bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neuropsychological development of children born to patients with antiphospholipid syndrome
Authors: Nacinovich R. , Galli J. , Bomba M. , Filippini E. , Parrinello G. , Nuzzo M. , Lojacono A. , Motta M. , Tincani A. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo verify the occurrence of learning disabilities (LDs) in the offspring of women with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) as a consequence of fetal exposure to maternal antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), and to evaluate the impact of maternal chronic disease on children's development.MethodsWe studied 17 children of mothers with primary APS using a standardized intelligence test (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Revised), a specific LD battery of tests (Sartori, MT groups' test for reading ability, MT groups' test for math skills), and a questionnaire on behavioral and social characteristics (Child Behavior Checklist [CBCL]). Mothers were interviewed about their pregnancy and motherhood experience.ResultsAll children had a normal intelligence level (full‐scale intelligence quotient >85); 15 pregnancies occurred in mothers with IgG aPL. LDs were diagnosed in 4 children (26.7%), 2 boys and 2 girls. One of these children was born premature, with a brother also affected. Four children (26.7%) showed a higher risk to present problems on the CBCL total competence scale and 2 children (13.3%) on the CBCL total behavior scale. Two children were described as hyperactive (1 had an LD). All families had a good socioeconomic status and educational level.ConclusionBesides prematurity and genetic and environmental factors, the genesis of LDs may also include in utero exposure to aPL, in agreement with described experimental models and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Socioeconomic status does not seem to influence the occurrence of LDs. A long‐term multidisciplinary followup may improve quality of life in patients with primary APS and their children.
Alternative scoring of the cutaneous assessment tool in juvenile dermatomyositis: Results using abbreviated formats
Authors: Huber Adam M. , Lachenbruch Peter A. , Dugan Elizabeth M. , Miller Frederick W. , Rider Lisa G. ,   For the Juvenile Dermatomyositis Disease Activity Collaborative Study Group
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjectiveThe Cutaneous Assessment Tool (CAT) is a comprehensive, semiquantitative tool for the assessment of skin disease in juvenile dermatomyositis (DM). The goal of this study was to determine whether alternative scoring methods would shorten the CAT without compromising its measurement characteristics.MethodsA total of 113 children with juvenile DM were assessed at baseline; 94 were assessed again 7–9 months later. Interrater reliability, internal consistency, construct validity, and responsiveness were obtained using the original scoring method and 2 alternative methods: the maximum and binary scoring methods.ResultsSpearman's correlations of the maximum and binary methods with the original were both 0.98 (P < 0.0001) for the CAT activity score, and 0.96 and 0.98, respectively (P < 0.0001), for the CAT damage score. Values obtained for interrater reliability, internal consistency, construct validity, and responsiveness were similar for all 3 scoring methods. Although there was a trend toward the maximum method having higher interrater reliability and the binary method having higher responsiveness, the confidence intervals were overlapping and no statistically significant differences were observed. Correlation coefficients for the 3 scoring methods with other measures of myositis disease activity and damage were very similar.ConclusionThe maximum and binary methods of scoring the CAT have measurement characteristics similar to the original method. Adoption of one of these abbreviated scoring methods should increase its acceptability to clinicians and researchers.
Development of aortic aneurysm/dilatation during the followup of patients with giant cell arteritis: A cross‐sectional screening of fifty‐four prospectively followed patients
Authors: García‐Martínez Ana , Hernández‐Rodríguez José , Arguis Pedro , Paredes Pilar , Segarra Marta , Lozano Ester , Nicolau Carlos , Ramírez José , Lomeña Francesc , Josa Miguel , Pons Francesca , Cid Maria C. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjectiveGiant cell arteritis (GCA) may involve the aorta. Retrospective studies have demonstrated a higher prevalence of aortic aneurysm among patients with GCA compared with the general population. We investigated the prevalence of aortic aneurysm in a cohort of patients with biopsy‐proven GCA using a defined protocol and assessed whether persisting low‐grade disease activity is associated with higher risk of developing aortic aneurysm.MethodsFifty‐four patients with GCA (14 men and 40 women) were cross‐sectionally evaluated after a median followup of 5.4 years (range 4.0–10.5 years). The screening protocol included a chest radiograph, abdominal ultrasonography scan, and computed tomography scan when aortic aneurysm was suspected or changes with respect to the baseline chest radiograph were observed. Clinical and laboratory data, corticosteroid requirements, and relapses were prospectively recorded.ResultsTwelve patients (22.2%) had significant aortic structural damage (aneurysm/dilatation), 5 of them candidates for surgical repair. Aortic aneurysm/dilatation was more frequent among men (50%) than women (12.5%; relative risk 3.5, 95% confidence interval 1.53–8.01, P = 0.007). At the time of screening, patients with aneurysm/dilatation had lower serum acute‐phase reactants, lower relapse rate, and needed shorter periods to withdraw prednisone than patients without aortic structural damage.ConclusionThere is a substantial risk of developing aortic aneurysm/dilatation among patients with GCA. Our data do not support that aneurysm formation mainly results from persistent detectable disease activity. Additional factors including characteristics of the initial injury or the target tissue may also determine susceptibility to aortic aneurysm/dilatation.
Diagnostic utility of ultrasonography versus nerve conduction studies in mild carpal tunnel syndrome
Authors: Mondelli Mauro , Filippou Georgios , Gallo Adriana , Frediani Bruno 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo prospectively compare high‐resolution ultrasonography (US) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) in clinically diagnosed mild carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).MethodsEighty‐five patients (70 women and 15 men, mean age 46.8 years) reported symptoms compatible with classic/probable CTS. The protocol included NCV of the median and ulnar nerves (distal motor latency [DML], sensory conduction velocity [SCV] from the third [M3 SCV] and fourth fingers [M4 SCV] to the wrist for the median nerve); electrophysiologic severity scale; self‐administered Levine/Boston questionnaire (BQ); and cross‐sectional area (CSA) measurement of the nerve at the tunnel inlet (CSA‐I), at the middle (CSA‐M), and at the outlet (CSA‐O). Relationship between age, body mass index, duration of symptoms, CSAs, NCV, electrophysiologic severity scale, and BQ scores was calculated. Concordance between CSAs and NCV, sensitivity of NCV and US was also evaluated.ResultsThe mean values of CSA‐I, CSA‐M, and CSA‐O were 10.3, 9.8, and 8.7 mm2, respectively. Relationships were found between CSA‐I and M3 SCV (r = −0.45), M4 SCV (r = −0.56), and median nerve DML (r = 0.29). Anomalous CSA‐I, CSA‐M, and CSA‐O were found in 48, 25, and 26 patients, respectively; 55 (64.7%) had ≥1 abnormal CSA. NCV abnormalities were found in 67%. The sensitivity increased to 76.5% if US and NCV were considered together. The highest concordance to detect absence/presence of abnormalities was between CSA‐I and NCV (77.6%; κ = 0.52).ConclusionIn mild cases of CTS, US did not detect more anomalies than NCV and vice versa, and no anomalies were detected with either diagnostic instrument in 23.5% of mild cases.
Regulation of α‐Chymotrypsin Catalysis by Ferric Porphyrins and Cyclodextrins
Authors: Kano Koji , Ishida Yoshiyuki 
Published: February 2008

AbstractPositively charged α‐chymotrypsin (ChT) formed a 1:1 complex with negatively charged 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(4‐sulfonatophenyl)porphyrinato iron(III) (FeTPPS) in phosphate buffer at pH 7.4 through electrostatic interaction. In spite of the large binding constant (K=4.8×105 M−1), FeTPPS could not completely inhibit the catalysis of ChT in the hydrolysis of the model substrate, N‐succinyl‐L‐phenylalanine p‐nitroanilide (SPNA). The degree of inhibition (60 %) was saturated at 1.6 equivalents of FeTPPS, which indicates that covering of the active site of ChT by FeTPPS was insufficient. The enzymatic activity lowered by FeTPPS was entirely recovered for the freshly prepared sample when the porphyrin on the protein surface was detached by per‐O‐methylated β‐cyclodextrin (TMe‐β‐CD), which formed a stable 1:2 inclusion complex with FeTPPS (K1=1.26×106 M−1, K2=6.3×104 M−1). FeTPPS gradually induced irreversible denaturation of ChT, and the denatured ChT further lost its catalytic ability. No repairing effect of TMe‐β‐CD was observed with irreversibly denatured ChT. A new reversible inhibitor, 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis[4‐(3,5‐dicarboxyphenylmethoxy)phenyl]porphyrinato iron(III) (FeP8M), was then designed, and its inhibitory behavior was examined. FeP8M formed very stable 1:1 and 1:2 FeP8M/ChT complexes with ChT, the K1 and K2 values being 2.0×108 and 1.0×106 M−1, respectively. FeP8M effectively inhibited the ChT‐catalyzed hydrolysis of SPNA (maximum degree of inhibition=85 %), and the activity of ChT was recovered by per‐O‐methylated γ‐cyclodextrin. No irreversible denaturation of ChT occurred upon binding with FeP8M. The kinetic data support the observation that, for nonincubated samples, both inhibitors did not cause significant conformational change in ChT and inhibited the ChT activity by covering the active site of the enzyme.
Aurora kinase B is a predictive factor for the aggressive recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after curative hepatectomy
Authors: Tanaka S , Arii S , Yasen M , Mogushi K , Su N T , Zhao C , Imoto I , Eishi Y , Inazawa J , Miki Y , Tanaka H 
Published: February 2008

Abstract

Background
Patterns of cancer recurrence hold the key to prognosis after curative resection. This retrospective study aimed to identify a predictor and therapeutic candidate for aggressive recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods
Primary HCC tissues from 107 patients who had curative resection were analysed. Genome-wide gene expression profiles were investigated using a microarray technique, and clustering analysis was carried out based on the first diagnosis of recurrence according to the Milan criteria. Immunohistochemical expression and array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) were also assessed.

Results
Microarray analysis revealed overexpression of Aurora kinase B, a chromosome passenger protein kinase, as the most significant predictor of the aggressive recurrence of HCC. Aurora kinase B protein expression was significantly associated with aggressive recurrence (P &lt; 0·001) and prognosis (P &lt; 0·001). Multivariable analysis identified Aurora kinase B as the only independent predictor of aggressive recurrence of HCC (P = 0·031). Array-CGH analysis showed that genomic instability was closely related to Aurora kinase B expression (P = 0·011).

Conclusion
Aurora kinase B is an effective predictor of aggressive HCC recurrence, in relation to the genomic instability. It might be worth considering as a molecular target for the adjuvant therapy of HCC.
A Shuttling Molecular Machine with Reversible Brake Function
Authors: Hirose Keiji , Shiba Yoshinobu , Ishibashi Kazuaki , Doi Yasuko , Tobe Yoshito 
Published: March 2008

AbstractDesign, synthesis, and demonstration of a prototype of a shuttling molecular machine with a reversible brake function are reported. It is a photochemically and thermally reactive rotaxane composed of a dianthrylethane‐based macrocycle as the ring component and a dumbbell shaped molecular unit with two, secondary ammonium stations separated by a phenylene spacer as the axle component. The rate of shuttling motion was shown to be reduced to less than 1 % (from 340 to <2.5 s−1) by reducing the size of the ring component from 30‐crown‐8 to 24‐crown‐8 macrocycles upon photoirradiation. The ring component was turned back to 30‐crown‐8 by thermal ring opening, thus establishing a reversible brake function that works in response to photochemical and thermal stimuli.
Detection of brain metastases from small cell lung cancer
Authors: Seute Tatjana , Leffers Pieter , ten Velde Guul P.M. , Twijnstra Albert 
Published: February 2008

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe aims of this study were to show 1) the effect of changing from computed tomography (CT) to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on the prevalence of detected brain metastases (BM) in patients with newly diagnosed small cell lung cancer (SCLC); 2) the difference in survival between patients with single and multiple BM; and 3) the effect of the change in patient labeling on eligibility for prophylactic brain irradiation.METHODSFrom 1980 to 2004, 481 consecutive patients with SCLC were enrolled. Brain imaging was routinely performed after diagnosis of SCLC. At the start of 1991, MRI replaced CT in almost all patients. All patients were regularly examined by a neurologist.RESULTSThe prevalence of detected BM was 10% in the CT era and 24% in the MRI era. In the CT era, all detected BM were symptomatic, whereas in the MRI era, 11% were asymptomatic. In both periods, patients labeled as single BM survived longer than those labeled as multiple BM. For patients labeled as single BM or multiple BM, survival was longer in the MRI era than in the CT era. The proportion of patients who were eligible for prophylactic cranial irradiation was lower in the MRI era.CONCLUSIONSThe estimated prevalence of BM increases when MRI is used instead of CT. Patients with a detected single BM survive longer than patients with multiple BM. The apparently increased survival in the MRI era can be attributed to the “Will Rogers phenomenon”. The use of MRI makes fewer patients eligible for prophylactic cranial irradiation. Cancer 2008. ©2008 American Cancer Society.
Frequent overexpression of Aurora Kinase A in upper gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas correlates with potent antiapoptotic functions
Authors: Dar Altaf A. , Zaika Alexander , Piazuelo Maria B. , Correa Pelayo , Koyama Tatsuki , Belkhiri Abbes , Washington Kay , Castells Antoni , Pera Manuel , El‐Rifai Wael 
Published: February 2008

AbstractBACKGROUNDUpper gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas are a common cause of cancer‐related deaths. In this study, the authors investigated the prevalence and biological significance of Aurora Kinase A (AURKA) overexpression in upper gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas.METHODSQuantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and immunohistochemical staining on tumor tissue microarrays (TMA) were used to study the expression of AURKA in upper gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas. To investigate the biological and signaling impact of AURKA, the authors used multiple in vitro assays that included 3‐(4, 5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2, 5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–mediated nick‐end labeling), cytochrome C release, flow cytometry, luciferase reporter, and Western blot analysis.RESULTSFrequent overexpression of AURKA transcript in upper gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas was detected compared with normal samples (47%; P = .001). The immunohistochemical analysis of 130 tumors demonstrated moderate‐to‐strong immunostaining of AURKA in >50% of upper gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas. By using camptothecin as a drug‐induced apoptosis in vitro model, the authors demonstrated that the expression of AURKA provided protection against apoptosis to gastrointestinal cancer cells (AGS and RKO) (P = .006) and RIE‐1 primary intestinal epithelial cells (P = .001). The AURKA overexpression mediated an increase in phosphorylation of AKTSer473 with an increase in HDM2 level. The shRNA‐knockdown of AKT in AURKA‐overexpressing cells reversed this effect and showed a significant increase in the p53 protein level, indicating a possible nexus of AURKA/AKT/p53. Indeed, overexpression of AURKA led to a remarkable reduction in the transcription activity of p53, with subsequent reductions in transcript and protein levels of its downstream proapoptotic transcription targets (p21, BAX, NOXA, and PUMA).CONCLUSIONSStudy results indicated that AURKA provides potent antiapoptotic properties to gastrointestinal cells by regulating levels of p53 through the AKT/HDM2 axis. Cancer 2008. ©2008 American Cancer Society.
Lithium and Ytterbium Aminotroponate Complexes
Authors: Meyer Nils , Rüttinger Roman , Roesky Peter W. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractDeprotonation of iPrATH [iPrAT = 2‐(isopropylamino)troponate] with an excess of nBuLi resulted in the hexameric lithium 2‐(isopropylamino)troponate complex [(iPrAT)Li]6. In the solid state the hexameric core can be understood as two six‐membered Li3O3 rings, which are tied together by the aminotroponate moieties. Further reaction of [(iPrAT)Li]6 with YbCl3 in a 1:2 stoichiometric ratio gave the dimeric complex [(iPrAT)3Li2Cl2Yb]2, in which the two [(iPrAT)3Yb] subunits are bridged by four LiCl units. In the center of this unusual compound an Li–Cl–Li–Cl square is located. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
A novel switching algorithm to balance conduction losses in power semiconductor devices of full‐bridge inverters
Authors: Aghdam M. G. Hosseini , Fathi S. H. , Gharehpetian G. B. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe power loss in switching devices plays an important role in design of static converters. The power dissipated during on state of semiconductor switches (conduction loss) is a substantial portion of the total switch losses, especially in low frequency converters. Conduction loss may differ in switches of the converter due to the difference in duration and amount of currents flowing through them. This is, in turn, the result of dissimilar switching signals applied to the switches. To optimize the converter design, it is important to equalize the conduction losses of all main switches. In this paper it is shown that with conventional switching patterns in a full‐bridge inverter (H‐bridge cell), the switches carry different current values, therefore they bear different power losses and get unequal temperature rises. To balance conduction losses, a novel switching method is proposed and its effectiveness and validity is examined by computer simulation results and experimental works. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Day‐ahead price forecasting of electricity markets by a hybrid intelligent system
Authors: Amjady Nima , Hemmati Meisam 
Published: February 2008

AbstractPrice forecasting is so valuable for both producers and consumers in the new competitive electric power markets. In this paper, a new hybrid intelligent system (HIS) is proposed for day‐ahead prediction of market clearing price (MCP) in the pool‐based markets. MCP has a volatile and time‐dependent behavior owning many outliers. Prediction of such a complex signal is a challenging task requiring a qualified forecast tool, which not only fits well to the training data, but also can predict the stochastic behavior of the unseen part of the signal. The proposed hybrid system is composed of a real‐coded genetic algorithm (RCGA), cross‐validation, repetitive training, and archiving techniques combined in the framework of a neural network (NN). The proposed RCGA with enhanced stochastic search capability is used for training of the NN while the cross‐validation, repetitive training and archiving techniques enhances generalization capability of it. The proposed forecast strategy is examined on the different periods of the Spanish electricity market. It is shown that the method can provide more accurate results than the other price forecasting techniques such as ARIMA time series, wavelet‐ARIMA, fuzzy neural network (FNN), and generalized auto‐regressive conditional heteroskedastic (GARCH) methods. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High‐gain control without identification: a survey
Authors: Ilchmann Achim , Ryan Eugene P. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThree related but distinct scenarios for tracking control of uncertain systems are reviewed: asymptotic tracking, approximate tracking with prescribed asymptotic error bound, tracking with prescribed transient behaviour. A variety of system classes are considered, ranging from finite‐dimensional linear minimum‐phase systems to nonlinear, infinite‐dimensional systems described by functional differential equations. These classes are determined only by structural assumptions, such as stable zero dynamics and known relative degree. The objective is a single (and simple) control structure which is effective for every member of the underlying system class: no attempt is made to identify the particular system being controlled. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Evidence for alternative lengthening of telomeres in liposarcomas in the absence of ALT‐associated PML bodies
Authors: Jeyapalan Jennie N. , Mendez‐Bermudez Aaron , Zaffaroni Nadia , Dubrova Yuri E. , Royle Nicola J. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractImmortalized and cancer cells maintain their telomeres by activation of a telomere maintenance mechanism (TMM). In ∼85% of cancers telomerase is activated (TA) but in some tumours, in particular sarcomas, an alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway is used. Liposarcomas are the most common soft‐tissue sarcoma in adults and they activate ALT or telomerase with equal frequency, however no TMM has been identified in ∼50% of liposarcomas. In our study, we have shown that instability at the minisatellite MS32, usually associated with ALT activation, aids the identification of liposarcomas that have recombination‐like activity at telomeres in absence of ALT associated PML‐bodies (APBs). Furthermore, using single molecule telomere analysis, we have detected complex telomere mutations directly in ALT positive liposarcomas and interestingly in some liposarcomas with an unknown TMM but high MS32 instability. We have shown by sequence analysis that some of these complex telomere mutations must arise by an inter‐molecular recombination‐like process rather than by deletion caused by t‐loop excision or by unequal telomere‐sister‐chromatid‐exchange (T‐SCE), which is known to be elevated in ALT cell lines. Preliminary evidence also suggests that inter‐molecular recombination events may be processed differently in liposarcomas with APBs compared to those without. In conclusion, we have shown for the first time, that some telomerase negative liposarcomas without APBs have other features associated with ALT, indicating that the incidence of ALT in these tumours has previously been under‐estimated. This has major implications for the use of cancer treatments targeted at TMMs. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A bounds analysis of school completion rates in Australia
Authors: Gørgens Tue , Ryan Chris 
Published: February 2008

AbstractOfficial estimates of school completion rates in Australia increased in the 1980s, peaked in 1992, and fell immediately thereafter before stabilizing. The official estimates were a specific focus of Australian education policy. The decline caused concern at the time. We use data from the Australian Youth Survey (AYS) to gain insight into the behavior of the official estimates. The AYS suffers from nonrepresentativeness, attrition and nonresponse, which means that parameters of interest are not identified. Our bounds analysis is suggestive that school completion was overstated in the official estimates at their peak. Our analysis points to repetition as a key factor in inflating the official estimates. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.