bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sorafenib in combination with transarterial chemoembolization and bronchial arterial chemoinfusion in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with pulmonary metastasis
Authors: DUAN Feng , WANG Mao Qiang , LIU Feng Yong , WANG Zhi Jun , SONG Peng , WANG Yan 
Published: April 2012

AbstractAim:  Hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC) with pulmonary metastasis is considered incurable. This study addresses the efficacy of the combination of systemic therapy using sorafenib and local treatment using transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for intrahepatic and bronchial transarterial chemoinfusion (TAI) for pulmonary lesions for this condition.Methods:  In all, 52 HCC patients with pulmonary metastasis were treated with sorafenib and TACE/TAI for intrahepatic and intrapulmonary lesions. Response to treatment, progression‐free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and treatment‐induced adverse effects were analyzed.Results:  With a median follow‐up time of 11.4 months, radiologically confirmed complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease and disease progression for intrahepatic disease were observed in 0, 22, 23 and seven patients, respectively; radiologically confirmed CR, PR, stable disease and disease progression observed for intrapulmonary lesions were in 1, 8, 25 and 18 patients, respectively. Median OS and PFS was 12.0 and 10.0 months, respectively. Median OS of patients who achieved response (i.e., CR + PR + stable disease) in their gross lesion(s) was 14.0 and 13.0 months, respectively, as compared to 4.0 and 3.0 months for patients who progressed (P < 0.003). Significant prognosticators for OS and PFS included performance status, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage and response to treatment. The combined treatment strategy was well tolerated.Conclusion:  The combination of sorafenib, TACE and TAI produced median OS and PFS of 12 and 10 months, respectively, in HCC patients with lung metastasis. The outcomes of patients who achieved a response to their gross lesions were significantly better than those who had disease progression. Further investigation is warranted to test the efficacy of this treatment combination.
The efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy as an alternative to sorafenib in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: JEONG Soung Won , JANG Jae Young , LEE Ji Eun , LEE Sae Hwan , KIM Sang Gyune , CHA Sang‐Woo , KIM Young Seok , CHO Young Deok , KIM Hong Soo , KIM Boo Sung , KIM Kyoung Ha , KIM Yong Jae 
Published: April 2012

AbstractAims:  Sorafenib is the only systemic treatment shown to be effective against advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) has been selected as an alternative therapeutic option for advanced HCC. We investigated the efficacy and safety of HAIC as an alternative treatment for sorafenib in advanced HCC.Methods:  Between May 2008 and March 2011, 20 consecutive patients were treated with sorafenib monotherapy as a first‐line treatment and 21 consecutive patients who could not take sorafenib because of cost were treated with HAIC monotherapy as an alternative. Sorafenib was administered in 400 mg b.i.d. doses. For HAIC, daily cisplatin (7 mg/m2 on days 1–5) and 5‐FU (170 mg/m2 on days 1–5) were infused every 4 weeks. We assessed overall survival (OS), progression‐free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR) and toxicity.Results:  Median OS was 4.9 months (95% CI, 3.4–6.4) for sorafenib and 7.3 months (95% CI, 4.5–10.2) for HAIC (P = 0.599). Median PFS was 2.0 months (95% CI, 1.96–2.05) versus 3.0 months (95% CI, 1.98–4.02) for sorafenib and HAIC, respectively (P = 0.303). ORR and disease control rate (DCR) for sorafenib were 10.0 and 35.0% versus 19.0 and 38.1% for HAIC (ORR, P = 0.413; DCR, P = 0.837). Patients treated with HAIC more frequently exhibited grade 3/4 neutropenia (23.8 vs 0% for sorafenib), whereas sorafenib therapy showed grade 3/4 hand‐foot skin reaction in 10% of patients.Conclusion:  HAIC is a useful alternative treatment for advanced HCC and further prospective investigations are required.
Lack of association between GTF2H4 genetic variants and AERD development and FEV1 decline by aspirin provocation
Authors: Kim J. Y. , Kim J.‐H. , Bae J. S. , Park B.‐L. , Uh S.‐T. , Kim M.‐K. , Choi I. S. , Cho S. H. , Park C.‐S. , Shin H. D. 
Published: April 2012

SummaryAspirin‐exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is prevalent in about 10% of asthma patients and is characterized by a severe decline in forced expiratory volume in 1‐s (FEV1), an important phenotype for total lung capacity, upon ingestion of aspirin. The general transcription factor IIH subunit 4 (GTF2H4) is positioned at 6p21.33, a part of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II region that contains a number of genes that play an important role in the immune system. In addition, genetic variants in another general transcription factor IIH gene have revealed significant association with lung disease. To investigate whether GTF2H4 genetic variants could be a causative factor for AERD development and FEV1 decline by aspirin provocation, five common single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in 93 patients with AERD and 96 aspirin‐tolerant asthma (ATA) controls. As a result, when adjusted for age, gender, smoking status and atopy as covariates, the rs1264307 variant and two haplotypes showed nominal signals in the association with AERD (P = 0.02–0.04), but the significances disappeared after corrections for multiple testing (corrected P > 0.05). In further multiple regression analysis, no genetic variants of GTF2H4 showed significant associations with FEV1 decline by aspirin provocation in asthmatics (P > 0.05). Despite the need for replications in larger cohorts, our preliminary findings suggest that GTF2H4 variants may not be associated with susceptibility to AERD and obstructive symptoms in asthmatics.
SNP marker detection and genotyping in tilapia
Authors: Van BERS N. E. M. , CROOIJMANS R. P. M. A. , GROENEN M. A. M. , DIBBITS B. W. , KOMEN J. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWe have generated a unique resource consisting of nearly 175 000 short contig sequences and 3569 SNP markers from the widely cultured GIFT (Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia) strain of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). In total, 384 SNPs were selected to monitor the wider applicability of the SNPs by genotyping tilapia individuals from different strains and different geographical locations. In all strains and species tested (O. niloticus, O. aureus and O. mossambicus), the genotyping assay was working for a similar number of SNPs (288–305 SNPs). The actual number of polymorphic SNPs was, as expected, highest for individuals from the GIFT population (255 SNPs). In the individuals from an Egyptian strain and in individuals caught in the wild in the basin of the river Volta, 197 and 163 SNPs were polymorphic, respectively. A pairwise calculation of Nei’s genetic distance allowed the discrimination of the individual strains and species based on the genotypes determined with the SNP set. We expect that this set will be widely applicable for use in tilapia aquaculture, e.g. for pedigree reconstruction. In addition, this set is currently used for assaying the genetic diversity of native Nile tilapia in areas where tilapia is, or will be, introduced in aquaculture projects. This allows the tracing of escapees from aquaculture and the monitoring of effects of introgression and hybridization.
Low tumor blood flow assessed with perfusion CT correlates with lymphatic involvement in patients with stage T1b non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Zhou Hui , Xiong Zeng , Liu Jin‐Kang , Chen Shen‐Xi , Zhou Mo‐Ling , Zhou Jian‐hua , Chen Wei , Liu Yang‐teng‐yu , Fan Fan 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackground:  To investigate the correlation of computed tomography (CT) perfusion parameters and lymphatic involvement in patients with stage T1b non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods:  Forty‐six patients (30 men and 16 women; age range, 36–73 years; mean age, 57 years), with stage T1b non‐small cell lung cancer, underwent perfusion CT before surgery. The correlations between CT perfusion parameters (blood flow, blood volume, peak enhancement intensity), tumor angiogenesis (microvessel density and maturity of microvessels of surgical specimens) and lymphatic involvement were retrospectively investigated. Receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis was used to identify the parameter threshold at which tumors had or did not have lymph node metastasis, and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were calculated.Results:  A significant tendency for tumors with low blood flow and high density of immature microvessels to show lymphatic involvement was found (all P < 0.001). High correlation (r =−0.769, P < 0.001) was observed between tumor blood flow and immature microvessels. The area under ROC curves (AUC) for blood flow to detect lymph node metastasis was 0.866 (95% confidence interval, 0.766–0.966). For blood flow, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of predicting lymph node metastasis were 88.9, 64.3, and 73.9% respectively, if the cutoff point was set at 43.05 mL/100 g/minute.Conclusions:  Blood flow may be useful to predict lymphatic involvement before surgery in stage T1b NSCLC.
Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma of the mediastinum: CT and 18F‐fluoro‐2‐deoxyglucose PET findings
Authors: Kim Hyungjin , Park Chang Min , Jeon Yoon Kyung , Paeng Jin Chul , Goo Jin Mo , Lee Hyun‐Ju 
Published: April 2012

AbstractMediastinal follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) is an exceedingly rare malignant tumor. We report, herein, detailed imaging findings of mediastinal FDCS, appearing as a large, well‐circumscribed, strongly enhancing mass with central coarse calcification on computed tomography, with moderately increased metabolic activity on 18F‐fluoro‐2‐deoxyglucose positron emission tomography.
A Holistic Approach to Guide Development of Future Climate Scenarios for Water Resource Applications
Authors: Puma Michael J. 
Published: April 2012

Abstract:Changes in climate are expected to have a substantial impact on water resources. Consequently, numerous hydrologists have studied the widely recognized challenge of using climate‐change projections to address questions related to management of future water resources. Significant effort has been invested in formulating methods to overcome the difference in spatial scales between available future climate scenarios and water management needs. While numerous downscaling options exist, resource evaluation for the various approaches is rarely discussed; most assessments are focused on evaluating the skill of different methodologies. In this study, a framework is described that water managers can use 1) to identify their climate scenario needs and 2) to assess their financial, computing, time, and workforce resource limitations for climate scenario development. This framework will enable water resource managers to optimize the use of their available resources when developing future climate scenarios.
Scaling in Surface Hydrology: Progress and Challenges
Authors: Gentine Pierre , Troy Tara J. , Lintner Benjamin R. , Findell Kirsten L. 
Published: April 2012

Abstract:This paper presents a review of the challenges in spatial and temporal scales in surface hydrology. Fundamental issues and gaps in our understanding of hydrologic scaling are highlighted and shown to limit predictive skill, with heterogeneities, nonlinearities, and non‐local transport processes among the most significant difficulties faced in scaling. The discrepancy between the physical process scale and the measurement scale has played a major role in restricting the development of theories, for example, relating observational scales to scales of climate and weather models. Progress in our knowledge of scaling in hydrology requires systematic determination of critical scales and scale invariance of physical processes. In addition, viewing the surface hydrologic system as composed of interacting dynamical subsystems should facilitate the definition of scales observed in nature. Such an approach would inform the development of careful, resolution‐dependent, physical law formulation based on mathematical techniques and physical laws.
The role of psychological symptoms and social group memberships in the development of post‐traumatic stress after traumatic injury
Authors: Jones Janelle M. , Williams W. Huw , Jetten Jolanda , Haslam S. Alexander , Harris Adrian , Gleibs Ilka H. 
Published: April 2012

Objectives. The costs associated with traumatic injury are often exacerbated by the development of post‐traumatic stress symptoms. However, it is unclear what decreases the development of post‐traumatic symptoms over time. The aim of the present research was to examine the role of psychological symptoms and social group memberships in reducing the development of post‐traumatic stress symptoms after orthopaedic injuries (OIs) and acquired brain injuries (ABIs).Design and Methods. A longitudinal prospective study assessed self‐reported general health symptoms, social group memberships, and post‐traumatic stress symptoms among participants with mild or moderate ABI (n= 62) or upper limb OI (n= 31) at 2 weeks (T1) and 3 months (T2) after injury.Results. Hierarchical regressions revealed that having fewer T1 general health symptoms predicted lower levels of T2 post‐traumatic stress symptoms after OI but forming more new group memberships at T1 predicted lower levels of T2 post‐traumatic stress symptoms after ABI.Conclusion. A focus on acquiring group memberships may be particularly important in reducing the development of post‐traumatic stress symptoms after injuries, such as ABI, which result in long‐term life changes.Statement of ContributionWhat is already known on this subject?
Post‐traumatic stress symptoms are a common outcome after accidental traumatic injury.
Persistent post‐traumatic stress symptoms can be a risk factor for the development of PTSD.
What does this study add?
New insight into the contributions of general health symptoms and social group memberships in the development of post‐traumatic stress symptoms after accidental injury.
The development of post‐traumatic stress symptoms over time is associated with higher levels of general health symptoms among individuals with orthopaedic injuries; They are associated with lower levels of social group memberships among individuals with acquired brain injuries.
Human responses to bright light of different durations
Authors: Chang Anne‐Marie , Santhi Nayantara , St Hilaire Melissa , Gronfier Claude , Bradstreet Dayna S. , Duffy Jeanne F. , Lockley Steven W. , Kronauer Richard E. , Czeisler Charles A. 
Published: April 2012

Key points
Light is the strongest time cue for entrainment and phase resetting of the circadian clock.
In humans, exposure to long‐duration light (6.5 h) in the late evening/early night causes phase delays, suppresses melatonin and increases alertness.
Here we studied the effects of different durations of exposure to a single high‐intensity (∼10,000 lux) light pulse (0.2 h, 1 h, 2.5 h and 4.0 h) on phase shifting, suppression of melatonin and self‐reported sleepiness in young men and women.
Phase‐resetting and melatonin‐suppression responses were dose dependent and non‐linear; shorter light exposures more efficiently phase‐shift the clock, suppress melatonin and induce alertness.
Abstract  Light exposure in the early night induces phase delays of the circadian rhythm in melatonin in humans. Previous studies have investigated the effect of timing, intensity, wavelength, history and pattern of light stimuli on the human circadian timing system. We present results from a study of the duration–response relationship to phase‐delaying bright light. Thirty‐nine young healthy participants (16 female; 22.18 ± 3.62 years) completed a 9‐day inpatient study. Following three baseline days, participants underwent an initial circadian phase assessment procedure in dim light (<3 lux), and were then randomized for exposure to a bright light pulse (∼10,000 lux) of 0.2 h, 1.0 h, 2.5 h or 4.0 h duration during a 4.5 h controlled‐posture episode centred in a 16 h wake episode. After another 8 h sleep episode, participants completed a second circadian phase assessment. Phase shifts were calculated from the difference in the clock time of the dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) between the initial and final phase assessments. Exposure to varying durations of bright light reset the circadian pacemaker in a dose‐dependent, non‐linear manner. Per minute of exposure, the 0.2 h duration was over 5 times more effective at phase delaying the circadian pacemaker (1.07 ± 0.36 h) as compared with the 4.0 h duration (2.65 ± 0.24 h). Acute melatonin suppression and subjective sleepiness also had a dose‐dependent response to light exposure duration. These results provide strong evidence for a non‐linear resetting response of the human circadian pacemaker to light duration.
C1 neurons excite locus coeruleus and A5 noradrenergic neurons along with sympathetic outflow in rats
Authors: Abbott S. B. , Kanbar R. , Bochorishvili G. , Coates M. B. , Stornetta R. L. , Guyenet P. G. 
Published: April 2012

Key points
C1 neurons activate sympathetic tone and stimulate the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in circumstances such as pain, hypoxia or hypotension.
C1 neurons innervate pontine noradrenergic cell groups, including the locus coeruleus (LC) and A5.
In this study, using an optogenetic approach in anaesthetized rats, we show that C1 neurons form excitatory synapses with LC neurons and that selective stimulation of C1 neurons activates LC and A5 neurons.
These results show that the C1 neurons activate pontine noradrenergic neurons through the release of glutamate. This effect may be important in the arousal‐promoting effects of hypoxia and pain.
Drug Efflux by a Small Multidrug Resistance Protein Is Inhibited by a Transmembrane Peptide
Authors: Poulsen Bradley E. , Deber Charles M. 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACT

Drug-resistant bacteria use several families of membrane-embedded transporters to remove antibiotics from the cell. One such family is the small multidrug resistance proteins (SMRs) that, because of their relatively small size (ca. 110 residues with four transmembrane [TM] helices), must form (at least) dimers to efflux drugs. Here, we use a Lys-tagged synthetic peptide with exactly the same sequence as TM4 of the full-length SMR Hsmr from
Halobacterium salinarum
[TM4 sequence: AcA(Sar)
3
-VAGVVGLALIVAGVVVLNVAS-KKK (Sar =
N
-methylglycine)] to compete with and disrupt the native TM4-TM4 interactions believed to constitute the locus of Hsmr dimerization. Using a cellular efflux assay of the fluorescent SMR substrate ethidium bromide, we determined that bacterial cells containing Hsmr are able to remove cellular ethidium via first-order exponential decay with a rate constant (
k
) of 10.1 × 10
−3
± 0.7 × 10
−3
s
−1
. Upon treatment of the cells with the TM4 peptide, we observed a saturable ∼60% decrease in the efflux rate constant to 3.7 × 10
−3
± 0.2 × 10
−3
s
−1
. In corresponding experiments with control peptides, including scrambled sequences and a sequence with
d
-chirality, a decrease in ethidium efflux either was not observed or was marginal, likely from nonspecific effects. The designed peptides did not evoke bacterial lysis, indicating that they act via the α-helicity and membrane insertion propensities of the native TM4 helix. Our overall results suggest that this approach could conceivably be used to design hydrophobic peptides for disruption of key TM-TM interactions of membrane proteins and represent a valuable route to the discovery of new therapeutics.
Malachite Green Interferes with Postantibiotic Recovery of Mycobacteria
Authors: Gelman Ekaterina , McKinney John D. , Dhar Neeraj 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACT

The genus
Mycobacterium
comprises slow-growing species with generation times ranging from hours to weeks. The protracted incubation time before colonies appear on solid culture medium can result in overgrowth by faster-growing microorganisms. To prevent contamination, the solid media used in laboratories and clinics for cultivation of mycobacteria contain the arylmethane compound malachite green, which has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Malachite green has no impact on the plating efficiency of mycobacteria when cells are grown under normal conditions. However, we found that malachite green interfered with colony formation when bacteria were preexposed to antibiotics targeting cell wall biogenesis (isoniazid, ethionamide, ethambutol). This inhibitory effect of malachite green was not observed when bacteria were preexposed to antibiotics targeting cellular processes other than cell wall biogenesis (rifampin, moxifloxacin, streptomycin). Sputum specimens from tuberculosis patients are routinely evaluated on solid culture medium containing high concentrations of malachite green. This practice could lead to underestimation of bacterial loads and overestimation of chemotherapeutic efficacy.
Role of Common
bla
OXA-24/OXA-40
-Carrying Platforms and Plasmids in the Spread of OXA-24/OXA-40 among Acinetobacter Species Clinical Isolates
Authors: Grosso Filipa , Quinteira Sandra , Poirel Laurent , Novais Ângela , Peixe Luísa 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACT

The spread of OXA-24/OXA-40 (OXA-24/40)-producing
Acinetobacter
spp. in the Iberian Peninsula has been strongly influenced by clonal expansion, but the role of horizontal gene transfer has scarcely been explored.
bla
OXA-24/40
-carrying plasmids and genetic environments were characterized in representative (
n
= 15)
Acinetobacter
species clinical isolates (obtained between 2001 and 2007) by
Acinetobacter baumannii
PCR-based replicon typing, sequencing, hybridization, and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Besides the identification of
bla
OXA-24/40
within the chromosomes of some isolates, the circulation of common
bla
OXA-24/40
-carrying plasmids (30-kb
repA_AB
; 10-kb
aci2
) and genetic backbones among
Acinetobacter
spp. was demonstrated.
Chromosome-Encoded Extended-Spectrum Class A β-Lactamase MIN-1 from Minibacterium massiliensis
Authors: Bercot Béatrice , Nordmann Patrice , Drancourt Michel , Poirel Laurent 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACT

Minibacterium massiliensis
strain CIP107820 is a recently discovered waterborne Gram-negative rod isolated from hospital water samples. It harbors a chromosomally located gene encoding an Ambler class A extended-spectrum β-lactamase termed MIN-1, sharing 56%, 54%, and 51% amino acid identities with β-lactamases LUT-1, KPC-2, and CTX-M-2, respectively. β-Lactamase MIN-1 hydrolyzes penicillins, narrow-spectrum cephalosporins, cefotaxime, and, less efficiently, cefepime, while ceftazidime and carbapenems are very poor substrates, and cephamycins and aztreonam are not hydrolyzed.