bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pycnogenol® reduces talc‐induced neoplastic transformation in human ovarian cell cultures
Authors: Buz'Zard Amber R. , Lau Benjamin H. S. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractTalc and poor diet have been suggested to increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer; which can be reduced by a diet rich in fruit and vegetables. Talc is ubiquitous despite concern about its safety, role as a possible carcinogen and known ability to cause irritation and inflammation. It was recently shown that Pycnogenol® (Pyc; a proprietary mixture of water‐soluble bioflavonoids extracted from French maritime pine bark) was selectively toxic to established malignant ovarian germ cells. This study investigated talc‐induced carcinogenesis and Pyc‐induced chemoprevention. Normal human epithelial and granulosa ovarian cell lines and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) were treated with talc, or pretreated with Pyc then talc. Cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and neoplastic transformation by soft agar assay were measured. Talc increased proliferation, induced neoplastic transformation and increased ROS generation time‐dependently in the ovarian cells and dose‐dependently in the PMN. Pretreatment with Pyc inhibited the talc‐induced increase in proliferation, decreased the number of transformed colonies and decreased the ROS generation in the ovarian cells. The data suggest that talc may contribute to ovarian neoplastic transformation and Pyc reduced the talc‐induced transformation. Taken together, Pyc may prove to be a potent chemopreventative agent against ovarian carcinogenesis. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Potent in vitro cytotoxic and antioxidant activity of Careya arborea bark extracts
Authors: Senthilkumar Natesan , Badami Shrishailappa , Cherian Manju Mary , Hariharapura Raghu Chandrasekar 
Published: March 2007

AbstractCareya arborea is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of tumors and other ailments. The successive chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts and crude 50% methanol extract exhibited potent cytotoxicity against cancerous RD, HEp‐2 and HeLa cell lines. They were found to be safe against the normal Vero cell line. The methanol and aqueous extracts possessed strong antioxidant activity against many oxidants in the in vitro antioxidant screening. The total phenol content of these extracts was found to be high. The results suggest strong cytotoxic and antioxidant properties and support the ethnomedical claims for the plant. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differential growth inhibitory effects of W. somnifera root and E. officinalis fruits on CHO cells
Authors: Sumantran Venil N. , Boddul Sanjay , Koppikar Soumya J. , Dalvi Madhuri , Wele Asmita , Gaire Vishakha , Wagh Ulhas V. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe Chinese Hamster ovary (CHO) cell line is widely used for measuring drug cytotoxicity and resistance. Therefore, the effects of two major Ayurvedic drugs (W. somnifera root and E. officinalis fruits) on the short and long‐term growth of these cells were investigated. A standard 96‐well plate assay was used to measure short‐term growth. For assessment of long‐term growth, the colony formation assay (CFA) was used, which measures clonogenic potential. This assay is the best measure of the cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs and the radio‐sensitivity of tumor cells. As reported by others, the aqueous extracts of both herbal drugs were found to have short‐term growth inhibitory effects on CHO cells when added to cells at the time of cell plating. However, this is the first report showing that these two herbal drugs have significantly different effects on the long‐term growth of CHO cells. Thus, extracts of W. somnifera root, but not E. officinalis fruit, caused a reproducible, dose dependent, inhibition of colony formation of CHO cells. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification and properties of 2,5‐Dihydroxy‐4,3′‐di(β‐d‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐trans‐stilbene from Morus bombycis Koidzumi roots
Authors: Jin Ying‐Shan , Kim Min‐Kyeong , Heo Seong‐II , Han Woong , Wang Myeong‐Hyeon 
Published: March 2007

Abstract2,5‐Dihydroxy‐4,3′‐di(β‐d‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐trans‐stilbene was identified from Morus bombycis Koidzumi roots. The 2,5‐dihydroxy‐4,3′‐di(β‐d‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐trans‐stilbene at a dose of 400–600 mg/kg had hepatoprotective activity comparable to the standard agent, silymarin. The biochemical assays were confirmed by histological observations showing that the 2,5‐dihydroxy‐4,3′‐di(β‐d‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐trans‐stilbene from Morus bombycis Koidzumi roots decreased cell ballooning in response to CCl4 treatment. These results demonstrate that the 2,5‐dihydroxy‐4,3′‐di(β‐d‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐trans‐stilbene component has a liver protective action against CCl4‐induced hepatotoxicity. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preventative antiinflammatory effect of potamogetonan, a pectin from the common pondweed Potamogeton natans L.
Authors: Popov Sergey V. , Popova Galina Yu. , Paderin Nikita M. , Koval Olga A. , Ovodova Raisa G. , Ovodov Yury S. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe pectic polysaccharide named potamogetonan (PN) was obtained using extraction of the leaves and stems of the common pondweed Potamogeton natans L. by an aqueous ammonium oxalate. The purified potamogetonan PN‐300 was obtained using membrane ultrafiltration of PN and proved to be pectin with a molecular weight of 300 kDa. The capacity of potamogetonan PN‐300 to prevent inflammation was assessed using a carrageenan paw edema test in mice. Oral administration of PN‐300 24 h prior to induction of inflammation was found to reduce edema formation in a dose‐related manner. The maximal effect of PN‐300 was observed at 1 h after carrageenan injection (60% reduction of footpad swelling) and was comparable to that of indomethacin. The delayed edema (5 h) was less affected by pre‐administration of PN‐300 (33% reduction). PN‐300 was found to improve the survival of mice subjected to a lethal dose of LPS. The anti‐endotoxemic effect of PN‐300 was shown to be mediated by decreased TNF‐α and IL‐1β and increased IL‐10 production.Thus, a pectin named potamogetonan PN‐300 was isolated from P. natans and was shown to possess a preventive antiinflammatory effect following oral administration. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Screening seeds of some Scottish plants for free radical scavenging activity
Authors: Kumarasamy Yashodharan , Byres Maureen , Cox Philip J. , Jaspars Marcel , Nahar Lutfun , Sarker Satyajit D. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractFrom a consideration of ethnobotanical and taxonomic information, seeds of 45 Scottish plant species encompassing 23 different families were obtained from authentic seed suppliers. The n‐hexane, dichloromethane (DCM) and methanol (MeOH) extracts were assessed, both qualitatively and quantitatively, for free radical scavenging activity in the DPPH assay. The MeOH extracts of 37 species exhibited low to high levels of free radical scavenging activity (RC50 values ranging from 2.00 to 4.7 × 10−4 mg/mL), and Alliaria petiolata, Prunus padus and Prunus spinosa were the most potent antioxidant extracts. The DCM extracts of 17 species showed similar levels of activity, and among those, Prunus padus and Prunus spinosa extracts were the most active with RC50 values of 2.5 × 10−4 and 5.0 × 10−4 mg/mL, respectively. The n‐hexane extracts were much less active than the MeOH and DCM extracts, and 17 species, with the exception of Glechoma hederacea (RC50 = 1.94 × 10−4) displayed low to moderate levels of free radical scavenging property (RC50 values ranging from 2.00 to 8.7 × 10−3 mg/mL). Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Drug–drug interaction prediction: a Bayesian meta‐analysis approach
Authors: Li Lang , Yu Menggang , Chin Raymond , Lucksiri Aroonrut , Flockhart David A. , Hall Stephen D. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractIn drug–drug interaction (DDI) research, a two drug interaction is usually predicted by individual drug pharmacokinetics (PK). Although subject‐specific drug concentration data from clinical PK studies on inhibitor/inducer or substrate's PK are not usually published, sample mean plasma drug concentrations and their standard deviations have been routinely reported. In this paper, an innovative DDI prediction method based on a three‐level hierarchical Bayesian meta‐analysis model is developed. The first level model is a study‐specific sample mean model; the second level model is a random effect model connecting different PK studies; and all priors of PK parameters are specified in the third level model. A Monte Carlo Markov chain (MCMC) PK parameter estimation procedure is developed, and DDI prediction for a future study is conducted based on the PK models of two drugs and posterior distributions of the PK parameters. The performance of Bayesian meta‐analysis in DDI prediction is demonstrated through a ketoconazole–midazolam example. The biases of DDI prediction are evaluated through statistical simulation studies. The DDI marker, ratio of area under the concentration curves, is predicted with little bias (less than 5 per cent), and its 90 per cent credible interval coverage rate is close to the nominal level. Sensitivity analysis is conducted to justify prior distribution selections. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Item reduction in a scale for screening
Authors: Liu Xinhua , Jin Zhezhen 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThis paper presents a non‐parametric approach for the selection of items in a scale for screening, with the score defined as the sum of item response indicators. Without specifying parametric models for binary classification probabilities, the proposed item selection method evaluates the change in classification accuracy due to adding or deleting one item for a scale with k items. It first removes least useful items from the scale and then uses a forward stepwise selection procedure to the remaining items to identify a subset of items for a reduced scale. The reduced scale usually retains or improves classification accuracy compared to the full scale. The variation in items selected can be assessed with bootstrap samples. In a simulation study, the proposed procedure shows a fairly good finite sample performance. The method is illustrated with a data set on patients with and without high risk of developing Alzheimer's disease who were administered a 40‐item test of olfactory function. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Wilcoxon‐based group sequential designs for comparison of areas under two correlated ROC curves
Authors: Zhou Xiao‐Hua , Li Sierra M. , Gatsonis Constantine A. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractClinical studies to evaluate the relative accuracies of two diagnostic modalities via their receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves are currently conducted using fixed sample designs: cases are accrued until a predetermined sample size is achieved and, at that point, the areas under the ROC curves are computed and compared (Radiology 1982; 143:29–36; Radiology 1983; 148:839–843). In prospective ROC studies (Radiology 1990; 175:571–575), participants are recruited from a clinically defined cohort and diagnostic test information is obtained and interpreted in advance of ascertaining the definitive proof of diagnosis (‘gold standard’). In retrospective studies, cases are selected from a set of patient records and their diagnostic tests are interpreted without knowledge of the ‘gold standard’. The conduct of ROC studies requires considerable effort and resources, particularly for the collection of ‘gold standard’ information. Thus, it is highly desirable to search for designs which are more efficient than using a fixed sample.In this paper, we discuss the formulation and application of group sequential designs (GSDs) to comparative ROC studies based on non‐parametric Wilcoxon estimators of the area under the ROC curves. The approach is applicable to comparisons of ROC curve areas of two tests measured on either continuous or ordinal scales on same cases (‘paired’ designs) with one reader. The adoption of GSDs may lead to substantial savings in the number of required cases, thus resulting in both time and resource use efficiency. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An investigation of two multivariate permutation methods for controlling the false discovery proportion
Authors: Korn Edward L. , Li Ming‐Chung , McShane Lisa M. , Simon Richard 
Published: March 2007

AbstractIdentifying genes that are differentially expressed between classes of samples is an important objective of many microarray experiments. Because of the thousands of genes typically considered, there is a tension between identifying as many of the truly differentially expressed genes as possible, but not too many genes that are not really differentially expressed (false discoveries). Controlling the proportion of identified genes that are false discoveries, the false discovery proportion (FDP), is a goal of interest. In this paper, two multivariate permutation methods are investigated for controlling the FDP. One is based on a multivariate permutation testing (MPT) method that probabilistically controls the number of false discoveries, and the other is based on the Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM) procedure that provides an estimate of the FDP. Both methods account for the correlations among the genes. We find the ability of the methods to control the proportion of false discoveries varies substantially depending on the implementation characteristics. For example, for both methods one can proceed from the most significant gene to the least significant gene until the estimated FDP is just above the targeted level (‘top‐down’ approach), or from the least significant gene to the most significant gene until the estimated FDP is just below the targeted level (‘bottom‐up’ approach). We find that the top‐down MPT‐based method probabilistically controls the FDP, whereas our implementation of the top‐down SAM‐based method does not. Bottom‐up MPT‐based or SAM‐based methods can result in poor control of the FDP. Published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Abrasion and edge fracture resistance estimation of hard materials by tribotesting method
Authors: Scieszka S.F. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe use of tools manufactured from hard materials is limited by their fracture toughness and there is a need for research aimed at increasing toughness without sacrificing good wear resistance. To aid in this objective, a simple and reliable integrated tribotesting method is needed in which a combined action involving both fracture and abrasion occurs. One such method currently developed is presented in this paper. The method is based on the concept of edge chipping during the initial transition stage of abrasion wear, which is controlled by a brittle fracture process. The empirical relationship between mass loss as a result of edge chipping during the initial transitional stage of abrasive wear and fracture toughness is presented in the form of formulae. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modelling analysis of transient stability simulation with high penetration of grid‐connected wind farms of DFIG type
Authors: Shi Libao , Xu Zheng , Hao Jin , Ni Yixin 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThis paper shows a model of a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) including a simplified model of a wind turbine for the purpose of transient stability analysis of large‐scale power systems with great wind farms penetration. The wind turbine model and the DFIG model are systematically deducted in this paper. Specially, the improved model of rotor‐side converter and the simplified grid‐side converter model are considered in our work. The corresponding machine–network interface solution based on the synchronously rotating common x‐y reference frame is elaborately issued in this paper. Furthermore, a method is proposed to calculate the DFIG initial conditions as well. A simplified model of the turbine is used excluding among other components the pitch control. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Laparoscopic versus Open Appendectomy in Children: A Retrospective Comparative Study of 2,332 Cases
Authors: Esposito Ciro , Borzi Peter , Valla Jean Stephane , Mekki Monghi , Nouri Abdelatif , Becmeur Francois , Allal Hossein , Settimi Alessandro , Shier Felix , Sabin MiguelAntonio Gonzales , Mastroianni Luciano 
Published: March 2007

AbstractAimThe laparoscopic treatment of paediatric appendicitis remains controversial, especially in the presence of complications. This study evaluated the outcomes of open appendectomy (OA) and laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) by analysing the data from a multicentre study.MethodsThe authors retrospectively reviewed a series of 2,332 appendectomies (1,506 LA and 826 OA) performed in children and adolescents (median age 8 years) in 9 different centres of paediatric surgery. For the patients operated using laparoscopy, an IN procedure was employed in 921 (61.2%), an OUT procedure in 571 (37.9%) and a MIXED procedure in 14 (0.9%). In the open surgery, a McBurney incision was adopted in 795 patients (96.4%).ResultsMedian duration of surgery was 40 minutes for LA and 45 minutes for OA. Median hospital stay was 3 days (LA) and 4.3 days (OA) in case of simple appendicitis and 5.2 days (LA) and 8.3 days (OA) in case of peritonitis. Complications were recorded in 124 LA cases (8.2%) and 65 OA cases (7.9%). The conversion rate in laparoscopy was only 1.6% (25 cases). The statistical analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney test, and the main significant difference that emerged was the length of hospital stay, which was in favour of laparoscopy compared with open surgery (P < 0.0001).ConclusionsWe conclude that in clinical settings where laparoscopic surgical expertise and equipment are available and affordable, LA seems to be an effective and safe alternative to OA. Three out 9 centres participating in our survey perform LA in all patients with a suspicion of appendicitis. Our study shows that laparoscopy significantly reduces hospital stay in case of appendicitis and peritonitis and presents an extremely low conversion rate (1.6%) to open surgery. Laparoscopic transumbilical appendectomy (37.9%) in our series seems to be a simple option, even for less‐skilled laparoscopic surgeons.
A peculiar relationship between genetic diversity and adaptability in invasive exotic species: bluegill sunfish as a model species
Authors: Yonekura Ryuji , Kawamura Kouichi , Uchii Kimiko 
Published: March 2007

AbstractA peculiar relationship exists between population genetics and invasion biology. Introduced populations often suffer a depletion of genetic variation, but they can persist and adapt to new environments. Here, we show that this relationship is observed in bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus), an invasive exotic fish in Japan. Genetic analysis using selectively neutral genetic markers reconfirmed that the bluegill introduced into Japan from the United States in 1960 had a single origin with only 15 founders. The analysis also shows that in the process of range expansion, the introduced bluegills experienced severe depletion of genetic diversity due to the founder effect and/or genetic drift. Despite such a decline in genetic diversity, the bluegill populations exhibited a divergent feeding morphology in response to the colonized environments. Such a morphological divergence can facilitate prey exploitation, thereby causing a greater negative impact on native prey resources. Further, in a trophically polymorphic bluegill population in Lake Biwa, physiological characteristics and genetic structures of the intestinal bacterial communities were associated with the difference in diet among the trophic morphs in the host bluegill population. This empirical evidence suggests that despite the severe decline in genetic diversity, the introduced bluegill populations rapidly adapted to the new environment and formed diverse functional relationships with the native bacterial community. Thus, these findings suggest that genetic variation at selectively neutral markers does not always predict adaptability and invasiveness in introduced populations.
Levels of Lipid Peroxidation in Human Plasma and Erythrocytes: Comparison between Fatty Acids and Cholesterol
Authors: Yoshida Yasukazu , Saito Yoshiro , Hayakawa Mieko , Habuchi Yoko , Imai Yasuharu , Sawai Yoshiyuki , Niki Etsuo 
Published: March 2007

AbstractLipid peroxidation has gained renewed attention with increasing evidence showing its biological role in producing toxic compounds and cellular signaling mediators. The assessment of lipid peroxidation levels in vivo is difficult partly because lipids are oxidized by different oxidants by different mechanisms to give versatile types of products, which may undergo metabolism and secondary reactions. In the present study, total hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids (tHODE) and 7α‐ and 7β‐hydroxycholesterol (t7‐OHCh) from 44 healthy human subjects were assessed as biomarkers after reduction with sodium borohydride followed by saponification with potassium hydroxide comparing with the prevailing standard 8‐isoprostaglandin F2α (t8‐iso‐PGF2α). The average concentrations of tHODE, total 8‐isoprostaglandin F2α (t8‐iso‐PGF2α), t7α‐OHCh, and t7β‐OHCh were 203, 0.727, 87.1, and 156 nmol/l plasma and 1,917, 12.8, 1,372, and 3,854 nmol/l packed erythrocytes, respectively. The ratios of tHODE and t7‐OHCh to the parent substrates were 194 and 3,519 μmol tHODE/mol linoleates and 40.9 and 686 μmol t7‐OHCh/mol cholesterol in plasma and erythrocytes, respectively. It was found that (1) t7‐OHCh in blood was unexpectedly high, as high as or even higher than tHODE, (2) the amounts of tHODE was more than 100 fold higher than t8‐iso‐PGF2α (3) the level of lipid oxidation products in erythrocytes was higher than that in plasma, and (4) lipid peroxidation products level tended to increase while antioxidant level decrease with age. These products may be used as potential biomarker for assessment of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in vivo.
Adolescent expectations and desires about marriage and parenthood
Authors: Plotnick Robert D. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractUsing data collected in 2000 on a racially and ethnically diverse sample of high school seniors, this study analyzes adolescents’ expectations and desires about marriage and parenthood, including unwed parenthood. The conceptual framework combines family context, opportunity cost, and social–psychological perspectives. Each perspective receives empirical support. Race, ethnicity, gender, parental education, and parental expectations for their child's education show significant relationships with expectations and desires about marriage and parenthood. Adolescents with higher opportunity costs, as indicated by better grades and higher expectations for their schooling, expect and desire to marry and have children at older ages. The relationships between parental education and parental expectations for their child's education and the outcomes are largely mediated through opportunity costs. Significant relationships between locus of control and the outcomes provide empirical support for the social–psychological element of the framework.