bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Unified power quality conditioner with super‐capacitor for energy storage
Authors: Han Byung M. , Bae B. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThis paper proposes a new configuration of UPQC (Unified Power Quality Conditioner) that consists of the DC/DC converter and the super‐capacitors for compensating the voltage interruption. The proposed UPQC can compensate the reactive power, harmonic current, voltage sag and swell, voltage unbalance, and the voltage interruption. The performance of proposed system was analyzed through simulations with PSCAD/EMTDC software, and the realization of proposed system was verified through experimental works with a prototype. The proposed system can improve the power quality at the common connection point of the non‐linear load and the sensitive load. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Affording what's free and paying for choice: comparing the cost of public and private hospitalizations in urban Kerala
Authors: Levesque Jean‐Frédéric , Haddad Slim , Narayana Delampady , Fournier Pierre 
Published: April 2007

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the cost of public and private hospitalizations in urban Kerala and discuss policy implications of social disparities in the economic burden of hospital care.MethodsThe NSSO survey on health care (1995–1996) for urban Kerala was analysed with regards to expenditure incurred by hospital episodes. Multilevel linear models were built to assess factors associated with levels of health expenditure.FindingsHospital care involves paying admission fees in 68% of cases of hospitalizations (98% in private and 20% in public sector) in urban Kerala. Poor households and those headed by casual workers show significantly lower levels of health expenditure and a higher proportion of health‐related loss of income than other social groups. Although there is significant expenditure in both sectors for these groups, hospitalization on free public wards is associated with lower expenditure than other options. Factors linked with higher expenditure are: duration of stay; hospitalizations on paying public wards and in the private sector; hospitalizations for above poverty line households and hospitalizations for chronic illnesses. Expenditure for services bought from outside the hospital is important in the public sector.ConclusionHospitalization incurs significant expenditure in urban Kerala. Greater availability of free medical services in the public sector and financial protection against the cost of hospitalization are warranted. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Escitalopram in a working population: results from an observational study of 2378 outpatients in Austria
Authors: Winkler Dietmar , Pjrek Edda , Moser Ulrike , Kasper Siegfried 
Published: April 2007

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this observational study was to evaluate the effectiveness of escitalopram in a naturalistic sample of employed people with mood and anxiety disorders.MethodDays on sick leave 3 months prior and 3 months during treatment with escitalopram were recorded and compared (mirror study design) in 2378 patients (949 men and 1376 women). A further clinical examination including the clinical global impression of severity (CGI‐S) and improvement (CGI‐I) scales and assessments of tolerability were used to evaluate treatment effects in a subgroup of 807 study subjects.ResultsEscitalopram treatment (mean final daily dosage: 12.4 ± 5.0 mg) led to a significant reduction (baseline versus end of study) of sick leave (11.0 ± 12.8 days versus 5.4 ± 11.0 days; p < 0.001). CGI‐S scores decreased from 4.7 ± 0.9 at baseline to 2.4 ± 1.1 after 3 months (p < 0.001), the CGI‐I after 3 months was 1.9 ± 0.9. The incidence of adverse events after initiation of treatment with escitalopram was 13.1%, with only 1.3% of patients experiencing severe adverse events interfering with patient functioning.ConclusionOur results suggest that escitalopram is an efficacious and overall well‐tolerated treatment in a naturalistic sample of working patients. A decrease in the days on sick leave is indicative of indirect cost‐effectiveness of this treatment. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of cancer virotherapy with attenuated replicative Semliki forest virus in different rodent tumor models
Authors: Määttä Ann‐Marie , Liimatainen Timo , Wahlfors Tiina , Wirth Thomas , Vähä‐Koskela Markus , Jansson Linda , Valonen Piia , Häkkinen Katja , Rautsi Outi , Pellinen Riikka , Mäkinen Kimmo , Hakumäki Juhana , Hinkkanen Ari , Wahlfors Jarmo 
Published: April 2007

AbstractSemliki Forest virus (SFV) is one of the latest candidates for a virotherapeutic agent against cancer, and recent studies have demonstrated its efficacy in tumor models. In the present study, we examined the antitumor efficacy of an avirulent SFV strain A7(74) and its derivative, a replication‐competent SFV vector VA7‐EGFP, in a partially immunodeficient mouse tumor model (subcutaneous A549 human lung adenocarcinoma in NMRI nu/nu mouse) and in an immunocompetent rat tumor model (intracranial BT4C glioma in BDIX rat). When subcutaneous mouse tumors were injected 3 times with VA7‐EGFP, intratumorally treated animals showed almost complete inhibition of tumor growth, while systemically treated mice displayed only delayed tumor growth (intravenous injection) or no response at all (intraperitoneal injection). This was at least partially due to a strong type I interferon (IFN) response in the tumors. The animals did not display any signs of abnormal behavior or encephalitis, even though SFV‐positive foci were detected in the brain after the initial blood viremia. Intracranial rat tumors were injected directly with SFV A7(74) virus and monitored with magnetic resonance imaging. Tumor growth was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) with one virus injection, but the tumor size continued to increase after a lag period and none of the treated animals survived. Three virus injections or T‐cell suppression with dexamethasone did not significantly improve treatment efficacy. It appeared that the local virotherapy induced extensive production of neutralizing anti‐SFV antibodies that most likely contributed to the insufficient treatment efficacy. In conclusion, we show here that SFV A7(74) is a potential oncolytic agent for cancer virotherapy, but major immunological hurdles may need to be overcome before the virus can be clinically tested. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Obesity and risk of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Larsson Susanna C. , Wolk Alicja 
Published: April 2007

AbstractObesity is associated with altered immune and inflammatory responses and it may therefore influence the risk of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, epidemiologic findings on obesity in relation to non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma have been inconsistent. We conducted a meta‐analysis to summarize the epidemiologic evidence on the association between excess body weight and risk of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma. Relevant studies were identified by searching MEDLINE (1966 to February 2007) and the reference lists of retrieved publications. We included cohort and case–control studies that reported relative risk (RR) estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association of body mass index (BMI) with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma incidence or mortality. A random‐effects model was used to combine results from individual studies. Sixteen studies (10 cohorts and 6 case–control studies), with 21,720 cases, met the inclusion criteria. Compared to individuals of normal weight (BMI < 25.0 kg/m2), the summary RRs of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma were 1.07 (95% CI, 1.01–1.14) for overweight individuals (BMI between 25 and 30 kg/m2) and 1.20 (95% CI, 1.07–1.34) for those who were obese (BMI ≥≥≥≥ 30.0 kg/m2). Meta‐analysis stratified by histologic subtypes showed that obesity was associated with a statistically significant increased risk of diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (RR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.18–1.66; n = 6 studies) but not of follicular lymphoma (RR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.82–1.47; n = 6 studies) or small lymphocytic lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia (RR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.76–1.20; n = 3 studies). These findings indicate that excess body weight is associated with an increased risk of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma, especially of diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mutations and polymorphisms of the p21B transcript in breast cancer
Authors: Knappskog Stian , Chrisanthar Ranjan , Staalesen Vidar , Børresen‐Dale Anne‐Lise , Gram Inger Torhild , Lillehaug Johan Richard , Lønning Per Eystein 
Published: April 2007

Abstractp21WAF1/CIP1, transcribed from the CDKN1A locus, plays a key role executing p53‐induced growth arrest. The recent discovery that an alternative transcript, p21B, induces apoptosis, suggests an additional important function of this gene. Here, we report p21 and p21B mutation status in large cohorts of breast cancers and compare distributions of p21B polymorphisms in cancer patients to healthy controls. In 521 breast tumor samples analyzed, only one point mutation affecting the p21B protein was observed. No mutations were found when screening a panel of 20 established cell lines. A novel polymorphism, p21BG128T was identified. Haplotype analysis revealed no association between this variant and the previously identified p21B polymorphism p21BT35C or any of the known p21WAF1/CIP1 polymorphisms. As previously reported for p21BT35C, distribution of p21BG128T was similar among breast cancer patients and healthy controls (n = 691 and 1,015; incidence 6.1 vs. 4.8%; p = 0.273, respectively). No association between p21BG128T or p21BT35C and response to chemotherapy with an anthracycline‐containing regimen or paclitaxel was recorded. Our findings do not suggest mutations or polymorphisms of p21B to play a major role with respect to either breast cancer risk or sensitivity towards chemotherapy. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of combinations of ROS scavengers on oxidative DNA damage caused by visible‐light‐activated camphorquinone/N,N‐dimethyl‐p‐toluidine
Authors: Lee Seungbum , Pagoria Dustin , Raigrodski Ariel , Geurtsen Werner 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe objective of this investigation was to analyze whether various combinations of the ROS scavengers glutathione (GSH), N‐acetyl‐cysteine (NAC), and vitamins C and E decrease DNA damage due to visible‐light‐irradiated (VL‐irradiated) camphorquinone/N,N‐dimethyl‐p‐toluidine (CQ/DMT) compared with individual vitamin C or E. ΦX‐174 RF plasmid DNA was used to determine single and double strand breaks as parameters of DNA damage. Individual ROS scavengers and combinations of the antioxidants were added to plasmid DNA treated with VL‐irradiated CQ/DMT/Cu (II). After incubation, DNA was loaded into a 1% agarose gel. Following electrophoresis, gels stained with 0.5 μg/mL ethidium bromide were photographed under ultraviolet illumination and analyzed with NIH ImageJ software. Results were evaluated between groups for statistical significance using Student's paired t‐test (p < 0.05). Glutathione significantly reduced oxidative DNA damage at all test concentrations when combined with vitamin C or vitamin E. The concentration of damaged DNA observed in the presence of combinations of GSH with vitamin C or vitamin E was significantly lower compared with all other combinations of antioxidants investigated in our study (p < 0.05). In contrast to GSH, NAC was not able to compensate the pro‐oxidative effects of vitamin C and vitamin E. Only at a concentration of 2 mM, NAC combined with vitamin C efficiently prevented CQ/DMT/Cu (II)‐associated DNA damage. Our data indicate that solely the combinations of GSH with vitamin C or vitamin E significantly reduce the severity of oxidative DNA damage caused by CQ/DMT, whereas NAC may even increase the pro‐oxidant activity of vitamin C and vitamin E. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2007
Polarized protein membrane for high cell seeding efficiency
Authors: Atthoff Björn , Aulin Cecilia , Adelöw Catharina , Hilborn Jöns 
Published: April 2007

AbstractA new type of scaffold for tissue engineering was developed to give enhanced cell seeding in three dimensions. A gradient of either collagen or fibrin protein was prepared, supported by a knitted poly(ethylene terephtalate) PET fabric. The membranes were, after hydrolysis and acetic acid wash, submerged in a protein solution for adsorption followed by immersion into a gelling agent. The immediate contact between the protein solution held by the fabric and the gelling agent resulted in a dense, fibrous protein network with pore sizes around 0.5 μm at the surface, and larger pores of 10–50 μm size throughout the interior of the fabric as observed by scanning electron microscopy. By separating the fabric double layers holding this network, a gradient porosity membrane was produced. To evaluate the fractions of cells trapped in the matrix upon seeding, i.e. the seeding efficiency, 500 μl 3T3 fibroblasts cell suspension containing one million cells was seeded by filtering through the gradient protein membrane. For both the collagen and fibrin membranes, the seeding efficiency was ∼93%, which was significantly higher than that of 28% from the corresponding PET fabric without protein immobilization. Attempt to seed cells from the dense side of the protein networks resulted in no cell penetration into the scaffold. Histology on subsequent culture of the cells in the scaffold demonstrated viability and proliferation in three dimensions throughout the scaffold. This new and simple way of producing scaffolds play an important role when the cells are precious or scarce and cell seeding in three dimensions is important. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2007
Influence of recovering collagen with bioactive glass on osteoblast behavior
Authors: Andrade Ângela Leão , Valério Patrícia , de Goes Alfredo Miranda , de Fátima Leite Maria , Domingues Rosana Zacarias 
Published: April 2007

AbstractBioactive ceramics have interesting properties from the biological standpoint, but their effects on cellular events remain partially unknown. In the current work, we investigated cellular viability, proliferation, and metabolic activity of rat primary osteoblasts in contact with four different samples: type I collagen, bioactive glass‐coated collagen (GC), and both samples submitted to immersion for 5 days in a simulated body fluid. The bioactive glass coating was obtained from a sol‐gel process. The cell viability, the alkaline phosphate, the collagen secretion, and the nitric oxide production by osteoblast were measured after 72 h of incubation in the presence of the samples. The GC that was immersed for 5 days in a simulated body fluid solution showed an increase in osteoblast viability and proliferation when it was compared with control and the other samples. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2007
Spontaneous autocrine release of protons activates ASIC‐mediated currents in HEK293 cells
Authors: Lalo Ulyana , Pankratov Yuri , North R. Alan , Verkhratsky Alexei 
Published: April 2007

AbstractWhen examining HEK293 cells by whole‐cell patch‐clamp electrophysiology we found spontaneous currents, present in almost all cells. These currents were carried by Na+ ions, were inhibited by amiloride and by cells exposure to acidic (pH 6.3) extracellular solutions. These properties (ion carrier, amiloride‐sensitivity, and inactivation by constant lowering of extracellular pH) were similar to the properties of proton‐activated currents measured from the same cells. Spontaneous currents required intracellular ATP, were completely inhibited by intracellular Ca2+ buffering with BAPTA and were suppressed by intracellular administration of vesicular H+ATPase inhibitor bafilomycin. ATP‐induced Ca2+ influx through P2X receptors in HEK293 cells stably transfected with P2X2, P2X2/3 or P2X4 purinoreceptor subunits transiently potentiated amplitude and frequency of spontaneous currents; this effect was antagonized by bafilomycin. We concluded that spontaneous currents represent activation of acid‐sensitive ion channels (ASICs) by autocrine vesicular release of protons from HEK cells. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. J. Cell. Physiol. 212: 473–480, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Parathyroid hormone‐related protein (PTHrP) inhibits mitochondrial‐dependent apoptosis through CK2
Authors: Okoumassoun Liliane Eustache , Russo Caterina , Denizeau Francine , Averill‐Bates Diana , Henderson Dr. Janet E. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractOver the past decade, parathyroid hormone‐related protein (PTHrP) has been identified as a key survival factor for cells subjected to apoptotic stimuli. Its anti‐apoptotic activity has been attributed to nuclear accumulation of the intact protein, or a synthetic peptide corresponding to its nuclear targeting sequence (NTS), which promotes rapid exit of nutrient deprived cells from the cell cycle. Intracellular PTHrP also inhibited apoptosis by blocking tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)‐induced apoptosis by blocking signaling from the “death receptor” and preventing damage to the mitochondrial membrane. In both cases, the anti‐apoptotic activity was significantly reduced in the presence of a nuclear deficient form of PTHrP with a 88K/E K/E·K/I91 mutation in the NTS. The current work was undertaken to determine the mechanism by which nuclear PTHrP blocked mitochondrial‐mediated apoptosis. Using sub‐cellular fractionation and functional assays we showed that pre‐treatment of HEK293 cells with exogenous NTS peptide before inducing apoptosis with TNFα was as effective as expression of the full‐length protein in inhibiting apoptosis. Inhibition of apoptosis was associated with increased expression of protein kinase casein kinase 2 (CK2) and in sustained CK2 accumulation and activity in the nuclear fraction. In primary chondrogenic cells harvested from the limb buds of PTHrP+/− and PTHrP−/− embryonic mice, there was a dose‐dependent decrease in CK2 expression and activity that correlated with increased susceptibility to apoptosis. Taken together the results indicate that nuclear accumulation of PTHrP effectively inhibits mitochondrial‐mediated apoptosis through regulation of the expression, activity, and sub‐cellular trafficking of CK2. J. Cell. Physiol. 212:591–599, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Redox control of G1/S cell cycle regulators during nitric oxide‐mediated cell cycle arrest
Authors: Lu Qi , Jourd'heuil Frances L. , Jourd'heuil David 
Published: April 2007

AbstractRedox regulation of cell cycle progression during nitric oxide (NO) mediated cytostasis is not well‐understood. In this study, we investigated the role of the intracellular antioxidant glutathione (GSH) in regulating specific signaling events that are associated with NO‐mediated cell cycle arrest. Manipulation of intracellular GSH content through pharmacological inhibition of glutamate‐cysteine ligase (GCL) indicated that GSH depletion potentiated nitrosative stress, DNA damage, phosphorylation of the tumor suppressor p53 (Ser‐18) and upregulation of p21cip1/waf1 upon NO stimulation. However, we found that neither overexpression of a dominant negative p53 nor pharmacological inhibition of p53 with cyclic pifithrin‐α (cPFT‐α) was sufficient to reverse NO‐mediated cell cycle arrest or hypophosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (Rb). We found that the decrease in cyclin D1 levels induced by NO was GSH‐sensitive implying that the redox regulation of NO‐mediated cytostasis was a multifaceted process and that both p53/p21cip1/waf1 and p53 independent cyclin D1 pathways were involved. Together, our results demonstrate that GSH serves as an important component of cellular protective mechanisms against NO‐derived nitrosative stress to regulate DNA damage checkpoint. J. Cell. Physiol. 212:827–839, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Proteasomes and RARS modulate AIMP1/EMAP II secretion in human cancer cell lines
Authors: Bottoni Arianna , Vignali Cristina , Piccin Daniela , Tagliati Federico , Luchin Andrea , Zatelli Maria Chiara , Uberti Ettore C. degli 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe aminoacyl t‐RNA synthetase interacting multifunctional protein (AIMP1) is the precursor of the multifunctional inflammatory cytokine endothelial monocyte‐activating polypeptide II (EMAP II). We previously demonstrated that AIMP1 secretion by pituitary adenomas is inversely correlated with tumor diameter and with RARS expression, suggesting that a high amount of RARS associated with AIMP1 might prevent the secretion of the latter cytokine. In this study, we investigated the role of RARS in modulating the secretion of AIMP1 in HeLa and MCF7 cell lines and investigated the possible role of the multicatalytic protease in the cleavage of AIMP1 to generate EMAP II. Our data show that RARS over‐expression impairs AIMP1 secretion by both HeLa and MCF7 cells. Moreover, proteasome inhibition impairs AIMP1 cleavage to produce EMAP II. These data indicate that RARS over‐expression associates with a reduced AIMP1 secretion and that the multicatalytic protease is involved in the generation of the mature cytokine, EMAP II. J. Cell. Physiol. 212: 293–297, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
TNF reduces LIF endocytosis despite increasing NFκB‐mediated gp130 expression
Authors: Yu Chuanhui , Kastin Abba J. , Pan Weihong 
Published: April 2007

AbstractTo examine how the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor α (TNF) modulates the response of cerebral microvessels to other cytokines, we used rat cerebral microvessel endothelial RBE4 cells to simulate the in vitro blood‐brain barrier (BBB). The gp130 receptor, which is shared by the interleukin (IL)‐6 family of cytokines, showed specific upregulation by TNF. TNF treatment (5 ng/ml for 30 min to 24 h) increased gp130 at both the levels of transcription and protein expression. The stability of gp130 protein was mediated by NFκB activity, as the inhibitors quinazoline and MG132 not only blocked the increase induced by 6 h of TNF treatment, but also reduced its basal level of expression. By contrast, the lysosomal inhibitor chloroquine and the extracellular regulated kinase inhibitor U0126 showed no effect. Despite the increase of gp130, TNF caused a significant reduction in the cell binding and endocytosis of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), another proinflammatory cytokine that binds to the gp130 co‐receptor and its unique gp190 receptor. This is consistent with our previous findings that TNF reduces gp190 expression and Stat3 activation. Thus, TNF stimulation results in decreased responsiveness of RBE4 cells to LIF, indicating complex regulatory interactions of cytokines at the BBB. J. Cell. Physiol. 213: 161–166, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Leadership training for managers: An Adlerian approach
Authors: Preiss Amy , Molina‐Ray Caroline 
Published: April 2007

AbstractAdlerian theory—a social model of human behavior—provides an effective framework to improve managerial practices and enhance organizational leadership. Developed by Alfred Adler (1870–1937), founder of the influential school of individual psychology, Adlerian theory promotes principles of social interest, democracy, and encouragement. These principles may guide leaders in building collaborative, productive workforces through participative management, coaching, and employee engagement. Experiential training exercises that integrate Adlerian principles can help managers expand their interpersonal competencies and increase leadership effectiveness.