bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Barriers to asthma self‐management in adolescents: Relationships to psychosocial factors
Authors: Rhee Hyekyun , Belyea Michael J. , Ciurzynski Susan , Brasch Judith 
Published: January 2009

AbstractAsthma morbidity in adolescents often results from inadequate asthma self‐management. This study was to explore barriers to self‐management perceived by adolescents and to examine the associations between barriers and psychosocial factors including knowledge, attitude and self‐efficacy. This cross‐sectional study included a total of 126 adolescents with asthma (13–20 years) representing diverse race/ethnicity groups with a wide range of socioeconomic status. Self‐reported data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, factor analysis and hierarchical regression. The most frequently endorsed barrier (63%) was adolescents' unwillingness to give up “the things the doctors say I have to give up,” followed by difficulty in remembering to take care of their asthma (53%), and then “trying to forget” that they have asthma (50%). Psychosocial factors accounted for 32% of the variance in total barrier perceptions. Factor analysis revealed barriers in four domains including negativity toward providers and the medication regimen, cognitive difficulty, peer/family influence and denial. Self‐efficacy was found to be the most influential factor that showed strong negative associations with all four barrier subscales independent of the levels of asthma control and sociodemographic characteristics. Poor attitudes toward asthma were also associated with barriers of cognitive difficulty and social influence after adjusting for other factors. Males consistently reported higher total barriers and barriers of negativity, social influence and denial. The gender differences were not explained by psychosocial and sociodemographic factors. This study suggests that psychosocial factors are strong predictors of barriers to self‐management in adolescents. Particularly, promoting self‐efficacy may be beneficial in addressing the barriers. Special attention is needed to address the higher propensity for barriers in males. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2009; 44:183–191. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quantification of phase I/II metabolizing enzyme gene expression and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon–DNA adduct levels in human prostate
Authors: John Kaarthik , Ragavan Narasimhan , Pratt M. Margaret , Singh Paras B. , Al‐Buheissi Salah , Matanhelia Shyam S. , Phillips David H. , Poirier Miriam C. , Martin Francis L. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBACKGROUNDStudies of migrant populations suggest that dietary and/or environmental factors play a crucial role in the etiology of prostatic adenocarcinoma (CaP). The human prostate consists of the peripheral zone (PZ), transition zone (TZ), and central zone (CZ); CaP occurs most often in the PZ.METHODSTo investigate the notion that an underlying differential expression of phase I/II genes, and/or the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)–DNA adducts might explain the elevated PZ susceptibility, we examined prostate tissues (matched tissue sets consisting of PZ and TZ) from men undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy for CaP (n = 26) or cystoprostatectomy (n = 1). Quantitative gene expression analysis was employed for cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoformsCYP1A1,CYP1B1, andCYP1A2, as well asN‐acetyltransferase 1 and 2 (NAT1andNAT2) and catechol‐O‐methyl transferase (COMT).RESULTSCYP1B1,NAT1, andCOMTwere expressed in all tissue sets; levels ofCYP1B1andNAT1were consistently higher in the PZ compared to TZ. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of CYP1B1 (nuclear‐associated and primarily in basal epithelial cells) and NAT1. Normal tissue from 23 of these aforementioned 27 matched tissue sets was analyzed for PAH–DNA adduct levels using antiserum elicited against DNA modified withr,7t8‐dihydroxy‐t‐9,10‐oxy‐7,8,9,10‐tetrahydro‐benzo[a]pyrene (BPDE). PAH–DNA adduct levels were highest in glandular epithelial cells, but a comparison of PZ and TZ showed no significant differences.CONCLUSIONAlthough expression of activating and/or detoxifying enzymes may be higher in the PZ, PAH–DNA adduct levels appear to be similar in both zones. Therefore, factors other than PAH–DNA adducts may be responsible for promotion of tumor formation in the human prostate. Prostate 69:505–519, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dietary fatty acid quality affects AR and PPARγ levels and prostate growth
Authors: Escobar Esdras L.O. , Gomes‐Marcondes Maria Cristina C. , Carvalho Hernandes F. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBACKGROUNDFatty acids are among the most important nutritional factors associated with the ethiopathogenesis of prostate cancer, therefore the main objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of quality of fatty acid on the rat ventral prostate growth, tissue organization, and expression of androgen receptor (AR) and peroxisome proliferation activator receptor γ (PPARγ).METHODSWistar rats were distributed into five groups, which were fed isocaloric normolipidic diets containing soybean oil (7% Control), linseed (7% or 3.5% linseed plus 3.5% soybean oil) and rendered pork fat (7% or 3.5% lard plus 3.5% soybean oil) for 10 weeks after weaning.RESULTSAt the end of treatment, the experiments demonstrated that lard and linseed oil caused opposite effects on prostatic growth. While the lard promoted an increase in prostatic weight associated to epithelial hyperplasia (confirmed by stereology); the linseed resulted in a significantly lighter organ. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting demonstrated increased expression of AR and PPARγ in groups fed with lard diet, while linseed oil promoted a decrease.CONCLUSIONSProstatic growth is influenced by dietary fatty acids with concurrent variation in the expression of AR and PPARγ. PPARγ might represent the link between diet and prostate growth and AR expression and function. Since the levels of testosterone were altered it is also possible that prostatic changes are secondary to systemic effects of the diet. Prostate 69:548–558, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Androgen ablation augments prostate cancer vaccine immunogenicity only when applied after immunization
Authors: Koh Yi T. , Gray Andrew , Higgins Sean A. , Hubby Bolyn , Kast W. Martin 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBACKGROUNDAndrogen ablation (AA) causes apoptosis of normal and neoplastic prostate cells. It is a standard treatment for advanced prostate cancer. Androgen ablation‐mediated immunological effects include bone marrow hyperplasia, thymic regeneration, T and B cell lymphopoeisis and restoration of age‐related peripheral T cell dysfunction. Androgens also regulate the transcription of several cytokines. Dendritic cells (DC) are the most potent antigen presenting cells that can activate antigen‐specific naïve T cells. Despite myriad clinical trials involving DC‐based prostate cancer immunotherapies, the effects of AA on DC function remain largely uncharacterized. Therefore, we investigated the effects of AA on DC and whether it could improve the efficacy of prostate cancer immunotherapy.METHODSCytokine expression changes due to AA were quantified by multiplex ELISA. Flow cytometry was used to assess AA‐mediated effects on DC maturation and expression of costimulatory markers. Mixed leukocyte reactions and cell‐mediated lysis assays elucidated the role of androgens in DC function. The effect of AA on the efficacy of vaccination against a prostate tumor‐associated antigen was tested using Elispot assays.RESULTSAndrogen ablation increased dendritic cell maturation and costimulatory marker expression, but had no effect on DC costimulatory function. However, DC isolated from castrated mice increased the expression of key cytokines by antigen‐experienced T cells while decreasing their expression in naïve cells. Finally, androgen ablation improved immune responses to vaccination only when applied after immunization.CONCLUSIONAndrogen ablation causes differential effects of DC on primary and secondary T cell responses, thus augmenting vaccine immunogenicity only when applied after immunization. Prostate 69:571–584, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An updating meta‐analysis of the GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 polymorphisms and prostate cancer: A HuGE Review
Authors: Mo Zengnan , Gao Yong , Cao Yunfei , Gao Feng , Jian Lijuan 
Published: January 2009

AbstractIt has been postulated that individuals with GSTM1, GSTT1 deficiency and, GSTP1 (105Ile/Val transition) have increased susceptibility to carcinogens and are more likely to develop prostate cancer. In recent years, GST status has been extensively studied as a prostate cancer risk factor; however, the results are inconsistent. To re‐examine this controversy, we have undertaken an updating meta‐analysis of 29 studies with GSTM1 genotyping (4,564 prostate cancer cases and 5,464 controls), 22 studies with GSTT1 genotyping (3,837 cases and 4,552 controls), and 24 studies with GSTP1 genotyping (5,301 cases and 5,621 controls). The random effects odds ratio was 1.33 [95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.15, 1.55; I2 = 68.9%, P for heterogeneity = 0.00] for the GSTM1 null versus present genotype and 1.05 (95% CI: 0.86, 1.27; I2 = 68.2%, P for heterogeneity = 0.00) for the GSTT1 null versus present genotype, and 1.06 (95% CI: 0.91, 1.24; I2 = 71.5%, P for heterogeneity = 0.00) for the GSTP1‐Val versus GSTP1‐Ile allele. For GSTM1 polymorphism, similar results reached in Caucasians and Asians, with exception for Africans. No association between GSTT1 or GSTP1 polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk was detected in different racial. In conclusion, the major finding of our study suggested that GSTM1 polymorphism conferred an increasing risk of prostate cancer on a wide population basis, however, no relationship was found between GSTT1 and GSTP1 status and the risk of prostate cancer. Prostate 69:662–688, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In vitro targeted photodynamic therapy with a pyropheophorbide‐a conjugated inhibitor of prostate‐specific membrane antigen
Authors: Liu Tiancheng , Wu Lisa Y. , Choi Joseph K. , Berkman Clifford E. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe lack of specific delivery of photosensitizers (PSs), represents a significant limitation of photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer. The biomarker prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA) has attracted considerable attention as a target for imaging and therapeutic applications for prostate cancer. Although recent efforts have been made to conjugate inhibitors of PSMA with imaging agents, there have been no reports on PS‐conjugated PSMA inhibitors for targeted PDT of prostate cancer. The present study focuses on the use of a PSMA inhibitor‐conjugate of pyropheophorbide‐a (Ppa‐conjugate 2) for targeted PDT to achieve apoptosis in PSMA+ LNCaP cells.METHODSConfocal laser scanning microscopy with a combination of nuclear staining and immunofluorescence methods were employed to monitor the specific imaging and PDT‐mediated apoptotic effects on PSMA‐positive LNCaP and PSMA‐negative (PC‐3) cells.RESULTSOur results demonstrated that PDT‐mediated effects by Ppa‐conjugate 2 were specific to LNCaP cells, but not PC‐3 cells. Cell permeability was detected as early as 2 hr by HOE33342/PI double staining, becoming more intense by 4 hr. Evidence for the apoptotic caspase cascade being activated was based on the appearance of poly‐ADP‐ribose polymerase (PARP) p85 fragment. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay detected DNA fragmentation 16 hr post‐PDT, confirming apoptotic events.CONCLUSIONSCell permeability by HOE33342/PI double staining as well as PARP p85 fragment and TUNEL assays confirm cellular apoptosis in PSMA+ cells when treated with PS‐inhibitor conjugate 2 and subsequently irradiated. It is expected that the PSMA targeting small‐molecule of this conjugate can serve as a delivery vehicle for PDT and other therapeutic applications for prostate cancer. Prostate 69:585–594, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Piperazine‐designed α1A/α1D‐adrenoceptor blocker KMUP‐1 and doxazosin provide down‐regulation of androgen receptor and PSA in prostatic LNCaP cells growth and specifically in xenografts
Authors: Liu Chi‐Ming , Lo Yi‐Ching , Tai Ming‐Hong , Wu Bin‐Nan , Wu Wen‐Jeng , Chou Yii‐Her , Chai Chee‐Yin , Huang Chun‐Hsiung , Chen Ing‐Jun 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBACKGROUNDKMUP‐1 has been suggested to be beneficial in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. This study is aimed to further investigate whether KMUP‐1 and doxazosin prevent from prostate cancer cell growth via androgen‐dependent and ‐independent pathway in vivo and in vitro.METHODSKMUP‐1 was measured the activity on proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle distribution in prostate cancer cells (LNCaP, DU‐145, PC‐3) by MTT assay, flow cytometry, Western Blotting and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The inhibition activities on androgen receptor (AR) and AR‐targeting molecular prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) expression by KMUP‐1 and doxazosin were measured by RT‐PCR, Western Blotting, and ELISA. Furthermore, we confirmed the effects of KMUP‐1 on growth of LNCaP xenografts in nude mice.RESULTSKMUP‐1 significantly inhibited LNCaP cell growth and induced apoptosis in time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. KMUP‐1 and doxazosin further inhibited the expression of AR and PSA. Treatment of LNCaP cells with KMUP‐1 resulted in cell cycle arrest and apoptotic activities, increasing p21 and p27 and decreasing expressions of cyclin D1, cyclin E, cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) 4, CDK2 and CDK6. Moreover, KMUP‐1 activated p53, cleaved poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase and caspase‐3, but reduced the expression of Bcl‐2. Regular administration of KMUP‐1 suppressed the LNCaP xenograft tumor growth in nude mice.CONCLUSIONThese evidences indicate that KMUP‐1 and doxazosin inhibit LNCaP cell growth and downregulate expression of AR and PSA. KMUP‐1 might be used as a chemoprevention agent for preventing the development of prostate cancer without cardiovascular adverse effect of doxazosin. Prostate 69:610–623, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Human prostasomes contain chromosomal DNA
Authors: Ronquist K. Göran , Ronquist Gunnar , Carlsson Lena , Larsson Anders 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe aim of this study was to perform a comprehensive evaluation of the occurrence of DNA in human prostasomes.METHODSProstasomes were purified from seminal fluid (seminal prostasomes) and from PC‐3‐cells (PC‐3 cell prostasomes). DNA extracted from both sources of prostasomes was visualized on agarose gels. Further, the DNA was cloned and sequenced (13 clones from seminal prostasomal DNA and 16 clones from PC‐3 cell prostasomal DNA) and identified by alignment in the BLAST‐nucleotide search database. In order to decide if the DNA was internally or externally located in/on prostasomes, prostasomes were treated with nuclease (DNase) and A260 was measured before and after treatment. Additionally, flow cytometric studies were performed with membrane permeable and membrane impermeable DNA stains.RESULTSWe identified human chromosomal DNA in purified prostasomes from both sources and treatment with DNase demonstrated that the prostasome‐shielded DNA was protected from enzyme attack. Membrane‐permeable DNA stain raised the fluorescence contrary to membrane‐impermeable stain. Clearly discernible nucleic acid of prostasomes was separated on 1% agarose gel yielding DNA fragments of about 13 kbp and below with a marked band at about 1 kbp. Cloning and sequencing of 13 fragments from seminal prostasomes and 16 from PC‐3 cell prostasomes revealed a chromosomal origin of the DNA. In purified seminal prostasomes, 4 out of 13 DNA clones featured gene sequences (31%). The corresponding figure for PC3‐derived prostasomes was 4 out of 16 clones featuring gene sequences (25%).CONCLUSIONHuman prostasomes contain chromosomal DNA. Both nuclease treatment and differential DNA stainings indicated an inside location of the prostasomal DNA. Our findings suggest a DNA‐delivery function of prostasomes to sperm cells. Prostate 69: 737–743, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Structural and electrical properties of Sr3V2O8 ceramics
Authors: Khatri Praveen , Behera Banarji , Choudhary R. N. P. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractA polycrystalline sample of Sr3V2O8 was prepared by a mixed oxide method at relatively low temperature (<1000 °C). Preliminary structural analysis confirms the formation of single‐phase compound in the hexagonal (rhombohedral) crystal system at room temperature. Microstructural studies using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) show that the compound has well‐defined grains. These grains are distributed uniformly throughout the surface. The dielectric property (i.e. dielectric constant) of the compound studied in a wide range of frequency (102–106 Hz) at different temperatures (25–500 °C) exhibits a small anomaly at 300 °C. The real and imaginary parts of the complex impedance trace single semicircles in the complex plane. The temperature‐dependent plots reveal the presence of bulk effect only. The bulk resistance of the material decreases with rise in temperature. This exhibits a typical negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) behaviour of the material. Detailed studies of electrical modulus exhibit an important role of the hopping mechanism in the electrical transport process of the material. The nature of the variation of the dc conductivity suggests an Arrhenius type of electrical conductivity. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Ambient temperature dependence on emission spectrum of InAs quantum dots
Authors: Ngo C. Y. , Yoon S. F. , Chua S. J. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractSemiconductor superluminescent diodes (SLDs) are important broadband light source for fiber optic gyroscope and biomedical imaging. Quantum dots (QDs) have been proposed to be the best candidate for broadband light sources due to the inhomogeneous broadening of the gain spectrum as a result of the inherited size inhomogeneity of the self‐assembled QD growth. In this work, the effect of ambient temperature (25–100 °C) on the emission spectrum of InAs QDs with wideband emission was investigated. It was found that the full‐width at half‐maximum (FWHM) of the photoluminescence (PL) spectra remains more than 125 nm throughout the temperature range, and the redshift as function of temperature is approximately 0.27 meV/K. Activation energy of 270 meV is extracted from the Arrhenius plot and the PL quenching at high temperature is attributed to thermally induced carriers escaping out of the In0.15Ga0.85As strain‐reducing layer. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Limits of In(Ga)As/GaAs quantum dot growth
Authors: Lenz A. , Eisele H. , Timm R. , Ivanova L. , Sellin R. L. , Liu H.‐Y. , Hopkinson M. , Pohl U. W. , Bimberg D. , Dähne M. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractFor the formation of large In(Ga)As/GaAs quantum dots, aiming at emission wavelengths of 1.3 μm, strategies like the use of strain reducing diluted InGaAs capping layers or the growth of InAs quantum dots embedded in InGaAs quantum wells are very promising. Using cross‐sectional scanning tunneling microscopy we observed for both concepts an increased quantum dot size, but also defective quantum dots, characterized by a material hole or so‐called nanovoid. The process of such nanovoid formation is investigated in detail, considering the strain and the limited growth kinetics during capping. The existence of nanovoids impressively shows the limitations of growing larger and thus more strained quantum dots. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Improvement in size distribution and optical properties of InAs/GaAs QDs by post growth thermal treatment
Authors: Saravanan Shanmugam , Harayama Takashisa 
Published: January 2009

AbstractWe investigated the effect of rapid thermal annealing from 700 °C to 950 °C on stacked InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) covered with GaAs and In0.19Ga0.81As layers. Large blue‐shift of the energy positions nearly 380 meV (1187 nm to 870 nm) have been observed in InGaAs capped samples together with improvement in the photoluminescence integrated intensity of more than five times. The strong narrowing of the photoluminescence line‐width in both GaAs (as narrow as 8 meV) and InGaAs capped samples show an improvement of the size distribution of the QDs. In addition, a significant reduction of the energy spacing (ΔE2–1) between ground state and first excited state emissions were found in both GaAs and InGaAs capped quantum dots due to interface inter‐diffusion induced by thermal treatment. The excited state filling experiments for InGaAs capped sample annealed at 950 °C exhibits quantum well like behavior where as, the GaAs capped sample shows a shoulder in high energy side might be due to first excited state of QDs. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Magneto‐optics of layers of triple quantum dot molecules
Authors: Le Minh Thu , Voskoboynikov Oleksandr 
Published: January 2009

AbstractWe consider theoretically the impact of the coherent manipulation of electronic states in the triple vertical lens‐shaped circular InAs/GaAs quantum dot molecules on the collective magneto‐optical reflection from layers of those nano‐objects. The quantum dots have substantially different diameters in contrast to most of the known simulations. We demonstrate a possibility to drive molecular electronic ground states (to redistribute electronic wave functions within the molecule) by applying an external magnetic field along the system's growth direction. The change in the states leads to the redistribution of the intensity of the reflectance and absorbance peaks in the collective magneto‐optical response of a layer of the triple quantum dot molecules. Varying the distance between quantum dots within the layer one can study optically the transition from “molecular” to “atomic” configuration. We show that the changes in the quantum mechanical behaviour of the molecules can be made observable by monitoring changes of the ellipsometric parameters Ψ and Δ in the magneto‐optical response of layers of such nano‐objects. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Anxiolytic and hypnotic effect of Crocus sativus aqueous extract and its constituents, crocin and safranal, in mice
Authors: Hosseinzadeh Hossein , Noraei Nahid B. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractSaffron stigma (Crocus sativus L.) is used for insomnia and anxiety in traditional medicine. In this study, the anxiolytic and hypnotic effects of saffron aqueous extract and its constituents, crocin and safranal, were studied in mice. Agents were administered intraperitoneally in mice before the experiments for the evaluation of hypnotic activity (induced by sodium pentobarbital, 30 mg/kg, i.p.), anxiolytic activity (elevated plus maze test), locomotor activity (open field test) and motor coordination (Rotarod test). The aqueous extract reduced the locomotor activity dose dependently. At low doses, saffron showed a significant increase in the time on the open arms of the maze. When using the Rotarod method, the aqueous extract showed considerable effect on motor coordination of the mice. In the hypnotic test, only a dose of 0.56 g/kg of saffron increased the total sleep. Crocin showed no anxiolytic, hypnotic or myorelaxation effects. Safranal, in higher doses, 0.15 and 0.35 mL/kg, showed anxiolytic effects. Safranal increased the total sleep time dose dependently. This constituent at lower doses (0.05 and 0.15 mL/kg) decreased some locomotion activity parameters. Safranal demonstrated no effects on motor coordination. The results showed that saffron aqueous extract and safranal have anxiolytic and hypnotic effects. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.