bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Early Changes in Auditory Function As a Result of Platinum Chemotherapy: Use of Extended High-Frequency Audiometry and Evoked Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions
Authors: Knight Kristin R. , Kraemer Dale F. , Winter Christiane , Neuwelt Edward A. 
Published: March 2007

Purpose The objective is to describe progressive changes in hearing and cochlear function in children and adolescents treated with platinum-based chemotherapy and to begin preliminary evaluation of the feasibility of extended high-frequency audiometry and distortion product otoacoustic emissions for ototoxicity monitoring in children. Patients and Methods Baseline and serial measurement of conventional pure-tone audiometry (0.5 to 8 kHz) and evoked distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were conducted for 32 patients age 8 months to 20 years who were treated with cisplatin and/or carboplatin chemotherapy. Seventeen children also had baseline and serial measurement of extended high-frequency (EHF) audiometry (9 to 16 kHz). Audiologic data were analyzed to determine the incidence of ototoxicity using the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association criteria, and the relationships between the different measures of ototoxicity. Results Of the 32 children, 20 (62.5%) acquired bilateral ototoxicity in the conventional frequency range during chemotherapy treatment, and 26 (81.3%) had bilateral decreases in DPOAE amplitudes and dynamic range. Of the 17 children with EHF audiometry results, 16 (94.1%) had bilateral ototoxicity in the EHF range. Pilot data suggest that EHF thresholds and DPOAEs show ototoxic changes before hearing loss is detected by conventional audiometry. Conclusion EHF audiometry and DPOAEs have the potential to reveal earlier changes in auditory function than conventional frequency audiometry during platinum chemotherapy in children.
Pharmacogenetic Profiling in Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancer Treated With First-Line FOLFOX-4 Chemotherapy
Authors: Ruzzo Annamaria , Graziano Francesco , Loupakis Fotios , Rulli Eliana , Canestrari Emanuele , Santini Daniele , Catalano Vincenzo , Ficarelli Rita , Maltese Paolo , Bisonni Renato , Masi Gianluca , Schiavon Gaia , Giordani Paolo , Giustini Lucio , Falcone Alfredo , Tonini Giuseppe , Silva Rosarita , Mattioli Rodolfo , Floriani Irene , Magnani Mauro 
Published: March 2007

PurposeThe objective is to investigate whether polymorphisms with putative influence on fluorouracil/oxaliplatin activity are associated with clinical outcomes of patients with advanced colorectal cancer treated with first-line oxaliplatin, folinic acid, and fluorouracil palliative chemotherapy.Materials and MethodsConsecutive patients were prospectively enrolled onto medical oncology units in Central Italy. Patients were required to have cytologically/histologically confirmed metastatic disease with at least one measurable lesion. Peripheral blood samples were used for genotyping 12 polymorphisms in thymidylate synthase, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD), excision repair cross complementing group 1 (ERCC1), x-ray cross complementing group 1, x-ray cross complementing protein 3, glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) genes. The primary end point of the study was to investigate the association between genotypes and progression-free survival (PFS).ResultsIn 166 patients, ERCC1-118 T/T, XPD-751 A/C, and XPD-751 C/C genotypes were independently associated with adverse PFS. The presence of two risk genotypes (ERCC1-118 T/T combined with either XPD-751 A/C or XPD-751 C/C) occurred in 50 patients (31%). This profiling showed an independent role for unfavorable PFS with a hazard ratio of 2.84% and 95% CI of 1.47 to 5.45 (P = .002). Neurotoxicity was significantly associated with GSTP1-105 A/G. Carriers of the GSTP1-105 G/G genotype were more prone to suffer from grade 3 neurotoxicity than carriers of GSTP1-105 A/G and GSTP1-105 A/A genotypes.ConclusionA pharmacogenetic approach may be an innovative strategy for optimizing palliative chemotherapy in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. These findings deserve confirmation in additional prospective studies.
Patient Assessment of Bowel Function During and After Pelvic Radiotherapy: Results of a Prospective Phase III North Central Cancer Treatment Group Clinical Trial
Authors: Haddock Michael G. , Sloan Jeff A. , Bollinger John W. , Soori Gamini , Steen Preston D. , Martenson James A. 
Published: March 2007

Purpose To evaluate patient assessment of long-term effect of pelvic radiotherapy on bowel function. Patients and Methods As part of a prospective randomized trial evaluating the impact of sucralfate on bowel function in patients receiving pelvic radiotherapy, patient-assessed bowel function data were collected during radiotherapy and again at 4 weeks and 1 year after completion of radiotherapy. Results The number of bowel movements per day increased up to week 4 and then slowly decreased. At 1 year, the mean number of bowel movements per day had increased from 1.75 to 2.09 and the median from 1 to 2. All measures of adverse bowel function worsened during radiotherapy. Frequency of bowel movements and symptoms of frequency, nocturnal bowel movements, cramping, and bleeding returned close to baseline values by 1 year. Symptoms of urgency, clustering, and measures of incontinence were all persistent at 1 year. The mean increase in bowel function score at 1 year was 0.74 (range, −5 to 7). Conclusion Pelvic radiotherapy is associated with a slight increase in bowel movement frequency and decrease in several patient-reported measures of adverse bowel function. Several measures of adverse function persisted at 1 year.
Treatment Tolerance and Efficacy in Geriatric Oncology: A Systematic Review of Phase III Randomized Trials Conducted by Five National Cancer Institute–Sponsored Cooperative Groups
Authors: Kumar Ambuj , Soares Heloisa P. , Balducci Lodovico , Djulbegovic Benjamin 
Published: March 2007

PurposeElderly patients share the majority of the disease burden in cancer. Although 61% of new cancer cases occur among elderly, they comprise only 25% of the patients enrolled onto randomized clinical trials (RCTs). A systematic review to assess the accurate participation of elderly patients in RCTs has not been performed.Patients and MethodsWe reviewed all consecutively completed phase III RCTs conducted by five National Cancer Institute–sponsored cooperative groups. Published papers and study protocols were used for data extraction. We used a cutoff age of ≥ 65 years to define elderly patients. For trials that did not exclusively enroll elderly, data were extracted on number of participants ≥ 65 years of age. Outcome between the innovative and the standard treatment was compared.ResultsOf 345 studies, only one trial exclusively enrolled elderly patients (0.28%); 57% of the trials (n = 197) had no stratification by age, and 12% of the studies had a stratification age ≥ 65 years (n = 42). Overall survival in the trial exclusively enrolling elderly favored the newer treatments (hazard ratio [HR], 0.69; 95% CI, 0.47 to 1.02; P = .06). Additionally, in trials enrolling more than 40% of elderly, survival and event-free survival favored the innovative treatments (HR for survival, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.84 to 0.99; P = .03; HR for event-free survival, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.72 to 1.01; P = .07). Treatment-related mortality was similar in both the innovative and standard treatment groups (HR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.47 to 1.78; P = .8).ConclusionOur data indicate that enrollment of elderly in experimental RCTs is not associated with increased harm to this patient population. Increased participation of elderly may help in finding new treatments that are clinically applicable specifically to this cohort of patients.
Prognostic Value of Cardiac Troponin T Is Independent of Inflammation, Residual Renal Function, and Cardiac Hypertrophy and Dysfunction in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients
Authors: Yee-Moon Wang Angela , Wai-Kei Lam Christopher , Wang Mei , Hiu-Shuen Chan Iris , Goggins William B , Yu Cheuk-Man , Lui Siu-Fai , Sanderson John E 
Published: March 2007

AbstractBackground: We investigated whether cardiac troponin T (cTnT) independently predicted outcome and added prognostic value over other clinical risk predictors in chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) with end-stage renal disease.Methods: Baseline cTnT, echocardiography, indices of dialysis adequacy, and biochemical characteristics were assessed in 238 chronic PD patients who were followed prospectively for 3 years or until death.Results: Using multivariable Cox regression analysis, cTnT remained predictive of all-cause mortality [hazard ratio 4.43, 95% CI 1.87–10.45, P = 0.001], cardiovascular death (4.12, 1.29–13.17, P = 0.017), noncardiovascular death (8.06, 1.86–35.03, P = 0.005), and fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events (CVEs) (3.59, 1.48–8.70, P = 0.005) independent of background coronary artery disease, inflammation, residual renal function, left ventricular hypertrophy, and systolic dysfunction. cTnT alone had better predictive value than C-reactive protein (CRP) alone for mortality [area under the ROC curve (AUC) 0.774 vs 0.691; P = 0.089] and first CVE (AUC 0.711 vs 0.593; P = 0.009) at 3 years. Survival models including age, sex, and clinical, biochemical, and echocardiographic characteristics yielded AUCs of 0.813 (95% CI, 0.748–0.877), 0.800 (95% CI, 0.726–0.874), and 0.769 (95% CI, 0.708–0.830), respectively, in relation to all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, and fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events. After addition of cTnT, AUCs of the above models increased significantly to 0.832 (95% CI, 0.669–0.894; P = 0.0037), 0.810 (95% CI, 0.739–0.883; P = 0.0036), and 0.780 (95% CI, 0.720–0.840; P = 0.0002), respectively; no AUCs increased when CRP was added.Conclusions: cTnT is an independent predictor of long-term mortality, cardiovascular death and events, and noncardiovascular death in PD patients.
Suppression of Prepotent Motor Responses Implicate Frontostriatal Dysfunction in Schizophrenia and Its Subtypes
Authors: Oram Joanne , Geffen Gina M. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractSchizophrenia has been identified as a disorder of the frontostriatal system with impairments in both sustained and selective attention (Bradshaw, 2001). The Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART), which required occasional withholding of an ongoing frequent response when a specified digit occurred, was completed by patients with a clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia (N = 52) and matched controls (N = 46). Relative to controls, participants with schizophrenia responded less frequently and made more impulsive errors. Their correct responses were slower on average, with greater variability in timing. Speed of response was unrelated to neuroleptic medication dosage. The slow responses exhibited by patients with schizophrenia were interpreted as reflecting primarily motor frontostriatal circuit dysfunction, and dysfunction of the lateral orbitofrontal/anterior cingulate circuit is implicated in poor impulse control. To address the heterogeneity of symptoms in schizophrenia, symptom dimension scores (positive, negative and disorganised) were used to determine whether symptom dimensions were associated with differential performance on the SART. Higher negative symptoms were related to increased miss errors on the SART whereas higher disorganised and positive symptom scores were unrelated to performance on this measure. An association between negative symptoms and increased miss errors may be considered indicative of dysfunction of the anterior cingulate circuit, considered to be linked to response inattention, apathy, reduced initiative and focused attention. Implications of this research for understanding the neuroanatomical basis for schizophrenia and its subtypes are discussed.
Anosmia After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Clinical Update
Authors: Drummond Melanie , Douglas Jacinta , Olver John 
Published: March 2007

AbstractMost people only recognise the value of olfactory function after it is lost. In the context of traumatic brain injury with its far-reaching physical, cognitive, behavioural and emotional sequelae, posttraumatic olfactory dysfunction is an additional consequence that many survivors have to face as they adjust to a changed life situation. The aim of this article is to provide an update on posttraumatic anosmia for clinicians working in the area of brain injury rehabilitation. Brief reviews of incidence studies and causal mechanisms of olfactory impairment after brain injury are provided. Consequences of anosmia in the domains of safety, eating, personal hygiene, leisure, work and relationships with associated adaptive strategies are described.
Surface‐Enhanced Vibrational Spectroscopy: SERS and SEIRA
Authors: Futamata Masayuki 
Published: March 2007

AbstractWith respect to the origin of single‐molecule sensitivity in surface‐enhanced Raman scattering, elastic scattering and emission spectra were investigated for Ag particles adsorbed with dye. The scattering peak observed at 600–650 nm was extinguished during the inactivation process of an enormous SERS signal, whereas localized surface plasmon (LSP) peaks located at 520 nm and 730 nm did not change significantly. The scattering peak at 600–650 nm arises from increased electromagnetic coupling between the LSP of adjacent Ag particles through dye molecules. In addition, distinct emission peaks were observed at 550–600 nm and 600–750 nm for hot Ag particles with adsorbates. These bands were attributed to emissive relaxation of metal electrons and fluorescence of molecules, respectively. Furthermore, the shorter wavelength peak showed invariant Stokes shift irrespective of excitation wavelengths, most probably arising from inelastic scattering of excited electrons by adsorbed molecules.The adsorbed state of CO and related species on the Pt film electrode was investigated using attenuated total reflection—surface‐enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy. Intermediate species were found on the bare Pt surface in 1 mM CH3OH + HClO4 solutions at +0.2 V ≤ E ≤ +0.6 V that give absorption peaks at 1405 cm−1 and 1300 cm−1. These bands can be attributed to carbonate species or ‐COH. Water molecules located at the hydrophobic interfaces between CO and electrolyte solutions were evidenced by a quite high OH stretch absorption at 3664–3646 cm−1, as well as a lower broad peak at ca. 3480 cm−1.
Surface‐Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) of Microorganisms
Authors: Zeiri Leila , Efrima Shlomo 
Published: March 2007

AbstractNormal Raman (NR) spectra and surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra were obtained for the bacterium Escherichia coli and were compared with those of two other microorganisms, Haloferax volcanii and Thiobacillus neapolitanus. It was found that at 514 nm the SERS of E. coli was similar to that of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). Upon increasing the excitation wavelength, contributions from other cell components became evident, and they were attributed to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) or other adenine‐containing molecules in the bacterium. A comprehensive study of FAD, riboflavin (RF), NAD, and adenine under various experimental conditions was thus performed to shed light on the features in the SERS obtained for E. coli. Comparison of NR and SERS measurements of the various samples enabled a better understanding of the SERS spectra and their sensitivity to the specific experimental conditions (excess metal ion concentration and laser excitation wavelengths and intensity). It was concluded that SERS is a highly sensitive technique and that careful examination of the spectra can provide important chemical information.
Trends in Characteristics and Country of Origin Among Foreign-Trained Nurses in the United States, 1990 and 2000
Authors: Polsky Daniel , Ross Sara J. , Brush Barbara L. , Sochalski Julie 
Published: March 2007

Objectives. We describe long-term trends in the characteristics of foreign-trained new entrants to the registered nurse (RN) workforce in the United States. Methods. Using the 1990 and 2000 US Census 5% Public Use Microdata Sample files, we compared trends in characteristics of US- and foreign-trained new entrants to the RN labor force (n=40827) and identified trends in the country of origin of the foreign-trained new entrants. Results. Foreign-trained RNs grew as a percentage of new entrants to the RN workforce, from 8.8% in 1990 to 15.2% in 2000. Compared with US-trained RNs, foreign-trained RNs were 3 times as likely to work in nursing homes and were more likely to have earned a bachelor’s degree. In 2000, 21% of foreign-trained RNs originated from low-income countries, a doubling of the rate since 1990. Conclusions. Foreign-trained RNs now account for a substantial and growing proportion of the US RN workforce. Our findings suggest foreign-trained RNs entering the United States are not of lower quality than US-trained RNs. However, growth in the proportion of RNs from low-income countries may have negative consequences in those countries.
Effects of the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s Marijuana Initiative Campaign on High-Sensation-Seeking Adolescents
Authors: Palmgreen Philip , Lorch Elizabeth P. , Stephenson Michael T. , Hoyle Rick H. , Donohew Lewis 
Published: March 2007

Objectives. We evaluated the effects of the Marijuana Initiative portion of the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign on high-sensation-seeking and low-sensation-seeking adolescents. Methods. Personal interviews were conducted via laptop computers with independent monthly random samples of 100 youths from the same age cohort in each of 2 moderate-sized communities over 48 months (April 1999–March 2003) of the campaign, including the critical first 6 months of the 9-month initiative. The start of the initiative was treated as an “interruption” in time-series analyses of the combined community sample. Results. The Marijuana Initiative reversed upward developmental trends in 30-day marijuana use among high-sensation-seeking adolescents (P<.001) and significantly reduced positive marijuana attitudes and beliefs in this at-risk population. Use of control substances was not affected. As expected, low-sensation-seeking adolescents had low marijuana-use levels, and the campaign had no detectable effects on them. Other analyses indicated that the initiative’s dramatic depiction of negative consequences of marijuana use was principally responsible for its effects on high-sensation-seeking youths. Conclusions. Substance use prevention campaigns can be effective within an approach using dramatic negative-consequence messages targeted to high-sensation seekers.
Socioeconomic Position, Co-Occurrence of Behavior-Related Risk Factors, and Coronary Heart Disease: the Finnish Public Sector Study
Authors: Kivimäki Mika , Lawlor Debbie A. , Smith George Davey , Kouvonen Anne , Virtanen Marianna , Elovainio Marko , Vahtera Jussi 
Published: March 2007

Objectives. We examined the associations between socioeconomic position, co-occurrence of behavior-related risk factors, and the effect of these factors on the relative and absolute socioeconomic gradients in coronary heart disease. Methods. We obtained the socioeconomic position of 9337 men and 39 255 women who were local government employees aged 17–65 years from employers’ records (the Public Sector Study, Finland). A questionnaire survey in 2000–2002 was used to collect data about smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, obesity, and prevalence of coronary heart disease (myocardial infarction or angina diagnosed by a doctor). Results. The age-adjusted odds of coronary heart disease were 2.1–2.2 times higher for low-income groups than high-income groups for both men and women, and adjustment for risk factors attenuated these associations by 13%–29%. There was no further attenuation with additional adjustment for the number of co-occurring risk factors, although socioeconomic disadvantage was associated with the co-occurrence of multiple risk factors. The absolute difference in coronary heart disease risk between socioeconomic groups could not be attributed to the measured risk factors. Conclusions. Interventions to reduce adult behavior-related risk factors may not completely remove socioeconomic differences in relative or absolute coronary heart disease risk, although they would lessen these effects.
Race and the Politics of Polio
Authors: Rogers Naomi 
Published: March 2007

The Tuskegee Institute opened a polio center in 1941, funded by the March of Dimes. The center’s founding was the result of a new visibility of Black polio survivors and the growing political embarrassment around the policy of the Georgia Warm Springs polio rehabilitation center, which Franklin Roosevelt had founded in the 1920s before he became president and which had maintained a Whites-only policy of admission. This policy, reflecting the ubiquitous norm of race-segregated health facilities of the era, was also sustained by a persuasive scientific argument about polio itself: that Blacks were not susceptible to the disease. After a decade of civil rights activism, this notion of polio as a White disease was challenged, and Black health professionals, emboldened by a new integrationist epidemiology, demanded that in polio, as in American medicine at large, health care should be provided regardless of race, color, or creed.
Overview of Pharmacogenetics
Authors: Katz David A. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractPharmacogenetics is the study of relationships between genetic variation and inter‐individual differences with respect to drug response. As the field has matured over the past 15 years, a remarkable diversity of pathways, variation types, and mechanisms have been found to be relevant pharmacogenetic factors. Today, pharmacogenetics is becoming more important in pharmacology for target validation, lead optimization, and understanding of idiosyncratic toxicity. This unit provides an overview of the history of pharmacogenetics and current research applications in drug discovery, as well as a discussion of research quality issues relevant to human subjects research in the pharmacogenetics laboratory.
A Convenient Stereochemical Notation for P‐Chiral Nucleotide Analogs
Authors: Sobkowski Michal , Stawinski Jacek , Kraszewski Adam 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe DP/LP convention is a stereochemical notation for P‐chiral nucleotide analogs and related compounds. In contrast to the absolute RP/SP notation, the DP/LP system is based on a geometrical relationship between substituents in a dinucleoside monophosphate skeleton. The DP/LP notation is a convenient alternative to the RP/SP notation for stereochemical correlation analysis of physical, chemical, and biological properties of nucleotide and oligonucleotide analogs bearing any type of tri‐ or tetra‐coordinated phosphorus moiety.
Maintenance and In Vitro Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells to Form Blood Vessels
Authors: Kappas Nicholas C. , Bautch Victoria L. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractEmbryonic stem (ES) cells, which are derived from developing mouse blastocysts, have the capacity to give rise to all cell types in the adult body. The ability of ES cells to do so has opened the door for novel experimental approaches in the field of developmental biology. Under appropriate culture conditions, ES cells will differentiate and form embryoid bodies (EBs). Upon attachment to a permissive surface, EBs continue a programmed differentiation, and many of the cells differentiated from the EBs reflect those found in the developing embryo and yolk sac, such as hematopoietic cells, endoderm, and endothelial cells. Endothelial cells that arise during ES cell differentiation have the potential to form primitive blood vessels, comparable to the vessels that first form in vivo. This unit describes protocols for maintaining ES cells and the subsequent differentiation of EBs. This unit also provides methods for analyzing vascular marker expression in differentiated ES cultures.