bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction with metabolic syndrome, prediabetes and diabetes in adults from Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Thompson Angela M , Zhang Yonghong , Tong Weijun , Xu Tan , Chen Jing , Zhao Li , Kelly Tanika N , Chen Chung-Shiuan , Bazzano Lydia A , He Jiang 
Published: October 2011

Abstract

Background
We examined the association of biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction with diabetes and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in persons from Inner Mongolia.

Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2,536 people aged 20 years and older from Inner Mongolia, China. Overnight fasting blood samples were obtained to measure plasma concentrations of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), soluble inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), sE-selectin, angiotensin II, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood glucose. Waist circumference and blood pressure were measured by trained staff. MetS was defined according to the modified ATP III definition for Asians. Elevated level of the biomarker was defined as values in the upper tertile of the distribution. Participants were categorized into one of four groups based on the presence or absence of metabolic and glycemic abnormalities: 1) free of prediabetes, diabetes and MetS (reference group), 2) prediabetes or diabetes only, 3) MetS without prediabetes or diabetes, and 4) MetS plus prediabetes or diabetes. The multivariable models are adjusted for age, gender, smoking, drinking, family history of hypertension, and body mass index.

Results
Among study participants, 18.5% had prediabetes, 3.6% had diabetes, and 27.4% of the entire study population had 3 or more components of the MetS. Elevated hsCRP was associated with an increased odds of prediabetes or diabetes only, MetS without prediabetes or diabetes, and MetS plus prediabetes or diabetes with multivariable adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 2.3 (1.7-3.1), 3.0 (2.4-3.8), and 5.8 (4.5-7.5), respectively. Elevated sICAM-1 was associated with increased odds (95% CI) of prediabetes or diabetes only (2.1, 1.6-2.9) and MetS plus prediabetes or diabetes (4.2, 3.2-5.3) but was not associated with MetS alone. Elevated sE-selectin was associated with a modestly increased risk of MetS (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.4-2.2). Elevated levels of Angiotensin II were not associated with the MetS plus prediabetes or diabetes in this study.

Conclusions
Diabetes and the MetS are common in the Inner Mongolia population. The biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction are associated with increased risk for diabetes and MetS in this population. These results are consistent with results from other populations.
Perifosine Plus Bortezomib and Dexamethasone in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma Previously Treated With Bortezomib: Results of a Multicenter Phase I/II Trial
Authors: Richardson Paul G. , Wolf Jeff , Jakubowiak Andrzej , Zonder Jeff , Lonial Sagar , Irwin David , Densmore John , Krishnan Amrita , Raje Noopur , Bar Michael , Martin Tom , Schlossman Robert , Ghobrial Irene M. , Munshi Nikhil , Laubach Jacob , Allerton Jeff , Hideshima Teru , Colson Kathleen , Poradosu Enrique , Gardner Lesa , Sportelli Peter , Anderson Kenneth C. 
Published: October 2011

PurposeNovel agents have improved patient outcome in relapsed or relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM). Preclinical data show that the novel signal transduction modulator, perifosine, enhances the cytotoxicity of dexamethasone and bortezomib. Clinical data suggest that perifosine in combination with dexamethasone has activity in relapsed or relapsed/refractory MM.Patients and MethodsIn a phase I/II study, perifosine in combination with bortezomib with or without dexamethasone was prospectively evaluated in 84 patients with relapsed or relapsed/refractory MM. All were heavily pretreated and bortezomib exposed; 73% were refractory to bortezomib, and 51% were refractory to bortezomib and dexamethasone. The dose selected for the phase II study was perifosine 50 mg/d plus bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2, with the addition of low-dose dexamethasone at 20 mg if progression occurred on perifosine plus bortezomib alone.ResultsAn overall response rate (ORR; defined as minimal response or better) of 41% was demonstrated with this combination in 73 evaluable patients, including an ORR of 65% in bortezomib-relapsed patients and 32% in bortezomib-refractory patients. Therapy was generally well tolerated; toxicities, including gastrointestinal adverse effects and fatigue, proved manageable. No treatment-related mortality was seen. Median progression-free survival was 6.4 months, with a median overall survival of 25 months (22.5 months in bortezomib-refractory patients).ConclusionPerifosine–bortezomib ± dexamethasone demonstrated encouraging activity in heavily pretreated bortezomib-exposed patients with advanced MM. A phase III trial is underway comparing perifosine–bortezomib plus dexamethasone with bortezomib–dexamethasone in patients with relapsed/refractory MM previously treated with bortezomib.
Influence of Comorbidities and Age on Risk of Death Without Recurrence: A Retrospective Analysis of the Arimidex, Tamoxifen Alone or in Combination Trial
Authors: Ring Alistair , Sestak Ivana , Baum Michael , Howell Anthony , Buzdar Aman , Dowsett Mitch , Forbes John F. , Cuzick Jack 
Published: October 2011

Purpose The Arimidex, Tamoxifen Alone or in Combination (ATAC) study was a double-blind randomized trial in which postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer were assigned to receive anastrozole, tamoxifen, or the combination. We have conducted a retrospective analysis to examine the effects of comorbidities and age on treatment received, breast cancer–related mortality, and competing causes of mortality. Patients and Methods The current analyses were based on 10-year median follow-up data in the two monotherapy arms (anastrozole, n = 3,092; tamoxifen, n = 3,094) of the ATAC study. Baseline comorbidities and tumor and treatment characteristics were compared between women age less than 70 years and women age ≥ 70 years. The cumulative incidence of breast cancer–related and non–breast cancer–related mortality was assessed according to age and comorbidities. Results One thousand six hundred sixty-two patients (27%) were age ≥ 70 years at study entry. Older women were more likely to undergo mastectomy (odds ratio [OR], 1.92; 95% CI, 1.71 to 2.16) and less likely to receive radiotherapy (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.55) or chemotherapy (OR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.18 to 0.29). Women age ≥ 70 years had an increased risk of recurrence compared with women age less than 70 years (hazard ratio [HR], 1.21; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.37) and a substantially increased risk of death without recurrence (HR, 4.13; 95% CI, 3.53 to 4.83). The risk of death without recurrence increased with comorbidity score (10-year estimates of 8.4%, 20.0%, and 30.4% for Satariano score 0, 1, and 2+, respectively; P < .001). Conclusion Age influences the risk of recurrence, and age and comorbidities significantly influence the risk of death without recurrence. Formal assessment of comorbidities should be incorporated into decisions regarding adjuvant therapies.
Prognostic Impact of Body Mass Index Stratified by Smoking Status in Patients With Esophageal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Yoon Harry H. , Lewis Mark A. , Shi Qian , Khan Maliha , Cassivi Stephen D. , Diasio Robert B. , Sinicrope Frank A. 
Published: October 2011

Purpose Given that smoking affects body mass index (BMI) and survival, stratification by smoking status may be required to determine the true prognostic impact of BMI. Although obesity increases risk for developing esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), the prognostic influence of obesity and its potential modification by smoking status is unknown in this disease. Patients and Methods All patients (N = 778) underwent potentially curative esophagectomy. BMI was calculated using measured height and weight at surgery and categorized as obese (≥ 30 kg/m2), overweight (25 to 29.9 kg/m2), or normal (18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2). Cigarette smoking was categorized as never or ever. The association of BMI with disease-specific survival (DSS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) was determined by Cox regression. Results Excess BMI was significantly associated with DSS in a manner that differed substantially by smoking status (P for interaction = .023). Among never smokers, obesity was significantly associated with adverse DSS (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.11; 95% CI, 1.31 to 3.43; P = .002), DFS (HR = 2.03; 95% CI, 1.30 to 3.18; P = .002), and OS (HR = 1.97; 95% CI, 1.24 to 3.14; P = .004), as compared with normal weight, after adjusting for covariates. By contrast, among ever smokers, obesity was not prognostic, and overweight status was significantly associated with favorable survival in univariate, but not multivariate, analysis. Conclusion Obesity among never smokers was independently associated with two-fold worsening of DSS, DFS, and OS after surgery for EAC, after adjusting for known prognostic factors. These data, in one of the largest reported resected EAC cohorts, are the first to show an adverse prognostic impact of obesity in EAC.
Challenging the Feasibility and Clinical Significance of Current Guidelines on Lymph Node Examination in Rectal Cancer in the Era of Neoadjuvant Therapy
Authors: Govindarajan Anand , Gönen Mithat , Weiser Martin R. , Shia Jinru , Temple Larissa K. , Guillem Jose G. , Paty Philip B. , Nash Garrett M. 
Published: October 2011

PurposeWe sought to examine the feasibility and clinical significance of current guidelines on nodal assessment in patients with rectal cancer (RC) treated with neoadjuvant radiation.MethodsAll patients with RC treated with curative surgery from 1991 to 2003 were included. Number of lymph nodes (LNs) assessed was compared between patients who received neoadjuvant therapy and surgery (NEO) and patients who underwent surgery alone (SURG). Impact of node retrieval on node positivity and disease-specific survival (DSS) in NEO patients was assessed.ResultsIn total, 708 patients were identified, of whom 429 (61%) were in the NEO group. These patients had significantly fewer nodes assessed than SURG patients (unadjusted mean, 10.8 v 15.5; adjusted mean difference, −5.0 nodes; P < .001). In the NEO group, 63% of patients had fewer than 12 nodes retrieved (P < .001 v SURG). The proportion of patients diagnosed with node-positive disease in the NEO group was significantly and monotonically associated with the number of lymph nodes retrieved, with no plateau in the relationship. Fewer nodes retrieved was not associated with inferior DSS.ConclusionIn a tertiary cancer center, the 12-LN threshold was not relevant and often not achievable in patients with RC treated with neoadjuvant therapy. Lower LN count after neoadjuvant treatment was not associated with understaging or inferior survival. Although we support the critical importance of careful pathologic examination and adequate nodal staging, we challenge the relevance of LN count both in clinical practice and as a quality indicator in RC.
Effects of early-stage aging on locomotor dynamics and hindlimb muscle force production in the rat
Authors: Horner Angela M. , Russ David W. , Biknevicius Audrone R. 
Published: October 2011

SUMMARYAttenuation of locomotor function is common in many species of animals as they age. Dysfunctions may emerge from a constellation of age-related impairments, including increased joint stiffness, reduced ability to repair muscle tissue, and decreasing fine motor control capabilities. Any or all of these factors may contribute to gait abnormalities and substantially limit an animal's speed and mobility. In this study we examined the effects of aging on whole-animal locomotor performance and hindlimb muscle mechanics in young adult rats aged 6–8 months and ‘early aged’ 24-month-old rats (Rattus norvegicus, Fischer 344 × Brown Norway crosses). Analyses of gaits and kinematics demonstrated that aged rats moved significantly more slowly, sustained longer hindlimb support durations, moved with a greater proportion of asymmetrical gaits, were more plantigrade, and moved with a more kyphotic spinal posture than the young rats. Additionally, the external mechanical energy profiles of the aged animals were variable across trials, whereas the younger rats moved predominantly with bouncing mechanics. In situ analyses of the ankle extensor/plantar flexor muscle group (soleus, plantaris, and medial and lateral gastrocnemii) revealed reduced maximum force generation with aging, despite minimal changes in muscle mass. The weakened muscles were implicated in the degradation of hindfoot posture, as well as variability in center-of-mass mechanics. These results demonstrate that the early stages of aging have consequences for whole-body performance, even before age-related loss of muscle mass begins.
Combining forces and kinematics for calculating consistent centre of mass trajectories
Authors: Maus Horst-Moritz , Seyfarth André , Grimmer Sten 
Published: October 2011

SUMMARY
The motion of centre of mass (CoM) is a fundamental object of investigation in biomechanical analysis. In principle, the CoM motion can either be calculated from force data (dynamic method) or motion capture data (kinematic method). In both approaches, the accuracy of the calculated trajectories depends on the quality of the original signals. Interestingly, the inaccuracies in each method are related to different parts of the Fourier spectrum. Here, we present a new approach to compute CoM motion based on the reliable frequency range of force and kinematic measurements. As a result we obtain physically consistent CoM and force signals, i.e. the second derivative of the CoM trajectory equals the force. The algorithm is verified on simulation data and applied to selected experimental data. We show that the new algorithm can eliminate typical inaccuracies inherent in kinematic and force signals. Also, we discuss the biological and technical origins of these findings.
Intraspecific variation in the thermal plasticity of mitochondria in killifish
Authors: Dhillon Rashpal S. , Schulte Patricia M. 
Published: October 2011

SUMMARYPopulations of the Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) inhabit salt marshes and estuaries along the eastern coast of North America from Newfoundland to northern Florida, and are thus exposed to a large range of temperatures. Previous studies have shown higher whole-organism metabolic rates in the northern subspecies (F. h. macrolepidotus) compared with the southern subspecies (F. h. heteroclitus) of these fish. Here, we examine phenotypic plasticity in the response to cold temperatures between the two subspecies by acclimating fish to 5, 15 and 25°C and comparing several mitochondrial and muscle properties. The relative area of oxidative muscle versus glycolytic muscle fibers was greater in the northern subspecies at the 5 and 15°C acclimation temperatures. However, there were no differences in capillary density between the two subspecies or at different temperatures. Mitochondrial volume and surface densities increased in response to cold temperature acclimation in red and white muscle, but only in the northern killifish. Citrate synthase activities also increased in the northern killifish at 5 and 15°C. The ratio of calculated [free ADP] to [ATP] increased in the 5°C acclimated southern killifish but not in the northern killifish at 5°C when compared with the 15°C acclimation group, suggesting that there are differences in adenylate signaling for mitochondrial respiration between subspecies at low temperature. Taken together, our data indicate that the northern subspecies have a greater ability to increase mitochondrial capacity at colder temperatures compared with the southern subspecies, providing one of the few examples of intraspecific variation in phenotypic plasticity in mitochondrial amount in response to cold temperatures.
Variation in expression of calcium-handling proteins is associated with inter-individual differences in mechanical performance of rat (Rattus norvegicus) skeletal muscle
Authors: James Rob S. , Walter Isabel , Seebacher Frank 
Published: October 2011

SUMMARY
An important constraint on locomotor performance is the trade-off between sprint and endurance performance. One intuitive explanation for this trade-off is that an individual muscle cannot excel at generating both maximal force/power and high fatigue resistance. The underlying reasons for this muscle trade-off are poorly defined. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that inter-individual variation in muscle mechanics is associated with inter-individual differences in metabolic capacities and expression of calcium-handling proteins. Lateral gastrocnemius muscles were isolated from 20 rats (Rattus norvegicus) and analysed to determine metabolic capacity, sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA)1 protein concentration, total SERCA activity, and mRNA concentrations of SERCA1, SERCA2, troponin I and ryanodine receptors. Isometric studies of lateral gastrocnemius muscles at 30°C showed that muscles with higher sprint performance had lower fatigue resistance. More rapid muscle contraction was correlated with higher lactate dehydrogenase activity and increased expression of ryanodine receptor 1. More rapid muscle relaxation was correlated with increased expression of troponin I type 2 (fast) isoform and decreased expression of SERCA2 (slow) isoform. Treating muscles with dantrolene confirmed that ryanodine receptor activity is important in determining tetanus force and muscle contraction rates, but has no effect on fatigue resistance. Thapsigargin treatment revealed that SERCA activity determines fatigue resistance but does not affect maximal muscle force or contraction rates. We conclude that the opposing roles of SERCA activity and expression of ryanodine receptors in determining fatigue resistance and force production, respectively, at least partly explain differences in sprint and endurance performance in isolated rat gastrocnemius muscle.
Visual conditioning of the sting extension reflex in harnessed honeybees
Authors: Mota Theo , Roussel Edith , Sandoz Jean-Christophe , Giurfa Martin 
Published: October 2011

SUMMARYVisual performances of honeybees have been extensively studied using free-flying individuals trained to choose visual stimuli paired with sucrose reward. By contrast, harnessed bees in the laboratory were not thought to be capable of learning a Pavlovian association between a visual stimulus (CS) and sucrose reward (US). For reasons as yet unknown, harnessed bees only learn visual cues in association with sucrose if their antennae are ablated. However, slow acquisition and low retention performances are obtained in this case. Here, we established a novel visual conditioning protocol, which allows studying visual learning and memory in intact harnessed bees in the laboratory. This protocol consists of conditioning the sting extension reflex (SER) by pairing a visual stimulus (CS+) with an electric shock punishment (US), and a different visual stimulus (CS–) with the absence of shock. Bees with intact antennae learned the discrimination between CS+ and CS– by using chromatic cues, achromatic cues or both. Antennae ablation was not only unnecessary for learning to occur but it even impaired visual SER conditioning because of a concomitant reduction of responsiveness to the electric shock. We thus established the first visual conditioning protocol on harnessed honeybees that does not require injuring the experimental subjects. This novel experimental approach opens new doors for accessing the neural correlates of visual learning and memory in honeybees.
Acoustic analysis of tracheo-oesophageal voice in male total laryngectomy patients
Authors: Deore N , Datta S , Dwivedi RC , Palav R , Shah R , Sayed SI , Jagde M , Kazi R 
Published: October 2011

INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to test the null hypothesis that voice parameters of post-laryngectomy patients using tracheo-oesophageal (TO) prosthetic valves are similar to those of normal laryngeal subjects. METHODS Thirty total laryngectomy patients and thirty normal controls were subjected to acoustic analysis of single voice recordings using a sustained vowel. Acoustic parameters including fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, harmonics-to-noise ratio and maximum phonation time were analysed. RESULTS Poorer values were found as well as larger variability for all the voice parameters for the total laryngectomy patients using TO voice compared with those of normal subjects. There were statistically significant differences (p<0.05) for all studied parameters between the TO and normal speech. CONCLUSIONS Alaryngeal speech with TO voice prosthesis is not yet comparable to laryngeal speech.
Design of a Multicast Optical Packet Switch Based on Fiber Bragg Grating Technology for Future Networks
Authors: Cheng Yuh-Jiuh , Yeh Tzuoh-Chyau , Cheng Shyr-Yuan 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
In this paper, a non-blocking multicast optical packet switch based on fiber Bragg grating technology with optical output buffers is proposed. Only the header of optical packets is converted to electronic signals to control the fiber Bragg grating array of input ports and the packet payloads should be transparently destined to their output ports so that the proposed switch can reduce electronic interfaces as well as the bit rate. The modulation and the format of packet payloads may be non-standard where packet payloads could also include different wavelengths for increasing the volume of traffic. The advantage is obvious: the proposed switch could transport various types of traffic. An easily implemented architecture which can provide multicast services is also presented. An optical output buffer is designed to queue the packets if more than one incoming packet should reach to the same destination output port or including any waiting packets in optical output buffer that will be sent to the output port at a time slot. For preserving service-packet sequencing and fairness of routing sequence, a priority scheme and a round-robin algorithm are adopted at the optical output buffer. The fiber Bragg grating arrays for both input ports and output ports are designed for routing incoming packets using optical code division multiple access technology.
Performance Study of All-optical Header Extractor based on SOA-MZI with Bidirectional Data Injection
Authors: Liu Huanlin , Wang YangYang , Fang Qiang , Bai Xiaotang 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
The performance of a all-optical header extraction scheme using semiconductor optical amplifier and Mach–Zehnder-Interferometer (SOA-MZI) with bidirectional data injection was studied at the packet rate of 80 Gb/s for ultrafast all-optical packet switching networks. Numerical analysis and simulation results showed that the contrast ratio of optical header extraction could exceed 18dB when input signal energy was as low as 0.1 pJ. In addition, the parameters of SOA-MZI and the input signal features were discussed to optimize the performance of proposed scheme.