bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hepcidin expression and iron transport in alveolar macrophages
Authors: Nguyen Ngoc-Bich , Callaghan Kimberly D. , Ghio Andrew J. , Haile David J. , Yang Funmei
Published: April 2006

Alveolar macrophages express many proteins important in iron homeostasis, including the iron importer divalent metal transport 1 (DMT1) and the iron exporter ferroportin 1 (FPN1) that likely participate in lung defense. We found the iron regulatory hormone hepcidin (HAMP) is also produced by alveolar macrophages. In mouse alveolar macrophages, HAMP mRNA was detected at a low level when not stimulated but at a high level when exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS also affected the mRNA levels of the iron transporters, with DMT1 being upregulated and FPN1 downregulated. However, iron had no effect on HAMP expression but was able to upregulate both DMT1 and FPN1 in alveolar macrophages. IL-1 and IL-6, which are important in HAMP augmentation in hepatocytes, also did not affect HAMP expression in alveolar macrophages. In fact, the LPS-induced alterations in the expression of HAMP as well as DMT1 and FPN1 were preserved in the alveolar macrophages isolated from IL-1 receptor or IL-6-deficient mice. When alveolar macrophages were loaded with transferrin-bound 55Fe, the subsequent release of 55Fe was inhibited significantly by LPS. In addition, treatment of these cells with either LPS or HAMP caused the diminishment of the surface FPN1. These findings are consistent with the current model that HAMP production leads to a decreased iron efflux. Our studies suggest that iron mobilization by alveolar macrophages can be affected by iron and LPS via several pathways, including HAMP-mediated degradation of FPN1, and that these cells may use unique regulatory mechanisms to cope with iron imbalance in the lung.
Maternal glucocorticoids and prenatal programming of hypertension
Authors: Woods Lori L.
Published: April 2006

Maternal glucocorticoids have been postulated to play an important role in prenatal programming for adult hypertension in the offspring. However, we have shown previously that offspring hypertension caused by maternal dexamethasone subcutaneous administration at 100 μg·kg−1·day−1can be accounted for by the corresponding reduction in food intake that these mothers experience. The present studies were designed to determine whether there is a lower dose of dexamethasone that does not reduce maternal food intake yet still causes hypertension in the adult offspring. Pregnant rats were treated with subcutaneous dexamethasone at 50 (D50) or 25 (D25) μg·kg−1·day−1on days 15–20 of pregnancy. An additional group was untreated or received vehicle injections (control). D25 and D50 dams reduced their food intake by 17% during and after treatment and gained 31% less weight than control over the course of gestation. In adulthood (∼21 wk), chronically instrumented male offspring of D50 and D25 had normal blood pressures (D50: 131 ± 2 mmHg and D25: 127 ± 3 mmHg vs. 127 ± 2 mmHg in control). Qualitatively similar results were found in female offspring. Thus neither dexamethasone per se at these doses nor the accompanying modest reductions in maternal food intake and weight gain have blood pressure programming effects. As far as has been tested, there does not appear to be a dose of dexamethasone that, given over this time period in the rat, programs offspring hypertension without reducing maternal food intake and weight gain. These data do not support the hypothesis that maternal glucocorticoids program offspring hypertension directly.
Combination of In Vivo Angiopoietin-1 Gene Transfer and Autologous Bone Marrow Cell Implantation for Functional Therapeutic Angiogenesis
Authors: Kobayashi Koichi , Kondo Takahisa , Inoue Natsuo , Aoki Mika , Mizuno Masaaki , Komori Kimihiro , Yoshida Jun , Murohara Toyoaki
Published: April 2006

Objective—

Autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell (BM-MNC) implantation into ischemic tissues promotes angiogenesis, but a large amount of marrow aspiration is required, which is a major clinical limitation. Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) is requisite for vascular maturation during angiogenesis. We examined the impacts of combinatorial Ang-1 gene transfer and low-dose autologous BM-MNC implantation on therapeutic angiogenesis in a rabbit model of hind limb ischemia.

Methods and Results—

Rabbits were divided into 4 groups: phosphate-buffered saline (control), 500 μg Ang-1 plasmid (Ang-1), 1×10
6
autologous BM-MNCs (BMC), and Ang-1 plasmid plus BM-MNCs (combination). The Ang-1 group had a greater angiographic score and capillary density compared with the control (
P
<0.05), but the Ang-1 gene therapy alone did not improve transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcO
2
) and skin ulcer score. However, the combination group showed a significant improvement in not only angiographic score and capillary density (
P
<0.05) but also TcO
2
(
P
<0.05) and skin ulcer score. These efficacies were greater in the combination group compared with the BMC group.

Conclusions—

This Ang-1 gene and BM-MNC combination therapy enhances not only quantitative but also qualitative angiogenesis in ischemic tissues. Moreover, the combination therapy will enable a reduction in the amount of BM aspiration required for significant therapeutic angiogenesis.
The New Monetary Regime: Introduction
Authors: Hall S.G. , Henry S.G.B.
Published: April 2006

Perhaps the most striking feature of macroeconomic policy of the past twenty or thirty years has been the emergence of a consensus that monetary policy should be delegated to an independent authority. The world has moved from a situation in the 1960s and 1970s where there were very few independent central banks — in Europe the main example was the Bundesbank of course — to one now where independence is almost standard. Indeed with the foundation of the European Central Bank and the eurosystem the Bundesbank model has effectively come to dominate European monetary policy. The collection of papers in this issue of the Review consider this move in policy setting from a number of diverse perspectives including the move to inflation targeting as well as central bank independence. They assess the effectiveness of this move, describing how an independent monetary authority actually does operate, as well as how it might utilise information more effectively
In Defense of Nonliberal Nationalism
Authors: Herr Ranjoo Seodu
Published: April 2006

Although nonliberal nationalism has played a prominent role in previously and currently colonized nations of the Third World, its assessment by liberal political theorists has been less than favorable. These theorists believe that nonliberal nationalisms are bound to be oppressive to marginalized members, since they view nonliberal cultures, which such movements aim to protect and maintain, as essentialist and static monoliths that do not recognize the fundamental value of individual rights. In this article, I defend nonliberal nationalisms of previously or currently colonized nations—what I call nonliberal polycentric nationalisms—by arguing that they can be morally justifiable, provided that they are democratic. This argument is supported by communitarian constructions of moral agency and culture, which show that nonliberal cultures hold emancipatory potential for the insiders who actively participate in the reconstruction of their national culture.
Retributive Reactions to Suspected Offenders: The Importance of Social Categorizations and Guilt Probability
Authors: van Prooijen Jan-Willem
Published: April 2006

In the current research, the author investigates the influence of social categorizations on retributive emotions (e.g., anger) and punishment intentions when people evaluate suspected offenders as independent observers. It is argued that information that guilt is certain or uncertain (i.e., guilt probability) has different consequences for retributive reactions to ingroup and outgroup suspects. In correspondence with predictions, results of four experiments showed that people reacted more negatively to ingroup than outgroup suspects when guilt was certain but that people reacted more negatively to outgroup than ingroup suspects when guilt was uncertain. It is concluded that guilt probability moderates the influence of social categorizations on people’s retributive reactions to suspected offenders.
Self-Enhancement by Social Comparison: A Prospective Analysis
Authors: Zuckerman Miron , O’Loughlin Ryan E.
Published: April 2006

A longitudinal investigation showed that self-enhancement by social comparison (assessing whether people perceive themselves more positively than they perceive others) was prospectively related to an increase in self-reported adjustment, controlling for the effects of narcissism. Better adjustment, including higher self-esteem, was not prospectively related to an increase in self-enhancement. The investigation also included a diary period, allowing the assessment of intrasubject covariation between daily reports of self-esteem and daily reports of perceived challenge and daily events (positive or negative). High (compared to low) self-enhancers were less likely to report lower self-esteem under higher challenge and less likely to report higher self-esteem under positive events.
Validities and Abilities in Criminal Profiling: A Critique of the Studies Conducted by Richard Kocsis and His Colleagues
Authors: Bennell Craig , Jones Natalie J. , Taylor Paul J. , Snook Brent
Published: April 2006

In a recent issue of this journal, Kocsis reviewed the criminal profiling research that he and his colleagues have conducted during the past 4 years. Their research examines the correlates of profile accuracy with respect to the skills of the individual constructing the profile, and it has led Kocsis to draw conclusions that are important to the profiling field. In this article, the authors review the contributions of the Kocsis studies and critique their methodological and conceptual foundations. The authors raise a number of concerns and argue that data from the Kocsis studies fail to support many of the conclusions presented in his recent review. The authors present evidence in support of their assertions and provide recommendations that will allow future research in the area to generate data that are more meaningful and generalizable.
The Terrorist Mind
Authors: Miller Laurence
Published: April 2006

Part I of this two-part article presents a psychological and political analysis of the terrorist mind. Part II describes the major current psychological classifications and typologies of domestic and foreign terrorism. Explanations are offered in terms of our current understanding of the personality and psychopathology of terroristic violence. A heuristic model of classifying terrorism in terms of personality and psychopathology is presented. In addition to guiding further research and theory on the psychology of terrorism, this model has immediate practical application to the investigation and interrogation of terrorist suspects.
Is Schizoid Personality a Forerunner of Homicidal or Suicidal Behavior?
Authors: Loza Wagdy , Hanna Samia
Published: April 2006

The authors believe that a relationship exists between schizoid personality disorder and violent acts. The following case study is presented to contemplate such a possible relationship. There is a paucity of research on this topic. The authors suggest that further research closely examine the relationship between violent behavior and those character traits associated with schizoid personality disorder. If such a relationship is found, these character traits could be integrated with other risk factors known to predict violence.
From Concepts to Methods
Authors: Berard T. J.
Published: April 2006

Inequality can be understood as a social fact, or as a concept used to claim the existence of a social fact. These two orientations are intimately related; inequality is a social fact only insofar as people use the concept of “inequality” according to social conventions for its use, thereby contributing to the meaningful, socially structured, and meaningfully socially structured character of society. A social constructionist approach to inequality requires attending to the concept “inequality” as a cultural, sociolinguistic resource used to understand and describe social relations. Such use simultaneously recognizes and accomplishes inequality as an intersubjective reality. By attending to inequality as a concept, the empirical study of inequality can be grounded conceptually in the natural language which inevitably informs analytic as well as lay methods of reasoning, and grounded empirically by reference to situated, practical language use as a constitutive feature of social identity, social relations, and social problems.
A Place in Town
Authors: Yodanis Carrie
Published: April 2006

How do socioeconomic differences take on meaning in our daily interactions? Each morning for a summer I joined nine women in a coffee shop in a small rural town. In this public setting, I observed how women “do” class. During interaction, women use work, family, and leisure-related behaviors, values, and tastes associated with socioeconomic positions in the process of class categorization. No set hierarchy results from this process, however. Rather, what emerges from the Coffee Shop is that doing class involves an ongoing struggle to situate one’s own class category higher, not lower, than the others.
The Role of Conflict Resolution Styles on Nursing Staff Morale, Burnout, and Job Satisfaction in Long-Term Care
Authors: Montoro-Rodriguez Julian , Small Jeff A.
Published: April 2006

This study focuses on the ability of nursing staff to interact with residents in a way that affects positively on the nurses’ well-being and occupational satisfaction. It investigates the role of coping skills related to staff-resident interactions, in particular, the use of conflict resolution styles and their influence on the level of morale, burnout and job satisfaction of nursing professionals. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information from 161 direct care nursing staff. The authors used a multiple regression procedure to examine the influence of predictors on nursing staff outcomes. Multivariate analyses indicated that nurses’ psychological morale, occupational stress, and job satisfaction are influenced by conflict resolution styles, after controlling by individual characteristics, work demands, and work resources factors. The findings highlight the importance of considering personal coping abilities to foster positive staff-resident interactions and to increase nurses’ morale and job satisfaction.
Methylphenidate Improves Aspects of Executive Function in African American Children With ADHD
Authors: Hazel-Fernandez Leslie Ann , Klorman Rafael , Wallace James M. , Cook Stephen
Published: April 2006

Objective: The undertreatment of ethnic minority children with ADHD prompted a study on the effects of methylphenidate (MPH) on the executive functions of African American children with ADHD. Method: Nineteen African American children with ADHD are tested on the Tower of Hanoi (TOH) and the Paired Associates Learning Task (PAL) in a double-blind crossover acute challenge of MPH and placebo. Results: Under MPH, TOH rule breaks decrease, especially in the second testing session, and TOH planning time increases, particularly for incorrect solutions; PAL recall in the final learning trial improves with MPH. Conclusion: Similar to previous findings with predominantly majority samples of patients with ADHD, MPH enhances planning, precision, and persistence in African American children with ADHD.
C/EBPα directs monocytic commitment of primary myeloid progenitors
Authors: Wang Dehua , D'Costa Jenice , Civin Curt I. , Friedman Alan D.
Published: April 2006

C/EBPα is required for generation of granulocyte-monocyte progenitors, but the subsequent role of C/EBPα in myeloid lineage commitment remains uncertain. We transduced murine marrow cells with C/EBPα-estradiol receptor (ER) or empty vector and subjected these to lineage depletion just prior to culture in estradiol with myeloid cytokines. This protocol limits biases due to lineage-specific effects on developmental kinetics, proliferation, and apoptosis. Also, lowering the dose of estradiol reduced activated C/EBPα-ER to near the physiologic range. C/EBPα-ER increased Mac1+/Gr1–/MPO–/low monocytes 1.9-fold while reducing Mac1+/Gr1+/MPOhi granulocytes 2.5-fold at 48 hours, even in 0.01 μM estradiol. This pattern was confirmed morphologically and by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay of lineage markers. To directly assess effects on immature progenitors, transduced cells were cultured for 1 day with and then in methylcellulose without estradiol. A 2-fold increase in monocytic compared with granulocytic colonies was observed in IL-3/IL-6/SCF or GM-CSF, but not G-CSF, even in 0.01 μM estradiol. C/EBPα-ER induced PU.1 mRNA, and PU.1-ER stimulated monocytic development, suggesting that transcriptional induction of PU.1 by C/EBPα contributes to monopoiesis. A C/EBPα variant incapable of zippering with c-Jun did not induce monopoiesis, and a variant unable to bind NF-κB p50 stimulated granulopoiesis, suggesting their cooperation with C/EBPα during monocytic commitment.
Fondaparinux is a safe alternative in case of heparin intolerance during pregnancy
Authors: Mazzolai Lucia , Hohlfeld Patrick , Spertini Francois , Hayoz Daniel , Schapira Marc , Duchosal Michel A.
Published: April 2006

Heparin is the drug of choice for the treatment or the prevention of thromboembolic disease during pregnancy. However, treatment options are limited when heparin cannot be used because of hypersensitivity skin reactions. Despite the recent availability of new anticoagulant agents, data relating to their use during pregnancy are lacking. This report describes the successful management with fondaparinux, during 150 days, of a pregnant patient with protein S deficiency and prior deep vein thrombosis (DVT) who developed heparin and danaparoid hypersensitivity.
PDA: Pooled DNA analyzer
Authors: Yang Hsin-Chou , Pan Chia-Ching , Lin Chin-Yu , Fann Cathy SJ
Published: April 2006

Background

Association mapping using abundant single nucleotide polymorphisms is a powerful tool for identifying disease susceptibility genes for complex traits and exploring possible genetic diversity. Genotyping large numbers of SNPs individually is performed routinely but is cost prohibitive for large-scale genetic studies. DNA pooling is a reliable and cost-saving alternative genotyping method. However, no software has been developed for complete pooled-DNA analyses, including data standardization, allele frequency estimation, and single/multipoint DNA pooling association tests. This motivated the development of the software, 'PDA' (Pooled DNA Analyzer), to analyze pooled DNA data.

Results

We develop the software, PDA, for the analysis of pooled-DNA data. PDA is originally implemented with the MATLAB® language, but it can also be executed on a Windows system without installing the MATLAB®. PDA provides estimates of the coefficient of preferential amplification and allele frequency. PDA considers an extended single-point association test, which can compare allele frequencies between two DNA pools constructed under different experimental conditions. Moreover, PDA also provides novel chromosome-wide multipoint association tests based on p-value combinations and a sliding-window concept. This new multipoint testing procedure overcomes a computational bottleneck of conventional haplotype-oriented multipoint methods in DNA pooling analyses and can handle data sets having a large pool size and/or large numbers of polymorphic markers. All of the PDA functions are illustrated in the four bona fide examples.

Conclusion

PDA is simple to operate and does not require that users have a strong statistical background. The software is available at http://www.ibms.sinica.edu.tw/%7Ecsjfann/first%20flow/pda.htm.
The relationship between organisational characteristics and the effects of clinical guidelines on medical performance in hospitals, a meta-analysis
Authors: Dijkstra Rob , Wensing Michel , Thomas Ruth , Akkermans Reinier , Braspenning Joze , Grimshaw Jeremy , Grol Richard
Published: April 2006

Objective

To measure the effectiveness of strategies to implement clinical guidelines andthe influence of organisational characteristics on hospital care.

Methods

Systematic review and meta regression analysis including randomisedcontrolled trials, controlled clinical trials and controlled before-and-after studies.

Results

53 studies were identified, including 81 comparisons. The total effect of allintervention strategies appeared to be Odds ratio 2.13 (SD 1.72-2.65). Interventionstrategies (such as educational material, reminders, feedback) and other professionalinterventions that mostly comprised revisions of professional roles were found to berelatively strong components of multi faceted interventions. Outcomes of organisationaleffect modifiers were better in a learning environment in inpatient studies than inoutpatient studies. Interventions developed outside hospitals yielded better outcomes; OR4.62 (SD 2.82-7.57) versus OR 1.78 (SD 1.36-2.23).

Conclusion

Both single and multifaceted interventions seemed to be effective in hospitalsettings. Evidence for the effects of organisational determinants remained limited.
Folate-targeted immunotherapy effectively treats established adjuvant and collagen-induced arthritis
Authors: Paulos Chrystal M , Varghese Bindu , Widmer William R , Breur Gert J , Vlashi Erina , Low Philip S
Published: April 2006

Activated macrophages express a cell surface receptor for the vitamin folic acid. Because this receptor is inaccessible or not measurably expressed on other normal cells, folic acid has been recently exploited to selectively deliver attached radio-emitters to sites of activated macrophage accumulation, allowing scintigraphic imaging of inflamed joints and organs of arthritic rats. We demonstrate here that folate-linked haptens can also be targeted to activated macrophages, decorating their cell surfaces with highly immunogenic molecules. Under conditions in which the rodent has already been immunized against keyhole limpet hemocyanine-(fluorescein isothiocyanate) FITC, activated macrophages are eliminated. Administration of folate-FITC conjugates to rodents with experimental arthritis attenuates (a) systemic and peri-articular inflammation, (b) bone and cartilage degradation, and (c) arthritis-related body weight loss. Treatment with folate-hapten conjugates is comparable to methotrexate, etanercept, anakinra, and celecoxib at alleviating the symptoms of arthritis. We conclude that reduction of activated macrophages by folate-targeted immunotherapy can ameliorate the symptoms of arthritis in two rodent models of the disease.
Cyclooxygenases and prostaglandin E2 receptors in growth plate chondrocytes in vitro and in situ – prostaglandin E2dependent proliferation of growth plate chondrocytes
Authors: Brochhausen Christoph , Neuland Pia , Kirkpatrick C James , Nüsing Rolf M , Klaus Günter
Published: April 2006

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) plays an important role in bone development and metabolism. To interfere therapeutically in the PGE2 pathway, however, knowledge about the involved enzymes (cyclooxygenases) and receptors (PGE2 receptors) is essential. We therefore examined the production of PGE2 in cultured growth plate chondrocytes in vitro and the effects of exogenously added PGE2 on cell proliferation. Furthermore, we analysed the expression and spatial distribution of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 and PGE2 receptor types EP1, EP2, EP3 and EP4 in the growth plate in situ and in vitro. PGE2 synthesis was determined by mass spectrometry, cell proliferation by DNA [3H]-thymidine incorporation, mRNA expression of cyclooxygenases and EP receptors by RT-PCR on cultured cells and in homogenized growth plates. To determine cellular expression, frozen sections of rat tibial growth plate and primary chondrocyte cultures were stained using immunohistochemistry with polyclonal antibodies directed towards COX-1, COX-2, EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4. Cultured growth plate chondrocytes transiently secreted PGE2 into the culture medium. Although both enzymes were expressed in chondrocytes in vitro and in vivo, it appears that mainly COX-2 contributed to PGE2-dependent proliferation. Exogenously added PGE2 stimulated DNA synthesis in a dose-dependent fashion and gave a bell-shaped curve with a maximum at 10-8 M. The EP1/EP3 specific agonist sulprostone and the EP1-selective agonist ONO-D1-004 increased DNA synthesis. The effect of PGE2 was suppressed by ONO-8711. The expression of EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4 receptors in situ and in vitro was observed; EP2 was homogenously expressed in all zones of the growth plate in situ, whereas EP1 expression was inhomogenous, with spared cells in the reserve zone. In cultured cells these four receptors were expressed in a subset of cells only. The most intense staining for the EP1 receptor was found in polygonal cells surrounded by matrix. Expression of receptor protein for EP3 and EP4 was observed also in rat growth plates. In cultured chrondrocytes, however, only weak expression of EP3 and EP4 receptor was detected. We suggest that in growth plate chondrocytes, COX-2 is responsible for PGE2 release, which stimulates cell proliferation via the EP1 receptor.
Validation of the reshaped shared epitope HLA-DRB1 classification in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Michou Laëtitia , Croiseau Pascal , Petit-Teixeira Elisabeth , du Montcel Sophie Tezenas , Lemaire Isabelle , Pierlot Céline , Osorio José , Frigui Wafa , Lasbleiz Sandra , Quillet Patrick , Bardin Thomas , Prum Bernard , Clerget-Darpoux Françoise , Cornélis François ,   the European Consortium on Rheumatoid Arthritis Families
Published: April 2006

Recently, we proposed a classification of HLA-DRB1 alleles that reshapes the shared epitope hypothesis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA); according to this model, RA is associated with the RAA shared epitope sequence (72–74 positions) and the association is modulated by the amino acids at positions 70 and 71, resulting in six genotypes with different RA risks. This was the first model to take into account the association between the HLA-DRB1 gene and RA, and linkage data for that gene. In the present study we tested this classification for validity in an independent sample. A new sample of the same size and population (100 RA French Caucasian families) was genotyped for the HLA-DRB1 gene. The alleles were grouped as proposed in the new classification: S1 alleles for the sequences A-RAA or E-RAA; S2 for Q or D-K-RAA; S3D for D-R-RAA; S3P for Q or R-R-RAA; and X alleles for no RAA sequence. Transmission of the alleles was investigated. Genotype odds ratio (OR) calculations were performed through conditional logistic regression, and we tested the homogeneity of these ORs with those of the 100 first trio families (one case and both parents) previously reported. As previously observed, the S2 and S3P alleles were significantly over-transmitted and the S1, S3D and X alleles were under-transmitted. The latter were grouped as L alleles, resulting in the same three-allele classification. The risk hierarchy of the six derived genotypes was the same: (by decreasing OR and with L/L being the reference genotype) S2/S3P, S2/S2, S3P/S3P, S2/L and S3P/L. The homogeneity test between the ORs of the initial and the replication samples revealed no significant differences. The new classification was therefore considered validated, and both samples were pooled to provide improved estimates of RA risk genotypes from the highest (S2/S3P [OR 22.2, 95% confidence interval 9.9–49.7]) to the lowest (S3P/L [OR 4.4, 95% confidence interval 2.3–8.4]).
Activation of transforming growth factor-β1and early atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Jackson Michelle , Ahmad Yasmeen , Bruce Ian N , Coupes Beatrice , Brenchley Paul EC
Published: April 2006

The efficiency of activating latent transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may control the balance between inflammation and fibrosis, modulating the disease phenotype. To test this hypothesis we studied the ability to activate TGF-β1 in SLE patients and control individuals within the context of inflammatory disease activity, cumulative organ damage and early atherosclerosis. An Activation Index (AI) for TGF-β1 was determined for 32 patients with SLE and 33 age-matched and sex-matched control individuals by quantifying the increase in active TGF-β1 under controlled standard conditions. Apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was determined by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Carotid artery intima-media thickness was measured using standard Doppler ultrasound. These measures were compared between patients and control individuals. In an analysis conducted in patients, we assessed the associations of these measures with SLE phenotype, including early atherosclerosis. Both intima-media thickness and TGF-β1 AI for SLE patients were within the normal range. There was a significant inverse association between TGF-β1 AI and levels of apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells after 24 hours in culture for both SLE patients and control individuals. Only in SLE patients was there a significant negative correlation between TGF-β1 AI and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = -0.404; P = 0.022) and between TGF-β1 AI and carotid artery intima-media thickness (r = -0.587; P = 0.0004). A low AI was associated with irreversible damage (SLICC [Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics] Damage Index ≥1) and was inversely correlated with disease duration. Intima-media thickness was significantly linked to total cholesterol (r = 0.371; P = 0.037). To conclude, in SLE low normal TGF-β1 activation was linked with increased lymphocyte apoptosis, irreversible organ damage, disease duration, calculated low-density lipoprotein levels and increased carotid IMT, and may contribute to the development of early atherosclerosis.
Solute removal during continuous renal replacement therapy in critically ill patients: convection versus diffusion
Authors: Ricci Zaccaria , Ronco Claudio , Bachetoni Alessandra , D'amico Giuseppe , Rossi Stefano , Alessandri Elisa , Rocco Monica , Pietropaoli Paolo
Published: April 2006

Introduction

The best modality, for continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is currently uncertain and it is poorly understood how transport of different solutes, whether convective or diffusive, changes over time.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cross over study in a cohort of critically ill patients, comparing small (urea and creatinine) and middle (β2 microglobulin) molecular weight solute clearance, filter lifespan and membrane performance over a period of 72 hours, during 15 continuous veno-venous dialysis (CVVHD) and 15 continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH)sessions. Both modalities were administered based on a prescription of 35 ml/kg/h and using polyacrylonitrile filters.

Results

Median filter lifespan was significantly longer during CVVHD (37 hours, interquartile range (IQR) 19.5 to 72.5) than CVVH (19 hours, IQR 12.5 to 28) (p = 0.03). Median urea time weighted average (TWA) clearances were not significantly different during CVVH (31.6 ml/minute, IQR 23.2 to 38.9) and CVVHD (35.7 ml/minute, IQR 30.1 to 41.5) (p = 0.213). Similar results were found for creatinine: 38.1 ml/minute, IQR 28.5 to 39, and 35.6 ml/minute, IQR 26 to 43 (p = 0.917), respectively. Median β2m TWA clearance was higher during convective (16.3 ml/minute, IQR 10.9 to 23) than diffusive (6.27 ml/minute, IQR 1.6 to 14.9) therapy; nonetheless this difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.055). Median TWA adsorptive clearance of β2m appeared to have scarce impact on overall solute removal (0.012 ml/minute, IQR -0.09 to 0.1, during hemofiltration versus -0.016 ml/minute, IQR -0.08 to 0.1 during dialysis; p = 0.79). Analysis of clearance modification over time did not show significant modifications of urea, creatinine and β2m clearance in the first 48 hours during both treatments. In the CVVHD group, the only significant difference was found for β2m between 72 hours and baseline clearance.

Conclusion

Polyacrylonitrile filters during continuous hemofiltration and continuous hemodialysis delivered at 35 ml/kg/h are comparable in little and middle size solute removal. CVVHD appears to warrant longer CRRT sessions. The capacity of both modalities for removing such molecules is maintained up to 48 hours.
Patients with ischaemic, mixed and nephrotoxic acute tubular necrosis in the intensive care unit – a homogeneous population?
Authors: Santos Wilson JQ , Zanetta Dirce MT , Pires Antonio C , Lobo Suzana MA , Lima Emerson Q , Burdmann Emmanuel A
Published: April 2006

Introduction

Acute tubular necrosis (ATN) is usually studied as a single entity, without distinguishing between ischaemic, nephrotoxic and mixed aetiologies. In the present study we evaluated the characteristics and outcomes of patients with ATN by aetiological group.

Method

We conducted a retrospective comparison of clinical features, mortality rates and risk factors for mortality for the three types of ATN in patients admitted to the general intensive care unit of a university hospital between 1997 and 2000.

Results

Of 593 patients with acute renal failure, 524 (88%) were classified as having ATN. Their mean age was 58 years, 68% were male and 52% were surgical patients. The overall mortality rate was 62%. A total of 265 patients (51%) had ischaemic ATN, 201 (38%) had mixed ATN, and 58 (11%) had nephrotoxic ATN. There were no differences among groups in terms of age, sex, APACHE II score and reason for ICU admission. Multiple organ failure was more frequent among patients with ischaemic (46%) and mixed ATN (55%) than in those with nephrotoxic ATN (7%; P < 0.0001). The complications of acute renal failure (such as, gastrointestinal bleeding, acidosis, oliguria and hypervolaemia) were more prevalent in ischaemic and mixed ATN patients. Mortality was higher for ischaemic (66%; P = 0.001) and mixed ATN (63%; P = 0.0001) than for nephrotoxic ATN (38%). When ischaemic ATN patients, mixed ATN patients and all patients combined were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression, the independent factors for mortality identified were different except for oliguria, which was the only variable universally associated with death (odds ratio [OR] 3.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.64–5.49 [P = 0.0003] for ischaemic ATN; OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.04–3.68 [P = 0.036] for mixed ATN; and OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.60–3.76 [P < 0.001] for all patients combined]).

Conclusion

The frequency of isolated nephrotoxic ATN was low, with ischaemic and mixed ATN accounting for almost 90% of cases. The three forms of ATN exhibited different clinical characteristics. Mortality was strikingly higher in ischaemic and mixed ATN than in nephrotoxic ATN. Although the type of ATN was not an independent predictor of death, the independent factors related to mortality were different for ischaemic, mixed and all patients combined. These data indicate that the three types of ATN represent different patient populations, which should be taken into consideration in future studies.
Relationship between stress and relapse in multiple sclerosis: part I. Important features
Authors: Brown R F , Tennant C C , Sharrock M , Hodgkinson S , Dunn S M , Pollard J D
Published: April 2006

Objective The aim of this two-year prospective study was to examine the relationship between multiple aspects of life-event stress and relapse in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.

Background Few studies have defined the critical features of this life-event stress; for example, stressor duration, frequency, severity, disease-dependency, valency, or stressor constructs, such as the propensity to cause emotional distress/threat or the frustration of life goals.

Methods 101 consecutive participants with MS were recruited from two MS clinics in Sydney, Australia. Stressful life events were assessed at study-entry and at three-monthly intervals for two years. Patient-reported relapses were recorded and corroborated by neurologists or evaluated against accepted relapse criteria.

Results Acute events, but not chronic difficulties (CDs), predicted relapse occurrence: acute stressor frequency counts predicted greater relapse risk, along with low disability score (EDSS) and being male. We also confirmed the bi-directional stress-illness hypothesis: stressors predicted relapse, and relapse separately predicted stressors.

Conclusions Life-event stress impacts to a small degree on MS relapse. The number and not the severity of acute stressors are most important; chronic stressors do not predict later relapse. Males and those with early stage disease are also at greater risk of relapse. MS patients should be encouraged to reduce acute stressors during times of high stress, and feel reassured that disease-related chronic stressors do not increase their relapse risk.
Relationship between stress and relapse in multiple sclerosis: part II. Direct and indirect relationships
Authors: Brown R F , Tennant C C , Sharrock M , Hodgkinson S , Dunn S M , Pollard J D
Published: April 2006

Objective The aim of this two-year prospective study was to determine which factors were: (i) directly related and/or (ii) indirectly related to multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse. These factors included life-event stressors, disease, demographic, psychosocial and lifestyle factors.

Background Relatively little attention has been paid to the role of non-clinical relapse predictors (other than stressful life-events) in MS, or factors that indirectly impact on the stress-relapse relationship.

Methods A total of 101 consecutive participants with MS were recruited from two MS clinics in Sydney, Australia. Stressful life-events, depression, anxiety and fatigue were assessed at study-entry and at three-monthly intervals for two years. Disease, demographic, psychosocial and lifestyle factors were assessed at baseline. Patient-reported relapses were recorded and corroborated by neurologists or evaluated against accepted relapse criteria.

Results MS relapse was predicted by acute stressor frequency counts, coping responses that utilized social support, and being born in Australia, but not by chronic stressors, disease, demographic, psychosocial or lifestyle factors. No factors were found to indirectly impact on the stress-relapse relationship.

Conclusions The number rather than severity of stressors was most important in relation to MS relapse risk, along with coping responses that utilized social support, suggesting that MS patients should avoid situations that are likely to generate multiple stressors or which provide few avenues for social support.
Stalking of mental health professionals: an underrecognised problem
Authors: McIvor Ronan J. , Petch Edward
Published: April 2006

Doctors and mental healthcare professionals are at greater risk of being stalked than the general population, particularly by their patients. Despite causing significant psychological distress, stalking remains underrecognised and poorly managed. Healthcare organisations should ensure appropriate policies are in place to aid awareness and minimise risk, including the provision of formal educational programmes.
Experience of the visitor: on-call child and adolescent psychiatric consultation to hospital colleagues
Authors: Davies Virginia
Published: April 2006

How can the on-call child and adolescent psychiatrist operate most effectively within an often rigid system to enable the most appropriate outcomes for young people presenting to emergency hospital services?
Impact of Immune Parameters on Long-Term Survival in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Donskov Frede , von der Maase Hans
Published: April 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of immunologic prognostic factors in combination with established clinical prognostic factors in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

Patients and Methods

A total of 120 consecutive patients with mRCC received interleukin-2 (IL-2) -based immunotherapy. Baseline tumor biopsies were available from 85 of these patients. Potential prognostic factors were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

Multivariate analysis (N = 120) identified high lactate dehydrogenase, lymph node metastases, low hemoglobin, low Karnofsky performance status, and bone metastases as independent poor prognostic clinical factors. The impact of these clinical factors has been demonstrated by others. Multivariate analysis (n = 85) also identified a high blood neutrophil count (> 6.0 × 109/L; hazard ratio, 2.0; P = .015), the presence of intratumoral neutrophils (> 0 cells/mm2tumor tissue; hazard ratio, 2.3; P = .001), and low intratumoral CD57+natural killer cell count (< 50 cells/mm2tumor tissue; hazard ratio, 2.1; P = .01) as independent poor prognostic immunologic factors. These three independent immunologic parameters had significant discriminatory power as supplemental risk factors in prognostic models based on the clinical risk factors, identifying subgroups within the favorable clinical group with estimated 5-year survival rates of 60%, 25%, and 0%, respectively. These findings were apparent in both our own prognostic model and in an extended Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York, NY) prognostic model.

Conclusion

This study points on five clinical and three supplemental immunologic independent prognostic factors of survival in patients with mRCC receiving IL-2.
First Principles Organize Attention to and Learning About Relevant Data: Number and the Animate‐Inanimate Distinction as Examples
Authors: Gelman Rochel
Published: April 2006

Early cognitive development benefits from nonlinguistic representations of skeletal sets of domain‐specific principles and complementary domain‐relevant data abstraction processes. The principles outline the domain, identify relevant inputs, and structure coherently what is learned. Knowledge acquisition within the domain is a joint function of such domain‐specific principles and domain‐general learning mechanisms. Two examples of early learning illustrate this. Skeletal preverbal counting principles help children sort different linguistic strings into those that function as the conventional count‐word as opposed to labels for objects in the child's linguistic community. Skeletal causal principles, working with complementary perceptual processes that abstract information about biological and nonbiological conditions and patterns of movement, lead to the rapid acquisition of knowledge about the animate‐inanimate distinction. By 3 years of age children con soy whether photographs of unfamiliar nonmammalian animals, mammals, statues, and wheeled objects portray objects capable or incapable of self‐generated motion. They also generate answers to questions about the insides of animate items more readily than ones about the insides of inanimate items. Although these children already ore articulate about matters relevant to a theory of action, their limited knowledge of growth illustrates that early skeletal principles do not rule out the need to acquire new principles, in this case ones that underlie a biological account of animacy (Carey, 1985).
Feature Centrality and Conceptual Coherence
Authors: Sloman Steven A. , Love Bradley C. , Ahn Woo‐Kyoung
Published: April 2006

Conceptual features differ in how mentally tranformable they are. A robin that does not eat is harder to imagine than a robin that does not chirp. We argue that features are immutable to the extent that they are central in a network of dependency relations. The immutability of a feature reflects how much the internal structure of a concept depends on that feature; i.e., how much the feature contributes to the concept's coherence. Complementarily, mutability reflects the aspects in which a concept is flexible. We show that features can be reliably ordered according to their mutability using tasks that require people to conceive of objects missing a feature, and that mutability (conceptual centrality) can be distinguished from category centrality and from diagnosticity and salience. We test a model of mutability based on asymmetric, unlabeled, pairwise dependency relations. With no free parameters, the model provides reasonable fits to data. Qualitative tests of the model show that mutability judgments are unaffected by the type of dependency relation and that dependency structure influences judgments of variability.
Dual-times Detection System for On-line Assay of Enzymatic Activity Based on Valve-switching Technique Using Size Exclusion Chromatography
Authors: Ihara Reiji , Esaka Yukihiro , Hirose Akio , Haraguchi Hiroki
Published: April 2006

A dual-times detection system in size exclusion chromatography was developed for carboxypeptidase A assay. In the system the enzymatic activity was detected 2 times by circulating the sample solution (mobile phase) in a reaction tube through a fluorescence detector.
Electrochemistry of Cytochrome c at a Lipid Langmuir Blodgett Monolayer Electrode
Authors: Nakashima Naotoshi , Abe Kazuhiro , Hirohashi Toshiaki , Hamada Keiko , Kunitake Masashi , Manabe Osamu
Published: April 2006

Cytochrome c was found to undergo electron transfer reactions at a gold electrode modified with a Langmuir-Blodgett monolayer of 20-mercaptoeicosane-1-ol/dioleoyl-L-α-phosphatidylcholine (molar ratio, 1/20). The stability of the monolayer and the adsorption behavior of cytochrome c to the monolayer was also examined.
Fine Control of Regioselectivity in the Reduction of NAD+ Analogues by Ketene Silyl Acetals
Authors: Fukuzumi Shunichi , Fujita Morifumi , Noura Souta , Otera Junzo
Published: April 2006

Various NAD+ analogues are reduced regioselectively by ketene silyl acetals to afford the corresponding 2-, 6-, or 4-alkylated NADH analogues. The regioselectivity of the 1,2- (or 1,6-) vs. 1,4-reduction is finely controlled by the β-methyl-substitution of ketene silyl acetals, the position of methyl-substitution of NAD+ analogues, and the addition of Et4NCl or Bu4NF.
Surface Modification of Polytetrafluoroethylene Containing Carbonaceous Materials by KrF-Laser Irradiation
Authors: Nishii Masanobu , Sugimoto Shun’ichi , Shimizu Yuichi , Suzuki Nobutake , Nagase Tomohiro , Endo Masao , Eguchi Yosuke
Published: April 2006

The adhesive property of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) film containing a small amount of carbonaceous materials such as carbon black and graphite was improved remarkably by KrF-laser irradiation in air. The adhesive strength increased with the irradiated energy and the fluence of laser.
Highly Crowded trans-Olefin. Molecular Structure of trans-1,2-Bis{meso-[nickel(II)octaethylporphyrinyl]}ethene
Authors: Kitagawa Ryouichi , Kai Yasushi , Ponomarev Gelii V , Sugiura Ken-ichi , Borovkov Victor V , Kaneda Takahiro , Sakata Yoshiteru
Published: April 2006

X-Ray analysis of trans-1,2-bis{meso-[nickel(II)octaethylporphyrinyl]} ethene has revealed that the compound has nonplanar structure and the nickel-coordination planes of porphyrin rings are close to perpendicular (72.5°) to the plane of the central double bond. Both porphyrin rings have saddle-shaped structure due to the steric repulsion between ethyl substituents.
Effect of Adding Starch on the Photoinhibition of Oscillation in the Briggs-Rauscher Reaction
Authors: Okazaki Noriaki , Mori Yoshihito , Hanazaki Ichiro
Published: April 2006

Wavelength dependence of the relative cross section has been determined for the photoinhibition of oscillation in the starch-free and starch-added Briggs-Rauscher systems. In both cases, the primary light absorber was identified as iodine molecule, whereas starch-iodine complex was found to be inert as to the primary photochemical process.
Enzymatic Ring-Opening Polymerization of Lactones Catalyzed by Lipase
Authors: Uyama Hiroshi , Kobayashi Shiro
Published: April 2006

Enzymatic ring-opening polymerization of lactones was achieved by using lipase as catalyst. The polymerization of ε-caprolactone by Pseudomonas fluorescens lipase at 60 °C in bulk for 10 days afforded a polyester with average molecular weight of 7.0 × 103. From 1H and 13C NMR analysis, the polymer possesses the terminal structure of a carboxylic acid group at one end and a hydroxyl group at the other.