bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CD133, One of the Markers of Cancer Stem Cells in Hep‐2 Cell Line
Authors: Zhou Liang , Wei Xudong , Cheng Lei , Tian Jie , Jiang Jack J. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractObjective: In recent years, a growing body of evidence has been reported that a tumor clone is organized as a hierarchy that originates from rare stem cells. CD133, a cell surface antigen, was identified as a stem cell maker for human leukemia, brain tumors, and prostate cancer. The purpose of this study was to detect the expression of CD133, a putative marker of cancer stem cells in the Hep‐2 cell line, and isolate CD133 positive cells to observe their proliferation and differentiation ability in vitro.Method: Immunocytochemical staining technology and flow cytometry were used to detect the expression of the putative stem cell marker CD133 in a Hep‐2 cell line. The immunomagnetic beads were applied to purify CD133 positive cells. CD133+ tumor cells were cultured in vitro to observe their ability to proliferate and differentiate.Results: Only a small proportion (<5%) of cells in the Hep‐2 cell line expressed CD133. CD133+ cells possess a marked capacity for self renewal, extensive proliferation, and mutilineal differentiation potency in vitro.Conclusion: CD133 is one of the markers for cancer stem cells in human laryngeal tumors, the Hep‐2 cell line.
Effects of Fibrin Glue on Nasal Septal Tissues
Authors: Erkan Alper Nabi , Cakmak Ozcan , Kocer Nazm Emrah , Ylmaz Ismail 
Published: March 2007

AbstractObjectives: To investigate the changes in adult rabbit nasal septal tissues after application of fibrin glue during septoplasty.Study Design: Preclinical animal study.Methods: Nineteen adult albino Vienna rabbits were included in the study. Rabbits were randomly divided into study (n = 14) and control groups (n = 5). The study group was subsequently divided into two subgroups with seven rabbits in each group to investigate short‐ and long‐term effects of fibrin glue. After raising the mucoperichondrial flap on one side of the septum, fibrin glue was used to fix the mucoperichondrial flap over the septal cartilage. Rabbits were killed 3 weeks and 6 weeks after septoplasty. Samples from the excised nasal septa underwent routine tissue procedure for histopathologic investigation.Results: Both short‐term and long‐term results were compared with the control group and with each other. There was a significant difference regarding mucosal inflammation and cartilaginous damage between groups. A significant difference was found between groups in terms of loss of cilia, loss of goblet cells, the presence and degree of fibrosis. Loss of cartilage was significantly different between groups. In comparing the thickness of the mucosa, thickness of the perichondrium, and thickness of cartilage, there were significant differences between groups.Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that fibrin glue causes distinctive inflammation, creates mucosal damage, increases mucosal thickness, decreases perichondrial thickness and cartilaginous thickness, and causes segmental cartilage loss in rabbits. Further comparative clinical investigations are required to assess the clinical efficacy of fibrin glue in nasal septal surgery in humans.
The Skin Cancer Index: Clinical Responsiveness and Predictors of Quality of Life
Authors: Rhee John S. , Matthews B. Alex , Neuburg Marcy , Logan Brent R. , Burzynski Mary , Nattinger Ann B. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractObjective: To establish the clinical responsiveness of the Skin Cancer Index (SCI), a new disease‐specific quality of life (QOL) instrument, and to assess demographic and clinical factors which impact QOL in patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC).Study Design: Prospective study of 183 patients with NMSC of the face and neck referred to a tertiary care Mohs surgery clinic.Methods: The SCI is a 15 item, validated, disease‐specific QOL instrument with 3 distinct subscales, Emotion, Social, and Appearance. Higher scores reflect better QOL. The SCI and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), a general dermatology instrument, was administered at initial consultation and 4 months after surgical treatment. Multivariate analysis was conducted to assess demographic and clinical factors predictive of QOL for both instruments.Results: The SCI total score and all three subscale scores increased with treatment, demonstrating strong evidence of responsiveness over time (P < .001) in contrast with the DLQI (P = .46). Predictors of poorer QOL for the SCI included female sex and cancers located on the lip. Patients who demonstrated greatest improvement in QOL with treatment included those who were younger (<50 yr) and had lower reported household income. Also, first time NMSC patients and those patients who underwent less extensive reconstructions demonstrated greater improvements in QOL.Conclusion: The SCI is a sensitive and responsive QOL instrument for patients with NMSC. Distinct demographic and clinical variables that impact QOL have been demonstrated using this multidimensional, disease‐specific instrument.
Effects of Ciprofloxacin‐Dexamethasone on Myringotomy Wound Healing
Authors: Hebda Patricia A. , Yuksel Sancak , Dohar Joseph E. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractObjective: To evaluate the effects of the ciprofloxacin‐dexamethasone (CDX) combination ototopical treatment after myringotomy on tympanic membrane (TM) healing in ears with eustachian tube obstruction (ETO) and unobstructed ears.Study Design: Prospective, randomized, masked, controlled.Methods: ETO was created in the left ear of 30 rats to induce a model of otitis media with effusion (OME). After 3 weeks, bilateral myringotomy was performed (day 0). Animals were randomized into three groups to receive no treatment or bilateral once daily ototopical treatment with balanced salt solution (BSS, vehicle) or CDX for 13 days. Bilateral otomicroscopy was performed on days 7, 14, and 28. On day 14, five randomly selected animals per group were humanely euthanized and the TM harvested for histology. Three additional rats provided normal negative control ears for histologic comparisons.Results: On day 14, TM perforation healing rates were 100% in all ears of untreated and BSS‐treated animals, 89% (8/9) in CDX‐treated obstructed ears, and 30% (3/10) in CDX‐treated unobstructed ears (P < .05 vs. BSS). On day 28, 100% (5/5) of the CDX‐treated unobstructed ears and 80% (4/5) of the CDX‐treated obstructed ears were healed. Histology showed initial TM thickening postmyringotomy in all ears but no significant qualitative differences between groups on day 28.Conclusion: Myringotomy healing was transiently modulated by treatment with CDX but proceeded normally after CDX discontinuation. This early modulation might enhance middle ear drainage and middle ear concentrations of CDX when tympanostomy tube surgery is performed in patients with active OME and ETO, thus potentially reducing otorrhea and preventing or treating infection. It would not be expected to increase the risk of premature tube extrusion or adversely affect normal healing of the TM after usual spontaneous extrusion.
Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Infarction Presenting With Sudden Hearing Loss and Vertigo
Authors: Son Eun Jin , Bang Jung Hwan , Kang Jae‐Goo 
Published: March 2007

AbstractA peripheral origin is typically contemplated in a patient presenting with sudden hearing loss (HL) and dizziness without other neurologic manifestations. Although symptoms of anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) infarction include sudden HL and vertigo, the clinical picture usually shows ipsilateral facial anesthesia or paralysis, Horner's syndrome, contralateral body anesthesia, or cerebellar dysmetria. A 68‐year‐old female patient developed sudden HL in the right ear and vertigo. A left‐beating horizontal torsional nystagmus was observed, and caloric weakness in the right side was noted. Diffusion‐ and T2‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging revealed cerebellar infarction in the right AICA territory. AICA infarction may present without obvious neurologic deficits, and an imaging study is advised in patients at high risk for vascular accidents.
Ethnic composition of schools affects episodic heavy drinking only in ethnic‐minority students
Authors: Monshouwer Karin , Van Dorsselaer Saskia , Van Os Jim , Drukker Marjan , De Graaf Ron , Ter Bogt Tom , Verdurmen Jacqueline , Vollebergh Wilma 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACTAims To investigate if school‐related contextual factors (school alcohol policy and school ethnic composition) explain episodic heavy drinking by individual students, while taking individual‐level variables into account.Design and participants Data were derived from the 2003 Dutch National School Survey on Substance Use, a nationally representative cross‐sectional study with a total of 7324 respondents aged 12–16 years.Methods Student‐level data were collected by written questionnaire administered in classroom settings, assessing alcohol and drug use as well as socio‐demographic and behavioural variables. School‐level data were gathered by written questionnaire completed by the school principal, assessing school policy on substance use and school compositional factors. The data were analysed using a multi‐level logistic regression model.Findings The study revealed an association between ethnic composition of the school and episodic heavy drinking: a relatively high percentage of ethnic minorities (10–30%) at the school was associated with a lower probability of episodic heavy drinking, but only in interaction with individual‐level ethnicity. Thus, ethnic‐minority students attending schools of high minority density had less risk of episodic heavy drinking (OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.47–1.00). None of the school policy factors was associated with episodic heavy drinking.Conclusions Within a school context, peer modelling and reinforcement mechanisms can affect individual students' alcohol use, but a certain level of identification with the group and the resulting social control may be necessary. School policy seems to have no impact on students' alcohol use, possibly because students are faced with these only during special events, including school parties and excursions.
Expression of platelet‐derived growth factor receptor in low‐grade endometrial stromal sarcomas in the absence of activating mutations
Authors: Liegl B , Gülly C , Reich O , Nogales F F , Beham A , Regauer S 
Published: March 2007

Aims:  To investigate platelet‐derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)α and PDGFRβ expression and a mutational analysis of PDGFRα (exons 11, 12, 17 and 18) and PDGFRβ (exon 12) genes in endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESS). Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs), which have somatic mutations of the transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor, respond to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which act through an inhibitory effect on class 3 receptor tyrosine kinase members such as PDGFRα, PDGFRβ and c‐kit.Methods and results:  The immunohistochemical expression of PDGFRα and PDGFRβ was investigated in 37 archival c‐kit– ESS. Staining was scored as negative (0–10% positive tumour cells) and positive (weakly positive 11–50% positive cells; strongly positive > 50% positive cells). PDGFRα was expressed in 24/37 ESS [65%; strongly by 19/37 (51.5%) and weakly by 5/37 ESS (13.5%)]. ESS tumour cells were negative for PDGFRβ, but endothelial cells stained positive. A mutational analysis of PDGFRα (exons 11, 12, 17 and 18) and PDGFRβ (exon 12) genes on frozen metastatic ESS from three patients detected no mutations leading to amino acid changes in the mature protein.Conclusions:  Patients with PDGFRα+ ESS may benefit from treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors by blocking autocrine and paracrine stimulation loops, blocking neovascularization and enhancing the effects of chemotherapy.
Expression of oestrogen receptor‐β in apocrine carcinomas of the breast
Authors: Honma N , Takubo K , Akiyama F , Kasumi F , Sawabe M , Arai T , Hosoi T , Yoshimura N , Harada N , Younes M , Sakamoto G 
Published: March 2007

Aims:  Apocrine carcinoma of the breast seldom expresses oestrogen receptors (ER) or progesterone receptors (PR), but frequently expresses androgen receptors (AR). Because of this unusual hormone receptor status, it has been suggested that oestrogens have a less important role in the pathogenesis of apocrine carcinoma. The ER status of apocrine carcinoma has been studied for one kind of ER, the classic receptor now named ER‐α; however, the status of ER‐β, a secondary oestrogen receptor, has not been examined systematically in apocrine carcinoma. The aim was to study ER‐β status in apocrine carcinoma.Methods and results:  The expression of ER‐β was examined immunohistochemically in 48 apocrine carcinomas and compared with clinicopathological factors and ER‐α, PR and AR status. ER‐β positivity was observed in 35 cases (73%), regardless of any clinicopathological factors or the status of other receptors. The results of ER‐β mRNA analysis supported the immunohistochemical results.Conclusions:  The significance of oestrogens in apocrine carcinoma should not be dismissed at present when the role of ER‐β remains to be determined. Studying the action of oestrogen or antioestrogen in apocrine carcinoma may reveal a role for ER‐β independent of ER‐α and raise the potential of hormonal therapy for these tumours.
‘Doing dialysis at home’: client attitudes towards renal therapy
Authors: Polaschek Nick 
Published: March 2007

Aim.  This paper reports a study seeking to describe characteristic attitudes towards their treatment regime among a group living on home dialysis.Background.  Although there are many papers about the problem of renal patient compliance and a number describing the experience of living on dialysis, studies have not focused on client attitudes towards their therapy.Methods.  The study used an interpretivist methodology. Twenty home dialysis clients from one renal service were interviewed for an hour each in 2004. Texts of the taped interviews were analysed to formulate a number of themes that summarize the client perspective.Results.  During the initial period of adjustment to treatment many participants learned their need for treatment by experimenting with the therapeutic prescription. They then used their knowledge of the therapy to alter their treatment regime to maintain their normal lifestyle. Having modified their therapeutic prescription, participants’ motivation to continue meeting the continuing demands of the treatment regime was influenced by their individual life situation, including their relationships, work and personal attitudes towards life.Conclusion.  Health professionals have interpreted renal client behaviour in relation to their therapy in terms of compliance, because effectiveness of treatment depends on their cooperation. From a client perspective their attitudes are better understood in terms of negotiation. Renal clients do not simply follow professional advice but, through a process of negotiation, seek to integrate therapy into their pattern of regular activities to maintain their normal lifestyle. Renal clients’ motivation to meet the ongoing demands of treatment is not related solely to their health status, but is affected by their general life situation.Relevance to clinical practice.  Understanding client attitudes towards therapy enables nurses to support people living on dialysis better. Through enhancing their relationships with clients, nurses can assume a key role in service to people living with chronic conditions.
Infectious complications following unrelated cord blood transplantation
Authors: Van Burik J.‐A. , Brunstein C. G. 
Published: March 2007

Introduction  Infections following cord blood transplantation are just beginning to be defined in the literature. This review will outline infections at death, the epidemiology of individual infections, and the impact of stem cell source.Methods  A review of studies published since 2000.Results  Based on registry data, most studies demonstrate an approximate rate of infection at death of 30–40% among cord blood recipients. Bacterial infections often occur prior to engraftment and increase among patients with graft failure. In addition, there is delayed recovery of the immune response among patients with graft‐versus‐host disease that leads to viral infections at later time points. The risk of serious infection among children receiving umbilical cord blood (UCB) grafts is comparable to that of children receiving unmanipulated marrow and is lower than that of recipients of a T‐cell‐depleted stem cell source. Among adult patients, despite an overall higher incidence of serious infections after UCB transplantation as compared with unrelated donor grafts, non‐relapse mortality and overall survival were not significantly different between haematopoietic stem cell sources.Conclusions  Further studies are needed to confirm these observations and determine whether the risk of infection for cord blood recipients is comparable to that of recipients of unmanipulated marrow.
Effect of moderate aerobic exercise on sympatho‐vagal balance in Type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Zoppini G. , Cacciatori V. , Gemma M. L. , Moghetti P. , Targher G. , Zamboni C. , Thomaseth K. , Bellavere F. , Muggeo M. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractAims  The purpose of the study was to determine long‐term cardiovascular autonomic adaptation to moderate endurance aerobic exercise in people with Type 2 diabetes in order to test the hypothesis of an enhanced vagal drive.Methods  We analysed the power spectral density of heart rate cyclic variations at rest, while lying, and while standing in 12 sedentary, non‐smoking, Type 2 diabetic individuals. Testing was performed before and after a 6‐month, supervised, progressive, aerobic training programme, twice weekly. Heart rate variability was assessed by autoregressive power spectral analysis (PSA); this method allows reliable quantification of low‐frequency (LF) and high‐frequency (HF) components, which are considered to be under mainly sympathetic and purely parasympathetic control, respectively.Results  In 10‐min electrocardiogram recordings, mean RR intervals values lying and standing were similar before and after physical exercise. Likewise, total heart rate variability, expressed as total power spectral density (PSD), was not altered by exercise. In contrast, on standing, the HF component, expressed in normalized units, was significantly higher (20.1 ± 4 vs. 30.4 ± 5, P < 0.01), whereas the LF component was significantly lower (68.1 ± 7 vs. 49.8 ± 8, P < 0.01) after exercise; hence, on standing, the LF/HF ratio, reflecting the sympathetic vs. parasympathetic balance, was markedly lower (16.2 ± 11 vs. 5.2 ± 3.2, P = 0.003). No significant exercise‐related changes in these PSA components were observed on lying.Conclusions  A twice‐weekly, 6‐month, moderate, aerobic exercise programme, without a concomitant weight loss diet, is associated with significant improvements in cardiovascular autonomic function in overweight, non‐smoking, Type 2 diabetic individuals.
Randomized double‐blind study comparing the efficacy and safety of lamotrigine and amitriptyline in painful diabetic neuropathy
Authors: Jose V. M. , Bhansali A. , Hota D. , Pandhi P. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractAims  To compare the efficacy and safety of lamotrigine and amitriptyline in controlling chronic painful peripheral neuropathy in diabetic patients.Methods  A randomized, double‐blind, crossover, active‐control, clinical trial with variable dose titration was carried out (n = 53). Amitriptyline orally, at doses of 10, 25 and 50 mg at night‐time, each dose for 2 weeks, and lamotrigine orally, at doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg twice daily, each dose for 2 weeks, by optional titration were used. There was a placebo washout period for 2 weeks between the two drugs. Assessment for pain relief, overall improvement and adverse events were carried out.Results  Good, moderate and mild pain relief were noted in 19 (41%), six (13%) and seven (15%) patients on lamotrigine and 13 (28%), five (11%) and 15 (33%) patients on amitriptyline, respectively, by patient's global assessment of efficacy and safety. Patient and physicians global assessment, McGill pain questionnaire and Likert pain scale showed no significant difference between the treatments, although improvement with both treatments was seen from 2 weeks. Of the 44 adverse events reported, 33 (75%) were with amitriptyline, sedation being the commonest [in 19 (43%) patients]. Lamotrigine caused adverse events in 11 (25%), of which rash in three (7%) and elevations of creatinine in four (9%) were the most common. The preferred lamotrigine dose was 25 mg twice daily.Conclusions  As there are few differences between the two treatments in efficacy, lamotrigine 25 mg twice daily might be the first choice as it is associated with fewer adverse effects in our population.
The Style Consistency of Hedge Funds
Authors: Gibson Rajna , Gyger Sébastien 
Published: March 2007

Abstract This study examines the style classification and the style consistency of hedge funds using a new proprietary database over the period May 1989 to April 1999. First, a hard clustering procedure is applied to classify hedge funds into homogeneous groups. It is shown that the methodology is robust and can be used to build stable hedge funds indexes. The method performs equally well as the principal component analysis in explaining in‐ and out‐of‐sample cross‐sectional hedge funds' returns. Second, we extend hard to fuzzy cluster memberships, relaxing the full assignment of the funds to individual clusters. We apply the fuzzy clustering methodology to estimate hedge funds' probabilistic exposure to various styles. We introduce three consistency indicators to quantify the hedge fund managers' style opportunism levels. We finally document that there is no evidence that style consistency leads to superior hedge funds' performance.
Camden to London and Paris: The Role of the Macarthur Family in the Early New South Wales Wine Industry
Authors: McIntyre Julie 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe wine industry has been largely overlooked as a subject of historical analysis in Australian history despite its significance in the nineteenth century and its renewed vigour in the late 1900s. This article situates the development of a particular aspect of the industry within a broader consideration of the themes of colonization. It outlines the role of the Macarthur family in wine growing as well as exploring William Macarthur's view of viticulture as a means of moving beyond pastoralism to further ‘civilize’ the colony of New South Wales.
Conversion in Ottoman Balkans: A Historiographical Survey
Authors: Kirmizialtin Suphan 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThis article surveys the Islamization of South‐eastern Europe under the Ottoman rule. In Balkan history writing the question of conversion to Islam was, and still is, a highly charged political issue. It is intrinsically linked to the issues of formation of national identities and rival territorial claims of the Balkan states. The nationalist discourse of the current Balkan historiography defines all forms of Islamization as results of the Ottoman government's centrally organized policy of forced conversion. This study argues against this position and maintains that Islamization in each Balkan country took place in the course of many centuries and its nature and phase was determined not by the Ottoman government but by the specific conditions of each locality.