bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
When Media and Politics Overlap: Inferences from the Italian Case
Authors: Fabbrini Sergio 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThere is broad agreement that the most important transformation undergone by democratic politics since the second half of the twentieth century has been the diffusion of the means of mass-communication (television in particular). Teledemocracy especially has changed democratic politics in a specific way: the leaders rather than the parties now stand at the centre of the electoral and political process. This article does not aim to go over the relationship between media and politics; that has already been done. Instead, it focuses on how to deal with a situation in which media and politics overlap.
Efficacy and cost‐benefit analysis of risk‐adaptive use of plerixafor for autologous hematopoietic progenitor cell mobilization
Authors: Vishnu Prakash , Roy Vivek , Paulsen Athena , Zubair Abba C. 
Published: June 2011

BACKGROUND: Plerixafor (P) reduces mobilization failure rates but it is very expensive. For better utilization of P, we employed a risk‐adaptive strategy of using it only in patients who are at high risk of mobilization failure, defined by peripheral blood (PB) CD34+ cell count of fewer than 10 × 106/L after 4 days of filgrastim (F) alone.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Herein, we present the results of efficacy and cost‐benefit analysis of this risk‐adaptive approach for hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) collection. All patients received daily F for 4 days, and P was added for those “at‐risk” patients from Day 4 with apheresis commencing the following morning. F and P were continued daily for up to a maximum of 4 days or until more than 5 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg were collected. Forty‐two transplant‐eligible patients underwent HPC mobilization.RESULTS: Eighteen patients mobilized with F alone and 24 patients required P with F. Two patients failed adequate HPC mobilization after F+P. Addition of P increased the PB CD34+ count by 6.8‐fold with a mean yield of 4.9 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg. Decision‐analysis model estimated cost‐effectiveness for this risk‐adaptive approach of using P with savings of $19,300/patient. Engraftment after HPC infusion was similar among the patients regardless of mobilization regimens.CONCLUSION: These results suggest that addition of P to F based on a risk‐adaptive strategy significantly reduces the frequency of mobilization failures and is also cost‐effective.
Quorum sensing regulation of virulence gene expression in Vibrio harveyi in vitro and in vivo during infection of gnotobiotic brine shrimp larvae
Authors: Ruwandeepika H. A. Darshanee , Bhowmick Patit Paban , Karunasagar Indrani , Bossier Peter , Defoirdt Tom 
Published: June 2011

SummaryIn this study, we investigated quorum sensing regulation of virulence genes in Vibrio harveyi by determining their expression levels, both in vitro and in vivo during infection of gnotobiotic brine shrimp. The quorum sensing master regulator luxR and the vhp metalloprotease showed around threefold and fivefold higher expression levels in a luxO mutant with maximum quorum sensing activity than in a luxO mutant with minimum quorum sensing activity. There was no difference in expression of the vhh haemolysin gene between the two mutants. There was however more than 2.5‐fold lower expression in an AI‐2‐negative mutant, suggesting that this gene is specifically regulated by AI‐2 quorum sensing through a yet unknown signal transduction cascade. The in vivo expression data showed a peak in expression of the quorum sensing master regulator luxR and the vhp metalloprotease after 24 h of incubation in wild‐type V. harveyi and the luxO mutant mimicking a maximally activated quorum sensing system, whereas the expression remained low in the luxO mutant mimicking a completely inactivated quorum sensing system. The vhh haemolysin gene showed a peak in expression after 24 h in the wild type and a constantly low expression in an AI‐2‐negative mutant.
Community pharmacy in the United Arab Emirates: characteristics and workforce issues
Authors: Hasan Sanah , Sulieman Hana , Chapman Colin , Stewart Kay , Kong David C M 
Published: June 2011

Abstract

Objectives
To determine the characteristics and workforce issues of community pharmacy practice in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Methods
Data collection was by anonymous cross-sectional survey. Questionnaires were distributed by hand to 700 community pharmacies to collect information about the participating pharmacists, pharmacy characteristics, the types of products and professional pharmacy services available to patients, and the barriers to offering professional services.

Key findings
A total of 344 pharmacists (49%) responded. Most were male (64%), had been in practice for less than 10 years (mean = 9.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 8.4–10.0) and were trained in India (35%) or Egypt (15%). The pharmacies were open for business 7 days/week (mean = 6.8, 95% CI = 6.7–8.8) with an average working day of 13 h (mean = 12.9, 95% CI = 12.7–13.2) and were mostly owned by independent non-pharmacists (70%). The pharmacies employed on average 2.6 full-time-equivalent (FTE) pharmacists (95% CI = 2.3–2.8) with 74% employing 1.8 FTE pharmacy assistants (95% CI = 1.7–2.0) and 47% employing trainee pharmacists (mean = 1.8 FTE, 95% CI = 1.6–2.0). Around three-quarters of the pharmacies dispensed fewer than 100 prescriptions (75%) and responded to fewer than 100 requests for over-the-counter medicines (69%) per day. Most pharmacists encountered limited immediate access to up-to-date resources.

Conclusions
This is the first study to explore the characteristics of community pharmacy practice in the UAE. The study provides baseline data which are critical to inform the development of strategies to improve the quality of community pharmacy services in the UAE.
Identification, Bioinformatics Analyses, and Expression of Immunoreactive Antigens of Mycoplasma haemofelis
Authors: Messick Joanne B. , Santos Andrea P. 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTMycoplasma haemofelisinfection frequently causes anemia in cats. Despite an intense immune response and/or antibiotic treatment, cats often remain asymptomatic carriers following infection. Our hypothesis is that detection of antibodies toM. haemofelisis a sensitive approach for identifying infected cats, particularly carriers. To date, no immunoassay has been developed. This is due largely to the inability to cultureM. haemofelis in vitro; hence, a source of antigen is not readily available. The objective of this study was to identify, express, and purify immunogenic proteins ofM. haemofelis. To accomplish this, two whole-genomic expression libraries were created in the Lambda ZapII vector and immunoscreened with preimmune plasma, plasma from specific-pathogen-free cats, and pooled acute- and convalescent-phase plasma from experimentally infected cats. The inserts from 21 immunoreactive clones were sequenced, resulting in the identification of 60 genes coding for putative proteins necessary for diverse cellular functions, along with several novel genes ofM. haemofelis. Fragments of selected genes based on bioinformatic analyses were PCR amplified, cloned into a high-level protein expression system, and subsequently expressed inEscherichia colias a His6-fusion protein. The recombinant fusion proteins ofM. haemofeliswere purified and evaluated as an antigen in a Western blot to verify the findings of previous immunoscreening. Together with bioinformatics analyses of individual genes, this approach provided several putative candidate antigens. Five antigens ofM. haemofeliswere reactive by Western blotting against the immune plasma and negative against nonimmune plasma; these antigens might be useful serologic or even vaccine targets.
Statistical modelling of falls count data with excess zeros
Authors: Khan Asaduzzaman , Ullah Shahid , Nitz Jenny 
Published: June 2011

ObjectiveTo examine the appropriateness of different statistical models in analysing falls count data.MethodsSix count models (Poisson, negative binomial (NB), zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP), zero-inflated NB (ZINB), hurdle Poisson (HP) and hurdle NB (HNB)) were used to analyse falls count data. Empirical evaluation of the competing models was performed using model selection criteria and goodness-of-fit through simulation. Data used were from a prospective cohort study of women aged 40–80 years.ResultsOf the 465 women analysed, 330 (71%) did not fall at all. The analyses identified strong evidence of overdispersion in the falls data. The NB-based regression models (HNB, ZINB, NB) were better performed than the Poisson-based regression models (Poisson, ZIP, HP). Vuong tests favoured the HNB model over the NB and ZINB models and the NB model over the ZINB model. Model accuracy measures and Monte Carlo simulation of goodness-of-fit confirmed the lack of fit of the Poisson-based regression models and demonstrated the best fit for the HNB model with comparable good fit for the ZINB and NB models.ConclusionsFalls count data consisting of a considerable number of zeros can be appropriately modelled by the NB-based regression models, with the HNB model offering the best fit. The evaluation procedure presented in this paper provides a defensible guideline to appropriately model falls or similar count data with excess zeros.
Ezrin expression predicts local recurrence and development of metastases in soft tissue sarcomas
Authors: Carneiro Ana , Bendahl Pär-Ola , Åkerman Måns , Domanski Henryk A , Rydholm Anders , Engellau Jacob , Nilbert Mef 
Published: June 2011

BackgroundEzrin is a cytoskeletal protein involved in tumour growth and invasion. Ezrin expression has been suggested to play a role in metastasis in paediatricosteosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma.AimTo evaluate the prognostic role of ezrin in a large series of soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities and trunk wall.MethodsEzrin expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays from a mixed series of 256 soft tissue sarcomas. The expression patterns were correlated to local recurrence and metastasis as well as to established prognostic factors in soft tissue sarcoma.ResultsIncreased ezrin expression predicted development of metastasis (HR=1.8, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.8; p=0.007) and local recurrence, also after adjustment for surgical margin (HR=2.4, 95% CI 1.4 to 4.3; p=0.02). Correlations to established prognostic factors showed strong associations between ezrin and necrosis (OR=3.9, p<0.0001) and ezrin and growth pattern (OR=3.1, p=0.03).ConclusionsEzrin independently predicts development of local recurrences and metastases in soft tissue sarcomas. The possibility of preoperative evaluation makes ezrin a potential marker for identification of high-risk sarcoma patients who would benefit from neoadjuvant therapy.
Are there adverse consequences of quizzing during informed consent for HIV research?
Authors: Sugarman J , Corneli A , Donnell D , Liu T Y , Rose S , Celentano D , Jackson B , Aramrattana A , Wei L , Shao Y , Liping F , Baoling R , Dye B , Metzger D 
Published: June 2011

IntroductionWhile quizzing during informed consent for research to ensure understanding has become commonplace, it is unclear whether the quizzing itself is problematic for potential participants. In this study, we address this issue in a multinational HIV prevention research trial enrolling injection drug users in China and Thailand.MethodsEnrolment procedures included an informed consent comprehension quiz. An informed consent survey followed.Results525 participants completed the informed consent survey (Heng County, China=255, Xinjiang, China=229, Chiang Mai, Thailand=41). Mean age was 33 and mean educational level was 8 yrs. While quizzing was felt to be a good way to determine if a person understands the nature of clinical trial participation (97%) and participants did not generally find the quiz to be problematic, minorities of respondents felt pressured (6%); anxious (5%); bored (5%); minded (5%); and did not find the questions easy (13%). In multivariate analysis, lower educational level was associated with not minding the quizzing (6–10 yrs vs 0–5 yrs: OR=0.27, p=0.03; more than 11 yrs vs 0–5 yrs: OR=0.18, p=0.03). There were also site differences (Heng County vs Xinjiang) in feeling anxious (OR=0.07; p=<0.01), not minding (OR=0.26; p=0.03), being bored (OR=0.25; p=0.01) and not finding the questions easy (OR=0.10; p=<0.01).ConclusionsQuizzing during the informed consent process can be problematic for a minority of participants. These problems may be associated with the setting in which research takes place and educational level. Further research is needed to develop, test and implement alternative methods of ensuring comprehension of informed consent.Trial Registrationclinicaltrials.gov numberNCT00270257.
ON MINKOWSKI MEASURABILITY
Authors: MENDIVIL F. , SAUNDERS J. C. 
Published: June 2011

Two "pathological" properties of Minkowski content are that countable sets can have positive content (unlike Hausdorff measures) and the property of a set being Minkowski measurable is quite rare. In this paper, we explore both of these issues. In particular, for each d ∈ (0,2) we give an explicit construction of a countable Minkowski measurable subset of ℝ2 of Minkowski dimension d and arbitrary positive Minkowski content. We also indicate how this construction can be extended to ℝn, to construct a countable subset with arbitrary positive Minkowski content of any dimension in (0, n). Furthermore, we give an example of a strictly increasing C1 function which takes a Minkowski measurable subset of [0,1] onto a set which is not Minkowski measurable but of the same dimension.
Tumor Microenvironment–Derived Proteins Dominate the Plasma Proteome Response during Breast Cancer Induction and Progression
Authors: Pitteri Sharon J. , Kelly-Spratt Karen S. , Gurley Kay E. , Kennedy Jacob , Buson Tina Busald , Chin Alice , Wang Hong , Zhang Qing , Wong Chee-Hong , Chodosh Lewis A. , Nelson Peter S. , Hanash Samir M. , Kemp Christopher J. 
Published: June 2011

Abstract
Tumor development relies upon essential contributions from the tumor microenvironment and host immune alterations. These contributions may inform the plasma proteome in a manner that could be exploited for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. In this study, we employed a systems biology approach to characterize the plasma proteome response in the inducible HER2/neu mouse model of breast cancer during tumor induction, progression, and regression. Mass spectrometry data derived from approximately 1.6 million spectra identified protein networks involved in wound healing, microenvironment, and metabolism that coordinately changed during tumor development. The observed alterations developed prior to cancer detection, increased progressively with tumor growth and reverted toward baseline with tumor regression. Gene expression and immunohistochemical analyses suggested that the cancer-associated plasma proteome was derived from transcriptional responses in the noncancerous host tissues as well as the developing tumor. The proteomic signature was distinct from a nonspecific response to inflammation. Overall, the developing tumor simultaneously engaged a number of innate physiologic processes, including wound repair, immune response, coagulation and complement cascades, tissue remodeling, and metabolic homeostasis that were all detectable in plasma. Our findings offer an integrated view of tumor development relevant to plasma-based strategies to detect and diagnose cancer. Cancer Res; 71(15); 5090–100. ©2011 AACR.
Expression of Amphiregulin and EGFRvIII Affect Outcome of Patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck Receiving Cetuximab–Docetaxel Treatment
Authors: Tinhofer Ingeborg , Klinghammer Konrad , Weichert Wilko , Knödler Maren , Stenzinger Albrecht , Gauler Thomas , Budach Volker , Keilholz Ulrich 
Published: June 2011

Abstract
Purpose: Constitutive activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as a result of gene amplification, mutation, or overexpression of its ligands has been associated with response to EGFR targeting strategies. The role of these molecular mechanisms for the responsiveness of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) to cetuximab-containing regimens remains unknown.
Experimental Design: Tumor biopsies from 47 patients, enrolled in a single-arm phase II multicenter study for second-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic SCCHN with cetuximab and docetaxel, were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for expression of EGFR, its deletion variant III (EGFRvIII) and its ligand amphiregulin (AREG). The relation between expression levels and disease control rate (DCR) was evaluated by logistic regression. Association between expression levels, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) was determined by Kaplan–Meier analysis, log-rank test, and uni- and multivariate Cox regression analysis.
Results: High expression of EGFR, EGFRvIII, and AREG was detected in 73%, 17%, and 45% of SCCHN cases, respectively. Expression levels of EGFR had no impact on PFS or OS. High expression levels of EGFRvIII were significantly associated with reduced DCR and shortened PFS (HR: 3.3, P = 0.005) but not with OS. Patients with high AREG expression in tumor cells had significantly shortened OS (HR: 2.2, P = 0.002) and PFS (HR 2.2, P = 0.019) compared with patients with low expression score. Multivariate Cox analysis revealed an independent association of AREG and EGFRvIII with PFS but only AREG was an independent prognosticator of OS.
Conclusions: High EGFRvIII and AREG expression levels identify SCCHN patients who are less likely to benefit from combination treatment with cetuximab and docetaxel. Clin Cancer Res; 17(15); 5197–204. ©2011 AACR.
Targeting GPCR-Mediated p70S6K Activity May Improve Head and Neck Cancer Response to Cetuximab
Authors: Bhola Neil E. , Thomas Sufi M. , Freilino Maria , Joyce Sonali , Sahu Anirban , Maxwell Jessica , Argiris Athanassios , Seethala Raja , Grandis Jennifer R. 
Published: June 2011

Abstract
Purpose: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression is correlated with decreased survival in head and neck cancer (HNC) where the addition of EGFR inhibition to standard chemoradiation approaches has improved treatment responses. However, the basis for the limited efficacy of EGFR inhibitors in HNC is incompletely understood. G-protein–coupled receptors (GPCR) have been shown to be overexpressed in HNC where GPCR activation induces HNC growth via both EGFR-dependent and -independent pathways. We hypothesized that targeting GPCR-induced EGFR-independent signaling would improve the efficacy of EGFR inhibition.
Experimental Design: Using a high-throughput phosphoproteome array, we identified proteins that were phosphorylated in HNC cells where EGFR expression was downmodulated by RNA interference (RNAi) in the presence or absence of a GPCR ligand. We confirmed the findings from the array by Western blotting followed by in vitro and in vivo phenotypic assays.
Results: p70S6K phosphorylation was elevated approximately sixfold in EGFR siRNA-transfected cells treated with a GPCR ligand. In addition to RNAi-mediated EGFR downmodulation, GPCR-mediated phosphorylation of p70S6K was modestly increased by EGFR inhibitor cetuximab approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Biopsies from cetuximab-treated patients also displayed increased phospho-p70S6K staining compared with pretreatment biopsies. HNC cells were growth inhibited by both genetic and pharmacologic p70S6K targeting strategies. Furthermore, p70S6K targeting in combination with cetuximab resulted in enhanced antitumor effects in both in vitro and in vivo HNC models.
Conclusions: These results indicate that increased phosphorylation of p70S6K in cetuximab-treated patients may be due to increased GPCR signaling. Therefore, the addition of p70S6K targeting strategies may improve treatment responses to EGFR inhibition. Clin Cancer Res; 17(15); 4996–5004. ©2011 AACR.
Late effects among pediatric patients followed for nearly 4 decades after transplantation for severe aplastic anemia
Authors: Sanders Jean E. , Woolfrey Ann E. , Carpenter Paul A. , Storer Barry E. , Hoffmeister Paul A. , Deeg H. Joachim , Flowers Mary E. D. , Storb Rainer F. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractAplastic anemia (AA), a potentially fatal disease, may be cured with marrow transplantation. Survival in pediatric patients has been excellent early after transplantation, but only limited data are available regarding late effects. This study evaluates late effects among 152 patients followed 1-38 years (median, 21.8 years). Transplantation-preparative regimes were mostly cyclophosphamide with or without antithymocyte globulin. Survival at 30 years for the acquired AA patients is 82%, and for the Fanconi anemia patients it is 58% (P = .01). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that chronic GVHD (P = .02) and Fanconi anemia (P = .03) negatively impacted survival. Two Fanconi patients and 18 acquired AA patients developed a malignancy that was fatal for 4. There was an increased incidence of thyroid function test abnormalities among those who received total body irradiation. Cyclophosphamide recipients demonstrated normal growth, basically normal development, and pregnancies with mostly normal offspring. Quality-of-life studies in adult survivors of this pediatric transplantation cohort indicated that patients were comparable with control patients except for difficulty with health and life insurance. These data indicate that the majority of long-term survivors after transplantation for AA during childhood can have a normal productive life.