bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Surveillance for isocyanate asthma: a model based cost effectiveness analysis
Authors: Wild D M , Redlich C A , Paltiel A D 
Published: October 2005

Aims:Because logistical and financial obstacles impede using large prospective cohort studies, surveillance decisions in occupational settings must often be made without evidence of relative benefits and costs. Using the example of isocyanate induced asthma, the most commonly reported immune mediated occupational asthma, the authors developed a model based approach to evaluate the costs and benefits of surveillance from both an employer and a societal perspective.Methods:The authors used a mathematical simulation model of isocyanate asthma to compare annual surveillance to passive case finding. Outcome measures included symptom free days (SFD), quality adjusted life years (QALY), direct costs, productivity losses, and incremental cost effectiveness ratio (CER), measured from the employer and the societal perspectives. Input data were obtained from a variety of published sources.Results:For 100 000 exposed workers, surveillance resulted in 683 fewer cases of disability over 10 years. Surveillance conferred benefits at an incremental cost of $24,000/QALY (employer perspective; $13.33/SFD) and was cost saving from the societal perspective. Results were sensitive to assumptions about sensitisation rate, removal rates, and time to diagnosis, but not to assumptions about therapy costs and disability rates.Conclusions:Baseline results placed the CER for surveillance for isocyanate asthma within the acceptable range. Costs from the societal and employer perspective differed substantially with a more attractive CER from the societal perspective, suggesting opportunities for employer/societal cost sharing. The analysis demonstrates the value of a model based approach to evaluate the cost effectiveness of surveillance programmes for isocyanate asthma, and to inform shared decision making among clinicians, patients, employers, and society. Such a modeling approach may be applicable to surveillance programmes for other work related conditions.
Incidence of allergy and allergy symptoms among workers exposed to laboratory animals
Authors: Elliott L , Heederik D , Marshall S , Peden D , Loomis D 
Published: October 2005

Background and Aims:Few studies have described relations between exposure to laboratory animals and the incidence of laboratory animal allergy (LAA). Studies that have found exposure-response relations have been cross sectional in design or have focused on exposure to rats and mice. This study used longitudinal data collected over a 12 year period to describe the relations between indices of exposure to laboratory animals and the development of LAA and LAA symptoms.Methods:Data were obtained from questionnaires and serological laboratory results from a dynamic cohort of workers exposed to a variety of laboratory animals in a pharmaceutical manufacturing company. Poisson regression was used to model the incidence rate ratios of species specific and general LAA and LAA symptoms at different levels of exposure.Results:The 12 year incidence rates of LAA symptoms and LAA for all workers were 2.26 (95% CI 1.61 to 2.91) and 1.32 (95% CI 0.76 to 1.87) per 100 person-years, respectively. Higher rate ratios were seen with increasing reported hours of exposure to tasks that required working with animal cages or with many animals at one time. The most common symptoms were related to rhinitis rather than to asthma.Conclusions:This study suggests that the risk of LAA increases with duration of exposure to animals and work in animal related tasks. Incidence might be reduced by limiting hours per week of exposure to laboratory animals.
ASYMPTOTIC BEHAVIOR OF STRUCTURES MADE OF PLATES
Authors: GRISO GEORGES 
Published: October 2005

The aim of this paper is to study the asymptotic behavior of a structure made of plates of thickness 2δ when δ → 0. This study is carried out within the frame of linear elasticity by using the unfolding method. It is based on several decompositions of displacements of the structure and on the passing to the limit in fixed domains.We begin by studying the displacements of a plate. We show that any displacement is the sum of an elementary displacement concerning the normal lines on the middle surface of the plate and a warping. An elementary displacement is linear with respect to the variable x3. It is written [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] is a displacement of the mid-surface of the plate. We show a priori estimates and convergence results when δ → 0. We characterize the limits of the unfolded displacements of a plate as well as the limits of the unfolded strained tensor.Then, we extend these results to structures made of plates. We show that any displacement of a structure is the sum of an elementary displacement of each plate and of a residual displacement. The elementary displacements of the structure (e.p.s.d.) coincide with elementary rod displacements in the junctions. Any e.p.s.d. is given by two functions belonging to H1( S ; ℝ3) where S is the skeleton of the structure (the set formed by the mid-surfaces of the plates constituting the surface). One of these functions, [Formula: see text], is the skeleton displacement. We show that [Formula: see text] is the sum of an extensional displacement and of an inextensional one. The first one characterizes the membrane displacements and the second one is a rigid displacement in the direction of the plates and it characterizes the flexion of the plates.Eventually, we pass to the limit as δ → 0 in the linearized elasticity system. On the one hand, we obtain a variational problem that is satisfied by the limit extensional displacement, and on the other hand, a variational problem satisfied by the limit of inextensional displacements.
Microheterogeneity of transthyretin in serum and ascitic fluid of ovarian cancer patients
Authors: Gericke Beate , Raila Jens , Sehouli Jalid , Haebel Sophie , Könsgen Dominique , Mustea Alexander , Schweigert Florian J 
Published: October 2005

Abstract

Background
Transthyretin (TTR), a traditional biomarker for nutritional and inflammatory status exists in different molecular variants of yet unknown importance. A truncated form of TTR has recently been described to be part of a set of biomarkers for the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. The main aim of the study was therefore to characterize differences in microheterogeneity between ascitic fluid and plasma of women affected with ovarian cancer and to evaluate the tumor site as the possible source of TTR.

Methods
Subjects were 48 women with primary invasive epithelial ovarian cancer or recurrent ovarian carcinoma. The control group consisted of 20 postmenopausal women. TTR and retinol-binding protein (RBP) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels by a high-sensitivity latex particle turbidimetric assay. The molecular heterogeneity of TTR was analysed using immunoprecipitation and matrix-associated laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Presence of TTR in tumor tissue was determined with indirect peroxidase immunostaining.

Results
TTR and RBP (μg/ml) levels in serum were 148.5 ± 96.7 and 22.5 ± 14.8 in affected women compared to 363.3 ± 105.5 and 55.8 ± 9.3 in healthy postmenopausal women (p < 0.01). In ascitic fluid, levels were 1.02 ± 0.24 and 4.63 ± 1.57 μg/ml, respectively. The mean levels of TTR and RBP in serum showed a tendency to decrease with the severity of the disease and were lower in affected women whose CRP levels were > 40 mg/ml (p = 0.08 for TTR; p < 0.05 for RBP). No differences in TTR microheterogeneity were observed between TTR isolated from serum of affected and healthy women or from ascitic fluid. TTR occurred rather consistently in four variants. Mass signals were at 13758 ± 7, 13876 ± 13 (greatest intensity), 13924 ± 21 and 14062 ± 24 Da, representing native, S-cysteinylated, S-cysteinglycinylated and glutathionylated TTR, respectively. Serum of healthy and affected women as well as ascitic fluid contained the truncated fragment of TTR (12828 ± 11 Da). No immunoreactive TTR was observed in the tumor sites.

Conclusion
The severity of the cancer associated catabolism as well as the inflammation status affect serum TTR and RBP levels. Neither TTR nor its truncated form originates from tumor tissue and its occurrence in ascites may well reflect the filtration from blood into ascitic fluid.
Risk factors for adverse perinatal outcomes in imprisoned pregnant women: a systematic review
Authors: Knight Marian , Plugge Emma 
Published: October 2005

Abstract

Background
Imprisoned pregnant women constitute an important obstetric group about whom relatively little is known. This systematic review was conducted to identify the risk factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcome present in this group of women.

Methods
The review was conducted according to a prespecified protocol. Studies of any design were included if they described information on any of the pre-specified risk factors. We calculated the results as summary percentages or odds ratios where data was available on both cases and population controls.

Results
The search strategy identified 27 relevant papers of which 13 met the inclusion criteria, involving 1504 imprisoned pregnant women and 4571 population control women. Imprisoned women are more likely to be single, from an ethnic minority, and not to have completed high school. They are more likely to have a medical problem which could affect the pregnancy outcome and yet less likely to receive adequate antenatal care. They are also more likely to smoke, drink alcohol to excess and take illegal drugs.

Conclusion
Imprisoned women are clearly a high risk obstetric group. These findings have important implications for the provision of care to this important group of women.
The activity of French Research Ethics Committees and characteristics of biomedical research protocols involving humans: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Decullier Evelyne , Lhéritier Véronique , Chapuis François 
Published: October 2005

AbstractBackgroundClinical trials throughout the world must be evaluated by research ethics committees. No one has yet attempted to clearly quantify at the national level the activity of ethics committees and describe the characteristics of the protocols submitted. The objectives of this study were to describe 1) the workload and the activity of Research Ethics Committees in France, and 2) the characteristics of protocols approved on a nation-wide basis.MethodsRetrospective cohort of 976 protocols approved by a representative sample of 25/48 of French Research Ethics Committees in 1994. Protocols characteristics (design, study size, investigator), number of revisions requested by the ethics committee before approval, time to approval and number of amendments after approval were collected for each protocol by trained research assistant using the committee's files and archives.ResultsThirty-one percent of protocols were approved with no modifications requested in 16 days (95% CI: 14–17). The number of revisions requested by the committee, and amendments submitted by the investigator was on average respectively 39 (95% CI: 25–53) and 37 (95% CI: 27–46), per committee and per year. When revisions were requested, the main reasons were related to information to the patient (28%) and consent modalities (18%). Drugs were the object of research in 68% of the protocols examined. The majority of the research was national (80%) with a predominance of single-centre studies. Workload per protocol has been estimated at twelve and half hours on average for administrative support and at eleven and half hours for expertise.ConclusionThe estimated workload justifies specific and independent administrative and financial support for Research Ethics Committees.
A ketogenic diet reduces amyloid beta 40 and 42 in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Van der Auwera Ingrid , Wera Stefaan , Van Leuven Fred , Henderson Samuel T 
Published: October 2005

Abstract

Background
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily strikes the elderly. Studies in both humans and animal models have linked the consumption of cholesterol and saturated fats with amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition and development of AD. Yet, these studies did not examine high fat diets in combination with reduced carbohydrate intake. Here we tested the effect of a high saturated fat/low carbohydrate diet on a transgenic mouse model of AD.

Results
Starting at three months of age, two groups of female transgenic mice carrying the "London" APP mutation (APP/V717I) were fed either, a standard diet (SD) composed of high carbohydrate/low fat chow, or a ketogenic diet (KD) composed of very low carbohydrate/high saturated fat chow for 43 days. Animals fed the KD exhibited greatly elevated serum ketone body levels, as measured by β-hydroxybutyrate (3.85 ± 2.6 mM), compared to SD fed animals (0.29 ± 0.06 mM). In addition, animals fed the KD lost body weight (SD 22.2 ± 0.6 g vs. KD 17.5 ± 1.4 g, p = 0.0067). In contrast to earlier studies, the brief KD feeding regime significantly reduced total brain Aβ levels by approximately 25%. Despite changes in ketone levels, body weight, and Aβ levels, the KD diet did not alter behavioral measures.

Conclusion
Previous studies have suggested that diets rich in cholesterol and saturated fats increased the deposition of Aβ and the risk of developing AD. Here we demonstrate that a diet rich in saturated fats and low in carbohydrates can actually reduce levels of Aβ. Therefore, dietary strategies aimed at reducing Aβ levels should take into account interactions of dietary components and the metabolic outcomes, in particular, levels of carbohydrates, total calories, and presence of ketone bodies should be considered.
A computational investigation of kinetoplastid trans-splicing
Authors: Gopal Shuba , Awadalla Saria , Gaasterland Terry , Cross George AM 
Published: October 2005

AbstractTrans-splicing is an unusual process in which two separate RNA strands are spliced together to yield a mature mRNA. We present a novel computational approach which has an overall accuracy of 82% and can predict 92% of known trans-splicing sites. We have applied our method to chromosomes 1 and 3 of Leishmania major, with high-confidence predictions for 85% and 88% of annotated genes respectively. We suggest some extensions of our method to other systems.
Quality of Life and Sexual Functioning in Cervical Cancer Survivors
Authors: Frumovitz Michael , Sun Charlotte C. , Schover Leslie R. , Munsell Mark F. , Jhingran Anuja , Wharton J. Taylor , Eifel Patricia , Bevers Therese B. , Levenback Charles F. , Gershenson David M. , Bodurka Diane C. 
Published: October 2005

Purpose To compare quality of life and sexual functioning in cervical cancer survivors treated with either radical hysterectomy and lymph node dissection or radiotherapy. Methods Women were interviewed at least 5 years after initial treatment for cervical cancer. Eligible women had squamous cell tumors smaller than 6 cm at diagnosis, were currently disease-free, and had either undergone surgery or radiotherapy, but not both. The two treatment groups were then compared using univariate analysis and multivariate linear regression with a control group of age- and race-matched women with no history of cancer. Results One hundred fourteen patients (37 surgery, 37 radiotherapy, 40 controls) were included for analysis. When compared with surgery patients and controls using univariate analysis, radiation patients had significantly poorer scores on standardized questionnaires measuring health-related quality of life (physical and mental health), psychosocial distress and sexual functioning. The disparity in sexual function remained significant in a multivariate analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses did not show significant differences between radical hysterectomy patients and controls on any of the outcome measures. Conclusion Cervical cancer survivors treated with radiotherapy had worse sexual functioning than did those treated with radical hysterectomy and lymph node dissection. In contrast, these data suggest that cervical cancer survivors treated with surgery alone can expect overall quality of life and sexual function not unlike that of peers without a history of cancer.
Breast Cancer Risk Following Bilateral Oophorectomy in BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutation Carriers: An International Case-Control Study
Authors: Eisen Andrea , Lubinski Jan , Klijn Jan , Moller Pal , Lynch Henry T. , Offit Kenneth , Weber Barbara , Rebbeck Tim , Neuhausen Susan L. , Ghadirian Parviz , Foulkes William D. , Gershoni-Baruch Ruth , Friedman Eitan , Rennert Gadi , Wagner Teresa , Isaacs Claudine , Kim-Sing Charmaine , Ainsworth Peter , Sun Ping , Narod Steven A. 
Published: October 2005

Purpose The purpose of this study was to estimate the extent of protection offered against breast cancer by prophylactic oophorectomy in carriers of BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations and to determine to what extent risk reduction varies with age at oophorectomy, age at diagnosis, and time elapsed since surgery. Patients and Methods We analyzed 1,439 patients with breast cancer and 1,866 matched controls derived from a registry of BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) of breast cancer for having had a bilateral oophorectomy, using conditional logistic regression, matched for parity and for oral contraceptive use. Results A previous history of oophorectomy was associated with a significant reduction in breast cancer risk of 56% for BRCA1 carriers (OR = 0.44; 95% CI, 0.29 to 0.66) and of 46% for BRCA2 carriers (OR = 0.57; 95% CI, 0.28 to 1.15). The risk reduction was greater if the oophorectomy was performed before age 40 (OR = 0.36; 95% CI, 0.20 to 0.64 for BRCA1 carriers) than after age 40 (OR = 0.53; 95% CI, 0.30 to 0.91). The protective effect was evident for 15 years post-oophorectomy (OR = 0.39; 95% CI, 0.26 to 0.57). Conclusion Oophorectomy is an effective means of reducing the risk of breast cancer in carriers of BRCA1 mutations. The data suggest oophorectomy is protective in BRCA2 carriers as well, but needs to be confirmed in other studies.
Rhabdoid Tumor of the Kidney in The National Wilms' Tumor Study: Age at Diagnosis As a Prognostic Factor
Authors: Tomlinson Gail E. , Breslow Norman E. , Dome Jeffrey , Guthrie Katherine Adams , Norkool Pat , Li Sierra , Thomas Patrick R.M. , Perlman Elizabeth , Beckwith J. Bruce , D'Angio Giulio J. , Green Daniel M. 
Published: October 2005

Purpose The objective of this study is to determine prognostic factors in rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (RTK), including both demographic and treatment variables. Patients and Methods A total of 142 patients studied on National Wilms' Tumor Studies 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 were analyzed. Patients were enrolled between the years 1969 and 2002. Variables examined included sex, age of diagnosis, tumor stage, presence of CNS lesions, as well as treatment variables, including the use of doxorubicin and/or radiotherapy (RT). Results No survival differences were observed between males and females, between those treated with or without doxorubicin, or with or without RT. Patients with tumors of lower stage had an overall survival rate of 41.8%, whereas, tumors of higher stage were associated with a 15.9% survival (P < .001). A highly significant difference in survival was noted when patients were stratified according to age of diagnosis. Survival at 4 years in infants under 6 months of age at diagnosis was 8.8%, whereas, survival in patients 2 years of age or older was 41.1% (P < .0001). Stratification into intermediate age brackets demonstrated a strong correlation of increasing survival with increasing age at diagnosis. All patients with a CNS lesion, except one, died. Conclusion Age at diagnosis is a highly significant prognostic factor for survival of children with RTK. Infants have a dismal prognosis, whereas, older children have a more favorable outcome. Higher tumor stage and presence of a CNS lesion were both factors predictive of a poor survival rate.
Improved Detection of Second Primary Cancer Using Integrated [18F] Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography for Initial Tumor Staging
Authors: Choi Joon Young , Lee Kyung Soo , Kwon O. Jung , Shim Young Mog , Baek Chung-Hwan , Park Keunchil , Lee Kyung-Han , Kim Byung-Tae 
Published: October 2005

Purpose This study evaluated prospectively the value of integrated whole-body positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) using [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in detecting a second primary cancer at the time of the initial staging in comparison with a conventional staging work-up (CSW). Methods The participants were 547 patients diagnosed with cancer who underwent FDG PET/CT imaging for the initial staging. An additional diagnostic evaluation was performed when there were abnormal findings indicative of a second primary cancer on either PET/CT or CSW considering the site and the biologic behavior of the alleged primary tumor. Results A total of 27 second primary malignant tumors were identified in 26 of the 547 patients (4.8%). FDG PET/CT found 45 lesions indicative of a second primary cancer, of which 24 lesions were proved to be a second primary cancer, seven were clinically unexpected metastases, and 14 lesions were benign. Therefore, sensitivity and positive predictive value of FDG PET/CT in detecting a second primary cancer or an unexpected metastasis were 91% (31 of 34) and 69% (31 of 45), respectively. In contrast, CSW could not identify 16 second primary cancers and one metastatic lesion. Conclusion FDG PET/CT at the time of the initial staging is useful for screening a second primary cancer with a high sensitivity. An additional diagnostic work-up is essential when abnormal findings, which are indicative of a second primary cancer, are obtained on PET/CT images to rule out the presence of either a second primary cancer or an unexpected metastasis.
Validation of a Postresection Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Nomogram for Disease-Specific Survival
Authors: Ferrone Cristina R. , Kattan Michael W. , Tomlinson James S. , Thayer Sarah P. , Brennan Murray F. , Warshaw Andrew L. 
Published: October 2005

Purpose Nomograms are statistically based tools that provide the overall probability of a specific outcome. They have shown better individual discrimination than the current TNM staging system in numerous patient tumor models. The pancreatic nomogram combines individual clinicopathologic and operative data to predict disease-specific survival at 1, 2, and 3 years from initial resection. A single US institution database was used to test the validity of the pancreatic adenocarcinoma nomogram established at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Patients and Methods The nomogram was created from a prospective pancreatic adenocarcinoma database that included 555 consecutive patients between October 1983 and April 2000. The nomogram was validated by an external patient cohort from a retrospective pancreatic adenocarcinoma database at Massachusetts General Hospital that included 424 consecutive patients between January 1985 and December 2003. Results Of the 424 patients, 375 had all variables documented. At last follow-up, 99 patients were alive, with a median follow-up time of 27 months (range, 2 to 151 months). The 1-, 2-, and 3-year disease-specific survival rates were 68% (95% CI, 63% to 72%), 39% (95% CI, 34% to 44%), and 27% (95% CI, 23% to 32%), respectively. The nomogram concordance index was 0.62 compared with 0.59 with the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage (P = .004). This suggests that the nomogram discriminates disease-specific survival better than the AJCC staging system. Conclusion The pancreatic cancer nomogram provides more accurate survival predictions than the AJCC staging system when applied to an external patient cohort. The nomogram may aid in more accurately counseling patients and in better stratifying patients for clinical trials and molecular tumor analysis.