bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neuroblastoma in adolescents
Authors: Conte Massimo , Parodi Stefano , De Bernardi Bruno , Milanaccio Claudia , Mazzocco Katia , Angelini Paola , Viscardi Elisabetta , Di Cataldo Andrea , Luksch Roberto , Haupt Riccardo 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBACKGROUNDNeuroblastoma (NB) occurs rarely during adolescence, and information is scarce on its characteristics and clinical course in this age group.METHODSPatients with NB who were included in the Italian Neuroblastoma Registry were considered for the current study. The clinical characteristics and survival of adolescents (age at diagnosis between 10 yrs and 18 yrs) were compared with those of children (ages 1–9 yrs). Infants (age < 1 yr) were excluded because of their well known favorable clinical course.RESULTSBetween 1116 children and 53 adolescents who were evaluated, no differences were documented with regard to the primary tumor site and the prevalence of advanced stage at diagnosis. If only patients with Stage IV NB were considered, then adolescents were less likely to be diagnosed with bone/bone marrow metastases (77%) compared with children (94%; P = 0.038), but adolescents were more likely to have metastases at unusual sites, such as the lung parenchyma or the central nervous system (23% vs. 7%, respectively; P = 0.005). With regard to biologic characteristics, adolescents did not differ significantly from children, although they always had a lower prevalence of unfavorable markers. In particular, MYCN amplification was documented in 21% of children and in 11% of adolescents (P = 0.173). At age 10 years, adolescents had a 20% overall survival rate and a 22% event‐free survival rate. Adolescents who had resectable disease had a 73% overall survival rate, which was worse compared with the rate among children with the same disease stage (89%), although the difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.159). No differences in survival were observed among patients with Stage IV NB, and adolescents had a probability of survival almost identical to that among children (6% vs. 16%, respectively; P = 0.481). However, when the analysis was restricted to events that occurred after patients developed a recurrence, even if the final outcome was poor for both groups, the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.022) mostly because of the more indolent disease course observed among the adolescents. This effect was even more evident for patients with Stage IV NB. When the 6‐year cut‐off point was used to separate children from adolescents, a significantly worse overall survival rate (P = 0.036) was documented for adolescents who had resectable disease (81% vs. 93% in children).CONCLUSIONSNB in adolescents had clinical and biologic characteristics similar to those observed among children. The clinical course of NB probably is correlated significantly with age at diagnosis, but information is scarce on the role of the biologic risk factors in this age group. The authors were able to identify a group of patients with a cut‐off age between 6 years and 10 years that had a more indolent course but a worse prognosis. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
High risk of contralateral breast carcinoma in women with hereditary/familial non‐BRCA1/BRCA2 breast carcinoma
Authors: Shahedi Katarina , Emanuelsson Monica , Wiklund Fredrik , Gronberg Henrik 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe objectives of the current study were to estimate the risk of developing contralateral breast carcinoma (CBC) among women with hereditary/familial non‐BRCA1/BRCA2 breast carcinoma and to determine the factors that may predict their risk of CBC.METHODSThe study sample consisted of all families (n = 217 families) that were referred between 1994–2001 to the Clinic of Cancer Genetics at the University Hospital of Umeå for suspected hereditary breast carcinoma. The study included all women in the 217 families who had carcinoma of the breast as their first primary invasive malignancy diagnosed between 1970–2001 in northern Sweden. Exclusion criteria were an estimated lifetime risk < 20%, BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation, noninvasive carcinoma (ductal or lobular carcinoma in situ), and bilateral breast carcinoma. In the final analysis, 204 women were included from 120 families.RESULTSThe cumulative probability of developing CBC among women who had hereditary/familial non‐BRCA1/BRCA2 breast carcinoma after 20 years was 27.3% (95% confidence interval, 15.0–37.8) compared with the expected risk (4.9%) among women in northern Sweden who had primary breast carcinoma. A significantly increased risk of CBC was associated with age younger than 50 years at the time of diagnosis of the first primary breast carcinoma (P = 0.006). Adjuvant hormone therapy reduced the risk of CBC (P = 0.036).CONCLUSIONSWomen with hereditary/familial non‐BRCA1/BRCA2 breast carcinoma had a high risk of developing CBC. This risk was attenuated further among women who were younger at the time of onset, who had a cumulative probability of developing CBC of nearly 40% after 15 years, which is similar to the estimated risk among BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers. The results of this study emphasized the importance of genetic counseling for these women. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Accumulation of DNA methylation is associated with tumor stage in gastric cancer
Authors: Oue Naohide , Mitani Yoshitsugu , Motoshita Junichi , Matsumura Shunji , Yoshida Kazuhiro , Kuniyasu Hiroki , Nakayama Hirofumi , Yasui Wataru 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe authors purpose in this study was to clarify the difference in terms of clinicopathologic features between gastric cancer (GC) with high numbers of DNA methylated genes and CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP)‐positive GC as originally defined.METHODSWe analyzed DNA methylation of 12 tumor‐related genes (hMLH1, MGMT, p16INK4a, CDH1, RAR‐beta, HLTF, RIZ1, TM, FLNc, LOX, HRASLS, HAND1) in 75 samples of GC from 75 patients, 25 samples of corresponding nonneoplastic mucosa from 25 patients, and 10 samples of normal gastric mucosa from 10 healthy young individuals by methylation‐specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bisulfite PCR. We also investigated CIMP status by examining the methylation of five MINT loci and p53 mutation status by PCR single‐strand conformation polymorphism. We measured levels of expression of mRNAs for these 12 genes by quantitative reverse transcription PCR in 50 GC specimens.RESULTSThe average number of methylated genes per tumor was 4.83. DNA methylation of each gene was correlated with low expression of the respective mRNA. High methylation (GC with 5 or more methylated genes) was detected in 39 (52.0%) of 75 GCs. Twenty‐nine (37.8%) of 75 GCs were CIMP‐positive. DNA methylation of each of the 12 genes was observed more frequently in the high‐methylation group than in the low‐methylation group. Methylation of 6 specific genes occurred more frequently in CIMP‐positive GC than in CIMP‐negative GC. Methylation of the remaining 6 genes was not correlated with CIMP‐status. High methylation was found more frequently in Stage III/IV GC (26 of 40 cases, 65.0%) than in Stage I/II GC (13 of 35 cases, 37.1%, P = 0.029).CONLUSIONS.These findings indicate that GCs with higher numbers of methylated genes have more distinct DNA methylation profiles than the originally defined CIMP‐positive GCs. DNA methylation of tumor‐related genes accumulates in conjunction with tumor progression. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Mapping the locations of estradiol and potent neuroprotective analogues in phospholipid bilayers by REDOR
Authors: Cegelski Lynette , Rice Charles V. , O'Connor Robert D. , Caruano Amy L. , Tochtrop Gregory P. , Cai Zu Yun , Covey Douglas F. , Schaefer Jacob 
Published: February 2006

AbstractEstrogens are potent antioxidants and neuroprotectants. They have become the focus of drug development efforts aimed at treating and preventing neuronal damage in stroke‐related brain damage, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. 13C{31P} and 13C{19F} rotational‐echo double‐resonance NMR have been used to map the locations of 17β‐estradiol (estradiol), 17β‐estradiol 17‐benzoate (estradiol benzoate), and 17β‐2‐(1‐adamantyl)estradiol (adamantyl estradiol) in 19F‐labeled DPPC phospholipid multilamellar vesicles. Placement of the estrogen molecules in lipid bilayers is correlated with the differences in their neuroprotective potency. Drug Dev. Res. 66:99–102, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In Drosophila, don juan and don juan like encode proteins of the spermatid nucleus and the flagellum and both are regulated at the transcriptional level by the TAFII80 cannonball while translational repression is achieved by distinct elements
Authors: Hempel Leonie U. , Rathke Christina , Raja Sunil Jayaramaiah , Renkawitz‐Pohl Renate 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe genes don juan (dj) and don juan like (djl) encode basic proteins expressed in the male germline. Both proteins show a similar expression pattern being localized in the sperm heads during chromatin condensation and along the flagella. Prematurely expressed Don Juan–eGFP and Myc‐Don Juan Like localize to the cytoplasm of spermatocytes and in mitochondrial derivatives from the nebenkern stage onward suggesting that both proteins associate with the mitochondria along the flagella in elongated spermatids. Premature expression of Myc‐Don Juan Like does not impair spermatogenesis where‐as Don Juan‐eGFP when prematurely expressed causes male sterility as spermatids fail to individualize. In spite of the sequence identity of 72% on the nucleotide level and 42% on the protein level, the presumptive promoter regions and the untranslated regions of the mRNA are diverged. Our in vivo analysis revealed that don juan and don juan like are transcriptionally and translationally controlled by distinct short cis regulatory regions. Transcription of don juan and don juan like depends on the male germ line specific TAFII80, Cannonball (Can). Translational repression elements for both mRNAs are localized in the 5′ UTR and are capable to form distinct secondary structures in close proximity to the translational initiation codon. Developmental Dynamics 235:1053–1064, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inhibins are the major activin ligands expressed during early thymocyte development
Authors: Licona Paula , Chimal‐Monroy Jesús , Soldevila Gloria 
Published: February 2006

AbstractActivins are members of the transforming growth factor‐beta (TGFβ) superfamily, which regulate cell differentiation processes. Here we report the first quantitative analysis of the expression of Activin/Inhibin ligands, type I and II receptors, as well as Smad proteins in fetal (E14–E16) and adult thymic subpopulations. Our data showed that Alk4, ActRIIA, ActRIIB, and Smads 2, 3, and 4, are expressed in fetal thymus (E14 > E15 > E16) and in thymocytes from adult mice (mostly in the double negative [DN] subpopulation). Ligand expression analysis showed that βA, βB, and α subunits were mainly detected in thymic stromal cells. Interestingly, α subunits were expressed at much higher levels compared to βA and βB subunits, demonstrating for the first time the potential role of Inhibins as important mediators during early T cell development. Our data indicate that Activin/Inhibin signaling could regulate the process of thymus organogenesis and early thymocyte differentiation, as it has been demonstrated for other members of the TGF‐β superfamily. Developmental Dynamics 235:1124–1132, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
JAK/STAT signalling in Drosophila controls cell motility during germ cell migration
Authors: Brown Stephen , Zeidler Martin P. , Hombría James E. Castelli‐Gair 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe gonad is formed from two populations of cells originating at different locations: the primordial germ cells (PGCs), giving rise to either sperm or oocytes, and the somatic gonadal mesoderm precursors (SGPs), which support development of the gametes. Following the PGCs' migration during gastrulation, these two populations meet, forming the immature gonad. We present evidence that during embryonic development, the PGCs require the canonical JAK/STAT signalling cascade to migrate efficiently towards the SGPs. Loss of function for any element of the JAK/STAT pathway causes frequent germ cell mislocalisation. We have found that wild‐type germ cells produce filopodia while they migrate through the mesoderm towards the gonad. Our observations suggest that PGCs use filopodia to migrate and to keep contact with each other. Interestingly, activation of the JAK/STAT pathway is required for these filopodia to form, and ectopic JAK/STAT activation enhances their formation. Developmental Dynamics 235:958–966, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cloning and regulation of the vertebrate homologue of lin‐41 that functions as a heterochronic gene in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Kanamoto Takashi , Terada Koji , Yoshikawa Hideki , Furukawa Takahisa 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe Caenorhabditis elegans gene lin‐41 is the one of the heterochronic genes that regulate the timing of many developmental events. MicroRNA let‐7 negatively regulates the expression of lin‐41 through RNA‐RNA interaction on its 3′ untranslated region (UTR). Here, we report the isolation of chick and mouse homologues of lin‐41 that encode the RBCC‐NHL family protein and their expression patterns. C. elegans lin‐41 is one of the RBCC‐NHL families and the predicted amino acid sequences of isolated two genes encode the same family proteins. Chick and mouse lin‐41 expression was also observed in developing limb buds, branchial arches, and tail buds. The 3′UTRs of the mouse and chick lin‐41 genes contain multiple let‐7 complementary sites. Using luciferase assay, we showed that lin‐41 expression can be regulated through let‐7 complementary sites. Developmental Dynamics 235:1142–1149, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Validation of the Spanish version of the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination in a rural community in Spain
Authors: García‐Caballero A. , García‐Lado I. , González‐Hermida J. , Recimil MJ. , Area R. , Manes F. , Lamas S. , Berrios GE. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackgroundThe Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (ACE) is a brief cognitive test battery designed to detect and differentiate Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Translations of this instrument into French and Malayalam have been recently publishedObjectiveTo adapt and validate the ACE into Spanish in a rural population of low‐educational level.SubjectsA clinical group, composed of 70 patients affected by dementia and 25 patients with memory complaints without dementia, was compared with 72 controls matched for gender, age and educational levelMethodThe clinical group was studied with standard neuropsychological instruments, all patients underwent neuroimaging [Computerized Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Single Photon Emission Tomography (SPECT) in all cases of suspected FTD], as well as routine neurological examination. Both groups were studied with the ACE and Clinical Dementia Rating scale (CDR). Sensitivity, specificity, area under curve, reliability and Verbal‐Language/ Orientation‐Memory (VLOM) ratio were calculated. Subsequently, the sample was stratified regarding educational level in two groups. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves were calculated for these conditions. Different cut‐off points were calculated addressing educational level.ResultsROC curves demonstrated the superiority of the ACE in the sub sample of patients that finished school at over 14 years old. VLOM ratio confirmed its usefulness for differential diagnosis between AD and FTDConclusionsThe Spanish version of the ACE is a useful instrument for dementia diagnosis. In our sample VLOM ratio results were useful for differential diagnosis between AD and FTD. Different cut‐off points must be used for different educational levels. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nursing home institutionalization: a source of eustress or distress for the elderly?
Authors: Scocco Paolo , Rapattoni Monica , Fantoni Giovanna 
Published: February 2006

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate why elderly persons moved to a nursing home and detect any change in their psychopathological and cognitive profile, dependency and perceived QOL.MethodWe considered 100 elderly consecutively admitted to a nursing home, within 1 week of admission and 6 months later. Data were collected from medical and nursing records (medical and psychiatric history, ADL), interviews (MMSE, reasons for admission) and self‐report instruments (GDS, BSI, WHOQOL‐brief).ResultsAt admission, 68 subjects were able to participate in the survey and agreed to take part. Only 5.9% (n = 4) had moved to the nursing home by their own choice, 26.5% (n = 18) because they were lonely and 36.7% (n = 25) because they had no caregiver available. The reasons for admission reported by the interviewed residents only partly corresponded with the ones noted in their records. Twenty‐six subjects had an MMSE score ≥ 18 and agreed to undertake complete assessment. The scores of 20 of the 26 subjects exceeded the cut‐off on the GDS and five of the nine BSI subscales. During the follow‐up period, 19 of the 68 originally assessed residents died (33 of the entire sample of 100) and one refused to continue to take part in the survey. The mean MMSE and ADL scores of the 48 survivors decreased from 16.87 (SD ± 7.32) to 14.27 (SD ± 7.24; t = 4.89, p < 0.000) and from 8.22 (SD ± 3.55) to 6.39 (SD ± 3.56; t = 5.34, p < 0.000), respectively. The scores achieved on GDI and BSI subscales worsened in 20 survivors with MMSE ≥ 18. The score achieved on the QOL physical health domain also worsened. Comparison of the subjects who died and survived during the follow‐up period showed a significant difference in terms of ADL (6.60 SD ± 4.221 vs 3.64 SD ± 3.773 F = 11.639; p < 0.001).ConclusionThe 68 original participants expressed feelings of loneliness and marginalization, but these experiences were not noted in their personal records. Most subjects presented psychiatric symptoms and cognitive decline. After 6 months, the clinical condition of the sample, particularly the females, had worsened, with a 33% mortality rate. This suggests that moving to a nursing home did not bring about improvement or stabilization; rather, psychiatric symptoms worsened and quality of life was perceived more poorly. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Association of depression with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia in an elderly Arab population of Wadi‐Ara, Israel
Authors: Bowirrat Abdalla , Oscar‐Berman Marlene , Logroscino Giancarlo 
Published: February 2006

AbstractObjectivesBecause dementia and depression share common risk factors, we investigated risk factors for depression in Arab subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD).MethodsIn a cross‐sectional population‐based study, we conducted a door‐to‐door survey of all adults over age 60 in an Arab community of rural Israel. We conducted interviews, gave questionnaires, and collected DNA blood specimens for determination of ApoE genotype.ResultsOf the 823 individuals in this naturalistic sample, 168 had dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT) and 49 had VaD. Vascular risk factors, including the ApoE‐ϵ4 allele, were more prevalent among VaD than DAT subjects. Depressive symptoms were present in 57% of DAT patients and 86% of VaD patients. Depressed DAT individuals had a greater history of ischemic cardiovascular or cerebrovascular (CV/CBV) disease than non‐depressed DAT subjects, but depressed DAT subjects were less likely to have the ApoE‐ϵ4 allele. Within the VaD group, there was no difference in the distribution of cardiovascular risk factors in individuals with and without depressive symptoms, and ApoE‐ϵ4 was more prevalent among subjects with depressive symptoms.ConclusionsDepressive symptomatology is prevalent among subjects with dementias in this Arab community. History of CV/CBV is associated with the presence of depressive symptoms in DAT. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of ApoE in depression onset in different ethnic groups with DAT. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Depressive symptom profile in Parkinson's disease: a comparison with depression in elderly patients without Parkinson's disease
Authors: Ehrt Uwe , Brønnick Kolbjørn , Leentjens Albert F. G. , Larsen Jan Petter , Aarsland Dag 
Published: February 2006

AbstractObjectiveDepression is a common neuropsychiatric syndrome in Parkinson's disease (PD), and may be etiologically related to the neurochemical changes accompanying this disease. It is still unclear whether the disturbances of neurotransmitter activities lead to a specific profile of depressive symptoms, that is characteristic for PD and differs from that in depressed patients without PD.MethodWe compared the individual depressive symptoms of 145 non‐demented depressed patients with PD and 100 depressed patients without PD by comparing item scores on the Montgomery‐Åsberg Depression Rating Scale by way of MANCOVA.ResultsThe severity of depression and the level of cognitive functioning in depressed PD patients were comparable with that of depressed control subjects. However, patients with PD showed significant less reported sadness, less anhedonia, less feelings of guilt and, slightly less loss of energy, but more concentration problems than depressed control subjects.ConclusionThe profile of depressive symptoms in PD differs from that in depressed subjects without PD. This finding is important for the conceptualisation and clinical diagnosis of depression in PD. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The validity and reliability of the Turkish versii̇on of Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale‐Cognitive Subscale (ADAS‐Cog) in patients with mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease and normal subjects
Authors: Mavioglu H. , Gedizlioglu M. , Akyel S. , Aslaner T. , Eser E. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractObjectivesThe cognitive subscale of the Alzheimer's Disease Assesment Scale (ADAS‐Cog) is the most widely used test in clinical trials dealing with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of ADAS‐Cog.MethodsTwenty‐nine patients with AD, fullfilling NINCDS‐ADRDA criteria of probable AD, who were in stage 3–5 according to the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS), and 27 non‐demented control subjects with similar age, gender and educational status were recruited for the study. The Turkish version of ADAS‐Cog, Standardized Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) and Short Orientation‐Memory‐Concentration Test (SOMCT) were applied to both of the groups. Inter‐rater reliability, internal consistency, test–retest reliability; face validity, differential validity and convergent validity were statistically analyzed.ResultsBoth MMSE and ADAS‐Cog have significantly differentiated patients with AD and control subjects (p < 0.001). A significant correlation was established between MMSE and ADAS‐Cog scores in AD group (r: −0.739). ADAS‐Cog was also highly significantly correlated with GDS (r: 0.720) and SOMCT (r: 0.738). For the group with AD, control and whole cohort coefficients of internal consistency, Cronbach's α: 0.800, 0.515, 0.873 were found respectively. Inter‐rater reliability for total ADAS‐Cog score was found as ICC: 0.99 and 0.98 and test–retest reliability was found as ICC: 0.91 and 0.95 for demented and nondemented subjects, respectively.ConclusionThe Turkish version of ADAS‐Cog has been found to be highly reliable and valid in differentiating patients with mild and moderate AD from nondemented subjects. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.