bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alcohol: Friend or FOE? Alcoholic Beverage Hormesis for Cataract and Atherosclerosis is Related to Plasma Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Prickett Claire D. , Lister E. , Collins Michelle , Trevithick-Sutton C. C. , Hirst M. , Vinson J. A. , Noble E. , Trevithick J. R. 
Published: December 2004

Objectives: To correlate the oxidative state of postabsorptive blood plasma after consumption of one or three drinks of different beverages with known J-shaped epidemiological risk curves. Design, interventions, and main outcome measures: Red wine, lager beer, stout (alcoholic and alcohol-free), with antioxidant activity, and an aqueous solution of alcohol were compared for the plasma antioxidant or pro-oxidant activity in human volunteers following consumption of one or three typical drinks containing equivalent amounts of alcohol (except for an alcohol-free stout used as a control for stout). Results: One drink of red wine, lager beer, or stout (5% alcohol v/v, and alcohol-free) significantly increased the average antioxidant activity in plasma samples obtained from volunteers averaged over 240 min. Three drinks of red wine, lager beer, or stout (5% alcohol v/v, and alcohol-free) significantly increased the average pro-oxidant activity in plasma samples obtained from volunteers averaged over 360 min. For a solution of alcohol, three drinks resulted in pro-oxidant plasma on average, whereas while one drink did not significantly affect the plasma oxidative status. A preliminary experiment in which two volunteers showed a significantly increased time to metabolize ethanol after ingestion resulted in elevated antioxidant activity in plasma for lager beer and red wine. Conclusions: One drink of red wine, beer, or stout provided equivalent increases in plasma antioxidant activity. Three drinks of red wine, beer, or stout provided equivalent increases in plasma pro-oxidant activity. This may explain, at least in part, the decreased risk of cataract and atherosclerosis from daily consumption of one drink of different types of alcoholic beverages as well as the increased risk from daily consumption of three drinks of alcoholic beverages. The plasma pro-oxidant activity appears to be due to ethanol metabolism, whereas the antioxidant activity may be due to the absorption of polyphenols in the beverages.
Effects of Intravenous Administration of FR122047 (a Selective Cyclooxygenase 1 Inhibitor) and FR188582 (a Selective Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitor) on Prostaglandin-E<sub>2</sub>-Induced Aqueous Flare Elevation in Pigmented Rabbits
Authors: Abe Tomohiro , Hayasaka Yoriko , Zhang Xue-Yun , Hayasaka Seiji 
Published: December 2004

<i>Purpose:</i> Two isoforms of cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) exist. To determine in vivo effects of the intravenous administration of FR122047 (a selective COX-1 inhibitor), FR188582 (a selective COX-2 inhibitor), diclofenac sodium or dexamethasone phosphate disodium on prostaglandin-E<sub>2</sub> (PGE<sub>2</sub>)-induced aqueous flare elevation and mRNA levels for COX-1 and COX-2 in pigmented rabbits. <i>Methods:</i> To produce aqueous flare elevation in rabbits, PGE<sub>2</sub>, 25 µg/ml, was applied to the cornea with the use of a glass cylinder. FR122047, FR188582, diclofenac sodium or dexamethasone phosphate disodium was intravenously injected before PGE<sub>2</sub> application. Aqueous flare was measured with a laser flare-cell meter. The mRNA levels for COX-1 and COX-2 in the iris-ciliary body were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. <i>Results:</i> FR122047, FR188582 and diclofenac sodium (15 µmol/kg each) injected intravenously 30 min before PGE<sub>2</sub> application inhibited 29 ± 5, 40 ± 12 and 50 ± 9% of aqueous flare elevation, respectively. Simultaneous injection of FR122047 (15 µmol/kg) and FR188582 (15 µmol/kg) 30 min before PGE<sub>2</sub> application inhibited 61 ± 8% of flare elevation. Dexamethasone phosphate disodium (15 µmol/kg) injected intravenously 300 min before PGE<sub>2</sub> application inhibited 68 ± 8% of aqueous flare elevation. Less than 3-fold changes in mRNA levels for COX-1 and COX-2 in the iris-ciliary body were noted after PGE<sub>2</sub>, FR122047, FR188582, diclofenac sodium or dexamethasone phosphate disodium treatment. <i>Conclusion:</i> It is possible that enzyme activities of both COX-1 and COX-2 may be involved in the mechanism of PGE<sub>2</sub>-induced aqueous flare elevation in pigmented rabbits.
River Discharge into the Mediterranean Sea: Climatology and Aspects of the Observed Variability
Authors: Struglia Maria Vittoria , Mariotti Annarita , Filograsso Angelo 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
River discharge across the Mediterranean catchment basin is investigated by means of an extensive dataset of historical monthly time series to represent at-best discharge into the sea. Results give an annual mean river discharge into the Mediterranean of 8.1 × 103 m3 s−1, or at most a value that should not exceed 10.4 × 103 m3 s−1. The seasonal cycle has an amplitude of 5 × 103 m3 s−1, with a dry season in midsummer and a peak flow in early spring. Dominant contributions are from Europe with a climatological annual mean of 5.7 × 103 m3 s−1. Discharge in the Adriatic Sea, the Gulf of Lion, and the Aegean Sea together account for 62% of Mediterranean discharge, which mostly occurs in the Adriatic (2.7 × 103 m3 s−1).
The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) impacts Mediterranean discharge primarily in winter, with most river discharges across the Mediterranean catchment being anticorrelated with the NAO. Related winter anomalies are about 10%–20% of the winter means. During the period 1960–90, Mediterranean winter discharge as a whole may have undergone year-to-year NAO-related variations of up to 26% of the seasonal mean, while about 17% on decadal time scales. These variations are expected to have occurred mostly in the Gulf of Lion and the Adriatic Sea, together with the Balearic Sea, where the impact of the NAO is greatest.
Asian Jet Waveguide and a Downstream Extension of the North Atlantic Oscillation
Authors: Watanabe Masahiro 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
Anomalous atmospheric fields associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) are analyzed on interannual and intraseasonal time scales in order to examine the extent to which the NAO is a regional phenomenon.
Analyses on the interannual time scale reveal that the NAO signal is relatively confined to the Euro–Atlantic sector in December while it extends toward East Asia and the North Pacific in February. The difference is most clearly seen in the meridional wind anomaly, which shows a wave train along the Asian jet, collocated with an anomalous vorticity source near the jet entrance. Diagnoses using a linear barotropic model indicate that this wave train is interpreted as quasi-stationary Rossby waves trapped on the Asian jet waveguide, and effectively excited by the anomalous upper-level convergence over the Mediterranean Sea. It is found that, when the NAO accompanies the Mediterranean convergence (MC) anomaly, most frequently seen in February, the NAO indeed has a much wider horizontal structure than the classical picture, rather similar to the Arctic Oscillation. In such cases interannual variability of the NAO is tied to the East Asian climate variability such that the positive NAO tends to bring a surface warming over East Asia.
Similar results are obtained from an analysis of individual NAO events based on low-pass-filtered daily fields, which additionally identified that the downstream extension occurs at the decay stage of the NAO event and the MC anomaly appears to be induced by the Ekman pumping associated with the NAO. The signal of the MC anomaly can be detected even at 5 days before the peak of the NAO, suggesting that the NAO influence to East Asia is predictable to some extent; therefore, monitoring the developing NAO event is useful to the medium-range weather forecast in East Asian countries.
Downstream Weather Impacts Associated with Atmospheric Blocking over the Northeast Pacific
Authors: Carrera M. L. , Higgins R. W. , Kousky V. E. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
Relationships between atmospheric blocking over the Alaskan region of the northeast Pacific, referred to as Alaskan blocking, and weather extremes over North America during boreal winter 1979–2000 are examined. A total of 37 atmospheric blocking events are identified with durations ranging from 8 to 25 days and a mean duration of 11.3 days. A total of 15.6% of the days during the boreal winter belonged to an Alaskan blocking event.
The number of blocked days over the Alaskan region was found to be sensitive to the phase of the ENSO cycle with a reduced (increased) number of blocked days during El Niño (La Niña/neutral) winters. The average number of blocked days during El Niño winters was 12, compared with 31.2 and 27 for neutral and La Niña winters, respectively. The mature Alaskan block possesses characteristics, which are typical of blocking episodes, including the equivalent barotropic structure of the blocking anticyclone, the meridional flow both upstream and downstream of the block, the equatorward shift of the Pacific storm track, downstream development of 500-hPa geopotential height, and sea level pressure anomalies over North America.
The surface temperature analysis revealed a significant shift in the daily mean surface temperature distribution during Alaskan blocking toward colder temperatures in the region extending from the Yukon southeastward to the southern plains of the United States, associated with a reduced variance of surface temperatures. Over extreme western Alaska there is a shift in the daily mean surface temperature distribution toward warmer temperatures. The shift toward colder (warmer) daily mean surface temperatures is also accompanied by a shift in the tails of the distribution toward more extreme cold (warm) days in these two regions. During Alaskan blocking, the regions of southern California, the Southwest, and the Intermountain West all possess a higher frequency of heavy precipitation days when compared with the long-term winter climatology. Over the eastern half of the United States, the Ohio Valley and the southeast regions experience a greater percentage of heavy precipitation days during Alaskan blocking.
Representing El Niño in Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere GCMs: The Dominant Role of the Atmospheric Component
Authors: Guilyardi E. , Gualdi S. , Slingo J. , Navarra A. , Delecluse P. , Cole J. , Madec G. , Roberts M. , Latif M. , Terray L. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract
A systematic modular approach to investigate the respective roles of the ocean and atmosphere in setting El Niño characteristics in coupled general circulation models is presented. Several state-of-the-art coupled models sharing either the same atmosphere or the same ocean are compared. Major results include 1) the dominant role of the atmosphere model in setting El Niño characteristics (periodicity and base amplitude) and errors (regularity) and 2) the considerable improvement of simulated El Niño power spectra—toward lower frequency—when the atmosphere resolution is significantly increased. Likely reasons for such behavior are briefly discussed. It is argued that this new modular strategy represents a generic approach to identifying the source of both coupled mechanisms and model error and will provide a methodology for guiding model improvement.
Tirapazamine, Cisplatin, and Radiation Versus Fluorouracil, Cisplatin, and Radiation in Patients With Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer: A Randomized Phase II Trial of the Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG 98.02)
Authors: Rischin Danny , Peters Lester , Fisher Richard , Macann Andrew , Denham Jim , Poulsen Michael , Jackson Michael , Kenny Lizbeth , Penniment Michael , Corry June , Lamb David , McClure Bev 
Published: December 2004

Purpose To select one of two chemoradiotherapy regimens for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck as the experimental arm for the next Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group phase III trial. Patients and Methods One hundred twenty-two previously untreated patients with stage III/IV SCC of the head and neck were randomized to receive definitive radiotherapy (70 Gy in 7 weeks) concurrently with either cisplatin (75 mg/m2) plus tirapazamine (290 mg/m2/d) on day 2 of weeks 1, 4, and 7, and tirapazamine alone (160 mg/m2/d) on days 1, 3, and 5 of weeks 2 and 3 (TPZ/CIS), or cisplatin (50 mg/m2) on day 1 and infusional fluorouracil (360 mg/m2/d) on days 1 through 5 of weeks 6 and 7 (chemoboost). Results Three-year failure-free survival rates were 55% with TPZ/CIS (95% CI, 39% to 70%) and 44% with chemoboost (95% CI, 30% to 60%; log-rank P = .16). Three-year locoregional failure-free rates were 84% in the TPZ/CIS arm (95% CI, 71% to 92%) and 66% in the chemoboost arm (95% CI, 51% to 79%; P = .069). More febrile neutropenia and grade 3 or 4 late mucous membrane toxicity were observed with TPZ/CIS, while acute skin radiation reaction was more severe and prolonged with chemoboost. Compliance with protocol treatment was satisfactory on both arms. Conclusion Both regimens are feasible and are associated with significant but acceptable toxicity profiles in the cooperative group setting. Based on the promising efficacy seen in this trial, TPZ/CIS is being evaluated in a large phase III trial.
Gemcitabine Plus Carboplatin Versus Mitomycin, Ifosfamide, and Cisplatin in Patients With Stage IIIB or IV Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Phase III Randomized Study of the London Lung Cancer Group
Authors: Rudd R.M. , Gower N.H. , Spiro S.G. , Eisen T.G. , Harper P.G. , Littler J.A.H. , Hatton M. , Johnson P.W.M. , Martin W.M.C. , Rankin E.M. , James L.E. , Gregory W.M. , Qian W. , Lee S.M. 
Published: December 2004

Purpose This phase III randomized trial compared two chemotherapy regimens, gemcitabine plus carboplatin and mitomycin, ifosfamide, and cisplatin, in chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The regimens were compared with regard to effects on survival, response rates, toxicity, and quality of life. Patients and Methods Eligible patients had previously untreated stage IIIB or IV NSCLC suitable for cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Randomly assigned patients were to receive four cycles, each at 3-week intervals, of carboplatin area under the curve of 5 on day 1 plus gemcitabine 1,200 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 (GCa) or mitomycin 6 mg/m2, ifosfamide 3g/m2, and cisplatin 50 mg/m2 on day 1 (MIC). Results Between February 1999 and August 2001, 422 patients (GCa, n = 212; MIC, n = 210) were randomly assigned in the United Kingdom. The majority of patients received the intended four cycles (GCa, 64%; MIC, 61%). There was a significant survival advantage for GCa compared with MIC (hazard ratio, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.61 to 0. 93; P = .008). Median survival was 10 months with GCa and 7.6 months with MIC (difference, 2.4 months; 95% CI, 1.0 to 4.0), and 1-year survival was 40% with GCa and 30% with MIC (difference, 10%; 95% CI, 3% to 18%). Overall response rates were similar (42% for GCa v 41% for MIC; P = .84). More thrombocytopenia occurred with GCa (P = .03), but this was not associated with increased hospital admission or fatality. GCa caused less nausea, vomiting, constipation, and alopecia and was associated with fewer admissions for administration and better quality of life. Conclusion In patients with advanced NSCLC, GCa chemotherapy was shown to be a better-tolerated treatment that conferred a survival advantage over MIC.
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma Classic Type: Response to Primary Chemotherapy and Survival Outcomes
Authors: Cristofanilli Massimo , Gonzalez-Angulo Ana , Sneige Nour , Kau Shu-Wan , Broglio Kristine , Theriault Richard L. , Valero Vicente , Buzdar Aman U. , Kuerer Henry , Buccholz Thomas A. , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. 
Published: December 2004

Purpose To investigate the impact of histologic type invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) versus invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) on response to primary chemotherapy (PC) and long-term outcome. Patients and Methods The study included 1,034 patients with stage II and III breast cancer who participated in six clinical trials of PC at our institution between 1985 and 2002. One hundred twenty-two patients (12%) had ILC and 912 (88%) had IDC. All patients received anthracycline-based PC, and 346 patients (33.5%) also received a taxane as part of PC. Pathologic complete response (pCR) was defined as no evidence of invasive disease in the breast and axillary lymph nodes. Results The median patient age was 48 years (range, 18 to 79 years). Patients with ILC tended to be older (median age, 53 years v 47 years for patients with IDC) and have more hormone-receptor–positive tumors (92% v 62%; P < .001), lower nuclear grade (nuclear grade 3, 16% v 56%; P < .001), and higher stage at diagnosis (10% v 0% with stage IIIB or IIIC disease; P < .001). Patients with ILC were less likely to have a pCR (3% v 15%; P < .001) and had a larger number of involved axillary lymph nodes (41% v 26% had > 3 involved nodes; P = .001). At a median follow-up time of 70 months, ILC patients tended to have longer recurrence-free survival (P = .004) and overall survival (P = .001). Conclusion ILC is characterized by lower rates of pathologic response to PC but better long-term outcomes compared to IDC. pCR might not be a prognostic indicator for this group of patients.
Randomized Phase III Trial of High-Dose Interleukin-2 Versus Subcutaneous Interleukin-2 and Interferon in Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: McDermott David F. , Regan Meredith M. , Clark Joseph I. , Flaherty Lawrence E. , Weiss Geoffery R. , Logan Theodore F. , Kirkwood John M. , Gordon Michael S. , Sosman Jeffrey A. , Ernstoff Marc S. , Tretter Christopher P.G. , Urba Walter J. , Smith John W. , Margolin Kim A. , Mier James W. , Gollob Jared A. , Dutcher Janice P. , Atkins Michael B. 
Published: December 2004

Purpose The Cytokine Working Group conducted a randomized phase III trial to determine the value of outpatient interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon alfa-2b (IFN) relative to high-dose (HD) IL-2 in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Patients and Methods Patients were stratified for bone and liver metastases, primary tumor in place, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 or 1 and then randomly assigned to receive either IL-2 (5 MIU/m2 subcutaneously every 8 hours for three doses on day 1, then daily 5 days/wk for 4 weeks) and IFN (5 MIU/m2 subcutaneously three times per week for 4 weeks) every 6 weeks or HD IL-2 (600,000 U/kg/dose intravenously every 8 hours on days 1 through 5 and 15 to 19 [maximum 28 doses]) every 12 weeks. Results One hundred ninety-two patients were enrolled between April 1997 and July 2000. Toxicities were as anticipated for these regimens. The response rate was 23.2% (22 of 95 patients) for HD IL-2 versus 9.9% (nine of 91 patients) for IL-2/IFN (P = .018). Ten patients receiving HD IL-2 were progression-free at 3 years versus three patients receiving IL-2 and IFN (P = .082). The median response durations were 24 and 15 months (P = .18), and median survivals were 17.5 and 13 months (P = .24). For patients with bone or liver metastases (P = .001) or a primary tumor in place (P = .040), survival was superior with HD IL-2. Conclusion This randomized phase III trial provides additional evidence that HD IL-2 should remain the preferred therapy for selected patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
Organ Preservation for Advanced Resectable Cancer of the Base of Tongue and Hypopharynx: A Southwest Oncology Group Trial
Authors: Urba Susan G. , Moon James , Giri P.G. Shankar , Adelstein David J. , Hanna Ehab , Yoo George H. , LeBlanc Michael , Ensley John F. , Schuller David E. 
Published: December 2004

Purpose The Southwest Oncology Group designed a phase II trial for patients with base of tongue or hypopharyngeal cancer to evaluate the complete histologic response rate at the primary site after induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy for responders. Secondary end points were the rate of organ preservation and the need for salvage surgery. Patients and Methods Fifty-nine eligible patients were enrolled; 37 had base of tongue cancer, and 22 had hypopharynx cancer. Forty-two percent had stage III disease, and 58% had stage IV disease. Induction chemotherapy was two cycles of cisplatin 100 mg/m2 and fluorouracil 1,000 mg/m2/d for 5 days. Patients who had a greater than 50% response at the primary site were treated with radiation 72Gy and concurrent cisplatin 100 mg/m2 for three cycles. Patients with less than partial response at the primary had immediate salvage surgery. Results Forty-five patients (76%) had a greater than 50% response at the primary after induction chemotherapy; 43 went on to receive definitive chemoradiotherapy. Thirty-two patients (54%) achieved a histologic complete response at the primary site, and an additional nine patients had a complete clinical response, but biopsy was not done. Seventy-five percent of patients did not require surgery at the primary tumor site. The 3-year overall survival was 64%. The 3-year progression-free survival with organ preservation was 52%. Conclusion Patients with base of tongue or hypopharyngeal cancer treated with this regimen of induction chemotherapy followed by definitive chemoradiotherapy have a good rate of organ preservation without compromise of survival.
Randomized Phase II Evaluation of 6 g/m2 of Ifosfamide Plus Doxorubicin and Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) Compared With 12 g/m2 of Ifosfamide Plus Doxorubicin and G-CSF in the Treatment of Poor-Prognosis Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Authors: Worden Francis P. , Taylor Jeremy M.G. , Biermann Janet S. , Sondak Vernon K. , Leu Kirstin M. , Chugh Rashmi , McGinn Cornelius J. , Zalupski Mark M. , Baker Laurence H. 
Published: December 2004

Purpose The relative value of increasing ifosfamide dose in combination chemotherapy for patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is unclear. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and toxicity of doxorubicin with high-dose (HD) ifosfamide or standard-dose (SD) ifosfamide in patients with STS. Patients and Methods Chemotherapy-naive patients with STS were randomly assigned to receive doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 and either SD ifosfamide (1.5 g/m2/d, days 1 through 4) or HD ifosfamide (3.0 g/m2, days 1 through 4) every 21 days. Patients were stratified by the presence or absence of metastatic disease. End points were overall survival (OS), 1-year disease-free survival (DFS), and toxicity. Results The study group consisted of 79 patients (52 patients with localized disease and 27 patients with metastases). Both groups were well-balanced with respect to known prognostic factors. There was no significant difference in 1-year DFS comparing SD ifosfamide with HD ifosfamide (55% v 52%; P = .81). For SD ifosfamide, 2- and 3-year OS were 73% and 52% versus 57% and 49% for HD ifosfamide (P = .34). The incidence of grade 3/4 neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia were 49%, 23%, and 10%, respectively, on the SD ifosfamide arm, compared with 88%, 58%, and 63%, respectively, on the HD ifosfamide arm. There were five early deaths, all on the HD ifosfamide arm. Conclusion When combined with doxorubicin, HD ifosfamide did not improve 1-year DFS and OS. Toxicity was clearly greater with the HD ifosfamide arm, and lack of outcome differences might be explained by toxicities with HD ifosfamide. These results suggest that HD ifosfamide combination regimens should not be used as first-line therapy for patients with STS.