bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Developing Clinical Recommendations for Breast, Colorectal, and Lung Cancer Adjuvant Treatments Using the GRADE System: A Study From the Programma Ricerca e Innovazione Emilia Romagna Oncology Research Group
Authors: De Palma Rossana , Liberati Alessandro , Ciccone Giovannino , Bandieri Elena , Belfiglio Maurizio , Ceccarelli Manuela , Leoni Maurizio , Longo Giuseppe , Magrini Nicola , Marangolo Maurizio , Roila Fausto 
Published: February 2008

Purpose In the area of anticancer drugs, the legitimate search for effective interventions can be jeopardized by the strong pressure for accelerated approval, which may hinder the full assessment of their benefit-risk profile. We aimed to produce drug-specific recommendations using an explicit approach that separates the judgments on quality of evidence from the judgment about strength of recommendations. Materials and Methods We used the GRADE (Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) system to develop recommendations for the use of specific anticancer drugs/regimens; 12 clinical questions relevant to adjuvant treatment of breast (three), colorectal (four) and lung (five) cancer have been assessed by multidisciplinary panels supported by a group of methodologists. Results For nine of 12 questions, recommendations were produced (one strong and six weak in favor and one weak and one strong against the index treatment); for the remaining three questions no specific course of action could be recommended. The perceived benefits to risk balance of the treatment was the most important and statistically significant (P < .01) predictor of panels’ recommendations and of their strength, whereas panelists’ personal (age, sex) and professional (specialty) characteristics were not statistically associated. Conclusion Because the GRADE system sets out an explicit process going from evaluation of the quality of evidence and benefit-risk profile to the judgment of the strength of recommendations, in this experience, it proved very useful to combine methodologic rigor with the interdisciplinary participation that is important in the definition of evidence based clinical policies.
Enzastaurin, an Oral Serine/Threonine Kinase Inhibitor, As Second- or Third-Line Therapy of Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Oh Yun , Herbst Roy S. , Burris Howard , Cleverly Ann , Musib Luna , Lahn Michael , Bepler Gerold 
Published: February 2008

Purpose Enzastaurin, an oral serine/threonine kinase inhibitor, suppresses protein kinase C (PKC) and protein kinase B/AK transforming (AKT) signaling, induces tumor cell apoptosis, and inhibits proliferation and angiogenesis. Increased PKC and AKT activity is associated with poor prognosis in non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This phase II trial of enzastaurin was conducted to determine the 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate in advanced, metastatic NSCLC. Patients and Methods Patients with metastatic (stage IV and wet IIIB) NSCLC, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤ 2, and ≤ two prior systemic regimens (including one or more platinum-based chemotherapy regimens) received 500 mg of enzastaurin administered once daily. Results Fifty-five patients were enrolled (55% male patients, 45% female patients; median age, 63 years; range, 44 to 82 years; 78% of patients having stage IV disease). Adenocarcinoma was the most common diagnosis (65%). Prior therapies included radiotherapy (73%) and epidermal growth factor inhibitors (29%). Median PFS was 1.8 months (95% CI, 1.7 to 1.9). Six-month PFS rate was 13% (95% CI, 3.9% to 21.5%). Median overall survival (OS) was 8.4 months (95% CI, 6.0 to 13.6 months). The 12-month OS rate was 44% (95% CI, 30.5% to 57.3%). Nineteen patients (35%) had stable disease. No objective responses were observed. Seven patients (13%) had PFS ≥ 6 months, three of whom continued for more than 10 months. The most common toxicity was fatigue (grade ≤ 3; n = 17). Grade 3 or worse toxicities were fatigue (n = 2), thromboembolism (n = 1), ataxia (n = 1), and anemia (n = 1). Two patients discontinued treatment because of drug-related fatigue and dizziness. Five patients died while enrolled in the study (non drug-related). Conclusion Although the primary end point of a 20% PFS rate was not achieved, 13% of the patients had PFS for ≥ 6 months. Given the tolerability and survival data, evaluation of enzastaurin in combination with cytotoxic drugs is warranted in NSCLC.
Engaging Aliterate Students: A Literacy/Theatre Project Helps Students Comprehend, Visualize, and Enjoy Literature
Authors: Brinda Wayne 
Published: February 2008

Two diverse groups of urban and suburban adolescent reluctant readers enthusiastically discussed a performance of A Wrinkle in Time. For many of these students, it was their first experience with the theatre. What was even more important than sharing their first theatrical experience, however, was that this was the first time they completed, comprehended, and enjoyed a book assigned in school.The program that created those results investigated how collaboration with a teacher and a theatre director can address the needs of reluctant readers to comprehend, visualize, discuss, and enjoy literature. A significant difference between this study and studies that use drama is how theatre creates multisensory, imaginative experiences that transport audiences into deeply personal interpretations of the printed word. By combining reading with theatre, students found ways to immerse themselves in the actions, thoughts, and dialogue of characters, as well as the settings, sounds, and symbols in the literature.
Evidence of a Relationship Between Infant Birth Weight and Later Diabetes and Impaired Glucose Regulation in a Chinese Population
Authors: Xiao Xinhua , Zhang Zhen-Xin , Cohen Harvey Jay , Wang Heng , Li Wenhui , Wang Tong , Xu Tao , Liu Aimin , Gai Ming-Ying , Ying Shen , Schmitz Ole , Yi Zeng 
Published: February 2008

OBJECTIVE—The aim of this study was to determine the influence of birth weight, a marker of fetal growth, on the development of later impaired glucose metabolism throughout the life span of people living in China.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We recorded detailed anthropometric data including height, weight, and health status and measured blood glucose levels and insulin concentrations after fasting and at 120 min of a standard oral glucose tolerance test from 2,019 eligible subjects born between 1921 and 1954 to investigate the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose regulation (IGR).
RESULTS—The diabetes and IGR groups were characterized by significantly lower birth weight (P &lt; 0.001), smaller head circumference (P &lt; 0.001), smaller ponderal index (P = 0.007), and shorter length (P = 0.004) compared with those in the normal glucose tolerance group. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, we observed that birth weight remained significantly associated with diabetes and IGR after adjustments for possible confounding variables at birth and in adult life such as sex, age, central obesity, smoking status, alcohol consumption, dyslipidemia, family history of diabetes, and occupational status (P = 0.027). There was a significantly increased risk of getting diabetes and IGR for those with low birth weight (odds ratio 1.748 [95% CI 1.018–3.001], P = 0.043).
CONCLUSIONS—The results confirm that lower birth weight is an independent risk factor for later diabetes or IGR and show for the first time that this risk factor also applies for a Chinese population.
Multi-Site Testing With a Point-of-Care Nerve Conduction Device Can Be Used in an Algorithm to Diagnose Diabetic Sensorimotor Polyneuropathy
Authors: Perkins Bruce A. , Orszag Andrej , Grewal Jaspreet , Ng Eduardo , Ngo Mylan , Bril Vera 
Published: February 2008

OBJECTIVE—We aimed to establish whether multi-nerve testing with a point-of-care nerve conduction device could be used to diagnose diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—A total of 72 consecutive patients with diabetes underwent a full neurological examination and a concurrent evaluation for nine standard electrophysiological parameters using conventional nerve conduction studies (the reference standard) and a point-of-care device.
RESULTS—Spearman coefficients for correlation of point-of-care and conventional parameters ranged between 0.76 and 0.91 (P &lt; 0.001 in all comparisons). Agreement by the method of Bland and Altman was acceptable despite small systematic biases. Fifty subjects (69%) had neuropathy according to conventional criteria. The sensitivity and specificity for the point-of-care device to identify such neuropathy was 88 and 82%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS—A novel point-of-care device has reasonable diagnostic accuracy and thus may represent a sufficiently accurate alternative for detecting the diffuse electrophysiological criteria necessary to make the diagnosis of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy.
Improving the Comparability of Diabetes Mortality Statistics in the U.S. and Mexico
Authors: Murray Christopher J.L. , Dias Rodrigo H. , Kulkarni Sandeep C. , Lozano Rafael , Stevens Gretchen A. , Ezzati Majid 
Published: February 2008

OBJECTIVE—The aim of this study was to increase the cross-state comparability of diabetes mortality statistics related in the U.S. and Mexico.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We used multinomial logistic regression to estimate the effects of individual and community factors on a death for which diabetes was recorded as one of the multiple contributing causes of death (MCD) being assigned to diabetes as the underlying cause of death (UCD) versus assignment to cardiovascular, other noncommunicable, or communicable diseases. We used the model to estimate state-level diabetes death rates that are standardized in the individual and community factors.
RESULTS—Deaths with diabetes as one of the MCD were more likely to be assigned to cardiovascular causes as the UCD if they occurred in hospitals or if an autopsy was performed and if the decedents were from states with higher BMI and systolic blood pressure, were more educated, or had insurance. Adjusting for individual- and community-level factors substantially increased the cross-state correlation of diabetes as the UCD and diabetes as one of the MCD mortality rates. The adjustment also reduced the number of direct diabetes deaths by 10% in the U.S. and by 24% in Mexico. In the U.S., deaths with diabetes as the UCD declined most in Utah, New Mexico, New Jersey, and Louisiana and increased in California and Hawaii. In Mexico, the numbers of adjusted diabetes deaths were smaller than those observed in all states by 3–34%. An additional 126,300 deaths due to ischemic heart disease and stroke in the U.S. and 19,497 in Mexico were attributable to high blood glucose.
CONCLUSIONS—There is a need to improve the comparability of diabetes cause-of-death assignment, especially in relation to cardiovascular diseases.
The Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Nonreceptor 22 (PTPN22) Is Associated With High GAD Antibody Titer in Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults
Authors: Petrone Antonio , Suraci Concetta , Capizzi Marco , Giaccari Andrea , Bosi Emanuele , Tiberti Claudio , Cossu Efisio , Pozzilli Paolo , Falorni Alberto , Buzzetti Raffaella ,   for the NIRAD Study Group
Published: February 2008

OBJECTIVE—We previously demonstrated the presence of two different populations among individuals with adult-onset autoimmune diabetes: those having either a high titer or a low titer of antibodies to GAD (GADAs). Protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 22 (PTPN22) has been identified as a new susceptibility gene for type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the phenotypic heterogeneity of adult-onset autoimmune diabetes based on the GADA titer is associated with the PTPN22 C1858T polymorphism.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Analysis for the C1858T polymorphism using the TaqMan assay was performed in 250 subjects with adult-onset autoimmune diabetes, divided into two subgroups with low (≤32 arbitrary units) or high (&gt;32 arbitrary units) GADA titers and 450 subjects with classic type 2 diabetes (from the Non Insulin Requiring Autoimmune Diabetes [NIRAD] Study cohort of 5,330 subjects with adult-onset diabetes) and in 558 subjects with juvenile-onset type 1 diabetes and 545 normoglycemic subjects.
RESULTS—Genotype, allele, and phenotype distributions of the PTPN22 C1858T variant revealed similar frequencies in autoimmune diabetes with high GADA titer and juvenile-onset type 1 diabetes. An increase in TT and CT genotypes was observed in individuals with a high GADA titer compared with a low GADA titer, those with type 2 diabetes, and control subjects (P &lt; 0.002 for all comparisons). The PTPN22 1858T allele and phenotype frequencies were increased in high GADA titer compared with a low GADA titer, type 2 diabetic, and control subjects (P &lt; 0.001 for all comparisons, odds ratio 2.6).
CONCLUSIONS—In adult-onset autoimmune diabetes, the PTPN22 1858T variant is associated only with a high GADA titer, providing evidence of a genetic background to clinical heterogeneity identified by GADA titer.
Overweight Latino Children and Adolescents Have Marked Endothelial Dysfunction and Subclinical Vascular Inflammation in Association With Excess Body Fat and Insulin Resistance
Authors: Caballero A. Enrique , Bousquet-Santos Kelb , Robles-Osorio Ludivina , Montagnani Valeria , Soodini Geetha , Porramatikul Sriurai , Hamdy Osama , Nobrega Antonio C.L. , Horton Edward S. 
Published: February 2008

OBJECTIVE—We measured plasma markers of endothelial dysfunction, vascular inflammation, and pro-coagulation in obese Hispanic/Latino children and adolescents with normal glucose tolerance and determined their relationship to body composition and indexes of glucose and lipid metabolism.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—A total of 38 lean or obese Hispanic children and adolescents (10–18 years of age) were selected. The overweight group (n = 21) had a BMI &gt;85th percentile for their age and sex, and the lean group (n = 17) had a BMI between the 25th and 50th percentiles. Studies included an oral glucose tolerance test, measurements of plasma glucose and lipids, several markers of endothelial function and inflammation, and determination of body composition by dual X-ray absorptiometry.
RESULTS—The obese group had higher systolic blood pressure and plasma triglycerides and was more insulin resistant than the lean group. The obese group also had higher plasma soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (259.5 ± 60.0 vs. 223.2 ± 47.5 ng/ml, P = 0.047), tumor necrosis factor-α (2.57 ± 1.1 vs. 1.74 ± 0.6 pg/ml, P = 0.008), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (2.0 vs. 0.13 mg/l, P &lt; 0.0001), plasminogen-activated inhibitor-1 (47.0 ± 35.7 vs. 12.0 ± 5.2 ng/ml, P &lt; 0.0001), tissue plasminogen activator (6.1 ± 1.9 vs. 4.1 ± 0.8 ng/ml, P = 0.001), and white blood cell count (6.9 vs. 5.3 × 103, P = 0.031) and lower levels of adiponectin (8.7 ± 3.3 vs. 12.6 ± 5.2 μg/ml, P = 0.022). No significant differences were observed for soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule or interleukin-6.
CONCLUSIONS—Overweight Hispanic children and adolescents with normal glucose tolerance exhibit increased plasma markers of endothelial dysfunction and subclinical inflammation in association with obesity and insulin resistance. These abnormalities may predispose them to the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Relationship of A1C to Glucose Concentrations in Children With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors:   Diabetes Research in Children Network (DirecNet) Study Group
Published: February 2008

OBJECTIVE—Despite the standing of A1C as the most validated and widely used measure for average glycemic control over time, the relationship between A1C and glucose concentrations is not completely understood. The purpose of this Diabetes Research in Children Network (DirecNet) study was to use continuous glucose monitoring data to examine the relationship between A1C and glucose in type 1 diabetes.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Forty-eight youth enrolled in studies of the Navigator continuous glucose monitor were encouraged to wear the Navigator sensor at home continuously. A1C was measured at baseline, at 3 months, and at 6 months. Sensor glucose data were directly transmitted via the Internet, assuring that essentially all glucose values were analyzed.
RESULTS—Subjects had a median of 112 h/week of Navigator data in the first 3 months and 115 h/week in the second 3 months. The slope of mean glucose over the previous 3 months versus A1C was only 18 mg/dl per 1.0% A1C. Individually, there was substantial variation in the relationship between mean glucose and A1C. A1C was not associated with glucose lability after controlling for mean glucose. Measures of an individual's rate of glycation were moderately correlated at the 3- and 6-month visits.
CONCLUSIONS—As the chemistry of glycation would predict, we found no evidence to contradict the simple hypothesis that A1C directly reflects mean glucose over time. There is, however, substantial variability in individual mean glucose concentrations for a given A1C. Transforming reliable A1C values into calculated mean glucose values would, when applied to an individual, introduce substantial error.
Pornography use and sexual aggression: the impact of frequency and type of pornography use on recidivism among sexual offenders
Authors: Kingston Drew A. , Fedoroff Paul , Firestone Philip , Curry Susan , Bradford John M. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractIn this study, we examined the unique contribution of pornography consumption to the longitudinal prediction of criminal recidivism in a sample of 341 child molesters. We specifically tested the hypothesis, based on predictions informed by the confluence model of sexual aggression that pornography will be a risk factor for recidivism only for those individuals classified as relatively high risk for re‐offending. Pornography use (frequency and type) was assessed through self‐report and recidivism was measured using data from a national database from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Indices of recidivism, which were assessed up to 15 years after release, included an overall criminal recidivism index, as well as subcategories focusing on violent (including sexual) recidivism and sexual recidivism alone. Results for both frequency and type of pornography use were generally consistent with our predictions. Most importantly, after controlling for general and specific risk factors for sexual aggression, pornography added significantly to the prediction of recidivism. Statistical interactions indicated that frequency of pornography use was primarily a risk factor for higher‐risk offenders, when compared with lower‐risk offenders, and that content of pornography (i.e., pornography containing deviant content) was a risk factor for all groups. The importance of conceptualizing particular risk factors (e.g., pornography), within the context of other individual characteristics is discussed. Aggr. Behav. 34:341–351, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Structural Characteristics of Antibacterial Bioresorbable Phosphate Glass
Authors: Moss Robert M. , Pickup David M. , Ahmed Ifty , Knowles Jonathan C. , Smith Mark E. , Newport Robert J. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractNeutron diffraction with isotopic substitution has been used to probe the local environment of silver in a melt‐quench derived bioresorbable phosphate glass. Samples enriched with 107Ag and 109Ag were prepared and neutron diffraction data collected. A first‐order difference was taken between the data sets to give detailed information about the silver environment in the glass matrix. The measured Ag‐O correlation has three components in the first coordination shell at 2.28 Å, 2.51 Å, and 2.58 Å with coordination numbers of 2.1, 2.7, and 1.1, respectively, consistent with silver occupying a distorted octahedral environment. These results have been correlated with those from Ag K‐edge X‐ray absorption near‐edge spectroscopy measurements. The results suggest that the addition of silver to the (CaO)0.3(Na2O)0.2(P2O5)0.5 system has a significant effect on the host phosphate network, with shorter and more branched chains replacing the long chains and rings normally associated with the metaphosphate composition.
Novel Three Dimensional Cubic Fm3m Mesoporous Aluminosilicates with Tailored Cage Type Pore Structure and High Aluminum Content
Authors: Srinivasu Pavuluri , Alam Sher , Balasubramanian Veerappan V. , Velmathi Sivan , Sawant Dhanashri P. , Böhlmann Winfred , Mirajkar Subhash P. , Ariga Katsuhiko , Halligudi Shivappa B. , Vinu Ajayan 
Published: February 2008

AbstractNovel three dimensional cubic Fm3m mesoporous aluminosilicates (AlKIT‐5) with very high structural order and unprecedented loadings of Al in the silica framework have been successfully prepared for the first time by using non ionic surfactant as a template in a highly acidic medium. The obtained materials have been unambiguously characterized in detail by several sophisticated techniques such as XRD, N2 adsorption, HRTEM, HRSEM, EDS, elemental mapping, 27Al MAS NMR, and NH3‐TPD. We also demonstrate that the nature, and the amount of Al incorporation in the silica framework can easily be controlled by simply varying the nH2O/nHCl and the nSi/nAl ratios, and the Al sources in the synthesis gel. Among the Al sources examined, the Al isopropoxide (AiPr) is superior over other Al sources. 27Al MAS NMR results reveal that the amount of tetrahedral Al in the framework can be controlled by simply adjusting the nSi/nAl ratio in the synthesis gel, which increases with increasing the Al incorporation. One of the interesting findings in the work is the increase of the specific surface area, specific pore volume and the pore diameter of AlKIT‐5 with increasing the Al incorporation in the silica framework (up to nSi/nAl ratio of 10) while retaining the well‐ordered three dimensional cage type porous structure, and the mechanism for the unusual behavior has been discussed in detail. Finally, the acidity and the catalytic activity in the acetylation of veratrole of the AlKIT‐5 catalysts have been studied and the results have been compared with the several zeolites catalysts. Among the catalysts examined, AlKIT‐5(10) is found to be superior over the zeolites catalysts such as mordenite, zeolite H‐Y, zeolite H‐β, and ZSM‐5.
The Biology and Chemistry of the Zoanthamine Alkaloids
Authors: Behenna Douglas C. , Stockdill Jennifer L. , Stoltz Brian M. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractMarine natural products have long played an important role in natural products chemistry and drug discovery. Mirroring the rich variety and complicated interactions of the marine environment, the substances isolated from sea creatures tend to be incredibly diverse in both molecular structure and biological activity. The natural products isolated from the polyps of marine zoanthids are no exception. The zoanthamine alkaloids, the first of which were isolated over 20 years ago, are of particular interest to the synthetic community because they feature a novel structural framework and exhibit a broad range of biological activities. In this Review, we summarize the major contributions to understanding the zoanthamine natural products with regard to their isolation and structure determination, as well as studies on their biological activity and total synthesis.