bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
OPTIMOX1: A Randomized Study of FOLFOX4 or FOLFOX7 With Oxaliplatin in a Stop-and-Go Fashion in Advanced Colorectal Cancer—A GERCOR Study
Authors: Tournigand Christophe , Cervantes Andres , Figer Arie , Lledo Gérard , Flesch Michel , Buyse Marc , Mineur Laurent , Carola Elisabeth , Etienne Pierre-Luc , Rivera Fernando , Chirivella Isabel , Perez-Staub Nathalie , Louvet Christophe , André Thierry , Tabah-Fisch Isabelle , de Gramont Aimery 
Published: January 2006

Purpose In metastatic colorectal cancer, a combination of leucovorin (LV) and fluorouracil (FU) with oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) 4 is a standard first-line regimen. The cumulative neurotoxicity of oxaliplatin often requires therapy to be stopped in patients who are still responding. This study evaluates a new strategy of intermittent oxaliplatin treatment that is based on FOLFOX7, a simplified leucovorin and fluorouracil regimen with high-dose oxaliplatin. Patients and Methods Previously untreated patients were randomly assigned to either FOLFOX4 administered every 2 weeks until progression (arm A) or FOLFOX7 for six cycles, maintenance without oxaliplatin for 12 cycles, and reintroduction of FOLFOX7 (arm B). Results Six hundred twenty patients were enrolled, including an exploratory cohort of 95 elderly or poor prognosis patients. Median progression-free survival and survival times were 9.0 and 19.3 months, respectively, in patients allocated to arm A compared with 8.7 and 21.2 months, respectively, in patients allocated to arm B (P = not significant). Response rates were 58.5% with arm A and 59.2% with arm B. National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria grade 3 or 4 toxicity was observed in 54.4% of the patients in arm A v 48.7% of patients in arm B. From cycle 7, fewer patients experienced grade 3 or 4 toxicity in arm B. Grade 3 sensory neuropathy was observed in 17.9% of the patients in arm A v 13.3% of patients in arm B (P = .12). In arm B, oxaliplatin was reintroduced in only 40.1% of the patients but achieved responses or stabilizations in 69.4% of these patients. Conclusion Oxaliplatin can be safely stopped after six cycles in a FOLFOX regimen. Further study is needed to fully evaluate oxaliplatin reintroduction.
Teaching Evolutionary Psychology: An Interview with David M. Buss
Authors: Barker Lewis 
Published: January 2006

David M. Buss received his PhD from the University of California at Berkeley, and has taught at Harvard University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Texas at Austin. He has received the American Psychological Foundation Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contributions and the American Psychological Association's Distinguished Scientist Lecturer Award and has been a G. Stanley Hall Lecturer. His books include The Evolution of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating (2003) and Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind (2004), which won the Robert W. Hamilton Book Award. His most recent books are The Murderer Next Door: Why the Mind Is Designed to Kill (2005b) and The Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology (2005a). Buss has roughly 200 publications. His research interests include mating strategies, murder, and sexual conflict. Lewis Barker received his BA in psychology from Occidental College in Los Angeles and an MA and PhD from Florida State University. He taught for 28 years at Baylor University in Texas where he was Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience. He currently is a professor of psychology at Auburn University. Over his career, he has taught 18 different undergraduate courses, 9 graduate courses, and 5 labs. Introduction to Biopsychology, first taught in 1974, was among the earliest freshman-level course offerings in evolutionary and physiological psychology in the United States. He has numerous publications and book chapters and has edited 2 books in the general area of human and animal learning. Currently, he is researching how students' knowledge of psychology terms is related to their overall understanding of psychological concepts. He has written two textbooks, Learning and Behavior: Biological, Psychological, and Sociocultural Perspectives, and Psychology —the latter from an evolutionary perspective. He has 3 adult daughters and 2 grandchildren, all of whom live in Texas.
Kisses of Death in the Graduate School Application Process
Authors: Appleby Drew C. , Appleby Karen M. 
Published: January 2006

A survey of psychology graduate admissions committee chairs revealed 5 categories of mistakes applicants make that diminish their probability of acceptance. We discuss 3 strategies that psychology departments can use to decrease the likelihood that students will commit these mistakes in their graduate school applications and provide suggestions that will help students avoid these mistakes. The ideal student, seen through the eyes of graduate faculty, is gifted and creative, very bright and extremely motivated to learn, perfectly suited to the program, eager to actively pursue the lines of inquiry valued by the faculty, pleasant, responsible, and devoid of serious personal problems. —Keith-Spiegel & Wiederman (2000, p. 32)
Design, synthesis and characterization of captopril prodrugs for enhanced percutaneous absorption
Authors: Moss Gary P , Gullick Darren R , Cox Paul A , Alexander Cameron , Ingram Matthew J , Smart John D , Pugh W John 
Published: January 2006

Abstract
Most drugs are designed primarily for oral administration, but the activity and stability profiles desirable for this route often make them unsuitable for transdermal delivery. We were therefore interested in designing analogues of captopril, a model drug with poor percutaneous penetration, for which the sustained steady-state blood plasma level associated with transdermal delivery (and which is unattainable orally) would be particularly beneficial. Quantitative structure—permeability relationships (QSPRs) predicted that ester and thiol prodrug derivatives of captopril would have lower maximal transdermal flux (Jm) than the parent drug, since the increases in permeability coefficient (kp) of prodrugs would be outweighed by the reductions in aqueous solubility. Therefore, the aim of this study was to synthesize a series of prodrugs of captopril and to determine if a QSPR model could be used to design therapeutically viable prodrugs. Molecules with the highest predicted kp values were synthesized and characterized, and Jm measured in Franz diffusion cells from saturated aqueous donor across porcine skin (fresh and frozen). In-vitro metabolism was also measured. Captopril and the prodrugs crossed the skin relatively freely, with Jm being highest for ethyl to butyl esters. Substantial first-order metabolism of the prodrugs was observed, suggesting that their enhanced percutaneous absorption was complemented by their metabolic performance. The results suggested that QSPR models provided excellent enhancements in drug delivery. This was not seen at higher lipophilicities, suggesting that issues of solubility need to be considered in conjunction with any such use of a QSPR model.
Amphiphilogels as drug carriers: effects of drug incorporation on the gel and on the active drug
Authors: Jibry Nadeen , Sarwar Tanzeem , Murdan Sudaxshina 
Published: January 2006

AbstractAmphiphilogels (a subset of organogels) are being studied as drug carriers in our laboratories. In this paper, the effects of drug incorporation on the drugs and the gels are discussed. Amphiphilogels were prepared by heating a mixture of the gelator (sorbitan monostearate or sorbitan monopalmitate) and the liquid (e.g. Tweens or liquid Spans) to form a solution/dispersion, which was cooled to the gel state. Drugs were dissolved by heating a mixture of the drug and the gel and cooling the resulting solution. Hydrophilic gels (composed of hydrophilic Tweens as the liquid) were more effective solvents than hydrophobic ones (composed of hydrophobic Span 20 or 80 liquids). The latter's solvent capacity could, however, be increased by the inclusion of co-solvents, such as propylene glycol and ethanol. Drug incorporation at 10% w/w did not cause any detrimental changes in gel stability, while the drug's release rate was dependent on its concentration and on the nature of the gel's liquid component (which influences drug solubility), but not on gelator concentration or on the method of drug incorporation. This study shows the importance of the nature of the gels' liquid component and the possibility of using hydrophilic amphiphilogels as solvents for poorly water-soluble drugs.
Evaluation of in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity of some 2-alkyl-4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazines
Authors: Dianzani Chiara , Collino Massimo , Gallicchio Margherita , Fantozzi Roberto , Samaritani Simona , Signore Giovanni , Menicagli Rita 
Published: January 2006

Abstract
The ability of some 2-alkyl(aryl)-4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazine derivatives to interfere with production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by human phagocytes was evaluated in an in-vitro cell model. Superoxide anion (O2−.) production by human polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs), challenged by the chemotactic agent N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by all the compounds tested, compounds 3, 4 and 5 being statistically the most active. Adhesion of PMNs to vascular endothelial cells (ECs) is a critical step in recruitment and infiltration of leucocytes into tissues during inflammation, and the effects of 1,3,5-triazine derivatives on PMN adhesion to ECs from the human umbilical vein (HUVEC) were also investigated. Triazines were incubated with PMNs and HUVEC; adhesion was quantitated by computerized micro-imaging fluorescence analysis. The 1,3,5-triazines tested inhibited the adhesion evoked by pro-inflammatory stimuli, such as platelet activating factor (PAF), FMLP, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in a dose—response manner over the concentration range 10−9 to 10−4 m, compounds 5 and 6 being the most active. Both of these compounds inhibited PMN adhesion to HUVEC, even when endothelial or PMN stimuli were used. Indeed, when both cell populations were activated contemporarily, the anti-adhesive effect was enhanced. The study suggests that 2-aryl-4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazines deserve further evaluation as anti-inflammatory agents.
Protective effect of Nardostachys jatamansi on oxidative injury and cellular abnormalities during doxorubicin-induced cardiac damage in rats
Authors: Subashini Rajakannu , Yogeeta Surinderkumar , Gnanapragasam Arunachalam , Devaki Thiruvengadam 
Published: January 2006

Abstract
Nardostachys jatamansi is a medicinally important herb of Indian origin. It has been used for centuries in the Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine for the treatment of various ailments. We have evaluated the effect of N. jatamansi (rhizomes) on the biochemical changes, tissue peroxidative damage and abnormal antioxidant levels in doxorubicin (adriamycin)-induced cardiac damage. Preliminary studies on the effect of the graded dose of extract showed that 500 mg kg−1 orally for seven days was found to be optimum and hence all further study was carried out with this particular dose. Rats administered doxorubicin (15 mg kg−1, i.p.) showed myocardial damage that was manifested by the elevation of serum marker enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, aspartate aminotransaminase and alanine aminotransaminase). The animals showed significant changes in the antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase) and lipid peroxidation levels. Pretreatment with N. jatamansi extract significantly prevented these alterations and restored the enzyme activity and lipid peroxides to near normal levels. Restoration of cellular normality accredits the N. jatamansi with a cytoprotective role in doxorubicin-induced cardiac damage.
Effect of berberine on proliferation, biosynthesis of macromolecules, cell cycle and induction of intercalation with DNA, dsDNA damage and apoptosis in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells
Authors: Letašiová Silvia , Jantová Soňa , Miko Milan , Ovádeková Renáta , Horváthová Mira 
Published: January 2006

Abstract
Our primary aim was to study berberine, a potential anti-cancer drug, for its cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity in-vitro using Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells. Cytotoxicity was measured by the growth inhibition assay. We investigated the effect of berberine on the biosynthesis of macro-molecules (DNA, RNA, proteins), cell cycle effects and induction of dsDNA damage and apoptosis in berberine-treated EAC cells. Our results showed that berberine acts cytotoxically on EAC cells. The cytotoxicity was directly concentration and time dependent. The highest cytotoxic concentrations (100 and 50 μg mL−1) induced intercalation of berberine with DNA, formation of dsDNA breaks, inhibition of DNA synthesis and death of EAC cells. A concentration of 10 μg mL−1 induced clear apoptotic cell death, which was followed by inhibition of protein synthesis.
Paracellular and transcellular pathways facilitate insulin permeability in rat gut
Authors: Lane Majella E , Corrigan Owen I 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe aim of this study was to conduct a systematic investigation of the absorption of insulin in the rat intestine in the presence of permeation enhancers and protease inhibitors. An in-situ perfused rat gut model was used for the co-perfusion of insulin and PEG 4000 in the presence or absence of bile salts, bile salt:fatty acid surfactant systems and protease inhibitors. Perfusion experiments were conducted for 180 min with perfusate and blood collection at regular intervals. Permeability coefficients for insulin were calculated from plasma insulin and PEG 4000 permeability coefficients were calculated from lumenal disappearance data. In the absence of enzyme inhibitors, insulin permeability was consistently lower than PEG 4000, but increased in proportion to PEG 4000 permeability. Large increases in insulin permeability were obtained for mixed micellar systems and protease inhibitors. In the presence of protease inhibitors and simple micelle systems, PEG 4000 permeability was three-fold greater than insulin permeability. In the presence of absorption enhancers, PEG 4000 permeability increased up to a maximum value of 3.63 times 10−6 cm s−1, a value five-fold less than that of the estimated aqueous boundary layer permeability for PEG 4000. This suggests that PEG 4000 permeability is primarily membrane controlled. Insulin permeability is enhanced to a maximum value of 9.17 times 10−6 cm s−1, suggesting that paracellular transport routes do not account exclusively for insulin permeation across the intestinal epithelium. The results add support to suggestions that routes other than the paracellular route may contribute to insulin absorption in rat gut.
Corticotropin-releasing hormone-receptor 1 (CRH-R1) and CRH-binding protein (CRH-BP) are expressed in the gills and skin of common carpCyprinus carpioL. and respond to acute stress and infection
Authors: Mazon A. F. , Verburg-van Kemenade B. M. L. , Flik G. , Huising M. O. 
Published: January 2006

SUMMARYWe established that corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), CRH-binding protein (CRH-BP) and CRH-receptor 1 (CRH-R1) are expressed in the gills and skin of common carp Cyprinus carpio, an early vertebrate. Immunoreactive CRH was detected in macrophage-like cells in gills and skin, in fibroblasts in the skin and in endothelial cells in the gills. The involvement of the CRH system in gills and skin was investigated in response to infection and in an acute restraint stress paradigm. Carp were infected with the protozoan leech-transmitted blood flagellate Trypanoplasma borreliand subjected to acute restraint stress by netting for 24 h. The expression of CRH-BP and CRH-R1 genes in the gills and in the skin is downregulated after both infection and restraint. Thus the peripheral CRH system reacts to infection and stress. The gills and skin separate the internal from the external environment and are permanently exposed to stress and pathogens. Because of their pivotal role in maintaining the homeostatic equilibrium,these organs must act locally to respond to diverse stresses. Clearly, the CRH system is involved in the response of the integument to diverse stresses at the vulnerable interface of the internal and external milieu.
Exposure to brackish water, upon feeding, leads to enhanced conservation of nitrogen and increased urea synthesis and retention in the Asian freshwater stingray Himantura signifer
Authors: Chew Shit F. , Poothodiyil Nirmala K. , Wong Wai P. , Ip Yuen K. 
Published: January 2006

SUMMARY
The white-edge freshwater whip ray Himantura signifer is ammonotelic in freshwater, but retains the capacities of urea synthesis and ureosmotic osmoregulation to survive in brackish water. The first objective of this study was to examine whether exposure to brackish water would lead to increases in food intake, and/or conservation of nitrogen in H. signifer upon daily feeding. Results obtained showed that a progressive increase in ambient salinity, from 1‰ to 15‰ over a 10-day period, did not lead to an increase in daily food intake. However, there were significant reductions in daily rates of ammonia and urea excretion in H. signifer during salinity changes, especially between day 5 (in 10‰water) and day 10 (in 15‰ water) when compared to those of the control kept in 1‰ water. Consequently, there was a significant decrease in the percentage of nitrogen (N) from the food being excreted as nitrogenous waste(ammonia-N+urea-N) during this period. On day 10, the tissue urea contents in fish exposed to 15‰ water were significantly greater than those of fish kept in 1‰ water, and the excess urea-N accumulated in the former fish could totally account for the cumulative deficit in excretion of urea-N+ammonia-N during the 10-day period. Thus, it can be concluded that H. signifer is N-limited, and conserved more N from food when exposed to brackish water. The conserved N was converted to urea, which was retained in tissues for osmoregulation. The second objective of this study was to elucidate whether the retention of the capacity of N conservation in H. signifer would lead to an accumulation of urea in fish exposed to not only 15‰ water, but also 1‰ water, upon feeding. For fish pre-acclimated to 1‰ water or 15‰ water for 10 days and then fasted for 48 h, the rate of ammonia excretion in fish exposed to 15‰water was consistently lower than that of fish exposed to 1‰ water,throughout the 36-h post-feeding period. In addition, the hourly rate of urea excretion in the former was significantly lower than that of the latter between hours 12 and 36. There were postprandial increases in ammonia contents in the muscle, liver, stomach, intestine, brain and plasma of fish kept in 1‰ water; but postprandial increases in ammonia occurred only in the liver and brain of fish exposed to 15‰ water, and the magnitudes of increases in the latter were smaller than those in the former. Indeed,postprandial increases in tissue urea contents occurred in both groups of fish, but the greatest increase in urea content was observed in the muscle of fish exposed to 15‰ water. Taken together, these results indicate that H. signifer in freshwater could be confronted with postprandial osmotic stress because of its capacity of conserving N and increasing urea synthesis upon feeding.
How bees tune their dancing according to their colony's nectar influx:re-examining the role of the food-receivers' `eagerness'
Authors: De Marco Rodrigo J. 
Published: January 2006

SUMMARYApis mellifera bees perform dances to communicate the presence of desirable nectar sources. The regulation of these dances does not depend exclusively on properties of the nectar sources, but also upon certain stimuli derived from the foraging status of the colony as a whole; i.e. bees exploiting a source of constant profitability are more likely to dance when the colony's nectar intake rate is low. Based on these stimuli, individual bees tune their dances according to their colony's nectar influx without visiting alternative nectar sources.Division of labour, in addition, is a common feature in honeybees. Upon returning to the nest, successful foragers transfer the content of their crops to food-receivers by means of a common behaviour in social insects called trophallaxis, i.e. the transfer of liquid food by mouth. Martin Lindauer stated that a returned forager may sense the foraging status of its colony on the basis of the food transfer process by computing how quickly and eagerly the food-receivers unload its crop.This study focuses on the forager's experience during the food transfer process, its variability based on the colony's nectar influx, and the separate effects that the `ease' and the `eagerness' of the food-unloading have on the tuning of recruitment dances. Results indicate that foragers can rapidly sense variations in the colony's nectar influx, even when they experience no variation in the time interval between their return to the hive and the beginning of the food transfer. To accomplish this task they appear to use stimuli derived from the number of food-receivers, which enable them, in turn,to set their dance thresholds in relation to the nectar influx of their colony. The relevance of these findings is discussed in the context of communication and successful foraging.
Magnetic Tracking: A Novel Method of Assessing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficiency
Authors: Kundra RK , Moorehead JD , Barton-Hanson N , Montgomery SC 
Published: January 2006

INTRODUCTION The Lachman test is commonly performed as part of the routine assessment of patients with suspected anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency. A major drawback is its reliance on the clinician's subjective judgement of movement. The aim of this study was to quantify Lachman movement using a magnetic tracking device thereby providing a more accurate objective measure of movement. PATIENTS AND METHODS Ten patients aged 21–51 years were assessed as having unilateral ACL deficiency with conventional clinical tests. These patients were then re-assessed using a Polhemus Fastrak™ magnetic tracking device. RESULTS The mean anterior tibial displacement was 5.6 mm (SD = 2.5) for the normal knees and 10.2 mm (SD = 4.2) for the ACL-deficient knees. This gave an 82% increase in anterior tibial displacement for the ACL deficient knees. This was shown to be highly significant with P = 0.005. CONCLUSIONS The magnetic tracking system offers an objective quantification of displacements during the Lachman test. It is convenient, non-invasive and comfortable for the patient and is, therefore, ideally suited for use as an investigative tool.