bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Urodynamic parameters after solifenacin treatment in men with overactive bladder symptoms and detrusor underactivity
Authors: Ronchi Piero , Gravina Giovanni Luca , Galatioto Giuseppe Paradiso , Costa Alessia Mariagrazia , Martella Oreste , Vicentini Carlo 
Published: July 2008

AbstractAimsTo describe the changes in urodynamic parameters and to assess patients' perceptions of voiding difficulties and improvements in symptom bother after solifenacin treatment in men with overactive bladder (OAB) and detrusor underactivity (DUA).MethodsIn this prospective study, 49 neurologically intact men were enrolled. DUA was defined as a bladder contractility index (BCI) <100. All subjects received 5 mg of solifenacin once a day for 120 days. A complete urodynamic study was carried out on the day before to the first dose of solifenacin and at day 120.ResultsSolifenacin treatment resulted in a decrease in Qmax during UDS (−0.6 ml/sec; P = 0.007), PdetQmax (−6.4 cmH2O; P < 0.001), BOOI (−7.5; P < 0.001), BCI (−3.8; P = 0.001), BVE (−4.4%; P = 0.006), and voided volume (−7.5 ml; P = 0.09). On the contrary, PVR (+6 ml; P = 0.152), and maximum cystometric capacity (+22.9 ml; P = 0.001) increased. The regression analysis suggested that changes in urodynamic parameters after solifenacin treatment were limited for BOOI (9.4%), PdetQmax (8.4%), and BCI (6.5%), with no significant impact on Qmax during UDS, BVE, volume voided and PVR. No significant change in subjective perception of voiding difficulties was found. The incidence of AUR was 2.2% and improvement in patient's experience of OAB symptoms bother after solifenacin treatment was observed.ConclusionsSolifenacin treatment results in changes of urodynamic parameters. These changes, however, seem not to be of clinical significance as suggested by the lack of subjective deterioration in voiding difficulties and by the low incidence of AUR. Neurourol. Urodynam. 28:52–57, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Extreme versus quotidian: addressing temporal dichotomies in Philippine disaster management
Authors: Delfin Francisco G. , Gaillard Jean‐Christophe 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBrief narratives of two recent events in Luzon island—a flashflood in Angeles City and an eruption of Mayon volcano—underscore the disparity between natural hazards as amplifiers of everyday hardship for many Filipinos and the Philippine disaster management system's orientation towards extreme‐event response. Three major factors contribute to this dichotomy. First, population dynamics combined with the lack of access to resources compels poor Filipinos to live and work in hazardous areas, discounting risk from extreme natural events to focus on daily needs. Second, the institutional setting of the country's disaster management within the military establishment makes it difficult, though not impossible, to focus and address the underlying causes of vulnerability. Third, existing modes of funding disaster expenditures are all biased towards immediate response rather than long‐term risk‐reduction. The implications of these findings to disaster management and research in the Philippines are identified. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An empirical approach to the optimal size of the civil service
Authors: Rajaraman Indira , Saha Debdatta 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThis article attempts a purely empirical approach to the issue of optimal civil service size by looking for a systematic relationship between observed size and underlying explanators. The residuals from such a fitted relationship then serve as a first approximation to whether the government in question is overstaffed or not. The data are from Indian subnational states, which as members of a single federation, follow the same definitional conventions with respect to the civil service. The contribution of the article is methodological, and addresses an issue of central importance, since staff downsizing conditionalities attached to externally funded structural adjustment programmes are not analytically underpinned. The article also explores issues surrounding the composition of the civil service. There is no evidence that overstaffing, as determined from the residuals of the estimated specification, is the joint outcome along with staff composition, as proxied by mean salary, of job creation pressures at the lower salary scales. This suggests that correction of overstaffing might be possible without political opposition, while at the same time leaving unexplained the variation in staff composition across states. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Decentralisation and corruption: evidence from drinking water sector
Authors: Asthana Anand n. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThis article presents empirical findings regarding the relationship between decentralisation of provision of water supply and corruption in provision of services. The current policy advice from the international agencies of aiming for decentralisation as an end in itself is questioned. The conventional wisdom that decentralisation brings management closer to the service recipients and is therefore likely to reduce corruption is also disputed. Drawing on a large database from two large Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the interaction between various actors is analysed. We find that the level of corruption in water supply agencies run by local governments is higher than that in the agencies run by the regional government. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Breast cancer special types: why bother?
Authors: Reis‐Filho JS , Lakhani SR 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBreast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, encompassing multiple entities associated with distinct biological features and clinical behaviours. Microarray‐based expression profiling analysis has been used to unravel the molecular underpinning of several characteristics of breast cancer, including its proclivity to disseminate to distant sites and the molecular basis of histological grade. Furthermore, a breast cancer molecular classification based on transcriptional analysis has been proposed. However, microarray studies have primarily analysed invasive ductal carcinomas of no special type. Histological special types of breast cancer, which account for up to 25% of all invasive breast cancers, have not been systematically studied. Despite the limited interest, in recent years it has become apparent that the histopathological characteristics of these cancers may be underpinned by distinct arrays of genetic changes, providing direct evidence for genotypic–phenotypic correlations between morphological patterns and molecular changes in breast cancer (eg t(12;15) in secretory carcinoma of the breast). Here we review the molecular characteristics of special types of breast cancer, with special emphasis on their microarray‐based expression profiles and their impact on our understanding of breast cancer. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification of CXCL13 as a new marker for follicular dendritic cell sarcoma
Authors: Vermi W , Lonardi S , Bosisio D , Uguccioni M , Danelon G , Pileri S , Fletcher C , Sozzani S , Zorzi F , Arrigoni G , Doglioni C , Ponzoni M , Facchetti F 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe homeostatic chemokine CXCL13 is preferentially produced in B‐follicles and is crucial in the lymphoid organ development by attracting B‐lymphocytes that express its selective receptor CXCR5. Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) have been identified as the main cellular source of this chemokine in lymphoid organs. Recently, genome‐wide approaches have suggested follicular CD4 T‐helper cells (THF) as additional CXCL13 producers in the germinal centre and the neoplastic counterpart of THF (CD4+ tumour T‐cells in angioimmunoblastic T‐cell lymphoma) retains the capability of producing this chemokine. In contrast, no data are available on CXCL13 expression on FDC sarcoma (FDC‐S) cells. By using multiple approaches, we investigated the expression of CXCL13 at mRNA and protein level in reactive and neoplastic FDCs. In reactive lymph nodes and tonsils, CXCL13 protein is mainly expressed by a subset of FDCs in B‐cell follicles. CXCL13 is maintained during FDC transformation, since both dysplastic FDCs from 13 cases of Castleman's disease and neoplastic FDCs from ten cases of FDC‐S strongly and diffusely express this chemokine. This observation was confirmed at mRNA level by using RT‐PCR and in situ hybridization. Of note, no CXCL13 reactivity was observed in a cohort of epithelial and mesenchymal neoplasms potentially mimicking FDC‐S. FDC‐S are commonly associated with a dense intratumoural inflammatory infiltrate and immunohistochemistry showed that these lymphocytes express the CXCL13 receptor CXCR5 and are mainly of mantle zone B‐cell derivation (IgD+ and TCL1+). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that CXCL13 is produced by dysplastic and neoplastic FDCs and can be instrumental in recruiting intratumoural CXCR5+ lymphocytes. In addition to the potential biological relevance of this expression, the use of reagents directed against CXCL13 can be useful to properly identify the origin of spindle cell and epithelioid neoplasms. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Induction of centrosome amplification and chromosome instability in p53‐deficient lung cancer cells exposed to benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (B[a]PDE)
Authors: Shinmura K , Iwaizumi M , Igarashi H , Nagura K , Yamada H , Suzuki M , Fukasawa K , Sugimura H 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBenzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (B[a]PDE), the ultimate carcinogenic metabolite of benzo[a] pyrene, has been implicated in the mutagenesis of the p53 gene involved in smoking‐associated lung cancer. To further understand the role of B[a]PDE in lung tumour progression, we investigated its effect on the numerical integrity of centrosomes and chromosome stability in lung cancer cells lacking p53. Exposure of p53‐deficient H1299 lung cancer cells to B[a]PDE resulted in S‐phase arrest, leading to abnormal centrosome amplification. Analysis of H1299 cells stably expressing fluorescence‐tagged centrin (a known centriolar marker) revealed that the centrosome amplification was primarily attributable to excessive centrosome duplication rather than to centriole splitting. Forced expression of POLK DNA polymerase, which has the ability to bypass B[a]PDE–guanine lesions in an error‐free manner, suppressed the B[a]PDE‐induced centrosome amplification. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses with probes specific for chromosomes 2, 3, and 16 revealed that B[a]PDE exposure also led to chromosome instability, which was likely to have resulted from centrosome amplification. We extended these findings to primary lung carcinomas containing non‐functional p53, and found a strong association between centrosome amplification and a high level of B[a]PDE–DNA accumulation. Therefore B[a]PDE contributes to neoplasia by inducing centrosome amplification and consequent chromosome destabilization as well as its mutagenic activity. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genome‐wide analysis of DNA copy number alterations and gene expression in gastric cancer
Authors: Tsukamoto Y , Uchida T , Karnan S , Noguchi T , Nguyen LT , Tanigawa M , Takeuchi I , Matsuura K , Hijiya N , Nakada C , Kishida T , Kawahara K , Ito H , Murakami K , Fujioka T , Seto M , Moriyama M 
Published: July 2008

AbstractGenomic copy number aberrations (CNAs) are believed to play a major role in the development and progression of human cancers. Although many CNAs have been reported in gastric cancer, their genome‐wide transcriptional consequences are poorly understood. In this study, to reveal the impact of CNAs on genome‐wide expression in gastric cancer, we analysed 30 cases of gastric cancers for their CNAs by array comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) and 24 of these 30 cases for their expression profiles by oligonucleotide‐expression microarray. We found that with the application of laser microdissection, most CNAs were detected at higher frequency than in previous studies. Notably, gain at 20q13 was detected in almost all cases (97%), suggesting that this may play an important role in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer. By comparing the array CGH data with expression profiles of the same samples, we showed that both genomic amplification and deletion strongly influence the expression of genes in altered genomic regions. Furthermore, we identified 125 candidate genes, consisting of 114 up‐regulated genes located in recurrent regions (>10%) of amplification and 11 down‐regulated genes located in recurrent regions of deletion. Up‐regulation of several candidate genes, such as CDC6, SEC61G, ANP32E, BYSL and FDFT1, was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Interestingly, some candidate genes were localized at genomic loci adjacent to well‐known genes such as EGFR, ERBB2 and SMAD4, and concordantly deregulated by genomic alterations. Based on these results, we propose that our list of candidate genes may contain novel genes involved in the pathogenesis of advanced gastric cancer. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification of potential serum markers for nasopharyngeal carcinoma from a xenografted mouse model using Cy‐dye labeling combined with three‐dimensional fractionation
Authors: Wu Chih‐Ching , Peng Pei‐Hua , Chang Ya‐Ting , Huang Yu‐Shan , Chang Kai‐Ping , Hao Sheng‐Po , Tsang Ngan‐Ming , Yeh Chau‐Ting , Chang Yu‐Sun , Yu Jau‐Song 
Published: July 2008

AbstractNasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), one of the most common cancers in Southeast Asia, is commonly diagnosed late due to its deep location and vague symptoms. To identify biomarkers for improving NPC diagnosis, we established a proteomic platform for detecting aberrant serum proteins in nude mice bearing NPC xenografts. We first removed the three most abundant proteins from serum samples of tumor‐bearing and control mice, and then labeled the samples with different fluorescent cyanine (Cy) dyes. The labeled serum proteins were then mixed equally and fractionated with ion‐exchange chromatography followed by SDS‐PAGE. Differentially expressed proteins were identified by in‐gel tryptic digestion and MALDI‐TOF MS. We identified peroxiredoxin 2 (Prx‐II) and carbonic anhydrase 2 (CA‐II) as being elevated in the xenograft mouse model compared to controls. Western blot analysis confirmed up‐regulation of Prx‐II and CA‐II in plasma from five NPC patients, and ELISA showed that plasma Prx‐II levels were significantly higher in NPC patients (n = 84) versus healthy controls (n = 90) (3.03 ± 4.47 versus 1.90 ± 2.74 μg/mL, p = 0.047). In conclusion, Cy dye labeling combined with three‐dimensional fractionation is a feasible strategy for identifying differentially expressed serum proteins in an NPC xenograft model, and Prx‐II may represent a potential NPC biomarker.
A proteomic characterization of water buffalo milk fractions describing PTM of major species and the identification of minor components involved in nutrient delivery and defense against pathogens
Authors: D'Ambrosio Chiara , Arena Simona , Salzano Anna Maria , Renzone Giovanni , Ledda Luigi , Scaloni Andrea 
Published: July 2008

AbstractWater buffalo has been studied in relation to the exclusive use of its milk for the manufacture of high‐quality dairy products. Buffalo milk presents physicochemical features different from that of other ruminant species, such as a higher content of fatty acids and proteins. We report here a detailed proteomic analysis of buffalo skim milk, whey and milk fat globule membrane fractions. Notwithstanding the poor information available on buffalo genome, identification of protein isoforms corresponding to 72 genes was achieved by a combined approach based on 2‐DE/MALDI‐TOF PMF and 1‐DE/μLC‐ESI‐IT‐MS‐MS. Major protein components, i.e. αSl‐, αS2‐, β‐, κ‐caseins, α‐lactalbumin and β‐lactoglobulin, were characterized for PTM, providing a scientific basis to coagulation/cheese making processes used in dairy productions. Minor proteins detected emphasized the multiple functions of milk, which besides affording nutrition to the newborn through its major components, also promotes development and digestive tract protection in the neonate, and ensures optimal mammary gland function in the mother. Defense against pathogens is guaranteed by an arsenal of antimicrobial/immunomodulatory proteins, which are directly released in milk or occur on the surface of secreted milk‐lipid droplets. Proteins associated with cell signaling or membrane/protein trafficking functions were also identified, providing putative insights into major secretory pathways in mammary epithelial cells.
Chemical Characterisation of Nitrogen‐Rich Plasma‐Polymer Films Deposited in Dielectric Barrier Discharges at Atmospheric Pressure
Authors: Girard‐Lauriault Pierre‐Luc , Desjardins Patrick , Unger Wolfgang E. S. , Lippitz Andreas , Wertheimer Michael R. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractWe have used an atmospheric pressure DBD apparatus to deposit novel families of N‐rich plasma polymers (PP:N), using mixtures of three different hydrocarbon precursors in nitrogen at varying respective gas flow ratios. This research focuses on the overall chemical characterisation of those materials, with specific attention to (semi)‐quantitative analysis of functional groups. Well‐established and some lesser‐known analytical techniques have been combined to provide the best possible chemical and structural characterisations of these three families of PP:N thin films, namely XPS, NEXAFS and FT‐IR spectroscopy.magnified image
Bronchial anomalies in VACTERL association
Authors: Kanu Adaobi , Tegay David , Scriven Richard 
Published: July 2008

AbstractVACTERL association is an acronym made of associated defects including vertebral anomalies, anal atresia, cardiac, tracheal–esophageal fistula, and renal/radial limb anomalies. Tracheal bronchus is a condition characterized by ectopic location of the right upper lobe bronchus at the mid to distal trachea. This condition is associated with congenital anomalies and has been reported in one previous case of VACTERL. We report another infant with VACTERL presenting with respiratory complications due to presence of tracheal bronchus. She also had a narrowed segment of her right main stem bronchus. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:930–932. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Methacholine challenge in children with sickle cell disease: A case series
Authors: Strunk Robert C. , Brown Michael Scott , Boyd Jessica H. , Bates Pamela , Field Joshua J. , DeBaun Michael R. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractLung disease is a major cause of morbidity in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). Asthma in children with SCD is associated with a twice greater rate of pain and acute chest syndrome (ACS) episodes when compared to children with SCD but without asthma. Provocation challenges with methacholine are used to diagnose asthma when spirometry is normal, bronchodilator reactivity is absent, or the clinical picture is ambiguous. There have been only limited descriptions of use of methacholine challenge in individuals with SCD. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 21 children with SCD and recurrent respiratory tract symptoms who were challenged with methacholine to determine if airway hyper responsiveness (AHR) was present. Fourteen (67%) of the children had a positive challenge. Of the 14 patients, four were given a new diagnosis of asthma based on the presence of chronic chest symptoms and the newly determined AHR and started on inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). In each positive challenge, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was reversed to at least 90% of baseline 15 min after bronchodilator treatment. Oxygen saturation decreased in 93% of those with a positive challenge, but returned to baseline values 15 min after bronchodilator treatment. No patient developed a pain or ACS episode within at least 1 month after the challenge. Evaluation of AHR with methacholine challenge in patients with SCD appears to be well tolerated and may elucidate a cause of SCD morbidity. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:924–929. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Correlation between structural and magnetic properties of half‐metallic spinel CuV2S4 due to the order–disorder transition of 3d2(t2g) orbitals of V3+ ions
Authors: Kumara L. S. R. , Hidaka M. , Tokiwa N. , Awaka J. , Hagino T. , Nagata S. , Park Young Jun 
Published: July 2008

AbstractStructural and magnetic properties of the spinel CuV2S4 have been studied by means of X‐ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation and measurements of magnetic susceptibility. The structural phase transitions occur at about 55 K and 90 K, and the superlattice reflections (h ± qo, k ± qo, l) having an orthorhombic reduced wavevector qo = (1/4, 1/4, 0) are observed at 10 K. This suggests that the structure below 55 K is a commensurate unit cell of 4ap × 4bp × cp, where the subscript ‘p’ means a pseudo‐spinel structure, and that the structural phase transitions are induced by the cooperative displacement of S ions in one‐dimensional VS6 octahedral chains, which are aligned along an orthorhombic [110] direction. The susceptibility also shows that the weak ferromagnetic transition occurs at about 90 K, and the spike‐like susceptibility is observed in the region of about 40 K and 55 K. The unusual electronic and magnetic properties of CuV2S4 in the low‐temperature phases below about 90 K are interpreted by order and disorder states of (3dxy, 3dyz, 3dzx) for the V3+ 3d2(t2g) orbitals in the VS6 octahedral chains. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Charge deep level transient spectroscopy of electron traps in MOVPE grown n‐GaN on sapphire
Authors: Mahmood Zahid Hasan , Shah A. P. , Kadir Abdul , Gokhale M. R. , Bhattacharya Arnab , Arora B. M. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractWe report investigation of electron traps in n‐GaN, grown on sapphire by metal organic vapour phase epitaxy, by using charge deep level transient spectroscopy (Q ‐DLTS). Measurements have been made isothermally by rate window scanning over the temperature range 300–370 K and for rate windows in the range 105 s–1 to 1 s–1. Two traps are observed in this range with (i) activation energies ∼0.58 eV and ∼0.45 eV and (ii) capture cross sections ∼2 × 10–15 cm2 and ∼3 × 10–19 cm2 respectively. The first of these defects has been observed in all of the DLTS investigations reported in the literature. However, the second trap has not been seen in majority of the earlier reports. Possible reasons for this difference are discussed. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
New ways to enhance the functionality of paperboard by surface treatment – a review
Authors: Andersson Caisa 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThis review summarizes recent development of functional materials to improve the barrier properties of paperboard with emphasis on bio‐based polymers. Focus is directed to novel application techniques and water‐borne, renewable coating materials. Some aspects on substrate properties and the requirements on food packaging are discussed as are the processability, convertability, recyclability and biodegradability of packaging materials. The functionality, advantages and disadvantages of several bio‐based polymers are presented in detail. Among these are starch and cellulose derivatives, chitosan, alginate, wheat gluten, whey proteins, polycaprolactone, poly(lactic acid) and polyhydroxyalkanoates. Also discussed is the enhancement of barrier properties by incorporation of nanosized materials, by application of thin protective top coatings and local reinforcement by self‐healing agents. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.