bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dok‐7 myasthenia: Phenotypic and molecular genetic studies in 16 patients
Authors: Selcen Duygu , Milone Margherita , Shen Xin‐Ming , Harper C. Michel , Stans Anthony A. , Wieben Eric D. , Engel Andrew G. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractObjectiveDetailed analysis of phenotypic and molecular genetic aspects of Dok‐7 myasthenia in 16 patients.MethodsWe assessed our patients by clinical and electromyographic studies, by intercostal muscle biopsies for in vitro microelectrode analysis of neuromuscular transmission and quantitative electron microscopy EM of 409 end plates (EPs), and by mutation analysis, and expression studies of the mutants.ResultsThe clinical spectrum varied from mild static limb‐girdle weakness to severe generalized progressive disease. The synaptic contacts were single or multiple, and some, but not all, were small. In vitro microelectrode studies indicated variable decreases of the number of released quanta and of the synaptic response to acetylcholine; acetylcholine receptor (AChR) channel kinetics were normal. EM analysis demonstrated widespread and previously unrecognized destruction and remodeling of the EPs. Each patient carries 2 or more heteroallelic mutations: 11 in genomic DNA, 7 of which are novel; and 6 identifiable only in complementary DNA or cloned complementary DNA, 3 of which are novel. The pathogenicity of the mutations was confirmed by expression studies. Although the functions of Dok‐7 include AChR β‐subunit phosphorylation and maintaining AChR site density, patient EPs showed normal AChR β‐subunit phosphorylation, and the AChR density on the remaining junctional folds appeared normal.InterpretationFirst, the clinical features of Dok‐7 myasthenia are highly variable. Second, some mutations are complex and identifiable only in cloned complementary DNA. Third, Dok‐7 is essential for maintaining not only the size but also the structural integrity of the EP. Fourth, the profound structural alterations at the EPs likely contribute importantly to the reduced safety margin of neuromuscular transmission. Ann Neurol 2008
Regenerative Medizin und stammzellbasierte Wirkstoffentwicklung
Authors: Sakurada Kazuhiro , McDonald Fiona M. , Shimada Fumiki 
Published: July 2008

AbstractWie es William Shakespeare so eindrucksvoll beschrieb, geht das Altern oft mit einem Verlust an Gewebe‐ und Organfunktionen einher. Mit steigender Lebenserwartung in vielen Ländern nimmt das Durchschnittsalter der Gesellschaft zu – und damit auch die Probleme durch altersbedingte Erkrankungen. Von der regenerativen Medizin erwartet man, dass sie als ein mächtiger Akteur in diesem Drama auftritt, und die Stammzelltechnologie ist vielleicht der Schlüssel zur Entwicklung innovativer Behandlungen von akuten und chronischen degenerativen Zuständen. In diesem Aufsatz werden die gegenwärtige Situation und einige Ausblicke in die Zukunft der regenerativen Medizin und der stammzellbasierten Wirkstoffentwicklung gegeben.
Properties of polypropylene filled with chemically treated rice husk
Authors: Bera Jayanta , Kale D. D. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractFinely ground rice husk was used as a filler in two commercial grades of polypropylene (PP) in different amounts. Rice husk powder was chemically treated with dilute hydrochloric acid, dilute sodium hydroxide solution, and dimethyl sulfoxide. The mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties of PP filled with untreated and treated rice husk powder were determined. Effectiveness of PP grafted with acrylic acid, PP‐g‐AA, as a compatibilizer was examined. Rice husk powder treated with acid showed significant improvement in the flexural modulus of PP and also less water absorption. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Diversity‐Oriented Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure Steroidal Tetracycles Employing Stille/Diels–Alder Reaction Sequences
Authors: Sünnemann Hans Wolf , Banwell Martin G. , de Meijere Armin 
Published: July 2008

AbstractVarious steroid analogues were synthesized by Stille coupling of bicyclo[4.3.0]nonenylstannanes cis‐/trans‐8 and 14 with cyclohexenol triflates 17 and 18 and subsequent Diels–Alder reactions of the resulting dienes. The enantiomerically pure bicyclo[4.3.0]nonenylstannanes cis‐ and trans‐8 were prepared in good yields via the enol triflates cis‐ and trans‐7, obtained from the bicyclo[4.3.0]non‐2‐en‐3‐one 5. The alkenylstannane 14 was obtained from the [2+2] cycloadduct 10 a produced from addition of dichloroketene to the enantiomerically pure and protected bishydroxycyclohexadiene 9 a (65 %). Treatment of 10 a with diazomethane, reduction of the dichloromethylene group, and trapping with tributyltin chloride after lithium‐for‐bromine exchange, yielded the bicyclo[4.3.0]nonenylstannane 14 (23 % over four steps). Stille couplings provided the tricyclic dienes cis‐/trans‐19 in good yields (73–77 %), whereas the tricyclic diene 20 was obtained in only 34 % yield at best. Diels–Alder reactions of trans‐19 with various reactive dienophiles yielded the novel steroidal compounds trans‐21 to trans‐26 with complete diastereoselectivity. Heating the dienes cis‐19 or 20 with maleic acid derivatives provided the corresponding tetracycles cis‐23α,β and 27α,β with a cis‐C,D ring junction, each as mixtures of two diastereomers. Less reactive dienophiles required higher temperatures to promote the relevant cycloaddition with trans‐19 to furnish several stereoisomeric forms of trans‐28 and trans‐29 in significantly lower yields (31–45 %). The selected steroid analogues trans‐22 and trans‐23 were deprotected in two steps by using acid catalysis to provide trans‐31 and trans‐33 (91 and 80 % over two steps). Cyclopropanation of trans‐30 yielded the cyclopropasteroid analogue 34 (74 %), treatment of which with trifluoroacetic acid furnished the cyclopropasteroid 35 and the 2‐methyl‐substituted steroid analogue 36 in 40 and 12 % yield, respectively. Aromatic B‐ring steroids 38 (69 %) and 39 (5 %) were accessed by dehydrogenation of trans‐24 with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone.
Dye‐Modified Nanochannel Materials for Photoelectronic and Optical Devices
Authors: Calzaferri Gion , Li Huanrong , Brühwiler Dominik 
Published: July 2008

AbstractArtificial photonic antenna systems have been realised by incorporating organic dyes into zeolite L. The size and aspect ratio of the cylindrically shaped zeolite crystals can be tuned over a wide range, adding to the versatility of this host material. A 600 nm sized crystal, for example, consists of about 96 000 one‐dimensional channels oriented parallel to the cylinder axis. Geometrical constraints imposed by the host structure lead to supramolecular organisation of the guests, allowing high concentrations of non‐ or only very weakly interacting dye molecules. A special twist is added to these systems by plugging the channel openings with a second type of fluorescent dye, a so‐called stopcock molecule. The two types of molecules are precisely tuned to each other; the stopcocks are able to accept excitation energy from the dyes in the channels, but cannot pass it back. The supramolecular organisation of dyes in the zeolite channels corresponds to a first stage of organisation, allowing light‐harvesting within the volume of a cylindrical crystal and radiationless energy transport to either the cylinder ends or centre. The second stage of organisation represents the coupling to an external acceptor or donor stopcock fluorophore at the channel entrances, which can then trap or inject electronic excitation energy. The third stage of organisation is realised by interfacing the material to an external device through a stopcock intermediate. We observed that electronic‐excitation‐energy transfer in dye–zeolite L materials occurs mainly along the channel axis and we have shown that macroscopically organised materials can be prepared. The new materials offer unique possibilities as building blocks for optical, electro‐optical and sensing devices.
Investigation of the Electrocoagulation Treatment of Cotton Blue Dye Solution using Aluminium Electrodes
Authors: Ahlawat Renu , Srivastava Vimal Chandra , Mall Indra Deo , Sinha Shishir 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThis study was performed to investigate the variables that influence the removal efficiency of an acid dye, i. e., cotton blue (CB) (chemical name: aniline blue WS) dye, from aqueous solution by an electrocoagulation (EC) technique. Batch EC studies were performed using aluminum electrodes to evaluate the influences of various experimental parameters, i. e., initial pH (pH0): 3–11, electrolysis time (t): 0–30 min, initial concentration (C0): 100–1000 mg/L, electrode gap (g): 0.5–1.3 cm, number of electrodes (N): 4–10, and applied voltage (Vap): 7–11 V, on the removal of CB dye. The optimum values of pH0, Vap and t for CB removal were found to be 6.0, 11 V and 15 min, respectively. The removal efficiency increased with decreasing values of C0 and g. For a CB solution having C0 = 100 mg/L, 97% removal efficiency was obtained at the optimized conditions. It was found that the EC sludge can be dried and thermally degraded. The bottom ash obtained after its combustion can be blended with cementitious mixtures. This approach for EC sludge disposal ensures energy recovery along with safe disposal of the EC sludge.
Enhancing the Performance of Anaerobic Digestion of Dairy Manure through Phase‐Separation
Authors: Yilmaz Vedat , Demirer Göksel N. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractAnaerobic digestion (AD) is an effective way to convert animal manures into profitable by‐products while simultaneously reducing the pollution of water, air, and soil caused by these wastes. Conventional high‐rate anaerobic reactors cannot effectively process animal manures with high solids‐containing wastes. The two‐phase configuration for AD has several advantages over conventional one‐phase processes, e. g., increased stability of the process, smaller size and cost efficient process configurations. In the present study, the experiments were carried out in a two‐phase system composed of an acidogenic reactor and a methanogenic reactor, and in a one‐phase system composed of only a methanogenic reactor. The reactors were operated as unmixed (without an external mixing aid), unsophisticated, and daily‐fed mode. It was found that the two‐phase configuration was more efficient than the one‐phase system. The biogas production in the two‐phase system at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 8.6 days (only methanogenic phase) was calculated to be 42% higher at an organic loading rate (OLR) of 3.5 g VS/L·day than that of the one‐phase with a HRT of 20 days. This translates into significant performance improvement and reduced volume requirement. This finding represents a further step in the achievement of wider use of simple anaerobic reactor configurations for waste treatment in rural areas.
Structure–Antioxidant Activity Relationships in a Series of NO‐Donor Phenols
Authors: Tosco Paolo , Marini Elisabetta , Rolando Barbara , Lazzarato Loretta , Cena Clara , Bertinaria Massimo , Fruttero Roberta , Reist Marianne , Carrupt Pierre‐Alain , Gasco Alberto 
Published: July 2008

AbstractRecently we reported a new class of NO‐donor phenols that could be of interest in the treatment of many forms of cardiovascular disease (CD). Their potencies as inhibitors of ferrous salt/ascorbate‐induced peroxidation of membrane lipids of rat hepatocytes were assessed as pIC50 values through the TBARS assay. In this work we aimed to find quantitative relationships between the antioxidant activity of these compounds and appropriate molecular descriptors. In particular, we determined their log Poct, their reactivity (log Z) in reaction with the 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH.), and the theoretical parameter ΔHabs, which describes the enthalpy of homolytic OH bond cleavage. The QSAR equations found through the classical Hansch approach allowed us to draw interesting conclusions on the possible mechanisms of reaction with radicals in the various environments, while underlining the role of lipophilicity in antioxidant activity.
Optimizing docetaxel chemotherapy in patients with cancer of the gastric and gastroesophageal junction
Authors: Ajani Jaffer A. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractAdvanced gastroesophageal cancer patients are often treated with systemic combination chemotherapy. The V‐325 study demonstrated that adding docetaxel (D) to a frequently used regimen of cisplatin and 5‐fluorouracil (CF) provided benefits with regard to overall survival, response rate, time‐to‐disease progression, clinical benefit, and health‐related quality of life. Although the DCF regimen provides these advantages, it is accompanied by an increase in toxicity compared with the doublet regimen. The toxicity profile of DCF is acceptable only with appropriately selected patients and comprehensive toxicity management strategies. The objective of the current review was to identify trials that investigated modifications to the original DCF regimen to improve its toxicity profile and summarize response rate and toxicities. An attempt was also made to summarize ongoing modifications of the DCF regimen. MEDLINE, major meeting proceedings, and the government clinical trials website were searched until 2007. The modified DCF regimens appear to improve the toxicity profile when compared with the original DCF regimen. The docetaxel‐based triplet combinations appear to have a higher response rate than the doublet combinations. Many institutions and cooperative groups continue to study docetaxel‐based modifications of the DCF regimen to treat patients with gastroesophageal carcinoma. However, although modified DCF reduces the frequency of severe toxicities previously reported with DCF, considerably more advances are needed to improve the safety, survival, and convenience of patients with advanced gastroesophageal cancer. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Influence of induction chemotherapy and class of cytotoxics on pathologic response and survival after preoperative chemoradiation in patients with carcinoma of the esophagus
Authors: Javeri Heta , Arora Rohan , Correa Arlene M. , Hofstetter Wayne L. , Lee Jeffrey H. , Liao Zhongxing , McAleer Mary F. , Maru Dipen , Bhutani Manoop S. , Swisher Stephen G. , Izzo Julie G. , Ajani Jaffer A. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND.Patients with localized esophageal cancer (LEC) have diverse outcomes (post‒therapy pathologic response, disease‒free survival [DFS], and overall survival [OS]) after preoperative chemoradiation (P‒CTRT), dictated also by inherent molecular heterogeneity. Whether the type of therapy influences the outcomes remains largely unanswered. It is hypothesized that induction chemotherapy (IC) or the type of cytotoxics used would not influence patient outcomes.METHODS.In this retrospective analysis, consecutive patients with LEC who had P‒CTRT were analyzed. Data were collected regarding age, sex, baseline clinical stage, location, type of cytotoxics, post‒therapy pathology, DFS, and OS. IC and the type of cytotoxics used were found to be correlated with DFS, OS, and post‒therapy pathologic response.RESULTS.A total of 180 patients with LEC (119 had IC before P‒CTRT, all had received 5‒fluorouracil, 87 had received a taxane, and 57 had received a platinol) were analyzed. The median survival (MS) of all patients was 57.7 months and the 3‒year and 5‒year OS rates were 65.4% and 46.5%, respectively. The type of therapy appeared to have no influence on the outcome: IC versus no IC (P = .58) or platinol versus taxane versus platinol plus taxane (P = .63). Similarly, the type of pathologic response was not found to be influenced by IC (P = .18) or the type of cytotoxics used (P = .42). The data were similar for DFS.CONCLUSIONS.IC or the type of cytotoxics used with radiation for patients with LEC does not appear to influence OS, DFS, or the type of pathologic response after therapy, suggesting that a plateau has been reached. It remains to be seen whether the use of biochemoradiotherapy can provide an advantage in outcome. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Myeloid sarcoma is associated with superior event‐free survival and overall survival compared with acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Tsimberidou Apostolia‐Maria , Kantarjian Hagop M. , Wen Sijin , Keating Michael J. , O'Brien Susan , Brandt Mark , Pierce Sherry , Freireich Emil J , Medeiros L. Jeffrey , Estey Elihu 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND.It is unknown whether patients with nonleukemic myeloid sarcoma (MS) and those with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have similar responses to anti‐AML treatment. In the current study, the authors addressed this question by matching MS patients with analogous AML patients and comparing their clinical outcomes.METHODS.Twenty‐three consecutive patients with MS and 1720 consecutive patients with AML were identified who presented at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center from 1990 to 2004. All AML patients and 16 MS patients received cytarabine plus idarubicin or fludarabine as induction remission therapy. Treated MS patients and AML patients were matched according to cytogenetics, age, Zubrod performance status, and time of treatment. Event‐free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared using Kaplan‐Meier analyses.RESULTS.Complete response rates were 69% in patients with MS and 57% in patients with AML (P = .45). The respective 2‐year EFS and OS rates were 32% and 18% (P = .08) and 43% and 29% (P = .11). Matches were identified for 14 MS patients who were paired repeatedly with 91 AML patients to produce 94 matches (3 AML patients were matched twice). EFS was longer in 56 MS pair mates, shorter in 26 pair mates, and similar in 12 pair mates (P = .01; Fisher exact test). OS analyses yielded similar results.CONCLUSIONS.Anti‐AML therapy was highly effective in patients with nonleukemic MS. The results from this study emphasize the need to treat patients who have nonleukemic MS with AML‐type therapy. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
ERCC1 expression as a prognostic marker in N2(+) nonsmall‐cell lung cancer patients treated with platinum‐based neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Hwang In Gyu , Ahn Myung Ju , Park Byeong Bae , Ahn Yong Chan , Han Joungho , Lee Seungkoo , Kim Jhingook , Shim Young Mog , Ahn Jin Seok , Park Keunchil 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND.Excision repair cross‐complementation Group 1 (ERCC1) overexpression is associated with resistance to cisplatin‐based chemotherapy in patients with nonsmall‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A preliminary study also suggested that ERCC1 expression is associated with radioresistance in lung cancer cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical implications of ERCC1 expression in stage IIIA N2‐positive NSCLC patients treated with platinum‐based neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) followed by surgery.METHODS.Sixty‐eight patients with mediastinoscopy‐proven N2‐positive NSCLC were enrolled between August 1997 and September 2003. ERCC1 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry from pretreatment mediastinoscopic biopsy specimens.RESULTS.ERCC1 expression was positive in 31 of 68 specimens (46%). Among 14 patients who obtained pathologic complete response, 6 were positive for ERCC1 expression and 8 were negative (P = .818). On univariate analysis, with median follow‐up of 61.8 months (range, 34.3‐108.8 months), progression‐free survival was 15.9 months for ERCC1‐positive and 29.5 months for ERCC1‐negative patients (P = .062), and there was a statistically significant difference in overall survival between ERCC1‐negative tumors and ERCC1‐positive tumors (89.2 vs 26.0 months, P = .014). On multivariate analysis, ERCC1 negativity (P = .041) and achieving mediastinal nodal clearance (downstage to pathological N0 or N1) after neoadjuvant CCRT followed by surgery (P = .005) were significant independent prognostic factors for the prolongation of survival.CONCLUSIONS.These results suggest that N2‐positive NSCLC patients with ERCC1 negative tumors show a survival benefit from neoadjuvant CCRT with a platinum‐containing regimen. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Application of cryobiopsy to morphological and immunohistochemical analyses of xenografted human lung cancer tissues and functional blood vessels
Authors: Ohno Nobuhiko , Terada Nobuo , Bai Yuqin , Saitoh Sei , Nakazawa Tadao , Nakamura Nobuki , Naito Ichiro , Fujii Yasuhisa , Katoh Ryohei , Ohno Shinichi 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND.Assessment of tissue specimens obtained with common immersion‐fixation followed by dehydration (IMDH) is affected by artifacts, which hinder precise evaluation of the histology and microenvironment of tumor tissues. The technical characteristics of cryobiopsy and in vivo cryotechnique (IVCT) where target organs are directly cryofixed in vivo are still unknown in practical examinations of tumor histopathology and microenvironment.METHODS.Three lines of human lung cancer cells were subcutaneously injected to the dorsal flank of nude mice, and paraffin sections and cryosections of produced tumors were prepared with cryobiopsy, IVCT, the quick‐freezing of the fresh resected tumor tissues, or IMDH. Histological comparison among different methods was conducted, and immunolocalization of immunoglobulin M (IgM), intravenously injected bovine serum albumin (BSA), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were examined.RESULTS.With both the cryobiopsy and IVCT, cellular morphology and open blood vessels with flowing erythrocytes could be observed without artificial shrinkage, and the volume of blood vessels was not affected by a vascular collapse, which was observed after tissue‐resection. In addition, with cryobiopsy and IVCT, IgM was well preserved in functional vessels with blood flow, which could be observed with injected BSA, and the volume of IgM‐immunopositive blood vessels was significantly associated with the expression of VEGF.CONCLUSIONS.Cryobiopsy could be useful for histological examination of human tumors without morphological artifacts associated with IMDH. Furthermore, it allows direct examination of functional blood vessels and related signaling molecules, thereby providing a better evaluation of the human tumor microenvironment for clinical application. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
High‐dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation for chemoresistant Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Gopal Ajay K. , Metcalfe Tracee L. , Gooley Ted A. , Pagel John M. , Petersdorf Stephen H. , Bensinger William I. , Holmberg Leona , Maloney David G. , Press Oliver W. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND.High‐dose therapy (HDT) with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is the standard treatment for patients with chemosensitive relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), but this therapy is commonly denied to patients with resistant disease. We explored the utility of HDT and ASCT for chemoresistant HL because there are few established therapies for these patients.METHODS.Sixty‐four chemoresistant HL patients underwent HDT followed by ASCT at our center. Baseline characteristics included median age = 35 years (range, 14‐59 years), stage III/IV = 49 (77%), nodular sclerosis histology = 51 (80%), and prior radiation = 32 (50%). Twenty‐six patients (41%) received total body irradiation (TBI)‐based regimens, and 38 (59%) underwent non‐TBI conditioning.RESULTS.The estimated 5‐year overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) were 31% and 17%, respectively (median follow‐up = 4.2 years). Multivariate analysis only identified year of transplant as independently associated with improved OS (P = .008) and PFS (P = .04), with patients receiving transplants in later years having better outcome. The probabilities of 3‐year PFS for patients receiving transplants during 1986 to 1989, 1990 to July 1993, August 1993 to 1999, and 2000 to 2005 were 9%, 21%, 33%, and 31%, respectively.CONCLUSIONS.These data suggest that HDT and ASCT may result in prolonged remissions and survival for a subset of chemoresistant HL patients, with improved outcomes in patients receiving transplants more recently. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.