bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social isolation predicts re‐hospitalization in a group of older American veterans enrolled in the UPBEAT Program
Authors: Mistry Ritesh , Rosansky Joel , McGuire Jim , McDermott Charles , Jarvik Lissy
Published: August 2002

Objectives

Does social isolation predict re‐hospitalization in a group of older men enrolled in Unified Psychogeriatric Biopsychosocial Evaluation and Treatment (UPBEAT), a mental health care‐coordination project at nine Veterans Affairs Healthcare Centers nationwide?

Methods

The current study examined 123 UPBEAT patients located at West Los Angeles, whose ratings were available on the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS), the SF‐36 scale, the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS) and the Mental Health Index (MHI‐38) Depression and Anxiety subscales. Within one year of enrollment, 55% of patients were re‐hospitalized. Odds of re‐hospitalization were calculated using two logistic regression models. Social isolation risk (LSNS) and demographic covariates were included. In addition, Model 1 contained depression and anxiety measures (MHI‐38) and physician‐rated medical burden (CIRS), while in Model 2, patient‐perceived physical (PCS) and mental health (MCS) subscales from the SF‐36 were included.

Results

The group of patients who were socially isolated or at high or moderate risk for isolation, were 4–5 times more likely to be re‐hospitalized within the year, than low isolation risk patients. In both Models 1 (chi‐square = 19.86; p = 0.031) and 2 (chi‐square = 26.42; p = 0.002) demographic characteristics were not significant predictors of re‐hospitalization, but social isolation risk was a significant predictor (Model 1: odds ratio (OR) = 5.31; 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.81–15.53; and Model 2: OR = 3.86; 95% CI = 1.39–10.73). In addition, MHI‐Anxiety was a significant predictor (OR = 1.22; 95% CI = 1.05–1.43) in Model 1 and in Model 2, patient‐perceived physical health significantly predicted re‐hospitalization (OR = 0.91; 95% CI = 0.86–0.96).

Conclusion

When controlling for other covariates, social isolation, physical health and mental health were significant risk factors for re‐hospitalization. These findings underline the importance of assessing and addressing lack of social support, along with other factors, in the health care of older male veterans. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Depression, cognitive impairment and function in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Espiritu Doree Ann V. , Rashid Harun , Mast Benjamin T. , Fitzgerald Joe , Steinberg Joel , Lichtenberg Peter A.
Published: August 2002

Depression is very common in patients with dementia but the relationship is very complex. Depression is regarded as a cause of excess disability in persons with dementia and contributes to their functional decline. The assessment of depression in dementia patients, however, has been difficult in that the validity of self‐reported depression in patients with dementia has been questioned. This study was done to investigate whether self‐reported depression by persons with dementia (using the GDS) is related to their functional abilities as rated by a family caregiver (using the IADL scale) above and beyond demographic variables. This study was conducted at the Detroit Satellite of the Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. There were 141 participants, 67% were African American and 33% were European American. Statistical analyses included a correlational and multiple regression approach to determine the predictive relationships of cognitive and depressive symptoms above and beyond the influence of demographic variables and cognition. The results of the study further support the notion that depression in dementia is significantly related to functional decline but, more importantly, that self‐reported depression in patients with dementia can be valuable information in understanding patients' functioning. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Apolipoprotein E ε4 allele is not associated with the cognitive impairment in community‐dwelling normal elderly individuals
Authors: Kim K. W. , Youn J. C. , Jhoo J. H. , Lee D. Y. , Lee K. U. , Lee J. H. , Woo J. I.
Published: August 2002

Objectives

The aim of this study was to examine whether the APOE ε4 allele also confers a risk for the cognitive impairment in normal aging.

Methods

We administered all the eight neuropsychological tests from the CERAD neuropsychological battery to the CVD‐free, community‐dwelling normal elderly individuals, and compared their performance by the occurrence of the APOE ε4 allele.

Results

Either the impact of APOE ε4 allele itself or its interaction terms with age and gender of the subjects did not influence the performance of the eight neuropsychological tests (εp > 0.1 by ANCOVA).

Conclusions

The APOE ε4 allele is not a risk factor for the cognitive decline in normal elderly individuals regardless of age and gender. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Paradigm‐dependent modulation of event‐related fMRI activity evoked by the oddball task
Authors: Clark Vincent P. , Fannon Sean , Lai Song , Benson Randall
Published: August 2002

We have previously shown that event‐related functional magnetic resonance imaging (ER‐fMRI) may be used to record responses to the rapid, interleaved presentation of stimuli in the three‐stimulus oddball task. The present study examined the sensitivity of ER‐fMRI responses to variations in the range of inter‐stimulus intervals (ISIs, calculated as the time from the offset of one stimulus to the onset of the next stimulus) and the type of behavioral response task used. ISIs were varied between a wide ISI range (550–2,050 msec) and a narrow ISI range (800–1,200 msec), while maintaining a similar mean ISI (approximately 1 stimulus per sec) between experiments. The response task was varied between button press and subvocal target counting. Gradient echo, echo planar images were acquired for each of three experiments (wide ISI with button press, narrow ISI with button press, and wide‐ISI with counting) in five subjects. Target stimuli generated increased fMRI signal in a wide range of brain regions. The use of a narrow ISI range generated a greater volume of subcortical activity and a reduced volume of cortical activity relative to a wide ISI range. The counting task generated a larger amplitude and longer lasting evoked response in brain regions that responded during all three experiments. Rare distractor stimuli evoked fMRI signal change primarily in orbitofrontal, ventral‐medial prefrontal and superior parietal cortex. These results illustrate that although ER‐fMRI is relatively insensitive as a technique to small variations in the timing of stimulus‐evoked responses, it is remarkably sensitive to consequences such variations have for the topographic location and amplitude of neural responses to stimuli. Hum. Brain Mapping 14:116–127, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Running the visa gauntlet
Authors: Sementelli Arthur J.
Published: August 2002

Current rules, regulations, and laws concerning visas are complicated, making the process for obtaining a visa for study or employment in higher education difficult. Those seeking visas should understand the most efficient ways to apply for the right kind of visa.
Why Americans don’t study foreign languages and what we can do about that
Authors: Sigsbee David L.
Published: August 2002

Foreign language training in U.S. higher education is not structured to produce students who are fluent and proficient, but blueprints exist that, if used to build foreign language programs, would enable students to be fluent and proficient in a foreign language.
Benchmarking as an administrative tool for institutional leaders
Authors: Bender Barbara E.
Published: August 2002

This chapter suggests how institutional leaders can use benchmarking to encourage employees, students, and faculty to effect changes in their colleges and universities.
Recognizing diversity in public preferences: The use of preference sub‐groups in cost‐effectiveness analysis
Authors: Sculpher Mark , Gafni Amiram
Published: August 2002

Public preferences are typically incorporated into cost‐effectiveness analyses (CEA) on the basis of the average health state utilities of a sample of individuals drawn from the general public. The cost‐effectiveness of a programme is then assessed on an ‘all‐or‐nothing’ basis: the programme is declared either cost‐effective or not for all patients in clinically homogenous sub‐groups. However, this approach fails to recognize variability between individuals in their preferences. In this paper, we consider how diversity in the preferences of individuals can be handled within CEA when the public's preferences are considered appropriate for defining benefit, with the objective of increasing the efficiency of health care delivery. The concept of preference sub‐group analysis is described and some of its implications are assessed. These include the methods that could be used to identify sub‐groups from amongst public raters, the appropriate approach to eliciting preferences and the possible implications of preference sub‐group analysis for clinical decision making. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A framework for cost‐effectiveness analysis from clinical trial data
Authors: O'Hagan Anthony , Stevens John W.
Published: August 2002

We present a general Bayesian framework for cost‐effectiveness analysis (CEA) from clinical trial data. This framework allows for very flexible modelling of both cost and efficacy related trial data. A common CEA technique is established for this wide class of models through linking mean efficacy and mean cost to the parameters of any given model.

Examples are given in which efficacy may be measured as a continuous, binary, ordinal or time‐to‐event outcome, and in which costs are modelled as distributed normally, log‐normally, as a mixture or non‐parametrically.

A case study is presented, illustrating the methodology and illuminating the role of prior information. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Obtaining disability weights in rural Burkina Faso using a culturally adapted visual analogue scale
Authors: Baltussen R.M.P.M. , Sanon M. , Sommerfeld J. , Würthwein R.
Published: August 2002

Burden of disease (BOD) estimates used to foster local health policy require disability weights which represent local preferences for different health states. The global burden of disease (GBD) study presumes that disability weights are universal and equal across countries and cultures, but this is questionable. This indicates the need to measure local disability weights across nations and/or cultures. We developed a culturally adapted version of the visual analogue scale (VAS) for a setting in rural Burkina Faso. Using an anthropologic approach, BOD‐relevant health states were translated into culturally meaningful disability scenarios. The scaling procedure was adapted using a locally relevant scale. Nine hypothetical health states were evaluated by seven panels of in total 39 lay individuals and 17 health professionals. Results show that health professionals' rankings and valuations of health states matched those of lay people to a certain extent. In comparison to that of the lay people, health professionals rated seven out of nine health states as slightly to moderately less severe. The instrument scored well on inter‐panel and test–retest reliability and construct validity. Our research shows the feasibility of eliciting disability weights in a rural African setting using a culturally adapted VAS. Moreover, the results of the present study suggest that it might be possible to use health professionals' preferences on disability weights as a proxy for lay people's preferences. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Latent class versus two‐part models in the demand for physician services across the European Union
Authors: Jiménez‐Martín Sergi , Labeaga José M. , Martínez‐Granado Maite
Published: August 2002

Using three waves of data from the European Community Household Panel, this paper estimates demand for physician services equations for 12 European countries. We focus on the selection of the most appropriate econometric specification for visits to general practitioners and to specialists among two‐part and latent class models. The distinction between the demand of services from these two types of physicians allows us to distinguish cases in which two‐part perform better than latent class models, evidence which is different from previous findings in the literature. The results suggest that latent class models are more appropriate than two‐part models to estimate general practitioners utilisation while the opposite is found for visits to the specialists. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis of the sinonasal tract: Report on the clinicopathologic features of a case and review of the literature
Authors: Pereira Emílio M. , Millas Ieda , Reis‐Filho Jorge S. , Maeda Sueli A. , Franco Marcello
Published: August 2002

Background

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) is a rare fibroinflammatory lesion of the sinonasal tract that occurs mainly in young to middle‐aged female patients. Only two previous cases affecting male patients have been reported, and its etiopathogenesis remains unknown. The authors report on the third case of the entity in a male patient and review the 12 previously reported cases.

Case Report

A 52‐year‐old male patient was initially seen with a 15 years history of allergic rhinitis, progressive nasal obstruction, and left‐sided hearing loss. All laboratory tests were unremarkable, except the nasal discharge eosinophil count that showed a conspicuous eosinophilia. The video‐assisted‐nasofibroscopic examination and CT scans disclosed a thickened deviated nasal septum with a subjacent infiltrative lesion. The histologic analysis of the nasal septum showed a variable mixed inflammatory cellular infiltration mainly composed of eosinophils, plasma cells, and histiocytes with a perivascular distribution; in other areas, an angiocentric fibrosing lesion with a peculiar perivascular onion‐skin pattern was observed. The patient had a partial resection of the lesion with symptomatic control.

Conclusions

The presence of rhinitis and nasal eosinophilia in our case associated with the clinical aspects of the previously reported cases further support an allergic cause for EAF. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 24: 307–311, 2002; DOI 10.1002/hed.10041
Definitive radiotherapy in the management of chemodectomas arising in the temporal bone, carotid body, and glomus vagale
Authors: Hinerman Russell W. , Mendenhall William M. , Amdur Robert J. , Stringer Scott P. , Antonelli Patrick J. , Cassisi Nicholas J.
Published: August 2002

Purpose

To evaluate the results of treatment for 71 patients with 80 chemodectomas of the temporal bone, carotid body, or glomus vagale who were treated with radiation therapy (RT) alone (72 tumors in 71 patients) or subtotal resection and RT (8 tumors) at the University of Florida between 1968 and 1998.

Methods and Materials

Sixty‐six lesions were previously untreated, whereas 14 had undergone prior treatment (surgery, 11 lesions; RT, 1 lesion; or both, 2 lesions) and were treated for locally recurrent disease. All three patients who received prior RT had been treated at other institutions. Patients had minimum follow‐up times as follows: 2 years, 66 patients (93%); 5 years, 53 patients (75%); 10 years, 37 patients (52%); 15 years, 29 patients (41%); 20 years, 18 patients (25%); 25 years, 12 patients (17%); and 30 years, 4 patients (6%).

Results

There were five local recurrences at 2.6 years, 4.6 years, 5.3 years, 8.3 years, and 18.8 years, respectively. Four were in glomus jugulare tumors and one was a carotid body tumor. Two of the four patients with glomus jugulare failures were salvaged, one with stereotactic radiosurgery and one with surgery and postoperative RT at another institution. Two of the five recurrences had been treated previously at other institutions with RT and/or surgery. Treatment for a third recurrence was discontinued, against medical advice, before receiving the prescribed dose. There were, therefore, only 2 failures in 65 previously untreated lesions receiving the prescribed course of RT. The overall crude local control rate for all 80 lesions was 94%, with an ultimate local control rate of 96% after salvage treatment. The incidence of treatment‐related complications was low.

Conclusions

Irradiation offers a high probability of tumor control with relatively minimal risks for patients with chemodectomas of the temporal bone and neck. There were no severe treatment complications. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 23: 363–371, 2001.
Impairment of nasal mucociliary clearance after radiotherapy for childhood head cancer
Authors: Surico Giammarco , Muggeo Paola , Mappa Luigi , Muggeo Vito , Conti Valeria , Lucarelli Annunziata , Novielli Chiara , Rigillo Nicola
Published: August 2002

Background

Radiotherapy of the head region in children is known to cause long‐term sequelae, such as facial, dental, and ocular abnormalities. We investigated whether a decreased nasal mucociliary function occurs after radiotherapy of the head in children.

Methods

A saccharin/charcoal test was performed in 20 children treated with radiotherapy of the head and in 20 controls, age‐matched and gender‐matched.

Results

We found a decreased nasal mucociliary clearance (lower percentage of responses (p = 0083) and longer mucociliary transport times (p = .0001) in the patients compared with the controls. The radiotherapy dosage influenced the response to the test (p = .0046).

Conclusions

Irradiation of the head in children may cause impairment of mucociliary function, even permanently, which may predispose children to upper respiratory infections. We would suggest careful monitoring of such patients to detect as early as possible the clinical effects of the functional changes and to prevent the evolution to chronic diseases. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 23: 461–466, 2001
Ultrasonic quantification of geniohyoid cross‐sectional area and tissue composition: A preliminary study of age and radiation effects
Authors: Watkin Kenneth L. , Diouf Ibrahima , Gallagher Tanya M. , Logemann Jeri A. , Rademaker Alfred W. , Ettema Sandra L.
Published: August 2002

Background

This study developed and used a new, noninvasive approach to quantify cross‐sectional area and tissue composition within the geniohyoid (GH) muscle in normal adults and head and neck cancer patients.

Methods

B‐mode ultrasound was used to measure GH cross‐sectional area at rest and during four speech gestures and GH tissue composition at rest in normal young adults, patients with SCC head and neck cancer treated with primary radiotherapy, and normal older adults age matched with the patients.

Results

Patients exhibited significantly greater GH cross‐sectional area than young subjects at rest and in effortful conditions. Significantly greater muscle tissue variability across GH quadrants was observed in patients compared with normal subjects and in older compared with younger subjects.

Conclusions

B‐mode ultrasound area analyses and tissue classification techniques can be used to quantify muscle changes, such as those resulting from age, radiotherapy, or rehabilitation for head and neck cancer. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 23: 467–474, 2001.
Post‐training reversible inactivation of hippocampus reveals interference between memory systems
Authors: Schroeder Jason P. , Wingard Jeffrey C. , Packard Mark G.
Published: August 2002

A post‐training reversible lesion technique was used to examine the effects of neural inactivation of the dorsal hippocampus on place and response learning. Male Long‐Evans rats trained in one of two versions of a water plus‐maze task received post‐training intra‐hippocampal infusions of the local anesthetic drug bupivacaine (0.75% solution, 0.5 μl), or saline. Post‐training intra‐hippocampal infusions of bupivacaine attenuated acquisition of the place task and enhanced acquisition of the response task. Delayed (2‐h) post‐training infusions of bupivacaine did not affect retention in either task. The findings demonstrate (1) enhanced learning after reversible hippocampal lesions that is independent of treatment influences on non‐mnemonic factors, and (2) inactivation of the dorsal hippocampus during the post‐training memory consolidation period is sufficient to enhance response learning. Hippocampus 2002;12:280–284. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Field potentials in the human hippocampus during the encoding and recognition of visual stimuli
Authors: Paller Ken A. , McCarthy Gregory
Published: August 2002

Intracranial field potentials were recorded from electrodes implanted in the hippocampus in 12 epileptic patients. Potentials were elicited by stimuli presented during a delayed matching‐to‐sample test. Each trial began with a sample stimulus composed of a 3 × 3 grid of rectangular color patches. The sample was followed by a sequence of similar but task‐irrelevant stimuli and the sequential presentation of two test stimuli, one of which was identical to the sample. Patients indicated their recognition of the test stimulus that matched the sample with a button press. High‐amplitude negative potentials were consistently elicited by sample and test stimuli. Peak amplitudes occurred 300–500 ms after stimulus onset and were larger for the sample in all cases. The patterns of potential gradients observed between adjacent hippocampal contacts and the locations of maximal amplitudes, as verified by magnetic resonance imaging in seven patients, suggest that these potentials were produced by neuronal activity in posterior hippocampus. These field potentials appear to index a memory storage function engaged in response to events that will later be remembered. The hippocampal contribution to storing declarative memories can thus begin, in some circumstances, within the first half‐second after the presentation of a to‐be‐remembered stimulus. Hippocampus 2002;12:415–420. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Increase of nestin‐immunoreactive neural precursor cells in the dentate gyrus of pediatric patients with early‐onset temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Blümcke Ingmar , Schewe Jens‐Christian , Normann Sabine , Brüstle Oliver , Schramm Johannes , Elger Christian E. , Wiestler Otmar D.
Published: August 2002

A considerable potential for neurogenesis has been identified in the epileptic rat hippocampus. Here, we explore this feature in human patients suffering from chronic mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Immunohistochemical detection of the neurodevelopmental antigen nestin was used to detect neural precursor cells, and cell‐type specific markers were employed to study their histogenetic origin and potential for neuronal or glial differentiation. The ontogenetic regulation of nestin‐positive precursors was established in human control brains (week 19 of gestation–15 years of age). A striking increase of nestin‐immunoreactive cells within the hilus and dentate gyrus could be observed in a group of young patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and surgical treatment before age 2 years compared to adult TLE patients and controls. The cellular morphology and regional distribution closely resembled nestin‐immunoreactive granule‐cell progenitors transiently expressed during prenatal human hippocampus development. An increased Ki‐67 proliferation index and clusters of supragranular nestin‐immunoreactive cells within the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus were also noted in the group of young TLE patients. Confocal studies revealed colocalization of nestin and the βIII isoform of tubulin, indicating a neuronal fate for some of these cells. Vimentin was consistently expressed in nestin‐immunoreactive cells, whereas cell lineage‐specific markers, i.e., glial fibrillary acidic protein, MAP2, neurofilament protein, NeuN, or calbindin D‐28k failed to colocalize. These findings provide evidence for increased neurogenesis in pediatric patients with early onset of temporal lobe epilepsy and/or point towards a delay in hippocampal maturation in a subgroup of patients with TLE. Hippocampus 2001;11:311–321. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quality evaluation and indicator comparison in health care
Authors: Øvretveit John
Published: August 2002

By 2005 all healthcare organizations in Europe will be required to take part in a quality evaluation scheme and to collect data about the quality of their service. Hospitals and doctors will need to prove they are safe—quality is no longer assumed. These were the predictions of a recent workshop of Nordic quality experts. The pressures to assess quality are increasing, and there are many assessment, certification, accreditation and measurement schemes in use. Which is best? What evidence is there that any have been effective? How should a hospital or region introduce such a scheme? There are many proponents for different schemes, and an increasing amount of experience to help answer these questions, but little research.

This paper provides an overview for non‐specialists of the different quality evaluation and indicator schemes for inspection and improvement. It draws on the experiences of quality specialists and leaders in each Nordic country who have applied the schemes in public hospitals and healthcare services.

How a scheme is introduced and used may be more important than which particular scheme is chosen. This is one conclusion of the Nordic workshop. Other conclusions are that there is a need for clinicians to be involved, a need to balance simplicity and low cost with scientific validity and credibility with clinicians, and a need for research into different schemes to discover their costs and benefits in healthcare. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Employee experience of structural change in two Norwegian hospitals
Authors: Roald Jan , Edgren Lars
Published: August 2002

Advances in medical and technological procedures, together with changes in demography, demand structural changes in the Nordic health care systems. Few studies have focused on employee perceptions of these structural changes. This study aims to describe employee reactions following a merger between two Norwegian hospitals. A Grounded theory approach has been used in this study. The theoretical model is based on empirical data collected from employees directly affected by the structural change process. Employee resistance was found to be the core category. Three categories were found in relation to this core category; goal uncertainty, organizational culture and individual insecurity. Different perceptions and interpretations of vaguely formulated goals lead to employee resistance. The difference between the organizational cultures in the two hospitals impeded the merger according to the project plan, and very few positive results could be seen. Individual insecurity regarding the future was experienced in connection with the implementation of structural change. The authors propose a strategy to counteract resistance in similar mergers. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The relationship between the learning organization concept and firms' financial performance: An empirical assessment
Authors: Ellinger Andrea D. , Ellinger Alexander E. , Yang Baiyin , Howton Shelly W.
Published: August 2002

The concept of the learning organization has received considerable attention in the scholarly literature
because superior learning processes have been heralded as a source of competitive advantage. Organizations that
embrace strategies consistent with the learning organization are thought to achieve improved performance. Yet few
empirical studies have examined the relationship between the learning organization concept and firms'
financial performance. To assess this association, the authors obtained managerial responses to the Watkins and
Marsick Dimensions of the Learning Organization Questionnaire (DLOQ©) instrument along
with both perceptual and objective measures of firms' financial performance. Results suggest a positive
association between the learning organization concept and firms' financial performance. The article
discusses implications for research and practice.
An exploratory assessment of the purposes of performance appraisals in north and central america and the pacific rim
Authors: Milliman John , Nason Stephen , Zhu Cherrie , De Cieri Helen
Published: August 2002

While performance appraisals are considered important management tools in many countries, their purposes and
practices vary significantly between countries. Unfortunately, there is little empirical data on the specific
practices of appraisals across countries. The focus of this study is to empirically examine the current
purposes of performance appraisals in ten different countries and regions in Asia, North America, and Latin
America. The purposes of appraisals studied here include documentation, development, administrative (pay
and promotions), and subordinate expression. This paper also examines how the respondents believe the
purposes of appraisals should ideally be practiced. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
© 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Contextual Determinants of Reward Systems' Success: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Fay Charles H. , Thompson Michael A.
Published: August 2002

Data were collected on successful and unsuccessful reward initiatives. The initiatives included new and
modified base pay, short‐ and long‐term incentive, benefits, and perquisite/lifestyle rewards.
Initiative success was measured on seven factors, and ten conditions were measured for initiative success.
Follow‐up telephone calls to most respondents provided more detail for examples. Analysis suggests that a
common set of criteria can be used to judge the success of different kinds of programs. Surprisingly, success in
plan design was not a significant explanatory variable in reaching success on any criterion of rewards initiative
success. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Ecstasy abuse and dependence among adolescents and young adults: applicability and reliability of DSM‐IV criteria
Authors: Cottler Linda B. , Womack Sharon B. , Compton Wilson M. , Ben‐Abdallah Arbi
Published: August 2002

As part of an ongoing National Institute on Drug Abuse study on the reliability of DSM substance use disorders, 173 adolescents and young adults have been interviewed to date with the CIDI‐Substance Abuse Module (SAM) to determine use and abuse of and dependence on ‘club drugs’ and other substances. Respondents are recruited from a substance abuse program, high school ads, college dorm flyers, the internet and chain referral. Retest interviews after 5 days determined the reliability of responses. Ecstasy use was reported by 52 respondents (30%); of these users 52% were female and 23% were non‐white. Nearly all users (94%) reported recent Ecstasy use. Among Ecstasy users, ‘continuing to use despite knowledge of physical or psychological harm’ was the most prevalent dependence criterion (63%), with excellent retest agreement (κ = 0.66). Withdrawal (59%) and tolerance (35%) were also commonly reported dependence criteria. Hazardous use was the most commonly reported abuse symptom. Most surprising were the rates of Ecstasy use disorders: 43% met DSM‐IV criteria for dependence; 34% met criteria for abuse; only 23% met neither. This is the first effort to assess the reliability of Ecstasy abuse and dependence, and the first to determine abuse and dependence using criteria specific to Ecstasy. The importance of additional studies and the relevance of such work to DSM‐V are discussed. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Estimating evapotranspiration for a temperate salt marsh, Newcastle, Australia
Authors: Hughes C. E. , Kalma J. D. , Binning P. , Willgoose G. R. , Vertzonis M.
Published: August 2002

Evapotranspiration was studied at a salt marsh site in the Hunter River estuary, NSW, Australia, during 1996–8. Estimates of actual evapotranspiration (Ea) were obtained for three sites using the eddy correlation method. These values were compared with results obtained with the Penman and Penman–Monteith equations, and with pan evaporation. The Penman–Monteith method was found to be most reliable in estimating daily and hourly evapotranspiration. Surface resistance values averaging 12 s m−1 were derived from the eddy correlation estimates. Recent tidal flooding and rainfall were found to decrease surface resistance and increase Ea/Ep ratios. Estimates of evapotranspiration obtained using the Penman–Monteith method were shown to be sensitive to changes in surface resistance, canopy height and the method used to estimate net radiation from incoming solar radiation. These results underline the importance of accurately estimating such parameters based on site‐specific data rather than relying on empirical equations, which are derived primarily for crops and forests. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of climate on mid‐winter ice jams
Authors: Beltaos Spyros
Published: August 2002

The breakup of ice in Canadian rivers and the ensuing ice jams have a multitude of socio‐economic impacts. Equally important, but not as well understood, is the strong relationship between the breakup event and the aquatic ecosystem in terms of both habitat and life cycle. Because breakup processes are highly sensitive to weather conditions, there is concern over the potential effects of changing climatic patterns on the ice‐jam regime and thus on the stream ecology and local economy. Though breakup commonly occurs in the spring, it is occasionally triggered by mid‐winter ‘thaws’, which are typical of the more temperate regions of Canada. Mid‐winter jams can be more destructive than spring ones and may also have repercussions on the spring event. Current knowledge suggests that small perturbations in winter temperature can produce major changes in the incidence of breakup and ice jams, by altering snowstorms into rainfall events. This expectation is confirmed by a hydroclimatic analysis of field observations and historical data on the upper reach of the Saint John River, which forms the boundary between New Brunswick, Canada and Maine, USA. A slight warming in the past 80 years has been accompanied by a considerable increase in the occurrence of mild winter days, thus contributing to increasing rainfall amounts. This results in augmented flows during the winter, which are lately becoming capable of effecting breakup of the river‐ice cover. Implications for future trends in the ice regime of the Saint John River and of other Canadian rivers are discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
What causes 3‐year‐olds' difficulty on the dimensional change card sorting task?
Authors: Perner Josef , Lang Birgit
Published: August 2002

Fifty‐six children aged 3;01 to 4;11 years were tested with the standard DCCS task (Frye et al., Cognitive development 10:483–527. 1995) where children have to switch from one sorting dimension (e.g. colour) to another (e.g. shape), and with three variations of this task. The aim was to explore different factors (extra‐dimensional vs. reversal shift and presence of visual clash between target and test cards) that may account for 3‐year olds' executive problems on this task. The only difficult task was the standard DCCS task with a visual clash and an extra‐dimensional shift (mean of 3.55 out of five cards sorted correctly). The three new variations were all much easier (means of 4.6 or higher out of five cards sorted correctly). The difficulty with the DCCS task was particularly pronounced for 3‐year olds when the task was presented first (mean of 0.50 correct) whereas when it followed one or more of the other tasks then children's mean number correct was 4.0 or above. Implications of this finding are discussed for the theory that younger children suffer from an inability to inhibit a predominant sorting strategy and the cognitive complexity and control theory postulating limitations in understanding higher order rules, negative priming of the initially ignored dimension, and children's difficulty in understanding that the change in the task consists in a redescription of the original cards. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A novel approach for modifying tumor cell‐derived plasma membrane vesicles to contain encapsulated IL‐2 and engrafted costimulatory molecules for use in tumor immunotherapy
Authors: van Broekhoven Christina L. , Altin Joseph G.
Published: August 2002

The genetic modification of tumor cells and delivery of cytokines have been proposed as useful strategies in the development of anti‐tumor vaccines; however, a number of factors limit their use in clinical settings. To facilitate vaccine development, we explored the possibility of modifying plasma membrane vesicles (PMV) by using a novel chelator lipid, nitrilotriacetic acid ditetradecylamine (NTA‐DTDA). Our analyses by flow cytometry show that NTA‐DTDA can be incorporated into PMV prepared from murine P815 mastocytoma and that the incorporated NTA‐DTDA permits anchoring or “engraftment” onto the vesicle surface of hexahistidine‐tagged proteins such as recombinant forms of the costimulatory molecules B7.1 and CD40. The engrafted PMV also can incorporate and deliver the immunostimulatory cytokine Interleukin‐2 (IL‐2). Our results show that modified PMV derived from P815 cells bind the murine T cell clone D10 in a receptor‐ligand dependent manner, inducing cell adhesion and promoting cell survival in vitro. The modified PMV can bind syngeneic T cells, stimulating T cell proliferation and cytotoxic T cell responses. Moreover, when used as vaccines in syngeneic animals, the modified vesicles induce significant protection against challenge with the native P815 tumor. The results indicate that PMV modified by engraftment of recombinant forms of B7.1 and CD40 and incorporation of IL‐2 can be used to modulate immune responses, which provides a novel approach for the development of anti‐tumor vaccines and cancer immunotherapies. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Anticarcinogenic effect of FTY720 in human prostate carcinoma DU145 cells: Modulation of mitogenic signaling, FAK, cell‐cycle entry and apoptosis
Authors: Permpongkosol Sompol , Wang Jing‐Ding , Takahara Shiro , Matsumiya Kiyomi , Nonomura Norio , Nishimura Kazuo , Tsujimura Akira , Kongkanand Apichat , Okuyama Akihiko
Published: August 2002

Despite the high frequency of prostate cancer, therapeutic options for advanced disease are limited to chemotherapy, radiation or hormonal therapy and eventually fail in all patients. Therefore, alternative approaches need to be developed. We previously reported that FTY720, a metabolite from Isaria sinclarii, is a unique antitumor agent for an androgen‐independent prostate cancer cell line and requires caspase‐3 activation in apoptosis. In our study, we have evaluated the effect of FTY720 on a family of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs), focal adhesion kinase (FAK), mitochondrial transmembrane potential, caspase‐9 and caspase‐8 and analyzed the expression of some cell‐cycle regulator proteins in DU145 cells in order to understand the various antitumor effects of FTY720. Apoptosis was quantified by phosphatidylserine exposure. Activation of MAPKs, cleavage of caspase‐9 and caspase‐8, status of cyclin‐dependent kinases (CDKs) and Cip1/p21, a cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor, were evaluated by Western blot analysis, in addition to FAK and phospho‐FAK immunoprecipitation and cell‐cycle analysis by FACScan. We found that in DU145 cells, 40 μM FTY720 caused activation of p38 MAPK and the upstream kinase MKK3/MKK6 but not SAPK/JNK. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential, FAK and ERK1/2 were reduced while caspase‐9 and caspase‐8 were cleaved. The p38‐specific inhibitor had no effect on apoptosis induced by FTY720, whereas z‐VAD.FMK, a broad‐spectrum caspase inhibitor, did not inhibit the p38 MAPK activation. An amount of 20 μM FTY720 resulted in G1 arrest and a decrease of CDK2 as well as CDK4, whereas it induced Cip1/p21. FTY720 may exert anticarcinogenic effects against prostate cancer cells possibly involving modulation of mitogenic signaling, cell‐cycle regulators, induction of G1 arrest and apoptotic death in DU145 cells. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Increased expression of multidrug resistance‐associated proteins in bladder cancer during clinical course and drug resistance to doxorubicin
Authors: Tada Yasuhiro , Wada Morimasa , Migita Toshiro , Nagayama Jun , Hinoshita Eiji , Mochida Yasushi , Maehara Yoshihiko , Tsuneyoshi Masazumi , Kuwano Michihiko , Naito Seiji
Published: August 2002

Overexpression of the P‐glycoprotein/multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) and multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) gene is closely associated with the clinical outcome of various malignancies, and it is involved in responses to some anticancer chemotherapeutic agents including doxorubicin. Six human MRP subfamily members (MRP2‐7) with structural similarities to MRP1 have been identified. Recently, the relationships between MRP2 and MRP3 expression levels of some cancer cells and drug sensitivity to doxorubicin have been reported, but the relationship between the clinical samples and drug sensitivity remains unclear. We determined the expressions of the MDR1, MRP1, MRP2 and MRP3 gene in bladder cancer during the clinical course and sought to learn whether the expression was correlated with drug responses to doxorubicin. Doxorubicin, used in chemotherapeutic treatment including intravesical and systemic chemotherapy, is an important anticancer agent for the treatment of bladder cancer. We used quantitative reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) analysis for our study, and the sensitivity to doxorubicin in bladder cancer was determined using the in vitro succinate dehydrogenase inhibition test. Using 47 clinical samples of bladder cancer, we confirmed the significant correlation of MDR1, MRP1 and MRP3 mRNA levels with resistance to doxorubicin. We showed that the expression of MDR1, MRP1, MRP2 and MRP3 in recurrent tumors and residual tumors after chemotherapeutic treatment was higher than that in untreated primary tumors. In particular, the MDR1 expression in residual tumors was 5.7‐fold higher than that in untreated primary tumors. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinical implications of serum C‐reactive protein levels in malignant fibrous histiocytoma
Authors: Nakanishi Hirofumi , Araki Nobuhito , Kudawara Ikuo , Kuratsu Shigeyuki , Matsumine Akihiko , Mano Masayuki , Naka Norifumi , Myoui Akira , Ueda Takafumi , Yoshikawa Hideki
Published: August 2002

Paraneoplastic syndromes (PNSs) associated with mesenchymal tumors are uncommon. Previous reports sporadically described inflammatory PNSs with elevated serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels and leukocytosis in patients with inflammatory malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of soft tissue; however, the relationship between other subtypes of MFH and PNS has not been extensively investigated. Forty‐six patients with primary MFH of soft tissues who underwent radical surgery were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into 2 groups according to preoperative serum CRP level: normal (<1.0 mg/dl) and elevated (≥1.0 mg/dl). The correlation between serum CRP level and several clinicopathologic factors was analyzed. Correlation between preoperative serum CRP level and metastasis‐free and overall survival was also investigated by univariate and multivariate analyses. Elevated preoperative serum CRP levels were found in 65% of patients with a mean of 3.7 mg/dl. There were statistically significant relationships regarding tumor size, depth, histologic subtypes, grade, stage and metastatic rate among normal and elevated CRP groups (p < 0.001, p < 0.02, p < 0.005, p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). When the tumor was removed, the elevated CRP level subsided into the normal range and other abnormal laboratory findings diminished in all cases. In 11/14 relapsed cases that showed elevated CRP preoperatively, the serum CRP level re‐elevated with tumor relapse. The normal CRP group showed significantly more favorable prognosis than the elevated CRP group in metastasis‐free and overall survival on univariate analysis (p < 0.02, p < 0.05, respectively). Patients with MFH frequently present with an inflammatory PNS, such as elevated serum CRP level, which can be a useful marker of disease activity and a valuable prognostic indicator. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
EBV‐expressing AGS gastric carcinoma cell sublines present increased motility and invasiveness
Authors: Kassis Jareer , Maeda Akihiko , Teramoto Norihiro , Takada Kenzo , Wu Chuanyue , Klein George , Wells Alan
Published: August 2002

Tumor invasion marks a critical point in cancer progression; it is a harbinger of morbidity and mortality. Thus, the cellular events that enable the invasive phenotype are under intense investigation. Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) is associated with a number of cancers, including Burkitt lymphoma (BL) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and is suspected to contribute to their tumorigenesis. On average, 8% of gastric carcinomas have been shown to carry this virus. To explore whether the presence of EBV in gastric carcinoma contributes to tumor progression in this predominantly invasive carcinoma, we examined a panel of 2 in vitro EBV‐infected human gastric cancer cell line sublines and their mock‐infected AGS parental control line. We found EBV infection caused a marked increase in transmigration of a Matrigel barrier (415% and 303%, p < 0.05, for the 2 infected lines). This correlated with increased motility of these sublines (233% and 140%, p < 0.05). As this pattern of increased motility leading to a more pronounced enhancement of invasion has been noted in other tumor cells, we explored the roles of autocrine signaling pathways previously implicated in carcinoma motility and invasion. Inhibitors to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) (PD153035), phospholipase C (PLC) (U73122), extracellular‐signal regulated kinase (ERK)/mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) (PD089035) and PI‐3 kinase (Wortmannin) were not informative. These data suggest that EBV increases migration of AGS cells by a mechanism independent of these autocrine growth factor‐induced pathways. Instead, we found that the EBV‐infected cells presented increased focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation. These findings suggest a role for integrin‐mediated signaling in promoting EBV‐associated invasiveness. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The comovements of stock markets in Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic
Authors: Scheicher Martin
Published: August 2002

In this paper, we study the regional and global integration of stock markets in Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic. We estimate a vector autoregression with a multivariate GARCH component and perform a variety of diagnostic tests. Our main empirical result is the existence of limited interaction: in returns we identify both regional and global shocks, but innovations to volatility have a primarily regional character. We document low correlations to international markets and discuss the economic significance of the inter‐market dynamics. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.