bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fibrosis-associated gene expression in renal transplant glomeruli after acute renal allograft rejection
Authors: Brook N R , White S A , Waller J R , Bicknell G R , Nicholson M L 
Published: August 2003

AbstractBackgroundAcute allograft rejection is thought to be a risk factor for chronic allograft nephropathy, the cardinal features of which are vasculopathy, interstitial fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis. Fibrosis-associated genes might act as ad interim surrogate markers for chronic allograft nephropathy. The aim of this study was to determine mRNA expression of fibrosis-associated genes in glomeruli plucked from protocol renal transplant biopsies, in patients with or without a history of acute rejection.MethodsA consecutive series of 52 patients (31 male, 21 female) was assessed. Donor categories were cadaveric, living related or asystolic. Transplant recipients received either cyclosporin- or tacrolimus-based immunosuppression. Patients routinely underwent percutaneous needle-core renal transplant biopsy at 1 week, and 3 and 6 months. Acute rejection episodes were confirmed histologically and treated with intravenous methylprednisolone, or antithymocyte globulin if steroid resistant. Individual glomeruli were plucked and total mRNA was extracted. Fibrosis-associated genes were amplified by reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsThe expression of both collagen type III (mean 0·42 versus 0·31 arbitrary units of PCR products corrected for a housekeeping gene) and collagen IV (mean 0·46 versus 0·42 arbitrary units) at 6 months did not differ between recipients who experienced acute rejection episodes and those who were free from rejection. There was also no significant difference between groups in terms of mRNA expression of collagen IVα2, matrix metalloproteinase 2, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 2, transforming growth factor β or tenascin.ConclusionThese results suggest that acute rejection episodes do not increase the expression of fibrosis-associated genes in glomeruli from renal transplant biopsies.
Recurrence and survival after mesorectal excision for rectal cancer
Authors: Bülow S , Christensen I J , Harling H , Kronborg O , Fenger C , Nielsen H J 
Published: August 2003

Abstract

Background
Mesorectal excision for rectal cancer has resulted in local recurrence rates of 3–11 per cent compared with up to 38 per cent after conventional methods. The results of a prospective Danish study with a historical control group are presented.

Methods
Three hundred and eleven patients with a mobile rectal cancer had mesorectal excision with curative intent performed by certified surgeons and were followed for 3 years. Demographic, perioperative and follow-up data were recorded prospectively. A series of patients who had conventional operations for rectal cancer served as a control group.

Results
The cumulative 3-year local recurrence rate was 11 per cent after mesorectal excision compared with 30 per cent after conventional surgery (hazard ratio (HR) 0·33 (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) 0·21 to 0·52); P &lt; 0·001). Multivariate regression analysis showed that only advanced age (HR 0·97 (95 per cent c.i. 0·94 to 1·00); P = 0·048) and tumour in the lower third of the rectum (HR 0·21 (95 per cent c.i. 0·04 to 1·97); P = 0·075) were marginal independent predictors of local recurrence after mesorectal excision. The cumulative crude 3-year survival rate was 77 per cent after mesorectal excision and 62 per cent after conventional surgery (HR 0·58 (95 per cent c.i. 0·43 to 0·77); P &lt; 0·001). Age was the only independent predictor of death after mesorectal excision (HR 1·04 (95 per cent c.i. 1·02 to 1·07); P = 0·001).

Conclusion
Mesorectal excision is associated with a considerably lower risk of local recurrence and a better survival rate than conventional surgery, and is the optimum method for rectal cancer resection.
Role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of multiple colorectal metastases to the liver
Authors: Tanaka K , Adam R , Shimada H , Azoulay D , Lévi F , Bismuth H 
Published: August 2003

Abstract

Background
The role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with multiple (five or more) bilobar hepatic metastases irrespective of initial resectability is still under scrutiny. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcome of hepatectomy alone with that of hepatectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for multiple bilobar hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer.

Methods
Retrospective data were collected from 71 patients after hepatectomy for five or more bilobar liver tumours. The outcome of 48 patients treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by hepatectomy was compared with that of 23 patients treated by hepatectomy alone.

Results
Patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy had better 3- and 5-year survival rates from the time of diagnosis than those who did not (67·0 and 38·9 versus 51·8 and 20·7 per cent respectively; P = 0·039), and required fewer extended hepatectomies (four segments or more) (39 of 48 versus 23 of 23; P = 0·027). Multivariate analysis showed neoadjuvant chemotherapy to be an independent predictor of survival.

Conclusion
In patients with bilateral multiple colorectal liver metastases, neoadjuvant chemotherapy before hepatectomy was associated with improved survival and enabled complete resection with fewer extended hepatectomies.
Optimal preoperative assessment and surgery for rectal cancer may greatly limit the need for radiotherapy
Authors: Simunovic M , Sexton R , Rempel E , Moran B J , Heald R J 
Published: August 2003

Abstract

Background
Radiation is being used increasingly in the management of patients with rectal cancer. Over the past decade the Basingstoke Colorectal Research Unit has combined precision total mesorectal excision with the highly selective use of preoperative radiotherapy.

Methods
One hundred and fifty consecutive patients who underwent major surgical excision for cancers of all stages comprised the study group. Preoperative clinical assessment was based largely on tumour size, fixation and distance from the anal verge. Only preoperative radiotherapy was considered and this only for tumours judged to be at high risk of mesorectal fascia involvement.

Results
During a 5-year period 35 of 150 patients were selected for preoperative irradiation. In the non-irradiated patients the local recurrence rate after a median follow-up period of 870 (range 51–1903) days was 2·6 per cent (three of 115 patients), compared with 17·1 per cent (six of 35 patients) in those chosen for irradiation. Sixty patients (52·2 per cent) who were not irradiated were node positive. The local recurrence rate for the whole group was 6·0 per cent.

Conclusion
The great majority of patients undergoing major excision for rectal cancer can be managed without radiation therapy if the preoperative assessment of the mesorectal fascia and surgery are performed optimally.
Salvage surgery after restorative proctocolectomy
Authors: Tulchinsky H , Cohen C R G , Nicholls R J 
Published: August 2003

Abstract

Background and method
Restorative proctocolectomy is now the elective surgical procedure of choice for most patients with ulcerative colitis or familial adenomatous polyposis. Complications may lead to failure, defined as removal of the reservoir with establishment of a permanent ileostomy or long-term diversion. Failure may be avoided for some patients by salvage surgery. The causes of failure are identified in this article and the procedures adopted to treat them are defined; a review of the literature was carried out to determine the effectiveness of the procedures.

Results
Failure after restorative proctocolectomy results from complications, which may occur indefinitely during follow-up to a cumulative rate of about 15 per cent at 10–15 years. Sepsis accounts for over 50 per cent of these complications. Abdominal salvage procedures are successful in 20 to over 80 per cent of patients but the rate of salvage is dependent on the duration of follow-up, which might explain this variance. Local procedures are successful in 50–60 per cent of patients with pouch–vaginal fistula. Poor function accounts for about 30 per cent of failures. Abdominal salvage for outlet obstruction and low pouch capacitance results in satisfactory or acceptable function in up to 70 per cent of patients. There is no effective surgical salvage for pouchitis.

Conclusion
Salvage surgery must be discussed carefully with the patient, who should be made aware of the possible complications and the prospect of success, which is less than that in the general population of patients undergoing ileoanal pouch surgery.
An Alternative Efficient Redox Couple for the Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cell System
Authors: Nusbaumer Hervé , Zakeeruddin Shaik M. , Moser Jacques‐E. , Grätzel Michael 
Published: August 2003

AbstractA series of new cobalt complexes [Co(LLL)2X2] were synthesized and evaluated as redox mediators for dye‐sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells. The structure of the ligand and the nature of the counterions were found to influence the photovoltaic performance. The one‐electron‐transfer redox mediator [Co(dbbip)2](ClO4)2 (dbbip = 2,6‐bis(1′‐butylbenzimidazol‐2′‐yl)pyridine) performed best among the compounds investigated. Photovoltaic cells incorporating this redox mediator yielded incident photon‐to‐current conversion efficiencies (IPCE) of up to 80 %. The overall yield of light‐to‐electric power conversion reached 8 % under simulated AM1.5 sunlight at 100 W m−2 intensity and more than 4 % at 1000 W m−2. Photoelectrodes coated with a 2 μm thick nanoporous layer and a 4 μm thick light‐scattering layer, sensitized with a hydrophobic ruthenium dye, gave the best results.
Cytokeratin intermediate filament organisation and dynamics in the vegetal cortex of living Xenopus laevis oocytes and eggs
Authors: Clarke Emma J. , Allan Victoria J. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractCytokeratin intermediate filaments are prominent constituents of developing Xenopus oocytes and eggs, forming radial and cortical networks. In order to investigate the dynamics of the cortical cytokeratin network, we expressed EGFP‐tagged Xenopus cytokeratin 1(8) in oocytes and eggs. The EGFP‐cytokeratin co‐assembled with endogenous partner cytokeratin proteins to form fluorescent filaments. Using time‐lapse confocal microscopy, cytokeratin filament assembly was monitored in live Xenopus oocytes at different stages of oogenesis, and in the artificially‐activated mature egg during the first cell cycle. In stage III to V oocytes, cytokeratin proteins formed a loose cortical geodesic network, which became more tightly bundled in stage VI oocytes. Maturation of oocytes into metaphase II‐arrested eggs induced disassembly of the EGFP‐cytokeratin network. Imaging live eggs after artificial activation allowed us to observe the reassembly of cytokeratin filaments in the vegetal cortex. The earliest observable structures were loose foci, which then extended into curly filament bundles. The position and orientation of these bundles altered with time, suggesting that forces were acting upon them. During cortical rotation, the cytokeratin network realigned into a parallel array that translocated in a directed manner at 5 μm/minute, relative to stationary cortex. The cytokeratin filaments are, therefore, moving in association with the bulk cytoplasm of the egg, suggesting that they may provide a structural role at the moving interface between cortex and cytoplasm. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 56:13–26, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Chromatic changes in relation to binocular summation determined with contrast thresholds
Authors: Jiménez J. R. , Valero E. , Anera R. G. , Martínez J. A. , Salas C. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractWe measured binocular summation for the detection of red–green chromatic, blue–yellow chromatic, and luminance contrast. The results indicated a higher degree of binocular summation for luminance contrast (reaching the level of neural summation) than for chromaticity contrast (probability summation), showing that the former is more effective than the latter for the binocular visual system, in agreement with studies on stereopsis and binocular summation for visual reaction time. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 28, 366–370, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/col.10179
The role of copper and silver in the colouration of metallic luster decorations (Tunisia, 9th century; Mesopotamia, 10th century; Sicily, 16th century): A first approach
Authors: Bobin O. , Schvoerer M. , Ney C. , Rammah M. , Pannequin B. , Platamone E. Cilia , Daoulatli A. , Gayraud R. P. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractThe metallic luster of glazed ceramics is a very special type of decoration. Its optical properties are characterized by a change of colour according to the observation conditions. In diffuse light, these decorations are often green, brown, or ochre‐yellow. In specular reflection, they show an associated coloured metallic reflection (blue, golden‐yellow, orange, etc.). Metallic copper and/or silver colloids almost always compose the metallic luster decorations. We wish to define the role of these two metals in the colouration observed both in diffuse light and in specular reflection. Our investigations show that a relationship exists between the proportions of copper and silver, and the diffuse colour. The green decorations contain more silver than copper, and the ochre‐yellow and brown decorations contain more copper than silver. This specific correlation only exists if the samples have the same type of glaze and, especially, a similar chemical composition. This means that the composition of the glaze has an important influence in the colouration process. Moreover, our investigations show that there is no relationship between the specular colour and the overall concentration of copper and silver. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 28, 352–359, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/col.10183
Existence and convergence for quasi‐static evolution in brittle fracture
Authors: Francfort Gilles A. , Larsen Christopher J. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractThis paper investigates the mathematical well‐posedness of the variational model of quasi‐static growth for a brittle crack proposed by Francfort and Marigo in [15]. The starting point is a time discretized version of that evolution which results in a sequence of minimization problems of Mumford and Shah type functionals. The natural weak setting is that of special functions of bounded variation, and the main difficulty in showing existence of the time‐continuous quasi‐static growth is to pass to the limit as the time‐discretization step tends to 0. This is performed with the help of a jump transfer theorem which permits, under weak convergence assumptions for a sequence {un} of SBV‐functions to its BV‐limit u, to transfer the part of the jump set of any test field that lies in the jump set of u onto that of the converging sequence {un}. In particular, it is shown that the notion of minimizer of a Mumford and Shah type functional for its own jump set is stable under weak convergence assumptions. Furthermore, our analysis justifies numerical methods used for computing the time‐continuous quasi‐static evolution. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cover Picture: Freely Suspended Actin Cortex Models on Arrays of Microfabricated Pillars (ChemPhysChem 8/2003)
Authors: Roos Wouter H. , Roth Alexander , Konle Johannes , Presting Hartmut , Sackmann Erich , Spatz Joachim P. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractThe cover picture shows the first demonstration of a biomimetic model of the cellular actin cortex. The actin filamental network imaged as a fluorescent micrograph (orange) is suspended on top of an array of microfabricated silicon pillars, schematically drawn in light blue. The actin network is obtained by polymerising actin filaments from a template provided by gold‐capped pillars. Subsequently adding filamin as actin‐crosslinking protein causes the formation of the ordered network within minutes. Find out more in the article by Spatz and co‐workers on pages 872–877.
Considerations for the development of real‐time dynamic testing using servo‐hydraulic actuation
Authors: Zhao J. , French C. , Shield C. , Posbergh T. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractThis paper presents a study of the use of servo‐hydraulic systems in the implementation of real‐time large‐scale structural testing methods in force control such as effective force testing (EFT) and in displacement control such as real‐time pseudodynamic testing (RPsD). Mathematical models for both types of control systems are presented and used to investigate the influences of servo‐systems on the overall system performance. Parameters investigated include the overall system dynamics, nonlinearities of servo‐systems, actuator damping, system mass including piston mass, and system response delay. Results of both numerical simulations and experiments showed that many of the influences of the servo‐hydraulic system that significantly affect the real‐time dynamic tests can be properly compensated through control schemes identified in this paper. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of nitric oxide scavenging activity of certain spices in vitro: A preliminary study
Authors: Baliga Manjeshwar Shrinath , Jagetia Ganesh Chandra , Rao Shaival Kamalaksha , Babu S Kiran 
Published: August 2003

AbstractThe plant extracts of some commonly used spices were examined for their possible regulatory effect on nitric oxide (NO) levels using sodium nitroprusside as a NO donor in vitro. Most of the extracts tested demonstrated direct scavenging of NO and exhibited significant activity and the potency of scavenging activity was in the following order: Foeniculum vulgare (aqueous) > Citrus limettiodes > Murraya koenigii (seed, aqueous) > Murraya koenigii (leaf, aqueous) > Curcuma aromatica (aqueous) > Murraya koenigii (leaf, dichloromethane:methanol) > Mentha arvensis (chloroform) > Mentha arvensis (aqueous) > Curcuma longa > Gingko biloba > Foeniculum vulgare (dichloromethane:methanol) > Zingiber officinale (aqueous) > Curcuma aromatica (ethanolic) > Murraya koenigii (seed, dichloromethane:methanol). All the evaluated extracts exhibited a dose‐dependent NO scavenging activity. The aqueous extract of Foeniculum vulgare showed a greatest NO scavenging effect of 79.75% at 62.5 μg/mL as compared to the positive control, Gingko biloba where 36.22% scavenging was observed at similar concentration. The present results suggest that these spices might be potent and novel therapeutic agents for scavenging of NO and the regulation of pathological conditions caused by excessive generation of NO and its oxidation product, peroxynitrite.
Improved use of SNP information to detect the role of genes
Authors: Jannot A.‐S. , Essioux L. , Reese M.G. , Clerget‐Darpoux F. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractA topical question in genetic association studies is the optimal use of the information provided by genotyped single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in order to detect the role of a candidate gene in a multifactorial disease. We propose a strategy called “combination test” that tests the association between a quantitative trait and all possible phased combinations of various numbers of SNPs. We compare this strategy to two alternative strategies: the association test that considers each SNP separately, and a multilocus genotype‐based test that considers the phased combination of all SNPs together. To compare these three tests, a quantitative trait was simulated under different models of correspondence between phenotype and genotype, including the extreme case when two SNPs interact with no marginal effects of each SNP. The genotypes were taken from a sample of 290 independent individuals genotyped for three genes with various number of SNPs (from 5–8 SNPs). The results show that the “combination test” is the only one able to detect the association when the two SNPs involved in disease susceptibility interact with no marginal effects. Interestingly, even in the case of a single etiological SNP, the “combination test” performed well. We apply the three tests to Genetic Analysis Workshop 12 (Almasy et al. [2001] Genet. Edpidemiol. 21:332–338) simulated data, and show that although there was no interactions between the etiological SNPs, the “combination test” was preferable to the two other compared methods to detect the role of the candidate gene. Genet Epidemiol 25:158–167, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hierarchical fuzzy segmentation of brain MR images
Authors: Kwon M. J. , Han Y. J. , Shin I. H. , Park H. W. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractIn brain magnetic resonance (MR) images, image segmentation and 3D visualization are very useful tools for the diagnosis of abnormalities. Segmentation of white matter (WM), gray matter (GM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is the basic process for 3D visualization of brain MR images. Of the many algorithms, the fuzzy c‐means (FCM) technique has been widely used for segmentation of brain MR images. However, the FCM technique does not yield sufficient results under radio frequency (RF) nonuniformity. We propose a hierarchical FCM (HFCM), which provides good segmentation results under RF nonuniformity and does not require any parameter setting. We also generate Talairach templates of the brain that are deformed to 3D brain MR images. Using the deformed templates, only the cerebrum region is extracted from the 3D brain MR images. Then, the proposed HFCM partitions the cerebrum region into WM, GM, and CSF. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol 13, 115–125, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ima.10035
Image reconstructions from two orthogonal projections
Authors: Wang Yuanmei , Heng Pheng Ann , Wahl Friedrich M. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractA vector entropy optimization‐based neural network approach is presented to handle image reconstructions from two orthogonal projections. An accurate and parallel reconstruction is attained with this method allowing parallel implementation. This is an attempt to extract the image information from two projections. It is especially meaningful for clinical applications and three‐dimensional modeling of the coronary arteries. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol 13, 141–145, 2003; Published online in Wiley Inter‐Science (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ima.10036
Cultural variation and the psychological contract
Authors: Thomas David C. , Au Kevin , Ravlin Elizabeth C. 
Published: August 2003

AbstractLiterature on the psychological contract has made significant contributions to our understanding of the exchange relationship between employees and their employer. However, the influence of cultural differences on perceptions of the employment relationship has largely been neglected. We propose both cognitive and motivational mechanisms through which the cultural profiles of individuals influence (a) formation of the psychological contract, (b) perceptions of violations of the psychological contract, and (c) responses to perceived violations. General mechanisms for the influence of culture on the psychological contract are followed by specific examples of the influence of individualism and collectivism. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.