bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Using Single-Agent Therapy in Adult Patients with Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma Can Still Be Considered Standard Care
Authors: Sleijfer Stefan , Seynaeve Caroline , Verweij Jaap 
Published: November 2005

Abstract

Learning Objectives
After completing this course, the reader will be able to: Discuss the current status of the chemotherapeutic treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcomas in adult patients.Explain the pitfalls in trial design when reading published papers on performed clinical studies.Discuss the importance of identifying the several subtypes comprising the group of soft tissue sarcomas.Describe new strategies to improve future research in adult soft tissue sarcomas.
Access and take the CME test online and receive 1 AMA PRA category 1 credit at CME.TheOncologist.com
The group of soft tissue sarcomas in adult patients is a heterogeneous group with more than 40 different subtypes. While local treatment remains the mainstay for localized disease, systemic chemotherapy can importantly contribute in the treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcoma. For patients with metastatic disease, chemotherapy is a palliative treatment in the vast majority of the cases. In this setting, toxicity should not outweigh the potential benefits resulting from chemotherapy. In patients with locally advanced disease too extensive for local treatment, systemic chemotherapy can contribute to cure, provided that tumor shrinkage renders subsequent optimal local treatment possible. In these cases, chemotherapeutic regimens yielding the highest response rates achievable should be used. In the last decades, several randomized studies have aimed to determine whether combination regimens yield benefit over single-agent treatment in terms of response rate and overall survival. This review addresses the current available data on chemotherapy for adult patients with soft tissue sarcoma, excluding gastrointestinal stromal tumor, the Ewing-like sarcomas, and other small blue round cell tumors. In addition, it is increasingly recognized that future research in soft tissue sarcoma should focus on the identification of tumor factors that can serve as targets for treatment and that the diverse tumor subtypes should be analyzed separately for their sensitivity to systemic treatment. This review also focuses on these and other strategies that will hopefully lead to better out comes in this disease entity in the near future.
Trace metals, stable isotope ratios, and trophic relations in seabirds from the North Pacific Ocean
Authors: Elliott John E. 
Published: November 2005

Abstract
Trace elements including mercury, cadmium, selenium, and stable nitrogen isotope ratios (δ15N) were measured in tissues of Pacific seabirds. Two species of albatross (Diomedea immutabilis, Diomedea nigripes), four species of shearwaters (Puffinus bulleri, Puffinus carneipes, Puffinus griseus, Puffinus tenuirostris), northern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), and horned puffin (Fratercula corniculata) were collected opportunistically by an experimental fishery in the North Pacific Ocean. Two species each of petrels (Oceanodroma leucorhoa, Oceanodroma furcata) and auklets (Ptychoramphus aleuticus, Cerorhinca monocerata) were collected at breeding colonies on the north coast of British Columbia, Canada. Concentrations of toxic trace metals varied considerably among the pelagic nonbreeders; highest concentrations consistently were in D. nigripes (e.g., Hg), 70-fold greater than F. corniculata (e.g., Cd), eightfold greater than P. tenuirostris (e.g., Se), and fourfold greater than F. corniculata. Most essential trace elements varied little among species, consistent with physiological regulation. Values for δ15N correlated positively with hepatic Se (r = 0.771, p = 0.025) and negatively with Co (r = 0.817, p = 0.013). Among the four breeding species, there were significant positive associations for δ15N in muscle and hepatic Se (r = 0.822, p = 0.002), Hg (r = 0.744, p = 0.0001), and Cd (r = 0.589, p = 0.003). Differences in time scales integrated by δ15N versus trace metals in tissues probably reduced the apparent associations between trace-metal exposure and diet.
Effect of temperature on toxicity of a natural pyrethrin pesticide to green anole lizards (Anolis carolinensis)
Authors: Talent Larry G. 
Published: November 2005

Abstract
Metabolic rates of reptiles vary with body temperature; therefore, the sensitivity of reptiles to a particular dose level of a pesticide might be expected to vary as well. The purpose of the present study was twofold: To evaluate the effects of temperature on the toxicity to green anole lizards (Anolis carolinensis) of a single concentration of a natural pyrethrin pesticide via percutaneous exposure, and to compare the effects of temperature (20 vs 35°C) on the toxicity of different concentrations of pyrethrins to green anoles. When lizards were exposed to a solution that contained 300 mg/L of pyrethrins, the mortality of lizards maintained at 15 and 20°C was significantly higher (p &lt; 0.01) than the mortality of lizards maintained at 35 and 38°C. In addition, the median lethal concentrations of pyrethrins for lizards maintained at 20 and 35°C were 77.6 and greater than 300 mg/L, respectively. Therefore, temperature clearly influenced the sensitivity of lizards to pyrethrin pesticides.
Biochemical responses of the aquatic higher plant Lemna gibba to a mixture of copper and 1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinone: Synergistic toxicity via reactive oxygen species
Authors: Babu T. Sudhakar , Tripuranthakam Sridevi , Greenberg Bruce M. 
Published: November 2005

Abstract
Metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are known to be toxic to plants. Because metals and PAHs often are cocontaminants in the environment, plants can be subjected to damage caused by their combined effects. We recently found that copper and an oxygenated PAH (1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinone [1,2-dhATQ]) synergistically are toxic to plants. This synergistic toxicity was linked indirectly to production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, plant growth, chlorophyll pigments, protein accumulation, and ROS production were chosen as endpoints to assess the mechanism of toxicity of copper and 1,2-dhATQ to Lemna gibba in more detail. Because copper and PAHs can generate ROS, we assayed for specific antioxidant enzymes: Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Copper treatment at a concentration that did not cause growth inhibition resulted in upregulation of Mn SOD, Cu—Zn SOD, and APX. At a level that moderately was toxic to plants, 1,2-dhATQ did not alter significantly the levels of these antioxidant enzymes. However, a synergistically toxic mixture of copper plus 1,2-dhATQ upregulated Cu—Zn SOD, Mn SOD, and GR, although APX activity was downregulated. When plants were treated with the ROS scavenger dimethyl thiourea (DMTU), enhanced toxicity and formation of ROS caused by the mixture both were diminished substantially. However, 1,2-dhATQ toxicity was not affected significantly by DMTU. Based on this study, the toxicity caused by the mixture of copper plus 1,2-dhATQ directly can be connected to elevated levels of ROS.
Gene expression in caged fish as a first-tier indicator of contaminant exposure in streams
Authors: Roberts Aaron P. , Oris James T. , Burton G. Allen , Clements William H. 
Published: November 2005

Abstract
The development of sensitive, biologically based indicators of contaminant exposure (i.e., biomarkers) is an ongoing topic of research. These indicators have been proposed as a first-tier method of identifying contaminant exposure. The primary objective of this research was to implement a biomarker-based method of exposure assessment using caged fish and real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rtRT-PCR) measurements of gene expression. Primers were developed for the CYPIA, metallothionein, and vitellogenin genes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchyus mykiss), cutbow trout (Oncorhynchyus clarkii × mykiss), and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Each of these genes has been shown to respond specifically to planar aromatic compounds, heavy metals, and environmental estrogens, respectively. Juvenile fish were placed in cages and exposed in situ at reference and contaminated sites on the Cache la Poudre River (CO, USA), the Arkansas River (CO, USA), the St. John River (NB, Canada), and two urban creeks near Dayton (OH, USA). Quantitative gene expression was determined using rtRT-PCR. Biomarker expression profiles were obtained that demonstrated differences in CYP1A, metallothionein, and vitellogenin mRNA production unique to each site, indicating that specific types of compounds were bioavailable and present in sufficient concentrations to elicit transcriptional responses in the organism. These findings support the use of a biomarker-based approach to exposure identification and assessment.
A universal assay for vitellogenin in fish mucus and plasma
Authors: Van Veld Peter A. , Rutan Barbara J. , Sullivan Constance A. , Johnston L. Danielle , Rice Charles D. , Fisher Daniel F. , Yonkos Lance T. 
Published: November 2005

Abstract
Expression of vitellogenin (VTG) in male fish has become a widely used biomarker of exposure to environmental estrogens. Vitellogenin is usually measured in blood by immunoassays that require species-specific antibodies. In this paper, we describe a universal assay that is based on the high—molecular weight and extensive phosphoserine content of all VTGs. Plasma and mucosal proteins from Pimephales promelas and Fundulus heteroclitus and mucosal proteins from Gambusia holbrooki were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, stained with a commercially available fluropore dye (Pro-Q Diamond), and visualized by ultraviolet transillumination. The method allowed sensitive detection of VTG in females and estradiol-treated males in all species tested. Quantitative analysis indicated that the phosphoprotein assay is at least as sensitive as antibody-based methods but is universal, offering the advantage of VTG measurement in multiple species.
The cost effectiveness of occupational health interventions: Preventing occupational back pain
Authors: Lahiri Supriya , Markkanen Pia , Levenstein Charles 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackgroundOccupational back pain exacts a toll on society with concomitant economic losses; it is imperative to evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of interventions to reduce the relevant ergonomic stressors at work. This study estimates and evaluates the average and incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios (CERs) of specific interventions for the prevention of occupationally induced back pain for the World Health Organization (WHO) defined subregions of the world.MethodsFour back‐pain interventions were selected from the literature: training (T), engineering controls (EC), engineering controls and training (EC&T), and a comprehensive full ergonomics program (EP) for evaluation. A simulation model for a 100‐year time horizon, developed by the WHO CHOICE initiative project was used to estimate the effectiveness of the interventions in healthy year equivalents. The intervention costs were adjusted for all WHO subregions.ResultsIn all of the subregions, training was the most cost‐effective with CERs varying from $74 per healthy life years gained in the subregion comprising of Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, Yemen (EMROD) to approximately $567 in the subregion covering Canada and the United States (AMROA). Training is considered to be very cost‐effective and would be the first choice option where resources are scarce. However, the overall effectiveness of training is low. Although other interventions such as engineering controls and total ergonomic interventions are relatively more expensive, the addition to health outcome through these interventions is much higher. The difference in the CERs for training and other engineering controls and full ergonomic interventions is relatively small for most of the industrialized regions of the world. It is clear from the ranked CERs and incremental CERs over the different subregions that in most of the industrialized regions of the world additional resources, if they become available, should go straight to the full ergonomics program.ConclusionsThe model results based on CERs show that worker training is a low cost, feasible first step toward reducing back pain/injury incidence. However, all of the average CERs for the different interventions, for each of the regions, fall well within their GDP per capita estimates [World Bank, 2001]. According to the WHO Commission on Macroeconomics and Health any intervention that costs less than three times GDP per capita for saving a healthy year equivalent should be considered worthwhile and good value for money [WHO, 2002]. Given this criterion, the engineering controls interventions as well as the full ergonomics program look very cost effective for all of the WHO subregions. Am. J. Ind. Med. 48:515–529, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The global burden of disease due to occupational carcinogens
Authors: Driscoll Timothy , Nelson Deborah Imel , Steenland Kyle , Leigh James , Concha‐Barrientos Marisol , Fingerhut Marilyn , Prüss‐Üstün Annette 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackgroundThe worldwide mortality and morbidity from lung cancer, leukemia, and malignant mesothelioma arising from occupational exposures to carcinogens are described. Cases reported in the year 2000 that resulted from relevant past and current exposures are assessed.MethodsThe proportions of workers exposed to the carcinogens of interest, and their levels of exposure, were estimated using workforce data and the CAREX (CARcinogen EXposure) database. These were combined with relative risk measures (for lung cancer and leukemia) or absolute risk measures (for malignant mesothelioma) to develop estimates of deaths, disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs) and attributable fraction (for lung cancer and leukemia).ResultsThere were an estimated 152,000 deaths (lung cancer: 102,000; leukemia: 7,000; and malignant mesothelioma: 43,000) and nearly 1.6 million DALYS (lung cancer: 969,000; leukemia: 101,000; and malignant mesothelioma: 564,000) due to exposure to occupational carcinogens.ConclusionsOccupational carcinogens are an important cause of death and disability worldwide. Am. J. Ind. Med. 48:419–431, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The global burden of occupational noise‐induced hearing loss
Authors: Nelson Deborah Imel , Nelson Robert Y. , Concha‐Barrientos Marisol , Fingerhut Marilyn 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackgroundExcessive noise is a global occupational health hazard with considerable social and physiological impacts, including noise‐induced hearing loss (NIHL). This paper describes the worldwide morbidity of occupational NIHL in the year 2000.MethodsThe proportion of the population exposed to occupational noise was estimated using noise exposure data from the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), adjusted by data on the distribution of the work force by occupational category and economic sector, and economic activity rates in each WHO subregion. These values for the exposed population and risk measures for NIHL were used to develop estimates of the attributable fraction (AF) of adult‐onset hearing loss resulting from occupational noise exposure. The AFs were applied to WHO estimates of total disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs) from adult‐onset hearing loss to estimate the DALYs due to occupational noise.ResultsWorldwide, 16% of the disabling hearing loss in adults (over 4 million DALYs) is attributed to occupational noise, ranging from 7% to 21% in the various subregions. The effects of the exposure to occupational noise are larger for males than females in all subregions and higher in the developing regions.ConclusionsOccupational noise is a significant cause of adult‐onset hearing loss. The majority of this NIHL burden can be minimized by the use of engineering controls to reduce the generation of noise at its source. Am. J. Ind. Med. 48:446–458, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Moving knowledge of global burden into preventive action
Authors: Eijkemans Gerry J.M. , Takala Jukka 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackgroundEstimation of the global burden of disease and injury due to selected occupational factors is a topic of interest to policy makers, governments, and international bodies. The World Health Organization (WHO) has implemented a Comparative Risk Assessment (CRA) to estimate risk to exposed populations.MethodsEstimates of the risk factor‐burden relationships by age, sex, and WHO subregion were generated. Risk measurements (relative risks and mortality rates) for the health outcomes were determined primarily from studies published in peer review journals. The resulting burden was described as the attributable fraction of disease or injury, using both mortality and disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs).ResultsThe papers in this issue include discussions of worldwide mortality and morbidity from lung cancer, leukemia, and malignant mesothelioma arising from occupational exposures; mortality and morbidity from asthma, COPD, and pneumoconiosis; the global burden of low back pain; exposure to contaminated sharps injuries among health care workers; noise‐induced hearing loss; and occupational injuries. Three papers focus on economic issues: estimation of net‐costs for prevention of occupational low back pain; cost effectiveness of occupational health interventions; and the cost effectiveness of interventions in the prevention of silicosis.ConclusionsThe magnitude of the occupational health burden in the world is overwhelming, and the causes and mechanisms are multiple and complex. Commitment from all stakeholders is imperative to translate economic progress into sustainable human development and well‐being. Am. J. Ind. Med. 48:395–399, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Estimation of the global burden of disease attributable to contaminated sharps injuries among health‐care workers
Authors: Prüss‐Üstün Annette , Rapiti Elisabetta , Hutin Yvan 
Published: November 2005

AbstractBackgroundThe global burden of hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection due to percutaneous injuries among health care workers (HCWs) is estimated.MethodsThe incidence of infections attributable to percutaneous injuries in 14 geographical regions on the basis of the probability of injury, the prevalence of infection, the susceptibility of the worker, and the percutaneous transmission potential are modeled. The model also provides the attributable fractions of infection in HCWs.ResultsOverall, 16,000 HCV, 66,000 HBV, and 1,000 HIV infections may have occurred in the year 2000 worldwide among HCWs due to their occupational exposure to percutaneous injuries. The fraction of infections with HCV, HBV, and HIV in HCWs attributable to occupational exposure to percutaneous injuries fraction reaches 39%, 37%, and 4.4% respectively.ConclusionsOccupational exposures to percutaneous injuries are substantial source of infections with bloodborne pathogens among health‐care workers (HCWs). These infections are highly preventable and should be eliminated. Am. J. Ind. Med. 48:482–490, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Surface resistivity and rheological behaviors of carboxylated Multiwall carbon nanotube‐filled PET composite film
Authors: Ho Shin Dae , Han Yoon Kwan , Hyeong Kwon Oh , Ghyl Min Byung , Ik Hwang Chang 
Published: November 2005

AbstractMultiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) nanocomposites with poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) were prepared via in situ polymerization. The refluxing time was more important factor than the sonication time for giving carboxylic groups onto the surface of MWNT. Acid‐MWNT prepared was well dispersed in ethylene glycol, whereas the neat‐MWNT agglomerated and sedimented at the bottom. The viscosity of the composites increased with the addition of MWNT, but PET/acid‐MWNT composite showed lower viscosity than PET/neat‐MWNT because of the damage of MWNT by acid treatment and copolymerization effect by the reaction between carboxylic groups of MWNT and PET. PET/acid‐MWNT composite film showed lower surface resistivity than PET/neat‐MWNT composite film. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 900–904, 2006
Temperature and pH‐response swelling behavior of poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline)/chitosan interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels
Authors: Kim Seon Jeong , Lee Ki Jung , Kim In Young , Shin Dong Ik , Kim Sun I. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractInterpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels composed of poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) (PEtOz) and chitosan (CS) were prepared with radical polymerization and were characterized for their swelling properties. Sample OC11 (hydrogel weight ratio PEtOz/CS = 1/1) swelled more than samples OC21 (PEtOz/CS = 2/1) and OC31 (PEtOz/CS =3/1), exhibiting a swelling ratio of about 2000 wt % in deionized water; the swelling ratios of the other samples were about 1000 and 700 wt %. The swelling behavior of the IPN hydrogels was observed under various pH and temperature conditions. The swelling ratios of the samples ranged from about 2000 to 6500 wt % at lower pHs, with a maximum swelling ratio of about 6500 wt % in a pH 2 aqueous solution. They exhibited low critical solution temperature behavior, with sample OC31 more sensitive to temperature and sample OC11 more sensitive to pH. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 1100–1103, 2006
Morphology and thermal stability of BR/clay composites prepared by a new method
Authors: Wang Shaohui , Zhang Yong , Peng Zonglin , Zhang Yinxi 
Published: November 2005

AbstractA new potential preparation method named in situ organic modification was used to prepare intercalated polybutadiene rubber (BR)/clay/dimethyl dihydrogenated tallow ammonium chloride (DDAC) composites. That is, BR, pristine clay, and intercalatant DDAC were directly mixed in a Haake rheometer without pretreating the pristine clay with the intercalatant. The morphology of the BR/clay composites was investigated by means of X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The thermal stability of the BR/clay composites was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The dispersion of clay particles in the BR/clay/DDAC composites is much better than that in the BR/pristine clay and similar to that in the BR/organoclay DK4 (modified with DDAC) composites. BR/clay/DDAC composites have much higher thermal stability than the gum BR, BR/pristine clay, and BR/DK4 composites. The clay/intercalatant ratio has little influence on the thermal stability of the BR/clay/DDAC composites, while clay content has a significant effect on their thermal stability. The enhanced thermal stability of the BR/clay/DDAC composites is related to the dispersion state of clay particles in BR. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 905–913, 2006
Methylmethacrylate polymerization photoinitiated by 1‐(bromoacetyl)pyrene
Authors: Daswal Swati , Mishra Anuradha 
Published: November 2005

AbstractThe photopolymerization of methylmethacrylate induced by pyrene, 1‐acetylpyrene (AP), and 1‐(bromoacetyl)pyrene (BP) has been investigated. Under all conditions employed, pyrene was completely ineffective. Introduction of a carbonyl and a bromo group in pyrene enhanced the polymerization efficiencies. Efficiency of AP as photoinitiator was very low; however, BP was proved to be a good photoinitiator. The polymerization with BP follows first‐order kinetics with respect to monomer conversion, with a shorter induction period as compared with that of AP. The value of the initiator exponent (0.5) and the linear dependence of reciprocal average degree of polymerization on the square root of the initiator concentration suggest radical polymerization with bimolecular termination. IR and NMR spectra showed the atactic nature of polymethylmethacrylate. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 920–926, 2006