bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Estrogenic microenvironment generated by organochlorine residues in adipose mammary tissue modulates biomarker expression in ERα-positive breast carcinomas
Authors: Muñoz-de-Toro Mónica , Durando Milena , Beldoménico Pablo M , Beldoménico Horacio R , Kass Laura , García Silvia R , Luque Enrique H 
Published: July 2006

Abstract
Introduction
Breast cancer is the most frequent malignant disease in women. Exposure to estrogens throughout a woman's life is a risk factor for the development of breast cancer. Organochlorine compounds (OCCs), such as pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls, are persistent lipophilic chemicals identified as endocrine disruptors, mainly with estrogenic effects. To test the hypothesis that the amount and quality of organochlorine residues in adipose tissue adjacent to breast carcinoma affect the biological behavior of the tumor, we studied biomarker expression in breast carcinoma and the OCC body burden in patients from an urban area adjacent to Paraná fluvial system, Argentina.

Methods
The studied patients were 55 women who had undergone excision biopsies of a breast lesion diagnosed as invasive breast carcinoma. Analysis of OCC residues in breast adipose tissue was conducted by electron-capture gas–liquid chromatography. Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), progesterone receptor (PR) and proliferative activity (Ki-67) levels were measured in paraffin-embedded biopsies of breast tumors by immunohistochemistry.

Results
All patients had high levels of organochlorine pesticides in their breast adipose tissue. The most frequently detected compounds were p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, hexachlorobenzene and β-hexachlorocyclohexane. When the whole sample was analyzed, no correlation between ERα or PR expression and OCC levels were found. In the subgroup of ERα-positive breast carcinoma patients, however, there was a positive correlation between PR expression (an estrogen-induced protein) in the neoplastic cells and OCC levels in adipose tissue surrounding the tumor. More significantly, all the ERα-positive breast carcinomas from postmenopausal women exhibited high proliferation when organochlorine levels in the surrounding adipose tissue reached levels higher than 2600 ppb. No associations were found between the organochlorine body burden and any other marker of tumor aggressiveness, such as node involvement or tumor size.

Conclusion
The present results support the hypothesis that organochlorine residues in adipose tissue adjacent to breast carcinoma generate an estrogenic microenvironment that may influence the biological behavior of the tumor through ERα activation and ERα-dependent proliferation. These findings may have therapeutic implications, since interference between organochlorine compounds and hormonal therapy could be expected to occur.
Effect of the molecular adsorbent recirculating system and Prometheus devices on systemic haemodynamics and vasoactive agents in patients with acute-on-chronic alcoholic liver failure
Authors: Laleman Wim , Wilmer Alexander , Evenepoel Pieter , Elst Ingrid Vander , Zeegers Marcel , Zaman Zahur , Verslype Chris , Fevery Johan , Nevens Frederik 
Published: July 2006

Abstract
Introduction
Patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure show an aggravated hyperdynamic circulation. We evaluated, in a controlled manner, potential changes in systemic haemodynamics induced by the molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) and the Prometheus system liver detoxification devices in a group of patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure.

Methods
Eighteen patients (51.2 ± 2.3 years old; Child–Pugh score, 12.5 ± 0.2; Maddrey score, 63.1 ± 5.0; hepatic venous pressure gradient, 17.6 ± 0.9 mmHg) with biopsy-proven alcoholic cirrhosis and superimposed alcoholic hepatitis were either treated with standard medical therapy (SMT) combined with MARS (n = 6) or Prometheus (n = 6) or were treated with SMT alone (n = 6) on three consecutive days (6 hours/session). Liver tests, systemic haemodynamics and vasoactive substances were determined before and after each session.

Results
Groups were comparable for baseline haemodynamics and levels of vasoactive substances. Both MARS and Prometheus decreased serum bilirubin levels (P < 0.005 versus SMT), the Prometheus device being more effective than MARS (P = 0.002). Only MARS showed significant improvement in the mean arterial pressure (Δchange, +9 ± 2.4 mmHg versus -0.3 ± 2.4 mmHg with Prometheus and -5.2 ± 2.1 mmHg with SMT, P < 0.05) and in the systemic vascular resistance index (Δchange, +131.5 ± 46.2 dyne.s/cm5/m2 versus -92.8 ± 85.2 dyne.s/cm5/m2with Prometheus and -30.7 ± 32.5 dyne.s/cm5/m2 with SMT; P < 0.05), while the cardiac index and central filling remained constant. This circulatory improvement in the MARS group was paralleled by a decrease in plasma renin activity (P < 0.05), aldosterone (P < 0.03), norepinephrine (P < 0.05), vasopressin (P = 0.005) and nitrate/nitrite levels (P < 0.02).

Conclusion
The MARS device, and not the Prometheus device, significantly attenuates the hyperdynamic circulation in acute-on-chronic liver failure, presumably by a difference in removal rate of certain vasoactive substances. These findings suggest conspicuous conceptual differences among the albumin dialysis devices.
Detecting transcriptionally active regions using genomic tiling arrays
Authors: Halasz Gabor , van Batenburg Marinus F , Perusse Joelle , Hua Sujun , Lu Xiang-Jun , White Kevin P , Bussemaker Harmen J 
Published: July 2006

AbstractWe have developed a method for interpreting genomic tiling array data, implemented as the program TranscriptionDetector. Probed loci expressed above background are identified by combining replicates in a way that makes minimal assumptions about the data. We performed medium-resolution Anopheles gambiae tiling array experiments and found extensive transcription of both coding and non-coding regions. Our method also showed improved detection of transcriptional units when applied to high-density tiling array data for ten human chromosomes.
Co-evolution of transcription factors and their targets depends on mode of regulation
Authors: Hershberg Ruth , Margalit Hanah 
Published: July 2006

Abstract
Background
Differences in the transcription regulation network are at the root of much of the phenotypic variation observed among organisms. These differences may be achieved either by changing the repertoire of regulators and/or their targets, or by rewiring the network. Following these changes and studying their logic is crucial for understanding the evolution of regulatory networks.

Results
We use the well characterized transcription regulatory network of Escherichia coli K12 and follow the evolutionary changes in the repertoire of regulators and their targets across a large number of fully sequenced γ-proteobacteria. By focusing on close relatives of E. coli K12, we study the dynamics of the evolution of transcription regulation across a relatively short evolutionary timescale. We show significant differences in the evolution of repressors and activators. Repressors are only lost from a genome once their targets have themselves been lost, or once the network has significantly rewired. In contrast, activators are often lost even when their targets remain in the genome. As a result, E. coli K12 repressors that regulate many targets are rarely absent from organisms that are closely related to E. coli K12, while activators with a similar number of targets are often absent in these organisms.

Conclusion
We demonstrate that the mode of regulation exerted by transcription factors has a strong effect on their evolution. Repressors co-evolve tightly with their target genes. In contrast, activators can be lost independently of their targets. In fact, loss of an activator can lead to efficient shutdown of an unnecessary pathway.
Probing the cis interactions of the inhibitory receptor Siglec-7 with α2,8-disialylated ligands on natural killer cells and other leukocytes using glycan-specific antibodies and by analysis of α2,8-sialyltransferase gene expression
Authors: Avril Tony , North Simon J , Haslam Stuart M , Willison Hugh J , Crocker Paul R 
Published: July 2006

Abstract
Siglec-7 is a CD33-related sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectin expressed strongly on NK cells, where it can function as an inhibitory receptor. Its sialic acid-binding activity on NK cells is masked by cis interactions with sialylated glycans, which are likely to be important for regulating the inhibitory function of Siglec-7, which exhibits an unusual preference for α2,8-linked disialic acids, a motif found in “b-series” gangliosides and some glycoproteins. To investigate the presence of α2,8-linked disialic acids on NK cells, T cells, monocytes, and B cells, we first analyzed their expression of all known α2,8-sialyltransferase genes by quantitative PCR. Unlike T cells, B cells, and monocytes, NK cells consistently expressed mRNA encoding ST8Sia VI, which creates α2,8-linked disialic acids on O-linked glycans of glycoproteins. All blood leukocytes expressed ST8Sia IV, implicated in polysialic acid synthesis, and NK cells variably expressed high levels of ST8Sia V mRNA required for GT3 expression. Two human IgM antibodies, Ha1 and Pi1, with specificity for the α2,8-disialyl motif reacted strongly with NK cells in a sialic acid-dependent manner and less strongly with T cells and monocytes. Antibody-induced clustering of Siglec-7 on NK cells resulted in partial colocalization with anti-Ha1. Finally, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric analysis of isolated NK cell O-glycans revealed the presence of a peak at mass-to-charge ratio of 1619.4 mass units, corresponding to a putative α2,8-disialylated glycan. Together, these results suggest that NK cells are decorated with α2,8-disialic acid structures implicated in regulation of cellular activation via interactions with Siglec-7.
Polyborane reactions in ionic liquids
Authors: Li Yuqi , Kusari Upal , Carroll Patrick J. , Bradley Mark G. , Sneddon Larry G. 
Published: July 2006

Abstract
In contrast to reactions that have been observed in traditional organic solvents, decaborane olefin-hydroboration and alkyne-insertion reactions proceed in ionic liquid (IL) solvents without the need of a catalyst. These reactions now provide important new, high-yield synthetic pathways to functionalized decaborane and ortho-carborane clusters. As illustrated by the synthesis of n-B18H22, ILs can also provide an inert reaction medium for carrying out dehydrocondensation reactions leading to higher fused cage compounds.
Iridium-catalyzed borylation of arenes and heteroarenes via C-H activation
Authors: Ishiyama Tatsuo , Miyaura Norio 
Published: July 2006

Abstract
Direct C-H borylation of aromatic compounds catalyzed by a transition-metal complex was studied as an economical protocol for the synthesis of aromatic boron derivatives. Iridium complexes generated from Ir(I) precursors and 2,2'-bipyridine ligands efficiently catalyzed the reactions of arenes and heteroarenes with bis(pinacolato)diboron or pinacolborane to produce a variety of aryl- and heteroarylboron compounds. The catalytic cycle involves the formation of a tris(boryl)iridium(III) species and its oxidative addition to an aromatic C-H bond.
Boron as a key component for new π-electron materials
Authors: Yamaguchi Shigehiro , Wakamiya Atsushi 
Published: July 2006

Abstract
For the molecular design of new π-electron materials, the incorporation of main group elements into the π-conjugated frameworks is a powerful approach to modifying the nature of the parent π-conjugated systems. In particular, the group 13 boron is of interest, since the boron element has several characteristic features, such as an effective orbital interaction with the π-conjugated frameworks through the vacant p-orbital (i.e., pπ-π* conjugation), high Lewis acidity, and trigonal planar geometry. By exploiting these features of the boron atom, we have designed and synthesized several types of new π-electron materials, including trianthrylborane- or dibenzoborole-based π-conjugated systems as a new fluoride ion sensor, boryl-substituted thienylthiazole as a new building unit for electron-transporting materials, and B,B',B''-trianthrylborazine (B3N3)-based materials as a model of the bundled system of π-conjugated frameworks.
Carotenoid oxidation products: From villain to saviour?
Authors: Carail Michel , Caris-Veyrat Catherine 
Published: July 2006

Abstract
Carotenoid oxidation products have various structures, among which epoxides and apo- or seco-carotenoids are the two main families. Although both these compound types are widely found in the natural world, the sensitivity of carotenoids to oxidation means they can also be an unwanted presence in in vitro assays. On the other hand, carotenoid oxidation products have also provided chemists with useful chemical tools for the structural identification of carotenoids, and in the natural world they are important biological mediators for plants and animals. In vitro, carotenoid oxidation products have been found to exert various effects which are either potentially beneficial or, on the contrary, detrimental to human health. However, to date, few carotenoid oxidation products have been found in humans.
In order to isolate and characterize carotenoid oxidation products and identify their mechanism of formation, we set up two chemical oxidation systems. Lycopene was oxidized with potassium permanganate in a biphasic system to produce the fullest possible range of apo-lycopenals and some diapocarotene-dials. Biomimetic chemical systems of a heminic enzyme center were shown to oxidize lycopene and β-carotene into different families of molecules. Analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array-UV/vis detector and a mass spectrometry detector (HPLC-DAD-MS) was used to gain insight into the possible mechanisms of formation of the carotenoid oxidation products formed by these biomimetic systems.
Solvent conformation and ion solvation: From molecular to ionic liquids
Authors: Ishiguro Shin-ichi , Umebayashi Yasuhiro , Fujii Kenta , Kanzaki Ryo 
Published: July 2006

Abstract
Metal ions are solvated in solution, and, in a sterically congested organic solvent, those solvent molecules that are simultaneously bound to the metal ion will be subject to consequential steric interactions through space. The molecular structure of a solvent, particularly that of any functional groups in the vicinity of the coordinating atom to the metal ion, plays a key role in the solvation steric effect. Weak solvation steric effects lead to a distorted octahedral structure for six-coordinate transition-metal(II) ions, whereas strong steric effects lead to a decreased solvation number. In particular cases, the conformation of a solvent may undergo a change in response to coordination to the metal ion. Solvation steric effects play a decisive role in reaction thermodynamics and kinetics of the metal ion. Here, we show our recent results on solvation steric effects in terms of structure and thermodynamics, particularly, the conformational change of solvent and its effect on the metal-ion complexation.
Specific ion effects in liquids, in biological systems, and at interfaces
Authors: Kunz Werner 
Published: July 2006

Abstract
A short review is given of current knowledge of ion effects in solutions, at interfaces, and in complex colloidal systems. Further to some key experiments, recent and new theoretical approaches are discussed and references of most important papers are given. Finally, an example of a dissipative, self-organizing system involving electrolyte solutions is mentioned.
Lack of Comparability of Intact Parathyroid Hormone Measurements among Commercial Assays for End-Stage Renal Disease Patients: Implication for Treatment Decisions
Authors: Cantor Tom , Yang Zan , Caraiani Nicolae , Ilamathi Ekambaram 
Published: July 2006

Abstract
Background: Variability among assays used to measure intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) is of particular concern because of the routine use of iPTH assay results to guide management of osteodystrophy and calcium metabolism in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which results from commercially available iPTH assays diverge from results obtained with the Nichols Allegro® Intact PTH immunoradiometric assay (IRMA), which was used as evidence in the development of the National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative Clinical Practice Guidelines.
Methods: We divided EDTA plasma from 46 dialysis patients with ESRD and measured iPTH values with the following commercially available iPTH assays: Nichols’ Allegro iPTH IRMA, Nichols Advantage® iPTH immunochemiluminescent assay (ICMA), Scantibodies’ Total Intact PTH™ IRMA, DiaSorin’s N-tact® iPTH IRMA, DPC’s Coat-A-Count® iPTH IRMA, Roche’s Elecsys® iPTH ICMA, and DSL’s Active® iPTH IRMA.
Results: Method comparison showed considerable interassay differences in the measurement of iPTH in ESRD patients. IPTH values assessed by other methods ranged, on average, from 60% to 152% of the Nichols Allegro IRMA values. Of the 6 iPTH assays tested, only the Scantibodies Total Intact PT IRMA (P = 0.7554) and the Roche Elecsys iPTH ICMA (P = 0.1327) resulted in iPTH values not statistically different from those obtained with the Nichols Allegro iPTH IRMA.
Conclusions: Noncomparability among iPTH assays remains a distinct problem for the management of ESRD patients. These results should be taken into consideration when determining the course of medical treatment based on measured iPTH concentrations
The Role of Avoidance Coping in the Disclosure of Trauma
Authors: Kenardy Justin , Tan Li-Jen 
Published: July 2006

AbstractLittle research has been undertaken to examine the empirical basis of commonly applied methods of posttrauma intervention. We propose that Pennebaker's work on structured disclosure of trauma provides a suitable analogue to explore questions of interest. The present study asks whether avoidance coping is likely to interfere with abbreviated disclosure of traumatic experiences. Subjects were 118 college students randomly allocated to either a one-session or four-session written trauma-disclosure condition. At 2 months postdisclosure, subjects with high avoidance coping within the one-session condition exhibited significantly more trauma-specific and physical symptoms than all other subjects. Avoidance coping significantly predicted trauma-specific symptoms at 2 months. These findings suggest that single session traumatic disclosure may not be useful for individuals with an avoidance style of coping.
One- or Two-Stage Palate Closure in Patients with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate: Comparing Cephalometric and Occlusal Outcomes
Authors: Stein Silke , Dunsche Anton , Gellrich Nils-Claudius , Härle Franz , Jonas Irmtrud 
Published: July 2006

Objective: To assess facial growth and dentoalveolar development in two groups of patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate. Primary surgical treatment differed in the timing of hard palate closure. Design: Forty-three patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate were examined. Twenty-two patients underwent early one-stage closure of the hard and soft palate cleft (mean age 23.0 ± 4.7 months); in 21 patients, the hard palate closure was delayed to 86.3 ± 39.2 months of age. Lateral cephalograms and dental casts were consecutively analyzed at four stages between 6 and 18 years of age. Results: Lateral cephalometric analysis revealed no significant intergroup differences in the sagittal and vertical craniofacial dimensions at any time. Dental cast analysis showed constriction of the upper anterior arch width at the ages of 6 and 10 years in patients with one-stage surgical palate closure, but a difference could no longer be verified at the ages of 15 and 18 years. Conclusions: The transverse distances in the upper jaw developed initially more positively in the group with delayed hard palate closure, but it became apparent later that the transverse deficiency after one-stage palate closure could be compensated for. When considering surgical treatment in general, the advantages of the delayed hard palate closure must be weighed against criteria favoring the early one-stage closure of the hard and soft palate.
Concerning Strategies for a Science of International Politics
Authors: McClosky Herbert 
Published: July 2006

The outsider who presumes to instruct specialists in the needs of a field which is theirs and not his is very like the bachelor who dares to lecture parents on the requirements of child-rearing: having learned everything secondhand, he is in frightful danger of talking nonsense and, what is worse, of thinking it sagacity.Two things encourage me to undertake the risk: (1) The difficulties which beset the study of international politics do not seem to me peculiar to that field alone, but are encountered firsthand and in substantially the same form in other fields of which I have direct knowledge. (2) It is apparent from even a casual exposure to the field that its own practitioners are currently in a stock-taking mood in which they seem eager to scrutinize their own product and to have its value assessed. This mood of disquiet has also begun to express itself in proposals for new general approaches to the field, new areas of inquiry, new schemes for collating and analyzing data, explorations into questions once thought remote from the concerns of international politics, and other such developments signifying vitality and a lively spirit of inquiry. The two works which provide the occasion for this essay are items in point, but many others could be cited.
Choice in the West
Authors: Bernard S. 
Published: July 2006

The advent of a new administration in the United States and the passage of seven years since the end of World War II make it appropriate to review the political situation which has developed in Europe during that period and to ask what choices now are open to the West in its relations with the Soviet Union.The end of World War II found Europe torn between conflicting conceptions of international politics and of the goals that its members should seek. The democratic powers, led by the United States, viewed the world in traditional, Western, terms. The major problem, as they saw it, was one of working out a moral and legal order to which all powers could subscribe, and in which they would live. Quite independently of the environment, they assumed that one political order was both more practicable and more desirable than some other, and that their policies should be directed toward its attainment.