Intermediate basal cells of the prostate: In vitro and in vivo characterization

in Prostate (2003), 55(3), 206-218

BACKGROUND. Progenitor cells within the prostate basal layer may play important roles in differentiation and carcinogenesis; however, prostate stem cell populations remain uncharacterized. METHODS ... [more ▼]

BACKGROUND. Progenitor cells within the prostate basal layer may play important roles in differentiation and carcinogenesis; however, prostate stem cell populations remain uncharacterized. METHODS. Immunohistochemical and immunoblot analyses were used to characterize prostate epithelial cells (PrEC), a commercially available prostate basal cell isolate. RESULTS. Proliferating PrECs exhibited immunophenotypic characteristics most consistent with basal cells, but during senescence PrECs up-regulated androgen receptor (AR) mRNA, p27, and low-molecular-weight cytokeratin (LMWCK) expression, suggestive of partial differentiation. PrECs also stained strongly for involucrin, which marked a subset of intermediate prostate basal cells in vivo. Basal hyperplasia consisting of involucrin-positive cells was prevalent in prostate tissue from androgen-ablated patients, and formed epithelial clusters flanked by involucrin-negative basal and luminal monolayers. Cultivation of PrECs on matrigel together with androgen-treated stromal conditioned media resulted in dense aggregates, with a peripheral rim of basal-like cells expressing p63 and basal cytokeratins. CONCLUSIONS. PrEC represents an epithelial population whose basal characteristics are modified in response to matrigel, stromal factors, and senescence, consistent with a transient amplifying population. These cells may derive from a previously unrecognized, involucrin-positive subset present in vivo. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [less ▲]

Intermediate integer programming representations using value disjunctions

Conference (2006, January)

We introduce a general technique for creating an extended formulation of a mixed-integer program. We classify the integer variables into blocks, each of which generates a finite set of vector values. The ... [more ▼]

We introduce a general technique for creating an extended formulation of a mixed-integer program. We classify the integer variables into blocks, each of which generates a finite set of vector values. The extended formulation is constructed by creating a new binary variable for each generated value. Initial experiments show that the extended formulation can have a more compact complete description than the original formulation. We prove that, using this reformulation technique, the facet description decomposes into one “linking polyhedron” per block and the “aggregated polyhedron”. Each of these polyhedra can be analyzed separately. For the case of identical coefficients in a block, we provide a complete description of the linking polyhedron and a polynomial-time separation algorithm. Applied to the knapsack with a fixed number of distinct coefficients, this theorem provides a complete description in an extended space with a polynomial number of variables. On the basis of this theory, we propose a new branching scheme that analyzes the problem structure. It is designed to be applied in those subproblems of hard integer programs where LP-based techniques do not provide good branching decisions. Preliminary computational experiments show that it is successful for some benchmark problems of multi-knapsack type. [less ▲]

Intermediate report on the development of the Geer hydrological model (surface and subsurface water) for climatic change scenario on that sub-catchment

Report (2007)

In the framework of Workpackage BASIN R3 Meuse, the Hydrology Group of the University of Liège (Belgium) is developing a hydrological model of the Geer sub-catchment, in order to assess climate change ... [more ▼]

In the framework of Workpackage BASIN R3 Meuse, the Hydrology Group of the University of Liège (Belgium) is developing a hydrological model of the Geer sub-catchment, in order to assess climate change impacts on groundwater reserves. This report describes the calculation code used, the general hypotheses chosen to develop the model, the conceptual model, the climate change scenarios and the final objectives of the study. [less ▲]

"Les intermittences du visible. Reprises de vue dans le cinéma expérimental américain"

in Recherches Anglaises et Nord-Américaines [= RANAM] (2012), 45

After a brief historical and theoretical survey of the found footage film tradition, this text discusses the issue of reprise in the field of contemporary experimental cinema, focusing on two films by ... [more ▼]

After a brief historical and theoretical survey of the found footage film tradition, this text discusses the issue of reprise in the field of contemporary experimental cinema, focusing on two films by American filmmaker Bill Morrison. In "The Death Train" (1993), Morrison takes up again three series of distinct images in a gesture that tends to foreground the mechanical dimensions of the cinematic spectacle. In "Decasia" (2002), the filmmaker capitalizes on fragments of decaying nitrate film, thus exploring film as materiality. However different they may seem, both works seem to address the same visual theme, that of visible intermittencies, in so far as they can be considered as an act of definition of a modernity ingrained in the very mechanics of the gaze. [less ▲]

Intermittent bisphosphonate therapy in postmenopausal osteoporosis - Progress to date

in Drugs & Aging (2007), 24(5), 351-359

Bisphosphonates are the most widely prescribed drugs in osteoporosis today. They have unequivocally shown their ability to reduce fracture rate at the spine (alendronic acid, risedronic acid, ibandronic ... [more ▼]

Bisphosphonates are the most widely prescribed drugs in osteoporosis today. They have unequivocally shown their ability to reduce fracture rate at the spine (alendronic acid, risedronic acid, ibandronic acid) and at the hip (alendronic acid and risedronic acid). However, their dosage and administration procedures and the adverse reactions induced by their oral intake are responsible for low adherence. Therefore, intermittent regimens have been developed. Weekly alendronic acid and risedronic acid provide similar benefits, in terms of bone mineral density (BMD) and changes in biochemical markers, as those seen with their daily formulations. Ibandronic acid has been shown to reduce vertebral fractures when given intermittently. Ibandronic acid given orally monthly and intravenously every 2 or 3 months provides increases in BMD similar to the daily formulation. Yearly intravenous infusions of zoledronic acid are currently being evaluated for their ability to reduce fractures. If the efficacy and safety of bisphosphonates given at administration intervals longer than weekly are confirmed, this might significantly improve patient adherence and long-term outcomes of bisphosphonate treatment in postmenopausal osteoporosis. [less ▲]

Intermittent cyclical low dose tiludronate in treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Report of two phase III European studies (2305 patients)

in BONE (1998), 23(S5), 594

Intermittent intravenous ibandronate injections and daily oral ibandronate provide at least equivalent increases in bone mineral density: 1-year results from DIVA

in Osteoporosis International (2005, March), 16(Suppl.3), 7

Intermittent peripheral weakness as the presenting feature of pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency.

in European journal of pediatrics (2006), 165(7), 462-466

Two unrelated children presenting with episodic isolated peripheral weakness were found to have pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) deficiency (OMIM 312170) due to previously undescribed mutations (Pro250Thr ... [more ▼]

Two unrelated children presenting with episodic isolated peripheral weakness were found to have pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) deficiency (OMIM 312170) due to previously undescribed mutations (Pro250Thr, Arg88Cys) in the gene for the E1alpha subunit (PDHA1). Taken in context with the literature, these patients suggest that acute weakness initially resembling Guillain-Barre syndrome is a potentially reversible and probably underdiagnosed manifestation of PDH deficiency and that peripheral nerve function should be evaluated in PDH-deficient patients. [less ▲]

Intermittent treatment of knee osteoarthritis with oral chondroitin sulfate: a one-year, randomized, double-blind, multicenter study versus placebo

in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage (2004), 12(4), 269-276

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of a 3-month duration, twice a-year, intermittent treatment with oral chondroitin sulfate (CS) in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Design: A total ... [more ▼]

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of a 3-month duration, twice a-year, intermittent treatment with oral chondroitin sulfate (CS) in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Design: A total of 120 patients with symptomatic knee OA were randomized into two groups receiving either 800 mg CS or placebo (PBO) per day for two periods of 3 months during 1 year. Primary efficacy outcome was Lequesne's algo-functional index (AFI); secondary outcome parameters included VAS, walking time, global judgment, and paracetamol consumption. Radiological progression was assessed by automatic measurement of medial femoro-tibial joint space width on weight-bearing X-rays of both knees. Clinical and biological tolerability was assessed. Results: One hundred and ten of 120 patients were included in the ITT analysis. AFI decreased significantly by 36% in the CS group after 1 year as compared to 23% in the PBO group. Similar results were found for the secondary outcomes parameters. Radiological progression at month 12 showed significantly decreased joint space width in the PBO group with no change in the CS group. Tolerability was good with only minor adverse events identically observed in both groups. Conclusion: This study provides evidences that oral CS decreased pain and improved knee function. The 3-month intermittent administration of 800 mg/day of oral CS twice a year does support the prolonged effect known with symptom-modifying agents for OA. The inhibitory effect of CS on the radiological progression of the medial femoro-tibial joint space narrowing could suggest further evidence of its structure-modifying properties in knee OA. (C) 2004 OsteoArthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. [less ▲]

Intermittent versus continuous renal replacement therapy for acute kidney injury patients admitted to the intensive care unit: results of a randomized clinical trial.

in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation (2009), 24(2), 512-8

BACKGROUND: There is uncertainty on the effect of different dialysis modalities for the treatment of patients with acute kidney injury (AKI), admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). This controlled ... [more ▼]

BACKGROUND: There is uncertainty on the effect of different dialysis modalities for the treatment of patients with acute kidney injury (AKI), admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). This controlled clinical trial performed in the framework of the multicentre SHARF 4 study (Stuivenberg Hospital Acute Renal Failure) aimed to investigate the outcome in patients with AKI, stratified according to severity of disease and randomized to different treatment options. METHODS: This was a multicentre prospective randomized controlled trial with stratification according to severity of disease expressed by the SHARF score. ICU patients were eligible for inclusion when serum creatinine was >2 mg/dL, and RRT was initiated. The selected patients were randomized to intermittent (IRRT) or continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). RESULTS: A total of 316 AKI patients were randomly assigned to IRRT (n = 144) or CRRT (n = 172). The mean age was 66 (range 18-96); 59% were male. Intention-to-treat analysis revealed a mortality of 62.5% in IRRT compared to 58.1% in CRRT (P = 0.430). No difference between IRRT and CRRT could be observed in the duration of ICU stay or hospital stay. In survivors, renal recovery at hospital discharge was comparable between both groups. Multivariate analysis, including the SHARF score, APACHE II and SOFA scores for correction of disease severity, showed no difference in mortality between both treatment modalities. This result was confirmed in pre-specified subgroup analysis (elderly, patients with sepsis, heart failure, ventilation) and after exclusion of possible confounders (early mortality, delayed ICU admission). CONCLUSIONS: Modality of RRT, either CRRT or IRRT, had no impact on the outcome in ICU patients with AKI. Both modalities need to be considered as complementary in the treatment of AKI (Clinical Trial: SHARF 4, NCT00322933, http://ClinicalTrials.gov). [less ▲]