bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Increasing Mixed Chimerism Is an Important Prognostic Factor for Unfavorable Outcome in Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia After Allogeneic Stem-Cell Transplantation: Possible Role For Pre-Emptive Immunotherapy?
Authors: Bader Peter , Kreyenberg Hermann , Hoelle Walter , Dueckers Gregor , Handgretinger Rupert , Lang Peter , Kremens Bernhard , Dilloo Dagmar , Sykora Karl-Walter , Schrappe Martin , Niemeyer Charlotte , von Stackelberg Arend , Gruhn Bernd , Henze Günter , Greil Johann , Niethammer Dietrich , Dietz Klaus , Beck James F. , Klingebiel Thomas 
Published: April 2004

Purpose We recently reported that children with acute leukemias who show increasing mixed chimerism (MC) after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation have a significantly enhanced risk of relapse. Here we present the results of a prospective multicenter study to investigate (1) whether relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) can be determined in advance by serial analysis of chimerism, and (2) if outcome can be influenced by withdrawal of immunosuppression and/or by low-dose donor lymphocyte infusion when increasing MC is detected. Patients and Methods Serial and quantitative analysis of chimerism was performed using a fluorescent-based short-tandem-repeat–polymerase chain reaction in 163 children with ALL. Results One hundred one patients revealed complete chimerism (CC) or low-level MC (CC/low-level MC); increasing MC was found in 46 patients; and decreasing MC, in 16 patients. Relapse was significantly more frequent in patients with increasing MC (26 of 46) than in patients with CC/low-level MC (eight of 101) or in patients with decreasing MC (0 of 16; P < .0001). The probability of 3-year event-free survival (EFS) was 54% for all patients, 66% for patients with CC/low-level MC (n = 101), 66% for patients with decreasing MC (n = 16), and 23% for patients with increasing MC (n = 46; P < .0001). Of the 46 patients with increasing MC, 31 received immunotherapy. This group had a significantly higher 3-year EFS estimate (37%) than the 15 patients who did not receive immunotherapy (0%; P < .001). Conclusion Serial analysis of chimerism reliably identifies patients at highest risk to relapse. The 3-year EFS of patients with increasing MC without immunotherapy was 0%, by which overt relapse could be prevented in a considerable group of patients.
Laboratory and Clinical Evidence of Synergistic Cytotoxicity of Sequential Treament With Gemcitabine Followed by Docetaxel in the Treatment of Sarcoma
Authors: Leu Kirsten M. , Ostruszka Leo J. , Shewach Donna , Zalupski Mark , Sondak Vernon , Biermann J. Sybil , Lee Julia Shin-Jung , Couwlier Carol , Palazzolo Krisinda , Baker Laurence H. 
Published: April 2004

Purpose A recent report of the combination of gemcitabine and docetaxel described favorable results in patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma. The objective of this report is to describe experience with this combination in a variety of histologic subtypes of sarcoma. Additionally, cell-culture studies were performed to assess the effect of the sequence of drug administration on colony formation. Patients and Methods A medical record review of 35 patients receiving the gemcitabine/docetaxel combination was undertaken. Gemcitabine 675 mg/m2 intravenously was administered over 90 minutes on days 1 and 8, and docetaxel 100 mg/m2 intravenously was administered over 60 minutes on day 8 of a 21-day cycle. Cell culture studies using the SAOS-2 osteosarcoma cell line and MCF-7 breast cancer cell line were also performed. Gemcitabine and docetaxel were added to cells either simultaneously for 24 hours, gemcitabine for 24 hours followed by docetaxel for 24 hours, or the reverse sequence. Results Thirty-five patients were treated. Five complete responses and 10 partial responses were observed for an overall response rate of 43%. Responses occurred in uterine, extremity, and retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma, osteosarcomas, angiosarcomas, malignant fibrous histiocytomas, malignant peripheral-nerve sheath tumors, and Ewing's sarcoma. In the cell culture studies, gemcitabine followed by docetaxel provided synergy. In contrast, the administration of drugs simultaneously resulted in antagonism, and docetaxel followed by gemcitabine provided mixed results. Conclusion The combination of gemcitabine and docetaxel seems to be active in a variety of sarcomas. A multicenter, randomized clinical trial in soft tissue sarcoma comparing gemcitabine alone with this combination, is ongoing.
Randomized Phase III Trial of Pemetrexed Versus Docetaxel in Patients With Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer Previously Treated With Chemotherapy
Authors: Hanna Nasser , Shepherd Frances A. , Fossella Frank V. , Pereira Jose R. , De Marinis Filippo , von Pawel Joachim , Gatzemeier Ulrich , Tsao Thomas Chang Yao , Pless Miklos , Muller Thomas , Lim Hong-Liang , Desch Christopher , Szondy Klara , Gervais Radj , Shaharyar  , Manegold Christian , Paul Sofia , Paoletti Paolo , Einhorn Lawrence , Bunn Paul A. 
Published: April 2004

Purpose To compare the efficacy and toxicity of pemetrexed versus docetaxel in patients with advanced non—small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) previously treated with chemotherapy. Patients and Methods Eligible patients had a performance status 0 to 2, previous treatment with one prior chemotherapy regimen for advanced NSCLC, and adequate organ function. Patients received pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) day 1 with vitamin B12, folic acid, and dexamethasone or docetaxel 75 mg/m2 IV day 1 with dexamethasone every 21 days. The primary end point was overall survival. Results Five hundred seventy-one patients were randomly assigned. Overall response rates were 9.1% and 8.8% (analysis of variance P = .105) for pemetrexed and docetaxel, respectively. Median progression-free survival was 2.9 months for each arm, and median survival time was 8.3 versus 7.9 months (P = not significant) for pemetrexed and docetaxel, respectively. The 1-year survival rate for each arm was 29.7%. Patients receiving docetaxel were more likely to have grade 3 or 4 neutropenia (40.2% v 5.3%; P < .001), febrile neutropenia (12.7% v 1.9%; P < .001), neutropenia with infections (3.3% v 0.0%; P = .004), hospitalizations for neutropenic fever (13.4% v 1.5%; P < .001), hospitalizations due to other drug related adverse events (10.5% v 6.4%; P = .092), use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support (19.2% v 2.6%, P < .001) and all grade alopecia (37.7% v 6.4%; P < .001) compared with patients receiving pemetrexed. Conclusion Treatment with pemetrexed resulted in clinically equivalent efficacy outcomes, but with significantly fewer side effects compared with docetaxel in the second-line treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC and should be considered a standard treatment option for second-line NSCLC when available.
The antioxidant drink “effective microorganism-X (EM-X)” pre-treatment attenuates the loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesion rat model of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Datla K. P. , Bennett R. D. , Zbarsky V. , Ke B. , Liang Y.-F. , Hig T. , Bahorun T. , Aruoma O. I. , Dexter D. T. 
Published: April 2004

Abstract
There is continued interest in the assessment and potential use of antioxidants as neuroprotective agents in diseases associated with increased oxidative stress, such as Parkinson's disease. The neuroprotective effect of a natural antioxidant drink, EM-X (a ferment derivative of unpolished rice, papaya and seaweeds with effective microorganisms), was investigated using the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesion rat model of Parkinson's disease. The nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons were unilaterally lesioned with 6-OHDA (8 μg) in rats that were treated with a 10-times diluted EM-X drink (dilEM-X), standard EM-X drink (stdEM-X) or tap water for 4 days. Seven days post lesion, the integrity (no. of tyrosine hydroxylase positive cells (TH+ cells) in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc)) and functionality (dopamine and its metabolites DOPAC and HVA content in the striata) of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons were assessed. In the vehicle-treated rats, infusion of 8 μg of 6-OHDA significantly reduced the number of TH+ cells in the SNpc as well as the levels of dopamine, DOPAC and HVA in the striata on the lesion side. The loss of TH+ cells, dopamine and HVA, but not the DOPAC levels, was significantly attenuated by stdEM-X pretreatment, but not by the dilEM-X pretreatment. There were no significant changes in the TH+ cells, or in the monoamine levels with the EM-X pretreatment per se, except for a small but significant fall in the levels of dopamine with the stdEM-X. The evidence presented supports the potential neuroprotective effects of stdEM-X drink, although its effect on dopamine levels needs further investigation.
Chronic caffeine intake affects lysozyme activity and immune cells in mice
Authors: Ramanaviciene Almira , Acaite Juzefa , Ramanavicius Arunas 
Published: April 2004

Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the effect of caffeine on the activity of lysozyme and some immune parameters of mice. The mice were divided into five groups. Group 1, the control group, was given water. The other four groups were administered various concentrations of caffeine by oral intubation (group 2, 2 mg kg−1; group 3, 20 mg kg−1; group 4, 40 mg kg−1; group 5, 200 mg kg−1). It was found that the activity of lysozyme in the serum depended on the caffeine dose. Compared with the control (group 1), lysozyme activity was 1.4-times higher in group 2, 1.6-times higher in the group 3, and 1.8-times higher in groups 4 and 5 (P &lt; 0.05). In group 3 a significant increase in spleen weight was detected and the spleen index was 2.1-times (P &lt; 0.05) higher compared with control. In group 3 the number of monocytes and neutrophils was 2.5-times higher (P &lt; 0.05) compared with control. In group 5 the caffeine increased the number of neutrophils 2.7-times and increased the number of eosinophils 4.6-times (P &lt; 0.05) compared with control. Our study revealed that caffeine played an important role in the development of protective immune response.
In-vitro permeation of the Insect repellent N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) and the sunscreen oxybenzone
Authors: Gu Xiaochen , Kasichayanula Sreeneeranj , Fediuk Daryl J. , Burczynski Frank J. 
Published: April 2004

Abstract
The permeation behaviours of the insect repellent N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) and the sunscreen oxybenzone were assessed in a series of in-vitro diffusion studies, using piglet skin and poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) membrane. The transmembrane permeability of DEET and oxybenzone across piglet skin and PDMS membrane was dependent on dissolving vehicles and test concentrations. An enhanced permeation increase across piglet skin was found for DEET and oxybenzone when both compounds were present in the same medium (DEET: 289% in propylene glycol, 243% in ethanol and 112% in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-400); oxybenzone: 139% in PEG-400, 120% in propylene glycol and 112% in ethanol). Permeation enhancement was also observed in PDMS membrane (DEET: 207% in ethanol, 124% in PEG-400 and 107% in propylene glycol; oxybenzone: 254%in PEG-400, 154% in ethanol and 105% in propylene glycol). PDMS membrane was found to be a suitable candidate for in-vitro diffusion evaluations. This study shows that the permeations of the insect repellent DEET and the sunscreen oxybenzone were synergistically enhanced when they were applied simultaneously.
Learning from the US? The influence of American ideas upon ‘new labour’ thinking on welfare reform
Authors: Deacon Alan 
Published: April 2004

English
This article assesses how far New Labour thinking about welfare reform has been influenced by ideas and developments in the United States. Having entered office declaring its determination to ‘think the unthinkable’, the Blair administration has subsequently been in earnest pursuit of the workable. It has looked to the US for ideas about wage supplementation and- especially- welfare to work programmes. More broadly, the language in which these policies are presented and justified has drawn heavily upon that of US politicians and commentators. The article discusses the extent and the significance of this ‘Americanisation’ of the welfare debate. It argues that its most important consequence has been to sustain and enhance a moralism which is common to New Labour and Thatcherism, but distrusted by both ‘One Nation’ conservatism and ‘Old Labour’ social democracy.
The challenges of measuring the ethno-cultural diversity of Britain in the new millennium
Authors: Aspinall Peter 
Published: April 2004

English
During the next 50 years the ethnic diversity of Britain will increase in response to growing intermarriage, differential rates of natural increase, and continuing migration flows, especially of refugees. While religion is assuming a greater importance in the social identities of some minority ethnic groups, in others it is being displaced by an ethnic focus. In the upcoming decades the increasing sovereignty that people attach to self-identifiers and the demand for finer distinctions to accommodate hybridisation and generational changes will present substantial challenges to statistical agencies. New conceptual approaches are needed to capture this diversity and give service providers the robust data required to promote equal opportunities.
Examining the multidimensionality of approaches to learning through the development of a revised version of the Learning Process Questionnaire
Authors: Kember David , Biggs John , Leung Doris Y. P. 
Published: April 2004

Aim: This study aimed to produce a revised two‐factor version of the Learning Process Questionnaire (R‐LPQ‐2F) with deep and surface approach scales, measured by a reasonably small number of items, suitable for use by teachers in secondary schools to evaluate the learning approaches of their students.Method: A set of 41 items was derived, with modification, from the original version of the LPQ and from items used to develop the revised version of the SPQ. These items were tested using reliability procedures and confirmatory factor analysis and items were deleted until scales were of a suitable length and confirmatory factor analysis indicated a good fit to the intended two‐factor structure.Sample: The sample consisted of 841 students from 20 secondary schools in Hong Kong.Results: The final two‐factor version of the questionnaire had good Cronbach alpha values and reasonable goodness‐of‐fit values for the confirmatory analysis. There was a much better fit, though, to a hierarchical structure with motive and strategy subscales for each approach, each of which, in turn, had two subcomponents.Conclusion: Approaches to learning have a hierarchical dimensionality with motive and strategy elements. Each motive and strategy element is itself multidimensional. The results are used to question the conventional approach to the testing and acceptance of instruments, which place sole reliance upon reliability tests. The use of confirmatory factor analysis is recommended as a routine procedure in the development and testing of instruments.
Attitudes to emotional expression and personality in predicting post‐traumatic stress disorder
Authors: Nightingale J. , Williams R. M. 
Published: April 2004

Objectives. To test hypotheses derived from a suggestion of Williams (1989) that negative attitudes towards emotional expression act as a predisposing or maintaining factor for post‐traumatic stress reactions following a traumatic event.Design. The study employed a prospective design in which attitudes to emotional expression, the ‘Big Five’ personality factors (Costa & McCrae, 1992a) and initial symptoms and injury severity within 1 week of a road traffic accident were used to predict the development of post‐traumatic stress disorder 6 weeks post‐accident.Method. Sixty victims of road traffic accidents randomly selected from attenders at a large A&E department were assessed by questionnaire and interview. Measures comprised a 4‐item scale relating to emotional expression, standardized scales for intrusion and avoidance features of traumatic experiences, and for anxiety and depression and the NEO‐FFI Five Factor Personality Inventory. Forty‐five of these participants responded to a postal questionnaire follow‐up. In this survey the battery was repeated and also included a self‐report diagnostic measure of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Results. The percentage of the sample meeting DSM‐IV diagnostic criteria for PTSD at 6 weeks post‐trauma was 30.8. A small but significant relationship was found for negative attitudes to emotional expression at 1 week to predict intrusive symptoms and diagnosis at 6 weeks, over and above the independent relationships of initial symptoms, initial injury severity, personality and coping. The emotional expression measure was largely stable between the two points of measurement. More negative attitudes to emotional expression were related to less openness, extraversion and agreeableness personality domains.Conclusions. Some support for the hypotheses was found in relation to the development of PTSD and for the status of attitudes to emotion as a stable trait related to personality factors. The potential importance of attitudes to emotional expression in therapy and other work is discussed.
Screening for memory problems in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Dent Alexandra , Lincoln Nadina B. 
Published: April 2004

Objectives. To assess the Brief, Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRB‐N) as a screening measure for memory problems in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).Design. Sensitivity and specificity values were calculated and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves plotted.Methods. Patients were recruited from the regional MS Management Clinic. The BRB‐N and WMS‐R were administered.Results. Using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and 10/36 Spatial Recall Test (10 36 SRT) Total Immediate recall, the BRB‐N had a sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 48%.Conclusion. The BRB‐N is sensitive at detecting memory impairments, although its specificity is low.
Sex‐role traits and self‐monitoring as dimensions of control: Women with bulimia nervosa vs. controls
Authors: Williams Robert J. , Taylor Jeff , Ricciardelli Lina A. 
Published: April 2004

Objective. The study investigated sex‐role traits and self‐monitoring styles as two dimensions of self‐control amongst women with bulimia nervosa and normal controls.Design and methods. The participants were 30 women with bulimia nervosa and 40 normal controls who completed questionnaires, which assessed bulimic symptoms, sex‐role traits, and Synder s Self‐Monitoring Scale.Results. Women with bulimia nervosa were found to identify more strongly than controls with negative feminine traits and Other Directedness, a style of self monitoring that focuses on pleasing others.Conclusions. These findings reinforce the notion that women with bulimia nervosa lack assertiveness skills and that the strategies they have developed in their interactions with others can be described as a Negative Yielding style of self control.
Radical Amination with Sulfonyl Azides: A Powerful Method for the Formation of CN Bonds
Authors: Panchaud Philippe , Chabaud Laurent , Landais Yannick , Ollivier Cyril , Renaud Philippe , Zigmantas Sarunas 
Published: April 2004

AbstractA novel reaction for the introduction of an azide moiety by means of a mild radical process is currently under development. Sulfonyl azides are suitable azidating agents for nucleophilic radicals, such as secondary and tertiary alkyl radicals. More electrophilic radicals, such as enolate radicals, do not react with sulfonyl azides. This feature allowed the development of efficient intra‐ and intermolecular carboazidations of olefins. Due to the versatility of the azido group, this reaction has an important synthetic potential, as already demonstrated by the preparation of the core of several alkaloids, particularly those containing an amino‐substituted quaternary carbon center, such as FR901483.
Bridging Nanogap Electrodes by In Situ Electropolymerization of a Bis(terthiophenylphenanthroline)ruthenium Complex
Authors: Araki Koiti , Endo Hiroaki , Masuda Gou , Ogawa Takuji 
Published: April 2004

AbstractA novel complex containing a 3,8‐bis[terthiophenyl‐(1,10‐phenanthroline)] ligand coordinated to [Ru(bpy)2] was synthesized and characterized by electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques. The complex was shown to be a suitable starting material for the electrodeposition of functionalized molecular wires between nanogap electrodes to generate stable molecular nanodevices. Temperature‐dependent nonlinear I–V curves were obtained at 80–300 K. The material can also be deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO) to form compact electrochromic films at surface concentrations lower than ≈1×10−8 mol cm2; however, a more loosely bond fibrous form is preferentially deposited at higher surface concentrations.
Octanuclear Oxothiomolybdate(V) Rings: Structure and Ionic‐Conducting Properties
Authors: du Peloux Charlotte , Dolbecq Anne , Barboux Philippe , Laurent Guillaume , Marrot Jérôme , Sécheresse Francis 
Published: April 2004

AbstractA family of alkali salts of octanuclear oxothiomolybdate rings has been synthesized by crystallization of the [Mo8S8O8(OH)8{HMO5(H2O)}]3− (noted HMo8M3−; M=Mo, W) and [Mo8S8O8(OH)8(C2O4)]2− (noted Mo8ox2−) anions in an aqueous solution of ACl (A=Li, Na, K, Rb). Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction experiments have been performed showing that the alkali salts exhibit a similar three‐dimensional structure. Disordered alkali ions form columns to which the anionic rings are anchored. Ionic‐conductivity measurements on pressed pellets have revealed two different behaviors. The lithium salts of HMo8M3− (M=Mo, W) are moderately good proton conductors at room temperature (σ=10−5 S cm−1) and the profile of conductivity as a function of relative humidity shows that the conductivity is due to surface‐proton motion (particle‐hydrate‐type mechanism). On the other hand, the lithium salt of Mo8ox2− competes with the best crystalline lithium conductors at room temperature (σ=10−3 S cm−1), and 7Li NMR experiments confirm the mobility of the lithium ions along the one‐dimensional channels of this material.
Highly Enantioselective Cr(salen)‐Catalyzed Mukaiyama Aldol Reaction: Construction of δ‐Hydroxy‐β‐keto Ester Derivatives.
Authors: Shimada Yuya , Matsuoka Yuko , Irie Ryo , Katsuki Tsutomu 
Published: April 2004

AbstractFor Abstract see ChemInform Abstract in Full Text.
A Portable Fill‐and‐Flow Channel Biosensor with an Electrode to Predict the Effect of Interferences
Authors: Zhao Min , Harding Ian S. , Hibbert D. Brynn , Gooding J. Justin 
Published: April 2004

AbstractA portable fill‐and‐flow channel biosensor with a “predictor electrode” is described. The predictor electrode, on the opposite channel wall and upstream of the detector electrode, allows direct evaluation of the current due to interfering species at the detector electrode. A model is developed which shows that the reaction at the upstream predictor electrode has no significant effect on the concentration distribution of the interfering species at the detector electrode. This enables a straightforward correction of the current at the detector electrode and a determination of the analyte concentration. The effect of interference from ascorbic acid in the detection of glucose in samples was efficiently removed by using such a concept. The recovery of glucose from samples containing ascorbic acid was 103% (s=12%, n=3). The approach was also applied to a biosensor for the determination of glucose in red wine samples containing polyphenolic interferents.