bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adaptive black blood fast spin echo for end‐systolic rest cardiac imaging
Authors: Fernandez Brice , Oster Julien , Lohezic Maelene , Mandry Damien , Pietquin Olivier , Vuissoz Pierre‐André , Felblinger Jacques 
Published: November 2010

AbstractBlack Blood Fast Spin Echo imaging of the heart is usually performed during mid‐diastolic rest. This is a direct consequence of the long inversion time required to suppress the blood signal, which is constrained by the T1 of the blood, and of the heart rate. To overcome these constraints, and to acquire black blood images in the end‐systolic rest period, a new approach is introduced aiming at adaptively predicting the best time to prepare and acquire MR signals. It is based on a RR interval prediction algorithm and on a cardiac cycle model. The proposed method was applied to 14 healthy volunteers and is compared to a simple alternative method using a fixed delay and to the standard black blood imaging method for imaging in the mid‐diastolic rest period. Results show that the proposed method offers an increased robustness in terms of trigger delay error and image quality compared to the tested simple alternative. Also, it has been shown by qualitative analysis done by an experienced observer that the right ventricle, especially the thin right ventricle free wall, is better depicted with our method than with the standard mid‐diastolic rest acquisition. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: New Translational Therapies
Authors: Prince Anthony , Aguirre‐Ghizo Julio , Genden Eric , Posner Marshall , Sikora Andrew 
Published: November 2010

AbstractHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma includes cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, and lymph nodes of the neck. Although early disease is amenable to single‐modality treatment with surgery or radiation, patients with advanced disease have a dramatically worse prognosis, despite potentially morbid/toxic treatment regimens involving surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or all 3 modalities. The present review seeks to provide an overview of current understanding and treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma for the nonspecialist clinician or basic/translational researcher, followed by an overview of major translational approaches to the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Translational research topics addressed include targeted molecular therapy, immunotherapy, minimally invasive robotic surgery, and ablation of dormant/residual tumor cells. Despite the many potentially promising avenues of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma research, only 2 new treatment approaches (antiepidermal growth factor receptor therapy and robotic surgery) have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in the past 30 years. Focused research programs involving integrated teams of clinicians, basic scientists, and translational clinician‐researchers have the potential to accelerate discovery and change treatment paradigms for patients with head and neck cancer. Mt Sinai J Med 77:684–699, 2010. © 2010 Mount Sinai School of Medicine
A Cross‐Cultural Perspective on Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Authors: Gerson Charles D. , Gerson Mary‐Joan 
Published: November 2010

AbstractIrritable bowel syndrome is a functional gastrointestinal illness, defined by symptoms. Irritable bowel syndrome has been described as a biopsychosocial condition, in which colonic dysfunction is affected by psychological and social factors. As a result of this unusual constellation, irritable bowel syndrome may be subject to cultural variables that differ in different parts of the globe. In this article, we describe some of the ways in which irritable bowel syndrome may be experienced differently, depending on local belief systems, psychological pressures, acceptance or resistance to a mind‐body paradigm, and breakdown in support or relationship structure. Examples are given in which irritable bowel syndrome investigators from countries around the world describe various aspects of the syndrome that may affect the illness experience of their patients. We describe our own research studies that have demonstrated possible adverse effects on disease severity from relationship conflict, attribution of symptoms to physical rather than emotional cause, and the belief that irritable bowel syndrome is enduring and mysterious. Also described is our finding that symptom patterns may differ significantly between different geographic locations. Finally, we discuss the importance of “cultural competence” on the part of healthcare professionals in regard to caring for patients of diverse cultural backgrounds. Mt Sinai J Med 77:707–712, 2010. © 2010 Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Prevention of muscle fibrosis and myonecrosis in mdx mice by suramin, a TGF‐β1 blocker
Authors: Taniguti Ana Paula Tiemi , Pertille Adriana , Matsumura Cíntia Yuri , Neto Humberto Santo , Marques Maria Julia 
Published: November 2010

AbstractFibrosis is a pathological feature observed in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and in mdx mice, the experimental model of DMD. We evaluated the effect of suramin, a transforming growth factor‐beta 1 (TGF‐β1) blocker, on fibrosis in mdx mice. mdx mice (6 months old) received suramin for 7 weeks. Suramin‐ and saline‐treated (control) mdx mice performed exercise on a treadmill to worsen disease progression. Immunoblotting showed an increase of TGF‐β1 in mdx diaphragm, limb, and cardiac muscles. Suramin decreased creatine kinase in mdx mice and attenuated fibrosis in all muscles studied, except for cardiac muscle. Suramin protected limb muscles against damage and reduced the exercise‐induced loss of strength over time. These findings support a role for TGF‐β1 in fibrinogenesis and myonecrosis during the later stages of disease in mdx mice. Suramin might be a useful therapeutic alternative for the treatment of dystrophinopathies. Muscle Nerve, 2011
Turns–amplitude analysis in normal and myopathic facial muscles
Authors: Karandreas Nikos , Kararizou Evangelia , Papagianni Aikaterini , Zambelis Thomas , Kokotis Panagiotis 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to assess turns/amplitude analysis (TAA) as an objective alternative to conventional qualitative electromyography (EMG) for detection of myopathy in facial muscles. Normal values of TAA parameters were calculated in the frontalis and mentalis muscles of 26 control subjects. We estimated the slope of the regression line of mean amplitude/turn values (MA) plotted against the number of turns/second (NT) and the resulting clouds. The 95% confidence limits of the cloud data were drawn as an ellipse. The sensitivity of TAA was determined from a group of 35 myopathic patients and specificity from a second group of 25 control subjects. Significant differences for every TAA parameter were found between frontalis and mentalis. Cumulative sensitivity and specificity of TAA for frontalis and mentalis were 74.6%, 56.5%, and 73.3%, 70.8%, respectively. With at least two of the aforementioned criteria abnormal, the sensitivity and specificity for frontalis and mentalis were 61.3%, 82.6%, and 56.7%, 100.0%, respectively. Muscle Nerve, 2011
Accuracy of diagnoses delivered by an automated hand‐held nerve conduction device in comparison to standard electrophysiological testing in patients with unilateral leg symptoms
Authors: Schmidt Kevin , Chinea Nataly Montes , Sorenson Eric J. , Strommen Jeffrey A. , Boon Andrea J. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractIntroduction: Automated hand‐held nerve conduction study (NCS) devices are being marketed for use in the diagnosis of lumbosacral radiculopathy (LSR). In this study we compared the specificity and sensitivity of a hand‐held NCS device for the detection of LSR with standard electrodiagnostic study (EDX). Methods: Fifty patients referred to a tertiary referral electromyography (EMG) laboratory for testing of predominantly unilateral leg symptoms (weakness, sensory complaints, and/or pain) were included in the investigation. Twenty‐five normal “control” subjects were later recruited to calculate the specificity of the automated protocol. All patients underwent standard EDX and automated testing. Results: Raw NCS data were comparable for both techniques; however, computer‐generated interpretations delivered by the automated device showed high sensitivity with low specificity (i.e., many false positives) in both symptomatic patients and normal controls. Conclusions: The automated device accurately recorded raw data, but the interpretations provided were overly sensitive and lacked the specificity necessary for a screening or diagnostic examination. Muscle Nerve, 2011
Children with acute leukemia: A comparison of outcomes from allogeneic blood stem cell and bone marrow transplantation
Authors: Lin Yu‐Feng , Lairson David R. , Chan Wenyaw , Du Xianglin L. , Leung Kathryn S. , Kennedy‐Nasser Alana A. , Martinez Caridad A. , Heslop Helen E. , Brenner Malcolm K. , Krance Robert A. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractBackgroundThe relative merits of peripheral blood stem‐cell transplantation (PBSCT) versus bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for children with standard and high‐risk hematologic malignancies remain unclear. In a retrospective study, we compared allogeneic PBSCT (n = 30) with BMT (n = 110) in children with acute leukemia between January 2001 and September 2006.ProcedureMedian age for PBSCT was 9 years versus 8 years for BMT. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the demographic and medical variables. The unadjusted probabilities of disease‐free survival were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. The association of graft‐source and time to each of the study endpoints was estimated by Cox's regression model and the occurrence of graft‐versus‐host disease (GvHD) was included as a time‐dependent covariate.ResultsTime to neutrophil engraftment and platelet independence was faster after PBSCT than BMT (neutrophils 15.0 days vs. 17.0 days,P < 0.001; platelets, 21.0 days vs. 27.0 days,P = 0.034). The cumulative incidence of grades II–IV acute GvHD at 100 days was 10.4% (SE 5.6%) after PBSCT and 15.1% (SE 3.5%) after BMT (P = NS). The cumulative incidence of chronic GvHD was 13.8% (SE 6.3%) after PBSCT and 11.3% (SE 3.1%) after BMT (P = NS). One‐year disease‐free survival was 37.9% (SE 9.0%) for PBSCT recipients versus 65.1% (SE 4.6%) after BMT (P = 0.005) but this difference was not sustained in multivariate analysis. Thus, only disease risk and pre‐transplant CMV seropositivity were significant predictors of disease‐free survival.ConclusionsWe conclude that PBSCT for children produces faster engraftment without increased risk of acute or chronic GvHD. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010;56:143–151. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A phase II study of metronomic oral topotecan for recurrent childhood brain tumors
Authors: Minturn Jane E. , Janss Anna J. , Fisher Paul G. , Allen Jeffrey C. , Patti Ratnakar , Phillips Peter C. , Belasco Jean B. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractBackgroundThe prognosis for recurrent or refractory brain tumors in children is poor with conventional therapies. Topotecan is a topoisomerase I inhibitor with good central nervous system (CNS) penetration following oral administration. Increased efficacy of topotecan has been demonstrated with prolonged low‐dose daily treatment in pre‐clinical models. To investigate further this drug delivered orally in pediatric CNS malignancies, a phase II study in children with recurrent or refractory brain tumors was performed.ProcedurePatients ≤21 years of age at diagnosis with a recurrent, progressive, or refractory primary CNS malignancy and measurable disease, were eligible. Patients enrolled into four strata: ependymoma (N = 4), high‐grade glioma (HGG) (N = 6), brainstem glioma (BSG) (N = 13), and primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) (N = 8). Oral topotecan was administered once daily at a dose of 0.8 mg/m2/day for 21 consecutive days repeated every 28 days. Response and toxicity profiles were evaluated.ResultsTwenty‐six patients were evaluable (median age 9.2 years; 10 males). Two objective responses were observed in PNET patients with disseminated tumor at study entry. These two patients remain alive and in remission 7 and 9.5 years off study. Four other patients (two BSG, one PNET, and one HGG) had stable disease (median 4.6 months). The most common toxicities were hematologic.ConclusionsDaily oral topotecan at a dose of 0.8 mg/m2/day can be safely administered to children with recurrent or refractory brain tumors. This regimen identified activity in recurrent PNET. The prolonged progression free survival (PFS) in two PNET patients justifies consideration of this regimen in more advanced clinical trials. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010;56:39–44. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Delay and causes of delay in the diagnosis of childhood cancer in Africa
Authors: Stefan Daniela Cristina , Siemonsma Femke 
Published: November 2010

AbstractBackgroundAlthough a few studies have investigated delays in diagnosis and treatment among children and adolescents with cancer, this has never been subject of study in South Africa. Early diagnosis is fundamental as it allows timely treatment and prevents unnecessary complications.ProceduresCombined prospective and retrospective study of 194 children with cancer at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, diagnosed between 2000 and 2009: 126 patients were included through review of the medical charts and 68 through interviews with the parents.ResultsThe median total diagnosis delay was 34 days (2–1,826). The median patient delay was 5 days (0–457). The median physician delay was 20 days (0–924). Gender, age or ethnicity of the children, as well as parental level of education did not have a significant influence on the total time to diagnosis. Initial misdiagnoses were frequent (58%).ConclusionsThere is considerable delay in diagnosing childhood cancer in the area served by Tygerberg Hospital, due mostly to a physician delay of 20 days on average. The findings of our unit should be correlated with other South African centers. There is a clear need to increase parental awareness of childhood cancer and to intensify the education of nurses and doctors with regard to the warning signs of the disease. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010;56:80–85. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Retrospective analysis of pediatric cancer patients diagnosed with the pandemic H1N1 influenza infection
Authors: Amayiri Nisreen , Madanat Faris 
Published: November 2010

AbstractBackgroundLimited data are available on disease characteristics and outcome of children with cancer who contracted the H1N1 influenza infection during the 2009 pandemic.MethodsAll 76 pediatric patients with cancer and documented H1N1 infection who presented to the Pediatric Department at King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) between October 1 and December 1, 2009 were reviewed for clinical characteristics and course of the disease.ResultsTwo‐thirds of the patients had hematological malignancies and half were receiving non‐intensive chemotherapy at the time of infection. With the exception of two patients who needed pediatric intensive care unit admission, the course of the remaining patients was uneventful whether they were hospitalized or not. No deaths related to H1N1 influenza infection were reported. Sixty‐three percent of patients became afebrile within 48 hr of receiving oseltamivir. One‐third of hospitalized patients were discharged in <3 days.ConclusionThe course of H1N1 influenza infection in children with cancer appears to be mild in most cases. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010;56:86–89. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An examination of distress, sleep, and fatigue in metastatic breast cancer patients
Authors: Mosher Catherine E. , DuHamel Katherine N. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractObjective: Few studies have used rapid screening instruments to document the prevalence of distress among metastatic breast cancer patients. This study used the one‐item Distress Thermometer (DT) to assess distress in this population. Anxiety and depressive symptoms, sleep problems, fatigue, and mental health service use were assessed for patients who met the cutoff on the DT for probable distress (score ⩾4).Methods: A total of 173 metastatic breast cancer patients rated their distress on the DT. Respondents who met study eligibility criteria (n = 90), including a score ⩾4 on the DT, completed a telephone survey 1 week later that assessed anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep problems, and fatigue. Associations of study outcomes with demographic and medical characteristics were computed.Results: Sixty percent of the 173 patients met the cutoff for probable distress on the DT. Meeting this cutoff was not associated with age, ethnicity, time since diagnosis, or medical treatments. The majority (61%) of respondents who were classified as distressed on the DT reported clinically significant anxiety or depressive symptoms 1 week later. On average, these patients also showed significant fatigue and sleep disturbance, with 70% reporting decrements in sleep quality. Only 29% of patients with significant anxiety or depressive symptoms accessed mental health services.Conclusions: Results point to a high prevalence of distress, sleep problems, and fatigue across demographic and medical subgroups of metastatic breast cancer patients. A rapid one‐item screening tool may be used to identify patients with a potential need for psychosocial assessment and intervention. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Acute effects of bergamot oil on anxiety‐related behaviour and corticosterone level in rats
Authors: Saiyudthong Somrudee , Marsden Charles A. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractBergamot essential oil (BEO), Citrus aurantium subsp. bergamia (Risso) Wright & Arn. (Rutaceae), is used widely in aromatherapy to reduce stress and anxiety despite limited scientific evidence. A previous study showed that BEO significantly increased gamma‐aminobutyric acid levels in rat hippocampus, suggesting potential anxiolytic properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of BEO (1.0%, 2.5% and 5.0% w/w) administered to rats on both anxiety‐related behaviours (the elevated plus‐maze (EPM) and hole‐board tests) and stress‐induced levels of plasma corticosterone in comparison with the effects of diazepam. Inhalation of BEO (1% and 2.5%) and injection of diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly increased the percentage of open arm entries on the EPM. The percentage time spent in the open arms was also significantly enhanced following administration of either BEO (2.5% and 5%) or diazepam. Total arm entries were significantly increased with the highest dose (5%), suggesting an increase in locomotor activity. In the hole‐board test, 2.5% BEO and diazepam significantly increased the number of head dips. 2.5% BEO and diazepam attenuated the corticosterone response to acute stress caused by exposure to the EPM. In conclusion, both BEO and diazepam exhibited anxiolytic‐like behaviours and attenuated HPA axis activity by reducing the corticosterone response to stress. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sensitivity of tropical‐cyclone models to the surface drag coefficient
Authors: Montgomery Michael T. , Smith Roger K. , Nguyen Sang V. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractMotivated by recent developments in tropical‐cyclone dynamics, this paper re‐examines a basic aspect of tropical‐cyclone behaviour, namely, the sensitivity of tropical‐cyclone models to the surface drag coefficient. Previous theoretical and numerical studies of the sensitivity in axisymmetric models have found that the intensity decreases markedly with increasing drag coefficient. Here we present a series of three‐dimensional convection‐permitting numerical experiments in which the intensification rate and intensity of the vortex increase with increasing surface drag coefficient until a certain threshold value is attained and then decrease. In particular, tropical depression‐strength vortices intensify to major hurricane intensity for values of CK/CD as small as 0.1, significantly smaller than the critical threshold value of about 0.75 for major hurricane development predicted by Emanuel using an axisymmetric balance model. Moreover, when the drag coefficient is set to zero, no system‐scale intensification occurs, despite persistent sea‐to‐air fluxes of moisture that maintain deep convective activity. This result is opposite to that found in a prior axisymmetric study by Craig and Gray.The findings are interpreted using recent insights obtained on tropical‐cyclone intensification, which highlight the intrinsically unbalanced dynamics of the tropical‐cyclone boundary layer. The reasons for the differences from earlier axisymmetric studies and some potential ramifications of our findings are discussed.The relative insensitivity of the intensification rate and intensity found for drag coefficients typical of high wind speeds over the ocean calls into question the need for coupled ocean wave– atmospheric models to accurately forecast tropical‐cyclone intensity. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Noncovalent modification of carbon nanotubes by conjugated polymer: A theoretical study
Authors: Wang Y. J. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe energetic and optical properties of (n, n) carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for n = 3–11 noncovalently modified with poly(phenylenethynylene) (PPE) were studied using a density‐functional tight‐binding method. The binding energies between the PPE and (n, n) CNTs were found increasing with the diameter increase for n ≤ 9 and then decreasing due to steric hindrance effect. It was verified that the binding is due to π–π interaction and van der Waals attraction, with very small charge transfers involved. Significant blue shifts in the absorption and fluorescent spectra of the PPE upon interacting with the CNTs were revealed in the calculation, which are responsible to the optical “quenching” observed in experiment. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
Random unlabelled graphs containing few disjoint cycles
Authors: Kang Mihyun , McDiarmid Colin 
Published: November 2010

AbstractWe call a set B of vertices in a graph G a blocker if the graph G ‐ B obtained from G by deleting the vertices in B has no cycles. The classical Erdős‐Pósa theorem (1965) states that for each positive integer k there is a positive integer f(k) such that in each graph G which contains at most k pairwise vertex‐disjoint cycles, there is a blocker B of size at most f(k).We show that, amongst all unlabelled n‐vertex graphs with at most k disjoint cycles, all but an exponentially small proportion have a unique blocker of size k. We also determine the asymptotic number and properties of such graphs. For example we study the limiting probability that such graphs are connected, the limiting average number of vertices not in the giant component, and the limiting distribution of the chromatic number. Further, we give more detailed results concerning graphs with no two disjoint cycles.These results complement recent results for labelled graphs by Kurauskas and the second author. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2011