bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Church, Democracy and Responsible Citizenship
Authors: Le Bruyns Clint
Published: November 2012

Abstract

The quality of our democratic life is intimately bound up with the quality of our church-state relations. The aim of this article is to direct attention to the contribution that churches and other faith communities can possibly offer towards the nurturing of a responsible citizenship in political life together. It recognizes and applauds the role of the state itself in advancing the common good, but resists the tendency among many who confine this role to the state alone. Church-state relations are typically discussed simply with reference to church and state, with a blind spot for the people comprising our political community. Responsible citizenship affirms the meaningful and constructive role which ordinary people in their personal and professional capacities can fulfill towards the common good. It consequently discusses the notions of hope, power and grace as some of the concrete ways through which a more participatory democracy or active citizenship might be envisaged, embodied and practiced by the people as part and parcel of their political responsibility together. Each of these aspects bear implications for the contribution churches can provide in public life as they nurture as well as exercise this sense of responsible citizenship.
Stimulus Meanings Alter Illusory Self-motion (Vection) — Experimental Examination of the Train Illusion
Authors: Seno Takeharu , Fukuda Haruaki
Published: November 2012

Over the last 100 years, numerous studies have examined the effective visual stimulus properties for inducing illusory self-motion (known as vection). This vection is often experienced more strongly in daily life than under controlled experimental conditions. One well-known example of vection in real life is the so-called ‘train illusion’. In the present study, we showed that this train illusion can also be generated in the laboratory using virtual computer graphics-based motion stimuli. We also demonstrated that this vection can be modified by altering the meaning of the visual stimuli (i.e., top down effects). Importantly, we show that the semantic meaning of a stimulus can inhibit or facilitate vection, even when there is no physical change to the stimulus.
Employment status congruence and job quality
Authors: Loughlin Catherine , Murray Robert
Published: November 2012

While recognizing the daunting task of defining universal indicators of job quality we may overlook something more fundamental: in North America about a third of people may not want to be employed in their current job status. Job status congruence (i.e. the extent to which people are working full-time, contract, or part-time by choice) may now be an integral part of high quality work. We test this proposition using a process-oriented theoretical model reflecting established relationships in the work design literature. Findings suggest that a socio-economic predictor (job status congruence) may rival established psychological predictors of job quality (e.g. intrinsic job characteristics and role stressors) in predicting aspects of workers’ personal and organizational functioning. Our findings also suggest that different mediators may be operating for each outcome. The model is tested on 171 full-time workers; a revised model is then supported on a holdout sample of 172 full-timers, and replicated on 132 contract/part-time workers using multi-group structural equation modeling. Implications for future research are discussed.
Hyperocclusion Up-regulates CCL3 Expression in CCL2- and CCR2-deficient Mice
Authors: Tsutsumi T. , Kajiya H. , Goto K.T. , Takahashi Y. , Okabe K.
Published: November 2012

Excessive mechanical stress (MS) during hyperocclusion is known to result in disappearance of the alveolar hard line, enlargement of the periodontal ligament (PDL) space, and destruction of alveolar bone, leading to occlusal traumatism. We have recently reported that MS induces predominantly C-C chemokine ligand (CCL) 2 expression in PDL tissues, leading, via C-C chemokine receptor (CCR) 2, to MS-dependent osteoclastogenesis in alveolar bone. Thus, we hypothesize that ablation of the CCL2/CCR2 signaling pathway should suppress MS-induced osteoclastogenesis-associated chemokines and alleviate occlusal traumatism. We examined the effect of MS on chemokine expression and osteoclastogenesis using in vivo and in vitro hyperocclusion models with CCL2-deficient (CCL2(-/-)) and CCR2-deficient (CCR2(-/-)) mice. Compared with that in wild-type mice, expression of CCL3 in PDL cells and TRAP-positive cells in alveolar bone from CCL2(-/-) and CCR2(-/-) mice was up-regulated, even in the absence of MS. Furthermore, the expression of CCL3 and TRAP-positive cells was significantly increased after both 4 and 7 days of hyperocclusal MS loading in CCL2(-/-) and CCR2(-/-) mice. Hyperocclusion induced compensatory CCL3 expression and promoted osteoclastogenesis to counterbalance deficient CCL2/CCR2 signaling, suggesting that co-expression of CCL3 with CCL2 may precipitate synergistic, MS-dependent alveolar bone destruction during occlusal traumatism. Abbreviations: MS, mechanical stress; PDL, periodontal ligament; CCL2, CC chemokine ligand 2 (MCP-1; monocyte chemoattractant protein-1); CCR2, CC chemokine receptor 2; CCL3, CC chemokine ligand 3 (MIP-1α); CCL5, CC chemokine ligand 5 (RANTES).
“Public Benefits from Public Choice”
Authors: Connor Michan Andrew
Published: November 2012

Emergent public choice theory and innovations in suburban local government worked together to create and justify greater inequality among metropolitan places in postwar Los Angeles County. This article examines public choice theory and suburban home rule as mutually dependent components of suburbanization. Theorists praised postwar metropolitan fragmentation, challenging a prior consensus for metropolitan political and economic integration. Local governments under the “Lakewood Plan” obtained public services by contract from Los Angeles County at covertly subsidized prices, making government in new suburbs cost effective at the expense of older municipalities. The governments deployed symbols of suburban “home rule” and public choice principles of efficiency to defend their privileges. Movements to incorporate minority-dominated cities in Watts and East Los Angeles and for the secession of the San Fernando Valley from Los Angeles reflected the dominance of the practice and ideology of localism in California metropolitics.
Family Ideals
Authors: Potter Sarah
Published: November 2012

This article argues that parents of the post–World War II baby boom chose where to live based primarily on the characteristics of individual neighborhoods, rather than by making sharp distinctions between urban and suburban space. The scholarship on post–World War II domesticity and mass suburbanization usually presumes that these two phenomena went hand in hand as baby-boom parents sought the suburbs’ supposedly unique amenities for nuclear family togetherness. This case study of black and white families in Chicago reveals instead that diverse postwar parents described suburban and urban neighborhoods in remarkably similar terms. These families sought out friendly and supportive communities for themselves and their children, opportunities for homeownership, and space for recreation, which they found in a variety of metropolitan Chicago neighborhoods, urban and suburban alike.
Selecting Optimal Prices and Outpost Locations for Rural Vaccination Campaigns
Authors: Kim Dohyeong , Lauria Donald T. , Whittington Dale
Published: November 2012

A contingent valuation survey (willingness-to-pay study) was conducted in 2004 to measure household demand for typhoid vaccines in a rural township in China with approximately 54,000 people living in 141 villages. The results showed that travel distance to vaccination sites and vaccination price affected the private demand for typhoid fever vaccinations. The number and location of vaccination outposts are thus important decision variables for a new vaccination campaign that is under consideration. This article develops and applies an optimization model for planning vaccination programs. The model determines what price to charge, how many vaccination outposts to use, where to locate them, and what capacities they need. The model uses demand information from the contingent valuation survey and cost information from similar vaccination campaigns in China and assumes that costs must be covered by user fees. The model determined that the number of outposts to use for maximizing coverage was fourteen, which would make average one-way travel distance for users about 0.6 km. The optimal vaccination price was USD 1.25, and about 87 percent of the population would be vaccinated. A suboptimal solution of the model showed that only 6 outposts instead of 14 would probably vaccinate about 83 percent of the population, and the price could be reduced to USD 0.83. The model is easy to use and solve and can be applied to different size regions.
Regional Development and Creativity
Authors: Marrocu Emanuela , Paci Raffaele
Published: November 2012

The aim of this article is to assess the role played by creativity and other components of human capital on the process of economic growth for 257 regions in the twenty-seven-member countries of the European Union. We first decompose the regional human capital endowment to distinguish between the educational component (the share of individuals with a university degree) and the creativity component, which considers the actual occupations of individuals in specific jobs like science, engineering, education, arts, and entertainment. We define three nonoverlapping categories of human capital (creative graduates, bohemians, and noncreative graduates), which are simultaneously included in a spatial model as determinants of regional growth measured by labor productivity. After extending the analysis to control for other relevant factors which may affect regional development, such as physical, technological, and social capital, cultural diversity, industrial and geographical characteristics, we provide robust evidence on the growth-enhancing effects of graduates, in particular for those of the creative category.
Measurement and Storytelling in Regional Science
Authors: Weiler Stephan , Low Sarah A.
Published: November 2012

We first review Andy’s lessons to us on the potential contributions of storytelling in regional science. We then review Andy’s lessons on how measurement and definitions affect regional science research by focusing on Andy’s and our own work. We see this research through the lens of measurement and offer our suggestions for what is next.
Public Debt and Economic Geography
Authors: Trionfetti Federico
Published: November 2012

This article studies the consequences of debt policies on the spatial distribution of output in a two-country model. It departs from the usual setup of local public finance by relaxing the assumption of balanced budget. Further, to single out the pure effect of debt, the article eliminates effects coming from tax and expenditure policies by assuming them exogenous and identical between countries except for the timing of taxation. Expected taxation rather than current tax levels motivates migration. Starting from an initial spatial configuration, be it Core–Periphery or symmetric equilibrium, the analysis identifies the critical thresholds of divergence or convergence of debt ratios which break the initial configuration. The article also shows that a high-debt country or a fast debt reducing country is a weaker player in the tax competition game. Finally, tax harmonization does not necessarily reduce migration flows.
Evaluation of miR-122 and Other Biomarkers in Distinct Acute Liver Injury in Rats
Authors: Starckx Sofie , Batheja Ameesha , Verheyen Geert R. , Jonghe Sandra De , Steemans Kristel , Dijck Bram Van , Singer Monica , Bogdan Nancy , Snoeys Jan , Vinken Petra , Sasaki Jennifer C. , Gompel Jacky Van , Guzzie-Peck Peggy , Lampo Ann , Lammens Lieve
Published: November 2012

The detection of drug-induced hepatotoxicity remains an important safety issue in drug development. A liver-specific microRNA species, microRNA-122 (miR-122), has recently shown potential for predicting liver injury in addition to the standard hepatic injury biomarkers. The objective of this study was to measure miR-122 together with several other liver markers in distinct settings of acute liver toxicity in rats to determine the value of miR-122 as a biomarker for liver injury in this species. Rats were exposed to 3 well-established liver toxicants (acetaminophen, allyl alcohol, and α-naphthyl isothiocyanate), a liver-enzyme inducer (phenobarbital), or a cardiotoxicant (doxorubicin). There was a clear increase in plasma miR-122 following administration of acetaminophen, allyl alcohol, and α-naphthyl isothiocyanate. The response of miR-122 paralleled that of other markers and was consistent with liver injury as indicated by histopathological evaluation. Furthermore, the changes in miR-122 were detected earlier than standard liver injury markers and exhibited a wide dynamic range. In contrast, miR-122 responses to phenobarbital and doxorubicin were low. Based on these findings, miR-122 shows significant promise and may provide added value for assessing liver toxicity in drug development.
The origin of grassy balds in the Bunya Mountains, southeastern Queensland, Australia
Authors: Moravek Silvie , Luly Jon , Grindrod John , Fairfax Russell
Published: November 2012

Montane grasslands, or grassy balds, are enigmatic features of mountains worldwide. Their origins are often obscure. Pollen, phytolith and charcoal analysis of Dandabah Swamp in the Bunya Mountains in southeastern Queensland, Australia suggest that there, grassy balds comprise a relict vegetation maintained in the face of postglacial tree invasion by fire. The balds are not the product of edaphic phenomena or natural or anthropogenic cataclysms and will require intensive management efforts to be conserved in a world of increased woodiness, rising atmospheric CO2 and changing climate.
Diatom-inferred changes in effective moisture during the late Holocene from nearshore cores in the southeastern region of the Winnipeg River Drainage Basin (Canada)
Authors: Ma Susan , Laird Kathleen R , Kingsbury Melanie V , Lewis CF Michael , Cumming Brian F
Published: November 2012

The Winnipeg River Drainage Basin (WRDB), within the boreal forest region of northwest Ontario, is a region that is expected to be negatively affected by climate warming. Inferences of droughts over the past two millennia from Little Raleigh Lake were based on two nearshore sediment cores. The core locations were from depths of ~12 and 15 m and were based on sufficient nearshore sediment accumulation and distance from the modern benthic-to-planktonic diatom boundary, where a distinct shift from dominance of benthic taxa changed to dominance of planktonic taxa in surficial sediments at ~11.8 m. Diatom-inferred depth was based on a model developed from 60 surficial sediments within the study lake. Depth inferences indicate that prolonged periods of aridity occurred from ~ad 950 to 1300 (corresponds to ‘Medieval Climate Anomaly’) and from ~ad 1625 to 1750 (aridity during ‘Little Ice Age’). We found that the core collected from a depth closer to the benthic-to-planktonic diatom boundary was more sensitive to changes in lake level than the deeper core where planktonic diatoms dominated the assemblage. The inferred low-water stands of the past two millennia are well outside of the range of the past ~100 years, suggesting that recent drought history may not be a good estimate of future extremes.
Taste, Taboo, Trash: The Story of the Ramsay Brothers
Authors: Nair Kartik
Published: November 2012

Through the 1970s and 1980s, the Ramsay Brothers forged a career in the lower reaches of the Bombay film industry, creating a niche market for their cheaply produced horror films. Despite drawing committed audiences in B- and C-centers, these films were dismissed by the urban English press as clumsy counterfeit versions of American and British products, and by the late 1990s a new school of practitioners led by Ram Gopal Varma had begun producing slick and songless horror films that could translate internationally.

  Little is known of the Ramsays’ production and distribution practices, their frugal discipline, their internal star system, and their markets in India’s rural territories. Using first-hand interviews and trade journals, this paper excavates the history of a cottage industry of terror that rode the same wave as Bombay’s blockbusters. It is perhaps perversely appropriate that the Ramsay Brothers rose to prominence in the 1970s, a time when the question of cinema—its politics, aesthetics, and status as “bad object”—returned to the fore in Bombay. Using essays and reviews from popular film magazines (especially Filmfare), as well as censorship documents from the CBFC archives, this paper navigates the discursive life of the Ramsay Brothers as a way to illuminate the fault-lines of taste over which cinema was popularly judged in the 1970s and 1980s.
Variations in Physician Attitudes Regarding ADHD and Their Association With Prescribing Practices
Authors: Sheldrick R. Christopher , Leslie Laurel K. , Rodday Angie Mae , Parsons Susan K. , Saunders Tully S. , Wong John B.
Published: November 2012

Objective: The objective of this study was to test whether physicians’ attitudes regarding the impact of ADHD on health-related quality of life (HRQL) explain differences in practices for prescribing psychostimulants in children. Method: In a cross-sectional survey, U.S.-based pediatricians and psychiatrists (“physicians”) used the Paper-Standard Gamble—a widely used preference-based assessment of HRQL—to rate four vignettes describing ADHD health states of varying severity. Associations between standard gamble scores and questions about prescribing practices were analyzed using ordinal logistic regression. Results: Surveys were mailed to 291 physicians; 127 (44%) returned complete forms. Lower standard gamble scores were associated with more emphasis on children’s ADHD symptoms ( p = .03) and less emphasis on parents’ concerns about stimulant side effects ( p = .03) when prescribing psychostimulants. Conclusion: Differences in physician perceptions of the severity of ADHD symptoms and in their emphasis on parental concerns about side effects may help explain variations in ADHD psychostimulant prescription patterns.
The influence of piston ring geometry and topography on friction
Authors: Morris N , Rahmani R , Rahnejat H , King PD , Fitzsimons B
Published: November 2012

This article provides solution for isothermal mixed hydrodynamic conjunction of the compression ring to cylinder liner. This is obtained using the average flow model representation of Reynolds equation based on pressure- and shear-induced flow factors. In particular, the effects of compression ring axial profile along its face-width and surface topography of contiguous solids are investigated. It is shown that ring geometry may be optimized to improve lubrication, whilst care should be taken in order to avoid oil loss or degradation resulting from any loss of sealing. In predicting friction, it is shown that appropriate surface parameters should be used in-line with the state of wear of the ring. For a new ring against a plateau honed liner, boundary friction contribution during the initial running-in wear phase should be predicted according to the average asperity peak heights protruding above the plateau, whilst the plateau height also takes into account the valleys within the surface roughness or grooves created by any cross-hatch honing would be the appropriate measure of topography for worn rings. The main contributions of the article are in providing an analytic solution as well investigation of ring face-width geometry and effect of wear upon friction. However, it is acknowledged that generated heat, inlet boundary starvation and circumferential non-conformity of ring to the bore surface would affect the film thickness and exacerbate generated friction accordingly. These further considerations would require a numerical solution, rather than an analytical one presented here.
Piezoelectric sensors to monitor lubricant film thickness at piston–cylinder contacts in a fired engine
Authors: Mills RS , Avan EY , Dwyer-Joyce RS
Published: November 2012

The contact between the piston ring and cylinder liner is the most important sealing interface in an automotive engine. Understanding the contact interactions and lubricant film formation at this interface is crucial for the development of fuel-efficient and low emission engines. This article outlines the development of an ultrasonic approach to enable non-invasive measurement of the lubricant film thickness formed between piston and cylinder wall of a fired engine. The sensor system consisted of a series of small, low cost piezoelectric elements which were bonded to the external surface of a four-stroke, single-cylinder engine. Each element could be individually energised with a short duration voltage pulse and reflections from the cylinder inner bore recorded. By using high frequency pulsing and data capture it proved possible to image individual ring and skirt contacts at full engine speeds. These captured reflections were processed to give lubricant film thickness directly and without the need for independent calibration. The results show good repeatability between cycle sets at specific running conditions. The lubricant films at each of the ring contacts can be measured at sufficient resolution such that individual rails of the oil control ring can be monitored. In addition, the film generated at the skirt was measured, the results from which, suggest the occurrence of ‘piston slap’ and highlight the potential for this ultrasonic method to enable indirect measurements of piston secondary dynamics.
Learning to teach across borders: Mainland Chinese student English teachers in Hong Kong schools
Authors: Benson Phil
Published: November 2012

The literature on non-native English-speaking teachers (NNESTs) and native English-speaking teachers (NESTs) tends to focus on their respective strengths, the main strengths of NNESTs being their experience of learning English as a second language and their familiarity with their students’ language and educational background. This article proposes a further distinction between NNESTs who are local to their teaching settings, and ‘non-local NNESTS’, who are at risk of falling between the cracks of the NNEST–NEST distinction if they do not share their students’ first language and educational background. It also argues that the strengths of NNESTs and NESTs (local or non-local) are not intrinsic to these categories, but instead serve as contexts of discourse in which teachers construct their ‘authority’ to teach English in particular settings. A case study of two non-local NNESTs in their final year of a pre-service teacher education degree in Hong Kong explores how they struggled to construct authoritative identities as English teachers in the context of discourses that primarily validate the status of NESTs and local NNESTs. It concludes by calling for a more nuanced view of the NNEST–NEST distinction and for further fine-grained studies of the experiences of local and non-local NNESTs elsewhere in the world.
The reading response e-journal: An alternative way to engage low-achieving EFL students
Authors: Lee Hsiao-Chien
Published: November 2012

The reading response journal has been valued as an effective tool for involving students in authentic reading and writing activities. As the internet has become an essential medium in today’s English classroom, it is advisable to integrate both the web and the journal when approaching our EFL students. In order to motivate and engage my low-achieving students, I implemented a reading response electronic journal in my freshman English course. This article presents the rationale behind the use of a reading response e-journal in language learning and the context of my instruction. Data collection focused on the participating students’ journal entries and their perceptions of their reading and journal-writing experiences. Findings obtained from data analysis show that my goals for the course design were generally achieved, and that more attempts of such an implementation in EFL classrooms should be endeavored in the future.
The significance of cognitive representations of symptoms of acute coronary syndrome and coping responses to the symptoms in predicting prehospital delay in Omani patients
Authors: Al-Hassan Mousa A.
Published: November 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine the significance of cognitive representations of symptoms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and coping responses to the symptoms, as elements of a consequential process of health care seeking behaviours, in predicting prehospital delay. Data about prehospital delay, cognitive representations and coping responses were obtained from 112 Omani patients hospitalised for acute coronary syndrome during a 6-month period using an interview technique. Indicators of cognitive representations of symptoms of ACS and coping responses to the symptoms significantly explained 42% of the variance in prehospital delay. Shorter prehospital delay was more likely among patients who reported greater chest pain intensity, sweating, persistent symptoms with greater overall intensity, did not perceive fear of being diagnosed with a dangerous disease as a barrier to seek care early, used ‘asked someone to take me to the hospital’ but not ‘attempted to relax’ coping responses. Indicators of cognitive representations of ACS symptoms, as well as coping responses to the symptoms significantly predicted prehospital delay. Educative-counseling programs to shorten prehospital delay should focus on informing individuals at high risk for acute coronary syndrome skills necessary to promote adaptive coping as well as accurate interpretation of the symptoms.
RNA-seq and microarray complement each other in transcriptome profiling
Authors: Kogenaru Sunitha , Yan Qing , Guo Yinping , Wang Nian
Published: November 2012

Background

RNA-seq and microarray are the two popular methods employed for genome-wide transcriptome profiling. Current comparison studies have shown that transcriptome quantified by these two methods correlated well. However, none of them have addressed if they complement each other, considering the strengths and the limitations inherent with them. The pivotal requirement to address this question is the knowledge of a well known data set. In this regard, HrpX regulome from pathogenic bacteria serves as an ideal choice as the target genes of HrpX transcription factor are well studied due to their central role in pathogenicity.

Results

We compared the performance of RNA-seq and microarray in their ability to detect known HrpX target genes by profiling the transcriptome from the wild-type and thehrpXmutant strains of γ-ProteobacteriumXanthomonas citrisubsp.citri. Our comparative analysis indicated that gene expression levels quantified by RNA-seq and microarray well-correlated both at absolute as well as relative levels (Spearman correlation-coefficient, rs> 0.76). Further, the expression levels quantified by RNA-seq and microarray for the significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) also well-correlated with qRT-PCR based quantification (rs = 0.58 to 0.94). Finally, in addition to the 55 newly identified DEGs, 72% of the already known HrpX target genes were detected by both RNA-seq and microarray, while, the remaining 28% could only be detected by either one of the methods.

Conclusions

This study has significantly advanced our understanding of the regulome of the critical transcriptional factor HrpX. RNA-seq and microarray together provide a more comprehensive picture of HrpX regulome by uniquely identifying new DEGs. Our study demonstrated that RNA-seq and microarray complement each other in transcriptome profiling.
Immunohistochemical analysis based Ep-ICD subcellular localization index (ESLI) is a novel marker for metastatic papillary thyroid microcarcinoma
Authors: Kunavisarut Tada , Kak Ipshita , MacMillan Christina , Ralhan Ranju , Walfish Paul G
Published: November 2012

Background

Thyroid cancer is among the fastest growing malignancies; almost fifty-percent of these rapidly increasing incidence tumors are less than or equal to 1cm in size, termed papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). The management of PTMC remains a controversy due to differing natural history of these patients. Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is comprised of an extracellular domain (EpEx), a single transmembrane domain and an intracellular domain (Ep-ICD). Our group reported nuclear Ep-ICD correlated with poor prognosis in thyroid cancer (Ralhan et al., BMC Cancer 2010,10:331). Here in, we hypothesized nuclear and cytoplasmic accumulation of Ep-ICD and loss of membranous EpEx may aid in distinguishing metastatic from non-metastatic PTMC, which is an important current clinical challenge. To test our hypothesis, Ep-ICD and EpEx expression levels were analyzed in PTMC and the staining was correlated with metastatic potential of these carcinomas.

Methods

Thirty-six PTMC patients (tumor size 0.5 - 1cm; metastatic 8 cases and non-metastatic 28 cases) who underwent total thyroidectomy were selected. The metastatic group consisted of patients who developed lymph node or distant metastasis at diagnosis or during follow up. The patients’ tissues were stained for Ep-ICD and EpEx using domain specific antibodies by immunohistochemistry and evaluated.

Results

PTMC patients with metastasis had higher scores for nuclear and cytoplasmic Ep-ICD immunostaining than the patients without metastasis (1.96 ± 0.86 vs. 1.22 ± 0.45; p = 0.007 and 5.37 ± 0.33 vs. 4.72 ± 1.07; p = 0.016, respectively). Concomitantly, the former had lower scores for membrane EpEx than the non-metastatic group (4.64 ± 1.08 vs. 5.64 ± 1.51; p = 0.026). An index of aggressiveness, Ep-ICD subcellular localization index (ESLI), was defined as sum of the IHC scores for accumulation of nuclear and cytoplasmic Ep-ICD and loss of membranous EpEx; ESLI = [Ep − ICDnuc + Ep − ICDcyt + loss of membranous EpEx]. Notably, ESLI correlated significantly with lymph node metastasis in PTMC (p = 0.008).

Conclusion

Nuclear and cytoplasmic Ep-ICD expression and loss of membranous EpEx were found to correlate positively with metastasis in PTMC patients. In addition, ESLI had the potential to identify metastatic behavior in PTMC which could serve as a valuable tool for solving a current dilemma in clinical practice.
The role of atherectomy in the treatment of lower extremity peripheral artery disease
Authors: Franzone Anna , Ferrone Marco , Carotenuto Giuseppe , Carbone Andreina , Scudiero Laura , Serino Federica , Scudiero Fernando , Izzo Raffaele , Piccolo Raffaele , Saviano Savio , Amato Bruno , Perrino Cinzia , Trimarco Bruno , Esposito Giovanni
Published: November 2012

Background

The incidence of lower extremity peripheral artery disease (LE-PAD) continues to increase and associated morbidity remains high. Despite the significant development of percutaneous revascularization strategies, over the past decade, LE-PAD still represents a unique challenge for interventional cardiologists and vascular surgeons.

Method

Typical features of atherosclerosis that affects peripheral vascular bed (diffuse nature, poor distal runoff, critical limb ischemia, chronic total occlusion) contribute to the disappointing results of traditional percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). New technologies have been developed in attempt to improve the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous revascularization. Among these, atherectomy, debulking and removing atherosclerotic plaque, offers the potential advantage of eliminating stretch on arterial walls and reducing rates of restenosis.

Conclusions

This review summarizes the features and the current applications of new debulking devices.
Lgr5 is a potential marker of colorectal carcinoma stem cells that correlates with patient survival
Authors: Wu Xiao-Song , Xi Hong-Qing , Chen Lin
Published: November 2012

Background

Lgr5 (leucine-rich-repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5) has recently been identified as an intestinal stem cell marker. In order to determine whether Lgr5 is a potential marker of cancer stem cells, we investigated whether Lgr5 expression correlated with Ki-67 expression and prognosis in colorectal carcinoma.

Methods

Lgr5 and Ki-67 expression were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 192 colorectal carcinoma specimens. Selection of side population (SP) cells was performed by staining with Hoechest 33342, and Lgr5 expression in Colo205 SP cells was then detected by immunofluorescence.

Results

Lgr5 expression was significantly higher in carcinoma than in normal mucosa (P=0.001). Lgr5 was positively correlated with histological grade (P=0.001), depth of invasion (P=0.001), lymph node metastasis (P=0.001), distant metastasis (P=0.004), pTNM stage (P=0.001), and Ki-67 (r=0.446, P=0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that the effect of Lgr5 on survival was independent of Ki-67 (P=0.037). In the in vitro study, Hoechst low-staining cells were counted in 7% of the Colo205 colon cancer cell line population, and Lgr5 expression was strikingly stronger in Hoechst low-staining cells than in high-staining cells (P=0.001).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that Lgr5 may play an important role in the progression and prognosis of colorectal carcinoma, and may be a potential new therapeutic target for the treatment of colorectal cancer patients. It may also be considered as a potential marker for colorectal cancer stem cells (CSCs).
Low-pressure pulsed focused ultrasound with microbubbles promotes an anticancer immunological response
Authors: Liu Hao-Li , Hsieh Han-Yi , Lu Li-An , Kang Chiao-Wen , Wu Ming-Fang , Lin Chun-Yen
Published: November 2012

Background

High-intensity focused-ultrasound (HIFU) has been successfully employed for thermal ablation of tumors in clinical settings. Continuous- or pulsed-mode HIFU may also induce a host antitumor immune response, mainly through expansion of antigen-presenting cells in response to increased cellular debris and through increased macrophage activation/infiltration. Here we demonstrated that another form of focused ultrasound delivery, using low-pressure, pulsed-mode exposure in the presence of microbubbles (MBs), may also trigger an antitumor immunological response and inhibit tumor growth.

Methods

A total of 280 tumor-bearing animals were subjected to sonographically-guided FUS. Implanted tumors were exposed to low-pressure FUS (0.6 to 1.4 MPa) with MBs to increase the permeability of tumor microvasculature.

Results

Tumor progression was suppressed by both 0.6 and 1.4-MPa MB-enhanced FUS exposures. We observed a transient increase in infiltration of non-T regulatory (non-Treg) tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and continual infiltration of CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL). The ratio of CD8+/Treg increased significantly and tumor growth was inhibited.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that low-pressure FUS exposure with MBs may constitute a useful tool for triggering an anticancer immune response, for potential cancer immunotherapy.
Assessing the effectiveness of rapamycin on angiomyolipoma in tuberous sclerosis: a two years trial
Authors: Cabrera-López Cristina , Martí Teresa , Catalá Violeta , Torres Ferran , Mateu Silvia , Ballarín Jose , Torra Roser
Published: November 2012

Background

Tuberous sclerosis (TS) is a rare autosomal dominant systemic disease with an estimated prevalence of 1/6000. Renal angiomyolipoma (AML) is a benign tumour with high morbidity frequently present in TS. The aim of the study was to test the effect of rapamycin in reducing the volume of AML in TS.

Methods

Twenty four-month prospective open-label, single arm, unicentre Phases II andIII study. The primary endpoint was to evaluate the effect of treatment on the reduction of at least 50% AML volume from baseline at 24 months. The secondary endpoints were: average tumour reduction, surgical complications, skin lesions and drug safety.

The study population comprised 17 patients, aged >10 years who were diagnosed with TS and had ≥1 renal AML >2 cm of diameter and had a serum creatinine < 2mg/dl and urine protein/creatinine ratio < 22.6 mg/mmol. The trial was conducted at Fundació Puigvert. Rapamycin was given to achieve stable plasma levels between 4 and 8 ng/ml. AML volume was estimated using orthogonal measurements by MRI at baseline, 6, 12 and 24 months.

Results

Ten out of 17 patients were success responders for the main outcome −58.8%, 95%CI: 32.9% to 81.6%-. After 6 months of therapy, the mean volume decrease was 55.18% (5.01 standard error (SE); p<0.001) and 66.38% (4.41 SE; p<0.001) at year 1. There was no significant decrease between year 1 and 2. According to RECIST criteria, all patients achieved a partial response at year 1 and all but two had already achieved this partial response after 6 months.

The main analysis was performed according to the intention-to-treat principle analysis. Tumour volume was analyzed over time by means of mixed models for repeated measurement analysis. We used the baseline tumour volume as a covariate for the absolute change and percentage change from baseline data. The analysis was performed using SAS version 9.2 software, and the level of significance was established at 0.05 (two-sided).

Conclusions

This study show that mTOR inhibitors are a relatively safe, efficacious and less aggressive alternative than currently available options in the management of AML in TS.

Trial registration

EudraCT number: 2007-005978-30, ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT0121712
Pro-death and pro-survival properties of ouabain in U937 lymphoma derived cells
Authors: Cuozzo Francesca , Raciti Marisa , Bertelli Laura , Parente Rosanna , Di Renzo Livia
Published: November 2012

Background

Epidemiological studies revealed significantly lower mortality rates in cancer patients receiving cardiac glycosides, which turned on interest in the anticancer properties of these drugs. However, cardiac glycosides have also been shown to stimulate cell growth in several cell types. In the present investigation we analyzed the pro-death and pro-survival properties of ouabain in the human lymphoma derived cell line U937.

Methods

ROS, intracellular Ca++, cell cycle were evaluated by loading the cells with fluorescent probes under cytofluorimetry. Cell counts and evaluation of trypan blue-excluding cells were performed under optic microscope. Protein detection was done by specific antibodies after protein separation from cellular lysates by SDS-PAGE and transfer blot.

Results

High doses of ouabain cause ROS generation, elevation of [Ca++]i and death of lymphoma derived U937 cells. Lower doses of OUA activate a survival pathway in which plays a role the Na+/Ca++-exchanger (NCX), active in the Ca++ influx mode rather than in the Ca++ efflux mode. Also p38 MAPK plays a pro-survival role. However, the activation of this MAPK does not appear to depend on NCX.

Conclusion

This investigation shows that the cardiac glycoside OUA is cytotoxic also for the lymphoma derived cell line U937 and that can activate a survival pathway in which are involved NCX and p38 MAPK. These molecules can represent potential targets of combined therapy.
Osteoprotegerin (OPG) protects ovarian cancer cells from TRAIL-induced apoptosis but does not contribute to malignant ascites-mediated attenuation of TRAIL-induced apoptosis
Authors: Lane Denis , Matte Isabelle , Rancourt Claudine , Piché Alain
Published: November 2012

Background

Resistance to apoptosis is a major problem in ovarian cancer and correlates with poor prognosis. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a secreted factor in malignant ascites and acts as a decoy receptor for receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). TRAIL promotes apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. Ovarian cancer ascites attenuate TRAIL-induced apoptosis raising the possibility that OPG contained in ascites may abrogate the anti-tumor activity of TRAIL.

Methods

Determination of OPG levels in ascites was measured by ELISA. Effect of OPG on TRAIL-induced cell death was determined by XTT and colony forming assays in ovarian cancer cell lines and primary tumor cells. Apoptosis was assessed by ELISA.

Results

We found that recombinant OPG and malignant ascites attenuates TRAIL-induced cell death and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in ovarian cancer cell lines and primary ovarian tumor cells. OPG is present at high levels in the ascites of patients with ovarian cancer. We found a positive correlation between the levels of OPG in ascites and the ability of the ascites to attenuate TRAIL-induced cell death. The anti-apoptotic effect of ascites was not reversed by co-incubation with an OPG blocking antibody.

Conclusions

OPG and malignant ascites protect ovarian cancer cells from TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Although malignant ascites contain high levels of OPG, OPG is not a critical component that contributes to ascites-mediated attenuation of TRAIL-induced apoptosis.
Activation of Prostaglandin E Receptor 4 Triggers Secretion of Gut Hormone Peptides GLP-1, GLP-2, and PYY
Authors: Coskun Tamer , O’Farrell Libbey S. , Syed Samreen K. , Briere Daniel A. , Beavers Lisa S. , DuBois Susan L. , Michael Mervyn D. , Franciskovich Jeffry B. , Barrett David G. , Efanov Alexander M.
Published: November 2012

Prostaglandins E1 and E2 are synthesized in the intestine and mediate a range of gastrointestinal functions via activation of the prostanoid E type (EP) family of receptors. We examined the potential role of EP receptors in the regulation of gut hormone secretion from L cells. Analysis of mRNA expression in mouse enteroendocrine GLUTag cells demonstrated the abundant expression of EP4 receptor, whereas expression of other EP receptors was much lower. Prostaglandin E1 and E2, nonselective agonists for all EP receptor subtypes, triggered glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1) secretion from GLUTag cells, as did the EP4-selective agonists CAY10580 and TCS2510. The effect of EP4 agonists on GLP-1 secretion was blocked by incubation of cells with the EP4-selective antagonist L161,982 or by down-regulating EP4 expression with specific small interfering RNA. Regulation of gut hormone secretion with EP4 agonists was further studied in mice. Administration of EP4 agonists to mice produced a significant elevation of plasma levels of GLP-1, glucagon like peptide 2 (GLP-2) and peptide YY (PYY), whereas gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) levels were not increased. Thus, our data demonstrate that activation of the EP4 receptor in enteroendocrine L cells triggers secretion of gut hormones.
HIV testing and counselling in Colombia: evidence from a national health survey and recommendations for health-care services
Authors: Arrivillaga M , Hoyos P A , Tovar L M , Varela M T , Correa D , Zapata H
Published: November 2012

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of, and the factors associated with HIV testing and pre- and post-test counselling (PPTC) in Colombia. Cross-sectional data from the National Health Survey carried out during 2007 were analysed. Data were gathered from records of 29,760 individuals between the ages of 18 and 69 from the main regions of the country. Only 19.7% of the sample had taken an HIV test. Men, people with no education, those not affiliated with the health-care system, residents of rural areas and those aged older than 65 were less likely to have been tested for HIV; 42% of those tested did not receive pre-test counselling and 56.9% received no report of the results. Considering the low prevalence of HIV testing among the Colombian population, it is necessary to design and apply guidelines for HIV screening in all health-care settings and to conduct targeted testing in high-risk sub-populations. A national norm of PPTC in those who undergo HIV testing should be examined.
Most adolescents who participate in school-based screenings for sexually transmitted infections do not perceive themselves at high risk of sexually transmitted infection
Authors: Nsuami M J , Taylor S N
Published: November 2012

Statements of study limitations have been made in a number of reports that voluntary participants in school-based screenings for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) may be individuals who self-select for participation because they perceive themselves at high risk of STI. We surveyed 3336 students participating in the New Orleans school-based screening for chlamydia and gonorrhoea to determine their perceived personal risk of STI. Among all screening participants, 1183 (35.5%) estimated that their chances of getting an STI were pretty high or very high and 2153 (64.5%) estimated that their chances were none, not very high or medium. These findings indicate that most participants in the New Orleans school-based screening for chlamydia and gonorrhoea do not perceive themselves at high risk of STI.
Unmasking of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a patient with HIV-2
Authors: Toby M , Siddiqui A , Kulasegaram R
Published: November 2012

HIV-2 is common in West Africa but rarely found in developed countries. It usually has a milder disease course than HIV-1 and clinical presentations of neurological syndromes in HIV-2 are extremely rare. We report a case of a HIV-2-infected, 46-year-old woman originally from Cote d'Ivoire who presented with possible intracerebral toxoplasmosis infection then developed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.
Genital elephantiasis due to donovanosis: forgotten but not gone yet …
Authors: Narang T , Kanwar A J
Published: November 2012

Genital elephantiasis is a disease that is characterized by massive enlargement of the genitalia. Early aetiological diagnosis is of paramount importance so that development of genital elephantiasis can be prevented; otherwise it is not completely reversible with medical therapy and often requires surgical intervention. Chronic mental distress and disability can result as it interferes with daily/routine activities of the affected individual. Over time, the infectious causes of genital elephantiasis have evolved, from syphilis in the pre-penicillin era to donovanosis, lymphogranuloma venereum and recently filariasis, tuberculosis, leishmaniasis, HIV and chromoblastomycosis. With a declining prevalence globally, donovanosis is at risk of being forgotten as a cause of genital swelling; however, it is known to persist for years without treatment and can lead to complications such as lymphoedema and genital mutilation. We herein present a case of genital elephantiasis that was eventually diagnosed as being due to donovanosis.
The death of Robert Falcon Scott (1869–1912) and colleagues
Authors: Guly Henry
Published: November 2012

This year, 2012, marks the 100th anniversary of Captain Scott his reaching the South Pole and of his death on the return journey. There has been much discussion on the cause of death of Scott and his colleagues and, in particular, whether he died of scurvy. There has probably been even more discussion on the cause of death of Edgar Evans, one of Scott's companions. This paper reviews the topic.