bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of postmastectomy radiotherapy in T3N0 invasive carcinoma of the breast
Authors: McCammon Robert , Finlayson Christina , Schwer Amanda , Rabinovitch Rachel 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND.Randomized trials provide evidence for improved outcomes with postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) in high‐risk patients. It has been suggested that patients with T3N0 breast cancer represent a favorable subgroup for which PMRT renders little benefit. In the current study, the authors used a United States population database to evaluate PMRT in this subgroup.METHODS.The cause‐specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) of women with T3N0M0 breast cancer in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database after mastectomy and axillary staging from 1988 to 2002 were analyzed. Univariate analysis was performed to relate CSS with PMRT (yes vs no), tumor size (≤7 cm vs >7 cm), grade (1 vs 2 or 3), patient age (≤50 years vs >50 years), the number of lymph nodes dissected (≤13 vs >13), and the era treated (1988‐1997 vs 1998‐2002). Multivariate analyses for CSS and OS were also performed.RESULTS.In total, 1865 women met the analysis criteria for OS; CSS data were available for 98.8% of those women. Of the women who were diagnosed during the era from 1988 to 1997, 22% received PMRT, and that rate increased to 41% during the era from 1998 to 2002. The actuarial 10‐year CSS for those who received PMRT versus those who did not receive PMRT was 81.6% versus 79.8%, respectively (P= .38). PMRT was not associated with a CSS benefit in any subgroup, a finding that persisted in multivariate analyses. Women who received PMRT had an increased 10‐year OS rate (70.7% vs 58.4%;P< .001) that was confined to women aged >50 years in a subgroup analysis.CONCLUSIONS.This retrospective, population‐based analysis demonstrated no increase in CSS with PMRT for women with T3N0 breast cancer, lending further support to the hypothesis that T3N0 disease postmastectomy represents a favorable subset of locally advanced breast cancer. Theincreased OS associated with PMRT in the absence of improved CSS likely reflects patient selection in this nonrandomized dataset. Prospective evaluation of PMRT in this population subset is warranted. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Neutropenia in 6 ethnic groups from the Caribbean and the U.S.
Authors: Grann Victor R. , Bowman Natalie , Joseph Cecil , Wei Ying , Horwitz Marshall S. , Jacobson Judith S. , Santella Regina P. , Hershman Dawn L. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND.Low white blood cell counts (WBC) or absolute neutrophil counts (ANC) may delay or prevent the completion of appropriate chemotherapy, especially among women receiving adjuvant therapy for breast and colon cancer, and affect cancer survival. Because race/ethnicity is also associated with survival, the authors compared WBC and ANC in healthy American‐born women of African descent and European descent, and women from Barbados/Trinidad‐Tobago, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica.METHODS.Blood samples from 261 healthy women ages 20 to 70 years were tested for WBC with differential, cytokine and growth factor levels, and ancestry informative and neutrophil elastase polymorphisms. The authors analyzed the association between neutropenia and serum WBC growth factor levels, cytokine levels, and neutrophil elastase c199a polymorphism.RESULTS.The median WBC and ANC differed among the 6 groups (P < .01 for WBC and P < .0001 for ANC). Dominicans were found to have higher median WBC and ANC than all other groups (P < .03). Neutropenia (ANC < 1500 cu/mm) was observed among 2.7% to 12.5% of the groups of predominantly African descent; no other groups were found to have neutropenia (P < .05). Granulocyte–colony‐stimulating factor was found to be lower in white women, but tumor necrosis factor‐α and C–reactive protein were not found to be correlated with ethnicity. Women of African origin were more likely to have polymorphisms of African ancestry (P < .001) and c199a alleles (P < .0001), which were also associated with low ANC levels.CONCLUSIONS.In the current study, the authors observed a strong association between neutropenia and African descent among asymptomatic women from the U.S. and the Caribbean. Among women of African descent who develop a malignancy, this association may contribute to racial disparities in treatment and outcomes. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Erlotinib plus bevacizumab in previously treated patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma
Authors: Jackman David M. , Kindler Hedy L. , Yeap Beow Y. , Fidias Panos , Salgia Ravi , Lucca Joan , Morse Linda K. , Ostler Patricia A. , Johnson Bruce E. , Jänne Pasi A. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND.We conducted a phase 2, multicenter, open‐label study of erlotinib plus bevacizumab in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma who had previously received 1 prior chemotherapy regimen. These agents have activity in non–small cell lung cancer, but their role in mesothelioma is unclear. The primary endpoint is response rate. Secondary endpoints include time to progression, survival, and toxicity.METHODS.Eligible patients with mesothelioma who had previously received 1 chemotherapy regimen were treated with erlotinib 150 mg per os daily and bevacizumab 15 mg/kg administered intravenously on Day 1 of a 21‐day cycle. Treatment continued until disease progression or development of significant toxicity. Tumor response was assessed after every 2 cycles using previously established mesothelioma response criteria from Byrne and Nowak.RESULTS.Twenty‐four eligible patients initiated therapy with erlotinib and bevacizumab between February 2004 and October 2006. There were no complete or partial responses, although 12 patients achieved stable disease for at least 2 cycles of treatment. The median time to progression was 2.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4 months‐5.9 months). The median survival was 5.8 months (95% CI, 2.8 months‐10.1 months). The most common toxicities were rash and diarrhea. There were no treatment‐related deaths, intracranial bleeding, or hemoptysis.CONCLUSIONS.The combination of erlotinib and bevacizumab was tolerated reasonably well, but there was no evidence of radiographic response. This study demonstrates the feasibility of conducting trials in mesothelioma patients who have failed first‐line therapy. More therapeutic studies with effective agents are needed for these patients. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Tetracycline to prevent epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor‐induced skin rashes
Authors: Jatoi Aminah , Rowland Kendrith , Sloan Jeff A. , Gross Howard M. , Fishkin Paul A. , Kahanic Stephen P. , Novotny Paul J. , Schaefer Paul L. , Johnson David B. , Tschetter Loren K. , Loprinzi Charles L. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND.Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors are effective cancer therapies, but they are reported to cause a rash in >50% of patients. In the current study, the authors examined the use of tetracycline for rash prevention.METHODS.This placebo‐controlled, double‐blinded trial enrolled patients who were starting cancer treatment with an EGFR inhibitor. Patients could not have had a rash at the time of enrollment. All patients were randomly assigned to receive either tetracycline at a dose of 500 mg orally twice a day for 28 days versus a placebo. Patients were monitored for rash (through monthly physician assessment and weekly patient‐reported questionnaires), quality of life (using the SKINDEX‐16, a skin‐specific quality of life index), and adverse events. Monitoring occurred during the 4‐week intervention and then for an additional 4 weeks. The primary objective of the current study was to compare the incidence of rash between the study arms, and the enrollment of 30 patients per arm provided a 90% probability of detecting a 40% difference in incidence with a P value of .05 (2‐sided).RESULTS.A total of 61 evaluable patients were enrolled. The 2 treatment arms were well balanced with regard to baseline characteristics, dropout rates, and rates of discontinuation of the EGFR inhibitor. The incidence of rash was found to be comparable across treatment arms. Physicians reported that 16 patients treated with tetracycline (70%) and 22 patients treated with placebo (76%) developed a rash (P = .61). Tetracycline appears to have lessened the rash severity, although the high dropout rates invite caution when interpreting these findings. By Week 4, physician‐reported grade 2 rash (using the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [version 3.0]) occurred in 17% of tetracycline‐treated patients (n = 4 patients) and in 55% of placebo‐exposed patients (n = 16 patients) (P = .04). Patients treated with tetracycline reported better scores, as per the SKINDEX‐16, on certain quality‐of‐life parameters such as skin burning or stinging, skin irritation, and being bothered by the persistence/recurrence of a skin condition. Adverse events were found to be comparable across treatment arms.CONCLUSIONS.In the current study, tetracycline was not found to prevent EGFR inhibitor‐induced rashes and therefore cannot be clinically recommended for this purpose. However, preliminary observations of diminished rash severity and improved quality of life suggest this antibiotic merits further study. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Use of health‐related quality‐of‐life assessments in daily clinical oncology nursing practice
Authors: Hilarius Doranne L. , Kloeg Paul H. , Gundy Chad M. , Aaronson Neil K. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND.The current study evaluated the efficacy of incorporating standardized health‐related quality of life (HRQL) assessments as a routine part of the outpatient chemotherapy treatment of cancer patients in a community hospital in terms of: 1) facilitating nurse‐patient communication, 2) increasing nurses' awareness of patients' HRQL, 3) patient management, 4) patients' satisfaction, and 5) patients' HRQL.METHODS.The study employed a sequential cohort design with repeated measures. Ten nurses and 219 patients participated in this community hospital‐based study. The intervention involved patients completing standardized HRQL questionnaires via a touch‐screen computer, the results of which were provided to nurses and patients in a graphic summary. Questionnaire and medical record data were used to assess outcomes.RESULTS.HRQL‐related topics were discussed significantly more frequently in the intervention group than in the control group (mean = 4.8 topics vs 3.8 topics, respectively; P = .02). Nurses' awareness of patients' levels of daily activity, pain, and overall quality of life was significantly better in the intervention than the control group. The mean number of HRQL‐related notations in the medical records was significantly higher in the intervention group (24 vs 20; P< .05). Only modest effects were observed in patient management (counseling behavior), and no significant effects were found in patient satisfaction or changes in HRQL over time.CONCLUSIONS.Incorporating standardized HRQL assessments in daily clinical oncology nursing practice primarily facilitates the discussion of HRQL issues and increases nurses' awareness. Additional efforts are needed to enhance the effect of routine HRQL assessments on patient management and HRQL. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Maintenance bacillus Calmette‐Guérin in high‐risk nonmuscle‐invasive bladder cancer
Authors: Decobert Marc , LaRue Hélène , Harel François , Meyer François , Fradet Yves , Lacombe Louis 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND.Intravesical bacillus Calmette‐Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy is effective in preventing recurrence and progression in nonmuscle‐invasive bladder cancer but the dosing schedule and duration of treatment remain empirical. The outcome of BCG therapy was prospectively evaluated on patients according to the number of maintenance cycles received.METHODS.Between 1997 and 2002, 111 patients with nonmuscle‐invasive bladder cancer at high risk of recurrence and progression underwent transurethral resection followed by intravesical instillations of BCG. After an induction treatment of 6 weekly instillations, patients were scheduled to receive a 3‐weekly maintenance treatment at the 3rd, 6th, 12th, 18th, 24th, 30th, and 36th month. At each visit a clinical assessment was obtained.RESULTS.Over a median clinical follow‐up of 31 months, 43% of patients experienced recurrence and 8.1% progressed to muscle‐invasive disease or metastasis. Only 1 patient received all scheduled instillations. Patients who received at least 3 maintenance BCG cycles had a significantly reduced risk of recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.23, P = .0064, adjusted for gender, age, and stage) compared with patients receiving only induction BCG. Twelve months after the end of maintenance, the estimated Kaplan‐Meier recurrence‐free survival was 89% for patients who received at least 3 maintenance BCG cycles, 67% for those who received 2 maintenance BCG cycles, and 41% for those who received only the induction BCG or 1 maintenance cycle (P = .0003).CONCLUSIONS.The results of this study suggest that a minimum of 3 cycles of maintenance BCG is required to significantly reduce the recurrence rate. It also suggests that more cycles may result in further improvements but the benefits may be outweighed by increasing side effects in some patients. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Perinucleolar compartment prevalence is a phenotypic pancancer marker of malignancy
Authors: Norton John T. , Pollock Callie B. , Wang Chen , Schink Julian C. , Kim J. Julie , Huang Sui 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND.The perinucleolar compartment (PNC) is a subnuclear structure localized at the nucleolar periphery. Previous studies using breast cancer as a model system demonstrated that PNC prevalence (the percentage of cells with 1 or more PNC) increased with disease progression and was associated with poor patient outcomes.METHODS.To evaluate the validity of developing PNC prevalence as a novel pancancer prognostic marker, the authors investigated whether PNC prevalence was correlated with malignancy in a spectrum of tissue types and evaluated its selective association with malignancy under various experimental conditions.RESULTS.PNC prevalence was low in primary and immortalized cells and in cell lines derived from hematologic malignancies, but it was heterogeneous in cell lines derived from solid tumors, including those of epithelial and nonepithelial origins. Studies using human myometrial tissue and thyroid cancer cell lines with various levels of malignancy demonstrated a correlation between high PNC prevalence and malignant potential. Furthermore, PNC prevalence corresponded directly to metastatic capacities in a series of well characterized cell lines of the same origin that were selected for various levels of metastatic capacity in a mouse model. Conversely, PNC prevalence was reduced experimentally by over expressing an antimetastatic protein in breast cancer cells. However, PNC prevalence was not associated with traits that were shared by both cancer and normal cells, including proliferation, glycolysis, and differentiation.CONCLUSIONS.Together, these observations helped to verify that PNC prevalence selectively represents malignancy in a broad spectrum of solid tissue tumors, demonstrating its potential to be developed as a pancancer prognostic marker of malignancy. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
First visualization of cholinergic cells and fibers by immunohistochemistry for choline acetyltransferase of the common type in the optic lobe and peduncle complex of Octopus vulgaris
Authors: D'Este Loredana , Kimura Shin , Casini Arianna , Matsuo Akinori , Bellier Jean‐Pierre , Kimura Hiroshi , Renda Tindaro G. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThis study provides the first immunohistochemical evidence visualizing cholinergic octopus neurons containing choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the synthetic enzyme of acetylcholine. Because the antiserum applied here was raised against a recombinant protein encoded by exons 7 and 8 of the rat gene for ChAT, and initially used for studies in mammals, to validate antibody specificity for the octopus counterpart enzyme we therefore used three methods. Immunoprecipitation using Pansorbin indicated that immunoreactive octopus brain molecules were capable of synthesizing acetylcholine. Western blot analysis after denatured gel electrophoresis of octopus brain extracts revealed a single band at ≈81 kDa. A gel slice containing the 81‐kDa protein after native (nondenatured) gel electrophoresis exhibited high ChAT activity. All findings obtained with these three methods clearly indicated that the antiserum effectively recognizes octopus ChAT. The immunohistochemical use of the antiserum in the retina, optic lobe, and its neighboring peduncle complex detected enzyme‐containing neuronal cell bodies in only two regions, the cell islands of the optic lobe medulla and the cortical layer of the posterior olfactory lobule. Immunoreactive fibers and probable nerve terminals were also found in the plexiform layer of the deep retina, within the stroma of the optic gland, and the neuropils of the optic lobe, peduncle lobe, and olfactory lobe. These results provide information on the morphology and distribution patterns of cholinergic neurons in the octopus visual system, a useful invertebrate model for learning and memory where the cholinergic system, as in higher vertebrates including mammals, plays an important role. J. Comp. Neurol. 509:566–579, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Room‐Temperature Electronic Template Effect of the SmSi(111)‐8×2 Interface for Self‐Alignment of Organic Molecules
Authors: Makoudi Younes , Duverger Eric , Arab Madjid , Chérioux Frédéric , Ample Franscisco , Rapenne Gwénaël , Bouju Xavier , Palmino Frank 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThis work describes an innovative concept for the development of organized molecular systems based on the template effect of the pre‐structured semi‐conductive SmSi(111) interface. This substrate is selected because Sm deposition in the submonolayer range leads to a 8×2‐reconstruction, which is a well‐defined one‐dimensional semi‐metallic structure. Adsorption of aromatic molecules [1,4‐di‐(9‐ethynyltriptycenyl)‐benzene] on SmSi(111)‐ 8×2 and Si(111)‐7×7 interfaces is investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at room temperature. Density functional theory (DFT) and semi‐empirical (ASED+) calculations define the nature of the molecular adsorption sites of the target molecule on SmSi as well as their self‐alignment on this interface. Experimental data and theoretical results are in good agreement.
Selective Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Gold Catalysis with Alkynes and Alkenes: Similar Behavior, Different Origin
Authors: García‐Mota Mónica , Cabello Noemí , Maseras Feliu , Echavarren Antonio M. , Pérez‐Ramírez Javier , Lopez Nuria 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe development of new sustainable chemical processes requires the implementation of ultra‐selective reaction processes. The enormous selectivity found for gold‐based catalysts when applied in several reactions has opened new frontiers. For instance, the selective activation of alkynes is a common feature for both homogeneous and heterogeneous gold catalysts. Herein, we employ experimental and theoretical methods to assess the similarities and differences in the performance of homogeneous and heterogeneous gold catalysts. Alkynophilicity, the selective activation of alkynes, is found to have a thermodynamic origin in the heterogeneous case and a kinetic one for homogeneous catalysis. Complex enyne rearrangements require the more active homogeneous (single gold) catalyst because it has more electrophilic character than its heterogeneous (nanoparticle) counterpart.
A probabilistic zonal approach for swarm‐inspired wildfire detection using sensor networks
Authors: Ramachandran Chandrasekar , Misra Sudip , Obaidat Mohammad S. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractIn this paper, we propose a novel swarm‐inspired system for detecting wildfires using sensor networks. There are three‐fold concerns of this paper. The first is the speed of information propagation, the second is the accuracy of the information being propagated and the third is the reliability of the system over a long period of time. With these in mind, we develop a probabilistic model for focusing on responses for query requests in an accurate manner, similar to the assignment of probabilities of occurrence in a distributed database. We follow a data‐centric approach where the system executes a swarm‐inspired routing and aggregation algorithm. For effective management of the system, zones of reachability are formed which denote areas, which help the sensor nodes in local maintenance, and through an interaction of these zones, a globally robust system is obtained. The system generates various kinds of reports and is connected to disaster response stations. We simulate our proposed system in NS‐2 for certain parameters, and more importantly in the presence of failures, to conclude that the system performs well for different scenarios and very well when an optimal zone radius is chosen. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Auswirkungen der Energieeinsparverordnung (EnEV) 2009 auf den Mauerwerksbau
Authors: Schoch Torsten 
Published: June 2008

AbstractDiskussionen zum Klimawandel und zu den erforderlichen Maßnahmen, ihn zu verhindern oder zumindest zu lindern, machen die Runde. Es nimmt nicht wunder, dass dabei der Wohnungsbestand und der Neubau im Mittelpunkt derartiger Diskussionen stehen, denn beide waren allein 2005 mit 191 Mio t am CO2‐Ausstoß in Deutschland beteiligt. Der Ruf nach drastischer Energieeinsparung (die es physikalisch nicht geben kann) gehört zur Tagespresse, gern auch kombiniert mit einem Ruf nach Verschärfung der Anforderungen. Die Bundesregierung hat mit den Meseberger Beschlüssen 2007 die Weichen für eine Verschärfung der Anforderungen gestellt. Die mit der Novelle der EnEV im Jahre 2009 zu erwartende neuerliche Verschärfung der Anforderungen an die Energieeffizienz von Gebäuden wird neue Herausforderungen an die Planung und Ausführung von Mauerwerksbauten stellen. Sowohl die Anforderungen als auch erste Lösungsvorschläge für eine energieeffiziente Gebäudehülle werden in diesem Beitrag dargestellt und erläutert. Es wird anhand von Beispielen beschrieben, welche Auswirkungen das Zusammenspiel zwischen den unterschiedlichen Gebäudeformen und der verwendeten Anlagentechnik auf die in Deutschland jahrzehntelang bewährten Mauerwerkskonstruktionen haben kann. Dabei werden nicht allein bauphysikalische Aspekte einbezogen, sondern gleichsam Kosten‐Nutzen‐Analysen unter der Prämisse des Wirtschaftlichkeitsgebotes mit eingerechnet.
Mörtelkenndaten, Korrelationen, Anwendungen
Authors: Siech Hans Joachim 
Published: June 2008

AbstractMauer‐, Putz‐ und Estrichmörtel decken ein weites Spektrum in der baupraktischen Anwendung ab. Diese Mörtelarten sind durch Stoff‐ und Anwendungsnormen sowie, zwecks Nachweis ihres Anforderungsprofils, durch einschlägige Prüfnormen geregelt.Die hohe Variationsmöglichkeit ihrer Stoffinhalte nach Art und Menge erweitert die Verwendungsmöglichkeiten im Sinne besonderer Gebrauchstauglichkeit zusätzlich. Je größer die entsprechende Rezepturvielfalt, desto kreativer die Interpretationen für die dann ermittelten Eigenschaften bzw. Prüfergebnisse.So liegt der Gedanke nahe, die ohnehin komplexe Thematik in einen überschaubaren Rahmen zu fassen, berechenbar zu machen und transparenter zu gestalten – als Orientierungshilfe für die Entwicklungstätigkeiten im Labor, zur Überwachung (Produktkontrolle) sowie zu gutachterlichen Einsichten.