bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Israeli Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Are not Macrocephalic
Authors: Davidovitch Michael , Golan Dafna , Vardi Orna , Lev Dorit , Lerman-Sagie Tally
Published: April 2011

The prevalence of macrocephaly in autism spectrum disorder is reported to be much higher than in the general population, 12% to 37%. Progressive macrocephaly is even considered a warning sign for the development of autism. We evaluated the prevalence of an abnormal head circumference in children with autism in Israel and compared it with the head circumferences of children with developmental language disorder and children with normal development. We did not find a higher prevalence of macrocephaly among Israeli children with autism spectrum disorder (4.4%). Although children with autism spectrum disorder had a significantly higher rate of a head circumference above the 75th percentile compared with children with developmental language disorder, it was not significantly different compared with normal controls. We conclude that there is no increased prevalence of macrocephaly in Israeli children with autism; this can be attributed to a different genetic background.
Teacher Training for Implementation of Teaching Strategies for Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Morrier Michael J. , Hess Kristen L. , Heflin L. Juane
Published: April 2011

Training received by teachers of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in one southern state was investigated. Teachers ( n = 90) reported training received via an online version of the Autism Treatment Survey. The most common type of training reported was attendance at a full- or half-day workshop; fewer than 15% reported receiving training from teacher preparation programs at colleges or universities. The types of training received did not predict the use of evidence-based practices. Individual factors related to training were not significant for education level, years of teaching students with ASD, and type of class (i.e., general or special education). The need for an increased role for personnel preparation programs for teachers of students with ASD is discussed.
“She’s Not a Low-Class Dirty Girl!”: Sex Work in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Authors: Kay Hoang Kimberly
Published: April 2011

Turning to Vietnam’s contemporary sex industry, this article complicates existing frameworks of global sex work by analyzing a sex industry in a developing economy where not all women are poor or exploited and where white men do not always command the highest paying sector of sex work. Drawing on seven months of field research between 2006 and 2007, I provide a systematic classed analysis of both sides of client—worker relationships in three racially and economically diverse sectors of Ho Chi Minh City’s (HCMC’s) global sex industry: a low-end sector that caters to poor local Vietnamese men, a mid-tier sector that caters to white backpackers, and a high-end sector that caters to overseas Vietnamese ( Viet Kieu) men. I illustrate how sex workers and clients draw on different economic, cultural, and bodily resources to enter into different sectors of HCMC’s stratified sex industry. Moreover, I argue that sex work is an intimate relationship best illustrated by the complex intermingling of money and intimacy. Interactions in the low-end sector involved a direct sex for money exchange, while sex workers and clients in the mid-tier and high-end sectors engaged in relational and intimate exchanges with each other.
Absorbed in Thought
Authors: Barron Evelyn , Riby Leigh M. , Greer Joanna , Smallwood Jonathan
Published: April 2011

This study used event-related potentials to explore whether mind wandering (task-unrelated thought, or TUT) emerges through general problems in distraction, deficits of task-relevant processing (the executive-function view), or a general reduction in attention to external events regardless of their relevance (the decoupling hypothesis). Twenty-five participants performed a visual oddball task, in which they were required to differentiate between a rare target stimulus (to measure task-relevant processes), a rare novel stimulus (to measure distractor processing), and a frequent nontarget stimulus. TUT was measured immediately following task performance using a validated retrospective measure. High levels of TUT were associated with a reduction in cortical processing of task-relevant events and distractor stimuli. These data contradict the suggestion that mind wandering is associated with distraction problems or specific deficits in task-relevant processes. Instead, the data are consistent with the decoupling hypothesis: that TUT dampens the processing of sensory information irrespective of that information’s task relevance.
Anti-oxidative and anti-genotoxic effects of carnosine on human lymphocyte culture
Authors: Alpsoy Lokman , Akcayoglu Gamze , Sahin Hilal
Published: April 2011

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of carnosine, a biological antioxidant, on the oxidative stress and genotoxicity by a single dose of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4; 5 mM) in the human lymphocyte culture. We studied the anti-genotoxic effects of carnosine by using sister chromatid exchange (SCE) test system. Also, the anti-oxidative effects of carnosine were evaluated by using superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) assay. The SCE frequency was increased when treated with CCl4. Carnosine at 10 and 20 mM reduced SCE frequency in the human lymphocyte ( p < 0.001). In addition, CCl4 treatment significantly depleted the level of GSH, reduced the activity of SOD and GPx and elevated the level of MDA ( p < 0.001). Carnosine treatment led to significant attenuation of CCl4-induced oxidative stress by normalization of the activities of SOD and GPx and the level of GSH and MDA ( p < 0.05 or 0.001). These results suggest that carnosine could provide anti-oxidative and anti-genotoxic protection for the oxidative and genotoxic agents that cause many diseases including cancer and neurodegenerative disease.
Women’s Empowerment in Pakistan–Definitions and Enabling and Disenabling Factors: A Secondary Data Analysis
Authors: Bustamante-Gavino Maria Irma , Rattani Salma , Khan Kausar
Published: April 2011

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore Pakistani women’s definition of women’s empowerment, including its enabling and disenabling factors. Through understanding empowerment, interventions may be developed for women to be empowered. Design: Transcriptions of 35 interviews from a previous study were reanalyzed through secondary data analysis. Findings/Results: The themes of economic stability, social acceptability, educational achievement, and family harmony emerged for the concept of definition of empowerment. Themes for enabling factors were strength of personality and openness of mind. Disenabling factors had sociocultural influences, religious misinterpretations, and dominant ideology as themes. Discussion/Conclusions: Pakistani women hold on to their customs, traditions, and religion tenaciously. The views of empowerment leading to the themes were expressed as true for their lives.
Utilizing Participants’ Strengths to Reduce Risk of Harm in a Study of Family Estrangement
Authors: Agllias Kylie
Published: April 2011

In this article I examine some issues involved in researching vulnerable populations and sensitive issues, and the challenges and risks of researching issues of a deeply personal nature. Participants might have complex needs and vulnerabilities, but they also have many resources to ensure their own well-being. I ask researchers to move beyond the minimum standards espoused by human ethics committees, and utilize participant strengths to further reduce the risk of harm. My reflections on a study of older people who were experiencing family estrangement highlight some of the actions that participants used to increase their personal safety. I discuss the usefulness of “strengths” questions in assessing risk and facilitating participant strengths to minimize harm. Finally, I propose a three-way model for reducing risk that involves the “lessons learned” from ethics committees, researchers, and the participants themselves.
Family-Provider Alliance Program in Intensive Care Units
Authors: Kim Son Chae , Yates Amy D. , Graham Patricia , Brown Caroline E.
Published: April 2011

This nonrandomized controlled study evaluated the effects of Family—Provider Alliance Program on nurses’ perception of therapeutic alliance, job satisfaction, and quality of care. A total of 275 nurses were included in the study: 206 nurses in the ICUs participated in the Program and 69 in the control group did not. Mean postinterventional Kim Alliance Scale-Provider score was improved not only in the experimental group (+0.87; p = .01), but also in the control group (+1.37; p = .016). However, Empowerment subscale mean score was improved in the experimental group alone (+0.34; p = .006). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that family—nurse therapeutic alliance explained 7.2% and 11.4% of the variance in nurses’ job satisfaction and perceived quality of care, respectively. The Program was marginally effective in improving nurses’ perception of family empowerment. The quality of family—nurse therapeutic alliance predicted small to moderate fractions of the variance in nurses’ job satisfaction and perceived quality of care.
Epigenetic Mechanisms
Authors: Lubin Farah D. , Gupta Swati , Parrish R. Ryley , Grissom Nicola M. , Davis Robin L.
Published: April 2011

Recent advances in chromatin biology have identified a role for epigenetic mechanisms in the regulation of neuronal gene expression changes, a necessary process for proper synaptic plasticity and memory formation. Experimental evidence for dynamic chromatin remodeling influencing gene transcription in postmitotic neurons grew from initial reports describing posttranslational modifications of histones, including phosphorylation and acetylation occurring in various brain regions during memory consolidation. An accumulation of recent studies, however, has also highlighted the importance of other epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation and histone methylation, as playing a role in memory formation. This present review examines learning-induced gene transcription by chromatin remodeling underlying long-lasting changes in neurons, with direct implications for the study of epigenetic mechanisms in long-term memory formation and behavior. Furthermore, the study of epigenetic gene regulation, in conjunction with transcription factor activation, can provide complementary lines of evidence to further understanding transcriptional mechanisms subserving memory storage.
Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses Legislative Update: State of the States, 2010
Authors: Oleck Leslie G. , Retano Angela , Tebaldi Christine , McGuinness Teena M. , Weiss Steven , Carbray Julie , Rodgers Laura , Donelson Emily E. , Ashton Lisa Lynn , Koehn Darcy , McCoy Patricia
Published: April 2011

This article provides an update regarding individual state legislation for advanced practice psychiatric nursing, building on previous briefings. Specific attention is given to independent versus collaborative practice regulations, titling, and prescriptive authority. There is review of contemporary issues and focus on scope and standards of practice, workforce data, certification, and advanced practice regulatory models.
Astrocytopathy in Baló’s disease
Authors: Kira Jun-ichi
Published: April 2011

Baló’s disease is characterized by alternating rings of demyelination and preserved myelin. As additional multiple sclerosis (MS)-like lesions often coexist in Baló’s cases, Baló’s disease is regarded as a variant of MS. In demyelinated areas, many hypertrophic astrocytes are present in close contact with oligodendrocytes, which often show apoptotic features. In the outermost layer of preserved myelin, stress proteins involved in tissue preconditioning are abundant in oligodendrocytes. The peri-plaque perimeter is thus assumed resistant to subsequent attack, thereby leaving a layer of preserved myelin. In some cases, Baló’s concentric rings develop step by step in a centrifugal direction, whereas many other cases show simultaneous enhancement of multiple rings. Therefore tissue preconditioning and successive ring formation does not fully describe the mechanism of the disease. We recently reported that in four Filipino Baló’s patients, aquaporin-4 (AQP4) was extensively lost in glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive hypertrophic astrocytes, both in demyelinated and myelinated layers of all actively demyelinating lesions. None of six further patients with MRI-confirmed Baló’s disease were seropositive for anti-AQP4 antibody. I propose that AQP4 astrocytopathy, in the absence of anti-AQP4 antibody, is characteristic of Baló’s disease. This hypothesis should be tested in future experimental studies.
Sharp increase in the incidence and prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Isfahan, Iran
Authors: Etemadifar Masoud , Maghzi Amir-Hadi
Published: April 2011

Background: The epidemiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) has changed in recent decades.

Objectives: This study aimed to give an update on the prevalence and incidence of MS in Isfahan, Iran.

Methods: The study population was all residents of Isfahan province during the period from April 2003 to July 2010. In April 2003, a registry of MS patients was created at the Isfahan MS Society (IMSS), which is the only referral center for MS patients in the province. Nearly all MS patients in Isfahan province are now registered with IMSS and were included in the analysis.

Results: Among the 3522 registered patients, 2716 were female and 806 were male (sex ratio: 3.37 : 1), and 431 were diagnosed in 2009. This results in a prevalence figure of 73.3 (95% CI: 70.9–75.8) and an incidence of 9.1 (95% CI: 8.3–10.0) per 100,000.

Conclusion: The reported prevalence and incidence figures in our study were higher than in our previous report of 2007, in which the prevalence and incidence of MS were reported to be 43.8 and 3.64 per 100,000, respectively. This dramatic increase in the prevalence of MS puts Isfahan amongst the regions with the highest prevalence of MS in Asia and Oceania and is mostly due to changing environmental factors, amongst which vitamin D deficiency seems an important factor in our population.
A tale of two e-parties
Authors: Vaccari Cristian
Published: April 2011

The Internet has become a relevant campaign tool in the United States and the 2008 presidential elections have marked a turning point in the recognition of its potential. This study analyzed candidate websites during the 2008 presidential primaries through a quantitative coding frame supplemented by latent trait analysis and meta-analysis of coding frames employed by seven earlier studies. The online competitive scenario was found to be less affected by offline dynamics than normalization theory suggests, as the money raised by candidates was not significantly correlated with the amount of features on their websites. However, the websites of candidates who already were in public office other than the Presidency had more features than those of out-of-office aspirants; by contrast, the number of years candidates had spent in public office was negatively correlated with the number of features on their websites. Moreover, Democratic candidates' websites were found to offer substantially more features than Republicans', particularly with respect to engagement tools, thus providing the challenger party with a sizeable competitive advantage.
Chronic idiopathic urticaria and anxiety symptoms
Authors: Barbosa Filipe , Freitas João , Barbosa António
Published: April 2011

Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is a frequently disabling disease with a negative influence on the quality of life, and can cause psychopathological symptoms, such as anxiety. Our aim is to study further anxiety symptoms on CIU patients. Both CIU patients and the control group were studied by means of validated scales for psychopathology symptoms, psychological variables and quality of life. In this study, we reported high levels of anxiety symptoms. We found statistically significant correlations between anxiety symptoms, some personality dimensions, insecure attachment styles, alexithymia and with some quality of life dimensions. CIU patients exhibit high levels of psychological distress that could potentiate difficulties at several domains, namely social, emotional, general health perception and interpersonal relationships.
Ethnic/Racial Differences in the Self-Reported Physical and Mental Health Correlates of Adolescent Obesity
Authors: Whaley Athur L. , Smith Michelle , Hancock Anyaliese
Published: April 2011

Adolescent obesity has increased significantly during the past 20 years disproportionately affecting African-Americans. We tested the cultural hypothesis which suggests that the acceptance of a larger body size among African-Americans serves as a protective factor against negative physical and mental health consequences. Secondary analyses of data from a subsample of 5158 Black and White participants in the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey were conducted to assess the relationship between weight status and global self-reports of physical and psychological health. Planned comparisons revealed support of our hypotheses for some outcomes but not others. Implications for interventions targeting adolescent obesity are discussed.
Perceived social support as a moderator of the relationship between caregiver well-being indicators and psychological symptoms
Authors: Demirtepe-Saygılı Dilek , Bozo Özlem
Published: April 2011

The present study examined the moderating role of perceived social support in caregiver well-being indicators — psychological symptoms relationship. The data obtained from 100 caregivers of children with leukaemia revealed that the caregivers who were more able to satisfy their basic needs, and perform their daily activities, reported lower levels of psychological symptoms if they perceived higher levels of social support. However, perceived social support did not alleviate the level of psychological symptoms of the caregivers who reported lower levels of satisfaction of basic needs and performance on daily activities. The findings were discussed in the light of the literature.
A good man is impossible to find: Brokeback Mountain as heteronormative tragedy
Authors: Nayar Sheila J.
Published: April 2011

This paper analyzes the 2005 film Brokeback Mountain in the light of the heterosexual female viewers who responded so favorably to the film. It speculates that the contemporaneous media mainstreaming of the uncloseted homosexual resulted in a parallel need for a psychosocial reconfiguring of the heterosexual; and that it was in this odd and anxious space that, for these viewers, the film’s potency may have subconsciously resided. In effect, the film, which pivots on the power of lies that closetedness engenders, was indirectly — and safely — addressing anxieties regarding marital fidelity, which were potentially being stoked, so the author argues, by the recent emergence of cyberspace.
Pain as culture: A postcolonial feminist approach to S/M and women’s agency
Authors: Deckha Maneesha
Published: April 2011

The interaction of gender, culture, race and sexuality is a central dynamic to this article, which seeks to move forward feminist debate on the benefits and harms of sadomasochist practices for women by applying the critical race and postcolonial method of world-travelling. The article seeks to make a novel contribution to the feminist analysis of consensual violence and sadomasochism in law by filtering the issue through a postcolonial feminist theoretical framework to productively circumvent the current analytical impasse in this area of feminist ‘sex wars’.
BDSM as therapy?
Authors: Lindemann Danielle
Published: April 2011

While I was conducting field research on professional dominatrices (‘pro-dommes’), an unexpected discourse emerged: respondents repeatedly characterized themselves as ‘therapists’, speaking about their work as a form of psychological treatment for their clients. This article examines the way they speak about BDSM (Bondage, Discipline, Sadism, Masochism) as therapeutic. Data are derived from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 66 female pro-dommes. The rhetoric used by participants in this form of commercial eroticism ‘on the ground’ has implications for feminist theoretical claims about the potential value of classifying erotic labor as ‘sex therapy’ as well as resonance with other socially stigmatized erotic practices.
A comparison of life satisfaction in elderly medical inpatients and the elderly in a population-based study: Nord-Trøndelag Health Study 3
Authors: Helvik Anne-Sofie , Engedal Knut , Krokstad Steinar , Selbæk Geir
Published: April 2011

Aim: To compare the quality of life (QOL) in terms of overall life satisfaction in elderly medical inpatients and elderly persons in a large population-based study in Norway, and to study the odds for dissatisfaction, controlling for demographic, health, and social variables. Methods: This cross-sectional observation study included 484 medical inpatients and 10,474 persons from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study 3 (HUNT 3 Study). All participants were 65 years and older. Their life satisfaction was assessed with a single-item measure with seven response categories. For analytical purposes the variable was dichotomised; i.e. dissatisfied vs. satisfied with life. Results: In the logistic regression analysis controlled for demographic, health, and social variables, the odds for experiencing dissatisfaction with life was significantly increased in the hospital sample compared to the participants in the population-based study (OR 1.4). Poor general health, depression, and anxiety were strongly associated with being dissatisfied with life. Furthermore, disability, previous psychological distress, having no friends who could help, and not participating in activities were all associated with dissatisfaction with life. Conclusions: The hospitalisation of the elderly has implications for the QOL in terms of life satisfaction, but general physical and psychological health seems to have an even stronger impact on life satisfaction. The prevention of the deterioration of physical and mental health in old age seems to be essential for a good life.
Diagnostics of Unsatisfactory Indoor Air Quality in Air-Conditioned Workplaces
Authors: Mui K.W. , Hui P.S. , Wong L.T.
Published: April 2011

This study examines a screening process for environmental diagnosis of indoor air quality (IAQ) problems in air-conditioned office buildings. Diagnosis of IAQ problems in relation to complaints of environmental health effects has not been identified as a precise science and this paper proposes an evaluation tool to address this need. An ‘‘IAQ index’’, the average fractional dose of a set of three representative indoor pollutants, has been developed for this purpose, to be used as a screening parameter for detecting the unsatisfactory factors affecting the IAQ in an air-conditioned office. The wide-ranging set of prescribed IAQ measurements for these investigations can be prohibitive due to complexity, cost and time period taken to obtain results. In this study, a 5-level screening strategy based on the IAQ index to quantify the likelihood of unsatisfactory IAQ in air-conditioned workplaces is being proposed. The proposed assessment tool would be a useful protocol for policymakers and professionals to evaluate the relative environmental performance of office spaces and to investigate any IAQ problem. A proposed set of three measurements are used to inform decision whether to take any further action (more measurements or remedial measures) to allow early diagnosis of IAQ problems in air-conditioned offices to satisfy existing Hong Kong IAQ standards.
The Role of Self-Efficacy in Communication and Emergency Response in Chinese Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Populations
Authors: Yip Mei Po , Ong Brandon N. , Meischke Hendrika W. , Feng Sherry X. , Calhoun Rebecca , Painter Ian , Tu Shin-Ping
Published: April 2011

Background. Failure to engage in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery contributes to the differential outcome experienced by limited English proficiency (LEP) populations. Little is known about how psychosocial factors influence LEP individuals’ perception of emergency and their process of understanding, collecting, and synthesizing information. The purpose of this exploratory study is to understand how LEP conceptualize an emergency situation to determine when help is needed. Methods. The authors conducted 4 focus groups with 36 adult Chinese LEP speakers living in Seattle. All discussions were audio-taped, translated, and transcribed. Coded text passages were entered into Atlas.ti for data management and model generation. Results. Perception of an emergency situation affects LEP individual’s ability to manage the crisis. Self-efficacy may be an important psychological variable that positively shapes an individual’s response to an emergency situation by improving their confidence to handle the crisis and ability to connect to resources. Response to emergency resulting from this series of information gathering, synthesis, and utilization may not always result in a positive outcome. Discussion. Self-efficacy in risk communication messages should be included to engage LEPs in emergency preparedness. Effective communication can increase LEPs’ awareness of emergency situations and connecting LEP individuals with existing community resources may enhance LEPs’ level of self-efficacy in emergencies.
Rural Print Media Portrayal of Secondhand Smoke and Smoke-Free Policy
Authors: Helme Donald W. , Rayens Mary Kay , Kercsmar Sarah E. , Adkins Sarah M. , Amundsen Shelby J. , Lee Erin , Riker Carol A. , Hahn Ellen J.
Published: April 2011

The purpose of this article is to describe how the print media portrays secondhand smoke and smoke-free policy in rural communities. Baseline print media clips from an ongoing 5-year study of smoke-free policy development in 40 rural communities were analyzed. The authors hypothesized that community population size would be positively associated with media favorability toward smoke-free policy. Conversely, pounds of tobacco produced and adult smoking prevalence would be negatively associated with media favorability. There was a positive correlation between population size and percentage of articles favorable toward smoke-free policy. The authors did not find a correlation between adult smoking or tobacco produced and media favorability toward smoke-free policy, but we did find a positive relationship between tobacco produced and percentage of pro-tobacco articles and a negative relationship between adult smoking prevalence and percentage of articles about health/comfort. Implications for targeting pro-health media in rural communities as well as policy-based initiatives for tobacco control are discussed.
Refining the Use of Cancer-Related Cultural Constructs With African Americans
Authors: Sanders Thompson Vetta L. , Lewis Tanisha , Williams Sha-Lai
Published: April 2011

An important step in using culture to increase colorectal cancer screening is the development and use of a reliable and valid measure. Measurement items that work well are defined as those that use clear and simple language, do not result in significant missing data, do not yield unexpected frequencies or patterns of association, and capture an important component of the underlying construct. The authors’ work to develop such a measure includes cognitive response testing. This article describes 41 African American participants’ reactions to and processing of items that have been used in the public health literature to assess cultural attitudes believed to be relevant to colorectal cancer screening. Participants were asked to verbalize thoughts, feelings, interpretations, and ideas that came to mind while examining or responding to 10 to 11 survey items. The results of cognitive response testing suggest negative reactions to items addressing the fatalism construct, concerns about appearing racist when responding to discrimination and mistrust items, and resistance to phrasing or terminology that conveys negative attitudes or frames of reference. When items were framed in a positive way, participants reported less frustration, confusion, and concern for how they would be perceived by others. The responses of older African Americans in this sample were consistent with research previously completed by Pasick et al.; participants questioned the relevance of items related to cultural constructs to health and cancer preventive behaviors. Recommendations for the assessment and use of cultural constructs and items assessing constructs are provided.
Behind the Bars of Paradise
Authors: Rodríguez-Díaz Carlos E. , Reece Michael , Rivera-Alonso Begoña , Laureano-Landrón Idamar , Dodge Brian , Malow Robert M.
Published: April 2011

For those who are incarcerated in jails and prisons, the correctional setting represents a unique context for health care access and utilization. In Puerto Rico, over 16 000 persons pass each year through a correctional facility, approximately 6.9% of the incarcerated population present HIV infection, and 73.8% and 27.1% evidence a previous history of drug and alcohol use, respectively. In addition, HIV-infected populations have comorbidity with other diseases that are associated with substance use. Several approaches have been considered to prevent, treat, and provide a continuum of care for HIV and substance disorders among incarcerated populations. Nearly 30 years of legally regulated practices for correctional health care have produced recommendations for addressing the needs of those with HIV and substance disorders within the correctional facilities in Puerto Rico. These recommendations include making prevention services available, building capacity among health care providers, and understanding the cultural and political contexts.
Mapping the interface between contemporary risk-focused policy and frontline enforcement practice
Authors: Ugwudike Pamela
Published: April 2011

To develop an empirical account of the impact of contemporary penal developments on frontline probation practice in England and Wales, this article will draw on a study that examined how the interrelated discourses of ‘risk management’ and public protection’ pervading probation policy in England and Wales are translated in enforcement practice. The study found a degree to resistance to the prevailing risk-focused policy agenda. Frontline probation practitioners reported that they tended to rely mainly on a compliance-oriented enforcement model underpinned by welfarist ideals reminiscent of penal modernism1.
Genetic and pharmacologic inactivation of cannabinoid CB1 receptor inhibits angiogenesis
Authors: Pisanti Simona , Picardi Paola , Prota Lucia , Proto Maria Chiara , Laezza Chiara , McGuire Paul G. , Morbidelli Lucia , Gazzerro Patrizia , Ziche Marina , Das Arup , Bifulco Maurizio
Published: April 2011

In this study we investigated the role of CB1 receptor signaling in angiogenesis and the therapeutic exploitation of CB1 inactivation as an antiangiogenic strategy. We started from the observation that CB1 receptor expression is induced during angiogenesis and that the endocannabinoid anandamide stimulated bFGF-induced angiogenesis in the nanomolar physiologic range. To define the functional involvement of CB1 receptor signaling during angiogenesis, 2 different strategies have been carried out: siRNA-mediated knockdown and pharmacologic antagonism of CB1 receptors. CB1 receptors inactivation resulted in the inhibition of bFGF-induced endothelial proliferation, migration, and capillary-like tube formation, through prosurvival and migratory pathways involving ERK, Akt, FAK, JNK, Rho, and MMP-2. To corroborate the potential therapeutic exploitation of CB1 blockade as an antiangiogenic strategy, we performed in vivo assays founding that CB1 blockade was able to inhibit bFGF-induced neovascular growth in the rabbit cornea assay. A relevant finding was the ability to reduce ocular pathologic neo-vascularization in mouse oxygen-induced retinopathy. These results demonstrate that CB1 signaling participates to the proliferative response elicited by proangiogenic growth factors in angiogenesis and that for this reason CB1 receptor could represent a novel target for the treatment of diseases where excessive neoangiogenesis is the underlying pathology.
Minimal cross-intolerance with nilotinib in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic or accelerated phase who are intolerant to imatinib
Authors: Cortes Jorge E. , Hochhaus Andreas , le Coutre Philipp D. , Rosti Gianantonio , Pinilla-Ibarz Javier , Jabbour Elias , Gillis Kathryn , Woodman Richard C. , Blakesley Rick E. , Giles Francis J. , Kantarjian Hagop M. , Baccarani Michele
Published: April 2011

Nilotinib has significant efficacy in patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP) and in patients with CML-CP or CML in accelerated phase (CML-AP) after imatinib failure. We investigated the occurrence of cross-intolerance to nilotinib in imatinib-intolerant patients with CML. Only 1/75 (1%) patients with nonhematologic imatinib intolerance experienced a similar grade 3/4 adverse event (AE), and 3/75 (4%) experienced a similar persistent grade 2 nonhematologic AE on nilotinib. Only 7/40 (18%) patients with hematologic imatinib intolerance discontinued nilotinib, all because of grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia. Ninety percent of imatinib-intolerant patients with CML-CP who did not have complete hematologic response (CHR) at baseline (n = 52) achieved CHR on nilotinib. Nilotinib induced a major cytogenetic response in 66% and 41% of patients with imatinib-intolerant CML-CP and CML-AP (complete cytogenetic response in 51% and 30%), respectively. Minimal cross-intolerance was confirmed in patients with imatinib-intolerant CML. The favorable tolerability of nilotinib in patients with imatinib intolerance leads to alleviation of AE-related symptoms and significant and durable responses. In addition to its established clinical benefit in patients with newly diagnosed CML and those resistant to imatinib, nilotinib is effective and well-tolerated for long-term use in patients with imatinib intolerance.

This study is registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00471497
3′UTR-truncated Hmga2 cDNA causes MPN-like hematopoiesis by conferring a clonal growth advantage at the level of HSC in mice
Authors: Ikeda Kazuhiko , Mason Philip J. , Bessler Monica
Published: April 2011

Overexpression of high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) is found in a number of benign and malignant tumors, including the clonal PIGA− cells in 2 cases of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and some myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), and recently in hematopoietic cell clones resulting from gene therapy procedures. In nearly all these cases overexpression is because of deletions or translocations that remove the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) which contains binding sites for the regulatory micro RNA let-7. We were therefore interested in the effect of HMGA2 overexpression in hematopoietic tissues in transgenic mice (ΔHmga2 mice) carrying a 3′UTR-truncated Hmga2 cDNA. ΔHmga2 mice expressed increased levels of HMGA2 protein in various tissues including hematopoietic cells and showed proliferative hematopoiesis with increased numbers in all lineages of peripheral blood cells, hypercellular bone marrow (BM), splenomegaly with extramedullary erythropoiesis and erythropoietin-independent erythroid colony formation. ΔHmga2-derived BM cells had a growth advantage over wild-type cells in competitive repopulation and serial transplantation experiments. Thus overexpression of HMGA2 leads to proliferative hematopoiesis with clonal expansion at the stem cell and progenitor levels and may account for the clonal expansion in PNH and MPNs and in gene therapy patients after vector insertion disrupts the HMGA2 locus.
Evolutionary origin of peptidoglycan recognition proteins in vertebrate innate immune system
Authors: Montaño Adriana M , Tsujino Fumi , Takahata Naoyuki , Satta Yoko
Published: April 2011

Background

Innate immunity is the ancient defense system of multicellular organisms against microbial infection. The basis of this first line of defense resides in the recognition of unique motifs conserved in microorganisms, and absent in the host. Peptidoglycans, structural components of bacterial cell walls, are recognized by Peptidoglycan Recognition Proteins (PGRPs). PGRPs are present in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Although some evidence for similarities and differences in function and structure between them has been found, their evolutionary history and phylogenetic relationship have remained unclear. Such studies have been severely hampered by the great extent of sequence divergence among vertebrate and invertebrate PGRPs. Here we investigate the birth and death processes of PGRPs to elucidate their origin and diversity.

Results

We found that (i) four rounds of gene duplication and a single domain duplication have generated the major variety of present vertebrate PGRPs, while in invertebrates more than ten times the number of duplications are required to explain the repertoire of present PGRPs, and (ii) the death of genes in vertebrates appears to be almost null whereas in invertebrates it is frequent.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the emergence of new PGRP genes may have an impact on the availability of the repertoire and its function against pathogens. These striking differences in PGRP evolution of vertebrates and invertebrates should reflect the differences in the role of their innate immunity. Insights on the origin of PGRP genes will pave the way to understand the evolution of the interaction between host and pathogens and to lead to the development of new treatments for immune diseases that involve proteins related to the recognition of self and non-self.
Molecular evolution of urea amidolyase and urea carboxylase in fungi
Authors: Strope Pooja K , Nickerson Kenneth W , Harris Steven D , Moriyama Etsuko N
Published: April 2011

Background

Urea amidolyase breaks down urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide in a two-step process, while another enzyme, urease, does this in a one step-process. Urea amidolyase has been found only in some fungal species among eukaryotes. It contains two major domains: the amidase and urea carboxylase domains. A shorter form of urea amidolyase is known as urea carboxylase and has no amidase domain. Eukaryotic urea carboxylase has been found only in several fungal species and green algae. In order to elucidate the evolutionary origin of urea amidolyase and urea carboxylase, we studied the distribution of urea amidolyase, urea carboxylase, as well as other proteins including urease, across kingdoms.

Results

Among the 64 fungal species we examined, only those in two Ascomycota classes (Sordariomycetes and Saccharomycetes) had the urea amidolyase sequences. Urea carboxylase was found in many but not all of the species in the phylum Basidiomycota and in the subphylum Pezizomycotina (phylum Ascomycota). It was completely absent from the class Saccharomycetes (phylum Ascomycota; subphylum Saccharomycotina). Four Sordariomycetes species we examined had both the urea carboxylase and the urea amidolyase sequences. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these two enzymes appeared to have gone through independent evolution since their bacterial origin. The amidase domain and the urea carboxylase domain sequences from fungal urea amidolyases clustered strongly together with the amidase and urea carboxylase sequences, respectively, from a small number of beta- and gammaproteobacteria. On the other hand, fungal urea carboxylase proteins clustered together with another copy of urea carboxylases distributed broadly among bacteria. The urease proteins were found in all the fungal species examined except for those of the subphylum Saccharomycotina.

Conclusions

We conclude that the urea amidolyase genes currently found only in fungi are the results of a horizontal gene transfer event from beta-, gamma-, or related species of proteobacteria. The event took place before the divergence of the subphyla Pezizomycotina and Saccharomycotina but after the divergence of the subphylum Taphrinomycotina. Urea carboxylase genes currently found in fungi and other limited organisms were also likely derived from another ancestral gene in bacteria. Our study presented another important example showing plastic and opportunistic genome evolution in bacteria and fungi and their evolutionary interplay.
Ectopic expression of MdSPDS1 in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) reduces canker susceptibility: involvement of H2O2 production and transcriptional alteration
Authors: Fu Xing-Zheng , Chen Chuan-Wu , Wang Yin , Liu Ji-Hong , Moriguchi Takaya
Published: April 2011

Background

Enormous work has shown that polyamines are involved in a variety of physiological processes, but information is scarce on the potential of modifying disease response through genetic transformation of a polyamine biosynthetic gene.

Results

In the present work, an apple spermidine synthase gene (MdSPDS1) was introduced into sweet orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck 'Anliucheng') via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of embryogenic calluses. Two transgenic lines (TG4 and TG9) varied in the transgene expression and cellular endogenous polyamine contents. Pinprick inoculation demonstrated that the transgenic lines were less susceptible to Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac), the causal agent of citrus canker, than the wild type plants (WT). In addition, our data showed that upon Xac attack TG9 had significantly higher free spermine (Spm) and polyamine oxidase (PAO) activity when compared with the WT, concurrent with an apparent hypersensitive response and the accumulation of more H2O2. Pretreatment of TG9 leaves with guazatine acetate, an inhibitor of PAO, repressed PAO activity and reduced H2O2 accumulation, leading to more conspicuous disease symptoms than the controls when both were challenged with Xac. Moreover, mRNA levels of most of the defense-related genes involved in synthesis of pathogenesis-related protein and jasmonic acid were upregulated in TG9 than in the WT regardless of Xac infection.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrated that overexpression of the MdSPDS1 gene prominently lowered the sensitivity of the transgenic plants to canker. This may be, at least partially, correlated with the generation of more H2O2 due to increased production of polyamines and enhanced PAO-mediated catabolism, triggering hypersensitive response or activation of defense-related genes.
Pituitary tumor transforming gene-1 haplotypes and risk of pituitary adenoma: a case-control study
Authors: Chen Shuai , Xiao Lan , Liu Zhixiong , Liu Jinfang , Liu Yunsheng
Published: April 2011

Background

It has been suggested that pituitary adenoma results from accumulation of multiple genetic and/or epigenetic aberrations, which may be identified through association studies. As pituitary tumor transforming gene-1 (PTTG1)/securin plays a critical role in promoting genomic instability in pituitary neoplasia, the present study explored the association of PTTG1 haplotypes with the risk of pituitary adenoma.

Methods

We genotyped five PTTG1 haplotype-tagging SNPs (htSNP) by PCR-RFLP assays in a case-control study, which included 280 Han Chinese patients diagnosed with pituitary adenoma and 280 age-, gender- and geographically matched Han Chinese controls. Haplotypes were reconstructed according to the genotyping data and linkage disequilibrium status of the htSNPs.

Results

No significant differences in allele and genotype frequencies of the htSNPs were observed between pituitary adenoma patients and controls, indicating that none of the individual PTTG1 SNPs examined in this study is associated with the risk of pituitary adenoma. In addition, no significant association was detected between the reconstructed PTTG1 haplotypes and pituitary adenoma cases or the controls.

Conclusions

Though no significant association was found between PTTG1 haplotypes and the risk of pituitary adenoma, this is the first report on the association of individual PTTG1 SNPs or PTTG1 haplotypes with the risk of pituitary adenoma based on a solid study; it will provide an important reference for future studies on the association between genetic alterations in PTTG1 and the risk of pituitary adenoma or other tumors.
Seminal vesicle metastasis after partial hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Gong Li , Zheng Minwen , Li Yanhong , Zhang Wendong , Bu Wangjun , Shi Lifang , Zhang Wei , Yan Hong
Published: April 2011

Background

Metastasis to the seminal vesicle is extremely rare for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To our knowledge, it has been not reported in literature. The purpose of the present paper was to report a case of metastasis to the seminal vesicle after HCC resection, along with its histological features and immunohistochemical characteristics.

Case Presentation

A 46-year-old Chinese man was admitted to our hospital due to abdominal distension. He had a history of HCC related to hepatitis B virus infection. Moreover, left partial hepatectomy was performed in another hospital 28 months ago, and right partial hepatectomy for HCC recurrence in our hospital 4 months ago. After resection, radiofrequency ablation therapy had been performed. About 27 months after the initial operation, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the pelvic cavity revealed a mass with homogeneous enhancement in the seminal vesicle. Transrectal needle biopsy revealed a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Therefore, seminal vesiculectomy was resected. The histological diagnosis of the removed tumor was compatible with the original HCC. Immunohistochemical examination demonstrated that the tumor cells were positive for glypican-3 (GPC3), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), hepatocyte paraffin-1 (Hep Par 1), cytokeratin 18 (CK 18), and hepatocyte antigen, which confirmed that the seminal vesicle tumor was a metastatic tumor of HCC. However, CT subsequently revealed multiple metastatic foci in the abdominal and pelvic cavities in May 2009 and August 2009, respectively.

Conclusion

The seminal vesicle is an extremely rare metastatic site for HCC, and the prognosis is very poor. A combination of clinical and pathological features is necessary for a correct diagnosis, and primary tumor should be excluded before diagnosing metastatic foci.