bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Strongyloidiasis in patients at a comprehensive cancer center in the United States
Authors: Safdar Amar , Malathum Kumthorn , Rodriguez Saul J. , Husni Rola , Rolston Kenneth V. I. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe frequency of Strongyloides stercoralis infestation and complication in patients with cancer in the United States is unknown.METHODSThe authors performed a retrospective analysis of S. stercoralis infection in patients who were undergoing cancer treatment at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX).RESULTSThe overall S. stercoralis infection frequency was approximately 1.0 per 10,000 new cancer cases between 1971 and 2003. Twenty‐two of 25 patients (88%) were U.S. residents (19 from Texas; 1 each from Mississippi, Tennessee, and Puerto Rico), and the remaining 3 (13%) were from Latin America. Thirteen (52%) had solid‐organ malignancies, whereas 12 (48%) had hematologic malignancies (lymphoma or multiple myeloma, n = 8; leukemia, n = 3; aplastic anemia, n = 1). Twelve patients (48%) received systemic corticosteroids, 9 (36%) received antineoplastic therapy, and 2 underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Diarrhea was reported in 13 patients (57%), and eosinophilia was observed in 11 patients (48%); 4 patients (16%) had probable hyperinfection syndrome (in 3 cases of polymicrobial gram‐negative bacteremia, 1 patient had Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia, whereas 1 patient presented with K. pneumoniae lung infection alone). Evidence of definite pulmonary hyperinfection syndrome was observed in 2 HSCT recipients (8%). Fourteen (74%) of 19 patients responded to thiabendazole therapy. Two patients with definite pulmonary hyperinfection syndrome developed fatal S. stercoralis hemorrhagic alveolitis despite receiving high‐dose thiabendazole plus ivermectin therapy.CONCLUSIONSIn the current study, strongyloidiasis was uncommon in patients with cancer and remained localized in individuals with solid‐organ malignancies. Definite pulmonary accelerated autoinfections were observed only in HSCT recipients. Therefore, pre‐HSCT S. stercoralis screening in individuals from endemic regions of the United States warrants further study. Cancer 2004;100:1531–6. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Risk perception and concern among brothers of men with prostate carcinoma
Authors: Beebe‐Dimmer Jennifer L. , Wood David P. , Gruber Stephen B. , Chilson Doug M. , Zuhlke Kimberly A. , Claeys Gina B. , Cooney Kathleen A. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractBACKGROUNDIt is important for clinicians, researchers, and others who shape public health policy to understand the demographic correlates and psychologic factors that drive health behaviors, such as screening for early detection of cancer, particularly among individuals at high risk for developing the disease.METHODSOne‐hundred eleven men whose brothers were diagnosed with prostate carcinoma completed a computer‐assisted telephone interview aimed to assess their perception of absolute risk and concern about developing prostate carcinoma over the next 10 years and across their lifetime. Comparisons were made between selected demographic, behavioral, family pedigree characteristics, and measures of perceived risk and concern.RESULTSThe majority of men perceived their personal risk of developing prostate carcinoma to be ≥ 50%. Men who at the time of the interview were younger than their affected brother were significantly more concerned about prostate carcinoma and perceived their risk to be higher than men who were older than their brother. Estimates of personal risk and concern were also uniformly higher among men with more than one first‐degree relative affected with prostate carcinoma compared to men with only one affected first‐degree relative. Risk perception and concern about an impending prostate carcinoma diagnosis were associated with the use of supplements marketed for prostate health.CONCLUSIONSThe findings indicated that birth order in relation to a brother diagnosed with prostate carcinoma is significantly associated with risk perception and concern in unaffected family members. These results highlight the need for further study of the familial dynamics and characteristics that drive health behaviors and stress importance of public health education to inform men of personal risk assessment as well as the risks and benefits of screening. These studies ultimately can contribute to the success of strategies for the primary prevention and early detection of cancer. Cancer 2004;100:1537–44. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of a low‐clearance, unilamellar liposomal formulation of lurtotecan, a topoisomerase 1 inhibitor, in patients with advanced leukemia
Authors: Giles Francis J. , Tallman Martin S. , Garcia‐Manero Guillermo , Cortes Jorge E. , Thomas Deborah A. , Wierda William G. , Verstovsek Srdan , Hamilton Marta , Barrett Emma , Albitar Maher , Kantarjian Hagop M. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractBACKGROUNDOSI‐211 is a low‐clearance, unilamellar liposomal formulation of a water‐soluble camptothecin analogue, lurtotecan. OSI‐211 has significant activity in severe combined immunodeficient mouse models of human leukemia.METHODSThis study was conducted to define the dose‐limiting toxicities (DLT) and pharmacokinetics of OSI‐211 in patients with refractory myeloid leukemias. Patients with refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), or chronic myelogenous leukemia in blastic phase (CML‐BP) were eligible. OSI‐211 was given as an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes daily for 3 days. The starting dose was 1.5 mg/m2 per day (4.5 mg/m2 per course). The dose was escalated by 50% until Grade 2 toxicity was observed and then by 30–35% until the DLT was defined. Serial plasma and urine samples were collected, and drug levels were determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.RESULTSTwenty patients (18 patients [90%] with AML, and 1 patient each [5%] with MDS and CML‐BP) were treated. Mucositis and diarrhea were considered to be the DLTs. The maximum tolerated dose was 3.7 mg/m2 per day. Fourteen of 18 evaluable patients (78%) with AML or MDS achieved transient bone marrow aplasia. The mean systemic clearance of lurtotecan in plasma was 0.946 ± 1.53 L/hour/m2. Urinary recovery of lurtotecan was 6.66% ± 5.26% (range, 1.05–18.4%).CONCLUSIONSLiposomal encapsulation of lurtotecan altered its metabolism significantly. There was no evident correlation between exposure, as measured by plasma pharmacokinetics of lurtotecan, and clinical response or toxicities. OSI‐211 merits further study in hematologic malignancies. Cancer 2004;100:1449–58. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
A Ser49Cys variant in the ataxia telangiectasia, mutated, gene that is more common in patients with breast carcinoma compared with population controls
Authors: Buchholz Thomas A. , Weil Michael M. , Ashorn Cheryl L. , Strom Eric A. , Sigurdson Alice , Bondy Melissa , Chakraborty Ranajit , Cox James D. , McNeese Marsha D. , Story Michael D. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractBACKGROUNDMothers of children who have ataxia telangiectasia have been reported to be at increased risk for development of breast carcinoma. To test whether sequence variants in the ataxia telangiectasia, mutated, gene (ATM) are associated with breast carcinoma, the authors compared the frequency of ATM cDNA sequence changes in patients with breast carcinoma with the corresponding frequency in control patients.METHODSThe authors sequenced ATM cDNA from 91 patients with breast carcinoma and compared the frequencies of sequence changes in these patients with the corresponding frequencies in a control sample of 940 individuals with no history of malignant disease.RESULTSThirty‐five patients with breast carcinoma had one or more single‐base changes in ATM. Three genetic variants were found in at least two patients. These variants resulted in Asp1853Asn, Pro1054Arg, or Ser49Cys amino acid substitutions in the ATM protein. The Ser49Cys variant was more common in patients with breast carcinoma than in the control patients, with respective frequencies of 6.7% (5 of 75 patients) and 1.3% (12 of 940 patients; P = 0.006; Fisher two‐sided exact test). The subgroup of patients with bilateral breast carcinoma had a Ser49Cys frequency of 11.8% (2 of 17 patients), which again was significantly different from what was observed in the control group (P = 0.024; Fisher two‐sided exact test). The allele frequencies of the other two variants were not different between case patients and control patients.CONCLUSIONSPatients with breast carcinoma, particularly those with bilateral disease, were more likely to have a variant in the ATM gene that resulted in a Ser49Cys substitution in the gene product. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the potential functional consequences of the Ser49Cys substitution and confirm the relevance of this variant in the development of breast carcinoma. Cancer 2004;100:1345–51. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Time‐dependent effects on survival in breast carcinoma
Authors: Warwick Jane , Tabàr Lazlo , Vitak Bedrich , Duffy Stephen W. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractBACKGROUNDTumor size, lymph node status, and histologic grade are reported to be important predictors of survival in the first 5 years after the diagnosis of invasive breast carcinoma. However, to the authors' knowledge, the effect of these factors in the longer term (> 10 years after diagnosis) is not yet clear.METHODSIt is now > 20 years since the Swedish Two‐County Trial of breast carcinoma screening with mammography was instigated and long‐term follow‐up is now available to December 1998. In the current study, the authors analyzed the effects of tumor size, lymph node status, and tumor grade on survival to death from breast carcinoma using Cox regression and frailty models that allow the baseline hazard and/or effect of a covariate to vary with time.RESULTSThe effects of tumor size, lymph node status, and tumor grade were shown to progressively diminish with time from diagnosis. The Cox regression model with time‐varying coefficients and a dampening parameter then was fitted to allow for the attenuation of prognostic effects; tumor size, lymph node status, and tumor grade were all found to be highly significant (P< 0.001).CONCLUSIONSThe results of the current study suggest that long‐term survival in women with invasive breast carcinoma could be modelled satisfactorily using either frailty models or Cox regression models with time‐varying coefficients. The results also suggest that the value of tumor grade, lymph node status, and tumor size at the time of diagnosis have a lasting influence on subsequent survival, albeit attenuated in later years. The long‐term effects of these prognostic factors may explain the fact that the impact of mass screening programs on breast carcinoma mortality rates is still apparent many years later. Cancer 2004;100:1331–6. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
An assessment of World Health Organization criteria for severe acute respiratory syndrome in patients with cancer
Authors: Gu Jin , Wu Aiwen , Li Jiyou , Zhang Xiaopeng , Fang Jian , Li Ming , Yao Yunfeng , Ke Yang , Gu Jiang , Chen Mingzhe , You Weicheng 
Published: March 2004

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe differential diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in patients with cancer can be challenging. Although diagnostic criteria for SARS have been issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), simple adoption of the established criteria may lead to overdiagnosis in patients with cancer or to an increase in the risk of spreading SARS within cancer hospitals.METHODSThe authors report their experience with the exclusion and quarantine of patients with cancer during the peak of the SARS epidemic in Beijing, China. The patients included 4 males and 7 females with a median age of 66 years (range, 39–73 years).RESULTSAll 11 patients met the WHO diagnostic criteria for probable SARS. Among those 11 patients with probable SARS, only 1 had confirmed SARS; for the other 10 patients, the possibility of SARS infection was ruled out.CONCLUSIONSSpecial attention must be paid to patients with cancer who have symptoms similar to those seen in SARS. Although the WHO diagnostic criteria for SARS should be widely accepted, they are not definite or practical in certain populations. Cancer 2004;100:1374–8. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Intensive chemotherapy with and without cranial radiation for Burkitt leukemia and lymphoma
Authors: Rizzieri David A. , Johnson Jeffrey L. , Niedzwiecki Donna , Lee Edward J. , Vardiman James W. , Powell Bayard L. , Barcos Maurice , Bloomfield Clara D. , Schiffer Charles A. , Peterson Bruce A. , Canellos George P. , Larson Richard A. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe objective of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of intensive chemotherapy with and without cranial radiation for central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis in adults with Burkitt leukemia or lymphoma.METHODSPatients received 18 weeks of therapy. Prophylactic cranial radiation (2400 centigrays) and 12 doses of triple intrathecal chemotherapy were administered to the first cohort of patients. A subsequent cohort received the same therapy, with the exceptions that intrathecal therapy was reduced to six doses and radiotherapy was administered only to high‐risk individuals.RESULTSThe median follow‐up durations were 6.8 years in Cohort 1 and 4.1 years in Cohort 2. Three occurrences of transverse myelitis, 2 severe neuropathies, 3 cases of aphasia, and 1 case of blindness were documented in the first cohort of 52 patients (Cohort 1). In the subsequent cohort of 40 patients (Cohort 2), none of these occurrences were observed, and patients experienced less neurologic toxicity overall (61% vs. 26%; P = 0.001). Responses were similar, and the 3‐year event‐free survival rate was 0.52 (95% confidence interval, 0.38–0.65) for Cohort 1 and 0.45 (0.29–0.60) for Cohort 2.CONCLUSIONSIntensive, short‐duration chemotherapy with less intensive CNS prophylaxis led to control at this sanctuary site with little neurotoxicity and may be curative for adults with Burkitt leukemia or lymphoma. Cancer 2004;100:1438–48. ©2004 by the American Cancer Society.
CVD of Epitaxial SnO2 Films by the SnI4/O2 Precursor Combination
Authors: Sundqvist J. , Ottosson M. , Hårsta A. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractThin films of SnO2 have been successfully deposited by CVD using the SnI4/O2 precursor combination. Depositions were carried out in the temperature range 350–700 °C on α‐Al2O3(012) substrates. The growth kinetics and conditions for epitaxial growth were investigated. From 350 °C to 475 °C, the growth rate was controlled by surface kinetics and increased exponentially from 5 nm h–1 to 735 nm h–1. Two different surface reactions are proposed, one at low temperatures involving SnI4, and one at high temperatures involving SnI2. Above 475 °C the growth rate was controlled by mass transport of the tin‐containing species. The epitaxial relationships were established to the in‐plane orientation relationships, [010]∥[100] and [10$\bar 1$]∥[$\bar 1$$\bar 2$1]. No iodine contamination was detected by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
Sonic hedgehog signaling plays an essential role during embryonic salivary gland epithelial branching morphogenesis
Authors: Jaskoll T. , Leo T. , Witcher D. , Ormestad M. , Astorga J. , Bringas Pablo , Carlsson P. , Melnick M. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractGene targeting studies indicate that sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling plays an essential role during craniofacial development. Because numerous mandibular derivatives (e.g., teeth, tongue, Meckel's cartilage) are absent in Shh null mice and the embryonic submandibular salivary gland (SMG) develops from the mandibular arch, we postulated that Shh signaling is important for embryonic SMG development. To address this question, we first determined the spatiotemporal distribution of Shh; two transmembrane proteins, patched 1 (Ptc) and Smoothened (Smo), which act as a negative or a positive regulator of the Shh signal, respectively; and the Gli 3 transcription factor, which is downstream of the Shh signal. The epithelial localization of Shh, Ptc, Smo, and Gli 3 suggests that Shh signaling may act within the epithelium in a juxtacrine manner. The SMG phenotype in our embryonic day (E) 18.5 Shh null mice can be characterized as “paedomorphic,” that is, it fails to progress to ontogenic stages beyond the Early Pseudoglandular (∼E14). In a complementary set of experiments, we used organ culture to evaluate the effect of enhanced or abrogated Shh signaling on embryonic SMG development in vitro. Paired E13 (Late Initial Bud stage) or E14 (Pseudoglandular stage) SMGs were cultured in the presence or absence of exogenous Shh peptide supplementation; Shh‐supplemented explants exhibit a significant stage‐dependent increase in branching morphogenesis compared with control explants. Furthermore, by using cyclopamine, a steroidal alkaloid that specifically disrupts the Shh pathway, to abrogate endogenous Shh signaling in vitro, we found a significant decrease in branching in cyclopamine‐treated explants compared with controls, as well as a significant decrease in epithelial cell proliferation. Our results indicate that Shh signaling plays an essential role during embryonic SMG branching morphogenesis. Exogenous FGF8 peptide supplementation in vitro rescues the abnormal SMG phenotype seen in cyclopamine‐treated explants, demonstrating that overexpression of a parallel, but related, downstream signaling pathway can compensate for diminished Shh signaling and restore embryonic SMG branching morphogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 229:722–732, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Developmental expression of the POU domain transcription factor Brn‐3b (Pou4f2) in the lateral line and visual system of zebrafish
Authors: DeCarvalho Ana C. , Cappendijk Susanne L.T. , Fadool James M. 
Published: March 2004

AbstractMembers of the class IV POU domain transcription factors are important regulators of neural development. In mouse, Brn‐3b (Pou4f2, Brn3.2) and Brn‐3c (Pou4f3, Brn3.1) are essential for the normal differentiation and maturation of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and hair cells of the auditory system, respectively. In this report, the cloning and expression profile of brn‐3b in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) were assessed as the first step for understanding its role in the development of sensory systems. Two brn‐3b alternative transcripts exhibited different onset of expression during development but shared overlapping expression domains in the adult visual system. The brn‐3b expression in the zebrafish retina was consistent with a conserved role in differentiation and maintenance of RGCs. Expression was also observed in the optic tectum. Unexpectedly, brn‐3b was prominently expressed in the migrating posterior lateral line primordium and larval neuromasts. For comparison, brn‐3c expression was limited to the otic vesicle and was not detected in the lateral line during embryonic development. The expression of brn‐3b in the mechanosensory lateral line of fish suggests a conserved function of a class IV POU domain transcription factor in sensory system development. Developmental Dynamics 229:869–876, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of a nonchordate‐type classic cadherin in vertebrates: Chicken Hz‐cadherin is expressed in horizontal cells of the neural retina and contains a nonchordate‐specific domain complex
Authors: Tanabe Koji , Takeichi Masatoshi , Nakagawa Shinichi 
Published: March 2004

AbstractClassic cadherins mediate calcium‐dependent cell–cell adhesion in a variety of animals, but there are marked differences in their domain structures between chordate and nonchordate animals. The extracellular domain of chordate‐type classic cadherins (type I and type II classic cadherins) consists of five tandem repeats of conserved sequences called EC domains, whereas that of nonchordate‐type classic cadherins (designated as type III classic cadherin) contains a variable number of EC domains, followed by a characteristic domain complex made of laminin‐A globular domains and EGF‐like repeats. In the present study, we identified a novel vertebrate type III cadherin showing high sequence similarity to Drosophila N‐cadherin, and named this molecule chicken Hz‐cadherin (cHz‐cadherin), because of the distinct expression in horizontal cells of the neural retina. cHz‐cadherin functioned as an adhesion molecule when introduced into cultured cells. Database search revealed one cHz‐cadherin homologue in zebrafish and two in puffer fish, but none in other vertebrate species examined. These observations indicate that type III classic cadherins have been conserved in vertebrate species, being expressed by limited cells types, but lost in particular phylogenic groups of the vertebrates. Developmental Dynamics 229:899–906, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characterization of c‐Kit and nestin expression during islet cell development in the prenatal and postnatal rat pancreas
Authors: Yashpal Nina Kaur , Li Jinming , Wang Rennian 
Published: March 2004

AbstractIt has been well documented that there are abundant endocrine progenitor cells in the neonatal pancreas. However, little is known of their relative proportions or even their phenotypes. The aim of this study was to examine the normal distribution and characteristics of putative endocrine precursor cells, identified by c‐Kit or nestin expression, within the prenatal and postnatal rat pancreas during islet cell development. Here, we provide evidence of the existence of a subset of ductal, islet, and acinar cells with an immature morphology and high proliferative capacity that expressed c‐Kit or nestin. The proportion of islet cells expressing c‐Kit or nestin was highest at embryonic day 18 (25 ± 4% and 28 ± 6%) and decreased significantly by postnatal day 28 (P < 0.01), 1.3 ± 0.2% and 5.7 ± 1%, respectively. The expression of nestin mRNA decreased throughout development, while c‐Kit mRNA expression was found to slightly increase in the developing pancreas. Coexpression patterns indicated that c‐Kit and nestin form two distinct cell populations in the postnatal pancreas, and infrequently coexpress with other pancreatic cell‐specific markers. Furthermore, decreased c‐Kit and nestin expression in the islets in postnatal life correlated with an increase in cells immunopositive for Pdx‐1 compared with birth (36 ± 5% vs. 60 ± 3%, P < 0.01), which accompanied a doubling in the proportion of Glut‐2–positive cells (39.4 ± 4% vs. 68.8 ± 3%, P < 0.01), both of which are mature β‐cell markers. Taken together, these findings suggest that c‐Kit‐ and nestin‐expressing cells represent endocrine precursor cells that undergo marked changes in population dynamics during the transition from prenatal to postnatal pancreatic development in the rat. Characterization of the phenotype, relative abundance and location of these cells within the developing pancreas is an important step toward creating a strategy for isolating stem cell populations and modeling islet cell differentiation in vitro. Developmental Dynamics 229:813–825, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.