bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A randomised clinical trial of nicotine patches for treatment of spit tobacco addiction among adolescents
Authors: Stotts R C , Roberson P K , Hanna E Y , Jones S K , Smith C K 
Published: November 2003

Background:This study tested the efficacy of nicotine patches in combination with behavioural therapy for the treatment of adolescent spit tobacco addiction. Prior interventions had resulted in mean cessation rates below 15% at one year.Methods:This study, the PATCH Project, used a three group, placebo controlled, randomised clinical trial design. The control group received a standard 3–5 minute counselling followed by a two week follow up phone call. The two intervention groups received a six week behavioural intervention; in addition, one group received active nicotine patches while the other group received placebo patches. Both groups received quarterly stage based telephone counselling.Results:At one year, the usual care group’s spit tobacco cessation rate was 11.4% (exact 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.1% to 19.1%), placebo patch 25.0% (95% CI 16.9% to 34.7%), and the active patch 17.3% (95% CI 10.4% to 26.3%). When both patch groups were combined, the cessation rate was 21.2% (95% CI 15.7% to 27.6%). The cessation rates for active and placebo patch were not significantly different (exact two sided p  =  0.22), while the combined patch groups had a significantly greater cessation rate than usual care (exact two sided p  =  0.04).Conclusions:The behavioural intervention proved to be about twice as successful as previous interventions, but the nicotine patch offered no improvement in cessation rates. The behavioural intervention is based on publicly available materials and can be easily adapted for widespread use, particularly in high schools.
Understanding factors that influence smoking uptake
Authors: Buller D B , Borland R , Woodall W G , Hall J R , Burris-Woodall P , Voeks J H 
Published: November 2003

Objective:To explore relationships between patterns of smoking uptake and social context and attitudinal variables.Design:Cross sectional survey.Setting:Public schools in Tucson, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico.Participants:982 children in grades 6–9 (ages 11–15 years).Main outcome measures:Items measuring smoking history, nicotine dependence and quit attempts, susceptibility to smoking in the future, smoking norms, use of other tobacco products, attitudes toward smoking, and demographic characteristics.Results:Overall, 43% of children had smoked a cigarette and 57% had never used them. Ever smokers lived in social contexts with more smoking and where smoking was normative. Among never users, 25% are susceptible to smoking; these children have positive attitudes toward smoking, do not feel social pressure to stay off cigarettes, and had more friends who smoked. Among ever users, 36% were currently smoking in the past 30 days. Current users also lived in social context with more smoking and had positive attitudes toward smoking. Most users had tried to stop smoking. Only 9% of current users smoked daily; 29% had not smoked a whole cigarette. Greater cigarette consumption was associated with more favourable attitudes toward smoking. Most of past users were in early uptake: 95% had smoked less than 100 cigarettes but 49% were susceptible to smoking again.Conclusions:There is promise in differentiating subgroups among the never, past and current use of cigarettes. Susceptibility within each of these groups was associated with similar patterns of attitudes and social context. These patterns in smoking uptake need to be confirmed prospectively.
The feasibility of evaluating a tobacco control intervention for working youth
Authors: Fagan P , Stoddard A M , Hunt M K , Frazier L , Girod K , Sorensen G 
Published: November 2003

Objectives:To describe the feasibility of implementing evaluation methods for a worksite tobacco control intervention for teens. Indicators of feasibility included employment stability, response rates to multiple surveys, and self reported 30 day smoking.Design:Grocery stores that were part of a single chain were randomised to four intervention stores and five control stores as part of the SMART project, a phase II methods development study designed to reduce smoking among working adolescents.Subjects:Data on smoking in the last 30 days and employment patterns were collected from working teens aged 15–18 years at seven data points over the 12 month intervention period using cross sectional surveys.Results:Data on employment stability indicate that employee turnover rates averaged 21% over the seven administrations. Response rates for the seven surveys ranged from 43–77% and were slightly greater in the control stores than the interventions stores (71%v59%, p  =  0.06). Mean current smoking at the individual store level ranged from 9–32% and there was a negative correlation between smoking prevalence and response rate by survey and by store (–0.029, p  =  0.03). Among smokers who completed at least two surveys, there were no significant differences between intervention and control store on changes in the frequency of smoking.Conclusions:Evaluating a tobacco control intervention in the grocery store setting requires multiple survey assessments to monitor changes in smoking among adolescents. Strategies are needed to maintain high response rates and increase the number of multiple responses from eligible teens.
Feasibility of implementing intervention methods in an adolescent worksite tobacco control study
Authors: Hunt M K , Fagan P , Lederman R , Stoddard A , Frazier L , Girod K , Sorensen G 
Published: November 2003

Objective:To present feasibility data on SMART, the first teen worksite behavioural tobacco control intervention.Design:This phase II study was designed to estimate the efficacy and feasibility of a small scale, randomised, controlled intervention.Setting and subjects:This study, addressing youths aged 15–18 years, was implemented in four intervention and five control grocery stores that had an average of 44 eligible teens.Interventions:The tobacco use cessation and prevention interventions were based on social influences and peer leader models. Employee break rooms served as centres both for interactive activities including open houses, teen advisory boards, peer leader interviews, games and contests; and non-interactive interventions including bulletin boards and table tents with health messages and home mailings.Main process measures:Project staff collected process data on the extent of implementation of intervention activities, participation rates in activities, and contacts with peer leaders. On the final survey, teens reported on awareness of, participation in, and motivation for participating in project activities.Results:Indicators of feasibility were identified and discussed, including the number of activities implemented, teen participation, management support, cost, and barriers to and facilitators of implementation. During the 12 month intervention, a mean of 24.1 interactive activities and 55.3 non-interactive activities were implemented, and a mean 14.2% participation rate per activity per site was achieved. Eighty four per cent of teens reported being aware of SMART, and 39% reported participating in interactive and 67% in non-interactive activities.Conclusions:Teen smoking cessation rates in worksite programmes might be improved if they are conducted in companies where there is job stability and if teen programmes are part of worksite-wide tobacco control programmes that include both teens and adults.
QUANDLES AT FINITE TEMPERATURES II
Authors: DIONÍSIO F. MIGUEL , LOPES PEDRO 
Published: November 2003

The number of colorings of a knot diagram by a given quandle is a knot invariant. This follows naturally from the fact that the knot quandle is a knot invariant, and is observed again in the context of the CJKLS invariant and also in the context of the equivalence relation on colored diagrams introduced by the second author. Here we investigate the effectiveness of this invariant on prime knots of up to and including ten crossings, by computing the number of colorings using a list of ten quandles. This distinguishes these knots in all but less than 3% of the cases.
High-Risk Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the Skin Treated With Synchronous Carboplatin/Etoposide and Radiation: A Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group Study—TROG 96:07
Authors: Poulsen Michael , Rischin Danny , Walpole Euan , Harvey Jennifer , Mackintosh John , Ainslie Jill , Hamilton Chris , Keller Jacqui , Tripcony Lee 
Published: November 2003

Purpose: The effectiveness of synchronous carboplatin, etoposide, and radiation therapy was prospectively assessed in a group of patients with high-risk Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the skin. Patients and Methods: Patients were eligible if they had disease localized to the primary site and nodes, and were required to have at least one of the following high risk features: recurrence after initial therapy, involved nodes, primary tumor size greater than 1 cm, gross residual disease after surgery, or occult primary with nodes. Radiation was delivered to the primary site and nodes to a dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks and synchronous carboplatin (area under the curve, 4.5) and intravenous etoposide 80 mg/m2 days 1 to 3 was given in weeks 1, 4, 7, and 10. The median age of the group was 67 (range, 43–86) years, and there were 39 males and 14 females. Involved nodes (stage II) were present in 33 cases (62%). The sites involved were head and neck (22 patients), occult primary (13 patients), upper limb (eight patients), lower limb (eight patients), and trunk (two patients). Results: Fifty-three patients were entered between 1996 and 2001. The median potential follow-up was 48 months. There were no treatment related deaths. The 3-year overall survival, locoregional control, and distant control were 76%, 75%, and 76%, respectively. Tumor site and the presence of nodes were factors that were predictive for local control and survival. Multivariate analysis indicated that the major factor influencing survival was the presence of nodes; however, this was not a significant factor in locoregional control. Conclusion: High levels of locoregional control and survival have been achieved with the addition of chemotherapy to radiation treatment for high-risk MCC of the skin. The role of chemoradiotherapy for high-risk MCC warrants further investigation.
Kinase Mutations and Imatinib Response in Patients With Metastatic Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor
Authors: Heinrich Michael C. , Corless Christopher L. , Demetri George D. , Blanke Charles D. , von Mehren Margaret , Joensuu Heikki , McGreevey Laura S. , Chen Chang-Jie , Van den Abbeele Annick D. , Druker Brian J. , Kiese Beate , Eisenberg Burton , Roberts Peter J. , Singer Samuel , Fletcher Christopher D.M. , Silberman Sandra , Dimitrijevic Sasa , Fletcher Jonathan A. 
Published: November 2003

Purpose: Most gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) express constitutively activated mutant isoforms of KIT or kinase platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) that are potential therapeutic targets for imatinib mesylate. The relationship between mutations in these kinases and clinical response to imatinib was examined in a group of patients with advanced GIST. Patients and Methods: GISTs from 127 patients enrolled onto a phase II clinical study of imatinib were examined for mutations of KIT or PDGFRA. Mutation types were correlated with clinical outcome. Results: Activating mutations of KIT or PDGFRA were found in 112 (88.2%) and six (4.7%) GISTs, respectively. Most KIT mutations involved exon 9 (n = 23) or exon 11 (n = 85). All KIT mutant isoforms, but only a subset of PDGFRA mutant isoforms, were sensitive to imatinib, in vitro. In patients with GISTs harboring exon 11 KIT mutations, the partial response rate (PR) was 83.5%, whereas patients with tumors containing an exon 9 KIT mutation or no detectable mutation of KIT or PDGFRA had PR rates of 47.8% (P = .0006) and 0.0% (P < .0001), respectively. Patients whose tumors contained exon 11 KIT mutations had a longer event-free and overall survival than those whose tumors expressed either exon 9 KIT mutations or had no detectable kinase mutation. Conclusion: Activating mutations of KIT or PDGFRA are found in the vast majority of GISTs, and the mutational status of these oncoproteins is predictive of clinical response to imatinib. PDGFRA mutations can explain response and sensitivity to imatinib in some GISTs lacking KIT mutations.
A Convenient Low-temperature Route to Nanocrystalline Boron Phosphide
Authors: Chen Luyang , Gu Yunle , Shi Liang , Ma Jianhua , Yang Zeheng , Qian Yitai 
Published: November 2003

Abstract
Nanocrystalline boron phosphide (BP) has been prepared by the reaction of PCl3 with NaBH4 at 600 °C in an autoclave. The X-ray powder diffraction patterns can be indexed as cubic BP with the lattice constants of a = 4.53 Å. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image shows particle morphology, with average size of 10 nm for the powders. The selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns confirm the prepared BP.
N‐Salicyloyltryptamine, a new anticonvulsant drug, acts on voltage‐dependent Na+, Ca2+, and K+ ion channels
Authors: Araújo Demétrius Antonio Machado , Mafra Roberta Amaral , Rodrigues Andréia Laura Prates , Miguel‐Silva Válter , Beirão Paulo Sérgio Lacerda , De Almeida Reinaldo Nóbrega , Quintans Lucindo , Souza Maria Fátima Vanderlei de , Cruz Jader Santos 
Published: November 2003

The aim of this work was to study the effects of N‐salicyloyltryptamine (STP), a novel anticonvulsant agent, on voltage‐gated ion channels in GH3 cells.
In this study, we show that STP at 17 μM inhibited up to 59.2±10.4% of the Ito and 73.1±8.56% of the IKD K+ currents in GH3 cells. Moreover, the inhibitory activity of the drug STP on K+ currents was dose‐dependent (IC50=34.6±8.14 μM for Ito) and partially reversible after washing off.
Repeated stimulation at 1 Hz (STP at 17 μM) led to the total disappearance of Ito current, and an enhancement of IKD.
In the cell‐attached configuration, application of STP to the bath increased the open probability of large‐conductance Ca2+‐activated K+ channels.
STP at 17 μM inhibited the L‐type Ca2+ current by 54.9±7.50% without any significant changes in the voltage dependence.
STP at 170 μM inhibited the TTX‐sensitive Na+ current by 22.1±2.41%. At a lower concentration (17 μM), no effect on INa was observed.
The pharmacological profile described here might contribute to the neuroprotective effect exerted by this compound in experimental ‘in vivo’ models.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2003) 140, 1331–1339. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705471
Acute exposure of ceramide enhances cardiac contractile function in isolated ventricular myocytes
Authors: Relling David P , Hintz Kadon K , Ren Jun 
Published: November 2003

The sphingolipid ceramide, a primary building block for all other sphingolipids, is associated with growth arrest, apoptosis, and lipotoxic dysfunction. Interestingly, ceramide may attenuate high glucose‐induced myocyte dysfunction, produce Ca2+ influx, and augment smooth muscle contraction. To determine the role of ceramide on cardiac excitation–contraction (E–C) coupling, electrically paced adult rat ventricular myocytes were acutely exposed to a cell‐permeable ceramide analog (10 pM–100 μM) and the following indices were determined: peak shortening (PS), time‐to‐P., time‐to‐90% relengthening, and the maximal velocity of shortening and relengthening (±dLdt). Intracellular Ca2+ properties were assessed using fura‐2AM fluorescent microscopy.
Our results revealed a concentration‐ and time‐dependent increase of PS in ventricular myocytes in response to ceramide associated with an increase in ±dLdt. The maximal increase in PS was ∼35% from control value and was maintained throughout the first 20 min of ceramide exposure. However, the ceramide‐induced increase in PS was not maintained once the exposure time was beyond 20 min. Acute exposure of ceramide significantly enhanced intracellular Ca2+ release, although at a much lower concentration range. The ceramide‐induced augmentation of PS was not significantly affected by inhibition of phosphatidylinositol (PI)‐3‐kinase, protein kinase C (PKC), ceramide‐activated protein phosphatase (CAPP), and nitric oxide (NO) synthase.
Our data suggest that ceramide acutely augments the contractile function of cardiac myocytes through an alternative mechanism(s) rather than PI‐3‐kinase, PKC, CAPP, or NO.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2003) 140, 1163–1168. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705510
ATP and UTP responses of cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells revisited: dominance of P2Y2 receptors
Authors: Kumari Rajendra , Goh Gareth , Ng Leong L , Boarder Michael R 
Published: November 2003

It has previously been shown that ATP and UTP stimulate P2Y receptors in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), but the nature of these receptors, in particular the contribution of P2Y2 and P2Y4 subtypes, has not been firmly established. Here we undertake a further pharmacological analysis of [3H]inositol polyphosphate responses to nucleotides in cultured rat VSMCs.
ATP generated a response that was partial compared to UTP, as reported earlier.
In the presence of a creatine phosphokinase (CPK) system for regenerating nucleoside triphosphates, the response to ATP was increased, the response to UTP was unchanged, and the difference between UTP and ATP concentration–response curves disappeared. Chromatographic analysis showed that ATP was degraded slightly faster than UTP.
The response to UDP was always smaller than that to UTP, but with a shallow slope and a high potency component. In the presence of hexokinase (which prevents the accumulation of ATP/UTP from ADP/UDP), the maximum response to UDP was reduced and the high‐potency component of the curve was retained. By contrast, the response to ADP was weaker throughout in the presence of hexokinase.
ATPγS was an effective agonist with a similar EC50 to UTP, but with a lower maximum. ITP was a weak agonist compared with UTP.
Suramin was an effective antagonist of the response to UTP (pA2=4.48), but not when ATP was the agonist. However, suramin was an effective antagonist (pA2=4.45) when stimulation with ATP was in the presence of the CPK regenerating system.
Taken together with the results of others, these findings indicate that the response of cultured rat VSMCs to UTP and to ATP is predominantly at the P2Y2 receptor, and that there is also a response to UDP at the P2Y6 receptor.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2003) 140, 1169–1176. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705526
Rabbit aortic endothelial dysfunction by low‐density lipoprotein is attenuated by L‐arginine, L‐ascorbate and pyridoxine
Authors: Ji Yong , Han Yi , Diao Jianxin , Huang Yan , Chen Qi , Ferro Albert 
Published: November 2003

We investigated the relative effectiveness of L‐arginine, L‐ascorbate and pyridoxine in preventing the impairment of endothelium‐mediated vasorelaxation induced by native low‐density lipoprotein (nLDL) from healthy subjects, oxidised LDL (oxLDL, formed by oxidation of nLDL) or nLDL from type II diabetic patients (dLDL).
Rabbit aortic rings were exposed to nLDL, dLDL or oxLDL (50–200 mg protein l−1), or corresponding vehicle, following which they were constricted with noradrenaline 10−6 M; concentration–relaxation curves were determined to acetylcholine (ACh), A23187, or sodium nitroprusside (NP), in the absence or presence of L‐arginine (10−5–10−3 M), L‐ascorbate (10−5–10−3 M) and pyridoxine (0.5–2.0 mM).
nLDL, dLDL and oxLDL all inhibited relaxant responses to ACh and A23187, but not to NP, in a concentration‐dependent manner (oxLDL>dLDL>nLDL).
In the presence of all LDL preparations, L‐arginine, L‐ascorbate or pyridoxine each improved ACh and A23187 responses, although none completely normalised endothelium‐dependent relaxations. The maximal effect of L‐arginine occurred at 10−4 M. The combination of L‐arginine 10−4 M, L‐ascorbate 10−5 M and pyridoxine 2.0 mM was equally effective as L‐arginine 10−4 M alone.
Our results confirm that nLDL, dLDL and oxLDL exert inhibitory effects on endothelium dependent, but not endothelium independent, relaxation of rabbit aorta. ACh and A23187 responses in the presence of any LDL species can be ameliorated by supplementation with L‐arginine, L‐ascorbate or pyridoxine, either singly or in combination, with no agent or combination proving superior to L‐arginine alone. Nevertheless, ACh and A23187 responses are not completely normalised with such supplements, suggesting that there also exists a component of LDL‐induced inhibition of endothelium‐mediated vasorelaxation that is independent of the nitric oxide system.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2003) 140, 1272–1282. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705545
Hyper‐reactivity of cerebral arteries from ovariectomized rats: therapeutic benefit of tamoxifen
Authors: Thorin Eric , Pham‐Dang Mylan , Clement Robert , Mercier Isabelle , Calderone Angelino 
Published: November 2003

An increased incidence of systemic hypertension has been documented in postmenopausal women and identified as an independent risk factor in the development of cerebrovascular stroke. The present study examined whether cerebrovascular reactivity was increased in the hypertensive ovariectomized rat, and explored the potential therapeutic benefit of the partial estrogen receptor agonist tamoxifen.
Female Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to bilateral ovariectomy (OVX, n=16) or a sham operation (n=8). At 6‐week postsurgery, rats were anesthetized to assess ventricular contractility and blood pressure. In a second series of experiments, OVX rats (n=8) were given tamoxifen starting 3 weeks postsurgery, and continued for 3 weeks. At the end of each protocol, the middle cerebral artery was harvested and rings were mounted in wire‐myographs to measure isometric tension.
Systolic arterial pressure (SAP) was significantly increased (P<0.05) in the OVX rat (174±8 mmHg), as compared to sham (135±6 mmHg). The resting tension of isolated cerebral arteries from OVX rats (186±15 mg) was significantly elevated (P<0.05), as compared to sham (129±9 mg). Phenylephrine treatment did not elicit a constriction of cerebral arteries isolated from sham rats, whereas a potent response (P<0.05) was observed in OVX rats. Nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibition with L‐NNA led to a limited contraction in sham rats (8±3% of Emax), whereas a significant (P<0.05) increase was observed in OVX rats (34±12% of Emax). Lastly, vascular sensitivity (pD2) to sodium nitroprusside was significantly increased (P<0.05) in OVX rats, as compared to sham.
Tamoxifen therapy normalized the resting tension of isolated cerebral arteries from OVX rats, abrogated phenylephrine‐mediated contraction, and modestly reduced SAP. By contrast, tamoxifen treatment of OVX rats did not attenuate L‐NNA‐mediated contractile response of cerebral arteries.
These data demonstrate that the cerebral artery isolated from the OVX rat was associated with an exaggerated vasoconstrictor response to phenylephrine, and altered NO‐dependent vascular reactivity. The administration of tamoxifen to OVX rats normalized cerebral artery reactivity to phenylephrine. These findings provide the impetus to examine the potential therapeutic benefit of the partial estrogen receptor agonist tamoxifen to reduce the incidence of cerebrovascular stroke in postmenopausal women.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2003) 140, 1187–1192. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705547