bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social Justice and Men's Interests
Authors: Messner Michael A. , Solomon Nancy M.
Published: May 2007

Men's superordinate status sets the stage for them to understand their interests as opposed to those of women. But hierarchies among men complicate this. Through an examination of the narratives by critics of Title IX at the U.S. Secretary of Education's 2002 hearings on Title IX, the authors argue that subordinated groups of men within sports (i.e., those in vulnerable “nonrevenue” sports like wrestling, tennis, and gymnastics) tend to articulate their interests as congruent with men in central, privileged sports (football and basketball). But this articulation of men's interests does not take the form of antiwoman backlash. The critics tell stories of individual men who are victimized by the “unintended consequences” of liberal state policies—stories that rest on an essentialist assumption that men are naturally more interested in sports than are women. The critics' language of bureaucratic victimization of individual men—especially as symbolized by the threatened “walk-on”—may find especially fertile ground among young white males, who face a world destabilized by feminism, gay and lesbian liberation, the civil rights movement, and shifts in the economy.
Preventing Risk for Obesity by Promoting Self-Regulation and Decision-Making Skills
Authors: Riggs Nathaniel R. , Sakuma Kari-Lyn Kobayakawa , Pentz Mary Ann
Published: May 2007

The overall aim of the two school-based pilot studies was to evaluate whether an approach to prevention that focused on changing child impulse control, decision making, and social competence can be effective in changing attitudes toward food intake and physical activity as risk factors for obesity. The strategy used was to translate specific components of one evidence-based program for violence prevention (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies: PATHS) into an elementary school curriculum program for obesity prevention. Both studies demonstrated significant changes in positive attitudes toward self-regulation of appetitive behavior. In addition, Study 2 demonstrated positive changes in actual food choices and television viewing patterns. Implications are that comprehensive efforts to prevent youth risk for obesity should include as one component school-based curricula that target self-regulation and decision-making skills.
Should family and friends be involved in group-based rehabilitation programs for adults with low vision?
Authors: Rees G. , Saw C. , Larizza M. , Lamoureux E. , Keeffe J.
Published: May 2007

This qualitative study investigates the views of clients with low vision and vision rehabilitation professionals on the involvement of family and friends in group-based rehabilitation programs. Both groups outlined advantages and disadvantages to involving significant others, and it is essential that clients are given the choice. Future work is needed to examine the uptake, process and outcomes of rehabilitation programs in which clients are able to invite family and friends.
A taxonomy of assessment accommodations for students with vision impairments in Australian schools
Authors: Steer Michael , Gale Gillian , Gentle Frances
Published: May 2007

Educational accommodations for students with vision impairments are alterations in the way that an assessment or a test is administered. These alterations are not made to give the student an advantage, but to level the playing field with sighted peers. The authors provide for the educational practitioner a taxonomy of these types of accommodation as well as identifying the several principles underlying accommodation policies that are intended to maximize the participation of students with vision impairments.
Why research — what research should be done?
Authors: Brace Michael , Herriotts Paul , Mccullagh Angela , Nzegwu Femi
Published: May 2007

This article reports on a workshop held in London UK in November 2006 to discuss future research priorities in the visual impairment sector in the UK. The workshop was held under the auspices of the VISION 2020 UK Social Research Group, a collaborative group of charitable partners who commission social research in the sector. The broad purpose of the workshop was to bring people from the field of visual impairment together to discuss why research is needed and, if it is agreed that it is needed, what kind of research should be done. The report presents a summary of the presentations and discussions from that day, including a list of the identified research themes and questions that were generated.
The Interpretability Hypothesis: evidence from wh-interrogatives in second language acquisition
Authors: Tsimpli Ianthi Maria , Dimitrakopoulou Maria
Published: May 2007

The second language acquisition (SLA) literature reports numerous studies of proficient second language (L2) speakers who diverge significantly from native speakers despite the evidence offered by the L2 input. Recent SLA theories have attempted to account for native speaker/non-native speaker (NS/NNS) divergence by arguing for the dissociation between syntactic knowledge and morpho(pho)nology. In particular, Lardiere (1998), Prévost and White (2000), and Goad and White (2004) claim that highly proficient learners have knowledge of the abstract syntactic properties of the language but occasionally fail to associate them with the correct morphological or phonological forms. On the other hand, theories that support partial availability of Universal Grammar (UG) (Tsimpli and Roussou 1991; Hawkins and Chan, 1997) argue for a problem in the syntax: while UG principles and operations are available in SLA, the formal features of the target language that are not instantiated in the L1 or have a different setting, cause learnability problems. This article discusses acquisitional data in the light of the Interpretability Hypothesis (Tsimpli and Mastropavlou, 2007), which is a reformulation of the SLA theory suggested by Tsimpli and Roussou (1991) in minimalist terms. It is argued that a minimalist approach to SLA can be implemented to specify the status of the features that are least accessible to re-setting in the SLA process, given (1) constraints on their learnability and (2), their setting in the L1 grammar. The phenomenon discussed concerns the use of the resumptive strategy in wh- subject and object extraction by intermediate and advanced Greek learners of English. It is proposed that the acceptability rate of pronouns in the extraction site is conditioned by the Logical Form (LF) interpretability of the features involved in the derivation. Hence, the interpretable features of animacy and discourse-linking are hypothesized to be involved in the analysis of English pronouns by Greek L2 learners, while the first language (L1) specification of resumptive pronouns as clusters of uninterpretable Case and Agreement features resists resetting.
Narrative Identity and Offender Rehabilitation
Authors: Ward Tony , Marshall Bill
Published: May 2007

The rehabilitation of offenders is an evaluative and capability-building process and is concerned with promoting primary goods and managing risk. At the heart of this process is the construction of a more adaptive narrative identity and the acquisition of capabilities to enable offenders to secure important values in their postrelease environments. In this article, the authors examine the idea of narrative identity and its relationship to values and to assessment and treatment.
A Look From the Inside
Authors: Inderbitzin Michelle
Published: May 2007

This article is based on an ethnographic study of a cottage for violent offenders in one state's maximum-security training school. Staff members working in the cottage were the institution's front line in its attempts to hold the youth accountable for their crimes while also trying to resocialize and rehabilitate young men who were growing up with few conforming role models. As such, cottage staff members were put in the difficult position of juggling their roles as corrections officers, counselors, and surrogate parents. To effectively do their job, they had to find ways to balance the rhetoric of rehabilitation with the punitive reality of daily life in the institution. This article details the juvenile justice career paths of the staff members in the cottage and provides a sociological analysis of the roles, responsibilities, and interactions of the staff members with each other and with the young men in their care.
Applying Black's Theory of Law to Crack and Cocaine Dispositions
Authors: Chappell Allison T. , Maggard Scott R.
Published: May 2007

Since crack cocaine first appeared on the streets of the United States, the criminal justice system has been overwhelmed with poor, minority drug offenders. This situation can be attributed in part to the existence of mandatory minimum sentences that treat violations associated with crack cocaine more harshly than those associated with powder cocaine. Using data from New York City, the present study uses Black's theory of law to help understand discrepancies in crack and cocaine dispositions. Results show mixed support for Black's propositions. Racial minorities are more likely to be charged with a felony and receive longer prison sentences compared to Whites. Implications of the study and directions for future research are discussed.
Raynaud's Phenomenon of the Nipples: An Elusive Diagnosis
Authors: Morino Carolyn , Winn Susan M.
Published: May 2007

Pain and throbbing of the nipples associated with Raynaud's phenomenon often mimics yeast or fungal infections. Breastfeeding mothers with Raynaud's of the nipples are often treated inappropriately for organisms such as Candida Albicans with topical or systemic antifungal agents. This case report describes the eventual diagnosis of Raynaud's phenomenon of the nipples in a breastfeeding mother who was initially treated for yeast. J Hum Lact. 23(2):191-193.
Sexual Abuse and Breastfeeding
Authors: Klingelhafer Susan Kathleen
Published: May 2007

This article includes a group of case studies demonstrating the potential impact of previous sexual abuse on a woman's desire to, and ability to, breastfeed. Each case highlights a different aspect of breastfeeding promotion or support that is affected by the woman's personal history of sexual abuse. This problem is multifaceted, deeply personal, and elusive, inasmuch as it is not information easily elicited in interviews or histories. The need for compassion and sensitivity is highlighted. J Hum Lact. 23(2):194-197.
Tell Me about the Test
Authors: Mackinem Mitchell B. , Higgins Paul
Published: May 2007

Through a multiyear participant observation study in three southeastern drug courts, we explore how staff members react to clients' responses when confronted with positive tests for illicit drug use. Within their professional beliefs about drug addiction, treatment, and testing, staff members interpret the clients' responses as truths or lies, though some lies are worse than others and some truths are better than others. The staff's evaluations of clients' responses are part of their construction of moral identities for drug offenders. Staff members produce the client outcomes that some observers and evaluators attribute to client characteristics or conduct. To understand how staff members produce organizational outcomes as they manage clients, interpretive studies that look beyond the most public arenas of drug and other problem courts need to be conducted as they have been in exploring other service agencies.
Day Care Differences and the Reproduction of Social Class
Authors: Nelson Margaret K. , Schutz Rebecca
Published: May 2007

Drawing on ethnographic research conducted in two day care centers—the Green Mountain Child Care Center in College Town, Vermont, and the Rocky Mountain Christian Day Care in Coalville, Wyoming—the authors demonstrate differences between centers serving different segments of the population. The authors rely on Annette Lareau's (2003) concepts of “concerted cultivation” and the “accomplishment of natural growth” as a way to describe these differences. The authors then reflect on the potential consequences of different styles of child care for the skills, attitudes, and orientations developed by young children.
Theories of Blood Coagulation
Authors: Riddel James P. , Aouizerat Bradley E. , Miaskowski Christine , Lillicrap David P.
Published: May 2007

Although the concept of the coagulation cascade represented a significant advance in the understanding of coagulation and served for many years as a useful model, more recent clinical and experimental observations demonstrate that the cascade/waterfall hypothesis does not fully and completely reflect the events of hemostasis in vivo. The goal of this article is to review the evolution of the theories of coagulation and their proposed models to serve as a tool when reviewing the research and practice literature that was published in the context of these different theories over time.
The Art of Pediatric Oncology Nursing Practice
Authors: Cantrell Mary Ann
Published: May 2007

Pediatric oncology nursing practice must incorporate both the science and the art of the discipline to foster positive physical and psychosocial treatment outcomes for pediatric oncology patients, especially those outcomes related to their health-related quality of life. In this article, the art of nursing care is described within the context of scientifically based care, and the art of nursing practice is evident in the implementation of the scientific principles and standards for pediatric oncology nursing practice. The author proposes that the art of pediatric oncology nursing practice ought to be evident in care activities that the nurse provides within a therapeutic relationship that is steeped in nursing presence. Although the art of nursing care and the nature of an effective therapeutic relationship is tacit, valued knowledge among pediatric oncology nurses, as well as children and adolescents with cancer and their families, it is difficult to describe and challenging to quantify its effect on patient care outcomes. This article discusses the art of pediatric oncology nursing practice and its influence on treatment outcomes.
Quality of Life Among Adolescents With Cancer
Authors: Ward-Smith Peggy , Hamlin Julie , Bartholomew Joy , Stegenga Kristen
Published: May 2007

The purpose of this study is to enable adolescents with cancer to self-evaluate their quality of life (QoL). Data were collected using a newly developed Likertscaled QoL instrument. In addition, each participant could comment on how the variable impacted his or her QoL. Demographic data were self-disclosed to describe the sample population of 75 adolescents (41 males and 34 females). Overall QoL scores ranged from 27 to 48 (mean = 41.27, SD = 4.31) of a possible 48. Quality of life scores were lowest among those who were female and presently receiving therapy. Overall reliability for the instrument is acceptable ( r = .77). These data reveal that adolescents are aware that their QoL is affected by cancer and its treatment. This instrument demonstrates scores that are statistically different (P = .000) between those presently receiving treatment compared with those not receiving treatment. Although not statistically significant, mean scores for females were lower than for males (P = .030), regardless of other variables. Further administration and psychometric testing of the instrument is planned.
Search Strategies for Identifying Qualitative Studies in CINAHL
Authors: Wilczynski Nancy L. , Marks Susan , Haynes R. Brian
Published: May 2007

Nurses, allied health professionals, clinicians, and researchers increasingly use online access to evidence in the course of patient care or when conducting reviews on a particular topic. Qualitative research has an important role in evidence-based health care. Online searching for qualitative studies can be difficult, however, resulting in the need to develop search filters. The objective of this study was to develop optimal search strategies to retrieve qualitative studies in CINAHL for the 2000 publishing year. The authors conducted an analytic survey comparing hand searches of journals with retrievals from CINAHL for candidate search terms and combinations. Combinations of search terms reached peak sensitivities of 98.9% and peak specificities of 99.5%. Combining search terms optimized both sensitivity and specificity at 94.2%. Empirically derived search strategies combining indexing terms and textwords can achieve high sensitivity and high specificity for retrieving qualitative studies from CINAHL.
Methodological Problems Associated With Practice-Close Research
Authors: Lykkeslet Else , Gjengedal Eva
Published: May 2007

Within the health professions, it is not uncommon to investigate problems in one's field of practice, but researchers who study their own field are bound to encounter both ethical and methodological problems. In this article, the authors focus on some of the challenges in what they have chosen to call practice-close research. They focus on two issues within this area: the researcher's ability to explicate his or her preconceptions and the researcher's interaction with the participants in the study. It is difficult to treat these dimensions separately, as they border on and will influence each other. The discussion in the article of methodological challenges of practice-close research is based on experiences gleaned from a study in which the first author investigated her own practice.
Relational Patterns of Couples Living With Chronic Pelvic Pain From Endometriosis
Authors: Strzempko Butt Frances , Chesla Catherine
Published: May 2007

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a disabling condition affecting 15 to 20% of U.S. women of reproductive age. Endometriosis, one of the most common causes of CPP, is associated with symptoms of pelvic pain, painful sexual intercourse, and infertility. In this qualitative study, the authors examined the relational impact of CPP from endometriosis on 13 couples through narrative interviews conducted individually and jointly. They describe five relational patterns that vary on degree of closeness, how care responsibilities are enacted, the degree to which couples are conjoined in their experiences, and how much their lives are overtaken with the disease. These patterns articulate couples' relational concerns as well as daily management of illness.
Relationships and Their Potential for Change Developed in Difficult Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Zoffmann Vibeke , Kirkevold Marit
Published: May 2007

Few researchers have explored how relationships between patients and providers might change problem solving in clinical practice. The authors used grounded theory to study dyads of 11 people with diabetes and poor glycemic control, and 8 nurses interacting in diabetes teams. Relational Potential for Change was identified as a core category that involved three types of relationships. Professionals mostly shifted between less effective relationships characterized by I-you-distant provider dominance and I-you-blurred sympathy. Although rarely seen, a third relationship, I-you-sorted mutuality proved more effective than the others in exploiting the Relational Potential for Change. The three types of relationship differed in (a) scope of problem solving, (b) the roles assigned to the patient and the professionals, (c) use of difficult feelings and different points of view, and (d) quality of knowledge achieved as the basis for problem solving and decision making. The authors discuss implications for practice and further research.
Bridging the Gap Between Antiretroviral Access and Adherence in Mexico
Authors: Campero Lourdes , Herrera Cristina , Kendall Tamil , Caballero Marta
Published: May 2007

The goal in this article is to examine social problems associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) adherence in Mexico and the related challenges for Mexican persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs). The study was conducted from the perspective of infected and affected individuals. The authors completed 64 in-depth interviews with heterosexual male and female PLWHAs, as well as with some key individuals from their social network. Following the principles of grounded theory, they carried out inductive analysis to create codes and organize central themes. The authors identified problems related to accessing HAART and found that conditions for implementing recommendations made in the international literature to improve adherence are poor. The findings highlight the importance of social factors, such as health care system irregularities, ineffective physician—patient communication, and availability of family and other sources of social support such as self-help groups for PLWHAs' access and adherence to antiretroviral therapy in Mexico.
Using Focus Groups in Disability Research
Authors: Kroll Thilo , Barbour Rosaline , Harris Jennifer
Published: May 2007

Qualitative health service research has increasingly drawn on focus groups to inform health policy and intervention design. Focus groups provide opportunities to engage in the development and evaluation of health services for those service users who are often excluded from other forms of data collection. Increasingly, people with disabilities have been recognized as a marginalized group in health research. To provide appropriate accommodation and to maximize the utility of focus groups with people who have disabilities, careful preparation and planning are necessary. In this article, the authors highlight critical issues in conducting focus groups with people who have various impairments and provide advice on what to consider in terms of preparation and analysis.
In the Mind of the Beholder
Authors: Regan Mary , Liaschenko Joan
Published: May 2007

In this article, the authors present the central finding of a study aimed at identifying possible relationships between the ways in which labor and delivery (L&D) nurses cognitively frame childbirth and cesarean section (CS) rates. They recruited 51 L&D nurses employed at two hospitals in a Midwestern city in the United States to participate in the study, in which they used a projective method to explore nurses' views about the meaning of childbirth and their possible relationship to CS. The authors selected a projective method for this research to identify the preconscious beliefs that inform clinical action. Analysis of the narrative responses to the photograph demonstrated three distinct ways in which participants cognitively framed childbirth and possible ways in which acting in accordance with these belief systems might influence the use of CS.
Migration, Sexual Exploitation, and Women's Health
Authors: Miller Elizabeth , Decker Michele R. , Silverman Jay G. , Raj Anita
Published: May 2007

An estimated 50,000 women and children are annually trafficked into the United States, resulting in complex health and social consequences and significant risk for violence. This article presents a case of a trafficked woman identified in the U.S. health system and describes the vulnerabilities to forced prostitution as a result of trafficking and the challenges in providing an effective and comprehensive response to meet safety and health care needs. Health care providers are in a unique position to identify and support U.S. sex trafficking victims; thus, education and training for health care professionals on trafficking is needed.
Rendering unto Caesar?: The Politics of Church of England Clergy since 1980
Authors: Field Clive D.
Published: May 2007

This is the first systematic attempt to chart the evolving political views of contemporary Church of England clergy. The article is based upon a comparative quantitative analysis and synthesis of eighteen national and four local surveys conducted between 1979 and 2004. Ministerial opinions on the state's influence on the Church and the Church's influence on the state are both considered. Ten specific conclusions are drawn. While the clergy generally cling to the concept of an Established Church, they are very critical of some of the traditional manifestations of that establishment. They also mostly think it highly appropriate for the Church to intervene in the world of party politics, and not simply on moral issues. In this they are positioned ahead of the thinking of many of the committed Anglican laity, for whom a degree of separation of religion and politics remains the ideal. The academic, ecclesiastical and political implications of these findings are briefly explored.
The human Shwachman-Diamond syndrome protein, SBDS, associates with ribosomal RNA
Authors: Ganapathi Karthik A. , Austin Karyn M. , Lee Chung-Sheng , Dias Anusha , Malsch Maggie M. , Reed Robin , Shimamura Akiko
Published: May 2007

Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by bone marrow failure, exocrine pancreatic dysfunction, and leukemia predisposition. Mutations in the SBDS gene are identified in most patients with SDS. SBDS encodes a highly conserved protein of unknown function. Data from SBDS orthologs suggest that SBDS may play a role in ribosome biogenesis or RNA processing. Human SBDS is enriched in the nucleolus, the major cellular site of ribosome biogenesis. Here we report that SBDS nucleolar localization is dependent on active rRNA transcription. Cells from patients with SDS or Diamond-Blackfan anemia are hypersensitive to low doses of actinomycin D, an inhibitor of rRNA transcription. The addition of wild-type SBDS complements the actinomycin D hypersensitivity of SDS patient cells. SBDS migrates together with the 60S large ribosomal subunit in sucrose gradients and coprecipitates with 28S ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Loss of SBDS is not associated with a discrete block in rRNA maturation or with decreased levels of the 60S ribosomal subunit. SBDS forms a protein complex with nucleophosmin, a multifunctional protein implicated in ribosome biogenesis and leukemogenesis. Our studies support the addition of SDS to the growing list of human bone marrow failure syndromes involving the ribosome.
High levels of the BCR/ABL oncoprotein are required for the MAPK-hnRNP-E2–dependent suppression of C/EBPα-driven myeloid differentiation
Authors: Chang Ji Suk , Santhanam Ramasamy , Trotta Rossana , Neviani Paolo , Eiring Anna M. , Briercheck Edward , Ronchetti Mattia , Roy Denis C. , Calabretta Bruno , Caligiuri Michael A. , Perrotti Danilo
Published: May 2007

The inability of myeloid chronic myelogenous leukemia blast crisis (CML-BC) progenitors to undergo neutrophil differentiation depends on suppression of C/EBPα expression through the translation inhibitory activity of the RNA-binding protein hnRNP-E2. Here we show that “oncogene dosage” is a determinant factor for suppression of differentiation in CML-BC. In fact, high levels of p210-BCR/ABL are required for enhanced hnRNP-E2 expression, which depends on phosphorylation of hnRNP-E2 serines 173, 189, and 272 and threonine 213 by the BCR/ABL-activated MAPKERK1/2. Serine/threonine to alanine substitution abolishes hnRNP-E2 phosphorylation and markedly decreases its stability in BCR/ABL-expressing myeloid precursors. Similarly, pharmacologic inhibition of MAPKERK1/2 activity decreases hnRNP-E2 binding to the 5′UTR of C/EBPα mRNA by impairing hnRNP-E2 phosphorylation and stability. This, in turn, restores in vitro and/or in vivo C/EBPα expression and G-CSF–driven neutrophilic maturation of differentiation-arrested BCR/ABL+ cell lines, primary CML-BCCD34+ patient cells and lineage-negative mouse bone marrow cells expressing high levels of p210-BCR/ABL. Thus, increased BCR/ABL oncogenic tyrosine kinase activity is essential for suppression of myeloid differentiation of CML-BC progenitors as it is required for sustained activation of the MAPKERK1/2-hnRNP-E2-C/EBPα differentiation-inhibitory pathway. Furthermore, these findings suggest the inclusion of clinically relevant MAPK inhibitors in the therapy of CML-BC.
Anti-inflammatory properties of desipramine and fluoxetine
Authors: Roumestan Caroline , Michel Alain , Bichon Florence , Portet Karine , Detoc Maëlle , Henriquet Corinne , Jaffuel Dany , Mathieu Marc
Published: May 2007

Background

Antidepressants are heavily prescribed drugs and have been shown to affect inflammatory signals. We examined whether these have anti-inflammatory properties in animal models of septic shock and allergic asthma. We also analysed whether antidepressants act directly on peripheral cell types that participate in the inflammatory response in these diseases.

Methods

The antidepressants desipramine and fluoxetine were compared in vivo to the glucocorticoid prednisolone, an anti-inflammatory drug of reference. In a murine model of lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced septic shock, animals received the drugs either before or after injection of LPS. Circulating levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and mortality rate were measured. In ovalbumin-sensitized rats, the effect of drug treatment on lung inflammation was assessed by counting leukocytes in bronchoalveolar lavages. Bronchial hyperreactivity was measured using barometric plethysmography. In vitro production of TNF-α and Regulated upon Activation, Normal T cell Expressed and presumably Secreted (RANTES) from activated monocytes and lung epithelial cells, respectively, was analysed by immunoassays. Reporter gene assays were used to measure the effect of antidepressants on the activity of nuclear factor-κB and activator protein-1 which are involved in the control of TNF-α and RANTES expression.

Results

In the septic shock model, all three drugs given preventively markedly decreased circulating levels of TNF-α and mortality (50% mortality in fluoxetine treated group, 30% in desipramine and prednisolone treated groups versus 90% in controls). In the curative trial, antidepressants had no statistically significant effect, while prednisolone still decreased mortality (60% mortality versus 95% in controls). In ovalbumin-sensitized rats, the three drugs decreased lung inflammation, albeit to different degrees. Prednisolone and fluoxetine reduced the number of macrophages, lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils, while desipramine diminished only the number of macrophages and lymphocytes. However, antidepressants as opposed to prednisolone did not attenuate bronchial hyperreactivity. In vitro, desipramine and fluoxetine dose-dependently inhibited the release of TNF-α from LPS-treated monocytes. In lung epithelial cells, these compounds decreased TNF-α-induced RANTES expression as well as the activity of nuclear factor-κB and activator protein-1.

Conclusion

Desipramine and fluoxetine reduce the inflammatory reaction in two animal models of human diseases. These antidepressants act directly on relevant peripheral cell types to decrease expression of inflammatory mediators probably by affecting their gene transcription. Clinical implications of these observations are discussed.
Positive role of cell wall anchored proteinase PrtP in adhesion of lactococci
Authors: Habimana Olivier , Le Goff Carine , Juillard Vincent , Bellon-Fontaine Marie-Noëlle , Buist Girbe , Kulakauskas Saulius , Briandet Romain
Published: May 2007

Background

The first step in biofilm formation is bacterial attachment to solid surfaces, which is dependent on the cell surface physico-chemical properties. Cell wall anchored proteins (CWAP) are among the known adhesins that confer the adhesive properties to pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria. To investigate the role of CWAP of non-pathogen Gram-positive bacteria in the initial steps of biofilm formation, we evaluated the physico-chemical properties and adhesion to solid surfaces of Lactococcus lactis. To be able to grow in milk this dairy bacterium expresses a cell wall anchored proteinase PrtP for breakdown of milk caseins.

Results

The influence of the anchored cell wall proteinase PrtP on microbial surface physico-chemical properties, and consequently on adhesion, was evaluated using lactococci carrying different alleles of prtP. The presence of cell wall anchored proteinase on the surface of lactococcal cells resulted in an increased affinity to solvents with different physico-chemical properties (apolar and Lewis acid-base solvents). These properties were observed regardless of whether the PrtP variant was biologically active or not, and were not observed in strains without PrtP. Anchored PrtP displayed a significant increase in cell adhesion to solid glass and tetrafluoroethylene surfaces.

Conclusion

Obtained results indicate that exposure of an anchored cell wall proteinase PrtP, and not its proteolytic activity, is responsible for greater cell hydrophobicity and adhesion. The increased bacterial affinity to polar and apolar solvents indicated that exposure of PrtP on lactococcal cell surface could enhance the capacity to exchange attractive van der Waals interactions, and consequently increase their adhesion to different types of solid surfaces and solvents.
Promoter methylation of RASSF1A and DAPK and mutations of K-ras, p53, and EGFR in lung tumors from smokers and never-smokers
Authors: Liu Yang , Gao Weimin , Siegfried Jill M , Weissfeld Joel L , Luketich James D , Keohavong Phouthone
Published: May 2007

Background

Epidemiological studies indicate that some characteristics of lung cancer among never-smokers significantly differ from those of smokers. Aberrant promoter methylation and mutations in some oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are frequent in lung tumors from smokers but rare in those from never-smokers. In this study, we analyzed promoter methylation in the ras-association domain isoform A (RASSF1A) and the death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) genes in lung tumors from patients with primarily non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from the Western Pennsylvania region. We compare the results with the smoking status of the patients and the mutation status of the K-ras, p53, and EGFR genes determined previously on these same lung tumors.

Methods

Promoter methylation of the RASSF1A and DAPK genes was analyzed by using a modified two-stage methylation-specific PCR. Data on mutations of K-ras, p53, and EGFR were obtained from our previous studies.

Results

The RASSF1A gene promoter methylation was found in tumors from 46.7% (57/122) of the patients and was not significantly different between smokers and never-smokers, but was associated significantly in multiple variable analysis with tumor histology (p = 0.031) and marginally with tumor stage (p = 0.063). The DAPK gene promoter methylation frequency in these tumors was 32.8% (40/122) and did not differ according to the patients' smoking status, tumor histology, or tumor stage. Multivariate analysis adjusted for age, gender, smoking status, tumor histology and stage showed that the frequency of promoter methylation of the RASSF1A or DAPK genes did not correlate with the frequency of mutations of the K-ras, p53, and EGFR gene.

Conclusion

Our results showed that RASSF1A and DAPK genes' promoter methylation occurred frequently in lung tumors, although the prevalence of this alteration in these genes was not associated with the smoking status of the patients or the occurrence of mutations in the K-ras, p53 and EGFR genes, suggesting each of these events may represent independent event in non-small lung tumorigenesis.
Inhibition of the alternative complement activation pathway in traumatic brain injury by a monoclonal anti-factor B antibody: a randomized placebo-controlled study in mice
Authors: Leinhase Iris , Rozanski Michal , Harhausen Denise , Thurman Joshua M , Schmidt Oliver I , Hossini Amir M , Taha Mohy E , Rittirsch Daniel , Ward Peter A , Holers V Michael , Ertel Wolfgang , Stahel Philip F
Published: May 2007

Background

The posttraumatic response to traumatic brain injury (TBI) is characterized, in part, by activation of the innate immune response, including the complement system. We have recently shown that mice devoid of a functional alternative pathway of complement activation (factor B-/- mice) are protected from complement-mediated neuroinflammation and neuropathology after TBI. In the present study, we extrapolated this knowledge from studies in genetically engineered mice to a pharmacological approach using a monoclonal anti-factor B antibody. This neutralizing antibody represents a specific and potent inhibitor of the alternative complement pathway in mice.

Methods

A focal trauma was applied to the left hemisphere of C57BL/6 mice (n= 89) using a standardized electric weight-drop model. Animals were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: (1) Systemic injection of 1 mg monoclonal anti-factor B antibody (mAb 1379) in 400 μl phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 1 hour and 24 hours after trauma; (2) Systemic injection of vehicle only (400 μl PBS), as placebo control, at identical time-points after trauma. Sham-operated and untreated mice served as additional negative controls. Evaluation of neurological scores and analysis of brain tissue specimens and serum samples was performed at defined time-points for up to 1 week. Complement activation in serum was assessed by zymosan assay and by murine C5a ELISA. Brain samples were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) histochemistry, and real-time RT-PCR.

Results

ThemAb 1379leads to a significant inhibition of alternative pathway complement activity and to significantly attenuated C5a levels in serum, as compared to head-injured placebo-treated control mice. TBI induced histomorphological signs of neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis in the injured brain hemisphere of placebo-treated control mice for up to 7 days. In contrast, the systemic administration of an inhibitory anti-factor B antibody led to a substantial attenuation of cerebral tissue damage and neuronal cell death. In addition, the posttraumatic administration of themAb 1379induced a neuroprotective pattern of intracerebral gene expression.

Conclusion

Inhibition of the alternative complement pathway by posttraumatic administration of a neutralizing anti-factor B antibody appears to represent a new promising avenue for pharmacological attenuation of the complement-mediated neuroinflammatory response after head injury.
Drosophilaas a genetic and cellular model for studies on axonal growth
Authors: Sánchez-Soriano Natalia , Tear Guy , Whitington Paul , Prokop Andreas
Published: May 2007

One of the most fascinating processes during nervous system development is the establishment of stereotypic neuronal networks. An essential step in this process is the outgrowth and precise navigation (pathfinding) of axons and dendrites towards their synaptic partner cells. This phenomenon was first described more than a century ago and, over the past decades, increasing insights have been gained into the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating neuronal growth and navigation. Progress in this area has been greatly assisted by the use of simple and genetically tractable invertebrate model systems, such as the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. This review is dedicated to Drosophila as a genetic and cellular model to study axonal growth and demonstrates how it can and has been used for this research. We describe the various cellular systems of Drosophila used for such studies, insights into axonal growth cones and their cytoskeletal dynamics, and summarise identified molecular signalling pathways required for growth cone navigation, with particular focus on pathfinding decisions in the ventral nerve cord of Drosophila embryos. These Drosophila-specific aspects are viewed in the general context of our current knowledge about neuronal growth.
Evolution of the core and pan-genome of Streptococcus: positive selection, recombination, and genome composition
Authors: Lefébure Tristan , Stanhope Michael J
Published: May 2007

Background

The genus Streptococcus is one of the most diverse and important human and agricultural pathogens. This study employs comparative evolutionary analyses of 26 Streptococcus genomes to yield an improved understanding of the relative roles of recombination and positive selection in pathogen adaptation to their hosts.

Results

Streptococcus genomes exhibit extreme levels of evolutionary plasticity, with high levels of gene gain and loss during species and strain evolution. S. agalactiae has a large pan-genome, with little recombination in its core-genome, while S. pyogenes has a smaller pan-genome and much more recombination of its core-genome, perhaps reflecting the greater habitat, and gene pool, diversity for S. agalactiae compared to S. pyogenes. Core-genome recombination was evident in all lineages (18% to 37% of the core-genome judged to be recombinant), while positive selection was mainly observed during species differentiation (from 11% to 34% of the core-genome). Positive selection pressure was unevenly distributed across lineages and biochemical main role categories. S. suis was the lineage with the greatest level of positive selection pressure, the largest number of unique loci selected, and the largest amount of gene gain and loss.

Conclusion

Recombination is an important evolutionary force in shaping Streptococcus genomes, not only in the acquisition of significant portions of the genome as lineage specific loci, but also in facilitating rapid evolution of the core-genome. Positive selection, although undoubtedly a slower process, has nonetheless played an important role in adaptation of the core-genome of different Streptococcus species to different hosts.
Gene expression analysis of nuclear factor I-A deficient mice indicates delayed brain maturation
Authors: Wong Yong Wee , Schulze Christian , Streichert Thomas , Gronostajski Richard M , Schachner Melitta , Tilling Thomas
Published: May 2007

Background

Nuclear factor I-A (NFI-A), a phylogenetically conserved transcription/replication protein, plays a crucial role in mouse brain development. Previous studies have shown that disruption of the Nfia gene in mice leads to perinatal lethality, corpus callosum agenesis, and hydrocephalus.

Results

To identify potential NFI-A target genes involved in the observed tissue malformations, we analyzed gene expression in brains from Nfia-/- and Nfia+/+ littermate mice at the mRNA level using oligonucleotide microarrays. In young postnatal animals (postnatal day 16), 356 genes were identified as being differentially regulated, whereas at the late embryonic stage (embryonic day 18) only five dysregulated genes were found. An in silico analysis identified phylogenetically conserved NFI binding sites in at least 70 of the differentially regulated genes. Moreover, assignment of gene function showed that marker genes for immature neural cells and neural precursors were expressed at elevated levels in young postnatal Nfia-/- mice. In contrast, marker genes for differentiated neural cells were downregulated at this stage. In particular, genes relevant for oligodendrocyte differentiation were affected.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that brain development, especially oligodendrocyte maturation, is delayed in Nfia-/- mice during the early postnatal period, which at least partly accounts for their phenotype. The identification of potential NFI-A target genes in our study should help to elucidate NFI-A dependent transcriptional pathways and contribute to enhanced understanding of this period of brain formation, especially with regard to the function of NFI-A.
The role of the β-glucan receptor Dectin-1 in control of fungal infection
Authors: Dennehy Kevin M , Brown Gordon D
Published: May 2007

During fungal infection, a variety of receptors initiates immune responses, including TLR and the β-glucan receptor Dectin-1. TLR recognition of fungal ligands and subsequent signaling through the MyD88 pathway were thought to be the most important interactions required for the control of fungal infection. However, recent papers have challenged this view, highlighting the role of Dectin-1 in induction of cytokine responses and the respiratory burst. Two papers, using independently derived, Dectin-1-deficient mice, address the role of Dectin-1 in control of fungal infection. Saijo et al. [1] argue that Dectin-1 plays a minor role in control of Pneumocystis carinii by direct killing and that TLR-mediated cytokine production controls P. carinii and Candida albicans. By contrast, Taylor et al. [2] argue that Dectin-1-mediated cytokine and chemokine production, leading to efficient recruitment of inflammatory cells, is required for control of fungal infection. In this review, we argue that collaborative responses induced during infection may partially explain these apparently contradictory results. We propose that Dectin-1 is the first of many pattern recognition receptors that can mediate their own signaling, as well as synergize with TLR to initiate specific responses to infectious agents.
The Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre and Baroque Tendencies in France: The Impact of Religious Turmoils on the Aesthetics of the French Renaissance
Authors: Kuperty-Tsur Nadine
Published: May 2007

This essay considers the aesthetic changes in French poetry and painting as a result of the Saint Bartholomew's Day massacre in August 1572. By the end of the same year, the formal purity and striving for detailed perfection that defined mannerism were no longer relevant goals. The artist henceforth ceased to attempt to move an audience with formalist perfection, which, despite its potential for great beauty, might be considered devoid of meaning. Rather, artists and writers set out to draw their audience's attention by the strength of an argument, by a clearly oriented view of the world, whose imperfection and sometimes roughness accurately revealed a new relation to historical events. The new aesthetic that emerged after 1572 is one of violence. In the current study, I intend to demonstrate this last point through works that are emblematic of the baroque. These include Agrippa d'Aubigné's epic poem and artists' paintings from the École de Fontainebleau. Two portraits of the central characters responsible for the massacre, Catherine de Médicis and Henry, duc de Guise, will be compared to Diana's portrait in order to illustrate the transition from mannerism to baroque.
Atypical Gating Of M-Type Potassium Channels Conferred by Mutations in Uncharged Residues in the S4Region of KCNQ2 Causing Benign Familial Neonatal Convulsions
Authors: Soldovieri Maria Virginia , Cilio Maria Roberta , Miceli Francesco , Bellini Giulia , Miraglia del Giudice Emanuele , Castaldo Pasqualina , Hernandez Ciria C. , Shapiro Mark S. , Pascotto Antonio , Annunziato Lucio , Taglialatela Maurizio
Published: May 2007

Heteromeric assembly of KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 subunits underlie the M-current (IKM), a slowly activating and noninactivating neuronal K+current. Mutations inKCNQ2andKCNQ3genes cause benign familial neonatal convulsions (BFNCs), a rare autosomal-dominant epilepsy of the newborn. In the present study, we describe the identification of a novelKCNQ2heterozygous mutation (c587t) in a BFNC-affected family, leading to an alanine to valine substitution at amino acid position 196 located at the N-terminal end of the voltage-sensing S4domain. The consequences on KCNQ2 subunit function prompted by the A196V substitution, as well as by the A196V/L197P mutation previously described in another BFNC-affected family, were investigated by macroscopic and single-channel current measurements in CHO cells transiently transfected with wild-type and mutant subunits. When compared with KCNQ2 channels, homomeric KCNQ2 A196V or A196V/L197P channels showed a 20 mV rightward shift in their activation voltage dependence, with no concomitant change in maximal open probability or single-channel conductance. Furthermore, current activation kinetics of KCNQ2 A196V channels displayed an unusual dependence on the conditioning prepulse voltage, being markedly slower when preceded by prepulses to more depolarized potentials. Heteromeric channels formed by KCNQ2 A196V and KCNQ3 subunits displayed gating changes similar to those of KCNQ2 A196V homomeric channels. Collectively, these results reveal a novel role for noncharged residues in the N-terminal end of S4in controlling gating ofIKMand suggest that gating changes caused by mutations at these residues may decreaseIKMfunction, thus causing neuronal hyperexcitability, ultimately leading to neonatal convulsions.