bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Distress and its correlates in Korean cancer patients: pilot use of the distress thermometer and the problem list
Authors: Shim Eun‐Jung , Shin Yong‐Wook , Jeon Hong Jin , Hahm Bong‐Jin 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThe distress thermometer (DT), a one‐item measure for distress, provides a means for rapidly and effectively screening psychological distress in cancer patients. In this pilot study, a screening efficacy of the DT was investigated in a mixed cohort of 108 Korean cancer patients. Participants completed the DT, the problem list (PL), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and answered questions regarding supportive needs and their degree of satisfaction with several aspects of care. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses indicated that a DT cutoff score of 4 yielded an area under the ROC curve of 0.75 with a sensitivity of 0.83 and a specificity of 0.59 for HADS‐total score defined cases (⩾15). HADS—Anxiety and Depression subscale scores explained 27% of the variability in the DT scores, implying that ‘distress’ is a broader concept that includes anxiety and depressive symptoms but has a more comprehensive meaning that encompasses multiple contributory factors. Regarding the PL, distressed patients (DT⩾4) reported significantly more problems (23 of 35) in all categories, suggesting, although degrees differ, that a wide variety of problems contribute to distress in cancer patients. Distress as defined by DT and HADS subscale scores was also significantly associated with higher supportive needs, a poor ECOG performance status (both physician and patient‐rated), and a reduced level of satisfaction with treatment, staff, and communications.In conclusion, the DT and the PL were found to be simple yet effective screening instruments for detecting psychosocial distress in Korean cancer patients, and for identifying problems that warrant intervention. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Standardization of the Korean version of Mini‐Mental Adjustment to Cancer (K‐Mini‐MAC) scale: factor structure, reliability and validity
Authors: Kang Jee In , Chung Hyun Cheol , Kim Se Joo , Choi Hye Jin , Ahn Joong Bae , Jeung Hei‐Cheul , Namkoong Kee 
Published: October 2007

AbstractMental adjustment and coping affect the physical outcome and survival as well as quality of life in cancer patients. The Mini‐Mental Adjustment to Cancer (Mini‐MAC) scale is a new refined, economical and reliable self‐rating instrument measuring cognitive and behavioral responses to cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Mini‐MAC in Korean cancer patients. A total of 208 cancer patients recruited from the Yonsei Cancer Center were assessed with the Mini‐MAC and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Principal component analysis with varimax rotation for the Korean version of Mini‐MAC (K‐Mini‐MAC) confirmed four factors. Three had psychometric properties similar to Helpless–Hopeless (HH), Anxious Preoccupation (AP) and Cognitive Avoidance (CA) of the original Mini‐MAC. A novel factor, named Positive Attitude, included items of both Fatalism (FA) and Fighting Spirit (FS) from the original version. The five subscales from the original version (AP, HH, FS, FA and CA) and Positive Attitude had acceptable internal reliabilities in our sample (Cronbach's alpha coefficient 0.50–0.86; correlation coefficient of test–retest 0.68–0.88). For the validity, significant interscale correlation was observed in the original five subscales and Positive Attitude. Each subscale including Positive Attitude was also significantly related to Depression and Anxiety of HADS. As a whole, the K‐Mini‐MAC was a reliable, valid and acceptable tool for Korean cancer patients. These findings can provide information about the cross‐cultural validity of Mini‐MAC scale's factor structure. Cultural differences were also discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sensitivity and specificity of the Distress Thermometer for depression in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients
Authors: Hegel Mark T. , Collins E. Dale , Kearing Stephen , Gillock Karen L. , Moore Caroline P. , Ahles Tim A. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBackground: Receiving a new diagnosis of breast cancer is a distressing experience that may precipitate an episode of major depressive disorder. Efficient screening methods for detecting depression in the oncology setting are needed. This study evaluated the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) of the single‐item Distress Thermometer (DT) for detecting depression in women newly diagnosed with Stage I–III breast cancer.Methods: We assessed 321 patients (of 345 consecutive patients) at the time of their pre‐surgical consultation at a Comprehensive Breast Cancer Program. Patients were administered the DT along with the Patient Health Questionnaire 9‐Item Depression Module (PHQ‐9) as a gold standard diagnostic assessment of depression status.Results: Mean DT scores (11‐point scale, 0–10) were significantly higher for depressed versus non‐depressed patients (8.1 versus 4.4). In ROC analyses the DT showed strong discriminatory power relative to the PHQ‐9‐derived diagnosis of depression, with an area under the curve of 0.87. Patient age, education, marital status and stage of disease resulted in similar operating characteristics. A score of 7 represented the optimal trade‐off between sensitivity (0.81) and specificity (0.85) characteristics for detecting depression.Conclusions: The single‐item DT performs satisfactorily relative to the PHQ‐9 for detecting depression in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. A cutoff score of 7 on the DT possesses the optimal sensitivity and specificity characteristics. The strength of these findings suggests that a careful psychosocial evaluation should follow a positive screen. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural rationalization of novel drug metabolizing mutants of cytochrome P450 BM3
Authors: Stjernschantz Eva , van Vugt‐Lussenburg Barbara M. A. , Bonifacio Alois , de Beer Stephanie B. A. , van der Zwan Gert , Gooijer Cees , Commandeur Jan N. M. , Vermeulen Nico P. E. , Oostenbrink Chris 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThree newly discovered drug metabolizing mutants of cytochrome P450 BM3 (van Vugt‐Lussenburg et al., Identification of critical residues in novel drug metabolizing mutants of Cytochrome P450 BM3 using random mutagenesis, J Med Chem 2007;50:455–461) have been studied at an atomistic level to provide structural explanations for a number of their characteristics. In this study, computational methods are combined with experimental techniques. Molecular dynamics simulations, resonance Raman and UV–VIS spectroscopy, as well as coupling efficiency and substrate‐binding experiments, have been performed. The computational findings, supported by the experimental results, enable structural rationalizations of the mutants. The substrates used in this study are known to be metabolized by human cytochrome P450 2D6. Interestingly, the major metabolites formed by the P450 BM3 mutants differ from those formed by human cytochrome P450 2D6. The computational findings, supported by resonance Raman data, suggest a conformational change of one of the heme propionate groups. The modeling results furthermore suggest that this conformational change allows for an interaction between the negatively charged carboxylate of the heme substituent and the positively charged nitrogen of the substrates. This allows for an orientation of the substrates favorable for formation of the major metabolite by P450 BM3. Proteins 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
YesT: A new rhamnogalacturonan acetyl esterase from Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Martínez‐Martínez Irene , Navarro‐Fernández José , Daniel Lozada‐Ramírez José , García‐Carmona Francisco , Sánchez‐Ferrer Álvaro 
Published: October 2007

AbstractYesT, a putative protein from Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 that has been provisionally classified as a rhamnogalacturonan acetyl esterase (RGAE) in CE‐12 family, was cloned, expressed in Escherichiacoli Rosetta (DE3), and purified. The enzyme is monomeric with a molecular mass of 37 kDa and presents thermophilic properties similar to RGAE from Aspergillus aculeatus, although YesT is more alkaliphilic. The study of inhibitors confirmed the importance of the His and the nucleophilic Ser for the esterase activity, apart from the Asp from the catalytic triad. This enzyme also presents broad substrate specificity, and is active toward 7‐aminocephalosporanic acid, cephalosporin C, p‐nitrophenyl acetate, β‐naphthyl acetate, glucose pentaacetate, and acetylated xylan. Moreover, YesT achieves a synergistic effect together with xylanase A toward acetylated xylan. As a member of the SGNH family, it does not adopt the common α/β hydrolase fold. The primary sequence analysis and multiple sequence alignment revealed the lack of a two β‐stranded antiparallel sheet, which results in a clear change in the structure together with the disappearance of one of the three 310‐helices presented in RGAE structure. The similarities found in this article among the topological diagrams of RGAE, YesT, and Esterase A from Streptomyces scabies, Platelet‐Activating Factor AcetylHydrolase, isoform Ib, alpha subunit [PAF‐AH(Ib)α1], PAF‐AH(Ib)α2, the esterase domain from hemagglutinin esterase fusion glycoprotein (HEF1) from Influenza C virus, the thioesterase I (TAP) from E. coli, the hypothetical protein a1r1529 from Nostoc sp., and the hypothetical YxiM precursor that all belong to the SGNH family could indicate a possible divergence of such proteins from a common ancestor. Proteins 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Flexible protein–flexible ligand docking with disrupted velocity simulated annealing
Authors: Huang Zunnan , Wong Chung F. , Wheeler Ralph A. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractBy docking flexible balanol to a rigid model of protein kinase A (PKA), we found that a new simulated annealing protocol termed disrupted velocity simulated annealing (DIVE‐SA) outperformed the replica‐exchange method and the traditional simulated annealing method in identifying the correct docking pose. In this protocol, the atomic velocities were reassigned periodically to encourage the system to sample a large conformational space. We also found that scaling potential energy surface to reduce structural transition barriers could further facilitate docking. The DIVE‐SA method was then evaluated on its ability to perform flexible ligand–flexible protein docking of three ligands (balanol, a balanol analog, and ATP) to PKA. To reduce computational time and to avoid possible unphysical structural changes resulting from the use of nonoptimal force fields, a soft restrain was applied to keep the root‐mean‐square‐deviation (RMSD) between instantaneous protein structures and a chosen reference structure small. Because the restrain was applied to the overall RMSD rather than to individual atoms, a protein could still experience relatively large conformational changes during docking. To examine the impact of applying such a restrain on docking, we constructed two semi‐flexible protein models by choosing two different crystal structures as reference. Both the balanol analog and ATP were able to dock to either one of these semi‐flexible protein models. On the other hand, balanol could only dock well to one of them. Further analysis indicated that the restrain on the glycine‐rich loop was too strong, preventing it to adjust its structure to accommodate balanol in the binding pocket of PKA. Removing the restrain on the glycine‐rich loop resulted in much better docking poses. This finding demonstrates the important role that the flexibility of the glycine‐rich loop play in accepting different ligands and should profitably not be restrained in molecular docking so that more diverse ligands can be studied. Proteins 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Biomarker as a classifier in pharmacogenomics clinical trials: a tribute to 30th anniversary of PSI
Authors: Wang Sue‐Jane 
Published: October 2007

AbstractPharmacogenetics is one of many evolving sciences that have come to the fore since the formation of the Statisticians in the Pharmaceutical Industry (PSI) 30 years ago. Following the completion of the human genome project and the HapMap in the early 21st century, pharmacogenetics has gradually focused on studies of whole‐genome single‐nucleotide‐polymorphisms screening associating disease pathophysiology with potential therapeutic interventions. Around this time, transcription profiling aiming at similar objectives has also been actively pursued, known as pharmacogenomics. It has become increasingly apparent that treatment effects between different genomic patient subsets can be dissimilar, and the value and need for genomic biomarkers to help predict effects, particularly in cancer clinical studies, have become issues of paramount importance. Pharmacogenomics/pharmaogenetics has thus become intensely focused on the search for genomic biomarkers for use as classifiers to select patients in randomized‐controlled trials.We highlight that thepredictiveutility of a genomic classifier has tremendous clinical appeal and that there will be growing examples in which use of a companion diagnostic will need to be considered and may become an integral part in the utilization of drugs in medical practice. The credible mechanism to test the clinical utility of a genomic classifier is to employ the study results from a prospective trial that recruits all patients. Such investigations, if well designed, will allow analysis of all relevant performance factors in the drug and diagnostic combination including the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the diagnostic test and the efficacy of the drug. Published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization and identification of triterpenoid saponins in crude extracts from Clematis spp. by high‐performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization with multi‐stage tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Sun Feng , He Qing , Shi Peiying , Xiao Peigen , Cheng Yiyu 
Published: October 2007

AbstractHigh‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization multi‐stage tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI‐MSn) was applied to characterize and identify triterpenoid saponins in crude extracts from nine species of Clematis L. After separation on a Zorbax SB‐C18 column, negative ESI‐MS experiments were performed. The quasi‐molecular ions [MH]−, [M+Cl]− and [M+HCOO]− were observed in the full‐scan MS spectra of all compounds. The MSn (n = 2–4) data of the [MH]− ions provided structural information on the sugar sequence of the oligosaccharide chains and on the aglycone of the saponins. In addition, the fragmentation mechanisms could be deduced from the fragment ions. As a result, eight saponins were unambiguously identified in C. ganpiniana by comparison with reference compounds. In addition, a new compound was tentatively identified as 3‐O‐ribopyranosyl → rhamnopyranosyl → (glucopyranosyl) → arabinopyranosylhederagenin 28‐O‐rhamnopyranosyl → glucopyranosyl → glucopyranosyl ester (peak 1), and another one was tentatively deduced to be 3‐O‐glucopyranosyl → ribopyranosyl → rhamnopyranosyl → arabinopyranosylhederagenin 28‐O‐rhamnopyranosyl → glucopyranosyl → glucopyranosyl ester (peak 5) from the genus Clematis L. for the first time. By ESI‐MSn, non‐isomeric saponins could be discriminated rapidly. It is of interest that cleavage preferentially occurrs at the ester bond at C‐28 and the charge is easy to transfer onto the oligosaccharide chain when the ester bond of a monodesmosidic saponin like HNH cleaves. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Determination of oxygen triple isotope ratios of silicates without cryogenic separation of NF3 – technique with application to analyses of technical O2 gas and meteorite classification
Authors: Pack Andreas , Toulouse Christoph , Przybilla Reinhold 
Published: October 2007

AbstractA novel technique is described to determine Δ′17OTFL with high accuracy and precision by using infrared (IR) laser fluorination with F2 as the reaction gas. The technique includes precise monitoring of the intensity ratio of the 14NF (m/z 52) to O2 signals. The correlation between the intensity of 14NF and positive error in δ17OVSMOW allows correction of measured data to obtain reliable Δ′17OTFL values. The resultant error in Δ′17OTFL of a single measurement after correction is in the range of ±0.06‰, i.e. sufficiently small to permit the technique to be useful for meteorite classification. Our data for technical O2, in combination with literature data, suggest a negative anomaly of tropospheric air O2 with Δ′17OTFL = –0.344 ± 0.015‰ (1σ). Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigation of Range‐energy Relationships for Low‐energy Electron Beams in Silicon and Gallium Nitride
Authors: Kurniawan O. , Ong V. K. S. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThe electron beam technique of the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) has been widely used for the characterization of bipolar devices and photodiode materials. The resolution of an electron beam technique is affected by the interaction of the beam and the specimen. The size of this interaction volume, commonly termed the generation volume, is usually characterized by what is called the electron penetration range and is measured from the surface. Since there is currently no consensus on the expressions to use in the calculation of the electron range, this paper provides an analysis of the three most commonly used semiempirical expressions. They are the Gruen range, the universal curve of Everhart and Hoff, and the maximum range of Kanaya and Okayama. This analysis is done using data from the statistical method of Monte Carlo simulations. It was found that the Everhart and Hoff universal curve performs better at low beam energies than the equation of Kanaya and Okayama. However, the validity of all the three expressions is questionable below 5 keV. In order to overcome this, fitted expressions based on the extrapolated range are provided for beam energies below 5 keV in the case of Si and GaN materials. The accuracy of these expressions is affected by the physical parameters used in the Monte Carlo simulations. SCANNING 29: 280–286, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Enhanced apomorphine sensitivity and increased binding of dopamine D2receptors in nucleus accumbens in prepubertal rats after neonatal blockade of the dopamine D3receptors by (+)‐S14297
Authors: Flores‐Tochihuitl Julia , Vargas Guillermo , Morales‐Medina Julio Cesar , Rivera Gustavo , De La Cruz Fidel , Zamudio Sergio , Flores Gonzalo 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThe role of dopamine (DA) D3receptors is controversial in early developmental stages of specially locomotor activity. Past studies have only tested behavioral changes induced by neonatal administration of nonselective dopamine antagonist such as haloperidol or sulpiride in adult rats. We investigated the role of neonatal blockade of DA D3receptors at (postnatal day, P1 to P12) using the DA D3receptor antagonist (+)‐S14297 on paradigms related to DA behaviors including locomotor activity in novel environment and after administration of the DA nonspecific agonistsd‐amphetamine, and apomorphine. Additionally, autoradiographic studies were performed to correlate behavioral alterations with DA D1‐like, D2‐like, and D3receptors. All studies were performed at two critical ages, prepubertal (P35) and postpubertal (P60). The quantitative autoradiogaphic study revealed increases in the expression of DA D2‐like receptor expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) in prepubertal animals that received the DA D3antagonist (+)‐S14297 at neonatal age. In addition, novel environment and apomorphine administration (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.), induced increases of locomotor activity in prepubertal animals that received the DA D3antagonist (+)‐S14297. Autoradiographic and behavioral results suggest that blockade of DA D3receptors after birth may mediate different neurodevelopmental aspects of the dopaminergic pathway before and after puberty. Synapse 62:40–49, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Methylmalonic acidaemia: Examination of genotype and biochemical data in 32 patients belonging to mut, cblA or cblB complementation group
Authors: Merinero B. , Pérez B. , Pérez‐Cerdá C. , Rincón A. , Desviat L. R. , Martínez M. A. , Sala P. Ruiz , García M. J. , Aldamiz‐Echevarría L. , Campos J. , Cornejo V. , del Toro M. , Mahfoud A. , Martínez‐Pardo M. , Parini R. , Pedrón C. , Peña‐Quintana L. , Pérez M. , Pourfarzam M. , Ugarte M. 
Published: October 2007

SummaryMethylmalonic acidaemia (MMA) is a genetic disorder caused by defects in methylmalonyl‐CoA mutase or in any of the different proteins involved in the synthesis of adenosylcobalamin. The aim of this work was to examine the biochemical and clinical phenotype of 32 MMA patients according to their genotype, and to study the mutant mRNA stability by real‐time PCR analysis. Using cellular and biochemical methods, we classified our patient cohort as having the MMA formsmut(n = 19),cblA(n = 9) andcblB(n = 4). All themut0and some of thecblBpatients had the most severe clinical and biochemical manifestations, displaying non‐inducible propionate incorporation in the presence of hydroxocobalamin (OHCbl)in vitroand high plasma odd‐numbered long‐chain fatty acid (OLCFA) concentrations under dietary therapy. In contrast,mut−andcblApatients exhibited a milder phenotype with propionate incorporation enhanced by OHCbl and normal OLCFA levels under dietary therapy. No missense mutations identified in theMUTgene, includingmut0andmut−changes #Affected mRNA stability. A new sequence variation (c.562G>C) in theMMAAgene was identified. Most of thecblApatients carried premature termination codons (PTC) in both alleles. Interestingly, the transcripts containing the PTC mutations were insensitive to nonsense‐mediated decay (NMD).
Classic and late‐onset neurological disease in two siblings with glutaryl‐CoA dehydrogenase deficiency
Authors: López‐Laso E. , García‐Villoria J. , Martín E. , Duque P. , Cano A. , Ribes A. 
Published: October 2007

SummaryLate‐onset neurological disease has rarely been reported in patients with glutaryl‐CoA dehydrogenase (GCDH) deficiency. We present two siblings with GCDH deficiency. One of them presented with the classic neurological disease (patient 1). Routine investigation of family members revealed that her apparently unharmed 13‐year‐old sister was also affected (patient 2). Patient 2 started to have academic difficulties in the months prior to our assessment. Her clinical examination was normal, with the exception of a cranial circumference of 57 cm (slightly over the 98th centile). A severe leukoencephalopathy was demonstrated on MRI. Neuropsychological assessment showed an IQ within the normal–low range and a mild impairment of memory and executive function. Previous reports on late‐onset neurological disease in GCDH deficiency have revealed that progressive leukoencephalopathy develops over time. Following the recently published guideline for the diagnosis and management of GCDH deficiency, both patients are receiving dietary treatment in combination with l‐carnitine supplementation. We emphasize the need to search for chronic neurological changes of late‐onset type in apparently unaffected GCDH deficiency cases diagnosed in routine family investigations.