bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient Position During Lumbar Puncture Has No Meaningful Effect on Cerebrospinal Fluid Opening Pressure in Children
Authors: Avery Robert A. , Mistry Rakesh D. , Shah Samir S. , Boswinkel Jan , Huh Jimmy W. , Ruppe Michael D. , Borasino Santiago , Licht Daniel J. , Seiden Jeffrey A. , Liu Grant T.
Published: February 2010

The recommendation to measure cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure in the extended, rather than the flexed lateral recumbent position to avoid false elevation of the opening pressure has not been formally evaluated in children. This single-center prospective cohort study includes 53 children who had their opening pressure measured in both the flexed and extended lateral recumbent positions prior to removing any cerebrospinal fluid (mean age = 11.7 years; 60% male). The mean opening pressure was higher in the flexed (25.1 ± 9.2 cm H2O) compared with the extended (24.4 ± 8.4 cm H2O) position (mean difference = 0.6 ± 2.2 cm H2O; Z = 2.021, P < .03). Most (92.4%) opening pressure measurements had less than a 5 cm H2O difference between positions. Lumbar puncture performed in the extended, rather than the flexed lateral recumbent position results in a statistically significant decrease in cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure, although the magnitude of the difference is small and of doubtful clinical significance.
Divine Justice/Divine Command
Authors: Novak David
Published: February 2010

In the Jewish tradition there are those who simply identify divine justice with the specific divine commands, which is a theological version of legal positivism. This paper argues for another view in the Jewish tradition, viz., divine justice or divine wisdom is the rationale of the specific divine commands, thus making them more than arbitrary decrees. As the rationale of the specific divine commands, divine justice functions as a criterion of judgment that prevents irrational interpretations and unjust applications of the specific divine commands. This approach is a theological version of natural law.
Induction of oxidative damage in the testes and spermatozoa and hematotoxicity in rats exposed to multiple doses of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether
Authors: Adedara Isaac A , Farombi Ebenezer O
Published: February 2010

The effects of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (EGEE) on the antioxidant systems of the testes and epididymal spermatozoa were investigated in rats at dose levels of 0, 100, 200 and 400 mg kg-1 body weight (bw) administered orally by gavage for 14 consecutive days. The bw gain of the EGEE-treated rats decreased significantly at 200 and 400 mg kg- 1 bw compared with the control group. There were no significant changes in the weights of the testes, epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate glands of the EGEE-treated rats. In the testes, while EGEE treatment resulted in significant decrease in glutathione (GSH) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, it markedly increased the malondialdehyde (MDA) level, glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities at 200 and 400 mg kg-1 dose levels but vitamin C content remained unaffected in all the groups. In the spermatozoa, administration of EGEE caused significant decrease in the activities of CAT, GST and LDH as well as in the levels of vitamin C and GSH but significantly increased the MDA level and SOD activity compared with the control rats. Histopathological examination showed severe degeneration of the testes, such as generalized erosion and necrosis of the germinal epithelium of the testes, but mildly affected the epididymis at 400 mg kg-1 dose only. Data on spermatozoa analysis of EGEE-treated rats revealed significant decrease in the epididymal spermatozoa number, testicular spermatozoa number, daily spermatozoa production and spermatozoa motility but significantly increased the total spermatozoa abnormalities without affecting the spermatozoa live-dead ratio at all dose levels when compared with the control group. Results of haematological examination showed that white blood cells (WBC), platelets neutrophils and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were significantly lower whereas lymphocytes were increased in 200 and 400 mg/kg EGEE-exposed rats than in the controls. EGEE at 100 mg/kg bw produced minor effect on haematological parameters but adversely affected testes and spermatozoa. In summary, short term administration of EGEE is hematotoxic and gonadotoxic and its effects on male reproduction could be due to the induction of oxidative stress in testes and spermatozoa.
Correlation of asymptomatic hyperuricaemia and serum uric acid levels with arterial stiffness in women with systemic lupus erythematosus without clinically evident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
Authors: Sabio JM , Vargas-Hitos JA , Mediavilla JD , Navarrete-Navarrete N. , Zamora-Posadas M. , Pérez-Vicente S. , Hidalgo-Tenorio C. , Díaz-Chamorro A. , Jáimez L. , Jiménez-Alonso J. ,   Grupo Lupus Virgen de las Nieves
Published: February 2010

The objective of this article was to evaluate whether serum uric acid (SUA) correlates with arterial stiffness and inflammation markers in a cohort of women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) without overt atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, who attended a community hospital. One hundred and two women with SLE were assessed as part of this cross-sectional study. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured using an automatic device (Complior®). C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen and homocysteine levels as well as other metabolic results were recorded. Duration and activity of SLE, damage accrual and treatments were recorded. SLE women were categorized as having or not having hyperuricaemia (HU) according to SUA levels (greater than or up to 6.2 mg/dl, respectively). A multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the independent link between SUA levels and other variables. Women with SLE and HU (n = 15, 15%) had a worse cardiovascular risk profile that included ageing, hypertension, obesity, higher total cholesterol levels, renal failure and presence of metabolic syndrome. Also, the duration of SLE was increased and damage accrual was greater. In the unadjusted analysis, SUA levels correlated with PWV, CRP, fibrinogen and homocysteine. However, in a multivariate linear regression analysis, SUA levels independently correlated with the duration of SLE, creatinine, total cholesterol and homocysteine levels but did not correlate with PWV. In conclusion, SUA was associated with arterial stiffness, but not independently of age and homocysteine levels. Nevertheless, SUA might be an ancillary indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis in SLE women without clinically evident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Lupus (2010) 19, 591—598.
The metamorphosis of female bodybuilders: Judging a paroxysmal body?
Authors: Roussel Peggy , Monaghan Lee F. , Javerlhiac Sophie , Le Yondre François
Published: February 2010

Female bodybuilding raises an obvious question: how should we judge these metamorphosized bodies and associated practices? We will reframe this question as part of a short communication on what many people judge to be a paroxysmal body that is deservedly discredited. Drawing from Kant’s distinction between ‘free beauty’ and ‘adherent beauty’, our commentary revolves around the notion of aesthetic judgment. Different expressions of this are considered. For our purposes, manifestations of these judgments are discussed in two ‘ideal typical’ interactional contexts: one between bodybuilding enthusiasts and the other between female bodybuilders and non-affiliates within the cultural mainstream. The issue of judgment within sociological writing on female bodybuilding is also raised alongside our endorsement of an embodied, interactionist approach and qualitative research.
Reauthorization of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA, 2004): The peer-reviewed research requirement
Authors: Etscheidt Susan , Curran Christina M.
Published: February 2010

Due to an insufficient focus on efficacious practices, the reauthorized IDEA requires Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams to base the selection of special education, related services, and supplementary aids and services on peer-reviewed research (PRR), to the extent practicable. This article examines the litigation addressing the PRR requirement, presents the federal policy initiatives to support implementation of PRR and the controversy surrounding an expanded federal influence, and poses several questions pertaining to the implementation of the PRR requirement.
Girls in the ’Hood: How Safety Affects the Life Chances of Low-Income Girls
Authors: Popkin Susan J. , Leventhal Tama , Weismann Gretchen
Published: February 2010

Adolescents growing up in high-poverty neighborhoods are at risk for a range of negative outcomes. Girls face specific threats because of their gender—omnipresent harassment, pressure for early sexual initiation, pervasive intimate partner violence, and high risk of sexual assault.This article uses mixed-methods data from the Three-City Study of Moving to Opportunity (MTO) to explore how moving to lower-poverty neighborhoods may have influenced adolescent girls’ life chances. MTO families moved to neighborhoods with lower levels of violent crime overall, but MTO girls also experienced a substantial reduction in the “female fear,” Gordon and Riger’s term for the fear of sexual harassment, coercion, and rape. The authors argue that this change is a plausible explanation for the notable improvements in MTO girls’ well-being.
Using a vignette-based questionnaire to explore adolescents’ understanding of mental health issues
Authors: Leighton Sharon
Published: February 2010

The aim of this study was to examine levels of mental health literacy among a school-based sample of adolescents. To achieve this, a vignette-based questionnaire was developed, piloted, and completed. Mixed methods were used to collect and analyse data. Findings were analysed using content analysis, and descriptive and inferential statistics. Key findings include first, that socio-economic disadvantage and low levels of educational attainment are not necessarily synonymous with lower levels of mental health literacy. Second, female respondents, and those with experience of mental health problems, were more flexible in their choice of sources of help, and the perceived benefits of such help. Implications for practice are considered in terms of clinical understanding, mental health promotion for adolescents and training for professionals.
Opinion Polarization and Inter-Party Competition on Europe
Authors: Down Ian , Wilson Carole J.
Published: February 2010

Rising Euroscepticism, increasing levels of public disagreement and growing divisions on Europe both within and between political parties are all indicators of the emergent potential for contestation on Europe. This article seeks to identify whether two important elements of contestation on Europe, namely inter-party competition and divisions in public opinion, are causally related, the direction of any such relationship and in which countries the relationship might exist. In doing so, we apply a recently developed method for analysing cross-sectional time-series data: panel Granger testing. We do, indeed, find a causal relationship between public opinion and inter-party competition, but only in some countries, not all, and we discuss the implications for political competition on Europe.
Communications Technology, Emotional Intelligence, and Impact on Performance: A Conceptual Exploration of Connections
Authors: Graham Carroll M.
Published: February 2010

The purpose of this exploratory conceptual article is to stimulate dialogue about limitations to performance that may be associated with leadership’s inability to appropriately express emotional intelligence when primarily relying on innovative, Web-based communication technologies. Based on this concept and anecdotal evidence, the notion exists that extensive use of newer technologies may undermine the expression of a leader’s emotional intelligence (EI) characteristics during communications with stakeholders. Consequently, recipients of suboptimal communications from leadership may accept this as the status quo and performance may suffer. Although we have embraced innovative communication technologies without hesitation and often with much enthusiasm, there is limited empirical evidence as to how these newer approaches may enhance or diminish the quality of leader interactions and ultimately affect worker development and performance.
Political Communication in Freefall: The British Case—and Others?
Authors: Blumler Jay G. , Coleman Stephen
Published: February 2010

The article designates certain current key features of British political communication, contrasting them with their counterparts two decades earlier. It specifies some systemic sources of those developments, which may be common (or becoming so) in other competitive democracies. It argues why this matters: A Machiavellian view of political communication is increasingly emerging, so emphasising an instrumental pursuit of power that citizenship is in danger of becoming little more than a form of noncommercial consumption. Finally, it proposes some institutional changes intended to counteract these disturbing latter-day trends.
The microstructure of the diffusion zone of a gaseously nitrided Fe–1·5 wt-%Cr–1·5 wt-%Al alloy
Authors: Clauss A. R. , Bischoff E. , Schacherl R. E. , Mittemeijer E. J.
Published: February 2010

Gaseous nitriding experiments of an Fe–1·5 wt-%Cr–1·5 wt-%Al (i.e. Fe–1·6 at.-%Cr–3·1 at.-%Al) alloy were carried out as a function of time at 853 K. The microstructure of the diffusion zone was characterised by microhardness, electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) in combination with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Chromium and aluminium precipitate together as a mixed Cr1−xAlxN phase in the diffusion zone. The size of the (semi)coherent precipitates and the amount of excess nitrogen have a strong influence on the microstructure of the diffusion zone. Crack formation occurs after a certain nitriding time starting from the specimen surface and propagating along grain boundaries more or less perpendicularly to the surface towards larger depth. The grain boundary brittleness could be ascribed to the precipitation of excess nitrogen as nitrogen gas at the grain boundaries and to the segregation of Al at grain boundaries promoting precipitation of AlN at the grain boundaries. The residual stress–depth profile was determined and a simple model was proposed to explain the surprising initially occurrence of tensile stress parallel to the surface in the diffusion zone.
Genome-wide linkage scan for factors of metabolic syndrome in a Chinese population
Authors: Tam Claudia HT , Lam Vincent KL , So Wing-Yee , Ma Ronald CW , Chan Juliana CN , Ng Maggie CY
Published: February 2010

Background

Shared genetic factors may contribute to the phenotypic clustering of different components of the metabolic syndrome (MES). This study aims to identify genetic loci that contribute to individual or multiple factors related to MES.

Results

We studied 478 normoglycemic subjects ascertained through 163 families participating in the Hong Kong Family Diabetes Study. Factor analysis on 15 MES-related traits yielded 6 factors including adiposity factor (body mass index, waist and hip circumferences), insulin factor (fasting insulin and insulin AUC during OGTT), glucose factor (fasting glucose and glucose AUC during OGTT), TC-LDLC factor (total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol), blood pressure factor (systolic and diastolic blood pressure) and TG-HDLC factor (triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol). Genome-wide linkage analyses were performed on these factors using variance component approach. Suggestive evidence for linkage (LOD = 1.24 - 2.46) were observed for adiposity factor (chromosome 1 at 187 cM, chromosome 9 at 34 cM and chromosome 17 at 10 cM), insulin factor (chromosome 2 at 128 cM, chromosome 5 at 21 cM and chromosome 12 at 7 cM), glucose factor (chromosome 7 at 155 cM), TC-LDLC factor (chromosome 7 at 151 cM and chromosome 13 at 15 cM) and TG-HDLC factor (chromosome 7 at 155 cM).

Conclusions

In summary, our findings suggest the presence of susceptibility loci that influence either single (chromosomes 1, 2, 5, 9, 12, 13 and 17) or multiple factors (chromosome 7) for MES in Hong Kong Chinese without diabetes.
Comparative analysis of fungal protein kinases and associated domains
Authors: Kosti Idit , Mandel-Gutfreund Yael , Glaser Fabian , Horwitz Benjamin A
Published: February 2010

Background

Protein phosphorylation is responsible for a large portion of the regulatory functions of eukaryotic cells. Although the list of sequenced genomes of filamentous fungi has grown rapidly, the kinomes of recently sequenced species have not yet been studied in detail. The objective of this study is to apply a comparative analysis of the kinase distribution in different fungal phyla, and to explore its relevance to understanding the evolution of fungi and their taxonomic classification. We have analyzed in detail 12 subgroups of kinases and their distribution over 30 species, as well as their potential use as a classifier for members of the fungal kingdom.

Results

Our findings show that despite the similarity of the kinase distribution in all fungi, their domain distributions and kinome density can potentially be used to classify them and give insight into their evolutionary origin. In general, we found that the overall representation of kinase groups is similar across fungal genomes, the only exception being a large number of tyrosine kinase-like (TKL) kinases predicted in Laccaria bicolor. This unexpected finding underscores the need to continue to sequence fungal genomes, since many species or lineage-specific properties may remain to be discovered. Furthermore, we found that the domain organization significantly varies between the fungal species. Our results suggest that protein kinases and their functional domains strongly reflect fungal taxonomy.

Conclusions

Comparison of the predicted kinomes of sequenced fungi suggests essential signaling functions common to all species, but also specific adaptations of the signal transduction networks to particular species.
Columnar cell lesions of the canine mammary gland: pathological features and immunophenotypic analysis
Authors: Ferreira Enio , Gobbi Helenice , Saraiva Bruna S , Cassali Geovanni D
Published: February 2010

Background

It has been suggested that columnar cell lesions indicate an alteration of the human mammary gland involved in the development of breast cancer. They have not previously been described in canine mammary gland. The aim of this paper is describe the morphologic spectrum of columnar cell lesions in canine mammary gland specimens and their association with other breast lesions.

Methods

A total of 126 lesions were subjected to a comprehensive morphological review based upon the human breast classification system for columnar cell lesions. The presence of preinvasive (epithelial hyperplasia and in situ carcinoma) and invasive lesions was determined and immunophenotypic analysis (estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), high molecular weight cytokeratin (34βE-12), E-cadherin, Ki-67, HER-2 and P53) was perfomed.

Results

Columnar cell lesions were identified in 67 (53.1%) of the 126 canine mammary glands with intraepithelial alterations. They were observed in the terminal duct lobular units and characterized at dilated acini may be lined by several layers of columnar epithelial cells with elongated nuclei. Of the columnar cell lesions identified, 41 (61.2%) were without and 26 (38.8%) with atypia. Association with ductal hyperplasia was observed in 45/67 (67.1%). Sixty (89.5%) of the columnar cell lesions coexisted with neoplastic lesions (20 in situ carcinomas, 19 invasive carcinomas and 21 benign tumors). The columnar cells were ER, PgR and E-cadherin positive but negative for cytokeratin 34βE-12, HER-2 and P53. The proliferation rate as measured by Ki-67 appeared higher in the lesions analyzed than in normal TDLUs.

Conclusions

Columnar cell lesions in canine mammary gland are pathologically and immunophenotypically similar to those in human breast. This may suggest that dogs are a suitable model for the comparative study of noninvasive breast lesions.
RNA quantification using gold nanoprobes - application to cancer diagnostics
Authors: Conde João , de la Fuente Jesús M , Baptista Pedro V
Published: February 2010

Molecular nanodiagnostics applied to cancer may provide rapid and sensitive detection of cancer related molecular alterations, which would enable early detection even when those alterations occur only in a small percentage of cells. The use of gold nanoparticles derivatized with thiol modified oligonucleotides (Au-nanoprobes) for the detection of specific nucleic acid targets has been gaining momentum as an alternative to more traditional methodologies. Here, we present an Au-nanoparticles based approach for the molecular recognition and quantification of the BCR-ABL fusion transcript (mRNA), which is responsible for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and to the best of our knowledge it is the first time quantification of a specific mRNA directly in cancer cells is reported. This inexpensive and very easy to perform Au-nanoprobe based method allows quantification of unamplified total human RNA and specific detection of the oncogene transcript. The sensitivity settled by the Au-nanoprobes allows differential gene expression from 10 ng/μl of total RNA and takes less than 30 min to complete after total RNA extraction, minimizing RNA degradation. Also, at later stages, accumulation of malignant mutations may lead to resistance to chemotherapy and consequently poor outcome. Such a method, allowing for fast and direct detection and quantification of the chimeric BCR-ABL mRNA, could speed up diagnostics and, if appropriate, revision of therapy. This assay may constitute a promising tool in early diagnosis of CML and could easily be extended to further target genes with proven involvement in cancer development.
Intra-operative intravenous fluid restriction reduces perioperative red blood cell transfusion in elective cardiac surgery, especially in transfusion-prone patients: a prospective, randomized controlled trial
Authors: Vretzakis George , Kleitsaki Athina , Stamoulis Konstantinos , Bareka Metaxia , Georgopoulou Stavroula , Karanikolas Menelaos , Giannoukas Athanasios
Published: February 2010

Background

Cardiac surgery is a major consumer of blood products, and hemodilution increases transfusion requirements during cardiac surgery under CPB. As intraoperative parenteral fluids contribute to hemodilution, we evaluated the hypothesis that intraoperative fluid restriction reduces packed red-cell (PRC) use, especially in transfusion-prone adults undergoing elective cardiac surgery.

Methods

192 patients were randomly assigned to restrictive (group A, 100 pts), or liberal (group B, 92 pts) intraoperative intravenous fluid administration. All operations were conducted by the same team (same surgeon and perfusionist). After anesthesia induction, intravenous fluids were turned off in Group A (fluid restriction) patients, who only received fluids if directed by protocol. In contrast, intravenous fluid administration was unrestricted in group B. Transfusion decisions were made by the attending anesthesiologist, based on identical transfusion guidelines for both groups.

Results

137 of 192 patients received 289 PRC units in total. Age, sex, weight, height, BMI, BSA, LVEF, CPB duration and surgery duration did not differ between groups. Fluid balance was less positive in Group A. Fewer group A patients (62/100) required transfusion compared to group B (75/92, p < 0.04). Group A patients received fewer PRC units (113) compared to group B (176; p < 0.0001). Intraoperatively, the number of transfused units and transfused patients was lower in group A (31 u in 19 pts vs. 111 u in 62 pts; p < 0.001). Transfusions in ICU did not differ significantly between groups. Transfused patients had higher age, lower weight, height, BSA and preoperative hematocrit, but no difference in BMI or discharge hematocrit. Group B (p < 0.005) and female gender (p < 0.001) were associated with higher transfusion probability. Logistic regression identified group and preoperative hematocrit as significant predictors of transfusion.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that fluid restriction reduces intraoperative PRC transfusions without significantly increasing postoperative transfusions in cardiac surgery; this effect is more pronounced in transfusion-prone patients.

Trial registration

NCT00600704, at the United States National Institutes of Health.
Liver and brain abscess caused by Aggregatibacter paraphrophilus in association with a large patent foramen ovale: a case report
Authors: Ariyaratnam Shaumya , Gajendragadkar Parag R , Dickinson Richard J , Roberts Phil , Harris Kathryn , Carmichael Andrew , Karas Johannis A
Published: February 2010

Introduction

Aggregatibacter paraphrophilus (former name Haemophilus paraphrophilus) is a normal commensal of the oral flora. It is a rare cause of hepatobiliary or intracerebral abscesses.

Case presentation

We report a case of a 53-year-old Caucasian man with a liver abscess and subsequent brain abscesses caused by Aggregatibacter paraphrophilus. The probable source of the infection was the oral flora of our patient following ingestion of a dental filling. The presence of a large patent foramen ovale was a predisposing factor for multifocal abscesses.

Conclusion

In this case report, we describe an unusual case of a patient with both liver and brain abscesses caused by an oral commensal Aggregatibacter paraphrophilus that can occasionally show significant pathogenic potential.
A case of Poland Syndrome associated with dextroposition
Authors: Lacorte Doriana , Marsella Maria , Guerrini Pietro
Published: February 2010

Classical Poland Syndrome (PS) is characterized by unilateral, partial or complete absence of the sternocostal head of the major pectoral muscle and brachysyndactyly of fingers on the same side.

We report the case of a newborn infant with dextrocardia and PS located on the left side.

This association is very rare: to date only 19 cases have been described in scientific literature. In all reported cases, as in the present, the Poland defect involved the left side and was associated to rib defects, whereas most cases of PS are on the right side and few have rib defects. This case supports the view that dextrocardia follows the loss of volume of the left hemithorax caused by Poland sequence and that the combination of PS and dextrocardia is not coincidental.
Comparison of sensitivity of Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis
Authors: Fang Yujiang , Yu Shiguang , Ellis Jason S , Sharav Tumenjargal , Braley-Mullen Helen
Published: February 2010

Decreased FasL and increased FLIP expression levels in Th17 cells correlated with their decreased sensitivity to Fas-mediated apoptosis as compared to Th1 cells.

Following activation through the TCR, CD4+ T cells can differentiate into three major subsets: Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells. IL-17-secreting Th17 cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases and in immune responses to pathogens, but little is known about the regulation of apoptosis in Th17 cells. In this study, the sensitivity of in vitro-polarized Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis was compared directly by different methods. The order of sensitivity of T cell subsets to Fas-mediated apoptosis is: Th1 > Th17 > Th2. The greater sensitivity of Th17 cells to Fas-mediated apoptosis compared with Th2 cells correlated with their higher expression of FasL and comparable expression of the antiapoptotic molecule FLIP. The decreased sensitivity of Th17 compared with Th1 cells correlated with the higher expression of FLIP by Th17 cells. Transgenic overexpression of FLIP in T cells protected all three subsets from Fas-mediated apoptosis. These findings provide new knowledge for understanding how survival of different subsets of T cells is regulated.
Genetic redirection of T cells for cancer therapy
Authors: Westwood Jennifer A , Kershaw Michael H
Published: February 2010

Review on tumor-specific T cells for adoptive immunotherapy generated using genetic modification: recent advances facilitate clinical translation of this therapeutic approach.

Adoptive immunotherapy can induce dramatic tumor regressions in patients with melanoma or viral-induced malignancies, but extending this approach to many common cancers has been hampered by a lack of naturally occurring tumor-specific T cells. In this review, we describe recent advances in the genetic modification of T cells using genes encoding cell-surface receptors specific for tumor-associated antigen. Using genetic modification, the many functional properties of T cells, including cytokine secretion and cytolytic capacity, are redirected from their endogenous specificity toward the elimination of tumor cells. Advances in gene design, vectors, and cell production are discussed, and details of the progress in clinical application of this approach are provided.
Meal-Induced Hormone Responses in a Rat Model of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery
Authors: Shin Andrew C. , Zheng Huiyuan , Townsend R. Leigh , Sigalet David L. , Berthoud Hans-Rudolf
Published: February 2010

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity and remission of associated type 2 diabetes, but the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a rat model for RYGB surgery that allows repeated measurement of meal-induced changes in gut and pancreatic hormones via chronic venous catheters. Male Sprague Dawley rats made obese on a palatable high-fat diet were subjected to RYGB or sham surgery and compared with chow-fed, lean controls. Hormonal responses to a mixed-liquid test meal were examined by frequent blood sampling through chronically implanted jugular catheters in freely behaving rats, 3–4 months after surgery, when RYGB rats had significantly reduced body weight and fat mass compared with sham-operated rats. Hyperleptinemia, basal hyperinsulinemia, and hyperglycemia as well as postprandial glucose intolerance seen in sham-operated, obese rats were completely reversed by RYGB and no longer different from lean controls. Postprandial increases in glucagon-like peptide-1, peptide YY, and amylin as well as suppression of ghrelin levels were all significantly augmented in RYGB rats compared with both sham-operated obese and lean control rats. Thus, our rat model replicates most of the salient hormonal and glycemic changes reported in obese patients after RYGB, with the addition of amylin to the list of potential candidate hormones involved in hypophagia, weight loss, and remission of diabetes. The model will be useful for elucidating the specific peripheral and central mechanisms involved in the suppression of appetite, loss of body weight, and remission of type 2 diabetes.
Climate Justice: The Emerging Movement against Green Capitalism
Authors: Dawson Ashley
Published: February 2010

As the severity of the unfolding global climate crisis has become increasingly apparent over the last decade, a movement for climate justice has emerged to challenge unsustainable environmental policies pursued in the United States and around the world. The U.S. wing of this movement builds on the environmental justice movement and its challenges to mainstream environmental organizations around a civil rights agenda of ecological equity for all. The devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans has played a particularly important role in catalyzing the movement for climate justice. This devastation was not, I argue, simply a product of a natural disaster: instead, shortsighted, corrupt, and racist policies in New Orleans prepared the terrain for the suffering that followed the storm. The still-unfolding tragedy in New Orleans thus demonstrates the extent to which human intervention in the environment has placed the most vulnerable in harm's way. After discussing the iniquities of the reconstruction efforts in New Orleans, I outline the history of the environmental justice movement, looking in particular at two organizations—WEACT of Harlem and Sustainable South Bronx—that are working to link local environmental injustices to global issues of climate change. These organizations are at the forefront of the opposition to false solutions to climate change, such as carbon offsetting and pollution trading. Their work as grassroots organizations with increasingly extensive transnational links places them in a pivotal position to advance key models of ecological equity.
Performing Intimacy Using “Race-Specific, Race-Free Language”: Black Private Letters in the Public Sphere
Authors: Li Stephanie
Published: February 2010

In the 1997 essay “Home,” Toni Morrison explores her attempt to create “race-specific, race-free language,” asking “How to enunciate race while depriving it of its lethal cling?” I propose that Morrison's conception of language that encodes race without racism represents a new way of talking about race in the political and public sphere. Morrison's letter endorsing Barack Obama's presidential candidacy stands as a critical example of how such prose can effectively operate, and it models an increasingly ubiquitous form of communication between black intellectuals and politicians—the shared private epistle. Although Morrison states that her support for Obama was not derived from racial preference, because of her vexed history with the term “black president,” the letter has deep racial significance. As an example of the shared private epistle, it illustrates the fundamental friction of “race-specific, race-free language” while also demonstrating the utility of such language to reach out to audiences of all races. Such prose creates a new division between insider and outsider, a split that Morrison capitalizes on by positioning her readers as spectators to a private correspondence. By acknowledging that those who read the letter, regardless of their race, are outside this direct exchange, Morrison creates a space in which the language of race can be disregarded because it is already known. Her audience is thus left to read race not as a series of identity categories but as an intimacy that renders its specific reference obsolete.
Improbable Grounds: The Emergence of the Black British Intellectual
Authors: Carrington Ben
Published: February 2010

The past two decades have witnessed the emergence of a remarkable number of internationally renowned black British intellectuals, including artists, novelists, poets, journalists, and academics. This article maps the socioeconomic and political terrain from which the “black British intellectual” has emerged. I argue that from the improbable grounds of anticolonial struggle, twentieth-century migrancy, and post/colonial claims to recognition, a new subjectivity of “black Britishness” has been forged. Subsequently, this black diasporic subjectivity has produced a form of intellectual praxis that has decisively reshaped broader discussions around race and identity within the African diaspora and the very parameters of what it means to be a black intellectual. This intellectual work, I argue, is defined by its relation to a set of dispositions including a broadly post-structuralist theory of blackness, a critical engagement with Marxism and related class problematics, a reworking of liberal feminism's failure to center race within its conceptual frame, and a reading of European colonialism and its continuing effects as a central dynamic in the production of a politics of antiracist struggle and solidarity.
“Denn keiner trägt das Leben allein”: The Thought of St. Augustine
Authors: Farred Grant
Published: February 2010

“`Denn keiner trägt das Leben allein': The Thought of St. Augustine” argues for St. Augustine as a figure of African thought. Toward that end, the essay explores, first, the thought—and the thinking—of Augustine. Second, and here temporality is a foundational issue, the essay addresses Augustine's preoccupation in the Confessions with the relationship between language and thought, between the technical “death,” or “dying,” of language. In Augustine's Confessions considerable heft is assigned to the word and, in key moments, to the syllable, and this essay traces, shall we say, the problem for thought created by the linguistic “death” or “dying” of the word or the syllable. All of which, of course, for Augustine, turns on his veneration for the Word.
Pharmaceutical review using telemedicine – a before and after feasibility study
Authors: Poulson Louise K , Nissen Lisa , Coombes Ian
Published: February 2010

Only 42 of the 116 public hospitals in Queensland employ qualified pharmacists to staff their pharmacies. We undertook a feasibility study to determine if pharmaceutical reviews, undertaken face-to-face by a visiting pharmacist, could be replicated using telemedicine. The study was conducted in two phases, with the same pharmacist coordinating the project from the main hospital to two rural hospitals, which relied on supply nurses for all their pharmaceutical services. All inpatients admitted between October 2006 and May 2007 were included in the study. In Phase I the pharmacist made weekly visits to both facilities, to perform face-to-face pharmaceutical reviews of the current inpatients. In Phase 2, all pharmaceutical reviews were performed remotely by the pharmacist by telephone or videoconference. In Phase 1, 186 pharmaceutical activities were performed (mean 3.9 per patient). Of these, 78 pharmacist-initiated changes were recommended and 47 (60%) were implemented. In Phase 2, a total of 296 activities were performed (mean 3.1 per patient) and of the 140 recommendations made by the remote pharmacist, 74 (53%) were accepted. Of the accepted recommendations, there were 11 major interventions (those with a potential to prevent harm to the patient) in Phase 1 and 32 in Phase 2. There were no significant differences in the pharmaceutical activity rates in the two phases. Telepharmacy therefore may be an effective method of providing pharmaceutical reviews for patients in rural inpatient facilities, without an on-site pharmacist.
The Effect of Online Privacy Information on Purchasing Behavior: An Experimental Study
Authors: Tsai Janice Y. , Egelman Serge , Cranor Lorrie , Acquisti Alessandro
Published: February 2010

Although online retailers detail their privacy practices in online privacy policies, this information often remains invisible to consumers, who seldom make the effort to read and understand those policies. This paper reports on research undertaken to determine whether a more prominent display of privacy information will cause consumers to incorporate privacy considerations into their online purchasing decisions. We designed an experiment in which a shopping search engine interface clearly and compactly displays privacy policy information. When such information is made available, consumers tend to purchase from online retailers who better protect their privacy. In fact, our study indicates that when privacy information is made more salient and accessible, some consumers are willing to pay a premium to purchase from privacy protective websites. This result suggests that businesses may be able to leverage privacy protection as a selling point.
Induction over Strategic Agents
Authors: Boylu Fidan , Aytug Haldun , Koehler Gary J.
Published: February 2010

We study the problem where a decision maker needs to discover a classification rule to classify intelligent, self-interested agents. Agents may engage in strategic behavior to alter their characteristics for a favorable classification. We show how the decision maker can induce a classification rule that anticipates such behavior while still satisfying an important risk minimization principle.
A Finite Mixture Logit Model to Segment and Predict Electronic Payments System Adoption
Authors: Bapna Ravi , Goes Paulo , Wei Kwok Kee , Zhang Zhongju
Published: February 2010

Despite much hype about electronic payments systems (EPSs), a 2004 survey establishes that close to 80% of between-business payments are still made using paper-based formats. We present a finite mixture logit model to predict likelihood of EPS adoption in business-to-business (B2B) settings. Our model simultaneously classifies firms into homogeneous segments based on firm-specific characteristics and estimates the model's coefficients relating predictor variables to EPS adoption decisions for each respective segment. While such models are increasingly making their presence felt in the marketing literature, we demonstrate their applicability to traditional information systems (IS) problems such as technology adoption. Using the finite mixture approach, we predict the likelihood of EPS adoption using a unique data set from a Fortune 100 company. We compare the finite mixture model with a variety of traditional approaches. We find that the finite mixture model fits the data better, controlling for the number of parameters estimated; that our explicit model-based segmentation leads to a better delineation of segments; and that it significantly improves the predictive accuracy in holdout samples. Practically, the proposed methodology can help business managers develop actionable segment-specific strategies for increasing EPS adoption by their business partners. We discuss how the methodology is potentially applicable to a wide variety of IS research.
Perceived Barriers to Provision of Medication Therapy Management Services (MTMS) and the Likelihood of a Pharmacist to Work in a Pharmacy that Provides MTMS
Authors: Blake Kimberly B , Madhavan S Suresh
Published: February 2010

Background:

Recently, medication therapy management services (MTMS) has gained significant attention as an important type of pharmaceutical care designed to improve patient outcomes with more appropriate medication usage and monitoring. Although the provision of MTMS is increasing in pharmacies across the nation, and pharmacists are well equipped to administer MTMS, many community pharmacists are not currently providing these services.

Objective:

To determine barriers to provision of MTMS perceived by pharmacists and factors associated with the likelihood of working in a pharmacy that provides MTMS.

Methods:

Surveys were mailed to 906 community pharmacists licensed in West Virginia using a stratified random sample. The instrument was constructed and finalized following a review by experts and pilot tested in a convenience sample of pharmacists. Principal components analysis was performed to determine the factors that describe perceived barriers to provision of MTMS. Discriminant analysis using factor scores and other demographic and practice variables was performed to predict respondents' likelihood to work in a pharmacy that provides MTMS.

Results:

A 3-factor model was extracted from the responses, which explained 53.3% of the total variance. The factors included perceived ability to respond to patient interest, pharmacy-related factors, and enabling factors. The discriminant function correctly classified 76.2% of cases and included comfort level with provision of services, perceived value of services to patients, perceived ability to respond to patient interest, and whether they currently offer MTMS. These variables were all positively correlated with pharmacists' likelihood of working in a pharmacy that provides MTMS.

Conclusions:

Comfort level and ability are important factors that influence pharmacists' likelihood of working in a pharmacy that provides MTMS. These findings highlight the importance of advanced practice experiences, certificate programs, and residencies to build pharmacists' confidence, and the role of targeted recruitment to attract pharmacists to community pharmacies that provide MTMS.
Cerebral Spinal Fluid Penetration of Tigecycline in a Patient with Acinetobacter baumannii Cerebritis
Authors: Ray Leslie , Levasseur Kimberly , Nicolau David P , Scheetz Marc H
Published: February 2010

Objective:

To describe cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) penetration of tigecycline.

Case Summary:

A 38-year-old woman experienced a right internal carotid artery dissection and right anterior and middle cerebral artery strokes due to unknown causes and subsequently developed vasogenic edema requiring right hemicraniectomy. Her postoperative course was complicated by multiple infections, and she developed multidrug, carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii cerebritis. She was treated with a prolonged course of multiple antibiotics, including 18 days of therapy with tigecycline. Time-paired serum and CSF samples were obtained, and tigecycline concentrations were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. We report serial, steady-state, serum, and CSF concentrations of tigecycline when administered in the Food and Drug Administration-approved dose of 50 mg every 12 hours. CSF concentrations remained relatively stable, suggesting that tigecycline did not accumulate in the CSF, at least in our patient. Tigecycline concentrations in the CSF were between 0.035 and 0.048 mg/L, while corresponding serum concentrations were 0.097–0.566 mg/L. The calculated tigecycline penetration ratio in this patient ranged from 0% to 52%, depending on the calculation methodology utilized.

Discussion:

Concentrations, regardless of sample timing relative to dose, remained relatively stable in the CSF of our patient. The pharmacodynamic profile of tigecycline is not completely elucidated; however, it is presumed that the drug must be at the site of infection for efficacy. Our patient never obtained tigecycline concentrations in excess of the minimum inhibitory concentration for A. baumannii in either the serum or the CSF.

Conclusions:

Our patient experienced low CSF tigecycline concentrations and failed to achieve a clinical response while on therapy. CSF drug disposition of tigecycline requires further systematic study to fully elucidate the pharmacokinetic profile. Reduced CSF concentrations urge caution in the treatment of cerebritis with standard dosing of tigecycline.
New Drug Approvals: Pitavastatin: A New HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor
Authors: Wensel Terri M , Waldrop Bruce A , Wensel Brian
Published: February 2010

Objective:

To review pitavastatin, the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor and determine its place in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.

Data Sources:

Literature was accessed through PubMed (1948–December 2009). Pitavastatin, itavastatin, nisvastatin, NK 104, and NKS 104 were used as search terms. Results were limited to articles written in the English language.

Study Selection And Data Extraction:

All articles identified from the data source were reviewed for inclusion. Articles included were those pertaining to the pharmacology and pharmacokinetic properties of pitavastatin, in addition to original research evaluating the clinical efficacy of pitavastatin for hypercholesterolemia.

Data Synthesis:

Pitavastatin is an oral HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of primary hyperlipidemia and mixed dyslipidwmia. Pitavastatin 2 mg has been shown to be noninferior to atorvastatin 10 mg and simvastatin 20 mg with respect to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)–lowering ability. Additionally, pitavastatin 2 mg was shown in one study to lower LDL-C significantly more than pravastatin 10 mg. As with other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, primary safety concerns are related to myopathies and alterations in liver enzyme levels. While efficacy regarding beneficial effects on lipid parameters is comparable to that of other agents, a potential advantage of pitavastatin is its cytochrome P450 (CYP450) independent elimination, thereby reducing the likelihood of clinically significant drug-drug interactions. However, this is not a unique property, as pravastatin and rosuvastatin also possess this property.

Conclusions:

In light of the lack of outcome data, pitavastatin offers no clear advantage over other drugs in this class.