bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Successful immunoapheresis of bullous autoimmune diseases: pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigoid gestationis
Authors: Marker Michael , Derfler Kurt , Monshi Babak , Rappersberger Klemens 
Published: August 2010

Summary Background: Immunoapheresis/immunoadsorption is a specific tool to remove immunoglobulins and immune complexes from the circulation. Immunoapheresis is successfully used in various autoantibody‐mediated diseases (such as autoimmune renal disease and others). In dermatology immunoapheresis is increasingly applied as an adjuvant treatment for severe autoimmune bullous diseases. Case report: We successfully employed adjuvant immunoapheresis to treat a 57‐year‐old man with life‐threatening pemphigus vulgaris and a 30‐year‐old pregnant woman with severe pemphigoid gestationis. Immunoapheresis induced a rapid improvement and almost complete clearance of clinical symptoms without notable side effects. The clinical improvement was paralleled by a decline of the pathologic circulating autoantibodies. Following stabilization of his disease with immunoapheresis, the pemphigus vulgaris patient was continued on rituximab and remained almost free of symptoms for the next 12 months. The patient with pemphigoid gestationis was subsequently treated with systemic corticosteroids until the symptoms of her self‐limited disease ceased. Conclusion: Immunoapheresis might represent an excellent therapy for certain patients with severe pemphigus vulgaris or pemphigoid gestationis, unresponsive to conventional treatment regimens. We observed rapid improvement of clinical symptoms and no notable side effects.
Photochemical Formation of Hydroxyl Radicals in Tissue Extracts of the Coral Galaxea fascicularis
Authors: Higuchi Tomihiko , Fujimura Hiroyuki , Hitomi Yuya , Arakaki Takemitsu , Oomori Tamotsu , Suzuki Yoshimi 
Published: August 2010

AbstractVarious stresses induce the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in biological cells. In addition to stress‐induced ROS, we studied the photochemical formation of hydroxyl radicals (˙OH), the most potent ROS, in coral tissues using phosphate buffer‐extracted solutions and a simulated sunlight irradiation system. ˙OH formation was seen in extracts of both coral host and endosymbiont zooxanthellae. This study is the first to report quantitative measurements of ˙OH photoformation in coral tissue extracts. Our results indicated that whether or not coral bleaching occurred, coral tissues and symbiotic zooxanthellae have the potential to photochemically produce ˙OH under sunlight. However, no significant difference was found in the protein content‐normalized formation rates of ˙OH between corals incubated under different temperatures and irradiance conditions. ˙OH formation rates were reduced by 40% by reducing the UV radiation in the illumination. It was indicated that UV radiation strongly affected ˙OH formation in coral tissue and zooxanthellae, in addition to its formation through photoinhibition processes.
Intracellular Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy: A Novel Technique for Efficient Eradication of Pathogenic Bacteria
Authors: Nakonechny Faina , Firer Michael A. , Nitzan Yeshayahu , Nisnevitch Marina 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThe increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics is a serious problem, caused in part by excessive and improper use of these drugs. One alternative to traditional antibiotic therapy is photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) which is based on the use of a photosensitizer (PS), activated by illumination with visible light. The poor penetration of visible light through the skin limits the application of PACT to the treatment of skin infections or the use of invasive procedures. To overcome this problem we report the exploitation of light emitted as a result of the chemiluminescent reaction of luminol to excite the PS and we call this process chemiluminescent photodynamic antimicrobial therapy (CPAT). We studied the effect of free and liposome‐encapsulated PS (methylene blue or toluidine blue) on bacteria under excitation by either white external light or chemiluminescence emitted by free or liposome‐enclosed luminol. PACT showed slightly better performance that CPAT for free and encapsulated PS for both types of bacteria. CPAT resulted in a three log suppression of Staphylococcus aureus and two log suppression of Escherichia coli growth. The use of CPAT may prove to be a novel and more effective form of antimicrobial therapy, particularly for internal infections not easily accessible to traditional PACT.
Commercial product exploitation from marine microbial biodiversity: some legal and IP issues
Authors: Tichet Camille , Nguyen Hong Khanh , Yaakoubi Sefia El , Bloch Jean‐François 
Published: August 2010

SummaryThe biodiversity found in the marine environment is remarkable and yet largely unknown compared with the terrestrial one. The associated genetic resource, also wide and unrevealed, has raised a strong interest from the scientific and industrial community. However, despite this growing interest, the discovery of new compounds extracted from marine organisms, more precisely from microorganisms, is ruled by a complex legislation. The access and transfer of genetic resource are ruled by the Convention on Biological Diversity. One of the three core objectives of this convention is to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits generated by the use of genetic resources and to split these benefits between the different stakeholders. From the discovery of a microorganism to the commercialization of a product, three main stakeholders are involved: providers of microorganisms, e.g. academic institutes, the scientists who will perform R&D on biodiversity, and the industrial companies which will commercialize the final product arising from the R&D results. This article describes how difficult and complex it might be to ensure a fair distribution of benefits of this research between the parties.
Downregulation of SIK2 expression promotes the melanogenic program in mice
Authors: Horike Nanao , Kumagai Ayako , Shimono Yuko , Onishi Tomoko , Itoh Yumi , Sasaki Tsutomu , Kitagawa Kazuo , Hatano Osamu , Takagi Hiroaki , Susumu Teruo , Teraoka Hiroshi , Kusano Ken‐ichi , Nagaoka Yasuo , Kawahara Hidehisa , Takemori Hiroshi 
Published: August 2010

SummarycAMP response element–binding protein (CREB) promotes melanogenesis by inducing microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor (Mitf ) gene expression. We report here that the CREB‐specific coactivator TORC and its repressor, salt‐inducible kinase 2 (SIK2), are fundamental determinants of the melanogenic program in mice. Exposure of B16 melanoma cells to ultraviolet (UV) light results in the immediate nuclear translocation of TORC1, which is inhibited by SIK2. Overexpression of dominant‐negative TORC1 also inhibits UV‐induced Mitf gene expression and melanogenesis. α‐MSH signaling regulates hair pigmentation, and the decrease in α‐MSH activity in hair follicle melanocytes switches the melanin synthesis from eumelanin (black) to pheomelanin (yellow). Mice with the lethal yellow allele of agouti (Ay) have yellow hair because of impaired activation of the α‐MSH receptor. To examine the involvement of SIK2 in the regulation of the melanogenesis switch in vivo, we prepared SIK2‐knockout mice, and the Sik2−/− genotype was introduced into Ay/a mice. The resultant Sik2−/−; Ay/a mice had brown hair, indicating that SIK2 represses eumelanogenesis in mice.
Tophaceous gout of the odontoid process causing glossopharyngeal, vagus, and hypoglossal nerve palsies
Authors: TRAN Ai , PRENTICE David , CHAN Madelynn 
Published: August 2010

AbstractGout affecting the axial joints is uncommon; however, its involvement may be complicated by neurological symptoms associated with spinal compression at the affected level. Specific involvement of the odontoid process is even rarer. We report the first case of gout involving the odontoid process with resultant glossopharyngeal (CN IX), vagus (CN X) and hypoglossal (CN XII) nerve palsies.
Patient Reported Goal Achievement Following the Midurethral Sling Procedure for Female Stress Urinary Incontinence
Authors: HAN Ji‐Yeon , LEE Young‐Suk , LEE Kyu‐Sung , CHOO Myung‐Soo 
Published: August 2010

Objectives: Patient perspective is very important for evaluating surgical outcomes. We investigated patient reported goal achievement, overall satisfaction and objective outcome following the midurethral sling (MUS) procedure for female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Methods: The study prospectively enrolled 88 SUI patients who underwent the MUS procedure between August 2006 and December 2006. Patient examination included medical history, physical examination and an urodynamic study prior to surgery. Before surgery, patients were shown a list and asked to nominate one goal which they most wanted to achieve with surgery (i.e., the target goal). The goals were classified as: symptom‐related, daily life‐related, personal relationship‐ and emotion‐related, and others. Before and after the surgery, patients completed a Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptom‐Short Form questionnaire. At 1 year postoperatively, patients were assessed in terms of achievement of the target goal, overall satisfaction and cure rate. Results: At the 1‐year follow‐up, overall target goals were achieved in 90.1% of patients, 82 (93.2%) patients were satisfied with the treatment, and 82 (93.2%) patients were cured. For most patients, the target goals were symptom‐related (47 patients, 53.4%). The patients whose goal achievement was less than overall goal achievement were significantly less satisfied than those who fully achieved their goal, and goal achievement was also related to objective cure. Conclusion: Achievement of patient goals was high and could be a good measure of surgical success following MUS for female SUI.
Deformable image registration of heterogeneous human lung incorporating the bronchial tree
Authors: Al‐Mayah Adil , Moseley Joanne , Velec Mike , Hunter Shannon , Brock Kristy 
Published: August 2010

Purpose:To investigate the effect of the bronchial tree on the accuracy of biomechanical‐based deformable image registration of human lungs.Methods:Three dimensional finite element models have been developed using four dimensional computed tomography image data of ten lung cancer patients. Each model is built of a body, left and right lungs, tumor, and bronchial trees. Triangular shell elements are used for the bronchial trees while tetrahedral elements are used for other components. Hyperelastic material properties based on experimental investigation on human lungs are used for the lung parenchyma. Different material properties are assigned for the bronchial tree using five values for the modulus of elasticity of 0.01, 0.12, 0.5, 10, and 18 MPa. Lungs are modeled to slide inside chest cavities by applying frictionless contact surfaces between each lung and corresponding chest cavity. The accuracy of the models is examined using an average of 40 bronchial bifurcation points identified on inhale and exhale images. Relative accuracy is evaluated by comparing the displacement of all nodes within the lungs as well as the dosimetric difference at the exhale position predicted by the model.Results:There is no significant effect of bronchial tree on the model accuracy based on the bifurcation points analysis. However, on the local level, using an average of 38 000 nodes, there is a maximum difference of 8.5 mm in the deformation of the bronchial trees, as the modulus of elasticity of the bronchial trees increases from 0.01 to 18 MPa; however, more than 96% of nodes are within a 2.5 mm difference in each direction. The average dose difference at the predicted exhale position is less than 35 cGy between the models.Conclusions:The bronchial tree has little effect on the global deformation and the accuracy of deformable image registration of lungs. Hence, the homogenous model is a reasonable assumption. Since there are some local deformation differences between nodes as the material properties of the bronchial tree change that may affect the accuracy of dosimetric results, heterogeneity may be required for a smaller scale modeling of lungs.
Semiautomatic technique for defining the internal gross tumor volume of lung tumors close to liver/spleen cupola by 4D‐CTa)
Authors: Mancosu Pietro , Sghedoni Roberto , Bettinardi Valentino , Aquilina Mark Anthony , Navarria Piera , Cattaneo Giovanni Mauro , Di Muzio Nadia , Cozzi Luca , Scorsetti Marta 
Published: August 2010

Purpose:It has been shown that in cases of lung tumors close to the liver cupola, the four dimensional (4D)‐CT postprocessing maximum intensity projection (MIP) algorithm does not fully recover the radiotherapy internal gross tumor volume (IGTV). In this work, a semiautomatic technique was evaluated by which the residual IGTV that was not included into the IGTV by MIP algorithm was actually added.Methods:A moving phantom and five selected patients were considered. The various IGTVs produced by the semiautomatic approach were compared to those generated by 4D‐CT manual contouring.Results:In all cases, the radiation oncologist qualitatively concurred with the semiautomatic IGTV. A quantitative difference in volume of 2.6% was found in the phantom study, whereas a mean difference of was obtained in the patient studies.Conclusions:A semiautomatic technique to include the residual part of IGTV covered by liver/spleen cupola when using MIP algorithm was validated on phantom and on selected patients, revealing the possibility of defining the IGTV for patients with lesions located near liver/spleen cupola by performing only the contours on the MIP series.
Response of lithium formate EPR dosimeters at photon energies relevant to the dosimetry of brachytherapy
Authors: Adolfsson Emelie , Alm Carlsson Gudrun , Grindborg Jan‐Erik , Gustafsson Håkan , Lund Eva , Carlsson Tedgren Åsa 
Published: August 2010

Purpose:To investigate experimentally the energy dependence of the detector response of lithium formate EPR dosimeters for photon energies below 1 MeV relative to that at energies. High energy photon beams are used in calibrating dosimeters for use in brachytherapy since the absorbed dose to water can be determined with high accuracy in such beams using calibrated ion chambers and standard dosimetry protocols. In addition to any differences in mass‐energy absorption properties between water and detector, variations in radiation yield (detector response) with radiation quality, caused by differences in the density of ionization in the energy imparted (LET), may exist. Knowledge of an eventual deviation in detector response with photon energy is important for attaining high accuracy in measured brachytherapy dose distributions.Methods:Lithium formate EPR dosimeters were irradiated to known levels of air kerma in 25–250 kV x‐ray beams and in and beams at the Swedish Secondary Standards Dosimetry Laboratory. Conversions from air kerma free in air into values of mean absorbed dose to the detectors were made using EGSnrc MC simulations and x‐ray energy spectra measured or calculated for the actual beams. The signals from the detectors were measured using EPR spectrometry. Detector response (the EPR signal per mean absorbed dose to the detector) relative to that for was determined for each beam quality.Results:Significant decreases in the relative response ranging from 5% to 6% were seen for x‐ray beams at tube voltages. No significant reduction in the relative response was seen for and 250 kV x rays.Conclusions:When calibrated in or MV photon beams, corrections for the photon energy dependence of detector response are needed to achieve the highest accuracy when using lithium formate EPR dosimeters for measuring absorbed doses around brachytherapy sources emitting photons in the energy range of 20–150 keV such as and electronic sources.
Estimation of organ doses from kilovoltage cone‐beam CT imaging used during radiotherapy patient position verification
Authors: Hyer Daniel E. , Hintenlang David E. 
Published: August 2010

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to develop a practical method for estimating organ doses from kilovoltage cone‐beam CT (CBCT) that can be performed with readily available phantoms and dosimeters. The accuracy of organ dose estimates made using the ImPACT patient dose calculator was also evaluated.Methods:A 100 mm pencil chamber and standard CT dose index (CTDI) phantoms were used to measure the cone‐beam dose index (CBDI). A weighted CBDIwas then calculated from these measurements to represent the average volumetric dose in the CTDI phantom. By comparingto the previously published organ doses, organ dose conversion coefficients were developed. The measured CBDI values were also used as inputs for the ImPACT calculator to estimate organ doses. All CBDI dose measurements were performed on both the Elekta XVI and Varian OBI at three clinically relevant locations: Head, chest, and pelvis.Results:The head, chest, and pelvis protocols yieldedvalues of 0.98, 16.62, and 24.13 mGy for the XVI system and 5.17, 6.14, and 21.57 mGy for the OBI system, respectively. Organ doses estimated with the ImPACT CT dose calculator showed a large range of variation from the previously measured organ doses, demonstrating its limitations for use with CBCT.Conclusions:The organ dose conversion coefficients developed in this work relatevalues to organ doses previously measured using the same clinical protocols. Ultimately, these coefficients will allow for the quick estimation of organ doses from routine measurements performed using standard CTDI phantoms and pencil chambers.
Detailed analysis of latencies in image‐based dynamic MLC trackinga)
Authors: Poulsen Per Rugaard , Cho Byungchul , Sawant Amit , Ruan Dan , Keall Paul J. 
Published: August 2010

Purpose:Previous measurements of the accuracy of image‐based real‐time dynamic multileaf collimator (DMLC) tracking show that the major contributor to errors is latency, i.e., the delay between target motion and MLC response. Therefore the purpose of this work was to develop a method for detailed analysis of latency contributions during image‐based DMLC tracking.Methods:A prototype DMLC tracking system integrated with a linear accelerator was used for tracking a phantom with an embedded fiducial marker during treatment delivery. The phantom performed a sinusoidal motion. Real‐time target localization was based on x‐ray images acquired either with a portal imager or a kV imager mounted orthogonal to the treatment beam. Each image was stored in a file on the imaging workstation. A marker segmentation program opened the image file, determined the marker position in the image, and transferred it to the DMLC tracking program. This program estimated the three‐dimensional target position by a single‐imager method and adjusted the MLC aperture to the target position. Imaging intervals from 150 to 1000 ms were investigated for both kV and MV imaging. After the experiments, the recorded images were synchronized with MLC log files generated by the MLC controller and tracking log files generated by the tracking program. This synchronization allowed temporal analysis of the information flow for each individual image from acquisition to completed MLC adjustment. The synchronization also allowed investigation of the MLC adjustment dynamics on a considerably finer time scale than the 50 ms time resolution of the MLC log files.Results:For, the total time from image acquisition to completed MLC adjustment was for MV and for kV images. The main part of this time was from image acquisition to completed image file writing (272 ms for MV and 309 ms for kV). Image file opening (38 ms), marker segmentation (4 ms), MLC position calculation (16 ms), and MLC adjustment (52 ms) were considerably faster. For , the total time from image acquisition to completed MLC adjustment increased to and mainly because of delayed image file writing. The MLC adjustment duration was constant 52 ms (±3 ms) for MLC adjustments below 1.1 mm and increased linearly for larger MLC adjustments.Conclusions:A method for detailed time analysis of each individual real‐time position signal for DMLC tracking has been developed and applied to image‐based tracking. The method allows identification of the major contributors to latency and therefore a focus for reducing this latency. The method could be an important tool for the reconstruction of the delivered target dose during DMLC tracking as it provides synchronization between target motion and MLC motion.
Radiation dose estimation using preclinical imaging with ‐metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) PET
Authors: Lee Chang‐Lae , Wahnishe Hilla , Sayre George A. , Cho Hyo‐Min , Kim Hee‐Joung , Hernandez‐Pampaloni Miguel , Hawkins Randall A. , Dannoon Shorouk F. , VanBrocklin Henry F. , Itsara Melissa , Weiss William A. , Yang Xiaodong , Haas‐Kogan Daphne A. , Matthay Katherine K. , Seo Youngho 
Published: August 2010

Purpose:A pretherapy‐metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) provides a potential method to estimate radiation dose to normal organs, as well as tumors prior to ‐MIBG treatment of neuroblastoma or pheochromocytoma. The aim of this work was to estimate human‐equivalent internal radiation dose of ‐MIBG using PET/CT data in a murine xenograft model.Methods:Athymic mice subcutaneously implanted with NB1691 cells that express high levels of human norepinephrine transporter were imaged using small animal microPET/CT over 96 h (approximate imaging time points: 0.5, 2, 24, 52, and 96 h) after intravenous administration of 3.07–4.84 MBq of ‐MIBG via tail vein. The tumors did not accumulate ‐MIBG to a detectable level. All four animals were considered as control and organ radiation dosimetry was performed. Volumes of interest were drawn on the coregistered CT images for thyroid, heart, lung, liver, kidney, and bladder, and transferred to PET images to obtain pharmacokinetic data. Based on tabulated organ mass distributions for both mice and adult male human, preclinical pharmacokinetic data were extrapolated to their human‐equivalent values. Radiation dose estimations for different age groups were performed using the OLINDA|EXM software with modified tissue weighting factors in the recent International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Publication 103.Results:The mean effective dose from‐MIBG using weighting factors from ICRP 103 to the adult male was estimated at 0.25 mSv/MBq. In different age groups, effective doses using values from ICRP 103 were estimated as follows: Adult female: 0.34, 15‐yr‐old: 0.39 mSv/MBq, 10‐yr‐old: 0.58 mSv/MBq, 5‐yr‐old: 1.03 mSv/MBq, 1‐yr‐old: 1.92 mSv/MBq, and newborn: 3.75 mSv/MBq. For comparison, the reported effective dose equivalent of ‐NaI for adult male (25% thyroid uptake, MIRD Dose Estimate Report No. 5) was 6.5 mSv/MBq.Conclusions:The authors estimated human‐equivalent internal radiation dose of‐MIBG using preclinical imaging data. As a reference, the effective dose estimation showed that ‐MIBG would deliver less radiation dose than ‐NaI, a radiotracer already being used in patients with thyroid cancer.