bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations, Deliberation, and Democracy
Authors: Gaynor Niamh
Published: September 2011

Over the past two decades there has been a burgeoning interest and research into experiments and innovations in participatory governance. While advocates highlight the merits of such new governance arrangements in moving beyond traditional interest group representations and deepening democracy through deliberation with a broad range of civic associations, critics express concern about the political legitimacy and democratic accountability of participating associations, highlighting in particular the dangers of co-option and faction. Addressing these concerns, a number of theorists identify an important role for civic associations in linking deliberations at micro policy levels to those within the public sphere more broadly. These normative contributions raise an important empirical question—does civic associational engagement at micro levels leave scope to engage both laterally across associations and vertically with members and citizens more broadly? More simply put, is civic associational engagement within micro-policy fora “good” for democracy more broadly? Drawing from a study of civic associational engagement in Ireland’s national Social Partnership process over a ten-year period this article argues that, where deliberations become overshadowed by more traditional communicative norms of bargaining and negotiation, it is not. Evidence is presented from the Irish case to show how civic actors, having internalized the dominant communicative norms of the process, have contributed toward a narrowing of the deliberative space within, but most particularly outside, this process. This, it is argued, has resulted in a considerably weakened public sphere with neither the institutional apparatus nor the discursive capacity to seek accountability from political and civic leaders at a time of profound crisis within the Irish state.
Tigecycline Pharmacokinetics in Subjects With Various Degrees of Renal Function
Authors: Korth‐Bradley Joan M. , Troy Steven M. , Matschke Kyle , Muralidharan Gopal , Fruncillo Richard J. , Speth John L. , Raible Donald G.
Published: September 2011

The pharmacokinetic parameters of tigecycline were assessed in subjects with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance <30 mL/min, n = 6), subjects receiving hemodialysis (4 received tigecycline before and 4 received tigecycline after hemodialysis), and subjects with age‐adjusted, normal renal function (n = 6) after administration of single 100‐mg doses. Serial serum and urine samples were collected and assayed using validated liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometer (LC/MS/MS) methods. Concentration‐time data were then analyzed using noncompartmental pharmacokinetic methods. Tigecycline renal clearance in subjects with normal renal function represented approximately 20% of total systemic clearance. Tigecycline clearance was reduced by approximately 20%, and area under the tigecycline concentration‐time curve increased by approximately 30% in subjects with severe renal impairment. Tigecycline was not efficiently removed by dialysis; thus, it can be administered without regard to timing of hemodialysis. Based on these pharmacokinetic data, tigecycline requires no dosage adjustment in patients with renal impairment.
18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose and 131I Radioguided Surgical Management of Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Francis Carrie L. , Nalley Chuck , Fan Chris , Bodenner Donald , Stack Brendan C.
Published: September 2011

Objective

To describe a technique that assists in the surgical management of recurrent local regional well‐differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC).

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Two academic health centers from 2001 to 2009.

Subjects and Methods

Patients operated upon by the senior surgeon (BCS) for recurrent WDTC.

Results

Thirteen patients with recurrent WDTC were operated upon with radioguided surgical (RGS) technique to indentify recurrence for excision. Eight patients had iodine avid disease and were candidates for RGS with 131I. The remaining 5 patients had cancer with a proven loss of iodine avidity and were, therefore, operated upon with a fluorodeoxygluocose (FDG) RGS technique.

Conclusion

RGS is a feasible approach to identify recurrent disease in an operated field and ensure its successful excision. Although focal disease may be identified with this technique, this is not a tool for limited excisions (“berry picking”).
Free improvisation and performance anxiety among piano students
Authors: Allen Robert
Published: September 2011

The purpose of this study was to compare the levels of anxiety that students experienced according to whether their public performance consisted of a free improvisation or a repertory piece. The researcher had two objectives: (1) examine the relationship of students’ levels of anxiety to free improvisation and repertory pieces during a performance; and (2) examine the effectiveness of free improvisation as a treatment for the reduction of performance anxiety. The following instruments were used for data collection: (1) Spielberger’s (1973) State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children; (2) Musical Anxiety Report Scale; (3) subject interviews; (4) parent questionnaire; and (5) performance video. Thirty-six elementary, middle and high school students were selected from a list of potential subjects. Participants were selected based on age (7–18 years) and years of training (1–8), as well as to comprise a gender balance. Sample criteria required that all subjects who participated in the study: (1) played the piano; (2) claimed to have experienced music performance anxiety; and (3) had not received any previous psychological or pharmacological treatment for their music performance anxiety. Results from this study validated free improvisation as a treatment for significantly reducing anxiety during the public performance of a musical work.
A National Profile of Health Care and Family Impacts of Children With Muscular Dystrophy and Special Health Care Needs in the United States
Authors: Ouyang Lijing , Grosse Scott D. , Fox Michael H. , Bolen Julie
Published: September 2011

We used the 2005−2006 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs to compare 3 types of outcomes between children with and those without parental reported muscular dystrophy: (1) functional limitations; (2) health care experiences in terms of the 5 components of a medical home; and (3) family impacts, including financial or out-of-pocket costs and parental employment and time use. We used weighted logistic regression to examine their associations with muscular dystrophy after adjustment for socio-demographic characteristics. Among children with special health care needs, children with reported muscular dystrophy were much more likely to have difficulties with ambulation and self-care. They were more likely to have family members who reported financial problems, reduced or stopped employment, and spent more than 10 hours weekly providing or coordinating care. Muscular dystrophy was not associated with the likelihood of having a medical home after adjustment for socioeconomic status and other socio-demographic characteristics.
Enzyme‐Linked Immunosorbent Assay Gliadin Assessment in Processed Food Products Available for Persons With Celiac Disease
Authors: Agakidis Charalampos , Karagiozoglou‐Lampoudi Thomais , Kalaitsidou Marina , Papadopoulos Theodoros , Savvidou Afroditi , Daskalou Efstratia , Dimitrios Triantafyllou
Published: September 2011

Inappropriate food labeling and unwillingness of food companies to officially register their own gluten‐free products in the Greek National Food Intolerance Database (NFID) result in a limited range of processed food products available for persons with celiac disease (CDP). The objective of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of developing a gluten‐free food product database based on the assessment of the gluten content in processed foods available for CDP. Gluten was assessed in 41 processed food products available for CDP. Group A consisted of 26 products for CDP included in the NFID, and group B contained 15 food products for CDP not registered in the NFID but listed in the safe lists of the local Celiac Association (CA). High‐sensitivity ω‐gliadin enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for analysis. Gluten was lower than 20 ppm in 37 of 41 analyzed products (90.2%): in 24 of 26 (92.3%) products in group A and in 13 of 15 (86.7%) products in group B (P = .61). No significant difference was found between the 2 groups regarding gluten content. No product in either group contained gluten in excess of 100 ppm. Most of the analyzed products included in the Greek NFID or listed in the lists of the local CA, even those not officially labeled “gluten free,” can be safely consumed by CDP. The use of commercially available ω‐gliadin ELISA is able to identify those products that contain inappropriate levels of gluten, making feasible it to develop an integrated gluten‐free processed food database.
Performance analysis and experiment of new 3D rotary compressor
Authors: Lee S , Bai C , Shim J
Published: September 2011

R410A is one of the HFC refrigerants, which are preferred globally to promote the most environmentally friendly option on the basis of an objective reference system taking into account the alternative selection of HCFC refrigerants for the air-conditioning system by the Kyoto protocol. This article presents a three-dimensional (3D) rotary compressor that is within the family of rotary compressors. First, the geometry of the compressor is explained and equations relating the volume of the compression and suction chambers to the rotational angle of the shaft are derived. These equations are used within a model that predicts the mass flow rate, power consumption, and cooling capacity of the compressor. The model includes energy and mass balances within the compression chambers, as well as the estimation of leakage, frictional, and electrical losses. The primary sources of energy and flow losses are identified for this type of compressor. The results presented were generated using refrigerant R410A as the working fluid based on the properties of the ‘Ref-prop 7.0’ program provided by NIST. Due to the two compression chambers vertically separated in one cylinder, this 3D rotary compressor has the best vibration characteristic and the smallest torque variation among the conventional-type compressors.
Cumulation of Effects in Calculating the Deterioration of Fatigue Loaded Structures
Authors: Jinescu V. V.
Published: September 2011

It has been introduced and analyzed on literature-based relations that calculating the deterioration produced by cyclic loading with normal stresses can be actually calculated. Based on the principle of critical energy, deterioration has been expressed as a power function. The deteriorations thus calculated can be summed up in order to obtain the cumulated effect of the external loadings. There have been established expressions for the deterioration produced by the action of: a single cyclic stress, several blocks of cyclic stresses with normal and/or shear stresses by taking into consideration the cumulated effect of vibrations and/or corrosion, cracked or crack free structures. The relations refer to both samples as well as to actual structures with stress concentrations. One suggested a procedure as to apply the obtained results to the case of random loading of a structure. The calculation examples show how the article makes use of the relations proposed.
Modeling of the process of moisture loss during the storage of dried apricots
Authors: Miranda G. , Berna A. , Bon J. , Mulet A.
Published: September 2011

Moisture content is a reference parameter for dried food because the growth of most microorganisms is inhibited below certain water activity levels. In addition, it has a determining influence on the evolution of important parameters, such as color and flavor, and on other properties and deterioration reactions, such as texture, oxidation processes and nutritional value. During the storage of some dried fruits, moisture is produced due to Maillard reactions and exchanged with the surrounding environment through the packaging. The evolution of dried foods during their shelf life depends on the storage conditions. The aim of this study is to analyze the evolution of the moisture content in dried apricots packaged in different types of containers, namely glass and thermosealed polypropylene trays. The samples were stored at constant temperatures: 5, 15, 25 and 35 °C and were analyzed periodically over a period of 12 months. The sorption isotherms of apricots used in this study were also determined. In order to model how the moisture evolved, an empirical kinetic model was tested. This model considers both water transfer from the fruit and also water production as a result of the Maillard processes. The explained variance was higher than 95% in the samples stored in trays, which were thermosealed with film.
Application of Baranyi function to model the antibacterial properties of solvent extract from Irish York cabbage against food spoilage and pathogenic bacteria
Authors: Jaiswal A.K. , Gupta S. , Abu-Ghannam N. , Cox S.
Published: September 2011

Cabbage is a rich source of a number of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, glucosinolates and their breakdown products which may have antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer properties. Outer green leaves of York cabbage were extracted with 60% methanol, ethanol or acetone. Antibacterial activities of vacuum dried crude extracts were estimated against a number of Gram-positive and Gram-negative food spoilage and food pathogenic bacteria. The crude extracts showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activities but 60% methanol extract exhibited the highest antibacterial effect. Complete growth inhibition for Listeria monocytogenes was achieved with an extract concentration of 1.4%, whereas a two-fold concentration was required to achieve a reduction of 75% and 64% for Salmonella abony and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. For Enterococcus faecalis methanolic extract showed a weak inhibition only (31%). The lower concentrations of methanolic extract from York cabbage prolonged the lag phase and reduced both the exponential growth rate and final population densities of the culture. Survival of the micro-organisms in presence of methanolic extract was mathematically modeled using Baranyi model equations.
Polytrauma – new horizons for management
Authors: Dimitriou Rozalia , Calori Giorgio M , Giannoudis Peter V
Published: September 2011

The management of polytrauma has evolved considerably in the last century. Advances have been made in all disciplines involved in trauma care from pre-hospital care and resuscitation protocols to diagnostics, surgical techniques, administration of novel pharmacological agents and late reconstruction procedures. Improved understanding of the altered physiology and the induced response at the molecular level offers the potential for novel management strategies and prevention of post-traumatic complications.
Informal social interaction among residents with dementia in special care units: Exploring the role of the physical and social environments
Authors: Campo Michael , Chaudhury Habib
Published: September 2011

Despite a continued recognition of the importance of relational aspects of quality of life for people with dementia, little research has examined environmental influences on informal social interaction in dementia care settings. The purpose of this ethnographic study was to identify and explore key elements of the physical and social environments that act as facilitators or barriers for social interaction among people with dementia living in special care units. We conducted in-depth interviews with staff members and completed a series of resident observations. Findings suggest that social factors such as staff work roles and resident group size, and physical factors such as a non-institutional character, the nursing station location, and adequate seating and sightlines are influential for prompting or supporting informal social interactions. Design recommendations are provided with the intent to create physical environments that foster informal social interactions among people in dementia care environments.
Social Marketing and the Creative Process
Authors: Keller Heidi , Thackeray Rosemary
Published: September 2011

Developing the promotional strategy is often the most exciting and enjoyable part of the social marketing plan. Health communication and social marketing campaigns that combine mass media with the distribution of health-related products, such as child safety restraints and sun protection products, have shown strong evidence of effectiveness for producing intended behavior changes (Guide to Community Preventive Services, 2010). This article discusses the promotional aspect of social marketing plans—the fourth P in the marketing mix that includes product, place, and price—and how public health practitioners can work with creative professionals to be sure that the creative development and execution of promotional messages and materials stay “on strategy” and support their objectives.
Poorer ART Outcomes with Increasing Age at a Large Public Sector HIV Clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa
Authors: Maskew Mhairi , Brennan Alana T. , MacPhail A. Patrick , Sanne Ian M. , Fox Matthew P.
Published: September 2011

Background: As the current HIV-positive population ages, the absolute number of patients >50 years on treatment is increasing. Methods: We analyze the differences in treatment outcomes by age category (18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and ≥60) among 9139 HIV-positive adults initiating ART in South Africa. Results: The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality increased with increasing age, with the strongest association in the first 12 months of follow-up among patients 50 to 59 years (HR 1.67; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24-2.23) versus those <30 years. However, patients 50 to 59 years were less likely to be lost during 24 months on antiretroviral therapy ([ART] HR 0.75; 95% CI: 0.59-0.94) versus patients <30 years. By 6 and 12 months on treatment, older patients were less likely to increase their CD4 count by ≥50 cells/mm3. Conclusion: Although older patients are at higher risk of mortality and have poorer immunological responses than their younger counterparts, they are more likely to adhere to care and treatment in the first 24 months on ART.
Increase in Sensorimotor Cortex Response to Somatosensory Stimulation Over Subacute Poststroke Period Correlates With Motor Recovery in Hemiparetic Patients
Authors: Schaechter Judith D. , van Oers Casper A. M. M. , Groisser Benjamin N. , Salles Sara S. , Vangel Mark G. , Moore Christopher I. , Dijkhuizen Rick M.
Published: September 2011

Background. Somatosensory input to the motor cortex may play a critical role in motor relearning after hemiparetic stroke. Objective. The authors tested the hypothesis that motor recovery after hemiparetic stroke relates to changes in responsiveness of the sensorimotor cortex (SMC) to somatosensory input. Methods. A total of 10 hemiparetic stroke patients underwent serial functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during tactile stimulation and testing of sensorimotor function over 1 year—at early subacute, late subacute, and chronic poststroke time points. Results. Over the subacute poststroke period, increased responsiveness of the ipsilesional SMC to tactile stimulation of a stroke-affected digit correlated strongly with concurrent gains in motor function. Increased responsiveness of the ipsilesional and contralesional SMC over the subacute period also correlated strongly with motor recovery experienced over the first year poststroke. Conclusions. These findings suggest that increased responsiveness of the SMC to somatosensory stimulation over the subacute poststroke period may contribute to motor recovery.
Young people’s perspectives: The trials and tribulations of going straight
Authors: Murray Cathy
Published: September 2011

This article reports on a study which comprised secondary analysis of 112 semi-structured interviews with 50 young people who had desisted from offending and 62 who had never offended. The findings highlight the need to conceptualize desistance as a two stage process. Desistance tales, which featured in the interviews, describe the events leading up to the point at which offenders ceased to offend. However, desistance also involves staying straight and the challenges of this second phase are illuminated. Desisters and non-offenders experienced a lack of kudos, reported being bullied and were tempted to offend, although for desisters this was more pervasive and covered a wider range of offences. The point of divergence was in respect of the pleasures associated with offending, which many desisters observed were now missing from their lives. It is clear that both desisters and non-offenders have something to lose by not offending and that maintaining their non-offending status constitutes a struggle not previously reflected in adult representations of youth. That non-offending is achieved at a price is evidenced by the trials and tribulations they encounter. Finally, the advantages and limitations of secondary analysis of qualitative data are considered and the method is recommended for criminological researchers.
Exploring a model of professionalism in multiple perpetrator violent gun crime in the UK
Authors: Caddick Andrea , Porter Louise E.
Published: September 2011

The present study examines co-offending groups that commit violent firearms offences within the UK, in order to develop an understanding of these groups in terms of their level of professionalism. A sample of 69 cases was selected from two British law databases, consisting of offences that involved the utilization of a firearm in a violent crime committed by more than one offender. Cases were content analysed for offending behaviour. The presence of a three-way thematic model of criminal professionalism, previously identified in robbery, was tested using multi-dimensional scaling. Three themes of offences were identified as Targeted, Gratuitous and Reactive, which differed in the level of professionalism displayed. Gratuitous was the most common theme for the sample, demonstrating some evidence of planning but also gratuitous violence towards victims. In conclusion, while violent gun crime is typically a phenomenon involving young males, not all groups display the same behaviour or levels of professionalism, as is evident in the existence of all three themes. These differences are important for understanding the psychology of the offences and designing operational responses.
Treatment of resectable gastric cancer
Authors: Dikken Johan L. , van de Velde Cornelis J.H. , Coit Daniel G. , Shah Manish A. , Verheij Marcel , Cats Annemieke
Published: September 2011

Stomach cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, despite its declining overall incidence. Although there are differences in incidence, etiology and pathological factors, most studies do not separately analyze cardia and noncardia gastric cancer. Surgery is the only potentially curative treatment for advanced, resectable gastric cancer, but locoregional relapse rate is high with a consequently poor prognosis. To improve survival, several preoperative and postoperative treatment strategies have been investigated. Whereas perioperative chemotherapy and postoperative chemoradiation (CRT) are considered standard therapy in the Western world, in Asia postoperative monochemotherapy with S-1 is often used. Several other therapeutic options, although generally not accepted as standard treatment, are postoperative combination chemotherapy, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy and preoperative radiotherapy and CRT. Postoperative combination chemotherapy does show a statistically significant but clinically equivocal survival advantage in several meta-analyses. Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is mainly performed in Asia and is associated with a higher postoperative complication rate. Based on the currently available data, the use of postoperative radiotherapy alone and the use of intraoperative radiotherapy should not be advised in the treatment of resectable gastric cancer. Western randomized trials on gastric cancer are often hampered by slow or incomplete accrual. Reduction of toxicity for preoperative and especially postoperative treatment is essential for the ongoing improvement of gastric cancer care.
Towards a better understanding of QT interval variability
Authors: Tereshchenko Larisa G. , Berger Ronald D.
Published: September 2011

The International Conference on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) Guideline E14 recommends ‘Thorough QT Study’ as a standard assessment of drug-induced QT interval prolongation. At the same time, the value of drug-induced QTc prolongation as a surrogate marker for risk of life-threatening polymorphic ventricular tachycardia known as torsades des pointes remains controversial. Beat-to-beat variability of QT interval was recently proposed as an alternative metric. The following review addresses mechanisms of beat-to-beat QT variability, methods of QT interval variability measurements, and its prognostic value in clinical studies.
Discovering biological connections between experimental conditions based on common patterns of differential gene expression
Authors: Gower Adam C , Spira Avrum , Lenburg Marc E
Published: September 2011

Background

Identifying similarities between patterns of differential gene expression provides an opportunity to identify similarities between the experimental and biological conditions that give rise to these gene expression alterations. The growing volume of gene expression data in open data repositories such as the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) presents an opportunity to identify these gene expression similarities on a large scale across a diverse collection of datasets. We have developed a fast, pattern-based computational approach, named openSESAME (Search of Expression Signatures Across Many Experiments), that identifies datasets enriched in samples that display coordinate differential expression of a query signature. Importantly, openSESAME performs this search without prior knowledge of the phenotypic or experimental groups in the datasets being searched. This allows openSESAME to identify perturbations of gene expression that are due to phenotypic attributes that may not have been described in the sample annotation included in the repository. To demonstrate the utility of openSESAME, we used gene expression signatures of two biological perturbations to query a set of 75,164 human expression profiles that were generated using Affymetrix microarrays and deposited in GEO. The first query, using a signature of estradiol treatment, identified experiments in which estrogen signaling was perturbed and also identified differences in estrogen signaling between estrogen receptor-positive and -negative breast cancers. The second query, which used a signature of silencing of the transcription factor p63 (a key regulator of epidermal differentiation), identified datasets related to stratified squamous epithelia or epidermal diseases such as melanoma.

Conclusions

openSESAME is a tool for leveraging the growing body of publicly available microarray data to discover relationships between different biological states based on common patterns of differential gene expression. These relationships may serve to generate hypotheses about the causes and consequences of specific patterns of observed differential gene expression. To encourage others to explore the utility of this approach, we have made a website for performing openSESAME queries freely available athttp://opensesame.bu.edu.
The role of Candida albicans homologous recombination factors Rad54 and Rdh54 in DNA damage sensitivity
Authors: Hoot Samantha J , Zheng Xiuzhong , Potenski Catherine J , White Theodore C , Klein Hannah L
Published: September 2011

Background

The fungal pathogen Candida albicans is frequently seen in immune suppressed patients, and resistance to one of the most widely used antifungals, fluconazole (FLC), can evolve rapidly. In recent years it has become clear that plasticity of the Candida albicans genome contributes to drug resistance through loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at resistance genes and gross chromosomal rearrangements that amplify gene copy number of resistance associated genes. This study addresses the role of the homologous recombination factors Rad54 and Rdh54 in cell growth, DNA damage and FLC resistance in Candida albicans.

Results

The data presented here support a role for homologous recombination in cell growth and DNA damage sensitivity, as Candida albicans rad54Δ/rad54Δ mutants were hypersensitive to MMS and menadione, and had an aberrant cell and nuclear morphology. The Candida albicans rad54Δ/rad54Δ mutant was defective in invasion of Spider agar, presumably due to the altered cellular morphology. In contrast, mutation of the related gene RDH54 did not contribute significantly to DNA damage resistance and cell growth, and deletion of either Candida albicans RAD54 or Candida albicans RDH54 did not alter FLC susceptibility.

Conclusions

Together, these results support a role for homologous recombination in genome stability under nondamaging conditions. The nuclear morphology defects in the rad54Δ/rad54Δ mutants show that Rad54 performs an essential role during mitotic growth and that in its absence, cells arrest in G2. The viability of the single mutant rad54Δ/rad54Δ and the inability to construct the double mutant rad54Δ/rad54Δ rdh54Δ/rdh54Δ suggests that Rdh54 can partially compensate for Rad54 during mitotic growth.
Association of C1QB gene polymorphism with schizophrenia in Armenian population
Authors: Zakharyan Roksana , Khoyetsyan Aren , Arakelyan Arsen , Boyajyan Anna , Gevorgyan Anaida , Stahelova Anna , Mrazek Frantisek , Petrek Martin
Published: September 2011

Background

Schizophrenia is a complex, multifactorial psychiatric disorder. Our previous findings indicated that altered functional activity of the complement system, a major mediator of the immune response, is implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. In order to explore whether these alterations are genetically determined or not, in the present study we evaluated the possible association of complement C1Q component gene variants with susceptibility to schizophrenia in Armenian population, focusing on four frequent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of C1QA and C1QB genes.

Methods

In the present study four SNPs of the complement C1Q component genes (C1QA: rs292001, C1QB rs291982, rs631090, rs913243) were investigated in schizophrenia-affected and healthy subjects. Unrelated Caucasian individuals of Armenian nationality, 225 schizophrenic patients and the same number of age- and sex-matched healthy subjects, were genotyped. Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) and quantitative real-time (qRT) PCR methods.

Results

While there was no association between C1QA rs292001, C1QB rs913243 and rs631090 genetic variants and schizophrenia, the C1QB rs291982*G minor allele was significantly overrepresented in schizophrenic patients (G allele frequency 58%) when compared to healthy subjects (46%, OR = 1.64, p
corr = 0.0008). Importantly, the susceptibility for schizophrenia was particularly associated with C1QB rs291982 GG genotype (OR = 2.5, p
corrected = 9.6E-5).

Conclusions

The results obtained suggest that C1QB gene may be considered as a relevant candidate gene for susceptibility to schizophrenia, and its rs291982*G minor allele might represent a risk factor for schizophrenia at least in Armenian population. Replication in other centers/populations is necessary to verify this conclusion.
Drama as a pedagogical tool for practicing death notification-experiences from Swedish medical students
Authors: Nordström Anna , Fjellman-Wiklund Anncristine , Grysell Tomas
Published: September 2011

Background

One of the toughest tasks in any profession is the deliverance of death notification. Marathon Death is an exercise conducted during the fourth year of medical school in northern Sweden to prepare students for this responsibility. The exercise is designed to enable students to gain insight into the emotional and formal procedure of delivering death notifications. The exercise is inspired by Augusto Boal's work around Forum Theatre and is analyzed using video playback. The aim of the study was to explore reflections, attitudes and ideas toward training in delivering death notifications among medical students who participate in the Marathon Death exercise based on forum play.

Methods

After participation in the Marathon Death exercise, students completed semi-structured interviews. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using the principles of qualitative content analysis including a deductive content analysis approach with a structured matrix based on Bloom's taxonomy domains.

Results

The Marathon Death exercise was perceived as emotionally loaded, realistic and valuable for the future professional role as a physician. The deliverance of a death notification to the next of kin that a loved one has died was perceived as difficult. The exercise conjured emotions such as positive expectations and sheer anxiety. Students perceived participation in the exercise as an important learning experience, discovering that they had the capacity to manage such a difficult situation. The feedback from the video playback of the exercise and the feedback from fellow students and teachers enhanced the learning experience.

Conclusions

The exercise, Marathon Death, based on forum play with video playback is a useful pedagogical tool that enables students to practice delivering death notification. The ability to practice under realistic conditions contributes to reinforce students in preparation for their future professional role.
Clinicians adopting evidence based guidelines: a case study with thromboprophylaxis
Authors: Chapman Nicola H , Lazar Steven P , Fry Margaret , Lassere Marissa N , Chong Beng H
Published: September 2011

Background

Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) is a cause of hospital mortality and managing its morbidity is associated with significant expenditure. Uptake of evidenced based guideline recommendations intended to prevent VTE in hospital settings is sub-optimal. This study was conducted to explore clinicians' attitudes and the clinical environment in which they work to understand their reluctance to adopt VTE prophylaxis guidelines.

Methods

Between February and November 2009, 40 hospital employed doctors from 2 Australian metropolitan hospitals were interviewed in depth. Qualitative data were analysed according to thematic methodology.

Results

Analysis of interviews revealed that barriers to evidence based practice include i) the fragmented system of care delivery where multiple members of teams and multiple teams are responsible for each patient's care, and in the case of VTE, where everyone shares responsibility and no-one in particular is responsible; ii) the culture of practice where team practice is tailored to that of the team head, and where medicine is considered an 'art' in which guidelines should be adapted to each patient rather than applied universally. Interviewees recommend clear allocation of responsibility and reminders to counteract VTE risk assessment being overlooked.

Conclusions

Senior clinicians are the key enablers for practice change. They will need to be convinced that guideline compliance adds value to their patient care. Then with the support of systems in the organisation designed to minimize the effects of care fragmentation, they will drive practice changes in their teams. We believe that evidence based practice is only possible with a coordinated program that addresses individual, cultural and organisational constraints.
Influences of graphene oxide support on the electrochemical performances of graphene oxide-MnO2 nanocomposites
Authors: Yang Huanping , Jiang Jian , Zhou Weiwei , Lai Linfei , Xi Lifei , Lam Yeng Ming , Shen Zexiang , Khezri Bahareh , Yu Ting
Published: September 2011

MnO2 supported on graphene oxide (GO) made from different graphite materials has been synthesized and further investigated as electrode materials for supercapacitors. The structure and morphology of MnO2-GO nanocomposites are characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and Nitrogen adsorption-desorption. As demonstrated, the GO fabricated from commercial expanded graphite (denoted as GO(1)) possesses more functional groups and larger interplane gap compared to the GO from commercial graphite powder (denoted as GO(2)). The surface area and functionalities of GO have significant effects on the morphology and electrochemical activity of MnO2, which lead to the fact that the loading amount of MnO2 on GO(1) is much higher than that on GO(2). Elemental analysis performed via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy confirmed higher amounts of MnO2 loading on GO(1). As the electrode of supercapacitor, MnO2-GO(1) nanocomposites show larger capacitance (307.7 F g-1) and better electrochemical activity than MnO2-GO(2) possibly due to the high loading, good uniformity, and homogeneous distribution of MnO2 on GO(1) support.
Some fixed point-type results for a class of extended cyclic self-mappings with a more general contractive condition
Authors: De la Sen M , Agarwal Ravi P
Published: September 2011

This article discusses a more general contractive condition for a class of extended (p ≥ 2) -cyclic self-mappings on the union of a finite number of subsets of a metric space which are allowed to have a finite number of successive images in the same subsets of its domain. If the space is uniformly convex and the subsets are non-empty, closed and convex, then all the iterates converge to a unique closed limiting finite sequence which contains the best proximity points of adjacent subsets and reduces to a unique fixed point if all such subsets intersect.
Genetic Evidence for an Essential Role of Neuronally Expressed IL-6 Signal Transducer gp130 in the Induction and Maintenance of Experimentally Induced Mechanical Hypersensitivity in vivo and in vitro
Authors: Quarta Serena , Vogl Christian , Constantin Cristina E , Üçeyler Nurcan , Sommer Claudia , Kress Michaela
Published: September 2011

Tenderness and mechanical allodynia are key symptoms of malignant tumor, inflammation and neuropathy. The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) is causally involved in all three pathologies. IL-6 not only regulates innate immunity and inflammation but also causes nociceptor sensitization and hyperalgesia. In general and in most cell types including immune cells and sensory neurons, IL-6 binds soluble μ receptor subunits which heteromerizes with membrane bound IL-6 signal transducer gp130. In the present study, we used a conditional knock-out strategy to investigate the importance of signal transducer gp130 expressed in C nociceptors for the generation and maintenance of mechanical hypersensitivity. Nociceptors were sensitized to mechanical stimuli by experimental tumor and this nociceptor sensitization was preserved at later stages of the pathology in control mice. However, in mice with a conditional deletion of gp130 in Nav1.8 expressing nociceptors mechanical hypersensitivity by experimental tumor, nerve injury or inflammation recovery was not preserved in the maintenance phase and nociceptors exhibited normal mechanical thresholds comparable to untreated mice. Together, the results argue for IL-6 signal transducer gp130 as an essential prerequisite in nociceptors for long-term mechanical hypersensitivity associated with cancer, inflammation and nerve injury.
Evaluation of adjuvant chemoradiation therapy for ampullary adenocarcinoma: the Johns Hopkins Hospital - Mayo Clinic collaborative study
Authors: Narang Amol K , Miller Robert C , Hsu Charles C , Bhatia Sumita , Pawlik Timothy M , Laheru Dan , Hruban Ralph H , Zhou Jessica , Winter Jordan M , Haddock Michael G , Donohue John H , Schulick Richard D , Wolfgang Christopher L , Cameron John L , Herman Joseph M
Published: September 2011

Background

The role of adjuvant chemoradiation therapy for ampullary carcinoma is unknown. Previous literature suggests that certain populations with high risk factors for recurrence may benefit from adjuvant chemoradiation. We combined the experience of two institutions to better delineate which patients may benefit from adjuvant chemoradiation.

Methods

Patients who underwent curative surgery for ampullary carcinoma at the Johns Hopkins Hospital (n = 290; 1992-2007) and at the Mayo Clinic (n = 130; 1977-2005) were reviewed. Patients with <60 days of follow-up, metastatic disease at surgery, or insufficient pathologic data were excluded. The final combined study consisted of 186 patients (n = 104 Johns Hopkins, n = 82 Mayo). Most patients received 5-FU based chemoradiation with conformal radiation. Cox proportional hazards models were used for survival analysis.

Results

Median overall-survival was 39.9 months with 2- and 5-year survival rates of 62.4% and 39.1%. On univariate analysis, adverse prognostic factors for overall survival included T3/T4 stage disease (RR = 1.86, p = 0.002), node positive status (RR = 3.18, p < 0.001), and poor histological grade (RR = 1.69, p = 0.011). Patients who received adjuvant chemoradiation (n = 66) vs. surgery alone (n = 120) showed a higher rate of T3/T4 stage disease (57.6% vs. 30.8%, P < 0.001), lymph node involvement (72.7% vs. 30.0%, P < 0.001), and close or positive margins (4.6% vs. 0.0%, P = 0.019). Five year survival rates among node negative and node positive patients were 58.7% and 18.4% respectively. When compared with surgery alone, use of adjuvant chemoradiation improved survival among node positive patients (mOS 32.1 vs. 15.7 mos, 5 yr OS: 27.5% vs. 5.9%; RR = 0.47, P = 0.004). After adjusting for adverse prognostic factors on multivariate analysis, patients treated with adjuvant chemoradiation demonstrated a significant survival benefit (RR = 0.40, P < 0.001). Disease relapse occurred in 37.1% of all patients, most commonly metastatic disease in the liver or peritoneum.

Conclusions

Node-positive patients with resected ampullary adenocarcinoma may benefit from 5-FU based adjuvant chemoradiation. Since a significant proportion of patients develop metastatic disease, there is a need for more effective systemic treatment.
Solitary skin metastasis from sarcomatoid carcinoma of the bladder: a case report
Authors: Manzelli Antonio , Quaresima Silvia , Rossi Piero , Petrou Athanasios , Ricciardi Edoardo , Brennan Nicholas , Kontos Michael , Petrella Giuseppe
Published: September 2011

Introduction

Cutaneous metastases from carcinomas of the bladder are very rare. They are related to advanced stages of the disease and have poor prognosis with low survival rates. The common treatment modality of cutaneous metastases from a primary bladder cancer is wide local excision followed by chemotherapy.

Case presentation

We report a case of solitary skin metastasis from a rare type of urinary bladder carcinoma in a 68 year-old Caucasian man. Urinary bladder carcinoma metastasizing to the skin is an uncommon finding despite the high incidence of this tumor. Skin metastasis generally presents in the late stages of this disease and indicates a poor outcome.

Conclusions

Because of the extremely aggressive malignant potential of sarcomatoid carcinomas, the indications for a transurethral resection of the bladder should be carefully assessed and suitable therapeutic strategies should be examined further.
Gene expression during normal and FSHD myogenesis
Authors: Tsumagari Koji , Chang Shao-Chi , Lacey Michelle , Baribault Carl , Chittur Sridar V , Sowden Janet , Tawil Rabi , Crawford Gregory E , Ehrlich Melanie
Published: September 2011

Background

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a dominant disease linked to contraction of an array of tandem 3.3-kb repeats (D4Z4) at 4q35. Within each repeat unit is a gene, DUX4, that can encode a protein containing two homeodomains. A DUX4 transcript derived from the last repeat unit in a contracted array is associated with pathogenesis but it is unclear how.

Methods

Using exon-based microarrays, the expression profiles of myogenic precursor cells were determined. Both undifferentiated myoblasts and myoblasts differentiated to myotubes derived from FSHD patients and controls were studied after immunocytochemical verification of the quality of the cultures. To further our understanding of FSHD and normal myogenesis, the expression profiles obtained were compared to those of 19 non-muscle cell types analyzed by identical methods.

Results

Many of the ~17,000 examined genes were differentially expressed (> 2-fold, p < 0.01) in control myoblasts or myotubes vs. non-muscle cells (2185 and 3006, respectively) or in FSHD vs. control myoblasts or myotubes (295 and 797, respectively). Surprisingly, despite the morphologically normal differentiation of FSHD myoblasts to myotubes, most of the disease-related dysregulation was seen as dampening of normal myogenesis-specific expression changes, including in genes for muscle structure, mitochondrial function, stress responses, and signal transduction. Other classes of genes, including those encoding extracellular matrix or pro-inflammatory proteins, were upregulated in FSHD myogenic cells independent of an inverse myogenesis association. Importantly, the disease-linked DUX4 RNA isoform was detected by RT-PCR in FSHD myoblast and myotube preparations only at extremely low levels. Unique insights into myogenesis-specific gene expression were also obtained. For example, all four Argonaute genes involved in RNA-silencing were significantly upregulated during normal (but not FSHD) myogenesis relative to non-muscle cell types.

Conclusions

DUX4's pathogenic effect in FSHD may occur transiently at or before the stage of myoblast formation to establish a cascade of gene dysregulation. This contrasts with the current emphasis on toxic effects of experimentally upregulated DUX4 expression at the myoblast or myotube stages. Our model could explain why DUX4's inappropriate expression was barely detectable in myoblasts and myotubes but nonetheless linked to FSHD.
Implication of haematophagous arthropod salivary proteins in host-vector interactions
Authors: Fontaine Albin , Diouf Ibrahima , Bakkali Nawal , Missé Dorothée , Pagès Frédéric , Fusai Thierry , Rogier Christophe , Almeras Lionel
Published: September 2011

The saliva of haematophagous arthropods contains an array of anti-haemostatic, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory molecules that contribute to the success of the blood meal. The saliva of haematophagous arthropods is also involved in the transmission and the establishment of pathogens in the host and in allergic responses. This survey provides a comprehensive overview of the pharmacological activity and immunogenic properties of the main salivary proteins characterised in various haematophagous arthropod species. The potential biological and epidemiological applications of these immunogenic salivary molecules will be discussed with an emphasis on their use as biomarkers of exposure to haematophagous arthropod bites or vaccine candidates that are liable to improve host protection against vector-borne diseases.