagerman Nathan T. , Grandhi Ramesh , Hughes Marion A. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractHemifacial spasm (HFS) is a condition that may severely reduce patients' quality of life. We sought to determine the sensitivity and specificity of thin‐slice T2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting vascular compression in HFS patients. Prospective information was collected on 28 patients with HFS who presented to our center between March 2011 and March 2012 with thin‐slice T2 MR imaging. The sensitivity and specificity for differentiating patients from controls were calculated. Sensitivities were 78.6% and 92.9% for the blinded radiologists and 75% for the partially blinded neurosurgeon. Specificities were 42.9% and 28.6% for the blinded radiologists and 75% for the partially blinded neurosurgeon. Magnetic resonance imaging of the facial nerve can guide clinicians in selecting patients who are good surgical candidates. Thin‐slice T2 MRI should be viewed as supportive rather than diagnostic. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
“We Don't Know Her History, Her Background”: Adoptive Parents’ Perspectives on Whole Genome Sequencing Results
Authors: Crouch Julia , Yu Joon‐Ho , Shankar Aditi G. , Tabor Holly K. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractExome sequencing and whole genome sequencing (ES/WGS) can provide parents with a wide range of genetic information about their children, and adoptive parents may have unique issues to consider regarding possible access to this information. The few papers published on adoption and genetics have focused on targeted genetic testing of children in the pre‐adoption context. There are no data on adoptive parents’ perspectives about pediatric ES/WGS, including their preferences about different kinds of results, and the potential benefits and risks of receiving results. To explore these issues, we conducted four exploratory focus groups with adoptive parents (N = 26). The majority lacked information about their children's biological family health history and ancestry, and many viewed WGS results as a way to fill in these gaps in knowledge. Some expressed concerns about protecting their children's future privacy and autonomy, but at the same time stated that WGS results could possibly help them be proactive about their children's health. A few parents expressed concerns about the risks of WGS in a pre‐adoption context, specifically about decreasing a child's chance of adoption. These results suggest that issues surrounding genetic information in the post‐adoption and ES/WGS contexts need to be considered, as well as concerns about risks in the pre‐adoption context. A critical challenge for ES/WGS in the context of adoption will be balancing the right to know different kinds of genetic information with the right not to know. Specific guidance for geneticists and genetic counselors may be needed to maximize benefits of WGS while minimizing harms and prohibiting misuse of the information in the adoption process.
A Survey of Genetic Counselors About the Needs of 18–25 Year Olds from Families with Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome
Authors: Werner‐Lin Allison , Ratner Rachel , Hoskins Lindsey M. , Lieber Caroline 
Published: July 2014

AbstractAs a result of modern treatments, the life of women who test positive for BRCA mutations may be plotted along the arc of preventive medicine rather than the slope of diagnostics. Despite evidence supporting the benefits of risk reduction, protocols for early detection and prevention among women from families affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) are not yet proven, and clinical trials have not been undertaken for patients aged 18 to 25. The absence of psychosocial data may leave genetic counselors without uniform guidance on how to manage the care of these patients. This project sought to investigate perspectives on counseling 18–25 year‐old patients from families with hereditary cancer syndromes, with specific emphasis on HBOC, given their unique developmental, familial, and medical challenges. Certified genetic counselors were recruited through the NSGC's Cancer Genetics Special Interest Group listserv. Researchers constructed an online survey which included 41 items and elicited information about: counselor demographics, training, and practice settings; approaches to cancer risk assessment; and common challenges in work with 18‐ to 25‐year‐old patients. The survey was also informed by previous work by researchers with 18 to 25‐year‐olds with BRCA gene mutations. Eighty‐six surveys were completed. Researchers used a combination of grounded theory and content analysis for open‐ended responses, supported and triangulated with statistical analysis to maximize the interpretation of data. Genetic counselors who responded to this survey experience 18–25 year old patients presenting for cancer risk assessment differently than older patients, and some reported adapting their counseling style to address these differences. Respondents differed in the extent to which they felt well‐versed in the developmental needs of patients in this age group. Respondents aged 39 and under reported feeling familiar with this stage in life, having more recently completed it; respondents aged 40 and over reported they were less familiar with, and more interested in learning about, this age group. A primary challenge in cancer risk assessment of these patients, reported primarily by counselors aged 39 and under, is navigating family dynamics in counseling sessions and addressing the developmentally labile young adult. With respect to BRCA‐related cancer risk, where penetrance is incomplete, onset in early adulthood is rare. Evidence‐based treatment/prevention options exist, but providers may not have clarity regarding how or when to provide directive counsel. A rich understanding of the themes inherent in how people grow and change over time might enhance the counselor's capacity to assess patients and their family members. The integration of a developmental approach to genetic counseling has the potential to reduce the imperative for non‐directive counseling.
Tocotrienol Rich Fraction Reverses Age‐Related Deficits in Spatial Learning and Memory in Aged Rats
Authors: Taridi Nursiati Mohamad , Abd Rani Nazirah , Abd Latiff Azian , Wan Ngah Wan Zurinah , Mazlan Musalmah 
Published: July 2014

AbstractLittle is known about the effect of vitamin E on brain function. Therefore, in this study we evaluated the effect of tocotrienol rich fraction (TRF) on behavioral impairment and oxidative stress in aged rats. Thirty‐six male Wistar rats (young: 3‐months‐old; aged: 21‐months‐old) were treated with either the control (olive oil) or TRF (200 mg/kg) for 3 months. Behavioral studies were performed using the open field test and Morris water maze (MWM) task. Blood was taken for assessment of DNA damage, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and vitamin E, and erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activity. Brains were also collected to measure vitamin E levels. Results showed that aged rats exhibited reduced exploratory activity, enhanced anxiety and decreased spatial learning and memory compared with young rats. DNA damage and plasma MDA were increased, and vitamin E levels in plasma and brain were reduced in aged rats. Aged rats supplemented with TRF showed a markedly reduced level of anxiety, improved spatial learning and memory, reduced amount and severity of DNA damage, a reduced level of MDA, and increased levels of antioxidant enzyme activity and plasma/brain vitamin E compared with age‐matched controls. In conclusion, TRF supplementation reverses spatial learning and memory decline and decreases oxidative stress in aged rats.
A new chemoimmunotherapy regimen (OXAFI) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Ang Mei-Kim , Poon Donald , Foo Kian-Fong , Yaw-Fui Chung , Chow Pierce , Wan Wei-Keat , Thng Choon-Hua , Ooi London 
Published: July 2014

BACKGROUND:
Chemotherapeutic treatment options for advanced unresectable and/or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are limited. Currently available treatments are associated with low response rates and little evidence of improved survival, so we evaluated a new chemoimmunotherapy regimen.

METHODS:
seven patients with unresectable and/or metastatic HCC were treated with intravenous oxaliplatin (30mg/m2) and doxorubicin (20mg/m2) given on days 1, 8 and 15 in a 28-day cycle, a daily continuous infusion of fluorouracil (200mg/m2) and subcutaneous interferon alfa-2b 5 MU administered thrice weekly (OXAFI). Treatment was administered to a maximum of six cycles. Data on the response to treatment, toxicity, surgical procedures and survival outcome was reviewed.

RESULTS:
The best response was three partial responses, three stable disease responses and one progressive disease response. TWO patients underwent interval hepatic resection, and histological analysis in one patient showed a complete pathological response. Another patient underwent a liver transplant after four cycles of treatment. These three patients were alive with no evidence of disease at 23, 21 and 18 months follow-up, respectively. At a median follow-up of 14 months (range 2-23 months), one patient died 2 months after diagnosis due to progressive disease, while all six other patients were alive. Neutropenia was the predominant toxicity, but there were no episodes of febrile neutropenia, hospital admissions or deaths. There were no cases of hepatitis B virus re-activation.

CONCLUSIONS:
OXAFI shows activity in HCC and has manageable toxicity. complete pathological remission is possible with this regimen.
Additional chromosomal abnormalities in Philadelphia-positive chronic myeloid leukemia
Authors: Syed Naveen Naz , Usman Mohammad , Adil Salman , Khurshid Mohammad 
Published: July 2014

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:
The emergence of non-random chromosomal abnormalities is a well-rec-ognized occurrence in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and detection of these abnormalities is important in prognostic stratification. The frequency and types of additional chromosomal abnormalities in CML patients has not been determined in our region.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:
We conducted a descriptive, prospective study of additional chromosomal ab-normalities in patients with an established diagnosis of philadelphia-positive CML from May 2001 to June 2007. cytogenetic studies were repeated every three months with the conventional G-banding technique and described according to the international system for Human cytogenetic Nomenclature. All patients received imatinib mesylate.

RESULTS:
In 219 patients with philadelphia-positive CML, 34 (15.5%) (median age, 38 years) developed 51 ad-ditional chromosomal abnormalities. Five cases had variant translocations prior to starting imatinib; the remaining 29 cases acquired chromosomal abnormalities after starting imatinib, including 8 cases that received prior interferon-alfa. Twenty-one patients were in chronic phase, 10 in accelerated phase and 3 were in blast crisis. Trisomy 8 was the most frequent abnormality followed by random chromosomal abnormalities and variants of the philadelphia chromosome.

CONCLUSIONS:
The overall frequency of additional chromosomal abnormalities was similar to that in previous reports. Early identification of these abnormalities may help in adapting to a more appropriate therapeutic approach.
Validation of a modified cryopreservation method for leukemic blasts for flow cytometry assessment
Authors: Alsayed Huda , Owaidah Tarek , Rawas Faisal Al 
Published: July 2014

BACKGROUND:
Cryopreservation, a common method for storing human cells, has advantages when cells are used in retrospective studies of selected cell populations. Frozen lymphocytes can be used for tissue typing, for monitoring cell-mediated immunity, and for various immunological tests. Our report describes an efficient, simple and inexpensive method for cryopreservation of human acute leukemia cells.

METHODS:
Leukemia cells from 20 newly diagnosed cases were frozen at -80°C after cryopreservation with 5% dimethysulfoxide and then assayed by flow cytometry for antigen expression determined by monoclonal antibodies at different time intervals.

RESULTS:
All cases had viability above 75% at presentation. After 4 weeks, 91% of pre-B ALL, 88% of T-ALL, 100% of AML, and 100% of biphenotypic aliquots had viability over 75%. Viability continued to be reliably above 75% at 6 weeks from cryopreservation.

CONCLUSION:
We confirm that the method does not significantly alter the viability of cells and it preserved the antigenic expression of leukemia cells.
Assessing the quality of randomized controlled trials from two leading cancer journals using the CONSORT statement
Authors: Süt Necdet , Şenocak Mustafa , Uysal Ömer , Köksalan Hilal 
Published: July 2014

BACKGROUND:
No study has been conducted on the scientific quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the cancer field. Our objective was to determine whether adherence to the Consolidated Standards for Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement is associated with scientific properties of RCT reports from two leading cancer journals.

METHODS:
We conducted an observational study of RCTS published between 2002 and 2004 in two leading cancer journals that did not endorse the CONSORT statement during that period. We determined the adherence rates with confidence intervals of 33 RCTs according to the 19 methodological items of the CONSORT statement. Each RCT was blindly assessed by three independent evaluators; then the evaluators examined all judgments sequentially and obtained a consensus regarding each methodological item of the CONSORT statement.

RESULTS:
The average adherence of these 33 RCTs to the 19 methodological items of the coNSoRT statement was 79.3% (95% cl, 75.3-83.4%). Most descriptors from the checklist were determined to be methodologically adequate except sequence generation (56.1 %; 95% Cl, 40.9-71.3%), allocation concealment (27.3%; 95% Cl, 13.2-41.4%), implementation (7.6%; 95% Cl, 0.0-15.4%), blinding (30.3%; 95% Cl, 14.4-46.3%) and sample size (74.2%; 95% Cl, 59.5-89.0%). Of all CONSORT checklist items, randomization implementation was the most often omitted.

CONCLUSION:
Some key methodological items of the CONSORT statement seem poorly addressed in RCTs from these leading cancer journals. Thus researchers should be urged to conform to the CONSORT statement when reporting on RCTs, and the poorly addressed items of the CONSORT statement should be reevaluated for RCTs already reported.
Validation of tissue microarray biomarker expression of breast carcinomas in Saudi women
Authors: Alkushi Abdulmohsen 
Published: July 2014

BACKGROUND:
Analysis of immunohistochemical expression of a large number of tumor tissue samples with conventional techniques is costly, tedious and slow. Tissue microarray (TMA) technology can facilitate the sampling of over 500 tumors on a one-glass slide, which then can be analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), RNA in situ hybridization, or immunohistochemistry. We attempted to validate this technique in breast cancer specimens by comparing the staining result obtained by TMA with the conventional whole-section method.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Eighty cases of breast cancer of diverse subtypes were used to build a breast cancer biomarker evaluation model. serial sections of the recipient block were immunostained with a panel of 4 antibodies (ER, SR, HER2 and p53). concordance of immunohistochemical expression between TMA sections and whole-sections was expressed as a K statistic.

RESULTS:
Target tumors were accurately sampled by two cores in 19 of 26 donor blocks, and by only one core in 5 blocks. Failure to sample tumor was seen in 2 blocks. concordance between the staining results of TMA and whole sections was good for PR (K=0.67) and ER (K=0.67) and very good for p53 (K=0.91) and HER2 (K=0.91), when all the 26 recipient blocks were included. The rate improved to excellent for p53 (K=1.0) and did not change for the other markers when concordance analysis was limited to recipient blocks that had been sampled by two cores.

CONCLUSION:
TMA is a reliable technique for examining a large set of tumors. it shows immunostaining scores comparable to those obtained by conventional whole-section evaluation in breast cancer. However, some alterations are not detected due to heterogeneity of biomarker expression inherent in these tumors, but this shortfall can be improved.
Gibbon ape leukemia virus transduction of peripheral blood CD34 + -derived dendritic cells
Authors: Moezzi Leili , Alimoghaddam Kamran , Ardjmand Alireza , Shahrokhi Somayeh , Ghaffari Seyed Hamidolah , Bagheri Nadia , Chardouli Bahram , Ghavamzadeh Ardeshir 
Published: July 2014

BACKGROUND:
Dendritic cells (DCs) play a critical role in the immune response and are a candidate for immmunotherapy in cancer. Since gibbon ape leukemia virus (GAL V) transduction of CD 34+ cells is reasonably efficacious, we asessed the efficacy of GAL V transduction of CD 34+ derived DCs as a possible approach to creating genetically modified DCs for immunotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Peripheral blood CD 34+ cells were transduced with retroviruses obtained from the PG13/LN C8 cell line, with the neomycin gene as a marker gene. After prestimulation of hematopoietic cells for 24 hours with 10 ng/mL interleukin (IL)-3, 10 ng/mL IL -6, 100 ng/mL stem cell factor, 100 ng/mL granulocytemacrophage colony stimulating factor and 8 μg/mL protamine sulfate, the cells were cultured in a transforming media prior to differentiating into DCs by GM-CSF, TNF-α and IL-4. Immunophenotyping analyses for confirmattion of the generated DCs, colony formation assay and PCR were done for the expression of neomycin gene in the transduced cells.

RESULTS:
Titration of viral vectors indicated a transduction efficiency of 1×105 CFU /mL. Transduction efficiency for the CD 34+ cells transformed to DCs was 45% and 38% before and after DC differentiation, respectively. Additionally, a mean (SEM) of 26.9% (11.4%) and 41.4 (11.8%) of the genetically modified DCs were positive for CD 86+ HLA -DR and CD 1α+CD 14, respectively

Conclusion:
This study showed that the majority of transduced CD 34+ cells were successfully differentiaated into cells identical to DC s according to morphology and immunophenotyping features, which could be a potential application in immunotherapy.