|
| ||
|
|
||
Case Only (case + only)
Kinds of Case Only Selected AbstractsNumerical comparison between Maxwell stress method and equivalent multipole approach for calculation of the dielectrophoretic force in single-cell trapsELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 11 2005Carlos Rosales Abstract This paper presents detailed numerical calculations of the dielectrophoretic force in traps designed for single-cell trapping. A trap with eight planar electrodes is studied for spherical and ellipsoidal particles using the boundary element method (BEM). Multipolar approximations of orders one to three are compared with the full Maxwell stress tensor (MST) calculation of the electrical force on spherical particles. Ellipsoidal particles are also studied, but in their case only the dipolar approximation is available for comparison with the MST solution. The results show that a small number of multipolar terms need to be considered in order to obtain accurate results for spheres, even in the proximity of the electrodes, and that the full MST calculation is only required in the study of nonspherical particles. [source] Synthesis of Hafnacyclopentanes from Hafnocene Alkyne Complexes: Influence of Styrene Substituents on the C,C Coupling RegioselectivityEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 11 2009Torsten Beweries Abstract The alkyne complex rac -(ebthi)Hf(,2 -Me3SiC2SiMe3) (1)[ebthi = 1,2-ethylene-1,1,-bis(,5 -tetrahydroindenyl)] reacts with styrene and p -(trifluoromethyl)styrene to give hafnacyclopentanes 2 and 3, respectively. C,C coupling proceeds in different ways: whereas for complex 2 a hafnacyclopentane with substituents in the ,,,-position is formed, in the latter case only ,,, coupling was observed. Complexes 2 and 3 can be activated with B(C6F5)3 to form active catalysts for the polymerization of ethylene.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009) [source] Differential effect of oestradiol and astroglia-conditioned media on the growth of hypothalamic neurons from male and female rat brainsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 7 2000M. J. Cambiasso Abstract To determine whether soluble products from different CNS regions differ in their ability to support oestrogen-stimulated neurite growth, hypothalamic neurons from sexually segregated embryos were cultured with astroglia-conditioned medium (CM) derived from cortex, striatum and mesencephalon, with or without 17-,-oestradiol 100 n m added to the medium. After 48 h in vitro, neurite outgrowth was quantified by morphometric analysis. Astroglia-CM from mesencephalon (a target for the axons of hypothalamic neurons) induced the greatest axogenic response in males and in this case only a neuritogenic effect could be demonstrated for oestradiol. On the other hand, astroglia-CM from regions that do not receive projections from ventromedial hypothalamus inhibited axon growth. A sexual difference in the response of hypothalamic neurons to astroglia-CM and oestradiol was found; growth of neurons from female foetuses was increased by astroglia-CM from mesencephalon, but no neuritogenic effect could be demonstrated for oestradiol in these cultures. Blot immunobinding demonstrated the presence of receptors for neurotrophic factors in cultures of hypothalamic neurons; Western blot analysis of these cultures demonstrated that oestradiol increased the concentration of trkB and IGF-I R,, whereas trkA was not detected and the concentration of trkC was not modified. These results support the hypothesis that target regions produce some factor(s) that stimulate the growth of axons from projecting neurons and further indicate that in the case of males this effect is modulated by oestradiol, perhaps mediated through the upregulation of trkB and IGF-I receptors. [source] The behaviour of soil process models of ammonia volatilization at contrasting spatial scalesEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 6 2008R. Corstanje Summary Process models are commonly used in soil science to obtain predictions at a spatial scale that is different from the scale at which the model was developed, or the scale at which information on model inputs is available. When this happens, the model and its inputs require aggregation or disaggregation to the application scale, and this is a complex problem. Furthermore, the validity of the aggregated model predictions depends on whether the model describes the key processes that determine the process outcome at the target scale. Different models may therefore be required at different spatial scales. In this paper we develop a diagnostic framework which allows us to judge whether a model is appropriate for use at one or more spatial scales both with respect to the prediction of variations at those scale and in the requirement for disaggregation of the inputs. We show that spatially nested analysis of the covariance of predictions with measured process outcomes is an efficient way to do this. This is applied to models of the processes that lead to ammonia volatilization from soil after the application of urea. We identify the component correlations at different scales of a nested scheme as the diagnostic with which to evaluate model behaviour. These correlations show how well the model emulates components of spatial variation of the target process at the scales of the sampling scheme. Aggregate correlations were identified as the most pertinent to evaluate models for prediction at particular scales since they measure how well aggregated predictions at some scale correlate with aggregated values of the measured outcome. There are two circumstances under which models are used to make predictions. In the first case only the model is used to predict, and the most useful diagnostic is the concordance aggregate correlation. In the second case model predictions are assimilated with observations which should correct bias in the prediction, and errors in the variance; the aggregate correlations would be the most suitable diagnostic. [source] Total Family Unit Helicobacter pylori Eradication and Pediatric Re-Infection RatesHELICOBACTER, Issue 4 2004Stephen Farrell ABSTRACT Background., Re-infection with Helicobacter pylori is more common in children than adults, and it is generally accepted that the family unit plays a significant role in primary childhood infection. We investigated whether the family unit plays a significant role in pediatric re-infection and if eradication of H. pylori from the entire family reduces the risk of childhood re-infection. Methods., Fifty families, each with an H. pylori -infected pediatric index case (mean age 9.48 years), were recruited. A 13carbon urea breath test was performed on all family members in the same house as the index case. Each family unit was randomized into a ,family unit treatment' group (all infected family members treated) or an ,index case treatment' group (index case only treated). Results., At long-term follow-up (mean 62.2 months), there were three re-infected children in the ,index case treatment' group compared with one in the ,family unit treatment' group. The re-infection rate was 2.4% per patient per year in the ,index case treatment' group and 0.7% per patient per year in the ,family unit treatment' group (p = .31). Conclusions., This study is the first to evaluate the effect of total family unit H. pylori eradication on pediatric re-infection rates and reports the longest period of re-infection follow-up in children. In childhood, re-infection with H. pylori is not significantly reduced by family unit H. pylori eradication. [source] Investigation of pre-diagnostic virological markers for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patientsJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 7 2009Mary K. Grabowski Abstract Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a severe neurological disorder due to JC virus (JCV) infection. Pre-diagnostic biological markers and risk factors for PML are not well understood. We conducted a case,control study nested within the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study to examine the association between JCV viruria and viremia and serum antibody to JCV capsids, in relation to subsequent PML diagnoses, 5 months to 12 years later. Other demographic and immunologic factors were also examined. The study population included 28 incident cases of PML, 26 matched HIV-positive controls, and 50 HIV-negative controls. Prevalence of JCV viruria was 37% in cases, 42% in HIV-positive controls, and 28% in HIV-negative controls (P,=,0.43). Among persons with JCV viruria, persistent viruria was more common in cases (89%) than in HIV-positive controls (33%) (P,=,0.02). Presence of JCV viruria was not related to the time to PML diagnosis (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 0.8,1.4); however, the urinary concentration of JCV DNA increased with proximity to the date of PML diagnosis in cases. JCV seropositivity did not differ between cases or controls (P,=,0.42). Four cases tested JCV seronegative, including one case only 5 months prior to diagnosis with PML. JCV DNA was detected in the serum of one HIV-positive control. Smoking was the only demographic variable analyzed associated with an increased risk for PML (MOR: 9.0, 95% CI: 1.2,394.5). The results suggest that persistent JCV viruria and increasing urinary concentration of JCV DNA may be predictive of PML for some patients. J. Med. Virol. 81:1140,1150, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Hepatitis C virus infection in Egyptian children: single centre experienceJOURNAL OF VIRAL HEPATITIS, Issue 5 2004M. S. El-Raziky Summary., The outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection acquired in childhood is uncertain because of the diversity of the epidemiological and clinical features of infection and disease. The aim of this study was to determine the outcome of HCV infection in 105 Egyptian children who tested positive for HCV antibody (anti-HCV). The data of 105 anti-HCV-positive children presenting to the Pediatric Hepatology Unit, Cairo University Children's Hospital, between 1995 and 2002, were retrospectively analysed for risk factors. Seventy-four children with available polymerase chain reaction results were further analysed clinically, serologically and histologically. The age range was 1.3,22 years, with a mean of 11.2 ± 4.9 years. History of blood transfusion was found in 81 children (77%). HCV RNA was detected in 58.1% of 74 children. Persistently elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were present in 40 patients (54.1%). Hepatitis B virus markers (HBsAg and/or anti-HBc) were detected in 18 patients (24.3%). Twenty-six of the 43 HCV RNA-positive children underwent a diagnostic liver biopsy that showed chronic hepatitis in 19 patients (73.1%), cirrhosis in one case only (3.8%), and normal biopsy findings in seven children (26.9%). Blood transfusion remains a major risk of HCV transmission among Egyptian children. HCV infection is not always benign in the childhood period. ALT levels remain elevated in half of the children and histological abnormalities are detected in three quarters of HCV RNA-positive cases. [source] Phase-field systems for multi-dimensional Prandtl,Ishlinskii operators with non-polyhedral characteristicsMATHEMATICAL METHODS IN THE APPLIED SCIENCES, Issue 4 2002Jürgen Sprekels Abstract Hysteresis operators have recently proved to be a powerful tool in modelling phase transition phenomena which are accompanied by the occurrence of hysteresis effects. In a series of papers, the present authors have proposed phase-field models in which hysteresis non-linearities occur at several places. A very important class of hysteresis operators studied in this connection is formed by the so-called Prandtl,Ishlinskii operators. For these operators, the corresponding phase-field systems are in the multi-dimensional case only known to admit unique solutions if the characteristic convex sets defining the operators are polyhedrons. In this paper, we use approximation techniques to extend the known results to multi-dimensional Prandtl,Ishlinskii operators having non-polyhedral convex characteristicsets. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Jets from black hole X-ray binaries: testing, refining and extending empirical models for the coupling to X-raysMONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 3 2009R. P. Fender ABSTRACT In this paper we study the relation of radio emission to X-ray spectral and variability properties for a large sample of black hole X-ray binary systems. This is done to test, refine and extend , notably into the timing properties , the previously published ,unified model' for the coupling of accretion and ejection in such sources. In 14 outbursts from 11 different sources we find that in every case the peak radio flux, on occasion directly resolved into discrete relativistic ejections, is associated with the bright hard to soft state transition near the peak of the outburst. We also note the association of the radio flaring with periods of X-ray flaring during this transition in most, but not all, of the systems. In the soft state, radio emission is in nearly all cases either undetectable or optically thin, consistent with the suppression of the core jet in these states and ,relic' radio emission from interactions of previously ejected material and the ambient medium. However, these data cannot rule out an intermittent, optically thin, jet in the soft state. In attempting to associate X-ray timing properties with the ejection events we find a close, but not exact, correspondence between phases of very low integrated X-ray variability and such ejections. In fact the data suggest that there is not a perfect one-to-one correspondence between the radio, X-ray spectral or X-ray timing properties, suggesting that they may be linked simply as symptoms of the underlying state change and not causally to one another. We further study the sparse data on the reactivation of the jet during the transition back to the hard state in decay phase of outbursts, and find marginal evidence for this in one case only. In summary we find no strong evidence against the originally proposed model, confirming and extending some aspects of it with a much larger sample, but note that several aspects remain poorly tested. [source] Relativistic ionized accretion disc models of MCG,6-30-15MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 2 2001D.R. Ballantyne We present results from fitting of ionized accretion disc models to three long ASCA observations of the Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG,6-30-15. All three data sets can be fitted by a model consisting of ionized reflection from the inner region of the accretion disc (with twice solar Fe abundance) and a separate disc-line component from farther out on the disc. The disc-line is required to fit the height of the observed Fe K, line profile. However, we show that a much simpler model of reflection from a very weakly ionized constant-density disc also fits the data. In this case only a single cold Fe K, line at 6.4 keV is required to fit the observed line. The ionized disc models predict that O viii K,, C vi K,, Fe xvii L, and Fe xviii L, lines will appear in the soft X-ray region of the reflection spectrum, but are greatly blurred as a result of Compton scattering. The equivalent width (EW) of O viii K, is estimated to be about 10 eV and seems to be as strong as the blend of the Fe L lines. This result creates difficulty for the claim of a strong relativistic O viii line in the XMM - Newton grating spectrum of MCG,6-30-15, although we cannot strictly rule it out since MCG,6-30-15 was in an anomalously low state during that observation. We find that increasing the O abundance or breaking the continuum below 2 keV will not significantly strengthen the line. The second Fe K, line component in the ionized disc model may arise from neutral reflection from a flared disc, or from a second illumination event. The data cannot distinguish between the two cases, and we conclude that single-zone ionized disc models have difficulty fitting these hard X-ray data of MCG,6-30-15. [source] Surgical complications and medium-term outcome results of tension-free vaginal tape: A prospective study of 313 consecutive patientsNEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Issue 1 2004Ishai Levin Abstract Objective A prospective study was undertaken to examine the incidence of surgical complications and medium-term outcomes of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) surgery in a large, heterogeneous group of stress-incontinent women. Methods Surgery was tailored according to preoperative clinical and urodynamic findings: stress-incontinent women underwent TVT surgery, whereas those with concomitant urogenital prolapse underwent combined TVT and prolapse repair. Post-operatively the patients were scheduled for evaluation at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, and annually thereafter. All underwent urodynamics at 3 months post-operatively. Results Three hundred and thirteen consecutive patients were prospectively studied. The mean follow-up period was 21.4,±,13.5 months. Sixteen (5.1%) cases of intravesical passage of the prolene tape occurred in our series, two of which were diagnosed at 3 and 15 months post-operatively. Eight (2.5%) patients had post-operative voiding difficulties, necessitating catheterization for more than 7 days. However, transvaginal excision of the tape was required in one case only. Vaginal erosion of the tape was diagnosed in four (1.3%) patients, all of whom were successfully treated by local excision of the eroded tape. Outcome analysis was restricted to 241 consecutive patients with at least 12 months of follow-up. Subjectively, 16 (6.6%) patients had persistent mild stress urinary incontinence, although urodynamics revealed asymptomatic sphincteric incontinence in 17 (7%) other patients. De-novo urge incontinence developed post-operatively in 20 (8.3%) patients. Conclusions The TVT procedure is associated with good medium-term cure rates, however, it is not free of troublesome complications and the patients should be informed accordingly. Only well-trained surgeons, familiar with pelvic anatomy, surgical alternatives, and endoscopic techniques should perform the operation. Neurourol. Urodynam. 23:7,9, 2004. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Joint FTIR and TPD study of hydrogen desorption from p+ -type porous siliconPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (A) APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE, Issue 1 2003P. Rivolo Abstract The H-terminated surface of Porous Silicon (PS) has been studied in the past decade basically by means of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. In one case only, a temperature programmed desorption (TPD) technique has been applied to an n-type PS sample. However, the evaluation of the amount of hydrogen thermally desorbed has never been attempted. The present work reports the joint FTIR and TPD study of hydrogen desorption from p+ -type PS and estimates the amount of hydrogen desorbed in the range 40,850 °C to be around 2 mmol/g. This suggests a ratio between H atoms and surface Si atoms of about one, giving support to the picture of PS as H-covered: as a consequence, only a few bare Si atoms are exposed at the surface and prone to act as adsorption centres, e.g. of NO2. A weak signal, in the TPD curve, is probably associated with the decomposition of a few Si,H,B bulk complexes. [source] FISH analysis of 15 chromosomes in human day 4 and 5 preimplantation embryos: the added value of extended aneuploidy detectionPRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 1 2007E. B. Baart Abstract Objective Screening for an increased number of chromosomes may improve the detection of abnormal embryos and thus contribute to the capability of preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) to detect the embryo(s) for transfer in IVF with the best chance for a healthy child. Good-quality day 4 and 5 embryos were analyzed after cryopreservation for the nine chromosomes mostly recommended for screening (13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, X and Y), next to six additional chromosomes which are less well studied in this context (1, 2, 7, 6, 10 and 17). Method The copy numbers of 15 chromosomes were investigated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in three consecutive rounds. The proportion of aneuploid and mosaic embryos was determined and compared in retrospect to results in case only the recommended probe set had been analyzed. Results A total of 52 embryos from 29 infertile women were analyzed. Screening the embryos for six additional chromosomes increased the proportion of abnormal embryos from 67 to 81% (P = 0.03), owing to an increase in mosaic embryos. Conclusion All but one of the meiotic aneuploidies found in this study would have been detected by the probe set most frequently used in PGS clinics. However, aneuploid cell lines originating from mitotic errors could be detected for almost all chromosomes, so screening of six additional chromosomes mainly increased the proportion of mosaic embryos. The added value of screening for six additional chromosomes in PGS for clinical practice will remain undetermined as long as the fate of mosaic embryos after transfer is unclear. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Immunohistochemistry for the Prion Protein: Comparison of Different Monoclonal Antibodies in Human Prion Disease SubtypesBRAIN PATHOLOGY, Issue 1 2002Gábor G. Kovács MD Demonstration of the abnormal form of the prion protein (PrP) in the brain confirms the diagnosis of human prion disease (PrD). Using immunohistochemistry, we have compared ten monoclonal antibodies in PrD subtypes including sporadic and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), fatal familial insomnia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and control brains. CJD subgroups were determined using Western blot analysis for the protease-resistant PrP type in combination with sequencing to determine the genotype at the methionine/valine polymorphism at codon 129 of the prion protein gene. None of the antibodies labeled given subgroups exclusively, but the intensity of immunoreactivity varied among morphologically distinct types of deposit. Fine granular or synaptic PrP deposits stained weakly or not at all with antibodies against the N-terminus of PrP, and were visible in one case only with 12F10 and SAF54. Coarser and plaque type deposits were immunolabeled with all antibodies. The immunostaining patterns appear characteristic for the disease subgroups. Labeling of certain neurons in all cases irrespective of disease, and staining at the periphery and/or throughout the senile plaques of AD patients were also noted. Antibodies such as 6H4 and 12F10 failed to give this type of labeling and are therefore less likely to recognise non-pathological PrP material in immunohistochemistry. [source] Four new cases of stomatin-deficient hereditary stomatocytosis syndrome: association of the stomatin-deficient cryohydrocytosis variant with neurological dysfunctionBRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2004Britta Fricke Summary This report concerns congenitally Na+,K+ leaky red cells of the ,hereditary stomatocytosis' class. Three new isolated cases and one new pedigree are described, and one previously reported case is expanded. In all cases, Western blotting of red cell membranes revealed a deficiency in the 32 kDa membrane protein, stomatin. All showed pronounced cation leaks at 37°C with markedly abnormal intracellular Na+ and K+ concentrations, like all other such stomatin-deficient cases. Consistent with recent findings in two previously described British pedigrees, immunocytochemistry demonstrated that the deficiency of stomatin was not complete. On typical blood films, some red cells showed positive stomatin immunoreactivity, while most were negative, although in one case only a minority were negative. All platelets and neutrophils were stomatin positive. The cases differed markedly between themselves with regard to the temperature dependence of the passive leak to K+. Three showed a simple monotonic temperature dependence, while two showed a minimum at around 20,25°C, such that the cells were extremely leaky at 0°C, giving the phenotype known as ,cryohydrocytosis'. These patients are the only two known cases of stomatin-deficient cryohydrocytosis. Both showed a congenital syndrome of mental retardation, seizures, cataracts and massive hepatosplenomegaly, probably defining a new haemato-neurological syndrome. [source] Effect of Branching on Two-Photon Absorption in Triphenylbenzene DerivativesCHEMPHYSCHEM, Issue 5 2007Francesca Terenziani Dr. Abstract The photophysical and linear and nonlinear spectral properties of octupolar compounds with a triphenylbenzene core are investigated and compared with properties of corresponding dipolar branches. A correlation is found between the solvatochromic behavior and the two-photon absorption cross section. Moreover, the nature of the core is found to be responsible for the nature of the coupling between branches; in the studied case only (weak) electrostatic interactions are effective, while other cores, like the triphenylamine moiety, are able to promote coherent coupling between the branches, leading to strongly nonadditive properties. [source] mRNA expression of urokinase and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in human crescentic glomerulonephritisHISTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 2 2001H S Lee mRNA expression of urokinase and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in human crescentic glomerulonephritis Aims:,Weak staining for urokinase-plasminogen activator (uPA), tissue type plasminogen activator (tPA), or plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) confined to crescents has been described in a few cases of severe crescentic glomerulonephritis. We evaluated the molecular mechanism by which these proteins are increased or induced within crescents. Methods and results:,We examined uPA, tPA and PAI-1 mRNA expression in 12 renal biopsies with crescentic glomerulonephritis, and in six control renal biopsies with no detectable abnormalities by RNA in-situ hybridization. The expressions of uPA, tPA and PAI-1 proteins were also assessed by immunofluorescence. To better determine the cellular origin of uPA and PAI-1 transcripts, CD68 protein was studied by immunohistochemistry on the same sections on which in-situ hybridization had been performed. In controls, there were very low level signals of uPA and PAI-1 mRNAs in a few glomerular epithelial cells (GECs). Specific signals of uPA and PAI-1 mRNAs were detected in the cells forming crescents in all the cases with crescentic glomerulonephritis. However, weak expression of mRNA for tPA was detected in two cases only. Immunostaining for uPA and PAI-1 was positive in some but not all, cases of crescentic glomerulonephritis. A double-labelling study showed that the signal for PAI-1 and uPA mRNAs was mainly in CD68, cells. Conclusions:,Local accumulation of uPA or PAI-1 in crescents is associated with enhanced mRNA expression of these proteins. The up-regulation of PAI-1 mRNA by GECs, in particular, could play a major role in the formation of persistent fibrin deposits and progression of the lesions in crescents. Whether up-regulation of uPA is an epiphenomenon or plays a pathogenic role in the formation of crescents remains to be clarified. [source] Contribution of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations to inherited ovarian cancer,HUMAN MUTATION, Issue 12 2007Susan J. Ramus Abstract A total of 283 epithelial ovarian cancer families from the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) were screened for coding sequence changes and large genomic alterations (rearrangements and deletions) in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Deleterious BRCA1 mutations were identified in 104 families (37%) and BRCA2 mutations in 25 families (9%). Of the 104 BRCA1 mutations, 12 were large genomic alterations; thus this type of change represented 12% of all BRCA1 mutations. Six families carried a previously described exon 13 duplication, known to be a UK founder mutation. The remaining six BRCA1 genomic alterations were previously unreported and comprised five deletions and an amplification of exon 15. One of the 25 BRCA2 mutations identified was a large genomic deletion of exons 19,20. The prevalence of BRCA1/2 mutations correlated with the extent of ovarian and breast cancer in families. Of 37 families containing more than two ovarian cancer cases and at least one breast cancer case with diagnosis at less than 60 years of age, 30 (81%) had a BRCA1/2 mutation. The mutation prevalence was appreciably less in families without breast cancer; mutations were found in only 38 out of 141 families (27%) containing two ovarian cancer cases only, and in 37 out of 59 families (63%) containing three or more ovarian cancer cases. These data indicate that BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the major susceptibility genes for ovarian cancer but that other susceptibility genes may exist. Finally, it is likely that these data will be of clinical importance for individuals in families with a history of epithelial ovarian cancer, in providing accurate estimates of their disease risks. Hum Mutat 28(12), 1207,1215, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Patients with Epstein Barr virus-positive lymphomas have decreased CD4+ T-cell responses to the viral nuclear antigen 1INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 12 2008Kevin N. Heller Abstract Epstein Barr virus (EBV) causes lymphomas in immune competent and, at increased frequencies, in immune compromised patients. In the presence of an intact immune system, EBV-associated lymphomas express in most cases only 3 or fewer EBV antigens at the protein level, always including the nuclear antigen 1 of EBV (EBNA1). EBNA1 is a prominent target for EBV-specific CD4+ T cell and humoral immune responses in healthy EBV carriers. Here we demonstrate that patients with EBV-associated lymphomas, primarily Hodgkin's lymphoma, lack detectable EBNA1-specific CD4+ T-cell responses and have slightly altered EBNA1-specific antibody titers at diagnosis. In contrast, the majority of EBV-negative lymphoma patients had detectable IFN, expression and proliferation by CD4+ T cells in response to EBNA1, and carry EBNA1-specific immunoglobulins at levels similar to healthy virus carriers. Other EBV antigens, which were not present in the tumors, were recognized in less EBV positive, than negative lymphoma patients, but detectable responses reached similar CD8+ T cell frequencies in both cohorts. Patients with EBV-positive and -negative lymphomas did not differ in T-cell responses in influenza-specific CD4+ T cell proliferation and in antibody titers against tetanus toxoid. These data suggest a selective loss of EBNA1-specific immune control in EBV-associated lymphoma patients, which should be targeted for immunotherapy of these malignancies. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] A prospective pilot study of antibodies against human papillomaviruses and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma nested in the Oxford component of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and NutritionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 8 2007Delphine Casabonne Abstract In a prospective pilot study nested in the EPIC-Oxford cohort, we examined the seroprevalence of antibodies against the L1 antigen of 38 human papilloma virus (HPV) types among 39 cases of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) for whom plasma was collected prior to diagnosis (incident) and 80 controls. Fifteen cases having already developed SCC at blood collection (prevalent) were also tested. There were no statistically significant differences in the seroprevalence of antibodies against any of the HPV types examined between incident cases and controls, nor was there a difference in the seroprevalence of multiple infections. However, consistent with results from published case,control studies, the seroprevalence of many ,-HPV types was higher among prevalent cases than among either incident cases or controls. For example the seroprevalence of antibodies against HPV-8 was 20% (16/80) in controls, 23% (9/39) among incident cases and 40% (6/15) among prevalent cases. Among the incident cases only, the seroprevalence was 16% (5/32) among those for whom blood was collected 18+ months prior to diagnosis, but 57% (4/7) among those for whom diagnosis was within 18 months of blood collection, a pattern seen for many of the HPV types. This might suggest that if HPV is involved in the aetiology of SCC, the process occurs close to the time of diagnosis, or that the antibody response observed in people with SCC is a consequence of tumor formation. Further and larger prospective studies are needed to clarify the role of HPV in the aetiology of cutaneous SCC. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Maximum entropy inference for mixed continuous-discrete variablesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS, Issue 4 2010Hermann Singer We represent knowledge by probability distributions of mixed continuous and discrete variables. From the joint distribution of all items, one can compute arbitrary conditional distributions, which may be used for prediction. However, in many cases only some marginal distributions, inverse probabilities, or moments are known. Under these conditions, a principle is needed to determine the full joint distribution of all variables. The principle of maximum entropy (Jaynes, Phys Rev 1957;106:620,630 and 1957;108:171,190; Jaynes, Probability Theory,The Logic of Science, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2003; Haken, Synergetics, Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1977; Guiasu and Shenitzer, Math Intell 1985;117:83,106) ensures an unbiased estimation of the full multivariate relationships by using only known facts. For the case of discrete variables, the expert shell SPIRIT implements this approach (cf. Rödder, Artif Intell 2000;117:83,106; Rödder and Meyer, in Proceedings of the 12th Conference on Uncertainty in Artificial Intelligence, San Francisco, CA, 2006; Rödder et al., Logical J IGPL 2006;14(3):483,500). In this paper, the approach is generalized to continuous and mixed continuous-discrete distributions and applied to the problem of credit scoring. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Hypersensitivity reactions to penicillins: studies in a group of patients with negative benzylpenicillin G skin testJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 3 2009H.-L. Qiao MD PhD Summary Background:, Although skin tests are usually employed to evaluate current penicillin allergy status, a negative result does not exclude hypersensitivity. There is a need for accurate in vitro tests to exclude hypersensitivity. A radioallergosorbent test (RAST) is a potentially good supplementary approach, but there is little information on the suitability of this method to diagnose penicillin hypersensitivity in subjects with a negative skin test to benzylpenicillin. Methods:, A total of 133 patients with a negative skin test to benzylpenicillin G (PG) and all of whom developed allergic reactions to PG were studied. RAST was used to detect eight kinds of specific IgE antibodies to penicillins in serum, which included four kinds of major and minor antigenic determinants to four penicillin drugs. The combination sites for the specific IgE antibodies were studied by RAST inhibition test. Results:, The rate of positive reactions for the specific IgE antibodies was 59·40% (79/133). Of the eight kinds of antigenic determinants, the positive rates for specific IgE against the major and minor determinants were 39·10% (52) and 42·86% (57) respectively. Of the four drugs, positive cases only to PG were 10 (7·5%), were significantly fewer than the cross-reacting positive cases (36) to PG (P < 0·01). In the RAST inhibition studies all drugs exhibited good inhibitory potencies, and in some instances the side-chain of the penicillins could induce specific responses with a variable degree of cross-reactivity among the different penicillins. Conclusion:, Radioallergosorbent test is a good complementary test in persons who are skin-test negative with PG, and the sensitivity of RAST increaes with increasing specificity of IgE antibodies to be detected. 6-APA and the groups, making part of the different side-chains on penicillins, all contributed to the cross-reactivity. [source] Sensitivity to bites by the bedbug, Cimex lectulariusMEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 2 2009K. REINHARDT Abstract Bedbugs are a public health problem and can cause significant economic losses, but little is known about the effects of bites on humans. We reviewed case reports and published papers on bedbug bites to assess the empirical basis of the commonly cited figure that only , 80% of the population are sensitive to bedbug bites. We found the sensitivity estimate to be based on only one study carried out 80 years ago. However, this study did not account for the now well-established fact that only repeated exposure to external allergens leads to skin reactions. In our sample, 18 of 19 persons showed a skin reaction after bedbug exposure, but in most cases only after repeated controlled exposure. With repeated exposure, the latency between bite and skin reactions decreased from , 10 days to a few seconds. Our results are relevant for the hospitality industry, where apparently increasing infestation rates are likely to lead to an increase in the number of tourists and hotel employees exposed to bedbugs. Medical and public health professionals may expect to see an increase in the prevalence of people with bedbug bite sensitivity. The significance of the delayed reaction time of skin to bites may also have implications in litigation cases where people seek compensation. [source] Partial splenectomy for portal hypertension in cystic fibrosis related liver diseasePEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 12 2007Dominique Louis MD Abstract Aims To review the middle- and long-term effects of partial splenectomy (PS) on portal hypertension (PHT) and its complications in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) related liver disease risky PHT. Method Over a 20 years period, 19 patients aged 7,23 years underwent partial PS for massive splenomegaly, hypersplenism, and / or severe PHT. Results In all but three cases, PHT and hypersplenism have improved for long periods. Noticeable improvement of hepatic tests occurred simultaneously. In all patients PS resolved abdominal discomfort. Fifteen patients are alive and a stabilization of the liver disease occurred with a follow-up of 1,20 years (mean 7.9). One patient died following respiratory insufficiency 10 years after PS although PHT was stable. Manifestations recurred in 2 patients 5 and 6 years after PS. In two patients, the course of the disease evolved to hepatic insufficiency without recurrence of PHT 3 and 8 years after PS. PS did not give the expected results in three cases only, in which PHT was not modified or reoccurred during the following year. No severe complication was observed. Early (three patients) or late (one patient) eventration required surgical procedure. Conclusions Our results show that PS is a reliable and well-tolerated technique. Therefore, it is a therapeutic option for the management of PHT in CF patients with a preserved liver function. It can prevent and significantly delay a liver transplantation and its constraints. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2007; 42:1173,1180. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] EFFECT OF RESECTION AND OUTCOME IN PATIENTS WITH RETROPERITONEAL SARCOMAANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 6 2006Antonio Chiappa Background: A consecutive series of 47 patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) were resected and prospectively followed. Method: Between July 1994 and March 2005, 47 patients (24 men, 23 women; mean age, 56 years; range, 17,82 years) were evaluated. Results: A total of 23 patients had primary RPS and 24 patients had recurrent RPS. A total of 30 out of 47 patients (64%) underwent removal of contiguous intra-abdominal organs. The peroperative mortality was nil and significant preoperative complications occurred in eight cases only (17%). High tumour grade and incomplete resection were significant variables for a worse survival in all 47 patients, both in the univariate and multivariate analyses (P = 0.008 and P = 0.016, respectively). Among 28 radically resected patients, only histological grade affected overall survival (90% 5-year survival for low-grade tumour vs 26% 5-year survival for high-grade tumour; P = 0.006) with a similar effect noted for disease-free survival. Conclusions: Histological grade was the only factor that affected overall and disease-free survival for RPS tumours. An aggressive surgical approach in both primary and recurrent RPS is associated with long-term survival. [source] Apoptosis of Hodgkin,Reed,Sternberg cells in classical Hodgkin lymphoma revisitedAPMIS, Issue 5 2010DANIEL BENHARROCH Benharroch D, Einav I, Feldman A, Levy A, Ariad S, Gopas J. Apoptosis of Hodgkin,Reed,Sternberg cells in classical Hodgkin lymphoma revisited. APMIS 2010; 118: 339,45. We scrutinized the role of apoptosis of the Hodgkin,Reed,Sternberg (HRS) cells in classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) and critically reviewed its features in the light of conflicting evidence. In this study, we found that tumor cells in this neoplasm showed inhibition of apoptosis in 55% of the 217 cHL cases only. It is also suggested that the two factors considered responsible for apoptosis inhibition in HRS cells, nuclear factor-,B and the latent membrane protein-1 of the Epstein,Barr virus, do not correlate with apoptosis inhibition, in contrast with the findings in the consensual pathogenetic scheme. The most significant association of HRS cell apoptosis was with p53, the negative expression of which related with a high apoptotic index (p = 0.001). These findings support our contention that the role of apoptosis in the HRS cells of Hodgkin lymphoma has not been completely elucidated and is at variance with that in the consensus. [source] Involvement of different risk factors in clinically severe large joint osteoarthritis according to the presence of hand interphalangeal nodesARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 9 2010Ana M. Valdes Objective To quantify the differences in risk factors influencing total hip replacement (THR) and total knee replacement (TKR) based on the presence versus absence of multiple interphalangeal nodes in 2 or more rays of the fingers of each hand in patients with large joint osteoarthritis (OA). Methods A group of 3,800 patients with large joint OA who underwent total joint replacement (1,201 of whom had the nodal phenotype) and 1,906 control subjects from 2 case,control studies and a population-based cohort in the UK were studied. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated for the risk of total joint replacement in association with age, sex, body mass index (BMI), height, and prevalence of the T allele in the GDF5 rs143383 polymorphism. ORs for total joint replacement were compared between cases of nodal OA and cases of non-nodal OA and between patients who underwent TKR and those who underwent THR. Results Age, sex, and BMI had significantly higher ORs for an association with total joint replacement in nodal OA cases than in non-nodal OA cases. The GDF5 polymorphism was significantly associated with THR in cases of nodal OA, but not in cases of non-nodal OA, and increased height was a risk factor for THR in non-nodal OA cases only. Female sex was a protective risk factor for TKR in non-nodal OA cases (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.52,0.70) but was predisposing for TKR in the nodal form of OA (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.49,2.26). The nodal phenotype was associated with a significantly higher risk of undergoing both THR and TKR (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.09,1.94) and also a significantly higher risk of bilateral TKR (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.37,2.11), but, paradoxically, was associated with a lower risk of bilateral THR (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.56,0.91). Conclusion Nodal and non-nodal forms of large joint OA have significantly different risk factors and outcomes, indicating a different etiology for the 2 forms of OA. With regard to the likelihood of undergoing THR, this appears to be, at least in part, genetically determined. [source] Correlation between clinical and pathological staging in a series of radical cystectomies for bladder carcinomaBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2005Vincenzo Ficarra OBJECTIVE To analyse the rate of concordance between the clinical and pathological Tumour-Nodes-Metastasis staging systems in a homogeneous series of patients who had undergone radical cystectomy for locally advanced or recurrent multifocal superficial bladder carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS The clinical data of 156 patients who had undergone radical cystectomy and bilateral iliaco-obturator lymphadenectomy for bladder cancer in our department were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS The clinical stage of the primary tumour was carcinoma in situ in three patients (1.9%), cT1 in 67 (42.9%), cT2 in 70 (44.9%), cT3 in five (3.2%) and cT4 in nine (5.8%). Clinical lymph node involvement was detected in 19 patients (12.2%). The differences between clinical and pathological stages were statistically significant (P < 0.001), the concordance was moderate (, = 0.27, P < 0.001). Of the 70 patients with ,,cT1, 40 (57%) were reconfirmed as having pathological stage ,,T1; of the 70 with cT2, 16 (23%) had pT2 carcinoma. Of the 140 patients with clinically organ-confined (,T2) neoplasms, 70 (50%) had been understaged after radical cystectomy. The clinical and pathological systems were statistically overlapping for locally advanced cases only. Pathological lymph node involvement was diagnosed in 45 patients (28.8%); this was foreseen with pelvic computed tomography in 19 (12%) only (P < 0.001). All patients designated cN+ were also pN+. CONCLUSION These data confirm the high risk of clinical understaging of both local extension of the primary tumour and lymph node involvement. [source] A new technique of anterior TAP enhances the positivity of CMV by PCR in hypertensives anterior uveitisACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2009P KOCH Purpose Anterior uveitis can be severely disabling. Especially, hypertensives anterior uveitis can lead to a decrease in visual acuity, posterior synechiaes, cataract, glaucoma, etc. Diagnosis is frequently complex. Two main aetiologies are retained: non infectious (auto-immunes) and infectious forms. Amongst the lasts, various aetiologies are possible. Viral anterior uveitis remained difficult to diagnose for a long time. However, since the emergence of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the diagnosis is definitely easier. Nevertheless, anterior TAP result is determined by different limitations including the puncture technique, the PCR primers used, and of course the investigated virus. Methods We hereby propose a new technique of anterior TAP that allowed us to increase our PCR results in CMV anterior uveitis. Two samples were obtained: firstly, a conventional anterior TAP was realised; followed by a rinsing of the anterior chamber with saline solution. A Goldman-Witmer index for rubeola was performed in the first sample. Both samples were examined for viral PCR (HSV1, 2, VZV, CMV, EBV, Rubeola) Results We did not found any side effect of the technique used by comparison with normal anterior TAP. Diagnosis was obtained in 20 of the 35 eyes tested. Rubeola diagnosis was obtained in 11/20 eyes, VZV in 1/20, HSV1 in 4/20, and CMV in 4/20. Intriguingly, CMV diagnosis was obtained in three cases only in the second syringe and not in the first Conclusion We have, to date, detected 4 cases of CMV anterior uveitis in a cohort of 35 patients with anterior uveitis. We did not meet any complication but obtained interesting results concerning CMV diagnosis, using a rinsing of the anterior chamber (second syringe). [source] Pseudoexfoliation as a risk factor for prevalent open-angle glaucomaACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 7 2008Curt Ekström Abstract. Purpose:, To estimate the risk of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) associated with exposure to pseudoexfoliation (PEX) and increased intraocular pressure (IOP). Methods:, In 1984,86, a cross-sectional, population-based survey was conducted in the municipality of Tierp, central Sweden. Its target population comprised 2429 residents aged 65,74 years. In addition to a sample of 760 people, patients previously diagnosed with glaucoma were examined. The prevalence of OAG in the target population was estimated from the prevalence in the sample and patients already diagnosed. A review of prevalent cases in 1984,86 was undertaken in 2006. Results:, Definite OAG was established in 77 cases, corresponding to a prevalence of 5.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.4,6.2). Of these, 23 represented newly detected cases. The prevalence of PEX was 17.2% (95% CI 14.6,19.9), calculated from 134 cases in the population sample. When adjusting for gender, PEX was associated with a 4.7-fold (95% CI 2.2,9.4) increased risk of OAG. For clinical cases only, the risk was 16-fold (95% CI 4.8,56) greater in subjects with PEX, compared with those without PEX. In individuals without a previous diagnosis of glaucoma, an IOP , 20 mmHg was associated with a 9.7-fold (95% CI 3.7,27) increased risk, but PEX alone was not a risk factor for OAG (adjusted odds ratio = 0.96). Conclusions:, Pseudoexfoliation was associated with OAG only in people previously diagnosed with the disease. In cases detected in the population-based survey, increased IOP was a serious risk factor. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||