bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Controversies in renal anemia management
Authors: Ifudu Onyekachi 
Published: March 2006

AbstractAnemia plays a key role in generating excess cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease. Among patients with end‐stage renal disease, low hemoglobin levels contribute to an increased rate of hospitalization and shortened survival.Several issues in the pathogenesis and management of renal anemia, including the use of recombinant erythropoietin, are controversial and unresolved. In addition, the management of anemia has major economic implications. Clarifying these issues ultimately could enhance patient outcomes while lessening the need for erythropoietin and intravenous iron, which could potentially save millions of dollars.
Evaluating the effects of eating disorder memoirs on readers' eating attitudes and behaviors
Authors: Thomas Jennifer J. , Judge Abigail M. , Brownell Kelly D. , Vartanian Lenny R. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractObjective:More than 50 individuals have published eating disorder (ED) memoirs. The current study was the first to test whether memoirs affect readers' eating attitudes and behaviors, and whether they normalize and/or glamorize EDs.Method:Fifty female undergraduates read an ED or control memoir. Before and afterward, participants completed the 26‐item Eating Attitudes Test (EAT‐26), the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI) Drive for Thinness subscale, a measure of perceived ED symptom prevalence, and an Implicit Association Test (IAT) measuring associations between anorexia and glamour/danger.Results:Participants in the ED condition did not demonstrate significant changes in the EAT‐26, the EDI Drive for Thinness subscale, perceived symptom prevalence, or IAT associations compared with controls. Before reading, the EAT‐26 and EDI Drive for Thinness subscale correlated positively with perceived symptom prevalence and strength of the IAT association between anorexia and glamour.Conclusion:ED memoirs appear to have little effect on undergraduates' eating attitudes and behaviors. Future research should investigate whether memoirs affect individuals with preexisting eating pathology, who may normalize and glamorize ED symptoms. © 2006 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2006
Induction of IgG antibodies against the GD2 carbohydrate tumor antigen by vaccination with peptide mimotopes
Authors: Riemer Angelika B. , Förster‐Waldl Elisabeth , Brämswig Kira H. , Pollak Arnold , Zielinski Christoph C. , Pehamberger Hubert , Lode Holger N. , Scheiner Otto , Jensen‐Jarolim Erika 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe disialoganglioside GD2, a carbohydrate antigen, is expressed on all tumors of neuroectodermal origin, including melanoma, neuroblastoma, sarcoma and small cell lung cancer. Due to its specific expression on tumor surfaces, GD2 is an attractive target for immunotherapies. The mouse/human chimeric anti‐GD2 mAb ch14.18 is already applied in melanoma and neuroblastoma trials as a passive immunotherapy. To establish an active immunotherapy alternative, we aimed to replace the poorly immunogenic ganglioside with immunogenic peptides. Previously, we used the ch14.18 antibody to select GD2 peptide mimics from a phage display library. In the present study, two mimics of the ch14.18 epitope were coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin and used for immunizing BALB/c mice. Induction of a specific humoral immune response towards the original antigen GD2, both purified and expressed on neuroblastoma and melanoma cells, could be demonstrated in ELISA, Western blot, and immunofluorohistochemistry. As the elicited antibodies were of the IgG isotype, the mimotope conjugates were capable of recruiting T cell help and inducing memory phenomena. In conclusion, we show that an epitope of the carbohydrate antigen GD2 can successfully be translated into immunogenic peptide mimotopes. Our immunization experiments indicate that GD2 mimotopes are suitable for active immunotherapy of GD2‐expressing tumors.
The key regulators of adult T helper cell responses, STAT6 and T‐bet, are established in early life in mice
Authors: Rose Shawn , Guevara Patricia , Farach Sandra , Adkins Becky 
Published: March 2006

AbstractMurine neonatal immunity is typically Th2 biased. This is characterized by high‐level IL‐4 production at all phases of the immune response and poor IFN‐γ memory responses. The differential expression of Th1/Th2 cytokines by neonates and adults could arise if the critical regulators of Th differentiation and function, STAT6 and T‐bet, operate differently during the neonatal period. To test this idea, the Th cell responses of wild‐type, T‐bet‐deficient, or STAT6‐deficient mice were compared in vitro and in vivo. The absence of these factors had similar qualitative effects on the development of effector function in neonates and adults, i.e., if a Th lineage was inhibited or enhanced in adult animals, a similar phenomenon was observed in neonates. However, there was a striking difference observed in the in vivo Th1 memory responses of STAT6‐deficient mice initially immunized as neonates. Antigen‐specific IFN‐γ production was increased 50–100‐fold in STAT6‐deficient neonates, achieving levels similar to those of STAT6‐deficient adults. These findings demonstrate that STAT6 and T‐bet signals are central in shaping Th responses in wild‐type neonates, as in adult mice, and that the master regulators of Th cell development and function are already firmly established in early life.
Tolls for B cells
Authors: Fillatreau Simon , Manz Rudolf A. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractPriming of naive lymphocytes is important for yielding efficient immune responses. Mechanisms controlling this process are also important for preventing immune cells from attacking self‐antigens. It is well known that signals provided by innate immune receptors, such as Toll‐like receptors (TLR), are essential to induce dendritic cell maturation that subsequently allows the priming of naive T cells. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, it is shown that TLR stimulation effectively potentiates naive human B cell activation and production of antibodies in T‐dependent immune responses. TLR signals can be delivered to B cells directly, or indirectly via cytokines provided by TLR‐activated dendritic cells. See accompanying article http://www.dx.doi.org/10.1002/eji.200535744
Perceptions of social influence when messages favour ‘us’ versus ‘them’: A closer look at the social distance effect
Authors: Elder Tracey J. , Douglas Karen M. , Sutton Robbie M. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe third‐person effect (TPE) is the tendency for individuals to assume that persuasive communications have a stronger effect on other people than on themselves. In turn the social distance effect (SDE) is the tendency for this TPE to increase with the psychological distance between self and comparator. Two experiments showed that the SDE is moderated by whether the message favours the ingroup or the outgroup, holding all other content constant. In Study 1, male and female participants read a message arguing that either women were better drivers than men or vice versa, and then indicated how much they thought themselves, ingroup members, outgroup members and society would be influenced. The results indicate that for the pro‐outgroup message the SDE was found. However, for the pro‐ingroup message the SDE was reversed with ingroup members perceived as more influenced than all other targets, including the self. Study 2 replicated this finding using minimal groups, which eliminated the effects of prior stereotypes about male and female drivers. Across both studies the self was perceived as relatively invulnerable to influence regardless of message bias. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Counterion‐dye staining for DNA in electrophoresed gels using indoine blue and methyl orange
Authors: Hwang Sun‐Young , Jin Li‐Tai , Yoo Gyurng‐Soo , Choi Jung‐Kap 
Published: March 2006

AbstractIn this study, we describe a sensitive staining method for DNA in agarose and polyacrylamide gels using organic visible dyes, indoine blue (IB) and methyl orange (MO). The counterion‐dye staining method uses two oppositely charged dyes to form a hydrophobic ion pair complex in the staining solution. A decrease in the number of free forms of dyes in staining solution can enhance the selectivity of binding between the dye and DNA, and can reduce nonspecific background staining. As a result, the sensitivity of counterion‐dye staining was significantly improved compared with other dye‐based staining. This method uses a staining solution consisting of 0.008% IB, 0.002% MO, 10% ethanol and 0.2 M sodium acetate at pH 4.7, and can detect 5 ng of λ DNA/HindIII within 60 min in agarose gels and 10 ng of ΦX174 DNA/HaeIII within 20 min in polyacrylamide gels.
Digital switchover in UHF: the ATHENA concept for broadband access
Authors: Pallis Evangelos , Mantakas Charalambos , Mastorakis George , Kourtis Anastasios , Zacharopoulos Vassilios 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThis paper presents a concept adopted by ATHENA IST‐507312 project for the proper adoption of digital switchover (DSO) in UHF, towards establishing broadband access especially in rural and less favoured regions. Taking into account the local and networking capabilities of terrestrial digital video broadcasting standard (DVB‐T), and by building on three pillars (a) the regenerative DVB‐T concept, (b) the backhaul configurations and (c) the ‘bit‐rate allocation’ aspect rather than the ‘frequency allocation’ one, it designs, implements and validates a broadband Fusion environment, which is capable of enabling access not only to digital TV bouquets, but also and most predominant to Information Society services, such as Internet, e‐mail, multimedia on demand etc. within the same stream. Citizens access them via intermediate distribution nodes, namely cell main nodes (CMNs). Such a Fusion environment is commonly shared among broadcasters, telecom operators and active users/citizens, for open competition in technological and service level, in content creation and delivery level, in networking business/market field. Finally, the paper elaborates on the potentialities of the DSO in UHF to provide not only digital TV bouquets, but also a broadband access Fusion environment in regional level. Copyright © 2006 AEIT.
Modelling of a PEM Fuel Cell System with Propane ATR Reforming
Authors: Liu Z. , Mao Z. , Xu J. , Hess‐Mohr N. , Schmidt V. M. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractProton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are promising power sources not only for electric vehicles, but also for portable and stationary applications. In this paper, a 5 kW PEMFC system, suggested for domestic power applications with propane autothermal reforming, is modelled with PRO/II® from SIMSCI. When the fuel cell is operated at 2 atm, 80 °C, a hydrogen conversion of 0.75 and at an air stoichiometry 3.0, with the energies of the compressor and expander coupled with a 75% adiabatic efficiency, the system efficiency is calculated to be 34.8%. Different operating pressures and temperatures are studied; lower system efficiency is shown at higher pressure, lower temperature, and greater air stoichiometry. The simulation shows a significant drop in system efficiency for a lowered compressor and expander adiabatic efficiency. With an increase in this value from 50% to 85%, the system efficiency increases from 23.1% to 40.6%. The simulation reveals that it is critical to design special compressors and expanders for fuel cells with higher adiabatic efficiencies so that higher system efficiency can be achieved.
5‐fluorouracil‐related gene expression levels in primary colorectal cancer and corresponding liver metastasis
Authors: Kuramochi Hidekazu , Hayashi Kazuhiko , Uchida Kazumi , Miyakura Satoru , Shimizu Daisuke , Vallbohmer Daniel , Park Seongjin , Danenberg Kathleen D. , Takasaki Ken , Danenberg Peter V. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractGene expression levels of thymidylate synthase (TS), dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), thymidine phosphorylase (TP) and orotate phosphoribosyl transferase (OPRT) have been shown to be associated with response to 5‐fluorouracil‐based therapies. Analyzing these gene expression levels in liver metastases is important to obtain the best prediction of therapy. Our aim was to determine how TS, DPD, TP and OPRT gene expression levels in primary colorectal cancer (CRC) were related to those in liver metastases. Formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tumor specimens from 31 pairs of primary CRC and corresponding liver metastases were dissected by using laser‐captured microdissection. RNA was extracted and cDNA was prepared by reverse‐transcription. Quantitation of target gene and internal reference gene was performed using real‐time PCR. No significant difference was seen between median mRNA expression levels of TS, DPD, TP and OPRT in primary cancer and those in corresponding liver metastases (median value: TS 1.48 vs. 1.43; p = 0.92, DPD 0.19 vs.0.12; p = 0.10, TP 1.20 vs. 0.98; p = 0.39, OPRT 1.17 vs. 0.95; p = 0.10). When matched tissue sets were compared on an individual basis, there was a significant correlation for TS mRNA expression between primary cancer and corresponding liver metastases (rs = 0.52, p = 0.0026). However, no correlation was seen between matched sets for DPD, TP or OPRT. Significant correlation was seen between DPD and TP expression levels in both primary CRC (rs = 0.38, p = 0.03) and liver metastases (rs = 0.72, p < 0.0001). A good prediction of TS mRNA levels in liver metastases can be obtained by measuring those of primary CRC, although no correlation was seen for DPD, TP and OPRT. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
4‐HPR modulates gene expression in ovarian cells
Authors: Brewer Molly , Kirkpatrick Nathaniel D. , Wharton J. Taylor , Wang Jian , Hatch Kenneth , Auersperg Nelly , Utzinger Urs , Gershenson David , Bast Robert , Zou Changping 
Published: March 2006

AbstractOvarian cancer has a high rate of recurrence and subsequent mortality following chemotherapy despite intense efforts to improve treatment outcomes. Recent trials have suggested that retinoids, especially 4‐(N‐hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (4‐HPR), play an important role as a chemopreventive agent and are currently being used in clinical trials for ovarian cancer chemoprevention as well as treatment. This study examines the mechanism of its activity in premalignant and cancer cells. We investigated the modulation of gene expression by 4‐HPR in immortalized ovarian surface epithelial (IOSE) cells and ovarian cancer (OVCA433) cells with DNA microarray. Real time RT‐PCR and western blotting were used to confirm the microarray results and metabolic changes were examined with optical fluorescence spectroscopy. 4‐HPR resulted in an up‐regulation of expression of proapoptotic genes and mitochondrial uncoupling protein in OVCA433 cells and modulation of the RXR receptors in IOSE cells, and down‐regulation of mutant BRCA genes in both IOSE and OVCA433 cells. 4‐HPR had a larger effect on the redox in the 433 cells compared to IOSE. These findings suggest that 4‐HPR acts through different mechanisms in premalignant ovarian surface cells and cancer cells, with a preventive effect in premalignant cells and a treatment effect in cancer cells. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In‐vivo measurements of the dielectric properties of breast carcinoma xenografted on nude mice
Authors: Cho Jeiwon , Yoon Jeonghoon , Cho Sungjoon , Kwon Kihyun , Lim Sungkyu , Kim Daeduk , Lee Eun Sook , Kim Chul Hwan , Choi Jin Wook , Cheon Changyul , Kwon Youngwoo 
Published: March 2006

AbstractA developing method of cancer detection is to use electromagnetic waves to compare the dielectric properties of normal and cancerous tissue. Because most of the previous studies consisted of dielectric measurements taken ex‐vivo, this study investigated the advantages of in‐vivo measurements, obtained using the newly developed insertion‐type planar probe, through the measurements of cancer (MDA MB 231), which was cultivated and implanted into the mammary fat pad of nude mice. Reflection coefficients were obtained in the broadband frequency range from 0.5 to 30 GHz, from which broadband complex permittivity data was extracted. Complex permittivity, in addition to other parameters such as conductivity and characteristic frequency, were used to make comparisons between cancerous tissue, normal muscle tissue and fat tissue, as well as comparisons between in‐vivo and ex‐vivo measurements. This study investigated the suitability of in‐vivo cancer detection using microwaves with the newly developed insertion‐type planar probe. Results showed that both sensitivity and specificity of the current method was 97%. In addition, predictive values were 99% for the positive and 94% for the negative, thus greatly enhancing the practicality of this method. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that in‐vivo measurements are highly beneficial in studying the potential of microwaves as a diagnostic tool of breast cancer, especially in combination with the newly developed insertion‐type planar probe. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Familial risks of esophageal cancer among the Turkmen population of the Caspian littoral of Iran
Authors: Akbari Mohammad Reza , Malekzadeh Reza , Nasrollahzadeh Dariush , Amanian Dayan , Sun Ping , Islami Farhad , Sotoudeh Masoud , Semnani Shahriar , Boffeta Paolo , Dawsey Sanford M. , Ghadirian Parviz , Narod Steven A. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractIn northeastern Iran, there is an area of high incidence of esophageal cancer, which is populated by residents of Turkmen ancestry. Several environmental risk factors for esophageal cancer have been proposed, but the roles of familial and genetic factors have not been studied extensively in the Turkmen population. We evaluated the importance of familial risk factors for esophageal cancer by performing a case–control study of 167 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and 200 controls of Turkmen ethnicity. Detailed family pedigrees of the cases and controls were constructed, which documented all cancers in first‐ and second‐degree relatives. The actuarial risk of cancer was then estimated in 2,097 first‐degree relatives of cases and 2,783 first‐degree relatives of the controls. A hazard ratio was constructed, based on a comparison of the 2 cumulative incidence curves. The risk to age 75 of esophageal cancer in the first‐degree relatives of Turkmen patients with esophageal cancer was 34% versus 14% for the first‐degree relatives of the controls (hazard ratio = 2.3; p = 3 × 10−8). Cases (9.6%) reported that their parents were related, versus 2.5% of the controls who reported this. (odds ratio = 4.1; p value = 0.006). Familial factors are important in the etiology of esophageal cancer among the Turkmen residents of Iran. The hazard ratio of 2.3 for cancer among first‐degree relatives is consistent with an important contribution of heritable factors. It will be of interest to perform marker studies to establish which genes are responsible. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inhibitors of the PI3‐kinase/Akt pathway induce mitotic catastrophe in non‐small cell lung cancer cells
Authors: Hemström Therese H , Sandström Margareta , Zhivotovsky Boris 
Published: March 2006

AbstractNon‐small cell lung cancer cells (NSCLC) are more resistant to anticancer treatment as compared with other types of cancer cells. Recently (Hemström et al., Exp Cell Res 2005;305:200–13) we showed that apoptosis of U1810 NSCLC cells induced by the staurosporine analog PKC 412 correlated with inhibition of Akt and ERK1/2, suggesting the involvement of these kinases in cell survival. Here we investigated the contribution of the PI3‐kinase/Akt and MEK/ERK pathways to survival of NSCLC cells. The two signaling pathways were studied by using different combinations of the PI3‐kinase inhibitors LY‐294002 and wortmannin, the Akt activator Ro 31‐8220, the MEK inhibitor PD 98059 and PKC 412. PI3‐kinase inhibitors induced apoptosis‐like death in U1810 cells. H157 cells in general were relatively resistant to PI3 kinase/Akt inhibitors yet these compounds sensitized cells to the DNA‐damaging drug VP‐16, while Ro 31‐8220 could not. PD 98059 only had a sensitizing effect on H157 cells when combined with PI3‐kinase inhibition and VP‐16. Morphological data indicated that LY‐294002 and PKC 412 induced cell death at anaphase and metaphase, respectively, suggesting death by mitotic catastrophe. Analyzes of cells blocked in G2/M‐phase by nocodazol revealed that LY‐294002 increased, while PKC 412 decreased histone H3 phosphorylation, suggesting that LY‐294002 allowed, while PKC 412 inhibited cells to leave M‐phase. Flow cytometric analysis of cell cycle distribution demonstrated that LY‐294002 allowed cells to leave G2/M phase, while PKC 412 inhibited cytokinesis, resulting in formation of multinucleated cells. These results indicate that sensitization of NSCLC cells by PI3‐kinase inhibition involves interplay between cell cycle regulation, mitotic catastrophe and apoptosis. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The characterization of the invasion phenotype of uveal melanoma tumour cells shows the presence of MUC18 and HMG‐1 metastasis markers and leads to the identification of DJ‐1 as a potential serum biomarker
Authors: Pardo María , García Ángel , Thomas Benjamin , Piñeiro Antonio , Akoulitchev Alexandre , Dwek Raymond A. , Zitzmann Nicole 
Published: March 2006

AbstractUveal malignant melanoma (UM) is the most frequent primary intraocular tumour in adult humans. Because the survival rate of patients with UM has changed little in the past few decades, a better understanding of the molecular events governing UM development and the identification of markers indicating the potential for metastasis at the time of diagnosis are necessary to design improved and more specific treatments. In this study, we investigated UM tumour development by comparing two recently established UM cultures with different invasion potential by two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis. Protein features expressed differentially were identified by mass spectrometric analysis. Potential markers were assayed in both cultures and in long‐term established UM cell lines (UW‐1, OCM‐1, SP6.5 and 92.1) by Western blotting and their role in invasion analysed using Matrigel membranes. Comparative analysis revealed that UM cultures with low‐ and high‐grade invasion potential differ in their cellular metabolism and, more interestingly, in several cancer‐associated proteins, including those implicated in cell adhesion and migration, proliferation and various oncogenes. Our data indicate a correlation between MUC18 and HMG‐1 expression and the invasiveness of UM cells. We also demonstrate the expression and secretion of DJ‐1 oncoprotein by UM cells. We suggest a possible role for MUC18 and HMG‐1 proteins in UM cell invasion. The secretion of DJ‐1 by UM cells, and the ability to detect this protein in UM patients' sera implicate it as a potential noninvasive biomarker for this malignancy. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.