bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vivo Metabolism of 14C-Labeled Palmitic Acid in Serum and in Brown and White Adipose Tissue of Well-Fed and Starved Newborn Rabbits II.
Authors: Schenk H. , Heim T. , Wagner H. , Winkler L. , Varga F. , Goetze E.
Published: September 2009

Starvation at an ambient temperature (Ta) of 35 °C for 72 h or at Ta 20 °C for 48 h affected differently the free fatty acid (FFA), phospholipid and glyceride pools as well as the total flux of fatty acid (msf) between the intracellular and extracellular lipid compartments of brown (BAT) and white adipose tissues (WAT). Tracer kinetic studies with 20.106 cpm/100 g body weight 14C-1-palmitic acid injected at Ta 35 °C showed that BAT takes up a consistently higher proportion of the initial serum FFA pool (ms) than WAT in both fed (group I) and fasting newborn rabbits (group II at Ta 20 °C; group III at Ta 35 °C. BAT of animals starved in the cold prior to the tracer’s injection (group II) shared a considerably larger fraction of ms than that of fed littermates (group I). Fasting in a thermoneutral environment (Ta 35 °C) consistently resulted in a very low absolute (msf) and relative (percentual msf) flow rates of FFA into BAT. In starving rabbits msF and percentual msF in WAT were consistently lower than in well-fed animals and were even more markedly reduced in animals previously starved in the cold (Ta 20 °C) than in a thermoneutral environment (Ta 35 °C).
The Citrate Concentration in Adult and Fetal Plasma and in the Amniotic Fluid of the Guinea Pig
Authors: Fenton Enid , Nixon † D.A.
Published: September 2009

The mean concentration of citric acid in male and non-pregnant female adult guinea pig plasma was 0.308 ± 0.042 mM. Pregnant females with fetuses of 49–69 days gestational age had mean maternal and fetal plasma concentrations of 0.440 ± 0.011 and 0.217 ± 0.053 mM, respectively. Maternal and fetal values were not correlated. Neonates up to 96 h old had plasma citrate values similar to those in the fetus. The citrate concentration of the amniotic fluid was lower than that in fetal plasma and showed a negative correlation with conceptual age (p < 0.01).
The Impairment of Thermoregulation by Trauma during the First Days of Life of the Rabbit
Authors: Little R.A.
Published: September 2009

During the first 10–11 days of life of the rabbit there was a significant increase in the ‘minimal observed’ O2 consumption measured in a thermoneutral environment. At the appropriate thermoneutral environmental temperature an LD50 period of bilateral hind-limb ischaemia had no effect on the O2 consumption of 1-, 5- to 6-, 10- to 11- and 21- to 25-day-old rabbits until shortly before death. 1 h after a 3 hour-period of bilateral hind-limb ischaemia in a thermoneutral environment the metabolic response of the 1- to 2-day-old rabbits to cold exposure was impaired. In the uninjured 1- to 2-day-old rabbits, the summit metabolic rate was recorded at an ambient temperature of 20°C giving a metabolic quotient of 3.5, whereas in the injured (LD80) 1- to 2-day-old rabbits the summit metabolic rate was recorded at 27°C with a metabolic quotient of 2.1. The results are discussed with special reference to the effects trauma may have on the thermoregulatory role of brown adipose tissue in the newborn rabbit.
Changes in Oxygen Consumption of Kidney during Maturation
Authors: Caldwell Troy , Solomon Sidney
Published: September 2009

Oxygen consumption of kidney slices from 20- and 30-day-old immature rats from normal and fastgrowing litters, as well as of adults, has been determined. Qo2 with endogenous substrate is less in slices of 20-day-old of both fast and slowgrowing animals, while the endogenous Qo2 of slices from fastgrowing 30-day-old rats is significantly higher than that of mature animal kidney. Endogenous Qo2 decreases with time. The amount of decrease is less in 20-day-old renal slices than in the other populations. The order of increase Qo2 of mature animals with different exogenous substrates is lactate > glucose > malate > glutamate. In immature animals, the position of glutamate and glucose is reversed. With lactate, no dependence of Qo2 on age is detectable.
Functional Development of the Autonomic Innervation of the Human Fetal Heart
Authors: Walker David
Published: September 2009

Electrical stimulation of isolated fetal atria produced changes in the strength of contractions of the myocardium, attributable to the release of the autonomic transmitters, acetylcholine and noradrenaline. These contractile responses are blocked by tetrodotoxin, suggesting that the stimulation releases neurotransmitters from the developing autonomic nerve plexus within the heart. Atria from fetuses less than 13 weeks of gestation frequently did not respond to stimulation, and it is suggested that this is due to the immaturity of the autonomic nervous system at this stage. Nicotine did not have an inhibitory effect at any age, indicating that ganglionic receptors are not present in the fetal myocardium. High doses of nicotine have an excitatory effect, probably due to the release of noradrenaline from either the sympathetic nerve or chromaffin tissue. This study has shown that the autonomic transmitters can be released in the fetal heart. Other pharmacologic and histochemical evidence is discussed to determine whether autonomic transmission occurs in early gestation.
Amino Acid Metabolism by the Fetal Brain during Normal and Hypoglycemic Conditions
Authors: Schulman Joseph D. , Mann Leon I. , Doores Larry , Duchin Sybil , Halverstam John , Mastrantonio John
Published: September 2009

Serum amino acid concentrations were quantitated using gas-liquid chromatography on blood samples drawn from fetal carotid artery, fetal sagittal vein, and a maternal peripheralartery under baseline conditions and during maternal and fetal hypoglycemia induced acutely by maternal insulin infusion. Serum concentrations of all amino acids were higher in the fetus than in the mother; in most cases, the fetal levels were 2–4 times higher than the maternal. A similar pattern was observed during hypoglycemia, although there was a tendency for most maternal arterial serum amino acid concentrations to decline during hypoglycemia and for most fetal sagittal vein concentrations to increase. Positive arterio venous differences in amino acid concentration across the fetal brain were demonstrated for 14 of 15 amino acids. These differences decreased during hypoglycemia for 12 of these 14 amino acids, and for 7 of these amino acids the hypoglycemic arteriovenous differences actually became negative. The data suggest that acute feto-maternal hypoglycemia impairs net uptake of multiple amino acids by the fetal brain. The relationship, if any, between such impairment and the untoward clinical effects of severe perinatal and/or neonatal hypoglycemia must be established by further investigation.
Effect of a Low Protein Diet in Mother Rats on the Structure of the Brains of the Offspring
Authors: Stewart R.J.C. , Merat A. , Dickerson J.W.T.
Published: September 2009

Brains from the 15- and 21-day-old offspring of rats given a 7-percent casein diet from the 5th day of gestation and through lactation showed no evidence of degenerative changes in the nerve cells or fibres, but modifications in structure were seen in every area examined. Cells generally contained less cytoplasm, and the walls of the myelin sheaths were thinner. Developmental changes were retarded, the cell density was greater and dendritic development reduced. The changes were most marked in the basal ganglia, hypothalamic nuclei, cerebellum, and in nuclei having close links with the cerebellum.
Changes in the Mineral Composition of Rat Femur during Neonatal Growth in Relation to Calcification of Aorta
Authors: Morgan A.J. , Bellamy D.
Published: September 2009

Changes in the Ca, Mg, Na and K content of whole femurs and in the calcium content of thoracic aortas, were measured by flame spectrophotometry during the neonatal growth phase of laboratory rats. Aorta calcium content was found to decrease throughout the period of study from relatively high levels immediately after birth. This observation, together with a lag period in femur calcium accumulation during the first 10 days post-natal, is interpreted to imply a temporary phase of hypothyroidism in the newborn. Femur magnesium was found to decrease steadily from 6 to 20 days, followed by a rapid increase up to 30 days. Sodium and potassium levels decreased dramatically during the period of study.
Serum Enzymes in the Neonatal Period
Authors: Blum D. , Brauman J.
Published: September 2009

Normal standards were defined in term and preterm infants on precise days of the neonatal period for the following serum enzymes: creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), diphosphofructoaldolase (ALD), glutamic-oxalacetic (SGOT) transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), CPK values have reached adult standards at 10 days of life. This permits early diagnosis of muscular dystrophy, especially the Duchenne form. LDH and ALD are still high at the 10th day of life. Low SGOT and SGPT levels encountered in premature infants is probably due to immaturity of enzyme synthesis in this group of children.
Binding of 14C-Salicylic Acid and 14C-PentobarbitaI to Plasma Proteins of Several Species During the Perinatal Period
Authors: Short C.R. , Sexton R.L. , McFarland Katherine
Published: September 2009

The fractional binding of 14C-salicylic acid and 14C-pentobarbital was studied as a function of age in plasma of the pig, dog, goat and human. The pig exhibited an unusual degree of hypoalbuminemia and low fractional binding of salicylic acid at birth. Albumin levels and the percent binding of salicylic acid were not significantly lower in newborn plasma than in adult plasma of the other species studied. The pig was also exceptional in that the high fractional binding of pentobarbital observed at low Iigand concentrations in plasma of the newborn was not observed in the other species studied. Depletion of albumin in newborn pig plasma did not appreciably affect the binding of pentobarbital. Thus it is suggested that the plasma of the fetal and newborn pig may contain a nonalbuminoid protein, such as a fetal globulin, which is capable of binding pentobarbital but does not have a high avidity for salicylic acid. It apparently does not exist at birth in the plasmas of the other species studied, as depletion of albumin markedly reduced the fractional binding of pentobarbital.
Salicylate Saturation Index in Neonatal Jaundice
Authors: Seem E. , Wille L.
Published: September 2009

30 serum samples from premature and newborn infants with non-haemolytic hyperbilirubinaemia were analyzed to prove the accuracy of determination of albumin binding capacity for bilirubin. The salicylate method of Odell was used to determine the saturation index of albumin indicated by a decrease in optical density through displaced bilirubin. Bilirubin is stoichometrically displaced from albumin by the addition of salicylate. The values of the saturation index correspond to free binding sites. Analysis of our data demonstrated that there is no direct correlation between the saturation index (SI) and total serum bilirubin/albumin concentration quotient. Methodical errors, problems in statistics and other theoretical concepts are discussed. The salicylate method is not suitable for accurate determination of albumin binding capacity for bilirubin.
Some Physical and Biochemical Parameters during Normal Labour
Authors: Pontonnier Georges , Puech Francis , Grandjean Hélène , Rolland Michel
Published: September 2009

A statistical study of parameters of uterine contraction, fetal heart rate, acid-base balance and glycaemia has been made in 30 patients during spontaneous and clinically normal labour for each 2 cm of cervical dilatation. The study of uterine contractility gives the mean values and 95% limits of parameters of uterine contraction as labour progresses. The fetal heart rate is stable during dilation, on the other hand, during the expulsive phase, alterations of fetal heart rate appear, modifications which give evidence of trial that expulsive phase is for the fetus. The study of fetal and maternal acid-base balance shows little change during cervical dilatation, changes towards acidosis during expulsive phase, as importance of feto-maternal relationships. These relationships meet again on the study of glycaemia.
Quantity and Calculated Oxygen Consumption during Summit Metabolism of Brown Adipose Tissue in New-Born Lambs
Authors: Alexander G. , Bell W.
Published: September 2009

Macroscopic dissection of newborn lambs of several breeds revealed that brown adipose tissue comprised approximately 1.5% of the body weight. The perirenal abdominal and prescapularcervical depots were by far the largest, and the overall distribution was largely consistent with that reported for other species, although there was no significant interscapular depot. The oxygen consumption of the brown adipose tissue in lambs was calculated to reach 70 ml/(g·h), which is consistent with published data for rabbit brown adipose tissue, in vivo, but 35 times higher than that for the same tissue in vitro. It was also calculated that a substantial portion, perhaps two thirds, of the lipid available for metabolism was stored outside the adipose tissue. The study also made it possible to examine the validity of methods of estimating blood flow through brown adipose tissue. Untenable venous blood oxygen saturations were calculated from results obtained using 86Rb, but saturations calculated from results with the radio-active microsphere method were entirely plausible.
Developmental Changes of Tissue Enzyme Patterns in the Bovine Fetus with Gestational Age
Authors: Baetez A.L. , Hubbert W.T. , Graham C.K.
Published: September 2009

The activities of aspartate aminotransferase (GOT), alanine aminotransferase (GPT), alkaline phosphatase (alkP), creatine kinase (CPK), and ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OCT) were determined in liver, heart, skeletal muscle, brain, kidney, lung, spleen, adrenals, pancreas, thyroid, thymus, and red cells of 56 bovine fetuses varying in gestational age from 115 to 255 days. The tissue aminotransferase activities were the most variable with gestational age. The GPT activity of liver, kidney, spleen, and red cells and the GOT activity of red cells decreased with fetal age. The GPT activity of heart, brain, and skeletal muscle and the GOT activity of adrenal, brain, and skeletal muscle increased with fetal age. Increasing activities were also described for adrenal and brain alkP and for brain and skeletal muscle CPK. In contrast, the OCT activities were fairly constant for each tissue as a function of gestational age.
The Use of Critical Levels of Birth Weight and ‘Free Bilirubin’ as an Approach for Prevention of Kernicterus
Authors: Zamet P. , Nakamura H. , Perez-Robles S. , Larroche J.C. , Minkowski A.
Published: September 2009

Free bilirubin (FB) and total bilirubin (TB) were determined in 154 samples of blood taken from 112 jaundiced newborns: 51 prematures without hemolysis (19 of these with RDS); 26 full terms presenting AB0 incompatibility; 35 newborns (both prematures and full terms) presenting rhesus incompatibility. Kernicterus was observed in seven cases and only three occurred in the TB group above 20 mg/100 ml; 57 cases had FB equal to or above 0.1 mg/100 ml and all kernicterus fell into this category. In the other 55 cases in which FB was less than 0.1 mg/100 ml no kernicterus was observed. In the group of healthy fullterm newborns presenting AB0 incompatibility, 15 had FB above or equal to 0.1 mg/100 ml ranging between 0.1 and 0.4 mg/100 ml; however no kernicterus was observed during the neonatal period. On the contrary, in the group of prematures a little more than half of the cases had a FB ranging from 0.1 to 0.4 mg/100 ml whereas four macroscopic kernicterus cases were observed. The difference between the two groups compels us to consider other factors than those acting on the albumin-bilirubin binding especially those acting on the blood-brain barrier and on the fixation of the pigment by the neurons. A second series of 605 consecutive autopsies, on a period of 10 years, on prematures excluding light-for-dates and cases of hemolysis, evaluates the distribution of 40 kernicterus as a function of birth weight. On this second series kernicterus appears with maximal frequency for birth weight between 1,000 and 1,250 g, with a nonnegligible frequency at 1,500 to 2,000 g and was absent between 2,000 and 2,500 g. 13 kernicterus were observed for a peak TB below 12 mg/100 ml. These results seem to justify a systematic determination of FB in the premature weighing less than 2,000 g from the 24th hour of life whether he has jaundice or not.
Effect of Supersaturated Oxygen Delivery on Infarct Size After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Stone Gregg W. , Martin Jack L. , de Boer Menko-Jan , Margheri Massimo , Bramucci Ezio , Blankenship James C. , Metzger D. Christopher , Gibbons Raymond J. , Lindsay Barbara S. , Weiner Bonnie H. , Lansky Alexandra J. , Krucoff Mitchell W. , Fahy Martin , Boscardin W. John
Published: September 2009

Background—

Myocardial salvage is often suboptimal after percutaneous coronary intervention in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Posthoc subgroup analysis from a previous trial (AMIHOT I) suggested that intracoronary delivery of supersaturated oxygen (SSO
2
) may reduce infarct size in patients with large ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated early.

Methods and Results—

A prospective, multicenter trial was performed in which 301 patients with anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention within 6 hours of symptom onset were randomized to a 90-minute intracoronary SSO
2
infusion in the left anterior descending artery infarct territory (n=222) or control (n=79). The primary efficacy measure was infarct size in the intention-to-treat population (powered for superiority), and the primary safety measure was composite major adverse cardiovascular events at 30 days in the intention-to-treat and per-protocol populations (powered for noninferiority), with Bayesian hierarchical modeling used to allow partial pooling of evidence from AMIHOT I. Among 281 randomized patients with tc-99m-sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography data in AMIHOT II, median (interquartile range) infarct size was 26.5% (8.5%, 44%) with control compared with 20% (6%, 37%) after SSO
2
. The pooled adjusted infarct size was 25% (7%, 42%) with control compared with 18.5% (3.5%, 34.5%) after SSO
2
(
P
Wilcoxon
=0.02; Bayesian posterior probability of superiority, 96.9%). The Bayesian pooled 30-day mean (�SE) rates of major adverse cardiovascular events were 5.0�1.4% for control and 5.9�1.4% for SSO
2
by intention-to-treat, and 5.1�1.5% for control and 4.7�1.5% for SSO
2
by per-protocol analysis (posterior probability of noninferiority, 99.5% and 99.9%, respectively).

Conclusions—

Among patients with anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention within 6 hours of symptom onset, infusion of SSO
2
into the left anterior descending artery infarct territory results in a significant reduction in infarct size with noninferior rates of major adverse cardiovascular events at 30 days.

Clinical Trial Registration—

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00175058
Private Equity in the UK: Job Regulation and Trade Unions
Authors: Clark Ian
Published: September 2009

Private equity represents a ‘new actor’ in the British business system with the capacity to have a significant impact on industrial relations. However, while private equity and its associated business model appear as significant factors in corporate governance and industrial relations, neither the sector nor the business model has been evaluated theoretically or empirically. Indeed, for the UK at firm level the ways in which business strategy and job regulation are shaped by private equity are unclear other than by references made to institutional configuration in the business system — short-termism. This article outlines what private equity is, details its associated business model, describes how the sector affects workers and summarizes how trade unions have responded to the private equity business model.
The Impact of Private Equity and Buyouts on Employment, Remuneration and other HRM Practices
Authors: Wright Mike , Bacon Nicolas , Amess Kevin
Published: September 2009

In this article we consider the impact of private equity and buyouts on employment, remuneration, and other human resource management practices by reviewing and synthesizing existing studies. We show that the impact tends to differ between buyouts and buy-ins, and argue that private equity is a heterogeneous phenomenon. Several issues that would benefit from further research are identified including the relative impact on employment, terms and conditions and job quality for managerial and non-managerial employees.
Study of the Influence of Fiber Diameter and Fiber Blending on Liquid Absorption Inside Nonwoven Structures
Authors: Chen Xiao , Vroman Philippe , Lewandowski Maryline , Perwuelz Anne , Zhang Yan
Published: September 2009

The purpose of this work was to investigate how nonwoven fabrics absorb and diffuse liquids and to define relevant diffusion parameters, with a special focus on the influence of fiber diameter on the diffusion process. The nonwoven structures studied were composed of polyester fibers of different diameters and were manufactured with a drylaid/needlepunching process. The liquid diffusion properties were evaluated with decane, a perfectly wetting liquid. Two methods based on vertical wicking (one direction) and absorption capacity measurements were used. The vertical wicking test results showed that finer fibers led to higher capillary absorption ability, but to the detriment of liquid absorption rate. Blending two fibers of different diameters improved the liquid retention behavior, while maintaining absorption rates that were equivalent to nonwovens with the coarser fibers. Finally, the different results obtained in the two experimental methods for the liquid filling ratio are discussed.
The use of a mini bypass circuit for minimally invasive mitral valve surgery
Authors: Fernandes P. , MacDonald J. , Cleland A. , Mayer R. , Fox S. , Kiaii B.
Published: September 2009

Introduction: The purpose of the study is to clinically evaluate minimally invasive mitral valve surgeries (MIMVS) using a mini bypass circuit. The challenge to perfusion is to keep pace with MIMVS, with demonstrated improvements in perfusion-related technologies.

Methods: From October 28, 2005 to September 10, 2008, we retrospectively evaluated thirty-four elective cases which used the mini-circuit (Medtronic Resting Heart System®), with respect to safety, efficacy, cannulation technique, blood usage, resultant hemoglobin, length of ICU and hospital stay, and complications.

Conclusion: The Medtronic Resting Heart System® alleviates many factors, such as high shear stress, turbulence, air to blood interface and decreased oncotic pressure caused by hemodilution, providing more efficient perfusion to our MIMVS patients. We demonstrate, with minor circuit modifications and attention to venous air issues, that this mini-circuit can be used safely and effectively, while being associated with improvements in patient outcomes.
Preoperative screening and management of carotid artery disease in patients undergoing cardiac surgery
Authors: Anastasiadis Kyriakos , Karamitsos Theodoros D. , Velissaris Ioannis , Makrygiannakis Konstantinos , Kiskinis Dimitrios
Published: September 2009

Background: Carotid artery stenosis (CAS) is a well-known risk factor for perioperative stroke in cardiac surgery. It is unclear whether preoperative carotid screening should be applied to all patients. Carotid intervention concomitantly with cardiac operations is also controversial. Our objective was to identify the prevalence of significant CAS and its related risk factors by applying a protocol of preoperative carotid screening to all patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods: We studied 307 patients who were primarily screened preoperatively by duplex Doppler ultrasonography. Catheter carotid angiography or transcranial Doppler was performed on equivocal cases. Univariate and multivariate analyses were applied across selected parameters to identify risk factors for significant CAS (> 70%). The prevalence of CAS and perioperative stroke rates were determined.

Results: Twenty-two patients with severe and 18 with moderate carotid stenosis were identified. Further radiological evaluation with catheter carotid angiography and transcranial Doppler confirmed the presence of significant CAS in 20 patients who underwent carotid stenting or endarterectomy before the open heart surgery. The cardiac surgeon was free to modify the surgical technique according to the preoperative assessment. No patient had major stroke perioperatively, while two minor strokes with complete neurologic recovery have been documented. The history of stroke and the presence of bruit on clinical examination were the only significant predictors of severe carotid disease. Conclusion: Careful clinical examination together with detailed previous history taking can identify the majority of patients with CAS. Further data are required for the construction of a scientifically valid policy as a guideline.
Gap Formation in Transpatellar Patellar Tendon Repair
Authors: Krushinski Erik M. , Parks Brent G. , Hinton Richard Y.
Published: September 2009

Background

Postfixation loosening within the Krackow stitch–tendon construct may be associated with gap formation in patellar tendon repair.

Hypothesis

Pretensioning the Krackow stitch–tendon construct decreases postfixation gap formation in transpatellar patellar tendon repair.

Study Design

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods

Patellar tendon rupture was simulated in 8 pairs of cadaveric knees. Standard manual traction was used in all specimens to remove Krackow stitch slack. In the experimental group, specimens were pretensioned with a simulated active concentric quadriceps contraction with cycling of the knee 10 times from 90° to 5° of flexion. All specimens were then cycled at 0.25 Hz from 90° to 5° for 1000 cycles until failure, which was defined as 3 or 5 mm of gap formation.

Results

A 3-mm gap occurred at 1 cycle (mean, 3.5 mm) and 35 cycles (4.0 mm) in the control and experimental groups, respectively. Gapping of 5 mm occurred at 35 (5.9 mm) and 100 cycles (5.0 mm) in the control and experimental specimens, respectively. Gap formation was smaller in the experimental group through 100 cycles (P < .05).

Conclusion

Gapping was lower with pretensioning in the early cycling stages. However, significant gapping occurred in both groups with repetitive concentric active loading ranging from 90° to 5° of flexion.

Clinical Relevance

Tightening of the Krackow stitch as done in this study does not result in a clinically important decrease in gapping. This observation may be generalizable to other applications of the Krackow stitch.
Transforming “Apathy Into Movement”:The Role of Prosocial Emotions in Motivating Action for Social Change
Authors: Thomas Emma F. , McGarty Craig , Mavor Kenneth I.
Published: September 2009

This article explores the synergies between recent developments in the social identity of helping, and advantaged groups’ prosocial emotion. The authors review the literature on the potential of guilt, sympathy, and outrage to transform advantaged groups’ apathy into positive action. They place this research into a novel framework by exploring the ways these emotions shape group processes to produce action strategies that emphasize either social cohesion or social change. These prosocial emotions have a critical but underrecognized role in creating contexts of in-group inclusion or exclusion, shaping normative content and meaning, and informing group interests. Furthermore, these distinctions provide a useful way of differentiating commonly discussed emotions. The authors conclude that the most “effective” emotion will depend on the context of the inequality but that outrage seems particularly likely to productively shape group processes and social change outcomes.
Test of Time: A Case Study in the Functioning of Social Systems as a Defence Against Anxiety: Rereading 50 Years On
Authors: Lawlor David
Published: September 2009

In this paper I revisit Isabel Menzies’s classic ‘nursing paper’ (I.E.P. Menzies [1960]. A case-study in the functioning of social systems as a defence against anxiety: A report on a study of the nursing service of a general hospital. Human Relations, 13, 95—121). I outline the main findings of the paper and connect it to the major theoretical developments made by the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations and consider the current relevance of the paper in the contemporary field of health and social care.
Which DSM-IV-TR criteria best differentiate high-functioning autism spectrum disorder from ADHD and anxiety disorders in older children?
Authors: Hartley Sigan L. , Sikora Darryn M.
Published: September 2009

Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often delayed in high-functioning children with milder and more varied forms of ASD. The substantial overlap between ASD and other psychiatric disorders is thought to contribute to this delay. This study examined the endorsement of DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for ASD based on semi-structured parent interviews across three groups of older children referred to an ASD clinic: 55 children diagnosed with high-functioning ASD, 27 children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and 23 children diagnosed with anxiety disorder. Results indicate that the criteria within the domains of communication and social relatedness were largely able to discriminate the high-functioning ASD group from the ADHD and anxiety disorder groups, but criteria within the domain of restricted/repetitive/stereotyped patterns were not.
Between tradition and change
Authors: Mitchelstein Eugenia , Boczkowski Pablo J.
Published: September 2009

Online news media have become a key part of social, economic, and cultural life in many societies. Research about these media has grown dramatically, especially in the past few years, but there have been few reviews of this research and none of the most recent scholarship. This article reviews scholarship on online news production published since 2000. It examines research on five key topics: historical context and market environment, the process of innovation, alterations in journalistic practices, challenges to established professional dynamics, and the role of user-generated content. A tension between tradition and change emerges from this discussion and is evident at two levels. First, the world of practice seems to straddle the re-enactment of established forms and tinkering with alternative pathways. Second, the modes of inquiry oscillate between using existing concepts to look at new phenomena and taking advantage of these phenomena to rethink these concepts and come up with new ones. The article concludes by identifying shortcomings in the existing scholarship and suggesting avenues for future studies to overcome them. It suggests how scholarship on online news production could contribute to rethinking some of the fundamental building blocks of understanding communication and society in the contemporary media environment.
Changing journalistic practices in Eastern Europe
Authors: Metyková Monika , Waschková Císařová Lenka
Published: September 2009

The article deals with changes in the journalistic profession and journalistic practices in the early 2000s in three new European Union member states: the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia. It can be argued that Eastern European journalists face changes and challenges related to the ‘proletarization’ of journalistic work, commercial pressures, and ‘dumbing down’ as well as changing work practices related to new technologies. Yet they face these changes in the specific context of post-communist societies where the links between media and politicians often directly influence the professional practices and standards of journalists. We concentrate on developments in these three countries in relation to three areas: 1) dominant values in the journalistic profession and their change in the past 10 years; 2) influence of structures of ownership and market forces on practices and processes of journalism, and 3) influence of technological changes on journalistic practices and processes.
First HAART in HIV-Infected Patients With High Viral Load: Value of HIV RNA Levels at 12 Weeks to Predict Virologic Outcome
Authors: Townsend David , Troya Jesús , Maida Ivana , Pérez-Saleme Leticia , Satta Giovanni , Wilkin Aimee , Barreiro Pablo , Pegram P. Samuel , Soriano Vincent , Mura Maria Stella , Núñez Marina
Published: September 2009

The aim of this study is to identify the role of incomplete suppression during the first months of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) to predict virologic failure in patients with high levels of HIV replication. In a retrospective, longitudinal, and multicenter study, response to HAART was assessed in treatment-naive adults with HIV RNA >100 000 copies/mL, and factors predicting failure were analyzed through regression analyses. A total of 118 patients were included. Virologic failure occurred more often in patients with >500 copies/mL at week 12 (Cox regression: Exp (B) 3.22; P = .02). HIV RNA >500 copies/mL at week 12 predicted incomplete virologic response (odds ratio [OR] = 9.33; P = .002] but not viral rebound. Major antiretroviral resistant mutations were present in 11 of 14 patients. HIV RNA >500 copies/mL at week 12 of first HAART predicts incomplete virologic response in patients with high levels of replication at baseline. Most patients carried resistance mutations at the time of failure.
Comparison of 3-Drug Versus 4-Drug and PI Versus Non-PI Combinations as Initial HAART: Experience From 1998 to 2007
Authors: Jhaveri Malhar A. , Browning Steven R. , Bush Heather , Thornton Alice , Greenberg Richard N.
Published: September 2009

Although established in controlled studies that there is no advantage to 4-drug highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) or regimens with or without protease inhibitors (PIs), we questioned this finding in a clinical setting (ie, no inclusion criteria). Ours is a single clinic retrospective study including all participants >18 years of age during their first year of HAART. A total of 190 participants were reviewed, with 168 (88%) attaining a viral load <400 copies/mL at the end of a year of HAART; 144 of 164 (88%) succeeded with 3 drugs and 24 of 26 (92%) with 4 drugs (P = .51). In all, 59 of 71 (83%) succeeded using a PI versus 109 of 119 (92%) without a PI (P = .08). Male gender and exposure time to HAART were significant variables for a successful outcome. Failures were due to side effects (50%), nonadherence (45%), and drug allergy (5%). Our results support current guidelines recommending 3-drug HAART.
The Middle East in American Media
Authors: Ibrahim Dina
Published: September 2009

This article chronicles 20th-century American media coverage of the Middle East. Communication scholars have been at odds with determining just how the region has been portrayed, and their descriptions are not entirely uniform. Many of these scholars have accused the American media of favoritism in its coverage of the region’s conflicts, arguing through their research that objectivity has been present but rare in the nation’s mainstream press. This article traces those research efforts in an attempt to establish a picture of the patterns and shifting paradigms of American media coverage of the Middle East, particularly the Israeli—Palestinian conflict.
Emotions as Cognitive-Affective-Somatic Hybrids
Authors: Harré Rom
Published: September 2009

One way of studying emotions which is sensitive to cultural differences is to analyze the vocabularies people use to describe their own and other’s emotions, which can be called the local emotionology. Wittgenstein’s concepts of language game and family resemblance can be used in this project. The result of research in this mode is a three-factor account of emotions, involving bodily perturbations, judgments of meanings, and the social force of emotion displays. This treatment of a psychological phenomenon is typical of recent conceptions of psychology as a hybrid science, linking cognitive, cultural, and physiological phenomena. It can be seen as a further development of the cognitive account of emotions that has appeared in the last century.
Affective Neuroscience: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Dalgleish Tim , Dunn Barnaby D. , Mobbs Dean
Published: September 2009

The discipline of affective neuroscience is concerned with the underlying neural substrates of emotion and mood. This review presents an historical overview of the pioneering work in affective neuroscience of James and Lange, Cannon and Bard, and Hess, Papez, and MacLean before summarizing the current state of research on the brain regions identified by these seminal researchers. We also discuss the more recent strides made in the field of affective neuroscience. A final section considers different hypothetical organizations of affective neuroanatomy and highlights future directions for the discipline.
Denosumab in postmenopausal osteoporosis: what the clinician needs to know
Authors: Lewiecki E. Michael
Published: September 2009

Denosumab is a subcutaneously (SC) administered investigational fully human monoclonal antibody to receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), a cytokine member of the tumor necrosis factor family that is the principal mediator of osteoclastic bone resorption. RANKL stimulates the formation, activity, and survival of osteoclasts, and is implicated in the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis and other skeletal disorders associated with increased bone remodeling. Denosumab binds RANKL, preventing it from binding to RANK, thereby reducing the formation, activity, and survival of osteoclasts and slowing the rate of bone resorption. Postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density (BMD) treated with denosumab have a reduction of bone turnover markers and an increase in BMD that is rapid, sustained, and reversible. In postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, denosumab reduces the risk of vertebral, hip, and nonvertebral fractures. In postmenopausal women with low BMD randomized to receive denosumab or alendronate, denosumab is associated with a significantly greater increase in BMD and further reduction in bone turnover markers compared with alendronate. In postmenopausal women with low BMD who were previously treated with alendronate, those who switched to denosumab have a significantly greater BMD increase and further reduction in bone turnover markers compared with those continuing alendronate. Denosumab is well tolerated with a favorable safety profile. It is a promising emerging drug for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, offering a long dosing interval of every 6 months and convenient SC dosing, with the potential of improving long-term adherence to therapy compared with current oral treatments.
Three-dimensional thermomechanical coupled FEM analysis of static recrystallisation during two-pass tube tension reducing process
Authors: Wang F. Z. , Zhang H. C. , An X. Z. , Liu G. Q. , Lu L. , Zhu G. Y.
Published: September 2009

In this paper, a thermal dynamic numerical method was carried out to model the austenite static recrystallisation behaviour of steel 33Mn2V used in new non-quenched/tempered oil well tubes at different deformation temperatures, strain rates, deformation amounts and initial microstructures. Based on the MARC/AutoForge software, a three-dimensional thermomechanical coupled elastoplastic finite element model (FEM) was applied to simulate static recrystallisation amount of the two-pass tube tension reducing process of steel 33Mn2V for oil well. The distribution law of static recrystallisation inside the workpiece is analysed. It is indicated that the simulation results are much reliable through comparison with experimental data.
Defects in osteoblast function but no changes in long-term repopulating potential of hematopoietic stem cells in a mouse chronic inflammatory arthritis model
Authors: Ma Yunglin D. , Park Changwon , Zhao Haibo , Oduro Kwadwo A. , Tu Xiaolin , Long Fanxin , Allen Paul M. , Teitelbaum Steven L. , Choi Kyunghee
Published: September 2009

Recent studies support the notion that there is an intricate relationship between hematopoiesis and bone homeostasis in normal steady states. Using mice undergoing chronic inflammatory arthritis, we investigated the relationship between hematopoiesis and bone homeostasis in pathologic conditions. We demonstrate that mice undergoing chronic inflammatory arthritis displayed osteoporosis resulting from a severe defect in osteoblast function. Despite the defective osteoblast function, however, the hematopoietic stem cells from these mice exhibited normal properties in either long-term repopulation or cell cycling. Therefore, the bone-forming capacity of osteoblasts is distinct from their ability to maintain hematopoietic stem cells in chronic inflammatory conditions.
In Silico screening for functional candidates amongst hypothetical proteins
Authors: Desler Claus , Suravajhala Prashanth , Sanderhoff May , Rasmussen Merete , Rasmussen Lene Juel
Published: September 2009

Background

The definition of a hypothetical protein is a protein that is predicted to be expressed from an open reading frame, but for which there is no experimental evidence of translation. Hypothetical proteins constitute a substantial fraction of proteomes of human as well as of other eukaryotes. With the general belief that the majority of hypothetical proteins are the product of pseudogenes, it is essential to have a tool with the ability of pinpointing the minority of hypothetical proteins with a high probability of being expressed.

Results

Here, we present an in silico selection strategy where eukaryotic hypothetical proteins are sorted according to two criteria that can be reliably identified in silico: the presence of subcellular targeting signals and presence of characterized protein domains. To validate the selection strategy we applied it on a database of human hypothetical proteins dating to 2006 and compared the proteins predicted to be expressed by our selecting strategy, with their status in 2008. For the comparison we focused on mitochondrial proteins, since considerable amounts of research have focused on this field in between 2006 and 2008. Therefore, many proteins, defined as hypothetical in 2006, have later been characterized as mitochondrial.

Conclusion

Among the total amount of human proteins hypothetical in 2006, 21% have later been experimentally characterized and 6% of those have been shown to have a role in a mitochondrial context. In contrast, among the selected hypothetical proteins from the 2006 dataset, predicted by our strategy to have a mitochondrial role, 53-62% have later been experimentally characterized, and 85% of these have actually been assigned a role in mitochondria by 2008.

Therefore our in silico selection strategy can be used to select the most promising candidates for subsequent in vitro and in vivo analyses.
Protective effect of geranylgeranylacetone, an inducer of heat shock protein 70, against drug-induced lung injury/fibrosis in an animal model
Authors: Fujibayashi Takayoshi , Hashimoto Naozumi , Jijiwa Mayumi , Hasegawa Yoshinori , Kojima Toshihisa , Ishiguro Naoki
Published: September 2009

Background

To determine whether oral administration of geranylgeranylacetone (GGA), a nontoxic anti-ulcer drug that is an inducer of heat shock protein (HSP) 70, protects against drug-induced lung injury/fibrosis in vivo.

Methods

We used a bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung fibrosis model in which mice were treated with oral 600 mg/kg of GGA before and after BLM administration. Inflammation and fibrosis were evaluated by histological scoring, hydroxyproline content in the lung and inflammatory cell count, and quantification by ELISA of macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Apoptosis was evaluated by the TUNEL method. The induction of HSP70 in the lung was examined with western blot analysis and its localization was determined by immunohistochemistry.

Results

We confirmed the presence of inflammation and fibrosis in the BLM-induced lung injury model and induction of HSP70 by oral administration of GGA. GGA prevented apoptosis of cellular constituents of lung tissue, such as epithelial cells, most likely related to the de novo induction of HSP70 in the lungs. GGA-treated mice also showed less fibrosis of the lungs, associated with the findings of suppression of both production of MIP-2 and inflammatory cell accumulation in the injured lung, compared with vehicle-treated mice.

Conclusion

GGA had a protective effect on drug-induced lung injury/fibrosis. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs such as methotrexate, which are indispensable for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, often cause interstitial lung diseases, an adverse event that currently cannot be prevented. Clinical use of GGA for drug-induced pulmonary fibrosis might be considered in the future.
Monodispersity of recombinant Cre recombinase correlates with its effectiveness in vivo
Authors: Capasso Paola , Aliprandi Marisa , Ossolengo Giuseppe , Edenhofer Frank , de Marco Ario
Published: September 2009

Background

Cre recombinase is a common reagent used for thein vivoon/off switching of the expression of target genes flanked byloxPsites. In particular, recombinant TAT-Cre fusion constructs purified from bacteria have been used to promote the cell uptake of the enzyme. However, the recovery of active TAT-Cre remains a demanding process and its specific activity varies significantly among batches, making difficult data comparison.

Results

We noticed a strong correlation between recombinase activity and enzyme monodispersity. The existence of such correlation enabled us to indirectly monitor the TAT-Cre recombinase activity during the multi-step purification process by measuring its monodispersity, a parameter detectable by means of a spectrofluorimetric assay that allows the calculation of the Aggregation Index (AI) in an easy and rapid way. AI values were recorded after each purification passage to identify the critical steps and to choose optimal alternatives for chromatographic conditions, desalting procedures, and protocols for bacterial endotoxin removal. Furthermore, the effect of metal ions and temperature on TAT-Cre aggregation and inactivation was characterizedin vitro. Finally, we optimized the enzyme delivery protocolin vivoby following the accumulation tuning of the reporter protein β-catenin.

Conclusion

A rational purification protocol for TAT-Cre has been developed by choosing the options that minimize the enzyme aggregation. Our data suggest that AI measurement should support the optimization of any protocol aiming at the recovery of monodispersed protein.
Human cellular restriction factors that target HIV-1 replication
Authors: Strebel Klaus , Luban Jeremy , Jeang Kuan-Teh
Published: September 2009

Recent findings have highlighted roles played by innate cellular factors in restricting intracellular viral replication. In this review, we discuss in brief the activities of apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme 3G (APOBEC3G), bone marrow stromal cell antigen 2 (BST-2), cyclophilin A, tripartite motif protein 5 alpha (Trim5α), and cellular microRNAs as examples of host restriction factors that target HIV-1. We point to countermeasures encoded by HIV-1 for moderating the potency of these cellular restriction functions.