bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Therapy with un-engineered naïve rat umbilical cord matrix stem cells markedly inhibits growth of murine lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Maurya Dharmendra K , Doi Chiyo , Kawabata Atsushi , Pyle Marla M , King Clay , Wu Zhihong , Troyer Deryl , Tamura Masaaki 
Published: November 2010

AbstractBackgroundLung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality despite continuous efforts to find effective treatments. Data from the American Cancer Society indicate that while the overall incidence of lung cancer is declining, it continues to rise in women. Stem cell-based therapy has been an emerging strategy to treat various diseases. The purpose of this paper is to determine the efficacy of an intrinsic anti-cancer effect of rat umbilical cord matrix stem cells (UCMSCs) on lung cancer.MethodsA mouse syngeneic lung carcinoma model was used to test the basic ability of UCMSCs to control the growth of lung cancer. Lung tumors were experimentally induced by tail vein administration of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells derived from the lung of C57BL/6 mouse. Rat UCMSCs were then administered intratracheally five days later or intravenously on days 5 and 7. The tumor burdens were determined by measuring lung weight three weeks after the treatment.ResultsCo-culture of rat UCMSCs with LLC significantly attenuated the proliferation of LLC cells as monitored by MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide), a tetrazole cell proliferation assay, thymidine uptake, and direct cell counts.In vitrocolony assays with rat UCMSCs as feeder layers markedly reduced LLC colony size and number. Co-culture of rat UCMSCs with LLCs causes G0/G1 arrest of cancer cells. This is evident in the decrease of cyclin A and CDK2 expression. Thein vivostudies showed that rat UCMSC treatment significantly decreased tumor weight and the total tumor mass. Histological study revealed that intratracheally or systemically administered rat UCMSCs homed to tumor areas and survived for at least 3 weeks without any evidence of differentiation or adverse effects.ConclusionsThese results indicate that rat UCMSCs alone remarkably attenuate the growth of lung carcinoma cellsin vitroand in a mouse syngeneic lung carcinoma graft model and could be used for targeted cytotherapy for lung cancer.
p21WAF1/CIP1 gene transcriptional activation exerts cell growth inhibition and enhances chemosensitivity to cisplatin in lung carcinoma cell
Authors: Wei Junxia , Zhao Jiang , Long Min , Han Yuan , Wang Xi , Lin Fang , Ren Jihong , He Ting , Zhang Huizhong 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

Background
Non-small-cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs) exhibit poor prognosis and are usually resistant to conventional chemotherapy. Absence of p21WAF1/CIP1, a cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitor, has been linked to drug resistance in many in vitro cellular models. RNA activation (RNAa) is a transcriptional activation phenomena guided by double-strand RNA (dsRNA) targeting promoter region of target gene.

Methods
In this study, we explored the effect of up-regulation of p21 gene expression on drug-resistance in A549 non-small-cell lung carcinoma cells by transfecting the dsRNA targeting the promoter region of p21 into A549 cells.

Results
Enhanced p21 expression was observed in A549 cells after transfection of dsRNA, which was correlated with a significant growth inhibition and enhancement of chemosensitivity to cisplatin in A549 cells in vitro. Moreover, in vivo experiment showed that saRNA targeting the promoter region of p21 could significantly inhibit A549 xenograft tumor growth.

Conclusions
These results indicate that p21 plays a role in lung cancer drug-resistance process. In addition, this study also provides evidence for the usage of saRNA as a therapeutic option for up-regulating lower-expression genes in lung cancer.
A randomized phase III study of the docetaxel/carboplatin combination versus docetaxel single-agent as second line treatment for patients with advanced/metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Pallis Athanasios G , Agelaki Sophia , Agelidou Athina , Varthalitis Ioannis , Syrigos Kostas , Kentepozidis Nikolaos , Pavlakou Georgia , Kotsakis Athanasios , Kontopodis Emmanouel , Georgoulias Vassilis 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

Background
To compare the activity and toxicity of docetaxel/carboplatin (DC) doublet vs single agent docetaxel (D) as second-line treatment in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods
Patients pre-treated with front-line platinum-free regimens, were randomized to receive either docetaxel/carboplatin (DC), (docetaxel 50 mg/m2; carboplatin AUC4; both drugs administered on days 1 and 15) or docetaxel single-agent (D), (docetaxel 50 mg/m2 on days 1 and 15).

Results
Response rate was similar between the two arms (DC vs D: 10.4% vs 7.7%; p = 0.764). After a median follow-up time of 28.0 months for DC arm and 34.5 months for D arm, progression free survival (PFS) was significantly higher in the DC arm (DC vs D:3.33 months vs 2.60 months; p-value = 0.012), while no significant difference was observed in terms of overall survival (OS) (DC vs D: 10.3 months vs 7.70 months; p-value = 0.550). Chemotherapy was well-tolerated and grade III/IV toxicities were relatively infrequent. No toxic deaths were observed.

Conclusions
This study has not achieved its primary objective of significant OS prolongation with docetaxel/carboplatin combination over single-agent docetaxel in patients who had not received front-line docetaxel; however, the docetaxel/carboplatin combination was associated with a significant clinical benefit in terms of PFS.
Baculovirus display of single chain antibody (scFv) using a novel signal peptide
Authors: Kitidee Kuntida , Nangola Sawitree , Gonzalez Gaëlle , Boulanger Pierre , Tayapiwatana Chatchai , Hong Saw-See 
Published: November 2010

AbstractBackgroundCells permissive to virus can become refractory to viral replication upon intracellular expression of single chain fragment variable (scFv) antibodies directed towards viral structural or regulatory proteins, or virus-coded enzymes. For example, an intrabody derived from MH-SVM33, a monoclonal antibody against a conserved C-terminal epitope of the HIV-1 matrix protein (MAp17), was found to exert an inhibitory effect on HIV-1 replication.ResultsTwo versions of MH-SVM33-derived scFv were constructed in recombinant baculoviruses (BVs) and expressed in BV-infected Sf9 cells, N-myristoylation-competent scFvG2/p17 and N-myristoylation-incompetent scFvE2/p17 protein, both carrying a C-terminal HA tag. ScFvG2/p17 expression resulted in an insoluble, membrane-associated protein, whereas scFvE2/p17 was recovered in both soluble and membrane-incorporated forms. When coexpressed with the HIV-1 Pr55Gag precursor, scFvG2/p17 and scFvE2/p17 did not show any detectable negative effect on virus-like particle (VLP) assembly and egress, and both failed to be encapsidated in VLP. However, soluble scFvE2/p17 isolated from Sf9 cell lysates was capable of binding to its specific antigen, in the form of a synthetic p17 peptide or as Gag polyprotein-embedded epitope. Significant amounts of scFvE2/p17 were released in the extracellular medium of BV-infected cells in high-molecular weight, pelletable form. This particulate form corresponded to BV particles displaying scFvE2/p17 molecules, inserted into the BV envelope via the scFv N-terminal region. The BV-displayed scFvE2/p17 molecules were found to be immunologically functional, as they reacted with the C-terminal epitope of MAp17. Fusion of the N-terminal 18 amino acid residues from the scFvE2/p17 sequence (N18E2) to another scFv recognizing CD147 (scFv-M6-1B9) conferred the property of BV-display to the resulting chimeric scFv-N18E2/M6.ConclusionExpression of scFvE2/p17 in insect cells using a BV vector resulted in baculoviral progeny displaying scFvE2/p17. The function required for BV envelope incorporation was carried by the N-terminal octadecapeptide of scFvE2/p17, which acted as a signal peptide for BV display. Fusion of this peptide to the N-terminus of scFv molecules of interest could be applied as a general method for BV-display of scFv in a GP64- and VSV-G-independent manner.
Modeling and simulation of the main metabolism in Escherichia coli and its several single-gene knockout mutants with experimental verification
Authors: Kadir Tuty Asmawaty Abdul , Mannan Ahmad A , Kierzek Andrzej M , McFadden Johnjoe , Shimizu Kazuyuki 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

Background
It is quite important to simulate the metabolic changes of a cell in response to the change in culture environment and/or specific gene knockouts particularly for the purpose of application in industry. If this could be done, the cell design can be made without conducting exhaustive experiments, and one can screen out the promising candidates, proceeded by experimental verification of a select few of particular interest. Although several models have so far been proposed, most of them focus on the specific metabolic pathways. It is preferred to model the whole of the main metabolic pathways in Escherichia coli, allowing for the estimation of energy generation and cell synthesis, based on intracellular fluxes and that may be used to characterize phenotypic growth.

Results
In the present study, we considered the simulation of the main metabolic pathways such as glycolysis, TCA cycle, pentose phosphate (PP) pathway, and the anapleorotic pathways using enzymatic reaction models of E. coli. Once intracellular fluxes were computed by this model, the specific ATP production rate, the specific CO2 production rate, and the specific NADPH production rate could be estimated. The specific ATP production rate thus computed was used for the estimation of the specific growth rate. The CO2 production rate could be used to estimate cell yield, and the specific NADPH production rate could be used to determine the flux of the oxidative PP pathway. The batch and continuous cultivations were simulated where the changing patterns of extracellular and intra-cellular metabolite concentrations were compared with experimental data. Moreover, the effects of the knockout of such pathways as Ppc, Pck and Pyk on the metabolism were simulated. It was shown to be difficult for the cell to grow in Ppc mutant due to low concentration of OAA, while Pck mutant does not necessarily show this phenomenon. The slower growth rate of the Ppc mutant was properly estimated by taking into account the lower specific ATP production rate. In the case of Pyk mutant, the enzyme level regulation was made clear such that Pyk knockout caused PEP concentration to be up-regulated and activated Ppc, which caused the increase in MAL concentration and backed up reduced PYR through Mez, resulting in the phenotypic growth characteristics similar to the wild type.

Conclusions
It was shown to be useful to simulate the main metabolism of E. coli for understanding metabolic changes inside the cell in response to specific pathway gene knockouts, considering the whole main metabolic pathways. The comparison of the simulation result with the experimental data indicates that the present model could simulate the effect of the specific gene knockouts to the changes in the metabolisms to some extent.
Lifetime risks of specific breast cancer subtypes among women in four racial/ethnic groups
Authors: Kurian Allison W , Fish Kari , Shema Sarah J , Clarke Christina A 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
Introduction
Breast cancer comprises clinically distinct subtypes, but most risk statistics consider breast cancer only as a single entity. To estimate subtype-specific lifetime breast cancer risks, we took advantage of population-based data for which information regarding tumor expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2/neu (HER2) was newly available.

Methods
We included women whose breast cancer was diagnosed in the state of California from 2006 to 2007 and was reported to the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program (N = 40,936). We calculated absolute lifetime and age-specific probabilities (percent, 95% confidence interval) of developing breast cancer subtypes defined by ER, PR, and HER2 status - luminal (ER and/or PR-positive, HER2-negative), HER2-positive (ER and PR-positive or negative, HER2-positive), and triple-negative (ER-negative, PR-negative, and HER2-negative) - separately for white, black, Hispanic, and Asian women.

Results
The luminal breast cancer subtype predominates across racial/ethnic groups, with lifetime risk lowest in Hispanic women (4.60%, 4.41-4.80%) and highest in white women (8.10%, 7.94-8.20%). HER2-positive breast cancer varies less by race (1.56-1.91%). Lifetime risk of triple-negative breast cancer is highest in black women (1.98%, 1.80-2.17%), compared to 0.77% (0.67-0.88%) for Asians, 1.04% (0.96-1.13%) for Hispanics and 1.25% (1.20-1.30%) for whites. Across racial/ethnic groups, nearly half of all luminal breast cancers occur after age 70.

Conclusions
These absolute risk estimates may inform health policy and resource planning across diverse populations, and can help patients and physicians weigh the probabilities of developing specific breast cancer subtypes against competing health risks.
A tool to measure whether business management capacity in general practice impacts on the quality of chronic illness care
Authors: Holton Christine H , Proudfoot Judith G , Jayasinghe Upali W , Grimm Jane , Bubner Tanya K , Winstanley Julie , Harris Mark F , Beilby Justin J 
Published: November 2010

Our aim was to develop a tool to identify specific features of the business and financial management of practices that facilitate better quality care for chronic illness in primary care. Domains of management were identified, resulting in the development of a structured interview tool that was administered in 97 primary care practices in Australia. Interview items were screened and subjected to factor analysis, subscales identified and the overall model fit determined. The instrument's validity was assessed against another measure of quality of care. Analysis provided a four-factor solution containing 21 items, which explained 42.5% of the variance in the total scores. The factors related to administrative processes, human resources, marketing analysis and business development. All scores increased significantly with practice size. The business development subscale and total score were higher for rural practices. There was a significant correlation between the business development subscale and quality of care. The indicators of business and financial management in the final tool appear to be useful predictors of the quality of care. The instrument may help inform policy regarding the structure of general practice and implementation of a systems approach to chronic illness care. It can provide information to practices about areas for further development.
On Brownian motion as a prior for nonparametric regression
Authors: van Zanten Harry 
Published: November 2010

AbstractIn this paper we consider the use of Brownian motion as a prior in a nonparametric, univariate regression setting. Using change of measure theory for continuous semimartingales we derive an explicit stochastic differential equation characterization for the posterior. In combination with stochastic calculus tools this dynamical characterization of the posterior allows us to derive new asymptotic properties of the posterior.
Structural study of mefloquinium salts with three isomeric n-nitrobenzoates (n = 2, 3, and 4)
Authors: Wardell Solange M. S. V. , Wardell James L. , Skakle Janet M.S. , Tiekink Edward R. T. 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
The crystal and molecular structures of three racemic erythro-(R*, S*)-(±)-α-2-piperidinyl-2,8-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4-quinolinemethanol n-nitrobenzoates, n = 2, 3, and 4, are described. The cations uniformly adopt an L-shaped geometry with protonation leading to a piperidin-1-ium ring in each case. A non-planar arrangement is found for the anion in (1; n = 2), owing to steric congestion, but almost planar arrangements are found in each of the anions in (2; n = 3) and (3; n = 4). Supramolecular chains are found in each of the crystal structures but these are sustained by different hydrogen bonding synthons. More efficient crystal packing in (3; n = 4) is correlated with a single synthon as opposed to two distinct synthons in each of (1; n = 2) and (2; n = 3). Crystal data for (1; n = 2): monoclinic, P21/n, a = 13.2144(6), b = 8.1028(2), c = 22.9724(9) Å, β = 105.919(1)°, V = 2365.41(15) Å3, Z = 4, R = 0.053. Crystal data for (2; n = 3): monoclinic, P21/n, a = 6.8389(2), b = 12.8432(4), c = 26.7910(9) Å, β = 90.868(2)°, V = 2352.87(13) Å3, Z = 4, R = 0.044. Crystal data for (3; n = 4): monoclinic, P21/n, a = 16.9854(8), b = 6.5069(2), c = 20.2083(9) Å, β = 92.116(2)°, V = 2231.94(16) Å3, Z = 4, R = 0.065.
Ab-initio study of Al1–x
Ga
x
Sb compound
Authors: Devi Nisha , Sharma Sonu , Verma Udai Pratap 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
The ground-state structural, electronic and optical properties of the Al1–x
Ga
x
Sb compound in the zinc-blende phase for x = 0.125, 0.25 and 0.50 have been stud ied employing the full potential linearized augmented plane wave plus local orbitals method based on the density functional theory. For the exchange-correlation effects we have adopted the GGA approach. In order to model Al1–x
Ga
x
Sb zincblende alloys, we employ a 16-atoms supercell of the type 2 × 2 × 2. The lattice structures of Al0.875Ga0.125Sb, Al0.75Ga0.25Sb and Al0.50Ga0.50Sb are obtained by replac ing one, two and four Al atoms, respectively, with an equal number of Ga atoms in the crystal lattice of AlSb. The variation of energy band gap of Al1–x
Ga
x
Sb versus the value of ‘x’ reveals that the band gap bowing para m eter has strong composition dependence for small concentrations of Ga. The DOS plots and the various calculated optical properties are in accordance with the calculated electronic properties. The characteristic properties of Al1–x
Ga
x
Sb are dominated by the Sb 5p electrons. Linear optical properties such as the dynamic dielectric function, static refractive index, reflectivity and energy loss function for an energy range of 0 to 13.50 eV have been studied. The static dielectric constant increases with the increase in Ga concentration in Al1–x
Ga
x
Sb. The bulk plasma frequency ω
p for this material corresponds to 13.19 eV.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and HIV Risk Among Poor, Inner-City Women Receiving Care in an Emergency Department
Authors: El-Bassel Nabila , Gilbert Louisa , Vinocur Danielle , Chang Mingway , Wu Elwin 
Published: November 2010

Objectives. We examined the associations between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and HIV risk behaviors among a random sample of 241 low-income women receiving care in an urban emergency department.Methods. We recruited participants from the emergency department waiting room during randomly selected 6-hour blocks of time. Multivariate analyses and propensity score weighting were used to examine the associations between PTSD and HIV risk after adjustment for potentially confounding sociodemographic variables, substance use, childhood sexual abuse, and intimate partner violence.Results. A large majority of the sample self-identified as Latina (49%) or African American (44%). Almost one third (29%) of the participants met PTSD criteria. Women who exhibited symptoms in 1 or more PTSD symptom clusters were more likely than women who did not to report having had sex with multiple sexual partners, having had sex with a risky partner, and having experienced partner violence related to condom use in the preceding 6 months.Conclusions. The high rate of PTSD found in this sample and the significant associations between PTSD symptom clusters and partner-related risk behaviors highlight the need to take PTSD into account when designing HIV prevention interventions for low-income, urban women.
Should We End Military Recruiting in High Schools as a Matter of Child Protection and Public Health?
Authors: Hagopian Amy , Barker Kathy 
Published: November 2010

Recruiters for the various US armed forces have free access to our nation's high schools, as mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act. Military recruiter behaviors are disturbingly similar to predatory grooming. Adults in the active military service are reported to experience increased mental health risks, including stress, substance abuse, and suicide, and the youngest soldiers consistently show the worst health effects, suggesting military service is associated with disproportionately poor health for this population. We describe the actions of a high school parent teacher student association in Seattle, Washington, which sought to limit the aggressive recruitment of children younger than 18 years into the military.
The Differential Association Between Education and Infant Mortality by Nativity Status of Chinese American Mothers: A Life-Course Perspective
Authors: Li Qing , Keith Louis G. 
Published: November 2010

Objectives. Integrating evidence from demography and epidemiology, we investigated whether the association between maternal achieved status (education) and infant mortality differed by maternal place of origin (nativity) over the life course of Chinese Americans.Methods. We conducted a population-based cohort study of singleton live births to US-resident Chinese American mothers using National Center for Health Statistics 1995 to 2000 linked live birth and infant death cohort files. We categorized mothers by nativity (US born [n = 15 040] or foreign born [n = 150 620]) and education (≥ 16 years, 13–15 years, or ≤ 12 years), forming 6 life-course trajectories. We performed Cox proportional hazards regressions of infant mortality.Results. We found significant nativity-by-education interaction via stratified analyses and testing interaction terms (P < .03) and substantial differentials in infant mortality across divergent maternal life-course trajectories. Low education was more detrimental for the US born, with the highest risk among US-born mothers with 12 years or less of education (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.39; 95% confidence interval = 1.33, 4.27).Conclusions. Maternal nativity and education synergistically affect infant mortality among Chinese Americans, suggesting the importance of searching for potential mechanisms over the maternal life course and targeting identified high-risk groups and potential downward mobility.
The Saint John's Bible Project: What's It Worth?
Authors: Patella Michael , Franklin John , Mongeau Gilles 
Published: November 2010

Abstract: This paper explains how The Saint John's Bible Project relates to the life of faith. The project is more than the practice of calligraphy or the illuminating of sacred texts with decorative miniatures and colourful initials. For those who come to view it, it can ignite the spiritual imagination and engage the cognitive abilities in a transformative way. Sacred word and thought require for that transformation something more than being bombarded by digital images. They occasion what they demand—a pause or slow reading that Benedictine monks recognize as lectio divina for the heart and eye to become open to beauty and lived truth. Sacred text as work of art, no different from divine liturgy, holds out the possibility of breaking up illusions that get in the way of the Christian life.