bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The role of magnetic resonance imaging in the breast cancer patient.
Authors: Morrow M 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
Abstract #P3-1
Breast conserving therapy (BCT) is well established. Using standard guidelines, most patients are eligible, and those who are not can be identified with a high degree of accuracy with clinical evaluation and mammography. Local recurrence rates have decreased since the initial trials of BCT. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) identifies cancer not found by clinical exam or mammography. Improved definition of the extent of carcinoma in the breast has the potential to improve patient outcomes in the short term by decreasing the number of patients requiring conversion from BCT to mastectomy, or decreasing the number of excisions needed to obtain negative margins. Elimination of patients with extensive disease would be expected to decrease the rate of local recurrence of BCT in the long term.&#x2028; We examined the effect of MRI on short term outcomes in 577 patients seen between 2004-2006. MRI did not decrease positive margins at initial lumpectomy (21.6% MRI vs 14% no MRI) or conversion from BCT to mastectomy (9.8%MRI vs 5.9% no MRI). MRI was associated with a 19-day delay in surgery, and after controlling for stage, the odds ratio of mastectomy was 1.8 in the MRI group (p= .024). Solin et al (JCO, 2008) examined the effect of MRI on local recurrence in 756 patients. After adjustment for patient and tumor features, 8-year local recurrence rates were 3% and 4% in the MRI and no-MRI groups, and contralateral cancer rates did not differ. A meta-analysis of 2763 breast cancers found that MRI detected additional disease in 16% of cases, a rate significantly higher than the 5-8% 10-year rates of local recurrence observed in most modern studies of BCT. These observations raise important questions regarding unnecessarily radical surgery performed for MRI findings which may not result in improved outcomes.&#x2028; MRI is of benefit in selected, relatively uncommon circumstances including:&#x2028; a) Axillary adenopathy with occult primary tumor&#x2028; b) Paget's disease without evidence of tumor&#x2028; c) Assessing response to neoadjuvant therapy in patients desiring BCT&#x2028; d) Major discrepancy among clinical and conventional imaging findings&#x2028; Conclusion: Breast cancer is well documented by pathologic studies to be a multifocal /centric disease. This occult disease has been successfully treated with RT. MRI is a technology capable of finding some of this disease, but how this benefits patients is unclear. In the absence of this information, MRI should not be a part of routine pre-surgical evaluation.
Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-1.
Breast tumor evolution.
Authors: Polyak K , Shipitsin M , Campbell L , Yao J 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
Abstract #PD1-1
Breast tumors are heterogeneous and composed of a variety of cell types with distinct genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic profiles. However, the molecular basis underlying this intra-tumoral heterogeneity has not been defined. Models that attempt to explain this include the malignant stem cell hypothesis and the genetic diversity combined with clonal selection models. Both of these ideas have been investigated for a long time both in human tumors and in various model systems, leading to the accumulation of numerous findings that are used to support one or the other. Although the two models share some similarities, they explain tumor progression, therapeutic resistance, and recurrence in fundamentally different ways. Increasing data suggest that the cancer stem cell phenotype may just be a consequence of genetic and epigenetic events that occur in tumor cells and that it may change as tumors evolve. Furthermore, there may be differences among tumor types regarding the applicability of the cancer stem cell and clonal evolution models.
Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr PD1-1.
High-Sensitivity ST2 for Prediction of Adverse Outcomes in Chronic Heart Failure
Authors: Ky Bonnie , French Benjamin , McCloskey Kristin , Rame J. Eduardo , McIntosh Erin , Shahi Puja , Dries Daniel L. , Tang W.H. Wilson , Wu Alan H.B. , Fang James C. , Boxer Rebecca , Sweitzer Nancy K. , Levy Wayne C. , Goldberg Lee R. , Jessup Mariell , Cappola Thomas P. 
Published: December 2010

Background—
Soluble ST2 reflects activity of an interleukin-33–dependent cardioprotective signaling axis and is a diagnostic and prognostic marker in acute heart failure. The use of ST2 in chronic heart failure has not been well defined. Our objective was to determine whether plasma ST2 levels predict adverse outcomes in chronic heart failure in the context of current approaches.

Methods and Results—

We determined the association between ST2 level and risk of death or transplantation in a multicenter, prospective cohort of 1141 chronic heart failure outpatients. Adjusted Cox models, receiver operating characteristic analyses, and risk reclassification metrics were used to assess the value of ST2 in predicting risk beyond currently used factors. After a median of 2.8 years, 267 patients (23%) died or underwent heart transplantation. Patients in the highest ST2 tertile (ST2 >36.3 ng/mL) had a markedly increased risk of adverse outcomes compared with the lowest tertile (ST2 ≤22.3 ng/mL), with an unadjusted hazard ratio of 3.2 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2 to 4.7;
P
<0.0001) that remained significant after multivariable adjustment (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.3 to 2.9;
P
=0.002). In receiver operating characteristic analyses, the area under the curve for ST2 was 0.75 (95% CI, 0.69 to 0.79), which was similar to N-terminal pro-B–type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (area under the curve, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.72 to 0.81;
P
=0.24 versus ST2) but lower than the Seattle Heart Failure Model (area under the curve, 0.81 (95% CI, 0.77 to 0.85;
P
=0.014 versus ST2). Addition of ST2 and NT-proBNP to the Seattle Heart Failure Model reclassified 14.9% of patients into more appropriate risk categories (
P
=0.017).

Conclusions—
ST2 is a potent marker of risk in chronic heart failure and when used in combination with NT-proBNP offers moderate improvement in assessing prognosis beyond clinical risk scores.
The scent of the others: chemical recognition in two distinct populations of the European whip snake, Hierophis viridiflavus
Authors: Fornasiero Sara , Dendi Federica , Bresciani Elisa , Cecchinelli Elena , Zuffi Marco 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
Isolated populations of a given species may diverge from conspecifics for a
certain series of traits. It is of particular interest when this divergence
involves the signals and the related responses used by sexually reproducing
animals to identify prospective mating partners. Using behavioural trials
during reproductive season, we studied pheromone-mediated response between
insular and mainland European whip snakes, Hierophis viridiflavus. Our
results revealed that both insular and mainland males can utilise both
homotypic and heterotypic chemical cues. However, while insular snakes did
not show any preference between the two types of chemical cues, mainland
males preferred homotypic odours. These results, though preliminarly, show
the existence of asymmetry in the displayed behavioural patterns and support
the idea that isolated populations may evolve differences in communication
systems.
Courtship behaviour, mating season and male sexual interference in Salamandrina perspicillata (Savi, 1821)
Authors: Bruni Giacomo , Romano Antonio 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThe knowledge of reproductive behaviour of Salamandrina perspicillata, an endemic Italian salamander, is still fragmented and not exhaustive; and the only detailed observations were made just once in a terrarium. We describe many aspects of the terrestrial courtship behaviour such as male alert posture, substrate marking trail, approach and pursuit, tail undulation and vent swinging, and spermatophore deposition and pick-up. The courting pair follows an ellipsoidal track during this manoeuvre a spermatophore is deposited by the male just in front of the female who will reach the spermatophore as she continues to circle. No body contacts were observed during the courtship. Tail movements play a key role in the communication between sexes as well as between antagonistic males. Male-male combat involves biting as the main deterrent. We found that the mating season in wild populations is in the spring, differing from that reported previously for mating in captivity (winter) or extrapolated from the beginning of sperm storage (autumn). Each of these points is discussed in light of available information on social communication, sexual dimorphism, courtship evolution, and sperm storage.
Stability and annual return rates in amphibian populations
Authors: Salvidio Sebastiano 
Published: December 2010

AbstractAmphibians are declining worldwide and different ecological traits, such as population growth rate and demographic stochasticity have been associated with their risk of extinction. However the population annual return rate, a parameter that gives information on the rapidity at which a population returns to equilibrium after an external perturbation, has never been analysed. In this study the annual return rates of 21 amphibian time series, belonging to 16 species, were estimated through non-linear (theta) logistic modelling. Annual return rates of salamanders (0.73) did not differ from those of frogs (0.79) and all return rate values were below the threshold for chaos. These results show that, in general, amphibian populations are regulated and do not differ in their dynamics from other vertebrate taxa.
Intraspecific variation in the egg-wrapping behaviour of female smooth newts, Lissotriton vulgaris
Authors: Tóth Zoltán , Hoi Herbert , Hettyey Attila 
Published: December 2010

AbstractIn many species of the Salamandridae family, females provide parental care by carefully wrapping plant material around their eggs. As this behaviour has been shown to have a large effect on offspring survival, variation in this trait is expected to be low. Detailed investigations are, however, lacking. In the present study, we analyzed the consistency of egg-wrapping behaviour in two time periods within a breeding season in female smooth newts (Lissotriton vulgaris). We found a surprisingly low proportion of wrapped eggs of around 47% during the first period (when males were present) and an almost doubled ratio of around 92% in the second period (when males were absent). Also, the variation between individuals was significantly lower in the second period than in the first one. Furthermore, the bigger the females were, the more the proportion of wrapped eggs increased day by day within the first period; however, this relationship did not fully explain the observed difference between the two periods. Our results suggest that parental care in smooth newts can be influenced by the presence of mating partners and body size, and provide the first empirical evidence for within-individual variation in egg-wrapping in a salamandrid species.
Comparisons between Model Forecast and Observed Boundary Layer Profiles and Related Comments on Cloud Prediction
Authors: Price J. D. , Bush M. R. 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
In this study comparisons are made between Met Office mesoscale model boundary layer profiles, and radiosonde data collected in the central United Kingdom during three intensive boundary layer cloud experiments. Significant differences between forecast and observed profiles were found. An assessment of whether these differences are dominated by sonde random error or model error is performed. Results suggest that sonde random errors are insignificant for stratocumulus fields, but not for cumulus ones.
Results show that model fields do not represent the fine vertical structure seen in the observations. The impact of this result for cloud prediction is discussed, and an estimate for the vertical resolution required to adequately parameterize the cloud field is provided.
A Comparison of Precipitation Estimation Techniques over Lake Okeechobee, Florida
Authors: Dyer Jamie L. , Garza Reggina Cabrera 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
Lake Okeechobee, located in southern Florida, is an important component in the regional hydrologic system. Currently, the Southeast River Forecast Center (SERFC) is setting up a forecasting scheme for Lake Okeechobee and its major inflows. An important aspect in calibrating the system is estimating the depth of direct precipitation over the water surface. Within this project, National Weather Service (NWS) and South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) surface gauges, along with stage III multisensor precipitation estimates, are used to create time series of mean areal precipitation (MAP). The computed MAP values are compared in order to find the relative differences between them, and to determine the utility of using each data source for calibration and in future operations. It was found that the SFWMD gauge-based MAP was the most useful data source, because it had a suitable period of record and the SFWMD gauges had a better spatial sampling of precipitation over the lake surface. The radar-based stage III estimates were not found to be a useful source of data, despite the superior spatial sampling resolution, because they had too short a period of record and a number of changes in the processing algorithms made the associated MAP nonhomogeneous and inappropriate for model calibration.
A Comparison of Two Banded, Heavy Snowstorms with Very Different Synoptic Settings
Authors: Jurewicz Michael L. , Evans Michael S. 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
Two banded, heavy snowstorms that occurred over the northern mid-Atlantic region are compared and contrasted. On 6–7 January 2002, a narrow, intense band of heavy snow was observed, along with several other weaker bands, embedded within a large area of moderate snow. On 19–20 January 2002, a single, broader band of heavy snow was observed, embedded within a broken area of light snow.
The synoptic-scale settings associated with these two storms were strikingly dissimilar. In the first case, strong quasigeostrophic (QG) forcing for ascent was present just to the south of the heavy snowfall area. A highly amplified longwave trough was located over the Mississippi River valley, while a compact shortwave trough moved northward, up the east side of the longwave trough. The result was robust cyclogenesis off of the mid-Atlantic coast. In the second case, the relatively weaker QG forcing for ascent was located much farther southwest of the snowband. The flow aloft was much less amplified, with weaker cyclogenesis occurring off of the mid-Atlantic coast.
Analysis of the frontal scale environments for both cases indicated that the snowbands were each associated with the collocation of midtropospheric frontogenesis and reduced stability. In the first case, evidence is shown that a layer of potential symmetric instability (PSI) was located just above a deep, sloping zone of frontogenesis, in the presence of deep near-saturated conditions. In the second case, evidence is shown that a layer of potential instability (PI), associated with rapidly decreasing relative humidity with height, was located just above a shallow, sloping zone of frontogenesis. In addition, it is shown that a particularly favorable thermal environment for snowflake growth and accumulation became collocated with the heavy snowband. It is hypothesized that the differences in the intensity and horizontal extent of the bands observed with these two events resulted from differing atmospheric responses associated with the areal extent of large-scale and frontogenetical forcing, moisture availability, degree of instability, and specific thermal profiles.
Secondary Airway Lesions in Laryngomalacia
Authors: Rifai Hani A. , Benoit Marc , El‐Hakim Hamdy 
Published: December 2010

ObjectiveTo document the prevalence of secondary airway lesions (SALs) among children with laryngomalacia (LM).Study DesignA cross‐sectional observational study.SettingSingle practice in a tertiary care pediatric facility.Subjects and MethodsPatients diagnosed with LM were initially identified from a prospectively kept surgical database. Patients with cardiac/large‐vessel malformations, prematurity, repeated or prolonged intubations, acute infections, or prior airway surgery were excluded. Only children who had a full examination of the airway were included. Other associated diagnoses along with demographics, surgical intervention, and type of LM were included.ResultsOver an 8‐year period, 1112 patients underwent laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy. A total of 108 consecutive cases were diagnosed with LM (78 primary diagnosis and 30 secondary diagnosis). After excluding 17 with disorders associated with large airway disease, 91 LM patients were included. The mean age was 553.23 days (ranging between 5 days and 15 years); 60 were boys and 31 were girls. The prevalence of SALs was 7.7% (95% confidence interval, 7.65‐7.76; 7 children; 4 subglottic stenosis, 4 tracheomalacia, 1 bronchomalacia, and 1 choanal atresia). Fifty‐nine patients underwent supraglottoplasties, while 1 patient had a tracheostomy.ConclusionsAfter accounting for conditions known to be associated with large airway lesions, the prevalence of SALs associated with laryngomalacia was much less than previously reported. The authors hypothesize that the upper‐end figures are a reflection of highly select cohorts and the inclusion of patients with other pathology known to be associated with subglottic stenosis, tracheomalacia, and bronchomalacia and low thresholds for diagnosing mild subglottic stenosis.
Penetrating Neck Trauma in Operation Iraqi Freedom
Authors: Brennan Joseph , Lopez Manuel , Gibbons Mark D. , Hayes David , Faulkner Jeffrey , Dorlac Warren C. , Barton Chester 
Published: December 2010

ObjectivesTo examine the surgical outcomes of penetrating neck trauma patients in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and compare treatment and perioperative survival to historical data with low‐velocity penetrating neck trauma seen in a noncombat clinical setting.Study DesignCase series with chart review.SettingAir Force Theater Hospital at Balad Air Base, Iraq.Subjects and MethodsThe surgical management of penetrating neck trauma by 6 otolaryngologists deployed over a 30‐month period at the United States Air Force Theater Hospital in Balad, Iraq, was retrospectively reviewed. The presenting signs and symptoms, operative findings, and outcomes of patients who underwent neck exploration for high‐velocity penetrating neck trauma were determined. A treatment algorithm defining the management of both high‐velocity and low‐velocity penetrating neck trauma is recommended.ResultsOne hundred and twelve neck explorations for penetrating neck trauma were performed in OIF over 30 months. Ninety‐eight percent of these neck injuries were due to high‐velocity projectiles. In patients, zone 1 injuries occurred in 10%, zone 2 injuries in 77%, zone 3 injuries in 5%, combined zone 1/2 injuries in 5%, and combined zone 2/3 injuries in 3%. The positive exploration rate (patients with intraoperative findings necessitating surgical repair) was 69% (77/112). The mortality of patients undergoing neck exploration for high‐velocity penetrating neck trauma was 3.7%.ConclusionsThe perioperative mortality and the positive exploration rate for high‐velocity penetrating neck trauma by deployed surgeons in OIF are very comparable to those rates seen in civilian centers managing low‐velocity penetrating neck trauma.
IL-29 and IFNα differ in their ability to modulate IL-12 production by TLR-activated human macrophages and exhibit differential regulation of the IFNγ receptor expression
Authors: Liu Bi-Sheng , Janssen Harry L. A. , Boonstra André 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThe interferon-λ (IFNλ) family of cytokines, consisting of interleukin-28A (IFNλ2), IL-28B (IFNλ3), and IL-29 (IFNλ1), have been extensively studied for their antiviral activities. However, little is known about the effect of IFNλ on antigen-presenting cells. In the present study, we show for the first time that IL-29 can increase Toll-like receptor (TLR)–induced IL-12p40 production by human monocyte-derived macrophages. In contrast, IL-29 did not affect monocytes or monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) because of restricted IL-28 receptor α chain expression by macrophages. Furthermore, IL-29–treated macrophages were more responsive to IFNγ, because IL-29 enhanced IFNγ-induced IL-12p40 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production by macrophages on R848 stimulation. However, IFNα suppressed IFNγ-induced IL-12p40 and tumor necrosis factor TNF production by human macrophages. The differential effects of IL-29 and IFNα on the responsiveness of macrophages to IFNγ could not be explained by an effect on TLR7 or TLR8 mRNA expression or by altered IL-10 signaling. However, we demonstrated that IL-29 up-regulated, whereas IFNα down-regulated, the surface expression of the IFNγ receptor 1 chain on macrophages, thereby resulting in differential responsiveness of TLR-challenged macrophages to IFNγ. Our findings on the differences between IFNα and IL-29 in modulating TLR-induced cytokine production by macrophages may contribute to understanding the role of IFNs in regulating immunity to pathogens.
Neisseria meningitidis capsular polysaccharides induce inflammatory responses via TLR2 and TLR4-MD-2
Authors: Zughaier Susu M 
Published: December 2010

ABSTRACT
CPS are major virulence factors in infections caused by Neisseria meningitidis and form the basis for meningococcal serogroup designation and protective meningococcal vaccines. CPS polymers are anchored in the meningococcal outer membrane through a 1,2-diacylglycerol moiety, but the innate immunostimulatory activity of CPS is largely unexplored. Well-established human and murine macrophage cell lines and HEK/TLR stably transfected cells were stimulated with CPS, purified from an endotoxin-deficient meningococcal serogroup B NMB-lpxA mutant. CPS induced inflammatory responses via TLR2- and TLR4-MD-2. Meningococcal CPS induced a dose-dependent release of cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and CXCL10) and NO from human and murine macrophages, respectively. CPS induced IL-8 release from HEK cells stably transfected with TLR2/6, TLR2, TLR2/CD14, and TLR4/MD-2/CD14 but not HEK cells alone. mAb to TLR2 but not an isotype control antibody blocked CPS-induced IL-8 release from HEK-TLR2/6-transfected cells. A significant reduction in TNF-α and IL-8 release was seen when THP-1- and HEK-TLR4/MD-2-CD14- but not HEK-TLR2- or HEK-TLR2/6-transfected cells were stimulated with CPS in the presence of Eritoran (E5564), a lipid A antagonist that binds to MD-2, and a similar reduction in NO and TNF-α release was also seen in RAW 264.7 cells in the presence of Eritoran. CD14 and LBP enhanced CPS bioactivity, and NF-κB was, as anticipated, the major signaling pathway. Thus, these data suggest that innate immune recognition of meningococcal CPS by macrophages can occur via TLR2- and TLR4-MD-2 pathways.