bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bioelectrical impedance phase angle as a prognostic indicator in breast cancer
Authors: Gupta Digant , Lammersfeld Carolyn A , Vashi Pankaj G , King Jessica , Dahlk Sadie L , Grutsch James F , Lis Christopher G 
Published: August 2008

Abstract

Background
Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is an easy-to-use, non-invasive, and reproducible technique to evaluate changes in body composition and nutritional status. Phase angle, determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), detects changes in tissue electrical properties and has been hypothesized to be a marker of malnutrition. Since malnutrition can be found in patients with breast cancer, we investigated the prognostic role of phase angle in breast cancer.

Methods
We evaluated a case series of 259 histologically confirmed breast cancer patients treated at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Kaplan Meier method was used to calculate survival. Cox proportional hazard models were constructed to evaluate the prognostic effect of phase angle independent of stage at diagnosis and prior treatment history. Survival was calculated as the time interval between the date of first patient visit to the hospital and the date of death from any cause or date of last contact/last known to be alive.

Results
Of 259 patients, 81 were newly diagnosed at our hospital while 178 had received prior treatment elsewhere. 56 had stage I disease at diagnosis, 110 had stage II, 46 had stage III and 34 had stage IV. The median age at diagnosis was 49 years (range 25 – 74 years). The median phase angle score was 5.6 (range = 1.5 – 8.9). Patients with phase angle <= 5.6 had a median survival of 23.1 months (95% CI: 14.2 to 31.9; n = 129), while those > 5.6 had 49.9 months (95% CI: 35.6 to 77.8; n = 130); the difference being statistically significant (p = 0.031). Multivariate Cox modeling, after adjusting for stage at diagnosis and prior treatment history found that every one unit increase in phase angle score was associated with a relative risk of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.68 to 0.99, P = 0.041). Stage at diagnosis (p = 0.006) and prior treatment history (p = 0.001) were also predictive of survival independent of each other and phase angle.

Conclusion
This study demonstrates that BIA-derived phase angle is an independent prognostic indicator in patients with breast cancer. Nutritional interventions targeted at improving phase angle could potentially lead to an improved survival in patients with breast cancer.
Osteoid osteoma of a metacarpal bone: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Chronopoulos Efstathios , Xypnitos Fragiskos N , Nikolaou Vassilios S , Efstathopoulos Nicolas , Korres Dimitrios 
Published: August 2008

Abstract

Introduction
Osteoid osteoma is a benign tumor of the growing skeleton. It presents with pain, which is usually worse at night. The radiographic features consist of a central oval or round nidus surrounded first by a radiolucent area followed by another area of sclerotic bone. In the hand, osteoid osteoma is more commonly located in the phalanges and carpal bones. The metacarpals are the least common sites for osteoid osteoma.

Case presentation
We present a case of an osteoid osteoma of the left third metacarpal bone in a 36-year-old woman. The clinical and radiographic findings along with the surgical management of the lesion are presented. The pain disappeared immediately after the operation. At the 2-year follow-up, the patient was pain-free and there was no evidence of recurrence.

Conclusion
Physicians should be aware of the unusual presence and the atypical clinical presentation of this benign lesion in the metacarpal bones of the hand.
Allergic enterocolitis and protein-losing enteropathy as the presentations of manganese leak from an ingested disk battery: A case report
Authors: Altaf Muhammad A , Goday Praveen S , Telega Grzegorz 
Published: August 2008

AbstractIntroductionDisk battery ingestions can lead to serious complications including airway or digestive tract perforation, blood vessel erosions, mediastinitis, and stricture formation.Case presentationWe report a 20-month-old Caucasian child who developed eosinophilic enterocolitis and subsequent protein-losing enteropathy from manganese that leaked from a lithium disk battery. The disk battery was impacted in her esophagus for 10 days resulting in battery corrosion. We postulate that this patient's symptoms were due to a manganese leak from the 'retained' disk battery; this resulted in an allergic response in her gut and protein-losing enteropathy. Her symptoms improved gradually over the next 2 weeks with conservative management.ConclusionThis is the first case report to highlight the potential complication of allergic enterocolitis and protein-losing enteropathy secondary to ingested manganese. Clinicians should be vigilant about this rare complication in managing patients with disk battery ingestions.
Novel human neutrophil agonistic properties of arsenic trioxide: involvement of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and/orc-junNH2-terminal MAPK but not extracellular signal-regulated kinases-1/2
Authors: Binet François , Girard Denis 
Published: August 2008

AbstractArsenic trioxide (ATO) is known for treating acute promyelocytic leukemia and for inducing apoptosis and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in promyelocytes and cancer cells. We recently reported that ATO induces neutrophil apoptosis. The aim of this study was to establish whether or not ATO recruits MAPKs in neutrophils, as well as to further investigate its agonistic properties. We found that ATO activates p38 and that, unlike H2O2, this response was not inhibited by exogenous catalase. Also, we demonstrated that ATO-induced p38 activation occurs before H2O2 generation and without a calcium burst. We next established that ATO recruits c-jun NH2-terminal (JNK) but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (Erk-1/2). Using pharmacological inhibitors, we found that the proapoptotic activity of ATO occurs by a MAPK-independent mechanism. In contrast, the ability of ATO to enhance adhesion, migration, phagocytosis, release, and activity of gelatinase and degranulation of secretory, specific, and gelatinase, but not azurophilic granules, is dependent upon activation of p38 and/or JNK. This is the first study establishing that ATO possesses important agonistic properties in human neutrophils. Given the central role of neutrophils in various inflammatory disorders, we propose that ATO might have broader therapeutic implications in clinics, especially for regulating inflammation.
Thyroid Hormones Directly Alter Human Hair Follicle Functions: Anagen Prolongation and Stimulation of Both Hair Matrix Keratinocyte Proliferation and Hair Pigmentation
Authors: van Beek Nina , Bodó Enikő , Kromminga Arno , Gáspár Erzsébet , Meyer Katja , Zmijewski Michal A. , Slominski Andrzej , Wenzel Björn E. , Paus Ralf 
Published: August 2008

Context: Both insufficient and excess levels of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) can result in altered hair/skin structure and function (e.g. effluvium). However, it is still unclear whether T3 and T4 exert any direct effects on human hair follicles (HFs), and if so, how exactly human HFs respond to T3/T4 stimulation.Objective: Our objective was to asses the impact of T3/T4 on human HF in vitro.Methods: Human anagen HFs were isolated from skin obtained from females undergoing facelift surgery. HFs from euthyroid females between 40 and 69 yr (average, 56 yr) were cultured and treated with T3/T4.Results: Studying microdissected, organ-cultured normal human scalp HFs, we show here that T4 up-regulates the proliferation of hair matrix keratinocytes, whereas their apoptosis is down-regulated by T3 and T4. T4 also prolongs the duration of the hair growth phase (anagen) in vitro, possibly due to the down-regulation of TGF-β2, the key anagen-inhibitory growth factor. Because we show here that human HFs transcribe deiodinase genes (D2 and D3), they may be capable of converting T4 to T3. Intrafollicular immunoreactivity for the recognized thyroid hormone-responsive keratins cytokeratin (CK) 6 and CK14 is significantly modulated by T3 and T4 (CK6 is enhanced, CK14 down-regulated). Both T3 and T4 also significantly stimulate intrafollicular melanin synthesis.Conclusions: Thus, we present the first evidence that human HFs are direct targets of thyroid hormones and demonstrate that T3 and/or T4 modulate multiple hair biology parameters, ranging from HF cycling to pigmentation.
Relations between Endogenous Androgens and Estrogens in Postmenopausal Women with Suspected Ischemic Heart Disease
Authors: Braunstein Glenn D. , Johnson B. Delia , Stanczyk Frank Z. , Bittner Vera , Berga Sarah L. , Shaw Leslee , Hodgson T. Keta , Paul-Labrador Maura , Azziz Ricardo , Merz C. Noel Bairey 
Published: August 2008

Context: Because androgens are obligatory precursors of estrogens, it is reasonable to assume that their serum concentrations would exhibit positive correlations. If so, then epidemiologic studies that examine the association between androgens and pathological processes should adjust the results for the independent effect of estrogens.
Objective: The objective of the study was to examine the interrelationships among testosterone (T), androstenedione, estradiol (E2), estrone, and SHBG in postmenopausal women.
Design: This was a cross-sectional study of women participating in the National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute-sponsored Women’s Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation study.
Setting: The study was conducted at four academic medical centers.
Patients: A total of 284 postmenopausal women with chest pain symptoms or suspected myocardial ischemia.
Main Outcome Measures: Post hoc analysis of the relationships among sex steroid hormones with insulin resistance, body mass index (BMI), and presence or absence of coronary artery disease as determined by coronary angiography.
Results: BMI was significantly associated with insulin resistance, total E2, free E2, bioavailable E2, and free T. Highly significant correlations were found for total T, free T, and androstenedione with total E2, free E2, bioavailable E2, and estrone and persisted after adjustment for BMI and insulin resistance. A significant relationship was present between total and free T and the presence of coronary artery disease after adjustment for the effect of E2.
Conclusions: Serum levels of androgens and estrogens track closely in postmenopausal women referred for coronary angiography for suspected myocardial ischemia. Epidemiological studies that relate sex steroid hormones to physiological or pathological processes need to control for the independent effect of both estrogens and androgens.
Severe Intrauterine Growth Retardation and Atypical Diabetes Associated with a Translocation Breakpoint Disrupting Regulation of the Insulin-Like Growth Factor 2 Gene
Authors: Murphy R. , Baptista J. , Holly J. , Umpleby A. M. , Ellard S. , Harries L. W. , Crolla J. , Cundy T. , Hattersley A. T. 
Published: August 2008

Context: IGF-II is an imprinted gene (predominantly transcribed from the paternally inherited allele), which has an important role in fetal growth in mice. IGF2 gene expression is regulated by a complex system of enhancers and promoters that determine tissue-specific and development-specific transcription. In mice, enhancers of the IGF2 gene are located up to 260 kb telomeric to the gene. The role of IGF-II in humans is unclear.Objective: A woman of short adult stature (1.46 m, −3 sd score) born with severe intrauterine growth retardation (1.25 kg at term, −5.4 sd score) and atypical diabetes diagnosed at the age of 23 yr had a balanced chromosomal translocation t(1;11) (p36.22; p15.5). We hypothesized that her phenotype resulted from disruption of her paternally derived IGF2 gene because her daughter who inherited the identical translocation had normal birth weight.Design: Both chromosomal break points were identified using fluorescent in situ hybridization. Sequence, methylation, and expression of the IGF2 gene was examined. Hyperinsulinemic, euglycemic clamp with glucose tracers and magnetic resonance imaging of the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis were performed.Results: The 11p15.5 break point mapped 184 kb telomeric of the IGF2 gene. Microsatellite markers confirmed paternal origin of this chromosome. IGF2 gene sequence and methylation was normal. IGF2 gene expression was reduced in lymphoblasts. Clamp studies showed marked hepatic and total insulin resistance. Massive excess sc fat was seen on magnetic resonance imaging despite slim body mass index (21.1 kg/m2).Conclusions: A break point 184 kb upstream of the paternally derived IGF2 gene, separating it from some telomeric enhancers, resulted in reduced expression in some mesoderm-derived adult tissues causing intrauterine growth retardation, short stature, lactation failure, and insulin resistance with altered fat distribution.
Autoantibodies against Type I Interferons as an Additional Diagnostic Criterion for Autoimmune Polyendocrine Syndrome Type I
Authors: Meloni Antonella , Furcas Maria , Cetani Filomena , Marcocci Claudio , Falorni Alberto , Perniola Roberto , Pura Mikuláš , Bøe Wolff Anette S. , Husebye Eystein S. , Lilic Desa , Ryan Kelli R. , Gennery Andrew R. , Cant Andrew J. , Abinun Mario , Spickett Gavin P. , Arkwright Peter D. , Denning David , Costigan Colm , Dominguez Maria , McConnell Vivienne , Willcox Nick , Meager Anthony 
Published: August 2008

Context: In autoimmune polyendocrinopathy syndrome type I (APS-I), mutations in the autoimmune regulator gene (AIRE) impair thymic self-tolerance induction in developing T cells. The ensuing autoimmunity particularly targets ectodermal and endocrine tissues, but chronic candidiasis usually comes first. We recently reported apparently APS-I-specific high-titer neutralizing autoantibodies against type I interferons in 100% of Finnish and Norwegian patients, mainly with two prevalent AIRE truncations.
Objectives: Because variability in clinical features and age at onset in APS-I frequently results in unusual presentations, we prospectively checked the diagnostic potential of anti-interferon antibodies in additional APS-I panels with other truncations or rare missense mutations and in disease controls with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) but without either common AIRE mutation.
Design: The study was designed to detect autoantibodies against interferon-α2 and interferon-ω in antiviral neutralization assays.
Setting and Patients: Patients included 14 British/Irish, 15 Sardinian, and 10 Southern Italian AIRE-mutant patients with APS-I; also 19 other patients with CMC, including four families with cosegregating thyroid autoimmunity.
Outcome: The diagnostic value of anti-interferon autoantibodies was assessed.
Results: We found antibodies against interferon-α2 and/or interferon-ω in all 39 APS-I patients vs. zero of 48 unaffected relatives and zero of 19 British/Irish CMC patients. Especially against interferon-ω, titers were nearly always high, regardless of the exact APS-I phenotype/duration or AIRE genotype, including 12 different AIRE length variants or 10 point substitutions overall (n = 174 total). Strikingly, in one family with few typical APS-I features, these antibodies cosegregated over three generations with autoimmune hypothyroidism plus a dominant-negative G228W AIRE substitution.
Conclusions: Otherwise restricted to patients with thymoma and/or myasthenia gravis, these precocious persistent antibodies show 98% or higher sensitivity and APS-I specificity and are thus a simpler diagnostic option than detecting AIRE mutations.
Estradiol Supplementation in Postmenopausal Women Attenuates Suppression of Pulsatile Growth Hormone Secretion by Recombinant Human Insulin-like Growth Factor Type I
Authors: Veldhuis Johannes D. , Keenan Daniel M. , Bailey Joy N. , Adeniji Adenborduin , Miles John M. , Paulo Remberto , Cosma Mihaela , Soares-Welch Cacia 
Published: August 2008

Background: Why pulsatile GH secretion declines in estrogen-deficient postmenopausal individuals remains unknown. One possibility is that estrogen not only enhances stimulation by secretagogues but also attenuates negative feedback by systemic IGF-I.
Site: The study took place at an academic medical center.
Subjects: Subjects were healthy postmenopausal women (n = 25).
Methods: The study included randomized assignment to estradiol (n = 13) or placebo (n = 12) administration for 16 d and randomly ordered administration of 0, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mg/m2 recombinant human IGF-I sc on separate days fasting.
Analysis: Deconvolution analysis of pulsatile and basal GH secretion and approximate entropy (pattern-regularity) analysis were done to quantify feedback effects of IGF-I.
Outcomes: Recombinant human IGF-I injections increased mean and peak serum IGF-I concentrations dose dependently (P &lt; 0.001) and suppressed mean GH concentrations (P &lt; 0.001), pulsatile GH secretion (P = 0.001), and approximate entropy (P &lt; 0.001). Decreased GH secretion was due to reduced secretory-burst mass (P = 0.005) and frequency (P &lt; 0.001) but not basal GH release (P = 0.52). Estradiol supplementation lowered endogenous, but did not alter infused, IGF-I concentrations while elevating mean GH concentrations (P = 0.012) and stimulating pulsatile (P = 0.008) and basal (P &lt; 0.001) GH secretion. Estrogen attenuated IGF-I’s inhibition of pulsatile GH secretion (P = 0.042) but was unable to restore physiological GH pulse frequency or normalize approximate entropy.
Conclusion: Short-term estrogen replacement in postmenopausal women selectively mutes IGF-I-mediated feedback on pulsatile GH secretion. Disinhibition of negative feedback thus confers a novel mechanism by which estrogen may obviate hyposomatotropism.
Fetuin-A and Its Relation to Metabolic Syndrome and Fatty Liver Disease in Obese Children Before and After Weight Loss
Authors: Reinehr Thomas , Roth Christian L. 
Published: August 2008

Context: There are very limited data available concerning the relationships between fetuin-A, weight status, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and features of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in obese humans, and especially in children.Objective: Our objective was to study the longitudinal relationships between fetuin-A, NAFLD, and MetS in obese children.Design: This was a 1-yr longitudinal follow-up study.Setting: This study was performed in primary care.Patients: A total of 36 obese and 14 lean children was included in the study.Intervention: An outpatient 1-yr intervention program based on exercise, behavior, and nutrition therapy was performed.Main Outcome Measures: Changes of weight status (sd score-body mass index), waist circumference, fetuin-A, blood pressure, lipids, transaminases, insulin resistance index homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), and prevalence of NAFLD (defined by liver ultrasound) were calculated.Results: The 12 obese children with NAFLD had significantly higher fetuin-A levels (0.35 ± 0.07 g/liter) than the 24 obese children without NAFLD (0.29 ± 0.06 g/liter) and the 14 normal weight children (0.29 ± 0.05 g/liter). Fetuin-A levels were independent of age, pubertal stage, and gender. Fetuin-A correlated significantly to systolic (r = 0.50) and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.41), insulin resistance index HOMA (r = 0.28), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (r = −0.31). Changes of fetuin-A correlated significantly to changes of insulin resistance index HOMA (r = 0.34), systolic (r = 0.31) and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.37), and waist circumferences (r = 0.36). Substantial weight loss in 21 children led to a significant decrease of fetuin-A and the prevalence of NAFLD in contrast to the 15 children without substantial weight loss.Conclusions: Fetuin-A levels were higher in children with NAFLD, and were related to insulin resistance and to features of the MetS in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Therefore, fetuin-A might be a new promising link between obesity and its comorbidities.
Silica-supported Phosphomolybdic Acid-catalyzed Efficient Synthesis of 1,8-Dioxooctahydroxanthene and Tetrahydrochromene Derivatives
Authors: Das Biswanath , Krishnaiah Martha , Laxminarayana Keetha , Damodar Kongara , Kumar Duddukuri Nandan 
Published: August 2008

Abstract
Silica-supported phosphomolybdic acid was found to be an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of 1,8-dioxooctahydroxanthenes from aldehydes and dimedone and of tetrahydrochromenes from the same reaction mixture along with malononitrile. The products were formed in excellent yields. The catalyst can be recovered and reused.
Homocysteine enhances LDL fatty acid peroxidation, promoting microalbuminuria in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Kassab Asma , Ajmi Thouraya , Issaoui Manel , Chaeib Larbi , Miled Abdelhedi , Hammami Mohamed 
Published: August 2008

Background We aimed to establish the relationship between glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), hypertension and microalbuminuria onset in type 2 diabetes. We also intended to ascertain the metabolic action of homocysteine on LDL fatty acids and on renal function. Methods The study was carried out on 200 patients with type 2 diabetes and 200 healthy subjects. HbA1c, apolipoprotein B (apo B) and microalbuminuria were measured using immunoturbidimetric methods. Cholesterol, peroxide, urea and uric acid were assayed using colorimetric methods. Creatinine clearance was calculated using the Cockroft-Gault equation. Homocysteine was measured by immunological fluorescence polarization. LDL fatty acids were quantified by gas chromatography. Results Creatinine and microalbuminuria significantly increased in type 2 diabetes when compared with controls. Microalbuminuria was significantly correlated with HbA1c and with the presence of high blood pressure. Homocysteinaemia significantly correlated with creatinine clearance in diabetes. Linoleic acid (C18:2ω6) did not differ between groups. C18:2ω6/C18:3ω3 ratio was three times higher in diabetics than in controls. Total saturated fatty acids, homocysteine, H2O2 and LDL-thiobarbituric reactive substances significantly increased in microalbuminuric when compared with normoalbuminuric diabetes. Total polyunsaturated fatty acids, arachidonic acid (C20:4ω6), LDL-cholesterol, apo B and creatinine clearance significantly decreased in microalbuminuric when compared with normoalbuminuric diabetes. Conclusion Microalbuminuria onset is associated with renal protein oxidation that is preceded by LDL fatty acid oxidation. The latter is initiated by H2O2 produced from an auto-oxidation of homocysteine and increased metabolism of arachidonic acid towards its pro-inflammatory eicosanoids. An oxidative stress state is the common ground of diffused vasculopathy.
Error models for immunoassays
Authors: Sadler William A 
Published: August 2008

Background For nearly 20 years, we and others have used a three-parameter power function as a direct estimation error model for immunoassays. The main application is imprecision profile plots (after translating from variance to coefficient of variation) but other uses include weighting functions for regression analysis and variance stabilizing transformations. Although generally successful, the intrinsic monotonicity of the function means that it fails to describe small but distinct increases in variance that occasionally occur near the assay detection limit. Methods A systematic comparison of five variance functions was undertaken, using randomly drawn samples from a large body of real immunoassay data. Results Variance function accuracy (hence imprecision profile accuracy) can be markedly improved, particularly near the assay detection limit, by employing a pair of complementary three-parameter power functions, together with a constrained four-parameter function, which provides for a variance turning point. Conclusions A set of rules, based on an objective goodness-of-fit statistic, can be used to automate presentation of the most appropriate function for any particular data-set. Flexibility is easily incorporated into the selection rules and is actually highly desirable to encourage ongoing evaluation with a wider variety of data. A Win32 computer program that performs the variance function estimation and plotting is freely available.