bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining correlates of cooperation in autism
Authors: Colombi Costanza , Liebal Kristin , Tomasello Michael , Young Gregory , Warneken Felix , Rogers Sally J.
Published: March 2009

The goal of the current study was to examine the contribution of three early social skills that may provide a foundation for cooperative performance in autism: (1) imitation, (2) joint attention, and (3) understanding of other people's intentions regarding actions on objects. Fourteen children with autistic disorder (AD) and 15 children with other developmental disabilities (DDs) matched on non-verbal developmental age (AD, mean 27.7, SD 9.8; DD, mean 33.4, SD 11.1) and verbal developmental age (AD, mean 21.5, SD 12.3; DD, mean 28.4, SD 11.0) participated in the study. Children with autism showed poorer performance on imitation and joint attention measures, but not on the intentionality task. Multiple regression analyses showed that imitation skills and joint attention contributed independently to cooperation, above and beyond the understanding of intentions of actions on objects.
Towards an identity-based branding
Authors: Burmann Christoph , Hegner Sabrina , Riley Nicola
Published: March 2009

While it is recognized that brands can play a pivotal role in a company's value generation, the levers which determine success have been far more difficult to identify. One of the reasons for this is that a large body of research still focuses on establishing a rather narrow definition of the brand as being only a communication vehicle. In this paper we develop a two dimensional approach towards brands: first, the brand as perceived by actual and potential buyers, i.e. the `outside-in perspective' based on the image of a brand; second, the brand as constructed and managed by the owner/manager of the brand, i.e. `the inside-out perspective' based on the identity of a brand.
When brands get branded
Authors: Huber Frank , Vogel Johannes , Meyer Frederik
Published: March 2009

Recent perspectives on branding have claimed that consumers establish relationships with brands (Fournier, 1998). According to this view, one has also to consider that — similar to human relationships — transgressions may occur in such a relationship. Brand misconduct describes a brand's behaviour that consumers do not agree with, e.g. Coca-Cola's introduction of the so-called New Coke in the eighties. After an introduction and definition different forms of misconduct are distinguished. The possible consequences, how the company can react to brand misconduct and, ultimately, the implications for branding theory development are examined.
Adherence and Treatment Response Among HIV-1-Infected Adults Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in a Rural Government Hospital in Southwestern Uganda
Authors: Bajunirwe Francis , Arts Eric J. , Tisch Daniel J. , King Charles H. , Debanne Sara M. , Sethi Ajay K.
Published: March 2009

Background. Large-scale, government-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) programs in rural areas of resource-poor countries remain largely unevaluated. Methods. We conducted a retrospective review of all patients receiving ART (n = 399) to assess survival and retention in care and a prospective evaluation of patients on ART for at least 6 months (n = 175). We used 3-day self-report to measure adherence. Results. The probability (95% confidence interval [CI]) of surviving and remaining in care was 0.76 (0.72, 0.81) at 1 year. Men and patients with advanced disease were more likely to die or be lost to follow-up. At baseline, 149 (85%) reported 100% adherence. Nonadherence was associated with lack of suppression of viral replication (odds ratio [OR] = 4.5; 95% CI: 1.8, 11.5). Missing a scheduled clinic visit and lack of disclosure of HIV status were associated with nonadherence. Conclusion. Viral suppression was high, but counseling to include HIV disclosure to family and keeping scheduled clinic appointments may improve long-term adherence and treatment outcomes.
Review: New treatment options in status epilepticus: a critical review on intravenous levetiracetam
Authors: Trinka Eugen , Dobesberger Judith
Published: March 2009

The effectiveness of levetiracetam (LEV) in the treatment of focal and generalised epilepsies is well established. LEV has a wide spectrum of action, good tolerability and a favourable pharmacokinetic profile. An injectable formulation has been released as an intravenous (IV) infusion in 2006 for patients with epilepsy when oral administration is temporarily not feasible. Bioequivalence to the oral preparation has been demonstrated with good tolerability and safety enabling a smooth transition from oral to parenteral formulation and vice versa. Although IV LEV is not licensed for treatment of status epilepticus (SE), open-label experience in retrospective case series is accumulating. Until now (August 2008) 156 patients who were treated with IV LEV for various forms of SE have been reported with an overall success rate of 65.4%. The most often used initial dose was 2000—3000 mg over 15 minutes. Adverse events were reported in 7.1%, and were mild and transient. Although IV LEV is an interesting alternative for the treatment of SE due to the lack of centrally depressive effects and low potential of drug interactions, one has to be aware of the nonrandomised retrospective study design, the heterogenous patient population and treatment protocols, and the publication bias inherent in these type of studies. Only a large randomised controlled trial with an adequate comparator will reveal the efficacy and effectiveness of this promising new IV formulation.
Review: Therapeutic options for continuous dopaminergic stimulation in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Sujith O.K. , Lane Carol
Published: March 2009

Treatment of Parkinson's disease aims to replace dopaminergic transmission at striatal synapses. In the normal state, nigral neurons fire continuously, exposing striatal dopamine receptors to relatively constant levels of dopamine. In the disease state, periodic dosing and the short half-life of antiparkinsonian drugs leads to more intermittent stimulation. Abnormal pulsatile stimulation of striatal dopamine receptors may lead to dysregulation of genes and proteins in downstream neurons and consequently, alterations in neuronal firing patterns. This may ultimately lead to motor complications. In order to prevent the development of motor complications a therapy that provides continuous dopaminergic stimulation as observed in the normal state would be ideal. Different routes of administration of levodopa and other dopaminergic drugs have been tried to achieve continuous dopaminergic stimulation (CDS). This review discusses the various methods available to achieve this goal with particular emphasis on duodenal dopa administration.
Conditional deletion of STAT5 in adult mouse hematopoietic stem cells causes loss of quiescence and permits efficient nonablative stem cell replacement
Authors: Wang Zhengqi , Li Geqiang , Tse William , Bunting Kevin D.
Published: March 2009

Currently, there is a major need in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation to develop reduced-intensity regimens that do not cause DNA damage and associated toxicities and that allow a wider range of patients to receive therapy. Cytokine receptor signals through c-Kit and c-Mpl can modulate HSC quiescence and engraftment, but the intracellular signals and transcription factors that mediate these effects during transplantation have not been defined. Here we show that loss of one allele of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) in nonablated adult mutant mice permitted engraftment with wild-type HSC. Conditional deletion of STAT5 using Mx1-Cre caused maximal reduction in STAT5 mRNA (> 97%) and rapidly decreased quiescence-associated c-Mpl downstream targets (Tie-2, p57), increased HSC cycling, and gradually reduced survival and depleted the long-term HSC pool. Host deletion of STAT5 was persistent and permitted efficient donor long-term HSC engraftment in primary and secondary hosts in the absence of ablative conditioning. Overall, these studies establish proof of principle for targeting of STAT5 as novel transplantation conditioning and demonstrate, for the first time, that STAT5, a mitogenic factor in most cell types, including hematopoietic progenitors, is a key transcriptional regulator that maintains quiescence of HSC during steady-state hematopoiesis.
Development and psychometric validation of a self-administered questionnaire assessing the acceptance of influenza vaccination: the Vaccinees' Perception of Injection (VAPI©) questionnaire
Authors: Chevat Catherine , Viala-Danten Muriel , Dias-Barbosa Carla , Nguyen Van Hung
Published: March 2009

Background

Influenza is among the most common infectious diseases. The main protection against influenza is vaccination. A self-administered questionnaire was developed and validated for use in clinical trials to assess subjects' perception and acceptance of influenza vaccination and its subsequent injection site reactions (ISR).

Methods

The VAPI questionnaire was developed based on interviews with vaccinees. The initial version was administered to subjects in international clinical trials comparing intradermal with intramuscular influenza vaccination. Item reduction and scale construction were carried out using principal component and multitrait analyses (n = 549). Psychometric validation of the final version was conducted per country (n = 5,543) and included construct and clinical validity and internal consistency reliability. All subjects gave their written informed consent before being interviewed or included in the clinical studies.

Results

The final questionnaire comprised 4 dimensions ("bother from ISR"; "arm movement"; "sleep"; "acceptability") grouping 16 items, and 5 individual items (anxiety before vaccination; bother from pain during vaccination; satisfaction with injection system; willingness to be vaccinated next year; anxiety about vaccination next year). Construct validity was confirmed for all scales in most of the countries. Internal consistency reliability was good for all versions (Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.68 to 0.94), as was clinical validity: scores were positively correlated with the severity of ISR and pain.

Conclusion

The VAPI questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool, assessing the acceptance of vaccine injection and reactions following vaccination.

Trial registration

NCT00258934, NCT00383526, NCT00383539.
Contributions of gut bacteria to Bacillus thuringiensis-induced mortality vary across a range of Lepidoptera
Authors: Broderick Nichole A , Robinson Courtney J , McMahon Matthew D , Holt Jonathan , Handelsman Jo , Raffa Kenneth F
Published: March 2009

Background

Gut microbiota contribute to the health of their hosts, and alterations in the composition of this microbiota can lead to disease. Previously, we demonstrated that indigenous gut bacteria were required for the insecticidal toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis to kill the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar. B. thuringiensis and its associated insecticidal toxins are commonly used for the control of lepidopteran pests. A variety of factors associated with the insect host, B. thuringiensis strain, and environment affect the wide range of susceptibilities among Lepidoptera, but the interaction of gut bacteria with these factors is not understood. To assess the contribution of gut bacteria to B. thuringiensis susceptibility across a range of Lepidoptera we examined larval mortality of six species in the presence and absence of their indigenous gut bacteria. We then assessed the effect of feeding an enteric bacterium isolated from L. dispar on larval mortality following ingestion of B. thuringiensis toxin.

Results

Oral administration of antibiotics reduced larval mortality due to B. thuringiensis in five of six species tested. These included Vanessa cardui (L.), Manduca sexta (L.), Pieris rapae (L.) and Heliothis virescens (F.) treated with a formulation composed of B. thuringiensis cells and toxins (DiPel), and Lymantria dispar (L.) treated with a cell-free formulation of B. thuringiensis toxin (MVPII). Antibiotics eliminated populations of gut bacteria below detectable levels in each of the insects, with the exception of H. virescens, which did not have detectable gut bacteria prior to treatment. Oral administration of the Gram-negative Enterobacter sp. NAB3, an indigenous gut resident of L. dispar, restored larval mortality in all four of the species in which antibiotics both reduced susceptibility to B. thuringiensis and eliminated gut bacteria, but not in H. virescens. In contrast, ingestion of B. thuringiensis toxin (MVPII) following antibiotic treatment significantly increased mortality of Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), which was also the only species with detectable gut bacteria that lacked a Gram-negative component. Further, mortality of P. gossypiella larvae reared on diet amended with B. thuringiensis toxin and Enterobacter sp. NAB3 was generally faster than with B. thuringiensis toxin alone.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that in some larval species, indigenous gut bacteria contribute to B. thuringiensis susceptibility. Moreover, the contribution of enteric bacteria to host mortality suggests that perturbations caused by toxin feeding induce otherwise benign gut bacteria to exert pathogenic effects. The interaction between B. thuringiensis and the gut microbiota of Lepidoptera may provide a useful model with which to identify the factors involved in such transitions.
Preliminary data concerning the reliability and psychometric properties of the Greek translation of the 20-item Subjective Well-Being Under Neuroleptic Treatment Scale (SWN-20)
Authors: Siamouli Melina , Moutou Katerina , Pantoula Eleonora , Magiria Stamatia , Chatzivasileiou Irini , Arapidis Konstantinos , Chatzivasileiou Achileas , Deres Simeon , Fountoulakis Konstantinos N
Published: March 2009

Background

The 20-item Subjective Well-Being Under Neuroleptic Treatment Scale (SWN-20) is a self-report scale developed in order to assess the well-being of patients receiving antipsychotic medication independent of the improvement in their psychotic symptoms. The current study reports on the reliability and the psychometric properties of the Greek translation of the SWN-20.

Methods

A total of 100 inpatients or outpatients with schizophrenia (79 males and 21 females, aged 42.6 ± 11.35 years old) from 3 different facilities were assessed with the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS), the Calgary Depression Scale and the Simpson-Angus Scale, and completed the SWN-20. The statistical analysis included the calculation of Pearson product moment correlation coefficient, the Cronbach α and factor analysis with Varimax normalised rotation.

Results

The SWN-20 had an α value equal to 0.79 and all the items were equal. The factor analysis revealed the presence of seven factors explaining 66% of total variance. The correlation matrix revealed a moderate relationship of the SWN-20 and its factors with the PANSS-Negative (PANSS-N), PANSS-General Psychopathology (PANSS-G), the Simpson-Angus and the Calgary scales, and no relationship to age, education and income class.

Discussion

The Greek translation of the SWN-20 is reliable, with psychometric properties close to the original scale.
ATLS® and damage control in spine trauma
Authors: Schmidt Oliver I , Gahr Ralf H , Gosse Andreas , Heyde Christoph E
Published: March 2009

Substantial inflammatory disturbances following major trauma have been found throughout the posttraumatic course of polytraumatized patients, which was confirmed in experimental models of trauma and in vitro settings. As a consequence, the principle of damage control surgery (DCS) has developed over the last two decades and has been successfully introduced in the treatment of severely injured patients. The aim of damage control surgery and orthopaedics (DCO) is to limit additional iatrogenic trauma in the vulnerable phase following major injury. Considering traumatic brain and acute lung injury, implants for quick stabilization like external fixators as well as decided surgical approaches with minimized potential for additional surgery-related impairment of the patient's immunologic state have been developed and used widely. It is obvious, that a similar approach should be undertaken in the case of spinal trauma in the polytraumatized patient. Yet, few data on damage control spine surgery are published to so far, controlled trials are missing and spinal injury is addressed only secondarily in the broadly used ATLS® polytrauma algorithm. This article reviews the literature on spine trauma assessment and treatment in the polytrauma setting, gives hints on how to assess the spine trauma patient regarding to the ATLS® protocol and recommendations on therapeutic strategies in spinal injury in the polytraumatized patient.
Aerosolised surfactant generated by a novel noninvasive apparatus reduced acute lung injury in rats
Authors: Sun Yu , Yang Rui , Zhong Ji-gen , Fang Feng , Jiang Jin-jin , Liu Ming-yao , Lu Jian
Published: March 2009

Introduction

Exogenous surfactant has been explored as a potential therapy for acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In the present study, a nebuliser driven by oxygen lines found in the hospital was developed to deliver aerosolised porcine pulmonary surfactant (PPS). We hypothesised that aerosolised surfactant inhaled through spontaneous breathing may effectively reduce severe lung injury.

Methods

Rats were intravenously injected with oleic acid (OA) to induce ALI and 30 minutes later they were divided into five groups: model (injury only), PPS aerosol (PPS-aer), saline aerosol (saline-aer), PPS instillation (PPS-inst), and saline instillation (Saline-Inst). Blood gases, lung histology, and protein and TNF-α concentrations in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were examined.

Results

The PPS aerosol particles were less than 2.0 μm in size as determined by a laser aerosol particle counter. Treatment of animals with a PPS aerosol significantly increased the phospholipid content in the BALF, improved lung function, reduced pulmonary oedema, decreased total protein and TNF-α concentrations in BALF, ameliorated lung injury and improved animal survival. These therapeutic effects are similar to those seen in the PPS-inst group.

Conclusions

This new method of PPS aerosolisation combines the therapeutic effects of a surfactant with partial oxygen inhalation under spontaneous breathing. It is an effective, simple and safe method of administering an exogenous surfactant.
Advances in Chemotherapy of Differentiated Epithelial and Medullary Thyroid Cancers
Authors: Sherman Steven I.
Published: March 2009

Context: Systemic chemotherapies for advanced or metastatic thyroid carcinomas have been of only limited effectiveness. For patients with differentiated or medullary carcinomas unresponsive to conventional treatments, novel therapies are needed to improve disease outcomes.

Evidence Acquisition: The PubMed and Google Scholar search engines were used to identify publications and peer-reviewed meeting presentations addressing chemotherapy and targeted therapy for differentiated or medullary carcinoma.

Evidence Synthesis: Multiple novel therapies primarily targeting angiogenesis have entered clinical trials for metastatic thyroid carcinoma. Partial response rates up to 30% have been reported in single agent studies, but prolonged disease stabilization is more commonly seen. The most successful agents target the vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, with potential targets including the mutant kinases associated with papillary and medullary oncogenesis. Two drugs approved for other malignancies, sorafenib and sunitinib, have had promising preliminary results reported, and are being used selectively for patients who do not qualify for clinical trials. Randomized trials for several agents are underway that may lead to eventual drug approval for thyroid cancer.

Conclusion: Treatment for patients with metastatic or advanced thyroid carcinoma now emphasizes clinical trial opportunities for novel agents with considerable promise. Alternative options now exist for use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors that are well tolerated and may prove worthy of regulatory approval for this disease.
Cell polarity triggered by cell-cell adhesion via E-cadherin
Authors: Desai Ravi A. , Gao Lin , Raghavan Srivatsan , Liu Wendy F. , Chen Christopher S.
Published: March 2009

Cell polarity is orchestrated by numerous extracellular cues, and guides events such as chemotaxis, mitosis and wound healing. In scrape-wound assays of cell monolayers, wound-edge cells orient their centrosomes towards the wound, a process that appears to depend on the formation of new cell–extracellular-matrix adhesions as cells spread into the wound. In direct contrast to scrape-wounded cells, isolated cells without cell-cell contacts failed to polarize, suggesting that asymmetry of cell-cell adhesions resulting from monolayer disruption might contribute to polarization. By using micropatterned substrates to engineer such asymmetries in kidney epithelial cells, we found that cell-cell contact induced displacement of the nucleus towards the contact, and also caused centrosomal reorientation and lamellipodial ruffling to the distal side of the nucleus. Upon release from micropatterned constraints, cells exhibited directed migration away from the cell-cell contact. Disrupting E-cadherin engagement randomized nuclear position and lamellipodial ruffling in patterned cultures, and abrogated scrape-wound-induced cell reorientation, but not migration rate. Polarity that was induced by cell-cell contact required an intact actin cytoskeleton and Cdc42 activity, but not RhoA or Rac signaling. Together, these findings demonstrate a novel role for cell-cell adhesion in polarization, and have implications for wound healing and developmental patterning.
Live-cell microscopy – tips and tools
Authors: Frigault Melanie M. , Lacoste Judith , Swift Jody L. , Brown Claire M.
Published: March 2009

Imaging of living cells and tissue is now common in many fields of the life and physical sciences, and is instrumental in revealing a great deal about cellular dynamics and function. It is crucial when performing such experiments that cell viability is at the forefront of any measurement to ensure that the physiological and biological processes that are under investigation are not altered in any way. Many cells and tissues are not normally exposed to light during their life cycle, so it is important for microscopy applications to minimize light exposure, which can cause phototoxicity. To ensure minimal light exposure, it is crucial that microscope systems are optimized to collect as much light as possible. This can be achieved using superior-quality optical components and state-of-the-art detectors. This Commentary discusses how to set up a suitable environment on the microscope stage to maintain living cells. There is also a focus on general and imaging-platform-specific ways to optimize the efficiency of light throughput and detection. With an efficient optical microscope and a good detector, the light exposure can be minimized during live-cell imaging, thus minimizing phototoxicity and maintaining cell viability. Brief suggestions for useful microscope accessories as well as available fluorescence tools are also presented. Finally, a flow chart is provided to assist readers in choosing the appropriate imaging platform for their experimental systems.
Suppression of weld-bead defects and increase in the critical welding speed during high-speed arc welding
Authors: Wu C S , Hu Z K , Zhang Y M
Published: March 2009

It is of great practical significance to improve welding production efficiency by modifying conventional gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and increasing welding speed. In this study, an experimental system was developed to implement double-electrode gas metal arc welding (DE-GMAW) and to conduct high-speed arc welding experiments. The geometric parameters for assembling two welding torches were optimized according to the weld-bead quality in DE-GMAW experiments. Based on the measured values of the wire current I, base metal current Ibm, and bypass current Ibp, their relationship, i.e. I is the sum of Ibm and Ibp, was validated, and the scheme of DE-GMAW was realized. By means of adjusting the relative levels of the three current components, weld-bead defects such as humping and/or undercut occurring in high-speed welding can be suppressed and good weld-bead formation can be achieved. Compared with conventional GMAW, DE-GMAW can be operated at much higher welding speed without weld-bead defects occurring. The critical welding speed in DE-GMAW is increased by 28.3—80.0 per cent under the conditions employed in the experiments.
Regulated emissions and speciated hydrocarbons from smokeless low-temperature combustion diesel engines with ultra-high exhaust gas recirculation and exhaust oxidation catalyst
Authors: Li T , Ogawa H
Published: March 2009

With ultra-high exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) suppressing the in-cylinder soot and nitrogen oxides (NO x) formation as well as with the exhaust oxidation catalyst removing the engine-out total unburned hydrocarbon (THC) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, clean diesel combustion in terms of low regulated emissions (NO x, particulate matter, THC, and CO) can be established in an operating range up to 50 per cent load. However, unregulated emissions such as aldehydes, aromatics, and 1,3-butadiene, which are seen as a severe threat to human health, are concerned when operating the engine with ultra-high EGR. In this study, the THC emissions from a diesel engine operated with ultra-high EGR low-temperature combustion were speciated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Some unregulated toxic emissions including aldehydes, aromatics, 1,3-butadiene, and some low molecular hydrocarbons dramatically increase in the ultra-high EGR low-temperature combustion regime. The exhaust oxidation catalyst is effective to remove aldehydes and some unsaturated hydrocarbons, but aromatics and methane generated from the ultra-high EGR operation are hardly reduced, particularly at higher loads.
A multi-body human model for rear-impact simulation
Authors: Himmetoglu S , Acar M , Bouazza-Marouf K , Taylor A
Published: March 2009

This paper presents the validation of a 50th-percentile male multi-body human model specifically developed for rear-impact simulation. The aim is to develop a biofidelic model with the simplest architecture that can simulate the interaction of the human body with the seat during rear impact. The model was validated using the head-and-neck and torso responses of seven volunteers from the Japanese Automobile Research Institute sled tests, which were performed at an impact speed of 8km/h with a rigid seat and without head restraint and seat belt. The results indicate that the human-body model can effectively mimic the rear-impact response of a 50th-percentile male with a good level of accuracy and has the potential to predict whiplash injury.
The analysis of shimmy instability of a typical nose landing gear using active torsional magneto-rheological damper
Authors: Sateesh B , Maiti D K
Published: March 2009

Shimmy is an oscillation in the nose landing gear (NLG) of an aircraft that may occur during taxiing, take-off or landing. Increasing emphasis on reducing the weight of landing gear systems in modern aircraft has, in many cases, induced shimmy problems and active vibration control has gradually been used to suppress vibration. The objective of the current investigation is to introduce an active torsional magneto-rheological (MR) fluid-based damper for shimmy vibration control of a typical NLG. In the present study, the shimmy model is developed based on the formulation of G. X. Li, to study the self-induced dynamic instability at the critical forward taxi velocity. The effect of various parameters on the shimmy behaviour is also studied. The study has been performed to postpone the dynamic instability by introducing MR fluid-based damper as a semi-active device and also a closed-loop feedback control scheme is employed to control the landing gear instability of an aircraft.
An improved metric for quantifying the stiffnesses of intact human vertebrae
Authors: Buckley J M , Parmeshwar R , Deviren V , Ames C P
Published: March 2009

Accurately quantifying the compressive stiffnesses of whole human vertebrae is important in the development of new treatment regimes for fractures due to osteoporosis or metastatic involvement. Two methods are commonly used to quantify compressive stiffnesses of whole vertebrae: first, the maximum slope of the force—deformation curve over a 0.2 per cent strain window; second, the slope of the best-fit line to the load—deflection curve over a specified loading range. Because the whole bone load—displacement response is non-linear, these two measurement systems yield different stiffness values for the same set of experimental data. Thus, the goal of this study was to develop and validate a standard method for deriving the whole bone stiffnesses of human vertebrae. Data from uniaxial compression tests on isolated human thoracic vertebrae ( N = 30 from 24 donors; T7—T10; age, 84 ± 10, seven male, and 17 female) were analysed using the two aforementioned stiffness measurement techniques. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted whereby stiffness values were calculated for strain windows ranging from 0.05 per cent to10 per cent. The results showed that the whole vertebra stiffness was sensitive to the calculation method. Using strain window approaches, the calculated stiffness was erratic at small strain ranges (less than 0.75 per cent), but it began to stabilize at 1 per cent strain. Comparing the historical measurement techniques versus the new standard, it was found that the 1 per cent and 0.2 per cent strain window techniques were well correlated ( R2 = 0.91; p<0.01); however, compared with the 1 per cent strain window method, the 0.2 per cent technique consistently overestimated stiffness and had five times the sensitivity to small changes in strain window magnitude. In conclusion, it is recommended that the 1 per cent strain window technique is adopted as a new standard for measuring the whole bone compressive stiffnesses of human vertebrae based on this method's superior level of accuracy and repeatability when compared with current techniques. The adoption of such a standard in the biomechanics field is important because it allows for inter-study comparisons of new orthopaedic treatments, such as vertebroplasty products.
Intricacies of Bevacizumab-Induced Toxicities and Their Management
Authors: Gressett Sarah M , Shah Sachin R
Published: March 2009

Objective:

To review the serious and common toxicities of bevacizumab and describe their incidence, risk factors, presentation, pathophysiology, and management.

Data Sources:

Literature for this review article was collected from PubMed, MEDLINE, and the proceedings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (2000–November 2008). The key terms used in the search were: bevacizumab, vascular endothelial growth factor, angiogenesis inhibitors, toxicity, toxicity management, and adverse event.

Study Selection And Data Extraction:

Review articles, preclinical studies, and all published Phase 1–3 clinical trials were reviewed. The references listed in identified articles were examined for additional publications.

Data Synthesis:

The biomedical literature from 2000 to 2008 confirms that bevacizumab carries serious and potentially life-threatening toxicity risks and emphasizes the importance of early recognition, continuous monitoring, and prompt management of these toxicities. Such toxicities include hemorrhage/bleeding, wound healing complications, gastrointestinal perforation, arterial thromboembolism, congestive heart failure, hypertension, proteinuria/nephrotic syndrome, infusion-related hypersensitivity reactions, and reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome. Patients at the highest risk for these toxicities are individuals with a history of hypertension, thromboembolism, bleeding, cardiovascular disease, or preexisting proteinuria, as these conditions may be exacerbated by bevacizumab use. Additionally, particular tumor types correlate with risk for individual toxicities; for example, patients with squamous non–small-cell lung cancer or rectal cancer have a higher risk of bleeding, those with renal cell carcinoma have a higher proteinuria risk, and patients with colorectal cancer have a higher risk of gastrointestinal perforation. Further investigation is warranted to develop effective management strategies for these toxicities.

Conclusions:

As bevacizumab is becoming widely used in general oncology practice, it is important to understand the toxicities that can arise and to develop practice guidelines for their management.
Subcutaneous Tramadol Infiltration at the Wound Site Versus Intravenous Administration after Pyelolithotomy
Authors: Khajavi Mohammad Reza , Mojaver Aghili Seyed Babak , Moharari Reza Shariat , Najafi Atabak , Mohtaram Robab , Khashayar Patricia , Mojtahedzade Mojtaba
Published: March 2009

Background:

Recently, the peripheral anesthetic effect of tramadol has been the theme of many studies. The postoperative analgesic effects of subcutaneous wound infiltration with tramadol have not been extensively studied and compared with those of intravenous administration.

Objective:

To compare the therapeutic effects and complications of intravenous versus local wound infiltration of using tramadol following pyelolithotomy.

Methods:

This double-blind study was carried out on 60 patients (age 18–60 y) of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I–II who were awaiting pyelolithotomy in Sina Hospital, Tehran, Iran, during 2006 and 2007. They were randomly assigned to receive intravenous or subcutaneous wound infiltration with tramadol. Vital signs, the intensity of pain (visual analog scale), and the level of consciousness (Ramsey Sedation Scale [RSS]), as well as the frequency of nausea and vomiting were recorded during 30 minutes to 1 hour after the patient entered the recovery room. Vital signs were also recorded every hour until 6 hours postoperatively and then on the day after the patient was transferred to the ward.

Results:

The RSS was lower in patients who had received subcutaneous infiltration of tramadol (p < 0.001). A significant difference was noted in the severity of pain between the groups; it was higher in the group that received intravenous tramadol. The average time for the first meperidine requirement was 45.2 ±8.4 min (mean ± SD) in the subcutaneous group and 21.6 ± 12.4 min in the intravenous group. Total meperidine consumption was lower in patients who had received subcutaneous wound infiltration with tramadol compared with those who had received intravenous tramadol (p < 0.001). Nausea and vomiting were more frequent during the first hour of recovery; the complication, however, was less frequent in the subcutaneous group.

Conclusions:

Subcutaneous wound infiltration with tramadol reduces postoperative opioid consumption and produces less nausea and vomiting than does intravenous administration.
Adherence: Comparison of Methods to Assess Medication Adherence and Classify Nonadherence
Authors: Hansen Richard A , Kim Mimi M , Song Liping , Tu Wanzhu , Wu Jingwei , Murray Michael D
Published: March 2009

Background:

Medication adherence is suboptimal, and clinicians and researchers struggle with identifying nonadherent patients. Various measures of medication adherence exist, but there is controversy regarding which measures provide acceptable data and how nonadherence should be defined.

Objective:

To assess agreement among patient self-report, pharmacy refill, and electronic adherence measures and compare the sensitivity and specificity of different cut-points for defining nonadherence.

Methods:

Data were analyzed from 2 similarly designed randomized controlled trials that assessed a pharmacist's intervention to improve medication adherence among patients with hypertension or heart failure. For each participant, adherence was measured by patient self-report, prescription refill records, and electronic lids on medication containers. Agreement among measures was assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficient rho. Correlation coefficients were compared by patient characteristics using Fisher's Z transformation, The sensitivity and specificity of different cut-points for defining nonadherence were calculated.

Results:

Median adherence was 84% for self-report, 86% for electronic, and 91% for prescription refill adherence measurement. Refill and electronic adherence demonstrated the best agreement among measures (rho = 0.48). Age, depression, and other comorbid conditions influenced agreement among measures. Measures were generally in agreement, regardless of how nonadherence was defined. A cut-point of 80% illustrated a fair balance between sensitivity and specificity for all measures.

Conclusions:

All measures provided similar estimates of overall adherence, although refill and electronic measures were in highest agreement. In selection of a measure, practitioners should consider population and disease characteristics, since measurement agreement could be influenced by these and other factors. The commonly used, clinically based cut-point of 80% had a reasonable balance between sensitivity and specificity in studies of adherence in patients with heart failure or hypertension.
Destructive Polyarthropathy in Aborted Bovine Fetuses: A Possible Association with Ureaplasma diversum Infection?
Authors: Himsworth C. G. , Hill J. E. , Huang Y. , Waters E. H. , Wobeser G. A.
Published: March 2009

Severe destructive polyarthropathy with fibrillation and erosion of articular cartilage, deformation of articular surfaces, and proliferation of periarticular soft tissue was diagnosed in 5 bovine fetuses aborted in the last trimester. There was involvement of a single coxofemoral joint in 2 fetuses, both elbows, and a stifle in 1, both stifles and tarsal joints in another, and, in the most severely affected fetus, both hips, stifles, and shoulders as well as 1 carpus. In affected joints, the articular cartilage was irregularly reduced in thickness and contained fibrovascular tissue and, in some cases, inflammatory cells and fibrin. Four of 5 fetuses had microscopic placentitis; all had mild lymphoplasmacytic conjunctivitis. Ureaplasma spp. was identified in 4 cases by polymerase chain reaction or culture. Fetal arthropathy and Ureaplasma diversum-associated joint pathology have not been previously reported in the veterinary literature; however, other Ureaplasma spp. are known to cause reproductive disease and arthritis in humans.
Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumors in Two Dogs
Authors: Knight C. , Fan E. , Riis R. , McDonough S.
Published: March 2009

Two soft tissue masses from different locations in 2 dogs were submitted for histopathologic examination. Each was well demarcated and consisted of interweaving streams of bland spindle cells among which numerous plasma cells and lymphocytes were scattered. All the spindle cells reacted strongly to antibodies against vimentin and calponin, whereas a subset of the spindle cells expressed smooth muscle actin and desmin. Immunohistochemistry results were consistent with a myofibroblastic derivation for the spindle-cell population and the diagnosis of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) was made. This is the second report of IMT in the veterinary literature.
Identification of Bartonella henselae in an Aborted Equine Fetus
Authors: Johnson R. , Ramos-Vara J. , Vemulapalli R.
Published: March 2009

This report describes the characterization of a Bartonella henselae abortion in an equine fetus by gross, histologic, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and molecular methods. Bartonella henselae can cause cat scratch disease, bacillary angiomatosis, bacillary peliosis, and endocarditis in humans and other animals. The bacterium has been isolated from several mammalian species but only recently from equids; however, it has not been linked to abortion in equids. An aborted equine fetus exhibited necrosis and vasculitis in multiple tissues, with intralesional Gram-negative short-to-spirillar bacteria. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplified from the DNA extracted from fetal tissues revealed 99.9% homology to that of B. henselae. The presence of B. henselae in the fetal tissues was further confirmed by polymerase chain reaction amplification and nucleotide sequence analysis of other Bartonella species-specific genes. Microorganisms were immunohistochemically labeled with a monoclonal antibody to B. henselae and were ultrastructurally characterized. Attempts to detect known causative agents of equine abortion were unsuccessful. Given the severity of vasculitis and the presence of intralesional bacteria, we concluded that B. henselae infection caused the abortion of this foal.
Malignant Round Cell Neoplasia in Llamas and Alpacas
Authors: Martin J. M. , Valentine B. A. , Cebra C. K. , Bildfell R. J. , Löhr C. V. , Fischer K. A.
Published: March 2009

Malignant round cell neoplasia was identified in 12 llamas and 12 alpacas aged 0–23 years. Mean age of affected alpacas (3.1 years) was significantly less than that of affected llamas (8.0 years). Tumor cell morphology varied from large and often pleomorphic (11 tumors) to small and often homogeneous (13 tumors). Neoplastic lesions were multicentric in 12 cases. Other sites were gastric (5 cases), intra-abdominal (perirenal; 4 cases), intrathoracic (2 cases), and cervical (1 case). Immunohistochemistry with antibodies to CD79α, BLA36, and CD3 identified B-cell lymphoma (12 cases) and T-cell lymphoma (6 cases). Six tumors did not express any lymphoid marker and were further immunostained for neuron-specific enolase (NSE), synaptophysin, S-100, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and chromogranin A. All 6 of these tumors were negative for GFAP and chromogranin A but expressed 1 or more of the neural markers NSE, synaptophysin, and S-100 and were classified as primitive malignant round cell tumors (PMRCT). Tumor types could not be distinguished on the basis of animal age, gross pathologic appearance, tumor morphology, or tumor location. All animals with lymphoma and 5 with PMRCT died or were euthanatized. One alpaca with a focal cervical PMRCT lived for at least 20 months after diagnosis. Results of this study indicate that malignant round cell tumors in llamas and alpacas are a heterogeneous group that cannot be distinguished on the basis of signalment, postmortem findings, or routine light microscopic findings. Immunohistochemistry is a valuable diagnostic procedure when evaluating malignant round cell neoplasia in llamas and alpacas.
Comparative Pathology of Murine Mucolipidosis Types II and IIIC
Authors: Vogel P. , Payne B. J. , Read R. , Lee W.-S. , Gelfman C. M. , Kornfeld S.
Published: March 2009

UDP-GlcNAc: lysosomal enzyme N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase (GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase) is an α2β2γ2 hexameric enzyme that catalyzes the first step in the synthesis of the mannose 6-phosphate targeting signal on lysosomal hydrolases. In humans, mutations in the gene encoding the α/β subunit precursor give rise to mucolipidosis II (MLII), whereas mutations in the gene encoding the γ subunit cause the less severe mucolipidosis IIIC (MLIIIC). In this study we describe the phenotypic, histologic, and serum lysosomal enzyme abnormalities in knockout mice lacking the γ subunit and compare these findings to those of mice lacking the α/β subunits and humans with MLII and MLIIIC. We found that both lines of mutant mice had elevated levels of serum lysosomal enzymes and cytoplasmic alterations in secretory cells of several exocrine glands; however, lesions in γ-subunit deficient ( Gnptab-/-) mice were milder and more restricted in distribution than in α/β-subunit deficient ( Gnptab-/-) mice. We found that onset, extent, and severity of lesions that developed in these two different knockouts correlated with measured lysosomal enzyme activity; with a more rapid, widespread, and severe storage disease phenotype developing in Gnptab-/- mice. In contrast to mice deficient in the α/β subunits, the mice lacking the γ subunits were of normal size, lacked cartilage defects, and did not develop retinal degeneration. The milder disease in the γ-subunit deficient mice correlated with residual synthesis of the mannose 6-phosphate recognition marker. Of significance, neither strain of mutant mice developed cytoplasmic vacuolar inclusions in fibrocytes or mesenchymal cells (I-cells), the characteristic lesion associated with the prominent skeletal and connective tissue abnormalities in humans with MLII and MLIII. Instead, the predominant lesions in both lines of mice were found in the secretory epithelial cells of several exocrine glands, including the pancreas, and the parotid, submandibular salivary, nasal, lacrimal, bulbourethral, and gastric glands. The absence of retinal and chondrocyte lesions in Gnptab-/- mice might be attributed to residual β-glucuronidase activity. We conclude that mice lacking either α/β or γ subunits displayed clinical and pathologic features that differed substantially from those reported in humans having mutations in orthologous genes.
Seawater Corrosivity Around The World: Results From Five Years of Testing
Authors: Phull BS , Pikul SJ , Kain RM
Published: March 2009

A world-wide test program was undertaken by ASTM Task Group Gl.09.02.03 to assess the relative corrosivity of seawater at 14 test sites. Aluminum alloy 5086 (UNS A95086), 90/10 copper-nickel (UNS C70600), and copper-bearing carbon steel (UNS K01501) test specimens were prepared at one location, shipped to the various sites, and returned to the original location for final evaluations. Results obtained through five years of testing indicate that corrosion behavior was generally within the limits of previously published results. The results show that while seawater is a ubiquitous environment, and quite similar in terms of chloride content and pH, the corrosivity is site- specific, and likely to be influenced by a myriad of other factors such as temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration, flow, degree of fouling, bacterial activity, pollution, etc. All of these factors are themselves often interrelated. The cooperation of all program participants has contributed much toward accomplishment of the objectives. More frequent monitoring of seawater variables at an exposure site is always helpful in better interpretation of the results of corrosion tests performed there. All of the 0.5 through 5-year exposure data are presented here; any typographical errors in the 0.5 through 3-year exposure data published previously have been corrected.
Mechanisms of Property Improvements of Polymer Composites by Thermomechanical Treatment
Authors: Maier G , Friedrich K
Published: March 2009

The damage behavior of polymeric composites can be improved considerably by thermomechanical treatment. In this paper the relevant mechanisms causing this improvement are discussed in detail. It includes the physical and mechanical properties of the pure matrix before and after the thermomechanical treatment, as well as micromechanical mechanisms. The experimental results show that a thermomechanical treatment causes a high amount of permanent deformation of the matrix but no essential changes in its mechanical properties.The micromechanical calculations indicate an almost constant absolute value of permanent deformation of matrix across the entire fiber radius and consequently no changes of local stresses. Therefore, the treatment causes only a change in fiber distance, which results in a permanent deformation of transverse plies of the multidirectional laminate. Additional requirements for the mechanical properties of fibers and matrix in order to achieve a successful treatment are suggested from this approach.