bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Practice patterns of antiphospholipid syndrome at a tertiary teaching hospital in Lebanon
Authors: Major S , Pashayan N , Atweh S , Chidiac-Tannoury R , Shaar S , Uthman I , Masri A , Arayssi T 
Published: November 2002

The objective of the study was to describe the practice patterns of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) as compared with consensus guidelines for diagnosis and to determine whether practice patterns correlate with patient demographics and physician specialty. A retrospective medical chart review was conducted at the American University Hospital, in Beirut, Lebanon. All adult and pediatric patients admitted to the hospital between 1 January and 31 December 1998 who underwent either anticardiolipinantibodies (aCL) or lupus anticoagulant(LA) testing were included in the study. Work-up of APS syndrome was compared with: (a) the consensus guidelines for clinical diagnosis; (b) physician specialty; and (c) patient demographics (age, gender, ethnicity, health insurance status). Eighty-seven patients fulfilled at least one clinical criterion for APS; 92% were for work-up of thrombosis and 8% for pregnancy morbidities. Fifty-one percent underwent both aCL and LA. Overall 38% (33) of patients had an abnormal test result, however only 18% (6) underwent retesting, of whom only two satisfied a minimum of 6 weeks between test and retest. The APS diagnostic work-up was requested by 11 different specialties. Rheumatologists were the most consistent in asking for both tests. APS is seen and diagnosed by a variety of medical specialties. Practice patterns as compared with the latest consensus are sub-optimal, and need to be improved. Interventions to help improve this have been discussed and are being implemented.
Prognostic Factors for Relapse in Stage I Seminoma Managed by Surveillance: A Pooled Analysis
Authors: Warde Padraig , Specht Lena , Horwich Alan , Oliver Tim , Panzarella Tony , Gospodarowicz Mary , von der Maase Hans 
Published: November 2002

PURPOSE: Several management options are available to patients with stage I seminoma, including adjuvant radiotherapy, surveillance, and adjuvant chemotherapy. We performed a pooled analysis of patients from the four largest surveillance studies to better delineate prognostic factors associated with disease progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Individual patient data were obtained from each center (Princess Margaret Hospital, Danish Testicular Cancer Study Group, Royal Marsden Hospital, and Royal London Hospital) for 638 patients. Tumor characteristics (size, histologic subtype, invasion of rete testis, and tumor invasion into small vessels [SVI]) as well as age at diagnosis were analyzed for prognostic importance for relapse. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 7.0 years (range, 0.02 to 17.5 years), 121 relapses were observed for an actuarial 5-year relapse-free rate (RFR) of 82.3%. On univariate analysis, tumor size (RFR: ≤ 4 cm, 87%; > 4 cm, 76%; P = .003), rete testis invasion (RFR: 86% [absent] v 77% [present], P = .003), and the presence of SVI (RFR: 86% [absent] v 77% [present], P = .038) were predictive of relapse. On multivariate analysis, tumor size (≤ 4 cm v > 4 cm, hazard ratio 2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3 to 3.2) and invasion of the rete testis (hazard ratio 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.6) remained as important predictors for relapse. CONCLUSION: We have identified size of primary tumor and rete testis invasion as important prognostic factors for relapse in patients with stage I seminoma managed with surveillance. This information will allow patients and clinicians to choose management based on a more accurate assessment of an individual patient’s risk of relapse. In addition, it will allow clinicians to tailor follow-up protocols based on risk of occult disease.
Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Marimastat After Response to First-Line Chemotherapy in Patients With Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Trial of the National Cancer Institute of Canada-Clinical Trials Group and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer
Authors: Shepherd Frances A. , Giaccone Giuseppe , Seymour Lesley , Debruyne Channa , Bezjak Andrea , Hirsh Vera , Smylie Michael , Rubin Sheldon , Martins Heidi , Lamont Alan , Krzakowski Maciej , Sadura Anna , Zee Benny 
Published: November 2002

PURPOSE: Increased expression of metalloproteinases is associated with poor prognosis in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). This trial was undertaken to determine whether adjuvant treatment with the metalloproteinase inhibitor marimastat could prolong survival in responding patients with SCLC after chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: SCLC patients in complete or partial remission were eligible. They were stratified by radiotherapy (early, late, or none), stage (extensive or limited), response (complete or partial), and cooperative group (National Cancer Institute of Canada-Clinical Trials Group or European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer). They were randomized to receive marimastat 10 mg or placebo orally bid for up to 2 years. RESULTS: There were 532 eligible patients (266 marimastat and 266 placebo). Stage was limited for 279 patients (52%) and extensive for 253 (48%). Best response to induction therapy was complete remission for 176 patients (33%), partial remission for 341 (64%), and 15 patients (3%) had undergone surgical resection. The median time to progression for marimastat patients was 4.3 months compared with 4.4 months for placebo patients (P = .81). Median survivals for marimastat and placebo patients were 9.3 months and 9.7 months, respectively (P = .90) Toxicity was generally limited to musculoskeletal symptoms (18% grade 3/4 for marimastat). Dose modifications for musculoskeletal toxicity were required in 90 patients (33%) on the marimastat arm, and 87 (32%) permanently stopped marimastat because of toxicity. Patients on marimastat had significantly poorer quality of life at 3 and 6 months. CONCLUSION: Treatment with marimastat after induction therapy for SCLC did not result in improved survival and had a negative impact on quality of life.
Efficacy and Safety of Carbon Ion Radiotherapy in Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Authors: Kamada Tadashi , Tsujii Hirohiko , Tsuji Hiroshi , Yanagi Tsuyoshi , Mizoe Jun-etsu , Miyamoto Tadaaki , Kato Hirotoshi , Yamada Shigeru , Morita Shinroku , Yoshikawa Kyousan , Kandatsu Susumu , Tateishi Akio 
Published: November 2002

PURPOSE: To evaluate the tolerance for and effectiveness of carbon ion radiotherapy in patients with unresectable bone and soft tissue sarcomas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a phase I/II dose escalation study of carbon ion radiotherapy. Fifty-seven patients with 64 sites of bone and soft tissue sarcomas not suited for resection received carbon ion radiotherapy. Tumors involved the spine or paraspinous soft tissues in 19 patients, pelvis in 32 patients, and extremities in six patients. The total dose ranged from 52.8 to 73.6 gray equivalent (GyE) and was administered in 16 fixed fractions over 4 weeks (3.3 to 4.6 GyE/fraction). The median tumor size was 559 cm3 (range, 20 to 2,290 cm3). The minimum follow-up was 18 months. RESULTS: Seven of 17 patients treated with the highest total dose of 73.6 GyE experienced Radiation Therapy Oncology Group grade 3 acute skin reactions. Dose escalation was then halted at this level. No other severe acute reactions (grade > 3) were observed in this series. The overall local control rates were 88% and 73% at 1 year and 3 years of follow-up, respectively. The median survival time was 31 months (range, 2 to 60 months), and the 1- and 3-year overall survival rates were 82% and 46%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Carbon ion radiotherapy seems to be a safe and effective modality in the management of bone and soft tissue sarcomas not eligible for surgical resection, providing good local control and offering a survival advantage without unacceptable morbidity.
Efficacy of Fluorine-18-Deoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography in Detecting Tumor Recurrence After Local Ablative Therapy for Liver Metastases: A Prospective Study
Authors: Langenhoff B.S. , Oyen W.J.G. , Jager G.J. , Strijk S.P. , Wobbes Th. , Corstens F.H.M. , Ruers T.J.M. 
Published: November 2002

PURPOSE: The aims of this prospective study were to investigate the potential role of fluorine-18-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in determining the efficacy of the local tumor ablative process and to determine the added value of FDG-PET in the detection of tumor recurrence during follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases were followed up after local ablative therapy consisting of a standard protocol including FDG-PET scanning, computed tomography (CT) scanning, and carcinoembryonic antigen measurements. The mean follow-up period was 16 months (range, 10 to 21 months). RESULTS: Ninety-six lesions was treated, 56 by local ablative treatment. Within 3 weeks after local ablative treatment, 51 lesions became photopenic on FDG-PET, while five lesions (in five patients) showed persistent activity on FDG-PET. In four of five FDG-PET–positive lesions, a local recurrence developed during follow-up; one FDG-PET–positive lesion turned out to be an abscess. None of the FDG-PET–negative lesions developed a local recurrence during a mean follow-up period of 16 months. During follow-up, 11 patients showed recurrence in the liver outside of the treated area. In all cases, previously negative FDG-PET scans became positive. Extrahepatic recurrence was encountered in nine patients during follow-up; FDG-PET showed all nine cases of tumor recurrence. There was one false-positive FDG-PET caused by an intra-abdominal abscess. In all patients, the time point of detection of recurrence by FDG-PET was considerably earlier than the detection by CT. CONCLUSION: FDG-PET seems to have a significant impact in measuring treatment efficacy directly after local ablative therapy. Furthermore, FDG-PET has an added value in patient follow-up because it reveals recurrences earlier than conventional diagnostic modalities.
Spatial regulation of actin dynamics: a tropomyosin-free, actin-rich compartment at the leading edge
Authors: DesMarais Vera , Ichetovkin Ilia , Condeelis John , Hitchcock-DeGregori Sarah E. 
Published: November 2002

Rapid polymerization of a network of short, branched actin filaments takes place at the leading edge of migrating cells, a compartment enriched in activators of actin polymerization such as the Arp2/3 complex and cofilin. Actin filaments elsewhere in the cell are long and unbranched. Results reported here show that the presence or absence of tropomyosin in these different actin-containing regions helps establish functionally distinct actin-containing compartments in the cell.Tropomyosin, an inhibitor of the Arp2/3 complex and cofilin function, was localized in relation to actin filaments, the Arp2/3 complex, and free barbed ends of actin filaments in MTLn3 cells, which rapidly extend flat lamellipodia following EGF stimulation. All tropomyosin isoforms examined using indirect immunofluorescence were relatively absent from the dynamic leading edge compartment, but did colocalize with actin structures deeper in the lamellipodium and in stress fibers. An in vitro light microscopy assay revealed that tropomyosin protects actin filaments from cofilin severing. The results suggest that tropomyosin-free actin filaments under the membrane can participate in rapid, dynamic processes that depend on interactions between the activities of the Arp2/3 complex and ADF/cofilin that tropomyosin inhibits elsewhere in the cell.
Large‐eddy simulation of the diurnal cycle of shallow cumulus convection over land
Authors: Brown A. R. , Cederwall R. T. , Chlond A. , Duynkerke P. G. , Golaz J.‐C. , Khairoutdinov M. , Lewellen D. C. , Lock A. P. , MacVean M. K. , Moeng C.‐H. , Neggers R. A. J. , Siebesma A. P. , Stevens B. 
Published: November 2002

AbstractLarge‐eddy simulations of the development of shallow cumulus convection over land are presented. Many characteristics of the cumulus layer previously found in simulations of quasi‐steady convection over the sea are found to be reproduced in this more strongly forced, unsteady case. Furthermore, the results are shown to be encouragingly robust, with similar results obtained with eight independent models, and also across a range of numerical resolutions. The datasets produced are already being used in the development and evaluation of parametrizations used in numerical weather‐prediction and climate models. © Royal Meteorological Society, 2002. A. R. Brown's, A. P. Lock's and M. K. MacVean's contributions are Crown copyright.
Equatorial components of global atmospheric angular momentum: Covariance functions
Authors: Egger Joseph , Hoinka Klaus‐Peter 
Published: November 2002

AbstractContributions to a dynamic climatology of the equatorial componentsMxandMyof global angular momentum are presented on the basis of ECMWF re‐analysis data. The covariance functions ofMx,Myand the related torques are evaluated using the observations. It is shown that the torques due to the equatorial bulge, and the torques due to the gradient of the geopotential, balance. Prognostic equations forMxandMyare derived on the basis of this result as are the equations for the covariance functions. All terms in these equations are discussed on the basis of the data. The autocovariance functions of both equatorial components decay rapidly for lags less than 5 days, and rather slowly for larger lags. The cross‐covariance function ofMxandMyimplies westward motion of the angular‐momentum vector. Atmospheric tides leave a clear imprint on the wind terms.Mountain and friction torques have virtually no influence on the antisymmetric change of the autocovariance functions of the angular momenta with lag. This change is almost completely induced by the wind terms which represent the combined impact of the earth's rotation and its shape. The torques are, however, important in the symmetric part of the autocovariance equations where they balance the contributions by the wind terms. Moreover, the cross‐covariance equation forMxandMyindicates that both torques retard the westward motion of the angular‐momentum vector. Surprisingly, the correlation of friction torques and the related wind terms is small and positive while that with the mass terms is negative and large. The contributions by the wind terms in the covariance equations for mountain torques and angular momentum cancel almost exactly the orographic terms. The orographic terms are also of key importance in the covariance equations forMx,Myand the wind terms. The data quality is sufficient for the analysis of the auto‐ and cross‐covariance equations ofMxandMy, but not for some of the cross‐covariance equations ofMx,Myand the torques. Copyright © 2002 Royal Meteorological Society
Upper‐ and lower‐troposphere coupling processes involved in the FASTEX IOP16 frontal cyclone
Authors: Bouniol D. , Lemaître Y. , Protat A. 
Published: November 2002

AbstractThis paper investigates processes involved in the development of the secondary low sampled on 17 February 1997 during the field phase of the Fronts and Atlantic Storm‐Track EXperiment (FASTEX). This low is a fast‐ moving frontal wave that emerged from the trailing cold front of a parent low situated over Greenland.The dynamics of this cyclone and its environment are described using the European Centre for Medium‐ Range Weather Forecasts analysis corresponding to Intensive Observing Period 16 of FASTEX. The ageostrophic circulation is retrieved and analysed in the upper and in the lower levels. In the upper levels it is found that the curvature of the upper‐level jet plays a crucial role in suppressing or amplifying the vertical motions. In the lower levels, in the region where the cloud head emerges, the vertical motion is scrutinized in the light of forcings which are acting. It is found that the vertical motions are the response to a geostrophic forcing reinforced by diabatic processes. The conjunction of vertical motions in the lower levels associated with vertical motions in the upper levels leads, in the developing period, to a coupling process that seems to be (following theoretical calculations) at the origin of the subsequent development of the cyclone.The instability processes involved in the development of the studied secondary cyclone are also investigated. The atmosphere appears neutral for upright convection while the region of the coupling corresponds to a region which is potentially unstable with respect to slantwise convection. The tendency of the atmosphere is to relax this instability. The vertical motions of the coupling processes are then reinforced by the relaxation of slantwise instability. Copyright © 2002 Royal Meteorological Society
The effect of El Niño on intraseasonal Kelvin waves
Authors: Benestad Rasmus E. , Sutton Rowan T. , Anderson David L. T. 
Published: November 2002

AbstractIntraseasonal Kelvin waves represent an important aspect of tropical ocean dynamics. There has been considerable speculation about whether intraseasonal Kelvin waves generated by intraseasonal wind events can trigger El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, and therefore play a potentially important role in the prediction of El Niño. This study considers the different but related issue of how ENSO conditions influence intraseasonal Kelvin waves. Understanding this issue is an important part of clarifying the total role of scale interactions in the ENSO cycle.Numerical experiments carried out with an ocean general circulation model forced with European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts re‐analysis surface fluxes show that both the west‐to‐east energy transmission and speed of propagation of intraseasonal Kelvin waves are strongly influenced by the phase of ENSO. The waves are much more strongly damped during La Niña conditions than during El Niño, primarily as a result of increased viscous dissipation associated with enhanced vertical shear. We suggest that this mechanism represents a significant source of nonlinearity between El Niño and La Niña states. It may influence the onset, the lifetime and the magnitude of warm or cold anomalies. Copyright © 2002 Royal Meteorological Society
High‐resolution limited‐area ensemble predictions based on low‐resolution targeted singular vectors
Authors: Frogner Inger‐Lise , Iversen Trond 
Published: November 2002

AbstractThe operational limited‐area model, HIRLAM, at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute is used at 0.25° latitude/longitude resolution for ensemble weather prediction over Northern Europe and adjacent parts of the North Atlantic Ocean; this system is called LAMEPS. Initial and lateral boundary perturbations are taken from coarse‐resolution European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts global ensemble members based on targeted singular vectors (TEPS). Five winter and five summer cases in 1997 consisting of 20 ensemble members plus one control forecast are integrated. Two sets of ensembles are generated, one for which both initial and lateral boundary conditions are perturbed, and another with only the initial fields perturbed. The LAMEPS results are compared to those of TEPS using the following measures: r.m.s. ensemble spread of 500 hPa geopotential height; r.m.s. ensemble spread of mean‐sea‐level pressure; Brier Skill Scores (BSS); Relative Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves; and cost/loss analyses. For forecasts longer than 12 hours, all measures show that perturbing the boundary fields is crucial for the performance of LAMEPS. For the winter cases TEPS has slightly larger ensemble spread than LAMEPS, but this is reversed for the summer cases. Results from BSS, ROC and cost/loss analyses show that LAMEPS performed considerably better than TEPS for precipitation, a result that is promising for forecasting extreme precipitation amounts. We believe this result to be linked to the high predictability of mesoscale flows controlled by complex topography. For two‐metre temperature, however, TEPS frequently performed better than LAMEPS. Copyright © 2002 Royal Meteorological Society
Radiative upper‐boundary conditions for a non‐hydrostatic atmosphere
Authors: Purser R. James , Kar Sajal K. 
Published: November 2002

AbstractA non‐hydrostatic compressible model supports vertically propagating acoustic modes in addition to the modes of meteorological significance, such as the quasi‐geostrophically balanced, and gravity modes. The acoustic modes are stimulated inadvertently, either by initial conditions incompatibly balanced for the model discretization, or by physical processes injecting abrupt impulses of heat or motion into the model during the integration. A standard method for removing unwanted acoustic energy is through the inclusion in the model of three‐dimensional divergence damping. However, an alternative approach is to employ an upper‐boundary condition designed to radiate acoustic waves, at least partially, as they impinge on the model top. This note explores this latter option through the use of an upper‐boundary condition that incorporates a time filter to facilitate the selective absorption of both gravity and acoustic waves at the top. Copyright © 2002 Royal Meteorological Society
Relationship between thermodynamical parameters of activated complexes and initial reactants in the reaction of peroxides with amines
Authors: Turovskiy A. A. , Turovskiy N. A. , Kopylets V. I. , Zagladko E. A. , Zaikov G. A. 
Published: November 2002

AbstractThe linear dependence between heats of formation and entropies of initial reactants on the one hand and the corresponding thermodynamical parameters of activated complexes on the other hand was obtained for the reaction of peroxides with amines. This relationship allows one to estimate such parameters for other similar reactions of amines with peroxides. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 641–642, 2003
Morphology and thermal properties of PPS/ABS blend systems
Authors: Nam Jae‐Do , Kim Junmyung , Lee Sungjae , Lee Youngkwan , Park Chansuk 
Published: November 2002

AbstractIn this study the PPS/ABS blend system was investigated in order to collectively identify the relationship among blend morphology, chemical compatibilization, and thermal property. The ABS resin was chemically modified by the incorporation of maleic anhydride through reactive extrusion for enhanced compatibilization, and ABS/PPS and the modified ABS/PPS blends were prepared by a twin‐screw extruder. The effect of chemical modification of ABS on the morphological, mechanical, and thermal properties of the resulting blend was examined. A strong chemical interaction between PPS and MABS was observed by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and FTIR. The PPS/MABS blend showed a single glass‐transition temperature in dynamic mechanical analysis, demonstrating pseudo‐homogeneous phase morphology induced by chemical compatibilization. The PPS/MABS blend also exhibited an enhanced thermal stability and heat distortion temperature compared with the PPS/ABS blend. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 661–665, 2003