bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Iodine‐131 metaiodobenzylguanidine treatment for metastatic carcinoid
Authors: Safford Shawn D. , Coleman R. Edward , Gockerman Jon P. , Moore Joseph , Feldman Jerome , Onaitis Mark W. , Tyler Douglas S. , Olson John A. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractBACKGROUNDIodine‐131 metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I‐MIBG) is useful for imaging carcinoid tumors and recently has been applied to the palliative treatment of metastatic carcinoid in small studies. The authors now report their results on the therapeutic utility of high‐dose 131I‐MIBG treatment in a large group of patients with metastatic carcinoid tumors.METHODSThe authors performed a retrospective review of 98 patients with metastatic carcinoid who were treated at their institution with 131I‐MIBG over a 15‐year period. Endpoints examined included the World Health Organization criteria for treatment response: symptoms, hormone (5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid [5‐HIAA]) production, and clinical tumor response.RESULTSPatients received a median dose of 401 ± 202 millicuries (mCi) 131I‐MIBG. The median survival after treatment was 2.3 years. Patients who experienced a symptomatic response had improved survival (5.76 years vs. 2.09 years; P < 0.01). For the 56 patients who had 5‐HIAA levels monitored, the mean urine 5‐HIAA levels decreased significantly after 131I‐MIBG treatment (126 ± 122 ng/mL vs. 91 ± 125 ng/mL; P < 0.01); however, the patients with reduced 5‐HIAA levels did not experience improved survival (4.11 years vs. 3.42 years; P = 0.2). Patients who received an initial 131I‐MIBG dose > 400 mCi lived longer than patients who received < 400 mCi (4.69 years vs. 1.86 years; P = 0.05). Radiographic tumor response did not predict survival. Toxicity included pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia, nausea, and emesis.CONCLUSIONSThe current data support 131I‐MIBG treatment in select patients with metastatic carcinoid who progress despite optimal medical management. Improved survival was predicted best by symptomatic response to 131I‐MIBG treatment, but not by hormone or radiographic response. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Total Synthesis of Sequential Retro‐Peptide Oligomers
Authors: Ceretti Simone , Luppi Gianluigi , De Pol Silvia , Formaggio Fernando , Crisma Marco , Toniolo Claudio , Tomasini Claudia 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThe total synthesis of sequential oligomers of retro‐peptides of the general formula Boc(‐gGly‐mAib)n‐OBn, starting from dimethylmalonic acid, has been carried out in good overall yield. The key step is the formation of the gGly unit >N−CH2−N<, which is easily obtained in a one‐pot/three‐step reaction from BnO‐mAib‐Gly‐OH and diphenylphosphoryl azide. The synthesis of the sequential oligomers of RCO(‐gAla‐mAib)n‐OR′ was also attempted, but the oligomerization step failed because the gAla moiety readily decomposes or racemizes. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)
Acetylenes in Catalysis: Enantioselective Additions to Carbonyl Groups and Imines and Applications Beyond
Authors: Cozzi Pier Giorgio , Hilgraf Robert , Zimmermann Nicole 
Published: September 2004

AbstractAcetylenes represent a class of versatile building blocks, which are widely used in organic synthesis. Over the past years, a considerable number of publications have appeared that focus on the enantioselective addition of acetylenes to carbonyls and imines. In addition, novel applications for acetylenes have emerged in the literature. We herein present an overview of recent results in these areas. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)
Preparation of Intermediates for the Synthesis of Polycyclic Alkaloids: A New Access to the Azabicyclic Core of the Stemona Alkaloids
Authors: Cid Pau , Closa Montserrat , de March Pedro , Figueredo Marta , Font Josep , Sanfeliu Elena , Soria Angeles 
Published: September 2004

AbstractSeveral isoxazolidines, derived from the 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of α,β‐hexenolides to cyclic nitrones, were converted into the corresponding piperidine‐ and pyrrolidine‐oxepinones by reduction of the nitrogen−oxygen bond. The potential of the resulting amino alcohols as synthetic precursors of polycyclic alkaloids was explored. These intermediates provide a new access to the 1‐azabicyclo[5.3.0]decane core of the Stemona alkaloids. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)
Interface HostGuest Interaction Between Calix[4]pyrrole and Neutral Derivatives of Phenol as the Base for Their Potentiometric Discrimination
Authors: Radecki Jerzy , Radecka Hanna , Piotrowski Tomasz , Depraetere Stefaan , Dehaen Wim , Plavec Janez 
Published: September 2004

AbstractCalix[4]pyrrole liquid membrane electrodes display a potentiometric response towards the neutral form of phenol derivatives. They do not respond towards the corresponding anionic forms. The mechanism of the generation of the potentiometric signal relies on: (1) The creation of supramolecular complex calix[4]pyrrolenitrophenol at the organic/aqueous interface; (2) The increasing of the acidity of OH group from nitrophenol molecules due to formation of hydrogen bond between calix[4]pyrrolenitrophenol at the interface; (3) The dissociation of the OH group from calix[4]pyrrolenitrophenol complex and the ejection of H+ to the aqueous layer adjusted to the membrane organic phase boundary. The sensitivity and selectivity of the calix[4]pyrrole liquid membrane electrodes are governed by the lipophilicity and acidity of the phenolic guests. Also, the affinity to create a hydrogen bond between the host and the target molecule is a parameter which has a strong influence on the phenomena studied.
Electrocatalytic Determination of Vitamin C Using Calixarene Modified Carbon Paste Electrodes
Authors: Ijeri Vijaykumar S. , Algarra Manuel , Martins Ana 
Published: September 2004

AbstractEffect of in situ complexation of some ions with variable valencies, like Co(II), Ni(II), Mn(II), Cu(II) and Pb(II) on the the electrooxidation of Vitamin C (L‐ascorbic acid) was studied by cyclic voltammetry using carbon paste electrodes modified with p‐tert‐butylcalix[4]arene and p‐tert‐butylcalix[6]arene in perchloric acid, acetic acid and ammonium acetate media. Pb(II) was found to bind strongly with p‐tert‐butylcalix[4]arene in acetate medium, resulting in its being retained at the electrode surface and catalyzing the oxidation of ascorbic acid. The overpotential was reduced by about 200 mV with an increase in the peak currents. Linearity was observed over the range of 0.07–400 ppm with a detection limit of 30 ppb by differential pulse voltammetry. Interferences of some common substances like sugars and amino acids were studied and the modified electrode was used for the determination of vitamin C in commercial samples.
Asymmetry analysis of cingulum based on scale‐invariant parameterization by diffusion tensor imaging
Authors: Gong Gaolang , Jiang Tianzi , Zhu Chaozhe , Zang Yufeng , Wang Fei , Xie Sheng , Xiao Jiangxi , Guo Xuemei 
Published: September 2004

AbstractCurrent analysis of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is based mostly on a region of interest (ROI) in an image dataset, which is specified by users. This method is not always reliable, however, because of the uncertainty of manual specification. We introduce an improved fiber‐based scheme rather than an ROI‐based analysis to study in DTI datasets of 31 normal subjects the asymmetry of the cingulum, which is one of the most prominent white matter fiber tracts of the limbic system. The present method can automatically extract the quantitative anisotropy properties along the cingulum bundles from tractography. Moreover, statistical analysis was carried out after anatomic correspondence specific to the cingulum across subjects was established, rather than the traditional whole‐brain registration. The main merit of our method compared to existing counterparts is that to find such anatomic correspondence in cingulum, a scale‐invariant parameterization method by arc‐angle was proposed. It can give a continuous and exact description on any segment of cingulum. More interestingly, a significant left‐greater‐than‐right asymmetry pattern was obtained in most segments of cingulum bundle (−50–25 degrees), except in the most posterior portion of cingulum (25–50 degrees). Hum Brain Mapp 24:92–98, 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Distinguishing between heterogeneity and inefficiency: stochastic frontier analysis of the World Health Organization's panel data on national health care systems
Authors: Greene William 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThe most commonly used approaches to parametric (stochastic frontier) analysis of efficiency in panel data, notably the fixed and random effects models, fail to distinguish between cross individual heterogeneity and inefficiency. This blending of effects is particularly problematic in the World Health Organization's (WHO) panel data set on health care delivery, which is a 191 country, 5‐year panel. The wide variation in cultural and economic characteristics of the worldwide sample produces a large amount of unmeasured heterogeneity in the data. This study examines several alternative approaches to stochastic frontier analysis with panel data, and applies some of them to the WHO data. A more general, flexible model and several measured indicators of cross country heterogeneity are added to the analysis done by previous researchers. Results suggest that there is considerable heterogeneity that has masqueraded as inefficiency in other studies using the same data. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Isoform‐specific expression of 14‐3‐3 proteins in human lung cancer tissues
Authors: Qi Wenqing , Liu Xiaobing , Qiao Dianhua , Martinez Jesse D. 
Published: September 2004

Abstract14‐3‐3 Proteins play important roles in a wide range of vital regulatory processes, including signal transduction, apoptosis, cell cycle progression and DNA replication. In mammalian cells, 7 14‐3‐3 isoforms (β, γ, ϵ, η, σ, θ and ζ) have been identified and each of these seems to have distinct tissue localizations and isoform‐specific functions. Previous studies have shown that 14‐3‐3 protein levels are higher in human lung cancers as compared to normal tissues. It is unclear, however, which of the 14‐3‐3 isoform(s) are overexpressed in these cancers. In our study, the levels of all seven 14‐3‐3 isoforms were examined by RT‐PCR and Western blotting. We show that the message for only two isoforms, 14‐3‐3ϵ and ζ, could be detected in normal tissues. In lung cancer biopsies, however, four isoforms, 14‐3‐3β, γ, σ, and θ, in addition to 14‐3‐3ϵ and ζ, were present in abundance. The expression frequency of 14‐3‐3β, γ, σ and θ isoforms was 11, 10, 13 and 8 of the 14 biopsies examined, respectively. The data from immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting were consistent with the RT‐PCR results. Given the prevalence of elevated 14‐3‐3 expression in human lung cancers we propose that these proteins may be involved in lung cancer tumorigenesis and that specific 14‐3‐3 proteins may be useful as markers for lung cancer diagnosis and targets for therapy.
Epstein‐Barr virus‐encoded latent membrane protein 1 promotes stress‐induced apoptosis upstream of caspase‐2‐dependent mitochondrial perturbation
Authors: Zhang Xiangning , Uthaisang Wanlaya , Hu LiFu , Ernberg Ingemar T. , Fadeel Bengt 
Published: September 2004

AbstractPrevious studies have shown that Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV)‐encoded latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) enhances etoposide‐induced apoptosis in epithelial cells. Our study was undertaken to further dissect the modulation of tumor cell apoptosis by this viral protein. Using an inducible system of LMP1 expression in HeLa cells, we show herein that etoposide‐triggered apoptosis, as evidenced by nuclear condensation and caspase‐3 activation, is enhanced by LMP1. LMP1 also potentiates etoposide‐induced processing and activation of caspase‐2 in this model and enhances the dissipation of mitochondrial transmembrane potential and the release of cytochrome c in response to etoposide. Moreover, cisplatin‐triggered activation of caspases 2 and 3 is potentiated upon expression of LMP1. A similar LMP1‐mediated enhancement of cisplatin‐induced caspase activation was seen upon stable transfection of wild‐type LMP1 into the nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line, TW03. Finally, using deletion mutants of LMP1 to determine the region of LMP1 required for apoptosis potentiation, we found that amino acids 350–386 (located within the CTAR2 domain) were responsible for sensitizing cells to cisplatin. We conclude that LMP1‐dependent potentiation of stress‐induced apoptosis occurs at an early step in the apoptosis cascade, upstream of the activation of caspase‐2, and involves the C‐terminal signaling domain of LMP1. These findings could have important ramifications for the treatment of EBV‐associated malignancies of epithelial origin, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Maternal human polyomavirus infection and risk of neuroblastoma in the child
Authors: Stolt Annika , Kjellin Mimmi , Sasnauskas Kestutis , Luostarinen Tapio , Koskela Pentti , Lehtinen Matti , Dillner Joakim 
Published: September 2004

AbstractTo investigate if polyomavirus infection during pregnancy is linked to development of neuroblastoma in the child, serum samples of 115 index mothers from the pregnancy where the child eventually developed neuroblastoma were identified and matched with serum samples from 8 control mothers per index mother. The samples were tested for specific IgG and IgM antibodies to BK and JC virus using enzyme immunoassays based on purified yeast‐expressed virus‐like particles (VLPs). The serum samples as well as 10 neuroblastoma cell lines were also analyzed using Real Time (TaqMan) PCR for detection and quantification of BK virus DNA. The BK virus IgG seroprevalence was similar among index mothers (80%) and control mothers (83%) [OR 0.8; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.5–1.3]. BK virus IgM was also not associated with neuroblastoma risk (OR was OR = 0.6; 95% with CI, 0.2–1.9). Also JC virus had no association, neither for IgG (OR = 0.9; 95% CI, 0.6–1.4) nor for IgM (OR = 0.9; 95% CI, 0.4–1.9). All serum samples and all neuroblastoma cell lines were negative for BKV DNA. In summary, a comprehensive cohort using both serology and polyomavirus DNA detection found no evidence for association between BKV or JCV polyomaviruses and neuroblastoma.
Serum testosterone levels and breast cancer recurrence
Authors: Berrino Franco , Pasanisi Patrizia , Bellati Cristina , Venturelli Elisabetta , Krogh Vittorio , Mastroianni Antonio , Berselli Edoardo , Muti Paola , Secreto Giorgio 
Published: September 2004

AbstractProspective studies show that high serum levels of androgens and estrogens are associated with increased incidence of postmenopausal breast cancer. The aim of the present analysis was to study the prognostic value of serum testosterone, estradiol and related factors in postmenopausal breast cancer patients. One hundred and ten patients without clinical recurrence were included in the study. After 5.5 years of follow‐up, 31 patients developed distant metastasis (16), local relapse (4), or contralateral breast cancer (11). The risk of adverse events in relation to hormone level was examined by Cox' proportional hazard modeling, adjusting for hormone receptor status and stage at diagnosis. Body mass index and serum levels of testosterone, estradiol and glucose were significantly higher in patients who recurred than those who did not. The hazard ratios were 1.8 (95% CI = 0.5–6.3) for the middle and 7.2 (95% CI = 2.4–21.4) for the upper tertiles of baseline testosterone distribution. Other hormones had only minor influence on prognosis. High testosterone predicts breast cancer recurrence. Further studies are required to determine whether dietary or other medical intervention to reduce testosterone can reduce the recurrence of breast cancer.
Mononucleotide repeats BAT‐26 and BAT‐25 accurately detect MSI‐H tumors and predict tumor content: Implications for population screening
Authors: Brennetot Caroline , Buhard Olivier , Jourdan Florence , Flejou Jean‐François , Duval Alex , Hamelin Richard 
Published: September 2004

AbstractTumors with a defective DNA mismatch repair system (MSI‐H tumors) have distinct molecular and clinicopathologic profiles compared with mismatch repair‐proficient tumors and are associated with a relatively favorable prognosis. There is evidence to suggest that colorectal cancer patients with MSI‐H tumors respond differently to adjuvant chemotherapy. Determination of MSI status also has clinical application for assisting in the diagnosis of suspected hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer cases. For these reasons, it is becoming increasingly apparent that testing for MSI should be conducted routinely in human cancer types that frequently present with such a phenotype. BAT‐26 and BAT‐25 are mononucleotide repeats that are widely used to establish the MSI status of human tumors. We show here that their allelic size profiles provide an estimate of the percentage of contaminating normal cells in MSI‐H tumors. These markers are sensitive enough to detect instability when the tumor cell content of a sample is as low as 5–10%. MSI‐H tumors contain mutations in coding repeats within genes known to be targets for instability. In cases with low tumor cell content, no mutations in any of 9 coding repeats were detected. However, when these samples were enriched for tumor cells, mutations were detected in the same target genes. Thus, BAT‐26 and BAT‐25 markers accurately identify MSI‐H tumors without prior need for enrichment for tumor cells and indicate which samples require further purification before screening for mutations in target genes for instability. Our results have implications for large‐scale screening of cancer patients to determine MSI‐H status and prognosis.
Do nonattenders in mammography screening programmes seek mammography elsewhere?
Authors: Jensen Allan , Olsen Anne Helene , von Euler‐Chelpin My , Helle Njor Sisse , Vejborg Ilse , Lynge Elsebeth 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThe objectives of our study were to analyse the use of diagnostic mammography among nonattenders and attenders in organised mammography screening in Denmark in 2000, to assess the contamination from organised screening of noninvited age groups and to measure the impact of local policy on opportunistic screening. Data on all diagnostic mammographies performed in Denmark in 2000 and data on women targeted by the 2 organised mammography screening programmes in Copenhagen and the county of Fyn were collected. All data were linked by the Danish personal identification number. Information on the official policy in 2000 with regard to opportunistic screening was collected from all counties. The proportion of women using diagnostic mammography was only 1–3% for both attenders and nonattenders in organised mammography screening, but it was significantly higher in Copenhagen than in Fyn, due to availability of mammography in private clinics. The proportion of women using diagnostic mammography varied from 1–4% across counties. The official policy on access to diagnostic mammography and contamination from organised mammography screening of adjacent age groups had no impact on the use. Instead, urbanisation was positively correlated with use of diagnostic mammography. In conclusion, our results clearly showed that nonattenders in organised mammography screening programmes do not seek mammography outside the programme. Since a positive policy toward opportunistic screening did not have any effect, our results add further evidence to existing knowledge that the only reasonable way to achieve high mammography coverage is through a well‐organised screening programme.
Breast cancer risk associated with genotype polymorphism of the catechol estrogen‐metabolizing genes: A multigenic study on cancer susceptibility
Authors: Cheng Ting‐Chih , Chen Shou‐Tung , Huang Chiun‐Sheng , Fu Yi‐Ping , Yu Jyh‐Cherng , Cheng Chun‐Wen , Wu Pei‐Ei , Shen Chen‐Yang 
Published: September 2004

AbstractEstrogen has been suggested to trigger breast cancer development via an initiating mechanism involving its metabolite, catechol estrogen (CE). To examine this hypothesis, we carried out a multigenic case‐control study of 469 incident breast cancer patients and 740 healthy controls to define the role of important genes involved in the different metabolic steps that protect against the potentially harmful effects of CE metabolism. We studied the 3 genes involved in CE detoxification by conjugation reactions involving methylation (catechol‐O‐methyltransferase, COMT), sulfation (sulfotransferase 1A1, SULT1A1), or glucuronidation (UDP‐glucuronosyltransferase 1A1, UGT1A1), one (manganese superoxide dismutase, MnSOD) involved in protection against reactive oxidative species‐mediated oxidation during the conversion of CE‐semiquinone (CE‐SQ) to CE‐quinone (CE‐Q), and 2 of the glutathione S‐transferase superfamily, GSTM1 and GSTT1, involved in CE‐Q metabolism. Support for this hypothesis came from the observations that (i) there was a trend toward an increased risk of breast cancer in women harboring a greater number of putative high‐risk genotypes of these genes (p < 0.05); (ii) this association was stronger and more significant in those women who were more susceptible to estrogen [no history of pregnancy or older (≥26 years) at first full‐term pregnancy (FFTP)]; and (iii) the risks associated with having one or more high‐risk genotypes were not the same in women having experienced different menarche‐to‐FFTP intervals, being more significant in women having been exposed to estrogen for a longer period (≥12 years) before FFTP. Furthermore, because CE‐Q can attack DNA, leading to the formation of double‐strand breaks (DSB), we examined whether the relationship between cancer risk and the genotypic polymorphism of CE‐metabolizing genes was modified by the genotypes of DSB repair genes, and found that a joint effect of CE‐metabolizing genes and one of the two DSB repair pathways, the homologous recombination pathway, was significantly associated with breast cancer development. Based on comprehensive CE metabolizing gene profiles, our study provides support to the hypotheses that breast cancer can be initiated by estrogen exposure and that increased estrogen exposure confers a higher risk of breast cancer by causing DSB to DNA.
The role of environmental factors in growth accounting
Authors: Jeon Byung M. , Sickles Robin C. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThis paper explores a relatively new methodology, the directional distance function method, to analyse productivity growth. The method allows us to explicitly evaluate the role that undesirable outputs of the economy, such as carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, have on the frontier production process which we specify as a piecewise linear and convex boundary function. We decompose productivity growth into efficiency change (catching up) and technology change (innovation). We test the statistical significance of the estimates using recently developed bootstrap methods. We also explore implications for growth of total factor productivity in the OECD and Asian economies. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modelling low income transitions
Authors: Cappellari Lorenzo , Jenkins Stephen P. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractWe examine the determinants of low income transitions using first‐order Markov models that control for initial conditions effects (those found to be poor in the base year may be a non‐random sample) and for attrition (panel retention may also be non‐random). The model estimates, derived from British panel data for the 1990s, indicate that there is substantial state dependence in poverty, separate from persistence induced by heterogeneity. We also provide estimates of low income transition rates and lengths of poverty and non‐poverty spells for persons of different types. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.