bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Health care expenditures among Medicaid enrolled children with and without orofacial clefts in North Carolina, 1995–2002
Authors: Cassell Cynthia H. , Meyer Robert , Daniels Julie 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: National data that examine health costs among children with special needs are limited and do not address children with orofacial clefts (OFC). This study examines Medicaid expenditures among children with and without OFC. METHODS: North Carolina vital statistics, health services, birth defects registry, and Medicaid enrollment and paid claims were linked to identify resident children born 1995–2002 with and without OFC who were continuously enrolled in Medicaid. Outcome measures included average cost per child for medical, inpatient, outpatient, dental, well‐child care, mental health, and home health. Average expenditures per child were also determined and were examined by the child's phenotypic characteristics including type of cleft and whether the defect was isolated or non‐isolated. Expenditure ratios were calculated to compare cases and controls and differences in expenditures among cases by cleft type and by isolated/non‐isolated occurrence. RESULTS: During infancy, average mental health expenditure per child with OFC was 37.2 times higher than for a child without OFC. Average home health expenditure per case was 45.0 times higher than for a control. Mean expenditure per child with OFC was $22,642 compared to $3,900 for an unaffected child. Mean expenditure for a child with cleft palate and child with cleft lip with cleft palate were about three times more than a child with cleft lip alone. Mean expenditure per child with non‐isolated OFC also was substantially higher than the expenditure for a child with isolated OFC. CONCLUSIONS: Children with OFC have significantly higher health‐related Medicaid expenditures than unaffected children. These findings are important for targeting care coordination and early intervention and for program planning and policy development related to special needs children. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Using active birth defects surveillance programs to supplement data on fetal death reports: Improving surveillance data on stillbirths
Authors: Duke Wes , Williams Laura , Correa Adolfo 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND: Surveillance of stillbirths using fetal death reports (FDRs) has been challenging because of under‐reporting of fetal deaths and missing data on the FDRs. Using active case finding and chart abstraction within the infrastructure of established birth defect surveillance programs could potentially enhance the data from FDRs. The data collection form for the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program, an active, population‐based birth defects surveillance system, was modified to collect additional information on stillbirths from medical records. METHODS: The study population was a 25% simple random sample of stillbirths recorded on FDRs in 2004 (n = 125) by residents in the five central counties of metropolitan Atlanta. Stillbirth was defined as a fetal death at ≥20 weeks gestation or ≥350 g if age was unknown. Data on demographic characteristics and risk factors collected from the two sources were compared for completeness and agreement, as well as causes of and conditions associated with the fetal death. RESULTS: Combining data sources provided more information. Demographic and risk factor variables in the two data sources showed strong agreement (categorical variable, kappa range = 0.79–1.00; continuous variable, correlation coefficient range = 0.61–1.00). The actively ascertained data provided more complete information for causes and conditions of fetal death. Data from the FDRs yielded 42% of cases with no listed cause of death or associated condition compared with 10% using Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program data. CONCLUSIONS: Expanding the potential of existing active birth defects surveillance programs to include stillbirth surveillance could potentially improve the quantity and quality of available data on fetal deaths. Ongoing studies are needed to corroborate these findings and to assess completeness of case ascertainment. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2008. Published 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Thiobarbiturates as Sirtuin Inhibitors: Virtual Screening, Free‐Energy Calculations, and Biological Testing
Authors: Uciechowska Urszula , Schemies Jörg , Neugebauer Robert C. , Huda Elisabeth‐Maria , Schmitt Martin L. , Meier Rene , Verdin Eric , Jung Manfred , Sippl Wolfgang 
Published: November 2008

AbstractNAD+‐dependent histone deacetylases (sirtuins) are enzymes that cleave acetyl groups from lysine residues in histones and other proteins. Potent selective sirtuin inhibitors are interesting tools for the investigation of the biological functions of these enzymes and may be future drugs for the treatment of cancer or neurodegenerative diseases. Herein we present the results from a protein‐based virtual screen of a commercial database with subsequent biological testing of the most promising compounds. The combination of docking and in vitro experimental testing resulted in the identification of novel sirtuin inhibitors with thiobarbiturate structure. To rationalize the experimental results, free‐energy calculations were carried out by molecular mechanics Poisson–Boltzmann/surface area (MM‐PBSA) calculations. A significant correlation between calculated binding free energies and measured Sirt2 inhibitory activities was observed. The analyses suggested a molecular basis for the interaction of the identified thiobarbiturate derivatives with human Sirt2. Based on the docking and MM‐PBSA calculations we synthesized and tested five further thiobarbiturates. The MM‐PBSA method correctly predicted the activity of the novel thiobarbiturates. The identified compounds will be used to further explore the therapeutic potential of sirtuin inhibitors.
A retrospective review of 1349 cases of sebaceous carcinoma
Authors: Dasgupta Tina , Wilson Lynn D. , Yu James B. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBACKGROUD:Sebaceous carcinoma is a rare and aggressive cutaneous carcinoma. It is believed that this malignancy predominates in the periocular region and occurs more frequently in Asian populations and in women. The objective of the current study was to analyze demographic characteristics and outcomes for patients with this malignancy from a large United States‐based population registry.METHODS:An analysis of the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database from 1973 through 2004 was performed.RESULTS:Of 1349 patients who were identified, 54% were men, 86.2% were white, and 5.5% were of Asian/Pacific Islander ancestry. The median age at diagnosis was 73 years. The most frequent site of disease was the eyelid (38.7%). The population‐matched 5‐ and 10‐year age‐matched relative survival rate was 91.9% (standard error [SE], 1.9%) and 79.2% (SE, 3.7%), respectively. Cause of death was attributable to cancer in 31% of patients. Orbital involvement did not predict for worsened survival compared with nonorbital involvement (5‐year overall survival, 75.2% vs 68%, respectively; P = .66). The overall population‐matched rate of sebaceous carcinoma was highest in whites (2.03 cases per 1000,000; SE, 0.08) versus Asian/Pacific Islanders (1.07 per 1000,000; SE, 0.18; P = .0001) versus blacks (0.48 per 1000,000; SE, 0.11; P < .0001).CONCLUSIONS:The current results support the finding of a predominance of men among patients with sebaceous carcinoma, and no difference was observed in the prognosis for orbital and periorbital involvement. This retrospective analysis also corroborated previous case reports of a higher incidence among patients with advanced age and the highest incidence for sites in the eyelid and skin of the face. The results also established that Asian/Pacific Islander ancestry is not a risk factor for developing sebaceous carcinoma. Cancer 2009. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Changes in the presentation of nodular and superficial spreading melanomas over 35 years
Authors: Warycha Melanie A. , Christos Paul J. , Mazumdar Madhu , Darvishian Farbod , Shapiro Richard L. , Berman Russell S. , Pavlick Anna C. , Kopf Alfred W. , Polsky David , Osman Iman 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND.Nodular melanoma (NM) may be biologically aggressive compared with the more common superficial spreading melanoma (SSM), with recent data suggesting underlying genetic differences between these 2 subtypes. To better define the clinical behavior of NMs, the authors compared their clinical and histopathologic features to those of SSMs at their institution, a tertiary referral center, over 3 decades.METHODS.A total of 1684 patients diagnosed with 1734 melanomas were prospectively enrolled. Of these, 1143 patients (69% SSM, 11% NM, 20% other) were diagnosed between 1972 and 1982; 541 patients (54% SSM, 23% NM, 23% other) were diagnosed between 2002 and the present. Differences between the features of NM and SSM within each time period as well as changes over time were analyzed.RESULTS.The authors found that SSMs are now diagnosed as thinner lesions (P < .0001) with a low incidence of histologic ulceration (P < .0001), whereas there was no significant change in the median tumor thickness or ulceration status of NMs over time (P = .10, P = .30, respectively). The median age at diagnosis of NM, however, did significantly increase over time (51 years to 63 years, P < .01). The median duration of NMs was reported to be only 5 months compared with 9 months in SSM patients.CONCLUSIONS.The authors' data suggest that improvements have been made in the early detection of SSM but not NM. Modifications of current screening practices, including increased surveillance of high‐risk patients with an emphasis on the “E” for “evolution” criterion of the ABCDE acronym used for early detection of melanoma, are thus warranted. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Safety and feasibility of aerobic training on cardiopulmonary function and quality of life in postsurgical nonsmall cell lung cancer patients
Authors: Jones Lee W. , Eves Neil D. , Peterson Bercedis L. , Garst Jennifer , Crawford Jeffrey , West Miranda J. , Mabe Stephanie , Harpole David , Kraus William E. , Douglas Pamela S. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND.A feasibility study examining the effects of supervised aerobic exercise training on cardiopulmonary and quality of life (QOL) endpoints among postsurgical nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients was conducted.METHODS.Using a single‐group design, 20 patients with stage I‐IIIB NSCLC performed 3 aerobic cycle ergometry sessions per week at 60% to 100% of peak workload for 14 weeks. Peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) was assessed using an incremental exercise test. QOL and fatigue were assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Lung (FACT‐L) scale.RESULTS.Nineteen patients completed the study. Intention‐to‐treat analysis indicated that VO2peak increased 1.1 mL/kg−1/min−1 (95% confidence interval [CI], −0.3‐2.5; P = .109) and peak workload increased 9 W (95% CI, 3‐14; P = .003), whereas FACT‐L increased 10 points (95% CI, −1‐22; P = .071) and fatigue decreased 7 points (95% CI; −1 to −17; P = .029) from baseline to postintervention. Per protocol analyses indicated greater improvements in cardiopulmonary and QOL endpoints among patients not receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.CONCLUSIONS.This pilot study provided proof of principle that supervised aerobic training is safe and feasible for postsurgical NSCLC patients. Aerobic exercise training is also associated with significant improvements in QOL and select cardiopulmonary endpoints, particularly among patients not receiving chemotherapy. Larger randomized trials are warranted. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Management of malignant gliomas during pregnancy
Authors: Blumenthal Deborah T. , Parreño Mary Grace H. , Batten Julia , Chamberlain Marc C. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND.Limited data are available on the management of glioma in pregnant women. Therefore, the aim of the current article was to describe the outcome of women with malignant gliomas who were exposed to chemotherapy early in the gestation period of their pregnancies.METHODS.The authors presented a case series of 6 women with malignant gliomas who during glioma‐directed treatment were discovered to have an unplanned pregnancy. All patients elected to discontinue chemotherapy and carry their pregnancy to term.RESULTS.All women had uneventful pregnancies with no glioma‐related complications. All women delivered healthy newborns without evidence of congenital malformations despite exposure to cytotoxic chemotherapy and anticonvulsant medications.CONCLUSIONS.Management of malignant glioma during pregnancy is challenging; however, normal delivery and healthy live birth is possible. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Early versus late intensification for patients with high‐risk Hodgkin lymphoma—3 Cycles of intensive chemotherapy plus low‐dose lymph node radiation therapy versus 4 cycles of combined doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine plus myeloablative chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation
Authors: Arakelyan Nina , Berthou Christian , Desablens Bernard , de Guibert Sophie , Delwail Vincent , Moles Marie‐Pierre , Quittet Philippe , Jais Jean‐Philippe , Colonna Pierre , Andrieu Jean‐Marie ,   and the Groupe Ouest‐Est d'Etude des Leucémies et Autres Maladies du Sang
Published: November 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND.The 5‐year freedom from treatment failure (FFTF) rate, with treatment failure defined as the lack of post‐treatment complete remission (CR), recurrence, or death, ranges from 60% to 70% after 6 to 8 cycles of combined doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD), which is the reference treatment for patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). In this randomized, phase 2 study, the authors tested 2 intensive chemotherapy regimens in 158 patients with clinical stage (CS) IIB through IV HL accompanied by high‐risk factors who were recruited between May 1997 and December 2004.METHODS.High‐risk CS IIB, III, and IV were defined by the presence of ≥5 involved lymphoid areas, and/or a mediastinal mass ratio ≥0.45, and/or ≥2 extra lymph node sites affected by the disease (for CS IV). In Arm V, 82 patients received 3 courses of combined vindesine (5 mg/m2), doxorubicin (99 mg/m2), carmustine (140 mg/m2), etoposide (600 mg/m2), and methylprednisolone (600 mg/m2) (VABEM) followed by low‐dose lymph node irradiation. In Arm A, 76 patients received 4 cycles of ABVD followed by myeloablative combined carmustine (300 mg/m2), etoposide (800 mg/m2), cytarabine (1600 mg/m2), and melphalan (140 mg/m2) and underwent autologous stem cell transplantation.RESULTS.After 3 cycles of VABEM, the CR rate was 89% versus 60% after 4 cycles of ABVD. However, after the completion of treatment, the CR rates for Arms V and A were similar (89% and 88%, respectively). The 5‐year FFTF rates for Arms V and A also were similar (79% and 75%, respectively) along with the 5‐year overall survival rates (87% and 86%, respectively).CONCLUSIONS.Early intensification (Arm V) and late intensification (Arm A) were equally effective for treating patients with high‐risk/advanced HL. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
“Small stem cells” in adult tissues: Very small embryonic‐like stem cells stand up!
Authors: Zuba‐Surma Ewa K. , Kucia Magdalena , Ratajczak Janina , Ratajczak Mariusz Z. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThis review summarizes information regarding the rare population of very small embryonic‐like stem cells (VSELs) that has been identified in adult tissues, emphasizing both their unique morphological features and potential biological significance. We focus on their pluripotent nature and expression of markers characteristic for embryonic stem cells (ESCs), epiblast (EP)SCs, and primordial germ cells (PGCs). Furthermore, we will discuss their rank in the developmental hierarchy of the SC compartment as well as their relationship to other bone marrow‐derived, primitive, nonhematopoietic SCs including: (i) endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs); (ii) mesenchymal (M)SCs; (iii) multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs); (iv) marrow‐isolated adult multilineage inducible (MIAMIs) cells; (v) multipotent adult (MA)SCs; and (vi) OmniCytes. We will also present different populations of very “small SCs” that have been recently described in the literature (e.g., spore‐like cells and Lin−/ALDHhigh long‐term repopulating hematopoietic SCs). © 2008 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Extracellular interactome of the FGF receptor–ligand system: Complexities and the relative simplicity of the worm
Authors: Polanska Urszula M. , Fernig David G. , Kinnunen Tarja 
Published: November 2008

AbstractFibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their receptors (FGFRs) regulate a multitude of biological functions in embryonic development and in adult. A major question is how does one family of growth factors and their receptors control such a variety of functions? Classically, specificity was thought to be imparted by alternative splicing of the FGFRs, resulting in isoforms that bind specifically to a subset of the FGFs, and by different saccharide sequences in the heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) co‐receptor. A growing number of noncanonical co‐receptors such as integrins and neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) are now recognized as imparting additional complexity to classic FGFR signaling. This review will discuss the noncanonical FGFR ligands and speculate on the possibility that they provide additional and alternative means to determining the functional specificity of FGFR signaling. We will also discuss how invertebrate models such as C. elegans may advance our understanding of noncanonical FGFR signaling. Developmental Dynamics 238:277–293, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cerberus functions as a BMP agonist to synergistically induce nodal expression during left–right axis determination in the chick embryo
Authors: Yu Xueyan , He Fenglei , Zhang Tao , Espinoza‐Lewis Ramón A. , Lin Lisong , Yang Jing , Chen Yiping 
Published: November 2008

AbstractLeft‐sided expression of Nodal in the lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) during early embryogenesis is a crucial step in establishing the left–right (L–R) axis in vertebrates. In the chick, it was suggested that chick Cerberus (cCer), a Cerberus/Dan family member, induces Nodal expression by antagonizing bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) activity in the left LPM. In contrast, it has also been shown that BMPs positively regulate Nodal expression in the left LPM in the chick embryo. Thus, it is still unclear how the bilaterally expressed BMPs induce Nodal expression only in the left LPM. In this study, we demonstrate that BMP signaling is necessary and sufficient for the induction of Nodal expression in the chick LPM where the type I BMP receptor‐IB (BMPR‐IB) likely mediates this induction. Tissue grafting experiments indicate the existence of a Nodal inductive factor in the left LPM rather than the presence of a Nodal inhibitory factor in the right LPM. We demonstrate that cCer functions as a BMP agonist instead of antagonist, being able to enhance BMP signaling in cell culture. This conclusion is further supported by the immunoprecipitation assays that provide convincing biochemical evidence for a direct interaction between cCer and BMP receptor. Because cCer is expressed restrictedly in the left LPM, BMPs and cCer appear to act synergistically to activate Nodal expression in the left LPM in the chick. Developmental Dynamics 237:3613–3623, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ocular coloboma and dorsoventral neuroretinal patterning defects in Lrp6 mutant eyes
Authors: Zhou Cheng‐Ji , Molotkov Andrei , Song Lanying , Li Yunhong , Pleasure David E. , Pleasure Samuel J. , Wang Ya‐Zhou 
Published: November 2008

AbstractColoboma, an ocular birth defect seen in humans and other species, is caused by incomplete closure of the optic fissure. Here, we demonstrate that genetic deletion of Lrp6, a bottleneck coreceptor in the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, results in ocular coloboma and neuroretinal patterning defects in mice. The expression of ventral neuroretinal patterning gene Vax2 was conserved but with dorsally shifted expression domains; however, the dorsal neuroretinal patterning gene Tbx5 was lost in the Lrp6‐mutant eyes at embryonic day 10.5. Both Bmp4 and phosphorylated Smad 1/5/8 were also significantly attenuated in the dorsal neuroretina. In addition, the retinoic acid synthesizing enzymes Raldh1 and Raldh3 were significantly changed in the mutant eyes. Our findings suggest that defective retinal patterning causes coloboma in the Lrp6‐deficient mice, and that canonical Wnt signaling plays a primary role in dorsal neuroretinal patterning and related morphogenetic movements by regulation of both Bmp and retinoic acid signaling pathways. Developmental Dynamics 237:3681–3689, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Initiation and propagation of posterior to anterior (PA) waves in zebrafish left–right development
Authors: Wang Xinghao , Yost H. Joseph 
Published: November 2008

AbstractOne of the most highly conserved steps in left–right patterning is asymmetric gene expression in lateral plate mesoderm (LPM). Here, we quantitatively describe the timing of the posterior to anterior (PA) wave‐like propagation of zebrafish southpaw (Nodal) and pitx2 in LPM and lefty1 in the midline. By altering the timing of the PA wave, we provide evidence that the PA wave in the LPM instructs brain asymmetry. We find that initiation of pitx2 in LPM and lefty1 in midline depends on Southpaw, and that casanova (sox32) and two Nodal inhibitors, lefty1 and charon, have distinct roles upstream of PA wave initiation. Surprisingly, Casanova, endoderm and Kupffer's Vesicle are not required for normal timing of southpaw initiation and PA propagation. In contrast, lefty1 morphants display precocious asymmetric initiation of southpaw with an intrinsic left‐hand orientation, whereas charon morphants have premature initiation without LR orientation, indicating distinct roles for these Nodal antagonists. Developmental Dynamics 237:3640–3647, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Stretching the limits: Stem cells in regeneration science
Authors: Stocum David L. , Zupanc Günther K.H. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe focus of regenerative medicine is rebuilding damaged tissues by cell transplantation or implantation of bioartificial tissues. In either case, therapies focus on adult stem cells (ASCs) and embryonic stem cells (ESCs) as cell sources. Here we review four topics based on these two cell sources. The first compares the current performance of ASCs and ESCs as cell transplant therapies and the drawbacks of each. The second explores somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) as a method to derive ESCs that will not be immunorejected. The third topic explores how SCNT and ESC research has led to the ability to derive pluripotent ESCs by the dedifferentiation of adult somatic cells. Lastly, we discuss how research on activation of intrinsic adult stem cells and on somatic cell dedifferentiation can evolve regenerative medicine from a platform consisting of cell transplantation to one that includes the chemical induction of regeneration from the body's own cells at the site of injury. Developmental Dynamics 237:3648–3671, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.