bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chromosome Variation, Genomics, Speciation and Evolution in Sceloporus Lizards
Authors: Hall W.P.
Published: April 2010

The clade of the North American lizard genus Sceloporus and its relatives comprising the subfamily Phrynosomatinae (Iguanidae) includes perhaps 150 evolutionary lineages. The work reviewed here begins with the discovery of the concentration of Robertsonian chromosomal variability in Sceloporus more than 40 years ago and cytogenetic and genomic evidence of remarkable chromosomal variation within the S. grammicus complex associated with narrow zones of hybridization between different chromosomal races. These discoveries led to hypotheses about hybrid zones involving negative heterosis, possible modes of chromosomal speciation, and the potential roles of such speciation in phylogenesis. The radiation of Sceloporus has now been studied by many different workers extending and mapping the geographic distribution of cytogenetic and genomic variation to understand the biology of the chromosomal variation and to establish the phyletic relationships of the various lineages. The result is a robust phylogeny and a large and still growing database of genic, cytogenetic and other biological parameters. These materials provide a rich series of natural experiments to support both synthetic-comparative and analytical studies of the roles of chromosomal variation, hybrid zones and modes of speciation in phylogenesis and evolutionary success.
Thrombotic Events in Patients with Congenital Prekallikrein Deficiency: A Critical Evaluation of All Reported Cases
Authors: Girolami A. , Allemand E. , Bertozzi I. , Candeo N. , Marun S. , Girolami B.
Published: April 2010

The occurrence of thrombotic events in patients with congenital bleeding conditions has received considerable attention in recent years. The same is true for asymptomatic defects of factors of the contact phase of blood coagulation, mainly FXII. Anecdotal reports on thrombosis in patients with prekallikrein deficiency have occasionally been reported. These involved both arterial and venous thrombosis. The purpose of the present article is to analyze the stories and the clinical pictures of all 75 cases of prekallikrein deficiency published so far. Among these patients were 9 with thrombosis, 6 arterial (myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke) and 3 venous (deep vein thrombosis with or without pulmonary embolism). In 6 cases acquired thrombosis risk factors were present; in 2 cases no associated risk factors were present and in 1 case no information was supplied in this regard. One patient who presented both a stroke and a pulmonary embolism had a fatal outcome. The article clearly indicates that prekallikrein deficiency does not protect from thrombosis in spite of the severe in vitro coagulation defect.
First Report of the Successful Use of Bosentan in Refractory Vasospastic Angina
Authors: Krishnan Unni , Win Wutyee , Fisher Michael
Published: April 2010

Variant angina is caused by focal spasm of the epicardial coronary arteries and is variably associated with atherosclerotic coronary disease. We present the clinical course of profound coronary spasm in a woman which resulted in life-threatening symptoms. Although not previously reported, administration of the endothelin antagonist bosentan resulted in complete resolution of her symptoms which were refractory to commonly used anti-anginals, and these symptoms recurred when the drug was inadvertently withdrawn, confirming efficacy of the agent. The details of her clinical outcome and a review of the role of endothelin and its antagonists in coronary vasospasm are discussed.
Frequency of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Antecedents in the History of Children and Adolescents with Graves’ Disease
Authors: Wasniewska Malgorzata , Corrias Andrea , Arrigo Teresa , Lombardo Fortunato , Salerno Mariacarolina , Mussa Alessandro , Vigone Maria Cristina , De Luca Filippo
Published: April 2010

Background: The development of Graves’ disease (GD) from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) has sporadically been reported, but no data are available concerning the prevalence of this sequence of events in GD patients. Our aim was to ascertain HT antecedents in the history of GD children in order to assess for the first time the relative frequency of the event sequence leading from HT to GD in a pediatric population. Study Population and Results: In 105/109 patients, no HT antecedents were documented at GD presentation. The remaining 4 patients had previously exhibited a picture of HT with either hypothyroidism or euthyroidism. The interval between HT diagnosis and GD presentation ranged from 1.5 to 2.8 years. Serum thyrotropin receptor antibodies were higher in the patients with no HT antecedents. Conclusions: In at least 3.7% of the children with GD, hyperthyroidism may be preceded by HT presentation with either hypothyroidism or euthyroidism. The clinical course of GD in these patients is not different from the one observed in those with no HT antecedents. Our report confirms the existence of a continuum between HT and GD within the spectrum of autoimmune thyroid diseases.
Preliminary Investigation of the Clinical Value of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α in Pericardial Fluid in Diagnosing Malignant and Tuberculous Pericardial Effusion
Authors: Liu Jiani , Zeng Yan , Ma Wenfei , Chen Shaohua , Zheng Yali , Ye Shan , Lan Ling , Weig Hans-Joerg , Liu Qigong
Published: April 2010

Objectives: To investigate the clinical value of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in diagnosing malignant and tuberculous pericardial effusion. Methods: Eighty patients with exudative pericardial effusion undergoing pericardiocentesis and drainage were divided into 2 groups, namely those with malignancy and those with tuberculosis. The levels of HIF-1α, VEGF, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) in pericardial fluid and serum were measured. Routine and cytological examination of pericardial fluid, clinical characteristics and some blood parameters were compared between the 2 groups. Results: There were 33 patients with tuberculous pericardial effusion and 47 with malignant pericardial effusion. The levels of VEGF and HIF-1α in pericardial fluid in the malignancy group were significantly higher than those in the tuberculosis group (p < 0.01), and there was a moderate positive correlation between the levels of VEGF and HIF-1α (r = 0.79, p < 0.01). The sensitivity and specificity of combining VEGF and HIF-1α were 90.8 and 88.3%, respectively. The 2 groups showed no differences with regard to gender distribution, occurrence of fever, erythrocyte sedimentation rate or the levels of hemoglobin, LDH, ADA, serum HIF-1α and VEGF. Conclusions: Both VEGF and HIF-1α in pericardial fluid have determinative value in the differential diagnosis of malignant and tuberculous pericardial effusion.
L-Type Voltage-Dependent Calcium Channel Alpha Subunit 1C Is a Novel Candidate Gene Associated with Secondary Hyperparathyroidism: An Application of Haplotype-Based Analysis for Multiple Linked Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms
Authors: Yokoyama Keitaro , Urashima Mitsuyoshi , Ohkido Ichiro , Kono Takashi , Yoshida Toyohiko , Muramatsu Masaaki , Niu Tianhua , Hosoya Tatsuo
Published: April 2010

Background and Methods: We conducted a large-scale case-control study that explored the association of 358 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 185 patients with end-stage renal disease. A variety of SNPs were recognized as significant in simple association studies. In addition, haplotype analysis identified the gene for the alpha 1C subunit of the voltage-dependent L-type calcium channel (CACNA1C) as having a significant association with secondary hyperparathyroidism (intact parathyroid hormone level >200 pg/ml) among 61 haplotypes. Since CACNA1C is a relatively large molecule, we examined 84 SNP markers from the CACNA1C region located on chromosome 12 by haplotype case-control association analysis. Results: Sixteen SNPs of 14 genes were significant according to allelic and/or genotypic studies (p < 0.05 by Fisher’s exact test). Three different SNPs were from the CACNA1C gene. Next, we performed haplotype-based association testing with a focus on the CACNA1C region, revealing an odds ratio (OR) of 1.63 and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.05–2.52. The second major haplotype with a frequency of 27% was also significant and acted as a protective haplotype (p = 0.022 by Fisher’s exact test, with an OR of 0.55 and 95% CI of 0.33–0.90). Conclusion: These results suggest that CACNA1C may be associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism. In addition, the haplotype-based approach may be useful to screen for key molecules associated with complex traits.
Possible Relationship between Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin, Hepcidin, and Inflammation in Haemodialysed Patients
Authors: Malyszko Jolanta , Malyszko Jacek S. , Kozminski Piotr , Koc-Zorawska Ewa , Mysliwiec Michal , Macdougall Iain
Published: April 2010

Background: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) binds small, iron-carrying molecules – siderophores. On the other hand, hepcidin is a small defensin-like peptide produced by hepatocytes, modulated in response to anaemia, hypoxia, or inflammation. We tested the hypothesis that NGAL may be related to hepcidin, not only to iron metabolism, in 182 prevalent haemodialysed patients. Methods: Iron status (iron, total iron-binding capacity, ferritin, total saturation of transferrin, TSAT), complete blood count, creatinine, albumin, serum lipids were assessed using standard laboratory methods. Soluble receptor of transferrin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, prohepcidin, hepcidin and NGAL were measured in serum using commercially available kits. Results: Serum NGAL, prohepcidin, hepcidin levels were significantly higher in haemodialysed patients over healthy volunteers (579.11 ± 213.95 vs. 78.43 ± 32.21 ng/ml, p < 0.001, 320.54 ± 182.65 vs. 98.65 ± 34.32 ng/ml, p < 0.01, 155.30 ± 94.05 vs. 23.65 ± 12.76 ng/ml, p < 0.001, respectively). Serum NGAL correlated strongly with residual renal function (r = –0.54, p < 0.001), Kt/V (r = 0.41, p < 0.001), hepcidin (r = –0.28, p < 0.01), serum creatinine (r = 0.63, p < 0.001), iron (r = 0.25, p < 0.01), TSAT (r = 0.30, p < 0.001), ferritin (r = 0.33, p < 0.001), hsCRP (r = 0.32, p < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis, residual renal function, hepcidin, creatinine and hsCRP were predictors of serum NGAL in haemodialysed patients. Conclusions: NGAL is highly induced in dialysed patients. NGAL could reflect both kidney function and iron metabolism. Taking into account the antimicrobial properties of NGAL, further studies are needed to address the role of NGAL in iron metabolism and inflammation in renal failure.
The Psychopathology of Parents of Children and Adolescents with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Authors: Liakopoulou Magda , Korlou Sofia , Sakellariou Katerina , Kondyli Vassiliki , Kapsimali Efi , Sarafidou Jasmin , Anagnostopoulos Dimitris
Published: April 2010

Objective: Our purpose was to determine the rates of psychopathology in parents of children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and compare these with that found in parents of children with learning disorders of reading and written expression. Method: Thirty-one children with OCD, aged 8–15 years, and their parents (n = 62), aged 43–48 years, were studied and compared to 30 children with learning disorders, aged 7–16 years, and their parents (n = 58), aged 40–46 years. In order to investigate the parental psychopathology, the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R), the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale were administered. The psychopathology of children was examined through the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for school-aged children and other instruments. Results: Both fathers and mothers of the probands differed from the controls in a variety of symptoms (i.e. anxiety, depression, obsessions, etc.). Both parents had increased severity of OC symptomatology in comparison to the controls. In addition, the probands’ fathers had severe OC symptomatology at a higher percentage than the mothers and respective controls. Conclusion: The elevated scores of the parents of children with OCD in some SCL-90-R subscales can be perceived as an index of heightened psychopathology. More fathers in the OCD group, compared to mothers and controls, were found to have OC symptoms in the SCL-90-R and increased severity of OC symptoms on the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale. The last finding requires further study. Parental psychopathology in children with OCD needs to be addressed clinically.
Impulsivity, Aggression and Suicide Risk among Male Schizophrenia Patients
Authors: Iancu Iulian , Bodner Ehud , Roitman Suzana , Piccone Sapir Anna , Poreh Amir , Kotler Moshe
Published: April 2010

Introduction: Impulsivity has been shown to be a major variable in the etiology of suicide and aggression, but has not been researched as much in the schizophrenic population, which is characterized by serious suicide and aggression risks. Methods: 68 male schizophrenia patients responded to a battery of measures including the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the impulsivity control scale (IS), the Suicide Risk Scale (SRS) and the Overt Aggression Scale. Results: We divided our subjects into those who received scores above and below the median on the IS. The high- impulsivity group had higher present and past rates of suicidal ideation and showed a trend for more lifetime suicidal attempts than the low-impulsivity group. The impulsivity score correlated positively with the SRS score and with some of the scores of the PANSS (the positive symptoms score, the general psychopathology score and the total score). A multiple regression analysis revealed that an older age, higher levels of aggression, high impulsivity and an elevated score on the general psychopathology subscale of the PANSS contributed positively and significantly to the explained variance of the SRS. Conclusions: Our study supports the contention that high impulsivity in schizophrenia patients is significant in the etiology of suicide in schizophrenia. However, the relationship between impulsivity and aggression in schizophrenia patients, and also the amelioration of impulsivity by pharmacological interventions, require further study.
Moderate Deterioration in Glucose Tolerance during High-Dose Growth Hormone Therapy in Glucocorticoid-Treated Patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Authors: Bismuth Elise , Chevenne Didier , Czernichow Paul , Simon Dominique
Published: April 2010

Objectives: To describe glucose metabolism changes during growth hormone (GH) treatment in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Study Design: Observational study in 58 children on glucocorticoid therapy (GC) for JIA, of whom 28 received late GH therapy (7.3 ± 3.4 years into GC), 15 early GH therapy (1.2 ± 0.1 years into GC), and 15 no GH therapy. The GH dose was 0.46 mg/kg/week. Oral glucose tolerance testing with insulin and glycosylated hemoglobin assays were performed yearly. Nonparametric tests were used to compare groups after 3 years and regression analyses to estimate factors predicting glucose AUC and HOMA-IR at baseline and after 3 years. Results: GH combined with GC was associated with an increase in mean fasting insulinemia. Late GH therapy patients exhibited significant increases over time in mean fasting glycemia (p = 0.01), mean 2-hour postglucose load glycemia (p < 0.05), mean AUC for glucose (p < 0.05), and mean HOMA-IR (p < 0.05). Impaired glucose tolerance was found in 16/43 GH-treated patients (37%) and transient diabetes in 2 (5%) patients. Conclusions: GH treatment in JIA children decreased insulin sensitivity but had only modest effects on glucose tolerance. Close monitoring by oral glucose tolerance testing is crucial before and during GH treatment, particularly during puberty and relapses.
Impact of Prolonged Low-Grade Physical Training on the in vivo Glucocorticoid Sensitivity and on Glucocorticoid Receptor-α mRNA Levels of Obese Adolescents
Authors: Faria Cláudia Dutra Costantin , Castro Roberta Borges , Longui Carlos Alberto , Kochi Cristiane , Barbosa Vera Lúcia Perino , Sousa e Silva Tatiane , Rocha Mylene Neves , Melo Murilo Rezende , Monte Osmar
Published: April 2010

Background/Aim: Healthy individuals present variable responses of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis induced by different patterns of physical training. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether prolonged low-grade physical training influences the HPA axis and also glucocorticoid receptor-α (GRα) mRNA levels in mononuclear cells of obese adolescents. Methods: We studied 19 patients with BMI above the 95th percentile (male:female ratio 7:12) aged from 9.5 to 15.5 years. Patients underwent a 12-week physical exercise program. Before and after exercise, in vivo glucocorticoid sensitivity was determined by employing a very-low-dose intravenous dexamethasone suppression test, and in vitro GRα mRNA levels were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. Results: After exercise there was a trend to reduce the in vivo glucocorticoid sensitivity (p = 0.071) and a significant increase in GRα mRNA levels (p = 0.025). Conclusion: For this subset of obese adolescents, prolonged low-grade physical training tended to reduce glucocorticoid sensitivity. The discrepancy of cortisol response to dexamethasone and the GRα mRNA measurement suggest a post-receptor phenomenon or should be related to target tissue-specific differences in glucocorticoid sensitivity. Future studies should address the adaptive GRα mRNA during different exercise protocols, and also the correlation of pituitary sensitivity with glucocorticoid target tissue sensitivity.
Removal of the Tracheal Tube after Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation: Assessment of Risk by Oscillatory Impedance
Authors: Franke Karl-Josef , Nilius Georg , Morgenstern Stefan , Ruhle Karl-Heinz
Published: April 2010

Background: Decannulation failure is usually due to tracheal obstruction. Prior to decannulation, inspection by the invasive procedure of bronchoscopy that permits morphological evaluation of a tracheal stenosis is standard practice. A non-invasive method enabling the quantification of the airway obstruction that requires little cooperation is measurement of the airway resistance by the forced oscillation technique. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to define oscillatory impedance thresholds which predict successful decannulation. Methods: A total of 131 patients were investigated prospectively. Step 1: Following probatory decannulation, measurement of the oscillatory impedance. Step 2: Blinded to the results of the impedance measurement, bronchoscopy-assisted decannulation attempt. The criteria for renewed cannulation were high-grade laryngeal or tracheal obstruction, dyspnea or stridor, or a drop in SaO2 <90% under O2 insufflation. Statistics: Determination of the ratio tracheal tube remains/tracheal tube removed (TT+/TT–) for every measured value of the oscillatory resistance at 5 Hz (Ros 5 Hz). Determination of specificity and positive predictive value for determined threshold values with respect to TT–. Results: The data of 126 patients were evaluated. TT+ n = 26, TT– n = 100. Decannulation on the basis of bronchoscopy criteria: Specificity and positive predictive value found out for Ros 5 Hz <0.35 kPa/l/s (n = 44) were 1.00 and 1.00, respectively, and for Ros 5 Hz <0.47 kPa/l/s (n = 71) 0.88 and 0.96, respectively. Conclusions: Measurement of the oscillatory airway resistance represents a practicable method prior to decannulation. Below a value of Ros 5 Hz <0.35 kPa/l/s, bronchoscopy would appear not to be necessary.
Long-Term Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use Is Associated With Left Ventricular Dysfunction
Authors: Baggish Aaron L. , Weiner Rory B. , Kanayama Gen , Hudson James I. , Picard Michael H. , Hutter Adolph M. , Pope Harrison G.
Published: April 2010

Background—

Although illicit anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use is widespread, the cardiac effects of long-term AAS use remain inadequately characterized. We compared cardiac parameters in weightlifters reporting long-term AAS use to those in otherwise similar weightlifters without prior AAS exposure.

Methods and Results—

We performed 2D tissue-Doppler and speckle-tracking echocardiography to assess left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, LV systolic strain, and conventional indices of diastolic function in long-term AAS users (n=12) and otherwise similar AAS nonusers (n=7). AAS users (median [quartile 1, quartile 3] cumulative lifetime AAS exposure, 468 [169, 520] weeks) closely resembled nonusers in age, prior duration of weightlifting, and current intensity of weight training. LV structural parameters were similar between the two groups; however, AAS users had significantly lower LV ejection fraction (50.6% [48.4, 53.6] versus 59.1% [58.0%, 61.7%];
P
=0.003 by two-tailed Wilcoxon rank sum test), longitudinal strain (16.9% [14.0%, 19.0%] versus 21.0% [20.2%, 22.9%];
P
=0.004), and radial strain (38.3% [28.5%, 43.7%] versus 50.1% [44.3%, 61.8%];
P
=0.02). Ten of the 12 AAS users showed LV ejection fractions below the accepted limit of normal (≥55%). AAS users also demonstrated decreased diastolic function compared to nonusers as evidenced by a markedly lower early peak tissue velocity (7.4 [6.8, 7.9] cm/s versus 9.9 [8.3, 10.5] cm/s;
P
=0.005) and early-to-late diastolic filling ratio (0.93 [0.88, 1.39] versus 1.80 [1.48, 2.00];
P
=0.003).

Conclusions—

Cardiac dysfunction in long-term AAS users appears to be more severe than previously reported and may be sufficient to increase the risk of heart failure.
Global Administrative Law Dimensions of International Organizations Law
Authors: Kingsbury Benedict , Casini Lorenzo
Published: April 2010

Several important legal features of the contemporary practice of international organizations (IOs) are not easily accommodated in standard approaches to international organizations law. This article argues that Global Administrative Law (GAL) approaches may strengthen analysis of operational issues such as emergency actions by IOs and the human rights implications of IO activities, structural issues such as the involvement of IOs in field missions and in public-private partnerships, and normative issues concerning the production and effects of non-treaty regulatory instruments by IOs (guidelines, best practices, national policy assessments, and other documents rather amorphously analyzed under the 'soft law' rubric). In examining these activities as forms of administration (broadly understood), subject to precepts of good administration and legal standards concerning transparency, participation, reason-giving, review, and accountability, a GAL perspective provides a basis both for critique of problematic practices, and for increasing the effectiveness and legitimacy of some beneficial IO activities which are contentious or currently not undertaken. GAL also responds to the proliferation and differentiation of IOs and other entities in global governance through applying legal standards to their interactions, bringing a principled 'inter-public' approach to the legal relations among global public entities. GAL provides a valuable, and thus far overly neglected, addition to the field of international institutional law.
Corruption and Trust: Theoretical Considerations and Evidence From Mexico
Authors: Morris Stephen D. , Klesner Joseph L.
Published: April 2010

The growing empirical literature on political corruption shows trust (interpersonal and political) to be both cause and consequence of corruption: a conclusion that largely builds on studies using cross-national measures of corruption based on perceptions of corruption rather than actual experience, raising questions of endogeneity. The lack of trust fed by corruption is considered critical in that it undermines government efforts to mobilize society to help fight corruption and leads the public to routinely dismiss government promises to fight corruption. After disaggregating the major concepts, this article empirically explores the relationship linking corruption and trust in Mexico based on data from the 2004 Americas Barometer survey. The authors discover a powerful mutual causality between perceptions of corruption and trust in political institutions that suggests that rooting out perceptions of corruption or shoring up trust in public institutions will be an extremely difficult project for anyone who takes on the task.
Item Selection and Hypothesis Testing for the Adaptive Measurement of Change
Authors: Finkelman Matthew D. , Weiss David J. , Kim-Kang Gyenam
Published: April 2010

Assessing individual change is an important topic in both psychological and educational measurement. An adaptive measurement of change (AMC) method had previously been shown to exhibit greater efficiency in detecting change than conventional nonadaptive methods. However, little work had been done to compare different procedures within the AMC framework. This study introduced a new item selection criterion and two new test statistics for detecting change with AMC that were specifically designed for the paradigm of hypothesis testing. In two simulation sets, the new methods for detecting significant change improved on existing procedures by demonstrating better adherence to Type I error rates and substantially better power for detecting relatively small change.
Plasma sequestration: a good therapy to prevent the deleterious effect of clopidogrel when clopidogrel is used within one to four days of coronary bypass surgery
Authors: Schill David M
Published: April 2010

Clopidogrel (Plavix) is an inhibitor of ADP-induced platelet aggregation, acting by direct inhibition of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) binding to its receptor and of the subsequent ADP-mediated activation of the glycoprotein GPIIb/IIIa complex. A common recommendation for coronary artery bypass surgery is to stop clopidogrel five to seven days before surgery.1 Patients taking clopidogrel within five days of surgery are more likely to show an increase in post-operative bleeding, an increase need for blood products, and an increased chance for secondary operations to control bleeding. This paper presents an option which appears to decrease the adverse effects of clopidogrel for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery within one to four days of stopping the use of clopidogrel. This option is autologous plasma sequestration. The process of plasma sequestration collection prior to the administration of heparin during surgery offers a significant therapy to minimize bleeding post bypass. Twelve consecutive patients are included in this study (one a REDO) each receiving clopidogrel within one to four days of surgery. Throughout their hospital stay, three patients required packed red blood cell (RBC) transfusions (two received 2 units, one received 1 unit). No other donor blood products were required. Post-operative bleeding was minimal, and the need for a secondary operation due to bleeding was eliminated. The average stay in the cardiovascular intensive care unit(CICU) was 2.8 days, with an average hospital stay of 7.25 days.
The relationship between coronary slow flow phenomenon and coronary calcium score
Authors: Oz Ozgur , Bayram Nihal Akar , Durmaz Tahir , Keles Telat , Akcay Murat , Bozkurt Engin
Published: April 2010

Aim: Coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) is an angiographic finding characterized by delayed distal vessel opacification without any significant epicardial coronary artery disease. Several studies have suggested that CSFP might be a form of atherosclerosis. The present study was aimed to investigate the relationship between CSFP and coronary artery calcification, which is one of the clear-cut indicators of coronary atherosclerotic plaque, by using computerized tomography.

Method: Fifty-five patients were included in the study. The coronary arteries of all patients were shown by angiography to be normal. Coronary slow flow (CSF) patterns were evaluated by the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count (TFC) method. Patients with normal coronary arteries and CSF were allocated into the CSF group, and patients with normal coronary arteries and normal coronary flow were allocated into the control group. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) score was measured in 28 patients with CSF and in 27 controls by 64-slice computerized tomography.

Results: The CSF and control groups were similar with respect to age, gender, smoking status, presence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, cholesterol profiles, and Framingham risk scores (p>0.05). The CSF and control groups were not significantly different with respect to CAC score (p>0.05). Sub-group analysis of cardiac risk factors in patients with or without coronary artery calcification revealed that advanced age and low high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were significantly associated with coronary artery calcification. There wasn’t any relationship between coronary slow flow and cardiac risk factors or coronary calcium scores.

Conclusion: In the present study, no association was found between the CSFP and calcified atherosclerosis. Additionally, it was demonstrated that, among the cardiac risk factors, advanced age and low HDL levels were associated with coronary artery calcification.
Histologic Characterization of Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Estrela Mountain Dogs
Authors: Lobo L. , Carvalheira J. , Canada N. , Bussadori C. , Gomes J. L. , Faustino A. M. R.
Published: April 2010

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the second-most-important acquired cardiovascular disease in dogs (excluding heartworm disease in some geographic regions) and a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Estrela Mountain Dogs. The objective of this study is to describe the histologic features of DCM in Estrela Mountain Dogs, with special attention to the localization and quantification of attenuated wavy fibers (AWFs), fibrosis, and fatty infiltration. Myocardial samples from 10 areas were collected from the hearts of 10 dogs with DCM and 7 dogs without signs of cardiac disease—namely, the basal, middle, and apical portions of the free wall of both cardiac ventricles and the interventricular septum, as well as the left ventricular papillary muscle. In each sample, the presence or absence of AWFs was noted, and fatty infiltration and fibrosis were quantified. Fatty infiltration, fibrosis, and AWFs were observed in the myocardium of all dogs with DCM, in contrast to what has been described in other breeds. The left ventricular myocardium was the best tissue for diagnosis of DCM, based on these histologic features. The authors concluded that quantification of fibrosis and observation of AWFs in the left ventricular myocardium are useful in the histologic diagnosis of DCM in Estrela Mountain dogs.
The Potential of Human Allogeneic Juvenile Chondrocytes for Restoration of Articular Cartilage
Authors: Adkisson H. Davis , Martin James A. , Amendola Richard L. , Milliman Curt , Mauch Kelsey A. , Katwal Arbindra B. , Seyedin Mitchell , Amendola Annuziato , Streeter Philip R. , Buckwalter Joseph A.
Published: April 2010

Background: Donor-site morbidity, limited numbers of cells, loss of phenotype during ex vivo expansion, and age-related decline in chondrogenic activity present critical obstacles to the use of autologous chondrocyte implantation for cartilage repair. Chondrocytes from juvenile cadaveric donors may represent an alternative to autologous cells.

Hypothesis/Purpose: The authors hypothesized that juvenile chondrocyte would show stronger and more stable chondrogenic activity than adult cells in vitro and that juvenile cells pose little risk of immunologic incompatibility in adult hosts.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Methods: Cartilage samples were from juvenile (<13 years old) and adult (>13 years old) donors. The chondrogenic activity of freshly isolated human articular chondrocytes and of expanded cells after monolayer culture was measured by proteoglycan assay, gene expression analysis, and histology. Lymphocyte proliferation assays were used to assess immunogenic activity.

Results: Proteoglycan content in neocartilage produced by juvenile chondrocytes was 100-fold higher than in neocartilage produced by adult cells. Collagen type II and type IX mRNA in fresh juvenile chondrocytes were 100- and 700-fold higher, respectively, than in adult chondrocytes. The distributions of collagens II and IX were similar in native juvenile cartilage and in neocartilage made by juvenile cells. Juvenile cells grew significantly faster in monolayer cultures than adult cells ( P = .002) and proteoglycan levels produced in agarose culture was significantly higher in juvenile cells than in adult cells after multiple passages ( P < .001). Juvenile chondrocytes did not stimulate lymphocyte proliferation.

Conclusion: These results document a dramatic age-related decline in human chondrocyte chondrogenic potential and show that allogeneic juvenile chondrocytes do not stimulate an immunologic response in vivo.

Clinical Relevance: Juvenile human chondrocytes have greater potential to restore articular cartilage than adult cells, and may be transplanted without the fear of rejection, suggesting a new allogeneic approach to restoring articular cartilage in older individuals.
Delinquent Careers Behind Bars
Authors: Trulson Chad R. , DeLisi Matt , Caudill Jonathan W. , Belshaw Scott , Marquart James W.
Published: April 2010

There is an increasing recognition that incarceration time, instead of a period characterized by intermittency or lulls in offending, is for many a period of continued involvement in misconduct and other problematic behaviors. Yet, despite mounting evidence on the offending patterns of incarcerated adults, little research attention has been paid to the institutional behavior of incarcerated delinquents. The current research explored the institutional misconduct careers of 2,520 serious and violent delinquent offenders incarcerated in a large southern juvenile correctional system. Analyses revealed that the study cohort engaged in more than 200,000 instances of minor misconduct behaviors and nearly 19,000 instances of major misconduct behaviors during their incarceration. Multivariate analyses examining the incidence of major, minor, and assaultive institutional misconduct revealed that offenders with more extensive delinquent backgrounds had an increased expected rate of misconduct, net the effects of a number of variables. Implications for research and practice are explored.
Second Chances: A Comparison of Civic Engagement in Offender Reentry Programs
Authors: Fox Kathryn J.
Published: April 2010

Mass incarceration has led to a host of problems for reentering offenders and the communities to which they return. The federal government has provided funds to states to address the problems associated with returning offenders. In Vermont, corrections partnered with local community justice centers to develop offender reentry programs. These took various forms but focused on support and services for offenders while enforcing accountability and community safety. This article analyzes three reentry program models and outlines their designs’ ability to enact Bazemore and Stinchcomb’s (2004) notion of a ‘‘civic engagement model of reentry.’’ The vexing challenges of mobilizing communities to foster reintegration for returning offenders are discussed.
The Effects of Sex Offender Registration and Notification on Judicial Decisions
Authors: Letourneau Elizabeth J. , Levenson Jill S. , Bandyopadhyay Dipankar , Armstrong Kevin S. , Sinha Debajyoti
Published: April 2010

This study examined whether South Carolina’s sex offender registration and notification (SORN) policy was associated with changes in judicial decision making concerning adult sex crime cases. Outcomes pertained to reduced charges (e.g., sex to nonsex crimes) and final case dispositions. Statewide crime data from 1990 to 2004 corresponded with three time periods of interest: the 5 years immediately preceding enactment of SORN (Year Group 1; 1990—1994), the first 4 years of SORN implementation (Year Group 2; 1995—1998), and the subsequent 6 years of SORN implementation, which included Internet notification (Year Group 3; 1999—2004). Univariate and generalized estimating equations methods were used to model patterns of charging and disposition decisions with respect to year groups. Results indicated that defendants were more likely to have charges reduced from sex to nonsex crimes over time, with a 9% predicted probability of reduced charges in Year Group 1, a 15% predicted probability in Year Group 2 (corresponding with initial implementation of SORN), and a 19% predicted probability in Year Group 3 (corresponding with Internet notification). Results also indicated that the probability of a guilty disposition changed at each year group, with a predicted probability in Year Group 1 of 55%, increasing to 65% in Year Group 2, and then declining to 60% in Year Group 3. This final decline was more pronounced when pleaded cases were removed from analyses. South Carolina’s SORN policy shares several characteristics with the federal Adam Walsh Act (AWA). Thus, both state and national policy implications of these findings are discussed.
Assessing Sex Experiences of Online Victimization: An Examination of Adolescent Online Behaviors Using Routine Activity Theory
Authors: Marcum Catherine D. , Ricketts Melissa L. , Higgins George E.
Published: April 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in online victimization between genders, through variables representing the three constructs of routine activity theory. A survey was administered to 100-level courses at a mid-sized university in the northeast, which questioned respondent on their Internet behaviors and experiences during the high school senior and college freshman time period. The findings of the study indicated that participating in behaviors that increased exposure to motivated offenders and target suitability in turn increased the likelihood of victimization for both genders. Conversely, taking protective measures to improve capable guardianship was shown to be the least effective measure, as it did not decrease the likelihood of victimization. This research provides a significant contribution to the literature as there are few explanatory studies that attempt to identify causal reasoning for this behavior.
The Impact of Race, Gender, and Age on the Pretrial Decision
Authors: Freiburger Tina L. , Hilinski Carly M.
Published: April 2010

There is an abundance of studies that examine judicial discretion in the final sentencing stages; however, few have examined discretion in the early stages of court decisions. Pretrial release is especially concerning as it has been strongly correlated with a final sentence of incarceration and deprives defendants of their freedom. This study examined whether race, gender, and age influence judges’ decisions to detain or release a defendant prior to trial. The results indicate that females and younger defendants were less likely to be detained. Race was not significant after economic variables were included. When examining males and females separately, race was significant for females, with Black females being the least likely to be detained. For White females, White males, and Black males, offenders aged 30—39 were more likely to be detained than their younger counterparts. Younger and older White females were not significantly more likely to be detained than their Black female counterparts.
Equal Protection at the Erotic Oasis: Examining Selective Prosecution Claims in Lewd Conduct Cases
Authors: Polley Neva-Marie , Tewksbury Richard
Published: April 2010

Drawing on data from legal documents from 127 cases of men arrested for public sexual activity in known cruising locations (‘‘erotic oases’’), this article discusses the legal issue of selective prosecution. As shown, the decoy sting operations used to apprehend men engaging in same-sex sexual activities in public parks carry with them legal ramifications far beyond simply arresting and prosecuting offenders. A focus on the issues of discriminatory purpose and discriminatory effect is provided and discussion shows how each component of selective prosecution claims can (and did) influence the legal challenges of arrests of men engaging in same-sex sexual conduct in erotic oases.
Stock Market Efficiency before and after a Financial Liberalisation Reform
Authors: Karoglou Michail
Published: April 2010

This article focuses on the deviations from normality of stock returns before and after a financial liberalisation reform, and shows the extent to which inference based on statistical measures of stock market efficiency can be affected by not controlling for breaks. Drawing from recent advances in the econometrics of structural change, it compares the distribution of the returns of five East Asian emerging markets when breaks in the mean and variance are either (i) imposed using certain official liberalisation dates or (ii) detected non-parametrically using a data-driven procedure. The results suggest that measuring deviations from normality of stock returns with no provision for potentially existing breaks incorporates substantial bias. This is likely to severely affect any inference based on the corresponding descriptive or test statistics.
Knowledge Building and Social Work Research: A Critical Perspective
Authors: Winston LeCroy Craig
Published: April 2010

This article addresses efforts to build social work research in a manner consistent with good science and research. A critical perspective is applied to examine what does not work in building knowledge and how social work research can address factors that limit knowledge building. A critical perspective is imperative to social work knowledge building but this perspective has not been adequately understood and applied to the research enterprise.
The Impact of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Reducing Child Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders
Authors: Transler Catherine , Eilander Ans , Mitchell Siobhan , van de Meer Nelly
Published: April 2010

Objectives: To review the impact of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in reducing ADHD symptoms in children. Methods: Peer-reviewed experimental literature published from 1980 to Mai 2009 is consulted (Psychinfo, Medline, and resulting reference lists). Results: Placebo-controlled studies with ADHD or hyperactive children show no effects on behaviors or cognition when only n-6 (omega-6) PUFA, only docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), or n-6 and n-3 (omega-3) short-chain PUFA are supplemented. Yet three out of four studies suggest that a combination of long-chain n-3 and n-6 fatty acids (DHA, eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA], and gamma-linolenic acid [GLA]) supplemented daily for 3 to 4 months could lead to a reduction in ADHD symptomatology. Results on cognitive outcomes are inconsistent. Conclusions: Evidence is too limited to reach definitive conclusions but suggests that research on the impact of long-chain PUFA ( n-3 and n-6) should continue with special focus on individual differences (genetic and fatty acid markers), mechanisms (brain imaging), and new enhanced methods of systematic observations of behaviors.
Reliability and Validity of Self- and Other-Ratings of Symptoms of ADHD in Adults
Authors: Van Voorhees Elizabeth E. , Hardy Kristina K. , Kollins Scott H.
Published: April 2010

Objective: Few studies have examined concordance between raters of ADHD symptoms in adults; there is less information on how well rating scales function in distinguishing adult ADHD from other disorders. This study examined these variables using the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS). Method: The sample included 349 adults evaluated for attention problems. Correlations and kappa values were calculated using self- and observer-ratings of item-level symptoms; sensitivity, specificity, and discriminant validity of cluster scores in predicting clinician diagnoses were computed for 269 participants. Results: Item-level concordance rates ranged from slight to fair. Cluster scores demonstrated a poor balance of sensitivity and specificity in predicting ADHD diagnosis; a high percentage of participants with internalizing disorders had scores in the clinical range. Conclusion: Self-and observer- ratings on the CAARS provide clinically relevant data about attention problems in adults, but the instrument does not effectively distinguish between ADHD and other adult psychiatric disorders. ( J. of Att. Dis. 2011; 15(3) 224-234)
Measuring Implicit Traits in Organizational Research: Development of an Indirect Measure of Employee Implicit Self-Concept
Authors: Johnson Russell E. , Saboe Kristin N.
Published: April 2010

Values, attitudes, and goals are often automatically activated, yet organizational research has relied predominantly on techniques that measure these phenomena at explicit or conscious levels. In this study, the authors validated an indirect measure designed to assess employee self-concept at implicit levels. Because self-concept is believed to operate primarily at implicit levels, it was hypothesized that an indirect measure would be an effective predictor of work criteria. The criteria examined were task performance, citizenship and counterproductive behavior, and the quality of supervisor—subordinate relations. Consistent with predictions, the indirect measure—a word fragment completion task—contributed more to the prediction of criteria than the direct measure— self-report survey items with summated rating scales. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for the use of indirect measures in applied settings.
eBay Ethics
Authors: MacDougall Robert
Published: April 2010

In their efforts to construct a stable and secure digital marketplace eBay designers may have also created a workable template for an efficient neo-liberal social enclave. At one level, the business ethic on the internet’s largest auction site has the appearance and feel of honest, timely commodity exchange. With all the panoptic controls now in place, it is difficult to do otherwise, lest one risk being banned from eBay altogether. This article describes the key features of eBay’s user interface and argues that particularly in digital contexts, top-down (i.e. corporate, quasi-governmental, administrative) entities can very effectively enhance their abilities to rationalize and control an otherwise seemingly democratic, bottom-up, and peer-to-peer situation. The study also highlights important relationships between the concepts of citizen, consumer, and socio-political actor today, and speculates into the significance these various roles might play in a full-fledged digital democracy of tomorrow.
Technologies of Political Mobilization and Civil Society in Greece
Authors: Tsaliki Liza
Published: April 2010

This is a commentary regarding the role new technologies may have to play in the mobilization of civil society in Greece; it discusses two street protests against the wildfires that consumed large parts of the country during the summer of 2007, which were initiated via online technologies. It concludes that, despite the recent mobilization of large parts of Greek society in December 2008, also accelerated via the use of new media, the Greek citizenry has yet to prove that it can effectively and consistently over time remain motivated about the environment. In that respect, the street protests under consideration may be seen as nothing more than activist pyrotechnics, facilitated and sexed-up by new ICTs. Therefore, new technologies, on their own, have a limited scope for political mobilization unless there is a supporting and contextual environment that promotes and sustains their impact.