bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ciprofloxacin prophylaxis in patients with acute leukemia and granulocytopenia in an area with a high prevalence of ciprofloxacin‐resistant Escherichia coli
Authors: Gomez Lucia , Garau Javier , Estrada Cristina , Marquez Montserrat , Dalmau David , Xercavins Mariona , Martí Josep Maria , Estany Cristina 
Published: February 2003

AbstractBACKGROUNDInfection remains the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with neutropenia, and the beneficial effects of oral prophylaxis remain controversial.METHODSFrom 1993 to December 1999, the authors analyzed the clinical and microbiologic outcomes of 144 episodes of febrile neutropenia among adult patients with acute leukemia.RESULTSForty‐three consecutive episodes occurred among patients who were on ciprofloxacin prophylaxis during 1993–1996 (ciprofloxacin group), and 101 subsequent episodes occurred among patients who were not exposed to ciprofloxacin prophylaxis (control group). There were no differences in clinical presentation, antibiotic treatment received for the episode, or a worse outcome between groups. The rate of bacteremia was similar (12 of 43 patients [28%] vs. 26 of 101 patients [26%], respectively). There was a trend toward a higher rate of Gram positive bacteremia in the control group (12 of 101 patients [12%] vs. 2 of 43 patients [5%]) and a higher rate of Gram negative bacteremia in the ciprofloxacin group (11 of 43 patients [26%] vs. 15 of 101 patients [15%]). Resistance to fluoroquinolones was greater in Escherichia coli blood isolates from patients in the ciprofloxacin group (7 of 8 patients vs. 2 of 9 patients; P = 0.02).CONCLUSIONSThe current results suggest that fluoroquinolone prophylaxis for patients with febrile neutropenia may be abandoned safely in areas with a high prevalence of ciprofloxacin‐resistant enterobacteria. Cancer 2003;97:419–24. © 2003 American Cancer Society.DOI 10.1002/cncr.11044
Cancer in Fanconi anemia, 1927–2001
Authors: Alter Blanche P. 
Published: February 2003

AbstractBACKGROUNDFanconi anemia (FA) is an autosomal recessive disease associated with an abnormal response to DNA damage. Although FA is well known for the association of aplastic anemia and characteristic birth defects, leukemia and solid tumors also occur at a high rate in this group of patients. A review of all reported cases is informative with regard to the specific types of cancer, the ages at which they occur, and the cumulative probability of their development.METHODSMedline and bibliographies of publications were searched for articles containing “Fanconi's anemia” or “aplastic anemia” and all cases of FA from 1927 through 2001 were included in the database. Cancer cases were identified within these reports. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed using Stata7 software.RESULTSOne thousand three hundred cases of FA were identified. Nine percent had leukemia (primarily acute myeloid leukemia), 7% had myelodysplastic syndrome, 5% had solid tumors, and 3% had liver tumors. Patients with cancer were older than the cancer‐free patients at the time of diagnosis of FA. The median age for cancer (including leukemia) was 16, compared with 68 in the general population. The most frequent solid tumors were aerodigestive and gynecological carcinomas. In approximately 25% of patients with cancer, the malignancy preceded the diagnosis of FA.CONCLUSIONSIf the competing risks of aplastic anemia and leukemia could be removed, the estimated cumulative probability of development of a solid tumor in FA patients is 76% by the age of 45 years. Carcinogenic pathways and cancer prevention, surveillance, and treatment can be studied to advantage in this genetic model of human cancer. Cancer 2003;97:425–40. Published 2003 by the American Cancer Society.DOI 10.1002/cncr.11046
Docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5‐fluorouracil‐based induction chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Authors: Haddad Robert , Colevas A. Dimitrios , Tishler Roy , Busse Paul , Goguen Laura , Sullivan Christopher , Norris Charles M. , Lake‐Willcutt Bernadette , Case Mary Ann , Costello Rosemary , Posner Marshall 
Published: February 2003

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe authors conducted a series of four Phase I–II trials of high‐dose and intermediate‐dose docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5‐fluorouracil (TPF)‐based induction chemotherapy for patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The chemotherapy regimens and response rates for each trial were published previously. In the current analysis, the authors report the data on long‐term survival, patterns of failure, and morbidity among the patients who were treated at their institution.METHODSA total of 101 patients with previously untreated, locally advanced, curable SCCHN were entered onto the studies. Overall, 68 patients (67%) had N2–N3 disease, and 86 patients (85%) had Stage IV disease. Patients were treated with combinations of TPF with or without leucovorin. Cycles were repeated every 21–28 days for a total of 3 cycles followed by hyperfractionated radiotherapy.RESULTSAfter a median follow‐up of 49 months, 65 patients (64%) remain alive with no evidence of disease (NED), and 3 patients remain alive with disease, for an overall survival rate of 67% (68 patients). Twenty‐six patients had locoregional recurrences (LRR), and 5 patients had both LRR and distant metastasis (DM). Only five patients had DM as the sole site of failure. Four patients underwent salvage surgery at the primary site and remain alive with NED. Excluding 17 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, of 84 patients, 55 patients remain alive with NED (65%). Notably, 43 of 84 patients (51%) had oropharyngeal primary tumors, and 30 of those patients remain alive with NED (70%). Significant morbidity was low, with two treatment‐related deaths. All but two of the surviving patients are able to swallow and had their feeding tubes removed.CONCLUSIONSThese data suggest that docetaxel adds incrementally to the efficacy of cisplatin and fluorouracil. Local‐regional failures continue to be the major impediment to cure in these patients. Given the increase in local‐regional dose intensity with chemoradiation, sequential treatment plans that integrate induction chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy seem to be the logical next step. Cancer 2003;97:412–8. © 2003 American Cancer Society.DOI 10.1002/cncr.11063
Health related quality of life in prostate carcinoma patients
Authors: Efficace Fabio , Bottomley Andrew , van Andel George 
Published: February 2003

AbstractBACKGROUNDHealth related quality of life (HRQOL) is increasingly reported as an important endpoint in cancer clinical trials. However, evidence suggests that HRQOL reporting is often inadequate. Given this, the authors undertook a systematic review to evaluate HRQOL assessment methodology and reported outcomes of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) with prostate carcinoma patients.METHODSA comprehensive search of the literature from 1980 to 2001, mainly on the following databases, was undertaken: MedLine, Cancerlit, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. Studies were identified according to a predefined coding scheme, including HRQOL measure, cultural validity, compliance data reported and the clinical significance of the results.RESULTSTwenty‐five RCTs were identified, involving 8015 patients primarily with metastatic cancer. Bicalutamide was the medical treatment against which most treatment comparisons were made. Limitations identified included the fact that only 44% of the studies gave a rationale for selecting a specific HRQOL measure, 64% of the studies failed to report information about the administration of the HRQOL measure, and 56% failed to report compliance at baseline. The measure most often used was the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire—Care 30 (EORTC QLQ‐C30), although some studies used non‐validated HRQOL tools.CONCLUSIONSThe current study revealed a lack of a uniform approach to HRQOL assessment and several methodologic limitations. It is possible that such methodologic limitations have influenced trial findings for HRQOL outcomes. Cancer 2003;97:377–88. © 2003 American Cancer Society.DOI 10.1002/cncr.11065
Racial differences in the outcome of patients with colorectal carcinoma
Authors: Govindarajan Rangaswamy , Shah Rajesh V. , Erkman Linda G. , Hutchins Laura F. 
Published: February 2003

AbstractBACKGROUNDAfrican‐American (AA) patients with colorectal carcinoma have a worse prognosis compared with Caucasians. To analyze the causes of this disparity in survival, a retrospective study of patients with colorectal carcinoma was undertaken. The impact of treatments received and the role of socioeconomic factors such as income, education, and poverty levels were studied.METHODSA retrospective analysis of patients with colorectal carcinoma at a single institution was conducted. The overall survival of AA and Caucasians, stage at presentation, treatment received, and socioeconomic factors were analyzed using the institutional tumor registry and 1990 census data.RESULTSThe overall survival of AA patients was worse compared with Caucasians, both due to all causes (P < 0.001) and cancer‐related deaths (P < 0.001). The relative risk of death due to all causes was 1.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–1.8) for AA, 4.3 for patients with Stage IV disease (95% CI 3.2–5.7), and 2.3 for patients not undergoing surgery (95% CI 1.7–3.1). After multivariate adjustment for gender, site, socioeconomic factors, and therapeutic modalities, the relative risks for death were 1.5 (95% CI 1.2) for AA, 1.4 (95% CI 1.1–1.7) for patients 60 years of age or older, and 4.2 (95% CI 3.4–5.2) for Stage IV disease. The survival difference between AA and Caucasians was not influenced by income, poverty level, and education. African Americans were treated less frequently with chemotherapy and radiation therapy compared with their Caucasian counterparts.CONCLUSIONSAfrican American patients with colorectal carcinoma have a poorer prognosis compared with Caucasians. This discrepancy may be due to decreased utilization of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Socioeconomic factors and lack of access to health care do not entirely explain the worse prognosis of AA. These factors should be identified and dealt with to improve the health care of AA patients with various malignant disorders. Cancer 2003;97:493–8. © 2003 American Cancer Society.DOI 10.1002/cncr.11067
Fourteen‐gauge needle core biopsy of mammographically evident radial scars
Authors: Cawson Jennifer N. , Malara Frank , Kavanagh Anne , Hill Prue , Balasubramanium Gnani , Henderson Michael 
Published: February 2003

AbstractBACKGROUNDRadial scars are benign lesions that may mimic breast carcinoma on mammography and usually are managed by excision biopsy. The authors report their experience with stereotactic needle core biopsy (SNCB) in sampling these lesions.METHODSA prospective study examined a consecutive series of 75 mammographically detected radial scars from a population‐based screening program. In patients who were sampled by SNCB followed by surgical biopsy, the histologic findings of core biopsy and the gold standard of excision biopsy were compared.RESULTSSixty‐three patients were sampled by core biopsy: SNCB was used in 55 patients (87.0%), and ultrasound‐guided needle core biopsy (UNCB) was used in 8 patients (13%). One patient who underwent SNCB did not undergo a follow‐up excision biopsy. Radial scars were diagnosed preoperatively by core biopsy in 51 of 62 patients who underwent excision (82%; 95% confidence interval [95%CI], 70–91%). The sensitivity for SNCB was 85% (95%CI, 73–94%), and the sensitivity for UNCB was 63% (95%CI, 24–91%). Of 54 patients who underwent SNCB and excision, 4 patients had coexistent ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) at the time they underwent surgical excision: SNCB identified DCIS in 1 patient and identified atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) in 3 patients. In the entire group of 75 radial scars, 5 scars were associated with DCIS (7%), and there were no invasive carcinomas. ADH was present in association with 42 of 74 radial scars that were excised surgically (57%). Twenty‐nine of those radial scars were sampled preoperatively by SNCB. ADH was found in 21 patients (72%; 95CI, 53–87%).CONCLUSIONSThe sensitivity of SNCB in the identification of radial scars was 85%. In four patients with associated DCIS, SNCB revealed either ADH or DCIS, both of which required excision. These findings suggest that patients with SNCB‐proven radial scars among a screened population can be managed safely by mammographic follow‐up, provided there is no associated DCIS, ADH, or lobular carcinoma in situ. Spiculated abnormalities with discordant SNCB results require surgical biopsy. Cancer 2003;97:345–51. © 2003 American Cancer Society.DOI 10.1002/cncr.11070
Clinical significance of vascular endothelial growth factor C and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 in patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma
Authors: Arinaga Mitsuyuki , Noguchi Tsuyoshi , Takeno Shinsuke , Chujo Masao , Miura Takashi , Uchida Yuzo 
Published: February 2003

AbstractBACKGROUNDVascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF‐C) plays an important role in lymphangiogenesis and activates VEGF receptor 3 (VEGFR‐3). By contrast, lymphatic spread is an important prognostic factor in patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The objective of the current study was to determine whether the expression of VEGF‐C and VEGFR‐3 correlates with clinicopathologic factors and prognosis in patients with primary NSCLC.METHODSThe authors conducted a retrospective review of 180 consecutive patients who underwent complete resection for NSCLC and who did not receive any chemotherapy or radiotherapy prior to surgery. Immunohistochemical staining for VEGF‐C and VEGFR‐3 was performed. The clinicopathologic implications of VEGF‐C and VEGFR‐3 expression were analyzed statistically.RESULTSOf 180 patients with NSCLC, 137 patients (76.1%) were positive for VEGF‐C, and 40 patients (22.2%) were positive for VEGFR‐3. VEGF‐C expression was observed frequently in patients with adenocarcinoma (P = 0.026). For VEGFR‐3 expression, significant correlations were demonstrated with age (P = 0.02), gender (P = 0.008), and histologic differentiation in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (P = 0.03). Patients who had positive staining for VEGF‐C showed significantly less favorable survival rates compared with patients who had negative staining for VEGF‐C (P = 0.003). The survival rates of patients who had positive staining for VEGFR‐3 also were significantly lower compared with patients who had negative staining for VEGFR‐3 (P < 0.001). Patients who had positive staining for both VEGF‐C and VEGFR‐3 exhibited the most unfavorable prognoses. Univariate analysis revealed the following prognostic factors: gender (P = 0.03), tumor status (T1,T2 vs. T3; P < 0.01), lymph node status (negative vs. positive; P < 0.01), tumor size (≤ 35 mm vs. > 35 mm; P < 0.01), disease stage (Stage I vs. Stages II and III; P < 0.01), VEGF‐C expression (negative vs. positive; P < 0.01), VEGFR‐3 expression (negative vs. positive; P < 0.01) and combined VEGF‐C and/or VEGFR‐3 expression (both positive vs. VEGF‐C or VEGFR‐3 positive; P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that VEGFR‐3 expression was the only independent negative prognostic factor (P < 0.01).CONCLUSIONSVEGF‐C and VEGFR‐3 expression may be indicative of survival rates for patients with NSCLC. Cancer 2003;97:457–64. © 2003 American Cancer Society.DOI 10.1002/cncr.11073
A prognostic model and staging for metastatic uveal melanoma
Authors: Eskelin Sebastian , Pyrhönen Seppo , Hahka‐Kemppinen Marjo , Tuomaala Seppo , Kivelä Tero 
Published: February 2003

AbstractBACKGROUNDTo identify factors that independently contribute to overall survival in Stage IVB uveal melanoma and to subcategorize by prognosis.METHODSData of 91 consecutive patients who died of metastatic uveal melanoma in 1985–2000 were analyzed by Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analysis. Main covariates were participation in annual review, symptoms, Karnofsky index, metastatic burden, liver function tests, and age. Time on chemotherapy was modeled as a confounder. A working formulation for staging patients according to predicted survival was designed.RESULTSOf the 91 patients, 85% underwent annual liver imaging and function tests, 63% were asymptomatic, and 73% received chemotherapy. The median survival period was 8.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.3–11.8). Karnofsky index, largest dimension of the largest metastasis, metastatic burden, serum transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase (AP) levels, and time on chemotherapy were strongly (P < 0.001) associated with survival. Symptoms (P = 0.031) and regular review (P = 0.081) were weakly associated with survival. Karnofsky index (P = 0.013), the largest dimension of the largest metastasis (P = 0.003), and serum AP level (P = 0.042) retained independent significance, adjusting for time on chemotherapy. Predicted median survival calculated for relevant covariate combinations was divided into three periods (≥12 months vs. 6–11 months vs. < 6 months). Observed median survival for Stage IVBa was 14.9 months (95% CI, 11.7–21.3), for Stage IVBb 8.9 months (95% CI, 2.7–13.7), and for Stage IVBc 2.0 months (95% CI, 1.0–3.7).CONCLUSIONThe model and working formulation for categorization can be tested as an aid in patient counseling and as a tool in design and analysis of clinical trials. Cancer 2003;97:465–75. © 2003 American Cancer Society.DOI 10.1002/cncr.11113
Kava: a Java dialect with a uniform object model for lightweight classes
Authors: Bacon David F. 
Published: February 2003

AbstractObject‐oriented programming languages have always distinguished between ‘primitive’ and ‘user‐defined’ data types, and in the case of languages like C++ and Java the primitives are not even treated as objects, further fragmenting the programming model. The distinction is especially problematic when a particular programming community requires primitive‐level support for a new data type, as for complex, intervals, fixed‐point numbers, and so on.We present Kava, a design for a backward‐compatible version of Java that solves the problem of programmable lightweight objects in a much more aggressive and uniform manner than previous proposals. In Kava, there are no primitive types; instead, object‐oriented programming is provided down to the level of single bits, and types such as int can be explicitly programmed within the language. While the language maintains a uniform object reference semantics, efficiency is obtained by making heavy use ofunboxingandsemantic expansion.We describe Kava as a dialect of the Java language, show how it can be used to define various primitive types, describe how it can be translated into Java, and compare it to other approaches to lightweight objects. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Integration and application of TAU in parallel Java environments
Authors: Shende Sameer , Malony Allen D. 
Published: February 2003

AbstractParallel Java environments present challenging problems for performance tools because of Java's rich language system and its multi‐level execution platform combined with the integration of native‐code application libraries and parallel run‐time software. In addition to the desire to provide robust performance measurement and analysis capabilities for the Java language itself, the coupling of different software execution contexts under a uniform performance model needs careful consideration of how events of interest are observed and how cross‐context parallel execution information is linked. This paper relates our experience in extending the TAU (Tuning and Analysis Utilities) performance system to a parallel Java environment based on mpiJava. We describe the complexities of the instrumentation model used, how performance measurements are made, and the overhead incurred. A parallel Java application simulating the game of Life is used to show the performance system's capabilities. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Automatic translation of Fortran to JVM bytecode
Authors: Seymour Keith , Dongarra Jack 
Published: February 2003

AbstractThis paper reports on the design of a Fortran‐to‐Java translator whose target language is the instruction set of the Java Virtual Machine. The goal of the translator is to generate Java implementations of legacy Fortran numerical codes in a consistent and reliable fashion. The benefits of directly generating bytecode are twofold. First, compared with generating Java source code, it provides a much more straightforward and efficient mechanism for translating Fortran GOTO statements. Second, it provides a framework for pursuing various compiler optimizations, which could be beneficial not only to our project, but to the Java community as a whole. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Supporting multidimensional arrays in Java
Authors: Moreira José E. , Midkiff Samuel P. , Gupta Manish 
Published: February 2003

AbstractThe lack of direct support for multidimensional arrays in JavaTM has been recognized as a major deficiency in the language's applicability to numerical computing. It has been shown that, when augmented with multidimensional arrays, Java can achieve very high‐performance for numerical computing through the use of compiler techniques and efficient implementations of aggregate array operations. Three approaches have been discussed in the literature for extending Java with support for multidimensional arrays: class libraries that implement these structures; extending the Java language with new syntactic constructs for multidimensional arrays that are directly translated to bytecode; and relying on the Java Virtual Machine to recognize those arrays of arrays that are being used to simulate multidimensional arrays. This paper presents a balanced presentation of the pros and cons of each technique in the areas of functionality, language and virtual machine impact, implementation effort, and effect on performance. We show that the best choice depends on the relative importance attached to the different metrics, and thereby provide a common ground for a rational discussion and comparison of the techniques. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A dynamic bandwidth resource allocation based on neural networks in euroskyway multimedia satellite system
Authors: Camarda P. , Castellano M. , Piscitelli G. , Striccoli D. , Tomasicchio G. 
Published: February 2003

AbstractAdvanced traffic management based on the dynamic resource assignment allows a broadband satellite system such as euroskyway (ESW) to dynamically assign the resources of connections. The mechanisms of the dynamic assignment exploit variations of burstiness exhibited by real time and non‐real time variable bit rate traffic sources to perform an optimized resource redistribution. The efficiency of the dynamic bandwidth allocation capability (DBAC) depends on the accuracy of the traffic source description; inaccurate assessment of the arrival process will cause an overhead and a degraded utilisation of system resources.In this paper a flexible traffic burstiness predictor for dynamic bandwidth resource allocation based on neural network is presented. The approach is able to perform an online estimation of expected resource requests implementing traffic resource assignment by using a sub‐symbolic adaptive representation of the traffic source. The achieved results prove that the flexible approach is more effective than the ones based on fixed schemes designed using analytical traffic source description when applied on the satellite terminal ESW system component. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.