Lisa Ziemer - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Lisa Ziemer
histogram analyses of the images were performed. Before insonation, all but 7% of the tumor was p... more histogram analyses of the images were performed. Before insonation, all but 7% of the tumor was perfused. The avascular area in tumors receiving 3-min treatment increased to 82% (p < 0.001). A linear regression analysis showed that each min of insonation led to a 25% reduction in tumor vascularity; the antivascular activity persisted for 24 h. Histology demonstrated disruption of
2011 International Conference on Computational Aspects of Social Networks (CASoN), 2011
ABSTRACT Academic Marketing is on the rise in Germany. So is Social Media Marketing. In this pape... more ABSTRACT Academic Marketing is on the rise in Germany. So is Social Media Marketing. In this paper we present a concept for academic marketing based on a social media marketing strategy developed and implemented at the Environmental Campus Birkenfeld, a site of Trier University of Applied Sciences. We discuss the development and implementation of this strategy starting from an evaluation of the use and needs of social media of students, professors and other university staff. This survey provides the basis for the requirements analysis for a platform for internal and external communication, whose structure is presented here. We outline some considerations about launching such a platform and we report some very first results in terms of user acceptance and feedback.
Molecular and cellular biology, 2001
The Wnt/Wg signaling pathway functions during development to regulate cell fate determination and... more The Wnt/Wg signaling pathway functions during development to regulate cell fate determination and patterning in various organisms. Two pathways are reported to lie downstream of Wnt signaling in vertebrates. The canonical pathway relies on the activation of target genes through the beta-catenin-Lef/TCF complex, while the noncanonical pathway employs the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and increases in intracellular calcium to induce target gene expression. cDNA subtractive hybridization between a cell line that overexpresses Wnt-1 (C57MG/Wnt-1) and the parental cell line (C57MG) was performed to identify downstream target genes of Wnt-1 signaling. Among the putative Wnt-1 target genes, we have identified a mouse homolog of the gene encoding human transcription factor basic transcription element binding protein 2 (mBTEB2). The mBTEB2 transcript is found at high levels in mammary tissue taken from a transgenic mouse overexpressing Wnt-1 (both tissue prior to active proliferation ...
Veterinary Radiology <html_ent glyph="@amp;" ascii="&"/> Ultrasound, 2003
Mineral opacities within the tympanic bullae, termed otoliths, were detected in three dogs by mea... more Mineral opacities within the tympanic bullae, termed otoliths, were detected in three dogs by means of radiography and computed tomography. Radiographic signs of otitis externa were present in two dogs. One dog had clinical signs of vestibular disease, whereas the other two dogs had no clinical evidence of ear disease. Otolithiasis may represent mineralized necrotic material of a current or previous case of otitis media.
Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology, 2007
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2007
The clinical significance of high serum concentration or activity of markers of liver damage in c... more The clinical significance of high serum concentration or activity of markers of liver damage in cats with hyperthyroidism is unknown. To evaluate serum markers of liver function and damage, and ultrasonographic changes in cats with hyperthyroidism and with high liver enzymes, and to determine if abnormalities resolve after treatment with 131I. Nineteen cats with hyperthyroidism (15 with high serum activities of liver enzymes) and 4 age-matched healthy control cats. Serum bile acids, albumin, ammonia, cholesterol, and blood urea nitrogen concentrations, and activities of liver-derived enzymes, and blood glucose concentrations were measured before and after 131I therapy. These values were compared with those of cats that were euthyroid. In addition, gross liver parenchymal changes detected by abdominal ultrasonographic examination, before and after 131I therapy were evaluated. High serum liver enzyme activities were not associated with abnormalities in hepatic parenchyma and liver functional variables, regardless of the degree of increase. Serum liver enzyme activities return to normal after control of hyperthyroidism with 131I therapy. Cats with hyperthyroidism have a significantly higher serum fasting ammonia concentration than cats who were euthyroid (P = .019). Cats with hyperthyroidism also have significantly lower serum cholesterol (P = .005) and glucose (P = .002) concentrations before compared with after 131I therapy. Nine of 19 cats with hyperthyroidism had trace ketonuria. These results demonstrate that extensive examination for hepatobiliary disease in most cats with hyperthyroidism is unnecessary.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2004
Washington, DC; and Pennsylvania resulted in loss of life and destruction that, as an act of terr... more Washington, DC; and Pennsylvania resulted in loss of life and destruction that, as an act of terrorism, had not been previously experienced on American soil. Part of the rescue and recovery response included an estimated 250 to 300 search-and-rescue (SAR) dogs that were used at 3 major sites. The site with the greatest damage and requiring the most substantial response was termed ground zero in lower Manhattan, where the World Trade Center (WTC) towers and several buildings in the vicinity were destroyed. As a result, 2,829 people were killed, 1 including 343 rescue workers 2 and 1 working dog. 3 The draft report released from the National Center for Environmental Assessment (Environmental Protection Agency's [EPA's] national resource center for human health and ecological risk assessment) in October 2002 4 cited particulate matter, asbestos, metals, dioxinlike material, polychlorinated biphenyls, and volatile organic compounds as concerns for acute and potentially chronic complications secondary to deployment exposure. In addition, smoke from fires that burned until mid-December 2001 acted as an irritant and many potential toxins remain unidentified. Search dogs from around the country first arrived at this site on September 11, 2001, when these hazards were thought to be at their highest concentrations. Those dogs left by early October, whereas New York City Police dogs remained at the site well into 2002. The EPA draft report suggests that the contaminant concentrations at ground zero remained high into early 2002. The second site, Fresh Kills Landfill, was closely linked to the WTC. Located on Staten Island, Fresh Kills was the largest active landfill in the world and had been accumulating refuse for 50 years until March 2001, when it officially closed. 5 The debris from the WTC was transported to Fresh Kills beginning on September 12, 2001, where it was sorted and searched for human remains. The human and canine responders were exposed to hazardous material from ground zero and the landfill itself. The constant sifting of the debris increased the potential for production of airborne particulate matter (mainly asbestos and aerosolized toxins). Monitoring for asbestos by the EPA, however, did not start until early October. 4 Human workers at this site were equipped with respirators and polyethylene suits; the dogs had no protection. The third site was the Pentagon, where a Boeing 757 crashed into the side of the building, destroying a segment of the outer ring and killing 184 innocent people on the ground and in the airplane as well as 5 terrorists. 6 The public information regarding hazardous materials involved at this site is more limited; however, an EPA monitoring summary from
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2002
To determine prevalence of seizures after use of iohexol for myelography and identify associated ... more To determine prevalence of seizures after use of iohexol for myelography and identify associated risk factors in dogs. Retrospective study. 182 dogs that received iohexol for myelography in 1998. Medical records were reviewed for age, breed, sex, weight, dose and total volume of iohexol, injection site, number of injections, lesion type and location, total duration of anesthesia, duration from time of iohexol injection to recovery, presence and number of seizures, and whether surgery followed the myelogram. 39 (21.4%) dogs had at least 1 generalized seizure during or after myelography. Injection site was strongly associated with prevalence of seizures, and risk of seizure was significantly higher after cerebellomedullary injections, compared with lumbar injections. Mean total volume of iohexol administered to dogs that had seizures was significantly higher, compared with that administered to dogs that did not have seizures, although dosage did not differ between groups. Weight was significantly correlated with risk of seizure, and dogs that weighed &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 20 kg (44 lb) had higher prevalence of seizures than dogs that weighed &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 20 kg. It is preferential to administer iohexol via the L5-6 intervertebral space to minimize the risk of seizures. Higher prevalence of seizures in large dogs, compared with smaller dogs, may be caused by administration of larger total volumes of contrast agent per volume of CSF.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2004
To assess risk factors for recurrence of clinical signs associated with thoracolumbar interverteb... more To assess risk factors for recurrence of clinical signs associated with thoracolumbar intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) in dogs that had decompressive laminectomy without attempted prophylactic treatment of other disk spaces. Retrospective study. 229 dogs. Medical records of dogs that had decompressive laminectomy without prophylactic fenestration for a first episode of IVDD and were available for follow-up were reviewed. Information on 7 clinical and 8 radiographic potential risk factors were recorded. Clinical signs associated with recurrence of IVDD developed in 44 (19.2%) dogs. Ninety-six percent of recurrences developed within 3 years after surgery. Recurrence developed in 25% of Dachshunds and 15% of dogs of other breeds combined. Number of opacified disks was a significant risk factor for recurrence. Risk increased with number of opacified disks in an almost linear manner; each opacified disk increased risk by 1.4 times. Dogs with 5 or 6 opacified disks at the time of first surgery had a recurrence rate of 50%. When all likely episodes of recurrence are considered and a long follow-up period is achieved, true rate of recurrence of IVDD appears to be higher than in many previous reports. Dogs with multiple opacified disks at the time of first surgery should be considered a high-risk subpopulation.
Journal of Applied Physiology, 2005
In the present work, a novel method for detecting hypoxia in tumors, phosphorescence quenching, w... more In the present work, a novel method for detecting hypoxia in tumors, phosphorescence quenching, was used to evaluate tissue and tumor oxygenation. This technique is based on the concept that phosphorescence lifetime and intensity are inversely proportional to the oxygen concentration in the tissue sample. We used the phosphor Oxyphor G2 to evaluate the oxygen profiles in three murine tumor models: K1735 malignant melanoma, RENCA renal cell carcinoma, and Lewis lung carcinoma. Oxygen measurements were obtained both as histograms of oxygen distribution within the sample and as an average oxygen pressure within the tissue sampled; the latter allowing real-time oxygen monitoring. Each of the tumor types examined had a characteristic and consistent oxygen profile. K1735 tumors were all well oxygenated, with a peak oxygen pressure of 37.8 ± 5.1 Torr; RENCA tumors had intermediate oxygen pressures, with a peak oxygen pressure of 24.8 ± 17.9 Torr; and LLC tumors were all severely hypoxic, w...
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, 2003
Tumor hypoxia is an important prognostic indicator for cancer therapy outcome. EF5 {2-(2nitro-1[H... more Tumor hypoxia is an important prognostic indicator for cancer therapy outcome. EF5 {2-(2nitro-1[H]-imidazol-1-yl)-N-(2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl)-acetamide} has been employed to measure tumor hypoxia in animals and humans using immunohistochemical methods. EF5 is a lipophilic molecule designed to have a very uniform biodistribution, a feature of obvious benefit for use in PET imaging. The present study represents the first demonstration of noninvasive PET imaging of rat tumors using fluorine-18 labeled EF5. Because of the small tumor size, partial volume effects may result in underestimation of concentration of the compound. Therefore, validation of the PET data was performed by gamma counting of the imaged tissue. The tumor models studied were the Morris 7777 (Q7) hepatoma (n=5) and the 9L glioma (n=2) grown subcutaneously in rats. Our previous studies have demonstrated that early passage 9L tumors are not severely hypoxic and that Q7 tumors are characterized by heterogeneous regions of tumor hypoxia (i.e., Q7 tumors are usually more hypoxic than early passage 9L tumors). The seven rats were imaged in the HEAD Penn-PET scanner at various time points after administration of 50-100 µCi 18 F-EF5 in 30 mg/kg carrier nonradioactive EF5. The carrier was used to ensure drug biodistribution comparable to prior studies using immunohistochemical methods. 18 F-EF5 was excreted primarily via the urinary system. Images obtained 10 min following drug administration demonstrated that the EF5 distributed evenly to all organ systems, including brain. Later images showed increased uptake in most Q7 tumors compared with muscle. Liver uptake remained relatively constant over the same time periods. Tumor to muscle ratios ranged from 0.82 to 1.73 (based on PET images at 120 min post injection) and 1.47 to 2.95 (based on gamma counts at 180 min post injection). Tumors were easily visible by 60 min post injection when the final tumor to muscle ratios (based on gamma counts) were greater than 2. Neither of the 9L tumors nor the smallest Q7 tumor met this criterion, and these tumors were not seen on the PET images. These preliminary results suggest that 18 F-EF5 is a promising agent for noninvasive assessment of tumor hypoxia. Plans are underway to initiate a research project to determine the safety and preliminary evidence for the efficacy of this preparation in patients with brain tumors.
histogram analyses of the images were performed. Before insonation, all but 7% of the tumor was p... more histogram analyses of the images were performed. Before insonation, all but 7% of the tumor was perfused. The avascular area in tumors receiving 3-min treatment increased to 82% (p < 0.001). A linear regression analysis showed that each min of insonation led to a 25% reduction in tumor vascularity; the antivascular activity persisted for 24 h. Histology demonstrated disruption of
2011 International Conference on Computational Aspects of Social Networks (CASoN), 2011
ABSTRACT Academic Marketing is on the rise in Germany. So is Social Media Marketing. In this pape... more ABSTRACT Academic Marketing is on the rise in Germany. So is Social Media Marketing. In this paper we present a concept for academic marketing based on a social media marketing strategy developed and implemented at the Environmental Campus Birkenfeld, a site of Trier University of Applied Sciences. We discuss the development and implementation of this strategy starting from an evaluation of the use and needs of social media of students, professors and other university staff. This survey provides the basis for the requirements analysis for a platform for internal and external communication, whose structure is presented here. We outline some considerations about launching such a platform and we report some very first results in terms of user acceptance and feedback.
Molecular and cellular biology, 2001
The Wnt/Wg signaling pathway functions during development to regulate cell fate determination and... more The Wnt/Wg signaling pathway functions during development to regulate cell fate determination and patterning in various organisms. Two pathways are reported to lie downstream of Wnt signaling in vertebrates. The canonical pathway relies on the activation of target genes through the beta-catenin-Lef/TCF complex, while the noncanonical pathway employs the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and increases in intracellular calcium to induce target gene expression. cDNA subtractive hybridization between a cell line that overexpresses Wnt-1 (C57MG/Wnt-1) and the parental cell line (C57MG) was performed to identify downstream target genes of Wnt-1 signaling. Among the putative Wnt-1 target genes, we have identified a mouse homolog of the gene encoding human transcription factor basic transcription element binding protein 2 (mBTEB2). The mBTEB2 transcript is found at high levels in mammary tissue taken from a transgenic mouse overexpressing Wnt-1 (both tissue prior to active proliferation ...
Veterinary Radiology <html_ent glyph="@amp;" ascii="&"/> Ultrasound, 2003
Mineral opacities within the tympanic bullae, termed otoliths, were detected in three dogs by mea... more Mineral opacities within the tympanic bullae, termed otoliths, were detected in three dogs by means of radiography and computed tomography. Radiographic signs of otitis externa were present in two dogs. One dog had clinical signs of vestibular disease, whereas the other two dogs had no clinical evidence of ear disease. Otolithiasis may represent mineralized necrotic material of a current or previous case of otitis media.
Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology, 2007
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2007
The clinical significance of high serum concentration or activity of markers of liver damage in c... more The clinical significance of high serum concentration or activity of markers of liver damage in cats with hyperthyroidism is unknown. To evaluate serum markers of liver function and damage, and ultrasonographic changes in cats with hyperthyroidism and with high liver enzymes, and to determine if abnormalities resolve after treatment with 131I. Nineteen cats with hyperthyroidism (15 with high serum activities of liver enzymes) and 4 age-matched healthy control cats. Serum bile acids, albumin, ammonia, cholesterol, and blood urea nitrogen concentrations, and activities of liver-derived enzymes, and blood glucose concentrations were measured before and after 131I therapy. These values were compared with those of cats that were euthyroid. In addition, gross liver parenchymal changes detected by abdominal ultrasonographic examination, before and after 131I therapy were evaluated. High serum liver enzyme activities were not associated with abnormalities in hepatic parenchyma and liver functional variables, regardless of the degree of increase. Serum liver enzyme activities return to normal after control of hyperthyroidism with 131I therapy. Cats with hyperthyroidism have a significantly higher serum fasting ammonia concentration than cats who were euthyroid (P = .019). Cats with hyperthyroidism also have significantly lower serum cholesterol (P = .005) and glucose (P = .002) concentrations before compared with after 131I therapy. Nine of 19 cats with hyperthyroidism had trace ketonuria. These results demonstrate that extensive examination for hepatobiliary disease in most cats with hyperthyroidism is unnecessary.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2004
Washington, DC; and Pennsylvania resulted in loss of life and destruction that, as an act of terr... more Washington, DC; and Pennsylvania resulted in loss of life and destruction that, as an act of terrorism, had not been previously experienced on American soil. Part of the rescue and recovery response included an estimated 250 to 300 search-and-rescue (SAR) dogs that were used at 3 major sites. The site with the greatest damage and requiring the most substantial response was termed ground zero in lower Manhattan, where the World Trade Center (WTC) towers and several buildings in the vicinity were destroyed. As a result, 2,829 people were killed, 1 including 343 rescue workers 2 and 1 working dog. 3 The draft report released from the National Center for Environmental Assessment (Environmental Protection Agency's [EPA's] national resource center for human health and ecological risk assessment) in October 2002 4 cited particulate matter, asbestos, metals, dioxinlike material, polychlorinated biphenyls, and volatile organic compounds as concerns for acute and potentially chronic complications secondary to deployment exposure. In addition, smoke from fires that burned until mid-December 2001 acted as an irritant and many potential toxins remain unidentified. Search dogs from around the country first arrived at this site on September 11, 2001, when these hazards were thought to be at their highest concentrations. Those dogs left by early October, whereas New York City Police dogs remained at the site well into 2002. The EPA draft report suggests that the contaminant concentrations at ground zero remained high into early 2002. The second site, Fresh Kills Landfill, was closely linked to the WTC. Located on Staten Island, Fresh Kills was the largest active landfill in the world and had been accumulating refuse for 50 years until March 2001, when it officially closed. 5 The debris from the WTC was transported to Fresh Kills beginning on September 12, 2001, where it was sorted and searched for human remains. The human and canine responders were exposed to hazardous material from ground zero and the landfill itself. The constant sifting of the debris increased the potential for production of airborne particulate matter (mainly asbestos and aerosolized toxins). Monitoring for asbestos by the EPA, however, did not start until early October. 4 Human workers at this site were equipped with respirators and polyethylene suits; the dogs had no protection. The third site was the Pentagon, where a Boeing 757 crashed into the side of the building, destroying a segment of the outer ring and killing 184 innocent people on the ground and in the airplane as well as 5 terrorists. 6 The public information regarding hazardous materials involved at this site is more limited; however, an EPA monitoring summary from
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2002
To determine prevalence of seizures after use of iohexol for myelography and identify associated ... more To determine prevalence of seizures after use of iohexol for myelography and identify associated risk factors in dogs. Retrospective study. 182 dogs that received iohexol for myelography in 1998. Medical records were reviewed for age, breed, sex, weight, dose and total volume of iohexol, injection site, number of injections, lesion type and location, total duration of anesthesia, duration from time of iohexol injection to recovery, presence and number of seizures, and whether surgery followed the myelogram. 39 (21.4%) dogs had at least 1 generalized seizure during or after myelography. Injection site was strongly associated with prevalence of seizures, and risk of seizure was significantly higher after cerebellomedullary injections, compared with lumbar injections. Mean total volume of iohexol administered to dogs that had seizures was significantly higher, compared with that administered to dogs that did not have seizures, although dosage did not differ between groups. Weight was significantly correlated with risk of seizure, and dogs that weighed &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 20 kg (44 lb) had higher prevalence of seizures than dogs that weighed &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 20 kg. It is preferential to administer iohexol via the L5-6 intervertebral space to minimize the risk of seizures. Higher prevalence of seizures in large dogs, compared with smaller dogs, may be caused by administration of larger total volumes of contrast agent per volume of CSF.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2004
To assess risk factors for recurrence of clinical signs associated with thoracolumbar interverteb... more To assess risk factors for recurrence of clinical signs associated with thoracolumbar intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) in dogs that had decompressive laminectomy without attempted prophylactic treatment of other disk spaces. Retrospective study. 229 dogs. Medical records of dogs that had decompressive laminectomy without prophylactic fenestration for a first episode of IVDD and were available for follow-up were reviewed. Information on 7 clinical and 8 radiographic potential risk factors were recorded. Clinical signs associated with recurrence of IVDD developed in 44 (19.2%) dogs. Ninety-six percent of recurrences developed within 3 years after surgery. Recurrence developed in 25% of Dachshunds and 15% of dogs of other breeds combined. Number of opacified disks was a significant risk factor for recurrence. Risk increased with number of opacified disks in an almost linear manner; each opacified disk increased risk by 1.4 times. Dogs with 5 or 6 opacified disks at the time of first surgery had a recurrence rate of 50%. When all likely episodes of recurrence are considered and a long follow-up period is achieved, true rate of recurrence of IVDD appears to be higher than in many previous reports. Dogs with multiple opacified disks at the time of first surgery should be considered a high-risk subpopulation.
Journal of Applied Physiology, 2005
In the present work, a novel method for detecting hypoxia in tumors, phosphorescence quenching, w... more In the present work, a novel method for detecting hypoxia in tumors, phosphorescence quenching, was used to evaluate tissue and tumor oxygenation. This technique is based on the concept that phosphorescence lifetime and intensity are inversely proportional to the oxygen concentration in the tissue sample. We used the phosphor Oxyphor G2 to evaluate the oxygen profiles in three murine tumor models: K1735 malignant melanoma, RENCA renal cell carcinoma, and Lewis lung carcinoma. Oxygen measurements were obtained both as histograms of oxygen distribution within the sample and as an average oxygen pressure within the tissue sampled; the latter allowing real-time oxygen monitoring. Each of the tumor types examined had a characteristic and consistent oxygen profile. K1735 tumors were all well oxygenated, with a peak oxygen pressure of 37.8 ± 5.1 Torr; RENCA tumors had intermediate oxygen pressures, with a peak oxygen pressure of 24.8 ± 17.9 Torr; and LLC tumors were all severely hypoxic, w...
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, 2003
Tumor hypoxia is an important prognostic indicator for cancer therapy outcome. EF5 {2-(2nitro-1[H... more Tumor hypoxia is an important prognostic indicator for cancer therapy outcome. EF5 {2-(2nitro-1[H]-imidazol-1-yl)-N-(2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl)-acetamide} has been employed to measure tumor hypoxia in animals and humans using immunohistochemical methods. EF5 is a lipophilic molecule designed to have a very uniform biodistribution, a feature of obvious benefit for use in PET imaging. The present study represents the first demonstration of noninvasive PET imaging of rat tumors using fluorine-18 labeled EF5. Because of the small tumor size, partial volume effects may result in underestimation of concentration of the compound. Therefore, validation of the PET data was performed by gamma counting of the imaged tissue. The tumor models studied were the Morris 7777 (Q7) hepatoma (n=5) and the 9L glioma (n=2) grown subcutaneously in rats. Our previous studies have demonstrated that early passage 9L tumors are not severely hypoxic and that Q7 tumors are characterized by heterogeneous regions of tumor hypoxia (i.e., Q7 tumors are usually more hypoxic than early passage 9L tumors). The seven rats were imaged in the HEAD Penn-PET scanner at various time points after administration of 50-100 µCi 18 F-EF5 in 30 mg/kg carrier nonradioactive EF5. The carrier was used to ensure drug biodistribution comparable to prior studies using immunohistochemical methods. 18 F-EF5 was excreted primarily via the urinary system. Images obtained 10 min following drug administration demonstrated that the EF5 distributed evenly to all organ systems, including brain. Later images showed increased uptake in most Q7 tumors compared with muscle. Liver uptake remained relatively constant over the same time periods. Tumor to muscle ratios ranged from 0.82 to 1.73 (based on PET images at 120 min post injection) and 1.47 to 2.95 (based on gamma counts at 180 min post injection). Tumors were easily visible by 60 min post injection when the final tumor to muscle ratios (based on gamma counts) were greater than 2. Neither of the 9L tumors nor the smallest Q7 tumor met this criterion, and these tumors were not seen on the PET images. These preliminary results suggest that 18 F-EF5 is a promising agent for noninvasive assessment of tumor hypoxia. Plans are underway to initiate a research project to determine the safety and preliminary evidence for the efficacy of this preparation in patients with brain tumors.