bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Students as consumers?
Authors: Modell Sven
Published: August 2005

Purpose

To examine the political and institutional processes surrounding the construction of consumer‐orientated performance measurement (PM) practices in the Swedish university sector.

Design/methodology/approach

A longitudinal case study in the Swedish university sector drawing on neo‐institutional sociology (NIS) and adopting an organisational field‐level perspective.

Findings

Particular attention is paid to the political interplay between different actors competing to dominate the representation of student interests in this organisational field, the strategic discourses invoked to legitimise their actions and the unfolding (re‐)construction of PM practices, but also how this interplay is conditioned by institutionalised structures and existing power relationships. The findings suggest that the relative inertia in developing more consumer‐orientated PM is due in large part to the difficulties for an emerging challenger in constructing a legitimate power base enabling it to fully exploit institutional inconsistencies and the ability of a dominant incumbent organisation to accommodate seemingly incompatible institutional pressures.

Originality/value

The study provides deeper and more process‐orientated insights into the problems of translating consumerist notions into public sector PM practices than much prior research on the topic and explains this with reference to macro‐ rather than micro‐level (intra‐organisational) processes.
Strategy disclosure in annual reports across Europe: a study on differences between five countries
Authors: Santema Sicco , Hoekert Marijke , van de Rijt Jeroen , van Oijen Aswin
Published: August 2005

Purpose

This article aims to focus on strategy disclosure in annual reports across Europe and to try to establish whether national culture and national corporate governance features have an influence on the extent to which companies disclose their strategy. The research was conducted to fulfil three main purposes: to build a model for measuring strategy disclosure; to find reasons for differences in strategy disclosure across countries; and to test whether there are indeed differences in the extent to which strategy is disclosed.

Design/methodology/approach

The extent to which companies disclose their strategy is predicted on the basis of comparative management and corporate governance literature. This prediction is subsequently tested on ten criteria (describing corporate strategy). The empirical results were statistically analysed by using Manova and linear regression.

Findings

The main conclusion is drawn that national differences in corporate governance and culture do influence the extent to which companies disclose their corporate strategy.

Research limitations/implications

The research sample consists of the annual reports of five European countries. Future research could be extended into a broader sample. Furthermore, possible influence of other elements on the extent to which companies disclose their strategy (besides the control variables already taken into account) could be considered.

Practical implications

Practical implications for managers from this conclusion are that, in order to keep the stakeholders satisfied, the company should look at their demands for disclosure when deciding on a strategy for disclosure.

Originality/value

The link between national differences and strategy disclosure has not been specified so clearly in the literature before, and therefore can be seen as the largest contribution of this study.
Past progress and future directions in conceptualizing customer perceived value
Authors: Lin Chien‐Hsin , Sher Peter J. , Shih Hsin‐Yu
Published: August 2005

Purpose

To propose an alternative model specification for better conceptualizing the definition of a customer perceived value construct, and to discuss the theoretical justification of the model.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed model was elaborated based on theoretical contexts. Three models of different conceptualization specifications were estimated and compared with eTail service value survey data.

Findings

Based on theory, perceived value should be conceived as a formative construct. The empirical results demonstrated different parameter estimates and thus conclusions are drawn from different conceptualization methods.

Research limitations/implications

Future research is suggested to apply the proposed formative value model in other marketing settings, and to explore the role of consumer satisfaction in post‐purchase behavior.

Practical implications

Marketing resources allocation and communication programs may be influenced due to different conceptualization methods of value construct applied by practitioners.

Originality/value

This paper provides a theoretical rationale for conceptualizing perceived value with formative specification. It stresses that the theoretical justification is a major concern for determining conceptualization models.
Solving a continuous location‐routing problem by use of a self‐organizing map
Authors: Schwardt Martin , Dethloff Jan
Published: August 2005

Purpose

A variant of Kohonen's algorithm for the self‐organizing map (SOM) is used to solve a continuous location‐routing problem that can be applied to identify potential sites for subsequent selection by a discrete finite set model. The paper aims to show how the algorithm may be customized to fit the problem structure in a way that allows aspects of location and routing to be integrated into the solution procedure.

Design/methodology/approach

A set of test instances is used to compare the solutions of the neural network to those obtained by sequential approaches based on a savings procedure.

Findings

Compared to the results of the sequential approaches, the neural network yields good results.

Research limitations/implications

Future work may cover the expansion of the neural approach to multi‐depot and multi‐stage problems. Additionally, application of procedures other than the savings procedure should be evaluated with respect to their potential for further enhancing the solution quality of the sequential approaches.

Practical implications

This paper shows that strategic location decisions in practical applications with long‐term customer relationships can be taken using simultaneously generated routing information on an operational level.

Originality/value

The paper provides a new variety of applications for SOM as well as high quality results for the specific type of problem considered.
University education and employment in Japan
Authors: Danh Nguyen Nguyen , Yoshinari Yanagawa , Shigeji Miyazaki
Published: August 2005

Purpose

The present research aims to explore students' perceptions of the needs of employers in terms of the personal qualities of higher education graduates.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaires were delivered to students at four universities in the Chugoku area of Japan. The students were asked to indicate how important they thought each of the personal qualities that would be needed for their future employment, and their own evaluation of their capabilities with respect to each personal quality. In addition, respondents were asked to answer other questions in relation to satisfaction with their courses, job opportunities, and sources of their personal qualities.

Findings

The key findings are that job‐seeking students tend to have a lower assessment of their own abilities than their perceived importance of those abilities. In particular, students rated their abilities significantly lower in communication and presentation skills. Although they rated themselves highly in terms of optimism, cooperation, and responsibility, they were dissatisfied with their personal traits in terms of taking initiative, having flexibility, and (especially) in demonstrating an entrepreneurial mind.

Research limitations/implications

The sample is limited to university students in a limited geographical area of Japan. The generalizability of the results could therefore be questioned.

Practical implications

The study represents a useful source of information and impartial advice for undergraduate students planning to find a job, and for higher‐education academic staff and administrators managing undergraduate programs.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an identified information and resources need, and offers practical help to reform teaching and career‐development processes in Japanese higher education.
An intelligent risk assessment system for distributed construction teams
Authors: Shang Huiping , Anumba Chimay J. , Bouchlaghem Dino M. , Miles John C. , Cen Mei , Taylor Mark
Published: August 2005

Purpose

The paper proposes addressing the design and implementation of a web‐based risk assessment system that enables remote project team members to assess the risks at the conceptual design stage.

Design/methodology/approach

The prototype system is based on a client/server architecture and uses fuzzy logic and web‐based technology. A risk assessment scenario is used to demonstrate the operation and benefits of the prototype system.

Findings

The research found that the use of a web‐based risk assessment system for distributed project team members has major benefits in terms of use of linguistic terms to express risk assessment, ease of communication, ease of maintenance, and greater consistency, among others.

Research limitations/implications

There is scope for enhancing the system through the development of a risk management module, improving the user interface and making specific provisions for different project types.

Practical implications

The move in industry towards collaborative working practices is supported by systems such as this. Risk assessment is an important area that requires the input of all team members, if evenly distributed.

Originality/value

This paper has presented an innovative approach to risk assessment for distributed project teams. It will be of interest to all parties involved in construction projects, particularly those involved in risk assessment.
Consumer shopping value, satisfaction, and loyalty for retail apparel brands
Authors: Carpenter Jason M. , Fairhurst Ann
Published: August 2005

Purpose

To examine the effect of utilitarian and hedonic shopping benefits on customer satisfaction, loyalty, and word of mouth communication in a retail branded context.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of young adult consumers (N=276) was surveyed using a self‐administered questionnaire. Statistical techniques (confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling) were used to evaluate the data.

Findings

Statistical models indicate support for significant, positive relationships between utilitarian and hedonic shopping benefits, customer satisfaction, customer loyalty, and word of mouth communication.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations of this study include the use of a college student sample and confinement to the specialty apparel retail branded purchasing context. The findings are useful because links between the delivery of shopping benefits (e.g. hedonic and utilitarian) and important outcome variables (e.g. customer satisfaction, loyalty, and word of mouth communication) are demonstrated.

Practical implications

In the increasingly competitive environment faced by today's retailers, the pursuit of customer loyalty is paramount. In order to be competitive, retailers must identify the key antecedents to customer loyalty and the relationships between the benefits delivered to the consumer and important outcomes (e.g. satisfaction, word of mouth communication). The findings of this study contribute to the development of an organizing framework for such relationships, which is exceptionally important for retailers.

Originality/value

This paper undertakes an empirical examination of the effect of shopping benefits on several outcome variables. The paper is unique because of the relative newness of the context in which the study was conducted (retail branded products).
National versus store brand effects on consumer evaluation of a garment
Authors: d'Astous Alain , Saint‐Louis Odile
Published: August 2005

Purpose

The study reported in this article aims to examine the effects of national versus store brands on consumer evaluation of a garment, taking into account the intended product usage situation (for everyday use versus for a special occasion) as well as price (regular versus discount), type of store (department versus boutique), and store image (lower‐class versus upper‐class).

Design/methodology/approach

An experiment was conducted with 127 Canadian adult consumers where the above variables were manipulated by means of short vignettes presenting a to‐be‐evaluated branded shirt.

Findings

The results of the experimental study showed that consumer evaluations of store brands and national brands were influenced by the joint effects of store image and intended usage situation.

Practical implications

Retailers in upper‐class retail clothing stores willing to promote their store brands should emphasize in their communication programs buying contexts in which an item is needed for some special event (e.g. a wedding anniversary) because this appears to correspond to situations where store brands are best valued. Retailers in lower‐class stores should rather promote their store brands by stressing the good quality of their clothes in day‐to‐day usage situations. As for national brands of clothing, emphasizing the satisfaction guarantee that comes automatically with well‐established brands would seem to be the best communication strategy.

Originality/value

The paper shows the influence of store image on consumer evaluations of garments.
Corporate entrepreneurship and innovation part 1: the missing link
Authors: McFadzean Elspeth , O'Loughlin Andrew , Shaw Elizabeth
Published: August 2005

Purpose

To examine the literature on corporate entrepreneurship and innovation and to develop a combined definition of these two terms. Moreover, the literature is used to construct a holistic model that seeks to explain the links between corporate entrepreneurial activity and the innovation process.

Design/methodology/approach

A number of published works on entrepreneurship and innovation are critiqued. The findings from this literature review are used to develop a framework illustrating the relationships between the corporate entrepreneur and the innovation process.

Findings

The paper presents a combined definition of corporate entrepreneurship and innovation and, from the literature review, concludes that previous models on entrepreneurship and innovation are fragmented because there is little exploration on the relationships and dynamics between these two factors. A framework of corporate entrepreneurship and innovation is constructed by synthesising the information gathered from previous literature. This model shows that there are missing links between the entrepreneur and the innovation process. The paper discusses three factors that may explain both the dynamics and the relationships between the entrepreneur and the innovation process. These are entrepreneurial attitudes, vision and actions.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an identified gap in the literature, namely the lack of investigation into the links between the corporate entrepreneur and the innovation process, and suggests three factors that could be used to explain this gap. Part 2 of this paper will present a new holistic model of corporate entrepreneurship and innovation that illustrates the relationships between these two areas in more detail.
A multi‐level theory of innovation implementation
Authors: McAdam Rodney
Published: August 2005

Purpose

Increased developments in competition, globalisation and technology have led to an increased emphasis on innovation in organisations and academia. There is a substantial body of knowledge in regard to the concept of innovation. However, there is a need to make a distinction between innovation and the implementation of innovation in organisations. The study of innovation implementation is much less defined in regard to theory and practice. The aim of this paper is to develop a theoretical conception of innovation implementation primarily based on a critique of the literature. The development is intended to inform further research and enable organisations to develop pathways for effective implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual and integrated framework is developed from the literature. The constructs of normalising, legitimising and conflict are used to develop the theory.

Findings

It is shown how conflict or abrasion is a key element of innovation implementation in attempting to overcome normalising and legitimising organisational forces. Moreover, it is contended that conflict can be used to assess innovation implementation.

Originality/value

There is a paucity of theory building at multiple levels within organisations in relation to innovation implementation.
The impact of performance measurement in strategic planning
Authors: Tapinos E. , Dyson R.G. , Meadows M.
Published: August 2005

Purpose

To investigate the impact of performance measurement in strategic planning process.

Design/methodology/approach

A large scale survey was conducted online with Warwick Business School alumni. The questionnaire was based on the Strategic Development Process model by Dyson. The questionnaire was designed to map the current practice of strategic planning and to determine its most influential factors on the effectiveness of the process. All questions were close ended and a seven‐point Likert scale used. The independent variables were grouped into four meaningful factors by factor analysis (Varimax, coefficient of rotation 0.4). The factors produced were used to build regression models (stepwise) for the five assessments of strategic planning process. Regression models were developed for the totality of the responses, comparing SMEs and large organizations and comparing organizations operating in slowly and rapidly changing environments.

Findings

The results indicate that performance measurement stands as one of the four main factors characterising the current practice of strategic planning. This research has determined that complexity coming from organizational size and rate of change in the sector creates variation in the impact of performance measurement in strategic planning. Large organizations and organizations operating in rapidly changing environments make greater use of performance measurement.

Research limitations/implications

This research is based on subjective data, therefore the conclusions do not concern the impact of strategic planning process' elements on the organizational performance achievements, but on the success/effectiveness of the strategic planning process itself.

Practical implications

This research raises a series of questions about the use and potential impact of performance measurement, especially in the categories of organizations that are not significantly influenced by its utilisation. It contributes to the field of performance measurement impact.

Originality/value

This research fills in the gap literature concerning the lack of large scale surveys on strategic development processes and performance measurement. It also contributes in the literature of this field by providing empirical evidences on the impact of performance measurement upon the strategic planning process.
Distance, Turnout, and the Convenience of Voting*
Authors: Dyck Joshua J. , Gimpel James G.
Published: August 2005

Objectives. This research examines how distance factors into the costs associated with political participation. We hypothesize that the political geography of a voter's residence affects not only the likelihood that he or she will vote, but whether the voter will choose between traditional Election Day voting or nontraditional means, such as casting an absentee ballot by mail, or going to an early‐voting site.

Methods. Using a geographic information system (GIS), we calculate Manhattan‐block distances between voter residences and their respective precinct and nearest early‐voting sites in Clark County, NV for the 2002 mid‐term election. We then use these calculated distances to predict, with multinomial logistic regression, the likelihood of nonvoting, precinct voting, and nontraditional voting.

Results. Our evidence suggests that the cost of traveling to reach a traditional voting site is associated with nonvoting to a point, but the relationship between distance and participation is nonlinear. Distance to traditional voting sites is also highly associated with choosing to vote by mail. Would‐be nonvoters are more inclined to use proximate election‐day sites than proximate early‐voting sites, probably because they decide to vote so late in the campaign.

Conclusions. Our findings have important implications for democratic theory, ongoing efforts to reform the electoral process, and the practice of voter mobilization.
Language Provisions Under the Voting Rights Act: How Effective Are They?*
Authors: Jones‐Correa Michael
Published: August 2005

Objectives. As the Voting Rights Act (VRA) comes up for renewal in 2007, its effects on the political incorporation of groups other than African Americans will be of key importance in any debate. Among the questions in any such discussion will be whether the language provisions of the VRA have helped enfranchise “linguistic minorities” in the United States, or whether their effect has been largely symbolic. Second, if the Voting Rights Act has had a positive impact on the participation rates of Asian Americans and Latinos, have these effects been tilted toward first‐generation immigrants—who were not the intended beneficiaries of the Act—rather than native‐born minorities?

Methods. This article looks at registration and voting data from the November 1996 and 2000 Census Current Population Supplemental Voting Surveys to explore the differential impact of the Act among immigrants and the native born, and among Latinos and Asian Americans.

Results. The analysis finds evidence that the language provisions of the Voting Rights Act have significant and positive effects on the voting rates of covered linguistic minorities.

Conclusions. Because the voting rates of Asian and Hispanic Americans in the United States still lag behind those of the population as a whole, the effects of the VRA with respect to these groups are important considerations as Congress weighs the Act's renewal.
Race/Ethnic Differences in Nonspecific Psychological Distress: Evidence from the National Health Interview Survey*
Authors: Bratter Jenifer L. , Eschbach Karl
Published: August 2005

Objective. This article documents the patterns of white‐nonwhite differences in nonspecific psychological distress and explores how acculturation characteristics, social class, marital status, and chronic illness mediate or moderate these differences for eight racial/ethnic populations in the United States.

Methods. We analyze data from a five‐year pool of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) collected between 1997 and 2001 (N=162,032) and employ multivariate regression techniques to explore level of psychological distress of various ethnic groups relative to non‐Hispanic whites.

Results. Nonwhite populations exhibit variable base‐line differences in psychological distress compared to non‐Hispanic whites; however, adjusted estimates show that African Americans and Mexicans have lower levels of distress while distress scores for “other Hispanics,” Asians, and Cubans exhibit statistically similar levels. The highest distress occurs for Puerto Ricans. Interaction models reveal chronic sources of stress (e.g., poverty, chronic illness, nonmarriage) are even more taxing on psychological health of high‐risk groups or have weaker relationships to stress for other groups.

Conclusions. This study reveals the need for capturing ethnic variation in studies of mental health. Social class, acculturation, marital status, and chronic illness cannot fully explain white‐nonwhite differences in psychological distress.
Judicial Decision Making and International Tribunals: Assessing the Impact of Individual, National, and International Factors*
Authors: Meernik James , King Kimi Lynn , Dancy Geoffrey
Published: August 2005

Objective. The objective of this article is to explain judicial decision making at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia by analyzing the impact of individual, national, and international factors.

Methods. We use regression and probit analysis of data on the verdicts and sentences handed down by the judges.

Results. We find that international factors best explain judicial decision making, especially regarding sentencing.

Conclusions. International tribunals and courts are becoming increasingly important and prevalent and it is critical that scholars better understand how their judges make decisions.
Performance Measurement Versus City Service Satisfaction: Intra‐City Variations in Quality?*
Authors: Swindell David , Kelly Janet
Published: August 2005

Objective. This article illustrates the usefulness of citizen satisfaction surveys to account for variation in citizen satisfaction with public‐service quality within a city's boundaries.

Methods. The article examines data from 17 local governments and divided into 141 spatial areas to investigate the distribution of satisfaction within cities (as an outcome measure) and the effect of SES variables on variation in satisfaction with jointly consumed services.

Results. Satisfaction varies within cities, not all of which is attributable to SES characteristics. This suggests substantive variation in service quality.

Conclusions. Local governments interested in developing meaningful performance measures of service outcomes should incorporate properly designed citizen satisfaction surveys implemented at the service‐district level. In addition, performance indicators of service inputs and outputs should be disaggregated to the service‐district level and matched to citizen satisfaction results in order to allocate and tailor resource policy decisions in a more informed manner.
Who Gets an Early Education? Family Income and the Enrollment of Three‐ to Five‐Year‐Olds from 1968 to 2000*
Authors: Bainbridge Jay , Meyers Marcia K. , Tanaka Sakiko , Waldfogel Jane
Published: August 2005

Objectives. Has inequality in access to early education been growing or lessening over time?

Methods. Using the October Current Population Survey education supplement from 1968 to 2000, we look at three‐, four‐, and five‐year‐olds' enrollment in early education—including center‐based care, Head Start, nursery school, prekindergarten, and kindergarten.

Results. Our analysis shows a strong link between family income and early education enrollment for three‐ and four‐year‐olds, especially when we compare the bottom two and the top two income groups. These differences remain even after controlling for a large variety of factors, including race/ethnicity, maternal employment, family structure, and parental education.

Conclusions. Inequality in early education by income group varies by age of child: it is most pronounced for three‐year‐olds, who have been the least likely to benefit from public early childhood education programs; it has diminished in the past decade for four‐year‐olds, who have been increasingly likely to have access to public prekindergarten programs; and it has all but disappeared for the five‐year‐olds, who now largely attend public kindergarten. This pattern suggests a potentially important role for public policy in closing the gap in early education between children of different income groups.
Mitigating the Combined Distributional Consequences of the Georgia Lottery for Education and the HOPE Scholarship*
Authors: Campbell Noel , Finney R. Zachary
Published: August 2005

Objective. Research demonstrates that nonwhite, lower‐income households bear the Georgia Lottery's tax burden, yet receive fewer benefits. However, local disparities in grading standards may mitigate the observed income redistribution. Our objective is to determine whether certain localities obtain more HOPE scholarships than expected, mitigating the observed redistribution.

Method. We use fixed‐effects regression and a sample of Georgia's counties (1996–2002).

Results. Our results indicate that some localities obtain more HOPE scholarships than expected, mitigating the observed redistribution.

Conclusions. We conclude the income‐redistribution research result does not reveal a complete picture because it overlooks the HOPE scholarship's extraordinary allocation mechanism.
Serotonin transporter function and expression are reduced in mice with TNBS‐induced colitis
Authors: Linden D. R. , Foley K. F. , Mcquoid C. , Simpson J. , Sharkey K. A. , Mawe G. M.
Published: August 2005

Abstract Regulated release of serotonin (5‐HT) from enterochromaffin (EC) cells activates neural reflexes that are involved in gut motility, secretion, vascular perfusion and sensation. The 5‐HT‐selective reuptake transporter (SERT) terminates serotonergic signalling in the intestinal mucosa. The aim of this investigation was to determine whether mucosal 5‐HT content, release, and/or reuptake are altered in a murine model of immune cell‐mediated colitis. Experiments were conducted 6 days after colitis was induced by 2,4,6‐trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid, a time point when macroscopic and histological damage scores indicated significant inflammation. During inflammation, SERT transcript levels and immunoreactivity were reduced, and the uptake of [3H] 5‐HT was impaired. Increases in mucosal 5‐HT content and the number of 5‐HT‐immunoreactive mast cells in the lamina propria were also detected in the inflamed region, whereas EC cell numbers did not change. Mucosal 5‐HT released under basal and stimulated conditions was unchanged in animals with colitis. These data suggest that murine colitis alters 5‐HT signalling by increasing 5‐HT availability through decreased 5‐HT uptake by mucosal epithelial cells. These findings support the concept that altered 5‐HT signalling could be a contributing factor in altered gut function and sensitivity in inflammatory bowel disease.
Skin disease: clinical indicator of immune status in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
Authors: Raju P. V. Krishnam , Rao G. Raghurama , Ramani T. V. , S. Vandana MD
Published: August 2005

Background  Dermatological manifestations are seen at every stage of HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus), and are often the presenting features. These manifestations not only act as markers but also reflect the underlying immune status.

Objective  To establish skin diseases as clinical indicators of underlying immune status in HIV disease by estimating and correlating with the CD4, CD4 : CD8 ratio.

Materials and Methods  The CD4, CD8, CD4 : CD8 ratios were estimated using the fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) count system in 20 asymptomatic HIV patients, 80 HIV patients with various skin manifestations and 72 healthy volunteers as the control group.

Results  In comparison with the CD4 cell count of the control group (mean 885/mm3, standard deviation 331), that of the HIV‐positive individuals (mean 409.83/mm3, standard deviation 263.07) was statistically correlated with low counts (z = 10.099 and P < 0.05). Similarly there was statistical significance with the CD4 : CD8 ratio among these two groups.

In comparison with the CD4 cell count of the asymptomatic HIV‐positive individuals (mean 620.65/mm3 and standard deviation 262.065), the CD4 cell count of the HIV‐positive patients with various dermatological manifestations (mean 357.15/mm3, standard deviation 236.95) was statistically correlated with low counts (z = 4.0978 and P < 0.05). Similarly there was statistical significance with the CD4 : CD8 ratio among these two groups.

Conclusions  There was an inverse relation between the CD4 counts and the incidence and severity of skin diseases in the HIV/AIDS patients. Cutaneous manifestations of HIV can be considered as good clinical indicators to predict and access the underlying immune status in resource‐poor countries.
Skin disease patterns in Hormozgan, Iran
Authors: Baghestani Shahram , Zare Shahram , Mahboobi Abdoul‐Ali
Published: August 2005

Background  Skin diseases are the most common cause of referrals to general practitioners and dermatologists, and are considered a health problem in developing countries. The aim of this study was to report the extent and patterns of skin diseases in southern Iran.

Methods  All new cases of skin diseases referred to Shahid Mohammadi Hospital, Bandar Abbas, Southern Iran over a 3‐year period were retrospectively considered. The dermatologic diagnoses, sex and age were recorded for each patient and the diagnoses were classified according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD‐10).

Results  A total of 6841 patients were referred to the dermatology clinic of the hospital (48.27% male and 51.73% female). Infectious and parasitic diseases, including infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, were found to be the most common skin diseases (32.1%), followed by dermatitis and eczema (24.5%), disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue such as pigmentation disorders (9.7%), papulosquamous disorders (3.8%), urticaria and erythema (2.8%), burns, corrosion and unspecified injuries (3.3%), radiation‐related disorders (2.3%), neoplasm (0.8%) and diseases of the oral cavity, salivary glands and jaw (0.3%).

Conclusions  It appears that certain skin diseases such as dermatitis and eczema, superficial mycoses and scabies cause serious health problems in the region. Emphasis should be placed on this group of common skin diseases at all levels of personal health care, and suitable public health policies should be implemented in order to manage this problem rationally.
Serum interleukin‐8 as a serologic marker of activity in Behçet's disease
Authors: Gür‐Toy Güneş , Lenk Nurdan , Yalcin Basak , Aksaray Sabahat , Alli Nuran
Published: August 2005

Background  Immune dysregulation has been shown to be one of the major aspects of the yet unknown pathogenesis of Behçet's disease. Interleukin‐8 (IL‐8), a major chemokine with pivotal effects concerning leukocytes and endothelial cells, has been found to be elevated in patients with Behçet's disease.

Aim  To evaluate the significance of elevated levels of IL‐8 with respect to the activity of Behçet's disease.

Methods  Sixty‐seven consecutive patients with Behçet's disease (37 males, 30 females; 32.5 ± 9.3 years) were enrolled in our study. The number of active clinical manifestations at the time of serum sampling was recorded. The degree of association between disease activity and IL‐8, C‐reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate was assessed.

Results  Serum levels of IL‐8 increased as the number of clinically involved organs increased (P < 0.05). C‐reactive protein and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate showed no correlation with disease activity.

Conclusions  Our study confirms that the IL‐8 level is a more sensitive marker of disease activity than the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C‐reactive protein. It may be assumed that IL‐8 plays an important role in the pathophysiology of Behçet's disease.
Etanercept and psoriasis, from clinical studies to real life
Authors: Jacob Sharon E. , Sergay Amanda , Kerdel Francisco A.
Published: August 2005

Objective  To determine whether etanercept therapy enables long‐term psoriasis patients to discontinue systemic psoriatic therapy.

Methods  Charts from psoriatic patients on etanercept therapy seen at the Department of Dermatology and Dermatolgic Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA, between June 2002 and October 2003, were evaluated retrospectively. The duration of disease, adverse events to “standard” systemic psoriatic therapy, and current therapy were reviewed. IRB: 03/582C.

Results  A large proportion of patients (73.5%) were able to decrease or discontinue their traditional systemic agent while on etanercept.

Conclusions  Etanercept is a safe and effective therapy in chronic moderate to severe psoriasis. In patients who are receiving systemic therapy for their disease and alternative therapy is warranted, etanercept can be added with the aim to discontinue the other systemic agents.
‘Working the system’. Achieving change through partnership working: an evaluation of cancer partnership groups
Authors: Richardson Alison , Sitzia John , Cotterell Phil
Published: August 2005

Aims and objectives  To investigate the characteristics and achievements of cancer partnership groups – collaborative service improvement groups formed of NHS staff and service users – in the 34 cancer networks in England, and in particular to explore the influence that such groups had on local cancer services.

Design  A qualitative approach employing a structured telephone survey, face‐to‐face interviews and documentary analysis.

Participants and setting  Thirty cancer networks in England with an active Partnership Group completed the telephone survey. From these 30 networks, six networks were subsequently selected from which service users and NHS professionals involved in partnership groups and NHS professionals who were non‐members were recruited to take part in face‐to‐face interviews.

Results and conclusions  Partnership groups were established in the majority of cancer networks. Typically, these groups were at network level, been established for less than a year, met once every 2 months, and were populated with both service users and health‐care professionals. Five common activities and achievements were identified: establishment of the group itself; acting as a ‘reference’ group for consultation; networking and representation on other groups; patient information and communication and proactive influencing. Activities progressed in scale and complexity as groups evolved. Groups had learnt the basics of change management and some identified a more sophisticated understanding of change processes in the NHS as essential for the group's motivation and survival. When gauging the impact of involvement strategies it would seem important to subscribe to broad indicators of success that include both process and outcome measures.
From rhetoric to reality: including patient voices in supportive cancer care planning
Authors: Gold Sara K. Tedford , Abelson Julia , Charles Cathy A.
Published: August 2005

Objective  To explore the extent and manner of patient participation in the planning of regional supportive care networks throughout the province of Ontario. We consider the disconnect between the rhetoric and reality of patient involvement in network planning and co‐ordination.

Context  In 1997, the Province of Ontario, Canada, established a new, regionalized cancer care system. By transferring responsibility to the regional level and to networks, the architects of the new provincial system hoped to broaden participation in decision making and to enhance the responsiveness of decisions to communities.

Research approach  Through a qualitative, multiple case study approach we evaluated the processes of involving patients in network development. In‐depth, semi‐structured interviews and document analysis were complemented by observations of provincial meetings, regional council and network meetings.

Results  The network development processes in the three case study regions reveal a significant gap between intentions to involve patients in health planning and their actual involvement. This gap can be explained by: (i) a lack of clear direction regarding networks and patient participation in these networks; (ii) the dominance of regional cancer centres in network planning activities; and, (iii) the emergence of competing provincial priorities.

Discussion  These three trends expose the complexity of the notion of public participation and how it is embedded in social and political contexts. The failed attempt at involving patients in health planning efforts is the result of benign neglect of public participation intents and the social and political contexts in which public and patient participation is meant to occur.
Allergy and cancer
Authors: Lindelöf B. , Granath F. , Tengvall‐Linder M. , Ekbom A.
Published: August 2005

Background:  Conflicting results have provided support for two distinct and contradictory hypotheses: (i) allergy has a protective effect against cancer by enhanced immune surveillance, and (ii) allergy is associated with an increased risk of cancer by chronic immune stimulation. We therefore aimed us to perform a large epidemiological study with a defined allergic disease cohort.

Methods:  During the years 1988–2000, 70 136 patients tested for total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and 57 815 tested with Phadiatop for diagnosing allergic disease at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, were linked with the Swedish Cancer Registry for a virtually complete follow up with regard to cancer.

Findings:  The total number of observed cancers was normal in the total serum IgE‐cohort; standardized incidence ratio (SIR) = 0.98 (95% CI: 0.92–1.04) and in the Phadiatop‐cohort: SIR = 0.99 (0.92–1.06) independent of the level of IgE and positive or negative Phadiatop. Specific analysis was done for cancer of the lung, cervix, pancreas, lymphoma, and nonmelanoma skin cancer. None of these forms of cancer had increased risks.

Interpretation:  The study does not support the hypothesis that allergy has a protective effect against cancer, nor does it support an increased risk.
Interleukin‐10 haplotype associated with total serum IgE in atopic dermatitis patients
Authors: Shin H. D. , Park B. L. , Kim L. H. , Kim J.‐S. , Kim J.‐W.
Published: August 2005

Background:  The genetic background of atopic dermatitis (AD) is not clearly understood. Interleukin (IL)‐10 is a powerful Th‐2 cell cytokine produced by lymphoid cells that exerts its function by inhibiting macrophage/monocyte and T‐cell lymphocyte replication and secretion of inflammatory cytokines [IL‐1, tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNFA), IL‐6, IL‐8 and IL‐12].

Objective:  In an effort to discover additional polymorphism(s) in genes whose variant(s) have been implicated in total immunoglobulin E (IgE) level in AD patients, we scrutinized the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL10 gene as a potent candidate for contributing to the level of IgE in serum.

Methods:  We recruited 334 AD patients and assayed their serum total IgE levels using the LIPA‐200 system. Four SNPs in the IL10 gene were genotyped using the single‐base extension (SBE) method. Logistic regression analyses were performed with single polymorphisms and haplotypes (ht) to determine their association with the level of serum total IgE.

Results:  Genetic association analysis of total serum IgE in AD patients revealed that one of the IL10 ht, IL10‐ht2, was associated with decreased serum total IgE in gene dose‐dependent manner (P = 0.02–0.001).

Conclusions:  It was predicted that the inhibition of innate immunity by increased IL‐10 production in IL10‐ht2‐bearing individuals might be associated with decreased total serum IgE levels among AD patients. The greater effects of IL10 ht on decreased total serum IgE levels suggest that the effect of IL‐10 polymorphism might be the result of a combined genotype (ht) rather than single polymorphisms.
Double‐blind and placebo‐controlled study to assess efficacy and safety of a modified allergen extract of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in allergic asthma
Authors: Ameal A. , Vega‐Chicote J. M. , Fernández S. , Miranda A. , Carmona M. J. , Rondón M. C. , Reina E. , García‐González J. J.
Published: August 2005

Background:  A randomized double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study was conducted in patients allergic asthma sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.

Objective:  To evaluate the efficacy and safety after 1‐year of immunotherapy with a modified D. pteronyssinus extract compared with placebo.

Material and methods:  Fifty‐five patients were randomly allocated to receive the active treatment (n = 29), or placebo (n = 26). The main outcome was the specific bronchial provocation test (BPT). Other parameters analysed were dose–response skin prick test (SPT), symptom and medication scores and asthma quality of life (AQLQ).

Results:  At the end of the study, the active group showed a significant increase in the PD20FEV1 compared with placebo (P = 0.0029). Nineteen patients of the active vs 10 of the placebo group needed more than twice the initial amount of allergen extract to have a positive BPT (P = 0.0293); seven patients in the placebo vs one in the active group needed less than half (P = 0.0137). In SPT, a significant improvement (P = 0.0049) was found in the active group. This group also had a median reduction of 91.5% in symptom scores, whereas the placebo group increased by 86%. Medication scores decreased in both groups (56% in the active and 11.4% in the placebo). In AQLQ, the differences between both groups were significant (P = 0.0234) at the end of the study.

Conclusion:  After 1 year of treatment, the modified extract of D. pteronyssinus demonstrated to be safe and efficacious to treat patients with asthma and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis sensitized to this mite.
Cat allergen induces proinflammatory responses by human monocyte‐derived macrophages but not by dendritic cells
Authors: Andersson Lundell A.‐C. , Grindebacke H. , Karlsson H. , Seppälä U. , Rudin A.
Published: August 2005

Background:  The upper airway mucosa of healthy humans contains a dense network of cells with dendritic morphology of which the majority express a macrophage‐like phenotype (CD14+CD64+CD68+), whereas the smaller population are immature dendritic cells (DC; CD11c+CD14−). Our aim was to study the proinflammatory response of human monocytes and in vitro‐generated macrophages and DC after contact with cat allergens.

Methods:  Monocyte‐derived DC and monocyte‐derived macrophages were exposed to cat allergen extract or Escherichia coli. Purified monocytes were stimulated with allergen extracts from cat or house dust mite (HDM) or the major allergenic protein Fel d 1 and induction of proinflammatory cytokines by monocytes was analyzed before and after blocking CD14.

Results:  We show that cat allergen extract induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin (IL)‐6 production by CD14‐positive macrophages but not by CD14‐negative DC. Moreover, monocytes produced significantly higher levels of TNF in response to cat allergens than in response to HDM allergens. We observed no differences in levels of TNF and IL‐6 from either macrophages or monocytes after exposure to cat allergen when comparing healthy and cat‐allergic individuals. Finally, the proinflammatory cytokine production from monocytes in response to cat allergen extract but not to HDM allergen was significantly reduced by blocking CD14.

Conclusion:  These results indicate that closely related innate immune cells from the myeloid lineage respond differentially to cat allergen extract and that the pattern‐recognition receptor CD14 might be one of the mediators involved in the inflammatory responses to inhalant allergens.