bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationship Between Obesity and Pathologic Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Among Women With Operable Breast Cancer
Authors: Litton Jennifer K. , Gonzalez-Angulo Ana M. , Warneke Carla L. , Buzdar Aman U. , Kau Shu-Wan , Bondy Melissa , Mahabir Somdat , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. , Brewster Abenaa M. 
Published: November 2008

Purpose To understand the mechanism through which obesity in breast cancer patients is associated with poorer outcome, we evaluated body mass index (BMI) and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NC) in women with operable breast cancer. Patients and Methods From May 1990 to July 2004, 1,169 patients were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and received NC before surgery. Patients were categorized as obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), overweight (BMI of 25 to < 30 kg/m2), or normal/underweight (BMI < 25 kg/m2). Logistic regression was used to examine associations between BMI and pathologic complete response (pCR). Breast cancer–specific, progression-free, and overall survival times were examined using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results Median age was 50 years; 30% of patients were obese, 32% were overweight, and 38% were normal or underweight. In multivariate analysis, there was no significant difference in pCR for obese compared with normal weight patients (odds ratio [OR] = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.49 to 1.26). Overweight and the combination of overweight and obese patients were significantly less likely to have a pCR (OR = 0.59; 95% CI, 0.37 to 0.95; and OR = 0.67; 95% CI, 0.45 to 0.99, respectively). Obese patients were more likely to have hormone-negative tumors (P < .01), stage III tumors (P < .01), and worse overall survival (P = .006) at a median follow-up time of 4.1 years. Conclusion Higher BMI was associated with worse pCR to NC. In addition, its association with worse overall survival suggests that greater attention should be focused on this risk factor to optimize the care of breast cancer patients.
Patient Education Level As a Predictor of Survival In Lung Cancer Clinical Trials
Authors: Herndon James E. , Kornblith Alice B. , Holland Jimmie C. , Paskett Electra D. 
Published: November 2008

Purpose To investigate the effect of socioeconomic status, as measured by education, on the survival of 1,577 lung cancer patients treated on 11 studies conducted by the Cancer and Leukemia Group B. Patients and Methods Sociodemographic data, including education, was reported by the patient at the time of clinical trial accrual. Cox proportional hazards model stratified by treatment arm/study was used to examine the effect of education on survival after adjustment for known prognostic factors. Results The patient population included 1,177 patients diagnosed with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC; stage III or IV) and 400 patients diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC; extensive or limited). Patients with less than an eighth grade education (13% of patients) were significantly more likely to be male, nonwhite, and older; have a performance status (PS) of 1 or 2; and have chest pain. Significant predictors of poor survival in the final model included male sex, PS of 1 or 2, dyspnea, weight loss, liver or bone metastases, unmarried, presence of adrenal metastases and high alkaline phosphatase levels among patients with NSCLC, and high WBC levels among patients with advanced disease. Education was not predictive of survival. Conclusion The physical condition of patients with low education who enroll onto clinical trials is worse than patients with higher education. Once enrolled onto a clinical trial, education does not affect the survival of patients with SCLC or stage III or IV NSCLC. The standardization of treatment and follow-up within a clinical trial, regardless of education, is one possible explanation for this lack of effect.
Hybrid forming process of AA 6108 T4 thin sheets: Modelling by neural network solutions
Authors: Barletta M , Gisario A , Guarino S 
Published: November 2008

The highly non-linear deformation processes occurring in most dynamic sheet metal forming operations cause large amounts of elastic strain energy to be stored in the formed material and massive related springback phenomena. Therefore, this paper investigates how effective a laser source is in reducing the extent of springback in mechanical contact forming operations. The hybrid forming process investigated was composed of using a high-power diode laser to induce local heating of mechanically bent AA 6108 T4 thin sheets in order to minimize the extent of the springback. In particular, experiments were carried out to assess the influence of the leading process parameters such as laser source power, scan speed, and starting elastic deformation of the mechanically bent sheets. It was found that the trends in the experimental response of residual deflection were always consistent with the operating parameters. Artificial intelligence techniques were then used to model the hybrid forming process. The extent of the springback in the hybrid forming process of AA 6108 T4 thin sheets was predicted by using different neural network models and training algorithms. Lastly, the reliability of the best neural network solutions was checked by comparing these solutions with experimental results and by developing an ad hoc first approximation technical model.
Business re-engineering through integration of methods and tools for process innovation
Authors: Cascini G , Rissone P , Rotini F 
Published: November 2008

A business process may be considered a technical system that generates value by turning available resources into products or services to be sold. When the process is not able to exploit all available resources in terms of market demand, raw materials, etc., the value generated by the system decreases owing to a lack of functionality or performance. The current paper presents an original road-map, based on the integration of different methods and tools (namely IDEF, TRIZ, TOC), able to support the analysis of an industrial production process in order to identify business opportunities that are not exploited to their maximum extent. The proposed approach goes from the As-Is process to the definition of a To-Be model by moving from the actual reality to the economic domain and then back to the desired or expected future reality. The link between these two domains is constituted by the functional domain, and the identification of the functional needs is the step to define innovation challenges aimed at removing business limits. An application of the road-map to improve the production process of solid biofuels is also presented as a case study in order to clarify and validate the proposed approach.
The incidence of reoperation for surgically treated pelvic organ prolapse: an 11-year experience
Authors: Price Natalia , Slack Alex , Jwarah Eman , Jackson Simon 
Published: November 2008

Objective The purpose of this study was to measure the rate of reoperation for surgically treated pelvic organ prolapse. Study design An 11-year retrospective audit was conducted of women who had undergone surgery for pelvic organ prolapse between 1995 and 2005 in a large teaching hospital in the UK. Main outcome measure Variables examined included the type of primary procedure for pelvic organ prolapse overall and per year, the type of the repeat procedure and the interval between primary and repeat procedures. Analysis included calculation of the number and proportion of primary operations, the rate of reoperation, the type of repeat prolapse operation and the cumulative risk of reoperation each year for 11 years. Results During the study period, 2099 women underwent surgery for pelvic organ prolapse. Of these women, 142 underwent a second operation for prolapse and 13 a third. The overall cumulative rate of reoperation following surgery for pelvic organ prolapse was 10.8% at 11 years following the initial procedure. The majority (61.5%) of repeat procedures did not involve the same compartment as the initial operation and recurrences tended to occur in the first few years after the first operation. Conclusion Women who undergo surgery for pelvic organ prolapse are at 10.8% risk of requiring a reoperation within the next 11 years, usually at a different site.
Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: The Role of Endotracheal Aspirate Surveillance Cultures
Authors: Yang Katherine , Zhuo Hanjing , Guglielmo B Joseph , Wiener-Kronish Jeanine 
Published: November 2008

BACKGROUND Inappropriate antibacterial treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens is associated with increased mortality. Endotracheal aspirate (ETA) surveillance cultures potentially identify MDR pathogens, particularly MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa, resulting in improved selection of therapy in patients who subsequently develop VAP. OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of ETA surveillance cultures in the identification of MDR P. aeruginosa in newly intubated adults who subsequently develop VAP. METHODS Daily ETA surveillance cultures for P. aeruginosa were collected in all adults newly intubated for 48 hours or more. Patients with preexisting lung disease or colonization or infection with P. aeruginosa were excluded. Risk factors and outcomes of patients newly colonized with MDR P. aeruginosa were assessed. RESULTS Seventy-five patients newly colonized with P aeruginosa were identified. Twenty (27%) of these patients were colonized with a P. aeruginosa isolate that was MDR (resistant to >3 classes of antibiotics). Six patients were colonized by an isolate resistant to all tested classes of antibiotics. Forty-five percent of patients colonized with MDR P. aeruginosa subsequently developed VAP. Prior receipt of fluoroquinolones was an independent predictor of colonization with MDR P. aeruginosa (OR 11.82; 95% CI 2.10 to 66.46; p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS Performance of routine surveillance cultures may aid in the early detection of MDR P. aeruginosa, improving the initiation of early and appropriate antibiotic therapy for patients who subsequently develop VAP.
Clinically Significant Drug–Drug Interactions Between Oral Anticancer Agents and Nonanticancer Agents: Profiling and Comparison of Two Drug Compendia
Authors: Wong Chen-May , Ko Yu , Chan Alexandre 
Published: November 2008

Background:Use of oral anticancer agents is gaining wide acceptance in the treatment of cancer. However, patients receiving oral therapy are at high risk for drug–drug interactions (DDIs).Objective:To create a drug profile for each clinically significant DDI involving selected oral anticancer agents and evaluate the agreement between 2 commonly used DDI compendia: Drug Interaction Facts (DIF) 2008 and Micromedex DRUGDEX.Methods:DDI profiles were developed based on primary and tertiary literature reviews. DIF 2008 and Micromedex DRUGDEX were compared to assess the consistency of listings, severity, and scientific evidence ratings of DDIs involving the oral anticancer agents that were selected. The Spearman correlation test was used to assess the correlation of the severity ratings between the 2 compendia.Results:A total of 184 DDIs were identified. A DDI profile was created for 40 of these that met the predetermined criteria for clinically significant interactions. The comparative assessment showed inconsistency in DDI listings (15.2% of those identified were listed in DIF only and 46.7% were listed in Micromedex only), severity ratings (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.49), and scientific evidence ratings (disagreement 25.8%).Conclusions:The discrepancies in DDI listing and rating systems between the compendia evaluated here reflect the need for more studies to standardize the definitions and classifications of DDIs.
Continuity in Composing the American Cross-Cultural: Eichheim, Cowell, and Japan
Authors: Sheppard W. Anthony 
Published: November 2008

AbstractJapanese music has repeatedly served as an exotic model for those American composers seeking “ultra-modern” status. Henry Eichheim's and Henry Cowell's engagements with Japan offer rich case studies for reconsidering our common critical approaches to cross-cultural works, prompting us to question the temporal, geographic, generic, and high/low boundaries typically employed in modernist taxonomy. I find that attempts to employ categorically such terms as “appropriation” and “influence” and “modernist” and “post-modernist” in evaluating cross-cultural compositions limits our experience of such works and that specific examples tend to demonstrate the full contradictory and multifaceted nature of musical exoticism.I turn first to the impact of literary japonisme and travel on Eichheim and consider his aesthetic and didactic motivations. The writings of Lafcadio Hearn provided Eichheim with ready-made impressions of Japan and directly shaped his compositional responses. I note the influence of gagaku and shōō pitch clusters and briefly compare Eichheim's work with that of Hidemaro Konoye (Konoe). I then chronicle Cowell's lifelong encounters with Japanese music, focusing on his study of the shakuhachi with Kitaro Tamada, his experiences at the 1961 Tokyo East-West Music Encounter Conference, and his collaboration with the koto performer Kimio Eto, which reveal the limits of Cowell's embrace of musical hybridity. I argue that Cowell's mature Japanese-inspired works should be considered within the context of American Cold War cultural diplomacy and contemporaneous works of popular, jazz, and film music.
Roles of IP3R and RyR Ca2+ Channels in Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and β-Cell Death
Authors: Luciani Dan S. , Gwiazda Kamila S. , Yang Ting-Lin B. , Kalynyak Tatyana B. , Bychkivska Yaryna , Frey Matthew H.Z. , Jeffrey Kristin D. , Sampaio Arthur V. , Underhill T. Michael , Johnson James D. 
Published: November 2008

OBJECTIVE—Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes, but the roles of specific ER Ca2+ release channels in the ER stress–associated apoptosis pathway remain unknown. Here, we examined the effects of stimulating or inhibiting the ER-resident inositol trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs) and the ryanodine receptors (RyRs) on the induction of β-cell ER stress and apoptosis.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Kinetics of β-cell death were tracked by imaging propidium iodide incorporation and caspase-3 activity in real time. ER stress and apoptosis were assessed by Western blot. Mitochondrial membrane potential was monitored by flow cytometry. Cytosolic Ca2+ was imaged using fura-2, and genetically encoded fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)–based probes were used to measure Ca2+ in ER and mitochondria.
RESULTS—Neither RyR nor IP3R inhibition, alone or in combination, caused robust death within 24 h. In contrast, blocking sarco/endoplasmic reticulum ATPase (SERCA) pumps depleted ER Ca2+ and induced marked phosphorylation of PKR-like ER kinase (PERK) and eukaryotic initiation factor-2α (eIF2α), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP)–associated ER stress, caspase-3 activation, and death. Notably, ER stress following SERCA inhibition was attenuated by blocking IP3Rs and RyRs. Conversely, stimulation of ER Ca2+ release channels accelerated thapsigargin-induced ER depletion and apoptosis. SERCA block also activated caspase-9 and induced perturbations of the mitochondrial membrane potential, resulting eventually in the loss of mitochondrial polarization.
CONCLUSIONS—This study demonstrates that the activity of ER Ca2+ channels regulates the susceptibility of β-cells to ER stress resulting from impaired SERCA function. Our results also suggest the involvement of mitochondria in β-cell apoptosis associated with dysfunctional β-cell ER Ca2+ homeostasis and ER stress.
Replication Study of Candidate Genes Associated With Type 2 Diabetes Based On Genome-Wide Screening
Authors: Tabara Yasuharu , Osawa Haruhiko , Kawamoto Ryuichi , Onuma Hiroshi , Shimizu Ikki , Miki Tetsuro , Kohara Katsuhiko , Makino Hideichi 
Published: November 2008

OBJECTIVE—The present study was conducted to confirm possible associations between candidate genes from genome-wide association studies and type 2 diabetes in Japanese diabetic patients and a community-based general population. A total of 11 previously reported single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the TCF7L2, CDKAL1, HHEX, IGF2BP2, CDKN2A/B, SLC30A8, and KCNJ11 genes were analyzed.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Candidate SNPs were genotyped in 506 type 2 diabetic patients and 402 control subjects and meta-analyzed with six previous association studies in Japanese patients. Associations with fasting plasma insulin levels were investigated in a general population sample (n = 1,963, 61 ± 13 years).
RESULTS—In our case-control subjects, susceptibility to type 2 diabetes was replicated in TCF7L2 (rs12255372), CDKAL1 (rs7756992, rs7754840), HHEX (rs7923837), IGF2BP2 (rs4402960 and rs1470579), CDKN2A/B (rs10811661), and SLC30A8 (rs13266634). In addition to these polymorphisms, meta-analysis confirmed the association of type 2 diabetes susceptibility with KCNJ11 rs5219, TCF7L2 rs7903146, and HHEX rs1111875. The TCF7L2 rs12255372 polymorphism showed the highest odds ratio (OR) for type 2 diabetes (OR 1.714 [1.298–2.263]). Odds ratio of other polymorphisms ranged from 1.13 to 1.41. The risk allele of CDKAL1 rs7756992 was significantly associated with lower insulin levels in type 2 diabetic patients after adjustment for other confounding factors.
CONCLUSIONS—Type 2 diabetes susceptibility of seven candidate genes was confirmed in Japanese. Conservation of susceptible loci for type 2 diabetes was independent of ethnic background.
Feasibility of 10-Day Use of a Continuous Glucose-Monitoring System in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Garg Satish K. , Voelmle Mary K. , Gottlieb Peter 
Published: November 2008

OBJECTIVE—The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of 10-day use of a transcutaneous, real-time, continuous glucose-monitoring (CGM) system. All previous reports using different CGM systems were for 3-, 5-, or 7-day use.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—On day 1, subjects received the CGM device (SEVEN System) and underwent training on proper use. Subjects returned to the clinic on days 2, 7, and 10 for in-clinic sessions. On days 2 and 7, half the subjects performed fingersticks every 15 min and the other half had Yellow Springs Instruments (YSI) samples drawn every 15 min. On day 10, all subjects participated in an 8-h in-clinic session with YSI and fingerstick testing.
RESULTS—The median absolute relative difference for CGM versus YSI was 12.6, 11.3, and 14.5% on days 2, 7, and 10, respectively (P = 0.63). CGM performed better on day 10 when compared with self-monitoring of blood glucose as compared with YSI.
CONCLUSIONS—This is the first study to document 10-day use of a 7-day CGM system.
Comparison of endoscopic and microscopic removal of pituitary adenomas: single-surgeon experience and the learning curve
Authors: O'Malley Bert W. , Grady M. Sean , Gabel Brandon C. , Cohen Marc A. , Heuer Gregory G. , Pisapia Jared , Bohman Leif-Erik , Leibowitz Jason M. 
Published: November 2008

Object
The endoscopic endonasal approach for resection of pituitary lesions is an effective surgical option for tumors of the sella turcica. In this study the authors compared outcomes after either purely endoscopic resection or traditional microscope-aided resection. They also attempted to determine the learning curve associated with a surgical team converting to endoscopic techniques.

Methods
Retrospective data were collected on patients who were surgically treated for a pituitary lesion at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania between July 2003 and May 2008. Age, sex, race, presenting symptoms, length of hospital stay, surgical approach, duration of surgery, tumor pathological features, gross-total resection (GTR) of tumor, recurrence of the lesion, and intraoperative and postoperative complications were noted. All procedures were performed by the same senior neurosurgeon, who was initially unfamiliar with the endoscopic endonasal approach.

Results
A total of 25 patients underwent microscopic resection and 25 patients underwent endoscopic resection performed by a single skull base team consisting of the same senior neurosurgeon and otorhinolaryngologist (M.S.G. and B.W.O.). In the microscopically treated cohort, there were 8 intra- or postoperative complications, 6 intraoperative CSF leaks, 17 (77%) of 22 patients had GTR on postoperative imaging, 5 patients underwent ≥ 2 operations, and 10 (59%) of 17 patients reported total symptom resolution at follow-up. The endoscopically treated group had 7 intraor postoperative complications and 7 intraoperative CSF leaks. Of the patients who had pre- and postoperative imaging studies, 14 (66%) of 21 endoscopically treated patients had GTR; 4 patients had ≥ 2 operations, and 10 (66%) of 15 patients reported complete symptom resolution at follow-up. The first 9 patients who were treated endoscopically had a mean surgical time of 3.42 hours and a mean hospital stay of 4.67 days. The next 8 patients treated had a mean surgical time of 3.11 hours and a mean hospital stay of 3.13 days. The final 8 patients treated endoscopically had a mean surgical time of 2.22 hours and a mean hospital stay of 3.88 days. The difference in length of operation between the first 9 and the last 8 patients treated endoscopically was significantly different. There was a trend toward decreased CSF leaks and other complications from the first 2 groups compared with the third group.

Conclusions
In this subset of patients, the use of endoscopic endonasal resection results in a similar complication and symptom resolution rate compared with traditional techniques. The authors postulate that the learning curve for endoscopic resection can be ≤ 17 procedures.
Dural relationships of Meckel cave and lateral wall of the cavernous sinus
Authors: Janjua Rashid M. , Al-Mefty Ossama , Densler Duane W. , Shields Christopher B. 
Published: November 2008

Object
The purpose of this study was to elucidate the anatomy of the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve [CN] V), Meckel cave (MC), and lateral wall of the cavernous sinus (CS).

Methods
Ten fresh cadaver heads (20 sides) and 2 middle fossa embalmed specimens were removed, decalcified, sectioned, stained, and studied microscopically.

Results
In the MC, the posterior fossa meningeal dura extended into the middle fossa surrounding CN V. The average medial length of the MC was 16.7 mm and the lateral length was 13.5 mm. The dural roof of MC was thicker than its floor and was covered by a paw-shaped fibrous tissue extending from the tentorium to the ganglion (in 100% of specimens). Between the dural sleeve of the MC and venous space of the CS, a separate fibrous wall could be identified in 45% (9 of 20) extending between the tentorium and the floor of the CS. The mean length of CN V in the MC proximal to the posterior margin of the Gasserian ganglion was 11.8 mm. The mean length of CN V1 was 19.4 mm; V2, 12.3 mm; and V3, 7.4 mm distal to the anterior margin of the ganglion. The periosteal dura followed the bone of the middle fossa and was continuous with the extracranial periosteum.
The lateral dural wall of the CS consisted of a medial (membranous) and a lateral wall. The latter was separated into a thin outer layer and a thicker fibrous inner layer that became thinner as it extended posterolaterally.

Conclusions
The MC is an extension of the posterior fossa dura with intricate relationships with the surrounding dural layers.