The science of ecological economics: a content analysis of Ecological Economics, 1989-2004.

The Ecological Economics journal is a primary source for inquiry on ecological economics and sustainability. To explore the scholarly pursuit of ecological economics, we conducted a content analysis of 200 randomly sampled research, survey, and methodological articles published in Ecological Economics during the 15-year period of 1989-2004. Results of the analysis were used to investigate facets of transdisciplinarity within the journal.

Overexpression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is an independent unfavorable prognostic factor in childhood de novo acute myeloid leukemia.

The overexpression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), a member of IAP family protein, is intuitively expected to be associated with unfavorable clinical features in malignancies; however, there have been only a very limited number of studies reporting the clinical relevance of XIAP expression. This study was performed to investigate the prognostic relevance of XIAP expression in childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In 53 children with de novo AML, the level of XIAP expression was determined by using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and was analyzed with respect to the clinical characteristics at diagnosis and treatment outcomes.

Particle-size-fractioned transfer of dioxins from sediments to water columns by resuspension process.

Particle-size-fractioned transfer of dioxins from sediments to water columns by resuspension process was investigated, using supernatant samples obtained from shaking experiments of sediment-water pairs simulating natural disturbances. The concentrations (dry-matter mass basis) of individual compounds (C(fraction)) in two particle size fractions (0.1-1 and 1-10 microm) in the supernatants were generally slightly higher than those in the original sediment (C(sed)).

Low-temperature synthesis of ultrathin Sb2S5 nanofibers and their application as highly selective Pb-adsorbents in water.

Ultrathin Sb(2)S(5) nanofibers were prepared using a wet chemical method at 50 degrees C and applied as selective adsorbents of Pb ions in water.

Neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein is overexpressed in patients with unfavorable prognostic factors in breast cancer.

Neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) is a recently identified inhibitor of apoptosis protein. However, the clinical relevance of NAIP expression is not completely understood. In an attempt to determine the clinical relevance of NAIP expression in breast cancer, the levels of NAIP and survivin expression were measured in 117 breast cancer samples and 10 normal breast tissues using quantitative reversetranscriptase-polymerase chain reaction.

Overexpression of Apollon, an antiapoptotic protein, is associated with poor prognosis in childhood de novo acute myeloid leukemia.

Purpose: The genes that encode inhibitor of apoptosis proteins are frequently overexpressed in human cancers and can be associated with resistance to therapy. The overexpression of Apollon, a member of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins, is intuitively expected to be associated with unfavorable clinical features in malignant diseases; however, there have been no clinical studies reporting the prognostic relevance of Apollon expression in human malignancies. This study was done to investigate the clinical relevance of the expression of Apollon in childhood de novo acute myeloid leukemia.

Cotransplanted bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) enhanced engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells in a MSC-dose dependent manner in NOD/SCID mice.

Transplantation of marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), expanded by culture in addition to whole bone marrow, has been shown to enhance engraftment of human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Our hypothesis was that there might be an optimum ratio range that could enhance engraftment. We examined the percent donor chimerism according to the ratio of HSCs to MSCs in non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) mice.

Expression of Livin, an antiapoptotic protein, is an independent favorable prognostic factor in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Livin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins, has been considered to be a poor prognostic marker in malignancies. However, little is known about the clinical relevance of Livin expression in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In this study, the expression of Livin was analyzed in 222 patients with childhood ALL using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to investigate a possible association with the clinical features at diagnosis and treatment outcomes.

Deposition of platinum clusters on surface-modified Tobacco mosaic virus.

Nanoscaled Pt conductors were prepared from genetically engineered Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) templates through Pt cluster deposition on the outer surface of the TMV. Pt clusters were synthesized and deposited on the engineered TMV with surface-exposed cysteine via the in situ mineralization of hexachloroplatinate anions. This deposition was driven by the specific binding between thiols and the solid metal clusters.

A phase II study of single-agent gemcitabine as a second-line treatment in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the single-agent gemcitabine in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as second-line chemotherapy.

Methods: Between February 2002 and November 2004, a total of 27 patients, who had previously been treated with paclitaxel and platinum as first line chemotherapy, were enrolled in the study. Patients were treated with gemcitabine (1000 mg/m(2)) on days 1, 8 and 15 in a 28 day cycle.

Aven overexpression: association with poor prognosis in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Aven expression has recently been identified as an anti-apoptotic protein. In this study, Aven expression in 91 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was investigated for possible correlation with clinical features at diagnosis and treatment outcome. Aven expression was found to be higher in patients >or=10 years old or <1 year (P=0.

Gene expression profile of cytokine and growth factor during differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are adherent stromal cells of a nonhematopoietic origin, have the ability to give rise to various differentiated cell types. MSCs regulate localization, self-renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) due to MSCs' secretion of cytokines and growth factors, the cell-to-cell interactions and the influence of the extracellular matrix proteins. Using RT-PCR analysis, we examined the expression levels of cytokines and growth factors from MSCs and their differentiated cell types, including osteoblasts, adipocytes and endothelial cells.

A method to circumvent the lot number of activated carbon affecting the performance of activated carbon silica gel columns used for cleanup of blood samples for analysis of 29 hazardous organochlorine compounds.

We have previously described the use of a tandem simplified multilayer silica gel-activated carbon dispersed silica gel (TS-ML-AC) column for the cleanup of blood samples for the analysis of 29 hazardous organochlorine compounds (OCs)--the 17 major polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDDs/DFs) and 4 non-ortho- and 8 mono-ortho-polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). We noted that the performance of the activated carbon-silica gel (ACS) column (lower column) varied with the lot number of the ACS. In this study, we compared the elution profiles of OCs eluted on 5 ACS columns, each with a different ACS lot number, and found that only mono-ortho-PCBs #114 and #123 were affected by lot number.

Development of a method for dioxin analysis of small serum samples with reduced risk of volatilization.

To analyze the dioxin content of samples, including dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans, and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs), a large volume is usually necessary. This is difficult, however, when analyzing clinical samples, such as serum and tissue. We therefore sought to increase the sensitivity of high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) in analyzing dioxins by injecting most of the extract from a small clinical sample.

Optimization of a method for determining dioxin in whole blood samples based on solvent extraction and simplified cleanup.

Dioxins, including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDDs/Fs) and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs), such as mono-ortho-PCBs and non-ortho-PCBs, are environmental pollutants that have deleterious effects on human health. Although screening of blood samples for dioxins is necessary, the current methods are time-, reagent- and labor-intensive. To optimize the extraction and cleanup of dioxins, we have designed a column chromatography method, coupled with a water washing step.

Modified clean-up for PBDD, PBDF and PBDE with an active carbon column--its application to sediments.

A clean-up method for polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PBDDs), dibenzofurans (PBDFs) and diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) was modified using combinations of multi-layered silica gel, Florisil and active carbon columns. By using active carbon column chromatography in the final procedure, PBDEs were well separated from PBDD/Fs in an elution test with reference standards. We report the application of this method to sediment samples taken from industrialized areas in Japan.

Effective pretreatment of human serum samples for dioxin analysis by solid phase extraction and blue-chitin column cleanup.

For the analysis of dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDDs/Fs) and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs), devising simple and economical methods is important, especially for mass screening of human exposure. Pretreatment of samples, namely the extraction and cleanup methods that are widely used at present, needs to be improved for savings in time, manpower, and solvent consumption. In the present study, we applied solid phase extraction (SPE) using octadecyl (C18) and a blue-chitin column in place of liquid-liquid extraction (LE) and an active-carbon column with serum samples, frequently used for assessment of human exposure.

Lack of association between pro-inflammatory genotypes of the interleukin-1 (IL-1B -31 C/+ and IL-1RN *2/*2) and gastric cancer/duodenal ulcer in Korean population.

IL-1beta is a pro-inflammatory cytokine with multiple biological effects and is a potent inhibitor of gastric acid secretion, and IL-1RN has been shown to be associated with enhanced IL-1beta production in vitro. Recently, it was reported that the pro-inflammatory genotypes, IL-1B -31 C/+ and IL-1RN *2/*2, were associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer in a Caucasian population. We tested the association between the polymorphisms and 190 gastric cancer, 117 duodenal ulcer, and 172 healthy subjects as controls in the Korean population.

Polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans, and diphenyl ethers in Japanese human adipose tissue.

Human adipose samples collected in Tokyo, Japan in 1970 and 2000 were analyzed for the presence of polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PBDDs), dibenzofurans (PBDFs), and diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and the concentrations in the two groups were compared. As far as we know, the concentrations of the PBDD/Fs in adipose tissue from the general Japanese population are reported for the first time. Three PBDD/F congeners were found in the following adipose tissues: 2,3,7,8-TeBDD, 2,3,7,8-TeBDF, and 2,3,4,7,8-PeBDF.

Dual effect of oxidative stress on NF-kappakB activation in HeLa cells.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated as an inducer of NF-kappaB activity in numbers of cell types where exposure of cells to ROS such as H(2)O(2) leads to NF-kappaB activation. In contrast, exposure to oxidative stress in certain cell types induced reduction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- induced NF-kappaB activation. And various thiol-modifying agents including gold compounds and cyclopentenone prostaglandins inhibit NF-kappaB activation by blocking IkappaB kinase (IKK).

Concentrations of perfluorinated acids in livers of birds from Japan and Korea.

Livers of birds collected from Japan and Korea (n = 83) were analyzed to determine the concentrations of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanesulfonamide (FOSA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHS). PFOS was found in the livers of 95% of the birds analyzed at concentrations greater than the limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 10 ng/g, wet weight. The greatest concentration of PFOS of 650 ng/g, wet weight, was found in the liver of a common cormorant from the Sagami River in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Genetic polymorphisms of XRCC1 and risk of gastric cancer.

Coding polymorphisms of the DNA repair gene XRCC1 have been shown to affect the DNA repair capacity and to be associated with genetic susceptibility to carcinogenesis. In our association study between three amino acid substitution polymorphisms of XRCC1 (Arg194Trp, Arg280His, and Arg399Gln) and the risk of gastric cancer in the Korean population, none of the polymorphisms were associated with increased risk of gastric cancer. We then extended our study by building haplotypes of the entire XRCC1 gene with six single neuclotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including two novel polymorphisms at the 5'-flanking sequence.

Comparison of PCDD/F and coplanar PCB concentrations in Japanese human adipose tissue collected in 1970-1971, 1994-1996 and 2000.

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and coplanar biphenyls (Co-PCBs) were determined in Japanese human adipose tissues. Temporal trends were assessed by comparing data collected during 1970-1971, 1994-1996 and 2000. Mean TEQ levels of PCDD/Fs in human adipose tissue showed a significant decrease from 31.