bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Small molecule microarrays: the first decade and beyond
Authors: Wu Hao , Ge Jingyan , Uttamchandani Mahesh , Yao Shao Q.
Published: April 2011

Molecular Bits and Chips: Profiling and discovering the next generation of small molecule ligands.
Representational Pseudoneglect in an Auditory-Driven Spatial Working Memory Task
Authors: Brooks Joanna L. , Logie Robert H. , McIntosh Robert , Sala Sergio Della
Published: April 2011

Two experiments explored lateralized biases in mental representations of matrix patterns formed from aural verbal descriptions. Healthy participants listened, either monaurally or binaurally, to verbal descriptions of 6 by 3 matrix patterns and were asked to form a mental representation of each pattern. In Experiment 1, participants were asked to judge which half of the matrix, left or right, contained more filled cells and to rate the certainty of their judgement. Participants tended to judge that the left side was fuller than the right and showed significantly greater certainty when judging patterns that were fuller on the left. This tendency was particularly strong for left-ear presentation. In Experiment 2, participants conducted the same task as that in Experiment 1 but were also asked to recall the pattern for the side judged as fuller. Participants were again more certain in judging patterns that were fuller on the left—particularly for left-ear presentation—but were no more accurate in remembering the details from the left. These results suggest that the left side of the mental representation was represented more saliently but it was not remembered more accurately. We refer to this lateralized bias as “representational pseudoneglect”. Results are discussed in terms of theories of visuospatial working memory.
Processing of Indexical Information Requires Time: Evidence from Change Deafness
Authors: Vitevitch Michael S. , Donoso Alexander
Published: April 2011

Studies of change detection have increased our understanding of attention, perception, and memory. In two innovative experiments we showed that the change detection phenomenon can be used to examine other areas of cognition—specifically, the processing of linguistic and indexical information in spoken words. One hypothesis suggests that cognitive resources must be used to process indexical information, whereas an alternative suggests that it is processed more slowly than linguistic information. Participants performed a lexical decision task and were asked whether the voice presenting the stimuli changed. Nonwords varying in their likeness to real words were used in the lexical decision task to encourage participants to vary the amount of cognitive resources/processing time. More cognitive resources/processing time are required to make a lexical decision with word-like nonwords. Participants who heard word-like nonwords were more likely to detect the change when it occurred (Experiment 1) and were more confident that the voice was the same when it did not change (Experiment 2). These results suggest that indexical information is processed more slowly than linguistic information and demonstrate how change detection can provide insight to other areas of cognition.
Plasma nanotechnology: past, present and future
Authors: Meyyappan M
Published: April 2011

Low-temperature plasmas find numerous applications in growth and processing of nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, inorganic nanowires and others. This paper provides an overview of the history, current status of the literature, challenges ahead in some of the technical areas and the potential for plasma-grown nanomaterials in various nanotechnology applications.
Towards chirality-controlled SWCNTs: can a plasma help?
Authors: Sankaran R Mohan
Published: April 2011

The exceptional mechanical, chemical, thermal, electrical and optical properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have tantalized the scientific community for over two decades. However, SWCNTs must be prepared with a high degree of uniformity, which represents a significant synthetic challenge, to make the envisioned technological applications a reality. Among the various approaches that have been developed to synthesize SWCNTs, plasma-based processes are attractive because of their important role in the electronics industry. In this perspective paper, the most recent and promising applications of plasma technology for chirality-controlled SWCNT synthesis are presented including preparation of well-defined catalysts, selective nucleation etching and reacting tubes after growth. Overall, these strategies have achieved improved uniformity over the structure and properties of SWCNTs and offer great potential for the integration of these novel materials in future electronic and optical devices.
Radical-controlled plasma processing for nanofabrication
Authors: Hori Masaru , Kondo Hiroki , Hiramatsu Mineo
Published: April 2011

Nanofabrication processes employing reactive plasma, such as etching and deposition, were discussed in this paper on the basis of knowledge of reactive species in the plasma. The processing characteristics were studied based on the absolute density measurements of radicals and ions. In the case of organic low-k film etching employing N–H plasma, H and N radicals have different roles from each other; the H radicals contribute to the chemical etching, while the N radicals form the protection layer. Therefore, the ratio of H and N radical densities is an important factor for determining the etching performance. Furthermore, the radical injection technique, an active way to control the composition of radicals in the reaction field, was successfully applied to grow carbon nanowalls, self-organized, free-standing, layered graphenes. For example, with increasing density ratio of H and fluorocarbon (CF
x
) radicals, the density of carbon nanowalls decreases. In addition, according to the carbon nanowalls' growth by the simultaneous irradiation of CF
x
radicals, hydrogen atoms and Ar ions, the ion bombardment is crucial for the nucleation and vertical growth of carbon nanowalls. Identification and characterization of radicals and ions in the processing plasma could open the way to the precise controls of nano-scale plasma processing.
Plasmas in liquids and some of their applications in nanoscience
Authors: Graham W G , Stalder K R
Published: April 2011

The range of applications for plasmas in liquids, plasmas in contact with liquid surfaces and plasmas containing liquid drops is growing rapidly across a range of technologies. Here the focus is on plasmas where the electrodes are immersed in liquids and their applications in nanoscience. The physical phenomena in both high voltage (tens of kilovolts) and low voltage (a few hundred volts) plasmas in liquid are described together with a discussion of the plasma-induced chemistry. Studies show that in water the plasmas are formed in water vapour created by Joule heating as either channels in the liquid or as layers on the electrodes. The chemistry in these water vapour plasmas and at their interface with the liquid is discussed in the context of the highly reactive radicals produced, such as H and OH. The current use of a variety of plasmas-in-liquid systems in the area of nanoscience is discussed, with an emphasis on nanoparticle growth.
Nano-factories in plasma: present status and outlook
Authors: Shiratani Masaharu , Koga Kazunori , Iwashita Shinya , Uchida Giichiro , Itagaki Naho , Kamataki Kunihiro
Published: April 2011

We propose the concept of ‘nano-factory in plasma’ which is a miniature version of a macroscopic conventional factory. A nano-factory in plasma produces nanoblocks and radicals (adhesives) in reactive plasmas, transports nanoblocks towards a substrate and arranges them on the substrate. We describe several key control methods for a nano-factory in plasma: size and structure control of nanoparticles, control of their agglomeration, transport and sticking, and then explain the combination of several types of control. Finally we point out remaining important issues in nano-factories in plasma.
A novel family of dehydrin-like proteins is involved in stress response in the human fungal pathogenAspergillus fumigatus
Authors: Hoi Joanne Wong Sak , Lamarre Claude , Beau Rémi , Meneau Isabelle , Berepiki Adokiye , Barre Annick , Mellado Emilia , Read Nick D. , Latgé Jean-Paul
Published: April 2011

During a search for genes controlling conidial dormancy in Aspergillus fumigatus, two dehydrin-like genes, DprA and DprB, were identified. The deduced proteins had repeated stretches of 23 amino acids that contained a conserved dehydrin-like protein (DPR) motif. Disrupted DprAΔ mutants were hypersensitive to oxidative stress and to phagocytic killing, whereas DprBΔ mutants were impaired in osmotic and pH stress responses. However, no effect was observed on their pathogenicity in our experimental models of invasive aspergillosis. Molecular dissection of the signaling pathways acting upstream showed that expression of DprA was dependent on the stress-activated kinase SakA and the cyclic AMP-protein kinase A (cAMP-PKA) pathways, which activate the bZIP transcription factor AtfA, while expression of DprB was dependent on the SakA mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, and the zinc finger transcription factor PacC. Fluorescent protein fusions showed that both proteins were associated with peroxisomes and the cytosol. Accordingly, DprA and DprB were important for peroxisome function. Our findings reveal a novel family of stress-protective proteins in A. fumigatus and, potentially, in filamentous ascomycetes.
A robust and accurate binning algorithm for metagenomic sequences with arbitrary species abundance ratio
Authors: Leung Henry C. M. , Yiu S. M. , Yang Bin , Peng Yu , Wang Yi , Liu Zhihua , Chen Jingchi , Qin Junjie , Li Ruiqiang , Chin Francis Y. L.
Published: April 2011

Motivation: With the rapid development of next-generation sequencing techniques, metagenomics, also known as environmental genomics, has emerged as an exciting research area that enables us to analyze the microbial environment in which we live. An important step for metagenomic data analysis is the identification and taxonomic characterization of DNA fragments (reads or contigs) resulting from sequencing a sample of mixed species. This step is referred to as ‘binning’. Binning algorithms that are based on sequence similarity and sequence composition markers rely heavily on the reference genomes of known microorganisms or phylogenetic markers. Due to the limited availability of reference genomes and the bias and low availability of markers, these algorithms may not be applicable in all cases. Unsupervised binning algorithms which can handle fragments from unknown species provide an alternative approach. However, existing unsupervised binning algorithms only work on datasets either with balanced species abundance ratios or rather different abundance ratios, but not both.

Results: In this article, we present MetaCluster 3.0, an integrated binning method based on the unsupervised top–down separation and bottom–up merging strategy, which can bin metagenomic fragments of species with very balanced abundance ratios (say 1:1) to very different abundance ratios (e.g. 1:24) with consistently higher accuracy than existing methods.

Availability: MetaCluster 3.0 can be downloaded at http://i.cs.hku.hk/~alse/MetaCluster/.

Contact:  cmleung2@cs.hku.hk; chin@cs.hku.hk
RING: networking interacting residues, evolutionary information and energetics in protein structures
Authors: Martin Alberto J. M. , Vidotto Michele , Boscariol Filippo , Di Domenico Tomàs , Walsh Ian , Tosatto Silvio C. E.
Published: April 2011

Motivation: Residue interaction networks (RINs) have been used in the literature to describe the protein 3D structure as a graph where nodes represent residues and edges physico–chemical interactions, e.g. hydrogen bonds or van-der-Waals contacts. Topological network parameters can be calculated over RINs and have been correlated with various aspects of protein structure and function. Here we present a novel web server, RING, to construct physico–chemically valid RINs interactively from PDB files for subsequent visualization in the Cytoscape platform. The additional structure-based parameters secondary structure, solvent accessibility and experimental uncertainty can be combined with information regarding residue conservation, mutual information and residue-based energy scoring functions. Different visualization styles are provided to facilitate visualization and standard plugins can be used to calculate topological parameters in Cytoscape. A sample use case analyzing the active site of glutathione peroxidase is presented.

Availability: The RING server, supplementary methods, examples and tutorials are available for non-commercial use at URL: http://protein.bio.unipd.it/ring/.

Contact:  silvio.tosatto@unipd.it
Identifying indicators of the effects of fishing using alternative models, uncertainty, and aggregation error
Authors: Metcalf Sarah J. , Pember Matthew B. , Bellchambers Lynda M.
Published: April 2011

Metcalf, S. J., Pember, M. B., and Bellchambers, L. M. 2011. Identifying indicators of the effects of fishing using alternative models, uncertainty, and aggregation error. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 1417–1425. The identification of indicators of the indirect effects of fishing is often an issue for fisheries management, particularly if just commercial catch data are available. Complex, intermediate, and simplified qualitative models were produced for a fishery case study off Western Australia to identify potential indicators of ecosystem change attributable to western rock lobster (Panulirus cygnus) extraction and bait input. Models of intermediate complexity were used to identify indicators because they produced the least aggregation error. Structural uncertainty was considered through a series of structurally different intermediate models. These alternate models consistently predicted that extraction of rock lobster may positively impact small fish of low economic value, such as old wife (Enoplosus armatus), footballer sweep (Neatypus obliquus), and king wrasse (Coris auricularis). These small fish were therefore identified as potential indicators of the effects of rock lobster extraction. Small crustaceans (amphipods and isopods) also displayed positive impacts attributable to bait input from the rock lobster fishery and were identified as potential indicators of bait effects. Monitoring of these indicators may aid the detection of ecosystem change caused by the rock lobster fishery.
Identification of the oriC region and its influence on heterocyst development in the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120
Authors: Zhou Yin , Chen Wen-Li , Wang Li , Zhang Cheng-Cai
Published: April 2011

Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 (Anabaena PCC 7120) is a filamentous, nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium. Upon deprivation of combined nitrogen, about 5–10 % of the cells become heterocysts, i.e. cells devoted to N2 fixation. Heterocysts are intercalated among vegetative cells and distributed in a semi-regular pattern, and adjacent heterocysts are rarely observed. Previously, we showed that the cell cycle could play a regulatory function during heterocyst development, although the mechanism involved remains unknown. As a further step to understand this phenomenon, we identified the oriC region for chromosomal DNA replication, located between dnaA and dnaN. The oriC region of Anabaena PCC 7120 was able to support the self-replication of a plasmid in the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Surprisingly, integration of the oriC region into the chromosome of Anabaena PCC 7120 through homologous recombination led to much slower cell growth in the absence of a combined-nitrogen source and to multiple contiguous proheterocysts after prolonged incubation. Real-time RT-PCR showed that expression of two heterocyst-related genes, hetR and hetN, was altered in these strains: hetR expression remained high 48 h after induction, and hetN increased to high levels after induction for 12 h. These results suggest that the balance between oriC and DnaA could be important for heterocyst development.
Identification and enzymic analysis of a novel protein associated with production of hydrogen sulfide and l-serine from l-cysteine in Fusobacterium nucleatum subsp. nucleatum ATCC 25586
Authors: Yoshida Yasuo , Suwabe Kyosuke , Nagano Keiji , Kezuka Yuichiro , Kato Hirohisa , Yoshimura Fuminobu
Published: April 2011

A third enzyme that produces hydrogen sulfide from l-cysteine was identified in Fusobacterium nucleatum subsp. nucleatum. The fn1055 gene was cloned from a cosmid library constructed with genomic DNA of F. nucleatum ATCC 25586. Despite the database annotation that the product of fn1055 is a cysteine synthase, reverse-phase HPLC revealed that no l-cysteine was produced in vitro by the purified Fn1055 protein; however, the enzyme did produce l-serine. In addition, a cysteine auxotroph, Escherichia coli NK3, transformed with a plasmid containing the fn1055 gene did not grow without cysteine, which further suggests that Fn1055 does not function as a cysteine synthase. The Michaelis–Menten kinetics (K
m = 0.09±0.001 mM and k
cat = 5.43±0.64 s−1) of the purified enzyme showed that the capacity of Fn1055 to produce hydrogen sulfide was between that of two other enzymes, Fn0625 and Fn1220. Incubation of Fn1055 with l-cysteine resulted in the production of hydrogen sulfide, but not of pyruvate, ammonia or lanthionine, which are all byproducts produced in addition to hydrogen sulfide when Fn0625 or Fn1220 is incubated with l-cysteine. Instead, Fn1055 produced l-serine in its reaction with l-cysteine. Fn1055 produces hydrogen sulfide from l-cysteine by a mechanism that is different from that of Fn0625 or Fn1220.
A kinase shRNA screen links LATS2 and the pRB tumor suppressor
Authors: Tschöp Katrin , Conery Andrew R. , Litovchick Larisa , DeCaprio James A. , Settleman Jeffrey , Harlow Ed , Dyson Nicholas
Published: April 2011

pRB-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation is a complex process that depends on the action of many proteins. However, little is known about the specific pathways that cooperate with the Retinoblastoma protein (pRB) and the variables that influence pRB's ability to arrest tumor cells. Here we describe two shRNA screens that identify kinases that are important for pRB to suppress cell proliferation and pRB-mediated induction of senescence markers. The results reveal an unexpected effect of LATS2, a component of the Hippo pathway, on pRB-induced phenotypes. Partial knockdown of LATS2 strongly suppresses some pRB-induced senescence markers. Further analysis shows that LATS2 cooperates with pRB to promote the silencing of E2F target genes, and that reduced levels of LATS2 lead to defects in the assembly of DREAM (DP, RB [retinoblastoma], E2F, and MuvB) repressor complexes at E2F-regulated promoters. Kinase assays show that LATS2 can phosphorylate DYRK1A, and that it enhances the ability of DYRK1A to phosphorylate the DREAM subunit LIN52. Intriguingly, the LATS2 locus is physically linked with RB1 on 13q, and this region frequently displays loss of heterozygosity in human cancers. Our results reveal a functional connection between the pRB and Hippo tumor suppressor pathways, and suggest that low levels of LATS2 may undermine the ability of pRB to induce a permanent cell cycle arrest in tumor cells.
Japanese patients equally likely to benefit from aprepitant for chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting prevention
Authors: da Silveira Nogueira Lima João Paulo , Nakamura Ricardo Akiyoshi , dos Santos Lucas Vieira
Published: April 2011

(Cancer Sci 2011; 102: 1112)
Distinct cellular and therapeutic effects of obatoclax in rituximab‐sensitive and ‐resistant lymphomas
Authors: Brem Elizabeth A. , Thudium Karen , Khubchandani Sapna , Tsai Ping‐Chiao , Olejniczak Scott H. , Bhat Seema , Riaz Wasif , Gu Jenny , Iqbal Arshad , Campagna Ryan , Knight Joy , Mavis Cory , Hoskin Paul , Deeb George , Gibbs John F. , Fetterly Gerald , Czuczman Myron S. , Hernandez‐Ilizaliturri Francisco J.
Published: April 2011

Bcl‐2 proteins represent a rheostat that controls cellular viability. Obatoclax, a BH3‐mimetic, has been designed to specifically target and counteract anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐2 proteins. We evaluated the biological effects of obatoclax on the anti‐tumour activity of rituximab and chemotherapy agents. Obatoclax induced cell death of rituximab/chemotherapy‐sensitive (RSCL), ‐resistant cell lines (RRCL) and primary tumour‐cells derived from patients with B‐cell lymphomas (N = 39). Obatoclax also enhanced the activity of rituximab and had synergistic activity when combined with chemotherapy agents. The ability of Obatoclax to induce PARP cleavage varied between patient samples and was not observed in some RRCL. Inhibition of caspase activity did not affect obatoclax activity, suggesting the existence of caspase‐independent death pathways. Autophagy was detected by LC3 conversion and/or electron microscopy in RRCL and in patient‐derived tumour cells. Moreover, obatoclax activity was inhibited by Beclin‐1 knockdown. In summary, obatoclax is an active Bcl‐2 inhibitor that potentiates the activity of chemotherapy agents and, to a lesser degree, rituximab. Defining the molecular events triggered by obatoclax is necessary to further its clinical development and identify potential biomarkers that are predictive of response.
Rhinitis control: the next step
Authors: van Wijk R. G.
Published: April 2011

Cite this as: R. G. van Wijk, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 773–774.
Modification and testing of the chronic disease compliance instrument to measure treatment compliance in adolescents with diabetes
Authors: Fernandes Ralston , Wales Sandra , Crisp Jackie , Kyngas Helvi
Published: April 2011

Aims and objectives.  To examine the factor structure and internal consistency of the Chronic Disease Compliance Instrument–Diabetes in an Australian sample of adolescents with diabetes, to modify the instrument and re‐examine factor structure and internal consistency of subsequent scales and to examine the relationship between compliance behaviour and theoretically relevant explanatory factors.

Background.  Compliance is a key challenge for adolescents with a chronic disease; however, valid and reliable self‐report measures of compliance behaviour and explanatory factors for diabetes remain elusive, particularly applied in an Australian setting.

Design.  Correlational design.

Methods.  Participants were 133 adolescents (12–17 years) diagnosed with diabetes and receiving treatment at several health care settings in New South Wales. Participants voluntarily completed the self‐report instrument while waiting to see their Physician/Clinical Nurse Consultant/Diabetes Educator.

Results.  On logical modification of the instrument based on exploratory factor analysis and thorough review of item content, the instrument was shown to have sufficient factor structure and internal consistency. Further, eight of the 11 explanatory factor scales were significantly related to compliance behaviour (accounting for 31% of variance).

Conclusions.  The present study represents the first application of an established instrument to measure compliance to diabetes treatment among adolescents in an Australian sample and demonstrates that the instrument has sufficient factor structure and internal consistency in this setting. Findings provide a list of relevant factors for explaining compliance, which may be employed to guide the development of initiatives to increase the level of compliance to treatment among Australian adolescents with diabetes.

Relevance to clinical practice.  The Chronic Disease Compliance Instrument–Diabetes is a tool that can help nurses with their clinical practice by allowing for more efficient identification of adolescent compliance to diabetes treatment, which may be used in conjunction with HbA1c values already employed.
Global computer‐assisted appraisal of osteoporosis risk in Asian women: an innovative study
Authors: Chang Shu F , Hong Chin M , Yang Rong S
Published: April 2011

Aims and objective.  To develop a computer‐assisted appraisal system of osteoporosis that can predict osteoporosis health risk in community‐dwelling women and to use it in an empirical analysis of the risk in Asian women.

Background.  As the literature indicates, health risk assessment tools are generally applied in clinical practice for patient diagnosis. However, few studies have explored how to assist community‐dwelling women to understand the risk of osteoporosis without invasive data.

Design.  A longitudinal, evidence‐based study.

Method.  The first stage of this study is to establish a system that combines expertise in nursing, medicine and information technology. This part includes information from random samples (n = 700), including data on bone mineral density, osteoporosis risk factors, knowledge, beliefs and behaviour, which are used as the health risk appraisal system database. The second stage is to apply an empirical study. The relative risks of osteoporosis of the participants (n = 300) were determined with the system. The participants that were classified as at‐risk were randomly grouped into experimental and control groups. Each group was treated using different nursing intervention methods.

Results.  The sensitivity and specificity of the analytical tools was 75%. In empirical study, analysis results indicate that the prevalence of osteoporosis was 14·0%. Data indicate that strategic application of multiple nursing interventions can promote osteoporosis prevention knowledge in high‐risk women and enhance the effectiveness of preventive action.

Conclusions.  The system can also provide people in remote areas or with insufficient medical resources a simple and effective means of managing health risk and implement the idea of self‐evaluation and self‐caring among community‐dwelling women at home to achieve the final goal of early detection and early treatment of osteoporosis.

Relevance to clinical practice.  This study developed a useful approach for providing Asia women with a reliable, valid, convenient and economical self‐health management model. Health care professionals can explore the use of advanced information systems and nursing interventions to increase the effectiveness of osteoporosis prevention programmes for women.
Risk factors for workplace violence in clinical registered nurses in Taiwan
Authors: Pai Hsiang‐Chu , Lee Sheuan
Published: April 2011

Aims and objectives.  The purpose of this study was to determine the risk factors and mental health consequences of physical and psychological violence for clinical nurses working in healthcare settings in Taiwan.

Background.  Registered nurses working in hospitals in Taiwan report high incidences of workplace violence. However, previous studies rarely report psychological abuse among nursing staff, while the relationships between personal factors and workplace violence remain unclear.

Design.  This is a cross‐sectional study.

Methods.  Participants were invited to complete the Workplace Violence Questionnaire, an instrument designed to assess types of workplace violence (physical violence, verbal abuse, bullying/mobbing and sexual harassment), the characteristics of perpetrators and victims and victims’ reactions to their abuse.

Results.  A total of 521 nurses completed the questionnaire. Of the participants, 102 (19·6%) indicated that they had experienced physical violence, 268 (51·4%) had experienced verbal abuse, 155 (29·8%) had experienced bullying/mobbing and 67 (12·9%) had experienced sexual harassment. Multiple logistic analyses indicated that age under 30 years (odds ratio = 2·4; 95% confidence interval = 1·34–4·46) and anxiety (odds ratio = 4·7; 95% confidence interval = 1·24–18·12) increased the odds of verbal abuse, while bullying was associated with anxiety (odds ratio = 2·7, 95% confidence interval = 1·09–6·93). Night work shift increased the odds of experiencing sexual harassment (odds ratio = 2·3, 95% confidence interval = 1·29–4·16), while physical violence was associated with bachelor’s degree (odds ratio = 2·8, 95% confidence interval = 1·20–6·73). The most serious psychological harm was post‐traumatic stress disorder.

Conclusions.  Exposure to psychological violence often has a great impact on clinical nurses.

Relevance to clinical practice.  For violence prevention, interventions should be sensitive to personal factors. Healthcare institutions should initiate counselling programs to help nurses cope with the stress related to workplace violence.
Readiness of Chinese frail old age home residents towards end‐of‐life care decision making
Authors: Chan Helen YL , Pang Samantha MC
Published: April 2011

Aims.  To identify different approaches to end‐of‐life care decision‐making among Chinese frail old age home residents.

Background.  Advance care planning has been recently introduced to older people, family members and health care providers in the local community with the intention of better preparing them for end‐of‐life care. However, promoting the concept is challenging as the customary beliefs and previous research findings provide little reassurance that Chinese frail older people are ready for this potentially sensitive discussion.

Design.  Qualitative study.

Method.  Semi‐structured interviews were used to evaluate the process of advance care planning and the readiness of the participants for such planning.

Results.  The findings revealed five approaches towards end‐of‐life care decision‐making among the frail old age home residents: holding on to life, planning ahead, weighing benefits, avoiding and deferring.

Conclusions.  The various approaches to end‐of‐life care decision‐making, which affect the older person’s level of engagement in advance care planning, are largely related to individual personal values, beliefs and experiences. The level of readiness of frail residents for advance care planning can be explained as a continuum and has to be interpreted in the personal context.

Relevance to clinical practice.  The purpose of identifying various approaches is not to be able to screen for individuals who are more likely to undertake advance care planning. Rather, it is to provide insights into the different responses among frail older people with regard to advance care planning and hence the possible ways of devising a specific emphasis and strategies for engaging individuals in the planning process.
The relationships among social capital, organisational commitment and customer‐oriented prosocial behaviour of hospital nurses
Authors: Hsu Chiu‐Ping , Chang Chia‐Wen , Huang Heng‐Chiang , Chiang Chi‐Yun
Published: April 2011

Aims.  This study examines the perceptions of registered nurses of social capital, organisational commitment and customer‐oriented prosocial behaviour. Additionally, this study also addresses a conceptual model for testing how registered nurses’ perceptions of three types of social capital influence their organisational commitment, in turn intensifying customer‐oriented prosocial behaviour, including role‐prescribed customer service and extra‐role customer service.

Background.  Customer‐oriented prosocial behaviour explains differences in job satisfaction and job performance. However, the critical role of customer orientation in the hospital setting has yet to be explored.

Design.  Survey.

Methods.  The survey was conducted to obtain data from registered nurses working for a large Taiwanese medical centre, yielding 797 usable responses and a satisfactory response rate of 86·7%. The partial least squares method was adopted to obtain parameter estimates and test proposed hypotheses.

Results.  The study measurements display satisfactory reliability, as well as both convergent and discriminant validities. All hypotheses were supported. Empirical results indicate that registered nurses’ perceptions of social capital were significantly impacted the extent of organisational commitment, which in turn significantly influenced customer‐oriented prosocial behaviour.

Conclusion.  By stimulating nursing staff commitment, health care providers can urge them to pursue organisational goals and provide high quality customer service. To enhance organisational commitment, health care managers should endeavour to create interpersonal interaction platforms in addition to simply offering material rewards.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Nurses act as contact employees for their patient customers in the hospital, and they are required to provide patient safety and service quality. This study shows that nurses with high organisational commitment are willing to provide customer‐oriented prosocial activities, which in turn enhances patient satisfaction.
Association of aggressive behaviours with psychiatric disorders, age, sex and degree of intellectual disability: a large‐scale survey
Authors: Tsiouris J. A. , Kim S. Y. , Brown W. T. , Cohen I. L.
Published: April 2011

Background  The link between aggression and mental disorders has been the focus of diverse studies in persons with and without intellectual disabilities (ID). Because of discrepancies in the finding of studies in persons with ID to date, and because of differences in research design, instruments used and the population studied, more research is needed. The purpose of this study was to delineate any significant association between certain psychiatric disorders and specific domains of aggressive behaviours in a large sample of persons with ID controlling for sex, age, autism and degree of ID.

Method  Data from the present study were obtained from 47% of all persons with ID receiving services from New York State agencies, using the Institute for Basic Research – Modified Overt Aggression Scale (IBR‐MOAS between 2006 and 2007). The IBR‐MOAS was completed by the chief psychologists of 14 agencies based on information from the participants' files. Demographic information obtained included the psychiatric diagnosis made by the treating psychiatrist as well as information on age, sex and degree of ID. Data from 4069 participants were analysed.

Results  Impulse control disorder and bipolar disorder were strongly associated with all five domains of aggressive behaviour in the IBR‐MOAS. Psychotic disorder was highly associated with four domains except for physical aggression against self (PASLF), which was of borderline significance. Anxiety was most associated with PASLF and verbal aggression against self (VASLF); depression with VASLF; obsessive compulsive disorder with physical aggression against objects (PAOBJ); personality disorders with verbal aggression against others (VAOTH), VASLF and PASLF; and autism with physical aggression against others (PAOTH), PAOBJ and PASLF. Mild to moderate ID was associated with VAOTH and VASLF and severe to profound ID with PAOBJ and PASLF. Female sex was most associated with VASLF.

Conclusions  Impulse control, mood dysregulation and perceived threat appear to underlie most of the aggressive behaviours reported. Psychosis and depression appeared to have been over‐diagnosed in persons with mild to moderate ID and under‐diagnosed in persons with severe and profound ID. These findings replicate and extend findings from previous studies. The pattern of associations reported can be used as helpful indicators by professionals involved in the treatment of aggressive behaviours in persons with ID.
The effect of pathogen reduction technology (Mirasol) on platelet quality when treated in additive solution with low plasma carryover
Authors: Johnson L. , Winter K. M. , Reid S. , Hartkopf‐Theis T. , Marschner S. , Goodrich R. P , Marks D. C.
Published: April 2011

Background and Objectives  Pathogen reduction technologies (PRT) for platelets are now compatible with both plasma and platelet additive solutions (PAS). The aim of this study was to examine the effect of PRT on the platelet storage lesion, in the presence of PAS with low plasma carryover.

Materials and Methods  PRT‐treated (Mirasol) and untreated buffy coat‐derived platelet concentrates prepared in 28% plasma/PAS‐IIIM were evaluated using in vitro cell quality parameters on days 1, 2, 5, and 7 post‐collection.

Results  At day 5, there were no significant differences between control and PRT treated platelets for swirl, viability, pO2, pCO2, mean platelet volume and adenosine diphosphate‐induced aggregation. PRT treatment did not affect the functional integrity of the mitochondria. However, PRT resulted in a decrease in pH and enhancement of platelet glycolysis and activation, evidenced by increased glucose consumption and lactate production rates, increased expression of CD62P, CD63, annexin V staining and increased secretion of cytokines (P < 0·05). Hypotonic shock response and aggregation in response to collagen were also significantly reduced in PRT treated platelets (P < 0·05).

Conclusion  Despite the observed differences in platelet metabolism and activation observed following PRT treatment in PAS and low plasma carryover, the results suggest that treatment and storage of platelets in PAS is no more detrimental to platelets than treatment and storage in plasma.
Effect of X‐irradiation on the quality of red cell concentrates
Authors: Bashir S. , Naik F. , Cardigan R. , Thomas S.
Published: April 2011

Introduction  The irradiation of blood components is used to inactivate T‐lymphocytes to prevent transfusion‐associated graft‐versus‐host (GVH) disease in susceptible recipients. X‐irradiation can be used as an alternative to gamma irradiation and does not involve the use of a radioactive source. This study investigated the effect of X‐irradiation on the quality of various red cell concentrates (RCC).

Methods  Whole blood units were processed into RCC in additive solution (SAG‐M) or RCC in plasma suitable for intra‐uterine (IUT) or neonatal exchange transfusion. RCC‐SAG‐M were irradiated at day 14 and sampled before and 0, 7 and 14 days following irradiation. RCC‐IUT and RCC‐Exchange were irradiated on day 4 and sampled before and 0 and 24 h following irradiation. Extracellular potassium levels and free plasma haemoglobin (haemolysis) were compared in X or gamma‐irradiated units during storage.

Results  X‐irradiation of RCC in SAG‐M, or RCC for IUT or Exchange resulted in haemolysis comparable with gamma irradiation and levels were below the current UK/CE limit of 0·8% at the end of shelf life. X‐irradiation of RCC‐SAG‐M or RCC‐IUT with haematocrit of 75% and 85% resulted in potassium leakage comparable with gamma‐irradiation. However, X‐irradiation of RCC for neonatal exchange transfusion showed statistically significantly higher supernatant potassium levels after 24 h than gamma irradiation, although this difference is considered to be clinically insignificant.

Conclusion  X‐irradiation of RCC in SAG‐M or IUT or RCC in plasma suitable for neonatal exchange transfusion resulted in acceptable levels of haemolysis and potassium leakage compared with the current process of gamma irradiation.
Invasive Aspergillosen: Ergebnisse einer 8‐Jahres‐Studie
Authors: Rimek Dagmar , Kappe R.
Published: April 2011

Zusammenfassung. Wir analysierten retrospektiv 90 Fälle invasiver Aspergillosen, die von 1991 bis 1998 am Universitätsklinikum und der Thoraxklinik gGmbH in Heidelberg auftraten. 71 Fälle waren histologisch gesichert, 19 wahrscheinliche Erkrankungen. Es handelte sich um 49 männliche und 41 weibliche Patienten im Alter von 16 Tagen bis 80 Jahren (Median 51, 5 Jahre). Grundkrankheiten der Patienten waren: hämatologische Grunderkrankungen in 52% (n = 47; darunter 24 mit akuter Leukämie), Organtransplantation (n = 11; 9 Leber, 1 Herz, 1 Niere), solide maligne Tumoren (n = 10), andere Grunderkrankungen (n = 21), in einem Fall war keine Grunderkrankung nachweisbar. Nur 54 Fälle (60%) wurden zu Lebzeiten korrekt diagnostiziert. 59 Fälle (65%) betrafen ausschließlich die Lunge, bei 25 Patienten handelte es sich um disseminierte Aspergillosen, 6 Fälle waren nur extrapulmonal lokalisiert. 11 Patienten wurden lungenteilreseziert, 63 erhielten Antimykotika (44 Amphotericin B, 15 Fluconazol, 4 Itraconazol), 21 wurden nicht antimykotisch therapiert. 68 Patienten verstarben (71%), 30 davon an der invasiven Aspergillose bei beherrschter Grunderkrankung (36%). Für die einzelnen labordiagnostischen Methoden ergaben sich folgende Sensitivitäten: Mikroskopie (Calcofluorweiß‐Färbung) 17%, Kultur 69%, Aspergillus‐PCR aus Respirationstraktproben und Biopsien 95%, Galactomannan‐Antigen‐Nachweis mittels Latex‐Agglutination 28%, mittels Enzymimmunoassay 59%, Aspergillus‐Antikörper‐Nachweis 23%.

Summary. We analysed retrospectively 90 cases of invasive aspergillosis (IA) which occurred at the University Hospital and the Thoraxklinik gGmbH Heidelberg between 1991 and 1998. 71 cases were histologically proven, 19 were probable diseases. There were 49 male and 41 female patients, with a mean age of 51.5 years (range 16 days to 80 years). Underlying diseases were: hematological malignancies in 52% (n = 47; 24 with acute leukemia), solid organ transplantation (n = 11; 9 liver, 1 kidney, 1 heart), solid cancer (n = 10), others (n = 21), and in one case no underlying disease was diagnosed. Only 54 cases (60%) were correctly diagnosed as IA during lifetime of the patients. In 59 cases (65%) only the lung was affected, 25 patients suffered from disseminated IA, in 6 patients only extrapulmonary lesions were present. 11 patients underwent lung surgery, 63 patients received antimycotic drugs (44 amphotericin B, 15 fluconazole, 4 itraconazole), 21 were not treated antimycotically. 68 patients (71%) died, from these 30 (36%) due to IA during remission of the underlying disease. The laboratory methods showed the following sensitivities, respectively: microscopy by calcofluor white staining 17%, culture 69%, Aspergillus‐PCR from respiratory tract samples and biopsies 95%, galactomannan antigen detection by latex agglutination 28%, by enzyme immunoassay 59%, Aspergillus antibody detection 23%.
Itraconazole — perspectives for the management of invasive aspergillosis
Authors: Groll A. H.
Published: April 2011

Summary. Itraconazole has become an important option in the management of invasive aspergillosis. The compound has potent and broad spectrum antifungal activity in vitro against Aspergillus spp. with a species‐and strain dependent fungicidal mode of action. In vivo, the antifungal efficacy of itraconazole has been demonstrated in several non‐immunocompromised and immunocompromised animal models of disseminated and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Itraconazole is available in oral and intravenous formulations, displays non‐linear plasma pharmacokinetics, and is usually well tolerated. Non‐comparative clinical data of itraconazole for therapy of suspected or proven invasive aspergillosis suggest response rates similar to those of conventional amphotericin B; however, the experience with itraconazole for induction therapy of invasive aspergillosis is limited, particularly in profoundly neutropenic patients. Itraconazole has an important role for consolidation and maintenance therapy of patients with invasive aspergillosis, and novel combination therapies involving itraconazole are currently under intensive preclinical investigation as to their usefulness for primary therapy.

Zusammenfassung. Itraconazol ist zu einer wichtigen Option im Management invasiver Aspergillus‐Infektionen geworden. Die Substanz besitzt eine ausgeprägte und breite antimykotische Aktivität gegenüber Aspergillusarten in vitro mit einem spezies‐ und stammabhängigen fungiziden Wirkmodus. In vivo ist die antimykotische Wirksamkeit von Itraconazol in mehreren nicht‐immunkompromittierten und immunkompromittierten Tiermodellen der disseminierten und invasiven pulmonalen Aspergillose nachgewiesen. Itraconazol steht in oraler und intravenöser Zubereitungsform zur Verfügung, besitzt eine nicht‐lineare Plasma‐Pharmakokinetik und ist in der Regel gut verträglich. Nichtvergleichende klinische Daten von Itraconazol zur Behandlung vermuteter und gesicherter invasiver Aspergillus‐Infektionen unterstellen Ansprechraten, die mit denen von konventionellem Amphotericin B vergleichbar sind, wobei jedoch die Erfahrungen mit Itraconazol in der Induktionstherapie insbesondere bei Patienten mit ausgeprägter Neutropenic beschränkt sind. Itraconazol hat eine wichtige Rolle in der Konsolidierungs‐und Erhaltungstherapie von Patienten mit invasiven Aspergillus‐Infektionen, und neue Kombinationstherapien mit Itraconazol befinden sich derzeit unter intensiver präklinischer Evaluierung auf ihren Nutzen in der Primärtherapie.
Unter welchen Voraussetzungen sind Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans‐Stämme aus Vogelexkrementen als Ursache menschlicher Infektionen anzusehen?
Authors: Kielstein P. , Hotzel H. , Schmalreck A.
Published: April 2011

Zusammenfassung. Der Nachweis von Antigenfaktoren der Kryptokokken mittels Faktorseren in der Objektträgeragglutination unterstützt die Art‐ und Varietätendiagnose von Cryptococcus neoformans (Cr. n.) und ist für die Infektionsquellenforschung wichtig. In Taubenzuchten Thüringens wurden ausschließlich Serotyp‐D‐Stämme nachgewiesen. Damit besteht ein wesentlicher Unterschied zum Serotypspektrum von Isolaten menschlicher Herkunft Deutschlands, aber auch zu Stämmen aus Ziervogelzuchtbeständen Thüringens, in denen Serotyp‐A‐Stämme wie bei humanen Erkrankungen vorherrschten.

Bei Verwendung verschiedener Primer im PCR‐Fingerprinting können einerseits Cr.‐neoformans‐Isolate den Serovaren A und D bzw. C und B und damit den Varietäten Cr. neoformans neoformans bzw. Cr. neoformans gattii zugeordnet werden (Primer FM1), andererseits ist eine genetische Heterogenität der Cr.‐neoformans‐Stämme innerhalb der Serotypen A und D feststellbar (Primer 60–26). Diese genetische Heterogenität innerhalb der A‐ und D‐Serotypen ist ebenfalls mittels Fourier‐Transform‐Infrarot‐Spektroskopie festzustellen. Die Taubenstämme vom D‐Serotyp von C. neoformans konnten in 3, die Serotyp A‐Isolate von Ziervögeln in 2 verschiedene Fourier‐Transform‐Infrarot‐Clustergruppen eingeteilt werden. Für die Infektionskettenermittlung menschlicher Erkrankungen ist nicht nur der Serotyp, sondern auch die Heterogenität der Stämme innerhalb eines Serotypes unbedingt zu berücksichtigen.

Summary. Detection of antigen factors of Cryptococcus with factor sera in slide agglutination confirms diagnosis of species and varieties of Cryptococcus neoformans (Cr. n). This method is important in investigations of sources of infections. Serotype D strains of Cr. neoformans were detected in pigeon breedings from Thuringia exclusively. Because of that an essential difference exists in comparison to human isolates in Germany and strains from breeding stocks of companion birds in Thuringia where serotype A strains are predominant in pet birds and in human infections.

Using different primers in PCR fingerprinting Cr. neoformans isolates can be assigned to serotypes A, B, C and D and to varieties Cr. neoformans neoformans and Cr. neoformans gattii (primer FM 1). On the other hand, genetic heterogeneity of Cr. neoformans strains is detectable within the serotypes A and D (primer 60–26). This genetic heterogeneity can be demonstrated in investigations by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, too. Isolated Cr. neoformans strains from pigeons (serotype D) could be divided into 3 and from pet birds (serotype A) into 2 different clusters by FTIR spectroscopy. It is important to take into account heterogeneity of strains within serotypes for determination of infection chains of human disease.
Inhibin‐α Immunohistochemical Expression in Mature and Immature Canine Sertoli and Leydig Cells
Authors: Grieco V , Banco B , Ferrari A , Rota A , Faustini M , Veronesi MC
Published: April 2011

Contents

Formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded sections from 32 canine pairs of testes were immunohistochemically examined for Inhibin‐α (INHα). Samples were subdivided into two groups (group 1, neonates; group 2, puppies and adults) and results statistically compared. Inhibin‐α was significantly expressed only in Sertoli cells of neonatal testes, while in Leydig cells it was expressed without significant difference between groups. These results suggest that, in dogs, INHα expression switches from Sertoli to Leydig cells during testicular maturation and that, in adult, Leydig cells represent the main source of INHα.