bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Angiostatic role or astrocytes: Suppression of vascular endothelial cell growth by TGF‐β and other inhibitory factor(s)
Authors: Behzadian M. Ali , Wang Xi‐Liang , Jiang Baoen , Caldwell Ruth B. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractOur previous in vivo analyses have suggested that astrocytes play a key role in retinal vascularization by inducing endothelial cell differentiation. Here we demonstrate that medium conditioned by cultured rat brain astrocytes (ACM) contains factors, including transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β), that inhibit endothelial cell growth. Serum‐free medium conditioned for 1–3 days was tested on exponentially growing bovine retinal microvascular endothelial, aortic endothelial, mink lung epithelial CCL‐64, and Swiss mouse 3T3 fibroblast cells. The growth of all four cell types was inhibited in a dose and time‐dependent manner. CCL cells, which are used as a model for assaying TGF‐β activity, were more sensitive than the endothelial cells, suggesting that ACM contains TGF‐β. Moreover, acid treatment significantly increased the inhibitory activity of ACM, indicating that TGF‐β in ACM is predominantly in the latent form. Mouse fibroblasts, which are not affected by TGF‐β treatment under the same conditions, were also inhibited by ACM. This suggests that other inhibitory factors in addition to TGF‐β may be involved. Adsorption by an anti‐TGF‐β polyclonal antibody column substantially reduced but did not eliminate the inhibitory activity of ACM for CCL and endothelial cells. Western blot analysis of ACM and proteins eluted from the affinity column revealed a 25 kDa band that co‐migrates with TGF‐β. Comparative densitometry of the 25 kDa bands on Western blot indicated that the amount of TGF‐β in ACM is not sufficient to account for the total growth‐inhibitory activity. These experiments demonstrate directly that rat brain astrocytes express TGF‐β. They also indicate that astrocytes may produce other growth‐inhibitory factor(s) yet to be identified. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Differential regulation by cytokines of human astrocyte nitric oxide production
Authors: Hu Shuxian , Sheng Wen S. , Peterson Phillip K. , Chao Chun C. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractReactive nitrogen intermediates, such as nitric oxide (NO), play an important role in host‐defense and injury. Human astrocytes released abundant NO upon stimulation with the pro‐inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)‐1β, which was potentiated by interferon (IFN)‐γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α. IL‐1 receptor antagonist protein markedly attenuated astrocyte NO production. The anti‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐4 and IL‐10 potently suppressed IL‐1β plus IFN‐γ‐stimulated NO, while transforming growth factor‐β preferentially inhibited IL‐1β plus TNF‐α‐stimulated production of NO. These findings suggest that while IL‐1 plays a key role in inducing astrocyte NO production, anti‐inflammatory cytokines have the capacity to downregulate NO production by IL‐1‐stimulated astrocytes. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High‐level expression of fatty acid synthase in human prostate cancer tissues is linked to activation and nuclear localization of Akt/PKB
Authors: Van de Sande Tine , Roskams Tania , Lerut Evelyne , Joniau Steven , Van Poppel Hein , Verhoeven Guido , Swinnen Johannes V 
Published: May 2005

AbstractMany human epithelial cancers, particularly those with a poor prognosis, express high levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS), a key metabolic enzyme linked to the synthesis of membrane phospholipids in cancer cells. In view of the recent finding that in the human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP, overexpression of FAS can be largely attributed to constitutive activation of the phosphatidylinositol‐3 (PI3) kinase/Akt kinase pathway, the activation status of the Akt pathway, and whether this activation coincides with increased FAS expression, was examined in clinical prostate cancer tissues. Using well‐preserved frozen prostatic needle biopsies and a sensitive Envision detection technique, S473‐phosphorylated Akt (pAkt) was found in 11/23 low‐grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) lesions, in all (36/36) high‐grade PINs, and in all (86/86) invasive carcinomas. Non‐neoplastic tissues were negative. Interestingly, in low‐grade PINs and low‐grade carcinomas, pAkt was mainly cytoplasmic or membrane‐bound and was associated with moderate elevation of FAS expression. In 24/36 high‐grade PINs and 82/88 invasive carcinomas, pAkt was found at least partly in the nucleus. Greater nuclear pAkt staining, and higher FAS expression, correlated with a higher Gleason score. In the light of previous findings that pAkt plays a causative role in the overexpression of FAS in cancer cells in culture, these data strongly suggest that high‐level expression of FAS in prostate cancer tissues is linked to phosphorylation and nuclear accumulation of Akt. Copyright © 2005 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Expression of the NF‐κB targets BCL2 and BIRC5/Survivin characterizes small B‐cell and aggressive B‐cell lymphomas, respectively
Authors: Tracey Lorraine , Pérez‐Rosado Alberto , Artiga Maria Jesús , Camacho Francisca I , Rodríguez Antonia , Martínez Nerea , Ruiz‐Ballesteros Elena , Mollejo Manuela , Martinez Beatriz , Cuadros Marta , Garcia Juan F , Lawler Mark , Piris Miguel Á 
Published: May 2005

AbstractNuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) activation has been proposed as a cardinal feature of tumourigenesis, although the precise mechanism, frequency, relevance, and extent of NF‐κB activation in lymphomas remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, expression profiling and tissue microarray studies of 209 and 323 non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs) respectively, including the most frequent sub‐types of NHL, were employed to generate a hypothesis concerning the most common NF‐κB targets in NHL. These analyses showed that NF‐κB activation is a common phenomenon in NHL, resulting in the expression of distinct sets of NF‐κB target genes, depending on the cell context. BCL2 and BIRC5/Survivin were identified as key NF‐κB targets and their expression distinguished small and aggressive B‐cell lymphomas, respectively. Interestingly, in the vast majority of B‐cell lymphomas, the expression of these markers was mutually exclusive. A set of genes was identified whose expression correlates either with BIRC5/Survivin or with BCL2. BIRC5/Survivin expression, in contrast to BCL2, was associated with a signature of cell proliferation (overexpression of cell cycle control, DNA repair, and polymerase genes), which may contribute to the aggressive phenotype and poor prognosis of these lymphomas. Strikingly, mantle cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia expressed highly elevated levels of BCL2 protein and mRNA, higher than that observed in reactive mantle zone cells or even in follicular lymphomas, where BCL2 expression is deregulated through the t(14;18) translocation. In parallel with this observation, BIRC5/Survivin expression was higher in Burkitt's lymphoma and diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma than in non‐tumoural germinal centre cells. In vitro studies confirmed that NF‐κB activation contributes to the expression of both markers. In cell lines representing aggressive lymphomas, NF‐κB inhibition resulted in a decrease in BIRC5/Survivin expression. Meanwhile, in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)‐derived lymphocytes, NF‐κB inhibition resulted in a marked decrease in BCL2 expression. Copyright © 2005 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lobulitis is a frequent finding in prophylactically removed breast tissue from women at hereditary high risk of breast cancer
Authors: Hermsen Brenda BJ , von Mensdorff‐Pouilly Silvia , Fabry Hans FJ , Winters Hay AH , Kenemans Peter , Verheijen René HM , van Diest Paul J 
Published: May 2005

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate closely the nature of premalignant lesions that occur in prophylactically removed breast tissue from patients at hereditary high risk of breast cancer. Breast tissues obtained from 41 patients who underwent prophylactic mastectomy (pM) because of a hereditary high risk of breast cancer and control tissues from 82 age‐matched healthy controls who underwent breast reduction surgery were screened for premalignant lesions. Premalignant and malignant lesions were more frequent (p = 0.0016) in pM samples (5/41) than in controls (1/82). Interestingly, lobulitis, defined as more than 100 lymphocytes and/or plasma cells per lobule in more than one section in morphologically normal lobules, was encountered in 21 of 41 (51%) pM patients, in contrast to only 8 of 82 (10%) controls (p < 0.0001). Preliminary observations indicate a predominance of T‐cells in these infiltrates, in agreement with the already known frequent presence of lymphocytic infiltration in hereditary ductal in situ and infiltrating ductal/medullary carcinomas. This novel finding implies an immune reaction to an as yet unidentified antigen frequently present in women at hereditary high risk of breast cancer, possibly as part of an early carcinogenic event. Copyright © 2005 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Validating a web service security abstraction by typing
Authors: Gordon Andrew D. , Pucella Riccardo 
Published: May 2005

Abstract
An XML web service is, to a first approximation, an RPC service in which requests and responses are encoded in XML as SOAP envelopes, and transported over HTTP. We consider the problem of authenticating requests and responses at the SOAP-level, rather than relying on transport-level security. We propose a security abstraction, inspired by earlier work on secure RPC, in which the methods exported by a web service are annotated with one of three security levels: none, authenticated, or both authenticated and encrypted. We model our abstraction as an object calculus with primitives for defining and calling web services. We describe the semantics of our object calculus by translating to a lower level language with primitives for message passing and cryptography. To validate our semantics, we embed correspondence assertions that specify the correct authentication of requests and responses. By appeal to the type theory for cryptographic protocols of Gordon and Jeffrey's Cryptyc, we verify the correspondence assertions simply by typing. Finally, we describe an implementation of our semantics via custom SOAP headers.
Adult Surgical Emergencies in a Developing Country: The Experience of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria
Authors: Chianakwana Gabriel U. , Ihegihu Chima C. , Okafor Pius I.S. , Anyanwu Stanley N.C. , Mbonu Okechukwu O. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractThe goal of this study was to examine the adult surgical emergencies seen at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, with a view to proffering preventive solutions where appropriate and improving outcome. From the register of patients seen at the Casualty department and from the operations register in the main operation room of NAUTH, names and hospital numbers of adult patients treated as emergencies over a 5‐year period, from 7 September 1998 to 6 September 2003, were obtained. The hospital folders were then retrieved from the Records Department. From each folder, the following details about each patient were extracted: age, sex, diagnosis at presentation, causative factors, treatment given, and outcome. A total of 902 adult patients were treated during the period. The commonest emergency operation was appendectomy for acute appendicitis in 139 patients (97 women and 42 men), followed closely by road traffic accidents (RTAs) involving 137 patients (103 men and 34 women). Gunshot injuries, which resulted mainly from armed robbery attacks, accounted for 127 cases. More men (113) sustained gunshot injuries than women (14). Of the 92 cases of acute intestinal obstruction seen, 62 occurred in women and 30 in men. Some 126 men presented with acute urinary retention, and two others presented with priapism. Governments at various levels should provide modern diagnostic tools for the accurate preoperative diagnosis of surgical emergencies in hospitals. Governments should also inculcate strict discipline into drivers using the highways, particularly in relation to abuse of alcohol and drugs. Good roads and adequate security should be provided for the people. The need for Pre‐Hospital Care for the efficient evacuation of accident victims is emphasized. These measures will help to improve the management and outcome of surgical emergencies, and decrease the number of surgical emergencies resulting from RTAs and gunshot wounds.
Preoperative Albendazole and Scolices Viability in Patients with Hepatic Echinococcosis
Authors: Manterola Carlos , Mansilla Juan A. , Fonseca Flery 
Published: May 2005

AbstractTo determine the plasmatic and intracystal concentrations of albendazole sulfoxide (AS) and correlate them with the viability of the scolices in patients surgically treated for hepatic hydatid cysts (HHC) that received albendazole preoperatively, as an indirect way of evaluating the scolicide efficacy of the drug. A non‐consecutive series of patients with uncomplicated HHC, underwent operation at the Department of Surgery, Regional Hospital of Temuco, Chile, between 2001 and 2002. The patients were given 10 mg/kg/day of albendazole for 4 days prior to the surgery. Intraoperative samples of venous blood and hydatid fluid were taken, in which the plasmatic concentration (PIC) and intracystal concentration (ICC) of AS were measured by means of high‐performance liquid chromatography. With the remaining hydatid fluid, the viability of the scolices was examined. The following variables were taken into consideration: diameter, type of cyst, number of cysts, and development of cyst–biliary communications. Descriptive statistics were used in the calculation of medians, averages, and standard deviations, and analytical statistics were used for the comparison of continuous variables applying the t‐test and the Mann‐Whitney U‐test. A total of 26 patients with HHC, with a median age of 39.5 years (range: 16–80 years); 16 were women (61.5%). Nineteen patients presented only one cyst (73.1%), and the diametric median of the cysts was 14.5 cm (range: 7–30). Fourteen patients presented univesicular cysts (53.9%), and the remaining 12 had multivesicular cysts (46.1%). The average PIC of AS in the whole series was 1.88 ± 0.5 μg/ml and the ICC was 0.26 ± 0.2 μg/ml. The ICC in viable hydatid cysts was 0.25 μg/ml versus 0.28 μg/ml in non‐viable cysts (p = 0.7556). The absence of association between intracystal levels of AS and the viability of the scolices allows one to posit indirectly that albendazole is ineffective as a scolicidal agent administered preoperatively for 4 days.
Effect of Radiofrequency Ablation of the Liver on Cell‐Mediated Immunity in Rats
Authors: Yu Hee Chul , Il Moon Jang , Jin Zhe‐Wu , Lee Dae Yung , Kim Chan Young , Song Chang Ho , Cho Baik Hwan 
Published: May 2005

AbstractWe investigated the effect of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the liver on cell‐mediated immunity in rats. Sprague‐Dawley rats were divided into five groups: control group that did not have any procedure, a sham‐operation group that underwent laparotomy, a lobectomy group that had left lateral lobectomy of the liver, a one‐lobe RFA group that had RFA on the left lateral lobe of the liver, and a two‐lobe RFA group that had RFA on the left lateral and left median lobe of the liver. Delayed‐type hypersensitivity (DTH) was induced by challenging the ears of previously sensitized rats with 2,4‐dinitro‐1‐fluorobenzene. Cell‐mediated immunity was evaluated by direct measurement of the ear thickness and quantitative analysis of leukocytic infiltration of the tissue. The increased ear thickness was 42.0%, 69.2%, 61.8%, 46.7%, and 39.8% from the baseline one day after each procedure, and the mean leukocytic infiltration into the ear tissue was 3136.7, 3895.0, 3913.3, 2803.3, and 2316.7/mm2 seven days after each procedure in the control, sham‐operation, lobectomy, one‐lobe RFA, and two‐lobe RFA groups, respectively. In conclusion, RFA of the liver tissue can partially abolish the augmentation of DTH and leukocytic infiltration those were seen in the hepatic lobectomy and sham‐operation groups. The procedure had a negative effect on cell‐mediated immunity in rats, and the intensity of RFA showed a reverse correlation with cell‐mediated immunity.
Number of Lymph Node Metastases Is a Significant Prognostic Factor in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Nakagawa Takahito , Kamiyama Toshiya , Kurauchi Nobuaki , Matsushita Michiaki , Nakanishi Kazuaki , Kamachi Hirofumi , Kudo Takeaki , Todo Satoru 
Published: May 2005

AbstractIntrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) is a rare primary hepatic tumor. Outcomes after resection and the use of lymph node dissection have not been well described. From a prospective database, we identified 53 patients with IHCC who underwent exploration between April 1983 and March 2004. Hepatic resection was performed in 44 patients, 30 of whom underwent lymph node dissection. Clinicopathological features and outcomes were analyzed. The actuarial 1‐year survival was 66.2% in resected patients, compared to 0% in unresectable patients (p < 0.0001), with a 50% overall survival of 21.5 months and 3.1 months, respectively. The actuarial 3‐year and 5‐year overall survival rates in resected patients were 38.3% and 26.3%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that factors associated with poor overall survival included multiple tumors, extrahepatic bile duct involvement, noncurative resection, and involvement of lymph nodes. Multivariate analysis in resected patients revealed that multiple tumors (p < 0.0074) and non‐curative resection (p = 0.0068) were significant risk factors for poor overall survival. The survival rate in patients with three or more positive nodes was significantly lower than in those with fewer than three (p < 0.0001). Three patients with solitary tumors and one or two involved lymph nodes have survived beyond 4 years after extended lobectomy with systemic lymphadenectomy. Curative resection, single tumor, and fewer than two lymph node metastases were prognostic factors for good outcome. Curative resection with lymph node dissection improved survival in patients with no more than two positive lymph nodes.
Unpacking commitment and exploration: Preliminary validation of an integrative model of late adolescent identity formation
Authors: Luyckx Koen , Goossens Luc , Soenens Bart , Beyers Wim 
Published: May 2005

AbstractA model of identity formation comprising four structural dimensions (Commitment Making, Identification with Commitment, Exploration in Depth, and Exploration in Breadth) was developed through confirmatory factor analysis. In a sample of 565 emerging adults, this model provided a better fit than did alternative two‐ and three‐dimensional models, thereby validating the unpacking of both exploration and commitment. Regression analyses indicated that Commitment Making was significantly related to family context in accordance with hypotheses. Identification with Commitment and both exploration dimensions were significantly related to adjustment and family context, again in accordance with hypotheses. Identification with Commitment was positively related to positive adjustment indicators and negatively to depressive symptoms, whereas Exploration in Breadth was positively related to depressive symptoms and substance use. Exploration in Depth, on the other hand, was positively related to academic adjustment and negatively to substance use. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
A comparison of the effects of preferred music, arithmetic and humour on cold pressor pain
Authors: Mitchell Laura A. , MacDonald Raymond A.R. , Brodie Eric E. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractResearch studies of ‘audioanalgesia', the ability of music to affect pain perception, have significantly increased in number during the past two decades. Listening to preferred music in particular may provide an emotionally engaging distraction capable of reducing both the sensation of pain itself and the accompanying negative affective experience. The current study uses experimentally induced cold pressor pain to compare the effects of preferred music to two types of distracting stimuli found effective within the previous studies; mental arithmetic, a cognitive distraction, and humour, which may emotionally engage us in a similar manner to music. Forty‐four participants (24 females, 20 males) underwent three cold pressor trials in counterbalanced order. The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task provided the cognitive distraction and a choice was given from three types of audiotaped stand‐up comedy. Participants provided their own preferred music. A circulating and cooling water bath administered cold pressor stimulation. Tolerance time, pain intensity on visual analogue scale and the pain rating index and perceived control were measured. Preferred music listening was found to significantly increase tolerance in comparison to the cognitive task, and significantly increase perceived control in comparison to humour. Ratings of pain intensity did not significantly differ. The results suggest preferred music listening to offer effective distraction and enhancement of control as a pain intervention under controlled laboratory conditions.
Fear‐avoidance beliefs and pain coping strategies in relation to lower back problems in a South African steel industry
Authors: van Vuuren Bernard J. , van Heerden Hendrik J. , Becker Piet J. , Zinzen Evert , Meeusen Romain 
Published: May 2005

AbstractThe objective was to determine the association between the prevalence of lower back problems (LBP), fear‐avoidance beliefs and pain coping strategies using an analytical cross‐sectional epidemiological study among a group of 366 workers in a South African stainless steel industry. Outcome (LBP) was defined using a questionnaire and a functional rating index. Exposure to psychosocial risk was determined using the Fear‐Avoidance Beliefs (FABQ) and Coping Strategies (CSQ) questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression analyses for LBP indicated the following significant risk factors: work‐related fear‐avoidance beliefs (OR 3.40; 95% CI 2.20‐5.25), catastrophizing (1.31; 1.01‐1.7) and pain coping self statements (1.47; 1.16‐1.87). Significant protective associations were found for increased activity levels (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.42‐0.78). These findings have utility in preventative screening procedures to identify workers with such beliefs and coping strategies who are at risk for prolonged work restrictions.